Fantasy Football Player's Edge

November 1, 2008


The key to winning your league revolves around
matchups and the injury status of key players.
The Player's Edge is the best source for timely
and comprehensive information and advice on
who to start, who to sit and why.

Tomorrow: Crunch Time/It's in the Stars


Week 9 News: (Daily Updates)

Larry Johnson has been suspended for week 10 by the
NFL. He's out this week as well but is eligible to return to
the Chiefs in week 11. It's uncertain whether he will be
added to the Chiefs active roster after his suspension.

Bye Week: Saints, Chargers, 49ers, Panthers


The Walking Wounded: (updated/revised)

Matt Hasselbeck has been ruled out for the game vs.
the Eagles. Seneca Wallace gets the start & has little
value.

Carson Palmer will sit out week 9 with elbow problems.
Ryan Fitzpatrick gets the call vs. the Jaguars.

Ben Roethlisberger is still dealing with a sore shoulder.
He's expected to start vs. the Redskins on Monday night.

Aaron Rodgers threw lightly on the sidelines preparing
for the Titans on Sunday.

Steven Jackson is likely to return from a quad injury to
face the Cardinals. He is practicing without limitations
but is still questionable and could be a gametime decision.
Antonio Pittman would be good roster insurance.

Willis McGahee missed practice with a sore ankle and
is questionable for the Browns. Ray Rice would get the
start if McGahee has to sit.

Every Broncos running back is listed as questionable.
Let this situation shake out before deciding which, if
any, of the Denver running backs should be owned.

Clinton Portis practiced yesterday. He is probable to
start against the Steelers on Monday night.

Joseph Addai will play this week against the Patriots
according to John Clayton. Dominic Rhodes will be
ready to go as well and is likely to spell Addai with 10+
carries. Both backs are listed as questionable.

Willie Parker practiced fully & should play against the
Redskins but will have a limited workload. Mewelde
Moore will stay in the mix. Neither back is a great play.

Ahman Green sat out practice with lingering groin and
hamstring injuries. He's questionable for the Vikings.
Ryan Moats will back up Slaton if Green's out.

Warrick Dunn has not practiced as he deals with back
issues. He's not likely to play vs. the Chiefs increasing
Earnest Graham's value.

LaMont Jordan returned to practice from a nagging calf
injury but is limited. He has a solid matchup vs. the Colts
defense which has allowed 4.2 ypc & 9 TD's especially if
Sammy Morris cannot play. Morris missed practice.
Kevin Faulk would get a huge upgrade if Jordan and
Morris are out.

Darren McFadden his injured the toe on the other foot
and now suffers from multiple turf toes. He is sporting a
walking boot in practice & may not be healthy for the rest
of the year. Fargas will get the bulk of the snaps vs. the
Falcons & is playable against a run defense which allows
4.7 ypc.

Reggie Wayne missed practice with a bruised knee and
is questionable for the Patriots.

Santana Moss tweaked a hamstring & may not be ready
for a Monday night fracas with Pittsburgh. He has only
been doing team drills but has not practiced. It's risky to
wait him out until Monday night unless you have another
option like Nate Washington.

Brandon Lloyd returned to practice and has a nice start
against the Lions if he can go. He's questionable. Marty
Booker is probable and could be spot started if Lloyd
sits.

Deion Branch has already been scratched from a week 9
game against the Eagles.

Donte Stallworth reinjured a quad & will be questionable
for the Ravens who would be able to focus on Edwards
if Stallworth is sidelined.

Reggie Brown practiced and is expected to play against
the Seahawks giving McNabb a full compliment of WR's
vs. a soft pass defense.

Brandon Stokely is questionable to return this week and
may need a little more recovery time.

Kevin Walter returned to practice. He has a nice matchup
against the Vikings and is a solid #3.

Laveranues Coles sat out with a thigh injury. He has been
nicked up and played every week so it's highly likely that he
will suit up against the Bills.

Josh Reed will be out several weeks with assorted ailments.
Roscoe Parrish should be the beneficiary of more snaps.

Jason Witten has a fractured rib but wants to play vs. the
Giants. He's likely to be a gametime decision so it's prudent
to have a plan B in case Witten sits. Martellus Bennett
would fill in at TE for the Cowboys.

L.J. Smith suffered a concussion & is out this week. Brent
Celek & Matt Schobel will split snaps at TE. Neither player
is serviceable.

Tony Scheffler was limited in practice due to a groin injury.
It's advisable to have a plan B as Tony is questionable.

CB Shaun Springs is out for the Steelers which bodes well
for deep threat Nate Washington.

All Pro OT Chris Samuels is expected to return for Monday
night's battle with Pittsburgh. Even with Samuels, Portis
will have tough running vs. the NFL's #1 run defense.

Colts SS Bob Sanders is practicing fully and is likely to play
which would be bad news for all Patriots RB's. CB Marlin
Jackson is out which is good news for all Patriots WR's.

Bills DE Aaron Schobel is out this week which is a great
benefit to Favre and the Jets receivers.

Bears CB's Charles Tillman and Nathan Vasher have
returned to full practices and are listed as probable. Shaun
McDonald is not usable as a spot play #3 if both return to
action.

Ravens stellar CB Chris McAlister could be done for the
season with a knee injury. Samari Rolle is also doubtful
and backup CB Frank Walker is questionable. Braylon
Edwards & Derek Anderson get an upgrade to playable.


Start/Sit: (Week 9)

1. QB's: Matchups

The Standard: 300 yards, 2 TD, 0 Int = 20 points

Favorable:

Kyle Orton- worked over the Lions secondary in week
5 by throwing for 334 yards and 2 scores at Ford Field.
If the weather cooperates Orton is likely to approximate
that performance.

Donovan McNabb- has been on the precipice of having
a breakout performance. The Seattle pass defense has
allowed 7.5 ypa and yielded 11 scores in 7 games. Curtis,
Jackson and Brown should have plenty of open looks.
Westbrook will play a major role in the passing game.

Marc Bulger- will have to throw early and often to keep
pace with Warner and Co. Arizona's backline has been
generous allowing 7.5 ypa and a league leading 14 TD's.
Fasten your seat belts.

Good Bet: Warner vs. Rams, Cutler vs. Dolphins
Pennington vs. Broncos, P. Manning vs. Patriots
Ryan vs. Raiders, Garcia vs. Chiefs

Unfavorable:

Jason Campbell- has the unenviable task of throwing
vs. the Steelers defense which allows a league stingiest
4.8 ypa.

Derek Anderson- has played better recently but faces
a Ravens secondary that is getting healthier. Even with
backup players at cornerback Baltimore yields only 5.9
ypa.

Aaron Rodgers- has been a must start all season but
will face a Titans secondary that has allowed 5.2 ypa &
only 3 TD's on the season. He's playable but a bit risky.

Bad Bet: Collins vs. Packers, Orlovsky vs. Bears
Thigpen vs. Bucs


2. RB's: Matchups (starting a #2)

The Standard: 110 yards rush, 30 yards rec, 1 TD = 20 pts

Favorable:

Michael Turner- has had his best games vs. permissive
run defenses such as the Raiders, which has allowed 4.5
ypc & 11 rushing TD's on the season.

Matt Forte- has been surprisingly consistent all season
regardless of the opponent. He faces the Lions front 7
which has been gouged for 4.7 ypc and 9 TD's.

Willis McGahee- has a good matchup vs. the Browns
rush defense which allows 4.7 ypc. The Ravens will seek
to control the clock with McGahee and Ray Rice.

Good Bet: Ch. Johnson vs. Packers, Dunn vs. Chiefs
White vs. Packers, Graham vs. Chiefs


Unfavorable: (sitting a #2)

Jamal Lewis- the Ravens defense has been ravenous
stonewalling RB's allowing a league best 2.8 ypc & 1 TD.

Steve Slaton- has a bad matchup vs. the Vikings rush
defense which holds RB's to 2.9 ypc. He may have some
chances in the passing game but is a risky play.

Marshawn Lynch- faces a Jets interior defense which
has been stout vs. the run allowing only 3.2 ypc.

Bad Bet: Grant vs. Titans, Portis vs. Steelers
Ko. Smith vs. Bucs, Ke. Smith vs. Bears


3. WR's: Matchups

The Standard: 80 yards, 1 TD = 14 points

Favorable: (starting a #3)

Joey Galloway- needed last week's action to shake off
a season of inactivity and faces a Chiefs secondary that
has been targeted all year allowing a generous 7.5 ypa.

Steve Breaston- the Rams secondary has not limited
any passing offenses this season much less one like the
Cardinals high powered aerial circus.

Eddie Royal- the Dolphins backline has been abused
consistently yielding 7.8 ypa.

Good Bet: Ginn vs. Broncos, Berrian vs. Texans,
Houshmandzadeh vs. Jaguars, Avery vs. Cards
Curtis vs. Seahawks, Gonzalez vs. Patriots

Unfavorable: (sitting a #3)

Donald Driver- faces a Titans secondary that limited
Wayne, Gonzalez and Harrison to 68 total yards.

Dwayne Bowe- will have to earn his keep against a solid
Bucs secondary that has allowed only 5.8 ypa. They will
harass Thigpen into a lot of checkdowns to Gonzalez &
Kolby Smith.

Hines Ward- faces a secondary that excels in coverage.
The Redskins pass defense yields a paltry 5.7 ypa with
only 10 sacks on the season. Ward will face tight man to
man schemes underneath forcing Roethlisberger to look
elsewhere.

Bad Bet: S. Moss vs. Steelers, Stallworth vs. Ravens
Gage vs. Packers


4. TE's: Matchups

The Standard- 40 yards, .3 TD = 6 points

Favorable:

Greg Olsen- returns from a bye to face the Lions. That
is the NFL's equivalent to Christmas morning.

Tony Scheffler- was out with a groin injury prior to the
Broncos bye week. He has a nice matchup vs. Miami if
he's healthy.

Anthony Fasano- the Broncos offer little resistance on
defense and have lost Champ Bailey.

Good Bet: Al. Smith vs. Chiefs, Da. Clark vs. Patriots
L.J. Smith vs. Seahawks, Shiancoe vs. Texans


Unfavorable:

Kellen Winslow- will struggle vs. Ed Reed and the rest
of his Ravens buddies.

Bo Scaife- the Packers will lock down on Collins primary
target.

Chris Cooley- the Steelers have the best pass defense in
football and will make life miserable for all of the Redskins
skill players.

Bad Bet: Lee vs. Titans, H. Miller vs. Redskins


5. K's: Matchups

The Standard- 2 FG's, 1/40+, 3 Pat's = 10 points

Favorable:

Josh Brown- has kicked well all season and the Rams
are starting to jell on offense. Expect the Cardinals to
score often which will force the Rams follow suit.

Matt Prater- has the best leg in football and kicks in
Mile High this week vs. the Dolphins.

Robbie Gould- should have plenty of opportunities as
the Bears move the ball at will vs. the Lions.

Good Bet: Bryant vs. Chiefs, K. Brown vs. Vikings
Rackers vs. Rams, Vinatieri vs. Patriots


Unfavorable:

Mason Crosby- the Titans defense is stingy yielding
a league best 12.4 ppg.

Jeff Reed- the Steelers/Redskins brawl on Monday
night shapes up to be a hard hitting, low scoring affair.

Shaun Suisham- will not get many chances vs. the
Steelers.

Bad Bet: Hansen vs. Bears, Barth vs. Bucs


6. DEF's: Matchups

The Standard- 13 points allowed, 3 turnovers, 2 sacks = 12 pts

Favorable:

Tampa Bay- faces a young QB in Thigpen who does
not have a strong running game to keep this aggressive
defense honest.

Baltimore- the Ravens could be getting starting CB
Samari Rolle back from an injury to soften the loss
of Chris McAlister. Browns Donte Stallworth has a
sore quad and may not play allowing the Ravens to
focus on Edwards & Winslow.

Philadelphia- Jim Johnson's blitzing defense will
create confusion for Seahawks QB Seneca Wallace.
Seattle's running game will be thwarted which should
cause the young signal caller to make mistakes in the
passing game.

Good Bet: Chicago vs. Lions, Pittsburgh vs. Redskins


Unfavorable:

Minnesota- the Texans strength stacks up well vs.
the weakness in the Vikings defense. Schaub and co.
will exploit Minnesota's secondary.

New England- faces a Colts offense that has a great
deal to prove. Peyton Manning should have his best
game of the season vs. a Patriots backline that allows
7.3 ypa and has yielded 11 TD's over the top.

Washington- Roethlisberger will throw deep as the
Redskins have had trouble applying pressure on QB's.
As long as the Steelers protect the ball Washington
will have problems scoring points without sacks in what
should be a low scoring game.

Bad Bet: Indianapolis vs. Patriots


Van Winkles: (deep sleepers)

Gus Frerotte- it will be ugly but look for Frerotte to
capitalize on a Houston secondary that allows 7.6 ypa.
The Texans will have to deploy a safety to help control
Peterson at the point of attack opening passing lanes
for Berrian and Wade.

Justin Fargas- was an effective running back late last
season. McFadden is likely out with multiple turf toe
injuries allowing Justin to receive the bulk of the totes
vs a Falcons defense which has yielded a generous 4.7
ypc.

Ricky Williams- Sparano suggests that Williams will
be getting additional carries against the Broncos. The
Denver run defense is awful allowing a staggering 5.4
ypc.

Tim Hightower- is very close to unseating Edgerrin
James as the Cards feature back. The Rams defense
will offer little resistance with a leaky 4.8 ypc.

Greg Camarillo- the Broncos will be focused on Ted
Ginn Jr. and the Dolphins running game. Camarillo
should get plenty of targets.


No He Didn't:

Ryan Fitzpatrick- the Jaguars defense has been kind
to QB's all season allowing 7.2 ypa and 12 touchdowns.
Fitzpatrick is playable only as a last resort but he could
actually provide a surprise to the upside.


All Done!

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