Fantasy Football Player's Edge

November 5, 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: Walking Wounded


Week 10 News: (Daily Updates)

Daunte Culpepper may start for the Lions against
the Bears as Dan Orlovsky deals with a wrist injury.
This is a tough matchup for any QB especially a rusty
one. With that said, Calvin Johnson could eventually
be the beneficiary of a strong armed passer. Daunte
might be worth a flier as the Lions play the Colts &
Saints in fantasy playoff weeks 15 and 16.

Brady Quinn gets the start tomorrow night vs. the
woeful Broncos secondary. It's difficult to assess the
game plan for the Browns offense because Denver
is soft against the run which would allow Crennel to
be ultra conservative. Quinn's playable but may only
pass when absolutely necessary.

Ray Rice may start for the Ravens vs. the Texans
on Sunday and should be added to your roster if he's
still available.

The Rams have signed Samkon Gado to the active
roster for running back depth. This seems to suggest
that Steven Jackson and Antonio Pittman may not
be available this week. Gado is not be a viable play
vs. a good Jets run defense.

Bye Week: Cowboys, Bucs, Redskins, Bengals


Start/Sit: (Week 10)

1. QB's: Matchups

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

Favorable:

Trent Edwards- has not been right since returning from a
concussion but has a solid matchup against the Patriots
secondary which has allowed 7.5 ypa and 13 TD's. This is
a must win game for the Bills on the road against a division
foe so look for Edwards to step up.

Brett Favre- lines up against a Rams secondary that has
been abused all season allowing 8.2 ypa and 12 TD's. All of
the Jets skill players get an upgrade this week.

David Garrard- will have his #1 receiver, Jerry Porter, as
an integral part of the game plan. Detroit is awful having
yielded a league worse 8.5 ypa and 13 TD's.

Good Bet: Flacco vs. Texans, Cutler vs. Browns
Rivers vs. Chiefs, Pennington vs. Seahawks
Quinn vs. Broncos, Delhomme vs. Raiders


Unfavorable:

Peyton Manning- has the unenviable task of throwing
vs. the Steelers defense which allows a league stingiest
4.7 ypa. He's a start but is likely to struggle to produce
a double digit performance.

Donovan McNabb- has played better recently but sees
a Giants defense that yields only 5.9 ypa and features a
ferocious pass rush. McNabb was sacked 12 times in a
game against New York last season.

Gus Frerotte- faces what might be the best secondary
in the NFL. The Packers allow 5.5 ypa & will give Gus,
Berrian and company fits.

Bad Bet: Collins vs. Bears, Grossman vs. Titans
Rosenfels vs. Ravens, Rodgers vs. Vikings


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

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

Favorable:

Jamal Lewis- faces a Broncos defense that allows 5.1
ypc. Lewis is likely to be featured to take the pressure
off Brady Quinn.

Thomas Jones- has been on a roll of late which is likely
to continue against a porous Rams defense which allows
4.9 ypc and 12 rushing TD's.

Deuce McAllister- has a good matchup vs. the Falcons
rush defense which allows 4.7 ypc.

Good Bet: Torain vs. Browns, Jones-Drew vs. Lions
Rice vs. Texans, D. Williams vs. Raiders


Unfavorable: (sitting a #2)

Joseph Addai- rushes a Steelers defense that limited
Portis to 51 yards on the ground and allows a scant 2.9
ypc and 3 rushing TD's on the season

Steve Slaton- has a bad matchup vs. the Ravens rush
defense which holds RB's to 2.8 ypc. He may have some
chances in the passing game but is a risky play.

Ryan Grant- has been rounding into form but faces a
stout Vikings interior defense that allows only 3.0 ypc.
The Packers will rely on their solid passing game.

Bad Bet: Jackson vs. Jets, Jacobs vs. Eagles
Ch. Johnson vs. Bears, Hightower vs. 49ers


3. WR's: Matchups

The Standard: 80 yards, 1 TD = 14 points

Favorable: (starting a #3)

Laveranues Coles- will have lots of open looks against
a soft Rams secondary.

Derrick Mason- has a solid matchup vs. the Texans
and has built excellent rapport with Flacco.

Muhsin Muhammad- the Raiders will shadow Steve
Smith leaving Muhsin single covered against a backline
that yields 7.1 ypa.

Good Bet: Royal vs. Browns, Evans vs. Patriots,
V. Jackson vs. Chiefs, Camarillo vs. Seahawks


Unfavorable: (sitting a #3)

Anthony Gonzalez- will be blanketed by a smothering
Steelers secondary especially after his 2 TD's last week
vs. the Patriots.

DeSean Jackson- seems to be McNabb's third option
with Curtis & Reggie Brown both active. The Giants
are tough allowing only 5.9 ypa so diminishing looks will
work against Jackson.

Bernard Berrian- will draw the attention of shutdown
corner Charles Woodson. The Packers yield only 5.5
ypa and have CB Al Harris back on the field.

Bad Bet: Walter vs. Ravens, Hester vs. Titans
Gage vs. Bears, Harrison vs. Steelers


4. TE's: Matchups

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

Favorable:

John Carlson- the Dolphins will force Wallace to pass
and Carlson is likely to be targeted often.

Tony Scheffler- has been plagued by a groin injury but
has a solid matchup vs. Cleveland if he's plays.

Anthony Fasano- the Seahawks offer little resistance
in the passing game.

Good Bet: Royal vs. Patriots, Winslow vs. Broncos
Baker vs. Rams, Lewis vs. Lions


Unfavorable:

Owen Daniels- will struggle vs. Ed Reed and the rest of
his Ravens buddies.

Bo Scaife- the Bears will swarm all over Collins' primary
target.

Dallas Clark- the Steelers have the best pass defense in
football and will make life miserable for all of the Colts skill
players.

Bad Bet: Shiancoe vs. Packers, Olsen vs. Titans


5. K's: Matchups

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

Favorable:

Nate Kaeding- the Chargers offense will score early
and often vs. the Chiefs.

Matt Prater- has the strongest leg in football & kicks in
Cleveland on Thursday night. The weather is expected
to be unseasonably warm with light winds.

Josh Scobee- should have plenty of opportunities as the
Jaguars move the ball at will vs. the Lions.

Good Bet: Feely vs. Rams, Crosby vs. Vikings
Rackers vs. 49ers


Unfavorable:

Robbie Gould- the Titans defense is stingy yielding a
league best 12.4 ppg and the Bears are starting Rex
Grossman at QB.

Jeff Akers- the Giants/Eagles war on Sunday night
shapes up to be a hard hitting, low scoring affair.

Sebastien Janikowski- will not get many chances vs.
the Panthers.

Bad Bet: Vinatieri vs. Steelers, Carney vs. Eagles


6. DEF's: Matchups

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

Favorable:

Tennessee- faces backup QB Grossman who is prone
to turnovers and sacks. The Bears will feature RB Forte
but will eventually have to put the game in Rex's hands
giving the Titans a chance to capitalize on his mistakes.

Carolina- the Falcons shutout the Raiders & are not
nearly as formidable as the Panthers.

Miami- will stuff the run forcing Seahawks Seneca
Wallace to throw often creating turnover possibilities.

Good Bet: San Diego vs. Chiefs


Unfavorable:

Minnesota- the Packers strength stacks up well vs.
the weakness in the Vikings defense. Rodgers & co.
will exploit Minnesota's secondary.

New England- faces a Bills offense that has a great
deal to prove. Trent Edwards will be able to exploit
a Patriots backline that allows 7.5 ypa and has yielded
13 TD's over the top.

Pittsburgh- faces Manning and the Colts who have
limited turnovers all season. Manning will get the ball
out of his hands quickly reducing sack opportunities.

Bad Bet: San Francisco vs. Cards, Buffalo vs. Patriots


Notes from the Edge: (November 4th)

Brett Farve's performances are consistently inconsistent.
He's a tough play week over week but has a great matchup
with the Rams this week.

Marshawn Lynch has been enigmatic & might be available
at a reasonable price. He faces the Patriots, Browns and
Chiefs over the next few weeks and should fare well.

Maurice Jones-Drew is showing signs of life and has a nice
matchup with the Lions.

Jerry Porter finally got some looks and is worth monitoring.

David Garrard is a great spot play against a porous Lions
secondary.

Cedric Benson & Ryan Fitzpatrick will return to irrelevance
after the bye week.

Ray Rice was brilliant filling in for an active Willis McGahee
& has a favorable opponent in Houston should Willis be out
again.

Joe Flacco gets better every week and has a soft Texans
pass defense at his disposal.

Derrick Mason has been the beneficiary of Flacco's success
& is a solid #3.

Braylon Edwards has been dropping passes at an alarming rate
including a long bomb yesterday but he does seem to be rounding
into form.

Derek Anderson has been replaced by Brady Quinn as starting
QB for the Browns. The inept Broncos secondary are up next so
Quinn is playable. Make sure to adjust your rosters as this game
is being played on Thursday night.

Gus Frerotte is playable with the right matchup. He has Green
Bay next and needs to ride the bench.

Bernard Berrian will suffer when Frerotte has tough opponents.

Matt Schaub injured a knee and was replaced by Sage Rosenfels.
Normally you sit 2nd stringers vs. the Ravens but their secondary
has been decimated. Keep tabs on practices and the injury report
for Baltimore as Rosenfels, Slaton & Walter might be playable.
Andre Johnson & Owen Daniels are must starts. Schaub will be
out 2-4 weeks with a torn MCL.

Kyle Orton will be out several weeks. Rex Grossman is not viable.

Matt Forte faces the Titans next but has managed to score well
vs. tough rush defenses like the Panthers, Bucs and Vikings.
Forte's versatility and resilience has been remarkable.

Rashied Davis has displaced Devin Hester as an ownable Bears
WR.

Shaun McDonald will have nice games when the matchup is right.
The Jaguars will be preoccupied with Calvin Johnson and can be
had in the passing game.

Dan Orlovsky has a sprained thumb & may miss a few weeks. Drew
Stanton is likely to get the start vs the Jaguars while newly signed
Daunte Culpepper gets up to speed. Avoid this situation until there
is more clarity.

Kevin Smith is actually startable against the Jaguars front seven.

Joey Galloway is still not 100% & is a risky #3 until he shows that
he's totally healthy.

Jeff Garcia is a decent alternative for Orton owners and has a nice
matchup after the bye vs. the Vikings.

Tyler Thigpen confounded a solid Bucs defense & faces a reworked
Chargers team which fired their defensive coordinator. It's unlikely
that he'll replicate last week's performance.

Larry Johnson is suspended & Kolby Smith is done for the season.
Jamaal Charles will be featured vs. San Diego. He's playable but
try to find a better option.

Tim Hightower is the starter and J.J. Arrington the backup at RB
for the Cards. Edgerrin James is out and should be waived.

Marc Bulger, Torry Holt and Steven Jackson have disappointed
almost all season. Only Jackson should be trusted going forward,
if healthy.

Chris Johnson took advantage of a soft Packers interior defense.
He'll have to work a bit harder vs. the Bears. LenDale White has
been more hit than miss.

Ryan Grant is likely to have a solid 2nd half but has a stout Vikings
run defense upcoming.

Donald Driver went off yesterday but Greg Jennings is the man.

Greg Camarillo has a chance to score well against the Seahawks
backline which will be preoccupied with Ginn's speed. Pennington
is a solid spot play or bye week option.

Brandon Marshall has a chance to implode & mitigate an immense
talent.

Ryan Torain is the only healthy Broncos RB and may get the bulk
of the carries vs. the Browns as Andre Hall & Michael Pittman
have been placed on injured reserve & are out for the season. Selvin
Young has been battling a groin strain. Avoid the temptation to own
Peyton Hills.

Michael Turner is the easiest top flight running back to gauge. He's
a must start against defenses that allow 4.3+ yards per carry & a sit
vs. the others.

Matt Ryan and Roddy White are one of the best tandems in the
league. White is a must start and Ryan is a solid spot starter when
opponents are favorable such as the Saints.

Justin Fargas disappointed a large number of players and should
be released immediately along with all other Raiders.

Eli Manning has been a tough start for his owners but plays in a
system that suits his game. He's likely to struggle vs. Eagles.

Plaxico Burress has been minimized in the Giants offense but
they'll need to target him against the smallish Eagles cornerbacks.

DeSean Jackson appears to be the odd man out as Curtis and
Reggie Brown are getting the attention from McNabb.

All Seahawks are to be avoided until Hasselbeck returns and
if that's next season, so be it.

Anthony Gonzalez had his day in the sun but will face a stingy
Steelers secondary next. Proceed with caution.

Joseph Addai is in a funk & is likely to struggle vs. the Steelers.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Kevin Faulk will be hard to start
when Sammy Morris and/or LaMont Jordan return. Keep an
eye on the Patriots practices and the Walking Wounded on
Wednesday and Saturday.


Quick Picks: (free agents to acquire)
J. Flacco
S. Rosenfels
J. Garcia
T. Hightower
R. Rice
J. Charles
C. Benson
Ra. Davis
Ma. Clayton
S. McDonald

Castaways: (waiver candidates)
E. James
Ko. Smith
M. Pittman
J. Fargas
M. Morris
Ju. Jones
B. Engram

Hard Knocks: (injury notes)
B. Roethlisberger- shoulder
K. Orton- ankle
M. Schaub- knee
Ko. Smith- knee
J. Fargas- hand
H. Miller- ankle


All Done!

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