Fantasy Football Player's Edge

November 8, 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 10 News: (Daily Updates)

Dante Culpepper is likely to get the start over Drew
Stanton vs. the Jaguars. He's been the better QB in
practice & certainly has the stronger arm. Daunte is
worth a flier as the Lions play the Colts & Saints in
fantasy playoff weeks 15 & 16 but is not a great play
this week.

Bye Week: Cowboys, Bucs, Redskins, Bengals


The Walking Wounded: (revised/updated)

Matt Hasselbeck returned to practice taking snaps
with the scout team. He's unlikely to play vs. Miami.
Seneca Wallace will get the start & could be a spot
play in a dire emergency. Hasselbeck is expected to
return vs. the Cards on November 16th.

Ben Roethlisberger is probable to start against the
Colts but has several nagging injuries. The Colts have
a solid secondary so Big Ben is a risky play at best.

Kyle Orton has no significant ligament damage & has
not ruled out playing vs. Titans. Rex Grossman gets
the start if Orton sits but is not a viable option.

JaMarcus Russell struggled in practice this week as
he suffers with tendinitis in his knee. Andrew Walter
would get the start if Russell has to sit but neither
QB is playable vs. the Panthers.

Willie Parker is out due to a bruised shoulder opening
the door for Mewelde Moore to shine vs. the Colts.

Kenneth Darby & Samkon Gado could be the Rams
RB's vs. the Jets. Antonio Pittman and Travis Minor
are questionable. Steven Jackson has been ruled out
with a sore quad. Avoid this situation.

Ray Rice & Willis McGahee are listed as probable for
the soft touch Texans. The rhetoric has Rice starting
so drop in on Sunday's Crunch Time for the game time
details.

Brian Westbrook was limited in practice as a precaution.
He's probable for the Giants on Sunday night.

Darren McFadden is day to day with 2 turf toe injuries.
He would not an advisable play, if healthy, vs. a stout
Panthers run defense.

Jonathan Stewart missed practice with a sore heel &
is questionable for the Raiders.

Sammy Morris and LaMont Jordan are likely to miss
Sunday's fracas with the Bills. Faulk and Green-Ellis
will be the primary ball carriers with Faulk serviceable
as a spot play but only if you're in a bind.

Reggie Bush practiced lightly & may be able to return
in week 11 vs. the Chiefs.

Larry Fitzgerald is not on the Cards injury report. He
is expected to play against the 49ers.

Jerry Porter seems to be fully recovered from a season
long hamstring strain. The Jaguars advise that Porter
will have a larger role in the offense. He's a great start
vs. the Lions secondary.

Mike Walker practiced fully and if he plays would give
Garrard a full compliment of offensive weapons to use
vs. the Lions.

Randy Moss practiced fully as he readies for the Bills.

Chris Chambers was limited in practice but is likely to
start against the Chiefs.

Kevin Walter missed practice with a back strain. He's
probable for the Ravens.

Deion Branch practiced with the 1st team and might
play this week. He would be usable as a #3 but only as
a last resort vs. a Dolphins secondary that allows 7.5
ypa. He is questionable so make sure that he's playing
if you have the courage to start him.

Hines Ward practiced fully & will play vs. the Colts.

Brandon Lloyd practiced fully and should play for the
Bears vs. the Titans. Marty Booker missed practice
with a sore knee. Neither WR would be a good play this
week.

Jeremy Shockey practiced fully & should start against
the Falcons.

L.J.Smith has returned to action from a concussion & is
expected to start against the Giants.

Kevin Boss sprained an ankle and is questionable for the
Eagles.

Heath Miller is doubtful for the Colts due to a sore ankle.
Matt Spaeth would start and is marginally usable.

Vikings DE Jared Allen may miss the Packers game. He
has a shoulder separation. Rodgers would benefit greatly
if Allen has to sit.

Jaguars DT John Henderson has a sprained MCL and is
out of the Lions game. Kevin Smith gets an upgrade to
playable with big John inactive.

Matt Schobel is out this week & may miss the rest of the
season with a foot injury. Matt Cassel will have more time
without Schobel bearing down on his blind side.


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


Van Winkles: (deep sleepers)

Shaun Hill- is a serviceable backup who should be able
to take advantage of an Arizona defense that has given
7.2 ypa and a league high 16 TD's.

Le'Ron McClain- Rice & McGahee have been limited in
practice due to injuries leaving open the possibility that
McClain will get extra carries to augment his goal line
work.

Kevin Smith- faces a Jacksonville defense that allows
4.5 ypc and may be without DT John Henderson.

Roscoe Parrish- has a solid matchup vs. a soft Patriots
secondary that yields 7.5 ypa. Lee Evans will get doubled
giving Parrish ample opportunity to shine.

Josh Morgan- the rookie dropped a pass in Singletary's
debut as 49ers head coach and was disciplined by having
limited snaps. The week prior Morgan had a big game vs
the Giants and should replicate that performance against
the Cards.

No He Didn't:

Seneca Wallace- faces a Dolphins defense that will shut
down the Seahawks running game. Wallace may have to
throw 35+ times in this one and could post 12+ points.


All Done!

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