Fantasy Football Player's Edge

November 12, 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


Start/Sit: (Week 11)

1. QB's: Matchups

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

Favorable:

Jake Delhomme- is coming off an awful game against the
Raiders. He faces a porous Lions secondary that yields an
NFL worst 9.1 ypa and 15 TD's in 9 games.

Matt Ryan- has the good fortune to welcome the Broncos
to the Georgia Dome. Denver's dreadful pass defense has
yielded 7.2 ypa and 14 TD's. Shutdown CB Champ Bailey is
still questionable with a groin strain.

Trent Edwards- has a chance at redemption when he faces
the Browns on Monday night. Cleveland's secondary has
allowed 7.6 ypa and 12 TD's.

Good Bet: Warner vs. Seahawks, Brees vs. Chiefs
Favre vs. Patriots, P. Manning vs. Texans
Hasselbeck vs. Cards, Collins vs. Jaguars


Unfavorable:

Philip Rivers- has the unenviable task of challenging the
Steelers defense which is the stingiest in the NFL allowing
only 4.8 ypa.

David Garrard- has a very tough matchup vs the Titans
which boasts a pass defense that has allowed 5.4 ypa and
a meager 5 TD's.

Joe Flacco- this young gun will face intense pressure from
the Giants which hold eneny signal callers to 5.8 ypa with
30 sacks in 9 games.

Bad Bet: Orton vs. Packers, Culpepper vs. Panthers
Romo vs. Redskins


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

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

Favorable:

Michael Turner- has a favorable matchup vs. Denver
which yields an abysmal 5.1 ypc. Turner has exploited
soft run defenses all season.

Matt Forte- faces a porous Packers run defense that
has lost middle linebacker Nick Barnett. Green Bay
already allows 5.0 ypc and it could get worse.

D'Angelo Williams- runs against a soft Lions interior
defense which has granted 4.7 ypc and 14 TD's.

Good Bet: Lynch vs. Browns, Addai vs. Texans
Brown vs. Raiders, R. Bush vs. Chiefs


Unfavorable: (sitting a #2)

Brandon Jacobs- this is all about inertia as Jacobs is
a battering ram & the Ravens are staunch upfront. This
is where irresistible force meets an immovable object.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis- the Jets stop the run. They
allow only 3.2 ypc. Lamont Jordan may also be in the
mix on Thursday night further mitigating Green-Ellis'
value.

Ryan Grant- has been rounding into form but faces a
stout Bears interior defense that allows only 3.1 ypc.
The Packers may have to rely on their passing game.

Bad Bet: Tomlinson vs. Steelers, Barber vs. Redskins
Graham vs. Vikings, S. Jackson vs. 49ers


3. WR's: Matchups

The Standard: 80 yards, 1 TD = 14 points

Favorable: (starting a #3)

Lee Evans- should have a rebound effort against a soft
Browns secondary.

Dwayne Bowe- has a great matchup vs the Saints &
has developed a strong chemistry with Thigpen.

Muhsin Muhammad- should be the beneficiary of a
rebound by QB Delhomme vs. a weak Lions defense.

Good Bet: Breaston vs. Seahawks, A. Gonzalez vs. Texans,
Engram vs. Cards, Coles vs. Patriots, Morgan vs. Rams


Unfavorable: (sitting a #3)

Derrick Mason- played in pain with a shoulder issue vs.
the Texans. The pain will continue against a smothering
Giants pass defense.

Chris Chambers- was basically a decoy vs. the Chiefs.
The Steelers will relegate Chambers to decoy status
again on Sunday.

Matt Jones- this would be a good week to start serving
his impending suspension rather than facing the Titans
secondary.

Bad Bet: V. Jackson vs. Steelers, Hester vs. Packers
Crayton vs. Redskins, McDonald vs. Panthers


4. TE's: Matchups

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

Favorable:

John Carlson- Hasselbeck is likely to want to air it out
vs. the Cards. Carlson will be targeted.

Bo Scaife- will be a complimentary part of the Titans ball
control game plan against the Jaguars.

Zach Miller- likely to have a major role in an awful Raiders
offense against a generous Dolphins pass defense.

Good Bet: Royal vs. Browns, B. Miller vs. Chiefs
Keller vs. Patriots


Unfavorable:

Kevin Boss- will struggle against Ed Reed & the rest of his
Ravens buddies.

Greg Olsen- the Packers secondary might be the best in
football forcing the Bears to exploit their weak run defense.

Marcedes Lewis- will have to pass protect vs. the Titans
front 7, limiting his looks.

Bad Bet: Gates vs. Steelers, Witten vs. Redskins
Heap vs. Giants


5. K's: Matchups

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

Favorable:

Adam Vinatieri- the Colts offense will score early and
often vs. the Texans.

Matt Prater- has the strongest leg in football & kicks on
the carpet in Atlanta on Sunday.

Joe Nedney- should have plenty of opportunities as the
49ers move the ball at will vs. the Rams.

Good Bet: Kasay vs. Lions, Rackers vs. Seahawks


Unfavorable:

Josh Scobee- the Titans defense is unyielding allowing
a league best 13 ppg.

Nate Kaeding- the Chargers will be hitting a stone wall
in Pittsburgh, a notoriously tough place to kick.

Sebastien Janikowski- will not get many chances against
the Dolphins.

Bad Bet: Carney vs. Ravens, Longwell vs. Bucs


6. DEF's: Matchups

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

Favorable:

Philadelphia- will take out last week's frustration vs.
the Giants on the Fitzpatrick led Bengals.

Carolina- has a home date with a Lions team that is
winless. The Panthers should be able to control the line
of scrimmage forcing Culpepper/Stanton into mistakes
in the passing game.

Miami- it's their turn to score heavily vs. the Raiders.

Good Bet: San Francisco vs. Rams, Baltimore vs. Giants
New York Giants vs. Ravens


Unfavorable:

Chicago- the Packers strength stacks up well against
a recently exposed weakness in the Bears pass defense.
Rodgers & co. will exploit Chicago's secondary.

Jacksonville- has struggled vs. robust rushing attacks.
The Titans will put the hammer down on Sunday.

Green Bay- has a soft run defense that will be exploited
by Forte and the Bears offensive coaching staff.

Bad Bet: San Diego vs. Steelers, Jets vs. Patriots


Notes from the Edge: (November 11th)

Matt Cassel continues to improve and has a solid matchup
on Thursday night, at home vs. the Jets.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis was impressive but has limited
value as the Jets are solid against the run. Jordan should
return to action and will vulture carries.

Trent Edwards has struggled for weeks coincidental with
a concussion that he sustained. He has an enviable matchup
vs. a soft Browns secondary on Monday night. If he's unable
to exploit Cleveland's secondary, he should be waived.

Marshawn Lynch continues to disappoint partially due to
a lack of catches out of the backfield. He's a marginal #2 RB
but Fred Jackson injured his leg & the Browns yield 4.7
yards per carry. Marshawn has a chance to right the ship.

Brett Farve played smart football much to the chagrin of
his owners. He's likely to be a gunslinger against a suspect
but improving Patriots secondary.

Thomas Jones is feast or famine. The buffet is likely to be
bountiful against the Patriots without Adalius Thomas.

Cotchery and Coles were not needed vs. the Rams. They
will be targeted against New England.

Dustin Keller, like Brent Celek last week, will be slowed
considerably when defenses are paying attention.

Torry Holt is unplayable as are all other Rams skill players
with the exception of Steven Jackson.

David Garrard & Maurice Jones Drew are rounding into
form but may get derailed this week vs. the Titans.

Daunte Culpepper was predictably rusty but did have a
long completion to Calvin Johnson. This tandem can be
meaningful especially in week 16 when the Lions face the
Saints.

Kevin Smith is clearly the starter at RB for Detroit. He's
in tough at Carolina but would provide good depth at RB
if he's a free agent in your league as he faces mediocre run
defenses in the Colts and Saints for week's 15 and 16.

Kerry Collins proved that he can still throw. The Titans
will revert to the running game against the Jaguars but
Collins may have some opportunities against a soft pass
defense.

No worries with Chris Johnson as the Bears sold out to
shut him down enabling Collins to have easy throws.

Justin Gage finally had a decent game but he's not to be
trusted.

Rex Grossman was serviceable against a solid Titans D.
He's in even tougher this week vs. the Packers secondary.

Matt Forte is a must start regardless of the opponent. He
is uncanny in his ability to have meaningful games.

Willis McGahee has reclaimed his role as lead dog in the
Ravens running game. Ray Rice has limited value unless
Willis gets dinged.

Joe Flacco has been terrific but will be tested by a solid
Giants pass defense and rush.

Todd Heap made a case for fantasy relevancy & is worth
a flier if your using Royal or L.J. Smith.

Steve Slaton was ineffective vs. the Ravens but may have
it somewhat easier vs. the Colts although the return of Bob
Sanders has improved this defensive unit against the run.

Sage Rosenfels won't have it any easier as the Colts have
allowed only 2 passing scores all season.

Matt Ryan is playing well and has a wonderful matchup vs.
the Broncos. Roddy White will be unstoppable if Champ
Bailey is still sidelined.

Michael Turner faces another soft run defense as Denver
allows 5.1 ypc.

Reggie Bush is likely to return this week further mitigating
Deuce McAllister's value. Deuce had a late & lucky score
on a screen pass as he hardly played in the 2nd half.

Marques Colston had a monster game & should be started
every week.

Jeremy Shockey & Drew Brees got into a heated argument
on the sidelines. Shockey was surly and sulked on the bench.
The Giants made him expendable for having a poor attitude
which Brees and company saw first hand on Sunday.

Bernard Berrian was shutdown by Charles Woodson &
Al Harris. He has another tough matchup vs. the Bucs but
should have a few catches.

Gus Frerotte will test another tough secondary in Tampa
Bay and is better served on your bench.

Aaron Rodgers had a tough day against a reasonably soft
pass defense in Minnesota. It could be the shoulder or just
an off day. It'll be interesting to see if he practices this week.

Ryan Grant ran well against the Titans & Vikings. He faces
a Bears defense that allows a stingy 3.1 ypc but should be
started as normal.

The Ricky Williams & Ronnie Brown time share is making it
impossible for owners to play either with confidence.

Ted Ginn is getting closer to being a consistent start at #3
but is likely to draw Raiders shutdown corner Asomugha.

Engram is playable vs. the Cards if Hasselbeck returns.

Jake Delhomme was dreadful but is likely to make amends
vs. the Lions.

D'Angelo Williams has really stepped up and welcomes a
porous Lions rush defense that permits 4.7 ypc and allowed
14 TD's in 9 games.

Justin Fargas is a good back on a bad team & faces another
formidable rush defense in Miami.

Joseph Addai is hard to watch & might qualify as "the" bust
at the top end of the draft. Dominic Rhodes continues to play
well and is likely to get increased touches going forward.

All Colts receivers, including Harrison, get upgrades vs. the
Texans.

Mewelde Moore scored well even though he only averaged 2.4
ypc & was stuffed twice at the goal line. There is some talk that
Willie Parker may play vs. the Chargers. Hold on to Moore
until this situation is clarified.

Ben Roethlisberger has been disappointing but the Colts are
solid in the secondary. He's likely to fare better vs. the Chargers.

LaDainian Tomlinson continues to be enigmatic & has a tough
road to hoe vs Pittsburgh. He's a start, of course, but will need
a TD to score reasonably as yards will be tough to come by.

Antonio Gates is getting better by the game rewarding owners
who gambled a high draft pick when his health was in question
before the season started.

Philip Rivers, Chris Chambers & Vincent Jackson will be
hard pressed to put up points vs. the Steelers.

Tyler Thigpen is improving weekly and is playable against the
Saints. He's locked in on Gonzalez and Bowe.

Brandon Jacobs is unstoppable but faces the toughest run unit
in the league. The Ravens have allowed 2.9 ypc and 1 rushing
TD all season. Typically the defense wins but this guy is a freak.

DeSean Jackson continues to find ways to reward owners. He
had a rushing TD on a direct snap.

Jamal Lewis accused certain unnamed Browns of giving up in
the middle of games. Could he be talking about Braylon Edwards?

Quick Picks: (free agents to acquire)
B. Quinn
T. Thigpen
M. Jenkins
J. Porter
B. Scaife
T. Heap
K. Boss

Castaways: (waiver candidates)
J. Charles
R. Torain
M. Bulger
T. Holt

Hard Knocks: (injury notes)
Fr. Jackson- leg
S. Young- groin
R. Torain- knee
W. Parker- shoulder
J. Charles- ankle
D. Mason- shoulder
M. Harrison- head
Ma. Jones- thigh
Ad. Thomas- arm


All Done!

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