Fantasy Football Player's Edge

November 15, 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


The Walking Wounded: (updated/revised)

Matt Hasselbeck is on track to start vs. the Cards.
He's playable but it might be best to give him a start
before trusting him at QB.

Tony Romo should return vs. the Redskins which
boasts a top 5 pass defense allowing only 5.7 ypa.

Ben Roethlisberger is practicing and ready for the
Chargers.

Aaron Rodgers practiced fully for the first time in
weeks & looks to exploit a depleted Bears secondary.

Marc Bulger will start against the 49ers. He is an
extremely risky play even though San Francisco
yields 6.9 ypa.

Ryan Fitzpatrick will play for the Bengals vs. the
Eagles as Carson Palmer remains sidelined. He is
not playable as the Eagles secondary allows only
6.0 ypa.

Kyle Orton has been limited in practice as he tries
to return from an ankle sprain. Grossman is ready
to go if Orton is unable to suit up. Neither QB is a
great play as Green Bay's secondary is uber-stingy
allowing only 5.4 ypa.

JaMarcus Russell practiced fully & is likely to play
vs. a soft Dolphins backline which allows 7.1 ypa.

Steven Jackson is out. Antonio Pittman gets the
start but is a poor play as the 49ers have allowed
only 3.5 ypc on the season.

Clinton Portis is unlikely to play vs. the Cowboys
as his balky knee has not improved appreciably. Some
combination of Ladell Betts, Shaun Alexander and
Rock Cartwright are likely to split carries. It is best
to avoid this situation as there is no way to tell how
carries will be distributed.

Willie Parker intends to play against the Chargers.
He will wear a shoulder harness to protect an injured
labrum. Mewelde Moore is likely to split carries with
fast Willie mitigating the value of both backs.

Felix Jones missed practice and is unlikely to play vs.
the Redskins. He's has a strained hamstring.

Cadillac Williams has been activated by the Bucs &
is part of a committee at RB. Graham and Dunn have
returned to practice & will play. The Vikings D comes
for a visit allowing a scant 3.1 ypc. Sit the trio.

Larry Johnson will play & is likely to start against the
the Saints rush defense which allows 4.2 ypc. Kansas
City has been relying on a newly found passing game
but Johnson should still see 20+ touches unless Herm
Edwards wants to teach him additional life lessons.

Brian Westbrook practiced fully and will play against
the Bengals.

Reggie Bush is out. In theory, Deuce McAllister is a
solid play against the Chiefs which allow 5.2 ypc but his
utilization has been inconsistent. He's a risky play even
with a fantastic matchup.

Darren McFadden is practicing and is likely to play vs
Miami which features one of the best run defenses in
football. Fargas, Bush & McFadden are risky plays.

Peyton Hillis will start at tailback for the Broncos as
Selvin Young is out. Recently signed Tatum Bell has
been added & because he is familiar with the offense may
get a few carries. The Falcons have a poor run defense
allowing a generous 4.9 ypc. This RB situation is difficult
to assess as Shanahan is prone to shenanigans with his
running game. Use Hillis but only if you're desperate.

Frank Gore has a jammed neck but is likely to play vs.
the Rams. DeShaun Foster would start if Gore is out
and would be a great play as St. Louis has allowed 4.8
ypc and 14 rushing TD's.

Cedric Benson was added to the injury report with a
sore back but is probable to face a stout Eagles rush
defense. He's a risky play.

Deion Branch has practiced and may play against the
Cards. He'd be a solid #3 especially with Hasselbeck
returning but you'll have to check back on Sunday to
assure that he's active even though he's probable.

Derrick Mason has been limited in practice but should
play against the Giants. This is a tough matchup even
if Mason is 100% healthy.

Santana Moss is still dealing with a sore hamstring but
is expected to play vs. the Cowboys.

Reggie Wayne has been taking it easy as he nurses an
ankle sprain. He is expected to start against a Texans
secondary that allows 7.7 ypa.

Anthony Gonzalez has a sore hamstring but will play
vs. the Texans.

Marcus Colston has been limited with a swollen knee.
He should be ready for the Chiefs.

Javon Walker had an MRI on his ankle and will need
season ending surgery to repair the problem.

Ike Hilliard is experiencing headaches from a helmet
hit but is practicing & is likely to play vs. the Vikings.

DeSean Jackson has practiced & is likely to start vs.
the Bengals. He has a groin strain.

Josh Morgan is out against the Rams with a strained
groin opening the door for Jason Hill. St. Louis has
an awful pass defense which has allowed 8.2 ypa.

Matt Jones has a quad bruise & is questionable for the
Titans.

Jeremy Shockey is not on the Saints injury report &
should be ready for the Chiefs.

Tony Scheffler practiced fully and appears recovered
from a groin strain.

Jason Witten is practicing but still has painful broken
ribs. It seems as if he'll play vs. the Redskins & should
be started even with a difficult opponent.

Heath Miller has been ruled out of week 11's tilt with
San Diego.

Packers MLB Nick Barnett is out for the year making
an awful run defense that much worse. Forte is likely
to have his best game of the year.

Browns G Eric Steinbach has a painful rib injury and
is questionable for the Bills on Monday night. The elite
guard is a strong run blocker & would be missed vs. a
good Bills rush defense. Jamal Lewis has the most to
lose if Steinbach is sidelined.

Massive Browns NT Shaun Rogers has not practiced
as he deals with a neck injury. Marshawn Lynch would
be the primary beneficiary if Rogers is sidelined.


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 enemy 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


Van Winkles: (deep sleepers)

Shaun Hill- is a serviceable backup who is capable of
taking advantage of a St. Louis pass defense that has
given an astounding 8.2 ypa and 13 TD's.

Peyton Hillis- the bulky fullback will play tailback & is
likely get 10+ carries & 5 balls in the passing game vs.
the Falcons. Atlanta allows a generous 4.9 ypc & will
not be able to stack the box against Cutler, Marshall
and Royal.

Michael Jenkins- teams are becoming obsessed with
stopping the Matt Ryan-Roddy White tandem. That
defensive scheme will create open looks for Jenkins.
The Broncos secondary is awful allowing 7.2 ypa &
14 TD's. Compounding their woes, Denver is likely to
be without shutdown CB Champ Bailey who's dealing
with a groin injury.

Bobby Engram- should be involved in a shootout with
Warner & the Cards. Hasselbeck is likely to return to
action but all bets would be off if Matt sits. Arizona
offers little resistance in the passing game allowing 7.0
ypa and a league worst 18 aerial TD's.

Jason Hill- is a frequent target and will benefit from
the absence of rookie Josh Morgan. He's a possession
receiver that Martz will utilize well against the Rams.

Billy Miller- Shockey has a swollen ankle & ego. He
is leaving the door open for Miller to get more snaps
even if Shockey plays. Miller would get an upgrade
if Jeremy sits. The Chiefs allow 7.7 ypa.

No He Didn't:

Andrew Walter- faces a Miami defense that will shut
down the Raiders running game. Walter may have to
throw 25+ times in this one and could post 10+ points.
JaMarcus Russell would be a better long shot if he
plays.


All Done!

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