Byes: Carolina, Cleveland, Green Bay, San Diego Arizona at Washington Bench:
Cardinals Quarterbacks and Receivers: Tim Rattay. Nothing against the man, but he constitutes a significant downgrade from the Matt Leinart/Kurt Warner situation the Cards were in previously. Larry Fitzgerald figures to take a hit, as does Bryant Johnson and Anquan Boldin upon return. Start:
Edgerrin James, RB, Cardinals: The Edge has been a consistent performer this season, usually good for 80-100 yards per game and a TD. There is no goal-line vulture in Arizona, and James figures to see his workload increase in the absence of a quarterback. Atlanta at New Orleans Bench:
Warrick Dunn, RB, Falcons: The Dunn era is dying a slow death in Atlanta, but Jerious Norwood's performance, along with Dunn's ineffectiveness thus far, means his fantasy contributions will be null and void. Start:
Drew Brees, QB, Saints: After a horrendous start, Brees seems close to righting the ship, and should have good luck doing so against a secondary that was torched by Eli Manning and Co. last week. Baltimore at Buffalo Bench:
The Bills: Even good offenses struggle against the Ravens and this, as you know, is not a good offense. Start:
Willis McGahee, RB, Ravens: I'll admit, I was a McGahee hater before the season started, figuring on mediocre-at-best output for the cranky RB, however, he has had a nice start to the season, which should continue vs. the woeful Bills. New England at Miami Bench:
Patriots RB’s: While you should be starting everyone else on the Patriots, give Bill Belichick’s RB’s a place of honor on your bench, as one never knows who will get the carries from week to week, or if there will even be carries given. I want to like Laurence Maroney, I really do, but I just can’t. For what it’s worth, I unloaded Maroney this week, straight up, for Steven Jackson basically trading groin pull for groin pull. Start:
Ronnie Brown, RB, Dolphins: The Dolphins had two good offensive skill position players Chris Chambers and Ronnie Brown and they traded one of them (Chambers), which means if there is a Dolphin scoring touchdowns (that’s a big IF) that Dolphin will probably be Ronnie Brown. San Francisco at New York Giants Bench:
Derrick Ward, RB, Giants: What looked so promising a few weeks ago now looks...much less promising, with Droughns stealing goal line carries and Brandon Jacobs back to siphon carries between the twenties. Start:
Trent Dilfer, QB, 49ers: I’m not advocating starting Dilfer if you’ve got better options, but if you’re like me and all your QB’s are either dead or on the bye; he might not be a bad start this week vs. the vulnerable Giants. Tampa Bay at Detroit Bench:
Kevin Jones, RB, Lions: Tatum BellÉKevin Jones...TJ Duckett...It really doesn’t matter who it is, does it? The point is, this running game stinks and should be avoided. Start:
Jeff Garcia, QB, Bucs: I continue to be amazed at Garcia’s performances, after those unfortunate years in Cleveland and Detroit. Speaking of Detroit, their pass defense is horrible, and Garcia should exploit it. Tennessee at Houston Bench:
Ahman Green, RB, Texans: This ground game, and Green in particular, has gone nowhere in recent weeks, and I don’t see that changing against the Titans. If you have a better option, go with it. Vince Young, QB, Titans: He strained his quad today (Wednesday) and is listed as day-to-day, but regardless, Young just isn’t very good. Start:
Kevin Walter, WR, Texans: Seems to have emerged a bit from the morass that has been the Texans WR situation since Andre Johnson went down. Caught 10 balls last week, and should see plenty of opportunities vs. the Titans. Kansas City at Oakland Bench:
Damon Huard, QB, Chiefs: Oakland has only given up 6 TD’s through the air this season (while picking off 9) so Huard makes for a shaky option this week. Start:
LaMont Jordan (or whomever starts at RB), Raiders: Jordan was a surprise start last week, so one would assume he’ll be ready to go against Kansas City and their porous defense on Sunday. However, it makes sense to keep an eye on the injury report. Larry Johnson, RB, Chiefs: Johnson seems to be on the Fred-Taylor-esque good-game-every-three-or-four-weeks plan and facing Oakland’s subpar rush defense just might get him that game. New York Jets at Cincinnati Bench:
Rudi Johnson, RB, Bengals: Until Rudi proves that he’s fully recovered from his hamstring injury, I would hesitate to start himÉthough, I would love to start a Bengal RB against the Jets subpar run D. Keep your eyes on the injury report throughout the week. Start:
Everyone Else: Cincy has become the Louisville of professional football as their games are marked by a distinct lack of anything resembling a defense. That said, Chad Pennington, Thomas Jones, and the rest of the Bengals (Palmer, Ocho Cinco, Housh) make great plays this week. Chicago at Philadelphia Bench:
Cedric Benson, RB, Bears: The Eagles are only surrendering 86 YPG, and have only given up 2 TD’s this season on the ground. I don’t see the limited Benson getting close to 100 yards or the stripe this week. Start:
Brian Westbrook, RB, Eagles: Look who’s near the bottom of the league in rush defense? The Bears, and Westy, who is an every-week start anyway, makes a great play this week. Minnesota at Dallas Bench:
Dallas Backs: The Vikings are unbelievably stout vs. the run, surrendering only 66 YPG and 0 rush TD’s. The Dallas job-share doesn’t help either. Start:
Dallas QB, TE, WR’s: As good as Minnesota is vs. the run, they are equally horrendous against the pass, ranking last in the NFL in that category. Thus, Romo, TO, and Crayton all make good plays this week. And Jason Witten is an every-week start at TE. St. Louis vs Seattle Bench:
Shaun Alexander, RB, Seahawks: Sure, he’s sucked this year, but he’s still Shaun Alexander, and they’re still the Rams. He’s due. Start:
Brian Leonard, RB, Rams: Seattle’s run D is poor, so the versatile Leonard actually makes a pretty good play this week for a Rams offense that can’t do anything else. Pittsburgh at Denver Bench:
Jay Cutler, QB, Broncos: While I love Cutler and his long-term potential, Pittsburgh isn’t the team against which young quarterbacks have their breakout game. Start:
Willie Parker, RB, Steelers: Denver is absolutely terrible vs. the run, so Parker should go well over the century mark and find the stripe. Indianapolis at Jacksonville Bench:
David Garrard, QB, Jags: Garrard has put together a few nice outings, but will struggle against Indy’s resurgent secondary. Start:
Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jags: Some people call him the Space Cowboy, Some Call Him the Gangster of Love....I call him a good play vs. Indy, who always seems to have trouble with the Jags running game. Sleepers
Cleo Lemon, QB, Dolphins: As long as Cleo Lemon is alive and playing professional football, he will remain on my sleeper list largely because he’s named Cleo Lemon. Kyle Boller, QB, Ravens: Will probably get the start again for Baltimore, and has looked good in limited time this season, completing over 60 percent with a couple of scores. Kevin Faulk, RB, Patriots: A sneaky play this week, as the Patriots have lost Sammy Morris to a freak chest injury. That said though, the Patriots will probably re- sign Craig James, not tell anybody, start him, and he’ll go for 180 yards and a score. Ted Kluck is the author of three books, including “Paper Tiger: One Athlete’s Journey to the Underbelly of Pro Football.” Visit him online at www.tedkluck.com. | 
