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Week Eight | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Byes:Arizona, Atlanta, Baltimore, Dallas, Kansas City, Seattle Cleveland at St. Louis Bench: Brian Leonard, RB, Rams: It’s been a nice starting run for the Rutgers product, but Steven Jackson is reportedly returning to the lineup, and makes a nice play against a horrible Rams defense. Start: Derek Anderson, Braylon Edwards, Kellen Winslow; Browns: This is a nice week to start your three passing-game Browns, as this game figures to feature very little in the way of defense, and could end up in a shootout, as most Browns games do. Anderson should post another multiple-TD game, and Winslow and Edwards should both find the end zone. Marc Bulger, Steven Jackson, Torry Holt; Rams: Granted, these three players have all been huge disappointments, but they’re due, and what better way to get healthy than to face the Browns and their sieve-like defense? Detroit at Chicago Bench: Mike Furrey, WR, Lions: Furrey notched 5 catches in each of the first 4 Lions games, and then recorded 1 catch in Week 5, and 2 catches in Week 7. Due to the presence of Shaun McDonald, both have been rendered worthless as the Lions “other” WR. Start: Kevin Jones, RB, Lions: Which Lions team will show up? Will it be the aerial circus producing huge yardage and point totals, or the team that completely disappeared against Washington? Either way, Kevin Jones is back, and provides a significant upgrade over Tatum Bell. Jones should find the end zone against a banged-up Chicago D that’s vulnerable on the ground. Indianapolis at Carolina Bench: Any Panther Not Named Steve Smith: For the sake of Steve Smith owners, we’ll hope the Panthers start Vinny Testaverde instead of David Carr, who has looked like a deer in headlights for the better part of his career. That said, the running game has been spotty at best, and expect the Colts to force the Panthers to pass to win. Start: Dallas Clark, TE, Colts: This is the first year in a long time I haven’t owned Dallas Clark and of course this is the year that he’s absolutely on fire. Clark has scored in every game but one, and I don’t expect that to change this week. New York Giants at Miami Bench: Dolphin WR’s: Word on the street was that Ted Ginn or Marty Booker would step up in Chris Chambers’ absence. I don’t see it happening yet. Start: Cleo Lemon, QB, Dolphins: With 6 teams on the bye, chances are you need a fill-in quarterback, and believe it or not, Lemon isn’t a bad option given his propensity for scoring rushing TD’s. Brandon Jacobs, Eli Manning, Plaxico Burress: Jacobs gives the G-Men a consistent running threat, and all three players should benefit against an awful Miami defense. Oakland at Tennessee Bench: LaMont Jordan, RB, Raiders: Jordan hasn’t had a truly monster week since Weeks 2 and 3, when he faced the NFL’s worst run defenses in Cleveland and Denver. That said, he has been slowed by a gimpy back and hasn’t scored since Week 3. Start: LenDale White, RB, Titans: Is finally giving the Titans the kind of move-the-chains and red zone production they expected when they drafted him. Has found the end zone in 4 of 6 games this season. Philadelphia at Minnesota Bench: The Vikings Passing Game: Tarvaris Jackson has been awfulÉcase in point, Troy Williamson led the team in receiving yards last week, with 1 catch for 25 yards. Meanwhile, the tall, talented Sidney Rice languishes on the bench. I don’t get it. Start: Donovan McNabb, QB, Eagles: As unsold on him as the leader of his team as I am, he makes a pretty good play this week and has been good for about 200 yards and a score this season. Pittsburgh at Cincinnati Bench: Rudi Johnson, Kenny Watson, RB, Bengals: It's been a nice run for Watson, both literally and figuratively, and if Rudi Johnson is considering making his triumphant return to the lineup this week, he should reconsider. Pittsburgh's run defense is akin to a brick wall. Start: Willie Parker, RB, Steelers: Hasn't been a great touchdown play, but should eclipse the century mark against the sieve that is the Bengals defense. Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers: The Steelers will look to throw often at Cincy, as Big Ben is benefitting from rapport with Santonio Holmes and Heath Miller. Heath Miller, TE, Steelers: Miller has been money this season, and figures to find paydirt against a Bengals defense that has had trouble stopping anyone this season. Buffalo at New York Jets Bench: Chad Pennington, QB, Jets: Figures to be on a short leash, as talk of a quarterback change swirls in New York. If Chad falters, it may be the Kellen Clemens show indefinitely. Start: Marshawn Lynch, RB, Bills: Lynch has been the one constant bright spot in Buffalo, and should find ample room against a Jets defense that provided a career day for one Kenny Watson last week. Trent Edwards, QB, Bills: Edwards has been named the starter, and may provide a sneaky play this week for owners in bye-week binds, if only because everyone looks great against the Jets. Houston at San Diego Bench: Ahman Green, RB, Texans: Has been slowly phased out, as the Texans establish their identity as a pass-first offense. Green can be consistently counted-on for a 15 carry, 45 yard type of day. You can do better. Start: Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers: It's been an up and down year for Phil, but byes, and the fact that Houston has been involved in some shootouts, makes him an attractive start. Jacksonville at Tampa Bay Bench: Joey Galloway, WR, Bucs: Hasn’t had a truly monster game since Week 2, and has been ordinary more weeks than not. I don’t see the monster game coming against Jacksonville. Start: Fred Taylor, RB, Jags: Taylor has found himself in a job-share this season, but with MJD nursing an injury, this may be his week to siphon the lions-share of the carries. New Orleans at San Francisco Bench: Reggie Bush, RB, Saints: The presence of Pierre Thomas on the goal line has Bush owners worried, as should the fact that San Fran has only given up three rushing scores all season. This would be a good week to start someone else in your backfield. Start: Niners QB (TBA): Keep an eye on injury reports to see whether it is Alex Smith or Trent Dilfer getting the start for San Fran. Regardless, the Niners QB could make a sneaky play this week against a New Orleans pass defense that is ranked 27th in the league. Washington at New England Bench: Patriots RB’s: Regardless of who Bill Belichick scrounges up to carry the football in New England this week, they don’t make a great start against Washington, who is 5th in the league in rush defense. Start: All of Your Other Patriots: Seriously, Wes Welker, and you can make an argument for Donte Stallworth and Ben Watson, have eclipsed the output of “Number 1” receivers on many teams. These guys are every-week starts. And you’ve heard of Randy Moss and Tom Brady. Green Bay at Denver Bench: Brett Favre, QB, Packers: If you have other options, you might consider exploring them this week, as the Broncos pass defense is top-notch and Favre, of course, has an uncanny ability to throw interceptions. That said, it is Monday Night and Brett Favre. Bench at your own risk. Start: Jay Cutler, QB, Broncos: If Cutler can learn to limit his turnovers, he makes a great play this week, against a middling Packers pass D, which has given up 9 passing TD’s this week. A Packers RB: Check the wires and see who starts for Green Bay this week, but whoever it is should have a field day against the Broncos run defense. 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. Brandon Jackson, RB, Packers: See above. Jesse Chatman, RB, Dolphins: Ronnie Brown is out for the year and it remains to be seen whether the Phish will give the bulk of the work to Chatman or go with a committee approach. Hope for the former, expect the latter. 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. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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