 | ||
 | | |
Week Three | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Arizona at Baltimore Bench: Edgerrin James, RB, Cardinals: He looks like the James of old, and has had a great season thus far, but Baltimore eats running games alive. This is a good week to look elsewhere, if you can. Start: Willis McGahee, RB, Ravens: Not a stellar start, but the best option for the Ravens, who have underperformed through the air. Buffalo at New England Bench: The Bills: Their passing game sucks, and their running game faces the league’s number 1 run defense. If you have to start a Bill, start Marshawn Lynch but don’t expect much. Start: Laurence Maroney, RB, Patriots: Opposing backs are feasting on the Bills (3rd worst) this season, and Maroney is due for a breakout performance. Detroit at Philadelphia Bench: Tatum Bell, RB, Lions: This running game is going nowhere fast, and Bell doesn’t look like the answer. Start: Donovan McNabb, QB, Eagles: His team is struggling, and the Lions have been bending but not breaking through the air, defensively. Historically, McNabb has been good with his back against the wall. Indianapolis at Houston Bench: Matt Schaub, QB, Texans: If you have a better option, go with it, as Schaub loses option 1 and 1A in the passing game (Andre Johnson) and the Colts have been stingy through the air. Start: Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne, Marvin Harrison, Colts: The Texans have been surprisingly stout vs. some good RB’s thus far, but their pass defense is only so-so, which should mean ample opportunities for Manning & Co. Miami at New York Jets Bench: Ronnie Brown, RB, Dolphins: As disturbing as his absolute lack of production (averaging about 30 yards per game) has been his lack of carries (11 each in the first two games). Start: Thomas Jones, RB, Jets: The Dolphins are awful vs. the run, so Jones, who has struggled thus far, should find daylight. Trent Green, QB, Dolphins: Green has developed some chemistry with Chris Chambers, who has played with a sad array of starting Qb’s in his short career. The Jets rotten pass defense should help as well. Minnesota at Kansas City Bench: Damon Huard and Larry Johnson, Chiefs: The Chiefs are another bad game away from benching Huard. Unfortunately Brodie Croyle isn’t very good either. Also unfortunate is the fact that they face the Vikings and their stellar D. Start: Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings: The one constant for the Vikings, offensively, is that this kid seems to make at least one big play in each game. San Diego at Green Bay Bench: Vincent Jackson, WR, Chargers: If you’re still waiting for this guy to explode, it won’t be this week, as he faces a Packers secondary that has been uncharacteristically good vs. the pass. Expect a lot of LT. Start: Brett Favre, QB, Packers: Norv Turner has succeeded in taking the Chargers from Super Bowl contender to mediocre in one short offseason, and their pass defense ranks 26th. The Packers will throw a lot, and Favre should have success. San Francisco at Pittsburgh Bench: Alex Smith, QB, 49ers: The Niners haven’t found their identity yet through the air, and it won’t get better against a tough Pittsburgh secondary. Start: Willie Parker, RB, Steelers: Fast Willie should reach the century mark again this week, against a Niners d that hasn’t exactly overwhelmed vs. the run. St. Louis at Tampa Bay Start: Cadillac Williams, RB, Bucs: The Rams have given up TD’s on the ground this season, and Cadillac seems to have regained a bit of his 2006 form. Bench: Jeff Garcia, QB, Bucs: As bad as the Rams are against the run, they are 4th in the league vs. the pass. Also keep in mind that Jeff Garcia is still Jeff Garcia (see: Cleveland and Detroit). Cincinnati at Seattle Bench: DJ Hackett, WR, Seahawks: DJ was a popular sleeper pick before the season beganÉa season that has seen him post exactly one catch for 7 yards. Start: Your Studs, Both Teams: This is a great week to start your studs on both teams Rudi, Carson Palmer, CJ, Hasselbeck, and Shaun Alexander as both defenses are on the bad side of mediocre, and there figures to be a lot of points scored. Cleveland at Oakland Bench: LaMont Jordan, RB, Raiders: Tempting as it may be to start him against Cleveland’s junior varsity defense, LaMont hasn’t practice this week with a bad back and may split carries if he sees action at all. Start: Kellen Winslow, TE, Browns: Despite their offensive explosion last week, K2 is probably the only Brown still worthy of an every week start, with Braylon Edwards and Jamal Lewis running 2nd and 3rd. Jacksonville at Denver Bench: The Jags Passing Game: Denver is unbelievable against the pass, and Jacksonville can’t do anything through the air. But you weren’t exactly starting Dennis Northcutt were you? Start: Travis Henry, RB, Broncos: T-Hen has been a stud thus far, and even more encouraging is the fact that he’s seeing the majority of the carries for Denver. Also encouraging is the fact that Jacksonville is dead last in the league vs. the run. Carolina at Atlanta Bench: Carolina RB’s: Until the Panthers identify one of these guys as their workhorse, this is a very underwhelming job share. Start: Jake Delhomme, QB, Panthers: You’re already starting Steve Smith every week, but Delhomme has proven his worth thus far, and goes against a porous Atlanta secondary. They should team up for at least two more scores this week. New York Giants at Washington Bench: Ladell Betts, RB, Redskins: Betts went fairly high in some drafts after a great 2006, but Clinton Portis seems to have secured the starting gig and, with it, most of the carries. Start: Jason Campbell, Santana Moss, Redskins: The Giants secondary is awful, so the Skins should build on last week’s success by at least a pair of TD’s through the air. Dallas at Chicago Bench: Dallas RB’s: The Bears shut down opposing running games, and this is a job share anyway. Even Marion Barber figures to be deprived of his almost-weekly touchdown. Start: Tony Romo, QB, Cowboys: With the running game on reverse, the Cowboys will go to the air against a vulnerable Bears secondary. Tennessee at New Orleans Bench: Reggie Bush, RB, Saints: This looked like such a promising marquee matchup before the season actually started. The Saints will come to their senses and let Deuce McCallister carry more of the load this week, leaving Reggie with a spectacular play or two and not much fantasy production. Start: Drew Brees, QB, Saints: Will get back on track this week against a vulnerable Titans secondary. Buy low on him if you can. Sleepers Jacoby Jones, WR, Texans: With Andre Johnson on the shelf for the near future, Jones, who had a huge preseason, has a chance to step up and become prominent. DeShawn Wynn, RB, Packers: Brandon Jackson has underwhelmed, while Wynn has looked good and found the end zone in limited duty. Brandon Jones or Roydell Williams, WR, Titans: Teams have had success through the air against San Diego (that’s an understatement) and both of these players, while not fantasy starters, could figure prominently this week. 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.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[Home] [Newsletters] [FREE Plays] [Publications] | ||
| | |