Bears @ Bills - (Marcoccio)

Passing Game Thoughts: Jay Cutler was rolling earlier in the season in the Mike Martz offense – but quickly found out what Marc Bulger learned in the past, it can kill your career. Martz’ scheme, while good for putting up numbers in the passing attack, also leaves the QB mostly unprotected due to the number of players going out in pass patterns. That combined with a shoddy o-line in Chicago has put Cutler under tremendous pressure which has led to injury (concussion) and mistakes (turnovers). While the Bears don’t have a true No. 1 type WR on their roster, between Devin Hester, Johnny Knox, Earl Bennett and TE Greg Olsen there’s plenty of speed and guile at Cutler’s disposal. Second year WR Johnny Knox seems best suited for the system and has great deep speed to run under those Cutler downfield bombs. He’s had a fine season despite low TD production.

The Bills pass defense is ranked 6th in the NFL on a per game basis, but that stat is somewhat deceiving. While they are only allowing 195.6 passing ypg, tthey have allowed 15 TD passes in 7 games so they’ve hardly limited fantasy QBs or pass catchers. Also due to a very poor run defense, teams have not attempted as many passes against the Bills as they normally would. Incredibly the unit also has only 1 interception on the season, after forcing 28 last season. That may be attributed to lack of a legit pass rush after showing Aaron Schoebel the door, but its stunning nevertheless.

Running Game Thoughts: Although Matt Forte was more of a compiler of stats during his very nice rookie season than an elite talent, all his fantasy owners cared about was that production. This week he should have a great opportunity to compile some good numbers as the Bills run defense is a joke. Forte’s also a great route runner, with soft hands and is a vital part of the Bears passing game which helps further his production. Before his owners get too excited though, it should be noted that word out of Chicago is that backup RB Chester Taylor will be used when the Bears are at the goal line.

The Bills are ranked dead last in run defense this season, and that’s not one of those misleading statistics – they flat out stink at limiting opposing rushing attacks. They have allowed 188.7 ypg and 8 TDs on the ground. There should not be a better week to start your Bear runners – although as we all know unfortunately Mike Martz doesn’t exactly have a track record of establishing the running game.

Projections:
Jay Cutler: 285 yards, 3 TDs, 1 Int. / 20 yds rushing
Johnny Knox: 85 yds receiving, 1 TD
Devin Hester: 70 yds receiving
Greg Olsen: 55 yds receiving, 1 TD
Matt Forte: 105 yds rushing / 30 yds receiving, 1 TD
Chester Taylor: 35 yds rushing, 1 TD / 10 yds receiving

Passing Game Thoughts: QB Ryan Fitzpatrick has done a fine job since being inserted into the line-up. He’s a fiery leader that is willing to do whatever it takes to win – often refusing to slide when he scrambles. Unfortunately he has not won games for the Bills, but from a fantasy perspective he’s done very well, as the Bills defense has forced Buffalo to throw early and often to keep up the scoring pace of their opponents. In turn, Lee Evans has become fantasy relevant again. However, Steve Johnson has developed into the more dependable Bills receiver - seemingly catching a TD pass each week.

The Bears have played the pass respectably, allowing only 216 ypg and an NFL low 4 TDs against via the pass. Julius Peppers was getting good penetration earlier in the season, but has slowed down in recent weeks, but the secondary has held up despite the lack of pressure on opposing QBs.

Running Game Thoughts: The Bills have not been able to establish a running game all season, as they have generally fallen behind early – but have been ineffective even when they have tried to run. Surprisingly, Chan Gailey has not used CJ Spiller much, despite the Bills usage of the No. 9 overall pick on the back. Fred Jackson is a solid veteran who runs smart and tough, but has been manhandled by the defensive fronts that cannot be moved by the Bills inferior o-line.

The Bears are the fifth ranked run defense statistically (89.3 ypg and 7 TDs). – but a lot of that ranking is based on what they did over the first three weeks where they only allowed 39.6 ypg. Over their last four games they are allowing 126.5 ypg, so perhaps they aren’t as formidable as they seem. The loss of Lance Briggs for two of those games surely didn’t help as he is one of their more active run stuffers. Briggs is expected to play this week however.

Projections:
Ryan Fitzaptrick: 295 yds passing, 2 TDs, 1 Int. / 40 yds rushing
Lee Evans: 80 yds receiving
Steve Johnson: 60 yds receiving, 1 TD
Shawn Nelson: 25 yds receiving, 1 TD
C.J. Spiller: 15 yds rushing / 20 yds receiving
Fred Jackson: 40 yds rushing, 1 TD / 35 yds receiving

Prediction: Bears 34 Bills 24 ^ Top

Colts @ Eagles - (Marcoccio)

Passing Game Thoughts: It’s going to be really strange to watch a Colts game in about five years and not see Peyton Manning under center. The players around him change and the coaching staff changes but the Colts keep winning with Manning being the sole constant. Early season fantasy star Austin goes down and last season’s out of nowhere star Pierre Garcon steps back up. Stud TE Dallas Clark is lost for the season and in steps unknown youngster Jacob Tamme who grabs 6 catches for 60 yards and a TD in his first start. Manning doesn’t care who he’s throwing to as long as the player gets open and catches the ball. Sure Reggie Wayne may get the first look, but Manning will even throw it to a guy named “Blair White” if he has to.

The Eagles are allowing 206.1 ypg game and 13 TDs through the air in 2010. Their once feared pass rush has lost some of its bite, but DE Trent Cole is still a man that needs to be accounted for by the Colts who have struggled at the LT spot this season. CB Asante Samuel is a dangerous corner and has three interceptions, but turning the ball over is not a Manning trait. If Samuel sticks on Wayne expect Garcon to get a good amount of looks and for Tamme to follow up his debut as a starter with another fine game. Don’t exactly write Wayne off either though, as Samuel will at times gamble for the ball, and savvy vets like Wayne and Manning just may be able to take advantage of something like that.

Running Game Thoughts: Joseph Addai is expected to miss another week with nerve damage in his shoulder and backups Donald Brown and Mike Hart both left last Monday Night’s game early with injuries. That means that former Colt legend Edgerrin James’ little cousin Javaris could be the Colt seeing the bulk of carries this week. It’s a shame that Hart looked to have suffered a severe ankle injury in the game, as the former Michigan Wolverine gave a yeoman’s effort on Monday Night and could have solidified his role in this offense with another strong performance. Brown on the other hand ran timid and lacked a serious burst – which could have been a result of his balky hamstring, which he apparently reinjured in the game. With all the uncertainty in the Colts backfield, hopefully you have better options.

The Eagles have improved their run defense (109.9 ypg and 4 TDs) with MLB Stewart Bradley back in the line-up. Bradley provides a strong presence in the middle and is a sure tackler. The Indianapolis o-line is poor at run blocking and should be overwhelmed by the Eagles strong front seven – another reason to avoid the Cols backfield until Addai comes back.

Projections:
Peyton Manning: 315 yds passing, 3 TDs / 5 yds rushing
Reggie Wayne: 105 yds receiving, 2 TDs
Anthony Gonzalez: 30 yds receiving
Pierre Garcon: 90 yds receiving
Jacob Tamme: 75 yds receiving, 1 TD
Javaris James: 35 yds rushing / 5 yds receiving
Donald Brown: 25 yds rushing / 30 yds receiving

Passing Game Thoughts: Michael Vick returns to the starter role, fully recovered from his rib cage injury. Vick’s return should be a boon to Desean Jackson owners as his the ability to keep plays alive by moving in the pocket allows Jackson to get open downfield for big plays. On the other hand, Maclin and Celek may not put up the numbers that they did under Kevin Kolb, as they benefit from having a more traditional passer under center, since they rely more on running precise shorter routes and Vick is more of an improviser. That’s not to say that they now become useless, as Vick did show a greater ability to throw from out of the pocket earlier this season than he did during his time as an Atlanta Falcon.

The Colts with their smaller and speedier defensive linemen and linebackers than most NFL teams, may be one of the better suited units to deal with Vick’s style of play. DEs Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis have better than average speed compared to most outside pass rushers and should be able to contain and chase down Vick on occasion. The Colts are the fifth ranked pass defense in the NFL allowing 203.3 ypg and 8 TDs on the season. Vick could be a little rusty after his layoff so don’t be surprised if the Philadelphia passing game struggles a bit this week.

Running Game Thoughts: Even with a broken rib, LeSean McCoy has run with authority even with a broken rib. He surprisingly has 5 rushing TDs on the season, when many people predicted he would lose the goal-line carries to bruiser back Mike Bell (who was subsequently traded to Cleveland). He is a dynamic runner with adequate speed and good hands in the passing game – and a very good fit for Andy Reid’s offense. The matchup with the Colts is a particularly good one as the Colts have struggled tremendously in shutting down opposing running games with Bob Sanders once again missing games. The Colts allow 131.1 ypg and a TD per game on the ground. Fantasy owners should crack a smile when they see “IND” listed as the opponent of one of their running backs.

Projections:
Michael Vick: 165 yds passing 1 TD, 1 Int. / 45 yds rushing
Jeremy Maclin: 35 yds receiving, 1 TD
DeSean Jackson: 65 yds receiving
Brent Celek: 25 yds receiving
LeSean McCoy: 120 yds rushing, 1 TD / 20 yds receiving

Prediction: Colts 24 Eagles 20 ^ Top

Buccaneers @ Falcons - (Caron)

Passing Game Thoughts: Josh Freeman is quickly becoming one of the most consistent fantasy quarterbacks in just his second season. Though he hasn’t put up any days that could be described as particularly great, his eight touchdown to three interception ratio has been a really big reason that he has put up 12-plus fantasy points in six of his first seven games this year. Wide receiver Mike Williams is coming off the first 100-plus yard game of his career and can certainly be described as Freeman’s favorite target now and going forward.

The Atlanta defense started off great this season in defending the pass, holding their first two opponents to zero touchdowns while forcing four interceptions. But recently those numbers haven’t been quite as great. In their past two games, the Falcons have allowed nearly 750 yards passing and six touchdowns to opposing quarterbacks while only forcing one interception. Josh Freeman hasn’t thrown for three touchdowns yet this season, but two touchdowns is certainly a good possibility.

Running Game Thoughts: The Cadillac may finally be coming to the end of its life, courtesy of rookie running back LaGarrette Blount who broke out in Week 8 by rushing for 120 yards and two touchdowns in the Buccaneers’ win over the Arizona Cardinals. Blount is a must-add in just about every league and has to be considered the team’s best option at running back going forward. Teams don’t have a lot of film on him yet so expect a few nice games before the opposing defenses begin to key in on his style.
While the Falcons have slipped a bit in pass defense over the past few weeks, the opposite can be said about their run defense which has been stout for the most part for most of the season. They have not allowed a rushing touchdown since Week 2 and although Blount looked good last week, there’s a good possibility that the Falcons try to stop him this week as it has been their strategy in other games to shut down the opposing team’s rushing attack.

Projections:
Josh Freeman – 220 yards passing / 2 TD / 0 INT / 20 yards rushing
LaGarrette Blount – 65 yards rushing / 1 TD / 5 yards receiving
Cadillac Williams – 15 yards rushing / 0 TD / 15 yards receiving
Mike Williams – 80 yards receiving / 1 TD
Michael Spurlock – 50 yards receiving / 0 TD
Kellen Winslow – 35 yards receiving / 1 TD

Passing Game Thoughts: The Falcons are coming off a bye in Week 8 and will quarterback Matt Ryan will be looking to get back on the pace he was on going into the bye, when he had passed for five touchdowns in his previous two games. Ryan has really been clicking with receiver Roddy White and has looked for veteran tight end Tony Gonzalez often near the red zone. Both White and Gonzalez are among the top players at their positions this year, particularly White who seems to have taken the step into the elite level.
While the Buccaneers have done a good job stopping opposing tight ends overall this season, it is worth nothing that they really haven’t played many talented tight ends. Even then, the Bucs have allowed two touchdowns to opposing tight ends in their previous four games, and Tony Gonzalez has been a red zone workhorse throughout his entire career. Gonzalez has a great chance to get into the end zone again this week, as does Roddy White who is coming off of a 12 catch, 201 yard, two touchdown performance in his last game.

Running Game Thoughts: Michael Turner’s 2010 season has been disappointing overall so far, but he certainly has the talent and style to take advantage of a matchup like this one. Tampa Bay’s defense has conceded the 7th most points to opposing running backs this season and have only held opposing backs to under 100 total yards twice so far. The Buccaneers are also fresh off of a game in which they allowed the Arizona Cardinals to score two rushing touchdowns on them, so there’s definitely the potential for Turner to see multiple trips to the end zone in this one.
The Falcons are coming off of a bye and have been looking forward to this important inner-division matchup. Look for them to ride the hot hand of Michael Turner early and often in this one. It may sound like a random statistic, but keep in mind that Turner had a three touchdown performance after his bye week in 2009.

Projections:
Matt Ryan – 240 yards passing / 2 TD / 1 INT
Michael Turner – 90 yards rushing / 2 TD
Jason Snelling – 35 yards rushing / 0 TD / 15 yards receiving
Roddy White – 90 yards receiving / 1 TD
Michael Jenkins – 45 yards receiving / 0 TD
Tony Gonzalez – 35 yards receiving / 1 TD

Prediction: Buccaneers 24, Falcons 31 ^ Top

Saints @ Panthers - (Caron)

Passing Game Thoughts: Brees continues to plug away this season, having thrown for over 235 yards and at least one touchdown in every game this season. The unfortunate part is that Brees has also thrown 11 interceptions already this season and has even fumbled four times. The mistakes are not something that we’ve become accustomed to with Brees so perhaps he’s just going through a down time with his accuracy, but he will need more performances like his Week 8 one against the Steelers if he hopes to earn the full trust of his fantasy owners again. Brees looked good against the league’s best defense as he threw for 305 yards and two touchdowns, including his second straight week of throwing a touchdown to wide receiver Marques Colston.
Brees will actually have his hands full with the Panthers secondary this week who rank 6th best in the league at stopping opposing quarterbacks. Carolina has only allowed three multiple-touchdown passing performances this season and shockingly only two games of over 200 yards passing.

Running Game Thoughts: Another week without Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush, another hit-or-miss fantasy day from the trio of Chris Ivory, Ladell Betts, and Julius Jones. After his huge 158 yard performance in Week 6, Ivory has posted just 55 yards rushing combined in his last two games. He and Julius Jones actually split carries evenly with seven each in Week 8, but neither player was particularly effective. Ladell Betts’ primary value remains as a receiver, but he’s not seeing enough playing time to be particularly fantasy relevant at this time.
We do have some history in this matchup as Ivory rushed for 67 yards the last time these two teams met in Week 4, but he was also seeing a bigger percentage of the carries at that time. This running game is destined to struggle without Pierre Thomas and the effects of Reggie Bush being out are beginning to show up as well.

Projections:
Drew Brees – 190 yards passing / 2 TD / 2 INT
Chris Ivory – 55 yards rushing / 0 TD
Ladell Betts – 10 yards rushing / 0 TD / 15 yards receiving
Julius Jones – 25 yards rushing / 0 TD
Marques Colston – 50 yards receiving / 1 TD
Lance Moore – 65 yards receiving / 1 TD
Robert Meachen – 30 yards receiving / 0 TD
Jeremy Shockey – 25 yards receiving / 0 TD

Passing Game Thoughts: After a nice performance in Week 7, Matt Moore fell back to reality in Week 8 as he turned the ball over four times in the Panthers’ loss to the St. Louis Rams. Moore has now thrown 10 interceptions in just five game appearances, and has only had one game with more than five fantasy points. To say that this passing game is dismal is an insult to dismal passing games.
The Saints defense, meanwhile, has continued their hot streak against opposing quarterbacks, having allowed just one passing touchdown over the past four games combined. While they aren’t forcing turnovers at anywhere near the level they did in 2009, the Saints pass defense remains the strong part of the D. Earlier this season, they held quarterback Jimmy Clausen to just 146 yards for an entire game, and more of that could be coming for current starter Matt Moore.

Running Game Thoughts: It looks like DeAngelo Williams is going to miss his second straight game with a foot injury, which would have been a delight to the owners of backup Jonathan Stewart if he would have done anything while Williams was out last week. In a huge disappointment, Stewart ran the ball for just 30 yards in his first game this season as the Panthers’ primary tailback. Just a season ago both Stewart and Williams were fantasy-relevant even when both of them were healthy, but in 2010 it has been the complete opposite—both players have underperformed heavily and there is very little reason to believe that it will change.
New Orleans has allowed touchdowns in back-to-back games against opposing running backs for the Browns and Steelers, but the Carolina offense may just be too pathetic for Jonathan Stewart to make it three straight games. Stewart has all the talent in the world and he is running hard, but the holes just aren’t there—teams don’t respect the pass, and why should they? They just focus on stopping the run and the Panthers can’t do anything about it. This has to be one of the most discouraging offenses in the NFL this season.

Projections:
Matt Moore – 165 yards passing / 1 TD / 2 INT
Jonathan Stewart – 55 yards rushing / 0 TD / 10 yards receiving / 0 TD
Steve Smith – 60 yards receiving / 0 TD
Brandon LaFell – 40 yards receiving / 0 TD
David Gettis – 35 yards receiving / 1 TD

Prediction: Saints 23, Panthers 13 ^ Top

Chargers @ Texans - (Caron)

Passing Game Thoughts: Philip Rivers has been on an absolute tear this season. Don’t tell him that he misses Vincent Jackson and don’t tell him that his other receivers are a bunch of banged up slobs—he doesn’t care. He just keeps throwing for huge yardage every game and is now on pace to pass for well over 5,000 yards this season. Aside from Antonio Gates, it’s anyone’s guess who all those yards will go to, but Rivers’ fantasy owners shouldn’t care who is catching the ball as long as he continues to humiliate the opposing secondaries.

The Texans’ secondary has been a complete joke this season and they currently rank dead last in the league at stopping opposing quarterbacks. To say that this matchup is a match made in fantasy heaven is an understatement. Practically every healthy player in this passing game is fantasy relevant this week. The only question is if tight end Antonio Gates, who is nursing injuries in both feet, will be healthy enough to play. If he is, watch out, as Gates has caught touchdowns in seven of eight games this season and the Texans have had a very tough time stopping opposing tight ends.

Running Game Thoughts: Ryan Mathews and Mike Tolbert both scored touchdowns in a game for the second time this season last week against the Titans. While they only combined for just over 100 yards rushing, the two have been a dynamic fantasy duo when they’ve been healthy. The emergence of Mike Tolbert has been a thorn in the side of Mathews’ fantasy owners this season, many of whom took him with the assumption that he would be the team’s every down, every-situation back, but that hasn’t been the case even when he has been healthy. Mathews remains a solid play most weeks, but has been somewhat of a disappointment.
That said, the Chargers’ running game does have a good chance of production this week as they face a Texans defense that has allowed 100-plus rushing yards in four of their past five games. Neither Mathews nor Tolbert has played a particularly big role in the team’s passing game, leaving Darren Sproles as another surprising fantasy asset. Sproles has at least 30 yards receiving in four straight games and even caught his first touchdown pass of the season last week against the Titans.

Projections:
Philip Rivers – 330 yards passing / 2 TD / 1 INT
Ryan Mathews – 70 yards rushing / 0 TD / 15 yards receiving
Mike Tolbert – 35 yards rushing / 1 TD / 20 yards receiving
Darren Sproles – 20 yards rushing / 0 TD / 45 yards receiving
Patrick Crayton – 80 yards receiving / 1 TD
Seyi Ajirotutu – 55 yards receiving / 0 TD
Robert Meachen – 30 yards receiving / 0 TD
Antonio Gates – 70 yards receiving / 1 TD

Passing Game Thoughts: At times it almost feels like the Texans run a play called “throw it up for Andre”—and why not? The guy is an animal. An injured Johnson caught 7 passes last week for 106 yards and a touchdown. He has battled injury all season, but has performed like the stud we all expected him to be when he has been in. There may not be a more guaranteed, every-week starter in the NFL than Andre Johnson. Even when he’s not completely healthy, he’s still racking up fantasy scores in the high teens.
Matt Schaub and the Texans’ passing game may have a tough time this week, though, as they face the Chargers pass defense that currently ranks 2nd in the league in points allowed to opposing quarterbacks. Having allowed only one multiple passing touchdown day on the year, the Chargers have been surprisingly very good in the secondary this year. If they can double up on Andre Johnson and force other players to make plays this week, expect their run of pass-defense dominance to continue.

Running Game Thoughts: It wasn’t quite the performance he had in Week 1 against them, but Arian Foster put together another 100-plus yard game against the Colts in Week 8. Foster only received 15 carries and that may have actually been one of the biggest flaws in the gameplan that eventually cost the Texans the game. While the passing game struggled throughout most of the day when they weren’t just throwing the ball up for Andre Johnson, the running game was actually very effective throughout most of the game.
The Texans will need to run the ball this week if they hope to win the game as the Chargers have been very good at shutting down opposing quarterbacks. They have not fared quite as well against opposing running backs, though, as they have now allowed touchdowns to running backs in four straight games coming into this week. Foster is on a roll and the Chargers will likely have to focus extra attention on him in order to slow him down.

Projections:
Matt Schaub – 215 yards passing / 1 TD / 1 INT
Arian Foster – 110 yards rushing / 2 TD / 35 yards receiving / 0 TD
Andre Johnson – 80 yards receiving / 1 TD
Kevin Walter – 40 yards receiving / 0 TD
Jacoby Jones – 25 yards receiving / 0 TD
Owen Daniels – 30 yards receiving / 0 TD

Prediction: Chargers 21, Texans 24 ^ Top

Giants @ Seahawks - (Eakin)

Passing Game Thoughts: The Giants are one of the hottest teams in the league riding a four game win streak into Seattle scoring 34, 28, and 41 the last three. A big part of their streak lies in the connection developing between Eli Manning and Hakeem Nicks. With concerns of a hamstring strain seemingly gone after a bye week rest, Nicks should be on his way to another big week. Seattle defense has been solid stopping the run but rank 28th against the pass allowing 267 yards per game. They don’t have a cover corner capable of blanketing Nicks without a double team. I they double team Nicks then Steve Smith and Mario Manningham will be open all day. We’ve seen teams such as the Jets lose a little fluidity after their bye week, but Eli Manning is a much better QB than the Mark Sanchez’s of the world so there is much less risk of such a problem. The Giants may also be without starting center Shaun O’Hara. He is questionable with a foot injury. There could be some offensive line issues if his replacement struggles to call proper pass protections as well. The key to success will be getting the Seahawks best pass rusher, DE Chris Clemons blocked. He has been a disruptive force for opposing signal callers. Ride the Giants hot streak until they prove you wrong, Manning and Nicks remain elite options with Smith a solid WR2 and Manningham a good WR3 play in most fantasy leagues.

Running Game Thoughts: Ahmad Bradshaw led the league in rushing yards entering his bye week and has bucked the belief that he can’t hold up as a lead back thus far. He makes quick cuts and is a versatile option in the passing game as well. He is just a step behind the elite options because of the use of Brandon Jacobs in goal to go situations. The Giants passing success opens up a lot of rushing lanes but the Seahawks have been a stiff test with the 10th best defense in stopping the opposing rushers. Despite playing the run well I like the Giants RBs to have big days. The Seahawks D-line lost two starters in Red Bryant and Chris Cole. Their loss coupled with a probable dominant performance by their defense in shutting Seattle down will mean lots of carries for both Bradshaw and Jacobs.

Predictions:
Eli Manning: 285 yds/2 TDs/1 INT
Hakeem Nicks: 95 yds/1 TD
Steve Smith: 60 yds
Mario Manningham: 60 yds/1 TD
Ahmad Bradshaw; 75 yds/25 rec

Passing Game Thoughts: It was announced Thursday that starter Matt Hasselbeck will sit with a mild concussion. Charlie Whitehurst will get the start. One has to wonder if the Hawks are being more cautious than normal knowing the Giants have knocked out starting QBs in five consecutive games. The Giants may have the best pass rushing d-line in the league and they are on a roll of late. This doesn’t bode well for a Seahawks offensive line that struggled to keep a much less talented Oakland Raider defense at bay last week. I think CB Corey Webster can blanket WR Mike Williams and the pass rush will prevent Whitehurst from having enough time to get the ball to deep threat Deon Butler. Throw in a unproven QB and this game has the makings of a rout.

Running Game Thoughts: The Giants defense is also tough to run on ranking 3rd allowing just 85 yards per game. Seattle RB Marshawn Lynch doesn’t have the quickness to make a couple guys miss that it will take to punish the aggressive front seven. Because the G-men get good pressure with a four man rush, the LBs are free to chase the run. The Hawks could find themselves chasing points and have to abandon the run early; which may mean 3rd down specialist Justin Forsett has a bigger day than Lynch.

Projections:
Charlie Whitehurst: 180 yds/2 INT
Mike Williams: 60 yds
Deon Butler: 40 yds
John Carlson: 40 yds
Marshawn Lynch: 55 yds
Justin Forsett: 25 yds/45 rec

Prediction: Giants 27 Seahawks 6 ^ Top

Chiefs @ Raiders - (Eakin)

Passing Game Thoughts: A key to this game will be the health of Nnamdi Asomugha. He hasn’t practiced all week and is questionable if not doubtful to play. If he doesn’t play then Dwayne Bowe could continue his string impressive three game week run. He’s scored five TDs over those three games. He hasn’t been as effective in yards or receptions but there is no doubt the Chiefs are giving him the ball in the redzone. He has been doing all this with little to no help from battery mate Chris Chambers. Chambers struggles this year were a big reason some considered the Chiefs may enter the Randy Moss sweepstakes. However the Chiefs run the ball so effectively that serves just as well to alleviate double teams. TE Tony Moeaki has been a solid contributor in the middle of the field to draw attention from safeties. It remains to be seen if playmaker Dexter McCluster will be back after missing the last two games. He is back to practicing on a limited basis so it may be another week. The Chiefs pass offense has a limited ceiling because they really limit Cassel to between 20 and 30 attempts per game. Despite the limitations, if you own Bowe, ride him while he’s hot but avoid all the other Chiefs receivers and Cassel too.

Running Game Thoughts: The Chiefs are tops in rushing on the year with the combination of Thomas Jones and Jamal Charles. Charles appears to be gradually taking more carries away as the season progresses. The presence of Jones gives them a power run option and keeps Charles fresh. Both running backs should be in fantasy leagues in what looks to be a juicy matchup against the Raider defense that ranks near the bottom in stopping the run, allowing 127 yards per game. Oakland has played well in their last two games but the Chiefs have been the more consistent team. They run the ball, and run it well. The Raiders struggle to stop them.

Projections:
Matt Cassel: 185 yds/1 TDs/1 INT
Dwayne Bowe: 80 yds/1 TD
Chris Chambers: 45 yds
Tony Moeaki: 50 yds
Jamal Charles: 85 yds/45 rec/1 TD
Thomas Jones: 65 yds/1 TD

Passing Game Thoughts: Jason Campbell will start another week in place of starter Bruce Gradkowski who does not appear ready to give his loose shoulder a go. Campbell has been effective the last two weeks by avoiding mistakes and letting the run game lead the way. The Chiefs are not a good matchup for him. Brandon Flowers is a terrific young cover corner than should give Heyward-Bey problems. The Raiders are also shorthanded this week with leading WR Louis Murphy still out and now TE Zach Miller is highly questionable with a foot injury. Hard to imagine the Raiders unproven backups getting much done through the air against a solid KC secondary.

Running Game Thoughts: Oakland butters their bread through Darren McFadden and Michael Bush. McFadden is the 4th most productive RB so far. He is showing shiftiness and ability to break contact better than years past. The Chiefs are 7th in stopping the run but the way McFadden is running he is matchup proof and a must start. Michael Bush is still remains active but is probably more of a marginal flex play with the Chiefs effective front seven doing a good job clogging the inside run lanes. He still has a decent shot at getting a short score though and around 30 yds but banking on a TD is a risky game to play against good run defenses and a team like the Chiefs that may dominate time of possession.

Projections:
Jason Campbell: 135 yds/1 INT
Darius Heyward-Bey: 65 yds
Jacoby Ford: 45 yds
Zach Miller: 40 yds
Darren McFadden: 95 yds/30 rec/1 TD
Michael Bush: 40 yds/1 TD

Prediction: Chiefs 24 Raider 20 ^ Top

Jets @ Lions - (Autry)

Passing Game Thoughts: After tossing eight TDs and no interceptions through the first five games of the season, Mark Sanchez has regressed to the point of one TD and four interceptions the last two. While those numbers are indeed ugly, Sanchez’ WRs deserted him big time last week with numerous dropped passes. The receiving corp is led by a WR Braylon Edwards and much-improved TE Dustin Keller. Edwards’ 17 yards per reception leads the team and is evidence of his deep threat potential. Dustin Keller, meanwhile, is second in the league at TE with 15 yards per reception. And even though he hasn’t scored in three weeks, Keller’s five TDs match his career total coming into the season. Both should have productive games against the league’s 19th ranked pass defense.

Sanchez may not be asked to do much in this game. The Lions struggle defending the run, so look for the Jets’ passing game to take a back seat to the running game. But as mentioned above, if any success is enjoyed by New York through the passing game, Edwards and Keller should be the prime candidates.

Running Game Thoughts: What started out as simply taking a late-round flyer on a guy has turned into as solid a RB2 as we have in fantasy football this year in LaDainian Tomlinson. In addition to leading the team in rushing, LT is also second on the team in receptions and is enjoying his most productive seven-game start to the season since 2007. His 2010 has made many people forget about Shonne Greene and the promise he showed during last season’s playoff run.

This game will be centered on New York’s running game. The Jets’ running game (3rd in the league) is one of the strengths of the team, and Detroit’s run defense (27th in the league) is one of the Lions’ weaknesses. LT is certainly a no-brainer; the intriguing decision is about Greene. I would anticipate the Jets having 40 rushing attempts in this game. If that’s the case, Greene will have ample opportunity to put up numbers, and I think he will. LT is a low-end #1/top-tier #2 RB while Greene is a lower-tier RB2.

Projections:
Mark Sanchez – 210 yards / 1 TD / 1 INT
LaDainian Tomlinson – 105 yards rushing / 35 yards rec / 1 rushing TD
Shonn Greene – 75 yards rushing / 1 TD
Braylon Edwards – 60 yards / 1 TD
Jerricho Cotchery – 30 yards
Santonio Holmes – 25 yards
Dustin Keller – 55 yards

Passing Game Thoughts: With the return of QB Matthew Stafford, the Detroit Lions passing game picked up with it left off Shaun Hill called the shots during Stafford’s recent injury. Stafford had one of the best games of his young career last week, shredding the Redskins’ secondary with four TD tosses. He returned from a shoulder injury sustained in week one, but perhaps what’s most impressive is WR Calvin Johnson enjoyed the first 3-TD game of his career. Why he’s not this consistently explosive (see Andre Johnson) is beyond me, but Calvin Johnson’s owners will accept it nonetheless.

It should be noted, too, that Detroit has the seventh ranked passing game and has the second-most passing TDs in 2010. And while the Jets’ pass defense is a surprising 18th ranked in the league, they can easily put it all together any given week and be the dominant team they were on paper (see Aaron Rodgers’ numbers from last week). And with Darrelle Revis back and apparently 100 percent, his battle with Calvin Johnson should be fun to watch. The Jets are notorious for putting heavy pressure on the QB. It’s going to be crucial for the O-line of Detroit to keep Stafford on his feet.

Running Game Thoughts: Jahvid Best was white-hot coming off the first two games of the season, but he’s cooled off quite a bit since. No scores in almost two months almost puts a damper on his role in the passing game. Best is second in receptions by a RB in 2010, but his knack for always getting bumps and bruises during games is irritating. He probably won’t get many chances this week. Detroit’s 30th ranked running game runs head-first into a Jets’ run defense that’s not only the fourth best in the league, but they’ve only surrendered two rushing TDs. Translation: Best is toast this week. He could probably get points through the passing game, but don’t bank on it.

Projections:
Matthew Stafford – 190 yards / 1 TD / 2 INT
Jahvid Best – 45 yards rushing / 30 rec yards
Calvin Johnson – 65 yards
Nate Burleson – 40 yards
Brandon Pettigrew – 35 yards / 1 TD
Tony Scheffler – 25 yards

Prediction: New York 24, Detroit 10 ^ Top

Dolphins @ Ravens - (Autry)

Passing Game Thoughts: Last week was the first time since week one that Chad Henne went without throwing a TD. The bulk of Miami’s offense came from the toe of kicker Dan Carpenter. Henne’s play has been spotty this year—a typical QB2 if I ever saw one. But he can surprise at times and put up really decent numbers. In fact, he’s had five 300-plus yard games in the last 12 contests dating back to last year. This week, however, probably won’t be his sixth such game in his last 13. Ed Reed returned last week, fortifying a solid and surprising pass defense unit that’s the league’s ninth best.

Let’s call it like it is: Brandon Marshall has been a mild disappointment so far this season. While he’s on track to have 100 receptions for the fourth year in a row and has a pair of 10-catch performances, he has only one TD catch. Quiet as it’s kept, Davone Bess has actually been the most consistent WR on the Dolphins. The attention that Marshall gets from defenses leaves Bess one-on-one on the opposite side, and his three TDs lead the team. Marshall’s too good to ever think about doing anything with him beyond starting him, but keep in mind that Bess is a solid WR3 right now.

Running Game Thoughts: Ricky Williams’ short TD run last week was his first score of the season. Couple that score with a receiving TD from earlier this year and Ronnie Brown’s lone rushing score and you have a whopping three total TDs from a pair that has a combined 187 touches so far. Not a good ratio at all. Strangely enough, teams have been able to run on Baltimore. New England and Buffalo both rushed for well over 100 yards as a team; heck, Cleveland of all teams totaled 173 yards on the ground against the Ravens in week three, so they can be had. Whether or not Miami sticks with the running game long enough to produce those kinds of numbers remains to be seen. But based on the recent track record of both Williams and Brown, I’d say keep your expectations low not only for this week, but for the balance of the season.

Projections:
Chad Henne – 185 yards / 1 TD / 2 INTs
Ricky Williams – 45 yards
Ronnie Brown – 35 yards
Brandon Marshall – 75 yards / 1 TD
Davone Bess – 55 yards
Anthony Fasano – 35 yards

Passing Game Thoughts: After throwing five INTs through the season’s first two games, Joe Flacco has mellowed out big-time, tossing only one INT is his last five while throwing nine TDs in those games. He’s still off his pace from last year, but he’s at least progressed to the point where he’s now the solid, predictably productive #1 QB many drafted him to be.

Anquan Boldin also continues to prove his worth. Remember the uproar from Boldin owners when Baltimore picked up TJ Houshmandzadeh? Nine catches and one TD later, TJ is now a fantasy afterthought. Boldin is really good low-end #1 fantasy receiver; he’s certainly not the Ravens’ one-trick pony either. Derrick Mason somehow remains a route-running gem, and Todd Heap has remarkably stayed healthy this season. Both were looked at on the downside of their careers for various reasons. That may still be true, but they both continue to be serviceable fantasy options, and that will continue this week. Miami, however, quietly has a good, young secondary that should be a big challenge to the Ravens.

Running Game Thoughts: Outside of the Denver game several weeks ago, Ray Rice has been every bit the mild disappointment that Brandon Marshall has been. His two lone TDs on the season came in that Denver game, and the fact that Willis McGahee gets substantial carries—especially around the goal line—puts a huge dent in Rice’s value each week. Miami’s run defense is getting better as the year progresses. They’ve held Cincinnati and Pittsburgh to a COMBINED 164 yards over the last two games. Look for Rice’s yardage total to once again be south of 100 yards, and if the Ravens do score on the ground, expect that to come from McGahee.

Projections:
Joe Flacco – 225 yards / 1 TD / 1 INT
Ray Rice – 65 yards rushing / 20 yards rec
Willis McGahee – 30 yards / 1 TD
Anquan Boldin – 75 yards
Derrick Mason – 55 yards
Todd Heap – 60 yards

Prediction: Baltimore 17, Miami 10 ^ Top

Patriots @ Browns - (Autry)

Passing Game Thoughts: Some Tom Brady owners continue to chase that magical 50-TD season of 2007, when in actuality Brady has always been a 28 TD, 14 INT quarterback. Consistently. Like clockwork. That’s great predictability from your QB. But he has only three TDs and two INTs since Randy Moss’ departure. Whether or not that has anything to do with the mercurial WR’s absence is debatable, but it certainly has affected Wes Welker. His receptions and receiving yards have declined with each game since Moss left. That, in my opinion, is not debatable. Moss created all kinds of opportunities for Welker, who now has to face opponents’ #1 defender each week. Can he deal with that?

Statistics say Cleveland is one of the league’s weakest pass defenses, but numbers alone don’t tell the story. The Browns gave Drew Brees and the Saints fits last week in the Superdome. The numbers that Brees put up were more the result of an offense playing catch-up most of the game than a Cleveland defense playing poorly. That momentum could carry over into this week. Brady and that offense change attacks on a weekly basis, so it’s difficult to determine what their plan of attack will be. But suffice it to say that Brady could easily put up 40 pass attempts in this game, which more than likely would translate into nice fantasy production. Keep in mind, too, that Deion Branch is battling a hamstring injury and has been limited in practice this week. Stay tuned to see if Branch suits up.

Running Game Thoughts: BenJarvus Green-Ellis has been one of the most consistent RBs in fantasy football recently. He’s scored at least one rushing TD in the last five games. His rushing yards haven’t been much to write home about, sans last week’s game. But getting that kind of spark from a more-than-likely waiver wire find is good stuff. I don’t have Green-Ellis, but it would be difficult to bench him even though New England is known for flipping offensive game plans from week to week, making predicting the next Green-Ellis explosion a relative crapshoot. Even little-known Danny Woodhead is starting to pique the interest of fantasy owners. He’s far from being a fantasy starter, but remember we said the same thing about Welker once upon a time. Keep an eye on both of these RBs as the season progresses.

Projections:
Tom Brady – 255 yards / 2 TDs
BenJarvus Green-Ellis – 65 yards / 1 TD
Danny Woodhead – 25 yards rushing / 35 yards rec
Wes Welker - 75 yards / 1 TD
Brandon Tate – 60 yards
Deion Branch – 40 yards
Aaron Hernandez – 35 yards / 1 TD

Passing Game Thoughts: Rookie Colt McCoy gets another start as Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace continue to battle injuries. All things considered, McCoy had a fabulous debut several weeks ago in Pittsburgh. Cleveland’s last game at New Orleans didn’t allow for McCoy to do much of anything, seeing how the Browns’ defense pretty much took over the contest. The rookie has been in plenty of big games in his football career, so this week’s game against AFC powerhouse New England shouldn’t rattle McCoy too much.

McCoy’s biggest concern besides the crafty defense he’s certain to see is his lack of consistent receiving options. When your converted FB is second on the team in receptions, there’s a problem. Chansi Stuckey and Mohamed Massaquoi are not what you would call fantasy gold. Stuckey has yet to score and Massaquoi looks to return after missing week 7 with a concussion. The receiver to have on this team is not even a receiver. It’s TE Ben Watson. He leads the team in receptions, receiving yards and receiving TDs. The only other TE who can say that is Antonio Gates. This game could be closer than some people think. The Patriots have the second-worst pass defense in the league, so the Browns should have opportunities to make plays.

Running Game Thoughts: Peyton Hillis didn’t show up on the team’s injury report this week for the first time in about a month. The bye week apparently gave him a chance to get healthy and prepped for this showdown. He’s scored in six of seven games this year and appears to be, along with Ben Watson, the team’s only offensive weapon. The Browns use him in the running game and the passing game—a unique situation when you consider he’s a 240 lbs. battering ram. He hasn’t done a ton the last three games, totaling 138 yards on the ground in those contests. But he’s become too valuable to think about benching. And this is a huge bye week for some owners, as Frank Gore, Maurice Jones-Drew, Steven Jackson and Chris Johnson are off this week. So deciding to play someone like Hillis should be a no-brainer. Get him in your line-up and hope for the best.

Projections:
Colt McCoy – 195 yards / 1 TD / 2 INTs
Peyton Hillis – 60 yards rushing / 35 yards rec / 1 rushing TD
Mohammad Massoquoi – 50 yards
Chansi Stuckey – 40 yards
Ben Watson – 55 yards / 1 TD

Prediction: New England 27, Cleveland 17 ^ Top

Cardinals @ Vikings - (Autry)

Passing Game Thoughts: The QB situation in Arizona is as bad as I’ve seen in some time. It’s not much to choose from between Derek Anderson and Max Hall, yet head coach Ken Wisenhunt finds himself in the precarious position each week. Anderson gets the nod this week, he of the one TD pass in his last four games. It’s gotten to the point where it’s even painful to watch this team play. Max Hall looks like he doesn’t belong on an NFL roster, and Anderson looks like the 2007 version was a figment of our imagination. And worst of all, this JV-style QB play is affecting the fantasy value of Larry Fitzgerald.

Minnesota’s defense appears to be not as good as they’ve been in years past, but they should still be a hindrance to the anemic Arizona offense. What’s most baffling about the Vikings is the lack of sacks they’ve had. Once a feared pass rush, the 2010 edition is tied for a league-worst six sacks. And when you consider pass-rushing extraordinaires Jared Allen and Ray Edwards are healthy, it really leaves you scratching your head. But again, the Cardinals are bad enough on offense that the struggles of Minnesota’s defense probably won’t be exposed too much.

Running Game Thoughts: After saying Tim Hightower would remain involved in the running game, coach Wisenhunt promptly followed up that claim by giving the veteran one rushing attempt last week. Beanie Wells, the newly-named starter, faired a bit better against Tampa Bay. With the putrid QB play, it’s going to be vital that Wells, Hightower, LaRod Stephens-Howling, or whoever totes the rock continue to be the primary focus of this offense. And what was once a defense that you considered benching your studs against has melted into a unit that allows no-names such as New England’s BenJarvus Green-Ellis to have career games against them. That being said, Wells is a sneaky start this week. The offense should be schemed around his skill set and his physical running style. With the many quality RBs on bye this week, being forced to start Wells probably won’t be such a bad idea.

Projections:
Derek Anderson – 195 yards / 1 TD / 2 INTs
Beanie Wells – 70 yards / 1 TD
Larry Fitzgerald – 65 yards
Steve Breaston – 50 yards / 1 TD
Early Doucet – 35 yards
Stephen Spach – 25 yards

Passing Game Thoughts: As if we needed another source of drama in Minnesota…. Brett Favre’s sliced chin courtesy of a hard sack is thankfully not the featured story in Minnesota this week. Randy Moss’ departure from the Vikings is, and his absence will be felt throughout this entire offense. Percy Harvin will certainly be affected, as Moss’ presence alone opened things up for Harvin on short crossing routes as well as back-side one-on-one situations. Now Harvin gets to tangle with the opponents’ #1 cover guy, and who knows how that will affect him in the short term.

And don’t look now, but Favre is beginning to look like the 41-year-old grandfather he is. He’s thrown for multiple TDs only once this year, including two TDs and four INTs through the last three games. And now without Moss, that kind of pedestrian production could very well be the norm the balance of the season. I do think TE Visanthe Shiancoe will be the biggest beneficiary of Moss’ departure. He will turn into Favre’s go-to receiving option and solidify himself as a solid #1 TE for the balance of the season. Bernard Berrian remains the not-a-factor player he’s been most of his career, so disregard him.

Running Game Thoughts: In addition to Visanthe Shiancoe benefiting from Randy Moss no longer being on the team, I think Adrian Peterson’s value also goes up a bit. Not that he wasn’t before, as his three consecutive games of at least 24 carries would attest. I simply think Favre will not be relied upon so much to lead the team down field. That leaves it up to Peterson and rookie Toby Gerhart, who looks like he’s getting more and more comfortable in the NFL game. Both Peterson and Gerhart are heavily involved in the passing game, too. They each had five receptions and averaged more than 10 yards per. Look for that to continue. Furthermore, Arizona fields the league’s 29th-ranked run defense, so don’t be surprised if Minnesota as a team has 40 rushing attempts.

Projections:
Brett Favre – 220 yards / 2 TDs / 1 INT
Adrian Peterson – 135 rushing yards / 25 rec yards / 1 rushing TD
Toby Gerhart – 25 rushing yards / 35 rec yards
Percy Harvin – 65 yards / 1 TD
Bernard Berrian – 40 yards
Visanthe Shiancoe – 55 yards / 1 TD

Prediction: Minnesota 24, Arizona 14 ^ Top

Cowboys @ Packers - (Autry)

Passing Game Thoughts: The 2010 season for the Dallas Cowboys is giving Cowboy haters everywhere a healthy supply of comedic material. They’re one of the laughingstocks of the league but continue to have a couple of fantasy studs nonetheless. Jon Kitna is…well…Jon Kitna. He is what he is, and Jason Witten owners for sure are dancing in the streets. Witten has enjoyed an uptick in his production since Kitna took over for Tony Romo. His 19 receptions over the last two games are the second-most in a two-game period of his career. And with Kitna still working out the kinks, look for him to continue to rely on Witten to help bail him out of trouble.

Miles Austin remains the leading receiver on this team, but it’s Roy Williams and Dez Bryant who battle it out for what’s left after Austin and Witten get theirs. Ironically, Williams leads the team in receiving TDs, but he’s entirely too inconsistent to rely on as anything other than a #4 fantasy receiver he is. Bryant, too, has sporadic production. He’s explosive, but he has just as good a chance of going for six catches for 100 yards and two scores as he is getting two catches for 19 yards. Meanwhile, Green Bay has the 17th-ranked pass defense, but they’ve surrendered only eight passing TDs this year—fourth best in the league. Austin and Witten are definite starts; Williams and Bryant should find a nice, warm spot on your bench this week.

Running Game Thoughts: Felix Jones is battling an injury but should play this week. Marion Barber is…is…I’m not sure what to say about Barber. It’s been 27 games since he’s gone over the 100-yard mark, and his TD totals leave a lot to be desire—especially for a so-called “goal line back.” Ten total TDs in the 27 game time period; not the stuff of quality fantasy play. Felix Jones is the most explosive of the two, but they seem to platoon him too much with Barber for my liking.

One would think that the Cowboys will look to get the ball out of the hands of Kitna as much as possible. But considering how porous the defense is, they could conceivably get down big much like last week and have to resort to passing the ball most of the game. So if they don’t establish the run early, forget about it. If they do, however, Jones could have respectable numbers. Barber, for my money, is nothing more than a #4 RB right now. That’s what his numbers reflect and that’s certainly what his team reflects. Don’t dare start Barber for the foreseeable future under any circumstances.

Projections:
Jon Kitna – 190 yards / 1 TD / 2 INTs
Felix Jones – 60 yards
Marion Barber – 30 yards
Miles Austin – 75 yards
Roy Williams – 35 yards
Dez Bryant – 30 yards
Jason Witten – 55 yards / 1 TD

Passing Game Thoughts: Aaron Rodgers will be without Donald Driver in this game, but I’m sure those with Driver on their team have been saying Rodgers has been without him the last two games when he gave his owners zero points despite playing. James Jones is slated to start in Driver’s place. Jones quickly becomes a viable waiver wire pick-up against a defense that has given up seven TD passes the last two games—BOTH AT HOME no less.

Aaron Rodgers should have his most productive game of the season numbers-wise this week. The season is fading fast for Dallas, and the play of that secondary is proof positive that they’ve checked out. Greg Jennings should get loose on a deep pass or two, leaving the middle wide open for TE Andrew Quarless to eat up the ‘Boys’ linebackers. Last week was the first game that Rodgers went without throwing a TD since week 13 last year, but he will more than make up for it this week.

Running Game Thoughts: Green Bay’s running attack won’t scare many people, but when you consider Dallas has surrendered 349 yards on the ground in the last two games, it makes you see the Packers’ ground game as half-full. Brandon Jackson has gotten free for a couple nice runs over the last several games, but he simply doesn’t get the opportunities. Green Bay is a pass-first offense since Ryan Grant went out for the season in week one. John Kuhn has proven he’s nothing more than a fullback who gets a handful of carries each week. If Green Bay’s ground game is going to get anything going, it’s going to be from Jackson.

Projections:
Aaron Rodgers – 280 yards / 3 TDs
Brandon Jackson – 50 yards / 1 TD
Greg Jennings – 110 yards / 1 TD
James Jones – 80 yards / 1 TD
Andrew Quarless – 40 yards / 1 TD
Donald Lee – 30 yards

Prediction: Green Bay 34, Dallas 13 ^ Top

Steelers @ Bengals - (Autry)

Passing Game Thoughts: Ben Roethlisberger was smokin’ in his first two games back from suspension, tossing five TDs, one INT and a combined 559 yards. Things sort of went south in game #3 last week against New Orleans—to the tune of 195 yards, zero TDs and one pick. It should be a bit “easier” this week against Cincinnati’s 20th-ranked pass defense as opposed to the Saints’ 3rd-best unit. This is Ben’s first division game since his return, and he will look to get mirror the production he had in his first two games.

WR Mike Wallace was one of the league leaders in yards-per-reception last year, but he leads the entire league this season. His 23.4 ypr is a testament to Pittsburgh’s dedication to taking at least one deep shot per game, as well as Wallace’s ability to beat coverage deep despite defenses being aware that it’s coming. Hines Ward is money in PPR leagues, so start him with confidence. He struggled last week, but the Saints’ defense had a lot to do with that. Expect a bounce back game from Ward.

Running Game Thoughts: – The Bengals are allowing 120 yards per game on the ground, meaning Rashard Mendenhall could have a productive day. He’s been held to under 100 yards rushing in each of the past four games, so he’s due. Expect Pittsburgh to do what they’ve been known to do for a generation: establish the running game. Mendenall should see more than 20 carries against a team ranked 23rd against the run. He has supplemented his lack of yardage with a consistent run of TDs this season. Mendenhall has scored in all but two games this season. He’s essentially the lone ranger when it comes to running the football in Pittsburgh. That, coupled with the organization’s run-first philosophy, makes Mendenhall one of fantasy’s most coveted runners. He’s a must-start this week against the Bengals.

Projections:
Ben Roethlisberger – 220 yards / 2 TDs / 1 INT
Rashard Mendenhall – 105 yards / 1 TD
Hines Ward – 85 yards / 1 TD
Mike Wallace - 65 yards / 1 TD
Heath Miller – 40 yards

Passing Game Thoughts: Carson Palmer, for all of his roller coaster, up and down play this season, he’s actually been a pretty good performer—if you chose to play him in the correct week. His 156 yard, 2 TD performance last week came on the heels of a 412 yard, 3 TD bonanza at Atlanta. Who cares if the team was down and they had to throw it to get back in the game. That scenario is fantasy gold. Terrell Owens got off to a slow start through the first three games, but he’s turned into the T.O. of old during the last month. He’s averaging 120 yards per game in his last four, with a total of five TDs in that span. So much for who’s the #1 option in Cincy….

This is going to be a tough game for the Bengals’ pass game. Pittsburgh has the league’s stingiest defense, allowing an NFL-best 102 points per game. T.O. has been virtually unstoppable, so he should get his. Chad Ochocinco has essentially been relegated to taking what’s left in the passing game. He’s had two double-digit reception games, but the others have been mediocre. Cincy should move the ball against Pittsburgh, but they may find hitting pay dirt a bit more daunting.

Running Game Thoughts: If nothing else, Cedric Benson certainly gets his opportunities to produce. He’s had at least 20 carries in five of the last six games. Problem is, week five’s 144 yard performance notwithstanding, he’s had difficulty finding the end zone. He hasn’t scored since week three, and couple that with Pittsburgh having given up only two rushing TDs all year while leading the league in run defense, and it’s clear to see that Benson could struggle mightily this week. The one saving grace is he’s the bell cow for the Bengals. If there’s a tough yard to get or if they’re at the goal line, there’s a good chance Benson will get the ball. Most RBs in the league can’t say that, so that has to count for something. Be that as it may, be cautious about what you expect from Benson this week against a tough opponent.

Projections:
Carson Palmer – 195 yards / 1 TD / 2 INTs
Cedric Benson – 55 yards
Terrell Owens – 75 yards / 1 TD
Chad Ochocinco – 60 yards
Jermaine Gresham – 40 yards

Prediction: Pittsburgh 21, Cincinnati 13 ^ Top