Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

Bye Weeks: Derrick Mason, Todd Heap, Brandon Marshall, Eddie Royal, Calvin Johnson, Mike Sims-Walker, Torry Holt, Nate Burleson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Justin Gage, Kenny Britt

Start 'Em:
Receivers Who Will Outperform Relative To Their Draft Position And Recent Hype

Steve Smith (NYG) vs. ARI
Smith and the Giant passing game have a lot to look forward to this week. Expect New York to enter Sunday night’s contest with a renewed focus after getting pummeled last week. The Cardinals have exhibited the best run defense in the NFL so far (combined with one of the worst pass defense) which bodes well for Giant receivers. The Cards allow an average of 265.2 YPG have served up 9 aerial TDs in 5 games. Smith has only caught 7 passes over his last 2 games after grabbing 11 in Week 4, but he’ll be very much in the mix this week.

Sidney Rice @ PIT
Sidney Rice officially arrived last week with the biggest yardage totals of his career when he caught 6 passes for 176 yards against Baltimore. Rice has 409 yards receiving and his 17.8 yard per reception leads the Vikings. The Steelers pass defense has struggled this year; they allow 200 passing YPG and have already given up 9 TDs through the air. With Percy Harvin iffy, Sidney’s role could be even more expanded this week.

Ted Ginn Jr. vs. NO
After catching 11 passes in Week 2, Ginn only managed 3 catches in his next two games. The silver lining is that he was able to find pay dirt last week and he has the speed and ability to get deep and make plays. For leagues that give return yard points, Ginn is expected to assume most of the kickoff return duties going forward. He has a chance for increased garbage time grabs this week as the Dolphins try to mount a comeback against the Saints, who can be vulnerable once the game is (likely) out of hand.

Lee Evans @ CAR
Long shot of the Week II! Evans showed up on the fantasy radar last week with his best game of the season, snaring 4 passes for 68 yards, including a 37-yard TD pass from Ryan Fitzpatrick. Carolina boasts one of the best pass defenses in the league (hence ‘long shot’) in terms of yardage, but they have given up 6 TDs in 5 games. I’m banking on Evans and Fitzpatrick continuing to their apparent rapport.

Bench 'Em:
Receivers Who Will Under Perform Relative To Their Draft Position And Recent Hype

Steve Smith (Car) vs. BUF
1 catch for 4 yards last week and now he's tied for 42nd in the league in receptions. Not looking like a very good return on your pre-season investment. Smith maintains his stance that he is no longer an asset to the team, and it could be hard to prove otherwise this week as Buffalo is so incredibly soft against the run that it makes their pass defense look good. The Bills allow an average of 170.7 passing YPG through the air.

Making an appearance Monday night?

Santana Moss vs. PHI
Maybe Moss will make an appearance on Monday Night, or maybe Moss will only be found under a rock. It’s anybody’s guess, but overall Santana is very hard to trust. Ever the deep threat, alas he only has 7 catches in his last three games after 10 grabs in Week 3. You never know when he’ll explode, but the Eagles should be able to keep him in check. The Eagles have allowed only 10 passing plays of 20+ yards, only the Colts (7) have allowed fewer.

DeSean Jackson @ WAS
Desean Jackson is following Moss’s footsteps in that he is tough to bench due to explosiveness, but stats like his Week 4 line, 1 catch for 1 yard against Tampa, are hard to take. With Donovan McNabb’s penchant for spreading the ball around and a litany of weapons on the Eagles offense, gauging matchups is prudent. If he is your third WR or Flex, maybe roll with him, but expecting more is asking too much. The Redskins allow an average of 169 passing YPG and have given up 5 aerial TDs.

Braylon Edwards @ OAK
Edwards showed more than expected in his first game with the Jets (Week 5) by catching 5 passes for 64 yards and a TD. He only managed 3 catches for 40 yards last week as Mark Sanchez looks more and more like a rookie each Sunday. With Nnamdi Asomugha holding Desean Jackson, Steve Smith (NYG) and Andre Johnson in check over the last 3 weeks, it is definitely not looking great for Edwards this week.