Weekly Fantasy Roundup: Bench/Start Week 16

For my 2008 NQTC Fantasy Football finale, The Bad Guy is leaving you with a few balls to the wall suggestions for what is most likely your championship week. If anyone has any feedback or questions, feel free to contact me at nkupchan@stats.com. It's been fun, and hopefully I'll be back for baseball.

BENCH

RB LaDainian Tomlinson (Chargers) - If you have managed to stay alive in your leagues up to this point with LT, then you are most likely going to ride it out with him, but if you're in a shallow league, I would really consider sitting him this week. The Chargers head to Tampa to take on a Buccaneers defense that has allowed (you may want to make sure you're sitting down for this) ZERO rushing TDs at home so far this season. Combine that with the fact that LT has been anything but spectacular in 2008, and you have all the ingredients for a really disappointing game. The Bucs just lost starting safety Jermaine Phillips for the rest of the season, and Pro Bowl LB Derrick Brooks might be out as well due to injured ribs, but even with these injuries, LT is still a risky play.




RB Marion Barber (Cowboys) - You could just tell that Barber was not himself on Sunday night, rushing the ball for a ridiculous two yards on eight carries. His backup, RB Tashard Choice, led the Cowboys in both rushing AND receiving, compiling 91 yards on the ground (including a 38 yard TD) and 52 through the air, and seems to have assured himself of future playing time regardless of Barber's health. If the match up were better, Barber wouldn't be as much of a ?, but Baltimore comes to town in Week 16, and as we all know, the Ray Lewis and co. simply shut down the run. The Ravens allowing 78 yards per game on the ground, and have allowed a league low 3 rushing TDs all season. Barber's chances of putting up double digit fantasy points are slim to none, and I would recommend leaving him on your bench this week.

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RB DeShaun Foster (49ers) - If Frank Gore is out again due to a sprained ankle, DeShaun Foster becomes someone to keep an eye on. While replacing Gore in Week 15, Foster put up pretty good numbers against one of the better rush defenses in the league - 18 carries for 76 yards and five catches for 25 yards, and considering the 49ers opponent this week, should be considered a huge sleeper. San Fransisco travels to St. Louis to take on a Rams defense that has given up 23 rushing TDs and allows over 150 yards per game on the ground. If you're dealing with injuries or like to play match ups, Foster makes for a pretty decent play, and the potential is definitely there for a big game.

RB Kevin Smith (Lions) - Forget Calvin Johnson, Smith is the focal point of the Lions offense. He is coming off back to back 20 carry games, and should continue that trend this week against the Saints. There will be plenty of scoring to go around in this game, and considering that New Orleans has allowed eight rushing TDs in their seven road games, Smith is almost a lock to find the end zone on Sunday. The Bad Guy will even go as far as to guarantee that #34 is a top 10 RB for Week 16. Make sure he's in your lineups, and don't be afraid to start him over bigger names, as there won't be too many guys who put up bigger numbers....

Weekly Fantasy Roundup: Bench/Start Week 15

BENCH

RB Tim Hightower (Cardinals) - Since taking over the starting RB position from Edgerrin James back in Week 9, Hightower has rushed for 100 yards only once, and has overall been pretty disappointing. He has been averaging only 2.1 yards per carry over his last five games, three of which have come against SF, SEA, and STL. Since the Arizona RB struggled against some of the weakest defenses in the NFL, it is highly unlikely that he will have success against the Vikings' second ranked rush defense. I own Hightower in a couple of my leagues, and there is no way I'm getting him in my lineup for Week 15.



RB Tatum Bell (Broncos) - With Peyton Hillis out for the rest of the season with a torn hamstring, the Broncos have named Tatum Bell their starting RB. For those of you who were desperate for a RB and grabbed Bell off of waivers, I would advise you NOT to start him this week. Mike Shanahan will surely rely more heavily on stud QB Jay Cutler, and it would not surprise me at all to see him throw the ball 50+ times. If the match up were better, Bell might warrant consideration for Sunday, but Carolina has only allowed one 100 yard rusher at home all season, and there is little chance that the former cell phone salesman becomes number two.




RB Willie Parker (Steelers) - Since his three TD game against Houston back in Week 1, FWP has only found the end zone once, and will have a hard time doing so against the NFL's third ranked rush defense. Baltimore has also only allowed three rushing TDs all season, and have simply shut down opposing RBs in recent weeks. If you are forced into playing Parker this week, or any Steeler for that matter, I feel bad for you. The Ravens are as hot as any team right now, winning seven of their last eight games, and will be looking to avenge their loss to Pittsburgh back in Week 4. If you can stay away from this match up, The Bad Guy suggests doing so.

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RB Maurice Morris (Seahawks) - Let me point out that I would not at all want to trust Maurice Morris in my fantasy playoffs - but with that being said - the match up is simply too tasty to ignore. The Rams have given up an insane 22 rushing TDs and allow over 150 yards per game on the ground, meaning the potential is there for a big game. If you play Morris, you have to worry about TD thief T.J. Duckett stealing goal line carries, but with Julius Jones out of the picture (he didn't get one carry last week), Morris should definitely be considered flex worthy in deeper leagues.



RB Dominic Rhodes (Colts) - Going up against Detroit, Mr. Rhodes makes for a sneaky play this week. There should be plenty of carries to go around against the Lions, and considering that starting RB Joseph Addai is not 100%, Rhodes could very well play a larger role on Sunday. When you compare the two RB's numbers over the past couple of weeks, Rhodes has been the stronger play - Addai has carried the ball 25 times for 83 yards with a fumble, while his "backup" received 21 carries for 66 yards and a TD. If you're dealing with injuries and in need of a RB, Rhodes could definitely be the solution to your problem.



QB Matt Schaub (Texans) - While the match up isn't pretty and the numbers might suggest otherwise, The Bad Guy loves Matt Schaub this week. The Titans have only allowed eight passing TDs all season and are tied for third in the NFL with 18 INTs, but The Bad Guy loves Matt Schaub this week. In his first game back from an MCL sprain, Schaub lit up the GB secondary (in GB!), throwing for 414 yards, 2 TDs, and a INT, another reason why The Bad Guy loves Matt Schaub this week. I might be a little biased, as I'm relying on him in almost every one of my leagues, but none the less, The Bad Guy loves Matt Schaub this week.

Weekly Fantasy Roundup: Bench/Start Week 14

I would like to introduce you all to a special friend of mine, Mr. Jordan Berger (right). Like many others out there, he is suffering from poor playoff match ups in Week 14, and could soon find himself in the consolation round of his fantasy playoff bracket. I wanted to dedicate this article to those of you that find yourselves in similar situations, as this could very well be your last meaningful battle of the 2008 fantasy football season. May god be with you and your fantasy teams in Week 14....

BENCH

QB Donovan McNabb (Eagles) - Phili's franchise QB is in trouble this week, as the Eagles head to the Meadowlands to take on the defending Super Bowl champs. McNabb has been pretty shaky on the road this season - his QB rating is nearly 20 points higher at Lincoln Financial Field than it is away from Phili, and he owns a TD-INT ratio of 7-8 on the road, as opposed to 11-2 at home. However, the Chicago native has a pretty impressive track record against the Giants throughout his career, averaging more than 200 total yards per game with a 19-5 TD-INT ratio. Most of you will stick with #5 on Sunday, but The Bag Guy suggests re-thinking your decision.




RB Ronnie Brown (Dolphins) - Ronnie has rushed for less than 100 yards in seven of his last eight games, and seems to play less of a role in the passing game with each coming week. Ricky Williams has also been more of a factor down the stretch, accumulating more total yards than Brown during the past four weeks. The former Auburn standout has been able to find the end zone more often than not, but still hasn't been doing enough to be considered a must start every week. Brown was shut down back in Week 8 against the Bills, recording 48 total yards and no TDs, and there's no reason to expect anything different in Week 14.


RB Marion Barber (Cowboys) - Barber is banged up, and has been struggling of late against very mediocre opponents. In Weeks 12 &13 at home against SF and SEA, Barber rushed for a combined 91 yards and one TD, pretty disappointing numbers for the Dallas RB. The Cowboys head to Pittsburgh to take on the NFL's #1 ranked rush defense, and things don't look too promising for Barber considering his recent struggles. Not sure if you can actually bench #24, but don't expect too much out of your stud RB.

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WR Lee Evans (Bills) - In nine career meetings against the Dolphins, Evans has eight TDs, and weather permitting, should be in line for a great game on Sunday. Miami's secondary allows over 230 passing yards per contest, and should have problems keeping the former UW standout in check. Evans has also been hot of late, hauling in 12 passes and 190 yards the past two games. He should definitely be considered a top 10 WR this week, as the potential is there for a monster game.



RB Larry Johnson (Chiefs) - Everybody runs on the Broncos, and it's simply LJ's turn this week. Denver has had issues stopping the run all season, allowing over 140 rushing yards and a TD per game. Since his return from suspension in Week 11, Johnson has been slowly worked back into the offense, but received a whopping 24 carries last week against Oakland, a sign that the former fantasy MVP is back to form. In his Week 4 match up with the Broncos, Johnson went nuts, rushing for 198 yards and two TDs - so make SURE you have him in your lineup on Sunday.




WR Davone Bess (Dolphins) - The un-drafted rookie out of Hawaii has made quite a name for himself since Greg Camarillo was injured back in Week 12, collecting 11 catches for 171 yards the past two games. Bess gets to face a Bills secondary decimated by injuries, and should be able to post respectable numbers once again. At 5'10, he is more of a deep threat than a possession WR, but seems to have developed great chemistry with QB Chad Pennington. If you are in need of a WR this week, you might want to think about giving Bess a shot.

Weekly Fantasy Roundup: Bench/Start Week 13

From the desk of The Bad Guy:

BENCH

WR Dwayne Bowe (Chiefs) - CB Nnamdi Asomugha could very well be the best cover corner in the NFL, as he seems to shut down the opposing team's #1 WR every week. This is really bad news for Bowe, as Asomugha will most likely be all over him for most of Sunday's game. #82 has been very consistent so far in 2008, catching at least five balls in eight of his 11 games (and scoring in six of them), but will having trouble creating space against Oakland. The Raiders have yet to allow a WR to reach 100 receiving yards in a game, a trend that is sure to continue against the Chiefs. Oakland seems like an easy match up on paper, but when you look a little deeper, things don't seem very promising.

WR TJ Houshmandzadeh (Bengals) - With Chad Johnson out of the lineup, TJ was shut down last week against Pittsburgh, as he was the main focus of the defense and constantly double teamed. Ocho Cinco is questionable to play this week against the Ravens, but it shouldn't make too much of a difference if he's in or out, as the entire Bengals passing game will have a rough time against Baltimore's secondary on Sunday. Housh has had a fantastic season, so I don't know if you can actually sit him, but there's a good chance he wont do much in Week 13.




WR Braylon Edwards (Browns) - After being drafted in the top rounds of many fantasy leagues, Mr. 5 Hour Energy has had an extremely disappointing season. In 11 games so far in 2008, he has gone over 100 yards receiving twice and has only caught three touchdown passes (compared to 16 last season). Unfortunately for Edwards, Indianapolis comes to town in Week 13, and the Colts have only allowed four passing TDs all season. With Brady Quinn's inconsistent play and a tough match up, Edwards might be better off sitting this one out on your bench.

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QB Jay Cutler (Broncos) - Mr. Culter has been struggling of late (He completed less than 50% of his passes last week against Oakland), but look for the former Vanderbilt star to bounce back strong in Week 13 against a Jets D that is allowing nearly 240 passing yards per game. Denver should have a hard time running the ball against Kris Jenkins and company, and will need to move the ball through the air if they want to have a chance. This is a big game for the Broncos, so look for the South Park star to fill the stat sheets while he puts his team on his back and leads them to victory.



RB Lorenzo Booker (Eagles) - This is a long shot, but we all clearly saw that Westbrook was nowhere near 100% in Week 12, and because of the short week, is not a lock to play when the Eagles face off against Arizona on Thanksgiving. Correll Buckhalter is out with a knee injury, which means that if Westbrook cant go on Thursday, the backfield is Booker's for the taking. He would make for a pretty decent play against the Cardinals, and if you are in need of a RB, make sure to keep an eye on the Eagles' injury report, as you might be able to strike gold with the 2nd year RB.




RB Ronnie Brown (Dolphins) - The former Auburn standout is a pretty easy call this week considering the match up, but Ronnie Brown has been pretty disappointing for fantasy owners the past couple of weeks. Since Week 5, Brown has gone over 100 yards only once, and has seen Ricky Williams steal more and more carries from him every game. This is the week things change though, as #23 gets to run on the pathetic St. Louis defense. The Rams allowed Frank Gore to find the end zone twice in Week 11, and Matt Forte to score twice in Week 12, so The Bad Guy is going to once again bust out a guarantee that Ronnie hits pay dirt at least once on Sunday.

Tips for the Stretch in Fantasy Football

So your team is out of the hunt in your fantasy football league. It happens. It has happened to me...once. One of my first crappy posts on this blog involved giving some tips for your fantasy draft. If you followed my advice your draft was probably the same as every other year, just with a few lame jokes sprinkled in. In light of the smashing success, here are some thoughts on how to conduct yourself now that your team is out of it.

Of course, every league is different, so some of this advice will be ridiculous for your league depending on how your draft order is set, how many keepers you have, or even the fluctuating value of a 35 yard field goal. The same issues arise in most leagues though: Do you set your lineup week after week if you're out? Are you active on the waiver wire? Is there anything meaningful you can do?

Let me dispose of issue one right away. Set your lineup. It doesn't take long; you look at your roster and see if any of your bench players are going against the Lions or Rams, you put them in. You see that Steven Jackson is out with a knee injury and Chad Johnson fell asleep in the middle of wind sprints, you sit them down. Maybe it won't mean much, but there is always something to shoot for, like beating that guy that stole Michael Turner from you in the third round, or making sure you don't lose to that one girl in your league.

There are also plenty of reasons to work that waiver wire. First thing you do is to check if anyone ditched a potential keeper during the year. Maybe some idiot dropped Brady, you never know. Obviously people in the league are a lot smarter than you though, so this probably didn't happen; or of course if you missed the playoffs, chances are pretty good that you had Brady. Also, let me reiterate the policy of revenge. Find a reason to want to beat your opponent, or steal this year's Kenny Watson from some douche who really needs him. A word of caution though, you're out of the playoffs, don't risk your dignity by spending hours on the waiver wire, or you know, writing long blog posts about fantasy football (no offense Bad Guy, you're the best).

So other than keeping up with your regular fantasy responsibilities, what else can you do? In most leagues the trading deadline has already passed, but it's always a good idea to look to the future. Especially with all the great young running backs this year, it's a great time to lock up a keeper through a trade. Maybe you have a decent wide receiver like Dwayne Bowe or Freddie Mitchell Jericho Cotchery, pair him with a veteran running back having a good year, like Thomas Jones and ship them off for a young stud with potential like Forte, Slaton, or Jonathan Stewart.

If the trade deadline has passed, tough break. Try something else to have some fun. Write up some playoff previews on the message board, or make incendiary posts against those bastards who made the playoffs.

The point of all of this is to stay involved. It will be more fun for you because fantasy football is fantastic and definitely better than your job or school. It's better for your league because no one wants a lame duck owner with four injured guys starting to change the league. Plus, the better you do at the end, you make it easier to complain about how close you came to winning it all. "If only DeSean Jackson wasn't such an idiot in the first three weeks of the season!"

Weekly Fantasy Roundup: Bench/Start Week 12

BENCH

WR Calvin Johnson (Lions) - Johnson has been one of the NFL's best WR so far in 2008, but faces a tough match up against Tampa Bay this week, and there's a good chance that he wont be a 100% come Sunday. Megatron injured his quad in last week's game against Carolina, and is expected to miss some practice time but should be out there when it counts against the Buccaneers. The injury combined with the match up is worrisome, and if I were a Johnson owner, I wouldn't be expecting too much out of him.



All of your Patriot RBs - The Patriots backfield is a fantasy owner's nightmare, with Sammy Morris, BenJarvis Green-Ellis, and Kevin Faulk all playing a role in the New England offense. Morris should get the majority of the carries, but all three backs will see the field on Sunday. Joey Porter and the rest of the Miami defense have only allowed five rushing touchdowns all season, and should have no problem shutting down this threesome on Sunday. The Dolphins held the Patriots' RBs to 55 rushing yards back in Week 3, and fantasy owners should expect similar numbers in Week 12.

RB Brian Westbrook (Eagles) - Westbrook has been extremely disappointing to fantasy owners in recent weeks, and now has to face the tumultuous Baltimore D in Week 12. The Ravens are as stingy as it gets - they're allowing less than 80 rushing yards per game, and have only given up three TDs on the ground all season. Westbrook has only amassed 100 yards once in 2008, and considering the match up, he isn't necessarily a must start this week - Any of the three RB's listed below make for better plays than the two time Pro Bowl RB.

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RB Peyton Hillis (Broncos) - This converted FB put on quite a show last week against the Falcons (70 total yards and 2 TDs), and everything is pointing to an even more spectacular encore performance in Week 12. Hillis faces off against an Oakland D that has allowed 15 rushing TDs and over 160 yards per game on the ground. While he might be splitting carries with Tatum Bell, he should have all the goal line glory to himself, and considering the Raiders' inability to stop the run, is almost a lock to find the end zone (at least once) on Sunday.



RB Pierre Thomas (Saints) - There is a good chance that Reggie Bush could be out again against the Packers AND that Deuce McAllister's looming suspension could begin in Week 12 , in which case Pierre Thomas would without a doubt become a top 10 RB, especially in PPR leagues. The Chicago native had an all around great game against the Chiefs last week, running wild for 88 yards and a TD, while also hauling in four receptions for 56 yards. This all came while he was splitting carries with McAllister, so imagine what he can do if he has the entire backfield job to himself....



RB Warrick Dunn (Buccaneers) - If Faith Berger was starting at RB against Detroit, she would probably rush for 175 yards and a couple TDs, so when Warrick Dunn gets to start at RB against Detroit - the sky is the limit. With Ernest Graham out for the season after suffering an ankle injury, Dunn should receive almost all of the carries and go nuts against a Lions defense that has given up at least two rushing TDs in each of the past three weeks. The Bad Guy guarantees that The Nicest Guy in the NFL is a lock for double digit fantasy points this Sunday.

Weekly Fantasy Roundup: Bench/Start Week 11

BENCH

QB Brett Favre (Jets) - The Bad Guy is once again going to suggest keeping #4 on your bench this week when the Jets travel to New England to take on the Patriots. The future hall of famer had a decent game against the Rams in Week 10, but Favre faces a much tougher opponent Thursday night and is sure to get knocked around by one of the NFL's top all around defenses. Bill Beeeelichick is THE best game planning coach out there, and is sure to come up with a scheme that will limit Favre, and ultimately frustrate the fantasy owners that started him.



WR Bernard Berrian (Vikings) - Berrian had been on fire as of late, scoring in four straight games and averaging over 100 yards per contest, but was completely shut down and held without a catch against Green Bay in Week 10. Minnesota's #1 WR let down many a fantasy owner with his performance, and is likely to do so again in Week 11 when the Vikings head to Tampa Bay to take on one of the NFL's best pass defenses. The Buccaneers have not allowed more than 65 receiving yards to any one WR in their past three games, and after coming off a bye, will look to keep that trend going in Week 11.



RB Warrick Dunn (Buccaneers) - With Earnest Graham very questionable to play this week against the Vikings, Dunn has a good chance to see the majority of the carries on Sunday against Minnesota. Keep your predictions in check though, as the 5'9 former Florida State standout is not 100% healthy himself, and with the return of Cadillac Williams looming, Dunn makes for a risky play. If you are in need of a RB this week, you might want to consider throwing Dunn in there, just don't expect too much out of him.

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QB Tyler Thigpen (Chiefs) - The seventh pick of the seventh round of the 2007 NFL draft is starting to make some noise, and it's time for fantasy owners to take notice. In his past three games, Thigpen has put up 710 passing yards, 6 TDs, 0 INTs, and 68 rushing yards, and faces a New Orleans D that just lost its top CB Mike McKenzie to a broken knee cap. With Tony Gonzalez, Dwayne Bowe, and emerging WR Mark Bradley at his disposal, Thigpen again makes for a fantastic play in week 11.



WR Mark Bradley (Chiefs) - As mentioned above, this former Chicago Bears' bust is starting to quiet his critics and show that he's more than capable of playing at the NFL level. Since Tyler Thigpen reemerged as Kansas City's starting QB, Bradley has averaged six catches and over 60 yards per contest, and has scored a TD in two of those three games. With defenses needing to focus on Tony Gonzalez and Dwayne Bowe, Bradley has benefited from one on one coverage the past couple of weeks, and should see more of the same in Week 11.



RB Deangelo Williams (Panthers) - Deangelo has been putting up very respectable numbers as of late, and faces a Detroit D that seems to get worse and worse every Sunday. The week after they gave up 155 rushing yards and two rushing TDs to the Bears in Week 9, the Lions allowed 157 yards on the ground and three rushing TDs to the Jaguars in Week 10. With rookie RB Jonathan Stewart still not quite 100%, look for Williams to handle almost all of the load again in Week 11. The potential is there for a huge day, so make sure you get him in your lineups.

Weekly Fantasy Roundup: Bench/Start Week 9

BENCH

QB Brett Favre (Jets) – Matt Millen’s new best friend has been flat out awful the past three weeks, throwing a combined seven interceptions (and only three TD passes) against the Bengals, Raiders, and Chiefs in weeks 6, 7, and 8. After struggling against some of the NFL’s worst pass defenses, Favre and the Jets head to Buffalo to take on the underrated 5-2 Bills. The future hall of famer has been frustrating fantasy owners with his questionable decision making, and if you have other options, it wouldn’t be crazy to sit #4. They (The Weather Channel) are predicting strong winds for this division battle, another reason why you might want to consider letting Favre ride the pine this week. He may get upset, but you need to do what’s best for your team.

WR Terrell Owens (Cowboys) – Drew Rosenhaus’ favorite client has also been struggling of late, averaging only 33.3 receiving yards per game the past three weeks. After hauling in three TD passes in his first two games, Owens has scored only twice during the past six weeks. TO has not totaled more than 89 receiving yards in any game so far this season, and now has to face the dreaded Giants secondary in Week 9. The Super Bowl champs are only allowing 185 passing yards per game, and with Tony Romo expected out again, you might want to think about leaving Owens on your bench come Sunday, even if he starts to cry.

RB Jamal Lewis (Browns) – This former inmate has been extremely mediocre so far in 2008, and I would highly suggest leaving him on your bench this week when he goes up against his former team on Sunday. The Ravens are allowing a league low 64.3 rushing yards per game and have only allowed one rushing TD in their first seven games. Lewis has also yet to rush for over 100 yards in any game so far this season. When you take all of this into account, things don’t look very promising for the Browns RB in Week 9.

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QB Marc Bulger (Rams) - This former Pro Bowl MVP came out of nowhere to throw for 300+ yards last week at New England. Bulger simply sucks on the road – there’s no other way to put it – so the fact that he was able to put together a solid game away from The Edwards Jones Dome could be a sign of things to come. Bulger and the Rams get to face off against a Cardinals secondary allowing more than 220 yards per game through the air and a league worst 14 passing touchdowns. With the emergence of rookie WR Donnie Avery in recent weeks, Bulger now has numerous weapons at his disposal, and seems primed to turn in what could be his best game of the season.

TE Donald Lee (Packers) – This might seem
like a questionable call, but Lee is almost for sure available in your league and could be on the verge of a breakout game. The Packers head to Tennessee to take on one of the NFL’s best defenses, but if you breakdown the numbers, the Titans have a hard time shutting down opposing TEs. They allowed Dallas Clark to put up a nasty stat line of seven grabs for 94 yards and 2 TDs on MNF in Week 8 and allowed Tony Gonzalez to catch six passes for 97 yards the week before. For those of you in need of a TE this week, take a chance on Donald Lee and get him in your lineup.

RB Justin Fargas (Raiders) – Darren McFadden is expected to sit out again in Week 9, which means that Fargas once again gets the entire Oakland halfback job to himself. He didn’t do too much with the opportunity last week against the Ravens, but Atlanta is an entirely different story. The Falcons are allowing 128.6 rushing yards per game, and have allowed nine rushing TDs in only 7 games. If the multi-talented Fargas (aka Young Hugg) is available in your league, snatch him up and listen to his beats while he leads your team to victory.

Weekly Fantasy Roundup

The Bad Guy (formerly Waiver Wire Master) is a fantasy sports expert and will be writing a column once a week (Wednesdays or Thursdays) with whatever expertise he feels like giving us. Feel free to rip his garbage picks or praise his good calls. Last week things went a little better, let's see what he's got for us this week. Enjoy!

If You Have The Balls to Bench Your Studs, Don't Start.....

QB Peyton Manning (Colts): Through the first six games of the season, Peyton has a QB rating of 80.0 and a completion percentage of 60.7 - both career lows if you discard his rookie season. Maybe the two offseason knee surgeries he underwent to repair an infected bursa sac are still affecting him, maybe it’s the start of a decline to an incredible NFL career – who knows – all I know is that you should not be starting the former Super Bowl MVP this Sunday at Tennessee. Here’s a stat for you - The Titans have allowed exactly ONE passing TD all season, and none in their previous five games. If that didn’t, suck out all of the optimism you might have had about Manning’s Week 8 match up, then I don’t know what will. DON’T START HIM!

QB Eli Manning (Giants): The youngest Manning brother also has a tough match up this week, as New York travels to Heinz Field to take on the NFL’s #1 ranked pass defense. Pittsburgh’s secondary is allowing a league low 158.7 passing yards per game, and will look to continue their domination against the Giants’ QB. Manning was great in his first four games, but has been borderline horrible the past couple of weeks. He threw three interceptions in Week 6 at Cleveland, struggled again in Week 7 at home against a less than respectable 49ers’ secondary, and should continue being ridiculously bad in Week 8 against Troy Polamalu and the Steelers’ tumultuous D.

RB Larry Johnson (Chiefs): This former fantasy monster has been extremely disappointing so far in 2008, and things don’t seem to be getting any better for Johnson any time soon. LJ was benched in Week 7 by coach Herm Edwards after he was late for team meetings, and now has to go up against the Jets’ 5^th ranked rush D in Week 8. New York is allowing less than 85 rushing yards per game, and less than 65 per game at home. More bad news - there is speculation that the league may get involved and take action against Johnson for his legal troubles. If LJ does indeed get suspended, definitely don’t start either of the KC backup RBs, as they won’t do anything but suck against Kris Jenkins, Shaun Ellis, and the rest of the J-E-T-S defensive line.

RB Marshawn Lynch (Bills): I might be going out on a limb here, but I don’t see Lynch having a good day in Miami this Sunday. The Bills’ RB has struggled away from Ralph Wilson Stadium, rushing for a combined total of 160 yards and one TD in Buffalo’s three road games, an average of just over 50 yards per contest (that’s pretty fucking bad). The Dolphins rush D has improved tremendously this year, allowing only 97.5 rush yards per game compared to over 150 per game last season. Backup RB Fred Jackson has been getting more and more carries every week, stealing nine carries away from him Lynch this past week. All of this does not bode well for the owner of what could be the ugliest player profile picture of all time.

WR Roddy White (Falcons): This future Pro Bowl WR might want to think about changing his last name from White to Gold, as he has been more valuable than 24 karats (pure gold) so far this season. Things are bound to change in Week 8 though, as Mr. White faces a Phili D that has yet to allow a receiving touchdown to a WR at home. Pro Bowl cornerback Asante Samuel will be all over White, who should struggle to get off the line and create separation. The Eagles will frustrate rookie QB Matt Ryan by blitzing the shit out of him, a game plan that will ultimately not allow White enough time to get downfield and put up the stat line that his owners have become accustomed to in recent weeks.

WR Roy Williams (Cowboys): The blockbuster trade that sent Williams to the Cowboys last week was supposed to put them over the top, but there is a reason why you don’t usually hear about superstars switching teams in the middle of a season. It takes time for a player to adjust to a new team and learn the playbook, so don’t expect Williams to do any damage for at least a couple more weeks. QB Brad Johnson looked Williams’ way ONE time last week in St. Louis, which is only one more look than I got in Week 7. The fact that Dallas’ starting quarterback Tony Romo is expected to be out again doesn’t help matters, as it will take that much longer for Williams to develop chemistry with his QB. The Tampa Bay secondary isn’t too shabby either - they have only allowed one passing TD in their past three games.

Weekly Fantasy Roundup

The Bad Guy (formerly Waiver Wire Master) is a fantasy sports expert and will be writing a column once a week (Wednesdays or Thursdays) with whatever expertise he feels like giving us. Feel free to rip his garbage picks or praise his good calls. Last week things didn't go so well, let's see what he's got for us this week. Enjoy!


From the desk of the The Bad Guy:

Not so Obvious Starts of the Week

QB Kyle Orton (Bears): Mr. Neckbeard himself makes for a pretty interesting start this week, as Chicago could struggle to run the ball against the Vikings’ 4^th ranked rush defense. Kevin Williams, Jared Allen, and the rest of the Minnesota’s defensive line are sure to cause problems for rookie RB Matt Forte. The Bears will look to their QB to lead them downfield and put points on the board. Devin Hester has made a name for himself at WR over the past couple of weeks, giving Orton another reliable weapon to look for in the Bears’ passing game. After putting together an insane 4^th quarter drive last week in Atlanta that gave Chicago the lead in the final seconds, (only to have the defense blow it) look for Orton to come out fired up and lead the Bears to victory in Week 7.

Prediction – 220 Yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, 1 Fumble Lost (15 pts)

QB Matt Schaub (Texans): If you are ever going to give Mr. Schaub a shot to start for your team, this is the week to get him in your lineup. He has thrown for over 300 yards in each of his last two games, and we should see this 300 + yard trend continue against the Lions’ 30^th ranked pass defense. Houston’s offensive line has been playing much better of late, allowing only one sack in Schaub’s previous two starts. Turnovers are inevitable when it comes to this former 3^rd round pick though (he has thrown seven interceptions in only four starts) but Matthew Rutledge Schaub should do more than enough to make up for his mistakes, and put up monster numbers none the less.

Prediction – 320 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INT (20 pts)

RB Deangelo Williams/Jonathan Stewart (Panthers): After a disappointing Week 6 loss at Tampa Bay where Williams and Stewart were held to a dismal 39 combined rushing yards, look for these young studs to bounce back strong and put together very nice all-around efforts against a D allowing more than 100 rush yards per game. Carolina will look to control the clock and run all over New Orleans, keeping Drew Brees and co. off the field and making sure the Saints DONT Go Marching In (the end zone). Get these guys in your lineup in what is certain to be a high scoring affair – they should be as money as Deangelo’s bling.

Prediction – Williams – 70 Yards, 1 Rush TD, 3 Rec, 25 yds (15.5 pts)

Stewart – 70 Yards, 1 Rush TD (13 pts)

RB Ryan Grant (Packers): Last week’s call to start the Baltimore RB duo against the Colts didn’t go too well, but I’m going to give Ryan Grant a shot to show that I was right about the Indi rush D. The Green Bay running back has struggled so far this season, averaging a very mediocre 3.4 yards per carry and failing to find in the end zone in his first 6 games, but look for him to get things going against a Colts defense allowing more than 160 rush yards per game. Grant ran the ball a career high 33 times last week at Seattle, a sign that is he completely over the nagging hamstring injuries that were bothering him earlier in the season. The Packers’ schedule gets a lot tougher after Week 7, so time is running out for Grant to show that last year’s season wasn’t a fluke. If he doesn’t breakout this week against the Colts, you might want to think about leaving him on your bench in the future.

Prediction – 120 Yards, 1 TD, 2 Rec, 10 yds (19 pts)

WR Torry Holt (Rams): Some of you may say that Holt is a fantasy stud and is an obvious every week starter, but this seven time Pro Bowl WR has been borderline horrible up to this point (and for your sake I hope you haven’t been starting him). Holt has been averaging 4 catches and 42 yards per game in 2008, numbers no where near what you thought you would be getting when you drafted him in the 3^rd or 4^th rounds of your drafts. Throw out everything you have seen up to this point though - Holt will go off in Week 7 against Dallas - you heard it here first. The Cowboys’ secondary is in shambles: Safety Roy Williams remains out after fracturing his forearm in Week 2, CB Terrance Newman is out again after undergoing surgery for his sports hernia, and CB Adam “Pacman” Jones has been suspended for at least four weeks following his latest altercation. What does this all mean? It means this is the week Torry Holt shows you why you drafted him where you did.

Prediction – 8 Rec, 115 Yards, 1 TD (17.5 pts)

WR Kevin Walter (Texans): My love for Houston’s offense is so deep this week that it finds its way all the way over to the Texan’s #2 WR, Kevin Walter. The Chicago native has been more than decent with Schaub under center, averaging 6 catches, 87 yards, and a TD in the last two games that the Houston QB has started. Walter should be able to post similar numbers, if not better, against a very weak Lions secondary in Week 7. He makes for a strong play as a #3 WR, and you could even get him in as a flex in shallower leagues. With defenses needing to focus almost all of their attention on Andre Johnson, look for Walter to take advantage of single coverage and play a major role in the Houston passing game.

Prediction – 5 Rec, 80 Yards, 1 TD (14 pts)

Points are based on standard scoring leagues

Weekly Fantasy Roundup

Waiver Wire Master is a fantasy sports expert and will be writing a column once a week (Wednesdays or Thursdays) with whatever expertise he feels like giving us. Feel free to rip his garbage picks or praise his good calls. Enjoy!

From the desk of the Waiver Wire Master:

Not so Obvious Starts of the Week

QB: Jason Campbell (Redskins): Campbell gets to face the woeful Rams secondary this week, which comes into FedEx Field ranked 28th in the NFL against the pass. The former Auburn star is just now beginning to show what he’s capable of doing at the next level. He possesses a QB rating of 107.8 to go along with 514 yards and 3 TDs in his two home starts. Clinton Portis, who ranks 2nd in the NFL with 514 rushing yards, is going to demand quite a bit of attention from the St. Louis D, which will allow Campbell to have what could be a career passing day.

QB: Kurt Warner (Cardinals): What might seem like a tough matchup on paper should actually turn out to be a very favorable one for this former MVP. Warner loves playing at home – he currently owns a 130.5 QB rating, a 5/0 TD/INT ratio, and is averaging more than 300 yards per game in the Cardinals’ two home games. While Anquan Boldin will most likely sit out at least another week after taking that brutal hit back in week 4, look for both Larry Fitzgerald and Steve Breaston to post monster games as Warner should pick apart Dallas’ 17th ranked pass D with ease.

RB: Le’Ron McClain/Willis McGahee (Ravens): This two back attack should go nuts against an Indianapolis D ranked dead last in the NFL against the rush. The Colts are allowing more than 188 yards/game, which should allow both McClain and McGahee to get theirs. McClain has been a force from the goal line, averaging a TD per game, and after getting a season high 22 carries last week against a tough Tennessee defense, What You Talkin 'Bout Willis McGahee should be ready to explode and show that he is finally100% healthy after undergoing offseason surgery.

RB: Chester Taylor (Vikings): Let me start off by saying I wouldn’t start him over your stud RBs, but if you’re in need of a flex, he could be a sneaky play. How many of you saw Adrian Peterson rush for a whopping 32 yards on 21 carries against a pretty weak New Orleans D on MNF? Now I’m not a doctor, but it didn’t really look like ADP was completely over the hamstring issue that was bothering him back in Week 4. The upcoming short week of rest doesn’t bode well for APet, so look for Chester to be more involved on Sunday against a VERY weak Detroit D. Minnesota should crush the Lions either way, so even if it comes in garbage time, Taylor should put up decent numbers.

WR: Bobby Engram (Seahawks): Engram set a Seahawks record with 94 catches last season, and continued to post extremely awesome numbers in his first game back from a broken shoulder in Week 5. This former Chicago Bears draft pick was targeted a very healthy 12 times, and was able to snag in eight of the balls thrown his way. With Deion Branch out indefinitely, look for QB Matt Hasselbeck to rely on Engram even more in Week 6. An injured Charles Woodson (who was responsible for allowing Roddy White to catch 8 balls for 132 yards and a TD) will most likely be assigned to #84, which should enable the veteran WR to put up a nasty stat line.

WR: Brandon Stokley (Broncos): Stud rookie WR Eddie Royal is most likely going to miss Week 6 (He is currently listed as questionable), which makes Stokley that much nicer of a play. Stokley has put up 13 catches for 132 yards and a TD in his past two games, and we should see him build upon this success with both Royal and beastly TE Tony Scheffler out of action. With defenses having to focus all of their attention on Mr. Brandon Marshall, Jay Cutler will look to Stokley early and often, and by the end of the day, you’ll be happy you had him in your lineup.