By The Troll
Fantasy Columnist
Before we get into my picks for this week, here’s a look at how things turned out last week.
START
QB Brad Johnson – 146 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT
QB David Carr – 116 yards, TD, 0 INT
RB Dominick Davis – 189 total yards, TD
RB Lamont Jordan – 79 total yards
RB Rudi Johnson – 169 yards rushing, 1 TD
WR Lee Evans – 83 yards receiving
WR Terry Glenn – 138 yards receiving, 2 TDs (1 rushing)
SIT
QB Marques Tuiasosopo – 124 yards, TD, 2 INTs, 2 fumbles lost
QB Ben Roethlisberger – 173 yards, TD, 0 INT
RB Curtis Martin – DNP.
RB Greg Jones – 43 yards rushing
RB Jamal Lewis – DNP.
WR Hines Ward – 27 yards, TD
WR Philadelphia WR Corps – 9 receptions for 146 yards
I’ll try to do better this week.
Quarterbacks
Eli Manning, Giants – Eli has struggled recently, throwing a trio of picks against the Eagles. However, the Chiefs secondary has been getting torched. This game figures to be a shootout and I highly recommend starting any fantasy-worthy Giants and Chiefs.
Jake Plummer, Broncos
Running Backs
Ryan Moats, Philadelphia – Moats had 100+ yards and two touchdowns last Sunday in his first career start. He is a good bet to repeat that performance against a St. Louis defense that ranks last in the NFC at stopping the run.
TJ Duckett, Atlanta – The vaunted Bears defense was slaughtered by power back Jerome Bettis last week. Don’t think Jim Mora and company didn’t see that. While 100 yards and two touchdowns is too much to ask, I have a hard time believing Duckett will not find the end zone this week.
Marion Barber III, Dallas – While Julius Jones may get the starting nod, the Cowboys, Barber gets the nod at the goal-line. Barber had more carries than Jones in last week’s win over Kansas City, and is averaging better than a half yard a carry more than Jones. The Redskins rush D is seemingly stout, ranked in the top half of the league in rush yards allowed. However, the Redskins have given up 15 touchdowns on the ground this year, a number surpassed by only 6 teams.
Wide Receivers
Jimmy Smith, Jacksonville – David Garrard has established that Jimmy Smith is his favorite target. Smith had eight receptions for 102 yards and a score last week and is matched up with the 49ers this week, who have no pass defense to speak of.
Bobby Engram, Seattle – After going scoreless the first 11 games of the season, Engram has caught three scores in the past two weeks. While the return of Darrell Jackson may cause concern, the Titans’ secondary that has given up 26 touchdowns through the air should not.
Quarterbacks
Michael Vick, Falcons – Vick hasn’t been bad at all fantasy-wise in the past month. That will change this week as the Falcons travel to Soldier Field for Sunday Night Football. Vick has very little upside in this spot, as the odds of him turning the ball over 5 times are far greater than the odds of him scoring another three touchdowns, as he did against the Saints Monday.
Tom Brady, Patriots – With all that’s on the line Saturday against the Bucs, there is no doubt that Brady will play. He might want to reconsider, however, as Tampa is fourth in the league against the pass. I foresee Terrific Tom hooking up with Ronde Barber more often than he hooks up with Deion Branch.
Running Backs
Willis McGahee, Buffalo – McGahee has a terrible match-up this week against the Bronco’s third ranked rush defense. Last week, against the Patriots’ putrid run d, Worthless managed a staggering three yards. As a disgruntled McGahee owner that wasted a first rounder on a back with less production than Green Bay’s fifth-string running back, I’ll be sitting McGahee on my bench.
Chris Brown, Titans – Brown has been very good lately, but there is always the looming threat of Travis Henry stealing his carries. I don’t like him at all this week against a Seattle defense that has given up only three rushing touchdowns this season, and is currently on fire.
Jamal Lewis/Chester Taylor – This may be a moot point, since if you have either one of these guys, you probably aren’t in the playoffs anyway. The Packers bend, but don’t break on defense, giving up 123 yards per game, but allowing only 6 touchdowns. Something tells me neither one of these guys is going to run over Grady Jackson to make a trip to the painted grass.
Wide Receivers
Chris Chambers, Dolphins – Steve Smith, Randy Moss, Joe Horn, Rod Smith, Keenan McCardell, Derrick Mason. All #1’s for their respective teams, all shut down by Ty Law. Chambers has been unconscious lately, but, unfortunately, they don’t give out fantasy points for being held. Sit him down here.
Derrick Mason, Baltimore – Al Harris has been outstanding this season, and he is a big reason why the Packers have the top pass defense in football. The Packers’ defense has been surprisingly solid; it’s their offense that’s been killing them. Sound familiar, Ravens? Leave Mason on the pine for this Monday night barnburner.