A Closer Fantasy Look at Week 11
Atlanta @ Baltimore
This one is a tough game to call. Some serious questions out there. Which Michael Vick will show up? Can Warrick Dunn run on the Ravens? How much will it hurt the Ravens defense with Ray Lewis out? Can Steve McNair keep this up? It's a lot to deal with. I think Lewis being out will have a strong effect on this game. While Dunn may not find a lot of success, I think Vick will be able to scramble for some decent yardage and find Alge Crumpler up the middle for a few good catches. Michael Jenkins may find a look or two as well. The Ravens have no legitimate ground game, so McNair makes for a solid play against a struggling Falcons secondary. Mark Clayton and Derrick Mason should get the most attention as it looks like Todd Heap is not at full strength and may not even play. Looks for a close one but with solid fantasy point potential.
Buffalo @ Houston
A bottom feeding game like this can be loaded with fantasy gems. Both teams should try to establish a running game, so Wali Lundy and the resurgent Anthony Thomas should get a decent number of touches. And obviously they both have decent matchups. The aerial game won't be disappointing either as J.P Losman and Lee Evans try to keep pace with David Carr and Andre Johnson. The sleeper here for me is Eric Moulds who would love to show up his former team. I think he comes through.
Chicago @ NY Jets
I'm not sure if it's my Jets loyalty that blinds me or if they really do have a shot at making something out of this week's game. It's hard to recommend any of the Jets with the Bears defense as good as it is, but guys like Laveraneus Coles and even Jerricho Cotchery may be ok to play. If the Jets get some running going with Kevan Barlow and Leon Washington, then maybe they have a shot. If not then they should be playing catch up and airing it out. Chad Pennington will probably throw as many INTs as he does TDs, but the WRs will atleast get the looks. For the Bears, starting Thomas Jones should be a no-brainer this week against a super-sketchy Jets run defense. That alone should open it up nicely for Rex Grossman to find Mushin Muhammed and Desmond Clark. Not gonna be a barnburner, but there should still be some decent scoring.
Cincinnati @ New Orleans
Now this one should be a barnburner. Start 'em all. Drew Brees and Carson Palmer should both be airing it out all day long which means that Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Joe Horn and Marques Colston should be great plays this week. Chris Henry also might see some nice looks, but the last time I said that he gave up on his team. The difference maker here will be the ground game and I like the tandem of Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush to find more fantasy success than the one of Rudi Johnson and Chris Perry.
Minnesota @ Miami
The complete polar opposite of the Bengals/Saints game. This one's gonna be a fantasy snoozer; unless you have Ryan Longwell, Olindo Mare or either defense. The Dolphins had a big win against the Chiefs last week, but a 13-10 game is hardly the thing fantasy dreams are built on. Let's face it. It's still Joey Harrington and the Fins are putting all their eggs in his basket. With Ronnie Brown banged up and the Vikings owning the NFL's best rushing defense, Miami is going to have to rely on Harrington to lead them. Ask anyone in Detroit about his ability to lead. For the Vikings, the offense is fizzling. Chester Taylor is showing serious signs of breaking down and Brad Johnson hasn't been so good either. Probably doesn't help when all your WRs go MIA. Does Troy Williamson have more than 10 receptions all year? Expect a low scoring affair here.
New England @ Green Bay
The whispers about Tom Brady's shoulder and the signing of Vinny "Greenballs" Testaverde should make you nervous, but it's still a nice matchup here. If he is healthy, Brady should have a decent day in the air, but remember, he does like to spread it around. It's tough to figure who's going to have the TDs between Chad Jackson, Ben Watson , Doug Gabriel or Reche Caldwell. Jackson and Watson appear to be the favorites for now. Look for Corey Dillon and Laurence Maroney to have decent days and maybe take some of the pressure off of their QB. For the Packers, it's the trio of Brett Favre, Donald Driver and Ahman Green. That's where the fantasy points lie these days. You might see a little more out of TE David Martin as the Pack will still be without Greg Jennings or a legit #2 wideout.
Oakland @ Kansas City
The winds of change are blowing in this game. Aaron Brooks takes over at QB again for the Raiders and Trent Green mans the helm for the Chiefs once again. Not sure if any of it is for the better, but we'll see. To keep the pressure off of Green, the Chiefs will ride Larry Johnson all day against a suspect Raiders rushing D. Johnson should have some nice abusive numbers this week. The sleeper for the Chiefs, I think, is Eddie Kennison. He and Green work well together so you can expect a few long shots towards the endzone. Also, with Tony Gonzalez out for the week, who else is he going to throw to? The change to Brooks in Oaktown may be a little tougher. He can air it out, but he makes poor decisions. The INTs could be high. Lamont Jordan has been a relative disappointment this year so he's hit or miss here, Jerry Porter is just getting going still and Randy Moss keeps saying he wants out. This team is still a disaster.
Pittsburgh @ Cleveland
While the Steelers have been a disappointment in NFL reality, you can't be too unhappy with their fantasy production. You can expect more of the same fantasy wise this week as Willie Parker, Ben Roethlisberger, Hines Ward and even Heath Miller should feast upon a poor Cleveland defense. For the Browns, it looks like RB Jason Wright will get the nod over an injured Reuben Droughns. I don't recommend starting him this week, but he may be worth stashing away on your bench right now. Charlie Frye will have his hands full with the Steelers pass rush, but he should find Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow for some decent hook ups, possibly even a TD or two.
St. Louis @ Carolina
This one should be loaded with solid fantasy points from all of the usual suspects. Jake Delhomme should find Steve Smith and Keyshawn Johnson all day against a mediocre Rams secondary. They better, since they don't have much of a running game going these days. DeShaun Foster and DeAngelo Williams have been almost non-existent lately. The Rams have been living up to their word and have been getting Steven Jackson more touches here in the second half making him a much more productive back these days. He should definitely be active despite a not so hot matchup. The air attack should be solid as well. Marc Bulger should find Torry Holt in the endzone again, and Isaac Bruce is turning into a decent possession receiver these days. Jeff Wilkins should, once again, prove to be the number one fantasy kicker.
Tennessee @ Philadelphia
Another game of no-brainers here. Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook, Donte Stallworth and Reggie Brown should have great days and maybe even L.J. Smith if we're lucky. All should be active for you. For the Titans, it looks like a work still in progress, but it seems to be getting better. Vince Young and Drew Bennett have connected pretty well the past 2 weeks so maybe they'll continue to build on that. Ben Troupe could also start to emerge a little more. I just don't know if we can fully count on Travis Henry. He's looked good at times, but the Eagles rushing D is decent and they've only given up 5 rushing TDs all year.
Washington @ Tampa Bay
This game could just be downright awful. Jason Campbell takes over at QB and he's already without Clinton Portis and Santana Moss. He's going to be relying on Ladell Betts and Brandon Lloyd??? Look for Antwaan Randle-El to get a lot more gimmick plays this week. Maybe he'll be able to throw a TD pass to himself this week. The Bucs D looks like a solid play. For the Bucs offense, it's a matter of getting a ground game established. Carnell Williams is struggling and he's not taking the pressure off of Bruce Gradkowski like he should. Look for Gradkowski to hook up with Joey Galloway and Alex Smith this weekend to give the Bucs the edge this week.
Detroit @ Arizona
One man's trash is another man's treasure? While this game does nothing in the world of the NFL, it has fantasy owners drooling. Mike Martz has this Lions' offense humming. Jon Kitna, Roy Williams and Kevin Jones are all producing and should maintain against a weak Cardinals defense. I might even go out on another Mike Furrey ledge here, but only if you're in need of an injury replacement. For 'Zona, it should be Matt Leinart airing it out to Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald for most of the day. It would be nice to see a disappointing Edgerrin James have a strong game. The Lions rushing D gives up an average of 128 yards per game.
Seattle @ San Francisco
Call it a feeling, but all of this Matt Hasselbeck and Shaun Alexander business is feeling more like a distraction than it is helping the Seahawks morale. It looks like Seneca Wallace should get the start, but I can't see him playing well knowing that Hasselebeck is standing over his shoulder and the Niners defense is highly underrated. Deion Branch and Darrell Jackson may struggle a bit if Wallace is off his game. That Alexander may start (game time decision) should keep the Niners defense on it's toes, but everyone knows he's not running at 100%. I like SF in the upset here as Alex Smith to Antonio Bryant and a few Joe Nedney field goals should be enough for the win in a low scoring game here.
Indianapolis @ Dallas
After narrowly escaping the Bills last week, could this be the week that the Colts lose their unbeaten streak? Quite possibly. Julius Jones and Marion Barber should find a lot of success against a horrible Colts rushing D. Look for them to get a lot of attention early. Then get ready for a little Tony Romo action as he tries to keep his receivers happy in what could turn into quite a shootout. Terrell Owens and Jason Witten should get plenty of looks. Possibly even Terry Glenn, but I'm not counting on him much these days. The Dallas D is pretty strong, so Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes could be in for tough days. The show for the Colts remains in the air. Peyton Manning should hit Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne plenty, but the sleeper here just may be Dallas Clark. I called for the Dallas upset in my Preview, so we'll see what happens. These are definitely Tuna friendly waters.
San Diego @ Denver
The big story here is LTD vs. the Broncos rushing defense. Traditionally, Tomlinson doesn't fare too well in Denver as they've held him down the past 5 games these teams have played. Still, you'd have to be an idiot to not start him. He'll get his touches and he'll get his TD. Maybe not 4, but atleast one. His presence alone will help as the Broncos key in on him allowing Phillip Rivers to find his receivers. Antonio Gates may have a little trouble with John Lynch patrolling the middle, but Rivers still has Eric Parker, Keenan McCardell, Vincent Jackson and Malcom Floyd running around. I'd say look for Jackson and Floyd in the endzone. For the Broncos, their running game has been very inconsistent between Tatum and Mike Bell, so don't expect much. Jake Plummer seems to step it up against better opponents lately, so look for him to find Javon Walker and Rod Smith down field for some good fantasy totals.
NY Giants @ Jacksonville
Two teams in the national spotlight, both trying to rebound from disastrous performances last week. The Giants are going to come out firing as Eli Manning looks to quiet all of this "bad draft choice" talk. Tiki Barber will keep the Jag's defense honest allowing Manning to hit Jeremy Shockey and Plaxico Burress often. I like them all as fantasy picks this week. For the Jags, it can't get any worse for Dave Garrard. Now that Byron Leftwich is having ankle surgery, maybe that'll take the pressure off of him. The Giants are full of injuries on defense, so he should fare much better than last week's 4 INTs and hit Matt Jones and Ernest Wilford for some key strikes. Fred Taylor has been pretty steady this year and so far healthy. Look for him to do well as the Giants defensive line is soft these days. I think we're looking at a surprisingly high scoring game here.
I hope this helps in your decision making. Good luck in your games this week and have a great Football Sunday!
This one is a tough game to call. Some serious questions out there. Which Michael Vick will show up? Can Warrick Dunn run on the Ravens? How much will it hurt the Ravens defense with Ray Lewis out? Can Steve McNair keep this up? It's a lot to deal with. I think Lewis being out will have a strong effect on this game. While Dunn may not find a lot of success, I think Vick will be able to scramble for some decent yardage and find Alge Crumpler up the middle for a few good catches. Michael Jenkins may find a look or two as well. The Ravens have no legitimate ground game, so McNair makes for a solid play against a struggling Falcons secondary. Mark Clayton and Derrick Mason should get the most attention as it looks like Todd Heap is not at full strength and may not even play. Looks for a close one but with solid fantasy point potential.
Buffalo @ Houston
A bottom feeding game like this can be loaded with fantasy gems. Both teams should try to establish a running game, so Wali Lundy and the resurgent Anthony Thomas should get a decent number of touches. And obviously they both have decent matchups. The aerial game won't be disappointing either as J.P Losman and Lee Evans try to keep pace with David Carr and Andre Johnson. The sleeper here for me is Eric Moulds who would love to show up his former team. I think he comes through.
Chicago @ NY Jets
I'm not sure if it's my Jets loyalty that blinds me or if they really do have a shot at making something out of this week's game. It's hard to recommend any of the Jets with the Bears defense as good as it is, but guys like Laveraneus Coles and even Jerricho Cotchery may be ok to play. If the Jets get some running going with Kevan Barlow and Leon Washington, then maybe they have a shot. If not then they should be playing catch up and airing it out. Chad Pennington will probably throw as many INTs as he does TDs, but the WRs will atleast get the looks. For the Bears, starting Thomas Jones should be a no-brainer this week against a super-sketchy Jets run defense. That alone should open it up nicely for Rex Grossman to find Mushin Muhammed and Desmond Clark. Not gonna be a barnburner, but there should still be some decent scoring.
Cincinnati @ New Orleans
Now this one should be a barnburner. Start 'em all. Drew Brees and Carson Palmer should both be airing it out all day long which means that Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Joe Horn and Marques Colston should be great plays this week. Chris Henry also might see some nice looks, but the last time I said that he gave up on his team. The difference maker here will be the ground game and I like the tandem of Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush to find more fantasy success than the one of Rudi Johnson and Chris Perry.
Minnesota @ Miami
The complete polar opposite of the Bengals/Saints game. This one's gonna be a fantasy snoozer; unless you have Ryan Longwell, Olindo Mare or either defense. The Dolphins had a big win against the Chiefs last week, but a 13-10 game is hardly the thing fantasy dreams are built on. Let's face it. It's still Joey Harrington and the Fins are putting all their eggs in his basket. With Ronnie Brown banged up and the Vikings owning the NFL's best rushing defense, Miami is going to have to rely on Harrington to lead them. Ask anyone in Detroit about his ability to lead. For the Vikings, the offense is fizzling. Chester Taylor is showing serious signs of breaking down and Brad Johnson hasn't been so good either. Probably doesn't help when all your WRs go MIA. Does Troy Williamson have more than 10 receptions all year? Expect a low scoring affair here.
New England @ Green Bay
The whispers about Tom Brady's shoulder and the signing of Vinny "Greenballs" Testaverde should make you nervous, but it's still a nice matchup here. If he is healthy, Brady should have a decent day in the air, but remember, he does like to spread it around. It's tough to figure who's going to have the TDs between Chad Jackson, Ben Watson , Doug Gabriel or Reche Caldwell. Jackson and Watson appear to be the favorites for now. Look for Corey Dillon and Laurence Maroney to have decent days and maybe take some of the pressure off of their QB. For the Packers, it's the trio of Brett Favre, Donald Driver and Ahman Green. That's where the fantasy points lie these days. You might see a little more out of TE David Martin as the Pack will still be without Greg Jennings or a legit #2 wideout.
Oakland @ Kansas City
The winds of change are blowing in this game. Aaron Brooks takes over at QB again for the Raiders and Trent Green mans the helm for the Chiefs once again. Not sure if any of it is for the better, but we'll see. To keep the pressure off of Green, the Chiefs will ride Larry Johnson all day against a suspect Raiders rushing D. Johnson should have some nice abusive numbers this week. The sleeper for the Chiefs, I think, is Eddie Kennison. He and Green work well together so you can expect a few long shots towards the endzone. Also, with Tony Gonzalez out for the week, who else is he going to throw to? The change to Brooks in Oaktown may be a little tougher. He can air it out, but he makes poor decisions. The INTs could be high. Lamont Jordan has been a relative disappointment this year so he's hit or miss here, Jerry Porter is just getting going still and Randy Moss keeps saying he wants out. This team is still a disaster.
Pittsburgh @ Cleveland
While the Steelers have been a disappointment in NFL reality, you can't be too unhappy with their fantasy production. You can expect more of the same fantasy wise this week as Willie Parker, Ben Roethlisberger, Hines Ward and even Heath Miller should feast upon a poor Cleveland defense. For the Browns, it looks like RB Jason Wright will get the nod over an injured Reuben Droughns. I don't recommend starting him this week, but he may be worth stashing away on your bench right now. Charlie Frye will have his hands full with the Steelers pass rush, but he should find Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow for some decent hook ups, possibly even a TD or two.
St. Louis @ Carolina
This one should be loaded with solid fantasy points from all of the usual suspects. Jake Delhomme should find Steve Smith and Keyshawn Johnson all day against a mediocre Rams secondary. They better, since they don't have much of a running game going these days. DeShaun Foster and DeAngelo Williams have been almost non-existent lately. The Rams have been living up to their word and have been getting Steven Jackson more touches here in the second half making him a much more productive back these days. He should definitely be active despite a not so hot matchup. The air attack should be solid as well. Marc Bulger should find Torry Holt in the endzone again, and Isaac Bruce is turning into a decent possession receiver these days. Jeff Wilkins should, once again, prove to be the number one fantasy kicker.
Tennessee @ Philadelphia
Another game of no-brainers here. Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook, Donte Stallworth and Reggie Brown should have great days and maybe even L.J. Smith if we're lucky. All should be active for you. For the Titans, it looks like a work still in progress, but it seems to be getting better. Vince Young and Drew Bennett have connected pretty well the past 2 weeks so maybe they'll continue to build on that. Ben Troupe could also start to emerge a little more. I just don't know if we can fully count on Travis Henry. He's looked good at times, but the Eagles rushing D is decent and they've only given up 5 rushing TDs all year.
Washington @ Tampa Bay
This game could just be downright awful. Jason Campbell takes over at QB and he's already without Clinton Portis and Santana Moss. He's going to be relying on Ladell Betts and Brandon Lloyd??? Look for Antwaan Randle-El to get a lot more gimmick plays this week. Maybe he'll be able to throw a TD pass to himself this week. The Bucs D looks like a solid play. For the Bucs offense, it's a matter of getting a ground game established. Carnell Williams is struggling and he's not taking the pressure off of Bruce Gradkowski like he should. Look for Gradkowski to hook up with Joey Galloway and Alex Smith this weekend to give the Bucs the edge this week.
Detroit @ Arizona
One man's trash is another man's treasure? While this game does nothing in the world of the NFL, it has fantasy owners drooling. Mike Martz has this Lions' offense humming. Jon Kitna, Roy Williams and Kevin Jones are all producing and should maintain against a weak Cardinals defense. I might even go out on another Mike Furrey ledge here, but only if you're in need of an injury replacement. For 'Zona, it should be Matt Leinart airing it out to Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald for most of the day. It would be nice to see a disappointing Edgerrin James have a strong game. The Lions rushing D gives up an average of 128 yards per game.
Seattle @ San Francisco
Call it a feeling, but all of this Matt Hasselbeck and Shaun Alexander business is feeling more like a distraction than it is helping the Seahawks morale. It looks like Seneca Wallace should get the start, but I can't see him playing well knowing that Hasselebeck is standing over his shoulder and the Niners defense is highly underrated. Deion Branch and Darrell Jackson may struggle a bit if Wallace is off his game. That Alexander may start (game time decision) should keep the Niners defense on it's toes, but everyone knows he's not running at 100%. I like SF in the upset here as Alex Smith to Antonio Bryant and a few Joe Nedney field goals should be enough for the win in a low scoring game here.
Indianapolis @ Dallas
After narrowly escaping the Bills last week, could this be the week that the Colts lose their unbeaten streak? Quite possibly. Julius Jones and Marion Barber should find a lot of success against a horrible Colts rushing D. Look for them to get a lot of attention early. Then get ready for a little Tony Romo action as he tries to keep his receivers happy in what could turn into quite a shootout. Terrell Owens and Jason Witten should get plenty of looks. Possibly even Terry Glenn, but I'm not counting on him much these days. The Dallas D is pretty strong, so Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes could be in for tough days. The show for the Colts remains in the air. Peyton Manning should hit Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne plenty, but the sleeper here just may be Dallas Clark. I called for the Dallas upset in my Preview, so we'll see what happens. These are definitely Tuna friendly waters.
San Diego @ Denver
The big story here is LTD vs. the Broncos rushing defense. Traditionally, Tomlinson doesn't fare too well in Denver as they've held him down the past 5 games these teams have played. Still, you'd have to be an idiot to not start him. He'll get his touches and he'll get his TD. Maybe not 4, but atleast one. His presence alone will help as the Broncos key in on him allowing Phillip Rivers to find his receivers. Antonio Gates may have a little trouble with John Lynch patrolling the middle, but Rivers still has Eric Parker, Keenan McCardell, Vincent Jackson and Malcom Floyd running around. I'd say look for Jackson and Floyd in the endzone. For the Broncos, their running game has been very inconsistent between Tatum and Mike Bell, so don't expect much. Jake Plummer seems to step it up against better opponents lately, so look for him to find Javon Walker and Rod Smith down field for some good fantasy totals.
NY Giants @ Jacksonville
Two teams in the national spotlight, both trying to rebound from disastrous performances last week. The Giants are going to come out firing as Eli Manning looks to quiet all of this "bad draft choice" talk. Tiki Barber will keep the Jag's defense honest allowing Manning to hit Jeremy Shockey and Plaxico Burress often. I like them all as fantasy picks this week. For the Jags, it can't get any worse for Dave Garrard. Now that Byron Leftwich is having ankle surgery, maybe that'll take the pressure off of him. The Giants are full of injuries on defense, so he should fare much better than last week's 4 INTs and hit Matt Jones and Ernest Wilford for some key strikes. Fred Taylor has been pretty steady this year and so far healthy. Look for him to do well as the Giants defensive line is soft these days. I think we're looking at a surprisingly high scoring game here.
I hope this helps in your decision making. Good luck in your games this week and have a great Football Sunday!
posted by Howard Bender at
1:23 AM
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