The Fantasy Sports Channel

By Bryan Palmese
NFLDraftBible.com

- Don’t start Falcons’ quarterback Matt Ryan against the Saints on Monday night. Ryan has had a productive fantasy season, but has not been in that elite class that some thought he might be for 2009. The New Orleans’ defense is an underrated group that will shine in prime time under the boisterous dome crowd.

- Do start Texans’ running back Steve Slaton. True, the second year back has not erupted this year like he did in 2008 as a rookie, but he has a very favorable match up this week. Slaton will dance around and through the league’s worst rush defense in Buffalo while putting up monster points for fantasy owners.

- Chris Johnson has been the lone bright spot on an otherwise dismal Titans offense. This week, Kerry Collins will be benched in favor of Vince Young under center. Do start Johnson, as he will be the catalyst and go-to player for the Titans if they have any chance of pulling off the win. The former East Carolina Pirate is a duel threat and will be looked to as Young’s check-down security blanket all day.

- Steven Jackson has enjoyed a great season on the ground for the winless Rams even though he is yet to cross the goal line. Jackson is on a team that is often playing from behind early, but look for him to hit pay dirt this week against the Detroit Lions. Do start the ex- Oregon State stud against the 26th ranked rush defense and he will yield you some serious points.

- Don’t start Colts’ running back Donald Brown this week against the 49ers. The rookie running back has shared time with Joseph Addai, but a shoulder injury has him listed as doubtful. In addition to being held out of practice all week, San Francisco boasts the #6 defense against the run.

- Brandon Jacobs has been one of the big fantasy letdowns thus far in 2009, but look for him to explode in week eight. Running back Ahmad Bradshaw (ankle, foot) and receiver Mario Manningham (shoulder) will be limited in play this week which should open up the stage for Jacobs. Do start the bruising back out of Florida against the Eagles and remember this week as the “turnaround week” in his season.

- All of the talk has been how Brett Favre’s return to Lambeau Field is circled on his calendar, but Aaron Rodgers has an agenda this week as well. Rodgers shook off the burden of being the heir to Favre’s legacy last year and he gets to further his cause this week at home. The tension and emotions will be thick in Green Bay this week, but do start Aaron Rodgers at quarterback. The Vikings are #20 against the pass and Antoine Winfield is still out with a foot injury.

- Don’t start the New York Jets’ defense for week eight against Miami. Yes, the wildcat has been the en vogue offensive scheme this season for the Dolphins, but Chad Henne has been good as well calling the shots. Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams are a lethal one-two punch out of the backfield as well. For the Jets, Lito Sheppard (quad), Sean Ellis (knee), Bart Scott (knee), David Harris (wrist), and Bryan Thomas (wrist) are all pretty banged up as well.

- Joe Flacco has not suffered a sophomore slump in Baltimore and has been very useful even though the Ravens lack a true #1 wide receiver. However, an ankle injury has him less than 100% and the Denver Broncos have a stout pass defense that is ranked #8 in the NFL. Due to the opponent, don’t start Flacco against the Broncos this week.

- Don’t start Panthers’ wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad for week eight against the Cardinals. Muhammad did not practice all week and is listed as out for this week’s game against Arizona. Moose has shown his age this season and definitely lost a step, which should relegate him to a 3rd down possession receiver.

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Written by David Ortega
NFLDraftBible.com

Players you should watch and perhaps a few you should play this week!

It always seems when all hope appears lost, the glass is half full. The free agent pool continues to thin out and now owners have to stop looking around and just take a look at what’s in front of them. There are always some players that look attractive to start, but after their sizzle fades they can often get lost on your bench.

Week 8 presents some favorable matchups for players that are likely languishing on fantasy rosters and benches. And while it’s always darkest before the dawn, for some of these sleepers, the sun could be shinning bright come game day. With our seventh week of action in the books and more to come this Sunday, here are a few gems that could shine like diamonds in the sky.

This week’s gem:

In Chicago…

Who says Jay Cutler doesn’t have anyone to throw to? Well there may be some truth in that Cutler lacks a true number one receiver, but coming off a big game against the Bengals last week wide receiver Devin Hester will have a great chance to do it again. With the Bears hosting the awful Browns (ranked 24th against the pass) this week Hester should see lots of beatable coverage and have a couple of chances to break free deep. He’s not a legit number one, but he’ll be a great number three receiver in fantasy this week.

In San Diego…

When the Chargers play host to the Raiders this Sunday, there’s little doubt that their key will be there passing attack and no one has to remind cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. And while Asomugha will have much of his focus on Sunday directed toward the Chargers Vincent Jackson, owners that don’t have a lot of great options at their number three slot should consider receiver Malcom Floyd. The Chargers receiver could be seeing some extended time on the field this Sunday and his 6’5’ frame should look very inviting to Philip Rivers, especially downfield. Floyd does not have big numbers this season with just nine catches and one touchdown, but he is averaging almost 21 yards per grab and his eight targets in his last two games could be a sign of better things to come.

In Detroit…

It’s not often that the Lions offense sees a good matchup on it’s schedule, but this Sunday they’ll host the Rams and running back Kevin Smith should benefit greatly. The Rams defense is ranked 27th against the run and opposing running backs are averaging nearly six yards per carry. Smith has been pretty much bottled up on the ground this season with a rookie quarterback, but could be looking at a big game on Sunday. With 20 receptions, Smith is the team’s second leading receiver so expect to see him grab a couple out of the backfield and improve upon his 149 receiving yards. This week Smith should be a solid RB2 and might have a little more value in PPR leagues.

In Cleveland…

Like the Lions, the Browns don’t see many matchups they like, but if you are a Jamal Lewis owner you had to love what you saw last week. In week 7 against the Bengals, the Bears run defense was completely shredded for over 200-yards on the ground allowing nearly five yards a pop. Lewis has yet to get out of the gate this season with only 280 yards rushing in five games this season. As long as the Browns don’t fall behind big early Lewis should have a shot at 20-plus carries on Sunday, despite his paltry yards-per-carry average. Against a thin Bears defense that is battered by injuries the Brown’s runner should be a low RB2 this week and is worth a starting.

Worth keeping your eye on for now….

By this time of the season and coming off one of his worst games this season, it may seem like a stretch, but on Sunday keep your eye on Terrell Owens. There’s no doubt these days the only place you will find him is on fantasy roster benches. Over the past several weeks, T.O. has just not had good numbers and his three catches for 13 yards were as bad as the week he didn’t have a catch. We know he looks about as good as a train wreck, but keep your eye on Owens this Sunday against the Texans. Over the past two weeks Fitzpatrick has been trying to get the ball to his big not-so-sure handed receiver with 18 total targets. The Texans have a soft middle and it could be just a matter of time for T.O. and his quarterback to get in sync.

Remember to check back for more “Diamonds in the Rough!”

Listen to the Fantasy Football Insiders Podcast Live every Sunday at 8:30-10:00am eastern time!

By: David Ortega
NFLDraftBible.com

“Craving more fantasy football notes and numbers, get your weekly fix here.”-Thee Prodigy

It’s always tough to find the right receivers each week for your fantasy matchup. One of the keys is not just what a player has done, but in a lot of cases you have to consider the potential of a player when you look their matchup. Another factor that needs to be included into this equation is which players are getting their number called most.

Look Who’s Hot….

Over the past two weeks there’s been no receiver as hot as the Cowboys wide receiver Miles Austin, but when you dig a little deeper this really shouldn’t be much of a surprise. Sure no one expected Austin to break out with 19 catches for 421 yards in his last two games, especially after he was targeted only four times in his first three. Over his last three games Austin has seen 31 balls thrown in his direction and with his apparent big-play ability, don’t expect this trend to change much. Austin is now a fantasy favorite in Dallas and looks like a solid WR2 going forward.

In case some of you have missed the bus, Chad Ochocinco is back as one of the elite receivers in the game. With a healthy quarterback Ochocinco is now amongst the leaders in receptions (39) and yards (573), but more importantly he’s being targeted at a heavy pace (64 targets this season) so don’t expect a drop in his numbers anytime soon.

Who’s worried….

For those owners that might be worried about their stud receiver Roddy White, there is no cause for concern. Although his numbers may seem a little down from a year ago, it’s only a matter of time before he starts putting together those top five numbers we’ve seen the last two seasons. The signs are there if you look closely; White has managed to score in three straight games. And while he’s only had a total of 106 yards in his last two starts, his four games this season with at least 10 targets is a good indication that we can expect more soon from “Big Roddy.”

Another receiver from down south that could be a cause for concern for some owner should be no concern at all. Last season the Saints receiver Marques Colston was a major disappointment missing five games and starting just six. Colston was expected to follow up his huge 2007 season with another, but it did not pan out. This season Colston is healthy and a lot is expected of the Saints big receiver. So far his explosiveness has been sporadic simply because the Saints have so many weapons, but don’t be fooled. Colston is still the number one receiving option in the Bayou and his 21 targets the last two weeks should indicate such. With a touchdown in back to back starts, this coming Monday night matchup with Atlanta is looking very tasty, so owners should be licking their chops.

Keep your Eye on these gems…

Making his NFL debut this past Sunday, rookie receiver Michael Crabtree wasted little time making an impact. Crabtree was targeted six times and caught five balls for 56 yards. The important key factor, Crabtree was targeted three times in the second half and caught all three passes from Alex Smith (the Niner’s new starting quarterback). With the switch at quarterback taking place Crabtree looks like a much better option with Smith throwing to him; keep your eye on the rookie.

Now that Kevin Curtis is out for a while, rookie receiver Jeremy Maclin will have a chance to earn his stripes. On Monday night Maclin was not spectacular, but his numbers were interesting. The rookie caught just five balls for 53 yards, but he was targeted by McNabb seven times. Over his past four games Maclin has seen a steady diet of passes in his direction averaging just over seven per game. We have yet to see the consistency, but he’s already shown the big game potential. Now that Curtis is down, Maclin can settle in and we could see more from this kid in the coming weeks.

Here is the breakdown for fantasy pass catchers (targets) this season;

Through Seven weeks: Top-10 Targeted Pass-catchers

Player, Target, Recpt, FPTS

1.Johnson, Andre WR HOU 70 38 84

2.Moss, Randy WR NE 66 43 77

3.Smith, Steve WR NYG 65 45 81

4.Ochocinco, Chad WR CIN 64 39 82

5.Fitzgerald, Larry WR ARI 63 41 72

6.Welker, Wes WR NE 62 46 70

7.Smith, Steve WR CAR 58 27 35

8.Wayne, Reggie WR IND 57 39 82

9.Daniels, Owen TE HOU 56 39 76

10.Holmes, Santonio WR PIT 56 30 53

[points based on traditional scoring]

Check back every week for more “Fantasy Fixx”

By Ralph Mancini
NFLDraftBible.com

Here are some not-so-obvious players you may want to start in Week 8, along with less desirable options that should be warming the bench.

DAVID GARRARD (JAX-QB): This is not a good week for sleeper quarterbacks. Garrard is the best choice out of an unappealing lot this week based on the fact that a woefully undermanned Tennessee secondary has given up 311 passing yards per game. Even if the Titans get some of their pieces back this Sunday, I wouldn’t expect a team that has recently been torn to shreds by opposing offenses to suddenly transform itself into a world beater.Tennessee is coming off its bye, but so is Jacksonville. Jack Del Rio’s group has too many offensive weapons for Tennessee to shut down for Garrard to have an awful game.

BEANIE WELLS (AZ-RB): The burly runner finally strung together some strong runs without fumbling the ball and even stiff-armed defenders in his path last week versus the Giants. While fellow back Tim Hightower won’t totally disappear from the offense, Wells has clearly established himself as the lead runner. Being the main man in the Cardinal backfield isn’t going to turn anyone into Emmitt Smith circa 1995 considering how often the Birds throw the ball, but it does mean that former Buckeye should be good for about 15 touches and a score versus a weak Carolina run defense. Marshawn Lynch, Cadillac Williams and Clinton Portis have all scored versus the Cats over the past three games.

FELIX JONES (DAL-RB): In one of the more surprising moves last week, Fragile Felix was given double-digit touches last week leaving nothing but scraps for Tashard Choice. The second-year man hit the ground running and posted a healthy 4.6 yards-per-carry average. Expect even better numbers this week from the flex back, who faces a banged-up Seattle defense with a very iffy Patrick Kearney and an injured Lofa Tatupu who’s out longterm. Also working in Jones’ favor is that fact that the Seahawks—outside of their first game versus St. Louis—have given up an average of six receptions per game to running backs. Getting the former Razorback into space in the passing game should always be a priority for the Silver and Blue, especially this week.

JOHNNY KNOX (CHI-WR): Green Bay, Pittsburgh and Baltimore have all torched the poor Brownies for touchdowns of 45, 52, 71 and 72 yards over the past month. Is there any reason not to think that the Texas Torpedo won’t be able to get open deep in this one?

BRANDON MARSHALL (DEN-WR): Baltimore’s secondary doesn’t have anyone that comes close to matching the 6’4” playmaker in terms of size and physical strength. The cautious Kyle Orton should be able to find Marshall all day on a number of safe, short routes over the middle where the mercurial Marshall will have the opportunity to create and break free after the catch.

JAMES JONES (GB-WR): Injuries to Jordy Nelson at wide receiver and Jermichael Finley at tight end have left the Packers a bit shorthanded in terms of viable targets, unless you expect Spencer Havner to score another 45-yard touchdown or if you anticipate the unexciting Donald Lee to light the world on fire. Jones is a big, sturdy target that can make plays after the catch and has also scored in each of the last two weeks. The Packers will have to throw to win their grudge match versus Minnesota, which means that Jones will get a number of looks this week.

MARSHAWN LYNCH (BUF-RB): Lynch has looked anything but explosive over his past two games, averaging 3.2 and 2.4 yards-per-carry against the Jets and Panthers. This week’s opponent, the Houston Texans, have steadily improved their run defense during the course of the season. Gary Kubiak’s boys annihilated Frank Gore last week by keeping him to a meager 32 yards on 13 carries. A less-talented Lynch will be even more challenged to find running lanes versus the intense Brian Cushing and company.

LeSHON McCOY (PHI-RB): Brian Westbrook’s understudy showed some nice wiggle in his runs, but was unable to break free for any big plays. Big Blue’s ferocious defensive line has been able to limit five of their seven opponents’ running backs to a little over 55 yards-per-game.

KEVIN WALTER (HOU-WR): Outside of a sterling 7-catch for 96-yard season debut, Walter has yet to exceed 41 yards in any of his other games and has yet to score during that stretch. He can always surprise you with a two-touchdown scoring bonanza, but with Walter that’s the exception rather than the rule. The 6’3” wide out doesn’t command the ball and plays a secondary role to Andre Johnson, Owen Daniels and Steve Slaton. The sudden emergence of Jacoby Jones also hurts Walter’s chances of providing a big performance.