Friday Morning Quarterback - Week 6 Predictions (10/10/08)
Here are some thoughts on games and players for Week 6’s games:
Baltimore at Indianapolis - Baltimore should be able to run against the Colts’ Defense, so RBs Willis McGahee and Le’Ron McClain should be started. The Ravens figure to have a harder time passing, so I’d stay away from QB Joe Flacco. However, TE Todd Heap and WR Derrick Mason should both be started. Kicker Matt Stover should not be in your lineup. The Colts figure to have a tough time running against the Ravens’ Defense, so I would not start RB Joseph Addai this week if my other RB candidates had better matchups. QB Peyton Manning, TE Dallas Clark, WRs Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison, and K Adam Vinatieri should all be started this week. I would keep WR Anthony Gonzalez on the bench - even if he does play, I just don’t trust players in their first game back from a concussion. I would start Baltimore’s Defense on the theory that Peyton Manning will be forced to throw on 75%+ of the Colts’ offensive plays, which should lead to at least a few sacks and interceptions. Do not start the Colts’ Defense.
Miami at Houston - Dolphins’ QB Chad Pennington is a capable bye week replacement. RB Ronnie Brown, TE Anthony Fassano, and K Dan Carpenter should all be started this week. TE David Martin and WRs Greg Camarillo & Ted Ginn are also worthy bye week replacements. Texans’ QB Matt Schaub, RB Steve Slaton, TE Owen Daniels, WR Andre Johnson, and K Kris Brown can all be started with confidence this week, and WR Kevin Walter is also a good choice as a bye week replacement. Neither Defense should be in your starting lineup in what figures to be a high-scoring game.
Carolina at Tampa Bay - Panthers’ QB Jake Delhomme, RBs DeAngelo Williams & Jonathan Stewart, TE Jeff King, WRs Steve Smith & Muhsin Muhammad, and K John Kasay are all worth starting in this matchup. For Tampa Bay RB Earnest Graham, TE Alex Smith, WRs Antonio Bryant & Ike Hilliard, and K Matt Bryant are all worth starting. RB Warrick Dunn also makes a decent bye week replacement. I’d stay away from the Bucs’ QB situation, regardless of whether Brian Griese or Jeff Garcia ends up starting, and I’d also continue to avoid WR Joey Galloway, whose return date remains uncertain. While I expect both teams to pile up decent yardage stats, I still expect a fairly low-scoring game, so both teams’ Defenses are worth starting, especially Carolina’s.
St. Louis at Washington - While it’s hard to look at the Rams’ performance so far this season and think of any of their players as “must starts”, I would still put RB Steven Jackson and WR Torry Holt in that category. In spite of the Redskins’ fast start their pass Defense has been mediocre, so I’d consider Rams’ QB Marc Bulger a worthwhile bye week replacement, as is K Josh Brown. For the Redskins, what’s not to like? QB Jason Campbell, RB Clinton Portis, TE Chris Cooley, WR Santana Moss, and K Shaun Suisham should all be started. WR Antwaan Randle El is an adequate bye week replacement. Definitely leave the Rams’ Defense out of your starting lineup (as if you were really considering that possibility), but the Redskins’ Defense is an adequate bye week replacement.
Detroit at Minnesota - The Lions are a mess right now (to put it nicely), and you want to have as few of their players in your starting lineup as possible. I’d stay far, far away from their QB and RB situations this week, regardless of who starts. I’d also avoid WR Calvin Johnson (Questionable with a knee injury) if I had healthier alternatives with more favorable matchups. WR Roy Williams is the only Lion I’d even consider for as a starter this week. For the Vikings expect RB Adrian Peterson to bounce back in a big way from his disappointing game last Monday night against the Saints. Peterson, WR Bernard Berrian (assuming he’s healthy enough to start), TE Visanthe Shiancoe, K Ryan Longwell, and the Vikings’ Defense should all be started this week. QB Gus Frerotte and WR Bobby Wade are also adequate bye week replacements.
Chicago at Atlanta - This figures to be a fascinating game, at least from a fantasy perspective. Both teams figure to be able to throw the ball against the opposing Defense, and the Bears figure to be able to rush against the Falcons’ Defense. The big question - will the Falcons’ dominant running game be able to move the ball against the Bears’ strong Defense? The answer will determine the winner of this game - I believe they will, resulting in a Falcons’ victory in a high-scoring game. Bears worth starting include QB Kyle Orton, RB Matt Forte, TE Greg Olsen, WR Rashied Davis, and K Robbie Gould. TE Desmond Clark also makes an adequate bye week replacement. For the Falcons QB Matt Ryan, RB Michael Turner, WR Roddy White (sounds like his “head injury” sustained in practice the other day is not too serious), and K Jason Elam should all be started. RB Jerious Norwood and WR Michael Jenkins are decent bye week replacements. Stay away from both teams’ Defenses.
Cincinnati at NY Jets - Bengals’ QB Carson Palmer’s health continues to be a concern - he’s listed as Questionable on this week’s injury report with his elbow injury. Still, assuming he starts, he’s worth starting this week, if only because the Bengals don’t figure to be able to run the ball against the Jets’ Defense. WRs T.J. Houshmandzadeh & Chad Ocho Cinco, and K Shayne Graham should also be in starting lineups this week. Stay away from the Bengals’ RBs this week. For the Jets QB Brett Favre, RB Thomas Jones, and WRs Jericho Cotchery & Laveranues Coles (Questionable with a thigh injury, but expect him to play) should all be started. TE Justin Keller, K Jay Feely, and the Jets’ Defense are all capable bye week replacements.
Oakland at New Orleans - Although the Raiders figure to be able to move the ball against the Saints’ Defense, TE Zach Miller and K Sebastian Janikowski are the only Raiders that should definitely be started this week. Improving QB JaMarcus Russell is an adequate bye week replacement, as is RB Justin Fargas, who’s returning from a groin injury. I’d avoid RB Darren McFadden (Questionable with a toe injury) and the Raiders’ WRs. However, if you’re desperate for a bye week replacement at WR, Johnny Lee Higgins and Ronald Curry are the best Raiders’ candidates. For the Saints QB Drew Brees and RB Reggie Bush are the only must-starts. The Saints’ WR situation is also muddled - Lance Moore and Devery Henderson are your best bets if you need a bye week replacement this week. New Kicker Taylor Melhaff should be an adequate bye week replacement. Keep WR Marques Colston (Questionable with his thumb injury) out of your lineup unless you get news that he’s definitely starting. Avoid both teams’ Defenses this week.
Jacksonville at Denver - For Jacksonville QB David Garrard, RBs Fred Taylor & Maurice Jones-Drew, TE Marcedes Lewis, WR Matt Jones, and K Josh Scobee are all worth starting this week. For Denver QB Jay Cutler, WR Brandon Marshall, and K Matt Prater should definitely be started. RBs Andre Hall & Michael Pittman and WR Brandon Stokley are all worthy bye week replacements. Once again, I’d stay away from WR Eddie Royal and his injured ankle, even if he does manage to play on Sunday. Neither Defense should be started.
Dallas at Arizona - Two high-powered offenses vs. two mediocre Defenses - it should all add up to a lot of high-scoring fantasy options. For the Cowboys QB Tony Romo, RB Marion Barber, TE Jason Witten, WR Terrell Owens, WR Patrick Crayton, and K Nick Folk should all be started. RB Felix Jones is a high-end bye week replacement. For the Cardinals QB Kurt Warner, RBs Edgerrin James & Tim Hightower, WR Larry Fitzgerald, and K Neil Rackers should all be started. WR Steve Breaston is an adequate bye week replacement. Avoid both Defenses.
Philadelphia at San Francisco - The combination of injuries and fairly strong Defenses figures to keep this a low-scoring game. RB Brian Westbrook is definitely out for the Eagles, so make sure he’s out of your lineup too. QB Donovan McNabb, RB Correll Buckhalter, and WR DeSean Jackson should all be started. TE L.J. Smith is a low-end bye week replacement; WRs Reggie Brown and Kevin Curtis should be avoided. For the 49ers this should be the week that the clock strikes midnight for QB J.T. O’Sullivan - I wouldn’t start him this week unless I had no other alternatives. RB Frank Gore is the only 49ers offensive player who should definitely be started this week, although TE Vernon Davis and WRs Bryant Johnson & Isaac Bruce should be adequate bye week replacements. Both Defenses are worth starting this week.
Green Bay at Seattle - This game could be labeled the Battle of the Banged-up Quarterbacks. Assuming that Packers’ QB Aaron Rodgers’ shoulder sprain doesn’t prevent him from playing, he should be started, along with RB Ryan Grant, TE Donald Lee, WRs Greg Jennings & Donald Driver, and K Mason Crosby. WR Jordy Nelson is an adequate bye week replacement. For the Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck is also worth starting, assuming that his knee permits him to play. RB Julius Jones, TE John Carlson, WR Bobby Engram, and K Olindo Mare should also be started. Keep both Defenses out of your starting lineup for this game.
New England at San Diego - Oh, how the mighty have struggled. Injuries are obviously partly to blame, but not entirely. Patriots’ QB Matt Cassel should have a big day and is a high-end bye week replacement. TE Ben Watson, WRs Randy Moss & Wes Welker, and K Stephen Gostkowski all should be started. Avoid the Patriots’ muddled RB situation at all costs. Chargers’ QB Philip Rivers, RB LaDainian Tomlinson (Questionable with a toe injury), TE Antonio Gates, and K Nate Kaeding should all be started. I’d avoid the Chargers’ Wide Receivers this week due to injury concerns. Both Defenses are low-end bye week replacements at best.
NY Giants at Cleveland - The Giants appear to be hitting on all cylinders at this point, but keep in mind that their schedule has been relatively favorable to this point. QB Eli Manning, RB Brandon Jacobs, WR Plaxico Burress, and the Giants’ Defense are all must-starts. WR Amani Toomer is a capable bye week replacement, and TE Kevin Boss is also a bye week replacement candidate if you’re desperate. Avoid the Giants’ Kickers, since it’s still not clear who will play (again, my money would be on John Carney). For the Browns it’s hard to recommend any of their players as fantasy starters in this matchup, but if you must, RB Jamal Lewis and WR Braylon Edwards are the most attractive options. Add TE Kellen Winslow to the list if he’s able to overcome his mystery illness and play. QB Derek Anderson and WR Donte Stallworth are bye week replacements only for the truly desperate.
Good luck this week!
The Sherpa
Tags: The Sherpa