The Fantasy Football Sherpa

Another week with six teams having a bye, including the Chiefs.  Hopefully, Larry Johnson (the running back formerly known as @ToonIcon) will use his time off to consider the dark side of social networking.  Here are my recommendations for Week 8:

Houston at Buffalo - The Buffalo Bills are more than likely the first NFL team to replace a Stanford grad with a Harvard grad at quarterback.  Unfortunately for the Bills, Texans’ QB Matt Schaub (a Virginia grad), will more than outlikely outshine Bills’ QB Ryan Fitzpatrick in this matchup.  Texans to start include Schaub, RB Steve Slaton, TE Owen Daniels, WR Kevin Walter, and K Kris Brown.  Add WR Andre Johnson (Questionable-lung) to this list if he’s healthy enough to play.  Bills to start include RB Marshawn Lynch, WRs Lee Evans & Terrell Owens, and K Rian Lindell.  Fitzpatrick and RB Fred Jackson may also be started in deeper leagues.  Bills’ QB Trent Edwards remains out with a concussion.

New York Giants at Philadelphia - In case you haven’t heard, the starting time for this clash between NFC East rivals has been moved up from 4:15 pm to 1 pm due to another sporting event later that day across the street.  Giants who should be in starting lineups include RB Brandon Jacobs, WRs Steve Smith & Hakeem Nicks, and K Lawrence Tynes.  If you’re in a deeper league, QB Eli Manning, TE Kevin Boss, and WR Mario Manningham can also be started.  Add RB Ahmad Bradshaw (Questionable-ankle/foot) to the deeper league list if he’s able to play.  Eagles to start include RB LeSean McCoy, TE Brent Celek, and K David Akers.  Add QB Donovan McNabb and WRs DeSean Jackson (Questionable-foot) & Jeremy Maclin (Probable-foot) to the list if you’re in a deeper league.  I would leave RB Brian Westbrook (Questionable-concussion/knee) on the bench this week even if he’s able to start.  WR Kevin Curtis remains out with a knee problem.

Denver at Baltimore - Why is it that certain star wide receivers feel the need to constantly be in the limelight?  Following news that Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens are getting their own iPhone apps comes word that Broncos’ WR Brandon Marshall, who’s made news too many times in his career for the wrong reasons, is now getting a shot to host a television program.  Fresh off their bye week, the 6-0 Broncos figure to have a good day against an underwhelming Ravens’ pass defense.  Broncos to start include QB Kyle Orton, RB Knowshon Moreno, WRs Marshall & Eddie Royal, and K Matt Prater.  Add RB Correll Buckhalter and TE Tony Scheffler to the list if you’re in a deeper league.  Ravens to start include QB Joe Flacco (Probable-ankle), RB Ray Rice, TE Todd Heap, WR Derrick Mason, and K Steven Hauschka.  Those in deep leagues should also consider starting WR Mark Clayton.  Do not start RB Willis McGahee.

Miami at New York Jets - This week’s Dolphins-Jets game should be a lot more competitive than last week’s Jets-Raiders game was, so don’t look for Jets’ QB Mark Sanchez to be eating any hot dogs on the sidelines during the game.  Both teams have strong running games and questionable passing games, so look for lots of rushing yards from the running backs involved in this game.  Dolphins to start include RBs Ronnie Brown & Ricky Williams and the Defense.  Add TE Anthony Fasano to the list if you play in a deeper league.  Leave QB Chad Henne and WRs Ted Ginn & Davone Bess on the bench.  Jets to start include RB Thomas Jones, TE Dustin Keller, WR Braylon Edwards, and the Defense.  RB Shonn Greene can be started in deeper leagues.  QB Mark Sanchez and WRs Jerricho Cotchery (Questionable-hamstring) & David Clowney (Questionable-ankle) should not be started.

San Francisco at Indianapolis - Widely panned as a bust prior to leading an impressive comeback last week against the Texans, 49ers’ QB Alex Smith has been scooped off the waiver wire in nearly every fantasy football league in which he was still available.  Count me among the skeptics.  One of the reasons Smith has never been able to establish himself as the 49ers’ starting quarterback has been his maddening inconsistency.  One half does not a career make, and I’m guessing we’ll see the “Bad Alex” again soon, possibly this weekend.  Comparisons to former (and future?) Titans’ QB Vince Young are inevitable.  The only 49ers who should be in starting lineups this week are RB Frank Gore and TE Vernon Davis.  Leave Smith and WRs Michael Crabtree & Josh Morgan out of starting lineups.  Colts to start include QB Peyton Manning, TE Dallas Clark, WR Reggie Wayne (Questionable-groin), K Matt Stover, and the Defense.  Those in deeper leagues should also consider starting RB Joseph Addai and WRs Austin Collie & Pierre Garcon.  Leave RB Donald Brown (Questionable-shoulder) and WR Anthony Gonzalez (Questionable-knee) on the bench.  K Adam Vinatieri (Out-knee) will miss another week. 

St. Louis at Detroit - If you can remember the last time the Lions were actually favored to win a game, you are either a die-hard Lions’ fan or a gambler with a serious problem.  Thanks to the presence of the Browns, Raiders, Bucs, and Chiefs, this game can’t even be described accurately as “Loser Bowl 2009″.  Scary thought.  Rams to start this week include RB Steven Jackson, TE Randy McMichael, WR Donnie Avery, and K Josh Brown.  QB Marc Bulger and WR Keenan Burton can also be started if you’re in a deeper league.  Lions to start include RB Kevin Smith, TE Brandon Bettigrew, and K Jason Hanson.  Add WR Calvin Johnson (Questionable-knee) to the list if he’s able to play.  QB Matthew Stafford (Questionable-knee) can be started in deeper leagues if he’s healthy enough to play; otherwise, QB Daunte Culpepper is also worth starting in deeper leagues against the atrocious Rams’ pass defense.  WR Bryant Johnson is also worth starting in deeper leagues; WR Dennis Northcutt is not.

Seattle at Dallas - Seahawks’ QB Matt Hasselbeck is one of the few NFL players who will publicly admit to playing fantasy football himself.  Memo to Matt:  assuming you (Questionable-ribs) are healthy enough to play, this would be a good week to start yourself, along with teammates TE John Carlson and WRs T.J. Houshmandzadeh & Nate Burleson.  Don’t start your backfield mate RB Julius Jones - undoubtedly, you know how that movie will end.  Cowboys to start this weekend include QB Tony Romo, RB Marion Barber (Probable-thumb), TE Jason Witten, WRs Roy Williams & Miles Austin, and K Nick Folk.  RBs Tashard Choice & Felix Jones may also be started in deeper leagues.

Cleveland at Chicago - Browns’ QB Derek Anderson made headlines this week for referring to his 2009 stats as “garbage”.  You’ve got to hand it to him - he has a penchant for the obvious.  Neither Anderson, nor RB Jamal Lewis (Probable-wrist), nor any of his other Browns’ teammates should be in your starting lineup this week for this contest, in which the Bears will likely take their frustrations out on Cleveland.  Bears to start include QB Jay Cutler, RB Matt Forte, TE Greg Olsen, K Robbie Gould, and the Defense.  I’m still unable to figure out the Bears’ three-headed monster at wide receiver from week to week, but WRs Devin Hester, Earl Bennett, & Johnny Knox can all be started by those in deeper leagues.

Oakland at San Diego - The good news:  Raiders’ Head Coach Tom Cable finally came to his senses last week and benched starting QB JaMarcus Russell.  The bad news:  that move was only temporary, and Russell will be starting again this weekend against the Chargers.  I’m certainly not arguing that Bruce Gradkowski is a better quarterback than Russell, but when a team is going as poorly as the Raiders are, sometimes change for the sake of change is necessary.  The best news the Raiders received all week is that Oklahoma Sooners’ QB Sam Bradford’s shoulder surgery went well, and he’s decided to forego his final year of eligibility for the 2010 NFL draft.  Back to the present - the only Raiders worth starting this week are RB Justin Fargas and TE Zach Miller.  RB Michael Bush can also be started in deeper leagues.  Leave Russell and WR Louis Murphy on the bench in the unlikely event they’re even on your roster.  RB Darren McFadden (Questionable-knee) and WR Chaz Schilens should also be left out of starting lineups even if they’re finally able to return to action this weekend.  Chargers to start include QB Philip Rivers, RBs LaDainian Tomlinson & Darren Sproles, TE Antonio Gates, WR Vincent Jackson, K Nate Kaeding, and the Defense.  Leave WRs Chris Chambers & Malcom Floyd out of starting lineups.

Jacksonville at Tennessee - Titans’ Head Coach Jeff Fisher has held off on naming a starting quarterback for this week, unlike his owner, Bud Adams, who has not been bashful about making his preference known.  This puts Fisher in a no-win situation:  if he sticks with QB Kerry Collins, he appears stubborn; if he goes with QB Vince Young, he looks like a puppet.  Either way, this contest will pit the two weakest pass defenses in the NFL, so regardless of who starts for the Titans, passing yards should be plentiful for both sides.  Jaguars to start include QB David Garrard, RB Marcus Jones-Drew, TE Marcedes Lewis, WRs Mike Sims-Walker & Torry Holt, and K Josh Scobee.  Titans to start include RB Chris Johnson and K Rob Bironas.  The Titans’ starting quarterback (I suspect it will be Young) and WRs Justin Gage & Kenny Britt can also be started in deeper leagues.  Leave RB LenDale White out of starting lineups since he’s not a big part of the Titans’ passing game.

Carolina at Arizona - JaMarcus Russell and Kerry Collins are not the only starting quarterbacks under fire.  Panthers’ QB Jake Delhomme has been awful this season, but Head Coach John Fox has already announced that Delhomme will start this week.  Fox stated that Delhomme still gives his team the best chance to win - that’s certainly debatable, but it’s a moot point (for at least the first series on Sunday).  Panthers to start this weekend include RB DeAngelo Williams, TE Jeff King, and WR Steve Smith.  Delhomme can also be started by those playing in deeper leagues and feeling lucky (or contrarian).  Leave RB Jonathan Stewart (Questionable-knee), TE Dante Rosario (Questionable-knee), and WR Muhsin Muhammed (Questionable-knee) on the bench.  Cardinals to start include QB Kurt Warner, RB Chris Wells (I refuse to call a grown man “Beanie”), WRs Larry Fitzgerald & Steve Breaston (Questionable-knee), K Neil Rackers, and the Defense.  Add RB Tim Hightower to the list in deeper leagues.  I would leave WR Anquan Boldin (Questionable-ankle) out of starting lineups this weekend even if he is able to play.

Minnesota at Green Bay - Mayor Jim Schmitt has been busy pulling out all the stops to welcome former Packers’ QB Brett Favre back to Green Bay on Sunday.  Note to Green Bay workers:  the Friday forecast calls for rain and a high of 60 degrees, so you may want to ignore the suggestion for that day.  Vikings to start this week include RB Adrian Peterson and TE Visanthe Shiancoe.  Favre (Questionable-hip) and WRs Sidney Rice & Percy Harvin can also be started by those in deeper leagues.  I’d leave RB Chester Taylor and WR Bernard Berrian (Questionable-hamstring) on the bench.  Packers to start include QB Aaron Rodgers (Questionable-foot), RB Ryan Grant, TE Donald Lee, WRs Greg Jennings & Donald Driver, and K Mason Crosby.  I’d leave TE Jermichael Finley (Questionable-knee) on the bench even in the unlikely event that he’s able to play.

Atlanta at New Orleans - The days of the Aints are now a distant memory in New Orleans, where the modern-day Saints are 6-0 and looking like one of the better teams in the NFL.  The Falcons are 4-2, but QB Matt Ryan and RB Michael Turner have been somewhat disappointing so far this season after outperforming expectations in 2008.  If that doesn’t change this week, the Falcons will find themselves three games behind the Saints and looking at a wild card berth as their only likely path to this year’s playoffs.  Falcons to start this week include Turner, TE Tony Gonzalez, and WR Roddy White.  Ryan and WR Michael Jenkins can also be started in deeper leagues.  Leave RB Jerious Norwood (Questionable-hip) on the bench even if he is able to play.  Saints to start include QB Drew Brees, RB Pierre Thomas, TE Jeremy Shockey, WRs Jeremy Shockey & Lance Moore, and K John Carney.  RB Mike Bell and WRs Devery Henderson & Robert Meachem can also be started in deeper leagues.

Good luck to your teams this weekend! 

Until next time,

The Sherpa

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