Thursday Morning Quarterback - Week 9 Recommendations (Thu 11/5/09)
Another week with six teams having a bye, including the Bills, Browns, Raiders, and Rams. It will be interesting to see how many owners latch onto the NFL’s latest trend and apologize this week for their team’s poor play. Here are my recommendations for Week 9:
Washington at Atlanta - According to Redskins’ QB Jason Campbell, it’s easier for the team to play on the road. That’s not surprising - it must be hard to call signals when you’re being drowned out by the boos of your home crowd. Campbell gets his wish this week as Washington and their underrated defense take on an underachieving Atlanta offense. Redskins to start include Campbell, RB Clinton Portis, fill-in TE Fred Davis, WR Santana Moss, and K Shaun Suisham. TE Chris Cooley (Out-ankle) will miss at least another three weeks. Falcons to start include QB Matt Ryan, RB Michael Turner, TE Tony Gonzalez, WR Roddy White (Questionable-knee), and K Jason Elam (assuming the Falcons’ coaching staff forgives him for his missed FGs against the Saints). RB Jerious Norwood (Questionable-hip) is a long-shot to play and should not be in your lineup this weekend.
Kansas City at Jacksonville - Chiefs fans’ disgust with suspended RB Larry Johnson apparently knows no bounds - there’s actually a petition circulating to stop him from becoming the Chiefs’ all-time leading rusher. No word on whether potential replacement RBs Jamaal Charles and Kolby Smith have signed yet. Chiefs to start against the struggling Jaguars’ defense include QB Matt Cassel, TE Sean Ryan, WR Dwayne Bowe, and K Ryan Succop. Charles and WR Bobby Wade can also be started in deep leagues, but I’d leave Smith and the newly-acquired WR Chris Chambers out of starting lineups. Jaguars to start include QB David Garrard, RB Maurice Jones-Drew, TE Marcedes Lewis, WR Mike Sims-Walker, and K Josh Scobee. WRs Torry Holt and Mike Thomas can also be started in deeper leagues.
Green Bay at Tampa Bay - With the Brett Favre circus now behind them, the Packers can turn their attention to more important matters, such as helping Tampa Bay in its quest for a second winless season. Packers to start include QB Aaron Rodgers (Questionable-feet), RB Ryan Grant, WRs Donald Driver (Questionable-neck) & Greg Jennings, K Mason Crosby, and the Defense. TEs Donald Lee & Spencer Havner can also be started in deeper leagues, but expect TE Jermichael Finley (Questionable-knee) to be out for at least another week. The only Buccaneer I’d recommend starting this week is TE Kevin Winslow, although those in deeper leagues can also consider starting RB Cadillac Williams and WRs Antonio Bryant (Probable-knee), Michael Clayton (Probable-wrist), and Sammie Stroughter. Leave QB Josh Freeman and RB Derrick Ward out of your lineups.
Miami at New England - You would think that after his record-setting kickoff returns last week against the Jets that WR Ted Ginn would be back in the good graces of all Dolphins’ fans. Rest assured, that is not the case. Miami figures to be in for a long day against the Patriots - RBs Ronnie Brown & Ricky Williams are the only Dolphins who should be in starting lineups this weekend. Leave QB Chad Henne, TE Anthony Fasano, and WRs Ginn, Brian Hartline, Davone Bess, & Greg Camarillo on the bench (or waivers). Patriots to start include QB Tom Brady (Probable-will this charade never end?shoulder), WRs Randy Moss & Wes Welker, and K Stephen Gostkowski. Those in deeper leagues should also consider starting RB Laurence Maroney, TEs Ben Watson (Questionable-back) & Chris Baker, and the Defense.
Houston at Indianapolis - Houston actually won its game last weekend against the Bills, but you would never know that given all the handwringing this week over RB Steve Slaton’s fumbling problem. Face it, it’s highly unlikely that either RB Ryan Moats or RB Chris Brown will keep Slaton on the bench for long. Now that TE Owen Daniels has been lost for the season, the Texans have an even greater need for a back who’s also a receiving threat (i.e. - Slaton). That said, I would only start Slaton this week if I didn’t have better alternatives - it’s possible he doesn’t play as many snaps as he usually would, but I still believe he’ll see the bulk of the backfield work for Houston. Texans who should be in your starting lineup this week include QB Matt Schaub and WRs Andre Johnson & Kevin Walter. Leave Moats, Brown, and replacement TE Joel Dreessen out of your lineup. Colts to start this week include QB Peyton Manning, RB Joseph Addai, TE Dallas Clark, and WR Reggie Wayne. RB Donald Brown, WR Austin Collie, and the Colts’ Defense can also be started in deeper leagues. I would not start WRs Pierre Garcon & Anthony Gonzalez (Questionable-knee).
Baltimore at Cincinnati - Ray Lewis may not have a future as a contestant on So You Think You Can Dance, but he and the rest of the Ravens’ defense have less pressure on them than in the past thanks to the emergence of the offense under second-year QB Joe Flacco. This week the Ravens get a chance to avenge a loss earlier this season to the Bengals, and they should do so. Ravens to start this week include Flacco, RB Ray Rice, TE Todd Heap (Questionable-ankle), WRs Derrick Mason, Mark Clayton, & Kelley Robinson, and K Steven Hauschka. The Defense can also be started in deeper leagues, but I wouldn’t start RB Willis McGahee this week (or any other week, unless something happens to Rice). The only sure-fire Bengal starters this week are QB Carson Palmer and WR Chad Ochocinco, although WR Laveranues Coles may also be started in deeper leagues. I would not start RB Cedric Benson against the Ravens’ defense.
Arizona at Chicago - Noted diabetic Jay Cutler gave blood at the office last Sunday thanks to an illegal hit by Browns’ LB Kamerion Wimbley. This week it will be Arizona’s turn to see whether they can extract a pound of flesh from the Bears’ offense. Cardinals to start include QB Kurt Warner, RB Tim Hightower, WRs Larry Fitzgerald & Steve Breaston (Questionable-knee), and K Neil Rackers (Questionable-hamstring), assuming he’s healthy enough to play. RB Chris Wells is also a good start in deeper leagues. I would leave WR Anquan Boldin (Questionable-ankle) on the bench this week. Bears to start include Cutler, RB Matt Forte, TE Greg Olsen (Questionable-ankle), WR Devin Hester (Questionable-ankle), and K Robbie Gould. WRs Earl Bennett & Johnny Knox can also be started if you’re in a deeper league and need a one-week fill-in.
Carolina at New Orleans - Not many NFL players can claim that people go out of their way to make jokes at his expense. Unfortunately for Panthers’ QB Jake Delhomme, he’s one of them. Kidding aside, Delhomme figures to be in for another rough week against the Saints’ pass defense and should not be started. The only Panthers worth starting this week are RBs DeAngelo Williams & Jonathan Stewart (Questionable-Achilles’) and WR Steve Smith. TEs Jeff King & Dante Rosario and WRs Muhsin Muhammad (Questionable-knee) & Dwayne Jarrett don’t belong in starting lineups either. Saints to start include QB Drew Brees, RB Pierre Thomas, TE Jeremy Shockey, WR Marques Colston, and K John Carney. RB Mike Bell is also worth starting in deeper leagues. I’d leave WRs Lance Moore (Questionable-ankle), Robert Meachem, and Devery Henderson out of your lineup.
Detroit at Seattle - Seahawks’ WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh is unhappy with his lack of involvement in Seattle’s offense. Maybe this shouldn’t come as a big surprise, given that Houshmandzadeh announced earlier this year that he’s “boycotting” Madden 2010. Given the injuries to their key players, perhaps the Lions should consider boycotting this game. QB Matthew Stafford (Questionable-knee) and WR Calvin Johnson (Questionable-knee) are both worth starting if they’re healthy enough to play. Ditto for RB Kevin Smith (Questionable-shoulder), who may miss the game. If Smith can’t play, consider starting RB Maurice Morris in a favorable matchup against his former team. TE Brandon Pettigrew & WR Bryant Johnson should also be considered as starters by those in deeper leagues, but leave WR Dennis Northcutt on the bench. Seahawks to start include QB Matt Hasselbeck (Questionable-ribs), TE John Carlson, WRs Houshmandzadeh & Nate Burleson, K Olindo Mare, and the Defense. Those in deeper leagues should also consider starting RBs Julius Jones & Justin Forsett and WR Deion Branch.
Tennessee at San Francisco - Titan QB Vince Young is not a man to be messed with. In spite of barely having seen the field the last season and a half, Young still managed to garner one vote in the election to determine the NFL’s dirtiest player. Presumably, Young’s vote came courtesy of a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars’ defense. Young gets a chance to bolster that reputation this weekend against a shaky San Francisco secondary and could be in for a big day. Titans to start include Young, RB Chris Johnson, and WRs Justin Gage & Kenny Britt. TE Bo Scaife and WR Nate Washington can also be started in deeper leagues. Leave RB LenDale White out of your lineup - his 15 rushing TDs last season now seem like a distant memory. 49ers’ QB Alex Smith should also be in for a big day against a bad Titans’ secondary. He should be started, along with RB Frank Gore, TE Vernon Davis, WR Michael Crabtree, and K Joe Nedney. WRs Josh Morgan & Isaac Bruce, along with the 49ers’ Defense, can also be started in deeper leagues.
San Diego at New York Giants - Now that the Chris Chambers Era is over in San Diego, WR Malcom Floyd should get many more opportunities to shine. Just don’t expect that to happen this weekend against the reeling Giants - leave Floyd out of your starting lineup. Chargers to start include QB Philip Rivers, RBs LaDainian Tomlinson & Darren Sproles, TE Antonio Gates (Questionable-foot), WR Vincent Jackson, and K Nate Kaeding. The only Giants I’d start for sure this weekend would be RB Brandon Jacobs and TE Kevin Boss (Questionable-ankle). RB Ahmad Bradshaw (Questionable-ankle, foot) and WR Steve Smith can also be started in deeper leagues, but I’d leave QB Eli Manning and WRs Mario Manningham (Questionable-shoulder) & Hakeem Nicks on the bench this week.
Dallas at Philadelphia - Much has been made this week of the fact that Cowboys’ QB Tony Romo and WR Roy Williams “aren’t on the same page”. Thankfully for the Cowboys, the emergence of WR Austin Miles has made that less of an issue than it might have been otherwise. Cowboys to start in this week’s matchup include Romo, RB Marion Barber (Probable-thumb), TE Jason Witten, Miles, and K Nick Folk. Williams should also be started in deeper leagues. I’d leave RBs Tashard Choice and Felix Jones on the bench. Eagles to start include QB Donovan McNabb, RBs Brian Westbrook (Probable-concussion) & LeSean McCoy, TE Brent Celek, WRs DeSean Jackson (Probable-foot) & Jeremy Maclin (Probable-foot), and K David Akers.
Pittsburgh at Denver - Broncos’ WR Eddie Royal is another player who came into the season with high expectations and has fallen off the fantasy football map. Fortunately for both Royal and the Broncos, rather than spout off in the press, he’s been keeping himself busy with his Facebook page. Steelers to start in this Monday Night Football contest include QB Ben Roethlisberger, TE Heath Miller, and WR Hines Ward, recently voted the “dirtiest player in the NFL”. I would not start RBs Rashard Mendenhall & Willie Parker or WRs Santonio Holmes & Mike Wallace. The only Broncos I’d definitely start would be QB Kyle Orton & Brandon Marshall, although TEs Tony Scheffler & Daniel Graham and WR Royal can also be considered by those in deeper leagues. Leave RBs Knowshon Moreno & Correll Buckhalter on the bench.
Good luck to your teams this weekend!
Until next time,
The Sherpa
The Sherpa’s Fantasy Football Blog
@fantasy_sherpa on Twitter
Fantasy Football Sherpa’s fan page on Facebook
Tags: fantasy football sherpa, Fantasy Football Sherpa's fan page on Facebook, fantasy_sherpa, The Fantasy Football Sherpa's blog, The Sherpa