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Lineup calls: Orton continues scoring streak
Fantasy Football
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Of course, fantasy owners also need to make arrangements to substitute for the offensive heroes in Cincinnati and well, anybody they may have rolled the dice on in Tampa Bay, Kansas City or Washington.
Don't worry. We only have Weeks 8 and 9 left to navigate with significant absences because of byes. The ever-growing list of injured stars is a whole other matter. We're monitoring the statuses of players such as Andre Johnson, Brian Westbrook and a host of others as we approach game-time. I can't wait to see some of the sit-start decisions being made for this week as I traverse the Twitter-verse this week.
In the interim, let's flip on the calculators and dig through the matchups to find heroes in this week's Lineup Calls. I'm starting in Chicago with Jay Cutler, whose team desperately needs to rebound from last week's wreckage in Cincinnati.
Top 10 Quarterbacks
(Not named Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Philip Rivers, Matt Schaub, Aaron Rodgers or Kurt Warner)
Jay Cutler vs. Cleveland
The schedule-makers aid the recovery process by putting the heretofore disastrous Cleveland franchise on the slate for a home date. Cleveland's pass rush nearly rates a zero, and the expected contribution from the ground game (shudder to think!) should give Cutler ample time to carve up the Cleveland secondary.
Tony Romo vs. Seattle
Romo's tossed five touchdowns in the past two weeks, exhibiting great poise in the pocket and confidence downfield with the emergence of Miles Austin. He's averaged 331 yards in these games, and I suspect he finds success again this weekend against a banged-up Seattle secondary. Romo will feel some heat from the Seattle pass rush, but he's operating well under pressure and sliding in the pocket to create additional time. I like what I've seen the past two weeks.
Brett Favre at Green Bay
Favre tossed the ball a frightening total of 51 times against the Steelers, piling up 334 yards with two disastrous turnovers. He's already put that performance in the rearview mirror, as a return bout with the Packers in Green Bay is on the docket for Week 8. Favre completed 24-of-31 attempts for 271 yards and three touchdowns in the first battle against his former team. His comments in the press this week have everybody chirping. The 1996 Packers have taken offense to Favre's praise of his current teammates. Will that rally the current defense that he faces Sunday, or will the Vikings try to quiet the ghosts of Lambeau Field past? Either way, Favre and Aaron Rodgers are putting up numbers this week.
Matt Hasselbeck at Dallas
Expectations were high for Hasselbeck in Week 6 against the Cardinals, but the Seahawks fell behind early and the offense never stood a chance. Overall, Hasselbeck's posted two tremendous games and two duds for fantasy owners this weekend. This week's matchup with Dallas certainly presents a decent opportunity, as the Cowboys secondary has surrendered 238.5 yards and 1.67 passing touchdowns per game. If the banged-up Seattle offensive line can hold off DeMarcus Ware and the Dallas pass rush for any length of time, Hasselbeck will have opportunities against the secondary.
Kyle Orton at Baltimore
Orton went into the bye week with a streak of three consecutive two-touchdown performances. He's been incredibly efficient for the undefeated Broncos, racking up 244.2 yards per game with nine touchdowns against one turnover. The Ravens come out of the bye with aims to improve a struggling pass defense, ranked 23rd in the league at 241.5 yards and 1.5 passing touchdowns per game. If Knowshon Moreno and Correll Buckhalter can gain any traction on the ground, Orton should have opportunities to distribute the ball in the short passing game.
Mark Sanchez vs. Miami
Sanchez capped the hot dog non-story by donating cases of the stadium staple to food banks. That's a good end to the Oakland trip, and Sanchez now sets his sights on the rematch against the Dolphins. He produced a middling stat line in the first contest between these squads, passing for 172 yards and a touchdown in the loss. I'm encouraged by the fact that he targeted receivers other than Braylon Edwards last week. Given the six teams on bye and the myriad of performance issues affecting quarterbacks, he just might rate a start this weekend.
Donovan McNabb vs. New York Giants
As expected, McNabb didn't light up the night sky against the Redskins, but he did put owners in positive territory with his 156 passing yards and one touchdown. He didn't commit a turnover, although he was sacked three times. He isn't a particularly strong play this weekend, as the Giants pass defense remains one of the best in the game (158.4 yards per game and nine touchdowns in seven games). He's averaged 184.1 passing yards with 23 total touchdowns (20 passing) against eight turnovers in 16 starts against the Giants.
Joe Flacco vs. Denver
Flacco's been a strong breakthrough performer for fantasy owners this season. Even in his worst outing (Week 5 against Cincinnati), he still tossed a touchdown. He's produced multiple touchdowns in four of six games this season while averaging 279 yards per contest. It's obviously not the easiest of matchups this weekend against a strong Denver pass defense (182.8 yards and 0.5 touchdowns per game), but I expect to see the Ravens play well coming out of the bye. Ray Rice's efforts out of the backfield are paramount to Flacco's success.
Marc Bulger at Detroit
Bulger's averaged 167.25 passing yards in the four games he's completed this season with two touchdowns and three interceptions. He's certainly no sure thing, even with the atrocious Detroit pass defense on tap (258.5 yards and 2.83 touchdowns per game). However, you may be forced to throw up a proverbial "Hail Mary" this weekend because of byes, injuries or ineffectiveness.
David Garrard at Tennessee
Yes, Garrard's back on the radar again this weekend. A matchup against the bottom-ranked Tennessee defense will do that. After all, this is a unit that surrendered 310.7 yards and 3.17 touchdowns per game heading into the Week 7 bye. Garrard passed for 335 yards in Week 6 with two turnovers and three sacks against the Rams, but he did add 31 rushing yards to offset some of the turnover damage. I'm not anticipating a huge day by him against the Titans, but the inability of the Tennessee defense to shut down any quarterback this season puts him on the map. Mike Sims-Walker and Torry Holt are ready to put their best effort forward to keep the Titans winless.
Quarterback Sleepers
Daunte Culpepper vs. St. Louis
Matthew Stafford isn't expected to return this weekend from the knee injury sustained against the Bears. The Lions are bringing him along slowly, meaning that Culpepper will likely be under center for this weekend's game against the winless Rams (249.6 yards and 1.57 touchdowns allowed per game). With Calvin Johnson expected back in the mix (knee), Culpepper could surprise. He tweaked his hamstring in Week 6, but expects to be available Sunday.
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| Alex Smith came out last week and had a tremendous performance for the Niners. (David Paul Morris / Getty Images) |
Alex Smith at Indianapolis
Smith took the reins against the Texans as Mike Singletary looked for a jumpstart to his offense. The former No. 1 overall pick narrowly missed leading the 49ers to a win against the Texans. Smith completed 15-of-22 pass attempts for 206 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. He's a true longshot play this weekend against the Colts, a defense that has been supremely stingy against the pass (179.8 yards and 0.33 passing touchdowns allowed per game).
Ryan Fitzpatrick vs. Houston
Fitzpatrick hasn't been overwhelming while under center for the Bills, but he's effectively put Lee Evans back on the fantasy radar. He's averaged 119.5 passing yards with two touchdowns against one interception. The Houston pass defense has been effective this season, allowing just 228.4 yards and 1.29 touchdowns per game. Therefore, you're reaching deep if Fitzpatrick is in consideration for a starting slot.
Chad Henne at New York Jets
Henne pops back onto the fantasy radar for the return bout against the Jets. He struggled last week against the Saints, completing half of his pass attempts with two interceptions. Granted, Ted Ginn, Jr. should've been tagged with one of them, but we don't make the scoring rules. The second-year quarterback from Michigan had his coming out party on Monday night a couple weeks back against the Jets when the Wildcat went wild. He completed 20-of-26 attempts for 241 yards and two touchdowns. I don't expect him to replicate that effort, but the Jets won't be able to stop the running game altogether this week.
Quarterback Flops
Matt Ryan at New Orleans
Ryan's posted multiple touchdown passes in five of six games this season, and I'm certainly not jumping ship on the second-year superstar. However, he's turned the ball over six times in the past three weeks, a stretch that included two games with fewer than 200 passing yards. I don't believe he gets shut down, but this opportunistic New Orleans defense has been spectacular against the pass (214.3 passing yards per game with five touchdowns and 13 interceptions).
Eli Manning at Philadelphia
Manning's riding a two-game funk heading into this week's divisional battle against the Eagles. He's struggled in recent outings against the Eagles, putting up 190 yards and five touchdowns in his past five contests. In fact, he's averaged only 206.5 passing yards and 1.2 touchdowns per game in 12 career starts against the Eagles.
Top 10 Running Backs
(Not named Michael Turner, Adrian Peterson, Maurice Jones-Drew, Steve Slaton, Steven Jackson, Ronnie Brown or Chris Johnson)
LaDainian Tomlinson at Oakland
L.T. owners have grown tired of seeing Darren Sproles check in near the goal-line. However, Tomlinson also failed to score in his chances near the painted grass last week against the Chiefs. He's a top-notch option this weekend in the return bout against the Raiders at home. He hasn't posted much of a rushing average in the past two weeks (3.44 yards per carry), but his total of 41 carries in those contests has to be encouraging for fantasy owners. The Raiders currently rank 30th against the run, and I expect the Chargers to put a hurting on this squad in Week 8.
Matt Forte vs. Cleveland
Forte's produced only one first-round worthy performance this year, a 121-yard effort against the Lions in Week 4. He gets a motivational removal from the exclusion list this week for a highly advantageous matchup against the Browns. The Cleveland front line has been run over with great regularity this season. In fact, the Browns are allowing 170.6 rushing yards per game. If Forte can't get healthy here, fantasy owners truly need to be concerned about the balance of the schedule. As an added motivational point for the second-year back, Sunday marks the 10th anniversary of Walter Payton's death. The Bears will honor the Hall of Famer and Chicago hero during Sunday's game. Forte does his memory proud with a huge game.
Kevin Smith vs. St. Louis
I didn't expect the Lions to set the scoreboard aflame this year, but I did expect some improvement from last year's disaster. I'll admit to having had high hopes for Smith, and I'm not ready to throw in the towel on him yet. Well, at least I won't do so this week with the Rams on the schedule! Smith's averaged only 58 rushing yards per game, but I'm optimistic that he posts a better day this week against the Rams. We know he'll handle a sizable workload, as he's averaged 21.5 touches per game. Opportunity yields success against a bad St. Louis squad this weekend.
Marion Barber vs. Seattle
Barber's yet to post a monster performance in 2009, but we can at least feel somewhat secure that the proposed shift to a Tashard Choice-led backfield isn't happening yet. Barber led the Cowboys with 14 carries last week for 47 yards. It was a smallish effort, but he did still own the lion's share of the carries. The Seahawks have been solid against the run (99.3 yards per game), but I'm optimistic that Tony Romo's newfound comfort in the downfield passing game opens up opportunities for Barber this weekend. Perhaps he'll rediscover his love of the painted grass.
Ryan Grant vs. Minnesota
Grant turned in his best performance of the year in Week 7, a 27-carry, 148-yard romp against the Browns that included his third touchdown of the year. He's a bit of a difficult play this weekend, but the normally stout Williams Wall has exhibited some cracks in recent weeks. Grant amassed 101 total yards in the first meeting and warrants at least RB2 status this week.
Joseph Addai vs. San Francisco
Addai scored for the third straight game in last week's laugher against the Rams. He's on the radar for a larger workload with rookie Donald Brown banged up. Addai's averaging a respectable total of 71.6 yards per game (45.7 rushing yards per game), but his frequent touches in the red zone are something to note. There's no reason to believe the Colts will be slowed this weekend at home.
Frank Gore at Indianapolis
Gore's performance against the Texans was a colossal disappointment. He amassed just 47 total yards on 15 touches (32 rushing and two receptions for 15 yards). Perhaps this week's test against the Colts will be kinder to him. Indy surrender 111.8 yards and 0.67 rushing touchdowns per game, so they're certainly no pushover. However, the 49ers exhibited a little more punch in the downfield passing game last week with Alex Smith and Michael Crabtree on the field. If they click whatsoever, there may be more opportunities for Gore in the ground game.
LeSean McCoy vs. New York Giants
Brian Westbrook sustained a concussion in Monday's win over Washington. As such, McCoy will likely be in the first chair for Week 8 against Dallas. McCoy averaged just 2.6 yards per carry against the Albert Haynesworth-led defensive line (14 carries for 37 yards), although he did add five receptions for 30 yards. He rushed for 84 yards and a touchdown in relief of Westbrook in Week 3 against Kansas City. It's obviously not an easy task this week against the Giants, but owners should be encouraged by Beanie Wells' success Sunday night.
Ricky Williams at New York Jets
I'd been banging the drum for Williams for several weeks prior to the three-touchdown explosion against the Saints. His robust rushing average (5.7 yards per carry) had me convinced, and the veteran back's running with more burst, power and authority than we've seen in years. He racked up 138 total yards on 14 touches in the Week 5 meeting.
Marshawn Lynch vs. Houston
Lynch didn't produce the sizable yardage total we anticipated in last week's matchup against the Panthers, but he did find the end zone. In fact, he's produced only 43.5 rushing yards in three games since returning to the lineup. However, I'm optimistic we see a better effort against the 21st-ranked Houston run defense this weekend.
Running Back Sleepers
Beanie Wells vs. Carolina
Fantasy owners had been waiting for Ken Whisenhunt to commit to the running game. They finally received some hint of that possibility when Wells crashed through the Giants defense for 67 yards on 14 carries, a performance that included his first NFL touchdown. In the past two weeks, he's amassed 26 carries, perhaps indicating that the Cardinals' staff is comfortable with his pass-blocking ability. They certainly enjoyed watching him stiff-arm would-be tacklers. The Carolina run defense ranks 26th in the NFL.
Darren Sproles vs. Oakland
Sproles racked up 99 yards on eight touches in Sunday's throttling of the Chiefs, including a 58-yard touchdown gallop off a Philip Rivers pass. He's on the radar this weekend against the Raiders in what is expected to be a rout of the Raiders. Oakland surrender 169.7 rushing yards per contest, and I expect the Chargers to post a huge follow-up effort at home. Take Sproles and his 8-10 touches for a Flex run this week.
Justin Fargas vs. San Diego
It's awfully difficult to endorse any member of the Raiders, but Fargas has been quite active and effective in the past two weeks. He's averaged 4.97 yards per carry in these contests and generally gives fantasy owners the benefit of one or more catches per game (three receptions for 23 yards in Week 7). He should find some running room against the Chargers, assuming the Raiders stick with what works while on offense. Just hand the ball off.
Jason Snelling at New Orleans
Snelling ran for 68 yards on seven carries, including a run on which he bounced to the outside for a gain of 31 yards. The Falcons are looking for a jumpstart in the running game, as Michael Turner hasn't demonstrated the same explosiveness as he exhibited through the 2008 season. Snelling just might be that second option to break things open and create space and opportunity for Turner. He's a Flex possibility this weekend against the Saints.
Running Back Flops
DeAngelo Williams at Arizona
I'm not calling on you to outright bench Williams this weekend, but you should most certainly be tempering your expectations against the league's best run defense. That's right, the Cardinals are getting good play upfront and have been nails against the run (67.5 yards and 0.5 touchdowns per game). He rates as a low RB2 this weekend.
Pierre Thomas vs. Atlanta
Thomas represents a dangerous play for fantasy owners right now. He's split time with Mike Bell in the past two weeks, and we've seen Bell creep into the mix in the red zone for the all-important goal-line work (not to mention that pesky Reggie Bush). The Falcons have allowed 117.3 yards and 0.5 touchdowns per game to rank 23rd in the NFL. Thomas is a potential Flex play against the Saints, but review your options carefully.
Ahmad Bradshaw at Philadelphia
Bradshaw carried the ball 12 times for 32 yards against the Cardinals and lost a fumble. Like the other options on this list, you may be forced to keep him in your lineup for Week 8. However, I'm not optimistic you see a big return this weekend. The Eagles rank 11th against the run, and that unit was flying around during Monday's win. Granted, it was an inferior Washington squad on the other side of the ball, but this defense has been energized. I'm not anticipating a high-scoring affair, and I'd be wary of the resurgence of Brandon Jacobs we witnessed in Week 7.
Top 10 Wide Receivers
(Not named Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, Roddy White, Marques Colston, Reggie Wayne, Vincent Jackson, Calvin Johnson or Andre Johnson)
Sidney Rice at Green Bay
Rice stood atop my sleeper list for receivers this season, and he's become an unstoppable downfield threat for Brett Favre in recent weeks. He's caught three or more passes in six consecutive games, including his back-to-back monster efforts (17 receptions for 312 yards). He scored the last time that these teams met, and I expect him to be active in Favre's return to Green Bay.
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| Greg Jennings has been disappointing this season, but he faces a good matchup this week against the Vikes. (Matt Sullivan / Getty Images) |
Greg Jennings vs. Minnesota
Jennings has been on the exclusion list for the duration of the 2009 season, but he needs some motivation to get things jumpstarted for fantasy owners. He hasn't scored since Week 1, but he's been more active in the past two weeks. He's caught a total of 11 passes for 116 yards, a smallish 10.55 yards per carry, much lower than his normal output. He was limited to three receptions for 31 yards in the first meeting between these squads. I anticipate him playing a much bigger role this weekend in Antoine Winfield's absence.
Torry Holt at Tennessee
Perhaps I'm rolling the dice a bit, but Holt's two performances prior to the Week 7 bye have me intrigued. He caught a total of 12 passes for 196 yards while working well in tandem with Mike Sims-Walker. This is a good opportunity for David Garrard and company to make plays downfield against a struggling Tennessee secondary. I see the steady veteran receiver getting involved and perhaps even making his first end zone trip of 2009.
Brandon Marshall at Baltimore
Following a tumultuous offseason and a slow start to 2009, Marshall found his stride prior to the bye week. He's averaged 5.5 receptions and 67.75 receiving yards with four touchdowns in the past four weeks. He's set to continue his recent string of successes with a turn against a Baltimore pass defense that's struggled in recent weeks.
Devin Hester vs. Cleveland
As we anticipated, Hester turned in a strong performance against the Bengals. While the Bears imploded overall in Cincinnati (and Hester isn't blameless, having lost a fumble of his own), he still caught eight passes for 101 yards and the Bears' lone touchdown. He's a strong play this weekend at home against the woeful Cleveland squad. The Bears are motivated to put last week's debacle in the rearview mirror, and I expect Jay Cutler to rebound with a strong performance against the Browns. The pass defense has surrendered 244.3 yards and 1.43 pass touchdowns per game. They don't generate much pressure, which should allow Cutler to find his deep targets.
Donald Driver vs. Minnesota
Driver's been a consistent performer for Aaron Rodgers as teams work to slow Greg Jennings, and the veteran receiver flashed some speed with a 71-yard touchdown sprint last week against the Browns. Prior to last week's two-catch performance (the passing game wasn't needed much in the rout), Driver had caught four or more passes in every game this season. He's averaging 79.8 receiving yards per contest. He caught four passes for 55 yards in the first meeting between these teams. I expect him to be a more frequent target.
Miles Austin vs. Seattle
Austin's posted one of the finest two-game stat lines by a receiver in NFL history. Can he continue his heroics at home against the Seahawks? The key to this contest will be the Dallas offensive line's ability to protect Tony Romo, as the Seahawks have exhibited a fairly consistent pass rush. If Romo has time to operate, there have been holes in the Seattle zone given the number of injuries in the secondary.
Lee Evans vs. Houston
The insertion of Ryan Fitzpatrick into the lineup for an injured Trent Edwards has opened the downfield passing game and made Evans a fantasy option once again. He's scored in back-to-back games while amassing nine catches for 143 yards.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh at Dallas
The Seahawks will look to rebound from the Week 6 pasting at the hands of Arizona with a difficult road test against the Cowboys. The Dallas pass defense had struggled all season before turning in a strong effort against Matt Ryan and the Falcons. Can they contain Matt Hasselbeck and Seattle coming out of the bye? Houshmandzadeh hasn't had a high fantasy impact this season, but he's been a consistent target for Seattle quarterbacks, as expected. He's caught four or more passes in every game this season while averaging 59.8 yards per game. I anticipate a better effort out of the Seattle offense this weekend.
DeSean Jackson vs. New York Giants
Jackson needed only three touches to have a huge impact against the Redskins in Week 7. He produced a long touchdown run (67 yards) and caught a deep ball from Donovan McNabb (57 yards). He's played a major role in four of Philadelphia's first six games, and I expect to see McNabb takes shots downfield against the New York secondary. Jackson has a foot injury, but is expected to be on the field as of this writing.
Wide Receiver Sleepers
Donnie Avery at Detroit
Avery's sustained a number of injuries during the past several weeks (shoulder, hip and ribs), so monitor his status as the week progresses. However, he's scored in two of the past three games and caught two passes for 58 yards in last week's disaster against the Colts.
Malcom Floyd vs. Oakland
Floyd's been active in the past two weeks for the San Diego offense, catching a total of five passes for 60 yards and a touchdown. He was integrated into the offense early against Denver, but drifted out of Philip Rivers' sight as that game wound down. I don't believe that occurs this weekend. Nnamdi Asomugha will be occupied with Vincent Jackson, leaving the 6-foot-5 Floyd to wander through the secondary.
James Jones vs. Minnesota
Jones has caught touchdown passes in back-to-back weeks and stands to play a bigger role this weekend against the Vikings. The third-year receiver out of San Jose State is a good leaper and excels in the red zone. He's standing in as the No. 3 receiver while Jordy Nelson recovers from a sprained knee. Remember, Aaron Rodgers was scrambling and looking downfield frequently in the first meeting between these squads en route to a 384-yard day.
Earl Bennett vs. Cleveland
Bennett hasn't set the stat sheets on fire as some might have hoped prior to the season. However, he's been a fairly consistent target for Jay Cutler in recent weeks. He's caught multiple passes in every game this season, including back-to-back weeks with four catches. He's on the radar as a potential third receiver option this weekend against Cleveland in a bounce-back game for the Chicago offense.
Wide Receiver Flops
Braylon Edwards vs. Miami
Edwards made a splash against Miami in his Jets debut, hauling in five catches for 64 yards and a touchdown. He also drew a 49-yard pass interference penalty that set up a touchdown for Thomas Jones. He's been quieted in back-to-back games since that trumpeted arrival (four catches for 54 yards). The loss of Will Allen to a season-ending ACL injury puts Edwards on the map as a third receiver option this weekend when the Dolphins visit New York. I still see the Jets relying heavily on the two-headed running game and secondary options as the Dolphins scheme to limit Edwards.
Steve Smith (CAR) at Arizona
It did little to help the Panthers against Buffalo (what happened, John Kasay?), but Smith had his second-best game of the season, a six-catch, 99-yard effort. He remains without a touchdown in 2009, and I'm not convinced he finds paydirt this weekend in Arizona against an improving Cardinals defense. The Cards rank first against the run, and that could set up some nerve-wracking third-down situations for Jake Delhomme. The lone bright spot for the Carolina offense is that Antonio Rodgers-Cromartie, who won the battle against Smith in the playoffs, may be sidelined by an ankle injury. His absence would improve Smith's stock, but trusting Delhomme right now is a risky proposition.
Roy Williams vs. Seattle
This is a decent spot for Williams this weekend, but his season-long production, or lack thereof, mixed with lingering concerns about his rib injury put him on the bench this weekend. He's caught a total of 12 passes this season, and the emergence of Miles Austin has left him as a third option in the passing game.
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