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Lineup calls: Campbell should respond
Fantasy Football
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Jack Del Rio's decision to put the Jaguars in full pads for a mid-week practice ranks as one of the top stories heading into Week 9. I certainly don't dismiss the activities in Cleveland, as you saw a general manager fired and an owner take a meeting with fans. Can I be designated as the fantasy operative to talk to Mike Shanahan when he returns to the league?
Seriously, it's been an eventful and sometimes strange 2009 season. Can you believe we're only halfway done? OK, so that halfway calculation includes Weeks 15-17, for which many of you may have turned into full-time spectators after being bounced from the playoffs.
My goal here is to dig deep and find you those spot starts and hidden gems to bring you to the Promised Land. Let's begin the glorious run to the playoffs with a huge Week 9. Here's the first part of this week's Lineup Calls.
Top 10 Quarterbacks
(Not named Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Philip Rivers, Matt Schaub, Aaron Rodgers or Kurt Warner)
Donovan McNabb vs. Dallas
McNabb rose to the challenge in Week 8 against the Giants. He completed 17-of-23 attempts for 240 yards and three touchdowns, his third multi-touchdown game of the season. Interestingly, his lost fumble was his first turnover in his past four starts. He faces another interesting challenge this weekend. Several weeks ago, there was a lot of finger-pointing and questioning of the Dallas secondary. The defense came to life against Atlanta, but can it match up with the speed receivers deployed by Andy Reid? I suspect that McNabb finds his spot in a tough NFC East battle.
Carson Palmer vs. Baltimore
Palmer and the Bengals come out of the bye week with a chance to make another divisional statement. In the first meeting with Baltimore, Palmer completed 18-of-31 attempts for 271 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The Bengals received a jumpstart from the running game and Cedric Benson. He needs to pile up yardage once again to create balance, keep the linebackers at bay and let Palmer make plays downfield.
Tony Romo at Philadelphia
To say that Romo's in a groove would be a gross understatement. In the past three weeks, he's passed for 918 yards with eight touchdowns and a turnover. He hasn't thrown an interception since Week 4. He faces a difficult test this weekend against the 10th-ranked Philadelphia pass defense. The Eagles are allowing only 193.7 passing yards per game while intercepting two passes per contest. The Dallas offensive line will face relentless pressure, and Romo's ability to stay calm under pressure will be paramount. I just like the comfort zone he's in with Miles Austin, and the involvement of Roy Williams (as we saw last week) portends to a solid fantasy day.
Matt Hasselbeck vs. Detroit
The schedule sets up nicely for Hasselbeck again, this time in a highly advantageous matchup against the woeful Lions. The Detroit pass defense allowed three touchdowns per game prior to shutting out Marc Bulger in Week 8. Do I expect him to match that average? No, I don't. I do anticipate that Hasselbeck gets multiple cracks at short fields because of the ineptitude of the Detroit offense.
Ben Roethlisberger at Denver
Roethlisberger worked primarily from the shotgun as he unloaded on opposing defenses for 294.4 yards per game through seven starts. He'll need the extra beat to allow his receivers to gain separation and to keep himself separated from Elvis Dumervil and the Denver pass rush. The Ravens knocked the Broncos from the ranks of the unbeaten with a balanced attack. Joe Flacco completed 20-of-25 attempts for 175 yards and a touchdown. Roethlisberger will need a concerted effort from the offensive line and support from Rashard Mendenhall on the ground.
Jay Cutler vs. Arizona
Cutler didn't light up the scoreboard last week as fantasy owners had hoped, as Matt Forte and the defense accounted for all of Chicago's touchdowns. In fact, Cutler was shut out for the first time in 2009. In the past three weeks, he's thrown six interceptions, a stat certainly not lost on Chicago fans or fantasy owners. He should find success downfield against an Arizona squad that's been inconsistent in defending the pass (20th at 233 yards per game). The Cardinals have allowed 11 touchdowns (1.57 per game) and often fail to surmount a consistent pass rush.
Joe Flacco at Cincinnati
Flacco posted a solid, albeit unspectacular, effort in leading the Ravens to victory over the Broncos in Week 8. He completed 80 percent of his pass attempts for 175 yards and a touchdown, didn't commit a turnover and was sacked twice. He struggled in the first meeting against the Bengals, completing 22-of-31 attempts for 186 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. In fact, that game constituted his only multi-turnover effort of the year and his lowest QB rating (70.1). I look for a better effort in the return bout.
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| Alex Smith has a lot better matchup this week than he did last Sunday. (Andy Lyons / Getty Images) |
Alex Smith vs. Tennessee
Smith raised eyebrows in his relief effort two weeks ago while engineering a near-comeback against the Texans. He then posted a solid effort in a near-upset of the Colts, passing for 198 yards with one touchdown (Vernon Davis, again) and an interception. I'm concerned about the state of the offensive line with Joe Staley sidelined, but Smith's shown presence in the pocket and Michael Crabtree's quickly becoming a go-to target. Tennessee's defense posted a strong effort (save two plays) against the Jaguars with Cortland Finnegan back in the secondary. I don't anticipate huge numbers, but a repeat of last week's effort is certainly within reach.
Kyle Orton vs. Pittsburgh
If you saw a "23" in the completion column for a quarterback, you'd probably anticipate a number larger than "152" in the yardage column. However, that was Orton's final line in last week's defeat to the Ravens. I look for a modest rebound this weekend against the Steelers at home. Orton's averaged 83.4 more passing yards per game at home than on the road, and I expect him to find some success against the Pittsburgh secondary. That occurs if the Denver offensive line can repel Dick LeBeau's blitzing schemes.
David Garrard vs. Kansas City
I'm not going to put a ton of weight on the selection of Garrard. However, the schedule keeps putting up matchups with strong potential. The Chiefs have surrendered 252.1 yards and nearly two passing touchdowns per game. Garrard's on the radar for a desperation plug-in play this weekend, but his inconsistency will leave you on the edge of your seat. Perhaps you like sweating out each week's matchup?
Quarterback Sleepers
Jason Campbell at Atlanta
Campbell and the Redskins return following the bye week. Washington's taken a ton of abuse because of the offensive struggles, but Campbell does boast a strong completion percentage (66 percent). Could the bye help to jumpstart this squad? The Falcons rank 31st in pass defense, having allowed 256.4 yards and 1.43 touchdowns per game. I suspect we see a heavy dose of short passes to Fred Davis mixed in with some downfield targets to Devin Thomas and Santana Moss (who will see double coverage).
Matthew Stafford at Seattle
Stafford's on the radar against the Seahawks, a defense that's been inconsistent all season. His placement here is conditional, as Calvin Johnson's status must be watched closely. Stafford didn't complete a pass to a wide receiver until the fourth quarter in last week's loss to St. Louis. Obviously, he represents a longshot option even if Johnson's available to battle against Marcus Trufant downfield.
Matt Cassel at Jacksonville
Cassel seeks to rebound from his worst game of the year, a 97-yard, three-interception debacle against the Chargers. The presence of the Jacksonville squad on the schedule certainly piques your interest. I'm expecting to see Cassel and Dwayne Bowe continue their red zone efficiency, and for the Larry Johnson situation to take this team in one of two directions. I suspect we see a strong effort from Cassel on the road.
Quarterback Flops
Matt Ryan vs. Washington
Ryan threw multiple interceptions for the third straight game in Monday night's loss to the Saints. He's struggled with accuracy, and the Atlanta offensive line has yielded seven sacks in the past two weeks. Say what you will about the Washington offense, its defense has been strong (second-ranked pass defense). Ryan's probably your fantasy starter, but temper your expectations.
Eli Manning vs. San Diego
Manning's yet to be shut out of the end zone this season, and I don't suspect it happens this weekend. However, the Giants have been inconsistent on both sides of the ball in three straight games and Manning's become a turnover machine (seven in his past three games). The Chargers have been run over by several opponents since Jamal Williams' injury, but the pass defense has stepped up limit big plays. I expect to see a heavy dose of the New York backfield this weekend.
Jake Delhomme at New Orleans
I'm just putting Delhomme here for those owners who use phrases like "he's due" or rely primarily on past performance when setting a lineup. This isn't your father's New Orleans defense. They're fast, aggressive and opportunistic. The running game may find some success, as Michael Turner did last week, but you're not looking at big numbers from the passing game. Delhomme's finished with fewer than 100 passing yards in two of the past three weeks.
Top 10 Running Backs
(Not named Michael Turner, Maurice Jones-Drew, Ronnie Brown, Cedric Benson, Brian Westbrook, DeAngelo Williams or Chris Johnson)
Joseph Addai vs. Houston
Addai didn't pile up yardage against the 49ers, but he did help fantasy owners with his 22-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne. He remains the lead back in this situation (Donald Brown may return in Week 9) and has proven to be an effective receiver on occasion. The Colts will look to send a message to the surging Texans, and I expect Addai to shoulder a big load this weekend.
Clinton Portis at Atlanta
Portis continues to be afflicted by a variety of leg ailments, but that won't stop the workhorse back from taking on another huge touch count against the Falcons. He was limited to 43 yards on 14 carries in Week 7, and I believe he'll be counted on heavily by Sherm Lewis this weekend. The Falcons surrender 121.7 yards per contest. I'm calling for Portis' second 100-yard game of the year this weekend.
Brandon Jacobs vs. San Diego
Jacobs still isn't finding the end zone, but fantasy owners have to be encouraged by his higher number of touches in recent weeks. Despite the lack of goal-line tries (two touchdowns), he's still averaging 68.8 yards per game. I expect to see him back in the familiar goal-line role against the struggling San Diego run defense (131.7 yards and one touchdown per game). The Giants need to turn back to the ground game and take some of the heat off Eli Manning.
Matt Forte vs. Arizona
Forte posted his best game of the season, a 90-yard, two-touchdown effort against the Browns. He also added two receptions for 31 yards. I believe we see another strong game this weekend at home against the Cardinals. The Panthers worked the power ground game and piled up a huge day in the Week 8 upset. I'm not saying the Chicago O-Line is overpowering, but the attention afforded Jay Cutler's right arm and his downfield weapons should open lanes.
LaDainian Tomlinson at New York Giants
Tomlinson finally showed us a glimpse of the past, scoring on a pair of runs in the Week 8 win over Oakland. He didn't amass a huge rushing total (56 yards), but I'm encouraged by the high workload he's receiving. He's carried the ball at least 18 times in three straight games.
Pierre Thomas vs. Carolina
Thomas scored early in Monday's win over Atlanta with a phenomenal burst through the line. He then added a receiving touchdown late in the game to cap a phenomenal game for trusting fantasy owners. Mike Bell and Reggie Bush (both Flex plays this week) will factor into the offense, as always, and I expect all three to find success against the run-deficient Panthers. Don't get too anxious following Carolina's romp against the Cardinals. The Saints will still score points.
Ray Rice at Cincinnati
Rice posted a strong effort in the first game against the Bengals, and I look for him to continue his recent dominance. He's tallied at least 75 total yards in every game this season, and Willis McGahee's been relegated to the role of bystander in recent games (Rice has scored four times in the past three weeks).
Frank Gore vs. Tennessee
Aside from his early 64-yard sprint for a touchdown, Gore was almost invisible on the ground against the Colts. However, he did catch five passes for 43 yards. I look for a more consistent effort this weekend against Tennessee and for Gore to continue his involvement in the passing game.
Jamaal Charles at Jacksonville
Charles assumes the lead role in a two or three-man rotation this weekend for the Chiefs. He's demonstrated solid running ability between the tackles and an aptitude for catching the ball out of the backfield. This is a good spot for a first start, as Jacksonville allows 128.3 yards per game.
Ryan Moats at Indianapolis
Moats is the Week 9 waiver wire hero across the fantasy universe following his 126-yard, three-touchdown performance against the Bills. How he'll be deployed remains to be seen, but the Indianapolis defense has been run on historically (112 yards per game in 2009). I suspect that Steve Slaton still sees plenty of work on passing downs, but Moats is the likely first and second-down option for the near future.
Running Back Sleepers
Maurice Morris at Seattle
Kevin Smith's been slowed at practice because of a shoulder injury, thereby putting Morris on the map for a sizable workload against the Seahawks. Seattle ranks 10th against the run in 2009, allowing 101.3 yards per game (six touchdowns in seven contests). Morris represents a desperation plug-in Flex play at best.
Julius Jones vs. Detroit
If Morris is on the radar against the Seahawks, then Jones ranks as a RB3 or Flex play against the Lions. Jones piled up 88 total yards (56 rushing and 32 receiving) in his return to Dallas last week. The Seattle offense has been inconsistent this season, but this is a spot to get healthy against a bad defense.
Derrick Ward vs. Green Bay
Is the Week 7 effort from Ward something to expect going forward? I'm not saying that 48 rushing yards was a dramatic breakthrough, but his 14 touches matched a season-high. With Josh Freeman under center, we can reasonably expect the ground game to be front and center and for the passing game to consist of many short routes and dump-off to the running backs. That's a recipe for a solid game out of Ward against the Packers at home.
Kolby Smith at Jacksonville
Smith's one of those bye/injury fill-in propositions for this weekend as Todd Haley tries to make sense of his backfield with Larry Johnson on suspension. Jamaal Charles will serve as first chair, but I suspect Smith returns from the PUP list to garner a total of 8-10 touches.
Running Back Flops
Knowshon Moreno vs. Pittsburgh
Moreno struggled against the Ravens, amassing just 39 rushing yards on 10 carries with a lost fumble. I know he scored a touchdown, but we can't ignore his overall struggles as we look to Week 9 against Pittsburgh. The Steelers own the top-ranked run defense in the game, surrendering just 76.6 yards per game. Taken further, Pittsburgh's allowed only two rushing touchdowns. Moreno's a low-end RB2 or Flex play, but I'm not anticipating much traction against the Steelers.
Kevin Smith at Seattle
Smith's banged up with a shoulder injury and will split time with Maurice Morris even if cleared to play. He's averaged a respectable 84.4 total yards per game, but he's hardly been able to build on his strong close to 2008.
Rashard Mendenhall at Denver
Just as we caution against the insertion of Knowshon Moreno into lineups this week, we must also weigh alternatives against Mendenhall. After all, the Broncos rank third in run defense, allowing 86.1 yards per game (three touchdowns). I suspect we see more of Willie Parker following the bye week and that Mewelde Moore plays a pivotal role in this contest. Smash-mouth football hasn't been terribly successful against the Broncos thus far in 2009.
Top 10 Wide Receivers
(Not named Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, Roddy White, Marques Colston, Reggie Wayne, Vincent Jackson, Wes Welker, Randy Moss, Calvin Johnson, Greg Jennings or Andre Johnson)
Chad Ochocinco vs. Baltimore
Ochocinco's on the verge of joining the "exclusion" list above. Another strong effort against the Ravens would place him on the list. He caught seven passes for 94 yards in the first contest despite being rattled around like a pinball in the Baltimore secondary. Do you remember the hit Ray Lewis laid on him late in that one? He does. He continues his strong play coming out of the bye. He's averaged 5.6 receptions and 81.9 yards per game (94 or more receiving yards in three straight games prior to the bye).
Donald Driver at Tampa Bay
Driver now ranks at the top receiver in Packers history (congratulations). He and all of the Green Bay offensive weapons are on the radar for big games against the atrocious Tampa Bay defense. In the first seven games of 2009, the Buccaneers allowed 16 passing touchdowns. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers are eager to get back on track following last week's painful home loss to Brett Favre and the Vikings. They'll get healthy on the road this week.
Miles Austin at Philadelphia
Following his monster game against the Chiefs, I was among the fantasy scribes and pundits asking Austin to do it again. He's now been Tony Romo's go-to hero in three straight weeks (21 catches, five touchdowns), and we can stop wondering about the connection and "one-hit wonder" factor. In fact, Austin was on our radar as a season-opening sleeper in each of the past two years, but his role and health left us waiting for an opportunity. Well, he's now the top options for Romo and sets aim on the Philadelphia secondary. The Eagles have allowed 11 passing touchdowns, but have also secured 14 interceptions. Can Romo slide in the pocket and buy Austin time to operate? There's one of the keys to the game, and for your fantasy future.
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| Devin Hester's solidified himself as Chicago's No. 1 receiver this season. (Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images) |
Devin Hester vs. Arizona
We'll have to watch his availability for Sunday, as Hester missed Wednesday's practice with an ankle injury. However, it's a solid spot for him (see Steve Smith's 50-yard catch and sprint to the end zone in Week 8) if healthy. Hester's caught 21 passes in three games since the Week 5 bye while averaging 88.3 receiving yards.
Steve Breaston at Chicago
Anquan Boldin's ankle may sideline him for Sunday's trip to Chicago (one of the key injuries to watch this week), thereby putting Breaston and Jerheme Urban in line for more looks from Kurt Warner. Breaston caught six passes in Sunday's loss to the Panthers, his fifth game with at least four receptions this season.
Hines Ward at Denver
Ward's clearly happy the Steelers handed the Vikings a loss in Week 7, but you can bet he watched the game tape and tried to determine how he finished the game with one catch for three yards. I expect a strong bounce-back effort this weekend against Denver, even with the blanket coverage he's sure to get from Champ Bailey. The emergence of Mike Wallace as a downfield threat and Heath Miller's involvement in the short game will create space over the middle, the area of the field Ward loves to roam. He's averaging six receptions and 86 yards per game.
Nate Burleson vs. Detroit
Burleson isn't a sexy option in the enigmatic Seattle offense, but he's been consistent. He's caught four or more passes in six of seven games this season while averaging 69.6 receiving yards per game. You just have to love the matchup against the Detroit secondary, although in his odd-even year (look at the game log) he's due for a smallish game.
DeSean Jackson vs. Dallas
I liked what I saw from the Dallas defense the past two weeks, but there's no stopping Jackson in the open field. He absolutely terrorizes opposing cornerbacks, putting on the afterburners while sprinting to the end zone. He has a catch of at least 51 yards in five of seven games this season! The Dallas safeties have to pick their poison with Jeremy Maclin and Jackson sprinting downfield for Donovan McNabb. Which one will it be?
Dwayne Bowe at Jacksonville
Can we just chalk Bowe's entry here up to the opponent on the schedule and his availability as Matt Cassel's lone target? Bowe hasn't posted monster numbers as we may have expected following Tony Gonzalez's departure, but he's scored in four of the six games in which he's appeared. I have to believe the Chiefs find some semblance of consistency in the offense coming out of the bye against this Jacksonville defense that has surrendered nearly two passing touchdowns per game.
Derrick Mason at Cincinnati
Mason was shut out in the first meeting with Cincinnati (one target), but he's been uncharacteristically finding the end zone with great regularity in recent weeks. In fact, he's scored in four of the past five games. I anticipate a much more prominent role for him in this contest as the Ravens seek to establish balance in the offense. Joe Flacco's willingness to target Mark Clayton and Kelley Washington downfield has opened up the middle for Mason.
Wide Receiver Sleepers
Michael Crabtree vs. Tennessee
Crabtree's been impressive in two games with the 49ers, piling up 11 receptions for 135 yards. I'll put the lost fumble against Indianapolis aside for a moment. I'm curious to watch Alex Smith and the offense operate against a Tennessee defense that played well coming out of the bye. Cortland Finnegan is a force in the secondary, but I like Crabtree to continue his rapid acclimation to the NFL this week.
Kevin Walter at Indianapolis
Walter might not really count as a traditional sleeper, but I'll bet he's found his way onto a few of your benches in recent weeks. He's consistently caught three or four passes per week. However, he hasn't replicated his big return game in Week 3 (seven catches for 96 yards and a touchdown). The loss of Owen Daniels and the uncertainty of the running game put Walter back in the mix for a huge target count in a pivotal divisional matchup with the Colts.
Pierre Garcon vs. Houston
Anthony Gonzalez is seeking another opinion on his injured knee, per reports out of Indianapolis. As such, Garcon and rookie Austin Collie remain on the fantasy radar for another week against the Houston secondary. Garcon's slipped back onto the waiver wire in countless leagues because of his current scoring drought, but 6-8 targets per week from Peyton Manning can't be discounted.
Wide Receiver Flops
Brandon Marshall vs. Pittsburgh
Marshall's been quieted in back-to-back games following his three-game scoring streak. The Ravens made him all but invisible in Week 8, limiting Marshall to four receptions for 24 yards. I'm not optimistic that we see a huge effort this weekend against Pittsburgh. The Steelers will bring pressure and force Kyle Orton to throw quickly as we saw the Ravens do last week. As such, Marshall may pile up a few catches for little gain. The specter of Troy Polamalu in the secondary changes the downfield passing game, without question.
Calvin Johnson at Seattle
Johnson reportedly practiced with the first team on Wednesday, an encouraging for fantasy owners. However, we need to take a wait-and-see approach on him following last week's reversal of status. He hasn't played since injuring his knee in Week 5.
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