Fantasy Football

Late, late start this morning. So late that its now the afternoon. Whatever. We’re extending our weekend preview so it’s a little more comprehensive and doesn’t feel like we’re just pulling names out of a hat. Here’s who to look out for and who to avoid in each game on Sunday.

Tampa Bay @ Detroit
Not a lot of muscle in this one. Detroit starts an overweight receiver who was retired as of three weeks ago, and Tampa’s starting a running back who’d been on injured reserve for the past 18 months. Probably the best your’re doing out of this game is Tampa’s defense, followed closely by Calvin Johnson. There are several dark horses and it is anyone’s guess if someone emerges from Joey Galloway, Shaun McDonald, Kevin Smith, Antonio Bryant or Mike Furrey. Garcia could piece together a solid game as well, but no one is on bye week anymore so there’s no reason to care.

The best the league has to offer.

NY Jets @ Tennessee
Plenty of players here but two stingy defenses. None the less, we like Chris Johnson and Justin Cage to break off pretty big weeks. On the Jets side, expect Dustin Keller to extend his run of solid games as Favre is going to be rushed like crazy, and he seems to be settling into a comfort zone with his tight end. Thomas Jones has been coming on strong lately but this Tennessee defense rarely gives up good games to running backs. As for the Jets receivers, Favre distributes rather evenly between Stuckey, Cotchery & Coles. It’s anyones guess who actually comes through with a big game.

Buffalo @ Kansas City
Good lord, what a fucking eyesore. I’d probably rather watch the MLS title game. Well, that’s not entirely true. I don’t want to start saying things I can’t take back. But who does this game appeal to outside of diehard fans for the two franchises? Anyhow, look for Dwayne Bowe and Marshawn Lynch to rack up some points. Fred Jackson (whose college is listed as “Coe”) is a good contingency plan for your deeper leagues.

Chicago @ St. Louis
Matt Forte. And with no Stephen Jackson, the best we can recommend is Donnie Avery for a 12 person league. We can’t recommend anyone on that offense be used regularly otherwise until Jackson comes back.

New England @ Miami
People are going crazy acquiring Jabbar Gaffney & Benjamin Watson after last weeks game. Listen, if Matt Cassel has to throw for over 400 yards for those two to produce respectable numbers, then I wouldn’t expect it to be a regular occurence. You are better off going with Keller, Miller or Boss as supplemental tight ends. On Miami’s side, Ted Ginn has really started to come along accordingly, and Greg Caramillo is their new Wes Welker. Their old Wes Welker doesn’t catch touchdowns and might be rendered worthless if you’re not getting points per receptions.

Minnesota @ Jacksonville
Adrian Peterson is almost guaranteed to rip off 150 yards rushing on Sunday, so I’d start him. That’s my expert opinion. Other than that, I’d stay away from all Jacksonville and Minnesota receivers unless Matt Jones is still waiting on appeal and you are in a 18 person league. Maybe you could start Bernard Berrian under circumstances that allow for more options, but in a ten person league I guarantee there is a better option on your waiver wire.

Philadelphia & Baltimore
Man, outside of the obvious we really can’t recommend anyone from this game. Obviously you start McGahee and Westbrook, but we can’t adamantly suggest anyone else. Maybe DeSean Jackson or Derrick Mason. I don’t know, pick your poison. One recommendation I do have: be ready to pull the trigger on Corell Buckhalter and snag him off waivers before anyone else. I’d just go queue it up right now, honestly.

Houston @ Cleveland
Based on what Lynch and Jackson did to Cleveland last week, I’d plug Slaton into your flex and not look back. Quietly as it’s kept, Kevin Walter is in the top twenty receivers regardless of how you score your fantasy league so he is a definite as well as Johnson. As for Cleveland, I’d expect big weeks from Winslow & Edwards, but since I have no idea whose going to be quarterbacking the team ten minutes into the first I can’t really do that. Question: How can Romo break his pinkie finger and be sidelined for a month, while Quinn can break his index and play two days later?

San Fransisco @ Dallas
Vernon Davis should be poised to light up this Dallas secondary, Gore should also have his usual 90 yards and a touchdown performance. Dallas is spread almost too thin between Owens, Austin, Crayton, Witten and Williams, but depending on the depth of your league there is an outside shot that every single one of them will start in your league this week. Really the only expectations we have on that side of the ball is for Barber to rack up about 1,000 points, and for Tashard Choice (the understated rookie out of Georgia Tech) to get about twenty percent of the carries, one of which may or may not go for a touchdown, making him a viable starter in a 14 person league.

Just like yesterday, we’re going to break this up into two posts: the 1pm games and the 4pm through Monday night games.