So, who would I feel most comfortable picking if my league went all MLB and forced me to take at least one Chicago Bears player? No, the answer is not kicker Robbie Gould (he has struggled from 40-49 yards throughout his career and that is a trend I cannot ignore). I think I have to go with Johnny Knox.

Knox is still listed behind Earl Bennett on the depth chart, but it is only a matter of preseason snaps until he gets the nod, right? He already appeared to be Cutler’s favorite target against the Chargers (well for the two series that first group was on the field). I am beginning to believe in this wide receiving group (at least Knox and Devin Aromashodu).

Picking a receiver means I am picking the best aspect of a Martz offense (more completions) without risking the worst (interceptions). I am still convinced Olsen is going to take a fantasy hit and I think Forte and Taylor are eventually going to be splitting time pretty equally by midseason. There are too many quarterbacks playing in passing friendly systems to take a chance on the guy with the most picks last season.

Justin Forsett RB Seahawks - Julius Jones left Sunday’s game with what was being called a broken rib, a pretty significant injury for someone being tackled 20+ times a game. Sources are now saying that the rib is not broken, not bruised, but that Jones is still expected to miss Seattle’s next game against the Vikings. Forsett excelled in his first significant action of the season, rushing for 123 yards and a TD on 17 carries, while also catching five passes for another 26 yards. In ppr leagues, he is a borderline must start, but for standard scoring leagues, you may want to take the wait and see approach with the 2nd year RB. Looking past week 11, the Seahawks have a nice little schedule going for them, and you may want to keep a close eye on starts at RB for Seattle once Jones come back, as it could very well be Forsett’s job to lose at this point.

Bernard Scott RB Bengals - The surprise of the 2009 season, Mr. Cedric Benson, was forced out of week 10 action due to a hip injury(sore abductor muscle), and his week 11 status is currently up in the air. Scott took over at RB for Cincinnati and while he struggled to get going against the NFL’s top rush defense, he was still able to display his explosiveness in the return game, scoring the games only TD on a 96 kickoff return.  The 6th round draft pick out of Abiline Christian started to make a name for himself on HBO’s Hardknocks, and some even thought that the RB job would be his to start the season. The Bengals next three games are @Oakland, vs. Cleveland, and vs. Detroit (I dont think it gets any juicier than that) and Scott could prove to be plenty productive if given the opportunity.

Jason Snelling RB Falcons - Michael Turner was the 3rd big name to go down this past week, and while he is not expected to play against the Giants due to a high ankle sprain, his injury is considered to be the most serious and he could be out for an extended period of time. Snelling came in and replaced “The Burner” and fared quite well, accumulating 93 total yards and a TD. The matchup in Week 11  might seem tough on paper, but the Giants are actually allowing over a 100 yards per game on the ground, and 1.33 rushing TDs per game, numbers that make Snelling a pretty compelling fantasy start on Sunday.

BENCH

Willis McGahee RB Ravens – After more or less falling off the fantasy radar, McGahee got off to a blazing start in 2009 scoring six touchdowns in his first three games. His past two games have been a different story though, as he has compiled just 26 total yards to go along with a fluke TD reception. I don’t own McGahee in any of my leagues, but if I did, I would make sure I left him on the bench for Week 6. Baltimore travels to Minnesota to take on the Vikings who have yet to allow a rushing TD all season, and with Ray Rice looking more and more like the total package at RB, McGahee is more likely to be considered drop-able before he is again considered start-able.

Jamal Lewis RB Browns – After his pretty impressive 31 carry 117 yard performance last week against Buffalo, I felt the need to include JLew in this section to make sure that you aren’t considering starting him thinking he can repeat his performance. Cleveland’s offense is third to last in points per game and second to last in yards per game, and when you combine that with the fact that the Steelers are second best in the NFL against the run (allowing just over 70 yards per game on the ground) you have to leave Lewis on your bench this week. You’ll be able to use the former felon against easier opponents (such as Green Bay at home in Week 7), but you need to leave out of your lineup against the defending Super Bowl champs.

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Cedric Benson RB Bengals -If at the beginning of the season I would have told you that Cedric Benson would be leading the league in rushing heading into week 6, you’d have probably asked me what I was smoking. No one in their right mind could have seen this coming and there doesn’t seem to be any reason to think he’ll start to slow down, especially not this week when the Texans visit Cincinnati. Houston is allowing over 140 yards per game on the ground and have already given up a league worst nine rushing touchdowns. I can’t really think of any scenarios (besides an injury) where Benson doesn’t rush for at least 100 yds and a TD. He should be considered a top 5 RB this week, and a top 10 RB the rest of the year.

Kevin Walter WR Texans -Yahoo! sports came out with a great article that talked about how the Cinci defense has shut down opposing #1 WRs during the first 5 weeks, allowing a combined 5 receptions to Brandon Marshall, Greg Jennings, Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards, and Derrick Mason. These numbers don’t paint the whole picture though, as the Bengals are still allowing almost 230 passing yards per game, meaning that guys are still producing against thier secondary. Here is where Kevin Walter comes in - in his last game against Cinci he caught five balls for 70 yards and two TDs, and is sure to benefit from Andre Johnson attracting most of the attention from the Bengals secondary. I like Walter as a top 15 WR this week, and at minimum should be good for 75 yards and a TD.

Rashard Mendenhall RB Steelers - With starting RB Willie Parker out for Week 4 with a bad case of turf toe, Skokie’s own had the game of his career this past Sunday night against the Chargers. Mendenhall ran for 165 yards on 29 carries and two TDs. The Niles West HS graduate was able to get the Steelers’ running game going for the first time all season, something that FWP had failed to do as he averaged just over 3 yards per carry (way down from his career average of 4.3 YPC). As I am writing this, Parker’s Week 5 status is unknown, but even if he plays, I still think Mendenhall has to be in your lineups. Pittsburgh heads into Detroit to take on a Lions defense that is allowing over 120 yards on the ground, and there should be plenty of carries to go around. There is also no way that Parker is 100% come Sunday, and after carrying the Steelers in Week 4, I’m excited to see what Mendenhall does for an encore in Week 5.

Glen Coffee RB 49ers - Frank Gore is again expected to sit out this week as he continues to recover from foot injuries, which means that Glen Coffee should get another full slate of carries in Week 5.  The third round pick out of Alabama had a decent week 4, compiling 106 total yards – 74 on the ground and 32 through the air. Coffee has a great match up this week as the Falcons come to town, and while their defense looks pretty solid on paper, they have yet to show that they can stop the run. Atlanta is allowing 136 rushing yards per game, meaning that Coffee could be in for a field day on Sunday. You can definitely expect another 100 total yard day from the rookie RB, and I’d be surprised if he didn’t find the end zone at least once.

Knowshon Moreno RB Broncos - With news that Correll Buckhalter will miss some time with a sprained ankle, Moreno automatically becomes THE man in Denver. The first year stud out of Georgia had been splitting carries with Buckhalter, but will now be carrying the load for at least the next couple weeks. Wit that being said, Moreno faces somewhat of a tough task this week, as the Patriots and their 11th ranked rush defense visit Invesco Field at Mile High. New England is allowing less than 100 yards a game on the ground, but with the job all to himself, I still believe that Moreno will be able to produce on Sunday.

BENCH

Reggie Bush/Pierre Thomas/Mike Bell RB Saints – The New Orleans backfield situation is turning into a fantasy nightmare. With news that Bell will continue to receive carries when Thomas returns from injury, the fantasy value of both RBs take a hit. Bell rushed for 143 yards on 28 carries against the Lions, but with Thomas claiming that he will be back for Week 2, I cant see either RB getting more than 15 carries. Not to be forgotten in this trio is Reggie Bush, but he no longer seems like a reliable option after only carrying the ball seven times in Week 1 (except in PPR leagues as he did most of his damage through the air). Be wary of all of your Saints’ RBs against the Eagles in Week 2.

Correll Buckhalter, Knowshown Moreno, Lamont Jordan, Peyton Hillis RB Broncos - Similar to what is happening in New Orleans, Denver also plans on sharing the load at running back. Correll Buckhalter ended up starting the game and received eight carries, while rookie sensation Knowshon Moreno carried the rock eight times as well. Lamont Jordan also got in the mix with a couple carries, and Peyton Hillis ran the ball once. The fact that there are four capable RBs is just bad news for fantasy owners, as you won’t be able to rely on any of these guys on Sundays. Moreno was supposed to be the feature back, but a MCL injury during training camp forced the Broncos to go in a different direction. Although the match up is enticing in Week 2 with Cleveland coming to town, stay away from the Broncos RBs until someone emerges as the true #1.

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Chris Johnson/Lendale White RB Titans – The Titans’ ground game wasn’t able to do a whole lot on the road against the defending Super Bowl champs, but things should change in Week 2 againt Houston. The Texans were simply unable to stop the run in Week 1 against the Jets, allowing 190 yards and a couple TDs on the ground. CJ is an obvious must start, but I think there will so many yards to go around that Lendale White also makes for a good play on Sunday. Prediction: CJ – 115 total yards and a TD, Lendale – 65 total yards and two TDS.

Steve Smith WR Panthers – Smith and the rest of the Carolina attack had a dreadful Week 1, putting up a pretty pathetic 169 yards of total offense against the Eagles. I like Smith to bounce back in Week 2 though, as he gets to face off against an Atlanta Falcons secondary that he absolutely torched last season (14 catches, 264 yards, and a TD in two games). I’ll admit that QB Jake Delhomme is far from a sure thing, but as long as he is able to stay on his feet, Smith should be in line for a big day.  Prediction: 7 catches, 105 yards and a TD

BENCH

Larry Johnson RB Chiefs -It’s amazing how someone’s value can plummet in such a short time, as LJ was a no-doubt-about-it first round pick only a couple years back, and now has an ADP (Average Draft Position) of 51 according to MockDraftCentral.com. He is not someone I want in my starting lineup for Week 1, as Kansas City heads into Baltimore to face the Ravens and their timultuous run defense. Also, no one is quite sure how rookie head coach Todd Haley plans to use Johnson in the running game, and considering the match up, I would leave him on the bench until his role becomes more defined.

Jamal Lewis RB Browns - There were some rumors flying around last week that Lewis might not make the Brown’s 2009 roster, something you never want to hear about a player on your fantasy roster. Lewis ended up surviving the cut, but similar to LJ above, no one is really sure how many carries Lewis will get at this point and how head coach Eric Mangina will implement rookie sensation James Davis into the offense. When you factor in that Minnesota and their #1 ranked (2008) rush defense visit Cleveland Browns Stadium in Week 1, you gotta leave Jlew on your bench unless you’re absolutely desperate.

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Reggie Bush RB Saints – I love Bush, Reggie Bush that is. With Pierre Thomas very questionable for Week 1, it looks like he and Mike Bell will carry the load against Detroit. The Lions were dead last in rushing yards allowed per game last season (over 170!) and haven’t done anything to significantly turn things around. It’s a given that the Saints are going to light up the scoreboard, and Bush is sure to be heavily involved in the offense. I would be shocked if he finished with anything less than 100 total yards and a TD.

Cedric Benson RB Bengals -Ya ya ya, I know, I know – Its Cedric Benson – hear me out though – The former Bears’ bust has the RB job all to himself this year, and with QB Carson Palmer returning from injury could be in line for a pretty productive season. Benson has a great match up in Week 1, as Cincinnati hosts the Broncos who gave up 146 yards on the ground last season. I wouldn’t call Benson an every week guy by any means, but he can definitely help you out if you pick your spots wisely, and you can start him with confidence in Week 1.

ESPN Customer Care to me

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————— Original Message —————

How do you change the time zone setting in an ESPN fantasy league? I don’t live in the Eastern time zone, and I’m tired of converting.

ref:00D480H6.50048SEzv:ref

God I hate those pompous, arrogant, self-important ESPN f#%&ers.

h/t: Viva El Birdos

RB LaDainian Tomlinson (Chargers) – If you have managed to stay alive in your leagues up to this point with LT, then you are most likely going to ride it out with him, but if you’re in a shallow league, I would really consider sitting him this week. The Chargers head to Tampa to take on a Buccaneers defense that has allowed (you may want to make sure you’re sitting down for this) ZERO rushing TDs at home so far this season. Combine that with the fact that LT has been anything but spectacular in 2008, and you have all the ingredients for a really disappointing game. The Bucs just lost starting safety Jermaine Phillips for the rest of the season, and Pro Bowl LB Derrick Brooks might be out as well due to injured ribs, but even with these injuries, LT is still a risky play.

RB Marion Barber (Cowboys) - You could just tell that Barber was not himself on Sunday night, rushing the ball for a ridiculous two yards on eight carries. His backup, RB Tashard Choice, led the Cowboys in both rushing AND receiving, compiling 91 yards on the ground (including a 38 yard TD) and 52 through the air, and seems to have assured himself of future playing time regardless of Barber’s health. If the match up were better, Barber wouldn’t be as much of a ?, but Baltimore comes to town in Week 16, and as we all know, the Ray Lewis and co. simply shut down the run. The Ravens allowing 78 yards per game on the ground, and have allowed a league low 3 rushing TDs all season. Barber’s chances of putting up double digit fantasy points are slim to none, and I would recommend leaving him on your bench this week.

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RB DeShaun Foster (49ers) – If Frank Gore is out again due to a sprained ankle, DeShaun Foster becomes someone to keep an eye on. While replacing Gore in Week 15, Foster put up pretty good numbers against one of the better rush defenses in the league – 18 carries for 76 yards and five catches for 25 yards, and considering the 49ers opponent this week, should be considered a huge sleeper. San Fransisco travels to St. Louis to take on a Rams defense that has given up 23 rushing TDs and allows over 150 yards per game on the ground. If you’re dealing with injuries or like to play match ups, Foster makes for a pretty decent play, and the potential is definitely there for a big game.

RB Kevin Smith (Lions) - Forget Calvin Johnson, Smith is the focal point of the Lions offense. He is coming off back to back 20 carry games, and should continue that trend this week against the Saints. There will be plenty of scoring to go around in this game, and considering that New Orleans has allowed eight rushing TDs in their seven road games, Smith is almost a lock to find the end zone on Sunday. The Bad Guy will even go as far as to guarantee that #34 is a top 10 RB for Week 16. Make sure he’s in your lineups, and don’t be afraid to start him over bigger names, as there won’t be too many guys who put up bigger numbers….

RB Tim Hightower (Cardinals) - Since taking over the starting RB position from Edgerrin James back in Week 9, Hightower has rushed for 100 yards only once, and has overall been pretty disappointing. He has been averaging only 2.1 yards per carry over his last five games, three of which have come against SF, SEA, and STL. Since the Arizona RB struggled against some of the weakest defenses in the NFL, it is highly unlikely that he will have success against the Vikings’ second ranked rush defense. I own Hightower in a couple of my leagues, and there is no way I’m getting him in my lineup for Week 15.

RB Tatum Bell (Broncos) - With Peyton Hillis out for the rest of the season with a torn hamstring, the Broncos have named Tatum Bell their starting RB. For those of you who were desperate for a RB and grabbed Bell off of waivers, I would advise you NOT to start him this week. Mike Shanahan will surely rely more heavily on stud QB Jay Cutler, and it would not surprise me at all to see him throw the ball 50+ times. If the match up were better, Bell might warrant consideration for Sunday, but Carolina has only allowed one 100 yard rusher at home all season, and there is little chance that the former cell phone salesman becomes number two.

RB Willie Parker (Steelers) - Since his three TD game against Houston back in Week 1, FWP has only found the end zone once, and will have a hard time doing so against the NFL’s third ranked rush defense. Baltimore has also only allowed three rushing TDs all season, and have simply shut down opposing RBs in recent weeks. If you are forced into playing Parker this week, or any Steeler for that matter, I feel bad for you. The Ravens are as hot as any team right now, winning seven of their last eight games, and will be looking to avenge their loss to Pittsburgh back in Week 4. If you can stay away from this match up, The Bad Guy suggests doing so.

RB Maurice Morris (Seahawks) - Let me point out that I would not at all want to trust Maurice Morris in my fantasy playoffs – but with that being said – the match up is simply too tasty to ignore. The Rams have given up an insane 22 rushing TDs and allow over 150 yards per game on the ground, meaning the potential is there for a big game. If you play Morris, you have to worry about TD thief T.J. Duckett stealing goal line carries, but with Julius Jones out of the picture (he didn’t get one carry last week), Morris should definitely be considered flex worthy in deeper leagues.

RB Dominic Rhodes (Colts) - Going up against Detroit, Mr. Rhodes makes for a sneaky play this week. There should be plenty of carries to go around against the Lions, and considering that starting RB Joseph Addai is not 100%, Rhodes could very well play a larger role on Sunday. When you compare the two RB’s numbers over the past couple of weeks, Rhodes has been the stronger play – Addai has carried the ball 25 times for 83 yards with a fumble, while his “backup” received 21 carries for 66 yards and a TD. If you’re dealing with injuries and in need of a RB, Rhodes could definitely be the solution to your problem.

QB Matt Schaub (Texans) - While the match up isn’t pretty and the numbers might suggest otherwise, The Bad Guy loves Matt Schaub this week. The Titans have only allowed eight passing TDs all season and are tied for third in the NFL with 18 INTs, but The Bad Guy loves Matt Schaub this week. In his first game back from an MCL sprain, Schaub lit up the GB secondary (in GB!), throwing for 414 yards, 2 TDs, and a INT, another reason why The Bad Guy loves Matt Schaub this week. I might be a little biased, as I’m relying on him in almost every one of my leagues, but none the less, The Bad Guy loves Matt Schaub this week.

QB Donovan McNabb (Eagles) – Phili’s franchise QB is in trouble this week, as the Eagles head to the Meadowlands to take on the defending Super Bowl champs. McNabb has been pretty shaky on the road this season – his QB rating is nearly 20 points higher at Lincoln Financial Field than it is away from Phili, and he owns a TD-INT ratio of 7-8 on the road, as opposed to 11-2 at home. However, the Chicago native has a pretty impressive track record against the Giants throughout his career, averaging more than 200 total yards per game with a 19-5 TD-INT ratio. Most of you will stick with #5 on Sunday, but The Bag Guy suggests re-thinking your decision.

RB Ronnie Brown (Dolphins) - Ronnie has rushed for less than 100 yards in seven of his last eight games, and seems to play less of a role in the passing game with each coming week. Ricky Williams has also been more of a factor down the stretch, accumulating more total yards than Brown during the past four weeks. The former Auburn standout has been able to find the end zone more often than not, but still hasn’t been doing enough to be considered a must start every week. Brown was shut down back in Week 8 against the Bills, recording 48 total yards and no TDs, and there’s no reason to expect anything different in Week 14.

RB Marion Barber (Cowboys) - Barber is banged up, and has been struggling of late against very mediocre opponents. In Weeks 12 &13 at home against SF and SEA, Barber rushed for a combined 91 yards and one TD, pretty disappointing numbers for the Dallas RB. The Cowboys head to Pittsburgh to take on the NFL’s #1 ranked rush defense, and things don’t look too promising for Barber considering his recent struggles. Not sure if you can actually bench #24, but don’t expect too much out of your stud RB.

WR Lee Evans (Bills) - In nine career meetings against the Dolphins, Evans has eight TDs, and weather permitting, should be in line for a great game on Sunday. Miami’s secondary allows over 230 passing yards per contest, and should have problems keeping the former UW standout in check. Evans has also been hot of late, hauling in 12 passes and 190 yards the past two games. He should definitely be considered a top 10 WR this week, as the potential is there for a monster game.

RB Larry Johnson (Chiefs) - Everybody runs on the Broncos, and it’s simply LJ’s turn this week. Denver has had issues stopping the run all season, allowing over 140 rushing yards and a TD per game. Since his return from suspension in Week 11, Johnson has been slowly worked back into the offense, but received a whopping 24 carries last week against Oakland, a sign that the former fantasy MVP is back to form. In his Week 4 match up with the Broncos, Johnson went nuts, rushing for 198 yards and two TDs – so make SURE you have him in your lineup on Sunday.

WR Davone Bess (Dolphins) - The un-drafted rookie out of Hawaii has made quite a name for himself since Greg Camarillo was injured back in Week 12, collecting 11 catches for 171 yards the past two games. Bess gets to face a Bills secondary decimated by injuries, and should be able to post respectable numbers once again. At 5′10, he is more of a deep threat than a possession WR, but seems to have developed great chemistry with QB Chad Pennington. If you are in need of a WR this week, you might want to think about giving Bess a shot.

WR Dwayne Bowe (Chiefs) - CB Nnamdi Asomugha could very well be the best cover corner in the NFL, as he seems to shut down the opposing team’s #1 WR every week. This is really bad news for Bowe, as Asomugha will most likely be all over him for most of Sunday’s game. #82 has been very consistent so far in 2008, catching at least five balls in eight of his 11 games (and scoring in six of them), but will having trouble creating space against Oakland. The Raiders have yet to allow a WR to reach 100 receiving yards in a game, a trend that is sure to continue against the Chiefs. Oakland seems like an easy match up on paper, but when you look a little deeper, things don’t seem very promising.

WR TJ Houshmandzadeh (Bengals) – With Chad Johnson out of the lineup, TJ was shut down last week against Pittsburgh, as he was the main focus of the defense and constantly double teamed. Ocho Cinco is questionable to play this week against the Ravens, but it shouldn’t make too much of a difference if he’s in or out, as the entire Bengals passing game will have a rough time against Baltimore’s secondary on Sunday. Housh has had a fantastic season, so I don’t know if you can actually sit him, but there’s a good chance he wont do much in Week 13.

WR Braylon Edwards (Browns) - After being drafted in the top rounds of many fantasy leagues, Mr. 5 Hour Energy has had an extremely disappointing season. In 11 games so far in 2008, he has gone over 100 yards receiving twice and has only caught three touchdown passes (compared to 16 last season). Unfortunately for Edwards, Indianapolis comes to town in Week 13, and the Colts have only allowed four passing TDs all season. With Brady Quinn’s inconsistent play and a tough match up, Edwards might be better off sitting this one out on your bench.

QB Jay Cutler (Broncos) - Mr. Culter has been struggling of late (He completed less than 50% of his passes last week against Oakland), but look for the former Vanderbilt star to bounce back strong in Week 13 against a Jets D that is allowing nearly 240 passing yards per game. Denver should have a hard time running the ball against Kris Jenkins and company, and will need to move the ball through the air if they want to have a chance. This is a big game for the Broncos, so look for the South Park star to fill the stat sheets while he puts his team on his back and leads them to victory.

RB Lorenzo Booker (Eagles) - This is a long shot, but we all clearly saw that Westbrook was nowhere near 100% in Week 12, and because of the short week, is not a lock to play when the Eagles face off against Arizona on Thanksgiving. Correll Buckhalter is out with a knee injury, which means that if Westbrook cant go on Thursday, the backfield is Booker’s for the taking. He would make for a pretty decent play against the Cardinals, and if you are in need of a RB, make sure to keep an eye on the Eagles’ injury report, as you might be able to strike gold with the 2nd year RB.

RB Ronnie Brown (Dolphins) - The former Auburn standout is a pretty easy call this week considering the match up, but Ronnie Brown has been pretty disappointing for fantasy owners the past couple of weeks. Since Week 5, Brown has gone over 100 yards only once, and has seen Ricky Williams steal more and more carries from him every game. This is the week things change though, as #23 gets to run on the pathetic St. Louis defense. The Rams allowed Frank Gore to find the end zone twice in Week 11, and Matt Forte to score twice in Week 12, so The Bad Guy is going to once again bust out a guarantee that Ronnie hits pay dirt at least once on Sunday.

Of course, every league is different, so some of this advice will be ridiculous for your league depending on how your draft order is set, how many keepers you have, or even the fluctuating value of a 35 yard field goal. The same issues arise in most leagues though: Do you set your lineup week after week if you’re out? Are you active on the waiver wire? Is there anything meaningful you can do?

Let me dispose of issue one right away. Set your lineup. It doesn’t take long; you look at your roster and see if any of your bench players are going against the Lions or Rams, you put them in. You see that Steven Jackson is out with a knee injury and Chad Johnson fell asleep in the middle of wind sprints, you sit them down. Maybe it won’t mean much, but there is always something to shoot for, like beating that guy that stole Michael Turner from you in the third round, or making sure you don’t lose to that one girl in your league.

There are also plenty of reasons to work that waiver wire. First thing you do is to check if anyone ditched a potential keeper during the year. Maybe some idiot dropped Brady, you never know. Obviously people in the league are a lot smarter than you though, so this probably didn’t happen; or of course if you missed the playoffs, chances are pretty good that you had Brady. Also, let me reiterate the policy of revenge. Find a reason to want to beat your opponent, or steal this year’s Kenny Watson from some douche who really needs him. A word of caution though, you’re out of the playoffs, don’t risk your dignity by spending hours on the waiver wire, or you know, writing long blog posts about fantasy football (no offense Bad Guy, you’re the best).

So other than keeping up with your regular fantasy responsibilities, what else can you do? In most leagues the trading deadline has already passed, but it’s always a good idea to look to the future. Especially with all the great young running backs this year, it’s a great time to lock up a keeper through a trade. Maybe you have a decent wide receiver like Dwayne Bowe or Freddie Mitchell Jericho Cotchery, pair him with a veteran running back having a good year, like Thomas Jones and ship them off for a young stud with potential like Forte, Slaton, or Jonathan Stewart.

If the trade deadline has passed, tough break. Try something else to have some fun. Write up some playoff previews on the message board, or make incendiary posts against those bastards who made the playoffs.

The point of all of this is to stay involved. It will be more fun for you because fantasy football is fantastic and definitely better than your job or school. It’s better for your league because no one wants a lame duck owner with four injured guys starting to change the league. Plus, the better you do at the end, you make it easier to complain about how close you came to winning it all. “If only DeSean Jackson wasn’t such an idiot in the first three weeks of the season!”

WR Calvin Johnson (Lions) – Johnson has been one of the NFL’s best WR so far in 2008, but faces a tough match up against Tampa Bay this week, and there’s a good chance that he wont be a 100% come Sunday. Megatron injured his quad in last week’s game against Carolina, and is expected to miss some practice time but should be out there when it counts against the Buccaneers. The injury combined with the match up is worrisome, and if I were a Johnson owner, I wouldn’t be expecting too much out of him.

All of your Patriot RBs – The Patriots backfield is a fantasy owner’s nightmare, with Sammy Morris, BenJarvis Green-Ellis, and Kevin Faulk all playing a role in the New England offense. Morris should get the majority of the carries, but all three backs will see the field on Sunday. Joey Porter and the rest of the Miami defense have only allowed five rushing touchdowns all season, and should have no problem shutting down this threesome on Sunday. The Dolphins held the Patriots’ RBs to 55 rushing yards back in Week 3, and fantasy owners should expect similar numbers in Week 12.

RB Brian Westbrook (Eagles) – Westbrook has been extremely disappointing to fantasy owners in recent weeks, and now has to face the tumultuous Baltimore D in Week 12. The Ravens are as stingy as it gets – they’re allowing less than 80 rushing yards per game, and have only given up three TDs on the ground all season. Westbrook has only amassed 100 yards once in 2008, and considering the match up, he isn’t necessarily a must start this week – Any of the three RB’s listed below make for better plays than the two time Pro Bowl RB.

RB Peyton Hillis (Broncos) – This converted FB put on quite a show last week against the Falcons (70 total yards and 2 TDs), and everything is pointing to an even more spectacular encore performance in Week 12. Hillis faces off against an Oakland D that has allowed 15 rushing TDs and over 160 yards per game on the ground. While he might be splitting carries with Tatum Bell, he should have all the goal line glory to himself, and considering the Raiders’ inability to stop the run, is almost a lock to find the end zone (at least once) on Sunday.

RB Pierre Thomas (Saints) – There is a good chance that Reggie Bush could be out again against the Packers AND that Deuce McAllister’s looming suspension could begin in Week 12 , in which case Pierre Thomas would without a doubt become a top 10 RB, especially in PPR leagues. The Chicago native had an all around great game against the Chiefs last week, running wild for 88 yards and a TD, while also hauling in four receptions for 56 yards. This all came while he was splitting carries with McAllister, so imagine what he can do if he has the entire backfield job to himself….

RB Warrick Dunn (Buccaneers) – If Faith Berger was starting at RB against Detroit, she would probably rush for 175 yards and a couple TDs, so when Warrick Dunn gets to start at RB against Detroit – the sky is the limit. With Ernest Graham out for the season after suffering an ankle injury, Dunn should receive almost all of the carries and go nuts against a Lions defense that has given up at least two rushing TDs in each of the past three weeks. The Bad Guy guarantees that The Nicest Guy in the NFL is a lock for double digit fantasy points this Sunday.

QB Brett Favre (Jets) - The Bad Guy is once again going to suggest keeping #4 on your bench this week when the Jets travel to New England to take on the Patriots. The future hall of famer had a decent game against the Rams in Week 10, but Favre faces a much tougher opponent Thursday night and is sure to get knocked around by one of the NFL’s top all around defenses. Bill Beeeelichick is THE best game planning coach out there, and is sure to come up with a scheme that will limit Favre, and ultimately frustrate the fantasy owners that started him.

WR Bernard Berrian (Vikings) - Berrian had been on fire as of late, scoring in four straight games and averaging over 100 yards per contest, but was completely shut down and held without a catch against Green Bay in Week 10. Minnesota’s #1 WR let down many a fantasy owner with his performance, and is likely to do so again in Week 11 when the Vikings head to Tampa Bay to take on one of the NFL’s best pass defenses. The Buccaneers have not allowed more than 65 receiving yards to any one WR in their past three games, and after coming off a bye, will look to keep that trend going in Week 11.

RB Warrick Dunn (Buccaneers) - With Earnest Graham very questionable to play this week against the Vikings, Dunn has a good chance to see the majority of the carries on Sunday against Minnesota. Keep your predictions in check though, as the 5′9 former Florida State standout is not 100% healthy himself, and with the return of Cadillac Williams looming, Dunn makes for a risky play. If you are in need of a RB this week, you might want to consider throwing Dunn in there, just don’t expect too much out of him.

QB Tyler Thigpen (Chiefs) - The seventh pick of the seventh round of the 2007 NFL draft is starting to make some noise, and it’s time for fantasy owners to take notice. In his past three games, Thigpen has put up 710 passing yards, 6 TDs, 0 INTs, and 68 rushing yards, and faces a New Orleans D that just lost its top CB Mike McKenzie to a broken knee cap. With Tony Gonzalez, Dwayne Bowe, and emerging WR Mark Bradley at his disposal, Thigpen again makes for a fantastic play in week 11.

WR Mark Bradley (Chiefs) - As mentioned above, this former Chicago Bears’ bust is starting to quiet his critics and show that he’s more than capable of playing at the NFL level. Since Tyler Thigpen reemerged as Kansas City’s starting QB, Bradley has averaged six catches and over 60 yards per contest, and has scored a TD in two of those three games. With defenses needing to focus on Tony Gonzalez and Dwayne Bowe, Bradley has benefited from one on one coverage the past couple of weeks, and should see more of the same in Week 11.

RB Deangelo Williams (Panthers) - Deangelo has been putting up very respectable numbers as of late, and faces a Detroit D that seems to get worse and worse every Sunday. The week after they gave up 155 rushing yards and two rushing TDs to the Bears in Week 9, the Lions allowed 157 yards on the ground and three rushing TDs to the Jaguars in Week 10. With rookie RB Jonathan Stewart still not quite 100%, look for Williams to handle almost all of the load again in Week 11. The potential is there for a huge day, so make sure you get him in your lineups.

WR Terrell Owens (Cowboys) – Drew Rosenhaus’ favorite client has also been struggling of late, averaging only 33.3 receiving yards per game the past three weeks. After hauling in three TD passes in his first two games, Owens has scored only twice during the past six weeks. TO has not totaled more than 89 receiving yards in any game so far this season, and now has to face the dreaded Giants secondary in Week 9. The Super Bowl champs are only allowing 185 passing yards per game, and with Tony Romo expected out again, you might want to think about leaving Owens on your bench come Sunday, even if he starts to cry.

RB Jamal Lewis (Browns) – This former inmate has been extremely mediocre so far in 2008, and I would highly suggest leaving him on your bench this week when he goes up against his former team on Sunday. The Ravens are allowing a league low 64.3 rushing yards per game and have only allowed one rushing TD in their first seven games. Lewis has also yet to rush for over 100 yards in any game so far this season. When you take all of this into account, things don’t look very promising for the Browns RB in Week 9.

QB Marc Bulger (Rams) - This former Pro Bowl MVP came out of nowhere to throw for 300+ yards last week at New England. Bulger simply sucks on the road – there’s no other way to put it – so the fact that he was able to put together a solid game away from The Edwards Jones Dome could be a sign of things to come. Bulger and the Rams get to face off against a Cardinals secondary allowing more than 220 yards per game through the air and a league worst 14 passing touchdowns. With the emergence of rookie WR Donnie Avery in recent weeks, Bulger now has numerous weapons at his disposal, and seems primed to turn in what could be his best game of the season.

TE Donald Lee (Packers) – This might seem
like a questionable call, but Lee is almost for sure available in your league and could be on the verge of a breakout game. The Packers head to Tennessee to take on one of the NFL’s best defenses, but if you breakdown the numbers, the Titans have a hard time shutting down opposing TEs. They allowed Dallas Clark to put up a nasty stat line of seven grabs for 94 yards and 2 TDs on MNF in Week 8 and allowed Tony Gonzalez to catch six passes for 97 yards the week before. For those of you in need of a TE this week, take a chance on Donald Lee and get him in your lineup.

RB Justin Fargas (Raiders) – Darren McFadden is expected to sit out again in Week 9, which means that Fargas once again gets the entire Oakland halfback job to himself. He didn’t do too much with the opportunity last week against the Ravens, but Atlanta is an entirely different story. The Falcons are allowing 128.6 rushing yards per game, and have allowed nine rushing TDs in only 7 games. If the multi-talented Fargas (aka Young Hugg) is available in your league, snatch him up and listen to his beats while he leads your team to victory.