The House of Crouse 10.12.08: Week 6 Edition
Posted by Mark Crouse on 10.12.2008
This week, Mark previews Week 6 for fantasy owners everywhere. Let's get it on!!!
Greetings, and welcome to another scared-as-hell at the stock market edition of The House of Crouse. This week, we'll preview Week 6 in the NFL. Before we get to the game-by-game previews, here are some fantasy tidbits.
-For once in recent memory, coaches are coming out in droves to inform owners about players that won't be playing this week, namely Brian Westbrook, Carson Palmer, and Matt Hasselbeck. If you are starting either slumping QB, then fate is bailing you out of your stubbornness. Westbrook owners are in the middle of their personal nightmares, since their first-rounder isn't totally injured, but faces a questionable status every Sunday. Here's hoping you have a decent backup, and if you don't, trade for one.
-Raiders RB Justin Fargas is back in the lineup, while "not being 100%"-his words, not mine. Regardless, if you need a starter at RB, you could do worse. New Orleans isn't exactly the '85 Bears, if you know what I mean. Michael Bush will get some carries, but Darren McFadden likely won't get much time since he is nursing a toe injury.
-Browns' TE Kellen Winslow, Jr. will likely miss Monday's game against the Giants with, drumroll please, "swollen testicles." The jokes are far too numerous and easy to present in a column of this degree of seriousness.
After that awkward news update, let's preview this week's games with the fantasy owner in mind:
-Baltimore Ravens at Indianapolis Colts-Barring miraculous fourth quarter comebacks against Minnesota and Houston, the Colts are 0-4, and in ugly fashion. They aren't scoring like they did last year, and the defense hasn't improved to pick up the slack. I can't help but look at Chicago's dominant win over Indy in Week 1, and how similar the Ravens' MO is. Reggie Wayne is the only Colt fantasy player I feel good about this week. On offense, the Ravens should be able to bully the Colt front four, meaning start Willis McGahee and Le'Ron McClain.
-Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings-I'm not telling you anything you don't already know by saying that the Lions are brutal and to start most Vikings, even Gus Frerotte if your starter is on bye or has a bad matchup, so let's take a look at the numbers: They have been outscored 66-147 for the season, and has allowed 31 or more points in every game. The only thing the Lions do even adequately is stop the run, with only Michael Turner seriously gashing them. That won't matter Sunday though, as Adrian Peterson will more than get his and allow Bernard Berrian to score some points as well. As for Detroit's offense, Dan Orlovsky may start for an injured Jon Kitna, so there is a good chance none of the Lion skill players will have even decent stats, even Calvin Johnson.
-Chicago Bears at Atlanta Falcons-The NFL's leading rusher, Michael Turner (543 yards, 5.3 ypc) faces a stingy Bear defense and a revitalized neck-bearded warrior in Atlanta. The sad fact is that you could do worse than Kyle Orton against a pass defense that has been exposed a bit by Aaron Rodgers and Jake Delhomme. Matt Forte is a good start, and expect Roddy White to be focused on by the Bear secondary, limiting his production. Expect more points to be scored in this game than you would expect.
-Oakland Raiders at New Orleans Saints-If this were a Daniel Day-Lewis themed fantasy column, this one would be "There Will Be Scoring." New Orleans is coming off a roller coaster Monday night affair, but don't expect there to be a hangover against a weak Oakland defense. By the same token, expect better than average production from returning Justin Fargas. And no, I wouldn't start any other Raiders. One thing should be certain, the Raiders won't punt to Reggie Bush. Despite that, expect the versatile back to have a big game.
-Cincinnati Bengals at New York Jets-In the matchup we've all been waiting for, Ryan Fitzpatrick faces Brett Favre coming off a bye. I was wrong about last week's Cincy-Dallas tilt, but I won't miss again when the Jets hammer the Bengals, with every Jet skill player getting in the act. Start Coles, Cotchery, Favre, Thomas Jones, and even Chansi Stuckey will stave off the waiver wire for another week. The big question is whether the Bengals will score at all. Start Houshmandzadeh and leave the rest on the bench, even Ocho Cinco. And just in case you didn't put it together yourself, the Jets defense makes a nice play this week.
-St. Louis Rams at Washington Redskins-The worst team in football visits arguably the hottest team in football in this one. I'm not gutsy enough to predict a close game here, but the NFL works in mysterious ways. Start all your Redskins, with particular favoritism to Clinton Portis, who if I had one would be my fantasy start of the week. Start Steven Jackson and Torry Holt because there may be a score or two for the Rams, and they likely would get them, but don't expect much when Bulger has to throw every down after his defense gives up a bunch of points in the first half.
-Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers-If I had fans who asked for my advice, the question I would have likely seen the most this week would be "Why does Deangelo Williams hate me?" After stinking like death for the first four weeks of the season and yielding most of his fantasy points to rookie Jonathan Stewart, Williams scored three times and rushed for over 100 yards against Kansas City. Williams has led the team in rushing three weeks to Stewart's two, but the rook has four rushing scores to Williams' two. And last week's game was the first 100-yard performance by either of them individually. This is a true platoon, folks, and I would only start either of them if necessary. Tampa's offense seems to be working with smoke and mirrors, particularly from a fantasy standpoint. Earnest Graham is a decent start, but don't look for anyone to blow up against a stout Carolina defense.
-Miami Dolphins at Houston Texans-I've given up trying to predict what the Dolphins will do, since they have little talent on paper, but have beaten San Diego and New England in the only instance I can think of when a gimmick offense has worked in the NFL. The "Wildcat" offense has turned Ronnie Brown into a fantasy kingpin, with back-to-back 100-yard rushing outings. Start him again with confidence, against a Houston team that has people visibly jumping off their bandwagon every week. Matt Schaub is set to return to the Texan lineup, but I'm not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing for fantasy owners. Start Andre Johnson and Steve Slaton, but that's about it for Houston, since Miami has a better defense than I thought as well.
-Jacksonville Jaguars at Denver Broncos-Denver's much-maligned defense stepped it up last week against Tampa, but don't think they can stop the Jags' two-headed rushing attack. Maurice Jones-Drew should have a big game this week. Denver will have to score to keep pace, and they have no problems in a shootout. Tony Scheffler is out, so expect even more targets to come Brandon Marshall's way. Even though Jacksonville has a strong defense, I like Jay Cutler to return to form this week at home.
-Philadelphia Eagles at San Francisco 49'ers-Here are two teams I haven't yet figured out this season. Westbrook will miss this game, so don't expect big things from anyone on Philly, even McNabb. I don't like Frank Gore in this one, since the Eagles will be focused on stopping him and daring J.T. O'Sullivan to beat them through the air with their three strong corners single-covering the Niner receivers. The fact is that I don't like starting anyone in this game if I can help it, since there likely won't be many points scored.
-Green Bay Packers at Seattle Seahawks-As of the writing of this article, Matt Hasselbeck is not medically cleared to play, meaning Charlie Frye will start for the Seahawks. Let me type that again, CHARLIE FRICKIN' FRYE is starting for Seattle. If you can find the Packer defense on waivers, or in a trade, or in your closet, or under a rock, start them. Bench all Seattle players, and start all Packers, who are licking their wounds from last week's home loss to Atlanta. If you own Greg Jennings or Aaron Rodgers you are very happy right now.
-Dallas Cowboys at Arizona Cardinals-Dallas' defense proved it can be exploited at least a little, meaning this should be a barnburner. I would start any skill player from either team, with a big happy grin for Tony Romo and Terrel Owens owners. I would even start the backup running backs for these teams, Felix Jones and Tim Hightower, since both will get touches. Remember, the Cardinals are the team that gave up six passing scores to Brett Favre two weeks ago.
-New England Patriots at San Diego Chargers-Two huge disappointments face off on national television, as the "Victimized by Ronnie Brown Bowl" takes place in San Diego. Look for LDT to get back on track, and for Randy Moss to have a downer of a game with Antonio Cromartie and company muscling him around. I expect Wes Welker to have a big game as the Charger defense forces Matt Cassel to check down and throw underneath.
-New York Giants at Cleveland Browns-ESPN executives will be wishing they had flex scheduling after this one. The Giant pass rush makes all Browns questionable fantasy plays. Brandon Jacobs should have a blast pounding his way through the Cleveland defense, and look for Plaxico Burress to reintroduce himself to his teammates by putting up big numbers. Eli Manning will be winning fantasy matchups for his owners in this one.
That's it and that's all for this week. Good luck in your matchups, and enjoy all the action. Until we meet again, Godspeed.
