AFC North

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green will be a game time decision for Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens. Green injured his knee catching a touchdown pass during the game against Pittsburgh last Sunday. If you have someone to replace Green, I’d suggest doing so. Since they are playing the Ravens, there may not be a lot of opportunities for Green to get you the fantasy points needed for your team.

Image source: Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images North America via Zimbio.com

Running back Peyton Hillis, Cleveland Browns, has been ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, causing him to miss his fifth consecutive game due to a hamstring injury.

AFC South

Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub injured his foot this past week and will sit out for a significant amount of time. Schaub may be out for the rest of the season, depending on whether or not he’ll have to have surgery.

AFC East

Steve Johnson, Buffalo Bills wide receiver, did not practice on Wednesday due to a shoulder injury he received during the game against the Dallas Cowboys last week. His status is uncertain for Sunday’s game. Watch to see if he can practice on Thursday before deciding whether or not to keep him.

New York Jets running back LaDainian Tomlinson will not play in Thursday’s game against the Denver Broncos due to a MCL sprain.

AFC West

Running back Willis McGahee, Denver Broncos, is still uncertain about his return to the field for Thursday’s game against the New York Jets. The Broncos also lost running back Knowshon Moreno to a torn ACL and was put on the IR.

Matt Cassel, quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, suffered a hand injury in week 10 and has had surgery on his throwing hand. Cassel will be out for some time but hopes to return before the end of the season.

NFC East

Washington Redskins wide receiver Leonard Hankerson is out for the season due to an injury in his hip.

Quarterback Michael Vick, for the Philadelphia Eagles, sustained a few cracked ribs after week 10′s game. I wouldn’t expect him to play this week, but it is Vick so who knows! Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin also had a rough day on Sunday, suffering from a shoulder and hamstring injury. He did not practice on Wednesday.

Ahmad Bradshaw, running back for the New York Giants, did not practice on Wednesday. There has been a lot of speculation of the reason Bradshaw has missed two games is because of a cracked bone in his foot.

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb has had limited practice this week after injuring his right foot. His status for Sunday’s game against San Fransisco 49ers is still doubtful.

Frank Gore, running back for the San Fransisco 49ers, came out of Sunday’s game with only a bruised knee and is expected to be fine for the game against the Arizona Cardinals in week 11.

The Seattle Seahawks are hoping to see the return of their wide receiver Sidney Rice this Sunday against the St. Louis Rams.

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That’s your injury update for the week! Remember you can stay up-to-date with the latest fantasy news by following @NFLNewsFlash on Twitter. Good luck and happy football watching!

Update: Our Week 10 start em, sit em advice is posted, and this week’s post includes an opportunity for one MSF reader to win free NFL tickets. Make sure you check it out after you finish going through the waiver pickups.

There are no teams on bye in Week 10, but don’t let that lull you into a false sense of security.

The Texans, Colts, Saints, and Steelers are all on bye in Week 11, which means a lot of fantasy firepower will be sitting on benches during one of the final weekends of playoff positioning.

Don’t get caught snoozing; take this opportunity not just to improve your lineup for Week 10 but also to plan ahead for any lineup vacancies impending next week.

Andy is out this week, which means that I’m manning the ship for this week’s waiver wire advice and pickups. As always, every player listed here is owned in 50% or fewer of Yahoo leagues.

Fantasy Football Week 10 Waiver Wire Pickups: Quarterback

Matt Cassel, Kansas City (45%)

You never really know what you’re going to get with Matt Cassel. He will sometimes put up decent numbers in a game you don’t expect him too, and sometimes he’ll piss away good matchups with bad outings…like he just did in Week 9 against Miami.

Cassel’s Week 10 matchup against Denver should be a good one for he and the KC offense, and his Week 11 matchup against New England on Monday night definitely is based on the numbers. I’ll let you decide whether you trust Cassel enough to play him in either. (After what I saw this week, I’d have to be desperate to do so.)

Andy Dalton, Cincinnati (36%)

I don’t particularly like Andy Dalton this week against Pittsburgh, for obvious reasons, and he has Baltimore the next week and then Pittsburgh again two weeks later, but it’s hard to ignore Dalton after a 3 TD, 0 INT game against Tennessee.

Also, know this: despite the four games remaining against Pittsburgh and Baltimore, Dalton and the Bengals face St. Louis and Arizona during weeks 15 and 16 – the fantasy playoffs for most leagues. That’s promising, and it could be worth stashing the young Dalton for.

Colt McCoy, Cleveland (35%)

McCoy and the Browns offense are nothing to get excited about, but even the worst offenses can sometimes put up serviceable fantasy numbers against equally poor defenses. With the Browns schedule to face St. Louis this week, McCoy could have some value if you’re desperate or in a two-QB league.

Carson Palmer, Oakland (28%)

Palmer and the Raiders face the Chargers on Thursday night. I hate having players play in Thursday night games, and Palmer still worries me considering this is like the equivalent of his third preseason game, but the Chargers can be thrown on, so Palmer is at least worth thinking about.

Christian Ponder, Minnesota (16%)

The young Ponder has already had one decent fantasy day against the Packers (219 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs in Week 7), and it’s safe to assume that he’s going to continue to improve. He won’t be in the friendly confines on his home dome this time around, but the Packers’ suspect pass D and the probability of Rodgers and Co putting up big points makes Ponder a not-terrible option.

Blaine Gabbert, Jacksonville (4%)

I didn’t really want to list Gabbert here, but the fact that he’s available for almost everyone (I want to know what leagues he’s actually owned in!) and facing the Colts in Week 10 makes him at least worth mentioning. Understand that Gabbert is only an option if you’re desperate or in a three-QB league, but if he’s going to do anything productive this season it will be against the Colts.

Fantasy Football Week 10 Waiver Wire Pickups: Running Back

Maurice Morris, Detroit (29%)

As long as Jahvid Best is out, Morris is going to have value because of the strength of the Detroit offense. With no clear line of sight on when Best might return, performances like Morris’ in Week 8 could because the norm: 65 total yards and a touchdown. In Week 7, Morris had 63 total yards but didn’t score. That seems about right; 65 or so yards and a TD every other week. That’s certainly worth owning, especially if you count on any of the backs who will be on by in Week 11.

Roy Helu, Washington (27%)

The moment we’ve all been waiting for finally happened: Helu became the guy for Mike Shanahan and the Redskins. Though he was only able to muster 41 yards on the ground in a tough matchup against San Francisco, he did accumulate that yardage on just carries for a solid 4.1 yard average per carry.

Where Helu really did work was in the passing game, which is just putrid for the Redskins right now. Helu had a whopping 14 receptions for 105 yards because all John Beck could do most of the day was just dump it off. Helu won’t get receptions like that every week, but he clearly will be a factor out of the backfield, making him especially intriguing in PPR leagues, but valuable in all.

This is the gold star RB pickup of the week. I think he’ll be the ‘Skins main ball carrier from this day forward.

Chris Ogbonnaya, Cleveland (25%)

As I said with Colt McCoy, there isn’t much to like about Browns offense…except when they’re facing St. Louis’ defense. With Peyton Hillis’ name written in pen on the Browns’ shit list, and Montario Hardesty a constant injury risk, Ogbonnaya has stumbled into a great situation in terms of touches, and you might stumble into a decent flex option or filler player if you pounce now. Granted, “Silent G” as he’s been called, only had 41 total yards against the Texans, but he should have more running more against the room.

Kendall Hunter, San Francisco (13%)

Hunter is not a guy you want to pick up with the intention of playing right now, but if you have an extra roster spot he’s a great guy to take a flyer on. Frank Gore has rushed for 100 yards in five straight games, both because he’s an excellent back and because the 49ers’ offensive line is very good. Gore also has a history of getting nicked up. If anything happens to him, the ball would be Hunter’s, and I think he’d be 85-90% of what Gore’s been.

Donald Brown, Indianapolis (5%)

Brown has apparently become the guy in Indianapolis. He is the only one of their RBs scoring TDs, and he had 16 carries in Week 9 as opposed to only 4 for Delone Carter. If you’re desperate, Brown will at least get touches each week.

Fantasy Football Week 10 Waiver Wire Pickups: Wide Receiver

Michael Crabtree, San Francisco (48%)

Crabtree is featured in this column every week, and will continue to be featured until his ownership percentage jumps over 50%, which surely will happen this week. What more do you need us to say? I know his stats in Week 9 were underwhelming – 5 receptions, 51 yards – but he’s a great guy to at least have on your bench who is assured of 7-8 targets every week. Pick this guy up.

Mike Thomas, Jacksonville (46%)

The same theory that forced me to tell you that Blaine Gabbert is playing Indianapolis is at work here. Thomas is a good possession receiver stuck on a crappy offense. Against the crappy Colts, even Gabbert and Thomas should be able to make a few connections.

Torrey Smith, Baltimore (44%)

Mr. Hit or Miss could very well be a hit in Week 10 with the Seattle Seahawks on the schedule. Seattle is strong against the run, but not so strong against the pass. I think Joe Flacco will be airing out more than a few bombs in Smith’s direction throughout the course of this game.

Steve Breaston, Kansas City (35%)

Coming into Week 9, everyone was ready to anoint Jonathan Baldwin as the next great fantasy WR, and certainly Baldwin’s production would eclipse Steve Breaston’s, right? Well Baldwin proved why I’m always wary of rookie WRs (1 reception, 12 yards) and Breaston proved that he’s more than just a 5 catch, 50-yard guy (7 receptions, 115 yards). Granted, I would have played Baldwin over Breaston too last week for the upside, but this just goes to show that sometimes going with the “safe” pick over the “upside” one is the right decision.

Braylon Edwards, San Francisco (22%)

Braylon has been slow to get involved in the San Francisco offense, but I have a feeling he has an explosive game or two coming with five NFC West games left for the 49ers. Both of Braylon’s catches in Week 9 were nice catches, showing that he’s getting his sea legs under him after missing some time. There is some upside here.

Greg Little, Cleveland (18%)

Go back and review what I wrote about Colt McCoy and Chris Ogbonnaya if you’re wondering why I dare recommend Browns’ offensive players. Little has some value this week if you need a WR fill-in. His 2 receptions weren’t particularly encouraging in Week 9, but I’d still rather have him than Joshua Cribbs, even though the latter had the better day yesterday.

Jason Avant, Philadelphia (11%)

The Arizona Cardinals do not stop the pass very well, and the Philadelphia Eagles love to toss around with little abandon. Avant does not get near the attention that Desean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin get, but every now and then he busts out with a big performance. At a minimum, he’s usually good for at least 3-4 catches, which isn’t bad for a guy that is out there in 89% of leagues.

Laurent Robinson, Dallas (9%)

This is my gold star WR pickup of the week. Miles Austin got hurt, again, in Week 9, and Dez Bryant continues to be the most mercurial wideout in the NFL. Enter the steady Robinson, who continues to put up surprisingly good numbers as he earns the trust of Tony Romo.

He only caught 5 balls for 32 yards in Week 9, but one of them went for a TD. And in two of Robinson’s previous four games with the ‘Boys he totaled over 100 yards. There is a lot to like here.

Fantasy Football Week 10 Waiver Wire Pickups: Tight End

Scott Chandler, Buffalo (36%)

If we know one thing about Chandler, it’s that he only has value in the weeks when he scores touchdowns; but good luck predicting when that will be. So I’ll put this one on you: if you think Chandler will score this week against Dallas, he’s a decent option; if not, he’s not. My best guess? Hell if I know.

Jake Ballard, New York Giants (31%)

Out of the all the tight ends discussed in this post, Ballard is the one I like the most long-term; but I don’t like him all that much against San Francisco’s great linebackers in Week 10. So tread carefully this week, but the potential remains there down the stretch.

Jared Cook, Tennessee (31%)

Cook’s huge breakout into a star hasn’t really happened, but he has been occasionally useful. He’s no sure thing, but you could do worse in Weeks 10 and 11 if you need someone.

Brent Celek, Philadelphia (26%)

Fantasy owners have been burned by Celek in the past, and he’ll probably never be consistent, but he does seem to have a larger role in the Eagles’ offense now. With Arizona on the schedule this week, the potential is there for a big day.

Visanthe Shiancoe, Minnesota (21%)

Shiancoe caught a TD from Christian Ponder in the Vikings’ last matchup against Green Bay. That makes him worth a look this week with Green Bay on the schedule again.

Benjamin Watson, Cleveland (20%)

The Browns are playing the Rams. You get the idea.

Streaming Defenses of the Week

Washington Redskins (25%)

Washington isn’t a very good team because of their woeful offense, but they do have a good defense. With Miami on the schedule in Week 10, it should be a good week to own and play the Redskins.

Jacksonville Jaguars (2%)

I was amazed just now to find out that the Jaguars’ D is the least-owned defense in fantasy. Why? This is a pretty good defense, certainly one that should be able to put up  a strong fantasy day against Indianapolis in Week 10.

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Feel free to ask roster-specific questions below, and make sure you’re following @FantasyMSF on Twitter. And stay tuned for the Start/Sit column tomorrow.

Six team byes have been scaled back down to four this week, so fewer players will be sitting out of your matchups, but it will still likely necessitate at least one or two touch decisions; decisions you shouldn’t take lightly, because while this may be the middle of the season for the players, our playoffs are right around the corner and crunch time is upon us.

Before I get to this week’s stock picks, I invite anyone to comment on this question because the answer eludes me: will Joe Flacco ever become an elite quarterback in the NFL?

His polarizing play has people worried, especially me, so let me know in the comments section.

Now we will let you know what is good in this week’s stock report.

Fantasy Football Week 9 Stock Report: Stocks Up

Matt Cassel

Lol isn’t usually a term acceptable for sports blogging, but that is the only word someone can come up with when trying to describe the Dolphins’ pass defense.  Even losing Jamaal Charles for the season, Cassel’s production hasn’t skyrocketed nor plummeted, and he puts up good enough numbers to fill in for Stafford if you need him.

Philip Rivers

I promise that Rivers will have high stock until, well, who knows.  There is no way that he can continue to play this poorly for the rest of the year.  He threw for over 350 yards last week even though some unlucky interceptions came forth, but one of these days he is going to impress…hopefully.

Beanie Wells

The only thing that seems to be stopping Wells from becoming a top flight fantasy running back are his injuries.  During games that the Cardinals are competitive in, he can score you 14 to 20+ points.  The only problem with playing Wells is that the 1-6 Cardinals are out of games so fast that the running game gets put on the back burner and his abilities can get lost in the fold.

Michael Bush

This is somewhat of an obvious decision with the loss of Darren McFadden for the week, but Bush has always been a decent play.  His size allows him to be a goal line threat any time the Raiders are inside the red zone.  Playing against Tim Tebow should allow for many opportunities in Oakland.

Brandon Jacobs

Who knows why Tom Coughlin doesn’t give his 6-3 250 running back the ball more often, but this week should show some change with Ahmad Bradshaw out.  Jacobs has only carried the ball 10 times in a game once this year, but this is the week his production should benefit and score you around 10 points. He’s a solid fill-in for owners stuck without All Day or MJD this week.

Julio Jones

Has Julio lived up to the hype that was created when the Falcons threw the kitchen sink at the Browns to snag the rookie this past April?  The jury is still out on that one, but this could be the week that we see the young man have a breakout game against a Colts team that is so bad that almost nobody can watch.

Antonio Brown

The proof is in the pudding and this man has been performing week in and week out.  Keep things clear with simple logic this week: the Ravens probably won’t be able to go into Pittsburgh and beat the Steelers on the road, and if Baltimore is going to shut someone down, it seems like Mike Wallace would be that guy.

Kellen Winslow

That first touchdown of the year can be tricky for tight ends but K2 got the job done.  The Bucs are going to have to keep up with the Saints if they want any success this week so plenty of targets could go to the veteran tight end.

Cardinals D/ST

30 point games have been the norm for Arizona, but playing against the Rams could be the perfect remedy.  Don’t think that the Rams can repeat their surprising Week 8 performance this week, so play the Cardinals’ defense with confidence.

Fantasy Football Week 9 Stock Report: Stocks Down

Matt Schaub

This week will tilt in the favor of Arian Foster when going against the Browns weak front seven.  Superstar in the making Joe Haden blanketing Kevin Walter or Jacoby Jones (filling in for a still-sore Andre Johnson) won’t bode well for the passing game, so pedestrian numbers are most likely to come for Schaub.

Joe Flacco

As much as I love FLACCO, his stock has to be down.  Two subpar games against poor defenses makes this game against the Steelers look like the matchup from hell.  Although it doesn’t look as if he is going to throw 3 interceptions with a few fumbles again, this game still just has problems written all over it.

Matt Hasselbeck

Most of his games have been productive this year, but it looks as if he might have hit the permanent wall.  Depending on the state of the Titans after this game, whether they win or lose we could see the end of Hasselbeck’s starting career and the beginning of the Jake Locker era.  The Cincinnati Bengals defense doesn’t play around with opposing quarterbacks so this could get ugly.

LeGarrette Blount

Blount has a low stock this week strictly because of circumstance.  The New Orleans Saints blitz the scoreboard no matter who they play against, so if the Bucs want to win, keeping up is the only option.  Blount doesn’t contribute much in the way of the passing game so don’t be surprised when he posts pedestrian numbers.

Ray Rice

We all know about the Pittsburgh run defense, so this matchup looks fairly predictable.  Actually the whole Ravens offense looks like they are in trouble this week.  Now we may get proven wrong, but until this unit as a whole steps up, the guys on defense are going to be the ones who win this team the majority of its games.

Brandon Marshall

Miami is hard to watch.  Regardless of the fact that Marshall is the best player on the field, he can’t like where this team is going.  Too many losses late can put a team’s focus in the dumps, and as history has shown, when Brandon Marshall doesn’t like the situation chances are he is going to do what it takes to get out of it.

Jordy Nelson

Aside from the big game every other week, Nelson just doesn’t seem to get enough looks on the offense.  2 catches for 104 yards and a touchdown is a productive week yes, but what happens when those 2 catches equal out to just 30 yards?  It’s big risk, big reward for Jordy owners, and this week’s matchup with the Chargers doesn’t grade out well.

San Diego D/ST

This is pretty much a no brainer here.  Look at the obvious reasons.  Aaron Rodgers is on the other side of the field and Phillip Rivers has had many recent struggles that give the opposing team a lot of opportunities to score. Play someone else.

The good news is that we are through most of the bye weeks, and just four teams (Carolina, Detroit, Jacksonville, and Minnesota) are off in Week Nine.  While most of those teams haven’t racked up many wins, there are some big fantasy names on those rosters for which owners may need a replacement.

As always, players listed here are owned in fewer than 50 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

Fantasy Football Week 9 Waiver Wire Pickups: Quarterback

Kevin Kolb (46%), Arizona

I’m not putting Kolb on here because he played well on Sunday, because, well, he didn’t.  However, the Cardinals face a St. Louis pass defense that has given up multiple touchdown passes in five of seven games.  In fact, the Rams have allowed seven passing scores in their three road games, making Kolb a decent bye week fill-in based solely on the matchup.

Matt Cassel (37%), Kansas City

Since I’m writing this on Sunday night, I can’t speak to Cassel’s Week Eight performance, but I can speak for the quality of his next few matchups.  The Chiefs face Miami, Denver, and New England during weeks 9, 10, and 11, and those just so happen to be the three defenses who allow the most points to opposing fantasy quarterbacks.

Andy Dalton (37%), Cincinnati

The Red Rifle now has two total touchdowns in three of his past four games, and my belief in him is undeterred by his two picks on Sunday, as they were made while he was being aggressive down the field.  His matchup against Tennessee next week is decent, given that the Titans have allowed at least 250 passing yards and/or multiple TD passes in five straight games.  What looks even better than that are Dalton’s fantasy playoff dates with St. Louis and Arizona.

Sam Bradford (29%), St. Louis

As I have mentioned the last couple weeks, Bradford still has some great matchups remaining on the schedule, starting with this week’s game against Arizona who has routinely been torched by opposing signal callers.  Keep an eye on his injury status this week to see if his ankle will allow him to take advantage of the deficiencies in the Cardinal secondary.

Carson Palmer (27%), Oakland

Like Kevin Kolb, let’s file this one under the “I know he played like Ryan Leaf the last time you saw him, but look at the matchup!” category.  Palmer used the bye week to develop timing with his new teammates, and he’ll face a Broncos defense allowing the most points to fantasy quarterbacks this year.  He’s worth a gamble if you’re looking for a one week fill-in for the likes of Matthew Stafford or Cam Newton.

Fantasy Football Week 9 Waiver Wire Pickups: Running Back

Bernard Scott (42%), Cincinnati

Obviously Cedric Benson will be back next week, but Scott had some decent runs against a stout Seattle run defense and finished with 76 yards on the ground.  That isn’t enough to take the starting job from Benson, but it should be enough to get him a few more touches.  As is the case with Dalton, there are some great matchups to round out the year, making Scott a decent option to stash on your bench in the interim.

Maurice Morris (35%), Detroit (bye)

With Jahvid Best still out with a concussion, Morris had another solid game with 65 total yards and a short rushing TD.  He outplayed Keiland Williams by a fairly wide margin this week and would again be the starter if Best still isn’t recovered following Detroit’s bye.  As I have mentioned before, Best is far from the picture of health, which makes Morris a valuable handcuff.

Roy Helu (32%), Washington

After the last couple weeks Ryan Torain is dead to me, and I wouldn’t be shocked if Mike Shanahan shared that sentiment.  That said, you never really know what’s going through Shanahan’s head, so the fact that Helu didn’t receive a single carry in Sunday’s loss to Buffalo means virtually nothing.  Consequently, it isn’t beyond the realm of possibility that Helu gets a shot as the starter sometime between now and the end of the season.

Javon Ringer (6%), Tennessee

It was Ringer, and not well-paid mega bust Chris Johnson, who was taking fourth quarter handoffs against the Colts.  Johnson remained woefully ineffective, and while the offensive line didn’t do either back any favors, Ringer clearly looked like the better runner.  After the game Mike Munchak alluded to a committee approach going forward, which makes Ringer among the top waiver wire targets.  It’s worth noting he has 12 receptions in the last three games, so he’s an even better option in PPR leagues.  Next week’s matchup against the Bengals isn’t particularly enticing, but there are a number of games looming against teams who struggle to stop the run, starting with Carolina in Week Ten.

Kregg Lumpkin (5%), Tampa Bay

It sounds as though LeGarrette Blount will be back this week, but the Bucs will turn to Lumpkin if he experiences any setbacks.  Even if he doesn’t, Lumpkin is expected to serve as the third-down back, giving him some value in deep PPR leagues.

Lance Ball (1%), Denver

Both Ball and Knowshon Moreno rushed for over 60 yards against the Lions on Sunday, with Ball reaching that mark on just six carries.  If Willis McGahee misses another game next week, Ball is potentially worth a flier given the matchup against an Oakland defense that has given up some big games to running backs earlier this year.

Chris Ogbonnaya (1%), Cleveland

Healthy running backs are pretty tough to come by in Cleveland right now.  Peyton Hillis has missed the last two weeks with a hamstring injury, and backup Montario Hardesty is headed for a MRI on his calf after leaving Sunday’s game.  Ogbonnaya was just signed a couple weeks ago, but he has five receptions in each of his two games with the Browns and ran for 37 yards on 11 carries against the 49ers.  The Cleveland running game hasn’t been too impressive so far this year, but assuming Hillis and/or Hardesty are limited or out, Ogbonnaya stands to be a potential flex option this week, particularly in PPR leagues.

Fantasy Football Week 9 Waiver Wire Pickups: Wide Receiver

Torrey Smith (48%), Baltimore

Smith still hasn’t shown great hands and will continue to be inconsistent, but if Joe Flacco could actually hit him in stride more than once a game, the big play ability is there.  That said, I don’t love the matchup with Pittsburgh this week, but given Baltimore’s remaining schedule, there will be some weeks when you’ll want to roll the dice and get him in your lineup.

Steve Breaston (40%), Kansas City

Similar to Cassel, there’s a lot to like about his upcoming schedule, particularly given his consistency in recent weeks.

Michael Crabtree (40%), San Francisco

I’ve been hyping Crabtree for a few weeks now, and on Sunday he came through with his first touchdown of the season to go with five receptions and 54 yards.  His foot continues to look healthy, and his rapport with Alex Smith is growing.  Crabtree now has at least five receptions in three of the last four weeks and has a number of favorable matchups over the latter half of the season.

Doug Baldwin (28%), Seattle

Like anyone who watched or attended it, Baldwin just wanted to forget about his week seven game against Cleveland.  He bounced back this week after being shutout against the Browns, catching five passes for 73 yards in a loss to Cincinnati.  Baldwin has at least five catches in three of the last four games and will continue to factor prominently in the Seattle passing game (yes, that actually exists) given what seems to be solid chemistry with Tarvaris Jackson.

Early Doucet (24%), Arizona

For the most part, the yardage hasn’t been there for Doucet, but he does have a TD grab in each of the last two games.  As I mentioned with Kolb, the matchup against St. Louis is enticing, which makes Doucet a possible one week fill-in if you are in a bind.

Damian Williams (2%), Tennessee

Williams has shown decent chemistry with Matt Hasselbeck after Kenny Britt went down, catching TD passes in weeks four and five and posting 60 yards against the Colts on Sunday.  Hasselbeck is really spreading the ball around, so no one player is going to assume Britt’s role as the go-to guy.  Still, Williams is a decent red zone target and has a few good matchups left on the slate.

Greg Salas (1%), St. Louis

After a less than inspiring start to his NFL career, Salas continues to play well out of the slot in St. Louis.  He caught five passes for 47 yards and seems to have put his early drops behind him.  As I mentioned with Bradford, the schedule gets much easier, making Salas an intriguing option in PPR leagues.

Fantasy Football Week 9 Waiver Wire Pickups: Tight End

Jake Ballard (30%), New York Giants

Ballard is now averaging 60 receiving yards with a pair of touchdowns over the past four weeks.  The Patriots have shown vulnerability against the pass, and tight ends have done some damage against them in their last two games.  At this point, Ballard doesn’t look like a flash in the pan and is firmly entrenched as a TE2 going forward.

Scott Chandler (26%), Buffalo

After posting four catches for nine yards over the last three games, it seemed that the honeymoon was over for Chandler owners.  He caught just two passes on Sunday, but both went for touchdowns in Buffalo’s win over the Redskins.  Despite his gaudy TD total, Chandler has more than two receptions just once this season, making him a risky play against a Jets defense that has allowed only one score to opposing tight ends.

Marcedes Lewis (22%), Jacksonville (bye)

Even after his four-catch, 45-yard performance on Sunday, he’s not a guy to run out and grab.  However, the Jags made a concerted effort to get him the ball with nine targets, which is a good sign for one of last season’s breakout performers at the position.

Brent Celek (10%), Philadelphia

After a disappointing 2010 season and a painfully slow start to this one, Celek caught seven passes for 94 yards and a score against Dallas Sunday night.  He now has a touchdown in two straight games and faces a Bears defense that has been vulnerable to opposing tight ends this season, allowing an average of over six receptions and 70 yards per game with six touchdowns.

Streaming Defense(s) of the Week

Atlanta (20%) at Indianapolis

At this point of the season, I think it goes without saying that you want to grab the defense facing Indy.

Kansas City (19%) vs. Miami

The Chiefs showed against Oakland that they can take advantage of poor offensive line and quarterback play against an inferior team.  That formula should work again versus the Dolphins, who almost forgot to suck for Luck on Sunday.

Update: The Week 9 Start/Sit column is posted. Check it out.

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Have any questions or feedback?  Leave them in the comments below or hit me up on Twitter (@andybottoms).

Leading the AFC West, the San Diego Chargers (4-2) will travel to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs (3-3). Kansas City looked buried at 0-3, but they have a huge opportunity tonight to get right back into the thick of the AFC West race.

Let’s take a look at the teams.

San Diego Chargers

San Diego is coming off a loss to the New York Jets in week 7. Quarterback Philip Rivers needs to step up his game. He’s been easily flustered this year and has been more hesitant when the play doesn’t come through immediately. With only seven touchdowns and nine interceptions this season, Rivers needs to pull himself together. Kansas City is not a team against whom you want to make mistakes, as the Oakland Raiders learned last week.

Key for Rivers is to relax and let the plays come together instead of trying to force the play and making unnecessary mistakes. Having Antonio Gates back healthy should help in that regard. The Chargers offense is 8th in the league with total number of yards, but they are only 15th in number of points per game. The offense for this team is decent, but it could definitely be better, and has been in the not so recent past.

The Chargers are ranked 7th in the league for passing yards per game with 273.2. Running back Mike Tolbert has been listed questionable for the game due to a hand injury. Leading the team in receptions and second in rushing, this put pressure on other offensive players Ryan Matthews (running back) and Vincent Jackson (wide receiver). Jackson has dealt with nagging injuries all season, but practiced for his first full week. He was shut down last week against the Jets, but the matchup against the Chiefs should allow him to make some plays.

San Diego’s defense has suffered a multitude of injuries and is thinning out. Safety Bob Sanders and outside linebacker Larry English are both out for the season, while defensive end Luis Castillo remains out for an extended period of time, and outside linebacker Shaun Phillips is out for at least Monday’s game. Inside linebacker Donald Butler mentioned that the defense is still trying to build the chemistry needed to hold strong offenses.

Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs offense has struggled this season. Quarterback Matt Cassel has had eight touchdowns and a completion percentage of 63.5, but he has hurt the team with seven interceptions. Cassel has struggled when facing the Chargers and has only thrown for 200 yards once in the last five starts against San Diego. Luckily, Cassel will be playing at home and will have the home crowd to help him focus on the game.

The Chiefs are ranked 7th in league in rushing yards with 129.3. However, they are ranked a lowly 30th for their receiving yards. Running back Jackie Battle has led the Chiefs in rushing yards with 232 in 45 carries. Battle along with Thomas Jones will be the rushing players to watch. Jones and Battle have not been stopped when up against weak defenses KC has played lately. With the Chargers feeling some hurt on the defensive side of the ball, this will be a great opportunity for the Chiefs top ranked rushing tandem to shine.

Wide Receiver Dwayne Bowe has helped the offense by leading in receiving yards with 496 yards and four touchdowns. When facing the Chargers in week three, Bowe had 67 yard receiving and one touchdown. Steve Breaston should also play a big part in the game for the Chiefs on Monday. With all eyes focused on Bowe, the Chiefs are sure to make some big plays to Breaston to try to beat out rival Chargers.

Chiefs-Chargers Prediction

While the Chiefs have the home field advantage, I believe the Chargers will pull through and defeat Kansas City for the second time this season. I believe it will be a close game that will be dictated by the offenses, as both defenses have been plagued by injuries.

Overall, the Chargers offense will outplay the Chiefs, with Philip Rivers having the chance to pull it together against the average Chiefs defense, and the Chargers will pull farther ahead in the AFC West.

San Diego Chargers 28 | Kansas City Chiefs 21

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San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs Game Info

• Chargers-Chiefs Date, Time, and TV: Monday, October 31st at 8:30 ET on ESPN
• Chargers-Chiefs Announcers: Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden, and Ron Jaworski
• Chargers-Chiefs Point Spread: Chargers -3.5
• Chargers-Chiefs Over-Under Odds: 44

With some many teams rich in fantasy talent (Patriots, Giants, Eagles, Bills, plus the 49ers and Bengals) observing their bye this week, it means that we all are having to dig deep into our benches and even onto the waiver wire just to field complete lineups. During such weeks is when start/sit advice is its most valuable, and as always we have you covered here at MSF.

First, check out the consensus top 10 start em and sit em picks below, delivered just a few minutes ago from our friends at PlayThisGuy.com. They compile start/sit picks from numerous proven, trusted sources across the web (including MSF) to come up with these picks.

Second, click over to Jon’s Week 7 Start em, Sit em column, where he breaks down every position in detail, telling you who to start, who to sit, and who will be the best and worst performer at each position, along with stat projections. Also see the Week 7 rankings and Andy’s waiver wire pickups column.

(Oh, and don’t forget to the enter this week’s fantasy college football freeroll tournament. It’s free to enter, but the prizes are real. You’d be a fool not to play.)

And now, without further ado, here are the consensus Week 7 Start/Sit picks from PlayThisGuy.com:

Fantasy Football Week 7 Start em, Sit em Advice

Consensus Top 10 Start/Sit Picks

The comment section is yours if you have any questions about your Week 7 roster. We’ll do our best to get every question answered by Sunday morning.

And now, for no good reason at all, here is a picture of consensus Start #4 Matt Cassel, apparently in a little bit of pain.

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As always, players listed here are owned in fewer than 50 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

Fantasy Football Week 7 Waiver Wire Pickups: Quarterback

Sam Bradford (47%), St. Louis

It’s tough to blame people for giving up on Bradford after an ugly start to the season for both him and the Rams.  While the team didn’t fare any better against Green Bay, Bradford showed signs of life with 321 passing yards.  His receivers have consistently let him down with drops (and continued to do so on Sunday), but the Rams have also faced one of the tougher schedules in the league.

Next week Bradford takes on the Cowboys, who have allowed four of five opposing quarterbacks to throw for two touchdowns.  He also has four games left against Arizona and Seattle, so there should be better days ahead.

Tim Tebow (46%), Denver

Just in case you’ve been on a six-day bender, John Fox announced last week that Tebow will start Sunday’s game against Miami.  Through their first four games, the Dolphins have given up the second most points to fantasy quarterbacks.  And while everyone has their opinion of Tebow, he has produced solid fantasy numbers whenever he has played.  He’s absolutely worth adding to see how he responds this week.

Matt Cassel (34%), Kansas City

To rehash a few of the numbers I referenced on Cassel last week, he has seven touchdowns compared to just one interception over his last three games.  He also faces an Oakland defense that has allowed 11 passing touchdowns in the past five games, which makes him a prime replacement for any of the bigger name quarterbacks on bye this week.

Andy Dalton (20%), Cincinnati (bye)

The “Red Rifle” couldn’t extend his streak of two-TD games, but he did complete nearly 80 percent of his passes for 264 yards and one score against the Colts.  The surprising Bengals are on bye this week, but they face Seattle in Week Eight.  The Seahawks have allowed their last four opponents to throw for at least 252 yards, and given their solid run defense, Dalton may need to air it out.

John Beck (1%), Washington

We had started to see signs of it the past couple weeks, but Rex Grossman is, in fact, Rex Grossman.  Beck completed 8-of-15 passes for 117 yards and ran for a score in relief of Grossman, and it would be surprising if he wasn’t under center for Washington’s next game against Carolina.  He’s not an option outside of two quarterback leagues, but he does have a few decent matchups over the remainder of the season.

Fantasy Football Week 7 Waiver Wire Pickups: Running Back

Jackie Battle (36%), Kansas City

Even during KC’s bye week, Battle’s ownership percentage skyrocketed in preparation for next week’s matchup with the Raiders.  Oakland’s run defense has shown improvement over the past couple weeks, but don’t forget that they allowed opposing ball carriers to run for 465 yards over the previous three weeks.  Todd Haley has talked about getting Battle more involved and did just that against the Colts in Week Five.

Image credit: AP Photo/Bill Kostroun via Arrowhead Addict

Delone Carter (31%)/Donald Brown (5%), Indianapolis

With Joseph Addai sidelined, Carter got 14 carries compared to just five for Brown, but it was Brown who found the end zone.  The Bengals have a solid run defense, so that played a role in Carter’s struggles, but Brown did show some ability in passing situations and as a change of pace for the bruising Carter.  Addai’s status for next week is unknown, but the Colts face a New Orleans defense that is allowing 5.1 yards per carry.  They were victimized this week by a bigger back (Earnest Graham), which might bode well for Carter if the Colts can keep from getting too far behind.

Montario Hardesty (16%), Cleveland

There weren’t many key injuries on Sunday, but Peyton Hillis had to leave Cleveland’s game against Oakland with a bum hamstring.  There were initial reports that he was pulled as a coach’s decision, and rumors continue to fly in Cleveland that he may be traded due to the lack of progress in contract discussions.  Hillis is set to have a MRI to assess the damage, but Hardesty should see a fair amount of work.

The bad news for Hardesty is that he has continued to drop passes and botched a handoff that resulted in a turnover.  Seattle’s run defense is also one of the better units in the league, so while his touches may increase, don’t bank on a breakout performance from Hardesty in the short-term.

DeMarco Murray (5%)/Tashard Choice (5%), Dallas

Felix Jones sustained an ankle injury and has taken up permanent residence in the trainer’s office.  The Cowboys kept Jones on the sidelines for the entire second half against the Patriots, which opened the door for Murray and/or Choice to make an impression.  Neither really seized the opportunity, with Murray tallying 32 yards on 10 carries and Choice rushing for 14 yards on five attempts.  Choice was more involved in the passing game, but Jerry Jones said after the game he would entertain trade offers for him.  Murray looked like the more effective runner, and if I had to choose one to pursue, that’s who I would go with.

If Jones is out next week, either of these runners have a nice matchup against a St. Louis defense that has routinely been shredded on the ground.  Of course, they’ve also been shredded through the air, but you get my point.

Maurice Morris (1%), Detroit

Lost amidst the post-game shenanigans and tomfoolery between Jim Schwartz and Jim Harbaugh was the fact that Jahvid Best sustained a concussion in the fourth quarter.  He actually returned to the game after hitting his head, but given his history of concussions both in the NFL and at Cal, there’s a better than average chance that he doesn’t play against Atlanta this week.

Compared to fellow reserve Keiland Williams, Morris is the best bet to earn the bulk of the backfield touches, as he is the better receiver of the two.  The Falcons are holding their opponents to under 90 yards per game on the ground, but given his involvement in the passing game, Morris has value as a bye week fill-in.

Fantasy Football Week 7 Waiver Wire Pickups: Wide Receiver

James Jones (47%), Green Bay

I said last week that it’s tough to predict which Packers wideout not named Greg Jennings is the safest to start, and despite the fact that Jones has now scored in three straight games, that remains the case.  Jones saw just one target against St. Louis, which he converted to a 35-yard touchdown.  He’s not an every week starter, but he’s a solid guy to gamble on given how prolific Green Bay’s offense has been.

Darrius Heyward-Bey (45%), Oakland

After another solid game on Sunday, DHB now has 17 receptions for 296 yards over the past three weeks.  Quite frankly, I would have thought I had a better chance of recording an album of duets with Mike Tyson than advocating DHB in fantasy leagues.  The loss of Jason Campbell hurts his ability to keep the streak going, but Oakland’s next two games are against Kansas City and Denver, who are among the worst in the league at limiting the fantasy production of opposing wide receivers.

Torrey Smith (42%), Baltimore

Following Smith’s breakout game in Week Three, I asked that you temper your expectations due to his inconsistency.  In the two games since, he caught one pass for one yard before reeling in three passes for 84 yards against the Texans.  Smith will certainly have other big games this year, but next week the Ravens take on a Jacksonville secondary that has allowed just two receiving touchdowns to opposing wideouts in the past four weeks.

Michael Crabtree (42%), San Francisco (bye)

Crabtree showed no ill effects from his previous foot injury, and he continues to show flashes of the ability that earned him his lofty draft status.  Crabtree was targeted 15 times against the Lions on Sunday and finished with nine receptions for 77 yards.  He narrowly missed catching a touchdown and has a number of favorable matchups following the bye this week.

Jacoby Jones (34%), Houston

After laying an egg in Houston’s first game without Andre Johnson, Jones bounced back with four catches, 76 yards, and a score against Baltimore.  However, he was still targeted fewer times than Kevin Walter and faces a Tennessee defense that has limited opposing wideouts pretty well this year, at least those not wearing Steeler uniforms.

Doug Baldwin (24%), Seattle (bye)

I mentioned Baldwin last week following his big game against the Giants.  He has at least 83 yards in three of Seattle’s five games this season, including the last two contests.  It’s uncertain who will be under center for the Seahawks next week, but Baldwin has shown decent chemistry with both Tarvaris Jackson and Charlie Whitehurst.  Even if Joe Haden is back for Cleveland, he’s likely to spend most of his time on Sidney Rice, leaving Baldwin with a much more favorable matchup.

Early Doucet (23%), Arizona

Like Baldwin, I touched on Doucet last week heading into Arizona’s bye.  He is routinely being targeted in the passing game, and with the Cardinals consistently falling behind, they will be forced to air it out.  Against a stout Steelers pass defense this week, he’s not a great option, but he does have a number of good matchups in the coming weeks.

Steve Breaston (22%), Kansas City

Breaston has at least 50 receiving yards in three straight games, and as I mentioned above with Cassel, this week’s matchup against Oakland is favorable for the KC passing attack.

Jerome Simpson (18%), Cincinnati (bye)

It’s been feast of famine for Simpson this season.  In his two good games, he’s totaled 10 catches for 237 yards.  In the other four, he has 12 receptions for 116 yards.  Even on the heels of Sunday’s 100-yard effort, Marvin Lewis was critical of his play, particularly his continued struggles with dropped passes.  With Cincinnati heading into their bye and a number of challenging matchups looming, there are certainly better options out there.

Greg Little (16%), Cleveland

The Cleveland coaching staff talked about wanting to get Little more involved following their bye week, and they made good on that promise on Sunday, targeting him 12 times.  He converted those looks into six receptions and 72 yards, and had he not slipped just short of the goal line, Little would have scored his first NFL touchdown.  He is by far the most talented wide receiver on the team and should continue to play a major role in the passing game.  Pick him up before it’s too late.

Danario Alexander (12%)/Greg Salas (0%)/Mark Clayton (0%), St. Louis

As I mentioned above with Bradford, the Rams have some nice matchups remaining this year, but someone has to become a consistent threat as a receiver.  Alexander was promoted to the starting lineup on Sunday and finished with six catches for a team-high 91 yards on 10 targets.  He dropped what could have been an 81-yard touchdown, but if he can stay healthy, he should remain a starter.  Salas shook off a terrible start to his NFL career and bounced back on Sunday with eight catches for 77 yards.  With Danny Amendola out, the Rams have been searching for a slot receiver, and Salas has now staked his claim to that role.  He’s most valuable in PPR leagues.  Clayton has been on the PUP list and can’t play until Week Eight at the earliest.  Still, he put up huge numbers over the first four weeks of last season and was recently cleared to start practicing with the team.  Clayton is at minimum a name to file away.

Arrelious Benn (4%), Tampa Bay

Benn showed his big-play ability as he got wide open on a 65-yard TD, but he’s behind Mike Williams and Kellen Winslow (and maybe even Preston Parker) in the pecking order.  Benn has some terrific skills in the open field, but he’s isn’t consistent enough to warrant picking up just yet outside of deep leagues.

Jason Hill (2%), Jacksonville

That’s now back-to-back games with TDs for Hill, but in a passing offense that has shown so little, it’s tough to recommend owning any part of the Jacksonville passing game.

Fantasy Football Week 7 Waiver Wire Pickups: Tight End

Fred Davis (42%), Washington

Davis feasted on the Eagles defense to the tune of six catches for 95 yards, and now Chris Cooley is expected to miss time with an injured finger.  The potential insertion of John Beck into the starting lineup doesn’t hurt Davis’ value, and he has a few games coming up against teams who have been recently victimized by opposing tight ends.

Jared Cook (32%), Tennessee

I mentioned last week that I expected the Titans to use their bye week to find more ways to get Cook involved following his two best games of the season.  This week should be a solid test against the Texans, who have done a nice job of limiting tight ends not named Jimmy Graham so far this year.

Lance Kendricks (11%), St. Louis

Following his four-catch, 71-yard performance against the Packers, Kendricks should be starting to rebuild his confidence after a shaky start to his NFL career.  Still, the talent is there, as is a matchup with a Dallas defense who is among the worst at defending opposing tight ends.  Obviously it’s a huge gamble, but as I mentioned with the other Rams, better days are to come.  They have to be.

Jake Ballard (10%), New York Giants (bye)

He now has three straight weeks of at least eight fantasy points in standard leagues, so perhaps the bye doesn’t come at the best time for Ballard.  Still, he’s clearly become a part of the offense and is posting Kevin Boss-esque numbers for the Giants.  No need to pick Ballard up while he is off this week, but he’s a potential fill-in going forward.

Brent Celek (9%), Philadelphia (bye)

Celek came into Sunday’s game with nine receptions for 73 yards, so you can understand why the Redskins seemed ill-prepared for him to the lead the Eagles in targets.  The matchup against Dallas following Philly’s bye is a decent one, but very few things point to a repeat performance of Sunday’s 42 yards and a score.

Streaming Defense(s) of the Week

Dallas (43%) vs. St. Louis

The Rams have yet to score more than 16 points this season, and the Cowboys are coming off of their best defensive effort of the year against the potent Patriots offense.

Cleveland (4%) vs. Seattle

The Seahawks are among the worst at giving up points to opposing fantasy defenses, and they’re heading east for an early start.

Don’t miss the rest of our Week 7 Fantasy Football coverage:

• Week 7 Start em, Sit em

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Have any questions or feedback?  Leave them in the comments below or hit me up on Twitter (@andybottoms).

To a certain extent, you’re right.  There are very few must-adds this week, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t guys out there who can help your team the rest of the way, possibly as soon as this week. (For more Week 6 analysis, here is this week’s Start/Sit column.)

As always, the players listed here are owned in fewer than 50% of Yahoo! leagues.

Fantasy Football Week 6 Waiver Wire Advice: Quarterback

Colt McCoy (33%), Cleveland

The Browns head to Oakland next week to face a Raider defense that has allowed at least two touchdowns to opposing quarterbacks for four straight weeks.  McCoy is also coming off of a career-high 350 passing yards, although much of it game in garbage time.  Still, he makes for a solid spot start, and you may keep him around thanks to some enticing upcoming matchups.

Matt Cassel (31%), Kansas City (bye)

After tossing four scores against Indy, Cassel now has seven touchdowns compared to just one interception over his last three games.  Dwayne Bowe and Steve Breaston are playing well on the outside, and Cassel finally looks comfortable (and by comfortable, I mean competent).  After a bye this week, Cassel and the Chiefs face the aforementioned Oakland defense in Week Seven.

Cassel's turnaround started after a shouting match with his coach. Kudos Todd Haley?

Andy Dalton (14%), Cincinnati

The “Red Rifle” now has two touchdowns in two straight weeks, and while the overall stats aren’t awe-inspiring, the matchup with the Colts secondary is.  He’s not a guy I’m going out of my way to get in my lineup, but he’s a good matchup play if you’re in a pinch.

Alex Smith (14%), San Francisco

When I mentioned Smith last week, I said it would be interesting to see what he could do with some confidence.  Apparently the answer is throw three touchdowns.  Smith now has seven passing TDs in his last four games compared to just one pick.  He’s completing better than 65 percent of his passes heading into a matchup with Detroit.  The Lions have amassed some decent pass defense numbers through their first four games, albeit against some inferior and/or struggling quarterbacks.  Again, it’s not a phenomenal matchup, but you could do worse than riding the hot hand.

Tim Tebow (7%), Denver (bye)

Many expected the Broncos to make a quarterback change during their bye week, but apparently they couldn’t wait.  John Fox yanked an ineffective Kyle Orton in favor of Tebow in Sunday’s loss to the Chargers.  Tebow completed just four of his 10 passes, but he threw for one TD and ran for another.  For all his mechanical faults, he racked up huge fantasy numbers late last season, so he’s worth picking up to see if he can do it again following a bye this week.  He has by far the most upside of any of the waiver wire signal callers this week.

Fantasy Football Week 6 Waiver Wire Advice: Running Back

Ryan Torain (49%), Washington

Maybe Torain slipped under the radar since the Redskins were on bye this week.  If you need a reminder, he has a sweet matchup against the woeful Eagles run defense this week.  That’s all you really need to know.  And as an Eagles fan, that’s really all I can say without using excessive amounts of profanity.

Kendall Hunter (24%), San Francisco

Hunter’s emergence has led to Frank Gore’s resurgence, but he’s still valuable as a handcuff.  The 49ers have talked of giving Hunter a third of the backfield touches, and on Sunday he ran for 65 yards on just nine carries, including a 44-yard scamper.  Hunter’s explosiveness, coupled with injury concerns for Gore, make him worth a roster spot.

UPDATE:

Earnest Graham (14%), Tampa Bay

Monday didn’t bring definitive news on LeGarrette Blount’s status for Sunday’s game with New Orleans, but it certainly didn’t sound promising. If Blount can’t go, Graham would draw the start against a Saints defense that has allowed three rushing TDs to opposing running backs through the first five games. To this point, Graham’s biggest fantasy contributions have come via the passing game with 23 receptions on the year. He was actually shutout as a receiver against the 49ers, but his pass-catching ability makes him a RB2 in PPR leagues and a flex option in others.

Montario Hardesty (13%), Cleveland

There were rumors out of Cleveland last week that Peyton Hillis may request a trade due to the lack of progress in contract negotiations.  While that seems a bit extreme, Hardesty was already starting to see more touches, and the Browns definitely want to see what kind of workload he can handle as they determine their future with Hillis.  The Raiders give up plenty of points to opposing running backs both on the ground and through the air, as Arian Foster showed this week.  Keep in mind Hardesty was the target of a number of passes in Cleveland’s Week Four loss to Tennessee.  If he can actually catch those targets this week, the potential is definitely there.

Delone Carter (11%), Indianapolis

This is one of the few guys on this week’s list I would look to add in pretty much all leagues.  Joseph Addai’s injured hamstring should keep him out at least a few games, and Carter earned 12 carries compared to five for Donald Brown.  The only bad news is that Brown outgained him, but Carter is the goal-line option as he proved on a short TD run.  The Colts have already given Brown a number of chances to prove he was worth a first round pick, so they figure to see what Carter can do in what is already a lost season.  Beware of a tough matchup next week against Cincinnati’s solid run defense though.

Jackie Battle (7%), Kansas City (bye)

Todd Haley said earlier in the week that Battle would get more carries going forward, and he made good on that promise Sunday. Battleheld up his end of the bargain with 119 rushing yards on 19 carries to go with 21 receiving yards.  There’s a reason Battle averaged fewer than 3.0 yards per carry over the last two seasons, but there’s more upside with Battle than the aging Thomas Jones.  It’s worth noting that Jones also averaged better than 5.0 yards per carry against a poor Indy run defense on Sunday, so their ineptitude played a role in Battle’s emergence.  He does have a nice matchup with the Raiders after the bye.

Jonathan Dwyer (1%), Pittsburgh

This one is only for deep or dynasty leagues, but Dwyer racked up 107 rushing yards against Tennessee, doing most of his damage on a 76-yard run in the first half.  He still played behind Isaac Redman, and Rashard Mendenhall should be able to start next week.  However, he did show the ability to contribute when called upon, so keep him in mind going forward.

Fantasy Football Week 6 Waiver Wire Advice: Wide Receiver

Michael Crabtree (41%), San Francisco

Despite his two-catch, 36-yard performance, I am still optimistic about Crabtree’s prospects.  He had the second-most targets on the team and continues to show no ill effects of his foot injury.  The 49ers didn’t need to throw a ton with a comfortable lead, but that won’t always be the case.

Antonio Brown (34%), Pittsburgh

Brown’s streak of 60-plus receiving yard games came to an end on Sunday, but he seems to have clearly passed Emmanuel Sanders on the depth chart.  The Steelers have some good WR matchups in the coming weeks against Jacksonville, Arizona, and New England, making Brown a guy worth hanging onto.

Early Doucet (24%), Arizona (bye)

Before the season started, I profiled Andre Roberts as the guy who could benefit from Larry Fitzgerald drawing so much coverage.  Turns out that Doucet is the beneficiary.  The 16 targets on Sunday were inflated by the fact that the Cardinals got down 28 points in the first quarter, but he has at least six targets for four straight weeks, culminating in this week’s eight receptions and 92 yards.  Doucet also had a TD called back due to a penalty, so things could have been even better.  Thanks to a porous defense, Arizona should be playing from behind much of this season, leading to plenty of garbage time opportunities for Doucet.

Steve Breaston (15%), Kansas City (bye)

Breaston now has at least 50 receiving yards in three straight games, but the two touchdowns on Sunday were particularly surprising given that he had just one score all of last season.  Still, Cassel is improving as I mentioned above, and the post-bye week matchup with Oakland is a decent one.

Kevin Walter (13%), Houston

While Jacoby Jones had more targets, Walter had significantly better numbers with five catches, 81 yards, and a score.  He won’t wow you, but someone has to catch the ball for the Texans.

James Jones (10%), Green Bay

With Aaron Rodgers adeptly spreading the ball around, it’s tough to know which Green Bay wideout not named Greg Jennings is the safest to start each week.  Jones now has touchdowns in two straight games heading into a great matchup with St. Louis, which makes him worth a look if you need a bye week fill-in.  He’s by no means a sure thing, but you could also do a lot worse than investing in the potent Packer passing game.

Darrius Heyward-Bey (6%), Oakland

It was only fitting that one of Al Davis’ most maligned draft picks had a big game the day after his passing.  DHB followed up his 115-yard effort in Week Four with seven catches for 99 yards and a score against the Texans.  It’s certainly a high risk move, but if he can avoid Joe Haden when he faces the Browns next week, the potential is there.  I actually feel dirty after saying that.  Excuse me while I go shower.

Doug Baldwin (4%), Seattle (bye)

After 83 yards and a score in the opener, Baldwin posted just 27 yards over the next two games, making him look like a one week wonder.  Since then he racked up 84 yards against Atlanta and broke out for eight catches, 136 yards, and a TD in the upset win over the Giants.  The touchdown came on a play where the Giants essentially stopped playing after jumping offsides, but fantasy owners could care less.  The Seahawks have a bye next week, but Baldwin is looking like a solid PPR league option at the very least.

Jason Avant (2%), Philadelphia

The good news is he caught nine balls for 139 yards to give him 15 receptions and 208 yards in the past two games.  The bad news is he lost a key fumble and had Michael Vick’s final interception glance off his hands (and then his feet) on a drive that could have tied the game.  Avant is typically sure-handed, so the Eagles won’t give up on him after this performance.  Besides, with their defense scuffling, they are sure to be in plenty of shootouts over the remainder of the year.

Fantasy Football Week 6 Waiver Wire Advice: Tight End

Jared Cook (40%), Tennessee (bye)

Cook saw nine targets on Sunday and posted 59 yards against the Steelers.  With Kenny Britt out, he’s easily the team’s most talented receiver, so look for his involvement in the offense to continue to increase following Tennessee’s bye week.

Fred Davis (38%), Washington

One of the few things Philly’s defense did well on Sunday was to limit Buffalo tight end Scott Chandler.  That doesn’t erase the fact that they’ve been abused by opposing tight ends on multiple occasions this year.  Or the fact that their linebackers and safeties have been generally awful at every phase of the game.  Yes, that’s my Eagles fan bitterness showing through.

Heath Miller (17%), Pittsburgh

The Jaguars have given up a touchdown to opposing tight ends for four straight weeks.  It’s up to Miller to keep that streak alive, and he should come in with some confidence after 46 yards and a score this week.

Ben Watson (17%)/Evan Moore (2%), Cleveland

The Raiders gave up a number of big plays to Houston’s TE duo of Owen Daniels and Joel Dreessen, who combined for 12 catches and 201 yards on Sunday.  With few proven receivers, the Browns throw to their tight ends regularly, which may bode well for Watson and Moore this week.

Ed Dickson (15%), Baltimore

After 12 targets against the Jets last week, Joe Flacco has now looked Dickson’s way 32 times in Baltimore’s four games.  He has at least four catches and 45 yards in three of those contests, which makes him a decent PPR league option at minimum.

Jake Ballard (2%), New York Giants

He now has a TD reception in two straight weeks and seems to be developing a nice rapport with Eli Manning.  The Bills have given up three touchdowns to opposing tight ends over the last three weeks, so if you want to roll the dice, Ballard is an option if you are desperate.

Joel Dreessen (0%), Houston

I listed James Casey last week as a potential offensive option with Andre Johnson out, but it was Dreessen who stepped up with five catches for 112 yards, including a 56-yard TD where he slipped out the back side of the play.  He entered the game with just three receptions and 44 yards on the season, but he has filled in admirably (at times) for Owen Daniels in the past.  He’s a huge gamble against a Ravens team giving up virtually nothing to opposing tight ends.

Streaming Defense(s) of the Week

Cincinnati (25%) vs. Indianapolis

The 20 points allowed to Jacksonville was a season high for the Bengals, but they made up for it with three sacks, two fumble recoveries, and a TD on the final play of the game.  Another solid matchup awaits with the Colts this week.

Buffalo (11%) at New York Giants

The Bills have scored a defensive touchdown in three straight games, and Eli Manning is coming off of a four turnover effort on Sunday.

Have any questions or feedback?  Leave them in the comments below or hit me up on Twitter (@andybottoms).

Image source: @SI_Vault

You see, during yesterday’s Chiefs home game against the Minnesota Vikings – which Kansas City won by the way, their first victory of the season – the coach and quarterback became slightly agitated by eachother.

Here is some video evidence to go along with the picture:

On many of the Sunday wrap up shows, it was reported that Cassel and Haley were upset at eachother regarding something that occurred during the football skirmish at Arrowhead Stadium. This is in fact erroneous, however.

Sources have informed MSF that Cassel took exception to his favorite mid-game snack being unnecessarily belittled and disparaged by the pugilistic Haley. Haley suggested that Cassel, “lay off the cookies” at halftime. Cassel then retorted, “It’s not a cookie…it’s a fig newton!”

Clearly, in the picture, you can see Cassel’s mouth forming the “f” sound while running back Thomas Jones inquires if Cassel has any fig newtons to spare. Haley just looks on in disgust, though suddenly hungry for a hot dog.

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Actually, now that I look at the picture again, maybe that’s not what Cassel was about to say. But it was my best guess. I’ll turn it over to you.

Who has some ideas for what Cassel might have been saying to Haley? Best caption wins…

I wish I knew…injuries have just killed me…and I’ve lost each week by an average of 1.2 points. Just heartbreaking.

Some of you are probably in the same boat as me. Even if you aren’t, it’s the time in the fantasy football season when leagues are won and lost. Now is when we have to start making the tough calls.

Image source: AOLNews.com

Maybe you chose to ride Chris Johnson through the first three weeks because you spent so much money on him and “he is just too good to keep failing.” You can’t be stubborn any longer. It’s time to cut your losses and start doing the unthinkable…it’s time to start other guys that are just having better years, or maybe even cut someone you felt good about going in.

Don’t be afraid to admit your mistakes. The worst thing you could ever do is hold onto a guy too long, or keep starting a guy every week, just because you want to prove that you were right at the beginning. You may be 0-3, but all you need to do is get into the playoffs…then, anything can happen.

Let’s quickly recap my picks from last week and then look ahead to Week 4. Once again, “Start Em” guys are QBs/TEs outside of the Top 12 and RBs/WRs outside of the Top 25. “Sit Em Guys” include QBs/TEs that are in the Top 12 and RBs/WRs that are in the Top 25.

Week Three Recap

Overall – 26 for 45 (58%)

Best Player Predictions: 3 for 4
Hits: Tom Brady, Maurice Jones-Drew, Rob Gronkowski
Misses: Brandon Marshall

Start Em Predictions: 2 for 4
Hits: Rex Grossman, Santana Moss,
Misses: Rashard Mendenhall, Brent Celek

Other Guys I Liked Predictions: 10 for 16
Hits: Matt Stafford, Matt Ryan, LeSean McCoy, Fred Jackson, Shonn Greene, Ray Rice, Larry Fitzgerald, Dustin Keller, Tony Gonzalez, Owen Daniels
Misses: Philip Rivers, Cam Newton, Reggie Wayne, AJ Green, Steve Smith, Jermaine Gresham

Worst Player Predictions: 3 for 4
Hits: Matt Cassell, Denarius Moore, Todd Heap
Misses: Colts’ RBs

Sit Em Predictions: 2 for 4
Hits: Jahvid Best, Dallas Clark,
Misses: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Dwayne Bowe

Other Guys I Didn’t Like Predictions: 6 for 13
Hits: Donovan McNabb, Kerry Collins, Julio Jones, Jeremy Maclin, Santonio Holmes, Ben Watson
Misses: Aaron Rodgers, Jay Cutler, Darren McFadden, Packers’ Running Backs, Adrian Peterson, Scott Chandler, Jimmy Graham

Fantasy Football Week 4 Start Em, Sit Em Projections: Quarterbacks

Projected Best Performer: Matt Stafford
Stafford (as long as he stays healthy) will be a Top 5 Fantasy QB at the end of the year, and the Dallas secondary should provide little resistance. Expect a lot of points in this old-school battle of Thanksgiving Day football teams.

Matthew Stafford Fantasy Football Week 4 Projected Stats: 375 yards, 4 TDs

Start Em QB: Ben Roethlisberger
Pittsburgh’s appalling lack of commitment to the running game is one of the biggest surprises of this season. I’m not sure if their philosophy has changed (possible), if they have realized Mendenhall isn’t that good (very possible), if their offensive line has regressed yet again (probably), or if a combination of all three has happened (most likely). Either way, start Big Ben with confidence this week against the Texans.

Ben Roethlisberger Fantasy Football Week 4 Projected Stats: 330 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT

Other Start ‘Em QBs for Week Four:

• Eli Manning – Lots of yards against Arizona’s porous secondary.
• Philip Rivers – Bounce back game after a lackluster game against the Chiefs
• Matt Hasselbeck – Expect him to play very well until the inevitable injury in week 8.
• Jay Cutler – Having a very solid season despite the storyline.

Projected Worst Performer: Kyle Orton
And you thought the Tebow chants were loud in week one? I almost feel bad for Orton at this point. A horrible game against Green Bay will about seal his fate and future with the Broncos.

Kyle Orton Fantasy Football Week 4 Projected Stats: 180 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs

Sit Em QB: Joe Flacco
Joe Flacco has really come out with a huge season so far, and I actually expect it to continue. He has some very good weapons, and he appears to have made a “leap” of sorts. However, I just hate the matchup this week. The Jets will be angry and ready to prove to the world on Sunday Night Football that what happened in Oakland was a fluke.

Joe Flacco Fantasy Football Week 4 Projected Stats: 225 Yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs

Other Sit ‘Em QBs for Week Four:

• Matt Cassel – Minnesota’s defense is underrated, and I think they will finally finish a game.
• Blaine Gabbert – Obvious reasons.
• Matt Schaub – Troy Polamalu looks really fast again…this is bad news for the rest of the league.
• Chad Henne – After a ho-hum win over Kansas City, San Diego’s entire team will rebound well this week.

Fantasy Football Week 4 Start Em, Sit Em Projections: Running Backs

Projected Best Performer: Adrian Peterson
The best running back in the league is going against the worst team in the league…and his coach will probably ride him hard in order to not blow another huge lead.

Adrian Peterson Fantasy Football Week 4 Projected Stats: 160 yards, 1 TD; 65 receiving yards, 1 TD

Start Em RB: BJGE – The Law Firm
I think the Pats’ passing attack is fantastic, but Coach Belichik also knows that they will eventually need to be able to run the ball once winter sets in. A lot of people will be expecting a lot of fast-paced drives and big plays in Oakland this week, but I think the Pats surprise a lot of people and start grinding it out a little more. Look for the Law Firm to have a big day.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis Fantasy Football Week 4 Projected Stats: 90 yards, 2 TDs; 65 receiving yards

Other Start ‘Em RBs for Week Four:

• Brandon Jacobs – He looked fresh on Sunday, and he’s also becoming more of a threat out of the backfield.
• Fred Jackson – Big day for Jackson against the Bengals.
• Jahvid Best – Massive day for Detroit players…yet again.
• Michael Turner – Playing the Seahawks…enough said.

Projected Worst Performer: Texans’ Running Backs
The Colts had a decent night running the ball because they had no other choice…and Pittsburgh wasn’t really prepared for it. The Texans, on the other hand, will try to establish their passing attack first, and if the Steelers shut it down, Houston will find itself trailing early. Add to that the fact that seemingly all of their running backs have nagging injuries, and I foresee a rough day for Houston RBs…no matter who is lined up in the backfield.

Ben Tate and Arian Foster Fantasy Football Week 4 Projected Stats: 38 yards; 44 receiving yards

Sit Em RB: Ray Rice
I know I have been burned by doubting Ray Rice before, but I really hate their matchup this week against New York. I don’t expect the Ravens to get an early lead like they did against the Steelers, and I’m afraid that Rice will only get something like 11 carries and a few receptions this week. If that happens, Rice owners will be in for a long day.

Ray Rice Fantasy Football Week 4 Projected Stats: 49 yards; 36 receiving yards

Other Sit ‘Em RBs for Week Four:

• Daniel Thomas – I need him to do it again against somebody legit.
• James Starks – I saw Ryan Grant in person this week…and he looks like he’s COMPLETELY back from injury. Look for the Packers to gradually stop splitting the load between the two backs.
• Denver Running Backs – Green Bay might have the best rushing defense in the league.
• Cowboys Running Backs – If Green Bay isn’t first, Detroit is.

Fantasy Football Week 4 Start Em, Sit Em Projections: Wide Receivers

Projected Best Performer: Megatron
After last week’s performance, I’m penciling him into this spot until he blows out his knee in 4 places and even then…I will need to make sure he isn’t in the lineup.

Calvin Johnson Fantasy Football Week 4 Projected Stats: 7 Catches for 145 yards and 2 TDs

Start Em WR: Plaxico Burress
Once again, Sanchez really loves him in the red zone, and I think he will get a lot of chances against Baltimore’s good, but smallish secondary.

Plaxico Burress Fantasy Football Week 4 Projected Stats: 5 Catches for 75 yards and 2 TDs

Other Start ‘Em WRs for Week Four:

• Reggie Wayne – Painter is his guy…and he’s in the starting lineup.
• Roddy White – Finally the performance his owners have been waiting for.
• AJ Green – He’s good! I promise! Buffalo is also a good matchup for him.
• Wes Welker – As long as their TEs are banged up and Chad Ochocinco is an option, expect Welker to have monster days.

Projected Worst Performer: Sidney Rice
One of those games where nothing goes right for Seattle. You know, like all of their other games that don’t come against NFC West opponents.

Sidney Rice Fantasy Football Week 4 Projected Stats: 3 catches for 25 yards

Sit Em WR: Dwayne Bowe
Minnesota’s secondary actually isn’t that bad. If you take out Megatron and one 60 yard reception by Best, Stafford actually had a pretty modest day against them. Well, Dwayne Bowe is not Megatron…and the Chiefs are awful. Bowe will be in for a long day against the Vikings.

Dwayne Bowe Fantasy Football Week 4 Projected Stats: 4 catches for 38 yards.

Other Sit ‘Em WRs for Week Four:

• Chad Ochocinco – I just wanted to give myself an easy point for my record next week.
• Steve Smith 1.0 – Tough day for the Newtons.
• Jeremy Maclin – Just not the same player without Michael Vick, plus he’s injured and may not even play.
• Anquan Boldin – Revis Island.

Fantasy Football Week 4 Start Em, Sit Em Projections: Tight Ends

Projected Best Performer: Rob Gronkowski
See above, Megatron.

Rob Gronkowski Fantasy Football Week 4 Projected Stats: 12 catches for 120 yards and 1 TD.

Start Em TE: Greg Olsen
I witnessed, first hand, the worst safety in the league on Sunday: Craig Steltz for the Bears…and boy did he win that award easily. His biggest problem is covering tight ends, as evidenced by Jermichael Finley’s outstanding day. The Panthers won’t have a great day against the Bears, but expect big things from Olsen.

Greg Olsen Fantasy Football Week 4 Projected Stats: 9 catches for 100 yards a 1 TD.

Other Start ‘Em TEs for Week Four:

• Jermichael Finley – He’s baaaa-aack.
• Jimmy Graham – He’s quickly becoming one of Brees’ favorite targets.
• Tony Gonzalez – Just a touchdown machine at this point. Even though I don’t like to chase touchdowns, Gonzo is almost good for one a game.
• Jermaine Gresham – Buffalo showed us last week that they have a hard time defending the pass, and especially tight ends.

Projected Worst Performer: Owen Daniels
Troy Polamalu is back to roving the middle of the field. This is bad news for Daniels.

Owen Daniels Fantasy Football Week 4 Projected Stats: 3 catches for 15 yards.

Sit Em TE: Vernon Davis
Philly has done a very good job of defending tight ends this year. Besides Tony Gonzalez’s unbelievable catch on Monday Night Football, they have basically shut them down. Look for Davis to have a rough week this week against the Eagles.

Vernon Davis Fantasy Football Week 4 Projected Stats: 5 catches for 45 yards

Other Sit ‘Em TEs for Week Four:

• Heath Miller – Pitt’s WRs will get a lot more action this week.
• Ben Watson – I still don’t trust him.
• Kellen Winslow – Will be forced to help out with pass protection against Freeney and Mathis more than he wants.

Best of luck in Week 4! Pose your Week 4 questions below.

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Don’t miss the rest of our Fantasy Football Week 4 coverage:

• Week 4 Start Em, Sit Em Projections
• Week 4 Waiver Wire Advice
• Week 4 Rankings

The Chiefs team as a whole gets a lot of attention this week due mainly to the injury of Jamaal Charles, which opens up some opportunities for other guys on that squad.

The game itself is changing with the way teams throw the ball.  Yes running backs are still important but QBs and WRs are becoming the high scorers week in and week out.  Don’t be late to the party.

Fantasy Football Week 3 Stock Up

QB Colt McCoy

No, Colt is not the caliber of player as Matt Schaub or Tom Brady, but in terms of fantasy value, the Dolphins defense offers a lot of opportunity for the 2^nd year vet.

Two things jump out at me when you look at him this week.  First, the Browns throw the ball a lot in that West Coast system; and second, Miami’s best corner Vonte Davis is out with a hamstring injury.  Couldn’t get a much more favorable matchup than this.

QB Kevin Kolb

The Cards go up against a defense that is slightly underrated.  Be that as it may, the Seattle offense is so inept that 3 and outs have become the norm and the defense is forced to stay on the field.  The defense is averaging over 35 minutes on the field, which is going to create many opportunities for Kolb this week.

RB Jahvid Best

Forget all the talk about the Detroit defense, this offense is putting up some serious numbers.  It seems as if the NFL these days is a pass-first, run-second league, but running backs are still putting up numbers.  The best thing about Best is his versatility and ability to score points from catching passes out of the backfield as he has been targeted 13 times so far this year.

Chargers RBs

If you are looking for the KC defense to rebound after two straight weeks of getting burned for 40 points, this isn’t the week.  San Diego really knows how to spread the wealth around when it comes to their skill players.  On the year, Mike Tolbert and Ryan Mathews are ranked 8^th and 11^th for fantasy RBs and average 20 plus touches each week.

WR David Nelson

This is going to be the week in which we find out if the Bills and their 4 wide receiver offense are for real.  It might sound crazy but against the Patriots, (who aren’t exactly ball hawking this year so far) another 30-point shootout could be in the works.

WR Nate Burleson

Almost put Santana Moss in this spot, but you already know about him, so enough about Moss and more about the man opposite of “Megatron” in Detroit.  Here is an equation to love: fantasy star Matthew Stafford + Minnesota run defense = Nate Burleson big day.  It is looking like a 10-point day for the former Viking and a lot better option than Roy Williams, but more on that later.

TE Rob Gronkowski

While we were saying avoid him last week, and wrongly so, this week is the exact opposite.  No Aaron Hernandez means no more competition for targets amongst TEs and more love from Tom Brady.  Now who wouldn’t like that?

TE Fred Davis

After a few years of not living up to his potential, Davis looks like he has overtaken Chris Cooley as the number one fantasy option at tight end on the Redskins.  Everyone seems to be expecting the Cowboys defense to have a big game with the rival skins coming to town but as Lee Corso would say, not so fast my friend! Fred Davis is looking to have a big day.

Fantasy Football Week 3 Stagnant Stock

Kansas City Backfield

It isn’t normal to do this, but of all the suggestions this could be the most honest one.  Given the obvious, Jamaal Charles is done for the year and the Chiefs just don’t have the receiving options to sling the ball 45 times a game, so here is the deal: Dexter McCluster is small and can’t carry the ball 20 times a game; neither can Thomas Jones because he is a 33 year old RB in the NFL when the life expectancy is around four years; and the third option is Le’Ron McClain, who had a big year in Baltimore when he was one of the feature backs.  Any of these guys could step up and be leaned upon in KC, so its vital to stay up to date with what is going on with that trio.

Fantasy Football Week 3 Stock Down

QB Sam Bradford

Maybe you have him starting on your team, then again maybe you shouldn’t.  If Steven Jackson plays, the Ravens will have the choice of who they want to limit on Sunday.  With the skill of their run defense, chances are Bradford is going to have the cavalry thrown at him by way of the blitz.

QB Matt Cassel

I don’t know if LOL is appropriate for formal writing, but that is what I must say to the play of the 70% owned Cassel.  The Chiefs have scored 10 points this year and Cassel has put up 3 points himself.  Is it bad that he put up 6 of those points in week 1?

RB Shonn Greene

The experts and football heads all around the world can predict big things for anybody, but until they step up, it is best to leave them alone.  The Raiders’ run defense is not as bad as it seems and with a more formal run game, the Jets don’t have the type of offense that gets guys in space like Buffalo does.

RB Joseph Addai

What is worse than a rookie taking away your carries?  A visit from the run stopping Pittsburgh Steelers.  You tend to feel a little bad for this guy, as his skills were fitting well with Peyton Manning.  Check downs, protection changes, and change of pace run plays really let Addai do his thing.  Now he is being leaned upon as the go-to guy in this offense and he just isn’t cut out for that.

WR Early Doucet

It was easy for fantasy owners to get excited about the 16 point game in week 1 against the Panthers but that is in the past.  Why couldn’t he duplicate that performance against the Redskins?  Why is water wet?  All kidding aside, this NFC west matchup could go any way it wants to.  Just don’t count on a double digit game until Kevin Kolb is truly comfortable with this offense.

WR DeSean Jackson

Fantasy Blasphemy!  I just get the feeling that Tom Coughlin will do everything he can to make his day difficult.

TE Kellen Winslow

He’s projected as questionable for Sunday’s game vs Atlanta.  Tampa Bay hasn’t seen the big numbers expected out of Winslow so far in 2011 but its only week 3.  No need to panic about his production.  Just give it some time before you expect the double digit games.

Bills D/ST

That 13 point outing in week 1 was against the hopeless Chiefs.  Did you see what Jason Campbell did against this defense with a slew of his top receivers out?  Oh yea, and add to the fact that New England will hang 59 points on a team if they feel like it, a negative

Because we at MSF try our best to get you our Start Em, Sit Em picks before everyone else, we have to take a few chances. One of the downsides to coming out with these picks on Tuesday is that we won’t know all of the injury updates that come out later in the week. We answer your questions and update our predictions accordingly as more information comes out.

However, a few predictions didn’t pan out this week because of injuries (either during the game, or because guys with nagging injuries didn’t end up suiting up on Sunday)…so out of fairness to me, we are going to throw out Michael Vick, Felix Jones, and Dez Bryant.

So besides those guys who caught the injury bug, I went 29 out of 46 overall…a little under 65%. I improved from week one…and that’s exactly what you should try to do from week to week in fantasy.

If you missed the $250 MSF Week 1 Freeroll Challenge at FanDuel, shame on you. But the good news is that we’ll be doing another one in Week 3! Details to come soon.

Click here to sign up at FanDuel to play the best weekly fantasy football game around.

Fantasy Football Week Three

Also, don’t miss Andy Bottoms’ Week 3 waiver wire advice!

Week Two Recap

Best Player Predictions: 2 for 3
Picks: Ray Rice, Megatron, and Jermaine Gresham (Michael Vick)
Calvin Johnson had two TDs, and Rice still put up 15 fantasy points in a horrible week for Baltimore. Gresham, however, was a complete no-show. Unfortunately for him, AJ Green announced himself to the world this week, and Gresham didn’t get a lot of targets.

Start Em Predictions: 2.5 for 4
Picks: Tony Romo, Shonn Greene, Jabar Gaffney, and Dallas Clark
Romo was an absolute “hit” of a pick…and he didn’t even play the whole game. However, Greene, Gaffney, and Clark were all lukewarm. None of them killed you if you started them, but none of them really went out and crushed it either. Greene and Clark both got TDs to salvage their days, and Gaffney had a solid amount of yards with no TDs. I’m giving myself 1/2 points for all three of them.

Other Guys I Liked Predictions: 13 for 17
Hits: Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Phillip Rivers, Matthew Stafford, Jay Cutler, Matt Forte, Darren Sproles, LeSean McCoy, Hakeem Nicks, Miles Austin, Jason Witten, Dustin Keller, and Aaron Hernandez
Misses: Kerry Collins, Devin Hester, Jacoby Jones, and Ed Dickson

Worst Player Predictions: 3 for 4
Picks: Cam Newton, DeAngelo Williams, Mike Thomas, and Brandon Pettigrew
Completely missed on the Auburn alum…and completely nailed the other three. I still find it hard to believe that Cam Newton is going to be doing this all year, but he is definitely worth a look right now, especially if you need a solid backup. Also, since I live in Charleston, SC, and am forced to have every single second of every Panther game shown to me on tv, I have to say I’ve loved the young guy’s attitude in both losses this year.

Sit Em Predictions: 0.5 for 4
Picks: Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, Santonio Holmes, and Scott Chandler
Holmes scored a TD to salvage an otherwise mediocre day, so I’m giving myself a half point on that one. Other than that, Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, and Chandler were all misses.

Other Guys I Didn’t Like Predictions: 8 for 14
Hits: Donovan McNabb, Sam Bradford, Colts’ RBs, LaDainian Tomlinson, Mark Ingram, Mike Thomas, Ben Watson, Greg Olsen, Todd Heap
Misses: Matt Hasselbeck, Sam Bradford, LeGarrette Blount, AJ Green, Steve Smith 1.0, and Dwyane Bowe.

On to Week Three!

Just a little clarification… “Top Performer” predictions can be anybody…I can put Tom Brady in there every single week if I want to (and by the looks of it, I may just have to do that). However, “Start Em” guys will be QBs/TEs outside of the Top 12 and RBs/WRs outside of the Top 25 at their position (unless, for some reason, a lot of people are predicting them to have a terrible week and I disagree). “Sit Em” guys will be QBs/TEs that are in the Top 12 and RBs/WRs that are in the Top 25 at their position.

Again, the goal of this article is to help you with the FRINGE guys…any idiot could sit down and predict, with great accuracy, that the top 10 fantasy QBs will have good weeks. At MSF, we try to help you with the difficult choices.

Fantasy Football Week 3 Start Em, Sit Em Projections: Quarterbacks

Projected Best Performer: Tom Brady
What? You were expecting someone else? It’s possible it will be incredibly windy in Buffalo this weekend…unfortunately, that is the Bills’ only hope at slowing down Justin Bieber on Sunday.

Tom Brady fantasy football Week 3 projection – 390 yards; 4 TDs, 1 INT

Projected Worst Performer: Matt Cassel
He’s been awful so far this year…and now he will be playing without his best offensive weapon against a team that will be trying to exact revenge after making so many dumb mistakes against the Pats last week.

Matt Cassel fantasy football Week Three projection – 195 yards; 1 TD, 3 INTs

Start Em QB: Rex Grossman
This is a combination of two things: I actually really like what Grossman has done so far this year; and the Cowboys’ secondary is terrible. The possibility exists that Washington will be in for a tough game on the road in Dallas, but I don’t think it will affect Grossman’s numbers very much on Monday Night.

Rex Grossman fantasy football Week 3 projection – 330 yards; 3 TDs, 1 INT

Other Start ‘em QBs for Week 3:

• Philip Rivers – Always.
• Matt Stafford – As long as he’s healthy.
• Cam Newton – Home against Jacksonville…he should have a very solid day again.
• Matt Ryan – Big game against Tampa Bay.

Sit Em QB: Ryan Fitzpatrick
This might not sound like a huge leap of faith, but Fitzpatrick is currently the fifth overall ranked fantasy QB, and New England’s pass defense isn’t exactly spectacular. Nevertheless, I really don’t like Fitzpatrick this week.

If the Bills end up trailing by 14 or more early on (I think they will), Fitzpatrick won’t have the time to sit back in the pocket like he did against Oakland this week. NE will get him uncomfortable, and force him into a few more mistakes than normal.

Ryan Fitzpatrick fantasy football Week Three projection – 230 yards; 1 TD, 2 INTs

Other Sit ‘em QBs for Week 3:

• Aaron Rodgers and Jay Cutler – (Relatively to what they will normally do)…I think the GB/CHI game will be a lot uglier than what people will be expecting.
• Donovan McNabb – Against Suh…yikes!
• Kerry Collins – Maybe the last game of his career.

Fantasy Football Week 3 Start Em, Sit em Projections: Running Backs

Projected Best Performer: Maurice Jones-Drew
Mo-Joe should get lots of carries if and when Blaine Gabbert starts on Sunday, and he will probably be fantastic until he dies in week 5 due to being unbelievably over-worked for the past twenty years.

Maurice Jones-Drew fantasy football Week 3 projection – 140 Rushing Yards, 1 TD; 85 Receiving Yards, 1 TD

Projected Worst Performer: Colts’ RBs
They are awful…and they will be playing Pittsburgh. There’s just nothing to like about the Colts’ offense this week.

Joseph Addai and Delone Carter fantasy football Week Three projection – 28 Rushing Yards TOTAL

Start Em RB: Rashard Mendenhall
I’m really down on Mendenhall this year, but against the Colts on Sunday Night, he will haul a lot people back onto his bandwagon.

Rashard Mendenhall fantasy football Week 3 projection – 115 Rushing Yards; 45 Receiving Yards, 1 TD

Other Start ‘em RBs for Week 3:

• LeSean McCoy – Maybe no Vick…maybe tons of stats for the RB.
• Fred Jackson – Gets a surprising amount of yardage on the ground against NE.
• Ray Rice – Could be the overall top performer against St. Louis.
• Shonn Greene – The second of like six or seven straight great weeks for him.

Sit Em RB: Jahvid Best
I think the Lions will do pretty well against Minnesota this week, but I don’t necessarily love the matchup for Best. The Vikings’ D-Line is still solid, but more importantly, they have shown to be vulnerable in the air. Megatron and his friends will be targeted early and often…and for good reason.

Jahvid Best fantasy football Week Three projection – 45 Rushing Yards; 45 Receiving Yards

Other Sit ‘em RBs for Week 3:

• Adrian Peterson – Ndomakong Suh (you’re still starting him of course, but temper expectations)
• Darren McFadden – Not against the Jets. He may break one big reception, but otherwise, he will be bottled up.
• Packers Running Backs – The platoon is killing both of them…and neither will run well in Chicago.

Fantasy Football Week 3 Start Em, Sit em Projections: Wide Receivers

Projected Best Performer: Brandon Marshall
Marshall will most likely be playing in an ugly game at Cleveland. Both teams will try to run the ball quite a bit in order to control the clock, and the passing games will be left out a little bit. That won’t be a problem for Marshall though. He will create matchup problems for the undersized Cleveland secondary all day, and while the Dolphins may lose, Marshall should have a big day.

Brandon Marshall fantasy football Week 3 projection – 8 Catches for 165 Yards and 1 TD.

Projected Worst Performer: Denarius Moore
Revis Island. Moving on.

Denarius Moore fantasy football Week Three projection – 1 Catch for 9 Yards

Start Em WR: Santana Moss
Moss is quietly having a very solid fantasy season once again. At this point, he is the 27th ranked WR, and he only has one TD meaning his value hasn’t been super inflated. He should have a great game against the soft Dallas secondary, and if the game turns into a high-scoring affair, Moss will get a lot of targets. Surprisingly, he’s still Washington’s big-play guy at this point in his career, and I expect him to break a couple on Monday Night.

Santana Moss fantasy football Week 3 projection – 9 Catches for 140 Yards and 1 TD.

Other Start ‘em WRs for Week 3:

• Reggie Wayne – The only Colt player that will have a good week.
• Larry Fitzgerald – He is becoming more comfortable with Kolb…look out.
• AJ Green – I think he’s one of the top 5 talented WRs in the league already…and I’m not kidding. Just watch this. Plus, it looks like Andy Dalton knows that now as well.
• Steve Smith 1.0 – If Cam has a big day, Steve will have a big day.

Sit Em WR: Dwayne Bowe
Just a bad day to be a Chiefs fan. Cassel will most likely struggle, and San Diego will concentrate on shutting Bowe and the running game down. Last year against San Diego, Bowe combined for 2 catches and 16 yards…that’s the TOTAL for both games. Be very careful before Tasting the Dwayne Bowe this weekend.

Dwayne Bowe fantasy football Week Three projection – 3 Catches for 30 Yards.

Other Sit ‘em WRs for Week 3:

• Julio Jones – I still don’t think he’s that good. He may break out in week 8, but he’s way too inconsistent to be looked at this early in his career. Just click on this article for proof.
• Jeremy Maclin – He and DeSean Jackson are just too inconsistent…but I think it’s Jackson’s turn this week to have a big week and Maclin will be left out.
• Santonio Holmes – Keller and Plaxico are options 1 and 2 in the red zone for the Jets right now. And Greene is probably #3.

Fantasy Football Week 3 Start em, Sit em Projections: Tight Ends

Projected Best Performer: Rob Gronkowski
This is a no-brainer. Hernandez is banged up and will miss a few games. Gronkowski may go for 400 yards in this offense right now.

Rob Gronkowski fantasy football Week 3 projection – 9 Catches for 145 Yards and 2 TDs.

Projected Worst Performer: Todd Heap
There is a reason that Baltimore let him go so easily…and you should let him go as well.

Todd Heap fantasy football Week Three projection – 0 Catches

Start Em TE: Brent Celek
If Vick is banged up and can’t go, or even if he is healthy but playing a little more conservatively, Celek should have a big game. Currently, he sits 30th overall in the TE rankings, but Celek owners should look forward to this Sunday.

Brent Celek fantasy football Week 3 projection – 8 Catches for 85 Yards and 1 TD.

Other Start ‘em TEs for Week 3:

• Dustin Keller – Quickly becoming the Sanchize’s favorite target.
• Tony Gonzalez – He’s still got a little left in the tank…I was wrong.
• Jermaine Gresham
• Owen Daniels – High scoring affair against New Orleans…Schaub will look to him often to beat the Saints’ blitz.

Sit Em TE: Dallas Clark
I just hate the matchup. Polomalu will be ranging all over the middle of the field, and Collins will be on his back for much of the game. Clark may be needed to pass block more than normal, and he just won’t be able to get into the game at all.

Dallas Clark fantasy football Week 3 projection – 5 Catches for 40 Yards and 1 Fumble

Other Sit ‘Em TEs for Week 3:

• Scott Chandler – Don’t chase Touchdowns! They will end up disappointing you.
• Jimmy Graham – One of those weeks that Brees finds everybody but him.
• Ben Watson – The classic “I scored a TD early and I look better than I really am” guy. Take it out, and you have a guy with 6 catches for 61 yards. Not terrible…but not a starter in a league with less than 25 teams.

Good Luck in Week Three!  As always, feel free to ask questions in the comment section, or on my twitter (@The_Dr_Twitch) or to our MSF Fantasy Twitter account (@FantasyMSF).

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Stay caught up with all of our Week 3 fantasy football analysis:

• Week 3 Start em, Sit em Projections
• Week 3 Waiver Wire Advice
• Week 3 Stats to Know
• Week 3 Fantasy Football Talk Start/Sit Podcast
• Week 3 Player Rankings at QB, RB, WR, TE, K, and D/ST
• Week 3 Sleeper Picks

If there is one thing to know prior to Week 2 it is that you shouldn’t be excited one way or another about one specific game; but that doesn’t mean rest on your laurels.  Fantasy football owners must be bold and we have some bold stock reports just for you.

Stock Up

Matthew Stafford

Could this be the year that Stafford jumps into the elite group of fantasy quarterbacks that can score you 20+ points week in and week out?  Maybe, maybe not; but this week should be a big one for him.  The Chiefs got lit up for four touchdowns through the air by the Bills and now with Eric Berry out for the season, the hole in that secondary just got bigger.

Joe Flacco

He could be one of the most underrated players in all of football.  After this week, there will be no more questions about his play.  Baltimore is going to have a lot of possessions to put up points as this Tennessee team has questions all around.  With weapons like Boldin, Evans and Rice at his disposal, Joe Cool looks like one of the most consistent players around.

Peyton Hillis

With only 8 points at home last week against Cincinnati, you can bet your mortgage that this number will almost double.  To say the Indy defense is small would be an understatement.  The Browns are going to pound him over and over again until they see 8 or 9 in the box.  Look for Hillis to carry the ball about 25 times with a few catches out of the backfield too.

Beanie Wells

His third year in the league really could be a breakout season for the underachieving back, and with Hightower no longer around to steal some of the touches, Wells’ role has increased.  Washington likes to gear up for the pass, and any time the Cards get remotely near the endzone you know that he is going to get the ball.

Brandon Marshall

Why would his stock be down in the first place?  It’s understandable if someone questions Marshall because of his antics and the fact that Chad Henne is throwing him the ball, but this offense could be something special from a fantasy perspective.  They will give the Texans’ new look 3-4 defense its first real test of 2011.  Two above average acquisitions in the secondary really isn’t enough to slow down an elite talent like Marshall.

Robert Meachem and Devery Henderson

There are only a few teams where you can lose your number one receiver and there is virtually no worry.  That’s a team with Drew Brees leading at the helm.  Marques Colston is out for a few weeks with a broken collarbone so Meachem and Henderson will absorb a lot of his production; and with a Bears defense that is really designed to stop the run, 10+ fantasy points for both guys is not out of the question.

Owen Daniels

The Texans didn’t have to show any of their true colors on offense against the disaster what seems to be Indianapolis last week.  This week will be much different as the Dolphins will pose a much bigger test and Daniels’ production will be relied on even more.  You did see what New England TE’s were able to do against that Miami defense last week right?

Dallas Clark

There has to be a massive overhaul on the offensive end for the Colts, and who better to make the focal point than Dallas Clark?  A quarterback’s best friend is a good running game and a pass catching tight end.  Cleveland has good corners and the options of Wayne, Garcon and Collie may be minimized to an extent, allowing Clark to roam freely and pick up points.

Stock Down

Matt Ryan

The Atlanta Falcons offense has a lot of very good players on it.  Roddy White, Michael Turner, Julio Jones and Ryan all have Pro-Bowl talent, but the offense as a whole really isn’t explosive.  As far as the passing game goes, this week against the Eagles and three very good corners, things aren’t looking very good.  Another negative is that with Michael Vick on the other sideline, Atlanta will try and run the ball to keep him on the field making Ryan’s fantasy prospectus bleak.

Matt Cassel

It isn’t like he was expected to be some kind of fantasy star, but ever since his year in ’09 with the Pats, Cassel has been given high praise.  The Chiefs’ schedule this year is a lot more difficult than it was the previous and the going gets tough right now.  The Lions’ D-Line is among the league’s best, so pressure up the middle is going to be imminent causing a turnover or two.

Jamaal Charles

Chances are I’m going to take some flack for this suggestion to leave Charles on the bench, but it is for the same reason we don’t like Cassel this week.  With Suh and crew wreaking havoc on the KC O-line, the only production out of the backfield could be on screens and outside runs, which is the usual but if the Lions are up early in the game he might turn in a mediocre single digit point game.

Chris Johnson

So, 9 carries for 24 yards equals out to 4 points against the Jags defense.  What do people think will happen against a Ravens defense that is clearly much better?  There are way too many questions swirling around Johnson at this time to think that 4-point games are acceptable, and it is obvious that the holdout has slowed down his progress so far.  Like with all fantasy running backs, when their team is down, the running game takes a backseat and so do individual stats.

Roddy White

Look, this isn’t an assault on the Atlanta Falcons offense, but looking past the obvious would be a grave mistake.  Going up against the talented Philadelphia secondary is going to be a tall task, but the specific matchup is what will determine White’s production.  If he goes against Asante Samuel, he may provide you with some decent production, but if it is the bigger and stronger Nnamdi Asumogha, then he is going to struggle.

Steve Smith

The Packers took notice of what Cam Newton was able to do against Arizona with Smith as his primary target.  29 points looks great, but to think that Dom Capers won’t virtually eliminate the Panther wideout in hopes of forcing the rookie quarterback to throw elsewhere is crazy.

Zach Miller

The Seahawks are going into a firestorm on Sunday and the worst defense they could face would be the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Pete Carroll is going to want to use some max protect schemes against the pass rush, which means Miller will be staying in to block.  While he may start off slow this year, you shouldn’t be apt to sell him yet.  A week or two more to get settled into the Seattle system should get him back to his normal self.

Rob Gronkowski

Last week the football world saw the Pats utilize the two tight end set almost all game, and it was truly run to perfection.  Well, this is a different week, and with a different week comes a different team, and with a different team, well, yea you get the point.  The Patriots aren’t going to bully the Chargers defense with the two tight ends.  Rob may have some success this week but 14 points is looking a lot more like 4.

Now let’s take a look at the questionable fantasy-relevant players and their expected injury status For Week 1.

AFC North

Lee Evans, wide receiver for the Baltimore Ravens, who was suffering from ankle/foot issues, is ready to go for week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, noting that the team was only being precautionary toward his injury.

AFC South

Kenny Britt, wide receiver for the Tennesse Titans, is expected to take the field during Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, even though he missed the first three preseason games. Britt’s teammate, Chris Johnson, has received plenty of attention during his contract hold out. While Johnson isn’t injured, Coach Mike Munchak stated they will be aware of how many carries they give him, probably to avoid muscle strain injuries from Johnson missing a majority of preseason and training.

Another player who should be on your fantasy radar is Peyton Manning, quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts. Earlier this year Manning had neck surgery and has spent much time recovering and slowly easing himself back into the game. However, Manning has stopped practice and will most likely miss week 1. While the official statement refers to a back injury, there are rumors flying that he could undergo a second neck surgery, and fantasy players should be prepared to have him out for more than one week.

AFC West

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel may have suffered a cracked rib. While earlier the Chiefs were unsure if he’d start week 1, Cassel practiced in full on Monday and looks promising for him to start the season off.

Demayrius Thomas, wide receiver for the Denver Broncos, has returned to practice two months earlier than anticipated after suffering from an Achilles injury. While he will probably not start week 1, it is not unlikely that he will make his season debut in week 2.

NFC North

Detriot Lions running back Maurice Morris, returned to practice on Monday without a cast on his hand. Because Jahvid Best is not the most durable player, it’s good to keep Morris in mind while setting up your fantasy roster.

Visanthe Shiancoe, tight end for the Minnesota Vikings, looks like he will be on the field on Sunday when the Vikings take on the San Diego Chargers. After returning to practice on Monday, the Vikings expect he will be back as long as no hamstring injuries flare up.

Marion Barber, running back for the Chicago Bears, has missed some of the preseason after suffering from a calf injury. However, the calf injury is not serious and he should return to the field “soon”. With the little information provided, leaving him out of your week 1 roster might not be a bad idea.

NFC South

Lance Moore, wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints, did not practice Monday. However, this may simply be to rest his surgically repaired groin muscle. It will be more clear after practice on Tuesday whether or not he will open against the Green Bay Packers.

The countdown to Thursday begins! Are you ready for some football?

Unfortunately, the eternal King of Pop is no longer with us (he would have turned 53 just a few days ago on August 29th), and he thus he will never be able to follow in the footsteps of Bruce Springsteen, The Who, John Mellencamp, and others who have taken to the Super Bowl stage as older musicians, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t weave the musical brilliance of Michael Jackson into a post about the National Football League.

So enjoy this homage to my favorite musician of all time, Michael Jackson, as we kick off our coverage of the 2011 NFL season. Here are all 32 Week One starting QBs in the NFL…as Michael Jackson songs.

AFC East

Tom Brady (NE) – “Blame It On The Boogie”

There are high hopes for the reigning NFL MVP heading into 2011. Coming off of the second best statistical season of his career, but yet another playoff loss, it feels like there is more urgency to capture Super Bowl #4 for he and Brilliant Bill. (How else do you explain bringing in a certified turd like Albert Haynesworth?)

However, if you are a Patriots fan, how much confidence can you have after seeing your quarterback dance like this during the offseason?

Is there any kind of historical precedent for a superstar NFL quarterback being videotaped dancing in such a sacless manner and then winning a Super Bowl? I can’t think of one.

So if things do not go as planned in New England this year – and let’s be honest, the plan is Super Bowl or Bust, as it always should be when you have Brady and Belichick – then Patriots fans can simply blame it on the (Brady) boogie.

———

Mark Sanchez (NYJ) – “Mama’s Pearl”

Ever since Jets mama bear Rex Ryan named Mark Sanchez his Week 1 starter before Sanchez’s rookie season, the coach has joined Jets supporters across the nation in making excuse after excuse for Sanchez’s overall poor play. For his career, Sanchez has completed just 54.4% of his passes and has thrown four more INTs than he has thrown touchdowns.

Of course, the immediate counter-argument is that Sanchez has also played in his conference’s championship games the last two season, something no other QB in the NFL can say. And as long as the Jets keep on winning, even if Sanchez’s stats and overall play remain underwhelming, in the eyes of mother bear Rex his young QB will undoubtedly remain mama’s pearl.

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Chad Henne (MIA) – “Bad”

To say that Chad Henne has been a disappointment to Dolphins fans would be a gross understatement. His 27:33 career TD:INT ratio has been, in a word, bad. His inability to make good decisions in the red zone has been even worse.

But in Michael Jackson’s song “Bad” he is not singing about someone who sucks. MJ is singing about being a badass. And hey, despite being scrawny, certifiably kooky, and even at times somewhat effeminate, Michael Jackson was a badass.

But can Chad Henne come anything close to badass?

Chad Henne has two choices in 2011: he can either continue being bad in the literal sense of the word, or he can carry his impressive preseason play into the regular season and be bad. Like, say, Drew Brees bad (which actually means good, in this case). And there’s precedent, so says no less an authority than the great Bill Barnwell of Football Outsiders and Grantland fame.

No pressure Chad; it’s only the entire Dolphins’ season riding on which “bad” you choose.

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Ryan Fitzpatrick (BUF) – “They Don’t Care About Us”

Ryan Fitzpatrick is still the quarterback in Buffalo, and he is actually more productive than most people give him credit for. However, I’ll reiterate: he plays in Buffalo, which is why many people don’t give him or any other Bills player much credit.

The Bills and their fans would not be wrong to say they don’t care about us in relation to the attention they receive from the national football media at large. But, of course, it’s hard to garner much attention when you don’t win games.

Sure, people cared about the Buffalo Bills at one time, back when they were running roughshod over the AFC on their way to four straight Super Bowls, when the “K-Gun” offense was the cat’s pajamas. But now? Like I said, other than residents of Buffalo and Toronto, no one really cares.

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AFC North

Ben Roethlisberger (PIT) – “Ben” and “Dirty Diana”

Obviously young MJ’s classic song “Ben” is a perfect fit for the player NFL analysts refer to simply by his first name, Ben. So let’s just get that out of the way right now.

But stopping at “Ben” for Ben Roethlisberger would be a copout. And we’re not coupouters here at MSF, so we’ll provide a second song for Mr. Roethlisberger aka Bathroom Ben.

And really, what song other than “Dirty Diana” would be appropriate for someone whose idea of a good time is getting drunk with random dirty Dianas and engaging in relations in the bathroom of a bar?

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Joe Flacco (BAL) – “Beat It”

Do you realize that this Bert doppelganger has completed 62% of his passes and has a solid 60:34 TD:INT ratio for his three-year career? It’s quite possible, perhaps even probable, that Joe Flacco is the most underrated QB in the NFL.

But the stats are just a small part of it.

As we know, QBs are judged by wins and losses. Well, all Joe Flacco has done is beat it — the opposing team that it is — in two-thirds of the regular season games he has started. He has also won a playoff game in each of his three seasons in the NFL. Even the highly acclaimed Matt Ryan can’t beat that.

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Colt McCoy (CLE) – “Little Bitty Pretty One”

The second-year player for the Browns stands just 6’1, which is just an inch taller than noted shorty Drew Brees. The cherubic McCoy also holds the Super Bowl (heck, Wild Card) aspirations of a starving Browns fan base on his little bitty pretty shoulders, as a town desperate for a solid QB and a winning team hopes that McCoy is the answer to its collective prayers.

And yes, I know that the Jackson 5 version of “Little Bitty Pretty One” is a cover of a Frankie Lymon song, but seeing as how Browns fans would be ecstatic if McCoy simply ends up being a cover of their beloved Bernie Kosar, it seems appropriate.

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Andy Dalton (CIN) – “She’s Out of My Life”

In this case, it’s actually a he, not a she, that is out of Dalton and Bengals’ fans lives. And the he in question is Carson Palmer, who has chosen to retire rather than subject himself to anymore Bengals nonsense (assuming he doesn’t make a surprise 11th hour visit to camp).

Of course, while Bengals owner Mike Brown seems to be happily chirping He’s out of my life in reference to Palmer, other observers are criticizing Brown’s “damned indecision and cursed pride” seeing as how he could have traded Palmer and gotten something for him rather than wasting one of the team’s few valuable assets.

Now it’s up to the rookie Dalton to lead the Palmer-less and Ochocinco-less Bengals into 2011. For Bengals fans, it will probably just be another wicked season that “cuts like a knife”, and by Week 8 Bengals fans may be wishing the franchise, or at least the much-maligned Brown, was out of their life.

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AFC South

Peyton Manning (IND) – “Smooth Criminal”

Is anyone smoother at running an offense than Peyton Manning? It’s almost criminal the way he picks apart opposing defenses as if he’s stolen their signals or planted a bug in their huddle.

Regardless, the reason why “Smooth Criminal” is the MJ song perfect for Peyton in 2011 is because all you have to do is substitute one word in the song to make it an almost perfect reenactment of every time the Colts QB has met with the press this offseason.

Peyton Are You OK?
So, Peyton Are You OK
Are You OK, Peyton
Peyton Are You OK?
So, Peyton Are You OK
Are You OK, Peyton
Peyton Are You OK?
So, Peyton Are You OK?
Are You OK, Peyton?
Peyton Are You OK?
So, Peyton Are You Ok, Are You Ok, Peyton?

Well Peyton? Are you? ARE YOU? We’ll find out Week 1.

And if Peyton is okay, and doesn’t miss a start, then the true “smooth criminal” will be Kerry Collins for getting paid $4 million to do…what, exactly?

Matt Schaub (HOU) – “Can You Feel It”

It seems like every year is the Texans’ year.

“No really, this will be the season that Kubiak, Schaub, Johnson, Williams, et al, finally put it together and make the franchise’s first playoff appearance.”

“No, no, this will be the year. Seriously!”

With questions surrounding Peyton Manning’s health, and vultures sure to circle Lucas Oil Stadium should Peyton have to miss any time, this year really could be the year in Houston.

Seriously. For real. I can almost feel it; can you feel it? This year actually will be THE year for the Texans. I even predicted it!

———

Matt Hasselbeck (TEN) – “One More Chance”

Matt Hasselbeck took the Seahawks to their only Super Bowl appearance and gave Seattle, for the most part, above average play at the QB position on a consistent basis for the better part of a decade. Yet despite leading the Seahawks to an unexpected playoff berth and an even more unexpected playoff win last year, he was jettisoned so that Seattle could move on to the…Tarvarlie Jackhurst Era. Win forever!

Hasselbeck landed on his feet though, taking over for the departed Vincerry Youngins in Tennessee. Sure, he’s just keeping the seat warm for Jake Locker, and may not even last the whole season as the starter, but at least Hasselback gets one more chance to lead a team.

Good for him. He’s earned it.

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David Garrard (JAC) – “Somebody’s Watching Me”

Poor David Garrard. No matter what this guy does, he just can never seem to earn himself any job security.

Last year, Garrard completed 64.5% of his passes, threw 23 touchdowns, and had a QB rating of 90.8, keeping the Jags in the playoff hunt until their pathetic defense collapsed during a three-game skid to end the season. And how was Garrard repaid for his solid season? Jacksonville went out and drafted Blaine Gabbert in the first round, meaning Garrard gets to spend yet another season looking over his shoulder with somebody watching him.

Ironically, Jacksonville is one of the worst NFL franchises when it comes to attendance and avoiding blackouts, so perhaps a song called “Nobody’s Watching Me” would have been more appropriate; but “Somebody’s Watching Me” works because it’s one of Michael Jackson’s more recognizable yet underappreciated vocal performances, and Garrard similarly falls into that underappreciated category.

This song won’t make any MJ Greatest Hits CDs (hell, it’s not even his song, it’s Berry Gordy’s son Rockwell’s) just like Garrard won’t ever make an All Pro team, but both have their moments of greatness and are better than most people given them credit for.

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AFC West

Philip Rivers (SD) – “You Wanna Be Starting Something”

Few players start more somethings on the field than Philip Rivers. It seems like he’s always barking at someone on the opposing team, talking trash, and just generally trying to stir things up.

Yes, Philip Rivers always wanna be starting something.

Relatedly, how great of a beat does this song have? It’s slick, quick, and sweet (just like Philip Rivers’ release, coincidentally). Damn the Thriller album was awesome.

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Jason Campbell (OAK) – “Man In the Mirror”

“Man In the Mirror” is a triumphant song about change, and no quarterback I can remember has gone through more change than Jason Campbell.

I’m pretty sure that either Campbell’s head coach or coordinator has been different for each of his seasons in the NFL. Contrast that with the stability that guys like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Drew Brees have had, and it’s no wonder why the strong-armed Campbell has toiled in relative obscurity and frustrated his fan bases for the last half decade.

But when Campbell looks at the man in the mirror he’ll see a guy who has never had a season in which he’s thrown more picks than touchdowns and a guy who had improved his accuracy every season before dropping off last year. If the Raiders can develop a few receivers, maybe Campbell can make some change instead of just enduring it.

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Kyle Orton (DEN) – “Human Nature”

It is to be expected that fans will want young first round picks who are upstanding citizens and who were Heisman Trophy-winning college football heroes to play over fully-formed veterans. Kyle Orton, a fully-formed veteran who has proven himself to be solid but unspectacular, needs to remind himself of that this year when, no matter what he does on the field, fans clamor for Tim Tebow to be given a shot as the starting QB.

Why? Why? Tell Kyle that it’s human nature…for fans anyway. Orton just needs to hope it’s not the nature of John Fox. (It’s not.)

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Matt Cassel (KC) – “The Lost Children”

Matt Cassel was never the starting quarterback at USC. For the first several years of his NFL career, he was never the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots. When it came to game experience, Cassel was among the few lost children who had none, but who had enough potential to continue advancing through the ranks.

Then Tom Brady got hurt, Cassel excelled, and he moved on to the Chiefs. After a rough first season he played well last year, taking advantage of a weak schedule and an absurd season by Dwayne Bowe, leading the Chiefs to the playoffs.

Hopes are high this year, but will Cassel be up to the task? If he’s not, he may go back to being a lost NFL child if the demanding Todd Haley and the Chiefs lose faith in his ability to be the franchise’s QB of the future.

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Okay, we’re through the AFC. Deep breath. Only 16 more QBs (actually 17; you’ll see…) and songs to go.

One song that did not make the cut, despite being one of my favorite Michael Jackson songs of all-time, is “Rock With You.” It just didn’t seem to fit with anyone.

But since you, dear reader, have continued rocking with me through this long but hopefully entertaining post, I dedicate this classic MJ diddy to you.

———-

NFC East

Tony Romo (DAL) – “The Girl Is Mine”

This is a pretty simple one: Jessica Simpson; this cute but non-famous blonde; Carrie Underwood; former MSF writer (and Chiefs fan!) and current Mrs. Romo Candice Crawford.

It seems like in Tony Romo’s world, he can always say the girl is mine.

Plus, Michael Jackson never wrote a song about fumbling a snap to lose a playoff game. So really, this was the only choice.

(Also, Paul McCartney has played at the new, immaculate Cowboys Stadium, so there is that too.)

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Eli Manning (NYG) – “Scream”

Last year, no quarterback made his team’s fans scream, in both joy and agony, more than Eli Manning. He threw 31 TDs and surpassed 4,000 yards, but he also tossed 25 interceptions. ‘Nuff said.

Except that simply listing off some scream-worthy stats is not enough, because this song is appropriate in yet another way.

Has there ever been a more successful sibling QB tandem in NFL history than Peyton and Eli Manning? They both have Super Bowl rings, so no.

Likewise, has there ever been a more successful sibling pop music tandem in music history than Michael and Janet Jackson? No.

Add it all up and this one just may be the most appropriate song choice of all 32.

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Michael Vick (PHI) – “Thriller”

Did I say that last song was the most appropriate song choice? It’s only one song later and I’m already re-thinking that bold and possibly foolish statement!

Michael Vick’s name is almost synonymous with the word thriller at this point. What more can I say on this one?

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Jex Beckman (WAS) – “Who Is It?”

See, I told you the NFC would have 17 QBs rather than 16, and it’s all thanks to Mike Shanahan and the Jon Beck/Rex Grossman duo in Washington (shortened above to “Jex Beckman” because that’s so much more fun). Leave it to Daniel Snyder’s franchise to F it all up.

Despite everyone wondering who is it going to be, Mike Shanahan has not officially named a starting QB for Week 1 as of me writing this. And even when he does name a starter, does anyone think that guy will start all 16 games? Hell no.

As the old saying goes, if you have two quarterbacks you really have none. In the case of the Redskins, that most certainly is the case.

———

NFC North

Aaron Rodgers (GB) – “Billie Jean”

In my opinion, “Billie Jean” is Michael Jackson’s greatest song and Aaron Rodgers is the best quarterback in the NFL (right now), so this really was a perfect song-player match; but the match goes deeper than just that simple association.

Remember when Michael Jackson moonwalked to Billie Jean in 1983 at the Motown 25th Anniversary celebration? It was his coming out party as a solo artist, removed the shadow cast by his brothers, and established him as the King of Pop.

Similarly, when Aaron Rodgers guided the wild card Packers to the Super Bowl last year while playing near-flawless football, it was his coming out party as a superstar QB, removed the shadow of Brett Favre, and established him as the best quarterback going right now.

It was his Billie Jean moment.

This song is so good, as is Rodgers (did you know he has the highest QB rating of all-time?), that it deserves two videos. So here is the official video for “Billie Jean.”

Let me know when you’re done singing, snapping your fingers, and moonwalking around your house or office so we can continue.

…

Okay, onward we proceed.

Matthew Stafford (DET) – Will You Be There?

For the first time since Barry Sanders, there is legitimate, unmockable playoff hope in Detroit. And apparently I’m drinking the silver and blue Kool-Aid, because I predicted that it will happen*.

* – So, for the record, I officially picked the Lions and Texans to make the playoffs in the same season. Had I thought about in those absurd terms when I was making my picks, I doubt I would have gone through with it.

The biggest question mark on the Lions’ roster is their quarterback. Unfortunately, the Lions and their fans have legitimate reason to ask Matthew Stafford every week will you be there on Sunday? Despite his remarkable talent and big contract, he’s only played 13 out of a possible 32 games during his two-year career thus far.

On the plus side, Stafford did have a QB rating of 91.3 and six TDs against only one interception before getting hurt last year. Plus he’s been dynamite this preseason. Simply put, Stafford has to stay healthy and be there on the field for Detroit to have a shot; if he does, he and the young Lions are talented enough to finally be a force to be reckoned with.

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Jay Cutler (CHI) – “Leave Me Alone”

Jay Cutler is renowned for his rocket arm, but he is not so renowned for his disposition. Of course, as Tom Fornelli points out, who cares if Cutler can be a jerk? If he treats people with a leave me alone attitude and doesn’t always act all Tebow rah-rah on the sidelines, what does it matter if he’s playing in the NFC Championship Game, right?

Hmm…about that whole playing part…

Let’s just say that I bet Jay Cutler wishes people like Maurice Jones-Drew would have kept their mouths shut and left he and his injured knee alone.

———

Donovan McNabb (MIN) – “Remember The Time”

Hey, do you remember the time when Donovan McNabb was one of the best QBs in the NFL? When he was leading the Eagles to NFC Championship Games (and even a Super Bowl) on a regular basis? When he was a perennial Pro Bowler?

Yeah, those were good times. Times the Minnesota Vikings are hoping they can relive this season.

Remembering McNabb’s ill-fated and short-lived tenure in Washington does not inspire much confidence, but hey, Eddie Murphy and Magic Johnson probably thought the same thing when they were pitched the idea for this video, yet it turned out pretty well. Maybe the Vikings 2011 season will as well. (Count Drew among those who thinks it could!)

———

NFC South

Drew Brees (NO) – “Heal The World”

Is any face more synonymous with the rebuilding of New Orleans in the post-Katrina era than that of Drew Brees? I say no.

A quarterback can’t heal the world, but he certainly can help heal a city, especially when he gives his time and resources to help out in the community and raises civic pride by leading the long-suffering home team to a Super Bowl championship.

The best way I can sum up the greatness of Drew Brees is to do so in the spirit of those ubiquitous Dos Equis commercials: I don’t always root for Purdue grads, but when I do, I prefer that they be truly awesome guys on and off the field…like Drew Brees.

Josh Freeman (TB) – “Dangerous”

Pretty easy, obvious one here right? Not only is this guy young, he’s got a strong arm, wheels, and similarly young and talented weapons to grow up with.

If I’m a defensive coordinator in the NFC South, knowing I have to face this guy twice a year for the next decade, there isn’t much I consider more dangerous than Josh Freeman.

———

Matt Ryan (ATL) – “Butterflies”

Though Matt Ryan always gets mentioned before Joe Flacco when people list out the best quarterbacks in the NFL, Ryan has won fewer games, completed a lower percentage of his passes, and amassed a lower QB rating then his 2008 draft classmate.

Most importantly, Ryan is 0-2 in the playoffs while Flacco is 4-3. And even though Flacco’s playoff stats are actually more putrid than Ryan’s own putrid playoff stats, we all know that quarterbacks are judged by wins in December, January, and February. So far, Flacco has gotten them. Ryan hasn’t.

So even though people are anointing Matt Ryan as the Next Great NFL QB, he still has to prove he can shake the playoff butterflies, like Aaron Rodgers did last year, before he can truly enter such a discussion.

———

Cam Newton (CAR) – “PYT (Pretty Young Thing)”

Some of these were so easy.

“PYT” is a kinetic, upbeat, exciting song…much like Cam Newton is a kinetic, upbeat, exciting QB (who just happens to also have a kinetic, upbeat, exciting smile that will make him a marketing darling should he be able to produce at all on the field).

And is the term “pretty young thing” more appropriate for anything in the NFL than a young QB filled with potential? Nope.

Winning franchises are built around winning QBs, and Cam Newton is the latest #1 draft pick to be his franchise’s pretty young thing upon which it constructs its hopes and expectations of future success.

———

NFC West

Alex Smith (SF) – “Never Can Say Goodbye”

The San Francisco 49ers drafted Alex Smith first overall in the 2005 draft. Since then, he has compiled a paltry QB rating of 72.1, has thrown more picks than TDs, and has been yanked in and out of the lineup like a yo-yo. Most importantly, the team has barely sniffed the playoffs during Smith’s time with the franchise.

Yet the 49ers simply never can say goodbye to one of the most disastrous draft choices in franchise history.

With Smith a free agent after last season, the 49ers had a chance to cut the cord for good. They even drafted a potential QB of the future in Colin Kaepernick. But when push came to shove, Smith couldn’t do better than the 49ers and the 49ers couldn’t do better than Smith. So he’s back. Fans of San Fran are just hoping that the final verse of this classic Jackson 5 tune does not prove apropos for 2011:

Keep thinkin’ that our problems,
Soon are all gonna work out,
But there’s that same unhappy feeling,
And there’s that anguish, there’s that doubt…

49ers fans can’t take much more anguish and doubt, but can anything else be expected until, one day, they finally do say goodbye?

Smith has one final shot this year to turn it around. Otherwise it most certainly will mean goodbye, for good, before next year.

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Sam Bradford (STL) – “Hold My Hand”

In college, Sam Bradford completed 67.6% of his passes. This remarkable skill for throwing a football accurately was the main reason he was chosen #1 overall in the 2010 draft. As a rookie, he completed an impressive 60% of his passes, even with top target Mark Clayton getting injured early in the season. He also threw for over 3,500 yards and tossed more TDs than INTs. As a rookie. This is why so many people are predicting a breakout season from Bradford in 2011.

Another reason people are predicting a Bradford breakout is that Josh McDaniels is now coordinating the Rams’ offense. Yes, the same Josh McDaniels who coordinated the Patriots’ record-setting offense during their 18-1 season, and the same Josh McDaniels who made Kyle Orton a fantasy stud during the first half of last season. The man may be an idiot when it comes to personnel decisions, but he can coordinate a passing game.

Despite their lack of familiarity together, if the offensively brilliant McDaniels just says hold my hand to the prodigiously talented Bradford, and if Bradford acquiesces, these two could make sweet music together…kinda like MJ and Akon did.

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Kevin Kolb (ARI) – “You Are Not Alone”

Last year, Larry Fitzgerald must have felt like an NFL wide receiving orphan. He went from having a potential Hall of Famer (Kurt Warner) throwing him on-the-money lasers and playing in the Super Bowl to having a trio of quarterbacking dipshits (Derek Anderson, Max Hall, and John Skelton) tossing him inaccurate ducks while playing musical chairs behind center. Has an elite wide receiver ever felt more alone? That Fitzgerald still caught 90 balls and over 1,000 yards is a testament to his remarkable skills and further emboldened my belief that he’s the best wide receiver in football today.

Enter the unproven but seemingly solid Kevin Kolb, and Fitzgerald has reason to smile again.

The long-rumored acquisition of Kolb by the Cardinals finally happened once the lockout ended, and I’m sure that Kolb’s first words to his new #1 wide receiver were something along the lines of “You are not alone anymore, Larry.” Now all Kolb has to do is live up to the pressure of playing with the league’s best receiver while being paid like a franchise quarterback. Otherwise he’ll be the one feeling alone after the honeymoon period inevitably ends.

But can he?

In limited action, Kolb’s numbers are decidedly Alex Smith-like (73.2 rating, 60.8 completion percentage, 11:14 TD:INT ratio); and those numbers were all accumulated while playing in the passer-friendly system of Andy Reid. So Kolb is far from a slam dunk, but he can’t possibly be worse than Anderson, Hall, or Skelton, whose collective play last year, in comparison to the rest of the QBs in the league, was akin to the difference between the following awful video in comparison to the rest of Michael Jackson’s immaculate video catalog.

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Tarvaris Jackson (SEA) – “Black or White”

No need for me to ramble on and on for this one like I did for Kevin Kolb.

It’s pretty simple: it don’t matter whether Seattle’s QB is black (TJack) or white (Charlie Whitehurst)…the Seahawks are going to suck.

**********

Well, that’s it. I hope you enjoyed this post. I certainly enjoyed writing it. In fact, I’d rank creating this post among the five most entertaining posts I’ve ever had the privilege to create here at MSF. What could be better than listening to an artist I love while doing what I love? Nothing. Nothing at all.

But that doesn’t mean that I got ‘em all right.

• Are there any QB-song matches you disagree with?
• Any you’d switch up?
• Any Michael Jackson classics that you’re pissed didn’t make it and just want to embed the video for all to enjoy?

The comment section awaits.

So get up off the wall and comment!