Week Eight Injury Report

Looking for a 2nd Opinion; anyone?

• RB, Peyton Hillis, Cleveland Browns: until further notice Hillis will remain on this list with a thigh injury.
• QB, Alex Smith,. SF 49ers: questionable to play Sunday against Denver with a shoulder injury. 
• RB, Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans: probable for Sunday with a thigh injury. 
• TE, Antonio Gates, SD Chargers: probable for Sunday with a lingering toe injury.
• QB, Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys: out indefinitely with a fractured collar bone.
• RB, Steven Jackson, St. Louis Rams: questionable for Sunday after having surgery on a finger yesterday. 
• WR, Austin Collie, Indianapolis Colts: out indefinitely with a wrist injury. 
• RB, Jahvid Best, Detroit Lions: still hampered with turf toe will be playing at home on artificial turf. 
• WR, Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions: probable against Washington with a shoulder injury. 
• WR, Malcolm Floyd, SD Chargers: questionable with a hamstring issue; will most likely miss this weeks game. 
• QB, David Garrard, Jacksonville Jaguars: questionable for Sunday against the Cowboys with concussion like symptoms. 
• RB, Joseph Addai, Indianapolis Colts: questionable against Houston still hampered by a shoulder injury. 

Week Six Start 'em or Start 'em

Have you seen me lately?

Before you set your lineup be sure to remove players from Arizona, Buffalo, Carolina, or Cincinnati. Here are your week 6 starters and bench warmers...

Start these guys or else:

• QB, Eli Manning, NY Giants: this week at home Manning and his 280 ypg, 8 touchdowns, faces off against the 26th ranked passing defense in Detroit giving up 235 ypg. Normally I would be against playing Eli because of his turnover problems, however, this matchup looks so good on paper you have to play Eli. A changed NY defense will keep a Calvin Johnson-less Lions offense off the field, and give Eli more chances to score. 
• QB, Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers: Ben is coming off a 4 week break/hiatus from all things Steelers football, plus throw in a bye week, and looks to take the reigns of a team QBed by Dennis Dixon and Charlie Bath to a 3-1 record. He will be welcomed back at Heinz Field to a steady receiving core, one of the top RB's in the league, and an opposing defense that has given up 8 touchdowns through the air while only picking off opposing QB's three times. 
• RB, Ryan Torain, Washington Redskins: despite rushing for 40 yards the Redskins showed their trust in Torain by handing off to him 16 times. This week, on Sunday night, Torain faces a banged up Indy defense giving up 142 yards and a score per game to opposing RB's. 
• RB, LaDainian Tomlison, NY Jets: against a good Minnesota D LT ran the ball 20 times for 94 yards, however, this week he faces off against the 26th ranked rushing defense in Denver giving up on average 127 ypg and a touchdown. For the season LT has been given the ball 14 more times then Shonne Green, 76-62, and the trend should continue as Rex Ryan looks to use his running game to keep Kyle Orton off the field. 
• WR, Malcolm Floyd: San Diego Chargers: in the pick 'em world you have to take the Rams because the Chargers have no idea how to win on the road this year no matter how badly the opponent tries to let them back into the game. However, individual wise Floyd is a great play as he has cemented himself as Rivers #1 WR option. With touchdowns in 3 of his 5 games this year, and playing against a Rams defense that was roasted by Shaun Hill last week, not to mention giving up 231 ypg and 6 scores, bodes well for the Rivers to Floyd combination. 
• WR, Brandon Lloyd, Denver Broncos: a guy who has been so inconsistent throughout his playing career is finally showing some consistency; thanks in part to his QB Kyle Orton. Floyd has caught for more then 100 yards in 4 of 5 games this year, and should have a repeat performance against a Jets defense that has given up 9 touchdowns and 235 ypg. With stats like that Kyle Orton looks like an amazing play, but with the year he has had it should be a no brainer to play him. 
• TE, Zach Miller, Oakland Raiders: it doesn't matter who his QB is; Gradkowski or Campbell both have looked early and often to Zach. He has scored a touchdown in each of his last 3 games and caught for 82 ypg, and plays against a 49ers defense that has given up at least 40 ypg and 3 touchdowns to opposing TE's. 
• D-ST, TB Buccaneers: most people know about QB Josh Freeman, and most people know about WR Mike Williams. However, most people don't know how well their defense has been performing this year. Save their game against Pittsburgh; the TB defense has scored double digit points in 2 out of their 3 games. This week they play against a shaky NO offense with little to no running game, and a QB who is probable for Sunday who just went for 3 interceptions and a fumble against the Cardinals. Digest this last morsel as well; for the season TB is ranked 5th against the pass. 

Unless you want to lose this Sunday keep these guys on the bench:

• QB, Sam Bradford, St. Louis Rams: he just lost his favorite target in Mark Clayton, his "new" favorite target will be double teamed beyond belief, and his running back is finally healthy. 
• RB, Peyton Hillis, Cleveland Browns: still recovering from a thigh injury, ran for just 28 yards last week, runs for a rookie QB who will be looking for his TE Ben Watson (also a nice play if you need a TE), and runs against a Steelers defense that has only given up 2 rushing touchdowns and 80 ypg. 
• WR, Greg Jennings, GB Packers: in his last 4 games he is averaging 25 ypg with only 2 touchdowns. His QB may not play Sunday, and the opposing Miami defense only gives up 182 ypg through the air. He will continue to be a 2nd/3rd round disappointment. 
• TE, John Carlson, Seattle Seahawks: the Seahawks stink on the road, he is averaging 40 ypg on 4 rpg with only 1 touchdown in those 4 games, the Bears defense has yet to give up a touchdown to an opponents TE, and on top of that he is probable. This late round sleeper will continue to sleep. 
• D-ST, Oakland Raiders: don't expect another performance from the Raiders like we witnessed last week against the Chargers. In 2 of their previous 4 games they had actually had negative scores. Coincidentally against teams with good running games. This week a hungry SF team comes to town looking for their first win along with a running back, Frank Gore, looking for his 2nd touchdown of the season. You may get a handful of points from Oakland's D, but hamper your expectations. Especially after the Chargers gave them three turnovers that resulted in immediate scores. 

Week Five Scoring Leaders

406 yards and 3 tds can go a long way

After a day that saw so much parody within a season that has been nothing but strange we bring you week five scoring leaders by position...

QB, Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys: despite throwing 3 interceptions Romo had a stellar day throwing for 406 yards on 31/46 and three touchdowns.

RB, Matt Forte, Carolina Panthers: after running for 55 yards in the last two week Forte showed yet again why you were afraid to spend a 1/2 pick on him. On 22 carries Forte ran for 166 yards and two touchdowns. With Todd Collins playing QB this week Forte became the only real offensive threat for this team, and showed once again why, under Martz, he is a worthy start.

WR, Malcolm Floyd, WR: when your special teams lets you down, and your QB has to throw the ball to get your team back in the game someone has to catch those passes. Floyd became the major recipient of those throws amassing 213 yards on 8 catches with one score.

TE, Mercedes Lewis, Jacksonville Jaguars: he played the Bills, check. The Bills give up uber points to tight ends, check. David Garrard looks for Lewis in the red zone, check. Yeah, it made for a great day and it was with 4 receptions for 54 yards and two touchdowns.

Other guys showing up big fantasy wise Sunday:

• Ray Rice; nice to see you still play. 27 carries for 133 yards and 2 scores
• The Lions and Raiders defenses; the unpredictability of special teams play
• Chris Johnson, only because of a late interception and kick off return that both should have been taken to the house. Instead Johnson got two goal line carries and cashed in on them both. 
• Hakeem Nicks; you read it here Saturday to play him. 12 receptions for 130 yards and 2 scores. 

How about some guys who underperformed Sunday...

QB, Matt Schaub, Houston Texans: How does 3 sacks, 3 turnovers, no touchdowns, and only 196 yards sound? By the way if you were counting on Peyton Manning to show up big vs. the KC Chiefs appears you had another thing coming. 

RB, Ryan Matthews, San Diego Chargers: it seemed risky to tell people to sit Ryan Matthews, but after a 9 carries for 59 yards day you understand why. Also, seems funny how once again his running mate Tolbert ended up more points them him for 4th straight week. 

WR, Chad Ochocinco, Cincanatti Bengals: I would call out Dwayne Bowe who has 1 touchdown through 4 games and is averaging just a touch under 40 ypg, but calling out Ochocinco is much funner. Since garbage time against the Pats in week one Chad has no touchdowns and is averaging just about 40 ypg himself. Yesterday he was under average catching 2 balls for 23 yards. 

TE, Dallas Clark, Indianapolis Colts: in only his second game this season without a touchdown Clark was held to 20 yards on 3 receptions. Call it the Chiefs D, a bad day for Manning, or too many receiving options for the Colts this unlikely performance should not be repeated in week six against the Redskins who gave up their only touchdown to a Packers TE.