QUARTERBACKS
Ben Roethlisberger (189 yards, TD, 4 INT) had a rough day against the Giants, who sacked him five times. Big Ben’s schedule doesn’t get any easier with two upcoming games against the Redskins and Colts, two teams with better than average pass defenses…Brad Johnson (122 yards, TD) got the Cowboys a win, but he didn’t post very good fantasy numbers. A semi-tough matchup with the Giants next week isn’t very inspiring…The Lions hung around, but Jason Campbell (328 yards, TD) was very solid in the win…Trent Edwards (227 yards, INT) was a disappointment against a mediocre Dolphins pass defense…Marc Bulger (301 yards, TD, INT) is looking more comfortable leading the Rams. He has posted decent fantasy numbers the last two weeks against good competition…Matt Ryan (277 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT) continues to impress and is developing a great rapport with Roddy White (8-113-2)…David Garrard (283 yards, 2 TD) played really well against a Browns defense that has done a pretty good job against the pass this season…Derek Anderson (246 yards, TD) was pretty solid in the win, so it looks like he bought himself at least another week as the starter.
RUNNING BACKS
DeAngelo Williams (19 touches, 123 yards, TD) got the lion’s share of the carries this week. It’s tough to tell who’s going to get most of the work week-to-week in the Carolina running game…The Bills seem to be lightening the load of Marshawn Lynch (18 touches, 95 yards, TD) by using Fred Jackson (11 touches, 42 yards) quite a bit, even around the goal line…LaDainian Tomlinson (24 touches, 170 yards, TD) had his first good game in a month. The schedule is looking up after the bye with four good matchups over the next six weeks…Deuce McAllister (22 touches, 85 yards, TD) was the feature back with Reggie Bush out, but keep an eye on his eligibility as the league decides what to do with the report about his failing a drug test. If he’s suspended, Pierre Thomas (3 carries, 28 yards) and Aaron Stecker (7 touches, 36 yards) would both get extra work…Kolby Smith (13 touches, 30 yards) got more work, but Jamaal Charles (6 touches, 49 yards) was more effective…Michael Turner (17 carries, 58 yards) continues to struggle against good defenses and play great against bad defenses. He doesn’t get enough work in the passing game to make him a good play against a stout run D. He has two great matchups over the next three weeks, but then things are ugly down the stretch. He might be a guy to sell high in the next week or two, as he faces Tampa Bay and Minnesota in Weeks 15 and 16…Brian Westbrook (28 touches, 209 yards, 2 TD) is back and looks great…Maurice Jones-Drew (15 touches, 48 yards) and Fred Taylor (8 carries, 24 yards) just never got on track against the Browns…Jamal Lewis (20 carries, 81 yards, TD) looked solid against the Jags, and after a tough matchup with the Ravens next week, his schedule is looking pretty nice.
WIDE RECEIVERS
While Steve Smith (5-117-2) had a huge game, Muhsin Muhammad (5-38) dropped a sure TD early in the game…Anquan Boldin (9-63-2) returned with a big fantasy line and Larry Fitzgerald (7-115) did well in PPR leagues…Terrell Owens (5-33) continues to struggle and Roy Williams (2-10-1) didn’t do much better, though he did catch a TD…Santana Moss (9-140-1, return TD) looked great in a win and appears to be a big part of the Redskins’ attack once again…Chris Chambers (5-47) returned, but it was Vincent Jackson (4-60-1) who scored. It’s not clear who is the top WR option in San Diego…Jerricho Cotchery (9-102) was iffy heading into the game but finished with great PPR numbers…Andre Johnson (11-143) and Kevin Walter (5-70-2) chewed up the Bengals secondary…Plaxico Burress (3-15) didn’t start as part of a disciplinary measure for not getting treatment on his neck. Hopefully, he’ll fall into line, but he’s always been kind of a prima donna.
TIGHT ENDS
Jason Witten injured his ribs and finished with just one catch for eight yards. Don’t be surprised if he takes a week off to give himself two weeks to heal. More will be known about the severity of the injury later in the week…Jeremy Shockey (1-6) was active for the game, but he wasn’t very active. Billy Miller (7-82) outshined him…Don’t worry about Tony Gonzalez (6-79-1) flaking out because he wasn’t traded. The guy is a pro and he understands the best way to find a new home this offseason is to continue to play his heart out…Owen Daniels (3-21) had a surprisingly quiet day considering all the success the Texans had against the Bengals’ pass defense
FREE AGENTS
Now, for a look at a few players that probably aren’t owned in your league.
Ted Ginn (7-175) had a breakout game. Excluding a dismal Week 6 against the Texans, he’s averaging 5.8-82 over his last four games. Maybe he’s turning the corner…Rookie Chaz Schilens (3-76) appears to be the Raiders’ most dangerous receiving threat. He and JaMarcus Russell hooked up on a 60-yard bomb that nearly went for a TD…Mike Furrey was held catchless while Shaun McDonald (5-68) filled the role of WR2 for the Lions…Antonio Pittman (22 touches, 105 yards) was the main back with Steven Jackson out…Donnie Avery (6-163-1) has now caught 14 passes for 291 yards and 2 TD over the last three weeks and seems to be making a push for Torry Holt’s claim as the WR1 in St. Louis…Kevin Faulk (17 touches, 107 yards, TD) will probably be the back that gets the most touches as long as Sammy Morris and LaMont Jordan are out…Lance Moore (6-90-1) was cut in some leagues but is still a big part of the New Orleans attack, especially with Reggie Bush sidelined…Now that he knows that the starting job is his, Tyler Thigpen (280 yards, 2 TD) seems more comfortable leading the Chiefs and he has a couple of good weapons in the passing game to throw to in Dwayne Bowe and Tony Gonzalez. If you’re desperate at QB, Thigpen has four good matchups over the last seven weeks and has great matchups during the fantasy playoffs…Don’t get too excited about Leon Washington’s (6 touches, 101 yards, 2 TD) big game. He’s more explosive than Thomas Jones, but the Jets seem committed to TJ as their starter. TJ owners should definitely own Washington as a handcuff, however…Mewelde Moore (21 touches, 94 yards, TD) was cut in some leagues and, as long as Wilie Parker is out, he is a starting fantasy RB…Seneca Wallace (222 yards, 2 TD) was much better than expected as he led the Seahawks to a much needed win in San Francisco…Shaun Hill (173 yards, TD) played pretty well in relief of J.T. O’Sullivan, who was yanked prior to halftime.
