Carolina’s Jake Delhomme is Getting Close To Being Benched

Carolina Panthers’ starting quarterback Jake Delhomme could be finally heading to the bench.

After head coach Jon Fox was non-committal toward Delhomme on Monday, the thought of a new quarterback behind center in Carolina has finally become an idea with some life.

Despite being 2-4, Fox was adamant about sticking with Delhomme as his starting quarterback earlier in the season. And especially after a two-game win streak, he was beginning to look like he made the right decision.

However, another three-interception game and another loss added to a tumultuous season that has seen Delhomme play horrifically in the season opener and be off target on countless occasions with his receivers.

Delhomme’s lack of elite arm strength and poor decision-making, have resulted in Steve Smith trade rumors, opposing defenses being able to clog the running lanes, and an entire fan base calling for the quarterback’s head.

Fox’s only options appear to be Matt Moore and the well-traveled A.J. Feely, although neither jump out as sure-fire upgrades.

Regardless of your opinion on Delhomme, Fox, or the Panthers as a whole, something is clearly not right, and a change should be in the works.

Delhomme is on pace for a disgusting 35 interceptions on the season, a number Fox cannot allow his team to even get remotely close to if he wants to keep his job.

For more breaking news, fantasy updates, and advice, head over to NFL Soup .

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NFL Quick Hits (Oct. 23): Jerricho Cotchery Ruled Out For Sunday

Jerricho Cotchery Ruled Out For Sunday

Despite reports yesterday that it was looking good for Cotchery to play this week, he will miss yet another week due to a bad hamstring.

The Jets just don’t want to chance it.

Cotchery probably wouldn’t have been much of a factor against a stingy Oakland Raiders defense, anyways, especially with the interception-happy Mark Sanchez struggling.

Upgrade the New York Jets rush attack and possibly Braylon Edwards for this week.

 

Jim Zorn to Finish Season as Head Coach

GM Vinny Cerrato went on a radio show and made it known that Jim Zorn would not be fired this season, and even alluded to the possibility of a return for Zorn in 2010.

We doubt it. This is Cerrato playing nice and getting Washington some positive PR. Lord knows they need it right now.

 

Cowboys’ Roy Williams Questionable For Week Seven

Williams has been practicing all week, but reportedly hasn’t looked sharp and appears to be in pain.

He hasn’t been all that reliable this year, anyways, so opt for Miles Austin or someone outside of Dallas as your WR3 this week.

 

Trent Edwards Officially Out For Sunday

The Bills aren’t taking any risks with Edwards’ already weak head. A few more concussions and he could be entering Steve Young and Troy Aikman territory.

The presence of Ryan Fitzpatrick under center should scare you away from starting Terrell Owens and/or Lee Evans as anything more than WR3 plays this week, and even that is being generous.

 

Eagles Lose Linebacker Omar Gaither For Season

Another big hit to Philly’s linebacker corps. Gaither sustained a Lisfranc foot sprain and will miss the rest of the season.

It couldn’t have come at a worse time for an Eagles linebacking corps that struggled mightily against the Raiders.

Jeremiah Trotter hasn’t looked good since signing a couple weeks ago, and the only other capable linebacker is newly acquired Will Witherspoon.

Keep an eye on the adjustment with their linebackers if you own the Philly defense.

 

For moe fantasy news, updates, and advice, head over to TRZR.

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The Red Zone Report 2010 NFL Mock Draft 1.0: Round One

In the wake of the Tennessee Titans horrible 59-0 defeat to the New England Patriots, as well as their fellow bottom feeding friends, Tampa Bay and St. Louis going 0-6, it’s time to take a look to the future .

Whether you’re rooting for a team that’s still undefeated and will likely have a late pick in the first round, or you’re a bag-head still cheering in hiding for teams like the Washington Redskins, Oakland Raiders, and the said 0-6 squads, it’s never too early for a mock draft .

Here’s round one for The Red Zone Report’s 2010 NFL Mock Draft 1.0:

(Draft created on October 22nd before Week Seven)

Side note: Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears do not own a 2010 first round pick.

1. Tennessee Titans —Colt McCoy, QB, Texas

If the Titans are still here when the season ends, it’s a safe bet Vince Young didn’t work out and they’ll be going in a different direction. McCoy may not have ideal arm strength, but he has good size, excellent college production, and is extremely athletic.

They could use a new Albert Haynesworth or some secondary help, but the teams who pick here are usually here for a reason: they need a face for their franchise.

Will the second crack at a Texas product be the charm?

2. St. Louis Rams —Jake Locker, QB, Washington

The Rams could go after several needs at defense, could go for a “sure thing” on their offensive line, or even attack their average receiving corps.

But, like Tennessee, a lot of their problems start with a comatose passing attack, and while Marc Bulger is decent at times, he’s older now and can’t avoid the rush very well.

Locker, on the other hand, is extremely fast and athletic, and has all the tools to develop into a fine signal caller. Sam Bradford will definitely be considered here if he enters as well, but his durability may be too much of a question mark.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers —Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida

The Buccaneers just cut ties with a former first round defensive end, Gaines Adams, and shipped the disappointment over to Chicago.

Dare they try getting a stud defensive end in the first round, yet again?

When they’re built and run like Dunlap, you kind of have to. Besides, Adams’ failure had more to do with his attitude and work ethic, according to Head Coach Raheem Morris.

The Buccaneers have their quarterback of the future , so it’s likely they stick to addressing their pathetic defense with this draft. If Dunlap isn’t around, Oklahoma’s Gerald McCoy would be a satisfactory option.

4. Kansas City Chiefs —Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State

Todd Haley is an offensive guru and he’s running the show, so take a wild guess which direction this front office is heading in.

They brought Matt Cassel over from New England for a reason, and it wasn’t so they could watch him struggle with mediocre weapons. Bryant could pair up with Dwayne Bowe from the get-go and give Cassel two elite targets.

Bryant is likely to be here if this is where the Chiefs pick, so the only other route KC could go is possibly addressing their offensive line or nabbing a stud corner.

5. Detroit Lions —Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma

Jim Schwartz isn’t Matt Millen. He won’t reach for receivers when he’s already got one of the best in the game, and regardless of your opinion on Matthew Stafford, the Lions have quite a solid talent under center.

The next step is to add depth and star power to the inside of their weak defensive front, and McCoy can do more than just beef it up a bit. Schwartz will build him up and create his own mini-Albert Haynesworth, even if it takes a year or two to do so.

Detroit could also look for an elite pass rusher or some secondary help, but McCoy should be the best value at this pick.

6. Cleveland Browns —Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame

Out with one Fighting Irish, and in with the other. Eric Mangini can’t honestly expect to keep his job past 2009 unless he agrees with management that they need to go in a different direction at quarterback.

Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson just can’t cut it in Cleveland, so the extremely talented and confident Clausen will get Mangini’s vote.

It also wouldn’t be shocking to see Mangini add some offensive firepower at the running back or receiver position. However, that will depend completely on how well or poorly Derek Anderson plays down the stretch.

7. Oakland Raiders —Eric Berry, S, Tennessee

Al Davis loves speed, and he needs a new safety that plays with confidence and control. Michael Huff still might work out, but he at least needs some competition to push his level of play up.

Berry is extremely athletic and versatile, so if the Raiders like where Huff is at, they’ll still be able to use Berry is a number of ways.

Much of what Oakland does with this pick will depend on who their coach is and who they release before the draft. If the end of the road has come for JaMarcus Russell, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Davis trade up to get Sam Bradford or Jake Locker.

8. Seattle Seahawks —Jahvid Best, RB, California

I just don’t see the Seahawks riding into 2010 with Julius Jones and/or Edgerrin James again, especially since they’ve had struggles running the ball.  While Justin Forsett is a special back, he’s not an every-down guy, and doesn’t have the explosiveness that Best possesses.

Jim Mora Jr. likes defense, so a strong lineman is possible here, while there’s also a good chance they could opt to protect Matt Hasselbeck a little more with the best tackle available.

Speaking of Hasselbeck, it’d probably be fairly tempting for Seattle to turn down an elite quarterback prospect at this pick, possibly Sam Bradford if he falls this far.

Ultimately, Hasselbeck still can play, and Mora will opt to simply either get him some new weapons, or get some blocking help.

9. Buffalo Bills —Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State

Considering the Bills will almost surely part ways with head coach Dick Jauron, what they do next will depend largely on their new coach’s philosophy.

As far as team needs, running back is the only spot where Buffalo couldn’t use some help. And since they know they can run the ball if they have solid blocking, it’d probably be a wise investment to get someone to help keep the quarterback (whoever that ends up being) on his feet, while aiding their only offensive strength-the running game.

10. Washington Redskins —Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma

Somehow, someway, the Redskins have their guy fall right into their lap. They flirted with trading for Jay Cutler and/or drafting Mark Sanchez in the offseason, and now they’re just about certain they need an upgrade at the quarterback position.

Bradford has all the talent of the quarterback taken ahead of them, and in some cases even more, but his 2009 injuries will hurt his stock enough that he takes a Matt Leinart-type slide to the 10th pick.

11. San Francisco 49ers (From Carolina) —Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska

They have their running back, receiver and tight end of the future. Now the only question is, do they like who they’re planning to start at quarterback in 2010, or do they make something happen and land an elite quarterback prospect?

Some thought they would think about pulling the trigger on Mark Sanchez last year, but they didn’t, so knowing Mike Singletary, he’ll continue to build his team on both sides of the ball through the trenches.

Suh a massive and powerful inside presence, something the 49ers are lacking a bit. He could start immediately.

12. Miami Dolphins —Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama

Miami is a run-first team that likes to switch things up a bit on offense, and while Bill Parcells doesn’t like drafting wide receivers in the first round, I have a strange feeling he just might break that rule.

Then again, the way Ted Ginn Jr. is coming along so slowly, it may keep him from pulling the trigger.

Cody, on the other hand, fills a glaring need, as he injects some youth and great strength to the middle of their average defensive line. The Dolphins are among the league’s best at running the ball, and with Cody they can one day be among the best at stopping it.

13. San Diego Chargers —Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma

The Chargers could really opt for a number of different positions, as they could use some youth and talent at receiver, but could also use some help on both the offensive and defensive line.

Adding a talented running back may be an option as well if Darren Sproles jets off in the offseason.

However, with no clear-cut way to go at this spot, they may just take Williams to beef up their pass protection to be sure that Phillip Rivers will stay on his feet.

14. New York Jets —Arrelious Benn, WR, Illinois

Braylon Edwards will likely test the market if he ends the season on a high enough note, while Rex Ryan will cave to Mark Sancez’s pleas that he needs more help at receiver.

They’re very solid on both sides of the ball, but adding a big, athletic target like Benn would help the offense stretch the field. Adding a replacement for the possibly finished Kris Jenkins is a possibility, too.

15. Houston Texans —C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson

It’s not that Houston doesn’t want to give Steve Slaton the ball, but early season struggles showed that defenses can key-in on him fairly easily, and his small stature can’t keep taking that punishment.

Spiller is excellent depth and gives the Texans a complete offense, as he can affect games in a number of ways.

16. Baltimore Ravens —Brandon Spikes, OLB, Florida

Spikes has great speed and solid athleticism for the position, and also happens to be a great leader for Florida. The future Ray Lewis?

Spikes could very well be long gone by pick 16, but if he’s still here, John Harbaugh won’t pass him up.

17. Jacksonville Jaguars —Tim Tebow, QB, Florida

Jacksonville said they’d grab him in the first round if he was available, and he likely will be at this pick. With several games blacked-out already this year, the Jaguars need to step it up in ticket sales and lure people in Florida to come to their games.

Tebow may be a project , but he’s athletic and can do damage on the ground, making him not too much worse than their current inconsistent quarterback, David Garrard.

At the very worst, Tebow would bring an interesting version of the Wildcat to life in Jacksonville.

18. Denver Broncos (From Chicago) —Jevean Snead, QB, Ole Miss

Call me crazy, but I don’t think Josh McDaniels will pick the veteran Kyle Orton over a top prospect that is oozing with potential.

If Orton can thrive in McDaniels’s system, it’s a safe bet just about anyone can. McDaniels wasn’t able to land Matt Cassel when he wanted him back in the 2009 offseason, and now he gets his first crack at his own franchise quarterback.

19. Arizona Cardinals —Ciron Black, OT, LSU

Black is a massive offensive lineman who excels in pass-blocking, so regardless of who is behind center for the Cardinals, they won’t have to worry about changing their offense.

You can never have too many effective pass-blockers, especially when you thrive off of the pass, so Black is a perfect fit here.

20. Philadelphia Eagles —Taylor Mays, S, USC

The Eagles need to find their replacement for Brian Dawkins, while injecting some life into their last line of attack in their secondary.

Mays is a very athletic and physical safety, and has the ability to play multiple positions. He could easily be gone by now in this draft, but with so many teams attacking glaring needs, he could drop this far.

 

For the rest of this first round mock, head over to www.theredzonereport.com

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Jason Snelling: Atlanta Falcons Fantasy Update

Look out Jerious Norwood, but you might have just lost your job. For a few weeks, at least.

Norwood, the Falcons’ regular third down back, will miss this week’s contest for sure, and possibly be out longer with a hip injury. Don’t believe it? Ask Norwood yourself .

Norwood’s exit, for however long it may be, instantly gives Jason Snelling some decent fantasy value, as he takes over as Michael Turner’s main backup, and will assume third down duties.

Snelling only has 12 carries for 54 yards and 10 catches for 90 yards and a touchdown, but his solid yards per touch (6.5) leaves room for plenty of optimism if he gets even close to the amount of touches Norwood is accustomed to.

Plain and simple: Norwood was averaging roughly seven touches per game in the four games he’s played in this season. But with Snelling retaining his usual average of four touches per game in addition to his new role, he could potentially be a fantasy factor.

Everyone knows the top dog in Atlanta is Michael Turner, but with a beatable matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, Snelling should get enough opportunities to make him worth taking a chance on as a Flex play.

 

Verdict

Let’s not be foolish about this. Snelling probably isn’t going to gain 100 total yards or score more than once in a game anytime soon, but in deep leagues, he might be a heck of a pick up.

And if you’re really desperate, you may have just found a fairly solid bye-week fill-in at a Flex position.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Fantasy Football Drop-O-Meter: Colts’ Receiver Anthony Gonzalez

I know what’s going through your mind right now.

Did you leave the oven on? How is America’s Got Talent actually a hit show? And should you hold onto Colts’ wide receiver, Anthony Gonzalez ?

Answers:

Maybe, nobody knows, and yes.

Gonzalez still isn’t ready, seven weeks after he exited Indianapolis’s opener in week one with a non-contact knee injury.

While Colts coaches and management stressed that he merely had ligament strains, and no tears, and should be able to return, it sure feels like it’s taking the entire season to get him back.

It’s feeling even longer if you didn’t jump on Pierre Garcon and/or Austin Collie when you had the chance.

Despite not participating in full practices yet, Gonzales does appear to be on the mend. It’s taking longer than expected, but if you have waited this long and still have mini-Gonzo on your roster, it’d be a tremendous waste to drop him now.

His replacements have been very impressive . And while his initial return doesn’t guarantee a starting spot or huge fantasy numbers, he will eventually be broken back into the offense, and he will be a No. 2 in both Indy’s and your offense.

Count on it.

Take the lumps now if you can, ride the replacement fillers until Gonzalez gets back, and laugh it all off when you’re in the playoffs with a stud that nobody saw coming because they thought he was done or wouldn’t be a factor.

 

Verdict

Wait. Wait like a 17-year-old is waiting for his 18-year-old birthday so he can buy porn, cigarettes, and a lottery ticket.

Wait like the newly-wed couple sitting in the bathroom with their heads held low over a pregnancy test.

Just. Wait. He’ll come back within the next one or two weeks, and before week 10, you’ll begin to look like a genius.

That, or you’ll look like an 18-year-old who just smoked, defiled himself, gambled, and had a baby with his young wife after a swift marriage.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Fantasy Football Midseason Tutorial: How To Save a Lost Season

So, you got the top pick, drafted Adrian Peterson, coasted, and now you’re 1-5.

Or maybe you landed Tom Brady and Randy Moss in the first two rounds, had zero depth at running back, and are just now reaping the benefits from the Patriots connection.

There are hundreds of stories like these.

You have a wide receiver corps that is absolutely stacked, but you started the season 0-4 because you were depending on Brian Westbrook, Larry Johnson, Jonathan Stewart, and Matt Forte.

Big name guys, like it or not, can fail you. Your top draft picks, just like in real life, can be busts. Injuries happen. Trades happen.

But whether you’re 3-3 or 0-6, it’s not over yet. In standard leagues, you still have eight games left. And in most leagues, that means a 7-1 or 6-2 run would almost guarantee you the last spot in your league for the playoffs.

So, instead of throwing in the towel, what say we take a refresher course on how to be successful this year. How do we, with this roster, this team, this pool of free agents, win right now ? Very simple. Just follow these rules:

 

1. Keep Your Focus

Mindset has a ton to do with what happens in the next eight weeks. If you think your players suck, that no one on the waiver wire is usable, or that none of your players have matchups that can be exploited, then you will lose.

Take control of your team (especially if you have money on the line), and stay active, and keep yourself focused. If you lost six straight games, there’s no reason why your fortunes can’t change and the next six go your way.

That is, unless Derek Anderson is your starting quarterback.

 

2. Make the No-Brainer Adjustments First

Like the aforementioned Anderson, for instance: Drop him.

Obviously this gets a little more complicated in deep leagues that carry two quarterbacks. If that’s the case, you’ll have to stick it out, but if you can afford to, you might want to add extra quarterback depth.

Example: The Patriots are playing a terrible Tampa Bay team in Week Seven. If the game gets even close to what happened last week against Tennessee (59-0), we’ll be seeing at least a whole quarter of Tom Brady’s backup, Brian Hoyer.

Or like a few weeks ago, when The New York Giants were facing the Oakland Raiders, and you could be almost certain that you’d be seeing a solid quarter or two of David Carr.

It takes extra time and effort, as well as strategizing with your roster make-up, but what needs to be done should be done

 

3. Scour the Waiver Wire Relentlessly

Remember when Braylon Edwards was traded to the Jets? Yeah, before that happened, he was available in over 50 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

Buy low on guys who are in slumps or are slowly progressing.

Example: Joey Galloway just got cut by the New England Patriots. This means more playing time and more targets for quarterback-turned-receiver, Julian Edelman.

Or look at the New York Jets. It may mean nothing, but they just signed the tiny, little-known Danny Woodhead from their practice squad, coverting the former running back to receiver.

If you keep yourself updated, you will find gems, and your roster will improve.

 

4. Become a Matchup Expert

Fancy yourself a fantastic fantasy decision-maker, but know less and less about the real game with every passing year? Well, knock it off.

It’s time to mix the two worlds and allow them to become one. Believe it or not, knowing that Minnesota will likely be without Antoine Winfield this week (and possibly longer) will help you in deciding your fantasy lineup.

It obviously raises Ben Roethlisberger’s value, as well as Santonio Holmes, Hines Ward, and Heath Miller’s value.

But there is a thing such as the trickle effect. If those player are having success, there is a solid chance players down the line on that team will have solid numbers, as well.

Look for Mike Wallace to benefit immensely in that matchup.

You should also know which defenses almost always give up a ton of yards on the ground or through the air, as well as which one’s are widely known for stuffing the run and preventing the pass.

Unless you have Adrian Peterson or Maurice Jones-Drew, you may not want to start a running back against the Baltimore Ravens, Washington Redskins, or Minnesota Vikings.

And unless you have Andre Johnson or Reggie Wayne, you may not want to start your receiver if he’s facing the Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, or New York Jets.

It’s not just team defense that should be feared in the “pass defense” case. Which corner your receiver will likely be matched-up with can turn out to be a huge deal-breaker.

 

5. Take Calculated Risks

Don’t just start Michael Crabtree this week because he’s supposedly getting his first start and could “go off”. You need facts to back up your decision-making.

However, if you had to choose between him and a different underwhelming “safe” 49ers receiver, that’s not a bad risk to take.

I would start Crabtree over Isaac Bruce and Josh Morgan this week, for example.

 

6. The Wild Card: Swing a Trade That Benefits You

Every fantasy owner is waiting for your mediocre team to crumble under your ownership. They’re either waiting for you to cut solid players who are stuck in ruts, make a silly trade, or simply give up.

You can’t do those things.

You can’t be desperate because you only have Marc Bulger and Derek Anderson to work with. Just because you don’t have a reliable quarterback does not mean you need to trade one of your good receivers and your best running back to get a mediocre quarterback like Matt Cassel or David Garrard.

That’s called panicking.

There will be teams out there that are looking for small upgrades, and if they have three quarterbacks, their asking price won’t be too high.

You have time. Ask around. Don’t bite on the first trade offered to you. Because if they are offering it, nine times out of ten, they are winning in the trade.

There’s no such thing as a “good deal” unless you win. “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure” says it perfectly.

Find gems that can’t fail on other owner’s teams, and trade low, without risking too many of your high-caliber players.

 

7. The Final Rule

Fantasy football is all about having fun, right? So, if two or three weeks after you try these steps/ideas/rules, and it for some reason still isn’t working, then I have one last piece of advice for you:

Play guys that you like.

Sick of watching Larry Johnson putter around aimlessly, Torry Holt not scoring touchdowns, or Mark Sanchez throwing picks?

Then pick up or trade for homer players and at least have fun in your final four-to-five weeks. That is, unless you’re in a money league. Then you can start the crying.

 

If you need any more advice on trades, free agents, or roster suggestion, give me  shout at kevin.roberts@cuw.edu

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NFL Fantasy Football Risers: San Francisco 49er’s Michael Crabtree

He got his deal. He’s learning the offense. And now it’s time for him to shine.

Well, that’s the general idea, anyways.

With his excellent hands and play-making ability, the main obstacle keeping Michael Crabtree grounded in the fantasy (and real) realm was learning the offense. Next was his previously undefined role with the San Francisco 49ers.

What head coach Mike Singletary would only speculate, now former starter Josh Morgan openly voiced.

“They gave him my spot,” the dejected receiver said.

While Morgan was the one who everyone was “sleeping” on before the season started, it is now the Texas Tech product, Crabtree, who will be the 49ers’ No. 1 receiver, and possibly as early as this coming week.

That means the San Francisco passing game has life, that Crabtree is relevant, and that you’re not a complete fool for holding onto him for all this time.

In the name of Anthony Gonzalez, your efforts have been awarded fair friends, for holding onto Crabtree for about as long as he held out, himself.

Still, with just a mediocre Shaun Hill tossing him passes, Crabtree’s value can only be looked at as a weak flex play, and possibly a fourth wide receiver.

He definitely has the tools and ability to see his value rise to third wide receiver status by the end of Sunday’s game, but we need more certainty from several different angles before we add him to the roster and give him a cemented slot in our line-up.

Mike Singletary’s thoughts, exactly.

Crabtree is more than worthy of being on your roster now, but his status for Week Seven remains up in the air. While reports do suggest that he will be starting, it is recommended that you hold tight and find a different option for your third wide receiver spot until we know what to expect.

This move severely drops Moran’s value, while keeping Isaac Bruce’s at mediocre fourth wide receiver status. Bruce will stay at the No. 2 spot, while Crabtree begins his career as the top receiver in ‘Frisco.

This article and many others can be found on www.gridironexperts.com

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Fantasy Football Start/Sit Week Seven: Ben Roethlisberger Primed To Dominate

We had great success in Week Six, as you can see in the Start/Sit Week Six Review. But now we’re on to greater pastures after running high on last week’s 12-3 record.

Some of the matchups are difficult to predict, but we’ll do our best to lead you in the right direction.

Read on for the five guys in which you should confide, the five to ride the pine, and the five you might want to give a try:

 

Start

Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers

Some guys with Matt Schaub on their team may elect to go the Houston Texan route, but I say nay, revert back to Rodgers, who has a tasty matchup with a horrible Cleveland Browns defense.

Just ask Ben Roethlisberger.

Prediction: 23-30, 314 yds, 3 TD, 0 INT

 

Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Speaking of Big Ben, you have to like the roll he’s on. Combine that with a nice matchup with a likely Antoine Winfield-less Minnesota secondary, and the Steelers passing game could have a field day.

The Vikings will likely stop the run fairly well, anyway, so Big Ben was likely in for a big day, regardless.

Prediction: 22-31, 334 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT

 

Cedric Benson, RB, Cincinnati Bengals

Benson had an off-game against a supposedly soft Houston run defense, but don’t count on that happening against his former team. The Bears basically called him a bust and sent him packing, so he’ll be determined to give them an up-close-and-personal view of just how good he is.

Expect a ton of touches. Am I reaching? Maybe, but sometimes you have to ride the wave of upside.

Prediction: 23 car, 144 yds, 2 TD

 

LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, San Diego Chargers

Tomlinson put up solid yardage against a tough defense in the Denver Broncos, so there’s room for optimism with him facing a team he has terrorized over the years.

With Darren Sproles pretty much a non-factor, look for LT to look like his old self for at least one week.

Prediction: 16 car, 97 yds, 2 TD, 3 rec, 29 yds, 0 TD

 

Santonio Holmes, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

It’s amazing how effective the passing game has been this season despite Holmes not yet getting back into the end zone since Week One.

For the same reasons Roethlisberger should have a huge day, you can expect big numbers for Holmes (and Hines Ward).

Prediction: 7 rec, 108 yds, 2 TD

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Looking for the rest of this article? Head on over to www.theredzonereport.com to get the “sit” and “sleeper” picks for Week Seven .

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Week 6 Fantasy Football Start/Sit Review: Don’t Kill The Messenger

After some back and forth picks sandwiched in between unpredictable players, we finally got on track here at TRZR, having a break-out week in which our player picks for last week’s Start/Sit column gave you a record of 12-3.

Starts: 4-1

Sits: 5-0

Sleepers: 3-2

Read on to see who the three duds were, why they failed, and what you can expect from them in the future. But before we discuss the pains of week six, embrace the good calls that helped you win. Also, stay tuned for week seven’s Start/Sit column.

(Note: Go to last week’s Start/Sit and check the numbers. I correctly predicted Favre’s touchdown total, Clinton Portis’s rushing yardage, and that Jeremy Shockey and Donnie Avery would both score a touchdown. I also was one touchdown off of Randy Moss’s total.)

The Winners

Brett Favre, QB, Minnesota Vikings (Start)

Don’t doubt Brett Favre . Plain and simple. Even against the Baltimore Ravens, Favre found it extremely easy to find open targets and make big plays.

He may not be a full-fledged QB1, but there soon will come a time when you will have to admit that he sort of is.

He hasn’t passed for less than 230 yards since week two, and now has 12 passing touchdowns and just two picks on the season.

Clinton Portis, RB, Washington Redskins (Start)

Portis continues to be the only bright spot in a dismal season for the Redskins, as he cracked 100 yards rushing for the first time this season, and even broke-off a 78-yard run.

He’ still battling tiny injuries, a poor offensive line, and weak quarterback play, but as long as he keeps getting the ball, he can keep-up his solid RB2 value.

Randy Moss, WR, New England Patriots (Start)

We all knew this would happen sooner or later, so we couldn’t feel good about benching Randy Moss. Sunday’s ridiculous three-touchdown and 120+ yard performance shows you why you must keep him in at your WR1 slot at all times.

Jeremy Shockey, TE, New Orleans Saints (Start)

Shockey got major revenge against his former team (New York Giants), as he hauled in almost 40 yards receiving and had a score.

The bigger revenge was how his team decimated the Giants, 48-27. Shockey is a decent TE1 going forward.

Julius Jones, RB, Seattle Seahawks (Sit)

Jones has his third straight dismal outing, thanks to a paltry pass attack and horrible blocking. Regardless, five carries for five yards just isn’t doing it for us, and you should expect more, too.

Don’t value Jones as anything more than a bye week filler right now, and that’s only if the match-up on paper is absolutely perfect.

Lendale White, RB, Tennessee Titans (Sit)

White couldn’t even muster 20 yards on the ground while Chris Johnson had solid success, despite the Titans throwing for -17 passing yards. Yes, you read it right.

White has decent value as a Flex if the passing game gets going, but until it does (if it does), his value is very limited.

Terrell Owens, WR, Buffalo Bills (Sit)

Owens registered his sixth straight game with four or less passes, showing even further just how bad the quarterback situation is in Buffalo, and how much he really is slowing down.

Owens may be traded by the NFL trade deadline, so you could see his value rise if he goes to Baltimore or Chicago. If he sticks in Buffalo, however, he (and you) could be in for a long season.

Willis McGahee, RB, Baltimore Ravens (Sit)

McGahee hit the Williams Wall hard, and watched as Ray Rice was much more successful and saw way more touches.

McGahee is basically a short yardage and goal-line back now, so his role is weak and his production is fairly unpredictable. He remains a quality Flex play, but nothing more.

Darren Sproles, RB, San Diego Chargers (Sit)

Yes, he had an electrifying punt return for a score, but he was otherwise not involved in the offense. LaDainian Tomlinson was surprisingly decent against a tough Denver defense, and he figures to take control as the lead back going forward.

Sproles only had solid value to start the season because LT was ailing and sat out two games. Not he’s back to being a RB3, at the very best, with only decent value in leagues that reward return yards and scores.

Donnie Avery, WR, St. Louis Rams (Sleeper)

Avery didn’t do all that much against the Rams, but this was mostly due to the fact that he left the game with an injury and did not return. He did manage to score a touchdown before he left, however, which gives him solid WR3 value going forward, and likely helped your team in a bind this past week.

Torry Holt, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars (Sleeper)

Holt showed up against his former team (St. Louis), and cracked 100 yards receiving. While he still hasn’t scored this season, he’s still a good target and has been getting yards at a consistent rate.

Keep starting him as a fine WR3, as he’s due for a score eventually.

Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, New York Giants

Bradshaw did have trouble finding room to run against the Saints, but with over 30 yards on the ground and a score, he still posed as a decent RB2, and was probably awarding those who chose him for their Flex spot.

Bradshaw should continue to be a decent RB2 and Flex play going forward.

The Duds

Brandon Marshall, WR, Denver Broncos (Start)

Marshall finished a hair under 50 yards, which wasn’t a terrible effort. After all, his hot-streak had to end sometime, right? Well, not when we vouch for him, it isn’t.

Forgive us for this slip-up (and Marshall, too), and start him with confidence when he and the undefeated Denver Broncos return to action in week eight.

Matt Cassel, QB, Kansas City Chiefs (Sleeper)

It’s remarkable that the Chiefs achieved their first win with Cassel, and did so by throwing for less than 200 yards through the air, as well as no passing touchdowns.

Larry Johnson ironically did most of KC’s work against what was supposed to be a strong Washington run-defense. Apparently not. We like Cassel going forward as a solid QB2, even if he did see his three-game streak of two touchdowns get snapped.

LeSean McCoy, RB, Philadelphia Eagles (Sleeper)

McCoy’s value was killed on Sunday from terrible play from the passing game , as well as terrible play-calling that worked against Philly’s run offense.

Even Brian Westbrook didn’t have a great day running the ball due to the limited opportunities. McCoy doesn’t figure to be anything better than a decent Flex play going forward, unless Westbrook goes down, of course.

For Week Seven’s Start/Sit column, visit www.theredzonereport.com

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Brett Favre Does It Again, Vikings Go 6-0

This old guy is fired up. You could swear it was 1996 up in this joint. And by “joint,” I mean 2009, the Mall of America Stadium, and this awesome Minnesota Vikings offense.

And by 1996, I mean this team looks better than Favre’s only Super Bowl winner. Oh, and as if it hasn’t been beaten to death already, the dude is old.

Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but Brett Favre is awesome.

He drops back, passes, the crowd goes wild. It’s a big, long completion to set-up a touchdown, or it’s a beautiful connection that is a touchdown.

Well, forgive me if I’m finding it difficult to stay in my seat these days when Favre is leading the Vikings down the field, but this guy (and this offense) look downright unstoppable. And dare I say, unbeatable ?

I know, I know, it’s not just Favre. Believe me, I wasn’t truly meaning to insinuate that it was.

Adrian Peterson is a huge part of the offense, and while he was in a sour stretch there of mediocrity, he’s been catching fire of late.

And the defense, save for the near-second half collapse, has been nothing more than outstanding while supporting Favre and the offense in it’s attempt to reach 6-0.

But something more powerful than this team simply being “good” is going on. It just has to be, otherwise a lot of this young 2009 season just doesn’t make any sense.

The game-winning touchdown pass to beat the 49ers.

The absolutely flawless effort by Favre as he beat his former Green Bay Packers.

And then that field goal the Ravens missed?

I know I’ve said it before, but with each nail-biter, with every added Brett Favre heave, touchdown, and thrown block to spring AD, it gets more (wait for it) magical.

We truly are blessed. We are receiving play after play from one of the greats, hand-delivering us gift-wrapped wins on already jam-packed Sundays.

Of course, it has to end sometime, right? Sooner or later, these Vikings will shoot themselves in the foot in a game, and they’ll “earn” their first loss.

Perhaps next week against a very worthy opponent in Pittsburgh. Maybe against Green Bay at Lambeau, where the Packers surely will com to play, and will intend to play for keeps.

But if not, we could see these Vikings enter their bye week at 8-0.

And if that does happen, regardless of your opinion on Favre, Minnesota, or the NFC North, you’ll have to admit that something rather special is going on.

Heck, even if they lose next week, something tells me we’ve already all been changed for the better.

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