Thursday Night Fantasy Football Decision-Maker: Steelers Vs Browns

It’s the final week for making your playoff push for a lot of leagues, and for those that are already gearing up for the first round of the playoffs, well, this is it.

It’s make or break time, and if you’re not confident in your roster, you better start making some rash decisions. This means a quick glance at our Start/Sit column could do you a lot of good. And at the very worst, it will remind you of your options.

While few people are relying on any Cleveland Browns to make a difference this week, there are some borderline playoff teams out there that may have to decide between the likes of Brady Quinn and Bruce Gradkowski, or may be forced to take a chance on Jerome Harrison.

Let’s hope not, but regardless of your situation, there’s never anything wrong with getting some more info before you set your final lineup. If you’re considering any of the options in tonight’s NFL game, read on:

 

Pittsburgh Steelers

 

QB Ben Roethlisberger

He’s always a tempting play, and considering a lovely matchup against the weak Cleveland Browns defense this week, why not, right?

Well, the weather isn’t expected to be exactly favorable for passing tonight, so if you have a better alternative at quarterback, you may want to roll with it. We still like Big Ben to post decent numbers (after all, it is the Browns), but there’s no doubt that the weather can come into play, especially when the Steelers can run the ball extremely well against weak opponents.

 

RB Rashard Mendenhall

The Browns can’t stop the run at all, and Mendy is due a big game. That, and the poor weather forecast, suggests more running that usual for the Steelers, and that’s saying something.

Mendenhall is a must-start play in every format.

 

WR Hines Ward

He’s extremely doubtful for Thursday, and despite the tasty matchup, you just can’t risk it this late in the season. Don’t play with hamstring injuries, folks. Leave Ward on your bench and look for a guy like Kenny Britt to take his place this week.

 

WR Santonio Holmes

Even with the weather concerns, we like Holmes this week. He’s scored two times in these last two games after being shut-out of the end-zone since Week One. Big Ben may not have a huge day through the air, but that doesn’t mean Holmes can’t beat the Browns woeful secondary a few times.

 

WR Mike Wallace

As we said, Ward is almost certainly out of this game. That means more looks and better production than usual for Wallace. Again, the weather could play a huge hand in how this game, and how each player’s production goes, but Wallace would still make a fine WR3.

 

TE Heath Miller

Miller is a strong candidate to get a lot of dump-off passes and red-zone targets every week, and especially so if the weather restricts Roethlisberger from airing it out. Miller is a solid TE1 in most leagues.

Continue reading Thursday Night’s Fantasy Preview by clicking here .

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NFL Quick Hits (Dec. 9th): Mark Sanchez Out For Week 14, and More

Steve Slaton Done For 2009

Slaton missed Week 13 ‘s action against the Jacksonville Jaguars after experiencing numbness in his arms due to a neck injury, and after seeing specialists about the issues, has been advised to shut it down for 2009.

This puts his future as the starter in doubt, and gives both Ryan Moats and Chris Brown four games to prove they should stick around as the starters next season.

We’ll give Moats the edge, although we wouldn’t be shocked to see the Texans start over at the position altogether in the 2010 draft.

Matt Ryan Iffy For Week 14

Ryan is still dealing with an ankle injury, but the team has reportedly said he could play this week if his top offensive linemen are good to go.

Sam Baker and Harvey Dahl missed last week’s action, and the results were horrific, prompting the coaching staff to hold Ryan out as a precaution if his blocking would be less than desirable.

Ryan probably wouldn’t be a great play against a New Orleans defense that has been decent against the pass lately, despite getting torn up by Jason Campbell. Save yourself the worry and sit him this week.

Brian Westbrook and DeSean Jackson Return to Practice

Both Westbrook and Jackson have returned from concussions and are practicing with the team, although neither are a lock to face the New York Giants this week.

Jackson appears fairly likely to play, although he should still be monitored all week, while Westbrook is just starting to come back, and is very unlikely to suit up.

Kellen Clemens to Start, Sanchez Out

Sanchez will miss this week’s contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Jets are riding their back-up, Kellen Clemens.

The Jets (6-6) still have a shot at the playoffs, as well as their division, so they’ll almost definitely stick with the run to avoid Clemens blowing it for them.

The match-up potential is there for Clemens and his weapons, but if we’re simply being logical, anyone not named Thomas Jones should be on your bench in Week 14.

Matthew Stafford to Miss Week 14

Stafford will sit out this week to rest a dislocated non-throwing shoulder. He sustained the injury near the end of Detroit’s loss to Cincinnati, and missed the remainder of the game.

Daunte Culpepper threw a touchdown in relief last week, so despite his regression over the past few years, we know he has the ability to offer something if you’re a Stafford owner. Sadly, it shouldn’t be much.

Hines Ward Doubtful For Thursday

Ward is almost definitely going to be sidelined tomorrow night with a hamstring injury that has hampered him all week.

If the Steelers have any faith toward a run at a Wild Card spot, this is the best decision, as they’ll need Ward healthy and strong for the final three games.

Besides, the Steelers have an almost certain win over the Browns this week.

Rock Cartwright Demoted in Redskins Backfield

Cartwright will go back to returning kicks, as the gig is up for him as the Redskins starter. With Clinton Portis out for the season and his future in doubt, the Skins’ will turn to seventh rounder Quinton Ganther to see what he has to offer.

He’s worth a shot for the stretch run, as the Redskins offense has looked solid lately (we’re shocked, too), and his matchup with a poor Raiders run defense this week also bodes well.

For more NFL news and Fantasy advice, go here .

 

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2010 NFL Draft Profile: Tim Tebow

Name: Tim Tebow

Position: Quarterback

College: Florida

Height: 6′ 3″

Weight: 245 lbs

Average 40 Time: 4.68

Strengths:

-Has great size, build, and strength for the position
-A true leader and elite performer, even on the biggest stages
-Appears to have more than adequate arm strength
-Accuracy is effected by style of offense and short throws, but does have nice placement and good timing
-Is a linebacker in a quarterback’s body and can take the ball up the middle against the defense
-Has good speed and agility and isn’t afraid to get hit as a runner
-Can throw a nice deep ball but doesn’t try to play out of his offense or element
-Very smart, protects the ball well, and doesn’t throw many interceptions
-Showed immense toughness through all four years, especially by bouncing back from mid-season concussion
-Has had very impressive numbers through the air and on the ground throughout his college career

Weaknesses:

-Hasn’t had a ton of work under center, operating primarily in shotgun sets…

For the rest of Tebow’s weaknesses and a Draft value summary, go here.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

NFL Fantasy Versus Week 14: Coin Flip

Fantasy playoffs are starting up in leagues all over the globe, and even if they aren’t, you still have a game or two with serious repercussions attached to them.

You can either hit up the waiver wire , cross your fingers that your injured stars are healthy and reading to go, or go to your last resort: pick the right guy on your roster to stick into your starting line-up.

We’ve been doing it all season, showing you solid match-ups between two quality players, and giving you the best option to use each week.

The only difference this week is this article has a “Lesser of Two Evils” theme. Struggling to pick between two guys that have weak match-ups or haven’t been playing up to par? Allow us to shed some light on who might emerge from Week 14 with some solid production, even if it’s against all odds :

Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, Buffalo Bills (@ KC) VS. Brady Quinn, QB, Cleveland Browns (vs. PIT)

We lied a little bit. Fitzpatrick has what could turn out to be an absolute cakewalk match-up with a slow and vulnerable Chiefs secondary, while Brady Quinn is facing a very aggressive (and scary) Pittsburgh pass rush.

However, Fitz looked awful last week against the Jets , while Quinn looked very sharp for the second time in his past three games.

We’re actually quietly promoting both passers, and here’s why.

Fitzpatrick won’t have any issues with KC, because they don’t get much pressure, aren’t exactly beasts against the run, and their track record for getting burned, well, isn’t very good.

Quinn, while facing a scary name this week, could actually pick up where Oakland quarterback Bruce Gradkowski left off. The Steelers corners are very good, but if Quinn has any kind of time, he’ll be able to move the ball and score on a Troy Polamalu-less defense.

Verdict: Again, if you’re desperate, we like either option this week. But when all else fails, go with the no-name guy going up against the worse defense. Oh, yeah, and he has much better weapons. That no-name guy, being Fitzpatrick.

Kevin Smith, RB, Detroit Lions (@ BAL) VS. Matt Forte, RB, Chicago Bears (vs. GB)

There’s a good chance you haven’t heard Smith and Forte’s names being promoted too much in the past few weeks. Aside from a nice match-up last week against the Rams for Forte, but backs have been relatively quiet, and have endured turnovers from their franchise quarterbacks.

It won’t get any easier this week. Both the Ravens and Packers stop the run very well, and almost are guaranteed to hold both backs below 100 yards rushing. This means your only real chance at fantasy success this week is picking the guy that will either sneak his way to a touchdown, gain some yards on screen passes, or if you’re lucky, both.

Both backs have been doing some solid damage on screens over the past few weeks, but it’s an easy call as to who has the edge in the red-zone.

Verdict: Smith is a touchdown hawk if his offense can get him close enough, and considering we like Stafford’s chances a bit better to move the ball against a weak Baltimore secondary, rather than Cutler slithering his way through a tough Packers pass defense, we’re going with the Lions back.

Hakeem Nicks, WR, New York Giants (vs. PHI) VS. Mario Manningham, WR, New York Giants

It seems the only receiver (or fantasy option) coming out of the New York blue these days is Steve Smith, with everyone else, even including Brandon Jacobs, coming in distant second.

Sure, there have been spurts of greatness from both Nicks and Manningham, but their inconsistency and constant rotation in the offense has left fantasy owners, well, jumbled.

With a tough match-up against the Philadelphia Eagles secondary this week, the question is, what will their role be, and who do you trust?

Manningham has one catch for 10 yards last week, quite the disappointing effort, especially after hauling in five or more grabs in his previous three straight.

Nicks, on the other hand, caught only one more pass, but tallied 27 more yards and scored a touchdown.

Verdict: Both players are hard to tag, but if you have to run with one of them in a match-up we’d rather just avoid, we’re going wit Manningham. He struggled a bit last week, but until his weak effort against the Cowboys, he had consistently been getting attention from Eli Manning. Expect that to pick back up .

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Tim Tebow Still On Jacksonvlle Jaguars’ Radar

Tim Tebow isn’t in the National Championship, so for all intents and purposes, his lobbying to be a first round selection has already begun.

However, I’m not so sure how much lobbying he’ll really have to do. There have been reports that the Jaguars are fully committing themselves to Tebow, in an effort to give their franchise a new, fresh identity, despite already having one in running back Maurice Jones-Drew.

The rumor of Jacksonville being interested (very interested) a few months back, is seemingly getting more and more serious with each passing day, as a report from ProFootballTalk.com suggests that there is already some type of structure in the 2010 NFL Draft that will guarantee the Jaguars get the Florida prospect.

While many draft experts are down-playing Tebow as an NFL franchise savior, and are instead suggesting he switch positions, the Jaguars seem more hell bent on saving their team and gaining a hometown discount (of sorts), in an effort to increase ticket sales.

There isn’t any explanation about what would happen with head coach Jack Del Rio, or even what the team’s plans are regarding current starting quarterback David Garrard, but assumption is becoming quite obvious: Tim Tebow has the face, the legacy, and the talent—and he’s going to be on the field.

This doesn’t mean the Jaguars are forfeiting any success they have this season to go all Mike Ditka-like on Tebow and pull all the strings to land him like Ditka landed Ricky Williams several years back, but it’s also fairly evident (as far as rumors go, anyway), that they wouldn’t necessarily let anything get in their way either.

The real question is quickly becoming, “How will Tebow fit, and will he be successful?”, rather than if he will be drafted, or where he will be drafted.

Tebow may have been in the news lately for crying after his team’s loss to number one ranked Alabama, but as the rumors pile in, he may end up crying again in just a few months—this time out of joy.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

NFL Updates: Anthony Gonzalez Suffers New Setback

Colts receiver Anthony Gonzalez has been out since week one, when he sustained a non-contact knee sprain. Gonzalez had reportedly had a minor clean-up procedure weeks into his rehab, which set him back and made his return before Week 12 unlikely.

Two weeks later, reports are emerging that Gonzalez went under the knife again, and that he may not even be available for the post-season .

Fantasy Perspective: You can count Gonzalez out for the regular season and your fantasy playoffs, and there’s a good chance his season his done altogether.

The even more interesting aspect of Gonzalez’s year-long ordeal is what his future is with the Colts. With young receivers Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie emerging, he may not necessarily be needed.

Wait on turning Gonzalez loose in Keeper leagues, but in all other leagues it’s officially time to label him a lost cause. If you haven’t dropped him yet, it’s time you do so.

Catch up on some other headlines around the NFL :

Washington Redskins Place Clinton Portis on IR. (Yahoo! Sports)

Matt Schaub Hopeful to Play Sunday. (Rotoworld.com)

Troy Polamalu Unsure About Returning This Season . (ProFootballTalk.com)

Hines Ward to be Game-Time Decision For Thursday. (Rotoworld.com)

For more fantasy updates/advice and breaking NFL news, go here .

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Free Week 14 NFL Picks

We were once again teased by an undefeated team, pulling at our heart strings, and allowing us to believe that perfection could be ended.

God makes it clear in the Bible, that no man should (or will) know the end of the world, and so to, will no man know the ending of the Colts or Saints winning streak.

This writer has been betting against both teams nearly every week, and the attempts have been exhausting. Our picks are still rock solid, but considering we’re going against the grain and saying both teams will continue to 13-0, we almost suggest picking the either way.

On a lighter note, we really like what we saw from the Miami Dolphins and Arizona Cardinals, but expect both the New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings to bounce-back in style.

Read on for this week’s picks and some quick analysis :

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cleveland Browns

The Steelers are reeling after losing their fourth straight, but is there really any doubt they take care of the Browns? Big Ben should have a field day against Cleveland’s atrocious defense.

Steelers 34, Browns 16

New Orleans Saints @ Atlanta Falcons

Depending on Matt Ryan and Michael Turner’s availability, this could turn out to be a huge game.The Saints still can’t stop the run, and the first team to truly expose this fact was Atlanta in a fairly close game several weeks back. The 6-6 Falcons are desperate and need a win to stay in the playoff chase. If Ryan and Turner play, change this pick, but for now, the match-up on paper looks ugly.

Saints 37, Falcons 20

Detroit Lions @ Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens are definitely dispirited after losing a big game to the Green Bay Packers. After such a roller coaster season, Baltimore has to be just about ready to pack it in, right? Perhaps, but not against a horrible Lions team, and not when they still have some life in the AFC Wild Card chase.

Ravens 30, Lions 17

Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears

This is a bigger game than a lot of people are giving it credit for. The Bears bounced back from a bad run by beating the lowly Rams, and while they don’t get much credit for that, they will be hosting a Packers team that they played very closely in the first game of the season.

The Packers are winners of four straight, but they didn’t look particularly great doing so in Week 13, and we all know how close division games can be. This is either the week Green Bay finally declares itself a front-runner for a Wild Card spot, or begins it’s descent. They’re a good team, but the Bears have pride, and will play to keep Love Smith under contract.

Bears 19, Packers 16

Seattle Seahawks @ Houston Texans

This is a sad battle between two 5-7 teams that have very slim hope for the playoffs. The loser will be sent home early and relegated to “spoiler” duty, while the winner gets to last another day (but not really). Even with Houston’s struggles, it’s impossible not to take them over a Seattle team that is a few blocking assignments from being a mess in almost every game they play.

Texans 34, Seahawks 27

Denver Broncos @ Indianapolis Colts

Remember when both of these teams were 6-0 and all of Denver was calling “monstrosity” when writers were ranking the Colts higher? Well, now the Broncos (and their fans) finally get the match-up they were waiting for.

Have the Colts just been getting lucky? Was the Broncos four-game slide a fluke?

You can probably answer no to both, and fairly emphatically, but we still bet on Denver giving Indy a run for their money. Like I said in the opening, when it comes to the Saints and Colts, just pick the opposite of what we’re picking this week.

Colts 27, Broncos 23

Miami Dolphins @ Jacksonville Jaguars

The Dolphins have now tied the season series with the Patriots after their 22-21 victory in Week 13, and all they need to do is keep pace and finish with the same record for a shot at the playoffs. It won’t be easy, as they may have to win out to accomplish the task, but an over-rated Jacksonville squad just might do the trick.

Neither team can stop the run or pass consistently, and while conventional wisdom says go with the team that has Maurice Jones-Drew, we’d rather hang our hat on the team with better coaching.

Dolphins 24, Jaguars 20

For the rest of this week’s picks , and fantasy advice, go here .

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Fantasy Football Week 14 Waiver Wire Watch

We’re getting down to the nitty gritty. Most leagues have two or less regular season games left, while many leagues start their playoffs this week. That means you need to scour the waiver wire for a gem or two if your current roster isn’t boosting your confidence heading into Week 14.

Stay updated with NFL Soups’ Breaking News, and then hit our other top fantasy pieces to get all the information you need this week to be successful and keep your fantasy team alive.

The following are the top guys available in at least 50 percent of leagues:

Vince Young, QB, Tennessee Titans (Available in 63 percent of leagues)

Young and Alex Smith (below) continue to be available in over 60 percent of leagues a piece, yet churn out respectable fantasy days on a regular basis. Young’s Titans didn’t hand the Colts their first loss this week, but Young was able to throw for 241 yards and two touchdowns. Needless to say, if you’re depending on Joe Flacco, Matt Ryan, or a rookie passer, Young would be a solid upgrade for your playoff run.

Next up: St. Louis Rams

Matchup Rating: 5/5

Alex Smith, QB, San Francisco 49ers (66 percent)

Smith continues to perform at a high level, responding with a career high 310 yards, while also throwing two scores and no picks, a week after throwing three touchdowns in a game for the second time this season. Smith has the 49ers’ offense running smoothly, and even though it hasn’t added up to wins, he’s still a decent fantasy starter, and could help a team in need.

Next up: Arizona Cardinals

Matchup Rating: 3/5

Chad Henne, QB, Miami Dolphins (90 percent)

Henne is growing up right before our eyes, as he dropped in two touchdowns and 335 yards passing against the New England Patriots. He’s still a bit risky to use due to his inexperience, but with his solid progression and the help of his strong running game, he’s at least a safe bet to carry over this success into Week 14.

Next up: Jacksonville Jaguars

Match-up Rating: 5/5

Correll Buckhalter, RB, Denver Broncos (67 percent)

Buckhalter is clearly still a big part of the Broncos’ rushing offense, and even though he normally will get less total touches than Knowshon Moreno, his ability to make things happen with the ball sustains his moderate fantasy value. He cracked 100-plus rushing yards last week in Denver’s second straight win, and should continue to run the ball as Denver goes up against an Indy pass defense that is still performing well.

Next up: Indianapolis Colts

Match-up Rating: 4/5

Rock Cartwright, RB, Washington Redskins (68 percent)

With Clinton Portis likely out once again in Week 14, Cartwright should get the majority of the carries, and could be a quality RB2 with a nice matchup against a soft Oakland Raiders defense. His total yardage so far has been weak, but the touches are high enough to warrant taking a chance on him.

Next up: Oakland Raiders

Match-up Rating: 5/5

For the rest of this week’s Waiver Wire Pick-ups, and more, go here .

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

NFL Week 14 Preview: Battle For NFC East Supremacy

We were once again thwarted by the Colts, as they took care of business against Tennessee. Ironically enough, the Saints were the team who struggled, and against a previously 3-8 Washington Redskins team, no less.

The story of last week, while undoubtedly partially going to the Saints’ comeback, goes to the Arizona Cardinals and their dismantling of the Minnesota Vikings. The only question is, was this just a good team laying it all on the line in a game they had to win to keep pace in their division?

Perhaps. But the following week usually does an excellent job of answering any questions the previous week couldn’t take care of.

Read on for our Five Things to Watch For in Week 14 :

5. Can Chicago Play Spoiler Against Green Bay?

Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears

This is a bigger game than a lot of people are giving it credit for. The Bears bounced back from a bad run by beating the lowly Rams, and while they don’t get much credit for that, they will be hosting a Packers team that they played very closely in the first game of the season.

The Packers are winners of four straight, but they didn’t look particularly great doing so in Week 13, and we all know how close division games can be. This is either the week Green Bay finally declares itself a front-runner for a Wild Card spot, or begins its descent. They’re a good team, but the Bears have pride, and will play to keep Lovie Smith under contract.

Bears 19, Packers 16

4. Will the Saints Stumble Over a Division Foe?

New Orleans Saints @ Atlanta Falcons

Depending on Matt Ryan and Michael Turner’s availability, this could turn out to be a huge game. The Saints still can’t stop the run, and the first team to truly expose this fact was Atlanta in a fairly close game several weeks back. The 6-6 Falcons are desperate and need a win to stay in the playoff chase. If Ryan and Turner play, change this pick, but for now, the matchup on paper looks ugly.

Saints 37, Falcons 20

3. Can the Vikings Bounce Back?

Cincinnati Bengals @ Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings are back at home before they take a two-game road trip, and can ill afford to lose a big game after getting absolutely trounced by the Arizona Cardinals. Every facet of their team was off of its game, which leads us to believe that we saw a stinker performance out of the Vikes, rather than what they “truly are”.

Cincy definitely has the defense to match the Vikings’ offense, but we’ve seen other offenses have success against this Bengals squad, and considering their main strength is running the ball, we’re looking for their offense to sputter on the road. Besides, Minnesota just doesn’t lose at home.

Vikings 33, Bengals 24

2. Which Team Holds onto Its Division Lead?

San Diego Chargers @ Dallas Cowboys

This is a huge game for both teams, as the both have a one-game (or less) lead in their respective division, and can ill afford to lose this week. San Diego has Denver breathing down its neck, while Dallas just finished getting swept by the New York Giants, and is tied with the Eagles ay 8-4 atop the division. The Chargers are playing better football, and could give Tony Romo fits, even without Eric Weddle.

Chargers 31, Cowboys 28

1. Who Wins the Battle of the Week in the NFC East?

Philadelphia Eagles @ New York Giants

Much like the Chargers/Cowboys game, this matchup has serious playoff and division implications . The winner isn’t guaranteed the division or a playoff spot, but it would vault them into the division driver seat.

Philly is fresh off a very dominant performance over the Falcons, while the Giants rebounded from an embarrassment against the Broncos to sneak past the Cowboys. It should be a fight to the very end, with the Eagles escaping due to a better performing defense.

Eagles 26, Giants 20

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

NFL Fantasy Week 14 Start and Sit: Believe In Ryan Fitzpatrick

We’ve had two straight average-to-unsatisfactory weeks of our Start/Sit column, and based on our track record of solid calls and usual winning record in most weeks, quite frankly, we’re just getting annoyed.

But the playoffs are quickly approaching, and now is not the time to feel sorry, give up, or cry. Read on for our picks that will help you make the final push.

Here are the five guys to see the lights, five to ride the pine, and five to give a try .

Start

Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, Buffalo Bills

We know it sounds insane, but the Chiefs corners are slow, and they don’t have a Darrelle Revis to contain the previously extremely hot Terrell Owens. Fitzpatrick doesn’t do much that scares us in a good way, but he should hook up plenty with his top two options, making us look like a bsolute geniuses in the process.

Prediction: 20-29, 278 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT

Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

This is probably a no-brainer, but consider this TRZR’s “start all your Steelers” sounding alarm. The Browns don’t pose a threat when defending the run or pass, so all of Pittsburgh’s top guys are emphatic “go’s” from us. We especially like Mendenhall this week, who should produce some nice numbers, even if he ends up exiting early.

Prediction: 17 att, 124 yds, 2 TD, 3 rec, 26 yds, 0 TD

Rock Cartwright, RB, Washington Redskins

He has a nice match-up with an Oakland Raiders run defense that has trouble stopping just about any back, and with Clinton Portis still out, he will continue to see the majority of the load. He remains a quality RB2.

Prediction: 15 att, 72 yds, 1 TD, 2 rec, 10 yds, 0 TD

Chad Ochocinco, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

I’m not sold on the Bengals doing what the Cardinals did last week (Jared Allen won’t allow it), but I don’t really think they can contain Ochocinco all game, either. He should spring for a couple big plays, and should be good for a score, as well.

Prediction: 6 rec, 98 yds, 1 TD

Jeremy Shockey, TE, New Orleans Saints

Shockey has the luxury of facing an Atlanta Falcons defense that is vulnerable to the pass (and run, really), but especially poor against tight ends. Even though Drew Brees loves to spread the rock around, look for Shockey to emerge from his funk with a solid day.

Prediction: 5 rec, 64 yds, 1 TD

 

For this week’s “Sit” and “Sleeper” options, click here .

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

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