My Donald Driver Blog

 Alright, at least the Packers could block the Rams long enough for Aaron Rodgers to complete some passes. The Rams did register two sacks early in the game, but that is all they were able to get. Rodgers actually got a little bit comfortable and was able to throw for a couple of touchdowns. There were some things that I liked about this game, but other things that I did not.

I really liked that the Packers were at least able to do a little something on offense. I only saw a couple of drops. One by Jordy Nelson deep over the middle which was directly followed by the James Jones drop. Nelson's was actually a difficult catch to make, but James Jones' should have been an easy catch.  James Jones stock is definitely dropping in my opinion.  Even though Nelson has not been perfect this year, I would take him any day of the week over James Jones.

There were still a lot of times when our offense was stalling and the blocking was still very suspect.  Only at the end of the game was Grant able to get some running room and actually pick up some yards.  And this is against one of the worst defensive lines in the entire league.  So that is not really very encouraging.

Aaron Rodgers connected on a few deep passes which actually played a large part in the win.  The first of which was to Donald Driver and is by far the best catch of the year for the Packers and possibly of Donald Driver's career.  It was about 50 yards down the field and Driver had to shed off some pass interference to catch the ball with one hand.  It was absolutely gorgeous.  The other two deep passes were to my man Greg Jennings.  They were both really nice passes and moved the Packers into scoring position.

The announcers kept on bringing up that Aaron Rodgers is saying that the Packers need to take more shots down field.  Rodgers did take a lot of deep shots today while only connecting on the three mentioned above.  I like to see that he is intelligently aggressive.  None of the deep balls that he threw were into double coverage, nor were they close to being intercepted.

So with this route of a victory, why exactly am I so worried?  The primary concern that I have is the inflexibility we have on offense.  With the lack of time that Aaron Rodgers is getting, the Packers should be intentionally throwing short quick systematic passes.  Not the deep drops where Rodgers holds on to the ball.

It seems that Rodgers may be getting a little addicted to the big plays.  He needs to focus on getting that ball out of their quickly so that he can live to see another day.  We are playing Minnesota next week and I want Rodgers to survive that game.  In order for him to do so, he is going to have to get rid of that ball a lot faster than he has done in the first three weeks.

The coaches better be screaming at him this week.  If it is not there get rid of the ball quickly.  The Packers will probably lose the game next Monday no matter how many plays Rodgers does or does not make.  It will be far worse lose Rodgers than the game.  He will have to stop focusing on getting big deep plays and just get out of there alive.

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We've all been there, it's the 8th round of your fantasy draft and everyone's waiting. It's your pick and you're feeling the pressure. The player you wanted went to the guy before you and you've been caught off guard. Your fantasy team has the stud running backs and the great quarterback. You're solid at wide receiver (at least you think you are) and the late round sleeper Tight End you've been eye balling is good for a few more rounds. So who's it going be?

Insert the nothing pick.

The nothing pick is the guy you take and regret seconds after announcing his name. He's the guy everyone snickers at, the player that gets a punchline from your friend sitting across the table; he might be a sleeper, but more likely he's a reach.

Everyone loves that feeling of picking the fantasy player that gets the big commotion. The "Oh man, he's still around?" kind of response that puts a smile on your face. There's nothing like seeing your buddy drop the F-Bomb and pound the table. While that feeling is no doubt the highlight of your day, reaching on a player that never does anything for your fantasy team hurts ten times worse.

Selecting productive veteran workhorses is always a smarter pick than looking at the bottom of the page for some rookie that will be great in 2 years. The following are solid mid round players that are lacking the "sexy pick" nametag that add depth to your fantasy team. These players are projected around the 7th and 8th round. They're not superstars, but they'll beef up your depth and have little to zero risk.

WR Kevin Walter - The Texans always seem to get into a shootout with whoever they play. Andre Johnson demands double coverage consistently which allows Walter to find breathing room. Walter is a solid receiver to add to your roster; he can step in at any time for a bye week replacement or fill-in injury spot.
WR Hines Ward - This 33 year old receiver always gets the knock for being risky due to his age. 33 is no spring chicken, but Hines Ward is a magnet for the end zone, and in a bind he will get you some decent yardage. Last year was Hines Ward's first 1000 yard season since 2004.

QB Carson Palmer - It seems like it's been a while since we thought of Carson Palmer as a stud fantasy QB. The Bengals were the doormat of the league for years (some say they still are) and the only bright light was this former USC gunslinger. Palmer was becoming an elite fantasy player before another injury setback last year. With health concerns behind him, the Bengals can finally get back to the high power passing attack from 06-07. Grab some depth at quarterback, you'll thank yourself mid-season.

WR Donald Driver - The Packers are loaded with offensive weapons, which makes Driver a hard player to pick when to start, but regardless of the guessing game he is a 1000 yard WR. While defensive coordinators are scheming for Greg Jennings, Driver can make big catches and is fairly consistent with getting involved in the offense.

RB LenDale White - Would you really be upset with 6 carries for 18 yards and two easy gimme-touchdowns? LenDale White lost a little weight but he still gets the ball where it counts.

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Since 2001 the Green Bay Packers have won fewer games than the previous year. Their alarming slide came to the forefront last season when they finished a paltry 4-12. The team was riddled with injuries and problems. It looked like Brett Favre's last season would be one to forget. However, Favre has decided to come back for a 15th season in 2006. This upcoming season has to be better than 2005, right?

Quarterbacks

Brett Favre is past his prime and clinging onto the glory days gone by. Sure, he still has some gas in the tank, but he commits far too many errors to lead the team anywhere meaningful--like the Super Bowl. What's worse is the fact that the Packers don't have a bona fide replacement for him. Of course, many will say there's just one Favre. Still, the Packers are just average in this category. A QB that throws 29 interceptions and 20 TD's just isn't getting the job done.

Running Backs

Who's going to step up and be the man? Ahman Green is an injury waiting to happen. Last season was cut short--he had 255 yards. If Green is healthy, he should rush for about 1,000 yards. Still, that's only 62.5 yards per game. 2003, when Green rushed for 1,883 yards, was a magical year and not indicative of Green's ability--especially now that he's older. The rushing game for the Packers is just average at best.

Receivers

The receiving tandem is anchored by Donald Driver. Again, question marks abound. If Driver stays healthy, he figures to get about 1,200 yards receiving this season. Aside from Driver, there's a huge gap in the receiving unit. It's Driver and Driver. He's the only reason why the receiving unit gets a grade of average. If he goes down, this unit is well below average.

Defense and Special Teams

The Packers have a lackluster line this season. They picked up DT Ryan Pickett, but they lost Grady Jackson. The best this line can hope for is to make a minor push. The Linebackers are slightly better and could end up being the anchor of the defense if some key players, like A.J. Hawk from Ohio State, step up. To improve the secondary, the Packers sign CB Charles Woodson. He's not a shut down corner by any stretch, but he could give the secondary a small boost. As to the special teams, well, there's not much to talk about. The lone bright spot, Ryan Longwell, has left the team for Minnesota. The special teams unit is below average.

2006 Predication

The Green Bay Packers have a somewhat challenging schedule in 2006. Based on 2005, there are at least 11 games they could lose. Some of their opponents include Seattle, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Miami, New England and division foes. It's the last hurrah for Brett Favre. It's very likely that the Packers finish somewhere in the range of 5-11 to 7-9.

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NFC Northern Division:

1) Chicago: da'Bears made the playoffs by breaking out with an 11-6 record last year which was their first winning season since 2001 and figure to battle a now healthy Packer team for the divisional crown this season. In truth these Bears were able to win the divisional crown last year because of the fact that the rest of the division had a very down year as evidenced by GB, Detroit, and Minny combining for a shoddy 18-30 record in 2005. Chicago had a very strong defense last season and good play on that side of the ball will be needed again this year if they want to match last years win total. The Bears have a lot of question marks on an offense that ranked a shoddy 29th overall last year and it starts with QB Rex Grossman's ability to stay off the injury list, as an insurance policy Chicago brought in Brian Griese to back up Grossman. The Bears also have disgruntled RB Thomas to deal with and a possible training camp injury to starting RB Cedric Benson. Projected record: 10-6

**Look to play AGAINST these Bears in their Monday Night game on October 16th at Arizona, the Cards are only the 2nd playoff caliber team the Bears will have faced at this point in the season. Brand new Cardinal Stadium will surely be rocking and rolling since this is the Cards first MNF appearance since 1999, its also nice to know that four of the Bears six losses from a year ago occurred when playing on the road.

2) Green Bay: Never mind the fact that QB Brett Favre finished last year ranked a very shoddy 14th out of 16 starting NFC Quarterbacks in terms of QB rating and threw an eye opening 29 interceptions against 20 TD's, they begged him to come back, instead the blame was placed solely on HC Mike Sherman. The Packer organization fired HC Mike Sherman for having a 4-12 season last year after he had posted winning seasons in each of his first five years in Packer land and had made the playoffs in each of the four seasons prior to last year. The truth of the matter is that GB suffered serious injuries to key players on both sides of the ball last year and especially on offense where virtually every starting skill position had players succumb to injury except for QB Brett Favre and WR Donald Driver. In Sherman's place the Packers hired first time HC Mike McCarthy who will look like a genius in winning 10 or 11 games this year, all because the Packers will be healthy once again and were able to pick high in the draft which allowed them to snag linebacker A.J. Hawk with the 5th overall selection, the free agent signing of CB Charles Woodson should shore up the Packer defensive secondary as well. Projected record: 10-6

**Look to play ON these Packers in their October 8th home game against the visiting Rams, St Louis will be playing on the road for the 3rd time in a 4 week span and has a divisional battle versus Seattle on deck, meanwhile, according to the ole history book GB is a perfect 4-0 ATS in their last 4 home games against NFC West teams.

3) Minnesota: These Vikings are one of three teams in this division to bring in a new first time head coach to take the helm with the hiring of HC Brad Childress. The Vikes have won 9 games each of the past three seasons which is really a middle of the road kind of performance, not bad enough to garner top draft picking and not good enough to consistently make the playoffs, hence the reason for HC Mike Tice's firing (finally!!). For a second straight year the Vikings let a franchaise player get away with the loss of QB Duante Culpepper to Miami and will start 38 year old journeyman QB Brad Johnson who played very well for the Vikes during the second half of last season following Culpepper's knee injury. Minny had a terrible draft and really didn't help themselves much in free agency other than the acquisition of RB Chester Taylor and LG Steve Hutchinson to bolster the running game. The Vikes are an aging team with a new first time HC who is installing all new schemes and it adds up to a sub par season. Projected record: 6-10

**Look to play ON these Vikings when they visit Buffalo on October 1st, the Bills will be coming off three straight divisional games and thus will experience a natural let down in this situation, Minny will probably be getting a couple of points and its nice to know that Minny has covered 4 of their last 5 games ATS following a game against the hated Bears.

4) Detroit: What is up with this Lion organization, when are they going to wake up and get rid of GM Matt Millen? Millen was nothing more than a former player who had a broad casting gig with Fox Sports, he had no coaching experience at all nor did he have any front office experience. Yet Millen was hired to assume the GM Duties following the Lions 9-7 season in 2000. Since Millen's arrival in Detroit the Lions have not had a winning season nor have they won more than 6 games in any single year over the past five seasons under his guidance. Its head shaking stuff that in Millen's five years in Detroit the Lions have posted a shoddy combined mark of 21-59 and yet he is still the GM! This year the Lions will start their 3rd head coach since Millen took over, this time around they start a brand new HC that has never held the head position (Rod Marinelli). In the big picture these Lions have a brand new first time HC, they have the "mad bomber" Mike Martz installing his complicated offense, they have a new QB under center, and they have a losing mentality to overcome, add it all up and it equals yet another losing year for the Lion faithful. Projected record: 4-12

**Look to play the UNDER when Detroit visits St Louis on October 1st, both teams are in transition with new first time HC's who want to control the game's tempo by using the running game, meanwhile, the public will in all likelihood expect a high scoring affair because that is usually what they got in Ram home games.

Jim Campbell runs http://www.FootballForecastor.com which has been an internet based sports handicapping service since 1997, you will be hard pressed to find another handicapper that has had the kind of success Jim has had, over the past eight years he has maintained one of the very best winning percentages of any sports handicapping service.

Five weeks into the season, there are clears haves and have-nots. That was made especially evident last week, when six of the 14 games played saw the winning teams conquer by at least 19 points. Week 6 of the season should be a bit more competitive, and ultimately a bit more enjoyable for football fans. Something that never lacks for excitement, however, are the 1-Week Frenzies offered by Rotoplay. And once again, we're here to attempt to help you put together the best line-up possible with our player rankings.

Quarterbacks 1

1) Tom Brady (vs. Tennessee): There isn't better match-up this week than Brady vs. the Titans. Tennessee has been miserable against the pass this season; they rank 31st in the NFL in both pass defense and passing touchdowns allowed. In four of the five games Tennessee has played this season, the opposing quarterback has thrown for at least 300 yards, and in three separate games, opposing signal-callers have tossed at least three scores.

2) Aaron Rodgers (vs. Detroit): No team has allowed more passing touchdowns this season than Detroit, who has given up multiple scores through the air in every game this year. Rodgers has his first 300-yard game before the team's bye last week, and has thrown for two touchdowns in two consecutive games.

3) Ben Roethlisberger (vs. Cleveland): Teams haven't put up fantastic passing numbers against the Browns because of how bad Cleveland is against the run. That said, they have still allowed 230 or more passing yards four times. Roethlisberger is playing very well, having completed at least 22 passes in every game this year.

4) Drew Brees (vs. NY Giants): Shockingly, Brees has gone two straight games having thrown for fewer than 200 yards without a touchdown. And it doesn't get any easier for him this week. It's hard not to recommend Brees, but the Giants have only allowed one passer to throw for more than 127 yards.

5) Matt Schaub (@ Cincinnati): Three times this season, Schaub has completed at least 25 passes for 300 or more yards and at least two scores. That doesn't seem likely to be the case this week. The Bengals are solid against the pass, as no opposing quarterback has thrown multiple touchdowns or for 300 yards in a game on them, and they haven't faced stiffs, either. Three of the five teams they've played are in the top-12 in the league in passing offense.

6) Philip Rivers (vs. Denver): The Broncos are currently fifth in the league against the pass, and are tied with Indianapolis for the fewest passing touchdowns given up. It should be noted, however, that in the six times Rivers has faced the Broncos since becoming San Diego's starting quarterback in 2006, he's thrown 12 touchdowns and just three interceptions, and has thrown multiple touchdowns in five of those games.

Quarterbacks 2

1) Kurt Warner (@ Seattle): Warner has only six touchdowns and four interceptions, but he has completed at least 26 passes and thrown for 285 yards three times in four games. Seattle is ninth in the league against the pass, but Warner lit them up last year, throwing for 395 yards in one game against them and four touchdown passes in his other.

2) Donovan McNabb (@ Oakland): McNabb threw for over 260 yards and three scores in what was his first full game of the season last week. Now, he plays his second full contest (hopefully) against the woeful Raiders, who are average, at best, in pass defense.

3) Jay Cutler (@ Atlanta): After his poor start in Week 1, Cutler has thrown for at least two scores in each of his last three contests. Still, though Atlanta is 22nd in the league in pass defense, they've allowed just three passing scores this season, which is third in the league.

4) Carson Palmer (vs. Houston): Houston is 16th in the league against the pass, but those numbers are skewed a bit considering the Texans have faced three teams ranked outside the top-20 in passing offense. Palmer has tossed just two picks in his last three contests, to go with four touchdowns. Still, he's thrown one score or fewer in three of his five games this year.

5) David Garrard (vs. St. Louis): The Rams haven't allowed a 300-yard passer yet this season, so they have that going for them. Still, they're not adept at stopping the pass, so Garrard is in line for a solid week, but is not a great option considering the company he's keeping in this group.

6) Eli Manning (@ New Orleans): Manning faces off against the Saints this week, and three of the four quarterbacks to go up against New Orleans have thrown for 205 yards or fewer with no touchdowns. They're 11th in the NFL in pass defense, but only two teams have allowed fewer passing scores. The Saints also lead the NFL with 10 interceptions and have held opponents' signal-callers to a league-low 51.3 QB Rating.

Quarterbacks 3

1) Joe Flacco (@ Minnesota): Flacco has thrown for a touchdown in each of Baltimore's games this season, and his 22 completions last week were the fourth time in five games he's completed that many throws. The Vikings defense can be thrown on, which was obvious to anyone who saw the Rams move the ball on them. Minnesota is 17th against the pass and 20th in passing scores allowed.

2) Brett Favre (vs. Baltimore): Only Cleveland's pathetic passing attack has failed to post solid passing numbers against the Ravens this season. Favre has thrown at least one touchdown pass in every game this year, and three times has completed at least 23 passes.

3) Matt Ryan (vs. Chicago): The Bears have allowed just four passing touchdowns, which is sixth in the NFL, but they are 20th in the league in passing yards allowed. Ryan had a great day last week, with over 300 passing yards and two scores - the third time in four games he's thrown for multiple touchdowns.

4) Kyle Orton (@ San Diego): Orton has been merely solid all year; he's thrown a touchdown in every game, but threw for over 300 yards for the first time last week and has yet to throw more than two scores in a game and has completed over 20 passes just once. The Chargers are decent against the pass, but less so against the run, so expect Denver to concentrate on running the ball.

5) Jake Delhomme (@ Tampa Bay): The Buccaneers give up big plays left and right, and have allowed more passing scores than all but two teams, but Delhomme is far from trustworthy, and has not thrown for more than 1 touchdown in a game this year.

6) Derek Anderson (@ Pittsburgh): Hilariously - unless you're a Cleveland fan - Anderson completed just two passes last week. Two! Now he faces the Steelers and has pretty much nobody to throw to with Braylon Edwards gone. Do you really want him anywhere near your fantasy team?

Quarterbacks 4

1) Jason Campbell (vs. Kansas City): This is a very good match-up for Campbell, as the Chiefs are 29th in pass defense, and 28th in passing scores allowed. He has shown the ability to put up solid numbers against weak opponents, and should do so again this week.

2) Marc Bulger (@ Jacksonville): Bulger came in towards the end of the game last week and completed all seven of his passes, including one for a score. His match-up this week against the Jaguars' 30th-ranked pass defense is a good one, so if you're looking for a potential sleeper, Bulger may be it.

3) Matt Cassel (@ Washington): Cassel hasn't thrown an interception since Week 2, and he's thrown two touchdowns in each of his last three games. Yet it's important to note that he's thrown for fewer than 130 yards twice this season, and faces the Redskins' third-ranked pass defense this week.

4) Mark Sanchez (vs. Buffalo): Sanchez is an excellent game-manager, but as far as fantasy goes, there are simply too many statistical inadequacies in his game. He's completed fewer than 15 passes three times and has thrown more than one touchdown in a game just once.

5) Kerry Collins (@ New England): Collins was pulled from the Titans' game last week, and though he's starting again this week, he could go at any time, especially if the game turns into a blowout quickly. Use him at your own risk.

6) Trent Edwards (@ NY Jets): Edwards has one touchdown and five interceptions in his last three games, and faces a top-10 pass defense this week. Don't even bother with him.

Running Backs 1

1) Maurice Jones-Drew (vs. St. Louis): MJD did not have a good week against Seattle last Sunday, but that should be rectified this week against the Rams, who are 23rd in the NFL against the run and 26th in rushing scores allowed.

2) Matt Forte (@ Atlanta): Forte has an excellent match-up this week against a Falcons squad that is 24th in the NFL in run defense. He's caught five passes in two separate games this season, and with receptions being three points a pop, he's a good play.

3) DeAngelo Williams (@ Tampa Bay): The Bucs have only allowed three rushing scores because everyone scores against them throwing the ball. They're still 28th in the NFL against the run, and in Week 16 of last season, Williams ran for 186 yards and two scores against them.

4) Adrian Peterson (vs. Baltimore): All Day hasn't run for 100 yards since Week 1, and hasn't broken 70 yards in the last two weeks. Despite his obvious talents, the Ravens are fourth in the league against the run, and just last week let an opponent run for over 100 yards for the first time since 2006. It likely won't happen two weeks in a row.

5) Chris Johnson (@ New England): It's not Johnson's fault that Tennessee is as bad as they are, nor is it his fault that the Titans gave him just nine carries last week. No chance that will happen again, and he should be in store for a good day, even against the Patriots' solid run defense.

6) Steven Jackson (@ Jacksonville): Poor Jackson. He was so excited to finally score his first touchdown last week, he fumbled on a hand-off inside the five-yard line. If you can do without the scores, Jackson is a good play due to the touches he receives - at least 21 carries and multiple receptions in each of his last three games.

Running Backs 2

1) Rashard Mendenhall (vs. Cleveland): The only thing that might slow Mendenhall down this week is if Willie Parker, who is finally healthy, eats into his carries too much. Otherwise, this is a match-up to savor; the Browns are dead last in the NFL against the run, and have allowed more rushing scores than all but one team in the league.

2) Knowshon Moreno (@ San Diego): Moreno is clearly the man in the Denver backfield, with 21 rushes in two of his last three games. He's scored just once this year, but he's also caught six passes in those games, and has an excellent match-up against a San Diego team that is 27th in the NFL in run defense and 26th in rushing scores allowed.

3) Brian Westbrook (@ Oakland): Only two squads have allowed more rushing touchdowns than the Raiders, who are 31st in the league against the run. Westbrook is apparently fully healthy, but he's lost carries to second-round pick LeSean McCoy, and ended up toting the rock just six times last week.

4) Brandon Jacobs (@ New Orleans): Jacobs carried the ball 21 times for 67 yards last week as backfield mate Ahmad Bradshaw tore up the Raiders. Jacobs has a disappointing one touchdown this season, and has caught just four passes, severely hurting his value in this format.

5) Michael Turner (vs. Chicago): The problem with Turner is that he simply doesn't catch the ball - he has just one catch this season. And in this scoring format, that means he'd have to outrush another player in this group by 30 yards for each of their catches.

6) Steve Slaton (@ Cincinnati): Slaton continues to be one of the bigger disappointments in fantasy football this season. He's run for fewer than 40 yards in three of his five games this year, including last week, and now faces a Cincinnati defense that is 12th in the league in run defense and which has allowed just three rushing scores.

Running Backs 3

1) Cedric Benson (vs. Houston): Benson accomplished something last week nobody had done in two full seasons - run for 100 or more yards against the Ravens. This week, he faces Houston, which is 26th in run defense, and dead last in rushing scores allowed.

2) Kevin Smith (@ Green Bay): Green Bay has only allowed two scores on the ground, which is tied for fourth in the league, but they've also had two runners gain at least 100 yards against them in the four games they've played this year. Smith has added value due to the fact he's caught multiple passes in each game this year.

3) Pierre Thomas (vs. NY Giants): Thomas has performed well of late, running for at least 85 yards and a touchdown in two consecutive games. The Giants are excellent against the pass, but can be run on. They're 15th in the NFL in run defense, and only seven teams have allowed more rushing scores than they have.

4) Ryan Grant (vs. Detroit): Though Grant has carried the ball 16 or fewer times in three of his four games this season, his match-up here is a good one. Detroit has allowed a running back to gain at least 75 yards in four of the five games they've played on the year.

5) Clinton Portis (vs. Kansas City): Despite his nice match-up against the Chiefs, Portis is dealing with an ankle malady, and, like Jones, doesn't get enough touches compared to the rest of the players in this group.

6) Thomas Jones (vs. Buffalo): Yes, Jones scored twice last week, but he hasn't carried the ball more than 14 times since Week 1, and he's a non-factor in the passing game, killing his value in this format.

Running Backs 4

1) LaDainian Tomlinson (vs. Denver): The Broncos are sixth in the league in run defense, allowing just 81.0 yards per game (only one time has a runner even topped 70 yards against them), and have let opposing ball carriers cross the goal-line just twice. LT has been struggling to start the year, but he'll have a huge game sooner or later, and in this group of runners, is a good option.

2) Ray Rice (@ Minnesota): Rice's seven receptions last week marked the third game this season in which he's had at least five catches out of the backfield. He usually doesn't see more than 15 carries in a game, but three points per reception means his value is very high.

3) Cadillac Williams (vs. Carolina): Caddy ran the ball 10 times for, and this is not a typo, eight yards last week. It was the third time in five games he's run for fewer than 10 yards. Yes, he can catch the ball out of the backfield, but his history of all or nothing this year makes him a gamble, even against a pillow-soft Panthers run defense.

4) Fred Jackson (@ NY Jets): Marshawn Lynch is back, and he's the No. 1 runner in the Bills' backfield, severely hurting Jackson's fantasy value. Even if Lynch was not around, this is a poor match-up for Jackson.

5) Tim Hightower (@ Seattle): Hightower ran the ball just six times last week, which was the third time in four games he's had fewer than 10 carries in a game. With carries being worth one point in this scoring system, there are better options.

6) Jerome Harrison (@ Pittsburgh): Jamal Lewis returned last week, putting Harrison back into the No. 2 spot in the Cleveland backfield, though Lewis was limited in practice some this week. Still, there's no reason to use Harrison against the Steelers.

Wide Receivers 1

1) Randy Moss (vs. Tennessee): Moss has scored just one touchdown on the year, but this week, against a Titans pass defense that is softer than a 300-pound man's beer belly, he should go off. The Titans have allowed four different 100-yard receivers this season, and have allowed at least one wideout to gain at least 90 yards in every game.

2) Larry Fitzgerald (@ Seattle): Two more touchdowns for Fitzgerald last week gave him four in four games this season. Yet he also had fewer than 80 receiving yards once again, and hasn't broken that mark so far this year. Nonetheless, how do you not like a guy who had games of 151 and 130 receiving yards against the Seahawks last season?

3) Andre Johnson (@ Cincinnati): Though the Bengals have been fairly successful in stopping the pass overall, they have allowed opposing wideouts to come up big against them. Last week was the first time all season they didn't allow a receiver to gain at least 85 yards against them. That's about the least you should expect from Johnson.

4) Steve Smith (NYG) (@ New Orleans): Smith caught a season-low three passes last week, but still picked up 70 yards. It's hard to stay away from Smith, especially in this format due to the fact that receptions are worth so much, but the match-up isn't great, and only one wide receiver has caught more than six passes in a game against the Saints.

5) Anquan Boldin (@ Seattle): Boldin has been solid all season, but has only found the end zone one time - those looks are going to teammate Larry Fitzgerald. He's always going to put up some type of decent numbers, but there are better options in this group.

6) Marques Colston (vs. NY Giants): Only twice in five games has a wideout been the leading receiver in a game against the Giants, and one of the receivers had fewer than 30 yards to lead the team. This match-up is too difficult when you consider the other players in this group.

Wide Receivers 2

1) Steve Smith (CAR) (@ Tampa Bay): Only Jake Delhomme has held Smith back, but history says Smith will overcome to have a very good game this week. In two games against the Buccaneers last season, Smith had at least 110 receiving yards in each.

2) Brandon Marshall (@ San Diego): Marshall has four touchdown catches over his last three games, and though he has yet to gain 100 receiving yards in a contest this year, that's coming soon. In Week 2 of last season, Marshall had 18 catches for 166 yards and a touchdown against the Chargers.

3) Roddy White (vs. Chicago): White announced his presence with aplomb last week after being non-existent for the beginning of the season. He had 210 receiving yards and two touchdowns last week, and though he won't repeat that this week, he does have a decent match-up against the Bears.

4) Vincent Jackson (vs. Denver): Jackson hasn't caught more than six passes in any game, and he's also had a bye week, so the fact that he's sixth in the NFL in receiving yards says a lot. And though Denver is excellent against the pass, three different receivers have gained at least 85 yards on them in a game this year.

5) Chad Ochocinco (vs. Houston): The Ocho had a season-high seven grabs and 94 receiving yards last week, and has a decent match-up this week against the Texans. He's clearly Carson Palmer's No. 1 target, so there's every reason to expect him to have a solid game.

6) Calvin Johnson (@ Green Bay): Johnson is struggling with a knee injury, causing him to miss practice time. He'll likely be a game-time decision, so it's difficult to recommend him knowing that. If you simply must use him, check on Sunday to see if he's playing.

Wide Receivers 3

1) T.J. Houshmandzadeh (vs. Arizona): The Arizona Cardinals have been destroyed through the air, having allowed a wideout to gain at least 100 yards in three of their four games this season, and at least 70 yards in every game. Now that Matt Hasselbeck has returned, Houshmandzadeh will be a force.

2) Wes Welker (vs. Tennessee): Welker missed two games earlier in the season, then labored in his first contest upon his return, but he got back to doing his think last week in the Patriots' loss to Denver. He caught eight passes for 86 yards and one touchdown in the game, and with one of the league's worst pass defenses coming up, he's a great option.

3) Greg Jennings (vs. Detroit): With just five receptions over his last three games, Jennings has not been as involved in the Packers' offense as fantasy enthusiasts have hoped. This very well could be the game he goes off, however, as he has a good match-up with a Detroit team he burned for over 100 yards in both of his games against them last year.

4) Santana Moss (vs. Kansas City): Moss has had two games where he's made big plays, but the only problem here is, he doesn't catch the ball an awful lot. And though he could be in store for another solid contest considering the weak pass defense of the Chiefs, his lack of catches is something that needs to be considered.

5) Santonio Holmes (vs. Cleveland): Holmes has been very average since Week 1, and the Browns have actually held individual receivers down this season. Only one wideout has gotten more than 86 yards in a game against them.

6) DeSean Jackson (@ Oakland): One catch for one yard. That was the extent of Jackson's day last week. It was the second time in four games he had fewer than 10 receiving yards, and that inconsistency is a bit of a worry.

Wide Receivers 4

1) Hines Ward (vs. Cleveland): Ward has caught at least six passes and gained at least 80 yards in four of the Steelers' five games this year, though that's come with only one touchdown. He's a decent play, but Pittsburgh will likely be more focused on running the ball, which could hold Ward down somewhat.

2) Mike Sims-Walker (vs. St. Louis): Sims-Walker didn't play last week because he was suspended for a violation of team rules. The Jaguars subsequently got shut out, and he's back on the field with a very good match-up against a Rams team that is 25th in the league against the pass.

3) Derrick Mason (@ Minnesota): Mason simply will not be shut out like he was last week, and he's a solid option against a Vikings pass defense that can be exploited. Mason is very capable of doing the exploiting this week.

4) Bernard Berrian (vs. Baltimore): The Ravens remain surprisingly below-average against the pass, coming in 26th in the league in that category. Berrian has yet to gain more than 75 receiving yards, but all he needs is one of his trademark big plays to make that happen.

5) Dwayne Bowe (@ Washington): Bowe's touchdown catch last week was his third in four games, something he's accomplished despite not catching more than five passes in any contest. Washington is third in the NFL in pass defense, so this won't be an easy game for him, but he's clearly a threat to score each week.

6) Jerricho Cotchery (vs. Buffalo): Cotchery is dealing with a hamstring injury that has kept him out of practice. He's got a decent match-up if he plays, but there are other, healthier options in this group.

Wide Receivers 5

1) Donald Driver (vs. Detroit): With at least four catches in every game this season, Driver has done a lot to prove that, even at age 34, there's a lot of tread left in his tires. He has a solid match-up this week against Detroit, a team he scored a touchdown against both times Green Bay played them last season.

2) Nate Burleson (vs. Arizona): Burleson has a great match-up against the Cardinals, but he's battling a bit of a back injury, something that has come at the least opportune time. He has only been limited in practice, so he should be able to play, but check before inserting him in your lineup.

3) Kevin Walter (@ Cincinnati): The Bengals have allowed one receiver to be productive against them, but have yet to allow two receivers in the same game do so. Only once, against the Steelers, have they allowed two wideouts to each gain at least 40 yards against them.

4) Eddie Royal (@ San Diego): Royal finally got involved last week after a hugely disappointing start. He caught 10 passes for 90 yards in Denver's win over the Patriots. But with such poor numbers the rest of the season, can we really trust him?

5) Mario Manningham (@ New Orleans): Manningham is a big play waiting to happen, but he doesn't always get a lot of work. For example, over the last two weeks, the Michigan product has caught just three passes, and he's accumulated more than four receptions in one game this season, and has crossed the 60 receiving-yard barrier just once.

6) Terrell Owens (@ NY Jets): There's just no reason to think TO will get it going this week, especially against a team in the Jets that has shut down their opposition's top wideout with regularity.

Tight Ends 1

1) Brent Celek (@ Oakland): Celek has been a big part of the Philly offense, with at least four catches in three of the team's four contests this season. The Raiders have twice allowed more than 45 receiving yards to a tight end in five games this year.

2) Antonio Gates (vs. Denver): Gates is the leading pass-catcher on the Chargers' squad with 24, and he hasn't caught fewer than five passes in any one game this season. The Broncos have generally been excellent against tight ends this season, having held the likes of Jason Witten to just four catches for 31 yards, but Gates is too big a piece of San Diego's offense to be held down.

3) Tony Gonzalez (vs. Chicago): Only once have the Bears really been burned by players at the tight end position, and that was their last game against the Lions. Other than that, no tight end has amassed even 30 receiving yards against them. Still, Gonzalez isn't your typical tight end, is he?

4) Owen Daniels (@ Cincinnati): Daniels could be in line for a solid day on Sunday. He caught eight passes last week, and has caught at least five in three of the Texans' games this season. Cincinnati has allowed at least one tight end to catch five or more passes in three straight games.

5) Chris Cooley (vs. Kansas City): Cooley was completely shut out in the Redskins' last game, but that shouldn't be the case this week. He and the Skins go up against the Chiefs, who have been burned by tight ends twice for over 70 yards and a touchdown, and four times for at least 40 yards.

6) Heath Miller (vs. Cleveland): Miller has caught at least five passes in four of the Steelers' five games this year, and has scored three times in his last two games. The Browns have been good against tight ends, however, with none catching more than four passes or gaining more than 41 yards against them.

Tight Ends 2

1) John Carlson (vs. Arizona): Arizona stinks in pass defense, and that includes trying to cover tight ends. In three of their four games this season, tight ends have amassed at least 60 receiving yards, and twice they've allowed tight ends to catch touchdowns.

2) Kellen Winslow (vs. Carolina): Even with Tampa's below-average passing attack, Winslow holds value as a safety valve for quarterback Josh Johnson. The Panthers have allowed tight ends to beat them often this year, with an opposing player from that position leading their team in receiving yards in three of Carolina's four games.

3) Greg Olsen (@ Atlanta): The Falcons have been decent against tight ends this season, but over their last two games have seen players at that position catch nine passes for 155 yards and one touchdown. Olsen has scored in two straight games, but he had just one catch in the Bears' last contest.

4) Jeremy Shockey (vs. NY Giants): Shockey has caught at least four passes in each of the Saints' first four games, but he's not getting many yards with those receptions. He has yet to get at least 50 receiving yards and hasn't scored since Week 1.

5) Dustin Keller (vs. Buffalo): Keller was not on the receiving end of a single pass from Mark Sanchez last week in the Jets' loss to the Dolphins. He has also caught three or fewer passes in each of his last four games with a high total of 31 yards.

6) Jermichael Finley (vs. Detroit): Finley has a solid match-up and is coming off a career-best of 128 yards while scoring a touchdown, but his inconsistency makes it tough to trust him. He had just one catch for six yards in Week 1, and was completely shut out in Week 3.

If you are a NFL fan of any sort, then you should try fantasy football at least once in your lifetime. Fantasy football allows you to become the general manager of your "so-called" all-star team. Being able to draft your players for the season; every move you make is an important one.

I have only been participating in fantasy football for the last two years. Last year was a little shaky for me because I did not understand the importance on how to build your team. Typically, on a team, you want to draft enough players to fulfill 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE, and a D/ST per week.

I personally think that drafting running backs early are the top picks of anyone's draft. The reason of me saying this is because running backs have the biggest turnout compared to any other position.

In this years draft I had the 3rd pick of the draft. I knew I was going to have to choose between Larry Johnson, which whom I picked last year as the 1st pick, or 2006 standout Frank Gore. I decided to choose Frank Gore because of Larry Johnson's off season scurries.

For my second pick, I had to choose if I wanted another running back or to choose a quarterback. Having all of my top quarterbacks taken for my second pick I decided to pick Reggie Bush, because he had a good year last year and there were high expectations for the young Saints team.

Knowing that my top quarterbacks have been picked I decided to wait three rounds and draft all receivers, and then pick a remaining QB. I ended up picking Andre Johnson, Donald Driver, and Terrell Owens. I then picked up Jon Kitna because of the weapons he has surrounding him.