DeMange and I are taking different stances on who to start during each week of the NFL Fantasy Football Season. If you find yourself in a similar situation, take a look. Hopefully we can help you out.
1. Matt Forte (CHI vs DET) or Earnest Graham (TB @ KC)
| DeMange - Matt Forte |
Phlipot - Earnest Graham |
| Both Chicago and Tampa Bay have great matchups this week in the running game but Matt Forte should get the nod because he is an every down back. Graham is splitting carries with Dunn and even playing a little fullback. Start Forte against the winless Lions. I do not believe this game will be the blowout that many are predicting but Chicago should win and with any lead they get Forte will be used heavily to drain the clock to zero. Both backs should find pay dirt this week but I like Forte to see the endzone twice. |
This is a tough matchup. I am leaning towards Graham because of his versatility and Kansas City's inability to stop opposing running backs. Even though Graham is sharing time with Warrick Dunn and playing fullback, he still received 17 carries last week and hauled in 4 receptions out of seven targets. He is a huge part of the offense and I don't see the Chiefs stopping him in week nine. An interesting note about Forte. Detroit held the Chicago running back to 36 rushing yards in their week 5 matchup and Forte hasn't rushed for 100 yards in a single game since week 1. |
2. Donnie Avery (STL vs ARI) or Bernard Berrian (MIN vs HOU)
| DeMange - Donnie Avery |
Phlipot - Bernard Berrian |
| I made fun of this draft pick back in April. The first WR taken! Are you serious? Yes, and he is very, very good. Too bad the Rams started off the season so bad because Avery could have been this years Colston from 2006. As long as Holt is double teamed, Avery is a lock to get the ball and with his blazing speed he should be a more feared receiver than the sure handed Holt. Berrian has a nice matchup at home against the Texans but Avery should match Berrian in targets this week and there is a better chance Donnie finds the endzone. |
Berrian has really come on as of late with a trip to the endzone in each of his last three matchups and has also gone over 100 yards in two of them. He seems to be developing a rhythm with QB Gus Frerotte and coming off the bye, I expect these two to cause trouble for the struggling Texan's secondary. He should easily get his 6 receptions, 80-100 yards and a score. |
3. David Garrard (JAX @ CIN) or Chad Pennington (MIA @ DEN)
| DeMange - David Garrard |
Phlipot - Chad Pennington |
| No question - The Bengals/Jaguars game could get ugly. The Jags were humiliated last week by Cleveland so they will use this week as a statement game and show no mercy against the "future #1 pick in April's Draft" Bengals. The only fear I have about Garrard's numbers is that for the first time all season he will have all 5 starting lineman in front of him so Fred Taylor and Jones-Drew could have monster days which would severely deflate Garrard's numbers. Maybe the Bengals will key on trying to stop the run this week but with each week Garrard gets a little more confidence in his WR's and with Matt Jones still not suspended this matchup doesn't look good for Cincinnati. |
Pennington has been a pleasant surprise in Fantasy Leagues as he has been a consisent performer every week (minus week 2 of course). Coming off his first 300 yd game of the season, Pennington will face a Denver defense that is simply terrible. They rank 28th in pass defense giving up an average of 240 per game. Pennington has averaged 297 yds/game in his last three outings. With the high probability that this game could turn into a shootout, he should have no problem meeting those numbers again. |