FANTASY: Mid-Week Edition Week Nine

Mid-Week Edition Week 9

The Wednesday Edition previews the top three football games of the week for the fantasy player. These are the games that barring injury or a hurricane should produce high numbers in many fantasy categories. I will also provide you with news and notes, along with the statistical analysis that I do for another fantasy football publication. Enjoy!!!

News and Notes It looks like these guys will play this weekend- Pickens, Wheatley, Riemersma, Grbac, S. Morris, Faulk, Owens, Fryer, Aikman, McNabb, and H. Moore.

It looks like these guys won’t- Warner, McNown (bye week, but out 4-6 weeks), Fuamatu-Ma’afala (impressive!), D. Patten, B. Huard, and E. George (watch his status).

Top Fantasy Games Week 9

Oakland vs. San Diego This is a typical West Coast battle where both teams love to pass and neither team has a good secondary. Rich Gannon has gotten better every week and since the team continues to win his confidence continues to grow. As bad as San Diego is they are a decent team with Jim Harbaugh at the helm. He had little trouble finding Jeff Graham and Curtis Conway against a good Buffalo defense. With Conway back from his numerous injuries the Raiders should not underestimate the Chargers this weekend. They always have a great run defense led by All-World Linebacker Junior Seau.

Start’em- R. Gannon, T. Brown, C. Conway, Freddie Jones

Consider’em- T. Wheatley, J. Jett (8 passes throw his way last week), S. Janokowski, J. Harbaugh, J. Fazande, J. Graham, J. Carney

Bench’em- A. Rison, R. Dudley

Detroit vs. Indianapolis Detroit broke out last week against the Bucs. Yes, they are going to be hurting a bit after the loss of Germaine Crowell, but Herman Moore has been waiting to get his starting job back. If he can stay healthy, he will regain his form and again be the red zone threat he once was. James Stewart proved last Thursday why he is getting paid the big free agent dollars. Look for him to continue that progress this week. As far as the Colts go they are plugging along quite nicely. They haven’t had the type of game we are used to seeing though since they played the Jags on Monday Night Football. Indy needs to get the supporting cast involved or else teams are going to double and triple team James and Harrison.

Start’em- J. Stewart, J. Morton, J. Hanson, P. Manning, E. James, M. Harrison, K. Dilger

Consider’em- C. Batch, H. Moore, T. Wilkens, J. Pathon, M. Vanderjagt

Bench’em- D. Sloan

St. Louis vs. San Francisco Is it just me or are we going to see the Rams in high scoring games for the next 10 years (until the cap kills them). Though Kurt Warner is lost for the next couple of weeks, we must remember that Trent Green was the original starter. If he weren’t hurt last year we probably wouldn’t even know Kurt Warner existed. If you were as smart fantasy coach, after drafting Warner you would have drafted Green as well. If you did then you should not be worried at all. Who knows, Green could be better than Warner (imagine that!!!).

Marshall Faulk will start this weekend; apparently he is ailing from a similar shoulder problem that Az Hakim has been dealing with all year. The 49ers are doing extremely well with what they have. Garcia has surprised everyone and Garner is helping fantasy players around the world forget about Garrison Hearst. Terrell Owens is one of the Top 5 WR’s in the NFL; look for him to have a big game on Sunday.

Start’em- T. Green, M. Faulk, I. Bruce, T. Holt, J. Garcia, C. Garner, T. Owens, J. Rice

Consider’em- A. Hakim, J. Watson, P. Stoyanovich, T. Streets, W. Richey

Bench’em- Ram TE’s, G. Clark, F. Beasley

Offensive stat averages and touchdowns scored: Carolina: 88.7(run), 251.7(pass) Atlanta: 66.0(run), 218.0(pass) Touchdowns: Carolina: 3(run), 5(pass) Atlanta: 3(run), 8(pass)

Defensive stat averages and touchdowns allowed: Carolina: 131.1(run), 217.1(pass) Atlanta: 137.9(run), 260.2(pass) Touchdowns: Carolina: 8(run), 4(pass) Atlanta: 10(run), 16(pass)

Offensive stat averages and touchdowns scored: Cincinnati: 147.6(run), 138.7(pass) Cleveland: 70.6(run), 198.2(pass) Touchdowns: Cincinnati: 5(run), 2(pass) Cleveland: 4(run), 7(pass)

Defensive stat averages and touchdowns allowed: Cincinnati: 138.9(run), 224.7(pass) Cleveland: 142.0(run), 215.5(pass) Touchdowns: Cincinnati: 6(run), 11(pass) Cleveland: 10(run), 7(pass)

Offensive stat averages and touchdowns scored: Detroit: 90.0(run), 194.3(pass) Indianapolis: 119.6(run), 307.1(pass) Touchdowns: Detroit: 6(run), 7(pass) Indianapolis: 7(run), 15(pass)

Defensive stat averages and touchdowns allowed: Detroit: 119.0(run), 228.1(pass) Indianapolis: 118.7(run), 230.3(pass) Touchdowns: Detroit: 5(run), 8(pass) Indianapolis: 6(run), 12(pass)


Offensive stat averages and touchdowns scored: Green Bay: 86.0(run), 255.7(pass) Miami: 130.3(run), 167.0(pass) Touchdowns: Green Bay: 4(run), 10(pass) Miami: 5(run), 9(pass)

Defensive stat averages and touchdowns allowed: Green Bay: 95.3(run), 223.6(pass) Miami: 102.3(run), 223.9(pass) Touchdowns: Green Bay: 2(run), 13(pass) Miami: 1(run), 7(pass)

Offensive stat averages and touchdowns scored: Minnesota: 149.4(run), 238.7(pass) Tampa Bay: 111.3(run), 192.1(pass) Touchdowns: Minnesota: 7(run), 14(pass) Tampa Bay: 9(run), 6(pass)

Defensive stat averages and touchdowns allowed: Minnesota: 102.1(run), 241.9(pass) Tampa Bay: 107.0(run), 196.4(pass) Touchdowns: Minnesota: 7(run), 8(pass) Tampa Bay: 5(run), 7(pass)

Offensive stat averages and touchdowns scored: NY Jets: 103.0(run), 221.4(pass) Buffalo: 108.4(run), 262.4(pass) Touchdowns: NY Jets: 5(run), 12(pass) Buffalo: 3(run), 10(pass)

Defensive stat averages and touchdowns allowed: NY Jets: 114.7(run), 205.9(pass) Buffalo: 76.1(run), 210.9(pass) Touchdowns: NY Jets: 5(run), 8(pass) Buffalo: 3(run), 11(pass)


Offensive stat averages and touchdowns scored: Pittsburgh: 137.6(run), 172.1(pass) Baltimore: 121.4(run), 201.6(pass) Touchdowns: Pittsburgh: 9(run), 2(pass) Baltimore: 2(run), 8(pass)

Defensive stat averages and touchdowns allowed: Pittsburgh: 84.7(run), 190.0(pass) Baltimore: 61.9(run), 197.0(pass) Touchdowns: Pittsburgh: 1(run), 5(pass) Baltimore: 3(run), 5(pass)

Offensive stat averages and touchdowns scored: Jacksonville: 94.5(run), 255.5(pass) Dallas: 119.3(run), 187.0(pass) Touchdowns: Jacksonville: 4(run), 9(pass) Dallas: 7(run), 11(pass)

Defensive stat averages and touchdowns allowed: Jacksonville: 114.9(run), 229.2(pass) Dallas: 171.9(run), 178.9(pass) Touchdowns: Jacksonville: 7(run), 15(pass) Dallas: 10(run), 9(pass)

Offensive stat averages and touchdowns scored: Kansas City: 86.0(run), 251.4(pass) Seattle: 107.1(run), 182.8(pass) Touchdowns: Kansas City: 6(run), 17(pass) Seattle: 4(run), 7(pass)

Defensive stat averages and touchdowns allowed: Kansas City: 121.0(run), 239.9(pass) Seattle: 146.4(run), 243.0(pass) Touchdowns: Kansas City: 4(run), 10(pass) Seattle: 8(run), 11(pass)


Offensive stat averages and touchdowns scored: New Orleans: 147.6(run), 198.0(pass) Arizona: 92.6(run), 221.9(pass) Touchdowns: New Orleans: 7(run), 8(pass) Arizona: 4(run), 9(pass)

Defensive stat averages and touchdowns allowed: New Orleans: 74.3(run), 180.9(pass) Arizona: 156.4(run), 205.9(pass) Touchdowns: New Orleans: 2(run), 6(pass) Arizona: 15(run), 8(pass)

Offensive stat averages and touchdowns scored: Philadelphia: 131.6(run), 204.4(pass) NY Giants: 140.9(run), 188.6(pass) Touchdowns: Philadelphia: 8(run), 10(pass) NY Giants: 7(run), 7(pass)

Defensive stat averages and touchdowns allowed: Philadelphia: 109.1(run), 192.8(pass) NY Giants: 71.1(run), 254.6(pass) Touchdowns: Philadelphia: 4(run), 5(pass) NY Giants: 3(run), 10(pass)

Offensive stat averages and touchdowns scored: St. Louis: 121.0(run), 389.3(pass) San Francisco: 130.4(run), 278.4(pass) Touchdowns: St. Louis: 11(run), 22(pass) San Francisco: 6(run), 22(pass)

Defensive stat averages and touchdowns allowed: St. Louis: 92.1(run), 292.7(pass) San Francisco: 116.1(run), 299.5(pass) Touchdowns: St. Louis: 10(run), 14(pass) San Francisco: 12(run), 16(pass)


Offensive stat averages and touchdowns scored: Oakland: 140.9(run), 207.3(pass) San Diego: 64.6(run), 227.9(pass) Touchdowns: Oakland: 11(run), 10(pass) San Diego: 5(run), 6(pass)

Defensive stat averages and touchdowns allowed: Oakland: 112.4(run), 243.7(pass) San Diego: 101.4(run), 273.9(pass) Touchdowns: Oakland: 2(run), 12(pass) San Diego: 3(run), 19(pass)

Offensive stat averages and touchdowns scored: Tennessee: 125.6(run), 222.4(pass) Washington: 125.0(run), 241.5(pass) Touchdowns: Tennessee: 5(run), 10(pass) Washington: 10(run), 8(pass)

Defensive stat averages and touchdowns allowed: Tennessee: 102.1(run), 192.3(pass) Washington: 100.5(run), 198.4(pass) Touchdowns: Tennessee: 4(run), 4(pass) Washington: 2(run), 8(pass)