Week 2: Team Fantasy Reports from SB Nation

We conclude our sweep of SBN NFL blogs with Field Gulls, and all things Seahawks.

Julius Jones – (Steer Clear) The 49ers have poured talent into their defense and out from under Mike Nolan’s besuited mismanagement, some of that talent is actually beginning to assert itself. Jones broke out against the Rams, but much of his fantasy contribution was isolated to one 62 yard touchdown run. He had a strong showing against the Niners in week two, but that was courtesy Nolna’s stubborn insistence on running a nickel defense throughout the game. This Sunday, Seattle will run the ball, and anything short of an early blowout by the Niners, Jones will get carries. But Seattle will distribute carries among Edgerrin James and shifty third-down back Justin Forsett. Jones has the upside of a solid number two back and the downside of a back that grinds out few yards and fewer red zone touches. Stay away.

John Carlson – (Safe Bet) I say it often, but I’ll say it again, John Carlson is best young tight end in football. Speed freaks never recovered from his forty at the NFL Combine, but Carlson is field fast. His route-running is fluid and efficient like Steve Largent and his hands are secure and stable in traffic. T.J. Houshmandzadeh is listed as probable with back spasms and has missed practice. He should play, but Seattle will rely on Carlson to steal some of those quick-hitters across the middle that define the the Matt Hasselbeck to Houshmandzadeh connection. Carlson is always a steady play in fantasy, but the addition of Greg Knapp’s down-field attack and an emergence by Carlson as a red zone threat, have made him a top tight end in 2009.

Seahawks Defense – (Waiver Gold) After shutting out the Rams, it might be too late. Fans jump to conclusions after week one, but for a fantasy owner, it’s folly not to. Playing wait and see can cost you 1999 Kurt Warner. Seattle’s defense might not bust out that big, but the talent is starting to flash. Jim Mora, Gus Bradley and Dan Quinn have taken over for John Marshall. Marshall had his time, but never adapted to the new, looser passing game. He shot his team’s in the foot with overly loose zones and by blitzing the house at the exact wrong time. Bradley looks more measured and astute, and he is creating pressure without sabotaging the secondary. It’s a slightly banged up unit that could nevertheless thrive against a 49ers offense that strives to be mediocre and forgettable. Better yet, when it gets healthy and has a second shot at the NFC West, Seattle’s defense could produce the kind of sack and turnover breakouts that power a fantasy team past its opponent.

Field Gulls is the home for Seahawks fans.

Behind the Steel Curtain reveals all about the Steelers.

QB Ben Roethlisberger – Ben Roethlisberger is healthy and the running game struggled in Week 1 against a similar 4-3 defense to what the Steelers will face on Sunday. Roethlisberger threw for more than 350 yards last week and if the running game struggles like many suspect the Steelers will be forced to win the game on the strength of Big Ben’s arm.

RB Willie Parker – Parker took the blame for the Steelers problems running the ball last week and looks to turn it around, but there are far too many questions about the running game to count on Willie for a big game. Parker missed almost the entire preseason with an ankle injury and looked very hesitant last week. If you have another option on your fantasy team I would stay away from Parker like he was the Swine flu.

RB Rashard Mendenhall – Mendenhall got a plenty of carries during the preseason but he still didn’t look like the player the Steelers were drafting in the first round of the 2008 draft. Chicago is Mendenhall’s old stomping grounds though, so perhaps will come out and show his hometown team that they made a mistake not drafting him. Unless you are in an extremely deep fantasy league I don’t see Mendenhall deserving a spot on your lineup.

WR Santonio Holmes – Santonio Holmes’ has went over 100 yards in the opening match-up against the Titans and really looked like he was in midseason rhythm with Ben Roethlisberger. The Chicago Bears secondary is a big question mark, so look for Santonio and the Steelers to exploit the weakness and get the ball in their playmakers hand.

WR Hines Ward - Hines Ward quietly had 100 yards last week and is still Ben Roethlisberger’s most reliable target when he needs a big play. Hines Ward is only 117 yards away from 10,000 in his career so he could pass another milestone in his career at Soldier field on Sunday afternoon.

TE Heath Miller – Good Tight Ends tend to eat the Bears alive and find holes in the middle of the field. Heath Miller is also coming off a great game against the Titans and looks like he could finally be a consistent threat in the Steelers offense.

Steelers Defense – The Steelers linebackers struggled getting to Kerry Collins last week, but I would look for them to bounce back and get pressure on Jay Cutler early on. The pressure will force some turnovers, but I would expect Jay Cutler to protect the ball better than he did last week when he threw 4 interceptions. The Steelers defense creates pressure and turnovers and if you have them on your team you should start them every week.

For the best in Steelers coverage, Behind the Steel Curtain is your source.

Blogging The Boys gives us the news out at the ranch.

QB Tony Romo – His ankle is fine and the Dallas offense will be ready to go when the New York Giants come to town Sunday night to open up Cowboys Stadium. As a starter, Romo is 4-0 against the Giants in the regular season. While New York’s defense will try to prevent the Cowboys’ big-play passing attack that beat the Buccaneers in Week 1, look for Dallas’ offensive coordinator, Jason Garrett, to stick a similar plan—score fast to eliminate New York’s ground attack. He will count on Tony Romo’s arm to do so. Romo has some of his better games against the Giants, and has had huge games on the SNF stage.

RB Marion Barber – Last week against Tampa Bay, Barber was back to his bruising ways. Although the Cowboys mixed in Felix Jones and Tashard Choice early, Barber came to do his job: close out the game. New York’s front seven is one of the stingiest in the NFL, but Barber should still see the bulk of the carries for Dallas. With 14 carries for 79 yards and a touchdown against the Bucs, he has shown that he can be counted on to be a solid fantasy starter. Having value as a goal line back and a good checkdown receiver for Romo, you can always expect a double-digit day for Barber.

RB Felix Jones – The enigma of the Dallas offense is also that for fantasy owners. Jones has the speed and ability to make the big play; but if he doesn’t, he can leave you with a frustrating four-point day. Dallas was expected to incorporate him more into the passing game, yet he failed to notch a reception in Week 1. Going forward, last week should be the exception, not the rule. If you have Jones in a PPR league and/or a flex league, you may want to consider him. He also adds value as a kick returner. In straight-up leagues, I would wait another week because Marion Barber will continue to get the bulk of the carries at RB, while Tashard Choice looks to have monopolized the third-down duties.

WR Roy Williams – Williams had a bit of a breakout game in Week 1 as the Dallas offense hit three touchdown passes for more than 40 yards against Tampa. His 66-yard score showed that the 10 pounds he shaved in the offseason has helped him in the ‘explosiveness’ department. 86 yards and a touchdown most likely satisfied many fantasy owners who started him, but just the three catches could have some concerned. Facing a Giants defense that will put heat on Tony Romo will cause quicker throws. Williams may have more catches this week than last, but that doesn’t mean he will have more yards. He is the number one receiver, but Dallas likes to spread the ball around.

TE Jason Witten - Still one of the best in the game and Tony Romo’s favorite target. He is a must start every week, especially this week as the Giants’ linebackers are considered to be a liability in the middle of the field.

K Nick Folk - The Dallas offense will score points on a weekly basis. Folk is solid on extra points and his field goal accuracy can be counted upon. His 51-yarder last week is proof of that.

Cowboys Defense – This unit gave up a whopping 450 yards to the Byron Leftwich-led Bucs last week. 174 of those yards were rushing. You can’t expect a team that features LB DeMarcus Ware to end up with zero sacks two weeks in a row, can you? Head coach and defensive coordinator, Wade Phillips, did not blitz much late in the Week 1 game while Dallas nursed their double-digit lead over the Bucs. They also failed to create any turnovers, but the special teams did block a field goal. Up against a physical New York offense, this defense will be tested. Just remember, when these two teams last met (Week 15 in 2008), the Dallas defense held the Giants to 218 total yards and eight points. Eli Manning threw two interceptions to CB Terence Newman in that game and was sacked eight times, three by Ware.

Visit Blogging The Boys for your Cowboys news.

Silver and Black Pride representing the Raiders.

JaMarcus Russell - (Bench) The Chiefs have about as much talent in their secondary as a High School Powder Puff team, so I expect JaMarcus to have a solid rebound from his poor performance on Monday Night. I would not start him though because his top 2 targets are out and he will be relying on two rookies and Javon Walker to get it done from the receiver position.

Zach Miller – (Start) He has to start on your team EVERY Week, if you have him on your team. He is quietly becoming a Top 10 Tight End in this League and is DEFINITELY JaMarcus Russell’s security blanket. With the afore mentioned Powder Puff Defensive Backfield, look for Miller to get open in the seem quite often.

Darren McFadden – (Start) He is returning to the scene of his turf-toe injury last season and I expect him to go OFF this weekend.

Michael Bush – (Bench) With Justin Fargas returning, his carries may get cut, in fact, he may not have ANY carries.

Oakland’s Defense – If you get points for turnovers and sacks then you will want to start the Raider Defense. They looked like world beaters on Monday Night and the Chiefs are not in the same class as San Diego, offensively.

If you’re one of the crazies in Raider Nation, you got to get over to Silver and Black Pride.

Over at Buffalo Rumblings, they do everything in-depth!

Trent Edwards – Edwards was one of the Bills who put up nice fantasy numbers in Week 1. It was a surprising effort considering his poor pre-season play, the move to Alex Van Pelt and a very questionable offensive line. He quieted the critics, at least for one week, but he needs to do more to prove he’s worthy of being a weekly fantasy option. Edwards and the Bills’ passing game does seem to have a great matchup this week, however. The Bucs defense allowed Tony Romo to throw for 353 yards on just 16 completions, with three 40+ yard touchdowns. Its safe to say the Tampa D just might be susceptible to the big play. With their best defensive back out again this week (Tanard Jackson), and young players still getting comfortable (Sabby Piscitelli, Elbert Mack), look for Alex Van Pelt to try to get the ball downfield more this week. Again, McNabb owners should consider Edwards as a fill-in, but owners of QBs with tough matchups (Matt Schaub @Tennessee, Jay Cutler vs Pittsburgh, Phillip Rivers vs Baltimore) may also look his way. It’s a tough call, but it might be worth the risk. Verdict: Start ’Em as a fill-in

Fred Jackson - Jackson had an excellent game against the Patriots, putting together 140 total yards, 5 receptions and a touchdown. In PPR leagues, he’s gold, but he’s also proving to be a more than capable option as a RB2. The Cowboys gouged the Bucs for 4.9 yards per carry, so it’s a good bet we’ll see Jackson getting more carries this week. I like the matchup and expect Jackson to have another very good all around game. Again, in PPR leagues Jackson gets a major bump. Verdict: Start ’Em in all leagues

Terrell Owens – So much for opening game fireworks. T.O. looked visibly frustrated against New England, but they doubled him most of the game. Expect that to continue, but also expect Alex Van Pelt to find more ways to get him the ball this week. You don’t bring a guy like this in and don’t get him the ball. The fans will be fired up to see him make some big plays, and T.O. will be chomping at the bit. I have to believe we’ll see more crossing patterns and slants with him this week, his bread and butter. I expect a nice bounce-back week from him, and would have no hesitation starting him if I were crazy enough to own him. Verdict: Start ’Em

Lee Evans – Like Owens, Evans was very quiet on Monday night, finishing with just 3 catches for 25 yards. And like Owens, Evans also saw a lot of double coverage over the top. However, when that happens, Evans seems to be effectively shut down. He still has yet to prove he can be a consistent underneath option, and for some reason, the Bills never utilize him over the middle. Expect Edwards to try to get it downfield to him more this week, but his inconsistency is too great to count on. Verdict: Sit ’Em

Josh Reed, Roscoe Parrish – Please don’t have to start either, please.

Derek Schouman, Shawn Nelson, Derek Fine – The Bills utilized Schouman and Nelson to the tune of 5 catches for 52 yards and a touchdown on Monday. Pretty solid production for a unit that in years past hasn’t been much more than an afterthought. The production is directly associated to the double teams Owens and Evans saw. With that likely to continue, these guys will get some looks. Unfortunately, all three will rotate in and out of the lineup, so it’s impossible to predict what any of them will do, and in turn it’s impossible to rely on any of them. Maybe down the line, Nelson will grow into the big-time receiving option we hope he can be, but that time is not now. Verdict: Sit ‘Em

Rian Lindell - Lindell only averaged six points per game in home games last year, while averaging almost 10 on the road. I don’t know if that’s significant, but it is worth noting. I only consider starting kickers who put up consistent numbers and/or play for consistently good offenses. I’d avoid Lindell until the Bills prove that they’re legit. Verdict: Sit ‘Em

Bills D/ST – After talking about how I wouldn’t start them, this might seem odd, but they look like a solid sleeper option this week. With a fired up home crowd behind them and a slow-footed, windmill wind-up Leftwich susceptible to turnovers/sacks, they could put up some nice fantasy stats this weekend. Leodis McKelvin will also be hunting for a big return to make up for Monday’s mistake.

Buffalo Rumblings is simply a great blog, so check it out.

Let’s see how Turf Show Times feels about the Rams vs. the Skins.

RB Steven Jackson – St. Louis offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur took plenty of heat on the blogs and in the local press for his sparing use of Steven Jackson in last week’s blowout loss to the Seahawks. Despite the top line numbers, Jackson ran well when he did carry the ball, even averaging a yard better per attempt against an eight-man front than other defensive formations. The Rams do not seem likely to repeat that decision this week, and will run the ball more as well as throw more screens to Jackson. They have to given the match up in Washington.

QB Marc Bulger - For a guy playing for his future, Bulger didn’t exactly make a statement against a relatively week Seattle secondary. In his defense, the problems plaguing the offense were not Bugler’s fault. The receivers looked rusty, and struggled with their timing and routes to get adequate separation. Though the pass protection showed significant improvement, the line had trouble with the snap count with the Qwest Field crowd noise. FedEx Field won’t make that any easier. Look for the offense to tighten up in the wake of last week’s game, but leave Bulger on your bench.

TE Randy McMichael - The offense should play better this week, and McMichael is the go-to-guy for the short routes scripted into the Rams offense. Without having to face the Seahawks linebackers, his numbers this week ought to make him a decent option at TE.

Rams Defense – The Rams defense had three turnovers last week. Steve Spagnuolo’s units have a history of making life hard for Washington QB Jason Campbell, so this could be a sneaky little play for your fantasy team this weekend.

For all the Rams coverage you could ever want, visit Turf Show Times.

Hogs Haven is pumped about playing the Rams.

Redskins Defense – This is a sure start in my book. The Redskins managed the run well against a dominant Giants backfield, so Stephen Jackson will be the focus. Bulger has no weapons at WR, which was evident week 1 and with the loss of Torry Holt. Even though the Rams surprised WAS with a fluke win last year, the Rams did not score an offensive touchdown and won on a fluke fumble by the offensive guard that was run back for a TD.

Jason Campbell – He has not been an offensive threat in his career, but expect him to put up 300+ against the Rams. STL was able to shut down TJ Housh last week, but their TE, Carlson, ran wild and had a huge game. With a young LB core making mistakes, there’s no way they can cover Moss, Cooley, and Portis.

In short, if you have any Redskins player, start him.

Roll in the slop with the best Redskins blog, Hogs Haven.

You know Baltimore Beatdown likes the Ravens defense, but against the Chargers?

Baltimore Ravens Team Defense – While the Ravens didn’t intercept the KC Chiefs last week, they still dominated the game, allowing a total of only 188 yards of offense. The 24 points the Chiefs scored were mostly courtesy of a blocked punt and and interception return that set them up on the Ravens 7-yard line. Even though they are playing a tough Chargers offense, they are still a good play if they are your fantasy team defense (they’re mine!).

QB Joe Flacco – Don’t expect Flacco to put up over 300 yards every game. However, this is not Brian Billick’s pass offense, as Cam Cameron will continue to take the reins off of Joe and allow him to showcase that rocket arm of his. He will keep his interceptions down and complete a high percentage of his passes, as the Ravens offense is now on the verge of exploding. Grab him while he’s still available and stash him on your roster until you see the consistency that we in Baltimore expect. Good luck!

Ravens fans hang out at Baltimore Beatdown.

The Daily Norseman with Vikings fantasy advice – (short form: Play Purple Jesus!)

QB Brett Favre – Favre did pretty much what he was supposed to do this past Sunday in Cleveland. . .he completed a high percentage of passes (nearly 70%), he didn’t turn the ball over, and he made a couple of big plays in the passing game when called upon to do so. Favre has the potential to probably be a low-end starter for your team this Sunday against the Lions. He’s not going to go out and throw six touchdown passes and rack up 350+ yards like Drew Brees did last weekend, but I don’t think it’s out of the realm of possibility for him to double his output from last week, which would put him at about 220 yards and 2 touchdowns.

RB Adrian Peterson – Yeah, like you’re not starting Adrian Peterson regardless of what I tell you. Next!

WR Percy Harvin – While Favre is possibly a good start at the quarterback position, Harvin and all of the Vikings’ receivers should probably be avoided until Favre gets a little better established and a little more comfortable in the Vikings’ offense. Last week, Favre’s 14 completions went to five different receivers, and Harvin led the way with a mere 36 yards and a TD. Granted, with the passing game likely being a bit more prolific this week, those numbers should go up, but with Favre’s propensity for spreading the ball around, it’s hard to tell which receiver will be the beneficiary. Pass on the Minnesota wide receivers, but TE Visanthe Shiancoe is probably a good option if you play a TE.

Minnesota Defense – Last week, the Saints’ defense harassed Lions’ rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford into a sub-50% completion rate and forced him into three interceptions in Detroit’s season-opening loss. The Vikings’ first-string defense was stifling against Cleveland, essentially only allowing two field goals before allowing a garbage time touchdown (on a drive that was largely defended by second-string players). Jared Allen and company have to be licking their chops over this matchup, and if you own the Vikings’ defense, you should be as well.

You know you want to read about Favre and Purple Jesus, so go to Daily Norseman.

Revenge of the Birds hopes the Cardinals will get some revenge this week.

QB Kurt Warner – Warner will look to bounce back from a disappointing first week of the season but there are some signs that point to a much better game against the Jaguars this week. First and foremost, his recievers are getting healthy and there’s a good chance that Anquan Boldin will be much closer to 100% this week. The Jags secondary held their own against Peyton Manning and the Colts last week but they still have a rookie starting cornerback and they lost their best pass rusher, Reggie Hayward, for the season.

WR Larry Fitzgerald – Unless he gets injured or there is a change at quarterback, Fitzgerald is a starter in any fantasy lineup. Add in the fact that he could, at times, be lined up against a rookie cornerback this week, Derek Cox, and he could be in store for a huge game.

WR Anquan Boldin – Boldin only played about half of the offensive snaps last week and even when he was on the field, it was clear that he wasn’t at full speed. The good news though is that he didn’t re-injure his groin and he’s been limited all week in practice. While I wouldn’t expect Boldin to be 100%, he should be better than he was last week and he’s always a threat in the red zone.

Cardinals Defense – A maligned unit last season put on a very promising display in week one against the Niners. Although they allowed 20 points, they also chipped in with four sacks and one forced turnover. The Jags are a similar offensive team to San Francisco in that they rely on their running game to move the ball and the Cardinals defense did an excellent job of shutting down the run. As long as their offense doesn’t put them in bad situations, the Cardinals defense could put up some serious points this week against the Jags.

Stop by Revenge of the Birds daily for your Cardinals fix.

The Falcoholic is drunk on Falcons fantasy advice.

QB Matt Ryan – Against a decent but not stellar Panthers defense, Ryan should build on a successful Week 1. With so many targets to throw to and Michael Turner much more likely to do some damage on the ground, expect better than 200 yards and perhaps 2 TDs from the Falcons’ budding franchise quarterback.

RB Michael Turner – Bottled up by the Dolphins last week, Turner was a fantasy disappointment for many owners. The Panthers’ don’t have the front four they used to and will struggle at times to contain the human bowling ball, who isn’t guaranteed a huge game but should score as the Falcons re-establish the running game. Don’t expect fellow RB Jerious Norwood to steal many carries.

WR Roddy White - Another Falcon who had a poor week, White suffered from drops and poor timing with Matt Ryan. Those shouldn’t be lingering issues, but TE Tony Gonzalez will steal a few targets and Michael Turner will be getting the ball plenty. He’d make a nice WR2 in most leagues regardless, but don’t count on him for WR1 numbers if you have a better option for this week only.

Falcons Defense – Stay away this week. Panthers QB Jake Delhomme will be looking to right the ship after a nearly useless week against the Eagles and will look to Steve Smith often against an unproven Atlanta secondary. The front seven looks very good and may make life difficult for Delhomme, but RB DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart could get untracked and cause problems. Out of an abundance of caution, I’d suggest a more consistent option.

For Falcons news, The Falcoholic is your one-stop shop.

The Mile High Report always has the goods on the Broncos.

QB Kyle Orton – Orton has been hampered by a finger injury he sustained in the Pre-Season but has been fighting through it. While 87-yard miracle-tip plays are exciting, I wouldn’t bet my fantasy success on the. That said, Orton faces a Browns defense that might be vulnerable to all the weapons at his disposal. He had his stitches removed on Monday, though he will likely wear a protective glove once again. Given the opponent, Orton might be a solid fantasy option, especially if your other option at QB has a tough week ahead.

RB Knowshon Moreno – It is obvious the Broncos want Knowshon to be ‘the guy’. They won’t force it, however, and Broncos OC Mike McCoy went so far as to say the team goes into each game with a specific plan on how to use their running backs each week. That was apparent in Cincinnati last Sunday where each of the Broncos backs seemed to get touches(Moreno, Correll Buckhalter and LaMont Jordan). Peyton Hillis might get some more looks this Sunday as well. As it stands, until a hot hand emerges in Denver, the running backs are NOT a good play in fantasy.

WR Brandon Marshall - Could this be the week Brandon Marshall breaks out? It just might be, for a couple reasons. First, Marshall is eager to start putting up some number in order to get that big contract he is seeking. Last Sunday, Marshall led the team in catches(4) and drops(3). I attribute that to a bit of rust coming off hip-surgery in the off-season. The Browns don't have the DBs to stick with Marshall, and Kyle Orton has already shown he is looking for Marshall. Could be a sneaky play for teams with question marks at WR.

WR Eddie Royal - I don’t like Royal this week. Not because I don’t think Royal is a solid fantasy receiver, far from it. The problem is Rob Ryan, the Browns DC. Ya see, Ryan was the DC in Oakland last year. In Royal’s first game as a Pro, on Monday Night Football, he lit up the Raiders for 9 catches and 100+ yards. When asked about it this week, Ryan proclaimed he wouldn’t get “Royal’d” again. The Browns are going to focus on Royal and may force the Broncos to go elsewhere. See Brandon Marshall.

TE Tony Scheffler – If Marshall doesn’t see a lot of action, and Eddie Royal is taken out of the game by the defense, then Scheffler could see a lot of balls come his way. He is a deep threat down the middle as a Tight End and generally a good play but it could be feast or famine from a fantasy standpoint. Again, not a bad play if you have few options.

Broncos Defense – The surprise of Week 1 had to be the play of Mike Nolan’s defense. Holding Carson Palmer and Co. scoreless for over 59 minutes is quite an accomplishment, especially for a squad that was so bad in 2008. This unit is faster, more aggressive, and hell-bent on getting to the QB. That could mean sacks(Brady Quinn was sacked 5 times last week), fumbles, and perhaps interceptions. Like many of the Broncos early in the season, the Broncos D could be an interesting one week play for owners looking for a solid matchup.

Mile High Report sets the standard in Broncos blogging.

Pride of Detroit breaks it all down with respect to the Lions fantasy value.

RB Kevin Smith – Coming off one of the worst performances of his career, Kevin Smith has vowed to play better this week against the Vikings. In his two games against the Vikings last season, Smith rushed for just over 60 yards both times. The interesting part is that he only had 5 carries in the first game and 21 in the second. I don’t expect the Vikings to quickly jump out to a big lead, so the Lions should be able to stick with their gameplan of establishing the run. I do expect Smith to play better, so he is a probably a good option for your second running back spot or the flex position if you have one.

WR Calvin Johnson – Calvin Johnson has scored a touchdown in three of the four games he’s played against the Vikings in his career. Last year he racked up around 85 yards and scored a TD in each game against Minnesota, and he’s probably good for at least that this Sunday. Johnson had 90 yards on 3 catches last week and should have had a touchdown, but the referees screwed up a call that couldn’t be reviewed. He should be in your starting lineup on Sunday.

TE Brandon Pettigrew – Jim Schwartz said that Brandon Pettigrew’s lack of production against the Saints was mainly due to the fact that the Lions were playing from behind. While that may have been the case, Pettigrew didn’t even have one pass thrown in his direction. I expect that to change on Sunday, but not enough to justify putting Pettigrew in your starting lineup. If you have another option at tight end Pettigrew should be on the bench.

Lions defense/special teams - If the Lions are anywhere close to being your starting defense, perhaps it’s time to stop playing fantasy football. They were lit up by Drew Brees and Mike Bell, who isn’t even a starter, last week and in general looked pretty bad. The Lions forced more turnovers than they usually do (Louis Delmas scored a touchdown on a fumble return and Dewayne White blocked a field goal), but not enough to make this unit worthwhile. Adrian Peterson hasn’t lit up the Lions defense too much so far in his career, but their rush defense appears to be as bad as ever, so it will probably be a long day for Detroit.

The team may not be so good, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have a top-notch Lions blog like Pride of Detroit.

Acme Packing Company with the scoop in Green Bay.

QB Aaron Rodgers – RT Allen Barbre had his first NFL start last Sunday and it was a disaster. The Bears had 2 sacks and forced a safety against Barbre in the first half. If the Packers can straighten Barbre out this week in practice, and keep Rodgers upright, then he should be back on pace for another 4,000 yard season.

RB Ryan Grant – He’s not the same back that ran for over 5 yards/carry in 2007. But the Packers have improved their goal line run blocking and he had one short yardage TD last week against the Bears. He’ll be the goal line back and certain to get at least a couple cracks at the end zone per game.

WR Greg Jennings – While Rodgers struggled, Jennings had a 50-yard game winning TD catch and another 100-yard game against a solid Bears secondary. He’s battling a wrist injury, but Mike McCarthy has said it’s just precautionary and Jennings will be ready to go on Sunday.

K Mason Crosby – Sure he’s just a kicker, but he’s probably a starter in your fantasy league. He hurt an abdominal muscle this week while lifting weights (who knew?) so the team is resting him this week in practice. He
should play on Sunday, but if you want to play it safe, consider going with your backup kicker.

Packers D – They terrorized QB Jay Cutler last week with various formations and blitz packages on their way to 4 INTs and a couple of sacks. This week they go up against an generally immobile QB Carson Palmer and his Who Dat? offensive line. RB Cedric Benson ran for a score against Denver, but the Packers shut down fantasy stud RB Matt Forte last week. It
could be a huge game for the Packers D, but I expect the Bengals will keep the play calling very conservative to keep the turnovers low.

Acme Packing Company should be home-base for Packers fans everywhere.

Bleeding Green Nation submits this report on the Eagles fantasy value for the weekend.

QB Donovan McNabb – It’s Friday and the Eagles have still not ruled McNabb out for this Sunday with his cracked rib. If I had to bet, I’d say he won’t be able to go… but it could very well be a gametime decision. If McNabb is your starter, I’d be watching the pre-game shows carefully for the announcement about whether he’ll play or not.

RB Brian Westbrook – Completely healthy Westbrook in an offense probably without it’s starting QB? Expect a heavy dose of #36 today as the Eagles are likely to rely more heavily on the run than usual… I also expect a ton of throws to the backs.

RB Lesean McCoy – If the Eagles do stress the run more often than usual this week, McCoy will likely benefit from some extra carries. That said, I doubt he’ll get the call in the red zone so the chances for scoring probably aren’t great.

WR Desean Jackson – Jackson is nursing a strained groin this week, but that shouldn’t be a huge issue for him. What hurts Jackson’s value this week is the possible absence of McNabb. If Kevin Kolb is the starter, it’s impossible to know how effective he can be. If you’ve got good backups at WR I’d start them over Jackson.

Eagles defense – I certainly wouldn’t expect them to force 7 turnovers, score a TD, and rack up 5 sacks like last week… but the Eagles D should be a solid play against the Saints. Drew Brees threw more INTs than TDs on the road last year and against a defense set up to defend the pass and harass the QB, there’s a decent enough chance you’ll see some sacks and a pick.

All true Eagles fans read Bleeding Green Nation.

From the fine crew over at Arrowhead Pride, we got this fantasy report on the Chiefs.

QB Matt Cassel – He’s expected to return from an MCL sprain this week. His mobility outside the pocket will likely be limited so the Chiefs will focus on the run. Don’t expect big numbers out of Cassel against the Raiders. The Chiefs will take their time with this.

RB Larry Johnson – LJ averages just under 100 yards and a touchdown against the Raiders. He’s certainly not the LJ of old but he deserves consideration as a second running back. With Cassel hurt, look for the Chiefs to get LJ the ball early and often against an improved Raiders run defense.

WR Dwayne Bowe – This week Bowe told reporters head coach Todd Haley, who calls the plays, was going to go after Nnamdi Asomugha, arguably the best corner in the league. Bowe hasn’t had a ton of success against the Raiders but without Tony Gonzalez he’s going to get his shots. If the Chiefs can’t get their run game going, then Bowe will be a focal point of the offense, especially since Vincent Jackson caught five balls for 56 yards and a touchdown against Asomugha last week.

Chiefs Defense – Expect at least one turnover and one sack from the Chiefs defense. It’s not crazy to think the Chiefs secondary, with Brandon Flowers returning, could pick off an inaccurate (40% comp. last week) JaMarcuss Russell on multiple occasions.

For Chiefs fans, Arrowhead Pride is a must read daily.