Week 9 Heroes & Zeros

This was a great week to start…

Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers – Even without his top receivers, passed for 295 yards and 4 TDs, with just one INT.
Eli Manning, QB, Giants – Toyed with the Seahawks for 290 yards, 3 TDs and no turnovers.
Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers – Torched Dallas for 289 yards and 3 TDs, and ran for 41 yards, without a turnover, before hitting the showers early.
Brett Favre, QB, Vikings – Passed for a career-best 446 yards, plus 2 TDs and 2 INTs.

Peyton Hillis, RB, Browns – Rumbled for 184 yards and 2 TDs, and added 36 yards on 3 catches. We’ll forgive him for the fumble.
Arian Foster, RB, Texans – Ran for 127 yards and 2 TDs, while catching 4 passes for 70 yards. Had a third TD overturned on replay.
Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings – Scored rushing and receiving while totaling 144 combined yards.
Brandon Jackson, RB, Packers – He scored both ways too, while combining for 68 yards.
Michael Turner, RB, Falcons – Scored twice while rushing for 107 yards.
Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, Giants – Combined for 92 yards and 2 rushing TDs.
Ray Rice, RB, Ravens – Rushed for 83 yards and caught 7 passes for 97 more.

Terrell Owens, WR, Bengals – Another monster outing, with 10 receptions for 141 yards and 2 TDs.
Hakeem Nicks, WR, Giants – Produced 128 yards and a TD on 6 catches before leaving early with a minor ankle injury.
James Jones, WR, Packers – Reeled in 8 passes for 123 yards and 1 TD, but dropped another sure TD catch late.
DeSean Jackson, WR, Eagles – Caught 7 passes for 109 yards and a TD, and ran for 20 more yards.
Mike Wallace, WR, Steelers – Collected 5 passes for 110 yards and a score.
Steve Johnson, WR, Bills – His 11 receptions produced 145 yards.

Aaron Hernandez, TE, Patriots – Scored twice while catching 5 passes for 48 yards.
Randy McMichael, TE, Chargers – Took advantage of Gates’ absence to score twice on his only 2 catches, which went for 23 yards.
Jacob Tamme, TE, Colts – Hauled in 11 catches for 108 yards and 1 TD in only his second start.

Packers defense/special teams – Scored on fumble and INT returns, while amassing 4 sacks and 4 turnovers and holding Dallas to 7 points.
Saints defense – Collected 4 sacks and 2 turnovers, scored on a 24-yard interception return and held Carolina to 3 points.
Cardinals defense/special teams – Scored on a kickoff return and fumble return and added 3 sacks and three turnovers.

This was a great week to play against…

Matt Schaub, QB, Texans – Disappointed again, with 266 yards, no TDs and an INT.

Beanie Wells, RB, Cardinals – Actually lost 2 yards on his only carry.
Ricky Williams, RB, Dolphins – Gained a single yard against the Ravens.
Jonathan Stewart, RB, Panthers – Ran for a paltry 30 yards.
Thomas Jones, RB, Chiefs – Just 32 measly yards against the Raiders.
LeGarrette Blount, RB, Buccaneers – Last week’s hero was this week’s goat, with just 46 rushing yards to show for his day.
Cowboys RBs – Jones, Barber and Choice split 14 carries and 39 yards, without a single reception between them.
Seahawks RBs – Marshawn Lynch gained 48 yards while Justin Forsett lost a yard running, adding 5 receiving.
Matt Forte, RB, Bears – Just 49 rushing yards, plus 12 yards on 3 catches, while Chester Taylor poached the TD.

Austin Collie, WR, Colts – Lost a yard on his only catch, before leaving early after absorbing a scary hit.
Steve Smith, WR, Panthers – Three QBs could only get him a single 9-yard pass.
Calvin Johnson, WR, Lions – A 13-yard pass was all he could muster.
Chad Ochocinco, WR, Bengals – Just one 15-yarder on Monday night.
Pierre Garcon, WR, Colts – Managed only 15 yards on 2 catches.
Miles Austin, WR, Cowboys – He got 16 yards on his 2 receptions, which was better than Roy Williams’ 6-yard evening.
Wes Welker, Deion Branch and Brandon Tate, WRs, Patriots – Amassed 36, 21 and 12 yards, respectively.
Robert Meachem, WR, Saints – His 2 catches went for 15 yards.
Anquan Boldin, WR, Ravens – Held to 2 passes for 28 yards.
Brandon Marshall, WR, Dolphins – Limited to 30 yards on 5 receptions.
Andre Johnson, WR, Texans – He only produced 41 yards on 4 catches.

I didn’t see that coming…

Javarris James, RB, Colts – Scored on half his 4 carries, though he only gained 12 yards in the process.

Seyi Ajirotutu, WR, Chargers – Produced 111 yards and 2 TDs on just 4 catches, though it's not entirely surprising given he did it against the Texans.
Jacoby Ford, WR, Raiders – Turned 6 catches into 148 yards, and scored on a 94-yard kickoff return.

Week 8 Starters & Benchwarmers

Wondering whether or not to start Peyton Manning and Adrian Peterson, or bench Max Hall and Laurence Maroney? The network bozos specialize in that kind of advice. If you’re looking for real help with your starting lineup conundrums, read on.

Here are my picks to roll, and get rolled, in Week 8 of the 2010 season.

Watch ‘em roll

Matthew Stafford, QB, Lions vs. Redskins. Fully recovered from his Week 1 shoulder injury, Stafford faces the NFL’s 31st-ranked pass defense with all his offensive weapons healthy and raring to go. Unlike Jay Cutler, Stafford won’t make DeAngelo Hall his leading receiver.

Beanie Wells, RB, Cardinals vs. Buccaneers. Few teams run as poorly as Arizona does, but Tampa Bay’s rush defense is equally sorry. Wells finally crossed the goal line last week, and he should have his best game yet now that Tim Hightower has fumbled his way into the doghouse again.

Felix Jones, RB, Cowboys vs. Jaguars. Jones’ value over the last few weeks has been primarily as a receiver. He’ll be leaned on more heavily as a runner now that Jon Kitna is piloting the offense, especially against a defense that’s about as accommodating as they come.

Steve Johnson, WR, Bills at Chiefs. With five TDs accumulated over the last four games, Johnson is en fuego. The Chiefs have allowed a pair of scoring strikes apiece in their two most recent contests, so look for another banner outing for this rising star.

Patrick Crayton, WR, Chargers vs. Titans. San Diego can’t get their running game in gear, so Philip Rivers is passing up a storm. Over the past two weeks, Crayton has caught 13 passes for 199 yards, and he should keep up the pace while Malcom Floyd and Legedu Naanee sit out again.

More thumbs up (excluding the no-brainers): QBs Kitna, Fitzpatrick, Matt Cassel, Matt Schaub; RBs Ryan Torain, Darren McFadden, Thomas Jones, Jamaal Charles, LaDainian Tomlinson, Jahvid Best, Marshawn Lynch; WRs Kenny Britt, Pierre Garcon, Roy Williams, Dwayne Bowe, Terrell Owens, Mike Sims-Walker, Mike Williams (both), Michael Crabtree.

Roll ‘em back

Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers at Saints. He’s amassed five TDs since returning to action two weeks ago, but the Saints have allowed only six passing scores all season. Look for Pittsburgh to pound Rashard Mendenhall all Sunday night to run the clock and keep Drew Brees off the field.

Ryan Mathews, RB, Chargers vs. Titans. Despite all the optimistic talk, the rookie has failed to seize the workhorse role in his high-octane offense. Mathews is a weak pass blocker, which forces him out of the game too often. Mike Tolbert is still poaching the TD dives, Darren Sproles is a better receiver and the Titans have yielded a solitary rushing score all season.


DeAngelo Williams, RB, Panthers at Rams. As Steven Tyler might have said, Williams’ get-up-and-go must’ve got-up-and-went. He’s reached the end zone only once all season and has yet to generate a 100-yard rushing day. Now he’s hobbling on an injured foot, and considered iffy for Sunday’s matchup. Jonathan Stewart could start against a Rams defense that’s allowed just two rushing scores to date.

Donald Driver, WR, Packers at Jets. He posted his first goose egg in 133 games last weekend, undoubtedly due to his ailing quad. Against the Jets’ talented corners, he’s unlikely to fare much better. Don’t be surprised if James Jones is a bigger part of Green Bay’s game plan again.

Braylon Edwards, WR, Jets vs. Packers. Edwards is bound to see fewer targets now that the more sure-handed Santonio Holmes has had the bye week to get in sync with Mark Sanchez. Green Bay’s secondary is playing at a high level, making the drop-prone Edwards a risky play.

More thumbs down: QBs Sanchez, Brett Favre, Sam Bradford, Donovan McNabb; RBs Ronnie Brown, Brandon Jackson, Fred Jackson, Justin Forsett, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Chris Ivory; WRs David Gettis, Hines Ward, Robert Meachem, Kevin Walter, Eddie Royal.

TAKING A FLIER

Owen Daniels, TE, Texans at Colts. Though not yet 100 percent recovered from the knee injury that cost him half of the 2009 season, Daniels is poised to be a major weapon in Houston’s passing attack again. Next to Andre Johnson, he is Matt Schaub’s most trusted receiver, and you know they’ll be airing it out in Indy all Monday night.

DON’T BE THE BONEHEAD WHO…benches Brees because he’s facing the mighty Steelers. He has a history of rising to the occasion against the toughest competition, and he always rebounds nicely from sub-par outings. Besides, Pittsburgh won’t allow the Saints to run, forcing Brees to pass early and often in this near must-win home game.