My Jermichael Finley Blog

I've published 32 of my fantasy football picks for quarterbacks. These are top 5 picks. If you are new to fantasy football, this is a place to start your own quarterback rankings list. These may change as the year progresses.

1. Drew Brees/Saints

- The Super Bowl MVP should again have a big year in 2010. A big key to his success could be the re-signing of RB Pierre Thomas. Although RB Reggie Bush has shown improvement in the running game, he is still a much deadlier pass catcher than runner. Thomas adds the threat of a running game, which can take some pressure off of Brees on early downs. With the emergence of Robert Meachem at WR along with Marques Colston, Devery Henderson, and TE's Jeremy Shockey, David Thomas, and rookie Jimmy Graham, and a very good offensive line, Brees should once again be among the best fantasy players at his position.

2. Aaron Rodgers/Packers- With the team as a whole continually improving, Rodgers has the chance to put together another spectacular season. While the offensive line is adequate, it would be scary to see what kind of numbers Rodgers could put up with one of the better offensive lines in football. Jermichael Finley has the potential to become one of the top TE's in the NFL, and the presence of Donald Driver and Greg Jennings at WR makes Rodgers a fantasy force to be reckoned with.

3. Peyton Manning/Colts- Peyton is Peyton, and he proved his legacy is a strong one by again having an MVP type year and leading his team to the Super Bowl. He did it without the great Marvin Harrison and his "replacement" Anthony Gonzalez being injured for the entire season. With WR Austin Collie coming off an excellent rookie season and WR Pierre Garcon continuing to improve, there is no reason to think that Manning will not have a stellar season again in 2010. WR Reggie Wayne is still one of the top WR's in the league, and TE Dallas Clark should again be one of the top 3 TE's, adding more certainty to the fact that Manning will be one of the top fantasy QB's taken this season.

4. Philip Rivers/Chargers- Rivers' success will depend a lot on the re-signing of WR's Vincent Jackson and Malcolm Floyd, who both remain unsigned at the moment. Not that Floyd has proven to be a great receiver, but he's the best they have next to the ever improving Vincent Jackson. Jackson showed last year he could be one of the top WR's in the NFL, but without him Rivers' WR's would be Legedu Naanee' and Craig Davis or rookie free agent Seyi Ajirotutu. Antonio Gates is still a monster at TE, and rookie Dedrick Epps may get some looks at the 2nd TE, with Darren Sproles and rookie Ryan Matthews also catching some passes out of the backfield, but without Jackson and Floyd you can't expect Rivers to put up the numbers he has been. Keep an eye on this situation, as Rivers may move down if these guys, especially Jackson, decide they won't re-sign.

5. Tom Brady/Patriots- While Brady may not be worthy of one of the top 3 spots anymore, he is still one of the better fantasy QB's in the league. Randy Moss may not exactly give 100 percent on every play, but he is still one of the top 5 WR's in the game. Wes Welker's injury is not as bad as it was originally thought, and they added rookie Taylor Price and veteran Torry Holt to their receiving corps as well, meaning they should be better or at least just as good as last year. RB Kevin Faulk is also a reliable receiver and the combination of ex-Falcon/Titan Alge Crumpler and rookies Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez at TE also means that there will be some passes thrown to that position. With one of the top 10 offensive lines in football, there's no reason to believe that Brady will not be a top five QB again in 2010.

So there you have it. On half of my complete fantasy football picks for quarterbacks.

Depending on how strong the rest of your team is you could likely win a championship with the top 16, but to find out the complete list you need to check out my complete list of 32 fantasy football picks for Quarterback position. Feel free to start your own fantasy football cheatsheet with this list. Keep up on any updates to my fantasy football rankings and picks at http://JohnnyNFL.com

The Bears and the Packers are two of the few teams left with 2-0 records. With two high-powered offenses run by Aaron Rodgers and Jay Cutler respectively, Monday night at Soldier Field has the makings of a classic NFC North shootout.

Packers on Offense

After the Packers saw Ryan Grant go down for the year in their season opener, they knew their balanced attack would suffer a blow. So while Green Bay's backfield barely made a dent against the Bills last week (65 total yds between Brandon Jackson and John Kuhn), Aaron Rodgers took matters into his own hands and threw for 255 yds and 2 TDs. This week could be similar for Rodgers and his receivers, especially after Chicago's run defense made the Cowboys's 3-headed ground game dwindle like Wade Phillips's job security. Rodgers will step into Soldier Field's hostile environment calm and collected. He'll look to pick on CB Charles Tillman, who seems to get beat often these days. But Green Bay's most valuable receiver on Monday might not be Donald Driver or Greg Jennings, but Jermichael Finley. The young beast of a TE is a mismatch nightmare down the middle; too fast for a LB, too big for a safety. The Bears will use their speed to exploit Green Bay's O-line and get to Rodgers. They'll try to get a spark from their big playmakers like Brian Urlacher and Julius Peppers.

Bears on Offense

In this day and age, Martzism takes the form of the Chicago Bears's new run 'n gun offense. Mike Martz has found the man to channel his revolution- the often questionable, unconventional Jay Cutler. Cutler and Martz have seemed to breathe new life into the Bears's attack. Matt Forte has been able to hurdle his sophomore slump with two dynamic back-to-back games. What's more impressive has been Cutler's ability to spread the ball get production out of a seemingly weak receiving corps. Cutler will look to keep up the momentum at Soldier Field with his cannon of an arm- the Bears had 3 plays through the air for 38 yds or more last week. Chicago's receivers will use their speed to get behind the Packers's secondary. But while Cutler tries to thread the needle to Johnny Knox and Devin Hester, he should be wary of FS Nick Collins and reigning Defensive Player of the Year Charles Woodson. Another guy he has to watch out for is Clay Matthews, who seems to be dishing out concussions like the Cowboys have been handing out wins. This is where his midrange weapons come in for quick releases, namely Matt Forte and Greg Olsen.

Monday night's matchup will be an explosive high-risk/high-reward shootout. Unfortunately for the Bears, their signal-caller is a bit riskier than Green Bay's.

SuperPrediction

Green Bay 30

Chicago 24

Asaf Winer is a sports journalist who freelances for sports predictions websites. He is considered a sports expert in football predictions and posts his free NFL predictions in many online forums. You can also see his weekly NFL picks at Superpredictors.com, where last year he was ranked the top predictor for the 2009-2010 NFL Season.

The Green Bay Packers were one of the surprise teams in 2009, as they went from winning just six games in 2008 to finishing 11-5 and a second place finish behind the Vikings in the NFC North. The Packers earned a spot in the postseason as one of the wild card teams, but were one and done after suffering a tough loss to the Cardinals in a 51-45 overtime thriller. The Packers head into the 2010 season with a ton of confidence, but for this team to take over the North they have to find a way to beat the Vikings, who they lost to in both games last season. Here is a quick preview of the 2010 Green Bay Packers and my prediction on where they finish the season in the NFC North.

Offense: After letting Brett Favre leave town everyone questioned whether or not Rodgers was going to have what it takes to keep this team in contention, and while things didn't go so well in his first season as a starter, Rodgers emerged as one of the elite quarterbacks in this league after his performance in 2009. Rodgers threw for 4,434 yards with 30 touchdown passes to just 7 interceptions, and was very productive scrambling out of the pocket, rushing for 316 yards and five scores.

With the offense focused around the passing game, running back Ryan Grant still put together a pretty solid season rushing for 1,253 yards and 11 touchdowns, and I don't think there will be any complaints if he can duplicate that performance in 2010. The Packers drafted James Starks in the sixth round of the draft to give Brandon Jackson some competition for the leading backup role.

At wide receiver the Packers have a ton of weapons for Rodgers to throw to, led by wide outs Greg Jennings and Donald Driver, who both surpassed the 1,000 yard receiving mark in 2009. I look for Jennings to put up even bigger numbers as he has also emerged into one of the top players at his positions. I also look for another big season out of tight end Jermichael Finley, who was pretty impressive in his second season with the team grabbing 55 passes for 676 yards and five touchdowns.

The offensive line had its ups and downs in 2009, but a lot of that had to do with injuries at the tackle positions. The Packers are hoping left tackle Chad Clifton and right tackle Mark Tauscher can stay healthy this season, as they combined to miss 12 games in 2009. The Packers did select Iowa offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga with their first round pick, and he figures to be able to step in at either tackle spot if needed.

Defense: The Packers will be without starting defensive end Johnny Jolly for the entire season, as he was suspended for the year after suffering felony charges this offseason. While the loss hurts, I don't think it will be all that bad with B.J. Raji taking over the vacated spot. Raji struggled in his rookie season, but that is expected out of first year 3-4 defensive lineman. Ryan Pickett is the anchor at nose tackle, and he needs to stay healthy after only starting 9 games in 2009.

At linebacker the Packers decided not to bring back Aaron Kampman, who missed six games in 2009 with a torn ACL. That leaves the door open for Brad Jones, who played well filling in for Kampman last season. The Packers love what they got out of rookie outside linebacker Clay Matthews in 2009, as he led the team with 10 sacks last season, and figures to improve on that total this season. Nick Barnett and A.J. Hawk are back as the two starters on the inside.

In the secondary the Packers have to very solid veteran starters at corner in Al Harris and Charles Woodson, but both are entering their 13th season in the NFL and you have to wonder just how much these guys have left in the tank. Harris played in just 10 games in 2009, while Woodson was outstanding with nine interceptions and four forced fumbles. At safety the Packers are hoping Atari Bigby will be able to hold down the strong safety position, but he hasn't played a full season since 2007. Look for rookie Morgan Burnett to push for the starting job in training camp. Nick Collins is back at free safety and is coming off an impressive six interception season for the Packers.

Prediction - 2nd NFC North: Just where the Packers finish the 2010 season in the North depends on whether or not Brett Favre comes back in Minnesota, as the Packers would quickly jump into the top spot if Favre decided to retire. Either way I believe this team is headed back to the postseason and has a great shot at making a run at the Super Bowl.

If you plan on betting the NFL this season be sure to check out our live NFL odds feed each and every week, ensuring you the best odds for every game. For a more complete look at the upcoming season, check out our 2010 NFL predictions.

Interested in the Green Bay Packers? The Green Bay Packers will be playing their 90th season in 2008, and if 2007 was any indication, the Packers are on a roll. They finished their season 13-3, scoring one of the best records of the year and advanced to the playoffs, eventually losing to the Super Bowl Champion New York Giants. This will be the first season without beloved quarterback Brett Favre, who retired last year. There have been some notable departures from the team in addition to Favre, including Koren Robinson, Bubba Franks and Rob Davis. Head coach Mike McCarthy is hoping what was once lost will now be found thanks to some solid 2008 NFL Draft picks.

The Packers traded their number one pick to the New York Jets in exchange for two addition picks later on. Their second pick was wide receiver Jordy Nelson of Kansas State, followed by quarterback Brian Brohm of Louisville and cornerback Patrick Lee of Auburn. During the second day, the team chose Jermichael Finley of Texas. For the fourth round the Packers traded two more picks to the New York Jets for pick 4-102. What is the strategy? So they could draft defensive end Jeremy Thompson of Wake Forest. They traded a few more early picks for dual picks and ended up drafting offensive guard Josh Sitton of Central Florida and offensive tackle Breno Giacomini of Louisville. They rounded out the list (nine total players) by selecting quarterback Matt Flynn of LSU and wide receiver Brett Swain of San Diego State. (What happened to that last draft pick? They're saving it for 2009-maybe they know something we don't?)

What was the reaction by experts and Packers fans? Fans are dedicated to the Packers and Mike McCarthy in particular, since he has done a tremendous job of rebuilding the once laughable Green Bay Packers of the 70s, 80s and 90s, into a 2000 championship contender. Unlike other successful teams that concentrate on polishing up an already bulging roster, the Packers take a lot of risks in signing new talent. This is evident again in 2008, as the Packers have chosen nine players. Many experts question whether this is an example of quantity over quality. However, others defend the Packers stating that with the departure of Favre, the team was essentially exploring new territory and needed all the help they could get.

Jordy Nelson came as a bit of a surprise, especially since the Packers already have several starting wide receivers they are quite proud of. However, Nelson has received rave reviews for his speed and great hands. As a rookie, don't expect Nelson to out-show Donald Driver and Greg Jennings, who are already reliable starters. Nelson received enthusiastic albeit restrained praise, while quarterback Brian Brohm received more of an unfriendly welcome. Brohm was considered by some to be a reach and one infringing upon Aaron Rodgers' position. Patrick Lee was actually the favorite of some experts, since the cornerback position was actually a need, and the first two drafts could be argued as luxury picks. All in all, Green Bay fans wait nervously to see if these risky picks will take Green Bay over the edge to Super Bowl success or keep that at a second best level for a few more years.

1st Round (#23) OT Bryan Bulaga, Iowa

Key Player(s) Passed On: CB Devin McCourty, DE/OLB Jerry Hughes

Analysis: Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher are both old and declining at left and right tackle. Bulaga has good feet and understands the importance of technique and working on his craft. He has an excellent chance to be a good left tackle with more strength work. The former Iowa standout represented value as a late 1st round selection. Green Bay needed to get younger at offensive tackle. Clifton and Tauscher may have another year in them. Bulaga can spend his rookie year getting stronger and adjusting to the NFL. Ideally, Bulaga will be ready to start in 2011 at left tackle. The Packers also could have used another pass rusher at outside linebacker to complement Clay Matthews. Jerry Hughes was an attractive option, but you cannot risk getting Aaron Rodgers hurt due to subpar offensive line play. Green Bay had to have been pleased that Bryan Bulaga was still available.

2nd Round (#56) DT Mike Neal, Purdue

Key Player(s) Passed On: WR Golden Tate, OT/OG Vladimir Ducasse

Analysis: Neal has talent (good size, strength and quickness), but never put it all together on the field for Purdue. Green Bay views him as a defensive end in their scheme. The Packers could use more depth on their defensive line with Justin Harrell's inability to stay healthy. PFDN had Golden Tate and Vladimir Ducasse rated higher than Neal. The Packers have wide receivers, but Donald Driver is 35 and cannot play forever. Ducasse would have given the Packers a powerful guard with substantial upside who also may be able to play right tackle. Neal has to improve his conditioning and his dedication to the game to justify the 2nd round selection.

3rd Round (#71) S Morgan Burnett, Georgia Tech

Key Player(s) Passed On: S Chad Jones

Analysis: Burnett represented excellent value in the 3rd round. He has a knack for making plays on the ball and is a willing hitter. Burnett can play strong safety. Atari Bigby has had his share of injuries the past two seasons. Burnett will provide serious competition for Bigby and is a likely future starter. Chad Jones also has a lot of upside, but the Pack preferred that Burnett had more starts and production in college.

5th Round (#154) TE Andrew Quarless, Penn State

Key Player(s) Passed On: DT Arthur Jones

Analysis: Quarless had some issues with alcohol in college, but he is a very talented tight end. He was an excellent selection in the 5th round. Quarless can block and catch the ball and represents little risk this late in the draft. He could be a fine complement to Jermichael Finley and an upgrade over Donald Lee and Spencer Havner. We also liked the potential of Arthur Jones as a 3-4 defensive end, but the Quarless pick made sense and could be a steal.

5th Round (#169) OT Marshall Newhouse, TCU

Key Player(s) Passed On: RB Jonathan Dwyer

Analysis: Newhouse has to play more aggressively and gain strength to have a chance of developing into a solid backup offensive tackle. His overall conditioning level also has to go to another level. Dwyer is a big back with surprising speed who Green Bay could have used to backup Ryan Grant. Dwyer is the better prospect compared to Newhouse and is not as big of a project.

6th Round (#193) RB James Starks, Buffalo

Key Player (s) Passed On: RB Charles Scott, QB Tony Pike

Analysis: Starks missed his senior season recovering from shoulder surgery. He had a number of injuries at Buffalo and never averaged more than 4.9 yards per carry. Starks is tall and takes a lot of direct hits. The Pack need more depth behind Ryan Grant, but why not select Charles Scott? The former LSU back was not having a good senior season prior to breaking his collarbone, but he is built to be a downhill runner in the NFL. Scott also played against much better competition than Starks did. Tony Pike is tall and has a good arm. He could have been added to the quarterback mix and really challenged Matt Flynn for the backup quarterback position in a year or two. Pike has better physical tools than Flynn does.

7th Round (#230) DE C.J. Wilson, East Carolina

Key Player(s) Passed On: S Kurt Coleman

Analysis: Wilson is stout against the run and was productive at East Carolina. He will compete to be a backup 3-4 defensive end. He was a decent pick-up in the 7th round. Coleman has the toughness to help a team on special teams. However, Green Bay went with the bigger man and further depth along their defensive line.

Bottom Line: The Packers found a couple of likely long-term starters (Bryan Bulaga and Morgan Burnett). Mike Neal was their most questionable selection in our opinion. Green Bay did not find another pass rushing outside linebacker, quality backup running back or a young cornerback. Overall, the Packers had a slightly above average draft.

Grade: B-

The goal of ProFootballDraftNetwork.com is to cut through the clutter and identify in detail the draft's impact players, top values (where a team really succeeds on draft day) and biggest risks.

Our full-time, year-round analysis of game footage, discussions with coaches and trainers and live practice observations are the basis for our ratings and draft board. Talent evaluators must be thorough, but should always remember that this is more art than science. Good NFL player forecasting involves doing your homework and trusting your gut instincts.

For more NFL Draft Articles and NFL Draft Analysis, please visit us at http://www.profootballdraftnetwork.com

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.