It has been a few weeks since my last article, but I am back with predictions for week

9. It has been a wild season full of surprises, injuries, upsets and benchings. My

fantasy start of the week is Ryan Grant. Sure he hasn't done much this season, but he

is going up against one of the worst rush defenses in the NFL, the Tampa Bay Bucs.

The Pack should roll this week and it will be because of Ryan Grant. He will establish

the running game and once the Packers have a big enough lead, they will lean on him.

I'd start all my Packers this week, including sleepers like James Jones. Grant has had a

mediocre season, but he will have a huge week and lead your team to victory. On to

the predictions.

 WAS@ATL

 Prediction: WAS 14 ATL 17

 Despite the Redskins struggles this season, I'd still start most of them this week

against a weak defense like the Falcons. I expect this game to be close to the end.

Both teams should put up points, but I would lower my expectations for Matt Ryan.

He has struggled recently and the Redskins have a strong secondary. The Falcons

will probably lean on Michael Turner more this week.

Studs: C. Portis, S. Moss, M. Turner, R. White, T. Gonzalez, both defenses

Duds: M. Jenkins

Sleepers: J. Campbell, F. Davis

 AZ@CHI

 Prediction: AZ 27 CHI 24

 The Cardinals looked awful last week after upsetting the Giants, but they seem to

play better on the road. The Bears have struggled this season, but not so much at

home. Something has to give and the Cardinals have more talent than the Bears.

Matt Forte finally had a huge week against the hapless Browns last week, but he goes

up against one of the top run defenses in the league so lower expectations.

Both teams should score so I'd stay away from both defenses.

Start all your studs in this one.

 Studs: K. Warner, L. Fitzgerald, A. Boldin, T. Hightower, J. Cutler, D. Hester, G. Olsen

 Duds: M. Forte, both defenses

 Sleepers: B. Wells, S. Breaston

 BAL@CIN

 Prediction: BAL 24 CIN 17

 This is a revenge game for the Ravens, whose defense finally woke up last week.

They are fired up after the loss to the Bengals earlier in the year, so expect all the

Ravens to play well other than Derrick Mason. Mason will be locked up by shutdown

corner Leon Hall and he was shut down by him in the last match-up. If you have

better options than Mason then use them. Expect Ray Rice to have a huge game and

for the Bengals to put up mediocre stats.

 Studs: J. Flacco, R. Rice, Ravens defense, C. Ochocinco, C. Benson

 Duds: C. Palmer, Bengals defense

 Sleepers: M. Clayton, C. Henry, T. Heap

 HOU@IND

 Prediction: HOU 24 IND 27

 This one will be close since the Colts are hurting on defense after losing some key

players, like Bob Sanders. I expect this to be a shoot-out so start your studs this

week. Despite Steve Slaton's awful game last week and benching, I still expect him

to be heavily involved in the game and put up solid numbers. I would start Ryan Moats

as a flex since the Colts defense might struggle.

 Studs: M. Schaub, A. Johnson, K. Walter, S. Slaton, P. Manning, R. Wayne, D. Clark

 Duds: J. Addai, both defenses

 Sleepers: R. Moats, A. Collie, P. Garcon

 KC@JAX

 Prediction: KC 24 JAX 27

 This one should be a shoot-out with both defenses struggling this year. This might be

the highest scoring game of the week so I would start all my studs and plug in sleepers

like Torry Holt, Mike Thomas, Jamaal Charles and even Matt Cassel.

 Studs: M. Cassel, J. Charles, D. Bowe, D. Garrard, M. Jones-Drew, M. Sims-Walker

 Duds: Both defenses

 Sleepers: B. Wade, M. Thomas, T. Holt, M. Lewis

 MIA@NE

 Prediction: MIA 17 NE 24

 The Patriots will be ready for the wild-cat offense after facing them last year and

coming off a bye week. I would start Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams, but keep

expectations lower since the Pats intend on stopping them this week. I would start

most of your Pats, but would only consider Williams and Brown for Miami. The one guy

I can't figure out is Laurence Maroney. He is so up and down that it is hard to rely

on any Pats running back, but if you need to I'd start Maroney. The Pats might have

a big lead and run with Maroney late in the game so he could have some value.

 Studs: R. Brown, R. Williams, T. Brady, R. Moss, W. Welker, Pats defense

 Duds: All other Dolphins

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