Cardinals-Texans: Fantasy Breakdown

This game features two top ten passing offenses that boast three of the best wide receivers in the league. The defense that contains them the best will win this game.

Expect Darnell Dockett's Cardinals to get the job done. Although he is listed as questionable, he has practiced in full this week.

They have had a week off to think about their embarrassing dismantling by the Colts when they were unable to put any kind of pressure on Peyton Manning. Dockett has become the team's best defensive player.

Remember, he tied a Super Bowl record with three sacks last February. Texans head coach calls Darnell the best player he has seen on film this year.

On the flip side, the Texans best defensive player and pass rusher Mario Williams will be a game time decision, which does not bode well for any team facing Kurt Warner.

Texans

++++ Matt Schaub is a solid play. He should put up respectable numbers even in a loss, and could have a monster day against a shaky Arizona secondary. He is currently ranked seventh in passer rating.

++++ Andre Johnson is always a must-start, but surprisingly he has only had one game so far with over four catches, 100+ yards, and a TD pass.

+++ Kevin Walter can be a sneaky play, but see if you have better options first. Is he the player that catches 7 balls for 96 yards and a TD like he did versus the Jaguars, or is he the player that catches only one pass as he did in his last game?

++ Jacoby Jones has big-play ability, and has scored a TD in his last three games. If you are in a league that rewards for return yardage, keep tabs on Jones to see if he gets more involved in the Texan's passing game. As of now, he only has five catches on the season.

+++ Owen Daniels is a reliable target who has 17 catches and two TDs on the year.

+++ Steve Slaton is hard to sit since he just began to find his groove. He is a big part of the Texans game plan and adds receptions to his touches, but temper your expectations since the Cardinals come into the game as the sixth-best rushing defense.

+ Defense. With Mario banged up and questionable, I don't like the Texans D much in this one. The Cardinals have had a week of rest and have one of the most explosive offenses in the league.

Cardinals

++++ Kurt Warner is also a solid play. The O-line was embarrassed vs. the Colts, so expect them to get back to protecting Warner well, like they did in their second game vs. the Jaguars when Warner completed 24 of his 26 passes.

++++ Larry Fitzgerald you never sit, and this could be his game to break out.

++++ Anquan Boldin had a sore hamstring to start the season but is fully healthy.

+++ Steve Breaston is not the must-start that Fitzgerald and Boldin are, but he is as close to that as you can get. He has only played in two games but led the team in receiving yards in each. He is a viable No. 2 or 3 Fantasy wideout.

+++ Tim Hightower is the starter and capable of battering defenders for large chunks of yardage. He has also become the preferred check down target and leads the team in receptions.

++ Beanie Wells is expected to receive an increased work load as the season progresses, and is the big-play threat the Cardinals have always needed out of the backfield. Any game now may be his breakout performance.

If you are thin at the flex position, consider taking a chance on him for this game, otherwise I advocate a wait-'n'-see approach.

+++ Defense. The Texans are tough to contain, but I like the Cardinals coming off a bye week and an upsetting loss. They will be looking to protect the nest, and should be hungry.

Don't expect the Cardinals to be able to completely shut down Schaub and Co., but they should create a couple of turnovers.