Fantasy Football: Week Six Preview, Part Two

After taking on the challenge of the early games yesterday, it's time to explore the games that will take place in the afternoon. This week, it actually seems like we'll get a few more stars playing in these afternoon games, but most of the country won't get to see one of them thanks to the NFL's stupid doubleheader rules. If someone can explain those to me, I'm all ears.

Why is it that on most weekends, only one network can show a doubleheader? Am I missing something? Insight on this is welcome!

On to the games:

Jacksonville at Denver

Who to Start: Maurice Jones-Drew, Fred Taylor, David Garrard, Matt Jones

Who to Sit: Denver running backs, Tony Scheffler (injured), Eddie Royal (injured)

What to Expect: At this point, the entire league has shown that you can run on Denver. Expect the Jags to do the same thing. The Denver pass defense is just as bad, ranked 30th in the NFL.

Jones-Drew and Taylor should be in for solid games. Expect both to find the end zone at least once, with Jones-Drew having the better overall game. Look for him to crack 120 total yards, with Taylor adding another 80. I'm not as sold on the Denver running game. It's not that I don't think they could play well, but I still don't know which one it will be. Best to avoid this situation.

I like Garrard to keep throwing the ball well and Matt Jones should be the primary beneficiary in this case. Look for Garrard to set the pace with 220 yards passing and two touchdowns. Yes, I think this is going to be a high-scoring affair. Jones should haul in 75 yards and a touchdown.

If Mike Walker is available, he'll get the second score and 60 yards as well. Otherwise, it goes to Marcedes Lewis.

Jay Cutler should be just fine, so long as continues to not force the ball in to Brandon Marshall. Cutler should be able to do some damage against this Jacksonville defense. I think he throws for three touchdowns, and two go to Brandon Marshall. Who gets the third? Read our sleeper pickup for this game below. Marshall should be solid for well over 100 yards, especially with the injuries in the Denver offense.

Sleeper Pickup: Brandon Stokley. Oh yeah; we're going retro. He looked good last week, catching Denver's only touchdown pass. Look for him to be effective this week as well, grabbing a touchdown and 70 yards.

Philadelphia at San Francisco

Who to Start: Correll Buckhalter, DeSean Jackson, Isaac Bruce, Hank Baskett

Who to Sit: J.T. O'Sullivan, Vernon Davis, Bryant Johnson, Reggie Brown
 
What to Expect: Expect a lot of Frank Gore, if you're on the 49ers side to the ball, and a lot of pressure on J.T. O'Sullivan from the 11th ranked pass defense.

Gore is the man. Start him. That's about all there is to it on this one. He'll score twice and combine for around 140 yards between air and ground. He's all the 49ers have going for them, so they'll need him if they want to even keep this close.

Here's our opinion on Brian Westbrook. After reading all the reports as to what it took to get him back in the game last week (painkiller injections), and his lack of practice participation this week, we're going to recommend benching him. We could be dead wrong, but if you have other options, this is the week to use them. Buckhalter should see enough action to warrant him as a flex play.

In the passing game, the only piece you want to start on the 49ers side is Isaac Bruce. The veteran receiver just knows how to get open. He'll be good for a touchdown and 80 yards. The rest of them; leave them alone.

On the Philly side, our bet is that Reggie Brown plays, despite missing practice with a groin injury part of this week. If he starts, he should be started in all formats. I like McNabb to rebound this week with over 300 yards and three touchdowns. The 49ers give up plenty of yards through the air, and the Eagles will have to take full advantage without a healthy Westbrook.

Update: Reggie Brown has been ruled out of this game. Upgrade Hank Baskett and Greg Lewis. Baskett will be the better play, as he takes on a similar role to what Brown does for the Eagles. Brian Westbrook will not play either, so Buckhalter should be active in all formats. No word on the availability of Kevin Curtis. All items courtesy of web reports.
 
Sleeper Pickup: Delanie Walker. He's not quite there yet, but he's stealing touches away from an incredibly ineffective Vernon Davis. Walker has five catches in the last three weeks, so he is getting the respect from O'Sullivan.

Green Bay at Seattle

Who to Start: Donald Driver, Ryan Grant (gulp), John Carlson, Bobby Engram (deep leagues only), Julius Jones
 
Who to Sit: Matt Hasselbeck, Donald Lee
 
What to Expect: If you're Seattle, likely more disappointment.

Look, the fact is that we should be avoiding most players on the Seahawks at this point, unless proven otherwise. Mike Holmgren came out this week and basically said they need to get Carlson the ball more.

If that's the case, then fantasy owners should jump on that. With how badly Hasselbeck has been beaten, Carlson is a fantastic outlet for him to have. Look for the tight end to catch six passes this week for 40 yards and a touchdown.

The way you attack Green Bay isn't through the air, though. They have a physical secondary that bumps receivers off their routes very well. Julius Jones should see a lot of touches, and he's performed well when given that type of opportunity. I like him for 75 and a touchdown.

On the Green Bay side, things should get easier for Rodgers this week. He should be able to throw for three touchdowns and near 300 yards. Greg Jennings gets two and Donald Driver will pick up the third. I don't like the matchup with Lee this week, simply because I don't think he'll be needed against a depleted Seattle team.

Ryan Grant should be fine, but I've had him up here nearly every week. 60 yards and a touchdown for Grant should do the trick...hopefully...
 
Sleeper Pickup: John Carlson. He's only going to get better. Watch him during the second half of the season.

Dallas at Arizona

Who to Start: Steve Breaston, Tim Hightower, Kurt Warner, Felix Jones
 
Who to Sit: Patrick Crayton
 
What to Expect: With Anquan Boldin out, expect that Steve Breaston will continue to develop into a solid flex option in the fantasy game.

Breaston has shown that he can handle the load, and we know that the Cowboys can be thrown on. He should come up with a touchdown and 80 yards. Those will be close to the numbers we'll see from Fitzgerald, who should be good for 115 and a score as well. Warner under center should be good for 240 and the two scores, especially with Terence Newman out with a sports hernia for Dallas.

I'm not sold on Edge this week, but I think Hightower will be solid for short yards and a touchdown. Edge may crack 50 yards, but this game is going to be played in the air, not something James has been able to do very effectively to this point.

Tony Romo should be able to throw on the Arizona secondary nearly as easily as Brett Favre threw on them. Romo has better weapons and being on the road won't temper his ability to hit the deep ball. 

Terrell Owens is going to be good for two touchdowns, and Jason Witten should grab another. Witten works the middle of the field as well as anyone in the game and will find the soft spots in coverage for over 80 yards.

Barber and Jones both make solid options. Look for each to find the end zone. Barber will do it through the air, and Jones will get a short-yardage, goal-line score. Call it a feeling. Barber should total out around 110 yards, with his counterpart bringing in 80.
 
Sleeper Pickup: Hightower. He's hardly owned, yet is getting the same type of goal-line carries in Arizona that Le'Ron McClain is getting in Baltimore. He should get another one this week.

New England at San Diego

Who to Start: Vincent Jackson, Wes Welker
 
Who to Sit: Chris Chambers (injured), Philip Rivers, Patriot running backs
 
What to Expect: Expect the unexpected. This one is hard to call, simply because there are way too many variables. What was supposed to be a marquee game on the schedule is turning into a rough night for everyone. It took San Diego until yesterday to sell enough tickets.

With Chambers out, there will be more pressure on Jackson to succeed against the New England secondary. Jackson, though, has missed time in practice this week with an injury. If healthy, he's worth a start.

Rivers, though, is not. He has more turnovers than touchdowns in the last few weeks, and is without one of his better options. Gates should still be a fine play and should grab a touchdown.

If Norv Turner is smart (a big "if"), he leverages Sproles and Tomlinson in the manner that Miami used Brown and Williams. The Patriots can be beaten on the ground; that has been proven. These two could be in for good days if that's the case. I'm not sold they will use Sproles that way, but Tomlinson is obviously a must start.

On the New England side, I can't get a handle on their running game. Neither can they. Belichick goes with the hot hand. When someone starts to heat up, they stay around. We just don't know who that is. Avoid this one if you possibly can.

With Cassel under center, the Patriots opened up the passing game last week against San Francisco. San Diego gives up points, no doubt about that. They have solid cover corners but haven't received good help over the top. Look for them to try to double Moss, but he should still be started. Welker will be the sneaky play of the game here. He should grab a touchdown and 75 yards.
 
Sleeper Pickup: Nothing in this one would warrant a pickup beyond whom you would normally start.

New York Giants at Cleveland

Who to Start: Eli Manning, Brandon Jacobs, Domenik Hixon, Giants defense
 
Who to Sit: Amani Toomer, Sinorice Moss, All your Browns
 
What to Expect: Let's get this out of the way. I'm done with Cleveland. D-U-N. Until proven otherwise, these guys are dead to me.

Braylon Edwards is getting no separation at this point and not getting any help on the other side. Donte Stallworth should be back this week or next, which will give him some help. We just need Stallworth to prove that he can catch the ball. Kellen Winslow was sent to the hospital for tests this week because of an illness; that's never a good thing. He's another question mark.

Then we have Derek Anderson. He hasn't played well yet. They have Brady Quinn sitting and waiting. At some point, a switch is going to be made. I don't know when, but likely sooner rather than later. The Giants' defense should hold both him and Jamal Lewis in check, as they have done to everyone else at this point.

I'm pretty high on Manning this week, especially coming off of last week's performance without Burress. With Burress back in, he should be in the driver's seat against a poor defense.

I don't think Hixon's performance was a fluke, either. Hixon could easily cut into the touches that were being given to Toomer, and he should be good for 70 yards and a score this week. Manning should throw for two in total, the other going to Burress.

Jacobs will be used extensively against a suspect Cleveland run defense. He will be the primary back, getting over 100 yards and two touchdowns in the process. Ward will see some action towards the end of the game, but not enough to warrant attention.
 
Sleeper Pickup: Domenik Hixon. Just a feeling here, but he's going to be solid the rest of the way.

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