Week 6: Game Previews
With injuries claiming starters and the bye week - with six teams on the sidelines - taking away another large chunk of the potential pool of players, some fantasy teams will be scrambling this week to fill starting lineups.
In addition to those setbacks, it seems more and more difficult to figure out what is going to happen from week to week. Sure, Washington has an OK pass defense, but Jon Kitna throwing for just 106 yards last week? Larry Johnson carrying the ball 9 times for 12 yards? Kenton Keith having an LJ kind of day with 33 touches for 158 yards?
Still, we move on and do our best to sort through the matchups, the trends, and the possibilities.
Minnesota at Chicago
The Vikings have to decide whether Tavaris Jackson is healthy enough to play or if Kelly Holcomb will get the start at QB as Minnesota comes out of its bye week. Fantasy owners have no decision to make regarding that dilemma: neither one should be in your starting lineup, even though the mighty Bears' defense has fallen to 23rd in the league. Minnesota's run defense is still tops in the league, so Brian Griese might be busy.
Minnesota
Must start: None
Favorable situation: Adrian Peterson
Unfavorable situation: The Vikings' WRs, until the QB situation gets better.
Don't start: Any other player
Chicago
Must start: None
Favorable situation: Griese; Bernard Berrian; Desmond Clark; Greg Olsen
Unfavorable situation: Cedric Benson; Muhsin Muhammad is struggling
Don't start: Any other player
Miami at Cleveland
When life hands you a concussion, make Cleo Lemon aid you. Or something like that. Trent Green is out after that nasty head hit and Lemon is slated to start against the Browns. He's seen action in four NFL games and this is just his second start. If you have Ronnie Brown on your team, he could be in for a nice big day, with his running and pass catching out of the backfield. Unfortunately for Cleveland, the Dolphins are strong against the pass and weak against the run but Jamal Lewis might not play because of his sprained right foot.
Miami
Must start: Brown
Favorable situation: Chris Chambers is the only WR I would consider starting, especially since the overall WR pool is limited by the byes and injuries.
Unfavorable situation: Lemon
Don't start: No other player
Cleveland
Must start: None
Favorable situation: If Jason Wright gets the start, he has a chance to rack up some yards against Miami's poor run defense; Kellen Winslow
Unfavorable situation: Derek Anderson; even if Lewis gets the start, he might be limited by his foot injury.
Don't start: Any other player
Washington at Green Bay
Washington shut down Jon Kitna last week - yes, I blew that one big time - but can they stop the dink-and-dunk attack from Brett Favre? Washington had just two interceptions and eight sacks before the Detroit game: was it a meltdown by the Lions or strong play by Washington? Jason Campbell is getting some looks from fantasy owners as a more regular starter and he certainly will be in lineups with four regular starting QBs on bye and others nursing injuries or facing tougher defenses.
Washington
Must start: Chris Cooley
Favorable situation: Campbell; Clinton Portis does face a decent Packers' run defense but he has clearly established himself as the No. 1 back in Washington; Santana Moss is back and it looks as though Antwaan Randle El is out.
Unfavorable situation: Randle El
Don't start: Any other player
Green Bay
Must start: Favre; Donald Driver
Favorable situation: Vernand Morency caught 7 passes out of the backfield against the Bears; Greg Jennings; James Jones - despite the rookie's two fumbles in the loss to Chicago, he was on the field late in the game and ended up with the most receptions of any Pack WR.
Unfavorable situation: DeShawn Wynn - Washington ranks fifth in run defense
Don't start: Any other player
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