There are some intriguing match-ups this week as Brett Favre returns to the New York to battle the Jets, the Colts face-off against the undefeated Chiefs, but then again, every game has its own fantasy intrigue and is certainly worth paying attention to on Sunday.
BEARS AT PANTHERS
The Bears will be playing this one with Todd Collins under centre, thanks to Jay Cutler's concussion from last week. Expect plenty of tosses to tight end Greg Olsen and running back Matt Forte, but little else.
The Panthers will again push the ball hard on the ground with running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. With Jimmy Clausen at the helm, don't expect much from the passing game. If you are desperate for a sleeper, get to know Brandon LaFell and David Gettis.
BUCCANEERS AT BENGALS
The Bucs return from their bye with a tough match-up against the Bengals. I'm curious to see running back LaGarrette Blount in this one, though I would not start him.
The Bengals have a lot of fantasy upside this weekend. In addition to the famous wide outs, I also like Carson Palmer and Cedric Benson.
RAMS AT LIONS
The Rams are becoming a legit offense now that Sam Bradford has found his groove. Don't be afraid to start him this weekend. There are plenty of other options here including Steven Jackson and Mark Clayton. Laurent Robinson should return from injury this week, but let's see him in action before putting him in your lineup..
The Lions have thrived in fantasy as quarterback Shaun Hill continues to put up monster numbers. Brandon Pettigrew is a must-start, just like Calvin Johnson and Jahvid Best. In deep leagues, Shaun Hill is worth a look.
GIANTS AT TEXANS
The G-Men will play keep-up with the Texans offence, which explains why I love Hakeem Nicks, Steve Smith, and Eli Manning this week. Ahmad Bradshaw is a bit banged up, so he carries more risk than usual. Brandon Jacobs, meanwhile, is far from a safe bet.
The Texans offensive line should perform better than the Bears did against the Giants last week. Therefore, Matt Schaub, Kevin Walter, and Andre Johnson are all great starts. The same goes for tailback Arian Foster, though I would not start tight end Owen Daniels.
BRONCOS AT RAVENS
The Broncos may have the best passing offence in the NFL, but the Ravens are certain to be a real test. Regardless, Kyle Orton deserves to start in fantasy leagues, just like his teammates Eddie Royal, Brandon Lloyd, and Jabar Gaffney. It does not look like Knowshon Moreno will return this week, so it will be an ugly committee once again.
The Ravens passing game has been inconsistent, but I can see Joe Flacco rising to the occasion this weekend. That means Anquan Boldin is a great start, though T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Derrick Mason are fairly risky plays. Ray Rice has looked awful lately, but if you own him, you must start him.
FALCONS AT BROWNS
The Falcons are hoping for a decent performance from Michael Turner before there is full out panic, and Jason Snelling takes over the lead role. That is unlikely to happen, but there is no denying that Snelling has been the Falcons most effective back this season. As far as the passing game, Roddy White remains a must-start, which is only the case for Tony Gonzalez in pass-per-reception leagues.
The Browns are an intriguing fantasy team, but I'd only say Peyton Hillis is a must-start. If you need some depth, I'd recommend Joshia Cribbs and Benjamin Watson.
CHIEFS AT COLTS
The undefeated Chiefs will rely on their rushing attack this weekend. Against the Colts, they can gain some traction with both Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles. I would not be comfortable playing Matt Cassel as this is a tough road game for the passing attack.
Peyton Manning, Austin Collie, Reggie Wayne, and Dallas Clark are all elite fantasy players. However, Joseph Addai is not, but he is worth a start this weekend after scoring two touchdowns last week.
JAGUARS AT BILLS
The Jags bounced back with a solid performance last weekend thanks to the play of quarterback David Garrard. He's actually a decent start once again against a weak Bills squad. Other than him, only Maurice Jones-Drew is worth starting.
The Bills have managed to enjoy some fantasy value despite all of their losses. I expect another decent day from Ryan Fitzpatrick and breakout receiver Steve Johnson. It will be interesting to see how the backfield emerges now that Marshawn Lynch has been traded to Seattle. It looks like Fred Jackson will start, but C.J. Spiller will get his fair share of touches.
PACKERS AT REDSKINS
The Packers have plenty of fire power in the passing game, such as Aaron Rodgers, Jermichael Finley, and Greg Jennings, but the greater question is what to make of the backfield. Although fullback John Kuhn has been the better option, the Packers continue to feature Brandon Jackson. This is a backfield to avoid until one of the running options reigns supreme.
The 'Skins will ride Ryan Torain now that Clinton Portis is injured for 4-6 weeks. I like Donovan McNabb posting big numbers in a shootout, which means Santana Moss will likely bounce back. Chris Cooley is also a fine fantasy option at tight end.
SAINTS AT CARDINALS
The Saints have a great match-up against Arizona, which makes Drew Brees, Marques Colston, and Lance Moore fine starters. I am concerned about the health of Pierre Thomas, and think it's a good idea to instead start Christopher Ivory and/or Ladell Betts instead.
The Saints defence is known for forcing turnovers, which is why I'm very concerned about rookie quarterback Max Hall. Larry Fitzgerald is a must-start regardless, and both running backs should be decent options as well. If you're willing to take a flyer, both Stephen Williams and Max Komar could surprise you with big performances at wide receiver.
TITANS AT COWBOYS
The Titans will rely on the legs of Chris Johnson and Vince Young. If you're going to start a receiver, you better make it Kenny Britt.
The Cowboys have a ton of fantasy options in their passing game. Tony Romo, Miles Austin, Jason Witten, Dez Bryant, and Roy Williams are all worth starting against Tennessee. If you're going to start a running back, expect an expanded role for Felix Jones, while Marion Barber takes a back seat.
CHARGERS AT RAIDERS
Sure, Antonio Gates and Philip Rivers are obvious starts, and Malcom Floyd is always worth a spin, but if you're looking for something new, there should be a big performance coming from Ryan Mathews. Mike Tolbert will step into a backup role, but should also have some success against the woeful Raiders rush defense.
The best fantasy option on the Raiders is Zach Miller, but he is not alone. Look for Michael Bush to take advantage of Darren McFadden's absence, and Louis Murphy should continue to blossom. Even quarterback Bruce Gradkowski is a decent option and a safe bet for 200+ yards with at least one touchdown.
EAGLES AT 49ERS
Kevin Kolb gets a shot for redemption while Michael Vick is healing from a nasty rib injury. This is good news for receiving threats DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, and tight end Brent Celek. LeSean McCoy has practiced and may play on Sunday night, which is good news for his fantasy owners. If not, the top option would be Mike Bell in the backfield.
The Niners have had their fair share of problems, but Frank Gore has been decent and Alex Smith has actually posted solid numbers. Vernon Davis has been way down this season, but is still worth starting based on potential alone. Michael Crabtree, on the other hand, deserves to sit until he proves otherwise.
VIKINGS AT JETS
The Vikings are a peculiar group led by an ancient quarterback with a strong arm. He now even has some targets to throw to. I would probably hold off on starting Favre unless you're in a deep league with no better options. The Jets defence is outstanding and they want to knock out Favre. I do, however, like Randy Moss and Visanthe Shiancoe in this one. They are both big and easy targets who should get several looks from Favre. Even the fragile Percy Harvin is worth starting. The most obvious start is Adrian Peterson, who should get at least 80 yards against the Jets.
The Jets have several fantasy options including both running backs, with the edge going to LaDainian Tomlinson. Mark Sanchez is also worth starting now that his new toy, Santonio Holmes, returns from suspension. I would not start Holmes quite yet, but he is an amazing talent. Dustin Keller is a must-start and Braylon Edwards is getting there too. Most of all; start the Jets defense. They should force a couple of turnovers and may even return an interception for a touchdown.
