Week Six Match-ups
October 14, 2005
Quarterbacks
Bye Weeks: Josh McCown, Brett Favre, Donovan McNabb, Tim Rattay, Alex Smith
Plus Play:
Drew Bledsoe, DAL -- Bledsoe has been the fantasy surprise of the season (62%, 270 ypg, 10 TDs and just three INT). The Giants are 31st in the league in pass defense (322 ypg), having allowed seven scores thus far this season. The Cowboys are protecting Bledsoe well, while the Giants are below-average in sacks (22nd, with eight). Continue to ride the hot hand here.
Drew Brees, SD -- Brees has been solid so far this year (65%, 208 ypg, seven TDs and four INTs). Eric Parker has developed into a dependable companion receiver to Keenan McCardell and Antonio Gates. Brees will face a Raider defense that has allowed 272 ypg (29th in the league) and has managed just six sacks. However, the unit has allowed just five passing TDs thus far. With Brees’ arsenal, going against a weak defense, Brees is a very good play in a shootout as he torched the Raiders for five TDs in two games last season.
Mark Brunell, WAS -- Where did Brunell come from? A favorite of mine from his Jacksonville days, he had floundered in Washington. Since being handed the starting job, he has flourished (57%, 280 ypg, six TDs and just two INTs in three starts). The ‘Skins go into Kansas City to face a Chiefs’ defense that is ranked 30th against the pass (273 ypg). KC has only seven sacks and has allowed six TDs through the air. Brunell has the momentum going for him entering this match-up, making him a decent bye-week starter.
Negative Play:
Daunte Culpepper, MIN -- Culpepper has been horrid so far this season (64%, 204 ypg, with only four TDs and a whopping 10 INTs). He will face the seventh-ranked Bears’ pass defense (182 ypg and six TDs allowed) that has the second-most interceptions in the league (eight). That’s a deadly combination in a low-scoring affair for Culpepper.
Gus Frerotte, MIA -- Frerotte was off to an impressive start this season (55%, 213 ypg, seven TDs and six INT), but stumbled against the stout Buffalo pass defense last week. He faces another tough test this week in Tampa – the third-ranked pass defense (157 ypg) has allowed just two passing TDs and has amassed 11 sacks this season.
Vinny Testaverde, NYJ -- Testaverde was sharp (68% on 13-for-19 passing), but ineffective (163 yards, no TDs and an INT) against the Bucs last week. It only gets worse for the Jets as they face the No. 1 pass defense in Buffalo (139 ypg, four passing TDs). The Bills are poor against the run, however, so expect a big day by Curtis Martin, and another ineffective one by Testaverde.
1 Peyton Manning, IND
2 Carson Palmer, CIN
3 Marc Bulger, STL
4 Kerry Collins, OAK
5 Drew Bledsoe, DAL
6 Matt Hasselbeck, SEA
7 Tom Brady, NE
8 Drew Brees, SD
9 Eli Manning, NYG
10 Jake Delhomme, CAR
11 Daunte Culpepper, MIN
12 Mark Brunell, WAS
13 Steve McNair, TEN
14 Jake Plummer, DEN
15 Trent Green, KC
16 Michael Vick, ATL
17 Brian Griese, TB
18 Aaron Brooks, NO
19 Byron Leftwich, JAX
20 Trent Dilfer, CLE
21 Anthony Wright, BAL
22 Gus Frerotte, MIA
23 David Carr, HOU
24 Kelly Holcomb, BUF
25 Joey Harrington, DET
26 Charlie Batch, PIT
27 Kyle Orton, CHI
28 Vinny Testaverde, NYJ
Running Backs
Bye Weeks: Marcel Shipp, J.J. Arrington, Ahman Green, Najeh Davenport, Tony Fisher, Brian Westbrook, Kevan Barlow
Plus Play:
Warrick Dunn, ATL -- At best, Michael Vick will start, but will be ineffective this week. The emphasis will continue to be on the running game, as the Falcons lead the league in rushing yards per game (190) and yards per carry (5.6). They will go up against the 28th-ranked run defense for the Saints (123 ypg), which has allowed the second-most rushing scores (six). Expect Dunn (and T. J. Duckett) to benefit from the match-up.
Curtis Martin, NYJ -- Martin finally broke into the end zone twice last week against the tough Tampa defense. Therefore, going against the 31st-ranked run defense of Buffalo (160 ypg), expect Martin to take advantage of a team that has allowed five TDs thus far.
Mike Anderson, DEN -- While Tatum Bell showed some spark last week, Anderson is still the workhorse at the moment. Despite holding the powerful Atlanta running game to 116 yards and no scores last week, the Patriots are ranked 20th in the league (115 ypg) and has allowed five TDs thus far. Expect a good performance from the Bronco running game.
Cedric Benson, CHI -- This is a great match-up for Chicago, which has the league’s ninth-ranked rushing squad (128 ypg). It’s expected that Thomas Jones will miss this week, giving Benson his shot against the 32nd-ranked run defense of the Vikings (178 ypg and five TDs allowed).
Negative Play:
Steven Jackson, STL -- Jackson has been effective, but inconsistent, this season (434 total yards, four TDs), and may see more of the ball on the ground with Mike Martz out. But while the Indy defense is ranked just 16th against the run (104 ypg), they have allowed no TDs on the ground (and just two through the air). Jackson may get some combined yardage, but will have a tough go at getting into the end zone.
Cadillac Williams, TB -- Williams is questionable at the moment, but if he plays, he will be going up against the Dolphins’ second-ranked run defense (82 ypg) that has allowed just one TD thus far.
Fred Taylor, JAX -- Taylor has been moving the ball well so far this season (80 ypg) – especially last week (132 yards) – but has only reached the end zone once. He is listed as questionable this week, but if he goes, he will go against the sixth-ranked Steeler defense (89 ypg) that has allowed just three TDs thus far.
Ronnie Brown, MIA -- Brown has been adequate this season (4.3 ypc with just one TD), but we will get to see Ricky Williams in his first action of the year. The Dolphins will face the league-leading Bucs defense (62 ypc with three TDs surrendered). It’s unclear how the carries will be distributed, but we will definitely see less of Brown this week.
1 Shaun Alexander, SEA
2 LaDainian Tomlinson, SD
3 Edgerrin James, IND
4 Priest Holmes, KC
5 Willis McGahee, BUF
6 Tiki Barber, NYG
7 Rudi Johnson, CIN
8 Domanick Davis, HOU
9 Warrick Dunn, ATL
10 Clinton Portis, WAS
11 Lamont Jordan, OAK
12 Jamal Lewis, BAL
13 Corey Dillon, NE
14 Steven Jackson, STL
15 Stephen Davis, CAR
16 Curtis Martin, NYJ
17 Kevin Jones, DET
18 Julius Jones, DAL
19 Cadillac Williams, TB
20 Chris Brown, TEN
21 Fred Taylor, JAX
22 Mewelde Moore, MIN
23 Mike Anderson, DEN
24 Reuben Droughns, CLE
25 Tatum Bell, DEN
26 Cedric Benson, CHI
27 Jerome Bettis, PIT
28 Ronnie Brown, MIA
29 Antowain Smith, NO
30 T.J. Duckett, ATL
31 DeShaun Foster, CAR
32 Willie Parker, PIT
33 Larry Johnson, KC
34 Michael Pittman, TB
35 Chester Taylor, BAL
36 Tyson Thompson, DAL
37 Ricky Williams, MIA
38 Aaron Stecker, NO
39 Chris Perry, CIN
40 Thomas Jones, CHI
41 Patrick Pass, NE
42 Adrian Peterson, CHI
43 Brandon Jacobs, NYG
44 Dominic Rhodes, IND
45 Shawn Bryson, DET
46 Zack Crockett, OAK
47 Marshall Faulk, STL
48 Artose Pinner, DET
49 Jarrett Payton, TEN
50 Ladell Betts, WAS
Wide Receivers
Bye Weeks: Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald, Donald Driver, Robert Ferguson, Terrell Owens, Greg Lewis, Brandon Lloyd, Arnaz Battle
Plus Play:
Terry Glenn, DAL -- Glenn has been a solid performer since being teamed up with Bledsoe (23 receptions, 518 yards and three TDs), forming one of the better passing attacks in the league thus far. Glenn is on pace to accumulate 1,600 receiving yards. By going against the 31st-ranked Giants defense this week, Glenn will continue to impress.
Joe Jurevicius, SEA -- Jurevicius stepped up into the starter’s role last week and responded with nine receptions, 137 yards and a TD. With Darrell Jackson out at least another four weeks, Jurevicius should continue at a solid pace. The Seahawks go up against the 23rd-ranked Texans’ pass defense (228 ypg), which has allowed six TDs through the air and has managed only four sacks.
Rod Smith, DEN -- The Broncos’ passing game was limp in a soggy game against the Redskins last week. Smith has been the most effective Bronco receiver (28 receptions, 309 yards, one TD), and should benefit by going against a banged-up Patriot pass defense. NE is ranked 22nd against the pass (223 ypg) and has allowed the third-most passing TDs in the league (10).
Derrick Mason, BAL -- Anthony Wright has been fair as a replacement for Kyle Boller, but Mason has benefited from the situation (27 receptions, 278 yards, one TD). The Ravens will face the 24th-ranked Cleveland pass defense (232 ypg), which has allowed six TDs and has managed just seven sacks this season. Don’t expect a lot, but it is a better than normal match-up for Mason.
Negative Play:
Hines Ward, PIT -- With Ben Roethlisberger expected to miss this week’s game, and the fact the Steelers will face the second-best pass defense of Jacksonville (155 ypg, with six TDs allowed and 12 sacks made), expect the Steelers to focus on the run in this match-up, limiting Ward’s effectiveness. He’ll get his receptions, but don’t expect much in yardage and TDs.
Jimmy Smith, JAX -- Smith has had a solid year (20 receptions, 372 yards and four TDs), but Byron Leftwich has struggled. The Steelers’ pass defense is only ranked 22nd in the league (218 ypg), but has allowed only three passing scores thus far – not a good combination for Smith.
Eddie Kennison, KC -- Trent Green has been ineffective this season, totaling just three TDs in four games. Therefore, Kennison has suffered (just one TD, despite 23 receptions for 349 yards). Things will only get tougher this week, going against the sixth-ranked Redskin defense (178 ypg, with only three passing TDs allowed). Don’t expect Kennison to reach the end zone.
Chris Chambers, MIA -- The Dolphins face the third-ranked Tampa defense, limiting Bledsoe’s effectiveness. Randy McMichael, remains the Dolphins’ top target, leaving Chambers with just 18 receptions, 214 yards and one TD). He will continue to struggle.
1 Randy Moss, OAK
2 Chad Johnson, CIN
3 Torry Holt, STL
4 Steve Smith, CAR
5 Marvin Harrison, IND
6 Plaxico Burress, NYG
7 Reggie Wayne, IND
8 Terry Glenn, DAL
9 Santana Moss, WAS
10 Hines Ward, PIT
11 Deion Branch, NE
12 Jimmy Smith, JAX
13 Joe Jurevicius, SEA
14 Joey Galloway, TB
15 Rod Smith, DEN
16 Drew Bennett, TEN
17 Keenan McCardell, SD
18 Derrick Mason, BAL
19 Muhsin Muhammad, CHI
20 Eddie Kennison, KC
21 Joe Horn, NO
22 Kevin Curtis, STL
23 Keyshawn Johnson, DAL
24 Chris Chambers, MIA
25 Antonio Bryant, CLE
26 Travis Taylor, MIN
27 Laveranues Coles, NYJ
28 T.J. Houshmandzadeh, CIN
29 Jerry Porter, OAK
30 David Givens, NE
31 Eric Moulds, BUF
32 Ashley Lelie, DEN
33 Lee Evans, BUF
34 Antwaan Randle El, PIT
35 Brian Finneran, ATL
36 Donte Stallworth, NO
37 Brandon Stokley, IND
38 Troy Williamson, MIN
39 Michael Clayton, TB
40 Shaun McDonald, STL
41 Eric Parker, SD
42 Chris Henry, CIN
43 Michael Jenkins, ATL
44 Amani Toomer, NYG
45 Jabar Gaffney, HOU
46 D.J. Hackett, SEA
47 Kevin Johnson, DET
48 Mike Williams, DET
49 Patrick Crayton, DAL
50 David Patten, WAS
Tight Ends
Bye Weeks: Adam Bergen, Teyo Johnson, Bubba Franks, Donald Lee, David Martin, L.J. Smith, Steve Bush
1 Antonio Gates, SD
2 Alge Crumpler, ATL
3 Jeremy Shockey, NYG
4 Jason Witten, DAL
5 Tony Gonzalez, KC
6 Randy McMichael, MIA
7 Todd Heap, BAL
8 Jerramy Stevens, SEA
9 Ben Troupe, TEN
10 Chris Cooley, WAS
11 Dallas Clark, IND
12 Courtney Anderson, OAK
13 Erron Kinney, TEN
14 Jermaine Wiggins, MIN
15 Daniel Graham, NE
16 Ernie Conwell, NO
17 Marcus Pollard, DET
18 Ben Watson, NE
19 Heath Miller, PIT
20 Jeb Putzier, DEN
21 Aaron Shea, CLE
22 Chris Baker, NYJ
23 Kris Mangum, CAR
24 Alex Smith, TB
25 Steve Heiden, CLE
26 Matt Schobel, CIN
27 Desmond Clark, CHI
28 Doug Jolley, NYJ
29 Stephen Alexander, DEN
30 Jim Kleinsasser, MIN
31 George Wrighster, JAX
32 Mark Campbell, BUF
33 Anthony Becht, TB
34 Robert Royal, WAS
35 Mark Bruener, HOU
36 Kyle Brady, JAX
37 Reggie Kelly, CIN
38 Kris Wilson, KC
39 Daniel Wilcox, BAL
40 Brandon Manumaleuna, STL
Kickers
Bye Weeks: Neil Rackers, Ryan Longwell, Todd France, Joe Nedney
1 Mike Vanderjagt, IND
2 Adam Vinatieri, NE
3 Shayne Graham, CIN
4 Jason Elam, DEN
5 Josh Brown, SEA
6 John Kasay, CAR
7 Nate Kaeding, SD
8 Sebastian Janikowski, OAK
9 Jeff Reed, PIT
10 Jeff Wilkins, STL
11 Jay Feely, NYG
12 Matt Stover, BAL
13 Lawrence Tynes, KC
14 Rian Lindell, BUF
15 Todd Peterson, ATL
16 Rob Bironas, TEN
17 Jose Cortez, DAL
18 Matt Bryant, TB
19 Josh Scobee, JAX
20 John Carney, NO
21 Paul Edinger, MIN
22 Jason Hanson, DET
23 Nick Novak, WAS
24 Phil Dawson, CLE
25 Robbie Gould, CHI
26 Kris Brown, HOU
27 Olindo Mare, MIA
28 Mike Nugent, NYJ
Team Defenses
Bye Weeks: Philadelphia, Arizona, San Francisco, Green Bay
1 Indianapolis Colts
2 Pittsburgh Steelers
3 Atlanta Falcons
4 Chicago Bears
5 Baltimore Ravens
6 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
7 Seattle Seahawks
8 Buffalo Bills
9 Cincinnati Bengals
10 Carolina Panthers
11 New York Jets
12 Miami Dolphins
13 Jacksonville Jaguars
14 New England Patriots
15 Cleveland Browns
16 Denver Broncos
17 Minnesota Vikings
18 Detroit Lions
19 Dallas Cowboys
20 Kansas City Chiefs
21 New York Giants
22 San Diego Chargers
23 Washington Redskins
24 New Orleans Saints
25 Tennessee Titans
26 St. Louis Rams
27 Oakland Raiders
28 Houston Texans
Defensive Backs
1 Troy Polamalu, PIT
2 Terrance Kiel, SD
3 Adam Archuleta, STL
4 Gibril Wilson, NYG
5 Mike Brown, CHI
6 Ronde Barber, TB
7 Greg Wesley, KC
8 Roy Williams, DAL
9 Sammy Knight, KC
10 Derrick Gibson, OAK
11 Madieu Williams, CIN
12 Dwight Smith, NO
13 DeAngelo Hall, ATL
14 Charles Tillman, CHI
15 Kerry Rhodes, NYJ
16 Bob Sanders, IND
17 Antoine Winfield, MIN
18 Gus Scott, NE
19 Marlin Jackson, IND
20 Lamont Thompson, TEN
21 Deltha O'Neal, CIN
22 Lawyer Milloy, BUF
23 Nate Clements, BUF
24 Eugene Wilson, NE
25 Nick Ferguson, DEN
26 Nick Harper, IND
27 Rashean Mathis, JAX
28 Jason Webster, ATL
29 Chris McAlister, BAL
30 Ken Hamlin, SEA
31 Anthony Henry, DAL
32 Marlon McCree, HOU
33 Ken Lucas, CAR
34 Kelly Herndon, SEA
35 Darrent Williams, DEN
36 Erik Coleman, NYJ
37 Marcus Trufant, SEA
38 Gary Baxter, CLE
39 Will Demps, BAL
40 Kenoy Kennedy, DET
41 Terrence McGee, BUF
42 Fred Smoot, MIN
43 Marcus Coleman, HOU
44 Ricky Manning, CAR
45 Sean Taylor, WAS
46 Travis Fisher, STL
47 Terence Newman, DAL
48 Pacman Jones, TEN
49 Lance Schulters, TEN
50 Charles Woodson, OAK
Linebackers
1 Donnie Edwards, SD
2 Jonathan Vilma, NYJ
3 Zach Thomas, MIA
4 Ray Lewis, BAL
5 Mike Peterson, JAX
6 Keith Bulluck, TEN
7 Brian Urlacher, CHI
8 Andra Davis, CLE
9 London Fletcher, BUF
10 James Farrior, PIT
11 Keith Brooking, ATL
12 Lofa Tatupu, SEA
13 Antonio Pierce, NYG
14 Danny Clark, OAK
15 Gary Brackett, IND
16 Kailee Wong, HOU
17 Derrick Johnson, KC
18 Kirk Morrison, IND
19 Al Wilson, DEN
20 Odell Thurman, CIN
21 Demorrio Williams, ATL
22 Sam Cowart, MIN
23 Shelton Quarles, TB
24 Lemar Marshall, WAS
25 Dan Morgan, CAR
26 Will Witherspoon, CAR
27 Ben Taylor, CLE
28 Lance Briggs, CHI
29 Marcus Washington, WAS
30 Morlon Greenwood, HOU
31 Derrick Brooks, TB
32 Kawika Mitchell, KC
33 Pisa Tinoisamoa, STL
34 Monty Beisel, NE
35 Cato June, IND
36 Joey Porter, PIT
37 Ian Gold, DEN
38 Courtney Watson, NO
39 Brad Kassell, TEN
40 Daryl Smith, JAX
41 Adalius Thomas, BAL
42 Earl Holmes, DET
43 Demarcus Ware, DAL
44 Akinola Ayodele, JAX
45 E.J. Henderson, MIN
46 Boss Bailey, DET
47 Steve Foley, SD
48 Larry Foote, PIT
49 Channing Crowder, MIA
50 Angelo Crowell, BUF
Defensive Linemen
1 Jason Taylor, MIA
2 John Abraham, NYJ
3 Dwight Freeney, IND
4 Michael Strahan, NYG
5 Robert Mathis, IND
6 Rod Coleman, ATL
7 John Henderson, JAX
8 Adewale Ogunleye, CHI
9 Charles Grant, NO
10 Richard Seymour, NE
11 Kyle Vanden Bosch, TEN
12 Julius Peppers, CAR
13 Aaron Schobel, BUF
14 Patrick Kerney, ATL
15 Kalimba Edwards, DET
16 Justin Smith, CIN
17 Simeon Rice, TB
18 Shaun Ellis, NYJ
19 Terrell Suggs, BAL
20 Cornelius Griffin, WAS
21 Kevin Williams, MIN
22 Will Smith, NO
23 Mike Rucker, CAR
24 Bryce Fisher, SEA
25 Jared Allen, KC
26 Darren Howard, NO
27 Orpheus Roye, CLE
28 Osi Umenyiora, NYG
29 Marcus Stroud, JAX
30 Reggie Hayward, JAX
31 Derrick Burgess, OAK
32 Pat Williams, MIN
33 Grant Wistrom, SEA
34 Raheem Brock, IND
35 Paul Spicer, JAX
36 Lance Johnstone, MIN
37 Antwan Odom, TEN
38 Kevin Carter, MIA
39 Leonard Little, STL
40 Alex Brown, CHI
41 Kendrick Clancy, NYG
42 Greg Ellis, DAL
43 Corey Simon, IND
44 Aaron Smith, PIT
45 Shaun Rogers, DET
46 Brady Smith, ATL
47 Courtney Brown, DEN
48 Vince Wilfork, NE
49 Phillip Daniels, WAS
50 Ty Warren, NE
Fantasy Football 
