Fantasy Football 2009: Week Six

Houston Texans vs Cincinnati Bengals

Texans:  After coming back from a 3 TD deficit against the Cardinals, they did something that their opponent this week knows all about... meltdown.  Cincy may be 4-1, but they still have big holes in their defense and Steve Slaton will exploit them this weekend. 

Bengals:  You can't argue with results.  They beat the Packers, Steelers and Ravens.  If it wasn't for a fluke play against the Broncos in Week 1, they would be undefeated.  Maybe the Bengals are starting to come around *waiting for the laughing to stop*.  No seriously, the Bengals have done better than expected, but they're still the Bengals.  Having said that, Cedric Benson should have a monster game against a Texans team that simply can't stop the run.

Fantasy Factors:  Steve Slaton (10), Cedric Benson (9)

Detroit Lions vs Green Bay Packers

Lions:  Once again we're going to play the guessing game for QB.  Matt Stafford missed practice, as did Calvin Johnson.  So it appears right now that it'll be Daunte Culpepper and Dennis Northcutt leading the team.  And you thought the Lions couldn't be any worse.

Packers:  Usually when you have a bye week, you like to face someone tough.  Someone that requires an extra week of preparation.  The Packers got the Detroit Lions a team that requires virtually no preparation.  Aaron Rodgers and Greg Jennings are great plays this week and Ryan Grant shouldn't have a problem bulldozing through this defense.

Fantasy Factors:  Kevin Smith (7), Aaron Rodgers (9)

St. Louis Rams vs Jacksonville Jaguars

Rams:  They've been hurting for most of this season, but this week things could turn around, even if its just for a week.  Marc Bulger is expected to start this week and Donnie Avery looks to be 100% now.  Jacksonville has had a rough time against the pass this year, so Bulger and Avery are great one week pickups (or two week pickups since they play the Lions in a couple weeks).  Steven Jackson, who has yet to score a TD this season, should finally hit pay dirt this week. 

Jaguars:  After getting thumped by the Seahawks 41-0, MJD started publicly criticizing the play calling.  That's to be expected when you get blown out.  Rest assured, they won't get blown out this week.  MJD should get the rock at least 20 times and score twice this week.

Fantasy Factors:  Donnie Avery (8), Maurice Jones-Drew (9)

Baltimore Ravens vs Minnesota Vikings

Ravens:  After a loss to the Patriots and Bengals, the Ravens are suddenly struggling to find wins and won't have a easy task this Sunday when they play in Minnesota.  With Flacco fading and Willis McGahee getting less carries, the Ravens will be hitting their panic button aka Ray Rice.  Rice should see plenty of carries and passes coming his way this Sunday and hopefully that'll translate into points.

Vikings:  This will be the first real test for this offense this year.  Cedric Benson ran for over 100 yards last week against the Ravens, I don't see them allowing that to happen again even if it is Adrian Peterson carrying the ball.  They'll need to rely on the arm of Brett Favre this weekend and I wouldn't be surprised if Chester Taylor gets bigger numbers than AP as he'll be relied on to slow down the Ravens pass rush.

Fantasy Factors:  Ray Rice (8), Brett Favre (7)

New York Giants vs New Orleans Saints

Giants:  Its the battle of the unbeatens, but its the Giants the look unbeatable.  I'm not sold on the New Orleans defense just yet and they'll have a big test (no pun intended) this Sunday.  Eli Manning is still hobbled a bit, but should be fine for Sunday.  Ahmad Bradshaw is, surprisingly, the Giants leading rusher and should see more snaps this week. 

Saints:  They had two weeks to prepare for this matchup, so they should be fresh and ready to go.  Pierre Thomas has been limited in practice, so we could see more of Mike Bell who's 100% again.  The Saints will look to Jeremy Shockey a lot as the Giants are weak against TEs this year, plus, he'll want to show up his old team.  He's predicting this will be his biggest game of the year.  Nothing like putting a target on your back.

Fantasy Factors:  Ahmad Bradshaw (8), Jeremy Shockey (7)

Cleveland Browns vs Pittsburgh Steelers

Browns:  After beating the Buffalo Bills with just two complete passes from Derek Anderson, the Browns head to Pittsburgh to play the defending champs.  I can guarantee you that if Anderson completes just two passes this week, it won't be pretty.  Jamal Lewis found second life last week, but don't expect that to last this week.

Steelers:  This week the Steelers will dominate the Browns for 3 quarters, stop playing, watch the Browns make a huge comeback leading to a dramatic ending that shouldn't be happening.  Its the Steeler way in 2009.  Seriously though, all Steelers are good fantasy options this week.  Rashard Mendenhall was sick on Thursday and may not be healthy by Sunday.  With Fast Willie back in the lineup, we could see him get the lionshare of the carries or at least half.  Keep your eye on this one, Mewelde Moore might be a good option this weekend. 

Fantasy Factors:  Jamal Lewis (4), Ben Roethlisberger (9)

Carolina Panthers vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Panthers:  The passing game and the running game have both struggled this year.  Here come the Bucs to save the day!  TB hasn't been able to stop anyone this year and even though the Panthers have been great at stopping themselves this year, the Bucs simply don't have the players to take advantage of Carolina's mistakes.  Big day for DeAngelo Williams and possibly Mushin Muhammad.  Last week, the Bucs double covered DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin had a big day.

Buccaneers:  This could be the game Derrick Ward makes his presence felt for his new team.  Ward looked good last week against the Eagles in their blowout loss and the Panthers are not very good against the run.  However, if the Panthers are smart they'll load up the box and make first year starter Josh Johnson beat them.

Fantasy Factors:  DeAngelo Williams (8), Derrick Ward (6)

Kansas City Chiefs vs Washington Redskins

Chiefs:  The good news for the Chiefs is that at least they're tough to beat.  They're not rolling over and dying like some teams *cough* Lions *cough*.  With the Redskins underachieving and the Chiefs giving good teams a scare most weeks, I expect this to be a close one.  However, I don't know of anyone on the KC o-line that can block Albert Haynesworth, so I don't see anyone being a big fantasy factor this week.

Redskins:  It seems like every week the Chiefs turn someone into a fantasy star.  Who will it be this week?  Santana Moss?  Antwaan Randle El?  Malcolm Kelly?  I'm going to play it safe this week and say Clinton Portis. 

Fantasy Factors:  Matt Cassel (7), Clinton Portis (8)

Philadelphia Eagles vs Oakland Raiders

Eagles:  Donovan McNabb is back and the Eagles looks like SB contenders again.  While McNabb went bonkers on the Bucs last week, Brian Westbrook should be the Eagles go to guy this weekend against the Raiders.  Don't rule out big numbers for McNabb though, I expect him to have another solid outing.

Raiders:  Last week's loss was embarrassing, but at least it wasn't at home.  This week, they'll be at home and I don't see they're outlook being any better.  Michael Bush was the lone bright spot for the Raiders last week and he should be the only one again this week.

Fantasy Factors:  Brian Westbrook (8), Michael Bush (5)

Arizona Cardinals vs Seattle Seahawks

Cardinals:  The Cardinals appeared to look like their old selves last week with Warner going for over 300 yards and Fitzgerald getting more involved in the offense.  This week they'll head to Seattle that plays much better at home with Hasselbeck in the lineup, than without.  I don't think their offense will have a tough time, but they'll need to keep scoring because their defense is last against the pass.

Seahawks:  As I mentioned above, this has the makings of a shootout.  Neither defense is good and both QB's can shred secondaries very easily.  I expect another big game out of Matt Hasselbeck and TJ Houshmandzadeh as they try to out score Arizona's Red Storm.

Fantasy Factors:  Anquan Boldin (9), TJ Houshmandzadeh (8)

Houston Oilers vs Boston Patriots

Titans:  Remember the Titans?  I remember them being a 13-3 football team, not an 0-5 beat down toy.  I think Kerry Collins has shown that while he was great in relief last year, its time to go back to Vince Young and I'm not exactly VY's biggest fan either.  The Patriots are not great against the run and Chris Johnson should see plenty of touches, but they don't have a passing game at all so I don't see much room for him to run.

Patriots:  New England has to be licking their chops.  They lost a tough one in Denver last week, but now have a chance to basically eliminate last year's top seed from playoff contention.  The Titans have been bad against big plays this year and nobody excels at the big play better than Randy Moss.  Moss has had two clunkers in a row, don't expect a third.

Fantasy Factors:  Chris Johnson (7), Randy Moss (10)

Buffalo Bills vs New York Jets

Bills:  Things wouldn't be so bad for Buffalo this year if they had a guy that could actually throw the football.  They have good receivers, good RBs, but the QB play has been awful and the offensive line isn't helping much either.  They had the Browns at home last week and only put up 3 points.  This week they play on the road against one of the better defenses in the league this season.  I'm not too optimistic for any Bills players this week.

Jets:  After losing a tight one in Miami, the Jets get to take out their frustrations on the Buffalo Bills.  Poor Bills.  With two starting LBs out for the Bills, the Jets should have no problem pounding the football all day long, but that doesn't mean newly acquired Braylon Edwards won't make an impact.  The Jets defense is a good play this week as well.

Fantasy Factors:  Marshawn Lynch (6), Thomas Jones (8)

Chicago Bears vs Atlanta Falcons

Bears:  The week off hopefully did the Bears good because they'll face an Atlanta offense that is smokin right now.  Fortunately, Atlanta's defense isn't that great, so Jay Cutler should be able to exploit their secondary.  Expect Greg Olsen to get more involved in the offense as the Bears OC has been quoted saying that he wants to get back to this being Greg Olsen's "breakout year".

Falcons:  As mentioned, this offense is red hot and the hurt that they put on SF's defense last week proves it.  This offense is very complete with Matt Ryan using all of his weapons really well and Michael Turner, just being Michael Turner.  The Bears are not great against the pass, so Ryan will attack through the air and that could lead to another big week for Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez.

Fantasy Factors:  Jay Cutler (8), Matt Ryan (8)

Denver Broncos vs San Diego Chargers

Broncos:  Without Jay Cutler this rivalry isn't as good as it once was.  However, without Jay Cutler, the Broncos are 5-0 with a chance to take a strangle hold of the division if they can beat San Diego.  Kyle Orton is managing the offense well, Brandon Marshall is motivated again, the running game is thriving behind Knownshon Moreno and the defense looks as good as ever.

Chargers:  With the running game in shambles, Philip Rivers will need to take the air if the Chargers have any chance this week.  However, he'll need to rely on more people than just Vincent Jackson who will be covered all day long by Champ Bailey.  Antonio Gates anyone?

Fantasy Factors:  Knowshon Moreno (8), Philip Rivers (7)

Bye Week:  Dallas Cowboys, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers