Week 4

Jon Kitna (Detroit) – If you’re worried about starting Kitna, the league’s leading passer with 980 yards, against Chicago’s vaunted defense – don’t be.  Eight of the Bears' defensive starters are listed on the injury report.  Chicago will likely be missing CB Nate Vasher, CB Charles Tillman, and LB Lance Briggs on Sunday.  The last time Kitna faced the Bears, he passed for 283 yards and three scores, without a pick.   

Eli Manning (NY Giants) – On Sunday night, Manning will face a Philadelphia defense that ranks 26th against the pass and will likely be missing two Pro Bowlers in the secondary.  Both CB Lito Sheppard (foot) and Brian Dawkins (neck) didn’t practice this week, and they are listed as doubtful and questionable, respectively.  Also, Manning will not have to worry about being distracted by those Swedish-flag-like uniforms that the Birds wore in Week 3.  In his last four games vs. the Eagles, Manning has passed for an average of 296 yards, with a total of seven TDs and six INTs. 

Matt Schaub (Houston) – Schaub has played very well this season, but he is quickly running out of weapons.  WR Andre Johnson will miss at least one more game (and probably more) due to a knee sprain.  Rookie WR Jacoby Jones will miss at least two weeks due to a separated shoulder.  RB Ahman Green (bruised knee) and backup WR/kick returner Jerome Mathis (sore lower leg) will be game-time decisions for Sunday's game at Atlanta.  Ron Dayne, who didn't play last week because of bruised ribs, will likely start for Green, while Andre' Davis and Ken Walter will start at wideout. And I should also mention that the Falcons are allowing just 184 passing yards per game. 
 

Matt Leinart (Arizona) – First and foremost, you have no idea how much backup QB Kurt Warner will play this week.  If that is not enough to deter you from starting Leinart, consider that the Cards will likely be missing their top receiver, Anquan Boldin (doubtful – hip), and they’ll be facing a Pittsburgh defense that ranks sixth against the pass. 

Marion Barber (Dallas) – Barber has scored at least one touchdown in every game this season, and he’ll be facing a St. Louis defense that ranks 28th against the run and is allowing 1.7 rushing TDs per game.   
 

Thomas Jones (NY Jets) – Jones started to get in gear last week, rushing for more than 100 yards against the Dolphins.  This Sunday, he’ll face a decimated Buffalo defense that is allowing a league-high 177.3 rushing yards per game.   

Marshawn Lynch (Buffalo) – I’m not sure if losing J.P. Losman is a bad thing or a good thing, but with rookie Trent Edwards starting at QB, I do know that the Bills will try to keep the ball on the ground as much as possible against the Jets.  New York is allowing 121.3 yards per game on the ground. 
  

Sammy Morris (New England) – The Pats are so hot that I won’t be surprised if they score more than 40 points on Monday night against the Bengals, who are allowing nearly 32 per game.  Morris is averaging 11 carries per game, and with starter Laurence Maroney questionable due to a groin injury, he could see more action than usual. 

Adrian Peterson (Minnesota) – The rookie back is risky in Week 4 for two reasons:  1) Chester Taylor is healthy and expected to start at tailback, and 2) the Packers rank 10th against the run and have yet to allow a rushing score this season.   
 

Brian Leonard (St. Louis) – Leonard will start for an injured Steven Jackson (groin).  I wouldn’t expect much from the rookie fullback vs. the Cowboys’ 8th-ranked run defense.  Leonard is a nice role player, but he wasn’t even the starting tailback for Rutgers last season. 

Donald Driver (Green Bay) – I have a feeling that Brett Favre’s record-breaking touchdown pass will be caught by his old buddy, Driver.  In his last five games against the Vikings, Driver has averaged eight catches for 130 yards, with a total of five touchdowns. 

Wes Welker (New England) – This speedy little possession receiver is averaging nearly seven catches per game.  The problem is that No. 1 WR Randy Moss and TE Ben Watson have caught the majority of the touchdowns.  Welker, however, has a good shot to find the end zone this week against a Cincinnati defense that ranks 27th against the pass and has allowed the second most TD passes in the NFL this season (8).   
 

Derrick Mason (Baltimore) – Like Welker, Mason is not much of a TD maker, but I like his chances against a Cleveland defense that has allowed a league-high 11 TD passes through the air.  I especially like Mason because the rest of the Ravens’ receiving corps is banged up.   

Kellen Winslow (Cleveland) – The tight end is having a fine season, averaging more than five receptions per game, and he played well last year against the Ravens, catching 12 balls for 155 yards (and no scores).  However, Winslow is nursing a shoulder separation that could prevent him from playing this Sunday, and it’s the type of injury that could easily be aggravated if he does play. 

San Diego Defense – Don’t you have a feeling that the Chargers will get their grove back this week vs. the Chiefs, who are scoring just 8.7 points per game.  The last time these two teams met, San Diego limited Kansas City to nine points and 241 total yards, and the defense recorded six sacks and two takeaways. 

Mike Nugent (NY Jets) – Even the Jets’ kicker is a good bet this week against a Buffalo defense that ranks last in the league against both the run and the pass. 

Denver Defense – The Broncos may have the top CB tandem in the league and a pass defense that is allowing just 108 yards per game, but consider whom they have played so far this season (Buffalo, Oakland, and Jacksonville).  This week, they will face a real offense.  Led by QB Peyton Manning, the Colts have averaged 42 points and 483 total yards in their last two contests against Denver.