Week 8

Brian Griese (Chicago) – In his four starts this season, Griese has passed for an average of 301 yards and two touchdowns per game.  Those are impressive numbers, but if they’re not enough to convince you, consider that he’s playing against the Lions’ 30th-ranked pass defense.  Earlier this season in Detroit, Griese threw for 286 yards and two touchdowns (and three interceptions).   

Ben Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh) – Last week, Big Ben completed 24-of-35 for 290 yards and four scores against the Broncos’ second-ranked pass defense.  Even though the Steelers would prefer not to throw that much every game, they will be tempted to air it out this Sunday at Cincinnati.  The Bengals rank 28th against the pass (249 yards per game), and only one team has allowed more TD passes this season (16).  In his last four games against Cincinnati, Roethlisberger has averaged 271 passing yards, with seven TDs and seven INTs.   

Marc Bulger (St. Louis) – In Tuesday’s “Tip Sheet,” I recommended avoiding Bulger until further notice.  However, given how many quarterbacks are injured or off due to a bye, I must admit that the Rams QB is a tempting option this week.  The Rams will be home, and RB Steven Jackson is expected to return from a groin injury, which should bolster their offense.  Most importantly, Bulger and company will be facing a Cleveland defense that ranks 29th against the pass (264 ypg.) and has allowed an NFL-high 17 TD passes this season.   

Jeff Garcia (Tampa Bay) – Garcia is coming off back-to-back productive games, but don’t expect much from him this week against Jacksonville.  The Jags are giving up just 214 passing yards per game, and they have allowed just four TD passes on the season, which is a league low.  Also, I don’t expect the Jacksonville offense, led by backup QB Quinn Gray, to score very much at Tampa Bay, which will allow the Bucs to play conservatively and still win. 

Brandon Jacobs (NY Giants) – With two 100-yard efforts and two scores in the past two games, it is safe to say that the big guy is on a roll.  Jacobs will take that momentum to London, where he should steamroll over a Miami defense that will be missing Pro Bowl MLB Zach Thomas (neck).  The Dolphins rank 31st against the run (156.4 ypg.), and they have allowed an NFL-high 10 rushing TDs this season.   

Marshawn Lynch (Buffalo) – Lynch ranks 14th in the league for rushing yards per game with an average of 76.2, and he has also scored a respectable four TDs this season.  The rookie should significantly add to those numbers this week against the reeling Jets, who rank 28th against the run (138 ypg.) and have allowed nine rushing TDs this season.  When Lynch faced the Jets in September, he had a solid day, rushing for 79 yards and a score on 23 carries, and that was with ILB Jonathan Vilma starting for New York.  Vilma won’t play this Sunday due to a knee injury.   

LenDale White (Tennessee) – With fellow RB Chris Brown out last week with an ankle injury, White received 27 carries against the Texans and finished with 104 yards and a score.  With Brown still slowed by his injury, White could duplicate that performance vs. Oakland this Sunday.  The Raiders rank 29th against the run and have allowed nine rushing TDs this season.   

Travis Henry (Denver) – After a fast start, Henry has rushed for 65 or fewer yards in three of his last four games, and he has scored just once this season.  On Monday night, he’ll face a sturdy Green Bay defense that ranks 11th against the run (100 ypg.) and has allowed only two rushing TDs this season.  With WR Javon Walker out with a knee injury, the Packers’ corners should be able to play man-to-man against the Broncos’ mediocre receivers, which will allow Green Bay to play eight men in “the box.” Also, Henry is nursing bruised ribs, which could lead to backup RB Selvin Young getting more carries than usual. 

Braylon Edwards (Cleveland) – Edwards has been on a tear since Week 1.  In his last five games, he has averaged 5.2 receptions and 101 receiving yards, and he also has scored seven touchdowns over that span.  With RB Jamal Lewis slowed by a foot injury, look for Edwards to be the Browns’ top weapon against a St. Louis defense that is allowing 27.4 points per game. 

Santonio Holmes (Pittsburgh) – Hines Ward may be back in the lineup, but Holmes is still the big-play guy in the Steelers’ passing offense.  The second-year pro has caught 12 balls for 182 yards and three scores in his last two games.  The Bengals’ defense has allowed pass plays of 20-plus yards 20 times this season, which is the sixth highest total in the league, and the last time Holmes faced them, he caught four balls for 124 yards and one TD.   

Bernard Berrian and Muhsin Muhammad (Chicago) – If Griese has a big day against the Lions, you can expect this wideout tandem to do well, too.  Berrian, who has caught at least four balls in all but one game this season, averaged six catches for 77 yards, with a total of two TDs, in his last three against Detroit.  Muhammad, who has scored in three of the last four games, averaged 4 receptions for 60 yards, with a total of three scores, in his last five vs. the Lions.   

Roydel Williams (Tennessee) – In his last two games, Williams has caught 10 balls for 168 yards, but I’d stay away from him this week.  Most of Williams’ yards came with Kerry Collins playing at quarterback, but Vince Young (quad) is expected to be back under center this week.  Also, Young’s favorite target, WR Brandon Jones (knee), practiced this week, and he might play, too, which could reduce Williams’ chances.  Lastly, the Titans will be facing an Oakland defense that is much stronger against the pass than the run. 

Tampa Bay Defense – Look for the Bucs’ defense, which is allowing less than 16 points per game, to rack up the fantasy points against the battered Jaguars on Sunday.  If you didn’t see backup QB Quinn Gray play on Monday night against the Colts, just trust me, he was horrible.  Gray, combined with one of the least talented receiving corps in the league, doesn’t bode well for the Jags to be effective through the air, and their most dangerous offensive weapon, RB Maurice Drew, may not play due to a knee injury.    

Nate Kaeding (San Diego) – Despite the fires in the San Diego area, the Chargers will be playing at home on Sunday against the Texans.  Coming off a bye and having practiced in Arizona all week, the Chargers’ offense might be a bit sluggish, which would lead to a few more field-goal attempts than usual for Kaeding.  Of course, it doesn’t hurt that the Texans have allowed more FGs (21) than any other team in the league.  Even if you took away Rob Bironas’ eight field goals from Week 7, Houston would still rank seventh for three pointers allowed.   

Pittsburgh Defense – The Steelers still top the league in scoring defense (13 points per game), but last week’s performance at Denver has to be a concern.  The Broncos put 31 points on the scoreboard, and QB Jay Cutler, who was in the midst of a slump and didn’t have his No. 1 receiver available, picked apart the Pittsburgh secondary for 248 yards and three scores.  This is not the type of performance that you want to have the week before you face the Bengals’ second-ranked pass offense.  The last four times that these two teams have met, Carson Palmer and company scored an average of 25 points against Pittsburgh.