It's getting to be crunch time for fantasy owners as the contenders are starting to pull away from the pretenders. Those of you sitting in the drivers seats are already looking ahead to the crucial weeks of most FF leagues, weeks 14, 15, 16 and it's honestly never to early to start prepping for the title drive. The EveryMan will have you early birds covered next week with a Fantasy Extra that will look at the best match-ups available for those crucial weeks so make sure to keep an eye out for it. For now, though, it's on with the show!
Bye Week for...Buffalo, Cleveland, Oakland, St. Louis, Minnesota, N.Y. Jets
Hits and Misses
Starters
QB Matt Schaub: 4 pts 268 yds 2 int MISS
RB Chris Johnson: 35 pts 239 total yards, 2 tds HIT
WR Miles Austin: 12 pts 5 rec 51 yds. 1 td 1 rush 11 yds HIT
Bench Material
QB Matt Ryan: 9 pts 289 yds, 1 td, 3 int HIT
RB Frank Gore: 19 pts 134 yds 1 td MISS
WR Michael Crabtree: 6 pts 6 rec 81 yds, 1 fumble HIT
Starts of the Week!
QB Aaron Rodgers (at TB): You know that Rogers is going to be coming into this game with a major chip on his shoulder after getting outperformed, at home, by the legend he's trying to replace. It's safe to say he's going to be putting up good numbers this week.
RB Ray Rice (at CIN): First time around the Bengals stole one in Baltimore but I don't see lightening striking twice. Look for Ray Rice to be a major reason why the Ravens record an important divisional W this weekend.
WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh (vs DET): It's been a season of mix results for T.J. After signing a 5 year, $40 million dollar contract this offseason. It appears that he is really having a hard time meshing with QB Matt Hasselbeck. But the cure for those woes, at least for a week, comes in the form of the Detroit Lions.
Other Notable Starts: QB Peyton Manning (vs HOU), RB Michael Turner (vs WAS), TE Fred Davis (at ATL)
Bench Material of the Week!
QB Kyle Orton (vs PIT): Orton has been a solid QB and a solid FF producer all season long but he faces the defending SuperBowl Champs who are getting their swagger back on defense and has won 4 straight game. Add to it that defensive coordinater extraordinaire Dick LeBeau has had two weeks to prepare for this Monday night showdown means owners of Orton should rest him for this match-up.
RB Marion Barber (at PHI): In a offense that features a heavy passing attack, it's usually the running back that suffers the most and that's been the case this season for the Cowboys Marion Barber. Barber has been inconsistent this season and has been battling a thumb injury which makes this weeks match-up against the surging Eagles a rough one. Don't look for much from him this week.
WR Santanna Moss (at ATL): It's as simple as this, the wide-receivers in the Redskins offense are an afterthought. The O goes through the running game first and the tight end second. If Washington ever manages to become a potent O again, then maybe this will change, but for now, don't trust any of their receivers.
Other Notable Benches: QB Matt Shaub (at IND), RB Matt Forte (vs ATL), WR Eddie Royal (vs PIT)
CraveOnline Yohoo's (7-1)
The Yohoo's rebounded from their first loss with a big W despite my making fantasy football mistake number one: Pay attention to bye weeks! I don't know if it was a busy weekend, a lack of sleep or just plain stupidity but I neglected to switch out my kicker, Stephen Gostowski, who was on a bye and proceeded to get a nice goose egg in the scoring column for him. Luckily it didn't cost me the game but you don't get lucky like that too often.
Football One-Liner of the week...(a change from the usual)
Our offensive line was so good that even our backs couldn't get through it.