Breaking News

Dallas Cowboys Wide Receiver Roy Williams is out, and will likely be replaced by Miles Austin in the starting line-up. Against the Chiefs, he may be worth taking a look at this week.

Detroit Lions Quarterback Matthew Stafford is out. Daunte Culpepper will get the nod.

Eli Manning has been warming up all morning and appears ready to play.

New York Jets Wide Receiver Jerricho Cotchery was limited in practice yet again, and is still listed as questionable against Miami on Monday night.

Bye Weeks

Chicago – Jay Cutler, Matt Forte, Greg Olsen and company will get a much needed rest before their week six showdown with the Falcons

Green Bay – Ryan Grant, Aaron Rodgers, Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, and Jermichael Finley get to think about their Monday night loss for one extra week.

New Orleans – This may be the only way to keep Drew Brees, Reggie Bush, Marques Colston and Pierre Thomas off the scoreboard.

San Diego – Nothing helps get over another loss to the Steelers like a bye. Enjoy the rest Phillip Rivers, Darren Sproles, Vincent Jackson, Antonio Gates and the guy who used to be LaDanian Tomlinson.

Sunday, October 11

Cleveland Browns at Buffalo Bills

Start – How do you think they’re marketing this one in Buffalo? “Do you like interceptions, false starts, and coaching staffs that have already scheduled college scouting trips during Week 14 of the NFL season?” This game has the appeal of a Marv Levy romance novel, only with less fantasy implications and more fan disgust. The only interesting aspect here is the chance for Bills’ fantasy owners to collect some much needed points. Marshawn Lynch had a rough start to his comeback against the Dolphins last Sunday, but should excel this week against the worst rush D in the NFL. Owners facing a bye week can also look at Fred Jackson for the flex start. Give Terrell Owens the nod as well. Sure, his quarterback looks like he’s auditioning for a spot on the Browns’ roster, but there’s nothing T.O. loves more than putting up big numbers in a meaningless game against an inferior opponent (also known as the Alex Rodriguez effect). And on that note, get ready for Fox to interrupt regularly scheduled episodes of Family Guy in order to show A-Rod choking in the playoffs this weekend. Baseball playoffs, catch the fever!

Sit- Last week the Browns held Carson Palmer to less than five yards-per-attempt and didn’t allow a single completion over 27 yards. This means that given Buffalo’s desire to get Lynch rolling again and the Browns’ terrible rush defense, there’s no reason to believe that Trent Edwards (one touchdown, four interceptions in his last two games) will have a banner day. He should register an average one, instead. Give the Stanford alum a seat on the bench, despite the temptation to play him against the NFL’s worst team. Same goes for Lee Evans who broke 32 yards for the first time last week against Miami.

Now, here are some fun stats for Cleveland fantasy owners:

The Browns’ quarterbacks have two touchdowns, seven interceptions, and haven’t completed a pass over 30 yards all 2.
Their running backs don’t have a single rushing touchdown all season.
Their receivers have as many fumbles as touchdown receptions.
Notre Dame just hung up a Brady Quinn poster with the phrase “don’t let this happen to you” underneath it.

With the exception of James Harrison, who had a solid game last week and is looking like the only healthy Browns RB, sit everyone else from Cleveland.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Detroit Lions

Start – In “theory” this is a road game for the Steelers, but if you get a chance to look at any of the 46 crowd shots CBS loves to show during the game, take a gander at all the Pittsburgh jerseys. Because if there are two things to know about Steelers fans, it’s that they love following their team on the road and have no problem leaving the burgeoning Steel-town nightlife scene on weekends to do so. Thus, we will not count this as a road game. It’s more like Pittsburgh vs. Detroit on a neutral field in Michigan. Rashard Mendenhall (regardless if Willie Parker returns from a toe injury), will get at least 20 carries. This is great news for his fantasy owners considering Mendenhall is averaging almost six yards-per-rush this year and is coming off a monster Sunday night explosion against the Chargers. In the passing game, Ben Roethlisberger should continue to roll against the league’s worst scoring defense. He has touchdown passes in every single one of his starts and has broken 300 yards in two of his first four games. Expect Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes, and Heath Miller to reap the rewards of what should be an offensive onslaught.

Brandon Pettigrew is worth starting at tight end for the Lions, and Calvin Johnson (133 yards last week) is talented enough to come down with at least one or two jump balls. He was a little banged up this week, but returned to practice on Thursday and is good to go. The problem is that it’s looking like Daunte Culpepper will get the start.

Sit- Willie Parker is still hurt, and won’t be rushing back to a game that the Steelers could probably win without him… or three-fifths of their offensive line. Even if he suits up, his carries should be minimal. With Matthew Stafford possibly out and Daunte Culpepper taking the snaps, the Steelers seventh ranked defense should put a lot of pressure on a guy that hasn’t been effective since the late 1990s. Kevin Smith is also nursing a shoulder injury, and against the Steelers tough run D, it’s going to be tough sledding. It’s looking like Troy Polamalu will not play this week, but it doesn’t make much of a difference as they’ll stack the box and dare Culpepper to throw.