1. QB Carson Palmer vs. Baltimore Ravens
Don’t be fooled into believing that Baltimore’s defensive performance last week means they’re back to playing like the 2000 Ravens defense did. They’re not. And Palmer is a notorious Ravens killer. The Bengals receivers will be too much for the Ravens secondary to handle and Palmer will throw for at least 250 with a few TDs.
2. RB Ryan Grant vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers defense turns every opposing RB into a No. 1 fantasy starter the week they play them. And this week, even though he’s playing behind a patchwork offensive line, expect Grant to have a huge day and rattle off over 100 yards and a few scores. This is the type of match-up where teams, and players, get healthy very quickly.
3. WR DeSean Jackson vs. Dallas Cowboys
Jackson’s lightening quick speed will prove too difficult for CB Terrance Newman and the Cowboys secondary to handle. Whether it be on end-arounds, slants, or play-action passes deep, expect No. 10 to have a big game Sunday Night and another TD of 50 yards or longer.
Fantasy Busts
1. Matt Schaub vs. Indianapolis Colts
The loss of TE Owen Daniels for the season is a huge blow for the Texans offense moving forward. Expect Indy to roll coverage over Andre Johnson’s way and challenge Kevin Walter and Jacoby Jones to beat them. It’s extremely rare to to overcome a loss of this magnitude in a one-week time frame and we expect to see a substantial drop off in production for Schaub in Week Nine.
2. RB Matt Forte vs. Arizona Cardinals
He’s already one of the biggest fantasy busts of the 2009 season, and that trend is not going to change here. Although the Panthers found great success running the ball vs. the Cards, Chicago doesn’t possess the running attack – or running backs- that Carolina does. Expect Arizona to play eight guys in the box and for their corners to play press coverage on the Bears inexperienced receivers. This will be a tough day for Forte.
3. WR Brandon Marshall vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Ravens exposed the Broncos passing game and the Steelers are going to do the same on Monday Night. They’re going to bring extensive pressure after Orton which means he’ll have to get rid of the ball sooner than he’d like. And the result for Marshall is he’ll be forced to settle for short passes all night long; not a recipe for fantasy football success.
