Top Pick

1. New Orleans Saints vs. Dal – The Saints are a much different team at home than on the road. While the Cowboys are likely to get DE / LB DeMarcus Ware back, they’re still banged up defensively and that will be their undoing on Sunday Night. Look for the Saints to win by a TD.

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2. Arizona Cardinals vs. Hou – The Cardinals are well-rested coming off the bye and get the Texans after a crushing loss to the Colts. Look for a close game, but one that the Cardinals will win thanks to its aggressive defense.

3. Tennessee Titans vs. Jax – The Jags very likely will not win a game in 2013. And they’ll get crushed by the Titans this week.

1. DeAngelo Williams

There can be no denying that a star was born in 2008. Williams came on like a rocket and not only amassed the yards towards the end—993 over the last eight games, but also put 20 TDs on the board. The Panthers line is once again intact and Williams should be a top tier fantasy choice once again.

2. Michael Turner

Turner went gangbusters for the Falcons in ’08 running for 1,699 yards and 17 TDs. In 2009, things won’t come so easy. The Falcons get the NFC and AFC East and both conferences features teams with strong defenses. Still, the Falcons offense is very talented and Turner should once again put up double digit TDs and 1,200-1,300 yards.

3. Jonathan Stewart

The other runner in the Panthers’ backfield could be poised to take a huge step forward after a solid rookie season. At 235 pounds, he possesses a rare combination of size and speed and should eclipse the 1,000 yard mark and as the goal line specialist, double digit TDs.

4. Reggie Bush

If Bush can stay healthy, he should be a fantasy force this season. His attempts running the ball will be split with Pierre Thomas, but he should average five to eight receptions per game and at least 50 plus yards. With so much attention being paid to the other offensive threats on the Saints, and Brees’ pinpoint accuracy, look for Bush to be a solid dual fantasy threat.

5. Pierre Thomas

Thomas, an undrafted free agent, actually held off Steelers’ Rashad Mendenhall at Illinois for a few years, and he quickly stepped in as the guy when Deuce went down last year and Bush was out with an injury. A tough, inside runner, who also possesses good speed, Thomas should see 65 percent of the carries in 2009 and post solid numbers.

6. Derrick Ward

The Bucs signed Ward to a solid contract, but his success was the result of a solid Giants’ offensive line and Brandon Jacobs wearing down defenses. In his three opportunities to be the MAN when Jacobs was out, he was only able to hit 70 yards in one of the games and failed to impress. His value will come as a receiver out of the backfield as Ernest Graham should carry most of the load.

Must Starts

1. Brian Westbrook vs. Washington Redskins

The Skins are reeling and the Eagles are fighting for a playoff spot. Westbrook might be the most dynamic offensive player in the game when healthy. Look for No. 36′s number to be called a lot on Sunday and for Westbrook to eclipse the 100-yard mark and put a few balls into the end zone.

2. Steve Slaton vs. Oakland Raiders

The Raiders boast one of the worst run defenses in football and apparently pass defenses too after last week’s manhandling by the Patriots. Slaton has shown himself to be a 20+ carry kind of back this year and look for him to continue his hot running when the Texans head out to Oakland.

3. MarShawn Lynch vs. Denver Broncos

One of the lone bright spots for the fading Bills last week was RB MarShawn Lynch. He ran with power, with purpose, and finished with over 120 yards in the game. This week, he gets the Broncos, and their 29th ranked defense. Although the Bills are out of the AFC East Playoff race, they haven’t rolled over and died, so expect a big fantasy effort from Lynch on Sunday.

4. Thomas Jones vs. Seattle Seahawks

The Jets are desperate for a win this Sunday at Seattle and the best way to get it is to stick with what has worked: running the football. Jones has emerged as a big time threat this season on the ground and look for that to continue this weekend as he gets to face the 26th ranked defense in the Seahawks.

Sleepers:

1. Mwelde Moore vs. Tennessee Titans

Moore gets a lot of the goal line carries for Pittsburgh and in this big match-up on Sunday to decide the AFC’s top seed, the Titans will be without Vanden Bosch and Haynesworth. That is two massive losses to the line. Look for the Steelers to employ a heavy run oriented game plan and for Moore to score at least once by the goal line.

2. Kevin Smith vs. New Orleans Saints

Aside from Calvin Johnson, there’s few bright spots on this Lions’ team, but Smith is becoming one of them. The rookie has been running hard of late and appears to have a nice future ahead of him. Look for a strong fantasy effort out of him Sunday when the Saints, and their unimpressive defense, come to town.

Others with favorable match-ups:

1. Ronnie Brown vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Brown is having a wonderful year for the 9-5 Dolphins and now gets a bit of a breather against the Chiefs. Look for Miami to run all over Kansas City and for Brown to have a solid day on the ground.

2. Pierre Thomas vs. Detroit Lions

The Saints appear to have found a running back and his name isn’t Reggie Bush; it’s Pierre Thomas. The kid runs hard, is elusive, and has shown that he can take it to the house. Look for him to eat up the Lions defense as New Orleans should be playing with the lead.

3. Steven Jackson vs. San Francisco 49ers

The Niners are playing much more competitively under Mike Singletary, but Jackson’s as dangerous as they come in the NFL. Look for a solid effort from No. 39 as he cuts and slashes his way through the Niners’ D.

Must Starts:

1. Brian Westbrook vs. Cleveland Browns. Ever since the Eagles backed themselves into a 5-5-1 hole, Westbrook has taken over and led his team to two victories with 333 total yards and six TDs. In another must-win game for Philadelphia, look for No. 36′s star to shine bright as he eclipses the 100-yard mark once again and score on multiple occasions.

2. Steven Jackson vs. Seattle Seahawks. Both teams have mailed in 2008 and are sitting at 2-11 respectively. But luckily for fantasy owners players have incentives in their contracts based on goals met so look for Jackson to have a strong day on the ground and score at least twice against a demoralized Seahawks’ defense.

3. DeAngelo Williams vs. Denver Broncos. The Panthers are in a tight race for the NFC South and possibly home field advantage through, and for them to get there, they’ll need to rely on what’s worked to this point: running the ball. Williams has really stepped up his game since about the sixth week of this NFL season and look for more of that this week when Denver comes to town.

4. Clinton Portis vs. Cincinnati Bengals. You’ll have to check back closer to game time to see if Portis in fact will go, but if he does, look for a stellar performance against a porous Bengals defense. He’ll easily top the 100-yard mark as Washington will rely heavily on the ground game.

Sleepers:

1. Sammy Morris vs. Oakland Raiders. The Raiders played last Thursday Night’s football game like they wanted no part of the rest of the season and now they get an 8-5 Patriots team that is fighting for a division crown. Oakland’s strong point is its secondary so look for Morris, and the offense line, to have their way with the Raiders front seven.

2. Pierre Thomas vs. Chicago Bears. Thursday Night’s game will probably be bitingly cold in the Windy City, so don’t look for magic out of Brees and the passing game. In fact, a Bears weak point throughout the season has been its run defense. Look for Thomas, who had a monster game on Sunday, to pick up where he left off when the Saints head to Chicago.

Others with favorable match-ups:

1. LaDainian Tomlinson vs. Kansas City Chiefs. It’s been difficult to endorse Tomlinson this season because the Chargers haven’t been able to create holes and running room for the future Hall of Famer, but while there’s still the faintest bit of hope for the Chargers to make the playoffs, look for Tomlinson to perform admirably when San Diego heads out to Arrowhead.

2. Brandon Jacobs vs. Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys will probably stack the line once again but look for Jacobs get his yards regardless as the Giants will be more effective in the passing game without having to deal with the 25 mph winds that they had on Sunday. The Cowboys have been playing defense much better of late but the Giants can beat them straight up off the line.

3. Thomas Jones vs. Buffalo Bills. The Jets are in a two game funk; the Bills, six. The Bills have literally hit the bottom of the barrel after their impressive 5-1 start and this might be the only opponent at this time to help the Jets get out of their slump. And when they do, look for Jones number to be called plenty of times.