IDP STUDS AND DUDS: Week 8 Oct 28, 2011 | More
More articles from Gary Davenport

Remember, this is the fourth of the bye weeks, so if you roll out any players from the Falcons, Bears, Packers, Jets, Raiders, or Buccaneers I’m guessing you’ll probably be pretty disappointed by the results.

That said here’s a look at some players you should give serious consideration to getting into your lineups or who could outperform expectations (Studs) and some that, for whatever reason, you may want to consider leaving alone, or at least take into account that they may be a relative disappointment this week (Duds).

STUDS

Andre Carter – DE, New England Patriots (at PIT): The 11^th year veteran is coming off his best game of the season and gets a matchup with a Pittsburgh Steelers squad that has allowed the second most fantasy points per game to opposing defensive linemen.

Ahtyba Rubin – DT, Cleveland Browns (at SF): Rubin has nine tackles and half a sack over his past three games and gets a favorable matchup with a San Francisco team that’s been kind to opposing fantasy DL this season.

Will Smith – DE, New Orleans Saints (at STL): The Rams will almost certainly be forced to play catch up and have allowed the second most sacks and third most fantasy points to opposing defensive linemen. Need I say more?

Thomas Howard – OLB, Cincinnati Bengals (at SEA): If bye weeks have bitten you on the butt consider Howard this week, who has been pretty solid so far this year and has a Top 10 fantasy matchup with the Seahawks Sunday.

Derrick Johnson – ILB, Kansas City Chiefs (vs. SD): Johnson racked up 12 solos last week in the blowout win over the Raiders, and the seventh-year veteran has a frightfully good matchup with the Chargers on Halloween.

Jonathan Vilma – MLB, New Orleans Saints (at STL): Vilma’s been a disappointment to this point in the season but could be in for a bounceback game against the Rams, who are surprisingly kind to opposing fantasy LB.

Asher Allen – CB, Minnesota Vikings (at CAR): This week’s waiver wire matchup corner du jour will be filling in for Chris Cook, who spent this past week in jail after trying to see how far up his ass he could fit his head. Turns out he can get it up there quite a ways.

Abram Elam – FS, Dallas Cowboys (at PHI): Elam is coming off an eight tackle, forced fumble effort against the Rams and gets a matchup with an Eagles squad that has allowed the most fantasy points per game in the league to opposing defensive backs.

Troy Polamalu – SS, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. NE): The Patriots have allowed the fourth most fantasy points per game to opposing DBs, and Polamalu’s hair loves the spotlight, so I expect a big game from the Steelers mane man on defense.

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