Week Nine in Review Nov 4, 2008

Ballers of the Week

Kurt Warner , QB Arizona Cardinals

Warner has been a top five fantasy QB thus far and that trend continued as he threw for 342 yards and two scores against St. Louis. He didn’t throw any INTs and spread the ball around to eight different receivers. More weeks like this should be in store for Warner because he matches up against San Francisco and Seattle the next two weeks so continue to start him.

Donald Driver , WR Green Bay Packers

The veteran wideout in Green Bay exploded for 136 receiving yards on seven receptions and a touchdown against the Titans on Sunday. This was easily his best game of the season, but don’t count on this kind of production every week out of Driver. The main reason he played so well was because Tennessee has a great run defense which forced the Packers to air it out frequently. Nonetheless, it was good to see Driver have a solid day.

Donovan McNabb , QB Philadelphia Eagles

McNabb feasted on a poor Seahawks pass defense, throwing for 349 yards and two TDs. He did have one INT, but overall it was a great day for the former Syracuse standout. He leaned on his TE for much of the game and completed passes to 10 different players! When healthy, Donovan is a top tier fantasy QB, which has been the case so far in 2008.

Busts of the Week

Jason Witten , TE Dallas Cowboys

It is kind of unfair to tag Witten as a bust in week nine because he was playing with a broken rib and has the worst QB in the NFL throwing to him right now. With that said he went out and put up zeros across the board, which is never good, especially for the best TE in the game. The Cowboys have a much needed bye in Week 10 so Witten can get healthy and should return to form in Week 11 with QB Tony Romo set to come back.

Ted Ginn, Jr. , WR Miami Dolphins

A week after going off for 175 receiving yards and being a hot waiver pickup, Ginn came back with a terrible outing. He caught just three passes for 38 yards against the Broncos. This was definitely a disappointing game for owners who thought Ginn would do well against a weak Denver secondary. He is still young and will be inconsistent, but his next two matchups ( Seattle, Oakland) look very favorable.

Brandon Marshall , WR Denver Broncos

The touchdown draught continued for Marshall as he has now failed to reach the end zone in four straight games. He had just two receptions for 27 yards in a very frustrating game against a rising Miami squad. You must start Marshall every week no matter what and hope that he can get back on track with QB Jay Cutler.

Waiver Wire

Ray Rice , RB Baltimore Ravens

Rice is going to be quite the commodity this week in fantasy leagues and should certainly be your top waiver priority if you can grab him. He erupted for 154 rushing yards on 21 carries against the Browns in week nine. With RB Willis McGahee a health risk and RB Le’Ron McClain being very ineffective, the flood gates are now open for Rice to show what he can do.

Shocker Special

Brent Celek , TE Philadelphia Eagles

Who would have thought a backup TE would have six catches for 131 yards for the Eagles? That was exactly the case for Philly on Sunday as Celek filled in for L.J. Smith and had a monster game. Although it looks like Smith will be back next week, monitor this situation closely because maybe Celek did enough to earn himself a start in week ten.

Keep on your Fantasy Radar

Maurice Morris , RB Seattle Seahawks

Morris has been gaining a lot of ground on starter Julius Jones over the past month and could take over the top spot in the backfield for the Seahawks very soon. He hasn’t scored a TD all season, but has put up a pretty solid yards per carry average. If he gets the ball more, Morris could be a solid fantasy RB down the stretch.

Must Start of Week Ten

Vincent Jackson , WR San Diego Chargers

Jackson has scored a touchdown in his last three games and that streak should continue in week ten against the lowly Chiefs. Start him for sure because he is becoming a favorite target of QB Philip Rivers and should play well against a bad pass defense.

Please Bench of Week Ten

LenDale White , RB Tennessee Titans

I know it’s going to be hard to bench White right now, but I don’t like the matchup he has in week ten against the Bears. He has only rushed for 90 yards combined in his last two games and most of that came on a 54-yard run on Sunday so don’t expect much out of him next week, even though he does get the goal line work.