The Hive – Week 5 edition
Welcome back to The Hive! Well, a month into the season and the injuries are piling up on both sides of the ball. In the world of IDP, even some of the backups who took over for injured guys, like Jim Leonhard, are hurt now. Time to review the week 5 matchups, and hopefully uncover some gems that you can find on your wire.
How we rank `em!
Giddyup!
– Stud player, stud matchup, or a combo of the two
SINS!
– solid if not spectacular
Hellno!
– even Chiefs fans can understand this one! Right Buford?
Miami
@
Houston
Sunday 10am PST
Miami
Giddyup! – Jason Taylor, Renaldo Hill, Zach Thomas
SINS! – Matt Roth, Donovan Darius
Hellno! – Channing Crowder
Houston
Giddyup! – DeMeco Ryans, Mario Williams, Morlon Greenwood
SINS! – Von Hutchins, CC Brown, Dunta Robinson, Amobi Okoye
Hellno! – Danny Clark, Demarcus Faggins
Game notes:
Thomas coming back is big for
Miami
, but losing Crowder is equally as bad. Lucky for the Fins,
Houston
has a bunch of scrubs on offense right now due to injury. Even Joey Porter can make the tackle on Ron Dayne! Go Joey go! For
Houston
you have to like Ryans and
Greenwood
vs Ronnie Brown. The
Miami
line hasn’t quite been a sieve, but it’s been close enough. I like Williams and Okoye this week to get to Trent Green.
Jacksonville
@
Kansas City
Sunday 10am PST
Jacksonville
Giddyup! – Mike Peterson, Rashean Mathis
SINS! – Daryl Smith, Reggie Nelson, John Henderson, Marcus Stroud
Hellno! – Clint Ingram
Kansas City
Giddyup! – Donnie Edwards, Napoleon Harris, Jared Allen
SINS! – Jarrad Page, Bernard Pollard, Tamba Hali
Hellno! – Law/Surtain
Game notes:
I think the Jags will dominate this one, and Mike Peterson vs LJ is a tasty matchup for Peterson owners.
Henderson
is back from a concussion, that will be large for this defense. Literally. For the Chiefs I like the usual suspects. Keep your eyes on Jarrad Page, who had a huge game last week. I don’t think he repeats last week, in fact I like Pollard a little more for this week vs a running team, but Page is definitely one to watch.
Cleveland
@
New England
Sunday 10am PST
Cleveland
Giddyup! – Sean Jones, Eric Wright
SINS! – Leigh Bodden, D’Qwell
Jackson
Hellno! –
Andra Davis
,
Leon
Williams
New England
Giddyup! – Ty Warren,
Asante
Samuel, Adalius Thomas
SINS! – Jarvis Green, Ellis Hobbs, Rodney Harrison
Hellno! – Mike Vrabel, Tedi Bruschi, Junior Seau
Game notes:
For
Cleveland
you have to feel for young Eric Wright. He is going to get burnt in ways that would even make former Raider Elvis “Toast” Patterson cringe on Sunday. Bodden wont fare much better. Andra Davis and Leon Williams are pretty much in a LBBC at this point. Stay away. For the Pats I like Thomas to create some havoc this week and the Asante Samuel vs Braylon Edwards matchup should be fun as well. Vrabel will not catch a TD this week, so if you had him on your bench last week leave him there and move on with your life. I had Osi Umenyiora on my bench last week, so I feel nothing for you.
Carolina
@
New Orleans
Sunday 10am PST
Carolina
Giddyup! – Jon Beason, Julius Peppers, Chris Gamble, Chris Harris
SINS! – Thomas Davis, Richard Marshall, Mike Rucker
Hellno! – Kris Jenkins
New Orleans
Giddyup! – Scott Fujita, Mike McKenzie
SINS! – Roman Harper, Will Smith
Hellno! – Charles Grant
Game notes:
Wow, this is suddenly a crap matchup isn’t it? For
Carolina
I do not advocate the mass abandonment of Julius Peppers occurring in fantasy leagues everywhere. He will blow up, it is just a matter of time. Chris Harris has been sick in IDP since the move over from
Chicago
. He is a top DB in all formats. For the Saints you have to like Mike McKenzie as a one week pickup. Even with Carr in the game, the corner on Steve Smith should be money. Smith and Grant have done nada thus far, but I like Smith to at least achieve mediocrity this week.
New York
Jets @ New York Giants Sunday
10am PST
New York Jets
Giddyup! – Kerry Rhodes, Eric Smith, Jonathan Vilma, David Barrett
SINS! – Andre Dyson
Hellno! – Eric Barton, Erik Coleman
New York Giants
Giddyup! – Gibril Wilson, Antonio Pierce, Osi Umenyiora
SINS! – Derrick Ross, Kawicka Mitchell, Justin Tuck
Hellno! – Michael Strahan
Game notes:
Kerry Rhodes, why hast thou forsaken me?? Truth be told the Jets have pulled the same IDP screw job on
Rhodes
owners that
Baltimore
pulled on Ed Reed owners a few years back: they have turned him into a center fielder to emphasize making “big plays”. This translates into IDP oblivion. I’d give him one more week, especially with Eli and Burress coming to town, but if he doesn’t show signs of life I would look into at least benching the guy. Jonathan Vilma had a fine week last week, maybe he is coming around. Maybe. For the Giants don’t expect 6 sacks from Osi this week, or maybe ever again, but the knee seems ok. Strahan is an afterthought with only 14 tackles and 1 sack on the year. Tuck and Osi are the studs on that DL now.
Seattle
@
Pittsburgh
Sunday 10am PST
Seattle
Giddyup! – Lofa Tatupu, Julian Peterson, Deon Grant
SINS! – Pat Kerney, Leroy Hill, Darryl Tapp
Hellno! – Brian Russell
Pittsburgh
Giddyup! – James Farrior, Ike Taylor
SINS! – Troy Polamalu, James Harrison
Hellno! – Bryant McFadden
Game notes:
For the Hawks Lofa Tatupu and Julian Peterson have certainly been hot lately. I like those two and Grant this week. Not so high on the DL’s vs a stout
Pittsburgh
line though. For the Steelers I would chalk up last week as an anomaly for James Farrior. The Cards were passing most of the 2nd half which limited his tackle opportunities. Polamalu will supposedly play, but I wouldn’t want to have to rely on him with that abdominal injury. McFadden has a high ankle sprain, ungood for a DB. Play Ike Taylor this week. You are welcome.
Arizona
@
St. Louis
Sunday 10am PST
Arizona
Giddyup! – Gerald Hayes, Adrian Wilson, Darnell Dockett
SINS! – Karlos Dansby
Hellno! – Antrel Rolle, Calvin Pace
St. Louis
Giddyup! – O.J. Atogwe, Will Witherspoon
SINS! – James Hall
Hellno! – Leonard Little
Game notes: Does anyone really care about this game? I don’t. Start the usual suspects, go read my DL article to find out why Dockett is neat-o, and let’s move on.
Atlanta
@
Tennessee
Sunday 10am PST
Atlanta
Giddyup! – Keith Brooking, John Abraham
SINS! – Lawyer Milloy
Hellno! – Demorrio Williams, Jamaal Anderson
Tennessee
Giddyup! – Keith Bulluck, Chris Hope, Kyle Vanden Bosch
SINS! –
Cortland
Finnegan, Nick Harper, Albert Haynesworth
Hellno! – Peter Sirmon, Antwan Odom
Game notes:
Abraham is showing signs of life, I like him vs the Titans this week. Brooking will be solid, and Milloy should be decent as well. I wouldn’t touch Demorrio Williams in anything but a dynasty league right now. He will likely go elsewhere and be a player, but for now he is worthless. For the Titans I am not too excited about anyone but Bulluck, but this is a great opportunity for Vanden Bosch and Hope to get off the skids.
Detroit
@
Washington
Sunday 10am PST
Detroit
Giddyup! – Ernie Sims,
Paris
Lenon
SINS! – Gerald Alexander, Dewayne White, Shaun Rogers
Hellno! – Kenoy Kennedy
Washington
Giddyup! –
London
Fletcher, Rocky McIntosh, Laron Landry, Sean Taylor
SINS! – Carlos Rogers, Shawn Springs
Hellno! – Andre Carter
Game notes:
Paris
Lenon has been one of the bigger surprises in IDP this season. He should be owned in all leagues at this point, and starting him and Sims vs Portis and Betts will be quite tasty for your team. For the Skins you have to love their DB’s vs Mad Martz and the Lions. Fletcher and McIntosh should continue their reign of terror as well.
Tampa
Bay
@
Indianapolis
Sunday
1:05pm PST
Tampa Bay
Giddyup! – Barrett Ruud, Jermaine Phillips, Derrick Brooks, Ronde Barber
SINS! – Cato June, Tanard Jackson
Hellno! – Gaines Adams
Indy
Giddyup! – Gary Brackett, Freddy Keiaho (check the injury reports), Bob Sanders (ditto), Marlin Jackson
SINS! – Robert Mathis, Dwight Freeney
Hellno! – Rob Morris, Rocky Boiman
Game notes:
For
Tampa
, you have to like their DB’s vs Manning, and you know now to start Ruud every week. Brooks is playing like its 1999, but you have to wonder if he can keep it up. For the Colts Keiaho is looking like he is the LB version of Bob Sanders. Stud when he plays, but you will have to do the injury report/game time decision dance every week if you own them. Marlin
Jackson
is healthy and studly, he should have another good game. Boiman takes over for the injured Morris, but Boiman is a scrub so don’t rush to your wire.
San Diego
@
Denver
Sunday
1:15pm PST
San Diego
Giddyup!- Stephen Cooper, Marlon McCree
SINS! –
Clinton
Hart, Shawne Merriman, Luis Castillo
Hellno! – Jamal Williams
Denver
Giddyup! – D.J. Williams, Champ Bailey, Elvis Dumervil
SINS! – Ian Gold
Hellno! – Dre Bly
Game notes:
The only thing anyone will want to talk about in regards to this game will be Travis Henry and his love of the Colorado Chronic. As far as the IDP matchups go the only Charger that I am overly excited about is Stephen Cooper, though I think McCree will have a solid week too. For
Denver
, play Williams and Bailey, and in a DL required league I’d play Dumervil too. Gold could be a nice bye week filler seeing as he is facing Tomlinson.
Baltimore
@
San Francisco
Sunday
1:15pm PST
Baltimore
Giddyup! – Bart Scott, Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs
SINS! – Ed Reed, Dawan Landry
Hellno! – Chris McCallister
San Francisco
Giddyup! – Pat Willis, Marques
Douglas
SINS! – Michael Lewis, Nate Clements, Walt Harris
Hellno! – Bryant Young
Game notes:
Bart Scott finally started the 2007 season, I look for more of the same vs Frank Gore. Reed should pick off Dilfer, but I still don’t trust him enough to recommend the start wholeheartedly. For the Niners Marques
Douglas
has been on fire, and you know he wants a piece of his old team.
Chicago
@
Green Bay
Sunday
5:15pm PST
Chicago
Giddyup! – Brian Urlacher, Mark Anderson
SINS! – Adam Archuleta
Hellno! – Tillman/Vasher/Briggs
Green Bay
Giddyup! – Nick Barnett, Atari Bigby, Aaron Kampman
SINS! – Charles Woodson, A.J. Hawk
Hellno! – Nick Collins
Game notes:
The Bears are a mess right now, though they do get Archuleta back, so that is a plus. On the
Green Bay
side I love their DB’s vs a Bears team that will be playing from behind in my opinion.
Dallas
@
Buffalo
Monday
5:30pm PST
Dallas
Giddyup! – Demarcus Ware, Roy Williams
SINS! – Jacques Reeves, Bradie James, Ken Hamlin
Hellno! – Anthony Henry
Buffalo
Giddyup! – Kiwaukee Thomas, Angelo Crowell, Aaron Schobel
SINS! – Donte Whitner, Chris Kelsay
Hellno! – Jim Leonhard, Bryan Scott
Game notes:
This should be a slaughter. I am trying to find reasons to watch this game, and all I can find thus far is that I might start Lee Evans in my work league. Hardly compelling. For the Cowboys I like Ware to get in Edwards’ grill and Roy Williams should be in the mix. For the Bills Leonhard is out, and I am not fond of his replacement, Bryan Scott. Thomas has been putting up points at CB and I expect that to happen this week vs Romo and the gang. For those that don’t know, Keith Ellison is almost back as well. If you are hurting at LB and he is on your wire I suggest you nab him. He was one of my favorite sleeper LB’s this preseason until he got hurt, and he will make an impact upon his return.
Well that about wraps it up for week 5 of The Hive. Don’t forget to check back next Wednesday to peep the special article on surprises and disappointments at the DB position, and good luck in your IDP matchups this week!