Who will win, step up and get beat down in Week 10 of the NFL season...

These fantasy musings do not reflect the opinion of FFToolbox.com, but just a solo fantasy writer with too much time on his hand as he no longer has to waste energy this week trying to catch an errant throw from Jay Cutler...

Last week: 9-4 straight, 9-4 spread (sidebar - hit the EXACT score in the Pats 27-17 win over Fins)

Overall: 85-44 straight; 67-61-1 spread

Home team in CAPS

NY JETS 20 Jacksonville 14 (-7): Mike Sims-Walker has become virtually matchup proof, but the combination of swirling Meadowlands winds and Jets CB Darrelle Revis means owners with comparable stud options should look elsewhere this week...Doesn't it seem just like yesterday that the Rookie of the Year trophy engravers were making sure they knew how to spell Mark Sanchez. Now the daily buzz surrounding the former USC stud - at least outside NYC - has dropped off to "whatever happened to so-and-so levels". That could change after having a bye week to get a better rapport with stud receivers Braylon Edwards and Jerricho Cotchery before facing the Jags 25th ranked pass defense. Still, Sanchez makes for only as low-end bye week option, but the receivers are worthy WR2/3 plays.

Denver 23 (-3.5) WASHINGTON 10: Can't say that this is a must win for the 6-2 Broncos, but they need a strong outing to silence the doubters after getting drubbed the last two weeks. No better elixir than the inept Redskins, though the Broncos offense may still continue to sputter against the NFL's sixth-ranked defense. Expect a spread the wealth type attack from the Josh McDaniels game planned offense...With the injured Clinton Portis joining Chris Cooley on the sideline, the Redskins offense is virtually deprived of all fantasy relevance. The solid but not spectacular Ladell Betts may not even be able to take full advantage of this week's starting assignment with his own injury, making his Week 10 RB2/Flex status come into question.

PITTSBURGH 24 Cincinnati 19 (+7): Hmmm, seven points? Last week the Bengals were getting +3 at home despite a 5-2 mark. Now after thrashing the Ravens, the Carson Palmer's are still not getting much love, though I agree with those that think the Steelers are the top NFL team right now. Both defenses will make big plays and Big Ben gets the best of the QB battle, but gimme the points in this division clash.

TENNESSEE 24 (-7) Buffalo 13: Something is odd when a team that was winless just two games is favored by a TD over a 3-5 squad, but the Titans are hot! Get on board while you can...I know that the TO faithful will want to roll the dice and stick him back in their lineup against the Titans 32nd ranked pass defense. Sorry, not buying it. Tennessee's secondary is healthier than it has been and has looked much improved the last two weeks. The Bills are coming off a bye week, but unless that allowed doctors to insert an aggression chip into Trent Edwards mind, Owens and Lee Evans still will not see enough down field looks to warrant fantasy relevance...Chris Johnson, having been on my fantasy roster two straight years (thank you keeper league!), is easily my fav fantasy player of all-time, surpassing the two-year run I had Clinton Portis when he was a youngin with the Broncos or the 50-TD season from Brady. (The Week 15 snowstorm tainted my love of that season, sigh). With my birthday coming up, hoping someone hooks a brotha up with a CJ 28. It would be even better to have for this week when Johnson runs wild again.

*** 11/14 UPDATE - Another reason to avoid Owens; According to Bills coach Dick Jauron, Owens is "still struggling" with a hip injury that has caused him to miss the last two days of practice. Owens is still a good bet to play/start, but becomes a more risky play and a player that needs to be watched Sunday AM for owners still planning in using him.

CAROLINA 24 (+2) Atlanta 21: This is the game Steve Smith owners have been waiting for; seven receptions, 137 yards, two scores...According to the Matchup Analyzer, do not expect Roddy White to match those numbers against a Panthers secondary that is allowing only 15.5 ppg to wide receivers.

MINNESOTA 38 (16.5) Detroit 17: Everyone knows to start Adrian Peterson every week and other Vikes like Brett Favre, Ryan Longwell, Sidney Rice, Visanthe Shiancoe and the defense are almost there most weeks. Against the Lions, you can add Chester Taylor, Percy Harvin, Cris Carter, Ahmad Rashad, Chuck Foreman and Tommy Kramer to the list in what should be a blowout...Calvin Johnson is one of the players that could dramatically alter the remainder of the fantasy season. The debate all of his owners are having right now (which is similar to those of Jason Witten, Brian Westbrook and Anquan Boldin owners) is whether he will rebound to be that top tier WR you drafted or if the enormity of the Lions situation (plus his injury) will simply be too much to overcome. I fall in the former camp, but I would also move him for surer options likes Hines Ward or Donald Driver at this point.

New Orleans 38 (-13.5) ST. LOUIS 16: The random pick of which Saints receiver other than Marques Colston has a big week is...Jeremy Shockey. Simply put, the Rams have had issues covering tight ends all season. Also, Shockey found the end zone in Week One, then it took him four weeks to score again. Since then, it has been another three weeks of touchdown free play. I smell a trend...The biggest benefit of the Rams for fantasy owners is to have your defense play against them. Their remaining schedule is chock full of squads (Ariz, Sea, Chi, Tenn, Hous) that are potentially in your league's free agent pool as we speak...

MIAMI 27 (-10) Tampa Bay 13: Ronnie and Ricky should be wildcating all over a Bucs defense that is allowing 163 rush yards a game and no team is as run-oriented as the Dolphins are right now...I actually feel a little bad for Josh Freeman. His three-TD performance in his first start only served to raise unrealistic expectations, especially among those owners that rushed out to sign him this week. That thud-like sound you will hear in Southern Florida Sunday will be after the Dolphins defense brings the Freeman faithful back to reality, turning the rook over four times in the loss...

OAKLAND 16 (-1.5) Kansas City 13: I feel that just writing this sentence is too much coverage for this abomination of a game. Even if I was compelled to start Dwayne Bowe, Justin Fargas and Matt Cassel this week, I still would rather watch a "Wings" marathon than this game.

ARIZONA 30 (-8.5) Seattle 24: The Jekyll and Hyde Cards will remain as such on defense, but Kurt Warner and crew will take care of business on their side of the ball against a leaky Seahawks secondary. Larry Fitzgerald may not get 13 receptions like he did in their Week six meeting, but another 100 yards, one touchdown outing is likely to occur.

Philadelphia 27 (+1.5) SAN DIEGO 23: These two squads are almost mirror images of one another in that both tease at times with their championship level play only to follow it up with a no-show effort the following week. The Eagles are the one's coming off a downer of a game, even though they actually outplayed the Cowboys for most of that 20-16 loss. Brian Westbrook is listed as probable for the game, but the Donovan McNabb-to-Brent Celek connection will be the primary source of the Eagles offense. Antonio Gates will get his against the Eagles beat-up linebacking group, but the lack of a running game means Philip Rivers will see much of this game from the seat of his pants as the Eagles fly in with blitz after blitz.

GREEN BAY 31 (+3) Dallas 27: The must win moniker is overused in sports, but not this week in Cheese-head land. The NFC North crown is already slipping away and a loss this week, especially to another contending team, would put the Packers in a huge hole. The good news is Cowboys QB Tony Romo, who is on a good roll for sure. comes back to his home state. Romo is the kind of QB that tries a little too hard to be the man in such spots and the Packers defense takes advantage with three picks. Aaron Rodgers takes another beating, but still throws for at least two scores for the seventh straight game.

New England 24 (+3) INDIANAPOLIS 23: Key the game - can the Dwight Freeney-led pass rush get enough heat on Tom Brady so the Golden Boy does not have time to pick apart the Colts inexperienced secondary. Freeney and Robert Mathis add to their sack totals, but Brady and Wes Welker put on a clinic and you know it wouldn't be a prime time game without a long score from Randy Moss.

Baltimore 27 (-10.5) CLEVELAND 10: The team formally known as the Cleveland Browns travel back to play against the current Browns squad. The beat down they put on Brady Quinn and company will serve as a painful remainder to the Dawg Pound of what might have been. Ray Rice posts another 120+ total yards, Derrick Mason hauls in eight grabs for 93 yards and Ed Reed scores. Josh Cribbs will once again be the only Browns scoring player worth talking about after he takes a kick return back to the house.

(*** Thursday Night Pick - San Francisco 20 (-3) Chicago 16)

Survivor Picks: These are my personal picks each week for my various (cough, cough) pools

Week 10 - Minnesota (Obviously taking the Purple People Eaters against the toothless Lions isn't a tough call. Not sure I have the guts to pick the Dolphins. For those who don't mind going on the road, take the Saints)

Week 9 - Atlanta (A very sketchy week. Falcons matchup not ideal, playing a top-5 defense and coming off a bye, but better than taking Seahawks, Jaguars or Packers on the road)

Week 8 - Chicago (Colts are good if available. Chargers are ok, but hard to trust the Bolts and it is a division game)

Week 7 - Indianapolis (the Colts and Pats are the only worthy options this week, even with the road and neutral sites)

Week 6 - Green Bay (Jacksonville against the Rams is the gutsier call, but another week of strong options)

Week 5 - Philadelphia (though there are waaaaaay to many good options this week so everyone "should" advance)

Week 4 - San Francisco (Chicago is a close second)

Week 3 - Baltimore

Week 2 - Washington, Green Bay (and one pool goes by the wayside)

Week 1 - New Orleans, Baltimore

This week's podcast, which focused on the commonly used Week 10 fantasy trade deadline and the best/worst player and team matchups in the pivotal weeks 14-16, was so chock full of info that it ran well beyond regulation time. While I assume (sorry, clearing my throat) everyone will listen to the show in its entirety via ITunes, I decided to provide a cliff notes version of the episode. The take below is largely my own, but you can hear additional insight from FFToolbox.com writers Rob Warner and Chris Weeks on the podcast.

Since the trade deadline clock is ticking, let's not waste time on me writing some detailed, pithy intro, especially since I have not yet had my morning coffee. That is not a good scene for anyone involved...In general, please note that we are not focusing on weekly studs like Peyton Manning, Chris Johnson and Randy Moss, but instead on those mix and match options or even some players that have been solid, but face a daunting schedule in the final weeks. While matchups cannot dictate exactly how you set your lineup, they can help determine which side of the fence you land on a certain player and these notes should provide a look forward into some of the more promising or challenging decisions that lie ahead for fantasy owners. How one handles their trade deadline planning could make the difference between that light at the end of the fantasy tunnel being the shine coming off your soon-to-be won trophy or the fast moving train running straight at your squad.

Best Team schedules: Cardinals, Bengals, Seahawks - No team has a better across the board schedule the rest of the way then the Cardinals, who have a top-5 schedule at QB, RB, WR, TE, K and defense according to the FFToolbox Strength of Schedule guide, my favorite tool on the site by the way. Obviously Larry Fitzgerald is a must have, but virtually all of their starters (outside of TE Ben Patrick) are worth acquiring and starting most weeks.

Worst Team schedules: Eagles, Bucs, Giants - The trusty strength of schedule meter has the Giants RB and WR schedules ranked 31st the rest of the way with Eli Manning's SOS coming in at 27th among quarterbacks. Despite their recent struggles, the Giants clearly have talented players on offense and I expect Tom Coughlin to get them back on the right track in terms of NFL wins and losses. However, fantasy expectations should be tamped down based on their schedule and with a certain amount of uncertainty going forward. Don't do anything drastic, but considering dealing your Giants starters or start looking for more promising trade options. Now.

Quarterback

Good: Kurt Warner - Ok, raise your hand if you thought this former league MVP would still be upright by Week 10...put your hand down Brenda. I am talking to the non-believers, the ones who saw a 38-year old with a history of injuries and questioned whether they should get target Warner in their fantasy draft and hope for a repeat of his inspired 2008 season. Though Warner has not performed at a Pro Bowl level, he has been a solid, low-end QB1 play, ranking 11th in PPG average among QB's. But that was then; the future, one that for now does not involve a walker, looks quite promising for the Cards QB. The schedule highlights: Week 15, at the Lions, who are currently 31st against the pass and have allowed the second most TD passes. That is followed by the Rams, Warner's former team, who sit currently 22nd against the pass. Oh, Warner owners, one last thing. Warner's present health not withstanding, do not forget to add Matt Leinart as a handcuff down the stretch. (This goes for virtually any of your stud players as having the backup will let you sleep better at night in a post-trade deadline world)

Other passers: Week nine struggles aside, Joe Flacco remains a rotational fantasy option with QB1 potential (Week 14 - LIons; Week 16 - Bears) in the right matchups...Already worthy of a roster spot, now Alex Smith is making a claim to be a strong QB2 or spot starter. Not many passers will have a better stretch of games (Week 13 - @ Seahawks; Week 14 - Cardinals, 29th vs. the pass; Week 16 - Lions) with which to close out the season...Purely for Golden Domer lovers and those scared to death to have only Jake Delhomme or Trent Edwards as their backup QB; Brady Quinn faces the Chiefs on the road in Week 15 and hosts the Raiders in Week 16. Yes, take that final recommendation with a dumpster sized grain of salt amount.

Bad: Matt Ryan - Of the preseason top 10-12 QB's, the one that passer that currently is not sniffing that tier now is Ryan, the Falcons wunderkind second-year star. We can debate Ryan's real life value to the Falcons franchise in another forum, but fantasy owners have not been pleased of late. Over his last four starts, Ryan has thrown for less than 200 yards three times while totaling six TDP and eight INT in that overall stretch. That is too large of a sampling too simply dismiss as a minor blip and gives legit concern to his fantasy owners, who will therefore be none to pleased with the reigning Rookie of the Year's closing schedule; during week's 13-16, the Falcons play the Eagles, Saints, @ Jets, Bills, all of whom currently sit among the top half of NFL defenses against the pass. (But Ben, three of those games are at home. Surely that has to be good news for Matty Ice, right?). Ryan has thrown eight of his 13 touchdowns in his four home games, but is averaging 61 yards less per game (192) than generated in his four starts away from the Georgia Dome.

Other passers: Several big name passers (Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Tony Romo) have among the worst statistical matchups the rest of the way, but should remain entrenched in your lineup. On the other hand, Kyle Orton's early season fantasy success is unlikely to be duplicated down the stretch with three top-13 pass defenses (@ Colts, Raiders, @ Eagles) to face in Weeks 14-16.

Running Back

Good: Pierre Thomas - The Saints backfield has been a confounding and confusing scenario for fantasy owners this year, with the emergence of Mike Bell and the almost shunning of Reggie Bush. Also Pierre Thomas mostly failed to live up to his early draft status due to early injuries and the surprising play of Bell, but appears to have re-taken over the reins as the top dog with 181 total yards and three touchdowns the last two weeks (In comparison, Bell had only five carries for 17 yards last week). Not only do I expect that trend to continue, but the schedule sets up nicely for the Saints lead runner the rest of the way; two games vs. the Bucs 30th ranked run defense, including in the climatic Week 16, plus matchups with the Rams (27th) and Falcons (24th). As my colleague Rob Warner stated on the podcast, Thomas may be the one attainable RB1/2 option out there because of the first half uncertainty, but the schedule and that Saints offense make with him pursuing.

Other runners: The return of Sammy Morris is the "x" factor in the Patriots backfield, but Laurence Maroney has been a solid producer since getting the bulk of the touches of late. Now check out the teams he will be running against in weeks 14-16; Panthers (23rd), @ Bills (32nd), Jaguars (22nd). The quantity of carries likely keeps Maroney out of becoming a true RB2 each week, but the lack of quality opponents in the closing games should more than make up for it.

Bad: Ryan Grant - Solid, not spectacular is a perfect way to describe Grant's 2009 season. In eight games, Grant has failed to reach double digit scoring only once in standard scoring leagues, but only scored over 15 points once this season with five games in the 10-12 point range. Considering there is no real threat in the wings to steal carries, Grant may be able to continue squeeze out similar numbers, but the odds are stacked against him from providing fantasy owners with anything more based on the Packers closing schedule. Over weeks 11-16, Grant faces the Niners (Week 11, 4th ranked rush defense), Ravens (Week 13, 7th), Steelers (Week 15, 1st) and Seahawks (Week 16, 11th). Even the two promising weeks (Week 12 @ Lions, Week 14 @ Bears) are on the road against division foes. Considering the Week 15 matchup against the frightening Steel Curtain defense makes Grant almost unusable, it makes sense to troll the Packers starting RB out in trade talks to see if you can snag a comparable RB with a much, much better schedule.

Other runners: DeAngelo Williams dominated the second half of the 2008 fantasy season and has been on fire over the last few weeks, making him virtually schedule proof. The same however cannot be said for his tag-team partner Jonathan Stewart, who is looking no better than a spot-flex play with the Panthers playing @ Jets (Week 12), @ Pats (14), Vikings (15) and @ Giants (16) to close the season.

Wide Receiver

Good: Kevin Walter - There is little to tout about Walter's first half, but his targets likely will rise with the absence of TE Owen Daniels. Those extra targets should be put to good use in Weeks 13-16 with games at the Jaguars (21st against the pass), Seahawks (17th), Rams (20th) and Dolphins (29th). That schedule also makes Texans third receiver and likely free agent Jacoby Jones worth a look in deeper leagues.

Other catchers: It has been easier to predict what will happen on "Lost" than figure out which Saints wide receiver other than Marques Colston is the one to use each week. The wealth will likely continued to be spread, but Robert Meachem may be on the verge of become a more viable WR3 weekly option with seven receptions for 145 yards and a score over the last two weeks. The burner is posting a sizzling 22.8 yards per grab and that could mean a big pay day with closing games against the Rams (Week 11, 20th against the pass), Bucs (Weeks 12 and 16 against a unit that has allowed the third most TDP) and Falcons (28th).

Bad: Steve Smith/Hakeem Nicks/Mario Manningham: Bad enough the Giants enter their bye week on a four-game losing streak, but their struggling aerial attack faces a who's who of top pass defenses the rest of the way. In Weeks 12-16, the Giants are @ Broncos (8th against the pass), Cowboys, Eagles (14th), @ Redskins (1st) and @ Panthers (6th). Smith should catch enough passes to remain more than viable in PPR leagues, but expect decreased yardage and touchdown numbers across the board.

Other catchers: Already talked about why Matt Ryan could struggle the rest of the way and obviously that effects his star receiver Roddy White, who has been more "blah" then "yea!" most weeks this season. When you look inside White's 40-570-6 numbers through eight games, one notes that most of production (318 yards, three TDs) came in only two games. White did not generate more than 57 yards and the other six games. Playing against those top passing defenses during fantasy crunch time does not seem like a cure-all.

Tight End

Good: Vernon Davis - Who would have guessed that the insertion of Alex Smith into the Niners lineup would actually be a good thing for their passing game. Huh. One person might have been Davis, who clearly has great chemistry with Smith, having racked up four touchdowns over 10 quarters since the Niners made the QB change and he hauled in 10 passes for 102 yards last week alone. Among tight ends, Davis has a top-5 schedule going forward, with tasty games against the Jags (Week 12), @ Seahawks (13), Cardinals (14), @ Eagles (15) and Lions (16) so there is no reason to think the former Maryland Terrapin's production will slow down anytime soon.

Bad: Kellen Winslow - The simple truth is that unless you drafted say Brent Celek or Heath Miller as a backup and thus have two capable tight ends on your roster, there is almost no reason to sit your fantasy starter due to the lack of free agent options available. However, one top level talent that teams should consider unloading before the trading deadline is Winslow, who faces the 31st toughest schedule among TE's the rest of the way. I know Josh Freeman just posted nice numbers in his first start, but I won't be comfortable with him throwing to any fantasy player until we see how he does on the road (starting this week at the Dolphins) and how opposing teams defense the rook now that there actual game film to study. If you can move Winslow for a comparable TE option that has a more known quantity at QB throwing him the ball like the aforementioned Miller or Visanthe Shiancoe, make the deal.

Defense:

Good: Bengals - While the real life Bengals defense has garnered attention from football pundits with the inspired play so far, the fantasy world has not quite taken note, largely to the consistent unit not truly having a breakout performance. That all could change starting in Week 11 when the Bengals play on the road at the Raiders followed by back-to-back home games against the lowly Browns and Lions. Tack on a Week 16 tilt against the Chiefs and the Bengals are a virtual one-stop fantasy defense shop going forward.

Other defenses: No defense has a better Week 15-16 schedule than the Cardinals, with a road game at the Lions followed by a home tilt against the Rams. Nuff said... For those that still have work to do before those late matchups can become relevant, consider the Dolphins. Over the next three weeks they face Josh Freeman, Jake Delhomme and Trent Edwards...if you plan on going with a "defense of the week" strategy, also note the Titans (Week 14 vs. Rams, the first of three straight home games) and the Texans (Week 15 @ Rams, Week 16 vs. Chad Henne).

Bad: Panthers - Brutal early on, the Panthers defense has rebounded with solid to strong outings in three of their past four games, but now will be without star LB Thomas Davis the rest of the way due to an ACL injury. Factor in their Week 14-16 opponents (Patriots, Vikings, Giants) and the Panthers D is not likely to be long for your roster.

*** Thursday Night Pick - San Francisco 20 (-3) Chicago 16

Who will win, step up and get beat down in Week Nine of the NFL season...

These fantasy musings do not reflect the opinion of FFToolbox.com, but just a solo fantasy writer with too much time on his hand who no longer has to waste energy rooting against the New York Yankees, the best baseball team money can buy...

Last week: 8-5 straight, 6-7 spread

Overall: 76-40 straight; 58-57-1 spread

Jacksonville 27 Kansas City 21 (+7): MJD owners have to be thrilled to hear that the Jags are going to do all they can to give the Human Bowling Ball more touches. Considering he has had 12 or less carries in three of his last four starts, it is about time. Whether he busts off two long scoring runs as he did last week, Maurice Jones-Drew will be in the mix for top fantasy RB of the week...Dwayne Bowe's overall numbers have been spotty at best, though he has racked up four scores for the offensively challenged Chiefs. He adds one, nay, two touchdowns and tops the century mark for the second time this year against the Jags 26th ranked pass defense...

Baltimore 21 Cincinnati 20 (+3): The toughest game to pick on the board, as the Ravens look for revenge, but giving points on the road. Joe Flacco has had a stellar sophomore season, but he and top wideout Derrick Mason struggled in their matchup with the Bengals. Expect the Ravens to continue to lean on their other stud fellow second-year player Ray Rice as they get back to a more balanced attack...The Bengals fantasy weapons have a tough stretch with games against the Ravens and Steelers, though continue to start Cedric Benson and Chad Ochocinco per normal. Owners will have any short term decline made up for them with a three-game stretch against the Raiders, Browns and Lions starting in Week 11.

Indianapolis 28 Houston 27 (+8.5): We all know how great the Colts offense is and their defense has been solid this season, but that side took not one, not two, but three losses to the secondary this week. All everything SS Bob Sanders has been (shocker!) placed on IR, where he joined starting CB Marlin Jackson. All of this is great news for Texans QB Matt Schaub, though he enters the game without injured TE Owen Daniels. The Texans are oh so close to becoming as legit AFC contender, but the Peyton Manning factor is too much to overcome in this thriller...

Atlanta 26 (-10) Washington 13: Odd stat of the week - Matt Ryan has completed exactly 19 passes in three straight games. In it of itself, that means nothing, but completing only 51.8% of his throws in that stretch is a bit concerning and now he faces the NFL's #2 ranked pass defense. The Falcons should end their two-game losing streak in style, but Ryan should not be viewed as a lock fantasy starter for now...The Redskins have scant fantasy options across the board, though Jason Campbell has a chance to post decent yardage totals against the Falcons 31st ranked pass defense. Regardless, he will not find the end zone enough for a big fantasy day, though TE Fred Davis is the best bet among the Redskins receivers to score...

Green Bay 31 (-10) Tampa Bay 16: Though Donald Driver (stinger) is now listed as probable this week, expect James Jones to be more involved in the Packers passing attack. Considering the third-year receiver has yet to catch more than two passes in any game this season, that is not saying much, but Jones has two scores and is averaging a staggering 22.9 yards per catch. Look for him to have a big catch or two against the porous Bucs secondary...The debut of rookie QB Josh Freeman makes essentially all Bucs skill players not worth starting, though Cadillac Williams and Derrick Ward should receive plenty of carries as long as the game stays close...

Arizona 24 (+3) Chicago 20: Kurt Warner threw a whopping five picks last week, but he settles back into a groove and throws for two scores against the Bears. On the flip side, the Cardinals eighth-ranked rush defense puts the Bears offense into enough 3rd-and-longs to force Jay Cutler into tough throws down the field.

New England 27 Miami 17 (+10.5): The Dolphins will do all they can to control the clock, but the Brady-Moss-Welker trifecta will not need a lot of time to post big numbers against their sub-standard secondary...Following his breakout performance against the Jets in Week Five, Chad Henne has averaged less than six yards per attempt in two starts. He will need to do much better than that against a Pats defense that figures to be ready to stop the Dolphins Wildcat attack.

New Orleans 30 Carolina 23 (+13): The Superdome has been a home away for home for the Panthers, who have won seven straight in the Big Easy. With their running game leading the way and Steve Smith showing signs of life, the Panthers have won three of four games overall and face a Saints defense that has allowed an average of 29.3 points over their last three games. Still, the difference at quarterback will be too much to overcome for the Panthers unless the Saints continue to turn over the ball at an alarming rate. All the obvious fantasy plays are worth starting in this one.

Seattle 27 (-10) Detroit 16: The less said about this yawner of a game the better, but Calvin Johnson (knee) is looking like a better bet to play this week, though he will be a game-time decision...Matt Hasselbeck threw three touchdowns against the Rams and four versus the Jags earlier this season. He could have a similar day going up against a team that has allowed 18 scores through the air, second most in the NFL.

Tennessee 16 (+4) San Francisco 13: One thing that Vince Young knows how to do is win games. Sadly, he won't be helping fantasy owners do the same with his paltry passing stats, which in turn lowers the value of the Titans receivers, but his presence gets the Music City squad their second straight win...The Michael Crabtree experience continues to perform to rave reviews and the Niners rookie posts his first NFL score, along with 75 yards on five catches.

NY Giants 27 (-4.5) San Diego 22: If Brandon Jacobs has any real game in him, it will come out this week against a Chargers defense that is vulnerable up the middle to a bruising back. Considering the struggles Eli Manning has had dealing with his foot injury, look for the Giants to run Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw early and often...When the Chargers are on offense, they will attack, attack, attack the Giants secondary over the middle, meaning Antonio Gates is in line for a big day.

Philadelphia 30 (-3) Dallas 17: The Cowboys three-game winning streak has been highlighted by the Tony Romo-Miles Austin connection that should find the end zone for the fourth straight game, but will not compare to the numbers DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin post for the other side.

Pittsburgh 24 (-3) Denver 20: The Broncos soon-to-be two game losing streak says more about their opponents then their own squad, which remains one of the best in the AFC. After losing to the Ravens in Week Eight, the Broncs face a Steelers squad that is ready to start the playoff push a little earlier than normal in the highly competitive AFC North. Big Ben Roethlisberger, coming off a season-low 175 yards in his last outing, smacks the Broncos for 250+ yards and two scores in the win.

Survivor Picks: These are my personal picks each week for my various (cough, cough) pools

Week 9 - Atlanta (A very sketchy week. Falcons matchup not ideal, playing a top-5 defense and coming off a bye, but better than taking Seahawks, Jaguars or Packers on the road)

Week 8 - Chicago (Colts are good if available. Chargers are ok, but hard to trust the Bolts and it is a division game)

Week 7 - Indianapolis (the Colts and Pats are the only worthy options this week, even with the road and neutral sites)

Week 6 - Green Bay (Jacksonville against the Rams is the gutsier call, but another week of strong options)

Week 5 - Philadelphia (though there are waaaaaay to many good options this week so everyone "should" advance)

Week 4 - San Francisco (Chicago is a close second)

Week 3 - Baltimore

Week 2 - Washington, Green Bay (and one pool goes by the wayside)

Week 1 - New Orleans, Baltimore