Week 11: Game Previews

The bye weeks are over, so a lot of those players that filled in for you will be heading back to the bench for good. If your league is still allowing trades at this late stage, don't be afraid to offer up one of your reserves for a better reserve on someone else's team. You never know when an injury will occur and an upgrade will come in handy.

Also, as Thanksgiving nears that means that fall is turning into winter in a lot of regions around the country. Keep an eye on the skies and know that a storm can develop without too much warning. If you visit weather.com you will find forecasts for all of the host cities.

Good luck this weekend and don't forget to put your best team forward, whether you are first or last in your league.

Arizona at Cincinnati
These are two desperate teams that each got desperate wins last week. The Cardinals' defense has risen to ninth overall, so the Bengals on your team aren't guaranteed big days. Cincinnati's defense ranks 31st overall, so expect pretty good outings for your Arizona studs.

Arizona
Must start: Kurt Warner; Larry Fitzgerald; Anquan Boldin
Favorable situation: Edgerrin James needs to get back on track after averaging just 46 total yards in his last two games.
Unfavorable situation: Leonard Pope is way too inconsistent to start.
Don't start: Any other player

Cincinnati
Must start: The Cards will come after Carson Palmer - they are in the top 10 in sacks - but he has faced better competition and excelled; T.J. Houshmandzadeh; Chad Johnson.
Favorable situation: Rudi Johnson's rushing numbers for the last four games look like a Pick-4 Lotto ticket: 9, 8, 11, and 46, but he reportedly is feeling less restricted by his hamstring; Chris Henry had four catches for 99 yards last week.
Unfavorable situation: Kenny Watson
Don't start: Any other player

Carolina at Green Bay
The Panthers are just crumbling on offense and just as a team overall. They couldn't move the ball at home against Atlanta, gaining a paltry 235 yards and the task won't get easier against the Packers' 10th-ranked defense. Green Bay is really clicking on offense right now, having scored 86 points in the past three games.

Carolina
Must start: None
Favorable situation: None
Unfavorable situation: Steve Smith showed a little spark last week but the QB situation is going to keep him down.
Don't start: Any other player

Green Bay
Must start: Brett Favre; Greg Jennings
Favorable situation: Ryan Grant; Donald Driver; Donald Lee
Unfavorable situation: Ruvell Martin caught two TDs last week, but is not worthy of a start since he had a total of six receptions before last week; if, however, Martin starts to take away receptions for a receiver, it will likely be James Jones
Don't start: Any other player

Cleveland at Baltimore
The Browns managed a paltry 163 yards against the Steelers, but still managed to score three offensive TDs. (Their other score was a kickoff return.) The Ravens are far from the scary defense they once were, although they are still tough on run defense: just one player has cracked 80 yards on them - Marhsawn Lynch gained 84, but he needed 27 carries to get that total. Kyle Boller is back under center for Baltimore.

Cleveland
Must start: Braylon Edwards; Kellen Winslow
Favorable situation: Derek Anderson will have an easier time of it against Baltimore.
Unfavorable situation: Jamal Lewis had 216 yards rushing in his game against Cincinnati and has 299 yards rushing in his other seven games; Joe Jurevicius
Don't start: Any other player

Baltimore
Must start: Willis McGahee
Favorable situation: Boller does get to tangle with the second-worst pass defense; Mark Clayton; Todd Heap
Unfavorable situation: Derrick Mason - his production has dropped to 10 catches for 64 yards in the past two weeks.
Don't start: Any other player