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Start 'Em
QUARTERBACK
VINCE YOUNG
Titans VS. Texans
Tennessee will have had two weeks to prepare for a team that has won onlytwice. Young, the rookie from Texas who had his first victory against theRedskins in Week 6, has passed or run for a TD in his last four games and wouldlove to prove that his hometown team made a mistake in not drafting him withthe No. 1 pick.
CARSONPALMER
Bengals VS. Falcons
The Steelers figured out how to beat Atlanta cornerback DeAngelo Hall: HaveHines Ward run inside pattern after inside pattern. Look for Cincinnati's T.J.Houshmandzadeh and Chad Johnson to do the same, further exposing a defense thathas allowed seven passing TDs in two games.
JAKE DELHOMMEPanthers VS. Cowboys Since the return of Steve Smith, Delhomme's passing hasincreased from 183.5 yards per game and no TDs to 242.8 yards and an average of1.6 TDs--which would rank him among the league's top 10. What's more,Delhommme's second target, Keyshawn Johnson, will be pumped up to play hisformer team.
RUNNING BACK
TATUM BELL
Broncos VS. Colts
To boost its 31st-ranked run defense, Indy traded for tackle Anthony McFarlandlast week, but little changed on Sunday against the Redskins. Clinton Portishad 41 yards before getting hurt in the third quarter, and backup Ladell Bettsrolled up 30 yards on his first three carries. Bell, too, will prosper.
WALI LUNDY
Texans AT Titans
We've never said it before, and we probably won't say it again: Start a Texansrunning back. Houston coaches thought Samkon Gado had more potential, but Lundywon back the starting job when he rushed for 93 yards on 19 carries againstJacksonville. He should solidify his spot in the lineup against the Titans.
WILLIEPARKER
Steelers AT Raiders
Oakland, whose defense ranks 26th against the run, is the perfect remedy forParker's woeful effort against Atlanta (2.4 yards per carry). He strugglesmightily against the top defenses (averaging fewer than 42 yards per game) andtorches the weaker ones (121 yards against the Bengals).
WIDE RECEIVER
MARCUSROBINSON
Vikings VS. Patriots
Minnesota's leading receiver last season with five touchdowns and an average of16.6 yards per catch, Robinson has scored TDs of 20, 29 and 40 yards in hislast five games and has paced the Vikings in receptions with 12 over the lastthree contests.
JAVONWALKER
Broncos VS. Colts
Denver hasn't scored more than 17 points in a game this season, but that hasn'tkept Walker from being a dangerous receiver. He has averaged 93.8 yards overhis last four games, and in his only career meeting with Indianapolis (as aPacker in '04), he caught 11 passes for 200 yards and a career-high threeTDs.
DONALDDRIVER
Packers VS. Cardinals
True, he has 39 yards total in three career games against Arizona, but now thathe has recovered from hip and rib injuries, he'll make up for past performance.With Greg Jennings slowed by a bad ankle, Driver will be Brett Favre's maintarget. Look for him to make his first Lambeau Leap of '06 against a team indisarray.
TIGHT END
ALGECRUMPLER
Falcons AT Bengals
When Michael Vick declared last week that he wanted to unleash his cannon of aleft arm, it was good news for owners of Crumpler, who hadn't caught a TD passsince Week 1. On Sunday against a stout Steelers defense, Crumpler hauled intwo TDs before halftime and finished with six catches for 117 yards and threescores. Cincinnati has allowed a TD to a tight end in three straight games.
KICKER
KRIS BROWN
Texans AT Titans
Houston's still riding high after last week's upset of the Jaguars, in whichBrown made two field goals and three extra points. With the Texans' passdefense ranked 31st in the league, and Tennessee's run defense ranked last,this game could be a shootout. Houston's offense is prone to breakdowns in thered zone, so Brown should get plenty of chances to put up points.
DEFENSE
STEELERS ATRaiders
At the malodorous bottom of Oakland's putrid offense is quarterback AndrewWalter, who is among the league leaders in sacks, interceptions andfumbles--and he has started only four games. Pittsburgh already has 13interceptions (two for TDs) and 16 sacks, numbers that just might put anothergray hair or two on Art Shell's head.
SUPER SLEEPER
MAURICEMORRIS
RB SEAHAWKS
VS
Chiefs
When ShaunAlexander suffered a foot injury four weeks ago, opportunistic fantasy ownersno doubt jumped on Morris, assuming that the backup would pick up where thestar left off. That wasn't the case against the Bears (who rank fourth in theleague against the run) or the Rams (who forced the Seahawks to pass). But onSunday against the Vikings, coach Mike Holmgren executed a more balanced gameplan for the first two quarters (before quarterback Matt Hasselbeck went downwith a strained knee ligament), and Morris made the most of his carries,averaging 4.7 yards in the first half. It wasn't until Seattle fell behind withbackup QB Seneca Wallace that Morris disappeared. With Wallace (two sacks, twointerceptions and two fumbles in two quarters last week) starting in KansasCity, Holmgren will make a more sustained commitment to Morris and the saferground game.
IS HE FORREAL?
LEONWASHINGTON
RB JETS
The Jets' runningback situation has been one of the murkiest of the fantasy season. At leastfour players--Kevan Barlow, Derrick Blaylock, Cedric Houston and LeonWashington--were vying for the carries that would have gone to Curtis Martin,who's still recovering from knee surgery. But a front-runner has emerged in NewYork over the last three weeks: Washington, a 5'8", 202-pound rookie fromFlorida State, who has racked up 346 yards and two TDs on 71 carries. WithMartin's return unlikely, Washington will continue to get starters' carries forthe surprisingly potent Jets offense.
DAVID SABINO THE PERFECT TEAM: WEEK 8
QB DONOVAN MCNABB vs. Jaguars
Home cooking helps after bitter loss
RB LARRY JOHNSON vs. Seahawks
Picks up where Chester Taylor left off
RB THOMAS JONES vs. 49ers
Bears will run all over a weak Niners defense
WR ANDRE JOHNSON at Titans
The best offensive player on either team
WR CHAD JOHNSON vs. Falcons
Has spent enough time as a decoy
TE DESMOND CLARK vs. 49ers
Reappears as a big receiving threat
K ADAM VINATIERI at Broncos
In a tight game, Indy calls on Mr. Clutch
D BEARS vs. 49ers
A still-green Alex Smith gets turned black and blue
PHOTO
OTTO GREULE JR./GETTY IMAGES (MORRIS)
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JOHN W. MCDONOUGH (YOUNG)
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BOB ROSATO (DELHOMME)
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HARRY HOW/GETTY IMAGES (BELL)
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AL TIELEMANS (PARKER)
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ROB TRINGALI/SPORTSCHROME (ROBINSON)
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MARK A. WALLENFANT/WIREIMAGE.COM (DRIVER)
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RICHARD C. LEWIS/WIREIMAGE.COM (CRUMPLER)
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DAVID DUROCHIK/SPORTPICS (BROWN)
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MARK KONEZNY/WIREIMAGE.COM (WASHINGTON)
