Best of the Leftovers
For the pastcouple of years the Bears were synonymous with quarterback failure while theLions at least had a guy who rolled up yardage. Their shifting fortuneshighlight this week's picks.
KYLE ORTON
Bears, QB
Even with Orton's 533 yards and five TD passes over his last two games, you mayfind it hard to give a start to a player who was so lightly regarded headinginto this season. Let that be someone else's mistake, especially with DevinHester looking more comfortable as a receiver. Orton (top, left) is aparticularly good option this week, going against a Falcons defense that hasallowed nine passing TDs.
MIAMI DOLPHINS
Defense
It didn't take long for this unit to start looking like a Bill Parcellsdefense. Led by linebackers Joey Porter and Matt Roth, Miami limited thePatriots and the Chargers to one offensive touchdown each. The Dolphins shouldgive a hard time to their next opponents, mistake-prone Houston and offensivelychallenged Baltimore.
JOHN CARNEY
Giants, K
Filling in for the injured Lawrence Tynes, the NFL's oldest active player issecond among kickers in scoring and hasn't missed a field goal or extra point.Still, fantasy players have resisted picking up the 44-year-old, expectingTynes to return. At the rate the Giants are scoring, their kicker shouldn't beon the waiver wire.
EARLY DOUCET
Cardinals, WR
With Anquan Boldin injured, the third-round pick from LSU looked sharp whilecatching six passes for 42 yards in his debut on Sunday against Buffalo. KurtWarner is throwing at a manic pace—99 times in the last two gamescombined—which makes Doucet an intriguing option next week going againstDallas's vulnerable secondary.
JON KITNA
Lions, QB
It's safe to say he won't throw for 4,000 yards for a third year in a row.After completing 8 of 16 against a Bears defense that had been ranked 28thagainst the pass, Kitna (top, right) was benched in the third quarter on Sundayin favor of Dan Orlovsky. That prompted the loudest cheers of the day at FordField. Kitna no longer deserves a fantasy roster spot.
LAURENCEMARONEY
Patriots, RB
Even with LaMont Jordan sidelined by an injury, Maroney, one of the biggestfantasy busts of the last two seasons, still didn't get regular carries onSunday against the 49ers, as Kevin Faulk and Sammy Morris got more touches. Seeif you can trade Maroney to someone still taken with his name value.
CHRIS PERRY
Bengals, RB
Though he hadn't been very productive this season, at least Perry was the leaddog in his backfield. But after fumbling for the fifth time this season onSunday, he'll have to fight for carries with the newly signed Cedric Benson.Stay away from this ugly set of backs.
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BOB ROSATO (ORTON)
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DON JUAN MOORE/CAL SPORT MEDIA (KITNA)