Empty the Bench

Plugging in your studs at RB, QB, and WR is easy. Filling in the extremities of your roster every week is not. We agonize over these decisions until 5 minutes before kickoff, then kick ourselves about the guys we started 10 minutes after kickoff. We’re talking about the WR/TE Flex and WR/RB Flex plays, and they’re a bitch.

Our Position Rankings now include more running backs and wide receivers, so you can now refer to those ranks for your WR3 and RB2 options. From here on out, ETB’s Cheat Sheet only focuses on those crucial flex-spot ranks.

It’s time to get wild and ka-ra-zee with ETB’s Week Eleven Fantasy Cheat Sheet.

Week 11 Cheat Sheet Rankings

Week 11 Wide Receiver/Tight End Flex Plays

1. DJ Hackett, Seattle vs. CHI
2. Donald Lee, Green Bay vs. CAR
3. Derrick Mason, Baltimore vs. CLE
4. Deion Branch, Seattle vs. CHI
5. Greg Olsen, Chicago @ SEA
6. Owen Daniels, Houston vs. NO
7. Bernard Berrian, Chicago @ SEA
8. Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City @ IND
9. Chris Henry, Cincinnati vs. ARZ
10. Alge Crumpler, Atlanta vs. TB

Fortune Cookies: After missing six games, D.J. Hackett has returned with a bang, totaling 14 catches, 159 yards, and 2 TDs in the last two weeks… If it’s consistency you’re after from your W/T flex spot, Donald Lee has not caught less than 3 passes in any given week this season… The Baltimore Ravens’ passing game is a joke, but it’d be an absolute insult to the game of football if Derrick Mason wasn’t around to average 7.3 receptions and about 66 yards/per… He’s missed more games than he’s played in this year, but Deion Branch should be good to and the Seahawks have no running game to speak of… Greg Olsen laid a goose egg last week, but he should bounce back strong and be a primary option for the Bears over the middle. Keep an eye on his rapport with Rex Grossman, as the two haven’t played together much this season… With Matt Schaub back behind center, Owen Daniels should post strong numbers against the weak New Orleans defense… About the only good thing about Rex Grossman is how he boosts Bernard Berrian’s fantasy value, which we saw immediately last week when they hooked up on a long TD strike… For a second it looked like Dwayne Bowe had hit the rookie wall, but he put up 9 receptions for 105 yards last week against Champ Bailey and the Broncos. He’s clearly the WR1 for Kansas City… Chris Henry looked strong last week, and the Cincinnati passing game has been desperate for another option, especially in the red zone. He’s always a threat to score, and should put up yards against the Cards’ nickel back… We’re not huge Alge Crumpler fans here at ETB, but this is a game where Tampa will take away the deep ball and the Falcons should be looking for Crumpler often underneath, assuming he’s healthy…

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Copyright 2007 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE/Getty Images)

“Get your hands off me, you don’t know who I am, I’m a power player, I’m a power player.” – Clutch, “Power Player”

- He’s still best known as “The Human Victory Cigar,” as the Milwaukee Bucks broadcasting team dutifully noted during Wednesday’s Bucks/Grizzlies thriller (that “thriller” descriptor comes without a trace of sarcasm). But we have to give it up to Darko Milicic for his surprising performance in the early stages of this NBA season. Gone is the wiry teenager with bleached-blond hair and an air of entitlement; meet the new Darko, who’s clearly been in the weight room and for the first time in his still-young career is actually earning his minutes, not having them gifted upon him for being an ex-second overall pick.

He more than held his own against Yao in Tuesday’s upset of the Rockets (20 points, 6 boards, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 63% FG), and on the season is averaging 11.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 49% from the field. It’s not all good, though: someone please tell him that mustache makes him look like a sleazy Yugoslavian gangsta. Actually, we wouldn’t be surprised if that’s what he’s going for…

- With Ben Wallace sadly declining into mediocrity in just the second season of his lucrative four-year, $60 million deal, and the Bulls searching for any kind of consistency from someone, anyone in the post (much less the entire team), we can’t help but wonder if GM Jim Paxson isn’t second-guessing himself on the draft day deal he swung last year with the surging Portland Trail Blazers. As casual NBA fans undoubtedly recall, Paxson swapped LaMarcus Aldridge for Tyrus Thomas, and while both have improved in their sophomore campaigns, right now Aldridge is clearly the better player, especially on the offensive end.

Against the Detroit Pistons Tuesday night at the Rose Garden, with old Blazer Rasheed Wallace checking him for most of the night, Aldridge put his hard hat on and turned in yet another impressive performance. He showed a bevy of slick moves on the blocks, nailed jumpers from the top of the key, rebounded, hustled, and at least on this night, outperformed Wallace (who’s having a fine season himself). On the night he finished with 22 points and 10 boards, and was obviously a key performer in his team’s upset, their second straight over a NBA powerhouse (the Mavs being the other). He’s dangerously close to averaging 20 and 10 and capable of busting out for 30 on any given night.

- Speaking of the Detroit Pistons, how about that improbable comeback win Wednesday night in Golden State? The deck certainly seemed stacked against them: the second game of a back-to-back, on the road, missing two starters (Chauncey Billups, Antonio McDyess), and facing a well-rested, uptempo team desperate for their first win of the season. It certainly didn’t look good for Detroit early, as Baron Davis was absolutely on fire and the Warriors staked an early 22-point lead. Displaying an unflappable veteran resolve, the Pistons never panicked, slowly whittled down the lead, and in the end walked away with a seven-point victory. The key was Flip Saunder’s switch to a zone defense in the third quarter that left Golden State settling for outside jumpers the rest of the game. Big ups to ETB favorite Jason Maxiell, who got the start in place of McDyess, stayed out of foul trouble, and put up 14 points, 14 boards, 3 blocks, and 5 assists.

Though they’ve posted a solid 6-2 record despite a brutal early schedule (8 of their first 10 games on the road) and various minor injuries to key players, the Pistons are flying well under the radar and are getting very little love on most NBA sites and blogs we frequent. This year’s team could be their deepest in years, especially considering we still haven’t seen first-round pick Rodney Stuckey in action yet (broken non-shooting hand). Hell, even Nazr Mohammed is contributing. The Celtics look fantastic, but you’d be foolish to sleep on Detroit.

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Sound the trumpets and find Andy Reid’s “little card” bearing Dwarf–ETB’s Week Eleven position ranks are walking down the aisle, and you’re invited to the after party. Read on for our top 20 QBs, 30 RBs, 36 WRs, 15 TEs, and 15 Team Defenses based on past performance, injuries, bye weeks, and matchups. And hey, we’re watching you: don’t think we don’t know when you go elsewhere for expert fantasy analysis. It makes us sad. And angry. To be on the safe side, just… don’t… do it. ETB has everything you need, though fantasy kickers are living jokes and we don’t deal with them. So you can go to another site for them, and them only.

More Week Eleven Fantasy Advice:

ETB’s Week Eleven Matchups

ETB’s Week Eleven Stock Report

ETB’s Week Eleven Cheat Sheet

Fantasy Week Eleven: Top 20 Quarterbacks

1. Tom Brady, New England @ BUF
2. Tony Romo, Dallas vs. WSH
3. Brett Favre, Green Bay vs. CAR
4. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis vs. KC
5. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh @ NYJ
6. Drew Brees, New Orleans @ HOU
7. Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia vs. MIA
8. Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle vs. CHI
9. Marc Bulger, St. Louis @ SF
10. Carson Palmer, Cincinnati vs. ARZ
11. Derek Anderson, Cleveland @ BAL
12. Eli Manning, New York Giants @ DET
13. Kurt Warner, Arizona @ CIN
14. Jon Kitna, Detroit vs. NYG
15. Jeff Garcia, Tampa Bay @ ATL
16. Philip Rivers, San Diego @ JAX
17. Jason Campbell, Washington @ DAL
18. Vince Young, Tennessee @ DEN
19. J.P. Losman, Buffalo vs. NE
20. Jay Cutler, Denver vs. TEN

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It’s not all fun and games anymore. Your co-worker’s smack talk is starting to hit a little too close to home. People are writing you off, and you don’t like it. Your boss is on the verge of elimination, and you want nothing more than to seal the deal. That cocky guy in marketing needs somebody to fix his wagon, and you desperately want to be the one to do it. We understand. We’re here to help. It’s Week 11 of the NFL season, and ETB’s Matchups are more important than ever. You need our break down of a few key fantasy matchups at all the positions that matter (sorry, kickers make us depressed). Well, here they are. For each roster spot we’ve listed Five Strong Plays, a few players to Temper Your Expectations for, one Sneaky Play of the Week, and one Dud of the Week.

As always, these are not always the guys we think will score the most points or score the least points: there will always be obvious situations and choices we ignore. These also aren’t all sneaky plays. These are just the matchups that we think deserve mention*.

With the NBA season underway, we’ve instituted a small change in format to the matchups from here on out. Don’t worry, the gist of it is that you get to crack open more ETB Fortune Cookies every week now.

Kicking ass and chewing bubble gum, it’s ETB’s Week Eleven Fantasy Football Matchups.

Five Strong Quarterback Plays

Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh @ NYJ
Tony Romo, Dallas vs. WSH
Marc Bulger, St. Louis @ SF
Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia vs. MIA
Derek Anderson, Cleveland @ BAL

Fortune Cookies: Jets being duds and Steelers being studs this week is a common theme in our Week Eleven matchups, and it starts with Ben Roethlisberger, who has 13 touchdown passes (and 1 rushing) in his past four games. Pittsburgh will likely build a big league early, which could limit his attempts in the second half, but he should kill this secondary whenever he drops back… Tony Romo is coming off three consecutive games with a QB Rating over 100, and has tossed 7 TDs in his last two games. He’s on fire, and the mediocre Washington pass defense is not a unit to fear right now. They’ve given up 13 TD passes on the season, and their secondary is hurting… Finally, Marc Bulger owners can start him with some sort of confidence. The offense is relatively healthy, and Bulger is riding two strong 300-yard performances heading into San Francisco for what should be an easy matchup. The 49ers give up 216.4 yards a game and have allowed 13 TDs with only 6 INTs… Donovan McNabb’s peripherals have been fairly strong all season, but the TDs haven’t been there. He’ coming off a four-touchdown performance and facing a weak Dolphins defense that should have all kinds of trouble with Reggie Brown, Kevin Curtis and Brian Westbrook in the passing game. The Dolphins have been giving up 2 TDs through the air over the last month, and anything less than 2 TDs and 260 yards would be a disappointment… When Derek Anderson throws for 3 TDs in the first half, on the road, against the Steelers, you know the kid is for real. Anderson finished with 204 yards and 2 TDs in Week 4 against the Ravens, but that was on just 18 attempts and the Browns will be throwing a lot more this time around…

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- The Boston Celtics were obviously going to be a vastly improved team this season. There was a lot of debate about just how good they could be, with some pundits maintaining that they were instant title favorites while other suggested NBA Champions are molded, not bought. ETB has been somewhere in the middle, believing that such a radical experiment needs to be seen in action before meaningful conclusions can be drawn. I’ve now seen them in action, and I’m impressed. I’ve always maintained that the offseason moves to acquire Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett put them on the short list for a title (alongside the San Antonio Spurs, Phoenix Suns, Detroit Pistons, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets and Utah Jazz), but I never expected this team to gell so quickly. I thought it would take a month for them to find a rhythm, but it hasn’t been that way. Pierce, Allen and Garnett have all put aside any concerns over superstar egos, and they’re each embracing their roles. Perhaps just as importantly, Rajon Rondo doesn’t look lost at the point, while Eddie House has emerged as an an ideal offensive complement on the outside.

It’s important to note that we’re only five games into the season. The Celtics are one of the thinnest teams in the NBA, and a major injury to any of the Big Three would devastate them. We shouldn’t fall in love with the numbers just yet… but I admit it, those numbers are very impressive already. On the defensive end the Celts lead the NBA in opponent’s FG%, allowing them to shoot just 40.7% from the floor. They’re also leading the NBA in steals with 10.8 per game. On the other end of the floor, the Celts are also first the Association in team FG%, hitting 52.4% of their shots. Boston has gone 5-0 while averaging 107.6 points a game and surrendering just 91.0 per, good for an average margin of victory of 16.6. Again, it’s extremely early. Too early to draw significant conclusions beyond this: these guys are really good.

Ok, enough of my blatant homerism for KG, onto the Fantasy Hoops…

Up and Down Game

Push It:

Luke Ridnour: It’s barely registered on the stat line, but Luke Ridnour is back in the starting lineup for the Sonics and needs to be owned in all leagues until he proves otherwise. When he gets playing time Ridnour is a phenomenal source of assists and FT% (5.2 assists and 85.5% FTs career) with strong steals and threes, and there should be plenty of shots in Seattle. He registered 7 assists in his first game in the starting lineup and should average over 6 if he gets 30+ minutes.

Jeff Green: Another Sonic and another guy who should be owned in most leagues after being dropped too soon. Every year inexperienced fantasy owners drop young players way too early after a couple of bad performances, and every year there are a couple of players who make them regret it–Green could be one of them this year. After a few quiet performances to start the season, the 5th overall pick has played 24+ minutes in two straight and put up 17 and 19 points in each, respectively. The Sonics aren’t going to the playoffs this season and it will be all about developing guys like Green and Durant as the year wears on.

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There’s only a few weeks left until the fantasy playoffs kick off, in some leagues as little as four. Whether you’re fighting to stay alive or positioning your playoffs-bound team for a high seed, keeping up on which players are seeing an uptick (and downtick) in their performance is crucial. And wouldn’t you know it, Week Ten in the NFL saw some significant developments.

Lucky for you, ETB has emerged from The Local Watering Hole with notes on the latest gridiron heroes and zeroes, and are here to share them with you, no strings attached. Except your first-born child. And a hot plate of au gratin potatoes. It’s not much to ask. Don’t be so cheap.

Big Gainers:

Selvin Young, RB, Denver Broncos: In our infinite wisdom, we’ve been touting the undrafted rookie out of Texas as a Buy Low player, and this became the week where his value has risen to such that he’s now squarely outside of that category. With Travis Henry nursing an ankle injury and anxiously awaiting his hearing for allegedly smoking that schwag from “Dr. Smoke,” Young stepped up against the Chiefs to the tune of 129 combined yards and a visit to the endzone. Henry will meet with NFL Authorities this week to discuss his positive drug test, and if his “I’m innocent, it was second-hand smoke from my friends” excuse doesn’t fly, HC Mike Shanahan has vowed that Henry will not return to the team this season. Apparently he’s passed numerous lie detector and hair-sample tests, so he may yet avoid punishment. Either way, Young proved he’s capable and should be owned in all leagues, even if he doesn’t have great matchups in the immediate future.

Jeremy Shockey, TE, New York Giants: Who is that man with the short, stringy hair, the horrible tattoos, and the 100-yards receiving game, and what have you done with our favorite underachieving tight end with the horrible tattoos and long, stringy hair? “The Shockster,” as some elements of his diehard Hasidic fanbase in our neck of the woods are fond of calling him, was the apple of Eli Manning’s eye against the Cowboys, catching 12 passes for 129 yards and 1 TD, by far his best game of the season. He has fantastic matchups in Weeks 11 and 12 against the Lions and Vikings, respectively, and should keep rolling with Plexiglass Burress more and more limited by his ankle injury.

Ryan Grant, RB, Green Bay Packers: Anytime one breaks the century mark against the Vikings’ beefy rush defense, it should be considered a notable accomplishment. That’s exactly what Grant, an undrafted rookie out of Notre Dame, did on Sunday, cementing his status as the Pack’s featured back and likely setting himself up for 20 carries a week until further notice. Don’t go too overboard in your projections though: his touchdown against Minny was the first of his NFL career, and Green Bay is going to stick to its pass-first offensive gameplan. And as ETB’s astute regular Jon Jon Mackey pointed out in the Hangover, much of his yardage came when the Vikings were heavily scheming towards containing Favre.

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(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Are we just experiencing the annual NFL Fatigue and getting more psyched about the return of the NBA, or was yesterday kind of a “blah day” in the NFL?

- It was one of the league’s top rushing defenses versus the league’s absolute worst rushing offense, and the latter surprisingly won out in Green Bay. The Packers have finally found their RB1, as Ryan Grant recorded his second 100+ yard rushing game in three weeks with an improbable 139-combined yards, 1-TD performance against the Vikings. It was the first time any opposing back has crossed the century mark against Minnesota, and Grant’s 30-yard TD scamper was the longest of the season for any Packers’ RB. Grant should be a solid flex-play from here on out, with favorable matchups coming up against Carolina and Detroit in Weeks 11 and 12.

- Fox broadcaster Daryl “Moose” Johnston may have accidentally revealed the secret to Eagles’ HC Andy Reid’s two-point conversions: “a little card.” Johnston explained that they keep a little card in a little chest on the sidelines, and that the little chest is locked and requires a key to be opened. ETB did some research last night, and we found out that it’s not just a little chest with a little key. Reid actually blows a tiny whistle, a small dwarf emerges with a little pillow, and on that little pillow rests the little key for the little chest hidden on the sidelines containing tiny plays for Eagles football games.

- The Rams and Saints played like we all expected them to this season, both putting up and giving up points, and it ended in a 37-29 Ram victory—their first of the season. Steven Jackson returned and only posted a middling 3.5 YPC, but he did manage 100 total yards, 5 receptions, a rushing TD and… a passing TD. His beleaguered owners will take it. Meanwhile, Reggie Bush carried the ball just 7 times for 17 yards, but he did score early and also caught 5 passes. Bush should have lit up this Rams defense, and while he was dealing with injuries all day, it’s looking more and more like Bush will never be an every-down back in the NFL. He’s got loads of potential and tools to work with, and he can be a great offensive option, but he’s just not that good of a running back.

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It’s “win-now time” in the fantasy football season, so ETB is here to help you through the tough decisions on your fantasy roster. Every Saturday we’ll go back through any questions posted in the comments section or emailed to us directly throughout the week and address ‘em here.

Some of these Q&A’s will pertain to your fantasy roster, too; lots of them will not. If you have a question for us, drop us an email at brian@emptythebench.com no later than 3pm on Fridays and we’ll try to include your question in the mailbag. Or, of course, you can post it somewhere in the comments. Please understand that volume will dictate whether or not we get to everyone. And, of course, if you have friends with questions too, tell ‘em about ETB and we’ll fix their wagon. Fix it real good.

We try to tell you which moves have the greatest probability of success. We’re not (technically) clairvoyant. Remember that the right decision is the one that has the greatest probability of producing the desired results, not the one that actually does. Trading Edgerrin James for Adrian Peterson is the right move, even if AP sprains an ankle on Sunday. Hitting with 20 showing is the wrong move, even if there’s an ace on top of the deck.

Onto your dilemmas… names have been changed to protect the innocent.

So here is my deal: I have Brian Westbrook, Steven Jackson, Edgerrin James, Jesse Chatman, and snagged Priest Holmes after LJ went down (I don’t have LJ). I’ve been analyzing the “stats” and monitoring Jackson as well, but I can’t come up with any solid answers.

My league plays 2 RBs and a W/R, so I plan on playing three of them. What would you do (other than play Westbrook because he’s an animal)? Thanks for the help!

- Joseph Shebadu, Jr., Ypsilanti, Michigan

Andrew:
Joey Joe Joe! Obviously you’re going to go with Westbrook every week. That leaves two slots for the remaining four running backs. Prist Holmes has a great matchup against a terrible rush defense and LJ is going to miss this game. However, we don’t think the Chiefs are ready to lean on Priest just yet and we don’t think he would produce at an elite level even if they did. Jesse Chatman played extremely well in Ronnie Brown’s absence two weeks ago, and he’s also tempting at home, but the Buffalo rush defense has been better than advertised so far and isn’t giving up many TDs (just 4 on the season).

That leaves Edgerrin James at home against a Detroit defense that has played very well lately, but has still given up 7 TDs on the ground. Edge will be leaned on heavily in this game and is going to get all of the goal-line carries in a game that should see Arizona put up a couple of touchdowns on the day. You’ll want to keep an eye on his status as the week goes on, but HC Scott Linehan has said that Steven Jackson should play and has looked good. Jackson is coming off a bye week and was playing well in the Rams last game before the back spasms. The New Orleans linebackers have played well this season, but we still see S-Jax as a strong option here. If Jackson doesn’t manage to play, then roll with Jesse Chatman in his stead.

I have Anquan Boldin, Dwayne Bowe, Brandon Marshall, James Jones, and Chris Henry and only 3 WR slots. What do you think?

- Martin Mull, Hollywood, CA

Brian:
Well, Martin, I assume you’ve taken Boldin out of this equation already and have him locked into a starting slot. Though the Detroit Lions defense is playing well and causing turnovers, they are still giving up yardage to skilled wideouts and he has a lot of size on the Lions’ smallish corners. And don’t forget that in his debut game as rookie back in ‘03, he burned Detroit for 10 catches, 217 yards, and 2 TDs. So there’s one down.

As for your other two starting slots, overall good guy Chris Henry was reportedly in some kind of silly spat with a parking lot attendant, and it remains to be seen if that will affect his status on Sunday. Seeing as how it’d be his first game of the season anyhow, and that Chad Johnson looks like he’ll play, we’d sit him and give it a week to see how that whole thing shakes down. So that’s one out of the picture.

Between Marshall, Bowe, and Jones, I’d start Jones (the Viqueens secondary is oh-so-beatable and Favre will be throwing a ton) and Marshall. Jay Cutler is likely going to start, and even when banged up he’s obviously an upgrade over Patrick Ramsey. Truth be told, I don’t like either matchup, but Bowe will be dealing with Champ Bailey all day and has been tailing off some as of late. So: Boldin, Jones, and Marshall.

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Plugging in your studs at RB, QB, and WR is easy. Filling in the outer fringes of your roster every week is not. We agonize over these decisions until 7 minutes before kickoff, then kick ourselves about the guys we started 10 minutes after kickoff. We’re talking about the WR/TE Flex and WR/RB Flex plays, and they’re a bitch.

Down the stretch of the Fantasy Football regular season, ETB has made a small change in policy. We have expanded our Position Rankings to include more running backs and wide receivers, so you can now refer to those ranks for your WR3 and RB2 options. From here on out, our Cheat Sheet will only focus on those crucial flex-position rankings.

It’s time to get wild and ka-wazy with ETB’s Week Ten Fantasy Cheat Sheet.

Week 10 Cheat Sheet Rankings

Week 10 Wide Receiver/Tight End Flex Plays

1. David Patten, New Orleans vs. STL
2. Roddy White, Atlanta @ CAR
3. Chris Henry, Cincinnati @ BAL
4. Vernon Davis, San Francisco @ SEA
5. Donald Lee, Green Bay vs. MIN
6. Shaun McDonald, Detroit @ ARZ
7. Tony Scheffler, Denver @ KC
8. Randy McMichael, St. Louis @ NO
9. Jeff King, Carolina vs. ATL
10. Sidney Rice, Minnesota @ GB

Fortune Cookies: David Patten has been a major beneficiary of the Saints rediscovered passing game, going over 100 yards twice and scoring a touchdown in the last month, and he should keep it up at home… The Carolina Panthers sport a thoroughly average pass defense this year, and Roddy White is in the midst of a breakout season. Expect 80 yards with a possible score… Chris Henry is a good bet for a touchdown against a struggling Ravens secondary in his first game back, especially if Chad Johnson is limited or out… Vernon Davis is back on track, and should be counted on heavily on the road against a strong Seattle defense. Look for 6 receptions and 70 yards… Donald Lee hasn’t been a top-tier TE, but he’s remarkably consistent and has a great shot at a TD versus this porous secondary… He cooled off for a couple of weeks, but Shaun McDonald has returned to elite flex-play status the last two games and Arizona doesn’t have a nickel back who can keep up with him… Tony Scheffler should have his BFF under center and should post a solid number of receptions, but the KC defense could keep Denver out of the endzone… Randy McMichael has been limited by all the injuries and poor play around him, but he’s still talented enough to put up a strong game against a poor New Orleans secondary… Jeff King has been largely feast or famine this year, but we expect him to get at least 4-5 receptions at home against the Falcons… Sidney Rice is the most talented receiver on this roster, and he was impressive last week. Green Bay has solid corners, but Rice should earn more looks and is as likely as anybody not named Adrian to catch a TD for Minnesota…

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We’re all about the ballsy predictions here at ETB. We’re always analyzing and second-guessing other “expert” picks, but we’ll put our balls on the table, too. Crystal balls. In the days leading up to Sunday’s NFL action, we both gaze into the void, transcend this plane, feel the force and post the daring predictions that present themselves.

Many will come true (we’re pretty good), one or two of them may not. You had better believe we’ll be bragging about them when we nail it. Repeatedly. In your face. And when we biff it, well, you’ll have to remind us about it, because we won’t be bringing it up.

Ladies and Germs, it’s ETB’s NFL Week Ten Crystal Ball.

Andrew’s Predictions:

1. Stevonne Smith is in the midst of his worst season since the lost 2004 campaign. Jake Delhomme isn’t anything special, but at least he can deliver the ball. David “Take the Damn White Gloves Off” Carr cannot. The fantasy gods are merciful at times though. Smith wants revenge for that Week 3 matchup with the chatty DeAngelo Hall, and it appears Carr will miss this week’s game. Meanwhile, Vinny “Tecmo” Testaverde returned to practice and is poised to start. He may be 43 years old, but in Vinny’s only other start this season Smith posted 10 receptions for 136 yards and a score. If Vinny gets the nod again, Smith catches 6 balls for 90 yards and another TD–his first in a month.

2. With the help of family and friends, NFL good guy Chris Henry puts that ugly incident with the overly belligerent and aggressive valet behind him and manages to find the endzone this weekend. The Ravens struggle against wideouts of his ilk, and Henry posts his typical 3 receptions for 40 yards and 1 TD.

3. Brett Favre does what he does best this weekend: torment and irritate Minnesota Vikings fans. Somewhere between the showy audibles and egregious fist pumping, Brett manages his third consecutive 300-yard game and tosses a pair of touchdowns.

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– We have a feeling that deep down, Detroit Pistons HC Flip Saunders would rather not play promising 21-year-old forward Amir Johnson much just yet, but Pistons’ brass has pretty much dictated that he will get relevant minutes this season, and soon. An ankle injury and sore Achilles tendon have slowed his development, but according to Tayshaun Prince Johnson looks to be near full strength, just in time for the team’s West Coast road trip next week. “Today was probably the first day you really couldn’t tell he was hurt or nothing,” Prince said. “In the other practices, you could tell he was hurt, limping up and down but trying to practice.”

At this point Johnson is still best known as a card-carrying member of The Great NBA Hype Machine, but we’re believers and would love to see him log a minimum of 10 – 12 minutes/per off the bench. He’s the exact kind of energetic, athletic leaper this team needs to supplement the starters, and if he can catch on and follow the lead of fellow big-man backup Jason Maxiell, they could both really cause problems for opposing teams. Maxiell, by the way, is looking good early: through three games, the third-year forward has averaged almost 24 minutes/per, and is putting up just about 10 points, 5 boards, 2.3 blocks, and 58% FG. Try and catch this guy when Detroit’s on national TV or on the League Pass; when he gets the ball around the rim, Maxiell gets nasty.

- Kevin Garnett is the Eastern Conference’s front-runner to lead in rebounding, but there’s a guy out there who could push for second that might surprise you: Wizards’ center Brendan Haywood. In three games, Haywood is averaging a whopping 13.7/per, which is good for third overall and puts him ahead of the likes of Dwight Howard and Emeka Okafor. With Etan Thomas out indefinitely after undergoing heart surgery, Haywood is one of the only viable options at center for the Wiz, and has responded to a career-high, per-game minutes average (just over 31) by averaging a double-double in the early going. The Wizards are going to miss a lot of shots, and as long as Haywood stays healthy and out of foul trouble, there’s no reason to think he won’t maintain that double-double all season.

- Early in his second professional season, Golden State Warriors G/F Kelenna Azubuike has made a strong impression on Nellie and benefitted from Stephen Jackson’s absence (suspension), averaging nearly 17 points, 4 boards, 1 steal, and 1 three-pointer in over 32 minutes of action a night. It looks like he’s dealing with a nagging ankle injury though, and could be in for a semi-significant downtick in playing time once SJax returns. The undrafted free agent from Kentucky perfectly fits the mold of this Warriors team and has quickly helped erase the sting of dealing Jason Richardson. Whether he can maintain his minutes and production remains to be seen, but we’re pulling for this kid and think he could end up being this year’s version of Matt Barnes (who’s really struggling in the early going).

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You’ve been waiting all week for this–ETB’s Week Ten position ranks have finally arrived, and they’re as unflappable as Brett Favre. Read on for our top 20 QBs, 30 RBs, 36 WRs, 15 TEs, and 15 Team Defenses based on past performance, injuries, bye weeks, and matchups. And hey, we’re watching you: don’t think we don’t know when you go elsewhere for expert fantasy analysis. It makes us sad. And angry. To be on the safe side, just… don’t… do it. ETB has everything you need, though fantasy kickers are living jokes and we don’t deal with them. So you can go to another site for them, and them only.

More Week Ten Fantasy Advice:

ETB’s Week Ten Matchups

ETB’s Week Ten Cheat Sheet

ETB’s Week Ten Stock Report

Week Ten Quick Hits

Fantasy Week Ten: Top 20 Quarterbacks

1. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis @ SD
2. Drew Brees, New Orleans vs. STL
3. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh vs. CLE (Check Status)
4. Brett Favre, Green Bay vs. MIN
5. Tony Romo, Dallas @ NYG
6. Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle vs. SF
7. Carson Palmer, Cincinnati @ BAL
8. Eli Manning, New York Giants vs. DAL
9. Jon Kitna, Detroit @ ARZ
10. Marc Bulger, St. Louis @ NO
11. Derek Anderson, Cleveland @ PIT
12. Kurt Warner, Arizona vs. DET
13. Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia @ WSH
14. J.P. Losman, Buffalo @ MIA
15. Philip Rivers, San Diego vs. IND
16. Vince Young, Tennessee vs. JAX
17. Cleo Lemon, Miami vs. BUF
18. Brian Griese, Chicago @ OAK
19. Jason Campbell, Washington vs. PHI
20. Alex Smith, San Francisco @ SEA

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