By Trent Modglin
Oct. 24, 2007

Matchups to exploit

Ben Roethlisberger threw four TD passes against the Broncos last week and now has the luxury of facing a Bengals defense that is 28th in passing yards allowed and let the previously struggling Chad Pennington rack up 272 yards and three touchdowns in Week Seven. Don't forget about WR Hines Ward or TE Heath Miller, either.

Giants RB Brandon Jacobs has looked strong with 293 yards on the ground and two touchdowns in the three games since his return from a knee injury. Make room for him in your starting lineup when New York tangles with Miami in London next weekend. The Dolphins are 31st in rushing yards allowed, and with Miami ranking a porous 32nd in average gain per pass play allowed, Giants QB Eli Manning and WR Plaxico Burress should be trusted for a few big gainers as well. Not to be forgotten is a Giants defense that, since a rough start, has looked like an elite unit the past five weeks, allowing only 13.8 points per game and recording 10 turnovers and 25 sacks over that span. Get the Giants’ defense some work against a Miami team that has Cleo Lemon at quarterback and will be without injured RB Ronnie Brown.

If you can live with some interceptions, QB Brian Griese is posting some pretty solid fantasy numbers in Chicago, having thrown for at least 286 yards and two touchdowns in three of his four starts. Get him and WR Bernard Berrian and TE Greg Olsen in your lineup this week against a Lions defense that ranks 30th vs. the pass after letting Jeff Garcia dissect it in Week Seven. WR Muhsin Muhammad could warrant a look in larger leagues.

The Vikings’ woes vs. the pass continued last week, when Tony Romo completed 31-of-39 passes for 277 yards and a touchdown. Make sure not to bench Eagles QB Donovan McNabb or WRs Kevin Curtis or Reggie Brown this week when they visit the Metrodome.

With all the problems fantasy owners are experiencing at the RB position this season, you could probably do worse than the Packers’ DeShawn Wynn going up against a Broncos defense ranked last against the run. Vernand Morency will see some time as well, but Morency figures to get the bulk of the work.

Expect Peyton Manning to have plenty of time in the pocket to find WRs Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne and TE Dallas Clark against a Carolina defense ranked last in the league in sack percentage.

Matchups to avoid

Not knowing exactly what the Patriots have planned for RB Laurence Maroney (only six carries in his first game back from a groin injury) with Kevin Faulk and Sammy Morris, once he gets healthy, going forward, it might be a good idea to keep them out of action against a Redskins defense that ranks fifth against the run and third in points allowed.

WR Santana Moss can’t get on track for the Redskins with his still tender hamstring. He had only two grabs for eight yards last week against Arizona in his return to the lineup, and probably won’t fare a lot better against Asante Samuel and the Patriots’ fourth-ranked pass defense.

If you have decent other options, it may be worth avoiding Saints WR Marques Colston this week. He hasn’t generated the big plays like last year and has just 78 yards the past three weeks. The Niners have held four of their six opponents to less than 215 passing yards, and three to 145 or fewer.

The Titans haven’t allowed 100 yards rushing in a game yet this season and have held three of their last four opponents to fewer than 40 yards on the ground. Raiders RB LaMont Jordan has faltered since Oakland has hit a tougher part of the schedule, rushing 29 times for 71 yards the past two weeks against the Chargers and Chiefs. Hope you see where I’m going with this.