Studs, Duds, & Sleepers Week 10

Studs, Duds, & Sleepers Week 10

We gathered some of our staff around a campfire and we all told stories and the following is the result of those stories. We have compiled a list we call Studs, Duds, and Sleepers consisting of players we feel will have better or worse production than what is normally expected.

They are some crazy characters here at The Whiz and you never know what you will find, so read on and believe.

{tab=Eric C}

Eric Cunningham

QBs

Stud: J.P. Losman, BUF

Against a winless Miami Dolphins squad, the rejuvenated Bills should continue to improve on offense. Last week, Losman had the offense clicking on all cylinders and there was still room for improvement. This will be the last week that you’ll be able to get a discount on him in a trade.

Dud: Tony Romo, DAL

After a big breakout game on the road last week, Romo could take a step back against a brutal pass rush in the Meadowlands. The Giants defense is much improved from week one when Romo lit them up for 345 yards and 4 TDs. If he’s able to surpass 225 yards I would be surprised.

Sleeper: Cleo Lemon, MIA

Still the QB of a pathetic team, Lemon’s proven to have some fantasy value by using his legs to rush for 3 TDs in his 3 starts. The Buffalo defense is getting better, but Lemon and the unproven WR core of the Dolphins have big play ability. Lemon’s also shown that he’ll be the team’s goal line back if he sees an opening. Expect 2 TDs minimum, but we’ll have to wait to find out whether they are through the air or on the ground.

RBs

Stud: Kevin Jones, DET

The Lions put up some big points on the Broncos defense last week, and I don’t see why they can’t do it to the Cardinals this week. Expect Jones to get a lot of work late running out the clock and approach 100 yards with ease. In PPR leagues, he’ll grab enough dump passes to really make his value jump.

Dud: Maurice Jones-Drew, JAX

He’s had a hard time breaking free from the committee as a second year player and has really let some of his owners down. This week, against the Titans stout run defense, he won’t impress anyone. If your league scores for return yards, he might have some value, but don’t expect much else. He won’t top 50 yards on the ground.

Sleeper: Kolby Smith, KC

I don’t trust Priest Holmes. I haven’t seen him do anything all that impressive since his return, and I certainly can’t expect him to carry the load for the Chiefs. I fully expect them to pass more often then they run, but when they do run Kolby Smith will be the more impressive back. He’ll be one of the top waiver additions next week so get on board early.

WRs

Stud: Dwayne Bowe, KC

As I was saying, I expect Kansas City to throw the ball a lot. Bowe has been targeted nearly 20 times more than any other Chiefs receiver and this week he’s going to get a lot of looks. Denver has allowed a lot more passing yards then you’d imagine with Champ Bailey roaming around. It’s worth noting that he has had 70 yards receiving in 4 of the last 5 games. That’s the type of consistency you look for from a top WR.

Dud: Steve Smith, CAR

Wait a minute. Who is Matt Moore? Potentially the starting QB for Carolina, that’s who. We’re down to 4th string for the Panthers as both David Carr and Vinny Testeverde look banged up for this weekend, and let’s face it; Smith hasn’t been the same since Jake Delhomme left. Without Delhomme, Smith has cracked the 50 yard receiving mark once, but ended up with less than 20 yards three times.

Sleeper: Shaun McDonald, DET

Did you know he was targeted more often than Roy Williams last week? McDonald is the best #4 receiver in football this year by a long way. It’s unusual to see a #4 even being looked at, but he’s grabbed 11 receptions over the past two weeks. Kitna is clearly looking at him more than Calvin Johnson and Mike Furrey. Get him in your lineups.

TEs

Stud: Heath Miller, PIT

Ben Roethlisberger loves throwing to his TEs. Miller had another nice performance on Monday Night Football last week and looks to have a solid outing this week against the Browns. He’s one of the best red zone options the Steelers have, expect at least one score.

Dud: Antonio Gates, SD

Indianapolis will be all over Gates this week. They’ve been fantastic at stopping the pass this season and they should have no problem lining up Bob Sanders with Gates. Philip Rivers has been struggling mightily as of late and the Colts defense isn’t what a struggling QB wants to deal with to try and break out.

Sleeper: Eric Johnson, NO

The Saints passing attack seems to be back and better than ever and Johnson seems to be getting more and more involved. Johnson didn’t see any looks in the red zone last week, but against St. Louis, the Saints should have plenty of opportunities to get everyone involved.

{tab=Chris F}

Chris Fries

QB

Stud -- Brett Favre GBP: This is almost such an obvious choice that it could be ignored, but Favre should have a monster day against the Vikings, and is a must-start this week. He shredded the Vikes for 344 yards and 2 TDs in week four, and meets them again this week.  With little running game and facing the league’s 31st ranked passing defense at home, Favre should have a fabulous day.

Dud -- John Kitna DET: Kitna and the Lions destroyed the Denver Broncos last week, and look to have an easy game against Arizona. But last week was the first time since week four that Kitna scored a passing TD, and the Cardinals actually have the #7 passing defense, allowing only 194.6 yards per game. This week, I expect the Lions to continue to rely on Kevin Jones and the running game against the much weaker Cardinals rushing defense. All of this adds up to Kitna having a down week in Arizona.

Sleeper -- Kurt Warner ARI: Warner has been struggling with injuries and total ineffectiveness for weeks, and seems like an odd choice for a sleeper choice. But getting to face Detroit’s 30th ranked passing defense at home could provide Warner and his talented receivers with the perfect opportunity for a revival. Remember that while the Lions have played unexpectedly well this year, this is the same team that allowed McNabb to have a career game earlier this year.

RB

Stud – Marshawn Lynch BUF: This week’s match-up against Miami gives Lynch to build on last week’s 100+ yard game by facing the league’s 31st worst rush defense, who’ve given up an average of 160.5 rushing yards per game.

Dud – Jamal Lewis CLE: Jamal lit up the fantasy score sheets last weeks with 4 TDs, but it was off of 20 carries for only 37 yards – a paltry 1.9 yards per carry. Ugghhh. This week, in Pittsburgh, against the league’s #4 rushing defense, I just don’t see much cause for optimism.

Sleeper – Willis McGahee BAL: McGahee has a total of only three rushing TDs this season – but they’ve come one each in the last three games. Against the Bengals and their 28th ranked rushing defense, McGahee should get plenty of opportunities to get at least one more.

WR

Stud – Plaxico Burress NYG: Burress and the Giants are coming off a bye week which has given him some time to rest his injured ankle. Dallas offers a tough match-up with the #8 overall defense, but they’re only #17 against the pass, and in week one, Burress burned the Cowboys for 144 yards and 3 TDs in Dallas. This week at home, I think he’s due for another big game.

Dud – Lee Evans BUF: People look at Miami’s winless record and think their defense is horrible. Against the run it is, and I expect Lynch to have a big day. But the Dolphins are ranked a very respectable #6 against the pass, giving up only 188.8 yards per game. When they fold against the run, why pass? Evans has been playing well recently, but only had decent stats in the last three games. Losman has always been too erratic to trust for the long-term – and I think he’s due to choke again. This is a week that I just expect disappoint wild-eyed Evans owners.

Sleeper – Larry Fitzgerald ARI: Fitz has been scoring around 100 yards for almost every game this year, but has only one TD all season. Against a very weak Lions secondary, he should notch at least that many yards and probably his second score (or more) of the year.

 TE

Stud – Heath Miller PIT: Cleveland’s defense is the worst in the league, overall and against the pass. Back inn week one against the Browns, Miller caught 4 passes for 35 yards and a TD. OK, maybe they’re not Gates-like numbers, but I expect him to have a strong day and add to his 5 TDs on the season.

Dud – Chris Cooley WAS: Cooley has been up and down this season, but has still been a decent TE option thanks to his red-zone TDs. But against sack-master Trent Cole and the Philadelphia defense, Cooley will spend a lot of time helping the O-line, and will likely see another down week with few catches.

Sleeper – Eric Johnson NOS: Johnson has only broken 50 yards twice this season, and has caught just one TD pass. But against the Rams, I see him and Brees connecting for a decent day – Johnson may even get his second TD of the year.

{tab=Jay B}

James Bebermeyer Jr.

QBs

Stud – Philip Rivers SDC: I will agree that Rivers looked dazed and confused last weekend against the Vikings, but that defensive unit is much better than advertised. The Colts defense is even better, but Rivers is going to have to be able to pass the ball to keep up with that explosive offense. Rivers is looking at a good day at the office to erase last weekend.

Dud – Jon Kitna DET: This is going to be a tough matchup for Kitna against the 7th best pass defense in the league. Kitna has seen his stats level out since Week 4 with the exception of last weekend. However, the Cards pass rush and secondary are much better than the Broncos at this point of the season and should limit Kitna’s output.

Sleeper – Alex Smith SF: This is only his second start since coming back from his shoulder injury and he is lucky to be facing a Seahawks secondary that is ranked 25th in the league. Agreed, they have only allowed five receiving touchdowns this season, but with the Niners without Gore and the Hawks looking to throw more, this could be an aerial game that puts Smith among the elite for at least one weekend.

RBs

Stud – DeShaun Foster CAR: Foster is going to blow the doors off the barn this weekend against the Falcons, who rank 23rd in the league, allowing 125.1 yards per game and six TDs on the season. However, that is not the only reason that he will be studly this weekend, it is Foster’s stats over the last five games; 661 total yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns, that will make him this week’s stud.

Dud – Adrian Peterson MIN: If you have come to expect the performance from AP that was he had against San Diego, you are in for a rude awakening. The Chargers defense has been a shell of itself for most of the season, and this young Packers defense is the real deal. Peterson will be kept in check going for under 100 yards and possibly a touchdown. The Pack has only allowed three rushing touchdowns this season.

Sleeper – Adrian Peterson CHI: It appears that the Bears organization is losing its patience with Cedric Benson and has stated that things will be turned over to improve the offense coming out of the bye week. With the team facing one of the worst rush defenses in the league, Benson could be given one more shot to perform, but Peterson could still come out of this smelling like a rose and put up pretty decent numbers this weekend.

WRs

Stud – Lee Evans BUF: With J.P. Losman back at the helm of the offense, Evans is once again enjoying a late season surge. Evans is benefiting the most from an improved running game in Buffalo and could put up a multi-touchdown game, as the Dolphins have allowed fifteen receiving touchdowns this season.

Dud – Braylon Edwards CLE: Even as much as this pains me, as I have him in several leagues, Edwards is going to have a tough game against the Steelers. In the first game of the season, he only posted three receptions for 49 yards against the Steelers and I doubt he does much better than this in this game. Of course the team was playing revolving QBs in that first game.

Sleeper – Chris Chambers SD: Since his arrival in San Diego, Chambers has slowly begun to build an on-the-field relationship with Philip Rivers. In the first game, he was targeted five times by Rivers and that increased this past weekend to ten. The Rivers-Chambers connection is just starting to grow and could be a major boon for his fantasy owners come playoff time.

TEs

Stud – Donald Lee GB: Lee got paid this past week and looks to start earning his new paycheck in the coming weeks. The Vikings secondary is better than advertised, as mentioned earlier, but Lee has the ability to find the seam and get open for Favre. He should put up solid numbers and at least one touchdown this weekend.

Dud – Tony Gonzalez KC: Gonzalez is having another solid year, as should be expected from this exceptional tight end. However, he faces his Achilles heel this weekend in the form of the Denver Broncos. The last time Gonzo had a 100+ yard game against the Broncos was in Week 4 of the 2001 season, since than he has matched up against them 11 times for only 391 yards and two scores.

Sleeper – Bo Scaife TEN: Scaife has fallen from grace the last several weeks, but the Titans need to get the passing game in gear before teams decide to focus solely on the running game. Young and Scaife have a history at Texas, so it could be this connection that gets rebuilt against a below average Jacksonville secondary.

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