LestersLegends.com

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By Mr. Destiny
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SAN DIEGO CHARGERS @ KANSAS CITY CHIEFS:
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Curtis Brinkley will be the most sought after waiver claim tomorrow after providing a spark the Chargers needed. He finished with 43 yards rushing and a score along with 24 yards receiving. Ryan Mathews exited the game with a groin injury after posting 112 yards which gave way for Brinkley to play. The Chargers are already without Mike Tolbert so Brinkley does warrant a claim since it looks like he will be the number two back next week if Mathews or Tolbert miss time. Once they are both healthy it will be interesting to see what happens. Malcom Floyd looks to have returned to relevance again with his second 100+ yard game out of his last three starts.Phillip Rivers may have caused the Chargers the game but do not give up on him now. He continued the poor play we’ve seen from him this season in the first half but the second half ignited him and we saw the old Rivers for the first time all year. The Bolts are notoriously slow starters so stick with them and you will be rewarded the second half of the year.
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Jackie Battle is far and clear the Chiefs best back and looks to have relegated Thomas Jones to nothing but mop up duties. DexterMcCluster has been the change of pace back and Battle is showing the durability needed to stay on the field and limit Jones’ touches. If he is still out there, Jon Baldwin is another must pick up. Baldwin scored his first touchdown and helped take the pressure offDwayne Bowe in the process. The Chiefs finally have that second true WR option and Matt Cassel should benefit for it going forward.Cassel finished with 261 yards with a score and 2 interceptions, but will have better match up’s down the stretch. The Chiefs look like the most complete team in this division and are legitimate contenders.
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OTHER NEWS:
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Tashard Choice was signed by the Washington Redskins today and has the potential to make an immediate impact given the poor play of both Helu and Torain.
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Hakeem Nicks’ MRI revealed nothing but a strain but Nicks will be considered “day to day” moving ahead.
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T.J. Houshmandzadeh worked out for the Raiders today and will most likely be signed since Carson has stated his want to have him in the slot. Housh will immediately become the most polished receiver on this team and the only one who has a true rapport with Palmer. He is a huge risk and I don’t expect big numbers at first, but Housh could be a guy who helps you along if your team looks to be in the playoff hunt when that time comes.
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Kevin Kolb is considered “day to day” with turf toe and the mood seems gloomy on if he will be available week 9.
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Ahmad Bradshaw apparently tweaked an old injury to his ankle and is not expected to practice this week . If it were nothing to be concerned about then the Giants would have brushed it off and labeled it as just a mild sprain. The fact that it may be damage to an area with previous scar tissue and which caused him to miss games is a bit concerning. I am no doctor, but initial reports are building my confidence in his availability this week.
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FOR MORE IN DEPTH GAME REVIEWS GO TO WWW.THESPORTSPARLOR.COM AND CHECK OUT MR. DESTINY’S ARTICLES.

Time for another edition of Fantasy Football Out on a Limb. I scour the rosters to select a player who I feel will outperform a higher profile player in that given week. I base my decisions on matchups, how the players are trending, and the ever-important hunch. To mix things up I’ll occasionally do some two on one matchups or even pit RB or WR duos against each other. Sometimes I’ll spot a player some points.

Scoring
6 points for rushing or receiving TD
4 points for a passing TD
0.1 points per yard for rushing or receiving
0.05 points per passing yard.

Last Week:
Donovan McNabb over Tony Romo:  Loser – McNabb 11.9, Romo 30.65
Thomas Jones over Cedric Benson:  Loser – TJ 18.4, Benson 24.9
LaDainian Tomlinson over Pierre Thomas:  Winner – LT 7.3, PT 4.4
Austin Collie over Miles Austin:  Loser – Collie9.6, Austin 29.1
Santonio Holmes over Steve Smith +4:  Loser – Holmes 6, SS 13.9 (9.9 actual +4)
SS: Joseph Addai over Adrian Peterson:  Loser – Addai 12.7, AP 18.9

Regular Picks:  1-4
Super Stretch Picks:  0-1
Overall:  1-5

Season Record
Regular Picks: 16-18
Super Stretch Picks:  1-6
Overall: 17-24

Week 8 Picks

Quarterback

Kyle Orton over Eli Manning
Baltimore’s pass defense isn’t what it used to be and Orton has developed a nice connection with Brandon Marshall and Tony Scheffler. Eli is going to be blitzed heavily by the Eagles, which could lead to some early mistakes.

Running Backs

Steven Jackson over Michael Turner
Steven Jackson has yet to score this season, but something tells me he scores multiple TDs against the lowly Lions. Turner faces the Saints, who gave up three scores to Ricky last week, but for the most part has been solid against the run this year.

Kevin Smith over Ray Rice
S-Jax isn’t the only RB that should excel in the Rams-Lions game. Kevin Smith should put up solid numbers as well. Rice will be challenged by Denver’s #3 run D.

Wide Receivers

Mike Sims-Walker over Greg Jennings
Sims-Walker killed Tennesse last time out with 2 TDs, just like all #1 WRs have done this year to the Titans. Jennings hasn’t performed like a #1 WR of late.  The Vikings did a good job with Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes last week, plus Green Bay’s line will have their hands full with Jared Allen and the boys.  I don’t like Jennings this week.

Brandon Marshall over Larry Fitzgerald
Like I said, Baltimore has been vulnerable against the pass and Marshall is motivated by a contract extension that appears close. Fitz has been good, not great, this year and faces the league’s #1 pass defense.

SUPER STRETCH

Matt Forte, Chris Johnson, Steve Slaton over DeAngelo Williams
In order to make up for my poor Super Stretch start, I’m rolling the dice by picking three Sophomore RBs to topple the superior D-Will (Chris Johnson may have more points, but most came in that one game). Forte (#31 ranked Cleveland), CJ (#13 Jax), and Slaton (#32 Buffalo) draw better opponents than DeAngelo (#1 Arizona).

Putting the final piece of your fantasy football puzzle together

Bye weeks are here.  I’ve uncovered some guys you can plug in to your lineup if you are dealing with byes, an injury, or tough matchups.   Check back following the games to see the stat line of guys profiled.

QB
David Garrard - Cincinnati is decent in terms of yardage allowed ranking 8th with 191.1 ypg.  However, they are 30th with 13 TD passes allowed.  That fits David Garrard’s M.O. for the week.  I don’t expect a huge yardage day out of him, but I would expect multiple scores.  I wouldn’t be surprised if he ran one in as well.
Stat Line:  23 of 38 for 229 yards, INT, 6 carries for 23 yards

RB
Kevin Faulk - For some reason I think the Patriots will rely on their Old Reliable Kevin Faulk this week as they take on the rival Indianapolis Colts.  Faulk will pick up yards both on the ground and through the air. 
Stat Line: 10 carries for 60 yards, 5 catches for 38 yards 

Tim Hightower - It appears that Hightower’s role in the Offense will increase.  He is always a threat to score, and with additional carries, he could finally put up some respectable yardage.  He’s facing St. Louis, so a nice fantasy day could be in store for the big man.
Stat Line: 22 carries for 109 yards, TD

WR
Greg Camarillo - Miami faces Denver this week, who is 28th in the league with 240 passing yards allowed per game.  Camarillo is averaging 4.5 receptions per game.  They will probably be playing from behind so I expect Camarillo to get his hands on 7 or 8 passes for about 70 yards.  He could even find his way into the endzone, which would make him that much sweeter.
Stat Line:  11 catches for 111 yards

Reggie Williams - After catching 10 TDs last year, Williams waited until Week 8 to catch his first one this year.  He was streaky last year catching three TDs in four weeks on two occasions and four straight games with a TD to finish the year.  He faces Cincinnati this week so it’s not unlikely that he catches one of Garrard’s aforementiond TD passes.
Stat Line:  2 catches for 12 yards.  Sorry.

TE
Donald Lee - Think the Packers noticed that Dallas Clark scored two TDs vs. Tennessee on MNF?  I do.  He has just four catches to past two games.  My guess is Green Bay tries to get their big man going this week, especially if Ryan Grant struggle at the goal line.
Stat Line:  3 catches for 22 yards.  Sorry.   

K
Dan Carpenter - The teams that allow the most FGs are either on bye (NO, SF, SD) or they are facing the top scoring kickers (Carney, Gostkowski, Akers).  I had to dig a little deeper, but I found Dan Carpenter who faces Denver.  The Broncos have allowed 16 FGs (23rd in league) and 59 points (21st).  Carpenter is 8 for 10 on FGs and 17 for 17 on PATs.
Stat Line:  4 FGs, 2 PATs 

DEF
Arizona - The Cardinals face St. Louis, who despite looking better in recent weeks, has allowed 24 Sacks (27th in the league).  That doesn’t bold well for them since Arizona is tied for 6th in the league with 19 Sacks.  They should be able to get Bulger to the ground, as well as force some turnovers.
Stat Line:  2 Sacks, 2 INTs, Fumble, TD

Check back after the games to see an updated stat line.

Tight Ends
Tony Gonzalez - 6 catches for 79 yards, TD
Antonio Gates - 6 catches for 96 yards, TD
Billy Miller - 7 catches for 82 yards
Dallas Clark - 7 catches for 94 yards, 2 TDs

Written by LEV

Observations and Predictions…
LEV from Crazy Colored Glasses checks in with his look back at Week 7 and a preview to Week 8.