What's up with Witten in Big D? Ryan is struggling, there are a boatload of changes at the running back position and MJD is the lucky one to match up against the Bills this week.
The Colts hang onto top spot, barely, but the top four teams are starting to separate from the pack in the TSN.ca NFL Power Rankings.
Notes
- Cowboys TE Jason Witten may be tight with QB Tony Romo, but the results aren't showing on the field, as Witten has but one touchdown on the season and has been kept under 55 yards for six straight games. On the other hand, WR Roy Williams had his first 100-yard receiving game with the Cowboys (and first since Nov. 2007) in last week's loss at Green Bay.
- In the last five games, Falcons QB Matt Ryan has thrown seven touchdowns and ten interceptions.
- Broncos rookie RB Knowshon Moreno ran for a career-high 97 yards at Washington last week, perhaps an indication that he's ready to carry more of the offensive load in the second half of the season.
- Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles seized the starting job, post-LJ, running for 103 yards on 18 carries at Oakland.
- Oakland RB Michael Bush ran for 119 yards against the Chiefs, but who knows, from week-to-week, which of the Raiders runners (Justin Fargas and Darren McFadden are there for consideration too) is going to get the bulk of the carries?
- Bears TE Greg Olsen has 12 catches for 146 yards and three touchdowns in the last two games.
- An afterthough for much of the season, Bengals WR Laveranues Coles has 11 catches for 139 yards in the two weeks since Cincinnati's bye.
- Bucs QB Josh Freeman has run for 56 yards on 11 carries in his two starts, an added benefit that makes him worth considering in deep leagues.
- Saints RB Reggie Bush rushed for 83 yards on six carries against St. Louis -- the third-highest rushing total of his career and most since rushing for 97 yards at Seattle in October of 2007. This comes as Saints starter Pierre Thomas is struggling, being held to 50 yards or fewer in three of the last four games.
- Ryan Fitzpatrick has been named as the Bills' starting quarterback, despite not passing for more than 125 yards in any of the three games he's played this season. Best of luck to wide receivers Lee Evans and Terrell Owens.
- Bills rookie S Jairus Byrd is a serious ballhawks, snaring eight (!) interceptions in the last five games.
- Redskins second-year TE Fred Davis has 14 catches for 154 yards in the last three games.
- Eagles WR Jason Avant nearly doubled his season-high with 156 receiving yards against the Chargers. He's not a primary option, however, so don't expect a duplicate performance in the near future.
Injury Replacements
- Jason Snelling is set to take over the bulk of the rushing duties for the Falcons while Michael Turner is out with a sprained ankle. In his last two games, Snelling has run for 129 yards on 25 carries so, while he's no Burner, he's capable of making a contribution against the Giants this week.
- While Ricky Williams figures to get the bulk of the carries in Miami with Ronnie Brown out of the lineup, Lex Hillard could also see some carries in the Dolphins' backfield.
- As long as Eagles RB Brian Westbrook is out, there will be touches for rookie RB LeSean McCoy and FB Leonard Weaver in the Philadelphia offence.
- Should the Bengals rest Cedric Benson, due to the hip injury he suffered last week, it could present an opportunity for newly-signed Larry Johnson to get involved in the offence at Oakland this week. Johnson has 938 career rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns against the Raiders, his highest totals against any team.
- Justin Forsett stepped in for Julius Jones and rushed for 123 yards against the Cardinals, giving him a lead on Louis Rankin to get the majority of touches while Jones is recovering from a bruised lung.
- Chiefs WR Dwayne Bowe is serving a four-game suspension, which will give Chris Chambers an opportunity to develop chemistry with QB Matt Cassel. Those in deep leagues may want to keep an eye on rookie WR Lance Long, who has a modest 12 catches for 104 yards in the last three games, as well.
- Redskins RB Ladell Betts rushed for 114 yards against the Broncos, showing that he still has what it takes to be a workhorse back, so he should get plenty of touches against the Cowboys this week.
- Picked up from the Eagles in the Will Witherspoon trade, WR Brandon Gibson made the most of his first playing time, catching seven balls for 93 yards against the Saints as he took over for Keenan Burton, who suffered a season-ending knee injury.
Matchups to Watch
- Pittsburgh's league-best run defence going against Jamaal Charles and the Chiefs.
- Cincinnati's second-ranked run defence matching up against an Oakland offence that can't pass at all and has three capable runners.
- San Francisco takes the league's third-best run defence to Green Bay, challenging Packers RB Ryan Grant. Of course, Green Bay's fourth-ranked run defence will roll out the welcome mat for Frank Gore, too.
- Buffalo's league-worst run D goes to Jacksonville, fresh off allowing Titans RB 200 yards from scrimmage and hoping to keep Maurice Jones-Drew in check.
- Tampa Bay's 31st-ranked run defence squares off against the Saints, who pass it better and have been struggling a bit on the ground lately.
- Washington has surrendered the fewest passing yards per game (162.7) in the league, so the Cowboys' Tony Romo may not be in for a big day.
- The Giants' have the league's second-best pass defence and are coming off the bye as they host the Falcons, and struggling QB Matt Ryan.
- The Jets own the NFL's third-best pass defence, and face Tom Brady and the Patriots. Brady has passed for 1395 yards and 13 touchdowns in the last four games.
- If the Browns' Brady Quinn can't generate a passing attack against the league's worst pass defence, the Lions, then all hope is pretty much lost, right?
- Tennessee's much-maligned pass defence, ranked 31st, will face a tough test against Houston QB Matt Schaub and WR Andre Johnson.
Scott Cullen can be reached at Scott.Cullen@ctv.ca