Titans QB Kerry Collins has been coming on strong lately.

Professional football may be the most complicated sport in terms of game planning and strategy, but that doesn’t mean that the guys playing it are geniuses. Sometimes I feel like the duck in Aflac commercial after Yogi Berra utters a few nonsensical yogisms – ack!

 

How about Donovan McNabb not knowing that football games can end in a tie?  The Eagles quarterback was caught by surprise when last week’s game against the Bengals ended 13-13 after 15 minutes of OT.  That rule has only been on the books since 1974.  Quarterbacks are supposed to be the smart ones, right?

 

Even the referees don’t understand the rules.  Referee Scott Green admitted that the zebras goofed by overturning a Pittsburgh touchdown on the final play of their victory over the Chargers.  Safety Troy Polamalu returned a lateral for the score, but the officiating crew ruled that it was an illegal forward pass.  Too bad they don’t understand the rules – the Steelers had the right to decline the flag and take the points.  So instead of an 18-10 Steelers win we get an 11-10 Steelers win.  Anyone placing a legal wager on the Steelers got robbed as did anyone with Polamalu in their IDP league. Aren’t the referees supposed to know the rules?

 

Snap

 

Tampa Bay RB Earnest Graham is done for the year. Graham lasted only one play against the Vikings Sunday and injured his ankle badly enough to go on IR.  Cut him in all leagues.  Cadillac Williams will probably take Graham’s roster spot, but don’t expect him to start.  Warrick Dunn is going to be the primary beneficiary.  The Bucs face the Lions this Sunday.

 

Eagles RB Brian Westbrook skipped practice Wednesday, feeling the cumulative impact of ankle, knee and rib injuries.  Make sure he practices on Friday before you start him. He has a tough match-up against the Ravens, but you have to play him if he’s starting. He is Brian Westbrook, after all.

 

Giants RB Brandon Jacobs also skipped practice Wednesday.  He got an MRI on his knee and it showed no damage other than swelling.  If the swelling goes down enough by Friday for Jacobs to practice, then he’s a “go”.  If not, then Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw will split carries against the Cardinals.

 

The Rams have played without RB Steven Jackson in three of their last four games.  In the one game he did play Jackson had to sit out nearly the entire second half. The groin injury must be pretty bad because he is already ruled out for Sunday.  That makes Antonio Pittman the starter against the Bears.

 

Jacksonville WR Matt Jones returned to practice after missing last week’s game with a thigh injury. He should be safe to start Sunday against the Vikings. 

 

Baltimore WR Derrick Mason is not practicing due to a shoulder injury. Then again he didn’t practice much last week and still played pretty darn well with seven receptions for 82 yards.

 

The often-injured Kellen Winslow is questionable for Sunday’s game. The Cleveland tight end injured the shoulder Monday night and will have only a shortened week to recover.  Pick up Steve Heiden in case Winslow has to miss his third game of the season.

 

Houston QB Matt Schaub’s knee injury is worse than first believed.  His recovery is behind schedule and according to coach Gary Kubiak he could be out another month. If you are still holding a roster spot for Schaub, let him go. Sage Rosenfels will continue to start and has a good match-up against Cleveland on Sunday.

 

Crackle

 

It should be interesting to see how the Ravens respond following a 30-10 thumping at the hands of the Giants.  I think that proud defense will bounce back at home and give the Eagles fits.  The Philadelphia line is not nearly as good as the Giants’ so expect no running room and a lot of pressure.  Westbrook, if he plays, is still worth starting because he is an excellent receiver. All the other Eagles players, including McNabb, Correll Buckhalter, Kevin Curtis, Reggie Brown, DeSean Jackson should be benched if you have viable alternatives.

 

The Cardinals’ running back situation seemed clear three weeks ago.  Tim Hightower replaced Edgerrin James as starting running back and presumably would stay there for good.  Not so fast – after one good game, Hightower has had two stinkers (22 and 35 yards rushing).  J.J. Arrington (remember him?) outplayed Hightower last week with 61 total yards and two scores.  Hightower is still the starter, but Arrington has earned a share of the carries.  Stay away from both of them this week against the Giants and until further notice.

 

Pop

 

The winless Lions are my favorite “opposite” team.  Pick against them every week and you can’t go wrong. Tampa Bay RB Warrick Dunn will have a monster game against the Lions’ 31st-ranked run defense. Bucs QB Jeff Garcia has been throwing for a lot of yards lately, but not many touchdowns. He has only five on the year.  However, even a middling fantasy quarterback like Garcia is worth starting against the Lions’ defense.  You should also start Garcia’s favorite receiver, Antonio Bryant. He has had five or more receptions for four straight games.

 

Has Brett Favre found a new best friend?  Jets TE Dustin Keller has 14 catches and 194 yards in the past two weeks.  Among the thin crop of tight ends, Keller is worth a look this Sunday against Tennessee.

 

Titans QB Kerry Collins is saving his best for last.  He has five touchdowns over the past two weeks and is facing a Jets defense that is 28th against the pass. WR Justin Gage has hauled in three of those Collins touchdown passes the past two weeks.

 

The Chiefs’ defense will make anyone look good, even a slumping Trent Edwards. The Bills quarterback is playable against the league’s worst defense. RB Marshawn Lynch and WR Lee Evans get upgrades against Kansas City and rookie WR James Hardy becomes a viable sleeper.

 

Chiefs RB Larry Johnson is out of coach Herm Edwards’ doghouse.  Or Edwards is showcasing him for an off-season trade. Either way, he will play and Jamaal Charles will watch.  Start Johnson against the Bills on Sunday.

 

It looks like RB Sammy Morris is healthy enough to assume the lion’s share of the workload in New England. He only had five carries last week, but that was partly due to the Patriots falling behind the Jets so early.  This week, against the Dolphins, Morris is the best fantasy play for the Patriots’ running backs. Do not start Kevin Faulk. Go ahead and cut BenJarvus Green-Ellis.