Week 10 Name Calling

Name Calling is our almost-weekly feature where we help you figure out which name to call for that flex position, #3 wideout spot, or any other lineup conundrum you may be faced with. Our goal is to help you decide on borderline starters by revealing who will hit pay dirt and who will implode. None of this "start Peyton Manning" or "sit Derek Hagan" nonsense. No loving, hating, flaming, or video gaming either. Just a bit of name calling is all. For all of those in a politician fantasy league (no, I'm not talking about Elliot Spitzer), feel free to insert Barack Obama into your starting lineup. While you're at it, sit John McCain. For those of you playing fantasy football, what guys should you turn to and which should you shy away from? Who You Gonna Call DeAngelo Williams/RB Carolina: We all know that the Raiders' pass defense took a hit with the release of another DeAngelo—DeAngelo Hall. But lest we forgot how terrible their run defense is, ranked 30th in the league. Jonathan Stewart appears doubtful to play this week because of a heel injury. He hasn't practiced all week. Assuming he doesn't play, Williams should shoulder the entire load this Sunday. Looking at how inept the Raiders' offense is, I think it's safe to say that the Panthers will have the ball early and often. Marc Bulger/QB St. Louis: The loss of Steven Jackson for this week has greatly hurt the Rams' chances of winning this week, but for fantasy owners of Bulger, it can be viewed as a positive. Kenneth Darby and Samkon Gado are expected to be the main backs for St. Louis—enough said. The Rams will likely turn to their passing game a lot more because of that, and I don't blame them. Chad Pennington/QB Miami: Some say that the Dolphins, not the Packers or Jets, won the Brett Farve saga ... er ... trade because of the acquisition of Chad Pennington, following his release from the Jets. Some might be right. Pennington has given Miami that stability they needed. That's something they didn't have last year. Pennington and the Dolphins get to enjoy the Miami weather as Seattle comes to down. The Seahawks have really struggled this season, allowing over 258 yards per game and tied next to last in INT's with three. On Speed Dial (Names you should always, always call, using discretion of course. I don't want idiots saying I told them to start some dude over LDT): RBs against Detroit and Kansas City, WRs against Miami and Seattle, QBs against Detroit and San Diego. Who You Not Gonna Call Ryan Grant/RB Green Bay: It's not that hard to see that Grant has struggled mightily this year. He's started to pick it up the past few games, but that was against the likes of teams such as Indy, Atlanta, and Seattle. He gets to face the Vikings' stout run defense this week, and you know Kevin and Pat Williams are licking their chops. Literally, you think those guys got to be that size by going on a diet? Heck no, and the Packers running game will feel their wrath this weekend. Joseph Addai/RB Indy: You know I'm grinning writing this one. [Ed's note: Alex hated Addai in the preseason.] And considering I'm a Steelers fan, I'm grinning even more. A Steelers' defense that shut down both Brandon Jacobs and Clinton Portis should have no trouble shutting down Addai. Matt Forte/RB Chicago: Lots of bad running back starts this week, eh? Forte is another guy to stay away from. Despite Kyle Orton's optimism, he's unlikely to play this week. That means Rex "He's our quarterback" Grossman would start. Albert Haynesworth and the rest of the Titans defensive line should manhandle the line of scrimmage. I don't like anyone on the Bears' offense this week, and you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who did. Not On Speed Dial (Names you should always, always caller ID check and ignore, once again using discretion of course. I don't want idiots syaing I told them to bench Drew Brees): RBs against the Jets, Tyler Thigpen (not anymore...), Oakland WRs, QBs against Indianapolis