Mark Wimer/Joe Bryant - Rushing Matchups

PLEASE NOTE: This does NOT replace the Cheatsheet ranking. The Cheatsheet rankings are the final say on where we see a player for that week. The Matchup Breakdowns are simply one more tool in the box when it comes to helping choose your lineup.

Also note, just because a player has a "bad" matchup, it does NOT mean he's not a starter in your league. If Priest Holmes is playing the toughest rush defense in the league, that just means he's got a tough matchup that week. He's also your starter. In the same way, if the worst RB on your roster has a "great" matchup, that doesn't necessarily mean you start him, it just means he'll likely fare better this week than he normally would.

Bottom line, the cheatsheets are the final word.

Let's jump to it.

Buffalo's Travis Henry vs. The Oakland Defense (Good Matchup)

Buffalo's Travis Henry was not exceptional in his first fantasy outing of the season, seeing plenty of work but little success (23/75/0 rushing and 3/9/0 receiving) before exiting the game with cramps. Jacksonville did a great job defending the rush, allowing an average of 2.6 yards per carry during the game, but even so it was not an auspicious beginning for the 2004 campaign on Henry's part. Willis McGahee was adequate but not spectacular in relief of Henry (9/31/0 rushing).

Oakland's rush defense limped into 2004, coughing up 3 short plunge TDs to Jerome Bettis in week 1 (and 107 rushing yards to the Steelers). Considering that the unit was dead last in the NFL last year at rush D (allowing an average of 156.9 rushing yards per game), the 107 yards allowed was a marginal improvement - but nobody will mistake the Raiders for a stout run defense just yet. DL Tyler Brayton did turn in a nice IDP performance last week with 4 solo tackles, 1 sack and 2 passes defensed, and LB Travian Smith was 3rd among fantasy LBs with 7 solo tackles, 4 assists, 1 forced fumble and 1 pass defensed.

Oakland has some injury concerns at LB: Sam Williams (shoulder, doubtful), Napoleon Harris (knee, questionable), and DeLawrence Grant (knee, probable).

The forecast for Network Associates Coliseum in Oakland calls for a high of 71F and a low of 54F, with a 10% chance for precipitation. That sounds like great football weather to us.

Oakland is a lot softer than Jacksonville vs. the rush, and Henry has proven his toughness and ability many times. Advantage, Buffalo.

Carolina's Stephen Davis vs. The Kansas City Defense (Good Matchup)

Stephen Davis had a rough outing vs. the Packers this past Monday, rushing for 9/26/0 and catching 1 pass for 22 yards. There just wasn't much running room to be found anywhere, as the team put up a mere 13/38/0 rushing on the night - an uncharacteristically low number of attempts for the Panthers. Nobody is going to find many fantasy points in this phase of the game if the coaching staff abandons the run to that extent regularly. Their new OL isn't jelling as far as run-blocking is concerned at this early stage of 2004.

Kansas City always helps running backs find ways to succeed, though. They were 30th in the league last season allowing an average of 146.5 rushing yards per contest (18 rushing scores allowed) and started off 2004 by doing even worse, coughing up 202 yards and 2 TDs to Quentin Griffin and company last week. In IDP circles, DL Vonnie Holliday was 6th among linemen with 4 solo tackles, 1 sack and 1 pass defensed - at least someone on the D was working hard!

Unfortunately for KC, Holliday injured his groin during the game (questionable), and fellow DE Eric Hicks (ankle, not listed Wednesday) was also injured. If neither guy can go on Sunday, depth becomes a problem for the Chiefs. Several LBs are also nicked up (LB Kenyaron Fox (quadriceps) and Kawika Mitchell (ankle), both questionable). Carolina reports no significant injuries.

The forecast for Arrowhead Stadium calls for a high of 84F and a low of 69F with 0% chance of precipitation. A fine day to play a game of football is on tap.

Davis and company are likely to see a good bit more than 13 carries in week 2, and against a soft defense like the Chiefs they should experience more success than last week. Advantage, Carolina.

Kansas City's Priest Holmes vs. The Carolina Defense (Good Matchup)

Priest Holmes went on being Priest Holmes last week against the Broncos. 26/151/3 rushing on the day. Start him if you've got him.

Carolina sports a defense with a fearsome reputation, but the unit was exposed by the Packers as vulnerable last week (47/152/2 rushing on the night for the Packers) - they were tough yards, but they were there right up the gut. Last season, the Panthers allowed only 10 rushing scores all season, and averaged 107.6 yards allowed per game - Green Bay laid out a blue print for the rest of the NFL to follow against these guys during 2004. Despite the huge number of rushes the Panthers dealt with last week, no Carolina DL or LB made the top ten among his IDP peers.

Neither team has significant injuries to report, although OLG Brian Waters is probable due to a biceps injury.

The forecast for Arrowhead Stadium calls for a high of 84F and a low of 69F with 0% chance of precipitation. A fine day to play a game of football is on tap.

Priest Holmes has explosive fantasy points potential each week, no matter who he is facing. Carolina was shoved around by the Packers last week, and needs to regroup. This looks like a good matchup for Holmes in the friendly confines of Arrowhead Stadium.

Green Bay's Ahman Green vs. The Chicago Defense (Good Matchup)

Ahman Green sucked it up and pounded the ball right into the Carolina Panther's teeth last week, with good results (33/119/2 rushing and 2/-3/1 receiving). He was spelled "between the 40s" by his backup Najeh Davenport, but was the focus of the offense when the team got into the red-zone. That's good news for his fantasy owners, because the rests between the 40's will impact his potential minimally and the scoring opportunities are still clearly abundant for Green. He looks like he's in midseason form right now. And with Davenport limited with a hamstring, Green might see even more work.

Chicago did a good job containing the Lions' backs last week, holding them to 30/77/0 rushing (2.6 yards per carry). The Bears were in the middle of the NFL pack in this phase during 2003, with an average of 116.6 rushing yards per game allowed (16th in the NFL). They have done some good work in this phase leading up to 2004, obviously.

LB Brian Urlacher is still bothered by a sore hamstring (not listed), but didn't miss a snap on Sunday. LB Marcus Reese is out due to his hamstring injury. Green Bay's squad is in decent shape, reporting Najeh Davenport as questionable (hamstring) and T Kevin Barry (ankle, probable).

The forecast for Lambeau field calls for a high of 77F and a low of 57F with a 20% chance of precipitation. That's some fine football weather, folks.

Green is one of the elite running backs in the NFL. Chicago is clearly improving in this area, and after this week we'll know how far they have come. Home field advantage swings the pendulum to the Packers in this matchup.

Cleveland's William Green/Lee Suggs vs. The Dallas Defense (Good Matchup)

William Green did some good things with the ball against a tough Ravens' D last week, and is making his case for the starter while Suggs recovers from his neck injury. 22/65/0 rushing and 4/27/0 receiving is not a fantasy bonanza, but it's a solid effort considering Green pulled those numbers out against the Ravens.

Dallas was shredded by the Vikings last week in both phases of the game, and didn't look anything like the 2003 defensive team that limited teams to an average of 253.5 total offense per week (89.1 rushing yards allowed on average). The Vikings racked up 136 yards rushing against Dallas last week, and they made it look easy. Dallas may be heading for some white-water on defense if they can't turn things around quickly.

Suggs is listed as questionable due to his neck injury. C Melvin Fowler has a sore ankle (questionable). Dallas' D is in good shape in this phase of the game.

The forecast for Texas Stadium calls for a high of 91F and a low of 71F with a 0% chance of precipitation. An excellent game-day forecast, that is.

Cleveland looks like an offense that is beginning to jell, and the Cowboys look just plain awful. Advantage, Cleveland.

Jacksonville's Fred Taylor vs. The Denver Defense (Good Matchup)

Fred Taylor is an all-world talent, but the Bills deploy an upper-echelon defense, so he had a quiet first game (17/61/0 rushing, 0/0/0 receiving). There is some worries about the passing game getting a jump-start, but we're certain that Taylor is going to get a lot of chances to make good things happen this week.

Denver may have won the game on Sunday night, but they were soft on Priest Holmes and company, allowing 167 rushing yards and 3 scores on the evening. That's not good run defense, folks. Considering that the Broncos were 7th in the league during 2003, allowing an average of 100.3 rushing yards per game with 11 rushing scores surrendered all season, it's indicative of a very poor performance. Although to be fair, a lot of that was Priest Holmes.

Both teams come into the game in reasonably good health, although the Broncos have some guys as questionable (LB Patrick Chukwurah, back; DT Luther Eliss, shoulder) and probable (LB Terry Pierce, knee; DT Trevor Pryce, back; and LB D.J. Williams, ankle). RB Chris Fuamatu Ma'afala is questionable due to a foot injury.

The forecast for AllTel Stadium calls for a high of 88F and a low of 74F with a 20% chance of precipitation. It should be a good day to play football.

Taylor should be able to rebound nicely in week 2, playing at home against a run defense that struggled last week. Advantage, Jaguars.

Houston's Domanick Davis vs. The Detroit Defense (Good Matchup)

Houston's offense played fairly well in this phase of the game against San Diego in week 1, especially Domanick Davis (21/87/2 and 5/70/0) - except for the 2 fumbles that he butter-fingered onto the turf. Davis needs to eliminate those ball handling errors if he is to become an elite fantasy back (he probably would have had at least one more TD if not for the drops). Tony Hollings only saw 3 carries and 1 pass in the game, so rumors of the 60-40 workload split circulated by the team during pre-season are not materializing into reality so far.

Detroit got shoved around by the Bears during week one, allowing 128 rushing yards and 2 scores to their division rivals. As the Lions gave away and average of 111.4 rushing yards per game last season (15th in the NFL) and 14 rushing scores, their mediocre performance last week comes as no surprise. They did produce some quality IDP numbers, though, with Shaun Rogers (2nd DL last week) garnering 3 solo tackles, 1 assist, 1 sack and a fumble recovery and James Hall (5th best fantasy DL) contributing 5 solo tackles, 1 assist, 1 sack, and 1 forced fumble.

James Hall fractured his left thumb last week (questionable), and LB Boss Bailey remains out (knee), but otherwise the teams are in decent health. Reserve RB Moran Norris (shoulder, probable) is listed by Houston.

This game will be played in the air-conditioned comfort of Ford Field, so weather isn't a factor.

Davis should enjoy a solid outing against the average Detroit rush defense.

Tennessee's Chris Brown vs. The Indianapolis Defense (Good Matchup)

Chris Brown tore up the Miami defense in the opening game of the season, slashing his way to a 16/100/0 rushing 1/5/0 receiving first half - and then sat the rest of the game out due to a gimpy ankle. Oh, for what might have been... the team ended the day with 36/182/0 rushing, a solid first outing to begin the 2004 campaign (although Antowain Smith needs to hold onto the ball much better than he did).

Indianapolis contained Corey Dillon in their first game of the season, but didn't shut him down (15/86/0), and ended the day allowing 82 net rushing yards and 0 scores - a good but not great effort on the part of the Indy defense. They were the 20th ranked unit in this category during the 2003 season, allowing an average of 123.8 rushing yards per game, so they did make the first step in the right direction to open the season.

Tennessee lost LG Zach Piller to a ruptured biceps in the opener, which causes a concern for their OL. Brown is listed as questionable due to the ankle injury. So keep an eye on that ankle as the week progresses. The Indianapolis defense is in good shape, listing only LB Gilbert Gardner (ankle, doubtful) on this squad.

The forecast for The Coliseum in Nashville calls for a high of 79F and a low of 63F with a 20% chance for rain. Although keep an eye out to see if Hurricane Ivan causes much trouble northward. Severe rain is a possibility.

Brown looked pretty sharp in the opener, while the Colts were mediocre in this phase. At home, we give the nod to the Titans.

New England's Corey Dillon vs. The Arizona Defense (Good Matchup)

Corey Dillon was not the focus of the Patriot's offense in week 1, for reasons of both strategy (who expected a spread passing attack on the entire first series?) and because the Patriots only had 2 RBs active they wanted to be conservative with Dillon (nobody else around to carry the ball if he went down). Dillon was effective in his limited opportunities, with 15/87/0 (a 5.7 ypc average, including a nice long run of 38 yards) rushing. He wasn't utilized in the passing game at all during week 1, a knock against him in point-per-reception leagues.

Arizona was slashed up by Marshall Faulk and company, allowing 176 yards rushing in the game (but 0 scores). The averaged 119.7 rushing yards allowed per game in 2003 (19th in the NFL), meaning that the 176 was atypically bad for this unit. It was a tough way to start the 2004 season.

DE Calvin Pace suffered a stinger in the loss to St. Louis - he's probable to play. LB Raynoch Thompson has a sore knee (doubtful), as does LB Levar Fisher (doubtful). New England's Kevin Faulk has a knee injury that is not being attended to by the team physicians as he deals with his mother's passing and the aftermath of a death in the family. He's not too likely to be available this weekend, given the circumstances.

The forecast for Sun Devil Stadium calls for a high of 95F and a low of 67F with a 0% chance for rain. In the desert heat, dehydration/cramping will be battled by both teams.

Dillon has game, while the Cardinals are soft and hurting at LB. Advantage, New England.

Arizona's Emmitt Smith vs. The New England Defense (Good Matchup)

Emmitt Smith may not have played much during pre-season, but now that it counts he is making some fantasy points for his owners. 16/87/1 rushing in the first game of the season is not going to put many teams over the top, but he's worth considering if you have early injury issues on your squad, for example. The Cardinals' offense wasn't nearly as soft against the Rams as many expected, and Smith saw some decent running room at points last week.

New England, in contrast, was surprisingly weak against the rush last week, surrendering 202 rushing yards and 1 TD to the Colts - that's 113 more yards in a game than they averaged back in 2003 (89.6), so there is reason to worry if you have their DT on your squad. They look to be seriously missing Ted Washington. Tedy Bruschi turned in a top-ten fantasy LB performance (6th) with 5 solo tackles, 7 assists, 1 interception and 1 fumble in the week 1 game.

Both teams come into this game in reasonably good health.

The forecast for Sun Devil Stadium calls for a high of 95F and a low of 67F with a 0% chance for rain. In the desert heat, dehydration/cramping will be battled by both teams.

Emmitt Smith seems to have some gas left in his tank, and the Patriots are unexpectedly soft to start 2004. In the desert heat, the Cardinals have a big home-field advantage (if not big crowds) so we like the Cardinals to have an edge in this one.

New York Jets' Curtis Martin vs. The San Diego Defense (Good Matchup)

Curtis Martin blew out of the backfield like a hurricane last week, blasting the Bengals for 29/196/1 rushing and 3/7/1 receiving. His OL looked solid, totally unlike the early 2003 version of that unit, and Martin had the pop into the hole that he used to display. He looks very, very good right now. He'll be outperforming his draft slot all season if he can keep up the good work.

San Diego was mediocre in their opener, allowing 110 rushing yards and 2 scores to the Texans. It was an adequate but uninspired performance on the rush defense's part. Last season, they averaged 138.6 rushing yards allowed per game, which makes 110 something of an improvement (it was good enough for the win, anyway). Steve Foley was an IDP force at LB, with 4 solo tackles, 2 assists, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery and 2 passes defensed. Whew!

DE Adrian Dingle hurt his quad in the opener (out) and DE Dave Ball hurt his shoulder (questionable). LB Ben Leber suffered a foot injury, as well (probable). LBs Carlos Polk (shoulder) and Matt Wilhelm (shoulder) are probable to play. There are some question-marks along the defensive front to start week 2. The Jets are in good shape.

The forecast for Qualcomm Stadium calls for a high of 74F and a low of 60F with 0% chance for precipitation. Sounds like perfect football weather is on tap.

Martin and the Jets are red hot right now, while the Chargers are banged up and not playing at the top of their game. Advantage, Jets.

San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson vs. The New York Jets' Defense (Good Matchup)

LaDainian Tomlinson last week: 26/121/1 rushing, 3/-4/0 receiving. While we'd like to see more positive results in the passing phase of the game, let's be honest - if you have him, you're going to start him every week, aren't you? So would we.

The Jets were adequate in this phase against the Bengals, and contained Rudi Johnson for the most part, ending the day with 113 rushing yards allowed and 1 TD surrendered. It was a much better performance than the norm in 2003 (average of 143.4 rushing yards allowed in 2003) - it looks like the Jets are moving in the right direction in this phase of the game. Sam Cowart was the 2nd best fantasy LB last week, with 12 solo tackles, 2 assists, and 1 forced fumble.

Both units enjoy reasonably good health at this point in the season, although the Jets list DT Josh Evans (back) and DE Bryan Thomas (hamstring) as probable for Sunday.

The forecast for Qualcomm Stadium calls for a high of 74F and a low of 60F with 0% chance for precipitation. Sounds like perfect football weather is on tap.

Tomlinson is an every-week starter, and has great prospects against the mediocre Jets' defense.

San Francisco's Kevan Barlow vs. The New Orleans Defense (Good Matchup)

Kevan Barlow was a disappointment to his fantasy owners last week. 19/76/0 rushing and 1/15/0 receiving was not what they had when they drafted Barlow as a potential game-breaking fantasy back. We say: don't panic. The offense struggled due to shoulder injuries to both QBs, allowing the Falcons to concentrate on Barlow. Brandon Lloyd didn't do much in his 13 opportunities (5/29/0), which contributed to the lack of running room. There has to be a credible passing attack to get the D to back off the line of scrimmage. We believe that will come along as the 49ers youngsters get game experience.

New Orleans was battered by the Seahawks for 169 rushing yards and 2 TDs in the opener, and that was partly due to the absence of DE Darren Howard (neck, questionable) who sat out the game. Also, DT Brian Young left the game with a hip flexor and did not return to action (probable). The Saints were not impressive during their 2003 campaign, either (140.1 rushing yards allowed per game, 27th in the league), so the soft rush D is no big surprise. Charles Grant did manage to appear in the top ten among fantasy DL last week, with 6 tackles, and 1 pass defensed (8th best DL last week).

The Saint's DL is less deep than they'd like due to injuries on the DL, and Barlow hopes that lead-blocker FB Fred Beasley can get back on the field this week (questionable). C Jeremy Newberry has a sore knee (questionable).

This game is to be played in the air-conditioning in the Superdome (if Hurricane Ivan cooperates). Weather is a factor, but not regarding game-play.

Barlow and his compatriots are still learning to execute the San Francisco offense - the soft New Orleans' defensive front should make things easier for Barlow this week, though.

Washington's Clinton Portis vs. The New York Giants' Defense (Good Matchup)

Division rivalries are intense in the NFC East, and this is a storied clash - both teams come in to renew the rivalry with new coaching staffs, new players, and a new outlook on their prospects.

Clinton Portis tore up the ballyhooed Tampa Bay defense, taking it to the house on his first carry from scrimmage, a 64 yard romp right up the middle of the field. He is a threat to score every time he touches the ball, and that is no exaggeration. His 29/148/1 rushing and 4/15/0 receiving slotted him in the top ten among fantasy RB's at #9.

The Giants' defense rolled over and played dead for the Eagles, allowing 141 rushing yards (0 TDs) in the opening defeat of the season. They are a unit that was mediocre last year (119.5 rushing yards allowed per game, on average) and don't look much improved, if at all, coming into 2004. Michael Strahan was his usual dominant self, notching 4 solo tackles and a sack for 10th among all fantasy DL last week.

The squads aren't in too much distress in the injury department. LB Carlos Emmons is questionable for the Giants (groin).

The forecast for Giants' Stadium calls for a high of 75F with a low of 60F and a 60% chance for rain. If the rain comes down hard at game time, the field may be slick and sloppy making footing/ball handling an issue.

The Redskins have an all-world back at their disposal, while the Giants are a sub-par run defense. Advantage, Redskins.

Philadelphia's Brian Westbrook vs. The Minnesota Defense (Good Matchup)

Two of week one's most potent offenses meet in this MNF game - it looks like it will be a barn-burner.

Brian Westbrook was great in his first game against the hated Giants, rushing for 119 yards on only 17 carries, and adding 3/42/0 through receptions. It was a fine way to begin the Eagles' ground assault in 2004, and landed Westbrook at #15 on the RB board last week. One big problem came out of the game, though, as first-round pick and starting RG Shawn Andrews broke his leg and is now out of the season. Jermane Mayberry slides into his spot, but the line has lost a valuable player and depth is now a problem - so much so that the team has OL Ian Allen in camp to see if he can fit in as a backup.

Minnesota easily contained the motley crew of Dallas RBs last week, allowing only 71 rushing yards and 1 TD to the committee. The Vikings were 17th in the NFL allowing an average of 117.4 rushing yards per game last year, so the strong play against Dallas is a good sign.

Minnesota's defense is in good health in this phase. So is the Eagle's OL.

The forecast for Lincoln Financial Field calls for a high of 76F and a low of 62F with a 30% chance for rain. With the remnants of Hurricane Ivan hanging around, though, who can say what conditions will look like on Monday right now? Keep an eye on that situation as roster deadlines approach later in the week.

Westbrook is a much better back than any of the players Dallas threw at the Vikings last week, but his OL is in transition to a new alignment of players. Minnesota is playing the run well right now - we think this looks pretty even going into the MNF matchup.

Minnesota's Onterrio Smith vs. The Philadelphia Defense (Good Matchup)

Two of week one's most potent offenses meet in this MNF game - it looks like it will be a barn-burner.

Moe Williams sprained an ankle (questionable) in the fourth quarter last week, and that probably means that second-year pro Onterrio Smith will be asked to carry the load against the Eagles this week (Michael Bennett continues to be sidelined by a knee injury). Smith was the 10th best fantasy RB last week, on the strength of 15/76/0 rushing and 1/63/1 receiving. Mewelde Moore had 1/8/0 and 1/8/0 rushing and receiving last week, and it doesn't look like he'll step in much during week 2.

Philadelphia's defense allowed a lot of yardage to the Giants late in their win on Sunday, ending the day giving up 170 rushing yards and 2 TDs to their victims. The Eagles were the 22nd ranked rush defense last season (129.4 rushing yards per game on average), so defense has not been a strength in the recent past. It doesn't look like the Eagles are going to change that anytime soon.

LB Nate Wayne missed the week 1 game due to a hamstring injury (probable). DE Jevon Kearse tweaked an ankle in week 1, but he's fine (not listed). DT Paul Grasmanis (Achilles, doubtful), DE Hugh Douglas (shoulder, probable), LB Dhani Jones (ankle, probable), DT Sam Rayburn (ankle, probable), and LB Ike Reese (knee, probable) are listed on the Wednesday injury report.

Onterrio Smith has the luxury of running behind one of the best OLs in the NFL, and the Eagles' rush defense is not a top unit. Advantage, Vikings.

Atlanta's Warrick Dunn vs. The St. Louis Defense (Good Matchup)

Warrick Dunn played a solid game last week, punching in two scores and gaining 63 yards on 19 carries. He did not catch a pass last week, surprisingly, but otherwise he was everything you need in a starting RB. T.J. Duckett looks like an afterthought in this system (2/6/0 rushing, 1/1/0 receiving).

St. Louis was challenged by the ageless Emmitt Smith last week, and yielded a TD and 103 yards to the Cardinals' backs to start 2004. They only gave up 9 rushing scores during 2003, making Smith's score something of a rarity. The Rams allowed an average of 123.8 rushing yards per game in 2003, so 103 in a game was a slight improvement in that department.

St. Louis lost some valuable LBs to injury last week, and they may be out for a while. Pisa Tinoisamoa dislocated his right shoulder (probable), and Trev Faulk tore a hamstring (doubtful). LB Tommy Polley has sore ribs (probable). They will have issues with depth at the position this week, most likely. DT Jimmy Kennedy remains sidelined (foot, out). Atlanta's OL is depleted coming into the game, listing T Kevin Shaffer (knee/ribs, questionable), while G Michael Moore (shoulder, IR) is done for the season.

This game is to be played in the Georgia Dome, so weather is not a factor.

Dunn is a good NFL back in a system suited to his talents, playing at home vs. an average run defense with injury issues at LB - Atlanta has a slight edge in this phase of the game.

St. Louis' Marshall Faulk vs. The Atlanta Defense (Neutral Matchup)

Marshall Faulk looked like the back he was during the Super-Bowl years, running with power and explosiveness to rack up 22/128/0 rushing and 2/17/0 receiving on what was, for him, a renaissance performance. For now, he put up the 17th ranked fantasy RB performance of the week, a respectable beginning to 2004. Steven Jackson gained chunks of ground in his chances (7/50/0) but put the ball on the carpet with his first carry.

Atlanta's defense held down the 49ers last week, stymieing Kevan Barlow's coming out party - the 49ers managed a mere 93 rushing yards and 0 TDs as a team (not what they had in mind). It was a vast improvement for a unit that averaged 144.3 rushing yards allowed per game last season - and they gave up 21 rushing scores last season, as well. Things are looking up for the defense in this phase of the game.. Two Falcon DL were in the top ten among IDP DL last week: Patrick Kerney had 3 solo tackles, 1 assist, and 5 passes defensed, while compatriot Rod Coleman had 4 solo tackles and a sack. Good plays all the way around.

G Tom Nutten (toe, doubtful) and C Andy McCollum (ankle, questionable) are listed for the Rams. LB Jamie Duncan (pectoral) and DE Karon Riley (groin) are out for Atlanta.

This game is to be played in the Georgia Dome, so weather is not a factor.

Faulk is a great back when healthy (he is), and he loves to run on turf. Although Atlanta looks improved, they will still be challenged by the explosive Rams.

Baltimore's Jamal Lewis vs. The Pittsburgh Defense (Neutral Matchup)

The big problem for Lewis is that two key players on the OL are out with injuries right now (C Mike Flynn has a shoulder/collarbone injury (out), and OT Jonathan Ogden is battling a balky knee (questionable). Also, Ogden's replacement at LT, Ethan Brooks, hurt his knee in the loss to Cleveland and is out. All the attrition on the OL means limited opportunities for Lewis to break out past the line of scrimmage. 20/57/0 rushing (vs. Cleveland, no less) is something nobody expected before last Sunday's game. That's why they play the games, folks. For now, it looks like Lewis and company have a problem on their hands.

Pittsburgh fielded the 3rd-best IDP DL last week, when Aaron Smith racked up 3 solo tackles, 1 assist, a sack, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. LB Clark Haggans was big, too, with 5 solo tackles, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and a pass defensed. They were tough on Oakland's backs, too, limiting them to 61 yards rushing and 0 TDs. There is reason to believe the Steelers are much better than their 12th-ranked rush D in 2003 (108.5 rushing yards allowed per game), at least in the early going.

ILB Kendrell Bell missed last week's game with groin and shoulder injuries, and he is questionable for this week. DE Chris Hoke has a staph infection in his arm and is doubtful. The Ravens' injury woes are detailed above.

The forecast for M&T Bank Stadium calls for a high of 79F and a low of 67F with a 60% chance of precipitation. If the rain comes down hard at game time, the ball and field could get slick.

The Ravens are known for a strong ground game, but they got off to a sputtering start. The Steelers intend to keep that engine in idle if they can - we call this a neutral matchup.

New Orleans' Deuce McAllister vs. The San Francisco Defense (Neutral Matchup)

Deuce McAllister struggled along with his compatriots in the opener against the Seahawks, notching a disappointing 29th-ranked fantasy performance in week 1, with 16/57/0 rushing and 2/20/0 receiving. The Saints never seemed able to put together a coordinated effort, and the passing game was erratic most of the day. McAllister found running room hard to find in such conditions. McAllister voiced concern about the single back sets and this week the Saints look to add a full back on more plays. We think this will help.

San Francisco, meanwhile, was dropping their opener to the Warrick-Dunn-powered Falcons, allowing 95 rushing yards and 2 scores to the Falcons as a team. It wasn't a horrible outing, but not a stout performance, either. The 49ers were stout against the run, yardage-wise, during 2003, too, allowing an average of 105.6 rushing yards per game (9th in the NFL), but Dunn's TDs killed the team. LB Julian Peterson was the 8th best IDP LB in the land last week, with 5 solo tackles, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and a pass defensed. Not bad for a guy who held out during much of training camp.

New Orleans is in good health, while Julian Peterson works to overcome a hip pointer (not listed). DE Andrew Williams remains out due to his shin fracture. DE Andre Carter (back, doubtful), while DE Brandon Whiting is questionable due to his back/shoulder injury.

This game is to be played in the air-conditioning in the Superdome (if Hurricane Ivan cooperates). Weather is a factor, but not regarding game-play.

McAllister is an elite fantasy back most weeks, and will be playing in the friendly confines of the Superdome. San Francisco fields a top rush D that stumbled a bit last week - we see this as a neutral matchup.

Miami's Lamar Gordon vs. The Cincinnati Defense (Neutral Matchup)

The Dolphins couldn't punch their way out of a paper bag against the Titans, and put up 20/65/0 as a team in the opening loss. With the twin ankle injuries suffered by Travis Minor (out) and Sammy Morris (questionable), Gordon (added to the team in the last 2 weeks via a trade with St. Louis) is suddenly thrust into the starting role coming into week 2. Behind the Dolphin's OL, that's a very dubious honor, at best. Until the Dolphins figure out a way to block the opposition, we advise avoiding the Dolphins' backs unless you are truly, monumentally desperate.

Cincinnati was horrible in this phase of the game against the New York Jets, getting embarrassed with a league-worst 219 rushing yards allowed (and 1 score). It was a bad outing even for the defense that ranked 24th in the NFL last year in rushing yards allowed (136.6).

Part of the Bengal's problem is that they are limping along without LB Brian Simmons (knee, probable), and their depth at the position is suffering due to ankle injuries to Caleb Miller (doubtful) and Landon Johnson (probable). DT Matthias Askew is out (knee). DE Robert Geathers (ankle, questionable) OT John St. Clair hurt his ankle in the Dolphins opener (questionable). Injuries are a big factor in this matchup, especially if Simmons can't go for the Bengals.

The forecast for Paul Brown Stadium calls for a high of 77F and a low of 58F with a 30% chance of rain. If the rain comes down hard at game time it could make the field and ball slick.

A weak attack meets a limping defense in this matchup. Neither side has a clear edge.

Cincinnati's Rudi Johnson vs. The Miami Defense (Neutral Matchup)

Rudi Johnson was an adequate fantasy starter last week, with 24/70/1 to his credit at the end of the day against the New York Jets. The team ran for 28/113/1 (Kenny Watson busted a 25 yard gallop) which helped the team's ypc average get to 4, but that is misleading. The OL is struggling with a key injury right now (C Rich Braham started but could not finish the game due to a knee injury, and that caused problems in the middle), and Johnson didn't have much room to roam.

Miami's proud run defense (allowed only 90.8 rushing yards per game on average in 2003) stumbled in the season opener, allowing 182 net rushing yards (0 scores, though) to the victorious Titans. They got little help from the offense in the first half while Jay Fiedler was playing himself out of a job, and Chris Brown slashed them for 100 yards by half-time. LB Zach Thomas had a top-ten IDP outing last week, with 10 solo tackles and 3 assists in the losing effort.

Miami's DT Tim Bowens missed the game due to a back injury, and he is doubtful to play this week. DT Bryan Robinson (hand), DT Dario Romero (ankle) and LB Junior Seau (quadriceps) are all probable to play. T Stacey Andrews (ankle, out) and C Larry Moore (knee) are unavailable for Cincinnati. C Rich Braham is questionable, as is RB Chris Perry (hamstring, questionable).

The forecast for Paul Brown Stadium calls for a high of 77F and a low of 58F with a 30% chance of rain. If the rain comes down hard at game time it could make the field and ball slick.

Miami has problems on offense that makes things difficult for the defense, and they are short-handed on the DL if Bowens can't play. Cincy has problems of their own right now in this phase - this looks like an even matchup.

Detroit's Kevin Jones vs. The Houston Defense (Neutral Matchup)

Kevin Jones had 70 all purpose yards in his first "real" NFL game, going 15/36/0 rushing and 1/34/0 receiving on the day. It wasn't an earth-shattering fantasy performance, but he did carry the ball 10 times more than the next closest running back - it looks like the Lions will give Jones an adequate number of touches each week.

Houston opened against San Diego and got run over for 122 rushing yards and a score as the Chargers began the long road back from their 2003 nightmare. The Texans were very soft against the run in 2003, allowing an average of 148.1 rushing yards per game (16 rushing scores). To limit Tomlinson and company to 122 rushing yards was an improvement over the Texans' typical 2003 performance.

Both teams enjoy good health coming into the game, with T Mat Joyce (elbow, questionable) the lone Lion on the injury report for this unit. DE Jerry DeLoach (ankle, probable) is the one Texan from the front 7 unit listed.

This game will be played in the air-conditioned comfort of Ford Field, so weather isn't a factor.

Jones is learning the ropes while the Texans are off to a soft start on defense - this looks like a pretty even matchup.

Indianapolis' Edgerrin James vs. The Tennessee Defense (Tough Matchup)

James and company couldn't put the World Champs down on opening night, but he had a great fantasy outing with 30/142/0 rushing and 3/29/0 receiving nonetheless. The team averaged 4.8 yards per carry with 42/202/1 rushing - it's clear the OL is doing their job in this phase of the game. He suffered two costly fumbles though so he's got to improve there.

Tennessee whipped the toothless Dolphins on Saturday, limiting them to a team effort of 65 rushing yards and 0 TDs. As the Titans averaged well under 90 yards rushing allowed per week during 2003 (80.9), they are simply playing up to their high standards for defense.

RB James Mungro has a wrist injury (questionable). LB Brad Kassell (Achilles) is out for Tennessee, while LB Rocky Calmus (back) and DE Travis La Boy (concussion) are questionable.

James is a quality back, the Titans field an elite defense, and the game is in the Titans' home stadium. We like James but this could be a tough matchup.

Pittsburgh's Duce Staley/Jerome Bettis vs. The Baltimore Defense (Tough Matchup)

The two-headed monster of Staley and Bettis helped power the Steelers to 24 points and victory on opening day, with 31/103/3 rushing as a team on Sunday. Staley garnered 91 yards, but Bettis got the glory last week with 5/1/3. We don't expect Staley to get frozen out of all the scoring opportunities every week - but it is clear Bettis is the short-yardage specialist this season.

Baltimore's Ray Lewis was the top IDP LB (again) last week, with 13 tackles, 1 assist, and 1 sack to his credit. However, his team coughed up 85 net rushing yards and a rare score (the Ravens allowed 6 rushing scores last season). They just couldn't overcome the poor play of the Ravens' offense on this particular day.

NT Kelly Gregg (out) injured his knee in the game on Sunday, and he anchors the center of the Ravens' defensive front. Pittsburgh says G Alan Faneca is probable to play through a finger problem.

The forecast for M&T Bank Stadium calls for a high of 79F and a low of 67F with a 60% chance of precipitation. If the rain comes down hard at game time, the ball and field could get slick.

The Ravens are never easy to rush the ball against, and at home on Sunday we don't expect an exception to be made for Pittsburgh.

Seattle's Shaun Alexander / Maurice Morris vs. The Tampa Bay Defense (Tough Matchup)

If Shaun Alexander can't go, Maurice Morris will see action this week: Morris' career stats in 2 seasons are 70/392/0 (a 5.6 ypc average) rushing and 7/57/1 receiving. He is considered an adequate NFL talent - in week 2 of 2003, he put up his largest single game of the season against Arizona, rushing 11 times for 67 yards. He has the skills to make good things happen in space.

Morris and the Seahawks must visit the Buccaneers in Tampa this week, so they will have their hands full with the hard-nosed defense (they only allowed 6 rushing scores during 2003). However, some chinks in the Buccaneer's armor appeared as the Redskins threw down 39/166/1 against them. Clinton Portis can make almost anyone look bad. Shelton Quarles was a top IDP performer at LB, with 10 tackles and 3 assists on the day (10th best fantasy LB).

Alexander's knee is something to watch (questionable). Otherwise, both units have relatively decent health coming into the game.

The forecast for Raymond James Stadium is for a high of 88F and a low of 73F with a 20% chance for rain. As long as Ivan doesn't hook East, it'll be a good day for football.

Morris is a good backup, but backup he is - and the Buccaneers are lurking in their home stadium, hurt by their poor game vs. Washington. Tampa will have the edge in this one if Morris starts. If Alexander is healthy enough to go, that would push things more toward the Seahawk's favor.

The New York Giants' Tiki Barber/Ron Dayne vs. The Washington Defense (Tough Matchup)

Division rivalries are intense in the NFC East, and this is a storied clash - both teams come in to renew the rivalry with new coaching staffs, new players, and a new outlook on their prospects.

Ron Dayne had more carries in the loss to the Eagles (13/45/1), while Tiki Barber had a much better fantasy outing (9/125/1 rushing, with 5/75/0 receiving). It is apparent that Dayne will be the short-yardage and goal-line back starting out 2004, while Barber is used in more situational roles and in passing situations. As we can see from Barber's performance in week 1, just because he isn't the "starting" RB, he is likely to be the best fantasy RB on the team most weeks. For those who point to Barbers' "garbage-time" production, we say "stats equals points".

Washington had no problem shutting down Charlie Garner and company last week, allowing a mere 30 rushing yards and 0 TDs in the game. That's an awesome performance in this phase of the game, regardless of how poor the OL in Tampa may be. Last year, the Redskins under the "Fun-N-Gun" regime of Steve Spurrier allowed an average of 138.6 rushing yards per game - obviously, this is a new D with a new attitude in 2004.

OL Wayne Lucier hurt his shoulder during the game last Sunday (questionable).LB Mike Barrow missed week 1 due to a knee injury (questionable). LB LaVar Arrington is probable to play despite his sore knee.

The Giants' suspect line will make the difference in this matchup as the Redskins have already shown they will blow up teams with bad blockers up front. Advantage, Washington.

Chicago's Thomas Jones vs. The Green Bay Defense (Tough Matchup)

Chicago's Thomas Jones pleased his fantasy owners last week with over 100 yards of offense combined and 2 scores (21/67/2 rushing and 6/38/0 receiving), showing his detractors that he can produce in the new Chicago offense. Time will tell how good the Chicago running attack can be, but it was a good way to kick off the season. The Bears rushed for 32/128/2 as a team (a solid 4.0 ypc average) - the OL did some nice things in this phase of the game last week.

Green Bay humiliated the Panther's RBs last week, with a choke-hold that allowed a mere 38 total rushing yards and 0 scores. It was a great performance by the Packers' defense. They were a top-ten unit in 2003, allowing an average of 106.3 rushing yards per game. Holding an NFL team with quality backs like Stephen Davis and DeShaun Foster to 38 yards rushing is spectacular work. Nick Barnett was the 4th-ranked fantasy LB in the land last week, with 5 solo tackles, 2 assists, 1 sack, 1 interception and 1 pass defensed. He was a busy guy.

Chicago's OG Rex Tucker (elbow) remains out. Packer DT Grady Jackson dislocated his knee cap on MNF and is out. DT Kenny Peterson (ankle, doubtful), LB Torrance Marshall (hamstring, questionable), LB Paris Lenon (thumb, probable) and LB Hannibal Navies (shoulder, probable) are also listed on the Wednesday injury report.

The forecast for Lambeau field calls for a high of 77F and a low of 57F with a 20% chance of precipitation. That's some fine football weather, folks.

Chicago has some good things going on offense this season, but Green Bay was downright impressive in week 1. At home, the Packers have a definite edge in this phase of the game.

Dallas' Julius Jones/Eddie George vs. The Cleveland Defense (Tough Matchup)

For whatever reason, Julius Jones stood on the sidelines and watched as the Cowboys' rushing attack staggered through a 21/71/1 performance, headlined by reserve RB ReShard Lee (5/35/1). It wasn't a pretty situation, with only Lee able to break the 4 yards per carry barrier on his chances. We believe that Jones is going to be the guy behind the QB carrying the ball this week. ReShard Lee looked fantastic, but we think Jones is the likely answer.

Cleveland shocked the Ravens last week, and a big part of that win grew from the effort of Kenard Lang, the top IDP DL last week, with 3 solo tackles, 1 assist, 3 sacks, and 1 forced fumble. The Browns held their 2003 nemesis Jamal Lewis (and company) to a mere 88 yards rushing with 0 scores. Considering how thoroughly Lewis humiliated the Browns last year, it was an impressive pay-back. There may be hope for the Browns to get out of the lower-20s in rush defense ranking this season (last year they were 23rd in the NFL allowing an average of 132.1 rushing yards per game).

Dallas' OL got worse due to injuries last week: OG Andre Gurode sprained his left MCL (questionable), while C Tyson Walter (knee, questionable) was also hurt. If both of them are limited or unavailable this week, the OL will face serious depth problems. RB Richie Anderson is questionable with a sprained knee/ankle. DT Gerard Warren strained a pectoral muscle last Sunday (questionable), DE Ebenezer Ekuban has a sore groin (questionable), and DE Corey Jackson has a sore ankle (questionable). DE Kenard Lang (elbow) and LB Eric Westmoreland (hip) are listed as probable to play. There are injury concerns to monitor on both sides of the ball in this one.

The forecast for Texas Stadium calls for a high of 91F and a low of 71F with a 0% chance of precipitation. An excellent game-day forecast, that is.

The Cowboys' running game looks chaotic and disorganized right now - it's probably best to look elsewhere for your starters, especially against a rising defense like Cleveland. Advantage, Browns.

Denver's Quentin Griffin vs. The Jacksonville Defense (Tough Matchup)

Quentin Griffin started to silence his critics in fantasy circles last week, exploding for 23/156/2 rushing and 1/1/1 receiving against the hated division-rival Chiefs. Griffin was used in every situation on all downs, except when he needed a breather after long runs. He looks firmly in charge of the Bronco's attack at this point. The Denver RB machine just keeps churning out 1000-yard rushers.

Jacksonville contained the Bills in week 1, allowing 95 yards of rushing but 0 scores in the course of a close-fought victory. The Jags were second in the NFL last year in run defense (averaging 87.9 rushing yards allowed per game, with 12 rushing scores surrendered in 16 games) - it's no surprise to see them manage the Bills' backs.

LDT Marcus Stroud was ex-rayed for sore ribs after the game (probable). Denver lists T Cornell Green as questionable due to a sore groin, as is Garrison Hearst (ankle).

The forecast for AllTel Stadium calls for a high of 88F and a low of 74F with a 20% chance of precipitation. It should be a good day to play football.

Griffin gets to challenge an elite rush defense in this game - we'll see how he manages the tough yards this weekend.

Tampa Bay's Charlie Garner vs. The Seattle Defense (Bad Matchup)

Tampa's OL is awful at run blocking folks. The team managed an embarrassing 15/30/0 rushing on the day (and gave up 4 sacks, to boot). There just isn't much to say regarding the prospects of Charlie Garner at the moment - the opposing defense is penetrating past the line of scrimmage, and he has nowhere to go with the ball. Look elsewhere for your starting RB.

Seattle's defense did a great job stuffing Deuce McAllister and friends last week, holding the Saints to 74 rushing yards and 0 TDs. They are a much-improved unit and they were pretty decent last season (14th in the NFL, allowing an average of 109.9 rushing yards per game, with only 9 rushing scores allowed last year).

The Buc's reserve OT Kenyatta Walker is battling a knee injury and was inactive last week. Seattle goes without Chad Brown (fibula, out). LB Solomon Bates (groin, questionable), DT Rashad Moore (shoulder, probable) and DE Chike Okeafor (toe, probable) are also listed.

The forecast for Raymond James Stadium is for a high of 88F and a low of 73F with a 20% chance for rain. As long as Ivan doesn't hook East, it'll be a good day for football.

A bad rushing attack crosses swords with a good-to-great D in this one. Advantage, Seattle.

Oakland's Tyrone Wheatley/Justin Fargas vs. The Buffalo Defense (Bad Matchup)

Oakland's rushing attack never got its wheels going during week 1, gaining an aggregate of 23/61/0 (a 2.7 yards-per-carry average) while spreading out the work primarily to Tyrone Wheatley (11/24/0) and Justin Fargas (7/17/0). That's horrible as far as fantasy points are concerned.

The good news is that the Raiders don't play Pittsburgh this week, but the bad news is that they play Buffalo, who wound up 8th in the NFL last season allowing an average of 100.4 rushing yards per game. The Bills opened week 1 holding Jacksonville to 83 yards and 0 rushing scores - they are right back in the saddle in 2004.

OLG Frank Middleton left the game last week due to cramps. Justin Fargas is bothered by a sore toe (questionable to play). Buffalo's front seven come into the game in decent health, with no major problems to report.

The forecast for Network Associates Coliseum in Oakland calls for a high of 71F and a low of 54F, with a 10% chance for precipitation. That sounds like great football weather to us.

Oakland has a lot left to prove in this phase of the game, while Buffalo is always tough to run on. We think this is a very tough matchup for the Raiders' backs.