When picking your starters each week, one thing that must be considered is the matchups. We've taken each game and broken down the matchups for you here. 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 Peyton Manning is playing the toughest pass defense in the league, he's got a tough matchup that week. He's also your starter unless you're sitting on Donovan McNabb Let's jump to it. Great Matchups � Defenses will have major problems with the offense in these games New Orleans Passing Game vs. The Detroit Defense (Great Matchup) Aaron Brooks is having a great season. He currently sits at #5 on the quarterback's list by fantasy points scored, and has connected with his receivers 62 times (104 attempts) for 710 yards and 7 touchdowns, with 4 interceptions. He also is utilizing his scrambling skills, going by ground 15 times for 50 yards and a touchdown. Both Dont�' Stallworth (12 receptions for 165 yards and 3 touchdowns) and Joe Horn (20 for 270 and 1 touchdown) are in the top 15 of fantasy players at the wide receiver position. This week, they travel to confront a very weakened opponent, the Detroit Lions. The Lions' defense is a sieve - they are at the bottom of the league (29th) surrendering 288 yards per game and 7 receiving touchdowns so far this season, and are ranked 31st in the league in overall defense, surrendering 405.3 yards per game. This week, they are missing starting LB Brian Williams (broken ankle), probably are without starting safety Brian Walker (toe injury) and may not have the services of cornerback Eric Davis, either. Fellow cornerback Jimmy Wyrick is nursing a sore knee, and linebacker Barrett Green has a sore elbow to contend with. That's a lot of defensive personnel to do without (or have playing at less than 100%) while attempting to defend the Saint's excellent receivers. The only problem Aaron Brooks is likely to have this week is deciding which wide open guy he should throw the ball to - he and his compatriots should have a great Sunday. Jacksonville Passing Game vs. The New York Jets Defense (Great Matchup) The New York Jets defense ranks in the bottom third of the NFL, currently #24 against the pass and surrendering 231.3 yards per game. The defensive unit has gotten zero support from the offensive team, and they are struggling as a result. Even tackling has become a problem, with the ballyhooed tandem of linebackers Mo Lewis, Sam Cowart and Marvin Jones as guilty as any of the other players. This week the Jets visit the Jacksonville Jaguars - a team that is finding it's feet again in 2002 after a disappointing 6-10 campaign in 2001. Brunell has been throwing the ball well (548 yards for 4 touchdowns and 1 interception thus far), Fred Taylor isn't hurt and is getting his game back, and Jimmy Smith continues to play a dominant game at wide receiver. Patrick Johnson and Bobby Shaw are doing some good things as well, allowing Smith some room to find holes and seams in opposing defenses. The Jaguars look very capable, and the Jets look just awful so far in 2002. Expect that to be true of this game, too. Oakland Passing Game vs. The Tennessee Defense (Great Matchup) Rich Gannon and the Oakland Raiders come into week four rested, healthy and off of a huge passing game vs. the Steelers two weeks ago. They have a fine receiving corps, headlined by Rice and Brown but also featuring Jerry Porter, the hot young prospect who is making opposing defenses make tough choices about coverage in the secondary. This week the Raiders welcome a smarting Tennessee secondary to town. Starting CB Andre Dyson is struggling with a lingering hamstring injury, and a hip contusion he received in last week's game against the Browns. Dainon Sydney, the veteran backup to Dyson, is still working to recover from a torn ACL in his left knee. Sydney didn't dress for the game, so it was rookie Mike Echols stepping in for Dyson when he went down. The Browns marched down the field twice, scoring and sending the game into overtime (where they eventually won the game), largely because Echols was victimized repeatedly by Couch and Dennis Northcutt. This problem was especially evident on the game-tying touchdown when Echols blew the potentially game-winning touchdown on Northcutt, and gave up the score. If Dyson can't go on Sunday, the Titans could be in big trouble. Even with Dyson on the field most of the time, the Titans are ranked 25th in the NFL vs. the pass, giving up an average of 240.7 yards a game and 8 td's over three games (that's the second-most passing td's allowed over that time-span in the NFL). The Raiders should easily carve up the Titans' secondary on Sunday. New York Giant's Passing Game vs. The Arizona Defense (Great Matchup) Kerry Collins is on his game in 2002, with 931 yards of passing under his belt in three games and a 2-1 record. His fantasy points ranking (#16) is depressed by a lack of passing touchdowns (only 1 to go with 4 interceptions), but given his accuracy (67.0% completions) and the weapons he has to employ - Amani Toomer, Ike Hilliard, Jeremy Shockey and Tiki Barber - that number should come up quickly. This week, the Giants go play in the heat of Arizona, and face the NFL's 28th ranked pass defense, surrendering an average of 276.3 yards per game and 4 receiving touchdowns so far this season. The Cardinals clearly miss their starting CB Duane Starks, who is out with a groin injury. Coming off a huge win over the Rams, the Giant's sleep-walked to an unexciting 9-6 victory vs. Seattle last week - at least they know their kicker, Matt Bryant, is for real, he's 9 for 9 kicking field goals. This week, the Giants' should have ample opportunity to notch some touchdowns against Arizona. Miami Passing Game vs. The Kansas City Defense (Great Matchup) Is there a secondary anywhere in the NFL this season that is more porous than the Chiefs? The answer to that question is no. The Chiefs rank dead last in the NFL in terms of passing yardage allowed per game, to the tune of 357 yards surrendered per game (1089 total, so far). They have also given up the most receiving touchdowns in the NFL over the regular season, 10 so far and counting. The team ranks dead last in the NFL in total defense, giving up 452.3 yards per game, overall. Also, the Chiefs may be without their starting cornerback Eric Warfield (calf injury) and nickel back Ray Crockett (hamstring) - both are listed as questionable by coach Vermeil. The backup who would start in Warfield's place, William Bartee, has been burned so many times that he's carbonized, and the depth behind Crockett is comprised of Taje Allen and Corey Harris. Let's just say the prospects for improving the unit's performance are dim. Overall, the Chiefs surrendered 411 yards week 1, 450 yards week 2, and 496 yards week 3. See the trend in those numbers? This week, the Chiefs welcome the Miami Dolphins to Arrowhead Stadium, and they can't be looking forward to it. Jay Fiedler is efficient, poised and in control of Norv Turner's offense, hot rookie TE Randy McMichael is forcing defenses to respect the Dolphin's tight end position for the first time in years, and Oronde Gadsden is making spectacular circus catches as usual. Fiedler is expected to play on Sunday despite the swollen-and-bandaged right index finger he currently sports (Fiedler hurt the finger in the first quarter of last Sunday's game, and still finished 16 of 30 for 185 yards in the win). He characterized the injury as day-to-day. The entire Dolphins offense is firing on all cylinders, and should roll over the Chiefs' defense without much effort. Sunday's game will look like a race between a Ducati motorcycle and a Schwinn bicycle - uphill. This is one of the sweetest passing match-ups of the season for Fiedler and company. Good Matchups � Defenses will struggle to stop the offense in these games Philadelphia Passing Game vs. The Houston Defense (Good Matchup) The Eagles are on a roll, and their quarterback Donovan McNabb is soaring above all the other NFL quarterbacks at #1 on the fantasy points list heading into this week's matchup with the Texans. James Thrash is his #1 target, pulling down 14 for 219 yards and 3 touchdowns, and Antonio Freeman is coming on strong with 12 for 207 and snagged 1 touchdown in the most recent game, a pasting of Dallas. Todd Pinkston remains a dangerous presence on the field as well, and burned the Cowboys for two touchdowns last week. This week, the Eagles welcome the expansion Texans to town, and are ready to tangle with Dom Caper's tough defense. The Texans have held opponents to a mere 168.7 yards per game (6th best in the league) so far in 2002, and only 3 receiving touchdowns. Their defense remains healthy, thus far in the season, and is the mainstay of the club. McNabb has the hot hand right now, and Veteran's stadium is a tough place to play, so the edge in this one belongs to the home-team Eagles - but it not a decisive edge, given the Texan's veteran defense. Cleveland Passing Game vs. The Pittsburgh Defense (Good Matchup) Whether the man under center is Kelly Holcomb or Tim Couch, the Cleveland Browns are enjoying success attacking their opponents through the air. Last week, it was Couch's turn to shine, throwing for 326 yards, 3 touchdowns and only 1 interception against the Tennessee Titans (currently 25th in the league defending the pass, surrendering 240.7 yards per game). This week, an even worse passing defense welcomes Couch and his compatriots to Pittsburgh. The Steelers have been shellacked by Tom Brady and Rich Gannon, and are currently 31st in the league in passing defense, giving up 324.5 yards per game on average. The Browns bring 3 of the current top 10 fantasy receivers into this game with them (Andre Davis, Quincy Morgan, Kevin Johnson) and also last week's hero, Dennis Northcutt. Johnson was reported to be limping after the game Sunday, but declared himself fine and that he'd be ready for this weekend's game. That's weapons a plenty with which to fire off a barrage of passes, just as the Patriots and Raiders did before them. The Steelers are currently very vulnerable to the passing attack, an area where Cleveland is so far excelling. Unless something miraculous has happened with the defensive personnel/coaching staff of the Steelers over the bye week, the advantage lies with Couch and company. They should have a strong day in Pittsburgh. Chicago's Passing Game vs. The Buffalo Defense (Good Matchup) Jim Miller and the Bears' receivers are playing well - Miller shows up as the #12 fantasy football quarterback this week, with 676 yards on 58 completions for 5 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. Marty Booker is tearing up leagues nation wide, sitting at #2 on the receivers list with an impressive 343 yards on 21 snags, with 2 touchdowns. Dez White is effective, with 91 yards on 8 grabs and one score so far. David Terrell and Marcus Robinson are also pressing for more balls, so Miller has got plenty of targets in Chicago. This week Miller and company face the Bills at home, and they will probably enjoy their visit. The Bills are mediocre defending the pass, averaging 202.7 yards per game surrendered (19th in the NFL), and have given up 7 receiving touchdowns thus far in 2002. At least the Bills' defense is healthy - not a single person is on the injury report this week. In this matchup of quality receivers vs. a middling defense, expect the Bears to enjoy success - they will need to, if they are going to keep pace with mad-bomber Bledsoe and company! Buffalo Passing Game vs. The Chicago Defense (Good Matchup) Drew Bledsoe, the mad bomber, and his cadre of excellent receivers are on fire in 2002. Bledsoe leads the league in passing yardage, with 1017 yards in three games. Combined with 6 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions, that puts him at #4 on the quarterback's fantasy points list. Both Peerless Price (#1 fantasy receiver) and Eric Moulds (#5 fantasy receiver) are monsters - each has 25 receptions and 2 scores - and Josh Reed the #3 guy is solid with 13 balls for 155 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Bear's passing defense suffered a big blow last week, losing dime defensive back, rookie Bobby Gray (out for season with a wrist injury), in a secondary already without starting CB R. W. McQuarters (knee injury). They are ranked 17th in the league, surrendering 197.3 yards per game and 5 touchdowns so far in 2002. Bledsoe and crew are going to be too hot to handle for the depleted Bears, who will have a long day chasing Price, Moulds and Reed about the field. Tampa Bay's Passing Game vs. The Cincinnati Defense (Good Matchup) Tampa Bay is coming into this game on a roll, having crushed the Rams on Monday night. Brad Johnson is efficient and careful with the ball, having tossed 75 completions for 688 yards and 3 touchdowns with 0 interceptions over 3 games. That puts him at #15 on the quarterbacks' fantasy points list so far. Keyshawn Johnson remains a stranger to the end zone, but fellow wide receiver Keenan McCardell has sniffed pay-dirt once and they have split 25 receptions evenly, 13 for Johnson and 12 for McCardell. The balance is helping keep triple teams off of Johnson's neck. This week the Bengals stumble into town, weary and footsore already from an 0-3 start. Surprisingly, they are playing the pass fairly well, giving up only 171.0 yards per game (but a lot of touchdowns, 6 so far) - however, this could be because the Bengals offense is losing the field position battle consistently and giving the opposition short fields to trample over their defense before scoring. Starting CB Artrell Hawkins may not be able to go for the Bengals, he has a calf injury that is limiting him in practice this week. What can you say about the Bengals - the more the NFL changes, the more they stay the same. Johnson and Johnson should enjoy their visit to Cincinnati. Seattle Passing Game vs. The Minnesota Defense (Good Matchup) Seattle's Trent Dilfer is his usual, steady self this season. He has thrown 45 completions for 470 yards, one touchdown and one interception in the early going. Not flashy numbers, but steady. Darrell Jackson is the #1 guy in the lineup, catching 20 balls for 235 yards. Koren Robinson is doing a workmanlike job at #2, with 11 catches for 128 yards. The problem with the offense is that it's just not scoring very much. This week, though, a very vulnerable Vikings' secondary comes calling in Seattle. The Vikings are ranked 30th in the league, giving up 310.3 yards per game through the air and 6 touchdowns in three games. The defense is hurting, too, LB Henri Crockett is out with a dislocated elbow, LB Patrick Chukwurah is suffering from a chest injury, S Willie Offord has an injured groin, and CB Tyrone Carter is battling an injured back. Plus the team has to deal with a side-show all week, thanks to Randy Moss. Trent Dilfer is a crafty veteran who knows how to exploit a defense's soft spots. Look for him and his team mates to have a very productive outing against the Vikings. Neutral Matchups � The Defense and Offense are fairly evenly matched in these games Detroit Passing Game vs. The New Orleans Defense (Neutral Matchup) Hey, Joey Harrington did not stink against the Packers. Yes, he threw for 4 interceptions, and yes, he was under the 50% completion threshold, but at least he managed to toss a couple of touchdowns and keep his club in the game. This week, his receiving corps may finally get a boost, Bill Schroeder has managed to practice with his sore ribs and may finally get on the field. Tight end Mikhael Ricks is less likely to play (or play effectively if he does go) because of a bruised rotator cuff and shoulder. This, just in time to greet the New Orleans' Saints, who are 3-0 and on a roll. One of the weaknesses of the Saints, though, is their pass defense. The suspect secondary is surrendering 250.3 yards per game (27th in the league) and also has given up 6 receiving touchdowns in the first three games. Cornerback Keyuo Craver is out with a knee injury, but otherwise, this unit is fairly healthy - just not playing pass defense very well. The struggles of a rookie quarterback starting his second game in the NFL will mask the deficiencies of the Saint's secondary in this contest. The twin advantages of a healthy team and experience will even the playing field for the Saints' defenders this week. Green Bay's Passing Game vs. The Carolina Defense (Neutral Matchup) Brett Favre is his usual self in 2002, and heads into week 4 the #3 fantasy football quarterback. He has had a variety of weapons to utilize in the passing game, with the emerging Donald Driver, a rejuvenated Terry Glenn, speedy rookie Javon Walker and steady tight ends Bubba Franks and David Martin. This week, though, the cupboard is looking more bare than usual, with David Martin still struggling to overcome the after-effects of a concussion, Terry Glenn struggling with recurring head-aches, and Javon Walker likely out with a quadriceps injury. If Glenn can't go on Sunday, the Packers will start Donald Driver and Robert Ferguson at wide-receiver. Karsten Bailey would be their #3 guy in this Glenn-less scenario. The offensive line is in turmoil due to injuries to Marco Rivera and Earl Dotson, so Favre may feel a little more pressure than usual as well. Believe it or not, the Panthers (who have played Baltimore, Tampa Bay and Minnesota) are ranked 2nd in the league in terms of pass defense. They are giving up a stingy 146 yards per game, and only 2 touchdowns so far in 2002. Mike Rucker is absolutely on fire, sacking every quarterback in sight (3 last week, and 6 total tackles with 2 forced fumbles), and the secondary was good enough to send Daunte Culpepper into screaming fits last Sunday. The $50,000-fined-man, Randy Moss, was good for all of 4 catches for 16 yards. They're ranked # 4 in Fantasy Points Allowed to QBs and # 3 in Fantasy Points Allowed to WRs. Throw out your pre-conceptions about the Panthers - they are for real in 2002. The Panther's defense is good enough to level the playing field facing the sure hall of fame quarterback Brett Favre in this contest. The Carolina Passing Game vs. The Green Bay Defense (Neutral Matchup) Kudos to head coach John Fox - Rodney Peete was the right call. He isn't taking the fantasy football world by storm (#21 in terms of fantasy points scored in 2002), but he is playing solid, dependable football, and makes the passing attack credible enough that Lamar Smith is finding room to run. Muhsin Muhammad and Steve Smith have almost 400 yards in receptions between them, and 1 touchdown apiece in the early part of the season. Heck, last year the top two receivers on the team had 3 touchdowns all season. This week, the situation is altered because Muhsin Muhammad is probably out with a bad hamstring. Steve Smith (5 receptions for 81 yards and a touchdown last week) will have to team up with Wesley Walls to provide the passing attack this week, as no other players on the roster have more than 5 catches. Unless one of the back-up receivers elevates their game (Karl Hankton or Isaac Byrd), the passing offense will be rather one-dimensional. The Packers boast the 15th ranked passing defense in the NFL, averaging 193.7 yards allowed per game in 2002, and have surrendered 5 touchdowns through the air so far. Their secondary took a big blow, though, when starting S Antuan Edwards went down with a broken arm last week. His replacement is Matt Bowen, who has started one exhibition game this season. Given the loss of Muhammad from the Panther's squad, the mediocre nature of the Packers passing defense, this matchup could go either way. The outcome will be determined by the Panther's back-up receivers and whether they can contribute to the team or not. The Saint Louis Passing Game vs. The Dallas Defense (Neutral Matchup) What is it with the (formerly) blue-chip NFC West quarterbacks this year? Jeff Garcia is struggling in San Francisco, and Kurt Warner is flat-out horrible in St. Louis. Warner is 19th on the fantasy points list for quarterbacks - behind Kelly Holcomb of the Cleveland Browns and Mark Brunell of Jacksonville, each of whom has only played 2 games this season. That sentence is giving fantasy football players nationwide an upset stomach. Isaac Bruce languishes at #47 on the receivers' list, and Torry Holt is at #18 due to a dearth of touchdowns (although he does have 318 yards). The numbers don't tell the whole story. Watching Warner's lame ducks wobbling and tumbling through the air on Monday night did, though. Whether it's his thumb, or throwing mechanics, or a mental block - bottom line, Warner is throwing some ugly passes. Making things worse will be All Pro Offensive Tackle Orlando Pace's calf injury. Pace will be out 2-3 weeks with a torn calf. He'll be replaced by free agent acquisition Grant Williams. Williams is a solid player, but he's no Orlando Pace. Not to mention OT John St. Claire is battling a hip flexor while guard Adam Timmerman is nursing a strained knee. The Dallas Cowboys defense is currently ranked 22nd in the league, with an average of 217.3 yards per game allowed. However, they are allowing receiving touchdowns in avalanches - 7 so far in 3 games, and 4 last week to Donovan McNabb. If Warner and Martz can right their boat, then the Rams have the personnel to wax the Cowboys like McNabb and the Eagles did. If, though, is a mighty big word in this context. This looks like an even matchup of two struggling teams. Minnesota Passing Game vs. The Seattle Defense (Neutral Matchup) A shambles - that is the term to describe the Minnesota passing attack week 3 against the Panthers. As if being 0-3 weren't bad enough, the Randy Moss X-factor is back at work - first he and Daunte Culpepper have a screaming match on Sunday, and then Moss gets arrested for an altercation with a traffic officer Tuesday. Distractions, distractions - at exactly the time the Vikings need to concentrate on their next opponent, the Seahawks. The Seahawks, by the way, aren't playing bad pass defense this season (they are very bad against the run, however) - Seattle has surrendered an average of 185.7 yards per game, and only 3 receiving touchdowns. Starting cornerback Shawn Springs is questionable with a foot injury heading into the game Sunday. If you're a gambler, Randy Moss appeared to make a heartfelt apology to the team and fans Thursday. He does seem to have the support of his teammates. One could make the case that he'll take out his frustrations on the field and play like he's got something to prove. Normally, the passing matchup between the Seahawks and the Vikings would belong to the Vikings based on their talent. But if your talent isn't playing up to it's potential, then it's just wasted talent. This matchup is a toss-up - anybody's guess as to whether the Vikings show up mentally or not. If they don't, a hungry Seattle will spank them. The New England Passing Game vs. The San Diego Chargers (Neutral Matchup) Tom Brady leads his club into San Diego riding a three game winning streak in which he has thrown for 973 yards and 9 touchdowns (only 2 interceptions). He leads the NFL in touchdown passes, and is second only to Drew Bledsoe in terms of passing yardage. Color me impressed, how about you? Three of the Pats' wide receivers are in the top 25 in terms of fantasy points scored so far this season (Troy Brown, Deion Branch, and David Patten). Brown, coming off a monster 16 for 176 yards and 1 touchdown performance was held out of the last quarter and change of the team's overtime victory due to an impact between his knee and a defender's helmet, but he's fine and is expected to play on Sunday. On the other side of the ball are the Chargers, with the NFL's top ranked pass defense, holding opponents to 132 yards passing and only 2 receiving touchdowns in 3 games. Ryan McNeil, Alex Molden and company are really clamping down on the competition's receivers. Back-up SS Vernon Fox was injured in the Arizona game, his status is still unknown for Sunday. Starting SS Rodney Harrison hopes to return for the first time since the season opener as he recovers from a groin pull. The question is, how "real" are these 3-0 Chargers? They've beaten up on Cincinnati, Houston and Arizona, but none of these teams are likely to even sniff the playoffs in 2002. New England's offense has nuked everyone they've played, including the supposedly tough Pittsburgh and New York Jets defenses (though these teams look pretty suspect in 2002, too). Brady is definitely for real. He and the Patriots own a 12 game winning streak heading into Southern California. We'll see about the Chargers� Denver's Passing Game vs. The Baltimore Defense (Neutral Matchup) Denver's Brian Griese finally looks comfortable in Denver again this season. He is playing very efficient football (51/77 for 532 yards, 6 touchdowns and 2 interceptions), and checks in at #11 as far as fantasy points scored by a quarterback this season. Rod Smith has been productive, with 15 catches for 163 yards and 2 touchdowns, and Ed McCaffrey has added 7 grabs for 96 yards and 1 touchdown so far this season. As you know by now, Griese's dog nearly took him out Wednesday night and he's battling a sprained ankle. X-rays were negative but it was serious enough to hold him out of Thursday's practice. Steve Beuerlein took all the reps with the first team. You'll remember that Beuerlein was a St. Louis missed FG away from replacing Griese not long ago. Griese says he'll play Monday night but keep an eye on this one. They face a stingy Baltimore defense, one that is ranked fourth in the NFL in terms of passing yardage surrendered (162.5 yards per game, on average) and which has allowed only 1 reception for a touchdown in their first two games. The Broncos are on a roll, having already beaten NFC powerhouses San Francisco and St. Louis, and squeaking by the Bills last Sunday. They have a host of weapons to utilize against the Raven's defense. This looks like an even matchup, with Baltimore enjoying home-field advantage and the Broncos a building momentum, the two units will clash for 60 minutes of hard-hitting football. Tough Matchups � Defenses should be able to contain the offense in these games Tennessee's Passing Game vs. The Oakland Defense (Tough Matchup) Steve McNair's numbers through three weeks are O.K., he's put up 602 yards passing, 5 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Only 2 of those touchdowns have gone to his wide-outs, though (1 each for Kevin Dyson and Justin McCareins), and headliner Derrick Mason has 17 catches for 258 yards (a 15.2 yards per catch average), but no touchdowns. Neither Dyson or McCareins has over 100 yards (60 and 17, respectively), and neither average even 9 yards per catch. Eddie George is the second most prolific receiver on the team, with 12 grabs for 94 yards and a touchdown. It's not exactly an explosive passing game. This week the Titans are reeling from a tough loss to the Browns, in which McNair barely managed to crack 100 yards passing (107) and Eddie George led the team with 35 yards receiving. That's not much to show for 60 minutes of football. The Oakland defense is fresh heading into week 4 (an early bye week 3 helped them out), and is ranked #8 in the league in passing defense, surrendering 172 yards a game through the air to Seattle and Pittsburgh in two dominant performances. The Raiders did suffer a huge loss to their team when All-Pro LCB Charles Woodson (perhaps the best in the NFL at his position) was lost to a broken right shoulder - an injury he actually played through vs. the Steelers. His back-ups are veteran Terrance Shaw and rookie Philip Buchanon, the 17th pick in this years draft. Neither one is a bad choice - but neither one of them is Charles Woodson, either. No word yet on who Callahan will start, but it will probably depend on whether the Raiders decide to use a blend of zones (the veteran Shaw's experience would likely be preferred in this scenario) or more man-to-man coverage (Buchanon's athleticism would tip the scales in his favor). Whichever choice the team makes, the left side of the defense is likely to see more balls in this game than it has in a long, long time. If Woodson were in the picture, this matchup would be a defensive slam-dunk. Without him, the Raiders are still the better unit, and enjoy the advantage of playing at home. Dallas Passing Game vs. The St. Louis Defense (Tough Matchup) The question is, what Dallas passing game might we be referring to in the tag line? It certainly seems tough to find one at times this season, as Quincy Carter has done a disappearing act in two of his three games so far. 131 yards and an interception against expansion Houston; 201 yards and an interception in an outright humiliation at the hands of Philadelphia - that's what you call disappearing. Against Tennessee, Carter faired better, 240 yards and his lonely two touchdowns on the season came in that game. In the losses he's been sacked seven times, in the win, only once. This week the Cowboys go to play another team that is a huge disappointment in 2002, the fallen-and-can't-get-up St. Louis Rams. Stout against the run, the Rams are a lot softer against the pass, ranking 23rd in the NFL while giving up 222.3 yards per game and 4 touchdowns on the season. The absences of CB Dexter McCleon (hamstring) and LB Tommy Polley (groin injury) aren't helping matters any. However, this match-up is more about Quincy Carter vs. himself and the offensive line vs. themselves than it is the Cowboys vs. the Rams. If Carter falls apart when the Rams pressure him on blitzes, then Galloway and Bryant are in for another tough day. If he keeps his head, or if by a miracle his line manages to actually pass block, then the receivers might enjoy some success. Maybe. Arizona's Passing Game vs. The Giant's Defense (Tough Matchup) In Arizona, it seems that almost all passes go to David Boston. Boston has been limited by an ankle injury but he practiced better Thursday and hopes to be ready to go Sunday. If he's not at full strength, the Cards will have to rely on MarTay Jenkins and Frank Sanders (7 total receptions between the two of them in 2002) on Sunday. This possibility dims Jake Plummer's chances of moving up from his current spot at #14 on the quarterback's fantasy points list. The Cardinals will face their old-time foes the Giants on Sunday. The Giants bring to town a ninth ranked passing defense that is giving up 177 yards per game on average this season, and a miserly 2 touchdowns in three games. Except for reserve S Darnell Dinkins, the secondary is in good shape, with cornerbacks Will Allen and William Peterson ready to clamp onto whoever the Cards send on the field. This looks like a rough Sunday to be a Cardinal's fan. Plummer and company will have a hard time moving the ball if their #1 playmaker is at less than full strength. Kansas City Passing Game vs. The Miami Defense (Tough Matchup) The Miami Dolphins got good news about their starting cornerback Patrick Surtain, who is nursing a bruised left knee and was unable to go for the first time in five seasons this past Sunday. Barring a setback, Surtain will be available to help out his mates against Trent Green and company this week. That's good news, because though the Dolphins have only surrendered 2 touchdowns through the air, they are largely mediocre in their pass defense, sitting at 20th in the NFL after three games, giving up 208.7 yards per game. Given that two of their three opponents this season field struggling offenses (Detroit and the New York Jets), there is reason for concern about the defenses' vulnerability to the pass. Kansas City's aerial attack has been strictly mediocre this season. Trent Green ranks 13th out of NFL quarterbacks in terms of fantasy points scored, and has as many int's (5) as touchdowns. Eddie Kennison is the tops among Chiefs receivers at #17 overall, with 10 grabs for 191 yards and 2 touchdowns. Gonzalez is his usual All Pro self, at #2 among NFL tight ends (9 for 138 and 2 touchdowns), though he did struggle last week with his wrist injury. This offense goes through Priest Holmes first, everyone else second. This week look for Sam Madison and Patrick Surtain to make it tough on the Chiefs' wide-outs while the rest of the defense largely concentrates on containing Priest Holmes and Tony Gonzalez. The challenge for Trent Green will be to exploit what openings the defense provides in the passing game, and not turn to ball over to the aggressive Dolphin's secondary (3 int's vs. NYJ last week). This looks like a tall order for the inconsistent Chief's attack. The advantage lies with the Miami defenders in this matchup. Pittsburgh Passing Game vs. The Cleveland Defense (Tough Matchup) Many words spring to mind when fantasy owners think about Kordell Stewart and Plaxico Burress' season so far - disappointing, over-rated, and horrible are all accurate depictions of their performance thus far. Stewart has 3 touchdowns and 4 interceptions in 2 games, a mere 443 yards of passing, and has rushed for all of 26 yards (and 1 touchdown). Plaxico Burress has netted exactly 2 of those receptions for 21 yards. Hines Ward has been a bright spot, at least, and Antwaan Randle-El shows lots of potential. The Cleveland pass defense is right in the middle of the NFL pack, currently sitting at #14, surrendering 192.7 yards per game on average. They are coming off a momentum-building win over the Tennessee Titans, though, having held Steve McNair, Eddie George, Kevin Dyson and Derrick Mason to a mere 107 yards of passing yardage (and two touchdowns). Is the defense, which is in the process of integrating several new starters and lacking key linebacker Jamir Miller (out for the season) beginning to jell? It certainly looked like it against the Titans. As head coach Butch Davis pointed out, the new guys (MLB Earl Holmes, OLB Darrin Hambrick (Miller's replacement), DE Kenard Land, and S Robert Griffith) are starting to communicate well with their team-mates; grasping their new defensive system and coaches; and are making effective halftime adjustments. The team is also relatively healthy, with back-up MLB Brant Boyer (injured left leg) being the only person who was significantly hurt in the game against the Titans. In this matchup between a defensive team on the rise and an offense in tatters, the Browns have a clear advantage over the struggling Steelers. New York Jets Passing Game vs. The Jacksonville Defense (Tough Matchup) How bad has Vinny Testaverde played so far this season? He is currently behind Kordell Stewart and Quincy Carter in terms of fantasy points scored in 2002 - and Kordell has played one less game� The first Jet receiver to show up on the receiver's list makes his appearance at #41 (Wayne Chrebet). Moss and Coles have been absolutely worthless, so far. The lone bright spot on the entire team is TE Anthony Becht, whose appearance at #3 on the tight end's list is the result of his 2 touchdowns on 9 receptions for 90 yards. Bottom line here is that the offense is playing horribly. The line stinks, therefore the running backs are getting stuffed, Testaverde is getting pounded, and he has no time to throw to his receivers. The offense has not scored a touchdown in their last 5 quarters of play - and only one touchdown in their last 8 quarters of play. The Jaguars are not stellar at pass defense this season, they rank #18 against the pass surrendering 199.5 yards a game after two contests. They hope to get starting CB Jason Craft back this week, he is still struggling with a deep chest bruise. If Craft can't go, Kiwaukee Thomas will get the nod in his place. The story line in this one, though, is all about the Jets' pathetic offense. They have yet to play a good game in the regular season. Unless the Jets can pull it together, the Jaguars will crush them just like Miami and New England have done in the past two games. The advantage goes to the fresh and rested, home-team Jaguars in this contest. Bad Matchups � Defenses will cause major problems for the offense in these games Cincinnati's Passing Game vs. The Tampa Bay Defense (Bad Matchup) 203 completions out of 428 attempts for a 47.4 completion percentage, 2095 yards, 5 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Those are Akili Smith's career numbers over the past 3 seasons. Michael Westbrook's back is bothering him, Danny Farmer's knee will probably keep him out of the game, so it's likely Peter Warrick and T.J. Houshmandzadeh will be the ones stretching out to try and catch Smith's passes. Poor guys. The Buccaneers aren't particularly good at defending the pass (212.3 yards per game allowed, 21st in the league, but only 2 touchdowns) but they are good at creating interceptions, especially Derrick Brooks (3 in 2002) and Ronde Barber (none this season so far, but 16 in his career). Brooks is questionable with a tweaked hamstring, and CB Brian Kelly is battling an injured shoulder. But, surely, nobody would want to miss a chance to pad their stats playing the Smith-led Bengals. Have fun on Sunday, Brooks and Barber. Baltimore's Passing Game vs. The Denver Defense (Bad Matchup) The Baltimore Ravens do not have a high-octane passing offense. In fact, they don't even have a mid-grade octane passing offense. Chris Redman is completing 50% of his passes (36 of 72 for 359 yards, one touchdown and 2 interceptions). Their best receiver this season, Brandon Stokley, has 10 catches for 140 yards and 0 touchdowns. Now, into town comes Ray Rhodes and the Denver Broncos, who have shut down the Rams and the 49'er attacks in 2002, and contained the prolific Bills and Drew Bledsoe to 23 points. Granted, the Broncos have given up a lot of passing yards - 245.7 yards per game, on average - but they've only surrendered 3 receiving touchdowns. The Ravens are not nearly in the class of the Rams, 49'ers or Bills when it comes to aerial attacks. Look for the Broncos to improve their yardage numbers dramatically against the anemic Ravens and Chris Redman. San Diego's Passing Game vs. The New England Defense (Bad Matchup) Drew Brees is playing solid fundamental football. His modest 504 yards on 47/78 passing has yielded 3 touchdowns and 2 interceptions over 3 games. His number one target, Curtis Conway, is catching a ton of balls (17 for 244 yards and 2 touchdowns, 2 rushes for 25 yards and another score) and is really looking sharp. The problem is, none of the other receivers do. Tim Dwight has caught 4 for 61 yards and TE Stephen Alexander has managed 6 for 47 yards. One dimensional is the best description of the Charger's passing attack. But this isn't the worst news for Brees. His starting center, Corey Raymer, is out for the season and an undrafted and untested rookie, Jason Hall, starts this week against the Patriots. The rest of the line is dealing with an assortment of injuries, as well. Think the Patriot's Roman Phifer, Tedy Bruschi, Richard Seymour and company will test that rookie a little bit on Sunday? Perhaps come at him quite a bit? With the offensive line looking ragged and the league's fifth best pass defense in town, Brees will have a long, long day on Sunday. The Patriots will have a decisive advantage in this one as Lawyer Milloy and Ty Law shut down Conway and company while the linebackers savage Brees and Tomlinson. Houston Texans Passing Game vs. The Philadelphia Defense (Bad Matchup) If you're David Carr, the prospect of this game has to feel like being a deer caught in the headlights of a Mack truck. After the San Diego Chargers got through sacking him to a pulp in week 2, Carr said he'd climb into an ice-bath with a snorkel and not be seen for a few days. The expansion club's receivers have managed to go out and snag only 28 of Carr's passes in 3 games, for a sum total of 331 yards, 2 touchdowns - with 4 interceptions, so far. Guess what, Philadelphia plays solid passing defense, sort of like the Chargers, and loves to rush and pressure the quarterback even more. Currently 11th in terms of yardage allowed on the season at 179.3 yards per game, the stingy Eagles have only given up 2 receiving touchdowns over that span. Carr and his compatriots will come to hate Veteran's stadium very quickly on Sunday.