FSH: THE ATL REPORT

October, 11th, 2008 11:43pm PST


THE ATL REPORT

Storylines this week:
**Tony Romo suffers a broken pinkie, but could play Sunday for the Cowboys. Original reports speculated Romo could miss up to a month, but the Cowboy's quarterback was able to do some throwing this week giving the fantasy faithful some hop he could be under center come Sunday.
**The Chiefs will take the field this Sunday without their high-priced running back Larry Johnson. Both RB Kolby Smith and rookie RB Jamaal Charles are expected to split carries, but we would lean with the rookie to see more action in the passing game.
**With the Colt's running back Joseph Addai ruled OUT for Sunday, running back Dominique Rhodes becomes this week's waiver wire special.
**The Brown's tight end Kellen Winslow returned to practice this week and has a chance to play this Sunday after being hospitalized for several days with an undisclosed illness.
**Both QB Matt Hasselbeck and QB Carson Palmer will sit this Sunday, but we don't recommend inserting either Seneca Wallace or Ryan Fitzpatrick this week (their replacements).
**The Steelers won't have running back Willie Parker this Sunday, but they could still have more. That is running back MeWelde Moore, who is expected to start for Parker against the Bengals.
**Already a high powered offense, could the Saints really get better. With TE Jeremy Shockey and WR Marques Colston both expected to play Sunday, they just may!

THIS WEEK AROUND THE LEAGUE
[By the numbers]

NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE


ARIZONA
The Cardinal's quarterback Kurt Warner has passed for 1,708 yards (284.6 yds/game ranks 2nd in the NFL) and has thrown 12 touchdowns. His 102.8 passer rating ranks 5th in the NFL.

ATLANTA
The Falcons running back Michael Turner is 2nd in the NFL with 597 yards rushing and has 6 rushing touchdowns in six games this season. Turner is averaging 4.7 yards per carry and has 128 carries for the season (21.3 carries/game, on pace to finish with 340 carries).

CAROLINA
The Carolina's defense is currently ranked 3rd overall in the NFL. The Panthers are only allowing 158 yards passing per game this season, which ranks 2nd in the NFL. Their 5.7 yards per pass attempt ranks best with the Titans.

CHICAGO
The Bears defense has had it's struggles with the pass this season, ranked 27th this season. Against the run, however has been a different story the Bears are ranked 5th (74 yards/game) and are just allowing 3.5 yards per carry.

DALLAS
The Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is tied for the NFL lead with 14 touchdown passes this season. Romo also has 24 passes of 20 yards or more which ranks second behind Brees.

DETROIT
The Lions have the 30th ranked rushing offense this season averaging only 77 yards per game and have only scored twice on the ground in five games. The team's leading rusher is rookie running back Kevin Smith with 42 carries for 195 yards and two touchdowns.

GREEN BAY
The Packers bode the 7th ranked pass defense this season. Through their first six games the defense has recorded 11 interceptions tops in the league. Charles Woodson leads the team with four picks, with two for touchdowns.

MINNESOTA
The Vikings passing game has come to life in recent weeks. Their leading receiver Bernard Berrian is averaging 19.8 yards per reception this season. He has 22 receptions for 436 yards and two touchdowns.

NEW ORLEANS
The Saints quarterback Drew Brees leads all NFL passers with 1,993 yards passing and is currently on pace to finish with 5,314 yards (a NFL record). The Saints are the number one passing team and rank 4th in points scored this season.

NEW YORK GIANTS
The Giants have the top ranked offense in the NFL, averaging 419 yards of offense per game. They are also tied with the fewest fumbles committed with 3. Running back Brandon Jacobs is averaging 5.7 yards per carry, most of any back with at least 50 carries this season.

PHILADELPHIA
The Eagles rookie receiver DeSean Jackson has been a major contributor in the passing game this season. Jackson has 29 receptions with 433 yards receiving, but has scored only 1 touchdown.

ST. LOUIS
The Rams struggling offense is currently ranked 31st in the NFL. They have only scored 62 points (12.4 pts/game rank last in the NFL) and are averaging just under 12 firstdowns per game (last in the NFL).

SAN FRANCISCO
The Niners running back Frank Gore is currently ranked 4th in rushing this season with 524 yards. Gore also has 22 receptions with 196 yards receiving and has scored five times (4 rushing, 1 receiving).

SEATTLE
The Seahawks were one of the leagues top passing offenses, but this season that has been a struggle. The Seahawks are ranked 31st in passing this season with only 4 touchdowns passes (ranked 24th) and a 49.7% completion (last in the NFL).

TAMPA BAY
The Buccaneers are not dominating on defense, but their defense is making plays. This season the secondary has picked off 11 passes tops in the league and defensive end Gaines Adams has two of those.

WASHINGTON
The Redskins have been solid this season and at 4-2 they are very much in contention in the NFC East. Washington is led by the NFL's leading rusher Clinton Portis. Portis has gained 643 yards (leads NFL) and his six touchdowns are 2nd in the league.

AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE


BALTIMORE
While the Ravens are ranked the number one overall on defense they are only 2-3 this season. The defense has been solid allowing only 220.8 yards per game. The defense is allowing only 66 yards and 2.8 yards per carry this season.

BUFFALO
The Bills will be bringing their 9th ranked defense back from the bye week to face the Chargers this Sunday. The Bills have the 8th ranked pass defense and have allowed only 9 pass plays of 20 yards or more this season (tied for fewest in the league).

CINCINNATI
The Bengals offense has been inept this season struggling each week. Their pass offense is ranked 27th averaging only 115.7 yards per game this season and the run game is ranked 31st in the league. Their 3.1 yards per carry is worst in the league.

CLEVELAND
The Brown's offense has struggled somewhat this season, but their pass defense has been a bit more steady. The Brown's are ranked 11th against the pass and have 9 interceptions (ranked 4th) this season.

DENVER
The Broncos have seemingly become more of a passing team this season than there traditional run team. They are led by their standout wide receiver Brandon "Optimus Prime" Marshall who leads the NFL with 43 receptions (on pace for 129), 521 yards, and 3 touchdowns.

HOUSTON
The Texans run defense has been less than impressive this season. The defense is ranked 24th in the league and allows 4.5 yards per carry. The Texans have also allowed 10 rushing touchdowns this season, most in the NFL.

INDIANAPOLIS
The Colts passing has yet to be this season what fantasy owners are accustomed to seeing. In five games this season WR Reggie Wayne leads the team with 33 receptions for 468 yards and 4 touchdowns.

JACKSONVILLE
The Jacksonville Jaguars are not quite the same running team they were a year ago. This season they are only ranked 15th averaging 116.5 yards on the ground, but have scored 7 rushing touchdowns (tied for 3rd in the NFL with 5 other teams).

KANSAS CITY
The Chiefs have struggled all season with the run allowing 5.0 yards per carry and more than 180 yards per game. The defense is ranked last in the NFL against the run and has allowed 11 runs of 20 or more yards, most of any team.

MIAMI
The Dolphins have the number 15 ranked rushing offense this season, averaging 120 yards per game. The teams leads the NFL with 8 rushing touchdowns this season. RB Ronnie Brown leads the team with 336 rushing yards this season.

OAKLAND
The Raiders have had very little to cheer about or get excited about this season, but through the first six weeks of the season they have the 4th ranked run offense. The Raider's running backs are averaging 4.6 yards per carry and 30 attempts per game.

PITTSBURGH
The Steelers are 4-1 this season and have the 2nd ranked defense. Leading their charge this season are LB James Harrison, with his 6.5 sacks and three forced fumbles and LB Lamar Woodley with 5.5 sacks of his own this season.

NEW ENGLAND
The New England Patriots last year's highest scoring and top ranked offense are not quite up to par this season. The Pats are currently ranked 21st overall and are averaging only 17.8 points per game (ranked 25th) this season.

NEW YORK JETS
The Jets quarterback Brett Favre continues adding new chapters to his legacy. Through five games Favre has thrown 13 touchdowns (2nd in the NFL) and has a passer rating of 103.0 this season. Favre's 71.3% completion is best in the NFL.

SAN DIEGO
The Chargers quarterback Phillip Rivers is the top rated passer in the NFL with a 109.4 rating this season. Rivers has thrown 14 touchdowns (tied for NFL lead) and completed 9 passes for 40 yards or more (tied for NFL lead) this season.

TENNESSEE
The Titans have the 5th best pass defense in the NFL allowing only 172 yards passing per game. As a unit the Titans have picked off 10 passes this season tops in the AFC. Their 5.7 yards per pass attempts is also best in the league tied with the Giants.


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