As the season progresses and players begin to feel the wear and tear of a 16-game schedule, fantasy owners face a problem they didn’t face in the first few weeks. The NFL injury report lengthens each week, which forces owners to make hair-pulling decisions in their lineups. Problems cannot be solved on the waiver wire, so roster depth and viable bench options become the key to victory.

As Week 5 approaches, many guys may see little to no action due to lingering injuries that limited their practice time. Philadelphia’s Brian Westbrook is nursing a sprained ankle from two weeks ago. Cincinnati’s Carson Palmer has a sore throwing elbow. Baltimore’s Willis McGahee has rib problems, and Big Ben has a whole slew of battle wounds in Pittsburgh. Read more »

This Oakland Raiders situation has turned into a real mud slinging party. By the time Lane Kiffin’s firing disappears from the headlines, we will have heard from every former Raiders player, coach, towel boy, janitor and secretary about how [fill in the blank] Al Davis is as an owner. This is what happens when your coach-firing news conference turns into a public pimp slapping. People are going to have opinions.

Monte Poole of the Oakland Tribune points out that Davis seems to be learning from his mistakes and plans to hand over more football control. This franchise, the way I see it, isn’t light years away from contending. It just needs a little jolt, one that would come from Davis taking a step back from the football operations. Read more »

Ocho Cinco promises to kiss the star in Dallas.

Miami tries to slay another AFC giant.

Defending champs suspend their biggest playmaker.

Bills and Titans are unbeaten.

A big-time NFC East clash. Yeah, just another week in the NFL.

After a solid 8-5 record in Week 4, Raisin’ Brant currently sits at 32-27-1 against the spread this season. I am feeling a big week ahead … let’s take a look at the picks! Read more »

Two of the most outspoken, flamboyant, and egotistical wide receivers will be on the same field this Sunday in Dallas. For Chad Ocho Cinco (formerly Chad Johnson) and Terrell Owens, Week 5’s Bengals at Cowboys matchup will be much more than just a regular season game.

The media in both Cincinnati and Dallas has feasted on the two loud-mouth receivers, who have offered up a mixed smorgasbord of both complaints and trash talk all this week.

The Bengals’ Ocho Cinco has promised to “kiss the Dallas star” on the field in Texas Stadium this Sunday, and has even asked for at least nine rows of seats for his family and friends to see the game. Read more »

Last week we told you to start players like Steve Slaton, Corell Buckhalter, Isaac Bruce and Roddy White in the flex position. Those players, among others, rewarded their fantasy owners with good results. Players that are hot, getting a chance because of injury, or at least assured touches are always useful for the flex spot and as bye-week or injury replacements.

Regardless, every week owners are put to the test with the critical decisions in the flex spot that can determine the outcome of your game. If you have guys like RB DeAngelo Williams going against a struggling Chiefs run defense or WR Amani Toomer, who is stepping up as New York’s primary receiver, feel comfortable putting them, among the eight others below, into the flex slot in Week 5.

Read more »