Week 6: Heroes, Bums, and Sleepers

Heroes:

1. Trent Richardson (RB - CLE)
Richardson crushed Cincy in their meeting four weeks ago (145 total yards, 2 TDs), and the match-up is even more favorable this time around. Since Cleveland's defense is back to full strength, expect the running game to churn as Brandon Weeden doesn't have to sling the ball to catch up.

2. Christian Ponder and Percy Harvin (QB & WR - MIN)
Keep an eye on Harvin's status--as I write this he's questionable--but this match-up has "Season High" written all over it for both guys. The Redskins are the official punching bag for passing offenses, and if this thing ends up as a shootout (see: if RG3 shows up healthy), it'll rain fantasy points.

3. Ryan Mathews (RB - SD)
Anyone reading this could outcoach Norv Turner, but at least the Norvster wised up on Sunday night and handed Mathews a full workload. Mathews looked fresh and electric, and this week he's going against a Denver defense that is giving up 16 PPG to RBs. Ride Mathews while he's healthy.


Bums:

1. A.J. Green (WR - CIN)
Green had 7 catches for 58 yards and a TD against them four weeks ago, so what could go wrong? Well, the return of shutdown corner Joe Haden. After a four-game suspension, he's rested and eager to eliminate Green from Cincy's offensive scheme. And with Haden back, Cleveland's defense can go back to playing like they did in Week 1 against Philly. The Browns should be a force this week (did I really just type that?), so expect an awkward statline from Andy Dandy as well.

2. The Rams and Dolphins Offenses (All of them)
The Dolphins haven't allowed a 100-yard rusher all year, the Rams have only allowed two passing TDs all season, Sam Bradford's top target (Amendola) is out for the next few weeks, Reggie Bush is banged up, you can't trust any Rams or Dolphins passcatcher, there's just too much to hate here. This game has the feel of a 13-6 snorefest where Reggie Bush and Steven Jackson crash into defensive lineman for sixty minutes. Start Defenses and Kickers only.

3. Tom Brady (QB - NE)
I'm not suggesting you sit him  in a normal league, but if you're considering him in a weekly league, stop. Seattle. Pro Bowl secondary. I say it every week.

Sleepers:

1. Brady Quinn (QB - KC)
I'm a Notre Dame fan, so there's some wishful bias to this pick, but Quinn looked decent in relief of Cassel last week. He went 3-for-3 and had a TD pass to Dwayne Bowe called back. This was against the Ravens in a tight contest. Now he faces Tampa's awful secondary, and I don't think 200 yards and 2 TDs sounds unreasonable.

2. Brandon Gibson (WR - STL)
Yeah, I know I just trashed the Rams in my Bums section, but if you're digging for a sleeper WR, you could do worse than Gibson, who is now the team's top wideout. And since Miami is staunch against the run, Bradford will generate whatever offense they can muster.

3. Vic Ballard (RB - IND)
Don Brown is out for the next three weeks, so Vic Ballard assumes the starting role. Don't go crazy trusting him--he's averaging 2 yards per carry, Mewelde Moore and Delone Carter crowd the backfield, and the Colts are a passing team--but if you need a prayer at RB, go for it. Ballard is dirt cheap in salary leagues since he wasn't announced as the starter until Wednesday.