Smart to Start
• Matt Hasselbeck, QB, Seahawks: He’s had seven TDs in the past four games, but one of those outings was abysmal — a 112-yard, scoreless effort in Week 6 against Arizona. Expect round two against the Cardinals to go a bit better for Hasselbeck. The Cards have just one win at home this season, in Week 5, and gave up 369 yards last week to Chicago’s Jay Cutler. Hasselbeck should put up plenty of yards in this one.
• Ricky Williams, RB, Dolphins: Williams arguably isn’t even the best back on his team, but that doesn’t mean he can’t make an impact — he’s averaging over 80 yards from scrimmage this season and has seven TDs in eight games. In this Sunshine state showdown, he gets to face the 30th-ranked Tampa Bay run defense, which gave up over five yards per carry to Green Bay last week.
• Steve Smith, WR, Panthers: This Steve Smith quickly was written off after an underwhelming start to the season, but this wideout is due for a big game. He finally found the end zone for the first time two weeks ago, and if you look back to Week 2 — the last time the Panthers took on Atlanta — it’s clear history bodes well in this one: Smith caught eight balls for 131 yards in these two teams’ first meeting.
• SUIT ’EM UP: Mark Sanchez, QB, Jets. Reggie Bush, RB, Saints. Sidney Rice, WR, Vikings.
Fit to Sit
• Kyle Orton, QB, Bears: Orton’s coming off of two horrible performances, which could easily be rationalized by two tough opponents: the Ravens and Steelers. Well, the Redskins are even better against the pass, ranking first in the league against opposing QBs. And with Orton averaging under 200 yards (and nearly two picks) per week since a Week 7 bye, Orton surely can’t be your safest bet.
• Mike Sims-Walker, WR, Jaguars: Sit a guy coming off of a 147-yard, one-touchdown performance? Yep. Think back to that two reception, nine-yard performance from Week 8 if it helps. Sims-Walker faces the second-ranked Jets pass defense, and his road résumé is horrid this year: one game with no receptions, another in which he sat out, an 81-yard game, and his previously mentioned Week 8 outing. Even after tossing out his no-show against Seattle, he still averages just 30 yards per road game.
• Tim Hightower, RB, Cardinals: Hightower had just 32 yards against Seattle in these teams’ previous meeting, and the Seahawks actually rank 11th against the run. Also, Hightower has carried the ball over 10 times just three times this season, in Weeks 2, 6 and then again last week. He followed up those first two carry-heavy weeks with a 22-yard and a 9-yard performance. That doesn’t bode well for him this time around.
• RIDIN’ THE PINE: Joe Flacco, QB, Ravens. Cedric Benson, RB, Bengals. Derrick Mason, WR, Ravens.
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