The Bye Weeks continue with the Browns, Jets, Raiders and Rams each having the week off. There’s little Fantasy value in any of these teams, but you still need to make sure players from these teams are not on your roster.

StatsGuru is on site this week at the Bills @ Cardinals game, so this will be an abridged version of Beasts and Busts. Let’s get to it!

TITANS (4-0) @ RAVENS (2-1)

The Titans continue to roll and at 4-0 have a two game lead in the AFC South. StatsGuru has been very impressed with the balance of the Titans on both sides of the ball. The Ravens hung tough with the Steelers on the road on MNF but dropped to 2-1. This match up looks to be a defensive battle and will be a low scoring affair.

Beasts

• Rookie RB Johnson, in addition to getting the majority of the touches for the Titans, is now getting goal line chances as well. He scored on two chances in Week Four and is now a must-start in all formats.
• With Ravens RB McGahee slowed by a rib injury look for RB McClain to get the start and the Ravens will look to control the ball with a power rushing attack. The Titans rank fifth in rush D, but this guy is a load and will get his numbers.

Busts

With both teams boasting stout defenses we can’t recommend either QB or any of the receivers in this game.

Stats Sleeper

With the Ravens coming at QB Collins early and often, this could be the game that Titans TE Crumpler finally breaks out. If you are short at TE, take a flier on Alge.

CHIEFS (1-3) @ PANTHERS (3-1)

The Chiefs ran all over the Broncos to get their first win while the Panthers bounced back from their Week Three loss and smothered the Falcons. There should be big scoring in this game.

Beasts

• KC RB Johnson is coming back into form and is now a must-start in all formats after back to back huge games. Don’t expect another 198 yards, but LJ looks good for 100 yards and a TD.
• With Huard back under center for the Chiefs WR Bowe and TE Gonzalez are must starts.
• Gonzalez is just three yards short of passing Shannon Sharpe as the NFL’s leading TE receiver with 10,061 yards.
• Despite shutting down Denver’s vaunted offense the Chiefs D is not good so look for a big game out of all the Panthers skill position players. Start QB Delhomme RB Stewart and WR Smith.

Busts

Look for WR Muhammad to come back down to earth after his huge 147 yard receiving day. Stay away from the Panthers TE’s.

BEARS (2-2) @ LIONS (3-0)

The Bears held on to a Q4 lead and defeated the Eagles while the Lions were on their Bye Week. The post Matt Millen era begins for the Lions and while that won’t cause any immediate turn around, it is certainly good news for Lions Nation.

Beasts

• With QB Drew Stanton fully recovered from his thumb injury, the heat is on QB Kitna to produce immediately or lose his starting role.
• The Bears are giving up an average of 246 pass yards per game. Kitna, WR Williams and Johnson will be huge!
• Bears QB Orton is suddenly a Fantasy force with five TD passes in his last two games against decent D’s in the Bucs and Eagles.
• The Bears are hurting at WR with Lloyd and Booker hurt but StatsGuru expects a shootout so start Orton with confidence.
• WR/KR Hester is due to break out a kick return TD and will also be active on offense.
• RB Forte is a must-start as he is now the focal point of the Bears offense.

Busts

The Bears are still a run stuffing D so look for pedestrian numbers out of Lions’ RB‘s Rudi Johnson (the new starter) and Smith.

Stats Sleeper

With all the injuries the Bears have at WR expect TE Olsen and WR Davis to both have big days.

As mentioned, StatsGuru is out on the road heading to the Bills @ Cardinals game so we are short on time. The following are some Beasts, Busts and Sleeper to consider this weekend.

Beasts

• All Colts
• All Texans
• All Chargers
• All Giants
• All Bills
• All Cardinals
• All Cowboys
• All Vikings
• All Saints

Busts

• All Packers except WR Jennings
• All Falcons except RB Turner
• All 49ers except Gore
• All Seahawks except TE Carlson
• All Eagles except WR Jackson
• All Redskins except RB Portis
• All Steelers except TE Miller
• All Jaquars
• All Dolphins
• All Bengals

Stats Sleeper

• RB Maroney Patriots
• RB Grant Packers
• RB Johnson Lions
• QB Orton Bears
• QB Freotte Vikings
• WR Davis Bears
• TE Clark Colts
• WR Hixon Giants
• WR Breaston Cardinals
• RB Moore Steelers
• WR Wade Vikings

Enjoy the games everybody!

Cheers!

StatsGuru