You won't go wrong with LT, Alexander or Jones-Drew

Thomas Jones is averaging only 54.5 yards per game and his calf is balky, but the leaky Dolphins rush D is the perfect remedy. Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

Before setting your lineups this week, there is much to consider at the most important position: running back.

A few late-week tips:

1. This is the week to cast your lot with Thomas Jones. Normally you'd come up against the Dolphins and say this is the time to give your offensive studs the week off. Not now. The Dolphins are 31st in the league in rush defense, giving up 4.6 yards per carry, and Zach Thomas might be sidelined with the after-effects of a concussion. Even if his calf is not 100 percent, Jones should have a breakout game.

2. Bench Brian Westbrook, obviously. Even if he plays, I don't like an Andy Reid guy who was not in the first two full practices of the week. He won't be himself Sunday against the Leos.

3. Don't be scared by Washington's patchwork offensive line (Jason Fabini and Jon Wade on the right side) because Joe Gibbs knows he can still power-rush left, behind Chris Samuels and Pete Kendall. The Giants aren't a sieve on rushing defense at 3.8 yards per rush, but they're going to have to give help to a battered, porous secondary against the suddenly maturing Jason Campbell. Whatever you'd normally do with Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts, who will continue to split the job, you should do it this week, regardless of the O-line's shape.

4. Kevin Jones should play for Detroit, but I don't like the matchup against the desperate Eagles. Sit Jones for at least another week.

5. Take a flyer on Leon Washington this week. With the season-ending injury to Justin Miller, Washington takes over as the kick returner, and he can bust one for a touchdown now in all three phases -- returning, rushing, receiving. Against the weakened Dolphins, he's a decent bet to score this week. I know he didn't have a touch last week against the speedy Ravens, but I think that will be remedied this week.

6. I like DeShawn Wynn this week, if only because the Green Bay passing game now looks so thin. Greg Jennings was joined by James Jones in the tweaked-hamstring wing of the trainer's room on Thursday. The Chargers will be sending the house at Brett Favre. In all, it's a bad offensive matchup for Green Bay, but if you're going to play one Packman this weekend, pick Wynn.

7. So everybody's saying, "What's wrong with LaDainian Tomlinson?'' I'll tell you what's wrong. The Patriots and Bears are the first- and fourth-ranked teams against the run, and they beat the tar out of him in the first two games. Approach the guy in your league who has LT, and offer to trade your two best players for him. You'll be the happy one at season's end.

8. If you're in one of those leagues where you don't pay for waiver-wire acquisitions, I'd pick up New England backup Sammy Morris this week if he's still available. The Bills have been shredded by the run so far, and they'll have to play nickel and dime a lot because Tom Brady is playing better than he ever has. The Patriots' offensive line is a finely-tuned machine. Morris should be the short-yardage guy and get three to five inside-the-10 carries.

9. Don't worry about that cast on Shaun Alexander's hand this week. He's playing the team he loved as a kid -- Cincinnati -- and he's motivated to erase the stench of last week's blown game at Arizona. I'd be stunned if he didn't have a 150-rushing-yard, two-TD day.

10. Keep playing Maurice Jones-Drew. I don't care what the matchup numbers say at Denver or what his numbers so far this season say. He's healthy and ready to explode. Never, ever sit this guy.

(Send comments to siwriters@simail.com.)