Saints RB may break out now that he's the man

Reggie Bush will take over as the Saints' primary ballcarrier, since Deuce McAllister is out of the year with a knee injury. Heinz Kluetmeier/SI

MAILBAG Peter King will answer your questions each week in Monday Morning Quarterback: Tuesday Edition. Your name: Your e-mail address: Your home town: Enter your question:

I'm as down on Reggie Bush as everyone else right now, which is why you'll find it odd that I think you should gamble on him this weekend. Playing Bush is the first of 10 pieces of fantasy advice for you as you set your lineups for Week 5.

1. I talked to Sean Payton at length this week about the Saints. Bush is going to get somewhere between 22 and 28 touches against Carolina -- rushing, receiving, returning -- if all goes according to plan. He made this analogy: Sometimes, if a batter knows he's just going to be a pinch-hitter, you're not going to get the same quality of at-bat out of him as you will if he's playing a whole game and getting five at-bats. Bush, he thinks, needs to fail, succeed, fail and succeed to realize his potential. I'm not sure, but we'll see. What worries me about Bush is his inability to make people miss the way he did in college. But Payton has seen a look in Bush's eyes ... a look that says: I know I'm the man now, and I've got to play like it. I'd give Bush a couple more weeks before we put on the bust heap.

2. This is the week for the Redskins' Clinton Portis to make the quantum leap to big fantasy player. He's playing the Lions, he finally feels close to normal, and Joe Gibbs is going to feed him a lot.

3. I really like Washington's Jason Campbell this week, and not just because he's going up against the Leos. I like him because he's starting to show signs, in practice and games, of being the kind of accurate passer he was at Auburn. Now, he may have to use Reche Caldwell and Keenan McCardell this week, which could be a worry, because he hasn't had much practice time with him. I still think it's going to be a big day for Campbell.

4. Denver's giving up 181 rushing yards a game. Norv Turner's under pressure to increase LaDainian Tomlinson's workload this week. Looks like a 29-carry, 161-yard game to me.

5. Ever hear of Selvin Young? Well, doesn't matter if you have or haven't. The important thing is to go to your league's Web site right now and pick him up. He's averaging nine yards a pop for the Broncos, and with all likelihood he'll be in the Broncos' backfield this week or next because of the likely suspension of Travis Henry for substance-abuse. Young could be this year's Olandis Gary --no-name guy who makes good for Mike Shanahan. His running style reminds some in Denver of Terrell Davis, a quick and fast guy who hits the hole hard.

6. If you've got Olindo Mare, you better go get a kicker. The worst two words in fantasy-kicker history -- "groin strain'' -- are being thrown around with Mare, and even if he kicks Sunday against the Panthers, I wouldn't expect him to kick any long ones.

7. Jake Delhomme's status for the rest of the year is about as dubious as you can get, with his bum elbow. My gut tells me to go get Trent Edwards, starting this week against the Cowboys. Edwards is extremely confident, won't be cowed by the Monday-night stage, and his coaches think he's ready to play very well even in a new system.

8. I'd sit Joseph Addai this week if you have any good options. Tony Dungy is not going to risk him in a game on turf if he think his shoulder isn't up to it. Even if Addai starts, Dungy will be looking to take him out as soon as a lead against the Bucs gets comfy.

9. Don't play Matt Leinart. Not that you would anyway. But I expect some locker-room resentment to affect his play, and his playing time, if he stumbles at all this week. It's not like Ken Whisenhunt is going to cut back Kurt Warner's playing time just because Leinart's had his feelings hurt.

10. Did I tell you to go get Selvin Young? I can't say that loud enough.