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DAVID SABINO
October 16, 2006
WE LIKE THE MATCHUP
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October 16, 2006

Start 'em

WE LIKE THE MATCHUP

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QUARTERBACK

PHILIP RIVERS Chargers AT 49ers
The Chargers' coaching staff finally took the handcuffs off Rivers last week, and he responded with 242 passing yards and two TDs. The Niners have surrendered an average of 224 yards and two TD passes per game. That math translates into big games for Rivers, TE Antonio Gates and WR Keenan McCardell.

DREW BLEDSOE Cowboys VS. Texans
The Texans have the league's worst defense, yielding 435 total yards per game and allowing an average of 3.25 touchdowns. That's just the tonic a shell-shocked Bledsoe needs after a shattering loss last week in Philadelphia, during which he was sacked seven times and picked off three times.

REX GROSSMAN Bears AT Cardinals
The Cult of Rex is growing as fantasy players learn to appreciate Grossman's sublime TD-to-interception ratio of 10-to-3 and regular appearances on the list of passing leaders. In games in the desert, opposing quarterbacks have averaged 295 yards per game with a total of four TDs.

RUNNING BACK

JULIUS JONES Cowboys VS. Texans
Jones ran for 100 yards against the Eagles, which marked his second straight week in triple digits. Houston, last in the NFL in total defense, allows nearly 140 yards per game on the ground. That means a field day for Jones, his backup Marion Barber and the rest of the Cowboys in the Lone Star State battle.

WILLIS MCGAHEE Bills AT Lions
Buffalo's spanking at the hands of the Bears cost McGahee the league's rushing lead, but he'll be able to rebound this week against a porous Detroit defense that made Minnesota's Chester Taylor (123 yards against the Lions, after 97 total in the previous two weeks) look like a superstar.

WARRICK DUNN Falcons VS. Giants
The leading rusher (365 yards) on the top rushing team (234.2 yards per game), Dunn has yet to score a TD this season. He's overdue. Look for Dunn and quarterback Michael Vick to be relentless on the ground, with Vick mixing in a few long strikes to receiver Ashley Lelie (box, left).

WIDE RECEIVER

JOEY GALLOWAY Buccaneers VS. Bengals
He's having a see-saw season: zero yards in Week 1, 161 yards the following week, one catch for eight yards (one TD) in Week 3, 110 yards and one TD on Sunday. Look for Galloway to finally have back-to-back big games, even with the Cincinnati ball hawks (seven INTs) patrolling the secondary.

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