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AFC East Fantasy Outlook

November 8, 2007 @ 08:57:46

By Richard Garcia
Edited by Herija C. Green

Note: All statistics appearing in this article are from Weeks 6-9, unless otherwise noted.

Quarterbacks

Player	Team	Gm	Pass Yds/G	Pass TD/G	INT/G	Rush Yards/G	Rush TD/G
J.P. Losman	Buffalo Bills	2	204.0	1.00	0.50	10.5	0.00
Cleo Lemon	Miami Dolphins	3	213.7	1.00	1.00	14.3	1.00

Losman - Losman made a strong bid to hold on to the starting job after leading the Bills to their third straight victory throwing for 295 yards and a touchdown. He was also able to display his mobility in the pocket scrambling four times for 21 yards, something that quarterback Trent Edwards (wrist) hasn't been able to do in four starts. Losman will face a quarterback friendly team in the Dolphins this week who are allowing 224.3 yards and three touchdowns per game to the position over the last four weeks. If Edwards isn't able to practice at full capacity this week, Losman would be expected to make the start. Losman has a strong play matchup this week and is a solid No. 1 option.

Lemon - The Dolphins have decided to go with Lemon as their starter for this week's matchup against the Bills, but if he sputters for much longer the team seems to be getting ready to go in another direction. Both Lemon and quarterback John Beck have been splitting reps during practice for this week despite the fact that Lemon has been named the starter. Lemon has lost all three of his starts and has struggled to lead the offense consistently creating six touchdowns and six turnovers during that time. Lemon has a weak play matchup and is a moderate No. 1 or Bye week fill-in.

Running Backs

Player	Team	Gm	Util (%)/G	RZ (%) Plays/G	Rush Yds/G	Rush TD/G	Rec/G	Rec Yards/G	Rec TD/G
Marshawn Lynch	Buffalo Bills	3	27.67 (41.11)	7.33 (58.49)	105.7	0.67	1.67	9.3	0.00
Jesse Chatman	Miami Dolphins	3	9.67 (14.23)	1.00 (11.92)	50.7	0.33	1.33	10.0	0.00

Lynch - Last week's performance wasn't a coming out party for Lynch, but more of his hard work and determination finally paying off. Lynch, who has been the team's workhorse and most consistent offensive producer throughout the season, had a career day last week against the Cincinnati Bengals carrying the ball 29 times for 153 yards, one touchdown and throwing for another. He faces a Dolphins defense that is allowing 121.7 yards per game to the position over the last four weeks leading to Lynch being a solid No. 1 running back this week.

Chatman - Chatman is set to make his second consecutive start replacing injured running back Ronnie Brown (knee) who was placed on Injured Reserve. Chatman carried the ball 16 times for 79 yards on a rain soaked Wembley Stadium Field in London, England, in Week 8. The team returns from their Bye to face a Bills defense that has quickly improved and that is allowing just 79 rushing yards to the position over the last four weeks (three games played). Chatman should be looked at as no more than a moderate No. 2 or solid No. 3 option at running back this week.

Wide Receivers

Player	Team	Gm	Util (%)/G	RZ (%) Plays/G	Rec/G	Rec Yards/G	Rec TD/G
Lee Evans	Buffalo Bills	3	9.00 (13.37)	0.67 (5.32)	6.33	133.7	0.67
Marty Booker	Miami Dolphins	3	6.00 (8.83)	0.67 (7.95)	2.67	31.0	0.00

Evans - Evans has seemingly been reborn in the Bills offense with the return of Losman behind center. He caught an 85-yard touchdown pass in only a limited amount of time with Losman in Week 8, and then exploded last week to have his best game of the season bringing in nine receptions for 165 yards and a score. Evans is without a doubt Losman's favorite target in the passing game and with this week's matchup against the Dolphins there could easily be more fireworks. The Dolphins are allowing more than 148 yards and close to three touchdowns per game to the position over the last four weeks (three games played). Evans has a strong play matchup this week and should be looked at as a solid No. 1 option.

Booker - Booker was the logical candidate to take over as the team's No. 1 wide receiver after the team traded away wide receiver Chris Chambers to the San Diego Chargers. In the two games since the trade, Booker has pulled in only six catches for 59 yards and hasn't been a factor to this point in the offense. His ineffectiveness could be attributed to the teams they have played over their last two games; the New England Patriots and New York Giants. Both are teams that put a lot of pressure on the quarterback. Booker has another weak play matchup this week and should remain benched until the Dolphins can figure out how to get the ball to their receivers.

Tight Ends

Player	Team	Gm	Util (%)/G	RZ (%) Plays/G	Rec/G	Rec Yards/G	Rec TD/G
Robert Royal	Buffalo Bills	3	3.33 (4.95)	1.33 (10.64)	1.33	18.0	0.00
David Martin	Miami Dolphins	2	3.00 (2.94)	1.00 (7.95)	3.00	20.0	1.00

Royal - There was a Royal sighting this week, and no it wasn't England's Queen Elizabeth II. Royal, who has been a small part of the offense of late, continued as such, but last week was finally able to reach the end zone bringing in his first touchdown reception of the season. Royal continues to be one of the last options in the offense after pulling in two receptions for the second consecutive week. Royal has minimal value and should be benched until further notice.

Martin - Martin (groin) missed the team's Week 8 game against the Giants and has had the Bye week to help rest up. Martin practiced Monday, Nov. 5, and should be the starter if he is able to play. The tight end position has been popular of late in the Dolphins offense picking up 13 receptions over their last two games. Tight end Justin Peelle replaced Martin in Week 8 and hauled in six catches for 42 yards. If Martin can't go Peelle could be expected to replace him in the starting lineup. Both tight ends have minimal value this week due to their weak play matchup and should be benched.

Place Kickers

Player	Team	Gm	XPA/G	XP/G	FGA/G	FG/G	Kick Pnts/G
Rian Lindell	Buffalo Bills	3	1.67	1.67	3.33	3.33	11.7
Jay Feely	Miami Dolphins	3	3.00	3.00	0.67	1.00	5.0

Lindell - Lindell had his biggest output of the season last week, kicking four field goals and three extra points in a high-scoring affair against the Bengals. He has been perfect over the last four weeks and faces a Dolphins team that is allowing 8.3 points per game to the position over that time. The Dolphins are also allowing 32.3 points per game through the last four weeks, which is the most in the league. Lindell has a strong play matchup and is a solid No. 1 option at kicker for this week.

Feely - The Dolphins offense has struggled of late to move the ball into the range of their kicker, and when they have done so, Feely hasn't always obliged them. He has received three field goal attempts through the last three games played and has missed one of those chances. Feely had been perfect until Week 8, but the loss of Brown and the ineffectiveness of Lemon has significantly dropped his value. Feely has a weak play matchup this week and should remain on the bench.

Defensive Teams

Team	Gm	Off Pnts Allw/G	INT/G	Sacks/G	FR/G	DEF/ST TD/G
Buffalo Bills	3	10.7	1.00	1.3	0.67	0.0
Miami Dolphins	3	32.3	0.33	1.0	0.67	0.3

Bills - The Bills defense has vastly improved over the last four weeks. They are allowing 10.7 points per game and averaging more than a sack and one interception per game during that time. The Dolphins are coming off a Bye after facing the Giants in Week 8 in which they scored just 10 points, with the touchdown coming in the final two minutes of the game. Despite their solid play of late the Bills have a weak play matchup this week in Miami and should be benched.

Dolphins - The Dolphins allowed their fewest amount of points this season in Week 8 against the Giants (13). Some of that could be attributed to the rain that was coming down throughout the game, but at this point for the Dolphins, they need any kind of encouragement for their defensive unit. The Dolphins are allowing a ridiculous 32.3 points per game through their last three games played and have only been able to average one sack per game during that time. They have a weak play matchup and should be benched this week.

Author Bio

Richard Garcia
Garcia served as a managing editor for KFFL. Prior to his time with KFFL, Richard worked in managerial roles with both Frito-Lay Inc. and UPS. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in public relations from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona and fulfilled his internship requirements with the Los Angeles Kings Hockey organization in 2001.