OK, I'll freely admit that Week 6 was not exactly the best work I've ever done, but every once in a while you just have a bumpy week, so I stand before you yet again, beaten but unbowed, ready to make my recommendations for this week.
Remember, this is the third of the bye weeks and it's leaving a heckuva hole, so don't go starting any players from the Giants, Eagles, Bills, Patriots, Bengals, or 49ers. No Jason Pierre-Paul, no Patrick Willis, no George Wilson...like I said, HOLE.
That said here's a look at some players you should give serious consideration to getting into your lineups or who could outperform expectations (Studs) and some that, for whatever reason, you may want to consider leaving alone, or at least take into account that they may be a relative disappointment this week. (Duds)
STUDS
Darnell Dockett -- DE, Arizona Cardinals (vs. PIT): Dockett's been awfully quiet, but coming out of the bye with the best fantasy matchup for opposing defensive linemen seems like a good place to break out of his funk, so look for Dockett to do just that Sunday.
Jabaal Sheard -- DE, Cleveland Browns (vs. SEA): The rookie had a big game against Oakland last week with four tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble and has a favorable matchup with the Charlie Whitehurst-led Seahawks this week.
Kyle Vanden Bosch -- DE, Detroit Lions (vs. ATL): The 11th year veteran gets his third straight solid pass rush matchup against the Falcons and should be able to notch his fifth sack of the season in Week Seven.
London Fletcher -- ILB, Washington Redskins(at CAR): Fletcher had by far his best game of the season against Philadelphia with 12 total tackles and finally showed that he may yet reward IDP owners who were patient with the 36 year-old.
Daryl Washington -- ILB, Arizona Cardinals (vs. PIT): The Steelers are in the top half of the NFL in tackle opportunities allowed so Washington should have every opportunity to come out stong after his bye a week ago.
LaMarr Woodley -- OLB, Pittsburgh Steelers (at ARI): Woodley had a pair of sacks a week ago against the Jaguars and should have a better than average shot at racking up another one against an Arizona team that has allowed the seventh most sacks in the league.
Antoine Bethea -- FS, Indianapolis Colts (at NO): The sixth year pro has averaged nearly eight tackles a game this season and should be plenty busy Sunday trying to slow down Drew Brees and the Saints.
Cedric Griffin -- CB, Minnesota Vikings (vs. GB): Speaking of busy, I have a hunch that Griffin and the other members of the Minnesota Vikings secondary are going to be rather winded after Aaron Rodgers finishes carving them up Sunday.
Jerraud Powers -- CB, Indianapolis Colts (at NO): Now healthy and back in the starting lineup with a great IDP matchup upcoming with the New Orleans Saints Powers is an excellent spot start or matchup play, especially in CB-required fantasy leagues.
DUDS
Dwight Freeney -- DE, Indianapolis Colts (at NO): It's been feast or famine this season for Freeney's IDP owners, and it's more apt to be the latter than the former this week against a Saints team that's a bad pass rush matchup.
Greg Hardy -- DE, Carolina Panthers (vs. WAS): If the Panthers are serious about using more 3-4 looks than no one will likely be impacted more negatively Hardy, who may see his second season uptick come to a screeching halt if he spends significant time as a 3-4 DE.
Antonio Smith -- DE, Houston Texans (at TEN): Smith's been relatively quiet since Mario Williams went down and has a matchup with a Tennessee Titans squad that is tied for the fewest sacks allowed in the NFL so far this season.
Leroy Hill -- OLB, Seattle Seahawks (at CLE): The Browns have allowed the fewest fantasy points per game to opposing linebackers this year, so while Hill has been a pleasant surprise so far this year it could be a down week for him.
Lawrence Timmons -- OLB, Pittsburgh Steelers (at ARI): After saddling his fantasy owners with the dreaded doughnut last week Timmons need to be glued to benches until he stops trying to run away with the bust of the year award.
Jonathan Vilma -- MLB, New Orleans Saints (vs IND): The Colts are worse matchups in the NFL both in tackle opportunities allowed and in fantasy points per game allowed to opposing linebackers this year, so the odds won't be in Vilma's favor Sunday.
Tim Jennings -- CB, Chicago Bears (at TB): Maybe it's just my general distaste for the London games, but it seeme that as often as not jetlag causes these contests to devolve into slogfests that don't generally produce big IDP stat lines.
Gerald Sensabaugh -- SS, Dallas Cowboys (vs. STL): The St' Louis Rams are 25th in the NFL in fantasy points per game allowed to opposing defensive backs, so the chances of Sensabaugh being more than a desperation bye-week play aren't great.
Adrian Wilson -- SS, Arizona Cardinals (vs. PIT); The biceps injury that Wilson suffered in the preseason is clearly hindering the 11th year veteran, and a one-armed defensive back doesn't do your IDP roster a whole lot of good.
Have a question about a particular player? Check out the Fantasy Sharks IDP Forum or e-mail me and I'll do my best to help!
IDP STUDS AND DUDS: Week 7 IDP Start/Sit fantasysharks.comFri 10/21/11 9:06 AM