By Bob Stewart

So here it is, the make or break week for Fantasy. 4-4 is a record you can deal with in almost any league, but 3-5 is tough no matter what. Hopefully you are at least 5-2 and looking to make your opponent under .500.

How are we going to do it? If you were one of the lucky ones who got DeMarco Murray and played him last week then you will continue to be luck this week. The Cowboys cut Tashard Choice so Murray is the man until Felix Jones comes back. Who knows maybe longer. Of course you play him tonight against the Eagles. Also, people who held on to Ryan Torain despite poor performances now have a legit #2, at least until Mike Shanahan gets fickle again. Start him today. You can go with Pierre Thomas since Ingram is out. Benson owners should feel okay starting Bernard Scott but don’t expect the world.

Guys who will perform better than normal today at QB include Roethlisberger, Flacco, and John Beck. If you are hurting due to byes or injuries those guys are good plays.

The Tebow situation: If you are a guy who picked up Tebow and want to know if you should use him. Refer to the “Late Hits” column from last week when I explained the Redskins running game for my theory here. Tebow has a ton of upside bit he could give you absolutely nothing. If you need upside and have guy like Schaub or Hasselbeck he may be a good play. But if you have a Brees, Vick, or even Rivers stay with your main man.

Okay, I know, you have a big time WR on a bye this week (or you are one of the unfortunate souls like me who owns Andre Johnson). Well this is another trick I employ. Look at the Las Vegas line for the under/over number of the games. Load up on number two WRs on teams from those games. Also look at injury situations. Go with Antonio Brown or Emmaunuel Sanders from Pittsburgh – Hines Ward is out and that game will be a shoot-out.

The TEs are fairly predictable this year. “Run what ya brung” is what I say on those days. However, if you are thoroughly disgusted with what you have, check out MIN Visanthe Shiancoe. I always like TEs with young QBs and Ponder qualifies. Redskins TE Fred Davis should be the same with John Beck.

By Bob Stewart

So the “Late Hits” won’t be so late this week as I have a scheduling conflict. However, the late aspect only helps with the 1:00 games anyway. Plus this week there does not seem to be much uncertainty with the players. Most are players are in or out. The few that are not been decided yet are obvious calls anyway. For example, Andre Johnson looks to be ruled out, but if he is somehow active play him. On the flip side (and I really hate to mention kickers in my column but this one is worthy) Sebastian Janikowski has not been ruled out at the time of this writing but I would grab someone else anyway. Seabass has a hamstring issue and that’s never good for a kicker. Get five or six points elsewhere. Someone kicking in a dome is safe. Perhaps Matt Bryant is available in your league.

More uncertainly exists with the Redskins running game. Last week I advised playing Ryan Torain. That move produced nothing for you and me. However, it was the right call. Despite Hightower being listed as the starter, Torain got the rock. He actually got it 10 times and it would have been more if the Birds did not jump out to a big lead and if Rex Grossman did not throw four picks. But what about this week? The ‘Skins have a great matchup vs the Panthers weak run defense but there are questions. One is the QB. Grossman has been benched which could mean the team will run the ball with the new starter. But who is starting? Hightower practiced all week and is probably the most talented of the bunch.

If you have one of these guys, and I include 3rd stringer Roy Helu here, you need to analyze your specific needs. For example, in one league I have Torain and Saints RB Mark Ingram as choices for my #3RB. Ingram is the Saint’s starter but the other guys play a lot. I think it is safe to say that Ingram is guaranteed to get me 50 yards and has a 50/50 shot at a TD. Okay, not bad, especially if he gets the TD. Torain has a shot to be the lead back on a motivated offense vs a weak “D.” He could very well get 120 yards a TD. But he may also only get 15 yards in relief of starter Hightower. What I need to do here is look at my opponent. Does my opponent have a great lineup this week? Does his QB looked poised to kill, is his defense facing a rookie QB, will his running backs all be closing out easy wins for their NFL teams? If the answers are “Yes” then I roll with Torain – I may need a huge performance to get the win. But if his starting QB is on a bye, and his stud RB has a tough matchup this week and he is using his #3 and #4 WRs due to byes and injuries, then I take the sure points with Ingram as I simply want to avoid any goose eggs.

I hope that helps with some direction. I can’t see your opponent’s lineup nor yours. So use the website that hosts your league for realistic point expectations.

Plays for week 7:

I like RB Hardesty filling in for Hillis. I would play RB Maurice Morris this week if you had Best. Momo should do well in a PPR league. For WR I’ll go with my explanation from last week and roll with Brandon Marshall. As I pointed out, he has some swagger back and got over 100 yards last week. Lets add a TD there too. Roll with Colston if you have him. At TE I like Keller and Winslow. For QBs it is pretty dry this week. Stay away from the new starters if you can and roll with the guys you know. If that is not an option, Matt Moore is probably the safest option of those newer starters.

By Bob Stewart

The Committee of Seventy and the League of Women Voters co-hosted a debate for the candidates on October 17th at WHYY. Seven of the 11 candidates participated, including all five Republicans and two Democrats.

The candidates were Republicans David Oh, Michael Untermeyer, Al Taubenberger, Dennis O’Brien, and Joe McColgan and Democrats Blondell Reynolds‐Brown and Bill Green. Unwilling to attend were Jim Kenney, Wilson Goode, and Bill Greenlee.

Each candidate was given one minute to respond to a series of questions. The questions were designed to reveal aspects of the candidates character, philosophies, and ability.

The premise of the first question was that Mayor Nutter has handled the Occupy situation at City Hall in a way that has avoided confrontations. The question was what did the candidate think about Nutter’s method and what would they do differently?

Oh: Disagrees with Occupy’s positions and feels the disruptions are problematic.
Untermeyer: Thinks Nutter did a good job but would eventually force Occupy to move.
Taubenberger: They can stay citing freedom of speech.
O’Brien: It’s exciting. Let them stay, they should be visible. We should listen more.
McColgan: Thanks police for peace. It cost too much money. Would make them move.
Reynolds-Brown: Impressed with multi-cultural aspect of Occupy. May make them move when it gets cold.
Green: They are within their rights but disagrees with camps. Nutter should not have allowed it.

Whether the Council budget hearing and spending reports should be made public.

Oh: Favors transparency
Untermeyer: Sees $1.1 million in spending being unknown as a problem.
Taubenberger: Favors open hearings and public scrutiny.
O’Brien: Made all spending public as PA House Speaker and saw positive change. Would do same in Council
McColgan: Favors openness with tax dollars.
Reynolds-Brown: Says good service comes with a price. Open to notion of public hearings
Green: Cites $1.5 million reduction in spending over three years. Says actual spending only $400k annually. Not in favor of public hearings.

How would the candidate handle the DROP program?

Oh: Favors revisions, would vote to modify.
Untermeyer: For Police and Fire only.
Taubenberger: No elected officials. All other city employees if it remains revenue neutral.
O’Brien: Voted to eliminate DROP for elected officials
McColgan: Good for Police and Fire only.
Reynolds-Brown: Voted for modification
Green: Introduced bill to eliminate it for elected officials.

Real Estate Tax Assessment issues

Oh: Supports a full valuation system.
Untermeyer: Favors full valuation and deferrals for seniors as long as they live in their homes.
Taubenberger: Wants fairness but full valuation would cause mass exodus.
O’Brien: Whatever system it is the key is assessment and appeals must be kept separate.
McColgan: Warns of a slippery slope. Favors going after unpaid taxes before assessing new taxes.
Reynolds-Brown: Orated a full 60 second response that revealed nothing about her feeling on this issue yet impressed the audience with its grace and eloquence.
Green: Acted to eliminate the Board of Revision of Taxes.

Each candidate was given 90 seconds to make a closing statement.

Oh: The City needs more jobs and better schools.
Untermeyer: Seeks general change in City Council.
Taubenberger: Business environment is not right. Job creation needed.
O’Brien: Proud of record or reforms. Concerned that children with high IQ’s feel awkward in many Philly schools and is tired of seeing these kids drop out. Will cross the aisle to work with Reynold-Brown to improve the quality of education in Philadelphia.
McColgan: Says Philadelphia is dying. Cites uneducated children and one third of residents below poverty line. Also points out that the city pension fund is only 45% funded. Says city needs leadership.
Reynolds-Brown: Thinks it’s a ‘Man’s world.’ City needs people who speak for women and children. Wants to explore a plan to let bars stay open until 5 a.m. with added revenue going to schools.
Green: Proud of freshman record. Cites elimination of BRT, the cell phone ban, and suing to keep the libraries open as highlights.

In all, O’Brien had the most detailed and articulate answers. Perhaps that had something to do with him having more experience as an elected official than the rest of the candidates combined, but it appeared that he just had the best grasp of the issues and how representative governing works. Green and Reynolds-Brown were surprisingly candid for incumbents almost totally assured of re-election. Oh was probably the biggest disappointment. He is playing the game of a front runner which is a bit dangerous. O’Brien is the clear leader and Oh is a strong second which would put him in office but his lead over the other three Republicans is eroding.
The Student Vanguard will publish their endorsements in the next issue which will be on newsstands on November 4th.

By Bob Stewart

Alright, five weeks in the books and I hope you are at least 2-3. If so you are in a good position still. The bye weeks a fully underway and messing with all of us. But problems create opportunity. Build up your roster with guys who your league mates are dropping due to needing players at other positions. Offer trades for their star players that they are frustrated with. I grabbed Chris Johnson this week. I had to give up Dwayne Bowe, not something I liked doing, but the move helped my team because I needed RB help and can manage WRs without Bowe.

Another move I made this week was picking up QB Andy Dalton. Now I have Aaron Rodgers in that league and I was running without a true back-up. I liked Dalton’s matchup for Rodgers’ bye week but I also like him for this week (No way I sit Rodgers!) so if you don’t have a Brees, Brady, or Rodgers take a look at him.

Some upside guys to pickup at RB if you are hurting: Delone Carter, Montario Hardesty (PPR league only), and I’m starting Ryan Torain even though Hightower is active (Coach Shanahan has killed me before going back to the early Denver days but I’m a sucker so I’m all-in).

For WRs, I’m a Andre Johnson owner and I would not look at Derrick Mason as a ‘replacement’ but they did not trade for him this week to be a Christmas tree ornament. Mason goes back to his long time team, the Ravens. I could see a big play here. Also, and I totally give credit to John Hansen of Fantasy Guru here, Danario Alexander of the Rams is a nice upside play if you need him. Personally, I have a gut feeling, there is nothing solid to go on, but Brandon Marshall of Miami. He has some personality issues he has been dealing with recently. This week though, he has returned to his trash talking self. I’m starting him in my PPR league.

I love TE Fred Davis today and you know why by now. If you are a new reader, I start TEs vs the Eagles religiously. Both NE TEs are good plays today. I also like Pettigrew and Jermaine Gresham. Also, (Guru pointed this one out, I gotta listen to this guy more) Visanthe Shiancoe, who tore up the Bears last year, faces that team today – they are worse than the Birds there.

Good luck!

Bob Stewart

So this big injury this week goes back to Houston. Apparently they got jealous of the attention going to other teams after Arian Foster returned. Andre Johnson is out for a while and that hurts the owner who spent a high draft pick on him instead of a RB. If that is you I hope you already have picked up Jacoby Jones. If you did start him with confidence. I am a long time AJ owner and Jones is a great spot fill-in 2-3 times a year. By the way, keep him after AJ comes back.

The big issue this week is the byes. I got hammered in my one league this week. Just too many injuries and byes at the same time. Sometimes you have to go with your gut instead of stats in this week. Here is a play no one is talking about; Jacoby Ford against the Texans. I think the Raiders may perform well today due to the death of team owner Al Davis. Ford may grab a TD if you are looking for help.

Other upside plays for the desperate and depleted; Marshawn Lynch – Giants are good but they have some injuries and Arizona exposed some flaws there last week. The Steelers are hurting at RB, Isaac Redman may be the last man standing. Moore is out and possibly Mendenhall, play Redman. How about good ole LT against the Pats? If you are in a PPR league he could be a good play today.

Need WRs? How about Plaxico Burress? The big man may make a big grab despite his elbow injury against the Pats. Other upside guys I like and am playing this week: Malcom Floyd SD, Mike Thomas JAC (watch the weather there though), Lance Moore NO, Antonio Brown PIT.

At Tight End you of course start the guy vs the Eagles. Today it is not sexy but on a bye week you take what you get so start Scott Chandler of the Bills. Also, these are guys you may start anyway but upgrade your expectations; Dallas Clark, Rob Gronkowski, Brandon Pettigrew and Owen Daniels. Here is a sleeper, Jeff King from Arizona. He is their blocker but Todd Heap is out. He is available in your league if you are desperate and could provide a cheap TD.

By Bob Stewart

Okay, last week wasn’t a gem. Personally it was my worst week in three years, which coincidentally was a week 3 as well. Maybe there is something to that. I don’t think I screwed anyone up so much but the reasoning behind my advice was a bit flawed.

There are a couple of key injury situations to consider this week. Miles Austin is out. If you were depending on him see if you can pick up a Raider WR. Moore is obviously a good choice but if you are in a deep league and really want to take shot, go with Jacoby Ford. Also, the Bears and Panthers game should be a passing shoot-out due to several injuries on both team’s secondaries.

Ryan Grant is out which means Starks will start. Alex Green will play as well and could have a big play but that is a gamble play.

Arian Foster is back. It is a risk but you gotta go with him today.

Frank Gore is active but apparently won’t start. I’m not sure how that works. If the guy can play he should start but the 49ers are listing Kendall Hunter. Stay away from both of them unless you’re desperate.

Upside guys:

One 49er to start is Vernon Davis. He may get 2 TDs and 100 yards but lets go safe and say 5 receptions, 80 yards and a TD.

Other TEs, Ed Dixon vs the Jets. No one else will be catching many passes, use him if you need him. McMichael is filling in well for Gates, roll with him if you don’t have a top guy. Greg Olsen is playing his old team and as mentioned they will be pass happy so use him.

The Colts are going with Painter over Collins at QB. Start the Bucs Defense with confidence. Packers and Saints are also good plays as well.

Good luck!