Welcome to the second week of StartEm/BenchEm with Mr. X for week 5 in the NFL. Well this week I put in some major time on these. My fantasy picks were 12-7, fantasy teams are 3-0, 3-1, 2-2, and 4-0, and predictions were 3-11. So the predictions were obviously disappointing but there were some crazy games last week. Without further ado, lets get to it. ----------------- StartEm Vince Young TEN/QB - They're home this week, definitely better than the Texans, and hopefully still rolling from their demolishment of New Orleans. Ronnie Brown MIA/RB - Even though I'm pretty sure the Texans are going to beat Miami, this guy has had some serious stand-alone performance the past 2 weeks. Brandon Marshall DEN/WR - His hook ups with our own Jay Cutler have been growing. I'm also guessing that Javon Walker is going to be limited, based on a lot of knee injury reports, so Marshall should be a big target. Brett Favre (QB), Donald Driver (WR) GB - So Brett Favre is not only a record holder, but also has been amazingly accurate. Edgerrin James ARI/RB - Running better and getting goal line carries so TDs are going up. And the Rams are pretty terrible. Reggie Bush NO/RB - Deuce is gone. Go Reggie Go. Any Cowboy you have PLAY!! DAL/(QB, RB, WR, TE, D/ST)- I'm calling for domination from what seems to be a perfectly balanced team. And if you saw Romo's first down save last week then you understand. Same as above but Patriots- They're facing Cleveland. Domination. Larry Johnson KC/RB - He's back. And this match-up means business. LaDainian Tomlinson SD/RB - I'm guessing another big break-out game for him against Denver. Amani Toomer NYG/WR - In this week's rivalry game, I expect him to do as he has done in the past. At least a TD and close to if not over 100 yards. ------------------ BenchEm Gus Frerotte QB/StL - Who are you? By the way, your mishmash line is going to crumble and you may be sacked more times than McNabb last week. Kevin Jones DET/RB - He's getting more carries but Washington is pretty good on the defensive front. I'm not expecting much out of him. Todd Heap BAL/TE - He's been predicted to do good every week. And he has yet to provide the stats to back up the hype. Cedric Benson CHI/RB - He has to step-up to help him team. I don't think it's gonna happen against the NO rushing TD Packers. Matt Hasselbeck SEA/QB - PIT defense is still nasty. Plus in this rematch of Superbowl XL I'm guessing PIT gets fired up and takes his consistency and throws it out the window. Browns CLE/D/ST - Pats are scoring a ton of points, so it's more worthwhile to pick up any other flex D/ST for this week if you have 'em. David Garrard JAC/QB - Chiefs have bene surprising with their air defense, I expect it to continue. ---------------------- Predictions ARI @ STL = ARI - Rams are dead. They barely have an O-Line. CLE @ NE = NE- Arguably the best team in football. And they're home. Some are predicting an upset since the Browns took the Bengals and NE had trouble. I think that has nothing to do with it, since the Bengals mind set going into the game against a team like the Browns as compared to the Patriots......totally different. This is just gonna be another day at the office for the Pats. CAR @ NO = NO - They had a bye week and it's make or break. They're home and I'm expecting emotion and Reggie Bush to be running high. NYJ @ NYG = NYG - Jets are ok, but I'm picking Giants in this city rivalry since they're riding high off sacking McNabb a cool dozen times. In addition they have some serious offensive weapons. DET @ WAS = WAS - Detroit is 0-20 @ WAS. Lions are relying heavily on Kitna and he'll eventually fail them. Also Clinton Portis is getting enough carries to eat up the clock. SEA @ PIT = PIT - Pretty much they're coming off tough loss at Arizona which lacked the run. Here they're gonna run it down their throats and their D is going to rain hellfire on Hasselbeck. MIA @ HOU = HOU - It only gets worse for MIA. ATL @ TEN= TEN - Coming of a great showing on national MNF AND a bye week. They're pumped and ready to demolish Joey Harrington and company. JAC @ KC = JAC - Tough game. Even teams. KC's offense this year, not so much. TB @ IND = IND - Colts are outstanding again this season. Manning hardly ever gets scared due to "explosive" plays from the other team. Plus now that Cadillac is gone, the Colts weakest link (their rush defense) isn't exposed to a fantastic RB. SD @ DEN = SD - I'm calling this for my somewhat upset game. SD is having some problems. Travis Henry is hurt for DEN. I'm thinking that LT comes to life and eats up the yards against DEN. BAL @ SF = BAL - 49ers' don't look very happy with their offense. Baltimore has a pretty damn good defense. Scale tips towards Baltimore. CHI @ GB = GB - Brett Favre has really stepped up this season. And Chicago basically has a void where their QB should be. DAL @ BUF = DAL - Romo is outstanding. And Owens is either creating openings for other receivers or catching the football. ----------------- Good Luck, Game On. Mr. X