Before getting into the preview, I wanted to give a mid-season update of the Big Blue View Fantasy Football League. Right now posters hocke26 and XLII are in first place in their respective divisions at 6-2 each (fleaflicker divides the league into 2 divisions, though I don't think it makes any difference when it comes to the playoffs). Aceholioo, gobs56, MahmoodZaky, and myself round out the potential playoff teams, all with 5-3 records. Frequent poster Woogie526 has had a rough season so far, with a 1-7 record. I'll admit I was beginning to doubt my fantasy football credentials after a 1-3 start to the season, but with a 4 game winning streak, I feel competent enough to continue with these posts.

Anyway, onto the preview:

Start

Brandon Jacobs, RB, NYG - I swear, this is the week the Giants are going to remember they are a power-running team. They have to, right? Jacobs has actually been pretty darn good the last 3 weeks when he's been given the ball, averaging 4.9 YPC on 40 carries. Extend that back to week 4 and he's averaging 4.2 YPC over his last 82 carries. The past 3 weeks he's gotten 7, 13, and 20 carries, so I'd expect him to be over 20 again this week, especially if the defense can keep the Giants in the game.The Chargers run defense is also the 6th worst in the NFL, giving up 132 yards per game and 4.2 YPC. I expect Jacobs to have a "break-out" game this week.

LaDanian Tomlinson, RB, SD - This is definitely not the BLT of 2006, and at this point he's probably not even a top 20 fantasy running back. That said, he's facing a run defense that's in the bottom half of the league and would almost certainly be lower if it weren't for some of the awful teams they played to open the season. When Leonard Weaver runs for 75 yards and almost 10 YPC, you've gotta like BLT's chances.

Philip Rivers, QB, SD - CC Brown's not starting, but let's just say I don't have much faith in anyone in the Giants secondary right now. Rivers is one of the best fantasy QB's out there, and he's facing a team that has been lit up by Drew Brees and Donovan McNabb in recent weeks. Until the Giants D proves they can stop an elite QB, consider whoever they're facing to be a safe bet.

Vincent Jackson, WR, SD - Jackson has scored a TD in 3 straight games, has back-to-back 100 yard games, and is one of the better receivers in the league. He's a safe bet against the Giants secondary.

Antonio Gates, TE, SD - Noticing a trend here? To say that I'm down on the Giants defense right now would be a bigger understatement than saying Saddam Hussein probably didn't like the Bush family.

Steve Smith, WR, NYG - He hasn't had a huge game in 5 weeks, but he always ends up with a handful of catches and 60+ yards receiving. He's a solid #3 fantasy receiver even when he's not being targeted as much as we'd all like, and if the Giants ever get their O sorted out, I have no doubt he'll be amongst the top receivers in the league again.

Sit

Eli Manning, QB, NYG - I think his foot is more hurt than he's letting on (and it sounds like Jerry Reese does too). He has not looked good at all the past three weeks, playing more like pre-2007 playoffs Eli, which is not good enough to be a fantasy starter.

NYG Defense - They suck right now. Until they stop sucking, you probably shouldn't play them.

Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, NYG - Averaging 2.5 YPC over the past two weeks on 21 carries. He's clearly not at 100% strength right now. It's a shame, b/c he was having such a good season. Also, it's a bit of a travesty that someone as quick and explosive as Bradshaw has only caught 7 passes this season. I think Tiki Barber would struggle to get 1,500 total yards in this offense where wide receivers seem to be the only guys allowed to be targeted, with the occasional Madison Hedgecock pass thrown in. This applies to Kevin Boss, as well.