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It’s shame I can’t put Thursday night teams in my weekly article as I was very high on the Chargers defence leading into Thursday’s game. I started them this week and they produced with four turnovers — one for a touchdown — to give my fantasy teams a 24-point head start going into the weekend. Hopefully my starts, sits and sleepers listed below do just as well.

Starts

Greg Olsen (TE – Carolina Panthers) is shaping up to be a nice start this week against the Redskins who have allowed the second most fantasy points to Tight Ends on the season (ave of 11.6).  Hopefully with a shift of mentality by the Panthers on offence and Newton finding a little rhythm last week Olsen will get some balls thrown his way and utilise his size in the red zone. I would expect 50-60 yards and a touchdown, a great fill-in for the Gronk who is on a bye.

Trent Richardson (RB – Cleveland Browns) should run all over a surprisingly non threatening run defence in the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens have been gashed for over 600 yards on the ground by opposing tailbacks in the past three games. That alone should have Richardson owners drooling, let alone the fact he broke off his second 100-yard game for the season against the Chargers last week. I am thinking big numbers, close to 120 yards, rushing 20-30 yards receiving and one or two touchdowns, making him a fantastic start.

Denarius Moore (WR – Oakland Raiders) goes about his job as speedy wideout with such grace that he has become a must start each week. He is probably one of the most consistent wideouts available as he picks up a lot of yards (even if he doesn’t get a touchdown) to help pad those fantasy numbers. He will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers secondary in week 9 who play aggressively but leak huge amounts of yardage to receivers every week. Moore has the skill set to decimate Tampa, Oakland just need to ensure he gets the ball. Prediction? 110 yards and a touchdown.

Extra Starts: Michael Vick (PHI), Rashad Jennings (JAC), Mikel Leshoure (DET), Cecil Shorts (JAC), Cam Newton (CAR), Matt Schaub (HOU).

Sits

Chris Johnson (RB - Tennessee Titans) may well have turned the corner this season with 385 yards rushing in his last games games but this week he sees the Monsters of the Midway in the Chicago Bears, who allowed him only eight yards on 14 attempts the last time they saw each other. The Bears have not allowed a 100-yard rusher since the 10th of October 2011 — 18 games ago. I find it highly unlikely that will change this week, so sit CJ”GettingBetterButNotThereYet”K.

Felix Jones (RB – Dallas Cowboys) struggled mightily last week against the New York Giants gaining only 19 yards on 13 carries. The week before against the Panthers wasn’t much better. That just doesn’t cut it as a fantasy starter and I just can’t see him getting any better this week against the Falcons. With hints that DeMarco Murray might be able to start and Phillip Tanner being talked up, Jones should be sat down in week 9.

Christian Ponder (QB – Minnesota Vikings) would be best taking a seat on your bench this week as he is coming off two shaky games and will be up against a solid defence in the Seattle Seahawks. If you remove the two games where the Seahawks got blown out by Tom Brady and Matthew Stafford (who both threw for over 5,000 yards last season), the Seahawks have allowed only 1191 yards (average of 198.5 yards per game) and three touchdowns. Avoid him, if possible.

Extra Sits: Andy Dalton (CLE), Jermichael Finley (GB), Kenny Britt (TEN), Kevin Ogletree (DAL), Jerome Simpson (MIN), Brandon Pettigrew (DET).

Sleepers

Russell Wilson (QB – Seattle Seahawks) I like a lot this week provided the Seahawks paid close attention to how Tampa Bay tore apart the Vikings defence last Thursday.  Wilson has not done much for fantasy owners this season except for that one game against New England, but I just have a gut feeling this week he will repeat that effort.  If you have Tom Brady on a bye and are in need of a wildcard QB, you could do far worse than Wilson.

Kellen Davis (TE – Chicago Bears) is a deep sleeper who — if you’re desperate for a TE due to the bye week — could be a very sneaky player. The Titans boast a league-worst reception, yardage and touchdown defence to TE’s. Davis showed last week he can be a threat in the red zone with his 6’7 frame, so look for Cutler to get him the ball. I predict three catches for 30 yards and fingers crossed for a TD.

Matt Hasselbeck (QB - Tennessee Titans) is another deep, deep, deep sleeper as he goes against a very tough Chicago Bears defence who are on fire. But Hasselbeck has played very well against the Bears’ “Cover 2″ defence in previous meetings. In his last two games against Chicago (granted he was with Seattle in 2010), he threw for 500 yards, four touchdowns and most importantly no interceptions. Hasselbeck is a smart, underrated QB who could cause problems for the Bears and help your fantasy team immensely.

Best of luck this weekend everybody!