By Zack Cimini
notjustagame23@gmail.com

Besides the common stock piling injuries the reason we draft for depth is matchups and bye week fill ins. Usually though, owners will fill their lineups in and subject themselves to wait on backup defenses and kickers. After getting that strong kicker and defense you assume to start them every single week, until you look up and see you’ve got your defense or kicker on a bye week. This week teams are Atlanta, Philadelphia, Carolina, and Arizona. Assuming you have any of those teams kickers or defenses, we will help you scour the waiver wire for a one week fill in for a kicker or defense.

Defenses That Should Be Available With Solid Matchups

Houston (4% Owned in Yahoo)
The Texans are giving up points left and right, but at times will fill up the stats via their special teams and strong pass rushers. A way to get off their slump is the perfect matchup, and they have that this week against the Oakland Raiders. Jamarcus Russell’s completion percentage for a starting quarterback is likely on pace for a record low. His passing stats so far have been 12 of 30, 7 of 24, and 12 of 21. With the Texans offense putting up points rapidly it’s going to put even more pressure on Russell, as the Raiders defense has been doing a solid job keeping them in games. This is a must pickup for fantasy owners looking for a defense for a week. You’ll likely get two to three turnovers and four sacks, and possibly a defensive/or special teams touchdown.

Cincinnati (13% Owned in Yahoo)
What’s been keeping the Bengals in games isn’t the offense it has been the defense. The offense is coming around late to provide a story line but the defense is playing solid the entire game. Against the Broncos the fluke play we all have come to know cost them a 12-7 loss. The defense then caused chaos for the Green Bay Packers Aaron Rodgers sacking him a bunch of times. Currently the Bengals have ten sacks and that’s where the majority of their defensive fantasy points have come from. They’re only defensive interception came this past week against Ben Roethlisberger which they took back to the house. By facing the Cleveland Browns this week, who have yet to announce they’re starting quarterback, is going to be a favorable matchup. Whoever is chosen as starter between Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson is going to have a ton of pressure to deliver. Since this is the umpteenth time this has been tossed back and forth between the two, it’s obvious neither has been good at handling the pressure.

Buffalo (9% owned in Yahoo)
Chad Henne will get his first start as Chad Pennington will be out for the year. Henne came in relief for Pennington in the third quarter in their game against the Chargers. He looked very uncomfortable and threw one pick that was brought back for a touchdown. A couple other throws could have been picked as well. Miami will have a methodical approach to try to prevent from Henne having to win the game. Terrell Owens and the Bills will look to put Miami down early, and get TO involved early and often after last weeks disaster. The Dolphins do not have the fire power to come back from a deficit larger than a touchdown. On paper the Bills should have no problem jumping out on Miami. This will force Henne to have to make some plays with his arm, and make for a delightful day for the Buffalo secondary. Miami’s receivers are the worst in the league, and have a very difficult time getting open. This spells trouble for Henne and will make for a year similar to 2007 for the Dolphins.

Kickers

Lawrence Tynes (60% Owned in Yahoo)

Tynes get to kick against the Chiefs who have been giving up an average of 28 points a game. A number that would likely be higher if they didn’t face the Raiders who only scored 13. Tynes has been busy thus far this season and should continue booting PATs and field goals this week.

Jay Feely (6% Owned in Yahoo)

Feely hasn’t done much so far with only five field goals. Against the New Orleans Saints the Jets are surely going to have to put up points to compete with the high power Saints. The Jets have been above average currently in the red zone which should average out and give Feely more of an opportunity to boot field goals. He is definitely worth a look at this week though.

Josh Scobee (4% Owned in Yahoo)

Offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter has opened up things for the Jacksonville Jaguars offensively. David Garrard seems to be delivering and has a new target in Mike Sims-Walker. Tennessee’s strong point is stopping the run and have been vulnerable through the air. Garrard will be airing it out more to test out the Titans secondary. Scobee has missed a few field goals but one was over 50 yards. Historically the Jaguars and Titans usually play each other tough. Both need this win strongly. When a team is in the red zone expect defenses to turn it up even more to prevent a touchdown. It’ll be a field goal fare for both teams.