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Jim Zorn and Jason Campbell have their backs against the wall and one more chance against a weak team to prove they have a passing game to write home about. That makes Jason Campbell a must-start in all fantasy formats.

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Wow...talk about a game that not very many other people in the country are talking about. To suggest that this game has a lot of fantasy appeal would also be a little insulting to the average fantasy player's intelligence. But there are a few things worth considering in this game that could help with your fantasy lineups this weekend.

Jason Campbell - A "hot seat" coach has to fight and claw to prove to management he belongs. Zorn was brought here to mentor and groom Campbell and install an innovative offense (hold comments on this for another post.) If he is going to get fired, I see him going down swinging for the fences. Jason Campbell will once again be throwing early and often. He has thrown a few more interceptions this season than you would like to see, but the Chiefs did just give up a 250-yard performance to Miles Austin. You have to think that before we hit the meat of our schedule, Zorn is going to go balls to the wall with his passing game to rev it up. To me, that makes Jason Campbell a must-start.

Santana Moss - Well, Miles Austin did just have a 250-yard day against this weak pass defense. There aren't many fantasy players out there as off and on or streaky as Santana Moss. His 4 catch, 44 yard day last week is as sure a sign that he will blow up this week as any. If you own Moss, and you leave him on your bench this week, you will most likely hate yourself on Monday. Even more so than normal.

Chris Cooley- He went without a catch for the first time since 2004...that has to be killing him. After Samuels went down, he was asked to stay in and block, with mixed results. The line continues to be a debacle this week, so I worry that he will have more blocking assignments again. Barring last week's performance, Cooley has been a must-start fantasy player in all formats. But with this offense looking sluggish and the line looking banged up, I wonder about the use of the tight end this week. I am not recommending sitting him, because chances are if you have Cooley, you don't have a better tight end. But this might be a week to see how he does--if things are going away from him like last week, you should look into adding another tight end.

Clinton Portis- He continues to run hard for the most part. I have no idea how healthy he is, but the Chiefs excel at giving up yards. If Zorn wasn't so hell-bent on passing the ball, and if the line was a little healthier, CP could be at the top of the league in rushing easily. Back to reality: our line is a patchwork quilt--AGAIN--and Zorn desperately needs to validate his passing game. While conventional wisdom tells you that CP is a slam dunk in fantasy against this defense, recent history suggests that if he is going to get you a big chunk of fantasy points, he will have to break a few long runs to get the most from his touches.

Devin Thomas/Malcolm Kelly/Fred Davis- The "red shirts" were noticeably more involved in last week's game plan (Thomas and Davis more so it seemed.) Thomas impressed me. CAN SOMEONE EXPLAIN TO ME WHY THOMAS IS NOT RUNNING BACK KICKOFFS!? Sorry for that. Until they are consistently productive, you simply can't start them as anything more than a bye week replacement.

Washington Redskins Defense- Oh Jebus...where do I begin? This is it right? If you drafted them, you were banking on this 6 game stretch. This is game 6 of that stretch. From here on out, this defense could be a very risky start. Against the Chiefs' offense, you would figure we should get turnovers and sacks. The name of this game (and the theme of tonight's Friday Night "Mights") is 3rd down. This defense simply has to find a way to get off the field on 3rd down. Period. End of story. If they can do 50% better on 3rd down, they go from a marginal fantasy start to a absolute stud must-start unit.

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Name this Redskin--in the comments section.

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Before the fantasy season started, I thought, "Load up on Redskins players, watch them tear the league up against lesser opponents, and then trade them all before we hit the second half of the season." Let's just say that while I have not reaped the rewards I had hoped for, it isn't as bad as the real life Skins. As always, these Start/Sit recommendations are based just on the personnel in this game. I am not suggesting you should start Jason Campbell over Drew Brees.

Start

Jason Campbell, QB WAS- Why not? He had a rough outing against the Bucs, but you know Zorn is going to keep throwing. In fact, the Carolina Panthers are among the worst run defenses in the league. Why does that matter for JC owners out there? Because Zorn seems to take stats like this and turn them on their head. He should run the ball down their throat all day...but he won't.

Chris Cooley, TE WAS - He's 5th in receptions and 3rd in yards among NFL tight ends. As long as he is healthy, they will feed him a steady diet of underneath routes. When are they going to open him up deep like they did in the preseason?

Washington Redskins, DEF- Something about the way Jake Delhomme has been playing tells me this will be a bug turnover game for the Redskins' defense. I just don't trust him or believe in him. Plus, Jeremy Jarmon is going to be on the field a lot more this weekend, and he strikes me as a difference-maker.

Steve Smith, WR CAR - He is a stud. He is very much like Santana Moss, only he seems stronger and angrier. He is a huge talent and they will target him plenty.

DeAngelo Williams, RB CAR- I am trying to not be homerish by picking him here. He is 35th in the league in rushing yards, but I can't forget the way he destroyed us in the preseason last year. They will get him carries, and our defense has allowed runners to get their numbers against us.

Clinton Portis, RB WAS- I still think he is hurt, but if he plays, he should have a great game. The Panthers--as noted above--are a weak rushing defense, and CP is 10th in the league in rushing yards. (quietly in the top 10, eh?) Here's hoping Zorn figures out that we should run on a team that gives it up like Paris Hilton. 

Shaun Suisham, K WAS - He is batting a thousand! I figured that I had to recommend our biggest weapon at some point.

Sit

Malcolm Kelly/Devin Thomas/Fred Davis, WAS - I am hoping that by advising people to avoid this tandem, they actually blow up and play well. I want to be wrong, but there is simply nothing to suggest these guys are going to be getting the ball with any regularity anytime soon.

Jake Delhomme, QB CAR- I don't think he makes it through this game. He has played very poorly for stretches this season and I think it is going to take an injury to help Carolina move down their bench. Enter Jeremy Jarmon.

Carolina Panthers, DEF - The Redskins will move the ball up and down the field this week. It remains to be seen if we can score, but you figure it should be a long day for that defense (already 23rd in the league in total defense.)

Note: Make sure to check http://www.sbnation.com/fantasy for all the latest updates including who to sit/start. (Each week, each SB Nation NFL blogger provides their sit/start picks, including Sugar's).

More photos » by Pablo Martinez Monsivais - AP

Fantasy owners who have Jason Campbell will be hoping he continues his recent success against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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In our newest weekly segment, we will make Fantasy recommendations on the upcoming Redskins games. This week, the Buccaneers come to town and bring their 0-3 record and brand new quarterback in tow. At 1-2, the Redskins aren't exactly lighting the world on fire either.

Start

Jason Campbell, QB WAS - While the Redskins have yet to establish their offensive identity, Jason Campbell has very quietly become a decent starting fantasy quarterback. He is averaging about 265 yards per game and has a 92.6 QB rating. For the third week in a row, he gets a team that is strugg-a-ling. The Bucs are 31st in the league in total yards per game allowed and are giving up just slightly less than JC's per game average through the air. I expect Coach Zorn to continue to search for a rhythm in the passing game--despite the Buccaneers being second to last against the run. I hope I'm wrong, but with Portis ailing, I think Zorn leans on JC to move the ball.

Chris Cooley, TE WAS - Screens and short dump-offs to Cooley in the middle of the field will be the long handoffs that take the place of our running game. Campbell has been helping Cooley build another Pro Bowl resume so far this season--Chris is 4th in yards and receptions among all tight ends in the league. Only Owen Daniels (Texans) and Antonio Gates (Chargers) have a higher 1st down percentage (minimum of 15 receptions.)

Santana Moss, WR WAS - Moss has been a streaky fantasy player over the years, a fact that would lead me to bench him after his 178 yard performance. But Campbell has been targeting Moss more and he is currently the 14th most targeted wide receiver in the NFL (great stat). I would be ecstatic if they learned a lesson last week and spend most of his targeted plays in the middle of the field where has room to operate. One thing we know--he gets open, and he can get yards in huge chunks. Against a weak defense, he should be good for a few big plays.

Kellen Winslow, TE TB - The best friend of a young, inexperienced quarterback is a solid running game. In the absence of one of those, next on the list is a stud tight end. Despite his ability to blow up T.O.-style at any moment, you can't deny Winslow's talents. Josh Johnson will most likely be looking to get rid of the ball quickly and Winslow should get his catches underneath and on short routes to the sidelines. Looking at that offense, I just can't see starting anyone else wearing a Bucs jersey.

Washington Redskins, DEF - The Buccaneers managed just 86 total yards of offense last week against the Giants. The QB change tends to spark a little something when it is made, but Greg Blache has been around long enough to know what to do against a guy making his first NFL start (more on that below.) I will refrain from wondering aloud how this defense let the Lions march all over them last week and instead will say that this is a matchup that favors the Skins and unless you have a much better option, starting this defense is likely to benefit all fantasy owners.

Sit

Clinton Portis, RB WAS - What!!!??? For a lot of owners, they need CP to play like the elite runner we all believe he is. But he has yet to really bust out yet and I know I wasn't the only one who saw him limping around on the field against Detroit. I think he is already banged up enough to start losing regular carries to Ladell Betts and influence the way Zorn calls plays. I hope I am wrong on this too, but with the lack of any real attempt to establish the run on somebody, and the perceived health issues going into only Week 4, I would look at other options on your fantasy bench. By the way, I fully expect Portis to play on Sunday. I just think until the Redskins dedicate themselves to some semblance of a running game, his value is diminished in fantasy.

Josh Johnson, QB TB - Well, the Redskins did their best to get Stafford on the road to Canton last week, but I don't see that happening this week. Will he make a few plays that cause Redskins fans to curse and scream? Oh yeah. The Skins will make him look better than he is at times, but good defensive coordinators rarely get outclassed by quarterbacks making their first start. It's like there is a secret book somewhere that only defensive coordinators have access to and outlines the steps necessary to make a quarterback in his first start feel the heat. (There is only one page in this book, and it only has one word on it: BLITZ.)

Cadillac Williams, RB TB - Derrick Ward is technically the starter but both he and Williams are battling knee problems. If you are looking for a running back from Tampa Bay in the league rankings, you will have to scroll down pretty far before you get to Cadillac. He is getting about 38 yards per game--which is better than Ward. You figure the Redskins will make Josh Johnson beat them with his arm and will load up to keep the Bucs' running game from taking off.

For more fantasy articles and analysis, check in over at SBNation.com, where yours truly runs a fantasy mailbag and a weekly Start/Sit column covering the whole league.

You asked for fantasy football talk, you got it. Before we get into pre-season and start overloading on league-wide fantasy talk, let's rank the Redskins fantasy players. We'll assume that the defense and special teams are one unit (DST), and we'll assume individual players get credit for any return yards and touchdowns.

Draft Picks

via image.examiner.com

1. Clinton Portis, RB- The offense still revolves around the run here in D.C., and Clinton  remains an elite athlete in the NFL, capable of dominating an opposing defense with 25-30 quality touches in a game. While he is not injury-prone, his fantasy owners have had their share of heartbreakers the last few seasons. What makes him the top fantasy player on this team is that you know he is going to get the ball, and you know he is going to be featured--i.e. there is no 'running back by committee' here. I continue to hope for more receptions out of the backfield for CP, but if he stays healthy for a full season, 1,500 rushing yards and 10 TDs are very likely.

2. Santana Moss, WR - Santana Clause is an ironic nickname we have for Moss. Ironic because he starts out the year like gangbusters but then opposing defenses shut him down before we get to Christmas. This is of course not his fault, and should the Redskins develop an alternate threat to Santana, other teams will be forced to play him a lot more honestly. Last year in my fantasy league, which holds an auction draft, I picked Moss up for $3. In fact, most would say I got stuck with him at $3, as I was really bidding value at that point. I was shocked when he went so cheap. I think this is the perception Moss is facing now based on the last few seasons of going missing in the winter. The Redskins passing offense has been rather anemic and he has paid the price. Rounding out his value though is the threat that the Redskins will incorporate him more into the return game. He has shown how dangerous he can be back there, and if your league gives you points for return yards and touchdowns, he is definitely a top-tier fantasy receiver.

3. Chris Cooley, TE- If fumbles kill you in your league, then Cooley hurt you last season. But I would be hard-pressed to think a player like Cooley will let that kind of thing happen two years in a row. He continues to be one of the top tight ends in the whole league (83 catches last year), and Jason Campbell continues to rely on him heavily when we need to get a first down (averaged over 10 yards a catch). Because we don't feature two or even three first-tier wide receivers, Cooley's status in our passing game remains high. He is a big target and he understands how to find the pocket in the middle of the field. The big question for Cooley--and the Redskins--is how can the team do a better job of finding him in the red zone. He only hauled in 1 TD last season (which is a problem) but he averaged 7 TD's the first four seasons, so you have to hope this is an aberration, and still consider him on the same level as Jason Witten, Dustin Keller, Greg Olsen, etc.

T4. Washington DST - A lot of fantasy leagues really let a good defensive unit pile on points. In the league I play in though, defenses can either be the top scorer of the week, or can go negative enough to completely erase your top scorer of the week. All of this makes the top DST units in the league that much more valuable. The Redskins added Albert Haynesworth, Brian Orakpo, Philip Daniels, Renaldo Wynn, and Jeremy Jarmon  to their pass rush/defensive line. We lost Shawn Springs, but have a pretty good secondary with Horton, Landry, Hall, Rogers and Smoot. There is plenty to suggest this defense can build on what they accomplished last season, which saw them finish as the 4th-ranked unit in the NFL. From a fantasy perspective, the improvement would have to come in the way of increased sacks and turnovers. If that happens, this DST will be the difference-maker come playoff time, in fantasy and in reality. 

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[Note by Skin Patrol, 09/04/08 2:37 PM EDT ] Ahhh frustration. I just found out KSK beat me to this story by a few hours and then I went at made a long post about it without mentioning them. I hate it when this happens. HERE IS THE LINK. HERE IS A QUOTE: "Throw in the delightful trio of Mercedes Lindsay, Christy Cooley, and the kicker’s piece of ass and you pretty much have the perfect draft. Sure Santana Moss and the ladies’ team is a bit slow at times, but they still bring more to the table than Shanoff."

Fantasy Football is a social and cultural disaster. Once upon a time people sat around watching a football game like good partisans, cheering on one team or the other either because of loyalty or because their mortgage payment depended on the outcome. When I was balls deep in Fantasy Football it wasn't uncommon to hear me say things like:

"I really hope that New England doesn't score here because, if they do, Philly, my defense, will suffer. But if New England does score, let it be Wes Welker because he's a Red Raider!!! because he's on my fantasy team. But my opponent has Tom Brady, so I'd prefer it be on some kind of strange halfback pass or reverse or something. Also if the Patriots don't score, it would be better if they kicked a field goal, because I've got their kicker. Wait, now I'm confused."

That can't be the way God intended people to watch football. Two teams lineup. What is good is what happens in team 1's favor, what is bad is what happens in team 2's favor. That's easy enough.

Having said all that, I've played fantasy football annually for the past decade, barring last year, and recently completed the Hogs Haven Fantasy League Draft. My team is really totally sweet, as I based my picks in large part on Football Outsider's Pro Football Prospectus fantasy rankings, which I think are called KUBIAK or something. It's probably the greatest fantasy team ever.

While we're on the "greatest ever" subject, direct your eyes to this video (hat tip: Extreme Skins) from Chris Cooley's Blog. There isn't anything interesting I can add to preface the video that will make it more entertaining, but cliff notes is basically Cooley got a bunch of his teammates (Fred Smoot, Reed Doughty, Shaun Suisham, Jason Campbell, Santana Moss, Colt Brennan, Mike Sellers, Fred Davis, Cooley's wife and Campbell's girlfriend who are teammates in spirit, etc.). I'll give you two highlights, though just because they are both Cooley, don't think he stole the show. Because Fred Smoot stole the show.

Chris Cooley: You've got 10 seconds Colt.

Colt Brennan: Let's go with, uhhh, Lendale White.

Chris Cooley: Yaaay that's a gaaay pick.

----

Chris Cooley: I'm gonna go with. Jason. Campbell.

Chris Cooley later, privately: I feel like I had to pick my own teammate. I picked Jason Campbell pretty early...

----

The whole video is hysterical, very well done, and renews my faith in this social and cultural disaster we call Fantasy Football. Boom (click below to watch):

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We've got our very own Hogs Haven Fantasy Football League which I've now figured out how to post on (draft will probably be set for next Tuesday at 8:00PM Eastern if anyone is listening) and now, somehow, I'm giving Fantasy advice at an actual Fantasy Football website. As I said over there, I'm actually not very good at FF, or pick'em leagues, or anything, really. My opinion on who to draft from the 'Skins should probably be ignored. But the SBNation Fantasy Football blog Fake Teams is getting the scoop on best fantasy player + best fantasy sleeper from all the bloggers for their respective teams. Here's a tease on what I had to say:

Washington Redskins Fantasy Sleeper:

Confusion as to who will emerge as the #2 WR to Santana Moss could aid prospective fantasy owners in snagging a steal late in the game because no one really knows who will finish the 2008 season at that position. Is Antwaan Randle El going to go before Malcolm Kelly going to go before Devin Thomas? Ostensibly one of them ends up as the #2 guy and if you can pick correctly in the later rounds of the draft you'll be the business. Both Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly have disappointed thus far in the offseason which will drop their stock...

If you want to know which of the three I'd actually take -- and thus which one you probably shouldn't -- you're going to have to visit Fake Teams.

I'm still listening on suggestions for prizes at the end of this Fantasy Football season. You guys need to let me know what you want extra a front page post here at Hogs Haven.

I just sent out an email to the four people who were randomly selected to fill out the remainder of the Hogs Haven Fantasy Football League. Some of you signed up but weren't selected, and this post is for you. I'm trying to guesstimate how much additional interest we have in a 2nd Hogs Haven fantasy football league for the unchosen ones. My concern is that we might not have enough additional participants to fill an eight team league, and without that requisite interest there's really no point in me creating another league for others. So, this is a shoutout thread where I need to hear from those people who signed up but have not yet received an email from me directly. If you are out there, please let me know in this post whether you are still interested in participating; if enough of you respond we'll make another league.

I don't know when the draft is going to be but I will make sure and give everyone enough time beforehand to get settled on strategy and date and etc. We'll be in touch.

Umm, I suck.

So I probably should have made this post like a week ago, but I was too stupid to figure out some of the specifics on our now sponsored Hogs Haven Fantasy Football League, run by Fanhouse. Check out the Official Hogs Haven Fantasy Football League here. It's going to be a 12 person league, I believe non-keeper. I can reserve exactly 8 of those 12 spots, so email me after you have registered if you want to be one of the other 7 people guaranteed a spot in that league (but you must register first!). I will select the 7 people based on blog participation and longevity. I think regular reader(s) of this site know who those 7 people will probably be, but since we only have like 7 regular commenters/readers/participants anyways, you should email me even if you are a lurker or an infrequent commenter because I have no idea how many of the regulars will even signup. A good way to increase your odds of getting picked is to create an account and start commenting, immediately, in this thread. The remaining four spots (7+1+4=12) will go to four people randomly selected from all others signing up.

Registration page is here. Just make sure you select the Hogs Haven league from the little pop down menu.

League is totally free. Prizes are unknown for now but here's the little generic blurb they posted for me to enter:

Join the Hogs Haven fantasy league for a chance to beat the SBNation blogger. At the end of the fantasy season, the blogger may even decide to publish YOUR post on Hogs Haven. Or there may be other prizes — check this page and your favorite SBNation blog regularly for details. Click on the Register Now button in the left sidebar and choose which league (Hogs Haven) you want to join. It’s quick and easy. But don’t wait! We’ll be selecting the league participants at the end of the month.

You can alter the "may even decide to publish" to "will publish" if you'd like, as I have zero problem permitting whomever wins this thing to post crazy-super-awesome bragging rights here. Because that person will be me; I rule.

I apologize about the timeline. First: You guys need to register IMMEDIATELY because "at the end of the month" is pretty soon. Second: If you want one of the 7 remaining guaranteed spots, you need to email me ASAP. Third: If you don't get one of the 7 guranteed spots, and you don't get one of the 4 randomly selected spots, don't worry; we'll set up a league for the rest of you through Fanhouse if you guys want to play on that platform. And since I'm feeling saucy, bragging right post prizes will be available for all winners of Fanhouse leagues populated by Hogs Haven registrants.

So get out and go register for the Hogs Haven Fantasy Football League.