FANTASY FORECAST

There might not be an NFL team that plays locally, but let’s face it, thousands of us have fantasy league rosters that we draft and manage. Each week, Times NFL writer Sam Farmer will offer a few tips to the wise:

*--* PLAY HIM Drew Brees After two weeks on the road, Brees is back at the Superdome and figures to have a big game against QB, New Orleans San Francisco. Marshawn Lynch This is the first game in a dome for Lynch, and he’s going up against a bad run defense. RB, Buffalo T.J. Houshmandzadeh Carson Palmer showed flashes of his old self last Sunday, and Houshmandzadeh is the receiver he’ll WR, Cincinnati most frequently target against Cleveland. GIVE HIM A CHANCE Fred Taylor Either Taylor or Maurice Jones-Drew is going to have a big day against the Texans. Maybe both. RB, Jacksonville J.T. O’Sullivan Mike Martz feels very comfortable with this guy and it shows. The Saints game will be a shootout. QB, San Francisco Dwayne Bowe This is a bad offense, but Bowe gets a lot of looks. He was targeted 12 times last Sunday. WR, Kansas City BENCH HIM Ben Roethlisberger He’s banged up and facing a tough Baltimore defense. The Steelers have to do a better job of QB, Pittsburgh protecting him. Edgerrin James If the Cardinals-Panthers game turns into a shootout, he’ll be a bit player in the Boldin-Fitzgerald RB, Arizona show. Kyle Orton His numbers are modest as it is, and now he’s going up against a surprisingly good Philadelphia QB, Chicago defense. *--*

*--* -- Sam Farmer *--*