Are you going back and forth on which running back to start in the upcoming week? Do you have three solid receivers and only two spots available and can’t decide who to start? Each week in Lineup Blitz, we’ll take a look at the most favorable and least favorable matchups and provide invaluable information to help set your fantasy lineup and win.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone and most importantly, enjoy the three football games on Thursday! There are a lot of fantasy studs going in the early-week games, so be sure to set your lineups early and don't miss out.

Top Gun - Quarterbacks 

Carson Palmer (vs. CLE)

While a majority of fantasy owners roll with Palmer nearly every week, they still have a little bad taste in their mouth after last week's shocking loss in Oakland where the Cincinnati QB managed just 207 passing yards, no TDs for the second straight week and one INT. In fact, Palmer has just 14 passing TDs in 10 games this season, with five coming in one game against Chicago back in Week 7. So his statistics and fantasy stature are not as great as most think. The success of the Bengals on offense has been mostly due to the heavy lifting of RB Cedric Benson. Still, Palmer faces a Cleveland Browns defense which allowed an NFL rookie record 422 yards and five TD passes to Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford last week.

Prediction: Palmer should throw for at least two TDs against the Browns, equaling his production in the first meeting back in Week 4 in Cleveland. The Browns are just one of three teams Palmer has multiple TD passes against this season. Palmer also is a very respectable $17 in this week's FOX Fantasy Quick Challenge Fast Draft, so don't forget to add him there too!

Other five-star field generals: Jay Cutler (CHI at MIN), Eli Manning (NYG at DEN - Thu.), Aaron Rodgers (GB at DET - Thu.), Matt Ryan (ATL vs. TB)

Surprise studs: Kyle Boller (STL vs. SEA), Josh Freeman (TB at ATL), David Garrard (JAC at SF), Bruce Gradkowski (OAK at DAL - Thu.)

Let ‘em ride the pine: * Kyle Orton (DEN vs. NYG - Thu.), Mark Sanchez (NYJ vs. CAR), Matt Schaub (HOU vs. IND), * Matt Stafford (DET vs. GB - Thu.) (* - denote injury/potential inactive)

Worst play of the week: Matt Cassel, KC (at SD)

There is a lot of buzz around the Chiefs after last week's shocking upset victory over the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers in overtime. Rightly so. Cassel engineered a scoring drive, hitting WR Chris Chambers on a long pass to set up the game-winning field goal. However, Cassel still manged just 248 yards passing in that win, including that one 61-yard pass play to Chambers. Don't overhype Cassel simply because of a quick glance at the stats. While he is playing his best football of the season with three straight 200-yard performances, his 248 yards against Pittsburgh was just his third-best performance of the season. In addition, in the first meeting against the Chargers at Arrowhead, he went for just 97 yards with a season-high three interceptions.
 

Top Toters - Running Backs

Monitor the progress of Michael Turner (ankle) very closely for the rest of the week, because if he can practice even on a limited basis at some point, then all bets are off for Snelling. However, if Snelling does make another start, and it's a good bet he will with Turner trying to come back from a high ankle sprain, he will have ample running room against the league's worst rushing defense statistically. The Buccaneers allow a whopping 168.9 yards per game on the ground and they've given up 12 rushing TDs.

Prediction: I wanted to roll with Rick (Ricky Williams) of the Miami Dolphins here again, but that's no new news that he'll bag 100 and a score against the rag tag Bills rushing defense. So hopefully after 100 yards and a pair of scores, I'll end up 'Snelling' like a rose here instead.

Other top-notch tailbacks: Marion Barber (DAL vs. OAK - Thu.), Ryan Grant (GB at DET - Thu.), LaDainian Tomlinson (SD vs. KC), Ricky Williams (MIA at BUF)

Last-minute shopping: Rock Cartwright, Washington (at PHI)

Surprise studs: Jamaal Charles (KC at SD), Justin Forsett (SEA at STL), LeSean McCoy (PHI vs. WAS), Laurence Maroney (NE at NO - Mon.)

Let ‘em ride the pine: Matt Forte (CHI at MIN), Jamal Lewis (CLE at CIN), Knowshon Moreno (DEN vs. NYG - Thu.), Ray Rice (BAL vs. PIT)

Worst play of the week: Rashard Mendenhall, Pittsburgh (at BAL)

The Steelers might place more offensive responsibility on the shoulders of Mendenhall in their huge AFC North Division battle against the Ravens. That's because QB Ben Roethlisberger is making his way back from what coach Mike Tomlin called a "concussion-oriented" injury last Sunday in Kansas City. Supposedly Big Ben passed a battery of neurological tests with flying colors, but it's still hard to believe he'll be at 100 percent and the possibility still exists QB Dennis Dixon could see snaps in this game at some point if Roethlisberger has any kind of setback. While the potential for more touches are always good for fantasy owners, it's not great against a Baltimore rush defense which ranks fifth in the league by giving up just 92.1 yards per game. In his last game against a top rush defense, Mendenhall managed just 36 rushing yards in Week 10 at home against the Bengals and he hasn't scored a rushing TD in four games, although he did get into the end zone via a pass last week in Kansas City. Mendenhall is also slight overrated at $16 in the FOX Fantasy Quick Challenge Salary Cap , as he is projected for just 11.49 points. It's best to aim for a player who should average at least one fantasy point per dollar spent and Mendenhall will likely not come even close to that.

Top Grabber – Wide Receiver

Mike Sims-Walker, Jacksonville (at SF)

Assuming jet lag isn't a problem or he doesn't have any ladies friends this time around on a west coast trip, Sims-Walker should tear up a San Francisco pass defense which ranks 30th in the NFL by giving up 256.1 yards per game through the air. Sims-Walker has proven that even when a matchup is not favorable, he can still get it done. While I like to rely on the tried and true, it's hard to deny that Sims-Walker is not only a good fantasy option, but he has emerged as an elite NFL receiver. He has scored TDs in three consecutive games and he has 81 or more yards in six of his past eight starts. Fantasy owners will be eagerly eyeing Game Trax late on Sunday afternoon waiting for that long TD that is sure to come. 

Prediction: While Sims-Walker might not hit a season-high in yardage, a 100-yard performance and another celebration in the end zone is likely.

Other high-end pass grabbers: Donald Driver (GB at DET - Thu.), Larry Fitzgerald (ARI at TEN), Vincent Jackson (SD vs. KC), Chad Ochocinco (CIN vs. CLE)

Last-minute shopping: Danny Amendola, St. Louis (vs. SEA)

Surprise studs: Steve Breaston (ARI at TEN), Johnny Knox (CHI at MIN), Louis Murphy (OAK at DAL - Thu.), Lededu Naanee (SD vs. KC)

Let ‘em ride the pine:  Jerricho Cotchery (NYJ vs. CAR), DeSean Jackson (PHI vs. WAS), * Calvin Johnson (DET vs. GB - Thu.), * Hakeem Nicks (NYG at DEN - Thu.),  (* - denotes injury/potential inactive)

Worst play of the week: Chris Chambers, Kansas City (at SD)

While it's not Brett Favre returning to Green Bay, Chambers will carry a big chip on his shoulder in Sunday's game in San Diego against the team which waived him after Week 8. Since latching on with the Chiefs, Chambers has re-emerged as a useful fantasy option in some formats, posting at least three receptions and 60 yards receiving in each of his three starts. However, he is due for a letdown and he might be pressing too hard to make the Bolts pay for disgarding him. Chambers might be better off in his revenge if he had Favre and not Cassel as his signal caller based on the 97 yards his QB had in the first meeting against San Diego earlier this season. This smacks of something like a two for 25 day.
 

Top Big Man – Tight Ends

Benjamin Watson, New England (at NO - Mon.)

Prediction: Watson has been highly erratic for fantasy owners, going without a reception last week against the Jets and posting a total of just six receptions in his past five games. So he is a fantasy stud against the unbeaten Saints? Well, for what it's worth, he has two of his four TDs on Monday Night Football, another score came on a huge nationally-televised game in Denver and his longest reception of the season occured in a marquee game at Indianapolis. That being said, Watson appears to rise to the occasion when the stakes are highest. It won't get any higher profile than this one.

Other big-time big men: Vernon Davis (SF vs. JAC), Antonio Gates (SD vs. KC), Zach Miller (OAK at DAL - Thu.), Kellen Winslow (TB at ATL)

Last-minute shopping: Jermichael Finley, Green Bay (at DET - Thu.)

Surprise studs: Kevin Boss (NYG at DEN - Thu.), Marcedes Lewis (JAC at SF), Shawn Nelson (BUF vs. MIA), Ben Patrick (ARI at TEN)

Let ‘em ride the pine: Brent Celek (PHI at WAS), Dustin Keller (NYJ vs. CAR), Tony Scheffler (DEN vs. NYG - Thu.), Jeremy Shockey (NO vs. NE - Mon.)

Worst play of the week: Brandon Pettigrew, Detroit (vs. GB - Thu.)

Prediction: Pettigrew has been the man lately, as the rookie has emerged as a useful low-end No. 1 fantasy TE in most formats which require a starter at the position. He has posted 15 receptions for 165 yards and two scores, including the game-winner last week with no time left on the clock against Cleveland. However, he also went without a catch in his first meeting with the Packers at Lambeau back in Week 6. While it can be argued that Daunte Culpepper was his QB that day with Stafford inactive due to a kneecap injury, there is no arguing the fact the Packers roll into Ford Field with the NFC's fourth-best pass defense. Hey, there is a chance Culpepper might be his QB again for this one. Pettigrew won't find as much room to operate like he did against the lowly Browns or like he did in his breakout game against the Seahawks in Week 9. For this one, think more along the lines of what he did in Week 10 at Minnesota when the Vikings stifled him for two grabs and just 23 yards.
 

Top Leg Man - Kickers

Jeff Reed, Pittsburgh (at BAL)

Prediction: Reed might be the biggest beneficiary of Big Ben's questionable health and the fact that the Steelers are facing another top defense in Baltimore this week. The last time the Steelers faced a top defense, it was a field goal fest between Reed and Cincinnati K Shayne Graham in Week 10 in Pittsburgh. When the Steelers bog down on offense after forays into Baltimore territory, look for Reed and fantasy owners to reap the rewards.

Others who will get their kicks: Mason Crosby (GB at DET - Thu.), Stephen Gostkowski (NE at NO - Mon.), Shayne Graham (CIN vs. CLE), Nate Kaeding (SD vs. KC)

Surprise studs: Dan Carpenter (MIA at BUF), Jason Elam (ATL vs. TB), Sebastian Janikowski (OAK at DAL - Thu.), Rian Lindell (BUF vs. MIA)

Let ‘em ride the pine: Kris Brown (HOU vs. IND), Billy Cundiff (BAL vs. PIT), Phil Dawson (CLE at CIN), Matt Prater (DEN vs. NYG - Thu.)

Worst play of the week: Josh Brown, St. Louis (vs. SEA)


Best defense

Philadelphia (vs. WAS)

Prediction: The Redskins are expected to be down to their third-string RB in Cartwright for this one and they didn't produce a whole heck of a lot of offense in the first meeting at home against the Eagles when RBs Ladell Betts (knee) and Clinton Portis (concussion) were each healthy. The Redskins are coming off an ugly six-point performance in Dallas and things don't look to get any better against another NFC East foe on the road.

Others top D-Units: Cincinnati (vs. CLE), Green Bay (at GB - Thu.), Minnesota (vs. CHI), N.Y. Giants (at DEN - Thu.)

Surprise defenses: Atlanta (vs. TB), Dallas (vs. OAK - Thu.), Miami (at BUF), Seattle (at STL)

Let ‘em ride the pine: Chicago (at MIN), Denver (vs. NYG - Thu.), New England (at NO - Mon.), New Orleans (vs. NE - Mon.)

Worst play of the week: Washington (at PHI)

Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/DanielEDobish

Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/OPENFantasy

If you have any specific fantasy questions, please add ATTN: Daniel E. Dobish in your subject line and email it to fantasycontent@opensports.com. Please know that due to the volume of e-mails, we might not be able to personally respond to each inquiry, but we'll certainly try our best!