Nine of ten teams are repeat performances, with Tampa being the only one we’ve yet to see.  My apologies to the Bengals, Panthers, Texans and Titans for not being able to get to you yet, but for reasons I’ve yet to figure out none of your games have been broadcast here.

Which brings up a good point: Why have those four teams been left out while we’ve seen the Chargers five times and the Eagles and Giants four each?  It doesn’t seem to be regional, two of the most shown non-local teams are on the opposite coast, and it’s not a bias toward better records, the Titans are the NFL’s last undefeated team and the Chargers and Eagles are both only at 3-3.

In fact record doesn’t seem to be a factor at all.  Of the four teams we haven’t seen the Titans and Panthers are a combined 9-2 while the Bengals and Texans are a combined 1-10.

But I seem to have gone off on a long tangent.  This week’s schedule is below, current list of how many times we’ve seen each team is down at the bottom of the post.

10 a.m. Oct. 19: 49ers at Giants, Fox
10 a.m. Oct. 19: Chargers at Bills, CBS
1 p.m. Oct. 19: Jets at Raiders, CBS
5:15 p.m. Oct. 19: Seahawks at Bucs, NBC
5:30 p.m. Oct. 20: Broncos at Patriots, ESPN

Fox, 10 a.m.

San Francisco 49ers

Fantasy Star

RB Frank Gore: I’m running out of fantasy stars.  At least Gore is still chugging away and putting up stats.  It takes a strong work ethic to continue to work and play this hard on a team that’s suffered so many demoralizing come-from-ahead losses so hats off to him.

Player to Watch

WR Isaac Bruce: O’Sullivan’s three fourth-quarter turnovers excluded him from this list for life, so Isaac Bruce is taking his place.  Bruce has been by far the most reliable receiver in the Niners’ distressingly pass-happy offense so he’s a safe bet as a #2 or #3.  But watch for signs that he’s hitting the wall, he’s no spring chicken.

New York Giants

Fantasy Stars

RB Brandon Jacobs: The Niners are allowing 3.9 yards per carry and 124.2 yards per game this season.  Jacobs is averaging 5.7 yards per carry and 89.4 yards per game.  Based on those numbers and my back-of-a-napkin math that means Jacobs could have a 120 yard game.

QB Eli Manning: Ever since Randy Moss started looking like Randy Moss again against the Niners’ safeties teams have been having success going deep.  Meanwhile, Plaxico Burress is a pretty good deep threat.  And Eli is averaging 246 yards per game.

WR Plaxico Burress: See above.

Player to Watch

WR Domenik Hixon: Plax is back but Hixon remains my player to watch.  He’s the Giants’ receiver of the future, Toomer isn’t getting any younger after all, and they’ll probably work him more and more into their gameplan as long as they keep winning.

CBS, 10 a.m.

San Diego Chargers

Fantasy Stars

RB LaDainian Tomlinson: What’s left to say about LT?  In the last six weeks we’ve seen the Chargers four times.  He’s LT.  He’s good.

QB Phillip Rivers: Again, same as usual, Chambers is probably out but he’s still a good play.

WR Vincent Jackson: He’s absolutely shined in Chambers’ absense and I can’t imagine that will slow down even when Chambers returns, they both fill different niches.

Player to Watch

RB Darren Sproles: Most people in this section are on their way up, but Sproles is apparently sliding.  I had expected him to get more of the workload to keep LT fresh but as Tomlinson has healed Sproles has suffered.  If he continues to get fewer carries he’s a candidate to cut.

Buffalo Bills

Fantasy Stars

RB Marshawn Lynch: He’s a respectable if not dominant back, a guy you can leave as a starter and not worry too much about.  But more importantly he’s completely awesome.

WR Lee Evans: He’s the 12th-leading receiver with a whopping average of 27 yards per catch.  You have to start that, regardless of who’s at quarterback.

Player to Watch

QB Trent Edwards: Edwards was becoming a solid option until suffering a concussion a couple weeks ago.  It looks like he’ll be coming back this week, but keep an eye on him to see if there are any lingering effects before starting him again.

CBS, 1 p.m.

New York Jets

Fantasy Star

QB Brett Favre: Yeah, he’s older than dirt.  Yeah, he’s a jerk for what he did to his old team.  But he can still play pretty well.

WR Laveranues Coles: He’s not a superstar and he’s not going to carry your team, but he’s averaging over 60 yards per game and is tied for second in the league with four receiving touchdowns, which is about 11 points per game.

WR Jericho Cotchery: He actually has ten more yards than Coles on the season and only one fewer touchdown, so either of these guys is a good option.

Player to Watch

WR Chansi Stuckey: He’s way behind Cotchery and Coles in yards, but he’s tied with Cotchery with three touchdowns on the season, though he’s been shut out of the end zone since Week 3.  But he’s shown what he can do so if one of the guys ahead of him is injured he’s a good pickup.

Oakland Raiders

Fantasy Stars

RB Darren McFadden: While he’s not leading the league in rushing yards he’s got a monster 5.1 yards per carry and he’s healthier by the week.  Of course he’s not alone anymore…

RB Justin Fargas: The Son of the Guy Who Played Huggy Bear is back in pads, working back into the offense with ten carries in the Saints blowout.  As Cable learns to marginalize Russell the whole RB corps should get solid carries.

Player to Watch

RB Michael Bush: While Fargas’ return should mean a decreased workload for Bush, the Raiders were actively trying to trade him before the deadline.  I imagine he’ll still get some carries just to keep his value up for the end of the season.

NBC, 5:15 p.m.

Seattle Seahawks

Fantasy Star

RB Julius Jones: I was high on Jones in the preseason, then down on him in the early games, now I’m high on him again.  He’s getting into a groove and picking up a lot of the slack for the lagging passing game.

Player to Watch

WR Bobby Engram: I try not to put hunches and gut feelings into this blog, but this one’s a pure hunch.  I’ve got a feeling about Engram.  So keep an eye on him, I’ve been right about stranger things.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Fantasy Star

RB Earnest Graham: Graham is having a solid season, despite being in a two-back system.  …  What?  That’s all I’ve got.  The Bucs don’t have a lot of star power.

Player to Watch

RB Warrick Dunn: The other back in the aforementioned two-back system, Dunn is putting up almost identical numbers to Graham.  Of course Dunn is also nearly old enough to collect social security so start him but watch for signs he’s starting to break down.

ESPN, 5:30 p.m. Oct. 20

Denver Broncos

Fantasy Stars

QB Jay Cutler: Cutler, despite being backed up by an awful defense, is putting up consistently great numbers this season.  You really don’t need me to tell you to start him.

WR Brandon Marshall: Despite missing the first two games of the year on a suspension Marshall leads the league in receptions.  That’s a good sign.  Guys who catch a lot of passes aren’t as inconsistent as players who put up good yards on long plays.

Players to Watch

WRs Brandon Stokeley and Eddie Royal: Both are good when healthy but neither is healthy.  Keep an eye on them to see if their injuries (concussion and ankle respectively) are going to slow them down long-term.

New England Patriots

Fantasy Star

WR Wes Welker: Remember when the Patriots were good?  Seems like decades ago, doesn’t it?  Now Welker is the team leader in receiving yards and the closest thing they have to a fantasy star.  Moss is helpless without Brady and they have what seems like a dozen running backs rotating in and out.

Player to Watch

QB Matt Cassell: He’s a player to watch as a potential pickup, in fact you should not have him on your team under any circumstances, but rather to see how much worse he can get before Belichick strangles him on the sideline.

Team	Games
49ers	7
Raiders	6
Chargers	5
Eagles	4
Giants	4
Bears	3
Jets	3
Patriots	3
Saints	3
Seahawks	3
Steelers	3
Bills	2
Broncos	2
Browns	2
Cowboys	2
Dolphins	2
Packers	2
Vikings	2
Bucs	1
Cardinals	1
Chiefs	1
Colts	1
Falcons	1
Jaguars	1
Lions	1
Rams	1
Ravens	1
Redskins	1
Bengals	0
Panthers	0
Texans	0
Titans	0