FANTASY FOOTBALL IN-SEASON FEATURES

Prediction: MIA 16, OAK 23

Update: Zach Miller has returned to limited work in practice and he'll likely play but continue to be limited by his foot injury. Chad Henne is back in practice and a decision on his starting status will be coming later. Brandon Marshall has missed practices with his hamstring injury and is not expected to play.

The Dolphins come off an embarrassing home shutout by the Bears and now hit the road where they are 4-1 and always play better. The Raiders are 4-1 at home and battling to remain in contention in the AFC West. This is a coin flip game but injuries to the Fins should nudge the score back into the Raiders side of the court.

Pregame Notes: The Dolphins have been the masters of inconsistency this year with a 4-1 road record against a 1-4 home mark but the offense has never been much of a factor in any game with only once being able to score more than 23 points in any game. Already three games out in the AFC East, the Fins are just spoilers from here on out but are going to struggle thanks to offensive line injuries that will depress a depressing rushing attack and subject the team to even more quarterback injuries with LT Jake Long being considered for shutting down the rest of the year because of his torn labrum.

QUARTERBACK: Chad Henne has returned for some practice work after missing last week because of his knee but until he is cleared, I assume that Tyler Thigpen will again be the starter. Last week in his first full game in two years, Thigpen only passed for 187 yards and no scores while throwing an interception and getting sacked six times. That could be an issue since the Raiders sack visiting quarterbacks between three and eight times per game so far.

The Raiders have allowed exactly two touchdowns to all but two opponents this year and one was Roethlisberger throwing for three touchdowns last week. But CB Nnamdi Asomugha should be back and the Dolphins only have a mediocre passing game anyway.

RUNNING BACKS: The Dolphins rank 27th in running back fantasy points and so far the best you can possibly hope for is around 50 yards per game from either Ronnie Brown or Ricky Williams and you still run the risk of grabbing them when they have games of literally only one or two points for that week. The problems with the offensive line only makes matters even worse.

The Raiders are soft against the run but more so in road games and the Fins are going to split it down the middle anyway. Brown is a marginal play with very minor upside for a score.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Brandon Marshall is no lock to play this week with a serious hamstring injury that forced him from the game last week. Marshall has been a near nonfactor since week six anyway and should end up facing Asomugha if he plays. Brian Hartline is a solid possession receiver with the yards that Marshall should be producing. I like the passing score to end up with this unit but it could end up with either Davone Bess or Hartline. All the Fins receivers are marginal plays this week.

TIGHT ENDS: Other than one big showing when the Titans visited, Anthony Fasano has been a nonfactor in the passing game and struggles to have more than 40 yards in any game.

Pregame Notes: The Raiders stomped the Seahawks and Broncos in games that went all their way and in Pittsburgh last week, they got to feel what it was like to be crushed themselves. That game aside, the Raiders are much improved this year and actually in contention for the postseason. Not only are they 5-5, but they are 3-0 against their own division. Winning @SD, DEN and @KC would no doubt win the division.

QUARTERBACK: In the massacre in Pittsburgh, HC Tom Cable used both quarterbacks to no avail and has stated he will start Jason Campbell again this week. Bruce Gradkowski was no more effective than Campbell and that three game winning streak still keeps Campbell under center.

The Dolphins have been generally good against the pass and Campbell is not likely to light it up in any week anyway. But this should be a decent showing for Campbell against a secondary that usually gives up a score or two to opponents. The rushing game should take center stage this week.

RUNNING BACKS: Darren McFadden was finally stopped last week in Pittsburgh but he has been gold every other week this year with 100+ total yards and the occasional touchdown. At home he has been much more productive as a runner and the Dolphins are only average against the run. There is probably not enough left over to benefit Michael Bush this week but McFadden at home should bounce back from that bad game in Pittsburgh.

I like one score here but it could end up with Michael Bush just as easily. McFadden's total yards alone merits him being a fantasy starter.

WIDE RECEIVERS: This unit is shuffling along with no player standing out other than Jacoby Ford in the Chiefs game a few weeks back. That 148 yard effort has been sandwiched by two sub-30 yard games and Louis Murphy's first game back only produced 25 yards on three catches. There is no player here worthy of a fantasy start but the hope is that Campbell can falter and Gradkowski take over again because he was connecting with Murphy very well in the early weeks .

TIGHT ENDS: Zach Miller had been red hot with scores and big yards in four of five games but these last two weeks have seen him limited to less than ten yards in each game thanks to his arch injury in his foot. I will project for a limited Miller to play again this week.