FANTASY FOOTBALL IN-SEASON FEATURES

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Prediction: STL 10, ARI 17

Update: Danario Alexander is out with his hamstring strain and Sam Bradford was able to do some limited work on Thursday and Friday. He is still impacted by his high ankle sprain but has not been called out and will be a game time decision. I will not add him back into the projections but he may play and would make a big difference. Kevin Kolb is not expected to play and will be replaced by John Skelton.

Oh hail the sweetness of the magic game. Where once stood a 0-6 team with no quarterback and an offense that has never scored more than one touchdown, the most magic of all happened. The Rams punked the Saints 31-21 and to this day, the Saints players still wail and beat upon their chest, unable to speak words now so meaningless.

Seriously - Rams come off a win with 31 points but had never scored more than 16 in any game.

The Cardinals are also 1-6. What a mess. It is a game that only fantasy could love. And probably not all that much.

These teams traded home wins in 2010. The Cardinals won 19-6 at home while the Rams won 17-13 in St. Louis.

QUARTERBACK: Sam Bradford remains out with his high ankle sprain and A.J. Feeley should end up the starter for one more week. There is still a small chance that Bradford could play but if that happens I will update. A. J. Feeley finally threw a touchdown pass last week but was held scoreless in Dallas.

Bradford passed for 187 yards and no scores in Arizona last year. That seems reasonable to expect again this season.

RUNNING BACKS: Steven Jackson comes off his best game in three years when he crushed the Saints with 159 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries. Jackson only had two touchdowns on the season and had never gained over 100 yards but he was the main reason why the Rams suddenly turned the tables on the visiting Saints.

Jackson gained 102 yards and one score on 28 carries in Arizona last season.

He is playing healthy which helps and the Cardinals are only average against the run. If there is a touchdown, this is most likely where it ends up.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Danario Alexander is expected back this week after missing the Saints matchup with a hamstring injury. But the problem is that with Feeley under center, the only player of any note has been Brandon Lloyd who had 74 yards in his first action in Dallas and then caught six passes from his 13 targets for 53 yards and one touchdown against the Saints. No other wideout has scored or had more than 50 yards so the fantasy value here is minimal.

No Rams wide receiver had more than 54 yards against the Cards last year. The Cardinals are very weak against wide receivers but Feeley just doesn't spawn enough confidence to merit a fantasy start beyond Lloyd for yardage.

TIGHT ENDS: Even less fantasy value with Feeley playing.

Pregame Notes: The Cardinals put up a good fight in Baltimore during the week of mail-in attempts in the NFL but the six game losing streak is intact and they may have lost their quarterback in the process. This is easily the best place to hope to notch another win but there is no guarantee with Kevin Kolb and Beanie Wells both banged up. The Cardinals have been good at scoring in home games but this may be the lowest yet.

QUARTERBACK: Kevin Kolb has turf toe from the loss to the Ravens and it will affect his passing assuming he plays. He may be able to take a pain injection and play or not. John Skelton will take the start if Kolb cannot play and that is a step down that the Cards may not be able to withstand.

The Cardinals only passed for a total of 158 yards and no touchdowns against the visiting Rams last year.

Kolb has been good for a score in almost every game and the Rams have yet to prevent any team from passing for at least one score. Temper expectations this week and forget them if Kolb does not play.

RUNNING BACKS: Beanie Wells was hampered by his knee in the Ravens game and still ended with 83 yards and a score on 22 carries. He has scored in all but the Steelers game but says his knee is a condition not likely to improve during the season. If he cannot play at some point, then Chester Taylor and Alfonso Smith will likely platoon for him but Wells is playing hurt and playing well so far.

He faces the same defense that gave up 253 yards to DeMarco Murray two weeks ago. Wells should end up with a score here but his yardage will be contingent on the state of his knee before and during the game.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Larry Fitzgerald hasn't scored since week three but he has managed to remain at or above around 70 yards in games and comes off a 98 yard effort in Baltimore. The status of Kolb will be critical to Fitzgerald and the others. Early Doucet has been low on yardage but scored in the last two outings.

Fitzgerald caught four passes for 61 yards on the visiting Rams last season. Steve Breaston turned in 62 yards on three catches.

The Rams are worse this year and allowed 12 touchdowns to the position already. The one score is still more likely to end up with Doucet because of the coverage that Fitzgerald attracts.

TIGHT ENDS: No fantasy value.

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