FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEKLY FEATURES

Prediction: PIT 27, NYJ 10

The Steelers come off a nail biter and hit the road where they are only 2-2 this year. The Jets are swirling clockwise down the porcelain throne with a six game losing streak but are coming off a bye week. A great defense against a struggling offense - doesn't matter where they play this game.

Quarterback: Ben Roethlisberger is enjoying a career year with 22 passing scores that rank #3 in the NFL currently. He has scored in every game and has multiple scores in the last four. The biggest concern for him this week is not that he cannot succeed but if he will need to press enough to get the win. He's already been sacked 23 times this year and yet has only seven interceptions.

Running Backs: While he only has two scores on the year, Willie Parker ranks #2 in the NFL with 873 rushing yards and has already topped the 100 yard mark six times. His role as a receiver is almost nonexistent and he has turned in two games with less than 50 yards but in most week he is golden for great rushing yardage. Like in New England, the Steelers prefer to score with short passes rather than by the run.

Wide Receivers: Hines Ward scored last week and has four touchdowns on the year but his yardage has typically been capped at around 80 yards per week if not less. Santonio Holmes comes off one of his worst games of the year with only 53 yards against the Browns but he has already recorded six scores and two 100 yard games this year. He gets slightly less passes than Ward but does more with the catch. Nate Washington has also been a factor for the last two weeks with a couple of scores and 50 yards in each game. Big Ben is enjoying a banner year and is using all his wideouts to produce.

Tight Ends: Heath Miller is an often used outlet for Roethlisberger and a favorite target down near the endzone. Willie Parker may only have two scores this year but Miller has six touchdowns and five in just the last five games. He is averaging around 50 yards each week

Match Against the Defense: This should be a great game for Parker going against the worse defense against running backs. Big yardage here and should be at least one rushing score if Davenport doesn't take it himself. Parker is a definite fantasy starter this week.

The Jets rank average against the pass because everyone just runs all over them. That should keep Roethlisberger to moderate passing numbers this week but his multiple score trend should remain intact. Miller is likely to score here as is Holmes since the speedy guys like Evans and Curtis have been deadly against the Jets this year.

Pregame Notes: The bye week gave the Jets some time off to figure out why they are on a six game losing streak but the schedule says that trend is not likely to end soon with this game against the Steelers followed by a trip to Dallas. The ownership has already affirmed that HC Eric Mangini is safe in his job but this could easily be a 2-14 season without much in the way of progress other than turning to Kellen Clemens. Thomas Jones has been a relative flop and Laveranues Coles just cannot remain healthy.

Running Backs: After nine games played, Thomas Jones has been a major disappointment for a team that had a revolving door in the backfield for 2006 and yet still produced 15 rushing scores by the tailbacks. This year? Jones still has not scored a touchdown and Leon Washington has but one. Jones did top 100 rushing yards twice this year but both came in home games. On the road, he has never had more than 67 rushing yards. He is averaging around 3.7 yards per game but only has three games with more than 19 carries.

Wide Receivers: Laveranues Coles was held out of the Washington game because of his concussion and he's constantly on the injury report. He was not allowed to have any contact drills during the bye week but is expected to return to practice and play in this game. He's been the only wideout here that really matters since he has six of the eight touchdowns scored by wide receivers. Jerricho Cotchery does carry some marginal fantasy value with several decent yardage games but he's only scored once and tosses in enough games with less than 60 yards to make him an unspectacular fantasy starter.

Tight Ends: Chris Baker started the season as if he was going to have a great year when he scored in two of the first three games but those were his only touchdowns this year and he's settled down to just marginal yardage each week.

Match Against the Defense: This is no way to end a losing streak. The always underwhelming Jones faces the #1 defense against the run. Oh yeah, bench time in fantasy leagues. If he was to top 50 rushing yards it would be a major achievement.

Edwards could throw for a score if only later in trash time but the Steelers still have a top five defense against the pass and the Jets just do not have the firepower to get the job done. That one score favors Coles the most but could go anywhere.