Already November — wow.

WEEK 8
Houston over BUFFALO
CHICAGO over Cleveland
DALLAS over Seattle
DETROIT over St. Louis
GREEN BAY over Minnesota
N.Y. JETS over Miami
BALTIMORE over Denver
SAN DIEGO over Oakland
Jacksonville over TENNESSEE
PHILADELPHIA over N.Y. Giants
ARIZONA over Carolina
NEW ORLEANS over Atlanta
Last week: 10-3 Season: 78-25

SMART STARTS
Steve Slaton, RB, Texans: Houston plays the Bills, whose run defense is poor. Somehow, the Panthers didn’t take advantage of that fact will, but the Texans will, possibly producing a 100-yard game with a TD or two for Slaton.

Steven Jackson, RB, Rams: He’s the best fantasy player on the worst team in the league, and St. Louis plays another bad team in Detroit. Jackson might turn in his best game of the season, which unfortunately for the Rams, isn’t saying much.

Miles Austin, WR, Cowboys: Austin proved he’s no fluke with another two-touchdown game. Though unlikely to repeat the obscene numbers of his last two games, he should top 100 yards and perhaps score a TD against the Seahawks.

SLEEP TIGHT
Austin Collie, WR, Colts: Anthony Gonzalez isn’t quite ready to return, and Reggie Wayne isn’t 100 percent healthy. And of course, Peyton Manning is the Colts’ quarterback. Considering all this, Collie could deliver the best game of his young career.

David Garrard, QB, Jaguars: The last quarterback to play the Titans threw six touchdowns. Granted, Garrard is no Tom Brady, but he should still take advantage of Tennessee for at least 250 yards and 2-3 touchdowns.

LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, Chargers: It’s a sign how far Tomlinson’s stock has dropped that he’s a sleeper, but let’s face facts: The Chargers are going to run all over the Raiders on Sunday. Expect Tomlinson’s best game of the season.

PROCEED WITH CAUTION
Donald Lee, TE, Packers: With Jermichael Finley injured, it would make sense the Lee would get more targets. But with the Packers hosting Brett Favre and the Vikings, nothing might make sense, and in what might be an emotional game, I don’t think Aaron Rodgers trusts Lee enough to integrate him heavily into the offense Sunday.

Alex Smith, QB, 49ers: Smith took over the starting job in the second half last week and looked confident after years of struggling. He’s a good sleeper pickup this week, but against the Colts, he’s just not worth starting. Wait until Week 9, when the 49ers host the Titans.

Kyle Orton, QB, Broncos: Everyone keeps waiting for the Broncos to lose and Orton to turn in a bad game. I think at Baltimore might be it, especially since the Ravens will be fighting to stay above .500. Orton might not completely stink, but he won’t put up numbers worthy of starting, even as a bye-week replacement.

Minnesota’s Brett Favre committed two turnovers that Pittsburgh turned into touchdowns, pretty much giving the Steelers the victory. Think there are some Jets fans who watched the game feeling deja vu? After all, Favre started last season like he hadn’t aged, then descended the Jets into a morass of turnovers and losses.

I don’t think the Vikings are going to fall apart like the Jets did last year, but it should be remembered that Favre isn’t the perfect QB. I’m sure the Packers are remembering that as the Vikes prepare to play at Lambeau on Sunday.

Speaking of Jets …

– Give Mark Sanchez a break for eating that hot dog when his team was nearing the end of its easy victory over the Raiders. He was hungry and really not needed anymore; he wasn’t hot dogging (sorry, couldn’t resist).

– But don’t let Kansas City’s Larry Johnson off the hook for tweeting his displeasure after the Chiefs’ loss. He needs to be with another team next year: This marriage is over.

– There are some bad teams in the NFL this season, but why did the Bears pretend to be one of them against the Bengals? One week Chicago is solid, the next week is a disaster. Get ready for 7-9, Bears fans.

– Finally, with the Bills not throwing him the ball, I’m anticipating the Terrell Owens rant we’ve come to know and expect. He’s been unusually quiet the last few weeks as he’s been targeted less and less; something big is coming. And it should be entertaining.

Not too much movement this week, with several teams making nothing more than a two-spot jump. The Falcons and Bears tie for the fall, down four each.

1. Colts (6-0)
2. Saints (6-0)
3. Broncos (6-0)
4. Patriots (5-2)
5. Steelers (5-2)
6. Vikings (6-1)
7. Cowboys (4-2)
8. Giants (5-2)
9. Eagles (4-2)
10. Cardinals (4-2)
11. Bengals (5-2)
12. Falcons (4-2)
13. Ravens (3-3)
14. Packers (4-2)
15. Texans (4-3)
16. Chargers (3-3)
17. Dolphins (3-4)
18. Jets (4-3)
19. Bears (3-3)
20. 49ers (3-3)
21. Jaguars (3-3)
22. Bills (3-4)
23. Seahawks (2-4)
24. Panthers (2-4)
25. Raiders (2-5)
26. Redskins (2-5)
27. Lions (1-5)
28. Chiefs (1-6)
29. Titans (0-6)
30. Browns (1-6)
31. Buccaneers (0-7)
32. Rams (0-7)

No chatter, just picks:

WEEK 7
Chicago over CINCINNATI
Green Bay over CLEVELAND
San Diego over KANSAS CITY
Indianapolis over ST. LOUIS
HOUSTON over San Francisco
PITTSBURGH over Minnesota
New England over Tampa Bay
CAROLINA over Buffalo
N.Y. Jets over OAKLAND
New Orleans over MIAMI
DALLAS over Atlanta
N.Y. GIANTS over Arizona
Philadelphia over WASHINGTON
Last week: 9-5 Season: 68-22

Almost through half of the fantasy regular season. It goes quick …

SMART STARTS
Ryan Grant, RB, Packers: Green Bay faces the Browns, who rank 30th in run defense. Granted (ugh, couldn’t resist), the Packers will pass the ball too, but unless they fall asleep like the Eagles did last week against the Raiders, the offense should cruise, producing 100 yards and a touchdown for Grant.

Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers: The San Diego running game just isn’t getting the job done, and now LaDainian Tomlinson has the flu. The Chargers desperately need a victory against the Chiefs to stay within striking distance of the Broncos in the AFC West. Rivers should come out guns ablazing, throwing for at least three touchdowns.

Matt Schaub, QB, Texans: Houston will pass early and often against San Francisco, and Schaub has never looked better or healthier lately. Expect another big week.

OK TO DOZE
Cedric Benson, RB, Bengals: Benson has something to prove against the Bears, and even if the Bears have something to prove against Benson, their defense can only shut down one thing at a time, and I’m guessing it will be the Bengals’ passing game. That said, Benson could pile up some decent stats at home.

Eli Manning, RB, Giants: Ahmad Bradshaw is a little nicked up, Brandon Jacobs is annoyed, and the Giants are playing a great run defense (yeah, I’m surprised by that last fact, too) but a bad pass defense in Arizona. In what might be a shootout, don’t be surprised if Manning tops 300 yards and throws at least three TDs.

Larry Johnson, RB, Chiefs: We’re still waiting to see if Johnson will break out sometime this season. This a good week for that to happen — at home in a game that K.C. will want to control. He’s a big risk, but if you need a bye-week RB replacement, he might be worth the risk.

NO DICE
Pierre Thomas, RB, Saints: Mike Bell was getting goal-line carries for the Saints last week instead of Thomas, and honestly, the Saints really didn’t need a rushing game. This week, they face the Dolphins’ excellent run defense and so-so pass defense. All this might translate to a below-average game for Thomas.

Any Buccaneer:The Bucs are playing the might-be-invincible-again Patriots in London. New England won’t shut down Tampa Bay like it did Tennessee, but it will keep the Bucs’ offense in check. That and the travel overseas makes Cadillac Williams and Kellen Winslow borderline starts at best, and everyone else benchable.

Steve Smith, WR, Panthers: Carolina’s offense is all about the run now, with Smith possibly left by the fantasy wayside. The Bills are actually decent against the pass. Smith’s tough to sit, but proceed with caution.

In the aftermath of Drew Brees’ mauling of the Giants and Tom Brady’s obliteration of the Titans, I must ask: Which quarterback had the better day? Statistically, it was Brady, but Brees theoretically faced a better defense.

Brady wins because he was passing in a blizzard while Brees was passing in a dome. After the previous week’s loss to the Broncos, do you think the Patriots were trying to make a statement that they still are the team to beat in the AFC?

More random musings from the weekend that was:

– Why do the Eagles always seem to lose a few inexplicable games every season (or last year, tie the Bengals)? Playing the Raiders should have been a gimme, but instead, the Eagles missed a chance to gain ground on the Giants.

– The Broncos’ road throwback AFC jerseys are far less obnoxious than their home jerseys. And maybe it’s just me, but with the team rolling, this might be the wrong week for Denver’s bye.

– Finally, who will get fired first: Dick Jauron, Jim Zorn or Jeff Fisher? Jauron at least got a reprieve when the Bills beat the Jets, and I would think the Tennessee brass respects Fisher’s years of service to wait until the end of the season. That leaves Zorn, whose Redskins now start playing teams with at least one victory under their belts.

It’s kind of a strange week for the rankings: The Cowboys jumped five spots without even playing, thanks to losses to many teams in front of them. Dallas tied Arizona for the week’s biggest gain, while the Chargers tumbled the most, down six.

1. Colts (5-0)
2. Saints (5-0)
3. Vikings (6-0)
4. Broncos (6-0)
5. Giants (5-1)
6. Patriots (4-2)
7. Steelers (4-2)
8. Falcons (4-1)
9. Cowboys (3-2)
10. Eagles (3-2)
11. Cardinals (3-2)
12. Bengals (4-2)
13. Ravens (3-3)
14. Packers (3-2)
15. Bears (3-2)
16. Dolphins (2-3)
17. Texans (3-3)
18. Chargers (2-3)
19. 49ers (3-2)
20. Jets (3-3)
21. Panthers (2-3)
22. Jaguars (3-3)
23. Seahawks (2-4)
24. Bills (2-4)
25. Raiders (2-4)
26. Redskins (2-4)
27. Chiefs (1-5)
28. Lions (1-5)
29. Browns (1-5)
30. Titans (0-6)
31. Buccaneers (0-6)
32. Rams (0-6)

Tough week last week; I’m hoping to bounce back …

WEEK 6
CINCINNATI over Houston
GREEN BAY over Detroit
MINNESOTA over Baltimore
NEW ORLEANS over N.Y. Giants
PITTSBURGH over Cleveland
Carolina over TAMPA BAY
WASHINGTON over Kansas City
JACKSONVILLE over St. Louis
Arizona over SEATTLE
Philadelphia over OAKLAND
NEW ENGLAND over Tennessee
N.Y. JETS over Buffalo
ATLANTA over Chicago
SAN DIEGO over Denver
Last week: 9-5 Season: 59-17

SMART STARTS
Clinton Portis, RB, Redskins: It hasn’t been the greatest fantasy season for Portis, but he is facing the Chiefs on Sunday and is still Washington’s best offensive choice.

Wes Welker, WR, Patriots: He’s been on the injury report every week this season (thank you, Bill Belichick) but finally seems healthy again. He scored a touchdown last week and could get another, plus approach 100 yards receiving, against the hellbound Titans.

Eagles defense: Playing the Raiders. Enough said.

NAP TIME
Carson Palmer, QB, Bengals: Palmer might have elevated himself to every-week fantasy starter instead of a sleeper, but in the event you have him as Tony Romo or Peyton Manning’s backup, he has a great matchup against the Texans on Sunday.

Jermichael Finley, TE, Packers: Finley delivered the game of his career before the bye week and is becoming another viable option for Aaron Rodgers. He might not get 148 yards receiving again, but 60-70 and a TD are possible against the Lions.

Matt Hasselbeck, QB, Seahawks: Hasselbeck’s health is improving, his receivers are getting open, and Seattle hosts Arizona. Put it all together, and 300 yards and three TDs are not that outrageous.

THAT’S A NEGATIVE
Jamal Lewis, RB, Browns: Lewis surprised many last week with 120 rushing yards in his first game back from injury. But he performed that well because Derek Anderson stunk at quarterback and the Bills stunk on defense. The Browns play at Pittsburgh, meaning Lewis stays on your bench.

Ray Rice, RB, Ravens: Rice’s success running the ball has been overshadowed by Willis McGahee’s touchdown barrage. At Minnesota, it’s not a good week for any Baltimore running back, so be wary of starting Rice.

Lee Evans, WR, Bills: Can Evans and Terrell Owens be the best wide receiver tandem in history to not be getting the ball? Buffalo gets the Jets this week, so expect little from either of them, maybe nothing from Evans.