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.