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Each week, Tristan H. Cockcroft offers his strategies for the Gridiron Challenge game. Look for his best and worst matchups every Thursday.

Bye Weeks: Cardinals, Chiefs, Cowboys, Falcons, Ravens, Seahawks

Matchups I Like

Bernard Berrian, WR, Bears (DET, 4.7 price tag): Fast fact: Berrian had a career-high eight receptions against these very Lions, a dreadful, 30th-ranked pass D (269.3 yards per game), in Week 4. Are you really going to complain that none of those went for scores? Berrian scored in each of two contests against Detroit in 2006, and he's the team's best big-play option, in a week in which the matchup greatly favors that type of receiver.

Laveranues Coles, WR, Jets (BUF, 5.6): It's a great thing for him that Chad Pennington is getting the start again because their chemistry this season seems better than ever before. Coles has 66 targets to Jerricho Cotchery's 59, and 10 to Cotchery's five in the red zone. In addition, Coles has already managed a standout effort against these Bills this season, with eight catches for 65 yards and a score against them in Week 4.

Brian Griese, QB, Bears (DET, 6.4): A 322-yard, 1-touchdown passing effort against the Eagles is all I need to see to know Griese is the right man for the job in Chicago. He's mistake-prone, sure, but the Lions might pressure him the least of any of his final nine opponents. The last time they met, Griese threw for 286 yards and two scores, albeit with three interceptions. He's looking much crisper with his throws today, though.

Santonio Holmes, WR, Steelers (@CIN, 5.2): Hines Ward's knee might be healthy, but this sure feels like Holmes' team now, doesn't it? He has 12 catches for 182 yards and three scores in his last two games, and now he gets the Bengals and their terrible secondary. In Week 17 of 2006, incidentally, Holmes had 124 yards and a score against them.

Marshawn Lynch, RB, Bills (@NYJ, 5.7): He's the one thing going right on offense in Buffalo, and in his Week 4 game against the Jets, Lynch scampered for 79 yards and a score on 23 carries. Since that day, the Jets have allowed 172.0 yards per game, 4.8 yards per carry and five rushing touchdowns. Lynch could be ready for his breakout game.

Eli Manning, QB, Giants (@MIA, 6.6): Peyton's little bro has been pretty decent on the national stage, with seven scores and an average of 250 yards in three prime-time affairs. So why can't he excel on the international stage? The Dolphins are reeling, particularly in the secondary; they've allowed a league-high 110.1 passer rating to their opponents.

LenDale White, RB, Titans (OAK, 5.2): The past two weeks, White has claimed the starting role in Tennessee, totaling 168 rushing yards and two scores, even if his per-carry average (3.2) leaves a bit to be desired. The Raiders' run D, though, has a way of making running backs look exceptional, allowing a league-high 5.2 yards per carry and nine scores. Don't worry about Chris Brown's possible return; he's now clearly White's backup.

Sleepers

Derek Anderson, QB, Browns (@STL, 6.3 price tag): At that price tag, Anderson might not seem like a "sleeper," per se, but keep in mind he's only the 15th-most expensive quarterback in the game, and still available as a free agent in a little less than 20 percent of ESPN leagues. In other words, he's not getting nearly enough credit for his string of five consecutive double-digit fantasy efforts. Anderson, making better decisions and crisper reads, is capitalizing on his passer-friendly matchups, and this one again qualifies.

Desmond Clark, TE, Bears (DET, 3.9): Looking to pare a little payroll to load up at the all-important quarterback/running back positions? Clark isn't a bad play. A lot of people are going to first think about Muhsin Muhammad (4.4) as a dirt-cheap sleeper, but I'm looking to Clark, who actually has seven fewer targets (35) than "Moose" (42). Clark also has a great history against these Lions; he had seven catches for 44 yards and a score against them in Week 4, and 15-165-2 numbers in their past three meetings.

Kevin Jones, RB, Lions (@CHI, 4.9): He's the clear go-to guy in the Lions' backfield now, getting 21 touches to Tatum Bell's zero in Week 7, and note, Mike Martz went astray of his typical game plan, running 24 times compared to 20 throws. That bodes extremely well for Jones, and remember, he had 44 total yards and a score on 12 touches against these Bears in Week 4. Since that game, incidentally, the Bears have been slashed up for 185.0 yards per game, 6.2 yards per carry and four scores on the ground.

Matchups I'd Avoid

Jeff Garcia, QB, Buccaneers (JAC, 6.4 price tag): I'll heap all the praise I can towards Garcia for his effort so far this season, particularly regarding his remarkable streak of 189 consecutive pass attempts without an interception, but ultimately, when the matchup challenges him, he tends to go quiet. I'm not saying he'll be useless here, in a week full of byes, but the Jaguars have allowed only four passing touchdowns in six games.

LaMont Jordan, RB, Raiders (@TEN, 5.4): There's no doubt in my mind his back is limiting his performance the past few weeks. Since Week 4, for instance, Jordan has averaged 3.3 yards per carry, and only six times has he been granted the ball in the red zone. Dominic Rhodes is only getting closer to being a solid change-of-pace option, and the matchup is a difficult one, against the top-ranked Titans run D (59.7 ypg).

Santana Moss, WR, Redskins (@NE, 4.8): He's coming off brutal back-to-back performances, catching only two passes for eight yards on eight targets total, and the matchups really weren't all that bad for him (at Green Bay, versus the Cardinals). So why should we expect a bounce-back effort against the Patriots, a stiff pass defense?

Clinton Portis, RB, Redskins (@NE, 5.8): The Redskins, simply put, lack the offensive firepower to keep up with the Patriots on the scoreboard, and if that's the case, Portis could be taken out of this game somewhat early. Here's my worry: He has only 31 catches in 14 games in 2006 and 2007; that's 2.2 per contest. In other words, if the Redskins are forced into passing situations, he'll be a virtual non-factor in the second half.

Kenny Watson, RB, Bengals (PIT, 4.8): Rudi Johnson's hamstring could allow him to return, albeit in a part-time role most likely, but even if Johnson sits, there's not much to like about this matchup. The Steelers rank third against the run (75.5 ypg), and the Bengals' defense is so poor, the team might slip behind early and abandon the run outright.

Wes Welker, WR, Patriots (WAS, 5.2): I'm a firm believer in Welker as a fantasy force this season, especially judging by his 20 catches for 262 yards and four touchdowns the past two weeks. Still, he's a "No. 2A" receiver on his team, and in weeks where his opponent is strong defensively, there's a limitation on his statistical upside. Expect this one to be one of his quieter weeks, though he's still usable in traditional fantasy leagues.

Vince Young, QB, Titans (OAK, 6.0): I applaud the Titans for not pressing him to play with a quadriceps injury last week, as the week's rest should have him refreshed. Still, on the offensive side of the ball, it's the running game -- particularly LenDale White -- getting things done most effectively for the Titans. Young has looked like a shell of his 2006 self, and the Raiders have held opponents to the third-worst passer rating (70.5).

The "Big Sixes" to Avoid

Players priced at 6.0 or higher (6.5 or higher for quarterbacks) this week.

Brian Westbrook, RB, Eagles (@MIN, 6.5 price tag): It's not that I fear the matchup in traditional leagues, but teams don't generate a great deal of success running the football against the Vikings' stout run D (4th, 76.5 ypg). In addition, the Eagles have hardly seemed themselves offensively to date, so there's no guarantee Westbrook will be a 150-total-yard, touchdown machine like he has been in the past. I'd play conservative here.

Have No Fear

Their matchups might not look good, but you shouldn't be worried.

Tom Brady, QB, Patriots (WAS, 8.0 price tag): Come on. Do you honestly believe that simply because Brady is facing the NFL's third-stingiest team in terms of fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks (14.8 per game), he's going to snap his incredible hot streak? No, he's not going to throw for six scores again, but he's got the pass protection and the receiving weapons to keep the Redskins flustered all day. Stick with the guy, folks.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh, WR, Bengals (PIT, 6.6): He has 18 receptions for 226 yards and four touchdowns in his past three games against the Steelers, and if you want to say this year's Steelers are better defensively than the late-2005 and 2006 models, well, Houshmandzadeh is a more productive receiver than the late-2005 and 2006 model.

Carson Palmer, QB, Bengals (PIT, 7.3): This one goes hand-in-hand with Houshmandzadeh; the two have a solid recent history against the Steelers, one good enough to trust for fantasy. Palmer has passed for 671 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions in his last three games against them, and if the Cincinnati defense forces him to air it out playing from behind, he'll only benefit with a heartier yardage total.

Tristan's Gridiron Challenge Lineup: Week 8

Week 7 Recap: Now there's the bounce-back week I was hoping for, with seven of nine players good for 15-plus points, led by Jeff Garcia, whose 316 yards and two touchdowns helped him earn a team-high 23. The two stinkers: Joey Galloway, held quiet in that very same contest, while Earnest Graham and Ike Hilliard did all the work; and Jason Witten, who hauled in 10 passes on 13 targets but didn't get a single look in the red zone. They combined for 12 points; even kicker Josh Brown had more (15)! Score: 134 points in Week 7, 721 points for the season (68.3 percent).

QB1: Eli Manning, Giants (@MIA, 6.6 price tag)
QB2: Brian Griese, Bears (DET, 6.4)
RB1: LaDainian Tomlinson, Chargers (HOU, 7.3)
RB2: Marshawn Lynch, Bills (@NYJ, 5.7)
WR1: Laveranues Coles, Jets (BUF, 5.6)
WR2: Bernard Berrian, Bears (DET, 4.7)
TE: Heath Miller, Steelers (@CIN, 4.7)
K: Jeff Reed, Steelers (@CIN, 4.2)
D/ST: Philadelphia Eagles (@MIN, 4.8)

Tristan H. Cockcroft covers fantasy sports for ESPN.com. You can e-mail him here.