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Every so often, one of those neat stats pops up that gives me a chuckle.

I'm sure you've heard it by now, but here it is again: Counting Tuesday's, in 17 of the past 18 Presidential elections, the result of the Redskins' final home game before Election Day has accurately predicted the winner. When the Redskins won, the party with the most votes in the prior Presidential election won the current one. When the Redskins lost, the party that held the Presidency lost. You might have heard of it; it's the "Redskins Rule."

A little silly, right? And that's coming from a big fan of statistics, and neat little factual tidbits such as that. I'm all for creativity with the numbers, but that's a humorous one.

Though, come to think of it, maybe there is something to this. Going back through my Gridiron Challenge records, I came across a startling realization: In weeks in which I had a half-pint of Ben & Jerry's on the Saturday night heading into football Sunday, my team scored at least 100 points -- that has happened eight times. When I polished off the entire pint, it resulted in a week of 120-plus points -- five times for that one. And, boy, now I wish I had gone for some ice cream in Week 1, when I had that horrendous 66-point week! (You might remember that one, if you didn't bail on my column then and there.)

So now knowing that, it's back to the grocery store to stock up for Saturday. Man of superstition, I am. I'm sure you've got your own little ritual to draw in the good luck; like I always say, whatever works. (Any flavor recommendations?)

Now on to the Week 10 picks, because, you know, it's actual analysis that really tends to win these things:

Dwayne Bowe, WR, Chiefs (4.9 price tag): He has been targeted 80 times, fourth-most in football, and no fewer than six times in any single game. Incidentally, you can count on one hand the number of players who have played every one of their team's games and been targeted six-plus times: Bowe, Reggie Wayne and Wes Welker. That's it. The Chiefs have looked much less embarrassing offensively in their past two games than in their first six, and now they get the Chargers and Saints as their next two opponents; both of those teams rank among the league's 10 worst pass defenses. By the way, the last time Bowe played in San Diego, in Week 4 of last year, he managed a career game: Eight catches (on 10 targets) for 164 yards and a touchdown.

Marques Colston, WR, Saints (5.4): Lance Moore and Devery Henderson did a fine job of stepping in for Colston for six games from Weeks 2-7, but make no mistake, this is Colston's team. He was considered a preseason top-10 wide receiver lock, and I stand by statement my declaring him that. The bye week's rest should have him close to 100 percent following his Week 8 appearance, so locking him in at the No. 10 price tag at his position seems a smart thing to do, especially with the Falcons next up. Colston's last trip to Atlanta: Nine catches, 92 yards, two scores, in Week 14 last year.

Tony Gonzalez, TE, Chiefs (4.5): Sticking in Kansas City past the trade deadline hasn't fazed Gonzalez, who has 19 receptions for 238 yards and a score in three games since. Now he, too, gets San Diego, and after that, New Orleans. The Chargers have allowed more fantasy points per game to tight ends (11.1) than anyone, and in 2007, Gonzalez totaled 15 catches for 211 yards and a touchdown in two games against them.

Tim Hightower, RB, Cardinals (4.6): To answer the question in advance, "Yes, he is for real." If Hightower weren't the future in Arizona and the future weren't already here, he wouldn't have touched the football 23 times in Week 9, with Edgerrin James not even sniffing it once. Hightower sure stepped up to the challenge, with 109 rushing yards and a score, and he gets the 49ers this week and the miserable Seahawks next. To lock in a kid who's not only starting, but also a goal-line lock and who resides in the defensively challenged NFC West at this price is nothing short of a steal.

Jamal Lewis, RB, Browns (5.1): I'm actually on board with the Browns' decision to switch to Brady Quinn at quarterback, but you could have asked me that during their Week 5 bye and I'd have told you the same thing. Problem is, of all times to tab Quinn, Cleveland did it in a week where Derek Anderson wasn't totally dreadful, and in a week where there were only three days between contests for practice. That suggests to me that while the world will have its microscope on Quinn on Thursday, it's Lewis, predictably, who will step up and lead the offense, taking the pressure off the quarterback making his first career start. It's a home game, and Denver's defense is dreadful both against the pass and the run. And if Lewis succeeds -- as I expect he will -- the schedule remains strong for a running back the following three weeks (@BUF, HOU, IND), so there's little doubt he'd continue to be the offensive focus to ease the transition for Quinn.

Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons (5.6): Time to heap credit on the rookie, because if you've been paying attention for the past month, you'd realize that Ryan has managed at least 15 GC points in each of his past four games. Now he gets back-to-back home games against the Saints and Broncos, and that's a favorable schedule for any quarterback. Neither opponent generates much of any pass rush, and neither has much depth at the corners. So if you're looking to go cheap with your QB2, Ryan sure fits the bill.

Braylon Edwards, WR, Browns (DEN, 5.1 price tag): Champ Bailey tore a groin muscle almost midway through Week 7, and in six quarters and change since, Denver's opponents' No. 1 receivers have totaled 15 receptions, 171 yards and one touchdown. If that doesn't demonstrate how valuable Bailey was to this defense -- I'd have called him the lone bright spot through the first six weeks -- I don't know what does. Even with Brady Quinn now slinging him the ball, Edwards should be primed for a big game; it's not like Derek Anderson's 49.8 completion percentage was doing much for him anyway.

David Garrard, QB, Jaguars (@DET, 6.5) and Matt Jones, WR, Jaguars (@DET, 4.2): These guys are closely linked, as Jones' pending suspension puts both in the risky-play category early in our preparation for Week 10. Chances are, though, if we don't receive definitive word that Jones is out for that game before Friday, he's going to play, pushing off his penalty yet another week. What a matchup, if that's the resolution; Detroit ranks 29th against the pass and has allowed opposing quarterbacks 13 touchdowns and a 110.4 passer rating (to put the latter into perspective, only six quarterbacks in history have managed that number or better in a qualified season).

Vincent Jackson, WR, Chargers (KC, 4.9): Chris Chambers is back in action, but Jackson remained the go-to guy in the San Diego passing game in London last time this team took the field, and I see no reason to expect any differently here. Jackson scored a touchdown in these teams' last meeting, in Week 13 of last season, and he has a score in each of his past three games this year, as well.

Deuce McAllister, RB, Saints (@ATL, 4.2): Reggie Bush might be due back in Week 11, but for Week 10, McAllister gets one more start, against a familiar foe. In nine career starts against the Falcons, he has averaged 118.6 scrimmage yards with 10 total touchdowns. Atlanta ranks 22nd against the run even with last week's manhandling of the Raiders, meaning another big game should be in store.

Miami Dolphins defense/special teams (SEA, 4.7): Miami's defense has performed better than anyone seems to give it credit for; it has totaled 53 fantasy points in its past six games. The Seahawks, meanwhile, rank 26th in terms of points per game (18.9) and 31st in total yards per game (255.5), with those numbers dropping to 15.0 and 219.0 in road games, the latter worst in the league. Joey Porter has been terrorizing opposing quarterbacks all year, with an NFL-best 11.5 sacks, and Seneca Wallace is coming off a game in which he was sacked four times. It's not a good mix for the Seahawks.

Chad Pennington, QB, Dolphins (SEA, 5.7): He disappointed last week, but if you look at what Pennington has done in his four home games this season, you might be quick to grant him a mulligan. He has averaged 15 fantasy points in four games at Dolphin Stadium, compared to 9.8 in four road contests, and he'll be facing a Seattle defense ranked 31st against the pass. Pennington might be a stronger QB2 than QB1 choice, but the matchup says you should give him another chance.

LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, Chargers (KC, 6.4): He has dominated the Chiefs in their past four meetings, totaling 693 yards from scrimmage with six touchdowns, and all of those came in 2006-07, when the Chiefs were actually less miserable on defense than they have been so far this season. Kansas City ranks dead last by far against the run, and has allowed 14 touchdowns and 15 runs of 20-plus yards; that's nearly two scores and two 20-plus-yard runs per game on average in 2008.

Joseph Addai, Bernard Berrian, Trent Edwards, Ryan Grant, Marvin Harrison, Devin Hester, Santonio Holmes, Steven Jackson, Ben Roethlisberger, Tony Scheffler, Wes Welker.

Total points: 1,008.
Percentage: 98.1. Overall rank: 4,045th.
Ranking in Fantasy Editorial Group: 160th.

Hmmm … gut's saying it's a Phish Food kind of Saturday. And yes, I feel that strongly about spending on the elite running backs that I'll risk it with the rookie Ryan.