How about that Chiefs offense on Sunday, huh?

I don’t know who is editing my column, (I suspect Bradford. The only other candidate is J.D. Salinger, who does a little editing for us and writes “The Fake Funny News”.) but my prose was tampered with in last week’s effort. I would, for instance, never suggest that Tyler Thigpen was anything but a solid start under center. Sure, he had a 44.3 QB rating going in, but he’s Tyler Freaking Thigpen. Throw the numbers out when he’s on the field. And I have always been a staunch supporter of Herm Edwards’ clock management and innovative offensive playcalling. Plus, did you watch Herm on Hard Knocks last year? The guy kills it on the treadmill. (You think Mangini can run a six-minute mile? He’s two 7-9 seasons away from being on “Team Blue” with Baba Booey and Charo on Celebrity Fit Club.)

Here we go with five must starts for Week 9 and the e-mail of the week.

FIVE MUST STARTS

Kyle Orton (QB, Chicago)

Other than Kurt Warner (who will be in full revenge mode (well, Born Again revenge mode) as Arizona travels to St. Louis) there isn’t a QB play stronger than Orton this week. Over his last five starts, Orton has averaged 274 yards passing with 10 TDs and just four picks. Included in those five games was a 334-yard, two-TD effort at Detroit in Week 5. The Bears host the Lions this week, and even if Orton were struggling he’d be a good play vs. 31st ranked passing D in the NFL. The Lions have a single INT this season and have allowed 12 TD passes. I expect Orton to throw for another 250+ yards with two TD passes on Sunday.

A quick “QB to Avoid”: I’d be officially worried if I’m a Ben Roethlisberger owner.  He already has seven picks this season (11 in all of 2007) and is on pace for just 3,090 yards passing, his lowest total since 2005. The Redskins have the NFL’s sixth-ranked defense (11th vs. the pass) and should get to Roethlisberger on Sunday (Roethlisberger has been sacked 23 times this season—third most in the NFL). If you have a solid backup option I’d leave “Big Ben” on the bench this week.

Steve Smith (WR, New York Giants)

I think we can all agree that the best team in football is the Giants, right? Defending Super Bowl Champs, 6-1 this season. Steve Smith leads the club with 29 receptions. He is owned in just nine percent of Yahoo! Fantasy leagues. At worst he’s a nice option for five-six catches and 50-60 yards a week. Best case, Plaice Burrs goes “Falling Down” on the Giants coaching staff and Smith slides into the No. 1 spot.

(How about the Giants? They’ve lost Tike Barber, Jeremy Shockley, Michael Strachan and Obi Umenyiora (out for the season) over the past two years and haven’t skipped a beat. Jerry Reese has to be Executive of the Year. I’m not sure as the Fantasy Football writer if I have a vote for that award. I’m pretty sure I have a Hall of Fame vote, however. )

Jacksonville Defense

I got burned last week on waiver-wire D pickups. (49ers were awful. If I had known that Mike Singletary game plan would include dropping his pants at halftime I think I would have passed on the recommendation. Maybe he was still dazed from learning before the game that Bill Walsh was still alive.)

I think, though, that we have a winner with the Jags this week. They have been a surprisingly pedestrian D so far this season (23rd overall, allowing 338.6 YPG), but they have a choice matchup with the Bengals. Ryan Fitzpatrick (who has not shown nearly enough pluck to earn the nickname “Fitzy”) and Cedric Benson aren’t going to get it done. Cincy is dead last in total offense, averaging 229 YPG. I give them a 50-50 shot at running the table and finishing 0-16.

Ted Ginn Jr. (WR, Dolphins)

When a guy catches seven passes for 175 yards (as Ginn did last week vs. Buffalo) he’s usually worth picking up. But when he gets an awful Denver D the week after such a performance he becomes a must add. Ginn was starting to generate some buzz even before the Bills contest, catching seven passes in Week 5 and four in Week 7.  Miami at Denver has a 34-31 feel to it, and I think Ginn should be good for 70-80 yards receiving. He hasn’t caught a TD pass in 2008, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets in on Sunday.

Visanthe Shiancoe (TE, Vikings)

Lots of teams will be looking for TE’s this week, with Antoino Gates and Jeremy Shockey on bye weeks and Jason Witten as a game-time decision (okay, three teams will be looking.). Shiancoe has played pretty well since Gus Frerotte took over, catching three TD passes in his last five games. I’d expect four catches for 45 yards or so from him this week, and any owner would sign for eight fantasy points from a bye-week TE.

EMAIL OF THE WEEK

I've got both Mannings. Do I start Eli or Peyton?

Andy

Easthampton, MA

It would have been great if this had been sent from “Cooper in Mississippi,” but Andy will have to do.

By the way, bad job by the folks on Madison Avenue. You’ve got two brothers, both Super Bowl MVPs, and they have never appeared in a commercial together. Come to think of, has Peyton ever been in a commercial at all? If Don Draper were still alive he’d be all over it.

I like both guys this week. Eli played as well as you could against the NFL’s top passing D last week, completing 19-of-32 for 199 yards and a TD (no picks) in the win over Pittsburgh. Peyton wasn’t great on Monday Night (two picks), but still finished with 223 yards and a pair of TD passes (and a rushing score, though I wouldn’t bank on that again this year).

I’ll go with Eli, simply because I like the Pats defense over the Dallas defense. But I think both should be solid starts this week. And Peyton owners with an eye for playoffs should remember this: He has great matchups in Weeks 14-16 (at Cleveland, home vs. Cincy and home against the Lions). He could still be worth that high draft pick.

Kirk Minihane, WEEI.com Contributor, is the resident Fantasy Football expert for WEEI.com.