Jaguars’ Garrard good choice to start at QB against weak Texans’ defense

If you were asked to name the NFL's top 20 fantasy quarterbacks, would the Jaguars' David Garrard make the list? Your answer probably would be no considering he's available in most fantasy leagues heading into Week 10 -- and you wouldn't be wrong for thinking past him. Garrard ranks a nondescript 18th in fantasy points among quarterbacks.

That said, if there ever was a week to take a shot with him as your starter, this would be it.

Quarterbacking heavyweights Aaron Rodgers, Philip Rivers and Drew Brees are on byes in Week 10, and Garrard makes an interesting fit because everything appears lined up perfectly for him to have a great game against the Texans. Before his Week 9 bye, Garrard was named AFC offensive player of the week for his five-touchdown performance (one rushing) against the Cowboys. He's played in only six full games this season but is on track to shatter his career high of 18 TD passes with 13 already and eight games to go.

The added bonus of supporting Garrard this week is that he's playing the Texans, who have the league's worst defense. The Texans not only lead the league in most yards given up through the air at 298.2 a game, they also have given up a league-high 20 touchdown passes. In Week 9, Rivers and his band of backup receivers -- including a backup for All-Pro tight end Antonio Gates -- kept up with the average by throwing for 295 yards and four scores for the Chargers.

Even Las Vegas oddsmakers think the Houston defense is awful. For the second consecutive week, the Texans game has the highest total posted on the board at 50, which is a sign that they also expect the favored Jaguars to move the ball.

■ RUNNING BACK ISSUES -- If you need a running back, you know how slim the pickings are in the free-agent pool.

The Panthers are expected to have three of their backs out in Week 10, leaving the starting position for Mike Goodson. Even though DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart had a tough time running this season with no threat of a passing game, just knowing that Goodson might get 20 touches on Sunday should be a good enough reason to pick him up.

The Redskins could have Clinton Portis back against the Eagles on Monday night. Starter Ryan Torain got banged up in his last game but did practice this week. Expect Portis back at full strength in two weeks, making him a good pickup now to store on the bench.

The Colts' backs are attractive just because their offense always is so fluid with quarterback Peyton Manning running the show, but keeping up with who is playing for them is tough because the feature back has changed over their past three games, going from Joseph Addai to Mike Hart and then to Donald Brown with Javarris James getting goal-line work. Addai and Hart are questionable for Week 10, but all four backs are worth having just to sit and wait for the official Colts word on who is playing, which could come as late as game day. If you're willing to play the waiting game, one of them will provide solid point possibilities.

■ BUY JACKSON -- Chargers wide receiver Vincent Jackson will make his season debut against the Colts in Week 12 but still is available in many leagues. He is a must pickup just because of the type of numbers he likely will put up through the fantasy playoffs, when the Chargers themselves are making a major push for their own playoff lives. You're looking at 16 to 24 points a week for the final six weeks just being dropped on a silver platter, so go get him.

■ T.O. SHOW -- When Chad Ochocinco campaigned for fellow wide receiver Terrell Owens to come to Cincinnati, little did he know that the future Hall of Famer would be stealing the entire show with 770 yards and seven touchdowns through eight games.

While Owens has a nice battle going with Oakland running back Darren McFadden for the mythical fantasy comeback player of the year award, Ochocinco has been a factor in only two games this season, leaving most of the owners who chose him over Owens to kiss the baby.

■ BYE WEEKS -- Green Bay, New Orleans, Oakland, San Diego.

Micah Roberts is a former Las Vegas sports book director who covers all sports for multiple publications. He can be reached at MM.Roberts7@gmail.com.