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By Fernando Stepensky (Contributor)

Breaking down a group of key players and telling you whether you can use them with confidence this week or if you had better start worrying.

Ben Roethlisberger, Worry

Big Ben is going up against a very fierce Bengal defense and could have his score drop for the fifth straight week. Roethlisberger faced a good Chiefs defense, but the Bengals have an even better pass defense. They get more sacks, allow less yards and touchdowns, and allow less yards per pass attempt. Big Ben is going to be forced to throw on the run more, complete shorter passes, and really throw some great passes if he wants a chance at having a good game. He is still a great quarterback, but I just can’t see it happening for him this week.

Andre Johnson, Do Not Worry

I realize I am going out on a limb, but hear me out. Sure, the Texans just lost their starter and their 2nd string QB and are forced to play a quarterback few people have heard of (rookie out of North Carolina T.J. Yates), but he isn’t that bad. He went 8 for 15 with 70 yards against a top 5 pass defense, the Jaguars. Now they are going up against the 23rd ranked pass defense with the Falcons. The game plan for the Texans is likely going to be ground-and-pound, but I see T.J.’s first touchdown of his NFL career coming up and it should be to Andre Johnson. Not to mention, Johnson is coming off an injury and is hungry to get back to scoring. Johnson should put up some solid points this week, nothing crazy, but solid.

Steven Jackson, Worry

I usually talk about the team the player played last week, evaluate his performance, and use that in my equation as to whether or not he will do well the following week, this is not the case for Steven Jackson vs. the San Francisco 49ers. The fact of the matter is Jackson is playing against the #1 ranked run defense in the league. This is by far one of the best run defenses in recent years. They even broke a record for most weeks without allowing a rushing touchdown ever in NFL history with 11 games straight. Jackson is a talented back, but against a rush defense of this caliber and a team that could clinch a playoff spot with a win, it won’t be very pretty.

Frank Gore, Do Not Worry

Gore was limited in practice today, but should be ready to go on Sunday and this is probably just a precaution. As you read above, Steven Jackson’s chances of doing well are extremely low, given that he is playing the #1 rush defense in the league, but Gore is playing one of the worst rush defenses in the league which is coincidentally the team Steven Jackson is on, the Rams. Even though the Rams aren’t allowing the most rushing touchdowns in the league, they have allowed the most yards and are allowing the most yards per game. In a game that, according to me, will have one running back do great and the other do terrible, Gore is a must start if fully healthy.