The Oakland Raiders travel to Southern California to face the San Diego Chargers Thursday evening in the first edition of Thursday Night Football in 2011. The NFL Network will air the game Thursday at 5:20pm PT. Given the early start, don't forget to get your lineups set before Thursday Night Football.
As you look through your roster, you might be considering some Oakland Raiders for the game. The most important news remains that Darren McFadden is sidelined with a sprained foot. He has been ruled out for Thursday's game, which means Michael Bush will once again be in the starting lineup. Bush is one of the best backup running backs in the NFL and is a great option when McFadden is ailing. Make sure he is in your starting lineup.
The other significant piece of Raiders news is that Sebastian Janikowski remains questionable for the game. He has been dealing with a hamstring issue but managed to play on Sunday. He has not practiced all week and is likely a game-time decision. If you have Janikowski on your roster, keep an eye out for more details because you might need to make a last minute decision.
The tough calls come with the passing game. Carson Palmer has six interceptions in six quarters of football, but this past Sunday he put together 300+ yards and three touchdowns as well. He is looking more and more intriguing, and he now faces a Chargers defense that was torched by Brett Favre. If you have a questionable QB option or are dealing with injuries, Palmer is a solid fantasy option. He may not win games for the Raiders but he will produce fantasy totals.
At receiver, Jacoby Ford emerged last week as the big play option for Palmer and Denarius Moore was targeted quite frequently. Ford is a decent flex option while Moore is likely better sitting on your bench for now.