Fantasy Football News 11/20/06

[Hache Man]

Superlative Sunday

Titans 31, Eagles 13
Game Recap by Aaron Gleeman

The Big Story

In a game that kept getting uglier and uglier for the Eagles, they fell behind early, couldn't stop Travis Henry from eating up big chunks of yardage, followed up an overturned touchdown with an interception, lost Donovan McNabb to a second-ending knee injury, and dropped to 5-5 at the hands of a team that came into the week 2-7.

Beyond the Box Score

McNabb's injury has as much of a fantasy impact as an injury can have, because it simultaneously sidelines one of the game's best players while altering an offense that produces big-time numbers for everyone involved. Losing McNabb will hurt Donte' Stallworth and Reggie Brown the most, because they rely on deep throws that Jeff Garcia can't begin to provide them with. On the flip side, Brian Westbrook figures to become an even bigger part of the offense with McNabb out and L.J. Smith could thrive with a bigger focus on underneath passing.

Vince Young was his usual inaccurate self, completing 8-of-22 passes, including a 1-of-11 stretch in the second half. However, he made a number of crucial plays with his arm and feet, throwing for 101 yards and rushing for 49 more, and was 7-of-11 surrounding the bad stretch. It's not pretty, but Young is able to do damage—albeit inconsistent damage—while showing why he has big-time fantasy potential down the road. Of course, if Philadelphia defenders hadn't dropped the two interceptions Young tried to hand them, it would have been a different story.

Henry picked up 51 yards on his first six carries, broke a 70-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, and racked up a total of 143 yards on just 18 rushes. Despite just 82 yards through four games, Henry now has four 100-yard games in the last six and is averaging 108 rushing yards per game since taking a goose egg against the Cowboys in Week 4.

Drew Bennett got off to a good start this season, with a 106-yard game in Week 1 and an 84-yard game in Week 3, but has been a non-factor since Young took over at quarterback. Aside from an out-of-nowhere big game against Baltimore, Bennett has failed to catch more than three passes in any game since Week 3. His lone catch Sunday went for zero yards and included Bennett fumbling after being hit by a teammate. He might be the only person longing for the return of Kerry Collins.

Going Forward

Garcia amazingly threw 48 passes in 43 minutes after replacing McNabb, but most of them traveled about 10 feet and rarely were they on target. He's still a mobile passer, which helped him on several occasions Sunday, but Garcia looks like a shell of the player who put up big numbers in San Francisco once upon a time. In fact, he was so bad against Tennessee that coach Andy Reid is reportedly considering going with A.J. Feeley Sunday night against Indianapolis.

Coach Jeff Fisher promised to get LenDale White more work after he failed to touch the ball in Week 10 and he did, with White getting nine touches. However, with Henry playing well and White struggling to gain consistent yardage since a solid mid-year run, he's little more than a re-draft league handcuff.

Bengals 31, Saints 16
Game Recap by: Gregg Rosenthal

The Big Story

Drew Brees threw for 511 yards without the services of Marques Colston (ankle) and lost! Chad Johnson broke the NFL record for yards by a receiver in a two-game stretch! Rotoworld broke our record for exclamation points in a big story opening.

Beyond The Box Score

It takes a special formula to throw for over 500 yards. Brees (37-52-510-2-3) was unconscious most of the day, but threw a few terrible interceptions into double and triple coverage. It says something about Saints coach Sean Payton's system that Devery Henderson (9-169-0) and Terrance Copper (6-87-1) are putting up huge numbers. Guys are flying open and Brees is finding them.

Marques Colston, who has benefited more than anyone from Peyton, was carted off the field early with ankle injury. The offensive rookie of the year favorite has an ankle sprain, but the team is unsure whether it's the dreaded "high ankle sprain" that usually means a few weeks on the sidelines.

Chad Johnson (6-190-3) owners should send Fred Thomas and the Saints defensive staff Christmas cards. How could they leave Johnson single covered? Perhaps the safety help was just very late, but Carson Palmer and Johnson managed three similar plays over forty yards. Johnson appeared to cramp or hurt his hamstring on his second touchdown grab, but he quickly returned and caught another bomb, then another score. Ocho Cinco is suddenly right back near the top five fantasy receivers on the season.

Rudi Johnson (27-111-0) benefited from the Bengals' decision to retire their no huddle offense most of the game. It's a good idea to keep Cincy's defense off the field. Carson Palmer (14/22-275-3-1) was very efficient and showed he can destroy poor backfields just like he did pre-surgery. He's rounding into form. T.J. Houshmandzadeh (2-15-0) and Chris Henry (2-24-0) suffered from the lack of pass attempts.

Joe Horn (3-93-1) returned and looked 100%, but it's disconcerting he took a backseat to his unproven teammates with Marques Colston out of the lineup. Horn is a solid receiver and a good fantasy WR3 option, but the old Horn would have dominated the ball more.

Reggie Bush (13-51-0, 8-58-0) had his second straight solid effort by taking what the defense gave him. Deuce McAllister (10-40-0, 3-29-0) had fewer rushes than Bush for only the second time all season.

Going Forward

Copper and Henderson are fine pickups this week because the Saints face another weak secondary in Atlanta next week. Henderson gets the priority despite Copper's likely starting nod. Look for Brees and all the Saints to keep their offensive numbers rolling against the Falcons.

Any Bengals opponent should be in for a big day passing. Cincy faces the Browns next week.

Bills 24, Texans 21
Game Recap By: Evan Silva

The Big Story

Buffalo came out of the gates jamming, as J.P. Losman (26-38-340-3-1, 2-14) hit Lee Evans twice for 83-yard scores in the first quarter. A potent Houston running attack and David Carr's pinpoint accuracy allowed the Texans to stay in it, but Losman gathered himself after serving up an interception returned for a touchdown to Dunta Robinson. Losman ran the two-minute drill to perfection and found Peerless Price (2-21-1) from 15 yards out for the game-winner as time was winding down.

Beyond the Box Score

Carr (25-30-223-0-1, 6-31) tied Mark Brunell's record for consecutive completions in a game (22) set against the Texans earlier this year. He also continued his effectiveness when on the run and kept drives alive. Carr made his only mistake when he forced a pass while pressured early on and was picked by Nate Clements. His fantasy numbers weren't great, but Carr was phenomenal.

Both of Evans' touchdowns came on intermediate catches where Losman hit him in stride and let Evans do the rest of the work. Lee Evans (11-265-2) is gone when he gets behind a defense.

Wali Lundy (8-61-1, 4-22) and Samkon Gado (10-69-1, 5-30) are involved in a full-fledged running back committee. Gado appears to be the clear goal-line back, as he got the ball on three consecutive plays inside the Bills' three and scored on third-and-goal in the second quarter. Lundy is more explosive and got into the open field more frequently.

Anthony Thomas (19-56, 7-33) ran hard but couldn't break anything outside the box. His unexpected receiving numbers saved his fantasy performance.

Andre Johnson (6-76, 1-18) got back on track after a three-catch Week 10. Eric Moulds (5-68) had his best game since Week 1. Owen Daniels (1-10) was shut down. Fullback Jameel Cook (2-10) lost a fumble inside the Bills' ten-yard line late in the first half, costing Houston at least three points.

Going Forward

Evans has too much big-play ability to sit on a fantasy bench. He's been inconsistent over the course of the season but he's hot now. Evans is faster than either of his Week 12 opponents, Jaguars cornerbacks Rashean Mathis and Brian Williams.

Houston stopped the A-Train Sunday but is still a great matchup for running backs.

Gado is now worth picking up in all leagues and could emerge as the better fantasy player down the stretch if he's vulturing all the touchdowns. With three good matchups coming up, both he and Lundy look like decent flex plays.

Don't go nuts picking up Losman. He could very well revert back to his normal self in Week 12 against the Jaguars. Carr is back to being a solid QB2 even though his fantasy numbers were weak. He's playing well, so the numbers will come.

Bears 10, Jets 0
Game Recap by: Scott Morrow

The Big Story

Rex Grossman (11-22, 119 yards, TD) and the Chicago offense were held in check by some imaginative Jets schemes, but New York's distressing run defense failed to stop Thomas Jones (23-121-0) and Cedric Benson (10-51-0). A big play by second-year WR Mark Bradley (4-80-1) was just about all the Bears needed to win their ninth game of the season.

Beyond the Box Score

Chad Pennington (19-35, 162 yards, 2 INTs) doesn't have the strongest arm, and coach Eric Mangini was content to have his QB dink and dunk his way down the field. The Jets were fairly successful against Chicago's cover-2 base defense, which is susceptible to underneath routes, and Pennington was able to drive his boys down to the Bears' six-yard line at the beginning of the second quarter. But he made a poor decision on third and goal, throwing a pass into zone coverage that Brian Urlacher intercepted in the end zone. The Jets did not penetrate deeper than Chicago's 30 for the rest of the game.

New York also exploited what has become Chicago's most glaring weakness since strong safety Mike Brown was lost for the season: its run defense. The Bears' one-gap scheme is predicated on each defender being in his proper spot on each play, and blown assignments often result in gaping holes; replacement safety Todd Johnson was out of position a number of times on Sunday, and Urlacher had a noticeable whiff. The victory marked the fourth straight game in which the Bears have allowed more than 100 yards on the ground, although 28 yards of today's total came on a reverse by receiver Tim Dwight.

Grossman barely attempted any passes over 15 yards, and Chicago's lack of downfield aggression was puzzling. Fifty-seven of Grossman's 119 yards came on Bradley's touchdown, but less than 10 were actually covered through the air. The second-year receiver out of Oklahoma, whose speed seems to be nearly recovered after a number of injuries dating back to last season, caught a short curl route and turned upfield. Without any safety help over the top, Bradley was off to the races.

Did Chris Berman know something that we didn't? I know, I know – it seems impossible. But during his pre-game show, he alluded to the Jets having a little something up their sleeves to start Sunday's game. Nothing happened in the first half, but New York came out of halftime by attempting an onside kick in a contest that was tied at zero. The move backfired as Bears safety Chris Harris recovered the kick, and the Bears capitalized on the excellent field position by kicking a field goal.

Going Forward

Bernard Berrian started over Bradley, but did not record a catch. He dropped a wide-open play-action pass that would have given Chicago a first down, and later had a 24-yard reception negated by penalty. He should be increasingly utilized downfield as his ribs continue to heal, but it seems highly likely that Bradley will still steal some of his reps. If Bradley is still available, stash him on the bench.

Cedric Houston (11-50-0) played for the first time since injuring his knee in Week 4 and was more effective than rookie RB Leon Washington (13-22-0). What once appeared to be Leon Washington's job to lose has gotten substantially murky. There's a strong chance that the duo could again split carries against the Texans, but both could also score a touchdown against that ghastly Houston defense.

Ravens 24, Falcons 10
Game Recap by Aaron Gleeman

The Big Story

The Falcons jumped out to an early 7-0 lead and their banged-up defense rallied to shut the Ravens down through halftime, but Baltimore eventually broke through behind B.J. Sams' kick returns, Jamal Lewis' trips to the end zone, and Michael Vick's ineffectiveness.

Beyond the Box Score

Lewis got a lot of credit for being "back" from the announcers, but finding the end zone three times tends to make you look better than your 4.1-yard average. In reality he was far from great, although he deserves credit for fighting his way through tacklers for two of the touchdowns. Baltimore's offensive line also deserves credit for overpowering Atlanta's defensive line as the game went on, with Lewis rushing for 79 of his 91 yards after halftime.

Vick was thisclose to having a good game, completing 10-of-14 first-half throws for 78 yards and a touchdown, rushing six times for 54 yards, and avoiding a turnover. Unfortunately, he completed just one of his seven throws after halftime. Of course, if you're going to go 1-of-7, making your one completion a 49-yard pass is the way to do it. Vick injured his thumb on his first-quarter touchdown throw and that may have played a role in his second-half struggles, which makes the injury worth watching.

Mark Clayton doesn't put up huge yardage, but few receivers are more consistently solid in point-per-reception leagues. Over the past 10 games, Clayton has 8, 4, 5, 5, 1, 8, 7, and 5 catches. He's overtaken Derrick Mason as Steve McNair's No. 1 receiver, which was a tough feat given the McNair-Mason relationship.

All he does is catch touchdowns? Four of Michael Jenkins' 13 catches over the past five games have gone for six points.

Going Forward

Lewis may not have been great, but he has 20-plus carries in three of the past four games after topping that total just once in the first six games. Also in Lewis' favor is that Musa Smith no longer appears to be a threat to steal significant touches, leaving Lewis as the clear workhorse in everything but obvious passing downs.

After being questionable to play all week because of a knee injury, Jerious Norwood carried three times for two yards and continues to become less likely to grab snaps from Warrick Dunn down the stretch. Norwood remains a potential keeper-league stud, but his 2006 impact won't be skyrocketing anytime soon.

Alge Crumpler's modest numbers in Week 9 and Week 10 came despite a ton of targets from Vick, but against Baltimore he caught two passes for 16 yards while being thrown to a total of just four times. Vick's inconsistency doesn't help, but Crumpler's ongoing ankle problems—which had him listed as questionable most of the week—could be to blame.

Patriots 35, Packers 0
Game Recap by: Gregg Rosenthal

The Big Story

Brett Favre left with an injured nerve in his elbow just before halftime, but the game was already out of hand. Tom Brady threw four touchdowns in a rout that gave Packers fan an ugly look at what the Aaron Rodgers era could look like.

Beyond The Box Score

Favre (5/15-73-0-0) appeared to take a helmet to his forearm, then landed hard on the same arm. He got the area massaged and numbed on the sideline after halftime and was able to grip the football, but the Packers decided not to bring him back. He looks likely to play next week.

What shouldn't be forgotten is that Favre was enduring his worst game of the season before he left. Favre was two for his first ten despite little pressure and open receivers. He overthrew Greg Jennings at least three times. There was talk that Favre's ankle and groin were bothering him before the game and his performance did little to dispel the reports.

Aaron Rodgers (4/12-73-0-0) consistently underwhelms when he gets on the field. The Packers showed no confidence in him by unsuccessfully continuing to run the ball while trailing big in the second half. Rodgers was off target and telegraphed a near INT for a TD that Tedy Bruschi dropped.

Jabar Gaffney (1-4-0) started over Doug Gabriel, who barely saw the field all game. Reche Caldwell (3-70-1) beat the Packers deep once and remains roster-worthy in fantasy leagues. Ben Watson (5-74-1) isn't known for his hands but made a great diving catch for a score.

One thing to love about owning Tom Brady (20-31-244-4-0) is that the Patriots throw often when they have big leads. Another thing to love is that the Patriots are the best fourth down team in football, which consistently extends drives. The Patriots are now 13-for-16 on fourth downs on the year, including a TD throw to Daniel Graham Sunday.

Corey Dillon (12-31-1) left the game after his touchdown run with an arm injury and missed most of the second quarter. He returned in the second half with little explosiveness. Laurence Maroney (19-82-0, 4-34-1) had his best game since Week 5 by staying active in the passing game. It's worth noting that Maroney was involved early and often before Dillon was hurt.

Going Forward

The Patriots have two decent fantasy reserves that are available on many wires. Reche Caldwell is a decent WR5 type worth owning for the right matchup. Daniel Graham is a red zone option that is worth a shot if you own Tony Gonzalez or need TE help badly.

Perhaps this game will signal a turning of the tide in the Patriots backfield. With field-turf installed in New England, we wouldn't surprised to see more of Maroney down the stretch. Corey Dillon seems to leave every game with an injury.

Donald Driver and Greg Jennings were invisible Sunday. Expect that to continue if Aaron Rodgers gets any starts.

Ahman Green (13-28-0) has struggled for two straight weeks. Don't be surprised to see more of Vernand Morency, especially in December.

Panthers 15, Rams 0
Game Recap By: Evan Silva

The Big Story

All week, St. Louis' main concern was neutralizing Julius Peppers. Alex Barron was able to do it, holding Peppers without a tackle for the first time all year. But the Rams couldn't stop the rest of Carolina's defenders from getting penetration, and Marc Bulger (19-34-142-0-1) never developed a groove. To make matters worse, St. Louis abandoned the run early. DeAngelo Williams (20-114, 2-24), Nick Goings (4-34), and Brad Hoover (7-34) ran wild. A miserable all-around effort dealt St. Louis a fourth consecutive loss and put the Rams in position for a better draft pick in 2007, which they should use on someone who can tackle or fend off a block.

Beyond the Box Score

During Steven Jackson's three-year career, he has 20 or more carries in 11 games. The Rams' record during those games is 9-2. St. Louis was down by ten or fewer points for 44 minutes Sunday. Jackson (7-27, 7-30) clearly did not touch the football enough.

DeShaun Foster (9-63) hyperextended his elbow during the first half. His return was initially reported as probable, but it's more probable that Carolina wanted to give DeAngelo Williams an opportunity to carry a near-full load. Williams was productive but also put the ball on the ground twice. One doesn't show up in the box score because he was ruled down, but coach John Fox was obviously displeased on the sidelines.

Hoover is Carolina's short-yardage back, and Goings also gets looks in those situations.

Tye Hill did an excellent job on Steve Smith (4-90-1). Smith's score, his lone big play, came in double coverage against other Rams DBs. Hill also picked off the second pass of his career and drew a 15-yard face mask against Keyshawn Johnson (4-55).

Isaac Bruce (1-6) was regularly open but dropped three passes. He left the game with "blurry vision." Torry Holt (7-68) couldn't get behind the Panthers' defense. Kevin Curtis caught fewer balls than Kay-Jay Harris (1-10). Joe Klopfenstein (1-18) made a brief appearance.

Bulger never had time to look deep. He has serious problems on his blindside. Adam Goldberg didn't have a chance against Mike Rucker, who came into the game with 1.5 sacks on the season. Rucker sacked Bulger twice, once in the end zone for two points.

Going Forward

This probably wasn't DeAngelo Williams' breakout game because of the fumbles. If healthy, Foster figures to remain a major player, likely the starter in Week 12. Still, it's just a matter of time, possibly weeks, before Williams takes over.

Bulger's pass protection is a major problem. It really wasn't that great with Orlando Pace around, and now it's worse. Good thing St. Louis faces San Francisco in Week 12. The Niners' defense is playing better, but still not bringing consistent pressure. Keep your Rams active next Sunday.

Steelers 24, Browns 20
Game Recap by Rocco DeMaro

The Big Story

The Steelers scored 21 fourth-quarter points to beat the Browns in Cleveland Sunday. Ben Roethlisberger shoved the game-winning 4-yard score to Willie Parker with just 32 seconds remaining. It was Parker's second TD of the game.


The Browns lost the game despite scoring touchdowns on a 57-yard interception return and a 92-yard kickoff return. That doesn't happen very often. Someone call Elias!

Beyond the Box Score

Roethlisberger overcame three first-half interceptions to post solid fantasy totals for the sixth week in a row. Ben went 25/44 for 272 yards with two TDs and the three INTs. He started slowly, misfiring badly on several passes in the first half. But Ben was up to his old tricks down the stretch.

He was at his improvisational best in the fourth quarter when he thrice eluded would-be Cleveland tacklers; twice milliseconds before delivering back-breaking TD passes, and once milliseconds before throwing an extremely important incomplete pass that stopped the clock and avoided a 15-yard loss.

Santonio Holmes caught five passes for 75 yards and scored his first professional touchdown. Holmes is playing more often and getting more looks than Cedrick Wilson, the team's other 'starting' split end. He makes for a decent WR3 for the rest of the season.

Braylon Edwards had his best day as a pro, grabbing seven Charlie Frye passes for 137 yards. He caught a 10-yard pass and turned it into a 63-yard gain in the second quarter. He was behind the defense and headed for paydirt until a blurry Troy Polamalu closed the gap from the opposite side of the field and tackled the former Michigan star at the Steelers 19-yard line.

I can't imagine there's a better defensive player on Planet Earth than the frighteningly fast Polamalu. He's got to be the fastest player in pursuit in the NFL. His instincts, too, are uncanny. He makes big plays in key situations. And he's as dedicated and hungry as any player I've ever seen. Polamalu is a once-in-a-generation player.

Jason Wright (18-74-0) ran hard and ran well against the Steelers. He made good reads, found what few holes were there and he made guys miss. He's not much of a threat catching the ball, but he's definitely a playable replacement for Reuben Droughns owners. He should be owned. I'd expect similar number to Droughns' if he has to replace Reuben for any period of time.

Parker has now scored twelve TDs (9 rushing, 3 receiving) in his ten games this season. He's on pace for 19 total touchdowns in 2006. He scored five TDs in 2005.

Going Forward

Parker has clearly established himself as a RB1 in 2006. He's one of the few reliable fantasy runners in the league. Can you name five running backs you'd rather own right now? I can't. Aside from his two matchups with Baltimore remaining, Fast Willie Parker looks to have a nice schedule down the stretch.

If Roethlisberger keeps putting up these kinds of passing numbers, he's going to be a solid QB1 for the foreseeable future. He hasn't scored less than 15 points in my 50/50 format since week 5.

Braylon Edwards could have a very large season in his near-future. I could see him emerging as a WR1 by the end of next season. He's a solid WR3 right now, and I could see him putting up WR2 numbers the rest of the way in 2006. Baltimore in week 15 is Braylon's only difficult matchup the rest of the way.

Buccaneers 20, Redskins 17
Game Recap By: Evan Silva

The Big Story

Carnell Williams came into Sunday's game on pace for just 880 rushing yards. Bucs coach Jon Gruden must've realized there was something wrong with that picture. Caddy received his biggest workload of the year (27 carries) and rushed for a season-high 122 yards. Bruce Gradkowski (14-21-178-2-1, 6-9) rebounded from eight straight quarters of bad play to turn in a strong second-half effort. Jason Campbell's solid debut was spoiled, as Washington couldn't manufacture a run game or get defensive stops when needed.

Beyond the Box Score

Campbell (19-34-196-2-0, 5-11) has a rocket that wasn't truly put on display until the second half, after the Redskins decided the running game wasn't working. Campbell zipped passes over the middle and exhibited confidence in his ability. He struggled with inaccuracy at times but excelled in the red zone, where both his touchdowns were thrown.

Washington turned away from Ladell Betts (7-18, 5-48) after he was unproductive in the first half. T.J. Duckett (5-26) finished with more yards but was stuffed twice in a short-yardage situation during the second quarter, forcing Campbell to sneak for the first on his own. Fullback Mike Sellers (2-6) was more effective picking up tough yards.

Campbell discovered late chemistry with Chris Cooley (5-58-1), who had just one catch for -2 yards heading to the half. Campbell looked to his tight ends frequently. Even Todd Yoder (1-4-1) got involved. Yoder was targeted on consecutive plays in the end zone.

Cadillac is still losing goal-line carries and most third downs. Mike Alstott was in during the goal-line drill and Michael Pittman (6-28, 2-17) steals receptions.

Brandon Lloyd (2-24) appeared to be Campbell's favorite wide receiver, but he was overthrown on several occasions. Antwaan Randle El (1-14) was invisible. Special teamer James Thrash (4-46) outproduced all of the above.

Going Forward

Be confident if you own Joey Galloway (4-64-1) in a three-receiver league. He's putting up consistent numbers now and worth using every week.

Betts' rushing numbers may be inconsistent going forward, but he's still a quality RB2 or flex in points-per-reception leagues. He's currently Washington's second-leading receiver, just one catch behind Santana Moss (inactive, hamstring). Duckett is not a threat to his starting job, only to Betts' goal-line and short-yardage carries.

Don't pick up Anthony Becht (2-9-1), Thrash, or Yoder. Alex Smith (0-0) suffered a high ankle sprain in the second quarter. He can be dropped.

Gradkowski and Campbell are solid dynasty league prospects. Wait to see what Campbell can do when Moss comes back to pick him up in a shallow league.

Don't sit Cooley just because he has a first-year starter throwing to him. Cooley appeared to be Campbell's No. 1 receiver Sunday.

Dolphins 24, Vikings 20
Game Recap by Aaron Gleeman

The Big Story

Minnesota began the game with a 96-yard touchdown drive, ended it with a 76-yard touchdown drive, held Miami to negative-three rushing yards … and lost. The Vikings' offense was its usual punchless self in between the two long drives and handed the Dolphins two fourth-quarter turnovers that were run back for game-changing touchdowns.

Beyond the Box Score

Chester Taylor had two touchdowns in the first nine games, so reaching the end zone twice while rushing for 80 yards looks impressive. However, Taylor needed 28 carries to get there—including 21 yards on 13 second-half runs—was stuffed at the goal line in the third quarter, and lost two huge fumbles in the fourth quarter (one of which was run back for a 48-yard touchdown by Renaldo Hill).

Ronnie Brown had a nightmare game, fumbling at the goal line in the first quarter and posting negative-eight rushing yards at halftime before breaking through for a couple decent gains. Brown wasn't helped by Miami abandoning the run almost immediately, even in a close game, but the Dolphins had little choice but to milk a late lead through the air.

Joey Harrington had a great first half, throwing for 193 yards and a touchdown, but went 9-of-19 for 61 yards in the second half as Minnesota adjusted to the fact that Miami simply wouldn't (and couldn't) run the ball.

Minnesota's passing game continues to get worse, with Brad Johnson now almost completely unable to pressure a defense downfield. Johnson completed 10-of-13 first-half passes for his typically harmless 86 yards, but then went 16-of-31 when forced to actually opens things up in an effort to do some damage after halftime. The Vikings' receivers get criticized a lot for drops downfield, but they simply aren't given a chance to make game-changing plays because Johnson has to dump everything off underneath.

Going Forward

In addition to losing the ball twice, Taylor has seemingly lost his role on passing downs, giving way to Mewelde Moore. Moore is the better receiver and the Vikings can surely stand to lessen Taylor's workload, but he complimented his rushing totals with a few solid catches per game throughout the first half.

It's tough to say if Taylor missed running behind Tony Richardson, because he ran well in the first half before looking horrible after halftime. At the very least it's worth noting that Richardson being out didn't keep the Vikings from handing it off to him 28 times.

Even without a capable backup, it's got to be close to plug-pulling time on Johnson. Not only can't he stretch the field beyond 50 feet, he looks increasingly uncomfortable in the pocket, continues to be vulnerable to random turnovers from modest hits, and has taken to "scrambling" when faced with anything resembling pressure in the pocket.

For as bad as Brown looked against Minnesota, his Week 12 matchup against Detroit makes him a good bet for a bounce-back effort.

[Hache Man]

The Morning After

510 yards. That's five hundred and ten.

Drew Brees (37/52, 510, 2 TDs, 3 INTs) went ballistic against the sieve-like Bengals defense in New Orleans. And strangely enough, Sunday's performance wasn't anything new for Brees this season.

Drew has now thrown for more than 300 yards in four consecutive games and five of his last seven. He's averaging 376 passing yards per game over the last five weeks.

Brees has now thrown for 3,114 passing yards through ten games. It's a pace that has him finishing 18 yards shy of 5,000 for the season.

The NFL record for single-season passing yards is held by the Great Dan Marino, with his 5,084 yards in the Orwellian season of 1984. On his current pace, Brees would miss Marino's mark by just 102 yards. He would have the #2 spot in the record books by a comfortable 152 yards over the 2001 version of Kurt Warner.

All this from a guy that had serious shoulder questions hounding him since last season's unfortunate wrenching against the Broncos.

The diminutive Brees (he's listed at just 6'0") has been better than anyone could have guessed. The guy is truly a pro's pro. And despite his physical limitations, Drew has always been a battler and a leader of men.

He's a QB1 that has extra value in yardage-heavy formats. He's also one of the most pleasant surprises of the 2006 NFL season.

Emerging Trends

The Good Stuff:

Lee Evans (11/265, 2 TDs) put up a Chad Johnson-like performance against the Texans beleaguered secondary. Evans scored two 83-yard touchdowns in the first quarter and didn't let up from there. He continues to be one of my favorite underrated players in fantasy football.

Lee gets targeted in bunches (8.6 targets per game entering week 11), he's extremely fast, he's becoming a very good route runner and he's got good hands.

If Evans had a more consistent offense around him, he'd be a solid WR1. As it is, he's limited by his team's offensive prowess, and is relegated to WR2 status.

It's tough to recommend a 'buy' here considering his statistical blowup. But if you can get him on the cheap from an owner hastily trying to cash in on his rise in value, go for it.

And speaking of Chad Johnson (6/190, 3 TDs; 1/3), the formerly mohawked man went off AGAIN Sunday, twisting the knife into the hearts of former Johnson owners everywhere.

Through the first eight games of 2006, Chad went 40/482, 2 TDs

In the two games since, Johnson has gone 17/450, 5 TDs.

Entering Week 10, Johnson was on pace for: 80/964, 4 TDs, a poor season by his lofty standards

Entering Week 12, Johnson is on pace for: 91/1,491, 11 TDs, an above-average season even by his lofty standards.

What a difference two weeks can make.

It was also a big week for team defenses. There were three shutouts pitched in week 11, by the Bears, the Patriots and the Panthers. I hope your scoring system rewards shutouts, as preventing points is the ultimate goal of a defense.

The Bad Stuff:

Marc Bulger (19/34; 142, INT) has had two poor outings in a row. Complicating matters has been the loss of his stalwart LT, Orlando Pace, for the season.

The matchups are really nice for Marc the rest of the way. But even the most strident Bulger supporters have to be a little concerned with Marc's dropoff entering the home stretch of 2006.

The next two weeks should tell the tale of Bulger's season. The Rams host the 49ers and Cardinals in weeks 12 and 13. If Marc puts up a couple stinkers over the next fortnight…well…that would stink for Bulger owners, wouldn't it?

There's nothing to be done here if you own Marc. Just put him in your lineup and hope things come together down the stretch.

No less than six quality fantasy commodities went down with injuries in week 11. Six! It was Black Sunday!

Donovan McNabb tore his ACL. LaMont Jordan tore his MCL. Marques Colston suffered the dreaded high-ankle sprain. Kevin Jones also hurt his ankle and left after four carries. DeShaun Foster hurt his elbow, did not return, and might have been Wally Pipp-ed by DeAngelo Williams.

Even the iron man of iron men, Brett Favre, came up lame Sunday. He suffered some nerve damage in his throwing arm Sunday and suddenly his legendary streak of games started is up in the air. If he can't go Sunday, The Streak will end at 251.

Let that sink in for a moment. 251.

The last time Brett Favre missed a start came in 1992. Disney's 'Aladdin' was the top grossing movie in America. 'Wayne's World' had just come out.

The Grunge scene was coming into its own in 1992. 'Would?' by Alice in Chains was the top single that year. Pearl Jam had just exploded onto the national scene. Nirvana's 'Come as you Are' was a top-ten hit. Remember House of Pain's 'Jump Around'? If you do, you're remembering 1992.

If The Streak is indeed over, let us offer a moment of respect for one of the all-time 'gamers' in the history of sports. I feel fortunate to have witnessed Favre's incredible streak over these last 15 years. And you should too.

Shanahan Corner:

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

This week it was Tatum Bell that was inactive for the Broncos while Mike Bell got the bulk of the work.

Mike (20/90, 2 TDs; 2/17) was in fine running form Sunday night. He seemed well rested, didn't he? Maybe that's some small part of the method behind Mike Shanahan's running back madness.

Damien Nash (10/52; 3/36) also contributed in the Broncos losing effort. He'll probably get cut on Wednesday.

I still say Mike Bell is the runner to own here. All things being equal, he's not suffering from extreme toe pain.

Samkon Gado (10/69, TD; 5/30) got the bulk of the work against the Bills, but not by much—Wali Lundy (8/61, TD; 4/22) also got significant touches in the Texans 24-21 loss. Both runners scored and both were involved in the passing game.

This looks to be a 50/50 scenario. For what it's worth, I'd prefer to own Gado.

I've been advising a 'buy' on Laurence Maroney (19/82; 4/34, TD) for several weeks now. His inevitable spike in production finally arrived in week 11 as Laurence out-carried, out-gained, out-received and out-produced his dinged-up Shanahan backfield mate, Corey Dillon (12/31, TD).

Nothing really changes here. The backfield momentum has flip-flopped for now, but the overall outlook remains the same assuming Dillon is healthy. PPR guys should prefer to own Maroney, but not by much. Scoring guys should prefer Dillon, but not by much.

The Colts couldn't get much going on the ground against a stout Cowboys defense, and as a result, neither Joseph Addai (13/50; 1/7) nor Dominic Rhodes (9/30; 3/20) were valuable additions to fantasy lineups in week 11.

The status quo remains in Indy—Addai is the more valuable runner by about a 70-30 split. He gets the goalline touches and has more of an impact overall.

The Panthers' run of featured-back-ness seems to be over with the triumphant return of DeAngelo Williams to the stat sheet. Williams (20/114; 2/24) filled in capably for an injured DeShaun Foster (9/63) in the Panthers' 15-0 win over the punchless Rams.

Brad Hoover (7/34; 1/-3, fun) and Nick Goings (4/34; 2/25) also earned carries as Carolina pounded the ball while protecting a lead in the second half. The Rams had no answer to the Cats ground game.

If both are healthy, expect Williams and Foster to share the load the rest of the way. I'd prefer to own Williams.

If you've been paying attention at all this season, you know the drill with the Bears. Expect a 2:1 ration of carries between Thomas Jones (23/121; 2/1) and Cedric Benson (10/51).

That's what we got Sunday, and it's what we can expect moving forward.

The status quo also held for the Saints backfield.

It was an average day at the office for Reggie Bush (13/51; 8/58) and Deuce McAllister (10/40; 3/29). They virtually split carries and Bush was more productive in the passing game.

There's nothing to say here that hasn't already been said ten times this season—favor Deuce in scoring formats and Bush in ppr and yardage formats.

I advised buying Marion Barber and selling Julius Jones two weeks ago. Since then Barber (9/35, 2 TDs) and Jones (22/79; 3/25) have made me look rather smart.

Barber continues to score the TDs and rack up the fantasy points while Jones continues to grind out mediocre amounts of yardage between the 20's. Julius did, however, double his season reception total in the Cowboys' week 11 win over the previously unbeaten Colts.

You can have the carries and the non-descript yardage totals. I'll take the receptions and the touchdowns. Barber is the runner to own here.

LaMont Jordan (4/24; 1/4) tore his MCL Sunday and is out for the season. That means a full-fledged Shanahan backfield is upon us.

Justin Fargas (19/52; 1/12) looks to be the favorite for significant carries out of the gate, with Zach Crockett (5/19) next in line. Neither runner has too much potential, however, as the Raiders will struggle to run the ball regardless of who's back there.

I'm advising acquiring Fargas if you're in need of some RB depth. He's a RB3 at best. A more likely designation would be a RB4.

Eric Mangini continues to do his best Mike Shanahan impression.

Trying to predict what Jets runner will excel from week to week is a virtual impossibility. Last week Kevan Barlow (4/2) was the productive New York runner. The previous few weeks saw Leon Washington (13/22; 1/7) excel. This week, it was Cedric Houston (11/50) throwing his hat back into the Jets' backfield ring.

It's awfully tough to recommend a runner here. There's no discernable trend to asses, nor are there huge differences in the overall ability levels of this trio of Jets runners. Houston and Washington seem to be the best bets for regular touches moving forward. That said, stay tuned to rotoworld.com this week to get all the latest info on this Shanahan situation.

Without Clinton Portis, the Washington Redskins divvied up the carries amongst a gaggle of runners. Ladell Betts (7/18; 5/48, fum), T.J. Duckett (5/26) and Mike Sellers (2/6; 1/2) all carried the ball. Expect Betts and Duckett to dominate the carries in the upcoming weeks, with Betts being the better option in virtually all formats.

[Hache Man]

Late Recaps

49ers 20, Seahawks 14
Game Recap By: Evan Silva

The Big Story

San Francisco's three-game winning streak is no fluke. The Niners are making big plays on defense, running the football down opponents' throats, and getting efficient play from their quarterback. Alex Smith (19-25-1-0, 1-1-1) found the open man and avoided turnovers. Frank Gore (24-212-0, 4-26) was sensational. Outside linebacker Brandon Moore (six tackles) and a flurry of other no-namers disrupted Seneca Wallace and closed the curtains on Seattle's running game. A lost fumble by Gore with less than two minutes remaining didn't wind up costing San Francisco, as Wallace threw an interception plays later and Gore ran for a first down to seal the win.

Beyond the Box Score

Shaun Alexander (17-37, 1-2) ran in place. He crossed into San Francisco's secondary once and didn't do anything exciting. Maurice Morris (2-12, 1-0) took a backseat.

The open man for Smith was usually Arnaz Battle (5-47-1) who would've scored twice had one touchdown not been overruled upon review. Battle was in single coverage all day, while Antonio Bryant (2-21) turned in another head-scratcher. Eric Johnson (4-48) led the 49ers in receiving. Vernon Davis (0-0) barely played.

Gore is still losing goal-line carries to Michael Robinson (2-10). Robinson was stuffed in the second quarter before Alex Smith bootlegged and took it in himself on second-and-goal. Gore was on the sidelines, helmet in hand.

Wallace (19-31-252-2-3, 2-21) was solid for most of the game but again couldn't finish. His third pick was thrown with no Seahawks pass catcher in the area.

Deion Branch (7-113-1) and Darrell Jackson (4-77-1) both had strong fantasy games. Jackson was silent until Shawntae Spencer injured his ankle and first-round bust Sammy Davis came in during the third quarter. Jackson made two receptions on the drive, including a 41-yard bomb for a TD down the sidelines. D.J. Hackett (2-19) saw his role diminish. Jerramy Stevens (1-18, lost fumble) is still playing when he wants to play.

Going Forward

Alexander admitted after Sunday's game that he's not yet playing at full speed. It could simply take another week or two for him to get in a groove. Start him versus Green Bay in Week 12.

Seattle seems to be counting on Matt Hasselbeck (inactive, knee) for Week 12. Hang onto Wallace until Hasselbeck's official status is known. Wallace fades late in games but puts up solid numbers when he starts.

San Francisco's defense is shutting down everyone, but we're not yet sold. If the Niners hold Steven Jackson in check next Sunday, hesitate to use Deuce McAllister in Week 13.

Grab Arnaz Battle immediately. He should continue to rack up catches as defenses put him one-on-one. He's a reliable target because he doesn't drop many passes and clearly has the confidence of Alex Smith. Consider dropping Bryant for him in a shallow league. Vernon Davis is not yet on the re-draft radar.

Kansas City 17, Oakland 13
Game Recap by: Gregg Rosenthal

The Big Story

It was the classic Aaron Brooks moment. Without his starting left tackle and starting running back Lamont Jordan, who was lost for the season, AB managed to awaken the decrepit Raiders offense just long enough to break everyone's heart. He made plays with his feet all day, and drove the length of the field with time running down before throwing a mind-numbing interception in the end zone to seal the game. The Chiefs managed to win despite Herm Edwards' best efforts not to let Trent Green throw the football.

Beyond The Box Score

If Edwards is confident in Green (9/16-102-0-0), he had a funny way of showing it. Green only passed once on the game's first drive, but at least the Chiefs scored a touchdown. That didn't happen the rest of the game until the Chiefs trailed with less than five minutes remaining. Green was slow to react to blitzes and missed Tony Gonzalez, but he made a handful of great passes on the decisive drive. Consider him a work in progress. He didn't help Eddie Kennison's value in this game.

At the beginning of the year, a season-ending injury to first round fantasy pick Lamont Jordan (4-24-0) would have been front page news. By now, it's a mercy killing for Jordan and his owners. Jordan finishes the season with just over 500 total yards. His torn MCL isn't nearly as bad as a torn ACL, and he should be fully ready for the 2007 season. Hopefully Art Shell won't be back in Oakland. Justin Fargas (19-52-0) replaced Jordan and repeatedly ran as hard as he could – straight into a pile of defenders.

Oakland's season in a nutshell: Losing starting LT Robert Gallery (elbow) and RT Langston Walker on the same play. Walker returned later in the game, but Gallery is lost for the season.

Randy Moss was targeted on the game-ending interception, but that was one of the few times all day we saw him. He was barely thrown to, and was on the sideline occasionally in favor of Alvis Whitted or Ronald Curry (5-85-0). Moss finished without a catch. He can't be used in fantasy leagues for a while.

Brooks (13-22-179-1-1, 5-34-0) was running for his life all game because of offensive line problems, but extended many plays before finding receivers downfield. He juked DE Jared Allen out of his shoes on one 23-yard romp. The downside for Brooks: Moss isn't a help and the running game is terrible. The degree of difficulty on most of his completions was too high to sustain.

Going Forward

Oh yeah, Larry Johnson (31-154-2) had another monster performance. It will be interesting to see how LJ and Herm Edwards respond with only three days off before their Thanksgiving night showdown against the Broncos. LJ is on pace for 397 carries, which would be good for fifth-highest all time.

Lamont Jordan's contract makes it likely that he'll return to the Raiders. Don't give up on him in keeper leagues. A coaching change could help him immensely.

Aaron Brooks is worth picking up if you need quarterback help. The team around him provides major limitations, but he could be a decent QB2 because of his running skills. Justin Fargas will get the majority of touches and is worth picking up. Curry is worth a look in deep leagues.

Cardinals 17, Lions 10
Game Recap by Aaron Gleeman

The Big Story

The Lions were who Denny Green thought they were … really bad. Detroit mustered very little offense after losing Kevin Jones to an early ankle injury and Arizona's offense looked potent for one of the first times this season, jumping out to a 17-0 lead as Matt Leinart, Anquan Boldin, and Edgerrin James all played well.

Beyond the Box Score

Arizona extended its streak without a 100-yard rusher to 36 straight games, but James has looked good in back-to-back weeks as the team makes adjustments to the running game that include utilizing more two-tight end sets. After failing to crack four yards per carry in any of the first eight games, James has checked in with a 4.5- and 4.4-yard average the past two weeks. He broke a season-long 18-yard run up the gut in the second quarter and has ceased being stuffed behind the line of scrimmage on every other run, which had plagued the offense. Now, if the Cardinals will give him the ball at the goal line …

In addition to an improved ground game, the Cardinals have also gone to a different approach through the air, relying far more on three-step drops, quick dump-off throws, and wide-receiver screens. The idea is clearly to minimize the damage a poor offensive line can do by getting the ball out of Leinart's hands quickly and it worked Sunday, with Leinart completing 10 straight passes at one point.

Arizona's one slow-developing play was a well-executed flea-flicker that saw Boldin get behind the defense, completely uncovered. Unfortunately, Leinart never saw him, instead throwing to Larry Fitzgerald, who made an absolutely ridiculous catch up against the sideline, hanging upright enough for the official to rule that his foot would have come down in bounds had the defender not shoved him out. However, Fitzgerald was held to just two catches overall and was not targeted at all in the second half, so his hamstring may not be completely healed.

Detroit surprisingly ran quite a bit after Jones left, but offensive coordinator Mike Martz couldn't help himself at the goal line. After