Fantasy Football News 12/02/06

[Hache Man]

Last Minute Decisions
Each week, Last Minute Decisions is your final stopping point before setting your lineups Sunday morning. I'll tell you Game-Time Decisions to watch, provide matchup rundowns you won't find anywhere else, and focus on a situation not to underestimate. Make sure to check the site early Sunday for the latest news around the NFL.

Important Week 13 Game-Time Decisions

Arms
Matt Hasselbeck – will start Sunday night, might fumble a snap or two

Wides
Marques Colston – don't think he'll play after not practicing all week
Josh Reed – may step back into third-receiver role versus San Diego
Keenan McCardell – will start against Buffalo's talented secondary
Darrell Jackson – probable, returned to practice Friday and will start
Brandon Stokley – give Stokley another week before picking him up
Sinorice Moss – rookie wideout may finally see significant action
Chad Jackson – has barely made much of an impact in his first year
Joe Horn – returned to practice Friday, has marquee matchup vs. SF
Bobby Engram – not expected to play on Sunday night at Denver

Backs
Frank Gore – probable, will start in glorious matchup at New Orleans
Michael Pittman – will play, keep Carnell Williams a two-down back
Maurice Jones-Drew – fully expected to play after practicing all week
Cedric Houston – will play and is expected start, a strong flex @ GB
Chester Taylor – set to start against the Bears' up-and-down run defense
LenDale White – can be dropped if his workload is small again Sunday
DeShaun Foster – will split carries at best even if he starts at Philly
Willis McGahee – has a headache but will start and get all the carries
Tatum Bell – expected to start, Sunday night is a big game for this Bell
Reuben Droughns – will play on special teams, may get a few touches
Jameel Cook – Houston will dress three tailbacks if Cook can't play

Ends
Bo Scaife – likely to go after working all week, sleeper for a big game
David Martin – guessing he won't play, you should be able to do better
Kellen Winslow – upgraded to probable Friday and will play vs. K.C.
Alex Smith – probably won't play, has been a disappointment in 2006
Tony Gonzalez – will start at Cleveland after practicing fully Friday
Jermaine Wiggins – not worth relying on, don't know whether he'll go

Legs
Sebastian Janikowski – Sebass worked fully Friday, will kick Sunday

Already Ruled Out for Week 13

Arms
Byron Leftwich – placed on injured reserve Friday after ankle surgery
Sage Rosenfels – Bradlee Van Pelt doesn't pose a threat to David Carr
Daunte Culpepper – season, career in jeopardy after another surgery

Wides
Hines Ward – seems likely to miss two games, Nate Washington starting
Jerry Porter – the cause of Porter's mysterious hip injury is known
Willie Reid – returner's absence a possible burden on Santonio Holmes

Backs
Priest Holmes – went on reserve/PUP Tuesday, return 2007 training camp?
LaMont Jordan – still not on I.R., Justin Fargas a decent flex on Sunday
Ronnie Brown – sidelined until at least Week 15, Sammy Morris to start
Domanick Davis – wonder if Texans now want him back next season
Michael Turner – battling a bum hammy, Andrew Pinnock to back up LT

Ends
Eric Johnson – may be done for the season, Vernon Davis now healthy
Dallas Clark – Ben Utecht is a fun play this week for Clark owners
Ernie Conwell – Saints' starter went on injured reserve Wednesday

What Is Up With Chris Henry?

Before Thursday night's game, the NFL Network's Steve Mariucci pointed out that 5-9 Ravens nickel back Corey Ivy should pose no match for 6-5 Bengals third wideout Chris Henry. Good call Mooch, but Henry wound up with no catches on three measly targets. And it may get worse for Henry, as Kelley Washington will most likely return in Week 14 to steal third-receiver snaps and targets when the Bengals face the Raiders. Oakland's pass defense is back atop the league rankings and the Raiders have good size in the secondary with 6-2 Nnamdi Asomugha on the left corner and 6-1 Stanford Routt at nickel back. The following week, Cincy visits Indy on Monday night and Colts DB Marlin Jackson, who unlike most teams' slot corners does have the size to put clamps on Henry out wide, will be back at the nickel with free safety Bob Sanders having returned from a knee injury. By Week 16, Henry owners may already be on the sidelines before another so-so matchup against 6-0 Broncos third cornerback Karl Paymah. Henry is probably bound for one more decent game but the unpredictability of when it may occur is worth cutting in a shallow fantasy league.

Week 13 Matchups to Exploit/Avoid

Jets @ Packers
Game Time: 12:00 CT/1:00 ET

Conditions: 30 percent chance of snow, winds 10-15 MPH, 20 degrees

The Jets rank seventh in the NFL in rushes-per-game despite a weak per-carry average (3.4, 30th in the league). Eric Mangini wants to pound the ball and has finally found the appropriate one-two punch in Cedric Houston and Leon Washington. For the Packers, middle linebacker Nick Barnett will play but with a club on his broken hand that, without the use of his fingers, may not allow him to be as efficient a tackler. Free safety Nick Collins, an excellent open-field tackler, is unlikely to suit up, leaving one of two inexperienced players, Atari Bigby and Tyrone Culver, to take his spot in run support. Green Bay had fared well against the rush until recently, but now their smaller under tackles are being exposed. A punishing runner like Houston should present major problems for the Packers' front seven. In fantasy football it is an advantage to acquire a player before his breakout game rather than waiting for him to clear waivers the week after…

…On the other side, we witnessed last week what Eric Moulds could do when faced with New York's low-end pass defense. Moulds went off, catching ten passes in his most productive game of the season. This time around, it will be a healthy Greg Jennings to reap the benefits. While the potentially muddy conditions may not allow for Jennings to get a good look on a bomb, the combination of New York's recently stout run defense and Green Bay's lack of success on the ground means the Packers will be forced to pass to have a shot in this game. Jennings is used to playing in the snow at Western Michigan's Waldo Stadium and should rack up catches against Hank Poteat, Drew Coleman, and dinged-up David Barrett. The explosive wideout plays bigger than his 5-11/195-pound frame. It would not be a surprise to see him score and catch eight passes.

Falcons @ Redskins
Game Time: 12:00 CT/1:00 ET

Conditions: sunny, winds 5-15 MPH, 45 degrees

When DeAngelo Hall is giving up on plays and yielding big ones, Atlanta's secondary has no chance. Even if Jason Webster (out, groin) was healthy, the Falcons couldn't stop opposing air games. Atlanta is ranked 30th in the league against the pass but playing even worse and a healthy Santana Moss should run all over the Falcons. It's been nine weeks since Moss' last big game, his only of the season. Jason Campbell should be good for 15-20 completions and a solid six to Santana. If you're wavering on using him as a flex, don't hesitate. Moss wasn't on this week's injury report and will start in a phenomenal matchup…

…On the other side, Washington's defense is back at nearly full health and playing well. The Redskins held Steve Smith's Panthers to 13 points and 264 net yards in Week 12. With emerging rookie Kedric Golston on one interior tackle spot, Washington stifled DeAngelo Williams and company and should again find success against a slowed-down Warrick Dunn this Sunday. Michael Vick gets all the blame for Atlanta's troubles, but Dunn is in the midst of a terrible season, averaging just over four yards-per-carry while not having topped 73 yards since Week 6. Jerious Norwood should start cutting Dunn's workload right down the middle this week. Dunn is an easy sit against the 'Skins.

Colts @ Titans
Game Time: 12:00 CT/1:00 ET

Conditions: sunny, winds 5-15 MPH, 45 degrees

This one is for the Jermaine Wiggins (knee, game-time decision) owners, the Dallas Clark (possible torn ACL) owners, the stubborn Desmond Clark (seven catches since Week 8), Heath Miller (who?), and Eric Johnson (knee, likely out for season) owners. Sunday's early game pairs two teams with sleeper tight ends in nice weather for holiday-season passing. For the Colts, Mr. Clark is out, meaning 6-6 athlete Ben Utecht will be the go-to option at the tight end position. Brandon Stokley (knee) probably isn't ready for a full complement of snaps and Ricky Proehl may not know the offense well enough to be active or play a significant role, meaning Utecht will see plenty of time in the slot, where Tennessee has seventh-rounder Cortland Finnegan in coverage. Injuries have always been the drawback for Utecht, whose natural tools are comparable to those of some of the top tight ends in the league. While healthy the past six weeks, Utecht has had at least two catches in every game. A breakout week is not out of the question for the former Minnesota Gopher…

…On the other side lies Bo Scaife, who like Utecht is listed as questionable on the injury report but will play Sunday. Scaife is capitalizing (five catches and a touchdown last week) with Ben Troupe out for the season and no real competition for snaps. According to FootballOutsiders, the Colts rank a below-average 20th in DVOA against tight ends, one spot behind Tennessee. Scaife is a strong, not desperate play in a game that may see Vince Young throw 35 passes for the second straight week as the Titans play catch up. Bet on Bo if you're strapped for options at the tight end spot.

Cowboys @ Giants
Game Time: 3:15 CT/4:15 ET

Conditions: winds 10-15 MPH, 40 degrees

It appeared it was time to give up on Terry Glenn when roughly a month ago word broke that he was suffering from a bone-on-bone condition in the back of his balky knee. But since being inactive in Week 10, Glenn has rebounded with consecutive strong efforts, including a two-touchdown performance last Sunday afternoon. Especially important to Glenn's reemergence is that Tony Romo is spreading the ball amongst his pass catchers after seeming to key on Terrell Owens and Jason Witten early on. With Sam Madison back from a hamstring injury to face T.O. and Corey Webster out due to a turf toe, Glenn will be primarily covered by projected reserve defender R.W. McQuarters. McQuarters is a gambler and can be beat deep if he creeps towards the line of scrimmage after Marion Barber and Julius Jones start racking up yards early on. Glenn is already back to being an every-week WR3 and should post another respectable fantasy day Sunday afternoon…

…On the other side, one player to watch is Sinorice Moss, New York's second-round pick who is expected to play on Sunday. Moss will not start the game but has the explosiveness to make an impact and it is doubtful that Dallas will give him much respect after missing the past ten games. Moss is not a fantasy option in this game but could be good for a big play as the Giants attempt to get back on track. He will be worth grabbing in deep and dynasty leagues if he shows that he is healthy. Moss was running at full-tilt during practice late this week.

Do Not Underestimate

The Impact of Sunday Night Football on Denver's backfield

Tatum Bell's toes will have had 22 days of rest when the Broncos host the Seahawks in Week 13. Whether that is long enough for him to have reached 100 percent cannot be said for certain, but Mike Shanahan has come out publicly on multiple occasions to confirm that Tatum is ready to play. The player is in full agreement. Denver believes that it must have a consistent running attack with a rookie QB under center and thus will come out to establish the run game on Sunday night. Mike Bell poses a theoretical threat to Tatum near the goal line but the Broncos want the latter to be "the man." If T. Bell can shake off the rust after a few carries and perform well on roughly 20 totes, this should be his job for the remainder of the season. The Broncos want it to be. It would also be a surprise to see Tatum come out on the goal line if he gets hot. The opportunity to reemerge as Denver's every-down back is there for Tatum Bell on Sunday night.

[Hache Man]

	Report: Houston expected to start for Jets
	Cedric Houston - RB - NYJ - Dec. 2 - 11:09 a.m. ET
	The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports running back Cedric Houston is likely to start for the Jets on Sunday at Green Bay. The Journal-Sentinel does a good job of getting the inside track on opponents' situations so it's a reliable source. Houston will give way to Leon Washington on third downs but has a good chance to score at Lambeau on Sunday, as his forte is in short-yardage situations.Dec. 2 - 11:09 a.m. ET Source: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

[Btwizzy]

Great Info as always THANKS