Fantasy Football News 2007

Hache Man · Dec 4, 2007

Re: Fantasy Football News 2007

Down Goes Orch Dork
Facing an already shaky Vikings secondary that was without its best player in Antoine Winfield, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=35"]Roy Williams[/URL] got off to a huge start Sunday, totaling 85 yards on five catches through 20 minutes of game action. Unfortunately, his week and perhaps even his season came to an end midway through the second quarter when he exited with a sprained knee. Williams actually returned to the game briefly, but coach Rod Marinelli said Monday that he's likely to miss "several weeks."

For now at least the Lions will avoid placing Williams on season-ending injured reserve, holding out some hope that he can make it back late in the season or for a potential playoff game. The odds of seeing Williams on the field again seem slim, making it likely that he'll end the season with 836 yards and five touchdowns on 63 catches. Williams was on a 1,155-yard pace before the injury, but that would still qualify as a disappointing year after producing 1,310 yards in 2006.

With Williams out, Mike Furrey will step into the starting lineup one week after being demoted on the Lions' depth chart. Furrey is well off his 98-catch pace from last season, but caught seven passes in Week 13 and is suddenly a good bet to finish the year with a productive final month. Williams was targeted on 24 percent of the Lions' throws through a dozen games, so there'll be enough "new" passes to give Furrey, Calvin Johnson, and Shaun McDonald value boosts.

While Orch Dork seamlessly falls back on his burgeoning pizza-delivery career, here are some other notes from around football ?

* During his press conference Monday coach Ken Whisenhunt avoided providing an official word on Anquan Boldin's status after the star receiver left Sunday's game in the third quarter with a foot injury. However, multiple reports agree that Boldin suffered either a dislocated or fractured toe, which is an injury that could be difficult to play through even if Boldin has incredible pain tolerance.

Boldin seems highly unlikely to play in Week 14 against the Seahawks and will be working at far less than 100 percent if can return at some point this month. Given that Larry Fitzgerald sat out Week 13 with a groin injury there's a strong chance that Bryant Johnson could be Arizona's go-to receiver against Seattle, although Whisenhunt said Monday that he's "hopeful" about Fitzgerald's odds of returning this week. In the meantime, snatch up Johnson if he's available.

* Starting Sunday in place of the injured Brandon Jacobs after sitting out four straight games with an injury of his own, Derrick Ward was putting together a monster afternoon with 183 total yards on 26 touches before leaving in the fourth quarter with an ugly looking leg injury. He was able to walk to the locker room and later returned to the sidelines on crutches, but Ward has been diagnosed with a fractured fibula that will almost certainly end his breakout season.

The good news for the Giants is that they likely won't have to turn back to third-stringer Reuben Droughns in Week 14, with coach Tom Coughlin indicating Monday that he expects Jacobs to rejoin the starting lineup Sunday against the Eagles. Jacobs practiced some last week and has averaged 5.2 yards on 115 carries when healthy enough to play, so don't be afraid to get him back into your lineup as a RB2 despite a tough matchup. He has late-season RB1 potential.

* Willis McGahee has been quietly posting outstanding numbers in a horrible offense all season and his performance Monday night deserves more praise than it figures to receive in a game that will be remembered for the Patriots coming back to save their unbeaten season. Limited by an ankle injury, McGahee accounted for half of the Ravens' yards prior to Kyle Boller's game-ending 53-yard heave to Mark Clayton that came up just a few feet short.

McGahee was patient enough to let holes develop in front of him, but ran extremely hard when openings appeared and dragged defenders all over the field. With 138 yards on 30 carries McGahee (1,048) joined [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4169"]Adrian Peterson[/URL] (1,197), Willie Parker (1,093), and LaDainian Tomlinson (1,049) as the NFL's only 1,000-yard rushers. Beyond that, his 17-yard score in the third quarter gave him a touchdown in seven straight games and he's now topped 100 total yards eight times.

Note: I'll be hosting my weekly "live chat" today at 2:00 p.m. EST, so please feel free to stop by and ask some questions. Whether it's who to pick up off the waiver wire, which last-minute trades to make for the fantasy playoffs, or the shockingly popular chat-session staple "what's Tiffany Simons like in person?", you ask the questions and I'll provide the answers. Click here for details.

Two-Minute Drill: Coach Brad Childress said Monday that [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4169"]Adrian Peterson[/URL] came out of Sunday's game feeling "as good as he's felt all year long" ? Shaun Alexander had 20 touches Sunday compared to just five for Maurice Morris, and coach Mike Holmgren said afterward that he expects a similar workload split to continue down the stretch ? Javon Walker (knee) played only 20-25 snaps Sunday and coach Mike Shanahan said Monday that it's "hard to say" whether he'll be able to take on a full workload at any point this season ? Constantly rumored to be in danger of losing snaps, Earnest Graham has very quietly produced 737 total yards and four touchdowns while averaging 25 touches per outing over the past six games ? Chris Redman played well Sunday after coming on in relief of Joey Harrington and looks likely to get the Week 14 start against the Saints on Monday night ? Sinorice Moss served as the Giants' third receiver Sunday thanks to [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4227"]Steve Smith[/URL]'s hamstring injury, but was yanked in favor of David Tyree after running a bad route.

Red Zone: Having watched A.J. Feeley throw four interceptions Sunday, coach Andy Reid said afterward that there's a "pretty good chance" of Donovan McNabb (ankle, thumb) returning to the lineup in Week 14 against the Giants ? As speculated in this space for the past month, Chris Mortensen of ESPN reported Monday that Marvin Harrison (knee) could miss the remainder of the regular season ? Steve McNair underwent shoulder surgery Monday and will be placed on season-ending injured reserve, likely ending his Ravens career and cementing Kyle Boller's status as the starter ? Selvin Young left Sunday's game in the third quarter with a bruised arm, putting his status for Week 14 in doubt ? LenDale White is expected to play in Week 14 despite dislocating his middle finger Sunday, but may now be splitting carries with Chris Brown ? Brodie Croyle (back) sat out Sunday's game, but said afterward that "there's no doubt in my mind" that he'll return in Week 14 ? Terry Glenn (knee) has yet to play this season, but owner Jerry Jones said Monday that he has "a real shot" to see game action at some point.

Hache Man · Dec 5, 2007

Re: Fantasy Football News 2007

Insurance Policies
Owners who have made it this far shouldn't be looking for quarterbacks or tight ends to start this week. Don't get cute playing a guy coming off one strong game in favor of someone who has put together a full season of them. Roll with who got you this far.

The Waiver Wire, especially at these positions, is now about insurance. Fine-tune the bottom of your roster. Improve your worst player in case injuries strike over the next few weeks. And don't discount blocking a potentially helpful pickup from your prospective opponents.

Note: For Patrick Dahl's extensive list of running backs and wideouts, click here.

[SIZE=+1]Quarterbacks[/SIZE]

For the Matt Schaub owners out there, here's how I'd rank some of the quarterbacks likely to be available in most leagues.

1. David Garrard, Jaguars ? I see he's out there in a third of all leagues, which is a third too many. He is playing at a Pro Bowl level and it's beginning to show up in the box score. He's the rare pickup you could put right into your lineup.

2. Chris Redman, Falcons ? One of the many quarterbacks ruined by Brian Billick, Redman hadn't thrown an NFL pass since 2003! But Redman knows Bobby Petrino's offense and woke up the Falcons offense in a comeback bid against St. Louis. With a matchup against New Orleans, he could be the second scrap-heap quarterback in two weeks that the Saints make look good. But only in 2-QB leagues.

3. Sage Rosenfels, Texans ? Rosenfels is a safer bet than the rest of this list because Matt Schaub is seriously hurt. He also will be running a well-stocked offense he knows well. Rosenfels even boasts numbers that compare well Matt Schaub.

The schedule, however, does The Experience no favors: Bucs, Broncos, Colts. Yikes. Hard to imagine using him in anything but 2QB leagues there.

4. Luke McCown, Bucs - It would make sense for the Bucs to rest Jeff Garcia now that they basically have the NFC South locked up. McCown played sensationally against New Orleans. Yes, it was against our hero Jason David and the gang, but McCown has better speed and a better arm than Garcia. Tampabaybuccaneers.com

I don't think Jon Gruden would make a change, but it wouldn't totally shock me if there was a quarterback controversy in Tampa if McCown kept playing well. The next matchups are cake: Houston and Atlanta.

Both Garcia and Jon Gruden say that Garcia could play this week and that Chris Mortensen is a F%&! #$&bag. They deny that Garcia has a hairline fracture in his back and all reports indicate he doesn't. As I was posting this column, Garcia said he would practice on Wednesday, which renders McCown's value almost nill.

Here's the thing: Garcia is no lock to stay healthy. McCown is the only backup who we could legitimately see exploding this month because of his schedule and system. If McCown plays, he has a chance to replace Garcia's production. Gruden has done it too many times with questionable talent to doubt him now. Garcia owners or others looking for a shot in the dark could roster McCown and hope for the best. Keep an eye on the news.

5. Josh McCown, Raiders- No thanks. Been down this road too many times and the schedule is brutal.

[SIZE=+1]Tight Ends [/SIZE]

1. Marcedes Lewis, Jaguars - Has he turned a corner? Playing Cover Two teams the last two weeks, Lewis has slipped between the seams for 10 catches, 99 yards, and a score. Jacksonville's spread-the-wealth offense will prevent him from being a star, but he's solid TE2 insurance this month.
jacksonvillejaguars.com
2. Zach Miller, Raiders - Like a lot of rookie tight ends, it took Miller some time to get adjusted to the NFL. But with at least three grabs and 33 yards in four straight games, he's become a fine outlet option for the Oakland quarterback monster. oaklandraiders.com

Hache Man · Dec 5, 2007

Re: Fantasy Football News 2007

Henry Suspension Up In Smoke
After seemingly never-ending speculation and delays surrounding his one-year suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy, Travis Henry surprisingly won his appeal Tuesday and is now clear to play the remainder of the season. Knee problems and ineffectiveness dropped Henry into a backup role in Week 13, but Selvin Young's arm injury gives him a chance to reclaim the starting job beginning Sunday against the Chiefs.

It's nearly impossible to predict how coach Mike Shanahan will divvy up the carries between Henry, Young, Andre Hall, or whichever random guy off the street the Broncos decide to stick in their backfield, but for now Henry looks like a decent mid-level RB2 option. Kansas City has been fairly strong against the run for most of the season, but allowed 141 yards on 29 carries to a Henry-less Denver team in Week 10 and gave up 177 yards to LaDainian Tomlinson on Sunday.

While Henry hopefully celebrates the good news without getting himself into any more trouble (or making himself any more offspring), here are some other notes from around football ?

* Starting in place of the injured Marc Bulger on Sunday, Gus Frerotte threw for 311 yards and three touchdowns against the Falcons. However, Frerotte suffered a shoulder injury while putting up the big numbers and has been diagnosed with a partially torn labrum after undergoing an MRI on Tuesday. The bad news is that Frerotte has been ruled out for Week 14, but the good news is that Bulger looks set to return to the lineup against the Bengals.

A concussion knocked Bulger out for most of Week 12 and all of Week 13, but he's been cleared to practice following a neuropsych test. It's possible that Bulger will suffer a setback, but with Brock Berlin as the only alternative the Rams (and Torry Holt) figure to push him to play if at all possible. Cincinnati's porous pass defense provides a favorable matchup for Bulger, but it's tough to count on him being productive and making it through a full game. He's a high-risk QB2.

* One of the most annoying themes of the season from a fantasy perspective has been Falcons coach Bobby Petrino consistently saying that he wants to get Jerious Norwood more involved in the offense and then just as consistently keeping him strapped to the bench in favor of Warrick Dunn. With that said, there's now at least some reason to think that Petrino may actually follow through on his latest Norwood-related proclamation.

With eight carries and three catches Sunday, Norwood got more than 10 touches for the first time since Week 4 and produced 115 total yards against the Rams. Meanwhile, Dunn continued his season-long struggles with 17 yards on 10 carries. After watching his little-used backup clearly out-perform his starter yet again, Petrino said: "We have to get him more touches one way or the other. He makes big plays, whether it's catching the ball or running the ball."

It's amazing that it took Petrino three months to realize that and even more amazing that he still seems uncertain about exactly how to get Norwood more involved. The answer seems incredibly simple: Take the 32-year-old who's averaging 3.2 yards per carry off the field and give his snaps to the 24-year-old who's gained an average of 6.4 yards per rush during his career. Petrino's track record makes me very skeptical, but Norwood can probably be penciled in for 15 touches.

* Brett Favre skipped practice Wednesday, but it had nothing to do with the elbow injury that he suffered in Week 13. Instead, Favre was in New York receiving his Sportsman of the Year Award from Sports Illustrated. Favre sounds likely to return to practice either Wednesday or Thursday and figures to extend his consecutive-starts streak to 250 against the Raiders. Oakland's pass defense is pretty solid, but if Favre suits up he should be in all but the deepest fantasy lineups. greenbaypackers.com

* Jesse Chatman looked to be in bad shape after aggravating his ankle injury in the third quarter Sunday, hopping off the field in obvious pain before sitting out the rest of the afternoon. However, Chatman is reportedly expected to play in Week 14 against the Bills, which automatically makes him a potential RB2 option given the Dolphins' lack of other backfield option. The risk of re-injury makes him somewhat iffy, but if he can stay on the field there should be 20 touches for Chatman.

Two-Minute Drill: Coach John Fox said Tuesday that David Carr served as the Panthers' third-string quarterback in Week 13 partly because the team didn't want to expose him to a hostile home crowd, which would be amusing if it weren't so sad ? Calvin Johnson and Mike Furrey are now officially the Lions' starters with [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=35"]Roy Williams[/URL] (knee) sidelined, but the label ultimately means very little given how often Detroit uses three-receiver sets and Shaun McDonald will still see a ton of snaps "off the bench" ? Coach Lane Kiffin said Tuesday that he "was really pleased" with how rookie JaMarcus Russell performed while seeing his first NFL action in Week 13 against the Broncos, but the No. 1 overall pick remains in a backup role for now ? As both a boost to his fantasy value and signal that his elbow injury is healing, the Cardinals have ceased pulling Kurt Warner for Tim Rattay in certain goal-line situations ? In what would be horrible news for Jon Kitna owners, MLive.com speculated Tuesday that Mike Martz likely won't be retained as Lions offensive coordinator next season. detroitlions.com

Red Zone: As expected, the Giants placed Derrick Ward (leg) on season-ending injured reserve Tuesday, clearing the path for Brandon Jacobs to have a strong finish ? It's still unclear whether Anquan Boldin's toe injury is a fracture or a dislocation, but whatever the case he's highly unlikely to play any time soon after wearing a walking boot Monday ? Coach Mike Tomlin indicated Tuesday that Santonio Holmes (ankle) could return in Week 14, but he also said the same thing last week before Holmes sat out his second straight game ? [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=3147"]Alex Smith[/URL] (shoulder) is scheduled to do some "light throwing" this week, but remains unlikely to play again this season and may still require surgery ? As expected, Larry Johnson (foot) has been ruled out for Week 14 as whatever slim chance he has of returning this season gradually vanishes ? Coach Eric Mangini has yet to rule Jerricho Cotchery out for the remainder of the season following finger surgery last week ? Coach Mike Nolan said Tuesday that Arnaz Battle (ankle) is questionable to play against the Vikings in Week 14. kansascitychiefs.com

Hache Man · Dec 5, 2007

Re: Fantasy Football News 2007

That Time of Year
Sure, it's the most wonderful time of the year, though it helps your outlook on the world to have a lineup of Tom Brady, Randy Moss and LaDainian Tomlinson.

For others, it might be the most stressful time of year. Your season is down to perhaps the last game, or you're already in the first week of your playoffs. Either way, the percentage of my emails that include the subject line, "Do or die" is way up.

Nobody wants to make the wrong lineup decision, but the impact of a bad move could linger with you for a long time. (Even though winning that game back in Week 3 might have made this week's result moot.) So, as a friendly reminder service, here are some guidelines for the ulcer-inducing decisions.

Know your studs. Some guys, you just don't bench. My most egregious recent example is sitting Peyton Manning last week for Brett Favre. It made a lot of sense for a lot of reasons, but the fantasy gods disagreed. Favre threw two picks before leaving because of injury and Manning had four TDs against a good Jaguars defense. In other words, don't be worried about Tom Brady facing the Steelers' league-best pass defense.

They are who we know they are. By this point, don't expect too many surprises from established players. Just because you have managed to win despite Frank Gore, do not assume he will crank his season around quickly and help down the stretch. His 100-yard game from two weeks ago is an aberration (see below), not a new trend. Willie Parker will not suddenly start scoring a bunch of TDs and [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4227"]Steve Smith[/URL] is not going to be a stud again barring a quarterback miracle. Trust what you've seen over 12 games.

When in doubt, take the good team. It is hard to know when or if teams quit, but this is about the time of year when it starts to happen. How will either the Rams or Bengals react if either has a bad first quarter or has a key injury? The Browns are playing hard so I'll take Joe Jurevicius over Isaac Bruce. Will the Ravens bounce back after Monday's tough loss and how willing are you to risk starting Derrick Mason on your belief they will?

Be careful with injury fill-ins. Nate Washington was not exactly a great find in place of Santonio Holmes the past two games with only three catches for 22 yards. (Granted, the weather might have had something to do with it.) The lesson is that more playing alone does not turn a guy into a star. On the other hand, somebody like Mike Furrey can expect to see plenty of work for a Lions team that can't seem to run often enough. So be careful with those picks but . . .

Don't fear unknown running backs. If Kolby Smith can run for 150 yards and Fred Jackson 82 in their first NFL starts, then the next low-profile runner to get a start is worth a look. Who knows who that will be, but say Jamal Lewis were injured. You don't think Jason Wright would be at least a No. 3 back at home against the Bills in Week 15? The low-round and undrafted running backs always seem to seize their opportunity to make an impression.

Watch the weather. Finally, those weather reports start to have some real value. You saw wind, rain and snow last week and that will continue the rest of the season. Don't overreact to modestly bad weather. The Eagles and Seahawks had a field day in that last week. But a downright mess can all but shut down offenses.

Trust your gut. At the end of it all, if you still have no idea what to do, trust your instinct. It has gotten you this far for some reason. No amount of analysis would predict Daniel Wilcox would score against the Patriots. So if you have an intuition, don't be shy about relying on it.



Now, here are some players I'm keeping an eye on this week.

[SIZE=+1]On the rise[/SIZE]

Justin Gage. I guess I have to buy in at some point because Gage has had four good games in a row (79.5-yard average, two TDs) and has another good matchup this week against a Chargers secondary that can be had. Defenses keep loading up against the run and the Chargers will not be any different as that is their normal way of playing.

Joey Galloway. The knock on Galloway always was that he was a hit-or-miss player, but he has been more of a hit than anything else lately. Galloway has had 100 yards or a TD in five of the past seven games and had 159 yards last week with Luke McCown throwing to him. Even if McCown keeps playing, Galloway is a lock to finish strong. Check out the schedule: Houston, Atlanta, San Francisco, Carolina.

Travis Henry. One of our long, national nightmares is over. Henry has won his appeal, and he can play for the rest of the season - or, as long as he stays healthy. Henry is coming off perhaps his most valuable game with two TDs against the Raiders despite just 3.3 yards a carry. The yardage should get better as he gets healthier, but at last, we can stop worrying, reading and writing about Henry's possible suspension and all of its potential repercussions.

Tarvaris Jackson. This is the shocker of the bunch. He has had three solid games in a row with the Vikings averaging 37.3 points a game vs. 18.4 points in their first 11. And with [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4169"]Adrian Peterson[/URL] back, defenses can't worry too much about Jackson's throwing. He has had so many bad games that I can't get comfortable with him unless you're scraping for quarterback help. Playing the 49ers certainly will help.

Rudi Johnson. He wound up with only 34 yards last week against the Steelers, but the good news is that he scored for a second week in a row and is primed for a big game against the Rams. Johnson continues to round into form and clearly looks like the team's best back now. He was an upgrade last week and is so again here as a virtual must-start.

Fred Taylor. It would be great if he could score more, but in yardage leagues, Taylor is set up for a great finish to the season. He is averaging 97.7 yards over the past three games and has another great matchups this week against the Panthers. Of course, Maurice Jones-Drew is going to get the short TD attempts and Taylor is averaging about 14 carries a game so his upside is limited. Still, not bad for a washed-up 31-year-old.

[SIZE=+1]Taking a dive[/SIZE]

Reggie Bush. He can't break big plays, he rarely scores and he is getting beat up. So even heading into what should be a great Monday night showcase against a bad Falcons team, you can't be sure of what you'll get out of Bush. He still has too much potential to sit but has too little production to get excited about. I would bet that he is not a member of too many championship teams.

Chris Chambers. Where have the big plays been? In six games with the Chargers, Chambers has had more than 59 yards once and just two TDs. The team's passing game remains too unpredictable to count on and, given how their season has gone, the Chargers should be in for a dud after two strong offensive games.

Frank Gore. Yeah, I was a sucker in thinking Gore's big day against Arizona two weeks ago would be the start of a great final month. Now? Forget it. You can have him. And he does go nuts in the next four games, good for you. I'm not wasting any more words on him.

Jon Kitna. Losing [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=35"]Roy Williams[/URL] doesn't help a guy who's been falling in value for about eight weeks in a row. And talking about not everybody going 100% probably will not win Kitna too many friends, even if he is right. Then there's the remaining schedule of Dallas, San Diego, Kansas City, Green Bay. If you made this long with Kitna, you're doing a lot of other stuff right.

Donte Stallworth. We're supposed to get excited about every Patriots player, but what's the big deal with Stallworth? He has been between 42 and 68 yards each of the past five games with no TDs; he has gone over 68 yards only once all year. Stallworth might be an ideal No. 3 receiver for the Patriots but not for your team.

Kurt Warner. He has been a solid play with nine TD passes over the past four games but consider him a one-week downgrade. The Cardinals likely will be without Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald's sore groin still is an issue. Then you have a matchup against the Seahawks who have allowed a league-low seven passing TDs. Try to find somebody else.

Hache Man · Dec 6, 2007

Re: Fantasy Football News 2007

Week 14 Rankings

Every season, every fantasy analyst inevitably writes how insane the season is. The only predictable thing about the NFL is its unpredictability and our unconditional love for it all.

Still, I can't help myself; this year does feel crazy. Five months are spent buffing and polishing our preseason rankings to perfection and now here we are, on the doorsteps of the fantasy playoffs, and I can't believe what I'm writing.

Earnest Graham, Ryan Grant, and Justin Fargas are safer every-week plays because they are more consistent than Frank Gore, Shaun Alexander, and Rudi Johnson. The running back to own in the Chiefs-Broncos clash is Kolby Smith. Derek Anderson's mini-slump has knocked him all the way down to seventh at quarterback.

If someone had told me any of this in August, I would have told them to stop hanging out with Travis Henry so much. But the cold reality of December has revealed new players, new truths, and a whole new plan to attack the fantasy playoffs. Congratulations to everyone who made it this far. Now let's get surprised all over again.

[SIZE=+1]Week 14 Quarterbacks[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Tony Romo</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>2</TD><TD>Carson Palmer</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>3</TD><TD>Peyton Manning</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>Could have Harrison back </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Tom Brady</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Drew Brees</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Matt Hasselbeck</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Derek Anderson</TD><TD>at NYJ</TD><TD>Jets Pass D improving</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Brett Favre</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>David Garrard</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Ben Roethlisberger</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>11</TD><TD>Kurt Warner</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>Watch WRs</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>12</TD><TD>Marc Bulger</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>Expected to start </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Donovan McNabb</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>Expected to start</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Jon Kitna</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Jay Cutler</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Vince Young</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Eli Manning</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Jason Campbell</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Chris Redman</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>Expected to start</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Jeff Garcia</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Rex Grossman</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Kellen Clemens</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Philip Rivers</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Sage Rosenfels</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Tarvaris Jackson</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Trent Edwards</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Josh McCown</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Vinny Testaverde</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Kyle Boller</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Damon Huard</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Trent Dilfer</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>John Beck</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>JaMarcus Russell</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

QB Notes: The Lions defense is collapsing faster than they can blame Mike Martz. In the words of Steve Mariucci, Tony Romo and the 'Boys could drop a fiftyburger on them. ? I wish the game was in Indianapolis, but Baltimore's secondary still doesn't scare me. The Colts passing attack filleted Jacksonville. ? Jon Kitna owners have to be worried that the Lions aren't built to play from behind. They trailed immediately against Minnesota, a poor pass defense, and didn't score in the last forty minutes of that game. Trailing 35-10 at halftime was a recipe for monster garbage stats, but it didn't happen because the Lions pass protection fell apart. It's easy to imagine a similar scenario this week against Dallas. My favorite part of watching the Lions-Vikings Shortcuts was seeing Detroit play-action on almost every snap. How effective can play-action be when you run four times all game?

David Garrard is playing at a Pro Bowl level. His effort against the Colts included countless tough throws into tight spots. The coverage may not be so tight this week, and he's a safe low-level QB1. ? Brett Favre's injury is a slight concern, but the combination of the Oakland rush defense (abysmal) and pass defense (excellent) is a bigger worry. Oakland has allowed eight passing touchdowns to fifteen interceptions this season. ? Derek Anderson has been good, not great, over the last five weeks with seven touchdowns and five picks. He's inconsistent on short throws, and great going deep. New York's improving pass defense is enough for me to knock Anderson below Hasselbeck and Brees, but no further. ? The best thing I can say about Tarvaris Jackson right now is that he's not messing up the rest of the team. We still need to see him play from behind or in a game where he isn't given short fields and defensive/special teams scores.

Jason Campbell leads the league in receivers getting tackled inside the five-yard line. And then stalling near the stripe. I want to rank him higher, but the untimely turnovers, red zone inefficiency, and streakiness forces me to forget the five postcard throws he makes each game. ? Cincinnati's passing game has endured a difficult schedule this year, but it's still among the league's best. Look for Carson Palmer to dominate against a patchwork Rams unit. ? New England's defense shouldn't intimidate Roethlisberger owners too much. They are a good, not great, unit. And Pittsburgh is likely to pass more if New England's offense scores points. ? Kurt Warner's rank will be affected by Larry Fitzgerald's availability. For now, I'm assuming Fitz plays and Anquan Boldin doesn't. I don't love the matchup even with Fitz for a few reasons. Seattle can get to the quarterback, force turnovers, and generally have a strong pass defense. Arizona will attack them on the ground.

[SIZE=+1]Week 14 Running Backs[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Brian Westbrook</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>LaDainian Tomlinson</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4169"]Adrian Peterson[/URL]</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1663"]Steven Jackson[/URL]</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Willis McGahee</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Ryan Grant</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Joseph Addai</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Clinton Portis</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>Thursday night Preview</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Earnest Graham</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Marion Barber</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Willie Parker</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Jamal Lewis</TD><TD>at NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Justin Fargas</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Marshawn Lynch</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>Watch practice reports</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Kolby Smith</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>16</TD><TD>Maurice Jones-Drew</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>17</TD><TD>Thomas Jones</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Frank Gore</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>19</TD><TD>Brandon Jacobs</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>Status Uncertain</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>20</TD><TD>Travis Henry</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>High-risk pick</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Reggie Bush</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>Having a tough week </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>22</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4169"]Adrian Peterson[/URL]</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>23</TD><TD>Edgerrin James</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Ron Dayne</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>Keep an eye on Green</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>25</TD><TD>Shaun Alexander</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>26</TD><TD>Kevin Jones</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Rudi Johnson</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Selvin Young</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>29</TD><TD>Chester Taylor</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>30</TD><TD>LenDale White</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>Probable(finger)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Fred Taylor</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Laurence Maroney</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>DeShaun Foster</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>34</TD><TD>Jerious Norwood</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>Picking up workload</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>35</TD><TD>Julius Jones</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>36</TD><TD>Jesse Chatman</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>37</TD><TD>Maurice Morris</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>38</TD><TD>Reuben Droughns</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>Keep an eye on Jacobs</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>39</TD><TD>Fred Jackson</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>Keep an eye on Lynch </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>40</TD><TD>Warrick Dunn</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>41</TD><TD>Chris Brown</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>42</TD><TD>Kenny Watson</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>43</TD><TD>DeAngelo Williams</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>44</TD><TD>Kevin Faulk</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>45</TD><TD>Ladell Betts</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>46</TD><TD>Aaron Stecker</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>47</TD><TD>Kenton Keith</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>48</TD><TD>Lorenzo Booker</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>49</TD><TD>T.J. Duckett</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>50</TD><TD>Correll Buckhalter</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

RB Notes: Reggie Bush isn't playing his best football, but this matchup sets up well. He does better on turf and against smaller, quicker defenses like Atlanta. He would be ten spots higher if these were PPR ranks. ? As Willis McGahee showed, this is the worst Patriots rush defense since 2002. They are nineteenth in the NFL in yards-per-carry allowed and the Steelers will test them. There are whispers that Parker isn't 100% in Pittsburgh, but it still would be tough to bench the league's second-leading rusher. ? Shaun Alexander didn't show anything new against the Eagles, but the Seahawks showed they weren't afraid to give him the ball twenty times. He will be overly reliant on touchdowns, but you could do worse. ? Look for the Cardinals to focus on the running game against Seattle. The Seahawks are soft in the middle and Arizona may want to shorten the game to slow down Seattle's past-paced offense.

Clinton Portis gets FB Mike Sellers and possibly G Randy Thomas back this week. That should help a running game that has been stuck in the mud for three weeks. With Tommie Harris struggling at the point of attack, Chicago can be run on. ? Marshawn Lynch's status won't be known until later in the week. It would be extremely difficult to sit him against the woeful Miami rush defense. The same goes for Fred Jackson if Lynch is out. I loved what I saw from Jackson last week, always falling forward with decisive cuts, getting yards after contact, playing like a man possessed. He made a lot of yards out of nothing. Marv Levy does a good job finding these guys out of nowhere. Bump him up to the top-20 if Lynch is out. Like Ryan Grant after his first out, Jackson quickly earned trust.

Joseph Addai has quietly struggled the last four weeks, with a 3.27 yards-per-carry average and a high of 72 rushing yards. As you can see by the ranking, I'm not overly concerned. But it's something to watch down the stretch; perhaps the Colts will get Kenton Keith more involved to rest Addai up for the playoffs. ? Fred Taylor is playing out of his mind, perhaps one time to watch his unconventional style at its best, but it doesn't translate well to fantasy football. With 15 carries a week, he needs to break a couple long runs just to be an average (10 FP) RB2. He's done that the last few weeks, and that makes him a flex option. But Maurice Jones-Drew has 29 touches inside the 10-yard line this season; Taylor has seven. If the Jaguars get up early, they could both have big games. But Jones-Drew is a lot safer despite his diminished rushing totals recently. ? Playing Kevin Jones is a leap of faith this week after three slow games out of four. I haven't given up on him (The Thanksgiving game sticks in my head), but the over/under for his carries this week is roughly ten because Dallas will get ahead early. They have gone away from him in the passing game.

Chester Taylor, like Fred, is an option this week in case the Vikings get ahead early. I'm not so sure that will happen in a possible letdown game. But keep in mind that Chester was heavily involved early in the game last week. He wasn't just cleaning up for [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4169"]Adrian Peterson[/URL] at garbage time. ? Impossible call on Frank Gore this week. He's still my guy, a player I believe could win the league MVP on a different roster (4.2 yards-per-carry on the 49ers equals six elsewhere.) Aaron Gleeman made a compelling case for Gore in the Daily Dose, especially highlighting Gore's receiving numbers recently. That's the rub. Gore is coming off two excellent performances. He struggled against the better rush defenses earlier in the year, but is playing better now. He's a middle tier RB2.

Ron Dayne's ranking depends on Ahman Green, who returned to a practice on a limited basis Wednesday. If Green plays, they will cancel each other out. ? Brandon Jacobs is another player to watch closely. I can live with some risk with a player, especially a starting running back, coming back from injury. If he starts, I'd play him. ? Travis Henry avoided suspension, but he still has to prove he's a decent running back option after last week's effort against Oakland. He looked tentative and fumbled twice against a terrible opponent. Don't forget Selvin Young started last week. Young and Andre Hall will be heavily involved if Henry doesn't start the game since. ? Jerious Norwood is a flex option because he'll get more work this week, but you are a taking a big risk. ? The way John Beck is moving the ball, I'd avoid the Miami starting running back. Jesse Chatman is uncertain to play at this point.

[SIZE=+1]Week 14 Wide Receivers[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Terrell Owens</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Braylon Edwards</TD><TD>at NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Randy Moss</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Chad Johnson</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Reggie Wayne</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Torry Holt</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>T.J. Houshmandzadeh</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>Probable(back)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Andre Johnson</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Larry Fitzgerald</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>Ranked as if he'll start </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Marques Colston</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Joey Galloway</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Roddy White</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Greg Jennings</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Brandon Marshall</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Bobby Engram</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Deion Branch</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Wes Welker</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Plaxico Burress</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>Questionable(ankle)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Laveranues Coles</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>Watch practice reports </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Hines Ward</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>21</TD><TD>Bernard Berrian</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>22</TD><TD>Jerricho Cotchery</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>Watch practice reports</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Steve Smith</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Lee Evans</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Patrick Crayton</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Donald Driver</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>27</TD><TD>Santana Moss</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>improving play</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>28</TD><TD>Santonio Holmes</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Kevin Curtis</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Derrick Mason</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Dwayne Bowe</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Isaac Bruce</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>Chris Henry</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>34</TD><TD>Shaun McDonald</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>35</TD><TD>Calvin Johnson</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>36</TD><TD>Bryant Johnson</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>Worth picking up </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>37</TD><TD>Donte' Stallworth</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>38</TD><TD>Justin Gage</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>39</TD><TD>Chris Chambers</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>40</TD><TD>Mike Furrey</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>41</TD><TD>Anthony Gonzalez</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>Ranked as if Harrison is out</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>42</TD><TD>Ronald Curry</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>43</TD><TD>Arnaz Battle</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>Probable(ankle)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>44</TD><TD>Kevin Walter</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>45</TD><TD>Reggie Brown</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>46</TD><TD>Ike Hilliard</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD></TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>47</TD><TD>Sidney Rice</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>48</TD><TD>Brandon Stokley</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>Watch practice reports </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>49</TD><TD>Javon Walker</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>50</TD><TD>Jerry Porter</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD></TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>51</TD><TD>Amani Toomer</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>52</TD><TD>Joe Jurevicius</TD><TD>at NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>53</TD><TD>Nate Burleson</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>54</TD><TD>Reggie Williams</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>55</TD><TD>Ernest Wilford</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
</TBODY></TABLE>

WR Notes: The Patriots don't want this mini Randy Moss slump to fester. It's the toughest matchup possible, but he'll get plenty of targets. The Ravens did a great job bumping Wes Welker off the line of scrimmage, disrupting his timing. Welker caught only three of nine targets in the game. Look for the Steelers to take the same approach. Welker still could only be benched in 2WR leagues with loaded rosters. ? Sidney Rice is making some impressive plays, but the Vikings passing game isn't consistent enough to use him. He'll have a tough time being covered by Nate Clements. ? Playing out of the slot shouldn't hurt Mike Furrey because he'll avoid Terrence Newman. I detailed my reasons why I don't love Kitna this week, even playing from behind, and they apply to all the Detroit receivers. I could see some solid games, but don't expect miracles. ? Anthony Gonzalez continues his up-and-down season. One reason he was quiet last week was because Rashean Mathis covered him all game. He also had a touchdown called back for an unnecessary push-off in the end zone. I'd only use Gonzalez, however, if forced. And we may not know Marvin Harrison's status until gametime. Harrison, by the way, isn't likely to get a full complement of snaps whenever he returns. So he's not a fantasy option.

David Garrard is making Ernest Wilford and Reggie Williams better players again. They actually are (gasp) beating some cornerbacks deep. I can't imagine playing them this week, but they are on the radar. ? Trent Edwards played well enough last week to use Lee Evans as a third receiver. ? I loved what I saw from Santana Moss last week. Any traces of injury are gone and the Redskins are making it a priority to find him all over the field. He's averaging almost six catches-per-game over his last five. An odd Moss year, where he's better in PPR leagues. ? Santonio Holmes returns this week, which doesn't hurt Hines Ward necessarily. Asante Samuel will probably cover Holmes because no one else in the New England secondary has the speed to deal with Holmes. Holmes owners with low risk tolerance could bench him to make sure he's healthy. ? Chris Henry is back to being an option this week with a good-looking matchup. ? Deion Branch had a terrible game last week, but he's still seeing targets and has a fine matchup. Bobby Engram is also tough to sit during his career season. ? Joey Galloway and Roddy White should both be able to break one long play against vulnerable secondaries. Galloway owners honestly might be better off with Luke McCown at quarterback, although Jeff Garcia should get the nod.

Jerricho Cotchery and Laveranues Coles are ranked as if both will start. That is far from certain to happen, but that's how we do things. If they both started, Coles is the bigger risk because he was hurting badly after returning so quickly from his ankle injury. Cotchery might wear a cast, but I doubt he'd suit up if he couldn't catch the ball. And the time off may have done him some good. In the end, I don't have the stones to sit either one. ? Patrick Crayton has been up and down this season, but he's tough to bench against the collapsing Lions. ? Derrick Mason is among the most consistent options at wide receiver. But in non-PPR leagues, there isn't much upside against the Colts. The way there defense plays, his upside is seven for seventy. That's worth starting for many teams, but I'd rather aim high. ? Kevin Curtis is clearly back ahead of Reggie Brown in the pecking order for Philly. He's hit-or-miss, but a fine WR3 this week. ? Bryant Johnson's value depends some on Larry Fitzgerald. Johnson owners should hope for Fitz to play, because that way Johnson will avoid Marcus Trufant in coverage. ? I could see the Patriots exploiting Anthony Smith's aggression and finding Donte' Stallworth deep. 

[SIZE=+1]Week 14 Tight Ends[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Jason Witten</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>100K pick? </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Kellen Winslow</TD><TD>at NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Antonio Gates</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Tony Gonzalez</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD></TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Chris Cooley</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Dallas Clark</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Vernon Davis</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Heath Miller</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Owen Daniels</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Alge Crumpler</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Jeremy Shockey</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Ben Watson</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Todd Heap</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>Questionable(hamstring)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Donald Lee</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Greg Olsen</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Desmond Clark</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Leonard Pope</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>L.J. Smith</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Tony Scheffler</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Zach Miller</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Marcedes Lewis</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Randy McMichael</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Chris Baker</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Bo Scaife</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Eric Johnson</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Alex Smith</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Jeff King</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
</TBODY></TABLE>

TE Notes: Chris Cooley has saved his best ball of the season until now. Look for him to expose Adam Archuleta or Brandon McGowan Thursday night. ? Heath Miller's matchup looks tough on paper, but Rodney Harrison's problems in coverage are well-known. That could be why we saw more of Brandon Merriweather last week ? to cover. ? Alge Crumpler is a sneaky option this week and could be available on a lot of wires. Roman Harper has struggled recently, and the New Orleans safeties are generally poor in coverage. Plus the Falcons believe that Chris Redman's quick release will allow Crumpler to skip his usual blocking duties. ? Washington is vulnerable to tight ends, but it's anyone's guess who will step up for Chicago.

[SIZE=+1]Week 14 Team Defense[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>1</TD><TD>Vikings Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>2</TD><TD>Chargers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Colts Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Packers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Bills Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Cowboys Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Jaguars Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Buccaneers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Bears Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Patriots Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Broncos Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Titans Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Giants Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Seahawks Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Chiefs Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Steelers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Texans Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Saints Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Dolphins Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Browns Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Eagles Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Redskins Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Fortyniners Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Bengals Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Ravens Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Lions Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Rams Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Panthers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Falcons Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Cardinals Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Raiders Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Jets Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[SIZE=+1]Week 14 Kickers[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Nick Folk</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Josh Brown</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Adam Vinatieri</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Mason Crosby</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Phil Dawson</TD><TD>at NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Jason Hanson</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Stephen Gostkowski</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Jeff Wilkins</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Rob Bironas</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>David Akers</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Sebastian Janikowski</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Jeff Reed</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Kris Brown</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Matt Stover</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Nate Kaeding</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Robbie Gould</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Ryan Longwell</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Shayne Graham</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Jason Elam</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Neil Rackers</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Lawrence Tynes</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Olindo Mare</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Rian Lindell</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Jay Feely</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Josh Scobee</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Mike Nugent</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Matt Bryant</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Shaun Suisham</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Morten Andersen</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Joe Nedney</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>John Kasay</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>John Carney</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Dec 6, 2007

Re: Fantasy Football News 2007

The Case for Gore?
Three straight days of constant and ultimately uneventful Johan Santana rumors and speculation has this Twins fan a little bit woozy, so let's skip the usual pre-game festivities and get right to the notes from around football ?

* Gregg Rosenthal asked Wednesday for my opinion on Frank Gore's chances of having a decent Week 14 against my beloved Vikings and I tried to put together a compelling argument for his having at least some success against a run defense that has been dominant for the past two seasons. Turns out that my argument must not have been all that compelling, because Gore places just 20th among running backs on Gregg's trusty Goal Line Stand rankings for this week.

I'm certainly not going to argue that Gore is an especially strong option this week, because he's been far from consistently productive and the Vikings have allowed an NFL-low 70.5 rushing yards per game this season. With that said, several teams have had success stretching the Vikings' defense out and running to the outside against defensive ends and linebackers that aren't nearly as overpowering as the "Williams Wall" of defensive tackles Pat and Kevin.

On the other hand, the Trent Dilfer-led offense figures to be playing from behind for much of the game and the 49ers may abandon the run altogether like so many Vikings opponents do. However, Gore is also a very good receiver out of the backfield and has seen his role in the passing game increase dramatically with Dilfer at the helm, catching 21 balls over the past three games. He could easily rack up solid yardage that way even if he's limited to 12-15 carries.

Add it all up and Gore strikes me as more of a mid-level RB2 rather than the low-level RB2 that Gregg has him pegged for. Among guys who're ahead of Gore on this week's Goal Line Stand, I'd likely start him over Travis Henry, Marshawn Lynch, and Thomas Jones, and might give him the nod over Maurice Jones-Drew. Of course, assuming that the 49ers can recognize the potential weakness in the Vikings' run defense might be riskier than going against Gregg's rankings.

* Rams fans should probably be preparing themselves for the possibility of a Brock Berlin sighting Sunday. Marc Bulger practiced fully Wednesday, but will go for a second opinion regarding his concussion before being cleared to return to game action, saying Wednesday that he's "not going to risk anything" long term just to play in Week 14. At this point Bulger seems likely to start and has a great matchup against the Bengals, but you'll want to wait for an official word on his status.

Meanwhile, Berlin looms large because backup Gus Frerotte may be finished for the year after suffering a partially torn labrum in Week 13. Frerotte will see if resting for a couple weeks can heal the injury, but may eventually require season-ending surgery that would probably also qualify as career-threatening surgery for the 36-year-old. All of which puts Berlin amazingly close to seeing game action and probably gives Torry Holt nightmares of three-catch, 18-yard games.

* One day after putting Derrick Ward on season-ending injured reserve, coach Tom Coughlin said Wednesday that Brandon Jacobs is less certain to play in Week 14 than initially thought. Jacobs was limited in practice Wednesday after missing back-to-back games with a hamstring injury and the Giants added a pair of running backs to the roster this week, indicating that they're concerned about being left with only Reuben Droughns if Jacobs is unavailable against the Eagles.

* Donovan McNabb practiced fully Wednesday and declared afterward: "I feel like I'm ready to play." He's missed the past 2.5 games with injuries and has an unfavorable matchup against a Giants defense that tied an NFL record by sacking him a dozen times in Week 4. However, Winston Justice doesn't figure to be prominently involved for Osi Umenyiora to abuse this time and the Giants' secondary might be without both starting safeties. McNabb is a borderline QB1.

* Laveranues Coles was productive Sunday despite being a game-time decision because of ankle injury, totaling 69 yards on five catches, but said afterward that it was the most pain that he's ever played through. Coles was reportedly very limited in practice Wednesday and there's speculation that he may now be in even worse shape. If Coles were sidelined alongside Jerricho Cotchery, Brad Smith would suddenly be the Jets' go-to receiver against a horrible Browns secondary.

* Matt Schaub is hoping to avoid season-ending injured reserve, but missed practice Wednesday and will sit out Sunday's game after suffering a dislocated left shoulder in Week 13. "It sure looks like he's going to miss some time," coach Gary Kubiak said. "Whether we're talking about the next four weeks or not, I don't think we're at that stage." Backup Sage Rosenfels has shown the ability to produce big numbers in the past, but has a horrible Week 14 matchup against the Bucs.

Two-Minute Drill: Fresh off winning the appeal of his one-year suspension, Travis Henry is absent from the Broncos' injury report, making him likely to start over Selvin Young (elbow) and Andre Hall (ankle) in Week 14 against the Chiefs ? In addition to reclaiming goal-line duties over backup Tim Rattay, Kurt Warner has finally shed the massive brace that he's been wearing on his injured non-throwing elbow ? After watching Kellen Clemens take six sacks in Week 13 and complete just 50.8 percent of his throws on the season, coach Eric Mangini said Wednesday his footwork needs improving ? Chris Redman looks likely to start over Joey Harrington and Byron Leftwich on Monday night against the Rams, which is good news for Alge Crumpler following a season-high seven catches with Redman at the helm in Week 13 ? Coach Lane Kiffin indicated Wednesday that the Raiders may go with Andrew Walter over JaMarcus Russell as Josh McCown's backup Sunday at Lambeau Field, with the Oakland Tribune noting that Russell never played a game in severe weather in high school or college.

Red Zone: Anquan Boldin (toe) skipped practice Wednesday and Larry Fitzgerald (groin) reportedly "didn't do much," but said afterward that he's "much better" and is questionable to suit up Sunday ? [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=35"]Roy Williams[/URL] (knee) said Wednesday that he's aiming for a Week 17 return, which means that he can be safely let go in most leagues ? Ahman Green (knee) returned to limited practice Wednesday, but Ron Dayne (ankle) still looks likely to start Sunday and coach Gary Kubiak indicated earlier in the week that another setback for Green might lead to shutting him down for the season ? Jeff Garcia (back) was limited in practice Wednesday and said afterward that he expects to play in Week 14 ? After missing back-to-back games, Santonio Holmes (ankle) is absent from the Steelers' injury report and looks like a solid WR3 option Sunday against the Patriots ? LenDale White has been squeezing a rubber ball to help build up strength in his injured finger and said Wednesday that he hopes to practice later in the week ? Coach Mike Holmgren said Wednesday that D.J. Hackett (ankle) is healing quicker than expected, meaning that he could return in Week 15 ? Javon Walker (knee) practiced fully Wednesday, but remains an iffy fantasy option.

Hache Man · Dec 7, 2007

Re: Fantasy Football News 2007

Rams redux?
Congratulations to everyone who's made it into their fantasy playoffs -- now, of course, every decision you make is magnified, and leaving the wrong guy on your bench could be the end of your season. But you know all that already. Fortunately, having 12 games' worth of data on each team provides us with the most accurate matchup information we've had all season -- much like those old NBC commercials, "The More You Know"...

Let's get kicking.

Quarterback

What we learned last week -- the Jets defense is bad (albeit much better with David Harris), but John Beck is worse. Much, much, much worse. At least you've got Ted Ginn, right 'Fins fans? They play a mediocre defense in Buffalo this week, so Beck would be tempting, but seriously, just leave the roster spot empty. It might be more effective.

Never mind that they gave away their season last week on one of the worst playcalls you'll ever see -- the Saints' bigger problem has been an atrocious pass defense. That porous secondary comes up against a quietly effective Atlanta pass attack this week -- sure, I recommended Joey Harrington last week, and he got hurt halfway through the game, but if you combine his numbers with Chris Redman, they threw for 350+ yards and three scores with two picks. detroitlions.com

That's a good day, and it was against a better pass defense. I like Redman as an out-of-nowhere start in deep leagues or if I'm really against your quarterback (we'll get to the bad starts in a minute). Before you say that an out-of-nowhere quarterback can't show up this late in the season and put up huge fantasy numbers, well, remember Billy Volek? He came in the lineup halfway through Week 13 in 2004, then in Weeks 14 and 15, he threw for 918 yards and eight scores. It's possible, folks. tennesseetitans.com

Marc Bulger may still be a little wobbly, but with Gus Frerotte injured, he's likely going to start on Sunday. That puts him in with an offense that's showed signs of being the old Rams offense, up against a Cincinnati pass defense that's floundered all season. He's a good play this week.

Another borderline start is Kellen Clemens. We should note, by the way, that both Jets quarterbacks have played seven games. Chad Pennington: 128-190, 1317 yards, 9 TD's, 7 INT's. Clemens: 93-183, 1128 yards, 4 TD's, 7 INT's. Somehow, this season was still Pennington's fault, I guess. Clemens has failed to impress, but he has a chance this week, when he plays a Cleveland defense that is awful against the pass and an offense that will likely be racking up points on the Jets, which means a high-scoring affair could potentially be in order.

Houston's pass defense showed signs of improvement early in the year, but as it's worn along, the young team has worn down: Currently. they're ranked 28th in the league against both the pass and the rush, but in our weighted defense statistic, which measures how a defense has been doing recently by placing more emphasis on recent statistics, the Texans are 31st. That's an opportunity for Jeff Garcia to open them up for some yardage, assuming Garcia plays this week. That's the bigger concern, so if you're gonna start Garcia, make sure you can be by a computer Sunday morning in case we report that he's going to sit. Tampabaybuccaneers.com

One quarterback who has a bit of capital at the moment is Kyle Boller, following a very good performance against the Patriots last week. Unfortunately, I wouldn't chalk up much significance to this one performance -- when Boller faces the Colts this week, expect him to turn back into the pumpkin.

One defense that's been consistently impressive throughout the season, unlike the Texans, has been the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs face Jay Cutler and the Broncos this week, and while Cutler gets a little boost from playing in Denver, expect the Broncos to struggle some and for Cutler to have a relatively mediocre game.

Running Back

Let's start with the best, which is once again the Minnesota Vikings. They face Frank Gore this week, which provides us with a very difficult conundrum of star running back versus elite rushing defense. Last year, when Gore was at the peak of his powers and up against Minnesota, he ran 19 times for 41 yards and caught five passes for 36 more, without scoring. This year, the 49ers offense is worse (particularly its offensive line), and the Vikings rush defense might be better. That doesn't bode well for Gore.

The Saints' pass defense has sucked, but its rushing defense has been surprisingly effective (sixth in football). That could be a reason to hold out Warrick Dunn or Jerrious Norwood this week in the place of a similar running back.

Meanwhile, Baltimore took the Patriots running game and reduced it to a relative pittance on Monday, with Lawrence Maroney, Heath Evans, and Kevin Faulk running 22 times for 76 yards and a score. Those are not great numbers, especially when you consider the score was a one-yard plunge and was by Evans. With that in mind, I can't recommend Joseph Addai this week against the Ravens. In the era of the modern Ravens defenses, Colts starting running backs have put up the following performances:
indianapoliscolts.com
- 16 carries, 42 yards, 6 catches, 25 yards (Dominic Rhodes, 2001)
- 17 carries, 43 yards, 4 catches, 8 yards (Edgerrin James, 2002)
- 22 carries, 69 yards, 1 catch, 23 yards, 1 TD (James, 2004)
- 23 carries, 88 yards, 3 catches, 26 yards (James, 2005)

Those are not good numbers, any way you slice them. Addai's upside this week is about 10 fantasy points. If that's something that will benefit your team, keep him in there, but otherwise, based upon the preponderance of evidence, he's no better than the 25th or so best back in fantasy this week.

Ryan Grant owners have already felt like they've gotten a gift this year, but come playoff time, Grant's going to be an even bigger gift. Grant gets the miracle that is the Oakland Raiders rush defense this week. As a result, Grant is a must-start this week. There's a very good chance he could be the best non-Jesus running back of the week.
greenbaypackers.com
Another tough one this week is Marshawn Lynch. On one hand, Lynch has a great matchup against the decrepit Dolphins defense -- on the other, Lynch has also been limited in practice all week, and it's still not a guarantee he'll go Sunday. This is another "Make sure you're by a computer on Sunday" move -- either Lynch or Fred Jackson, whoever starts, will be a good play on Sunday. buffalobills.com

Kolby Smith is another good start against a really iffy Denver rush defense this week. kansascitychiefs.com

Wide Receiver

Again, I'm sanguine on Joey Galloway's chances of a big game. What a year this guy is having! At 107!

Whoever's the top guy facing the Saints is always a great start -- this week, it means Roddy White, who's also having a great year in secret. He went for 110 yards and a touchdown earlier in the year at New Orleans, and should do something similar this week at home.

Cincinnati's also struggled with #1 guys this year, so I'd watch out for a nice game from Torry Holt, who's also had a great year despite the collapse of his team around him.

Another guy on the fringe who could have a nice day is Dennis Northcutt. The Jaguars' wideout hasn't been much this year, but if anyone can be considered their #1 wideout, it's him, and the Panthers have really struggled against #1 guys this year. That could mean a nice day for Northcutt, who is a decent Flex guy this week. jacksonvillejaguars.com

Oakland have quieted #1 guys this year -- that could mean a slightly depressed day for Donald Driver, with something like five catches and 65 yards likely.

Indy's done some of that as well, which is reason to give pause to the idea of Derrick Mason making it into lineups this week.
baltimoreravens.com
San Diego's corners have done a great job of stopping wideouts this year, especially #2 guys, which, when combined with the general dire nature of the Tennessee attack, is reason enough to bench Roydell Williams and Justin Gage this week.

Tight End

Sit: Vernon Davis, SF; Owen Daniels, HOU; Marcus Pollard, SEA
Start: Visante Shiancoe, MIN; L.J. Smith, PHI; Alge Crumpler, ATL

Hache Man · Dec 7, 2007

Re: Fantasy Football News 2007

Don't leave points on bench
What you want to do when you're filling out your lineup, and checking it twice, during these vital final weeks is not leave any extra points on the bench.

Easier said than done, right? You could have followed my lead and started Brett Favre over Peyton Manning last week with all the logical reasoning to support the move. In this case, Favre had negative points and Manning threw four touchdown passes. That is how you relearn the lesson to never bench Manning.

Everybody is trying to wring every last point out of their lineups. Here are examples of the types of decisions you have to make. While you likely will not make these precise calls, the theory behind the moves should help.

Start David Garrard over Kurt Warner. Garrard finally threw his first interception of the season last week, but he also has five of his nine TD passes in the past three games. He is playing well and the Jaguars head home to play a suspect Panthers pass defense. Warner has nine TDs in his past four and would seem like the better play. Wrong. His top two receivers are hurt, and the Cardinals are on the road against a Seahawks defense that has allowed the fewest passing TDs (seven) in the league. Here, you'll be sorry if you don't play it safe.

Start Earnest Graham over Reggie Bush. You should already be here with Graham averaging more than 100 yards with a TD in each of his past four games. Bush keeps getting beat up, and while he is facing a soft Falcons defense, the track record is not there for him. Take the guy you know will at least be solid.

Start Kolby Smith over Willie Parker. Anybody who has Parker knows his problems ? he does not score and now he is fumbling. Neither figures to be fixed this week against the Patriots. Smith, meanwhile, has 233 yards in his two starts. The matchup obviously is in his favor; the Broncos had been improving slightly against the run, but the Raiders put them back in their place with 175 rushing yards last week. Do not be beholden to the big name that has not produced.

Start Joey Galloway over Chad Johnson. Many owners have more depth, and more difficult decisions, at wide receiver than anywhere else. Galloway (159 yards) showed last week it does not matter who his quarterback is, while Johnson continues to frustrate. Two good players, two good matchups. One has been a good play five of the past seven weeks, and the other has been strong in only two of them. You figure it out.

Start Amani Toomer over Lee Evans. If you have too few good receivers instead of too many, you have to be smart. These two have similar stats, but Evans is a No. 1 receiver going against a winless team while Toomer is a No. 2 with a bad quarterback in a tough divisional game. Play Evans, right? Try again. Toomer gets a boost because he might see more balls with the Giants' Plaxico Burress banged up. Buffalo's Trent Edwards can't get the ball downfield to Evans, and Miami's pass defense, last week aside, has been OK. Make sure all of your starters have real upside.

Start Kris Brown over Mason Crosby. Why bench the top-scoring kicker? Crosby is at home in Green Bay and the Raiders are in town. Packers home games always mean potential for nasty weather and the Raiders mean the Packers will stream into the end zone. Brown will be in balmy Houston, indoors if necessary, and faces a Bucs defense that will keep the Texans out of the end zone. Don't mess with weather unless you have to.

Start the Browns defense over the Ravens. This idea would have earned you strange looks a couple of months ago but makes sense now. The Ravens could have an emotional letdown after playing the Patriots, and the Colts are rolling. The Browns are desperate for a win and should make plays against wild-armed Kellen Clemens. Defensive picks can be all about matchups; even Carolina was a good start last week against the 49ers

Hache Man · Dec 8, 2007

Re: Fantasy Football News 2007

Week 14 Rankings Update

Note: The rankings were updated Saturday afternoon.

Every season, every fantasy analyst inevitably writes how insane the season is. The only predictable thing about the NFL is its unpredictability and our unconditional love for it all.

Still, I can't help myself; this year does feel crazy. Five months are spent buffing and polishing our preseason rankings to perfection and now here we are, on the doorsteps of the fantasy playoffs, and I can't believe what I'm writing.

Earnest Graham, Ryan Grant, and Justin Fargas are safer every-week plays because they are more consistent than Frank Gore, Shaun Alexander, and Rudi Johnson. The running back to own in the Chiefs-Broncos clash is Kolby Smith. Derek Anderson's mini-slump has knocked him all the way down to seventh at quarterback.
Tampabaybuccaneers.com
If someone had told me any of this in August, I would have told them to stop hanging out with Travis Henry so much. But the cold reality of December has revealed new players, new truths, and a whole new plan to attack the fantasy playoffs. Congratulations to everyone who made it this far. Now let's get surprised all over again.
kansascitychiefs.com
[SIZE=+1]Week 14 Quarterbacks[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Tony Romo</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Carson Palmer</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Peyton Manning</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Tom Brady</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>Probable(right shoulder)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Drew Brees</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Matt Hasselbeck</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Derek Anderson</TD><TD>at NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Brett Favre</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>Probable(elbow)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Ben Roethlisberger</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>David Garrard</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Kurt Warner</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>Probable(elbow)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Donovan McNabb</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>Probable(ankle)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Jon Kitna</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Jay Cutler</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Vince Young</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Chris Redman</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Eli Manning</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Jason Campbell</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>Sidelined(knee)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Jeff Garcia</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>Game-Time Decision</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Rex Grossman</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>Sidelined(knee)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Kellen Clemens</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Philip Rivers</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Sage Rosenfels</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Tarvaris Jackson</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Trent Edwards</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Josh McCown</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>Probable(finger)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Vinny Testaverde</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Kyle Boller</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Damon Huard</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Brock Berlin</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>First NFL start</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Trent Dilfer</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>John Beck</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>JaMarcus Russell</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
</TBODY></TABLE>

QB Notes: The Lions defense is collapsing faster than they can blame Mike Martz. In the words of Steve Mariucci, Tony Romo and the 'Boys could drop a fiftyburger on them. ? I wish the game was in Indianapolis, but Baltimore's secondary still doesn't scare me. The Colts passing attack filleted Jacksonville. ? Jon Kitna owners have to be worried that the Lions aren't built to play from behind. They trailed immediately against Minnesota, a poor pass defense, and didn't score in the last forty minutes of that game. Trailing 35-10 at halftime was a recipe for monster garbage stats, but it didn't happen because the Lions pass protection fell apart. It's easy to imagine a similar scenario this week against Dallas. My favorite part of watching the Lions-Vikings Shortcuts was seeing Detroit play-action on almost every snap. How effective can play-action be when you run four times all game?

David Garrard is playing at a Pro Bowl level. His effort against the Colts included countless tough throws into tight spots. The coverage may not be so tight this week, and he's a safe low-level QB1. ? Brett Favre's injury is a slight concern, but the combination of the Oakland rush defense (abysmal) and pass defense (excellent) is a bigger worry. Oakland has allowed eight passing touchdowns to fifteen interceptions this season. ? Derek Anderson has been good, not great, over the last five weeks with seven touchdowns and five picks. He's inconsistent on short throws, and great going deep. New York's improving pass defense is enough for me to knock Anderson below Hasselbeck and Brees, but no further. ? The best thing I can say about Tarvaris Jackson right now is that he's not messing up the rest of the team. We still need to see him play from behind or in a game where he isn't given short fields and defensive/special teams scores.

Jason Campbell leads the league in receivers getting tackled inside the five-yard line. And then stalling near the stripe. I want to rank him higher, but the untimely turnovers, red zone inefficiency, and streakiness forces me to forget the five postcard throws he makes each game. ? Cincinnati's passing game has endured a difficult schedule this year, but it's still among the league's best. Look for Carson Palmer to dominate against a patchwork Rams unit. ? New England's defense shouldn't intimidate Roethlisberger owners too much. They are a good, not great, unit. And Pittsburgh is likely to pass more if New England's offense scores points. ? Kurt Warner's rank will be affected by Larry Fitzgerald's availability. For now, I'm assuming Fitz plays and Anquan Boldin doesn't. I don't love the matchup even with Fitz for a few reasons. Seattle can get to the quarterback, force turnovers, and generally have a strong pass defense. Arizona will attack them on the ground.

[SIZE=+1]Week 14 Running Backs[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Brian Westbrook</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>Questionable(knee)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>LaDainian Tomlinson</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Adrian Peterson</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>Probable(knee)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>4</TD><TD>Willis McGahee</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>5</TD><TD>Ryan Grant</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Steven Jackson</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>Stick with him</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Clinton Portis</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>Probable(shoulder)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Earnest Graham</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Marion Barber</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Joseph Addai</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Willie Parker</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Jamal Lewis</TD><TD>at NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Justin Fargas</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Marshawn Lynch</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>Questionable(ankle)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Kolby Smith</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Maurice Jones-Drew</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Brandon Jacobs</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>Probable(hamstring)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Frank Gore</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>Probable(ankle)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Travis Henry</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Thomas Jones</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Adrian Peterson</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Edgerrin James</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Ron Dayne</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>Probable(ankle)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Shaun Alexander</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>Probable(knee)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Kevin Jones</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Rudi Johnson</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Chester Taylor</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Selvin Young</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>Probable(elbow)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>LenDale White</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>Probable(finger)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Fred Taylor</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Aaron Stecker</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Laurence Maroney</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>Jerious Norwood</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>34</TD><TD>DeShaun Foster</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>Probable(head)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>35</TD><TD>Julius Jones</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>36</TD><TD>Jesse Chatman</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>Questionable(ankle)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>37</TD><TD>Maurice Morris</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>38</TD><TD>Reuben Droughns</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>39</TD><TD>Fred Jackson</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>Keep an eye on Lynch</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>40</TD><TD>Warrick Dunn</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>41</TD><TD>Chris Brown</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>42</TD><TD>Kenny Watson</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>43</TD><TD>DeAngelo Williams</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>44</TD><TD>Kevin Faulk</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>45</TD><TD>Samkon Gado</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>Outside chance he starts</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>46</TD><TD>Ladell Betts</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>47</TD><TD>Kenton Keith</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>Probable(-)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>48</TD><TD>Lorenzo Booker</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>49</TD><TD>T.J. Duckett</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>50</TD><TD>Correll Buckhalter</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
</TBODY></TABLE>

RB Notes: Reggie Bush isn't playing his best football, but this matchup sets up well. He does better on turf and against smaller, quicker defenses like Atlanta. He would be ten spots higher if these were PPR ranks. ? As Willis McGahee showed, this is the worst Patriots rush defense since 2002. They are nineteenth in the NFL in yards-per-carry allowed and the Steelers will test them. There are whispers that Parker isn't 100% in Pittsburgh, but it still would be tough to bench the league's second-leading rusher. ? Shaun Alexander didn't show anything new against the Eagles, but the Seahawks showed they weren't afraid to give him the ball twenty times. He will be overly reliant on touchdowns, but you could do worse. ? Look for the Cardinals to focus on the running game against Seattle. The Seahawks are soft in the middle and Arizona may want to shorten the game to slow down Seattle's past-paced offense.

Clinton Portis gets FB Mike Sellers and possibly G Randy Thomas back this week. That should help a running game that has been stuck in the mud for three weeks. With Tommie Harris struggling at the point of attack, Chicago can be run on. ? Marshawn Lynch's status won't be known until later in the week. It would be extremely difficult to sit him against the woeful Miami rush defense. The same goes for Fred Jackson if Lynch is out. I loved what I saw from Jackson last week, always falling forward with decisive cuts, getting yards after contact, playing like a man possessed. He made a lot of yards out of nothing. Marv Levy does a good job finding these guys out of nowhere. Bump him up to the top-20 if Lynch is out. Like Ryan Grant after his first out, Jackson quickly earned trust.

Joseph Addai has quietly struggled the last four weeks, with a 3.27 yards-per-carry average and a high of 72 rushing yards. As you can see by the ranking, I'm not overly concerned. But it's something to watch down the stretch; perhaps the Colts will get Kenton Keith more involved to rest Addai up for the playoffs. ? Fred Taylor is playing out of his mind, perhaps one time to watch his unconventional style at its best, but it doesn't translate well to fantasy football. With 15 carries a week, he needs to break a couple long runs just to be an average (10 FP) RB2. He's done that the last few weeks, and that makes him a flex option. But Maurice Jones-Drew has 29 touches inside the 10-yard line this season; Taylor has seven. If the Jaguars get up early, they could both have big games. But Jones-Drew is a lot safer despite his diminished rushing totals recently. ? Playing Kevin Jones is a leap of faith this week after three slow games out of four. I haven't given up on him (The Thanksgiving game sticks in my head), but the over/under for his carries this week is roughly ten because Dallas will get ahead early. They have gone away from him in the passing game.

Chester Taylor, like Fred, is an option this week in case the Vikings get ahead early. I'm not so sure that will happen in a possible letdown game. But keep in mind that Chester was heavily involved early in the game last week. He wasn't just cleaning up for [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4169"]Adrian Peterson[/URL] at garbage time. ? Impossible call on Frank Gore this week. He's still my guy, a player I believe could win the league MVP on a different roster (4.2 yards-per-carry on the 49ers equals six elsewhere.) Aaron Gleeman made a compelling case for Gore in the Daily Dose, especially highlighting Gore's receiving numbers recently. That's the rub. Gore is coming off two excellent performances. He struggled against the better rush defenses earlier in the year, but is playing better now. He's a middle tier RB2.

Ron Dayne's ranking depends on Ahman Green, who returned to a practice on a limited basis Wednesday. If Green plays, they will cancel each other out. ? Brandon Jacobs is another player to watch closely. I can live with some risk with a player, especially a starting running back, coming back from injury. If he starts, I'd play him. ? Travis Henry avoided suspension, but he still has to prove he's a decent running back option after last week's effort against Oakland. He looked tentative and fumbled twice against a terrible opponent. Don't forget Selvin Young started last week. Young and Andre Hall will be heavily involved if Henry doesn't start the game since. ? Jerious Norwood is a flex option because he'll get more work this week, but you are a taking a big risk. ? The way John Beck is moving the ball, I'd avoid the Miami starting running back. Jesse Chatman is uncertain to play at this point.

[SIZE=+1]Week 14 Wide Receivers[/SIZE]
<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Terrell Owens</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Braylon Edwards</TD><TD>at NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Randy Moss</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Chad Johnson</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Reggie Wayne</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>T.J. Houshmandzadeh</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>Probable(back)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Andre Johnson</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Marques Colston</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Roddy White</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Larry Fitzgerald</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>Questionable(groin)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Joey Galloway</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>Questionable(toe)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>12</TD><TD>Brandon Marshall</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>13</TD><TD>Greg Jennings</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Torry Holt</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>Brock Berlin starting</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Bobby Engram</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Deion Branch</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Laveranues Coles</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>Game-Time decision</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Wes Welker</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Plaxico Burress</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>Questionable(ankle)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Hines Ward</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Bernard Berrian</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Steve Smith</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Patrick Crayton</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>Probable(ankle)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Lee Evans</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Donald Driver</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Santana Moss</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Kevin Curtis</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>Probable(thigh)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Derrick Mason</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Dwayne Bowe</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Chris Henry</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Shaun McDonald</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Calvin Johnson</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>Bryant Johnson</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>34</TD><TD>Donte' Stallworth</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>35</TD><TD>Santonio Holmes</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>Not 100%</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>36</TD><TD>Justin Gage</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>37</TD><TD>Chris Chambers</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>38</TD><TD>Mike Furrey</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>39</TD><TD>Anthony Gonzalez</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>40</TD><TD>Ronald Curry</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>41</TD><TD>Isaac Bruce</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>Berlin effect</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>42</TD><TD>Arnaz Battle</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>Questionable(ankle)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>43</TD><TD>Brandon Stokley</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>Questionable(knee)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>44</TD><TD>Kevin Walter</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>45</TD><TD>Reggie Brown</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>46</TD><TD>Ike Hilliard</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>Questionable(knee)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>47</TD><TD>Sidney Rice</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>48</TD><TD>Javon Walker</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>Questionable(knee)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>49</TD><TD>Jerry Porter</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>50</TD><TD>Amani Toomer</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>51</TD><TD>Joe Jurevicius</TD><TD>at NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>52</TD><TD>Nate Burleson</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>53</TD><TD>Reggie Williams</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>54</TD><TD>Ernest Wilford</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
</TBODY></TABLE>

WR Notes: The Patriots don't want this mini Randy Moss slump to fester. It's the toughest matchup possible, but he'll get plenty of targets. The Ravens did a great job bumping Wes Welker off the line of scrimmage, disrupting his timing. Welker caught only three of nine targets in the game. Look for the Steelers to take the same approach. Welker still could only be benched in 2WR leagues with loaded rosters. ? Sidney Rice is making some impressive plays, but the Vikings passing game isn't consistent enough to use him. He'll have a tough time being covered by Nate Clements. ? Playing out of the slot shouldn't hurt Mike Furrey because he'll avoid Terrence Newman. I detailed my reasons why I don't love Kitna this week, even playing from behind, and they apply to all the Detroit receivers. I could see some solid games, but don't expect miracles. ? Anthony Gonzalez continues his up-and-down season. One reason he was quiet last week was because Rashean Mathis covered him all game. He also had a touchdown called back for an unnecessary push-off in the end zone. I'd only use Gonzalez, however, if forced. And we may not know Marvin Harrison's status until gametime. Harrison, by the way, isn't likely to get a full complement of snaps whenever he returns. So he's not a fantasy option.

David Garrard is making Ernest Wilford and Reggie Williams better players again. They actually are (gasp) beating some cornerbacks deep. I can't imagine playing them this week, but they are on the radar. ? Trent Edwards played well enough last week to use Lee Evans as a third receiver. ? I loved what I saw from Santana Moss last week. Any traces of injury are gone and the Redskins are making it a priority to find him all over the field. He's averaging almost six catches-per-game over his last five. An odd Moss year, where he's better in PPR leagues. ? Santonio Holmes returns this week, which doesn't hurt Hines Ward necessarily. Asante Samuel will probably cover Holmes because no one else in the New England secondary has the speed to deal with Holmes. Holmes owners with low risk tolerance could bench him to make sure he's healthy. ? Chris Henry is back to being an option this week with a good-looking matchup. ? Deion Branch had a terrible game last week, but he's still seeing targets and has a fine matchup. Bobby Engram is also tough to sit during his career season. ? Joey Galloway and Roddy White should both be able to break one long play against vulnerable secondaries. Galloway owners honestly might be better off with Luke McCown at quarterback, although Jeff Garcia should get the nod.

Jerricho Cotchery and Laveranues Coles are ranked as if both will start. That is far from certain to happen, but that's how we do things. If they both started, Coles is the bigger risk because he was hurting badly after returning so quickly from his ankle injury. Cotchery might wear a cast, but I doubt he'd suit up if he couldn't catch the ball. And the time off may have done him some good. In the end, I don't have the stones to sit either one. ? Patrick Crayton has been up and down this season, but he's tough to bench against the collapsing Lions. ? Derrick Mason is among the most consistent options at wide receiver. But in non-PPR leagues, there isn't much upside against the Colts. The way there defense plays, his upside is seven for seventy. That's worth starting for many teams, but I'd rather aim high. ? Kevin Curtis is clearly back ahead of Reggie Brown in the pecking order for Philly. He's hit-or-miss, but a fine WR3 this week. ? Bryant Johnson's value depends some on Larry Fitzgerald. Johnson owners should hope for Fitz to play, because that way Johnson will avoid Marcus Trufant in coverage. ? I could see the Patriots exploiting Anthony Smith's aggression and finding Donte' Stallworth deep. 

[SIZE=+1]Week 14 Tight Ends[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Jason Witten</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Kellen Winslow</TD><TD>at NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Antonio Gates</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Tony Gonzalez</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Chris Cooley</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Dallas Clark</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Vernon Davis</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Heath Miller</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Owen Daniels</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Alge Crumpler</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Jeremy Shockey</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>Probable(abdomen)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Ben Watson</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Donald Lee</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Greg Olsen</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Desmond Clark</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Leonard Pope</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Todd Heap</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>Questionable(hamstring)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>L.J. Smith</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Tony Scheffler</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Zach Miller</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Marcedes Lewis</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Randy McMichael</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Chris Baker</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>Probable(back)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Bo Scaife</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>Probable(shoulder)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Eric Johnson</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Alex Smith</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Jeff King</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
</TBODY></TABLE>

TE Notes: Chris Cooley has saved his best ball of the season until now. Look for him to expose Adam Archuleta or Brandon McGowan Thursday night. ? Heath Miller's matchup looks tough on paper, but Rodney Harrison's problems in coverage are well-known. That could be why we saw more of Brandon Merriweather last week ? to cover. ? Alge Crumpler is a sneaky option this week and could be available on a lot of wires. Roman Harper has struggled recently, and the New Orleans safeties are generally poor in coverage. Plus the Falcons believe that Chris Redman's quick release will allow Crumpler to skip his usual blocking duties. ? Washington is vulnerable to tight ends, but it's anyone's guess who will step up for Chicago.

[SIZE=+1]Week 14 Team Defense[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>1</TD><TD>Vikings Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>2</TD><TD>Chargers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Colts Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Packers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Bills Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Cowboys Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Jaguars Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Buccaneers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Bears Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Patriots Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Broncos Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Titans Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Giants Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Seahawks Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Chiefs Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Steelers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Texans Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Saints Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Dolphins Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Browns Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Eagles Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Redskins Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Fortyniners Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Bengals Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Ravens Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Lions Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Rams Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Panthers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Falcons Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Cardinals Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Raiders Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Jets Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[SIZE=+1]Week 14 Kickers[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Nick Folk</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Josh Brown</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Adam Vinatieri</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Mason Crosby</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Phil Dawson</TD><TD>at NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Jason Hanson</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Stephen Gostkowski</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Jeff Wilkins</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Rob Bironas</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>David Akers</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Sebastian Janikowski</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Jeff Reed</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Kris Brown</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Matt Stover</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Nate Kaeding</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Robbie Gould</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Ryan Longwell</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Shayne Graham</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Jason Elam</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Neil Rackers</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Lawrence Tynes</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Olindo Mare</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Rian Lindell</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Jay Feely</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Josh Scobee</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Mike Nugent</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Matt Bryant</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Shaun Suisham</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Morten Andersen</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Joe Nedney</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>John Kasay</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>John Carney</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Dec 8, 2007

Re: Fantasy Football News 2007

The Complete Package

You may have read Monday about Calvin Johnson and his bizarre "benching" in the Lions' Week 13 game. Johnson started on Thanksgiving, caught seven passes for 83 yards a touchdown in an 11-point loss to Green Bay, then was parked on the pine last Sunday against Minnesota. Shaun McDonald, Mike Furrey, and [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=35"]Roy Williams[/URL] started in a three-receiver set. Johnson saw just three targets, hauling in one, and the Lions were shallacked by 32.

McDonald will move into the first-team lineup with Williams nursing a season-threatening PCL sprain. McDonald has coordinator Mike Martz's offense down pat. As does Furrey, who played in the scheme along with McDonald in St. Louis.

But the Lions have made it clear that they don't view Furrey as legit starter because he doesn't possess the speed to threaten defenses vertically, a requirement for outside receivers in Martz's scheme. McDonald comes close, but would ideally man the slot. "Mad Mike" is going have to play his No. 2 overall pick, because he needs Johnson's 4.3 speed if he's to 1) salvage the Lions' descending season and 2) keep his job and reputation intact.

Calvin Johnson hasn't had a great rookie year. He's been through a back injury. His 54% catch rate is lowest on the Lions. But Johnson's scored four times, tied for second on the team despite his fourth-most targets, and is averaging 15.7 yards-per-reception, which is easily first among Lions pass catchers. In a game that is all about touchdowns, Calvin's big-play ability cannot be ignored.

And now, Detroit needs him to step up in a full-time role. Martz doesn't want to retreads Troy Walters or Brandon Middleton being key components of his beloved three- and four-receiver sets. And they won't be, because the Lions' most talented wideout can't keep warming the bench with Williams sidelined. Martz confirmed that Johnson will become his new starting flanker during the week. If Detroit is to snap its four-game losing skid, Calvin Johnson must be the focal point.

[SIZE=+1]Game-Time Decisions for Week 14[/SIZE]

Arms
Brett Favre ? Starts streak not in jeopardy; he's a top-8 option vs. OAK.
Jeff Garcia ? More likely to start than not, but still a game-time decision.
Daunte Culpepper ? Has hurt quads; Josh McCown to start at Lambeau.
greenbaypackers.com
Backs
Brian Westbrook ? Didn't practice much this week, but expected to start.
[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4169"]Adrian Peterson[/URL] ? Will start; figures to have monster day against Niners.
Brandon Jacobs ? Probable, worked fully Friday, will start against Eagles.
Marshawn Lynch ? Should start, be a strong RB2 play against the Dolphins.
Frank Gore ? Probable; receiving numbers keep his value in RB1/2 range.
Ron Dayne ? Will start Texans' final four games with Ahman Green on IR.
Jesse Chatman ? Game-time decision; Samkon Gado could start @ Buffalo.
LenDale White ? Will start, but Chris Brown could end up playing more.
Selvin Young/Andre Hall ? Both are healthy, but Travis Henry set to start.
DeShaun Foster ? Probable, but look for DeAngelo Williams to play more.
Michael Pittman ? Doubtful; Michael Bennett will back up Earnest Graham.
Pierre Thomas ? Could see increased role on MNF with Reggie Bush out.
Najeh Davenport ? Listed as probable, will be available against the Patriots.
Kenton Keith ? Missed some practice time but he'll be active at Baltimore.
indianapoliscolts.com
Wides
T.J. Houshmandzadeh ? Will play, should have big game against St. Louis.
Larry Fitzgerald ? Indications are that Fitzgerald will be a go against Seattle.
Joey Galloway ? Expected to play in enticing matchup against the Texans.
Plaxico Burress ? Expected to start; now's no time to sit your fantasy studs.
Laveranues Coles ? Likely to play in phenomenal matchup against Browns.
Anquan Boldin ? Definitely wouldn't count on him playing in 4PM contest.
Marvin Harrison ? Listed as questionable, but he's highly unlikely to dress.
Jerricho Cotchery ? Considered doubtful; don't bet on him in afternoon game.
Ike Hilliard ? Probably will play, but shouldn't be used in non-PPR leagues.
Arnaz Battle ? Uncertain to play, not good enough to wait for in 4PM game.
Javon Walker/Brandon Stokley ? Both hurting, risky WR3 plays vs. Chiefs.
Demetrius Williams ? Season could be over for Baltimore's third receiver.
Marty Booker ? Not a fantasy option if he starts; Booker's status uncertain.
Troy Williamson ? Uncertain whether he'll start when and if he returns.
Tim Carter ? Questionable; Cleveland won't lose much if Carter is inactive.

Ends
Jeremy Shockey ? Added to injury report Friday, but he'll start at Eagles.
Todd Heap ? Won't play on SNF; Daniel Wilcox is likely to take his spot.
Bo Scaife ? Worth a look for Todd Heap owners; he'll start vs. San Diego.
Bubba Franks ? Doubtful; Packers hope to have Franks back in Week 15.
Steve Heiden ? Kellen Winslow's backup uncertain to face the Jets Sunday.
oaklandraiders.com
Legs
None of significant note.

[SIZE=+1]Already Ruled Out for Week 14[/SIZE]

Arms
Marc Bulger ? Ruled out Saturday morning; Brock Berlin to start at Bengals.
Matt Schaub ? Sage Rosenfels to start vs. Bucs; he could return in Week 15.
[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=3147"]Alex Smith[/URL] ? Has begun light throwing, but is unlikely to return this season.
Gus Frerotte ? Will likely be No. 3 QB Sunday, but could be lost for season.

Backs
Larry Johnson ? Coach Herm Edwards admits L.J. may be done for the year.
Reggie Bush ? May miss final four weeks; Aaron Stecker now Saints' starter.
Ahman Green ? Dayne to start for final month; Green likely done in Houston.
Derrick Ward ? On season-ending I.R.; headed for restricted free agency in '08.
Anthony Thomas ? Fred Jackson takes over as Bills' primary backup tailback.
[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4226"]Chris Henry[/URL] ? Due back in Week 16, but role when Henry returns is uncertain.

Wides
[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=35"]Roy Williams[/URL] ? Williams shooting to return in Week 17, but that's optimistic.
D.J. Hackett ? Seahawks hoping Hackett can return in time for Week 15 game.
Terry Glenn ? There's still been no timetable set for Glenn to rejoin Cowboys.
Dwayne Jarrett ? There's speculation his season may be done after 6 catches.
Brandon Jones ? Roydell Williams, Justin Gage have taken over as starters.
Dante Hall ? Marques Hagans expected to take over as Rams' punt returner.
detroitlions.com
Ends
George Wrighster ? On I.R.; Marcedes Lewis' value on rise with Wrighster out.
Kevin Everett ? He began walking on his own Friday, making good progress.

Legs
None of significant note.


[SIZE=+1]Week 14 Matchups to Exploit/Avoid[/SIZE]

Giants @ Eagles
Game Time: 12:00 CT/1:00 ET

The Eagles enter this game with Brian Westbrook listed as questionable due to knee soreness. Westbrook was limited in practice Friday after missing the two previous days, but only because the team had to work out indoors to avoid the snow and Westbrook doesn't usually practice on turf. He is expected to play, and is set up for a big game. The Giants are unlikely to have their best run stuffer, MLB Antonio Pierce, due to an ankle injury. FS Gibril Wilson has been ruled out, and running mate James Butler is at considerably less than 100 percent after not practicing all week. The Jints will be weak down the middle of the field and Westbrook will look to exploit that. Other sleepers for a strong fantasy day are Reggie Brown, the Eagles' best over-the-middle receiver, and TE L.J. Smith, who's caught at least three passes in his last four games and can be a weapon down the seams?

?On the other side, it's not time to consider sitting down Plaxico Burress despite his slowed production of late. Burress has a history of success against the Eagles, and in a potential playoff-clinching game for the Giants, seems likely to be a big part of the offense. New York should be able to move the ball against a Philadelphia defense that could be minus FS Brian Dawkins (back) and will start SS Quintin Mikell, DT Brodrick Bunkley, and CB Lito Sheppard despite knee injuries. Sheppard's knee was such a problem last week that coordinator Jim Johnson had to pull him because he was getting torched. With Brandon Jacobs (probable, hamstring) back and set to start, this figures to be a high-scoring affair, and it'll be hard to sit any skill players from either team. newyorkgiants.com

Rams @ Bengals
Game Time: 12:00 CT/1:00 ET

The Rams won't have Marc Bulger Sunday, but that isn't their only injury concern. They're extremely thin in the secondary following CB Tye Hill's season-ending loss and will have problems with Cincinnati's frequent use of three-receiver sets. Third-round pick Jonathan Wade, a raw but speedy converted wideout from Tennessee, will be forced to work outside opposite Fakhir Brown with Ronald Bartell covering the slot. When the Bengals go three wide, either Chad Johnson or T.J. Houshmandzadeh will usually go against Bartell with [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4226"]Chris Henry[/URL] free to match up against Wade on the right corner. Henry will have at least five inches on the generously listed 5-11 rookie. The Rams' run defense has improved over the course of the season and Rudi Johnson continues to play poorly, so look for Bengals offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski to take advantage of this mismatch. Henry looks like a high-upside WR3/flex play? clevelandbrowns.com

?On the other side, with Bulger ruled out, Brock Berlin draws the start at quarterback for St. Louis. A former undrafted free agent from Miami, Berlin has never attempted a pass in three seasons in the league. Bulger also took the majority of practice snaps this week, so Berlin comes in with next to no experience throwing to Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce. Bruce should certainly be benched, while Holt makes for a risky WR2 play at best. The Rams could pound the ball with [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1663"]Steven Jackson[/URL] instead of relying on Berlin to carry them. Also, don't be surprised to see recently signed Todd Bouman come in if Berlin struggles. Gus Frerotte will be the Rams' emergency quarterback Sunday because his labrum is partially torn.

Chiefs @ Broncos
Game Time: 3:15 CT/4:15 ET

The Rocky Mountain News reported Saturday morning that Travis Henry is scheduled to regain his starting job against Kansas City despite Selvin Young being healthy. Young put in complete practices all week after suffering an elbow injury in Week 13, but is only expected to serve as a change of pace for Henry Sunday. Henry isn't 100 percent himself, but is once again the stronger fantasy start. He showed some rust last week coming back from a three-week layoff by putting the ball on the ground twice, but also has the "hot hand" after scoring twice against Oakland. Young should get some work in the passing game and a few carries, but is only flex consideration for fantasy purposes. Henry is a quality RB2 start against a Chiefs defense that could be without starting weak-side linebacker Donnie Edwards and will be using strong-side linebacker [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=3376"]Derrick Johnson[/URL] on no practice. LaDainian Tomlinson gashed K.C. for 117 yards and two long touchdown runs with Edwards sitting out the second half in Week 13. Johnson was away from the team this week for personal reasons?

?On the other side, Brodie Croyle rejoins the lineup after taking Week 13 off due to a back injury. Croyle may need a year or two before he can be used in standard fantasy leagues, but his return is good news for the skill players around him. Croyle and rookie Dwayne Bowe have shown a strong rapport and Kolby Smith will start against a Broncos defense that has given up on starting DT Sam Adams. They'll replace him with rookie Marcus Thomas, who's more of a pass-rushing tackle than a run stopper. Denver allowed Justin Fargas to rush for 146 yards and a touchdown in Week 13 and has struggled to defend the run virtually all year. The Broncos' secondary is also underperforming. Smith is a top-15 option in fantasy leagues, while Bowe is a solid WR3/flex. Croyle's strong arm adds another dimension to Kansas City's offense and is an upgrade over Damon Huard. kansascitychiefs.com

Hache Man · Dec 10, 2007

Re: Fantasy Football News 2007

Surving Sunday
Every other owner has a sob story. Black Monday is day for the bad beats, the impossible chokes by great players, the come-from-behind loss that broke all the rules. That's fantasy football.

When you least expect it, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4169"]Adrian Peterson[/URL] (The "real" one) will score zero points. Carson Palmer will do his best Brock Berlin impression. Terrell Owens will play his worst game of the year against the Lions. The most carefully constructed season can evaporate in three hours, and it breaks your heart, but that's fantasy football. You'll be back. minnesotavikings.com

I'd rather focus on the positive. Tony Romo finds Jason Witten in the end zone to win a game and salvage a slow start to a Lions matchup. Brandon Marshall and Ryan Grant solidify their star-making seasons with dominant performances. Tom Brady and Randy Moss shake off their mini-slump, fillet the best defense in the NFL, and continue their march towards history. I bet their owners aren't complaining.

[SIZE=+1]Searching for Billy Volek[/SIZE]

For a moment Sunday, it looked like this year's Billy Volek could be ? Billy Volek! Following a Philip Rivers injury, Volek hit the same field in Nashville where he made great music with Drew Bennett only four years. On his first play, Volek stepped back to find a streaking Vincent Jackson wide open down the sideline ? but he held the ball too long and underthrew him. On his next pass, Volek was intercepted. Then Rivers returned. WEBSITE.WS - Your Internet Address For Life?

Billy Volek lightning can only strike each player once. We'll search for it here over the next few weeks.

1. Samkon Gado is no stranger to shocking fantasy success. Two years ago, Gado put off medical school to emerge from the depths of Green Bay's roster to lead owners on a wild run, capped by a 180-yard, one touchdown effort in the fantasy playoffs. miamidolphins.com

Now two teams, one trade, and two releases later, Gado is back. With the Dolphins forced to start him, Gado came through with 93 total yards and a pair of scores. He gets Baltimore next week if Jesse Chatman can't get healthy.

2. Is Fred Taylor random enough? At this point, sure, and it's time to give the old man his due. The "fragile" one has only missed one game since turning 30. He's averaging over seven yards-per-carry in the last three weeks for a total of 340 rushing yards. He's out-rushed Maurice Jones-Drew by over 300 yards the last month. He's the best old back in the league. jacksonvillejaguars.com

3. Ryan Grant was the fourth-string runner on the Giants not so long ago. He also was still on fantasy waiver wires as late as Week 8. We expect success by now, but it's amazing how far he's come. We've been talking about his beaucoup fantasy playoff schedule for weeks now, and he capitalized with 156 yards and a score against the Raiders.

4. Earnest Graham is another back with a cake schedule we've projected for a month. Despite playing with a backup quarterback, he started off well with 106 total yards and two scores. Tampabaybuccaneers.com

5. Trent Edwards and his four touchdowns don't count, because no one could have possibly played him. Right?

6. Jay Cutler's four touchdowns were in some lineups. And with matchups against Houston and San Diego coming up, we have a possible Volek.

7. With Marvin Harrison nowhere to be found, Anthony Gonzalez's role for the Colts continues to grow. He nabbed six catches for 134 yards and two scores against the Baltimore JV team Sunday night. indianapoliscolts.com

8. Guys that better not be this year's Volek: Jabar Gaffney, Jerheme Urban, Robert Royal.

[SIZE=+1]Holiday Miracles [/SIZE]

These guys killed you in November, but they came through when it mattered most

1. If we kept ranking Plaxico Burress in the top-20, we were bound to be right eventually. "Bambi," as my wife calls him, took advantage of a banged-up Eagles secondary for 136 yards and a touchdown ? his best game since Week 5.

2. It was considerate of Joseph Addai to let his nervous owners go to sleep early Sunday night. He scored three touchdowns before twenty minutes of gametime had evaporated, likely deciding many outcomes.

3. LenDale White ate up yards against San Diego with great effort, racking up 137 total yards and a score. He ran out of steam late, like the rest of the Titans, but it was an impressive return to form. Chris Brown only had five carries. tennesseetitans.com

[SIZE=+1]Don't Panic [/SIZE]

1. Justin Fargas sat in the second half against the Packers because of bruised ribs, but also because Oakland's b-team was in the game. Good to see Andrew Walter's mustache back in the mix. The Raiders had nothing to gain from bringing Fargas back into a rout. LaMont Jordan did nothing in garbage time to take the job back. oaklandraiders.com

2. There is no Earthly explanation for what [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4169"]Adrian Peterson[/URL] is able to do each Sunday, even one when he rushes for only three yards on 14 carries against the 49ers. He breaks all the rules, laughs at conventional wisdom, and doesn't care about your fantasy team. minnesotavikings.com

Is Peterson overly reliant on the big play? Maybe, but not as much as Barry Sanders, who certainly wasn't on fantasy benches in his day - if they existed. If you survived Peterson's goose egg, stick with him against Chicago next Monday night.



[SIZE=+1]Some Panic is Acceptable [/SIZE]

1. Last Year's Volek was definitely Ron Dayne, who enjoyed the best stretch of his career in December. He probably won't repeat the feat after a potentially serious ankle injury. Maybe it will be his backup Darius Walker filling in. Or his teammate - the unstoppable Sage Rosenfels Experience.

209 yards, and three scores against the best scoring defense in football. I feel like a proud parent. Aaron Gleeman chimes in with a good suggestion: Maybe the Texans can deal him to Atlanta in the offseason.

2. Vince Young has seven touchdowns and 16 picks on the season. He was held under 15 yards rushing for the fourth time this year and just can't establish consistency. tennesseetitans.com

3. Carson Palmer, Chad Johnson, and T.J. Houshmandzadeh owners can panic because they all might be out of the playoffs. Brock Berlin was supposed to affect his teammates, but who would have thought Palmer would put up a nearly identical box score going against him?

Palmer hasn't had a bad year, but his owners needed more than five scores and seven interceptions over the last five weeks.

4. After missing another game, Javon Walker is of no more use for fantasy owners this season. Same goes for Marvin Harrison.
greenbaypackers.com
5. I'd hang on to Santonio Holmes, but he's almost impossible to use next week after grabbing only one catch in his return. Like Walker, he didn't play a full complement of snaps in his first game back. Unlike Walker, Holmes should be fine in a couple of weeks.

[SIZE=+1]No Relief [/SIZE]

These Guys Returned, but it didn't matter much

1. At least Brandon Jacobs made it through a game healthy. If you survived his worst completed game of the year (81 total yards), he's back to being a solid RB2 option next week. newyorkgiants.com

2. Donovan McNabb has the best running back in the NFL on his team. He faced a mediocre secondary missing two starting safeties. But in a too-typical performance, McNabb couldn't maintain drives and was held to 179 yards and a touchdown. So-so effort in a so-so year.

3. Marshawn Lynch looked like his old self, rushing for 107 yards in his speedy return from injury. A lost fumble, and the shock of no touchdowns in a 38-17 victory tempered the excitement. buffalobills.com

[SIZE=+1]They're real and they're spectacular [/SIZE]

1. Greg Jennings has five scores this year over forty yards. He's scored in eight of ten games that he's played. He's scored in eight of ten games that he's played.

2. In a season full of jaw-dropping performances, Tom Brady's 399-yard, four-touchdown performance against the best pass defense in football (by far) ranks at the top. Brady owners should add Anthony Smith to their holiday card list. Thanks, buddy.

[SIZE=+1]Phew [/SIZE]

1. LaDainian Tomlinson was held to 39 total yards in the first half with Albert Haynesworth wreaking havoc in Tennessee. But the Chargers kept running, and LT2 put up an MVP-like performance with 134 total yards and two scores in the second half.

2. After throwing for 77 yards with a pick in the first half, Brett Favre rebounded with 189 yards and two scores after halftime against a strong Oakland secondary. greenbaypackers.com

3. At one point in the fourth quarter Sunday, Philip Rivers was 6-for-14 for 34 yards and two interceptions. In one of the gutsiest and improbable comebacks I've ever seen, he proceeded to throw for 194 yards and two scores while essentially playing on one leg. Maybe Tomlinson will sit next to him on the bench now.

3A. Antonio Gates gets a game ball for making a leaping touchdown catch to tie the game after battling a bad back for most of the day. sandiegochargers.com

4. Lee Evans' wild ride continued Sunday with only two catches, both for scores and 79 yards. Now that's a Lee Evans line. Despite all the ups and downs, Evans still has a decent shot at his second 1,000-yard season.

[SIZE=+1]An Ode to Consistency[/SIZE]

1. Brian Westbrook topped 140 total yards for the ninth time in twelve games. There isn't a fantasy back I'd rather have owned this year.

2. David Garrard is now a walking 230-yard, two touchdown box score. And that's pretty awesome. jacksonvillejaguars.com

[SIZE=+1]Repeat Scoring [/SIZE]

Before the season, I questioned the likelihood of Maurice Jones-Drew and Marion Barber repeating their sky-high touchdown totals from 2006 while splitting carries again this year.

Well, Barber is getting more touches, but is nearly on pace to match last year's total. After scoring 16 times as a backup last season, he's scored 11 times in thirteen games this year.

After scoring 15 times last year, Jones-Drew has eight this year. He's not beating the odds quite as much, but that's not bad.

[SIZE=+1]Getting Greedy [/SIZE]

1. The Broncos only gave up 129 total yards and seven points, but they easily could have earned extra bonus points for a shutout. Linebacker D.J. Williams was run over by Kolby Smith on a fourth-down play during Kansas City's only scoring drive when Williams initially stood up Smith in the backfield. The Broncos also extended that same drive with a penalty on third down. kansascitychiefs.com

2. The Packers defense/special teams scored two touchdowns, but it was almost three. An interception return for a score was overturned because of an unsportsmanlike penalty on Cullen Jenkins, who took the opportunity to steal Josh McCown's soul with a vicious block.

[SIZE=+1]What the ? ?[/SIZE]

1. The Jaguars beat the Panthers 37-6, but Maurice Jones-Drew wound up with only 45 total yards and no scores. Jones-Drew was stuffed at the goal line early in the game.

2. [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4227"]Steve Smith[/URL] had more than half of Carolina's receiving yards against a poor pass defense, but only wound up with 44 yards. carolinapanthers.com

3. Jon Kitna played one of his best games of the year against Dallas, but all of Detroit's points came on the ground. detroitlions.com

Hache Man · Dec 11, 2007

Re: Fantasy Football News 2007

No Reggie, No Problem
Aaron Stecker rushed for 100 yards Monday night while subbing for the injured Reggie Bush, which is something that Bush did just once in 28 career games before sitting out against the Falcons because of a knee injury. Stecker did much of his damage with New Orleans in clock-killing mode and Atlanta's defense has struggled mightily against the run all season, so the performance perhaps isn't as impressive as it initially appears.

With that said, Stecker certainly looked capable and his cracking the 100-yard mark in his first start is another indictment of Bush's sub par showing as an NFL runner. Of course, it may be a moot point until next year with Bush reportedly expected to miss the final three games thanks to a partially torn PCL. Stecker may find it difficult to get 20 carries again, but figures to be more involved in the passing game than he was against the Falcons.

Snatch him up off waivers if you still can, because if/when Bush is placed on season-ending injured reserve Stecker won't be left on the wire in any leagues. He's a solid RB3/Flex option against the Cardinals in Week 15 and has borderline RB2 value in point-per-reception leagues. Don't be afraid to stick him in your playoff lineup if injuries have ravaged your backfield, because Bush likely isn't coming back and Stecker is clearly ahead of Pierre Thomas on the depth chart.

While the Saints try to save their season by running the table without Bush, here are some other notes from around football ?

* Marques Colston looked like one of the year's biggest busts through six games, averaging just 44 yards per week while scoring a total of two touchdowns. Patient fantasy owners have been rewarded in a huge way, as Colston has done an amazing job turning around his season. After racking up 92 yards and a pair of scores on nine catches Monday night, Colston has now totaled 715 yards and six touchdowns on 53 catches over the past seven games.

Colston already has more catches than he did as a rookie, has equaled his freshman touchdown total, and needs just 61 yards over the final three games to post better numbers across the board. New Orleans has chucked it an NFL-leading 510 times through 13 games (40 throws/game) and has favorable matchups remaining against Arizona, Philadelphia, and Chicago, so Colston could approach 1,250 yards and a dozen scores despite how impossible that may have once seemed.

* Ron Dayne tried to play through an ankle injury Sunday, reportedly receiving a pain-killing shot at halftime, but eventually had to call it quits in the second half. Coach Gary Kubiak said after the game that Dayne's injury "is not good" and with the Texans having a short week prior to Thursday night's game against the Broncos it looks likely that undrafted rookie Darius Walker will make his first career start.

Adimchinobe Echemandu also figures to see significant action, but Walker will likely get at least half of the carries and the bulk of the third-down work. In fact, Walker showed good enough skills as a receiver Sunday that his best chance for good production might come if the Texans abandon the running game early and simply let Sage Rosenfels air it out. He averaged just 2.9 yards on 16 carries in Week 13, but added in six catches for 35 yards.

The matchup against Denver is a favorable one, but 12-15 carries and 3-5 catches probably isn't enough to make Walker more than a solid RB3/Flex option in regular leagues or a low-level RB2 option in point-per-reception leagues. That might sound nice for teams hurting for running-back help so late in the season, but after facing the Broncos his schedule gets pretty tough with matchups against the Colts and Jaguars to finish the season.
jacksonvillejaguars.com
* Philip Rivers missed a chunk of Sunday's win over Tennessee after taking a hit to his leg and the San Diego Union Tribune reports that he may have suffered a partially torn MCL. Rivers called the knee "pretty sore" Monday, but also said: "It shouldn't be anything I can't manage and get better during the week." Keep a close eye on his practice status leading up to Sunday, because Rivers has back-to-back favorable matchups against the Lions and Broncos coming up. sandiegochargers.com

* Laveranues Coles played through a serious ankle injury Sunday, limping around throughout the game while catching seven passes for 48 yards. Coles reportedly then had to be helped off the podium during his post-game press conference, which obviously puts his status for Week 15 in doubt. Actually, that's probably not true. Coles is always a good bet to play through pain, but a hobbled wide receiver can only do so much with toughness and good hands. newyorkjets.com

Two-Minute Drill: Coach Andy Reid said Monday that Donovan McNabb will start the final three games even if the Eagles fall out of the playoff picture ? Coach Mike Holmgren indicated Monday that Shaun Alexander and Maurice Morris will continue to split snaps going forward, sapping most of the fantasy value from both players ? Michael Vick was sentenced Monday to 23 months in federal prison, meaning that he could be 30 years old by the time resuming his NFL career becomes possible ? Coach Brian Billick said Monday that Todd Heap (hamstring) "will try to give it a go this week" after sitting out eight of the past nine games ? Despite being pulled for Troy Smith in Sunday night's blowout loss, Kyle Boller will start in Week 15 against the winless Dolphins ? Coach Lane Kiffin said Monday that JaMarcus Russell will see some action off the bench in Week 15 against the Colts, setting up the No. 1 overall pick to potentially start the final two games ? Jabar Gaffney played a season-high 42 snaps Sunday night and started over Donte Stallworth while catching seven passes for 122 yards. oaklandraiders.com

Red Zone: While the injury won't make any headlines, losing lead blocker Lorenzo Neal to a fractured fibula could hurt LaDainian Tomlinson's production down the stretch ? Coach Jon Gruden said Monday that Jeff Garcia (back) will return to the starting lineup Sunday against the Falcons, pushing Luke McCown back to the bench ? Trent Dilfer was hospitalized after suffering a concussion Sunday, leaving the door open for third-stringer Shaun Hill to start the final three games ? D.J. Hackett (ankle) is reportedly ahead of schedule, but his Week 15 status remains uncertain ? Owner Jerry Jones said Monday that Terry Glenn (knee) will begin practicing this week and could see his first game action of the season in Week 16 ? Justin Fargas (ribs) said Monday that he expects to play in Week 15 against the Colts ? Coach Andy Reid said Monday that Correll Buckhalter has a "pretty significant" concussion and could be forced sit out Week 15, giving Tony Hunt a chance to back up Brian Westbrook ? Daily Dose favorite Leonard Pope emerged as a nice TE2 with five touchdowns and 238 yards through 13 games, but his season is now over after suffering a dislocated ankle Sunday. indianapoliscolts.com

Hache Man · Dec 11, 2007

Re: Fantasy Football News 2007

Chicago's Magnificent Kyle
He's baaaaaaack. With the Bears finally seeming to acknowledge that the playoffs are a long shot, they're giving good old Kyle Orton another chance at quarterback, two seasons after he "won" eight games for them as a rookie. It couldn't have come at a better time, as the Bears will be featured on Monday Night Football in Week 15, meaning that right now Ron Jaworski is breaking down video of Orton from 2005. Here are some career highlights Jaws won't see:

I can't lie: Kyle Orton is my favorite player on my favorite team. Of course, it's mostly due to the above photos, which were first featured on Deadspin. I suddenly couldn't be happier Chicago's season has become completely derailed, and can barely contain my excitement about this week's game. More on Orton later, but first, here are some players who will actually help your fantasy squad:

[SIZE=+1]Running Backs[/SIZE]

Aaron Stecker ? Stecker is a guy we suggested you add last week due to what we described as Reggie Bush's balky knee. Well, as Rotoworld's fancy new "Breaking News" tool alerted you yesterday, Bush is likely done for the season. If you want a nice take on Stecker, I suggest you read Aaron Gleeman's fine write-up in Daily Dose. As Aaron said, Stecker is "a solid RB3/Flex option against the Cardinals in Week 15 and has borderline RB2 value in point-per-reception leagues. Don't be afraid to stick him in your playoff lineup if injuries have ravaged your backfield, because Bush likely isn't coming back and Stecker is clearly ahead of Pierre Thomas on the depth chart." Well said, Mr. Gleeman. Well said.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues.
Remaining Schedule Ari (18th vs. RB), Phi (7th), Chi (29th)

Darius Walker ? Ron Dayne injured his ankle early in Week 14, and was on-and-off the field until eventually parking himself on the sideline for most of the second half. After the game, coach Gary Kubiak said that the ankle injury was "not good," which is "not good" considering that the Texans have a Thursday night game this week. They don't expect him to be ready.

Darius Walker, an undrafted rookie out of Notre Dame, saw significant action in Dayne's place and put up 46 yards on 16 rushes. He also caught six passes for 35 yards. Not especially impressive numbers, but indicative of Walker's game: he's a solid pass-catcher with decent all-around ability, but has limited upside.

He will likely start if Green misses Week 15, but will split time with Adimchinobe Echemandu making him an low rent RB2 as part of a Houston backfield that has scored the seventh-fewest points this season. Still, there have been a lot of surprises this season (see: Grant, Ryan), and Denver is hardly a force against the run, so it's worth grabbing Walker to see what happens.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all in leagues.
Remaining Schedule: Den (19th vs. RB), Ind (5th), Jac (9th)

Fred Jackson ? We discussed Fred Jackson last week, but I'm mentioning him again to help stem the tide of "Should I pick-up Fred Jackson or Darius Walker?" e-mails. Darius Walker is a slightly better add, but only by a little, and mainly because at this point it seems like he could be starting for the next couple weeks. Jackson put up great numbers in Week 14, but the Bills ran the ball 39 times after jumping out to an early lead. It was also Marshawn Lynch's first game back from a high-ankle sprain, and despite Dick Jauron reiterating his desire to involve Jackson going forward, he could see his workload decrease as Lynch gets into better shape. buffalobills.com

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues.
Remaining Schedule: Cle (12th vs. RB), NYG (6th), Phi (7th)

Samkon Gado ? Gado is another guy we mentioned last week as it appeared Jesse Chatman could miss Week 14 with an ankle injury. Chatman ended up sitting, and Gado rushed 12 times for 52 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught two passes for 41 yards. Chatman appeared close to returning in Week 14, but Gado is someone who should be owned until it's definite won't be starting. If he does start, he'll face Baltimore this weekend, which should be significantly tougher than his Week 13 contest in Buffalo.
miamidolphins.com
Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues
Remaining Schedule: Bal (3rd vs. RB), @NE (13th), CIN (14th)

Lorenzo Booker ? Again, we were ahead of the curve on this one, writing about Mr. Booker last week. Booker saw work behind Samkon Gado and while he did limited damage on the ground, he caught six passes for the second week in a row. Booker is a significantly more attractive option in PPR leagues, but with Jesse Chatman seemingly close to returning, he can hardly be counted on as anything more than a flex, if that.

Recommendation: Worth consideration in deep leagues.
Remaining Schedule: Bal (3rd), NE (13th), Cin (16th)

LaMont Jordan ? Justin Fargas is dealing with bruised ribs, and it's possible that the injury could cause him to miss some time, despite his assurances that he'll be ready to play in Week 15. Jordan is the No. 2 running back in Oakland at the moment, but at this point is little more than an insurance policy for Fargas owners and desperate players looking for a fill-in starter.
oaklandraiders.com
Recommendation: Worth consideration in deep leagues.
Remaining Schedule: Ind (5th vs. RB), Jac (9th vs. RB), SD (21st)



[SIZE=+1]Quarterbacks[/SIZE]

Sage Rosenfels ? Rosenfels looked solid against a tough Tampa Bay pass defense, completing 27-of-36 passes for three touchdowns in Week 14. The Texans were hoping to get Matt Schaub back in time for Thursday's match-up against the Broncos, but it seems that Rosenfels will get the start, making him a quality QB2 option for owners in need. The Broncos' pass defense is significantly inferior to that of the Bucs, whom Rosenfels had no trouble picking apart.

Recommendation: Worth consideration in QB2 leagues.
Remaining Schedule: Den (26th vs. QB), Ind (3rd), Jac (22nd)

Trent Edwards ? Edwards' stats from Week 14 look great, with four touchdown passes more than making up for just 165 yards of passing. Edwards is probably on the waiver wire in a most redraft leagues, but this week he faces the Cleveland defense, which has allowed more fantasy points to quarterbacks than any other team in the league. Before last week, Edwards had just one touchdown pass to five interceptions, but the Browns should help him keep his hot ways going. clevelandbrowns.com

Recommendation: Worth consideration in QB2 leagues.
Remaining Schedule: Cle (32nd vs. QB), NYG (20th), Phi (10th)

Todd Collins ? Waaay back last Thursday, Jason Campbell injured his knee, and Todd Collins took over and looked good, completing 15-of-20 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns. Not bad, considering he hadn't thrown a pass since 2004. Collins faces a couple of weak defenses in the next two weeks, but he's not quite trustworthy enough to be starting in the fantasy playoffs. If he looks good against the Giants, he'll be a much safer start at QB2 against Minnesota's terrible pass defense in Week 16.
www.washingtonredskins.ws
Recommendation: Worth consideration in QB2 leagues.
Remaining Schedule: NYG (20th vs. QB), Min (29th), Dal (13th)

Kyle Orton ? Every American fantasy player who is competing only in a consolation bracket has a duty to start Kyle Orton this week. For the troops. Kyle actually has a shot at putting up decent numbers against Minnesota's poor pass defense in Week 15, but the fact that he hasn't taken a snap in two seasons makes him incredibly risky at this point in the fantasy season. Only desperate playoff teams should be counting on Orton as a QB2, despite the overwhelming odds that he'll end up in the Hall of Fame some day.

Recommendation: Worth consideration by desperate teams as a QB2.
Remaining Schedule: Min (29th vs. QB), GB (19th), NO (30th)

Billy Volek ? Phillip Rivers injured his knee on Sunday, and despite reports that he may have partially torn an MCL, he says he'll be ready to face Detroit in Week 15. Billy Volek would get the start in Rivers' absence, but the Chargers would likely put the ball in LT2's hands if Phillip missed time. Because of that, and the fact that it's Billy Volek, he's hardly worth consideration even against Detroit's poor pass defense. sandiegochargers.com

Recommendation: No, thanks.
Remaining Schedule: Det (31st vs. QB), Den (26th), Oak (1st vs. QB)

[SIZE=+1]Wide Receivers[/SIZE]

David Patten ? Well, look who decided to show up! Patten caught nine passes for 122 yards and a touchdown in Week 14 as the pass-happy Saints trounced the Falcons. Patten briefly seemed like a nice option midway through this season, but since Week 9 he hasn't put up more than 37 yards. With Reggie Bush out, though, there will likely continue to be more targets for Patten, but it's a risky gamble in playoff season. Still, the Saints' schedule is nice enough to make him a decent WR3 going forward.

Recommendation: Worth consideration in 12-team leagues
Remaining Schedule: Ari (28th vs. WR), Phi (24th), Chi (14th)

Reggie Williams ? Williams has quietly had a solid fantasy season, scoring seven touchdowns for Jacksonville. He continued his wily ways against Carolina in Week 14, racking up 90 yards in addition to a score. The problem with Reggie is that he has been held to two or fewer catches in eight of the 12 games he's been active. His touchdown total is largely a result of his size, which makes him a nice red zone target. Williams would make a solid WR3 over the rest of the season if it weren't for a brutal schedule that includes Pittsburgh and Oakland in the next two weeks. jacksonvillejaguars.com

Recommendation: Worth consideration in 12-team leagues.
Remaining Schedule: Pit (5th vs. WR), Oak (3rd vs. WR), Hou (14th vs. WR)

Jabar Gaffney ? I don't even know where to start with Jabar. I guess when your quarterback is throwing four touchdowns a week anyone is liable to become fantasy relevant. Gaffney actually started over Donte' Stallworth in Week 14, however, and was targeted nine times to Stallworth's five. In Week 13, however, Jabar was targeted just twice. Still, for now, it appears he has become the number three receiving option in New England, making him someone fantasy owners should consider despite the risk that he could drop off the map just as quickly as he's appeared on it. The Patriots could truly score 70 "FU" points against the Jets this weekend, so Gaffney makes a risky WR3 play.

Recommendation: Worth consideration in 12-team leagues.
Remaining Schedules: NYJ (12th vs. WR), MIA (19th), @NYG (20th)

Jerheme Urban ? I'm willing to bet you didn't expect to see a white guy when you clicked on Urban's profile. It seems like Jeremy Suburban would be a more fitting name. Anyway. With Anquan Boldin out, subUrban caught six passes for 123 yards and a touchdown against his former team. It was a great performance, but it's possible that Boldin could return to steal Urban's thunder any week. It's also possible that that Jerheme will continue to outshine temporary No. 2 receiver Bryant Johnson against a soft schedule, but it's not something you should count on at this point. Still, if Boldin continues to miss time, he's a decent speculative add for teams desperate for a flex. arizonacardinals.com

Recommendation: Worth consideration in 12-team leagues.
Remaining Schedule: NO (31st vs. WR), Atl (17th), StL (23rd)

[SIZE=+1]Defense[/SIZE]

Cincinnati ? The 49ers' offense is truly atrocious. There's no other way of putting it. The Bengals actually have eight takeaways in the past three weeks, and if you're desperate for a streaming defense, they make a decent play in Week 15. They don't get many sacks, however.

Buffalo ? In the last two games the Bills have 7 takeaways, a defensive touchdown and eight sacks. Granted, a lot of that damage was done against the Dolphins, but they have a good chance at having a nice game against the Browns in Week 15. Derek Anderson has six turnovers in the last four games.

Hache Man · Dec 12, 2007

Re: Fantasy Football News 2007

Sage Advice
After going for a second opinion on his dislocated left shoulder, Matt Schaub has been ruled out for Thursday night's game against the Broncos. Sage Rosenfels will get the call in his place after improving to 2-0 as a starter this season with an impressive Week 14 performance in a tough on-paper matchup against the Bucs. While far from a household name, Rosenfels has quietly put up solid numbers during his six-year career as a backup.

Despite getting sporadic playing time on some pretty bad teams, Rosenfels has completed 60.6 percent of his 307 career throws while averaging 7.0 yards per attempt. Those numbers aren't jaw-dropping, but they're certainly pretty decent given his modest supporting casts and he's also thrown 20 touchdowns while being picked off just 14 times. The presence of cornerbacks Champ Bailey and Dre Bly make Denver's pass defense look scary, but that's actually not the case.

Denver has struggled against the pass for much of the season, allowing opposing quarterbacks to post an 88.2 rating that ranks seventh-best in the league, and the Texans will be chucking it plenty given their banged-up backfield. I like Rosenfels as a mid-level QB2 option this week and wouldn't hesitate to start him over Jeff Garcia, David Garrard, Vince Young, Philip Rivers, Kyle Orton, Todd Collins, Chris Redman, Tarvaris Jackson, Kyle Boller, and Trent Edwards.
sandiegochargers.com
While Rosenfels tries to supplant Gregg Rosenthal as Daily Dose's favorite Rosensomething?right now he's still stuck behind FOXSports.com baseball writer Ken Rosenthal and 1953 AL MVP Al Rosen, but is quite a bit ahead of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg?here are some other notes from around football ? Tampabaybuccaneers.com

* Coach Mike Shanahan has predictably avoided naming a starter for Thursday night's game and it's never safe to assume anything when it comes to the Broncos' backfield, but it seems obvious that Selvin Young will start against the Texans. Young has started over a relatively healthy Travis Henry in back-to-back weeks and racked up 156 yards on 17 carries Sunday against the Chiefs, giving the undrafted rookie an impressive 5.7-yard average overall.

The potential for Shanahan to do something unexpected by sticking Henry back into the lineup makes it tough to rely on Young as a low-level RB1, but he has a favorable matchup against the Texans and is definitely an upper-level RB2 option. Henry is no more than a mediocre RB3/Flex option at this point and has totaled just 220 yards on 67 carries (3.3 yards per carry) since turning in three 100-yard games during the season's first month.

* Kolby Smith came out of nowhere with a 150-yard, two-touchdown performance starting in place of Larry Johnson and Priest Holmes in Week 12 against the Raiders, but was merely decent versus the Chargers in Week 13 and then got completely shut down Sunday against the Broncos. Even worse, Smith suffered an ankle injury while gaining 12 yards on 13 carries and coach Herm Edwards said Tuesday that he's "questionable" for Week 14.
kansascitychiefs.com
Of course, Edwards then sent a mixed message by noting that Smith played through the injury for a chunk of Sunday's game and "should be good to go" this week. Whatever the case, Smith is no better than an iffy low-level RB2 option given that he's banged up and facing a very tough matchup against a healthy (or at least healthier) Albert Haynesworth and the Titans. If it looks like he could be a game-time decision, then you'll definitely want to stay away. tennesseetitans.com

* After sitting out Week 14 with a concussion, Marc Bulger said Monday that he's feeling better and he's expected to practice Wednesday. "There are no more tests to be done," coach Scott Linehan said. "It's now about how he feels." Third-stringer Brock Berlin actually looked decent in place of Bulger and Gus Frerotte on Sunday, but it sounds like Bulger is set to rejoin the lineup. Unfortunately, with Green Bay and Pittsburgh next on the schedule he's now far from a good bet.

Two-Minute Drill: With his first year at the helm having gone about as poorly as possible, coach Bobby Petrino stepped down from his job with the Falcons on Tuesday, stuck his tail between his legs, and returned to the college ranks at Arkansas ? Petrino's departure is bad news for Chris Redman, but the good news is that the next person in charge of the Falcons may actually notice that Jerious Norwood is the team's best running back ? Asked Tuesday about Brandon Jacobs fumbling twice in Week 14, coach Tom Coughlin said: "It's got to be understood and it's got to be corrected" ? Coach Eric Mangini said Tuesday that Kellen Clemens will start in Week 15 against the Patriots ? DeAngelo Williams got just five touches Sunday, but was actually on the field for more snaps (33) than starter DeShaun Foster (24) ? It may stall John Beck's development, but Cleo Lemon rejoining the starting lineup in Week 15 gives Miami the best chance to avoid a winless season ? I'm hesitant to call something "the best news of the week" on Wednesday?for instance, there's still plenty of time for Elisha Cuthbert to see the light, move to Minnesota, and become a fantasy football wife?but the leader in the clubhouse is definitely Bryant Gumbel skipping Thursday night's game because of a sore throat. carolinapanthers.com

Red Zone: With Rex Grossman (knee) reportedly done for the season, the Bears figure to go with former starter Kyle Orton over Brian Griese during the final three games ? Justin Fargas said Tuesday that his ribs are bruised rather than broken, adding that he "should be good" to start in Week 15 against the Colts ? Larry Johnson (foot) has predictably been ruled out for Week 15 and continues to be unlikely to take the field again this season ? Brian Westbrook (knee) appears on the Eagles' injury report this week, but figures to be ready to go against the Cowboys ? Javon Walker (knee) practiced Tuesday after sitting out Week 14, with coach Mike Shanahan saying afterward that he "went full speed" ? [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=3147"]Alex Smith[/URL] previously denied reports that he was set to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery, but the 49ers announced Tuesday that he'll indeed go under the knife ? Brandon Stokley (knee) sat out Tuesday's practice and figures to be a game-time decision Thursday night ? As expected, the Cardinals placed Leonard Pope (ankle) on season-ending injured reserve Tuesday.

Hache Man · Dec 12, 2007

Re: Fantasy Football News 2007

Week 15 Rankings
Blame it on the rain. I looked hard at Carson Palmer's disastrous effort against the Rams to see if there was any reason for Palmer, Chad Johnson, and T.J. Houshmandzadeh owners to be concerned this week. I'm not worried. Palmer's slow day was because of the driving rain in Cincinnati and the presence of Brock Berlin in the Rams' lineup.

The Bengals got a commanding two score lead early and stayed conservative. Considering that Berlin only led the Rams offense to three points all day, it was a reasonable approach. A drop by Houshmandzadeh led to one interception, and another Housh fumble killed a drive. The rain was a huge factor in the turnovers and the conservative play.

It's been a disappointing season for Palmer, who hasn't taken the next step towards Peytondom like we expected. He's clearly not a mudder, struggling in bad weather games. The forecast for San Francisco on Saturday, however, calls for clear skies and a rebound effort by the Bengals passing game against a listless 49ers team. Now you have an excuse to watch the game.

[SIZE=+1]Week 15 Quarterbacks[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Tom Brady</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Tony Romo</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Drew Brees</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Peyton Manning</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Brett Favre</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Carson Palmer</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Kurt Warner</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Matt Hasselbeck</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Derek Anderson</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Jay Cutler</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Ben Roethlisberger</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Jon Kitna</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Eli Manning</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Donovan McNabb</TD><TD>at DAL</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Marc Bulger</TD><TD>vs. GB</TD><TD>Status Uncertain</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Jeff Garcia</TD><TD>vs. ATL</TD><TD>Status Uncertain</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>David Garrard</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Vince Young</TD><TD>at KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Sage Rosenfels</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Philip Rivers</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>Questionable(knee)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Todd Collins</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Kyle Orton</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Chris Redman</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Trent Edwards</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Tarvaris Jackson</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Kyle Boller</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Kellen Clemens</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Cleo Lemon</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>29</TD><TD>Vinny Testaverde</TD><TD>vs. SEA</TD><TD>Matt Moore could start </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>30</TD><TD>Brodie Croyle</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>31</TD><TD>Shaun Hill</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>32</TD><TD>Josh McCown</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>Will lose snaps</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>33</TD><TD>JaMarcus Russell</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Note: Just like the last two weeks, we've decided to post our rankings early for you. The usual notes will be added Thursday. Good luck!
oaklandraiders.com

[SIZE=+1]Week 15 Running Backs[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>LaDainian Tomlinson</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Brian Westbrook</TD><TD>at DAL</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Joseph Addai</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4169"]Adrian Peterson[/URL]</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Ryan Grant</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Willis McGahee</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Earnest Graham</TD><TD>vs. ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1663"]Steven Jackson[/URL]</TD><TD>vs. GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Frank Gore</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Marion Barber</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Jamal Lewis</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Selvin Young</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Brandon Jacobs</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Willie Parker</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Clinton Portis</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Marshawn Lynch</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Kevin Jones</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Justin Fargas</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>Expected to start</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Rudi Johnson</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>LenDale White</TD><TD>at KC</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Edgerrin James</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Chester Taylor</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Aaron Stecker</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Maurice Jones-Drew</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Thomas Jones</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Shaun Alexander</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Laurence Maroney</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Darius Walker</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>Ranked as if starting; watch Dayne</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Fred Taylor</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4169"]Adrian Peterson[/URL]</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Kolby Smith</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>Questionable(knee)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Jerious Norwood</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>DeShaun Foster</TD><TD>vs. SEA</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>34</TD><TD>Fred Jackson</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>35</TD><TD>Jesse Chatman</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>Questionable(ankle)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>36</TD><TD>Travis Henry</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>37</TD><TD>Julius Jones</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>38</TD><TD>Warrick Dunn</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>39</TD><TD>Maurice Morris</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>40</TD><TD>Kenton Keith</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>Status Uncertain</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>41</TD><TD>DeAngelo Williams</TD><TD>vs. SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>42</TD><TD>Chris Brown</TD><TD>at KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>43</TD><TD>Kevin Faulk</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>44</TD><TD>Reuben Droughns</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>45</TD><TD>Ladell Betts</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>46</TD><TD>DeDe Dorsey</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>47</TD><TD>Adimchinobe Echemandu</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>48</TD><TD>Kenny Watson</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>49</TD><TD>Samkon Gado</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>Move up to Chatman's spot if starting </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>50</TD><TD>T.J. Duckett</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>51</TD><TD>Correll Buckhalter</TD><TD>at DAL</TD><TD>Questionable(concussion)</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

indianapoliscolts.com

[SIZE=+1]Week 15 Wide Receivers[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Randy Moss</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Braylon Edwards</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Terrell Owens</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Larry Fitzgerald</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD>Questionable (groin)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Marques Colston</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>T.J. Houshmandzadeh</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Andre Johnson</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Reggie Wayne</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Brandon Marshall</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Chad Johnson</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Greg Jennings</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Wes Welker</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Plaxico Burress</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Joey Galloway</TD><TD>vs. ATL</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Torry Holt</TD><TD>vs. GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Lee Evans</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Roddy White</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Bobby Engram</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Bernard Berrian</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Deion Branch</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Donald Driver</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Hines Ward</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Shaun McDonald</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Jerricho Cotchery</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Derrick Mason</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Laveranues Coles</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>Questionable(ankle)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=378"]Kevin Curtis[/URL]</TD><TD>at DAL</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Santana Moss</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Bryant Johnson</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>30</TD><TD>Patrick Crayton</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>31</TD><TD>Anthony Gonzalez</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4227"]Steve Smith[/URL]</TD><TD>vs. SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>Brandon Stokley</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>Questionable(knee)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>34</TD><TD>Kevin Walter</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>35</TD><TD>Chris Chambers</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>36</TD><TD>Calvin Johnson</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>37</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4226"]Chris Henry[/URL]</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>38</TD><TD>Donte' Stallworth</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>39</TD><TD>Dwayne Bowe</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>40</TD><TD>Justin Gage</TD><TD>at KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>41</TD><TD>Reggie Brown</TD><TD>at DAL</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>42</TD><TD>Nate Burleson</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>43</TD><TD>Santonio Holmes</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>Not 100%</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>44</TD><TD>Ronald Curry</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>45</TD><TD>Jerry Porter</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>46</TD><TD>Mike Furrey</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>47</TD><TD>Reggie Williams</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>48</TD><TD>Amani Toomer</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>49</TD><TD>Arnaz Battle</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>Questionable(ankle)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>50</TD><TD>Isaac Bruce</TD><TD>vs. GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>51</TD><TD>Ike Hilliard</TD><TD>vs. ATL</TD><TD>Questionable(knee)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>52</TD><TD>Mark Clayton</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>53</TD><TD>Sidney Rice</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>54</TD><TD>Joe Jurevicius</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>Questionable(knee)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>55</TD><TD>David Patten</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>greenbaypackers.com

[SIZE=+1]Week 15 Tight Ends[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Antonio Gates</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Kellen Winslow</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Jason Witten</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Tony Gonzalez</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Chris Cooley</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Owen Daniels</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Vernon Davis</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Dallas Clark</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Jeremy Shockey</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>Probable(abdomen)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Heath Miller</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Donald Lee</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Ben Watson</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Alge Crumpler</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Desmond Clark</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Greg Olsen</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Tony Scheffler</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Zach Miller</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>L.J. Smith</TD><TD>at DAL</TD><TD>Questionable(knee)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Randy McMichael</TD><TD>vs. GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Marcedes Lewis</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Eric Johnson</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Chris Baker</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>Probable(back)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Bo Scaife</TD><TD>at KC</TD><TD>Probable(shoulder)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Daniel Wilcox</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>Probable(hip)</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>newyorkgiants.com

[SIZE=+1]Week 15 Team Defense[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Packers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Colts Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Titans Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Vikings Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Ravens Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Buccaneers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Seahawks Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Bengals Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Patriots Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Chargers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Giants Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Steelers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Bears Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Cowboys Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Chiefs Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Redskins Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Jaguars Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Broncos Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Lions Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Texans Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Browns Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Dolphins Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Saints Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Bills Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Fortyniners Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Falcons Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Panthers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Rams Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Cardinals Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Eagles Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Raiders Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Jets Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
buffalobills.com
[SIZE=+1]Week 15 Kickers[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Mason Crosby</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Nick Folk</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Jason Hanson</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Josh Brown</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Stephen Gostkowski</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Shayne Graham</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Phil Dawson</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Adam Vinatieri</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Rob Bironas</TD><TD>at KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Robbie Gould</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Kris Brown</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Nate Kaeding</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Jason Elam</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Neil Rackers</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>David Akers</TD><TD>at DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Josh Scobee</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Sebastian Janikowski</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Jeff Reed</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Olindo Mare</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Jeff Wilkins</TD><TD>vs. GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Rian Lindell</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Lawrence Tynes</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Matt Stover</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Ryan Longwell</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Matt Bryant</TD><TD>vs. ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Mike Nugent</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Jay Feely</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>John Kasay</TD><TD>vs. SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Shaun Suisham</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Morten Andersen</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>John Carney</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Joe Nedney</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Dec 13, 2007

Re: Fantasy Football News 2007

What's Wrong With Big Ben?
Ben Roethlisberger sat out Wednesday's practice and has admitted to playing through shoulder soreness recently. His status for Week 15 likely isn't in any serious doubt, but in light of the arm problems it's worth noting that his performance has dipped of late following a great first half of the season. Through eight games, Big Ben averaged 8.4 yards per attempt while throwing for 20 touchdowns and six interceptions, posting a fantastic 111.9 quarterback rating.

Over the past five games he's averaged 7.0 yards per attempt (down 17 percent) while throwing six touchdowns and five interceptions, which adds up to a mediocre 86.3 rating. Adding to the concern is that the decline in his production has come despite favorable on-paper matchups against the Browns, Jets, Dolphins, and Bengals. In fact, the only truly "tough" matchup that Roethlisberger has faced over that five-game stretch came Sunday against the Patriots.

Roethlisberger threw for at least 200 yards in seven of the first nine games and had four-plus touchdowns in three of them, but hasn't thrown for more than two scores since Week 9 and hasn't topped 200 yards since Week 10. He narrowly remains a QB1 despite a relatively tough Week 15 matchup against the Jaguars and finishes the season favorably with road games against the Rams and Ravens, but don't count on the guy who posted those huge first-half stats showing up.

While Steelers fans hope that a banged-up receiving corps played a big part in Roethlisberger's in-season decline, here are some other notes from around football ?

* Both Selvin Young and Travis Henry are absent from the Broncos' injury report, making it likely that Young will start Thursday night against the Texans despite coach Mike Shanahan refusing to officially name a starter. Houston's run defense has struggled all season, including giving up an average of 4.7 yards per carry and 124 yards per game over the past three weeks, so it's a great on-paper matchup for the Broncos' running game.

As usual Shanahan's unpredictability when it comes to divvying up carries presents a risk, but Bill Williamson of the Denver Post wrote Wednesday that he expects Young to receive the bulk of the workload. Young rushed for 156 yards on 17 carries in Week 14 and has played over Henry on third downs all year, but Henry could steal a touchdown while getting goal-line work. Even with The Shanahan Factor and Henry looming as a vulture, Young looks like a low-level RB1.

* Larry Fitzgerald was able to play through a groin injury Sunday thanks to a custom-made girdle (seriously), but reportedly moved "gingerly" while being limited in practice Wednesday. Of course, Fitzgerald played at less than full strength against the Seahawks in Week 14 and still managed 79 yards and a touchdown on six catches, so he's clearly capable of producing big numbers while somewhat hobbled. arizonacardinals.com

Meanwhile, Anquan Boldin sat out Wednesday's practice while wearing a walking boot on his dislocated toe and looks unlikely to suit up this week despite saying repeatedly that he hopes to play. If Boldin sits, then Bryant Johnson will once again start alongside Fitzgerald after managing just one catch in Week 14. The good news is that the one catch was a five-yard touchdown and Johnson was actually targeted nine times. arizonacardinals.com

Barring a major change in the next 48 hours, don't count on having Boldin in your lineup Sunday and feel free to use Johnson as a solid WR3/Flex option. He'll post better numbers if he gets another nine balls thrown his way and Kurt Warner should be chucking it plenty in what figures to be a high-scoring game against the Saints. Fitzgerald is somewhat risky and you'll want to check back on his status before committing to him, but without Boldin in the picture he's a clear WR1.

* For the many optimistic Marvin Harrison owners who e-mail me each week asking when they can expect him to return, Peyton Manning provided yet another sign that you can stop holding your breath. Asked Wednesday about Harrison's status, Manning said: "Nobody really has any clue around here about Marvin and what's going on there. I don't know anything and I don't think anybody else knows anything." indianapoliscolts.com

Needless to say that Harrison is unlikely to play in Week 15 against the Raiders and, as was speculated in this space over a month go, probably won't push himself to get back before the playoffs. Manning called Anthony Gonzalez "the guy" while speaking about Harrison's situation and the rookie looks like a solid WR3/Flex option after producing a pair of 100-yard games over the past three weeks (including his first two NFL touchdowns Sunday).

* Jesse Chatman left Week 13 after aggravating an ankle injury and then sat out Sunday's game, but returned to practice Wednesday on a limited basis and indicated afterward that he expects to play this week. "I'm not going to miss this for nothing in the world," Chatman said. Unfortunately, with Samkon Gado around to steal carries and Lorenzo Booker around to steal third-down work, even a healthy Chatman is little more than a decent RB3/Flex option against the Ravens. miamidolphins.com

Two-Minute Drill: [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4169"]Adrian Peterson[/URL] has finally given up the league rushing lead after the 49ers shockingly held him to three yards on 14 carries Sunday, but looked healthy despite his rare struggles and figures to bounce back in a big way against the Bears ? Brandon Jacobs is fully healthy, but might see his workload lessened after fumbling twice in Week 14 ? Coach Lane Kiffin said Wednesday that Josh McCown will start against the Colts in Week 15, but rookie JaMarcus Russell is expected to play multiple series ? Santonio Holmes (ankle) practiced fully Wednesday and is absent from the Steelers' injury report ? Coach Cam Cameron announced Wednesday that Cleo Lemon will resume starting for the winless Dolphins, with rookie John Beck heading back to the bench after some major struggles ? Titans offensive coordinator Norm Chow is expected to interview for the head-coaching gig at UCLA later this week ? Interim coach Emmitt Thomas said Wednesday that Chris Redman will remain the Falcons' starter Sunday against the Bucs.
oaklandraiders.com WEBSITE.WS - Your Internet Address For Life?
Red Zone: Reggie Bush (knee) said Wednesday that he hopes to return in Week 17, but he's unlikely to play through the injury if the Saints are out of the playoff picture by then ? Todd Heap (hamstring) said Wednesday that he hasn't considering shutting it down for the season, but he's played just once since Week 4 and likely won't suit up Sunday ? Marc Bulger (concussion) looks set to start in Week 15 after taking first-team reps during Wednesday's practice ? Philip Rivers (knee) took Wednesday's practice off, but indicated afterward that he expects to play in Week 15 against the Lions ? Laveranues Coles (ankle) was limited in practice Wednesday, but remains likely to play in Week 15 against the Patriots ? Patrick Crayton (ankle) wore a walking boot earlier this week, but an MRI came back negative and he practiced fully Wednesday ? D.J. Hackett (ankle) has been ruled out for Week 15 and is far from guaranteed to have an impact again this season ? Ike Hilliard (back) was limited in practice Wednesday, with coach Jon Gruden saying afterward that "he's just a sore guy" ? As expected, Trent Dilfer (concussion) has been ruled out for Week 15, giving Shaun Hill his first career start against the Bengals. sandiegochargers.com kansascitychiefs.com

Hache Man · Dec 14, 2007

Re: Fantasy Football News 2007

The Forgotten No. 1
Houston received a lot of criticism for passing on both Reggie Bush and Vince Young to select Mario Williams with the first overall pick in the 2006 draft, but the Texans' decision is looking better all the time. Bush has been a huge disappointment running the ball and may be done for the season because of a knee injury, and Young has taken a major step back in his sophomore season (although I remain a big fan).

Meanwhile, Williams dominated the Broncos on Thursday night, racking up 3.5 sacks while repeatedly beating left tackle Matt Lepsis with both speed and power. After managing just five sacks as a rookie and a total of nine sacks in his first 22 career games, Williams has taken down the quarterback nine times in the past five weeks. Now up to 13 sacks on the year, Williams ranks second in the league behind only Patrick Kerney's 13.5.

For all the knashing of teeth and mocking of then-Texans general manager Charley Casserly, I suspect that quite a few teams would gladly grab Williams over both Bush and Young if given the choice right now. Despite fans' general tendency to undervalue non-skill position players and the temptation to rush to judgment while assuming that great college performances translate directly to the pros, Williams has a chance to be an extremely special player very soon.

While I amuse myself by Googling all the strongly worded articles about the Williams-Bush-Young situation that were written back in 2006, here are some other notes from around football ?

* Yesterday's Daily Dose discussed Ben Roethlisberger's sore shoulder and declining production, and now the Pittsburgh Post Gazette reports that Big Ben's status for Week 15 is "a mystery." Roethlisberger has missed back-to-back practices and could be a game-time decision Sunday, but hasn't missed a game since returning from his emergency appendectomy last season and figures to play. Just don't count on big numbers against the Jaguars. He's a low-level QB1.

* With the running game uncharacteristically struggling, Javon Walker playing at far less than full capacity, and Brandon Stokley inactive, the Broncos' offensive attack Thursday night was limited to Brandon Marshall, Tony Scheffler, and a bunch of screen passes to Selvin Young. Jay Cutler still managed decent numbers with 254 yards and a touchdown, but it wasn't an encouraging overall performance heading into a tough Week 16 matchup against the Chargers.

Marshall looked to be on the verge of a monster game while essentially serving as the team's entire offense in the first half, totaling 83 yards on nine catches, but managed just two grabs after halftime and was held without a catch for the final 20 minutes. Disappointing finish and all, "Baby T.O." has double-digit catches in back-to-back games and is within striking distance of a 100-catch season in his second year after producing a modest 309 yards on 20 grabs as a rookie.

* Earlier this week I made the case for Sage Rosenfels as a solid QB2 option and he made me look good Thursday night, throwing for 200 yards and one touchdown while running for a second score. Rosenfels' numbers could have been more impressive if the Texans didn't go into clock-killing mode late and his odds of starting somewhere in 2008 continue to rise with each solid performance filling in for Matt Schaub. He's steadily moving up in the Rosensomething Rankings.

* Anquan Boldin wore a walking boot to protect his dislocated toe while skipping Wednesday's practice, but got back on the field in a limited capacity Thursday and now looks capable of suiting up in Week 15. "Unless anything happens, I should be out there Sunday," Boldin said. He's far from a lock to play against the Saints and you'll need to check back on his status before officially sticking him in your lineup, but he'd be a decent (albeit risky) WR2 option. arizonacardinals.com

* [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4169"]Adrian Peterson[/URL] has hogged every bit of the rookie spotlight and rightfully so, but on the other side of the ball 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis is quietly having an amazing freshman year too. Willis has officially been credited with 136 tackles through 13 games, although the 49ers say that he's actually made a ridiculous 183 stops. The No. 11 overall pick has been so good that Chad Johnson broke character Thursday and heaped heavy praise on him while speaking to the media.

"He's the real deal!" Johnson said, no doubt buttering Willis up in preparation for their prime-time matchup Saturday night. "All during film, I'm calling him 'Bam-Bam'. He's the truth. I don't know anything about playing the position, but I know when someone is doing something right because he's making every damn play." Willis has double-digit tackles in eight games, including back-to-back 18-tackle efforts in Week 13 and Week 14.
buffalobills.com
Two-Minute Drill: Marshawn Lynch is absent from the Bills' injury report and has a very favorable Week 15 matchup against the Browns that could be even juicier if the weather in Cleveland is as bad as expected ? Glenn Martinez started Thursday night over Javon Walker, which is a bad sign for Walker's chances of making an impact in the final two games ? Coach Lovie Smith said Thursday that rookie Garrett Wolfe will "hopefully" be a bigger part of the Bears' offense going forward, which could wreck [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4169"]Adrian Peterson[/URL]'s modest fantasy value ? A pending free agent who's one good game from cracking the 1,000-yard mark, Jamal Lewis said Thursday that he's "not concerned at all" about his contract status ? Joey Harrington has moved ahead of Byron Leftwich on the Falcons' depth chart, but Chris Redman will still get the Week 15 start against the Bucs ? Coach John Fox said Thursday that the Panthers' starting quarterback could be a game-time decision this week, but he can't be blamed much for putting off a choice between 43-year-old Vinny Testaverde and undrafted rookie Matt Moore for as long possible. carolinapanthers.com
sandiegochargers.com
Red Zone: Antonio Gates (hip, back) sat out Thursday's practice for the second straight day, but coach Norv Turner indicated afterward that he's not overly concerned about his Week 15 status ? Todd Heap (hamstring) skipped practice Thursday and looks likely to miss yet another game Sunday ? Jeff Garcia (back) practiced fully Thursday, with coach Jon Gruden saying afterward that "he looked sharp" ? After returning to practice on a limited basis Thursday, Philip Rivers (knee) said that "the plan" is for him to start Sunday against the Lions ? Terry Glenn (knee) said "don't rule me out" while indicating Thursday that he could make his season debut in Week 15, but the Cowboys will likely play it safe by keeping him sidelined for at least one more week ? Roddy White skipped Thursday's practice because of knee soreness, but is expected to workout Friday and play Sunday ? Justin Fargas (ribs) put in a full practice Thursday and is set to face the Colts in Week 15 ? Meanwhile, LaMont Jordan revealed Thursday that he's been icing his injured back since training camp and said that he "can't wait" for the season to end. oaklandraiders.com

Hache Man · Dec 14, 2007

Re: Fantasy Football News 2007

Big Scores in the Big Easy
There are, each week, great players with good matchups I don't bring up. Would I really need to tell you Peyton Manning's a solid play against the Jets? Of course not. You know that already, or you need more help than I can provide you. indianapoliscolts.com

One of those players was [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4169"]Adrian Peterson[/URL], who last week drew the 29th-ranked rush defense of the 49ers. Of course, he ended up with a grand total of 3 yards on 14 carries in a game that sank his fantasy owners' playoff hopes. What does it go to show? Sometimes, for all the planning, scouting, and research you do, stuff happens. You've just gotta hope it doesn't happen to you.

Quarterbacks

Oakland has a plan to start Josh McCown, but to also give JaMarcus Russell some time in relief. Either way, they'll be up against the defensive behemoth of the Indianapolis Colts, and neither should be a starter this week.

Albert Haynesworth has returned, and with the defensive MVP candidate in the starting lineup, there's trouble brewing for Brodie Croyle, who goes from "emergency start" to "break glass in case of John Beck" this week.

Yes, so they got torched by New England. So does most everyone else. Pittsburgh's pass defense, when they're not guaranteeing things, is still beastly. David Garrard specializes in avoiding turnovers, but Pittsburgh may force him into one or two this week. jacksonvillejaguars.com

Chris Redman had a very respectable 18 points against New Orleans' porous pass defense last week. This week, Kurt Warner gets to ride the points-go-round. He's a must-start unless you have an absolute stud at quarterback.

They may have stopped [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4169"]Adrian Peterson[/URL], but the 49ers pass defense made Tarvaris Jackson look good. Not a good thing. That's good news for Carson Palmer owners, as the Cincinnati quarterback could have a huge game Saturday night against Nate Clements and co.

The playoff-esque game between Cleveland-Buffalo is likely to be high-scoring, with two dire pass defenses squaring off. I see nice things for both Derek Anderson and Trent Edwards.

Running Back

We said to bench Joseph Addai because of Indy backs' struggles against the Ravens. Addai only had a handful of yards...but because of short fields, he had three touchdowns. Oh well. This week, against the Raiders, Addai is the most valuable fantasy property in fantasy football. indianapoliscolts.com

Miami's defense isn't much better than its offense, particularly on the ground. That means a nice day is in the cards for Willis McGahee in his old stomping grounds. buffalobills.com

Atlanta's rush defense was bad under Bobby Petrino. Could it really be worse without him? We'll find out this week, but I'd put Earnest Graham in while we're finding out. Tampabaybuccaneers.com

The Vikings defense bottled up Frank Gore last week -- they should be able to do the same to The other [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4169"]Adrian Peterson[/URL], perhaps to defend their own.

Baltimore's rush defense blows away Miami's. That means watch out, Jesse Chatman. Just consider taking a knee. miamidolphins.com

With all the focus on Brett Favre. no one's really noticed that Green Bay has the fifth-best rush defense in football. That should slow down [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1663"]Steven Jackson[/URL] some this week.

Wide Receiver

Oakland might be able to contain Reggie Wayne some -- he's still a start in most leagues, but not the automatic start he normally is.

On the other hand, Indy is #2 at stopping #1's, so Ronald Curry should mostly be a non-factor this week.

Tampa's done a wonderful job with #1 wideouts as well. That should spell the end of Roddy White's nice streak.

Seattle's done a number on those same #1 wideouts too, so put [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4227"]Steve Smith[/URL] in the same boat as Wayne. carolinapanthers.com

I'd find space for Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4226"]Chris Henry[/URL], and Lee Evans this week. arizonacardinals.com

Tight End

Sit: Oakland tight ends, Chicago tight ends, Alge Crumpler, ATL
Start: L.J. Smith, PHI, David Martin, MIA, Robert Royal, BUF

Hache Man · Dec 15, 2007

Re: Fantasy Football News 2007

Start or sit Big Ben, others?
There is little left to the season other than figuring out your best lineup for this week's playoff game. You're not tearing up the roster, you're not making a bunch of wild trades and most of your stress is coming from one or two difficult decisions (if not looking at your opponent's roster).

So let's get into everybody's favorite game ? start or sit ? and try to hit as many interesting players as possible. For this exercise, assume the other choice in a potential decision is a good one. For example, when looking at Peyton Manning, the other option is Derek Anderson, not Brodie Croyle.

Quarterbacks

Jeff Garcia. With the Bucs losing a little of their cushion, Garcia will get the call after Luke McCown's debacle last week. And fortunately for Garcia, he faces a Falcons team on a short week with a spotty secondary that he already burned for two touchdown passes in their first meeting of the season. Start. Tampabaybuccaneers.com

Peyton Manning. You'll hear about this because the Raiders have allowed only 10 passing TDs, tied for fewest in the league. That is mostly because their run defense is so bad, and the Colts will hand out a heavy serving of Joseph Addai. But they also are not afraid to throw short routes and let receivers run through this non-tackling defense. Start. indianapoliscolts.com

Ben Roethlisberger. Bad Ben has returned, as he has thrown one or zero TDs in three of the past four games and has not hit 200 yards in any of the four. Blame weather if you want, but the Steelers are at home again this week. Up are the Jaguars, who have given up three passing TDs in their past four games against anybody but Manning. This one has slop written all over it. Sit.

Kurt Warner. Overall, any quarterback against the Saints is a good play. But Warner's interceptions plus a team on the rocks are a disconcerting tandem. Not having Anquan Boldin, even if Larry Fitzgerald is OK, hurts no matter how bad the Saints' secondary is. Sit. arizonacardinals.com

Running backs

Shaun Alexander. In a game last week in which the Seahawks led by at least 17 points most of the way, getting only 10 carries for 38 yards (25 on one play) is sad. After a semi-promising return the week before, Alexander is back to being a huge potential liability and could lose meaningful touches to Maurice Morris. You can't have that risk now. Sit.

Justin Fargas. You had your fun with the Huggy Bear Jr. jokes, and, hopefully, you enjoyed that recent five-game stretch with three TDs and an average of 106 rushing yards. But reality now is a solid Colts run defense that has allowed just eight rushing TDs. And with the Colts often getting big leads and taking opposing offenses out of their game, reality is not pretty. Sit. oaklandraiders.com

Frank Gore. There is no shame in wanting to hate him, but don't let emotion cloud the judgment of an otherwise rare chance to play him. The Bengals still have the league's 22nd-ranked run defense, and the 49ers, assuming Shaun Hill makes his first career start, will give that defense plenty of work. Start.

Maurice Jones-Drew. If he has a successful day, it will be one of those 28-yard, one-TD affairs. The Steelers have the league's No. 2 run defense, they're at home coming off a loss, and Fred Taylor is the workhorse back these days for the Jaguars. Sit. jacksonvillejaguars.com

[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4169"]Adrian Peterson[/URL] (the real one). You didn't predict that 3-yard day against the 49ers, but don't back down now. You didn't capitalize on any of his huge games by being afraid. The Bears continue to slip against the run, allowing 123.2 yards (25th) and 14 rushing TDs (30th, tied). Start.

Selvin Young. His 156-yard game against the Chiefs was one of those out-of-nowhere, Mike Shanahan specials when all the world thought Travis Henry was poised for a huge week. Lack of information will be the biggest problem on this short week, not a matchup against the Texans. Until knowing otherwise, expect Young to be the lead guy again. Start.

Wide receivers

Plaxico Burress. Few receivers spark as much concern as the inconsistent Burress, who got back in everybody's good graces with 136 yards and a TD last week. He looks spry and ready to capitalize as the Giants lock in on their playoff position. A thin Redskins secondary gives up plenty of big plays, and you can't bail on Burress if he has gotten you here. Start. newyorkgiants.com

Patrick Crayton. The Eagles broke down in their loss in the teams' first meeting, when the defense succumbed to the Cowboys' big plays. They should have an answer in the rematch, and that will help limit Crayton's effectiveness. He does have five of his seven TDs at home, but he also is too unreliable for the postseason unless necessary. Sit.

Lee Evans. If you banked on two TDs last week, including a 70-yarder, you have been redefining the banking industry. The 70-yard TD was Trent Edwards' biggest play of the season, and his dink-and-dunk reliance saps Evans' value. Yet the Browns' still-vulnerable defense remains enticing. Start.
buffalobills.com
[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4226"]Chris Henry[/URL]. Playing a key role in an offense with as much potential as the Bengals' always earns him a high ranking, but the stats are not in his favor. His yards have declined every week since he returned to the team and hit a low last week. Sure, he has a shot to go big every week. But there is little reason to chase an increasingly desperate play. Sit.

Torry Holt. His 90-yard day last week with Brock Berlin probably looks suspiciously attractive, but it will not happen again if Berlin starts against Green Bay. The Packers have a pair of shutdown cornerbacks (unlike Cincinnati) and will have a game on tape to realize Berlin throws to nobody but Holt. They will make it their mission to take away Holt. Sit.

Brandon Marshall. He keeps showing up on many questionable lists, even though he ought to be a regular start, ideally as a third receiver. He has had fewer than 52 yards once this year and at least 72 yards nine times. No, he might not have snow to toss around in Texas, but wherever he plays, you would not want to overlook his regular contributions. Start.

Tight ends

Chris Cooley. It would take a choice of staggering proportions to knock Cooley from your lineup. That's not just because he is on the verge of a career season, because he already scored once against the Giants this season or because he is averaging 91.8 yards in his past four games. Also watch backup quarterback Todd Collins, who fully grasps the Redskins' offense and how often the tight end should be a target in it. Start.

Tony Gonzalez. You wouldn't think this possible, not with Gonzalez generally having a solid season and coming off a strong game against the Broncos. But the Chiefs are redefining what's possible offensively. Gonzalez also will be nursing a banged-up body this week, and quarterback Croyle generally looks for wide receiver Dwayne Bowe more. Don't wait for the reliable Gonzalez to lift your club when you need it. Sit. kansascitychiefs.com

Defenses

Chicago. Whatever hopes you had for this defense long ago turned into hoping for a Devin Hester return TD for some extra special teams points. That hope is fleeting now that teams are kicking away from Hester, and the defense is not carrying its weight heading into a Monday night showdown against a red-hot Vikings offense that features stud rookie Peterson and is averaging 34.8 points in its past four games. Sit.

Seattle. The Seahawks have turned into a fantasy machine; in the past five games, they have had: five sacks, five interceptions, a defensive touchdown and a safety; four turnovers; four sacks, two turnovers and a special teams TD; five sacks; and a shutout. They have allowed an average of 21.8 points the past four weeks but get a struggling Panthers offense next. Start.
minnesotavikings.com

Hache Man · Dec 17, 2007

Re: Fantasy Football News 2007

Top Heavy
This Sunday is going to leave a mark. It will go down in fantasy football lore as the day Tom Brady's bananas season froze up. The week that a pink Tony Romo jersey and its owner cursed the Cowboys. And in an act of selflessness that goes against all that is fantasy football, the day that Brian Westbrook had a stat-padding touchdown, then decided to sit down, and give it back.

The proudest owners should be the ones who survived the Nor'Easter effects and moved on despite them. Fantasy football is not about building a team around one dominant player, because every player will have a bad week. It's about building the deepest roster, playing the odds, and hoping for luck to take you home.

[SIZE=+1]Don't blame it on the wintry mix[/SIZE]

I don't want to hear owners blame the weather for their season ending. It happens. I'd rather blame it on the stars that played in favorable conditions and still didn't get it done.

1. The Seahawks played in excellent conditions in Carolina, yet didn't score a touchdown until there was one second left in the game. Still, Matt Hasselbeck's meaningless jump ball toss to Deion Branch was one of those moments made for fantasy. They were the anti-Westbrooks.
kansascitychiefs.com
2. The Raiders habitually make runners like Kolby Smith look like All Pros. But their sagging rush defense managed to make Joseph Addai look like Ran Carthon, holding him to 44 rushing yards. Addai hasn't topped 75 rushing yards since Week 9, and now the Colts may begin to rest him for the playoffs. The Colts are the only team I'd worry about resting guys during Week 16. indianapoliscolts.com

3. Tony Romo's bruised thumb was clearly a factor in his poor play, but it's uncertain when it happened. Unless it happened in pregame, it couldn't have been responsible his 0-for-6 start. Romo is streaky, and picked a rough time to have his worst game of the year. Don't expect it to continue Saturday night against Carolina.

4. The Falcons laid down so completely Sunday; the Bucs didn't even need to throw to their wide receivers. And they didn't have a chance to throw to their own. Owners of Joey Galloway (one catch, seven yards) and Roddy White (one catch, four yards) can send their thanks to Flowery Grove, GA c/o Bobby bleeping Petrino. atlantafalcons.com

[SIZE=+1]Play like a champion[/SIZE]

The Weather was no excuse

1. David Garrard laughs at your number one defense and rough conditions, Pittsburgh. And then he wears a fedora in the post-game presser to rub it in. Three touchdowns and 197 yards got it done for his courageous fantasy owners who used him. Even his opponent Ben Roethlisberger managed three scores in tough conditions despite a shaky overall effort.
jacksonvillejaguars.com
2. Poor weather hurts the passing game, but running backs certainly benefit. Jamal Lewis, Fred Taylor, Laurence Maroney, Clinton Portis, and Brandon Jacobs all ran hard while their quarterbacks tried to judge the wind before throwing.

[SIZE=+1]Okay, blame the weather[/SIZE]

1. The sneaky terrible weather game of the week was at the Meadowlands, where swirling winds forced Eli Manning and Todd Collins to combine for 26 completions on 77 attempts. There are a lot of remarkable stats in this one, like the Giants having more drops than the Redskins had completions. And Eli throwing 52 passes. newyorkgiants.com

My favorite stat is that Todd Collins averaged over 20 yards-per-completion despite the conditions. Todd Collins does not care about conventional wisdom. And the Redskins may still make the playoffs.

2. Wind doesn't help deep threats. Lee Evans was targeted 12 times, but only wound up with four catches for 36 yards. Plaxico Burress saw 12 targets, but only caught three passes for 35 yards. Randy Moss needed 13 targets to get his five catches, as Tom Brady forced it to him all day. Santonio Holmes needed eight targets to get four catches for 34 yards.

[SIZE=+1]Searching for Billy Volek[/SIZE]

Once again, Billy Volek had a chance to be this year's Billy Volek when he replaced Philip Rivers after halftime Sunday. Unfortunately, his main role was to hand off to Darren Sproles. So we search on ?

1. Who knew that Reggie Bush's handcuff would be far better than the real thing? With the Saints offense firing on all cylinders, Stecker has piled up 248 total yards and two scores the last two weeks. You can't sit him now.

2. Fred Taylor did it again. He's now topped 100 yards in four straight games and has 303 total yards and two scores in the fantasy playoffs. After a year of quiet competence, Taylor has been the only over-30 back to exceed expectations with his strong playoff push.

3. At this point, Earnest Graham owners probably take him for granted. I don't. The long-time special teams ace and fourth-stringer continues to pile on numbers with the right matchups. The fantasy playoffs set up well for him, and he's knocked them down with 225 yards and three touchdowns in two weeks. Tampabaybuccaneers.com

4. Who cares if Anthony Gonzalez looks like Uncle Fester; he put together back-to-back great efforts for the first time all season when it mattered most. 220 yards and three touchdowns from your third receiver is one way to win a fantasy championship.

5. If you waited for Gado in a flex spot, you weren't disappointed. He's not exactly carrying teams, but 149 total yards and three scores from the waiver wire bin is just fine.


[SIZE=+1]Don't Panic [/SIZE]

1. The weather was a huge factor, but don't discount a Jets defense that confused Tom Brady Sunday. They rarely rushed extra linemen, but the Patriots struggled to get open down the field. When they did, Brady seemed to force it to Randy Moss. There were also many broken plays and miscommunications. It wasn't an ideal day for passing, but execution was still lacking. Chad Pennington may have outplayed Brady.
newyorkjets.com
Look for the Patriots to work the kinks out against Miami next week, weather permitting. They wouldn't rest their players until the game is well in hand in the fourth quarter.

2. Maurice Jones-Drew isn't getting passed over on the goal line in favor of Fred Taylor. Jones-Drew nearly scored three times in one sequence, dropping a possible score, getting pulled down at the one-foot line, and then getting stuffed on the stripe.

[SIZE=+1]Some Panic is Acceptable [/SIZE]

1. Reggie Wayne got Nmandi'd! (I'm thinking this could be a reality show). After Mr. Asamugha held Wayne to 69 yards Sunday, Wayne owners have to wonder if their guy has a big game left. The Colts may begin to rest their starters with a first-round bye clinched, and Wayne would be among the first to take a seat. indianapoliscolts.com

2. Justin Fargas believes he suffered a sprained MCL against the Colts, meaning Dominic Rhodes and LaMont Jordan may finish out the season running for Oakland. If Fargas doesn't play again, let's send some hearty kudos to a mustachioed season no one saw coming: 1,005 rushing yards despite starting only eight games. He just extended his NFL career three seasons. oaklandraiders.com

3. Shaun Alexander hasn't averaged over four yards-per-carry in a game since Week 3. There's a chance he won't even find a job next season.

4. Jabar Gaffney again played ahead of Donte' Stallworth again, although neither made an impact. Gaffney Fever is thankfully over.

5. So much for that Rudi Johnson revival. With the entire Bengals offense struggling during a good fantasy playoff schedule, Rudi's seven-carry, 16-yard effort puts him back in the Alexander zone ? the bench. Rudi is averaging 2.9 yards-per-carry on the season.

6. The good news for Edgerrin James owners is that he got repeated chances to score at the goal line. The bad news is that he was stuffed three straight times. arizonacardinals.com

7. The Falcons had more turnovers (five) than completions (four) Sunday. They only possessed the ball for 17 minutes, and ran 15 fewer plays than Eli Manning threw passes in his game. It takes a special brand of suck to only throw for 34 yards when you lose 37-3. Take that Petrino!

8. Laveranues Coles left after a few plays, apparently re-aggravating his ankle injury when a trainer's table fell on him Saturday night. It would be hard to play him again in the fantasy playoffs. newyorkjets.com

[SIZE=+1]They're real and they're spectacular [/SIZE]

1. Forget Donovan McNabb's passing stats, which again reflected so-so play and the unwillingness to go down the field. His 53 rushing yards were a sight to behold. That equaled Dallas' output on the ground.

2. So much for 10-15 snaps. Anquan Boldin played most of the game against the Saints and grabbed six catches for 83 yards.

3. Kolby Smith's 105 total yard effort against Tennessee may have been the best sign yet that he is going to stick in the NFL. With the Lions and Jets coming up on the schedule, he's back to being a RB2 option.

[SIZE=+1]Committee Time[/SIZE]

The Panthers split the workload between DeAngelo Williams and DeShaun Foster, but Williams didn't make an impact until a 35-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Williams undeniably leads the league in long, late fourth quarter runs. carolinapanthers.com

[SIZE=+1]An Ode to Consistency[/SIZE]

1. As bad as this has been for [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4227"]Steve Smith[/URL] owners, he's caught at least five passes for five straight weeks. While we all expected more than a useful WR3 in PPR leagues, at least he's still useful.

2. For the eighth time this season, Willie Parker topped 100 total yards without scoring. Chris Wesseling points out that the Steelers passed four times as much as they ran in the red zone.

3. There are probably a lot of [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1663"]Steven Jackson[/URL] owners who survived his early injuries, and now are playing for championships. One of the steadiest runners in football since returning for good, Jackson is averaging 128 total yards to go along with four touchdowns in the last six weeks. He's reached 100 total yards in ever game during the streak.

* I'll be taking a closer look at some of the games Pancake Blocks. Thanks for stopping by all season. Hopefully you still have something to play for.

And finally, we're looking for a new face to work alongside me at the high-powered Rotoworld offices ?

Hache Man · Dec 18, 2007

Re: Fantasy Football News 2007

.P. 1, Neck Beard 0
[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4169"]Adrian Peterson[/URL] showed Monday night that he can be both human and effective, leading the Vikings to their fifth straight win despite being bottled up by the Bears' defense for much of the game. Peterson managed just one long run, but his one-yard touchdown tied the game in the third quarter and he turned a botched handoff into what proved to the game-winning score in the fourth quarter, bouncing back after a career-worst performance against the 49ers in Week 14. minnesotavikings.com

Peterson gets a relatively tough matchup against the Redskins in Week 16, so his chances of winning the rushing title despite missing 2.5 games and not starting until Week 8 are looking somewhat slim (he trails Willie Parker by 39 yards and is also 33 yards behind LaDainian Tomlinson). Purple Jesus does have a favorable matchup against the Broncos in Week 17, but the Vikings may have locked up a playoff spot by then and could choose to rest him.

Meanwhile, Kyle Orton's neck beard proved once again that it does not possess magical powers. Orton went 11-of-12 dumping the ball off to running backs, but was just 11-of-26 for 123 yards when he tried to connect with wide receivers and tight ends. His one decent chance for a big play came late in the fourth quarter when he had Bernard Berrian deep for a potential game-tying score, but Orton's off-balance lob was picked off by Darren Sharper at the goal line to end things.

While Tarvaris Jackson improbably improves to 7-2 as a starter this season and Orton reminds everyone why the Bears benched him in the first place, here are some other notes from around football ?

* X-rays on Tony Romo's bruised thumb came back negative Monday and it sounds like he'll suit up Saturday night against the Panthers. No word yet on whether Jessica Simpson will make the trip to Carolina, although my hope is that she decides to watch the game on NFL Network instead. Cowboys fans probably agree, because for whatever reason the two worst games of Romo's career have come with a famous blonde singer rooting him on from a luxury suite.

Wearing a pink Romo jersey and a bucket full of makeup, FOX had Simpson on camera for about half of Sunday's game and play-by-play man Joe Buck refused to stop talking about her long after color commentator Troy Aikman had clearly grown tired of the topic. I'm not so sure that the world is ready for Bryant Gumbel and Chris Collinsworth following suit, although perhaps anything that takes Gumbel away from butchering the actual call of the game would be a positive thing.

Romo's ugly 13-of-36 performance can certainly be blamed largely on his thumb problems, but it's also worth noting that he started the game 0-of-6 even before all the hand-flexing began to take place and made some horrendous decisions forcing the ball into coverage regardless of how hurt he was. Plus, the Eagles' defense also deserves plenty of credit for putting pressure on him throughout and making some big plays in the secondary. He carries quite a bit of risk in Week 16.

* Justin Fargas has racked up 883 total yards and four touchdowns in eight games since grabbing hold of a prominent role in the Raiders' offense back in Week 8, including 96 total yards and a score Sunday. Unfortunately, he exited the loss to the Colts in the fourth quarter with a right knee injury that has been diagnosed as a sprained MCL. The good news is that Fargas cracked the 1,000-yard mark prior to suffering the injury. The bad news is that he's now done for the year. oaklandraiders.com

Fargas will miss the final two games, leaving Dominic Rhodes and LaMont Jordan to fight over carries. Unlike Jordan, Rhodes has at least some chance of being in the team's long-term plans, so he's the favorite to grab the bulk of the workload. Unfortunately, the Raiders finish up the year with games against the Jaguars and Chargers, meaning that their backfield doesn't figure to produce a whole lot of fantasy value regardless of how the touches are divvied up.

* Jeremy Shockey's leg injury Sunday night was almost immediately diagnosed as a fractured fibula (plus ankle damage) and the Giants wasted no time placing him on season-ending injured reserve Monday. Shockey's ability to stretch the field has vanished over the past two seasons and he managed just a single 100-yard game over his last 30 outings, but his loss is still a big blow to New York's passing game and playoff chances.
newyorkgiants.com
In addition to Shockey being out, Plaxico Burress is still limited by ongoing ankle problems, Sinorice Moss left Week 15 with a back injury, and [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4227"]Steve Smith[/URL] is still trying to shake the rust off after missing 11 games with shoulder and hamstring injuries. That leaves Amani Toomer as Eli Manning's healthiest target, but he was held without a catch against the Redskins. Rookie fifth-round pick Kevin Boss will take over for Shockey as the Giants' pass-catching tight end.

* Coach Tony Dungy said Monday that the Colts would "ideally" like to have Marvin Harrison play in a game before the playoffs begin, but team president Bill Polian announced later in the day that Harrison has been ruled out for Week 16. "His knee has healed," Polian said. "It's a matter of conditioning now and until we can put him out there for 60 plays a game, he won't play." The odds remain strong that Harrison will sit until the Colts' first playoff game next month. indianapoliscolts.com

Two-Minute Drill: Coach Tony Dungy said Monday that he won't rest his starters in Week 16 against the Texas, fearing that the Colts would be flat for their first playoff game ? Meanwhile, Tampa Bay has clinched the NFC South title, but coach Jon Gruden said Monday that he won't rest his starters in Week 16 against the 49ers because the Bucs could still claim the No. 3 playoff seed ? John Clayton of ESPN reported Monday that undrafted rookie Matt Moore will "probably" start the Panthers' final two games over Vinny Testaverde ? After throwing five passes in spot duty Sunday, No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell is once again expected to see action off the bench in Week 16 ? [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4226"]Chris Henry[/URL] returned Monday after serving his four-game suspension, but likely won't have much of a role over the final two weeks ? Interim coach Emmitt Thomas said Monday that Chris Redman remains the starter despite an ugly Week 15 that included four completions to Falcons receivers and two completions to Bucs defenders ? Crazy Stat of the Day: Ridiculously underrated Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha has been thrown at a grand total of 27 times in 14 games and has allowed just nine catches all season.
www.washingtonredskins.ws
Red Zone: Coach Sean Payton said Monday that he's "optimistic" about Reggie Bush's (knee) chances of returning in Week 16 against the Eagles, potentially bringing the Aaron Stecker bandwagon to a screeching halt ? Minnesota's win Monday night eliminated the Bears, Lions, Cardinals, and Eagles from playoff contention, meaning that (among other things) [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=35"]Roy Williams[/URL] (knee) won't be returning in Week 17 ? Coach Mike Holmgren said Monday that D.J. Hackett (ankle) is hoping to practice this week and could return Sunday against the Ravens ? Terry Glenn is scheduled to have his surgically repaired knee drained later this week and hopes to make his season debut Saturday night against the Panthers, but likely won't have a big enough role to be a fantasy option until next season ? Coach Brian Billick said Monday that he expects Kyle Boller to start Sunday against the Seahawks despite a concussion and rookie backup Troy Smith's solid relief work ? Michael Turner injured his shoulder Sunday, which explains why it was third-stringer Darren Sproles putting up big garbage-time numbers while mopping up for LaDainian Tomlinson. sandiegochargers.com

Hache Man · Dec 19, 2007

Re: Fantasy Football News 2007

Laveranues, Ankles, and Tables
While the Nnamdi Asomugha fan club here at Rotoworld tries to decide if it's even worth living in a world where the Raiders' criminally underrated shut-down cornerback can inexplicably be passed over for back-to-back Pro Bowls despite allowing a grand total of nine catches in 14 games, here are some notes from around football ?

* Laveranues Coles cemented his status as one of the NFL's toughest wide receivers by playing through a major ankle injury, but his hardiness is no match for a shoddy table. Coles was having his ankle worked on Saturday at the team hotel when the portable training table that he was on reportedly collapsed, aggravating the injury. Coles suited up and started against the Patriots anyway, but left in the first quarter and said afterward that he "just couldn't do it." newyorkjets.com

It's possible that the Jets may place Coles on season-ending injured reserve later this week, but even if he can avoid that there's little reason to count on him as a fantasy option. Coles has essentially missed two of the past four games and without him in the lineup the Jets threw most often to Chris Baker (17 targets), Jerricho Cotchery (15), Justin McCareins (14), Brad Smith (6), Thomas Jones (6), and Leon Washington (5). Baker is a sneaky low-level TE1 option this week.

* Tony Romo was spotted wearing a large wrap on his right hand while at Cowboys headquarters Tuesday, but reportedly was able to "lob" the ball during Dallas' walk-through. "He said he felt better," coach Wade Phillips said. Phillips also indicated that the swelling and bruising in Romo's injured right thumb have decreased. At this point it looks very likely that Romo will play Saturday night against the Panthers, but playing well is another issue.

It may sound crazy, but after watching Romo and his injured thumb struggle mightily against the Eagles in Week 15 there's reason to potentially bench him if you have another elite quarterback option. Romo is still a clear QB1 this week and I'm not suggesting anything truly crazy, but Matt Hasselbeck against the Ravens, Brett Favre against the Bears, and Derek Anderson against the Bengals are all appealing substitutes if there's any doubt about Romo's status as kickoff nears. greenbaypackers.com

* The Redskins have avoided placing Jason Campbell on season-ending injured reserve in the hopes that he can come back from a dislocated kneecap to play again this year, but it seems highly unlikely that he'll see the field again. For the Redskins to risk rushing Campbell back they'll no doubt have to be in the playoff picture come Week 17 and for them to be in the playoff picture come Week 17 they'll have to first beat the Vikings on Sunday. www.washingtonredskins.ws

That's certainly possible, but the problem is that a win over the Vikings would essentially be fill-in Todd Collins' third straight victory. In other words, if the Redskins lose Sunday they'll have no reason to rush Campbell back for Week 17 and if they win Sunday it seems obvious that they'll stick with Collins. Whatever the case, it would have seemed impossible just a month ago that Sunday night's Vikings-Redskins matchup on NBC could be so damn interesting and important.

* Larry Johnson is still hoping to return this season, but the odds of that happening have been extremely slim for over a month now. Johnson hasn't put in a full practice since injuring his foot in Week 9 and Kolby Smith owners can feel safe that he'll start the Chiefs' final two games. Smith gets nice matchups against the Lions and Jets to finish the season, making him a solid mid-level RB2 option after a 105-yard effort against the Titans in Week 15.
kansascitychiefs.com
Two-Minute Drill: Despite five interceptions in Week 15, the Lions will stick with Jon Kitna as their starter over the final two games ? Tony Gonzalez signed a long-term contract extension last offseason, but said Tuesday that he'd be open to a trade if the Chiefs are rebuilding because he's "not playing that much longer" ? Vinny Testaverde returned to practice Tuesday after the 43-year-old missed time last week with "general soreness," but Matt Moore remains likely to start Saturday night against the Cowboys ? Offensive coordinator Ron Turner indicated Tuesday that Kyle Orton will start the Bears' final two games despite a miserable performance Monday night, putting a dent in Bernard Berrian's fantasy value ? Coach Herm Edwards said Tuesday that Dwayne Bowe "hit a wall" three week ago, but the rookie has topped 50 yards in five of the past six games and needs 115 yards over the final two weeks to crack the 1,000-yard mark ? Josh McCown will get the Week 16 start for the Raiders, with JaMarcus Russell once again seeing action off the bench against the Jaguars ? Joe Gibbs said Tuesday that he's "open to the idea" of coaching the Redskins in 2008 and owner Dan Snyder reportedly wants to extend his contract. oaklandraiders.com
sandiegochargers.com
Red Zone: LaDainian Tomlinson feeling a "hamstring twinge" played a part in his sitting out much of Sunday's blowout victory, but the injury isn't expected to be a factor in an extremely favorable Week 16 matchup against the Broncos ? It looks like Todd Heap (hamstring) will avoid season-ending injured reserve, but he's played in just two of the past 10 games and isn't likely to suit up Sunday against the Seahawks ? Torry Holt was limited in practice Tuesday, but it's not overly concerning given that he often takes time off midweek to help his sore knees ? Coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that Ben Roethlisberger (shoulder) is "no worse for the wear" after Week 15 and he has a nice matchup Thursday against the Rams ? Anquan Boldin (toe) and Larry Fitzgerald (groin) are both listed as day-to-day, but barring setbacks each figure to start Sunday against the Falcons ? Coach Wade Phillips said Tuesday that Terry Glenn finally "feels like he's ready to go" after sitting out the first 14 games following knee surgery ?. Sidney Rice has been diagnosed with a sprained ankle, but the injury could be much more serious given that the promising rookie was carted off the field Monday night. arizonacardinals.com

Hache Man · Dec 19, 2007

Re: Fantasy Football News 2007

Weather Permitting
Well, that was ugly. And a couple of days later, the sting still hurts from one of the worst and most unusual fantasy football weekends in recent memory.

It certainly has made for some unexpected championship matchups this week. If you were lucky enough to beat a Tom Brady- or Tony Romo-led team, you are cautiously optimistic about your chances -- probably because you didn't expect to reach the final anyhow.

If you won despite Brady or Brian Westbrook flopping on you, congratulations. Your luck cannot possibly be that bad two weeks in a row. If you lost because Randy Moss did nothing, nothing I write will make you feel better. Those guys picked the worst time to have their worst games and were about as useful as a kick in the groin.

One thing that became clear is the effect bad weather can have, from helping to shut down the Patriots to high winds throwing the Seahawks' passing game for a loop and further hampering the Giants' so-called passing attack.

Weather must be on everybody's minds this week. And with your only thoughts about making sure you field the best starting lineup in the championship game, let's take a look at some of the potential bad-weather games this weekend. Ignore the forecast at this moment because the weekend is still relatively far off. Focus on the actual forecast late Friday and Saturday, with a final check on Sunday morning. And then do what's below if things look bad.

Cleveland at Cincinnati. Both of these defenses have had their problems so let's hope the weather is clear. If it is, this could be another shootout - though not one along the lines of the Browns' 51-45 win in Week 2. If things are bad, Jamal Lewis is the one great play. The Bengals have been so shaky on offense the past three weeks that any sort of adversity is enough reason to try to bench Carson Palmer, Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh. And as good as Derek Anderson has been this year, last week proved that the Browns aren't going to drop huge numbers in a blizzard. clevelandbrowns.com

Green Bay at Chicago. You really shouldn't be playing any Bears to start with. And if things get hairy, don't even think about playing either of the receivers or tight ends, the last remaining Bears who might be slight factors. The Packers are trickier. Ryan Grant is a must-start. But how bad do things have to be to sit Brett Favre or Greg Jennings? greenbaypackers.com

Given Favre's experience in the cold and his season-long consistency, I would want things to be substantially miserable before sitting them. Weather in Soldier Field also can change dramatically, and quickly. The good news for the Packers is that the Bears are bad enough that this game was not moved to the late-afternoon slot for TV, which will help the weather odds.

Miami at New England. First, do not start Greg Camarillo. And then root for, at minimum, acceptable weather because horrible weather clearly has the potential to shut down Brady and Moss. The Dolphins' defense does not, no matter how much they want to defend the honor of their 1972 brethren.
miamidolphins.com
But in anything short of miserable weather, the Patriots should be fine. They have performed well in bitter cold (vs. Philadelphia, vs. Pittsburgh) and in reasonable wind (at Baltimore). It would take a storm at least on par with last week's before I start thinking about sitting anybody out of the norm.

Giants at Buffalo. You should be afraid to start anybody in the Giants passing game other than Plaxico Burress. Jeremy Shockey is down and the possible replacements (Kevin Boss, Michael Matthews) are long shots. Eli Manning, Amani Toomer and others all are unreliable, especially in Buffalo, where chances of good passing weather in late December are slim.
newyorkgiants.com
Buffalo, like Chicago, is one of those places where weather can change dramatically, multiple times, during a game. Wind is a virtual lock and Brandon Jacobs figures to be the best play. Same thing for Buffalo's passing game: Don't start Trent Edwards or Lee Evans. Marshawn Lynch is the only reasonable Bills play, although he will have trouble against a defense that plays well on the road. buffalobills.com

Dallas at Carolina. Wind was a problem last week but is unlikely to be a big issue again. If it howls again, you would want to sit [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4227"]Steve Smith[/URL]. Tony Romo's status depends on his health, not the weather. carolinapanthers.com

Baltimore at Seattle. The Seahawks have played well at home in all kinds of weather. It would take something especially bad to think about sitting Matt Hasselbeck. Against a spotty Ravens secondary, he and any Seahawks receivers you usually start should be great plays. baltimoreravens.com
A few other non-weather items on my mind this week:

The Colts. I don't buy what Tony Dungy is selling about the Colts' starters playing a regular amount this week with nothing on the line. Too often in recent years, the Colts have sat Peyton Manning and others when they have nothing to gain. Maybe they play one half instead of one or two series. I'm not ready to say definitely bench Manning or Joseph Addai, but I would love to have other great options. indianapoliscolts.com

The Texans also catch a big break. Sage Rosenfels, with five total TDs in two weeks, could see some backup defenders and is a solid play, as are Andre Johnson, Ron Dayne, Owen Daniels and maybe even Kevin Walter.

Steelers defense. This unit is reeling, having allowed seven TD passes and 63 points over the past two weeks. Maybe DE Aaron Smith should get some MVP votes after the Jaguars took advantage of his absence to run for 224 yards. That is the good news for the Rams, who -- for all of their problems this year -- have weapons in Marc Bulger, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1663"]Steven Jackson[/URL] and Torry Holt. Jackson especially is running well and should remain in your lineup.

Bulger and Holt also figure to have better-than-expected opportunities. The short week will not help the Steelers figure things out, though they are playing indoors and will not have weather concerns for the first time in about a month. The Steelers also have never won at the Rams, either in Cleveland or Los Angeles, although they did beat the Cardinals in St. Louis in 1979.

Kolby Smith. I haven't been a big backer of his after he had a big first start against the Raiders, yet if you have been holding onto him, be sure to play him here. The Lions' run defense has crumbled recently, allowing 192.3 yards and three TDs a week over their past three games. Yes, Detroit has been one of this season's most maddeningly inconsistent teams, but this trend does not show signs of stopping with how the Lions are bumbling toward the finish. kansascitychiefs.com

Kurt Warner. Quit trying to find reasons to bench him or thinking that Trent Edwards will be a better play. He has been one of the most reliable fantasy quarterbacks for the past six games with either two or three TDs in each. Yes, the Cardinals have problems and they are left playing for pride, again. But you can't knock the offense, especially with a home matchup against a Falcons defense that has allowed 21 passing TDs. Choosing between Warner and Drew Brees is tough; choosing between Warner and Donovan McNabb is a no-brainer.

Hache Man · Dec 20, 2007

Re: Fantasy Football News 2007

He's Making His List ...
Terrell Owens finally addressed the Jessica Simpson "situation" Wednesday and predictably produced some amusing quotes. "Right now Jessica Simpson is not a fan favorite in this locker room or in Texas Stadium," Owens said. "I think with everything that has happened, and obviously the way Tony [Romo] played and the comparison between her and Carrie Underwood, I think a lot of people feel like she's probably taking his focus away."

Owens went on to say, "Other than that she was at the top of my list until last week." For some reason it seems entirely plausible to me that Owens has an actual list at home, probably laminated, and dropped Simpson a few spots after watching Romo struggle in her presence against the Eagles. "I've got a message for her when we make the playoffs," Owens said. "Just stay tuned." No word yet on whether Roger Goodell has already started paperwork on the fine.

While Chad Johnson tries to convince Carson Palmer to start dating Jessica Biel just so that he can keep pace with Owens, here are some other notes from around football ?

* Speaking of Romo, he practiced fully Wednesday and coach Wade Phillips commented afterward that "he seemed pretty accurate throwing the football." In reality Romo is probably a must-start if he plays, but there's reason to worry given how horrible he looked with the thumb injury Sunday and there's at least a tiny bit of room for fantasy owners with incredible quarterback depth to consider starting Matt Hasselbeck, Brett Favre, or Derek Anderson over him.

* Kurt Warner indicated Wednesday that he hopes to land a starting job somewhere next season, saying: "Hopefully what I've shown is I can still play and I can still start and I can still be very effective in this league." Warner's correct to an extent and multiple teams will no doubt go after him this offseason, but he may find it tough to talk someone into handing him a starting job. More likely is that he'd be given another chance to compete with a young quarterback, ala Matt Leinart. arizonacardinals.com

As for Warner's play this season, it's been a mixed bag. He's been very productive from a fantasy standpoint, but his real-life performance has been filled with inconsistency and turnovers. Among the 21 quarterbacks who've thrown at least 300 passes this season, only Vince Young has been picked off on a higher percentage of his throws than Warner. Warner also leads all quarterbacks with six lost fumbles despite only seeing significant action in 11 of the Cardinals' 14 games. tennesseetitans.com

Toss in his wildly inconsistent week-to-week efforts and a 3-5 record in the eight games that he's started and completed, and he's been mediocre at best. On the other hand, Warner's fantasy production has been very solid. While subbing for Leinart over the past eight games he's thrown for 2,147 yards and 17 touchdowns, including a monster 484-yard game in Week 12. Of course, he's also been intercepted 14 times over that same span.

It's easy to forget in the wake of his season-ending injury, but Leinart was playing poorly prior to fracturing his collarbone and was often benched in favor of Warner in certain situations. A week before the injury Leinart famously said that he wanted the Cardinals to "ride or die" with him, noting that losing snaps to Warner was "almost worse than being benched." Given all of that, it's possible that Warner's best chance for significant playing time next season may come in Arizona.

* Kyle Boller left Week 15 with a concussion and was sent home from practice Wednesday after having headaches and experiencing sensitivity to light. His status for Sunday's game against the Seahawks is now in serious doubt and the Ravens will turn to rookie Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith if there's any doubt about Boller's health. "If it's still bothering him tomorrow, I would probably go ahead and start Troy," coach Brian Billick said. "We'll see how he feels." baltimoreravens.com

There's speculation that Baltimore will get Smith some playing time Sunday regardless of Boller's status and several Ravens have expressed support for the rookie after his solid relief appearance in Week 15. "When he came in it was like a breath of fresh air," offensive lineman Jason Brown said. Beyond who the Ravens start against the Seahawks this week, the player's public lack of faith in Boller doesn't bode well for his odds of entering next season with the starting gig.

Two-Minute Drill: After backing out of a rumored deal with the Falcons on Wednesday, Bill Parcells is reportedly now close to rejoining the AFC East as the Dolphins' vice president of football operations ? Reports out of Oakland suggest that the Raiders have no plans to use Daunte Culpepper again this season and he isn't likely to return in 2008 ? Meanwhile, coach Lane Kiffin indicated Wednesday that he's giving some thought to starting JaMarcus Russell in Week 16 against the Jaguars ? With Kellen Clemens (ribs, shoulder) limited in practice Wednesday, Chad Pennington is expected to start in Week 16 against the Titans ? Javon Walker saw extensive action in Week 15 for the first time in months and put in a full practice Wednesday, making him a borderline WR3 option Monday night against the Chargers if Brandon Stokley (knee) sits ? Torry Holt is absent from the Rams' injury report, making him a full go Thursday night against the Steelers ? After watching Jabar Gaffney jump ahead of him on the depth chart, Donte Stallworth is reportedly unlikely to return to the Patriots next season.

Red Zone: Todd Heap (hamstring) may finally be close to seeing some game action after participating in most of Wednesday's practice, but remains ripe for a late-week setback ? [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=35"]Roy Williams[/URL] (knee) was placed on injured reserve Wednesday, ending Orch Dork's disappointing season with 836 yards and five touchdowns on 63 catches ? Matt Schaub (shoulder) returned to practice Wednesday on a limited basis, but at best figures to serve as Sage Rosenfels' backup Sunday against the Colts ? As expected, Laveranues Coles was limited in practice Wednesday and remains unlikely to play through his ankle injury this week ? Brandon Jacobs was expected to be somewhat limited by a sore hamstring Wednesday, but put in a full practice and isn't on the Giants' injury report ? D.J. Hackett (ankle) did some limited work in practice Wednesday, but didn't participate in team drills and looks unlikely to return in Week 16 ? Terry Glenn (knee) is on track to make his season debut in a minor role Saturday night after going through some of Wednesday's practice.

Hache Man · Dec 20, 2007

Re: Fantasy Football News 2007

Week 16 Rankings

[SIZE=+1]Week 16 Quarterbacks[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>1</TD><TD>Drew Brees</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>2</TD><TD>Peyton Manning</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Tom Brady</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>Weather could factor in</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Tony Romo</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>Madden: Romo figured out?</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Matt Hasselbeck</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Brett Favre</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Kurt Warner</TD><TD>vs. ATL</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Derek Anderson</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>Could rain, but no blizzard </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Carson Palmer</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>Could rain, but no blizzard </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Ben Roethlisberger</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>Thursday Night Preview </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Donovan McNabb</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Jay Cutler</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Jon Kitna</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Marc Bulger</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>David Garrard</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Vince Young</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Todd Collins</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Sage Rosenfels</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Jeff Garcia</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>Probable(back)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Chad Pennington</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>Expected to start</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Eli Manning</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Philip Rivers</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Chris Redman</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Brodie Croyle</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Tarvaris Jackson</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Kyle Boller</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>Questionable(concussion)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Cleo Lemon</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Trent Edwards</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Shaun Hill</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Kyle Orton</TD><TD>vs. GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Matt Moore</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Josh McCown</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>JaMarcus Russell</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

QB Notes: It's supposed to rain in Cincinnati and New England, but it shouldn't be as cold as last week. There will be no blizzards, but the wind conditions have to be monitored. If you are on the fence with Carson Palmer or Derek Anderson, that could make a difference. As for Tom Brady, I benched him last week for Brett Favre. That's not going to happen again, barring a big change in forecast. ? Peyton Manning reportedly told Tony Dungy that he needed more time on the field with Anthony Gonzalez and the other Colts receivers. The only way he sits early Sunday is if the Colts have a monster lead in the fourth quarter. You will take that tradeoff.
greenbaypackers.com
Tony Romo's thumb is a concern, but not enough to consider benching him against the Panthers. If he's healthy enough to start, he's healthy enough to bounce back against a mediocre secondary. Carolina is last in the league in sacks. ? Matt Hasselbeck should have his way with a Baltimore secondary that is playing out the string. Rain, of course, is a possibility in Seattle. ? It got lost in the shuffle, but Jeff Garcia struggled badly against the Falcons in his return from injury. Yes, they had a big lead the whole game, but 109 yards on 25 attempts is not what you are looking for. Garcia is pulling down the ball to run too fast and playing outside of Jon Gruden's system. I wouldn't trust him this week. ? Matt Moore's first NFL start was shockingly good considering the opponent and the windy conditions in Carolina. He has a real chance to be part of the Panthers' future if he can back up the performances the next two weeks. Ron Jaworski touted Moore as the fourth-best quarterback in last year's draft behind JaMarcus Russell, Brady Quinn, and Trent Edwards, so don't assume he was a fluke.
indianapoliscolts.com
David Garrard's season is remarkable because he's playing with poor receivers in a new offense. Their coordinator Dirk Koetter deserves some praise because everything between Garrard and his receivers is well timed. Garrard anticipates well and "sees the field" as Jaws would say. Playing Garrard this week carries a risk because the Jaguars should be able to stuff the ball down Oakland's throat and sit on a lead. ? I love Sage Rosenfels, but not enough to play him against the top-ranked defense in the league. ? The Steelers aren't generating any pass rush lately, which gives Marc Bulger a fighting chance. He looked relatively sharp against the Packers. It's easy to imagine a lot of pass attempts in that game. ? The Cardinals and Kurt Warner have the receiver depth to expose Atlanta's secondary issues. He's a very safe play. ? Ben Roethlisberger was way off target last week, routinely missing throws by a wide amount. It makes you wonder if he's fully healthy. It's hard to bench him in St. Louis, but I'd look hard at your other options. ? With Donovan McNabb running again, he's a reasonably safe play against the Saints. There should be a lot of points in that game.
jacksonvillejaguars.com
The conditions in Buffalo should be better than they were in New York last week, but not that much better. Don't expect a huge game from Eli Manning. ? Vince Young isn't especially likely to build on his solid game against Kansas City. The Jets should be able to confuse the young quarterback with some exotic looks. ? Don't give up on Jay Cutler just because of his effort last Thursday night. The Broncos are coming off a mini-bye week and should be rested. The San Diego pass rush is not at full strength.
tennesseetitans.com
[SIZE=+1]Week 16 Running Backs[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>LaDainian Tomlinson</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Brian Westbrook</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4169"]Adrian Peterson[/URL]</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Ryan Grant</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Joseph Addai</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Earnest Graham</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Willie Parker</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1663"]Steven Jackson[/URL]</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Jamal Lewis</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Brandon Jacobs</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>11</TD><TD>Frank Gore</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>12</TD><TD>Willis McGahee</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Marion Barber</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Maurice Jones-Drew</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Fred Taylor</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>LenDale White</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Aaron Stecker</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>Ranked as if Bush is out</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Marshawn Lynch</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Ron Dayne</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>Should carry load</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>20</TD><TD>Kolby Smith</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>Make sure L.J. is out</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>21</TD><TD>Clinton Portis</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Kevin Jones</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Laurence Maroney</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>More bad weather could help</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Selvin Young</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Edgerrin James</TD><TD>vs. ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>26</TD><TD>Jerious Norwood</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4169"]Adrian Peterson[/URL]</TD><TD>vs. GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Thomas Jones</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>29</TD><TD>Travis Henry</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>30</TD><TD>Shaun Alexander</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>Probable(wrist)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>31</TD><TD>Rudi Johnson</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>Questionable(hamstring)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Chester Taylor</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>DeShaun Foster</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>34</TD><TD>Warrick Dunn</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>Losing Snaps</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>35</TD><TD>DeAngelo Williams</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>36</TD><TD>Julius Jones</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>37</TD><TD>LaMont Jordan</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>Worth picking up? </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>38</TD><TD>Samkon Gado</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>For now, Chatman isn't ranked</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>39</TD><TD>Dominic Rhodes</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>40</TD><TD>Kenny Watson</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>Watch Rudi's status</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>41</TD><TD>Fred Jackson</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>42</TD><TD>Darius Walker</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>43</TD><TD>Maurice Morris</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>44</TD><TD>Kevin Faulk</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>45</TD><TD>Kenton Keith</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>46</TD><TD>Reuben Droughns</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>47</TD><TD>Najeh Davenport</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>48</TD><TD>Michael Pittman</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>49</TD><TD>Ladell Betts</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>50</TD><TD>Chris Brown</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>51</TD><TD>T.J. Duckett</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

RB Notes: Reggie Bush will likely be a game-time decision this week, but he's not a fantasy option. His main impact, if he plays, will be hurting Aaron Stecker's value. Imagine hearing those words a few months ago. Since Stecker should still be the primary guy on a high-octane offense, I'd only knock him back five or six spots if Bush suits up. Because of injuries and their 6-8 record, the Eagles will be testing out some inexperienced linebackers. It should lead to plenty of scoring for New Orleans. ? Perhaps the long week off after a Thursday game refreshed Clinton Portis, because he looked like a new man against the Giants. The matchup is tougher this week, but I still think he'll get the ball enough to be a usable option. Joe Gibbs will not abandon the running game if Portis starts slow.

Jerious Norwood is a boom-or-bust pick, but you could do a lot worse with your flex spot. The Cardinals can't defend the run (or anything else) and Norwood's share of the workload continues to rise. ? Rudi Johnson's hamstring injury, not to mention his last game, is a red flag. Watch his status closely, but don't trust him unless you are desperate. ? Laurence Maroney could be in for another heavy workload if the weather is ugly in Foxborough. ? With the way Jacksonville is humming on offense, it's easy to imagine both Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew getting enough work to have big days against the Raiders. And the way Oakland defends the run, they won't need that many touches. ? Brandon Jacobs was back to his old self against Washington: huge total yards, no touchdowns. Maybe that won't change this week, but you can't bench anyone who averages over 100 total yards per start. ? Willis McGahee owners should be concerned if Troy Smith is the Ravens quarterback Sunday. That could hurt his chances to get a big workload. buffalobills.com

Last Christmas Eve, Ron Dayne gave fantasy owners over 150 yards and two scores against the Colts. While that's too much to ask for this time around, he should get the majority of carries over Darius Walker. ? Kevin Jones' terrible games happen when the Lions fall behind early. Perhaps I'm putting too much faith in Detroit, but I don't think that will happen against the Chiefs. ? Selvin Young remains a highly risky option, but the Chargers defense isn't at full strength. He's still likely to wind up with more value and more touches than Travis Henry. ? It sounds like Dominic Rhodes will start over LaMont Jordan, but we just can't rank Rhodes higher. Consider it a blind spot. ? The Dolphins starting running back probably won't be known until game time. oaklandraiders.com

[SIZE=+1]Week 16 Wide Receivers[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Randy Moss</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Marques Colston</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Terrell Owens</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Andre Johnson</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Larry Fitzgerald</TD><TD>vs. ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Reggie Wayne</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Brandon Marshall</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Braylon Edwards</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>T.J. Houshmandzadeh</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Chad Johnson</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Greg Jennings</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Torry Holt</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Roddy White</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Anquan Boldin</TD><TD>vs. ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Wes Welker</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Plaxico Burress</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Donald Driver</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Bobby Engram</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Shaun McDonald</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Jerricho Cotchery</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Hines Ward</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Deion Branch</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Santonio Holmes</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>Back to 100%? </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Joey Galloway</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=378"]Kevin Curtis[/URL]</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Anthony Gonzalez</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>27</TD><TD>Calvin Johnson</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>28</TD><TD>Lee Evans</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Santana Moss</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Dwayne Bowe</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4227"]Steve Smith[/URL]</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Bernard Berrian</TD><TD>vs. GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>Patrick Crayton</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>34</TD><TD>Derrick Mason</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>35</TD><TD>Reggie Brown</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>36</TD><TD>Chris Chambers</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>37</TD><TD>David Patten</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>38</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4226"]Chris Henry[/URL]</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>39</TD><TD>Kevin Walter</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>40</TD><TD>Mike Furrey</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>41</TD><TD>Isaac Bruce</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>42</TD><TD>Ronald Curry</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>43</TD><TD>Jerry Porter</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>44</TD><TD>Reggie Williams</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>45</TD><TD>Jabar Gaffney</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>Playing ahead of Stallworth</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>46</TD><TD>Javon Walker</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>Still not 100% </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>47</TD><TD>Amani Toomer</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>48</TD><TD>Donte' Stallworth</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>49</TD><TD>Justin Gage</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>50</TD><TD>Brandon Stokley</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>51</TD><TD>Joe Jurevicius</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>52</TD><TD>Nate Burleson</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>53</TD><TD>Antwaan Randle El</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>54</TD><TD>Vincent Jackson</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

WR Notes: The Falcons could only complete four passes last week, which obviously put a damper on Roddy White's production. Don't look for that to happen again versus an Arizona secondary that is giving up big plays in bunches. Chris Redman showed he could throw against a terrible pass defense (New Orleans) and should keep White's numbers afloat. ? The Bengals passing game has been a huge disappointment over the last month, but a rematch with Cleveland isn't the time to get cute and bench Chad Johnson or T.J. Houshmandzadeh. It won't be 52-45 again, but it shouldn't be a game in the teens either. There may be some snow or rain at the game, but it shouldn't be like last week. The Bengals are the second-worst team in the NFL defending number one receivers, so Braylon Edwards should have a big game. ? Anquan Boldin looked close enough to 100% against the Saints. He may not break as many plays after the catch, but he should be good for a number of underneath catches against a suspect Atlanta secondary. He's even more valuable in PPR leagues. arizonacardinals.com

Wes Welker has been held under forty yards in three of his last six games, but there just aren't many other WR2/3 fantasy options that are worth benching him for. He caught nine passes for 138 yards and two scores the last time he faced his former team. ? Matt Jones was playing in two wideout sets often last week, showing that his coaching staff hasn't given up on him yet. His playing time is another reason to avoid Reggie Williams and Dennis Northcutt. ? I mentioned this is the Thursday preview on the Fix, but Santonio Holmes looked fully healthy against the Jaguars. If Ben Roethlisberger was accurate with a few more passes, Holmes could have enjoyed a big day. He's safe to use again. ? Hard to know what to expect from Plaxico Burress at this point. He's scored four fantasy points or less in six of his last eight games. You are paying for the 25% chance for a big game. I'd rather go with someone safer.

[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=378"]Kevin Curtis[/URL]' numbers this season are deceptively awesome because 59% of his fantasy production has come from only three games. This week, however, sets up as another possibly explosive matchup. The key is whom Mike McKenzie covers for the Saints. Reggie Brown had a pair of nice games last year against New Orleans (208 yards, two scores), so maybe they will assign their Pro Bowl caliber corner to cover him. Whoever draws the Saints' second corner should have a big day. ? ? The possibility of JaMarcus Russell starting at quarterback makes Ronald Curry and Jerry Porter shakier options than usual.

The Colts are number one in the league at defending primary receivers, so Andre Johnson will have to work for his production this week. ? I like Jerricho Cotchery fine this week, but don't expect Laveranues Coles' possible absence to help him out. Cotchery has played two games without Coles this year, and played to his norms. ? Kyle Orton's unwillingness to go deep or use his wide receivers definitely hurts Bernard Berrian the last two weeks. ? [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4227"]Steve Smith[/URL] will draw Terence Newman Saturday, but he should still see eight or more targets like he does each game. He's a safe PPR play.
[SIZE=+1]Week 16 Tight Ends[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Tony Gonzalez</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Jason Witten</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Kellen Winslow</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Antonio Gates</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Chris Cooley</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Owen Daniels</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Dallas Clark</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Vernon Davis</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Donald Lee</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Heath Miller</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Tony Scheffler</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Ben Watson</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Desmond Clark</TD><TD>vs. GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Greg Olsen</TD><TD>vs. GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Marcedes Lewis</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Chris Baker</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Alge Crumpler</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Zach Miller</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Randy McMichael</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Bo Scaife</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Daniel Wilcox</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Billy Miller</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Ben Utecht</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[SIZE=+1]Week 16 Team Defense[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Buccaneers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Patriots Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Packers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Cowboys Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Jaguars Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Vikings Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Titans Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Seahawks Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Steelers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Colts Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Giants Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Redskins Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Chargers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Chiefs Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Lions Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Cardinals Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Broncos Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Bills Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Browns Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Panthers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Ravens Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Saints Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Bears Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Bengals Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Texans Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Fortyniners Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Falcons Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Rams Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Eagles Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Jets Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Raiders Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Dolphins Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[SIZE=+1]Week 16 Kickers[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Stephen Gostkowski</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Nick Folk</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Josh Brown</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Adam Vinatieri</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Mason Crosby</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Kris Brown</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Jason Hanson</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Rob Bironas</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Jeff Reed</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Phil Dawson</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Robbie Gould</TD><TD>vs. GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Nate Kaeding</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Shayne Graham</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Neil Rackers</TD><TD>vs. ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Jason Elam</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>David Akers</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Ryan Longwell</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Sebastian Janikowski</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Josh Scobee</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Martin Gramatica</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Jeff Wilkins</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Rian Lindell</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Lawrence Tynes</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Matt Bryant</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Matt Stover</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>John Carney</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Jay Feely</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Morten Andersen</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Joe Nedney</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Mike Nugent</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Shaun Suisham</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>John Kasay</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Dec 21, 2007

Re: Fantasy Football News 2007

Steelers Win Game, Lose Parker
There are plenty of key stories to discuss heading into what is the most important weekend of the season for many fantasy teams, so let's skip the usual pleasantries and get right to the notes from around football ?

* Pittsburgh won the battle while losing the war Thursday night, as Willie Parker went down with a fractured fibula that will end his season. Fast Willie has been an inconsistent fantasy performer this year because of his lack of touchdowns, but as the NFL leader in both carries and yards it's a huge blow to the Steelers heading into the playoffs. With Parker out, Najeh Davenport more than picked up the slack against the Rams, totaling 167 yards and two touchdowns on 26 touches.

Davenport will start in Week 17 and the Steelers almost have no choice but to give him 20-plus touches again because of what is now a complete lack of running-back depth, but don't count on another monster game. Pittsburgh finishes up the season by traveling to Baltimore and the Ravens' run defense remains strong even if their secondary is a mess. Davenport figures to be a solid RB2 play for the season finale, but don't start him over typical RB1 options.

* Brandon Jacobs gave his fantasy owners a brief scare when he was limited in Wednesday's practice because of a hamstring injury, but put in a full workout Thursday and is absent from the Giants' injury report. Jacobs' horrible receiving skills were exposed via multiple ugly drops in Week 15 against the Redskins, but he rushed for 130 yards on 25 carries and it's noteworthy that he at least saw tons of action on passing downs even while his awful hands were on full display. newyorkgiants.com

Sunday's matchup against the Bills and their undersized run defense is favorable for Jacobs, who's gotten a total of 53 touches in two games since returning to the lineup in Week 14. Barring a setback with the hamstring injury he looks like a solid mid-level RB1 option. The season finale against New England is a much tougher on-paper matchup, but it's possible that the Patriots' defensive starters won't put in a full game (although the same could be true of Jacobs). greenbaypackers.com

* Rudi Johnson has missed back-to-back practices after his sore hamstring reportedly "flared up" earlier this week. Beginning in Week 12 he put together a strong three-game stretch in which he averaged 71 yards on 21 carries while scoring three times. However, Johnson then touched the ball just eight times while turning in a clunker last Thursday night against the 49ers. He has a favorable on-paper matchup against the Browns, but is awfully risky for a low-level RB2 option.

* Rotoworld has been reporting for six weeks now that Larry Johnson is highly unlikely to play again this season, but for some reason the Chiefs continue to let him work towards a potential return despite being completely out of the playoff picture. Johnson worked out some Wednesday, but his foot injury wouldn't allow him to finish practice and he's been ruled out for Week 16. As was the case a month ago, don't count on seeing Johnson take the field again until next fall. kansascitychiefs.com

* Unable to sufficiently recover from the concussion that he suffered Sunday, Kyle Boller has been ruled out for Week 16. Rookie Troy Smith will take his place against the Seahawks and the former Heisman Trophy winner may remain in the starting lineup for the season finale. Several Ravens teammates have publicly expressed confidence in Smith over Boller, but Seattle is a tough place to make your first NFL start and hosting Pittsburgh isn't much easier. baltimoreravens.com

Two-Minute Drill: Offensive coordinator Mike Martz said Thursday that Jon Kitna has "absolutely" earned the Lions' starting job next season, but that statement may not mean much if Martz is let go ? Adam Schefter of NFL Network speculated Thursday night that the Rams could cut Isaac Bruce following the season, but with 87 yards against the Steelers he moved past James Lofton into third place on the all-time receiving yardage list ? Meanwhile, Torry Holt managed just 41 yards on three catches and was seen yelling at coach Scott Linehan on the sidelines as the Rams fell to 3-12 ? Coach Jack Del Rio said Thursday that Reggie Williams has "changed" this season by "embracing the coaching he's getting" while racking up 424 yards and five touchdowns over the past seven games ? Brandon Marshall is four grabs from becoming just the fourth second-year receiver in NFL history to catch 90 passes ? Coach Lane Kiffin refused to reveal Thursday whether Josh McCown or JaMarcus Russell will start in Week 16 against the Jaguars, saying only that "both guys took about equal reps today and both will play" ? Coach John Fox confirmed Thursday that Matt Moore will start this week against the Cowboys. oaklandraiders.com

Red Zone: D.J. Hackett (ankle) sat out Thursday's practice, all but guaranteeing that he won't play Sunday against the Ravens ? Anquan Boldin (toe) and Larry Fitzgerald (groin) were limited in Thursday's practice, but both figure to start in Week 16 against the Falcons ? LenDale White (knee) skipped Thursday's practice and his status for Week 16 could be in doubt if he can't get back on the field in some capacity Friday ? Coach Gary Kubiak said Thursday that Matt Schaub (shoulder) will be a game-time decision in Week 16, but Sage Rosenfels will start against the Bucs regardless of Schaub's status ? Reports out of New Orleans suggest that Reggie Bush (knee) is "questionable at best" to play in Week 16 after sitting out Thursday's practice, potentially giving Aaron Stecker one more week of fantasy relevance ? Terry Glenn (knee) was hoping to make his season debut Saturday night against the Panthers, but the Cowboys announced Thursday that he won't even make the flight to Carolina with the team ? According to the 49ers, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=3147"]Alex Smith[/URL] (shoulder) will be throwing again in three months and could be ready for game action in six months, giving him plenty of time to get healthy for next preseason. tennesseetitans.com

Hache Man · Dec 21, 2007

Re: Fantasy Football News 2007

Unleash a Jaguar
Well, if this column is relevant to you this week, you've already done well, my friend. I'll skip the nonsense and get straight to the matchups.

Quarterback

Sage Rosenfels will play the best pass defense in football this week. He might pick up some excess yardage when his team is down, but with Indianapolis expected to play a good portion of their players for the whole game, I wouldn't expect a big day from Rosenfels.

If, for some reason, you are desperate for a quarterback, it's possible you might have thought about turning to Chad Pennington this week, who's available on the waiver wire. Don't. Tennessee's way too good of a team, especially up front, for the Jets to have a good day passing against. Albert Haynesworth is going to eat Pennington alive. newyorkjets.com

San Diego's defense has quietly developed into an superb pass defense as the year has gone along, with a lot of that due to the excellent play of Antonio Cromartie. Denver and Jay Cutler should suffer some because of that this week.

I don't know you could make it to the finals with Cleo Lemon, but if you have, get rid of him. miamidolphins.com

The New Orleans sieve is up against the Eagles this week, which means a huge game is in the making for Donovan McNabb.

Another great matchup this week is Derek Anderson, who plays the 31st-ranked pass defense of the Bengals. clevelandbrowns.com

The 49ers are a weird team. They actually do a decent job against #1 wideouts, but they're abysmal against everyone else. Against Tampa, who relies heavily on top wideout Joey Galloway, that could theoretically work, but I'm going to say that Jeff Garcia is a good start this week. Tampabaybuccaneers.com

For those of you who have been disappointed by Carson Palmer this year, well, this might be his one chance to get your love back. He should do well against the Cleveland D in the Ohio Bowl.

Running Back

Speaking of disappointment, that accurately summates Shaun Alexander this year. This week won't be any better, as Baltimore will be swallowing him up.

Minnesota's run to the playoffs has been keyed by its run defense, which could make Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts non-factors this week.
www.washingtonredskins.ws
A lot of teams in the finals may have received a nice boost from Ryan Grant, but expect him to have a middling day this week against a Bears rush defense that's still very good. greenbaypackers.com

As good as Baltimore's run defense has been, Seattle's has been pretty sound, too, the sixth-best in the league. That makes Willis McGahee merely a borderline start this week. buffalobills.com

Oakland got a huge boost after shockingly shutting down Joseph Addai last week. Don't expect them to make it a habit. Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew are both huge plays this week. WEBSITE.WS - Your Internet Address For Life?

For a flex guy, LenDale White could be a plus play this week against a Jets run defense that doesn't have the bulk to shut him down. tennesseetitans.com

Earnest Graham has also had a nice season this year, and that could continue against a very weak San Francisco run defense. Tampabaybuccaneers.com

Against a team's that quit on 2007, Edgerrin James could have a nice week versus the Falcons. arizonacardinals.com

Wide Receiver

Philadelphia's wideouts have big chances this week. [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=378"]Kevin Curtis[/URL] should see a good amount of "coverage" from Jason David, which is a good thing, but both he and Reggie Brown are good plays this week.

Braylon Edwards is a must-play against the Bengals, who are 31st in the league against #1 wideouts.

We correctly called Roddy White's disappearance last week, but he should come back when facing a very shaky Arizona secondary on Sunday. atlantafalcons.com

There's a nice possibility that Santana Moss could do well against Minnesota, whose secondary does not match up well against the speedy, albeit disappointing, Moss. washingtonredskins.ws

Oakland's Nnendi Asomugha continues to impress, as he's arguably the quietest shutdown corner in football. That doesn't bode well for Jacksonville's #1 wideout, who, at the moment, appears to be Reggie Williams.
oaklandraiders.com
Indy's also done a great job on #1's, which means that Andre Johnson is likely a decent play this week as opposed to a very good one.

Tampa's shut down number ones, which is even less of a reason to play Darrell Jackson than normal.

Over the second half of the year, as bad as they've been, DeAngelo Hall's become the player Deion Sanders says he was. That could quiet Larry Fitzgerald some.

San Diego and Cromartie have specifically shut down #2 wideouts, to an absurd degree. In the Denver matchup, that looks to be Javon Walker, when you consider the unlikelihood of Brandon Stokley playing.

Tight End

Sit: Chris Baker, NYJ; Owen Daniels, HOU; Kevin Boss, NYG
Start: [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=3147"]Alex Smith[/URL], TB; Robert Royal, BUF; Jeff King, CAR

Hache Man · Dec 22, 2007

Re: Fantasy Football News 2007

Don't over think your QB
Too much of your semifinal matchup likely was decided by what didn't happen rather than what did. Tom Brady did nothing in the rain and wind; Tony Romo did not throw a touchdown pass; the Browns had zero touchdowns; and the Colts struggled to score.

If you somehow snuck through to your championship with these underperforming stars, count your blessings. It is unlikely that most of these players will be shut down once again. If you scored an upset by prevailing over the unproductive Romo, hope that you are going up against a fellow upset winner for the title because you can not predicate your success on Brady being shut down again.

Either way, uncertainty is the headline going into championship week. Let's take a look at some of the key players and storylines coming out of an ugly week and heading into what easily could wind up being a big bounce-back weekend.

Most of the issues revolve around quarterbacks because they obviously have a huge role in how a team's offense plays.
greenbaypackers.com
Derek Anderson. The near-blizzard against the Bills did him in, along with Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow II. Weather and the Bengals' attitude will determine his Week 16 success as Cincinnati is coming off a dispiriting loss to the 49ers and could get blown out by the rolling Browns. Anderson has gone five weeks without a three-TD game, and the Browns have scored fewer than 30 points in four consecutive games, both season-highs.www. clevelandbrowns.com

The Bengals have had some luck on defense recently, but they also have faced quarterbacks such as Brock Berlin and Shaun Hill. With the division title suddenly back in the picture, expect the Browns to have a big day; start your regulars from that passing game. Running back Jamal Lewis is one of the biggest no-brainer plays these days.

Carson Palmer/ Chad Johnson. On the other side of the Browns is Palmer, who has one TD pass in the past three games. He is one of the more difficult plays this week, though. Even after last week's shutout, the Browns still rank near the bottom of the league in several defensive categories, and Palmer did throw for six TDs against them in Week 2.

Palmer clearly is having problems with Johnson, who has one big game out of his past eight, and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who has not scored in the past four. Their interest level will be hard to read, but just based on matchups, all should be solid starts in good weather. Wind or snow, however, might be enough reason to sit them.

Tom Brady. The only reason you're sitting Brady or Randy Moss is if another wild winter storm blows through New England this weekend. You get the feeling the Patriots are a little embarrassed by their showing against the Jets, while the Dolphins had what was essentially their Super Bowl last week against the Ravens. Expect both teams to revert to their norms; the 1972 Dolphins might have a better chance of preventing a blowout if they actually played in this one.

Inclement weather is much more likely than the Miami defense to slow down New England. Laurence Maroney is a solid play either way against a bad Dolphins run defense but would be better if the winds blew again.

Tony Romo. His status depends entirely on the thumb on his throwing hand. If he plays, you have to stick with him. The Panthers' win against the Seahawks last week just shows how inconsistent they have been because Carolina also gave up at least 31 points to Indianapolis, New Orleans, Green Bay and Jacksonville. The Cowboys' offense has the potential to be at that level but has struggled the past two weeks. Romo and Terrell Owens need to use these final two games to get back on the same page; otherwise, it might not matter whether they finish with the first or second seed.

Matt Hasselbeck. Three long road trips in four weeks seemed to catch up to the Seahawks as they never woke up against the Panthers. Hasselbeck had only his second bad game in nine weeks, but the good news is that the Ravens are bringing their eight-game losing streak and beat-up secondary to town. If the Dolphins are breaking 64-yard, game-winning pass plays against Baltimore, just think what a sophisticated passing offense should do.

Keep Hasselbeck in the lineup, as well as whichever Seahawks receivers you usually play. Do not, however, think about starting Shaun Alexander.

The Colts. Unfortunately for anybody pinning their season on Peyton Manning, the Colts are unlikely to come back with big numbers in their final two, now meaningless, games against Houston and Tennessee. That means we likely will remember Manning, Joseph Addai and Reggie Wayne for doing in our teams with a poor effort against the Raiders. You can start those guys this week if you have no other good choices, but you probably will be disappointed in the results. indianapoliscolts.com

Steelers defense. Pittsburgh is stumbling toward the playoffs, but it does offer some hope to fantasy opponents. The Pittsburgh defense is struggling, and the team is 2-4 on the road this season. The Steelers have allowed 63 points in their past two games, and while the Rams have been a huge disappointment, they still have big offensive potential in Marc Bulger, Torry Holt and [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1663"]Steven Jackson[/URL]. Playing against the Steelers may sound difficult, but look for the Rams to be better picks this week than you might otherwise think.

David Garrard. Is this for real? In five games since returning from his ankle injury, Garrard has at least two TDs four times, and the Jaguars are averaging 30.2 points. They have what looks like a dream matchup against the Raiders, who are allowing an average of 28 points in their past three road games. You will hear about Oakland being second in the league in passing TDs allowed, but if you're winning with Garrard, do not take him out of your lineup. Ditto for Fred Taylor, who has four 100-yard games in a row and three TDs in those four weeks. jacksonvillejaguars.com

Eli Manning. It is unlikely that many people are thinking about Manning in their final because if you have him, he probably cost you the season long before Week 15. The Giants' passing game is not good; losing tight end Jeremy Shockey will not help, even though he was having a disappointing season. The Giants have not scored more than 21 points in their past seven games, they fell apart in the wind in the Meadowlands last week and wind might be the least of their weather problems this week in Buffalo. newyorkgiants.com

Earnest Graham. The 49ers are making a late-season impact on defense, holding the Vikings' [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4169"]Adrian Peterson[/URL] to 3 yards rushing two weeks ago and the Bengals to 61 rushing yards last week. That could pose a problem for Graham, who has scored six weeks in a row. Graham has been one of the top second-half backs and is a virtual must-start, even if he is a risk against that improved defense. Tampabaybuccaneers.com minnesotavikings.com

Hache Man · Dec 22, 2007

Re: Fantasy Football News 2007

Big Night for the Barbarian?
Tony Romo's thumb injury may have affected him just as much as Jessica Simpson's presence in the stands last Sunday. He repeatedly misfired on passes after injuring the finger, and showed up to Tuesday's practice with his right hand attached to an electronic muscle stimulator hidden beneath a "Texas-sized" bandage. The injury is not serious, as Romo practiced all week, but it could affect the Cowboys' game plan Saturday night.

Dallas abandoned the run with an ailing quarterback in a close game against the Eagles. But the best coaches learn from their mistakes. Jason Garrett has emerged as a premier head-coaching candidate in his first season as the Cowboys' offensive coordinator. He'll likely know better than to put such an important game as Saturday's against the Panthers in the hands of a quarterback with an injured one.

The Cowboys need this win to take control of the NFC's No. 1 seed and home field advantage throughout the playoffs. They already own the tiebreaker over Green Bay. They also have a Pro Bowl running back in Marion Barber.

Garrett excels at winning the matchup game (see Terrell Owens' Garrett-driven dominance against the Packers in Week 13). He'll realize that Panthers do-it-all DE Julius Peppers is out with a sprained knee. He'll see a Carolina linebacker corps that emphasizes sideline-to-sideline play rather than stoutness at the point of attack and is undersized (Panthers starting LBs average 235 lbs. to the Cowboys' 258). Garrett will also note that, before last week against Seattle, Panthers defensive coordinator Mike Trgovac's unit was being exposed by the run.

While Barber has seemingly done his best work as a "closer" in games and racked up many of his numbers with the Cowboys ahead, his versatile skill set says he's more than capable of being the centerpiece of a game plan. Dallas has not played that hand of cards yet this season, but look for it to happen Saturday night. It will be a shock if Barber does not get the football more than 20 times against the Panthers. Considering his average of a score for every 13.8 touches dating back to the 2005 season, that'd make him a good bet to break the plane at least once.

[SIZE=+1]Week 16 Game-Time Decisions[/SIZE]

Arms
Tony Romo ? Certain to start, but Cowboys may focus on the run in Carolina.
Philip Rivers ? Probable and very likely to start, but may not finish MNF game.
sandiegochargers.com
Kellen Clemens ? Won't play; Chad Pennington to get start against Tennessee. newyorkjets.com
Matt Schaub ? Scheduled to be Texans' third-stringer; Sage Rosenfels to start.
Josh McCown ? He will start, then be pulled in first half for JaMarcus Russell.
Aaron Rodgers ? Not slated to be available; Criag Nall to back up Brett Favre.
greenbaypackers.com
Backs
Brian Westbrook ? Is expected to start, but check morning inactives to be safe.
Frank Gore ? Probable; Gore has gained 100+ total yards in five straight games.
Reggie Bush ? Odds are against Bush playing after he missed Friday's practice.
LenDale White ? Virtually certain to start in favorable matchup against the Jets. tennesseetitans.com
Jesse Chatman ? Limited all week, but he's expected to play in a RB committee.
Ron Dayne ? Expected to play but Darius Walker will start against Indianapolis.
Michael Turner ? Darren Sproles may fill in as LaDainian Tomlinson's backup.
T.J. Duckett ? Probable despite coming down with illness; will be active v. KC. sandiegochargers.com
Michael Robinson ? Game-time call; Maurice Hicks next up on the depth chart.

Wides
Marques Colston ? Continues to deal with back pain, but should face Eagles.
Larry Fitzgerald/Anquan Boldin ? Both expected to play in late game vs. ATL.
Plaxico Burress ? There's little doubt Burress will start in must-win for Giants.
newyorkgiants.com
Laveranues Coles ? Not expected to play after re-aggravating ankle in Week 15.
Jerricho Cotchery ? Upgraded to probable for this week and will start @ Titans.
D.J. Hackett ? Listed as questionable but highly unlikely to play vs. Baltimore.
Reggie Brown ? Likely to play, see a lot of Saints CB Jason David in coverage.
Javon Walker/Brandon Stokley ? Uncertain which will start if both are active.
Arnaz Battle ? Battle is expected to start against Buccaneers' elite pass defense.
Sidney Rice ? High ankle sprain likely to keep him out against the Redskins.
[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4226"]Chris Henry[/URL] ? Won't miss Browns game despite sitting out practice Wednesday.
Brad Smith ? Probable and will play; could start in place of Laveranues Coles.
Roscoe Parrish ? Injured in Thursday's practice; he'll be a game-time decision.
Sinorice Moss ? Rookie [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4227"]Steve Smith[/URL] expected to be Giants' third WR Sunday.
Joe Horn ? Doubtful; Rookie Laurent Robinson should take his place at ARZ.

Ends
Ben Watson/Kyle Brady ? Brady won't play; Watson will be a game-day call.
Todd Heap ? Ravens don't expect him to play; Quinn Sypniewski will start.
baltimoreravens.com
Chris Baker ? Fully expected to start despite his "questionable/limited" listing.
Robert Royal ? Probable; he'll start against a desperate Giants club on Sunday.
Daniel Graham ? Almost certainly won't play; Tony Scheffler to start on MNF.
Eric Johnson ? Groin injury will keep injury-prone Johnson out against PHI.
Ben Utecht ? Likely to be available; could play more if Dallas Clark is rested.
Bubba Franks ? Surprise Pro Bowl alternate is uncertain to play at Chicago.
Daniel Wilcox ? Injury plagued season continues; is highly unlikely to play.
Matt Schobel ? Rookie Brent Celek to start against Saints' porous secondary.

Legs
None of Significant Note.

[SIZE=+1]Already Ruled out For Week 16[/SIZE]

Arms</B>
Jason Campbell ? Todd Collins could surprise in matchup against Minnesota.
Kyle Boller ? Rookie Troy Smith will make starting debut at the Seahawks.
Rex Grossman ? Kyle Orton to make start with Brian Griese backing him up.
[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=3147"]Alex Smith[/URL] ? Smith more than likely will be back with the 9ers next season.
Trent Dilfer ? Shaun Hill likely to finish out the season as 49ers' starting QB.

Backs
Larry Johnson ? Suffered possible setback Wednesday; Kolby Smith to start.
kansascitychiefs.com
Justin Fargas ? Dominic Rhodes will get start, but Raiders will ride hot hand.
oaklandraiders.com
Rudi Johnson ? Kenny Watson to start, but DeDe Dorsey likely to contribute.

Wides
[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=35"]Roy Williams[/URL] ? Placed on season-ending injured reserve by Lions this week.
Marvin Harrison ? Rookie Anthony Gonzalez to remain a starter indefinitely.
indianapoliscolts.com
Terry Glenn ? Not on team flight; Glenn could contribute in Week 17 finale.
Eddie Kennison ? Samie Parker likely to step into starting role against TEN.
Keary Colbert ? Impending free agent won't be interesting offseason signee.
Demetrius Williams ? Williams is not expected to play again this season.
Peerless Price ? Plans to play again next season, but it may not be in Buffalo.

Ends
Jeremy Shockey ? On injured reserve with broken fibula and ankle damage.
L.J. Smith ? Torn rib cartilage and knee sprain may cut Smith's season short.
Leonard Pope ? Lost for the season; Rookie Ben Patrick is picking up starts.

Legs
None of Significant Note.



[SIZE=+1]Week 16 Matchups to Exploit/Avoid[/SIZE]

Giants @ Bills
Game Time: 12:00 CT/1:00 ET

While his 4.9 yards-per-carry average is excellent, Brandon Jacobs hasn't met expectations this year, only from time to time providing a brief glimpse of his otherworldly potential. If it hasn't been a minor injury holding him back, it's been fumbling. If it hasn't been fumbling, it's been Reuben Droughns vulturing goal-line carries. And if it hasn't been Droughns, it's been a ridiculous five drops in one game. Even still, the Giants have shown that they won't hesitate to shoulder him with a heavy workload. Jacobs has seen 20 or more touches in six of the seven games he's finished this year. That confidence in Jacobs is good, because the Giants will need him to have a big day to beat the upstart Bills Sunday. buffalobills.com

At 6-4/265, Jacobs is bigger than Bills RE Aaron Schobel, and gives up just ten pounds to LE Chris Kelsay. The Bills don't have 300+ pound interior tackles and their linebackers' forte is in coverage, not run stuffing. This is an ideal matchup for a punisher like Jacobs, and the Giants figure to rely on their running game with a 90 percent chance of rain in upstate New York. Eli Manning completed only 33 percent of his 52 passes in poor conditions last week, and the Giants don't want to put him in that position again, especially now that he'll be without tight end Jeremy Shockey and third receiver Sinorice Moss. Feeding Jacobs the rock early and often appears to be offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride's most likely avenue towards success.
newyorkgiants.com
Eagles @ Saints
Game Time: 12:00 CT/1:00 ET

The chances of Reggie Bush playing in this game are slim to none. Although he is listed as questionable, Bush did not practice at all on Thursday or Friday, which is usually a sure indication that a player will be inactive. Bush also indicated he has no intentions of suiting up to play in a limited role. That means Aaron Stecker is in store for another heavy workload. Stecker has totaled 248 yards and two touchdowns on 51 touches the past two weeks and this Sunday faces an Eagles defense that has lost its best linebacker, Takeo Spikes, to season-ending injured reserve with a torn rotator cuff. Spikes' place will be taken by undrafted Akeem Jordan, a vastly undersized rookie the Eagles were hoping to have focus on special teams. Philadelphia's elder statesman at linebacker now is 24-year-old SLB Chris Gocong, a rookie in his own right after spending 2006 on I.R. There's no reason to believe Stecker won't continue his ultra-productive run this week with Spikes and Bush not available to block his way?

?On the other side, as we've been through all season (or at least until Gregg Rosenthal cut the This Week in Jason David segment out of his must-read Morning After column), finding which opponent's wideout will see the Saints' right cornerback in coverage can be very beneficial. The Eagles' receivers are interchangeable for the most part, but in their base set Reggie Brown lines up wide left. Brown, who is listed as questionable with knee inflammation, is expected to play Sunday. He's had an up-and-down third year, but from a matchup standpoint, it doesn't get much better than going against David. If Brown plays (and he should), expect him to post close to season-best numbers.

Ravens @ Seahawks
Game Time: 12:00 CT/1:00 ET

Anyone who watched last year's BCS Championship knows what it takes to beat Troy Smith: Take away his Ted Ginn Jr. (Mark Clayton is the closest thing Baltimore has) and pressure him relentlessly. Clayton should be no match for Seahawks LCB Marcus Trufant, and getting to quarterbacks is something Seattle does as well as any team in the league. LE Patrick Kerney has sacks 13.5 sacks to lead the NFL. SLB Julian Peterson has nine. DT Rocky Bernard and RE Darryl Tapp can account for ten more combined. Smith isn't a terrible prospect for the future, but the pass rush is his kryptonite. There isn't a Raven I'd count on in this game, even if his name is Willis McGahee?
baltimoreravens.com
?On the other side, there may not be an uglier secondary than the one in Baltimore currently. The Ravens have lost both of their former Pro Bowl cornerbacks to season-ending injured reserve. 5-9 Nickel back Corey Ivy and 2006 sixth-round pick Derrick Martin, whose role ideally would be limited to special teams, are now starters. Rarely will we find a greater mismatch on paper than Seattle's passing game against Baltimore's DBs. I'd expect the Seahawks to jump out to a comfortable lead early and continue to pass, because it's unlikely that their ground game will be able to move the chains. Bobby Engram and Deion Branch should both have big days, and Matt Hasselbeck is setup for a fantasy league winning performance.

Browns @ Bengals
Game Time: 12:00 CT/1:00 ET

With Rudi Johnson out, the Bengals lose the threat of a power running game. But Cincinnati's offense as a whole has performed better with Kenny Watson in the starting lineup, and DeDe Dorsey, who's likely to serve as a change of pace, is averaging an impressive 8.8 yards per carry. Watson and Dorsey both pose more of a threat out of the backfield than the stone-handed Johnson and should allow the Bengals to spread their offense out. 20 MPH winds are expected at Paul Brown Stadium Sunday, but scoring should be frequent in a game featuring two offensive juggernauts with suspect defenses. Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh are must-plays in fantasy leagues, while [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4226"]Chris Henry[/URL] (probable, ankle) ought to see a bump in playing time? clevelandbrowns.com

?On the other side, the Bengals are expected to be minus Madieu Williams, their top cover safety. Williams is such a solid presence in center field that Cincinnati annually considers moving him to cornerback. His main responsibility would have been Kellen Winslow, but the Bengals now will be forced to use fourth-round rookie Marvin White in that role. White only recently began being active on game days consistently and is likely to struggle against one of the league's top-three tight ends. Winslow has only caught nine passes in Cleveland's last three games, so look for him to break out of that funk against the Bengals.

Hache Man · Dec 23, 2007

Re: Fantasy Football News 2007

Week 16 Rankings Update

Note: The Rankings were updated Friday evening. The comments were written Wednesday.

[SIZE=+1]Week 16 Quarterbacks[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Drew Brees</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Peyton Manning</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Tom Brady</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD></TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Tony Romo</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD></TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Matt Hasselbeck</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Kurt Warner</TD><TD>vs. ATL</TD><TD>Probable(left elbow)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Brett Favre</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Derek Anderson</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>Watch weather</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Donovan McNabb</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Carson Palmer</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>Watch weather</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Ben Roethlisberger</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>Look for 3 TDs</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Jay Cutler</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Jon Kitna</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Marc Bulger</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>David Garrard</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Vince Young</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Todd Collins</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Sage Rosenfels</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Jeff Garcia</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Chad Pennington</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Eli Manning</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Philip Rivers</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>Probable(knee)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Chris Redman</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Brodie Croyle</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Tarvaris Jackson</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Cleo Lemon</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Trent Edwards</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Shaun Hill</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Matt Moore</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Kyle Orton</TD><TD>vs. GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Josh McCown</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>Probable(finger)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Troy Smith</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>First NFL Start </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>JaMarcus Russell</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
</TBODY></TABLE>

QB Notes: It's supposed to rain in Cincinnati and New England, but it shouldn't be as cold as last week. There will be no blizzards, but the wind conditions have to be monitored. If you are on the fence with Carson Palmer or Derek Anderson, that could make a difference. As for Tom Brady, I benched him last week for Brett Favre. That's not going to happen again, barring a big change in forecast. ? Peyton Manning reportedly told Tony Dungy that he needed more time on the field with Anthony Gonzalez and the other Colts receivers. The only way he sits early Sunday is if the Colts have a monster lead in the fourth quarter. You will take that tradeoff.
greenbaypackers.com indianapoliscolts.com clevelandbrowns.com
Tony Romo's thumb is a concern, but not enough to consider benching him against the Panthers. If he's healthy enough to start, he's healthy enough to bounce back against a mediocre secondary. Carolina is last in the league in sacks. ? Matt Hasselbeck should have his way with a Baltimore secondary that is playing out the string. Rain, of course, is a possibility in Seattle. ? It got lost in the shuffle, but Jeff Garcia struggled badly against the Falcons in his return from injury. Yes, they had a big lead the whole game, but 109 yards on 25 attempts is not what you are looking for. Garcia is pulling down the ball to run too fast and playing outside of Jon Gruden's system. I wouldn't trust him this week. ? Matt Moore's first NFL start was shockingly good considering the opponent and the windy conditions in Carolina. He has a real chance to be part of the Panthers' future if he can back up the performances the next two weeks. Ron Jaworski touted Moore as the fourth-best quarterback in last year's draft behind JaMarcus Russell, Brady Quinn, and Trent Edwards, so don't assume he was a fluke.
oaklandraiders.com
David Garrard's season is remarkable because he's playing with poor receivers in a new offense. Their coordinator Dirk Koetter deserves some praise because everything between Garrard and his receivers is well timed. Garrard anticipates well and "sees the field" as Jaws would say. Playing Garrard this week carries a risk because the Jaguars should be able to stuff the ball down Oakland's throat and sit on a lead. ? I love Sage Rosenfels, but not enough to play him against the top-ranked defense in the league. ? The Steelers aren't generating any pass rush lately, which gives Marc Bulger a fighting chance. He looked relatively sharp against the Packers. It's easy to imagine a lot of pass attempts in that game. ? The Cardinals and Kurt Warner have the receiver depth to expose Atlanta's secondary issues. He's a very safe play. ? Ben Roethlisberger was way off target last week, routinely missing throws by a wide amount. It makes you wonder if he's fully healthy. It's hard to bench him in St. Louis, but I'd look hard at your other options. ? With Donovan McNabb running again, he's a reasonably safe play against the Saints. There should be a lot of points in that game.
jacksonvillejaguars.com
The conditions in Buffalo should be better than they were in New York last week, but not that much better. Don't expect a huge game from Eli Manning. ? Vince Young isn't especially likely to build on his solid game against Kansas City. The Jets should be able to confuse the young quarterback with some exotic looks. ? Don't give up on Jay Cutler just because of his effort last Thursday night. The Broncos are coming off a mini-bye week and should be rested. The San Diego pass rush is not at full strength.
newyorkgiants.com
[SIZE=+1]Week 16 Running Backs[/SIZE]
sandiegochargers.com
<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>LaDainian Tomlinson</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Brian Westbrook</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD>Expected to start</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Adrian Peterson</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Ryan Grant</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Earnest Graham</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Willie Parker</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>Probably will break his leg</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Steven Jackson</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Jamal Lewis</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Joseph Addai</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Brandon Jacobs</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>Probable(hamstring)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Frank Gore</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>Probable(ankle)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Marion Barber</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Maurice Jones-Drew</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Fred Taylor</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Willis McGahee</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>LenDale White</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>Probable(knee)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Aaron Stecker</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>Ranked as if Aaron Stecker</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Marshawn Lynch</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Kolby Smith</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD></TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Clinton Portis</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Kevin Jones</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Laurence Maroney</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>More bad weather?</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Edgerrin James</TD><TD>vs. ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Selvin Young</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Kenny Watson</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>Likely will start, may split with Dorsey</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Jerious Norwood</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Adrian Peterson</TD><TD>vs. GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Thomas Jones</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Travis Henry</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Ron Dayne</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>Coming off bench</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Shaun Alexander</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>Probable(wrist)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Chester Taylor</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>Darius Walker</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>Expected to start </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>34</TD><TD>DeShaun Foster</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>35</TD><TD>Jesse Chatman</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>Game-Time Decision</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>36</TD><TD>Julius Jones</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>37</TD><TD>Dominic Rhodes</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>Will start </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>38</TD><TD>DeAngelo Williams</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>39</TD><TD>DeDe Dorsey</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>Should get 10-15 touches</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>40</TD><TD>Warrick Dunn</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>41</TD><TD>LaMont Jordan</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>42</TD><TD>Fred Jackson</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>43</TD><TD>Maurice Morris</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>44</TD><TD>Kevin Faulk</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>45</TD><TD>Kenton Keith</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>46</TD><TD>Reuben Droughns</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>47</TD><TD>Najeh Davenport</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>48</TD><TD>Michael Pittman</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>Probable(ankle)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>49</TD><TD>Samkon Gado</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>50</TD><TD>Ladell Betts</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>51</TD><TD>Chris Brown</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>52</TD><TD>T.J. Duckett</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>Probable(-)</TD></TR>
</TBODY></TABLE>
atlantafalcons.com

RB Notes: Reggie Bush will likely be a game-time decision this week, but he's not a fantasy option. His main impact, if he plays, will be hurting Aaron Stecker's value. Imagine hearing those words a few months ago. Since Stecker should still be the primary guy on a high-octane offense, I'd only knock him back five or six spots if Bush suits up. Because of injuries and their 6-8 record, the Eagles will be testing out some inexperienced linebackers. It should lead to plenty of scoring for New Orleans. ? Perhaps the long week off after a Thursday game refreshed Clinton Portis, because he looked like a new man against the Giants. The matchup is tougher this week, but I still think he'll get the ball enough to be a usable option. Joe Gibbs will not abandon the running game if Portis starts slow.

Jerious Norwood is a boom-or-bust pick, but you could do a lot worse with your flex spot. The Cardinals can't defend the run (or anything else) and Norwood's share of the workload continues to rise. ? Rudi Johnson's hamstring injury, not to mention his last game, is a red flag. Watch his status closely, but don't trust him unless you are desperate. ? Laurence Maroney could be in for another heavy workload if the weather is ugly in Foxborough. ? With the way Jacksonville is humming on offense, it's easy to imagine both Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew getting enough work to have big days against the Raiders. And the way Oakland defends the run, they won't need that many touches. ? Brandon Jacobs was back to his old self against Washington: huge total yards, no touchdowns. Maybe that won't change this week, but you can't bench anyone who averages over 100 total yards per start. ? Willis McGahee owners should be concerned if Troy Smith is the Ravens quarterback Sunday. That could hurt his chances to get a big workload. buffalobills.com

Last Christmas Eve, Ron Dayne gave fantasy owners over 150 yards and two scores against the Colts. While that's too much to ask for this time around, he should get the majority of carries over Darius Walker. ? Kevin Jones' terrible games happen when the Lions fall behind early. Perhaps I'm putting too much faith in Detroit, but I don't think that will happen against the Chiefs. ? Selvin Young remains a highly risky option, but the Chargers defense isn't at full strength. He's still likely to wind up with more value and more touches than Travis Henry. ? It sounds like Dominic Rhodes will start over LaMont Jordan, but we just can't rank Rhodes higher. Consider it a blind spot. ? The Dolphins starting running back probably won't be known until game time.
minnesotavikings.com
[SIZE=+1]Week 16 Wide Receivers[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Randy Moss</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Marques Colston</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>Probable(back)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Terrell Owens</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Andre Johnson</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Brandon Marshall</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Larry Fitzgerald</TD><TD>vs. ATL</TD><TD>Expected to start</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Reggie Wayne</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Braylon Edwards</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Greg Jennings</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Torry Holt</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>T.J. Houshmandzadeh</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Chad Johnson</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Roddy White</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Wes Welker</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Bobby Engram</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Anquan Boldin</TD><TD>vs. ATL</TD><TD>Expected to start</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Donald Driver</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Shaun McDonald</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Jerricho Cotchery</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>Probable(finger)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Plaxico Burress</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>Questionable(ankle)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Hines Ward</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Deion Branch</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Santonio Holmes</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Kevin Curtis</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Joey Galloway</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Anthony Gonzalez</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Calvin Johnson</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Santana Moss</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Lee Evans</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Steve Smith</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>Probable(flu)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Dwayne Bowe</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Patrick Crayton</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>Bernard Berrian</TD><TD>vs. GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>34</TD><TD>Reggie Brown</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD>Questionable(knee)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>35</TD><TD>David Patten</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>36</TD><TD>Chris Chambers</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>37</TD><TD>Kevin Walter</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>38</TD><TD>Mike Furrey</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>39</TD><TD>Chris Henry</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>Probable(ankle)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>40</TD><TD>Isaac Bruce</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>41</TD><TD>Ronald Curry</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>42</TD><TD>Jerry Porter</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>43</TD><TD>Reggie Williams</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>44</TD><TD>Derrick Mason</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>45</TD><TD>Jabar Gaffney</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>46</TD><TD>Javon Walker</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>Probable(knee)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>47</TD><TD>Amani Toomer</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>48</TD><TD>Donte' Stallworth</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>49</TD><TD>Justin Gage</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>50</TD><TD>Joe Jurevicius</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>51</TD><TD>Nate Burleson</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>52</TD><TD>Antwaan Randle El</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>53</TD><TD>Brandon Stokley</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>Questionable(knee)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>54</TD><TD>Vincent Jackson</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
</TBODY></TABLE>

www.washingtonredskins.ws
WR Notes: The Falcons could only complete four passes last week, which obviously put a damper on Roddy White's production. Don't look for that to happen again versus an Arizona secondary that is giving up big plays in bunches. Chris Redman showed he could throw against a terrible pass defense (New Orleans) and should keep White's numbers afloat. ? The Bengals passing game has been a huge disappointment over the last month, but a rematch with Cleveland isn't the time to get cute and bench Chad Johnson or T.J. Houshmandzadeh. It won't be 52-45 again, but it shouldn't be a game in the teens either. There may be some snow or rain at the game, but it shouldn't be like last week. The Bengals are the second-worst team in the NFL defending number one receivers, so Braylon Edwards should have a big game. ? Anquan Boldin looked close enough to 100% against the Saints. He may not break as many plays after the catch, but he should be good for a number of underneath catches against a suspect Atlanta secondary. He's even more valuable in PPR leagues. arizonacardinals.com
newyorkjets.com
Wes Welker has been held under forty yards in three of his last six games, but there just aren't many other WR2/3 fantasy options that are worth benching him for. He caught nine passes for 138 yards and two scores the last time he faced his former team. ? Matt Jones was playing in two wideout sets often last week, showing that his coaching staff hasn't given up on him yet. His playing time is another reason to avoid Reggie Williams and Dennis Northcutt. ? I mentioned this is the Thursday preview on the Fix, but Santonio Holmes looked fully healthy against the Jaguars. If Ben Roethlisberger was accurate with a few more passes, Holmes could have enjoyed a big day. He's safe to use again. ? Hard to know what to expect from Plaxico Burress at this point. He's scored four fantasy points or less in six of his last eight games. You are paying for the 25% chance for a big game. I'd rather go with someone safer.

[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=378"]Kevin Curtis[/URL]' numbers this season are deceptively awesome because 59% of his fantasy production has come from only three games. This week, however, sets up as another possibly explosive matchup. The key is whom Mike McKenzie covers for the Saints. Reggie Brown had a pair of nice games last year against New Orleans (208 yards, two scores), so maybe they will assign their Pro Bowl caliber corner to cover him. Whoever draws the Saints' second corner should have a big day. ? ? The possibility of JaMarcus Russell starting at quarterback makes Ronald Curry and Jerry Porter shakier options than usual.

The Colts are number one in the league at defending primary receivers, so Andre Johnson will have to work for his production this week. ? I like Jerricho Cotchery fine this week, but don't expect Laveranues Coles' possible absence to help him out. Cotchery has played two games without Coles this year, and played to his norms. ? Kyle Orton's unwillingness to go deep or use his wide receivers definitely hurts Bernard Berrian the last two weeks. ? [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4227"]Steve Smith[/URL] will draw Terence Newman Saturday, but he should still see eight or more targets like he does each game. He's a safe PPR play.
kansascitychiefs.com [SIZE=+1]Week 16 Tight Ends[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Tony Gonzalez</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Jason Witten</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Kellen Winslow</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Antonio Gates</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Chris Cooley</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Owen Daniels</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Dallas Clark</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Vernon Davis</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Donald Lee</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Heath Miller</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Tony Scheffler</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Ben Watson</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Desmond Clark</TD><TD>vs. GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Greg Olsen</TD><TD>vs. GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Marcedes Lewis</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Chris Baker</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Alge Crumpler</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Zach Miller</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Randy McMichael</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Bo Scaife</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Daniel Wilcox</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Billy Miller</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Ben Utecht</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Tampabaybuccaneers.com
[SIZE=+1]Week 16 Team Defense[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Buccaneers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Patriots Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Packers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Cowboys Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Jaguars Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Vikings Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Titans Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Seahawks Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Steelers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Colts Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Giants Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Redskins Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Chargers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Chiefs Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Lions Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Cardinals Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Broncos Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Bills Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Browns Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Panthers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Ravens Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Saints Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Bears Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Bengals Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Texans Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Fortyniners Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Falcons Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Rams Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Eagles Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Jets Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Raiders Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Dolphins Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
miamidolphins.com
[SIZE=+1]Week 16 Kickers[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Stephen Gostkowski</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Nick Folk</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Josh Brown</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Adam Vinatieri</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Mason Crosby</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Kris Brown</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Jason Hanson</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Rob Bironas</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Jeff Reed</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Phil Dawson</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Robbie Gould</TD><TD>vs. GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Nate Kaeding</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Shayne Graham</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Neil Rackers</TD><TD>vs. ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Jason Elam</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>David Akers</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Ryan Longwell</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Sebastian Janikowski</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Josh Scobee</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Martin Gramatica</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Jeff Wilkins</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Rian Lindell</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Lawrence Tynes</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Matt Bryant</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Matt Stover</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>John Carney</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Jay Feely</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Morten Andersen</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Joe Nedney</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Mike Nugent</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Shaun Suisham</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>John Kasay</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Dec 24, 2007

Re: Fantasy Football News 2007

Very Un-Brady Christmas
At least Brian Westbrook didn't run backwards before laying down on the turf. That's essentially what Tom Brady did in the second half Sunday against Miami, throwing for only 52 yards while turning the ball over three times. Losing four fantasy points after halftime didn't erase Brady's three touchdowns, but they left a bitter taste for fantasy owners who needed more.

Aided by Josh McDaniels' cutthroat playcalling, Brady carried fantasy teams all season because New England stayed aggressive until the final gun. That same aggression backfired in the box score during fantasy championship week. Brady lost a fumble on a fourth and seven.

Speaking Sunday morning, NBCSports.com's Tom Curran predicted Sunday morning that Brady would try to help Randy Moss get Jerry Rice's touchdown record. It looked that way in the second half, as Brady repeatedly forced the ball to Moss, probably in an effort to enter the record books together.

All week, fantasy owners fretted that the Patriots would rest their starters in the second half this week. It turns out they would have been better off.

[SIZE=+1]Don't get carried away ? [/SIZE]

Drafting receivers too high next year. While this was undeniably the year of the wideout, the bad weather of the fantasy playoffs showed how fickle they can be. Only one pass catcher (Randy Moss) was in the top-30 fantasy scorers over the last three weeks. 13 running backs were.

[SIZE=+1]Searching for Billy Volek[/SIZE]

For three weeks, we've searched for this year's fantasy playoff hero. Today, we crown a winner.

6. The Sage Rosenfels Experience

5. Fred Taylor's career has been too strong to call him a Volek, but no one could have imagined he'd be the number one fantasy runner during playoff season. Taylor broke two touchdowns for more than 60 yards over the last three weeks to help him reach 390 rushing yards with three scores.
jacksonvillejaguars.com
4. Laurence Maroney had the longest run of his career Sunday ? twice! After the bustiest season of a mostly healthy running back this side of Rudi Johnson, Maroney ran for 260 yards and two touchdowns the last two weeks.

3. (Tie) We started talking about the gorgeous playoff schedule for 2007 Cinderella's Earnest Graham and Ryan Grant almost two months ago. Graham came through with 257 total yards and three scores, while Grant rolled up 331 yards and three scores. Tampabaybuccaneers.com

2. By now, we take wild child 2007 Kurt Warner for granted. He's so much like 2005 Kurt Warner (with Dennis Green), that we almost expect it. But Warner was a player who was given up for dead in the NFL four years ago and he's still racking up fantasy points. He's what Jon Kitna was supposed to be this season. arizonacardinals.com

Warner outscored all quarterbacks in the fantasy playoffs through sheer volume: 129 attempts, 931 yards, nine touchdowns, and six interceptions. You know you are a fantasy guy when you throw five picks in a game and still put up numbers.

1. And the winner of this year's Billy Volek, in a landslide, is ? Aaron Stecker! He passes all the tests.

* He was freely available not so long ago: Stecker was available in 86 % of fantasy leagues in Week 13.

* His success was unprecedented. Stecker had four touchdowns since 2001 before scoring four over the last three weeks. He topped 100 total yards in a game twice in his eight-year career before doing it twice in the last three weeks.

* He helped his team each week. His fantasy points in the playoffs in standard scoring leagues: 10, 27, 20. He was even better in reception leagues.

A hearty kudos to Aaron Stecker and his owners for this award. The Saints only needed Reggie Bush to get hurt to solve their running game.

[SIZE=+1]Championship Week Heroes[/SIZE]

1. I know that some Donovan McNabb owners somehow made their fantasy finals because many of them called into the Fantasy Fix Sunday morning. I think I told most of them to play number five against our old hero Jason David, although I admit that much of what happens in our 90-minute program is immediately erased from my memory. There's limited space.

This was a lost season for McNabb, but his three touchdown, 263-yard effort is going to make it even harder for the Eagles to let him go. He currently has the second highest completion percentage of his career to go along with an 18:6 TD:INT ratio. He's second among NFL quarterbacks in rushing yards.

2. Brandon Jacobs couldn't finish a game (again!), but he had a career-best day before hurting his ankle. 145 yards and two touchdowns, one of them on a career-long 43-yard burst, helped ease the pain of an uneven season. newyorkgiants.com

3. Andre Johnson's 74-yard, one touchdown performance was typical for his season. But to do it against the number one pass defense in the league with a meaningless last-minute score ? that's what fantasy championships are made of.

4. Peyton Manning will throw for over 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns in a "down year." He threw for eight scores and an interception during the fantasy playoffs. indianapoliscolts.com

5. Tony Gonzalez and Dwayne Bowe combined for 18 catches and 234 yards and one touchdown against the Lions. Vive le Damon Huard! kansascitychiefs.com

6. Kenny Watson did it again, capping a career year with 150 total yards after DeDe Dorsey left early in the game with an injury. A late fumble almost ruined the day, but the Bengals defense held up.

[SIZE=+1]Title Game Busts[/SIZE]

1. Winning Sunday's Willie Parker Memorial Award for poorly timed injuries; Willis McGahee broke two ribs in the first quarter against Seattle after gaining ten yards. baltimoreravens.com

2. Drew Brees has been the top fantasy quarterback since Week 8, even outplaying Mr. Brady. While he didn't play that poor Sunday, Brees didn't throw a touchdown for the first time in his last eleven games. Marques Colston left with a chest injury after recording his worst game of the season.

3. Favre vs. Orton ? and Orton wins in a landslide! Can't totally blame the weather for that!

4. Derek Anderson should just sit out Week 16 next season. Last year, he ruined an underrated run as a starter with four picks and a shoulder injury against Tampa. This year, he threw four interceptions to potentially lose Cleveland's playoff spot. clevelandbrowns.com

5. The Lions beat the Chiefs, with Mike Martz showing abnormal restraint. Only 16 pass attempts for Jon Kitna led to terrible games for all his wideouts.

[SIZE=+1]Can't bear to put him in the Bust column[/SIZE]

Brian Westbrook's 109 total yard effort against the Saints was his worst fantasy output of the year, which nicely sums up how dominant his season has been. Considering his draft slot, he's been the most valuable fantasy running back this season. He's definitely been the most valuable running back in "real" football.

[SIZE=+1]Okay, blame the weather[/SIZE]

1. Eli Manning lost two fumbles on windups, and fumbled three other times on center exchanges. His receivers also struggled to hold on the ball. [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4227"]Steve Smith[/URL] dropped a wide-open 50-yard touchdown try. And his interception was on a deflected pass to Plaxico Burress. But he just knows how to sneak into the playoffs! newyorkgiants.com

2. Another tough weather day for the deep receiving threats: Greg Jennings, Bernard Berrian, Plaxico Burress, Chad Johnson, and [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4226"]Chris Henry[/URL]. That makes Braylon Edwards' solid efforts the last two weeks even more impressive.

[SIZE=+1]What the ? ?[/SIZE]

1. Dominic Rhodes' 115-yard game against the Jaguars just might keep him on the 2008 Oakland roster. It's clear that LaMont Jordan (no touches) has no future with Lane Kiffin around. oaklandraiders.com

2. Looks like that Ron Dayne injury was for real. He didn't get off the bench Sunday as Darius Walker carried the load for Houston.

[SIZE=+1]Some Panic is Acceptable [/SIZE]

1. A better effort from JaMarcus Russell next week would make the offseason more optimistic in Oakland. 23 attempts for 83 yards, three picks and a garbage time touchdown show that he's got a long way to go. oaklandraiders.com

2. Tony Dungy came through on his promise to keep his starters in the game with one notable exception: Joseph Addai. Perhaps because of a minor injury, Addai left after six carries and a touchdown. Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne, and Dallas Clark stayed around to each record monster days. indianapoliscolts.com

The Colts may be interested in knocking out Tennessee next week, but it's more likely that they will rest more of their stars early in the game.

3. The Giants, Cowboys, Jaguars, and Packers also will be tempted to rest players early. greenbaypackers.com

4. After returning from a career-threatening foot injury, Kevin Jones had to consider this season an unqualified success. With a likely torn knee ligament, he faces an uncertain offseason. detroitlions.com

[SIZE=+1]Happy Holidays [/SIZE]

Hopefully everyone got a fantasy championship for the holidays, although I know that's impossible. Good luck to everyone waiting on results Monday Night (I need Tomlinson to have an improbably quiet night), and enjoy the holidays this week. Much thanks and awe to all the Rotoworld football writers who give up time with their family during this time of year (and Sundays all season long) so that we are always freshly stocked with news. The Knights of the Keyboard: Evan Silva, Aaron Gleeman, Pat Dahl, Ben Standig, Chris Wesseling, and Brian Flood. Fantasy Sports - Fantasy Football? - Fantasy Sports News - Fantasy Football Mock Draft - Fantasy Basketball - Fantasy Football Advice
washingtonredskins.com

Hache Man · Dec 25, 2007

Re: Fantasy Football News 2007

The 2007 Waiver Awards

One of the most important parts of preparing for next season is looking back at what happened during the previous season. For example, in real life, quarterbacks with a pit bull farm are not advisable, whereas quarterbacks with neckbeards are. In that spirit, let's look back over this year's waiver adds in the first annual Rotoworld Waiver Wire awards!

If you want actual Waiver adds for this week, scroll to the bottom of the article for an extremely abbreviated list. Also, join a league where you don't play in Week 17.

[SIZE=+1]Quarterback[/SIZE]

The "Enjoy the Playoff Race From Over There, Brady" Award

Goes to? Derek Anderson! Anderson entered the season behind Charlie Frye, but after one bad half, Frye was sent shopping for umbrellas in Seattle. Anderson took control of the Browns offense, and common thought was that he was little more than a placeholder for Brady Quinn. Well, the Browns ended up in a playoff race, Anderson was selected to the Pro Bowl, and Quinn still hasn't thrown a pass this season. clevelandbrowns.com

The "Del Rio, You're a? Genius!" Award

Goes to? David Garrard! Jack Del Rio let Byron Leftwich take first team snaps all offseason and throughout training camp, refusing to trade him when multiple teams had shown interest. And then he cut him right before the season started. Garrard made him look like a genius, though, leading the Jaguars to the playoffs and establishing himself as a solid fantasy quarterback when healthy. Leftwich, meanwhile, has looked terrible in Atlanta, but it's unclear if that's his fault or just the Joey Harrington stink rubbing off on him. jacksonvillejaguars.com

The "Jesus, Who'd Have Thought It?!" Award

Goes to? Kurt Warner! Before the season, Warner was reportedly considering retiring. Three weeks into it he was leading the offense in no-huddle situations, and a Week 5 injury to Matt Leinart left Warter as the starting QB. Despite a limited to start the season, Warner now finds himself the QB11 in standard scoring leagues. He also wants to play for a couple more years, which means one thing for his Arizona teammates: more bible study groups!

[SIZE=+1]Running Backs [/SIZE]
Who says you need to draft a running back in the first two rounds?

The "I Look Amazing In Yellow Pants" Award

Goes to? Ryan Grant! Grant was the fourth running back to get a shot in Green Bay's backfield, bursting onto the scene in Week 8 with 22 rushes for 104 yards. After seeing Brandon Jackson, Vernand Morency and DeShawn Wynn struggle, there weren't many who thought Grant would be able to remain productive in Green Bay's backfield. Grant proved a lot of people wrong by averaging over 100 yards a game over the rest of the season and scoring in all but two contests. greenbaypackers.com

The "Car's in the Shop, and I Prefer My Rental" Award

Goes to? Earnest Graham! Cadillac Williams went down in Week 4 with a knee injury, and Michael Pittman followed soon thereafter. Given a chance to be the team's featured back, Graham notched almost 200 all-purpose yards in a spectacular effort against the Lions in Week 7. Since then, he's been a solid RB1, averaging over 110 yards and a touchdown per game (not counting a Week 16 effort in which he was rested). Not bad for a direct descendent of Archibald "Moonlight" Graham. Tampabaybuccaneers.com

The "I'm Finally More Than Huggie Bear's Son" Award

Goes to? Justin Fargas! Fargas took advantage of LaMont Jordan's balky back and Dominic Rhodes' general ineffectiveness to become a solid fantasy running back over the second half of the season. He gained over 1000 yards in essentially eight games as the featured back before getting injured. The Raiders now find themselves with Jordan and Rhodes on the books for $5 million next season, while Fargas is a free agent. Things in Oakland couldn't be going better! oaklandraiders.com

The "Would I Benefit From Changing the Spelling to 'Kenni?'" Award

Goes to? Kenny Watson! This award is also known as the "(Bench) Rudi! (Bench) Rudi!" Watson has had more than 10 carries in a game just five times this season, but thanks to 51 receptions, he is just outside of the top 20 fantasy running backs (ahead of Brandon Jacobs and Reggie Bush). Watson is currently averaging over 1.5 yards per carry more than Rudi and has twice the touchdowns with about the same number of carries. newyorkgiants.com

The "Billy Volek" Award

Goes to? Aaron Stecker! Apparently Gregg Rosenthal thinks he is the master of ceremonies around here, and he already handed out this award in his Morning After column. Still, it's worth noting Steckers' amazing fantasy playoff performance here. In the three most common fantasy playoff weeks, Stecker scored four times and put up 332 all-purpose yards. Mario Williams has contacted Stecker to start the "I made Reggie look bad in 2007" club.

The "Biggest Tease" Award

Goes to? Selvin Young! Young was actually listed way back in Gregg Rosenthal's preseason Waiver Wired as somebody to own. Sixteen games and a Travis Henry drug scandal later, Young has compiled four solid fantasy outings, but they were each incredibly unpredictable. Trying to pick a Denver running back to play has become as dangerous as picking up women at a gay pride parade.

[SIZE=+1]Wide Receiver [/SIZE]

The "I Even Made Harrington Look Decent" Award

Goes to? Roddy White! White, just about the only bright spot in Atlanta this season, finally had his breakout year. In our pre-season rankings we called him "the homeless man's Lee Evans," but listed him as someone worth taking a flier on. Whether catching passes from Chris Redman, Byron Leftwich or Joey Harrington, White managed to put up solid WR3 numbers throughout most of the season. Still, his "Free Mike Vick! t-shirt proved that he's a total moron, making him the Britney Spears of this awards ceremony. atlantafalcons.com

The "Rookies Can Catch, Too" Award

Goes to? Dwayne Bowe! At Rotoworld, we're always hesitant to rely on rookie receivers, but Bowe broke into the starting lineup in Week 2, and is currently the 20th wide receiver in terms of fantasy points scored this season. That puts him 18 spots ahead of Calvin Johnson. Bowe has a great shot at surpassing 1000 receiving yards next week, and should be a fine selection next year, assuming that Brodie Croyle can pull himself off of this and improve his game in the offseason. detroitlions.com

[SIZE=+1]Tight End[/SIZE]

The "I Got Myself Paid" Award

Goes to? Donald Lee! Lee entered this season with what many thought was a shaky quarterback in Brett Favre, and expectations were that he'd be a low-end TE2. 48 catches and 575 yards later, Lee is a top 10 fantasy tight end, and is probably enjoying Christmas after signing a four-year contract for almost $12 million back in November. Of course, he'd probably be enjoying it more if he had put up more than two yards against the Bears in Week 16. Yes, I am gloating like a homer about my team's dominance of the Packers this weekend. It's all I have. greenbaypackers.com

Hopefully the Waiver Wire was kind to you this season, if not with one of the award winners above, with someone who deserves honorable mention such as Derrick Ward, Kolby Smith or Patrick Crayton. Have a great offseason, and we'll see you here at Waiver Wired next fall. Here are some options for this week: kansascitychiefs.com

Quarterback

Shaun Hill, who faces the Browns' weak secondary.

Running Back

<LI value=1>Najeh Davenport, who takes over for Willie Parker.
<LI value=2>T.J. Duckett, who will take over for Kevin Jones
detroitlions.com
Brandon Jackson, could see significant time vs. Lions

Wide Receiver

<LI value=1>Antwaan Randle El, who still has something to play for.
Sam Hurd/Terry Glenn, who will play more in place of T.O..

Defense

<LI value=1>Jets, who face the Chiefs.
newyorkjets.com
Kansas City, who face the Jets.

Hache Man · Dec 26, 2007

Re: Fantasy Football News 2007

MVP! MVP! MVP!
Since it's Week 17 and any self-respecting league with a decent set of rules is already finished, here's my ballot for this season's fantasy MVP:

1. Tom Brady
2. LaDainian Tomlinson
3. Randy Moss
4. Brian Westbrook
5. Tony Romo
6. Terrell Owens
7. [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4169"]Adrian Peterson[/URL]
8. Joseph Addai
9. Peyton Manning
10. Braylon Edwards
indianapoliscolts.com
Brady is obviously the easy pick even after his miserable Week 15 effort knocked a ton of fantasy teams out of the playoffs, because 4,450 passing yards and a 48-to-8 touchdown-to-interception ratio is pretty decent. Tomlinson recovered from a mediocre start to have a season (1,886 total yards, 17 touchdowns, 59 catches) that would be MVP-caliber in many years and deserves credit for being the top scoring non-quarterback from Week 14 to Week 16.

Manning also came up big when it mattered most, ranking as the top-scoring player overall during that all-important three-game stretch, but Romo actually out-scored him by a decent margin over the course of the entire season. Jessica Simpson's boyfriend threw for 4,125 yards and 36 scores (with 18 interceptions) to rank second behind only Brady in overall scoring, but the fact that "replacement level" for quarterbacks is so high knocks him down a few pegs on my ballot.

As amazing as Peterson was?and I've certainly been driving the Purple Jesus bandwagon?it's worth noting that he's produced just 331 yards and four touchdowns during the second half. Much of that comes from missing 2.5 games with a knee injury, but he also came up empty in Week 14 and Week 16 to crush an awful lot of fantasy teams. It'll be interesting to see how many teams take the leap next season by drafting him No. 1 overall, because LT would still be my pick. minnesotavikings.com

Westbrook's season will probably be overlooked because of Brady, Tomlinson, and Moss, but he produced at least 80 total yards in all 14 games that he played, managed at least 120 yards in 12 of them, and caught five or more passes 11 times. Westbrook had a monster 221-yard, three-touchdown performance in Week 3 and also scored three times while piling up 183 yards in Week 10. He was an incredibly consistent stud, especially in point-per-reception leagues.

While e-mails undoubtedly roll in telling me what an awful ballot that is, here are some notes from around football ?

* It took about two months longer than it probably should have, but the Chiefs have finally ruled Larry Johnson out for the remainder of the season. Johnson broke his foot on November 4 and sources close to him almost immediately told Rotoworld that he didn't expect to play again this season. Despite that, the Chiefs avoided placing him on season-ending injured reserve and inexplicably continued to push him toward a potential return right up until last week. kansascitychiefs.com

Coach Herm Edwards said Monday that Johnson's recovery "was good for a while, but it hit a plateau." Either that or he should never have tried to return from a broken foot for a team that was out of the playoff picture a long time ago. Whatever the case, Johnson becomes the latest in a long line of running backs who've had horrible years following a season in which they logged at least 370 carries. Fantasy Sports - Fantasy Football? - Fantasy Sports News - Fantasy Football Mock Draft - Fantasy Basketball - Fantasy Football Advice

Johnson followed an NFL-record 416 carries by first averaging just 3.5 yards per rush and then suffering a season-ending injury. Perhaps he would have had a strong second half if not for the injury and perhaps his broken foot had nothing to do with last season's heavy workload, but history suggests that Johnson is still far from out of the woods. He may never be the same elite running back that he was from 2004-2006 and heads into 2008 as a major question mark.

* Coach Tony Dungy indicated Monday that backup Jim Sorgi will play at least one half in the season finale against the Titans, signaling that the Colts plan to give plenty of rest to their starters Sunday night. The over/under on series for Peyton Manning is probably something like 3.5 and there's speculation that Joseph Addai won't bother suiting up at all after taking a shot to his back in Week 16. Anthony Gonzalez and Ben Utecht may also sit with injuries. indianapoliscolts.com
Dungy said Monday that he's still holding out some hope that Marvin Harrison will play in Week 17 after sitting out nine straight games with a knee injury. The odds of that taking place are beyond slim, because the Colts aren't going to force him into action in what's essentially a meaningless game after being incredibly cautious with him over the past three months. Count on seeing plenty of Sorgi, Kenton Keith, Devin Aromashodu, and Bryan Fletcher in prime time.

* Meanwhile, coach Mike Tomlin has sent out mixed messages about whether or not he plans to rest Pittsburgh's starters in Week 17, but the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette speculated Tuesday that Ben Roethlisberger likely won't see a ton of action against the Ravens. The Steelers are technically still playing for the No. 3 seed, but can only get there if the Chargers drop their season finale to the Raiders.

That's unlikely, but with both teams playing in the late afternoon Sunday the Steelers may choose to start their regulars and simply do some scoreboard watching to determine how much action they see. Avoiding the Patriots for as long as possible is obviously everyone's goal at this point, but a team that just lost Willie Parker to a season-ending injury is probably a little more gun shy then most when it comes to exposing more starters to unimportant snaps.

* Speaking of Parker, Najeh Davenport will start in his place Sunday against the Ravens and is a solid RB2 option this week. Davenport was used as the Steelers' short-yardage and third-down back while playing behind Parker, but may give up some passing-down snaps to Verron Haynes or Carey Davis. Rookie Gary Russell will technically serve as Davenport's backup, but isn't much of a pass-catcher and doesn't figure to see significant action unless Davenport gets hurt.

* Coach Cam Cameron said Tuesday that Cleo Lemon remains the starter for Week 17 against the Bengals. Lemon was at the helm for the Dolphins' lone victory this season, throwing for 315 yards against the Ravens in Week 15, but followed it up by going 18-of-41 while averaging a measly 4.1 yards per attempt against the Patriots. For the year he's completed just 55.2 percent of his throws while averaging 5.7 yards per attempt, albeit with a horrible supporting cast. miamidolphins.com

Lemon provides the best chance to win, but is 2-14 any better than 1-15? Winning a second game isn't going to save Cameron's job, because new vice president of football operations Bill Parcells has likely already decided his fate. In April the Dolphins invested a second-round pick in John Beck and, while he's looked awful in four games, getting another extended look at the 26-year-old rookie would seemingly be valuable heading into what will be a very busy offseason.
www.newyorkjets.ws
Two-Minute Drill: Kellen Clemens was healthy enough to back up Chad Pennington in Week 16 and it sounds like his rib injury has now healed enough for him to return to the lineup Sunday against the Chiefs ? LaDainian Tomlinson experienced a "grab" in his hamstring Monday night for the second straight game, suggesting that his workload in Week 17 against the Raiders could be minimal ? Coach Herm Edwards said Monday that Brodie Croyle will enter training camp as the Chiefs' incumbent starter, but a reunion with Pennington could change his mind in a hurry ? Despite suffering a high-ankle sprain in Week 15, Sidney Rice reportedly may return Sunday against the Broncos and should be ready if the Vikings make the playoffs ? John Clayton of ESPN speculated Tuesday that the Raiders will try to re-sign pending free agent Josh McCown because coach Lane Kiffin isn't yet comfortable handing the starting job over to JaMarcus Russell. oaklandraiders.com sandiegochargers.com

Hache Man · Dec 26, 2007

Re: Fantasy Football News 2007

To play or not to play?
So you're still playing? Good for you. Try not to let it happen again.

But since you're here now, you need the help. You know the drill about teams resting starters, about some clubs not exactly going out with a bang (thanks for showing up, Broncos) and other guys resting supposedly minor injuries.

That's the mess that is Week 17; that's the reason you should have wrapped up your league already. If you didn't do it this year, do it next year; you'll save yourself plenty of aggravation.

And you'll also wind up saving yourself from going through a wild batch of roster moves before reaching this final weekend. Tony Romo might have carried you all season, and now you're scrambling to pick up Chris Redman just so you have a quarterback who figures to play in Week 17.

This supposed to be representative of who is the best team in your league? Count me out. I hate wasting 5.9% of the season as much as anybody else, but comparing this week to the final preseason game is doing a disservice to the preseason.

You're here, though, and wondering who will not be playing. Only two playoff spots are still up for grabs. More disturbingly, eight of the 10 teams that have clinched also have secured their playoff position. And one of the teams fighting to get in the playoffs can't do anything to improve its chances.

Those teams literally have nothing to play for yet you can't assume all of those clubs will or won't play their starters any particular way. Let's take a look, in alphabetical order, at what each team is likely to do with some key players and who the replacements might be.

Cleveland. The Browns actually have almost nothing to play for as their future depends almost entirely on what Tennessee does. So they could use the week to rest, though that would be an absurd position for a team still trying to make the playoffs. Don't wait for that to happen. clevelandbrowns.com

Dallas. Even if they had something to play for, the Cowboys still might have tried to get some rest for the injured Tony Romo and Terrell Owens. But it's virtually certain now that guys such as QB Brad Johnson, RB Tyson Thompson, WR Sam Hurd and TE Tony Curtis will play out the string. The Redskins are trying to make the playoffs, though, and will not make things comfortable for any of them.

Green Bay. That was a costly flop by the Packers in Chicago last week and it brings them into a game you should stay far away from. Between the Packers having nothing to play for, the Lions' inconsistency and possible bad weather in Green Bay, there is no telling how this will play out. It's not even clear whether Aaron Rodgers or Craig Nall would play after Brett Favre's token appearance. Brandon Jackson figures to sub for running back Ryan Grant, but Jackson has been a bust all season. greenbaypackers.com

Indianapolis. The Colts already have admitted they will not play their starters much. Peyton Manning et al might get a series or a quarter, but Jim Sorgi will get plenty of time. He would not be a good play, however, against a Titans team fighting for the playoffs. Clifton Dawson figures to be the main running back, Devin Aromashodu be the best wide receiver and Bryan Fletcher the top tight end. indianapoliscolts.com

New England. You never know with the Patriots, and they were liberal with substitutions throughout last week's game, but if they sat any key players on the brink of a perfect season, it would be a stunner. The only concern is if they jump out to a big lead against a Giants team that is unlikely to care too much and then sit on the ball. They got the 28-0 lead against Miami last week but a poor second half kept Tom Brady from putting up the dominant numbers he has had at times this season. Otherwise, the Patriots are the least-worrisome playoff team out there. ncaafootball.com

Jacksonville. You know about Fred Taylor's dominant stretch of five 100-yard games, and that has earned the 31-year-old veteran a chance to rest this week. LaBrandon Toefield and Greg Jones would be the main runners and they could get a TD against the Texans. Don't be too quick to jump on Quinn Gray and the receivers will be unpredictable. Matt Jones and tight end Richard Angulo both could get extra time. jacksonvillejaguars.com

New York Giants. If anybody needs a break, it's the Giants so you can forget about them trying to end the Patriots' undefeated run. WR Plaxico Burress and RB Brandon Jacobs are both banged up and the most likely players to get a week off. In a difficult matchup against the Patriots, in which the Giants are likely to be far behind very quickly, don't dream about playing any of the replacements. newyorkgiants.com

Pittsburgh, San Diego. These are the two playoff teams who have not clinched their seed so they still could go all out in a fight to be the AFC's No. 3. The Steelers do not seem very interested in that, however, having lost running back Willie Parker to a broken leg and seeing Ben Roethlisberger sprain his ankle last week. So don't be surprised when Charlie Batch gets snaps. And with new starting running back Najeh Davenport having his own spotty injury history, new backups Gary Russell and Carey Davis will get to prove themselves.
sandiegochargers.com
As for the Chargers, LaDainian Tomlinson has left each of the past two games after feeling a pull in his hamstring so don't expect more than perhaps a half out of him, as well as Philip Rivers and Antonio Gates. The toughest decision is whether Darren Sproles or Michael Turner is the next-best back to play. Sproles has been the better guy while Turner has been banged up, but Turner has been Tomlinson's long-term backup. The Chargers might as well let Turner get healthy too for the postseason.

Seattle. The Seahawks always seem to make noise about playing their regular guys when they hit a game with nothing to play for, but reality also seems to set in about halfway through the second quarter. That's when you can expect QB Seneca Wallace and RB Leonard Weaver to take over. At least Seattle has a good matchup against the Falcons, which might make WR D.J. Hackett worth considering. He has missed four games because of an ankle injury but could be a big threat in the playoffs if he gets back in the flow of the offense. Fantasy Sports - Fantasy Football? - Fantasy Sports News - Fantasy Football Mock Draft - Fantasy Basketball - Fantasy Football Advice

Tampa Bay. The Bucs showed their hand last week and it's pretty clear we won't get much out of Jeff Garcia, Joey Galloway or Earnest Graham. The Panthers have been all over the place all season, but they don't seem likely to be all that interested in playing either, which would open the door for RB Michael Bennett or one of the tight ends, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=3147"]Alex Smith[/URL] and Jerramy Stevens, to get a TD chance. Tampabaybuccaneers.com

Hache Man · Dec 27, 2007

Re: Fantasy Football News 2007

Carrying Bags, Not Footballs
If you're like me you've been wondering what Reggie Bush has been up to while sidelined with a knee injury. Apparently the answer is that he's been daintily carrying Kim Kardashian's bags while she goes Christmas shopping. Even for a former Heisman Trophy winner whose team is still clinging to playoff hopes there are certainly worse ways to spend an afternoon (assuming that there are also some evening plans), but Bush's chances of playing in Week 17 appear slim.

Aaron Stecker took advantage of Bush's injury to become this season's Billy Volek, but may also be sidelined Sunday after suffering a sprained foot in Week 16. "It's stiff, nice and sore," Stecker said after missing practice Wednesday. "I've been a good healer in the past. If it continues to progress like that, I think I'll be OK." According to the New Orleans Times Picayune, third-string rookie Pierre Thomas "looks likely" to be the Saints' primary runner against the Bears.

While Bush hopes to actually play well enough some day that people complain about Kardashian having a Jessica Simpson-like negative impact on his performance, here are some other notes from around football ?

* Dallas' season finale means absolutely nothing to the Cowboys despite meaning the world to the Vikings and Saints, but Adam Schefter of NFL Network reported Wednesday that Marion Barber's workload figures to be very limited. That may also mean a half-day for Tony Romo and Jason Witten, and would have meant fewer plays for Terrell Owens if he weren't already ruled out with a high-ankle sprain.

Julius Jones may get a rare chance to show what he can do as an every-down back and Terry Glenn could take advantage of the snaps created by Owens' injury by finally making his long-awaited season debut following knee surgery (although it'll probably be Sam Hurd who starts alongside Patrick Crayton against the Redskins). If Glenn can somehow shake off the cobwebs while Owens gets healthy, the Cowboys' offense could be scary heading into the playoffs.

* With cracked ribs ruling Willis McGahee out and Mike Anderson's quadriceps injury putting his status in question, Rotoworld favorite Musa Smith looks poised to start against the Steelers. He took first-team reps during Wednesday's practice and should finally get a chance to show what he can do with a decent-sized workload after spending the past two seasons as the Ravens' third-down back behind Jamal Lewis and McGahee. If Anderson sits, Smith becomes a RB2 option. baltimoreravens.com

* Tatum Bell hasn't been active on game days since October, but will suit up for the season finale and could get some snaps with Kevin Jones out following a torn ACL. T.J. Duckett figures to start Sunday against the Packers and will likely see the bulk of the workload?including all short-yardage action?but Bell could see time as a change-of-pace option and might still have a chance to play his way into the Lions' plans for 2008 with Jones once again a question mark. detroitlions.com

* Rudi Johnson showed definite signs of declining last season and has been a mess this year, averaging just 2.9 yards per carry while missing tons of time with a hamstring injury. He's been vastly out-played by Kenny Watson, and with both Chris Perry and Kenny Irons set to return from injuries next season there's speculation that Johnson's time in Cincinnati could be winding to a close. He sat out practice Wednesday, so Bengals fans may have already seen Rudi's last carry.

* Out since October despite weekly quotes about how close he supposedly was to returning, Marvin Harrison's status is at least finally in a little doubt for Week 17. As usual Harrison didn't practice Wednesday, but was spotted playing catch in street clothes, did some light jogging, and reportedly "looked good" moving around on his injured knee. Coach Tony Dungy said afterward that "ideally" Harrison would be active Sunday and get in for "a few plays" against the Titans. indianapoliscolts.com

Two-Minute Drill: Amid speculation that he's destined to leave Philadelphia, Donovan McNabb said Wednesday that he's "looking forward" to staying with the Eagles ? Courtney Taylor and several other reserves saw first-team reps during practice Wednesday, suggesting that Matt Hasselbeck and the rest of the Seahawks' starters may get a limited workload in Week 17 ? Despite averaging a measly 3.0 yards per carry as a 32-year-old this season, Warrick Dunn said Wednesday that he doesn't plan to retire because "this is not the way I think anyone should go out" ? Coach Romeo Crennel said Wednesday that he doesn't intend to rest the Browns' starters in Week 17, meaning that Brady Quinn may end his rookie season without throwing a pass ? Deion Branch (calf) was limited in practice Wednesday and could see a modest number of snaps in Week 17 ? Jeff Garcia said Tuesday that he doesn't expect to play much in Week 17 and most of Tampa Bay's starters should be in for a light afternoon ? Adimchinobe Echemandu looked close to grabbing a prominent role in Houston's injury wrecked backfield after rushing for 62 yards in Week 8, but the Texans released "Joe" on Wednesday. Fantasy Sports - Fantasy Football? - Fantasy Sports News - Fantasy Football Mock Draft - Fantasy Basketball - Fantasy Football Advice
greenbaypackers.com
Red Zone: Todd Heap (hamstring) sat out practice Wednesday and looks likely to finish the season with seven straight missed games ? Kansas City finally placed Larry Johnson (foot) on injured reserve Wednesday, officially ending his season ? LenDale White (knee) sat out Wednesday's practice, but missed back-to-back practices last week before getting 23 carries against the Jets ? Brandon Jacobs (ankle) practiced fully Wednesday and appears set for a relatively full workload Saturday night against the Patriots ? Sage Rosenfels will start Sunday against the Jaguars, but coach Gary Kubiak said Wednesday that he hopes to have Matt Schaub (shoulder) available in relief ? Greg Jennings (ankle) skipped practice Wednesday and with the No. 2 seed locked up the Packers may decide to hold him out of the season finale ? Kyle Orton will start Sunday against the Saints, but Rex Grossman (knee) could be his active backup after participating in some of Wednesday's practice ? With Kyle Boller (concussion) still unable to practice, rookie Troy Smith will start Sunday against the Steelers ? Trent Dilfer (concussion) has been ruled out for Week 17, giving Shaun Hill another chance to impress against the Browns. clevelandbrowns.com

Hache Man · Dec 27, 2007

Re: Fantasy Football News 2007

Week 17 Rankings
The key for fantasy owners still playing this week is to figure out which NFL starters will be doing the same. With so much decided early this season, there will be more playoff teams resting starters than any recent season. That's why you'll see Todd Collins ahead of Peyton Manning this week, and Michael Pittman twenty spots ahead of Marion Barber. Here's my quick and dirty best guesses for which teams will be playing to win on Sunday, and who will be sitting.

AFC

1. Patriots ? Resting isn't their style, and they want the 16-0 record. Look for Tom Brady and Randy Moss to play until the game is decided.

2. Colts ? Once the Colts offense scores a touchdown, I wouldn't expect Peyton Manning, Joseph Addai, Reggie Wayne, and Dallas Clark to get back on the field. indianapoliscolts.com

3. Chargers - They should want to desperately avoid a potential Jacksonville/New England gauntlet that awaits the fourth seed. Look for San Diego to play their starters until the game is in hand. That may only take a half against Oakland. sandiegochargers.com

4. Steelers - Ben Roethlisberger is iffy to play the whole game because he's not fully healthy. The Steelers would like to shoot for the third seed, but they may ease up in the second half, making their receivers risky.

5. Jaguars - They are resting defensive players that are on the borderline. That indicates that many offensive stars like David Garrard and Fred Taylor probably won't play much either. jacksonvillejaguars.com

6. Browns/Titans - Even though the Browns game is essentially meaningless, Derek Anderson, Braylon Edwards, and Jamal Lewis should play to win. clevelandbrowns.com tennesseetitans.com

NFC

1. Cowboys - All bets are off with their stars.

2. Packers - Harder to predict than the Cowboys, but I don't expect to see them play the whole game. Greg Jennings is especially iffy. Ryan Grant shouldn't get a full load. greenbaypackers.com

3. Seahawks- They sound like they care more about winning and playing their starters than the rest of the NFC. Injury-plagued guys like Deion Branch may not go, but I think Bobby Engram and Matt Hasselbeck are better bets than most NFC players.

4. Bucs- Jeff Garcia, Joey Galloway, and Earnest Graham are hands off. Luke McCown and Michael Pittman should benefit. Tampabaybuccaneers.com

5. Giants - I think the starters will play more than people expect, but it would be a huge risk to use them in fantasy leagues. newyorkgiants.com

6. Wild Card contenders - The Redskins game is at 4PM, so everyone will be playing to get into the playoffs. washingtonredskins.com

***

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Next week, I'll roll out some fantasy playoff rankings, in addition to our Top-50 Keepers for 2008 and a handy season-in-review for every major skill player in the league. Our news page will continue to update the entire league twenty four hours a day. There will be one more Fantasy Fix Live this Sunday, but we'll continue to do weekly taped shows all offseason, including some videos from the Super Bowl. Thanks again and good luck to everyone still playing. You are going to need it this week.

[SIZE=+1]Week 17 Quarterbacks[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Tom Brady</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Kurt Warner</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Drew Brees</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Marc Bulger</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Derek Anderson</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Matt Hasselbeck</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Carson Palmer</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Donovan McNabb</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Jay Cutler</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>10</TD><TD>Todd Collins</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>11</TD><TD>Vince Young</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Cleo Lemon</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Kyle Orton</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Brett Favre</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Ben Roethlisberger</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>Probable(ankle)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Jon Kitna</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Kellen Clemens</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>Questionable(ribs)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Trent Edwards</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Sage Rosenfels</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>Schaub could relieve</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>20</TD><TD>Chris Redman</TD><TD>vs. SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>21</TD><TD>Luke McCown</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Peyton Manning</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Tarvaris Jackson</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Shaun Hill</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>Questionable(back)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Brad Johnson</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>David Garrard</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Eli Manning</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Brodie Croyle</TD><TD>at NYJ</TD><TD>Questionable(hand)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Jim Sorgi</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Philip Rivers</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>Probable(knee)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Quinn Gray</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Tony Romo</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>Probable(thumb)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>Charlie Batch</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>34</TD><TD>Jeff Garcia</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>35</TD><TD>Matt Moore</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>36</TD><TD>JaMarcus Russell</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>37</TD><TD>Troy Smith</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>38</TD><TD>Jared Lorenzen</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>kansascitychiefs.com

QB Notes: The Week 17-specific notes will be over at Pancake Blocks.

[SIZE=+1]Week 17 Running Backs[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1663"]Steven Jackson[/URL]</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Brian Westbrook</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Clinton Portis</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4169"]Adrian Peterson[/URL]</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Frank Gore</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>LenDale White</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>LaDainian Tomlinson</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Jamal Lewis</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Marshawn Lynch</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Kenny Watson</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Kolby Smith</TD><TD>at NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Aaron Stecker</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>Questionable(foot)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Laurence Maroney</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Jerious Norwood</TD><TD>vs. SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Najeh Davenport</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>DeAngelo Williams</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Michael Pittman</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4169"]Adrian Peterson[/URL]</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Edgerrin James</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Thomas Jones</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>T.J. Duckett</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Jesse Chatman</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>Questionable(ankle)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Darius Walker</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Ryan Grant</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>Questionable playing time</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Dominic Rhodes</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>Should carry load</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Kenton Keith</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Chester Taylor</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Pierre Thomas</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>Will move up if Stecker is out</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Maurice Jones-Drew</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>Questionable playing time</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Musa Smith</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>Expected to start</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Ahmad Bradshaw</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>Questionable(leg)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Shaun Alexander</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>33</TD><TD>Selvin Young</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>34</TD><TD>Maurice Morris</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>35</TD><TD>Marion Barber</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>Not expected to play much</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>36</TD><TD>Greg Jones</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>37</TD><TD>Joseph Addai</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>38</TD><TD>Travis Henry</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>39</TD><TD>Earnest Graham</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>40</TD><TD>DeShaun Foster</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>41</TD><TD>Reuben Droughns</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>42</TD><TD>Julius Jones</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>43</TD><TD>Rudi Johnson</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>Questionable (hamstring)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>44</TD><TD>Fred Jackson</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>45</TD><TD>Mike Anderson</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>46</TD><TD>Ladell Betts</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>47</TD><TD>Kevin Faulk</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>48</TD><TD>Warrick Dunn</TD><TD>vs. SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>49</TD><TD>Samkon Gado</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>50</TD><TD>Brandon Jacobs</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>Probable(ankle)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>51</TD><TD>Chris Brown</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>52</TD><TD>Ron Dayne</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>Probable(ankle)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>53</TD><TD>LaMont Jordan</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>54</TD><TD>Tatum Bell</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>atlantafalcons.com

[SIZE=+1]Week 17 Wide Receivers[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Andre Johnson</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Randy Moss</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Anquan Boldin</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Braylon Edwards</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Larry Fitzgerald</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Torry Holt</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Chad Johnson</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Brandon Marshall</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Roddy White</TD><TD>vs. SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>T.J. Houshmandzadeh</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Marques Colston</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Jerricho Cotchery</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4227"]Steve Smith[/URL]</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Wes Welker</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Bernard Berrian</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Santana Moss</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Dwayne Bowe</TD><TD>at NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Lee Evans</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Bobby Engram</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=378"]Kevin Curtis[/URL]</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Reggie Brown</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Isaac Bruce</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Kevin Walter</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>David Patten</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Calvin Johnson</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Shaun McDonald</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4226"]Chris Henry[/URL]</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Jabar Gaffney</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Santonio Holmes</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Mike Furrey</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Nate Burleson</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>32</TD><TD>Hines Ward</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>33</TD><TD>Reggie Wayne</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>Won't play long</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>34</TD><TD>Donald Driver</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>35</TD><TD>Donte' Stallworth</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>36</TD><TD>Chris Chambers</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>37</TD><TD>Javon Walker</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>Expected to start</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>38</TD><TD>Vincent Jackson</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>39</TD><TD>Nate Washington</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>Probable(ankle)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>40</TD><TD>Justin Gage</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>41</TD><TD>James Jones</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>Will see increased snaps</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>42</TD><TD>Deion Branch</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>Likely won't play much</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>43</TD><TD>Drew Carter</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>44</TD><TD>Derrick Mason</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>45</TD><TD>Joe Jurevicius</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>Questionable(knee)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>46</TD><TD>Patrick Crayton</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>47</TD><TD>Devin Hester</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>48</TD><TD>Ronald Curry</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>49</TD><TD>Roydell Williams</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>50</TD><TD>Matt Jones</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>51</TD><TD>Darrell Jackson</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>52</TD><TD>Reggie Williams</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>53</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4227"]Steve Smith[/URL]</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>54</TD><TD>Devery Henderson</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>55</TD><TD>Jerry Porter</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>56</TD><TD>Amani Toomer</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>57</TD><TD>Greg Jennings</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>Questionable(ankle)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>58</TD><TD>Devin Aromashodu</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>59</TD><TD>Joey Galloway</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>60</TD><TD>Antwaan Randle El</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>61</TD><TD>Terry Glenn</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>62</TD><TD>Plaxico Burress</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>Questionable(ankle)</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
newyorkjets.com

[SIZE=+1]Week 17 Tight Ends[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Tony Gonzalez</TD><TD>at NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Kellen Winslow</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Chris Cooley</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Jason Witten</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Antonio Gates</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Owen Daniels</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Vernon Davis</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Tony Scheffler</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Donald Lee</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Heath Miller</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Zach Miller</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Chris Baker</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>Watch back injury</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Greg Olsen</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Marcedes Lewis</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Dallas Clark</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Desmond Clark</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Ben Utecht</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>Questionable(shoulder)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=3147"]Alex Smith[/URL]</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Alge Crumpler</TD><TD>vs. SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Billy Miller</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Randy McMichael</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Bo Scaife</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
miamidolphins.com
[SIZE=+1]Week 17 Team Defense[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Chargers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Vikings Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Steelers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Patriots Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Buccaneers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Redskins Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Eagles Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Jaguars Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Titans Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Browns Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Packers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Seahawks Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Bengals Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Chiefs Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Broncos Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Colts Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Bills Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Panthers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Cowboys Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Texans Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Cardinals Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Bears Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Lions Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Jets Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Saints Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Rams Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Ravens Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Dolphins Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Giants Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Falcons Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Fortyniners Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Raiders Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>oaklandraiders.com

[SIZE=+1]Week 17 Kickers[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Mason Crosby</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Adam Vinatieri</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Stephen Gostkowski</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Phil Dawson</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Rob Bironas</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Nate Kaeding</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Kris Brown</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>Probable(left foot)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Josh Brown</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Shayne Graham</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Robbie Gould</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Neil Rackers</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Nick Folk</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Josh Scobee</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Jason Hanson</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Martin Gramatica</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Jeff Wilkins</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>David Akers</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Sebastian Janikowski</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Jeff Reed</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Jason Elam</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Jay Feely</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Ryan Longwell</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Shaun Suisham</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Matt Stover</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Rian Lindell</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Lawrence Tynes</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Matt Bryant</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Mike Nugent</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>John Kasay</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>John Carney</TD><TD>at NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Joe Nedney</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Morten Andersen</TD><TD>vs. SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
buffalobills.com

Hache Man · Dec 27, 2007

Re: Fantasy Football News 2007

Turning to the backups
Playing in Week 17 does not make any sense. We all know it, yet many of you still do it ? not wanting to waste a single regular-season game, whether you are playing your Super Bowl or wrapping up a season-long points race.

The problems are obvious: playoff teams sitting starters, bottom-feeders playing out the string or coaches surprisingly wanting to take a look at a pile of backups.

Whatever the reason, this is the week you are most likely to see the greatest number of players you have never heard of having the most success. They could be rookies, backups, long-lost veterans or the coach's nephew, but there will be surprises.

A game-by-game look at some improbable players with the best chance to make headlines in this most unusual week:

New England at New York Giants. Rookie running back Ahmad Bradshaw ripped off an 88-yard touchdown run last week against Buffalo and he might be the Giants' feature runner this week with Brandon Jacobs resting his various injuries. The Patriots have had trouble defending the run at times, too, giving Bradshaw even more opportunity. newyorkgiants.com

Buffalo at Philadelphia. Do not expect many unusual names here. The Bills will keep rolling with rookie running back Marshawn Lynch, while the Eagles finally are hitting a groove, just as the season runs out. buffalobills.com

Carolina at Tampa Bay. Like last week, the Bucs will not play their starters for long, giving opportunities to wide receiver Michael Clayton and tight ends [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=3147"]Alex Smith[/URL] and Jerramy Stevens? all of whom were big factors last week against San Francisco. They should have a chance against an inconsistent Panthers team to make an impact. carolinapanthers.com

Cincinnati at Miami. Don't be surprised if this one turns into a battle of the backup running backs. Kenny Watson will be the main guy again for the Bengals with both Rudi Johnson and DeDe Dorsey injured. The Dolphins steadily have been increasing playing time for rookie Lorenzo Booker, and his decent production makes you wonder why he did not touch the ball before Week 13. kansascitychiefs.com

Dallas at Washington. The Redskins will stick with all of their regulars, who could go off against much of the Cowboys' backup defense. Dallas could bring back veteran Terry Glenn to help replace Terrell Owens and to get Glenn up to speed before the playoffs. Also keep an eye on receiver Sam Hurd, who has never gotten enough playing time to make a difference.
washingtonredskins.com
Detroit at Green Bay. This one could be a mess between the Lions' inconsistency, the Packers sitting starters and potential bad weather. Rookies Brandon Jackson and James Jones will fill bigger roles for Green Bay, and Detroit turns to veteran running back T.J. Duckett, coming off a strong game last week, to replace Kevin Jones. greenbaypackers.com
detroitlions.com
Jacksonville at Houston. You'll see another week of Darius Walker starting at running back for the Texans and then some unusual names for the Jaguars. Quinn Gray will get plenty of time while keeping starting quarterback David Garrard safe on the sideline; other names to keep in mind include running backs Greg Jones and LaBrandon Toefield and tight end Richard Angulo.
jacksonvillejaguars.com
Kansas City at New York Jets. Don't look for many shockers as each club already has been playing the young players it wanted to at most positions. With two struggling defenses, though, this could be a surprisingly high-scoring game if the weather holds up. newyorkjets.com

New Orleans at Chicago. Neither team is turning things over to anybody surprising this week, but injuries could be an issue for the Saints. If Aaron Stecker is slowed, Pierre Thomas and Mike Karney will pick up playing time; David Patten, Devery Henderson and Lance Moore each bump up a notch if Marques Colston can't go.

Minnesota at Denver. These two clubs already are playing plenty of youngsters. How the young Vikings perform in a hostile environment is another question. minnesotavikings.com

Pittsburgh at Baltimore. How much the Steelers play will be up in the air, especially after running back Willie Parker's leg injury. The Steelers want to give Gary Russell a workout as they hope he can fill in as Najeh Davenport's backup. For the Ravens, quarterback Troy Smith might start again despite last week's debacle. They probably will use Musa Smith to replace Willis McGahee, with a dash of Mike Anderson mixed in. baltimoreravens.com

St. Louis at Arizona. In an oddity for two teams out of it, neither will get a look at many youngsters. They just do not have any promising youngsters they want to see. arizonacardinals.com

San Diego at Oakland. Welcome to the JaMarcus Russell era. And it could be a rough first start if the aggressive first-string Chargers Defense shows up. The Raiders also might give more time to wide receiver Johnnie Lee Higgins and tight end Zach Miller, both rookies. Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson has been dealing with a sore hamstring, so he could sit early again for the third week in a row in favor of Darren Sproles and Michael Turner. Wide receiver Buster Davis is another rookie to watch. sandiegochargers.com

San Francisco at Cleveland. If you haven't caught Shaun Hill mania, what are you waiting for? Otherwise, both teams are sticking with their regulars. clevelandbrowns.com

Seattle at Atlanta. The Seahawks starters will make only a token appearance and then it is time for plenty of quarterback Seneca Wallace, running back Leonard Weaver and receiver Ben Obomanu. Who knows what the decrepit Falcons have in store, although rookie receiver Laurent Robinson is making a bid to earn some consideration for 2008. atlantafalcons.com
tennesseetitans.com
Tennessee at Indianapolis. The names to watch once Jim Sorgi taps Peyton Manning on the shoulder will be running back Clifton Dawson, who scored last week, wide receiver Devin Aromashodu and tight end Bryan Fletcher. The Colts offense has a history of being marginally productive when the backups play in this situation. indianapoliscolts.com

Last week we talked about how events came together so that most teams would be unlikely to rest their key players during your fantasy Super Bowl. That is not the case this time with a large portion of the playoff bracket already set; if you're checking to see which teams might sit their stars, you probably will be unhappy. Let's take a look at those teams' situations for Week 17. Fantasy Sports - Fantasy Football? - Fantasy Sports News - Fantasy Football Mock Draft - Fantasy Basketball - Fantasy Football Advice

AFC

New England. The Patriots have everything locked up but that 16th win. They are going for perfection and figure to play all of their starters long enough to secure the game against the Giants.

Indianapolis. We got about three quarters and 38 points out of most of the Colts' stars last week, but don't expect any such thing this week. You might see one half of Peyton Manning, though that could prove optimistic, even against a Titans team fighting for the playoffs.

Pittsburgh, San Diego. They're in, although they still are fighting over the third and fourth seeds. The Chargers have rested their starters early each of the last two weeks and will do it to some extent this week, while the Steelers' plans are less clear.

Jacksonville. The Jaguars locked up the fifth seed and have nothing to gain by beating the Texans. Without a week off, letting veterans such as Fred Taylor rest or ensuring that QB David Garrard is healthy seems paramount.
jacksonvillejaguars.com
Cleveland. The result of the Browns' game has no bearing on whether they make the playoffs, but it is unfathomable to think they would rest any key guys with the postseason on the horizon. clevelandbrowns.com

NFC

Dallas. Green Bay's loss clinched home-field advantage, and with both Tony Romo and Terrell Owens nursing injuries, the Cowboys look likely to sit key players. They also have several defensive starters nicked up, and it will be no surprise if the Cowboys struggle to be competitive.

Green Bay. We don't have much history to go on with coach Mike McCarthy in these situations, but we should not expect to see much of Brett Favre, Ryan Grant or Donald Driver. Plus, with the game in Green Bay, weather also could wreck the offense.www.greenbaypackers.ws

Seattle. After clinching the third seed, the Seahawks can afford to rest plenty of their key players. Having done that in the past and with several skill-position guys already having injury issues, look for Seneca Wallace to play plenty.

Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers pulled their starters before halftime Sunday and will do it again, ruining what would be a great home matchup against the Panthers. Tampabaybuccaneers.com

New York Giants. Securing the fifth seed is what the Giants needed with running back Brandon Jacobs and wide receiver Plaxico Burress recovering from injuries. The Giants will treat their game against the Patriots as their bye week. newyorkgiants.com

Hache Man · Dec 28, 2007

Re: Fantasy Football News 2007

One Last Dose
Today marks my 63rd and final Daily Dose of the season, which makes me wonder if there are any brave souls who've read each of the 100,000 or so words spewed forth in this space over the past 17 weeks. If so, thank you and please consider some therapy. For some people pumping out 100,000 words in five months means completing a novel, but for me it simply involved a whole lot of updates on the status of Anquan Boldin's groin and some bad jokes about Jessica Simpson.

Whatever the case, it's been fun taking a daily trip around the NFL this season and my hope is that some piece of information that you stumbled upon here at some point helped your team(s) fare better. My Daily Dose duties officially end at the bottom of this page and the regular season concludes this weekend, but Rotoworld's wall-to-wall fantasy football coverage isn't even close to being finished, so keep checking us out through the Super Bowl and into the offseason.

Thanks to everyone who has read this column and especially those of you who sent me e-mails (even the not-so-nice ones), because interacting with you guys (and girls, hypothetically) is a big part of what makes writing the Daily Dose enjoyable. A special thanks goes out to Gregg Rosenthal, who can be blamed for these 63 columns and whose knowledge/enthusiasm about football never cease to make me feel the need to step my game up in a futile effort to keep pace.

While the few of you who weren't completely sick of me a long time ago (hi mom!) consider checking out my entirely non-football blog, here are some notes from around football ? Fantasy Sports - Fantasy Football? - Fantasy Sports News - Fantasy Football Mock Draft - Fantasy Basketball - Fantasy Football Advice

* Joseph Addai is sitting out the season finale and other Colts starters are expected to have light afternoons against the Titans, but coach Tony Dungy indicated Thursday that Peyton Manning and Reggie Wayne could play slightly more than initially thought. Manning needs just 55 yards to extend his NFL record to eight straight 4,000-yard seasons, while Wayne is 77 yards away from getting to 1,500 and needs eight catches to crack the century mark for the first time. indianapoliscolts.com

Meanwhile, Marvin Harrison surprisingly put in a full practice Thursday for the first time since way back in Week 3 and could be preparing to return to the lineup in some capacity for the first time since Week 7. Even if he plays Harrison will no doubt be on a very limited snap count, but at worst his long-awaited progress signals that he should be ready to play at something resembling full capacity during the playoffs.

* Rotoworld favorite Patrick Crayton never quite took advantage of Terry Glenn's 15-game knee injury as much as expected, but has still put together a strong, career-best season with 689 yards and seven touchdowns on 48 catches heading into Week 17. That performance was apparently good enough to convince the Cowboys that Crayton is a big part of the team's future, because they signed him Thursday to a four-year, $14 million contract extension.

Crayton likely could have cashed in more as a free agent, but the deal includes $6 million in guaranteed money. Dallas figures to chuck the ball plenty as long as current offensive coordinator Jason Garrett is around in some capacity, but Crayton could have a difficult time duplicating this season's numbers if Glenn is healthy in 2008. He totaled 516 yards and four touchdowns on 35 grabs as the Cowboys' third receiver in 2006 and may resume that role next season.

* Coach Mike Tomlin has played coy regarding how much action Steelers starters are expected to see in Week 17, but after sitting out back-to-back practices Ben Roethlisberger is unlikely to suit up for the season finale. With Roethlisberger smartly resting his sore ankle, Charlie Batch figures to start against the Ravens after seeing his only previous action of the season while going 1-of-5 for 14 yards and an interception versus Baltimore in Week 9.

* A pending free agent, L.J. Smith picked an awful year to post the worst numbers of his career while missing five games with various injuries. Smith has missed three straight games and looks unlikely to play in the season finale versus the Bills, which would mean that his one-catch effort in Week 14 could end up being his final game with the Eagles. After back-to-back seasons with 600-plus yards and 50-plus catches, Smith has managed just 236 yards on 22 grabs.
newyorkgiants.com
Two-Minute Drill: Originally credited with 145 rushing yards in Week 16, the NFL has now changed Brandon Jacobs' total to 143 ? JaMarcus Russell took first-team reps during practice Wednesday and is set to make his first NFL start Sunday against the Chargers ? Coach Gary Kubiak confirmed Thursday that Sage Rosenfels will start in Week 17 against the Jaguars, with Matt Schaub (shoulder) being a game-time decision as his backup ? Marques Colston (chest) is absent from the Saints' injury report and will try to reach 100 catches with a huge game Sunday against the Bears ? T.J. Houshmandzadeh (ankle) is absent from the Bengals' injury report and will add to his NFL-leading 103 catches Sunday against the Dolphins ? Three catches short of 100 heading into the season finale, 33-year-old Derrick Mason said Thursday that he has no plans to retire and "could do another three or four years" ? Offensive coordinator Mike Martz refused to address his future with the Lions during Thursday's press conference, suggesting that there's some truth to rumors that he's on the way out in Detroit. detroitlions.com
tennesseetitans.com
Red Zone: As expected, LenDale White (knee) practiced fully Thursday and is set for his third straight 20-carry game Sunday against the Colts ? Rudi Johnson (hamstring) missed his fifth straight practice Thursday and looks unlikely to face the Dolphins in Week 17 ? Coach Mike Nolan said Thursday that Shaun Hill (back) will be a game-time decision for Week 17, and with Trent Dilfer (concussion) and [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=3147"]Alex Smith[/URL] (shoulder) already out there could be a Chris Weinke sighting in Cleveland ? Kellen Clemens (ribs, shoulder) remains likely to start in Week 17 after participating in some of Thursday's practice ? Deion Branch (calf) can't be counted on for Week 17 after sitting out Thursday's practice, but his absence could open the door for D.J. Hackett (ankle) to see extended time in his return ? Andre Johnson (knee) was limited during Thursday's practice, but coach Gary Kubiak indicated earlier this week that he's expected to suit up in Week 17 ? Limited to just 13 catches because of hamstring and rib injuries, Eddie Kennison's season is officially over now that he's been ruled out for Week 17. greenbaypackers.com

Hache Man · Dec 28, 2007

Re: Fantasy Football News 2007

Final Matchups
This week, matchups are complicated by the fact that teams will be benching stars for scrubs and veterans for inexperienced players. Not only do we not have an idea of how good many of these players are, but we also aren't entirely sure how likely one team or another is to bench their players.

It's beyond the scope of this column to do that, and certainly, that's being discussed in other content this week. I'll make notes about players I feel more or less confident about, ignoring borderline cases like Tony Romo and hopefully providing some push for guys who are in borderline decisions this week. For all of my suggestions this week, I'd advise that you monitor Rotoworld and each player's page to see if any new information comes out on his status before gametime.

Quarterback

Seattle's quarterbacks should do well moving the ball against Atlanta this week, as Seattle's very deep at wideout and should be able to handle the somewhat feeble Atlanta pass rush. What comes into play here is who that quarterback will be -- all expectations point to Seneca Wallace getting a large portion of the snaps and Matt Hasselbeck sitting on the bench.

I know that this is also going to sound weird, but...Kyle Orton might actually be a good start this week. New Orleans' pass defense is abysmal. It's a sieve. Orton's one of the players we can expect to go the full 60, and while he's unquestionably a poor quarterback, if you're worried about playing Tony Romo this week (like I am in my league) and most quarterbacks on the waiver wire are gone, well...there are somehow worse options.

For those of you itching to get Jim Sorgi in, don't. He's going up against a very good pass defense in Tennessee that has something to play for. Leave him out.

The Patriots will be full steam ahead in Week 17, which doesn't bode well for Eli Manning, who has struggled mightily down the stretch and will continue to do so against the league's fifth-ranked pass defense. newyorkgiants.com

Running Back

Denver's given a majority of the carries the last few weeks to Selvin Young, but neither Young nor Travis Henry should do much against the mammoth Vikings front seven this week.

Najeh Davenport's inherited the starter's role with Willie Parker's broken leg, and while he should put up numbers similar to Parker against the Ravens, the bad news is that Parker's numbers against the Ravens are pretty miserable.

On the other hand, Pittsburgh's run defense is still pretty good (albeit a step down because of injury), so I wouldn't count on any Baltimore back to make a serious impression on Sunday.

I really like Kolby Smith versus the Jets this week as a guy who should both see 15+ carries and be effective. kansascitychiefs.com

Will San Diego keep LaDainian Tomlinson out of the lineup? Maybe he'll only play a quarter or a half, but against the Raiders, that's enough for a full game's worth of stats. Both he and Michael Turner could go for 100 yards in the season's last chance to take advantage of the Raiders. sandiegochargers.com

Wide Receiver

For their failings, Oakland remain stupendous against #1 wide receivers, which should slow down Chris Chambers some come Sunday. oaklandraiders.com

Tampa's also been very effective against #1's this year; [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4227"]Steve Smith[/URL]'s frustrating year should finish with another difficult game. carolinapanthers.com

Marques Colston is another potential struggler, as the Bears have looked great against #1 guys this year. Losing Nathan Vasher could affect that, but I think it's more schematic than anything else.

The emergence of Antonio Cromartie as a star cornerback should keep Oakland's Jerry Porer quiet.

Houston's really had some difficulty with #1 wideouts, and while the Jags don't really have one, their closest thing is touchdown threat Reggie Williams, who could have one final score up his sleeve against the Texans.

New Orleans, without Mike McKenzie, will have to line up Jason David against Bernard Berrian. Happy days! Berrian is a virtual lock for a big game this week.

Detroit also really struggles against #1 wideouts, but the question is whether Donald Driver will see enough time to make it worth his while. I like James Jones as a potential guy still on the waiver wire who could make some noise in a flex role this week. He's not going to have an enormous game, but he could do something like 60 yards and a score. detroitlions.com

Tight End

Sit: Bo Scaife, TEN; Brent Celek, PHI; Randy McMichael, STL
Start: Visante Shiancoe, MIN; Chris Baker, NYJ; Marcus Pollard, SEA
tennesseetitans.com
Sadly, this is the last matchups column I'll be penning for the 2007 season. I'll be conducting more research into matchups in the offseason and, hopefully, have even more accurate matchup information to provide come 2008. Maybe [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=3147"]Alex Smith[/URL] will even outscore Carson Palmer!. Thanks for all the e-mails, positive and negative, and for reading this year.

Hache Man · Dec 29, 2007

Re: Fantasy Football News 2007

Week 17 Rankings Update

Note: The updates were made Friday evening. There were quite a bit this week.

The key for fantasy owners still playing this week is to figure out which NFL starters will be doing the same. With so much decided early this season, there will be more playoff teams resting starters than any recent season. That's why you'll see Todd Collins ahead of Peyton Manning this week, and Michael Pittman twenty spots ahead of Marion Barber. Here's my quick and dirty best guesses for which teams will be playing to win on Sunday, and who will be sitting.

AFC

1. Patriots ? Resting isn't their style, and they want the 16-0 record. Look for Tom Brady and Randy Moss to play until the game is decided.

2. Colts ? Once the Colts offense scores a touchdown, I wouldn't expect Peyton Manning, Joseph Addai, Reggie Wayne, and Dallas Clark to get back on the field. indianapoliscolts.com

3. Chargers - They should want to desperately avoid a potential Jacksonville/New England gauntlet that awaits the fourth seed. Look for San Diego to play their starters until the game is in hand. That may only take a half against Oakland. sandiegochargers.com

4. Steelers - Ben Roethlisberger is iffy to play the whole game because he's not fully healthy. The Steelers would like to shoot for the third seed, but they may ease up in the second half, making their receivers risky.

5. Jaguars - They are resting defensive players that are on the borderline. That indicates that many offensive stars like David Garrard and Fred Taylor probably won't play much either. jacksonvillejaguars.com

6. Browns/Titans - Even though the Browns game is essentially meaningless, Derek Anderson, Braylon Edwards, and Jamal Lewis should play to win. clevelandbrowns.com tennesseetitans.com

NFC

1. Cowboys - All bets are off with their stars.

2. Packers - Harder to predict than the Cowboys, but I don't expect to see them play the whole game. Greg Jennings is especially iffy. Ryan Grant shouldn't get a full load. greenbaypackers.com

3. Seahawks- They sound like they care more about winning and playing their starters than the rest of the NFC. Injury-plagued guys like Deion Branch may not go, but I think Bobby Engram and Matt Hasselbeck are better bets than most NFC players.

4. Bucs- Jeff Garcia, Joey Galloway, and Earnest Graham are hands off. Luke McCown and Michael Pittman should benefit. Tampabaybuccaneers.com

5. Giants - I think the starters will play more than people expect, but it would be a huge risk to use them in fantasy leagues. newyorkgiants.com

6. Wild Card contenders - The Redskins game is at 4PM, so everyone will be playing to get into the playoffs.

***

I wanted to send out a hearty thank you for everyone who checked out Goal Line Stand and Rotoworld all season. It was a good year for the rankings, as Rotoworld came in first place in two independent analysis' testing the accuracy of various fantasy rankings . www.fantasysportspicks.com

We are humbled by our sites' exponential growth and it's all because of you. Rotoworld is never a finished product, and we want to keep improving the site to serve our readers. We have a lot planned for the offseason, when I think our wall-to-wall coverage separates us from the competition.

Next week, I'll roll out some fantasy playoff rankings, in addition to our Top-50 Keepers for 2008 and a handy season-in-review for every major skill player in the league. Our news page will continue to update the entire league twenty four hours a day. There will be one more Fantasy Fix Live this Sunday, but we'll continue to do weekly taped shows all offseason, including some videos from the Super Bowl. Thanks again and good luck to everyone still playing. You are going to need it this week.

[SIZE=+1]Week 17 Quarterbacks[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Tom Brady</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD></TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Kurt Warner</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD></TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Drew Brees</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Marc Bulger</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Derek Anderson</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>- clevelandbrowns.com </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Carson Palmer</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Donovan McNabb</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Jay Cutler</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD></TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Vince Young</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- tennesseetitans.com </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Todd Collins</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Cleo Lemon</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- miamidolphins.com </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Matt Hasselbeck</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>May play more than most playoff QBs</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Sage Rosenfels</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>No Schaub</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Luke McCown</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Brett Favre</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>greenbaypackers.com </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Kyle Orton</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Jon Kitna</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Charlie Batch</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>Will start</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Chris Redman</TD><TD>vs. SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Kellen Clemens</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>Questionable(ribs)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Trent Edwards</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Peyton Manning</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>indianapoliscolts.com </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Tarvaris Jackson</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Brad Johnson</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Eli Manning</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>newyorkgiants.com </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>David Garrard</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>Likely to sit earl </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Brodie Croyle</TD><TD>at NYJ</TD><TD>Probable(hand)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Jim Sorgi</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Philip Rivers</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>sandiegochargers.com </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Tony Romo</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>Uncertain playing time</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Quinn Gray</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Matt Moore</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>JaMarcus Russell</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- oaklandraiders.com </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>34</TD><TD>Troy Smith</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>35</TD><TD>Jared Lorenzen</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
</TBODY></TABLE>

QB Notes: The Week 17-specific notes will be over at Pancake Blocks.

[SIZE=+1]Week 17 Running Backs[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Steven Jackson</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Brian Westbrook</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>Probable(knee)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Clinton Portis</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>washingtonredskins.com </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Adrian Peterson</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Frank Gore</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>Probable(ankle)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Jamal Lewis</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>LaDainian Tomlinson</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>sandiegochargers.com </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>LenDale White</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>Probable(knee)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Marshawn Lynch</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>buffalobills.com </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Kenny Watson</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Kolby Smith</TD><TD>at NYJ</TD><TD>kansascitychiefs.com </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Laurence Maroney</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Najeh Davenport</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>DeAngelo Williams</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>carolinapanthers.com </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Michael Pittman</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>Tampabaybuccaneers.com </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Adrian Peterson</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>minnesotavikings.com </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Edgerrin James</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>T.J. Duckett</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>Sneaky play</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Thomas Jones</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Pierre Thomas</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>Likely to start </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Jesse Chatman</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Jerious Norwood</TD><TD>vs. SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Darius Walker</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>Likely to start</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Dominic Rhodes</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>25</TD><TD>Chester Taylor</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>26</TD><TD>Musa Smith</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Kenton Keith</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>Increased snaps</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>LaBrandon Toefield</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>May carry load</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Ryan Grant</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>Uncertain playing time</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Selvin Young</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Shaun Alexander</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Maurice Morris</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>DeShaun Foster</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>34</TD><TD>Brandon Jacobs</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>newyorkgiants.com </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>35</TD><TD>Joseph Addai</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>indianapoliscolts.com </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>36</TD><TD>Reuben Droughns</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>37</TD><TD>Aaron Stecker</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>Limited, if he plays</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>38</TD><TD>Julius Jones</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>39</TD><TD>Travis Henry</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>40</TD><TD>Earnest Graham</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>Won't play long</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>41</TD><TD>Maurice Jones-Drew</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>Won't play long</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>42</TD><TD>Ron Dayne</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>Uncertain playing time</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>43</TD><TD>Marion Barber</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>44</TD><TD>Fred Jackson</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>45</TD><TD>Greg Jones</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>46</TD><TD>Ladell Betts</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>47</TD><TD>Kevin Faulk</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>48</TD><TD>Warrick Dunn</TD><TD>vs. SEA</TD><TD>- atlantafalcons.com </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>49</TD><TD>Samkon Gado</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>50</TD><TD>Brandon Jackson</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>51</TD><TD>Mike Anderson</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>Questionable(thigh)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>52</TD><TD>Chris Brown</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>53</TD><TD>LaMont Jordan</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>54</TD><TD>Tatum Bell</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>Questionable(foot)</TD></TR>
</TBODY></TABLE>

[SIZE=+1]Week 17 Wide Receivers[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Andre Johnson</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD></TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Randy Moss</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Anquan Boldin</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>arizonacardinals.com </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Braylon Edwards</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Larry Fitzgerald</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>arizonacardinals.com </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Torry Holt</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Chad Johnson</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Brandon Marshall</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Roddy White</TD><TD>vs. SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>T.J. Houshmandzadeh</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>Probable(ankle)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Marques Colston</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Jerricho Cotchery</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD></TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Steve Smith</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>carolinapanthers.com </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Wes Welker</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Bernard Berrian</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>Probable(knee)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Santana Moss</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>washingtonredskins.com </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Dwayne Bowe</TD><TD>at NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Lee Evans</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Kevin Curtis</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Reggie Brown</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>Questionable(knee)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Isaac Bruce</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Kevin Walter</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>David Patten</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Calvin Johnson</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>detroitlions.com </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Shaun McDonald</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Jabar Gaffney</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Chris Henry</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>Probable(ankle)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Bobby Engram</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>Uncertain playing time </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Santonio Holmes</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Reggie Wayne</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>Won't play long </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Hines Ward</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Mike Furrey</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>Donte' Stallworth</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>34</TD><TD>D.J. Hackett</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>He's back!</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>35</TD><TD>James Jones</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>Starter Snaps</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>36</TD><TD>Chris Chambers</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>37</TD><TD>Javon Walker</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>Probable(knee)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>38</TD><TD>Vincent Jackson</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>39</TD><TD>Nate Washington</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>Probable(ankle)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>40</TD><TD>Donald Driver</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>41</TD><TD>Nate Burleson</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>42</TD><TD>Drew Carter</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>43</TD><TD>Derrick Mason</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>baltimoreravens.com </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>44</TD><TD>Justin Gage</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>45</TD><TD>Joe Jurevicius</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>Questionable(knee)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>46</TD><TD>Plaxico Burress</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>newyorkgiants.com </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>47</TD><TD>Patrick Crayton</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>48</TD><TD>Ronald Curry</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>49</TD><TD>Roydell Williams</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>50</TD><TD>Matt Jones</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>51</TD><TD>Reggie Williams</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>52</TD><TD>Steve Smith</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>53</TD><TD>Devery Henderson</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>54</TD><TD>Jerry Porter</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>55</TD><TD>Amani Toomer</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>56</TD><TD>Mark Bradley</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>Could start</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>57</TD><TD>Darrell Jackson</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>58</TD><TD>Devin Hester</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>59</TD><TD>Greg Jennings</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>May not play</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>60</TD><TD>Devin Aromashodu</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>61</TD><TD>Antwaan Randle El</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>62</TD><TD>Terry Glenn</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>Will be on snap count</TD></TR>
</TBODY></TABLE>

[SIZE=+1]Week 17 Tight Ends[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Tony Gonzalez</TD><TD>at NYJ</TD><TD>kansascitychiefs.com </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Kellen Winslow</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>clevelandbrowns.com </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Chris Cooley</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Jason Witten</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Antonio Gates</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>sandiegochargers.com </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Owen Daniels</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Vernon Davis</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Tony Scheffler</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Donald Lee</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Heath Miller</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Zach Miller</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Chris Baker</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>Watch back injury</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Greg Olsen</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Marcedes Lewis</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Dallas Clark</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Desmond Clark</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Ben Utecht</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>Questionable(shoulder)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=3147"]Alex Smith[/URL]</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Alge Crumpler</TD><TD>vs. SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Billy Miller</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Randy McMichael</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Bo Scaife</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[SIZE=+1]Week 17 Team Defense[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Chargers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Vikings Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Steelers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Patriots Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Buccaneers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Redskins Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Eagles Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Jaguars Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Titans Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Browns Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Packers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Seahawks Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Bengals Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Chiefs Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Broncos Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Colts Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Bills Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Panthers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Cowboys Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Texans Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Cardinals Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Bears Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Lions Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Jets Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Saints Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Rams Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Ravens Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Dolphins Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Giants Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Falcons Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Fortyniners Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Raiders Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[SIZE=+1]Week 17 Kickers[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Mason Crosby</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Adam Vinatieri</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Stephen Gostkowski</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Phil Dawson</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Rob Bironas</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Nate Kaeding</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Kris Brown</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>Probable(left foot)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Josh Brown</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Shayne Graham</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Robbie Gould</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Neil Rackers</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Nick Folk</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Josh Scobee</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Jason Hanson</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Martin Gramatica</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Jeff Wilkins</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>David Akers</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Sebastian Janikowski</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Jeff Reed</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Jason Elam</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Jay Feely</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Ryan Longwell</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Shaun Suisham</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Matt Stover</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Rian Lindell</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Lawrence Tynes</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Matt Bryant</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Mike Nugent</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>John Kasay</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>John Carney</TD><TD>at NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Joe Nedney</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Morten Andersen</TD><TD>vs. SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Fantasy Football News 2007

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"