NFL Fantasy Football News 2009-2010

[HacheMan]

Studs, duds and sleepers: Packers' Jennings may feast on Lions


Matt Pitzer's look at the upcoming week's fantasy football landscape:
Studs
Joseph Addai, RB, Colts. Addai is back into this category thanks to five touchdowns in three weeks. He hit 100 total yards in only one of those three Indianapolis' first game against Houston on Nov. 8. There's no reason he won't be a good play in the rematch.
Vincent Jackson, WR, Chargers. Big plays have been missing from San Diego's offense lately. Jackson has not gained more than 23 yards on a play since Week 7 against Kansas City and he will be happy to see the Chiefs again.
Greg Jennings, WR, Packers. A disappointment much of the year, Jennings broke out for a season-high 126 yards and his third touchdown last week. On this short week, he gets to face Detroit's league-worst pass defense which just surrendered 37 points to the Cleveland Browns.
Carson Palmer, QB, Bengals. Think Cincinnati might be fired up after an ugly loss to Oakland? Fortunately for Palmer, he faces Cleveland. He's torched the Browns for a personal-best 22 touchdowns in nine games.
DeAngelo Williams, RB, Panthers. Carolina realizes its error in giving Williams only 13 carries last week when he ran for 122 yards against Miami. Williams is averaging 127 yards a game and 6.2 yards a carry over his past six and faces a Jets Defense on its heels.
Duds
Donnie Avery, WR, Rams. Don't get excited about Avery because the visiting Seattle Seahawks got blown out on the road in Minnesota in Week 11. Avery's burgeoning value is sunk with starting quarterback Marc Bulger injured again.
Braylon Edwards, WR, Jets. Turns out Edwards is only a slightly better fantasy option in New York than he was with Cleveland. He has just one catch in two of the past four games and should not be your starter considering given how many passes quarterback Mark Sanchez is completing to the wrong team.
DeSean Jackson, WR, Eagles. Jackson snapped off a 57-yard touchdown against Washington in Week 7, but in three career games against the Redskins, he has a meager four other catches for 34 total yards. Washington's No. 1 pass defense also shut down the Cowboys.
Ryan Moats, RB, Texans. The jig looks like it's up for Moats as he went from 39 carries and taking most of Steve Slaton's job over the past two games to getting no touches in Monday night's loss to Tennessee.
Tony Romo, QB, Cowboys. A back injury has Romo gimpy, Dallas has scored just one touchdown each of the past two weeks. Oakland has given up just eight passing touchdowns, third-fewest in the league.
Sleepers
Davone Bess, WR, Dolphins. Bess is back to his ways as a high-catch threat with 16 receptions in the past three games and three of his four best yardage games of the year. He's worth taking a look at him in point-per-reception leagues.
Justin Forsett, RB, Seahawks. Julius Jones' return sounds like a long shot, making Forsett a good play. The Rams are 28th against the run and have allowed 14 rushing touchdowns, tied for third worst.
Laurence Maroney, RB, Patriots. He isn't always great, but he has been effective. Maroney has scored five games in a row and, while he might have to deal with the return of Sammy Morris, the Patriots figure to be in a shootout against the Saints.
Robert Meachem, WR, Saints. All he does is catch touchdowns as his three receptions over two weeks have been scores. In a high-scoring game against New England, he will have more chances again.
Vince Young, QB, Titans. You are not going to get great passing numbers, but Young appears to have the running part of his game back after 73 yards on Monday. With most leagues rewarding rushing by quarterbacks more than passing, Young has added value.

 

[HacheMan]

Matchups: Unleashing Olsen
Thanksgiving's three-game slate leaves us with 13 on Sunday through Monday night. This page will be updated into Saturday. Best of luck this week.

[SIZE=+1]1:00PM ET Games[/SIZE]

Miami @ Buffalo

As if his Week 11 shoulder injury wasn't enough, Marshawn Lynch's value takes a sizable hit due to the season-ending losses of starting OGs Seth McKinney (knee) and Eric Wood (leg). An inside runner, Lynch will have fewer lanes to cut through when he returns. He's probable for Week 12, but isn't a fantasy option against Miami's No. 12 run defense if he plays…Fred Jackson is a good bet to lead Buffalo's backfield in touches. On the season, Jackson is averaging 4.8 yards per play compared to Lynch's 3.8. Clearly, Jackson is the more effective back in all areas.

Terrell Owens' 197-yard Week 11 probably isn't a sign of things to come. While it did confirm that the 36-year-old has something left in the tank, Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick has never had sustained success in the NFL. Fitzpatrick is always a better bet to be ineffective after a productive game than keep it going. Owens and Lee Evans are mere WR3s, even against Miami's rookie corners and No. 22 pass defense...Bills rookie TE Shawn Nelson isn't capitalizing on his starting job yet. He caught just one ball for 25 yards in last Sunday's loss to Jacksonville.

The Bills' No. 31 run defense continues to deal with injuries at every level. DT Marcus Stroud (knee) is still banged up after missing Week 11 and Buffalo plays musical chairs at linebacker every week. Coming off an extended rest period after last Thursday's 24-touch, 138-yard, three-touchdown gashing of Carolina, Ricky Williams is an RB1...At 32, however, Ricky isn't a great bet to hold up with such workloads over the next six games. Backup Lex Hilliard, who showed terrific power against the Panthers, would be a savvy "handcuff" pickup for Williams owners.

The Fins' coaching staff is showing more confidence in Chad Henne. While Henne is barely on the fantasy radar, he has averaged 32 attempts per game since Week 8. He isn't taking vertical shots, but has found a go-to target underneath in Davone Bess. The duo has hooked up 16 times for 191 yards in the last three games. Bess is a zone buster and Buffalo plays lots of Cover 2, so he's a good PPR play this week...Bess is playing the most snaps among Miami wideouts while Brian Hartline, Ted Ginn Jr., and Greg Camarillo rotate. The latter three are waiver wire material.

Indianapolis @ Houston

Texans-Colts in Week 9 didn't produce especially high-scoring results (20-17), but was decidedly pass heavy (94 combined throws; 44 rushes). There's no good reason to think those numbers will change much this time, as both clubs have top-three passing attacks and bottom-three rushing offenses. While Matt Schaub has a difficult matchup against a Colts club that allows the NFL's fourth lowest YPA and has given up a league-low seven TDs, you can be sure he'll throw early and often. Indianapolis is also likely to be without top CB Kelvin Hayden (knee) for another week.

Andre Johnson had 10 catches in his last meeting with the Colts. He has top-three WR1 upside against Indy's rookie corners...Kevin Walter has one TD all year. He's proven to be more of a WR4 matchup play than every-week WR3 despite Owen Daniels' season-ending injury. This isn't a favorable matchup...Ryan Moats is now No. 3 in Houston's backfield, but Steve Slaton and Chris Brown are forming an even rotation. Slaton is a flex play and barely worth consideration in non-PPR formats...Indianapolis is tough on tight ends, so Texans rookie James Casey is a weak bet.

Peyton Manning has 299+ yards in each of the last four weeks. He'll benefit from the absence of Texans FS Eugene Wilson, who went on injured reserve Wednesday after undergoing surgery to repair two broken toes. Houston's alternatives are Dominique Barber and John Busing. Both lack cover skills...Reggie Wayne will see RCB Dunta Robinson in primary coverage. Robinson is having a good year, but Wayne is the No. 1 receiver in fantasy...The Texans struggle against tight ends, and Dallas Clark had a career-high 14 catches against them in Week 9. He also gets a matchup upgrade with Wilson out.

Donald Brown is officially a non-factor in Indy's backfield, with just nine touches since returning from a shoulder strain in Week 9. Joseph Addai has 32 over that span. An every-down back again, Addai has eight touchdowns in his last seven games. He's an every-week RB2 and faces a Texans run defense that showed plenty of leaks last Monday night...Pierre Garcon has overtaken Austin Collie to be the Colts' "No. 2" wideout. In the last three games, Collie has 83 yards and no TDs on 15 targets. Garcon has 218 yards and one score on 28 Manning attempts.

Cleveland @ Cincinnati

Cincy will be rearing for points in bushels coming off a letdown loss to Oakland. The Paul Brown Stadium forecast (54-degree temps, 20% chance of rain, 11MPH winds) won't hinder passing, so Carson Palmer is a must-start against Cleveland's No. 26 pass defense. No one gives up more yards per throw than the Browns...Chad Ochocinco routinely obliterates Browns RCB Brandon McDonald and scored two TDs in their last meeting. Ocho is an easy WR1...Avoid rotating possession receivers Laveranues Coles and Andre Caldwell, who crush each other's upsides.

Cedric Benson (hip) will be a game-time decision, but is an RB1 if he starts against the Browns' No. 29 rush defense. Bernard Scott is only a fantasy option if Benson is inactive. Should Benson play, Scott's upside would be around 12 touches. The Bengals are unlikely to risk Benson re-aggravating his hip injury again with Scott coming off a 151 total-yard performance, so we should know that CedBen is at least close to 100 percent if he's dressed on Sunday.

Browns playcaller Brian Daboll finally let Brady Quinn take downfield shots in last week's surprise 75-total point game against the Lions. Quinn threw perfectly placed scoring bombs to Chansi Stuckey and Mohamed Massaquoi, and finished with four TDs overall. Bengals Pro Bowl-caliber press corners Johnathan Joseph and Leon Hall won't let Cleveland's wideouts get as wide open as Detroit's No. 32 pass defense did, however. While Quinn's improved confidence and aggressiveness are promising for his future, he's no more than a QB2 going forward.

The Bengals are one of the toughest teams in the league against No. 1 receivers, so it's too early to get excited about Massaquoi. He'll be a good player in the long run, but this is an unfavorable matchup...Jamal Lewis had 3.1 yards per carry against the Lions. Detroit surrenders 4.5 YPC on the year. Lewis has no explosion and isn't remotely an option against Cincinnati's No. 2 rush defense...Despite a sit-down with Eric Mangini this week, Jerome Harrison remains Cleveland's No. 3 tailback behind Lewis and Chris Jennings. Harrison has zero touches since Week 8.

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Tampa Bay @ Atlanta

Matt Ryan broke out of his sophomore funk in Week 11, stringing together 10 straight completions at one point, avoiding picks, and throwing for 268 yards and two TDs against a Giants secondary that got a shot in the arm with DB Aaron Ross (hamstring) back. Ryan now returns home, where he's been sensational. His TD to INT ratio is 8:4 with a 65.8 completion rate in the Georgia Dome compared to 8:8 and 55.8 marks on the road. Only the Lions and Titans have given up more passing touchdowns than the Bucs, so Ryan should be started with supreme confidence again.

Coach Mike Smith said this week that Michael Turner (high ankle sprain) has "no timetable" for return, but he practiced Wednesday and Thursday and is expected to face Tampa. The Bucs have fallen to No. 32 against the run, so Turner is a borderline RB1 even at less than 100%. Barring a last-minute deactivation of Turner, Jason Snelling is no longer an option...Tampa can't cover tight ends. Tony Gonzalez is hot and a top-five TE1 this week...Aqib Talib will shadow Roddy White, making White a fairly risky play. The Bucs' shutdown corner helped hold Marques Colston under 75 yards last Sunday...Falcons blocking receiver Michael Jenkins hasn't scored all season.

After back-to-back impressive starts, Josh Freeman took a step back against a Saints team that was without its top two corners in Week 11 before losing starter Randall Gay and nickel CB Leigh Torrence to in-game injuries. While Freeman flashed his Ben Roethlisberger-esque pocket feel and touch on a pretty 18-yard TD pass after evading numerous blitzers, he had four turnovers and made awful second-half decisions. Still very raw, Freeman will remain inconsistent in the final six games and is only a low-end option in two-QB leagues against Atlanta's No. 29 pass defense.

Kellen Winslow will be affected by Freeman's ups and downs, but remains the rookie's go-to guy. Despite Antonio Bryant's (knee) return, Winslow easily led Tampa with 13 targets last week...With Bryant back, the Bucs are now using a four-wideout rotation also involving Sammie Stroughter, Michael Clayton, and Maurice Stovall. No member is reliable...The Bucs have resumed a three-man RBBC with Earnest Graham reinstalled at tailback. Carnell Williams is a flex option against the Falcons' porous rush defense, but Graham and Derrick Ward are safely bench material.

Seattle @ St. Louis

Marc Bulger's fractured tibia deals a death blow to St. Louis' receiver corps. Bulger led the Rams to a Week 9 win at Detroit, and helped keep them close in losses to New Orleans and Arizona in the last two weeks. While he didn't play particularly well along the way, Bulger was at least finding Brandon Gibson and Donnie Avery more consistently than he had all season. Backup Kyle Boller, who's long been afraid in the pocket, is a horrible fit for offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur's system because of his inaccuracy. Avery and Gibson are bench fodder for the rest of 2009.

Steven Jackson's numbers (26 touches, 116 yards, TD) don't show it, but Arizona did a good job of containing him in Week 11. Cardinals linebackers Karlos Dansby and Clark Haggans refused to let S-Jax turn the corner, and he would've averaged just 2.62 yards per touch if not for a 48-yard run late in the third quarter. It remains to be seen if Seahawks LBs Aaron Curry and David Hawthorne can do the same, but don't bet on it. Since Week 1, Jackson is averaging 26 touches for 133 total yards per game. He also has a rushing touchdown in three straight efforts.

The Seahawks would've continued their pass-a-lot approach in Week 11 had they sustained drives. Possessing the ball for just 17:49, Seattle managed 29 passes compared to nine rushes. Matt Hasselbeck is an excellent bet to rebound against a Rams defense that's bringing no pressure. They have only three sacks in their last two games, and Seahawks LT Sean Locklear performed well in his first 2009 start last week, holding Jared Allen to one assisted tackle and no sacks. Hasselbeck lit up St. Louis for 279 yards and three scores in their Week 1 meeting.

Noteworthy Seahawks lines from that same matchup: Nate Burleson (7-74-1), John Carlson (6-95-1), T.J. Houshmandzadeh (6-48)...Burleson and Carlson are strong fantasy starts again, and not just because of what they did to the Rams earlier this year. St. Louis lacks speed at corner to slow Burleson, and Carlson won't have to block as often as usual because of the Rams' weak pass rush...Julius Jones (ribs, lung) is a game-day decision. Check back Sunday morning for his official status. Should Jones not be able to go, Justin Forsett will be worth using in all leagues as an RB2.

Carolina @ NY Jets

Run-heavy game plans are the norm for Carolina, and this one will be no different. DeAngelo Williams, bothered by a knee injury for the last two weeks, is off the injury report after ripping the Dolphins for 122 yards on 13 carries (9.4 YPC) in Week 11. He's sure to get the football more against a mediocre Jets run defense, which ranks No. 17 overall...While D-Will is an RB1 Sunday, Jonathan Stewart is a terrific flex. The Jets lost their girth when Kris Jenkins went out for the year and are suspectible to power rushers. J-Stew is the more physical of Carolina's backs.

Red flag Steve Smith this week for the Darrelle Revis factor. Revis, the Jets' LCB, normally lines up on the opposite side of Smith (Carolina's LWR), but will definitely shadow him with Dwight Lowery (ankle) and Donald Strickland (concussion) out. Already breaking in new free safety Eric Smith, there's no way the Jets will let Steve burn up usual RCB Lito Sheppard all game...After a 91-yard Week 10, Muhsin Muhammad had 27 in Week 11. He isn't good enough for fantasy use despite a favorable matchup with Sheppard...Carolina TEs are hands off, but Gary Barnidge is showing the most promise. He is already the team's second most explosive receiving option.

After showing signs that he might break free from the rookie wall, Mark Sanchez went back in the tank last week with four picks. Three went to the same guy (Patriots RCB Leigh Bodden), and one was returned 53 yards for a TD. Sanchez isn't even a QB2 against Carolina's No. 4 pass defense...The Panthers' joke of a run defense got lit up by Ricky Williams for 138 yards and three touchdowns two Thursdays ago. It's the next 30+ year-old running back's turn. Thomas Jones, who has stiff armed Shonn Greene to the ground in their competition for carries, is an easy top-ten RB play.

Jerricho Cotchery has seemingly shown more "rapport" with Sanchez than in-season acquisition Braylon Edwards, who has just four catches for 89 yards in his last two games. Cotchery has nine grabs for 152 yards and two TDs over that span, but his matchup is more difficult than Edwards' this week. Cotchery will mostly square off against Panthers top CB Chris Gamble, while RCB Richard Marshall will be on Edwards. Neither is a particularly attractive play because Carolina's secondary is so stout and Mark Sanchez is so bad, but Edwards offers a shade more upside.

Washington @ Philadelphia

The Skins boast the No. 1 pass defense, but have problems this week. Coach Jim Zorn ruled out RCB DeAngelo Hall (knee), and pocket-pushing DT Albert Haynesworth (ankle) is in danger of missing another game. The Eagles will stay pass heavy with Brian Westbrook (concussions) out. Both Jeremy Maclin (who would've seen the majority of Hall) and DeSean Jackson have favorable matchups. Washington is tough on tight ends, but Brent Celek should find more lanes down the seams with FS LaRon Landry forced to help CBs Fred Smoot and Carlos Rogers outside.

The Eagles will reevaluate Westbrook's status in Week 14, but he won't be a fantasy asset for the rest of 2009. Philadelphia would be lucky to get any impact from its 30-year-old back in the real-life playoffs. Don't think he's a savvy pickup...LeSean McCoy faces a Redskins run defense that continues to sag. Now ranked 25th overall, the Skins allow 4.4 YPC and would be severely weakened by Haynesworth's absence. McCoy is a high-end RB2 going forward...Jason Avant is a serviceable WR3 gamble if you're desperate. He has 12 catches for 182 yards and a touchdown in his last two outings, and Washington will struggle to defend the slot without Hall.

Rock Cartwright was this week's No. 1 fantasy pickup. He has shown some quickness in the hole as Ladell Betts' "change of pace" back over the past few games, but there's a reason he's been a special teamer his entire eight-year career. The 29-year-old hasn't scored a rushing touchdown since 2005 and now faces a Philadelphia defense that ranks top ten against the run, permitting under four yards a carry. Cartwright isn't even a safe bet to operate as a true featured back with Quinton Ganther and Marcus Mason behind him. Neither is a clearly inferior ball-carrying option.

The Redskins' shortened-up passing attack would seemingly give them a chance against the NFL's most blitz-happy team, but Washington simply doesn't have any fantasy players worth using. Devin Thomas hasn't proven capable of mustering any hint of consistency, Fred Davis' week-to-week production is highly inconsistent, and Santana Moss doesn't catch deep balls anymore. Eagles RE Trent Cole should have his way with Skins LT Levi Jones when Jason Campbell does take 5-7 step drops. On paper at least, this one is a mismatch favoring Philly.

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[SIZE=+1]4:05PM ET Games[/SIZE]

Jacksonville @ San Francisco

Instead of moving FS Reggie Nelson to corner, the Jags are sticking with speed-challenged former undrafted free agent Tyron Brackenridge to "compensate" for top CB Rashean Mathis' (groin) indefinite loss. Brackenridge was lit up by Terrell Owens (9-197-1) last week, and will see a lot of Michael Crabtree in coverage this Sunday. Crabtree scored his first NFL touchdown against a tough Green Bay secondary in Week 11. He's a borderline WR2 against Jacksonville's No. 25 pass defense...Josh Morgan and Isaac Bruce are rotating opposite Crabtree. Neither is an option.

For many of the reasons above, Alex Smith is worth a long look if you're desperate for a QB1...Frank Gore, averaging a scintillating 5.4 YPC and TD per appearance, squares off with a Jags run defense that began the year hot but has plummeted to No. 17 overall. Coach Mike Singletary reaffirmed this week that Gore is the 49ers' offensive centerpiece, and that they won't suddenly become a spread team. Expect a healthy 25 touches from Gore...Among TEs, only Dallas Clark has more fantasy points than Vernon Davis in 2009. Davis is a slot receiver in the Niners' spread sets, which will bolster his numbers even in "down" weeks. This won't be one.

The 49ers' run defense entered Week 11 allowing the fewest yards per carry in the league and as the NFL's No. 3 overall unit. Minus ILB Takeo Spikes (hamstring), however, San Francisco was exposed by Ryan Grant for 145 total yards and a touchdown. Maurice Jones-Drew is a far better talent than Grant and Jags offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter likely noticed the 49ers' leaks in film study this week. If Jones-Drew's 1,862-total yard and 21-touchdown paces weren't enough to make you feel confident about him, this development should help.

A knee injury kept Mike Sims-Walker out of Wednesday's practice, but there's no indication that it will threaten his playing status against San Francisco's No. 30 pass defense. Check his Friday update, but he's an obvious must-start if he plays. The 49ers are playing musical chairs at corner and may bench LCB Tarell Brown for burnable veteran Dre' Bly this week...David Garrard's matchup is also favorable and the Bay Area weather will be fair, but he always has limited upside. Garrard typically struggles on the road, and has just two multiple-touchdown games this year...Torry Holt hasn't topped 37 yards since Week 6. Keep him reserved.

[SIZE=+1]4:15PM ET Games[/SIZE]

Chicago @ Minnesota

Chicago's constant protection breakdowns have gotten to Jay Cutler's head. Cutler is consistently throwing off his back foot, hurrying passes in the short-to-intermediate area, and missed three wide-open receivers for potential TDs in last week's loss. Johnny Knox, Greg Olsen, and Devin Hester all got behind the Eagles' secondary at different points, only to be overshot. Cutler would have hit those plays in Denver with Ryan Clady on his blind side. 34-year-old Bears LT Orlando Pace is at the end of the line, however, and now has NFC sacks leader Jared Allen to deal with.

Coming off a measly 54-yard effort against Philly, Matt Forte is greeted by the Vikings' No. 3 run defense. Only Pittsburgh has yielded fewer rushing TDs...If there is a Bear definitely worth every-week use, it's Greg Olsen. Cutler has an aggravating tendency to stare him down, but at least they connect regularly. Olsen has 18 catches in his last three games, and few teams are worse than Minnesota at stopping tight ends...Earl Bennett has separated some from Johnny Knox in the Bears' No. 2 wideout "competition," but remains a low-upside play...Vikings LCB Antoine Winfield (foot) still isn't 100%. Devin Hester continues to run poor routes, but has a good fantasy matchup.

The mediocre version of Chicago's Jekyll and Hyde pass defense showed up in Week 11, letting Donovan McNabb throw for two scores and complete 72% of his passes with a robust 7.6 YPA. Brett Favre is due for a second-half slowdown, but he's an every-week starter right now. Currently the No. 5 fantasy QB overall, Favre has a 12:1 TD to INT ratio and a 283-yard average in his last five games...Adrian Peterson went scoreless for just the third time all season in Week 11. He'll rebound against a Bears team he's gashed for 270 yards and three TDs in their last two meetings.

Bernard Berrian found pay dirt against Seattle last week, but managed just two grabs for 11 yards. Clearly passed by Sidney Rice as Minnesota's No. 1 receiver, Berrian is a fantasy backup...Rice, the No. 6 overall fantasy WR, is officially a WR1 and every-week play, even against Bears LCB Charles Tillman. He's on pace to finish at 80-1,400-7...Percy Harvin quietly had his second best receiving game of the year in Week 11, going for 5-79-1 against Seattle. He's still too inconsistent offensively to be a solid WR3...Visanthe Shiancoe's 78 yards last Sunday were easily a season high. His week-to-week fantasy numbers remain highly dependent on finding the end zone.

Kansas City @ San Diego

San Diego opened up Kansas City in Week 7, thrashing rookie coach Todd Haley's club 37-7. The Chiefs have upset Pittsburgh and improved significantly since, but the Bolts would still have to beat themselves to drop this one. K.C. doesn't have any answer for Chargers stud wideout Vincent Jackson's speed and physicality, ranking 28th against the pass and giving up big plays on at will. V-Jax and Philip Rivers are every-week starters, and will be aided by favorable conditions at Qualcomm Stadium (high 60s, 10% chance of rain, only 10MPH winds).

The Chiefs lost yet another safety for the season this week, placing Maurice Leggett on I.R. They can't hope to contain Antonio Gates...After a miserable start, LaDainian Tomlinson is suddenly the No. 7 overall fantasy back. While his 3.4 YPC average is awful, San Diego's fast-moving offense gives him scoring chances. He has five TDs in his last four games and is a high-end RB2 against Kansas City's No. 27 rush defense...Malcom Floyd is the only starting Chargers skill player to bench. He's flopped since Chris Chambers' release, averaging just three catches for 38 yards per game with no scores in the last three weeks.

The Bolts' much-improved secondary doesn't get enough credit for their 7-3 record and stance atop the AFC West. Only the Seahawks were worse against the pass in 2008, but San Diego is now No. 11 in pass defense, allows the fifth fewest completions of 20+ yards, and has given up just 13 passing TDs all year. The latter statistic is most impressive because teams are often trailing when facing them. Matt Cassel leads a Chiefs offense that will finish the season strong, but doesn't have a favorable matchup...San Diego's lone weakness in the secondary is against tight ends. The Chiefs don't have a TE capable of exploiting that vulnerability.

Jamaal Charles continued to prove that he is Kansas City's most explosive player by bringing back last week's opening kickoff 97 yards for a TD to complement 64 hard-earned yards and a receiving score in last week's win. What took Haley so long to realize this is debate for another time, but Charles is clearly the Chiefs' every-down back...Chambers enters Sunday's game with a chip on his shoulder, and can be a WR2/3 despite San Diego's tough secondary. The Chargers won't respect him with double coverage, so Chambers should be open...Chiefs slot man Lance Long's eight-catch, 74-yard Week 9 has proven a tease. He has four catches for 55 yards since.

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Arizona @ Tennessee

Kurt Warner (head) is on track to make his 43rd straight start against a Titans secondary that ranks 31st, gives up the second most passing TDs in the league, and has allowed opposing QBs to throw for at least 286 yards in 8-of-11 games. With 60+ degree temps, 11MPH winds, and just a 20% chance of showers in the LP Field forecast, you won't find a QB with a better matchup Sunday...While Larry Fitzgerald faces Cortland Finnegan, Anquan Boldin will square off with 35-year-old Titans LCB Nick Harper. Expect "Q" to lead Arizona in receiving for a third straight week.

Steve Breaston went target-less in last week's win at St. Louis, but surely would've had second-half production had Warner not been concussed for the final two quarters. Matt Leinart entered and threw for just 74 yards. Don't let Breaston's goose egg fool you; he is a quality WR3 in this matchup...Chris Wells and Tim Hightower continue to split Arizona's backfield. The more elusive, explosive, and powerful Wells is RB2 material against a Tennessee defense that is undersized in the front seven and gives up 4.4 YPC. Hightower is more of a flex option in PPR leagues only.

Chris Johnson leads the NFL in total yards, rushing, YPC among players with 62+ carries, and runs of 20+ and 40+ yards. He remains the Titans' offensive centerpiece even against run-tough teams like Arizona...Kenny Britt is already Tennessee's best receiver. Though raw coming out of Rutgers and still developing physically at age 21 (turned in September), Britt's physicality and deceptive speed have given Tennessee a new dimension outside. He's an every-down wideout with Justin Gage (back) still out and worth WR3 use against Arizona's No. 27 pass defense.

While low pass attempts (averaging just 21 throws a game) cap his fantasy ceiling, a confident Vince Young is an effective Vince Young. And V.Y. has appeared as sure of himself as ever over the past month, winning all four games and racking up 146 rushing yards in the meantime. The scrambling makes V.Y. an ideal two-QB league play when he's facing weak pass defenses...Nate Washington has just three catches for 47 yards in his last two games. He's falling behind Britt in the competition for targets...Continue to avoid the Titans' three-man rotation at tight end.

[SIZE=+1]Sunday Night Football[/SIZE]

Pittsburgh @ Baltimore

Ben Roethlisberger (concussion, questionable) is still deciding whether to suit up at the Ravens, but he'll most likely play. Coming off a gut-check loss to Kansas City, the Steelers need this win over an intradivision opponent. Still, Big Ben is a risky plug-and-start in a late game. Consider other options unless a definitive answer comes Saturday...Should Roethlisberger start, Pittsburgh will likely employ a pass-first offense. Baltimore is much weaker in pass than run defense, and will be without both top pass rusher Terrell Suggs (MCL sprain) and CB Fabian Washington (torn ACL). Get Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes, and Heath Miller going if Big Ben looks like a go.

Rashard Mendenhall is coming off a 116-total yard effort, but isn't remotely as good a fantasy play as he was last week. The Ravens have the NFL's No. 5 rush defense and Mendenhall's confidence still wavers at times despite a terrific season (5.1 YPC, ownership of clear-cut starting job). This is the same Ray Lewis-led defense that broke Mendenhall's shoulder in Week 4 last year, ending his rookie season. Hesitant running could earn him a spot on the bench...Still, there have been no signs that Willie Parker or Mewelde Moore will significantly cut into his workload if Mendenhall plays well. He saw 25 touches last week compared to Parker's seven and Moore's two.

Joe Flacco's struggles continued in Week 11 against Indianapolis. Flacco has one TD pass since Week 6 and is barely a QB2 at this point. He's topped 195 yards just once in the last month. Pittsburgh is a top-12 team against the pass, allowing just 6.4 yards per throw (fifth fewest in the league)...The failure of Kelley Washington and Mark Clayton to step up in contract years has made Derrick Mason easier to double team and take out of games with bracket coverage. It remains to be seen if the Steelers will employ such stategies, however. Coordinator Dick LeBeau runs a blitz-heavy agenda, so Mason should theoretically see plenty of man coverage.

Ray Rice faces the NFL's No. 1 run defense Sunday, but should stay in fantasy lineups as the focal point of Baltimore's offense. The Steelers would prefer Rice catching check downs to Flacco connecting on bombs. Rice has also totaled 278 yards and two scores in two meetings this year with the Bengals, who are second in rush defense. It isn't like he can't dominate difficult matchups...Todd Heap will play through a rib injury, but there's no sense in using him as a fantasy starter when he isn't 100 percent or productive. He's borderline waiver material.

[SIZE=+1]Monday Night Football[/SIZE]

New England @ New Orleans

Lots of scoring is expected when the NFL's Nos. 1 and 2 offenses square off in a dome, so we'll focus on who not to start in this space. On New England's side, Laurence Maroney is a high-risk, if potentially high-scoring bet. The Saints get back DT Sedrick Ellis, who had New Orleans ranked among the top-six rush defenses before spraining his MCL in Week 7. The Pats will likely also use a spread offense to exploit the Saints' injuries at corner, and Kevin Faulk is the team's spread back. It doesn't help Maroney that power runner Sammy Morris (knee) appears poised to return. Maroney's ceiling is somewhere around 15 carries if Morris plays.

For the Saints, Jeremy Shockey should be planted on fantasy benches. The Patriots continue to shut down opposing tight ends with FS Brandon McGowan's sticky coverage, and Shockey had only 17 yards on two catches last week while playing second fiddle to No. 2 tight end David Thomas (4-66-1)...Reggie Bush, coming off a knee injury, is another recommended "sit." He will likely focus on punt returns Monday night, perhaps only getting 6-9 touches on offense.

Expect Pierre Thomas to be the featured back in a prove-it game for the Saints. Coach Sean Payton has been able to "keep Thomas fresh" by employing a committee with Mike Bell, but will want the ball in the hands of his best players in this one. On the season, Thomas is averaging 5.7 yards per touch compared to Bell's 4.1. While Bell's usage in short-yardage situations naturally will bring down his per-play averages, he is simply not as explosive as Thomas, nor remotely as versatile. The Saints can run spread and base formation plays with Thomas in the game. Bell is not a passing-game asset, limiting Payton's playcalling when on the field.

Others to avoid: Robert Meachem and Devery Henderson. Both of the Saints' secondary receiver options are reliant on the big play, which the Patriots don't give up very often...Saints slot man Lance Moore (ankle) sat out practice Friday and still isn't 100 percent. Let's make sure he can still play before using him. He's been out for a month...Patriots TE Ben Watson would figure to benefit from a pass-first game plan from New England, but is only a marginal TE1. He hasn't topped 51 yards in a game since Week 1 or scored since Week 7.

 

[HacheMan]

Sack attack: Chargers will put heat on Cassel


The Bruno Boys examine the top teams in the NFL when it comes to the sack and their opponents for the coming week's ability to protect their quarterback. Using this data, we determine in the QB Heat Index, whether a QB will be "Feelin' Heat" (Seeing Great Pressure), "Luke Warm" (Dealing with a Moderate Amount of Pressure), or "Cool & Collected" (Facing Minimal Pressure). Remember, the more time a QB has, the better his chance at putting up fantasy points.<TABLE border=1 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=420 align=center><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>DEFENSE</TD><TD align=middle>SACK TOTALS</TD><TD align=middle>OFFENSE (QB)</TD><TD align=middle>SACKS ALLOWED</TD><TD align=middle>QB HEAT INDEX</TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle>Vikings</TD><TD align=middle>36</TD><TD align=middle>Bears (J.Cutler)</TD><TD align=middle>20</TD><TD align=middle>Luke Warm</TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle>Eagles</TD><TD align=middle>30</TD><TD align=middle>Redskins (J.Campbell)</TD><TD align=middle>32</TD><TD align=middle>Feelin' Heat</TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle>Steelers</TD><TD align=middle>30</TD><TD align=middle>Ravens (J.Flacco)</TD><TD align=middle>18</TD><TD align=middle>Cool & Collected</TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle>Broncos</TD><TD align=middle>29</TD><TD align=middle>Giants (E.Manning)</TD><TD align=middle>16</TD><TD align=middle>Cool & Collected</TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle>Dolphins</TD><TD align=middle>29</TD><TD align=middle>Bills (R.Fitzpatrick)</TD><TD align=middle>27</TD><TD align=middle>Feelin' Heat</TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle>Cardinals</TD><TD align=middle>28</TD><TD align=middle>Titans (V.Young)</TD><TD align=middle>7</TD><TD align=middle>Cool & Collected</TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle>Chargers</TD><TD align=middle>27</TD><TD align=middle>Chiefs (M.Cassel)</TD><TD align=middle>37</TD><TD align=middle>Feelin' Heat</TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle>Bengals</TD><TD align=middle>25</TD><TD align=middle>Browns (B.Quinn)</TD><TD align=middle>24</TD><TD align=middle>Luke Warm</TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle>Cowboys</TD><TD align=middle>25</TD><TD align=middle>Raiders (B.Gradkowski)</TD><TD align=middle>27</TD><TD align=middle>Feelin' Heat</TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle>Titans</TD><TD align=middle>25</TD><TD align=middle>Cardinals (K.Warner)</TD><TD align=middle>17</TD><TD align=middle>Cool & Collected</TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle>Redskins</TD><TD align=middle>25</TD><TD align=middle>Eagles (D.McNabb)</TD><TD align=middle>25</TD><TD align=middle>Luke Warm</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

[HacheMan]

Pete's Picks: Vikings will make turkeys out of Bears



Happy Thanksgiving everyone. I'm thankful you check me out each week and keep me in my place. I'm also thankful you demanded the column early this week. It gives me the opportunity to write one of those cheap holiday columns in a hurry. But I'm also thankful…
Green Bay (+10½) at Detroit
… for the dream that one day the Lions will have to give up the Thanksgiving Day game.
PACKERS, 38-13
<HR> Oakland (+13½) at Dallas
… that I don't have to sit next to JaMarcus Russell at Thanksgiving, thus ensuring none of my extremities are inadvertently eaten
COWBOYS, 20-10
<HR>New York Giants (-6½) at Denver
… for the fact I'm often wrong, which gives me hope my beloved, bumbling Broncos can get back on track.
GIANTS, 23-20
<HR>Indianapolis (-3) at Houston
… for Kris Brown getting us Easterners in bed by midnight.
COLTS, 24-20
<HR>Cleveland (+14) at Cincinnati
… for Cleveland Browns fans having to suffer Eric Mangini for only one season.
BENGALS, 23-14
<HR>Chicago (+10½) at Minnesota
… for Jay Cutler playing so poorly it makes me feel better about the Broncos letting him go.
VIKINGS, 30-17
<HR>Washington (+9) Philadelphia
… for the amusement of watching Jay Cutler desperately wishing Donovan McNabb would end his postgame counseling session.
EAGLES, 26-9
<HR>Miami (-3) at Buffalo
… for Buffalo, relatively speaking, serving as a mute button for Terrell Owens.
DOLPHINS, 17-6
<HR> Arizona (off) at Tennessee
… for Kurt Warner's speedy recovery since he's the quarterback of one of my fantasy teams (and you know… his well being).
CARDINALS, 27-23
<HR>Seattle (-3) at St. Louis
… for alternate choices on the Sunday Ticket.
SEAHAWKS, 17-10
<HR>Tampa Bay (+12) at Atlanta
… for games that are no-brainers (kiss of death alert).
FALCONS, 28-12
<HR>Carolina (+3) at New York Jets
… for Rex Ryan acknowledging he's responsible for the offense too.
JETS, 21-17
<HR> Jacksonville (+3) at San Francisco
… for wildly inconsistent teams keeping life interesting.
49ERS, 26-21
<HR>Kansas City (+13½) at San Diego
… for foul language so Todd Haley can effectively communicate his point.
CHARGERS, 28-20
<HR>Pittsburgh (off) at Baltimore
… for teams that hate each other.
STEELERS, 17-16
<HR>New England (+3) at New Orleans
… track meets that live up to the hype.
SAINTS, 34-30
Last week: 11-5 straight up; 6-10 against the spread. Season: 109-51 straight up; 86-73-1 against the spread; Upset Special 6-5 -- Pete O'Brien

 

[HacheMan]

Jets defense in prime position to rebound against Panthers




Here are three NFL defenses fantasy owners should be mindful of in preparation for Week 11:
New York Jets: With LT Jordan Gross out, Jake Delhomme is a sitting duck. Last week, the Panthers allowed a season-high four sacks. Carolina can still generate offense with the run, but if the Jets stack the box, the turnover-prone Delhomme (14 INTs) should help New York's cause. The Jets have a weak base pass-rush, but their blitz-heavy scheme has 13 sacks in the last four games. Panthers WR Steve Smith is a strong sit candidate since he will be covered by Darrelle Revis. The standout cornerback has held the following wideouts to under 50 yards: Randy Moss (twice), Marques Colston, Andre Johnson, and Mike Sims-Walker.
San Diego Chargers: San Diego has not allowed 200 passing yards in four of their last five contests. A big reason for that is the play of LBs Shawne Merriman and Shaun Phillips (the duo has 12 sacks in the last five games). The Chargers should penetrate the Chiefs' porous offensive line with ease; KC has allowed 10 sacks in last three games. San Diego is still struggling against the run, but that shouldn't be an issue this week--Kansas City has run 117 pass plays compared to 76 rushing attempts over their last three games. Considering the Chiefs mustered just seven points against the Chargers in Week Seven (at KC), this is a cupcake matchup for San Diego's defense.
Green Bay Packers: With Calvin Johnson and Matthew Stafford likely out, the Packers will dominate despite losing two of their best defensive players for the season (Aaron Kampman and Al Harris). Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay's aerial attack should rack up the points against Detroit, who have allowed over 300 passing yards in four of their last five games. That will force Daunte Culpepper to drop back in the pocket often. In 62 pass attempts, Culpepper has been sacked nine times and has thrown two interceptions. The Packers have sacked opposing QBs eight times in their last two games and they are in line for a huge day on Thanksgiving

 

[HacheMan]

Injuries to Falcons' Turner, Ryan could complicate things




The Atlanta Falcons might find out what life is like without two offensive stars quarterback Matt Ryan and running back Michael Turner.
Both were injured Sunday vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Turner aggravated his sprained right ankle, an injury that first occurred Nov. 15 at the Carolina Panthers. Jerious Norwood also returned from an injury, totaling 50 yards on six rushes and two receptions. He and Jason Snelling will probably share the load as Turner's return for the fantasy playoffs is in doubt.
The passing offense was struggling as Ryan threw seven touchdown passes and eight interceptions while the Falcons lost four of five. Backup Chris Redman led a last-minute touchdown drive for a 20-17 victory. But despite Redman's 243 passing yards and two TDs, the offense did not move very smoothly. At a minimum, receiver Roddy White is likely to have fewer big-play opportunities.
If the Falcons lose to either the Philadelphia Eagles or New Orleans Saints in the next two weeks, their playoff hopes could quickly fade.
-- Seattle Seahawks running back Justin Forsett had 130 rushing yards and two TDs against the St. Louis Rams. With starter Julius Jones battling injuries, Forsett remains a viable No. 2 back in good matchups and a bench-warmer in bad ones. Put Forsett in the former column next week against the San Francisco 49ers, given how much better the Seahawks play at home and the 49ers' inconsistency.
-- Hurry back, Kurt Warner. Backup quarterback Matt Leinart had no TD passes and led the Arizona Cardinals to 17 points, their fewest since Week 3. Larry Fitzgerald matched his season-low of 34 yards, and Anquan Boldin had 53 yards. That won't cut it next week vs. the Minnesota Vikings. -- Matt Pitzer

 

[HacheMan]

Just-In Time
With Thanksgiving over, you know what that means: the fantasy playoffs are only one week away. The clock is ticking, and it's time to hold on for your fantasy playoff lives. Let's take a look at who delivered in this crucial Week 12.


Top 5 Quarterbacks:

1. Brett Favre – 392 Pass Yds, 3 TDs, 0 INTs – Favre has been absolutely lights out in his past four games, and it's tough to believe that he only has three interceptions thus far. The renowned gunslinger has undoubtedly cemented his legacy in Minnesota, while providing a huge reward for owners who took a chance on him.

2. Aaron Rodgers – 348 Pass Yds, 3 TDs, 0 INTs, 5 Rush Yds, 1 FL – Rodgers feasted on Thanksgiving Day by devouring the Lions' secondary play…after play…after play. There is no doubt that he has been the fantasy MVP from the quarterback position, and you can only hope he continues playing at this unconscious pace heading into the playoffs.

3. Ryan Fitzpatrick – 246 Pass Yds, 1 TD, 1 INT, 50 Rush Yds, 1 TD – The Harvard alum looked lightning quick on his 31-yard scamper into the end zone – okay, so maybe that's a little bit of an exaggeration. Nonetheless, Fitz got the job done, even though he probably was in very few fantasy lineups.

4. Tony Romo – 309 Pass Yds, 2 TDs, 0 INTs – Romo was all smiles on Turkey Day as the Boys welcomed the Raiders with open arms. He'll have to be on top of his game next week on the road against the Giants, and should have no problem with the G-Men and their below average secondary.

5. Philip Rivers – 317 Pass Yds, 2 TDs, 0 INTs – Believe it or not, Sunday was only Rivers' third 300-yard game of the season. He squares off against the hapless Browns next week, so he should have no problem duplicating this week's success.

Top 5 Running Backs:

1. Justin Forsett – 130 Rush Yds, 2 TDs – This year's Pierre Thomas, Forsett has put a ton of smiles on the faces of owners who jumped on the bandwagon three weeks ago. Regardless of whether or not Julius Jones returns, Forsett has earned himself a significant amount of touches going forward.

2. Chris Johnson – 154 Rush Yds, 1 TD, 3 Rec, 32 Yds – I'm absolutely speechless. Just when you think he's about to have an average fantasy day, he breaks off an 85-yard score, further solidifying his status as the top fantasy running back. There are no signs of this guy slowing down, and judging by how he's going, 2,000 yards rushing should come fairly easy.

3. Fred Jackson – 73 Rush Yds, 2 TDs, 5 Rec, 43 Yds – Action Jackson stole the show on Sunday, as he received fifteen carries to Marshawn Lynch's three. It will be tougher for him against the Jets on Thursday night, but he will still be a worthwhile flex play either way.

4. Jamaal Charles – 93 Rush Yds, 1 TD, 3 Rec, 54 Yds, 1 FL – The speedster out of Texas has made the most of his opportunity to start and then some. Over the past three weeks in standard scoring leagues he has totaled 17,17, and 18 points respectively. I'm a believer, because in Weeks 14 and 15 he squares off against the Bills and the Browns. That's what I call fantasy playoff hero potential.

5. Steven Jackson – 89 Rush Yds, 1 TD, 5 Rec, 27 Yds – Don't look now, but S-Jax has scored in four consecutive games. After not sniffing the end zone for the first seven weeks, Jackson has quietly put together an incredibly consistent fantasy season. How he has been this productive on a bad Rams' offense is a wonder in itself.

Top 5 Wide Receivers:

1. Donald Driver – 7 Rec, 142 Yds, 1 TD – The ageless wonder continued to defy time, as he has shown that he is still the Packers top option at wideout, much to the dismay of Greg Jennings owners. With the way the Packers throw the ball around the field he remains a must start the rest of the way.

2. Miles Austin – 7 Rec, 145 Yds, 1 TD – After two subpar games, Austin got going back in the right direction, as yet another player had a big game on Thanksgiving. He's an absolute must start the rest of the way, and this week solidified just how dominant he can be.

3. Percy Harvin – 6 Rec, 101 Yds, 1 TD, 45 Rush Yds – The Vikings love finding ways to get this kid the ball, and he is well on his way to being the Offensive Rookie of the Year. He is a tough player who isn't afraid to take a hit, and that has gone a long way to making him one of Favre's favorite targets.

4. Kenny Britt – 7 Rec, 128 Yds, 1 TD, 1 FL – After scoring his first career touchdown last week, Britt followed up with the encore of all encores this week. Sunday might have been our first glimpse of the Young-to-Britt connection that could become a dominant force in the league.

5. Terrell Owens – 5 Rec, 96 Yds, 1 TD – Where has this been all season? T.O. has scored in two straight weeks and has now gone over the 80-yard mark in three straight. I can't quite put my finger on why he has been so good as of late, but it's tough to get excited about it.

Top 5 Tight Ends:

1. Antonio Gates – 7 Rec, 118 Yds, 2 TDs – Gates' season has been defined by two breakout games, as all four of his touchdowns have also come in those two games – this week and Week 4 against the Steelers. Other than that, Gates has been nothing special.

2. Dallas Clark – 9 Rec, 63 Yds, 1 TD – Clark continued his dominance on Sunday, as he notched his fifth game with 8-plus receptions. He's a machine from the tight end position. Enough said.

3. Vernon Davis – 6 Rec, 69 Yds, 1 TD – Vernon scored for the second straight game, and fourth time in his last six, as he has now become a force to be reckoned with.

4. Visanthe Shiancoe – 5 Rec, 51 Yds, 1 TD – The touchdown machine scored for the eighth time this season, and he has started to develop some consistency over the past four weeks by scoring in three of his past four in the process. The potential for him to find the end zone week-in and week-out is too tempting to pass up.

5. Jason Witten – 5 Rec, 107 Yds, 0 TDs – It has been an ugly season for Witten. Just how bad has it been? This week was the first time that Witten totaled double-digit fantasy points.

Top 5 Defenses/Special Teams:

1. New York Jets – 6 PA, 3 Sacks, 4 INTs, 1 TD – Sexy Rexy's crew finally backed up all their talking, as secondary mates Darrelle Revis and recently benched Kerry Rhodes each had a pair of interceptions. This unit could once again be serviceable against the Bills this week.

2. Green Bay Packers – 12 PA, 2 Sacks, 4 INTs, 1 FR, 1 TD – Matthew Stafford and the Lions were overwhelmed on Thanksgiving, and it showed. Next week against the Ravens will be a tougher task for the Packers, but they have the playmakers to make for a productive day.

3. San Diego Chargers – 14 PA, 0 Sacks, 1 INT, 3 FR, 1 Safety, 1 TD – This was domination at its finest. It should be more of the same next week as the Chargers get an early Christmas present in the form of the Browns.

4. San Francisco 49ers – 3 PA, 6 Sacks, 2 FR – Talk about inconsistency. In the past four weeks the Niners have totaled negative points twice, but they have also managed to score 17 fantasy points twice as well.

5. Denver Broncos – 6 PA, 3 Sacks, 1 INT, 2 FR – The Broncos came ready to play on Thanksgiving, bouncing back after two terrible performances against the Redskins and Chargers. Up next are the Chiefs – oh boy.

Bottom 5 Quarterbacks:

1. Chad Henne – 175 Pass Yds, 1 TD, 3 INTs
2. Eli Manning – 230 Pass Yds, 0 TDs, 1 INT, 1 FL – First game without a touchdown this season.
3. Matt Hasselbeck – 102 Pass Yds, 0 TDs, 18 Rush Yds – Disappointing because this was a favorable matchup.
4. Matthew Stafford – 213 Pass Yds, 1 TD, 4 INTs, 21 Rush Yds
5. Matt Ryan – 15 Pass Yds, 0 TDs – An absolute killer that he got hurt so early in the game.

Bottom 5 Running Backs:

1. Jonathan Stewart – 35 Rush Yds, 0 TDs
2. Michael Turner – 33 Rush Yds, 0 TDs – Aggravated his ankle injury. Not a good sign.
3. Chris Wells – 20 Rush Yds, 1 Rec, 21 Yds, 0 TDs
4. Matt Forte – 27 Rush Yds, 4 Rec, 34 Yds, 0 TDs – Has it really gotten this bad?
5. DeAngelo Williams – 40 Rush Yds, 4 Rec, 10 Yds, 0 TDs

Bottom 5 Wide Receivers:

1. Steve Smith – 1 Rec, 5 Yds, 0 TDs – Darrelle Revis strikes again.
2. Jerricho Cotchery – 1 Rec, 12 Yds, 0 TDs
3. Steve Breaston – 4 Rec, 26 Yds, 0 TDs
4. T.J. Houshmandzadeh – 2 Rec, 14 Yds, 0 TDs
5. Vincent Jackson – 2 Rec, 27 Yds, 12 Rush Yds, 0 TDs

Bottom 5 Tight Ends:

1. Todd Heap – 1 Rec, 6 Yds, 0 TDs
2. John Carlson – 2 Rec, 14 Yds, 0 TDs – Has fallen into fantasy irrelevance.
3. Jermichael Finley – 3 Rec, 25 Yds, 0 TDs
4. Kevin Boss – 2 Rec, 22 Yds, 0 TDs
5. Heath Miller – 1 Rec, 2 Yds, 0 TDs

 

[HacheMan]

Titanic Comeback
Editor's Note: Beyond the box score is available every Monday morning to our Season Pass subscribers, along with countless other stat tools, columns, and premium information, but here's a peek at the Top 5 games of the week.



[SIZE=+1]#5. Colts 35 Texans 27[/SIZE]


Beyond the Box Score

* Matt Schaub started the game 6-of-6 to five different receivers, completed his first nine throws before Andre Johnson dropped a touchdown pass on his 10th attempt that would have put Houston up 21-0, and was 14-of-17 for 152 yards at halftime.

* Schaub then turned the ball over three times in the second half. He and Johnson had a mixed up on a deep ball that Antoine Bethea made a marvelous catch on, then Clint Sessions jumped in front of a pass and took it in for a touchdown, and finally Schaub was stripped on the next drive.

* It was odd to see Chad Simpson getting carries in clock-killing mode given that he hadn't touched the ball through 57 minutes. He broke free for a 23-yard touchdown as Joseph Addai and Donald Brown looked on.

* Despite Simpson getting the final carries of the game, Addai has at least 18 touches in all but one of the past eight games while Brown has struggled to find consistent work.

* At one point the Texans had 150 yards and the Colts had one yard.

Going Forward

* Pierre Garcon nearly had an even bigger game, but couldn't quite drag his feet inbounds on a would-be touchdown catch in the third quarter, so Peyton Manning ended up hitting Reggie Wayne on a goal-line fade route for the score. Garcon has thrived with Anthony Gonzalez out, topping 50 yards in five straight games, and it doesn't sound like Gonzalez is on the verge of returning yet.

* Steve Slaton topped 100 total yards for the first time since Week 6, but is basically in a workload split with Chris Brown. Slaton gets about half the carries and most of the third-down work. Brown gets about half the carries, including goal-line action, and has also been surprisingly involved in the passing game.

* Following the season-ending injury to Owen Daniels, Kevin Walter has stepped up to become a WR3 option, totaling 186 yards in three games.

* Can the Colts go undefeated? Their remaining opponents are Titans, Broncos, Jaguars, Jets, and Bills, with only Jacksonville and Buffalo on the road. If they win the next two the final three could be a cake walk, although they've already clinched the division title and may have homefield advantage locked up long before Week 17.


[SIZE=+1]#4. Eagles 27 Redskins 24[/SIZE]


Beyond the Box Score

* Brent Celek had an excuse for all his drops. It turns out that he tore ligaments in his hand and tried to play through it. At one point, he told trainers that he couldn't grasp the ball. It's a concern heading into next week.

* LeSean McCoy is a workhorse and impressive runner, but the Eagles don't like him at the goal line. They gave seldom-used Eldra Buckley three goal-line carries and he converted the final one.

* Jason Campbell is actually improving. He's seeing the field better and using his legs in spots he used to be afraid to. It's probably too late to save his Redskins' career, but with a change of scenery he could have success in this league.

* Fred Davis was back in this game. He was targeted nine times and did some nice things after the catch. On one play, he ran over three Eagles on the sideline for a big gain. He still has upside as a TE2.

Going Forward

* DeSean Jackson's concussion is not nearly as severe as Brian Westbrook's but it's still a concern. We're in an era in the NFL where concussions are treated with the utmost precaution. And this is the team that put B-West back out there too soon.

* Jason Campbell admitted he was blacked out and lost feeling in his left arm when he was roughed on a dirty play late in the loss. Again, we could be talking about a concussion here and behind the 'Skins offensive line, it would probably be safer to play Todd Collins next week.

* Donovan McNabb is in the verge of a monster game. The Eagles defense had some trouble getting off the field and it led to "only" 35 attempts. That number is sure to rise going forward.

* Rock Cartwright will have better days, but he's just not that talented a runner. There's a reason a guy has played on special teams his entire life. He'll only be able to put up numbers in plus matchups.


[SIZE=+1]#3. Ravens 20 Steelers 17[/SIZE]


Beyond the Box Score

* Ravens LB Paul Kruger intercepted a pass in overtime, setting up a game-winning Billy Cundiff field goal. Kruger has had a tough time finding the field this season but made a huge play in a huge game.

* The Steelers sacked Joe Flacco five times and forced three fumbles, but they were unable to piece together enough scoring drives with a limited passing attack.

* Baltimore stacked the box against Rashard Mendenhall, and yet the impressive sophomore still managed 95 rushing yards on 24 carries. He's going to be a beast in Pittsburgh for many, many years to come. Willie Parker was given only five touches.

* Todd Heap was limited to one catch for four yards. He's playing with a rib injury and is struggling to get open.

* Mike Wallace was targeted a few times down the field but failed to haul in a single pass. He's excitingly fast but hasn't displayed great hands in his rookie campaign.

* Four of the Steelers' five losses this season have come despite a fourth-quarter lead. It's uncharacteristic of this group of Pittsburgh players, who now stand 6-5 on the year.

Going Forward

* Dennis Dixon wasn't great, but he certainly wasn't bad. The former Oregon Duck threw with good accuracy when given time on play-action calls and made several game-changing plays. He broke free for a 31-yard scramble in the first quarter but it was negated by a holding call. It appears the Steelers have found themselves a solid future backup.

* Ray Rice racked up 155 net yards in the overtime win. His 44-yard reception on 4th-and-5 set up Baltimore's game-tying field goal in the fourth quarter. Rice is an impressive young runner and entered Week 12 ranked third in the league in yards from scrimmage. He boasts major value down the stretch.


[SIZE=+1]#2. Falcons 20 Buccaneers 17[/SIZE]


Beyond the Box Score

* Michael Turner was running with a slight limp even before re-injuring his right ankle.

* The Bucs defense recorded six sacks while pushing around the Falcons offensive line all game. Atlanta lost RG Harvey Dahl to a ankle/Achilles injury while LT Sam Baker was benched for performance reasons.

* Antonio Bryant owned one Bucs scoring drive, reeling in catches of 38 yards and 42 yards on the only to plays of the series. Inexplicably, he had just two targets the rest of the way, which caused him to call out the coaching staff in post-game comments.

* Roddy White was shadowed by Aqib Talib one week after Giants CB Corey Webster blanketed him. White nearly hauled in a spectacular diving grab to win the game late in the fourth quarter. A couple of plays later he had the potential game-winner knocked out of his hands. Finally, he hauled in his third end-zone target on fourth down to cap off the Falcons last-minute comeback.

Going Forward

* The Falcons didn't have an update on Matt Ryan's jammed toe after the game, saying only that they'll have a better idea on his status by Wednesday's practice. His inability to return to the game after the first series is cause for doubt.

* Michael Turner re-injured his right ankle, but the Falcons are saying that Sunday's injury is to a different area on the ankle. Should Turner miss Sunday's game against the Eagles, Jason Snelling and Jerious Norwood would likely split touches. Snelling's third-quarter fumble and Norwood's spark have muddled the picture.

* Michael Jenkins has been feasting off the shadow coverage on Roddy White the past two weeks. Don't expect him to keep posting 75+ yards.

* The 2008 Antonio Bryant finally showed up, but the Bucs stopped throwing him the ball in the second half. He should be picked up on the waiver wire this week, if only for his Week 15 matchup against the Saints.

* Josh Freeman is reminiscent of a young Daunte Culpepper, with the size, athleticism, physicality and strong arm to put up fantasy numbers. Unfortunately, he also has Culpepper's slippery-mitted turnover tendencies.

* Cadillac Williams and Derrick Ward continue to cancel each other out, though Earnest Graham was not a factor in the ground game.

[SIZE=+1]#1. Titans 20 Cardinals 17[/SIZE]


Beyond the Box Score

* Darnell Dockett had his best game of the season, sacking Vince Young three times after the Titans QB was sacked just one time in his previous four starts.

* Matt Leinart started out just 2-of-6 while the Cardinals passing attack stumbled out of the gates. He finally gained a nice rhythm in the second-half, but the coaches didn't trust him to throw the ball down the field in the fourth quarter.

* Vince Young's only mistake of the game came with the clock winding down in the first half. Young scrambled around in the red zone, allowing time to run out and robbing his team of the chance for a last-second field goal. Had Young not led an improbable 99-yard comeback in the last two minutes of the game, that play would have come back to haunt him.

* The Cardinals had Chris Johnson relatively bottled up until he found a seam and exploded through for an 85-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter. Johnson appeared to be gassed the rest of the way and added just four yards on three carries in the fourth quarter.

* Cardinals KR LaRod Stephens-Howling had one of the best special teams performances you'll ever see. Hyphen responded to Johnson's 85-yard run with a 99-yard kickoff return to reclaim the lead. He downed two consecutive punts at the one-yard line deep in the fourth quarter, forcing the Titans to attempt back-to-back 99-yard drives for the win.

* Despite a game straight out of beast mode, Kenny Britt almost played the role the goat for the Titans. He beat double coverage for a diving 51-yard bomb on first of the Titans drives starting at their own one-yard line. Upon getting up to run, Britt was nailed from behind and coughed up the ball. He came up big on the final drive, however, as Vince Young continued to look to him for clutch plays. Britt converted two crucial fourth downs on the 99-yard drive, including the leaping game winner in traffic. Britt wasn't going to be denied on the final play.

Going Forward

* Vince Young is a completely different quarterback -- and a much improved passer -- in his second stint as the Titans' starter. It's reasonable to expect high-end QB2 numbers the rest of the way.

* Chris Johnson can break the NFL record with seven straight 125+ yard rushing games next week at Indy. At this point, it would be crazy to bet against it. Johnson and Young led a dual attack that racked up 532 yards of offense Sunday.

* LenDale White was inactive in a coach's decision. Either the Titans suddenly prefer Javon Ringer or White did something to earn the coaches' ire. Regardless, as long as White is inactive, Johnson has no competition for goal-line work.

* Kenny Britt was huge down the stretch for the Titans and is undeniably the team's best receiver. Expect him to nudge Justin Gage (back) into the No. 3 role. The rookie should be a top waiver target this week.

* Tim Hightower and Beanie Wells continue to split touches almost equally. Hightower got a few more snaps Sunday while the Cardinals rode the hot hand.

* Kurt Warner (concussion) was a last-minute scratch after waking up with a sore neck Sunday. Expect him to return to practice and play next week at home against the Vikings. The Cardinals receivers will welcome him back with open arms.

 

[HacheMan]

Vince Young, Kenny Britt shine fantasy light on Titans


On the heels of a five-game winning streak and a 20-17 comeback win against the Arizona Cardinals that included a 99-yard touchdown drive, the Tennessee Titans have moved back into fantasy relevance.
Not only is running back Chris Johnson continuing an MVP-type season, but the passing game also is making some noise. Quarterback Vince Young threw for a career-best 387 yards on Sunday and receivers Kenny Britt and Nate Washington and tight end Bo Scaife all had at least 68 yards receiving.
Those numbers might be the high-water mark for each player so do not expect repeat stats every week. But the Titans are humming right now and most of those players, except Johnson, could be available as free agents. Definitely pick up Young as he has turned into one of the top stories of the second half of the season.
The receivers are a little harder to figure out. Washington appears to be the best bet, and the most likely to score in any given week. But the Titans drafted Britt to be their big-play threat and he could fit that bill in the final five games. Scaife, a Texas teammate of Young's, has been one of Young's favorite receivers dating to Young's 2006 rookie year. If Young continues playing this well, Scaife will see some scoring chances.
Also think about grabbing these potential free agents:
Jason Avant, WR, Eagles. The league's recent emphasis on concussions figures to make DeSean Jackson a longshot to play against the Falcons. Jeremy Maclin would move up to the No. 1 spot and push Avant into the starting lineup. Avant has turned into a trusted option for QB Donovan McNabb and, after another good game on Sunday, has at least 94 yards receiving in two of the past three weeks. In that third game, he caught a TD pass.
Larry Johnson, RB, Bengals. Despite the Bengals' early optimism that Cedric Benson will return this week, don't be sure of anything until game day. Johnson earned some more time after his 107-yard game on 22 carries, possibly at the expense of the now-injured Bernard Scott. Grab Johnson as the new insurance to Benson.
Marcus Mason, RB, Redskins. This is a pretty speculative pickup, but Mason saw considerable time in goal-line sets for the Redskins. He finished with only three carries for 10 yards, yet might siphon a future TD or two. You also might want to wait another week (at least).
Matt Moore, QB, Panthers. Jake Delhomme finally might get some time on the bench thanks to a broken finger, an injury that could have ramifications beyond this week. If Moore shows any promise, the Panthers are better off playing him rather than going back to pick-happy Delhomme.
Delhomme's season is shot and the Panthers need to find something for the future. Receiver Steve Smith's value can't be hurt any more than it already has, even though he has a good matchup in Week 13 against Tampa Bay. Also keep an eye on TE Dante Rosario who has 102 yards over the past two games, with four catches in each.
Jerious Norwood, RB, Falcons. Michael Turner lasted only 12 carries before getting hurt again, while Norwood scored on a 22-yard reception in his first game since Week 6. Turner likely will miss more time, and Norwood will split time with Jason Snelling. Snelling would be the short-yardage back and Norwood the change-of-pace guy. Regardless, Norwood will play plenty while Turner is out. -- Matt Pitzer

 

[HacheMan]

Titanic Comeback
Editor's Note: Beyond the box score is available every Monday morning to our Season Pass subscribers, along with countless other stat tools, columns, and premium information, but here's a peek at the Top 5 games of the week.



[SIZE=+1]#5. Colts 35 Texans 27[/SIZE]


Beyond the Box Score

* Matt Schaub started the game 6-of-6 to five different receivers, completed his first nine throws before Andre Johnson dropped a touchdown pass on his 10th attempt that would have put Houston up 21-0, and was 14-of-17 for 152 yards at halftime.

* Schaub then turned the ball over three times in the second half. He and Johnson had a mixed up on a deep ball that Antoine Bethea made a marvelous catch on, then Clint Sessions jumped in front of a pass and took it in for a touchdown, and finally Schaub was stripped on the next drive.

* It was odd to see Chad Simpson getting carries in clock-killing mode given that he hadn't touched the ball through 57 minutes. He broke free for a 23-yard touchdown as Joseph Addai and Donald Brown looked on.

* Despite Simpson getting the final carries of the game, Addai has at least 18 touches in all but one of the past eight games while Brown has struggled to find consistent work.

* At one point the Texans had 150 yards and the Colts had one yard.

Going Forward

* Pierre Garcon nearly had an even bigger game, but couldn't quite drag his feet inbounds on a would-be touchdown catch in the third quarter, so Peyton Manning ended up hitting Reggie Wayne on a goal-line fade route for the score. Garcon has thrived with Anthony Gonzalez out, topping 50 yards in five straight games, and it doesn't sound like Gonzalez is on the verge of returning yet.

* Steve Slaton topped 100 total yards for the first time since Week 6, but is basically in a workload split with Chris Brown. Slaton gets about half the carries and most of the third-down work. Brown gets about half the carries, including goal-line action, and has also been surprisingly involved in the passing game.

* Following the season-ending injury to Owen Daniels, Kevin Walter has stepped up to become a WR3 option, totaling 186 yards in three games.

* Can the Colts go undefeated? Their remaining opponents are Titans, Broncos, Jaguars, Jets, and Bills, with only Jacksonville and Buffalo on the road. If they win the next two the final three could be a cake walk, although they've already clinched the division title and may have homefield advantage locked up long before Week 17.


[SIZE=+1]#4. Eagles 27 Redskins 24[/SIZE]


Beyond the Box Score

* Brent Celek had an excuse for all his drops. It turns out that he tore ligaments in his hand and tried to play through it. At one point, he told trainers that he couldn't grasp the ball. It's a concern heading into next week.

* LeSean McCoy is a workhorse and impressive runner, but the Eagles don't like him at the goal line. They gave seldom-used Eldra Buckley three goal-line carries and he converted the final one.

* Jason Campbell is actually improving. He's seeing the field better and using his legs in spots he used to be afraid to. It's probably too late to save his Redskins' career, but with a change of scenery he could have success in this league.

* Fred Davis was back in this game. He was targeted nine times and did some nice things after the catch. On one play, he ran over three Eagles on the sideline for a big gain. He still has upside as a TE2.

Going Forward

* DeSean Jackson's concussion is not nearly as severe as Brian Westbrook's but it's still a concern. We're in an era in the NFL where concussions are treated with the utmost precaution. And this is the team that put B-West back out there too soon.

* Jason Campbell admitted he was blacked out and lost feeling in his left arm when he was roughed on a dirty play late in the loss. Again, we could be talking about a concussion here and behind the 'Skins offensive line, it would probably be safer to play Todd Collins next week.

* Donovan McNabb is in the verge of a monster game. The Eagles defense had some trouble getting off the field and it led to "only" 35 attempts. That number is sure to rise going forward.

* Rock Cartwright will have better days, but he's just not that talented a runner. There's a reason a guy has played on special teams his entire life. He'll only be able to put up numbers in plus matchups.


[SIZE=+1]#3. Ravens 20 Steelers 17[/SIZE]


Beyond the Box Score

* Ravens LB Paul Kruger intercepted a pass in overtime, setting up a game-winning Billy Cundiff field goal. Kruger has had a tough time finding the field this season but made a huge play in a huge game.

* The Steelers sacked Joe Flacco five times and forced three fumbles, but they were unable to piece together enough scoring drives with a limited passing attack.

* Baltimore stacked the box against Rashard Mendenhall, and yet the impressive sophomore still managed 95 rushing yards on 24 carries. He's going to be a beast in Pittsburgh for many, many years to come. Willie Parker was given only five touches.

* Todd Heap was limited to one catch for four yards. He's playing with a rib injury and is struggling to get open.

* Mike Wallace was targeted a few times down the field but failed to haul in a single pass. He's excitingly fast but hasn't displayed great hands in his rookie campaign.

* Four of the Steelers' five losses this season have come despite a fourth-quarter lead. It's uncharacteristic of this group of Pittsburgh players, who now stand 6-5 on the year.

Going Forward

* Dennis Dixon wasn't great, but he certainly wasn't bad. The former Oregon Duck threw with good accuracy when given time on play-action calls and made several game-changing plays. He broke free for a 31-yard scramble in the first quarter but it was negated by a holding call. It appears the Steelers have found themselves a solid future backup.

* Ray Rice racked up 155 net yards in the overtime win. His 44-yard reception on 4th-and-5 set up Baltimore's game-tying field goal in the fourth quarter. Rice is an impressive young runner and entered Week 12 ranked third in the league in yards from scrimmage. He boasts major value down the stretch.


[SIZE=+1]#2. Falcons 20 Buccaneers 17[/SIZE]


Beyond the Box Score

* Michael Turner was running with a slight limp even before re-injuring his right ankle.

* The Bucs defense recorded six sacks while pushing around the Falcons offensive line all game. Atlanta lost RG Harvey Dahl to a ankle/Achilles injury while LT Sam Baker was benched for performance reasons.

* Antonio Bryant owned one Bucs scoring drive, reeling in catches of 38 yards and 42 yards on the only to plays of the series. Inexplicably, he had just two targets the rest of the way, which caused him to call out the coaching staff in post-game comments.

* Roddy White was shadowed by Aqib Talib one week after Giants CB Corey Webster blanketed him. White nearly hauled in a spectacular diving grab to win the game late in the fourth quarter. A couple of plays later he had the potential game-winner knocked out of his hands. Finally, he hauled in his third end-zone target on fourth down to cap off the Falcons last-minute comeback.

Going Forward

* The Falcons didn't have an update on Matt Ryan's jammed toe after the game, saying only that they'll have a better idea on his status by Wednesday's practice. His inability to return to the game after the first series is cause for doubt.

* Michael Turner re-injured his right ankle, but the Falcons are saying that Sunday's injury is to a different area on the ankle. Should Turner miss Sunday's game against the Eagles, Jason Snelling and Jerious Norwood would likely split touches. Snelling's third-quarter fumble and Norwood's spark have muddled the picture.

* Michael Jenkins has been feasting off the shadow coverage on Roddy White the past two weeks. Don't expect him to keep posting 75+ yards.

* The 2008 Antonio Bryant finally showed up, but the Bucs stopped throwing him the ball in the second half. He should be picked up on the waiver wire this week, if only for his Week 15 matchup against the Saints.

* Josh Freeman is reminiscent of a young Daunte Culpepper, with the size, athleticism, physicality and strong arm to put up fantasy numbers. Unfortunately, he also has Culpepper's slippery-mitted turnover tendencies.

* Cadillac Williams and Derrick Ward continue to cancel each other out, though Earnest Graham was not a factor in the ground game.

[SIZE=+1]#1. Titans 20 Cardinals 17[/SIZE]


Beyond the Box Score

* Darnell Dockett had his best game of the season, sacking Vince Young three times after the Titans QB was sacked just one time in his previous four starts.

* Matt Leinart started out just 2-of-6 while the Cardinals passing attack stumbled out of the gates. He finally gained a nice rhythm in the second-half, but the coaches didn't trust him to throw the ball down the field in the fourth quarter.

* Vince Young's only mistake of the game came with the clock winding down in the first half. Young scrambled around in the red zone, allowing time to run out and robbing his team of the chance for a last-second field goal. Had Young not led an improbable 99-yard comeback in the last two minutes of the game, that play would have come back to haunt him.

* The Cardinals had Chris Johnson relatively bottled up until he found a seam and exploded through for an 85-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter. Johnson appeared to be gassed the rest of the way and added just four yards on three carries in the fourth quarter.

* Cardinals KR LaRod Stephens-Howling had one of the best special teams performances you'll ever see. Hyphen responded to Johnson's 85-yard run with a 99-yard kickoff return to reclaim the lead. He downed two consecutive punts at the one-yard line deep in the fourth quarter, forcing the Titans to attempt back-to-back 99-yard drives for the win.

* Despite a game straight out of beast mode, Kenny Britt almost played the role the goat for the Titans. He beat double coverage for a diving 51-yard bomb on first of the Titans drives starting at their own one-yard line. Upon getting up to run, Britt was nailed from behind and coughed up the ball. He came up big on the final drive, however, as Vince Young continued to look to him for clutch plays. Britt converted two crucial fourth downs on the 99-yard drive, including the leaping game winner in traffic. Britt wasn't going to be denied on the final play.

Going Forward

* Vince Young is a completely different quarterback -- and a much improved passer -- in his second stint as the Titans' starter. It's reasonable to expect high-end QB2 numbers the rest of the way.

* Chris Johnson can break the NFL record with seven straight 125+ yard rushing games next week at Indy. At this point, it would be crazy to bet against it. Johnson and Young led a dual attack that racked up 532 yards of offense Sunday.

* LenDale White was inactive in a coach's decision. Either the Titans suddenly prefer Javon Ringer or White did something to earn the coaches' ire. Regardless, as long as White is inactive, Johnson has no competition for goal-line work.

* Kenny Britt was huge down the stretch for the Titans and is undeniably the team's best receiver. Expect him to nudge Justin Gage (back) into the No. 3 role. The rookie should be a top waiver target this week.

* Tim Hightower and Beanie Wells continue to split touches almost equally. Hightower got a few more snaps Sunday while the Cardinals rode the hot hand.

* Kurt Warner (concussion) was a last-minute scratch after waking up with a sore neck Sunday. Expect him to return to practice and play next week at home against the Vikings. The Cardinals receivers will welcome him back with open arms.

 

[HacheMan]

Will they rest?
Sometimes, a team is so good that it's bad for fantasy owners. Nothing like visions of Mark Brunell, Tarvaris Jackson and Jim Sorgi lining up under center during the fantasy playoffs to give owners nightmares.

Different teams have different philosophies on resting starters and home-field advantage. The Patriots obviously have tried to run up the score straight through Week 17 in the past. The Colts have not. The Saints and Vikings? Well, we're in uncharted waters.

The good news for owners of Drew Brees, Marques Colston, Adrian Peterson etc. is that it's unlikely home field will be locked up in the NFC anytime soon. The Vikings are just a game back and both teams will be favored in every game the rest of the way.

One potential pitfall in that prediction is this week. The Vikings have a tough game on Sunday night in Arizona. A loss there coupled with a win for the Saints in Washington, and New Orleans could clinch home field in Week 15. Will they then go for the undefeated record? We doubt it, but it's still unclear.

One thing that is clear is what the Colts are going to do. Peter King reported yesterday that coach Jim Caldwell will stick to Tony Dungy's strategy of resting his starters once home field is locked up. The Colts want to be as fresh as possible heading into the playoffs, even if it costs them a chance at a 16-0 record.

"It'll be somewhat similar to what we've done," Caldwell said. "Going undefeated was always a secondary goal. I don't think we'll put too much emphasis on that."

The Colts currently have a three-game lead for the No. 1 seed in the AFC. With two home games against the Titans and Broncos on tap, it's quite possible they'll have home field locked up by Week 15.

If you own Joseph Addai, Dallas Clark or Reggie Wayne, you're praying for a loss to the red hot Titans this week. Donald Brown, Austin Collie and Gijon Robinson are going to struggle to win fantasy championships.

Bottom line
If the Vikings lose this week, they could be locked into the No. 2 seed by Week 16. … It doesn't look like anyone can stop the Saints. Watch the quotes to see how important going undefeated is to them. Look for them to play guys like Brees and Colston for a half in Weeks 16 and 17. … Colts owners need to be prepared for other options during the fantasy playoffs.

Patriots vs. Saints quick hitters:
Mike Bell runs so hard he's bound to get nicked up. He limped off a couple times last night. … I love the way Bill Belichick has no regard for the critical postgame Suzy Kolber interview. He'll interrupt it for a hug with Drew Brees anytime. … It's a crapshoot as to who will blow up between Devery Henderson and Robert Meachem. Sometimes, both of them will. … The single camera on Randy Moss is great when he's not involved in the play. Pure comedy. … Drew Brees is the most accurate passer in the league. It's really quite scary.

Editor's Note: For early rankings, complete projections, and a host of other exclusive material for Week 13, head to Rotoworld's Season Pass. It's just $4.99 for the rest of the season and includes rankings for the fantasy playoffs.

NEWS OF THE DAY #2
DeSean Jackson is the latest big name to catch the concussion bug. Considering all the high profile problems we've seen with Clinton Portis, Kurt Warner, Ben Roethlisberger, Jackson is unlikely to play. But add in that the Eagles have been accused of rushing Brian Westbrook back from his concussion too quickly, Jackson is almost certain to sit out in Week 13.

Former second-round pick Reggie Brown has fallen out of favor with the Eagles over the last year or so, but he's expected to start. Kevin Curtis (knee) remains out. The man to watch is slot receiver and third-down specialist Jason Avant. He should see a bump in targets and Donovan McNabb trusts him more than Brown.

NEWS OF THE DAY #3
Justin Forsett is all the rage these days, and with good reason. Like Jamaal Charles, Forsett can make NFL defenders miss on a regular basis. That's a skill that just can't be taught. Forsett is only 5'8, but he is a physical specimen. He's benched 395 pounds and put up 225 pounds 26 times at the scouting combine. That's a man.

The question now is what will Forsett's role be when Julius Jones (ribs, lung) returns to the lineup? Coach Jim Mora said again Monday that Jones would start when healthy, but it's going to be hard to justify a full load for the veteran. Forsett is averaging 6.8 yards per carry while Julius is at 3.7.

Look for Jones to be a game-time decision again this week and Forsett to have a major role either way.

Editor's Note: For early rankings, complete projections, and a host of other exclusive material for Week 13, head to Rotoworld's Season Pass. It's $4.99 for the rest of the season and includes rankings for the fantasy playoffs.

INJURY QUICK SLANTS
Matt Ryan (toe) has already been ruled out for Week 13 and his season is in jeopardy. Chris Redman will start. … Clinton Portis (concussion) is out for Week 13 as well. … Michael Turner (ankle) has not been ruled out, but we really doubt he'll be able to go. The Falcons have to be kicking themselves for rushing him back. … Kurt Warner (concussion) is still having some vision problems and will meet with a specialist. He could very well miss another week. … Jason Campbell did not suffer a concussion and should be fine to start Sunday. … Steven Jackson (back) came out of the game sore but is expected to fight through it again. … Chris Cooley (ankle) was officially placed on injured reserve, ending his season. … Eli Manning has a stress reaction that the Giants are trying to prevent from turning into a stress fracture. He's fine - for now. … Justin Fargas (stinger) is questionable for Week 13. … DeAngelo Williams (ankle) missed a couple plays Sunday and could miss some practice time but should be good to go. … Brent Celek (thumb) isn't in danger of missing any games.

DEPTH CHART QUICK SLANTS
Cedric Benson (hip) is healthy and will start. We expect him to get the majority of the workload, with Bernard Scott and Larry Johnson mixing in for spot duty. … The 49ers are moving toward the shotgun-spread more and more. Expect at least 2/3 of the plays to come from that pass-happy formation going forward. … Jamaal Charles earned rave reviews from coach Todd Haley following Sunday's impressive performance. Charles is for real. … LenDale White was inactive Sunday because he missed a meeting. It's minor news, but Chris Johnson's owners can hope for more goal-line work. … Jake Delhomme was probably on his way out anyway, but a fractured finger should open the door fully for Matt Moore.

DEFENSE SPOT STARTS
Here are three ideas for owners adding a new defense each week based on matchups:

CHARGERS at Browns - Even with Eric Weddle out and Shawn Merriman unlikely to play, San Diego shouldn't have any trouble here.

PANTHERS vs. Bucs - Josh Freeman has been impressive in two of his three starts, but he hasn't seen a secondary like Carolina's.

BEARS vs. Rams - This Bears team is embarrassed, frustrated and miserable. This is one of those "take out your frustration" spots.

POSITIONAL SPOT STARTS
Chris Wesseling will cover this topic from head-to-toe in his Waiver Wired column, but here are three guys that are worth a quick add:

WR Jason Avant - With DeSean Jackson out at least one week, there are more targets to go around. Avant is more of a possession guy, but Donovan McNabb trusts him more than Reggie Brown.

WR Kenny Britt - Vince Young is proving everyone -- including myself -- wrong regarding his ability to get the ball to wideouts. Britt is ahead of the injured Justin Gage.

QB Alex Smith - The Niners players went to the coaches and said they want to run the spread. Mike Singletary and Jimmy Raye listened. Check out Pancake Blocks for a little more on this.

 

[HacheMan]

Music City Mojo
The Titans' game-winning 99-yard drive against the Cardinals Sunday was a testament to the masterful drafting of GM Mike Reinfeldt the past two years. Chris Johnson, currently ahead of Eric Dickerson's 1984 record-breaking rushing yards pace, was an obvious grand slam as the 2008 first-rounder. Johnson, though, took a backseat on the final drive to three young receiving weapons.

This year's first-round pick, Kenny Britt, went from goat to hero in the game's final two possessions. On the first of the Titans' consecutive drives starting at their own 1-yard line, Britt made a spectacular, diving grab of a 51-yard pass only to fumble upon being blindsided by Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Undeterred, Britt put the gaffe behind him as Vince Young's go-to option on the final drive. The rookie converted two crucial fourth downs, including the leaping game winner in traffic to cap off a 7-128-1 breakout performance against top corner Rodgers-Cromartie.

Lost in the Young-to-Britt hoopla, however, were the key contributions of Lavelle Hawkins and Jared Cook. Hawkins, a 2008 fourth-round pick, had two clock-stopping grabs, including yet another fourth-down conversion. The Titans future No. 3 receiver hauled in all four targets for 44 yards on the game. Cook, a third-round star of the summer's rookie and training camps, finally surfaced on the drive, carrying the Titans into scoring position with two catch-and-runs totaling 29 yards. The team's tight end of the future is a physical freak with athleticism and speed to spare. Throw in fifth-rounder Javon Ringer, and Tennessee has its long-term backup to Johnson as well.

While owner Bud Adams may be the man responsible for bringing Young on board – and certainly the man responsible for benching Kerry Collins – Reinfeldt has transitioned a plodding, conservative offense into a dynamic unit with playmakers at every skill position. Britt, a complete receiver who coach Jeff Fisher calls "a football player and a playmaker," tops this week's waiver wires along with streaking teammate Young. With favorable matchups against the Rams, Dolphins, and Seahawks down the stretch, fantasy owners could be riding the Music City mojo to playoff titles.

On to the lists. Here is how I rank the top players available at each position as we head into Week 13. Full writeups of each player are below.

Quarterbacks
1. Vince Young
2. Alex Smith
3. Matt Leinart
4. Josh Freeman
5. Matt Moore
6. Ryan Fitzpatrick
7. Chris Redman

Wide Receivers
1. Kenny Britt
2. Antonio Bryant
3. Kevin Walter
4. Donnie Avery
5. Jason Avant
6. Reggie Brown

Running Backs
1. Fred Jackson
2. Jerious Norwood
3. Chester Taylor
4. Darren McFadden
5. Chris Brown
6. Lex Hilliard

Tight Ends
1. Zach Miller
2. Jermichael Finley
3. Fred Davis

Defenses
1. Bears
2. Bills
3. Buccaneers

Editor's Note:</I> Not happy with your fantasy teams? New weekly leagues are drafting every single day at Snapdraft. Draft your team during the week, even Sunday morning, and win cash by Tuesday. It's a great complement to your yearly leagues and rewards the most skilled fantasy players who know matchups and value.

</FONT+1>QUARTERBACKS

Vince Young, Titans – Last week we pointed out that Young is playing with a high level of confidence, going through his progressions, taking calculated chances down the field, and running almost at will. He responded with a 387-yard effort against the Cardinals, including the instant-classic 99-yard drive to pull out the improbable win. Young is the No. 8 fantasy quarterback over the past three weeks, ahead of Philip Rivers, Tony Romo, and Carson Palmer. Still owned in just half of all fantasy leagues, V.Y. should be picked up to exploit matchups against the Rams, Dolphins, and Seahawks down the stretch.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues

Alex Smith, 49ers – Operating out of shot-gun spread formation last year, the inimitable Tyler Thigpen was among the most valuable fantasy quarterbacks in December. We've been recommending Smith as a roster stash the past few weeks just in case the Niners coaching staff finally relents and places him in a shotgun-gun spread formation the rest of the way. If last week's game is any indication, the change has already been implemented in the base offense. They ran the spread for most of the first half, and Smith completed 18-of-29 passes for two touchdowns in the first two quarters. Smith is still owned in just half of all fantasy leagues. Go get him to take advantage of his upcoming matchups against the Seahawks, Cardinals, and Lions.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

Matt Leinart, Cardinals – Kurt Warner said Monday that he plans to meet with an opthalmologist about lingering symptoms from his Week 11 concussion. Warner reportedly awoke Sunday with sensitivity to light and is still dealing with "hard-to-describe" vision problems. As of early this week, his status for the Week 13 game against the Vikings (14th in fantasy points vs. quarterbacks) is still up in the air. Leinart would be worth QB2 consideration in a home game should Warner be forced to sit out again.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Josh Freeman, Bucs – The rookie has drawn comparisons to Big Ben for his physical style of play, but Daunte Culpepper may be a better match. Freeman has the size, athleticism, and rocket arm of a young Culpepper, but he also shares the slippery-mitted turnover tendencies. The upshot is that Freeman is the No. 13 fantasy QB over the past three weeks, giving him QB2 value going forward.

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues

Matt Moore, Panthers – Jake Delhomme is unlikely to play this week against the Bucs after sustaining a fractured finger on his throwing hand. Moore can't possibly play worse than Delhomme, and his Week 13 opponent allows the fifth most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. We're not yet ready to upgrade the Panthers receivers, but deep leaguers can pick him up and hope for the best.

Recommendation: Worth a look in two-quarterback leagues

Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bills – Last week we advised holding your nose and penciling him in if you're desperate. He came through with a 27-point fantasy outing, though he draws the Jets' league-best pass defense this week. Pick him up and keep him benched until next week's matchup at Kansas City. Fitzpatrick also has a nice matchup at Atlanta in Week 16.

Recommendation: Worth a look in two-quarterback leagues

Chris Redman, Falcons – Redman led the Falcons to a last-minute victory over the Bucs in Week 12, throwing for 243 yards and two scores after Matt Ryan left early in the first quarter. Philly's pass defense is much better than Tampa's, however, and Atlanta's passing game doesn't have a positive matchup the rest of the season. Skepticism is advised.

Recommendation: Worth a look in two-quarterback leagues

Long-Term Fliers

Matthew Stafford - The rookie won't be worth using the next two weeks while dealing with a shoulder separation against the Bengals and Ravens. If he can get healthy for Week 15, though, he has favorable matchups against the Cardinals, 49ers, and Bears defenses the rest of the way.

Kyle Boller - Managed an impressive 282 yards last week, but his history screams "fluke."

David Carr - Keep an eye on Eli Manning's foot. He's reportedly developed a stress reaction that leaves him susceptible to a season-ending stress fracture.

Cut Bait

Mark Sanchez - Now dealing with a knee injury, Sanchez is a poor bet to bypass 25 pass attempts in any given week.

Brady Quinn - As predicted, the Week 11 performance was a mirage.

Jake Delhomme - Likely to sit out this week with a finger injury, Delhomme has had a benching coming for awhile now anyway.

<!--RW-->

</FONT+1>WIDE RECEIVERS

Kenny Britt, Titans – Justin Gage's back injury was the best thing to happen to the Titans passing attack since Kerry Collins was benched. The first-rounder has stepped in as the No. 11 fantasy wide receiver over the past three weeks, emerging as Vince Young's preferred down-field threat. Better yet, he clearly earned Young's trust as the go-to receiver on the 99-yard game-winning drive despite losing a fumble on a 51-yard bomb the previous possession. Expect Britt to keep the starting job going forward, and he has the talent to take advantage of Young's dramatic improvement as a passer.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

Antonio Bryant, Bucs – It's worked before. How many times have we seen a receiver call out the coaching staff for not getting him the ball only to be force-fed the following week? After hauling in a 38-yard grab and a 42-yard touchdown on a two-play drive in the first half at Atlanta, Bryant was targeted just twice the rest of the way. Predictably, he lit into the Bucs' playcallers after the game. With Josh Freeman passing much better than expected, Bryant is worth grabbing if only for the Week 15 matchup against a Seahawks defense allowing the third most fantasy points to opposing receivers.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Kevin Walter, Texans – Expected to be the primary beneficiary of Owen Daniels' absence, Walter finally came through with seven catches for 73 yards against the Colts last week. Owned in just 60 percent of fantasy leagues, he's now averaging five receptions for 62 yards over the past three games as a viable WR3. Walter is due for a score this week at Jacksonville, and the schedule down the stretch only gets better.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Donnie Avery, Rams – The No. 7 fantasy receiver over the past three weeks, Avery's production was not adversely affected by Kyle Boller's presence under center last week. After recording four grabs and 48+ yards in each of his last three games, he goes up against a Bears secondary that surrendered a season-high 392 yards and three touchdowns to Brett Favre and the Vikings last week.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Jason Avant, Eagles – The Eagles' slot machine is the No. 14 fantasy producer at wide receiver over the past three weeks. Though Reggie Brown would likely start should DeSean Jackson (concussion) miss this week's game at Atlanta, the streaking Avant is a better fantasy play with an expected increase in targets.

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues

Reggie Brown, Eagles – The Eagles are outwardly optimistic about DeSean Jackson's chances of playing this week after suffering a concussion, but the team that rushed Brian Westbrook back will be pressured to exercise extreme caution this time around. Scout.com's Adam Caplan, whose best connections are in Philly, expects Brown to fill in as Eagles' starting flanker against the Falcons' leaky secondary. Brown is a WR3 candidate this week only for those without quality options on their roster.

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues

Long-Term Fliers

Mark Clayton - Beware of point chasing. Clayton's seven receptions for 129 yards are more than the combined total of the past four games.

Jacoby Jones - Criminally underutilized in the Texans offense, the playmaking Jones' four receiving touchdowns are just one behind team leader Andre Johnson. Keep an eye on him in TD-heavy leagues.

Chaz Schilens - The Raiders made it to 200 passing yards for the first time in six weeks. If a wide receiver is going to emerge from this pile of rubble, it's Schilens.

Danny Amendola - Averaging 5.5 catches and 58 yards the past two weeks, the Rams' slot receiver is worth monitoring in PPR leagues.

Cut Bait

Roy Williams - As Gregg Rosenthal pointed out last week: "The only consistent part of the Cowboys offense is Roy Williams: he always blows."

Mohamed Massaquoi - If you picked him up based on his Week 11 performance, you're better off with someone who doesn't play for the Browns.

Laveranues Coles - Doesn't have any more weekly upside than a mediocre option such as Michael Jenkins or Malcom Floyd.

Editor's Note: Join subscriber only chats, get weekly rankings before anyone else, plus exclusive weekly projections, stat tools, dynasty ranks, columns, Rotoworld Oracle and much more including playoff rankings and schedules in our Season Pass. Our playoff edition is now just $4.99!

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</FONT+1>RUNNING BACKS

Fred Jackson, Bills – F-Jax is still owned in just two-thirds of all fantasy leagues. After taking over for Marshawn Lynch last week, he should top waiver lists in any league where he remains available. Interim coach Perry Fewell indicated Sunday evening that the more effective Jackson would likely unseat Lynch as the starter for the remainder of the season. Coming off a 20-116-2 performance, F-Jax is a bonafide RB2 going forward – starting Thursday against the Jets.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

Jerious Norwood, Falcons – The Falcons rushed Michael Turner back into the lineup last week, and they paid for it when he re-injured his sprained right ankle. Turner's teammates don't expect him to play this week against Philly, so Norwood and Jason Snelling will split touches against the Eagles. Snelling fumbled after replacing Turner against the Bucs while Norwood looked explosive in his return. This split could be closer to 50-50 as opposed to Norwood simply being used as a change-of-pace back.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Chester Taylor, Vikings – Last week's 10-84-1 performance against the Bears served as a reminder that Taylor remains one of the most complete backups in the league. If you own Adrian Peterson, then you better own Taylor as well.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

Darren McFadden, Raiders – McFadden has increased his offensive role each week since returning from meniscus surgery in Week 10. He won't be worth using this week even if Justin Fargas (questionable, stinger) misses the game at Pittsburgh. Keep McFadden stashed and hope that he's earned a lead back role by the Week 16 matchup against the Browns (second most fantasy points to opposing running backs).

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Chris Brown, Texans – Brown's fantasy upside is limited by the presence of Steve Slaton, but he's now seen 14 touches in back-to-back games while surprisingly remaining active in the passing game. Brown would have to push Slaton into a strict third-down role to take full advantage of matchups against the Seahawks and Rams in Weeks 14 and 15.

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues

Lex Hilliard, Dolphins – I'm not one who believes Ricky Williams is more susceptible to injury simply because he's 32-years-old and hasn't "carried the load" in the past few years. If anything, that gives him fresh legs. Williams is also in impeccable shape and is competing with Walter Payton for the best age-32 season of all time. Hilliard, though, is seeing an increased role as the third-down and change-of-pace option, showing impressive burst for a physical back. Williams owners need to pick him up as insurance.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Long-Term Fliers

Sammy Morris - Healthy again but will need Laurence Maroney injury for fantasy relevance.

D.J. Ware - Ware suffered a concussion last week, but he was more effective than Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw (ankles) is a poor bet to play anytime soon.

Rashad Jennings - A must handcuff for Maurice Jones-Drew owners.

Cut Bait

Shonn Greene - After another fumble, he's unlikely to carve out a significant role behind Thomas Jones.

LenDale White - Inactive in Week 12 and averaging just three touches per game over the past three weeks.

Jamal Lewis - Has yet to score all season and now splitting touches with Chris Jennings and Jerome Harrison.

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</FONT+1>TIGHT ENDS

Zach Miller, Raiders – Miller has at least five catches and 65 yards in both games started by Bruce Gradkowski, and he's No. 8 in tight end points over the past three weeks. Miller's Week 13 matchup is a tough one on paper at Pittsburgh, but the Steelers have faced just one quality fantasy tight end since Antonio Gates gashed them for a 9-124-2 line way back in Week 4. Miller is a borderline TE1 this week – and likely for the rest of the season.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues

Jermichael Finley, Packers – The quintessential high-upside stash, Finley can produce TE2 numbers now while possessing the potential to break through as an every-week starter in the fantasy playoffs. Finley does have a tough matchup against the Ravens this week, but he's worth using against the Bears in Week 14.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Fred Davis, Redskins – The Redskins placed Chris Cooley on injured reserve Monday, ensuring that Davis will remain the starter for the rest of the season. The talented second-year player showed impressive pass-catching and tackle-breaking ability in Week 12 and will remain a TE2 going forward. The Week 15 matchup against a Giants defense allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends is particularly inviting.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Long-Term Fliers

Anthony Fasano - Fasano came back from his two-week hip injury with a five-catch, 74-yard performance. Make him prove it again before picking him up.

Marcedes Lewis - As inconsistent as any tight end in the league, Lewis does have at least 40 yards in his last three games.

James Casey - Not involved enough yet to earn weekly consideration, but the rookie still makes for a nice stash in a high-scoring offense.

Cut Bait

Todd Heap - Playing through a rib injury, Heap hasn't topped 50 yards since Week 6.

Brandon Pettigrew - Out for the season with what may be a torn ACL.

John Carlson - Averaging just one reception per game over the past three weeks.

</FONT+1>DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS

Bears - Home teams are always better fantasy plays at defense/special teams, and the Bears host turnover prone Kyle Boller and the Rams this week.

Recommendation: Worth picking up as a matchup play

Bills - Another home team, the Bills' aggressive pass defense has a friendly mathcup Thursday night against a reeling Mark Sanchez. The rookie has seven interceptions in his last three games, and he's now dealing with a knee injury.

Recommendation: Worth picking up as a matchup play

Buccaneers - The Bucs' front-seven pushed around the Atlanta offensive line for six sacks last week. They travel to Carolina this week, where Matt Moore awaits in what will likely be his first start of the season.

Recommendation: Worth picking up as a matchup play

 

[HacheMan]

Re-evaluate your roster as the postseason nears


By Matt Pitzer, USA TODAY
With the turn into December, we can start thinking about the playoffs. Let your non-fantasy-football friends and family get excited about the holidays; we're dreaming about a fantasy Super Bowl.
Every move and decision become a little more important; each one could make the difference. Also important is the composition of your roster. Getting into the big games alone does not do you much good if you're not playing with a full deck. Take a few minutes now, while your league still may allow transactions and roster tinkering, to make sure you don't get caught shorthanded in a vital spot.

HEATING UP: Owens, Jackson provide spark for Bills

•Make sure every spot counts. We all had our favorite breakout and sleeper players, even picking up new favorites (the Cleveland Browns' Mohamed Massaquoi) as the season went along. But the time has passed to hold out hope that Oakland Raiders running back Darren McFadden will carry your team or that New York Jets receiver David Clowney will turn into a starter. Way too many owners will hold on to long-shot hopes for far too long; you do not need anybody on your roster you have no intention of starting. Every roster spot should be spent on somebody who could start in a favorable matchup or is a valuable reserve.
•Go after the important backups. Seeing Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson show up on the injury report would not have bothered you much if you already had backup Chester Taylor as well. Look at your important players, figure out which have backups worth putting on your squad and then try to grab them. In some cases, if your league still allows trades, you even could deal a lower-tier starter to one of your league's bottom-feeders to pick up a player such as Taylor.
•Check the schedules — again. With five games left, we can make reasonable assessments of teams for the rest of the season. The Jets have been exposed as pretenders and the Atlanta Falcons are not far behind. The Tennessee Titans appear likely to remain much more competitive than we thought they would be a month ago, while the New York Giants might be out of it. Take a look through your starters' remaining matchups once more and be sure to have a good understanding of why you want to start certain defenses or other positions.

•Start watching weather forecasts. Bad weather, especially cold temperatures, can be difficult to assess — it can help or hurt different players. Kickers, however, have much less doubt. If you have any concern whatsoever about the weather, do not be shy about pulling the trigger on a different kicker. Even the best can be shut down completely by snow, while a lesser kicker in a good matchup can wind up as one of the week's high scorers.
•Don't be afraid to double up. I almost advocate carrying one defense, one kicker and sometimes one tight end, freeing up roster spots for players with greater upside at the skill positions. But in keeping with the previous piece of advice, you might want to grab that second kicker now — especially if your league prohibits pickups of any kind from here on. Consider grabbing another defense, too. Right now, how would you feel about starting the San Diego Chargers' defense against Tennessee in Week 16? With how up and down the Titans have been, that is tough to answer more than a week ahead.
•Root for the Colts. The Indianapolis Colts are close to wrapping up home-field advantage in the next few weeks, which — based on the team's recent history — could be devastating for Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark and Joseph Addai. Perhaps new coach Jim Caldwell would not rest his starters in meaningless games, but we should assume he will until we know differently. If, however, the Colts are playing for an undefeated season, Caldwell might see things differently and their stars could remain valuable through Week 16. If not, have another option ready.

 

[HacheMan]

Marching Out?

According to Yahoo's Jason Cole, the Saints do not plan to bring back Reggie Bush in 2010. Relegated to a minor role on an undefeated team, Bush has now missed multiple weeks due to lingering knee issues in each of the past three seasons. Citing a "Saints insider," Cole reports that GM Mickey Loomis doesn't want to pay Bush's exorbitant $8 million salary even if 2010 looms as an uncapped season.

Frankly, if play-calling mastermind Sean Payton can't turn Bush into a star in a high-flying offense taking advantage of the fast-track at the Superdome, it's hard envision the former No. 2 overall pick as a success story in another locale. Pierre Thomas has proven to be far superior not only on the ground but also in the passing game, which is supposed to be Bush's specialty. Even if a handful of general managers would salivate at Bush's alleged playmaking skills, his injury proclivities and ineffectiveness as a sideline-to-sideline runner give cause for pause.

Speaking of Thomas, the Saints' feature back is in the final year of his rookie contract, making him a potential restricted free agent if a new CBA can be reached. Despite the persistent presence of Mike Bell, Thomas is clearly Payton's backfield MVP. In line for a significant pay raise, along with No. 1 receiver Marques Colston, expect the Saints to lock up both nucleus players this offseason.

While fantasy owners deal with the frustration of the recent 50-50 backfield split, it's worth pointing out the difference in usage between Thomas and Bell. Similar to the Titans' situation last year, Thomas is used primarily in the Chris Johnson "Get the Lead" role while Bell holds down the LenDale White "Keep the Lead" role. Thomas obviously can't sniff Johnson's talent level, but he's currently second to Johnson in yards per carry and has come as close as any back to Johnson's absurd percentage of plays over 10 and 20 yards. As we've seen in Tennessee, the "Get the Lead" back holds a lot more long-term value than the "Keep the Lead" back. Dynasty leaguers should expect Thomas to remain a valuable commodity in New Orleans going forward.

Editor's Note: Check out our Season Pass package, now just $4.99 for the playoff special. We've also got extra columns, IDP rankings, Top 200 rankings, Evan Silva's running back report, Chris Wesseling's Dynasty advice, advance workload and target data, exclusive chats, schedule analysis, fantasy points allowed info, and playoff rankings you can only get with Season Pass.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin expects Ben Roethlisberger (concussion) to return to a full practice Wednesday and start against the Raiders this weekend. Roethlisberger has been cleared by neurologists, and his head coach is giving him the green light. "Ben hasn't experienced any resurface of any discomfort from his concussion since Friday," Tomlin explained. Big Ben's return is an obvious boon for the Steelers' skill players, and he's a borderline QB1 against an Oakland defense that allows the 18th most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks.

Though coach Jim Mara has insisted that he's holding the starting running back job for Julius Jones (ribs, lung), he also concedes that Justin Forsett has earned more touches going forward. "Justin has earned the right to carry the ball, off of what he did at Arizona, and what he did [against the Rams]," Mora said. The Seahawks hope that Jones will be able to return this week, though it's far from a certainty. Forsett has a chance to make a third straight start, and he's the best bet for fantasy value in the Seattle backfield the rest of the way.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Jake Delhomme is "unlikely" to play against the Bucs this week due to the fractured finger on his throwing hand. It's a convenient out for coach John Fox, who has been hesitant to bench a quarterback holding his offense hostage all season. Matt Moore, who has just three career starts, will take first-team reps Wednesday. While Moore couldn't possibly play worse than Delhomme, we'd advise taking a "wait and see" approach before upgrading the Panthers skill position players.

Two-Minute Drill: Falcons released struggling K Jason Elam, replacing him with Matt Bryant. … Eagles signed TE Brent Celek to a six-year, $33 million extension, including $11 million in guaranteed money. … Cedric Benson is expected to receive the majority of the carries as the focal point of the Bengals offense this week against the Lions. … Beat writer Matt Maiocco is convinced Alex Smith will be the 49ers starting quarterback next season "unless he completely butchers the final five games." … Team president Bill Polian confirmed that the Colts will rest any players that are tired or nicked up once home-field advantage for the playoffs is clinched. … The Titans plan to use Kenny Britt on kick returns more going forward, increasing his value in return yardage leagues. … Trevor Scott replaced Thomas Howard as the Raiders' weak-side linebacker on Thanksgiving. … Bears signed veteran LB Cato June, though Jamar Williams is expected to start if Lance Briggs (knee) misses game action. … Interim Bills coach Perry Fewell indicated that Brian Brohm is unlikely to see game action this season.

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Red Zone: Lions coach Jim Schwartz is expecting Calvin Johnson (hand, knee) and Matthew Stafford (knee) to be available for Sunday's game at Cincinnati. … Scout.com's Adam Caplan believes DeSean Jackson (concussion) is "doubtful at this point" to play in Week 13. … Ryan Grant was held out of Tuesday's practice, though he's not known to be injured. … Ahmad Bradshaw (ankles) remains in a walking boot and has not yet been cleared to play. … Clinton Portis can not get back on the practice field until he meets with a specialist in Pittsburgh next Monday, putting a potential Week 14 return in doubt. … Although he expects to be fine for this week, Bernard Scott (turf toe) was on crutches and in a walking boot Monday. … Jets coach Rex Ryan confirmed that Mark Sanchez (knee) "absolutely" will start Thursday at Buffalo. … Eddie Royal (thigh) participated in practice Tuesday. … Brian Westbrook is headed back to Pittsburgh to meet with specialists about his concussion. … Bills LCB Terrence McGee (knee) will be a game-time decision Thursday night. … Troy Polamalu (PCL sprain) is doubtful for Sunday's game against the Raiders. … Rams MLB James Laurinaitis is nursing a mild shoulder sprain. … Lions LB Ernie Sims (hamstring) and Broncos RT Ryan Harris (toes) have both resumed practicing. … The Lions confirmed that TE Brandon Pettigrew will undergo season-ending surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee.

 

[HacheMan]

The Replacements
So I'm two weeks deep into my explorations of the world known as Twitter (@BradMorgan27), and aside from giving me yet another tool to help me lose the battle against procrastination, I've noticed a couple things. The first is simple and essential: less is more. Not even 14 days into Twittering and my hand has already been forced multiple times to nix people I was following who couldn't stop tweeting -- and those who couldn't decipher between interesting and meaningless minutia (I'm looking at you Joe Rogan, I had such high hopes…). Another fairly obvious thing I've noticed is that small details are not only relevant on Twitter, but they are fundamental. You could argue Twitter exists solely to magnify the small things.

Fantasy Football is very similar to Twitter in this respect: seemingly unimportant details are indispensible. Think about it: most of us in fantasy playoff races are separated by anywhere from 10 to 50 points. Only a few points extra each week are responsible for those tiny gaps in scoring.

A better example is how Monday night's blowout win for the Saints resulted in a nail-biting victory for my squad (The Redeem Team). Up by just 4 points with Brees and the Saints driving with 5 minutes left in the fourth quarter, I was praying that Drew wouldn't rack up all-important touchdown number 6. As a tightly thrown spiral flew over Devery Henderson's head and past the endzone, I was on the brink of having a fantasy-induced heart attack. Thankfully, the sixth touchdown never happened. And while it would've meant close to nothing for everyone in attendance at The Superdome, it would've ruined my entire week.

We all know how important that morning-after feeling in Fantasy Football is, and in the interest of making sure you have more good ones down this stretch run, I'm going to look at players this week who are probably on your waiver wire, and can help you today (many because of injuries to teammates).

Hi, I'm here about your Help Wanted sign

Jason Avant, Eagles WR

Avant has always had excellent potential, but due to a combination of inconsistent performances and insufficient opportunity, he's never fully cashed in. Recently, however, Avant has looked pretty good. Over his last three games he's been targeted with 20 passes, and caught an astounding 17 of them, averaging 12 fantasy points over those games. In addition, Avant is 3rd on the Eagles with 10 RZ targets (DeSean Jackson has 11, Brent Celek has 19), and gets his fair share of scoring chances.

If that wasn't enough to convince you to go grab Avant, Jackson said today that it's extremely unlikely he'll be able to play this weekend (concussion). Jackson's injury could so much as move Avant into the #1 WR spot on the Eagles, and result in more solid fantasy days over the next few games.

Owned in less than 3 percent of ESPN standard leagues, Avant is available in virtually every league. If you see him on your waiver wire, he is a must pickup. Facing Atlanta's awful pass defense this weekend, Avant is a great WR3 play and potential WR2 if you're desperate.

Jerious Norwood, Falcons RB

I wrote a few weeks ago, with Michael Turner on the shelf, that I'd take Jerious Norwood over Jason Snelling (assuming both were healthy). Norwood, unfortunately, wasn't quite healthy enough to play in Week 11, leaving Snelling the chance to have a big fantasy day. Although 76 yards and 2 touchdowns are fantasy gold, his 3.0 ypc average on 25 carries wasn't impressive from a real-football standpoint.

This past weekend, Norwood showed why I thought he was a better option than Snelling -- he is an incredibly explosive runner. Even with Turner in the lineup, Norwood produced a solid 11 fantasy points, on just 8 touches.

Now, in light of Turner hurting his ankle again and teammates speculating Norwood will get the start (although coach Mike Smith hasn't ruled out Turner), Jerious looks like he's in line to see a good amount of touches (think around 15) this Sunday. Even if Turner plays, he'll be limited and the Falcons will be forced to share the rushing load with Norwood and Snelling. Norwood is clearly the more effective runner, hence his Chris Johnson-esque 5.7 career yards per carry (CJ's career avg is 5.6).

Owned in just 25% of ESPN standard leagues, Norwood MUST be picked up in any league. Assuming Turner's ankle doesn't get back to 100% overnight, Norwood is a great flex play, and a low end RB2.

Larry Johnson, Bengals RB

Two weeks ago, Johnson was left out of the Cedric Benson replacement committee (Bernard Scott and Brian Leonard shouldered the load). This past Sunday, however, Johnson was a huge part of the Bengals' offensive game plan, and performed quite well (107 yards on 22 carries). Clearly, Johnson showed he still had something in practice. What a difference a few weeks and a decent offensive line can make. In addition, LJ got every RZ carry for the Bengals (4) and even picked up a RZ target. Much like Week 11, Bernard Scott was taken out of the game in scoring situations.

This week Cincinnati faces every Fantasy owner's dream: the Lions. Although Marvin Lewis has already said Benson will start and be the dominant back, he may again be listed as questionable (just like last week, when he was a late inactive). In addition, Bernard Scott was seen Monday with crutches and in a walking boot. Even assuming Benson plays, Johnson should be in line to see a good amount of touches as the Bengals backup RB.

LJ has been dropped in a ton of leagues (hard not be dropped in fantasy, when you're dropped in reality), and is a decent flex option against Detroit regardless of the Benson's status. Despite Coach Lewis' comments, there is very little incentive to give Benson a ton of work against the Lions. If CedBen is a late sit again, I would start Johnson as an RB2 with confidence.

Fred Davis, Redskins TE

Once you get outside the Top 5 (Vernon Davis, Dallas Clark, Antonio Gates, Tony Gonzalez, and Brent Celek) Tight Ends have been little bit of a gamble this season. But they can make all the difference if you guess right. Fred Davis looked like he would become a decent TE option once Chris Cooley went down, but that didn't quite materialize. This past week, however, Jason Campbell threw to him 9 times, including 3 times in the RZ (resulting in TD).

Owned in just 4% of ESPN standard leagues, Davis is definitely available. If you're in need of a TE, give Davis a look against the Saints this weekend. The Redskins will be throwing early and often.

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Quick Reads

Eldra Buckley, Eagles RB

In one of the weirder happenings of Week 12, Eldra Buckley was given all 3 cracks (1 carry was called back) at the endzone from the 1-yard line in a crucial spot for the Eagles. This must have driven LeSean McCoy owners insane. Why give a guy with 5 career carries coming into this game such important touches? Unfortunately, this doesn't make Buckley relevant -- it only serves to hurt McCoy's value.

If it was one freak carry on the 1, that would be easier to swallow, but 3 in a row means that coach Andy Reid really wanted to give Buckley the ball there. If you have McCoy you're still most likely starting him, but if you have another decent option, you now have to worry about McCoy possibly not getting GL carries.

Chris Brown, Texans RB

Clearly, Brown is the Texans' choice in scoring situations, and that makes sense if you just look at his size (6-3 235). But Brown really isn't an impressive runner. He's probably good for about 10 carries a week, and will get the Texans' easy TD opportunities. If you want to gamble on a TD, he's a low end flex play. Personally, I don't like to rely on TD vultures who have better size than talent.

Justin Forsett, Seahawks RB

Jim Mora has said Julius Jones will be thrust back into the starting lineup upon returning, but I think that's just a Coach being loyal to a veteran. Forsett has been electrifying, and has gotten virtually all of the Seahawks RZ and GL carries since getting the starting gig. Count me among those that believe in the little guy. It doesn't hurt that he faces Houston and Tampa Bay in Weeks 14 and 15.

Tim Hightower, Cardinals RB

All Hightower seems to do is put up solid fantasy weeks. No one will ever accuse him of being an explosive player, but he is consistent and fundamentally sound. Good pass blocking and receiving skills have given Hightower constant opportunities throughout the season. Once again Hightower got both RZ carries and the sole GL carry in Week 12, and cashed in another easy scoring opportunity. Chris Wells is the more talented player, and will be drafted higher in fantasy leagues next year, but for the rest of the season Timmy is the Cardinals back to have.

Ray Rice, Ravens RB

Did it suck to watch Rice, who carried the Ravens to the Goal Line, get a touchdown vultured by Willis McGahee last week? Yes. But Rice owners have known since Week 1 that those freak incidents could happen. Since McGahee's awesome first two weeks, Rice has had over 80% of the Ravens RZ carries and the majority of GL carries. Rice's true value lies in his ability to gain large chunks of yardage on the ground and through the air. Don't be concerned.

Pierre Thomas, Saints RB

Thomas again played very well on Monday Night Football, but still didn't get the touches he should get. However, he was able to break a Drew Brees dump off pass for a 23-yard touchdown, pleasing his owners. Also, Thomas got 4 of the 5 RZ carries against the Patriots, proving that Mike Bell's 6 in Week 11 were fluky. Continue to start Thomas as a RB2 with confidence.

Laurence Maroney, Patriots RB

There was a big question mark surrounding Maroney entering Week 12: How would Sammy Morris' return affect him? As you may remember, Morris was the dominant runner in the Patriots backfield before getting hurt. Bill Belichick showed great faith in Maroney, giving him 5 of 6 RZ carries, and all 3 GL carries (resulting in 2 TDs). Maroney remains a solid RB2 for the stretch run, and I'd call him a RB1 when he plays Carolina and Buffalo in Weeks 14 and 15.

 

[HacheMan]

Week 13 Rankings
The most commonly heard phrase during Titans telecasts: "Young, with time …"

Vince Young and Chris Johnson have made the Titans the most fun team to watch in football, but it starts up front. The amount of time Young has in the pocket to survey the field is often ridiculous. Johnson has speed unlike any running back we've seen, and his line has often given him monster holes to race through.

Johnson only needs a few good blocks at the point of attack to hit a home run. But we're especially impressed how long Tennessee's linemen often hold their blocks while Johnson darts and slides before pressing the turbo button.

Johnson is playing in a zone we really haven't seen. He makes third-and-five a running down. He makes you say wow every other carry. The questions I received early in the year on Fantasy Fix Live regarding whether to start Every Fantasy Owner's dream each week seem quaint now.

Big plays aren't only part of the running game in Tennessee. The Titans racked up 532 yards of offense against Arizona by throwing vertically early and often. Young isn't always connecting, but he's smartly staying aggressive by testing the one-on-one matchups on the outside that Johnson's presence provides. Kenny Britt is a prototype number one receiver that is going to be a top-15 fantasy option before long. (He's a fine WR3 for now, thanks.)

Young can still work on knowing when to run. Three drives in the first half against Arizona ended on V.Y. deciding to scramble too late. Against Indianapolis this week, he'll face more defenders as fast as he is.

Those defenders will just have to get past the Titans offensive line first.

[SIZE=+1]Week 13 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 MIA</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Peyton Manning</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Philip Rivers</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Drew Brees</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Matt Schaub</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Brett Favre</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Aaron Rodgers</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Carson Palmer</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Tony Romo</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Donovan McNabb</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Vince Young</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Jay Cutler</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Matt Hasselbeck</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Kyle Orton</TD><TD>at KC</TD><TD>Probable(ankle)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Ben Roethlisberger</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Eli Manning</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>Probable(foot)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>David Garrard</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Joe Flacco</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Alex Smith</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Jason Campbell</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>Probable(head)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Josh Freeman</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Matt Leinart</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Chad Henne</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Matt Cassel</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Matt Moore</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Mark Sanchez</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>Probable(knee)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Ryan Fitzpatrick</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Kyle Boller</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Brady Quinn</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Matthew Stafford</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Chris Redman</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Bruce Gradkowski</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

QB Notes: All of the player notes will be added Thursday, so check back then. We also add a weekend update of the rankings by Saturday. In the meantime, check out our weekly game Snapdraft, where you can draft a team just for this week and cash out on Tuesday.

<!--RW-->[SIZE=+1]Week 13 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>Chris Johnson</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Maurice Jones-Drew</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>Probable(knee)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Frank Gore</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Adrian Peterson</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Steven Jackson</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Ray Rice</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Thomas Jones</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Rashard Mendenhall</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Cedric Benson</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Ricky Williams</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>Probable(chest)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>DeAngelo Williams</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>Questionable(ankle)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Knowshon Moreno</TD><TD>at KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Pierre Thomas</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>LeSean McCoy</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>LaDainian Tomlinson</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Matt Forte</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Steve Slaton</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>Probable(neck)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Fred Jackson</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Marion Barber</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Joseph Addai</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Jamaal Charles</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Justin Forsett</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Laurence Maroney</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Ryan Grant</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>Probable(neck)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Brandon Jacobs</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Jonathan Stewart</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>Questionable(heel)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Kevin Smith</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Tim Hightower</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Larry Johnson</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Rock Cartwright</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Darren Sproles</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Jason Snelling</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>Carnell Williams</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>34</TD><TD>Jerious Norwood</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>Questionable(hip)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>35</TD><TD>Shonn Greene</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>36</TD><TD>Felix Jones</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>37</TD><TD>Chris Wells</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>38</TD><TD>Marshawn Lynch</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>39</TD><TD>Donald Brown</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>Probable(shoulder)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>40</TD><TD>Darren McFadden</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>41</TD><TD>Julius Jones</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>Questionable(ribs)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>42</TD><TD>Reggie Bush</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>Questionable(knee)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>43</TD><TD>Chris Jennings</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>44</TD><TD>Mike Bell</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>45</TD><TD>Chris Brown</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>46</TD><TD>Justin Fargas</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>Questionable(shoulder)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>47</TD><TD>Willis McGahee</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>48</TD><TD>Correll Buckhalter</TD><TD>at KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>49</TD><TD>Jerome Harrison</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>50</TD><TD>Chester Taylor</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>51</TD><TD>Derrick Ward</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>52</TD><TD>Sammy Morris</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>Questionable(knee)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>53</TD><TD>Willie Parker</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>Probable(hip)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>54</TD><TD>Michael Bush</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>55</TD><TD>Tashard Choice</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>56</TD><TD>Kolby Smith</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>57</TD><TD>Kevin Faulk</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>58</TD><TD>LenDale White</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
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[SIZE=+1]Week 13 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>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Reggie Wayne</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>Probable(foot)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Randy Moss</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Wes Welker</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Sidney Rice</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Brandon Marshall</TD><TD>at KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Chad Ochocinco</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Vincent Jackson</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>Probable(ribs)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Larry Fitzgerald</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Miles Austin</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Steve Smith</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Mike Sims-Walker</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>Probable(knee)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Greg Jennings</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Marques Colston</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Anquan Boldin</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Roddy White</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Hines Ward</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Calvin Johnson</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>Probable(knee)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Santonio Holmes</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Donald Driver</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Derrick Mason</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Steve Smith</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Pierre Garcon</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>Probable(ankle)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Percy Harvin</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Nate Burleson</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Jeremy Maclin</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>Probable(foot)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Michael Crabtree</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Devin Hester</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Jason Avant</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>T.J. Houshmandzadeh</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Jerricho Cotchery</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Chris Chambers</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>Devery Henderson</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>34</TD><TD>Kenny Britt</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>35</TD><TD>Kevin Walter</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>36</TD><TD>Terrell Owens</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>37</TD><TD>Mario Manningham</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>38</TD><TD>Donnie Avery</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>39</TD><TD>Hakeem Nicks</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>40</TD><TD>Lee Evans</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>41</TD><TD>Laveranues Coles</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>42</TD><TD>Robert Meachem</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>43</TD><TD>Antonio Bryant</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>44</TD><TD>Malcom Floyd</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>45</TD><TD>Bernard Berrian</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>46</TD><TD>Santana Moss</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>47</TD><TD>Steve Breaston</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>Probable(knee)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>48</TD><TD>Nate Washington</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>49</TD><TD>Braylon Edwards</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>50</TD><TD>Andre Caldwell</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>51</TD><TD>Reggie Brown</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>52</TD><TD>Mohamed Massaquoi</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>53</TD><TD>Davone Bess</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>54</TD><TD>Earl Bennett</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>55</TD><TD>Austin Collie</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>56</TD><TD>Brandon Gibson</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>57</TD><TD>Roy Williams</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>58</TD><TD>Mark Clayton</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>59</TD><TD>James Jones</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>60</TD><TD>Eddie Royal</TD><TD>at KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>61</TD><TD>Patrick Crayton</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>62</TD><TD>Danny Amendola</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>63</TD><TD>Mike Wallace</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>64</TD><TD>Johnny Knox</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>65</TD><TD>Sam Aiken</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!--RW-->
[SIZE=+1]Week 13 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>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Dallas Clark</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Vernon Davis</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Jason Witten</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>Questionable(foot)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Brent Celek</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Tony Gonzalez</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Greg Olsen</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Visanthe Shiancoe</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Heath Miller</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Kellen Winslow</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Zach Miller</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Jeremy Shockey</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Dustin Keller</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Jermichael Finley</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Kevin Boss</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Fred Davis</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>John Carlson</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>James Casey</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Marcedes Lewis</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Bo Scaife</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Todd Heap</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>Probable(ribs)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Tony Scheffler</TD><TD>at KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

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

[SIZE=+1]Week 13 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>David Akers</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Stephen Gostkowski</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Nate Kaeding</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Ryan Longwell</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Mason Crosby</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Nick Folk</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Shayne Graham</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>John Carney</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Dan Carpenter</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Lawrence Tynes</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Neil Rackers</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>Questionable(right groin)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Robbie Gould</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Rob Bironas</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Matt Stover</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Olindo Mare</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Kris Brown</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Billy Cundiff</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Joe Nedney</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Matt Prater</TD><TD>at KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Josh Scobee</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>John Kasay</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Ryan Succop</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Connor Barth</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Sebastian Janikowski</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Jeff Reed</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Jason Hanson</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Jay Feely</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Rian Lindell</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Josh Brown</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Shaun Suisham</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Phil Dawson</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

[HacheMan]

Studs, duds and sleepers: Brady will get back on track




Matt Pitzer's look at the upcoming week's fantasy football landscape:
Studs
Miles Austin, WR, Dallas. You never know what you'll get from the Cowboys, but Austin should be confident after breaking a two-game slump with 145 yards and a touchdown on Thanksgiving. The New York Giants have little confidence in a defense that has given up at least 21 points and an average of 31.7 over its past six games.
Tom Brady, QB, New England. Think he'll be fired up to erase a zero-TD, two-interception wipeout against the New Orleans Saints? He can take out his frustration on a young Miami Dolphins secondary he torched for 332 yards four weeks ago.
Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jacksonville. If you're worried about Jones-Drew after the Jaguars' latest debacle, keep this in mind: He has not gone two games without scoring, nor has he gone more than two games without a 100-yard day.
Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Pittsburgh. If the Steelers still have concerns about quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, they can protect him by handing off to Mendenhall. He shouldn't have much trouble against the Oakland Raiders' 31st-ranked run defense (161.1 yards), which has allowed a league-high 17 rushing TDs.
Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay. Facing the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football won't be a big test. Rodgers is on a roll of nine games in a row with at least two overall TDs (better than Peyton Manning, Brett Favre and Drew Brees). In three of its road games this season, Baltimore has given up 26, 27 and 33 points.
Duds
Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit. Johnson has yet to score on the road, and he shouldn't expect to do it against a tough Cincinnati Bengals Defense and standout cornerback Leon Hall.
Marshawn Lynch, RB, Buffalo. A shoulder injury and Fred Jackson's strong play limited Lynch to three carries for 6 yards last week. A short week and the team's success with Jackson suggest Lynch will not get much more work tonight.
Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants. There's not much to get excited about with Manning. Not his bad foot, not the Giants' recent inconsistency, not five losses in six games and not a matchup against a Dallas defense that has allowed three passing TDs in its past four games.
Beanie Wells, RB, Arizona. Just as you were counting on him, he was shut down for 20 yards on eight carries last week as teammate Tim Hightower returned to the top spot. This week: the Minnesota Vikings' third-ranked run defense.
Roddy White, WR, Atlanta. White was not a factor last week until a last-second TD, and he will have similar trouble again with backup QB Chris Redman throwing against Philadelphia Eagles cornerbacks Asante Samuel and Sheldon Brown. White has one 100-yard game in his past seven.
Sleepers
Jamaal Charles, RB, Kansas City. Before last week, the Denver Broncos had allowed 168.8 rushing yards during their four-game slide. That is enough of a potential weakness to put in Charles, who has become a solid start with TDs three weeks in a row and two games of more than 100 total yards.
Matt Forte, RB, Chicago. You usually wouldn't call a first-round pick a sleeper, but that's how bad Forte's season has been. He has scored in both of his games against teams with two or fewer wins. The 1-10 Rams are 28th against the run and have allowed 16 rushing TDs.
Pierre Garcon, WR, Indianapolis. The Colts have gone back and forth with their second-best receiver behind Reggie Wayne. Currently, it's Garcon. He has either a TD catch or a 100-yard game in each of the past three weeks.
Jeremy Maclin, WR, Philadelphia. Look for Maclin to be the Eagles' No. 1 receiver because of DeSean Jackson's concussion. Maclin gets to face the Falcons, who have allowed at least two passing TDs in six of their past seven games.
Alex Smith, QB, San Francisco. Smith has thrown five TD passes in two weeks since the 49ers opened up their offense. Given the Seattle Seahawks' inconsistency, Smith will have a chance to continue that success.

 

[HacheMan]

Value Meter: Titans' Johnson should keep rolling



Here is Matt Pitzer's updated Value Meter for Week 13.
The Indianapolis-Tennessee matchup features the top-ranked quarterback, running back and tight end.
Now that you know what Matt is thinking, draft a team in 15 minutes and play him and others in RapidDraft. You could win $50,000. Click here for the latest player notes and the inactives on game days.
* Check status before game time.
Quarterbacks
<TABLE border=1 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=420 align=center><TBODY><TR><TD>01.</TD><TD>Peyton Manning, Ind.</TD><TD>vs. Ten.</TD></TR><TR><TD>02.</TD><TD>Tom Brady, N.E.</TD><TD>at Mia.</TD></TR><TR><TD>03.</TD><TD>Brett Favre, Min.</TD><TD>at Ari.</TD></TR><TR><TD>04.</TD><TD>Matt Schaub, Hou.</TD><TD>at Jac.</TD></TR><TR><TD>05.</TD><TD>Drew Brees, N.O.</TD><TD>at Was.</TD></TR><TR><TD>06.</TD><TD>Philip Rivers, S.D.</TD><TD>at Cle.</TD></TR><TR><TD>07.</TD><TD>*Kurt Warner, Ari.</TD><TD>vs. Min.</TD></TR><TR><TD>08.</TD><TD>Aaron Rodgers, G.B.</TD><TD>vs. Bal.</TD></TR><TR><TD>09.</TD><TD>Tony Romo, Dal.</TD><TD>at N.Y.-G</TD></TR><TR><TD>10.</TD><TD>Donovan McNabb, Phi.</TD><TD>at Atl.</TD></TR><TR><TD>11.</TD><TD>Carson Palmer, Cin.</TD><TD>vs. Det.</TD></TR><TR><TD>12.</TD><TD>*Ben Roethlisberger, Pit.</TD><TD>vs. Oak.</TD></TR><TR><TD>13.</TD><TD>Matt Hasselbeck, Sea.</TD><TD>vs. S.F.</TD></TR><TR><TD>14.</TD><TD>Vince Young, Ten.</TD><TD>at Ind.</TD></TR><TR><TD>15.</TD><TD>Jay Cutler, Chi.</TD><TD>vs. St.L.</TD></TR><TR><TD>16.</TD><TD>Eli Manning, N.Y.-G</TD><TD>vs. Dal.</TD></TR><TR><TD>17.</TD><TD>Kyle Orton, Den.</TD><TD>at K.C.</TD></TR><TR><TD>18.</TD><TD>David Garrard, Jac.</TD><TD>vs. Hou.</TD></TR><TR><TD>19.</TD><TD>Chris Redman, Atl.</TD><TD>vs. Phi.</TD></TR><TR><TD>20.</TD><TD>Matt Cassel, K.C.</TD><TD>vs. Den.</TD></TR><TR><TD>21.</TD><TD>Joe Flacco, Bal.</TD><TD>at G.B.</TD></TR><TR><TD>22.</TD><TD>Ryan Fitzpatrick, Buf.</TD><TD>vs. N.Y.-J</TD></TR><TR><TD>23.</TD><TD>Josh Freeman, T.B.</TD><TD>at Car.</TD></TR><TR><TD>24.</TD><TD>Alex Smith, S.F.</TD><TD>at Sea.</TD></TR><TR><TD>25.</TD><TD>Matt Moore, Car.</TD><TD>vs. T.B.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Running backs
<TABLE border=1 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=420 align=center><TBODY><TR><TD>01.</TD><TD>Chris Johnson, Ten.</TD><TD>at. Ind.</TD></TR><TR><TD>02.</TD><TD>Maurice Jones-Drew, Jac.</TD><TD>vs. Hou.</TD></TR><TR><TD>03.</TD><TD>Adrian Peterson, Min.</TD><TD>at Ari.</TD></TR><TR><TD>04.</TD><TD>Frank Gore, S.F.</TD><TD>at Sea.</TD></TR><TR><TD>05.</TD><TD>DeAngelo Williams, Car.</TD><TD>vs. T.B.</TD></TR><TR><TD>06.</TD><TD>Steven Jackson, St.L.</TD><TD>at Chi.</TD></TR><TR><TD>07.</TD><TD>Thomas Jones, N.Y.-J</TD><TD>at Buf.</TD></TR><TR><TD>08.</TD><TD>Rashard Mendenhall, Pit.</TD><TD>vs. Oak.</TD></TR><TR><TD>09.</TD><TD>Ricky Williams, Mia.</TD><TD>vs. N.E.</TD></TR><TR><TD>10.</TD><TD>*LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D.</TD><TD>at Cle.</TD></TR><TR><TD>11.</TD><TD>Ray Rice, Bal.</TD><TD>at G.B.</TD></TR><TR><TD>12.</TD><TD>Jamaal Charles, K.C.</TD><TD>vs. Den.</TD></TR><TR><TD>13.</TD><TD>LeSean McCoy, Phi.</TD><TD>at Atl.</TD></TR><TR><TD>14.</TD><TD>Knowshon Moreno, Den.</TD><TD>at K.C.</TD></TR><TR><TD>15.</TD><TD>Joseph Addai, Ind.</TD><TD>vs. Ten.</TD></TR><TR><TD>16.</TD><TD>*Cedric Benson, Cin.</TD><TD>vs. Det.</TD></TR><TR><TD>17.</TD><TD>Matt Forte, Chi.</TD><TD>vs. St.L.</TD></TR><TR><TD>18.</TD><TD>Fred Jackson, Buf.</TD><TD>vs. N.Y.-J</TD></TR><TR><TD>19.</TD><TD>Laurence Maroney, N.E.</TD><TD>at Mia.</TD></TR><TR><TD>20.</TD><TD>Pierre Thomas, N.O.</TD><TD>at Was.</TD></TR><TR><TD>21.</TD><TD>Jason Snelling, Atl.</TD><TD>vs. Phi.</TD></TR><TR><TD>22.</TD><TD>Brandon Jacobs, N.Y.-G</TD><TD>vs. Dal.</TD></TR><TR><TD>23.</TD><TD>Steve Slaton, Hou.</TD><TD>at Jac.</TD></TR><TR><TD>24.</TD><TD>Ryan Grant, G.B.</TD><TD>vs. Bal.</TD></TR><TR><TD>25.</TD><TD>*Justin Forsett, Sea.</TD><TD>vs. S.F.</TD></TR><TR><TD>26.</TD><TD>Rock Cartwright, Was.</TD><TD>vs. N.O.</TD></TR><TR><TD>27.</TD><TD>Jonathan Stewart, Car.</TD><TD>vs. T.B.</TD></TR><TR><TD>28.</TD><TD>Marion Barber, Dal.</TD><TD>at N.Y.-G</TD></TR><TR><TD>29.</TD><TD>Beanie Wells, Ari.</TD><TD>vs. Min.</TD></TR><TR><TD>30.</TD><TD>Tim Hightower, Ari.</TD><TD>vs. Min.</TD></TR><TR><TD>31.</TD><TD>Carnell Williams, T.B.</TD><TD>at Car.</TD></TR><TR><TD>32.</TD><TD>Felix Jones, Dal.</TD><TD>at N.Y.-G</TD></TR><TR><TD>33.</TD><TD>*Reggie Bush, N.O.</TD><TD>at Was.</TD></TR><TR><TD>34.</TD><TD>Larry Johnson, Cin.</TD><TD>vs. Det.</TD></TR><TR><TD>35.</TD><TD>Kevin Smith, Det.</TD><TD>at Cin.</TD></TR><TR><TD>36.</TD><TD>Jerious Norwood, Atl.</TD><TD>vs. Phi.</TD></TR><TR><TD>37.</TD><TD>Chris Brown, Hou.</TD><TD>at Jac.</TD></TR><TR><TD>38.</TD><TD>Marshawn Lynch, Buf.</TD><TD>vs. N.Y.-J</TD></TR><TR><TD>39.</TD><TD>*Mike Bell, N.O.</TD><TD>at Was.</TD></TR><TR><TD>40.</TD><TD>Chester Taylor, Min.</TD><TD>at Ari.</TD></TR><TR><TD>41.</TD><TD>*Julius Jones, Sea.</TD><TD>vs. S.F.</TD></TR><TR><TD>42.</TD><TD>Darren Sproles, S.D.</TD><TD>at Cle.</TD></TR><TR><TD>43.</TD><TD>Donald Brown, Ind.</TD><TD>vs. Ten.</TD></TR><TR><TD>44.</TD><TD>Sammy Morris, N.E.</TD><TD>at Mia.</TD></TR><TR><TD>45.</TD><TD>Justin Fargas, Oak.</TD><TD>at Pit.</TD></TR><TR><TD>46.</TD><TD>Chris Jennings, Cle.</TD><TD>vs. S.D.</TD></TR><TR><TD>47.</TD><TD>Correll Buckhalter, Den.</TD><TD>at K.C.</TD></TR><TR><TD>48.</TD><TD>Tashard Choice, Dal.</TD><TD>at N.Y.-G</TD></TR><TR><TD>49.</TD><TD>Darren McFadden, Oak.</TD><TD>at Pit.</TD></TR><TR><TD>50.</TD><TD>Jerome Harrison, Cle.</TD><TD>vs. S.D.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Wide receivers
<TABLE border=1 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=420 align=center><TBODY><TR><TD>01.</TD><TD>Randy Moss, N.E.</TD><TD>at Mia.</TD></TR><TR><TD>02.</TD><TD>Larry Fitzgerald, Ari.</TD><TD>vs. Min.</TD></TR><TR><TD>03.</TD><TD>Reggie Wayne, Ind.</TD><TD>vs. Ten.</TD></TR><TR><TD>04.</TD><TD>Andre Johnson, Hou.</TD><TD>at Jac.</TD></TR><TR><TD>05.</TD><TD>Sidney Rice, Min.</TD><TD>at Ari.</TD></TR><TR><TD>06.</TD><TD>Miles Austin, Dal.</TD><TD>at N.Y.-G</TD></TR><TR><TD>07.</TD><TD>Donald Driver, G.B.</TD><TD>vs. Bal.</TD></TR><TR><TD>08.</TD><TD>Chad Ochocinco, Cin.</TD><TD>vs. Det.</TD></TR><TR><TD>09.</TD><TD>Steve Smith, Car.</TD><TD>vs. T.B.</TD></TR><TR><TD>10.</TD><TD>Wes Welker, N.E.</TD><TD>at Mia.</TD></TR><TR><TD>11.</TD><TD>Anquan Boldin, Ari.</TD><TD>vs. Min.</TD></TR><TR><TD>12.</TD><TD>Mike Sims-Walker, Jac.</TD><TD>vs. Hou.</TD></TR><TR><TD>13.</TD><TD>Hines Ward, Pit.</TD><TD>vs. Oak.</TD></TR><TR><TD>14.</TD><TD>Vincent Jackson, S.D.</TD><TD>at Cle.</TD></TR><TR><TD>15.</TD><TD>Roddy White, Atl.</TD><TD>vs. Phi.</TD></TR><TR><TD>16.</TD><TD>T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Sea.</TD><TD>vs. S.F.</TD></TR><TR><TD>17.</TD><TD>Brandon Marshall, Den.</TD><TD>at K.C.</TD></TR><TR><TD>18.</TD><TD>Marques Colston, N.O.</TD><TD>at Was.</TD></TR><TR><TD>19.</TD><TD>Jeremy Maclin, Phi.</TD><TD>at Atl.</TD></TR><TR><TD>20.</TD><TD>Calvin Johnson, Det.</TD><TD>at Cin.</TD></TR><TR><TD>21.</TD><TD>Steve Smith, N.Y.-G</TD><TD>vs. Dal.</TD></TR><TR><TD>22.</TD><TD>Percy Harvin, Min.</TD><TD>at Ari.</TD></TR><TR><TD>23.</TD><TD>*Derrick Mason, Bal.</TD><TD>at G.B.</TD></TR><TR><TD>24.</TD><TD>Santonio Holmes, Pit.</TD><TD>vs. Oak.</TD></TR><TR><TD>25.</TD><TD>Greg Jennings, G.B.</TD><TD>vs. Bal.</TD></TR><TR><TD>26.</TD><TD>Pierre Garcon, Ind.</TD><TD>vs. Ten.</TD></TR><TR><TD>27.</TD><TD>Hakeem Nicks, N.Y.-G</TD><TD>vs. Dal.</TD></TR><TR><TD>28.</TD><TD>Terrell Owens, Buf.</TD><TD>vs. N.Y.-J</TD></TR><TR><TD>29.</TD><TD>Jason Avant, Phi.</TD><TD>at Atl.</TD></TR><TR><TD>30.</TD><TD>Devin Hester, Chi.</TD><TD>vs. St.L.</TD></TR><TR><TD>31.</TD><TD>Laveranues Coles, Cin.</TD><TD>vs. Det.</TD></TR><TR><TD>32.</TD><TD>Nate Burleson, Sea.</TD><TD>vs. S.F.</TD></TR><TR><TD>33.</TD><TD>Antonio Bryant, T.B.</TD><TD>at Car.</TD></TR><TR><TD>34.</TD><TD>Nate Washington, Ten.</TD><TD>at Ind.</TD></TR><TR><TD>35.</TD><TD>Jerricho Cotchery, N.Y.-J</TD><TD>at Buf.</TD></TR><TR><TD>36.</TD><TD>Robert Meachem, N.O.</TD><TD>at Was.</TD></TR><TR><TD>37.</TD><TD>Bernard Berrian, Min.</TD><TD>at Ari.</TD></TR><TR><TD>38.</TD><TD>Roy Williams, Dal.</TD><TD>at N.Y.-G</TD></TR><TR><TD>39.</TD><TD>Mario Manningham, N.Y.-G</TD><TD>vs. Dal.</TD></TR><TR><TD>40.</TD><TD>Austin Collie, Ind.</TD><TD>vs. Ten.</TD></TR><TR><TD>41.</TD><TD>Kenny Britt, Ten.</TD><TD>at Ind.</TD></TR><TR><TD>42.</TD><TD>Chris Chambers, K.C.</TD><TD>vs. Den.</TD></TR><TR><TD>43.</TD><TD>Lee Evans, Buf.</TD><TD>vs. N.Y.-J</TD></TR><TR><TD>44.</TD><TD>Santana Moss, Was.</TD><TD>vs. N.O.</TD></TR><TR><TD>45.</TD><TD>Davone Bess, Mia.</TD><TD>vs. N.E.</TD></TR><TR><TD>46.</TD><TD>Andre Caldwell, Cin.</TD><TD>vs. Det.</TD></TR><TR><TD>47.</TD><TD>Michael Crabtree, S.F.</TD><TD>at Sea.</TD></TR><TR><TD>48.</TD><TD>Mike Wallace, Pit.</TD><TD>vs. Oak.</TD></TR><TR><TD>49.</TD><TD>Malcom Floyd, S.D.</TD><TD>at Cle.</TD></TR><TR><TD>50.</TD><TD>Donnie Avery, St.L.</TD><TD>at Chi.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Tight ends
<TABLE border=1 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=420 align=center><TBODY><TR><TD>01.</TD><TD>Dallas Clark, Ind.</TD><TD>vs. Ten.</TD></TR><TR><TD>02.</TD><TD>Antonio Gates, S.D.</TD><TD>at Cle.</TD></TR><TR><TD>03.</TD><TD>Tony Gonzalez, Atl.</TD><TD>vs. Phi.</TD></TR><TR><TD>04.</TD><TD>Vernon Davis, S.F.</TD><TD>at Sea.</TD></TR><TR><TD>05.</TD><TD>*Brent Celek, Phi.</TD><TD>at Atl.</TD></TR><TR><TD>06.</TD><TD>Heath Miller, Pit.</TD><TD>vs. Oak.</TD></TR><TR><TD>07.</TD><TD>Jason Witten, Dal.</TD><TD>at N.Y.-G</TD></TR><TR><TD>08.</TD><TD>Visanthe Shiancoe, Min.</TD><TD>at Ari.</TD></TR><TR><TD>09.</TD><TD>Greg Olsen, Chi.</TD><TD>vs. St.L.</TD></TR><TR><TD>10.</TD><TD>John Carlson, Sea.</TD><TD>vs. S.F.</TD></TR><TR><TD>11.</TD><TD>Kevin Boss, N.Y.-G</TD><TD>vs. Dal.</TD></TR><TR><TD>12.</TD><TD>Kellen Winslow, T.B.</TD><TD>at Car.</TD></TR><TR><TD>13.</TD><TD>Jermichael Finley, G.B.</TD><TD>vs. Bal.</TD></TR><TR><TD>14.</TD><TD>David Thomas, N.O.</TD><TD>at Was.</TD></TR><TR><TD>15.</TD><TD>Tony Scheffler, Den.</TD><TD>at K.C.</TD></TR><TR><TD>16.</TD><TD>Zach Miller, Oak.</TD><TD>at Pit.</TD></TR><TR><TD>17.</TD><TD>Bo Scaife, Ten.</TD><TD>at Ind.</TD></TR><TR><TD>18.</TD><TD>Jeremy Shockey, N.O.</TD><TD>at Was.</TD></TR><TR><TD>19.</TD><TD>Fred Davis, Was.</TD><TD>vs. N.O.</TD></TR><TR><TD>20.</TD><TD>Dustin Keller, N.Y.-J</TD><TD>at Buf.</TD></TR><TR><TD>21.</TD><TD>Ben Watson, N.E.</TD><TD>at Mia.</TD></TR><TR><TD>22.</TD><TD>Dante Rosario, Car.</TD><TD>vs. T.B.</TD></TR><TR><TD>23.</TD><TD>Todd Heap, Bal.</TD><TD>at G.B.</TD></TR><TR><TD>24.</TD><TD>Marcedes Lewis, Jac.</TD><TD>vs. Hou.</TD></TR><TR><TD>25.</TD><TD>Spencer Havner, G.B.</TD><TD>vs. Bal.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Kickers
<TABLE border=1 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=420 align=center><TBODY><TR><TD>01.</TD><TD>Stephen Gostkowski, N.E.</TD><TD>at Mia.</TD></TR><TR><TD>02.</TD><TD>David Akers, Phi.</TD><TD>at Atl.</TD></TR><TR><TD>03.</TD><TD>Ryan Longwell, Min.</TD><TD>at Ari.</TD></TR><TR><TD>04.</TD><TD>Nate Kaeding, S.D.</TD><TD>at Cle.</TD></TR><TR><TD>05.</TD><TD>John Carney, N.O.</TD><TD>at Was.</TD></TR><TR><TD>06.</TD><TD>Mason Crosby, G.B.</TD><TD>vs. Bal.</TD></TR><TR><TD>07.</TD><TD>Jeff Reed, Pit.</TD><TD>vs. Oak.</TD></TR><TR><TD>08.</TD><TD>Nick Folk, Dal.</TD><TD>at N.Y.-G</TD></TR><TR><TD>09.</TD><TD>Lawrence Tynes, N.Y.-G</TD><TD>vs. Dal.</TD></TR><TR><TD>10.</TD><TD>Matt Stover, Ind.</TD><TD>vs. Ten.</TD></TR><TR><TD>11.</TD><TD>Dan Carpenter, Mia.</TD><TD>vs. N.E.</TD></TR><TR><TD>12.</TD><TD>Matt Prater, Den.</TD><TD>at K.C.</TD></TR><TR><TD>13.</TD><TD>Shayne Graham, Cin.</TD><TD>vs. Det.</TD></TR><TR><TD>14.</TD><TD>Olindo Mare, Sea.</TD><TD>vs. S.F.</TD></TR><TR><TD>15.</TD><TD>Neil Rackers, Ari.</TD><TD>vs. Min.</TD></TR><TR><TD>16.</TD><TD>Robbie Gould, Chi.</TD><TD>vs. St.L.</TD></TR><TR><TD>17.</TD><TD>Rob Bironas, Ten.</TD><TD>at Ind.</TD></TR><TR><TD>18.</TD><TD>Rian Lindell, Buf.</TD><TD>vs. N.Y.-J</TD></TR><TR><TD>19.</TD><TD>Kris Brown, Hou.</TD><TD>at Jac.</TD></TR><TR><TD>20.</TD><TD>Josh Scobee, Jac.</TD><TD>vs. Hou.</TD></TR><TR><TD>21.</TD><TD>Ryan Succop, K.C.</TD><TD>vs. Den.</TD></TR><TR><TD>22.</TD><TD>Joe Nedney, S.F.</TD><TD>at Sea.</TD></TR><TR><TD>23.</TD><TD>John Kasay, Car.</TD><TD>vs. T.B.</TD></TR><TR><TD>24.</TD><TD>Jay Feely, N.Y.-J</TD><TD>at Buf.</TD></TR><TR><TD>25.</TD><TD>Connor Barth, T.B.</TD><TD>at Car.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Defenses
<TABLE border=1 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=420 align=center><TBODY><TR><TD>01.</TD><TD>Pittsburgh</TD><TD>vs. Oak.</TD></TR><TR><TD>02.</TD><TD>San Diego</TD><TD>at Cle.</TD></TR><TR><TD>03.</TD><TD>Cincinnati</TD><TD>vs. Det.</TD></TR><TR><TD>04.</TD><TD>New England</TD><TD>at Mia.</TD></TR><TR><TD>05.</TD><TD>Denver</TD><TD>at K.C.</TD></TR><TR><TD>06.</TD><TD>Philadelphia</TD><TD>at Atl.</TD></TR><TR><TD>07.</TD><TD>Chicago</TD><TD>at St.L.</TD></TR><TR><TD>08.</TD><TD>Green Bay</TD><TD>vs. Bal.</TD></TR><TR><TD>09.</TD><TD>Dallas</TD><TD>at N.Y.-G</TD></TR><TR><TD>10.</TD><TD>Baltimore</TD><TD>at G.B.</TD></TR><TR><TD>11.</TD><TD>Seattle</TD><TD>vs. S.F.</TD></TR><TR><TD>12.</TD><TD>New Orleans</TD><TD>at Was.</TD></TR><TR><TD>13.</TD><TD>Minnesota</TD><TD>at Ari.</TD></TR><TR><TD>14.</TD><TD>Indianapolis</TD><TD>vs. Ten.</TD></TR><TR><TD>15.</TD><TD>New York Jets</TD><TD>at Buf.</TD></TR><TR><TD>16.</TD><TD>San Francisco</TD><TD>at Sea.</TD></TR><TR><TD>17.</TD><TD>New York Giants</TD><TD>vs. Dal.</TD></TR><TR><TD>18.</TD><TD>Buffalo</TD><TD>vs. N.Y.-J</TD></TR><TR><TD>19.</TD><TD>Arizona</TD><TD>vs. Min.</TD></TR><TR><TD>20.</TD><TD>Carolina</TD><TD>vs. T.B.</TD></TR><TR><TD>21.</TD><TD>Jacksonville</TD><TD>vs. Hou.</TD></TR><TR><TD>22.</TD><TD>Tennessee</TD><TD>at Ind.</TD></TR><TR><TD>23.</TD><TD>Kansas City</TD><TD>vs. Den.</TD></TR><TR><TD>24.</TD><TD>Washington</TD><TD>vs. N.O.</TD></TR><TR><TD>25.</TD><TD>Tampa Bay</TD><TD>at Car.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

[HacheMan]

Early Ending
When searching for value from the running back position, many times we're just looking for an opportunity. Give us a guy that will get 12-18 touches a game and we'll take our chances. In a league full of committees and specialty backs, it's not that bad of a strategy.

Over the last two seasons, Jamal Lewis was one of the exceptions to that strategy. His explosiveness and power were in rapid decline, making him a shell of the beast that ran for 2,066 yards in 2003. So no one in the fantasy world was very sad to hear that Lewis was placed on injured reserve yesterday with post-concussion symptoms.

About two months ago, this would have been very exciting news for Jerome Harrison. For those that blame the Browns' offensive line and inability to throw the ball for Lewis' problems, take a look at what Harrison did in Week 4 against a very solid Bengals' defense. With Lewis sidelined by a hamstring injury, the shifty and versatile Harrison rushed 29 times for 121 yards and added five catches for 31 yards.

Of course, that's a very small sample size. We'd love to see if Harrison could produce like that over the final five weeks of the season. Alas, it doesn't look like coach Eric Mangini will let us. Mangini has complained about Harrison's pass protection and moved Chris Jennings ahead of Harrison on the depth chart. Mangini has even deactivated Harrison, firmly placing him in the doghouse.

So what now? Here's a look at some projected roles going forward in the Browns backfield:

Chris Jennings: He's served as the third-down back for over a month now, but hasn't wowed anyone with his skills. Jennings was undrafted out of Arizona and even had a CFL stint. He doesn't have the talent to carry the load.

Jerome Harrison: As stated above, Eric Mangini just doesn't seem to like him. We're not exactly sure why, but until that changes Harrison figures to split carries with Jennings at best.

DeDe Dorsey: He's not a Brown yet, but the transaction is expected to be completed before long. Dorsey is a "Hard Knocks" favorite and was the MVP of the UFL title game last week (we know, a great honor). He doesn't project as much more than a change-of-pace back in the NFL.

Bottom Line: Only those in deep leagues should consider any of these guys. A Browns running back in a committee doesn't stand to have much value. For the deep leaguers out there, Jennings is the add as he'll be given the first crack to succeed. Harrison is worth a stash as he has the most upside if he gets out of the doghouse. With Lewis saying he's going to retire, look for the Browns to target a running back this offseason.

Editor's Note: For rankings, complete projections, and a host of other exclusive material for Week 13, head to Rotoworld's Season Pass. It's now just $4.99 and has the info you need for the fantasy playoffs as well!.

NEWS OF THE DAY #2
We already knew that DeSean Jackson probably wasn't going to play this week because of a concussion. But the real news yesterday came from ESPN's Sal Paolantonio, who reported that Jackson blacked out and lost consciousness.

I watched that game very closely on Sunday, and if Jackson was blacked out it was for a split second. He didn't stay down for long and walked off fine under his own power. It was nothing like the scene when Brian Westbrook was knocked out.

Still, this expands the timeline on Jackson's recovery. It would not be surprising to see Jackson miss at least a couple weeks. Jason Avant and Reggie Brown will both see time out wide, with Avant playing in the slot in three-wide sets. Brent Celek, who says his thumb is a non-issue, should also see a bump in targets with D-Jax out.

NEWS OF THE DAY #3
Julius Jones (ribs, lung) returned to a full practice Wednesday. That really puts a damper on the Justin Forsett party as the Seahawks are adamant that Jones is their starter. It's really a shame because Forsett is a very talented runner -- much more so than Jones. Look for an even timeshare this week between the two.

Editor's Note: For rankings, complete projections, and a host of other exclusive material for Week 13, head to Rotoworld's Season Pass. It's now $4.99 and has the info you need for the fantasy playoffs as well!.

INJURY QUICK SLANTS: QUARTERBACKS
Ben Roethlisberger (concussion) practiced in full. He's a go. … Kurt Warner (concussion) practiced Wednesday but split first-team reps with Matt Leinart. He's still a question mark. … Matthew Stafford (shoulder) will start Sunday.

INJURY QUICK SLANTS: RUNNING BACKS AND RECEIVERS
Steven Jackson (back) didn't practice Wednesday, but we're expecting him to fight through it and play again Sunday. … Cedric Benson (hip) returned to a full practice. He'll start. Meanwhile, Bernard Scott (foot) looks like he'll be unavailable for backup duties. … Michael Turner (ankle) missed practice and isn't expected to play Sunday. … Tim Hightower was limited with a thumb injury, which is a concern because of how much he catches the ball. … Donald Brown (chest) appears headed for the inactive list Sunday. The Colts added Mike Hart. … Felix Jones has the brace off his knee and finally looks 100 percent. … Calvin Johnson practiced in full and will start. … Lance Moore (ankle) missed practice again and isn't on the fantasy radar. … DeAngelo Williams (knee) was held out of practice, but it's probably just a precaution.

DEPTH CHART QUICK SLANTS
Jake Delhomme (finger) could be a candidate for injured reserve if the Panthers decide to bag the season and see what Matt Moore has. … Clinton Portis (concussion) didn't rule out returning this year, but he's not going to press it. … The Jets will shadow Terrell Owens with shutdown corner Darrelle Revis. Lito Sheppard will be on Lee Evans.

 

[HacheMan]

Jonesing for a Playoff Run

In a game dominated by field goals, stellar coverage by the Jets cornerbacks, and an injury to Mark Sanchez, veteran running back Thomas Jones pounded out a ho-hum 109 yards to top the 1,000-yard mark for the fifth time in his career. Since 2005, only LaDainian Tomlinson has gained more yards than Jones. While Tomlinson is clearly on the downside of a Hall of Fame career, Jones is playing better than ever. The son of Virginia coal miners, Jones' unmatched work ethic has helped him stay in peak physical form while defying the age-30 barrier for NFL backs.

Currently on pace for 318 carries, a career-high 1,420 yards, and 12 touchdowns, Jones entered Thursday's game as the No. 8 fantasy back in the league. A bastion of consistency, he's either scored a touchdown or topped 100 yards in every game since Week 3. It gets even better. In Weeks 14 and 15, Jones faces the Bucs and Falcons, both of whom are in the Top-5 in fantasy points allowed to opposing backs.

With at least 21 carries in every game since Leon Washington was lost for the season, Jones hasn't been adversely affected by the presence of rookie Shonn Greene. He'll continue to carry a heavy load down the stretch as a RB1, setting up fantasy owners for a championship run.

Editor's Note: Check out our Season Pass package, now just $4.99 for the playoff special. We've also got extra columns, IDP rankings, Top 200 rankings, Evan Silva's running back report, Chris Wesseling's Dynasty advice, advance workload and target data, exclusive chats, schedule analysis, fantasy points allowed info, and playoff rankings you can only get with Season Pass.
Fantasy News:

Kurt Warner split first-team snaps with Matt Leinart again, and coach Ken Whisenhunt indicated that he's unlikely to make a decision on a starting quarterback until Sunday morning. After dealing with Warner's setback last week, Whisenhunt wants to have Leinart better prepared to play this time around. Warner's progression this week, however, indicates that he will be under center barring an unexpected late-week recurrence of concussion-related symptoms. While he has a nice matchup at home against the Vikings, fantasy owners will want to consider giving him one more week off if other options are available.

Justin Gage (limited, back) is expected to sit out for one more week, though coach Jeff Fisher indicated that the starting job will remain his once he returns to full health. Despite Kenny Britt's emergence as the Titans' best playmaker in years, Fisher is backing his veteran. Though admittedly one of the best coaches in the league, Fisher pulled a similar stunt in sticking with a rickety Kerry Collins while the Titans' season slipped away by Week 6. He obviously hasn't learned from that experience. While Britt owners pray that owner Bud Adams will save Fisher from himself again, it's worth pointing out that Britt already leads all Titans receivers in receptions and yardage this season. He'll play early and often regardless of whether Gage starts the game.

Frank Gore recently met with coach Mike Singletary about the 49ers' new pass-heavy attack, leading coordinator Jimmy Raye to point that his star back's role doesn't change in the shotgun offense. Gore was targeted a team-high 10 times last week, and Raye pointed out that the touches in the passing game will make up for the decrease in carries. "The only thing that changes is he's not running into the line with a lead-blocking fullback in front of him," explained Raye. Gore owners need not worry. He remains a RB1 with increased scoring opportunities going forward.

Two-Minute Drill: The Panthers starting quarterback will officially be a game-time decision this week, though Matt Moore is fully expected to start against the Bucs. … John Carney is still the Saints kicker, though coach Sean Payton is keeping an eye on the situation on the heels of the veteran's recent struggles. … Trevor Scott will start at weak-side linebacker this week, pushing Thomas Howard to the strong side. … Jeremy Maclin will return punts against Atlanta Sunday with DeSean Jackson (concussion) out. … Steelers coach Mike Tomlin hinted that he'd be comfortable with Dennis Dixon as his No. 2 QB in 2010. … Dolphins coordinator Dan Henning suggested that WR Brian Hartline is in line for a bigger role going forward. … Jamal Lewis' teammates on the Browns expect him to follow through on his plans to retire after the season. … Tim Ruskell officially stepped down as the Seahawks general manager, with Ruston Webster replacing him on an interim basis. … Percy Harvin was named Offensive Rookie of the Month for November while Brian Cushing was Defensive Rookie of the Month. … Charles Woodson became the first player in history to win two NFC Defensive Player of the Month awards in the same season

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Red Zone: Panthers coach John Fox confirmed that he expects DeAngelo Williams (ankle) to start this week despite missing consecutive practices. … Michael Turner (ankle), on the other hand, is unlikely to play after missing a second straight practice. … Ben Roethlisberger (concussion) practiced in full again and said he feels "great." … Expected to sit out this week, DeSean Jackson (concussion) was held out of practice again Thursday. … Though Steven Jackson (back) missed practice again, he's fully expected to play Sunday in Chicago. ….Julius Jones (chest) participated in another full practice, and he's expected to split touches with Justin Forsett this week. … Cedric Benson (hip) and Justin Fargas (shoulder) both participated in full practices again. … Steve Slaton (neck), Chris Jennings (shoulder), and Tim Hightower (thumb) were all limited again Thursday. … Saints Pierre Thomas (wrist), Mike Bell (knee), Reggie Bush (knee), and Jeremy Shockey (elbow) were also limited. … Bernard Scott (turf toe) was held out again, as were Donald Brown (chest) and Ahmad Bradshaw (ankle). … Calvin Johnson (knee) and Matthew Stafford (knee) both practiced in full for a second straight day. … Aaron Rodgers (ribs) was also a full participant. … Mike Sims-Walker (knee) and Maurice Jones-Drew (knee) were both upgraded to full participation, as expected. … After participating in a full practice, Brent Celek (thumb) is expected to start at Atlanta. … Brian Westbrook (concussion) "felt pretty good" after working out outdoors Thursday, and he experienced no concussion-related symptoms.