NFL Fantasy Football News 2009-2010

[HacheMan]

Studs, duds and sleepers: Johnson will have Texas-sized stats


Matt Pitzer's look at the upcoming week's fantasy football landscape:
Studs
Andre Johnson, WR, Texans. After 20 catches for 389 yards and two TDs the past two weeks, Johnson squares off against Dolphins rookie cornerback Vontae Davis, who gave up TDs to Justin Gage and Nate Washington last week and appears to be running out of steam.
Cedric Benson, RB, Bengals. He has just one 100-yard game and no TDs over his past six games, but he ought to correct that against a Chiefs run defense in a free fall. Kansas City has allowed more than 200 rushing yards in each of its past three, including 286 to the Browns' Jerome Harrison last week.
Jonathan Stewart, RB, Panthers. In the two games Stewart has played extensively because of DeAngelo Williams' injuries, Stewart has two 100-yard games and three total TDs. Williams might miss this week's game against the Giants because of a bad ankle, making Stewart a top play.
Tony Romo, QB, Cowboys. Romo has to be licking his chops after seeing the Redskins' collapse on Monday night. Romo is also playing as well as he has in his career over the past four games, with three 300-yard games, eight TDs and no interceptions.
Vincent Jackson, WR, Chargers. After shaking off a brief slump, Jackson has responded with back-to-back 100-yard games and scored twice last week. The Titans still struggle against the pass, giving up 300 yards to Chad Henne last week, and are fighting some defensive injuries.
Duds
Brett Favre, QB, Vikings. The Bears are terrible and their defense has been getting singed lately. But in the wake of Favre's odd argument with his coach, consider Favre and Co. have been awful on grass and the Bears are at home with nothing else to play for other than damaging their rival's season.
Justin Forsett, RB, Seahawks. Even if Julius Jones leaves all of the carries to Forsett, you don't want any part of him. The Seahawks' offense is collapsing down the stretch and Green Bay boast the league's No. 2 run defense, allowing just two rushing TDs.
Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Steelers. Mendenhall appears to be running out of steam with one rushing game out of his past six and three rushing TDs in his past eight. The Ravens have allowed only seven rushing TDs, tied for fifth-best.
Kyle Orton, QB, Broncos. You might be OK if you knew the Broncos would win as Orton has 12 TD passes in those eight games. But he also has just five TDs in the six losses and the Broncos have not scored more than 19 points in any of them.
Terrell Owens, WR, Bills. After a brief run of value, Owens' production has fallen off again with only seven catches for 66 yards over the past three games. This week, he has the added wild card of quarterback Brian Brohm possibly making his first career start.
Sleepers
Mike Bell, RB, Saints. Reggie Bush's latest hamstring injury puts Bell back in the mix for more playing time. Bell responded with a TD last week against the Cowboys and should see more scoring chances against the Bucs' 30th-ranked run defense.
Michael Crabtree, WR, 49ers. Don't be scared by Crabtree coming off his worst game of the season (26 yards). The 49ers return home to face Detroit's league-worst defense and Crabtree should benefit from an offense that produced multiple TD passes in the four previous games.
Joe Flacco, QB, Ravens. The Steelers' defense continues to struggle defending big passing plays. Last week, the Packers hit on TDs of at least 49 yards and scored 36 points. Flacco threw for 289 yards earlier against Pittsburgh and is coming off a career-best four-TD game.
Chad Henne, QB, Dolphins. Over the past three games, Henne has completed 62.2% of his attempts and twice has gone over 300 yards. In their past two road games, Houston has given up three TD passes to Jacksonville and St. Louis both in the bottom seven of TD passes thrown.
Jason Snelling, RB, Falcons. Michael Turner continues to fight his ankle injuries and Snelling could be rewarded with a home start against Buffalo's league-worst run defense. Even though the Falcons are out of the playoff hunt, Snelling still has two-TD potential.

 

[HacheMan]

Ascendant Offenses
In Tuesday's Waiver Wired article, I covered several players at each position worth picking up for next season. Since individual players have already been covered, it's worth taking a look at offenses that could be in for a considerable leap next season. What we're looking for are creative coaching, an above average offensive line, a reliable quarterback, and playmaking talent at the skill positions.

1. Titans: Since Vince Young took over in Week 8, the Titans are averaging 29.5 points per game versus 14 under Kerry Collins. The offensive line is one of the league's finest at both pass blocking and run blocking. Chris Johnson is currently the most unstoppable weapon in football, and Kenny Britt has flashed legit No. 1 receiver potential.

2. Falcons: Buy now on Matt Ryan. He's an elite young quarterback, and his value will never be lower. Michael Turner was just beginning to hit his stride at mid-season, averaging 9.1 yards per carry in the three games before the ankle injuries struck. He'll be back healthy next season along with Pro Bowl tight end Tony Gonzalez and No. 1 receiver Roddy White.

3. 49ers: Armed with two first-round picks, San Fran has a decision to make at quarterback this offseason. The nucleus, however, is intact. The Niners possess elite talents in Frank Gore, Vernon Davis, and Michael Crabtree while Josh Morgan is settling in as a fine No. 2 receiver.

4. Packers: We already know this is an explosive offense, sixth in yardage and seventh in scoring. What's impressive is that they've accomplished it with a subpar offensive line. The Packers are poised to join the Colts and Saints as the league's elite units if GM Ted Thompson can bolster the front to go with Aaron Rodgers, four quality receivers, a top 10 rusher in Ryan Grant, and a supremely talented young tight end in Jermichael Finley.

5. Ravens: Cam Cameron is a top-notch playcaller, Ray Rice is emerging as the one of the five best all-around backs in the league, franchise QB Joe Flacco has put his sophomore slump behind him, and the young offensive line should be one of the best in the game for years. It's on heralded GM Ozzie Newsome to upgrade his receiving weapons this offseason.

6. Chiefs: Jamaal Charles is emerging as an offensive building block, and Dwayne Bowe has No. 1 receiver potential. Chris Chambers, an impending free agent, and Matt Cassel remain question marks while the offensive line needs major upgrades.

7. Jaguars: Tackles Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton should show major improvement next season after learning on the job as rookies. The Jags just have to add skill position talent to go with dynamos Maurice Jones-Drew and Mikes Sims-Walker.

8. Dolphins: Chad Henne has the look of a young franchise quarterback, the offensive line is rock solid, and the backfield duo of Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown should return intact next season. Miami desperately needs a receiver of Anquan Boldin's caliber.

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Quarterback News: The Browns unexpectedly ended Brady Quinn's season after he injured his right foot on a 24-yard bootleg that led to the game-winning touchdown last week. It's not yet known if the injury will require surgery. Quinn's season ends with more questions than answers. He was benched after just three starts and then regained the job in Week 10, answering none of the questions about his accuracy and inconsistency. Though new boss Mike Holmgren has an impressive history of quarterback development, he'll have to decide if Quinn is the signal caller he wants to build around. Derek Anderson, owner of a 42.9 completion percentage, 36.2 passer rating, and 4.4 yards per attempt in six games this season will take over for the final two weeks.

The Bills placed Trent Edwards on injured reserve with a high ankle sprain, a fitting end to a lost season for both Edwards and the Buffalo offense. Behind the league's leakiest offensive line, Edwards was turned into a checkdown master lacking in confidence and durability. His days as an NFL starter are over. With Ryan Fitzpatrick on crutches this week nursing his own ankle injury, Brian Brohm is expected to get the call at Atlanta. The Packers' 2008 second-rounder was an unmitigated disaster in Green Bay, posting a 55.7 completion percentage, a miniscule 4.38 yards per attempt, 0 touchdowns, four interceptions, and nine sacks in two exhibitions seasons. If it's possible, he looked worse than the numbers. Needless to say, the Falcons D/ST are an attractive matchup play this week.

Two-Minute Drill: Saints coach Sean Payton indicated that he will not rest key players now that the quest for a perfect season is over. … The Saints also released 21-year veteran K John Carney, ensuring that Garrett Hartley will remain the kicker the rest of the way. … Steelers signed WR Joey Galloway, formerly of the Patriots. … Chiefs waived WR Mark Bradley, coming off his best game since Week 1. … Neither Lions coach Jim Schwartz nor Rams coach Jim Spagnuolo will name a starting QB this week, though we're expecting Drew Stanton and Keith Null to get the nod over Daunte Culpepper and Kyle Boller. … Vikings coach Brad Childress reportedly "unleashed an expletive-laden outburst" toward Brett Favre after Sunday night's loss to the Panthers. … Mark Clayton is expected to resume starting once he recovers from knee and hamstring injuries, possibly Sunday against the Steelers. … Felix Jones had 10-plus carries in consecutive games for the first time in his NFL career during Weeks 14 and 15. … Nebraska DT Ndamukong Suh became the first defensive player to be named The Associated Press College Football Player of the Year. … Rutgers LT Anthony Davis announced that he will forgo his senior season as a Scarlet Knight to enter the 2010 NFL Draft. … ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Mike Shanahan will not be the next head coach of the Cowboys.

Editor's Note: Check out our Season Pass package, 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.

Red Zone: Coach Andy Reid confirmed that Brian Westbrook (concussion) will have a limited role Sunday if he's able to play against the Broncos, as expected. … Coach Tom Coughlin offered no update on Hakeem Nicks' hamstring injury Tuesday. … Hines Ward had a setback with his hamstring injury and is considered day to day. … Bears coach Lovie Smith said Devin Hester (calf) is "getting better" and could play this week. … Beanie Wells was shaken up last week when his helmet was banged into the bridge of his eyebrow, but he's expected to be fine for Week 16. … Falcons coach Mike Smith gave no indication that he will shut down Michael Turner (high ankle sprain). … Colts RB Donald Brown (chest) returned to Colts practice on Monday. Anthony Gonzalez (knee surgery) is expected to return to practice Wednesday. … Colts K Adam Vinatieri (knee surgery) could begin kicking activities this week, though there's still no timetable for a return to game action. … Troy Polamalu underwent an MRI on his knee Tuesday to determine if he's ready to return to action this week. … Ed Reed is reportedly on his way to Miami to have his troublesome hip injury evaluated Wednesday. … Bills LCB Terrence McGee is expected to undergo season-ending rotator cuff surgery on his right shoulder. … Redskins RE Andre Carter will play through a slightly torn right biceps muscle in Weeks 16 and 17.

 

[HacheMan]

The Home Stretch
Just like every year, we've all learned a lot this season…

Wait, this the season isn't over yet. It's not time for the wrap it all up column; it's time to go for it all baby. Just like you (those still reading fantasy football articles who are done, I applaud you) I'm in the championship this week, and I'm in it for the glory.

It's important to ride the guys who got you here, but don't forget that your judgment got you this far, too. There are many under-the-radar players this week that could help your team if you have deficiencies at WR3, RB2, TE or in the Flex spot. I'll save the wrap up stuff for next week. Let's get to this week's Red Zone Report:

Looking for a Job

Greg Camarillo, Dolphins WR

The biggest knock on the Dolphins has been their lack of playmakers at the WR position. And while Greg Camarillo is certainly not what you would categorize as a "playmaker", he has become a very important part of Miami's passing attack. Only 10 receivers have been thrown more passes than Camarillo's 27 in the last two weeks.

On a team devoid of typical Red Zone receivers, he was targeted 3 times in scoring situations last week. In addition to his growing role, Camarillo finds himself in a great matchup this week facing Houston in what is shaping up to be a shootout. Owned in just 3% of Yahoo leagues, Camarillo is a solid WR3 play this week at home against the Texans.

Josh Morgan, 49ers WR

No one will ever accuse Josh Morgan of being spectacular, but sometimes that's not important. Everything about Morgan screams boring and mundane. He's the 3rd receiving option on a mediocre team, a former sixth-round draft pick, and lacks overly impressive size or speed. Honestly, aside from having an amazing last name, there's not much to like about Morgan on the surface.

Over the last month Morgan has racked up 7.25 targets per game, which is close to what solid WR2s put up for the season (Donald Driver is at 7.2, Marques Colston is at 7.3, and Sidney Rice is at 7.6). Although Morgan doesn't have the same caliber talent as these players, getting over 7 targets consistently is a recipe for success. In addition, Morgan is a huge factor in scoring situations: he's been thrown to 16 times in the Red Zone, second only to Vernon Davis' 18 RZ targets.

Now facing the Lions' NFL-worst pass defense, Morgan is in line for a big-time game. Owned in just 7% of Yahoo leagues, I would start Morgan as a WR3 with confidence, and wouldn't have to be pushed too hard to use him as a WR2.

Michael Bush, Raiders RB

Ever since watching him dominate Kentucky in the first game of Louisville's 2006 season, I've been a huge fan of Bush. Unfortunately, that first game only lasted one half, as Bush broke his leg on his 17th carry, effectively ending his college career and killing any chance he had of being a first-round draft pick. Since being picked by the Raiders in the fourth round of the 2007 draft, Bush has struggled to get a real chance to be Oakland's starting tailback. However, when he has been given opportunity, he has succeeded.

This past game was another example of Michael Bush just needing a chance. Against an above average Denver Broncos run defense, Bush put up a monster game (133 yards and a TD on just 18 carries). In addition to getting the bulk of Oakland's carries, he was the lead option on the Goal Line, getting 3 of the 4 carries from inside the 5-yard line.

Bush's combination of explosive ability to accelerate and hulk-like power (6-1/245) makes him a dangerous runner against any team. Facing the Browns putrid 27th ranked rushing defense this week, Bush should be licking his chops. Owned in just 15% of Yahoo leagues, Bush is a lower end RB2 play with a ton of upside (Although my crazy love for him and this matchup is tempting me to rank him higher).

Jermichael Finley, Packers TE

One of Rotoworld's (and yours truly's) favorite preseason sleepers, the freakishly athletic Tight End has emerged as a viable TE1 option lately. I actually drafted Finley with the last pick in my draft (leaving me kicker-less), hoping I would be able to make a 2 for 1 deal and hold onto Jermichael long enough for him to start playing on a consistent basis. Although I ended up dropping him for some kicker at Noon on that first Sunday, he was a player I would be keeping my eye on.

While he has shown flashes all year, over the past five games Finley has become an essential part of the Packers' passing game. In those last five, Finley has scored the 5th most points among TEs (48.2, good for just under 10 points per game). In addition to his production, Aaron Rodgers has been throwing Jermichael the ball more than just about anybody: averaging 8.2 targets over that time span (to put that in perspective, Dallas Clark is averaging 8.3 for the season).

Still owned in just 37% of Yahoo leagues (and an unbelievable 21% of ESPN leagues), and facing Seattle's 27th ranked pass defense, Finley is a great TE1 start this week. Much like Dallas Clark, Antonio Gates, and Vernon Davis, Jermichael Finley has the athletic ability to break off huge plays; which could win you your league this week.

Beanie Wells, Cardinals RB

The artist formerly known as Chris Wells has become finally become the Cardinals' lead back. Tim Hightower did a nice job getting the most out of his below-average physical tools, but Beanie's time has come. Although Wells is owned in most leagues, it's important for his owners to know that he's a RB1 option this week, START HIM! Facing the Rams' league worst run defense, Wells is a great bet to put up a monster game.

Jerious Norwood, Falcons RB

After, in person, watching Norwood contribute to yet another disappointing Jets loss, it pains me to recommend him. However, if Michael Turner is out (and it appears he will be) Norwood has a great matchup against the 31st ranked rushing defense, the Buffalo Bills. Although Jason Snelling will get the bulk of the Red Zone carries, Norwood's ability to break off the big play makes him viable option as well. Norwood is a great flex play, and Snelling is a low end RB2 this week.

Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs WR

In his first game back, Bowe got right into the swing of things. He got an encouraging 10 targets, and remained a factor in the Red Zone with 3 RZ looks. Get him back in your lineups and start him confidently as a WR2.

Fred Davis, Redskins TE

Still owned in just 41% of Yahoo leagues, Fred Davis is an every-week fantasy starter. Over the past 3 games, the only tight end with more fantasy points is Dallas Clark. Facing the Cowboys this week, who have given up 6.9 points to TEs over the last 7 games, Davis has a solid matchup. Don't forget that Jason Campbell loves to look for Davis is scoring situations. Davis has racked up an impressive 11 RZ targets in the past 4 games. The only TEs I would start over Jason Campbell's new favorite target are: Clark, Antonio Gates, and Vernon Davis. That's it.

Leonard Weaver, Eagles RB

The writing is on the wall for LeSean McCoy: Andy Reid doesn't trust him as a starting RB. Over the past 3 games, McCoy has averaged just over 8 carries; and although he's getting 4 targets, it's not enough to mitigate his inconsistent workload. It seemed that McCoy was similar enough to Brian Westbrook that he would be able to approximate his value within the Eagles offense. Unfortunately, McCoy hasn't made an impact anywhere close to that of Westbrook. Fullback Leonard Weaver, however, has shown the ability to provide the Philly offense with a more fruitful rushing attack.

This past game, Weaver had 5 of the 6 carries inside of the 20-yard line, and 2 of 3 inside the five (ironically, that 1 went to McCoy for a 1-yd TD). Going up against the 12th toughest defense against the run (Denver Broncos), Weaver makes for a decent flex play, and is the Philly RB to start. Owned in just 5% of Yahoo leagues, Weaver is an alright bet to get 50ish yards and a touchdown this week.

John Paul Foschi, Bengals TE

This is only for those in two Tight End leagues. John Paul Foschi, despite his 3 names -- which usually means someone is insane (John Wilkes Booth, Mary Kate Olson, Anna Nicole Smith, Billy Bob Thornton, among others) -- is a good TE2 option this week. Although this success has really come out of the blue, Foschi racked up 9 targets (including 2 in the RZ), and 7 receptions in Week 15. Owned in virtually no leagues, I'd say he cracks my top 15 for TEs this week.

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Guys who keep you up at night

The Browns RBs

Wow. Many of us (fantasy writer people) knew Harrison was very talented, but anyone that tells you they saw this coming is full of it. Eric Mangini's use of his RBs makes such little sense, but facing Oakland this week one of them should be in line for a nice fantasy day. Could Mangini really put Harrison back on the bench after putting up close to 300 yards on the ground? I don't think so, but really, your guess is as good as mine.

I think Harrison is a good RB2 play this week, but understand that it comes with the risk of Mangini being a Mangidiot. I still think Chris Jennings is a good flex play, and you know how I love me the Joshua Cribbs at WR3 facing awful defenses.

Maurice Morris, Lions RB

Probably the 2nd most surprising happening of this past weekend, Maurice Morris went off against a slightly above average run defense in Arizona. While many owners have run to the waiver wire to grab Morris in hopes of him winning them a championship, proceed with caution. Morris is facing a top-5 run defense on the road in San Francisco, and could end up being a huge dud. Personally, I wouldn't rely on Morris to be anything more than a flex play.

The Texans RBs

Gary Kubiak has been faced with the unfortunate task of deciding between a bunch of crappy RBs lately (kind of like having to choose the skinniest kid at fat camp) and his waffling has hurt fantasy owners much more than his team. I am now out of the reading-Kubiak's-mind sweepstakes; stay away from Texans RBs, far far away.

Updated Red-Zone Statistics for RBs, WRs, and TEs

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<TABLE class=tableizer-table>
<TBODY><TR class=tableizer-firstrow><TH>Player</TH><TH>Team</TH><TH>RZ Car</TH><TH>Team RZ</TH><TH>RZ%</TH><TH>GL Car</TH><TH>Team GL</TH><TH>GL %</TH><TH>TD</TH><TH>RZ tar</TH><TH>RZ Chances</TH></TR><TR><TD>Maurice Jones-Drew</TD><TD>Jacksonville Jaguars</TD><TD>63</TD><TD>67</TD><TD>94.0%</TD><TD>24</TD><TD>24</TD><TD>100.0%</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>72</TD></TR><TR><TD>Adrian Peterson</TD><TD>Minnesota Vikings</TD><TD>60</TD><TD>82</TD><TD>73.2%</TD><TD>28</TD><TD>33</TD><TD>84.8%</TD><TD>12</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>63</TD></TR><TR><TD>Joseph Addai</TD><TD>Indiannapolis Colts</TD><TD>46</TD><TD>73</TD><TD>63.0%</TD><TD>14</TD><TD>22</TD><TD>63.6%</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>55</TD></TR><TR><TD>Matt Forte</TD><TD>Chicago Bears</TD><TD>48</TD><TD>63</TD><TD>76.2%</TD><TD>15</TD><TD>18</TD><TD>83.3%</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>51</TD></TR><TR><TD>Ladanian Tomlinson</TD><TD>San Diego Chargers</TD><TD>49</TD><TD>70</TD><TD>70.0%</TD><TD>28</TD><TD>33</TD><TD>84.8%</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>50</TD></TR><TR><TD>Brandon Jacobs</TD><TD>New York Giants</TD><TD>46</TD><TD>75</TD><TD>61.3%</TD><TD>14</TD><TD>21</TD><TD>66.7%</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>50</TD></TR><TR><TD>Knowshon Moreno</TD><TD>Denver Broncos</TD><TD>45</TD><TD>68</TD><TD>66.2%</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>15</TD><TD>66.7%</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>50</TD></TR><TR><TD>Ray Rice</TD><TD>Baltimore Ravens</TD><TD>39</TD><TD>70</TD><TD>55.7%</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>18</TD><TD>33.3%</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>48</TD></TR><TR><TD>Ricky Williams</TD><TD>Miami Dolphins</TD><TD>38</TD><TD>88</TD><TD>43.2%</TD><TD>14</TD><TD>30</TD><TD>46.7%</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>46</TD></TR><TR><TD>Cedric Benson</TD><TD>Cincinnati Bengals</TD><TD>42</TD><TD>44</TD><TD>95.5%</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>100.0%</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>44</TD></TR><TR><TD>Jonathan Stewart</TD><TD>Carolina Panthers</TD><TD>41</TD><TD>68</TD><TD>60.3%</TD><TD>16</TD><TD>27</TD><TD>59.3%</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>43</TD></TR><TR><TD>Laurence Maroney</TD><TD>New England Patriots</TD><TD>41</TD><TD>76</TD><TD>53.9%</TD><TD>14</TD><TD>21</TD><TD>66.7%</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>41</TD></TR><TR><TD>Ryan Grant</TD><TD>Green Bay Packers</TD><TD>33</TD><TD>47</TD><TD>70.2%</TD><TD>13</TD><TD>16</TD><TD>81.3%</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>40</TD></TR><TR><TD>Pierre Thomas</TD><TD>New Orleans Saints</TD><TD>29</TD><TD>80</TD><TD>36.3%</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>26</TD><TD>30.8%</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>37</TD></TR><TR><TD>Thomas Jones</TD><TD>New York Jets</TD><TD>35</TD><TD>54</TD><TD>64.8%</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>90.9%</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>36</TD></TR><TR><TD>Marion Barber</TD><TD>Dallas Cowboys</TD><TD>33</TD><TD>49</TD><TD>67.3%</TD><TD>17</TD><TD>19</TD><TD>89.5%</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>35</TD></TR><TR><TD>Steven Jackson</TD><TD>St. Louis Rams</TD><TD>31</TD><TD>33</TD><TD>93.9%</TD><TD>13</TD><TD>13</TD><TD>100.0%</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>35</TD></TR><TR><TD>DeAngelo Williams</TD><TD>Carolina Panthers</TD><TD>24</TD><TD>55</TD><TD>43.6%</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>21</TD><TD>47.6%</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>35</TD></TR><TR><TD>Chris Johnson</TD><TD>Tennesee Titans</TD><TD>29</TD><TD>49</TD><TD>59.2%</TD><TD>12</TD><TD>18</TD><TD>66.7%</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>34</TD></TR><TR><TD>Chris Brown</TD><TD>Houston Texans</TD><TD>27</TD><TD>69</TD><TD>39.1%</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>17</TD><TD>41.2%</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>32</TD></TR><TR><TD>Frank Gore</TD><TD>San Francisco 49ers</TD><TD>22</TD><TD>25</TD><TD>88.0%</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>100.0%</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>31</TD></TR><TR><TD>Darren Sproles</TD><TD>San Diego Chargers</TD><TD>22</TD><TD>84</TD><TD>26.2%</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>34</TD><TD>11.8%</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>31</TD></TR><TR><TD>Reggie Bush</TD><TD>New Orleans Saints</TD><TD>17</TD><TD>80</TD><TD>21.3%</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>26</TD><TD>11.5%</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>14</TD><TD>31</TD></TR><TR><TD>Rashard Mendenhall</TD><TD>Pittsburgh Steelers</TD><TD>27</TD><TD>38</TD><TD>71.1%</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>80.0%</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>30</TD></TR><TR><TD>Amhad Bradshaw</TD><TD>New York Giants</TD><TD>28</TD><TD>75</TD><TD>37.3%</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>21</TD><TD>33.3%</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>29</TD></TR><TR><TD>Mike Bell</TD><TD>New Orleans Saints</TD><TD>28</TD><TD>80</TD><TD>35.0%</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>26</TD><TD>42.3%</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>28</TD></TR><TR><TD>Fred Jackson</TD><TD>Buffalo Bills</TD><TD>24</TD><TD>46</TD><TD>52.2%</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>60.0%</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>28</TD></TR><TR><TD>Beanie Wells</TD><TD>Arizona Cardinals</TD><TD>28</TD><TD>50</TD><TD>56.0%</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>18</TD><TD>22.2%</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>28</TD></TR><TR><TD>Willis McGahee</TD><TD>Baltimore Ravens</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>70</TD><TD>32.9%</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>18</TD><TD>55.6%</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>27</TD></TR><TR><TD>LeSean McCoy</TD><TD>Philadelphia Eagles</TD><TD>21</TD><TD>35</TD><TD>60.0%</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>15</TD><TD>33.3%</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>26</TD></TR><TR><TD>Marshawn Lynch</TD><TD>Buffalo Bills</TD><TD>22</TD><TD>38</TD><TD>57.9%</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>44.4%</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>26</TD></TR><TR><TD>Michael Turner</TD><TD>Atlanta Falcons </TD><TD>24</TD><TD>29</TD><TD>82.8%</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>100.0%</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>25</TD></TR><TR><TD>Tim Hightower</TD><TD>Arizona Cardinals</TD><TD>21</TD><TD>50</TD><TD>42.0%</TD><TD>13</TD><TD>18</TD><TD>72.2%</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>24</TD></TR><TR><TD>Chestor Taylor</TD><TD>Minnesota Vikings</TD><TD>14</TD><TD>82</TD><TD>17.1%</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>33</TD><TD>12.1%</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>23</TD></TR><TR><TD>Justin Forsett</TD><TD>Seattle Seahawks</TD><TD>17</TD><TD>28</TD><TD>60.7%</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>55.6%</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>22</TD></TR><TR><TD>Jamal Charles</TD><TD>Kansas City Chiefs</TD><TD>16</TD><TD>33</TD><TD>48.5%</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>42.9%</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>21</TD></TR><TR><TD>Kevin Faulk</TD><TD>New England Patriots</TD><TD>12</TD><TD>76</TD><TD>15.8%</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>21</TD><TD>4.8%</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>20</TD></TR><TR><TD>Jason Snelling</TD><TD>Atlanta Falcons </TD><TD>19</TD><TD>48</TD><TD>39.6%</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>19</TD><TD>42.1%</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>19</TD></TR><TR><TD>Ryan Moats</TD><TD>Houston Texans</TD><TD>16</TD><TD>69</TD><TD>23.2%</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>17</TD><TD>41.2%</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>18</TD></TR><TR><TD>Donald Brown</TD><TD>Indiannapolis Colts</TD><TD>18</TD><TD>73</TD><TD>24.7%</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>22</TD><TD>27.3%</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>18</TD></TR><TR><TD>Correll Buckhalter</TD><TD>Denver Broncos</TD><TD>16</TD><TD>62</TD><TD>25.8%</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>12</TD><TD>16.7%</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>18</TD></TR><TR><TD>Lendale White</TD><TD>Tennesee Titans</TD><TD>15</TD><TD>49</TD><TD>30.6%</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>18</TD><TD>27.8%</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>17</TD></TR><TR><TD>Jerome Harrison</TD><TD>Cleveland Browns</TD><TD>14</TD><TD>42</TD><TD>33.3%</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>9.1%</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>16</TD></TR><TR><TD>Cadillac Williams</TD><TD>Tampa Bay Buccaneers</TD><TD>12</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>52.2%</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>50.0%</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>15</TD></TR><TR><TD>Tashard Choice</TD><TD>Dallas Cowboys</TD><TD>13</TD><TD>44</TD><TD>29.5%</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>15</TD><TD>26.7%</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>15</TD></TR><TR><TD>Julius Jones</TD><TD>Seattle Seahawks</TD><TD>13</TD><TD>19</TD><TD>68.4%</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>100.0%</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>15</TD></TR><TR><TD>Justin Fargas</TD><TD>Oakland Raiders</TD><TD>13</TD><TD>28</TD><TD>46.4%</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>15</TD><TD>40.0%</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>14</TD></TR><TR><TD>Brian Leonard</TD><TD>Cincinnati Bengals</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>44</TD><TD>20.5%</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>33.3%</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>14</TD></TR><TR><TD>Willie Parker</TD><TD>Pittsburgh Steelers</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>26</TD><TD>38.5%</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>50.0%</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>12</TD></TR><TR><TD>Derrick Ward</TD><TD>Tampa Bay Buccaneers</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>39.1%</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>40.0%</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>11</TD></TR><TR><TD>Felix Jones</TD><TD>Dallas Cowboys</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>44</TD><TD>18.2%</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>17</TD><TD>5.9%</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>11</TD></TR><TR><TD>Rod Cartright</TD><TD>Washington Redskins</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>45</TD><TD>17.8%</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>15</TD><TD>20.0%</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>10</TD></TR><TR><TD>Michael Bush</TD><TD>Oakland Raiders</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>28</TD><TD>32.1%</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>15</TD><TD>46.7%</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>9</TD></TR><TR><TD>Mike Hart</TD><TD>Indiannapolis Colts</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>73</TD><TD>9.6%</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>22</TD><TD>9.1%</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>8</TD></TR><TR><TD>Sammy Morris</TD><TD>New England Patriots</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>76</TD><TD>9.2%</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>21</TD><TD>9.5%</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>8</TD></TR><TR><TD>Le'Ron McClain</TD><TD>Baltimore Ravens</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>70</TD><TD>8.6%</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>18</TD><TD>11.1%</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>7</TD></TR><TR><TD>Shonn Greene</TD><TD>New York Jets</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>52</TD><TD>11.5%</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>0.0%</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>7</TD></TR><TR><TD>Quinton Ganther</TD><TD>Washington Redskins</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>45</TD><TD>13.3%</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>15</TD><TD>26.7%</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>6</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

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<TABLE class=tableizer-table>
<TBODY><TR class=tableizer-firstrow><TH>Player</TH><TH>Team </TH><TH>RZ Targets</TH><TH>Team RZ</TH><TH>RZ%</TH><TH>TD</TH></TR><TR><TD>Brandon Marshall</TD><TD>Denver Broncos</TD><TD>34</TD><TD>74</TD><TD>45.9%</TD><TD>8</TD></TR><TR><TD>Brent Celek</TD><TD>Philadelphia Eagles</TD><TD>26</TD><TD>81</TD><TD>32.1%</TD><TD>6</TD></TR><TR><TD>Marques Colston</TD><TD>New Orleans Saints</TD><TD>26</TD><TD>95</TD><TD>27.4%</TD><TD>8</TD></TR><TR><TD>Andre Johnson</TD><TD>Houston Texans</TD><TD>25</TD><TD>77</TD><TD>32.5%</TD><TD>6</TD></TR><TR><TD>Tony Gonzalez</TD><TD>Atlanta Falcons</TD><TD>24</TD><TD>68</TD><TD>35.3%</TD><TD>4</TD></TR><TR><TD>Steve Smith</TD><TD>New York Giants</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>68</TD><TD>33.8%</TD><TD>6</TD></TR><TR><TD>Randy Moss</TD><TD>New England Patriots</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>79</TD><TD>29.1%</TD><TD>5</TD></TR><TR><TD>Larry Fitzgerald</TD><TD>Arizona Cardinals</TD><TD>22</TD><TD>67</TD><TD>32.8%</TD><TD>8</TD></TR><TR><TD>Miles Austin</TD><TD>Dallas Cowboys</TD><TD>21</TD><TD>72</TD><TD>29.2%</TD><TD>5</TD></TR><TR><TD>TJ Houshmandzadeh</TD><TD>Seattle Seahawks</TD><TD>21</TD><TD>72</TD><TD>29.2%</TD><TD>2</TD></TR><TR><TD>Greg Olsen</TD><TD>Chicago Bears</TD><TD>20</TD><TD>69</TD><TD>29.0%</TD><TD>4</TD></TR><TR><TD>Reggie Wayne</TD><TD>Indianapolis Colts</TD><TD>20</TD><TD>85</TD><TD>23.5%</TD><TD>9</TD></TR><TR><TD>Sidney Rice</TD><TD>Minnesota Vikings</TD><TD>19</TD><TD>75</TD><TD>25.3%</TD><TD>3</TD></TR><TR><TD>Hines Ward</TD><TD>Pittsburgh Steelers</TD><TD>18</TD><TD>60</TD><TD>30.0%</TD><TD>4</TD></TR><TR><TD>Roddy White </TD><TD>Atlanta Falcons</TD><TD>18</TD><TD>68</TD><TD>26.5%</TD><TD>3</TD></TR><TR><TD>Vernon Davis</TD><TD>San Francisco 49ers</TD><TD>17</TD><TD>54</TD><TD>31.5%</TD><TD>9</TD></TR><TR><TD>Chad Ochocinco</TD><TD>Cincinnati Bengals</TD><TD>17</TD><TD>70</TD><TD>24.3%</TD><TD>6</TD></TR><TR><TD>Andre Caldwell</TD><TD>Cincinnati Bengals</TD><TD>17</TD><TD>70</TD><TD>24.3%</TD><TD>3</TD></TR><TR><TD>Austin Collie</TD><TD>Indianapolis Colts</TD><TD>17</TD><TD>85</TD><TD>20.0%</TD><TD>5</TD></TR><TR><TD>Dwayne Bowe</TD><TD>Kansas City Chiefs</TD><TD>16</TD><TD>54</TD><TD>29.6%</TD><TD>3</TD></TR><TR><TD>Roy Williams</TD><TD>Dallas Cowboys</TD><TD>16</TD><TD>72</TD><TD>22.2%</TD><TD>4</TD></TR><TR><TD>Bernard Berrian</TD><TD>Minnesota Vikings</TD><TD>16</TD><TD>75</TD><TD>21.3%</TD><TD>3</TD></TR><TR><TD>Visante Schiancoe</TD><TD>Minnesota Vikings</TD><TD>16</TD><TD>75</TD><TD>21.3%</TD><TD>9</TD></TR><TR><TD>Wes Welker</TD><TD>New England Patriots</TD><TD>16</TD><TD>79</TD><TD>20.3%</TD><TD>2</TD></TR><TR><TD>Jason Avant</TD><TD>Philadelphia Eagles</TD><TD>16</TD><TD>81</TD><TD>19.8%</TD><TD>2</TD></TR><TR><TD>Steve Smith</TD><TD>Carolina Panthers</TD><TD>15</TD><TD>46</TD><TD>32.6%</TD><TD>3</TD></TR><TR><TD>Mike Sims-Walker</TD><TD>Jacksonville Jaguars</TD><TD>15</TD><TD>51</TD><TD>29.4%</TD><TD>6</TD></TR><TR><TD>Nate Washington</TD><TD>Tennesee Titans</TD><TD>15</TD><TD>52</TD><TD>28.8%</TD><TD>4</TD></TR><TR><TD>Vincent Jackson</TD><TD>San Diego Chargers</TD><TD>15</TD><TD>56</TD><TD>26.8%</TD><TD>5</TD></TR><TR><TD>Santana Moss</TD><TD>Washington Redskins</TD><TD>15</TD><TD>64</TD><TD>23.4%</TD><TD>1</TD></TR><TR><TD>Donald Driver</TD><TD>Green Bay Packers</TD><TD>15</TD><TD>85</TD><TD>17.6%</TD><TD>4</TD></TR><TR><TD>Pierre Garcon</TD><TD>Indianapolis Colts</TD><TD>15</TD><TD>85</TD><TD>17.6%</TD><TD>1</TD></TR><TR><TD>Josh Morgan</TD><TD>San Francisco 49ers</TD><TD>14</TD><TD>54</TD><TD>25.9%</TD><TD>2</TD></TR><TR><TD>Heath Miller</TD><TD>Pittsburgh Steelers</TD><TD>14</TD><TD>60</TD><TD>23.3%</TD><TD>4</TD></TR><TR><TD>Jhonny Knox</TD><TD>Chicago Bears</TD><TD>14</TD><TD>69</TD><TD>20.3%</TD><TD>3</TD></TR><TR><TD>Bo Scaife</TD><TD>Tennesee Titans</TD><TD>13</TD><TD>52</TD><TD>25.0%</TD><TD>1</TD></TR><TR><TD>Antonio Gates</TD><TD>San Diego Chargers</TD><TD>13</TD><TD>56</TD><TD>23.2%</TD><TD>5</TD></TR><TR><TD>Dallas Clark</TD><TD>Indianapolis Colts</TD><TD>13</TD><TD>85</TD><TD>15.3%</TD><TD>7</TD></TR><TR><TD>Braylon Edwards</TD><TD>New York Jets</TD><TD>12</TD><TD>41</TD><TD>29.3%</TD><TD>3</TD></TR><TR><TD>Lee Evans</TD><TD>Buffalo Bills</TD><TD>12</TD><TD>44</TD><TD>27.3%</TD><TD>2</TD></TR><TR><TD>Derrick Mason</TD><TD>Baltimore Ravens</TD><TD>12</TD><TD>46</TD><TD>26.1%</TD><TD>4</TD></TR><TR><TD>Anthony Fasano</TD><TD>Miami Dolphins</TD><TD>12</TD><TD>52</TD><TD>23.1%</TD><TD>2</TD></TR><TR><TD>Kevin Boss</TD><TD>New York Giants</TD><TD>12</TD><TD>68</TD><TD>17.6%</TD><TD>4</TD></TR><TR><TD>John Carlson</TD><TD>Seattle Seahawks</TD><TD>12</TD><TD>72</TD><TD>16.7%</TD><TD>3</TD></TR><TR><TD>DeSean Jackson</TD><TD>Philadelphia Eagles</TD><TD>12</TD><TD>81</TD><TD>14.8%</TD><TD>1</TD></TR><TR><TD>Greg Jennings</TD><TD>Green Bay Packers</TD><TD>12</TD><TD>85</TD><TD>14.1%</TD><TD>1</TD></TR><TR><TD>Terrel Owens</TD><TD>Buffalo Bills</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>44</TD><TD>25.0%</TD><TD>0</TD></TR><TR><TD>Fred Davis</TD><TD>Washington Redskins</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>64</TD><TD>17.2%</TD><TD>5</TD></TR><TR><TD>Anquan Boldin</TD><TD>Arizona Cardinals</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>67</TD><TD>16.4%</TD><TD>4</TD></TR><TR><TD>Mario Mannigham</TD><TD>New York Giants</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>68</TD><TD>16.2%</TD><TD>3</TD></TR><TR><TD>Devin Hester</TD><TD>Chicago Bears</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>69</TD><TD>15.9%</TD><TD>1</TD></TR><TR><TD>Laveranues Coles</TD><TD>Cincinnati Bengals</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>70</TD><TD>15.7%</TD><TD>2</TD></TR><TR><TD>Kevin Walter</TD><TD>Houston Texans</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>77</TD><TD>14.3%</TD><TD>2</TD></TR><TR><TD>Calvin Johnson</TD><TD>Detroit Lions</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>37</TD><TD>27.0%</TD><TD>2</TD></TR><TR><TD>Dustin Keller</TD><TD>New York Jets</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>41</TD><TD>24.4%</TD><TD>2</TD></TR><TR><TD>Antonio Bryant</TD><TD>Tampa Bay Buccaneers</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>53</TD><TD>18.9%</TD><TD>1</TD></TR><TR><TD>Santonio Holmes</TD><TD>Pittsburgh Steelers</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>60</TD><TD>16.7%</TD><TD>0</TD></TR><TR><TD>Steve Breaston</TD><TD>Arizona Cardinals</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>67</TD><TD>14.9%</TD><TD>2</TD></TR><TR><TD>Patrick Crayton</TD><TD>Dallas Cowboys</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>72</TD><TD>13.9%</TD><TD>1</TD></TR><TR><TD>Nate Burleson</TD><TD>Seattle Seahawks</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>72</TD><TD>13.9%</TD><TD>2</TD></TR><TR><TD>Tony Sheffler</TD><TD>Denver Broncos</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>74</TD><TD>13.5%</TD><TD>2</TD></TR><TR><TD>Donald Lee</TD><TD>Green Bay Packers</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>85</TD><TD>11.8%</TD><TD>1</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

[HacheMan]

Saving Megatron?

Drew Stanton was named the Lions starter for Sunday's game against the 49ers. Yawn. Can he turn around the tailspin that Calvin Johnson has been in since Daunte Culpepper took over? Now there's an interesting question.

This much we know: Johnson is only a WR1 option when Matthew Stafford is under center. Daunte Culepper has appeared in six games this season and thrown one touchdown against five interceptions. You don't need a long list of stats to tell you Culpepper was sapping all the life out of Megatron (seven catches, 72 yards, zero touchdowns in the last two games). The bottom line is that Culpepper is donezo.

So Stanton only has one place to go from the bar that Culpepper has set. The second-round pick out of Michigan State in 2007 has excellent mobility, setting the stage for some possible bootlegs, roll outs and broken plays that will help get Calvin free.

But before we get too excited, know that Stanton has a 22.1 passer rating and a 8.6 yards per completion average in his limited time under center this season. It has the potential to be better for Calvin, but it won't be a beauty.

Bottom line: Johnson can be considered no more than a risky WR2. But at least there's a little extra upside this week.

Editor's Note: For all you SnapDraft players out there, we're now highlighting some value picks on Pancake Blocks weekly. Click here for more info on competing against some Rotoworld staffers..

NEWS OF THE DAY #2
Brutal. That's the best way to describe the situation that the Colts are putting fantasy owners in.

During Tuesday's live chat, about 70 percent of the questions were related to the Colts and their quandary. The e-mails have been pouring like water. Will they go full bore in a quest for a perfect season? Will they rest? Should I be playing Alex Smith or Peyton Manning? (Didn't ever think I'd be answering that).

Here's the bottom line, as of Wednesday night. We don't know. All we have are clues. Here are a few points before we get into the quotes from today:

1. The Colts have a history of resting players at the end of seasons. Coach Jim Caldwell and president Bill Polian have gently suggested that will continue to some degree. Will they change their mind considering they only have one Super Bowl ring using this strategy? Probably not.

2. Anyone that is hurt can not be trusted. So, since Pierre Garcon missed practice with a hand injury Wednesday, he can safely be sat. Anthony Gonzalez (knee) is still out.

These are the relevant players that the Colts listed as "limited" Wednesday: Reggie Wayne (foot), Peyton Manning (glute), Joseph Addai (knee), Mike Hart (ankle), Chad Simpson (chest). None of those guys are really hurt, but they're nicked up just like every player in the NFL.

3. The Jets defense is for real and will be playing very hard. Not only are they still alive in the playoff chase (yes, really Rex Ryan), but they don't want to be in the Colts' book on the way to history. Darrelle Revis, David Harris and friends are the No. 1 defense in the league in both points and yards allowed per game. 4. Perhaps most importantly, the line for the game has been set at Colts -5.5 (for entertainment purposes only). If this was two weeks ago, that line would be more like Colts -13. So the sharpies in Vegas think there's going to be some significant resting going on as well.

Now, here's what was said yesterday.

* Dwight Freeney was a guest on ESPN Radio's "Mike and Mike" show. "No matter who is gonna be out there, no matter how many reps they're gonna take - I'm sure some guys are will be on kind of a pitch count, you know a play count and we're going to try to take it like that."

* Jim Caldwell was asked for the billionth time what he plans to do Sunday. "The plan is to attack [Sunday's game] just like we do every week. We're going to prepare to go in and play hard and we haven't made any declaration on who's playing how long or anything of that nature, much like we did last week. We did the same thing last week and focused in on the ball game and adjusted as the flow of the game went on."

* Peyton Manning said no coaches have said anything to him about plans. "As soon as [Caldwell] says something different in that meeting, I'm telling you, [the media] will be the first to know."

Bottom line: With all the clues we have now, it's hard to see the Colts starters playing more than a half of football. Adjust accordingly. And by that, we mean find other options.

NEWS OF THE DAY #3
Julius Jones missed Wednesday's practice with that rib injury we speculated about in Monday's Dose. It's still early, but it's a good sign for owners hoping they can count on Justin Forsett this week. The Seahawks obviously have nothing to play for and would be wise to sit Jones down, making Forsett a decent RB2/flex play.

NEWS OF THE DAY #4
Here we go again with the Texans' backfield. Gary Kubiak said he will "definitely" give rookie Arian Foster another chance. Foster was benched last week after -- you guessed it -- another fumble.

"He's a young player, but he'll go right back to his duties this week. He's very talented. He can help us win this weekend, but he has to have a good week and be ready to do his job," Kubiak said.

At this point, we can't recommend any of the Texans' backs. It's a "hot hand" situation. What we do know is that fumbling will get you benched.

Editor's Note: For rankings, complete projections, and a host of other exclusive material for Week 16, 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
Matt Ryan (toe) missed practice but will almost certainly start again Sunday. … Jason Campbell (shoulder) will start Sunday.

INJURY QUICK SLANTS: RUNNING BACKS
DeAngelo Williams (ankle) missed practice Wednesday. We could be headed for another game-time decision. … Michael Turner (ankle) missed practice and doesn't appear likely to play Sunday. Jason Snelling and not Jerious Norwood would be the fantasy play. … Fred Taylor (foot) returned to a full practice. … Justin Fargas (knee) missed practice, opening the door for another Michael Bush week. … Steven Jackson (back) missed practice but will "gut it out," as he said. … Reggie Bush (hamstring) got in a limited practice and seems likely to play. … Brian Westbrook (concussion) passed his latest concussion tests and appears on track to dress Sunday.

INJURY QUICK SLANTS: WIDE RECEIVERS AND TIGHT ENDS
Jeremy Maclin (foot) returned to practice Wednesday and is questionable for this week. … Hines Ward (hamstring) missed practice and is a question mark for Sunday. … Mark Clayton (knee) and Kelley Washington (ankle) appear on track to return this week. … Hakeem Nicks (hamstring) practiced on a limited basis, putting him on track to play Sunday. … Devin Hester (calf) returned to a limited practice, but he's not much of a fantasy play against the Vikes on Monday night. … Anthony Gonazlez (knee) did not put in that rumored practice. … Percy Harvin (neck, migraines) is not on the Vikings injury report. … Jeremy Shockey (toe) retuned to a limited practice, killing any waiver wire potential David Thomas had.

DEPTH CHART QUICK SLANTS
Ricky Schmitt will kick for the Niners this week in place of Joe Nedney (hamstring). … Charlie Frye will start for the Raiders this week. … Keith Null took about 70 percent of the first-team reps Wednesday. … Troy Polamalu (knee) probably won't play until Week 17 at the earliest. … Adam Vinatieri (knee) says he plans on kicking this week, but we have to be skeptical there. Regardless, it's a kicking situation to avoid. … Ryan Fitzpatrick (ankle) missed practice and Brian Brohm will almost certainly start Sunday.

 

[HacheMan]

Championship Week Ranks

Fantasy league championships traditionally take place in Week 16 to avoid NFL teams resting players.

Unfortunately for many of us, the Colts clinched the top seed in the AFC three weeks early this year. And while the Colts played to win last Thursday in Jacksonville, I don't expect them to do the same this week. A few of the reasons why:

1. History: In 2005, the Colts also had everything clinched two weeks early. Peyton Manning played two series in a road loss to Seattle, throwing 12 passes. Brandon Stokley and Troy Walters took over the receiving duties from Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison. The Colts have also rested after a series or two in multiple Week 17 games when given the chance.

2. Bill Polian: The most important man in the Colts organization, along with Peyton Manning, has said repeatedly this season that momentum is overrated and he's not worried about rust. He's said the Colts would continue to have the same approach as the past. The Colts played in Week 15, but they also never clinched with three weeks left before. Polian is ultimately most important voice in the organization, save owner Robert Irsay.

3. Jim Caldwell's comments: Last week, Caldwell essentially promised to play his starters all four quarters. This week, he was very open about not making any promises. "Right now I could not tell you exactly what's it going to be, whether a guy is going to play one series or the entire game."

We don't need a coachspeak translator to understand what he means.

With all this in mind, I can't recommend playing Manning, Reggie Wayne, and Joseph Addai this week. Pierre Garcon and Donald Brown are iffy for injury reasons. Austin Collie may actually be a slight upgrade because someone has to play receiver. Hank Baskett and possibly Anthony Gonzalez will get in the mix. One thing to remember: They all seem likely to play with rookie Curtis Painter against the awesome Jets pass defense.

I'm surprised how many folks out there are surprised I'm taking this approach. Some have asked: "Isn't there a chance the Colts play the entire game?"

My answer: Of course. Crazier things happen every week. Jerome freaking Harrison just ran for 286 yards! But it's not especially likely the Colts play four quarters given the evidence we have. If there's even a 50% chance that Manning doesn't play after halftime, is that a chance you want to take? (I think the percentage is higher.)

The fact that the Colts, and especially Wayne, face perhaps the toughest pass defense in football makes the decision to sit Colts even easier.

Sure, there is some risk in missing out on four quarters of Peyton Manning. There is risk in every decision. He's got you this far; he's Peyton Manning! One emailer asked if four quarters of Kyle Orton is better than two of Peyton Manning. (It's a question philosophers may still be discussing in 50 years.)

Given what we know, I'll take my chances with a player I know will be allowed to score fantasy points until the final whistle.

Oh, and Happy Holidays people! Congrats for making it this far and good luck.


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

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Drew Brees</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Aaron Rodgers</TD><TD>vs. SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Matt Schaub</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Philip Rivers</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Kurt Warner</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Ben Roethlisberger</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Tom Brady</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>Probable(finger)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Tony Romo</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Donovan McNabb</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Vince Young</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Eli Manning</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Alex Smith</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Joe Flacco</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Carson Palmer</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Brett Favre</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Chad Henne</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Jason Campbell</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>Probable(shoulder)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Kyle Orton</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>David Garrard</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Matt Ryan</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>Probable(toe)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Jay Cutler</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Peyton Manning</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>Probable(abdomen)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Matt Moore</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Josh Freeman</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Matt Hasselbeck</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Matt Cassel</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Mark Sanchez</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Derek Anderson</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Drew Stanton</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Keith Null</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Charlie Frye</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Brian Brohm</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>Curtis Painter</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

QB Notes: Notes will be included with rankings changes by the end Christmas Day. Yes, we'll be pumping out all our usual blurbs and columns. And tweets. In the meantime, check out Adam Levitan's Snapdraft picks for Week 16.
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[SIZE=+1]Week 16 Running Backs[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Chris Johnson</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Maurice Jones-Drew</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Frank Gore</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Adrian Peterson</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Ray Rice</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Cedric Benson</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Jamaal Charles</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Steven Jackson</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>Questionable(back)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Thomas Jones</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Ryan Grant</TD><TD>vs. SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Jerome Harrison</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Ricky Williams</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Rashard Mendenhall</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>Probable(hip)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>DeAngelo Williams</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>Status Uncertain (ankle)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Fred Jackson</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Chris Wells</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Brandon Jacobs</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Marion Barber</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Pierre Thomas</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Matt Forte</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Knowshon Moreno</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>LaDainian Tomlinson</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Jonathan Stewart</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>Move up 10 spots if no Williams</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Ahmad Bradshaw</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>Probable(foot)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Laurence Maroney</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>Taylor return could hurt </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Maurice Morris</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>27</TD><TD>Justin Forsett</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>28</TD><TD>Felix Jones</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>29</TD><TD>Tim Hightower</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>30</TD><TD>LeSean McCoy</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>31</TD><TD>Marshawn Lynch</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>32</TD><TD>Jason Snelling</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>Ranked if Turner's starting. Move up to 19 if not. </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>33</TD><TD>Quinton Ganther</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>34</TD><TD>Reggie Bush</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>Questionable(hamstring)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>35</TD><TD>Michael Bush</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>No Fargas would help </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>36</TD><TD>Shonn Greene</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>37</TD><TD>Ryan Moats</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>38</TD><TD>Darren McFadden</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>39.5</TD><TD>Michael Turner</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>Ranked as if he's playing</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>40</TD><TD>Arian Foster</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>41</TD><TD>Carnell Williams</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>42</TD><TD>Derrick Ward</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>42</TD><TD>Leonard Weaver</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>43</TD><TD>Mike Bell</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>44</TD><TD>Jerious Norwood</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>45</TD><TD>Fred Taylor</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>Questionable(ankle)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>46</TD><TD>Joseph Addai</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>47</TD><TD>Julius Jones</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>Questionable(ribs)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>48</TD><TD>Larry Johnson</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>49</TD><TD>Donald Brown</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>Status Uncertain (chest)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>50</TD><TD>Chester Taylor</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>51</TD><TD>Mike Hart</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>52</TD><TD>Darren Sproles</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>53</TD><TD>Willis McGahee</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>54</TD><TD>Correll Buckhalter</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>Questionable(ankle)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>55</TD><TD>Chris Jennings</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>56</TD><TD>Kevin Faulk</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>57</TD><TD>Sammy Morris</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>58</TD><TD>Willie Parker</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>59</TD><TD>Rock Cartwright</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>60</TD><TD>LenDale White</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>61</TD><TD>Chris Brown</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
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Breaking sports news video. MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL highlights and more.​

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

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Andre Johnson</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Larry Fitzgerald</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Randy Moss</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Wes Welker</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Brandon Marshall</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Vincent Jackson</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Miles Austin</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Anquan Boldin</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Marques Colston</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>DeSean Jackson</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Roddy White</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Chad Ochocinco</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Santonio Holmes</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Greg Jennings</TD><TD>vs. SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Sidney Rice</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Mike Sims-Walker</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>Probable(calf)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Steve Smith</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Steve Smith</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Hines Ward</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>Probable(hamstring)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Derrick Mason</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Donald Driver</TD><TD>vs. SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Calvin Johnson</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>Probable(knee)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Michael Crabtree</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Robert Meachem</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Hakeem Nicks</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>Questionable(hamstring)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>T.J. Houshmandzadeh</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Braylon Edwards</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>Probable(knee)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Antonio Bryant</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD>Probable(groin)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Dwayne Bowe</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Chris Chambers</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Jerricho Cotchery</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Percy Harvin</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>Kenny Britt</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>34</TD><TD>Santana Moss</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>35</TD><TD>Reggie Wayne</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>36</TD><TD>Kevin Walter</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>37</TD><TD>Lee Evans</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>38</TD><TD>Terrell Owens</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>39</TD><TD>Devery Henderson</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>40</TD><TD>Steve Breaston</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>41</TD><TD>Malcom Floyd</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>42</TD><TD>Mario Manningham</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>43</TD><TD>Nate Washington</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>Questionable(ankle)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>44</TD><TD>Johnny Knox</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>45</TD><TD>Austin Collie</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>46</TD><TD>Roy Williams</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>47</TD><TD>Mike Wallace</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>Probable(knee)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>48</TD><TD>Davone Bess</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>49</TD><TD>Josh Morgan</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>50</TD><TD>Torry Holt</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>51</TD><TD>Devin Thomas</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>Questionable(ankle)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>52</TD><TD>Justin Gage</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>53</TD><TD>Bernard Berrian</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>54</TD><TD>Joshua Cribbs</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>55</TD><TD>Earl Bennett</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>56</TD><TD>Pierre Garcon</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>Sidelined(hand)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>57</TD><TD>Deion Branch</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>58</TD><TD>Brandon Gibson</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>59</TD><TD>Laveranues Coles</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>60</TD><TD>Donnie Avery</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>61</TD><TD>Greg Camarillo</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>62</TD><TD>Michael Jenkins</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>63</TD><TD>Mohamed Massaquoi</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>64</TD><TD>Mark Clayton</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>Probable(knee)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>65</TD><TD>James Jones</TD><TD>vs. SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>66</TD><TD>Eddie Royal</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>Sidelined(neck)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>67</TD><TD>Brian Hartline</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
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Breaking sports news video. MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL highlights and more.​

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[SIZE=+1]Week 16 Tight Ends[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Antonio Gates</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Vernon Davis</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Jermichael Finley</TD><TD>vs. SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Tony Gonzalez</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Brent Celek</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Fred Davis</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Jason Witten</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Kellen Winslow</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD>Probable(knee)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Heath Miller</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Dallas Clark</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Greg Olsen</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Kevin Boss</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Zach Miller</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>Probable(concussion)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Visanthe Shiancoe</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Bo Scaife</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Jeremy Shockey</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>Questionable(toe)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>John Carlson</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Marcedes Lewis</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Dustin Keller</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Ben Watson</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Anthony Fasano</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>David Thomas</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Todd Heap</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>Probable(chest)</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

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

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

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

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

 

[HacheMan]

Sack Attack: Schaub will have time to pick Dolphins apart


The Bruno Boys take a look at the top teams in sacks 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>43</TD><TD align=middle>Bears (J.Cutler)</TD><TD align=middle>31</TD><TD align=middle>Luke Warm</TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle>Dolphins</TD><TD align=middle>40</TD><TD align=middle>Texans (M.Schaub)</TD><TD align=middle>23</TD><TD align=middle>Cool & Collected</TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle>Steelers</TD><TD align=middle>40</TD><TD align=middle>Ravens (J.Flacco)</TD><TD align=middle>28</TD><TD align=middle>Luke Warm</TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle>Eagles</TD><TD align=middle>39</TD><TD align=middle>Broncos (K.Orton)</TD><TD align=middle>29</TD><TD align=middle>Luke Warm</TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle>Cardinals</TD><TD align=middle>38</TD><TD align=middle>Rams (K.Boller / K.Null)</TD><TD align=middle>32</TD><TD align=middle>Luke Warm</TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle>Redskins</TD><TD align=middle>38</TD><TD align=middle>Cowboys (T.Romo)</TD><TD align=middle>31</TD><TD align=middle>Luke Warm</TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle>Broncos</TD><TD align=middle>35</TD><TD align=middle>Eagles (D.McNabb)</TD><TD align=middle>30</TD><TD align=middle>Luke Warm</TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle>Cowboys</TD><TD align=middle>34</TD><TD align=middle>Redskins (J.Campbell)</TD><TD align=middle>41</TD><TD align=middle>Feelin' Heat</TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle>Packers</TD><TD align=middle>34</TD><TD align=middle>Seahawks (M.Hasselbeck)</TD><TD align=middle>35</TD><TD align=middle>Feelin' Heat</TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle>49ers</TD><TD align=middle>34</TD><TD align=middle>Lions (D.Stanton / D.Culpepper)</TD><TD align=middle>39</TD><TD align=middle>Feelin' Heat</TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle>Bengals</TD><TD align=middle>33</TD><TD align=middle>Chiefs (M.Cassel)</TD><TD align=middle>44</TD><TD align=middle>Feelin' Heat</TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle>Browns</TD><TD align=middle>33</TD><TD align=middle>Raiders (C.Frye / J.Russell)</TD><TD align=middle>42</TD><TD align=middle>Feelin' Heat</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

[HacheMan]

Matchups: Justifying Jerome
The tail end of this column will be updated into Saturday.

Good luck to everyone.

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

Tampa Bay @ New Orleans

Coming off an upset loss, the healing Saints should be able to impose their will on the 2-12 Bucs at home. While Tampa's defense has improved slightly since Raheem Morris stripped demoted coordinator Jim Bates' playcalling duties, this is still a unit that can be gashed. The Bucs were outgained by Seattle's No. 22 overall offense in terms of both first downs and total yards despite pulling out a rare win last Sunday. Tampa also does not have the pass rush Dallas was able to generate in Week 15 to slow Drew Brees. Expect a big bounce-back game for Brees and continued strong play from Marques Colston, who led the Saints in receiving yards last week.

Robert Meachem is coming off two mediocre games, but continues to outplay Devery Henderson. Lance Moore saw only two targets (catching one) in his Week 15 return from injuries, and appears to have aggravated his high ankle sprain. He probably won't face Tampa Bay. Meachem clearly remains the No. 2 fantasy wideout in New Orleans...David Thomas led the team in targets versus Dallas, but is a weak bet to repeat, especially if Jeremy Shockey (toe) returns...Mike Bell came back from his knee injury in Week 15 to gain just eight yards on four carries, but rudely vultured a goal-line touchdown. Pierre Thomas saw 11 touches -- his fewest since Week 7. The Bucs can't stop the run, but it's still difficult to trust any Saints RB.

The Bucs' unpredictable backfield usage took another twist at Seattle. Carnell Williams, the workhorse in Weeks 13-14, got 13 touches compared to backup Derrick Ward's 20. Entering Week 15, Ward had not seen the ball more than 14 times in a game all year. The Saints don't have a good run defense, particularly when DT Sedrick Ellis (knee) is out, but Tampa's backs are too untrustworthy to start in fantasy title games...The Bucs got their second win of 2009 despite Josh Freeman. Morris has scaled back Freeman's aggressiveness after a pick-plagued beginning to December, limiting the rookie's fantasy upside. He's still worth a two-QB league play.

The Bucs' new conservative, run-based attack features Kellen Winslow. K2 resumed pacing the team in targets last Sunday, catching six for 93 yards. With slot man Sammie Stroughter (broken foot) done for the year, Winslow will get even more looks down the seams. He's a confident top-eight TE1...Antonio Bryant will naturally take a bit of a backseat in the last two games, but is still a quality WR3 in an indoors matchup that could get pass-heavy if the Saints take an early lead. Look for the Bucs' deep threat to mostly see up-and-down rookie Malcolm Jenkins in coverage.

Kansas City @ Cincinnati

Cincinnati's No. 3 rush defense rank looks swell on paper, but the NT Domata Peko-less unit has been lit up by running backs in three straight weeks. Kevin Smith, Adrian Peterson, and San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson/Darren Sproles rotation have combined for three TDs and 391 total yards on 73 touches (5.34 average) during that span. Jamaal Charles is legitimately a top-twelve NFL running back and can't possibly be benched...Brad Cottam posted a rare decent fantasy game by a Chiefs tight end in Week 15, catching four balls for 62 yards. But the awesomely injury-prone former Tennessee Vol landed on I.R. Wednesday with a cracked bone in his vertebra.

The Paul Brown Stadium conditions (34 degrees, 12MPH winds, 30% chance of snow) won't deter passing, but Matt Cassel is no more than a two-QB league option despite coming off his best game of the year (331 yards, two TDs against the Browns). While Dwayne Bowe's return helps Cassel's cause, he'll face a much stingier pass defense this Sunday; Cincinnati allows just 6.6 yards per pass attempt and a 17:17 TD to INT ratio, compared to Cleveland's marks of 8.2 and 20:6...The box score says differently, but Bowe retook his No. 1 receiver role immediately in Week 15. He easily led the Chiefs with ten targets and would be a much better WR3 play than Chris Chambers this week.

The Bengals will take a run-first approach against a Chiefs club that served up the third best all-time rushing performance to career third-stringer Jerome Harrison in Week 15. Cedric Benson's 15-carry, 53-yard effort at San Diego was disappointing last Sunday, but the Bengals had to resort to the pass after falling behind 24-13 early in the third quarter. The Chiefs aren't going to jump out to a lead like the Bolts...The Bengals will perhaps get Larry Johnson more work than usual (he touched the ball four times in Week 15) against his old team, but don't bet on it in fantasy. Marvin Lewis' priority is earning the AFC's No. 3 seed, not pleasing his mid-season running back pickup.

Carson Palmer broke out of his six-game funk in Week 15, throwing for a season-high 314 yards and two TDs against a strong San Diego pass defense. He still isn't a top-12 QB when the Bengals will likely run on 35-40 of their 60-or-so snaps. K.C. is also better at defending the pass than the run...Chad Ochocinco -- not Palmer owners -- is the biggest beneficiary of Palmer's improvement. The Ocho has scored in three straight and is an elite WR1 against a Chiefs secondary short on speed...We can safely chalk up TE John Paul Foschi's seven-catch, 82-yard Week 15 as a fluke. But increased usage of Foschi would cut into Laveranues Coles and Andre Caldwell's numbers.

Houston @ Miami

The Texans have an edge in this one because they can stop what Miami does best (run), though the unpredictable often results when two lopsidedly-different teams do battle. Houston is second in the league in passing; Miami is 23rd. The Fins have the No. 4 rushing offense; the Texans are tied for dead last. Ricky Williams is still a quality RB2 with 10 TDs in his last nine games and at least 20 touches in six straight. It doesn't hurt Williams' matchup that Texans leading tackler Brian Cushing is dealing with foot, rib, and knee injuries. He'll play, but clearly isn't 100 percent.

The Texans' top-12 pass defense is legit, having not allowed a single opposing wide receiver to top 52 yards in the last three weeks. No Fins wideout is worth consideration...Chad Henne showed that he remains a work in progress last Sunday by throwing three picks against a Titans defense that ranks 31st against the pass. Henne will benefit from one of the most favorable non-domed weather forecasts in Week 15 (73 degrees, 30% chance of rain, 9MPH winds) but is only a QB2.

Dolphins LCB Vontae Davis was victimized on two of Vince Young's Week 15 TDs and numerous other big plays. His confidence is surely shaken, so look for Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson to pick on the rookie early at sunny LandShark Stadium. Overall, the Fins rank 23rd against the pass and give up the league's third-highest YPA average (8.1)...The matchup seemingly makes Kevin Walter a more interesting WR3 than usual, but his lack of big-play ability crushes his upside. He's a possession receiver/blocker and only Gregg Rosenthal's No. 36 WR option this week.

Arian Foster was poised for a big Week 15 early, getting most of the action on Houston's opening drive and generating 20 yards on his first three touches. However, he was benched for the day after fumbling at the end of an otherwise impressive 13-yard catch, badly burning fantasy owners. What made Foster such an attractive fantasy play last week was his matchup against the Rams. Miami is much better in run defense, making the Texans' backfield one to avoid. Foster will probably wind up with a bigger workload than Ryan Moats or Chris Brown, but you don't want to bet on it.

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Seattle @ Green Bay

Weather at Lambeau is set to be mild (28 degrees, 6MPH winds, 30% chance of flurries), allowing Green Bay to maintain a pass-first approach if coach Mike McCarthy so chooses. Opting to avoid the Steelers' No. 1 run defense last week, the Pack tried a whopping 48 throws against eight runs for Ryan Grant. Rodgers accounted for four all-purpose touchdowns and 405 yards to reassume his ranking as the No. 1 QB in fantasy football. Along with Donald Driver (as a WR2), Jermichael Finley (TE1), and Greg Jennings (WR3), Rodgers is a must-start against Seattle's No. 29 pass defense.

Most likely, though, Green Bay will be more balanced offensively this week. Grant is a potent late-season runner (4.6 YPC since the halfway point), and Seattle's run defense pales in comparison to Pittsburgh's. With three TDs in his last two games and Seahawks SLB Aaron Curry (stinger) out, Grant is a rock-solid RB2...Don't get cute when analyzing the Packers' favorable matchup and use No. 3 receiver James Jones. With Finley coming on, Jones has just 36 yards in his last two outings. Jones is also playing with torn ligaments in his hand...The Seahawks don't defend tight ends well. Finley, now leading the Packers in targets on a weekly basis, is a legit top-three TE play.

Deion Branch gets another start with Nate Burleson (ankle) out, but was nothing short of awful in his Week 15 opportunity. Finishing with just 28 yards, Branch gave poor effort on two of Matt Hasselbeck's interceptions and couldn't explode off his surgically repaired knee for deep balls. The 30-year-old may be done...T.J. Houshmandzadeh did capitalize on Burleson's absence (7-73), but probably won't again this week. The Packers figure to shadow Housh with Defensive POY candidate Charles Woodson. Look for something like four catches for 30 yards from Houshmandzadeh.

John Carlson has scored in back-to-back games, but few teams defend tight ends as well as Green Bay. You can do better...Same goes for Matt Hasselbeck, at least in standard (one-QB) leagues. Hasselbeck is coming off a four-pick performance, and without Burleson lacks big-play ability in his receiver corps...Julius Jones aggravated his rib injury in the Seahawks' Week 15 loss. Green Bay boasts the NFC's top run defense, making the Seattle backfield one to avoid in fantasy title week. Justin Forsett will only be a FLEX option in PPR leagues if Jones misses the game. Julius is expected to play.

Carolina @ NY Giants

Matt Moore's rapport with Steve Smith is real. The duo has hooked up on four bombs of 40+ yards in the last three games, including 42- and 45-yard explosions last Sunday night against a Vikings defense built to limit big plays. Smith is a high-upside WR2 as he takes on a Giants secondary that is routinely serving up huge holes deep downfield. New York will also be without top CBs Corey Webster (knee) and Aaron Ross (hamstring)...Moore has starting-caliber tools in the long run, though he's not a safe two-QB league bet yet. The Giants' pass rush finally came alive in Week 15 at Washington, and Moore is on this week's injury report with a mysterious "shoulder" issue.

Carolina's backfield presents possibly the biggest injury situation of fantasy championship week. In Week 15, DeAngelo Williams aggravated the ankle sprain that's nagged him for much of the season's second half. He didn't practice on Wednesday or Thursday and will be a game-time decision. D-Will's talent makes him an every-week RB1 when he's active, but we won't know his status until around noon ET on Sunday. If Williams is inactive, Jonathan Stewart becomes an elite RB2 against a Giants run defense that's given up the third most rushing touchdowns in the league.

Eli Manning is hot (6:0 TD to INT ratio, 659 combined yards, 10.3 YPA in his last two games), but now squares off with a Panthers pass defense that ranks No. 4 overall and held both Tom Brady and Brett Favre under 225 yards with one total TD in Weeks 14-15. Trust Eli if you believe he's a stud (Rotoworld doesn't). Otherwise, feel free to explore other options. At least the Meadowlands forecast (43 degrees, 9MPH winds, 20% chance of precipitation) won't hurt him...Hakeem Nicks is expected to play, but pulled his hamstring in Week 15 and has dealt with injuries to the same muscle since February. In a tough matchup at less than 100%, he's an extremely risky play.

Mario Manningham will be worth a look if Nicks is a late scratch, but hasn't had 50 yards since Week 11...Steve Smith remains easily the Giants' best fantasy receiver. He's scored and/or posted 70+ yards in six straight games...Another factor working against Eli: the prospect of New York going run-heavy against Carolina's terrible rush defense (No. 26 overall, 4.6 YPC allowed)...Brandon Jacobs remains a big gamble, despite an on-paper mismatch against an undersized Panthers front seven. Jacobs is being outplayed by Ahmad Bradshaw, who even vultured two first-half touchdowns on the goal line last week. You could argue that Bradshaw is the better fantasy play at this point.

Oakland @ Cleveland

A matchup of teams with a combined 8-20 record has large fantasy implications, with Michael Bush and Jerome Harrison coming off huge games. Harrison, in particular, likely has a stranglehold on featured back status in Cleveland. With Derek Anderson forced to start because Brady Quinn went on I.R., we should safely expect another 20+ touch effort from Harrison against Oakland's No. 28 rush defense. Sure, Eric Mangini is capable of ridiculous decisions, but he's treading much more lightly after the Browns hired his new boss. Harrison's contract is up after the year, and new club president Mike Holmgren needs to determine if he's consistent enough to potentially be a lead back in 2010.

Anderson, on the other hand, is as good as gone. His $2 million March roster bonus won't be exercised, and D.A. already lacks the accuracy to be marginally effective in the precision-based West Coast offense Holmgren will install during the offseason. More than 25 pass attempts would be surprising...It goes without saying that Browns pass catchers aren't worth using in fantasy title games. Evan Moore and Mohamed Massaquoi combined for 10 yards on two catches last week. Joshua Cribbs returned two kicks 100+ yards for touchdowns, but saw just four touches on offense.

Michael Bush is far riskier than Harrison because he's got better talents to fight off for carries. Harrison only has former University of Arizona backup Chris Jennings behind him. Bush will not even be worth consideration if Justin Fargas (knee) is active Sunday, but is a worthwhile FLEX or desperate RB2 if Fargas sits out. Having allowed Darren McFadden to touch the ball no more than 12 times since Week 3, the Raiders' coaching staff clearly sees its 2008 first-round pick as a pace-change back at best. Bush is the team's best all-around ball-carrying option and was given the backfield reins when Fargas tweaked his knee last week. Bush also got the goal-line work.

Charlie Frye gets his starting QB job back despite a Week 15 concussion. Bruce Gradkowski is still out with two torn MCLs, and coach Tom Cable has given up on JaMarcus Russell. Frye gave no reason to think he'll salvage any of Oakland's wide receivers in terms of fantasy value with a pathetic 68 yards and one interception on 17 pass attempts last week. He is not accurate and has no poise. Don't be surprised to see J.P. Losman early in this game...Zach Miller is expected to return from his second concussion of the season, but caught just two balls for 17 yards a week after his first. Don't trust Raiders with a fantasy title on the line.

Jacksonville @ New England

The Jags played the Colts tough in Week 15, losing by four when Reggie Wayne exploded down the sideline for a 65-yard score and Reggie Nelson alligator-armed the would-be tackle. The same pass defense that served up 300+ yards and four TDs to Peyton Manning has been a cure for struggling QBs all year (e.g. Kurt Warner and Matt Schaub after slow starts, Matt Hasselbeck's four-touchdown game). A 100% chance of rain at Foxboro may assist Patriots wideouts as the Jags' corners struggle to backpedal. Tom Brady is setup for his first big game in three weeks, and Randy Moss and Wes Welker are elite plays against the league's No. 27 pass defense.

Laurence Maroney maintained his grip on the Patriots' featured back job in Week 15, seeing 23 touches to Sammy Morris' five and Kevin Faulk's two. New England's run-first game plan worked perfectly against Buffalo's No. 32 run defense. A more pass-heavy approach is likely this week, however, because Bill Belichick is one of the best at exploiting his opponent's weakness. The Jags are much stronger against the run (only 3.9 YPC allowed, ranked No. 12 overall) than the throw. Fred Taylor's return from ankle surgery also makes Maroney a riskier play than usual.

NFL touchdowns leader Maurice Jones-Drew found the end zone twice again last week while confirming that he is not slowing down at the tail end of his first season as Jacksonville's every-down back. He racked up 140 total yards against Indianapolis and showed plenty of burst on inside runs. New England is not tough in run defense, serving up 4.4 yards per carry and ranking 15th overall. He's a top-three RB start...Torry Holt still hasn't scored a touchdown in a Jaguars uniform and managed just 38 yards against the Colts. He's started every game this season, but is the No. 57 overall fantasy receiver.

The Pats appear to have worked out their pass-defense issues, supplemented by improved pass rush. In back-to-back wins, New England has combined for eight sacks while allowing an average of 187 passing yards and two touchdowns. With just 13 TDs in 14 games, David Garrard is only a two-QB league asset...Mike Sims-Walker is off the injury report and returning from a six-catch, 64-yard, one-touchdown game (his best in a month). When 100 percent, MSW is an every-week WR2, even if his quarterback is likely to struggle. He's always a good bet for 8-12 targets.

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Buffalo @ Atlanta

Trent Edwards (ankle) is on I.R. and Ryan Fitzpatrick (ankle) is questionable at best. Next up is Brian Brohm, who has never appeared in an NFL game, lost confidence in Green Bay after plummeting to No. 56 overall in the 2008 draft, and will debut as a starter behind an injury-ruined offensive line. Needless to say, he is setup to struggle. Expect a decidedly run-first game plan from Buffalo with Fred Jackson continuing to lead the way. In the last two weeks, Jackson has totaled 234 yards on 42 touches (5.57 average) compared to Marshawn Lynch's 119 yards on 23 touches (5.17). Jackson is a quality RB2, especially in PPR leagues, against Atlanta's No. 20 run defense.

Lynch had just eight carries last week and no catches. He isn't a fantasy option...Terrell Owens and Lee Evans both have favorable on-paper matchups indoors at the Georgia Dome against a leaky Falcons pass defense, but there's no way to know if Brohm will be able to get them the football. With a ceiling of something like 25 pass attempts, Brohm isn't remotely a two-QB league option. Owens and Evans would both be extremely dangerous WR3 plays, and are pretty safely hands-off in fantasy title week. Brohm has been on Buffalo's active roster for just over a month.

Ranked third overall, the Bills' stingy secondary has not allowed an opposing QB to top 224 yards since Week 8 (Matt Schaub). More amazingly, they have not given up more than one passing TD in a game since Byron Leftwich had three against the Bills in Week 2. The loss of S Jairus Byrd (groin) would seemingly hurt, but he wasn't even in the starting lineup. Matt Ryan, coming off an uninspiring, 152-yard return in Week 15, is not a good bet this week in standard leagues...Neither is Michael Jenkins, who has started every game in 2009 but has just one receiving touchdown.

Coordinator-turned-HC Perry Fewell's scheme makes Buffalo's pass defense so tough, but Roddy White has factors working in his favor. The Bills placed top CB Terrence McGee on I.R. this week -- along with Byrd -- and White's speed is deadly on the Georgia Dome turf. He's difficult to sit no matter the matchup...Tony Gonzalez will finish as a top-four fantasy TE for a fourth straight year. He's a must-start...Michael Turner (high ankle sprain) is almost certainly out again, setting up a favorable matchup for Jason Snelling against Buffalo's No. 32 run defense. Snelling probably won't top 70 yards while sharing work with Jerious Norwood, but is a near-lock for a touchdown.

Baltimore @ Pittsburgh

Steelers-Ravens in...a throw-happy affair? Quite possibly. Both teams' weaknesses are in pass defense, and both QBs are coming off season-best games. Benefiting from the emergence of deep threat Demetrius Williams, Joe Flacco threw for four touchdowns last week against a Bears defense that ranked in the top eight against the pass. He won't be hindered by the Heinz Field weather (35 degrees, 0% chance of snow, 10MPH winds), and is expected to get back WRs Mark Clayton and Kelley Washington from injury. Flacco would need more than one big fantasy game in his last eight to be a recommended QB1, but he's an excellent two-QB league play again.

Pittsburgh ranks 17th against the pass and is playing musical chairs at RCB (Deshea Townsend appears to be the new starter), but still isn't bad enough for Clayton, Washington, or Williams to be fantasy options. The Ravens' only receiver/tight end worth using is Derrick Mason, who has 11 grabs for 181 yards and two TDs in his last two outings...Todd Heap's Week 15 (56 yards, two scores) came out of necessity because Clayton and Washington were inactive. Heap will return to mediocrity against the Steelers...Ray Rice is an every-week play, even against the NFL's No. 1 run defense. Bad matchups don't faze Rice; he dropped 155 yards on Pittsburgh in Week 12.

After looking shell shocked in a 201-yard losing effort to lowly Cleveland the Thursday night prior, Roethlisberger rebounded big against an excellent Green Bay pass defense for 503 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. He's a strong QB1 again, and now faces a Baltimore defense that will be without its top cornerback (Lardarius Webb - torn ACL) and safety (Ed Reed - hip)...Santonio Holmes was Big Ben's go-to guy in the Steelers' last meeting with Baltimore, racking up 74 yards and a touchdown on six catches while Hines Ward had just 47 yards on three grabs. Ward's hamstring remains slightly balky, so Holmes is the better fantasy bet of the two.

Heath Miller returns from a season-best 118-yard game to square off with a Ravens defense that covers TEs well and brings enough pressure that he may be forced to help block All-Pro Terrell Suggs rather than run routes. He's not a safe option...Mike Wallace is another weekly dice roll. He made a terrific game-winning touchdown catch against the Pack, but banged his knee on the play and was limited in practice this week. His role in the game plan is unclear...Rashard Mendenhall lacks big upside in a matchup with the No. 7 run defense, but is benefiting from increased usage in the passing game. He also had 117 total yards at Baltimore in Week 12.

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

St. Louis @ Arizona

Many fantasy owners stockpiled Cardinals players in anticipation of this title week matchup. It should pay dividends. Conditions at U. of Phoenix Stadium are expected to be ideal (58 degrees, 0% chance of rain, 3MPH winds), and the Cards' offense is coming off a 31-point effort. With Rams top pass rusher Leonard Little (knee) unlikely to be active, the Rams' No. 22 pass defense has little chance of slowing Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald, and Anquan Boldin. Warner is safely a top-seven fantasy QB. Gregg Rosenthal smartly has both Fitz and Boldin as top-ten WR1 plays.

Steve Breaston's usage is way down from last year. He's averaging just 17.4 yards per game in his last five outings with no touchdowns...Tim Hightower vultured a goal-line score from Chris Wells in Week 15, but there's no doubt which back is a better bet for big-time numbers. The clear leader in Arizona's backfield, Beanie has 497 total yards and five TDs since Week 9 compared to Hightower's 304 yards and two touchdowns. Hightower is no more than a weak FLEX option in PPR leagues at this point, while Wells is a high-upside RB2 against St. Louis' No. 27 run defense.

The Rams, choosing between rookie Keith Null and Kyle Boller, still haven't named a starting quarterback for Week 16. We won't know which player will get the nod until Sunday afternoon. Either way, Donnie Avery, rookie Brandon Gibson, Danny Amendola, and Randy McMichael are safe to bench. None of the above has topped 48 yards in the last month, and they've combined for just three touchdowns during that span. The Rams are utterly incapable of moving the football through the air, even in a matchup with a Cardinals defense that ranks 24th against the pass.

Steven Jackson (back) is "questionable" on the injury report again, but is fully expected to start his 15th game of the year. The Cards have allowed 160+ rushing yards in three of their last four games, while also serving up a rushing touchdown per week over the last month. S-Jax dropped 116 yards and a score on Arizona in their last meeting. Cautious owners should prepare with late-game options in case Jackson is a surprise inactive, but he's a must-start if he plays (likely).

Detroit @ San Francisco

Searching for a high-upside quarterback because you fear Peyton Manning may only last a half against the Jets? Try Alex Smith. The Lions rank 32nd against the pass, have given up the most passing touchdowns in the league (30), and have ruled out top CB Phillip Buchanon (shoulder). The Candlestick weather is also working in Smith's favor, with mid-50 degree temps, a 10% chance of rain, and 5MPH winds in the forecast. Smith is a top-12 QB1, while Michael Crabtree is a borderline WR2 and No. 2 overall fantasy TE Vernon Davis remains a obvious every-week play.

With at least six catches in three of his last four games and a growing role in San Francisco's red-zone offense, Josh Morgan qualifies as a solid WR3. He also drew praise this week from Niners playcaller Jimmy Raye, who talked up Morgan's "burst, power, and speed"...The Lions amazingly surrendered eight combined rushing touchdowns to Baltimore and Arizona in Weeks 14-15. They have also allowed an opposing running back to go for at least 110 yards in each of their last three games. You won't find a more desirable RB1 play than Frank Gore in fantasy championship week.

Drew Stanton won't get Detroit its third win of 2009, but is a superior option to Daunte Culpepper if only because the third-year QB creates on the move and is aggressive downfield. Stanton offers a better chance of getting the ball to Calvin Johnson in the vertical game and making plays when the pocket collapses. At 6'5/235, there aren't many NFL defensive backs that Johnson isn't able to box out on broken plays. Calvin is a risky WR2 whenever Matthew Stafford isn't starting, but his outlook improved when coach Jim Schwartz gave Stanton the nod over Culpepper this week.

Maurice Morris' 161-total yard effort in Week 15 was the best of his career. At age 30, however, it's probably not a sign of things to come. Now facing San Francisco's No. 5 rush defense, Morris is more likely to post something like 50 yards on 17 carries than build on the performance. It's also worth noting that Morris was removed in favor of fullback Jerome Felton in three short-yardage situations. Morris is no lock for goal-line carries if Detroit moves into scoring position.

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

Denver @ Philadelphia

Donovan McNabb has a difficult matchup against Denver's No. 3 pass defense, but the Broncos lack secondary depth stop Philadelphia's bounteous, now-healthy receiver corps. Able to trot out DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, Jason Avant, Kevin Curtis, and Reggie Brown in a five-wide set, the Birds possess dangerous means to spread a defense out. Nickel CB Ty Law (hamstring) is a game-day decision and second-rounder Alphonso Smith has been an early bust, so Denver may be forced to use 175-pound undrafted FA Tony Carter as its top sub-package corner. With plus conditions in the forecast (45 degrees, 7MPH winds, 0% chance of rain), don't bench McNabb.

D-Jax is the only Eagles wideout that can be used confidently. The rest will share snaps and limit each other's upsides...Same goes for the backfield as it gets back Brian Westbrook (concussion). We don't know who will start or get goal-line carries. Both LeSean McCoy and Leonard Weaver have worked in scoring situations of late, but Weaver may do more lead blocking with Westbrook available to pair with McCoy. We just don't know who will get the football when...Brent Celek is the No. 5 overall fantasy tight end and no longer on the injury report. He's an every-week starter.

It was always in him at 6'4/230, but Brandon Marshall's No. 1 improvement under Josh McDaniels has come in the red zone. His 10 TDs are easily a career high. McDaniels has also used Marshall in the "Randy Moss role" more lately -- giving him increased jump-ball and deep-route chances. Playing often in the slot, Marshall is essentially McDaniels' "new Wes Welker" too. It's hard to argue that there's a more complete receiver in the league, and Marshall may pick up a few extra targets with Eddie Royal (neck) ruled out for Sunday. Marshall is a top-seven fantasy wideout.

Kyle Orton is a mediocre QB2 against an Eagles pass defense that allows the fifth fewest yards per throw in the league, ranks third in interceptions, and is fourth in sacks...Correll Buckhalter's (ankle) deals a sizable blow to Knowshon Moreno's value. Moreno, coming off a disappointing 42-rush yard game against Oakland in which he struggled in short yardage for a second straight week, is a poor play vs. Philly's top-nine run defense...The Eagles are susceptible to tight ends, but Tony Scheffler still isn't worth a fantasy title week play. Scheffler hasn't topped 53 receiving yards since Week 6.

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NY Jets @ Indianapolis

Investing in Colts skill players during fantasy title week will be extremely risky because we have no idea how long they'll play. In his Goal Line Stand column, Gregg Rosenthal made a strong case for benching Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne, Joseph Addai, and Dallas Clark. Pierre Garcon (hand) is already ruled out. While Manning & Co. will start, they may only last a quarter or two against New York's No. 1 pass defense...The Colts' backups are still hands-off because fifth-round rookie Curtis Painter is Manning's backup. Obviously, the downgrade is significant. Only Austin Collie is worth a WR3 look. Tom Santi, Jacob Tamme, and Hank Baskett aren't options.

Addai is probable and will start but is on the injury report with a "knee" problem, indicating that he'll be among the Colts resting if coach Jim Caldwell opts for that approach. Mike Hart, rookie Donald Brown, and unsung third-stringer Chad Simpson are candidates for carries in reserve. Brown is coming off a chest injury and the most explosive runner. The Colts may want to "get him going" before the playoffs with something like 10-12 touches, but this isn't a situation you want to bet on. The Jets aren't resting their starters, and are a top-ten team against the run.

Likewise, the Jets will benefit if key Colts Kelvin Hayden, Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, and Gary Brackett rest. Impressive rookie CB Jerraud Powers (hamstring) definitely won't play. Braylon Edwards separated at will against Atlanta last week, going for 105 yards and a TD. Consider him a borderline WR2 and Jerricho Cotchery a WR3 indoors at Lucas Oil Stadium...Mark Sanchez is still a low-end QB2 with three passing scores in his last five games. He can get the ball to Edwards and Cotchery, but isn't playing well enough to use, even against backups.

Look for ultra-consistent Thomas Jones to rebound from his disappointing 52-yard Week 15. The Falcons loaded the box to stop the run and were successful. The Colts, however, figure to stay in mostly base sets when their backups go in. The Jets still have an outside shot at the playoffs and will ride their most reliable player in a game they should be able to dominate for the final two quarters...Dustin Keller still isn't an option because his role in playcaller Brian Schottenheimer's offense is seemingly in decline. He has just five catches combined in his last three efforts.

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

Dallas @ Washington

The Redskins' offensive line was mostly to blame, but Jason Campbell's hot Week 12-14 run was proven a fluke last Monday night against the Giants. Hit relentlessly, sacked five times, and injuring his throwing shoulder in the 45-12 blowout, Campbell was held under 200 yards for the first time since Week 10 and intercepted off twice. The Cowboys executed a similar demolition of Drew Brees in Week 15 and have brought more pressure than the Giants all season. There's not much reason for hope that Campbell will resume playing well, or that Santana Moss will break out of his near season-long funk. Moss hasn't had 68 receiving yards since Week 7.

Moss will be easy to slow with a safety over the top because the Skins' Quinton Ganther-led run game is putrid and unexplosive Malcolm Kelly will replace Devin Thomas (out, ankle) at flanker. Kelly hasn't shown the ability to separate at this level...Ganther has lucked out with three one-yard touchdown runs in the last two games, but lacks speed to get outside and now goes against Dallas' No. 6 overall run defense. He's not a fantasy option...Fred Davis is the only recommended Redskin this week. He is crisp getting off the line of scrimmage and dominates in the red zone.

FedEx Field's forecast (40 degrees, 10% chance of rain, 4MPH winds) is favorable, helping Tony Romo. The Skins' secondary has been highly susceptible to big plays of late, and only five teams in the NFL have more 20+ yard completions than Dallas. Along with Miles Austin (suddenly a top-eight receiver in the game), Romo is a must-start...The Skins routinely hold tight ends in check, however, so Jason Witten is a low-upside play on paper. Since back-to-back 100-yard outbursts in Weeks 12-13, he hasn't topped 50. Witten also still has just one touchdown on the season.

Roy Williams was an afterthought in last week's crucial win at New Orleans, showing what Dallas playcaller Jason Garrett thinks of him. Clearly, Austin is going to dominate targets. Williams isn't nearly reliable enough for fantasy use this week...Marion Barber showed explosive power and his trademark bounce en route to two touchdowns in Week 15. The Skins are considering not starting DT Albert Haynesworth, which makes Barber a slightly more intriguing RB2. He's in a committee with Felix Jones and probably not going to top 100 yards, but is always a solid bet to score.

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

Minnesota @ Chicago

The Bears' "No. 7" ranked pass defense is a Jekyll and Hyde unit, and may be forced to start two new safeties with Al Afalava and Kevin Payne injured. But Brett Favre is still not a recommended play in standard leagues because his typical late-season, cold weather-related swoon may be in effect. With the left side of his offensive line collapsing, Favre has a 4:4 TD to INT ratio in his last three games while averaging 6.77 yards per attempt. His YPA for the season is 7.8. Not helping matters is a Soldier Field forecast calling for near-20MPH winds and sub-30 degree temperatures.

NFC receiving yards leader Sidney Rice still can't be benched. He has at least 69 yards and/or a touchdown in six straight weeks and projects to benefit from Chicago's musical chairs at safety...Percy Harvin is also a quality WR3. The Bears lack speed in the back end to contain him, and Minnesota may focus on short passes to Harvin and Visanthe Shiancoe to counteract the weather. Harvin is off the injury report...Adrian Peterson will undoubtedly remain the focal point of Brad Childress' game plan, however. The Bears surrender 4.4 YPC and rank 25th in run defense.

Presumably frustrated with Ron Turner's playcalling, Jay Cutler appears to have packed it in for '09. So bad he had to be benched with over 7:00 left last week, Cutler generated 94 yards on 27 throws and chucked three more picks to pad his league lead against an Ed-Reed less Baltimore secondary. He's tanking, and bringing the Bears' pass catchers with him...Case in point: Devin Aromashodu led Chicago with ten targets against the Ravens. He finished with 10 yards on two connections. Leave Devin Hester, Greg Olsen, Aromashodu, and Johnny Knox benched.

Now being outproduced on a per-play basis by undrafted backup Khalil Bell, Matt Forte remains a highly undesirable option against a Vikings run defense that ranks No. 4 in the league and has yielded the fewest touchdowns in the NFC. Forte never did break out of his "slow start" and has just three games of 70+ rushing yards all season. They've come against the Rams, Browns, and Lions. At least he gets to face Detroit one more time (in Week 17) before season's end.

 

[HacheMan]

The upside of the Saints going down


The only good thing about the Saints playing so poorly in Sunday's loss to Tampa Bay is it might force Drew Brees and the other starters to play longer in Week 17. If your league goes into the final week, you can take a chance on starting Brees and some of his receivers, including Marques Colston and Robert Meachem.
The Saints will face the Panthers, who have looked strong in back-to-back wins against Minnesota and the Giants. Quarterback Matt Moore has thrown six TD passes in those two games and, with so many other quarterbacks on shaky ground in Week 17, has emerged as a strong starter.
He will be without star receiver Steve Smith after he broke his arm Sunday, but that might not even matter with how well Moore is playing and how well Jonathan Stewart (206 yards Sunday) is running in place of DeAngelo Williams. Veteran No. 2 receiver Muhsin Muhammad might have one last big game in him.
Also, Browns running back Jerome Harrison erased remaining doubt about his status as the team's No. 1 back. After his success the past two weeks, Harrison also should be a top 10 back in Week 17 against the Jaguars, who showed little interest in playing on the road in cold weather in their ugly 35-7 loss to New England. -- Matt Pitzer

 

[HacheMan]

Tis' the Season
It's all over, unless your league championship is next week.

The fantasy season came and went just as fast as the Holiday season and, if you were fortunate enough to win your league title, then congratulations. If not, better luck next year, and it's not too early to get a jumpstart on baseball.

Check back next week for an awards edition of Sunday Schooled, but here are the studs and duds from Championship Weekend. Happy New Year everyone!

Top 5 Quarterbacks:

1. Tom Brady – 267 Pass Yds, 4 TDs, 0 INTs – After two consecutive subpar games, Brady delivered in a big way when it counted most. He may not have been as reliable as many of his owners would've liked, but some of his big games have made up for the mediocrity that was Brady's '09 campaign.

2. Donovan McNabb – 322 Pass Yds, 3 TDs, 1 INT, 29 Rush Yds, 1 FL – McNabb has been absolutely money in the fantasy playoffs, and Sunday was no exception. After battling an early season injury, McNabb managed to have an extremely productive season, and owners rode him and the rest of the Eagles' offense into the sunset.

3. Matt Ryan – 250 Pass Yds, 3 TDs, 0 INTs – 2009 has been a huge disappointment for Matty Ice, but he still managed to go out with a bang if you had him in your lineup. With the sophomore slump out of the way, Ryan should be drafted with confidence heading into next season.

4. Kurt Warner – 313 Pass Yds, 2 TDs, 10 Rush Yds, 1 FL – Similar to Brady, Warner finally bounced back after two atrocious performances. It may have already been too little too late for some of his owners, but that's fantasy.

5. Philip Rivers – 264 Pass Yds, 2 TDs, 0 INTs – There is no surprise here, as Rivers has been lights out as of late. He has catapulted himself into one of the top players in the league, and the sky is the limit with the weapons he has around him.

Top 5 Running Backs:

1. Jonathan Stewart – 206 Rush Yds, 1 TD, 2 Rec, 16 Yds – Without DeAngelo Williams, the Panthers' offense hasn't missed a beat, and that is because of J-Stew. The timeshare is sure to be even greater next season, and it's just another situation to drive fantasy owners crazy.

2. Darren Sproles – 38 Rush Yds, 2 TDs, 2 Rec, 23 Yds, 1 TD – Sproles doesn't need many touches to make a difference, and that big play potential was on full display this week. He has been extremely inconsistent this season, but he should continue to see his role in the offense increase with LT2 getting another year older.

3. Chris Johnson – 142 Rush Yds, 1 TD, 3 Rec, 37 Yds – CJ is not human! With ten straight 100-yard games and just 128-yards left until the 2000-yard plateau, Johnson has provided the best value by far for fantasy owners this season. He should be next season's clear-cut number one pick, and if you'd be crazy to think otherwise.

4. Ryan Grant – 97 Rush Yds, 2 TDs – Grant turned it on at the right time, totaling five scores in the fantasy playoffs. It's no secret that the Packers are a pass first team, but Grant showed that he still has some burst whenever his number is called.

5. Brandon Jackson – 20 Rush Yds, 2 TDs, 3 Rec, 19 Yds, 1 TD – This is a classic case of garbage time production, as the Packers got out to a huge lead and never looked back.

Top 5 Wide Receivers:

1. Roddy White – 8 Rec, 139 Yds, 2 TDs – Roddy got back to being Rowdy on Sunday, as he and Matt Ryan partied like it was like last season. This duo will most definitely bounce back next season, so there is no need to fret.

2. Randy Moss – 4 Rec, 45 Yds, 3 TDs – Four receptions and three touchdowns – not a bad ratio. After his abysmal negative fantasy performance two weeks ago, Moss has answered concerns about his character with a bang, notching four scores in the past two weeks.

3. Jabar Gaffney – 7 Rec, 69 Yds, 2 TDs – Surprise! Gaffney was non-existent the entire season, but managed to find the end zone for the first time this week (not once, but twice). He hasn't been a fantasy option all season long, so don't beat yourself up over this.

4. Santonio Holmes – 5 Rec, 86 Yds, 1 TD – Holmes has shown flashes of explosiveness this season, but if I had one word to describe him it would be "solid". Fantasy owners have come to expect anywhere from 7-10 points per week, taking anything more as a bonus.

5. Wes Welker – 13 Rec, 138 Yds, 0 TDs – After hauling in just four passes last week, Welker was back to his double digit catches and 100-yard games that we're accustomed to seeing – he has done it six times this season. The little engine that could keeps chugging along, one catch at a time.

Top 5 Tight Ends:

1. Brent Celek – 4 Rec, 121 Yds, 1 TD – Celek has now scored in three of his past four games, and you better believe that he'll be a hot commodity come draft day next season. We knew he would be good, but I don't think anyone foresaw just how quick it would all come together.

2. Todd Heap – 2 Rec, 37 Yds, 2 TDs – Heap made the most of his two catches, as he matched his two scores from last week. If you had him in your lineup then you played with fire and didn't get burnt. Congrats.

3. Antonio Gates – 3 Rec, 74 Yds, 1 TD – Not a bad way to finish the season, huh? Three scores in his past three games have his owners smiling, as Gates has been, well, Antonio Gates.

4. Jason Witten – 6 Rec, 117 Yds, 0 TDs – Witten has gone over the 100-yard mark in three of his past five games. While he only has one score on the season, the yardage totals have made him worthwhile to use.

5. Zach Miller – 9 Rec, 110 Yds, 0 TDs – Miller was cleared to play, and play he did. He posted a season-high in catches, and you have the Browns to thank for that one.

Top 5 Defenses/Special Teams:

1. Falcons – 3 PA, 2 Sacks, 2 INTs, 1 FR, 1 TD – Back-to-back dominant performances to close the season. This unit will only get better heading into next year.

2. 49ers – 6 PA, 2 Sacks, 3 INTs, 3 FR – The Niners' defense has gone over 20-points in two of the past three weeks, as the Mike Singletary era continues to instill hardnosed football as an identity.

3. Jets – 15 PA, 2 Sacks, 1 INT, 1 FR, 2 TDs – The league's number one defense further solidified its status, although it would've been a different story if Peyton Manning played the whole game.

4. Panthers – 9 PA, 4 Sacks, 2 INTs, 2 FR – This team finished the season with some pizzazz, and Sunday the Giants were the latest victim.

5. Cowboys – 0 PA, 3 Sacks, 1 INT – All is well in Big D as the Cowboys clinched a playoff birth, and that is due in large part to how well the defense has been playing.

Bottom 5 Quarterbacks:

1. Matt Hasselbeck – 198 Pass Yds, 1 TD, 4 INTs – Back-to-back four interception games. Yikes!
2. Josh Freeman – 271 Pass Yds, 0 TDs, 2 INTs
3. Jason Campbell – 199 Pass Yds, 0 TDs, 1 INT, 13 Rush Yds
4. Drew Stanton – 130 Pass Yds, 0 TDs, 3 INTs, 23 Rush Yds, 1 FL
5. Peyton Manning – 192 Pass Yds, 0 TDs – My condolences to those of you who started him.

Bottom 5 Running Backs:

1. Quinton Ganther – 13 Rush Yds, 1 Rec, 16 Yds – With starting running back duties come starter running back fantasy responsibilities.
2. Fred Jackson – 39 Rush Yds, 2 Rec, 14 Yds, 1 FL
3. Michael Bush – 52 Rush Yds, 1 Rec, 7 Yds – Had the right matchup and couldn't deliver.
4. Brandon Jacobs – 1 Rush Yd – Fitting ending to a forgetful season.
5. Maurice Morris – 37 Rush Yds, 4 Rec, 29 Yds

Bottom 5 Wide Receivers:

1. Mike Sims-Walker – 2 Rec, 19 Yds – Has been very inconsistent as of late.
2. Kenny Britt – 1 Rec, 13 Yds
3. Braylon Edwards – 2 Rec, 18 Yds, 1 two-point conversion
4. Brandon Marshall – 8 Rec, 39 Yds – Not as bad if you're in a PPR league
5. Reggie Wayne – 3 Rec, 33 Yds

Bottom 5 Tight Ends:

1. Anthony Fasano – 1 Rec, 8 Yds
2. Bo Scaife – 0 catches
3. Tony Gonzalez – 2 Rec, 17 Yds – Not used to seeing him here.
4. Fred Davis – 2 Rec, 29 Yds – The four game scoring streak comes to a loud thumping end.
5. Heath Miller – 3 Rec, 35 Yds

 

[HacheMan]

Not So Fast
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. Jets 29 Colts 15[/SIZE]


Beyond the Box Score

* The Colts threw in the towel despite a 15-10 lead ten minutes into the third quarter. They pulled Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne, Joseph Addai, and Dallas Clark, and allowed 19 unanswered points the rest of the way. It's what GM Bill Polian wanted, but the game was hard to watch from that point on.

* The Jets used Mark Sanchez as strictly a game manager, leaning heavily on the run. Powerful rookie Shonn Greene had some series to his own and impressed, but Thomas Jones was the focal point of the offense. His 29-yard run down the sideline in the fourth quarter, following by a one-yard touchdown r, sealed the game for New York.

* Manning's replacement, rookie Curtis Painter, was utterly ineffective in the third and fourth quarters. With Hank Baskett and Austin Collie as his wideouts, Painter didn't make many throws outside the numbers and showed no aggressive going downfield. He also lost a fumble that was recovered by the Jets for a decisive touchdown.

Going Forward

* Donald Brown is The Guy in terms of carries behind Joseph Addai, and has a favorable matchup in Week 17 against Buffalo. Brown wasn't very impressive Sunday in his first game back after a month-long layoff due to a chest injury, but could flirt with 20 touches in the regular season finale.

* The Jets are still alive in the playoff chase, and face a Bengals team that is still competing in Week 17. Cincinnati is locked into the No. 4 seed in the AFC, but could move into the No. 3 spot.

* All Colts starters are likely to only play a few possessions, if that, next week against the Bills. They definitely won't get in two quarters-plus like they did on Sunday, especially now that the pursuit of perfection is over.


[SIZE=+1]#4. Bengals 17 Chiefs 10[/SIZE]


Beyond the Box Score

* The Bengals came out with a low level of intensity and barely made it out of the contest with a victory. Carson Palmer was just 2-of-4 for six yards at the end of the first quarter and had just 19 total yards in the first half.

* It was the lowest first-half passing yardage for the Bengals since Jeff Blake struggled against the Oilers in 1996.

* Chad Ochocinco was granted one touchdown but nearly grabbed another in the first half. He stepped out of bounds before making a nice catch in the back of the end zone, however, and the score was overruled by a replay challenge.

* Matt Cassel targeted Chris Chambers in the end zone but Chambers couldn't get his head around in time and the pass sailed incomplete. Cassel was disappointing Sunday as was the Chiefs' entire passing game.

* That said, Cassel has 10 fourth quarter touchdowns this season, the most in the NFL. If only he could find a rhythm in the early-going.

* Cedric Benson topped 100 yards for the sixth time this season, a new Bengals franchise record.


Going Forward

* Jamaal Charles gained 16 yards on the game's first three plays and kept right on rolling as time ticked away. He finished with a solid 102 yards on 24 carries and another 22 receiving yards on three catches. Charles is shooting up 2010 fantasy draft boards.

* The Bengals clinched the AFC North with the victory and now have the luxury of resting their starters. Stay tuned this week as we try to get an idea of Cincinnati's Week 17 game plan.


[SIZE=+1]#3. Steelers 23 Ravens 20[/SIZE]


Beyond the Box Score

* Derrick Mason had an easy touchdown pass bounce directly off his facemask. He was wide open and it essentially cost his team the game.

* Ray Rice was forced to chip at the line on passing plays with LT Jared Gaither inactive and Oniel Cousins in and out of the game. That's why Rice only had one catch.

* Santonio Holmes is getting stronger as the season goes on. He was targeted 12 times in this game and he's re-establishing himself as the Steelers' best receiver.

* Rashard Mendenhall is the third-down back, but he struggled in that role today. He dropped a touchdown pass and Mewelde Moore was in on some late passing downs.

Going Forward

* Ray Rice showed why he's matchup proof. He ran between the tackles against one of the best run defenses in the league and dominated. He really can do it all and will be a first-round pick next season even though he's not a goal-line back.

* Mark Clayton was active, but had zero targets and barely played. Kelley Washington and Demetrius Williams had some chances but are nowhere near fantasy options.

* Willis McGahee remains the goal-line back. In fact, he comes in the game when the Ravens get inside the 10-yard line.

* Mike Wallace is more than just a deep threat. He works well with Big Ben because he knows how to get open on broken plays. Once Hines Ward retires, Wallace will be an interesting prospect.


[SIZE=+1]#2. Eagles 30 Broncos 27[/SIZE]


Beyond the Box Score

* Brandon Stokley was ejected in the first quarter when he argued a call and ended up barely touching an official. That opened up more targets for Jabar Gaffney. Brandon Lloyd was also active for the first time in his Broncos career with Eddie Royal (neck) out.

* Correll Buckhalter injured his leg returning a kickoff in the second quarter. He was really limping badly as he came off the field but returned. Still, the injury bothered him as he was grimacing and limping around after carries.

* Knowshon Moreno is not very explosive in the running game. He couldn't crack three yards a carry for the third straight contest. We're not saying he's a bust, but he's had plenty of chances to impress this season and hasn't done so.

* Jeremy Maclin put a stamp on his return to the field with a game-winning play in the final minute. He made a beautiful catch on the sideline and ended up with 10 targets. That foot injury was obviously no big deal.

Going Forward

* Brian Westbrook's role was much bigger than anyone predicted in this one. He started and was on the field for five plays on the first drive alone. Look for this committee to become his as we move forward into the playoffs.

* You can drop Leonard Weaver. With Westbrook back, there's just no enough carries to go around.

* DeSean Jackson was shadowed by Champ Bailey, so don't be alarmed. It's a good sign that D-Jax finally got a short TD to go along with all his long bombs this season. Jackson can do it all.

* Brandon Marshall is going to have poor yardage games like this. Kyle Orton just doesn't look comfortable throwing deep and Marshall is such a monster target underneath. The Eagles did a great job of wrapping Marshall up after catches.

* The Eagles will not rest players next week. They will have a chance at a first-round bye.


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


Beyond the Box Score

* With Tampa willing to give up underneath passes but locking down the deep middle, Drew Brees engineered a dink-and-dunk offense. He started hot by getting the Saints out in front early, but Bucs coach Raheem Morris made effective halftime adjustments. New Orleans was rarely in Bucs territory in the final two quarters.

* The Bucs stuck with the running game even after falling behind 17-0 early, and it paid off. Carnell Williams racked up 99 yards in the second half alone as Tampa Bay dominated time of possession in the final two quarters and took the game to overtime. Connor Barth, recently signed off the street, nailed a 47-yard field goal to win it.

* Pierre Thomas had a big first half with 60 yards and a touchdown, but exited at halftime with bruised ribs and didn't return. Mike Bell, Lynell Hamilton, and Reggie Bush shared the backfield from that point on and were almost completely ineffective.

* Saints K Garrett Hartley missed a 37-yard field goal towards the end of regulation that would have sealed the win for New Orleans.

Going Forward

* Don't look for Thomas to play at Carolina in Week 17. Coach Sean Payton is obsessed with keeping Thomas fresh for the postseason and will make sure he's not put in harm's way. Bell has struggled badly with a 2.8 yards-per-carry average over the last month, so Hamilton may see a sizable workload.

* The Bucs' backfield distribution is still very hard to predict week to week. While Williams was the featured runner on Sunday, Derrick Ward led the way with 20 touches the game before. It's impossible to say with any certainty who the Bucs' lead runner will be in Week 17 against the Falcons.

* Robert Meachem is the Saints' clear-cut No. 2 receiver, especially when Lance Moore and Jeremy Shockey are inactive. Moore aggravated his high ankle sprain last week and is out indefinitely. Shockey can't seem to get over the hump in his recovery from turf toe.

 

[HacheMan]

The upside of the Saints going down


The only good thing about the Saints playing so poorly in Sunday's loss to Tampa Bay is it might force Drew Brees and the other starters to play longer in Week 17. If your league goes into the final week, you can take a chance on starting Brees and some of his receivers, including Marques Colston and Robert Meachem.
The Saints will face the Panthers, who have looked strong in back-to-back wins against Minnesota and the Giants. Quarterback Matt Moore has thrown six TD passes in those two games and, with so many other quarterbacks on shaky ground in Week 17, has emerged as a strong starter.
He will be without star receiver Steve Smith after he broke his arm Sunday, but that might not even matter with how well Moore is playing and how well Jonathan Stewart (206 yards Sunday) is running in place of DeAngelo Williams. Veteran No. 2 receiver Muhsin Muhammad might have one last big game in him.
Also, Browns running back Jerome Harrison erased remaining doubt about his status as the team's No. 1 back. After his success the past two weeks, Harrison also should be a top 10 back in Week 17 against the Jaguars, who showed little interest in playing on the road in cold weather in their ugly 35-7 loss to New England. -- Matt Pitzer

 

[HacheMan]

For those still playing in Week 17, these are names to know


By Matt Pitzer, USA TODAY
The dust has settled in most fantasy leagues, leaving only the diehards and crazies still playing into Week 17. But even being crazy enough to not quit after last week has its merits. For instance, fielding a strong lineup for this week requires knowledge of gems such as Mike Tolbert and Lynell Hamilton.

FANTASY JOE: Vikings hold key to Cardinals' playing time

With unusual playing-time decisions on the horizon, you might need more help than usual to determine your starters. Here are a few names to think about before putting in all of your regulars for that last regular-season week.
•Cedric Benson, RB, Cincinnati Bengals. You might want to avoid Benson if you have another attractive option — and not just because they're facing the New York Jets' No. 1 defense. The Bengals could know before they play whether they have a shot at the AFC's No. 3 seed. If not, expect them to sit Benson, who has a career-high 301 carries.
•Donald Driver, WR, Green Bay Packers. His collapse down the stretch — 33 yards or fewer in three of the past four games — coincides with Greg Jennings averaging 90.5 yards in that stretch. Even if the Packers play at full speed, Jennings is a better play than Driver.

•Jerome Harrison, RB, Cleveland Browns. Last week's 148-yard game eliminates uncertainty about Harrison. Start him without hesitation after 434 yards and four touchdowns in the past two weeks.
•Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars. If you have reason to expect the Jaguars to play significantly better this week than they did last, you might be enthusiastic about Jones-Drew. But the Jaguars do not seem interested in playing in cold weather, and they will struggle against a Browns team trying to close on a four-game winning streak.
•Matt Moore, QB, Carolina Panthers. Try to argue with two three-touchdown games against teams fighting for the playoffs. Now the season finale looks easier for Moore with the New Orleans Saints coming in after back-to-back losses. Don't be afraid to play him ahead of more familiar quarterbacks, even with favorite receiver Steve Smith hurt.
•Santana Moss, WR, Washington Redskins. Playing against a team that has nothing left to play for can be a blessing. While Moss has done little to merit a start, he should be able to succeed against the San Diego Chargers backup defense. That alone could be worth a touchdown and also could make quarterback Jason Campbell worth a play.
•Matt Schaub, QB, Houston Texans. Masters of doing too little too late, the Texans are rolling into their offseason with a three-game winning streak. Even though the New England Patriots were strong on defense last week, remember their season-long troubles on the road and keep Schaub in your lineup.
•Steve Smith, WR, New York Giants. Smith has been strong down the stretch with at least 70 yards or a touchdown in the past seven games. The problem is trying to figure out what you will get out of the Giants in the finale. They had everything on the line last week and collapsed. They have nothing on the line against the Minnesota Vikings, but would you be surprised if the Giants rolled?
•San Diego Chargers. Beyond the Indianapolis Colts' ongoing playing-time conundrum, the Chargers also appear ready to judiciously rest starters. The problem is finding which backup runner to grab; don't look for a big passing day from Billy Volek or Charlie Whitehurst. Also, expect key role player Darren Sproles to get time off. Try Tolbert, who led the team last week with 60 yards on 11 carries.

 

[HacheMan]

Cutler's new man?
Was Devin Aromashodu's seven catch, 150 yard, one touchdown performance Monday night a fluke? Well, no.

Jay Cutler has been pleading (begging?) for Aromashodu to get a chance all season. It took a late-season injury to Devin Hester, but it finally has happened. Cutler wanted Aromashodu on the field for one thing: his size. At 6'2 with decent strength and excellent speed, Aromashodu gives Cutler a different kind of option.

Just like the other three teams that have had Aromashodu (Dolphins, Colts, Redskins), the Bears have been hesitant to play him because he's raw. He put up great numbers at the 2006 scouting combine, including a 4.35 40-yard dash time. He was a seventh-round pick because he caught just 26 passes as a senior at Auburn. He didn't show enough in school.

It's a little reminiscent of the Miles Austin situation. Austin played at Monmouth and was always "that guy" who had talent but never got on the field. Aromashodu isn't as good as Austin, but it's certainly a situation to watch. Aromashodu is someone to keep on the radar in all leagues as we head into the offseason.

THE MATT FORTE DISASTER
When you used your first-round pick on Matt Forte, you weren't thinking that he'd be losing a few snaps per game to some dude named Kahlil Bell. In fact, part of the reason Forte was thought to be such a valuable fantasy player was because of his every down capabilities.

Well, chances are you weren't watching last night anyway. Forte's miserable campaign crippled most owners' chances of making the fantasy Super Bowl.

Can Forte recover and be a productive back in 2010? Here are some excuses for what happened in 2009:

* His offensive line never got it together. Forte isn't a "make you miss" kind of back and needs holes. Orlando Pace was supposed to be an upgrade, but turned out to be a bust. Olin Kruetz and Frank Omiyale struggled for most of the year.

* His hamstring bothered him more than he let on early in the season. It didn't seem like Forte ever got that injury right. He missed most of spring workouts and never showed any explosion.

* Jay Cutler had a down year. The strong-armed quarterback's arrival was expected to help Forte by spreading out the defense. Instead, Cutler was erratic, unable to sustain drive and Forte lost out on goal-line chances.

Bottom line: The offensive line should be better with young stud Chris Williams shifting over to left tackle. We assume that Forte will be completely healthy heading into 2010. Jay Cutler can only go up. So even though it's ridiculously early to think about this, Forte sounds like a prime candidate for a "bounce back" kind of sleeper next season.

Vikings vs. Bears quick hitters:
It's hard not to be impressed by what Brett Favre did in the second half last night. Unreal performance. … Sidney Rice is a complete stud. His physical tools are scary. … Johnny Knox was carted off with an ankle injury in the third quarter. … The way the Vikings defense has played recently has to have at least a little to do with E.J. Henderson's absence. … Bernard Berrian says he's finally over his hamstring issues and it shows. He's supposed to be a deep threat and was just that a couple times last night. … Adrian Peterson was a little sluggish down the stretch for owners, but you can't complain about him as the No. 1 overall pick this season. His big game last night won a lot of Super Bowls. … Vinsanthe Shiancoe limped off the field in the fourth quarter.

Editor's Note: Your fantasy season doesn't have to be over just because your league ended in Week 16. You can pick a new team just for Week 17 and compete for real cash in Rotoworld's SnapDraft.

NEWS OF THE DAY #2
Steven Jackson gave us a pretty good update of what's going on with his back after Sunday's game. The short version is that S-Jax has a herniated disk that causes spasms. The reason he was a late scratch on Sunday was that he started feel symptoms that he hadn't felt previously -- such as pain down his leg.

What Jackson needs is rest. He says he will not need surgery, which is a good sign for Dynasty league owners. Of course, what Jackson could really use before next season is a competent offensive line and quarterback. But that's probably asking too much.

NEWS OF THE DAY #3
We're not sure exactly what it will take for the Seahawks to put Julius Jones on the bench. Clearly his ineffectiveness running the ball isn't enough. An aggravation of his rib injury in Week 15 wasn't enough either. The fact that he probably won't be back in 2010 didn't make a difference. Maybe now that he's aggravated that rib injury once again and has an ankle tweak on top of it will be the final straw.

At this point, we all want a larger sample size to see what Justin Forsett can do as an every-down player. Perhaps we'll have that chance this week.

NEWS OF THE DAY #4
Brandon Jacobs wasn't part of all the shotgun formations the Giants ran on Sunday and his knee stiffened up. So he took himself out of the game after gaining one yard on six carries. Jacobs blamed too much practice and not enough rest for the way he's feeling. He may sit out Week 17.

" I practice every day at a hard and fast pace, and it wears on you when you can't get any rest," Jacobs said.

Wahhhhhh. Jacobs also has a bruised ego thanks to Ahmad Bradshaw outplaying him and getting more love from the fans for most of the season. You'll probably be able to get Jacobs at a very low value next season, but I'm staying away.

Editor's Note: Your fantasy season doesn't have to be over just because your league ended in Week 16. You can pick a new team just for Week 17 and compete for real cash in Rotoworld's SnapDraft.

INJURY QUICK SLANTS
Hines Ward aggravated his hamstring injury in Week 16 and his status for next week is in doubt. … Pierre Thomas' ribs aren't broken but he's very likely to rest in Week 17. … Donnie Avery suffered a mild thigh strain in Week 16. … Nate Burleson (ankle) is out for Week 17. … Joe Nedney (hamstring) is out for Week 17, Ricky Schmitt will kick again. … The Bills are optimistic that Ryan Fitzpatrick (ankle) will be able to play this week. … Larry Fitzgerald's elbow injury isn't a concern, but he'll probably rest this week anyway. … DeAngelo Williams (ankle) could return this week -- check the practice reports. … Brandon Pettigrew (knee) will likely begin the 2010 season on the PUP list. … Jeremy Shockey (toe) is getting close to a return. … Ricky Williams (shoulder) says he'll be fine despite leaving Sunday's game in the third quarter. … Matt Bryant (hamstring) is not expected to be available in Week 17.

DEPTH CHART QUICK SLANTS
Coach Gary Kubiak said that Arian Foster "will play more" in Week 17. … The Rams didn't name a starting quarterback for Week 17 yet. … The Cardinals are expected to treat Week 17 like a preseason game. … The Lions also declined a name a starting quarterback for Week 17. … Garrett Hartley got a vote of confidence Monday from coach Sean Payton and isn't going anywhere. … Troy Smith wants a trade out of Baltimore. … The Saints will go "all-out" to win in Week 17 no matter what. … Seahawks coach Jim Mora admitted he thought about benching Matt Hasselbeck during Sunday's blowout loss to the Packers. … Kenny Moore is expected to start in place of Steve Smith (arm) in Week 17. Moore isn't worth an add.

DEFENSE SPOT STARTS
Be sure you're aware of who is playing and for how long when spot starting defenses this week. Here are two ideas for owners that are playing into Week 17:

BILLS vs. Colts - Curtis Painter should be more prepared and less nervous this week, but he's still nowhere near ready.

BEARS at Lions - The Bears defense is miserable and could be without Charles Tillman. But that won't stop the Drew Stanton/Daunte Culpepper duo from turning it over.

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 if your league goes into Week 17:

RB Arian Foster - We've talked about this rookie plenty, but he's only owned in 14 percent of Yahoo leagues. He's the Texans' best back.

RB Brian Westbrook - So much for easing Westbrook back into the fold. He started and was heavily involved in the offense throughout on Sunday. Look for about 10-14 touches this week.

RB Mike Bell - With Pierre Thomas nursing some bruised ribs, Bell should be the workhorse against the Panthers Sunday. Lynell Hamilton is also worth a look.

 

[HacheMan]

2009 Waiver Awards
Now a hallowed tradition in Rotoworld's Waiver Wired series, Week 17 brings us the third annual Waiver Awards. To better prepare for the 2010 season, it's fitting that we take a step back and examine the highlights of 2009. It's with that spirit that we bring you this year's award winners.

Readers seeking actual Waiver adds for this week should scroll to the last page of the article for an abbreviated list.

</FONT+1>QUARTERBACKS

The "Outhouse to the Penthouse" Award

Goes to … Vince Young! Written off for dead after his opening-game meltdown last season while Kerry Collins' garnered unwarranted MVP consideration, V.Y. rewarded owner Bud Adams' faith in bringing the 0-6 Titans to the brink of a Wild Card berth. Starting in Week 5, Young was a Waiver Wired mainstay throughout the second half of the season. He finished as a borderline Top-10 fantasy option over the final six weeks.

The "Schizophrenic Offense" Award

Goes to … Alex Smith! Coordinator Jimmy Raye and head coach Mike Singletary spent the entire offseason preaching a run-heavy offensive game plan. Smith's mid-season elevation to the starting lineup dovetailed with Michael Crabtree's debut while Vernon Davis emerged as an elite playmaker, leading to a change in philosophy. With Smith struggling under center, the Niners moved to the "Raye-Gun" spread attack. The only problem was they couldn't bring themselves commit to it as the base offense as the Chiefs did with Tyler Thigpen in the Pistol spread last season.

The "Tale of Two Seasons" Award

Goes to … Jason Campbell! At the helm of the league's most punchless offense through the first six weeks of the season, Campbell found himself benched for Todd Collins at one point. Even with a crumbling offensive line, a fifth-string running back, and a play-caller brought out of retirement, though, Campbell finished as a Top-10 fantasy quarterback over the final five weeks.

</FONT+1>RUNNING BACKS

The "What Took So Long, Haley" Award

Goes to … Jamaal Charles! Larry Johnson, running in quicksand behind an anemic offensive line, averaged an embarrassing 2.7 yards per carry over the first seven weeks of the season. We first began calling for Charles in Week 4 and again in Week 6 before he finally got his chance thanks to the harebrained Twitter tirade that led to LJ's ouster. Forced, kicking and screaming, to install Charles as the starter behind the same disastrous line, head coach Todd Haley watched his emerging star's best Chris Johnson impression as the league's No. 2 fantasy back over the final seven weeks.

The "Billy Volek" Award

Goes to … Jerome Harrison! Also considered for the "Mangini, You're an Evil Penguin" Award. Thanks to head coach Eric Mangini's machinations, nobody saw Harrison's late-season breakout coming until it was too late. Harrison was alternately unused and injured at mid-season while a plodding Jamal Lewis carried the load. The fantasy playoff season brought a backfield quagmire with Josh Cribbs threatening to steal carries and Chris Jennings bypassing Harrison in Week 14. Ultimately, Harrison's 286-yard, three-touchdown monster performance in Week 15 went to waste. Don't let the door hit you on the way out, Mangini.

The "Enjoy the Playoff Race From Over There, Fast Willie" Award

Goes to … Rashard Mendenhall! It's easy to forget the early-season reports out of Pittsburgh. Mendenhall looked "ordinary" in preseason action, and the coaching staff had zero confidence in him by Week 3 when the 2008 first-rounder went without a carry. Fast Willie Parker had turned into "fair to middling" Willie even before he developed a turf toe injury, allowing Mendenhall to step into the void and never look back. Mendenhall finished as the No. 13 fantasy back despite going unused the first three weeks.

The "Voodoo Doll" Award

Goes to … Justin Forsett! We first started sticking pins into Julius Jones way back in Week 3 when it was obvious that Forsett was far more explosive on a per-play basis. By the time Forsett busted out for 151 yards and a touchdown in Week 10, Jones' body was ridden with pin pricks. All of our voodoo action went to waste, however, as Jones kept coming back from the dead to ruin Forsett's chances at this year's "Billy Volek" award over the final month of the season.

The "Biggest Tease" Award

Goes to … the entire Texans backfield! Steve Slaton, a change-of-pace back masquerading as a first-round fantasy pick was a fumbling, line-dancing mess from the get-to. Potential waiver hero Ryan Moats developed fumbling issues of his own while losing carries to the plodding Chris Brown. We finally had the backfield solution figured out with Arian Foster in Week 15, only to see the rookie glued to the bench for his own first-series fumble. Foster will, of course, go off in the season finale, now that it's too late for any of us to reap the benefits.

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</FONT+1>WIDE RECEIVERS

The "Waiver Wired MVP" Award

Goes to … Miles Austin! Thanks to Evan Silva's tireless efforts to promote him throughout the offseason, we chose Austin over Jeremy Maclin as our top waiver option in Week 6. With both receivers coming off breakout performances and Austin entering a bye-week, it wasn't necessarily the most popular choice. The Austin faithful were rewarded to the tune of a Top-3 finish at wide receiver despite being held to just five catches in the first four weeks of the season. Totaling 1,230 yards and 11 touchdowns, Austin battled Andre Johnson neck-and-neck for the most valuable fantasy receiver once he finally hit the starting lineup after dropping 250 yards and two touchdowns on the Chiefs in Week 5.

The "I Can Hyphenate My Name, Too" Award

Goes to … Mike Sims-Walker! The Jaguars became the league's leaders in hyphenated names when the heretofore oft-injured Walker followed Maurice Jones-Drew's lead and changed his name as a tribute to his late father. Though Sims-Walker stumbled to the finish line, he averaged six catches for 84 yards and a touchdown over a two-month period after he was first recommended as a waiver addition in Week 3.

The "Better Late Than Never" Award

Goes to … Robert Meachem! On fantasy radars since the Saints drafted him in the first round back in 2007, Meachem was a poster child for unrealized potential until he first appeared on Waiver Wired in Week 10. A mainstay in this space for three straight weeks, Meachem finally emerged as the downfield playmaker the Saints had drafted him to be. With seven touchdowns over the final seven games, Meachem was a Top-10 option at wide receiver for the final month a half of the fantasy season.

The "Anthony Gonzalez, We Hardly Knew Ye" Award

Goes to … Pierre Garcon! While our favorite French waiter deserves the award for his contributions since being mentioned as a waiver addition in Week 4, he really ought to share it with rookie Austin Collie. It looked bleak at receiver in Indy when Gonzalez went down in a heap in Week 1, but Garcon and Collie rotated hot streaks as the Colts offensive juggernaut continued to roll without a hitch.

The "Rookies Can Catch, Too" Award

Goes to … the 2008 first-round class! Rotoworld favorite Percy Harvin was ineligible for the award as a mid-round selection in many August drafts, though the rest of the first-rounders appeared on this list multiple times throughout the season. No. 30 overall pick Kenny Britt was the Titans' top receiver all season, No. 19 pick Jeremy Maclin emerged as a viable playmaking partner for DeSean Jackson, No. 29 pick Hakeem Nicks flashed homerun ability before finally ousting Mario Manningham for the starting job, and No. 10 pick Michael Crabtree helped turn the Niners' offense into a pass-heavy attack.

</FONT+1>TIGHT ENDS

The "Successful Hype Train" Award

Goes to … Brent Celek! Our favorite August sleeper stayed on Waiver Wired for the first three weeks of the season until fantasy owners finally caught on to the athletic University of Cincinnati product. Celek dropped identical 8-catch, 104-yard lines on the Saints and Chiefs in back-to-back games early in the season, and he never looked back. Undrafted in many leagues, he finished as the No. 4 fantasy receiver sandwiched between legends Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez.

The "It's About Friggin' Time" Award

Goes to … Vernon Davis! For all of Mike Martz's offensive genius, Vernon Davis stands as a black mark on his resume. The freakishly gifted tight end showed flashes of brilliance in his first two seasons before Martz turned his most explosive pass-catcher into a blocking specialist afterthought in 2008. New coordinator Jimmy Raye went out of his way to lavish praise on Davis all offseason, making it clear that the tight end would be the focal point of the Niners' passing attack. Undrafted in approximately 50 percent of fantasy leagues, Davis started slowly before blowing up for a 7-96-2 line in Week 3. Finally realizing his vast potential, he finished as the No. 2 fantasy tight end behind Dallas Clark.

The "Just Pick Him Up Already" Award

Goes to … Jermichael Finley! Thanks to a mid-season MCL injury, Finley broke the record for most waiver nominations this season. In addition to being mentioned on watch lists as a long-term flier in multiple weeks, Finley was nominated as a top waiver addition in Weeks 1, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14. Establishing himself as a Top-10 option in a high-scoring offense, the athletic second-year player was the league's fifth-highest scoring tight end over the final five weeks while coming in at No. 8 in points per game for the entire season. Finley is a sure-fire TE1 in 2010 drafts.

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On to the waiver lists. Here is how I rank the top players available at each position as we head into Week 17.

</FONT+1>QUARTERBACKS

Chad Henne, Dolphins – Henne has now cleared 45 attempts and 300 yards in three of the past four weeks as a Top-10 fantasy QB. Miami will have trouble running against the Steelers this week, so Henne will have to get his arm loose once again.

Josh Freeman, Bucaneers – The rookie has thrown for at least 200 yards in four of the past five weeks. Desperate owners could do worse with the Falcons on the docket in the season finale.

Matt Moore, Panthers – Moore just dethroned Brett Favre and Eli Manning in back-to-back career games, but he has no weapons left with Steve Smith (broken arm) gone. Keep expectations low even in an above average matchup against the Saints.

Derek Anderson, Browns – Only an option for the high-risk, river-boat gambling type of owner. The Jags just surrendered four touchdowns to Tom Brady, 13 receptions to Wes Welker, and three scores to Randy Moss. They can be torched quite easily.

</FONT+1>RUNNING BACKS

Arian Foster, Texans – A clear No. 1 tailback has finally emerged in Houston just in time for the season's end. Expect Foster to handle feature-back duties against the Pats this week.

Donald Brown, Colts – Brown is the best bet for carries in the Indy backfield this week as the <S>quitters</S> Colts take on the league's worst run defense.

Sammy Morris, Patriots – Laurence Maroney's third goal-line fumble of the season opened the door for Morris to regain the lead-back role in a committee attack.

Shonn Greene, Jets – Rex Ryan is moving to a two-headed monster approach to limit Mark Sanchez's chances for a turnover. Expect 12-15 touches out of Greene in Week 17.

Lex Hilliard, Dolphins – Ricky Williams (shoulder) insists he's fine, so Hilliard's upside is severely limited against the Steelers.

Mike Bell, Saints – The Saints have wrapped up home field advantage after all, so playing time will be sparse for Pierre Thomas (ribs) – if he manages to suit up.

</FONT+1>WIDE RECEIVERS

Devin Aromashodu, Bears – Coming off a 7-150-1 performance on MNF, Aromashodu should remain Jay Cutler's favorite target in Week 17 at Detroit with Johnny Knox (ankle) likely done for the season.

Jeremy Maclin, Eagles – Dropped in many leagues when he re-injured his foot, Maclin led Philly in targets and receptions in his return. Eagles have a lot to play for at Dallas this week.

Mike Wallace, Steelers – Wallace keeps producing while Hines Ward aggravated his hamstring injury in Week 16.

Deion Branch, Seahawks – Inviting matchup against the Titans pass defense with Branch coming off a second straight week leading the team in targets. Matt Hasselbeck's recent play is cause for pause.

Mohamed Massaquoi, Browns – Massaquoi has a much better rapport with the strong-armed Derek Anderson, and the matchup is right with a Jags team that just surrendered three TDs to Randy Moss.

Antonio Bryant, Bucs – It's obvious now that he's not going to come close to matching last year's late-season production, but he tied Kellen Winslow for the lead in targets last week. Week 17 offers a good matchup with the Falcons in town.

Muhsin Muhammad, Panthers – Who else does Matt Moore have to throw to?

Jabar Gaffney, Broncos – I'd pass on Gaffney. His big game was a perfect storm with the Eagles jumping out to a big lead while Brandon Stokley got ejected and Eddie Royal didn't dress.

</FONT+1>TIGHT ENDS

Zach Miller, Raiders – Charlie Frye will start again, which is terrific news for a player coming off a career-high nine catches on 13 targets.

Todd Heap, Ravens – Piping hot with a pair of scores in each of the last two games, Heap has risen to the No. 12 fantasy TE on the season. The Ravens have a must-win game at Oakland this week.

</FONT+1>DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS

49ers - The league's No. 5 fantasy defense draws Keith Null and the Rams in the season finale.

Bills - On the menu: 3+ quarters of Curtis Painter at windy Buffalo with a 40 percent of snow showers.

Bears - Daunte Culpepper or Drew Stanton? It doesn't matter. Either quarterback is fantasy manna.

 

[HacheMan]

Red Zone Report Wrapup
Nothing lasts forever, but if one thing could, this little game we play would definitely be in the running. There's something about fantasy football that seems so important, while at the same time fun and competitive. For all the former athletes-turned-unreasonably-intense-weekend warriors (including yours truly) it gives us a chance to compete for that elusive prideful feeling once again. Although the goal is to "win", the real fun is chasing that win against your buddies, trash talking, and occasionally rooting for Brandon Jacobs but against Eli Manning, in the same game. Now, of course, the NFL season isn't over; but the part that you can take any personal pride in has ended.

While I'll be watching intently on Sunday, hoping that Marvin Lewis gives the Jets another gift and benches his starters, it's a different feeling than rooting for something covered in your finger prints.

Speaking of things covered in my fingerprints, I'd figure it would be fun to look back at a few of the good calls, some of the bad, and the one truly awful call that beats them all from this years' Red Zone Report. And I'll look at some new ideas to improve the Red Zone Report for next year (If you any, send them in, I'd love to hear em).

The Good

Dump Steve Slaton

After seeing Slaton lose more and more important carries (in scoring situations), I felt it was only a matter of time before his fantasy value took a huge hit. Within a few weeks, Slaton's value had completely plummeted, and gave way to one of the most annoying RB by committees in recent memory. (the ole' guess who Gary Kubiak wants to give the ball to this week game).

Tight Ends

For some reason, I really nailed a bunch of TE calls. I called Brent Celek a top 5 TE after Week 3, then added Vernon Davis to my top 5 after Week 4. I also found myself alone behind the wheel of the Fred Davis bandwagon for too long.

Buy Low on LT

After being hurt and ineffective for the first 6 weeks of the season, LT was proclaimed all but dead. However, I saw a guy on an explosive offensive still getting the majority of Goal Line carries, which meant that it was only a matter of time before it started raining touchdowns. Before I told you to buy low: 1 TD and fantasy doom; After: 11 TDs and Top 7 RB value…I'm not saying, I'm just saying.

The Bad

Brandon Jacobs' Touchdowns will come

I addressed this somewhat in the Airing of Grievances column, but truly Brandon Jacobs: you made a fool of me. He taunted me with his ridiculous power/speed combo, and ran like a fairy. His career 5.0 yards per carry went down to 3.7 in 2009, that's pitiful. He barely finished as a top 25 back, despite having better scoring opportunities than nearly everyone else.

Larry Johnson is worth waiting for

In all fairness, this was correct if you were in the jerks on the Bengals fantasy league. Never heard of this? (points for misdemeanors, felonies, awesome celebrations, and of course homophobic slurs against your head coach). Seriously, I saw the schedule LJ was poised to face the rest of the season (the same one Jamaal Charles built his name on), and thought he could have some real value. Silly me I didn't factor in LJ trying to get kicked off the team.

The Absolutely, Ridiculously, Awful, Are you on Meth Horrible

This was put under: Things that might be true

Chris Johnson will finish outside of the Top 10 RBs

Wow. It's one thing to feel stupid looking back, it's another to have been seriously down on a running back who ended up turning in one of the most spectacular season's we've ever seen. And while there really aren't many other words I can use to further bemoan this appalling prediction (there's another one), there is a silver lining.

The light at the end of this dark tunnel is the creation of the Chris Johnson Rule. Which was one of the many things I learned this season, that will be used to improved next season's analysis.

The Chris Johnson Rule, and other stuff I learned for next season

The idea of the Chris Johnson Rule is simple: RBs with explosive big play ability (which was operationalized by looking at how often they broke of 10+ yard runs and 25+ yard runs) can overcome not being their team's clear cut Goal Line back. If we look at RZ stats and running explosiveness together, we can get a much better idea of which running backs will produce the most fantasy value. Next season these stats will be tracked, and used frequently in analysis.

Tracking GL targets in addition to RZ targets

I toyed with the idea of tracking Goal Line targets for WRs and TEs (in addition to Red Zone targets), and started taking it seriously too late. But it would assist in giving us an idea of which players are getting chances to actually catch the ball in the end zone (which are the easiest scoring chances), as opposed to just when they are thrown the ball in the Red Zone (inside the 20) which represents many different types of targets- ranging from screen passes to fade routes. Next season this will be added to the bevy on RZ Report tools.

Three Week trends in RZ+GL targets

Lastly, and perhaps the best improvement that you'll see next year is the introduction of Weekly RZ+GL target trends. In addition to seeing how many targets players have gotten, and what percentage of their teams RZ targets they get, we will be able to evaluate the relevancy of those stats by looking at their targets over their last 3 games. This will give us insight into how these players are currently being used, as opposed to only looking at season totals which can be skewed by a few big weeks.

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Before I get to a few notes for those still playing in Week 17, let's quick look at next season. I'm not gonna give you top 50 or top 10, rather here's 10 sexiest- meaning exciting- players for 2010 (and the guys you'll want to follow all off-season):

2010 Top 10 Sexiest Players

1. Beanie Wells (Cardinals RB)- As the season progress, Wells showed himself to be one of the steals of the 2009 draft. Slowly but surely, he stole more and more work from Tim Hightower, and now looks like he'll have a shot at being Arizona's #1 back next season. His combination of size (6-1 228) and explosive running ability will make him an exciting player to watch next year.

2. Jerome Harrison (Browns RB)- Whether or not 2010 will bring a Sanz-Mangini season for Harrison, his lighting quick running style has earned him the lion share of Cleveland Browns carries for the foreseeable future. Next year could be a great one for Harrison.

3. Michael Crabtree (49ers WR)- How many rookie wideouts can join the team mid-season and make and impact? Not many. Most rookie WRs don't make an impact as it is. Crabtree was truly spectacular in this respect. Given a full offseason to build chemistry with Alex Smith and learn their newly implemented spread offense, it's not crazy to say Crabtree could be a top 15 WR next year.

4. Justin Forsett (Seahawks RB)- The bad news is that Forsett has to compete with the incumbent RB, Julius Jones. The good news is that Forsett has to compete with Julius Jones. Honestly, I'm not sure what NFL coaches are thinking sometimes. Justin Forsett has done nothing but perform great when he's been given a chance, averaging 5.2 ypc and 8.6 yards per reception. Hopefully playing his best RB will be Jim Mora's New Year's Resolution.

5. Hakeem Nicks (Giants WR)- It took Nicks a while to become a integral part of the Giants offense, but Eli Manning has finally found his big downfield target to replace Plaxico Burress. Although Steve Smith was the Giants #1 this season, Nicks' skill set fits that role far better going forward (he averaged 17.3 yards per catch!!!).

6. Jermichael Finley (Packers TE)- Becoming an elite TE can happen suddenly, just ask Antonio Gates, Vernon Davis or Brett Celek. Finley came into this year as a huge longshot, who many thought had a slight chance to be a monster TE. Injuries and a slowly growing role in the offense prevented him from fully breaking out this season, as he finished as the 15th best TE. This offseason, however, Finley won't be the surprise of camp, developing him will be one of the Packers' biggest priorities. Finley has the explosive athletic ability to do what Vernon Davis did this season for fantasy owners.

7. Malcolm Floyd (Chargers WR)- Like a lot of guys on this list, Floyd wasn't give starter reps in games and practices until about halfway through the season (after the Chargers released Chris Chambers). Given a full off-season working the Chargers #2 WR opposite Vincent Jackson, Malcolm Floyd will be another big (6-5 225) target for Phillip Rivers in San Diego's high flying passing game.

8. Michael Bush (Raiders RB)- Here's another guy who biggest problem has been getting consistent playing time. Like Forsett, Wells, and Harrison, Bush seems to always perform well when he's given a chance. With Justin Fargas turning 30 and seeing his 2nd declining season in a row, Bush should have a real shot at being Oakland's starting back, which could mean huge things for fantasy owners. He'll have to compete with Darren McFadden, clearly an inferior runner to Bush, but the Louisville alum should prevail.

9. Mike Wallace (Steelers WR)- Having proven himself as Big Ben new home run threat, Wallace now needs to make the jump to being a solid route runner as well. The new pass-happy direction of the Steelers offense bodes very well for Wallace getting an opportunity to prove himself as more than deep threat. With Hines Ward approaching the wrong side of 30, Wallace could see increased opportunity, as well.

10. Devin Thomas (Redskins WR)- As the season grew on, Thomas' role in the offense expanded. Although Santana Moss is still Washington's #1 receiving option, Thomas provides a much different skill set. At 6-2 220, Thomas is an uber-athletic receiver who can stretch the field or come across the middle. A former 1st round pick, Thomas should have ample opportunity this off-season to establish himself as an invaluable part of the Redskins passing attack. He will definitely be worth a late round pick come next fall, and could see a similar 3rd year breakout season to the Vikings' Sidney Rice.

Week 17 Notes
Here are a couple of under-the-radar options for this weekend's games:

Jason Snelling , Falcons RB

Snelling has another dynamite matchup against one of the worst run defenses in football. Don't be fooled by Tampa Bay's win last week against the Saints, they are still very weak against the run. Snelling is a solid RB2 this week, while Norwood is a good Flex play.

Billy Volek, Chargers RB
With the no.2 seed locked up this week, Volek should see a lot of action against the Redskins 22nd ranked pass defense this week. For those in 2QB leagues, or any Phillip Rivers owners, Volek could be a very nice replacement this week.

Josh Morgan, 49ers
Although he disappointed last week in a great matchup vs. Detroit, Morgan has a chance at redemption this week. Facing the Rams atrocious passing defense, Morgan is a decent WR3 option.

Muhsin Muhammad, Panthers WR
With Steve Smith out, Muhammad will take over #1 receiving duties for Carolina. If you've been burned by Smith getting hurt, Muhammad is a fine replacement, but don't expect more than 7-8 points.

Sammy Morris, Patriots RB
Facing a bad Houston run defense this week, Morris has a great chance to put up a second stellar fantasy week in a row. He makes a very nice flex play this week.

 

[HacheMan]

Studs, duds and sleepers: Johnson out to break records


Matt Pitzer's look at the upcoming week's fantasy football landscape:
Studs
Matt Forte, RB, Bears. You should have figured out Forte's good games come against the worst teams on the schedule. He had a season-high 121 rushing yards in the first game against Detroit, which is tied for the fourth-most rushing TDs allowed at 18.
Chris Johnson, RB, Titans. All the Titans have left to play for is getting Johnson to 2,000 rushing yards and breaking the single-season record for yards from scrimmage. The Seahawks are allowing an average of 35.3 points in their past three and are barely playing out the string.
Donovan McNabb, QB, Eagles. Get ready for a shootout to determine the NFC East. McNabb had just one TD in the teams' first meeting, but he has the offense humming with an average of 30 points in seven games since that Week 9 loss.
Santana Moss, WR, Redskins. The Redskins wrap up their season far away from home in San Diego and against the Chargers' backups. Moss is coming off his best game since Week 3 and ought to pick up some cheap stats against a uninterested defense.
Kyle Orton, QB, Broncos. Look for the Broncos to keep the offense wide open against the rival Kansas City Chiefs. Denver's running game has slumped down the stretch and Orton has at least two TD passes in three of the past four games.
Duds
Steven Jackson, RB, Rams. Jackson finally gave into his lingering back problems and missed a game last week. He might want to think about calling it a season instead of facing San Francisco's seventh-ranked run defense.
Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jaguars. The Jaguars are limping home once again and playing in cold weather in Cleveland will be tough. They have scored more than 13 points in two of seven road games and the Browns are riding a three-game winning streak.
Laurence Maroney, RB, Patriots. Maroney's unexpected success looks like it is over following his fourth lost fumble in seven games last week. Both Sammy Morris and Fred Taylor are healthy again, meaning the Patriots can afford to put Maroney back on the bench.
Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers. After being one of the most reliable fantasy quarterbacks for most of the season, Rodgers likely will not have much motivation this week with the Packers nearly locked into playoff position, while the opposing Cardinals could be fighting for a better seed. That adds up to a scenario in which you'd want to sit Rodgers.
Steve Smith, WR, Giants. Minnesota's defense has sprung leaks in allowing 62 points and seven passing TDs in the past two weeks. But after seeing the Giants' collapse last week, it is hard to see them doing much with nothing on the line and that will manifest itself in a poor effort by the offense.
Sleepers
Arian Foster, RB, Texans. The unpredictable and frustrating Texans running game took one final turn with Foster back in the rotation last week and picking up 72 yards and a TD. He will be the main back again ahead of Ryan Moats this week.
Lex Hilliard, RB, Dolphins. Hilliard scored two times after Ricky Williams left last week's game because of a shoulder injury. If Williams misses Sunday's game, Hilliard will not be a great start, but the Steelers are giving up enough points that he should have a chance to score again.
Dustin Keller, TE, Jets. If the Jets face the Bengals' backups in the season finale, the Jets' offense should have a chance to break its conservative mold a bit. That would enable Keller to make some plays, even though he hasn't had more than three catches in each of the past four games.
Muhsin Muhammad, WR, Panthers. Hard to argue against the Panthers' six passing TDs in the past two games and with Steve Smith out because of a broken arm, Muhammad will have to fill the void against the reeling Saints.
Alex Smith, QB, 49ers. The Rams have put up a bit of a fight, but injuries have continued to wreck the team. On the other hand, the 49ers are trying to finish at .500 and Smith, playing indoors, should have a good chance to close with a multiple-TD game.

 

[HacheMan]

The blame game
It's fitting that Brandon Jacobs' season is going to end with him watching from the sidelines. That's where anyone who drafted him this year probably wishes he was all season.

Jacobs has meniscus damage and needs his knee "cleaned out," according to the Newark Star-Ledger. He doesn't have ligament damage, but he's out for Week 17 and will have a scope next week. Jacobs is expected to make a full recovery.

The numbers from this season are not pretty. Jacobs averaged 3.7 yards per carry (YPC) this season after averaging 5.0 in each of the previous two years. He scored just five touchdowns compared to 15 last season. He had remarkably had zero 100-yard games and is the No. 26 fantasy running back in non-PPR leagues.

So, can we blame this problem for Jacobs' miserable season? Well, partially.

The significant drop-off in his YPC screams injury. Jacobs is only 27 and has just 779 career carries. His upright, punishing running style is a concern, but he shouldn't be wearing down just yet. Jacobs won't use the knee as an excuse, but he left a couple games early and it nagged at him all season. He wasn't running people over or using his 6'4/264 frame correctly.

As we head into the offseason, I'm willing to give Jacobs the benefit of the doubt. He'll return as the starter with all the goal-line work. With a fresh knee, that's worth a "bounce back" value pick every time.

Editor's Note: Your fantasy season doesn't have to be over just because your league ended in Week 16. You can pick a new team just for Week 17 and compete for real cash in Rotoworld's SnapDraft.

NEWS OF THE DAY #2
Raiders beat writer Jerry McDonald, one of the best on the beat, says he isn't sure that Darren McFadden will ever be a 1,000 yard back. "Those people who questioned whether McFadden would be able to break enough tackles in the NFL look right at this point," wrote McDonald.

The fact that McFadden, who is supposed to be a big play kind of back, is averaging 3.5 yards per carry is pretty concerning. He still has value as a weapon in the passing and return game, but 1,000 rushing yards does seem like a stretch. Of course, a better offense/quarterback will help the situation tremendously.

NEWS OF THE DAY #3
The way Devin Aromashodu played on Monday night begged the obvious question for coach Lovie Smith: Why the heck wasn't this guy playing before, considering all the struggles the passing game has had this season.

Smith's response as to whether Aromashodu could start going forward was predictable: "You have to say yes to that by his play. He's been outstanding with what he's done. But we have a number of guys that have shown us throughout the [year] that they can be the starter and be the guy that can take over a game."

Really? That sounds like Lovie covering his butt for not putting Aromashodu in earlier even though Jay Cutler was begging for it.

Editor's Note: Your fantasy season doesn't have to be over just because your league ended in Week 16. You can pick a new team just for Week 17 and compete for real cash in Rotoworld's SnapDraft.

INJURY QUICK SLANTS: QUARTERBACKS
Ryan Fitzpatrick (illness) returned to practice and appears on track to end the Brian Brohm experience this week. …Matt Ryan (toe) didn't practice but is likely to start this week.

INJURY QUICK SLANTS: RUNNING BACKS
Julius Jones (ribs, ankle) was held out of practice. It should be the Justin Forsett show this week. … Michael Turner (ankle) missed practice and probably won't play Sunday. … Steven Jackson (back) will be a game-time decision. … Donald Brown (illness) missed practice but he should see plenty of work Sunday. … Justin Fargas (knee) missed practice and could be a game-time decision. … Derrick Ward (knee) is in doubt for this week. … Ricky Williams (shoulder) practiced and should be a go Sunday. … Pierre Thomas (ribs) appears likely to sit this week out. … DeAngelo Williams (ankle) was held out of practice and could be another game-time decision. … Willie Parker (shoulder) probably won't play in the season finale.

INJURY QUICK SLANTS: WIDE RECEIVERS AND TIGHT ENDS
Brandon Marshall pulled a hammy in Wednesday's practice, but it's not expected to be serious. Look for him to play Sunday. … Hakeem Nicks (hamstring) was limited but should start. … Devin Hester (calf) is questionable to make his return this week. … Hines Ward (hamstring) missed practice but will probably give it a go at less than 100 percent his week. … Tony Gonzalez (calf) missed practice and appears unlikely to play this week. … Jeremy Shockey (turf toe) was limited in practice and seems like a candidate to get more rest this week. Backup David Thomas is also questionable. … Devin Thomas (ankle) missed another practice and his season is probably done. … Visanthe Shiancoe (thigh) is in danger of missing Week 17.

DEPTH CHART QUICK SLANTS
The Packers are saying they're going to play his starters and try to win Sunday, but we're hesitant to believe him. … Isaac Bruce says there's a 75 percent chance he's going to retire. … Muhsin Muhammad says he's not going to retire after this season. We're not sure why. … Daunte Culpepper took the first-team reps over Drew Stanton at the early part of Lions practice. … Eli Manning won't rest this week. … Dwayne Bowe was criticized for not breaking up an interception last week, but he shouldn't land in the doghouse. He's led the Chiefs in targets for two straight weeks. … Eric Mangini wouldn't rule out Jerome Harrison returning as the starter next season, but who really cares what Mangini thinks anyway?

 

[HacheMan]

Matchups: MoJo to the Finish
The tail end of this column will be updated into Saturday.

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

Indianapolis @ Buffalo

The Colts set a precedent by pulling Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne, Joseph Addai, and Dallas Clark with a 15-10 lead and just over five minutes left in the third quarter last Sunday against the Jets. At Buffalo, it will be surprising if the aforementioned last longer than two possessions. Expect lots of Curtis Painter, Donald Brown, Jacob Tamme/Tom Santi, and Hank Baskett. Indianapolis' half-hearted pursuit of perfection is over, so there's no reason to change the plan now...With Wayne and Pierre Garcon (hand) out last week, Baskett and Austin Collie made up the Colts' two-receiver sets. Collie had six grabs for 94 yards and will likely lead the team in receiving again.

The Ralph Wilson Stadium forecast is a concern, however. 22MPH winds, sub-20 degree temps, and a 60% chance of snow are expected. Both teams will likely keep the ball on the ground. On Indy's side, Donald Brown -- not Mike Hart -- is the strongest bet for a significant workload. The first-round pick struggled in his return from a four-week chest injury last Sunday, but still led the way with 17 touches and got the football in goal-line situations. Chad Simpson is likely out with a concussion, so Brown and Hart will be the Colts' only ball-carrying options after Addai takes a seat.

Ryan Fitzpatrick returns from his ankle injury after missing Week 16 and has taken the majority of first-team reps, ahead of Brian Brohm. Fitzpatrick's weak arm is not a good combination with strong winds and inclement weather, though, so expectations should be limited for Lee Evans and Terrell Owens. Buffalo is likely to employ a run-first game plan.

In last Sunday's blowout loss to Atlanta, Fred Jackson maintained his stranglehold on Buffalo's featured back job with 15 touches compared to Marshawn Lynch's four. The Bills should be much more competitive in this game, increasing both runners' usage. Jackson is a candidate for 18-22 carries and 4-6 catches against a Colts defense that will rest key players and already wasn't great in run defense.

New Orleans @ Carolina

Chicago's Week 16 upset of Minnesota clinched the NFC's No. 1 seed and homefield advantage throughout the playoffs for New Orleans, but Sean Payton isn't backing down. Payton has made it clear that he'll go "all-out" at Carolina, resting no healthy players. One guy we don't expect to see is Pierre Thomas, who bruised his ribs in the Saints' Week 16 loss. Payton has been borderline-OCD about keeping Thomas fresh for the playoffs, stripping his goal-line duties and keeping him under 15 carries in all one but game. Reggie Bush is likely to start against the Panthers' No. 25 rush defense. Mike Bell will get red-zone carries and dominate early-down work.

Carolina's secondary has been quarterback kryptonite for two months. Eli Manning entered Week 16 with a 6:0 TD-to-INT ratio in his last two games, but was picked twice by the Panthers and had 296 yards thanks only to garbage-time stats. Drew Brees, though, dropped 330 yards on Carolina in a Week 9 win. Brees knows his team can't enter the playoffs coming off back-to-back losses and will air it out with Thomas likely to be inactive...Robert Meachem is pushing Marques Colston to be the Saints' No. 1 wideout. Both are every-week fantasy plays...Devery Henderson remains too inefficient to be reliable...TEs Jeremy Shockey and David Thomas are both banged up.

Steve Smith's (broken arm) absence makes Carolina's offense easy to game plan for. He'll be replaced by Kenneth Moore, who was cut by the Lions last offseason and has five career catches. Matt Moore has seven touchdowns compared to zero picks in his last three outings, but will take the field with the worst receiver corps in the league Sunday...Carolina may be forced to ask more of rotating tight ends Gary Barnidge, Jeff King, and Dante Rosario.

The Panthers will present no threat of a downfield passing game with Smith out and 22MPH winds in the Bank of America Stadium forecast. DeAngelo Williams (ankle) will be a game-day decision again, and his chances aren't looking good after missing Wednesday and Thursday's practices. Jonathan Stewart, who gashed the Giants for 222 total yards and a touchdown in Week 16, could flirt with 30 carries in this one. A Saints defense that ranks 22nd against the run and has given up 18 rushing touchdowns through 15 games is unlikely to stop him.

Atlanta @ Tampa Bay

While the forecast for Raymond James Stadium (56 degrees, 0% chance of rain, 8MPH winds) is favorable, Atlanta's passing game will take a major hit if Tony Gonzalez (calf) is inactive. Gonzo leads the team in catches and diverts attention from Roddy White. Look for the Bucs to "shadow" White with Aqib Talib, and keep FS Tanard Jackson over the top. White can beat double teams and can't be benched in a plus matchup, but Matt Ryan's fantasy outlook isn't great. The Bucs will focus on stopping the pass because Michael Turner (ankle) is out again.

Jason Snelling will once again lead the way for Atlanta's ground game. The Bucs have struggled badly to stop the run all year, so Snelling would be a quality RB2 in fantasy leagues that extend into Week 17. He gets more carries than Jerious Norwood, particularly in scoring position...If Gonzalez is out, Michael Jenkins will probably see a slight bump in over-the-middle/underneath targets. Still, Jenkins lacks upside because he's short on big-play ability. He's scored one touchdown all season and has just three catches for 42 yards combined in his last two games.

Josh Freeman has 17 turnovers in the last six games. His matchup is favorable against Atlanta's No. 28 pass defense, but the rookie remains only a two-QB league option...Antonio Bryant is clearly not part of Tampa's future plans after calling out Freeman and the coaching staff publicly. Don't be surprised if his role on Sunday is minimal, and Mark Bradley is more involved...Kellen Winslow is very likely to lead the Bucs in targets again. The Falcons' defense struggles in all areas, and doesn't have athleticism in the secondary to contain Winslow in the slot. It definitely doesn't help that Atlanta had to place top CB Chris Houston (hamstring) on I.R. this week.

Derrick Ward, dealing with ongoing knee problems, had to pull himself out of last week's upset of New Orleans. Ward is expected to play in Week 17, but Carnell Williams will be the Bucs' lead runner. Coming off his best game in years (24-129-1 against the Saints), Cadillac squares off with Atlanta's No. 17 run defense.

San Francisco @ St. Louis

Not surprisingly, Frank Gore touched up Detroit for a remarkable 152 total yards and a TD in the Niners' Week 16 win. Gore has set a career high with 11 all-purpose scores this season, and his 4.9 YPC average is a personal best since his breakout '06 campaign. A Rams defense that ranks No. 27 against the run and has allowed an NFC-most 21 rushing scores has little hope of containing him...Vernon Davis deservedly made his first Pro Bowl on Tuesday. Also an All-Pro candidate, Davis is second in the NFL in receiving touchdowns. Only Pro Bowl snub Randy Moss has more.

Indoors at The Ed against St. Louis' No. 24 pass defense, Alex Smith will make one more case to be the 49ers' clear-cut starter entering 2010. As of now, San Francisco figures to enter July with Smith atop the depth chart and Nate Davis pushing Shaun Hill for the No. 2 job...Michael Crabtree is averaging 4.5 grabs for 57 yards per game despite missing all of camp and the season's first five weeks while holding out. He'll be even better next year and a potential top-25 fantasy wideout. The talent certainly is there...Josh Morgan's 21-yard Week 16 was disappointing considering the opponent and his otherwise strong finish. No. 4 offensive options are destined for inconsistency.

Steven Jackson experienced stiffness in his back during warmups in Week 16, costing him his first game of 2009. He vows to play in St. Louis' finale, and likely will. In order to void the final two seasons of his six-year contract (and enter 2012 free agency with a shot at another megadeal), S-Jax must average 1,200 rushing yards and 400 receiving yards in the first four seasons. After an injury-plagued 2008, he's averaging 1,198 rush yards and 350.5 receiving through two years. The matchup is difficult against San Francisco's top-seven run defense, but Jackson will work hard to be out there.

The Rams are being coy about their starting quarterback again, but no members of the St. Louis passing game are worth fantasy investment. San Francisco's fantasy defense, of course, is an elite play. Kyle Boller, an impending free agent, will probably go the route of Joey Harrington and fall out of the NFL this offseason. Unable to beat out Keith Null, a sixth-round rookie from Division II West Texas A&M, Boller has a 63.0 quarterback rating in five appearances this year.

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NY Giants @ Minnesota

Minnesota has lots to play for coming off Monday night's upset loss to Chicago. The Vikings no longer control their destiny in regards to the NFC No. 2 seed they once appeared a lock to attain, and definitely will miss out on a first-round bye if Philadelphia upends Dallas on Sunday. Whipped by both the pass and run of late (when they aren't playing the Redskins), the Giants' Week 16 blowout loss to the Panthers was an embodiment of New York's struggles. Matt Moore threw for three touchdowns, while Jonathan Stewart exploded for 222 total yards and a score. At home in the Metrodome, few Vikings aren't set up for productive games.

Brett Favre's 321 yards and two touchdowns in a near-comeback win at Soldier Field confirmed that he isn't tanking down the stretch. He has an amazing 17:2 TD-to-INT ratio at home this year, with an average of 285 yards per game...Sidney Rice will be Favre's go-to target in the red zone should Visanthe Shiancoe (ankle) miss or be limited in Sunday's game...Adrian Peterson's two Week 16 TDs moved him past Maurice Jones-Drew for the league lead...Percy Harvin was quiet until the fourth quarter against Chicago, finishing with 40 yards on four catches. With Bernard Berrian finally over his hamstring woes, he and Harvin figure to split production in Week 17 and the playoffs.

The Giants' playoff chances were officially nixed in last week's loss, which discouraged them from pushing Brandon Jacobs to play through his knee injury. He was placed on injured reserve...Ahmad Bradshaw will start and flirt with 20 touches despite dealing with his own lower-leg issues. Danny Ware will be the third-down back, and rookie Gartrell Johnson may get some change-up carries off the bench...Kevin Boss' production is up slightly in the second half of the season, but he'll probably be asked to help LT David Diehl block Vikings RE Jared Allen plenty on Sunday.

Torched in two straight games, Vikes CB Antoine Winfield surrendered last week's game-winning TD to career practice squad WR Devin Aromashodu. Winfield aggravated his foot injury and may only play in nickel sets versus New York. The biggest beneficiary projects to be Steve Smith, who Winfield would mostly be assigned to...Hakeem Nicks started over Mario Manningham again in Week 16, but the two continue to rotate evenly. Manningham (6-87) had the bigger game against Carolina...Just as the Panthers' secondary has done to quarterbacks all year, Chris Gamble & Co. smothered Eli Manning, who got most of his 296 yards in garbage time. For the record, Eli isn't matchup proof.

Pittsburgh @ Miami

Dealing with two separate hamstring injuries, Hines Ward is in danger of sitting out the Steelers' regular season finale, or at least being ineffective on the field. The leg injuries sap Ward's ability to get open and make hard cuts. While he will probably tough it out and play, Ward will be a risky option in Week 17 fantasy leagues...On the other hand, Ben Roethlisberger and Santonio Holmes are elite starts. LandShark Stadium is calling for temperatures in the high 60s, a 0% chance of rain, and 10MPH winds. The Dolphins rank 23rd against the pass.

Heath Miller returned to mediocrity in Week 16 (3-35-0) after exploding for a season-high 118 yards the Sunday prior against Green Bay. The Fins have the second most sacks in the AFC, so Miller will likely do quite a bit of "help" blocking in this one...Dolphins ILB Channing Crowder suffered a Lisfranc foot injury in Week 16 and is done for the year. Miami struggled to stop Texans undrafted rookie Arian Foster after Crowder went down, so his absence helps Rashard Mendenhall...Mike Wallace had 83 yards in last week's win over Baltimore, but is too reliant on big plays to be a consistent fantasy asset. He would be a strong WR3 if Ward sits out, though.

The Dolphins appear poised to use an even committee at tailback this week. Ricky Williams is 32, nursing a shoulder injury, and has shared first-team practice reps evenly with Lex Hilliard. Pittsburgh's No. 1 run defense makes this a fantasy situation to avoid...The weather helps Chad Henne's chances of a solid game, and the Steelers' secondary continues to show leaks. Joe Flacco threw two touchdowns against them last week, but would've had three had Derrick Mason not let a perfectly thrown deep ball bounce off his hands in the end zone. Henne is a quality QB2.

Ted Ginn Jr. resumed starting over Brian Hartline last week and capitalized with his second best game of the year -- a five-catch, 82-yard effort against an underrated Texans pass defense. All Dolphins receivers are still too unreliable for fantasy use. Five different pass catchers have led Miami in receiving over the last five games. Hartline, Davone Bess, Greg Camarillo, or Anthony Fasano could just as easily take over the team lead this week.

New England @ Houston

Bill Belichick doesn't believe in resting starters, and already indicated publicly that he won't be doing so indoors at Reliant Stadium. Tom Brady awoke from a five-game slumber by torching the Jags for four touchdowns and a 10.3 yards-per-attempt average (his third best of the year) in Week 16. Brady is finally 100 percent, which obviously boosts Randy Moss and Wes Welker's outlooks...The Texans have allowed just one wideout (Ted Ginn Jr. last Sunday) to top 52 yards in the last month, but also haven't faced receivers of Moss and Welker's caliber.

Laurence Maroney tumbled back into fantasy irrelevancy versus Jacksonville. Sammy Morris started over him and led the Pats in touches, while both Fred Taylor (back from ankle surgery) and Kevin Faulk got the ball more. Maroney had five carries for 22 yards, lost a goal-line fumble on New England's first possession, and rode the pine for the rest of the game. Expect the Patriots to base their backfield distribution on week-to-week matchups in Week 17 and the postseason.

Only a handful of NFL teams can score with the Patriots' No. 4 offense. Houston is one of them. Since Week 1, the Texans have been held under 24 points just once at Reliant Stadium. This is going to be a high-scoring affair indoors, and Matt Schaub is an elite Week 17 fantasy play...Averaging 7.3 catches for 115.3 yards per game with five TDs in the last seven weeks, Andre Johnson is the No. 1 receiver in fantasy football. He can beat double teams, and playcaller Kyle Shanahan is especially adept at getting A.J. in favorable matchups by sending him in motion.

Despite a favorable Week 16 matchup against Miami's No. 23 pass defense, Kevin Walter had only 21 yards. Backup Jacoby Jones is inconsistent because of his situational role, but clearly is a more explosive option...TE Joel Dreessen's 65 yards against the Fins were a career high. Don't expect a repeat...Ryan Moats started at tailback for the Texans last Sunday, but rookie Arian Foster easily led the way with 19 carries. The ideal one-cut back for a zone-blocking scheme, Foster will likely be featured again this week against a very mediocre Pats run defense.

Chicago @ Detroit

Charles Tillman -- the only Bears corner that's ever had success covering Calvin Johnson -- will miss Sunday's game with broken ribs. Replacement Corey Graham has played only in dime sets this year and was the victim on Sidney Rice's game-tying TD against Minnesota on Monday night. While the Lions' Matthew Stafford-less quarterback carousel usually struggles to get the ball to pass catchers, Johnson did have 128 total yards (32 on rushes) in Week 16. Calvin is also back at Ford Field on turf, where he has 669 of his 898 receiving yards and all four of his touchdowns.

In addition to tailback, offensive line, and all three levels of defense, Detroit needs to make finding a No. 2 receiver an offseason priority. Bryant Johnson has floundered in the role, consistently dropping passes and averaging just over two catches for 25.6 yards per game...After a fluky 161-total yard, one-TD effort in Week 15, Maurice Morris came back to Earth with 37 yards on 18 carries at San Francisco last Sunday. Morris simply lacks starting-caliber talent and isn't even much of a Week 17 fantasy play against the Bears' No. 26 rush defense.

After upsetting Minnesota, the Bears have a chance to close the season on a two-game winning streak against intradivision foes (and perhaps save Lovie Smith's job). While predicting which Jay Cutler will show up is impossible on a weekly basis, he's at least a better bet to succeed than fail against the Lions' No. 32 pass defense. Cutler is coming off his best game of 2009 -- a 273-yard, four-TD effort won on an overtime bomb to new favorite receiver Devin Aromashodu...However, Devin Hester's (calf) status has a major impact on Aromashodu's role. Aromashodu will not be a part of the Bears' base offense if Hester returns to retake his starting job.

Earl Bennett is the only lock to be an every-down receiver for the Bears because Johnny Knox (ankle) is out. Aromashodu is strictly a flanker, while Bennett and Knox are split ends. Bennett also plays in the slot in three-wide sets...Without the deep threat Knox, Chicago's game plan will likely involve more underneath plays, which would be good news for Greg Olsen...Matt Forte has topped 100 rushing yards once all year -- in Week 4 against Detroit. While he's never a good bet for a big play, Forte's season-long sophomore slump should at least end on a positive note.

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Jacksonville @ Cleveland

With David Garrard struggling again (185 yards, two interceptions in Week 16), Maurice Jones-Drew will remain the focal point of Jacksonville's offense. Facing a Browns defense that ranks 28th overall and has lost four members of its starting front seven since Week 6, MoJo should get 25+ touches and have no trouble approaching 150 or so total yards. The Browns Stadium forecast is also calling for 22MPH winds, sub-25 degree temperatures, and a 40% chance of snow showers. This projects to be a run-heavy affair on both sides.

Torry Holt appears unlikely to play Sunday after emerging from last week's blowout loss with a possible broken finger. His absence might actually upgrade Jacksonville's stagnant passing attack because rookie Mike Thomas offers more big-play ability. Thomas came off the bench for 57 yards on six catches last week, though he isn't much of a fantasy option...The weather is going to hinder passing, and Mike Sims-Walker has been highly inconsistent while dealing with calf and knee injuries. He saw just three targets last week at New England, catching two for 19 yards.

It's not all his fault because Cleveland's quarterbacks are horribly inaccurate, but Mohamed Massaquoi is dead last in the league with a 35.9% catch rate (33 grabs on 92 targets). Dallas' Roy Williams (44.7%) is next worst. Massaquoi probably won't see more than six targets as the Browns go run heavy versus Jacksonville...Joshua Cribbs is only a fantasy option in return-yardage leagues. He's touched the ball on offense just four times in each of the last two weeks.

Continuing to make a case to be Cleveland's featured back in 2010, Jerome Harrison has racked up 446 yards and four rushing touchdowns in his last two games. Jacksonville is not soft against the run (4.0 YPC, 10 TDs allowed), but Harrison is locked into the starting role ahead of Chris Jennings. Fantasy owners still going in Week 17 may as well ride Harrison while he's hot.

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

Philadelphia @ Dallas

In perhaps Week 17's biggest game, the Eagles control their destiny in pursuit of the NFC's No. 2 seed. They'll clinch the spot with a win, while Dallas also has a shot at a first-round bye if Wade Phillips' club pulls out a home victory. In terms of game planning, look for the Eagles to do what they do best -- throw early and often. Usual suspects Donovan McNabb, DeSean Jackson, and Brent Celek are good bets for big games against Dallas' hit-or-miss, No. 21 overall pass defense.

Jeremy Maclin, however, will square off primarily with Cowboys top CB Mike Jenkins. Maclin is healthy and made perhaps the best catch by an Eagles wideout all year for 27 yards down the left sideline on Philly's game-winning drive last week, but has a difficult matchup and loses targets to Jason Avant and Reggie Brown...The Birds employed a near-even rotation of Brian Westbrook (23 snaps), Leonard Weaver (33), and LeSean McCoy (28) in Westbrook's Week 16 return. No one saw over 11 touches. Expect a similar split Sunday against Dallas' top-five run defense.

Tony Romo has turned the ball over once in his last five games. His fumbling issues appear to be behind him, and his TD-to-INT ratio is 9:1 since Week 11. The No. 8 overall fantasy QB now has to deal with a stingy Eagles pass defense, but gets to play indoors at Jerry Jones' dome...Showing the rare ability to beat double teams and eat up defensive backs playing "off-man" coverage, Miles Austin is one of the game's most complete receivers. Playcaller Jason Garrett obviously recognizes it; Austin has led Dallas in targets six of the last seven weeks.

Jason Witten still blocks too often in goal-line formations, but is showing some upside again with three 100+ yard efforts in his last five. The Eagles love giving up fantasy points to tight ends...Roy Williams' Week 16 stat line: four targets, two drops, one four-yard catch. He's just not a good player...The Cowboys' backfield has clarity with Felix Jones and Marion Barber sharing early-down carries, Barber dominating goal-line opportunities, and Tashard Choice essentially nowhere to be found. Philadelphia owns a top-eight run defense, but is susceptible to power rushers due to an undersized front seven. Barber has three touchdowns in his last two games.

 

[HacheMan]

Week 17 Rankings

We were late arriving to the New Year's Eve party. My wife, annoyed yet accepting of this odd career, thought we had finally escaped football for the evening when I got off work around 10:30, an hour before.

She should have known better.

I hadn't cracked open a beer before one of my friends throwing the party – let's call him "Joe" – whisked me away to his room. He was in the middle of a two week championship, and was stuck with Aaron Rodgers, Jermichael Finley, Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, and Chad Ochocinco on his team.

Who was safe to play? What random players could he pick up off waivers to play for a title?

Questions like these are being asked all over the country. We don't recommend playing in Week 17 because of situations like Joe's, but it happens. We'll skip the lecture and try to help you out with a quick primer on what teams may rest, play, and all the rankings that go with it.

AFC

1. Colts: We told you last week they would sit starters, and they did. Don't expect Manning to make it close to halftime this time. I wouldn't trust anyone – Donald Brown isn't a terrible option, but why take the risk?

2. Chargers: San Diego has nothing to play for. We don't have history to lean on with Norv Turner's decision, but the odds are that Rivers, Tomlinson and Jackson come out early. Even if they last longer than the Colts.

3. Patriots: I think they will play to win, but it's a total guess. Here's why. There is a significant risk in playing your Pats.

4. Bengals: They seem very likely to rest starters, the only question is how much. Early results may make a difference here, but don't bother waiting until Sunday night to find out.

Rest of AFC: Should be playing to win.

NFC

1. Saints: Sean Payton says the Saints will play to win. I trust him. Pierre Thomas looks likely to miss the game to injury though.

2. Vikings: Playing to win at 1PM to secure a bye.

Eagles/Cowboys: Playing to win the NFC East

Packers/Cardinals: Here's where it gets tricky. If Minnesota loses at 1ET, the Cardinals will do everything they can to beat the Packers. Play your guys. If Minnesota beats the Giants, the Cardinals will likely rest Kurt Warner, Anquan Boldin, and Larry Fitzgerald before long. This will make life very difficult for owners of these players.

My advice is to expect not to use them. If you can find other 4PM options and the Vikings are losing early, then perhaps you can insert Fitz and company at the last minute. But a close ended to the early game could make that very difficult.

As for the Packers, I'm not totally sure what to think. But the odds are that they will rest their key players at some point, based on Mike McCarthy's history. So I'd sit your Packers if possible.

Got all that? Great. Now check out Silva's awesome matchup column and Levitan's Snapdraft plays.

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

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Matt Schaub</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Drew Brees</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>3</TD><TD>Ben Roethlisberger</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>4</TD><TD>Tony Romo</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>5</TD><TD>Donovan McNabb</TD><TD>at DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>6</TD><TD>Brett Favre</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Jay Cutler</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Tom Brady</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>Probable(finger)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>9</TD><TD>Joe Flacco</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Eli Manning</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>Probable(foot)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Matt Ryan</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>Questionable(toe)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>12</TD><TD>Alex Smith</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Vince Young</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Kyle Orton</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>15</TD><TD>Matt Moore</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>Probable(shoulder)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Matt Hasselbeck</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Jason Campbell</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>18</TD><TD>Philip Rivers</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>19</TD><TD>Kurt Warner</TD><TD>vs. GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Chad Henne</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>David Garrard</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>22</TD><TD>Aaron Rodgers</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Peyton Manning</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Matt Cassel</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Josh Freeman</TD><TD>vs. ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Mark Sanchez</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Carson Palmer</TD><TD>at NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Ryan Fitzpatrick</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>Probable(ankle)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Charlie Frye</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Drew Stanton</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>Probable(ankle)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Derek Anderson</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Keith Null</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>Curtis Painter</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Note:If you don't have a final game this week and are just reading this for fun, you are going to enjoy Snapdraft. It's a one week fantasy league with instant payouts.

Thanks so much for reading all year and thanks even more to Evan Silva, Chris Wesseling, and Adam Levitan and the rest of the Rotoworld football crew for cranking out the best blurbs and columns on the internet. Silva is an animal that makes this entire place go and his efforts don't get recognized enough. Wesseling always brings unique insight and makes us all think, and Levitan has been a great addition to the regular crew this year. Happy New Year everyone.

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

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Chris Johnson</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Maurice Jones-Drew</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Frank Gore</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Ray Rice</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Adrian Peterson</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Jonathan Stewart</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>Questionable(heel)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Jamaal Charles</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Jerome Harrison</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>Probable(hip)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Steven Jackson</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>Questionable(back)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Rashard Mendenhall</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Matt Forte</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Thomas Jones</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Fred Jackson</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Jason Snelling</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>Assuming no Turner</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>15</TD><TD>Ahmad Bradshaw</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>Probable(foot)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Marion Barber</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Ricky Williams</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>Questionable(shoulder)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Mike Bell</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>No Pierre </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Maurice Morris</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Knowshon Moreno</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>21</TD><TD>Chris Wells</TD><TD>vs. GB</TD><TD>Move off list if Vikings win</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>22</TD><TD>Arian Foster</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>23</TD><TD>Felix Jones</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>24</TD><TD>Carnell Williams</TD><TD>vs. ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>25</TD><TD>Justin Forsett</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>26</TD><TD>Shonn Greene</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>27</TD><TD>Darren Sproles</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Reggie Bush</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Brian Westbrook</TD><TD>at DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Laurence Maroney</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>Probable(-)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>LaDainian Tomlinson</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Marshawn Lynch</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>LeSean McCoy</TD><TD>at DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>34</TD><TD>Ryan Moats</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>35</TD><TD>Donald Brown</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>Probable(flu)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>36</TD><TD>Ryan Grant</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>37</TD><TD>Quinton Ganther</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>38</TD><TD>Tim Hightower</TD><TD>vs. GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>39</TD><TD>Jerious Norwood</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>40</TD><TD>Brandon Jacobs</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>I.L.(knee)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>41</TD><TD>Darren McFadden</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>42</TD><TD>Sammy Morris</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>43</TD><TD>Michael Bush</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>44</TD><TD>Derrick Ward</TD><TD>vs. ATL</TD><TD>Questionable(knee)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>45</TD><TD>Julius Jones</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>Questionable(ribs)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>46</TD><TD>Cedric Benson</TD><TD>at NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>47</TD><TD>Joseph Addai</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>48</TD><TD>Chester Taylor</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>49</TD><TD>Larry Johnson</TD><TD>at NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>50</TD><TD>Leonard Weaver</TD><TD>at DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>51</TD><TD>Correll Buckhalter</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>Probable(ankle)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>52</TD><TD>Willis McGahee</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>53</TD><TD>Fred Taylor</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>54</TD><TD>Kevin Faulk</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>55</TD><TD>Willie Parker</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>Questionable(shoulder)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>56</TD><TD>Mike Hart</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>57</TD><TD>LenDale White</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>58</TD><TD>Rock Cartwright</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

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Breaking sports news video. MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL highlights and more.​

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

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Andre Johnson</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>2</TD><TD>Roddy White</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>3</TD><TD>Miles Austin</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>4</TD><TD>DeSean Jackson</TD><TD>at DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>5</TD><TD>Calvin Johnson</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>6</TD><TD>Marques Colston</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>7</TD><TD>Sidney Rice</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Randy Moss</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Wes Welker</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Santonio Holmes</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Steve Smith</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Mike Sims-Walker</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Derrick Mason</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>Questionable(knee)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Hines Ward</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>Probable(hamstring)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Robert Meachem</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Dwayne Bowe</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>17</TD><TD>Jeremy Maclin</TD><TD>at DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Michael Crabtree</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Larry Fitzgerald</TD><TD>vs. GB</TD><TD>Sit if Vikings win </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>20</TD><TD>Antonio Bryant</TD><TD>vs. ATL</TD><TD>Probable(groin)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>21</TD><TD>Santana Moss</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>Probable(knee)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>22</TD><TD>Anquan Boldin</TD><TD>vs. GB</TD><TD>Sit if Vikings </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Mario Manningham</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>Questionable(shoulder)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Jerricho Cotchery</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Chris Chambers</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Hakeem Nicks</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>Probable(hamstring)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Austin Collie</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>T.J. Houshmandzadeh</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Kevin Walter</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Percy Harvin</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Devin Aromashodu</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>32</TD><TD>James Jones</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>Reggie Wayne</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>34</TD><TD>Steve Breaston</TD><TD>vs. GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>35</TD><TD>Greg Jennings</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>36</TD><TD>Donald Driver</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>37</TD><TD>Devery Henderson</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>38</TD><TD>Davone Bess</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>39</TD><TD>Braylon Edwards</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>40</TD><TD>Kenny Britt</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>41</TD><TD>Earl Bennett</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>42</TD><TD>Chad Ochocinco</TD><TD>at NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>43</TD><TD>Lee Evans</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>44</TD><TD>Roy Williams</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>45</TD><TD>Nate Washington</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>46</TD><TD>Terrell Owens</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>47</TD><TD>Deion Branch</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>48</TD><TD>Brandon Gibson</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>49</TD><TD>Malcom Floyd</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>50</TD><TD>Justin Gage</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>51</TD><TD>Mike Wallace</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>52</TD><TD>Josh Morgan</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>53</TD><TD>Michael Jenkins</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>54</TD><TD>Mohamed Massaquoi</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>55</TD><TD>Bernard Berrian</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>56</TD><TD>Donnie Avery</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>Probable(thigh)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>57</TD><TD>Greg Camarillo</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>58</TD><TD>Laveranues Coles</TD><TD>at NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>59</TD><TD>Joshua Cribbs</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>60</TD><TD>Mark Clayton</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

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

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Vernon Davis</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Brent Celek</TD><TD>at DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Tony Gonzalez</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>(Questionable, calf) </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>4</TD><TD>Jason Witten</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>5</TD><TD>Kellen Winslow</TD><TD>vs. ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>6</TD><TD>Heath Miller</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Fred Davis</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Antonio Gates</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>9</TD><TD>Greg Olsen</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Jermichael Finley</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Zach Miller</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Visanthe Shiancoe</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Dallas Clark</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Kevin Boss</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>John Carlson</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Todd Heap</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>David Thomas</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Dustin Keller</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>19</TD><TD>Ben Watson</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>20</TD><TD>Bo Scaife</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>21</TD><TD>Anthony Fasano</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


[SIZE=+1]Week 17 Team Defense[/SIZE]

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

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

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

 

[HacheMan]

Beyond the Box Score Week 17
Bills 30, Colts 7

Beyond the Box Score

* The Colts left in Peyton Manning exactly long enough for him to reach 4,500 yards passing. Pulled early in the second quarter, Manning also left just in time for the wind and snow at Ralph Wilson Stadium to really pick up. Inept rookie replacement Curtis Painter failed to move Indianapolis into Buffalo territory on a single occasion after the Colts' initial second-half possession.

* Following three first-half TD passes from Ryan Fitzpatrick against a mostly second-team Colts defense, Fred Jackson took over as the game's dominant player in the final two quarters. Highly effective after contact, F-Jax literally carried Indy's subs on his back en route to 110 second-half rushing yards. He finished with 35 touches, while Marshawn Lynch got two. Even fullback Corey McIntyre, he of zero career carries entering the game, got the football more than Lynch.

* Joseph Addai was active for the game, but didn't play a single snap for "rest" purposes. Donald Brown started at tailback, but was yanked along with Manning, Reggie Wayne, and Dallas Clark early in the second quarter. Mike Hart took over the backfield from that point on.

* Wayne and Clark both stayed in just long enough to reach 100 receptions on the season. Hank Baskett and Jacob Tamme, respectively, took their spots out wide for Painter to throw to. Pierre Garcon, out the last two games with a hand injury, was active but played a handful of snaps and didn't see a target.

Going Forward

* With a first-round playoff bye, the No. 1-seeded Colts can rest their starters this week without catching flak from fans. In the Divisional Round, Indianapolis will play the worst seed remaining from Saturday and Sunday's Wild Card Round games.

* No matter the Bills' next coaching staff, Jackson has made a convincing case to be the team's clear-cut featured back in 2010. Lynch could go on the offseason trade block, as he was rumored to be in spring of 2009. Buffalo has plenty of holes and will likely explore a scheme change away from the "Cover 2" defense it employed under Perry Fewell. Draft picks will be needed.

* Fitzpatrick flashed enough in 2009 to enter next season as Buffalo's primary backup, but the team must find a new starting quarterback. The free agent market will be as thin as ever, so look for the Bills to select a QB in the first or second round of April's draft.

* Notable Bills that likely played their last down for the team on Sunday: Impending unrestricted free agent receivers Terrell Owens and Josh Reed, reserve quarterback Brian Brohm, and perhaps right defensive end Aaron Schobel, who claims he may retire.

Browns 23, Jaguars 17

Beyond the Box Score

* The Browns did exactly what the Jaguars set out to do -- pound it down their opponent's throat. Calling just 11 pass plays compared to a whopping 49 runs, Cleveland simply out-schemed and out-toughed Jacksonville even though the Jags were the only team that had something to play for. Jack Del Rio's club, on the other hand, passed 39 times with just 24 runs.

* The Jaguars were clearly out to establish the ground game; it just never happened. They called for runs on each of their first five plays from scrimmage, even looking to get rookie No. 2 back Rashard Jennings involved in a potential two-headed monster with Maurice Jones-Drew. But falling behind 13-3 in the first half, then 20-3 by the third quarter forced David Garrard to pass too often for Del Rio's liking. A fairly disappointing day for Jones-Drew (88 total yards, no touchdowns) resulted.

* As pointed out by Football Outsiders, Jerome Harrison's 33 carries Sunday vaulted him into historic territory. Harrison piled up 106 carries in Weeks 15-17, breaking Earl Campbell's old record for the most carries in the last three games of a season (103). Rodney Hampton (102) is the only other back to top 100, although John Riggins did go for 111 in the 1982 playoffs.

* Two injury replacements stepped up big for Jacksonville, even if it didn't result in a win. Rookie TE Zach Miller started in place of Marcedes Lewis (concussion) and led the Jags in receiving, also scoring two touchdowns and dominating in the short receiving game. Mike Thomas, normally only a slot receiver, started at flanker for Torry Holt (finger) and hauled in a cool seven of his ten targets. Mike Sims-Walker was a non-factor again, capping his slow finish to 2009.

Going Forward

* Harrison's sterling finish (593 yards, five TDs in Weeks 15-17) puts him in fine position to enter 2010 as Cleveland's starting tailback. You know new club president Mike Holmgren watched this game closely. 2009 sixth-round pick James Davis, Mangini-regime favorite Chris Jennings, and perhaps a free agent or mid-round rookie will probably compete to back Harrison up in 2010 training camp.

* It will be interesting to see if the Jaguars entertain bringing in competition for David Garrard in the offseason. Del Rio has flirted with the idea before, and Garrard's ups and downs were maddening throughout 2009. He was especially atrocious on the road, has not improved since taking over as Jacksonville's starter three seasons ago, and turns 32 in February. Using an early- to mid-round pick on a quarterback is at least a strong possibility.

* Notable players from Jaguars-Browns that likely played their last down for their current team on Sunday: Jaguars wide receiver Torry Holt, Browns quarterback Derek Anderson, Browns tight end Robert Royal.

Texans 34, Patriots 27

Beyond the Box Score

* Despite all the talk of Bernard Pollard being an Patriots assassin, Wes Welker's injury was of the non-contact variety. His knee simply gave out as he cut, sending Welker to the ground. An emotional Welker tried to hide his tears on the sideline, knowing that his season was over.

* Coach Bill Belichick had a plan to remove Tom Brady in all two-minute, pass-heavy situations. Brady has reportedly been playing through three broken ribs and a fractured finger. He was pulled late in the second quarter and again late in the fourth, down by one touchdown with two minutes left. Brian Hoyer, predictably, was unable to muster a comeback.

* Brady was sacked once by Mario Williams, the first time he's been taken down in five weeks.

* Jacoby Jones was headed toward goat status when he whiffed on a Matt Schaub throw that was returned 91 yards for a touchdown by Pats rookie Darius Butler. He redeemed himself, however, with an athletic one-handed, toe-tapping catch in double coverage at back of end zone and a 31-yard punt return that set up the game-winning score.

* The Texans came close to making the playoffs, needing the Bengals to knock off the Jets on Sunday Night Football. Their comeback against the Pats was admirable, down two touchdowns early in the fourth quarter.

Going Forward

* Early reports on Welker are stark, with both his ACL and MCL torn. Julian Edelman will step into Welker's starting role for the playoffs, and the team will have to address wide receiver in the offseason.

* It's tough to read into the deactivation of Laurence Maroney and Kevin Faulk. Maroney was believed to be in the doghouse after fumbling again last week, so the pairing with Faulk is puzzling. Expect the Pats to use a four-man committee in the playoffs. Fred Taylor's two red-zone scores could leave him as the favorite for goal-line work.

* Coming off back-to-back impressive performances, Arian Foster is putting himself in the Texans' backfield picture for 2010. Though not as strong as Steve Slaton in the passing game, he's still above average. Foster is easily the team's strongest runner as well as the best red-zone option. The Texans were expected to address the position in the draft, but Foster will enter the offseason as the starter.

* Jacoby Jones has outshone Kevin Walter in limited playing time all season, and he continued his stellar play this week. Similar to the Saints' Robert Meachem, Jones is a big-play receiver in need of an increased role. Expect him to push Walter for the starting job in 2010.

* The ice surrounding kicker Kris Brown just got a little bit thinner. Continuing his season-long struggles, Brown missed two field goals as well as an extra point. Though he just signed a long-term extension last offseason, the team will have to bring in competition in 2010.

Packers 33, Cardinals 7

Beyond the Box Score

* Jermichael Finley could have had a monster game. He had a 30-yard gain called back on an illegal procedure penalty and couldn't quite get his second foot down on a back-of-the-end zone grab.

* Aaron Rodgers surprisingly played through the third quarter while Kurt Warner left after the first frame.

* Matt Leinart failed miserably as Warner's caddy, throwing two picks and struggling to move the offense. He would have added a third interception, but it was called back for a safety on a holding penalty in the end zone.

* Larry Fitzgerald played the entire game, seemingly in a failed attempt to reach 100 catches. He did manage to grab his 13th touchdown in garbage time with Brian St. Pierre under center.

* The two teams didn't do a great job of avoiding key injuries. Anquan Boldin suffered left ankle and knee injuries when he had his leg trapped underneath his body. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was carted off with a knee contusion after being spiked and having his leg slammed hard on the turf. Calais Campbell suffered a fractured left thumb. Charles Woodson, who recorded his third pick-six of the season, left with a shoulder injury.

Going Forward

* Boldin and Rodgers-Cromartie both say they are "OK," but they'll likely miss practice time this week. We'd tentatively expect them to play at less than full health in the rematch next week. Campbell will undergo tests Monday and may need screws in his thumb. Woodson said he was fine and could have gone back in the game if needed.

* Coach Ken Whisenhunt expressed confidence in Leinart after the game, but the Cardinals have to be hoping that Warner puts off retirement for another season.

Steelers 30, Dolphins 24

Beyond the Box Score

* Ben Roethlisberger injured his right (throwing) arm when he reached for a fumble in the fourth quarter. He could barely move it between plays, but still managed to throw the ball with zip and finished off the win. Concussion problems aside, Big Ben again showed real toughness this season.

* Chad Henne didn't play in the second half after taking a hard hit to the head on a sack by LaMarr Woodley. He had blurred vision that worsened when he sat down in the locker room. Henne will see an eye doctor on Monday, but should be fine.

* Lex Hilliard can play. Aside from his brute power between the tackles, Hilliard's best asset may be his underrated pass-catching ability, which was on display during his touchdown in this one. Even if Ronnie Brown gets healthy for next season, Hilliard should have some kind of role.

* The Steelers are a passing team now and that's not going to change. They opened the game in a five-wideout set and continued to run out of spread formations.

Going Forward

* If this was Willie Parker's last game as a Steeler, he went out in style. Parker played his biggest role since Week 3 and even had a touchdown called back due to a holding call. Still, this performance doesn't overshadow how slow and ineffective the artist formally known as Fast Willie was most of the year.

* Ricky Williams says he wants to play one more season and then retire. Assuming that's the case, he'll be fantasy asset again in 2010. He continues to run really, really hard. We'll see what Ronnie Brown's status is for Week 1 of next year.

* Hines Ward continues to defy any kind of generalities related to age. He was clearly limited by a nagging hamstring injury, but was the exclusive target on all kinds of screens and outs. Ward, 33, caught 95 passes this season. We'll still bet against him playing in all 16 games again next season.

* We hate to pick on a guy that probably suffered a severe concussion in this one, but Pat White is not an NFL quarterback right now. He can't make any kind of throws to the sideline and misread the Steelers' blitzes repeatedly.