From the friends at Footballguys.
AFC East
Buffalo — RB Marshawn Lynch has been big the past two weeks, rushing for 189 yards. With 23 and 21 carries in consecutive games, Lynch will continue getting the lion’s share of the carries against the Giants. The Giants’ normally tough run defense was uncharacteristically porous last week vs. the Redskins (the Skins ran for 153 yards), giving rise to the hope Lynch could have a quality afternoon. … The Giants’ secondary is a bit banged up, but it shouldn’t be too worried about WR Lee Evans. Outside of a 79-yard, two-TD performance against the Dolphins in Week 14, Evans hasn’t exceeded 65 yards or scored a touchdown since Week Nine. He’s a decent play in three-WR leagues, but you can likely find stronger options if you start only two WRs. … TE Robert Royal (knee) didn’t practice on Wednesday, so he likely won’t be able to take advantage of the Giants’ young safeties.
Miami — QB Cleo Lemon earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors for his 23-of-39, 315-yard performance vs. the Ravens last week. But Baltimore’s defense was banged-up, and the game was played in balmy South Florida. It’s a different story battling the ferocious Pats’ defense in Foxborough, Mass. Don’t play him, any of his subpar receivers or downtrodden running backs.
New England — Unlike the majority of teams that have already locked up their playoff standing, the Patriots will keep their starters in for most the game. The Patriots are striving for perfection, and want to lay it on the opposition each and every week. QB Tom Brady failed to throw a TD pass for the first time all season in awful weather conditions against the Jets last week, and is still five touchdowns shy of breaking the single-season record of 49. While he won’t admit it, coach Bill Belichick wants his quarterback to get it. Brady threw a career-high six TD passes in his first matchup against the Dolphins this season, and he should definitely be your quarterback again this week. … WR Randy Moss needs four touchdowns to break Jerry Rice’s single-season record of 22, a very difficult, yet not impossible task. Like Brady, he won’t see much time on the sideline. The most dynamic receiver in the league needs to be played, regardless of what the Sunday weather report says. … WR Wes Welker has slowed down recently, totaling 126 yards and one touchdown the past three weeks. But he will be out to prove, yet again, that the Dolphins made a mistake by letting him walk to New England last offseason. Welker torched his former team with 9-138-2 in Week Seven. Play him. … TE Ben Watson (ankle) is a long shot to see the field. … As much as Belichick and fantasy owners have been frustrated with RB Laurence Maroney, he simply needs to be in your lineup. He’s the No. 1 running back on the NFL’s No. 1 offense, going up against the league’s 32nd-ranked run defense. Seeing as how he was fed the ball a career-high 26 times last week, he obviously hasn’t lost the complete confidence of Belichick. Making matters even worse for the Dolphins’ chances of slowing the running game is that in Wednesday’s practice report, four of Miami’s best defensive front seven starters — LBs Channing Crowder and Joey Porter, and DL Keith Traylor and Jason Taylor — were listed as non-participants due to injury.
New York Jets — Unless you’re in a bind, stay away from Jets players. A combination of the Titans’ fifth-ranked defense and too much offensive uncertainty makes them dicey options. The questions begin at quarterback, where the team has yet to disclose whether Kellen Clemens or Chad Pennington will start. Clemens got rocked by Patriots DE Richard Seymour on the Jets’ opening drive last week, and is questionable with sore ribs. Regardless of who plays, neither a hobbled Clemens nor a weak-armed Pennington inspires the type of confidence to get the ball to the receivers. … Speaking of receivers, both Laveranues Coles (ankle) and Jerricho Cotchery (finger) are not without their own injury problems. While Cotchery should be on the field, Coles is likely to be a game-day decision. He didn’t play last week. With a Titans defensive line that will have two representatives in the Pro Bowl squaring off against a beleaguered Jets offensive line, the quarterback will have precious little time to locate his targets. … While RB Thomas Jones has put up some decent numbers against poor run defenses, he has mostly been stuck in neutral when facing solid defensive fronts. Tennessee has a very good one. With just one touchdown on the season and the inability to step up against formidable opposition, keep him benched.
AFC North
Baltimore — Fresh off a loss to the hapless Dolphins, the Ravens now have the unpleasant task of facing the Seahawks in Seattle. The Seahawks have allowed the fifth-fewest points in the NFL and have a knack for defending the pass well and getting after opposing quarterbacks. RB Willis McGahee (1,197 rushing yards, seven TDs) and WR Derrick Mason (92 catches) are the only Ravens who merit starting consideration in the majority of leagues. QB Kyle Boller (only nine TDs in 275 pass attempts) will start for Baltimore.
Cleveland — Here’s proof that the Browns’ offense is one of the league’s best: In snowy, windy conditions in Week 15, Cleveland still managed to gain 304 yards of total offense. That’s more yards than 11 NFL teams averaged all season entering Week 16. In other words, don’t hesitate to start your Browns skill-position players this week at Cincinnati, even if winter weather is in the forecast. RB Jamal Lewis (281 yards in the past two weeks) thrives in tough conditions and rushed for 216 yards vs. Cincy earlier this season. QB Derek Anderson threw five TD passes in the first matchup vs. the Bengals — two to WRs Braylon Edwards and Joe Jurevicius and one to TE Kellen Winslow. Edwards and Winslow are must-starts unless you have unbelievable depth, and Jurevicius is not be a bad “flex” option in bigger leagues.
Cincinnati — At season’s end, the statistics will say that the Bengals had an above-average offense. But fantasy owners will disagree. As the playoffs have heated up in fantasy leagues, the Bengals’ offense has sputtered. QB Carson Palmer has thrown one TD pass in the past three weeks. WR Chad Johnson has only six TDs on the season, and those came in three games. He hasn’t scored since Week 12. T.J. Houshmandzadeh? A TD machine early in the season, he hasn’t scored in the past four weeks. And let’s not even get started about RB Rudi Johnson. Nevertheless, start your Bengals this week. Cincinnati rolled up 554 yards vs. Cleveland in Week Two, and the players listed above all had banner days. Another high-scoring game might be in the cards.
Pittsburgh — The Steelers haven’t exceeded 184 yards passing in their past five games. That said, fantasy owners who started QB Ben Roethlisberger in Week 15 may have still won their games nonetheless, as “Big Ben” managed to throw three TD passes against Jacksonville despite only completing 16-of-33 passes for 146 yards. Roethlisberger, who has thrown four TD passes or more in three games this season, could bounce back in the yardage and completion percentage departments Week 16 at St. Louis. Remember: Three of the Steelers’ last four games (vs. Miami, Cincinnati and Jacksonville) have been at Heinz Field, which has the league’s worst grass surface. A game inside St. Louis’ Edward Jones Dome and on FieldTurf could do wonders for Roethlisberger and his receiving corps as well. The stock of RB Willie Parker (224 rushing yards in the past two games) also gets a boost from the move indoors.
AFC South
Houston — The Texans are averaging 27.7 points in QB Sage Rosenfels’ starts, and the Colts’ defense could again be without DE Robert Mathis, S Antoine Bethea and DT Raheem Brock, so don’t hesitate to start Rosenfels, RB Ron Dayne, TE Owen Daniels and WR Andre Johnson. WR Kevin Walter, who leads the team in receptions, also has some value in bigger leagues. Dayne should benefit from the extra time off between Week 15 and 16 owing to the Texans’ Dec. 13 tilt with Denver, and he appears poised for a strong finish to the season. Dayne rushed for 32-153-2 vs. Indianapolis in Week 16 of the ’06 season.
Indianapolis — To trust (Tony Dungy) or not to trust, that is the question. Despite being locked into the AFC’s No. 2 seed for the playoff, the Colts’ head coach said that he won’t be benching or limiting his starters for the remainder of the regular season. His rationale that the injury-riddled offense needs more time to jell makes some sense, but it’s still hard to believe that we’ll see the likes of Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne, Joseph Addai and Dallas Clark late in a meaningless game against the Texans. Of the four of them, Addai seems to be the best candidate to be benched early. Running back is the most injury-prone position in football, and Addai is too valuable for Dungy to risk giving him more than some token carries. As for the other three, let’s put it this way: If they would get you better production in 2-2½ quarters than your alternative would in four quarters, you can consider playing them. If not, tell them “thank you” for all they’ve done for you this season, and bid them farewell.
Jacksonville — The Jaguars have not officially secured a playoff spot, so don’t worry about head coach Jack Del Rio giving his starters a light load. And speaking of starters — is there any running back playing better than Fred Taylor? Taylor has averaged 121.8 rushing yards in a recent four-game tear, looking nothing like the over-the-hill back many believed he was entering the season. He should go nuclear on Sunday. Only the Dolphins have a worse run defense than the Raiders, and if he gained 147 yards with a TD vs. Pittsburgh, he should have a field day vs. Oakland. … Likewise, give it a go with fellow RB Maurice Jones-Drew. Jones-Drew has been streaky and has been relatively quiet recently. But this is the type of opponent he should get back on track against. Considering that he actually has twice as many touchdowns as Taylor (eight to four) and will see a plethora of carries if the Jags build an early lead, he’s a strong option. … QB David Garrard is quietly putting up some attractive numbers. He has tossed seven TD passes in the past three games, five coming against the elite secondaries of Indianapolis and Pittsburgh. The Raiders are fairly strong against the pass and did an admirable job keeping Peyton Manning under wraps last week. Garrard won’t ever dazzle with yardage numbers and he’s definitely not in the fantasy company of the league’s upper-crust passers, but you can find worse than him this week. … Despite injuries to a few key performers, play the Jaguars' defense. The Raiders have little offensive rhythm, and now have to replace stud RB Justin Fargas (knee).
Tennessee — RB LenDale White has become the Titans’ workhorse. White has 54 carries for 206 yards and a touchdown in his past two games and is a solid No. 2 RB option this week vs. the Jets, who have surrendered 141.1 yards per game on the ground. … RB Chris Henry returns from a four-game suspension this week, but he probably won’t get a lot of work. … Yes, WR Roydell Williams caught a pair of TD passes last week, but no Titans wide receiver has caught touchdowns in back-to-back games this season, so it’s hard to get too excited. The same can be said about QB Vince Young's fantasy-football prospects this week, given his consistency issues.
AFC West
Denver — Expect to continue to see a split in the RB workload between Selvin Young and Travis Henry. The Broncos managed only 72 rushing yards in their first meeting against the Chargers back in Week Five but fell behind early and had to all but abandon the run in a blowout loss. … TE Tony Scheffler will see increased time on the field in the last two weeks with starter Daniel Graham out with an ankle injury. Scheffler racked up seven catches for 100 yards (both career highs) and a touchdown last week at Houston. … WR Javon Walker is playing significantly more snaps than he was when he first returned from a knee injury three weeks ago and is moving better off the line, but he still doesn’t warrant a look in fantasy football with only three catches in three games. … WR Brandon Stokley, who missed last week vs. Houston, was limited in practice on Wednesday with his sore knee and is considered questionable for Sunday’s game against San Diego. Glenn Martinez would replace him in the slot if he can’t go. … The good news for QB Jay Cutler is that Chargers OLB Shawne Merriman (knee) may not play this week, but the bad news is that San Diego has tallied 10 interceptions in the past three weeks.
Kansas City — RB Larry Johnson was back splitting the first-team reps with Kolby Smith in practice this week and attending game-planning meetings, looking very much like he was going to fulfill his promise to make it back this season from a sprained foot suffered in early November. But that was until Johnson left the practice field on Wednesday walking gingerly. Head coach Herm Edwards wouldn’t go so far as to label it a setback, but it doesn’t look good for the Chiefs allowing Johnson back into the mix with nothing to play for. “He got a little sore,” Edwards said. “I’ve got to see where that’s at. He’s limited right now, and I’ve got him questionable.” … After looking solid against the run for a five-game stretch at midseason, the Lions have allowed a mind-blowing 577 yards on the ground in the past three games, including 274 to the Chargers last week alone. It could be a decent time to lean on Smith this week. … The Lions also have allowed their opponents to throw for at least 245 yards on nine occasions, leaving them ranked 31st in the league against the pass. WR Dwayne Bowe and TE Tony Gonzalez should reap the benefits this week if QB Brodie Croyle is given adequate protection.
Oakland — With RB Justin Fargas all but certain to miss the final two games with a sprained knee ligament, look for Dominic Rhodes to get the first crack at the starting job, with LaMont Jordan to share some of the workload. It might not be wise to rely on either for much though. Prior to the Jaguars allowing 111 yards to the Steelers last week, they had gone five straight without giving up 100 yards rushing. … As of Thursday early afternoon, head coach Lane Kiffin remained undecided on his starter at quarterback, suggesting that both Josh McCown and rookie JaMarcus Russell will play, but that one would start and one would finish the game. … After showing some fantasy potential with an increase in productivity from Weeks 10-13, rookie TE Zach Miller has only two catches for 20 yards in the past two games.
San Diego — With the Chargers still fighting for the No. 3 seed in the AFC playoffs, don’t look for any rest time for the team’s stars, most notably LaDainian Tomlinson, as the club looks to continue the momentum it has built in winning its last four contests. “L.T., he's going to get his carries,” head coach Norv Turner said. … It was backup RB Michael Turner who did most of the damage on the ground the last time the Chargers played the Broncos, in Week Five. Turner rushed for 147 yards and a touchdown on only 10 carries. But with Turner nursing the shoulder injury he sustained last week, it might be Darren Sproles who spells Tomlinson this week and gets the work if the Chargers get up big on the scoreboard. Sproles carried 25 times for 122 yards and two scores in the blowout win of Detroit last week after Tomlinson felt some tightness in his hamstring shortly after halftime. … San Diego easily leads the NFL with 27 interceptions, but the Chargers' defense could be without OLB Shawne Merriman, who is nursing a sprained knee.
NFC East
Dallas — WR Terrell Owens has caught five passes the past two games, and the Cowboys have looked shaky. The Panthers have some talent at cornerback but are weak at safety in terms of coverage. Expect the Cowboys to go out of their way to get Owens involved early on Saturday, even on shorter stuff, just to get him the ball. And fear not, Tony Romo owners: Word is that Jessica Simpson is not expected to make the trip to Charlotte. The bad news is that it appears Romo — whose thumb is still sore but won’t prevent him from playing — will be working with backup C Cory Procter, and the Panthers’ interior line has played a lot better of late. Of course, DE Julius Peppers might be out for the game. … The team signed RB Zack Crockett, who for years earned a reputation as a great fantasy bench guy because of his value as a short-yardage runner. Resist the urge to snag him for your title game unless you are desperate at the position. It’s possible that he’ll only be with the team for a week, and he was mostly added as insurance as a special teamer. The fullback is mostly a blocking position in this offense.
N.Y. Giants — Losing TE Jeremy Shockey (fibula/ankle) for the season really handicaps a slumping passing game. And although the team like its replacement options, Kevin Boss and Michael Matthews, neither is anywhere near in Shockey’s class as a receiver. … WR Amani Toomer’s recent struggles, including his big drop against the Redskins last week, have led some to speculate that these could be his final two games as a Giant, at least as a starter. He might be good for one more big game, but don’t count on it, even against the Bills’ secondary. … WR Plaxico Burress likely will be the sole focus of the Bills’ defense. He will have a corner and a safety shadowing his every move all game. He looks like a sub-par starting option.
Philadelphia — Andy Reid is playing at least this game as if the Eagles are still in the playoffs. That is good news for QB Donovan McNabb owners, who should feel good about starting him against a bad Saints secondary. The Eagles’ passing game should be at full working potential, and the ease of being out of the playoffs could make the offense play looser than it sometimes has in recent games. The only guy missing will be ORG Shawn Andrews (sprained knee), who nonetheless is a big cog, especially in the run game. … RB Brian Westbrook (knee) likely will rest the next two weeks during practice but should play. Despite his non-touchdown run, which angered some fantasy owners and thrilled others last week, Westbrook should be a good play as always.
Washington — WR Santana Moss missed practice this week with what is being reported as an illness. Consider this carefully when you make your lineup this week. RB Clinton Portis also is listed with an illness — likely a wintertime bug. Both probably will play, although Portis has been the more resilient guy through his career. … QB Todd Collins will look to face what statistically is the worst passing defense in the NFL in terms of yards allowed, but a closer look reveals that the Vikings are far better in terms of yards per catch and points allowed than they have a reputation for being. Collins goes down as a desperate fantasy start only.
NFC North
Chicago — QB Kyle Orton, who put up very ordinary numbers last Monday night in his first start in almost two seasons, will be back in the driver’s seat this Sunday against a Packers defense coming off a strong outing in St. Louis. … RB Adrian Peterson certainly figures to have more fantasy success this Sunday than he did on Monday night against the Vikings’ top-ranked run defense. Green Bay’s defense is a bit undermanned at the tackle spot and might opt to bring extra pass rushers more frequently, like it did last week against the Rams. If they do increase their blitzes, some big-play run opportunities could open up for Peterson and possibly rookie Garrett Wolfe. … TEs Greg Olsen and Desmond Clark, who each had TD catches in the first game against Green Bay this season, are worth considering this Sunday. The Packers’ “D” has had some problems this season defending opposing tight ends. … Devin Hester is expected to continue getting increased playing time at wide receiver the rest of the season.
Detroit — The Chiefs have allowed an average of 176.8 yards rushing the past four games. The Lions’ best chance of winning games has been to run the ball early and stick with it. The only question is: Will Mike Martz stay patient and give RBs Kevin Jones and T.J. Duckett enough cracks to penetrate what appears to be a soft Chiefs defense? Signs point to yes. Rumors of a Martz-Rod Marinelli feud in part has to do with Marinelli’s desire to run the ball more, and the early word is that Martz might fear for his job security unless he shows some balance in the final two games with his play-calling. And that might mean it’s time — if it hasn’t been up until now several times — to bench QB Jon Kitna, WR Calvin Johnson (despite his first 100-yard effort of the season last week; most of it happened in garbage time) and the other pass catchers just to be safe unless you are out of options at those spots.
Green Bay — After just a so-so outing against the Rams last Sunday, RB Ryan Grant is a good bet to bounce back with a strong fantasy effort on what could be a wintry track in Chicago. Grant will be facing a vulnerable Bears defense that has given up big plays against both the run and pass all season. Grant didn’t play in the first game this season vs. Chicago in Week Five, but the Pack’s running attack gained 121 yards in that game, after averaging only 54.3 yards in the first four games. Grant did score a TD last week, his fifth in the past four games. … QB Brett Favre threw two more TD passes last Sunday and has thrown for at least a pair of scores in seven of his last eight starts. … WR Greg Jennings (4-66-1 receiving last week) has at least one score in 10 of the 12 games in which he has played this season. … TE Donald Lee caught a TD pass for the second straight week.
Minnesota — QB Tarvaris Jackson’s age and relative inexperience — this will be the 13th start of his career Sunday — came to light on Monday after a string of strong efforts. Against the Bears, Jackson was shaky at best, despite throwing for a career-high 249 yards. He had three interceptions, two of which were terrible decisions, made several mental mistakes and did not throw a TD pass. He remains a questionable starter, even though his previous four games were strong efforts and he’ll face a lot of nine-men-in-the-box looks from the Redskins. There’s no way that Gregg Williams will let RBs Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor beat them for long gains. If those guys get their 60-80 yards apiece, it’ll be like Peterson did against the Bears. … WR Sidney Rice missed practice Wednesday with a sprained ankle that very well could keep him out this weekend.
NFC South
Atlanta — Falcons QB Chris Redman had one of the worst performances of any quarterback this season, going 4-for-15 with 34 yards and two interceptions last week vs. Tampa Bay. The Cardinals’ pass defense may be battered, but Redman should have a hard time, even against the team’s second-stringers. Atlanta has looked punchless in its last two games and may have decided to mail it in for the rest of the season. Redman has no business on a fantasy team. … Falcons RB Jerious Norwood has rushed for 73 yards or more in two of the last three games, while getting spotty playing time in relief of starting RB Warrick Dunn. Arizona can be tough against the run, although the Cardinals allowed the Saints’ Aaron Stecker to rack up 95 rushing yards and two scores in his second start of the season last week. Norwood is a solid No. 2 starter at running back for your team. … Prior to last week, Falcons WR Roddy White had scored in three consecutive games and had at least 75 yards receiving in each contest. It has been a breakout year for White, and he warrants consideration as a borderline No. 1 receiver in next year’s fantasy draft. With Redman under center, however, White should be benched for the rest of this campaign.
Carolina — It wasn’t always pretty, but undrafted rookie QB Matt Moore led the Panthers to a 13-10 upset victory over the Seahawks last week. Moore went 19-for-27 passing for 208 yards. He faces another tough challenge at home against the Cowboys this week. Dallas fields one of the better pass rushes in the league and the Panthers’ middling offensive line could have a hard time keeping up with it. Look for Moore to get hit hard this week. Keep him off your roster. … Although RB DeAngelo Williams has outgained starter RB DeShaun Foster in rushing yards in three of the past four games, head coach John Fox has indicated there will be no change in the starting lineup. The Panthers will rely heavily on their ground game this week, and Williams should get a fair share of carries. He’s a borderline No. 2 for fantasy teams, but definitely start him if you’re short on running backs. … Panthers WR Steve Smith hasn’t scored a touchdown since Week Six and has been a fantasy dud after starting out strong, getting to the endzone six times in the first six games. He’s good for 60-80 yards this week, but don’t count on him for much more than that.
New Orleans — QB Drew Brees wasn’t named to the Pro Bowl this season, but he has played at a Pro Bowl level in the Saints’ last 10 games. Since New Orleans started 0-4, Brees has a 71.3 completion percentage and has keyed the squad’s turnaround. He should keep up the impressive pace against the Eagles’ mediocre pass defense. … Since taking over for Reggie Bush two weeks ago, Saints RB Aaron Stecker has had games of 100 and 95 yards. He faces a much better run defense this week than he did against the Falcons and the Cardinals. Unless you’re lacking depth at the position, return Stecker to the bench … Bush practiced this week and said he hopes to play against the Eagles. There has been no definitive ruling on whether he’ll suit up. Bush could be used mostly as a decoy against Philly, especially if he’s not 100 percent healthy. As of this writing, it’s best to keep Bush benched. … Saints WR Marques Colston has had 85 yards receiving or more in seven of his last eight games, and has been a huge beneficiary of Brees’ hot streak in the last 10 contests. Surprisingly, Colston has scored just one of his nine touchdowns at the Superdome this season. He hadn’t made it to the endzone at home until last week. Start him this week, but don’t be surprised if he’s held scoreless.
Tampa Bay — QB Jeff Garcia tried to shake off the rust last week after missing the previous two games with a back injury, and he wasn’t as sharp as he had been earlier this season. Teams have picked the 49ers apart all season long and Garcia, in his return to his old stomping grounds in San Francisco, should bring his best. Coach Jon Gruden, however, may decide to sit Garcia for much of the game. The Bucs have clinched the NFC South title and have little to play for. Keep Garcia on the bench this week. … Bucs RB Earnest Graham has rushed for at least 61 yards in each of the last eight games and has scored in each of the last six. A model of consistency, Graham is a definite start this week. … Bucs WRs Joey Galloway and Ike Hilliard had one catch each last week and combined for just 16 yards. The Bucs didn’t need to throw much during the rout of the Falcons, which is a major reason for the pair’s low numbers. Hilliard suffered a back injury a few weeks ago and Galloway is getting up there in years — they could be wearing down as the regular season comes to a close.
NFC West
Arizona — Keep close tabs on Cardinals WRs Larry Fitzgerald (groin) and Anquan Boldin (toe/hip), who both are expected to be “day to day” for the rest of the season, according to team insiders. Fitzgerald, the Cardinals’ lone Pro Bowl representative, has seven touchdowns in his past five games. Boldin had a decent outing against the Saints last Sunday, ending up with six catches for 83 yards, both tops on the team. … RB Edgerrin James, who had 84 yards rushing last week (5.3 yards per carry) and hurdled the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the second straight season, could have decent fantasy success this Sunday against Atlanta’s 27th-ranked run defense. … QB Kurt Warner threw for three TDs for the second straight week and third time in the last six games. Warner has a string of six straight games with at least two TD passes. … Rookie TE Ben Patrick, who had his second TD catch of the season last Sunday, could be worth considering as an emergency fantasy starter.
St. Louis — RB Steven Jackson has looked a lot lately like the fantasy superstar he was the entire 2007 campaign, averaging 102.4 rushing yards over the past five games and scoring a combined three TDs in the last four games, including a 46-yard TD romp against Green Bay last Sunday. Jackson will be facing a Steelers defense that gave up a whopping 224 yards rushing to the Jaguars last Sunday. After gaining a season-high 143 yards last week, Jackson needs 138 yards in the final two games to reach 1,000 yards for the third year in a row. … QB Marc Bulger’s fantasy numbers would have been better last Sunday against the Packers if his receivers wouldn’t have let two catchable balls slip through their fingers into the hands of opposing defenders. Bulger’s two picks offset 219 passing yards and a TD to WR Torry Holt. … Holt, the Rams’ lone Pro Bowl representative, has three TD catches in the last five games.
San Francisco — RB Frank Gore could be ready to finish the fantasy season with a real flourish. Gore rushed for a season-high 138 yards against the Bengals last Saturday night and just might be in a position to duplicate those numbers if he gets the same kind of run-blocking he received from his O-line vs. Cincinnati. … In a pinch, you could do a lot worse than Shaun Hill as your fantasy QB this Sunday, considering his strong starting effort last Saturday night against the Bengals. Hill threw for 197 yards and accounted for two TDs (one passing, one rushing). Hill has completed nearly 80 percent of his passes (78.2 percent to be exact). One major concern: Hill will be pitted against Tampa Bay’s rock-solid third-ranked defense. … Two fantasy receiving options worth considering are: TE Vernon Davis, who had a TD catch vs. Bengals, and WR Darrell Jackson, who had his best performance by far this season against Cincinnati (8-86). … In a real emergency, you also might consider TE Delanie Walker, who developed a special rapport with Hill in training camp and has been a factor in the offense the past two games.
Seattle — Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck, who won’t have to contend with the tricky Carolina winds this Sunday, will be looking to heat it up against a Ravens secondary that is hurting big-time at the CB position — a fact that also figures to raise the fantasy stock of WRs Deion Branch, Bobby Engram, Nate Burleson and possibly D.J. Hackett, whose recurring ankle woes make him questionable for Sunday. Hackett has missed the past three games (nine overall), but he has been productive when he has been healthy enough to play this season. … Either Engram or Branch should be considered among the top fantasy WR prospects this weekend. Engram is coming off a nine-catch, 84-yard outing in Carolina, and after getting snubbed in the Pro Bowl balloting early this week, his buddy Hasselbeck just might go out of his way to make him the featured attraction this Sunday at home. Branch, who says he’s completely over the foot injury that sidelined him earlier this season, caught a late TD from Hasselbeck last Sunday. … Neither RB Shaun Alexander nor Maurice Morris seems like a viable fantasy option against the Ravens’ excellent run defense, even if Ravens MLB Ray Lewis (dislocated finger) is unable to suit up. Alexander and Morris managed a mere 32 yards rushing combined last Sunday.
AFC East
Buffalo — RB Marshawn Lynch has been big the past two weeks, rushing for 189 yards. With 23 and 21 carries in consecutive games, Lynch will continue getting the lion’s share of the carries against the Giants. The Giants’ normally tough run defense was uncharacteristically porous last week vs. the Redskins (the Skins ran for 153 yards), giving rise to the hope Lynch could have a quality afternoon. … The Giants’ secondary is a bit banged up, but it shouldn’t be too worried about WR Lee Evans. Outside of a 79-yard, two-TD performance against the Dolphins in Week 14, Evans hasn’t exceeded 65 yards or scored a touchdown since Week Nine. He’s a decent play in three-WR leagues, but you can likely find stronger options if you start only two WRs. … TE Robert Royal (knee) didn’t practice on Wednesday, so he likely won’t be able to take advantage of the Giants’ young safeties.
Miami — QB Cleo Lemon earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors for his 23-of-39, 315-yard performance vs. the Ravens last week. But Baltimore’s defense was banged-up, and the game was played in balmy South Florida. It’s a different story battling the ferocious Pats’ defense in Foxborough, Mass. Don’t play him, any of his subpar receivers or downtrodden running backs.
New England — Unlike the majority of teams that have already locked up their playoff standing, the Patriots will keep their starters in for most the game. The Patriots are striving for perfection, and want to lay it on the opposition each and every week. QB Tom Brady failed to throw a TD pass for the first time all season in awful weather conditions against the Jets last week, and is still five touchdowns shy of breaking the single-season record of 49. While he won’t admit it, coach Bill Belichick wants his quarterback to get it. Brady threw a career-high six TD passes in his first matchup against the Dolphins this season, and he should definitely be your quarterback again this week. … WR Randy Moss needs four touchdowns to break Jerry Rice’s single-season record of 22, a very difficult, yet not impossible task. Like Brady, he won’t see much time on the sideline. The most dynamic receiver in the league needs to be played, regardless of what the Sunday weather report says. … WR Wes Welker has slowed down recently, totaling 126 yards and one touchdown the past three weeks. But he will be out to prove, yet again, that the Dolphins made a mistake by letting him walk to New England last offseason. Welker torched his former team with 9-138-2 in Week Seven. Play him. … TE Ben Watson (ankle) is a long shot to see the field. … As much as Belichick and fantasy owners have been frustrated with RB Laurence Maroney, he simply needs to be in your lineup. He’s the No. 1 running back on the NFL’s No. 1 offense, going up against the league’s 32nd-ranked run defense. Seeing as how he was fed the ball a career-high 26 times last week, he obviously hasn’t lost the complete confidence of Belichick. Making matters even worse for the Dolphins’ chances of slowing the running game is that in Wednesday’s practice report, four of Miami’s best defensive front seven starters — LBs Channing Crowder and Joey Porter, and DL Keith Traylor and Jason Taylor — were listed as non-participants due to injury.
New York Jets — Unless you’re in a bind, stay away from Jets players. A combination of the Titans’ fifth-ranked defense and too much offensive uncertainty makes them dicey options. The questions begin at quarterback, where the team has yet to disclose whether Kellen Clemens or Chad Pennington will start. Clemens got rocked by Patriots DE Richard Seymour on the Jets’ opening drive last week, and is questionable with sore ribs. Regardless of who plays, neither a hobbled Clemens nor a weak-armed Pennington inspires the type of confidence to get the ball to the receivers. … Speaking of receivers, both Laveranues Coles (ankle) and Jerricho Cotchery (finger) are not without their own injury problems. While Cotchery should be on the field, Coles is likely to be a game-day decision. He didn’t play last week. With a Titans defensive line that will have two representatives in the Pro Bowl squaring off against a beleaguered Jets offensive line, the quarterback will have precious little time to locate his targets. … While RB Thomas Jones has put up some decent numbers against poor run defenses, he has mostly been stuck in neutral when facing solid defensive fronts. Tennessee has a very good one. With just one touchdown on the season and the inability to step up against formidable opposition, keep him benched.
AFC North
Baltimore — Fresh off a loss to the hapless Dolphins, the Ravens now have the unpleasant task of facing the Seahawks in Seattle. The Seahawks have allowed the fifth-fewest points in the NFL and have a knack for defending the pass well and getting after opposing quarterbacks. RB Willis McGahee (1,197 rushing yards, seven TDs) and WR Derrick Mason (92 catches) are the only Ravens who merit starting consideration in the majority of leagues. QB Kyle Boller (only nine TDs in 275 pass attempts) will start for Baltimore.
Cleveland — Here’s proof that the Browns’ offense is one of the league’s best: In snowy, windy conditions in Week 15, Cleveland still managed to gain 304 yards of total offense. That’s more yards than 11 NFL teams averaged all season entering Week 16. In other words, don’t hesitate to start your Browns skill-position players this week at Cincinnati, even if winter weather is in the forecast. RB Jamal Lewis (281 yards in the past two weeks) thrives in tough conditions and rushed for 216 yards vs. Cincy earlier this season. QB Derek Anderson threw five TD passes in the first matchup vs. the Bengals — two to WRs Braylon Edwards and Joe Jurevicius and one to TE Kellen Winslow. Edwards and Winslow are must-starts unless you have unbelievable depth, and Jurevicius is not be a bad “flex” option in bigger leagues.
Cincinnati — At season’s end, the statistics will say that the Bengals had an above-average offense. But fantasy owners will disagree. As the playoffs have heated up in fantasy leagues, the Bengals’ offense has sputtered. QB Carson Palmer has thrown one TD pass in the past three weeks. WR Chad Johnson has only six TDs on the season, and those came in three games. He hasn’t scored since Week 12. T.J. Houshmandzadeh? A TD machine early in the season, he hasn’t scored in the past four weeks. And let’s not even get started about RB Rudi Johnson. Nevertheless, start your Bengals this week. Cincinnati rolled up 554 yards vs. Cleveland in Week Two, and the players listed above all had banner days. Another high-scoring game might be in the cards.
Pittsburgh — The Steelers haven’t exceeded 184 yards passing in their past five games. That said, fantasy owners who started QB Ben Roethlisberger in Week 15 may have still won their games nonetheless, as “Big Ben” managed to throw three TD passes against Jacksonville despite only completing 16-of-33 passes for 146 yards. Roethlisberger, who has thrown four TD passes or more in three games this season, could bounce back in the yardage and completion percentage departments Week 16 at St. Louis. Remember: Three of the Steelers’ last four games (vs. Miami, Cincinnati and Jacksonville) have been at Heinz Field, which has the league’s worst grass surface. A game inside St. Louis’ Edward Jones Dome and on FieldTurf could do wonders for Roethlisberger and his receiving corps as well. The stock of RB Willie Parker (224 rushing yards in the past two games) also gets a boost from the move indoors.
AFC South
Houston — The Texans are averaging 27.7 points in QB Sage Rosenfels’ starts, and the Colts’ defense could again be without DE Robert Mathis, S Antoine Bethea and DT Raheem Brock, so don’t hesitate to start Rosenfels, RB Ron Dayne, TE Owen Daniels and WR Andre Johnson. WR Kevin Walter, who leads the team in receptions, also has some value in bigger leagues. Dayne should benefit from the extra time off between Week 15 and 16 owing to the Texans’ Dec. 13 tilt with Denver, and he appears poised for a strong finish to the season. Dayne rushed for 32-153-2 vs. Indianapolis in Week 16 of the ’06 season.
Indianapolis — To trust (Tony Dungy) or not to trust, that is the question. Despite being locked into the AFC’s No. 2 seed for the playoff, the Colts’ head coach said that he won’t be benching or limiting his starters for the remainder of the regular season. His rationale that the injury-riddled offense needs more time to jell makes some sense, but it’s still hard to believe that we’ll see the likes of Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne, Joseph Addai and Dallas Clark late in a meaningless game against the Texans. Of the four of them, Addai seems to be the best candidate to be benched early. Running back is the most injury-prone position in football, and Addai is too valuable for Dungy to risk giving him more than some token carries. As for the other three, let’s put it this way: If they would get you better production in 2-2½ quarters than your alternative would in four quarters, you can consider playing them. If not, tell them “thank you” for all they’ve done for you this season, and bid them farewell.
Jacksonville — The Jaguars have not officially secured a playoff spot, so don’t worry about head coach Jack Del Rio giving his starters a light load. And speaking of starters — is there any running back playing better than Fred Taylor? Taylor has averaged 121.8 rushing yards in a recent four-game tear, looking nothing like the over-the-hill back many believed he was entering the season. He should go nuclear on Sunday. Only the Dolphins have a worse run defense than the Raiders, and if he gained 147 yards with a TD vs. Pittsburgh, he should have a field day vs. Oakland. … Likewise, give it a go with fellow RB Maurice Jones-Drew. Jones-Drew has been streaky and has been relatively quiet recently. But this is the type of opponent he should get back on track against. Considering that he actually has twice as many touchdowns as Taylor (eight to four) and will see a plethora of carries if the Jags build an early lead, he’s a strong option. … QB David Garrard is quietly putting up some attractive numbers. He has tossed seven TD passes in the past three games, five coming against the elite secondaries of Indianapolis and Pittsburgh. The Raiders are fairly strong against the pass and did an admirable job keeping Peyton Manning under wraps last week. Garrard won’t ever dazzle with yardage numbers and he’s definitely not in the fantasy company of the league’s upper-crust passers, but you can find worse than him this week. … Despite injuries to a few key performers, play the Jaguars' defense. The Raiders have little offensive rhythm, and now have to replace stud RB Justin Fargas (knee).
Tennessee — RB LenDale White has become the Titans’ workhorse. White has 54 carries for 206 yards and a touchdown in his past two games and is a solid No. 2 RB option this week vs. the Jets, who have surrendered 141.1 yards per game on the ground. … RB Chris Henry returns from a four-game suspension this week, but he probably won’t get a lot of work. … Yes, WR Roydell Williams caught a pair of TD passes last week, but no Titans wide receiver has caught touchdowns in back-to-back games this season, so it’s hard to get too excited. The same can be said about QB Vince Young's fantasy-football prospects this week, given his consistency issues.
AFC West
Denver — Expect to continue to see a split in the RB workload between Selvin Young and Travis Henry. The Broncos managed only 72 rushing yards in their first meeting against the Chargers back in Week Five but fell behind early and had to all but abandon the run in a blowout loss. … TE Tony Scheffler will see increased time on the field in the last two weeks with starter Daniel Graham out with an ankle injury. Scheffler racked up seven catches for 100 yards (both career highs) and a touchdown last week at Houston. … WR Javon Walker is playing significantly more snaps than he was when he first returned from a knee injury three weeks ago and is moving better off the line, but he still doesn’t warrant a look in fantasy football with only three catches in three games. … WR Brandon Stokley, who missed last week vs. Houston, was limited in practice on Wednesday with his sore knee and is considered questionable for Sunday’s game against San Diego. Glenn Martinez would replace him in the slot if he can’t go. … The good news for QB Jay Cutler is that Chargers OLB Shawne Merriman (knee) may not play this week, but the bad news is that San Diego has tallied 10 interceptions in the past three weeks.
Kansas City — RB Larry Johnson was back splitting the first-team reps with Kolby Smith in practice this week and attending game-planning meetings, looking very much like he was going to fulfill his promise to make it back this season from a sprained foot suffered in early November. But that was until Johnson left the practice field on Wednesday walking gingerly. Head coach Herm Edwards wouldn’t go so far as to label it a setback, but it doesn’t look good for the Chiefs allowing Johnson back into the mix with nothing to play for. “He got a little sore,” Edwards said. “I’ve got to see where that’s at. He’s limited right now, and I’ve got him questionable.” … After looking solid against the run for a five-game stretch at midseason, the Lions have allowed a mind-blowing 577 yards on the ground in the past three games, including 274 to the Chargers last week alone. It could be a decent time to lean on Smith this week. … The Lions also have allowed their opponents to throw for at least 245 yards on nine occasions, leaving them ranked 31st in the league against the pass. WR Dwayne Bowe and TE Tony Gonzalez should reap the benefits this week if QB Brodie Croyle is given adequate protection.
Oakland — With RB Justin Fargas all but certain to miss the final two games with a sprained knee ligament, look for Dominic Rhodes to get the first crack at the starting job, with LaMont Jordan to share some of the workload. It might not be wise to rely on either for much though. Prior to the Jaguars allowing 111 yards to the Steelers last week, they had gone five straight without giving up 100 yards rushing. … As of Thursday early afternoon, head coach Lane Kiffin remained undecided on his starter at quarterback, suggesting that both Josh McCown and rookie JaMarcus Russell will play, but that one would start and one would finish the game. … After showing some fantasy potential with an increase in productivity from Weeks 10-13, rookie TE Zach Miller has only two catches for 20 yards in the past two games.
San Diego — With the Chargers still fighting for the No. 3 seed in the AFC playoffs, don’t look for any rest time for the team’s stars, most notably LaDainian Tomlinson, as the club looks to continue the momentum it has built in winning its last four contests. “L.T., he's going to get his carries,” head coach Norv Turner said. … It was backup RB Michael Turner who did most of the damage on the ground the last time the Chargers played the Broncos, in Week Five. Turner rushed for 147 yards and a touchdown on only 10 carries. But with Turner nursing the shoulder injury he sustained last week, it might be Darren Sproles who spells Tomlinson this week and gets the work if the Chargers get up big on the scoreboard. Sproles carried 25 times for 122 yards and two scores in the blowout win of Detroit last week after Tomlinson felt some tightness in his hamstring shortly after halftime. … San Diego easily leads the NFL with 27 interceptions, but the Chargers' defense could be without OLB Shawne Merriman, who is nursing a sprained knee.
NFC East
Dallas — WR Terrell Owens has caught five passes the past two games, and the Cowboys have looked shaky. The Panthers have some talent at cornerback but are weak at safety in terms of coverage. Expect the Cowboys to go out of their way to get Owens involved early on Saturday, even on shorter stuff, just to get him the ball. And fear not, Tony Romo owners: Word is that Jessica Simpson is not expected to make the trip to Charlotte. The bad news is that it appears Romo — whose thumb is still sore but won’t prevent him from playing — will be working with backup C Cory Procter, and the Panthers’ interior line has played a lot better of late. Of course, DE Julius Peppers might be out for the game. … The team signed RB Zack Crockett, who for years earned a reputation as a great fantasy bench guy because of his value as a short-yardage runner. Resist the urge to snag him for your title game unless you are desperate at the position. It’s possible that he’ll only be with the team for a week, and he was mostly added as insurance as a special teamer. The fullback is mostly a blocking position in this offense.
N.Y. Giants — Losing TE Jeremy Shockey (fibula/ankle) for the season really handicaps a slumping passing game. And although the team like its replacement options, Kevin Boss and Michael Matthews, neither is anywhere near in Shockey’s class as a receiver. … WR Amani Toomer’s recent struggles, including his big drop against the Redskins last week, have led some to speculate that these could be his final two games as a Giant, at least as a starter. He might be good for one more big game, but don’t count on it, even against the Bills’ secondary. … WR Plaxico Burress likely will be the sole focus of the Bills’ defense. He will have a corner and a safety shadowing his every move all game. He looks like a sub-par starting option.
Philadelphia — Andy Reid is playing at least this game as if the Eagles are still in the playoffs. That is good news for QB Donovan McNabb owners, who should feel good about starting him against a bad Saints secondary. The Eagles’ passing game should be at full working potential, and the ease of being out of the playoffs could make the offense play looser than it sometimes has in recent games. The only guy missing will be ORG Shawn Andrews (sprained knee), who nonetheless is a big cog, especially in the run game. … RB Brian Westbrook (knee) likely will rest the next two weeks during practice but should play. Despite his non-touchdown run, which angered some fantasy owners and thrilled others last week, Westbrook should be a good play as always.
Washington — WR Santana Moss missed practice this week with what is being reported as an illness. Consider this carefully when you make your lineup this week. RB Clinton Portis also is listed with an illness — likely a wintertime bug. Both probably will play, although Portis has been the more resilient guy through his career. … QB Todd Collins will look to face what statistically is the worst passing defense in the NFL in terms of yards allowed, but a closer look reveals that the Vikings are far better in terms of yards per catch and points allowed than they have a reputation for being. Collins goes down as a desperate fantasy start only.
NFC North
Chicago — QB Kyle Orton, who put up very ordinary numbers last Monday night in his first start in almost two seasons, will be back in the driver’s seat this Sunday against a Packers defense coming off a strong outing in St. Louis. … RB Adrian Peterson certainly figures to have more fantasy success this Sunday than he did on Monday night against the Vikings’ top-ranked run defense. Green Bay’s defense is a bit undermanned at the tackle spot and might opt to bring extra pass rushers more frequently, like it did last week against the Rams. If they do increase their blitzes, some big-play run opportunities could open up for Peterson and possibly rookie Garrett Wolfe. … TEs Greg Olsen and Desmond Clark, who each had TD catches in the first game against Green Bay this season, are worth considering this Sunday. The Packers’ “D” has had some problems this season defending opposing tight ends. … Devin Hester is expected to continue getting increased playing time at wide receiver the rest of the season.
Detroit — The Chiefs have allowed an average of 176.8 yards rushing the past four games. The Lions’ best chance of winning games has been to run the ball early and stick with it. The only question is: Will Mike Martz stay patient and give RBs Kevin Jones and T.J. Duckett enough cracks to penetrate what appears to be a soft Chiefs defense? Signs point to yes. Rumors of a Martz-Rod Marinelli feud in part has to do with Marinelli’s desire to run the ball more, and the early word is that Martz might fear for his job security unless he shows some balance in the final two games with his play-calling. And that might mean it’s time — if it hasn’t been up until now several times — to bench QB Jon Kitna, WR Calvin Johnson (despite his first 100-yard effort of the season last week; most of it happened in garbage time) and the other pass catchers just to be safe unless you are out of options at those spots.
Green Bay — After just a so-so outing against the Rams last Sunday, RB Ryan Grant is a good bet to bounce back with a strong fantasy effort on what could be a wintry track in Chicago. Grant will be facing a vulnerable Bears defense that has given up big plays against both the run and pass all season. Grant didn’t play in the first game this season vs. Chicago in Week Five, but the Pack’s running attack gained 121 yards in that game, after averaging only 54.3 yards in the first four games. Grant did score a TD last week, his fifth in the past four games. … QB Brett Favre threw two more TD passes last Sunday and has thrown for at least a pair of scores in seven of his last eight starts. … WR Greg Jennings (4-66-1 receiving last week) has at least one score in 10 of the 12 games in which he has played this season. … TE Donald Lee caught a TD pass for the second straight week.
Minnesota — QB Tarvaris Jackson’s age and relative inexperience — this will be the 13th start of his career Sunday — came to light on Monday after a string of strong efforts. Against the Bears, Jackson was shaky at best, despite throwing for a career-high 249 yards. He had three interceptions, two of which were terrible decisions, made several mental mistakes and did not throw a TD pass. He remains a questionable starter, even though his previous four games were strong efforts and he’ll face a lot of nine-men-in-the-box looks from the Redskins. There’s no way that Gregg Williams will let RBs Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor beat them for long gains. If those guys get their 60-80 yards apiece, it’ll be like Peterson did against the Bears. … WR Sidney Rice missed practice Wednesday with a sprained ankle that very well could keep him out this weekend.
NFC South
Atlanta — Falcons QB Chris Redman had one of the worst performances of any quarterback this season, going 4-for-15 with 34 yards and two interceptions last week vs. Tampa Bay. The Cardinals’ pass defense may be battered, but Redman should have a hard time, even against the team’s second-stringers. Atlanta has looked punchless in its last two games and may have decided to mail it in for the rest of the season. Redman has no business on a fantasy team. … Falcons RB Jerious Norwood has rushed for 73 yards or more in two of the last three games, while getting spotty playing time in relief of starting RB Warrick Dunn. Arizona can be tough against the run, although the Cardinals allowed the Saints’ Aaron Stecker to rack up 95 rushing yards and two scores in his second start of the season last week. Norwood is a solid No. 2 starter at running back for your team. … Prior to last week, Falcons WR Roddy White had scored in three consecutive games and had at least 75 yards receiving in each contest. It has been a breakout year for White, and he warrants consideration as a borderline No. 1 receiver in next year’s fantasy draft. With Redman under center, however, White should be benched for the rest of this campaign.
Carolina — It wasn’t always pretty, but undrafted rookie QB Matt Moore led the Panthers to a 13-10 upset victory over the Seahawks last week. Moore went 19-for-27 passing for 208 yards. He faces another tough challenge at home against the Cowboys this week. Dallas fields one of the better pass rushes in the league and the Panthers’ middling offensive line could have a hard time keeping up with it. Look for Moore to get hit hard this week. Keep him off your roster. … Although RB DeAngelo Williams has outgained starter RB DeShaun Foster in rushing yards in three of the past four games, head coach John Fox has indicated there will be no change in the starting lineup. The Panthers will rely heavily on their ground game this week, and Williams should get a fair share of carries. He’s a borderline No. 2 for fantasy teams, but definitely start him if you’re short on running backs. … Panthers WR Steve Smith hasn’t scored a touchdown since Week Six and has been a fantasy dud after starting out strong, getting to the endzone six times in the first six games. He’s good for 60-80 yards this week, but don’t count on him for much more than that.
New Orleans — QB Drew Brees wasn’t named to the Pro Bowl this season, but he has played at a Pro Bowl level in the Saints’ last 10 games. Since New Orleans started 0-4, Brees has a 71.3 completion percentage and has keyed the squad’s turnaround. He should keep up the impressive pace against the Eagles’ mediocre pass defense. … Since taking over for Reggie Bush two weeks ago, Saints RB Aaron Stecker has had games of 100 and 95 yards. He faces a much better run defense this week than he did against the Falcons and the Cardinals. Unless you’re lacking depth at the position, return Stecker to the bench … Bush practiced this week and said he hopes to play against the Eagles. There has been no definitive ruling on whether he’ll suit up. Bush could be used mostly as a decoy against Philly, especially if he’s not 100 percent healthy. As of this writing, it’s best to keep Bush benched. … Saints WR Marques Colston has had 85 yards receiving or more in seven of his last eight games, and has been a huge beneficiary of Brees’ hot streak in the last 10 contests. Surprisingly, Colston has scored just one of his nine touchdowns at the Superdome this season. He hadn’t made it to the endzone at home until last week. Start him this week, but don’t be surprised if he’s held scoreless.
Tampa Bay — QB Jeff Garcia tried to shake off the rust last week after missing the previous two games with a back injury, and he wasn’t as sharp as he had been earlier this season. Teams have picked the 49ers apart all season long and Garcia, in his return to his old stomping grounds in San Francisco, should bring his best. Coach Jon Gruden, however, may decide to sit Garcia for much of the game. The Bucs have clinched the NFC South title and have little to play for. Keep Garcia on the bench this week. … Bucs RB Earnest Graham has rushed for at least 61 yards in each of the last eight games and has scored in each of the last six. A model of consistency, Graham is a definite start this week. … Bucs WRs Joey Galloway and Ike Hilliard had one catch each last week and combined for just 16 yards. The Bucs didn’t need to throw much during the rout of the Falcons, which is a major reason for the pair’s low numbers. Hilliard suffered a back injury a few weeks ago and Galloway is getting up there in years — they could be wearing down as the regular season comes to a close.
NFC West
Arizona — Keep close tabs on Cardinals WRs Larry Fitzgerald (groin) and Anquan Boldin (toe/hip), who both are expected to be “day to day” for the rest of the season, according to team insiders. Fitzgerald, the Cardinals’ lone Pro Bowl representative, has seven touchdowns in his past five games. Boldin had a decent outing against the Saints last Sunday, ending up with six catches for 83 yards, both tops on the team. … RB Edgerrin James, who had 84 yards rushing last week (5.3 yards per carry) and hurdled the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the second straight season, could have decent fantasy success this Sunday against Atlanta’s 27th-ranked run defense. … QB Kurt Warner threw for three TDs for the second straight week and third time in the last six games. Warner has a string of six straight games with at least two TD passes. … Rookie TE Ben Patrick, who had his second TD catch of the season last Sunday, could be worth considering as an emergency fantasy starter.
St. Louis — RB Steven Jackson has looked a lot lately like the fantasy superstar he was the entire 2007 campaign, averaging 102.4 rushing yards over the past five games and scoring a combined three TDs in the last four games, including a 46-yard TD romp against Green Bay last Sunday. Jackson will be facing a Steelers defense that gave up a whopping 224 yards rushing to the Jaguars last Sunday. After gaining a season-high 143 yards last week, Jackson needs 138 yards in the final two games to reach 1,000 yards for the third year in a row. … QB Marc Bulger’s fantasy numbers would have been better last Sunday against the Packers if his receivers wouldn’t have let two catchable balls slip through their fingers into the hands of opposing defenders. Bulger’s two picks offset 219 passing yards and a TD to WR Torry Holt. … Holt, the Rams’ lone Pro Bowl representative, has three TD catches in the last five games.
San Francisco — RB Frank Gore could be ready to finish the fantasy season with a real flourish. Gore rushed for a season-high 138 yards against the Bengals last Saturday night and just might be in a position to duplicate those numbers if he gets the same kind of run-blocking he received from his O-line vs. Cincinnati. … In a pinch, you could do a lot worse than Shaun Hill as your fantasy QB this Sunday, considering his strong starting effort last Saturday night against the Bengals. Hill threw for 197 yards and accounted for two TDs (one passing, one rushing). Hill has completed nearly 80 percent of his passes (78.2 percent to be exact). One major concern: Hill will be pitted against Tampa Bay’s rock-solid third-ranked defense. … Two fantasy receiving options worth considering are: TE Vernon Davis, who had a TD catch vs. Bengals, and WR Darrell Jackson, who had his best performance by far this season against Cincinnati (8-86). … In a real emergency, you also might consider TE Delanie Walker, who developed a special rapport with Hill in training camp and has been a factor in the offense the past two games.
Seattle — Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck, who won’t have to contend with the tricky Carolina winds this Sunday, will be looking to heat it up against a Ravens secondary that is hurting big-time at the CB position — a fact that also figures to raise the fantasy stock of WRs Deion Branch, Bobby Engram, Nate Burleson and possibly D.J. Hackett, whose recurring ankle woes make him questionable for Sunday. Hackett has missed the past three games (nine overall), but he has been productive when he has been healthy enough to play this season. … Either Engram or Branch should be considered among the top fantasy WR prospects this weekend. Engram is coming off a nine-catch, 84-yard outing in Carolina, and after getting snubbed in the Pro Bowl balloting early this week, his buddy Hasselbeck just might go out of his way to make him the featured attraction this Sunday at home. Branch, who says he’s completely over the foot injury that sidelined him earlier this season, caught a late TD from Hasselbeck last Sunday. … Neither RB Shaun Alexander nor Maurice Morris seems like a viable fantasy option against the Ravens’ excellent run defense, even if Ravens MLB Ray Lewis (dislocated finger) is unable to suit up. Alexander and Morris managed a mere 32 yards rushing combined last Sunday.
