To prepare you as best we can for your week of Fantasy Football, we've
devised this series of previews for each NFL game. We'll give you a
taste of what to expect, then rank each significant Fantasy contributor
on a scale from 0-5 stars (with five stars suggesting can't-miss; a
player or unit without any stars suggests you probably shouldn't start
him under any circumstances). The rankings take the matchup into
account, but injuries and other significant factors also contribute. You
should be able to compare the ratings for the players on your team and
make an educated pick on who should start -- and sit -- in your lineup .
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New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills
Sunday, 1:00 pm,
Ralph Wilson Stadium
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The Patriots need a win to keep playoff hopes alive, and beating up
on a division rival will add further motivation. The Bills have been
fairly stingy against the pass, which could limit Matt Cassel's upside. Moreover, the Patriots have game planned
well for the Bills and did well running against them earlier this
season. It wouldn't be a surprise to see Sammy Morris and LaMont Jordan
continue to work in tandem for the majority of the Patriots'
offensive snaps. Remember, the Pats ran a lot late last season and
won, plus that plays into the Bills' defensive weakness. It seemed
like Buffalo began rediscovering its pass attack last week, and
they'll need it if they're going to end the season with a win. Marshawn Lynch is banged up and has a difficult matchup anyway, so
his expectations should be limited. Look for Trent Edwards to throw a lot, not only to attack the Pats'
secondary but because he'll be playing from behind. But that still
doesn't mean Lee Evans will blow up
-- he's been well covered and limited in his last three against the
Pats and has been in a massive funk over much of the second half of
the season. And as you might expect, there is snow and wind in the
long-range forecast.
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St. Louis Rams at Atlanta Falcons
Sunday, 1:00 pm,
Georgia Dome
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The Rams are in U-Haul mode -- they have to be, playing on the road
against an opponent who, like them, was down in the dumps last
season but has rebounded into the postseason. Even though they'll be
in a dome, the matchup doesn't bode well for them. Steven Jackson should put some good stats but the rest of the Rams
won't do much unless it's in garbage time. Marc Bulger will struggle against the Falcons defense,
especially since Atlanta is playing for a possible No. 2 seed in the
NFC (they have to win, the Panthers have to lose). The Falcons will
get Michael Turner going, but seeing
as how the Rams defense stinks everywhere, this is a good
opportunity for Matt Ryan to get
some confidence heading into the postseason. Look for Ryan to take
some deep shots and attack a Rams secondary that's been beaten up
all year.
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Kansas City Chiefs at Cincinnati Bengals
Sunday, 1:00 pm,
Paul Brown Stadium
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Meaningless game in the big picture, but both teams should fight
hard. Tyler Thigpen wants to leave a
lasting impression for the offseason and should deliver against a
Bengals defense that looked like Pro Bowlers against the lowly
Browns in Week 16. Thigpen should continue his hot streak against
the Bengals' weak secondary while Larry Johnson gets around 15 touches. The Bengals will do the
opposite, attacking with Cedric Benson
much like they did last week. I don't think Benson will post 171
rushing yards, or even 100 yards, as the game will be competitive,
but he should still be serviceable. As it has been for several
weeks, the Bengals passing game is too suspect to count on here,
though you could certainly conclude that with the season being a
wash that both teams throw a bunch, assuming the weather cooperates.
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Chicago Bears at Houston Texans
Sunday, 1:00 pm, Reliant
Stadium
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The Bears will keep playoff hopes alive with a win, but it will be
tough considering the state of their offense. Kyle Orton has made some hideous throws over the past few weeks
and hasn't been able to really establish a consistent connection
with anyone in the passing game. That said, Houston's secondary is
shaky and Orton should stick with a simple short- and medium-area
pass plan. He should also work off of Matt Forte's reps, though he did not look strong for much of his
game against the Packers because of his sore toe, and he won't have
as much rest as you'd like since the Bears played on Monday. The
Texans will be sure to key in on him. The Bears secondary has been
hot and cold and will face a very tough challenge in Andre Johnson this week. With Chicago's pass rush merely decent,
expect Matt Schaub to bounce back
and connect with Johnson and Kevin Walter
more this week than last. The bigger problem for the Bears will be Steve Slaton, who much like Matt Forte
is versatile and physical. Slaton's got better speed, and the Bears
defense has struggled with faster running backs all year.
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Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers
Sunday, 1:00 pm,
Heinz Field
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It's gotten so bad for the Browns that their offense isn't worth
discussing. You're on your own if you roll with Jamal Lewis or Braylon Edwards,
both of whom will be shut down as Pittsburgh attacks likely starter Bruce Gradkowski. The Steelers are expected to roll out their
starters for at least a half, then pull them back, possibly once
they build a decent lead. Because of the matchup, most of the
Steelers starters on offense could be used as decent No. 3 options,
with Santonio Holmes having the most
upside. Just expect around 50-to-60 percent of their usual
production since they won't play a full game. A sneaky pick up might
be Mewelde Moore, who should see a
lot of work in the second half against a disinterested Browns
defense. There is snow and wind in the forecast.
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Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts
Sunday, 1:00 pm,
Lucas Oil Stadium
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Expect both teams to use their starters for much of the first half,
if not all of it, then pull back to rest their guys for the
playoffs. Neither team has anything to play for here as they're
locked into their seeds in the AFC (Titans are No. 1, Colts are No.
5). You can expect the game plans to be pared down as well. All that
said, it's hard to predict anything in this contest. Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne and
Co. could be good for some decent passing totals, but it's all in
one half of play and won't deliver a monster stat line. Not even Dominic Rhodes, who is technically a backup, is a good play since
the likes of Chad Simpson and Najeh Davenport will take more reps; and the same can be said for Quinton Ganther and Chris Henry for
the Titans. If there's still a decent stud, it's Chris Johnson, thanks to his breakaway ability and the Colts run
defense still not impeccable against the run.
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Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers
Sunday, 1:00 pm,
Lambeau Field
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The Lions have a shot here, especially if they can get Kevin Smith going and grind down the Packers defense. Green Bay
has continued to struggle against the run and will play this game on
a short week, which should result in Smith ending the season on a
high note. Moreover, the Packers can hound Calvin Johnson with double- and triple-team coverage and be left
short elsewhere on defense, so Smith could post nice numbers.
Johnson should do better than last week as well, even with the
immense coverage the Packers will give him. Naturally, the
expectation for the Packers offense is to roll over the Lions like
they did earlier this season. The only way any of their front-line
star skill players will rest is if they build a big lead. Ryan Grant should attack the interior of the Lions defense and
pave the way for Aaron Rodgers to
throw over the top to Greg Jennings
and Donald Driver. Remember, the
Packers don't want to be the ones to lose to the Lions, and they'll
aim to end the year with a win at home.
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Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints
Sunday, 1:00 pm,
Superdome
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The Panthers need to win to clinch the No. 2 seed in the NFC, and
their best defense in this game will be to control the clock and run
a lot. That's because Drew Brees is
403 yards shy of breaking Dan Marino's single-season passing yardage
record, and the club is expected to give him every opportunity to do
it. That's a lot of yards to give up, but the more he's throwing,
the more likely the Saints will put up a decent amount of yards.
That said, look for a lot of -- who else? -- DeAngelo Williams, who should smash and dash his way through the
Saints paltry run defense. Jonathan Stewart
will also see a bunch of touches and could do fairly well. That will
also mean that Jake Delhomme won't be
throwing a lot unless the Panthers fall way behind, and that's a
mild concern for Steve Smith's
Fantasy owners. I wouldn't sit him, but his yardage might not be
enormous even though the matchup suggests it will. Of course, if
Brees is going to pass around 50 times (and maybe as many as 60
depending on how much time the Saints get with the football), you
can lock in his receivers for good outings. Lance Moore should bounce back catching the short-area stuff, Marques Colston will work the mid-range and Devery Henderson is a real sleeper to come up with some big deep
catches. Where does this leave Pierre Thomas?
Between the game plan and the matchup, he's more of a top-end No. 2
Fantasy running back this week, though it helps that Brees isn't
chasing a touchdown record, which could result in Thomas landing a
short-yardage score or two.
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N.Y. Giants at Minnesota Vikings
Sunday, 1:00 pm, Hubert
H. Humphrey Metrodome
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The Giants insist they'll play their starters for the majority of
the game, which is what they did last season against the Patriots in
an effort to build some momentum for the playoffs. I'm not so sure,
especially when it comes to Brandon Jacobs.
His knee remains an issue and giving him several weeks of rest is
probably the best way to go. That will open the door for Derrick Ward to work the outer edges against the Vikings, and he
should continue to be effective, though not to the extent of his
last game. Eli Manning shouldn't be
trusted, and thus neither should his receivers. The Vikings are
going to play methodical football and lean heavily on Adrian Peterson, who has helped them get to this point. Remember,
a win and the Vikings are the No. 3 seed in the NFC. The run game
will lead the way, opening up lanes for Tarvaris Jackson to connect on short- and mid-range stuff to his
receivers and march down the field for scores.
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Oakland Raiders at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sunday, 1:00 pm,
Raymond James Stadium
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The Raiders have played better offensive ball lately, and the direct
correlation can be made to Darren McFadden's
improved play. He's been very solid, JaMarcus Russell has followed suit and both will attempt to end the
season on an up note. The Bucs defense was rocked last week and has
struggled with the run for three weeks, but the lack of physical,
talented receivers in Oakland should make game planning easier this
week. Don't forget that this will be Monte Kiffin's last
regular-season game coordinating the Tampa Bay defense, so the
effort and blitzes will be fierce. The Buccaneers need to run well
if they're going to take this game, and Cadillac Williams looks like the better option at this point.
Williams should be successful (he'll still lose touches to Warrick Dunn and Clifton Smith)
and set up Jeff Garcia to attack
down field. Garcia should be successful, particularly if he can hook
up with Antonio Bryant away from
Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha.
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Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals
Sunday, 4:15 pm,
University of Phoenix Stadium
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The Seahawks should put up an effort to try and send coach Mike
Holmgren out with a win. Additionally, Maurice Morris is going to be a free agent, and Seneca Wallace and Koren Robinson
surely will want to put something on film in the event that they
aren't back with the Seahawks next season. Plenty of motivation for
the Seahawks, who will probably use Morris to set up the pass and
try to attack this leaky Cardinals secondary. Arizona has locked
into the No. 4 seed in the NFC playoffs, but with the club reeling
after two lopsided losses, coach Ken Whisenhunt insists on his
starters playing and gaining momentum for the postseason. With the
Seattle defense ready to call it a season, there's no excuse for Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald
and a returning Anquan Boldin. This
trio torched Seattle earlier this year and should do it again. As a
byproduct, Tim Hightower should
have an opportunity to score.
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Jacksonville Jaguars at Baltimore Ravens
Sunday, 4:15 pm,
M&T Bank Stadium
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Expect a good effort out of Jacksonville even with nothing to play
for. David Garrard has been putting
up good numbers over the last two weeks thanks to Dennis Northcutt stepping up, and it's safe to say that the
Jaguars will do a lot of passing here. Maurice Jones-Drew is expected to play with a bruised knee; look
for him to also be a factor in the pass game. A win for Baltimore
and they're in the playoffs. Jacksonville's run defense is decent
but shouldn't be tough for the Ravens to crack with LeRon McClain and a smaller dose of Willis McGahee. Don't be surprised to see them throw a little bit
more than normal -- the Jaguars' pass defense has struggled since
losing cornerback Rashean Mathis. I
like Todd Heap's matchup against the
Jaguars' aggressive safeties.
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Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles
Sunday, 4:15 pm,
Lincoln Financial Field
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The Cowboys are in the playoffs with a win, and if that happens it
will salvage what has been a rough season. Expect the Cowboys to
continue doing what they have been doing on offense, which is
utilizing Tashard Choice more than
anyone expects. Choice has continued to play well in the face of
great defenses, and this will actually be his easiest matchup
to date. So long as Marion Barber is
limited, Choice will carry the rushing workload and provide an
outlet for Tony Romo out of the
backfield. All of that sets up nicely for Romo to pick his poison in
the passing game, and he'll likely target Jason Witten against the Eagles' safeties. Terrell Owens should get his, but not to the tune of more than say
70 yards with a touchdown. This will be a challenge for the Eagles,
and as they've done in their recent wins, they're going to have to
ride Brian Westbrook. After the
Ravens softened up the Cowboys defense and came up with some long
runs last week, expect Philadelphia to go with the same approach.
That could result in other players getting carries (Correll Buckhalter, DeSean Jackson)
as Westbrook isn't usually a 30-carry candidate, though he has done
it this season. And with the Eagles' receivers hurting, it only
makes sense to focus on utilizing Westbrook. In turn, that will hurt Donovan McNabb since his passing opportunities could be limited, as
will his receiving corps, which was a big reason for the Eagles loss
last week.
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Washington Redskins at San Francisco 49ers
Sunday, 4:15
pm, Candlestick Park
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Even with Jim Zorn receiving the proverbial thumbs up from his
general manager, the Redskins will be hard pressed to play hard.
There are a lot of Super Bowl-hungry veterans on this roster who
don't like the idea of a season ending in failure, and this game
won't change that outcome. With Zorn unable to rally the club for
much of the second half of the season, and with several injuries
holding their best players back, don't look for much from the
Redskins offense. Jason Campbell has
been suspect, Santana Moss has gone
ice cold and Clinton Portis is one
of these players who is hurt and doesn't want to suffer any more
serious injuries. The Redskins will have some trouble running
against this 49ers front and will be forced to throw in the fourth
quarter. Portis and Chris Cooley are
usable Fantasy options. The Niners will be motivated with Mike
Singletary leading the charge. He seems to have the head coaching
job locked up for 2009, but a win here could seal the deal, and the
players look like they like playing for him. If he's healthy, Frank Gore will be the usual centerpiece of the offense, and Shaun Hill will work off of him and try to break through on the
Redskins secondary, which hasn't been so bad of late. If Gore's out,
that's going to mean more opportunity for Hill. Either way, he
should do well and the San Francisco offense should be productive.
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Miami Dolphins at N.Y. Jets
Sunday, 4:15 pm, Giants Stadium
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With a win, the Dolphins win the AFC East and get a home playoff
date. Bill Parcells-led teams usually come through with those kinds
of stakes on the line, but this will be a tough one for them. The
Dolphins run defense is a bit thin with Channing Crowder sidelined, and their running game hasn't been
overpowering. The Jets also need to win to keep playoff hopes alive,
so they'll be more motivated here than they were at Seattle last
week. The Dolphins will likely continue to preach balance and ball
control without turning over the pigskin. Running the ball will
still be a struggle but look for Chad Pennington to continue connecting with Anthony Fasano, Davone Bess and David Martin on short-range passes. That will keep the chains
moving and afford the Dolphins some scoring opportunities. The Jets
cannot let Brett Favre throw wild
again, and that's what the Dolphins will try to force even though
their pass defense isn't great. Look for New York to keep it close
to the vest and ride Thomas Jones
and Leon Washington more than with
Favre's arm, at least so long as the Jets don't fall too far behind.
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Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers
Sunday, 8:15 pm,
Qualcomm Stadium
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High. Scoring. Affair. Pencil in at least four touchdowns apiece as
both teams have plenty of offense and not a lot of defense. The
Broncos have no run game to speak of (Tatum Bell? C'mon ...) and face off against the Chargers' awful
pass defense. All signs point to a lot of passing for Jay Cutler. That will mean some interceptions, but it wouldn't
be a surprise for Brandon Marshall
and Eddie Royal each to top 100
yards. The Chargers will throw as well but will obviously use LaDainian Tomlinson to create a ground effort. With Tomlinson on the
march, the clock ticks and the Broncos offense is off the field, so
there could be a plan to really lean on him when they have a lead.
Otherwise, Philip Rivers will be
gunning and having all sorts of fun connecting with Vincent Jackson and Antonio Gates.
Really, the only two prominent players Fantasy owners should be wary
of is Bell and Chris Chambers,
neither of whom have impressed much this season.
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