The Fantasy Football Matchups is our weekly in-depth look at every NFL game and their effect on lineup decisions.

NEW YORK GIANTS AT CINCINNATI BENGALS
Kickoff: 1 p.m., Paul Brown Stadium - Cincinnati, OH Weather: Mostly sunny, high: 28, low: 22. Cincinnati QB Carson Palmer (knee) has been downgraded to doubtful and so Jon Kitna will get called upon to make his second consecutive start. One thing is for sure, Rudi Johnson will run wild against the Giants and their 29th ranked rush defense. For New York, the growing pains of rookie QB Eli Manning have limited the Fantasy value of the Giants offensive pieces. However, RB Tiki Barber remains a must-start in all leagues and should produce against a weak Bengals defense.
NOTES: In his past four games, Bengals WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh has 30 catches for 438 yards and three TDs...Barber has 6,723 career rushing yards and needs 175 in his final two games to pass Rodney Hampton (6,897) for the franchise record.
ATLANTA FALCONS AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Kickoff: 1 p.m., Louisiana Superdome - New Orleans, LA Weather: Dome. With little to gain here, the Falcons will likely sit QB Michael Vick (left shoulder, questionable), TE Alge Crumpler (knee, questionable) as well as RB T.J. Duckett (knee, questionable). In Vick's absence, rookie Matt Schaub (University of Virginia) will get his first career start. The only worthy Fantasy option for Atlanta is RB Warrick Dunn, who should produce at a high level in a return to his home state of Louisiana. For New Orleans, RB Deuce McAllister will be tested by the 10th best rushing defense in the NFL while red-hot Joe Horn (five TDs in past four) should again find the end zone.
NOTES: McAllister seeks his fourth consecutive 100-yard rushing game vs. Atlanta...In Week 15 against Carolina, Dunn had season highs with 34 carries and 134 yards.
BALTIMORE RAVENS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Kickoff: 1 p.m., Heinz Field - Pittsburgh, PA Weather: Sunny, high: 28, low: 22. While Baltimore RB Jamal Lewis (ankle) and TE Todd Heap (ankle) are both listed as questionable, neither player will be limited in their efforts and should be active. The same can't be said for Pittsburgh RB Duce Staley (hamstring), who is also questionable. It appears Staley will sit this one out and Jerome Bettis will again be counted on to carry the load for the Pittsburgh offense. However, the Steelers will get receiver Plaxico Burress (hamstring) back and his big-play ability will help stretch the Ravens defense. With two of the top six defenses in the NFL battling it out for playoff positioning, points should be at a premium in Pittsburgh.
NOTES: Heap has three TDs on nine catches in his past two games...Bettis has five 100-yard rushing games in his past seven outings.
CHICAGO BEARS AT DETROIT LIONS
Kickoff: 1 p.m., Ford Field - Detroit, MI Weather: Dome. Since the season-ending knee injury to Chicago QB Rex Grossman in Week 3, the Bears offense has been in hibernation. The Fantasy value of RB Thomas Jones has taken the greatest hit and he should only be used as a No. 3 option against the Lions. Look for Detroit to rely heavily on RB Kevin Jones, who is averaging 144 yards on the ground in his past three games. The rookie should punish a Chicago defense ranked 25th against the run.
NOTES: Detroit QB Joey Harrington threw for a career-high 361 yards vs. Minnesota in Week 15.
HOUSTON TEXANS AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Kickoff: 1 p.m., Alltel Stadium - Jacksonville, FL Weather: Mostly cloudy, high: 54, low: 44. The Jaguars look to solidify their place in the postseason with a win so you can be sure all guns will be blazing. QB Byron Leftwich should find WR Jimmy Smith early and often against a Texans secondary ranked 28th vs. the pass. Owners should confirm Fred Taylor's (knee, questionable) status before activating the running back. The Jaguars back will be a game-time decision. The Jacksonville defense has been noticeably tougher at home but RB Domanick Davis and WR Andre Johnson are simply too talented to reserve.
NOTES: D. Davis has a rushing TD in six of his past seven games, including four in a row.
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Kickoff: 1 p.m., RCA Dome - Indianapolis, IN Weather: Dome. The No. 1 (Indianapolis, 33.9 ppg) and No. 4 (San Diego, 27.9) ranked scoring offenses hook up for a game that should generate Fantasy scoring through the air and over the ground. Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson is obviously a must-start each and every week but is particularly attractive against the 28th ranked defense in the league. Likewise, RB Edgerrin James is impossible to reserve but might not find much running room against the second-ranked rush defense. QB Peyton Manning will look to his usual cast of characters and the only one who should possibly be reserved is TE Marcus Pollard, who is questionable with an ankle injury. QB Drew Brees and TE Antonio Gates are appealing options against a Colts secondary ranked 29th vs. the pass.
NOTES: Colts WR Reggie Wayne now has 1,059 yards on 71 catches making him the first Colts player other than WR Marvin Harrison with a 1,000-yard receiving season in more than a decade. WR Brandon Stokley has 954 yards and is poised to give the Colts the first trio in league history with 1,000 yards.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS AT NEW YORK JETS
Kickoff: 4:05 p.m., Giants Stadium - East Rutherford, NJ Weather: Sunny, high: 33, low: 21. With their improbable loss to the Dolphins in Week 15, the Patriots have no room for error if they want to secure a first-round bye. Of course, the Jets are fighting simply to scratch out a postseason berth so you can bet this one won't lack intensity. This game is a classic strength vs. strength matchup, as both teams run the ball very effectively and boast strong defenses against the rush. Behind Curtis Martin, the Jets have the second best rushing attack in the NFL but will be challenged to dent a Patriots defense ranked fifth against the run. First-year Patriot Corey Dillon leads the 7th most effective running game in the league and appropriately will be up against the 7th best run defense. Despite their tough matchups, both backs are too valuable to reserve. QBs Tom Brady and Chad Pennington can safely be started if owners don't have more attractive options but neither should be counted on to carry a franchise to a championship.
NOTES: With their 13-7 loss to the Pats in Week 7, the Jets are the only opponent in the last 16 games to hold New England to fewer than 20 points...If Martin rushes for at least 174 yards in the final two games, he will set a record for running backs who entered a season at age 30 or older.
BUFFALO BILLS AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Kickoff: 4:05 p.m., Monster Park - San Francisco, CA Weather: Showers, high: 51, low: 40. It appears unlikely that Bills RB Willis McGahee (knee, questionable) will be able to play in Week 16. With Travis Henry (ankle, questionable) still unavailable, coach Mike Mularkey will turn to rookie Shaud Williams (University of Alabama) and Joe Burns to share the running duties. With showers expected, QB Drew Bledsoe might struggle with the passing game and so owners shouldn't expect much more than his average this season -- 183 yards a game. WRs Eric Moulds and rookie Lee Evans are clearly his top two targets. For San Francisco, the Fantasy options are few and far between. RB Kevan Barlow will return to action after missing one game with a concussion, but is a No. 3 or flex option at best.
NOTES: Evans is the first player to catch four 50+ yard passes from Bledsoe in the same season.
CAROLINA PANTHERS AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Kickoff: 4:15 p.m., Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Fla. Weather: Mostly cloudy, high: 57, low: 50. Carolina QB Jake Delhomme and WR Muhsin Muhammad have been valuable Fantasy commodities over the past two month. During that time, Muhammad has five 100-yard receiving games with 10 touchdowns. That combo will be tested in the Sunshine State as Tampa has the number one defense against the pass. Key to that is pressuring the quarterback and the Bucs have the second most sacks (44) in the NFL. Since taking over in Week 5, Brian Griese has really sparked the Tampa passing attack and his go-to guy, rookie Michael Clayton, has emerged as a very serviceable No. 2 Fantasy option. Both RBs, Nick Goings of Carolina and Michael Pittman of Tampa, have cooled off lately but can still be called upon as No. 2 or 3 RBs in all leagues.
NOTES: Muhammad has a career-high 12 TD catches...Griese has a TD pass in every game he has played in this season.
ARIZONA CARDINALS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Kickoff: 4:15 p.m., Quest Field - Seattle, WA Weather: Showers, high: 40, low: 26. Since regaining his starting job in Week 14, Arizona QB Josh McCown has thrown for 594 yards. He should find success in the Pacific Northwest against a Seahawks defense ranked 23rd against the pass. Rookie Larry Fitzgerald is coming off a two-touchdown performance and along with Anquan Boldin, can be used as No. 3 WRs. For Seattle, the offense starts with RB Shaun Alexander, who has solidified his place among the top properties in all of Fantasy football. He should find plenty of running room against the 27th ranked run defense in the league. With Alexander's ground attack, the aerial combo of QB Matt Hasselbeck to WR Darrell Jackson should pay dividends and both are solid starters.
NOTES: Arizona RB Emmitt Smith needs 197 yards rushing in his last two games for an NFL-record 12th 1,000-yard season.
WASHINGTON REDSKINS AT DALLAS COWBOYS
Kickoff: 4:15 p.m., Texas Stadium - Irving, TX Weather: Sunny, high: 55, low: 32. Not much to speak of in terms of passing attacks here as QBs Vinny Testaverde and Patrick Ramsey should only be sitting on Fantasy benches in Week 16. However, the same can't be said for the running game as Clinton Portis will likely see at least 30 carries in this one and is a solid starting option. Rookie Julius Jones will have to bring his "A" game if he wants to keep up with Portis, especially against the Redskins and the third ranked defense against the run.
NOTES: WR Laveranues Coles has a team-leading 80 catches (860 yards) and is the first Redskin with consecutive 80-catch seasons since Art Monk (1984-85).
CLEVELAND BROWNS AT MIAMI DOLPHINS
Kickoff: 8:30 p.m., Pro Player Stadium - Opa Locka, FL Weather: Showers, high: 73, low: 61. You can be sure when the programming people at ESPN slotted this game for Sunday night in Week 16, the last thing they thought they would get is a pair of 3-11 teams. However, that's the sad truth for Cleveland and Miami and predictably, there isn't much to choose from in terms of Fantasy talent. One intriguing player, however, is Browns RB Lee Suggs. The second-year back out of Virginia Tech has struggled all season with injuries but finally seems to be turning the corner and appears healthy. He dented the Chargers stout run defense for 105 yards in Week 15 and has been named the starter for this game. Look for Browns interim coach Terry Robiskie to lean heavily on Suggs, who should find running room against a Dolphins defense ranked 30th against the run.
NOTES: In the past three games, Miami RBs Travis Minor and Sammy Morris have combined for five TDs.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT ST. LOUIS RAMS
Kickoff: Monday, 9:00 p.m., Edward Jones Dome at America's Center - Saint Louis, MO Weather: Dome. The Eagles have gained home-field advantage throughout the playoffs and have little incentive to expose any more of their stars to injury. With that in mind, it certainly wouldn't be surprising to see QB Donovan McNabb and RB Brian Westbrook have their minutes trimmed against the Rams. For St. Louis, QB Marc Bulger (probable) will return from a sprained shoulder that has kept him out the past two games. His presence should increase the value of WRs Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce and both players are must-starts. RB Marshall Faulk is no better than a No. 3 option, as the oft-injured veteran will have a tough time running against the Eagles.
NOTES: The Eagles are a perfect 11-0 against NFC opponents and can accomplish a rare feat with a win Monday night. With a victory, Philadelphia will be only the fourth team since the adoption of the AFC and NFC conferences in 1970 to finish a season undefeated against conferences foes. They would join a group of perhaps three of the greatest teams in NFL history – the 1972 Miami Dolphins, 1984 San Francisco 49ers and 1985 Chicago Bears to accomplish that feat.