BustedKnuckles
Footballguy
Every little bit helps 
By PFW staff
Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2007
AFC East
Buffalo — It would be very surprising to see RB Marshawn Lynch play Sunday at Jacksonville as he’s still nursing a sprained ankle. The question thus becomes — does Anthony Thomas warrant consideration? Against a stout Jaguars front seven, almost certainly not. Even without star MLB Mike Peterson (hand), Jacksonville’s run defense is an upper-echelon unit. … Enigmatic WR Lee Evans is a viable option this week. When he’s playing well, he has few peers in the league when it comes to the deep passing game. But with just 105 yards and no touchdowns the past two weeks, he can be a non-factor, as well. The Jaguars are a team he can get back on track against. Star CB Rashean Mathis is hobbled with a pulled groin muscle, and their secondary is prone to giving up big plays. … With just three TD passes on his résumé this season, QB J.P. Losman is not worth playing.
Miami — Although it must be noted that they gave up 117 rushing yards to Jets RB Thomas Jones last week, the Steelers rank third in the league in rush defense. RB Jesse Chatman will find the running lanes few and far between Sunday and cannot be counted on to produce. … Ted Ginn Jr. is the only Dolphins receiver even somewhat qualified to be on your roster. He’s starting to develop a rapport with rookie QB John Beck, but they both have a long way to go. At this point, they’re both far too raw to warrant fantasy consideration against Pittsburgh’s formidable secondary, even without stud S Troy Polamalu (knee). However, if your league awards points for return yards/touchdowns, Ginn’s stock is considerably boosted. He returned a punt for a touchdown for the first time in his career last week in Philadelphia, and the Steelers’ coverage units have been gashed by Joshua Cribbs and Leon Washington in recent weeks.
New England — Barring injury, QB Tom Brady and WRs Randy Moss and Wes Welker need to be in your lineup regardless of the opponent and game conditions. That goes without saying. The question is what to do with WR Donté Stallworth, TE Ben Watson and RB Laurence Maroney. Stallworth is an elite deep threat, but as evidenced last week against the Bills, has inconsistent hands. Yet with his electricity in the Patriots’ record-setting offense, he’s a must-play in three-receiver leagues and a pretty good option in two-receiver leagues. Although Brady doesn’t target his tight ends often, Watson has maximized his opportunities. He has six touchdowns in the eight games in which he has played. The Eagles’ secondary is banged up and Watson should find a place in your lineup. Maroney finally scored his first touchdown of the season last week in Buffalo. Unlike with his starting receivers, coach Bill Belichick has been resting the injury-prone Maroney in the second half of New England’s blowouts. Because of this, he’s only a middling option for fantasy team. In other words, his fantasy value lags substantially behind his talent. … An outstanding Patriots defense is a must-play against a Philly team with QB problems.
New York Jets — A sprained ankle puts WR Laveranues Coles’ status in doubt for Thursday’s matchup against the Cowboys. Even if he plays, it’ll be awfully difficult for him to put up decent numbers. … WR Jerricho Cotchery has put up decent yardage numbers, but with just one touchdown on the season, he’s nothing more than a last-resort option. … QB Kellen Clemens has yet to prove that his big arm translates to big production. The Cowboys will blitz the heck out of the second-year pro and make life too difficult to expect this to be his breakout game. He probably shouldn’t even be on your roster at this point. … RB Thomas Jones “exploded” for 117 rushing yards against the previously top-ranked Steelers’ run defense last week, giving some much awaited hope to his fantasy owners. But it took him 30 carries to do so, and he has still failed to record a touchdown this season. His standout performances have been so infrequent that he’s nothing more than middling No. 2 RB option.
AFC North
Baltimore — If you haven’t been looking at the NFL statistics this season, you’ll have missed that the Chargers are ranked in the lower half of the league in total defense. This is not the unit that terrorized quarterbacks and shut down the run a season ago. In short, if you have to start QB Kyle Boller, you can take promise in those factors. That said, Boller barely completed 50 percent of his passes vs. a struggling Browns secondary last week, and the Chargers present a tougher matchup. … Don’t be fooled by WR Devard Darling exceeding 100 yards receiving last week. Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton are the only Ravens receivers worth having in the vast majority of formats. … If you have TE Todd Heap on the roster, here’s to hoping you’ve addressed your depth, as we’re hearing its unclear whether he’ll be able to play again this season.
Cincinnati — Don’t overreact about QB Carson Palmer’s turnover-filled performance vs. Arizona in Week 11. The Cardinals’ defense put together an aggressive, creative game plan, shut down the run and had the Bengals’ offense out of rhythm for seemingly the entire game. Unless you are penalized heavily for interceptions, benching Palmer against Tennessee this week just isn’t an option for most owners. … Looking for clarity in the Bengals’ RB situation? Well, here it is: Cincy can’t run the ball, and starting either Rudi Johnson or Kenny Watson is asking for trouble unless you are out of other options. Yes, the Titans could again be without DT Albert Haynesworth, and Jacksonville and Denver ran on Tennessee when he was out, but both of those teams have far better running attacks than the Bengals.
Cleveland — RB Jamal Lewis comes off a strong game against Baltimore and merits starting consideration against a Houston defense that has had its problems with strong, in-between-the-tackles runners. … QB Derek Anderson’s three TD passes — and his poise — at Baltimore in Week 11 should reassure any owners who were thinking it was time to bench or trade the Cleveland signalcaller. Anderson still isn’t the most polished passer around, and pressure can still rattle him, but this is of no worry to fantasy-football players so long as he keeps throwing 2-3 TD passes each game. He could continue his hot streak against the Texans, who are starting a rookie (Fred Bennett) and their former starting free safety (Von Hutchins) at cornerback.
Pittsburgh — WR Santonio Holmes (knee) will likely miss the Steelers’ Week 12 game vs. Miami. Nate Washington and Cedrick Wilson will get more playing time if Holmes, as expected, is out. Washington is more likely to break a big play than Wilson and is the better waiver-wire option. … Those with QB Ben Roethlisberger on their rosters should note that he has been sacked 11 times in the past two games. That’s not to say you should bench him, but you should have a capable backup on your bench just in case. … If you have RB Willie Parker, you should consider picking up or trading for Najeh Davenport. Parker has carried a heavy workload all season, and his 21-52-0 performance vs. the Jets in Week 11 is a red flag. Parker remains a solid starting option, and he could easily bounce back vs. Miami, but it would be prudent to add Davenport all the same.
AFC South
Houston — The status of RB Ahman Green (knee) figures to be up in the air for as long as he is on the active roster. If Green can play, he’ll get carries, but his situation is so murky that it’s hard to suggest starting him in any format. Even if he plays, he may not finish the game. Ron Dayne is the Texans’ best fantasy RB option at this point. Joe Echemandu didn’t do much when he got a chance in Week 11, and the Texans are going to want to look at Darius Walker (likely to be promoted from the practice squad soon) at some point. … The return of WR Andre Johnson does wonders for the fantasy value of QB Matt Schaub, who may have been cut from some teams as he struggled through an October in which he threw no TD passes. Both Johnson and Schaub are strong plays against a Cleveland secondary that has had a world of problems this season. WR Kevin Walter and TE Owen Daniels also deserve a look in bigger leagues.
Indianapolis — QB Peyton Manning has been downright average the past few weeks as an injury-depleted offense has clearly affected his play. Still, he’s a top-five fantasy quarterback and should be able to put up good numbers against a talented but young Falcons secondary. Although the game is at Atlanta, the fact that the game will be played in a dome enhances Manning’s value. … WR Reggie Wayne has been very good even without a solid No. 2 receiver to take the heat off him. He’s in that second tier of elite receivers, just behind the likes of Randy Moss, Terrell Owens and Braylon Edwards. He’s a must-play. … The same can’t be said for TE Dallas Clark, who has struggled mightily with defenses paying more attention to him. He has just 52 yards and no touchdowns in the last three games he has played after looking like one of the best tight ends in the league through the first seven weeks. While he could explode for a huge game, he’s far too inconsistent right now. Play him at your own risk. … Do not play WRs Marvin Harrison (knee) or Anthony Gonzalez (thumb). Their injuries are obviously far bigger problems than the Colts are letting on, especially Harrison’s. He hasn’t played since seeing limited action Week Seven in Jacksonville. … Despite murmurs that RB Kenton Keith’s emergence would cut into Joseph Addai’s numbers, Addai remains a workhorse. He has carried the ball at least 21 times in four consecutive games, and coupled with his receiving exploits, is a bona fide No. 1 fantasy running back. … The Colts’ defense, ranked second in the league, is a must-play against the Falcons’ 28th-ranked offense.
Jacksonville — Few quarterbacks are as efficient as David Garrard. He tossed two TD passes in his first game back from an ankle sprain last week, looking sharper than ever. However, his dearth of receiver talent makes him only a decent fantasy option. The Bills’ secondary has its share of problems, but is better than its disastrous showing vs. the Patriots last week indicated. You can get away with Garrard if you’re in an injury bind. … Yes, TE Marcedes Lewis scored his first touchdown of the season last week, but that one-yard reception was his only catch of the day. He has disappointed throughout his two-year career, and shouldn’t be on your roster. … RBs Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew are both fine plays against the Bills’ undersized front seven. While Jones-Drew is more explosive, Taylor has impressed with his game-to-game consistency. … The Jaguars’ defense has played quite well recently, but will be tested without stud MLB Mike Peterson (hand). Star CB Rashean Mathis (groin) will be a game-time decision. However, with the Bills likely being without their most important offensive player, RB Marshawn Lynch (ankle), their already subpar offense has very little punch. Definitely give the Jags’ “D” a play.
Tennessee — Here’s to hoping you didn’t trade QB Vince Young for a song. He has attempted 41 — 41! — passes in each of the past two games. Sure, he has thrown only one TD pass in each game, but he has also had two of his best running games of the season. Hmmm, you think there’s a correlation between Young’s ability to run and teams suddenly having to respect the Titans’ passing game? If you’ve hung on to Young, you could reap the rewards when Tennessee travels to Cincinnati on Sunday. The Bengals’ secondary is one of the league’s worst; it doesn’t cover or tackle well. These are bad attributes to have facing Young. This might also a good week to get RB LenDale White, TE Bo Scaife and WRs Roydell Williams and Justin Gage into the lineup. White and Scaife are good plays in most formats, while Williams and Gage are sleeper No. 3 WR candidates in leagues of 12-teams or more.
AFC West
Denver – For as impressed as they’ve been with rookie RB Selvin Young, the Broncos are a bit worried about his ability to hold up physically with a larger workload. He looked a bit worn down in the fourth quarter of his first start and got dinged up in the fourth quarter Monday night against Tennessee, spraining a knee before having to return when Andre Hall was hurt. … Even against the inconsistent Bears, it still doesn’t appear as though the Broncos’ defense warrants a look for your fantasy lineup. Yes, Denver’s much-maligned defense held Titans RB LenDale White to 42 yards Monday, but it also allowed the previously struggling QB Vince Young to combine for 379 passing and rushing yards. … QB Jay Cutler showed a lot of athleticism and the ability to improvise on Monday against Tennessee, and the good news for him is that the Bears’ defense has just one interception in the past five games.
Kansas City – Big news out of K.C. has Priest Holmes retiring after re-injuring the neck that caused him to miss two years of football. Holmes carried 19 times for 55 tough yards last week before giving way to rookie Kolby Smith in the third quarter. Holmes returned to carry the ball two more times in the fourth quarter before leaving again. With Holmes and Larry Johnson out, the workload now belongs to Smith (who has 10 career carries for 19 yards) against the Raiders. Look for the Chiefs to pick up a running back off the waiver wire. … Considering they’re playing the turnover-prone Daunte Culpepper and held the Raiders to 55 rushing yards on 24 carries in their Week Seven meeting, the Chiefs’ defense looks like a solid play at home this week. … Expect the Chiefs to let new QB Brodie Croyle open up the offense a bit this week after teammates complained about the conservative approach in Croyle’s first start, a 13-10 loss at Indy. Croyle showed good touch on the deep ball, more mobility and a stronger arm than the benched Damon Huard, which bodes well for deep-threat WR Dwayne Bowe.
Oakland – RB Justin Fargas has at least 60 yards rushing in each of his last four games and at least 22 carries in each of his last three, so there should be no more questions about roles in the Raiders’ backfield. The Chiefs have held four of their last five opponents to 78 rushing yards or fewer, including the Raiders in Week Seven. But in fairness to Fargas, he got one carry in that game, as the bulk of the workload fell on LaMont Jordan and Dominic Rhodes. It’s possible, despite his back “feeling fine,” that Jordan could be released this week if rookie Michael Bush is activated off the physically-unable-to-perform list, which would be good news for Jordan’s fantasy stock after being deactivated against the Vikings. … WR Ronald Curry caught four passes for 120 yards last week at Minnesota, the first Raiders receiver to reach triple digits since Curry had 133 yards in the season opener.
San Diego – Despite not living up to the hype this season, the Chargers' defense looks like a quality start Sunday against a Baltimore team that has allowed 14 sacks the last three games and turned the ball over a staggering 14 times during that stretch. CB Quentin Jammer and DE Jacques Cesaire should be able to go full speed this week after nursing injuries in Week 11 against Jacksonville. … For those of you worried that RB LaDainian Tomlinson isn’t getting the ball enough, if you crunched the numbers, you’d know he’s getting a larger percentage of touches than he did during his record-breaking campaign of a year ago. It’s just that the Chargers aren’t running as many plays offensively. … QB Philip Rivers shouldn’t get the start unless you’re in dire circumstances, but it’s worth noting the Ravens’ once-vaunted defense has shown a few glimpses of vulnerability vs. the pass, allowing 256 passing yards to the Bengals and 263 to the Browns in successive weeks, not to mention 92 points in three games.
NFC East
Dallas — Who are we to doubt when WR Terrell Owens says he’s playing out of his mind right now? He’s on stretch of four games with at least 100 yards receiving and has a streak of five games with at least one touchdown. … RB Julius Jones faces off against his brother, Thomas, who plays for the Jets. The last time they met, when Thomas was a Bear, Julius got the better of him, gaining 150 yards. Now, that’s no reason to start a guy, but consider that teams have been ganging up on Marion Barber in recent weeks and that Jones’ role has expanded. If you’re short on runners this week and need to dig down on your bench, Jones might be a decent play. Remember, the Cowboys face the Jets Thursday, so get your lineups done early.
N.Y. Giants — It’s looking more and more as if RB Brandon Jacobs will miss at least one game, if not a couple. He’s not badly hurt, but this is a good time for the Giants to rest him. (Perhaps not the best time in fantasy folks’ minds, but that’s neither here nor there.) Remember Derrick Ward? Yeah, he was the guy you and your buddies all tried to snag off the waiver wire after his Week One breakout and then disappeared soon after that. Well, he didn’t go anywhere; he just was banged up with ankle and groin injuries and appears ready to go this weekend. Set the Giants’ RB totem pole as such against the Vikings at home: Ward, followed by Reuben Droughns and Ahmad Bradshaw. That said, Ward is a fair play at best after the Vikings tightened up their usually impenetrable run defense, and Droughns (11-13-0) last week and Bradshaw are way too long of shots to consider.
Philadelphia — Two words, one name: Brian Westbrook. That’s really the only guy you can safely play from this team this week going into New England. Sure, the Patriots allowed a long TD pass to Roscoe Parrish last week, but there is no guarantee that the Eagles — who might have to start A.J. Feeley for an injured Donovan McNabb — can make big plays in the passing game. Kevin Curtis, who has been held down of late, and Reggie Brown, who has yet to break out as expected, just are not great plays this week. Neither, naturally, is the defense, which has stopped making sacks and other big plays and has about as bad a matchup as you can imagine this week.
Washington — The work of QB Jason Campbell and WR Santana Moss makes you consider them this week. Campbell had one of his best days throwing the ball, completing 33-of-54 passes for a career-high 348 yards and two TDs but ultimately was undone by a pair of turnovers. Moss was shut out in the first half but finished with nine catches for 121 yards and a touchdown. The Bucs have been better this season against the pass (178.3 yards per game allowed) than the run, but the tables might be tilting the other direction just a bit. Consider these guys decent plays, though not great ones. The Bucs have struggled to stop teams that come at them and pound the run, so look for another “on” week from RB Clinton Portis, who had been on a roll coming into last week before falling victim to the Redskins’ deficit.
NFC North
Chicago — RB Cedric Benson showed some positive signs against Seattle last Sunday, bursting out of the chute for 63 yards on his first two carries, including a career-best 43-yard TD romp on the game’s second play from scrimmage. Benson could be a fantasy force this Sunday against Denver’s 30th-ranked run defense. … QB Rex Grossman also looked decent vs. Seattle, going 24-for-37 for 266 yards with no interceptions. Look for him to unleash a few long balls against a Denver secondary that has been victimized for big plays on occasion (see the Packers four weeks ago on Monday night). … Keep an eye on WRs Bernard Berrian and Muhsin Muhammad, who had a combined 12 catches for 173 yards vs. Seattle, and TE Greg Olsen (7-43), who can be expected to try to stretch the field a bit more vs. the Broncos.
Detroit — Smart opponents continue to bracket WR Roy Williams (he had his first 100-yard game last week since Week Three) and Calvin Johnson, which has allowed Shaun McDonald and Mike Furrey to be productive. The Packers might try a similar approach with two good cornerbacks and no fear of a damaged run game. That said, with so much emphasis this week placed on the Lions getting the ball to their best playmakers, you’d have to think there would be a concerted effort to give Johnson and Williams some extra chances.
Green Bay — The way he’s been playing this season, the odds are strong that QB Brett Favre could carve up the Lions’ 30th-ranked pass defense like a Thanksgiving turkey on Thursday. Favre has spread the fantasy wealth around all season among his receivers, and don’t be surprised if he comes full circle on Thursday and focuses on his No. 1 WR Donald Driver, who hasn’t had a TD catch in the last seven games. … RB Ryan Grant appears to have clearly established himself as the Packers’ primary back after another strong outing last Sunday vs. Carolina (88 yards rushing). He is listed as probable despite suffering an ankle injury last Sunday. … Perhaps the hottest fantasy performer on the Packers at the moment is newly re-signed TE Donald Lee, who set career highs for receptions (five) and TD catches (two) against Carolina last week. Since receiving a contract extension on Nov. 5, Lee has collected nine catches and three of his four TDs. … WR Greg Jennings also continues to be a very reliable fantasy performer. His TD catch vs. Carolina was his fourth in the last four games.
Minnesota — Although RB Adrian Peterson practiced on Wednesday, don’t get your hopes up about him coming back and playing this week. Seriously. The Vikings don’t want to push their luck, even with their fading playoff hopes a wisp of smoke at this point. That means that Chester Taylor gets another crack to impress after his fine showing last week. The Giants are weakened up front with the loss of SLB Mathias Kiwanuka, and he filled a variety of roles. So the Giants might have some substitution issues and give up a decent run or two. But they have been a relatively solid team against the run for the most part. Rate Taylor as a C-plus or B-minus option, perhaps a bit higher only because, well, he might be their only option offensively right now.
NFC South
Falcons — QB Joey Harrington lost his job as Atlanta’s top signalcaller for one half, but the play of Byron Leftwich in the first half of the 31-7 loss to Tampa Bay last week caused head coach Bobby Petrino to make yet another change. Harrington will start Thursday against the Colts after looking sharp (16-for-20 passing, 139 yards, one TD) in the second half last week. His performance was surprising, considering Tampa Bay’s pass defense is one of the best in the league. Facing Indianapolis’ second-ranked pass defense makes Harrington far from an ideal starter this week, but he could surprise a few fantasy owners in a pinch. … After two strong outings in a row, the Falcons’ ground game disappeared last week against a tough Bucs run defense. If Atlanta falls behind early and has to play catch-up with the high-flying Colts, handoffs to RBs Warrick Dunn and Jerious Norwood could be few and far between. … In the past two weeks, no wide receiver has had more than 64 yards against the Colts. Falcons WR Roddy White may disappoint for the second straight week against Indianapolis’ stifling cover-2 defense.
Panthers — Head coach John Fox named Vinny Testaverde the starting quarterback after practice on Wednesday afternoon and fantasy owners should consider him for their roster. The Saints’ pass defense in ranked 29th in the league and the squad has given up an NFL-high nine plays of 40 yards or more. … Although it has struggled at times this season, the Panthers have remained committed to the ground game, rushing 22 or more times in nine of their 10 games. Against New Orleans’ weak secondary, however, the play-calling may shift in favor of more passing. RBs DeShaun Foster and DeAngelo Williams belong on the bench. … WR Steve Smith should be back after sitting out last week’s loss to the Packers with a shin injury. He was held to four catches for 47 yards and a touchdown in a Week Five matchup with New Orleans, but he should better those numbers against a pass defense that continues to deteriorate.
Saints — Although the Saints have dropped their last two games, QB Drew Brees has continued to keep fantasy owners content, for the most part. He threw for 256 and 280 yards in the losses, and added three touchdowns, but four interceptions have hurt. Brees has performed slightly better on the road than he has at home this season, and should put up solid yardage on Sunday. The picks are hard to ignore, but so is the Saints’ explosive potential on offense. Keep Brees in your lineup. … After five straight games of at least 54 yards rushing, Saints RB Reggie Bush has just 51 yards on the ground in the last two contests. Keep in mind, however, that the Packers were able to go for 103 yards against Carolina last week. Bush should get back to around the 60-yard mark Sunday and will continue to rack up catches out of the backfield. He leads the NFC in receptions. … WR Marques Colston continues to impress in his sophomore season — he has at least 118 yards receiving in each of the last three games. Look for head coach Sean Payton to try and match him up against Panthers CB Chris Gamble, who is nursing an injured thumb and could struggle to tackle Colston after the catch.
Buccaneers — Bucs QB Jeff Garcia faces a weakened Redskins secondary Sunday, due to the absence of FS Sean Taylor (sprained MCL), and will shoulder much of the offensive load this week against a solid run defense. Garcia should be efficient, as always, but he’s not an ideal fantasy starter. If all you need from a quarterback is 225 yards and a touchdown or two, then he’s your guy. Don’t expect much more than that. … RB Earnest Graham is quietly turning into a candidate for most improved player of the year and is coming off back-to-back games of more than 100 yards rushing. That streak, however, is in jeopardy against the Redskins, who have held teams under the 100-yards rushing mark in six of 10 games. … RB Michael Pittman returned from injury last week, rushing 10 times and catching two passes. When healthy, he is a reliable dual-threat back that could help your team if you’ve been hit hard by injuries at the position. … WR Ike Hilliard was a pleasant surprise in the first half of the season, but his production has dropped off pace slightly in the past three weeks. If his numbers continue to decline Sunday, it may be time to replace him.
NFC West
Arizona — WR Larry Fitzgerald continues to play at a high fantasy level, cranking out 90 or more yards receiving in six of his last seven games. … Both Fitzgerald and fellow WR Anquan Boldin had TD catches last Sunday in Cincinnati. Boldin scored a TD in the first game this year against the Niners, who play the Cardinals this Sunday. … The Cardinals currently have one of the hottest fantasy team defenses in the league, with 10 takeaways in the last two games, including six interceptions. CB Antrel Rolle was a one-man scoring machine last Sunday against the Bengals with two interception returns for TDs and another that was called back. ILB Karlos Dansby is another noteworthy IDP, with three interceptions in the last two games. Strongly consider playing the Cardinals' defense. … RB Edgerrin James, who is coming off a weak 52-yard rushing performance on 22 carries, could have better success against the Niners’ 24th-ranked rushing defense this Sunday. In Arizona’s first game against San Francisco this season, James had 92 yards rushing, his second-best total so far this season.
St. Louis — QB Marc Bulger, who got sacked six times by the Niners last Sunday and had only 155 yards passing, will need a lot better support from his patchwork O-line this Sunday against a Seattle pass rush that netted five sacks against the Bears in Week 11. … It’s hardly a stretch to suggest RB Steven Jackson could be ready for a breakout fantasy campaign this Sunday against the Seahawks. Jackson has held up well the last two games with 27 touches in each contest. Last Sunday he had 112 total yards (92 rushing) against the Niners, and he could have some success against a Seahawks defense that got gashed for a couple of big runs by Bears RB Cedric Benson last Sunday. … WR Torry Holt has two TD catches in the last three games, including one last week.
San Francisco — With QB Alex Smith expected to miss at least two games and probably more with lingering injuries to his shoulder and forearm, backup Trent Dilfer will be the starter under center for the foreseeable future. Dilfer did begin to establish a rhythm late last week against the Rams and will be hoping to pick up where left off this Sunday against an Arizona defense that allowed the Bengals 324 passing yards in Week 11. The Bengals did have four interceptions, though. … One reason the Niners have now gone 11 quarters without a TD — a great reason to avoid any San Francisco players for fantasy purposes — are dropped passes by receivers, which is a problem that won’t go away. Both TE Vernon Davis and WR Darrell Jackson muffed catchable passes in the endzone last Sunday in the loss to the Rams. … Has there been a bigger fantasy disappointment this season than Niners RB Frank Gore? Gore’s problems continued last Sunday with a meager 32-yard rushing effort on 15 carries. He did, however, score in the Niners’ first game this season against the Cardinals.
Seattle — QB Matt Hasselbeck, who continues cranking out excellent fantasy numbers, is paying the price physically. He injured his ribs last Sunday in the win against the Bears and has hardly practiced this week in advance of the Seahawks’ game this Sunday in St. Louis. But with all his receivers healthy for the first time last week, he appears to be increasingly comfortable in Seattle’s revamped pass-first offense. … WR D.J. Hackett is back in the fantasy picture in a big way. Hackett set career bests for receptions (nine), receiving yards (136) and longest reception (59 yards) in the victory over the Bears last Sunday and now has TD catches in three consecutive weeks. … With RB Shaun Alexander quite likely to miss his third straight game due to injury, RB Maurice Morris will continue filling the team’s featured RB role, which he has done pretty well the last couple of weeks (87 rushing yards and a TD last week). … Here are two fantasy sleepers worth keeping an eye on: FB Leonard Weaver and TE Will Heller. Weaver had a career high in catches with four last Sunday, in addition to a 13-yard run. Heller, who has become an intriguing red zone target with his 6-foot-6 frame, had two TD catches against the Rams in Week Seven. … DE Patrick Kerney is an intriguing IDP (four sacks in the past two games).
By PFW staff
Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2007
AFC East
Buffalo — It would be very surprising to see RB Marshawn Lynch play Sunday at Jacksonville as he’s still nursing a sprained ankle. The question thus becomes — does Anthony Thomas warrant consideration? Against a stout Jaguars front seven, almost certainly not. Even without star MLB Mike Peterson (hand), Jacksonville’s run defense is an upper-echelon unit. … Enigmatic WR Lee Evans is a viable option this week. When he’s playing well, he has few peers in the league when it comes to the deep passing game. But with just 105 yards and no touchdowns the past two weeks, he can be a non-factor, as well. The Jaguars are a team he can get back on track against. Star CB Rashean Mathis is hobbled with a pulled groin muscle, and their secondary is prone to giving up big plays. … With just three TD passes on his résumé this season, QB J.P. Losman is not worth playing.
Miami — Although it must be noted that they gave up 117 rushing yards to Jets RB Thomas Jones last week, the Steelers rank third in the league in rush defense. RB Jesse Chatman will find the running lanes few and far between Sunday and cannot be counted on to produce. … Ted Ginn Jr. is the only Dolphins receiver even somewhat qualified to be on your roster. He’s starting to develop a rapport with rookie QB John Beck, but they both have a long way to go. At this point, they’re both far too raw to warrant fantasy consideration against Pittsburgh’s formidable secondary, even without stud S Troy Polamalu (knee). However, if your league awards points for return yards/touchdowns, Ginn’s stock is considerably boosted. He returned a punt for a touchdown for the first time in his career last week in Philadelphia, and the Steelers’ coverage units have been gashed by Joshua Cribbs and Leon Washington in recent weeks.
New England — Barring injury, QB Tom Brady and WRs Randy Moss and Wes Welker need to be in your lineup regardless of the opponent and game conditions. That goes without saying. The question is what to do with WR Donté Stallworth, TE Ben Watson and RB Laurence Maroney. Stallworth is an elite deep threat, but as evidenced last week against the Bills, has inconsistent hands. Yet with his electricity in the Patriots’ record-setting offense, he’s a must-play in three-receiver leagues and a pretty good option in two-receiver leagues. Although Brady doesn’t target his tight ends often, Watson has maximized his opportunities. He has six touchdowns in the eight games in which he has played. The Eagles’ secondary is banged up and Watson should find a place in your lineup. Maroney finally scored his first touchdown of the season last week in Buffalo. Unlike with his starting receivers, coach Bill Belichick has been resting the injury-prone Maroney in the second half of New England’s blowouts. Because of this, he’s only a middling option for fantasy team. In other words, his fantasy value lags substantially behind his talent. … An outstanding Patriots defense is a must-play against a Philly team with QB problems.
New York Jets — A sprained ankle puts WR Laveranues Coles’ status in doubt for Thursday’s matchup against the Cowboys. Even if he plays, it’ll be awfully difficult for him to put up decent numbers. … WR Jerricho Cotchery has put up decent yardage numbers, but with just one touchdown on the season, he’s nothing more than a last-resort option. … QB Kellen Clemens has yet to prove that his big arm translates to big production. The Cowboys will blitz the heck out of the second-year pro and make life too difficult to expect this to be his breakout game. He probably shouldn’t even be on your roster at this point. … RB Thomas Jones “exploded” for 117 rushing yards against the previously top-ranked Steelers’ run defense last week, giving some much awaited hope to his fantasy owners. But it took him 30 carries to do so, and he has still failed to record a touchdown this season. His standout performances have been so infrequent that he’s nothing more than middling No. 2 RB option.
AFC North
Baltimore — If you haven’t been looking at the NFL statistics this season, you’ll have missed that the Chargers are ranked in the lower half of the league in total defense. This is not the unit that terrorized quarterbacks and shut down the run a season ago. In short, if you have to start QB Kyle Boller, you can take promise in those factors. That said, Boller barely completed 50 percent of his passes vs. a struggling Browns secondary last week, and the Chargers present a tougher matchup. … Don’t be fooled by WR Devard Darling exceeding 100 yards receiving last week. Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton are the only Ravens receivers worth having in the vast majority of formats. … If you have TE Todd Heap on the roster, here’s to hoping you’ve addressed your depth, as we’re hearing its unclear whether he’ll be able to play again this season.
Cincinnati — Don’t overreact about QB Carson Palmer’s turnover-filled performance vs. Arizona in Week 11. The Cardinals’ defense put together an aggressive, creative game plan, shut down the run and had the Bengals’ offense out of rhythm for seemingly the entire game. Unless you are penalized heavily for interceptions, benching Palmer against Tennessee this week just isn’t an option for most owners. … Looking for clarity in the Bengals’ RB situation? Well, here it is: Cincy can’t run the ball, and starting either Rudi Johnson or Kenny Watson is asking for trouble unless you are out of other options. Yes, the Titans could again be without DT Albert Haynesworth, and Jacksonville and Denver ran on Tennessee when he was out, but both of those teams have far better running attacks than the Bengals.
Cleveland — RB Jamal Lewis comes off a strong game against Baltimore and merits starting consideration against a Houston defense that has had its problems with strong, in-between-the-tackles runners. … QB Derek Anderson’s three TD passes — and his poise — at Baltimore in Week 11 should reassure any owners who were thinking it was time to bench or trade the Cleveland signalcaller. Anderson still isn’t the most polished passer around, and pressure can still rattle him, but this is of no worry to fantasy-football players so long as he keeps throwing 2-3 TD passes each game. He could continue his hot streak against the Texans, who are starting a rookie (Fred Bennett) and their former starting free safety (Von Hutchins) at cornerback.
Pittsburgh — WR Santonio Holmes (knee) will likely miss the Steelers’ Week 12 game vs. Miami. Nate Washington and Cedrick Wilson will get more playing time if Holmes, as expected, is out. Washington is more likely to break a big play than Wilson and is the better waiver-wire option. … Those with QB Ben Roethlisberger on their rosters should note that he has been sacked 11 times in the past two games. That’s not to say you should bench him, but you should have a capable backup on your bench just in case. … If you have RB Willie Parker, you should consider picking up or trading for Najeh Davenport. Parker has carried a heavy workload all season, and his 21-52-0 performance vs. the Jets in Week 11 is a red flag. Parker remains a solid starting option, and he could easily bounce back vs. Miami, but it would be prudent to add Davenport all the same.
AFC South
Houston — The status of RB Ahman Green (knee) figures to be up in the air for as long as he is on the active roster. If Green can play, he’ll get carries, but his situation is so murky that it’s hard to suggest starting him in any format. Even if he plays, he may not finish the game. Ron Dayne is the Texans’ best fantasy RB option at this point. Joe Echemandu didn’t do much when he got a chance in Week 11, and the Texans are going to want to look at Darius Walker (likely to be promoted from the practice squad soon) at some point. … The return of WR Andre Johnson does wonders for the fantasy value of QB Matt Schaub, who may have been cut from some teams as he struggled through an October in which he threw no TD passes. Both Johnson and Schaub are strong plays against a Cleveland secondary that has had a world of problems this season. WR Kevin Walter and TE Owen Daniels also deserve a look in bigger leagues.
Indianapolis — QB Peyton Manning has been downright average the past few weeks as an injury-depleted offense has clearly affected his play. Still, he’s a top-five fantasy quarterback and should be able to put up good numbers against a talented but young Falcons secondary. Although the game is at Atlanta, the fact that the game will be played in a dome enhances Manning’s value. … WR Reggie Wayne has been very good even without a solid No. 2 receiver to take the heat off him. He’s in that second tier of elite receivers, just behind the likes of Randy Moss, Terrell Owens and Braylon Edwards. He’s a must-play. … The same can’t be said for TE Dallas Clark, who has struggled mightily with defenses paying more attention to him. He has just 52 yards and no touchdowns in the last three games he has played after looking like one of the best tight ends in the league through the first seven weeks. While he could explode for a huge game, he’s far too inconsistent right now. Play him at your own risk. … Do not play WRs Marvin Harrison (knee) or Anthony Gonzalez (thumb). Their injuries are obviously far bigger problems than the Colts are letting on, especially Harrison’s. He hasn’t played since seeing limited action Week Seven in Jacksonville. … Despite murmurs that RB Kenton Keith’s emergence would cut into Joseph Addai’s numbers, Addai remains a workhorse. He has carried the ball at least 21 times in four consecutive games, and coupled with his receiving exploits, is a bona fide No. 1 fantasy running back. … The Colts’ defense, ranked second in the league, is a must-play against the Falcons’ 28th-ranked offense.
Jacksonville — Few quarterbacks are as efficient as David Garrard. He tossed two TD passes in his first game back from an ankle sprain last week, looking sharper than ever. However, his dearth of receiver talent makes him only a decent fantasy option. The Bills’ secondary has its share of problems, but is better than its disastrous showing vs. the Patriots last week indicated. You can get away with Garrard if you’re in an injury bind. … Yes, TE Marcedes Lewis scored his first touchdown of the season last week, but that one-yard reception was his only catch of the day. He has disappointed throughout his two-year career, and shouldn’t be on your roster. … RBs Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew are both fine plays against the Bills’ undersized front seven. While Jones-Drew is more explosive, Taylor has impressed with his game-to-game consistency. … The Jaguars’ defense has played quite well recently, but will be tested without stud MLB Mike Peterson (hand). Star CB Rashean Mathis (groin) will be a game-time decision. However, with the Bills likely being without their most important offensive player, RB Marshawn Lynch (ankle), their already subpar offense has very little punch. Definitely give the Jags’ “D” a play.
Tennessee — Here’s to hoping you didn’t trade QB Vince Young for a song. He has attempted 41 — 41! — passes in each of the past two games. Sure, he has thrown only one TD pass in each game, but he has also had two of his best running games of the season. Hmmm, you think there’s a correlation between Young’s ability to run and teams suddenly having to respect the Titans’ passing game? If you’ve hung on to Young, you could reap the rewards when Tennessee travels to Cincinnati on Sunday. The Bengals’ secondary is one of the league’s worst; it doesn’t cover or tackle well. These are bad attributes to have facing Young. This might also a good week to get RB LenDale White, TE Bo Scaife and WRs Roydell Williams and Justin Gage into the lineup. White and Scaife are good plays in most formats, while Williams and Gage are sleeper No. 3 WR candidates in leagues of 12-teams or more.
AFC West
Denver – For as impressed as they’ve been with rookie RB Selvin Young, the Broncos are a bit worried about his ability to hold up physically with a larger workload. He looked a bit worn down in the fourth quarter of his first start and got dinged up in the fourth quarter Monday night against Tennessee, spraining a knee before having to return when Andre Hall was hurt. … Even against the inconsistent Bears, it still doesn’t appear as though the Broncos’ defense warrants a look for your fantasy lineup. Yes, Denver’s much-maligned defense held Titans RB LenDale White to 42 yards Monday, but it also allowed the previously struggling QB Vince Young to combine for 379 passing and rushing yards. … QB Jay Cutler showed a lot of athleticism and the ability to improvise on Monday against Tennessee, and the good news for him is that the Bears’ defense has just one interception in the past five games.
Kansas City – Big news out of K.C. has Priest Holmes retiring after re-injuring the neck that caused him to miss two years of football. Holmes carried 19 times for 55 tough yards last week before giving way to rookie Kolby Smith in the third quarter. Holmes returned to carry the ball two more times in the fourth quarter before leaving again. With Holmes and Larry Johnson out, the workload now belongs to Smith (who has 10 career carries for 19 yards) against the Raiders. Look for the Chiefs to pick up a running back off the waiver wire. … Considering they’re playing the turnover-prone Daunte Culpepper and held the Raiders to 55 rushing yards on 24 carries in their Week Seven meeting, the Chiefs’ defense looks like a solid play at home this week. … Expect the Chiefs to let new QB Brodie Croyle open up the offense a bit this week after teammates complained about the conservative approach in Croyle’s first start, a 13-10 loss at Indy. Croyle showed good touch on the deep ball, more mobility and a stronger arm than the benched Damon Huard, which bodes well for deep-threat WR Dwayne Bowe.
Oakland – RB Justin Fargas has at least 60 yards rushing in each of his last four games and at least 22 carries in each of his last three, so there should be no more questions about roles in the Raiders’ backfield. The Chiefs have held four of their last five opponents to 78 rushing yards or fewer, including the Raiders in Week Seven. But in fairness to Fargas, he got one carry in that game, as the bulk of the workload fell on LaMont Jordan and Dominic Rhodes. It’s possible, despite his back “feeling fine,” that Jordan could be released this week if rookie Michael Bush is activated off the physically-unable-to-perform list, which would be good news for Jordan’s fantasy stock after being deactivated against the Vikings. … WR Ronald Curry caught four passes for 120 yards last week at Minnesota, the first Raiders receiver to reach triple digits since Curry had 133 yards in the season opener.
San Diego – Despite not living up to the hype this season, the Chargers' defense looks like a quality start Sunday against a Baltimore team that has allowed 14 sacks the last three games and turned the ball over a staggering 14 times during that stretch. CB Quentin Jammer and DE Jacques Cesaire should be able to go full speed this week after nursing injuries in Week 11 against Jacksonville. … For those of you worried that RB LaDainian Tomlinson isn’t getting the ball enough, if you crunched the numbers, you’d know he’s getting a larger percentage of touches than he did during his record-breaking campaign of a year ago. It’s just that the Chargers aren’t running as many plays offensively. … QB Philip Rivers shouldn’t get the start unless you’re in dire circumstances, but it’s worth noting the Ravens’ once-vaunted defense has shown a few glimpses of vulnerability vs. the pass, allowing 256 passing yards to the Bengals and 263 to the Browns in successive weeks, not to mention 92 points in three games.
NFC East
Dallas — Who are we to doubt when WR Terrell Owens says he’s playing out of his mind right now? He’s on stretch of four games with at least 100 yards receiving and has a streak of five games with at least one touchdown. … RB Julius Jones faces off against his brother, Thomas, who plays for the Jets. The last time they met, when Thomas was a Bear, Julius got the better of him, gaining 150 yards. Now, that’s no reason to start a guy, but consider that teams have been ganging up on Marion Barber in recent weeks and that Jones’ role has expanded. If you’re short on runners this week and need to dig down on your bench, Jones might be a decent play. Remember, the Cowboys face the Jets Thursday, so get your lineups done early.
N.Y. Giants — It’s looking more and more as if RB Brandon Jacobs will miss at least one game, if not a couple. He’s not badly hurt, but this is a good time for the Giants to rest him. (Perhaps not the best time in fantasy folks’ minds, but that’s neither here nor there.) Remember Derrick Ward? Yeah, he was the guy you and your buddies all tried to snag off the waiver wire after his Week One breakout and then disappeared soon after that. Well, he didn’t go anywhere; he just was banged up with ankle and groin injuries and appears ready to go this weekend. Set the Giants’ RB totem pole as such against the Vikings at home: Ward, followed by Reuben Droughns and Ahmad Bradshaw. That said, Ward is a fair play at best after the Vikings tightened up their usually impenetrable run defense, and Droughns (11-13-0) last week and Bradshaw are way too long of shots to consider.
Philadelphia — Two words, one name: Brian Westbrook. That’s really the only guy you can safely play from this team this week going into New England. Sure, the Patriots allowed a long TD pass to Roscoe Parrish last week, but there is no guarantee that the Eagles — who might have to start A.J. Feeley for an injured Donovan McNabb — can make big plays in the passing game. Kevin Curtis, who has been held down of late, and Reggie Brown, who has yet to break out as expected, just are not great plays this week. Neither, naturally, is the defense, which has stopped making sacks and other big plays and has about as bad a matchup as you can imagine this week.
Washington — The work of QB Jason Campbell and WR Santana Moss makes you consider them this week. Campbell had one of his best days throwing the ball, completing 33-of-54 passes for a career-high 348 yards and two TDs but ultimately was undone by a pair of turnovers. Moss was shut out in the first half but finished with nine catches for 121 yards and a touchdown. The Bucs have been better this season against the pass (178.3 yards per game allowed) than the run, but the tables might be tilting the other direction just a bit. Consider these guys decent plays, though not great ones. The Bucs have struggled to stop teams that come at them and pound the run, so look for another “on” week from RB Clinton Portis, who had been on a roll coming into last week before falling victim to the Redskins’ deficit.
NFC North
Chicago — RB Cedric Benson showed some positive signs against Seattle last Sunday, bursting out of the chute for 63 yards on his first two carries, including a career-best 43-yard TD romp on the game’s second play from scrimmage. Benson could be a fantasy force this Sunday against Denver’s 30th-ranked run defense. … QB Rex Grossman also looked decent vs. Seattle, going 24-for-37 for 266 yards with no interceptions. Look for him to unleash a few long balls against a Denver secondary that has been victimized for big plays on occasion (see the Packers four weeks ago on Monday night). … Keep an eye on WRs Bernard Berrian and Muhsin Muhammad, who had a combined 12 catches for 173 yards vs. Seattle, and TE Greg Olsen (7-43), who can be expected to try to stretch the field a bit more vs. the Broncos.
Detroit — Smart opponents continue to bracket WR Roy Williams (he had his first 100-yard game last week since Week Three) and Calvin Johnson, which has allowed Shaun McDonald and Mike Furrey to be productive. The Packers might try a similar approach with two good cornerbacks and no fear of a damaged run game. That said, with so much emphasis this week placed on the Lions getting the ball to their best playmakers, you’d have to think there would be a concerted effort to give Johnson and Williams some extra chances.
Green Bay — The way he’s been playing this season, the odds are strong that QB Brett Favre could carve up the Lions’ 30th-ranked pass defense like a Thanksgiving turkey on Thursday. Favre has spread the fantasy wealth around all season among his receivers, and don’t be surprised if he comes full circle on Thursday and focuses on his No. 1 WR Donald Driver, who hasn’t had a TD catch in the last seven games. … RB Ryan Grant appears to have clearly established himself as the Packers’ primary back after another strong outing last Sunday vs. Carolina (88 yards rushing). He is listed as probable despite suffering an ankle injury last Sunday. … Perhaps the hottest fantasy performer on the Packers at the moment is newly re-signed TE Donald Lee, who set career highs for receptions (five) and TD catches (two) against Carolina last week. Since receiving a contract extension on Nov. 5, Lee has collected nine catches and three of his four TDs. … WR Greg Jennings also continues to be a very reliable fantasy performer. His TD catch vs. Carolina was his fourth in the last four games.
Minnesota — Although RB Adrian Peterson practiced on Wednesday, don’t get your hopes up about him coming back and playing this week. Seriously. The Vikings don’t want to push their luck, even with their fading playoff hopes a wisp of smoke at this point. That means that Chester Taylor gets another crack to impress after his fine showing last week. The Giants are weakened up front with the loss of SLB Mathias Kiwanuka, and he filled a variety of roles. So the Giants might have some substitution issues and give up a decent run or two. But they have been a relatively solid team against the run for the most part. Rate Taylor as a C-plus or B-minus option, perhaps a bit higher only because, well, he might be their only option offensively right now.
NFC South
Falcons — QB Joey Harrington lost his job as Atlanta’s top signalcaller for one half, but the play of Byron Leftwich in the first half of the 31-7 loss to Tampa Bay last week caused head coach Bobby Petrino to make yet another change. Harrington will start Thursday against the Colts after looking sharp (16-for-20 passing, 139 yards, one TD) in the second half last week. His performance was surprising, considering Tampa Bay’s pass defense is one of the best in the league. Facing Indianapolis’ second-ranked pass defense makes Harrington far from an ideal starter this week, but he could surprise a few fantasy owners in a pinch. … After two strong outings in a row, the Falcons’ ground game disappeared last week against a tough Bucs run defense. If Atlanta falls behind early and has to play catch-up with the high-flying Colts, handoffs to RBs Warrick Dunn and Jerious Norwood could be few and far between. … In the past two weeks, no wide receiver has had more than 64 yards against the Colts. Falcons WR Roddy White may disappoint for the second straight week against Indianapolis’ stifling cover-2 defense.
Panthers — Head coach John Fox named Vinny Testaverde the starting quarterback after practice on Wednesday afternoon and fantasy owners should consider him for their roster. The Saints’ pass defense in ranked 29th in the league and the squad has given up an NFL-high nine plays of 40 yards or more. … Although it has struggled at times this season, the Panthers have remained committed to the ground game, rushing 22 or more times in nine of their 10 games. Against New Orleans’ weak secondary, however, the play-calling may shift in favor of more passing. RBs DeShaun Foster and DeAngelo Williams belong on the bench. … WR Steve Smith should be back after sitting out last week’s loss to the Packers with a shin injury. He was held to four catches for 47 yards and a touchdown in a Week Five matchup with New Orleans, but he should better those numbers against a pass defense that continues to deteriorate.
Saints — Although the Saints have dropped their last two games, QB Drew Brees has continued to keep fantasy owners content, for the most part. He threw for 256 and 280 yards in the losses, and added three touchdowns, but four interceptions have hurt. Brees has performed slightly better on the road than he has at home this season, and should put up solid yardage on Sunday. The picks are hard to ignore, but so is the Saints’ explosive potential on offense. Keep Brees in your lineup. … After five straight games of at least 54 yards rushing, Saints RB Reggie Bush has just 51 yards on the ground in the last two contests. Keep in mind, however, that the Packers were able to go for 103 yards against Carolina last week. Bush should get back to around the 60-yard mark Sunday and will continue to rack up catches out of the backfield. He leads the NFC in receptions. … WR Marques Colston continues to impress in his sophomore season — he has at least 118 yards receiving in each of the last three games. Look for head coach Sean Payton to try and match him up against Panthers CB Chris Gamble, who is nursing an injured thumb and could struggle to tackle Colston after the catch.
Buccaneers — Bucs QB Jeff Garcia faces a weakened Redskins secondary Sunday, due to the absence of FS Sean Taylor (sprained MCL), and will shoulder much of the offensive load this week against a solid run defense. Garcia should be efficient, as always, but he’s not an ideal fantasy starter. If all you need from a quarterback is 225 yards and a touchdown or two, then he’s your guy. Don’t expect much more than that. … RB Earnest Graham is quietly turning into a candidate for most improved player of the year and is coming off back-to-back games of more than 100 yards rushing. That streak, however, is in jeopardy against the Redskins, who have held teams under the 100-yards rushing mark in six of 10 games. … RB Michael Pittman returned from injury last week, rushing 10 times and catching two passes. When healthy, he is a reliable dual-threat back that could help your team if you’ve been hit hard by injuries at the position. … WR Ike Hilliard was a pleasant surprise in the first half of the season, but his production has dropped off pace slightly in the past three weeks. If his numbers continue to decline Sunday, it may be time to replace him.
NFC West
Arizona — WR Larry Fitzgerald continues to play at a high fantasy level, cranking out 90 or more yards receiving in six of his last seven games. … Both Fitzgerald and fellow WR Anquan Boldin had TD catches last Sunday in Cincinnati. Boldin scored a TD in the first game this year against the Niners, who play the Cardinals this Sunday. … The Cardinals currently have one of the hottest fantasy team defenses in the league, with 10 takeaways in the last two games, including six interceptions. CB Antrel Rolle was a one-man scoring machine last Sunday against the Bengals with two interception returns for TDs and another that was called back. ILB Karlos Dansby is another noteworthy IDP, with three interceptions in the last two games. Strongly consider playing the Cardinals' defense. … RB Edgerrin James, who is coming off a weak 52-yard rushing performance on 22 carries, could have better success against the Niners’ 24th-ranked rushing defense this Sunday. In Arizona’s first game against San Francisco this season, James had 92 yards rushing, his second-best total so far this season.
St. Louis — QB Marc Bulger, who got sacked six times by the Niners last Sunday and had only 155 yards passing, will need a lot better support from his patchwork O-line this Sunday against a Seattle pass rush that netted five sacks against the Bears in Week 11. … It’s hardly a stretch to suggest RB Steven Jackson could be ready for a breakout fantasy campaign this Sunday against the Seahawks. Jackson has held up well the last two games with 27 touches in each contest. Last Sunday he had 112 total yards (92 rushing) against the Niners, and he could have some success against a Seahawks defense that got gashed for a couple of big runs by Bears RB Cedric Benson last Sunday. … WR Torry Holt has two TD catches in the last three games, including one last week.
San Francisco — With QB Alex Smith expected to miss at least two games and probably more with lingering injuries to his shoulder and forearm, backup Trent Dilfer will be the starter under center for the foreseeable future. Dilfer did begin to establish a rhythm late last week against the Rams and will be hoping to pick up where left off this Sunday against an Arizona defense that allowed the Bengals 324 passing yards in Week 11. The Bengals did have four interceptions, though. … One reason the Niners have now gone 11 quarters without a TD — a great reason to avoid any San Francisco players for fantasy purposes — are dropped passes by receivers, which is a problem that won’t go away. Both TE Vernon Davis and WR Darrell Jackson muffed catchable passes in the endzone last Sunday in the loss to the Rams. … Has there been a bigger fantasy disappointment this season than Niners RB Frank Gore? Gore’s problems continued last Sunday with a meager 32-yard rushing effort on 15 carries. He did, however, score in the Niners’ first game this season against the Cardinals.
Seattle — QB Matt Hasselbeck, who continues cranking out excellent fantasy numbers, is paying the price physically. He injured his ribs last Sunday in the win against the Bears and has hardly practiced this week in advance of the Seahawks’ game this Sunday in St. Louis. But with all his receivers healthy for the first time last week, he appears to be increasingly comfortable in Seattle’s revamped pass-first offense. … WR D.J. Hackett is back in the fantasy picture in a big way. Hackett set career bests for receptions (nine), receiving yards (136) and longest reception (59 yards) in the victory over the Bears last Sunday and now has TD catches in three consecutive weeks. … With RB Shaun Alexander quite likely to miss his third straight game due to injury, RB Maurice Morris will continue filling the team’s featured RB role, which he has done pretty well the last couple of weeks (87 rushing yards and a TD last week). … Here are two fantasy sleepers worth keeping an eye on: FB Leonard Weaver and TE Will Heller. Weaver had a career high in catches with four last Sunday, in addition to a 13-yard run. Heller, who has become an intriguing red zone target with his 6-foot-6 frame, had two TD catches against the Rams in Week Seven. … DE Patrick Kerney is an intriguing IDP (four sacks in the past two games).
