The Kid
Week 14:  11-4 (whoo hoo!)
Week 15:  5-7-2 (d’oh!)
Week 16:  5-10 (double d’oh!)

The ‘Cane
Week 14:  10-5
Week 15:  8-4-2
Week 16:  3-12 (left the door open for the Kid!)

The Old Timer
Week 14:  9-6 (too little, too late)
Week 15:  6-6-2
Week 16:  7-7

Heading into the final week, the standings are as follows:

The ‘Cane:          103-101-9
The Kid:             100-104-9
The Old Timer:    90-113-9

Plenty of drama here in the final week, as the Kid and the ‘Cane have picked seven games differently going into Week 17 so there will be ample opportunities to make up that three game difference.  The Old Timer, on the other hand, has been playing out the string for quite a while now.  He just isn’t the same when there isn’t a little coin on the line.  As I try to sneak out a victory in this contest on my own website I would just like to quote the soon-to-be permanent head coach of my beloved 49ers, Mike Singletary and say “I WANT WINNERS!!!!”  I’m not going to drop my drawers to try to fire my teams up, but I’d hate to lose this one to my brother.  If I lose by a game or perhaps two, maybe you will see “The Kid, The ‘Cane, and the Old Timer Pick The Playoffs” in an attempt to give me more games in which to take over the lead.  So, without anymore rambling, here are the Week 17 picks for the handful of you still following this ridiculous competition.  Enjoy!

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS -13.5 vs Oakland Raiders

The Kid says: Bucs.  This was a tough pick for me because the Raiders have put forth a decent effort in a handful of games this year.  However, they have to be so happy that this nightmare of a season is almost over, and to finish it off they have to travel across the country to face a team that needs the game to keep playoff hopes alive.  I don’t like giving so many points with Tampa, but the Raiders should mail this one in.
The ‘Cane says: Raiders.   Looking a little better recently, maybe they are finally getting it.
The Old Timer says: BUCS -13.5

GREEN BAY PACKERS -9.5 vs. Detroit Lions
The Kid says: Packers.  If Detroit was going to get one, I think it would have been last week.  Can they muster up one effort good enough to get a ‘W’?  I just don’t think so.  Packer fans will have all season to vilify Aaron Rodgers if he loses to a team with no wins, but I see the Pack winning big.
The ‘Cane says: Lions.  Gotta try to get it done.  They have to be motivated.
The Old Timer says: PACKERS -9.5.  Lions are This Years Dolphins

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES -1 vs. Dallas Cowboys
The Kid says: Dallas.  Will Jessica Simpson be there?  I know the Eagles still have an outside chance, but I honestly see Dallas blowing their doors off.  Look for Romo and Co. to blast into the playoffs……and probably lose in the first round again.
The ‘Cane says: Philly.  They would love to knock the inconsistent Cowboys out of the playoffs.  (Ed. note:  There’s a confident Cowboys fan for you!)
The Old Timer says: EAGLES -1

MINNESOTA VIKINGS -6.5 vs. New York Giants
The Kid says: Giants.  I don’t see the Giants resting everyone for their last game, only the guys who are legitimately hurt.  They didn’t lay down last year when they had nothing to play for, and I think coach Coughlin will have them ready.  I don’t know if they will win, but I can’t give this team nearly a touchdown.
The ‘Cane says: Minny.  Giants have nothing left to gain.
The Old Timer says: VIKES -6.5.  Another Too Bad To Be True Bet

HOUSTON TEXANS -1 vs. Chicago Bears
The Kid says: Bears.  Houston’s season is over and they just got beat badly last week.  The Bears need this one to keep any thoughts of a division title alive, and I think they will take care of their business.
The ‘Cane says: Houston.  Balanced Texans will hold off Bears.
The Old Timer says: TEXANS -1

Carolina Panthers -3 at NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
The Kid says: Panthers.  Carolina will look to get back on track after losing a heartbreaker to New York and home field advantage.  I just can’t see the Saints defense being able to deal with DeAngelo Williams, Steve Smith, and Jonathan Stewart.
The ‘Cane says: Panthers.  Carolina will know that Brees is going for the passing record and will set their D accordingly.
The Old Timer says: CAROLINA -3

ATLANTA FALCONS -15 vs. St. Louis Rams
The Kid says: Falcons.  Atlanta is already in the playoffs but, the Rams are just awful.  This is a ton of points for a team that doesn’t score too many, but the Rams just can’t win a game.  Hell, the were beating San Francisco by ten points and couldn’t hold that lead.  Look for Atlanta to score early and often and blow out the Rams.
The ‘Cane says: Falcons.  Ryan and the young Falcons will cruise into the playoffs with an easy victory against pathetic Rams.
The Old Timer says: ATLANTA - 15

CINCINNATI BENGALS -3 vs. Kansas City Chiefs
The Kid says: Chiefs.  Bottom line here is I don’t care if they are at home, I just can’t bring myself to give points with the Bengals.  Oh, and by the way can you think of a worse game to end the season?  Is anyone going to watch this one?
The ‘Cane says: Chiefs.  Real barnburner here!   Chiefs have been tough against some good opponents.
The Old Timer says: BENGALS - 3.  Cinci  Had A Decent Second Half

BALTIMORE RAVENS -11.5 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Kid says: Baltimore.  Ravens are just NASTY on defense, and now they have a better than decent offense to go with it.  I don’t think they could have guessed what they were getting when they drafted Flacco, but the rookie has looked wise beyond his years in the last six weeks or so.  Baltimore needs this game to make the playoffs, and you can expect them to get it big.
The ‘Cane says: Jax.  Ravens’ offense is improving, but not enough to give anybody double digits.
The Old Timer says: BALT. - 11.5.  Jags Very Disappointing

Tennessee Titans -3 at INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
The Kid says: Titans.  Tony Dungy has a history of sitting his star players in the last game of the season when it doesn’t impact his playoff seeding/chances.  This is one of those games, so don’t expect Peyton, Reggie, Addai past the first quarter.  I think Titans’ coach Fisher will play his starters more and wants to win more.
The ‘Cane says: Titans.  Colts are resting everyone and have made no secret about it.
The Old Timer says: COLTS + 3.  I’ve Been Betting Against Tennessee All Year & Have Gotten Clobbered

PITTSBURGH STEELERS -11 vs. Cleveland Browns
The Kid says: Pittsburgh.  I know they have everything clinched that they can, but I think a handful of Steelers’ FANS could beat the Browns by ten, so even if they take out some of their starters I still expect Pittsburgh to win the game easily.
The ‘Cane says: Browns.  Steelers have made a habit out of playing close games.  Even the backwards Browns should be able to keep it within 11.
The Old Timer says: PITT - 11

NEW YORK JETS -3 vs. Miami Dolphins
The Kid says: Dolphins.  This is really hard for me to pick because the Jets always beat the Dolphins.  Plus, all signs are pointing to a Miami win.  These factors are shouting to me that the Jets win this game, but I just think that they are going to cough this one up.  I just think that Favre is going to try to hard and commit some turnovers that will cost his team the game.  Is there anyone outside of Jets’ fans that aren’t rooting for Pennington to walk into the Meadowlands and stick it up the Jets’ asses?  I know I am.
The ‘Cane says: Dolphins.  The Fish could easily win outright, the points are just gravy.
The Old Timer says: MIAMI + 3.  Can Favre Step Up?  That Is The Question.

New England Patriots -6 at BUFFALO BILLS
The Kid says: Pats.  Are you serious?  Do you expect Bill Belicheck to lose this game?  Not only is he awesome in December, but the Patriots need this to keep their playoff hopes alive.  New England does not lose this type of game.
The ‘Cane says: Patties.  Cassel has been one of the best stories of the year, the Bills provide no challenge.
The Old Timer says: BILLS + 6

ARIZONA CARDINALS -3.5 vs. Seattle Seahawks
The Kid says: Cardinals.  I know they have looked awful recently, but I really think that they will put it all together and have one great offensive game going into the playoffs.  Warner and Company will be back home where it is warm and look for them to torch the Seahawks whose season was over after beating the Jets last week.
The ‘Cane says: Cardinals.  Arizona needs to show some sort of life after the embarrassment in New England.  We know you are in already but jeez.
The Old Timer says: CARDS - 3.5

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS -3 vs. Washington Redskins
The Kid says: Niners.  They have been playing at another level for Mike Singletary, and I don’t see them laying an egg for him when there are reports out there that San Francisco is ready to make him the permanent head coach after this Sunday’s game.  Look for the Niners to roll in their home finale.
The ‘Cane says: San Fran.  Washington has been too tough to figure out, take the home team.
The Old Timer says: 9ERS - 3.  What A Collapse For Washington.

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS -9 vs. Denver Broncos
The Kid says: Broncos.  The Chargers are favored by nine?  Are these the same Chargers that everyone has been pounding all season long for falling way short of expectations?  I think that Denver will win, but even if they don’t, I can’t see them winning by more than a touchdown.
The ‘Cane says: Denver.  Great game to end the regular season.  Seems like too many points to give.
The Old Timer says: CHARGERS - 9

Start regardless of matchups (including teams on bye): Tennessee Titans, Chicago Bears, Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers.

>h2>Two Matchups To Target

San Francisco 49ers (vs. Washington Redskins). Led by soon to be permanent head coach Mike Singletary, the Niners’ defense has been much tighter than it was earlier in the year.  In the last four games they haven’t allowed more than 16 points.  They have been getting to the quarterback more often lately (three sacks each in two of their last three games), and been forcing more turnovers.  Even though the Redskins jumped up and bit Philly last week, I don’t see them having a great offensive game this week.  Portis is all they have, so the Niners should just focus on stopping the run.  It is obvious that Washington has no passing attack.

Dallas Cowboys (vs. Philadelphia Eagles). Ok, so they gave up 33 points to the Ravens last week on two tremendously long runs, but before that game the Cowboys were on a roll.  They had only given up more than 20 points in one of their previous five games.  You know that DeMarcus Ware wants the single season sack record and he is only 3.5 away from tying that record.  Given some of the games that he has had this year, it is certainly within his reach.  The Eagles are still alive, but just by the skin of their teeth.  Look for Dallas to put the final nail in their coffin.

Two Matchups to Avoid

San Diego Chargers (vs. Denver Broncos). The Broncos have scored 23+ points in five of their last seven games, and even though they have been winning, the Chargers have allowed 22+ points in four of their last five games.  They haven’t been able to muster much of a pass rush, and they don’t force many turnovers (22 in 15 games).  San Diego has been the worst defense against the pass for most of the season, and now they face Jay Cutler?  This is going to be a game where both teams are in the 30s, so I would stay away from playing the Chargers this week.

Denver Broncos (vs. San Diego Chargers). This improbable game for the AFC West title should feature a ton of offense.  In winning their last three games, the Chargers have scored almost 100 points, while coughing up their lead the Broncos have allowed 30 points in two straight games.  Rivers is looking like the man again, Tomlinson has scored in three of his last four games.  I would expect both trends to continue, and the Chargers should put up nearly 30 points, especially since the game is in sunny San Diego and the weather should be conducive to a high scoring affair.   You think the Chargers don’t force many turnovers?  Denver forces the fewest in the league with only 13 all season.  Stay away from Denver.

As always, your comments and questions (adds/drops, lineup advice, etc.) are welcome at fightingchancefantasy@gmail.com.  I guarantee a response within 18 hours.

Quarterback

Start:  Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions. It seems that Rodgers is taking a lot of heat and blame for the fact that the Packers have only won five games this year after being in the NFC Championship last season.  Rodgers’ fantasy owners have only one thing to say about that.  Who gives a crap?  Rodgers statistics are far better than any of us expected and there is no points in fantasy for team wins and losses.  Rodgers has a hell of a chance to throw for over 4,000 yards and already has 25 touchdown passes against only 13 picks.  He has been great, and should finish strong as the Packers should send the Lions to the first 0-16 season in NFL history. Meanwhile, how’s that Favre guy’s statistics? Pro Bowl? What a joke!

Sit:  Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys. The Eagles laid an egg against the Redskins last week that took them out of playoff contention.  This week they get a chance to eliminate the Cowboys, but i don’t see the Eagles having any sort of a good game offensively.  Dallas should win this game and somehow find their way into the playoffs and it will be their defense that keeps the Eagles to under 20 points to finish the year.  McNabb might throw one touchdown, but I don’t see him throwing two.

Running Back

Start:  Matt Forte, Chicago Bears vs. Houston Texans. One of three players with a chance of winning Offensive Rookie of the Year, Forte has been a workhorse for the Bears all season long.  He is also a great pass receiver out of the backfield and if the Bears are going to find a way into the playoff spot it is going to have to be Forte to carry them there.  The Houston defense is nothing to get excited about, and Forte should be able to approach 100 yards and four or five receptions.

Sit:  Cedric Benson, Cincinnati Bengals vs. Kansas City Chiefs. Last week Benson surprised everyone by running for over 150 yards in a game against the Browns.  However, there is no reason to think that he can do it again.   It was a good yardage game, but Benson has only scored one touchdown all season long, so it isn’t like he is a great fantasy scorer.  Unless you have a bunch of guys who are injured or guys that are being sat, I would stay away from Benson even with a good matchup against the Chiefs.

Wide Receiver

Start:  Vincent Jackson, San Diego Chargers vs. Denver Broncos. Somehow through all the ups and downs they have been through this year the Chargers are now one game away from actually winning their division.  Jackson has been a huge part of that as he has had at least 9 0yards in three straight games and has scored in two of the last three.  The Broncos pass defense is among the worst in the league, so Philip Rivers and Jackson should be in for another good day although I think at the end of the day it will be Denver who wins the AFC West.

Sit:  Lee Evans, Buffalo Bills vs. New England Patriots. At the opposite end of the spectrum from Jackson, Evans has been horrible over the last three weeks.  He hasn’t had more than 23 yards in a game over that span and hasn’t scored since the middle of October.  The Patriots should walk all over the Bills and keep them at 13 points or less.  Evans might be able to get to 50 yards but I don’t see him finding the end zone at all.

Tight End

Start:  John Carlson, Seattle Seahawks vs. Arizona Cardinals. Carlson has been the leading receiver for the Seahawks by a mile, and he finishes the season with the team that has allowed the most touchdown passes in the NFL.  Carlson has had over 75 yards or a touchdown in five straight weeks, and look for that trend to continue to end the season.

Sit:  Owen Daniels, Houston Texans vs. Chicago Bears. Daniels had one of his great yardage games in Week 16, but he has had 41 yards or less in five of his last seven.  To make matters worse, he hasn’t scored since October 19th and that multi-touchdown game was the only game he has scored in all season long.  With 67 catches and over 800 yards, Daniels has been a decent option at tight end in 2008, but the Bears need this game to stay alive in the playoff hunt so the defense should come out inspired, so expect them to keep Daniels in check.

As always, your comments and questions (adds/drops, lineup advice, etc.) are welcome at fightingchancefantasy@gmail.com.  I guarantee a response within 18 hours.

Start regardless of matchups (including teams on bye): Tennessee Titans, Chicago Bears, Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers.

Two Matchups To Target

New England Patriots (vs. Arizona Cardinals). On the surface this doesn’t seem like a good play.  The Pats don’t really rush the quarterback well, and they have only forced 19 turnovers in 14 games.  They are in the middle of the pack in terms of scoring as they allow over 21 points a game.  However, there are two factors that make this attractive if you are in need of a change at defense.  One, the weather in the Northeast on Sunday is going to be AWFUL.  Cold, wind, snow.  If it is anything like today was (Friday), things don’t bode well for Kurt Warner and his high flying passing game.  Especially if Anquan Boldin is unable to go.  Second, the Cardinals commit a bunch of turnovers.  Even if the Pats aren’t great at forcing them, perhaps they will have a better opportunity on Sunday as the Cardinals have committed 26 turnovers in 14 games.  The weather is sure to be a factor in that as well.  They haven’t been a good choice all season long, but look for the Pats to be a good choice for team defense this week.

Cleveland Browns (vs. Cincinnati Bengals). This might be going out on a limb here, but the Bengals are just an awful offensive team.  Ryan Fitzpatrick has put forth his best effort, but he just isn’t a good (or even decent) NFL quarterback.  Cedric Benson hasn’t had much of an offensive line to run behind and has had few good games.  The most surprising part of this equation is that the Browns are actually tied for the league lead in takeaways with 29.  Given the state of the Bengals offense (25 giveaways), you can pretty much count on some fumbles and picks going Cleveland’s way.  They do have the third least number of sacks, but the Bengals 20 point outburst last Sunday was the first time they topped 13 in the last five games.  It might be a desperate play, but sometimes at this time of the year you are in desperate times.

Two Matchups To Avoid

Buffalo Bills (vs. Denver Broncos). This segment of the article will be dedicated to two teams that have really started to phone it in over the past few weeks, and there is no reason to think that the trend won’t continue.  The Bills have allowed over 20 points in six of the last eight games and it in three of those games it was over 29 points.  Their sack leader has four and their interception leader has three.  In fact, only five guys have intercepted a pass this season.  Jay Cutler should be able to carve up the Bills defense as they get closer and closer to the end of the season.  Stay away from a defense that was actually showing some signs in the first two months of the season.

Washington Redskins (vs. Philadelphia Eagles). The ‘Skins have lost five of six and have allowed 20+ points in four of those six, including last week’s embarrassment versus Cincinnati.  Like the Bills, the Redskins offer very little in the way of fantasy defensive scoring.  Their sack leader has a mere 3.5 sacks, and no one has picked off more than than three passes.  The Eagles have scored 98 points over the last three games, and look to run up the score again this week against the Redskins.  Don’t expect too much from the Redskins defense this week.

As always, your comments and questions (adds/drops, lineup advice, etc.) are welcome at fightingchancefantasy@gmail.com.  I guarantee a response within 18 hours.

Quarterbacks

Start:  Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons vs. Minnesota Vikings.  Ryan has been one of the better rookie quarterbacks in recent years.  He doesn’t make a ton of mistakes and he is able to make pretty much every throw that a QB needs to make in the NFL.  He had one of his worst games of the season last week, but he has only failed to throw a touchdown in consecutive weeks twice this season.  Especially with the loss of Pat Williams, Ryan should have time to throw and look for him to break 250 yards and probably two scores.

Start:  Shaun Hill, San Francisco 49ers vs. St. Louis Rams.  The Rams defense is ranked 24th in the NFL against the pass and Shaun Hill has brought some stability to the Niners offense. In seven games since being installed as the 49ers’ starting QB, last week versus the Dolphins was the first time he failed to throw a touchdown pass.  Hill has throw 2 scores in four games this season and should do the same this week against the Rams.  It might be on the road, but it is in a dome which gives Hill more of a chance to have a good game.

Sit:  Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens vs. Dallas Cowboys.  Flacco has gone from a “game manager” to a legitimate part of the Ravens offense.  He had just one touchdown in his first five games to a guy who threw nine over a five game stretch.  Flacco doesn’t throw for a bunch of yards, so if he doesn’t throw TDs he isn’t worth a ton.   The Cowboys defense is on a roll, and should hold Flacco to one touchdown pass.

Sit:  Tarvaris Jackson, Minnesota Vikings vs. Atlanta Falcons.  Jackson had the game of his life last week as he threw four touchdowns in the game.  However, I am far from someone who is trusting Jackson.  He has been in the NFL for a few years now, and he had the starting job taken from him for a reason.  I see a giant correction this week and Jackson shouldn’t throw for over 200 yards or more than one score.

Running Backs

Start:  Pierre Thomas, New Orleans Saints vs. Detroit Lions.  This is my play of the week!  Thomas has been a huge part of the Saints offense as a runner, receiver, and even part of the return game.  Now, word has come down that Reggie Bush will miss the last two games of the season.  So, even the 8-10 carries that Bush was getting will go to Thomas.  He is a hard runner, breaks a lot of tackles, and has desire that some guys (including Bush) lack.  As I have said many times before the Lions defense is fantasy gold for your players.  Thomas should have a huge game.

Start:  Jamal Lewis, Cleveland Browns vs. Cincinnati Bengals.  I know, I have a hard time believing that I am suggesting Lewis too, but hear me out on this one.  Jamal Lewis has always eaten the Bengals alive.  In the first game this season, Lewis ran for 79 yards and a score.  In his 14 career games versus Cincinnati, Lewis has run for over 1,600 yards and 11 touchdowns.  I know the Browns have nothing to play for, but Lewis strikes me as a prideful guy and cold, low scoring December games seem to be right up his alley.

Sit:  Ryan Grant, Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears.  Grant has had some good games against the tough Bears’ defense, especially earlier this season when he ran for exactly 100 yards and a score.  But the Bears are fighting for a playoff spot this week and I see their intimidating defense keeping Grant under wraps this time.  He probably won’t get shut down completely, but I don’t see him finding the endzone, and my prediction is he will run for about 70 yards.

Sit:  Clinton Portis, Washington Redskins vs. Philadelphia Eagles.  Portis ran all over the Eagles in their first meeting when he went for 145 and a touchdown.  However, that was Week 5, and Portis has only broken 100 yards once since the calendar said November.  It has been seven weeks since Portis has scored, and the Redskins are fading fast.  The Eagles are desperate to keep their playoff hopes alive, and that should be enough for them to be inspired enough to keep a banged up Portis in check.  I give him credit for playing through a variety of injuries, but he just isn’t a great play this week.

Wide Receivers

Start:  Antonio Bryant, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. San Diego Chargers.  How can you sit this guy?  After having an inconsistent first three months of the season, Bryant has been huge in December with over 300 yards in just two games.  The Chargers’ pass defense is among the worst in football, and should pose little threat to Bryant having another 100 yard game with a touchdown.  I don’t love his quarterback, but this seems like a no brainer to start Bryant for the rest of the year.  No other wide receiver on Tampa is getting near the looks that Bryant is.

Start:  T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns.  Two guys from a Browns/Bengals game in a Week 16 article?  The Browns defense is wretched and Ryan Fitzpatrick has found his safety net in Houshmandzadeh (hereafter just Housh).  Even with the loss of the franchise in Carson Palmer, Housh is still going to break 100 receptions for the second consecutive year.  He hasn’t scored in four straight games, so he is due to find the end zone against a weak Browns defense.

Sit:  Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Miami Dolphins.  Bowe looks like he will improve all of his stats from his fine rookie season, but the way the Dolphins defense has been playing lately, I wouldn’t trust this to be a big game from Bowe.  It has been three weeks since the Dolphins have allowed a touchdown, and given the lack of potency from the Chiefs offense, there is a good chance they will make it four straight weeks.  After a great stretch from Tyler Thigpen, his numbers have started to fade as well.

Sit:  Lee Evans, Buffalo Bills vs. Denver Broncos.  Have the Bills officially packed it in?  No.  But really are they looking towards the offseason?  You better believe it.  Even when the Jets tried to give them a win they gave it back, so don’t expect much from Buffalo in the final two weeks.  If Trent Edwards is in the game you can expect rust, if J.P. Losman is in the game you can just expect him to suck as usual.  Evans hasn’t scored since the middle of OCTOBER, and I don’t think you can expect him to break that this week.

Tight End

Start:  Tony Scheffler, Denver Broncos vs. Buffalo Bills.  He was shut out against the Panthers last week, but the previous two weeks he had 12 catches.  Going back to the Evans section of this article I feel the Bills just aren’t putting forth 100%, so I think that Jay Cutler will play well, and find his tight end about a half dozen times and one of them will be for a score.

Sit:  Chris Cooley, Washington Redskins vs. Philadelphia Eagles.  The bad news for Cooley owners?  He has one touchdown all season long.  The good news?  It was scored in the first game that they played against the Eagles.  Cooley will set career highs in yards and catches, but that one touchdown is killing his owners.  Jason Campbell is lost, and I don’t see him having any kind of a good game against a swarming Philly defense.  Cooley might have five catches, he might break 60 yards, but he won’t score.

As always, your comments and questions (adds/drops, lineup advice, etc) are welcome at fightingchancefantasy@gmail.com.  I guarantee a response within 18 hours.

Jordy Nelson, WR, Green Bay Packers. You’ve got Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, Ryan Grant, Donald Lee, and even Brandon Jackson is showing signs. There down the end of the depth chart is Jordy Nelson. The rookie from Kansas State hasn’t had much of a fantasy impact this season, but he has made some pretty good catches. Nelson hasn’t had more than four catches or 42 yards in a game, but did score last week. It is a stretch to have Nelson on your roster, not to mention play him, but he might be the best WR available on your wire if your league is deep enough.

Benjamin Watson, TE, New England Patriots. After his eight catch for 88 yard game against the Jets, you might have thought that Watson was going to be a fantasy tight end. Well, he hasn’t had more than one catch in a game since, but he did catch his second TD last week. There are probably 15 better options than Watson out there, but if they are all taken he might be good this week against the Raiders.

Ladell Betts, RB, Washington Redskins. For those of you who have Clinton Portis on your roster, unless you are completely stacked, I think you need to have Betts as well down the stretch. He played most of the second half last week after Coach Jim Zorn decided that he was the better option for the team given the fact that Portis didn’t practice much at all. That caused all sorts of trouble as Portis declared himself ready to go, but the situation with he and Portis is a little cloudy right now, so you want to be prepared.

As always, your comments and questions (add/drop, lineup advice, etc) are welcome at fightingchancefantasy@gmail.com. I guarantee a response in 18 hours.

I have seen few better displays of running the football against a good team than what the Panthers did to Tampa on Monday night. It didn’t matter if it was DeAngelo Williams or Johnathan Stewart, the Panthers were chewing up huge chunks of yardage nearly every time they ran the ball. The Broncos rank 26th in the league against the run, allowing nearly 140 yards per game on the ground so you should see another solid game out of the Panthers’ terrific twosome in the backfield. You have to expect that Williams will have the better game, and should break 100 yards, but I think there is a good chance that Stewart will be able to break 75 yards. It is hard to predict that both guys will score once again (nevermind twice again), and if I had to pick who gets the TD I would definitely pick Williams. Unless you have two studs, Stewart should be a reliable option. Steve Smith is a must start each week, every week. This should not be news. I’m not going to go on and on about Smith. If you have him, play him without a thought. His quarterback, Jake Delhomme on the other hand, has become an inconsistent option. However, the Denver defense is just as bad against the pass than it is versus the run, so if you have Delhomme he should perform better than he has in recent weeks. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying he’s going to air it out for 300 yards and three TDs, but he could get over 225 and maybe two scores. No one else on the Carolina offense is worth consideration for starting this weekend.

The Broncos will always go as far as the arm of Jay Cutler will take them. This is partly due to the fact that they have been decimated by injury at the running back position. When Peyton Hillis was injured and was ruled out for the season, Tatum Bell became the seventh running back Denver used this season. Considering this fact, the running game of the Broncos hasn’t been that bad. Bell showed some signs last week against the Chiefs, but then again it was against the Chiefs. He will find the running considerably tougher this week against Carolina, but I still think he can approach 75 yards, but I would be somewhat surprised if he scored. The Panthers are viewed as an incredible defense, but they are only 17th against the run, and have allowed 11 rushing TDs in 13 games. Carolina knows that they have to focus on stopping one man, however, and that is Jay Cutler. He has taken a giant step forward this season, from world of potential to budding superstar. Cutler has the arm and the moxie to be an elite fantasy quarterback right now, and has been a steal for owners who most likely drafted him as a second QB. Brandon Marshall has also taken an even bigger step forward as he has become one of the five best receivers in the NFL. He’s big, his hands are soft as a baby’s butt, and he is a bear to tackle. Like Steve Smith, Marshall is someone that you start every week, no questions asked. Eddie Royal has been the best rookie receiver in the NFL and is someone that should be in your lineup in most weeks. He has been somewhat inconsistent, but he is a a rookie after all, and outside of a few (Ryan, Forte, C. Johnson), that is what rookies are. He might not be the best play against the Panthers this week, but as always it depends on your roster. After weeks of injury and ineffectiveness, Tony Scheffler is back on the tight end radar, and if you don’t have one of the elite, Scheffler is worth a play.

As always, your comments and questions are welcome at fightingchancefantasy@gmail.com. I guarantee a response within 18 hours.

Start regardless of matchups (including teams on bye): Tennessee Titans, Chicago Bears, Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers.

Two Matchups to Target

Washington Redskins (vs. Cincinnati Bengals). The ‘Skins have excelled this season at not allowing a lot of points as they averaging giving up just under 19 a game, but they have been lacking at the other facets of a good fantasy defense.  They are among the worst teams at forcing turnovers at just 16 in their 13 games this season (NFL low is 12), and they are also among the worst in sacking the quarterback with just 19 (NFL lead is 45).  However, this week they face perhaps the worst offense in the league.  Well, the Bengals do score the least number of points with just over 11 a game, allow the second most sacks with 48, and have turned the ball over 25 times in 13 games.  The Bengals haven’t scored more than 13 points in the past four weeks, and the Redskins should be a top flight play in Week 15.

Green Bay Packers (vs. Jacksonville Jaguars). Jacksonville has allowed the seventh most sacks the league with 36, and they are among the bottom third of the league in scoring at under 20 points a game.  The Packers are among the best at forcing turnovers with 24 (League high is 27), but they allow 24 points a game and aren’t good at sacking the quarterback.  But Jacksonville doesn’t even score 20 points a game, and are among the worst at allowing sacks of the quarterback.  They are middle of the pack at committing turnovers but their season is basically over and I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if they put forth a less than 100% effort.

Two Matchups to Avoid

Arizona Cardinals (vs. Minnesota Vikings). Two words:  Adrian Peterson.  The Cardinals allow about 100 yards a game on the ground, but I envision it being much more than that this week.  The Arizona defense is right in the middle of the pack in every way except for against the pass where they have allowed the most aerial touchdowns with 27.  Now, the Vikings aren’t a strong passing team, but they should be able to throw it around some against Arizona which will open up the field even more for Peterson.  The Cardinals have forced the second highest number of turnovers with 26, but I see them giving up at least 24 points and not getting near the quarterback in their matchup this week.  The Cardinals have clinched their division, while the Vikings are still fighting for their playoff lives.

Denver Broncos (vs. Carolina Panthers). The Broncos defense has the fewest number of takeaways in the entire league with just 12 in 13 games.  They are fifth worst in scoring by allowing over 25 points a game, and have just 23 sacks this season.  Carolina’s offense is clicking on all cylinders after Monday night’s blowout of the Buccaneers.  The whole offense revolves around their two stud running backs, and Denver’s defense isn’t exactly studly against the run.  When DeAngelo Williams and Johnathan Stewart are on their games, it opens up everything for Jake Delhomme and Steve Smith.  Look for the Panthers to continue their roll and put up at least 28 points on the Denver defense.

As always, you comments and questions (adds/drops, lineup advice, etc.) are welcome at fightingchancefantasy@gmail.com.  I guarantee a response within 18 hours.

Quarterbacks

Start: Tyler Thigpen, Kansas City Chiefs vs. San Diego Chargers. If you would have told me in September that I would be starting this article for Week 15 with Tyler Thigpen I would have laughed in your face.  Hell, if you had told me I would be talking about Thigpen at all I wouldn’t have believed it.  But here we are doing just that, and I expect a good game out of him this week.  His stats have fallen off a little in the past couple of weeks even against poor defenses in Oakland and Denver, but this week he will face a defense that he took apart just five weeks ago.  In his first meeting with the Chargers, Thigpen was 27/41 for 266 yards and three touchdown passes.  San Diego will probably have a little better grasp of what to expect out of him this time around, but I don’t see them being able to hold him under 250 yards or two TD throws.

Start: Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns. Last week I wrote a short article declaring that even though McNabb had that good game against the Cardinals that you shouldn’t get all excited about him again and count on him to score you big points this year.  Well, a guy is allowed to reconsider once in a while isn’t he?  Here’s my thinking.  The Browns are down to their third string QB, and have nothing to play for except for their coach and I don’t know how much that means to them at this point.  In the last few weeks of the season you need to look for teams that have already started to set their tee times after the last game and the Browns fit that mold perfect.  They have little chance to compete, they know that, so I don’t see them playing that hard.  Even a McNabb that I’m not high on should have a good game against the Brownies.

Sit: Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers. You gotta love what this rookie has been doing, but you can’t love this matchup for him.  The Steelers have made quite a few good quarterbacks look bad this year (hello Tony Romo, Donovan McNabb, and Philip Rivers), and you have to believe that Flacco doesn’t stand much of a chance to have a good statistical game.  Joe didn’t have a great game last week against Washington where he didn’t even throw for 150 yards and had just one touchdown.  Look for the same type of game this Sunday against the Steelers, and there is a good chance he will turn the ball over two or more times.

Sit: Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens. This game should be a good old fashioned smashmouth AFC North showdown for first place.  Well, this division isn’t exactly known for it’s passing game.  You can bet that by 4:15 on Sunday in Baltimore that it will be as cold as a witch’s…..well, you know, really cold.  Big Ben has had four games where he didn’t even throw a touchdown this season, and he only had one to go with 191 yards in their first meeting.  He was sacked three times, intercepted once, and fumbled once, and you can expect another hard hitting, low scoring game this time around.  Try to find a better option than Roethlisberger.

Running Backs

Start:  Joseph Addai, Indianapolis Colts vs. Detroit Lions. I know, I know, it is an easy call to start anyone against Detroit.  I wanted to pick one Colts player in this matchup and I thought given his recent struggles that Addai would be the one who is the least bit of a no brainer.   He did split some carries with Dominic Rhodes in Week 14, but don’t forget that they also did blow out the Bengals so they didn’t really need to keep him on the field too much.  There is a danger to that happening again versus the Lions, but they are the worst defense against the run by both yards and touchdowns so how can you not play Addai?  Look for at least 75 yards on the ground, plus four catches and a touchdown either on the ground or through the air.

Start: Stephen Jackson, St Louis Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks. Again, if we were doing this article back in Week 1 you all would be emailing me and saying “Joseph Addai and Stephen Jackson, way to go out on a limb by saying start them!”  But at this point, both studs coming into the season have been anything but studly.   Jackson has been good since coming back from his latest nagging injury however, and you gotta love the fact that the guy WANTS that ball in his hands.  He got back into the end zone for the first time in a while last week, and seeing that Seattle gives up over 120 yards a game on the ground, look for Jackson to have his first 100 yard game in nearly a year.

Sit: Marshawn Lynch, Buffalo Bills vs. New York Jets. Both of these teams are really struggling the past couple of weeks to score points, so when they face each other don’t expect fireworks.  Out of the two teams in this game I would expect the Jets to be the team to turn it around and have a decent finish if either one of them will.  The Jets have stuffed the run most of the year and should do the same again on Sunday.  The first two times that these teams met Lynch had his worst game of the season in which he rushed just nine times for 16 yards.  I don’t expect it to be that bad, but I would think he will go too far over 50.

Sit: Michael Turner, Atlanta Falcons vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers. When a team excels at one facet of defense like the Bucs do against the run, and then they get embarrassed on defense like the Bucs did on Monday night by Carolina, you can bet that the next week they come out they will do everything they can to make sure that it doesn’t happen again.  Tampa allowed under 100 yards a game and had only allowed one rushing touchdown before that game.  Carolina ran for just over 300 yards and had FOUR rushing TDs in that one game alone.  You better believe that Monte Kiffin will be focusing on run defense this week in practice, even if he has one foot out the door to go to Tennessee.  Turner has struggled some against good run defenses (duh, that’s what makes them good run defenses), but his first game against Tampa he ran 14 times for just 42 yards, and I wouldn’t expect him to rush for too much more than that on Sunday.

Wide Receivers

Start: Wes Welker, New England Patriots vs. Oakland Raiders. I’m not exactly sure why, but Welker just hasn’t gotten the credit he has deserved this season.  Throughout all the turmoil from the loss of Tom Brady and the learning curve of Matt Cassel, Welker has still only had ONE game where he had less than six catches.  I have to be honest, I didn’t think he would be able to repeat last year’s performance, but the guy is making a full time believer out of me.  That being said the Pats should eat the Raiders alive and look for Welker to have 7-8 catches for near 100 yards an most likely a touchdown.

Start: Greg Jennings, Green Bay Packers vs. Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jags have been a pretty decent pass defense as far as yardage is concerned (just over 200 a game), but they have allowed 21 touchdown passes this season which is third worst in the NFL.  Aaron Rodgers has taken a bigger step forward than anyone could have anticipated, and I see him having a big game on Sunday.  Jennings should be a big recipient of this production.  Look for Jennings to have six catches for 115 and a score.

Sit: Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts. It is always hard to suggest someone to sit a guy with the physical gifts that Calvin Johnson possesses, but here are the reasons behind it.  The Colts defense allows just over 185 yards through the air which is good.  But in 13 games this season they have allowed only FOUR passing touchdowns!  Is that incredible or what?  I just don’t see Daunte Culpepper breaking that great statistic up no matter how good Calvin is.  He has a world of talent and is already over 1,000 yards, but I think you might have a better option this week.

Sit:  Laverneous Coles, New York Jets vs. Buffalo Bills. The Jets are a mess.  First, they lose to the Broncos, no big deal right?  Then they lose to San Francisco and suddenly their fan base is in panic mode.  In the game against the Niners, Coles had his third game this season in which he registered just one catch and his production has been far too inconsistent to recommend playing him.  In the first meeting of the season against the Bills, Laverneous had just three catches for 40 yards.   He also apparently went on some radio station and said the hardest passes thrown to him come from the machines in practice.   I guess that was supposed to be a shot at Favre since his relationship with his new quarterback still isn’t the same as it was with Pennington.  Hey Laverneous, if you loved Chad so much, how come you didn’t mind leaving him when you took that big free agent contract to go to Washington?  Stop crying and play football!

Tight End

Start: Chris Cooley, Washington Redskins vs. Cincinnati Bengals. Like the Browns, the Bengals have also packed it in as their season has been a disaster since Carson Palmer went down and was unable to return from his elbow injury.  Cincinnati has been giving up points in bunches lately, and even though I have absolutely no faith in Jason Campbell, even he should be able to pass pretty easily on this defense.  Cooley has been a massive disappointment with only one touchdown catch, but before last week against Baltimore he had six straight games of at least five catches and in five of those games he was also over 50 yards.  Look for Cooley to find pay dirt for the second time this year.

Sit: Tony Scheffler, Denver Broncos vs. Carolina Panthers. After five catches in three games when returning from injury looked like his value was gone, Scheffler has turned it around with twelve catches in the past two games.  However, this week he gets the ultra tough Panthers’ defense and I don’t see Jay Cutler being able to throw the ball around whenever he feels like it.  Carolina has only given up an average of one touchdown pass per game and the Broncos have a bunch of other options that I would bet on before Scheffler.

As always, your comments and questions are welcome at fightingchancefantasy@gmail.com.  I guarantee a response within 18 hours.

TENNESSEE TITANS -14 vs. Cleveland Browns.
The Kid says: Titans.  Not only have I picked them every week so far, but they are playing a Browns team who has not only packed it in, but will also be led by Ken “Don’t Call Me Joe Montana” Dorsey.  This could be a tremendous rout.
The ‘Cane says: Tennessee.  Cleveland is down to Ken Dorsey.
The Old Timer says: Titans.  Another BELICHECK Coach Gone Bad

CHICAGO BEARS -6.5 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Kid says: Bears.  The Jags were embarrassing on Monday night and the Bears are still very much in the thick of the playoff race.  Not only are they at home, but most games at this point of the season I will take the team that needs it over the team that is already planning their tee times.
The ‘Cane says: Bears.  Jags are due for a good game, but might not come this year.
The Old Timer says: Jacksonville.  Jags A Big Disappiontment But Should Cover

Minnesota Vikings -9.5 at DETROIT LIONS
The Kid says: Lions.  I am going to try to go out on a limb here without knowing who the other guys are taking.  The Lions HAVE to win a game somewhere, plus the NFC North games are generally close.  That being said Adrian Peterson will probably run wild and this pick will look stupid.
The ‘Cane says: Minnesota.  Anemic Detroit rushing defense is in for a long day with AP.
The Old Timer says: Lions.  I don’t know why.

GREEN BAY PACKERS -6.5 vs. Houston Texans
The Kid says: Packers.  Green Bay absolutely has to have this game if they have any hope of making the playoffs, and at home they better come out and play like it.  The Texans don’t have a great defense by any stretch and Aaron Rodgers should be able to have his way with them.
The ‘Cane says: Houston.  Up and down Pack should win, but Texans’ offense has shown real life lately.
The Old Timer says: Texans.  Packers Shouldn’t Be Giving To Anyone

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS -14 vs. Cincinnati Bengals
The Kid says: Indianapolis.  The Bengals just can’t do anything right and they should get their butts whupped in Indy.  I know some might be thinking about the Colts close game last week in Cleveland, but that was on the road in cold weather.  This will be on their home field, and we all know what the Colts offense is capable of on turf.
The ‘Cane says: Cincy.  Colts will win, but haven’t dominated. Take the points.
The Old Timer says: Cincy.  Indy Just Isn’t Clicking Like Before

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS -3.5 vs. Atlanta Falcons
The Kid says: Falcons.  The Saints season is basically over at this point, and although they will be at home I think Matt Ryan and the Falcons should be able to win this game outright and keep their hopes of a division title alive.  Even if the Saints are able to win, I would be surprised if it was by more than a field goal.
The ‘Cane says: Atlanta.  Falcons are the surprise team of the year and the surprises keep coming. ATL outright.
The Old Timer says: Atlanta.

NEW YORK GIANTS -9 vs. Philadelphia Eagles
The Kid says: Eagles.  I am just having a hard time believing that the Giants can just keep surviving despite the loss of key players.  They were great last year and lost (or traded) Osi Umenyiora, Jeremy Shockey, Michael Strahan, and now Plaxico Burress.  Not to mention the plethora of questions they have had to answer all week long.  Can they possibly come out and play their best?  I just don’t see it.  All of this has to catch up to them eventually.
The ‘Cane says: Philly.  Eagles looked great last week and NYG are dealing with a big distraction.
The Old Timer says: Giants.  I’m Gonna Ride The GIANTS Horse To The Finish Line.  (Editor’s note:  Hey Dad you are in last place!  Maybe it is time to shake things up a bit.   Just kidding, the Giants probably account for at least 25% of your wins!)

New England Patriots -4.5 at SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
The Kid says: Patriots.  This should be an easy one.  The Patriots are a good team who needs the win.  The Seahawks are 2-10 and Matt Hasselbeck looks like he won’t play.  Easy pick of the week.
The ‘Cane says: Pats.  Seattle is enough to get any team turned around. Pats rebound here.
The Old Timer says: New England.

New York Jets -3.5 at SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
The Kid says: Niners.  Last week I don’t pick them and they pull off the upset against the Bills, so now I get some false confidence that they have a chance this week against the Jets.  The Niners only hope is that the Jets rank near the bottom of the league against the pass.  Perhaps if the Niners can hit a couple of big plays their defense can keep it close.
The ‘Cane says: Jets.  Can’t believe they’re here, but they are.
The Old Timer says: Niners.  Not Convinced The Jets Are For Real.  (Editor’s Note:  This comes from a Dolphins fan, just so you know the background.)

DENVER BRONCOS -9.5 vs. Kansas City Chiefs
The Kid says: Broncos.  Cutler should be able to carve up the Chiefs defense.  KC should be able to score on Denver’s suspect defense, but I see the Broncos winning by 14 points.
The ‘Cane says: KC.  Chiefs stink, but do manage to keep games close.
The Old Timer says: Denver.

BUFFALO BILLS -1 vs. Miami Dolphins
The Kid says: Dolphins.  With this game being played under a dome in Canada the weather advantage that Buffalo should have enjoyed is gone.  The Dolphins need to keep pace with the Jets and Pats, and the Bills will continue their tailspin to an under .500 record.
The ‘Cane says: Miami.  Bills have spiraled downward after a great start. It’s over, Johnny.
The Old Timer says: Miami.  The Wildcat Strikes Again

PITTSBURGH STEELERS -3 vs. Dallas Cowboys
The Kid says: Pittsburgh.  At first glance I liked the Cowboys, but when news came that Marion Barber wouldn’t play, that was enough to swing my pick.  With Tashard Choice running the ball against the best defense in the NFL, the ‘Boys could find points tough to come by, and while the Steelers’ offense is no thrill, they might not have to score too much to win.
The ‘Cane says: Pittsburgh.  Loss of Marion the Barbarian crushes Dallas.
The Old Timer says: Steelers.  Pitt Defense Eats Up Romo & T.O. Starts His Rant

ARIZONA CARDINALS -13.5 vs. St. Louis Rams
The Kid says: Cardinals.  Given the Rams’ defensive and offensive woes, this should be a runaway.  Kurt Warner and his receivers should open up a can on the Rams’ horrible secondary and the Arizona could score 40 points or more.
The ‘Cane says: Arizona.  Battle of Greybeard Warner’s new high-powered offense against the shell of his old team.
The Old Timer says: Cards.  Boy Could The Rams Use WARNER Now.  (Ed:  That is SO true)

BALTIMORE RAVENS -5 vs. Washington Redskins
The Kid says: Ravens.  I’ve been picking them for weeks now and with a banged up Clinton Portis and a completely lost Jason Campbell, I don’t see the Redskins scoring anymore than 10 points in this game.  With rookie Joe Flacco really coming into his own, the Baltimore offense isn’t quite as much of a joke as it was in previous years.  Look for the Ravens to win by ten or more.
The ‘Cane says: Ravens.  Baltimore suddenly has an offense. Look out.
The Old Timer says: Ravens.  Baltimore Has Made A Believer Out Of Me

CAROLINA PANTHERS -3 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Kid says: Panthers.  I just haven’t been impressed by Tampa all season long even though they are obviously a good team.  I look for Carolina to defned their home turf and take the lead in the division.  DeAngelo Williams and Steve Smith should provide just enough offense to win the game.
The ‘Cane says: Carolina.  Running game is tough to handle. Defense is tougher.
The Old Timer says: Carolina.  When Is Garcia Going To Get His Due?

As always, your comments and questions are welcome at fightingchancefantasy@gmail.com.  I guarantee a response within 18 hours.