Contrary to Popular Belief, This Isn’t the Beginning Of the End For Brett Favre

He’s a wonder through the first 11 games, and a disaster through the final five. God help your team if you actually make it to the playoffs with this guy. Because from there, well, dear God.

This guy, being the legendary Brett Favre . This late-season slide, simply being yet another way for Favre-haters to unite and chuckle over coincidental stats, ignoring Favre’s decaying supporting cast, or his own injuries that affect his performances.

I know, I know. What could any writer possibly come up with to excuse four straight seasons of late-season slides?

What could a writer possibly come up with that explains away Favre’s two interceptions against the Arizona Cardinals (almost four), and proves that it won’t happen for a fifth straight year?

It’s actually fairly simple, especially if you look at the facts of each season and the severity of his “poor play” in the final five games of each season.

 

2005

Favre actually played fairly well in the beginning of the season, despite beginning the season without Marco Rivera and Mike Wahle (who Ted Thompson let walk), and losing star receiver Javon Walker in the first game of the season.

Despite having  virtually no offense around him, very little protection, and losing Ahman Green in Week Five, Favre still managed to throw 17 touchdowns in the Packers ‘ first seven games, while tossing two or more in five straight games during that stretch.

At that time, Favre and the Packers were 2-7, and by the time his “11th game” came around, he and the offense were beaten up, tired, and lacking enough talent to compete against very solid defenses such as the Philadelphia Eagles , Chicago Bears (twice), Baltimore Ravens , and even the Seattle Seahawks .

Favre finished the Packers’ 4-12 season with 29 interceptions (a career high), while many fans and experts deemed him “washed up,” without thinking for a second about how little help he had during the course of the season.

Did he suffer a fade near the end of the season? Most definitely. But it is extremely arguable that any other quarterback would have struggled to do any better.

Verdict: The team failed Favre, and not the other way around.

 

2006

Favre started the season with six touchdown passes in his first three games, and then took a backseat to a more controlled offensive attack, one that likely kept the Packers competitive, and held Favre back from trying to “rescue the offense” repeatedly, as he “only” threw 18 interceptions.

Favre did once again suffer a late-season slide, but not of epic proportions, as Green bay actually ended the season on a four-game winning streak to finish at 8-8, and Favre tossed for 285 yards in both of the final two games, and threw a touchdown in the final game of the season, a 26-7 win over the Chicago Bears.

Favre’s offense was not without Javon Walker at this point, who was traded to the Denver Broncos , was balanced by an aging and slowed down Ahman Green, and had a fairly impressive rookie Greg Jennings who hit the “rookie wall” sometime around Week 10.

Verdict: Blame is 50-50. Favre didn’t play great down the stretch, but he helped the team win four straight, and topped 285 yards in three of his final four games. Not the numbers or record of a man in decline.

 

2007

Just two years ago, Favre built off the momentum he and his team garnered up from it’s four-game winning streak to end the 2006 season, and began 2007 4-0.

Favre proceeded to guide the Packers to a 10-1 record, and eventually a 13-3 record, and a division title. Favre finished with 28 touchdowns and just 15 interceptions, as well as 4,000-plus passing yards.

Favre’s so-called late-season fade didn’t live up to prior expectations, as his 6-7 touchdown to interception ratio was neither amazing or horrific, as he simply had one horrible outing in frigid temperatures on the road against the Chicago Bears.

The other bad game? He threw two picks before leaving the Dallas Cowboys game with an arm injury.

However, in three of his last four games (all wins), Favre guided the Packers to 33-plus points, and threw for two touchdowns in each game.

Favre continued his “horrible slide” by putting the Packers on his back after two Ryan Grant fumbles, as he threw three touchdowns in a win over the Seattle Seahawks after being down 14-0.

The only real knock on Favre in the 2007 campaign was his average play in the NFC Championship, where he arguably played just as well as Eli Manning (if not better), as he threw for two scores and 236 yards, but had a misguided pass intercepted late in the game, resulting in a game-winner that sent the Giants to the Super Bowl.

Verdict: Outside of the interception against the Giants, Favre was money all season long, and without him, the Packers would have been lost.

 

2008

This is probably the second easiest “Favre-slide” to explain, outside of the 2005 season, as Favre was playing great football en route to an 8-3 start for the Jets , despite joining the team late.

Favre then injured his arm and played terribly down the stretch, as he threw just two touchdowns to nine interceptions, as the Jets went 1-4 down the stretch to finish 9-7.

Verdict: There’s not way the blame can’t fall on Favre here, injury or not, but there definitely were many other issues with the team.

Stats showed that Thomas Jones and the running game was very ineffective past Week 11, the run defense couldn’t stop anybody (even Peyton Hillis), and regardless of his arm injury, Favre’s receivers had given up or quit on him-namely Laveranues Coles.

 

2009

Here we go again, right?

Well, if you’ve been paying attention, you’d realize that the majority of Favre’s struggles have happened when he loses a ton of talent and has to do things on his own, or he sustains a major injury.

None of that is happening in Minnesota right now. Yes, the Arizona Cardinals did a fantastic job and out-played the Vikings .

But this wasn’t just about Favre. He actually looked fantastic on the first drive, and looked okay for most of the first half, but zero production from the running game and sketchy blocking from the offensive line resulted in Minnesota struggling mightily to move the ball.

On the other side of the ball, the Vikings didn’t have an answer for Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald, or Tim Hightower. They couldn’t even contain the Cardinals’ return game, and constantly put their defense in bad situations.

Favre still finished the game with two touchdowns, and his final pass of the night ( a touchdown to Percy Harvin), was actually a thing of beauty. Yes, it was late and it didn’t matter, but it also showed that when protected, Favre can get it to the receiver.

And that was the difference between Favre and Kurt Warner , as well as Favre and his former self in those other seasons. If his running game is even remotely helpful and his line can give him a few seconds, he’s fine. If not, he can get hurt, or he can force bad throws.

We saw the bad on Sunday night.

Verdict: Favre had three interceptions going into his 12th game of the season, and despite the Cardinals giving up a ton of yards through the air all season, the real issue here was the pass rush.

The Cardinals threw a ton of different defensive looks at Favre and the offense, and when you’re rushed on top of having to read complex schemes, the results are rarely good.

Regardless, no team on the Vikings regular season schedule poses this match-up problem, and two of the four remaining games are indoors, which benefits Favre greatly.

This writer does not foresee any extreme issues with Favre for the remaining four games, and as long as Favre is playing in a dome (either in Minnesota or New Orleans ) in the playoffs, there doesn’t seem to be much cause for concern there, either.

The truth is, we just got a little reminder of what we hadn’t been seeing out of Favre. We, NFL and Minnesota fans alike, had been spoiled. The Cardinals got to him and Adrian Peterson a bit, showed the Vikings they weren’t invincible, and that they had things to work on.

And you can be certain that’s exactly what Favre and Co. will address the weaknesses Arizona exploited.

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Green Bay Packers-Baltimore Ravens: Monday Night Fantasy Start/Sit

It’s Week 13 . This is a huge Monday night show-down between two respectable teams, both out to prove that they’re for real, and both equally talented.

And from a fantasy perspective, there’s quite a few “obvious” notes that you should have jotted down about 13 weeks ago. But in case you forgot, or stopped caring, take a quick refresher course, then read on for a breakdown of all the guys on both teams that could help you out in a jam this week.

The must-starts : Aaron Rodgers, Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, Ray Rice, Derrick Mason

 

Team Breakdowns:

 

Green Bay Packers

 

RB Ryan Grant (Start )

Grant doesn’t normally show up against strong run defenses, but with the estimated success Aaron Rodgers and Co. will have against the Ravens’ vulnerable pass defense, it’s a good possibility Grant gets some nice action on screens, and could even find his way to a touchdown.

We don’t especially like Grant in this match-up, but we’re picking him over (and only over) Willis McGahee.

 

WR James Jones (Start)

Jones may be the fourth option in the Packers passing game, but the fact that he has recorded four catches in three of his past four games, and three catches in four straight, shows he’s still a key player in the offense.

He’s much more active than Jordy Nelson, and is slightly more reliable than Mark Clayton, especially considering the match-up advantage.

 

WR Jordy Nelson (Sit)

Nelson is still active in the offense and will occasionally get looks, especially since the Packers like to pass the ball. Things could be even better for him this week as Green Bay will likely have their rush offense stopped early and often, and won’t have any trouble going to the air against a horrible Ravens pass defense.

Nelson has registered eight catches in his past three games, which isn’t bad at all for his role, but we still like James Jones ahead of him this week.

 

TE Jermichael Finley (Start)

Finley has caught 10 passes in his past two contests since returning from injury, and recorded 12 catches in his previous three games prior to his injury.

We know that Donald Lee is in the mix as well, but Finley’s potential going up against this sketchy Ravens pass defense is too good to ignore.

Finley is the easy choice of the three options this week.

 

Baltimore Ravens

 

QB Joe Flacco

Obviously it’s too late to make a call on Flacco (unless you have Rodgers), so you’re either running with him or you’re conceding defeat before the game even starts. Actually, that might be the case, regardless.

Still, you do have something working in your favor. While Flacco has reverted to his passive style of 2008, he’ll still likely be forced to pass more than Baltimore would like to, and as long as he gets enough balls in Ray Rice’s hands, there’s some hope that magic will happen.

 

RB Willis McGahee

If he’s going up against Ryan Grant in your line-up, this should be thrown among those other “no-brainers” listed above. However, Grant is facing a tough match-up as well, so we thought we’d be a bit more informative.

McGahee has had a bigger role lately, but the Packers are no slouches against the run, and Ray Rice will be the primary option in the passing game.

 

WR Mark Clayton (Sit)

Clayton has always had the speed and big-play ability to be a fantasy star, although he’s also always lacked the hands and consistency to be truly reliable.

He’s the second guy in line behind Derrick Mason, so he has average WR3 value and should be played over Jordy Nelson, but should not be played over James Jones this week. Jones should be very active in this match-up, whereas the inconsistent Clayton is facing the 10th-ranked Packers pass defense.

 

TE Todd Heap (Sit)

Heap’s stats for the season and on a week-to-week basis are very average. While he’s reliable enough to get you something every week, he’s an absolute dud as a fantasy option.

The Packers are very good against the tight end, but we like Jermichael Finley over Heap and Donald Lee anyway.

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NFL Quick Hits : Fantasy Injury Updates

E.J. Henderson Out For Season

The Minnesota Vikings take a huge blow to their defensive unit, losing star middle linebacker E.J. Henderson after he took a crushing hit to the knee from a teammate.

Henderson reportedly fractured his femur on a long Tim Hightower run late in the game, after colliding with a teammate.

Rookie fifth rounder Jasper Brinkley is expected to step-in and take his place. The loss of Henderson could severely hurt the Vikings overall fantasy value as a defense.

Warner Hurts Hip in Win Over Vikings

Warner appeared in good spirits during a post-game interview and was on the field for the Cardinals final possession, but he was noticeably limping near the end of the game.

He didn’t seem to be too worried when questioned about it, and considering he’ll have an extra day of rest with the Cardinals play next Monday night, it shouldn’t be a cause for major concern.

Hines Ward Questionable For Thursday Night

Ward reportedly “tweaked” his hamstring in the Steelers’ loss to the Oakland Raiders and should be a game-time decision for this Thursday’s game against the Cleveland Browns. It’d be a game the Steelers should be able to win without him, but Ward is a tough guy and the match-up bodes extremely well for him and the rest of Pittsburgh’s offense.

Brian Westbrook to Practice This Week?

Westbrook, who has missed the past three weeks (and five of six) with a concussion, could return this week in a limited role on the practice field.

Regardless of any impending return (which is far from certain), we’re not buying Westbrook as a fantasy factor the rest of the way. LeSean McCoy has been more than capable as the starter and Leonard Weaver has also added some solid depth.

Westbrook’s days as a fantasy fiend are over in Philly.

Matt Cassel to Keep Starting Job

The rumors of Cassel being permanently replaced by Brodie Croyle have been put to rest, after head coach Todd Haley explained that the game was out of hand and the team was merely giving Croyle some reps.

Cassel was horrible, despite any reasonable excuses, as he passed for just 84 yards on 29 attempts and also threw two interceptions in an embarrassing loss.

He gets the Buffalo Bills stingy pass defense next week, so you can’t expect much better.

Terrell Suggs Inactive For Monday Night

Suggs has been fighting his way back after suffering a PCL sprain in his knee a few weeks ago, thanks to Cleveland Browns’ quarterback Brady Quinn.

Suggs had been eyeing the trip to Green Bay as his return date, but it was fairly clear earlier in the week that the odds were against him returning so quickly.

There is still optimism for his return in 2009 and Suggs has guaranteed to the media that he will play again this year. He only has 3.5 sacks on the season, but a healthy Suggs would still be a solid IDP option if you’re needy.

DeSean Jackson Likely to Return in Week 14

Jackson was iffy all week leading into Week 13, but ultimately decided to take a week off after sustaining a concussion in Week 12.

He has a very good chance of making it back after a whole week of rest (and some more this week) and has a decent match-up against the Giants if he is a full go.

Concussions can be tricky though, so take extreme caution when setting your line-up this week.

Devin Hester Good to Go For Week 14

Hester caught one pass for 48 yards and then exited the Bears win over the Rams with a calf injury and did not return.

Hester was reportedly held out as a precautionary measure and will almost certainly be used in Week 14’s re-match with the division rival Green Bay Packers.

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Fantasy Update: DeAngelo Williams Inactive for Sunday

Every fantasy owner should be aware that DeAngelo Williams is officially listed as inactive, and should be immediately placed on your bench.

Obviously the next guy in line in Carolina, Jonathan Stewart, takes an immediate value boost, especially with a very friendly match-up with the horrible Tampa Bay Buccaneers run defense.

However, not everyone has the luxury (or smarts) to hold onto Stewart as a hand-cuff, in case of this type of emergency.

The following players are suitable replacements, and are vouched by this week by NFLSoup.com :

 

Rock Cartwright (Washington Redskins)

Cartwright is once again handling a full load with Clinton Portis out this week and he has a quality match-up against a New Orleans Saints run defense that keeps giving up big numbers to even the most average of running backs. Start him with confidence.

Jerious Norwood (Atlanta Falcons)

Norwood may not get you the points of a RB1 like Williams, but he is the expected starter, and despite a reasonably tough match-up with the Philadelphia Eagles, he should get enough total touches to produce decent results.

Chris Brown ( Houston Texans)

Brown, like Jonathan Stewart, is starter by default (due to injury), and has tremendous value going into todays’ game, especially with the Indianapolis Colts’ run defense being  less than dominant. Brown should get at least 12+ carries, while giving way to Ryan Moats for some carries, but as the top goal-line back, could so some serious damage in a spot-start.

For all your other fantasy needs and breaking NFL news, go to NFLSoup.com

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NFL Fantasy Rankings Week 13: Quarterbacks

The big question this week isn’t about picking through the top 10 quarterbacks. If that’s your problem, just glance below and hit the notes. And if you’re still stuck, go check out our Fantasy Player Breakdowns for Week 13 .

But the real meat at the quarterback position this week is in Arizona, where the Cardinals (and the rest of the world) is still unsure about Kurt Warner’s status, and whether or not Matt Leinart (who didn’t score last week) is a good replacement in the fantasy realm versus the Minnesota Vikings.

We’re suggesting to stay away from Warner for another week, and we’re ranking Leinart one spot above him. That match-up isn’t terrible, but we’re not so sure Leinart will have a ton of success against the Vikings pass rush. Besides, corner back Antoine Winfield could be returning this week.

Read on for the rest of the rankings and some quick notes:

1. Tom Brady @ MIA
2. Peyton Manning vs. TEN (Upset special ?)
3. Philip Rivers @ CLE
4. Drew Brees @ WAS
5. Matt Schaub @ JAC
6. Brett Favre @ AZ
7. Aaron Rodgers vs. BAL
8. Donovan McNabb @ ATL
9. Carson Palmer vs. DET
10. Tony Romo @ NYG
11. Jay Cutler vs. STL (Start )
12. Vince Young @ IND
13. Ben Roethlisberger vs. OAK
14. Matt Hasselbeck vs. SF
15. Kyle Orton @ KC
16. Eli Manning vs. DAL (Sit )
17. Alex Smith @ SEA
18. David Garrard vs. HOU
19. Joe Flacco @ GB
20. Matt Leinart vs. MN
21. Kurt Warner vs. MN
22. Jason Campbell vs. NO
23. Josh Freeman @ CAR
24. Chad Henne vs. NE
25. Matt Cassel vs. DEN   
26. Chris Redman vs. PHI
27. Matt Moore vs. TB
28. Kyle Boller @ CHI
29. Brady Quinn vs. SD
30. Matthew Stafford @ CIN
31. Bruce Gradkowski @ PIT

Notes: The top nine quarterbacks this week are either must-starts due to their elite play, and/or their savory Week 13 match-up. However, a few of the match-ups still have some major question marks.

Carson Palmer has a match-up against an awful Lions secondary that you just can’t pass up, however, he hasn’t done jack through the air to provide much optimism since his five-touchdown dismantling of the Chicago Bears. He should go off, but be weary of his recent mediocrity.

Matt Schaub is ranked above Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, and Donovan McNabb, and this is possible only because of a very nice match-up with the beatable Jacksonville Jaguars defense, as has less to do with his play of late, which hasn’t been encouraging.

Our sleeper for this week is Jay Cutler, who we like to emerge from his funk and have a nice outing against the lowly Rams. It should still be a close game, because neither team is very good, but Cutler should connect on some long balls with Johnny Knox and Devin Hester to give him solid QB1 value this week. Start him over Vince Young , Matt Hasselbeck, Kyle Orton, and Alex Smith, if only by a hair.

For more Fantasy Rankings and other Fantasy Football advice, go to NFL Soup

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Fantasy Football Week 13 Rankings: Tight Ends

It’s not every week that you can walk into a match-up with an opponent and safely say your tight end will drop 10+ catches, 100+ yards, and one or more scores. No, not unless you have Dallas Clark or one of our other top seven tight ends this week, and even then you’re doing a lot of praying before the results come in.

With losses like Owen Daniels and Chris Cooley for the season, certain players under-performing (Jason Witten), and the depth at tight end as a fantasy position being very thin, it’s important to know which tight end to play each week.

We still like Houston’s James Casey as a sleeper, although he doesn’t make the list this week. Read on for the rankings and some analysis on who does:

1. Antonio Gates @ CLE
2. Dallas Clark vs. TEN
3. Vernon Davis @ SEA
4. Brent Celek @ ATL
5. Jason Witten @ NYG   
6. Tony Gonzalez vs. PHI
7. Visanthe Shiancoe @ AZ
8. Greg Olsen vs. STL
9. Heath Miller vs. OAK
10. Kellen Winslow @ CAR
11. Jermichael Finley vs. BAL
12. Zach Miller @ PIT (Start )
13. Jeremy Shockey @ WAS
14. Kevin Boss vs. DAL
15. Fred Davis vs. NO
16. John Carlson vs. SF

Notes: All of our top four guys should have huge days, as their roles are either way too tempting to ignore, or their match-ups are too friendly for them to not go off.

We’re barely going with Antonio Gates over Dallas Clark (who should be active), but the Browns can’t stop anyone in any facet on defense, so we expect Gates to have one of his better days of the year. The same goes for Brent Celek, who is facing an Atlanta defense that simply gets routinely destroyed by tight ends.

Greg Olsen has a terrific match-up against the Rams this week , so start him (along with Jay Cutler), and take a flier on Visanthe Shiancoe. He may be dealing with a rib injury he sustained in a valiant effort last week, but the Cardinals are weak against tight ends, and Brett Favre loves him in the red-zone.

John Carlson is our wild card at the unusual 16th spot in the tight end rankings, simply because he has so much darn talent, and we’re banking on Seattle passing more than running, especially with the inept likely returning.

For more player rankings and player breakdowns , head over to NFLSoup.com

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Week 13 NFL Fantasy Player Breakdowns

Week 12’s Monday night game showed exactly why we break-down match-ups and dissect players’ value each week .

Both the New Orleans Saints and New England Patriots had a bunch of players worth mentioning, and the Saints ended up having six different players score a touchdown.

That means, regardless of your opinion on any of those specific players, six different fantasy options came out of that one game from one team.

The Patriots only managed to put up 17 points in a Saints’ blow-out, and both touchdowns came from Laurence Maroney.

Regardless, it’s become very clear that staying on top of match-ups, whether by team or individual, can pay off immensely in your quest for victory, and ultimately a spot in your league’s playoffs .

Read on for comments and star ratings on relevant players for Week 13 :

St. Louis Rams @ Chicago Bears

QB Kyle Boller: Bears pass defense stinks, but so does he. **
RB Steven Jackson: Should get plenty of carries as only true offensive weapon. *****
WR Donnie Avery: Has been fairly active, and nice match-up. ***
WR Brandon Gibson: Good match-up, but stunk it up last week. **
WR Danny Amendola: Wes Welker clone has looked very good. ***

QB Jay Cutler : Solid match-up, but only use him if you have to. ***
RB Matt Forte: Rams aren’t good against run, so he should be fine. ***
WR Devin Hester: Should easily bounce back from last week’s stinker. ***
WR Earl Bennett: Too inconsistent to rely on. **
WR Johnny Knox: Always a big-play threat, so worth a shot. **
TE Greg Olsen: Has turned into a reliable target, and nice match-up. ****

 

Houston Texans @ Jacksonville Jaguars

QB Matt Schaub: Very nice match-up, and he’s due. *****
RB Steve Slaton: Is starting and playing like a solid RB2. ****
RB Chris Brown: Has a nice role, so could work as a Flex. ***
RB Ryan Moats: Doesn’t have a role, so can’t expect much. *
WR Andre Johnson: Always a good play and this match-up bodes well. *****
WR Kevin Walter: Has been getting more looks, so a decent WR3. ***
TE James Casey: Role not growing, so don’t waste your time. *

QB David Garrard: Texans can be passed on, but he’s very inconsistent. **
RB Maurice Jones-Drew: Not an easy match-up, but he’ll be fine. *****
WR Mike Sims-Walker: Should get plenty of action as usual. ****
WR Torry Holt: Barely a WR3 with very little production and zero scores for 2009. **
TE Marcedes Lewis: Not a great option, so look elsewhere. *

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Carolina Panthers

QB Josh Freeman: Carolina pass defense is scary good, so find help somewhere else. **
RB Carnell Williams: Not a bad match-up, so could find RB2 numbers this week. ***
RB Derrick Ward: Has been decent and can be used as a Flex option. **
RB Earnest Graham: Role should be increasing, but nothing spectacular. *
WR Antonio Bryant: Is back and played well last week, so use him. ***
WR Sammie Stroughter: Not very reliable, and match-up doesn’t help. *
TE Kellen Winslow: Is a top tight end, and will be needed this week. ****

QB Matt Moore: He can’t be worse than Jake Delhomme, and match-up is nice. **
RB DeAngelo Williams: Check status, but great match-up. *****
RB Jonathan Stewart: Panthers will run all day, so he’ll get touches. ****
WR Steve Smith: Moore makes him questionable, but match-up helps. ***
WR Muhsin Muhammad:

Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs

QB Kyle Orton: Very nice match-up, and he’s due a solid game. ***
RB Knowshon Moreno: Should have a good day, and has played well. ****
RB Correll Buckhalter: Not as big of a role as some had expected. **
WR Brandon Marshall: Should terrorize Chiefs slow corners. *****
WR Eddie Royal: Not active at all, but has the potential. **
TE Tony Scheffler: Ditto. **

QB Matt Cassel: Broncos overall defense was solid last week, but he should play catch-up. ***
RB Jamaal Charles: Probably not in line for a good week, but role is solid. **
WR Chris Chambers: Should get plenty of looks, so a solid WR3. ***
WR Lance Long: Hasn’t done much, but still could do damage late. **

 

Tennessee Titans @ Indianapolis Colts

QB Vince Young: Has been OK, but match-up should limit him. **
RB Chris Johnson: Is red-hot, and Colts aren’t great against the run. *****
RB Lendale White: Very small role, so don’t use him. *
WR Kenny Britt: Broke-out last week, and should be active. ***
WR Nate Washington: Barely a WR3, but potential is there. **
TE Bo Scaife: Very small role, as Titans run all day. *

QB Peyton Manning: Facing a tough pass defense , but you have to use him. ****
RB Joseph Addai: Won’t get going against tough run defense, but could be active in screens. ***
RB Donald Brown: Role not big enough to use. *
WR Reggie Wayne: May not pile on the yardage, but will be very active. ****
WR Austin Collie: Should get more looks than usual underneath. ***
WR Pierre Garcon: He’s a bit shaky at times, but can go deep at any time. **
TE Dallas Clark: Should get a ton of looks with Manning facing solid pass defense. *****

Philadelphia Eagles @ Atlanta Falcons

QB Donovan McNabb: Falcons are bad against pass, so start him. *****
RB LeSean McCoy: Atlanta can’t stop the run, either, so nice play. ****
RB Leonard Weaver: Role is minimal, but can help if you’re hurting. **
WR DeSean Jackson: Concussion should keep him out this week.
WR Jeremy Maclin : Good match-up and extra targets with D-Jax out. *****
WR Jason Avant: Has been solid, so use him as a WR3. ***
WR Reggie Brown: Hasn’t started in forever, so fairly unpredictable. **
TE Brent Celek: Falcons can’t stop tight ends at all, so expect solid game. *****

QB Chris Redman: Looked good last week, so he has a chance. **
RB Jerious Norwood: Likely starter with Michael Turner out. ***
RB Jason Snelling: Role diminished last week, but could be a Flex this week. **
WR Roddy White: He’ll miss Matt Ryan, and match-up isn’t great. ***
WR Michael Jenkins: Could see ore targets with White doubled. **
TE Tony Gonzalez: Should be very active underneath. ****

 

New England Patriots @ Miami Dolphins

QB Tom Brady: Dolphins has two rookie corners, so do the math. *****
RB Laurence Maroney: Has scored in six straight weeks and counting. ****
RB Kevin Faulk: Role very inconsistent, so can’t trust him. **
WR Randy Moss: Owned them last time, so great play. *****
WR Wes Welker: Will bounce back from down game on Monday night. *****
WR Julian Edelman: Has been suiting up as third QB, so risky play. *
TE Benjamin Watson: Too inconsistent to trust. **

QB Chad Henne: Should be fine, but try to find another option. **
RB Ricky Williams: Will get the ball a ton and Patriots aren’t amazing against run. ****
RB Lex Hilliard: Should get some touches, but not a big enough role to use. *
WR Davone Bess: Only consistent receiving option, and he’s not even that great. **

 

New Orleans Saints @ Washington Redskins

QB Drew Brees: Redskins pass defense isn’t scary anymore, and he’s rolling. *****
RB Pierre Thomas: Redskins are’t stopping the run on an elite level, so go with him. ****
RB Mike Bell: He has a nice role and gets some goal-line duty, so good Flex play. ***
RB Reggie Bush: Status unknown, and role can’t be trusted. *
WR Marques Colston: Has re-established himself as a top-five receiver. *****
WR Devery Henderson: Is inconsistent, but can break a big one at any moment. ***
WR Robert Meachem: Yardage hasn’t been consistent, but scoring has. ***
TE Jeremy Shockey: Hasn’t had a huge role lately, so he could be due. **

QB Jason Campbell: If the run game gets going, he has a chance. **
RB Rock Cartwright: He’s not flashy, but the touches are all his. ***
WR Santana Moss: Very unreliable, but he’s their best bet. **
TE Fred Davis: If Moss is shut down, he could get a ton of looks. **

 

Oakland Raiders @ Pittsburgh Steelers

QB Bruce Gradkowski: Steelers pass defense is dealing with injuries, but he’s a Raider. **
RB Darren McFadden: Steelers stop the run very well, but he has big-lay ability. **
RB Michael Bush: Tough match-up, but not a horrible role. **
RB Justin Fargas: Ditto. **
TE Zach Miller : Only receiving option worth using , and even he is inconsistent. ***

QB Ben Roethlisberger: Should play this week, but facing tough corners. ***
RB Rashard Mendenhall: Oakland can’t stop the run at all, so he should shine. *****
WR Hines Ward: Raiders secondary is stingy, but he could get short throws. ***
WR Santonio Holmes: Might make something happen, but aim low. ***
WR Mike Wallace: Probably the best bet to make something happen. **
TE Heath Miller: Could be very active with secondary shutting down receivers. ***

For the rest of this week’s fantasy player match-ups and breakdowns, go here .

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NFL Quick Hits for 12/4: Fantasy Football Injury Updates

Michael Turner to be Inactive for Week 13

Turner rushed back last week and it got him right back where he was the week before, so the Falcons are doing the right thing by holding him out again.

It’s not like there will be a ton of running room against a solid Philadelphia Eagles run defense, anyways. Jerious Norwood will likely get the start, and both he and Jason Snelling have the potential to serve as decent flex plays this week, regardless of the match-up.

 

DeSean Jackson Ruled Out for Sunday

He had just about ruled himself out earlier in the week, so this isn’t a huge surprise. He didn’t practice all week, but there is already talk that he should be good to go for week 14.

Rumor has it that cast-off Reggie Brown will start in his place, but the only two Philadelphia receivers this writer is promoting are Jeremy Maclin and Jason Avant. Maclin should be in for a huge game, while Avant has been producing consistent numbers, and is a safe bet for a solid amount of targets on Sunday .

 

Mark Sanchez Has PCL Sprain, May Not Miss Any Time

Sanchez is being told that this is an injury that can be played with, and it will simply come down to his comfort level and his ability to play through the pain. Considering that Kellen Clemens is a huge downgrade (and that’s saying a lot), you can bet that Sanchez will rest all week and make his 13th consecutive start in week 14.

The Jets are relying heavily on a ground game that has been extremely effective, so it won’t be as big of a risk as the papers will hype it up to be.

 

Steve Slaton to Miss Week 13 Action

Slaton is apparently dealing with numbness in his arms related to a neck injury that was not previously known to the public, and will not play in week 13’s game.

This elevates Chris Brown’s status considerably, as he will start, and Ryan Moats will back him up. Brown is a solid second running back this week, with Moats carrying flex play potential.

 

DeAngelo Williams Iffy for Week 13

He’s been questionable just about every week for the past three to four games, so we’re not too worried about his status. However, he has missed three straight days of practice.

You’ll definitely have to check his status all the way up until game time, but we just can’t see him sitting out against a very tasty Tampa Bay matchup.

 

Kurt Warner Still Uncertain to Play in Week 13

Warner is still dealing with some post-concussion issues, reportedly still having some mild sensitivity to light. His headaches and the pain in his neck are gone, but the final symptom is clinging to his head, which is delaying a final verdict on whether he will play or not.

He’d be wise to sit another week, regardless of how huge week 13 ‘s match with Minnesota is, as a return could prompt another head injury and ruin his season. Just looking at Clinton Portis and Brian Westbrook this season, there’s no such thing as a team or player being “too” safe. That’s right, Hines Ward, we’re talking to you .

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NFL Quick Hits (Dec. 2nd): Reggie Bush Not a Part Of The Saints Plans?

Reggie Bush May Not be a Saint in 2010

Bush has fallen out of the elite tole he once had in the Saints backfield and isn’t even a marquee player as a receiver anymore. He did shine in his last game three weeks ago, but is battling knee issues once again, as he has for the past two seasons.

The Saints are reportedly likely to cut their losses and move on, as they have plenty of “actual” running backs that can step up in place of the over-hyped star.

Jamal Lewis to be Shut Down For 2009?

Rumors are circling Lewis, who wasn’t at Wednesday’s practice, that he could be done for the season . Lewis has battled on-going injuries all season, mainly to his ankle and hamstring, and had said earlier in the season that he wanted to retire.

This isn’t the best way to send out a running back, but back-up Chris Jennings has been impressive in spot duty this year, and Eric Mangini might consider taking the fast-track to making his offense more explosive.

Ben Roethlisberger Expected Back For Week 13

Roethlisberger has been cleared by medical professionals and appears set to re-enter the Steelers starting line-up this week.

Big Ben was getting some criticism from Hines Ward for playing it safe and sitting out last week’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens, so maybe his return will appease his star wide receiver.

His presence doesn’t necessarily mean offensive fireworks, however, as Pittsburgh will be going up against a stingy Oakland Raiders secondary.

Clinton Portis Done For Season?

Portis voiced his uncertainty about his progress from a concussion he sustained weeks ago, and suggested in a radio interview that it may be best for him to sit out the remainder of the 2009 season.

We concur, as it’s a risk as it is, and the Redskins aren’t in any shape at 3-8 to think about the playoffs. If they plan on bringing Portis back as their feature back again next year, extra rest could do wonders for his banged-up legs.

DeSean Jackson Not Looking Good For Week 13

D-Jax was open about his feelings about playing this week, saying that he blacked out after sustaining a concussion last week, and that he didn’t feel he “could go” in Week 13.

If he can’t make it this week, the Eagles are reportedly considering Reggie Brown as the starter opposite of Jeremy Maclin, while third receiver Jason Avant, who has been impressive lately, should get some decent grind.

Atlanta Cuts Jason Elam, Signs Matt Bryant

Elam, 40, has been very under-whelming for much of the season, as he’s missed four field goals from 39-yards or close, and had missed two field goals in the last three weeks.

Bryant is a fairly safe option, and should be able to field decent fantasy production. However, with the Falcons facing the Eagles without both Matt Ryan and Michael Turner, you may want to wait a week to use him.

 

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Minnesota Vikings Are NFL’s Team To Beat

Keep talking about that “inevitable” match-up between the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts . It’s not going to happen.

It’s not that the Saints and Colts aren’t great teams. They are. They haven’t lost a game, and for good reason. They have high-powered offenses, great quarterbacks, and good coaching.

But it takes quite a bit of luck to be where they are, too. And sometimes, even after you filter through all the biases fans have for their favorite team or players, we still find a way to skip over the flaws teams of their stature have.

That’s not to say the Minnesota Vikings don’t have flaws. Naturally, every team in the NFL makes mistakes, and short of the 1972 Miami Dolphins, every team, in every other season in the history of the league, loses.

But just because the Colts and Saints haven’t met their match (even though it’s arguable they had a few times), it doesn’t mean they are the top two teams, and it definitely doesn’t mean either of them are going to the Super Bowl.

Just ask the 18-0 2007 New England Patriots. Go sit down and have conversation with that 15-1 Minnesota Vikings team that lost to the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship game over a decade ago.

They’ll all say the same thing. Any team can win when everything is on the line.

But this is regurgitation. This is a biased argument coming from a Minnesota Vikings and Brett Favre fan. This is a bunch of crap. Right?

Perhaps, but one might be inclined to start favoring Minnesota when you think about who you’ll be betting on in Vegas. Or who you pick in your office pool. Or who you vouch for in front of your family members.

With any argument, it’s best to weigh the pro’s and con’s before tying yourself to a sinking ship:

 

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts are a damn good football team. They’re led by arguably the best quarterback in the league in Peyton Manning, and have shown time and time again how easily they can erase a big deficit, and how easily they can blow an inferior team out of the water.

Their pass defense, although now marred by several injuries, was at one point in this season a very feared group. While they are nowhere near where they were, that pass defense and pass rush is still an elite unit that is doing a fine job. They’ll give up big plays, but they still have the ability to clamp down and stop elite offenses.

This is seen best in two games, where they were obliterated (but survived ) against the New England Patriots, and then came back from a first half deficit against the Houston Texans, and swallowed up Matt Schaub in the second half.

So, take them for what you will in the pro’s side. They can move the ball through the air with the best of them, they protect their quarterback as good as anybody, and when they aren’t facing a dominant passing offense that is on the top of it’s game, they still aren’t too shabby.

However, in just two sentences, these same “dominant” Colts could, and very likely will, dash all the hopes and dreams of a 19-0 season, and ultimately kill a vision of another Super Bowl ceremony:

They can’t run the ball against elite run defenses. And they can’t stop the run.

This doesn’t mean they can’t reach the Super Bowl, but it has strong implications that they won’t win.

Both the Vikings and Saints, easily the top two NFC teams, can run the ball at an elite level, protect their quarterback, and throw the ball extremely well.

This means the Colts would be forced to stop the Saints and Vikings, concentrating on both offensives sides of the ball, while also facing an elite run defense in Minnesota, and a very good Saints pass defense.

Verdict : This Colts defense looked very good to start the season, but ultimately, it won’t be able to shutdown an opposing team that can run and pass the ball better than they can on an overall level. That, and you simply won’t win a championship if you can’t run the ball better than they do.

 

New Orleans Saints

The Saints have the top scoring offense in the league. They’ve destroyed the New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants, and they haven’t lost a game. The Colts say “ditto”, but Indianapolis can’t match their strong (and versatile) rushing attack.

However, as elite as their entire offense is, and as good as their pass defense is, the Saints Super Bowl hopes ultimately hang on one man: Sedrick Ellis.

Without him, their run defense is absolute trash, and they find it incredibly difficult to put away teams like the St. Louis Rams, Carolina Panthers, and Miami Dolphins.

If New Orleans faces Minnesota in the playoffs, they will have their hands full. Adrian Peterson would have a field day, and even if he didn’t, Brett Favre (who is just a tiny bit better than Marc Bulger, Jake Delhomme, and Chad Henne) would carve their supposedly elite pass defense to bits.

If Ellis returns to an elite level, it’s likely to be a different story.

But then there’s the matter of Drew Brees being rattled, his playoff history, and the possible elite pass rush the Saints would have to protect him against.

People can talk about Jared Allen being over-rated because the majority of his 2009 sacks have come against the Green Bay Packers, but there is no denying his tenacity and overall presence on that line.

Throw in the Williams Wall against the Saints rush offense, and the trip to the Super Bowl will likely ride completely on Drew Brees’ arm.

For an 11-0 team that just blew away a supposedly elite Patriots team, those seem to be too many flaws to simply ignore.

Verdict: It’s not that it’s impossible for the Saints to get past the Vikings (or a different team). It would be crazy to suggest so. However, their regular season record won’t stop Jared Allen, Adrian Peterson, or Brett Favre. And if their rush offense struggles against the Williams Wall, like just about every other rush offense has, they’ll be in a heap of trouble.

 

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings aren’t “perfect” like the Colts and Saints. They fell to last year’s champion, the Pittsburgh Steelers, needed some Brett Favre magic to get past San Francisco, and survived a late field goal miss to get past the Ravens.

But if we knock them for those short-comings, then we’d simply have to go right back to the Colts and Saints schedules, and nit-pick over every close game, lucky break, or missed/made field goal.

The fact is, these Vikings are the most balanced team in football, and when everything is on the line, the team that gets it done in all three facets on a consistent basis is almost always the team that wins the Super Bowl.

Elite quarterback and passing attack? Check. Elite running back and rush offense? Check. Elite special teams? Check. Elite run defense and pass rush? Double check

The only area of concern for Minnesota is their pass defense, which misleads experts and suggests that they struggle more than they do, as a lot of the yardage they’ve given up over 11 games has come late in games when the game has already been decided.

If you give Favre and the Vikings a break for the first 3-4 weeks, as Favre worked himself into game-shape and built chemistry with his teammates, then you’d notice that he and his offense have had just one poor showing in their last seven outings.

And that game came against Pittsburgh, on the road, and wasn’t decided until late in the game.

Anyone can go all day with the “what if’s” for every game that these three teams have played, while the fact still remains that the Saints and Colts are undefeated, and the Vikings have one loss. That hasn’t changed.

But neither has the fact that the Vikings are the most solid, balanced team in football, while the Saints and Colts are getting all the hype and glory for remaining perfect through 11 games.

That’s probably okay with the Vikings, though.

With an interesting match-up on the road against the Arizona Cardinals coming this Sunday, and a game with the Cincinnati Bengals left on their schedule, this team figures to enter the playoffs battle-tested, and barring any unforeseen injuries, even more prepared to knock both of these unscathed teams from their pedestals.

That is, of course, if someone else doesn’t do it first .

 

 

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