Monthly Archives: December 2008

theRUNDOWN: Week 16

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What is theRUNDOWN? I pick my best team of the week, some nice plays with a few reasons to back up my picks. I’ll list a few sleepers and some guys I wouldn’t play unless I had nobody else, we call these splinter butts because of their need to be benched – This is theRUNDOWN for Week 16.

QB: Jay Cutler vs. Buffalo: If the Broncos win this game they go to the playoffs. If they lose this one, and the Chargers win, they play a loser out game in Week 17 against San Diego. Jay Cutler comes to play on Sunday, that’s my bet.

RB: Maurice Jones Drews vs. Indianapolis: There won’t be many that think Jacksonville has a chance, but I’ll be one. Why do they have a chance? Because this guy could touch the ball 30 times. If that happens, look out Indy.

RB: Matt Forte vs. Green Bay: I know he hurt his foot and had a terrible game last week, but this kid is very good, and he plays a Packers defense that isn’t. What else? This is must win time for the Bears.

FLEX: Thomas Jones vs. Seattle: If Eric Mangini knows what’s good for him, he’ll give the ball to TJ 25+ times. If he continues to be an idiot, this pick won’t look as good as the Adrian Peterson pick I almost made.

WR: Andre Johnson vs. Oakland: Because he’s the best around, that’s why.

WR: Randy Moss vs. Arizona: People forget that the Patriots are playing for their playoff lives too. Randy should be targeted in double digits against Arizona’s suspect secondary.

TE: Tony Gonzalez vs. Miami: Part of me wants to take John Carlson here, but Tony is just so good. I’ll stick with the old savvy veteran.

K: Josh Brown vs. San Francisco: I wanted to take Nedney, but I think St. Louis will have drives stopped short of the end-zone. San Francisco might just have 4-5 touchdowns.

D: Pittsburgh vs. Tennessee: I think the Steelers shut down the Titans, and make Kerry Collins throw. That means interceptions. That means sacks.

PAPA’S Week 15 SLEEPERS

Tyler Thigpen: Miami doesn’t scare me away from Thigpen, a couple super fantasy bowls will rest in his hands.

Dan Orlovsky: He has a big game and the Lions win – I like both to happen on Sunday.

Shaun Hill: I don’t know why the 49ers would pass, but they probably will, and Hill always seems to manage some points. All three of these guys are solid starts.

Pierre Thomas: You should own this guy. He’s about to be New Orleans’ horse in a Detroit game. He might be a Top 5 start this week. So he probably doesn’t belong here, but I’m doing it for the grades!

Kevin Smith: This guy is the #1 most important guy for Lion hopes. I think he comes through with a big game this week against New Orleans.

Leon Washington: I don’t think Seattle has the linebacking speed to stay with Leon, I don’t know if anyone does, but they definitely don’t. I think the Jets will game plan for that bit. If you need a deep flex, you might give him a shot.

Kevin Walter: If the best corner in the league stays with Andre Johnson all day, that means big things for Mr. Walter.

Devin Hester: I have a lot of the same guys as last week, but Hester looks real good, especially with the way Green Bay has been giving up a ton of passing yards recently. Hester looks good lately.

Tory Holt: The Niners are tougher against the run than you’d think – but they are not the best secondary, that’s for sure. I think Holt has a chance to have a nice week.

Jeremy Shockey: He’s been bad, hardly even startable, but I think he has a nice week in 16.

Miami Dolphins: If you need someone here, take a chance on the Dolphins, they could make some big plays against the Chiefs.

Papa’S Week 15 Splinter-Butts (bench him, son)

Tony Romo: I wouldn’t play anyone from Dallas this week, and I think Tony has the best chance to score points. I’m guessing he has 200 yards 1 TD and 2 INTs. Not the worst ever, but you can find better.

LaDainian Tomlinson: I like Kevin Smith, Justin Fargas, McFadden, and Ronnie Brown (among others) better than LT this week. I have a feeling the Bucs have a run-stuffing week up their sleeves.

Maurice Morris: The Jets haven’t been as good against the run and Maurice Morris has been a solid play of late. Those two things will both play out differently this week in Seattle.

Santonio Holmes: I have a feeling that the Steelers will be running the ball more on Sunday. That won’t give Holmes many targets, and he looks like a 2 catches for 20 yards guy to me.

NFL Free Picks: Week 16

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Two more weeks before the playoffs folks, and I might as well go ahead and bolster my record in what looks like one of my best seasons ever. There are a lot of tough (tight) games heading into Week 16, a lot of teams playing for their playoff lives. If you love this game, you have to love that. This is how I have it breaking down in Week 16.

Thursday Night

Indianapolis Colts (-6) @ Jacksonville Jaguars: The Colts aren’t good, but the Jaguars are worse. How the Colts managed to get to 10-4 and absolutely beyond me. This is a team that beat Cleveland 10-6, lost to Green Bay by 20, snuck past Houston by 6, San Diego by 3, and was tied at 21 with the Lions in the 4th quarter last week. I also don’t think the Colts are worthy of being a 6 point favorite on the road in a conference match-up. But, and there are buts, the Jaguars aren’t good enough to beat anybody twice in a season, and they already snaked the Colts in Indy in Week 3. One could argue that the Jaguars don’t have anything to play for, and I would say, you’re right! And they won’t. They won’t play for anything. Pride? That’s already out the window. The Colts win by a couple touchdowns, even on a weird Thursday night in Jacksonville, and even though 70% of the betting public are riding the Colts.

Saturday Night

Baltimore Ravens (+4.5) @ Dallas Cowboys: I think the Ravens are tougher than the Cowboys. Defensively and offensively. The Ravens have had a great year while the Cowboys have struggled to meet expectations – but both teams sit at 9-5 with their playoff lives resting in the balance. And I think toughness wins out. The 4.5 points doesn’t hurt, that’s for sure, especially for a team that has just two losses by more than 4 points this season. This one should be a defensive battle, especially the way these two teams have been playing, but I don’t see Dallas running on Baltimore, and I see the will of the Ravens winning out in Dallas.

Sunday

Cincinnati Bengals (+3.5) @ Cleveland Browns: I don’t think Ken Dorsey is worth a bet. Cedric Benson, of all people, is absolutely carrying this offense. The Browns are hurting and lost and their coach is done after the season. This game is gross. That’s all I’ve got.

New Orleans Saints @ Detroit Lions (+7.5): This is the Lions best chance. But how could the Saints lose to the 0-14 Lions? Because someone has to, right? Ugh. Get this, the Lions haven’t won a game at home all season long – crazy. Even worse, they’ve been terrible in Detroit, probably because their fans are hoping to see history and cheering accordingly. But the Lions respect their coach, and they are working their Ace’s off to get just one win. A Saints team that slips from concentration could be their hope. I doubt it, but this game will be close. I’m not sure which team will be playing with more pressure – the team that doesn’t want to lose to the winless team or the team that is winless. Either way, I’m intrigued. I’m not a Saints guy, and I’m leaving my money on the Lions to make this one close.

Miami Dolphins (-4) @ Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs have covered 6 of their last 8 games, including 4 road losses by a touchdown or less. They are playing good, but I don’t think they cover against Miami, even in an icy KC environment. Chad Pennington has been there before and the Dolphins need this one bad. I know KC is a tough place to play, but the Chiefs are 1-6 there and they’ve played poorly in 2 of their last 3 home games, losing all three of course. The Dolphins are 4-2 on the road, and while they haven’t whooped the bad teams this season (2pt win at home against Oakland, 2 point win at home against Seattle, 4 point win at St. Louis, 5 point win at home against San Francisco) they have won. There’s something to be said about that. What else? Well, this Chiefs team can’t stop the run, (unless they are playing the Chargers), and the Dolphins will do their best to test that fact. I see the Dolphins winning by a touchdown in a game that has more scoring than you’d think.

Arizona Cardinals (+9) @ New England Patriots: I don’t think the Patriots are nine points better than the Cardinals, but this is definitely an interesting match-up. The Patriots usually do well against teams that they can gang up on. I mean teams that do one thing well. That’s Arizona to a T. They play run defense alright and they pass the ball well. But they don’t have a solid secondary and they can’t run worth beans. Still, I like this game to be closer because of how terrible the Cardinals have played of late. They aren’t that bad, and it should right itself a little bit in New England this week.

San Francisco 49ers (-4.5) @ St. Louis Rams: Again, I’m liking the Niners over the Rams. I’ve liked the Niners since Samari Mike took over, and I still do. They play tough and run the ball. The Rams play soft and can’t stop the run. The 49ers are favorites in St. Louis, and that’s weird, but I have to take them here. A 7 point win by the Niners looks right on.

Pittsburgh Steelers (pk) @ Tennessee Titans: The Titans are hurting right now, and the Steelers are as tough a defense as the Titans will face. Both teams should be spitting blood after this game, but that’s a good thing for a Steelers group that is accustomed to winning ugly.

San Diego Chargers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-3): This is easy for me. Tampa has struggled stopping the run lately, but only on the road. It’s always weird to think about, because for me it shouldn’t matter, but the Bucs play much better defense at home. I don’t think the Chargers have much of a chance in this one, maybe next year.

Buffalo Bills (+7.5) @ Denver Broncos: Mainly because the Broncos don’t deserve to be heavily favored ever, especially against a team that can run the ball with some toughness and consistency. As always, this game scares me, but that’s because the Broncos are playing in it and Splinter is coaching them. The Bills don’t have much to play for, except maybe to play spoiler, but the Broncos win and they don’t have to worry about the Chargers next week. That would be huge for them. I don’t know if that will make them play better or worse. Hmm… I’m taking more than a touchdown against the Broncos, and I feel good about doing so.

Houston Texans (-7) @ Oakland Raiders: Oakland’s leftover Lane Kiffin staff members left for Tennessee this week. Haha. I don’t know about the Texans flying to California and playing on the West Coast as a 7 point favorite, but I do know that I’d love to see Al Davis’s dying hopes and dreams seep from his high chair/phone book seat/owner’s box as the 7-7 come in and obliterate his infamous Raiders. (Warning, this may be a pick based solely on hatred and cruelty – Houston is a terrible road team – but come on, this is too good to pass up, right?)

New York Jets (-4.5) @ Seattle Seahawks: Like the Patriots last week, I think the Jets fix their west coast problems with one single trip. Sure, the Jets have really stunk it up on the west coast, but too much focus has to be on this game, and I don’t see them struggling against the Hawks. The Jets as a road favorite haven’t been a good bet this season, but that changes here.

Atlanta Falcons (+3.5) @ Minnesota Vikings: This is a very tough match-up for the Vikings. I know the Falcons aren’t the best road team in the league, but they are solid, and they match up well against teams that aren’t much of a threat through the air. Chalk the Vikings up as one of those teams. The Vikings defense is hurting a little bit, and I think that opens things up a little bit for Micheal Turner and the Falcons. Atlanta has played too well to let everything go with a poor performance here. A little more than a field goal sounds good to me.

Philadelphia Eagles (-4.5) @ Washington Redskins: The Redskins have really struggled down the stretch, but they can definitely give the Eagles some troubles. That being said, I don’t see Washington sweeping Philly this season. Not the way they’ve been playing lately, in both cases. Washington seems a little down on their luck, and while they are still playing well defensively, maybe better than earlier in the year, their offense is just too stagnant to outscore the Eagles. It

Carolina Panthers @ New York Giants (-3): This could be a great game. Or the Panthers could be way outclassed. Or the Giants could continue their fall from grace, an example of their self inflicted wounds possibly? Hmmm. I like the Giants. I know the Panthers rushing attack is fierce. There is no doubt in my mind that DeAngelo and Jon Stewart are studs and they will both be a force in this league. However, they haven’t seen a defense quite like the Giants, and after beating the piss out of the Broncos, I’m not sure if they’re ready for that next level. I still think the Giants are legit. I’ll follow them by a field goal at home.

Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears (-4): The Packers haven’t swept a season series with the Bears in some time. The Bears have beaten the Packers in 4 of the last 6 match-ups. But those things don’t mean all that much. The Bears are great at home, winning 5 games and losing to only Tennessee and Tampa Bay (both by a touchdown or less). Chicago got annhilated by Aaron Rodgers and the Packers last time out, I see a redemption song being sung ala Bob Marley back in the day. Except this will be in extremely cold weather and without the aid of medical Marijuana.

NCAA Football Free Picks: Bowl Season 1

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Alright folks, I was going to try and break the bowl season into three different sections, and I was going to do a beautiful job doing it too. Then I decided to just go ahead and whip one hugemagnormous article with every single one of the 34 bowl games. Yikes. 34 bowl games? Yes sir, that’s a lot of football leading up to the National Championship – and that, well – that was going to be even better. But now, instead of that, I’m going to do 2 parts. The games before Christmas and the games after Christmas. It’s festive – go with it. I have to say it now though, I hate bowls and think an 8-16 team playoff with some non-championship bowl games is the way to make this thing work. 20 bowls and then a 16 team playoff with an actual champion at the end. That would make 35 games. On one, on one… Ready… break! Alright that’s all you get from me, now on to these blasted bowl games after every single team has basically had a month off to prepare for one single game. And to the winners go the spoils!!!

12-20-08

Navy Midshipmen (+3) @ Wake Forest Demon Deacons: The Deacons are definitely the favorite here. With fans and in the name game as well. But I think the Midshipmen would be in an even better bowl game had their senior quarterback, Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada, stayed healthy this season. Unfortunately for the Deacons, the leader of the Midshipmen is back in action, and since he left Navy has built a powerful defense to help supplement their powerful rushing attack. I know it’s tough to beat a team twice in a season, and that’s what Navy will have to do against Wake Forest, but I think it happens. Kaipo-Noa and his Navy teammates have lost two straight bowl games, and both were as close as they get. This is a team with strong will and great discipline – I don’t see them losing three straight bowl games.

Fresno State Bulldogs @ Colorado State Rams (+3): I have to go with Colorado State because there’s more excitement here. Talent? The Bulldogs do a peel-out runaway with that one, but that’s not what football and bowl games are all about. Neither team has been all that impressive, but it was the Bulldogs that were supposed to be great. They didn’t really beat anybody special, and always seemed to be in tight games against lesser opponents. The Rams will smack you in the mouth and they will be excited to be back in a bowl after missing the post season in each of the past two seasons. The Rams will get a shot at their first bowl win since 2001. But the Bulldogs are 4-1 in their last 5 bowl games under head coach Pat Hill, and while that might be something to worry about, I haven’t seen much trust or team play from the Bulldogs this season – so I’ll go against them here.

Memphis Tigers @ South Florida Bulls (-12): I actually kind of like that South Florida has lost 5 of their last 7 games after starting the season 5-0 and ranked 10th in the Nation. They’ve had an extremely disappointing season, especially with all the talent they got back. Memphis hasn’t lost many games by double digits this season, just twice, Mississippi to start the season and East Carolina in mid-October. Still, I like the Bulls to figure it out between losing a bunch of games and reflecting on their season. They have the talent to win this game by 4 touchdowns. I expect bigger things out of this South Florida team next season, and I have a feeling that they play like they were supposed to and handle Memphis in a game that will take place just 30 miles away from home for them. Home teams do well in bowl games, and this is about as close to home as the Bulls can get.

BYU Cougars @ Arizona Wildcats (-3): Both these offenses are pretty solid, but Arizona’s defense is better. Not consistent, but better. I think Arizona has as much potential as any other team in the Pac-10. They have tons of talent and athletes that can torment the Cougars. Also, this is the first bowl game these Wildcat players have been to in their careers. BYU has been to the Las Vegas Bowl 3 straight years, this is their 4th. There has to be something there. I like Arizona’s team more. BYU hasn’t beaten anybody that I would consider good. I know Arizona plays in the Pac 10, which isn’t good by any means, but this team is talented, much better than their 7-5 record insists. And BYU, they aren’t as good as 10-2 sounds. With more excitement and a little more to prove, I think Arizona takes this game and covers in Vegas.

10-21-08

Troy Trojans (-4) @ Southern Mississippi: Troy is a very good football team. They’ve taken one game on the chin pretty tough, a game against Oklahoma State a year after Troy upset the Cowboys. OK State doubled the Trojans up. Besides that, the Trojans have played pretty well in 3 other losses. They allowed a ton of points in the final quarter in a game they were way up on LSU and lost by 9. They lost by 18 to Ohio State, but that game was closer than the final score says. And they also lost by 1 to Louisiana-Monroe. The Trojans are very well coached, have a very tough-nosed run defense, and don’t make many mistakes on offense. Southern Miss’s Larry Fedora is a solid coach, but in his first year at the helm for Southern Miss, he might just have a tough time preparing for a month for one game. I like the Trojans better and they’ve done this before. They’ll be ready.

10-23-08

Boise State Broncos @ TCU Horned Frogs (-2.5): A lot goes into an undefeated season, and the Boise State Broncos have definitely done well this year. However, I think TCU is easily the toughest team Boise will have played this season, and that’s why this should be a great game. TCU is a scary defensive team and Boise State has a very tricky and well thought out offense. They’ve been good in Bowl games, no doubt about that, but I really think they’ve met their match with the TCU Horned Frogs. TCU’s defense is just too good. The Broncos will find running basically impossible, making them one dimensional against a defense that can really make some plays. TCU has two losses, to undefeated Utah on a game winning touchdown with 47 seconds left in the game and against Oklahoma. Give me the Horned Frogs in California.

10-24-08

Notre Dame Fighting Irish @ Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (pk): The Irish haven’t beaten a team with a winning record all season long. They are, and have been, one of the biggest disappointments in college football. Now they get to go to Hawaii, which is cool, but it also means they are playing the Rainbow Warriors. Not only do I think Hawaii is better than Notre Dame, but they get to play at home. They are used to the environment that will definitely be tough on the Fighting Irish. Well, not tough, but tough on their football play. I expect the Warriors to do even more damage to the Notre Dame name.

theRUNDOWN Review: Week 15

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It was an interesting week. Any time the Top 5 running backs have Pierre Thomas, Dominic Rhodes, Tashard Choice and Kevin Faulk listed as 1,2,4,5 – something weird is going on. Throw in Tarvaris Jackson as a top QB, things are just plain crazy. It was a good day for those that found a fill in running back late. Here’s how my team scored

QB: Kurt Warner vs. Minnesota: Kurt finished with 14 fantasy points, not what I was hoping for. The other guy I was considering, Drew Brees, only had 17, so I wasn’t going to be happy either way. Looks like I should have taken Tarvaris Jackson. Nice.
RB: DeAngelo Williams vs. Denver: 17 fantasy points for DeAngelo, this guy is legit. He’s become a sure thing every week.
RB: Matt Forte vs. New Orleans: Just 16 points for Forte, as he struggled after an early ankle roll.
FLEX: Brian Westbrook vs. Cleveland: I’m not too impressed with the Eagles offense, and in turn Brian’s production. He didn’t get into the end-zone, and his 9 points didn’t help me one bit.
WR: Larry Fitzgerald vs. Minnesota: Larry had 5 catches for 50+ and took home 10 points.
WR: Greg Jennings vs. Jacksonville: Greg only had a few catches for a few yards, but he did catch a TD – still 11 points, and 21 from two receivers is not a happy outing.
TE: Tony Gonzalez vs. San Diego: Tony had 18, finishing behind Dallas Clark’s huge week for the Colts. Still, nobody is as consistent and as good as Tony. He has 50 more fantasy points than any TE in the league.
K: Olindo Mare vs. St. Louis: Tough to throw my kicker of the week in Seattle’s offense, but why not? This guy is playing in St. Louis and the Hawks are bound to attempt 3 or 4 field goals.
D: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland: 3rd rated defense this weekend with 24 fantasy points. I felt good about this one for good reason.

PAPA’S Week 15 SLEEPERS

Tyler Thigpen: He was a top 10 guy once again, and his 30+ rushing yards and rushing TD got him to 20 points on the week. He helped me win yet another game and now I’m in the Super Fantasy Bowl.
Kyle Orton: I was excited about Kyle’s chances but he managed just 6 points. He was good enough down the stretch though, and two possible touchdown passes got pass interfered with and he didn’t get yards or the score. Those are the breaks.
Seneca Wallace: Seneca was bad in Week 15, especially in the first half. I’ll take F’s for him and Orton.
Pierre Thomas: Don’t mind this start, he was just the Top scoring running back in Week 15. Yhatzee. A+++
Kevin Smith: Smith was the 8th rated running back, finding plenty of holes against the Colts and being a huge part of the Lions offensive success. This kid will fly under the radar a little bit next season, don’t sleep on him. A
Jonathan Stewart: Well, at least he was better than the 4 stars that I listed. His 52 yards and a score got him 11. More than Parker, Lewis, or Barber.
Domenick Hixon: Hixon had 12 points, not great but not terrible either. C
Devin Hester: Hester’s awesome game didn’t translate to fantasy success, which is too bad. He finished out of the top 30, but is responsible for the Bears win, as his PI draws got the Bears into great position. If only Kyle could lead the wide open Hester. C
Bryant Johnson: BJ had 9 – not great, but just about what he’s been getting lately. In 4 of the last 5 he has at least 9 fantasy points. C
John Carlson: JC had 12 and was a Top 5 TE, I think he should be drafted as such heading into next season.
New England Patriots: The Pats finished just outside of the Top 10 at 11th overall this week. JaMarcus Russell played well for the Raiders, and if it weren’t for some early mistakes the game would have been much closer.

Papa’S Week 15 Splinter-Butts (bench him, son)

Marc Bulger: Well he was better than Seneca, but Tyler Thigpen and Chad Pennington were both better than him. Jeff Garcia didn’t play. Marc was better than I thought he’d be as he managed 16 fantasy points.
Tim Hightower: 5 rushes for 20 yards. 5 catches for 20 yards. Hardly an awesome outing, huh?
Jamal Lewis: Even worse than I though, Jamal had 14 carries for 32 yards, no scores either.
Randy Moss: Randy had just under 70 yards of receiving, but his 2 touchdowns made him a good start. Sorry about that one.

NFL Free Picks REVIEW: Week 15

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Well, I lost some tied some and won some, all by the hair on my chinny-chin-chin. And all being tallied I came out in a tie. Yes, that’s right Donovan, it’s possible for me to tie, and it sucks almost as bad as tying with the freaking Bengals. But here goes the review of where I went wrong, right, and absolutely no where. Here’s my 7-7-2 “Push me around in a red radio flyer” week.

New Orleans Saints @ Chicago Bears (-2.5): (WINNER) That 2.5 was just enough for me, but I’m pretty sure it was closer to pick em just prior to game time. This was an interesting one as I expected a lot more out of the Bears’ offense. However, they didn’t need all that O as they held Drew Brees and company pretty much in check, battening down the hatches when they needed it most. It was a close one, but that seemed to be the way the weekend went.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+3) @ Atlanta Falcons: (Push) This is one where the early week pick hurt me. This line moved up to 5.5 for the Tampa Bay Bucs, and that would have been a nice win. As it finished, my +3 was just enough for an overtime push as Jason Elam snuck one in through the upper left upright. Those are the breaks of early picks. Hopefully you guys followed me late and got the win anyway.

Washington Redskins (-6.5) @ Cincinnati Bengals: (Loss) Not only did the Bengals cover, but they won. And how did they do it? Chad 85? Nope. TJ Houshmanzadeh? Nope, he had 3 grabs for 19 yards (thanks for the fantasy help TJ). It was Cedric freaking Benson blowing up for 160+ yards of total offense. You gotta love it when Ced Benson ousts your team from any sort of playoff hope. Awesome in a losing kind of way.

Tennessee Titans (-3) @ Houston Texans: (Loss) Well the field goal wouldn’t have won it for me, but I have a hard time believing that Rod Bironas can’t kick a 49 yarder and get it to the posts. I know it was windy, but really? Anyway, the Texans played tougher than I expected and Andre Johnson was big brothering cats like it was his job.

Detroit Lions (+18) @ Indianapolis Colts: (WINNER) One of my picks of the week, the Lions fought tough until the last snap – weird. Nobody wants to lose them all folks, but the Lions might just do that. They lost by 10, and covered by 8. It was a close game throughout as the Lions tied it late before giving up 10 straight to assure the loss.

Green Bay Packers (-1) @ Jacksonville Jaguars: (Loss) The Packers kind of pissed around all game long, but they were still up 13-7 headed into the 4th. Unlucky for them, they gave up 2 touchdowns in the final quarter and gave away a win over the Jags. Thanks for showing up Green Bay.

San Diego Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs (+6): (WINNER) Boy, the Chiefs can’t buy a win, but they always seem to play well enough to cover. That’s my kind of team. A last quarter surge helped the Chargers (and my fantasy hopes) as Philip Rivers took over the game that the running game failed to produce in. Still, this Charger team needs some help if they want to get back to respectability next season, and it’s going to start on the line.

San Francisco 49ers (+7) @ Miami Dolphins: (WINNER) Two tough teams that don’t score much. The 49ers are tough, and without their best player they still fought until the end with a chance to pull this one out. The Dolphins won but my 49ers covered the touchdown spread.

Buffalo Bills @ N.Y. Jets (-7): (Loss) The Jets were running away with this one early, but they continue to be one of the dumbest teams in the league. This team’s need to pass kind of makes me sick. Only 23 runs almost got them another loss – 35 should be their aiming point. At least 50-50 with passes. But they continue to throw the ball 30 times or more, and Brett continues to be the league leader in interceptions. Nice.

Seattle Seahawks (-3) @ St. Louis Rams: (Push) It was nice of the Seagulls to come out and actually play in the 2nd half. That was enough to get me the push here. That’s how bad the Rams are. On the other hand, this game was down to 1 point as the week dwindled toward kickoff and if you took the Hawks, you definitely got the win here. I hate taking teams that will lose spread points later in the week.

Minnesota Vikings @ Arizona Cardinals (-3): (Loss) Where have all the Cardinals gone? This team looks lost of late. Maybe they’ll turn it around against a Patriots team that is fighting tooth and nail for a playoff spot. Ha. They sure didn’t put up any kind of resistance this weekend against the Tarvaris Jackson led Vikings.

Pittsburgh Steelers (+2) @ Baltimore Ravens: (WINNER) An interesting game. An interesting final call. The Steelers get the win. I win as well. These are two very good teams, no doubt about that. They are both led by a defense wins championships mentality with an offense that grinds it out. This was as close as games get.

Denver Broncos (+9) @ Carolina Panthers: (Loss) My gut feeling was punched. The Panthers dominated this game, and once again, when they can run they can dominate. I thought Denver would play well as a huge dog, but they played like garbage. They dropped passes, threw the ball too much, and Jay Cutler wasn’t on his game. My gut lost one to my brain in this one, weird.

New England Patriots (-7) @ Oakland Raiders: (WINNER) “That may be the “smart pick” but something in me sees Bill Belichick realizing how crappy his team has played on West Coast trips and somehow working that in to practice to motivate them. Did I mention I hate Oakland?” The Patriots came out with guns a blazing, and the Raiders were helping them get into easy scoring situations. Randy tortured his former team to the tune of two touchdowns and an easy win for his team that isn’t run by a raging lunatic. I’m writing off Randy’s struggles in Oakland as an attempt for him to get the hell out of there. Consider his last season a success.

New York Giants (+3) @ Dallas Cowboys: (Loss) The Cowboys didn’t do much more than I thought they’d do. They were better defensively and their pressure on Ellie was too much for him to manage. A late safety gave the Boys some home, but in the end Tashard Choice was too much for the Giants. Crazy.

Cleveland Browns @ Philadelphia Eagles (-14): (WINNER) I had an eerie feeling that a couple late touchdowns might smack me in the face in this one, but the Browns offense still hasn’t scored in 250+ minutes of game time, and that was just enough to get the Eagles a 20 point win. That also got me a W – and a much needed one at that. I pushed, but it turns out that I don’t lose any games because of it.

Ask Papa Weimer: Week 15

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Darnell from his Iphone writes, “Actually there are 2 questions. 1) I have Derrick Ward starting in place of Brandon Jacobs and Larry Johnson. Good move or no? 2) Between these 4 WR’s, which ONE should get the start? Torry Holt, Laveraneus Coles, Kevin Curtis, Derrick Mason…”

Tough one. Larry Johnson plays a mediocre Chargers defense, and he has a history of torching them even when they were good. But Derrick Ward seems in line to get all the touches for the Giants, and even though the Cowboys have a solid run defense, that is a nice thing to have. I would keep your eye on Brandon Jacobs health, but if Jacobs is out then Ward is the guy I would go with as well.

As for the receivers, I’m not sure where to go here. Coles would seemingly be the best bet against a 28th ranked pass defense, but he’s been garbage and Brett has been erratic. I’d say he should be your upside pick though, at any moment he could have a couple touchdowns and nearly 100 yards.

Kevin Curtis hasn’t been a nice starting option all year, I don’t think I’d risk my fantasy playoffs on him – even though you never know.

Torry Holt – this guy only reminds me of my hatred for Marc Bulger and this pathetic offense. However, he has been more consistent lately, and they are going up against a Seahawks team that hasnt’ been good through the air. He’s had at least 60 yards and 4 catches in 3 of his last 4 games. He didn’t have the best game against Seattle last time out, but that doesn’t mean much. He’s a decent option this week.

Derrick Mason – this guy is probably your safest bet. He has good games against tough pass defenses (Giants, Colts) and in Week 4, the Pittsburgh Steelers. In that game he went for 137 yards on 8 catches, and while I wont’ expect that kind of total, I do expect him to approach 100 yards, more than I expect from any of these other guys. Picking a startin WR from a pretty average group is a tough gig, I had to do it last week and started Bernard Berrien over Housh – I lost because of it.

David wrote in, “Last week I agreed with you that that Portis would probably be my best bet, but I had Choice and Branch sitting on my bench. If I started either one I would have won. Oh well! I was going to play both but I figured Portis to play the whole game and Santana to catch a few passes. Zorn is not one of my favorites right now. Now to my question. Which defense would you play this week? Reasons and rank them if you could. Green Bay, Wash., Seattle. Also,”would you start Bess over Moss with sure 7-9 points or gamble on Santana against Cinn this week end?”

David, sorry for the bum info on Portis and Moss – I figured both would get their shots, and I’m still hating Zorn myself. Hopefully I can help you out this week. I think I’d start Washington and hope for the best.

Washington plays the Bengals, and the Redskins should beat a bad team. They have playmakers on defense as I expect a couple interceptions and some big plays from Jason Taylor and company.

Green Bay isn’t a good run defense, and they go up against a jaguars team that just hasn’t played up to par – could be a shoot out.

Seattle has St. Louis, and while I like that match-up, the Hawks just don’t make enough fantasy points happen defensively (Offensively either for that matter, but we’re talking defense here). No big plays, with Kerney out there’s less sacks. At least Washington has some secondary playmakers, and Jason Taylor – plus Randel El could always bust a punt return or something.

The Moss gamble is exactly that, a gamble – I think I’d go for Moss, but I’m a gambler in fantasy circles. I know SF is a lowly rated pass defense and a pretty solid run defense- so maybe Chad will throw even more this Sunday – that might push you toward Bess – however, Moss could always be Moss, and while I just don’t think the Redskins will be forced to pass all that much, they also have nothing to lose by airing it out a little. Tough call, but I’d start Santana.

Three for Thursday

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1. Dominic Rhodes is a guy that I was considering picking up to start, even with Joseph Addai banged up a little bit and probable to start. Now that Addai is wilting away more and more as the week moves forward, I think Rhodes might be one of the best pick ups there is, especially in a PPR league. You’re talking about a guy that is basically a guarantee to catch five balls, and he’s going up against the Lions defensive front. Sign me up for that party, please.

2. I was asked on a Radio show if I would start Brett Favre against one of the weaker defensive secondaries in the league? It’s a tough call, but you should only do it if you are feeling lucky. After two terrible weeks against terrible defenses, you’d think Brett pulls his head out of his old man Ace and has a nice week – however, he could have another crapper like he did against the Niners last week. I would definitely rather start Tyler Thigpen, and I would consider Jeff Garcia. Not as much upside with Jeff, but Garcia doesn’t do much wrong, and look at the stats, since Graham went down he’s been a solid fantasy contributor.

3. Sam Bradford is my guy for the best quarterback in college football. No doubt about it, I also think he’ll be the best pro. However, Graham Harrell’s absence from the invitee list for the Heisman Trophy Awards Show is absurd. He has the same numbers as Colts and Sam and even Tim (except for all those rushing yards, but still). Him not getting invited makes me hate the idea of this trophy- you’re telling me that the best player in college football has to play for Texas, Florida, or Oklahoma. Sweet. What a joke.

One for Wednesday

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This is the last thing I say about Plaxico Burress; but it needs to be said, and honestly, it needs to be said on bigger more influential media sources than my site. Plaxico didn’t go pick up a gun from some chump on the streets, realize that, it was a gun that IS REGISTERED to HIM in Florida. Is he stupid for rocking it illegally in New York? You bet. But 3.5 years in prison for taking a gun that is registered to him from Florida to New York, shooting himself in the leg and never harming another individual? Come on. He’s not a gangster – he’s a guy that thought he’d be more protected with his registered gun. Do I agree? Nope. It probably just makes you more likely to get shot by someone trying to rob you to be honest. But he had his opinion and with the way people have been robbed and shot in the last few years, he might have a valid point. But I’m not talking about that, I’m talking now about the media and how they are making this guy out to be a serious criminal because he had an illegal firearm. It was his gun. Registered to him in Florida. If nobody else will say it, I’ll say it. There it is. Does that clear up the situation?

NFL Free Picks: Week 15

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Alright, so I’m coming off my worst week of the year. I’ve been consistent all season with pretty solid weeks every time out, but I stumbled into quite the little pot hole last week. I had a tough time with my dogs, and a couple close contests that didn’t have a cookie crumbling in my direction. This week is bound to get me back on track – I see some good ones out there.

New Orleans Saints @ Chicago Bears (-2.5): The Saints have five losses, four of which are to teams that rely heavily on, and have a successful rushing attack. The only solid run-first team they’ve beaten is the Atlanta Falcons, and they split with them this season. Washington, Minnesota, Carolina, and Atlanta – 4 run first teams that can eat up the clock. What else do those teams have in common? Solid defenses. I think Chicago wins this home tilt with the Saints. The Bears are 5-2 as a favorite this season, and while they haven’t played great football of late, they have a defense that can cause problems for any offense. I’ll take them here.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+3) @ Atlanta Falcons: I want to take the Falcons here, I really do, but after looking it over I just can’t. I know Atlanta is 5-1 at home, and the Bucs are just 3-4 on the road, but when you look at the teams Atlanta struggles against (losses to Carolina, Tampa, Philadelphia) – really, the only tough defensive team they beast was Chicago, and that was a tight one. The Bucs are coming off probably their worst defensive performance of the season, and that means they’ll probably play a solid game this Sunday. Now Atlanta is good, no doubt in my mind, but the Bucs can limit a lot of things the Falcons do, and they have enough weapons offensively – it will be a tight one, but I like the Bucs even though that means a sweep of the Falcons. If one thing would deter me from taking Atlanta, it would be the fact that beating a good team twice is a very difficult thing to do. Still, my lean is on Tampa Bay.

Washington Redskins (-6.5) @ Cincinnati Bengals: Alright, I missed on the Bengals last week, they really let me down against a Colts team that has found their rhythm. However, that is not why I’m betting against them this week. I’m not that kind of guy. The Redskins lost two of their starting offensive linemen in the game against the Ravens, and while that will hurt them, I still think they run the ball 35+ times against the Bengals defensive front. Why? Because that’s how they win. If Jim Zorn will pull his head out, he’ll see clearly that his recipe for success resides in the cleats of Clinton Portis. They can run against the Bengals and they will. Now Cinci has played pretty well against the NFC East this season, tying the Eagles, getting close to beating the Cowboys, and going to overtime with the Giants – but counting their win, they’ve only finished within a touchdown of their opponent three times. If the Redskins clamp down defensively, this could be an easy win for me.

Tennessee Titans (-3) @ Houston Texans: The Titans have struggled against other defensive juggernauts, losing to the Jets and their amped up run defense, struggling against the Bears, and winning by a field goal in Baltimore to another tough defense. The Texans are solid, but they do not own a defensive dynamo by any stretch of the imagination. The Titans secondary is very good – they take advantage of mistakes through the air, and if the Texans have been one thing, it’s a mistake prone air assault. I don’t like this line because it makes me feel like Vegas knows something I don’t – and in about 75% of those instances, I end up on the wrong side of the bet. However, Tennessee doesn’t have troubles with teams like Houston, they haven’t lost a road game yet this year, and they’re coming off of two explosive rushing days against the Lions and Browns. More than a field goal gets me a win here, so I have to take it.

Detroit Lions (+18) @ Indianapolis Colts: Some may pretend that the Lions lose a lot when Culpepper goes down, but I’m not so sure. I think he’s the best QB in Detroit, but the guy hadn’t played for over a year, and it’s going to take him a while before he’s a factor in my betting cycle. It is said that both Dan Orlovsky and Drew Stanton should be ready to play by Sunday, and I actually think that gives this team a boost. Either guy has actually played pretty well when given the chance. Also, the Lions will attempt to run the ball on this undersized Colts defensive line. Bob Sanders will undoubtedly have something to say about that, but I still like the Lions here. 18 is too much. The Colts aren’t as good as they were last week, and the Lions play better football on the road. Don’t be confused, either, nobody on that Lions team wants to be 0-16, they will be playing hard from start to finish.

Green Bay Packers (-1) @ Jacksonville Jaguars: If the Packers had one thing going for them it was the fact that they had only lost games to teams in the playoff hunt, and then they got sniped by the Texans in Green Bay by a field goal at the buzzer. Yikes. Still, the Packers beat up on teams like the Jaguars. And by that I mean bad teams. I would still say that the Jaguars are worst than every single team the Packers have lost to this year. Am I saying that they won’t piss this game away? Yeah, actually, I’m saying the Packers win this one by a couple touchdowns and further prove how up and down they can possibly be. Lost in their unsuccessful season is Aaron Rodgers’ brilliant play in his first season at the helm. He’s played through injuries and carried the team for long stretches. They get to 6-8 with a win over the Jags, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they ran the table after that.

San Diego Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs (+6): I think the Chiefs are a tough match-up for the Chargers – as awkward as that feels coming off the finger tips. The Chiefs probably should have won the last outing, but they stumbled a bit toward the end, weird. Still, they lost 20-19 to a Chargers team that still had something to play for. They might not be eliminated from the playoffs, but believe me, they don’t have much to play for in San Diego (besides their checks of course). The Chiefs are a tough match-up because it’s their run defense that really stinks, and the Chargers can’t seem to run efficiently against anyone. That’s also something I never thought I’d say, but I’m not one to mix words and there it is. LT hasn’t rushed for more than 5.5 yards per carry yet this season, and he’s only broken the 5 ypc mark twice, against New Orleans in England and against Oakland in Week 4. Gross. The Chiefs do alright in the secondary, and they have an offense that can throw and run the rock. They are better than 2-11, believe it or not, and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if they ousted the Chargers on Sunday. So, I’ll take them as a 6 point dog.

San Francisco 49ers (+7) @ Miami Dolphins: The San Francisco 49ers have won three of their last four – yes folks, that’s not a freaking typo. Not only that, but they played within a yard or two (depending on who you ask, Mike Martz or the refs) of a win at Arizona, and despite the 13 point difference, they actually played well against the Cowboys, just some tough turnovers got their goat. This team is playing well. I know Frank Gore might be out for this game, and that’s a big hit, but I still think their defenses is playing well enough to keep Miami out of the end-zone most of the game. Shaun Hill is a solid quarterback, just like I said last year, and just like I said when I asked why they hell J.T. O’Sullivan was getting the starting nod – (answered promptly by my uncle, “Mike Martz is NUTS!” – fair enough). The Dolphins have won 6 of their last 7 as well, so they are no slouch. Still, these teams are a lot closer than their records insist, thus I’ll take the big dog.

Buffalo Bills @ N.Y. Jets (-7): I buy the Bills collapse, I don’t buy the Jets fall from grace. I wasn’t ready to make the Jets a Super Bowl team anyway, but they are better than the last two weeks. Just like the Eagles did, I bet the Jets come out hot at home on Sunday, and beat a reeling Bills team that has lost every single game they’ve played lately (aside from a win over the Chieftons). The Jets as a touchdown favorite is not something I’m excited about, but the Bills are lost in the mucky-muck, and with a possible coach turn-around coming soon, and J.P. Losman at the helm, going against a defense that should absolutely shut down the run – I like my chances for a win here.

Seattle Seahawks (-3) @ St. Louis Rams: The Seahawks are bad. The Rams are much, much worse. Both have two wins, but I see Seneca Wallace rushing for about 80 yards in this one, every single attempt seemingly killing the Rams’ defenses chance of getting off the field. I see Maurice Morris having a strong game, the kid runs hard and the Rams don’t do well against running backs that run hard. Seattle fans won’t be as lucky this week, because they’ll actually win this game. That might get them out of the Michael Crabtree sweepstakes, but that might not be the worst thing. Offensive line, Hawks brass, offensive line. The Seahawks struggle rushing the passer and thus they have a poor secondary rating. But that shouldn’t matter against Marc “I should be out of a job but my back up is an old man too” Bulger, because the Rams can’t find air success against anybody. There it is, a game that puts to question my “Always bet against Washington sports” motto. Oh well. It’s always a funny thing when a 2-11 team is a road favorite – that should tell you something about the Rams right there.

Minnesota Vikings @ Arizona Cardinals (-3): The Cardinals have lost one game at home all season long, a one-score game against the Giants. Exactly. This is a great line for Cards backers, and the Vikings defensive strengths shouldn’t hurt the Cardinals offense too much. It will be interesting to see how personal the defensive front takes to stopping Adrian Peterson, but even with a big day from AP, I imagine that the Cardinals pull this one out by more than a field goal.

Pittsburgh Steelers (+2) @ Baltimore Ravens: The smart money may be on the Ravens here, but my money is on the Steelers. Their defense is just as good, and they have more offensive weapons. If the Steelers win that means a sweep of the Ravens this year, the Steelers haven’t done that for quite some time. Not only that, but the home team almost always wins this battle – and Baltimore has covered in 6 of the last 7 contests. But the Steelers are better. Pittsburgh has lost 3 games, Indy, the Giants, and the Eagles – those are 3 teams with heavy passing attacks. I like Pittsburgh to pull this one out by the closest of margins.

Denver Broncos (+9) @ Carolina Panthers: Why Denver? Because they are supposed to lose I guess. There it is, you’ve got me. Mike “Splinter” Shannahan is the bane of my existence like Shredder is to his ninja turtles. I can’t quite figure him out. The Panthers are one of my favorite teams to bet on because I usually know when to and when not to bet on them (whoops last week against Tampa). Usually when they can run with ease they are a sure thing, but there’s no sure things against a heavy underdog Broncos team and while this win would assure Carolina an undefeated home regular season, I just have an eerie feeling that the Broncos will play it closer than 9. Carolina rushed for 300 yards last week, and Steve Smith was doing work, and they were still a 3rd and 4 stop from having the Bucs attempt a game tying touchdown drive with 2 minutes left. Now that’s a big if, but it’s something that sits in my mind. The Panthers are coming off quite the high, and that could get them down a bit in this one.

New England Patriots (-7) @ Oakland Raiders: The Patriots haven’t played well on the West Coast this season. Traveling across the prairies and mountains and Montana, they may be 2-1, but all three were pretty ugly. The game against the 49ers was ugly in Week 5, their game in San Diego in Week 6 was even worse, and they needed magic to oust the terribly powerful Seahawks last week in Seattle. Still, I hate betting on the Raiders so I won’t. That may be the “smart pick” but something in me sees Bill Belichick realizing how crappy his team has played on West Coast trips and somehow working that in to practice to motivate them. Did I mention I hate Oakland? Watch out, this may be a bit of a “with my heart” pick. Damn Raiders.

New York Giants (+3) @ Dallas Cowboys: I guess this is because I don’t think the Cowboys are all that great of a football team, and as much as I’d like to believe that the Giants aren’t either, I just can’t lie to myself like that. New York’s defensive front should give Tony and crew the same problems Pittsburgh did last week, and I seriously doubt that the Cowboys can hold the Giants under 20 points… In fact, I think this will be a relatively high scoring game, busting open that 45 point over. I like the Giants here.

Cleveland Browns @ Philadelphia Eagles (-14): Once again, I hate betting on the Eagles anytime, especially as a huge favorite – but, and there is a big but here, the Eagles have absolutely crushed bad teams this season. St. Louis? 38-3. San Francisco? 40-26. Seattle? 26-7. Sure, they tied the Bengals, and that’s partly why I wouldn’t risk much on this game, but I really see the Eagles defense and offense being able to run on all cylinders this week on Monday Night Football. Ken Dorsey? No thanks. Part of me thinks that the Eagles might let me down in the worst kind of way, because that’s what they do, but I look at the schedule and I see that they’ve only lost to solid teams – the Browns aren’t that.

theRUNDOWN: Week 15

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For those of you new to theRUNDOWN this is what I do. I pick my best team of the week, some nice plays with a few reasons to back up my picks. I’ll list a few sleepers and some guys I wouldn’t play unless I had nobody else – This is theRUNDOWN for Week 15. 

QB: Kurt Warner vs. Minnesota: Part of me wants to take Drew Brees on Thursday Night, because he might just go off for 400+ yards and do the Bears in real good. However, I’m headed to Arizona instead, and I’m seeing if I can’t follow the Cardinals and Kurt Warner in what might very well be a 3 or 4 passing touchdown night. 

RB: DeAngelo Williams vs. Denver: The Broncos have actually been solid against the run the last couple weeks, but something tells me that trend ends against the Panthers. DeAngelo probably won’t be that sore either, I think Tampa only tackled him a handful of times. Jon Stewart is probably a solid play as well. 

RB: Matt Forte vs. New Orleans: I think Forte will have 100+ rushing and 50+ receiving, and maybe even a couple touchdowns against the Saints on short notice. Those are #1 type numbers so I’ll go with the rookie back for what I think is the 3rd straight week. 

FLEX: Brian Westbrook vs. Cleveland: Part of me expects Brian Westbrook and the Eagles to play poor this week, well, because they are now supposed to play well. Tough team to figure out. That being said, bugger me if I don’t get on this train whilst it’s at a pace steady enough for me to jump on. 

WR: Larry Fitzgerald vs. Minnesota: This one has the makings of a shootout, and I want this PPR superstar rocking the fantasy roster for my squad. 

WR: Greg Jennings vs. Jacksonville: The Jaguars aren’t good – Greg is, the Packers should do lots of running and throwing in Jacksonville – here’s me hoping the majority of those throws go to Mr. Jennings. 

TE: Tony Gonzalez vs. San Diego: I’m riding the old man out in this one. He’s one of the best around, as consistent as they get, and San Diego isn’t much for stopping the pass. 

K: Olindo Mare vs. St. Louis: Tough to throw my kicker of the week in Seattle’s offense, but why not? This guy is playing in St. Louis and the Hawks are bound to attempt 3 or 4 field goals. 

D: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland: This blitz-happy system scaring Ken Dorsey like he’s in some horror movie with frightening little kids that make creepy faces – sign me up. 

PAPA’S Week 15 SLEEPERS

Tyler Thigpen: Always going to be here? Yep. 

Kyle Orton: Yes sir. 

Seneca Wallace: I like the confidence Seneca is playing with right now, and honestly, I think he should be the guy starting in Seattle with Matt the way he is anyway. Obviously Hasselbeck doesn’t have his back quite right and Seattle doesn’t need to throw him out there for any reason. 

Pierre Thomas: I want Thomas again this week – he runs very hard. Maybe this is why he was in front of Rashard Mendenhall at Illinois. Still, I think BOTH running backs are solid. 

Kevin Smith: The Lions are going to run no matter what, Smith is a good young back and the Colts (while the do have Bob back) aren’t the best run defense in the league. In a push he’s a decent option. 

Jonathan Stewart: He’s one of the better starts this week I think. He will continue to get just under half the looks in big scoring games, and he’s a beast. Why not give him a shot if your other back is hurting and playing a great defense? (That goes to you owners of Willie Parker, Jamal Lewis, Marion Barber, and Brandon Jacobs- I think he outscores 3 of the 4 at least)

Domenick Hixon: After struggling last week, I think the Giants get their passing attack going against a Dallas secondary that has been playing better than they are recently. 

Devin Hester: I still like Hester – this list is looking a lot like last week’s group. 

Bryant Johnson: The big receiver is playing a lowly ranked Miami secondary, and he’s been pretty solid over the last four weeks – he’s worth a flier. 

John Carlson: I would say he’s not a sleeper, but look at the numbers, in most leagues he’s not owned. This guy should be starting just about every week. 

New England Patriots: They play the Raiders, and the Raiders are probably starting Andrew Walter. When he throws a couple picks or and then fumbles away a touchdown, who will the Raiders turn to? I doubt the answer will fair much better. 

Papa’S Week 15 Splinter-Butts (bench him, son)

Marc Bulger: Again, Bulger plays one of the lowest rated pass defenses in the league, again I wouldn’t start Marc Bulger unless it was an empty free agent pool without Seneca Wallace, Tyler Thigpen, Chad Pennington, and Jeff Garcia. 

Tim Hightower: He’s basically been what I thought he’d be since taking over for Edgerrin James – and I still don’t think you should start him, especially against this D-front. 

Jamal Lewis: I’m thinking Jamal might get about 16-22 carries for 50-65 yards, and I don’t think he’ll score. He might get a couple receptions with Harrison being out, but I doubt those will amount to much. 

Randy Moss: It was prior to last season that this section was named after Randy Moss – funny how the world turns. Still, I think the Raiders will take this game a little bit personally, and there’s one DB in Oakland that will likely be assigned to hold Randy down. I’m not sure it’s the best move to sit Randy in the playoffs, but I’m going to make that move in my playoff league (but I have Wes Welker, Dwayne Bowe, and Larry Fitzgerald to start instead).