Week Fifteen Match-ups
December 18, 2004
Running Backs
Plus Play:
Curtis Martin, NYJ -- Martin should have no problems tearing through a decimated Seahawk defensive line, as Seattle's last three opponents combined to roll for eight TDs. Martin should at least match his output of a week ago (98 combined yards) and add at least one TD.
Kevin Jones, Det -- Jones has gained over 150 yards rushing and has scored in his last two games, and has gained at least 99 yards in each of the previous four contests. Expect the stats to continue against Minnesota's 23rd-ranked defense as he's the only offensive weapon the Lions have right now.
Negative Play:
Shaun Alexander, Sea -- Of course, you WILL start Alexander this week, unless you have significantly better starts on your squad. Just keep in mind that the Jets' run defense is ranked 6th in the league, having allowed 101.3 ypg and only seven rushing TD this season.
Tiki Barber, NYG -- In past seasons, Tiki's worst enemy that has kept him from among the fantasy elite was himself. This season, it has been the two-headed monster of Tom Coughlin and Eli Manning. Since Manning was named the starting QB, Barber has averaged 88 total yards and amassed only one TD -- and that TD came when Kurt Warner relieved Manning last week. On top of it, he faces the top-ranked Steeler defense, which has allowed 79 ypg and only four TDs on the ground this season. If you have no other option, he's a barely-decent flex possibility at best.
1 LaDainian Tomlinson, SD
2 Curtis Martin, NYJ
3 Willis McGahee, BUF
4 Domanick Davis, Hou
5 Corey Dillon, NE
6 Edgerrin James, Ind
7 Michael Pittman, TB
8 Clinton Portis, Was
9 Kevin Jones, Det
10 Brian Westbrook, Phi
11 Shaun Alexander, Sea
12 Larry Johnson, KC
13 Deuce McAllister, NO
14 Fred Taylor, Jac
15 Julius Jones, Dal
16 Ahman Green, GB
17 Nick Goings, CAR
18 Thomas Jones, Chi
19 Jerome Bettis, Pit
20 Reuben Droughns, DEN
21 Warrick Dunn, Atl
22 Onterrio Smith, Min
23 Tiki Barber, NYG
24 Antowain Smith, Ten
25 Rudi Johnson, Cin
26 Jamal Lewis, Bal
27 Emmitt Smith, ARI
28 Maurice Hicks, SF
29 Chester TaylorBAL
30 Marshall Faulk, StL
31 Tatum Bell, Den
32 Amos Zereoue, OAK
33 Sammy Morris, Mia
34 Steven Jackson, StL
35 Mike Alstott, TB
36 Travis Minor, Mia
37 J.R. Redmond, Oak
38 Kevin Faulk, NE
39 Dorsey Levens, Phi
40 Zack Crockett, OAK
41 Shawn Bryson, DET
42 Brad Hoover, CAR
43 Anthony Thomas, Chi
44 LaMont Jordan, NYJ
45 Justin Fargas, Oak
46 William Green, Cle
47 Kevan Barlow, SF
48 Richie Anderson, DAL
49 Chris Brown, Ten
50 Tony FisherGNB
Quarterbacks
Plus Play:
Jake Plummer, Den -- Yes, it is true that Plummer hasn't thrown a TD pass in the last two weeks and only one over the last three games. But this week, he faces a Chiefs defense that gave one of the worst performances in the history of mankind last week. They allow 270.4 passing ypg, have allowed 27 passing TDs, and have given up at least 27 points in seven straight games. Mr. Inconsistency is due a solid game, and if it doesn't come this week, it never will.
Billy Volek, TEN -- Volek will get a chance to continue his strong play, and to prove that his 695 yards and seven TDs against Indy and KC weren't just a fluke against bad defenses. He HAS thrown for over 300 yards and more than 2 TDs in all 6 of his career starts. Oakland's 24th-ranked defense has allowed average 228.8 yards and nearly two TD passes per game. Whether this has been a fluke against bad defenses, this "fluke" should continue for another week.
Negative Play:
Jake Delhomme, Car -- Delhomme has prevailed despite the Panthers' season-long rash of injuries. However, he will be facing an Atlanta defense that is seventh in passing TDs surrendered and have not allowed more than 165 passing yards in their last five games.
Aaron Brooks, NO -- Brooks has one or no TD passes in 10 games and has thrown 14 interceptions, including nine in the last four games. Expect that the consistently unreliable Brooks to continue his run of poor performances against the No.1 Bucs pass defense, which has allowed just 163.5 ypg this season.
1 Daunte Culpepper, Min
2 Donovan McNabb, Phi
3 Peyton Manning, Ind
4 Jake Plummer, Den
5 Trent Green, KC
6 Billy Volek, TEN
7 Drew Brees, SD
8 Michael Vick, Atl
9 Brian Griese, TB
10 Brett Favre, GB
11 Kerry Collins, Oak
12 Byron Leftwich, Jac
13 Jake Delhomme, Car
14 Tom Brady, NE
15 Aaron Brooks, NO
16 Jon Kitna, CIN
17 Chad Pennington, NYJ
18 Chris Chandler, StL
19 Drew Bledsoe, Buf
20 Matt Hasselbeck, Sea
21 David Carr, Hou
22 Kyle Boller, Bal
23 Joey Harrington, Det
24 Patrick Ramsay, WAS
25 Josh McCown, Ari
26 Ben Roethlisberger, PIT
27 Luke McCown, Cle
28 AJ Feeley, Mia
29 Chad Hutchinson, CHI
30 Vinny Testaverde, Dal
31 Ken Dorsey, SF
32 Eli Manning, NYG
Wide Receivers
Plus Play:
Drew Bennett, Ten -- One could say that Bennett has the hot hand, as he has six scores in the last two games. While the injury to Derrick Mason may affect the Raider coverage on Bennett, the Raiders are the 24th-ranked pass defense, and have allowed 228.8 ypg and 24 TDs this year.
Rod Smith and Ashley Lelie, Den -- Smith is not the deep threat that Lelie is; though Smith manages to get open against tough defenses. The corner play from the Chiefs last week was dreadful, which plays into Smith's hands. And Lelie had to be drooling over what Drew Bennett did to the Chiefs last week. His three-game TD drought should come to an end this week.
Negative Play:
Donald Driver, GB -- The up-one-game, down-the-next Driver is due for a bad game, while teammate Javon Walker is due for a big one. Jacksonville's modest, 16th-ranked defense (225 ypg) is tied for 10th in fewest passing TDs allowed (15).
Derrick Mason, Ten -- Expect Mason to play on his heavily-taped, gimpy ankle, but also expect him to play the decoy for the hot-handed Drew Bennett and to keep double-teams off of him.
1 Terrell Owens, Phi
2 Randy Moss, Min
3 Torry Holt, StL
4 Drew Bennett, Ten
5 Joe Horn, NO
6 Marvin Harrison, Ind
7 Muhsin Muhammad, CAR
8 Chad Johnson, Cin
9 Rod Smith, Den
10 Darrell Jackson, Sea
11 Javon Walker, GB
12 Reggie Wayne, Ind
13 Michael Clayton, TB
14 Ashley Lelie, Den
15 Eddie Kennison, KC
16 Andre Johnson, Hou
17 Jimmy Smith, Jac
18 Eric Moulds, Buf
19 Laveranues Coles, Was
20 Anquan Boldin, Ari
21 Hines Ward, Pit
22 Donald Driver, GB
23 Isaac Bruce, StL
24 Derrick Mason, Ten
25 T.J. Houshmandzadeh,CIN
26 Jerry Porter, Oak
27 Chris Chambers, Mia
28 Lee Evans, BUF
29 David Patten, NE
30 Roy Williams, Det
31 Eric Parker, SD
32 Keyshawn Johnson, Dal
33 Joey Galloway, TB
34 Antonio Bryant, Cle
35 Deion Branch, NE
36 Brandon Stokley, IND
37 Santana Moss, NYJ
38 Justin McCareins, NYJ
39 Keary Colbert, Car
40 Nate Burelson, Min
41 Donte' Stallworth, NO
42 Todd Pinkston, PHI
43 Larry Fitzgerald, Ari
44 Clarence Moore, BAL
45 Peerless Price, Atl
46 Brandon Lloyd, SF
47 Doug Gabriel, Oak
48 Dennis Northcutt, CLE
49 David Terrell, CHI
50 Marty Booker, Mia
Tight Ends
1 Antonio Gates, SD
2 Tony Gonzalez, KC
3 Todd Heap, Bal
4 Alge Crumpler, Atl
5 Jason Witten, Dal
6 Randy McMichael, Mia
7 Jermaine Wiggins, Min
8 Jeremy Shockey, NYG
9 Eric Johnson, SF
10 Marcus Pollard, Ind
11 Jeb Putzier, Den
12 Chris Cooley, Was
13 LJ Smith, Phi
14 Freddie Jones, Ari
15 Bubba Franks, GB
16 Dallas Clark, Ind
17 Ken Dilger, TB
18 Erron Kinney, Ten
19 Stephen Alexander, Det
20 Desmond Clark, Chi
21 Doug Jolley, Oak
22 Steve Heiden, Cle
23 Boo Williams, NO
24 Jerramy Stevens, Sea
25 Ryan Neufeld, Buf
26 Kris Mangum, Car
27 Christian Fauria, NE
28 Ben Troupe, Ten
29 Kyle Brady, Jac
30 Teyo Johnson, Oak
31 Chad Lewis, Phi
32 Billy Miller, Hou
Kickers
1 David Akers, Phi
2 Adam Vinatieri, NE
3 Mike Vanderjagt, Ind
4 Jason Elam, Den
5 Matt Stover, Bal
6 Nate Kaeding, SD
7 Ryan Longwell, GB
8 Jeff Wilkins, StL
9 Jason Hanson, Det
10 Jeff Reed, Pit
11 John Carney, NO
12 Doug Brien, NYJ
13 Shayne Graham, Cin
14 Lawrence Tynes, KC
15 Rian Lindell, Buf
16 Josh Brown, Sea
17 Sebastian Janikowski, Oak
18 Morten Andersen, Min
19 Jay Taylor, TB
20 Josh Scobee, Jac
21 John Kasay, Car
22 Jay Feely, Atl
23 Neil Rackers, Ari
24 Todd Peterson, SF
25 Kris Brown, Hou
26 Paul Edinger, Chi
27 Jeff Chandler, Was
28 Gary Anderson, Ten
29 Phil Dawson, Cle
30 Olindo Mare, Mia
31 Billy Cundiff, Dal
32 Steve Christie, NYG
Team Defenses
1 Pittsburgh Steelers
2 New England Patriots
3 San Diego Chargers
4 Philadelphia Eagles
5 Washington Redskins
6 Buffalo Bills
7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
8 Atlanta Falcons
9 Baltimore Ravens
10 Carolina Panthers
11 Chicago Bears
12 Indianapolis Colts
13 New York Jets
14 Jacksonsville Jaguars
15 Arizona Cardinals
16 Green Bay Packers
17 Houston Texans
18 Denver Broncos
19 Cincinnati Bengals
20 St. Louis Rams
21 New York Giants
22 Minnesota Vikings
23 Miami Dolphins
24 Tennessee Titans
25 San Francisco 49ers
26 Seattle Seahawks
27 Detroit Lions
28 Kansas City Chiefs
29 New Orleans Saints
30 Dallas Cowboys
31 Oakland Raiders
32 Cleveland Browns
Defensive Backs
1 Rodney Harrison, NE
2 Ed Reed, Bal
3 Adrian Wilson, Ari
4 Ronde Barber, TB
5 Troy Polamalu, Pit
6 Terrence McGee, Buf
7 Mike Green, Chi
8 Sean Taylor Was
9 Brian Dawkins, Phi
10 Madieu Williams, Cin
11 Robert Griffith, Cle
12 Michael Boulware SEA
13 Terrence Kiel, SD
14 Lawyer Milloy, Buf
15 Darren Sharper, GB
16 Adam Archuleta, StL
17 Bryan Scott, Atl
18 Charles Tillman, Chi
19 Roy Williams, Dal
20 Michael Lewis, Phi
21 Stuart Schweigert, OAK
22 Dre' Bly, Det
23 Shaunard Harts KC
24 Kenoy Kennedy, Den
25 Dunta Robinson, Hou
26 Champ Bailey, Den
27 Tony Parrish, SF
28 Sammy Knight, Mia
29 Mike Minter, Car
30 Ifeanyi Ohalete, Ari
31 Jay Bellamy, NO
32 Charles Woodson, OAK
33 Erik Coleman, NYJ
34 Sheldon Brown, Phi
35 Brent Alexander, NYG
36 Lito Sheppard, Phi
37 Donovan Darius, Jac
38 Tebucky Jones NO
39 Gary Baxter, Bal
40 Lamont Thompson, Ten
41 Ahmad Carroll, GB
42 Marcus Trufant, Sea
43 John Lynch DEN
44 Mike Doss, Ind
45 Troy Vincent Buf
46 Tory James, Cin
47 DeAngelo Hall, Atl
48 Nate Clements, Buf
49 Arturo Freeman, Mia
50 Donnie Abraham NYJ
Defensive Linemen
1 Julius Peppers, Car
2 Bert Berry, Ari
3 Charles Grant, NO
4 Dwight Freeney, Ind
5 Kevin Williams, Min
6 Leonard Little, StL
7 Patrick Kerney, Atl
8 Rod Coleman, Atl
9 Jason Taylor, Mia
10 Aaron Schobel, Buf
11 Simeon Rice, TB
12 Justin Smith, Cin
13 Shaun Ellis, NYJ
14 Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, GB
15 Jevon Kearse, Phi
16 Aaron Smith, Pit
17 Adewale Ogunleye, Chi
18 Shaun Rogers, Det
19 James Hall, Det
20 Osi Umenyiora, NYG
21 Cornelius Griffin, Was
22 Greg Ellis, Dal
23 Richard Seymour, NE
24 Darren Howard, NO
25 John Henderson, Jac
26 Aaron Kampman, GB
27 Alex Brown, Chi
28 Duane Clemons, Cin
29 Jason Ferguson, NYJ
30 Darwin Walker, Phi
31 Chike Okeafor, Sea
32 Will Smith NO
33 Kenard Lang, Cle
34 Marcus Stroud, Jac
35 Sam Rayburn Phi
36 Tommie Harris, Chi
37 Ty Warren, NE
38 Marques Douglas, Bal
39 Kenechi Udeze, Min
40 Reggie Hayward, Den
41 Marcellus Wiley, Dal
42 Ian Scott, Chi
43 Robert Mathis, Ind
44 Bryce Fisher STL
45 Mike Rucker, Car
46 Lance Johnstone, Min
47 Tyler Brayton, Oak
48 La'Roi Glover, Dal
49 Steve Foley, SD
50 Albert Haynesworth, TEN
Linebackers
1 Ray Lewis, Bal
2 Donnie Edwards, SD
3 Lance Briggs, Chi
4 Jamie Sharper, Hou
5 Keith Bulluck, Ten
6 Mike Peterson, Jac
7 London Fletcher, Buf
8 Jeremiah Trotter, Phi
9 Brian Simmons, Cin
10 Dan Morgan, Car
11 Takeo Spikes, Buf
12 Danny Clark, Oak
13 Keith Brooking, Atl
14 Nick Barnett, GB
15 Cato June, Ind
16 James Farrior, Pit
17 Derrick Brooks, TB
18 Jonathan Vilma, NYJ
19 Derek Smith, SF
20 Will Witherspoon, Car
21 Al Wilson, Den
22 Tedy Bruschi, NE
23 Derrick Pope, Mia
24 Isaiah Kacyvenski, Sea
25 Joey Porter, Pit
26 EJ Henderson, Min
27 Courtney Watson, NO
28 Scott Fujita, KC
29 DJ Williams, Den
30 Marcus Washington, Was
31 Landon Johnson, Cin
32 Kevin Lewis, NYG
33 James Darling, Ari
34 Shelton Quarles, TB
35 Jamie Winborn, SF
36 Monte Beisel, KC
37 Antonio Pierce, Was
38 Hunter Hillenmeyer, Chi
39 Eric Barton, NYJ
40 Pisa Tinoisamoa, StL
41 Akinola Ayodele, Jac
42 Kawika Mitchell, KC
43 Tommy Polley, STL
44 Earl Holmes, Det
45 Jeff Ulbrich, SF
46 Dat Nguyen, Dal
47 Larry Foote, Pit
48 Teddy Lehman, Det
49 Brad Kassell, Ten
50 Robert Thomas, StL
Fantasy Football 
