Week 14 Fantasy Preview

By Brad Kurtzberg, Fantasy Football Insiders Senior Writer

The playoffs start in most fantasy leagues either this week or next week. When it comes to this time of year, stick with the players that got you there. Sure, you have to keep close tabs on injuries and the like, but your best bet in the long run is to have the most talented lineup possible. If it’s a toss-up between two or more players, I’ll be able to point out matchups to take advantage of. Here is a look at this week’s matchups which will help you win your fantasy league.

Thursday 8:15 PM ET
Chicago at Washington
Both of these teams are hanging on by a thread in the NFC playoff race. The Redskins are still reeling from the tragic death of safety Sean Taylor. They had the funeral on Monday and will have only one full day of practice to prepare for this game. Meanwhile, the Bears allowed the Giants to make a late fourth quarter comeback last week in Chicago to drop to 5-7. They are a far cry from the team that represented the NFC in last year’s Super Bowl.
Stud: Clinton Portis, RB Washington. The Redskins running back aggravated an ankle injury late in the Buffalo game last week so check his status. If he plays, Portis should find plenty of room to run against a leaky Bears defense ranked 27th against the run. If Portis can’t play, go with Ladell Betts, his replacement.
Dud: Adrian Peterson, RB Chicago. So far, Peterson’s stats look an awful lot like Cedric Benson’s. Perhaps the offensive line is a large part of the problem in Chicago. The Redskins run defense is 10th in the league and the Bears have trouble rushing the football.
Sleeper: Bernard Berrian, WR Chicago. Berrian faces a Redskins secondary that has struggled since Taylor’s death. Look for Rex Grossman to exploit this matchup and for Berrian to have his first big day in three weeks.

Sunday 1:00 PM ET
San Diego at Tennessee
This game matches up two teams in the thick of the AFC playoff race. Both have 7-5 records but the Chargers benefit from being in the weaker West while the Titans are in the South, perhaps the most competitive division in the league. The Chargers defeated the Chiefs last week which solidified their hold on the division. The Titans got past the pesky Texans to end their three-game losing streak. Getting DT Albert Haynesworth back really helped. Both teams really need a win but the Titans need it a bit more.
Stud: LaDainian Tomlinson, RB San Diego. Tomlinson ran wild against KC last week and totaled 197 yards and 2 TDs. He has scored in four of the last five games and gone over the 1,000 yard rushing mark for the season. Even with Haynesworth back in the lineup, the Titans defense has not been as effective. If they do slow LT down rushing the ball, the Chargers will throw it to him.
Dud: LenDale White, RB Tennessee. White has only 141 yards rushing total in his last four games. The Chargers run defense is strongest up the middle and that’s where White is at his best.
Sleeper: Antonio Gates, TE San Diego. Gates had only 1 catch last week for –1 yards. He will be facing LB Keith Bulluck of the Titans, which gives a physical advantage to Gates. Don’t expect Gates to be a non-factor two weeks in a row.

Miami at Buffalo
The Dolphins are three-quarters of the way to a winless season. No team has gone 0-16 since the league went to a 16-game schedule in 1978 but the Dolphins look like they have a real chance to pull off that unwelcome feat. The Bills are a game behind in the AFC Wild Card race after a last second victory over a stunned Redskins team last week in DC. The cold weather will not make things easy for the battered Dolphins.
Stud: Fred Jackson, RB Buffalo. The Dolphins have the worst run defense in the league and Jackson has looked good so far when given the chance. Last week against Washington, he ran for 82 yards and caught four passes for another 69. Look for another good game from Jackson against a Miami team that has trouble staying in its gaps.
Dud: Marty Booker, WR Miami. Booker has fallen off in recent weeks although a lack of a quaterback hasn’t helped. He has also dropped too many passes. The Bills will contain the Fish’s top wide receiver who has only 1 TD on the season and 12 catches total in the last four games.
Sleeper: Lee Evans, WR Buffalo. Evans is the biggest receiving threat the Bills have and Trent Edwards played well last week. The Dolphins pass defense is nothing special and Evans should end up with a solid statistical day.

N.Y. Giants at Philadelphia
The Giants pulled out a late game comeback against the Bears that may have saved Eli Manning’s career with New York. Manning remains mistake prone but he showed some leadership by coming on late last week to eke out a victory. The Eagles loss to Seattle all but ended their playoff hopes. Donovan McNabb may be back to face the Giants tough defensive line. The first time these two teams met, McNabb was sacked 12 times.
Stud: Brandon Jacobs, RB N.Y. Giants. Jacobs has been limited in practice but is expected to get the start Sunday (check status). Even if Jacobs is not ready to go, feel free to play Reuben Droughns. The Giants are trusting Eli Manning less and less and their run blocking has been strong. Philly’s run defense is solid but the Giants will grind it out effectively.
Dud: Donovan McNabb, QB Philadelphia. McNabb may be back from ankle and thumb injuries but against the Giants tough pass rush, he may wish he stayed off the field for another week. If A.J. Feeley has to start, he’d be an even bigger dud.
Sleeper: Brian Westbrook, RB Philadelphia. Westbrook is a top fantasy player and if the Giants 5th ranked rush defense shuts him down, the Eagles will throw plenty of short passes to him to stall the Giants pass rush. Westbrook will put up good numbers Sunday.

Carolina at Jacksonville
The Panthers have fallen on hard times without a steady quaterback while the Jags have proven themselves true playoff contenders despite another heartbreaking loss to the Colts last week. While Carolina has been wildly inconsistent this year, they are 4-2 on the road.
Stud: Maurice Jones-Drew, RB Jacksonville. Jones-Drew has scored in each of the last four games. The Jaguars running game should wear down the Panthers defense and by the fourth quarter, big holes should be there for Jones-Drew and company.
Dud: Vinny Testaverde, QB Carolina. The veteran had a solid game last week with 2 TDs, but he just can’t get it done consistently anymore. The Jags will put enough pressure on Testaverde to keep him in check.
Sleeper: Fred Taylor, RB Jacksonville. Taylor has topped 100 yards rushing in back-to-back games. He doesn’t find the end zone as much as Jones-Drew, but he is playing very well and gets the bulk of the carries. He should find success Sunday as the game progresses.

Tampa Bay at Houston
The Bucs all but own the NFC South and at 8-4, have an easy schedule down the stretch and no real competition for the division crown. The Texans are very improved and you have to wonder what their season would have been like if WR Andre Johnson and QB Matt Schaub would have stayed healthy. They are capable of beating anybody but are also capable of playing poorly on any given week. They are learning how to win at this point.
Stud: Earnest Graham, RB Tampa Bay. Graham has 737 yards rushing and 7 TDs which is impressive considering he only saw spot duty as a backup the first three games. The Texans run defense is ranked 25th and with QB Jeff Garcia out with an injury, the Bucs should emphasize the run even more than usual.
Dud: Sage Rosenfels, QB Houston. Rosenfels is not very consistent and he faces the NFL’s 4th best pass defense in Tampa Bay. Look for average fantasy stats from Sage but nothing special.
Sleeper: Andre Johnson, WR Houston. Johnson is one of the best in the game but he flies under the radar because he plays for a Houston team that has not yet established itself as a consistent winner. He has an interesting matchup this week with CB Ronde Barber and Johnson has a five-inch height advantage. In five games played, Johnson has 5 TDs and has topped the 100-yard mark four times.

St. Louis at Cincinnati
These two teams mirror each other in that they have much stronger offenses than defenses and both have struggled this year. The Rams have won three of their last four while the Bengals are out of the AFC playoff picture but can score with anybody, especially now that third WR Chris Henry is back in the lineup.
Stud: Stephen Jackson, RB St. Louis. Jackson has scored TDs in four of the last five games and has topped 90 yards rushing in has last three contests. The Bengals have trouble stopping the run and are ranked 23rd in that category. Jackson should have a very productive day.
Dud: Kenny Watson, RB Cincinnati. Watson has not had a solid rushing total in five weeks and he and Rudi Johnson tend to split carries. Johnson is going to get a few more chances than Watson and is more likely to carry the mail near the end zone.
Sleeper: Torry Holt WR St. Louis. There are plenty of great receivers to choose from in this game and all of them are probably solid selections but Holt is the focal point of the Rams’ passing attack and the Bengals secondary is 26th in the league. Holt has a mismatch against CB Jonathan Joseph. He also has three 100-plus yard games and 3 TDs in his last five contests.

Oakland at Green Bay
The Packers look to bounce back from last Thursday’s defeat in Dallas while the Raiders hope to build on their win over the Broncos. Brett Favre is expected to get his 250th straight start but keep an eye on his effectiveness throughout the game.
Stud: Ryan Grant, RB Green Bay. The Raiders defense is 30th against the rush. Grant may not get a lot of carries, but he is averaging nearly five yards per carry and has 3 TDs in his last four games and usually approaches or tops the 100-yard mark. With Brett Favre a little banged up, don’t be surprised if Grant gets a few extra chances to run the ball Sunday.
Dud: Josh McCown, QB Oakland. McCown will be under steady pressure from DE Aaron Kampman and company. While he played very well against Denver last week (3 TDs), McCown is not known for his consistency.
Sleeper: Justin Fargas, RB Oakland. Fargas has run wild the past two games, totaling 285 yards and 2 TDs. The Raiders are a run-first team and Fargas will have his moments against the Packers’ solid run defense on Sunday.

Dallas at Detroit
It doesn’t get any easier for the reeling Lions who have now lost four straight. The 11-1 Cowboys come calling. Another loss would be very harmful to the Lions fading playoff chances. The Cowboys have an extra few days of rest after last Thursday’s big win over Green Bay. They have to avoid a letdown and they can roll to the top seed in the NFC playoffs.
Stud: Tony Romo, QB Dallas. The Lions secondary is very vulnerable and are ranked 31st in the league at pass defense. Romo must be licking his chops to face this mediocre unit. Unless the Lions find a way to put steady pressure on Romo, they are in for a long afternoon.
Dud: Kevin Jones, RB Detroit. The Lions don’t even try to run the football in some games and last week was yet another example. Jones had three carries for one yard and for the second time in four weeks, the Lions ground attack was literally almost non-existent. Dallas’ run defense ranks 4th in the league.
Sleeper: Terrell Owens, WR Dallas. T.O. vs. the Detroit secondary. You can stop laughing now. No matter which CB and/or safety the Lions try to cover Owens with, T.O. will have a huge advantage and he should have another huge day.

Sunday 4:00 PM ET
Minnesota at San Francisco
The Vikings suddenly find themselves in the thick of the NFC Wild Card race while the 49ers have been behind the eight ball most of the season. San Francisco simply has trouble moving the ball and scoring points. Minnesota has gotten better play of late from QB Tarvaris Jackson and getting Adrian Peterson back only makes the Minnesota attack more lethal.
Stud: Adrian Peterson, RB Minnesota. Peterson is facing a San Francisco defense ranked 26th in the league at stopping the run. He seemed no worse for wear playing with a knee brace last week. Peterson is a threat to score every time he touches the ball. The Niners should be plenty worried.
Dud: Arnaz Battle, WR San Francisco. Battle has TDs in two straight games but he tweaked an ankle last week and may not be at full strength for Sunday’s game. The Minnesota secondary is not good but Battle will be held in check.
Sleeper: Tarvaris Jackson, QB Minnesota. Jackson’s play has improved in recent weeks. He is reading defenses much better and has found his groove, completing more than 75 percent of his passes in each of the last three games. Don’t look for a monster game from Jackson, but he’s capable of throwing for a couple of TDs and more than 200 yards against a shaky San Francisco secondary.

Arizona at Seattle
A win all but clinches the NFC West for Seattle. A Cardinals win and they would have a sweep of the Seahawks and be one game back (with all tiebreaker advantages) with three to play. Injuries to WRs Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin may limit the Cardinals offense. The key for Arizona will be to protect QB Kurt Warner.
Stud: Matt Hasselbeck, QB Seattle. The Cards pass defense ranks 24th in the league against the pass. Hasselbeck’s steady play has carried the Seahawks of late when RB Shaun Alexander was injured. Hasselbeck has thrown for at least one TD in 11 of 12 games.
Dud: Arizona Defense. The Cards defense makes plenty of big plays when they win, but they will surrender a lot of yards and points to the Seahawks this week, especially through the air.
Sleeper: Edgerrin James, RB Arizona. James topped the 100-yard mark last week. If the weather is iffy, he will be even more vital to the Cards’ offense. As it is, they need him to be effective to take some pressure off of Warner. He will get plenty of touches Sunday.

Kansas City at Denver
These two teams expected to be contenders this season but both have fallen flat. The Broncos have lost two straight and one more loss would all but end their playoff chances. The Chiefs have dropped five in-a-row and need to hold on to some dignity and finish the season on a little bit of a run. Both of these teams tend to make mistakes at crucial moments. Denver won the first meeting in Kansas City earlier this season.
Stud: Kolby Smith, RB Kansas City. Smith topped 80 yards last week and has 233 yards and 2 TDs in two starts. The Broncos run defense is allowing 149.1 yards per game so Smith should have room to run.
Dud: Damon Huard, QB Kansas City. Huard has in injured hand but is expected to play. The Broncos pass defense is strong, ranking 9th in the league. Even when Huard is healthy, the Chiefs passing attack is second rate.
Sleeper: Travis Henry, RB Denver. Henry had 2 TD runs last week and won his appeal against the league to prevent him from being suspended for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. He should get the bulk of the carries for the Broncos. The Chiefs run defense is 21st in the league.

Pittsburgh at New England
The Patriots remained perfect with another last minute win against Baltimore last week. Meanwhile, the Steelers won another game in the rain and slop of Pittsburgh, downing the Bengals on Sunday night. Pittsburgh’s defense, which features multiple formations and zone blitzes, may be just the thing to contain Tom Brady and the Patriots high powered offense. Certainly on paper, this is the toughest remaining game New England faces.
Stud: Tom Brady, QB New England. Brady’s numbers haven’t been as overwhelming the past few weeks, but keeping up that pace was nearly impossible. He’s still in charge of the most potent passing attack in the league and should post solid numbers against a tough Steelers defense.
Dud: Laurence Maroney, RB New England. Maroney has just 29 carries in the last three games. Pittsburgh is 2nd in the league against the run so don’t expect a lot of production from him on Sunday.
Sleeper: Ben Roethlisberger, QB Pittsburgh. Roethlisberger has 25 TD passes and a passer rating over 100 this season. The Steelers will try to establish the run first, but they score TDs through the air and Roethlisberger will put up good if not great numbers vs. the Pats.

Cleveland at N.Y. Jets
The Browns lost a controversial game a week ago to the Cardinals when Braylon Edwards was ruled not to have been pushed out of bounds on the final play of the game. The Browns are 7-5 and still hold the final Wild Card spot in the AFC but they have little room for error if they hope to keep it. The Jets staved off embarrassment by beating Miami handily but they still have a long way to go as a team.
Stud: Derek Anderson, QB Cleveland. Anderson has thrown 24 TD passes despite not starting in week 1. Look for him to find plenty of chances against the Jets pass defense. The Browns attack simply has too many weapons for the Jets defensive backs to handle.
Dud: Cleveland Defense. The Browns have trouble stopping anybody. Stay away from this defense every week if possible.
Sleeper: Thomas Jones, RB N.Y. Jets. Jones scored his first TD of the season last week and had 75 yards rushing. The Browns defense is 28th in the league at stopping the run and the Jets would be wise to give Jones plenty of carries in an attempt to keep the Browns powerful offense off the field.

Sunday 8:15 PM ET
Indianapolis at Baltimore
The Colts are regaining their health on offense and have the inside track to the second seed and a first round bye in the playoffs. The Ravens are out of the playoff picture but gave the Patriots all they could handle last Monday. Kyle Boller will start at QB for the rest of the season. This may be his last chance to show he can still be Baltimore’s quaterback of the future.
Stud: Peyton Manning, QB Indianapolis. Manning is still deadly accurate and one of the best fantasy QBs out there. The Ravens defense is good but no longer as intimidating as it used to be. Manning should have a solid game against the Ravens 15th ranked pass defense.
Dud: Kyle Boller, QB Baltimore. Boller had 2 TDs and 210 yards against New England last week. That is probably his fantasy upside. The Colts have a good pass defense, ranked second in the league. They will make things tougher for Boller.
Sleeper: Willie McGahee, RB Baltimore. McGahee has scored a TD in each of the last seven games. He has gone over 1,000 yards for the season and has topped the 100-yard mark in two of the last three games. The Colts run defense is good but not great. The Ravens will feature McGahee and he will come through.

Monday 8:30 PM ET
New Orleans at Atlanta
When the schedule came out, this divisional clash looked like a great game. Now the Saints have come back to earth and Michael Vick is behind bars and the game features two sub-.500 teams. The Saints have to run the table to have any chance of sneaking into the playoffs as a Wild Card. The Falcons have a chance to show a national TV audience that they aren’t as bad as their record.
Stud: Drew Brees, QB New Orleans. Brees has 5 TDs in the last two games and is capable of a big game at any time. New Orleans struggles to run the ball so they will rely heavily on Brees and the passing attack to get things done.
Dud: Michael Jenkins, WR Atlanta. Don’t expect much from Jenkins despite his TD catch last week. The former first round pick has never developed into a consistent NFL receiver.
Sleeper: Reggie Bush, RB New Orleans. The Falcons can’t stop the run and Bush is the Saints favorite target in the passing game as well. If the former Heisman winner can have a big game, this should be it.