Week 16
12/23/06
Steppin' Up
Tim Rattay, TB: With the recent
struggles of Buccaneers rookie quarterback, Bruce Gradkowski,
6th-year vet Tim Rattay will be given the starting nod this week
for Tampa Bay as they face the Cleveland Browns. Rattay first
saw action this year when he filled in for Gradkowski during the
fourth quarter of a Week 14 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. The following
week, with Gradkowski struggling early in the game, Jon Gruden
made the switch again. This time, Rattay entered late in the second
quarter with the Buccaneers trailing the Chicago Bears 14-3. Rattay
finished the afternoon completing 20 of 35 passes for 268 yards.
He also threw 3 touchdown passes, which was almost enough for
the visiting Buccaneers to pull off the upset at Soldier Field
before losing in overtime 34-31. Rattay certainly isn't the QB
you want to be starting in your Championship game this weekend,
but his match-up against the Browns is an inviting one in which
the vet could have another 200 plus yard, multi-touchdown outing.
Consider playing him if you need help at the QB position.
Steppin' Down
Jon Kitna, DET: Kitna began
the season as a reliable back-up QB that could be used as a starter
when facing a favorable opponent. In his last three games however,
the former Cincinnati Bengal has been anything but reliable. While
he has continued to keep his accuracy percentage (62.2% this season)
and yardage totals (258.5 yards per game) at a respectable level
throughout the year, he has has thrown too many interceptions
and too few touchdowns this season to have been considered starting
material. In his last three games, Kitna has thrown 8 interceptions
with only 2 touchdown passes. He hasn't had a multi-touchdown
outing since the seventh week of the season, and with a contest
this week against one of the top defensive units in the league,
the Chicago Bears, it's unlikely he will snap the rut he's been
in this Sunday.
Steppin' Up
Edgerrin James, ARI: While James
has been a disappointment to fantasy owners throughout much of
the year, his play as of late has been on par with what many had
expected from him on a regular basis this season. After going
the first 11 games of the year without a single 100-yard outing,
and averaging just 3.1 YPC, James has now surpassed the 100-yard
mark in two of his last three games. He has also found the end
zone two times during that span, bringing his touchdown total
to five for the season. James' inconsistent performances this
year make him far from a lock to have another productive outing
this Sunday, but considering his opponent, the San Francisco 49ers,
are allowing teams to rush for just over 120 yards per game, there's
a good chance James will have another strong performance. San
Francisco has also allowed 17 rushing touchdowns this season,
second most in the league, so there is a good possibility he'll
score his sixth touchdown of the year as well.
Ron Dayne, HOU: It's been difficult
following along with the Texans running back situation this season,
but lately it is Ron Dayne who has been getting the carries out
of the Houston backfield. After going four weeks without so much
as a single carry for the Texans, Dayne has rushed for 276 yards
and 3 touchdowns on 57 carries (4.8 YPC) in their last 3 games.
No matter the recent level of Dayne's success, he still remains
a risky option anytime you choose to place him in your starting
line-up, but the Texans game this week against the Indianapolis
Colts makes him an attractive option. The Colts rushing defense
is ranked worst in the NFL, allowing teams to average nearly 5.5
yards per carry and rush for over 170 yards per game. If Dayne
receives nearly 20 carries again this Sunday, he should be good
for at least another 80 yards with a possible touchdown.
Steppin' Down
Fred Taylor, JAC: "Fragile"
Fred has remained relatively injury free throughout most of the
season, but it appears the injury bug may have finally caught
him. During Taylor's biggest performance of the year two weeks
ago against the Colts (9 carries, 131 yards, 1 touchdown) he had
to leave the game early due to a strained hamstring. After being
limited in practice throughout the week leading up to the Jaguars
battle against the Titans last Sunday, the 9-year vet re-aggravated
the injury and left the game having carried just 2 times for 37
yards. It now appears as if the injury may force him to miss this
weeks game against the New England Patriots. Even if Taylor plays,
the match-up isn't a favorable one for Taylor as he would be going
against one of the tougher run defenses in the NFL this year.
It's also likely that the number of touches he receives would
be limited should he suit up, so you should look to go with another
option as a #2 RB this week with your fantasy team.
Steppin' Up
Plaxico Burress, NYG: For all
the trouble Burress tends to get himself in with his mouth, he's
managed to do enough on the field this season to keep his fantasy
owners happy. Heading into this weeks Giants game against the
Saints, Burress has recorded 60 receptions for 907 yards and 9
touchdowns this season. He has scored in 9 of the 13 games he
has played, and finished with 70 yards or more in 6 of them. While
New Orleans secondary ranks fifth in the league in yards per game
allowed against the pass, the 23 touchdown passes they have allowed
is only 2 less than the 32nd ranked Washington Redskins and Tampa
Bay Buccaneers. With that in mind, there's a good chance of Burress
scoring his 10th touchdown of the season this week, although his
yardage totals may not surpass that 70-yard mark.
Steppin' Down
Steve Smith, CAR: Steve Smith
missed the first two games of the season, then returned to action
in Week 3 playing at a torrid pace. During his first seven games,
the 6th-year vet posted averages of 7.5 receptions, and 111 receiving
yards per game. Over the next three weeks, his yardage totals
dropped, but he remained a reliable fantasy option as he managed
to score a touchdown in each of those games. Within his last two
outings however, Smith's yardage totals have not improved and
he has failed to reach the end zone--meaning his worst outings
of the season have come just when fantasy owners need him the
most. The Panthers will face a Falcons secondary that is ranked
30th against the pass this Sunday, so there's a good chance Smith
will come back to life, but with Chris Weinke expected to make
his third consecutive start in place of the injured Jake Delhomme,
don't be surprised to see Smith have another sub par outing.
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