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| Sam Greenwood / Getty Images |
| Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew has rushed for 607 yards and scored 12 total touchdowns this season. |
Start of the Week
| Team | Player | Analysis |
 Jacksonville Jaguars |
 Maurice Jones-Drew |
Jones-Drew might be small in size, but he'll make a large impact for fantasy owners. With Fred Taylor and Matt Jones now out for the season, Jones-Drew will be the offensive centerpiece against a Packers defense that's 27th against the run. Green Bay also has allowed a combined 10 rushing touchdowns since Week 9. |
Quarterbacks -- Start 'Em
| Team | Player | Analysis |
 Dallas Cowboys |
 Tony Romo |
Afraid to start Romo because of his matchup against the Giants? Don't be. The Cowboys quarterback threw for a combined 632 yards and eight touchdowns in two regular-season starts against New York last season. And if RB Marion Barber isn't 100 percent, Romo will throw the ball a ton in what could be a real shootout at Texas Stadium. |
| Team | Player | Analysis |
 San Diego Chargers |
 Philip Rivers |
The Chargers have been a disappointment this season, but Rivers has been one of the lone bright spots. He has thrown for a career-best 26 touchdowns and is fourth in fantasy points overall on NFL.com. This week, Rivers faces a Chiefs defense that's 29th against the pass and allowed him to throw for 316 yards and two scores in Week 10. |
| More quarterbacks with favorable matchups |
| Donovan McNabb vs. Cleveland (Mon.), Eli Manning at Dallas, Peyton Manning vs. Detroit, Aaron Rodgers at Jacksonville, Tyler Thigpen vs. San Diego. Sleeper alert: Shaun Hill at Miami. |
Quarterbacks -- Sit 'Em
| Team | Player | Analysis |
 New York Jets |
 Brett Favre |
Favre has been impossible to predict this season. He threw for two scores against a stout Titans defense in Week 12, then failed to throw for even one touchdown against lesser pass defenses like the Broncos and 49ers. This week, Favre will face a Bills team that held him without a touchdown earlier this season, so he's a definite risk. |
| Team | Player | Analysis |
 Atlanta Falcons |
 Matt Ryan |
Ryan has made an immense impact in fantasy football during what has been a tremendous rookie season, but he's not an attractive option in Week 15. First off, Ryan faces a Buccaneers defense that's fourth in pass defense and held him to 158 yards and no touchdowns earlier this season. Secondly, Ryan has thrown for just five touchdowns in six games at home. |
| More quarterbacks with unfavorable matchups |
| Matt Cassel at Oakland, Joe Flacco vs. Pittsburgh, David Garrard vs. Green Bay, Dan Orlovsky at Indianapolis, Matt Schaub vs. Tennessee. Owners beware: Ben Roethlisberger at Baltimore. |
Running backs -- Start 'Em
| Team | Player | Analysis |
 Carolina Panthers |
 DeAngelo Williams |
Williams is the hottest running back in fantasy football, rushing for 727 yards and 10 touchdowns in his last five games. His recent run of success likely will continue against Denver, which ranks 26th against the run and has allowed 17 touchdown runs. The Broncos also are allowing an average of 172.7 rushing yards per game on the road in 2008. |
| More running backs with favorable matchups |
| Steven Jackson vs. Seattle, Chris Johnson at Houston, Clinton Portis vs. Cincinnati, Michael Turner vs. Tampa Bay, Brian Westbrook vs. Cleveland (Mon.). Sleeper alert: Sammy Morris at Oakland. |
Running backs -- Sit 'Em
| Team | Player | Analysis |
 Buffalo Bills |
 Marshawn Lynch |
Lynch likely will be active in most fantasy leagues this week, but those owners with backfield depth might want to bench him. He's facing a Jets defense that ranks fourth against the run and has allowed an average of fewer than 80 rushing yards per game at home. What's more, Lynch had a mere six fantasy points against New York in Week 9. |
| Team | Player | Analysis |
 Pittsburgh Steelers |
 Willie Parker |
Parker is dealing with knee and shoulder problems, and it has shown in his numbers (149 yards, 0 TDs) over the last three weeks. He continues to share carries with Mewelde Moore, which hurts his stock. Now Parker will face a Ravens defense that's third in the NFL against the run and has allowed a league-low 63.3 rushing yards per game at home. |
| More running backs with unfavorable matchups |
| Justin Fargas vs. New England, Tim Hightower vs. Minnesota, Frank Gore at Miami, Jamal Lewis at Philadelphia (Mon.), Willis McGahee vs. Pittsburgh. Owners beware: Marion Barber vs. N.Y. Giants. |
Wide receivers -- Start 'Em
| Team | Player | Analysis |
 Green Bay Packers |
 Greg Jennings |
Jennings has reached an elite level in fantasy football this season, ranking fifth in points among wide receivers on NFL.com. He's a solid option in Jacksonville, where he'll face a Jaguars defense that has surrendered 21 receiving touchdowns (tied for third-most in NFL) and is without its top cornerback, Rashean Mathis, for the season due to injury. |
| Team | Player | Analysis |
 St. Louis Rams |
 Torry Holt |
Holt has been an absolute disaster in fantasy land -- he's guaranteed to finish with his worst totals since his rookie season (1999). But if you need a third wideout this week, Holt still warrants consideration based on a matchup against Seattle. The Seahawks are dead last in receiving yards allowed, so Holt is worth the risk across the board. |
| More wide receivers with favorable matchups |
| Bernard Berrian at Arizona, Antonio Bryant at Atlanta, Lee Evans at N.Y. Jets, Santana Moss at Cincinnati, Reggie Wayne vs. Detroit. Sleeper alert: Davone Bess vs. San Francisco. |
Wide receivers -- Sit 'Em
| Team | Player | Analysis |
 Cleveland Browns |
 Braylon Edwards |
Edwards has been an enormous bust for fantasy leaguers in 2008, and his stock will continue to fall with Ken Dorsey at quarterback. Edwards also has a tough matchup this week in Philadelphia, where he'll face an Eagles defense that ranks an impressive sixth in pass defense. If you have the depth at wideout to sit Edwards, that's a smart move. |
| Team | Player | Analysis |
 Cincinnati Bengals |
 Chad Johnson |
Johnson had a respectable 79-yard performance against the Colts in last week's 35-3 loss. That was the most receiving yards he has posted in a game all season. With Ryan Fitzpatrick under center and a matchup against the seventh-ranked Redskins pass defense next on the slate, Johnson has little chance to reverse his fortunes. |
| More wide receivers with unfavorable matchups |
| Chris Chambers at Kansas City, Laveranues Coles vs. Buffalo, Kevin Walter vs. Tennessee, Hines Ward at Baltimore, Roy E. Williams vs. N.Y. Giants. Owners beware: Calvin Johnson at Indianapolis. |
Tight ends -- Start 'Em
| Team | Player | Analysis |
 Kansas City Chiefs |
 Tony Gonzalez |
How good has Gonzalez been against the Chargers? Well, he has averaged eight receptions and 102 yards in his last nine games against them. That includes a 113-yard, two-touchdown performance against them back in Week 10. Based on those ridiculous numbers, there isn't a better fantasy option at tight end this week. |
| Team | Player | Analysis |
 Indianapolis Colts |
 Dallas Clark |
During a season in which tight ends have experienced a major decrease in value, Clark has remained a reliable option. He's tied for fifth in fantasy points at the position on NFL.com, and this week's game against Detroit bodes well for a nice stat line. The Lions rank 31st in total defense and are allowing close to 32 points per game. |
| More tight ends with favorable matchups |
| John Carlson at St. Louis, Chris Cooley at Cincinnati, Donald Lee at Jacksonville, Zach Miller vs. New England, Tony Scheffler at Carolina. Sleeper alert: Visanthe Shiancoe at Arizona. |
Tight ends -- Sit 'Em
| Team | Player | Analysis |
 Baltimore Ravens |
 Todd Heap |
Consider this a formal warning against starting anyone in a Steelers or Ravens uniform (not counting their defenses, of course). This clash of AFC North titans has the look of a defensive battle, so production and fantasy points could be hard to find. Heap, who has been a real disappointment in all leagues, is someone to avoid at all costs. |
| Team | Player | Analysis |
 Miami Dolphins |
 Anthony Fasano |
Fasano had three catches and one touchdown in last week's win over Buffalo, so he's back on the radar in some leagues. However, this week's game against the 49ers makes him a bad option. In fact, no defense has been tougher on Fasano's position -- the 49ers have allowed an average of fewer than two catches per game to tight ends. |
| More tight ends with unfavorable matchups |
| Owen Daniels vs. Tennessee, Vernon Davis at Miami, Dustin Keller vs. Buffalo, Heath Miller at Baltimore, L.J. Smith vs. Cleveland (Mon.). Owners beware: Jason Witten vs. N.Y. Giants. |
Kickers -- Start 'Em
| Team | Player | Analysis |
 New York Giants |
 John Carney |
Carney has come from nowhere to become fantasy relevant. He's seventh in points among kickers on NFL.com, and his success should continue in Dallas. The Cowboys' defense has allowed the fourth-most field goals in the league. That makes Carney an attractive fantasy option in what's a very important NFC East battle. |
| More kickers with favorable matchups |
| Dan Carpenter vs. San Francisco, Nate Kaeding at Kansas City, John Kasay vs. Denver, Jay Feely vs. Buffalo, Adam Vinatieri vs. Detroit. Sleeper alert: Josh Brown vs. Seattle. |
Kickers -- Sit 'Em
| Team | Player | Analysis |
 Denver Broncos |
 Matt Prater |
Prater opened the regular season on fire, but his value has cooled off in recent weeks. He has missed five of his last six field-goal attempts from 40 to 49 yards and has scored double-digit fantasy points in just one of his last four games. Now Prater faces a Panthers defense that's allowing an average of 14.4 points per game at home. |
| More kickers with unfavorable matchups |
| Matt Bryant at Atlanta, Kris Brown vs. Tennessee, Nick Folk vs. N.Y. Giants, Sebastian Janikowski vs. New England, Jeff Reed at Baltimore. Owners beware: David Akers vs. Cleveland (Mon.). |
Defenses -- Start 'Em
| Team | Player |
 Eagles defense |
The Eagles are a very nice fantasy option this Monday night against the Browns, who've lost two quarterbacks, their top tight end and all semblance of an offensive attack. This unit is even more attractive in leagues that reward for points and yardage allowed. Look for the Eagles' defense to be dominant in this contest. |
| More defenses with favorable matchups |
| Colts defense vs. Detroit, Jets defense vs. Buffalo, Patriots defense at Oakland, Ravens defense vs. Pittsburgh, Steelers defense at Baltimore. Sleeper alert: Redskins defense at Cincinnati. |
Defenses -- Sit 'Em
| Team | Player |
Cowboys defense |
The Cowboys' defense has played well in recent weeks, but losing three prominent players (Mike Jenkins, Adam Jones, Roy Williams) from the secondary will be hard to overcome. In fact, Giants QB Eli Manning should find a lot of success in what could be a high-scoring game Sunday night. |
| More defenses with unfavorable matchups |
| Bills defense at N.Y. Jets, Broncos defense at Carolina, Chiefs defense vs. San Diego, Jaguars defense vs. Green Bay, Panthers defense vs. Denver. Owners beware: Vikings defense at Arizona. |
Have a burning question for Michael Fabiano on anything fantasy football related? Send it to AskFabiano@nfl.com, and the best questions will be answered throughout the season right here on NFL.com!
