There are a lot of questions I have about this team, mainly like who could be the leader that took them deep into the playoffs? Not David Garrard. With each season that the Jaguars stick with Garrard is another year of abandoned potential.  They have elite players and both running back and one developing quickly at wide receiver, yet for some reason they continue to be unable to .  As far as fantasy football is concerned Garrard has some value as a backup, but there is not much potential for him to do much better than average.

Top Fantasy Players

Maurice Jones-Drew – MJD is an elusive and explosive back that is adept at catching the ball out of the backfield.  If you are in a PPR league then he is probably the 2^nd ranked RB, otherwise he should be the third pick in your draft.

Mike Sims-Walker – MSW is a great receiver that has a great ability to find open space in the end zone.  No one on the team is hurt more statistically by the mediocre play at quarterback than Sims-Walker.

David Garrard – He is a QB2 in any league.  He can get the job done effectively as a fill in when he is playing against a weak pass defense.

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San Diego Chargers vs Tennessee Titans

This really should be a VERY entertaining game for us to watch on Christmas.  I expect a high scoring affair so go ahead and bench these defenses for your playoff or super bowl match-up.  Rivers should do very well this weekend as well as Gates with Keith Bulluck out the middle will be much easier to attack.  Obviously Johnson is a must start as he is almost a shoe-in for a hundred yards on the ground and a score.  You may see a bit more receiving yards than normal here as like with Benson last week the Chargers are good at marginalizing their opponents rushing attack.  They can’t make CJ irrelevant as he is just as big a threat out of the backfield.  Britt is still your fantasy option at QB but Gage will vulture a few targets from him so town down expectations.

Baltimore Ravens vs Pittsburgh Steelers

Rushing yards are at a premium so tone down expectations on Ray Rice and Rashard Mendenhall.  Rice is a must start however because of his worth in the passing game but you shouldn’t expect a huge day.  Mendenhall would likely be sitting but other starts from this game are Derrick Mason, Ben Roethlisberger, Santonio Holmes and Hines Ward.  I like Holmes quite a bit, more than Ward this week as the Ravens are vulnerable to the deep threat and thats what he is so he has a huge upside.  Downgrade Heath Miller as the Ravens have the line backers to cover a TE in man coverage pretty well.

Denver Broncos vs Philadelphia Eagles

This game could have its fair share of fireworks as the Broncos are desperate to prove that last week was a fluke and the Eagles are one of the hottest teams in the league.  DeSean Jackson is an obvious must start as there really doesn’t appear to be any defense that is prepared for his speed.  They do have a good secondary and should do an okay job limiting him from too big of a game, but Celek should should benefit from all the cover three and quarters coverage that Jackson will force.  Stay away from Kyle Orton, and every Eagle running back you may have.

Jacksonville Jaguars vs New England Patriots

The Jaguars have to win to stay in the playoff hunt and the Patriots can clinch the division with a win so both teams have something to prove.  The normal cast of starters will still apply and you can expect a big day from the Patriots receivers as the Jags are pretty bad at corner back.  Downgrade Garrard some as he never looks quite as good away as he does at home, but I do expect Mike Sims-Walker to do just fine as the Patriots secondary is pretty weak itself.  Oh and Maurice Jones-Drew… rumor has it he’s pretty good so go ahead and start him too. =P

Have a Very Merry Christmas, I will have player rankings updated tonight or before the game Christmas Day!  Please forgive me if I don’t do a mailbag article though, I don’t see me nieces and nephew enough as it is!

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Love

Pierre Garcon (IND) – Great match-up and Wayne will be taking it easy.  Even if he plays every snap they wont really be sending Wayne over the middle, but it will just be safe routes that can’t bang him up any further.

Mike Sims-Walker (JAC) - His team is going to be in a shoot out, and he’s been great in home games this season.

Miles Austin (DAL) – Despite losing twice the Cowboys have still had big plays and moderate success on offense.  The Defense is letting them down which only means the passing game will be relevant the whole time.  Austin is a good start this week as well.

Marques Colston (NO) - He’s out of his slump and finding the end-zone.  And on that offense he’s a threat on every play.

Derrick Mason (BAL) – The Bears secondary has been weak and if you think Mason isn’t tough you need to check out his TD grab on Sunday…

Anquan Boldin (ARI) – If Fitz doesn’t see any decrease in play time he will do better than Boldin, but that wont matter much because the Cards are mad and have two soft opponents to beat up on for your playoffs.

Andre Johnson (HOU) – Overshadowed by Marshall’s day Sunday, but I expect Johnson to have a better two game span than Marshall with a good match-up Sunday.

Chris Johnson (TEN) - If VY is banged up these guys still have a chance.  Young changed the attitude in Tennessee since he took over and should he miss time or be limited they will lean on CJ and that is great for you.

Jamaal Charles (KC) – Even when the Chiefs can’t put points on the board or throw the ball really at all, Charles still finds a way to preform quite well in Fantasy terms.

Thomas Jones (NYJ) - Even if Ryan comes back I think Turner doesn’t and the Jets control this game.  Jones has quietly been a top back this year and has a nice match-up for the week I face him in the league I commish!

DeSean Jackson (PHI) - Your definitely going to want to be starting Jackson when he sets the NFL record for most number of 50+ yard TD plays.  Two last week and the 9ers don’t have that good of a secondary.  (they beat the Cards with pressure not coverage.

Knowshon Moreno (DEN) - There likely wont even be anyone for him to split carries with against a great match-up.  This is the match-up you’ve been looking forward to so play him!

Antonio Bryant (TB) – My sleeper pick of the week is Bryant, he is an amazing talent on a team that cannot utilize him well.  Freeman has shown flashes of brilliance this year, and while the last two match-ups were nightmares, Seattle’s pass defense is no one’s nightmare.

Adrian Peterson (MIN) -You gotta love that against a statistically very good rushing D last week.  Favre wont be the focal point of this offense unless they need him to be.  The Carolina secondary is the strength of the defense so why not hand the ball off to Peterson all day?

Ahmad Bradshaw (NYG) - Sleeper pick for sure but Jacobs is a bum so do not be afraid to play Bradshaw in the flex if you need him.

Hate

Roddy White (ATL) - Revis island… its like a Bye week when your starting QB is playing…

Ryan Grant (GB) – Against the Steelers there is no RB that I love.  Despite their troubles defending the run is what they do.

Matt Forte (CHI) - You hate him too… and versus the Ravens?! Sit him!

Jason Snelling (ATL) – That Jets defense will confuse the array of back-ups the Falcons will likely be playing with.

LeSean McCoy (PHI) -If you own him you hate him by now and do not need my urging to sit him down!

Jonathan Stewart (CAR) – Expectations even need to be lowered for Williams, but you’re gonna have to start him.  Minnesota’s Defense is even more tough and confident with Winfield back!

Eli Manning and Steve Smith (NYG) – All the Skins do is defend the pass and they are used to playing Eli and Smith.

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Michael Turner – ATL: Inactive

Roddy White – ATL: Active

Tom Brady – NE: Active

Fred Taylor – NE: Inactive

Percy Harvin – MIN: Inactive

Devin Hester – CHI: Inactive

Matt Ryan – ATL: Inactive

Mike Sims-Walker – JAC: Active

Matthew Stafford – DET: Inactive

Mike Bell – NO: Inactive

Cadillac Williams – TB: Active

DeAngelo Williams – CAR: Active

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Sunman

Cinci defense ok to start against Minnesota? My other choice is to get buffalo def off waivers.

I think they are ok, something has Peterson not at 100%, what that is we don’t know.  What we do know is that he was absolutley a non-factor in last weeks game and Childress won’t let that happen again… With that said the Bengals are very stout vs the run, however haven’t faced more than one ELITE back this season.  It will be a really interesting game, but I do not think you can trust the Bills defense in the playoffs.  Also to take into consideration Harvin has had issues with migraines since he was a boy, and they have flared back up this week, he has now missed two practices.

MR.MVP

WR help who Rober Meachem (NO) @ Atl, Terrell Owens (Buf) @ KC, Michael Crabtree (SF) vs Ari, or Mario Manningham (NYG) vs Phi

I’m planning on starting RB’s Ricky Williams (Mia) @ Jac and Cedric Benson (Cin) @ Min, other option would be Laurence Maroney(NE) vs Car.. what do you think??

Well MVP, I see no reason to hold a roster spot for Manningham if you can get a britt, or a crabtree, or avant, or lots of people really so your good to go ahead and drop him.  TO is your starter this week, the Chiefs are not a very good team by any stretch, and apart from his turn on Revis island (I think he had a photo shoot there for his modeling gig) TO has been very productive recently.  Trust him against a week secondary as the Bills are likely to slide in draft position this week after a win.

Benson is a workhorse, 30+ carries last week, you got it right and here is why: Sammy Morris looked explosive last week as well as Fred Taylor is possibly making his return this week.  Maroney looked good, but there are two guys around now that will take goal line work (Taylor) and 3rd down as well as some regular work (Morris).  Not much is left as far as being relevant in fantasy football.

T Hop

Hi Big Jim,
I can start 2 RBs, which 2 do I start. Addai, D. Williams, or J. Charles. I’m completely stuck here so thanks for your help!

This actually goes a little contrary to my rankings, but I’m going to put a stipulation on it.  I would start Charles and Addai, however, If Williams looks like he will be 100% based off late week practices then go with him over Charles.  This is the playoffs so we can’t take a risk and bench a guy like Williams if he is healthy.

Willie M.

hey Jim two questions:
1. Whats the deal with Mike Sims-Walker; yahoo says he has a calf injury. Is he worth a start?
2. Whats the deal with Kenny Britt and Justin Gage? yahoo says Gage is back in the starting lineup but im still starting Britt at this point. Good idea?

Well Willie, MSW does indeed have a calf injury, but he will be a game time decision for Sunday so we’ll have to wait until then to decide.  His role might be minimized but i cannot speak to whether he is still worth a start without your other receivers.  Also Gage will be coming back at some point, but he has been out a while and will take some time to get used to the speed of the game again.  He won’t likely start eating at Britt’s productivity for a couple weeks.

Josh

which 2 wrs???
ocho, sims walker, V.Jax, smith NYG, D.Mason
thanks

VJax and Ocho – Jackson wont stay in this slump, I still trust him as a WR one without a doubt. The Vikes have proven they can be thrown on so Ocho should be just fine as well assuming they Bengals O-Line can contain Jared Allen.  I think they do a good enough job where Ocho gets in the end zone (this is what play action is for, and why Benson gets 30 carries a game).

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Studs

Tony Romo (DAL) – Even though it was December and the Cowboys lost, Romo out preformed all other QBs in Fantasy Football last week!  The Cowboys still need to find answers going down the stretch, but primarily on the defensive side of the ball.  Romo has some pretty average defenses coming up, and with the teams being the Chargers and Saints we can be sure that the Boys’ll be throwing plenty.  The Redskins are the opponent in Week 16 for most super bowl games in Fantasy which is not a great match-up, I’m sure most of you are still having nightmares about the last Cowboys Redskins game!

Kurt Warner (ARI) – If you risked starting Warner last week good for you!  The Cards got a big win over one of the NFC’s top teams, and really made a statement about their chances going into the playoffs.  They did not look like a Super Bowl contender in the early half of the season but all that matters is how you finish.  The next three match ups are against the NFLs 27th, 16th, and 32nd ranked passing defenses in that order.  These teams are (again, in order) the 49ers, the Rams, and the Lions.  The Rams are still a soft match-up for any passing game despite their surprisingly high rank, can’t ask for any better match-ups from your best QB!

Brandon Jacobs (NYG) – If you started Jacobs in week 14 then you are a braver man (or woman) than I.  Even in this big statistical game where he ended up the top Fantasy RB in the league he looked terrible with the ball.  Jacobs’ rushing stats were not enough to break double digits even with his rushing TD, but on one beautifully set-up screen play Jacobs found a whole to go 74 yards for a score (13 fantasy points of his 22 point total).  Jacobs is not the answer to your fantasy team or the New York Giants and should not be counted on as a starter in the playoffs.

Knowshon Moreno (DEN) – Moreno put up the highest fantasy point total of his rookie season this past week against the Chiefs (20 points).  He may not yet be an auto start, but consider that he plays the Chiefs again in Week 17 if that is when your Super Bowl is, as well as the Raiders in Week 15.  Moreno should definitely crack your starting lineup in those games, and probably even in his other match-ups next week vs the Colts and in Week 16 when he faces the Eagles.  Also if you were wondering Buckhalter still made an impact with 113 yards Sunday, but I still can’t see him threatening Moreno’s value as he gets most the carries and the goal line duties.

Robert Meachem (NO) – My apologies to any of you who asked about Meachem over the past week.  It has been easy to excuse his big games as a result of Colston being shut down, but after five of them it just cannot be ignored any more.  It is very difficult to talk about why the 5th weapon in any offense is a reliable fantasy play (Colston, Henderson, Thomas, Bush being who I feel are more valuable players), but numbers do not lie.  Meachem has 7 catches, four TDs and 43 more yards than number one receiver Marques Colston over the last five games.  I talk a lot about the short memory fantasy owners need to have, and Meachem owners should start to get excited.  This can’t mean that Meachem is the new top fantasy receiver in New Orleans, but it sure makes him the number 2 option over Henderson.

Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald (ARI) – In Fantasy Football terms Boldin actually out preformed Fitz on Sunday, but this duo was 1 point apart and both inside the top 5 at WR this week.  Fitz continues to be Warner’s favorite target as he was thrown to 12 times (catching 8 of them) against the Vikings for 143 yards and a score.  Boldin caught one fewer pass on three fewer targets but got two TDs to go along with his 98 yards.  I mentioned the very good match-ups Warner has already so I won’t repeat them, I’ll just say you don’t want to play against either receiver down the stretch!

Pierre Garcon (IND) – A career day for this young Colts receiver on Sunday.  This guy has quite the future ahead of him as long as he is on the field with Manning, but this season he will be near impossible to rely on as a WR1 or WR2 at any point.  For those of you in deeper formats or with flex positions feel free to use Garcon as a WR3 or flex play in the playoffs as his 136 yard performance vastly over shadowed star Reggie Wayne’s 48 yard day!

Jermichael Finley (GB) – Since his injury earlier this season Finley has been a beast.  I have seen numerous games where the Packers motion him around to create the ideal match-up and expose the defense and when executed properly Finley is a monster.  I think Finley will follow a pretty similar career path as Marques Colston down the line (do you remember being able to play Colston as either a WR or a TE? I do!) as long as he stays healthy.  Monday night Finley caught seven passes for 79 yards and two touchdowns proving that he deserves a shot on any Fantasy Football roster in the playoffs.

Duds

Adrian Peterson (MIN) – 5 pts – The whole team struggled, and to get out of this funk, you should see a heavy dose of AP to force teams to focus more on him and leave the passing game open.  Still no worries for AP down the stretch.

Maurice Jones-Drew (JAC) – 7 pts – What can ya say other than a win is a win.  The Jags pulled a close win from the Texans on Sunday and did so with a pretty disappointing performance from both their offensive stars.  MJD is still a top 3 RB.

Frank Gore (SF) – 3 pts – Gore owners have to be worried as they watch Smith develop and the offense migrate towards a pass first philosophy.  If you have another option think about it long and hard because Gore’s production is slipping fast.

LeSean McCoy (PHI) – 2 pts – I have no clue what to make of the RB situation in Philly other than to say that McCoy is the best healthy back there.  You’re not dropping him, and you will likely still be playing him this week, but lets hope he gets the ball next week!

Greg Olsen (CHI) – 0 pts – Two bad teams met Sunday and the Bears won, kind of.  17-9 was the score of this game, and if I was a Bears fan I would be looking for a rock to climb under right about now.  Forte was the only bright spot this week as Olsen was blanked.

Felix Jones and Marion Barber (DAL) – 1 pt each – How bout them Cowboys in December?! We all thought Romo’s name would be on this side of my list this week lets admit it, but both RB’s in Dallas got just one fantasy point this week.  Neither can be trusted through the playoffs, but I would play Jones in a flex spot if the match-up was right.  The Cowboys win when he gets the ball, end of story.

Mike Sims-Walker (JAC) – 1 pt – MSW is still a WR3 or flex play down the stretch but the whole offense is inconsistent, even in a win.

Ray Rice (BAL) – 4 pts – You don’t likely have a better option and I’m not worried about Rice down the stretch either.  Neither team wanted to win much last night judging by the penalties, and with so many long distances to go for a first down Rice just wasn’t able to be a factor in THIS game.

Reggie Wayne (IND) – 4 pts – What can I say, Sunday was the Garcon show… Wayne is still Manning’s go-to-guy so he can be yours as well, still an auto-start.

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Love ‘em

Matt Hasselbeck – Off of two straight 300 yard games Matt Hasselbeck is up against the NFL’s 23rd ranked pass defense.  The Seahawks will be down, and they will be able to throw against this mediocre at best passing defense.

Beanie Wells – Break out game last week.  This week… THE RAMS!? SIGN ME UP! Start him! Also all Cardinals are easy and smart starts this week! Except Hightower

Matt Schaub – 357 yards and 4TDs in the Texans’ last meeting with the Titans.

Any Pittsburgh Steeler!  Kansas City has shown the ability to provide some fantasy value this season, although not much.  The Chiefs are a very incomplete team in the middle of a rebuild, The Steelers on the other hand are an established team and are a complete team in all three phases of the game.  Polomalou’s absence will not mean any bad things for the defense, as they have the top rushing D in the league Charles will be neutralized.  All Steelers are good starts this week, namely Mendenhall and the Defense.

Calvin Johnson – As I said last week, you just gotta start a guy this talented.  One of these weeks he will have over a hundred yards and 2 TD’s… That’s what I said last week and this is the most likely week for that to happen.  Last weekend Johnson was quite involved in the passing game, and now they face the Browns!

Marques Colston – Saints receivers are inconsistent… frustrating isn’t it.  Bottom line is despite the two bad weeks Colston is too talented to be on the bench… ever.

Hate ‘em

Joseph Addai – Addai has been a bit of a surprise this year.  Many people though Donald Brown would have more of a role in the offense this season as Addai hasn’t produced like the Colts had hoped in the last few seasons.  Better late than never Addai… with that said the Ravens are tough against the run, and I fully expect Peyton to pick them apart this week in the air.

Miles Austin – Interesting to see a player’s fantasy production drop off once he isn’t a big surprise anymore!  I picked up Austin personally and LOVED having him.  Now unfortunately Roy Williams is developing in that offense and opposing defenses are able to keep Austin in check.  The Cowboy’s have a relatively easy match-up versus the Redskins this weekend, but the Skins are NUMBER ONE!!! vs the pass this season.  Expect a good showing from Marion the Barbarian, not from Austin or Williams.

Jamaal Charles – Good luck against that Steelers D!

Mike Sims-walker and David Garrard – The Bills have a very good secondary, and Jauron isn’t around to ruin that team any more.  The Deffensive Coordinator is the Head Coach in Buffalo now, so I would expect to see some more wrinkles in the Defense now that Fewell doesn’t have to filter his game-plan through Jauron.

Matt Ryan – Ryan hasn’t been playing good football this year.  He is without Michael Turner and against a Giants team desperate to right the ship after their bye week.  Giants win this game, by how much is up to Matty Ice!

Randy Moss – Moss has terrible numbers against the Jets…. why? Darrelle Revis!  Revis has had Moss’ number each time they have played.  The Jets were playing much better the last time these two teams met.  I am playing Moss (and Austin =/) but because I do not have any better options.  If you do, use them!

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