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Steppin' Up Steppin Down
Week 17
12/30/06

Quarterbacks

Steppin' Up

Jay Cutler, DEN: Since taking over for an ineffective Jake Plummer four weeks ago, Cutler has done an admirable job under center for the Broncos. He's thrown two touchdown passes in each of his four starts, while completing 57.1% of his attempts. His average of 193 passing yards per game has been less than stellar, but his touchdown totals have more than made up for it. With the Broncos able to secure a playoff berth with a win at home this Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, there's a good chance Cutler will have another strong outing. San Francisco's pass defense ranks 27th in the league, on average allowing more than 220 yards an outing through the air. They've also allowed 24 touchdown passes this season, third most in the NFL. With that in mind, Cutler should be able to reach the 200-225 yard mark through the air this week, while throwing for another touchdown or two.

Steppin' Down

Brett Favre, GB: Favre's last impressive outing came three weeks ago against the 49ers, when he completed 22 of 34 attempts for 293 yards, with 2 touchdowns and zero interceptions. Since then the future Hall of Famer was a major disappointment. Against two of the weaker secondaries in the league, Detroit and Minnesota, Favre completed just 52.8% of his passes, threw 5 interceptions, and zero touchdowns. He has now thrown 10 interceptions in his last five games, while completing only 55.8% of his attempts. With a road game this Sunday against the Chicago Bears, it's unlikely Favre's fortunes will take a turn for the better. The Bears have wrapped up homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. While they may choose to rest some of their starters, the way Favre has played lately it may not make much of a difference.

Running Backs

Steppin' Up

Cedric Benson, CHI: Cedric Benson hasn't carried more than 16 times in a game this season, but over the last three weeks he has been more active than at any other point this year. During that span, he has carried 46 times for 166 yards and cored a touchdown. Those totals alone may not make Benson the most attractive option for fantasy owners this weekend, but the 3 touchdowns he has scored in three of his last five games should. Another point to take into consideration is that the Bears will likely sit their starters during the second half of this Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers. The sooner they pull their starters, the stronger the possibility of Benson logging the first 20-carry game of his career. If you need help at the running back position, now is as good a time as any to plug the second-year back into your starting lineup.

Steppin' Down

Chester Taylor, MIN: While the Minnesota Vikings game this Sunday against the St. Louis Rams is an inviting one for Taylor owners, his performances as of late are cause for concern. St. Louis ranks 31st in the league in rushing yards allowed per game--giving up just under 150 yards per outing. The 19 rushing touchdowns they've allowed is also second most in the league. They are only ranked behind the Indianapolis Colts in both categories. Considering just how poorly the Rams have defended the run this season, it would make sense to expect a big outing from Taylor. However, taking a look at his last two outings one may be reluctant to place the 5th-year vet into their starting lineup, especially when one considers the opposition wasn't supposed to be stingy against the run.

Two weeks ago against the New York Jets with Vikings rookie quarterback, Tarvaris Jackson, making his first career start, Taylor carried the ball 11 times for just 38 yards. The following week with Jackson remaining under center, Taylor finished with just 49 yards on 15 carries. While the Green Bay Packers defensive unit has performed fairly well against the run this season, the New York Jets have not, and it was expected Taylor would perform much better in both of those games. With that in mind and with Jackson making just the third start of his young career, don't be surprised if Taylor has another disappointing outing this Sunday.

Wide Receivers

Steppin' Up

Isaac Bruce, STL: While Torry Holt continues to be Marc Bulger's top target in St. Louis, 13th-year vet Isaac Bruce has quietly put together another 70-catch, 1000-yard performance for himself following an injury-plagued 2005 campaign. While Bruce has been fairly productive from a yardage standpoint throughout much of the season, his last five games in particular have been rather impressive. During that span, the former Memphis standout has recorded 27 receptions, 406 yards, and 2 touchdowns. When the Rams play the Minnesota Vikings this Sunday on New Years Eve, they'll be facing the lowest ranked secondary in the league. The Rams meanwhile, rank among the top 5 in passing offense, so expect Bruce to have another productive afternoon following his best outing of the season last week.

Steppin' Down

Andre Johnson, HOU: Andre Johnson has set a career high for himself this season in receptions (101 and counting), but unfortunately for owners that road his high production to a playoff berth in fantasy leagues, his most recent outings have been some of his poorest. Going back to Houston's Week 13 game against the Oakland Raiders, Johnson has now caught 17 passes, for 153 yards, and no touchdowns in his last 4 games. That production may have made Johnson a serviceable #3 WR in point per reception (PPR) leagues, but it is well below the level of production most of us were expecting. Johnson could close out the season with a big game this week against the Cleveland Browns, but with the way the Texans passing game has been lately, don't bank on it.