QBs: (1 pt per 25 yds passing; 6 pts for all TDs, -2 pts/INT)
RBs: (1 pt per 10 yards rushing/receiving; 6 pts for all TDs)
WRs/TEs: (1 point per 10 yards rushing/receiving, 6 points per TD)

KC @ IND | DAL @ SEA | NYG @ PHI | NYJ @ NE

Chiefs @ Colts
Trent Green/Eddie Kennison/Samie Parker/Tony Gonzalez
Larry Johnson (vs. IND)
Similar passing attacks that have faced the Colts this season: Redskins
Similar RBs that have faced the Colts this season: N/A
FF Points Allowed vs. similar QBs: 21
FF Points Allowed vs. similar WRs: 17.7
FF Points Allowed vs. similar TEs: 10.2
FF Points Allowed vs. similar RBs: N/A
FF Points Allowed vs. QBs/WRs/TEs over the last 3 weeks: 11.4/9/6.7
FF Points Allowed vs. RBs over the last 3 weeks: 25

Passing Game Facts: Green has thrown at least one INT in each of his last six games and for a score in only 4 of his 8 starts this season. Additionally, he topped 200 yards passing only once this season. Kennison is responsible for all four of the 10+ fantasy point performances that came from Chiefs WRs this season. Four of Gonzalez’s five TDs came in two games this season. After allowing 247 yards in the season opener, the Colts defense has not allowed more than 226 yards passing in any game since. The Colts have not allowed an opposing WR to top 10 fantasy points since Javon Walker in Week 8.

Running Game Facts: Johnson has scored no fewer than 9.2 fantasy points all season long and has only scored fewer than 10 points twice all season. Johnson averaged 25.9 fantasy points at home this season; 15.3 on the road. The Colts have allowed at least one rusher to score 10 fantasy points in each of the last 10 games. The Colts have allowed 10 individual 100-yard rushers in 2006; Johnson has hit that mark 11 times this season.

Analysis: As the facts above suggest, Green is not a good play this week. I look for no more than 150 yards and a score at the most from him. The Colts have faced some pretty decent RBs this season, but nothing close to the manchild they will see this weekend. Teams that have committed to the run all game vs. the Colts have destroyed them, something the Chiefs should look to do even if they fall behind early. As a result, 150 total yards and one score should happen, with 2-3 scores a possibility but not likely. If you must play Kennison, go ahead, but he isn’t likely to hit the 60 yard mark. Gonzalez should be in line for any scoring pass that Green throws, but as the numbers suggest, Green only throws for a TD in 50% of his starts. Logic suggests Gonzalez should have a great game, considering that Cover 2 defenses generally allow the better TEs to have good games. With that in mind, I’ll put Gonzalez down for 65 yards and a TD.

Peyton Manning/Marvin Harrison/Reggie Wayne/Dallas Clark
Joseph Addai/Dominic Rhodes (vs. KC)
Similar passing attacks that have faced the Chiefs this season: Bengals
Similar RBs that have faced the Chiefs this season: Fred Taylor/Maurice Jones-Drew
FF Points Allowed vs. similar QBs: 3
FF Points Allowed vs. similar WRs: 9.7
FF Points Allowed vs. similar TEs: 1.5
FF Points Allowed vs. similar RBs: 23.8
FF Points Allowed vs. QBs/WRs/TEs over the last 3 weeks: 11/14.5/3.1
FF Points Allowed vs. RBs over the last 3 weeks: 25.5

Passing Game Facts: Manning accounted for 10 scores and threw no INTs over the last three games of the season. Since their Week 6 bye week, at least one Colts WR has scored more than 10 fantasy points in every game. In fact, Wayne and Harrison have combined for 14 such performances since their bye week. As one may imagine, in only one game since the bye has the leading Colts WR had less than 70 yards receiving. Harrison scored six times in Indy’s final three games. Colts TEs have scored six times this season, but none have come in the last six games. The Chiefs have allowed six QBs to score 2 or more times this season; only one (Seneca Wallace) scored three times. The last time an opponent passed for 300+ against the Chiefs was Week 9 (Marc Bulger). Mark Clayton’s 17.2 point performance in Week 14 was the most points an opposing WR scored vs. the Chiefs. The Chiefs allowed only 9 WR scores all season.

Running Game Facts: Only twice since their bye week have the Colts had one rusher carry the ball at least 20 times-both times were Addai-in a game. The Chiefs struggled stopping the running game on the road all season and opposing RBs (home or away) late in the year-they allowed 4.9 yds/carry over the last five games. Despite their inconsistencies, the Chiefs have allowed only two 100-yard rushers this season.

Analysis: In terms of preparation, the Chiefs haven’t seen a team lately that would prepare them very well for this game. Four of Manning’s 30+ point fantasy games this season came at home. He’s a solid bet for 250 yards and 3 scores in this one. Addai should once again shoulder the bigger fantasy load, as 70 total yards and a score should be in his future. Bigger receivers have had the most success this season against the Chiefs, which bodes well for Wayne. However, Harrison saw no fewer than nine targets during the Colts’ final five games, so look for both to have noteworthy performances. I think 80 yards and a score for each is a reasonable projection, with Wayne the most likely to have the better game of the two WRs-if he is healthy enough to play all the snaps. (Stay tuned for the injury reports on Friday and Saturday.) Clark didn’t look all that healthy last week and Utecht didn’t see a lot of action even when Clark was out, so both are worth leaving on the bench for the playoffs.

Cowboys @ Seahawks
Tony Romo/Terrell Owens/Terry Glenn/Jason Witten
Julius Jones/Marion Barber (vs. SEA)
Similar passing attacks that have faced the Seahawks this season: Giants
Similar RBs that have faced the Seahawks this season: Tatum Bell/Mike Bell
FF Points Allowed vs. similar QBs: 23
FF Points Allowed vs. similar WRs: 34.9
FF Points Allowed vs. similar TEs: 5.8
FF Points Allowed vs. similar RBs: 17.8
FF Points Allowed vs. QBs/WRs/TEs over the last 3 weeks: 20.5/17.6/4.4
FF Points Allowed vs. RBs over the last 3 weeks: 17.8

Passing Game Facts: After throwing for 5 scores in the Thanksgiving Day blowout of Tampa Bay, Romo has thrown for 6 TDs (but 8 INTs) in the five games since. Romo has thrown 2 picks in three of the last five games. Owens has scored a TD in four straight games and has been held under 60 yards receiving only twice since Romo officially took over in the second half of the first game vs. the Giants. Glenn has scored at least 9.6 fantasy points in three of his last four (and four of his last six) games. Witten has only scored 10+ fantasy points once this season and, predictably, only has scored once all season. Week 17 was the first time in five games that the Seahawks did not allow an opposing QB to throw for 2 TDs. However, only one opposing QB has thrown for more than 185 yards against Seattle over the last five games. The Seahawks have allowed at least one WR to score 9.7 fantasy points in seven straight games. The Seahawks allowed 18 WR scores this season. The Seahawks allowed only one TE to score 10+ fantasy points this year (Gonzalez).

Running Game Facts: Week 16-17 marked the first time all season that neither Jones nor Barber scored at least 10 fantasy points in two straight games. Jones has seen no more than 13 carries in the last six games and, as a result, has scored 10+ fantasy points only once in that time. Barber was the Cowboys’ best fantasy RB in 9 of their 16 games in 2006. The Seahawks have held only one individual RB under 10 fantasy points since their Week 5 bye. In that time, they have allowed seven 100-yard rushing performances.

Analysis: I expect this game to be fairly high scoring, especially considering the injury status of the Seahawks’ defensive backfield. I like Romo for at least 230 yards and 2 scores. I expect Barber to once again outscore Jones; figure both RBs will accumulate 60 total yards, with Barber a good bet for at least one score. I like Owens to push 100 yards and score at least once. Glenn is a lesser bet for a score but should put up at least 70 yards receiving-I have a feeling Patrick Crayton may get his score this week. I don’t look for any more than 40 yards from Witten this week.

Matt Hasselbeck/Darrell Jackson/Deion Branch/DJ HacketDougerramy Stevens
Shaun Alexander (vs. DAL)
Similar passing attacks that have faced the Cowboys this season: Eagles (2)
Similar RBs that have faced the Cowboys this season: Deuce McAllister
FF Points Allowed vs. similar QBs: 24.1
FF Points Allowed vs. similar WRs: 22.5
FF Points Allowed vs. similar TEs: 7
FF Points Allowed vs. similar RBs: 12.6
FF Points Allowed vs. QBs/WRs/TEs over the last 3 weeks: 30.3/28.9/7.9
FF Points Allowed vs. RBs over the last 3 weeks: 19.3

Passing Game Facts: Since his return from a knee injury in Week 12, Hasselbeck has not thrown for more than 243 yards in a game. Hasselbeck’s TD totals since his return: 3, 0, 3, 1, 0, 1. Only one Seahawks WR has scored over the last three games. Stevens has been targeted at least 6 times over the past three games. Each of the last five QBs to face the Cowboys has scored at least 17.8 fantasy points. Three of the last four QBs they have faced have thrown for at least 4 TDs (Garcia was the exception). They have allowed at least 237 yards passing in each of the last five games. Nine of the 14 TDs the Cowboys have allowed to opposing WRs have come in the past five games. Since Week 11, they have allowed six 100-yard receiving performances to opposing WRs. The last four offenses Dallas has faced that regularly look to the TE in the passing game have scored at least 5.9 fantasy points.

Running Game Facts: Over the last six games, Alexander has touched the ball at least 23 times in every game. Before facing Detroit’s anemic running attack, the Cowboys had allowed 12.8 to an opposing RB in each of the last four games; four games in which they allowed 7 double-digit fantasy point performances to the RB position.

Analysis: Hasselbeck has not been a model of consistency this season, but the Dallas defense has been pretty bad lately. Expect 220 passing yards and at least two scores in this game. I do look for Seattle to ride Alexander in this game (if only to keep their depleted defense off the field as much as possible), so I believe 110 rushing yards and 2 TDs are possible. Jackson, Branch, and Hackett are all banged up, so playing any of them is fairly risky. I look for all of them to go though, but I think Jackson will be limited. I would not set expectations higher than 50 yards for him. In such an event, Hackett could and should be played just as Jackson would, but once again, I don’t foresee any Seahawks receiver topping 80 yards this week. As a result, Stevens could be a sleeper pick this weekend (especially if Jackson continues to sit) as he has received more attention since the Jackson injury. I think he may be in line for at least 30 yards and a score.

Giants @ Eagles
Eli Manning/Plaxico Burress/Tim Carter/Jeremy Shockey
Tiki Barber/Brandon Jacobs (vs. PHI)
Similar passing attacks that have faced the Eagles this season: Giants (2)
Similar RBs that have faced the Eagles this season: Barber/Jacobs (2)
FF Points Allowed vs. similar QBs: 19.1
FF Points Allowed vs. similar WRs: 30.7
FF Points Allowed vs. similar TEs: 4.2
FF Points Allowed vs. similar RBs: 19.5
FF Points Allowed vs. QBs/WRs/TEs over the last 3 weeks: 14.4/12.5/9.4
FF Points Allowed vs. RBs over the last 3 weeks: 17.1

Passing Game Facts: Manning has not topped 10 fantasy points in any of the last three games. After throwing for 13 scores in his first 6 games, Manning threw only 11 more over the last ten games. Manning completed 71% of his passes this season vs. the Eagles; he completed 55% of his passes against every other opponent. Both of Burress’ 100-yard efforts this season came against the Eagles. Burress has not been held scoreless in consecutive weeks all season-he was scoreless last week. Shockey has been targeted no fewer than 7 times in any of the last six games he has played in, including three games in which he was targeting 12+ times. Jake Delhomme is the only QB to score more than 15 fantasy points against the Eagles in the last 10 games. The Eagles have allowed only 3 QBs to score multiple TDs in a single game this season. Burress is responsible for the only 100-yard receiving performance allowed by the Eagles since Week 6.

Running Game Facts: Barber has scored four times over the last three weeks after scoring once in the first 13 games. Only once since Week 1 (and twice all season) has an opposing RB not scored at least 9 fantasy points vs. the Eagles defense. Since allowing Joseph Addai to score 4 times in Week 12, the Eagles have allowed four RB scores since.

Analysis: Manning’s only chance of putting up a fair game will hinge on Shockey’s status. The Eagles’ pass defense is good enough to keep Burress from blowing up. That being said, I look for a heavy dose of the running game from the G-Men, so Manning is an average play-put him down for 270 yards with 1 TD and 1-2 INTs. Tiki should once again pile up 100-110 total yards but struggle to find the end zone while Jacobs will score once with a maximum of 30 total yards. I look for Burress to have another good yardage game (90-100) with a decent chance for a score. If Shockey was anywhere close to 100%, I think he could be a great play. However, he is not close at this time. With him, I would take the safer route this week and opt for a healthier TE. Ankle injuries do not tend to lend themselves to big games.

Jeff Garcia/Donte Stallworth/Reggie Brown/LJ Smith
Brian Westbrook (vs. NYG)
Similar passing attacks that have faced the Giants this season: Eagles (2)
Similar RBs that have faced the Giants this season: Westbrook (2)
FF Points Allowed vs. similar QBs: 21.1
FF Points Allowed vs. similar WRs: 23
FF Points Allowed vs. similar TEs: 8.8
FF Points Allowed vs. similar RBs: 21.1
FF Points Allowed vs. QBs/WRs/TEs over the last 3 weeks: 15.6/18.2/3.7
FF Points Allowed vs. RBs over the last 3 weeks: 36.5

Passing Game Facts: Eagles QBs scored at least 10 fantasy points in every game this season. And only once all season did an Eagles QB not throw for at least one score in a game. Lastly, Eagles QB have thrown for multiple scores in 12 of 16 games this season. However, considering the gaudy QB numbers, Philly WRs have only managed to score 10+ fantasy points in four of their last nine games. Eagles TEs have score at least 5 fantasy points in four straight (and six of the last seven) games. Only three times this season have the Giants allowed fewer than 11 fantasy points to an opposing QB. They have allowed a passing score in four straight games. The Giants have also allowed at least one opposing WR to score 9.7 fantasy points in four straight (and five of the last six) games. The Giants have allowed only one 10+ fantasy point performance to the TE position all season.

Running Game Facts: Not including the meaningless Week 17game vs. the Falcons, Westbrook is riding a nine-game streak of scoring at least 10.6 fantasy points-he has scored at least 12.6 points in every game since the Week 9 bye week. His lowest total yardage output in that time was 106 total yards against Jacksonville. The Giants have allowed at least 18.4 fantasy points to an opposing RB in three straight (and four of the last five) games. They have allowed four rushers over the last three games to rush for at least 90 yards. They had allowed only two RBs to hit that mark in the 13 previous games.

Analysis: Garcia should be a good bet for at least 230 yards passing and two scores. Westbrook will once again be the central figure in the Eagles’ attack, so I look for a minimum of 140 total yards and at least one score; I think he has a great chance to score twice. Brown has received the most consistent number of targets since Garcia took over and is probably the best play of the Philly WRs, but the best fantasy WR on the team this season has been a revolving door, even in the two games against the Giants. I’ll give Brown 60 yards and a score to go along with Stallworth’s 70 yards. Even Hank Baskett and Greg Lewis makes for good, prospective plays this week if you want to spend your cap dollars/early draft picks in other spots. Smith has had success against the Giants this season and I would expect that to continue this week, with 50-60 yards a likely occurrence.

Jets @ Patriots
Chad Pennington/Laveranues Coles/Jerricho Cotchery/Chris Baker
Cedric Houston/Leon Washington (vs. NE)
Similar passing attacks that have faced the Patriots this season: Jets (2)
Similar RBs that have faced the Patriots this season: Houston/Washington/Kevan Barlow (2)
FF Points Allowed vs. similar QBs: 16.8
FF Points Allowed vs. similar WRs: 29.8
FF Points Allowed vs. similar TEs: 0.9
FF Points Allowed vs. similar RBs: 13
FF Points Allowed vs. QBs/WRs/TEs over the last 3 weeks: 7.3/15.4/2.5
FF Points Allowed vs. RBs over the last 3 weeks: 19.9

Passing Game Facts: After suffering three subpar games during the middle of the season, Pennington has scored less than 12.3 fantasy points only once in the last six games. Pennington has thrown for at least one TD in each game since Week 11. Two of Cotchery’s three biggest games in 2006 came against the Pats. Cotchery has been targeted at least 8 times in each of the last six games. Week 17 marked the first time since Week 8 that at least one Jets WR did not score at least 8 fantasy points. Baker has not been targeted more than 6 times in any game this season. Only Peyton Manning has scored more than 14 fantasy points vs. the Pats since Week 3. Only three opposing QBs have accounted for multiple scores in the same game against the Patriots. The only time this season the Pats have allowed two WRs to score 10+ fantasy points in the same game was against the Jets in Week 2. The Pats have allowed only one TE to top 50 yards receiving this season and they have not allowed a double-digit performance to the TE position all season-they did not allow a TE score all season.

Running Game Facts: Houston has seen no fewer than 16 carries in his last four games. However, Washington has been the Jets best fantasy RB in three of the Jets last four. After only managing five 10+ fantasy performances in the first 11 games of the season, Jets RBs have hit that mark five times in the last five games. Since their Week 6 bye, the Patriots defense has kept only one team from featuring a 10+ fantasy point producer at RB. They have also allowed an individual rusher to eclipse 90 yards rushing in five of their last six games.

Analysis: Given the Pats’ recent struggles in stopping the run, I would expect the Jets to keep the ball on the ground, keeping Pennington from being anything more than an average play this weekend. I wouldn’t expect anything more than 200 yards and 1 score. Kevan Barlow had the best game against the Patriots in the first two meetings, which should mean Houston is the best play of the RB committee this week. Pencil him in for 65 yards rushing and a score. Washington will be fortunate to top 50 total yards. Once again, I expect Asante Samuel to cover Coles most of the day, leaving Cotchery as the best WR play from the Jets. Expect Cotchery to hit the 70 yard mark and score once, while Coles should be good for 80 yards. Baker should not see any fantasy lineup this week.

Tom Brady/Reche Caldwell/Troy Brown/Ben Watson
Corey Dillon/Laurence Maroney (vs. NYJ)
Similar passing attacks that have faced the Jets this season: Patriots (2)
Similar RBs that have faced the Jets this season: Dillon/Maroney (2)
FF Points Allowed vs. similar QBs: 12.5
FF Points Allowed vs. similar WRs: 20.6
FF Points Allowed vs. similar TEs: 6
FF Points Allowed vs. similar RBs: 22.4
FF Points Allowed vs. QBs/WRs/TEs over the last 3 weeks: 12.1/13.4/5.1
FF Points Allowed vs. RBs over the last 3 weeks: 13.8

Passing Game Facts: Brady has not thrown an INT in four straight games. Five different WRs took turns this season as the Pats’ best fantasy WR-Caldwell took the honor in five of the final eight games. Caldwell has both of the 100-yard receiving performances by Pats’ WRs in 2006. The Patriots are one of only four teams to have their TEs surpass 1000 yards receiving this season. Week 17 marked the first time since Week 1 the Jets held an opposing QB under 10 fantasy points. However, they have not allowed an opposing QB to score more than 18.2 fantasy points since Week 7. They have also not allowed a team to throw for more than 177 yards in any of the last four games. After keeping only two teams from featuring a 10+ fantasy point WR in the first 14 games of the season, the Jets have done it in consecutive games.

Running Game Facts: After getting shut out of the end zone for consecutive weeks for the first time all season in Weeks 14-15, Dillon scored in consecutive games for the first time all season. Maroney and Dillon have both scored in two straight games. Dillon’s 59 yards receiving in Week 17 was 40% of his receiving yardage total all season. Maroney has scored at least 11.8 fantasy points in four of his last five games. The Jets have allowed at least one RB to score at least 7.9 fantasy points in every game this season-only twice all season have the Jets kept a RB from scoring less than 10.3 fantasy points.

Analysis: Brady has been average against the Jets in both games this season, so don’t expect that to change. Expect 225 yards and 1 score at the most. RBs should be front and center in the game plan this week, thus I expect Dillon to easily hit 60 yards rushing and score at least once. Maroney should be in line for 50-60 total yards with a score not likely. Caldwell is once again the only Pats WR worth considering, as he should be in line for 75 receiving yards and Brady’s lone scoring toss. Watson had limited success in his two meetings against the Jets this season, so 50 yards is the most his owners should expect this week.