Crunch time! The start of football playoffs has begun! Last week was a mixed bag for StatsGuru, so let’s review our Week 11 NFL forecasts and then look at projections for a HUGE Week 12.

JETS 34 @ PATRIOTS 31 (OT)

The week started with an AFC East battle for the division lead that went to the Jets in OT. We suggested a big game from QB Brett Favre and WR Jerricho Crothery and they both produced in this one. RB Thomas Jones and TE Dustin Keller produced better than we expected also. As suggested, Patriots QB Matt Cassel was forced to air it out and produced the best game of his career. We were right in suggesting the Patriots running backs wouldn’t be able to run on the Jets and they totaled just 63 rush yards from four different backs. Wes Welker and Randy Moss both came up with modest numbers in this one as well. One surprise here was the production from TE Ben Watson who had eight catches for 88 yards and 1 TD. That is, by far, the best TE production from any Patriot TE this season.

BRONCOS 24 @ FALCONS 20

This wasn’t the high scoring shootout that we expected. We suggested a big day from everyone except the Broncos running backs but that was not the case. Apart from Falcons RB Michael Turner and Broncos RB Peyton Hillis, everyone was a bust in this game. Hillis scored 2 touchdowns and had 70 total yards. As sure as death and taxes, never under estimate anyone who lines up in the backfield for the Broncos.

LIONS 22 @ PANTHERS 31

The Lions put up an initial fight against the Panthers but went into the tank in the second quarter. We suggested a big day from all of the Panthers players but the primary damage came from running backs James Stewart and DeAngelo Williams. Between them they accounted for 250 rushing yards and three touchdowns. QB Jake Delhomme Williams and WR Steve Smith were both quiet for the second week in a row. With the way the Panthers can dominate on the ground, they will both be shaky starters the rest of the way. As suggested, WR Calvin Johnson and RB Kevin Smith both posted modest numbers in this one for the hapless Lions.

EAGLES 13 @ BENGALS 13 (OT)

For the first time since 2002 an NFL game ended in a tie. It’s kind of fitting that it would happen between the stumbling Eagles and the bungling Bengals. When is the NFL going to act on a new overtime system? The one they have in place is horrible. The Patriots battled for 60 minutes on Thursday night and didn’t even get the ball in OT, while the Eagles and Bengals couldn’t find a way to score in OT. We say a hybrid of the college system needs to be put in place. Have the coin toss, the winner can then decide to take the ball or defer to their opponent. Put the ball on the 50-yard line and start the OT. If one team scores the other team has a chance to match or better that score. If they match the other team, they play on. If they better or don’t better the other team, it’s game over. We figured this was a good spot for Eagles QB Donavan and a decent spot WR Kevin Curtis and DeSean Jackson. We were wrong. McNabb had 3 INT’s and Curtis and Jackson were both held out of the end zone and under 70 yards. RB Brian Westbrook is not 100% healthy and it showed again this weekend as he totaled 71 yards and did not score. As suggested the Eagles swarming DF/ST was good here as they registered eight sacks and held the Bengals to just 282 total yards. We said just forget about the Bengals but we hope you started WR TJ Houshmandzadeh as he went off with 149 pass yards and a TD. That’s the first time in the past five games that TJ has totaled anything better than six Fantasy points. We still contend that you are in serious trouble if you are relying on the Bengals for success in the Fantasy Playoffs.

SAINTS 30 @ CHIEFS 20

We expected a ton of Fantasy points in this game and, while a couple of stars produced, most did not. Saints QB Drew Brees was very quiet in this one with just 266 pass yards 1 TD and 1 INT. WR Lance Moore had 107 yards and 1 TD while back up RB Pierre Thomas came from out of nowhere to post 144 total yards and 1 TD. As suggested, this was another solid outing for Chiefs QB Tyler Thigpen and WR Dwayne Bowe, though TE Tony Gonzalez was a disappointment after suffering a foot injury. RB Larry Johnson had 87 total yards in his first game in over five weeks.

RAVENS 10 @ GIANTS 10

The Giants continue to roll and we are now prepared to admit that they are the most solid team in the entire NFL. Hopefully you followed our recommendations in this one. We suggested sitting your Ravens and they all had a very quiet day. QB Joe Flacco didn’t have the 1:4 TD to INT ratio suggested but he did manage just 164 yards with 1 TD and 2 INT. His 57 rushing yards helped his bottom line and lead the team. No one else from the Ravens produced anything worthwhile in this game. Despite going up against the Ravens stout run defense, we suggested that the Giants wouldn’t abandon the run in this one and they didn’t. RB Brandon Jacobs had 73 rush yards and 2 TD. He did leave the game with swelling on his knee so be sure to monitor his progress throughout the week. The Giants had 207 total rushing yards and we told you they would! QB Eli Manning and the Giants receiving core, as suggested, all had a very mediocre game. TE Kevin Boss was a bust as well as he failed to make a catch in this game.

VIKINGS 13 @ BUCCANEERS 19

We suggested mediocre numbers from everyone in this game and that was certainly the case. Vikings QB Gus Frerotte protected the ball better this weekend and didn’t throw an INT but he only attempted 20 passes completing 14 for 138 yards and 1 TD. We suggested that you temper your expectations of RB Adrian Peterson and he managed just 85 rushing yards and did not score. WR Bernard Berrian had the modest game we suggested with just three catches for 46 yards. None of the Bucs, as suggested, posted anything in the way of decent Fantasy numbers, as their team leader was TE Jerramy Stevens who caught six passes for 84 yards. Stats Sleeper RB Cadillac Williams was supposed to start in this game but ended up being inactive.

RAIDERS 15 @ DOLPHINS 17

For the second week in a row, the Dolphins survived against an NFL bottom feeder, as they needed a late game field goal to get past the hapless Raiders. It wasn’t pretty but the Dolphins have now won four in a row. RB Ronnie Brown posted a decent 112 total yards but did not score. RB Ricky Williams had a modest 55 total yards. QB Chad Pennington, as suggested, had a very mediocre day with just 174 pass yards. As we suggested, it was more of the same for the Raiders and they were horrible. Their lone TD came on a 93-punt return.

BEARS 3 @ PACKERS 37

The Packers had their way with the Bears in this one and rolled in all aspects of the game. Bears RB Matt Forte didn’t have the game we expected but did have 104 total yards. The rest of the Bears, as suggested, were horrible. We suggested the Packers would attack through the air and, while they did with 30 pass attempts, they also burned the Bears on the ground. QB Aaron Rodgers had a good game with 227 pass yards and 2 TD with 1 INT and WR Greg Jennings posted 64 yards and 1 TD. Suggesting that you should sit RB Ryan Grant was not good advice…sorry about that one. Grant went off with 145 rushing yards and 1 TD. Stats Sleeper TE Donald Lee caught 6 passes for 33 yards and 1 TD.

TEXANS 27 @ COLTS 33

The Colts didn’t exactly dominate this game but they did post the Fantasy numbers we thought they would. QB Peyton Manning and RB Joseph Addia were both huge while WR Reggie Wayne and TE Dallas Clark posted decent numbers as well. We expected decent numbers from QB Sage Rosenfels, WR Andre Johnson and TE Daniel Owens but they were all busts in this game. Hopefully you ignored our advice on RB Steve Slaton, as the rookie was huge with 156 rush yards and 1 TD. The Colts held him in check for most of the game but he busted off a 71 yard rushing TD in the third quarter. Stats Sleeper WR Kevin Walter had three catches for 79 yards to lead the Texan receivers.

RAMS 16 @ 49ERS 35

The battle of cellar dwellers in the NFC West went to the 49ers in a big way. Rams QB Marc Bulger and WR’s Torry Holt and Donnie Avery had the mediocre games we suggested. RB Steven Jackson missed his third straight game. As suggested, RB Frank Gore was huge with 114 total yards and 2 TD. QB Shaun Hill posted better than expected numbers with 213 yards and 2 TD. WR Bryant Johnson led mediocre 49ers receiving core with 56 yards and 1 TD. Stats Sleeper WR Jason Hill was held to three catches for 33 yards.

CARDINALS 26 @ SEAHAWKS 20

The Cardinals almost let another one slip away this weekend but held on to beat the lowly Seahawks. As suggested QB Kurt Warner, WR Anquan Boldin and WR Larry Fitzgerald all had a big day here. As predicted WR Steve Breaston fell back to his WR3 role in this one with just two catches for 15 yards. Little used RB J.J. Arrington had 61 total yards and 2 TD’s for the Cards. We suggested that you shouldn’t have anyone starting from the Seahawks in this game and, for the most part, we were right. QB Matt Hasselbeck was back for this weekend’s game but, as expected, was very rusty and threw 3 INT’s to just 1 TD and a 170 pass yards. The Seahawks got three touchdowns on a combined 11 touches and just 34 yards out of TJ Duckett and Maurice Morris. Numbers like that are virtually impossible to predict.

TITANS 24 @ JAGUARS 14

The Titans remain perfect at 10-0 on the season with a come from behind victory over the Jaguars. As suggested RB Maurice Jones-Drew had another big game with 93 total yards and 2 TD’s. We told you to bench QB David Garrard and his receiving core this weekend they were all horrible with just 135 total passing yards. After getting down early the Titans had to go into a passing mode and QB Kerry Collins and WR Justin Gage both ended up with huge game. We certainly didn’t see that coming. We were wrong on both RB Chris Johnson and LenDale White as they each had a very mediocre game in this one. TE Bo Scaife was a bust with just two catches for 28 yards.

CHARGERS 10 @ STEELERS 11

This was the first time in NFL history that a game finished with an 11-10 score. The game, in adverse weather conditions, was as ugly as the score. The actual final should have been 18-10 as the officials blew a call late on a play that should have given the Steelers a defensive touchdown. We suggested modest numbers from everyone in this game and that certainly the case.

COWBOYS 14 @ REDSKINS 10

The Cowboys got their leader back in QB Tony Romo and their defense stepped up huge in an old style, smash mouth football game. It certainly wasn’t the shootout that we expected. We suggested a decent game for Redskins QB Jason Campbell and he barely reached it with 182 totals yards with 1 TD and 1 INT. We cautioned against starting RB Clinton Portis and he produced disappointing numbers. We expected a decent game from WR Santana Moss but he was a bust with 5 catches for 29 yards. As suggested, TE Chris Cooley was very active again with 7 catches for 47 yards but he failed to score. QB Tony Romo and the Cowboys receiving core didn’t have the game we expected but RB Marion Barber III was huge in this one with 153 total yards and a 1 TD.

BROWNS 29 @ BILLS 27

The Browns almost let another one slip away after being up 23-13 in the fourth quarter but a couple of late field goals, including a 56-yard bomb, won the game with 46 seconds left. The Bills had a chance to win it late in the game but Ryan Lindell missed wide right on a 47-yard attempt. Wide right from 47 yards out…sound familiar Bills fans? This was another MNF game that didn’t look good on paper but turned out to be a highly entertaining game. QB Brady Quinn was good for his team when he had to be but was nothing special from a Fantasy perspective. We cautioned against using RB Jamal Lewis and he had a mediocre 65 total yards. The drops continued for WR Braylon Edwards but he ended up with 104 yards on eight catches.

TE Kellen Winslow was disappointing with just three catches for 40 yards. We thought this was a nice spot for QB Trent Edwards as a QB2 and then he went out and threw three INT’s to offset his 2 TD’s and lowly 148 pass yards. Edwards has not been the same since his Week 5 concussion and can’t be trusted as a starting Fantasy QB any longer. We suggested that RB Marshawn Lynch would get back on track in this one and he responded with 177 total yards and 1 TD. It should have been even better but he was stopped at the goal line late in the game after a 28 yard run. Edwards used a QB sneak to finish off the drive. WR Lee Evens did not get back on track as we suggested and was held without a catch. Evans has reverted to his hit and miss ways of old and is no longer an automatic start in any format.

As mentioned it was mixed bag for us in Week 11, but we are amped up for the start of the Fantasy Playoffs so let’s get to it! Some of the best advice we can give you over the coming weeks is to make sure that you check the weather reports before making your roster decisions. Winter has arrived on the East coast and you need to be aware of games that will be played in cities that may have adverse weather conditions. There aren’t too many trouble spots this weekend but weather will be a factor moving forward.

BENGALS (1-8-1) @ STEELERS (7-3)

The Steelers won ugly over the visiting Chargers while the Bengals hung with the Eagles and settled for a tie in Week 11.

Week 12 kicks off with a Thursday game in Pittsburgh. The Steelers are at home for the third week in a row and we suggest that they will roll the Bengals in this one. The Steelers defense is now ranked #1 against the run, the pass and overall. The Steelers face a brutal schedule after this one so this is a must-win situation for them. The Bengals have played decent in their last two games but they’ll be no match for the Steelers on the road. The Bengals rank 23rd against the run and the Steelers will pound the ball at them with RB Willie Parker while mixing in the versatile Mewelde Moore. Parker should be used as a high end RB1 in this one and Moore makes a good flex position starter. Don’t expect huge numbers from the Steelers passing game but once they establish the running game they will take some shots down field against the Bengals defense that has given 14 TD passes. That being said we expect a modest stat line from QB Big Ben and WR Hines Ward in this one. TE Heath Miller missed his second straight game with a high ankle sprain and should not be in your starting lineup. Little known TE Matt Spaeth is the Steelers new starting TE and has posted back to back 6 catch and 53/55-yard games. Consider him as a high-end TE2 in this one.

Behind QB Ryan Fitzpatrick the Bengals have showed some Fantasy life the past couple of weeks. That life will be snuffed out this week, as the Steelers will bring constant and heavy pressure right from the start. We can’t, in good conscience, recommend any Bengal player in this game. We even suggest that the Steelers defense will produce more points than any Bengal offensive player in this game. Yes, it will be that ugly.

Stats Sleeper

Since his drug bust WR Santonio Holmes has been relatively quiet in the Steelers passing game. He did have five catches for 89 yards in his first meeting against the Bengals and is worth a flier if you are desperate at WR this weekend.

Weather: Snow Showers and cold.

TEXANS (3-7) @ BROWNS (3-7)

The Texans hung with the Colts but came up short while the Browns almost blew another one but kicked a late, game winning field goal to beat the Bills in Week 11.

Both teams are playing for nothing more than pride in this one. The Texans are horrible on the road at 0-5 while the Browns think they have a playoff life but there are still five teams ahead of them in the wildcard chase. After igniting the Browns offense in Week 10, QB Bradly Quinn slipped back with a mediocre Fantasy effort in Week 11. The Texans defense is bad against the run and mediocre against the pass and has given up the second most total touchdowns at 34. Expect modest numbers out of Quinn in this one but there are way better options in Week 12. RB Jamal Lewis will have a big game here, as the Browns will pound away at the Texans run defense that is giving up an average of 132 rush yards a game. The Browns will not have to pass much in this game so we would not trust WR Braylon Edwards as anything more than a low-end WR2. TE Kellen Winslow is Quinn’s favorite target is dealing with a shoulder injury so check his status before you pencil him in.

The Texans have fallen on tough times and have lost three in a row. As mentioned, they are horrible on the road and things don’t get any easier for them this weekend. Any hope of a Texans win here will come from their running game and rookie Steve Slaton. It looked like he had hit the “rookie wall” after being sat down in the Ravens game in Week 10 but he came out against the Colts and rattled off 177 total yards last weekend. The Browns rank 28th against the run and give up an average of 149 yards a game. Start Slaton with confidence in this one. The Browns have been better against the pass then a run but Texans QB Sage Rosefels has been horrible in his last two starts. Word has it that QB Matt Schaub may be out for the season so it looks like it’s Rosenfels gig the rest of the way. That being said, you can’t trust you Fantasy season to Rosenfels and he should not be started this weekend. The inconsistent play at QB for the Texans has hurt the value of WR Andre Johnson and TE Owen Daniels. Both of them have now had back-to-back horrible weeks. If you own them, they are both obvious starters for your team and you need to have them going in Week 12. However, you do need to tempter your expectations for them again this weekend.

Weather: Brisk and cold with a blend of sun and clouds.

BUCCANEERS (7-3) @ LIONS (0-10)

The Bucs stifled the Vikings offense and came from behind for the win while the Lions packed it in after the first quarter and lost to the Panthers in Week 11.

The Bucs continue to win behind solid, though not spectacular, QB play from Jeff Garcia, a modest rushing attack and stellar defense. The Lions are just plain horrible in all aspects of the game. If you are desperate at QB then this is one spot that we would suggest starting Garcia. The Bucs are hurting at the running back position and may be forced to air it out in this one. Trust Garcia and WR Antonio Bryant to produce decent stat lines here. The Bucs have placed RB Earnest Graham on injured reserve and he is now out for the season. Without Graham in the lineup expect versatile, veteran RB Warrick Dunn to shoulder the load and post decent numbers from a combination of rushes and pass receiving. Getting 100 total yards and at least one score would not be a surprise out of Dunn here. RB Cadillac Williams was expected back last week but was inactive for the game. The loss of Graham may force the Bucs to dress Williams but you need to make sure that he’s active before giving him a start. Look for RB Clifton Smith to be in the mix at running back for the Bucs as well.

The Lions have nothing to lose and are desperate for a win but just how much can be expected from this group? The short answer is too not much. The Bucs rank 12th against the run and still lead the league with just 1 rushing TD allowed. They rank 4th against the pass but have surrendered 13 TD passes. RB Kevin Smith has been a bright spot for the Lions the last couple of weeks but does not match up well against the Bucs run defense. The only Lion you can trust in this game is WR Calvin Johnson who has a TD catch in five of his last six games.

Stats Sleeper

TE scoring is down across the league. TE Jerramy Stevens was the Bucs leading receiver in Week 11 and is now starting for them. If your starting TE faces a tough match up this weekend take a flier on Stevens up against the Lions.

Weather: Indoor game.

BEARS (5-5) @ RAMS (2-8)

The Bears were exposed and soundly beaten by the Packers while the Rams were thrashed for a second straight week, this time by the lowly 49ers in Week 11.

We say the Bears were exposed because this is a bad football team. They surprised the Colts in Week 1, have beat the Eagles, the Vikings and the Lions twice. There’s not much there to hang your hat on if you are a Bears fan. Good thing they get the Rams this weekend. It’s hard to imagine where this team would be without rookie RB Matt Forte who should get serious consideration for the Rookie Of The Year Award. It’s probably going to go to QB Matt Ryan in Atlanta but Forte has been a stud. Expect another huge game from the rookie this weekend as the Rams have given up a league leading 18 TD runs and rank 29th in run defense. It’s anyone’s guess as to who gets the start at QB for the Bears this weekend. QB Kyle Orton was definitely not a 100% on Sunday and was pulled from the game and replaced by Rex Grossman. Neither can be trusted as your starting QB and that limits the Bears receiving core as well. Start Forte and sit the rest of your Bears despite the cupcake match up.

The Rams produced 406 yards of total offense in Week 11 but had very little to show for it in the end as most of their drives ended in field goal tries. They had to air it out after falling behind and, with their backfield the mess that it is, we expect they will pass on the Bears as well. Believe it or not, Rams QB Marc Bulger will be a sneaky start and post good numbers in this one. The Bears rank 30th against the pass and the Rams will want to entertain the hometown faithful. This is a good spot for WR Torry Holt and Donnie Avery as well. RB Steven Jackson has been ruled out for Week 12. RB’s Antonio Pittman and Kenneth Darby both produced good numbers in Week 11 and will share the RB duties. Pittman is the primary rushing back while Darby catches more balls out of the backfield. With the playoffs beginning in most leagues, both of these guys are a risky start. If you are desperate and have to start one of them, we suggest using Pittman. Darby suffered a rib strain late in Week 11 and will not be 100% for this game.

Weather: Indoor game.

EAGLES (5-4-1) @ RAVENS (6-4)

The Eagles played to a tie with the Bengals while the Ravens were run over by the Giants in Week 11.

Both of these times are still in the playoff hunt in their respective conference and we expect that this will be smash-mouth football at its brutal best. This will be a very low scoring game and Fantasy points will be hard to come by. Expect the Eagles to blitz QB Joe Flacco continuously in this game after they had another eight sacks in Week 11. They are now tied for the league lead with 36 total sacks. The Giants forced Flacco into two costly INT’s last week and we expect the Eagles to do the same. After three weeks of 20 plus points, Flacco came back down to earth with a modest nine points against the Giants last week. We suggest looking elsewhere for your starting QB this weekend. The Eagles also held the Bengals to just 56 rushing yards last week and this makes everyone from the Ravens RB committee suspect and risky this weekend. WR Derrick Mason Mason played through a shoulder injury and had a nice game against the Giants. We would start him as a low-end WR2 in PPR leagues but would be hesitant to start him in a standard scoring league. TE Todd Heap came back down to earth last week and still can’t be trusted as your starting TE.

The Eagles offense looked to be set up for a nice week against the Bengals and then managed just 1 TD and 2 field goals. QB Donavan McNabb had his worst game of the season in Week 11 and it certainly doesn’t get any easier with a second road game in a row this weekend. If you have a more favorable match up with another QB we suggest that you sit McNabb in this one. RB Brian Westbrook is clearly hurting and he to posted mediocre numbers in a game where way more was expected. The Giants three-headed monster gashed the Ravens last week on the ground but we expect their defense will be much better this weekend. It’s now being reported that Westbrook could miss considerable time moving forward. Correll Buckhalter is the likely starter for the eagles at RB this weekend. Consider Buckhalter as mid-range RB2 for this one. None of the Eagles receiving core has proven to be reliable lately and we suggest looking elsewhere for your WR and TE this weekend.

Weather: Mostly cloudy 45 degrees.

JETS (7-3) @ TITANS (10-0)

The Jets let an early lead slip away but won in overtime over the Patriots while the Titans remained perfect and beat up on the Jaguars.

The Jets have reeled off four wins in a row and have done so with a balance of run and pass on the offense and a run defense that’s a virtual brick wall. For the Jets to win here they will have to be committed to a strong running game as the titans have shown some cracks in their rush defense the past couple of weeks. While they haven’t given up huge yardage numbers, the Titans have given up three rushing touchdowns in their last two games. Thomas Jones has been on fire for the Jets and has posted double-digit fantasy points in six straight weeks. Don’t expect a monster game for him here but he will be a decent high-end RB2 this weekend. QB Brett Favre faces a tough challenge against the Titans ball hawking pass defense. The Titans are second in the league with 15 interceptions and Farve has thrown 12 INT’s on the season. The Jets will use a conservative approach to try and win this game and we can’t recommend Favre as anything more than a QB2 in this one. We also expect a pedestrian game from the Jets receivers in this one. Rookie TE Dustin Keller has emerged as a favorite target and release valve for Favre and is worth starting as a low-end TE1.

The Titans continue to roll but they are still the most underrated, undefeated team in recent memory. Everyone had said, “Wait until they match up against a run stopping defense and see how they do”. The last two weeks the have shown they can be effective through the air as is evident by their five passing touchdowns. If you overload to stop the run, they will burn you through the air. Through the first nine weeks of the season QB Kerry Collins was not a Fantasy QB you could trust to get you points. Over the past two weeks however he has passed for 519 yards and 5 TD’s with just one interception. Collins will be forced to the air again this weekend as the Jets rank 4th in run defense and have surrendered just 7 rushing TD’s. On the other side of the coin, the Jets have given up 14 TD’s through the air and were torched by the Patriots Matt Cassel last weekend. We expect a third serviceable game in a row out of Collins. WR Justin Gage had a career game in Week 11, has his injuries woes behind him and has emerged as the go-to receiver in Tennessee. Don’t expect a repeat performance of Week 11 but he will be a good high-end WR2 this weekend. The Titans Thunder and Lightening combination of LenDale White and Chris Johnson have struggled for two weeks in a row now. Keep your expectations in check for them again this weekend.

Stats Sleeper:

We expect a bounce back game out of Titans TE Bo Scaife after Patriots TE Ben Watson torched the Jets for 88 yards and 1 TD to more than double his season output. Start Scaife as a low-end TE1 this weekend.

Weather: Partly cloudy and 53 degrees.

VIKINGS (5-5) @ JAGUARS (4-6)

The Vikings and Jaguars both gave up halftime leads and lost to the Bucs and Titans respectively in Week 11.

The preseason, over-hyped playoff favorite Vikings still have a share of the NFC Central lead with both the Packers and Bears but are clearly not the team they were forecasted to be. Back to back road games are never easy but they can take some solace in the fact that they are playing an equally inept Jaguars squad. How the Vikings approach this game is a huge question mark. The Jaguars rank 20th against the run but have surrendered just seven rushing TD’s. They rank 15th against the pass but have given up 18 TD passes. The Vikings strength is their running game so we expect them to start there. RB Adrian Peterson followed up a monster Week 10 with a horrible Week 11. You can’t ever sit him but we don’t expect a huge game from him this weekend. QB Gus Frerotte should be able to throw against the Jaguars and we expect a decent game out of him and WR Bernard Berrian in this one. Expect a bounce back game from TE Visanthe Shiancoe and treat him as a high-end TE2.

This was supposed to be a breakout year for the Jaguars but it’s quickly turning into a lost season for them at this point. Any hopes to grab a playoff spot will depend on them winning out the rest of the way. Winning on Sunday will hinge on the ability of QB David Garrard as the Vikings rank 2nd against the rush but are a weak 24th against the pass. Garrard will be asked to air it out in this one but expect modest numbers from him at best. The Jaguars receiving core is a mess as WR Matt Jones is dealing with a thigh bruise and no one stepped up in absence in Week 11. You should ignore the Jags receiving core all together. The Jags can’t abandon the run even against the stout Vikings run defense. RB Maurice Jones-Drew showed last week that he could make tough yardage against a good run defense as he scored twice on the Titans. Don’t expect a monster day from him but he does have five touchdowns in his last two games and is a high-end RB2 this weekend. This should be a rebound weekend for Jaguars TE Marcedes Lewis and he should be considered as a high-end TE2.

Stats Sleeper

WR Mike Walker returned to action last week for the Jaguars and with Jones injured he is worth a flier if you are desperate at the WR spot this weekend.

Weather: Partly sunny and 55 degrees.

PATRIOTS (6-4) @ DOLPHINS (6-4)

The Patriots lost to the Jets in OT while the Dolphins survived the Raiders in Week 12.

For the first time since the 2000 season, the Patriots find themselves in a position other than first place in the AFC East. Based on the tie-breaking procedure they’re in third behind the Jets and Dolphins. They are still in position for post-season play but a second loss to the upstart Dolphins would be a serious blow to their chances. QB Matt Cassel was on fire last week and we expect more of the same against the Dolphins 22nd ranked pass defense. Start him as a low-end QB1 this weekend. We also like WR’s Randy Moss and Wes Welker in this one as the Patriots will pull out all the stops in this must-win game. The Dolphins have given up an average of just 91 rush yards a game and only five rushing TD’s. The Patriots backfield is crowded with the return of RB Sammy Morris so none of them are recommended in this game.

The Dolphins find themselves in rare air this weekend as the hunted rather than the hunters. They are at home for the third week in a row and win here would go a long way in their improbable playoff run. Their surprising run began in Week 3 against these same Patriots but this will be a much tougher match up for them. QB Chad Pennington is dealing with a foot injury and has been mediocre at best in his last two games against far lesser opponents. The Pats secondary is a mess but their front seven can still bring it. Expect another pedestrian day out of Pennington and his mediocre receiving core. The Patriots have been good against the run with a bend don’t break style of play. They have given up an average of 104 yards a game but have yielded just five rushing touchdowns. RB Ronnie Brown is a must-start for the Dolphins but we don’t see him as anything more then a high-end RB2 this weekend.

Weather: Mostly sunny and 77 degrees.

BILLS (5-5) @ CHIEFS (1-9)

The Bills lost in the closing seconds to the Browns while the Chiefs battled hard but lost to a desperate Saints team in Week 12.

It seems like every weekend the Chiefs are up against an opponent that is desperate for a win. Last week it was the Saints, the week before it was the Chargers, the week before that it was the Bucs and in Week 8 it was the Jets. All four of those teams came away with a victory. This week the Bills roll into town on a four game losing streak and they are overly desperate for a win here. The Chiefs have been scrappy in their past four games and we expect another good effort from them here. It won’t be easy for the Bills as playing in Arrowhead Stadium is always a tough task. QB Trent Edwards has struggled and has been horrible over the past four weeks. Even though the Chiefs 27th ranked pass defense may look inviting, we recommend that you stay away from Edwards this weekend. Last week the Chiefs held Saints QB Drew Brees in check and we expect another rough outing for Edwards here. The Bills will take the ball out of Edwards hands and place it squarely in the mitts of RB Marshawn Lynch who will have a field day against the Chiefs 31st ranked run defense. With Edwards struggling and the Bills wanting to keep the suddenly potent Chiefs offense off the field, expect limited chances for the Bills slumping receiving core in this one as well.

The Chiefs are trying to play the spoiler role and build on their recent offensive success. QB Tyler Thigpen has posted 88 Fantasy points in standard scoring systems over the past four weeks. The Bills have been decent against the pass but we still think Thigpen is a decent high-end QB2 this weekend. WR Dwayne Bowe continues to be a receiving machine and is a must-start WR1 again this weekend. TE Tony Gonzalez suffered a minor ankle sprain last week so you need to check his progress through the week. When healthy Goons is a must-start TE1 in all formats. The Chiefs running game has taken a back seat to their passing game but the Bills have given up 13 rushing TD’s so far this season. Chiefs RB Larry Johnson had a week to shake off the rust and we expect a decent RB2 type game out him this weekend.

Stats Sleeper

Bills RB Fred Jackson gets more involved in the Bills offense with each passing week. Jackson is worth a start at the flex position against the Chiefs this weekend.

Weather: Mainly sunny and 49 degrees.

49ERS (3-7) @ COWBOYS (6-4)

The 49ers pounded the Rams while the Cowboys got back to wining by beating the Redskins in Week 11.

The Cowboys got their leader QB Tony Romo back from injury and played amazing defense last weekend against the Redskins. The magnitude of their win can’t be underestimated, as a loss would have been a severe blow to their playoff hopes. They will keep it rolling this weekend as they welcome the hapless 49ers to Texas Stadium. Romo didn’t light it up last weekend but he was good when he had to be. Things get much easier this weekend at home against a 49ers pass defense that ranks 25th and has given up 15 touchdowns. Romo, WR Terrell Owens and TE Jason Witten will all have a big day here. Owens and Witten have been horrible over their last five games but they will get back on track in this one. The 49ers have been decent against the run and rank 15th giving up an average of 106 yards a game and just 10 touchdowns. The Cowboys will win big this weekend and you need to get RB Marion Barber III in your lineup as well.

Don’t let the 49ers 35-16 win last weekend against the Rams fool you. The Rams are horrible on defense and everyone scores on them. The Rams had 406 total yards of offense last week but bogged down on most drives and had to settle for field goal attempts. The Cowboys defense is nothing to write home about but they are much better than the Rams. The only player we can recommend from the 49ers in this one would be RB Frank Gore. He is a run and pass receiving threat and should get 30 touches in this game. Treat Gore as a low end RB1 here and ignore the rest of the 49ers.

Stats Sleeper

QB Tony Romo and WR Roy Williams have had two weeks of practice together now and we expect Williams will get in the mix this weekend and score his second TD as a Cowboy.

Weather: Mostly sunny and 64 degrees.

RAIDERS (2-8) @ BRONCOS (6-4)

The Raiders lost on the road to the Dolphins while the Broncos came from behind twice to beat the Falcons in Week 11.

The Broncos have won two straight, come from behind, road games and are looking to put a strangle hold on the AFC West title. While that’s no big feat, given the caliber of play in the division, a win here coupled with a Chargers loss to the Colts would give Denver a three game lead. The Broncos pasted the Raiders 41-14 in Week 1. We expect a similar outcome in this game as the Raiders have scored just two touchdowns on offense in their last six games. There’s no sense wasting much time on this game. Start QB Jay Culter, WR’s Brandon Marshall, Eddie Royal and TE Tony Scheffler. We do however caution you on using a RB from Denver. Rookie Peyton Hillis had a huge game against the Falcons but suffered a shoulder stinger last week and may be limited. That would mean more touches for Tatem Bell but can you trust him with Fantasy playoff lives on the line? We suggest that you can’t and advise that you avoid the Denver RB situation all together.

As mentioned, the Raiders have scored just two offensive touchdowns in six games. It is virtually impossible to recommend any Raider on any given week. If you are desperate at RB, Justin Fargas faces a Denver run defense that is ranked 26th, gives up 143 yards a game and has allowed 13 rushing touchdowns. The Raiders will be down early in this one and may have to abandon the run so start Fargas with your expectations in check. No one else from the Raiders should be considered in this one.

Weather: Mainly sunny and 47 degrees.

PANTHERS (8-2) @ FALCONS (6-4)

The Panthers beat up on the lowly Lions while the Falcons gave up leads twice and lost to the Broncos in Week 11.

This is the game of the year for the Falcons who have to be hurting after their loss to the Broncos. A loss here would kill any hope they have of winning the NFC South title and put their wildcard chances in jeopardy as well. The Panthers rank 5th in pass defense and 17th against the run. The Falcons will want to attack the Panthers on the ground with RB Michael Turner while mixing in touches to RB Jerious Norwood. Don’t expect an overwhelming performance from Turner but he is a decent low-end RB1 in this game. Falcons QB Matt Ryan faces one of his toughest games of the year in this one. The Panthers are giving up an average of just 185 pass yards a game and have yielded only 8 TD passes. We expect a modest game out of Ryan and his receiving core here. Consider Ryan as a mid-range QB2 and WR Roddy White as a high-end WR2 in this one.

The Panthers reeled off 250 rushing yards and three touchdowns last week against the Lions. This week they face a Falcons run defense that ranks 22nd and we expect the Panthers to run early and often again. RB’s James Stewart and DeAngelo Williams should both be considered as a low-end #1 at both the RB and flex position. The Falcons have been decent on pass defense and rank 11th in the category allowing just 226 pass yards a game. QB Jake Delhomme has struggled in his last two games. We expect the Panthers to concentrate on running the ball and consider Delhomme as a low-end QB2 in this game. With Delhomme struggling the production out of WR Steve Smith has taken a huge hit. Smith shouldn’t be considered as anything more than a mid-range WR2 against the Falcons.

Weather: Indoor game.

GIANTS (9-1) @ CARDINALS (7-3)

The Giants ran all over the Ravens while the Cardinals hung on to beat the lowly Seahawks in Week 11.

The Cardinals continue to play bombs away football but have been anything but impressive in their last two wins over the 49ers and Seahawks. They will have to be much better if they hope to beat the Giants on Sunday. QB Kurt Warner continues to play at an MVP level but faces a much tougher task this weekend. The Giants pass defense ranks 2nd in the league and has given up an average of 174 pass yards a game. More impressive however is their 31 sacks which ranks 4th in the NFL. The Giants are equally impressive on run defense and we don’t see them be very concerned about the Cards 29th ranked rushing offense. What we are getting at here is that we expect that it’ll be a long day for Warner, as he will be running for his life for most of the game. We aren’t suggesting that you sit him but we do think you need to lower your expectations in this one. You need to temper your expectations of WR Anquan Boldin and WR Larry Fitzgerald in this one as well. You can’t sit them but don’t expect the same numbers that they have posted against the inferior talent they have faced over the past three weeks. (Rams, 49ers and Seahawks) Don’t trust anyone from the Cardinals backfield in this game, as no one has been able to run on the Giants.

The Giants continue to roll over everyone in their way and with their three-headed monster in the backfield they are virtually impossible to stop. The one area for the Giants that don’t get anywhere near enough credit is their offensive line, which is by far the best O-Line in the NFL. The Cardinals rank 7th against the run but that is misleading because most teams are behind early against them and have to abandon the run. The Giants won’t be in that position and will pound away on the ground. There is some concern about the health of Giants stud RB Brandon Jacobs who had a precautionary MRI on his swollen knee on Monday. While no serious damage was detected the Giants may opt to keep Jacobs out of action on Sunday. Losing Jacobs would be a blow to the Giants ground attack but RB Derrick Ward and RB Ahmad Bradshaw are both capable of picking up the slack. You will need to monitor this situation through the week and if Jacobs is unable to go feel confident in using Ward as a high-end RB2 and Bradshaw as a high-end #2 at the flex position. The Giants haven’t asked QB Eli Manning to do much of anything other than manage games so far this year but he may have to do more if Jacobs can’t go. The Cardinals rank 11th against the pass but have given up a league leading 19 TD passes. Consider Manning as a high-end QB2 in this game. WR Plaxico Burress has posted horrible numbers over the past four weeks but the Giants need him to step it up this weekend. We think he will step it up and recommend him as a high-end WR2 against the Cards. After three straight decent weeks TE Kevin Boss had a quiet, no catch game against the Ravens last week. We expect him to bounce back and get back in the end zone this weekend.

Stats Sleeper

The Giants will need to pass more than usual in this one and if the Cards pay too much attention to Burress look for WR Steve Smith to burn them underneath coverage. It may be a reach but something tells us that Smith could have a nice game against the Cards.

Weather: Sunny and 76 degrees.

REDSKINS (6-4) @ SEAHAWKS (2-8)

The Redskins fell to the Cowboys while the Seahawks came up just short against the Cardinals in Week 11.

The Redskins have come back to earth after a hot start and have won just two games in their past five. Neither of the two wins, against the Lions and Browns, was very impressive and one of their losses was to the lowly Rams. The health of RB Clinton Portis and WR Santana Moss has been major factors in the Redskins recent slump. They both played the entire game last week against the Cowboys but they both played hurt and neither of them were very effective. Of the two, you need to monitor the health of Portis more as he is the catalyst of the Redskins offense. The Seahawks rank 21st against the rush and a lowly 31st against the pass. Get Portis started if he is healthy for this one. This is also good spot for QB Mark Campbell, Moss and TE Chris Cooley. We don’t expect monster numbers from anyone in this game as the Seahawks play tough at home, but consider Redskin players as high-end #2’s across the board. The exception here is Cooley who should be considered as a high-end TE1 against the mediocre Seahawks pass defense.

You have to give the Seahawks some credit for not quitting during a lost season. Injuries have decimated their lineup and their travel schedule has been nothing short of brutal. Going into Week 12 the Seahawks are healthier than they have been at any point in the season. QB Matt Hasselbeck struggled in his first game back last week but should be better this weekend. If the Seahawks stand any chance of an upset win they will need a good passing attack because the Redskins rank 5th against the run and 10th against the pass. That being said, we can’t seriously recommend any of the Seahawks players this weekend.

Weather: Scattered clouds and 45 degrees.

COLTS (6-4) @ CHARGERS (4-6)

The Colts held on to beat the Texans while the Chargers were smothered by the Steelers in Week 12.

The Colts have run off three wins in a row while the Chargers are fading with just two wins in their past five games. In a shootout style game expect huge numbers from the players from both teams in this one. There isn’t a need to spend a lot of time on this game. Start your Chargers and Colts with confidence and then sit back and watch the points roll in. We expect somewhere in the range of 70 points scored in this game and the Fantasy points will be equally high as well.

Weather: Always perfect!

PACKERS (5-5) @ SAINTS (5-5)

The Saints went on the road and picked up a huge win against the Chiefs while the Packers pounded the Bears in Week 11.

This is a huge game for both teams but even more so for the Saints. The Packers are in a three-way tie for first in the NFC North but they are the class of the division and should win it going away. The Saints meanwhile will probably have to win out to earn a wildcard spot in the playoffs. Expect this to be a very high scoring and extremely entertaining MNF game. The Saints will need to find a balance of run and pass in this game as the Packers rank 3rd against the pass but they are 27th against the run. The Saints will pound away early with RB Deuce McAllister to soften up the Packers pass defense and then QB Drew Brees will take his shots down field to WR’s Marques Colston and Lance Moore. Start all of your Saints with confidence in this one.

The Packers have found a nice mix of the run and pass over the past couple of weeks. QB Aaron Rodgers bounced back after a tough outing in Week 10 and appears to past his shoulder injury. In Week 12 he gets a Saints pass defense that ranks 26th and has given up 16 TD passes. Rodgers should be considered as a high-end QB1 in this one. WR Greg Jennings hasn’t had over 87 receiving yards in the past six weeks, but that will change in this game. Start Jennings as a high-end WR1 and expect at least 100 yards and 1 TD. We expect the Packers will air it out early and often in this one. Start RB Ryan Grant as a high-end RB2 and expect decent though not huge numbers as this game will be a track meet and both teams will air it out.

Weather: Indoor game.

That’s it for Week 12 everyone. As always, we hope your week is injury free and point prosperous!

Enjoy the games everyone!

StatsGuru