Cincinnati receiver A.J. Green enters the game with over 1,200 yards and ranks second among all NFL receivers with 11 touchdowns, and Lewis was asked after practice this week if this is his toughest test of the 2012 campaign:

“Yes, definitely,” he said. “He’s one of the best in the league at what he does. I’m excited to take on that challenge to see where I’m at, and to see where he’s at.”

He admitted he might not be at his best physically, but is expected to start Sunday, and feels that he is as sharp mentally as he ever has been since joining the team.

“Just getting to see different things, and the speed of the game is starting to slow down to my pace, as I call it…seeing it over and over, you’re going to get better,” Lewis said.

Lewis was also asked whether he thinks Andy Dalton is a better quarterback than divisional rival Joe Flacco:

The Steelers have the top-ranked pass defense in the league (180.6 yards allowed per game) through 15 weeks.

Join Chris Mueller live from the Gateway Clipper Docks 10:00-11:00 A.M. to preview Sunday’s game, followed by Joe Starkey and Josh Miller with Pittsburgh Gameday live from Tilted Kilt till kickoff at 1:00 on 93.7 The Fan.

Hay que recordar que en las votaciones para la Pro Bowl, los votos de los fans son 1/3 en la decisión final de los jugadores que participaran en el All-Star de la NFL. Los 2/3 restantes serán votos de los jugadores y entrenadores, quienes enviarán sus votaciones durante hoy jueves y mañana viernes. Los equipos de la Pro Bowls se harán públicos el 26/12/12.

Manning ha conseguido un total de 993.045 votos, de cerca le ha seguido el también QB de la AFC Tom Brady de los New England Patriots con 908.099 votos. 3º el RB de los Houston Texans Arian Foster 829.591 votos, 4º RB de los Minnesota Vikings Adrian Peterson 828.225 votos y 5º el QB de los Green Bay Packers Aaron Rodgers 777.827 votos.

Cerca del TOP-10 de las votaciones han estados el QB de los Washington Redskins Robert Griffin III 683.943 votos, el WR de los Cincinnati Bengals A.J. Green 676.607 votos y el QB de los New Orleans Saints Drew Brees con 578.753 votos.

En cuanto a los jugadores defensivos, el jugador que más votos ha recibido ha sido el líder de la NFL en sacks con 19.5 el DE de los Houston Texans J.J. Watt con 542.688 votos.

Por parte de la AFC el equipo que más jugadores ha colocado entre los titulares de los fans han sido los Baltimore Ravens con 6, el FB Vonta Leach, OT Michael Oher, KR Jacoby Jones, DT Haloti Ngata, SS Bernard Pollard y el FS Ed Reed.

Por la NFC el equipo que más jugadores titulares llevaría si sólo decidiesen los fans serían los Green Bay Packers con 6 jugadores también, el QB Aaron Rodgers, FB John Kuhn, C Jeff Saturday, KR Randall Cobb, OLB Clay Matthews III y el SS Charles Woodson.

La Pro Bowl 2013 se jugará el 27/1/2013 en el Aloha Stadium en Honolulu.

UPDATE: In yesterday’s blog, we mentioned that the Miami Dolphins might want to take a look at Daniel Thomas in this week’s game against Buffalo. We have since learned that Thomas’ injury from last week has landed him on IR. This move may increase the chances that Reggie Bush might actually put up decent numbers.

As for the rest of fantasy football, a good many of you are in your championship week or the playoffs. There are also some leagues that actually play through all 17 weeks and redraft for playoffs. There are even a good many leagues that are set up specifically for the playoffs…second chance leagues, if you will. Thus, we continue to look all that is relevant in fantasy football and the NFL and help you set your rosters for this crucial week.

Minnesota @ Houston
Minnesota Vikings
There is only one word for this offensive team…actually two…Adrian Peterson. Racking up yards against stacked defenses and chasing Eric Dickerson’s single season record, Peterson has become the entire Vikings’ offense over the past few weeks. This is especially true since Christian Ponder’s quarterbacking has fallen completely off the planet. In fact we wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Joe Webb at the controls, but Ponder’s demise can be traced to the absence of Percy Harvin, and nobody else in the WR corps has stepped up. TE Kyle Rudolph will be a star, but early season success has faded of late. SUMMARY: Start Peterson and nobody else.
Houston Texans
The biggest question is if this becomes a blowout, will the Texans give Arian Foster some rest and bring Ben Tate in to get back into football condition after a long layoff? That said, this is a decent matchup for the Texans’ running game. It’s an even better matchup for the Houston passing game, so Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson and Owen Daniels should do well. Even Kevin Walter might be worth consideration if you are thin at the position. SUMMARY: Essentially, you can start all of the Houston offense. Just bear in mind that Foster could see his action a bit limited.

Cincinnati @ Pittsburgh
Cincinnati Bengals
Both teams are fighting for their playoff lives, so this makes for an intense matchup. Unfortunately, that often boils down to a conservative game plan and a defensive struggle. On paper, injuries in the Pittsburgh secondary, would make this a nice matchup for Andy Dalton, A.J. Green and Jermaine Gresham. But Dalton has struggled lately and the game plan may dictate his numbers. Nevertheless, if the play call leans toward conservative, it could mean more carries/opportunities for BenJarvus Green-Ellis. SUMMARY: A.J. Green starts regardless of the competition, and Gresham may be your only viable choice at a thin TE position. I would rather not start either Dalton or Green-Ellis, but depending on your strengths, you may have no choice.
Pittsburgh Steelers
As we noted above, game plans tend to be more conservative at this time of year. This is especially true in the AFC North with two teams vying for position. Add to that the mini-controversy as QB Ben Rothlisberger was critical of OC Todd Haley’s play calling, then retreated a bit from his position. This is not a recipe for success, but the Steelers are still the team with tradition, for whatever that’s worth. Big Ben is still not the same QB that he was before rib and shoulder injuries, but the recovery process should be about complete. With a backfield still in flux, Rothlisberger will lean on the short passing game to Antonio Brown and Heath Miller. If that softens up a fairly sturdy Bengals’ defense, he may even try some downfield action for Mike Wallace. As for the RB’s, Jonathan Dwyer hasn’t done a whole lot with his opportunity as the starter, and Rashard Mendenhall is expected back, mixing in with Isaac Redman. SUMMARY: I’d rather not start Rothlisberger, but you may have no better option. I do like the chances of Brown and Miller, but I’m a bit iffier about Wallace.

New England @ Jacksonville
New England Patriots
Losing at home to San Francisco has to stick in the craw of QB Tom Brady and the entire Patriots team. That does not bode well for a somewhat suspect Jacksonville defense. Brady will come out slinging, and it won’t stop until the final gun. That makes for good days for the entire passing attack, although Wes Welker might be limited or even out for this contest…meaning that Brandon Lloyd and Aaron Hernandez could post monster stats. There’s even rumor that TE Rob Gronkowski might return. In the backfield, Stevan Ridley found his way to the doghouse with some ball security issues, and Danny Woodhead was a hot waiver wire favorite this past week. We suspect that was more a design of the furious comeback bid against the 49ers. SUMMARY: For those who actually play in the Pats passing game, this is a great game to pile up stats. However, you will need to monitor the conditions of both Welker and Gronkowski. If either or both play, the potential for Lloyd and Hernandez drops off slightly. Ridley should start, and as long as he doesn’t put the rock on the turf, he should be back to form. SUMMARY: Brady is the man. His receiving weapons depend entirely on health issues. Unfortunately, the Patriots are not always very forthcoming in this regard. I’d start Ridley and hope he doesn’t drop the ball.
Jacksonville Jaguars
With Montel Owens running the ball, you can forget about the run game. Even if Maurice Jones-Drew comes back from a long injury layoff, and there is rumor to that effect as of this writing, I still don’t trust the Jags ability to run. No, this offensive game will boil down to the effectiveness of QB Chad Henne and his young receivers. Considering the deficiencies of the Pats pass D, this is a real good matchup, and Cecil Shorts III and Justin Blackmon both have a chance to shine. TE Mercedes Lewis could get some action, but he sure has been a disappointment this season: SUMMARY: I’m not about to start Henne or Lewis or anyone from the backfield, but I like the chances of Shorts, and I might consider Blackmon in a pinch.
Indianapolis @ Kansas City
Indianapolis Colts
Most people wouldn’t know it, but Kansas City has one of the better pass defenses in the league, and it’s been getting even better week-by-week. So does that mean that Andrew Luck, Reggie Wayne and even T.Y. Hilton should be benched? No way. Kansas City is playing for nothing, except possibly the first pick in next year’s draft, and Indy has all the marbles on the line as they try to snatch a wildcard berth. I love teams and fantasy players who have something on the line. They usually come up very big, although there have been some memorable chokes, too. I don’t expect a choke. As for Vick Ballard, he’s just about all that the Colts have there, and the KC run defense is near the bottom of the NFL. SUMMARY: Start everybody except the TE’s, Dwayne Allen and Coby Fleener as they tend to cancel each other out when both are well enough to play.
Kansas City Chiefs
With Brady Quinn suffering a rib injury last week, it appears that the Chiefs will go with Ricky Stanzi under center. Even though Stanzi has some talent, he’s not an NFL caliber QB yet. Besides, with Dwayne Bowe on IR and Jonathan Baldwin slow to pick up the nuances of the position, Stanzi has almost nobody to throw to. The lone exception might be TE Tony Moeaki and maybe Dexter McCluster. In other words, if there is any offense for the Chiefs, it’s likely to come from the run game led by Jamaal Charles. He has some backups, but he is the main weapon, an he also has some receiving talent. SUMMARY: Charles, much like Peterson in Minnesota, is the entire offense. Start him if for no other reason than the fact that the Colts’ defense does not show strong against the run.

Baller: Brandon Graham

Graham (#54) and Cox (#91) combined for 4 sacks.

After the release of left defensive end Jason Babin, former first-round pick Brandon Graham has stepped into the starting role looking very much like the promising young player he was thought to be. It isn’t too late for him to regain that reputation, particularly if he can reproduce performances like he gave on Thursday.

Graham had 2.5 sacks on the night, combining with the rest of the defensive line for 6 total sacks, which is the most in one game for the Eagles this season. Graham has experienced some injury and fitness issues in his short career so far, but he certainly has potential, and that was on full display in this match.

Graham’s Overall Grade: A+

Staller: Nick Foles

Foles had his second-worst outing of the year.

Well the storybook period is over, and Foles crashed back down to earth with a less-than-stellar showing on Thursday night. Foles threw 16/33, 182 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT, although he was very lucky not to be picked off 3 or 4 times more. Foles has a habit of throwing passes behind or too far above the receivers, which often causes deflections or rebounds that look like they could be intercepted. Foles has the ability to throw with precision and power, but can be wayward at times, something he’ll need to work on this coming offseason if he is to remain the starter in Philly. Foles impressed in the last game but came back with a poor performance this week. However, rookies make rookie mistakes and he cannot be expected to open his career with perfection. We will just have to wait and see.

Foles’ Overall Grade: C-

Baller: Fletcher Cox

In his rookie season, Fletcher Cox has come into the league as a contributor and playmaker on defense straight away. He has 5.5 sacks for the year, with 1.5 sacks on Thursday to add to his impressive tally. Playing more snaps and being more involved in the defense next year, Cox could become a leader among DTs in this league for sacks. His ability to penetrate the offensive line and pressure the QB was well-known in college, but he has seamlessly brought that ability into the pro game, to the joy of Eagles fans everywhere. It looks like Roseman and Reid made a good draft choice at the 1st-round this year.

Cox’s Overall Grade: A

Staller: Bryce Brown

No matter what the stat sheet said, Brown’s fumbling problems continue (via philly.com).

Bryce Brown will soon be known as Butterfingers Brown. It is inevitable. He is going to develop that reputation if he does not sort out his ball security issues.

Although he is not recorded with a fumble for Thursday’s game, he did indeed mishandle a hand-off that got recorded as a Nick Foles fumble. Despite this, Brown has 4 recorded fumbles on the season, which is too many for his short starting stint. Brown holds the ball loosely, and this unfortunately diverts our attention from his strong ability and potential as a runner. He has definitely justified his 2nd string spot at RB, but to help the team he must work on his ball security in the offseason. Brown finished Thursday’s game with just 34 yards off of 16 carries, coming to an average of just 2.1 yards per carry. Not a good outing for Bryce Brown.

Brown’s Overall Grade: D+

Baller: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie

He may have given up the jump-ball TD in the fourth quarter to A.J. Green in the fourth quarter, but that was during garbage time and it was a perfectly thrown ball by Andy Dalton.

Otherwise, DRC had one of his better games, effectively shutting down Green, one of the league’s top wideouts, for the entire game. He looked very strong in coverage throughout the game, staying with Green on deep routes, not committing stupid penalties, and challenging every Dalton throw that came his way. Unlike Nnamdi Asomugha, DRC is making a strong case to return in 2013.

Cox’s Overall Grade: A-

Staller: Mychal Kendricks

Kendricks wasn’t his usual self, totaling only four tackles and one for a loss. He wasn’t very effective as it was in the run game, but he got shredded a couple times by tight end Jermaine Gresham, Dalton’s most consistent target on Thursday night. In fact, Gresham led the Bengals in receiving yards with 63.

Kendricks’ other big letdown was on Dalton’s 11-yard touchdown run, where he was completely juked out, allowing Dalton to score. Those type of plays are what young, athletic outside ‘backers like him are expected to make, but he gets a bit of a break considering his solid season up to this point.

Brown’s Overall Grade: C

Andy Dalton threw a touchdown pass and ran for another score, an opportunistic defence forced five turnovers and Cincinnati beat the Philadelphia Eagles 34-13 on Thursday night.

The Bengals (8-6) took a half-game lead over the Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6) for the last playoff spot in the AFC. But their game at Pittsburgh next week is far more important in the standings than this one.

The Bengals would clinch their second straight playoff berth with a win over the Steelers if Pittsburgh loses to Dallas this Sunday. A loss to the Steelers, though, likely would ruin Cincinnati’s chances.

The Eagles’ season was lost a long time ago. They fell to 4-10, losing double-digit games for the first time since 2005, the year after losing the Super Bowl to New England.

There were plenty of empty seats at the Linc, where fans are hoping this is Andy Reid’s final season as coach. Reid led the Eagles to nine playoff appearances, six division titles and five NFC championship games in his first 13 years. But the Eagles will miss the playoffs for the second straight year and owner Jeffrey Lurie already said 8-8 would be “unacceptable.”

An interception by Leon Hall set up Dalton’s go-ahead 11-yard TD run in the third quarter. Then Wallace Gilberry picked up Bryce Brown’s fumble and ran it back 25 yards for another score and an 11-point lead.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis ran for 106 yards, including a 1-yard TD run in the first quarter for Cincinnati. Dalton tossed a 5-yard TD pass to A.J. Green in the fourth to cap a 24-point outburst in a span of 3:23.

The Eagles committed three turnovers on three straight possessions at one point and then fumbled a kickoff when defensive lineman Cedric Thornton let the ball fall through his hands on a short kick.

After beating Tampa Bay on a last-second TD last week to snap an eight-game losing streak, the Eagles tried to make it two in a row. Turnovers got in their way again. They’ve committed an NFL-high 34 and forced just 12 all season.

The Eagles snapped a drought of 22 quarters without a turnover by recovering two fumbles in the second. Both led to field goals by Alex Henery, helping Philadelphia to a 13-10 halftime lead.

Rookie Nick Foles made his fifth straight start for Michael Vick, who just returned to practice this week after sustaining a concussion on Nov. 11. Foles threw for 182 yards, one TD and one interception.

Down 13-10, the Bengals started their rally with a turnover.

Hall intercepted Foles’ deep pass and returned it 44 yards to the Eagles 40. Foles underthrew Jeremy Maclin, who was a few steps behind Hall.

Green made an acrobatic catch for an 11-yard gain on third-and-9 a few plays before Dalton ran for the score to put the Bengals up 17-13.

Foles, who threw for 381 yards to lead that comeback against the Bucs, hit Riley Cooper on an 11-yard TD pass to cut it to 10-7. Foles connected with Maclin on a 46-yard pass during the drive.

The Eagles then forced their first turnover since Nov. 5 against New Orleans. Brandon Graham sacked Dalton, the ball popped loose and Trent Cole recovered at the Bengals 29.

Just two plays in, Maclin fumbled after a 6-yard catch. Carlos Dunlap recovered and the Bengals started at the Eagles 44. Green-Ellis ran 29 yards on first down and scored a few plays later for a 7-0 lead.

It got uglier for Philadelphia on the next possession. Mat McBriar punted into his own blocker, Daniel Herron picked it up and ran 3 yards to the Eagles 11. But Graham sacked Dalton and Cincinnati settled for Brown’s 24-yard field goal that made it 10-0.

The Eagles were again without running back LeSean McCoy and tight end Brent Celek also sat out. Both players also are recovering from concussions. McCoy missed his fourth straight game, but returned to practice this week with Vick.

Cincinnati Bengals (7-6, 6-6-1 ATS) vs Philadelphia Eagles (4-9, 3-9-1 ATS) @ Lincoln Financial Field, 8.20 PM

Line: CIN by 5

Total: 45

This is one of the toughest Thursday night spreads of the season. The Bengals were winners of four straight before losing to the Cowboys at home 20-19, blowing a 9 point lead. How will the Bengals respond in a must win game on a short week. Even if Cinncy pulls this one out tonight, they still have play Pittsburgh and Baltimore, beating both to make the wild card.

Then there’s the Eagles, who I expected to roll over last week in Tampa, instead down 21-10, Nick Foles leads two touchdown drives with four minutes left, lifting Philly to a 23-21 win. With Vick, McCoy, and Jackson all missing again this week, Foles and Bryce Brown led Eagles have covered the spread the last two weeks against the Bucs and Cowboys. The Eagles are also doing a better job protecting Foles when he drops back in the pocket, but they’ll be tested against Geno Atkins & Carlos Dunlap and the seemingly endless line depth the Bengals have.

Bengals WR A.J. Green (who was featured in yesterday’s post) should be targeted early in tonight’s game, when he lines up against a battered Nnamdi Asomugha. Cincinnati will probably trying some big plays in their first series to suck the life out of the Philly faithful (cause 4-9 team and showing up on Thursday is as faithful as it gets) and lower the confidence of a young Eagles squad.

If those big plays do not workout for the Bengals, the Eagles will stick around much like they did the last two weeks. On a short week you cannot trust a Marv Lewis coached team to show up, even if the guy on the other sideline is packing up his office after the game, I wouldn’t count out the “new/young” Eagles as the home underdog on a short week.

Take Philly +5 and the under.

Andy Dalton and A.J. Green are arguable the best QB/WR tandem in the NFL. (Google)

The Cincinnati Bengals have found two vital pieces that allows their franchise to be relevant for a number of years to come.

Those two pieces are quarterback Andy Dalton and his go-to wide receiver A.J. Green. These second-year players have exploded onto the scene and has helped turn the Bengals organization around. Since being drafted last season, Dalton and Green have played like poised veterans, looking as if they’ve played together all of their lives. They have a chemistry that couldn’t be taught in a college course. One thing Dalton has learned, is that Green is a top-notch receiver in the NFL. He shows the confidence that he has in Green each and every week, never shying away from throwing in his direction.

Reasonably so.

Through 28 regular season games, A.J. Green has caught 17 touchdown passes. He has been a complete stud since stepping foot on an NFL field. You can make a strong argument that he is a top five receiver in the league. Green was drafted fourth overall by the Bengals in the 2011 NFL draft, as he played his college ball at the University of Georgia. He ended his rookie season catching 65 passes for 1,057 yards and 7 touchdowns. That was good enough to earn him a trip to Hawaii, as he was the first rookie wide receiver to be selected to the Pro Bowl since Anquan Boldin back in 2003. This season his numbers are even better. Green is tied with Patriots tight end, Rob Gronkowski, as the leader in touchdown receptions with 10. Currently with 79 catches on the season, that equates to 1 TD per 7.9 catches, which is quite remarkable.

Andy Dalton wasn’t as highly regarded coming out of college as Green, however he wasn’t too shabby in his school days himself. He attended Texas Christian University, where he is their all-time leader in wins. That winning mentality has transferred over to the NFL. Dalton led the Bengals to the playoffs last season, with the help of Green of course, after they had a 4-12 record the year before. The crafty quarterback was drafted in the second round in 2011, 35th overall, to Cincinnati. He earned his starting job throughout the offseason, winning the job over Bruce Gradkowski and a disgruntled Carson Palmer. Palmer was eventually traded to the Raiders during the season.

Marvin Lewis seemed to have made the right decision by going with the young quarterback. Not only did the Bengals surprise some people and make the playoffs last season, but they also control their own destiny to make a run towards the playoffs again this season. They are currently 7-6 and are tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the sixth and final wildcard spot in the AFC. The Steelers own the tie breaker, as they beat the Bengals in week seven, but the Bengals face the Steelers once again next Sunday (December 23rd).

There’s only one problem with that. The Bengals are yet to get a victory over the Steelers or Baltimore Ravens since Dalton and Green has joined the AFC North. In meetings against those two they are a combined 0-6. Unfortunately for Cincinnati, the two teams they finish their season against, are both the Steelers and Ravens.

These final three weeks of the 2012 NFL season, will be a perfect test for the Bengals. If they win out, they are in the playoffs. It’s as simple as that. This would be a great opportunity for Dalton, Green, and the Bengals to show the world that they are ready to take a step forward in the division.

They start their three game stint with a trip to Philadelphia to take on rookie quarterback Nick Foles, and a disappointing Eagles team. It’s a nationally televised game Thursday night on NFL Network at 8:20 pm. So the entire world gets to see the young gunners, Dalton and Green, go to work.

Josiah Turner

@EspnJsiah

If you are an avid fantasy football player, you know that there are all sorts of leagues with a wide variety of playoff formats. A good many are into their first week of playoffs while others are already into week two. Some leagues play right through the regular season, and others are set up just for the real NFL playoffs. Through it all, we will be with you all the way…and beyond. In fact, we won’t be taking the spring and summer off either. We will be tracking team needs as they apply to fantasy football, we will be looking at the April NFL Draft including who might be going where and their potential fantasy impact. Then, once we get to OTA’s and mini camps and training camps, we’ll be analyzing all the activities and providing in-depth information on who you might be targeting for next season. The NFL has become a 365-day-a-year business, and we won’t be taking any vacation either. Meanwhile, we need to take a look at the upcoming week and help you set a winning lineup.

Cincinnati @ Philadelphia (Thursday Night Football)
Cincinnati Bengals
Last week’s loss to Dallas puts this team in desperation mode as far as making the playoffs. That’s a good thing for fantasy football prospects. In addition, the Eagles have nothing to play for, so QB Andy Dalton and crew should have a decent passing game against a middle-of-the road pass defense. A.J. Green had probably his worst game of the season against Dallas, with a couple of uncharacteristic drops. That won’t happen again. In addition, Jermaine Gresham has been playing better of late, and jitterbug Andrew Hawkins figures to get some looks. Playing his best ball of the season, BenJarvus Green-Ellis should also find some running room. SUMMARY: This should be a pretty good game to start Dalton, Green, Gresham and Green-Ellis. I would only start Hawkins out of desperation.
Philadelphia Eagles
By all indications, this is probably the end of the road for Head Coach Andy Reid…and Michael Vick, for that matter. At QB, rookie Nick Foles has shown some life, and he could be the answer as the team heads into next season. However, we’re still playing this season, and it would be hard to trust the inexperienced rookie with your fantasy championship on the line. In addition, the receiving corps is pretty banged up. DeSean Jackson is out for the year. Jeremy Maclin has a sore groin. TE Brent Celek has been ruled out. What’s left are Jason Avant, who did quite nicely last week, and Riley Cooper. Meanwhile, Bryce Brown sure looked good for his two first games replacing the concussed LeSean McCoy, but last week was a real downer for fantasy owners. SUMMARY: I really can’t trust the skill position players on this team right now. Foles has a receiving group that’s on it’s last legs and if McCoy comes back, we won’t know how the running game will shape up, especially against a pretty decent Bengals’ run defense.
Minnesota @ St. Louis
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings are beginning to wonder if they have their quarterback of the future or not. Christian Ponder was looking good at the beginning of the season, but he’s been looking more like a deer-in-the-headlights rookie of late. It all seemed to come crashing down when they lost Percy Harvin. We could even see Joe Webb at QB at some point. All of this has had a negative impact on early-season TE sensation Kyle Rudolph, yet the team insists that he is still a vital cog in the passing game. Then, there’s Adrian Peterson. If you don’t understand the accomplishments of AP this season, you should be playing fantasy roller derby. SUMMARY: Peterson just starts every game. If you believe management, Rudolph might be your guy at TE. Everyone else sits.
St. Louis Rams
Despite just a so-so record, this is one of the most improved teams in the NFL. Sam Bradford hasn’t produced huge fantasy numbers, but he is much more effective when WR Danny Amendola is in the lineup. Check Amendola’s medical status throughout the week. The other WR’s, Brandon Gibson and Chris Givens, seem to switch off from week-to-week as far as effectiveness is concerned. Then, there were rumors of the final demise of RB Steven Jackson losing his job, but he’s been playing better of late. SUMMARY: If Amendola can get on the field, I’d want him in my lineup. Steven Jackson should be good for low RB2 or flex numbers. A vastly improved defense might also be worth consideration.

Tampa Bay @ New Orleans
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Last week’s loss didn’t much help Tampa Bay’s quest for the playoffs, but they are still alive, so they have something to play for, unlike New Orleans. In addition, New Orleans has arguably the worst defenses against both the pass and the rush. Josh Freeman cooled down from his hot streak last week, but this is one tasty matchup, and that means that the potential for Vincent Jackson is up as well. Others in the passing game, such as a recently disappointing Mike Williams and resurgent Dallas Clark could fare well, too. Then, in Doug Martin, you have the best rookie RB in the league. SUMMARY: Freeman, Jackson and Martin must be in your starting lineup with no questions asked. The rest could be replacements for injured players.
New Orleans Saints
Although Bountygate would appear to be slowly winding down, the toll on the team has been unmistakable. Drew Brees is still a top flight QB, and his receivers can still get the job done. On the other hand, the backfield remains a jumble, with the exception of Darren Sproles. Among the other running backs, you just never know who is going to get the lion’s share of carries. SUMMARY: They may just be playing out the string, but Brees, Marques Colston and Jimmy Graham are still studs at their respective positions, and you can’t afford to sit them. Lance Moore might also be a nice play along with Darren Sproles, but you can’t trust the rest of the backfield.

New York Giants @ Atlanta
New York Giants
If things go according to recent form, this is the Giants’ time of year. Eli Manning always seems to shine late in the season, and he certainly has most of his weapons intact with Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks, even though the latter always seems to nursing injuries. The backfield has a new set of problems from a fantasy perspective. Ahmad Bradshaw, much like Nicks, always seems to have some hurts, and now, David Wilson has become a real factor after finally escaping the coach’s doghouse. SUMMARY: With some real question marks in the Atlanta secondary, Manning should be good to go along with his wide receivers and TE Martellus Bennett. At running back, you may have no other choice than to start Bradshaw, but if your league awards points for return yards, I could recommend Wilson.
Atlanta Falcons
Their overall record belies how this team has been playing of late. Once upon a time, Matt Ryan was a real MVP candidate. Not anymore. That has really cut into the fantasy production of his wide receivers, especially Julio Jones. In fact, the most reliable pass catcher may be TE Tony Gonzalez. As for the running backs, Michael Turner has given up some field time to Jacquizz Rodgers. SUMMARY: I’m inclined to go with the passing game since that is the weakness of the Giants’ defense, especially since you probably spent high picks on Jones and Roddy White. However since this is a home game, White is traditionally the better play. The Giants’ run D poses a bigger problem, so you may want to look for better options than Turner and Rodgers.

The clock is ticking down.

Ten seconds left… nine seconds… eight seconds… seven… six… five… four…

Timeout.

Four seconds left. The game on the line and so much more at stake.

The Dallas kicking team walks out onto the field, with a quiet confidence as the stadium rocks. The combination of hometown Cincinnati fans and the surprisingly significant Dallas fans make for an electric atmosphere, of which had been lacking for much of the game.

Both teams line up and with the snap, Dallas kicker, Dan Bailey, strides to the placed ball at the hands of the holder and with a calm swing of the leg, the ball sails. It is dead-on accurate and effortlessly passes over the goalpost. The stadium erupts – some from frustration, while others in jubilation.

Dallas has won and moved into the NFC playoff picture.

Cincinnati has squandered an incredible opportunity to make headway on Pittsburgh and Baltimore in the division, but let the game get away.

Ugh…

What it takes to be a Bengals fan.

The jersey of DT Geno Atkins

The Bengals taking the field

A shot from Section 341, Row 35

Bengals Practice Field just outside Paul Brown Stadium

Paul Brown Stadium

Announcing the Bengals starters

Bengals RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis vs. Dallas (Photo from Bengals.com)

Tailgating Bengal fans

This was the view when you looked directly behind you from our seats.

I went to the Cincinnati vs. Dallas game this past Sunday (12/9/12). The game was in Cincinnati, but our tickets (I went with my girlfriend, her two sisters, her cousin and one of her sister’s boyfriend) were in the upper section of the stadium with half of Dallas.

Seriously.

Dallas travelled very well for this one and I felt very much in the minority way up in Section 341. Ehh… it happens.

The weather was perfect. A thick overcast with a couple sprinkles of rain kept the temperature cool, but not cold. Our seats way up in the top of the stadium – we were in the very last, top row – kept us under the awning and dry when it did begin to rain more substantially in the 4^th Quarter.

The energy in the stadium was incredible. There were chants, some rather inappropriate calls to opposing fans and everything in between, but all in all, there is nothing quite like being at a professional football game.

It should be said that my girlfriend and her sisters are all big Cowboys fans. The cousin, boyfriend and myself are all big Bengals fans. So… we had very different feelings towards the game as it progressed.

The game began with a solid drive by Dallas, who started with the ball. They drove down the field and converted a field goal to go up 3-0. Cincinnati answered with a dominating drive where they made plays at will. On a short 8-yard pass from quarterback Andy Dalton to wide receiver Andrew Hawkins. After a three and out from Dallas’ offense, Cincinnati drove the ball down the field again and got another three points on the board. Dallas got the ball back and had minimal success. When Dallas was forced to punt, Cincinnati had all the momentum with a 10-3 lead.  However, as the Cincinnati offense moved down the field, Dalton threw an interception, which was returned into the Bengals’ territory. Dallas then turned the turnover into 7 points when running back Demarco Murray scored a 1-yard touchdown.

10-10.

Another field goal before halftime put the Bengals up 13-10. It was a disappointing score considering the feel in the stadium. The Bengals were dominating the game, outside of the momentum draining interception, and the Dallas fans were feeling the heat. Up in the largely Dallas fan population, many were questioning the Cowboys’ play call, criticizing quarterback Tony Romo’s play or the referees. By this time us Bengal fans are getting to know the immediate Cowboy fans around us with mixed results. One fan a couple rows up brought his kid to the game and then proceeded to turn up to us and give his two sense on a first half penalty call. Another person to our immediate right was actually very nice, but we certainly had our disagreements.

Why is this relevant? Well, as the game began it’s second half, it continued with more of the same. Cincinnati played well, but failed to pull away. Tensions were running high in the stands. Bengals fans were happy as Cincinnati scored another two field goals, but there was something about the game where I, in particular, felt the failure to pull away would be our downfall. The Cowboy fans were still all too willing to tell about calls going the “Bengal’s way”.

I’ll admit Bengals’ fans aren’t perfect though. A lack of “perfect” football fans is just part of the football atmosphere. As the game approached the late 4^th Quarter and two field goals, the Bengals were up 19-10 when Dallas began making a final push. With around six minutes left, Romo hit Bryant for a 27-yard touchdown pass.

19-17.

That woke the Cowboy fans up a bit. Our side of the stadium suddenly came to life, including the girls in our group who suddenly were as loud as ever along with the rest of the people around us. A “Cowboys” chant began, drowning out the Bengal fans.

Momentum was theirs.

The Bengals went three and out, punted and preceded to let Dallas slowly, and methodically, march their way down the field and drain the last couple minutes of regulation.

Then Bailey was set up for his 40-yard field goal and with a swing of his leg, he won the game for Dallas. A game, which was Cincinnati’s for the taking, was suddenly lost in heart-breaking fashion.

20-19. Dallas wins.

Dallas fans around us were sympathetic. The nice guy to our right laughed when he heard the Cowboy supporters in our group throw in some postgame trash talk to us Bengals supporters. Another lady, who was slightly inebriated patted me on the back and told me to “drink off the loss”. Being a lifelong Bengals fan, I was devastated. To not only see them lose, but to watch as Cincinnati controls the game, but doesn’t do enough to just finish the game. I have felt this all too often as a Bengals fan, but there is something to putting things in perspective.

Walking out of the stadium, there were mixed emotions among those streaming towards the exit with us. Anger, frustration, exuberance, drunkenness.

Yeah, I know drunkenness isn’t an emotion, but there was plenty of it anyway.

As we left the stadium, there was a group of people playing music on buckets. They had another bucket out in front for donations. One Cowboys fan began dancing and yelling, “Cowboys! Cowboys! Cowboys!” A teenager decked out in Bengals attire decided to run up and kick the donation bucket, shooting coins and bills everywhere. He then ran off to share with his friends. Further towards our car, two Cowboy fans were cussing across a crowd to a Bengals fan. One of them, a large Dallas fan, looked to be on a mission, walked straight at his “opponent” and threw two punches to the man’s face… in front of three cops. It ended quickly.

Then I realized, it’s just a game. I was mad the Bengals lost, but then I mocked these people who were taking it way too seriously. Losing happens all the time in Cincinnati. We should be more used to it as fans, but it still hurts.

So, I saw a good game, got to see my girlfriend and her sisters happy and I learned a life lesson about keeping things in perspective. Honestly though… it would have been nice if Cincinnati had just won.

It’s rough being a Bengals fan.

Now, we’re getting to the nitty gritty. For a good many fantasy football leagues, the next few weeks constitute the playoffs. Of course, there are also some late season startup leagues that are also looking to the season’s end at the end of the month. Then there are leagues that actually redraft and play right through to the NFL Conference Championship games. In any event, we here at fantasyfootballwinnersmentor.com and winyourleague.com will be with you all the way. In fact, we won’t be taking the spring and summer off either. We will be tracking team needs as they apply to fantasy football, we will be looking at the April NFL Draft including who might be going where and their potential fantasy impact. Then, once we get to OTA’s and mini camps and training camps, we’ll be analyzing all the activities and providing in-depth information on who you might be targeting for next season. The NFL has become a 365-day-a-year business, and we won’t be taking any vacation either. Meanwhile, we need to take a look at the upcoming week and help you set a winning lineup.

Let’s make one thing clear. Although we will be presenting what we consider to be viable options, you don’t take fliers on lesser players. You dance with the players you brought to the party…the players that got you to the playoffs in the first place. Nevertheless, there are a number of players who are out with injuries, and you may still have to look for replacements.

Denver @ Oakland – Thursday Night Football

Denver Broncos

Make no mistake, the move of the off season was the one that brought Peyton Manning to The Mile High City. After sitting out all last year and multiple neck surgeries, there were reasonable expectations that Manning’s game would not be what it once was…and it isn’t. Although Manning’s physical attributes may have diminished just a bit, his knowledge of the game and football smarts have the Broncos in the playoffs. Obviously, the team will miss RB Willis McGahee, but Knowshon Moreno has looked decent in two games, and Manning has proven that he doesn’t need a prolific running game to succeed. However, there are some concerns regarding the drop off in play by WR Eric Decker. Fortunately, Demaryius Thomas has stepped up his game, and TE Jacob Tamme is coming on strong, while the defense is crushing opponents. SUMMARY: Manning, Thomas and the defense are must starts. Anyone else is just an injury replacement.

Oakland Raiders

Although the team claims that Head Coach Dennis Allen’s job is safe, this is a team going nowhere and with nothing to play for. Earlier in the year, Carson Palmer was playing at a high though not winning level. He slid back slightly, but seems to be back to a reasonably high level. However, other than tight end Brandon Myers, who set franchise records last week with 14 grabs for 130 yards and a score, the rest of the team is in a funk. Darius Heywood-Bey has never lived up to his talent, and he’s not doing it now either. Denarius Moore is performing so poorly, he was benched for dropping too many balls. In the backfield, the good news is that Darren McFadden looks poised to come back…Mike Goodson too. But what does that mean for sensational backup Marcel Reece? Is this turning into a fantasy-worthless, three-headed monster? Oh, we almost forgot, the defense is a mess. SUMMARY: Unless Palmer became your number one QB during his hot streak, and you were foolish to let someone better go, the only Raider worth starting consideration is Myers.

Chicago @ Minnesota

Chicago Bears

Jay Cutler’s return to health would seem to have settled at least one question. The Bears are most definitely a better team with him under center. And, he elevates the play of everyone else on this team. Although hardly a fantasy stud, Cutler makes Brandon Marshall one of the best wide receivers in the game. In addition, Matt Forte’s good health and Cutler’s presence make him a viable fantasy starter, especially considering his pass receiving skills. The one problem with starting Forte is the goal line vulturing by Michael Bush. SUMMARY: As long as Cutler is a starter, Marshall has to be in your lineup. Under normal circumstances, Forte, Cutler and even Bush would be worth a look, but if your league is in the playoffs, I’d prefer to look elsewhere, although you may have no choice as regards to Forte. The defense should do well against a confused and damaged Vikings’ offense, although word is that Brian Urlacher could be out for an extended period of time.

Minnesota Vikings

The word out of Minnesota is that Christian Ponder may loose his QB job to Joe Webb. Frankly, the team has nothing to lose except a huge blow to Ponder’s confidence going into next season. Meanwhile, stud WR Percy Harvin remains a huge question mark on the injury front and, with the possible exception of Kyle Rudolph, there are no other receiving threats that would make you sit up and take notice. The one constant is Adrian Peterson who is simply the best there is. It’s amazing that he can do this with such a poor supporting cast. SUMMARY: Adrian Peterson…that’s all.

Dallas @ Cincinnati

Dallas Cowboys

Tony Romo, despite the woes along the offensive line, is proving all the critics wrong, whether they will admit it or not. He is one of the best QB’s in the NFL although he can suffer from cranial flatulation at times. Getting DeMarco Murray back in the top RB spot doesn’t hurt, and having Dez Bryant actually playing a 60-minute game is a huge plus. As long as Miles Austin can play through the pain of a hip injury and Jason Witten can maintain his production, there are plenty of fantasy options on this team, including the defense in the right matchup. SUMMARY: The only question is Austin’s health. Other than that, everybody plays.

Cincinnati Bengals

Although the Bengals won their game against San Diego, Andy Dalton came up very small in the turnover department. Frankly, this game may present an even bigger challenge, but at least the Bengals are at home. The most recent surprise has been the play of RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis. If he can maintain the pace, he will make life easier for all of his offensive mates. Of course WR A.J. Green has arrived at elite fantasy status, and Jermaine Gresham has become a very viable starter at the TE position. SUMMARY: I can’t trust Dalton in this game, but I always trust in A.J. With so many TE’s either injured or under performing, Gresham could be a great play.

St Louis @ Buffalo

St. Louis Rams

I suppose there could be a case made for three or four other teams, but for my money, Jeff Fisher and the Rams are one of the most improved teams in the NFL this season. To be sure, there is plenty of work left to be done, and injuries have taken a toll, but these guys never quit. Sam Bradford is a good QB. When he has protection and Danny Amendola in the lineup, he can be great. Unfortunately, the O-line remains in flux, and Amendola can’t seem to stay on the field. On the other hand, Steven Jackson, who looked slow and lumbering only a few weeks ago, is playing some of his best football of the season, and Chris Givens is running better routes, and it shows. SUMMARY:  With the possible exception of Jackson, it’s hard to trust the other skill position players. However, this game will be in a dome in Toronto, so that’s an advantage to the passing game.

Buffalo Bills

Overall, and even though this is not a very good team, they have produced fantasy points for the owners of their skill players. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick has been steady. Stevie Johnson has been steady. Neither has been spectacular. C.J. Spiller has been spectacular, but only when Fred Jackson is out of the lineup. Jackson is back. In fact, he got more touches than Spiller last week, and he produced 109 yards on the ground. TE Scott Chandler shows promise…for next year…maybe. SUMMARY: I suppose you could start any of these guys. You could also sit them. You have to look closely at other matchups but bear in mind, the Rams have some real nice corners in the defensive backfield.

QB – Robert Griffin III – ThUnder Dawgs – 274.9

RB1 – Arian Foster – Rex Ryans Gut – 211.9

RB2 – Adrian Peterson – Layin’ Woodson – 210.1

WR1 – AJ Green – Two Mannings One Cup – 174.5

WR2 – Calvin Johnson – Pimpin Aint Breesy – 168.8

WR3 – Brandon Marshall – Two Mannings One Cup – 166.2

TE – Rob Gronkowski – 4th and Drunk – 132.8

K – Matt Bryant – Rex Ryan’s Gut – 137

DEF – Chicago – Kilin Time – 180

Second Team

QB – Drew Brees – Layin’ Woodson – 258.56

RB1 – Doug Martin – The Dutch Runners – 206

RB2 – Ray Rice – The Dutch Runners – 176.1

WR1 – Demaryius Thomas – The Raging Teboners – 153.4

WR2 – Vincent Jackson – 4th and Drunk – 145.4

WR3 – Dez Bryant – ThUnder Dawgs – 144.4

TE – Tony Gonzalez – Layin’ Woodson – 119

K – Lawrence Tynes – 4th and Drunk – 136

DEF – New England – ThUnder Dawgs – 143

Third Team

QB – Tom Brady – Terwilliger – 256.98

RB1 – Trent Richardson – The Raging Teboners – 164.6

RB2 – Marshawn Lynch – Golden Taint – 160.7

WR1 – Victor Cruz – Kilin Time – 136.6

WR2 – Reggie Wayne – Golden Taint – 131.6

WR3 – Julio Jones – The Dutch Runners – 131

TE – Jimmy Graham – Two Mannings One Cup – 113.4

K – Stephen Gostkowski – Carl Winslow’s Son – 133

DEF – Denver – 5AUCED – 138

With just one more month left in the regular season, it’s crunch time for a lot of teams, both fantasy and reality. In fact, for a good many fantasy leagues, your playoffs are just around the corner. That means that all of your lineup decisions are even more critical than before. So, let’s take a look at some of these possibilities and where you should land.

Arizona @ New York Jets

Arizona Cardinals

Obviously, when you are starting a third string quarterback, things are not going very well for your team. When that QB, Ryan Lindley, was already sitting behind Kevin Kolb and John Skelton, the ship is going down…fast! But that’s the case for the Cardinals, and things are definitely not looking good. Even All-World WR Larry Fitzgerald is suffering big time, and the other WR’s are completely out of sight. If there is a bright spot, it’s the return of Beanie Wells, who score two times last week, but did not produce much yardage. There is one more bright spot, and that’s TE Rob Housler. He was all the rage in preseason, but the poor quarterbacking did him in. He did well last week. SUMMARY: Wells could show up decently against a poor Jets’ run defense, but everybody else needs to take a seat.

New York Jets

With the lone exception of Dustin Keller, there is nothing about the Jets’ passing game that scares anyone, nor should these players be on any fantasy roster. Even the run game is worrisome from a fantasy perspective. Shonn Green remains the lead back, but Bilal Powell is vulturing at the goal line, and Arizona presents a strong rush defense. SUMMARY: You could do worse than starting Keller, but nobody else on this offense is start-worthy at this critical time of the fantasy season.

San Francisco @ St. Louis

San Francisco 49ers

The last time these two teams met, they played to a 24-24 tie. At that time, Alex Smith was under center for the 49ers. Since then, Colin Kaepernick has taken over at QB, even though Smith did nothing to lose his job except get himself a concussion. Kaepernick has been all the rage with wins over the Bears and Saints, and he stays the starter…for now. This looks like an outstanding matchup for Frank Gore, who no longer has Kendall Hunter looking over his shoulder (Hunter was placed on IR this week). The passing game is not a slam-dunk, but Kaepernick does such an outstanding job throwing on the run, you have to like him as well as Michael Crabtree. Vernon Davis, meanwhile, is a now you see him, now you don’t proposition. He was great against the Bears and drew a horse collar against the Saints. Still, he’s a talent, and Kaepernick may look his way. SUMMARY: Kaepernick should do well, if not with his arm, then it will be with his legs. Gore is looking like fantasy gold in this game. Crabtree and Davis should also produce. Of course the defense gave up some yardage to Steven Jackson in that earlier meeting. It won’t happen again, and the game will not end in a tie.

St. Louis Rams

Jeff Fisher’s first year in St. Louis has evolved just about as expected. There has been improvement, but there have been growing pains. Sam Bradford has shown some of the brilliance of his rookie year, but he has missed Danny Amendola for a good part of the season, and the WR may not be able to play in this game either. The other wideouts have talent, but are not ready to produce at a consistent fantasy level. Steven Jackson will get his carries, but Daryl Richardson also figures to get some play. SUMMARY: Teams coached by Fisher never quit. Do you remember the Music City Miracle when Fisher was in Tennessee? Nevertheless, there simply isn’t the talent on this team to challenge, nit even in fantasy.

Tampa Bay @ Denver

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bucs have been one of the hottest teams in the league for the past month or so, but this looks to be one of the stiffest tests of late. Josh Freeman and company will be facing a Denver defense that has come on to be one of the better units for the past two months. Nevertheless, Josh Freeman, Doug Martin and Vincent Jackson have been near unstoppable, although WR Mike Williams has cooled considerably. At the same time, Dallas Clark, who was one of the best TE’s when he and Peyton Manning were playing catch in Indianapolis, has surged recently. SUMMARY: It’s not a good matchup for Freeman and the passing game, but you had better have some mighty fine options if you decide to sit either him or V-Jax. As for Martin, he may not have a great game, but you just can’t sit the hottest back in the NFL, and Clark might be a good fill for an injury.

Denver Broncos

Tampa Bay has a very questionable secondary. Denver has a hot Peyton Manning. Need we say more. Manning should have a field day tossing the rock to Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas. In addition, Manning seems to have found a comfort zone with fellow, former Colt TE Jacob Tamme. In the rushing attack, Coach John Fox surprised just about everyone in fantasy football when he pulled that running back switcheroo moving away from Ronnie Hillman and toward Knowshon Moreno. Moreno, who has been a hot item on the waiver wire this week, played well, but this may be a stiffer test.

SUMMARY: Manning and his receivers just have to be starters, and Moreno should perform like a low end RB2 or flex.

Cincinnati @ San Diego

Cincinnati Bengals

Andy Dalton has been another on-fire quarterback for the past month. He may not put up RGIII fantasy numbers, but he won’t throw many stinkers either. Remember, consistency is a wonderful thing in fantasy football. He also got some help from RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis last week, though the sledding may be a bit tougher against the Chargers run D. Of course, one of the keys to Dalton’s success is the play of WR A.J. Green. Green is going to snag anything that is thrown in the same area code. Plus, WR Mohamed Sunu and TE Jermaine Gresham are looking especially good too, and the Bengals defense is playing well. SUMMARY: If it throws or catches passes in Cincinnati, you should be playing them. The running game is less of a solid play.

San Diego Chargers

I get the feeling that, unlike past seasons, this team is slowly giving up. It’s a pretty foregone conclusion that there will be coaching and management changes, and the team is reflecting that in lackluster play. Phillip Rivers seems totally lost. For a while, he was hooking up nicely with Malcolm Floyd, but that appears to have ended. Right now, his favorite target is Danario Alexander, who does remind of Vincent Jackson. Meanwhile, Antonio Gates is a shell of his former self, and Ryan Matthews is just not who we thought he was when we all drafted our fantasy teams. SUMMARY: I’m not real comfortable starting any of the Chargers’ skill players with the possible exception of Alexander.