Hero Makers
Monday, December 27, 2010
Earlier in the season, we praised the Texans' secondary as a
fantasy rock. Excluding the inimitable
Rusty Smith's lone career start, the Texans have surrendered 24 or more points in every game this season. The Houston Chronicle's John McClain, the foremost media authority on the franchise, declared the 2010 pass defense the worst "in the history of football
at any level since the beginning of time."
Into that dream matchup stepped rookie
Tim Tebow as a fantasy wild card during championship week. As former NFL player turned writer/analyst
Ross Tucker suggested, "if Tebow can't have a good day against THIS Texans pass defense, he
may not be able to hack it in the NFL. Pretty sure that is a rule."
Tebow hacked the worst pass defense in NFL history to the tune of 308 passing yards, 27 rushing yards, and two total touchdowns -- including the game winner on a drive that had every fan in the stadium
believing the Broncos would pull through. It was the eighth time this season that Houston allowed over 400 offensive yards and the first time a Broncos rookie has cleared 300 yards in his home starting debut.
It's tricky to gauge his progress against a lousy defense, but Tebow made clear improvement over his first start. While his mechanics remain a work in progress, Tebow displayed surprising arm strength and accuracy on intermediate-to-deep throws. After easing his quarterback in early with screen passes and checkdowns, play-caller Mike McCoy unleashed an aggressive Tebow down 17 points to start the second half. He was rewarded with a chain-moving performance highlighted by Tebow's "
competitive leadership" in crunch time.
Tebow isn't out of the woods just yet, but his performance in his first two starts will leave the next Broncos regime with a
Kyle Orton dilemma. If Tebow can build on the best moment of the season with another impressive game next week, the Denver faithtful will have a reason to get excited heading into the 2011 offseason.
When filling out Week 17 fantasy lineups, just remember the Texans' pass defense makes heroes out of every quarterback they see. Get your "
Jag-er Bombs" ready for the season finale.
Editor's Note: You can get our Season Pass package at a discount rate for the fantasy playoffs. Tons of extra stat tools, projections, columns, and playoff rankings, and Chris Wesseling's Dynasty league coverage -- all for just $4.99.Fantasy Triplets Matt Cassel / Jamaal Charles / Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs - Kansas City's 34-14 blowout victory over the Titans was a testament to offensive coordinator Charlie Weis' play-calling. Cassel's Pro Bowl-caliber performance throughout the season is a testament to Weis' tutoring (and an unbelievably weak pass defense schedule). Missing one game due to appendectomy surgery, Cassel's 27 touchdowns are already 11 more than last season's total while cutting his interceptions from 16 to five. The Chiefs are 10-4 with Cassel in the lineup, and they've yet to lose at Arrowhead. So which quarterback does he beat out for a Pro Bowl spot: Tom Brady, Philip Rivers, or Peyton Manning?
For all of the early-season hand wringing over Charles' role, he carried a lot of fantasy owners to the championship on Sunday. Only Arian Foster, Peyton Hillis, and Darren McFadden boast more than Charles' 225.5 fantasy points. Only Foster has more rushing yards (1,434 to 1,380) and yards from scrimmage (2,028 to 1,835). No back has outproduced Charles at crunch time in the past five weeks. Should we be thanking Todd Haley for keeping him fresh for the fantasy playoffs?
After racking up 13 touchdowns in a seven-game stretch from Weeks 6-12, Bowe had been held to three catches and zero scores in the last three games. That slump was busted on an in route that Bowe took for 75 yards against an unmotivated Titans defense Sunday. Bowe's 153 yards led the league in Week 16, and he's up to a league-best 199.4 fantasy points powered by 15 touchdowns.
Josh Freeman / Kellen Winslow / Mike Williams, Buccaneers - It's a shame Tampa Bay isn't in the NFC West. They would have made an ideal champion. Freeman won't garner serious MVP consideration, but how many players have been more instrumental to their team's success in 2010? Freeman tied a Buccaneers franchise record with five touchdowns in a 38-15 rout of Seattle, guaranteeing a winning record for a team that started 10 rookies this season. One of the league's most improved players, Freeman has just one interception in his last seven games. Only Tom Brady, Michael Vick, Matt Cassel, and Ben Roethlisberger have fewer picks than Freeman's six. The second-year signal caller is up to 11th in QB fantasy points this season.
Kellen Winslow entered championship week as one of fantasy's biggest every-week disappointments at tight end. After burning the Seahawks for seven receptions, 98 yards, and two touchdowns, Winslow skyrocketed to fifth in an underwhelming field this year. With a week to go, Winslow's 63/702/5 line isn't far off last year's 77/884/5 performance.
Mike Williams posted the first two-score game of his impressive rookie season, vaulting to 12th at wide receiver with a 60/915/10 line. With 151.5 fantasy points, Williams has a good shot to pass both Marques Colston (151.8) and Michael Clayton (161.3) for the second-best rookie receiver season of the past decade. Anquan Boldin is locked in at No. 1 with 181.7 points in 2003.
Special mention goes out to LeGarrette Blount, who blasted Seattle's defense for 164 yards on 18 carries. With three 100-yard performances in the past four weeks, Blount is just 59 yards away from 1,000 while averaging 5.2 yards per tote.
Jay Cutler / Matt Forte / Johnny Knox, Bears - Though Cutler uncorked his requisite pick-six against the Jets, his offense appears to be peaking at the right time. The Bears scored 38+ points in back-to-back games for the first time since 1989. With Mike Martz incorporating more moving pockets and deep drops, Cutler has survived a porous offensive line to throw at least three touchdowns in three of the past five games. He's up to 13th in QB fantasy points after sitting closer to 20 a few weeks back.
With the offense struggling around him for much of the season, Forte has been the epitome of a "will he or won't he" fantasy play each week. He rewarded faithful owners Sunday, snapping the Jets' streak of 21 consecutive games without allowing a 100-yard rusher. On the strength of 169 yards in Week 16, Forte became the first running back in franchise history with at least 1,400 yards from scrimmage in each of his first three NFL seasons. Forte is now 10th in running back fantasy points this year.
Johnny Knox was a major Rotoworld tout back in August as the receiver most likely to break out under Mike Martz. While it's been a rocky road thanks in large part to early-season quarterback woes, Knox is just 40 yards away from the franchise's first 1,000-yard receiving season since 2002. With a 51/960/5 line, Knox is up to 21st in wide receiver fantasy points.
Aaron Rodgers / Greg Jennings / Jordy Nelson, Packers - One week after missing his first start in three seasons, Rodgers shredded the Giants defense for a career-high 404 yards and four touchdowns in a must-win game to put Green Bay in the driver's seat for the NFC's No. 6 seed. The virtuoso performance called to mind Rodgers' epic playoff performance in last year's playoff shootout victory at Arizona. Since 2008, Rodgers has passed for 12,165 yards to join Kurt Warner (12,612) and Peyton Manning (12,287) as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to clear 12,000 yards in their first three seasons as a starter.
Rodgers got the scoring started by finding Nelson streaking across the middle. Nelson did the rest, outrunning Antrel Rolle and Deon Grant for an 80-yard score, the longest of his career. While the Packers' fourth receiver won't be a fantasy factor in Week 17, Jennings roared back to elite WR1 status in Rodgers' return. Excelling, as usual, at the point of the catch, Jennings' 142 yards were second only to Bowe's 153 in Week 16. He trails only Bowe and Brandon Lloyd in wideout antasy points this season.
Earlier in the season, we praised the Texans' secondary as a
fantasy rock. Excluding the inimitable
Rusty Smith's lone career start, the Texans have surrendered 24 or more points in every game this season. The Houston Chronicle's John McClain, the foremost media authority on the franchise, declared the 2010 pass defense the worst "in the history of football
at any level since the beginning of time."
Into that dream matchup stepped rookie
Tim Tebow as a fantasy wild card during championship week. As former NFL player turned writer/analyst
Ross Tucker suggested, "if Tebow can't have a good day against THIS Texans pass defense, he
may not be able to hack it in the NFL. Pretty sure that is a rule."
Tebow hacked the worst pass defense in NFL history to the tune of 308 passing yards, 27 rushing yards, and two total touchdowns -- including the game winner on a drive that had every fan in the stadium
believing the Broncos would pull through. It was the eighth time this season that Houston allowed over 400 offensive yards and the first time a Broncos rookie has cleared 300 yards in his home starting debut.
It's tricky to gauge his progress against a lousy defense, but Tebow made clear improvement over his first start. While his mechanics remain a work in progress, Tebow displayed surprising arm strength and accuracy on intermediate-to-deep throws. After easing his quarterback in early with screen passes and checkdowns, play-caller Mike McCoy unleashed an aggressive Tebow down 17 points to start the second half. He was rewarded with a chain-moving performance highlighted by Tebow's "
competitive leadership" in crunch time.
Tebow isn't out of the woods just yet, but his performance in his first two starts will leave the next Broncos regime with a
Kyle Orton dilemma. If Tebow can build on the best moment of the season with another impressive game next week, the Denver faithtful will have a reason to get excited heading into the 2011 offseason.
When filling out Week 17 fantasy lineups, just remember the Texans' pass defense makes heroes out of every quarterback they see. Get your "
Jag-er Bombs" ready for the season finale.
Editor's Note: You can get our Season Pass package at a discount rate for the fantasy playoffs. Tons of extra stat tools, projections, columns, and playoff rankings, and Chris Wesseling's Dynasty league coverage -- all for just $4.99.Fantasy Triplets Matt Cassel / Jamaal Charles / Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs - Kansas City's 34-14 blowout victory over the Titans was a testament to offensive coordinator Charlie Weis' play-calling. Cassel's Pro Bowl-caliber performance throughout the season is a testament to Weis' tutoring (and an unbelievably weak pass defense schedule). Missing one game due to appendectomy surgery, Cassel's 27 touchdowns are already 11 more than last season's total while cutting his interceptions from 16 to five. The Chiefs are 10-4 with Cassel in the lineup, and they've yet to lose at Arrowhead. So which quarterback does he beat out for a Pro Bowl spot: Tom Brady, Philip Rivers, or Peyton Manning?
For all of the early-season hand wringing over Charles' role, he carried a lot of fantasy owners to the championship on Sunday. Only Arian Foster, Peyton Hillis, and Darren McFadden boast more than Charles' 225.5 fantasy points. Only Foster has more rushing yards (1,434 to 1,380) and yards from scrimmage (2,028 to 1,835). No back has outproduced Charles at crunch time in the past five weeks. Should we be thanking Todd Haley for keeping him fresh for the fantasy playoffs?
After racking up 13 touchdowns in a seven-game stretch from Weeks 6-12, Bowe had been held to three catches and zero scores in the last three games. That slump was busted on an in route that Bowe took for 75 yards against an unmotivated Titans defense Sunday. Bowe's 153 yards led the league in Week 16, and he's up to a league-best 199.4 fantasy points powered by 15 touchdowns.
Josh Freeman / Kellen Winslow / Mike Williams, Buccaneers - It's a shame Tampa Bay isn't in the NFC West. They would have made an ideal champion. Freeman won't garner serious MVP consideration, but how many players have been more instrumental to their team's success in 2010? Freeman tied a Buccaneers franchise record with five touchdowns in a 38-15 rout of Seattle, guaranteeing a winning record for a team that started 10 rookies this season. One of the league's most improved players, Freeman has just one interception in his last seven games. Only Tom Brady, Michael Vick, Matt Cassel, and Ben Roethlisberger have fewer picks than Freeman's six. The second-year signal caller is up to 11th in QB fantasy points this season.
Kellen Winslow entered championship week as one of fantasy's biggest every-week disappointments at tight end. After burning the Seahawks for seven receptions, 98 yards, and two touchdowns, Winslow skyrocketed to fifth in an underwhelming field this year. With a week to go, Winslow's 63/702/5 line isn't far off last year's 77/884/5 performance.
Mike Williams posted the first two-score game of his impressive rookie season, vaulting to 12th at wide receiver with a 60/915/10 line. With 151.5 fantasy points, Williams has a good shot to pass both Marques Colston (151.8) and Michael Clayton (161.3) for the second-best rookie receiver season of the past decade. Anquan Boldin is locked in at No. 1 with 181.7 points in 2003.
Special mention goes out to LeGarrette Blount, who blasted Seattle's defense for 164 yards on 18 carries. With three 100-yard performances in the past four weeks, Blount is just 59 yards away from 1,000 while averaging 5.2 yards per tote.
Jay Cutler / Matt Forte / Johnny Knox, Bears - Though Cutler uncorked his requisite pick-six against the Jets, his offense appears to be peaking at the right time. The Bears scored 38+ points in back-to-back games for the first time since 1989. With Mike Martz incorporating more moving pockets and deep drops, Cutler has survived a porous offensive line to throw at least three touchdowns in three of the past five games. He's up to 13th in QB fantasy points after sitting closer to 20 a few weeks back.
With the offense struggling around him for much of the season, Forte has been the epitome of a "will he or won't he" fantasy play each week. He rewarded faithful owners Sunday, snapping the Jets' streak of 21 consecutive games without allowing a 100-yard rusher. On the strength of 169 yards in Week 16, Forte became the first running back in franchise history with at least 1,400 yards from scrimmage in each of his first three NFL seasons. Forte is now 10th in running back fantasy points this year.
Johnny Knox was a major Rotoworld tout back in August as the receiver most likely to break out under Mike Martz. While it's been a rocky road thanks in large part to early-season quarterback woes, Knox is just 40 yards away from the franchise's first 1,000-yard receiving season since 2002. With a 51/960/5 line, Knox is up to 21st in wide receiver fantasy points.
Aaron Rodgers / Greg Jennings / Jordy Nelson, Packers - One week after missing his first start in three seasons, Rodgers shredded the Giants defense for a career-high 404 yards and four touchdowns in a must-win game to put Green Bay in the driver's seat for the NFC's No. 6 seed. The virtuoso performance called to mind Rodgers' epic playoff performance in last year's playoff shootout victory at Arizona. Since 2008, Rodgers has passed for 12,165 yards to join Kurt Warner (12,612) and Peyton Manning (12,287) as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to clear 12,000 yards in their first three seasons as a starter.
Rodgers got the scoring started by finding Nelson streaking across the middle. Nelson did the rest, outrunning Antrel Rolle and Deon Grant for an 80-yard score, the longest of his career. While the Packers' fourth receiver won't be a fantasy factor in Week 17, Jennings roared back to elite WR1 status in Rodgers' return. Excelling, as usual, at the point of the catch, Jennings' 142 yards were second only to Bowe's 153 in Week 16. He trails only Bowe and Brandon Lloyd in wideout antasy points this season.
Committee Time
1. Chiefs - Jamaal Charles (13-77, 4-40, 2 TD) was the early star before giving way to Thomas Jones (23-51) in garbage time. Charles was on a lot of Week 16 championship rosters, and he should remain a RB1 option in Week 17 as the Chiefs are still playing for the No. 3 seed.
2. Colts - Donald Brown (6-28) started but quickly became an afterthought. Joseph Addai (12-45, 1-6, TD) entered late in the fourth quarter and quickly got on board with a touchdown. Dominic Rhodes (17-98) took over as the feature back once the Colts got out to a lead and was surprisingly the most effective of the three backs. This is a hot-hand, three-headed monster situation with Rhodes as the clock-killer, Addai as the goal-line horse, and Brown likely headed for a chance-of-pace role.
3. Cowboys - Felix Jones (16-77, 1-11) started with Tashard Choice (4-16, 3-16) in the change-of-pace role. Choice likely would have stayed in that role throughout the game had Marion Barber (8-58, TD) not ripped off twin 24-yard runs to keep Choice on the pine in the second half. Jones is the only back worth using in Week 17 at Philly.
4. Giants - Brandon Jacobs (8-47) was more effective than Ahmad Bradshaw (12-31, 5-41) on the ground. Bradshaw lost his sixth fumble of the season, but he didn't lose any ground with Jacobs losing a key fumble minutes later. Expect the backfield roles to stay the same in Week 17 against the Redskins.
5. Jets - Shonn Greene (12-70, 2-14, TD) and LaDainian Tomlinson (13-28, 2-14, TD) each played 34 of 68 offensive snaps in Sunday's loss to the Bears. The two Jets running backs went 224 carries without a touchdown until Greene went in from three yards out in the first quarter. Greene has outplayed a sluggish Tomlinson over the past month, and the Jets are expected to rest LT next week. With nothing to play for, rookie Joe McKnight could be in line for 15+ touches as the feature back.
6. Chargers - Mike Tolbert (4 for -2) started the game but left with a scary neck/shoulder injury in the first quarter. Ryan Mathews (12-55, 3-28, TD) took over as the feature back the rest of the way, giving way to Darren Sproles (3-8, 8-55) in obvious passing situations. Mathews is going to merit RB1 consideration in Week 17 against the Broncos with Tolbert sitting out.
7. 49ers - Troy Smith is a play-action quarterback, so he was being set up for failure with bruising back Anthony Dixon (6-17) hobbled by an ankle injury. Brian Westbrook (10-40, 2-3) isn't a between-the-tackles threat as much as Mike Singletary might want him to be. Westbrook would benefit in Week 17 if checkdown artist Alex Smith returns as the starter under interim coach Jim Tomsula.
8. Cardinals - Looking healthy and finally showing at least a modicum of explosion, Beanie Wells (11-47) seemed to earn coach Ken Whisenhunt's trust with an effective fourth-quarter performance. Tim Hightower (6-23, 1-6) took a backseat for a second straight game. Neither back can be trusted at San Francisco in the finale.
9. Dolphins - The O-Line continued to struggle to open running lanes. The only explosive play was a 28-yard gain out of the Wildcat from Ricky Williams (14-71, 2-21). Ronnie Brown (12-37, 6-34, 1 TD) scored from one yard out but had another potential touchdown vultured by FB Lousaka Polite.
10. Lions - The Dolphins came into the came stifling opposing rushing attacks, and they continued to do so outside of one 11-yard run by Jahvid Best (6-24, 1-53, TD). Maurice Morris (12-22, 2-13, TD) managed to punch one in from five yards out while Best's 53-yard reception was good for his first touchdown since Week 2. This will remain a committee attack against Minnesota in Week 17.
Falling Out: Saints (MNF)
Already Graduated: Bears (Matt Forte), Eagles (LeSean McCoy), Browns (Peyton Hillis), Bills (Fred Jackson), Buccaneers (LeGarrette Blount), Seahawks (Marshawn Lynch), Panthers (Jonathan Stewart), Raiders (Darren McFadden), Redskins (Ryan Torain), Patriots (BenJarvus Green-Ellis), Packers (Brandon Jackson)
Editor's Note: Pick a new fantasy team just for today and win real cash with Snapdraft!
Injury Ward
Check out Matt Stroup's "Knowshon No-Show" for in-depth analysis of Sunday's M*A*S*H unit fallout.
Calvin Johnson, Lions - Ankle
Darren McFadden, Raiders - Foot
Knowshon Moreno, Broncos - Ribs
Mike Tolbert, Chargers - Head / Neck
Arrelious Benn, Buccaneers - Knee
Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks - Hip
David Nelson, Bills - Ribs
Ben Watson, Browns - Leg
Anthony Fasano, Dolphins - Knee
Brandon Stokley, Seahawks - Head
Champ Bailey, Broncos - Ankle
Awards Section
Stat of the Week: Tom Brady's 319 consecutive pass without an interception set a new NFL record, passing Bernie Kosar's 308 in 1990-91. Brady has 24 TDs and 0 interceptions his last 10 games while extending his current NFL-record streak to eight consecutive games with at least two touchdown passes and no interceptions.
Runner-Up: Sam Bradford's 335 completions in 15 games broke Peyton Manning's NFL rookie record of 326 in 1998. With Sunday's win over the 49ers, Bradford is now 7-8 as starter, the most wins by any rookie QB drafted No. 1 overall since 1970.
Second Runner-Up: NFL rushing leader Arian Foster has 2,028 yards from scrimmage this season, joining Priest Holmes (2001-03) as the only undrafted players in NFL history to record at least 2,000 yards from scrimmage yards in a season.
Quote of the Week: Giants DE Dave Tollefson, describing his mother's response in the locker room after he sustained a sprained MCL against the Eagles: "Tape it up! I didn't fly here from California to watch you ride the pines!"
"She was like 'What are you doing?' " Tollefson said. "I said, 'Mom, I'm hurt.' She said, 'I don't give an F. Get it taped up and get the hell in there! I don't want to hear this.'
"I love mom. She's crazy."
Runner-Up: Terrell Suggs got his feelings hurt earlier in the year when he talked trash all game only to lose face when Tom Brady pointed out that the Ravens run their mouths a lot for "only beating us once in nine years." The best response Suggs come summon? Voting for Ryan Fitzpatrick on his Pro Bowl ballot instead of Brady, the best player in the NFL this season. Brady's sarcastic repsonse when asked about Suggs: "I think he is a great player, he really is. … I would've voted for Terrell. He gets my vote, such a nice guy."
Tweet of the Week: From @MarkStAmant, author of the largest-selling fantasy football book of all-time: "Dear Commish Goodell, I'm onto your transparently lame conspiracy to have Favre play, Vick win MVP & Brady get shafted, all with one Tuesday game."
Runner-Up: From @ProFootballTalk on the Thursday night NFL Network booth: "Theismann and Millen, wrong again when it comes to interpreting the replay … And they will forever by known as 'Theismillen.' Until one or both of them is fired."
Second Runner-Up: From beat writer @LesBowen of the Philadelphia Daily News on CB/KR Jorrick Calvin going down with a season-ending injury: "First Hobbs goes on IR, then Calvin. Dilbert should be very careful."
Third Runner-Up: From @greggrosenthal of Rotoworld and PFT: "In my mind, I'm six feet tall. RT @evansilva: Kirk Herbstreit on Terrelle Pryor: 'In his mind, he's a first-round pick.'"
Fantasy MVP of Week 16: Aaron Rodgers, Packers
Fantasy Breakout Player of Week 16: Owen Daniels, Texans / Jared Cook, Titans
Fantasy Rookie of Week 16: LeGarrette Blount / Mike Williams, Buccaneers
Fantasy Disappointment of Week 16: Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals
Fantasy Fraud of Week 16: Rashad Jennings, Jaguars / Tashard Choice, Cowboys
Fantasy Fluke of Week 16: Jordy Nelson, Packers
Fine Fifteen Fantasy Offenses
1. Eagles - Vick needs 245 yards for his first 3,000-yard season.
2. Colts - What's so great about sliding down instead of taking the TD? Seriously. The team isn't going to lose with a 12-point lead and a minute remaining.
3. Patriots - Gronk's 9 TDs are the second-most all time for a rookie, behind Mike Ditka's 12 in 1961.
4. Texans - Daniels leads all tight ends with 32 targets the past 3 weeks.
5. Giants - NFC's version of the Chargers: Lions on paper, lambs when it matters.
6. Saints - Brees needs 3 TDs to tie Tom Brady's 34 for the NFL lead.
7. Falcons - Roddy needs 91 yards to pass Brandon Lloyd's 1,375 for the NFL lead.
8. Packers - Rodgers delivers the best game of his career after second concussion.
9. Chiefs - Cassel beginning to pick up MVP whispers with a 27:5 TD-to-INT ratio.
10. Buccaneers - Freeman, Blount, M.Williams, Winslow all producing as fantasy starters of late.
11. Chargers - Philip Rivers: "Lord of big, empty numbers"?
12. Steelers - Emmanuel Sanders emerging as much-needed second playmaker.
13. Ravens - Flacco is 6th QB in NFL history to reach 10,000 yards in first 3 seasons.
14. Cowboys - The Stephen McGee Show in Week 17?
15. Jaguars - Start Mike Thomas, Jason Hill, and Marcedes Lewis against the Texans in Week 17.
Title Belt Tuesday
The Vikings-Eagles postponement means we will see Tuesday football in the NFL for the fist time since the New York Giants at the Boston Yanks in 1946. I can't remember the possibility of snow stopping an NFL game (ESPN's John Anderson on the Sportscenter lead-in: "Green Bay Girl Scouts would have been selling cookies in Philly Sunday."), but I'm not complaining as a Michael Vick and Adrian Peterson owner in several leagues. The snow would have mitigated the Eagles' decisive edge in team speed, and the delay gives Peterson's thigh two more days of rest. Like many fantasy owners, I won't have a good idea of my title chances until late Tuesday night.
NFL Draft Order?
A nod to Joe Buscaglia of WGR 550 in Amherst, NY for doing the leg work on this one. If the NFL Draft happened today, the order of the first four picks would be:
1. Panthers
2. Broncos
3t. Bengals
3t. Bills
The Bengals and Bills aren't even close to the Broncos in strength of schedule, so Denver is locked into the No. 2 pick unless they knock off the Chargers in Week 17. If the Bills and Bengals both lose next week, the Bengals would slot in third unless all of the following happens: the Broncos beat the Chargers, the Colts beat the Titans, the Raiders beat the Chiefs, and the Texans beat the Jaguars.
If the Bills beat a Jets team with nothing on the line, their best-case scenario would be to pick eighth next April. They would enter the mix of five-win teams including the Cardinals, 49ers, Cowboys, Texans, Vikings, Lions, and Browns.
The Hot Seat
The coaches on the shakiest ground lost the biggest games Sunday. Mike Singletary is already out in San Francisco. The Houston Chronicle's John McClain sounds awfully sure that Gary Kubiak's entire staff will be canned. ESPN's Chris Mortensen predicts Jeff Fisher will be a "very hot coaching candidate," which suggests his 17-year run in Nashville will end after Week 17. Eric Mangini, loser of three straight, and Tony Sparano, with a 1-7 home record, are both on thin ice as well.
Week 17 Clash of the Titans
Bears @ Packers: A Packers win would almost certainly set up a rematch at Soldier Field the following week.
Rams @ Seahawks: The only team that has allowed Seattle within 15 points the past six weeks has been Carolina. The Seahawks have lost seven of their past nine games by an average of 22.2 points per game. Here's hoping the Rams win to prevent the first losing team from making the playoffs.
Bucs @ Saints: This could end up being a must-win game for New Orleans. The Bucs will enter Week 17 with the tie-breaker edge here if the Saints lose to the Falcons Monday night.
Early Waiver Look
QB: Tim Tebow, Shaun Hill, Stephen McGee, Alex Smith, Charlie Whitehurst
RB: Correll Buckhalter, Lance Ball, Mike Bell, Dominic Rhodes, John Kuhn, Isaac Redman
WR: Jacoby Jones, Danario Alexander, Jason Hill, Jerome Simpson, Andre Caldwell, Emmanuel Sanders, Andre Roberts, Naaman Roosevelt, Kelley Washington
TE: Jared Cook, Heath Miller
For an in-depth look at this week's top waiver options, my Waiver Wired column will run on Tuesday afternoons throughout the season.
Follow Chris Wesseling on Twitter.
Chris Wesseling is a senior football editor and Dynasty league analyst for Rotoworld.com. The 2011 NFL season marks his fifth year with
Rotoworld and his third year contributing to
NBCSports.com. He can be found on Twitter
@ChrisWesseling.
Email :
Chris Wesseling