Greg's Week 12 Rankings

QUARTERBACKS
1 Tom Brady NE (vs PHI)
2 Tony Romo DAL (vs NYJ)
3 Brett Favre GB (at DET)
4 Ben Roethlisberger PIT (vs MIA)
5 Derek Anderson CLE (vs HOU)
6 Carson Palmer CIN (vs TEN)
7 Matt Hasselbeck SEA (at STL)
8 Drew Brees NO (at CAR)
9 Peyton Manning IND (at ATL)
10 Matt Schaub HOU (at CLE)
11 Eli Manning NYG (vs MIN)
12 Vince Young TEN (at CIN)
13 Jeff Garcia TB (vs WAS)
14 Jon Kitna DET (vs GB)
15 David Garrard JAC (vs BUF)
16 Kurt Warner ARI (vs SF)
17 Marc Bulger STL (vs SEA)
18 Daunte Culpepper OAK (at KC)
19 Jason Campbell WAS (at TB)
20 Jay Cutler DEN (at CHI)

Notes: I almost ranked Eli ahead of Peyton this week, which probably would have been the first and only time that would ever happen. Can we all admit now that Peyton is having a down year? Obviously injuries have played a big part, but following a terrible game against the Bolts, they only managed 13 points in a squeaker win against KC? ATL’s pass defense isn’t that bad, and as I had written last week, I think we’ll see a healthy dose of Joseph Addai vs. the Falcons… Here’s a crazy stat; Jeff Garcia’s fantasy points the last 7 weeks look like this: 14/13/14/17/12/13/14. In fantasy football, where consistency is extremely advantageous, he is about as solid as it gets. Yeah, you may not get a huge game from him, but you don’t have to worry about any stinkers either. Great season in which many people thought he was crazy to leave Philly… I know Gusto took me to task for this stat a few weeks ago, but because the number hasn’t changed, I’ll bring it up again: SEA has only allowed 5 passing TD’s in 10 games. 5! And after Bulger’s terrible performance against SF last week, I’m not that high on him against the Hawks… Back from the dead, Madden coverboy Vince Young has had two nice games in a row. Look for that to continue this week against the woeful CINCI pass defense, who has allowed more TD’s through the air (22) than any team except CLE. Finally, although Jason Campbell seems to be on the verge of breaking out after two straight solid performances, I really don’t like him against the stout TB pass defense, who are 3^rd in passing yards allowed per game… Not ranked due to injury concerns: Donovan McNabb.

RUNNING BACKS
1 Joseph Addai IND (at ATL)
2 Willie Parker PIT (vs MIA)
3 LaDainian Tomlinson SD (vs BAL)
4 Brian Westbrook PHI (at NE)
5 Willis McGahee BAL (at SD)
6 Clinton Portis WAS (at TB)
7 Steven Jackson STL (vs SEA)
8 Edgerrin James ARI (vs SF)
9 Marion Barber DAL (vs NYJ)
10 Reggie Bush NO (at CAR)
11 LenDale White TEN (at CIN)
12 Jamal Lewis CLE (vs HOU)
13 Cedric Benson CHI (vs DEN)
14 Earnest Graham TB (vs WAS)
15 Chester Taylor MIN (at NYG)
16 Maurice Jones-Drew JAC (vs BUF)
17 Frank Gore SF (at ARI)
18 Justin Fargas OAK (at KC)
19 Kevin Jones DET (vs GB)
20 Ryan Grant GB (at DET)
21 Ron Dayne HOU (at CLE)
22 Maurice Morris SEA (at STL)
23 Kolby Smith KC (vs OAK)
24 Laurence Maroney NE (vs PHI)
25 Warrick Dunn ATL (vs IND)
26 Jesse Chatman MIA (at PIT)
27 Thomas Jones NYJ (at DAL)
28 DeShaun Foster CAR (vs NO)
29 Reuben Droughns NYG (vs MIN)
30 Kenny Watson CIN (vs TEN)
31 Fred Taylor JAC (vs BUF)
32 Selvin Young DEN (at CHI)
33 Anthony Thomas BUF (at JAC)
34 Rudi Johnson CIN (vs TEN)
35 Adrian Peterson CHI (vs DEN)
36 Julius Jones DAL (vs NYJ)
37 Michael Pittman TB (vs WAS)
38 Najeh Davenport PIT (vs MIA)
39 Andre Hall DEN (at CHI)
40 Derrick Ward NYG (vs MIN)

Notes: Willie Parker has a great matchup against the 0-10 Miami Dolphins this week. It wouldn’t surprise me to see him get 30 carries in what should be a very, very ugly game for MIA fans, especially after last week’s embarrassing loss by PITT to the Jets in OT… Marion Barber III has had a couple of lousy games in a row, but look for that to change this week against the aforementioned J-E-T-S, who are 2nd worst in terms of fantasy points per game allowed to RB’s. It’ll be interesting to see how Westbrook performs with McNabb out against America’s Team, your New England Patriots. I can’t see him putting up terrible #’s, as he has been so effective catching balls out of the backfield. This week finally starts a run of favorable matchups for Jamal Lewis, who actually had a really good game against his old team last week, rushing for over 90 yards and a TD. HOU is allowing 4.4 YPC, 6th worst in the NFL. Lewis could go over the 100 yard mark for the second time this year…I have no idea what the situation is in Denver, which is reflected in my rankings of Young and Hall this week. Good ole Mike Shanahan… Kolby Smith gets his first start, and it’s a good one, facing a Raiders team that is giving up a staggering 152.6 yards per game on the ground, and 16 rushing TD’s, worst in the NFL. It’ll be curious to see how many carries Herm gives Smith, as the passing game has been struggling since the QB switch.. Keep an eye on the situation in CHI this week, as Lovie Smith indicated that he wants to get the other Adrian Peterson the ball more. They have a very favorable matchup vs. DEN, so if Benson doesn’t get things going early, AP2 may get a chance to prove himself… Finally Reuben Droughns looks like he may be getting the start this week with Jacobs likely out, but faces a tough matchup against MINN. I wouldn’t start him unless you didn’t have any other options… Not ranked due to injury concerns: Jacobs, Lynch, Alexander, Henry, Holmes…

WIDE RECEIVERS
1 Randy Moss NE (vs PHI)
2 Terrell Owens DAL (vs NYJ)
3 Andre Johnson HOU (at CLE)
4 T.J. Houshmandzadeh CIN (vs TEN)
5 Braylon Edwards CLE (vs HOU)
6 Reggie Wayne IND (at ATL)
7 Larry Fitzgerald ARI (vs SF)
8 Plaxico Burress NYG (vs MIN)
9 Marques Colston NO (at CAR)
10 Anquan Boldin ARI (vs SF)
11 Torry Holt STL (vs SEA)
12 Greg Jennings GB (at DET)
13 Donald Driver GB (at DET)
14 D.J. Hackett SEA (at STL)
15 Chad Johnson CIN (vs TEN)
16 Wes Welker NE (vs PHI)
17 Roy Williams DET (vs GB)
18 Hines Ward PIT (vs MIA)
19 Dwayne Bowe KC (vs OAK)
20 Steve Smith CAR (vs NO)
21 Joey Galloway TB (vs WAS)
22 Brandon Marshall DEN (at CHI)
23 Chris Henry CIN (vs TEN)
24 Bobby Engram SEA (at STL)
25 Jerricho Cotchery NYJ (at DAL)
26 Shaun McDonald DET (vs GB)
27 Deion Branch SEA (at STL)
28 Bernard Berrian CHI (vs DEN)
29 Derrick Mason BAL (at SD)
30 Roddy White ATL (vs IND)
31 Donte' Stallworth NE (vs PHI)
32 Santana Moss WAS (at TB)
33 Lee Evans BUF (at JAC)
34 Ronald Curry OAK (at KC)
35 Kevin Curtis PHI (at NE)
36 Brandon Stokley DEN (at CHI)
37 Chris Chambers SD (vs BAL)
38 Justin Gage TEN (at CIN)
39 Drew Carter CAR (vs NO)
40 Isaac Bruce STL (vs SEA)

Notes: Andre Johnson has only played in 3 games this year, but has been an absolute monster in all of them, as he and Schaub clearly are locked in with each other. Look for another huge game this week against a CLE defense that is allowing over 28 fantasy points per game to WR’s, worst in the NFL. Although I drafted him this year, I did not officially become a D.J. Hackett believer until last week. Needless to say, he’ll probably be in the top 20 every week for the rest of the year, as Hass clearly trusts him in the red zone, with TD’s in all 3 games since he has come back from injury, along with 100+ receiving yards in each of his last 2 games… I know the ranking is ridiculously low, but for all the bad press Steve Smith is getting, shouldn’t Ocho Cinco be getting it as well? In his last 7 games, Johnson has only 46 fantasy points, or about 6.5/game. If Housh is out, I’d bump him back up to the top 10, but people need to realize that unless he goes off in the 2^nd half again, this has been a very underwhelming year… Speaking of Housh, I’d also bump Henry into the top 15 if he is out. Henry has been very consistent in his first 2 games of the year, and is a high end #3 this week at worst… There was a Santana Moss sighting for the first time in ages last week, as he had a great game against DAL. This week he has a really tough matchup against TB, who is 2^nd best in terms of fantasy points allowed to WR’s this year, with just over 14 per game… Finally, although Croyle has been very mediocre in his last 2 games, Bowe has performed very well in both of them, and should continue to do so against OAK this week… Not ranked due to injury concerns: Holmes, Walker, Harrison, Coles, Crayton…

TIGHT ENDS
1 Jason Witten DAL (vs NYJ)
2 Kellen Winslow CLE (vs HOU)
3 Antonio Gates SD (vs BAL)
4 Tony Gonzalez KC (vs OAK)
5 Dallas Clark IND (at ATL)
6 Donald Lee GB (at DET)
7 Jeremy Shockey NYG (vs MIN)
8 Heath Miller PIT (vs MIA)
9 Greg Olsen CHI (vs DEN)
10 Owen Daniels HOU (at CLE)
11 Chris Cooley WAS (at TB)
12 Benjamin Watson NE (vs PHI)
13 Eric Johnson NO (at CAR)
14 Quinn Sypniewski BAL (at SD)
15 Jeff King CAR (vs NO)
16 Alge Crumpler ATL (vs IND)
17 Tony Scheffler DEN (at CHI)
18 Vernon Davis SF (at ARI)
19 Alex Smith TB (vs WAS)
20 Chris Baker NYJ (at DAL)

Notes: After being shutout in his previous game, Greg Olsen bounced back nicely in Week 11. This week he faces DEN, who are 2^nd worst in fantasy points allowed to TE’s this week. Look for Rex to target Olsen often, as Muhammed and Berrian will likely be blanketed by Bly and Bailey… Donald Lee has quickly become one of Brett Favre’s favorite targets, and also has a favorable matchup this week against the Lions on Thanksgiving. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Lee end up with 50 yards and a TD… Although OAK has been terrible against the run, they continue to have a strong pass defense. Against TE’s, they have only allowed 1 TD this year. And seeing that Croyle has been having a hard time finding Gonzalez, I’m not to keen on his chances this week… I also don’t like Gates this week. He is obviously a must start every week, but he faces a BAL defense that is allowing less than 30 yards per game versus TE’s this year. Phil Rivers wasn’t in my top 20 this week, as he may struggle to throw for 150 yards… And as good as BAL has done defending against TE’s, the Cardinals have been even better, allowing only 2.4 points per game to TE’s. As a result, don’t expect too much from Vernon Davis this week, as the 49’ers are going to have to rely heavily on Gore if they want any chances of winning… Not ranked due to injury concerns: Todd Heap…

KICKERS
1 Rob Bironas TEN (at CIN)
2 Kris Brown HOU (at CLE)
3 Mason Crosby GB (at DET)
4 Josh Brown SEA (at STL)
5 Jeff Reed PIT (vs MIA)
6 Stephen Gostkowski NE (vs PHI)
7 Shayne Graham CIN (vs TEN)
8 Nicholas Folk DAL (vs NYJ)
9 Phil Dawson CLE (vs HOU)
10 Adam Vinatieri IND (at ATL)
11 Matt Stover BAL (at SD)
12 Sebastian Janikowski OAK (at KC)
13 Jeff Wilkins STL (vs SEA)
14 Jason Elam DEN (at CHI)
15 Robbie Gould CHI (vs DEN)
16 Jason Hanson DET (vs GB)
17 Lawrence Tynes NYG (vs MIN)
18 Shaun Suisham WAS (at TB)
19 Ryan Longwell MIN (at NYG)
20 David Akers PHI (at NE)

DEFENSES
1 DST Patriots NE (vs PHI)
2 DST Chargers SD (vs BAL)
3 DST Steelers PIT (vs MIA)
4 DST Giants NYG (vs MIN)
5 DST Packers GB (at DET)
6 DST Cowboys DAL (vs NYJ)
7 DST Seahawks SEA (at STL)
8 DST Bears CHI (vs DEN)
9 DST Vikings MIN (at NYG)
10 DST Titans TEN (at CIN)
11 DST Colts IND (at ATL)
12 DST Jaguars JAC (vs BUF)
13 DST Cardinals ARI (vs SF)
14 DST Lions DET (vs GB)
15 DST Ravens BAL (at SD)
16 DST Browns CLE (vs HOU)
17 DST Chiefs KC (vs OAK)
18 DST Broncos DEN (at CHI)
19 DST Bengals CIN (vs TEN)
20 DST Buccaneers TB (vs WAS)