Greg's Week 16 Rankings

QUARTERBACKS

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

Notes: Manning is primed for a huge day; in his last 6 games against HOU, he is averaging 299 YPG, and has a 17/2 TD/INT ratio, with no INT's in 5 of the 6 games. It looks like Romo should play, although I wouldn't be surprised if he sits most of the second half, provided that DAL has a big lead... CLE continues to lead the league in fantasy points allowed per game to QB's, and this week shouldn't be any different. Palmer has 1,028 yards, 11 TD's, and 5 INT's in his last 3 games against the Browns, including a 6 TD performance in Week 2... The Chiefs have been terrible against the pass lately, which makes Vince Young a good option this week. I wouldn't be surprised to see him score 1 on the ground as well as 1-2 through the air... Bulger has the pleasure of facing a PITT defense that is allowing less than 175 yards per game through the air, as well as the worst completion percentage. This could be a long day for the Rams, especially after PITT's loss at home to JAX last week; prior to last week, the Steelers have allowed 13 points total (including 2 shutouts) in games following a loss...

RUNNING BACKS

1 LaDainian Tomlinson SD (vs DEN)
2 Adrian Peterson MIN (vs WAS)
3 Joseph Addai IND (vs HOU)
4 Fred Taylor JAC (vs OAK)
5 Brian Westbrook PHI (at NO)
6 Jamal Lewis CLE (at CIN)
7 Earnest Graham TB (at SF)
8 Ryan Grant GB (at CHI)
9 Marion Barber DAL (at CAR)
10 Frank Gore SF (vs TB)
11 Willis McGahee BAL (at SEA)
12 LenDale White TEN (vs NYJ)
13 Kolby Smith KC (at DET)
14 Brandon Jacobs NYG (at BUF)
15 Steven Jackson STL (vs PIT)
16 Rudi Johnson CIN (vs CLE)
17 Willie Parker PIT (at STL)
18 Edgerrin James ARI (vs ATL)
19 Maurice Jones-Drew JAC (vs OAK)
20 Selvin Young DEN (at SD)
21 Marshawn Lynch BUF (vs NYG)
22 Clinton Portis WAS (at MIN)
23 Kevin Jones DET (vs KC)
24 Laurence Maroney NE (vs MIA)
25 Aaron Stecker NO (vs PHI)
26 Ron Dayne HOU (at IND)
27 Adrian Peterson CHI (vs GB)
28 Jerious Norwood ATL (at ARI)
29 Thomas Jones NYJ (at TEN)
30 Samkon Gado MIA (at NE)
31 Maurice Morris SEA (vs BAL)
32 Shaun Alexander SEA (vs BAL)
33 DeShaun Foster CAR (vs DAL)
34 DeAngelo Williams CAR (vs DAL)
35 Dominic Rhodes/Lamont Jordan OAK (at JAC)
36 Chester Taylor MIN (vs WAS)
37 Chris Brown TEN (vs NYJ)
38 Travis Henry DEN (at SD)
39 Fred Jackson BUF (vs NYG)
40 Julius Jones DAL (at CAR)

Notes: DEN is allowing over 150 yards from scrimmage per game to RB's, and LT has averaged just over 100 YPG in his last 6 vs. DEN, along with 12 TD's. If Norv sticks to the game plan of pounding it with LT, he should have another huge day... Yes, I have Fred Taylor in my top 5 this week. The guy has 4 straight 100 yard games, while OAK is allowing just under 144 yards per game on the ground (2nd worst in the NFL). Needless to say, I like him to have another big game, as well as MJD... In his first 9 games, Gore averaged 78 yards from scrimmage per game. In his last 4 games, he is averaging 147 yards from scrimmage. Toss in the fact that TB is 5th worst in the NFL in receiving yards per game to RB's, and Gore should be in line for a sneaky good start... PITT is allowing 73.4 yards from scrimmage to RB's this year. To put in perspective how amazing that is, consider that the next best team is MINN, with 109 YPG, or almost 50% more yards than PITT. SJax is good at catching the ball out of the backfield, but don't look for big numbers this week... I'm assuming that Ron Dayne is starting this week, which is why Walker is off the list. And I'm also assuming time shares in both SEA and CAR, and don't see much of a difference between all 4 guys - MoMo has the most upside, but my guess is that Alexander will get enough carries to limit his chances in terms of fantasy... And finally, I don't like either RB in OAK this week, but if Kiffin names a starter, insert him at the #35 position, with the other not being in the top 40...

WIDE RECEIVERS

1 Randy Moss NE (vs MIA)
2 Reggie Wayne IND (vs HOU)
3 Chad Johnson CIN (vs CLE)
4 Braylon Edwards CLE (at CIN)
5 Terrell Owens DAL (at CAR)
6 Marques Colston NO (vs PHI)
7 T.J. Houshmandzadeh CIN (vs CLE)
8 Larry Fitzgerald ARI (vs ATL)
9 Andre Johnson HOU (at IND)
10 Wes Welker NE (vs MIA)
11 Greg Jennings GB (at CHI)
12 Torry Holt STL (vs PIT)
13 Roddy White ATL (at ARI)
14 Brandon Marshall DEN (at SD)
15 Hines Ward PIT (at STL)
16 Kevin Curtis PHI (at NO)
17 Deion Branch SEA (vs BAL)
18 Joey Galloway TB (at SF)
19 Plaxico Burress NYG (at BUF)
20 Donald Driver GB (at CHI)
21 Anthony Gonzalez IND (vs HOU)
22 Bobby Engram SEA (vs BAL)
23 Steve Smith CAR (vs DAL)
24 Derrick Mason BAL (at SEA)
25 Jerricho Cotchery NYJ (at TEN)
26 Anquan Boldin ARI (vs ATL)
27 Santonio Holmes PIT (at STL)
28 Dwayne Bowe KC (at DET)
29 Shaun McDonald DET (vs KC)
30 Bernard Berrian CHI (vs GB)
31 Calvin Johnson DET (vs KC)
32 Reggie Brown PHI (at NO)
33 Patrick Crayton DAL (at CAR)
34 Chris Henry CIN (vs CLE)
35 David Patten NO (vs PHI)
36 Lee Evans BUF (vs NYG)
37 Roydell Williams TEN (vs NYJ)
38 Chris Chambers SD (vs DEN)
39 Dennis Northcutt JAC (vs OAK)
40 Bobby Wade MIN (vs WAS)

Notes: Reggie Wayne has been quiet the past couple of games, with just 6 catches, 111 yards, and 1 TD. Look for him to break out of his mini-slump, with another 100 yard game this week, along with a TD as well... Since 2005, Chad Johnson is averaging 9 catches for 131 yards per game against CLE, with 3 TD's. Housh has averaged 7 for 69 with 4 TD's, hence the higher ranking for Ocho Cinco this week… And to top it off, Chris Henry had 10 catches for 155 yards and 2 TD's against CLE last year. As mentioned in my QB rankings, this "should" be the week where Palmer finally busts out of his TD slump (1 in his last 3 games)... Curtis has been Reggie Brown-esqe lately, with just 66 yards in his last 2 games. Facing the worst fantasy pass defense in the NFL, look for Curtis to have at least 75 yards and a TD this week against the Saints... So I'm finally a believer in Anthony Gonzalez after last week's performance against OAK. HOU isn't horrible against WR's in terms of fantasy, but because Peyton has owned them, Gonzalez should be in line for his 3rd straight solid performance... Last week, PPR machine Mason had just 4 catches last week, but saved fantasy owners with a TD. This week, he gets to face a SEA defense that doesn't allow many passing TD's, as well as the fact that Troy Smith may be starting at QB for the Ravens. I still think he'll catch a good number of passes, but probably won't find the end zone, making him no better than a low-end #2/high end #3 depending on the size of your league...

TIGHT ENDS

1 Antonio Gates SD (vs DEN)
2 Jason Witten DAL (at CAR)
3 Kellen Winslow CLE (at CIN)
4 Chris Cooley WAS (at MIN)
5 Tony Gonzalez KC (at DET)
6 Dallas Clark IND (vs HOU)
7 Tony Scheffler DEN (at SD)
8 Owen Daniels HOU (at IND)
9 Donald Lee GB (at CHI)
10 Heath Miller PIT (at STL)
11 Desmond Clark CHI (vs GB)
12 Vernon Davis SF (vs TB)
13 Benjamin Watson NE (vs MIA)
14 Marcedes Lewis JAC (vs OAK)
15 Kevin Boss NYG (at BUF)
16 Chris Baker NYJ (at TEN)
17 Randy McMichael STL (vs PIT)
18 Robert Royal BUF (vs NYG)
19 Jeff King CAR (vs DAL)
20 Alge Crumpler ATL (at ARI)

Notes: DEN has continued to be awful against opposing TE's, allowing the most fantasy points per game, and only CLE has allowed more passing TD's to TE's. Needless to say, Antonio Gates should have a big day, even if he doesn't play the entire game... Scheffler has a good matchup on the other side, as SD is one of only 3 teams (GB/MINN are the others) to allow an average of at least 5 catches and 50 yards per game to TE's. Daniels may be in for a tough game, as INDY is only allowing 8 YPC to TE's, best in the NFL, along with only 3 TD's on the year. Finally, if you're desperate this week (i.e. Shockey owners), I actually think that Kevin Boss has the potential to be a good sleeper start at TE against the Bills. Manning looked his way 3 times after Shockey went down, including a TD. If the weather conditions are less than ideal in Orchard Park, Manning may have to lean on Boss more with the short passing game...

KICKERS

1 Mason Crosby GB (at CHI)
2 Rob Bironas TEN (vs NYJ)
3 Nicholas Folk DAL (at CAR)
4 Shayne Graham CIN (vs CLE)
5 Stephen Gostkowski NE (vs MIA)
6 Kris Brown HOU (at IND)
7 Josh Brown SEA (vs BAL)
8 Robbie Gould CHI (vs GB)
9 Jason Elam DEN (at SD)
10 Shaun Suisham WAS (at MIN)
11 Nate Kaeding SD (vs DEN)
12 Jason Hanson DET (vs KC)
13 Jeff Reed PIT (at STL)
14 Adam Vinatieri IND (vs HOU)
15 Ryan Longwell MIN (vs WAS)
16 Lawrence Tynes NYG (at BUF)
17 Rian Lindell BUF (vs NYG)
18 Phil Dawson CLE (at CIN)
19 Mike Nugent NYJ (at TEN)
20 Jay Feely MIA (at NE)

DEFENSES/ST

1 DST Patriots NE (vs MIA)
2 DST Vikings MIN (vs WAS)
3 DST Packers GB (at CHI)
4 DST Seahawks SEA (vs BAL)
5 DST Buccaneers TB (at SF)
6 DST Jaguars JAC (vs OAK)
7 DST Colts IND (vs HOU)
8 DST Steelers PIT (at STL)
9 DST Cowboys DAL (at CAR)
10 DST Chargers SD (vs DEN)
11 DST Giants NYG (at BUF)
12 DST Titans TEN (vs NYJ)
13 DST Bears CHI (vs GB)
14 DST Cardinals ARI (vs ATL)
15 DST Bills BUF (vs NYG)
16 DST Broncos DEN (at SD)
17 DST Jets NYJ (at TEN)
18 DST Eagles PHI (at NO)
19 DST Saints NO (vs PHI)
20 DST Dolphins MIA (at NE)