Yes… No… Maybe?

“Yes… No… Maybe?” is my version of the start-sit post. For the most part, I avoided the obvious (i.e. “Start Adrian Peterson and Drew Brees!”) and tried to focus on the fringe players. Beginning next week, I will recap how I did the previous week. So, eventually, when it turns out I am wrong all the time, you can pull a Costanza and just do the opposite.

And, just in case you are confused by the obvious nature of the post, here is a key:

Yes = Start these players. They have a high likelihood of performing well.
No = Sit these players. The risk is too high that they will struggle.
Maybe = Start these guys if you do not have better options. They could do well. Or they could fail.

Yes

QB Trent Edwards (BUF) vs. TB: Last week, QB Tony Romo put up a career-high in passing yards against TB. I doubt Edwards will replicate that effort, but he should have a good game. He has the weapons and TB is vulnerable.

RB Ray Rice (BAL) @ SD: OAK was able to push the SD DL around last week and managed to put up some rushing yards. BAL is a better running team, so Rice should get plenty of work. RB Willis McGahee and RB LeRon McClain could steal his TDs, but that is no reason not to use him. He should have around 100 total yards again.

RB Fred Jackson (BUF) vs. TB: Jackson did very well last week in place of suspended RB Marshawn Lynch, and he should have another solid outing against TB, who is not nearly as strong on DEF as most people think.

RB Clinton Portis (WAS) vs. STL: Portis is probably a must-start guy each week, but there are rumors that hsi touches are going to be limited and RB Ladell Betts is going to get more work. But RB Julius Jones went nuts on STL last week, so Portis should have a big day.

WR Louis Murphy (OAK) vs. KC: Yes, I know he has the fat caveman throwing him the ball. But there are just not many other options in OAK outside of TE Zach Miller (here’s a free one: Start Miller, too). Murphy was inches away from scoring 2 TDs last week and should have another good day against a KC pass DEF that struggles.

NO

QB Jay Cutler (CHI) vs. PIT: I doubt Cutler wil blow up and have 4 INTs again — although it would be awesome if he did — but I would consider other options this week. PIT is very good on DEF and could give him troubles, just like GB did with their version of the 3-4.

QB Matt Schaub (HOU) @ TEN: Schaub struggled last week against NYJ, and TEN is just as good or better than NYJ against the pass. TEN does not have a shutdown CB like NYJ has in CB Darrelle Revis, but I think they will contain Schaub enough to make him bench-worthy. Plus, I think his ankle is still bothering him.

RB LaDainian Tomlinson (SD) vs. BAL: LT is banked up with an ankle injury and is expected to be a game-time decision. Even if he does play, I have very little confidence that he will have a good day against the BAL DEF.

RB Steve Slaton (HOU) @ TEN: This was a tough one. Partly becuase I have him in one of my leagues. But also because, last year, he was the only RB to put up over 100 yards rushing on TEN. And he did it twice. So he is a lock to have a good game again, right? I wish. I think he will struggle. He is a borderline “no/maybe” though. Start him if you are really desperate.

WR Devin Hester (CHI) vs. PIT: But for one blown coverage last week in the GB game, Hester did nothing. I do not think PIT will blow coverage and let him get behind them, even without SS Troy Polomalu.

MAYBE

RB Pierre Thomas (NO) @ PHI: Thomas claims to be healthy and ready to go. If this is true, he should get enough work against PHI to make him worthy of a start. I think RB Mike Bell will continue to get some reps as they ease Thomas back in, but Thomas will be the man once he is 100%.

RB Darren Sproles (SD) vs. BAL: I am not sure why I hate Sproles. I was not high on him coming into this year. And now, even with LT hurt, I am still not all that high on him. He is very involved in the passing game, which is great. But he simply is not an every-down RB. However, with LT out, he makes a good start if you do not have other options. But I think BAL will do a better job of containing him than OAK did.

RB Kevin Smith (DET) vs. MIN: Smith could have an okay day, because he is involved in the passing game. And that is the only reason he is a “maybe” and not a “no”. MIN is just too stout against the run. But this has “trap game” written all over it… MIN has all the hype, and DET has not won a game in a long time. Who knows a good bookie? I just got paid…

RB Willie Parker (PIT) @ CHI: I am not a fan of FWP this year. He looked very marginal in week 1. And the PIT OL is not great. But CHI is without MLB Brian Urlacher, which makes him slightly more attractive.

WR Laurent Robinson (STL) @ WAS: Robinson had a solid week 1 and led the team in targets. And he had a couple red zone looks. STL is gonna be losing so they will have to pass. Which makes him a sneaky WR3 play this week if you need help.

Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Or, if you have other start-sit dilemmas, leave a comment and I will respond.

Week 1 Injury Report

So, it’s finally here. Week 1 of the NFL season. Which means it is time to stop bragging about how sweet your team is and try to figure out how to win your week 1 matchup. Hopefully you are not dealing with any injured players, but just in case you are, here is a rundown of who is injured and whether you can expect them to play.

QB Kurt Warner (ARI): Warner (hip) is old and has a crazy wife, but he will play in week 1.

QB Carson Palmer (CIN): Palmer (ankle) will play in week 1.

QB Kyle Orton (DEN): Orton (finger) is expected to start in week 1.

QB Matt Cassel (KC): Cassel’s (knee) status for week 1 is still unclear.

QB Matt Schaub (HOU): Schaub (ankle) will be in the lineup in week 1.

RB Maurice Jones-Drew (JAX): MJD (shin) has missed practice and his status for week 1 is unclear. But until we hear otherwise, I think he will be in the lineup. His touches may be limited though. So expect rookie RB Rashad Jennings and RB/FB Greg Jones to get some extra work.

RB Jonathan Stewart (CAR): Stewart’s (achilles) status for week 1 is in doubt. RB DeAngelo Williams should benefit greatly from this. Also, rookie RB Mike Goodson could get some extra work.

RB Brian Westbrook (PHI): Westbrook (knee, ankle) had 2 offseason surgeries, but is expected to be in the lineup in week 1.

RB Pierre Thomas (NO): Thomas’ (knee) status for week 1 is in doubt. Grab RB Mike Bell if he is available in your league. He should do well against DET.

RB Clinton Portis (WAS): Portis (ribs) is back at practice and will start at RB in week 1.

RB Reggie Bush (NO): Bush (knee) should play in week 1, but he is not 100%.

RB Knowshon Moreno (DEN): Moreno (knee) is on schedule to play in week 1. But I do not expect him to get a full load quite yet.

RB Beanie Wells (ARI): Wells (ankle) seems to be fully-recoverd from his ankle injury, but RB Tim Hightower is the starter as of now.

RB Marshawn Lynch (BUF): Lynch (suspension) will miss the first 3 games. RB Fred Jackson should see a majority of the touches in his absence.

RB Fred Jackson (BUF): Jackson (wrist) should be ready to go. RB Xavier Omon would get some touches if Jackson is not 100% healthy.

WR Greg Jennings (GB): Jennings (concussion) is ready to go in week 1.

WR Anquan Boldin (ARI): Boldin (hamstring) has missed practices recently, but I think he will be ready for week 1.

WR Terrell Owens (BUF): Owens’ (toe) is supposed to be ready and should be on the field this weekend.

WR Antonio Bryant (TB): Bryant (knee) is expected to be ready for week 1.

WR Donnie Avery (STL): Avery (foot) should be available for the week 1 game.

WR Chaz Schilens (OAK): Schilens (foot) will miss the first couple weeks of the season.

WR Nate Washington (TEN): Washington (hamstring) is expected to miss a week or 2.

WR Mike Sims-Walker (JAX): Sims-Walker (aknle) finally got on the field in the JAX preseason finale (and caught a TD). His status in the lineup is unclear, but he should be healthy enough to play.

WR Steve Breaston (ARI): Breaston (knee) is expected to be ready for week 1.

WR Michael Crabtree (SF): I have yet to confirm this, but I believe Crabtree must have hit his head very hard. Because the sh!t this guy is pulling is insane.

Did I miss anyone? I hope not. Post a comment if you have a question about a player that is not listed here and I will get back to you with an update…

Preseason Injury Roundup

It’s this time of the year when everyone starts complaining that the preseason is too long and all that happens is players are injured unnecessarily. And that may be true. But the preseason is not going anywhere. And, unfortunately, neither are preseason injuries. Here are some notable injuries to be aware of as we head into the regular [fantasy] season. I am sure I missed a few. And I might have even made up a couple. It is kinda hard to get a read on injuries during the preseason, since teams are not required to disclose them on an injury report.

QB Tom Brady (NE): Brady injured his throwing shoulder when DT Albert Haynesworth fell on him in the third preseason game. But Brady is apparently back at practice and expects to be fine for the opener. So Brady and Moss owners can breath easily.

QB Drew Brees (NO): I know, I know. Brees himself is not hurt. I am probably freaking people out by putting him on this list. But I only include him here because his starting LT is injured and will miss the first part of the season. And, just in case you did not know, the LT is a very important component of the passing game. Brees should do just fine, but it is something to be aware of.

QB Brent Farve (MIN): [Please note that I refuse to call him by his real name. That person retired a couple of years ago from the Packers.

QB Matt Cassel (KC): As if he did not have enough question marks hanging over his head, now he has to deal with a knee and ankle injury. There are conflicting reports regarding his availability for week 1, but it seems likely that he will miss some time. Keep checking on the updates as week 1 gets closer. But you should have a backup plan.

QB Matt Schaub (HOU): Shocking to find Schaub on the injury report, huh? I am always tempted by his talent, but I simply cannot bring myself to draft him anymore. He is too injury-prone. And now he will enter the season beat up. Which is not a good sign.

QB Kyle Orton (DEN): Orton has what is being described as an “open dislocation”. I am no doctor (nor do I play one on TV), but that does not sound good. As with Cassel, there are mixed reports on whether he will plan in week 1. Hopefully you drafted Orton as your QB2, so it does not matter. If you drafted him as your QB1, well, you might want to check the waiver wire and see who else is out there.

QB Carson Palmer (CIN): Palmer has been nursing a high-ankle sprain all preseason. Which is not good. But he claims to be healing and that he will be ready for Week 1. His availability will have a huge impact on the rest of the CIN players.

RB Handcuffs

As I have said before, you should not automatically grab the “handcuff” for the RBs you draft simply because they are their real life backup.

However, there are some “handcuffs” you should defnitely grab if you draft certain RBs. And here is a list of guys that, if you draft them, you should also draft their “handcuff”:

RB Adrian Peterson (MIN): Peterson has been a workhorse since he came into the league as a rookie. But he is not without injury concerns. And he may have one of the better backups in the league in RB Chester Taylor. If AP misses any time, Taylor should put up very good numbers in his stead.

RB Maurice Jones-Drew (JAX): MJD has had a very healthy career thus far. But he has also been limited in the amount of touches he’s had. This year JAX (finally) expects to use him as a fulltime ballcarrier. Although that increases his fantasy value, it also increases his chance to get injured. There has been no official word from JAX on his backup, but I expect RB Chauncey Washington would get the nod (initially) to take over the load. But also keep an eye on rookie RB Rashad Jennings, who could get some touches, too.

RB Michael Turner (ATL): Whether you believe “The Curse of 370” or not, you cannot argue with the fact that there is a body of statistical evidence out there that says it is very likely Turner will get injurd this year. So, even if you do not believe it, you should play the odds and pickup his backup. Unfortunately, his top backup, RB Jerious Norwood, suffered a knee injury recently. But he should be fine by the time Turner goes down. But you should also keep an eye on RB Jason Snelling and rookie RB Thomas Brown, who could get some work if Turner succumbs to “the curse”.

RB Frank Gore (SF): Gore is a highly-ranked RB this year, due to his skill level, the offense he is working in, and his history of being productive. However, he also has a history of being injury-prone. And rookie RB Glenn Cofffee is playing ver well. So add him if you have Gore, and look like a genius when Gore misses time and you casually insert Coffee into the lineup and pile up the points.

RB Brian Westbrook (PHI): If you gamble on Westbrook early, you need to make sure you get RB LeSean McCoy later in the draft. McCoy should put up very Westbrook-like numbers if/when Westbrook goes down.

RB Marion Barber (DAL): It is not entirely clear what role Barber will have in the DAL offense this year. But he should get enough touches to make him a very solid RB2. Either way, in the event that his brutish running-style causes him to miss any games, look for RB Tashard Choice to pick up his touches. RB Felix Jones should continue to get his own touches no matter what, although they would likely increase in the event that Barber goes down.

RB Pierre Thomas (NO): Thomas came into the year with high expectatoins, but an MCL injury has put his status for week 1 in doubt. If you have Thomas on your team, you should also add RB Mike Bell, who would benefit immensely if Thomas misses any time.

RB Clinton Porits (WAS): Those who had Portis on their team last year remember how much fun it was at the beginning of the season when he was killing it. And they also remember how miserable it was at the end of the year when he was getting killed. And now there are reports that he has a bruised rib. I love Portis and think he is about as tough as they come for NFL RBs. But as a result of his toughness, he often has nagging injuries. I think RB Ladell Betts will be involved more this year, and he should be on your roster if you own Portis.

RB Marshawn Lynch (BUF): We already know Lynch is going to miss the first 3 games of the year, which means RB Fred Jackson is going to get a majority of the touches during that time. Add him to your roster if you have Lynch, not only for those first three games, but also for later, just in case Lynch gets injured or cannot keep his nose clean.

RB Thomas Jones (NYJ): Thomas is getting older and has not looked good so far this year. But he did have a career-year in 2008, so it is hard to discount him completely. Either way, if he were to get hurt or become entirely ineffective, RB Shonn Greene would probably take over his role as the main ballcarrier. Although I think RB Leon Washington is the only NYJ RB worth owning, Greene will probbaly do alright in the event Jones goes down. But, like the situation in DAL, Washington would probably see his touches go up, as well.

RB Knowshon Moreno (DEN): Moreno has a ton of potential, unfortunately we have no idea whether he will ever meet said potential, because we have yet to see him play in the NFL for any legitimate amount of time due to a knee injury he suffered early on in his first preseason game (after a long holdout). I suspect he will be fine once he recovers, but if you took a flyer on him in your draft, you should also add RB Peyton Hillis, who seems (to me, anyway) as the best option DEN has if/when Moreno is out. RB Correll Buckhalter and RB LaMont Jordan are also in the mix, I suppose, but Hillis should be the most effective RB in the group.

RB Joseph Addai (IND): Addai has been fairly ineffective recently, and he has struggled to stay healthy. Enter rookie RB Donald Brown, who has looked sharp so far. It is hard to say what will happen with this RBBC, but it is safe to say that if Addai gets injured or cannot get the job done, Brown will step in and could do very well.

RB Jamal Lewis (CLE): Lewis has looked slow this preseason and is at that magical age (30) when RBs go down hill. So if you take him, you should also grab RB James Davis, who could supplant him as the starter by midseason.

RB Willie Parker (PIT): Parker has seen his YPC go down each year since becoming the starter. That is not a good sign of things to come. So if you take Fast Willie, make sure you also grab RB Rashard Mendenhall, who should see his role increase as the year goes along, especially if FWP cannot stay healthy.

RB Handcuffs

You have all heard the term “handcuff” before when referring to fantasy football players and their backups. Generally, I am not a huge fan of automatically drafting a “handcuff” for your starter, but there are situations when it can be valuable.

I would only recommend drafting a handcuff if you are drafting a RB with a high (e.g. first 3 or 4 rounds) who is (1) injury-prone and (2) plays in a high-powered offense. For example, I would recommend grabbing Westbrook’s backup, because he is injury prone and the Eagles’ offense is very good. Conversely, I would not recommend grabbing RB Steven Jackson‘s handcuff, because he will not perform at anywhere near the same level. My point is this: Do not waste a pick by automatically selecting a handcuff for each of your RBs. There are more valuable players out there in many situations.

For your 2009 fantasy football draft, I would recommend the following handcuffs if you draft any of these players:

RB Adrian Peterson (MIN): Peterson accounts for a large percentage of the Viking offense. And it is reasonable to assume that if AP goes down, RB Chester Taylor will assume a similar role. Grabbing Taylor as a handcuff for AP can be tough, though, since Taylor gets enough touches on his own to make him worth drafting late. But it is always worthwhile to protect your investment in a guy like AP, who gets a lot of touches and thus is more exposed to potential injuries.

RB Brian Westbrook (PHI): Westbrook is old and about to breakdown. Or so everyone (including me) says. He could very well prove us all wrong this year, and avoid any injuries. But he is a risk. Handcuff = RB LeSean McCoy.

RB Maurice Jones-Drew (JAX): I do not consider MJD to be injury-prone, but any time a guy increases his workload in a significant way, you have to also consider him an increased risk to get injured. And the Jags like to make their RBs the focal point of their offense, so his backup should still do fairly well.  The only problem is, right now we are not entirely sure who that is going to be. Keep an eye on this situation throughout camp. Potential Handcuff(s) = FB Greg Jones, RB Chauncey Washington, and RB Rashad Jennings.

RB Brandon Jacobs (NYG): Jacobs is a bruiser. And although he usually doles out more punishment than he receives, you can almost guarantee he will miss time in 09 with a nagging injury. However, much like the Jags, it is not clear yet who would be the primary ball carrier if Jacobs goes down. Keep an eye on the battle for his backup during camp. Potential Handcuff(s) = RB Ahmad Bradshaw, RB Danny Ware, and RB Andre Brown.

RB Marion Barber (DAL): Although Barber did miss some time last year due to injury, I do not consider him injury prone. However, due to his running style, it is always a possibility. Handcuff = RB Tashard Choice (Note: I do not consider RB Felix Jones to be a handcuff for Barber, because I think Jones will be used differently in the offense.)

RB LaDainian Tomlinson (SD): As we all know, LT is getting older. And last year showed us that he is, in fact, human. Although I do expect him to have a better year in 09, there is no reason to be foolish. Handcuff = RB Darren Sproles (Note: Due to the touches he will get regardless, Sproles will likely go pretty early. If you do not want to waste an early pick on a handcuff, then consider grabbing RB Gartrell Johnson later.)

RB Clinton Portis (WAS): The Skins want to reduce his workload already, but despite how tough Portis is, he has missed some time due to injury. Handcuff = RB Ladell Betts.

RB Darren McFadden (OAK): The Raiders love to run the ball. And they want to make McFadden a focal point on offense. But McFadden has a slight build, is an upright runner, and missed quite a few games in 08 due to injuries. Handcuff = RB Michael Bush (Note: RB Justin Fargas is in the mix, too, so watch how the Raiders use these guys in camp.)

RB Thomas Jones (NYG): Jones had a surprisingly good year in 08. But he is past the 30-year old mark and he is unhappy with his contract. Plus he has a shaky QB situation. And he has a rookie RB breathing down his neck. Handcuff = RB Shonn Green. (Note: RB Leon Washington, much like Sproles and Felix Jones, already has a role in the offense, but I do not expect him to become the full-time RB if Jones goes down.)

RB Marshawn Lynch (BUF): Lynch is already scheduled to miss the first 3 games of the year due to an NFL-imposed suspension. Which makes drafting him fairly risky to begin with. But he should do well later in the year to make him attractive in the middle rounds of the draft. If nothing else, you will want a replacement for the first 3 games. Handcuff = RB Fred Jackson.

RB Larry Johnson (KC): No one really knows what to expect out of the Chiefs this year. New Coach. New GM. New QB. And a happy LJ? It’s hard to say how it will all work out, but we do know that LJ has had his fair share of injury issues in the past. Handcuff = RB Jamaal Charles.

RB Jamal Lewis (CLE): I am still surprised Lewis has an NFL career, at this point. It seems like he has been around forever, and I expected him to fade away awhile ago. And this may be the year it finally happens. Handcuff = RB James Davis.

RB Joseph Addai (IND): We all know about the struggles Addai had last year. And then the Colts went out and drafted a talented rookie RB. So if you roll the dice with Addai, you better be willing to spend a mid-round pick on insurance. Handcuff = RB Donald Brown.

RB Willie Parker (PIT): Parker has been slowly declining for the past couple of seasons, and missed significant time last year due to injuries. He is getting older and there is youth behind him. Handcuff = RB Rashard Mendenhall.

Big Risks = Bigger Rewards

There are a few guys that could have absolutely huge fantasy seasons if they can stay healthy. Unfortunately, they have not shown us that they can do this on a regular basis. Which is why they are big risks. But if things work out, the rewards could be tremendous.

QB Matt Schaub (HOU): Somewhat surprisingly, Schaub has been one of the best QBs in the NFL (statistically) when healthy over the past couple of years. Unfortunately, he has missed a significant amount of time recently due to a variety of injuries. If he can finally put together a healthy season, he should be a top-level fantasy QB, with guys like WR Andre Johnson, RB Steve Slaton, and TE Owen Daniels.

RB Steven Jackson (STL): Remember when Jackson was one of the best RBs in fantasy football? Me either. It seems like so long ago. But on top of coming into the year healthy, Jackson will also be running behind a much-improved offensive line. If you could guarantee me that Jackson will play every game, I would rank him right behind RB Adrian Peterson. But Jackson’s health is far from guaranteed. So if you like to gamble, S-Jax is your man.

RB Brandon Jacobs (NYG): In most respects, the departure of RB Derrick Ward to TB is good for Jacobs, because he should get more carries. However, it also means he will take more of a pounding. And he has missed nearly 10 games over the past two years due to injuries. But if he can stay healthy, he should be a beast and improve on his numbers from 2008.

RB Clinton Portis (WAS): Portis had nearly 950 yards through 7 games in 2008. And then, well, he slowed down, so to speak. Portis gets a lot of touches. And he is one of the toughest RBs in the NFL. But he is wearing down. And that is a major concern. Although you can expect RB Ladell Betts to get a larger share of the carries this year, Portis is still going to have over 300 touches. So if he can avoid the minor injuries that have slowed him in the recent past, he should be a very solid option at RB.

RB LaDainian Tomlinson (SD): Do you think he has one last hurrah in him? I do. His foot injury last year really hampered his ability to run and cut effectively. Which is precisely what made him so great to begin with. And do not buy all the talk about RB Darren Sproles. Yes, he is good. But he is not a full-time RB and he never will be. So look for LT to be the main guy again, although Sproles will eat into his production. Either way, I expect LT to be a top-10 RB one last time before he descends into fantasy oblivion with the likes of Shaun Alexander and Priest Holmes.

WR Marques Colston (NO): When Colston plays, he is a stud. Unfortunately, he has not played much over the past couple of years. Many people will be gun-shy after spending high picks on him last year. But you saw what he can do in the last few games of the year when he was finally back in action. QB Drew Brees is playing at a very high level. And if Colston is healthy, he will be the main beneficiary of Brees’ play. Maybe it was just bad luck. Or maybe he is injury-prone. But if he can stay healthy, someone will get a very good deal on him.

TE Kellen Winslow (TB): Winslow has had knee surgery every year since his rookie year. Yet, somehow, he has been pretty effective as a playmaking TE. When he is on the field, he performs well. And he was on the field during 2006 and 2007. But he missed 6 games in 2008. Given his history, you can probably get him on the cheap. But do not be upset if he misses some time.

Week 16: RB Rankings

Here are your Week 16 RB Rankings. And check out the QB Rankings and WR Rankings.

1. Pierre Thomas @ DET
2. Matt Forte vs. GB
3. Michael Turner @ MIN
4. Adrian Peterson vs. ATL
5. Thomas Jones @ SEA
6. Steve Slaton @ OAK
7. Brian Westbrook @ WAS
8. DeAngelo Williams @ NYG
9. Steven Jackson vs. SF
10. Marshawn Lynch @ DEN
11. Kevin Smith vs. NO
12. Ronnie Brown @ KC
13. Sammy Morris vs. ARI
14. Chris Johnson vs. PIT
15. Clinton Portis vs. PHI
16. Ryan Grant @ CHI
17. LaDainian Tomlinson @ TB
18. Derrick Ward vs. CAR
19. Justin Fargas vs. HOU
20. Brandon Jacobs vs. CAR
21. Cedric Benson @ CLE
22. Willie Parker @ TEN
23. Larry Johnson vs. MIA
24. Kevin Faulk vs. ARI
25. Le’Ron McClain @ DAL

Week 15: RB Rankings

I like rankings better than the start/sit recommendations. Because it allows me to be “kinda right” and “kinda wrong” instead of “definitely right” or “absolutely wrong”.  Either  way, here are my RB rankings for week 15. Also, check out my QB Rankings.

1. Brian Westbrook @ CLE
2. DeAngelo Williams vs. DEN
3. Maurice Jones-Drew vs. GB
4. Chris Johnson @ HOU
5. Dominic Rhodes vs. DET
6. Michael Turner vs. TB
7. Matt Forte vs. NO
8. Adrian Peterson @ ARI
9. Clinton Portis @ CIN
10. Ryan Grant @ JAX
11. Reggie Bush vs. CHI
12. Kevin Smith vs. IND
13. Thomas Jones vs. BUF
14. Brandon Jacobs @ DAL
15. LaDainian Tomlinson @ KC
16. Pierre Thomas vs. CHI
17. Steven Jackson vs. SEA
18. LenDale White @ HOU
19. Steve Slaton vs. TEN
20. Jonathan Stewart vs. DEN
21. Marion Barber vs. NYG
22. Ronnie Brown vs. SF
23. Sammy Morris @ OAK
24. Warrick Dunn @ ATL
25. Justin Fargas vs. NE
26. Marshawn Lynch @ NYJ
27. Kevin Faulk @ OAK
28. Larry Johnson vs. SD
29. Tim Hightower vs. MIN
30. Maurice Morris @ STL
31. DeShaun Foster @ MIA
32. Cedric Benson vs. WAS
33. Le’Ron McClain vs. PIT
34. Mewelde Moore @ BAL
35. Jamal Lewis @ PHI
36. Willie Parker @ BAL
37. Tatum Bell @ CAR
38. Willis McGahee vs. PIT

Week 15: Waiver Wire

Here are some names to consider adding to your roster:

QB Matt Schaub: He played well against Green Bay, but the Texans play Tennessee next week. This is not a good matchup for him. But he looked sharp in his first game back from injury.

QB Kyle Orton: You could do worse. He plays the Saints, Packers, and Texans during the last three weeks of the season.

RB Tashard Choice: The rookie piled up 170 total yards in place of injured RB Marion Barber (toe, calf) against a very stout Steelers defense. Keep an eye on Barber’s status, though. If he is back next week, Choice has very little value.

RB Tatum Bell: Bell will take over the starting RB position in Denver now that RB Peyton Hillis is on IR with a hamstring injury. Be careful, though. RB Selvin Young could also get some carries, and you just never know what will happen in Denver.

RB Pierre Thomas: Oddly enough, he is still available in some leagues.

RB Ladell Betts: It seems like RB Clinton Portis is still banged up and the Skins are going to give Betts a chance to rack up some yards. He had 60 total yards against a tough Ravens defense, but keep an eye on the status of Portis. It is unclear how much work each will get, at this point.

RB Cadillac Williams: Cadillac scored a TD in his second consecutive game. Although he has only averaged 23 rushing yards since returning to the lineup, he might be worth adding to see how the Bucs use him down the stretch.

WR Domenik Hixon: He was the hot waiver wire add last week, so I doubt he is available. But he had a fairly poor showing (although he dropped a long pass that could have turned into a TD), so maybe someone dropped him again. He should do well against Dallas this week.

WR Devin Hester: He is actually playing pretty well lately, and he has some very easy matchups down the stretch (Saints, Packers, Texans).

WR Deion Branch: He had 2 TDs last week and looks to be (mostly) healthy. Plus, he has some favorable matchups coming up (Rams, Jets, Cardinals).

Week 14: Random Thoughts

1. How do the Jets beat the Titans and then lose to the Broncos AND the 49ers?

2. The Texans turned the ball over 4 times but still racked up 549 total yards on Green Bay.

3. RB Tashard Choice played very well in place of an injured RB Marion Barber against a Steelers defense that is ranked #1 in the NFL.

4. RB Clinton Portis continues to show an incredible amount of toughness. But it is clear that all the work he got this year is catching up with him.

5. WR Calvin Johnson can put up numbers with anyone at QB.

6. Rookie QB Matt Ryan is legit.

7. QB Peyton Manning threw for 277 yards and 3 TDs, and WR Reggie Wayne only had 48 yards and no TDs. I am beginning to think that something is wrong with Wayne.

8. RB Peyton Hillis is done for the year… Which means Denver is down to RB Tatum Bell.

9. After allowing RB Tashard Choice to roll up some yards, the Steelers clamped down at the end of the game and showed why they are the NFL’s best defense. But can they win it all without more help from the offense?

10. I really thought the Lions might pull out the W. But they found a way to lose to the Vikings, who were without starter QB Gus Frerotte for the second half.