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Rushing Game Matchups??? Here's how I see the matchups this week.? Please= =20 note, see the cheatsheet online http://www.cheatsheets.net/week12sheet.htm= ? for exactly where I rank players and to determine who to start.? Just =20 because one matchup may be more favorable than another, that doesn't=20 necessarily mean I'd start the player with the best matchup.? The matchup= =20 info is meant to be just one more tool in your box when it comes to decidi= ng=20 between players.??=20 ? Locks:? These games heavily favor the Offense Tennessee=01,s Eddie George vs Brown Defense?? Assuming Eddie George can g= et=20 his injured toe healthy (and I think he can) he could have a monster game= =20 against a Brown Defense that=01,s been terrible against the rush.? For the= =20 year, they rank # 26 in Fantasy Points allowed to the opposing RB and they= =20 rank # 27 in rushing yards allowed per game over the last four weeks.? Th= e=20 Titans will likely be fired up after a stinging loss at home to the Ravens= =20 and I expect George to take out some frustrations on the Browns. Miami=01,s Lamar Smith vs Jets Defense?? You=01,ll have to look awfully ha= rd to=20 find a hotter RB than Lamar Smith.? In their week?8 matchup, he ran for 2= =20 TDs and 155 yards.? At the time, it seemed like a fluke but Smith has=20 maintained almost that pace since then.? Jay Fiedler and the passing game= =20 provide just enough threat to keep the defenses semi honest and Smith does= =20 the rest.? Over the last four weeks, the Jets rank # 26 in rushing yards= =20 allowed per game. New York Giant=01,s Ron Dayne / Tiki Barber vs Lion Defense?? As you know = by=20 now, the Giants running game is governed by how close they keep the game.?= =20 Coach Jim Fassell abandons the ground game (especially Ron Dayne=01,s role= )=20 when the Giants start to trail.? Against a less than explosive Lions team,= =20 the Giants ought to be able to keep this very close if not lead most of th= e=20 way.? Detroit=01,s been weak defending the run over the last four weeks wh= ere=20 they rank # 25 in rushing yards allowed per game.? =20 Indianapolis=01, Edgerrin James vs Packer Defense?? Green Bay=01,s allowin= g 135=20 yards rushing per game over the last four week which ranks them # 22.? Jam= es=20 should continue to roll this week against a Packer Defense that=01,s missi= ng LB=20 Brian Williams who=01,s out with a knee injury.? DE Vonnie Holiday may be = =20 limited but he looks like he=01,ll play and that=01,s some concern but I st= ill=20 look for James to romp. Baltimore=01,s Jamal Lewis vs Cowboy Defense?? The Cowboys gave up their 2= 00=20 yard rushing days to quick slasher RBs Charlie Garner and Duce Staley but = I=01, m guessing power running Jamal Lewis (who=01,s almost as quick as those gu= ys)=20 will be a great play against Dallas.? For the season, Dallas ranks # 28 i= n=20 Fantasy Points allowed to the opposing RB.? Look for him to catch the ball= =20 out of the backfield as well. ? Prime Matchups:? These games favor the Offense? San Diego=01,s Terrell Fletcher / Jermaine Fazande vs Bronco Defense?? Ov= er=20 the last four week, Denver ranks # 31 in rushing yards allowed per game.??= =20 This game smells a lot like the Denver / Bengal game to me.? Winless team= =20 comes into town with a big power back and nothing to lose.? We all rememb= er=20 Corey Dillon=01,s record setting day and many remember Jermaine Fazande=01= ,s big=20 day rushing in the last game of 1999 against the Broncos.? Terrell Fletcher= =20 is working his way into the mix and that=01,s really muddying the waters.?= Keep=20 an eye on this one and if it looks like one of these guys will garner the= =20 bulk of the carries, he could be worth a flyer.? =20 Philadelphia=01,s Stanley Pritchett / Darnell Autry vs Cardinal Defense? T= he=20 Arizona defense remains pretty weak against the rush.? They rank # 29 in= =20 rushing yards allowed per game over the last four weeks.? For the year, th= ey=20 rank # 31 in Fantasy Points allowed to the opposing RB.? The trick is=20 determining which Eagle RB will get the carries.? I like Pritchett becaus= e=20 he=01,s bigger and can bull doze his way through the Cards.? I=01,ve been d= own on=20 Autry as I believe you=01,re supposed to have the acting career?after the= =20 football career, not the other way around=01(? Arizona=01,s Michael Pittman vs Eagle Defense?? Watch this one closely as= =20 Pittman is struggling to get healthy with bruised ribs.? If he can go, I= =20 like the matchup this week.? Philadelphia ranks # 30 in rushing yards=20 allowed per game over the last four weeks.? They=01,re stronger over the ye= ar=20 where they rank # 18 in Fantasy Points allowed to the opposing RB.? Thoma= s=20 Jones is in worse shape with pneumonia so Pittman has incentive to get out= =20 there.? Buffalo=01,s Sammy Morris / Shawn Bryson vs Chief Defense?? Morris battli= ng a=20 bad ankle and looks to be a game time decision.? Bryson is plenty capable i= f=20 he can=01,t go.? The Chiefs are an attractive matchup as they rank # 28 i= n=20 rushing yards allowed per game over the last four weeks.? They rank # 27 i= n=20 Fantasy Points allowed to the opposing RB for the year.? Watch this one= =20 closely to see if the Bills offer hints to who=01,ll they=01,ll go with.? Green Bay=01,s Ahman Green vs Colt Defense?? With Dorsey Levens out again,= =20 Green will be asked to carry the load? The Colts are vulnerable to the rus= h=20 ranking # 24 in rushing yards allowed per game over the last four weeks.? = If=20 Brett Favre can play, that=01,ll be a nice boost for Green as the defense = won=01,t=20 be able to key on stopping the ground game.? Cincinnati=01,s Corey Dillon vs Patriot Defense?? How much would you rely = on=20 Scot Mitchell if you were Dick LeBeau?? Me neither.? Whether it=01,s Aki= li=20 Smith or Scott Mitchell under center, it=01,s still the Corey Dillon Show.= ? New=20 England has shown itself to vulnerable against the rush ranking # 23 in=20 rushing yards allowed per game over the last four weeks.? Dillon knows he= =20 needs to carry the team and he=01,ll do his best.? His success will depen= d on=20 how effect Mitchell can be in drawing the defense=01,s attention toward th= e=20 passing game. ?? Even Matchups:? These games feature no real advantage either way San Francisco=01,s Charlie Garner vs Falcon Defense?? Charlie Garner =20 continues his great season against a Falcon team that=01,s playing better r= ush =20 defense than it had been.? For the year, Atlanta ranks # 30 in Fantasy=20 Points allowed to the opposing RB but over the last four weeks, they rate = #=20 19 in rushing yards allowed per game.? If they=01,re without WR Terrell Owe= ns =20 again, Garner will be asked to carry a little more of the load, something h= e=01, s gladly done all year. Pittsburgh=01,s Jerome Bettis vs Jaguar Defense?? With the WR shuffling go= ing=20 on in Pittsburgh, I think Bettis is really the only Steeler worthy of=20 starting in most leagues.? He=01,s a solid performer though that should h= ave=20 another good day grinding the ball out.? Jacksonville ranks # 18 over the= =20 last four weeks in rushing yards allowed per game.? For the year, they ran= k=20 # 20 in Fantasy Points allowed to the opposing RB.? It=01,ll be power foo= tball=20 as the Steeler just line up and try to run over the Jaguars.? New England=01,s J.R. Redmond / Kevin Faulk vs Bengal Defense?? The Bengal= s are=20 tough to predict.? For the last four weeks, they rank # 17 in rushing yar= ds=20 allowed per game and for the year they come in at # 14 in Fantasy Points= =20 allowed to the opposing RB.? But they absolutely shut down RB Emmitt Smith= =20 last week.? I look for Redmond and Faulk to have moderate success against= =20 this improving unit.? Redmond is questionable with ribs so keep an eye on= =20 this one.? Chicago=01,s James Allen vs Buccaneer Defense?? As with the pass defense,= =20 Tampa Bay is good but not quite as dominant as their reputation.? For the= =20 last four weeks, they rank # 16 in rushing yards allowed per game allowing= =20 106 per game.? For the year, they rate # 9 in Fantasy Points allowed to th= e=20 opposing RBs so it=01,s not like they=01,re invincible.? With Shane Matthew= s behind=20 center and scaring no one though, it could be a long day.? Washington=01,s Stephen Davis vs Ram Defense?? As is so often the case, th= e =20 Redskins could be forced to abandon their running game if the Rams jump out= =20 early.? Washington would dearly love to establish Stephen Davis on the=20 ground but they may not be able to if they=01,re forced to play catchup.? = The=20 Rams rate # 15 over the last four weeks in rushing yards allowed per game.= ?=20 For the year, they check in at # 23 in Fantasy Points allowed to the=20 opposing RB.? Even with Bud Carson helping coach the defense, they can be= =20 run upon.? Atlanta=01,s Jamal Anderson vs 49er Defense?? Jamal Anderson continues to = make =20 solid improvement and he seems close to his 1998 form to me.? He=01,ll face= a=20 49er Defense that can definitely be run on.? Over the last four weeks, th= ey=20 rate # 14 in rushing yards allowed per game but for the year, they rank # = 29=20 in Fantasy Points allowed to the opposing RB.? Not unlike the situation wit= h =20 Washington, the running back=01,s success largely hinges on the ability of = the =20 defense to hang tough.? Anderson can be taken out of the game if the Falco= ns=20 can=01,t hold Jeff Garcia and company down in the passing game.??? Minnesota=01,s Robert Smith vs Panther Defense? I=01,ve said for years I= =01,d love to=20 see Robert Smith play a full season and now we=01,re seeing that could loo= k=20 like.? He=01,s having a great year and I think he=01,ll continue to have s= uccess=20 against Carolina.? They=01,ve been pretty strong lately against the rush= =20 ranking # 11 in rushing yards allowed per game over the last four weeks bu= t=20 for the year, they rank # 24 in Fantasy Points allowed to the opposing RB.= ?=20 If the Vikings can control Carolina=01,s Steve Beuerlein (no small feat), = it=01,ll=20 help Smith=01,s chances immensely. ?? Downside Matchups:? These games favor the Defense Jacksonville=01,s Fred Taylor vs Steeler Defense?? Fred Taylor is beginnin= g to=20 work his way out most Fantasy GM=01,s dog house as he continues to be a br= ight=20 spot on a team without many bright spots.? He=01,s been running hard but = this=20 will be a real gut check for him as he squares off against a very tough=20 Steeler rush defense that=01,s only allowed 2 TDs over the last four games= .? =20 Pittsburgh ranks # 3 for the year in Fantasy Points allowed to the opposin= g=20 RB and Taylor will have his hands full. Carolina=01,s Tshimanga Biakubutuka vs Viking Defense?? Biakabutuka remain= s=20 very questionable with a bad toe and the Panthers don=01,t sound very=20 optimistic about him playing Sunday.? Keep an eye on it as he was able to= =20 play through the pain last week.? Although it seems to be worse this week = =20 than last.? If he can=01,t go, you=01,ll see undrafted rookie FB Brad Hoov= er get=20 the start.? Don=01,t ask me how that happens.? Minnesota is decent against = the=20 run ranking # 12 over the last four games in rushing yards allowed per gam= e=20 and # 17 for the year in Fantasy Points allowed to the opposing RB. Tampa Bay=01,s Warrick Dunn / Mike Alstott vs Bear Defense?? Most people= =20 including myself thought new offensive coordinator Les Steckel would invol= ve=20 Mike Alstott more in Frank Wycheck type roles.? Hasn=01,t happened yet bu= t it=01, ll be interesting to see if they start getting the big guy the balls in=20 creative ways.? I=01,m sure his fumbling problems are still a huge concern= but=20 of course that=01,s not something a guy like Tony Dungy talks very publicl= y=20 about.? The Bears are decent against the run ranking # 9 over the last fou= r=20 weeks in rushing yards allowed per game but for the year, they check in at= #=20 21 in Fantasy Points allowed to the opposing RB.? =20 Denver=01,s Terrell Davis vs Charger Defense?? Davis scared everyone this= week=20 when it was reported he had a problem with his calf.? He says it=01,s =20 overblown and was calling it just =01&tightness=018 below the knee. ?He=01,= ll need to=20 be as healthy as possible this week as the Chargers have been playing stro= ng=20 rush defense of late ranking # 2 in rushing yards allowed per game over t= he=20 last four weeks.? For the year, they=01,re still ranked # 15 in Fantasy Po= ints =20 allowed to the opposing RB reflecting some of their earlier struggles.? Th= e=20 Broncos desperately need Davis to shoulder the load with Brian Griese out= =20 and it=01,ll be interesting to see how he responds.? It=01,s a tough matc= hup, but=20 I bet he does well. St. Louis=01, Justin Watson vs Redskin Defense?? The good news for Watson = is=20 that he doesn=01,t have to worry about Trung Canidate.? The bad news is Ro= bert=20 Holcomb saw a good bit of work at tailback this week and Marshall Faulk is= =20 even making noise about playing Monday.? Faulk did practice some Thursday= =20 but coach Mike Martz still remains pessimistic about him seeing much actio= n=20 this week.? Keep an eye on it as I=01,m sure it=01,ll be a top story but r= ight=20 now, he doesn=01,t look to be a big factor.? The Redskin rush defense is = solid=20 ranking # 8 over the last four weeks in rushing yards allowed per game and= #=20 6 for the year in Fantasy Points allowed to the opposing RB. ?? Defensive Slam Dunks:? These games heavily favor the Defense? Cleveland=01,s Travis Prentice / Jamel White vs Titan Defense? ?The Brown= s=20 catch Tennessee at an awful time as the Titans are coming off a frustratin= g=20 loss at home to Baltimore and will likely be looking to vent some=20 frustrations this week.? Cleveland looks to bear the brunt of that=20 situation.? Prentice and White have been unexceptional lately and I don=01= ,t=20 see them improving against a tough Titan Defense.? Over the last four =20 weeks, Tennessee ranks # 7 in rushing yards allowed per game.? They also ra= nk=20 # 7 for the year in Fantasy Points allowed to the opposing RB.? These guy= s=20 may do in a pinch on other weeks but I don=01,t see it this Sunday.? Detroit=01,s James Stewart vs Giant Defense?? Stewart is still a starter i= n=20 many leagues but I don=01,t like his matchup here.? (Although you can=01,= t=20 discount the time he ran wild on Tampa Bay with an awful matchup too)? The= =20 Giants rank # 1 for the year in Fantasy Points allowed to the opposing RB.= ?=20 For the last four weeks, they rank # 6 in rushing yards allowed per game.?= =20 That=01,s strong.? Having a healthy Jason Sehorn back will help the entire= =20 defense as it allows more safety help to commit to the run.? Oakland=01,s Napoleon Kaufman vs Saints Defense?? Keep an eye on it, but a= t=20 this point Tyrone Wheatley is looking very questionable with not one but t= wo=20 bad ankle sprains.? His most recent sprain is thought to be worse than th= e=20 first sprain on the other ankle that was limiting him already.? Kaufman = =20 struggles a bit as the sole RB and Saints are RB Killers.? For the year, th= ey=20 rank # 4 in Fantasy Points allowed to the opposing RB and over the last fo= ur=20 games, they check in at # 5 in rushing yards allowed per game.? One ray o= f=20 hope for Oakland is that DT Norman Hand is questionable with bone chips in= =20 his ankle although they believe he can play even though he hasn=01,t pract= iced=20 this week.? Kansas City=01,s RB committee vs Bills Defense?? By now you probably know= =20 better than to risk starting any RB wearing a Chief uniform.? This week=01= ,s a=20 good week to follow that rule as the Bills are playing excellent rush=20 defense.? They rank # 4 over the last four weeks in rushing yards allowed = =20 per game and the rate # 5 for the year in Fantasy Points allowed to the =20 opposing RB.? I shy away from Chief RBs against any team but especially a= =20 defense this tough.? If you don=01,t have any choice, Kimble Anders will g= et=20 the =01&start=018 but expect to see plenty of Tony Richardson and Frank Mo= reau.?=20 Richardson in particular does a nice job receiving the ball.? Dallas=01, Emmitt Smith vs Raven Defense?? Let=01,s put it this way:? Smit= h was=20 shut down by Cincinnati last week.? And the Ravens are a just a tad bit= =20 better than the Bengals when it comes to run defense.? If anyone can bounce= =20 back, it=01,s Smith but last Sunday was very worrisome.? The Ravens are f= lying=20 high after a huge road win at Tennessee.? He=01,s still a solid RB but Smit= h=20 will have his hands more than full Sunday.? The Ravens rank # 3 in rushin= g=20 yards allowed per game over the last four weeks and for the year they rate= #=20 2 in Fantasy Points allowed to the opposing RB.? New York Jets=01, Curtis Martin vs Dolphin Defense? I don=01,t see a repe= at of=20 the week 8 meltdown from Miami on defense.? Martin will have a tough day=20 ahead of him against the Dolphin defense that ranks # 10 over the last fou= r=20 weeks in rushing yards allowed per game.? Over the season, they rank # 8= =20 in Fantasy Points allowed to the opposing RB.? The Dolphins were hopeful L= B=20 Zach Thomas could return but that=01,s not looking too likely now.? It=01,= ll be=20 even tougher for Martin if he does.? New Orleans Jerald Moore / Chad Morton vs Raider Defense?? New Orleans=20 catches a tough break as the new RBs are forced to make their first start= =20 facing the # 1 rush defense in rushing yards allowed per game over the las= t=20 four weeks.? For the year, they=01,re not quite as tough ranking # 12 in= =20 Fantasy Points allowed to the opposing RB.? It=01,s tough to call right no= w how=20 the carries will be distributed as the Saints are understandably being=20 tight lipped.? I expect Moore to carry most of the load to begin with.? = =20 He=01,s the more physical back and much more like Williams than is Morton = who=20 falls closer to the scat back / 3rd down guy mold.? I can envision somethin= g=20 similar to the rotation New England is using with J.R. Redmond and Kevin= =20 Faulk.? For FF purposes, you=01,d of course like to see one guy take over = but I=20 don=01,t see that now.? The other wild card is newly signed Terry Allen wh= o=20 sounds excited about football again.? We=01,ll see how quickly he can get = =20 comfortable.? =20 ? ? ? ? To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: cheatsheets-unsubscribe@egroups.com
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