Fantasy Fantasy Football

Perhaps the most interesting individual matchup in Sunday's Patriots-Raiders game will be New England wide receiver Randy Moss taking on Oakland cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. In theory, anyway. Asomugha has quietly -- because he plays for Oakland -- become one of the league's best corners, while Moss continues to be, well, Randy Moss. Granted, he's not going to haul in 20+ touchdowns this season, but he's still a force to be reckoned with in the passing game.

One would think that since Asomugha is the best in the business at shutting down opposing receivers, and because Moss is still one of the NFL's best big-play threats -- even without Tom Brady -- the Raiders would use their franchise player to shadow Moss everywhere he goes. But, since they're the Raiders, they won't.

Earlier this week, Asomugha told the media in Oakland that he won't be used as a shadow on Moss, and instead, will be chasing around Wes Welker.

File this under: this is why you're 3-10.

It wasn't "shoots self in leg," but it might be just as big a blow for the NFC-leading New York Giants.

Running back Brandon Jacobs, who has rushed for 1,002 yards this season, will not play this Sunday night against the Cowboys because of an injured left knee, says Ralph Vacchiano over at The Blue Screen.

Tom Coughlin made that announcement (earlier today) after Jacobs missed his third straight practice with an injured left knee.

"We just didn't feel like he'd be ready to play," Coughlin said.

Derrick Ward, who is second on the team in rushing and sports an impressive 4.8 yards per carry, will replace Jacobs with Ahmad Bradshaw helping out with the load.

How big is this for the Cowboys' chance of winning? In their first meeting of the season, a 35-14 Giants win, Jacobs carried 17 times for 117 yards and a touchdown. The Cowboys already have a rather stingy rush defense, so missing Jacobs will only give the front line a better chance to disrupt Eli Manning and the passing game.

(H/T PFT)

So, once again, Reggie Bush tweaked his knee and Pierre Thomas took full advantage. He exploded for 25+ points in most leagues, and hopefully you had him active. Moving forward, it's pretty obvious that even though the Saints would like to use Bush more, his knee just isn't totally healthy yet. In the meantime, they are finding Thomas can be an every down back in this league.

That's not all we have to discuss today, not in the least. We'll be piggy-backing the NFL FanHouse 1:00 chat and kick off right when it ends -- because we know that you definitely don't want to do any work after lunch on a Friday. No way, not with the fantasy playoff season in high gear and the NFL playoff picture remaining completely out of focus.

Make sure to check out our player rankings and other analysis lower down on the Fantasy FanHouse page, and we'll help fill in any gaps or answer any questions about our top-notch analysis you may have.

It's playoff time! FanHouse fantasy positional rankings are compiled in order to provide answers to lineup questions. These are assuming most leagues use Fleaflicker's standard scoring structure. If you need clarification, you need more players ranked, or have funky league rules, feel free to shoot us an email question.

The Detroit Lions are so sad at this point it's almost not even funny. Still, in fantasy football you can't let emotions get in the way -- plus, I did say it was "almost" not funny. Either way, the Lions allow almost 10 fantasy points per game to opposing kickers.

Enter Adam Vinatieri, whose Colts get the pleasure of facing the Lions at home this weekend. The only fear is that the Lions give up only touchdowns and no field goals, but the defense showed enough fire against the Vikings for me to believe they can hold the Colts to a field goal twice. That's all Vinatieri needs to reach double-digits.

More notes after the rankings.

1. Adam Vinatieri, vs. DET
2. Rob Bironas, at HOU
3. John Carney, at DAL
4. Stephen Gostkowski, at OAK
5. Nate Kaeding, at KC

It's playoff time! FanHouse fantasy positional rankings are compiled in order to provide answers to lineup questions. These are assuming most leagues use Fleaflicker's standard scoring structure. If you need clarification, you need more players ranked, or have funky league rules, feel free to shoot us an email question.

For two straight weeks we've given you the Colts as a D/ST to watch, and they have not disappointed. Their monster day in Cleveland, where they carried the team to a victory -- and likely your fantasy team -- was outdone last week at home against the Bengals. Five sacks, three picks, a fumble recovery, and a touchdown were accompanied by only three points allowed.

If it's possible, the Colts' opponent this week is even worse offensively. The Detroit Lions were already really bad, but now it looks like neither Daunte Culpepper nor Dan Orlovsky are going to be healthy enough to play. That means Drew Henson is taking snaps. He's attempted 20 passes in his illustrious career, and only two since 2004.

The collective chops -- as they say -- are being licked by the Colts' fantasy owners. Again.

More notes after the rankings.

1. Colts, vs. DET
2. Eagles, vs. CLE
3. Steelers, at BAL
4. Ravens, vs. PIT
5. Jets, vs. BUF

It's playoff time! FanHouse fantasy positional rankings are compiled in order to provide answers to lineup questions. These are assuming most leagues use Fleaflicker's standard scoring structure. If you need clarification, you need more players ranked, or have funky league rules, feel free to shoot us an email question.

Not much shakeup at the top, except for one surprise. Yes, it's time to bump Antonio Gates down just a peg. Let's face it, anytime your star tight end puts up a goose egg as he did against Oakland in a critical game, something must give.

The great Tony Gonzalez continues to ride out the hot streak, and he just loves playing the Chargers. Look for Jason Witten and Tony Romo to get back on the same page this weekend after they both took blame for the collapse in Pittsburgh last week.

Climbing up the tight end ladder this week is an old familiar face in Jeremy Shockey. Let me explain. Since he took the scolding from Drew Brees on the sideline against Atlanta, here are his averages in the past four games; five receptions per game and 53 yards per game. Yup, he hasn't scored a TD yet this season, but it could be coming Thursday night against Chicago.

Welcome back to earth Dustin Keller. You can thank your QB for the slippage this week. And now let's tap into the rest of the rankings.

1. Tony Gonzalez, SD
2. Jason Witten, NYG
3. Chris Cooley, @ CIN
4. Dallas Clark, DET
5. Tony Scheffler, @ CAR

It's playoff time! FanHouse fantasy positional rankings are compiled in order to provide answers to lineup questions. These are assuming most leagues use Fleaflicker's standard scoring structure. If you need clarification, you need more players ranked, or have funky league rules, feel free to shoot us an email question.

Diving right into this week's all-too-important receiver rankings, the clear choice was to keep Larry Fitzgerald on top. Yup, he has a history of sealing fantasy titles in the crucial weeks of the season. And this week he gets to go against a subpar Vikings pass defense that can be exploited.

This is it for Reggie Wayne. His owners (like myself) are at wits end, but we'll all rest easy as he's in line for a huge day against the laughingstock of the NFL Lions. Patience will once again pay off for all those who stuck with the Colts' struggling offense in the early part of the season, as I fully expect Peyton Manning to also reward Wayne's buddies Marvin Harrison and Anthony Gonzalez.

Not much shakeup in the Top 10, but there is one thing to note before you dismiss Terrell Owens this weekend. Since joining the Cowboys, in five games against the Giants he has 430 receiving yards and six TDs. So, you get my drift ... he's a "must" start. Lastly, you'll notice the Jets receivers plummeting in these rankings. Well, there's a reason, and that it is they both have been terrible lately. Seriously, you should find other options.

And now with the rest of the ranks.

1. Larry Fitzgerald, MIN
2. Steve Smith, DEN
3. Reggie Wayne, DET
4. Anquan Boldin, MIN
5. Brandon Marshall, @ CAR

It's playoff time! FanHouse fantasy positional rankings are compiled in order to provide answers to lineup questions. These are assuming most leagues use Fleaflicker's standard scoring structure. If you need clarification, you need more players ranked, or have funky league rules, feel free to shoot us an email question.

I can't say I ever thought we'd see this day.

Look at all the stud running backs, or even the quality running backs who don't split carries. Heading into this season, would anyone have ever thought the top running back in a week of the fantasy football playoffs was DeAngelo Williams? The same Williams who many thought would lose his job completely to Jonathan Stewart by now, or at least be splitting carries with him -- which he still kind of is.

He's just emerged as too much of a stud. The strength of the run defense doesn't matter, DeAngelo shredded the Tampa Bay Bucs, and he made it look easy.

The Denver Broncos have a terrible defense, and the Panthers are especially tough running the ball at home. There is not one player I'd start over Williams this week. Not a single one.

More notes after the rankings.

1. DeAngelo Williams, vs. DEN
2. Adrian Peterson, at ARI
3. Brian Westbrook, vs. CLE
4. Matt Forte, vs. NO
5. Chris Johnson, at HOU

It's playoff time! FanHouse fantasy positional rankings are compiled in order to provide answers to lineup questions. These are assuming most leagues use Fleaflicker's standard scoring structure. If you need clarification, you need more players ranked, or have funky league rules, feel free to shoot us an email question.

The Minnesota Vikings will still have the Williams boys on Sunday, in all likelihood, so the Cardinals won't be running much against the league's second-best run defense. No matter, Kurt Warner's plenty equipped to throw all over them.

The Vikings have allowed 300-plus yards passing to Peyton Manning and Drew Brees. Kyle Orton had his way with them when they visited Chicago, and the Texans torched them for 363 passing yards.

When Warner and the Cardinals play at home, they have some fun lighting up the scoreboard, and I expect this week to be no different.

More notes after the rankings.

1. Kurt Warner, vs. MIN
2. Peyton Manning, vs. DET
3. Drew Brees, at CHI
4. Philip Rivers, at KC
5. Aaron Rodgers, at JAX

Et tu, Brute?

It's one of the most famous phrases in the history of literature, and it's appropriate in this fantasy football playoff season.

Much like Brutus was a loyal friend to Caesar, helping him all way the to the top, he conspired to stab his former-friend in the back when it mattered most (kind of, just stick with me).

In fantasy football, you've likely had the pleasure of riding some studs to the playoffs. Some of them are primed to pull a Brutus on you and handcuff your team in the playoffs.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Brutus Boys:

Brandon Jacobs, Giants - My fantasy football affection for Jacobs hasn't been a secret, but ever since he tweaked his knee he's been unreliable. The Giants could easily hold him out of the rest of the regular season, as they'll easily walk to the top overall playoff seed.

Marion Barber, Cowboys - He hurt his calf favoring his injured toe. All of a sudden Tashard Choice is coveted in fantasy circles. Even if Barber plays, he won't be 100 percent -- which is really bad in light of his punishing run-style -- and faces the stout Giants and Ravens defenses.