The NFL drama is definitely heating up as playoff teams are locking up their first round byes and vying for home field advantage, meanwhile the wildcard scenarios continue to make things more and more interesting as some very good teams will be left out this year it appears. The Cowboys have the tough task of having to beat the Ravens this week and then the Eagles next week (after just defeating the #1 seed Giants last week). The Romo-Witten-TO love triangle is making it even more interesting and I deeply hope they pull out the wildcard as then we can throw Jessica Simpson into the mix again and truly make it a drama on and off the field. The Eagles also have a tough task of eliminating the Skins and beating the Cowboys and then hoping the Falcons or Bucs fail. The Bucs will play the Chargers and Raiders, the Falcons still will face the Vikes and the Rams.
Probably the most exciting game this week however will be the Panthers V. Giants Sunday Night as the winner will have home field throughout the playoffs on top of their first round bye. As much as I hate to say it I am done going against the Giants and am taking the chalk this Sunday Night (-3) as I think they lock in their bid at home in an exciting game against the Panthers. I also like the Jags (+6) against the Colts this Thursday night and I like the Ravens (+4) on Saturday against the Cowboys. I don’t think either team wins but I do think they cover as I expect close games in all three.
In the AFC things are a little more solidified but we do have the Steelers and Titans facing each other as the #1 seed in the AFC is still up in the air. We also have the Pats, Jets, & Fins all tied to win their division and get a home game on Wildcard Weekend. The Broncos, despite their lackluster record, is very close to knocking out the Chargers for good as they need to win or tie or need the Chargers to lose or tie in the next two weeks. The Colts and Ravens look pretty solid in the last two wildcard slots but will have to watch for AFC East losers as they hope to land a wildcard slot as a consolation prize to losing their division. Definitely many great games and scenarios to follow as most of our fantasy teams are finished. I have one team left going for the championship this year and am riding on the backs of Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Turner this week. I also have a 3rd place game that’s worth a decent amount of prize winnings so I have 2 fantasy teams active this week even though only one is still capable of bringing home the trophy.
Quarterback Rankings Week 16
1. Drew Brees At Detroit Lions
2. Peyton Manning At Jacksonville Jaguars
3. Kurt Warner At New England Patriots
4. Jay Cutler Vs. Buffalo Bills
5. Donovan McNabb At Washington Redskins
6. Matt Cassel Vs. Arizona Cardinals
7. Matt Schaub At Oakland Raiders
8. Philip Rivers At Tampa Bay Buccaneers
9. Aaron Rodgers At Chicago Bears
10. Tony Romo Vs. Baltimore Ravens
11. Tyler Thigpen Vs. Miami Dolphins
12. Ben Roethlisberger At Tennessee Titans
Running Back Rankings Week 16
1. Adrian Peterson Vs. Atlanta Falcons
2. Brian Westbrook At Washington Redskins
3. Marshawn Lynch At Denver Broncos
4. Steve Slaton At Oakland Raiders
5. Matt Forte Vs. Green Bay Packers
6. Pierre Thomas At Detroit Lions
7. Thomas Jones At Seattle Seahawks
8. Maurice Jones Drew Vs. Indianapolis Colts
9. DeAngelo Williams At New York Giants
10. Steven Jackson Vs. San Francisco 49ers
11. Michael Turner At Minnesota Vikings
12. Ryan Grant At Chicago Bears
13. Ladanian Tomlinson At Tampa Bay Buccaneers
14. Brandon Jacobs Vs. Carolina Panthers
15. Kevin Smith Vs. New Orleans Saints
16. Sammy Morris Vs. Arizona Cardinals
17. Deshaun Foster At St. Louis Rams
18. Clinton Portis Vs. Philadelphia Eagles
19. Chris Johnson Vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
20. Willie Parker At Tennessee Titans
21. Ronnie Brown At Kansas City Chiefs
22. Cedric Benson At Cleveland Browns
23. Larry Johnson Vs. Miami Dolphins
24. Joseph Addai At Jacksonville Jaguars (questionable to play)
25. Tashard Choice Vs. Baltimore Ravens
Wide Receiver Rankings Week 16
1. Andre Johnson At Oakland Raiders
2. Calvin Johnson Vs. New Orleans Saints
3. Larry Fitzgerald At New England Patriots
4. Roddy White At Minnesota Vikings
5. Anquan Boldin At New England Patriots
6. Randy Moss Vs. Arizona Cardinals
7. Antonio Bryant Vs. San Diego Chargers
8. Brandon Marshall Vs. Buffalo Bills
9. Marques Colston At Detroit Lions
10. Steve Smith At New York Giants
11. Dwayne Bowe Vs. Miami Dolphins
12. Reggie Wayne At Jacksonville Jaguars
13. Wes Welker Vs. Arizona Cardinals
14. Bernard Berrian Vs. Atlanta Falcons
15. Santonio Holmes At Tennessee Titans
16. Terrell Owens Vs. Baltimore Ravens
17. Lance Moore At Detroit Lions
18. Hines Ward At Tennessee Titans
19. Donald Driver At Chicago Bears
20. Kevin Walter At Oakland Raiders
21. Vincent Jackson At Tampa Bay Buccaneers
22. Steve Breaston At New England Patriots
23. Eddie Royal Vs. Buffalo Bills
24. DeSean “Premature Celebration” Jackson At Washington Redskins
25. TJ Houshmandzedah/Chad “Ocho Cinco” Johnson At Cleveland Browns
Tight End Rankings Week 16
1. Tony Gonzalez Vs. Miami Dolphins
2. Dallas Clark At Jacksonville Jaguars
3. Antonio Gates At Tampa Bay Buccaneers
4. Owen Daniels At Oakland Raiders
5. Jason Witten Vs. Baltimore Ravens
6. John Carlson Vs. New York Jets
7. Chris Cooley Vs. Philadelphia Eagles
8. Jeremy Shockey At Detroit Lions
9. Tony Scheffler Vs. Buffalo Bills
10. Greg Olsen Vs. Green Bay Packers
11. Vernon Davis At St. Louis Rams
12. Kevin Boss Vs. Carolina Panthers
Defense/Special Teams Week 16
1. Pittsburgh Steelers At Tennessee Titans
2. Philadelphia Eagles At Washington Redskins
3. Dallas Cowboys Vs. Baltimore Ravens
4. New York Giants Vs. Carolina Panthers
5. Baltimore Ravens At Dallas Cowboys
6. New York Jets At Seattle Seahawks
7. Minnesota Vikings Vs. Atlanta Falcons
8. Tennessee Titans Vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
9. New England Patriots Vs. Arizona Cardinals
10. Chicago Bears Vs. Green Bay Packers
11. Carolina Panthers At New York Giants
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Vs. San Diego Chargers