Play Action - Week 16

As mentioned in Thursday's Play Action, only "Start" recommendations are being made this week, since it is likely your league's Championship week.


Hopefully you bring home the title and then continue the celebration with a great Christmas, or at least a Festivus for the rest of us.

Let's get to it.

Cowboys @ Panthers

START: Tony Romo (check), Marion Barber, Terrell Owens, Jason Witten, Cowboy Defense

Yes, The Romosexual carries some risk here, but word is that he's looked fine in practice. MB3 has only totaled 14 carries the past 2 weeks, but my gut tells me he gets a bigger workload this week as the Cowboys look to protect Romo a bit. Jason Witten has been on fire lately and TO is always a big play threat, especially against the constantly changing Panther D.

Avoid any and all Panther players.

Texans @ Colts - Dome

START: Andre Johnson, Peyton Manning, Joseph Addai, Reggie Wayne

Andre Johnson has scored a TD in all but one game that he's started this season, the guy is a beast. The rest of the Texans carry too many questions with them, especially game-time decision Ron Dayne.

The Colts allegedly are not ready to rest players, and this game won't be a cakewalk anyway. Therefore, keep your usual threesome out there.

Packers @ Bears

START: Brett Favre, Ryan Grant, Greg Jennings, Packer Defense

The Pack is suddenly alive and kicking for the #1 overall seed, so expect them to be gunning it as usual while keeping a close eye on the Cowboys. Ryan Grant continues to be the single greatest NFL player to ever throw on a pair of cleats and Greg Jennings continues to be an end zone bloodhound. Donald Lee is worthy of a start if Bubba Franks end up inactive.

The Bears...well, the Bears aren't good. Avoid 'em.


Browns @ Bengals

START: Derek Anderson, Jamal Lewis, Braylon Edwards, Kellen Winslow, Carson Palmer, Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh

Remember Week 2 between these 2 teams? Total Fantasy gold. Don't expect a repeat, but with the complete lack of defense on either side, there should still be plenty of points to go around. Word is that it may be rainy and windy.

Derek Anderson has slowed down the past few weeks. In Week 15, that was due to the blizzard that they were playing in. Going in the rain and wind this week, he should still have a nice game against the awful pass defense. Jamal Lewis is partying like it's 2003.

The Bengals can't run the ball, so look for Palmer to be slinging it as usual. He's been a disappointment this season, but it's tough to disappoint passing against the Brownies. Look for busy days out of CJ and Housh.

Raiders @ Jaguars

START: Fred Taylor, Jaguar Defense

Justin Fargas is on IR, therefore, the only decent thing about the Raiders is the picture that lead into this article. Avoid them all like the plague.

Fred Taylor, much like the previously discusses Jamal Lewis, is partying like it's 2003. He should continue to party hard against the feeble Raider rush D and rack up his fifth straight 100 yard game. You've got to start the Jag D, the Raiders no longer have any offensive threats at all.

Giants @ Bills

START: Brandon Jacobs, Plaxico Burress (check), Marshawn Lynch

With the Patriots looming on the schedule, this is a must-win for the Giants, who are striving to become history's worst 10 win team. The Bills still stink on defense, so expect nice output from Jacobs and the always "questionable" Plax.

Look for the Bills to continue feeding Lynch the ball. Just hope that he finds the end zone this week.

Chiefs @ Lions - Dome

START: Tony Gonzalez, Kevin Jones

Something's gotta give. 13 consecutive losses combined.
Start Gonzo, the Lions suck against the pass, and most other forms of offense, but nobody else on the Chiefs is reliable enough at this critical time.

My gut tells me that Kevin Jones cashes in one of his famous quality starts that come along every few weeks and get surrounded by stinkers. Of course, Mike Martz is known to panic if he gets down by a field goal and completely abandon the running game, so proceed cautiously.

Eagles @ Saints - Dome

START: Brian Westbrook (check), Drew Brees, Aaron Stecker (check Reggie Bush), Marques Colston


No player in the league piles up high yardage totals consistently quite like Brian Westbrook. Obviously he needs to start here, just check on Sunday to make sure he's active. It'd be a big surprise if he wasn't.

Allegedly Reggie Bush is a game-time decision. He'll likely be inactive, which should set up Stecker for another big day. If Bush is active somehow, bench him. Brees and Colston are back to their 2006 form, so keep them active as well.

4:00pm EST Games

Buccaneers @ 49ers

START: Earnest Graham, Buc Defense

The Bucs are still playing for a #3 seed, so they'll only rest players if they get out to a huge lead, which is a real possibility here. Still, if they do get out to that huge lead, it will largely be because of Graham. Also start the Buc D since the 49ers offense is craptacular.

Keep your craptacular 49ers benched.

Falcons @ Cardinals

START: Roddy White, Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald (check), Anquan Boldin (check)

Roddy White piled up 4 entire yards in Week 15, but that was against the fierce Bucs pass D. The Falcons, well, they're not good. He carries some obvious risks, but he should be in store for a nice game.

The Cardinal WRs are beat up. Anquan Boldin is the more likely one to be hindered, but that didn't slow him down too much in Week 15. If they're active, start em, but be sure to have alternatives since they play late.

Jets @ Titans

START: Titan Defense

Start the Titan Defense.
Move along, nothing to see here.

Ravens @ Seahawks

START: Willis McGahee, Matt Hasselbeck, Deion Branch, Bobby Engram, Seahawk Defense

Other than McGahee, the Ravens have absolutely nothing. This is a team that lost to the Dolphins last week. Ahhhhh hahahahahaha.

Looks for the Seahawks to exploit the banged and bruised Raven secondary.

Dolphins @ Patriots

START: Tom Brady, Laurence Maroney, Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Patriot Defense

The Dolphins beat the Ravens for their first win in Week 15. Congrats, here's your reward, good luck.

On paper, this is the season's biggest mismatch. Expect the Patriots to build a big early lead and then, once Brady has sufficiently padded his stats, look for them to run the ball. Trot out your usual Patsies for the carnival of points.

Sunday Night Football

Redskins @ Vikings - Dome

START: Chris Cooley, Adrian Peterson

This is essentially a playoff game. If the Skins lose, they're out. If the Vikings lose, they drop behind the Redskins in playoff standings and will no longer control their own destiny. So, expect a spirited game.

The Vikings are rock solid against the run, so hopefully you have better options than Clinton Portis. Cooley is an every week TE, even with the immortal Todd Collins.

Purple Jesus rebounded nicely from his Week 14 3-yard performance against the Bears in Week 15. He faces a tough test here, but the guy is too much of a freak to bench, plus he appears to be back in the featured role.

Monday Night Football

Broncos @ Chargers

START: Brandon Marshall, LaDainian Tomlinson, Antonio Gates

The season's final Monday Night showdown.
Brandon Marshall has been on fire lately, there's no reason for him to stop now. The rest of the Broncos aren't of any particular interest.

LT had a monster half in Week 15 against the Lions and was then rested in the second half. Obviously you start him, and pray that the Broncos can keep the game somewhat close. Antonio Gates really hasn't been himself lately, but the Broncos struggle mightily against TEs...keep him active.

Check back on Sunday for the Major Game Day Inactives.