Play Action - Week 12

Let's get straight to the analysis.

1:00pm EST Games

Raiders @ Chiefs
Raider Offense - Receiving: 192.1 (28), Rushing: 129.2 (6)
Chief Defense - Receiving: 224.6 (15), Rushing: 104.6 (17)

Chief Offense - Receiving: 223.5 (16), Rushing: 77.5 (32)
Raider Defense - Receiving: 202.4 (5), Rushing: 152.6 (31)

START: Ronald Curry, Tony Gonzalez
CONSIDER: Justin Fargas, Kolby Smith, Chief Defense
BENCH: Daunte Culpepper, Brodie Croyle, Dwayne Bowe

Remember when this used to be an exciting rivalry?
Having Daunte Culpepper in the lineup actually does help Ronald Curry. Keep him active. The Raiders will struggle to score, so if you have more interesting options than Fargas, roll with them.
The Raiders are awful against the rush, the Chiefs are awful at rushing the ball. Something's gotta give. Expect the Chiefs to hand the ball to Kolby Smith early and often.

Saints @ Panthers
Saint Offense - Receiving: 273.7 (6), Rushing: 83.5 (28)
Panther Defense - Receiving: 215.6 (9), Rushing: 112.2 (20)

Panther Offense - Receiving: 194.2 (26), Rushing: 120.2 (13)
Saint Defense - Receiving: 265.5 (28), Rushing: 101.1 (15)

START: Drew Brees, Reggie Bush (check), Marques Colston, Steve Smith
CONSIDER: Nope
BENCH: David Patten, Eric Johnson, Vinny Testaverde, DeShaun Foster, DeAngelo Williams

The Saints have hit the skids once again. Reggie Bush is a game-time decision, be sure to check his status on Sunday. If he starts, he's a solid play against a mediocre Panther rush D.
The Panthers have been on a season-long skid. Steve Smith once again hits the "Start" list, since the Saints can make any WR look good, Smith should look excellent.

Texans @ Browns
Texan Offense - Receiving: 268 (7), Rushing: 92.5 (23)
Brown Defense - Receiving: 281.3 (30), Rushing: 136.8 (28)

Brown Offense - Receiving: 253.9 (10), Rushing: 103.8 (17)
Texan Defense - Receiving: 221.5 (12), Rushing: 116.5 (21)

START: Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson, Owen Daniels, Derek Anderson, Braylon Edwards, Kellen Winslow
CONSIDER: Ron Dayne, Jamal Lewis
BENCH: Ahman Green (out), Kevin Walter

Schaub and Johnson should absolutely carve up the horrid Brown pass D. Look for Owen Daniels to put up his usual respectable receiving yardage, but the guy is positively allergic to the end zone. Ron Dayne is worthy of consideration, but this game is likely a pass-fest.
Now is not the time to start questioning Derek Anderson, leave him, active along with Edwards and Winslow. Jamal Lewis is worthy of consideration, but like I just said, this game will likely be a pass-fest.

Seahawks @ Rams - Dome
Seahawk Offense - Receiving: 264.4 (8), Rushing: 96.2 (21)
Ram Defense - Receiving: 223.5 (14), Rushing: 111.4 (19)

Ram Offense - Receiving: 227 (15), Rushing: 89.2 (24)
Seahawk Defense - Receiving: 240 (23), Rushing: 100.2 (13)

START: Matt Hasselbeck (check), Deion Branch, D.J. Hackett (check), Marc Bulger, Steven Jackson, Torry Holt
CONSIDER: Maurice Morris, Bobby Engram
BENCH: Shaun Alexander (out), Isaac Bruce, Randy McMichael

Matt Hasselbeck and Hackett are expected to be good to go, but definitely check to make sure they're active on Sunday. Word on the street is that Maurice Morris has officially passed Shaun Alexander on the Seahawk depth chart, regardless of health.
The Ram offense has come back to life suddenly, with all of the key components healthy. Start Bulger, S-Jax and Holt. The rest of the Rams are much less interesting.

Redskins @ Buccaneers
Redskin Offense - Receiving: 210.2 (22), Rushing: 125.1 (8)
Buc Defense - Receiving: 191.5 (4), Rushing: 106.8 (18)

Buc Offense - Receiving: 215.9 (19), Rushing: 116.6 (14)
Redskin Defense - Receiving: 237.2 (21), Rushing: 97.1 (9)

START: Clinton Portis, Chris Cooley, Redskin Defense, Earnest Graham, Joey Galloway
CONSIDER: Buc Defense
BENCH: Jason Campbell, Ladell Betts, Santana Moss, Antwaan Randle El, Jeff Garcia, Ike Hilliard, Alex Smith

Expect to see a whole lot of Clinton Portis here against the average Buc rush defense, rather than having Campbell testing the tough pass D. Santana Moss finally showed up, for the first time this season, in Week 11. Don't look for a repeat this week.
Is there a more underappreciated Fantasy player than Joey Galloway? I don't think so. The 'Skins are tough against the run, but Earnest Graham continues to look excellent.

Titans @ Bengals
Titan Offense - Receiving: 184.4 (29), Rushing: 139.1 (4)
Bengal Defense - Receiving: 252.6 (26), Rushing: 126.5 (27)

Bengal Offense - Receiving: 279.3 (3), Rushing: 84.9 (26)
Titan Defense - Receiving: 205.4 (7), Rushing: 86 (5)

START: Vince Young, LenDale White, Carson Palmer, Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Chris Henry
CONSIDER: Titan Defense
BENCH: Chris Brown, Rudi Johnson, Kenny Watson

Break Vince Young out of the mothballs and get him into your starting lineup for this one. Also, give the LenWhale one last shot. If he disappoints for the 3rd straight week, he'll be in a time-share with Chris Brown. If your defensive scoring relies heavily on turnovers, then the Titan D isn't a bad option. They get a bump if Albert Haynesworth can suit up.
The Bengals should be what they are every week, completely pass-happy. Palmer and the WRs are must-starts every week and everyone else on that team should be left on the pine.

Bills @ Jaguars
Bill Offense - Receiving: 179.1 (30), Rushing: 101.9 (19)
Jag Defense - Receiving: 265.7 (29), Rushing: 100.3 (14)

Jag Offense - Receiving: 194.1 (27), Rushing: 140 (3)
Bill Defense - Receiving: 260.6 (27), Rushing: 119.3 (22)

START: Lee Evans, Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguar Defense
CONSIDER: J.P. Losman, David Garrard, Fred Taylor
BENCH: Anthony Thomas

J.P. Losman shouldn't have too much trouble finding Evans against the Jags' feeble pass defense. The rest of the Bills, well, they're just not exciting at all.
Likewise, MJD shouldn't have much difficulty slicing and dicing his way through the all-around weak Bill Defense. Fred Taylor is worthy of consideration for the same reasons, but is much less likely to score. Garrard should be serviceable, but look for the Jags to pound the rock.

Vikings @ Giants
Viking Offense - Receiving: 177.1 (31), Rushing: 177.9 (1)
Giant Defense - Receiving: 237.9 (22), Rushing: 91.3 (7)

Giant Offense - Receiving: 214.3 (20), Rushing: 128 (7)
Viking Defense - Receiving: 304.2 (32), Rushing: 74.8 (1)

START: Eli Manning, Plaxico Burress, Jeremy Shockey, Giant Defense
CONSIDER: Adrian Peterson (check), Chester Taylor (check Peterson), Amani Toomer
BENCH: Tarvaris Jackson, Viking Defense, Brandon Jacobs (out), Derrick Ward (likely out), Reuben Droughns

I would be so shocked if Adrian Peterson starts, that I very well may lose control of my bowels.
Even if he does go, he's likely lose a heavy amount of carries to Chester Taylor. Unlike last week, Taylor faces a big boy defense. If he's the primary back, he deserves some heavy consideration. If he has to share carries, not so much.
The Vikings are pathetic against the pass, so trot out the Giant passing game. Peyton's retarded brother Eli should put up very nice numbers. If Plax is ever going to do anything else this season, this is the week to show it. Reuben Droughns is virtually certain to start, but you don't want anything to do with him against the NFL's best rush defense.

4:00pm EST Games

49ers @ Cardinals - Dome
49er Offense - Receiving: 160.8 (32), Rushing: 84.3 (27)
Cardinal Defense - Receiving: 231.6 (18), Rushing: 97.5 (10)

Cardinal Offense - Receiving: 233.4 (14), Rushing: 86.8 (25)
49er Defense - Receiving: 217.8 (10), Rushing: 122.6 (24)

START: Kurt Warner, Edgerrin James, Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, Cardinal Defense
CONSIDER: Frank Gore
BENCH: Trent Dilfer, Darrell Jackson, Vernon Davis, Leonard Pope

The Niners very well may be the most inept offense in the game. Yes, that includes Baltimore. Frank Gore has been a monumental bust, but if you don't have better options, you should give yourself a severe beating. Stay far, far away from the rest of the 49ers.
For some reason, people like to claim that the 49ers are bad against the pass. Truth is, they're pretty good against it. Still, this will be a nice game for Mr. Brenda Warner and friends. There's not a whole lot less exciting than Edge these days...other than, ya know, Frank Gore...the Niners are bad against the rush, so leave him active.

Broncos @ Bears
Bronco Offense - Receiving: 234.4 (13), Rushing: 122.6 (12)
Bear Defense - Receiving: 241 (24), Rushing: 125.7 (26)

Bear Offense - Receiving: 241.6 (12), Rushing: 81.6 (31)
Bronco Defense - Receiving: 221 (11), Rushing: 149.2 (29)

START: Jay Cutler, Selvin Young (check), Javon Walker, Brandon Marshall, Cedric Benson
CONSIDER: Bronco Defense, Desmond Clark, Greg Olsen
BENCH: Travis Henry (out), Andre Hall (check Young), Brandon Stokley, Tony Scheffler, Rex Grossman, Bernard Berrian, Muhsin Muhammad, Bear Defense

The return of Javon Walker. It's always risky to start a player that has missed significant time, but someone of Walker's talent is hard to resist. Besides, just look what Andre Johnson did upon his return. It's uncertain if Selvin Young will be active, start him if he is, if he isn't then only start Andre Hall if you're incredibly desperate. Brandon Marshall's value take s a slight dip with Walker back, but don't expect him to disappear. Do look for Stokley to disappear, however.
Cedric Benson should continue his impressive season here. What? OK, maybe I'm just playing around there, but Benson should have a good game. "Good" by Benson's status would be around 80 yards and a TD. The Bear TE's could be a factor against the declining Bronco pass defense. Don't look for Champ Bailey to have much trouble against Berrian, though.

Ravens @ Chargers
Raven Offense - Receiving: 216.4 (18), Rushing: 102.8 (18)
Charger Defense - Receiving: 246.6 (25), Rushing: 119.7 (23)

Charger Offense - Receiving: 206.9 (23), Rushing: 107.6 (16)
Raven Defense - Receiving: 222.4 (13), Rushing: 77.4 (2)

START: Willis McGahee, LaDainian Tomlinson, Antonio Gates, Charger Defense
CONSIDER: Derrick Mason, Raven Defense, Chris Chambers
BENCH: Kyle Boller, Mark Clayton, Todd Heap (out), Philip Rivers, Vincent Jackson

A battle of who wants it least.
McGahee should be in store for a high quality game against the surprisingly poor Charger rush defense. The Raven D is worth consideration, since Phil Rivers is guaranteed to be good for anywhere from 2-67 turnovers.
Is this the week that Stupid Norv Turner realizes that he should be utilizing LT more? Probably not, otherwise he wouldn't be Stupid Norv Turner. LT faces a very tough test here, but should put up his usual (for 2007) good but not great numbers. Gates must be kept active, always. Look for the Philip Rivers INT and Fumble World Tour to continue.

Sunday Night Football

Eagles at Patriots
Eagle Offense - Receiving: 244.5 (11), Rushing: 124.7 (9)
Patriot Defense - Receiving: 203.3 (6), Rushing: 89.3 (6)

Patriot Offense - Receiving: 311.2 (1), Rushing: 131.8 (5)
Eagle Defense - Receiving: 227.6 (17), Rushing: 97.8 (11)

START: Brian Westbrook, Tom Brady, Randy Moss, Donte Stallworth, Wes Welker, Ben Watson, Patriot Defense
CONSIDER: Laurence Maroney
BENCH: Donovan McNabb (likely out), A.J. Feely, Reggie Brown, Kevin Curtis, L.J. Smith, Eagle Defense

No McNabb against the stat-padding Pats? Yikes. Westbrook is an every-weeker, but leave the rest of your Eagles on the bench.
The Pats were given the biggest Vegas line in NFL history. As usual, look for them to be out there shamelessly padding stats and risking pointless injury by the middle of the 3rd quarter. Keep all of your usual suspects active.

Monday Night Football

Dolphins @ Steelers
Dolphin Offense - Receiving: 201.9 (24), Rushing: 115.2 (15)
Steeler Defense - Receiving: 175 (2), Rushing: 79.9 (3)

Steeler Offense - Receiving: 222.9 (17), Rushing: 147.5 (2)
Dolphin Defense - Receiving: 188.1 (3), Rushing: 154.9 (32)

START: Ben Roethlisberger, Willie Parker, Hines Ward, Heath Miller, Steeler Defense
CONSIDER: Nate Washington
BENCH: John Beck, Jesse Chatman (check), Ricky Williams, Marty Booker, David Martin, Santonio Holmes (out)

Apparently it's Slaughter on National TV Week for the NFL.
Ricky Williams will likely be active for the Phins...enjoy that Steeler defense, Smokey. Don't even consider trotting out any Dolphins.
The Dolphins are 3rd in the NFL in pass defense, which is really more of a product of them being so poor against the rush that passing isn't necessary. Fast Willie has struggled mightily against the NFL's worst rush defenses this season, but those were on the road. If he struggles against the Dolphins, feel free to hunt him down and maim him.

Check back on Sunday for the Game Day Inactives.