Posts tagged BrandonJacobs at FanHouse

If you play in a playoff fantasy football league and get to reset your lineup before this week, worry not, we got your back. We'll just do a quick run-through of each game.

Baltimore Ravens @ Tennessee Titans
First of all, don't you dare play any defense other than the Ravens. Ed Reed might score the most points in this game. If you've been watching the Ravens play of late, you definitely aren't laughing at that statement.

I don't see how the Titans generate much offense, outside the possibility of getting Chris Johnson in space. I'd avoid everyone other than Johnson, and I'm not even a huge fan of Johnson.

The Ravens won't be able to move the ball quite as well as they did here against the Dolphins average defense. Your best bet would be LeRon McClain, as the Ravens will likely try to control the clock. The Titans are more vulnerable via the pass than the run -- though they aren't really weak anywhere -- but I can't see Joe Flacco playing overly well against this defense.

You could do much worse than either kicker here, by the way. Both Rob Bironas and Matt Stover are sure to be busy, considering the defenses don't allow many touchdowns.

With attention spans dwindling, we forego full game-by-game previews to give you the essentials you need to know about every contest this glorious NFL weekend. Click here to go back in time.

The 1s

St. Louis (2-13) at Atlanta (10-5): If Atlanta takes care of business here, they could be facing the Arizona Cardinals at home in their first playoff game. Could a scenario get any better for a rookie quarterback? Hey Matt Ryan, I know it is the playoffs and all, but this is one of the worst sports franchises in the history of football. Also, they've won just one game since Veterans Day.

If this shakes out, Ryan might be the most blessed kid since the one Mary conceived.

Pick: Atlanta

I'm just gonna be real right now: Your fantasy league should be over. It's one of those things about which we've all pretty much made an unwritten pact. When people like Peyton Manning will likely not be playing because their teams want them to rest, you shouldn't have a fantasy relevant game. That's why we don't play in the preseason.

All that being said, there are leagues out there with a championship game this week. Since we are committed to helping you win your league title no matter what, we'll still be helping you out. In lieu of positional rankings -- due to a limited audience -- we'll sift through each position and give some pointers. We'll also examine guys who need to play well, as well as those who won't factor at all.

Feel free to leave specific lineup questions in the comments section, and we'll answer. We'll also be having a shortened -- yet quite effective -- Tailgate Sunday morning.

Again, we want you to win ... even if that means supporting you when your league is mishandled.

It's entirely arguable that the way the New York Giants played in Week 17 against the Patriots, despite losing, propelled them into the postseason and eventually to a Super Bowl win.

Of course, you could also argue that such a discussion is pointless. Whatever. My main point is that Tom Coughlin typically -- as he wrote in a book -- does not believe in resting players in the final week of the season if there's nothing at stake.

"It is a difficult decision," Coughlin wrote after noting that many NFL coaches bench their stars in similar situations. "It becomes clear that the media and fans care more about a playoff game and therefore don't want our first-teamers to play. But I feel differently."

Naturally, then, you would expect to see every single Giant -- including Justin Tuck and Brandon Jacobs, both recently banged up -- playing full games against the Vikings this Sunday. Or perhaps not; it appears, judging by the somewhat hemming nature of a recent statement to the media, that Coughlin might have changed his tune.

"My answer to all of your questions will be that in conjunction with the medical people and with the idea of improving our game, having individuals perform at a higher level than we did in the last game, which is always our theme, we will do the best thing for our football team," Coughlin said.

"What's best for the Giants" and "Play every game like it's win or go home" are two entirely different statements. And while Coughlin isn't the type of guy to go back on his word, I don't think, he would be doing exactly that if the Giants don't pull out all the stops to beat the Vikings on Sunday.

The Carolina Panthers tossed up 300+ yards on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers recently, just on the ground. And then last night, the Giants did the same thing to Carolina on national television. Needless to say, the Panthers defense isn't thrilled about being embarrassed, but they took the yards in stride.

For the most part anyway; Jon Beason seems to think that New York's performance is more the Cats fault than the Giants' success.

After blaming sloppy play and poor communication on the Panthers' inability to stop the Giants' running game, Beason was asked if the talents of Ward and backfield mate Brandon Jacobs might have had something to do with it.

"I hate you asked that question," Beason said. "The politically correct thing to say is they're a great combination of running backs -- really good backs. And they are. But based on the film, of the 300 yards, let's say, uh, 250 were on us. That's how I'll answer that question."

So, um, yeah. What I think Beason is saying here is that "If we'd tackled properly, Derrick Ward doesn't look that good." And also, "Nice 50 yards Jacobs." Although I could be reaching on that last one. Still, the point being is that Beason definitely wasn't trying to be complimentary of the Giants running game. And you better believe this won't be the last you hear of this either. Paging, Dr. Ward.

If you owned DeAngelo Williams all season -- and surrounded him with quality "teammates" -- the odds are pretty good you were still playing meaningful fantasy football this weekend. If you were, you enjoyed another off-the-charts fantasy night from DeAngelo. Seriously, four touchdowns in the Meadowlands against the Giants? This guy is just stupid studly. He's also a great example of why your league should have its championship in Week 16, because the Panthers' game next week is meaningless. He could easily see a drastic decrease in his workload.

On the opposite side of the spectrum we have Kurt Warner. The second-highest scoring passer for the entire season ended up being the biggest Brutus Boy of them all. In case you were counting -- and odds are, you were -- that was a 1.5 point performance yesterday. If your league still plays in Week 17, he should be due for a bounce-back at home against Seattle. The Cardinals really need some confidence at this point, so I bet they go all out, at least until they get a nice lead.

As Ryan has already pointed out, this game, despite the "Homefield Throughout" nature in which it will be played, isn't the most "important" of the season, since both teams are all but playoff locked (if the Panthers lose out and the Bucs, Falcons and Cowboys win out ... well, then I'm a jackass).

But there's still puh-lenty at stake here. Namely: home-field advantage throughout the playoffs and the likelihood of being favored to rep the NFC in the Super Bowl. The last one of course, is really just a semantical bonus for those that like to gamble.

Make no mistake though -- HFA is a huge deal to both of these teams, considering that they're a combined 14-1 this season at home. So, yeah, it's kind of important.

And as such, this should be a great game, even if it's kind of odd to see the seasonal arc that each team is taking. The Giants were, just a few weeks ago, already being penciled in to rep the NFC in Tampa. However, in just the course of two losses to the Eagles and the Cowboys, people have started to wonder how they can perform when they're not a full strength.

But, as Giants early season roll has slowed, the Panthers have only picked up the pace, moving from a tough team that looked like a contender to a powerhouse that rumbled over Tampa Bay for 300+ rushing yards in a Monday night blowout. Of course, there's the whole matter of DeAngelo Williams being secretly hurt -- yeah, it's weird. It also seems unlikely; he was, after all, tutored by Vinny Testaverde and that goes a long way towards maintaining health. But still, a shoddy performance or an early exit from "Dash" would make this a pretty big deal going forward.

With attention spans dwindling, we forego full game-by-game previews to give you the essentials you need to know about every contest this glorious NFL weekend. Click here to go back in time.

Saturday

Baltimore (9-5) at Dallas (9-5): This is just the start of what should be now called "The Best Week 15 Slate of Games of All Time." Both these teams desperately need a win for playoff implications, with the Steelers, Eagles, and Falcons all watching verrrry intently in their own regard. Tony Romo and company are averaging 23.7 points per game while Ray Lewis and his revived wrecking crew are giving up a stingy 15.2. In the famous words of Jack Nicholson, "Something's gotta give." I think the Dallas defense, who has locked down the last three games and is allowing just over 12 points in those games, rattles Joe Flacco and the 'Boys move a step closer to becoming the 2007 New York Giants of the playoffs.

Tony, remember this -- even Phil Mickelson can win a major championship every now and again.

Pick: Dallas

It's playoff time! In what should be championship week, FanHouse fantasy positional rankings are compiled in order to provide answers to your possible lineup dilemmas. If you need further assistance, please feel free to shoot us an email question.

Just as I said in the quarterback rankings, this is a crazy game we play -- this fantasy football. What if I told you, heading into the season, that Pierre Thomas, Matt Forte, Steve Slaton, and DeAngelo Williams would trail only Adrian Peterson in the championship week running back rankings?

I'm pretty sure you wouldn't have been back here to read any follow-ups.

Why Pierre? That's easy. The Lions are an embarrassment against the run and Reggie Bush is out of the way. There's more to it than that, however. I've been watching Thomas the past few weeks, and had a special glimpse of him last week against my favorite team. He's got everything a featured back needs. He's not just a between the tackles guy, like Deuce McAllister has become, and he's not just an outside the tackles guy like Bush. He's both. The Saints have to leave him on the field pretty much all game now, and they are playing the Lions. He's going to light up the fantasy scoreboard ... again.

More notes after the rankings.

1. Adrian Peterson, vs. ATL
2. Pierre Thomas, at DET
3. Matt Forte, vs. GB
4. Steve Slaton, at OAK
5. DeAngelo Williams, at NYG

"With so much drama in the LBC it's kinda hard being Snoop D-O-Double G, but I, somehow, someway, keep coming up with funky arse stuff like every single day..."

Now, who is to say this isn't the theme song of Terrell Owens? The guy breeds drama more than rabbits breed their young, yet it never ceases to amaze anyone when the next thing he stirs up is more ridiculous than the last.

Tonight, TO and his arch nemesis, teammate Jason Witten, take on the conference leading Giants for the last time in the regular season at Texas Stadium. The Giants are missing Brandon Jacobs. The Cowboys have a banged up Marion Barber.

Who isn't going to join this live chat? The fun begins at 8:15 EST. Bring the fondue.