The Fantasy Football Blog

SUNDAY, JAN. 22

Carolina at Seattle, 6:30 p.m. (FOX)

Latest Line: Seahawks by 3.5

Injury Report: Panthers: OUT: RB DeShaun Foster (ankle/IR). QUESTIONABLE: RB Brad Hoover (ankle); C Jeff Mitchell (knee); DT Kindal Moorehead (ankle); DE Julius Peppers (shoulder); G Tutan Reyes (toe). PROBABLE: DT Jordan Carstens (illness); S Mike Minter (wrist). Seahawks: QUESTIONABLE: DT Rocky Bernard (foot); WR Bobby Engram (lower back); WR Darrell Jackson (knee). PROBABLE: RB Shaun Alexander (concussion).

Outlook: The Panthers have won two straight road playoff games and wide receiver Steve Smith has been positively Jerry Rice-esque in wins at the New York Giants and Chicago Bears. The bad news is that they are down to their third-string running back, however, after Deshaun Foster suffered an ankle injury against the Bears. The good news is that Nick Goings is among the top third-stringers in the NFL.

The Seahawks earned an impressive win despite losing MVP Shaun Alexander (RB) early on to a concussion. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck was terrific against a very good defense. Both teams have good defenses, but I think the Seahawks will do a better job against Smith than the Bears did and force Goings to beat them. That won’t happen.

The Pick: Seahawks, 27-17


Pittsburgh at Denver, 3 p.m. (CBS)

Latest Line: Broncos by 3

Injury Report: Steelers: DOUBTFUL: LB James Harrison (ankle). PROBABLE: LB James Farrior (calf); LB Larry Foote (knee); CB Chidi Iwuoma (shoulder); DE Travis Kirschke (groin); LB Joey Porter (hip); QB Ben Roethlisberger (right thumb); CB Deshea Townsend (knee); DE Kimo Von Oelhoffen (knee). Broncos: PROBABLE: TE Stephen Alexander (toe); DE Courtney Brown (shoulder/knee); LB Keith Burns (knee); WR Todd Devoe (wrist); CB Darrent Williams (groin); LB Al Wilson (thumb).

Outlook: Both AFC games last weekend had numerous strange moments as the Steelers overcame an atrocious non-interception call and an incredibly rare Jerome Bettis fumble to defeat the Colts. The Broncos, meanwhile, took advantage of a late pass interference call to take the lead against two-time defending champion New England late in the first half and held on for the win.

The teams are very similar in philosophy. Both run the ball as much as anyone in the league and want their quarterbacks to limit mistakes more than make game-breaking plays. The Steelers have won two road games to advance to this weekend. I expect the Steelers to force Jake Plummer into a mistake with the same kind of pressure they brought at Peyton Manning last weekend and for Pittsburgh to win.

The Pick: Steelers, 20-14

LAST WEEK: 2-2
OVERALL: 6-2

SATURDAY, JAN. 14

Washington at Seattle, 4:30 p.m. (FOX)

Latest Line: Seahawks by 9

Injury Report: Redskins: QUESTIONABLE: WR James Thrash (thumb). PROBABLE: DT Cornelius Griffin (shoulder); T Chris Samuels (ankle); CB Shawn Springs (groin). Seahawks: QUESTIONABLE: T Wayne Hunter (ankle); LB D.D. Lewis (foot); T Sean Locklear (hip); DE Joe Tafoya (hamstring); CB Marcus Trufant (back).

Outlook: The Redskins have now won six straight after downing Tampa Bay 17-10 on the road in last week’s wild card weekend. Their offense was putrid as Mark Brunell managed just 40 yards passing, but the defense impressed and it was enough to move on. Seattle, meanwhile, had run off 11 straight wins of its own before resting everyone in Week 17. League (and fantasy) MVP Shaun Alexander (RB) leads the way, but it could be quarterback Matt Hasselbeck’s arm that does the most damage. I just don’t see the Washington offense keeping up.
The Pick: Seahawks, 31-13.

New England at Denver, 8 p.m. (CBS)

Latest Line: Broncos by 3

Injury Report: Patriots: PROBABLE: QB Tom Brady (right shoulder); LB Matt Chatham (knee); RB Corey Dillon (calf); RB Heath Evans (shoulder); TE Christian Fauria (foot); TE Daniel Graham (shoulder); DE Jarvis Green (shoulder); S Artrell Hawkins (thigh); C Russ Hochstein (ankle); T Nick Kaczur (shoulder); RB Patrick Pass (hamstring). Broncos: PROBABLE: TE Stephen Alexander (toe); DE Courtney Brown (knee/shoulder); LB Keith Burns (knee); TE Jeb Putzier (shoulder); CB Darrent Williams (groin); LB Al Wilson (thumb).

Outlook: The Broncos are probably the most overlooked team in the playoffs. Quarterback Jake Plummer has looked like a new man all season. Their running game is always virtually impossible to stop and they played well in a very tough division. Still, if you think I’m taking anyone but the Patriots in the postseason before they lose, you’re crazy. Pay no mind to the 28-20 Denver win the last time these two teams met. The Pats had quarterback Tom Brady and a high school junior varsity team suited up.

The Pick: New England, 27-24

SUNDAY, JAN. 8

Pittsburgh at Indianapolis, 1 p.m. (CBS)

Injury Report: Steelers: OUT: WR Quincy Morgan (leg). DOUBTFUL: LB James Harrison (ankle). PROBABLE: RB Jerome Bettis (hamstring); LB Clark Haggans (toe); DE Travis Kirschke (groin); LB Joey Porter (hand); QB Ben Roethlisberger (right thumb); DE Kimo Von Oelhoffen (knee). Colts: PROBABLE: T Ryan Diem (knee); TE Bryan Fletcher (groin); DE Dwight Freeney (ankle/foot/hamstring); WR Marvin Harrison (hand); LB Cato June (ankle/groin/knee); DE Robert Mathis (foot); DT Montae Reagor (knee); DT Darrell Reid (shoulder); S Dexter Reid (ankle); S Bob Sanders (back); DT Corey Simon (foot); QB Jim Sorgi (right thumb); WR Brandon Stokley (knee); DE Josh Thomas (shoulder).

Latest Line: Colts by 9.5

Outlook: The Steelers win over Cincinnati last week has combined with the Colts’ turbulent month has made Pittsburgh the sexy pick for everyone. I’m not convinced. The Indy defense is good enough to slow the Steelers and the offense will come out firing. If this game was in Pittsburgh, it would be a different story.

The Pick: Colts, 41-21

Carolina at Chicago, 4:30 (FOX)

Latest Line: Bears by 3

Injury Report: Panthers: QUESTIONABLE: RB DeShaun Foster (toe); RB Brad Hoover (ankle); G Tutan Reyes (toe); LB Brandon Short (knee) PROBABLE: WR Ricky Proehl (illness). Bears: DOUBTFUL G Terrence Metcalf (knee). QUESTIONABLE: G Lennie Friedman (knee); RB Bryan Johnson (foot).

Outlook: This will certainly be a black and blue game with yards coming at a premium. The Panthers looked great in last week’s big win over the New York Giants, but they’ve been very inconsistent so far this season. The Bears boast a terrific defense and a terrible offense. I think Carolina’s playoff experience from two years ago — especially at the quarterback position — will be the difference.

The Pick: Panthers, 17-13

LAST WEEK: 4-0

SATURDAY, JAN. 7

Washington at Tampa Bay, 4:30 p.m. (ABC)

Latest Line: Bucs by 2.5

Injury Report: Redskins: QUESTIONABLE: CB Shawn Springs (groin). PROBABLE: DE Renaldo Wynn (foot). Buccaneers: OUT: WR Michael Clayton (turf toe). QUESTIONABLE: S Jermaine Phillips (knee). PROBABLE: DE Simeon Rice (illness).

Outlook: The Bucs defense gave up even fewer yards than the Bears, but the Redskins come into the game as the hottest team in the NFC with five-straight wins. The Redskins defense will go after Bucs quarterback Chris Simms, who has looked better as the season has gone on. An early lead will be especially huge in this game, as both teams are better running the ball with backs Clinton Portis (WAS) and Cadillac Williams (TB) than they are bombing away.

The Pick: Redskins, 17-13.

Jacksonville at New England, 8 p.m. (ABC)

Latest Line: Patriots by 8

Injury Report: Jaguars: QUESTIONABLE: DE Reggie Hayward (hamstring); LB Mike Peterson (wrist); DE Paul Spicer (hand). PROBABLE: RB Rich Alexis (groin); RB Greg Jones (neck); QB Byron Leftwich (ankle); CB Kenny Wright (knee). Patriots: QUESTIONABLE: LB Tedy Bruschi (calf); DT Mike Wright (ankle). PROBABLE: QB Tom Brady (right shoulder); RB Corey Dillon (calf); RB Heath Evans (shoulder); TE Christian Fauria (foot); TE Daniel Graham (shoulder); DE Jarvis Green (shoulder); CB Artrell Hawkins (thigh); WR Bethel Johnson (knee); T Nick Kaczur (shoulder); RB Patrick Pass (hamstring); CB Asante Samuel (head).

Outlook: The Patriots host a warm-weather team in prime time in January, so you have to like their chances. They are as healthy as they’ve been since the start of the season and the defensive front seven is playing very, very well. The Jaguars do have quarterback Byron Leftwich back and the receiver crew of Ernest Wilford, Jimmy Smith and Matt Jones could pose problems for the New England secondary.

The Pick: New England, 35-20

SUNDAY, JAN. 8

Carolina at New York Giants, 1 p.m. (FOX)

Injury Report: Panthers: QUESTIONABLE: RB DeShaun Foster (toe); RB Brad Hoover (ankle); LB Dan Morgan (shoulder); G Tutan Reyes (toe); LB Brandon Short (knee). Giants: OUT: LB Antonio Pierce (ankle). DOUBTFUL: DE Eric Moore (hamstring); DT Fred Robbins (hamstring). QUESTIONABLE: WR Tim Carter (hip); TE Jeremy Shockey (ankle); LB Reggie Torbor (hamstring). PROBABLE: DT William Joseph (ankle).

Latest Line: Giants by 2.5

Outlook: Peyton Manning took the Colts to the playoffs in his second year and lost in the first game. Will younger brother Eli, also in his second year, follow suit? Carolina has been frustratingly inconsistent this year and could certainly thump the Giants. The Panthers could also take a thumping.

The Pick: Panthers, 24-10

Pittsburgh at Cincinnati, 4:30 (CBS)

Latest Line: Steelers by 3

Injury Report: Steelers: QUESTIONABLE: LB Andre Frazier (hamstring); DE Travis Kirschke (back). PROBABLE: LB James Harrison (heel); CB Chidi Iwuoma (shoulder); QB Ben Roethlisberger (right thumb); CB Deshea Townsend (knee). Bengals: PROBABLE: C Eric Ghiaciuc (back); WR Chris Henry (back); T Levi Jones (shoulder); RB Nicolas Luchey (knee); CB Deltha O'Neal (knee); DT Bryan Robinson (foot); DT Shaun Smith (knee).

Outlook: The Bengals are lone home underdog this weekend — you hate to see that. Anyway, the Steelers are the hottest team in the AFC with four-straight wins and have been on fire since getting everyone healthy. This game features a matchup between the No. 1 defense in the AFC (Pittsburgh) and the No. 4 offense (Cincy). The teams split the season series with the road team winning each time.

The Pick: Steelers, 31-28

Last year’s fantasy award winners:
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER _ Runners-up: Daunte Culpepper (Minnesota QB), LaDainian Tomlinson (San Diego RB), Tiki Barber (New York Giants RB), Terrell Owens (Philadelphia WR), Muhsin Muhammad (Carolina WR).
Winner: Peyton Manning (Indianapolis QB).

FANTASY PLAYOFF MVP _ Runners-up: Brett Favre (Green Bay QB), Tomlinson, Larry Johnson (Kansas City RB), Drew Bennett (Tennessee WR), Tony Gonzalez (Kansas City TE).
Winner: Muhammad.

BIGGEST SURPRISE _ Runners-up: Billy Volek (Tennessee QB), Reuben Droughns (Denver RB), Nick Goings (Carolina RB), Bennett, Muhammad, Antonio Gates (San Diego TE), Eric Johnson (San Francisco TE).
Winner: Drew Brees (San Diego QB).

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR _ Runners-up: Ben Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh QB), Kevin Jones (Detroit RB), Steven Jackson (St. Louis RB), Michael Clayton (Tampa Bay WR), Larry Fitzgerald (Arizona WR), Roy Williams (Detroit WR).
Winner: Julius Jones (Dallas-RB).

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT _ Runners-up: Josh McCown (Arizona QB), Travis Minor (Miami RB), Quentin Griffin (Denver RB), Boo Williams (New Orleans TE).
Winner: Kevan Barlow (San Francisco RB).

MOST DEVASTATING INJURY _ Runners-up: Steve McNair (Tennessee QB), Stephen Davis (Carolina RB), DeShaun Foster (Carolina RB), Charlie Garner (Tampa Bay RB), Steve Smith (Carolina WR), Randy Moss (Minnesota WR), Kellen Winslow (Cleveland TE).
Winner: Priest Holmes (Kansas City RB).