Top 5 NFL Coaches of 2011

Conventional wisdom says that Jim Harbaugh is going to win the Coach of the Year. The rookie San Francisco 49er coach is worthy, but there is a coach who didn’t have as much success this season, but deserves consideration. If I had a vote for COY – which I don’t – my vote would go to another coach who oversaw even a more incredible turnaround. Here is one guy’s top five – okay, I cheated, top six coaching rankings for the 2011 season.

5. Tom Coughlin/Bill Belichick

Both of these guys get overlooked every year, especially Belichick. It is because year in and year out their teams are solid. This year Belichick’s team overcame one of the NFL’s worst defenses, but still found a way to put together another great regular season and of course a run back to the Super Bowl. How good is ‘The Hoodie’ and his staff? For the second time they filled a glaring hole on defense by moving a wide receiver to a defensive back and got decent production out of him.

Coughlin’s Giants also had injuries to major players to deal with and partly because of that, struggled in the early part of the season. When the chips were down in the second half of 2011 Coughlin’s team was on point again. They got healthy and played great football down the stretch beating the top two seeds on the road to get back to the Super Bowl.

4.  Marvin Lewis

As the 2011 season approached, I thought the Bengals were going to be terrible. They were coming off a last place 4-12 season and they were destined to lose quarterback Carson Palmer. They replaced Palmer with rookie Andy Dalton. Historically starting a rookie quarterback in Week One is a recipe for disaster. Dalton wasn’t even a first round pick, but somehow Lewis and his staff were able to get their rookie quarterback – and receiver A.J. Green – on the same page as the rest of the offense. They were able to do it fast. They made it to the playoffs with a rookie quarterback who had to play against some of the toughest defenses in the league.

How is this for a rookie season baptism? Dalton had to face the top three defenses – yardage wise – in the league. He faced Pittsburgh (twice), Baltimore (twice) and Houston(twice including the playoffs). Believe it or not, the Cleveland Browns ranked tenth in the league and of course Dalton had to play them twice as well. Playing seven games against top ten defenses with a rookie quarterback and winning nine games with a playoff berth as well – Coach of the Year consideration in my book.

3. Gary Kubiak

Yes he had one of the league’s best rushing attacks and one of the league’s best defenses, but this is a team that had not made the playoffs in its history. Add to that the injuries the team had to overcome to not only make the playoffs, but win a playoff game is remarkable.

Kubiak and his staff had to overcome injuries to four of their top players. Arian Foster was out for much of the first half of the season. Mario Williams was out almost the entire year and Matt Schaub was lost for the season about half way through the year. Elite wide receiver Andre Johnson was limited to about half a season due to separate hamstring ailments. To make things worse they lost second string quarterback Matt Leinart in his first game replacing Schaub.

It didn’t matter. Kubiak and the Texans put together a solid first half of the season, played good enough in the second half of the season and actually won a playoff game – and almost a second – with a third string quarterback.

2. Jim Harbaugh

Most people are going to have Harbaugh at number one and with good reason. He took a franchise that had been struggling for years and in one season took them to overtime in the NFC Championship Game. He was able to take a good defense and help make it great and was the first coach to get solid, consistent play from quarterback Alex Smith. The team won seven more regular season games than the year before and although played in the league’s worst division proved many experts wrong by beating most people’s dark horse Super Bowl pick – the New Orleans Saints – at their own game, not with defense, but with offense.

1. John Fox

Fox’s Broncos were coming off a disaster of a season. They won just four games and finished last in the AFC West. This year the team made a four game improvement, won the division and a playoff game. It was a weak division and they ended with a .500 record, but the brilliance of Fox goes far beyond the numbers.

You could say the Broncos got lucky during their long string of wins in the middle of the season and you would be right, but the reason Fox should get the nod is that he did something coaches just don’t do in the NFL. His team was going nowhere so he changed his entire thought process and figured out a way to get his team winning. Fox recognized the team wasn’t going anywhere with Kyle Orton at quarterback so he made the switch to Tim Tebow. Everyone knows how the story ended, but what goes under-appreciated is Fox and his staff role in the transition.

Fox changed the entire way the team did business on the field. They went from a conventional 21st century offense to an offense out of the 1940’s in a matter of weeks. They did it on the fly without the benefit of training camp or even an off-season. Fox found a way to win seven of the last eleven games with a quarterback who had trouble completing the most elementary of NFL pass routes. I don’t think the approach they had to take this year has a chance of working long term, but for this year, with that talent, the job John Fox did makes him the runaway coach of the year for 2011.

Top 5 NFL Coaches of the Year Gridiron Experts Gridiron Experts - Where Fantasy Football Champions Are Born

NFL Divisional Playoff: Texans at Ravens

While the National Football League has transformed into a high-scoring, pass-first league, this AFC Divisional playoff battle will be a throwback game. The Baltimore Ravens will host the Houston Texans in a match-up of strong defensive powered teams where the winner will advance and try to prove the old mantra: “Defense wins championships”.

These two clubs already met once this season, a Week 6 contest in Baltimore that the Ravens won 29-14. Baltimore thoroughly outplayed Houston in that game, out-gaining the Texans 402 yards to 293. The Ravens defense did an excellent job in that contest, limiting Pro Bowl RB Arian Foster to 49 yards on 15 carries, while limiting the Texans to seven second half points.

The Ravens will most likely stick to the same, effective game plan in this rematch, while Houston will hope the presence of a healthy Andre Johnson, who missed the previous game between these two, will add a spark to their offense to offset the loss of QB Matt Schaub.

The general feeling in the greater Washington D.C./ Baltimore area is  ‘there are no excuses.” Ravens fans fully expect their club to win this game and advance to the AFC Championship game next Sunday.

It’s with good reason that these fans are so optimistic: they have a very good team. The  Ravens won the toughest division in football and earned a bye on their way to a 12-4 record and the #2 seed. They boast one of the most dynamic offensive players in the game in running back Ray Rice and a still imposing, veteran defense that is capable of shutting down even the very best offenses in the league.

The Ravens formula for success hasn’t changed much since their win in Super Bowl XXXV. They are a throwback squad that wins with a dominant defense and a conservative offense with an emphasis on running the ball.

Baltimore QB Joe Flacco is capable of some big passing efforts, but is mainly called upon to be a game manager, with just enough play-action passes to keep the opposition honest.

In their prior game, Ray Rice was the focal point of the game-plan and came up huge. He rushed or 101 yards and caught five passes for 60 more. Rice is a dynamic player and the MVP of the Ravens offense. When he receives 20+ carries, the Ravens win, while in the games where he has averaged only nine carries, Baltimore has lost.

Joe Flacco also had a nice effort against Houston. He completed 20 of 33 passes for 305 yards. The emergence of rookie WR Torrey Smith as a deep threat has added some dimension to Cam Cameron‘s offense. Veteran WR Anquan Boldin is fully healthy and is still the team’s top receiver. Tight Ends Ed Dickson  and Dennis Pitta usually catch a couple a passes each.

As long as this game is close, the Ravens will feed Rice the ball. Establishing an early ground game will potentially set the aggressive Houston defense up for play-action opportunities down-field for Smith and Dickson.

Defensively, the Ravens finished third in the NFL, just a hair behind Houston. They were second defending the run and fourth versus the pass. Led by veteran MLB Ray Lewis, DT Haoli Ngata, OLB Terrell Suggs and S Ed Reed these dirty birds are experienced, aggressive and intimidating. The led the AFC with 26 forced fumbles and picked off 15 passes.

Look for the Ravens 3-4 defense to crowd the line of scrimmage in an all out effort to shut down Houston’s NFL-best rushing attack. Baltimore’s number one priority, like their previous meeting, will be containing RB Arian Foster and forcing rookie QB T.J. Yates into unfavorable passing situations.

Remarkably, the Texans are of a similar build as the Ravens: a run first team with a dominant 3-4 defense. But unlike Baltimore, the Texans don’t have the added pressure and expectations that perennial playoff contenders have in their opening home post-season game. In fact, Vegas has the Texans at 7 1/2 point underdogs, and few prognasticators give them any chance of winning.

The Texans have the NFL’s top rushing attack, so they will look to protect their rookie third string signal-caller by pounding the rock with Arian Foster and Ben Tate. This duo was very effective all season, and narrowly missed being only the third pair to rush for 1000+ yards each.

A huge, added dimension to Houston’s attack will be the return of All-Pro WR Andre Johnson. Johnson was limited to seven games this season, but showed up big last week in Houston’s opening round victory over Cincinnati. Wearing down the aging Ravens defensive front could lead to some big gains in play-action against CB Cary Williams, Chris Carr and LarDarius Webb.

AJ isn’t the only capable pass-catcher for Houston. TE Joel Dreessen led the team in touchdown catches. He’ll play in two tight end formations and Gary Kubiak will look for Dreessen, Owen Daniels or WR Kevin Walters to be lined up with former Texans S Bernard Pollard.

On the other side of the ball, the Texans are as capable of dominating the game as the Ravens are. Despite losing DE/OLB Mario Williams for the season after five games, the Texans finished with the NFL’s second ranked D.

Their 3-4 is led by Wade Phillips, arguably the most important off-season acquisition in the NFL. Phillips installed a brand new scheme and system and totally turned around the league’s worst defensive unit. And he did it all without the benefit of OTA’s.

The Texans will also look to focus on shutting down the opposing rushing attack.  DE Antonio Smith and rookie JJ Watt provide constant pressure and allow for the linebacking corps to make big plays. Houston has about as good a foursome as there is in the NFL. DeMeco Ryans, Brian Cushing, Connor Barwin and rookie Brooks Reed are all capable pass rushers and are excellent run stoppers.

Free agent CB Jonathan Joseph is one of two Texans Pro Bowlers and has been the most important addition to a beleaguered Texans secondary. Fellow free agent acquisition S Danieal Manning has been a solid addition and serves as the team’s kick returner. CB Jason Allen and S Glover Quin have had solid seasons as well.

Prediction

The pressure is all on the Ravens to win a game they’re supposed to win. This game has all the makings of a classic defensive struggle where turnovers will be the key. This game has the lowest over/under of the week at only 36 points.

Look for the game to stay on the ground and for the younger Texans to begin to wear down the Ravens. Don’t be surprised if Houston holds on to a slim, fourth quarter lead but to fall back into the tragic history of pro football in that city.

The Texans will nurse a 16-14 advantage in the fourth quarter. Gary Kubiak will predictably become ultra-conservative and allow Joe Flacco to hit a deep pass play to Torrey Smith over CB Kareem Jackson. The game will be won with a late field goal from Billy Cundiff, who will send the Ravens to New England and the AFC Championship game, while breaking the hearts of Houston’s long-suffering fans.

NFL Playoff Preview: Texans at Ravens Gridiron Experts Gridiron Experts - Where Fantasy Football Champions Are Born

10 Amazing NFL Draft Steals, Starting in the Playoffs

In a perfect world every team’s top NFL Draft picks would get ten out out ten grades and be leaders in the playoffs for years to come. But everyone knows quality talent can slip through the cracks to the second or third day at the NFL draft. While sometimes a player is the product of the right system, late round gem’s do pass by teams in need, while the hype of first round talent is statistically never as great in hindsight. The best scouts do get their guy, some chalking it up to great scouting, others to luck, with costly busts not talked about around the local area.

The following is a look at players that are not only starters in this year’s NFL playoff run, but are difference makers for their respected teams.

10. QB T.J Yates- Texans
5th round selection (152nd overall) of the 2011 Draft

Yates did not exactly earn his way into a starting role, more like he earned the right to keep it from a default of options. Injuries to Quarterback’s Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart opened the door for the underrated play of 5th round draft pick T.J Yates from North Carolina.

Some may argue that Yates is this years “Rex Grossman” or “Trent Dilfer” of the playoffs, a manage the game-QB, yet I tend to disagree. Already added to the record books for the first QB to win a Texans Playoff game, T.J Yates is gaining the confidence from the team and fans with every passing down. He is looking better than expected and in my opinion has great prowess and determination, something that is needed to become a leader at the QB position.

Things will be interesting next year once Schuab becomes the starter again, with a lack of NFL talent at the QB position around the league, a phone call or two could be made in acquiring this new fan favorite Texan.

9. DE Justin Tuck- Giants
3rd round selection (74th overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft

The Giants have a nose for finding excellent pass rushers and Justin Tuck might have been one of their better late round picks. The 2005 draft class overall grade for defensive ends wasn’t projected to be anything special, still names like Marcus Spears, Luis Castillo and Shaun Cody did all get extra attention early on. The Giants were patient and stole Tuck in the 3rd round. For the last 7 years Tuck has been a wrecking havoc on QB’s as he has cracked the double digit sack total 3 times (10,12,12) and been a vocal leader amongst his team

8. RB Frank Gore- 49er’s
3rd round selection (65th overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft

I tried to find a player from each team in the 2011-12 playoffs, and sadly could only pull Frank Gore out of the bag for San Fran. The 49er’s are currently a team made up of 1st round talent and don’t seem to make the most out of the middle to late rounds. Still, Frank Gore is definitely a sleeper gem that 49er fans can be happy with, he is no doubt deserving of being on this list.

Frank Gore has been able to reach the 1000 yard mark in all but two of his 7 NFL seasons. This Sunday’s post-season game is a first for Frank Gore, along with many 49er’s as the team hasn’t made the playoffs since 02

7. DE Elvis Dumervil- Broncos
4th round selection (126th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft

At 5 feet 11 inches tall many NFL scouts had their doubts about this 2006 4th round pick defensive end. Yet after an amazing 07-08 season with 12 sacks and a interception, Elvis Dumervil was thought as the one of leagues best steals of the ’06 draft. In 2009 defensive coordinator Mike Nolan moved Dumervil to outside linebacker in his 3-4 defensive scheme, but keeping him as a defensive end on 4-3 passing down situations. The result was Dumervil leading the league in sacks with 17.

6. TE Jimmy Graham- Saints
3rd round selection (95th overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft

Someone somewhere needs to make a movie about this guy, Jimmy Graham is a great NFL story. Not only is Graham a lethal redzone threat he looks to take over the fantasy world for years to come.

Check out a great read by very own Ahmed Helmy called: Jimmy Graham: Fantasy Man-Crush

5. RB James Starks- Packers
6th round selection (193rd overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft

Starks found himself the lead RB playoff starter for the Packers Super Bowl run last season. His solid performance and above average stat’s has lead him to a split RB starting roll for this 2011 season. Starks was a massive steal in the 6th round of the 2010 draft, a player that some believe was a lifesaver at many points throughout the Packers dominance over the past 2 years. Definitely a diamond in the rough find

4. DE Brett Keisel- Steelers
7th round selection (242nd overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft

The Steelers were eliminated from the playoffs in an upset Wildcard weekend, but that won’t stop me from adding one of the greatest all-time steals in NFL draft history. Brett Keisel was taken in the 7th round of the 2002 NFL draft and has made the Steelers what they are today. Keisel has been an anchor for the Steelers defensive line and compiled 200 tackles over the last 10 years

3. RB Ahmad Bradshaw- Giants
7th round selection (250th overall) of the 2007 NFL Draft

A Tiki Barber replacement that seems to get better with every year. Bradshaw has been practicing just once per week since returning from his foot injury in Week 13, yet his value to the team is unspeakable. Bradshaw and Jacobs work so much better when they are both healthy and active. One of the reasons why the Giants don’t want to let this RB go. As a pure value pick 250th overall Ahmad Bradshaw makes the NFL Draft Steal list for playoff teams in 2012.

2. WR Marques Colston- Saints
7th round selection (252nd overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft

How in the hell did 31 teams pass on this guy? Was their zero scouting done for Hofstra. Back in 2006, following the trade of wide receiver Donte Stallworth, Colston was inserted into the starting lineup for week 1 of the season. He becoame one of the few seventh round picks to ever to start week 1 for their team and has never looked back.

1. QB Tom Brady- Patriots
6th round selection (199th overall) of the 2000 NFL Draft

Of course it’s Tom Brady! who else could be added to a list of amazing NFL draft steals. The New England Patriots made the unusual decision to carry four quarterbacks on the roster back in 2000. Brady started the season as the fourth string quarterback, behind starter Drew Bledsoe and backups John Friesz and Michael Bishop; by the end of the season, Brady was number two on the depth chart behind Bledsoe. During his rookie season, he was 1-of-3 passing, for six yards.

Tom Brady holds numerous regular season and postseason records, including: most touchdown passes in a regular season (50); most consecutive regular-season home wins (31); highest winning percentage of any quarterback during his first 100 starts (76 wins); most completions in one Super Bowl (32); and the list goes on for days.

Brady is the fourth-fastest player to reach 200 career passing touchdowns (116 games) and he is the first quarterback in NFL history to have reached this mark with fewer than 100 career interceptions (88 interceptions)

Without a doubt Tom Brady was the greatest NFL Draft steal of all time.

10 Amazing NFL Draft Steals, Starting in the Playoffs Gridiron Experts Gridiron Experts - Where Fantasy Football Champions Are Born

 NFL Playoff Picks: Divisional Round

The point spread for this up coming NFL playoff weekend is massive, and something I want nothing to do with. Either the oddsmakers are using the same computer that brought us a terrible BCS championship game or someone has been drinking the kool aid. Clearly the Tebow magic can keep things closer than 14 points and as the Texans and Giants a few of our pick’em experts think they make for decent upset picks on the road.

Kevin Roberts was the top pick’em expert last week going 4-0

NFL Playoff Picks

Overall

NFL Playoff Picks: Divisional Round Gridiron Experts Gridiron Experts - Where Fantasy Football Champions Are Born

The NFL will kick off it’s 2012 post-season tournament on Saturday at 4:30 Eastern with a rematch between the Cincinnati Bengals and Houston Texans and it’s doubtful that you’ll see another playoff match-up between two franchises more desperate for a post-season victory.

To say that the excitement level in Houston is at a fever-pitch would be an understatement. This will be the first ever playoff game for a Texans team that debuted as the NFL’s 32nd franchise ten long seasons ago. It has been 17 years since pro football fans in the Bayou City have seen a playoff contest that involved their team.

It’s been an even longer post-season victory-drought for Bengals fans. Ironically, Cincinnati’s  last playoff win came at the expense of Houston when the Bengals defeated the Oilers at the old Riverfront Stadium on January 6, 1991. At the time of Saturday’s kickoff, it will have been 21 years and one day since Bengals fans will have celebrated an NFL playoff win.

As they say, something has to give….

When Houston has the ball

The Texans have been decimated by injuries on both sides of the ball. Having lost starting quarterback Matt Schaub (foot), then losing back-up QB Matt Leinart, Houston was forced to turn to  fifth round rookie-signal caller T.J. Yates. Yates made his debut as the starter in Week 14 and engineered an exciting, fourth quarter comeback to lead the Texans back from a 16-3 halftime deficit to a 20-19 victory over these same Cincinnati Bengals.

Houston has also spent a significant portion of the season without their best two players.  All-Pro wide receiver Andre Johnson  battled separate hamstring injuries that limited him to seven games, while DE/LB Mario Williams was off to an amazing start before he was lost for the season with a pectoral injury after five games.

Offensively, Gary Kubiak has altered his offense to not overwhelm his rookie signal-caller. He has relied more upon Houston’s second ranked rushing attack (153.0 ypg) and on short tosses to FB James Casey and tight ends Owen Daniels and Joel Dreessen. 

Look for that trend to continue in this game. Houston will try to establish the run early, utilizing both Arian Foster and Ben Tate. But one added element that has been absent from the Texans offense for quiet some time will be the return of WR Andre Johnson. Early success with the ground game will lead to play-action opportunities downfield for Johnson and Daniels.

Bolstering the club’s offensive line will be the return of G Mike Brisiel, who played through the Cincinnati game with a fractured fibula. His return should restore cohesion to a group that has been excellent in run-blocking.

The Texans won’t find the going easy against Mike Zimmer‘s 4-3 defensive scheme. The Bengals D ranked seventh in the league. Led by DT Geno Atkins and DE Michael Johnson‘s aggressive blitzes, Cincy finished fifth in the NFL with 21.5 sacks and ranked second with 12 fumble recoveries. They have an excellent group of linebackers in Thomas Howard, Manny Lawson and Rey Maualuga.

One advantage Gary Kubiak will have is to dictate which cornerback, Adam Jones or Nate Clemens, he will attack with Andre Johnson.  Zimmer does not roll his DB’s to cover any particular receiver.

When Cincinnati has the ball

Though T.J. Yates has done an admirable job as a rookie, the toast of the league has been Cincinnati’s fellow freshman QB, Andy Dalton. Dalton and indeed the Bengals have far exceeded expectations in going 9-7 and snagging the AFC’s final playoff berth.

Dalton finished the year with 20 touchdown passes versus only 13 interceptions; a nice feat for a rookie.  He showed a lot of poise and solid leadership. Most impressive may have been Dalton’s chemistry with fellow rookie, WR A.J. Green.  Green and Dalton look like the next great QB-WR combo in the NFL for years to come.

Green, the likely offensive rookie of the year, led the club with 65 receptions, 1057 yards and seven touchdown grabs. He showed an ability to leap above double coverage and make the big catch. Other key receivers include tight end Jermaine Gresham (56-596-6), Jerome Simpson (50-725-4) and Andre Caldwell (37-317-3)

Unlike Houston, Cincy will rely more on their aerial attack than on the rush. The Bengals were 19th in the league on the ground and were led by Cedric Benson, who managed to eclipse 1000 yards again, while punching in six rushing scores. Bernanrd Scott began to garner more carries down the stretch, so it’s possible that head coach Marvin Lewis and offensive coordinator Jay Gruden will give him a handful of carries.

No doubt the Bengals will look to establish their passing attack early. Look for them to try to attack CB Kareem Jackson, who continues to struggle in coverage. Green will likely be blanketed by ProBowl CB (and former Bengal) Jonathan Joseph. If Green is contained, Gresham or Simpson could be in for a big day against Jackson.

If Cincinnati establishes a second-half lead, expect a healthy dose of Cedric Benson. That strategy was successful in the first half of the prior meeting, before Houston’s defense shut down the run in the second half. Benson finished that game with 91 rushing yards on 21 totes.

The addition of defensive coordinator Wade Phillips may have been the single greatest off-season move in the NFL. Wade turned a historically pathetic Texans defense into a dominant unit in one season. It’s all the more remarkable that Phillips installed an entire new 3-4 scheme without the benefit of OTA’s.

Phillips’ importance to the Texans turnaround can not be overstated, but the club also added some key play-makers that have excelled. Free agent CB Jonathan Joseph has become a shut-down corner and the club got huge contributions from it’s rookie class, especially 1st round DE J.J. Watt and 2nd round LB Brooks Reed.

Despite the fact that Houston lost it’s top defensive player, Mario Williams, after five games, they still finished 2nd in the NFL in overall team defense. Watt, DT’s Shaun Cody and Earl Mitchell generated consistent pressure and opened things up for the unit’s real strength, it’s linebacker corps.

Led by rookie Brooks Reed and team sack leader Connor Barwin on the outside and ILB’s Brain Cushing and DeMeco Ryans, Houston’s group of linebackers is perhaps the youngest and deepest foursome in the league.

The Verdict

After winning seven straight to briefly sit atop of the AFC’s playoff picture, the Texans limp into the postseason on a painful three game skid that included losses to Carolina, Tennessee and the lowly Indianapolis Colts. They’ll need to regroup quickly in order to beat a very tough Bengals squad twice in a month. No doubt a frantic crowd at sold out Reliant Stadium will help make things difficult for the Cincinnati offense.

Led by two dynamic rookies on offense, many say that the Bengals over-achieved this season, but their defense is for real. Going 9-7 and qualifying for the post-season in a very strong AFC North is an impressive feat. But the Bengals struggled in one key area: winning games against superior opponents. They finished 0-7 against teams that made this post-season.

Vegas basically has these two teams as even, listing Houston as only a three point favorite. The over/under on this game is also fairly low, at only 38.5 points.

Look for the Texans to establish a strong running game early against a fading Bengals run defense. As good as Andy Dalton has been, he’s going to have difficulty on the road against a superior defense.

The Texans are led by an inexperienced 5th round QB, but appear to have a couple of key ingredients that are often commonplace in Superbowl winners: A dominant defense and a strong rushing attack.

NFL Playoff Preview: Bengals at Texans Gridiron Experts Gridiron Experts - Where Fantasy Football Champions Are Born

NFL Playoff Preview:

Who’s Got Enough to Win the Super Bowl? 

It’s time to break down the NFL playoff teams and discuss what will be their route toward victory or what will ultimately be their downfall. Some might seem obvious, others maybe not so much, but here is NFL Playoff Rundown to each team that could make a run toward the Lombardi trophy.

AFC

New England

• They win because . . . Tom Brady stays healthy and the passing game stays as lethal as it has been for the entire season. No team – maybe in the history of the league – utilizes the tight end better than the Patriots have this season and you still have Wes Welker to worry about.

• They lose because . . . The defense stinks. True they have not given up as many points as some other teams, but offenses have gone up and down the field on them all season. If they get into a game where Brady and company are slowed down even a little, they could be in for a short playoff run.

Baltimore

• They win because . . . They are allowed to play Ravens football. Although the defense doesn’t get the headlines of a few years ago, it is still pretty good. Like third in the league good. That Ray Rice guy is pretty good too. They have tried to even things out the last few years, but this team is still built on defense and running the ball. They are allowed to do that, they win.

• They lose because . . . They have to play out of character. If they have to play from behind or if they turn the ball over they will have to put the game on Joe Flacco’s shoulders. Flacco has gotten better every year, but the Ravens lose when Rice is not the most effective offensive player on the Ravens. Take the running game out of the offense and the Ravens fall.

Houston

• They win because . . . They play like the Ravens. They play great defense and pound with the running game. The Texans have the best one two running back duo in the league and a defense that ranks second in the league in yards allowed.

• They lose because . . . They get poor quarterback play. Week 17 Yates was hurt early, nothing serious, but enough to force the Texans to insert Jake Delhomme into the game. Either it’ll be lack of experience from Yates or lack of ability from Delhomme, one way or another this team has a weak link.

Denver

• They win because . . . They play outstanding defense and the opponent’s offense doesn’t show up. If they have great games running the ball, and the defense plays like it has most of the season, they’ll have a chance.

• They lose because . . . Not to state the obvious, but because of the caliber of quarterback. Tim Tebow has been a great story and John Fox should win Coach of the Year for how he was able to get this team to the playoffs, but this offense can’t score enough points to succeed in the playoffs.

Pittsburgh

• They win because . . . Their defense dominates the way it can and Big Ben is healthy enough to be effective. They have been solid throwing the ball all season.

• They lose because . . . They can’t stay healthy on offense. The running game is going to take a step back with the loss of Rashard Mendenhall. The passing game could be fragile as well with as beat up Roethlisberger has been – one big hit and the offense is crippled.

Cincinnati

• They win because . . . I hate to sound like a broken record, but they win if their defense can keep them in the game. The Bengal defense has played well all year. If they can keep them in the game and allow the offense to run the ball and take some pressure off rookie Andy Dalton, they can advance.

• They lose because . . . They fall behind or turn the ball over. As much praise as Dalton and fellow rookie A.J. Green have deservedly received this year, the fact is outside of Denver they have the least effective offense in the AFC field. This offense is not ready to consistently comeback against top teams.

NFC

Green Bay

• They win because . . . The offense keeps humming right along. For my money Aaron Rodgers has had the best season of any quarterback this year. Most years that would be a no brainer, but a couple other guys have had ridiculous years too. That being said the Packers offense has been slowed down once this whole year, I don’t see it happening a second time.

• They lose because . . . Before the Lions’ game I was going to say if Rodgers goes down, but Matt Flynn made me put that logic to bed. The real reason the Pack lose is the defense. There has been many games that have proved that there are holes against explosive offensive opponents.

San Francisco

• They win because . . . The defense continues to dominate and Alex Smith continues to play within himself. Smith has made great strides this year, but if he tries to do too much, or if the defense slips up just a little, the offenses in this field will kill you.

• They lose because . . . The offense can’t control the clock with the running game and the defense is not dominating. A team like the 49ers needs to play solid in all phases. Even a sub-par special teams game will doom the team by the Bay.

New Orleans

• They win because . . . Not to state the obvious, but they simply out score you. If Drew Brees is allowed to pick apart even a top defense he will. They have shown this season that they have no remorse and will pound you into submission if you can’t stop them.

• They lose because . . . The offense can’t keep up its pace. Weather could be a big factor for the Saints. They will have to go into possibly windy San Francisco and then potentially cold and snowy Green Bay. If they can deal with the elements, The Saints could end up in the Super Bowl.

New York

• They win because . . . Eli Manning continues to play at a high level. The defense has played well for stretches this season. The running game has had its moments, but the whole team has been inconsistent this year. The one steadying factor has been Manning.

• They lose because . . . The defense can’t do enough to keep them in the game. Manning has brought his team back in the fourth quarter a lot this year, but that won’t last long in the playoffs, especially on the road where they will have to play the majority of their games.

Atlanta

• They win because . . . They realize they need to rely on Matt Ryan and the passing game to support, not supersede Michael Turner and the running game. While improved, the passing game can’t keep up with the other offenses in this field. The Falcon defense certainly can’t.

• They lose because . . . They can’t keep the scoreboard under control. They might not have the offense to win a shoot out against the Giants, much less the Saints or Packers. They fall behind and are forced to abandon the running game, they are in trouble.

Detroit

• They win because . . . Their young stars play like it’s a regular season game with the pressure of winning it all. If Matthew Stafford, Ndamukong Suh and the rest of the young Lions stay poised, they have the talent to win a few games in the playoffs.

• They lose because . . . They show their immaturity. This team is not beyond shooting itself in the foot with stupid penalties. They are a quickly rising team in the NFC, but they are a few pieces away if they don’t control themselves. If they eliminate the stupid penalties they have the talent to hang with anyone in this field.

NFL Playoff Rundown: Who Win’s It All, and Why? Gridiron Experts Gridiron Experts - Where Fantasy Football Champions Are Born

A 2011 NFL “Year in Review”

So maybe you didn’t win your fantasy league. Maybe you didn’t even make it to the fantasy playoffs. Or perhaps you’re hoisting your invisible fantasy trophy over your head right now. Whatever the case, this was surely a season full of highlights, lowlights and anything & everything in between for the NFL.

Next year we’ve got some hot rookies looking to stay gold in their upcoming sophomore seasons. Andy Dalton, Tim Tebow and Cam Newton saw the most success among all rookie QB’s. While Dalton and Tebow have their teams poised to make a run at the playoffs, Cam and his Panthers will be watching the games from whichever couch they feel is best. Still, Newton has had a season that will go down as a great one for a rookie quarterback. He’s rushed for 14 touchdowns and thrown for 20 more. Not too shabby for a 22 year old Heisman winner from Georgia I’d say.

Some key season ending injuries were no doubt the cause of much frustration within the fantasy ranks this year. Early on, Jamaal Charles went out for the season against the Lions. This was a crushing blow not only to the Chiefs team, but to his fantasy owners that expected top notch numbers out of him this year. While the Chiefs have had many multi-faceted problems this season, the loss of Charles was definitely worth a mention as it took out their entire running game.

Darren McFadden has essentially missed the last 9 full games with an injury of his own. Although he hasn’t been put on injured reserve, he might as well have been, as his fantasy numbers went from stellar, to non-existent in his absence. This opened the door for Michael Bush to step up and have a solid season in place of McFadden. Those owners lucky enough to pick up Bush in place of McFadden weren’t totally devastated at the injury, but surely missed the excitement that Darren had to offer with his running style.

And then there’s the Colts playing their season without their perennial all-pro, Peyton Manning. To say it’s been disastrous would be an understatement, although the Colts have managed to string together a couple wins in a row. Some think this could potentially (with a capital P) save coach Jim Caldwell’s job. If they can pull off a victory in the final game of the season, Caldwell could have even more breathing room as it relates to his job, but surely won’t make any new Colt fans in the Andrew Luck sweepstakes. The question then remains: if the number one pick in the draft is lost, would the two or three victories be worth it? Manning mentoring Luck probably wouldn’t be such a bad way to go. As history has shown, many of the QB greats have grown under the wings of superstar predecessors. But don’t pack your bags for Indianapolis just yet Mr. Luck, this game has a funny way of surprising us.

DeMarco Murray showed us all a reason to be legitimately excited about drafting him early next year. He lit up the Rams earlier this year for over 250 yards on 25 carries. Yeah, he soon became the Cowboys’ featured back for the rest of the season (until he got hurt of course). A solid runner, Murray gave Dallas plenty of optimism and reason to believe their running game can be a force to be reckoned with for some time to come.

I’m sure you know, but in case you live underneath a rock, Drew Brees just broke Dan Marino’s single season passing record of 5,084 passing yards set in 1984. Brees now has a total of 5,087 passing yards on the season, and if he plays in it, still has one game left to add on to that number. The record breaking game in New Orleans vs. the Atlanta Falcons was delayed for a few minutes while Brees and his team mates were allowed to relish in the historical moment. If you’re anything like me, you were thinking [finally a record broken without controversy by someone that doesn’t use performance enhancing drugs and that is actually likeable]. Apparently Marino himself is okay with his record falling to this particular player. Upon the record being broken, Marino is quoted as tweeting “great job by such a special player.” A humbled Brees later gave much credit to his team mates for accomplishing this feat. While addressing his team mates in the locker room after the game, Brees stated, “there may be only one name that goes into the record book, but it’s all about you guys.” If that’s not the definition of humility and class, then I don’t know what is. Congratulations Drew.

And in what is arguably the biggest story in the NFL this year, Tim Tebow has grabbed fans of this league by the collar and is staring intently into the eyes of his haters. You can dislike him all you want, plenty of people already do regardless of his performance. But one thing is certain: you can’t deny his dedication to winning or question his intensity. Tebow might be gaining publicity by treading in water that many choose to never disturb, but at the end of the day we’re still talking about him, and that’s the point. Publicity is publicity. Love him or hate him, the whole country is talking about him and that bodes all kinds of well for Mr. Tebow and his pocket book in the future. How’d you like to be his agent right now? In all seriousness, the bottom line here is clear, Denver owes a great deal of its success this season to that Tebow guy. And to briefly touch on the taboo-portion of this Tebow debate, the integrity of this league should never be compromised by one individual and his personal beliefs, regardless of our own thoughts about them. Tim Tebow is a good football player and that’s why we watch him.

That’s the bottom line. His religious faith has nothing to do with it. He can believe anything he wants, but it’s our responsibility to keep our focus and discussion about his on-field play, not his off-field beliefs. Now if Tebow can offer the same courtesy in return and when asked a football question, comeback with a football, not religious based answer, then all will be balanced in the equation. And besides, the guy isn’t deliberately offensive, nor is he breaking any league rules. He just chooses to very openly speak his mind about his faith. This may or may not turn out to be a problem for him, but that depends on his ability (or lackthereof) to constantly keep his word filter on full blast. Everyone knows that based on general respect for others, it’s an unspoken rule to only go so far with religious talks, especially when in the media spotlight like Tebow. I’ve yet to witness him crossing that line, and even if he tried to, rest assured the Bronco’s PR person would quickly remind him of that proverbial boundary. The fact remains, the Tebow story is an intriguing one by any definition, regardless of your take on the guy. He has become a favorite topic for media outlets, a conversation piece among friends and a surprising new addition to the list of “must watch players” in this league, and he’s done all this whether we like it or not. We have to at least respect that.

So, before the season started, what if someone had told you that the Chargers, Eagles, Colts and Bears would be eliminated from playoff contention, and the Jets, Giants and Cowboys are one week away from sharing the same fate? And what if they told you the Texans, Bengals, Broncos, Raiders and Lions were all either in the playoffs or one week away from getting there? And suppose they told you the 49ers would be nearing a 13 win, first round bye type of a season, would you have believed any of that? Well the time for believing is now.

Heading into the final week of the season, here are a couple of key games to watch as well as a full breakdown of all playoff scenarios:

Dallas Cowboys (8-7) @ New York Giants (8-7)
This is for all the marbles. Whichever team wins takes the reigns as champions of the NFC East. Both teams have had up and down seasons, with all the reason in the world to hold their heads up even if ousted from the post-season. The bright spots have outweighed the dark this season for these two teams, despite less success than originally predicted. And what’s more exciting than two division rivals duking it out for a playoff spot on the final game of the year? This is one you won’t want to miss!

Baltimore Ravens (11-4) @ Cincinnati Bengals (9-6)
If you’re Cincinnati it’s simple, win and you’re in. Baltimore on the other hand has a few scenarios that could play out for them. If they win and the Patriots lose, they’ve got the number one seed in the AFC and home field advantage throughout the playoffs. If they win and the Patriots win as well, they will secure the second seed and a bye in the first round. A Steelers loss will also clinch the division for them. This is a crucial game in determining many AFC post-season matchups.

49ers – clinch a first round bye with

• Win, or
• Tie and Saints loss or tie, or
• Saints loss

Saints – clinch a first round bye with

• Win and 49ers loss or tie, or
• A tie and 49ers loss

Patriots – clinch home field advantage throughout with

• Win or tie, or
• Ravens loss or tie and Steelers loss or tie

Steelers – clinch division and first round bye with

• Win and Ravens loss or tie, or
• A tie and Ravens loss

Steelers clinch home field advantage throughout playoffs with

• Win and Ravens loss or tie and Patriots loss

Broncos – clinch division with

• Win, or
• Tie and Raiders loss or tie, or
• Raiders loss

Raiders – clinch division with

• Win and Broncos loss or tie, or
• Tie and Broncos loss

Raiders clinch wild-card berth with

• Win and Bengals loss and Titans loss or tie
• Win and Bengals loss and Jets win

Bengals – clinch wild-card berth with

• Win or tie, or
• Jets loss or tie and Raiders loss or tie, or
• Jets loss or tie and Broncos loss or tie

Jets – clinch a wild-card berth with

• Win and Bengals loss and Titans loss or tie and Raiders loss or tie, or
• Win and Bengals loss and Titans loss or tie and Broncos loss or tie

Titans clinch a wild-card berth with

• Win and Bengals loss and Jets win and Raiders loss or tie, or
• Win and Bengals loss and Jets win and Broncos loss or tie, or
• Win and Jets loss or tie and Raiders and Broncos win

Confused yet? Don’t worry, the playoff picture will come into focus after this weekend. Whether your team is still in the race or out of contention, we trust you will still be glued to your TV’s…there’s not much better than post-season football in the NFL.

Enjoy the games and have a safe and happy new year!

A 2011 NFL “Year in Review” Gridiron Experts Gridiron Experts - Where Fantasy Football Champions Are Born

Fantasy Football RB Rankings Week 16

Congratulations to those of you who are about to compete in your fantasy Super Bowls. Months of research and dedication have paid dividends, and you are now very close to a championship. This column will help with your RB management in this critical week.

Below, you will find comprehensive rankings of the top 40 running backs for this week’s games. Plus, some commentary to assist you with your lineup dilemmas. If you own any of the elite backs that are unquestioned must starts, this column will not reiterate what you already know, with glowing accounts about their explosive ability. You really don’t need reassurance about starting Ray Rice against Cleveland, but you probably have a question about starting Steven Jackson against the Steelers. However, all matchups are important – good or bad – and will not be totally ignored either. But there will be more detail provided about the backs that are most likely to create indecisiveness. And hopefully, you will finish reading this having secured the solutions that you need.

As you consider your matchups, and monitor injuries, weather conditions and other factors, remember that the Texans and Colts are involved in the Thursday night game. Owners should make sure that Arian Foster, Ben Tate, and Donald Brown are safely inserted into their lineups before the early kickoff.

And, there is a full slate of games… 13 to be exact… that will take place on Saturday this week. There are no Sunday afternoon contests. There will be a Sunday night contest between Chicago and Green Bay, and Atlanta will visit New Orleans on Monday Night. Other than those two games, and the Houston vs. Indy matchup that was previously mentioned, all other teams will line up on Saturday.

With that, let’s progress to a detailed look at which running backs you should depend upon, to help maximize the chances of winning your Fantasy Super Bowl Matchup in week 16.

DEFINITE STARTS

Rashard Mendenhall
Fantasy owners will certainly embrace the transition from watching Mendenhall struggle to gain 64 yards against San Francisco’s top ranked rush defense on Monday, to now having the opportunity to line up against the league’s worst. The Rams have been the most hospitable unit to opposing rushers throughout the regular season, allowing 153.4 YPG, and an equally unsightly 4.8 YPC. With Ben Roethlisberger now out, the Steelers will place an even heavier emphasis on their running game. Mendenhall should improve considerably upon his 59.5 YPG, could generate his first 100-yard rushing performance since week 6, and will have an excellent opportunity to score his eighth TD. It’s a gift wrapped matchup, that you absolutely must take advantage of.

Marshawn Lynch
He is being included because the difficult matchup with San Francisco has some owners questioning his status. Normally, this column has advised against starting your RBs against the league’s most forbidding rush defense throughout the season, because it was highly possible that you would be able to find better alternatives for that particular week. But even though the 49ers’ body of work remains cause for concern, are you really comfortable sitting a back who has scored in 10 consecutive games? And has averaged 87 YPG in the process? It is very unlikely that you possess two superior options to Beast Mode currently on your roster. Lynch has helped bring you this far, and should be in your starting lineup.

C.J. Spiller
His week 15 matchup against Miami’s third ranked rush defense certainly appeared daunting. The Dolphins had only permitted 60.6 YPG in their last three contests, and had allowed just five TDs on the year. But Spiller rewarded fantasy owners who displayed the courage to start him, by bolting for 91 yards and a TD despite just 12 attempts. He also collected 76 yards and a second TD, on a team high nine receptions. He has now generated 275 yards on the ground since week 12, (69 YPG), while unmistakably becoming an integral part of Buffalo’s injury depleted offense. Spiller should deliver another productive outing against Denver’s 20th ranked rush defense.

Felix Jones
Those of you who utilized Jones in his first start since week 6, were rewarded with 108 yards against the Buccaneers’ 28th ranked rush defense. He has now accumulated 214 on 38 attempts (5.6 YPG) since being elevated back into the role of Dallas’ primary back. It will be more difficult to shred the 17th ranked Eagles’ rush defense with the same totality that he did against Tampa Bay’s woeful defensive unit. However, if Jones hamstring does not prohibit him from performing, he should once again receive an extensive workload, while backup Sammy Morris garners 10-12 carries as his backup. Just monitor his status leading up to Saturday.

DeAngelo Williams
Throughout much of the season teammate Jonathan Stewart appeared to be a more dynamic runner than Williams and this column repeatedly stated that. But in recent weeks, the situation has gradually reversed. After accumulating 61 on 15 attempts in Houston, Williams has now averaged 64 YPG since week 11. And his 6.2 YPC during that stretch exceeds his season average of 5.1. Concerns do remain. He averages just 10.1 APG, does not normally receive goal line carries, and is not a factor in Carolina’s passing attack. Those issues might n combine to place a cap on what Williams can accomplish for you if you start him. But, he has been running more proficiently in recent weeks, and has scored four TDs in the past three games. That is sufficient reason to employ him against Tampa Bay’s 30th ranked rush defense.

START THEM, BUT…

Chris Johnson
Fantasy owners were hopeful that Johnson would deliver his fourth 130+ yard rushing performance in the past six weeks against the vulnerable Indianapolis rush defense. Instead, they were forced to endure an underwhelming 55 yards, which was the third time that he has failed to reach 60 yards in the past five games. He did supplement his overall production, by collecting a season high 54 receiving yards, which salvaged the day for many of those otherwise disappointed owners. How many yards will he deliver against the Jaguars’ 14th ranked rush defense? It would be very difficult for anyone to predict, based upon his roller coaster season. But the belief here, is that he will provide around 70 yards, but fail to score.

Frank Gore
After exceeding 100 rushing yards in five consecutive games, and accumulating 634 in the process (127 YPG),
He has managed just 337 yards (56 YPG) in six games since. And, the 20 APG that he averaged during his extremely productive stretch, has dwindled to 16.5 since week 10. While Seattle’s 11th ranked rush defense is respectable, the matchup is not the biggest concern for fantasy owners. His workload, and productivity have clearly declined, and although it is perfectly logical for you to start him in view of his ability and earlier accomplishments, you should not expect a monster game statistically.

Steven Jackson
The same concern that has existed for the past five weeks remains for this week’s critical matchup. Due to injuries, and multiple shortcomings within the dreadful St. Louis offense, opposing defenses have the ability to focus sizable resources toward containing Jackson. He has scored just once since week 8, and has averaged only 51.8 YPG since week 10. Now, he must contend with a sixth ranked Pittsburgh rush defense, that will be primed to stop him. Again, Jackson is warrior, and deserves a better fate at this point in his career. There is simply too much for him to overcome, and he cannot deliver exceptional numbers for you.

Ahmad Bradshaw
He began the year by accumulating 440 yards in his first seven games (62.8 YPG), then missed four weeks with his foot injury. Since his return, Bradshaw has hardly been impressive, averaging just 36 YPG. And that would be much lower, had it not been for his 58-yard performance against Washington, which was bolstered by 33 yards on the Giants’ final drive. He will continue to share touches with Brandon Jacobs, which includes the coveted opportunities near the goal line. While he did score in week 15 for the first time since week 6, it occurred with just: 33 remaining in the game. He is worth starting, but only as a low end No. 2 against the Jets’ 16th ranked rush defense.

Donald Brown
For some unfathomable reason, several prominent sites are still not giving Brown credit for his success, in part because he has not captured a full time role. But he has easily surpassed Joseph Addai in terms of workload, and is immensely more productive. Brown has amassed 433 yards and 72.2 YPG in his last six games, compared to Addai’s 98 yards (24.5 YPG), in four games since returning from his hamstring injury. While the fifth ranked Texans’ rush defense will supply a daunting challenge, Brown does provide some big play potential, and will be allotted considerable opportunities. Fantasy owners can utilize him as a high end No. 3 or flex.

BEST WAIVER WIRE ADDITIONS

Kahlil Bell
Are you willing to make an addition to your roster in week 16? If so, Bell is your guy among RBs. He led the Bears in both rushing yards (65) and in receiving yards (43) against Seattle. Plus, he scored on a 25-yard reception, and elevated beyond Marion Barber into the feature back role. Barber carried just 11 times for 33 yards, and perfectly performed the role of spectator in the fourth quarter. Bell will provide versatility for fantasy owners, and should accumulate points as rusher and receiver against Green Bay. Particularly if the Bears ultimately trail by a considerable margin. If you are not enthralled with your current options, he is worth a shot.

Lance Ball
When Willis McGahee departed Denver’s week15 matchup with the Patriots, Ball amassed 105 total yards on just 13 touches. 64 of those yards were generated on the ground, and included a 32-yard scoring burst. Despite a statement from John Fox that McGahee’s absence was not due to injury, the thought here is that it actually was. Which would make it very possible that Ball will split touches with McGahee again in Buffalo. The Bills have been gashed for 591 yards in the past three weeks, which is a whopping 197 YPG. As a result, they have plummeted to 29th in rush defense, and could easily be shredded again. If you are searching for a week 16 spark, Ball is a wise roster addition.

Chris Ivory
He was included in this section last week, but since he is still available in many leagues, he will be discussed again. After gaining 74 yards on 18 attempts against the Vikings, he has now accumulated 127 yards on 31 attempts (4.1 YPC) in two games after reemerging in the Saints’ lineup due to Mark Ingram’s turf toe. His allotment of carries, and his effectiveness, are both consistent. And he can supply points to fantasy owners who are searching for an emergency boost at the flex position. He will line up against an Atlanta rush defense, that has allowed just 96.6 YPG during the season, but has been far more hospitable in the recent weeks.

Fantasy RB Rankings Week 16 Gridiron Experts Gridiron Experts - Where Fantasy Football Champions Are Born

Fantasy Playoff Sleepers Week 15

Making a fantasy football sleeper prediction in the summer or throughout the regular season really doesn’t come with too many consequences. A fantasy guru can simply shrug his shoulders, say “My Bad” and move on with his day. Yet when it comes to the fantasy playoffs, owners have a lot more at stake. After my Thursday night prediction article: RB Workhorses on a Short Week where I was near bang on with the results of Michael Turner and Jones Drew, I figured I’d take the bullet for the team and take a look at some brewing sleepers for this very important upcoming fantasy week.

So what is a playoff sleeper? I’m mean really…it’s week 15. There are no surprises at this point, you know who’s who and are not likely to start someone you haven’t gone with before. Yet, the game-plan for NFL teams is changing based on the standings in the league. Injury concerns for NFL clubs heading into the post-season are a critical decision that could even cost someone a coaching job if they’re not careful. Half-games of the leagues best performers wreck our chances at fantasy victory thanks to the undecided nature of a coaches mindset. Kevin Roberts kicked off our week with a rundown of who may be likely to be rested week 15, but nothing is set in stone until that 4th quarter rolls around.

My Fantasy advice for this week is to start guys that look to play even 3 quarters at the most, don’t over think it. I would much rather have Aaron Rodgers or Drew Brees for some of a game than Dan Orlovsky for all four quarters. Remember for teams like Green Bay, that have a shot at greatness, all it takes is a Kansas City spoiler alert for Rodgers to stick around. Fans of fantasy players on teams like Green Bay and New Orleans should almost hope for their opponent to take early leads in the game. I’m guessing if the score was 23-21 in the fourth quarter of the Packers/Chiefs game, Rodgers would stick it out to guarantee the win.

Nevertheless, here are a few Fantasy Playoff sleepers that either have a great match-up or are on teams that could see more opportunities from a starter being rested:

10. WR Demaryius Thomas

Tebow had a favorite target in Eric Decker, but has all of a sudden found new love in throwing to Demaryius Thomas. The 4th quarter miracle is unlikely to happen again against a tough disciplined Patriots group, so Tebow and company will need to keep the game close for all 4 quarters. Denver can’t afford to wait it out in a 10-0 game. The Broncos are aware of the secondary trouble for the Patriots and should be able to only use the read-option offense sporadically on Sunday. Tebow could look more like an NFL quarterback than ever if the play calling is smart. The shotgun formation that features the fake-step-foward dance move after the snap, should bite many defenders into giving up some even softer pass coverage. I expect to see Demaryius Thomas on the receiving end of at least 1 score and around 70 yards.

9. RB Ryan Grant
I have been answering a lot of questions on twitter lately about the possibility that Ryan Grant repeats his stellar performance from last week. It’s likely that the Packers could blow the doors off the Kansas City Chiefs early and use the running game to close it out. It is also possible that Grant sees 12 carries and spoils your week. Personally I would bump him up just a little in our Fantasy RB rankings, he should get you 60-70 yards with a possible TD.

8. WR Pierre Garcon
The Colts are terrible, but Garcon is having a pretty solid season considering. Indy is never leading in a game and will always be throwing. In PPR leagues Garcon is a decent 3rd WR.

7. TE Aaron Hernandez
At what point does a defense devote their entire attention to Rob Gronkowski? I mean, c’mon, the guy is breaking records and is the first look of Tom Brady’s every pass. Defenses should blanket him as much as possible while sending heat in Tom “Anger Management‘s” face. When they do, Hernandez should be a great target to slip into the open. I feel confident that Hernandez sees 60 yards and a Touchdown Sunday.

6. TE Brent Celek
If you were the Jets defensive coaching staff, how would you defend the explosive nature of the Eagles offense? Well if it was me, I would put Maclin on Revis Island, Cromartie on DeSean with safety help over the top, and blitz Mike Vick to force him to roll to his right. To counteract this defensive approach is a quick pass up the seam to a trusted possession target. Celek is your guy, he could crack 100 yards and have 6-7 receptions for you PPR owners.

5. New York Giants Defense
Not much of a sleeper as they are coming off a great win on the road in Dallas. But did you the Redskins are expected to start undrafted rookie Willie Smith at left tackle in Sunday’s game against the Giants? They’ll have Tyler Polumbus at right tackle against a fearsome Giants pass rush. Meanwhile, Jason Pierre-Paul is likely to bolster his Defensive Player of the Year resume on Sunday as he blasts past Willie Smith. Link: Rotoworld

4. WR James Jones
Very high risk start, and I would only recommend him if you hate your fantasy match-ups. The simple logic here is that the depth chart WR’s all take a step up the ladder with Greg Jennings out. Like I said it’s high risk, but he could have a monster game.

3. WR Plaxico Burress
Who knows the Eagles better than a guy who got more boo’s than Terrell Owens in that Stadium. Plaxico was the heartburn that boiled in the bellies of the Eagles faithful for years. He was a constant threat and a player who spoiled many Eagle secondaries. It’s been a while, but he knows and performs well in Philadelphia.

2. QB Andy Dalton
Odd’s are all the remaining fantasy owners are stacked with the very best at the Quarterback position. If you have someone how made it with a rotation of (bums) tier 2-3 players, I suggest checking out our QB Fantasy Rankings.

Dalton should be able to put up 300 yards and a couple scores against the Rams, who are fresh off a butt-kicking on a short week.

1. RB Ben Tate
When will the Texans pull Arian Foster from the game? Even if it resulted in a loss, I’m sure the Houston area wouldn’t care knowing he’d be healthy for the playoffs. With everyone from Mario Williams to Wade Phillips getting hurt on this team, the Texans have defied all odds in 2011. They are truly an elite AFC team, and have turned a franchise corner as a future team to beat. The Texans have just clinched their first trip to the post-season and the fans are going to be losing their minds when that is announced to them this Sunday. The Panthers are about to face a team that is running on pure adrenaline and excitement. It will be loud and crazy (by the way, a must start Fantasy Defense) and this game could get out of reach early. If that is the case, Ben Tate could see a heavy dose of the carries come the second half. In PPR leagues Tate holds extra value as he can be used in screens or dump offs that can add bonus points. I do expect him wanting to prove to the coaches that last weeks goal-line fumble was just a fluke, and that he is worthy of carries in the post season.

10 Fantasy Playoff Sleepers Week 15 Gridiron Experts Gridiron Experts - Where Fantasy Football Champions Are Born