Avery Bradley Injury Status: Out for Rest of Postseason

Was the Hate Towards Jonathan Papelbon Really that Necessary?

Connelly’s Top Ten: Red Sox Crowned Championship Contenders

Celtics Loss Lowers Expectations

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Fantasy Football Report: Week 16

Tis the end of the line for a lot of you out there. Most leagues have wrapped up their action in Week 16, leaving some to celebrate and others to plan for 2010. To those in leagues where Week 17 is the championship game, then you need to stick around and soak up all of the advice you can get.

Headlines

Colts Bench Starters

Sucks for anybody with Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne, or anyone else valuable on the Colts. Having already locked up the #1 seed in the AFC, head coach Jim Caldwell benched most of his starters for the majorityof the second half of Sunday’s game against the Jets. This came as a blow during most league’s fantasy championships. Just send your hate mail to Caldwell.

Matthew Stafford Placed on IR

Rookie QB Matthew Stafford was placed on the IR last Thursday, ending an injury-plagued rookie season. Daunte Culpepper and Drew Stanton will most likely share duties in the season finale against Chicago.

Jake Delhomme Placed on IR

Panthers QB Jake Delhomme was placed on injured reserve with a broken right finger. The Panthers said they would like Delhomme back next season, but with the emergence of Matt Moore as a dependable QB, Delhomme may find himself riding the bench.

Week 16 Top Performers

Tom Brady (QB), New England Patriots

Brady, despite injuries, tore apart the Jaguars for 267 yds and 4 TD.

Week 17 Outlook

The Patriots clinched the AFC East on Sunday, so I can’t see Brady playing that much against Houston. He may end up playing a couple of series and that’s it.

Jonathan Stewart (RB), Carolina Panthers

With DeAngelo Williams out, Stewart ran wild all over Giants for a career-best 206 yds and a score.

Week 17 Outlook

I can’t see a reason why the Panthers would rush DeAngelo Williams back for the season finale against against New Orleans, considering they are out of the playoff hunt. Start Stewart against the Saints, who have allowed 145+ rush yds in two straight games.

Roddy White (WR), Atlanta Falcons

After just 6 catches for 74 yds in his previous two games, White regained his form with 8 catches for 139 yds and 2 TD against Buffalo.

Week 17 Outlook

Atlanta won’t be going to the playoffs, but the starters should be playing anyway. White should put up good numbers against the lowly Bucs defense and White scored a TD in their last meeting.

Brent Celek (TE), Philadelphia Eagles

Celek continued his breakout season with a season-high 121 yds and a score.

Week 17 Outlook

The Eagles are in the playoffs, but could jockey for a better position against the Cowboys, who will also want better seeding. Celek and the rest of the team should play all four quarters.

Sebastian Janikowski (K), Oakland Raiders

Janikowski went 3/3 on field goals including making a career-long 61 yarder.

Week 17 Outlook

The Raiders host the Ravens at home. Baltimore is actually pretty bad on the road, going 2-5 this season. The Raiders may give more opportunities than you think to Janikowski.

New York Jets Defense/Special Teams

The Jets stopped the Colts’ perfect season by allowing just 15 points while picking up 2 sacks, 1 INT, 1 fumble recovery, 1 blocked kick, and 2 TD (defensive and return)

Week 17 Outlook

The Jets are playing for a playoff spot, so they will be going all out against a Bengals team that has already clinched their division.

Week 16 Duds

Peyton Manning (QB), Indianapolis Colts

Jim Caldwell puled his starters in the 3rd quarter, leaving the best players with minimal stats. Manning came away with 192 yds and no scores.

Week 17 Outlook

Expect the same, and probably a little less this week as the Colts will rest their starters against Buffalo.

Ricky Williams (RB), Miami Dolphins

Williams has been on a roll this season, but he hit a roadblock against Houston and rushed for only 35 yds before leaving with a shoulder injury.

Week 17 Outlook

The injury is minor and Williams says he will be fine. The Dolphins are still in the hunt, so they should be firing on all cylinders against Pittsburgh (who are also fighting for the playoffs)

Brandon Marshall (WR), Denver Broncos

Marshall did have 8 receptions, but they only went for 39 yds against Philadelphia.

Week 17 Outlook

The Broncos haven’t clinched a playoff spot yet, they still have to earn it. Marshall and Denver should have no trouble against Kansas City’s sorry defense.

Dallas Clark (TE), Indianapolis Colts

It’s the same story as Peyton Manning, Caldwell rested Clark in the 2nd half and he came up with 57 yds and no scores.

Week 17 Outlook

See Peyton Manning above.

Stephen Gostkowski (K), New England Patriots

No field goals, but I guess the five extra points were good. No, not in my book!

Week 17 Outlook

Gostkowski has made just four field goals in his lat five games. It is not a lack of accuracy, just no available opportunities. With the Patriots already in the playoffs, look for New England to rest their starters this week, which will create very little chances for Gostkowski to score.

Minnesota Vikings Defense/Special Teams

The Vikings have been a stellar defense all season, but they couldn’t fend off the Bears on Monday night as they allowed 36 points while getting 2 sacks and 1 INT.

Week 17 Outlook

Thanks to two straight losses, the Vikings are still fighting for a first round bye. Minnesota returns home for the season finale to host the struggling Giants. The Vikings allow less than 100 rush yds per game, but they are vulnerable through the air. I have a feeling Minnesota will stop Eli Manning.

Unexpected Stars

Devin Aromashodu (WR), Chicago Bears

Jay Cutler’s favorite receiver this week hauled in 7 catches for a career-high 150 yds and a TD.

Week 17 Outlook

QB Jay Cutler favors somebody different each week, so it is unrealistic to expect anywhere near a repeat performance. Then again, against Detroit, anything is possible.

Brandon Jackson (RB), Green Bay Packers

The backup running back scored 3 TD to go with 39 total yds.

Week 17 Outlook

This was in garbage time with the Packers up big. This could happen again since Green Bay has already secured a playoff spot and may want to rest key players.

Carnell Williams (RB), Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Cadillac looked good for once and he ran for 129 yds and a score. It was his first 100-yd game since Week 11 of 2006.

Week 17 Outlook

If you expect this to happen again, then you probably aren’t playing for a championship this weekend.

Tod Heap (TE), Baltimore Ravens

Heap only had two receptions for 37 yds, but both receptions went for touchdowns.

Week 17 Outlook

The Ravens are in the hunt for the playoffs, so they will be playing hard against Oakland. Heap has scored in two straight games (4 total), so he is clearly getting redzone looks.

Arian Foster (RB), Houston Texans

Foster was the highlight of the Houston backfield this week, rushing for 97 yds and a score.

Week 17 Outlook

He outcarried everyone else, and Houston is still in the playoff hunt. Houston will be playing all of their starters against a New England team that should be resting starters since they have clinched the AFC East.

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Tags: Brandon Marshall, Dallas Clark, Fantasy, Fantasy Football Report, Jake Delhomme, Jonathan Stewart, Matthew Stafford, Peyton Manning, Ricky Williams, Roddy White, Tom Brady

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