Bottom line, the cheatsheets are the final word.

Let's jump to it.

Joe

Note: Due to the Thanksgiving Holiday, the Matchups this week were written using injury information from Footballguys' Monday Injury report, because the official initial injury report isn't out yet. As always, Footballguys will make the official injury reports available as soon as they are released, and continue to update our readers with breaking news throughout the Holiday week.

Denver's Clinton Portis vs. The Oakland Defense (Great Matchup)

Clinton Portis limped around between plays with a heel injury last week, but was hardly lame when he had the ball in his hands - 14/165/0 (a 11.8 yards per carry average, with runs of 49 and 59 yards) was what he generated against the Bears on the ground (3/23/0 receiving). He has 7 100+ rushing yard games this season, on a team that is averaging 4.9 yards per carry (337/1660 yards as a team, 3rd most in the NFL). If he is on your fantasy team, you're probably heading for the playoffs. Last time he faced the Raiders, back in week 3, Portis was piling up the yards (10/42/0) but got knocked out of the game with a sternum injury. Start him and smile this week, though, because:

The Raiders sport one of the worst rush defenses in the NFL this year (30th in the league, allowing an average of 146.9 yards per game, with 14 rushing TDs given away to date.) Priest Holmes and the Chiefs racked up 25/142/2 against them last week, and the Vikings had 22/94/1 the week before. They have trouble stopping anybody right now.

Part of the Raider's problem is injuries - starting DT's John Parrella (groin) and Dana Stubblefield (ankle) have missed games in recent weeks, including last week. Denver's starting C Tom Nalen and starting G Dan Neil seem to always be on the injury report, but play week in and week out, regardless.

The forecast for Network Associate's Coliseum calls for a high of 61 F and a low of 43F with a 10% chance for precipitation. That's just about ideal football weather.

Portis and the Broncos are one of the top units in the NFL, while the Raiders are bottom-feeders in this phase. Advantage, Denver.

Houston's Domanick Davis vs. The Atlanta Defense (Great Matchup)

Domanick Davis had trouble in the red-zone last week, getting stuffed in several chances at the goal-line. He managed to amass 24/69/0 rushing with 1/6/0 receiving, but his 2.9 yards per carry average was well below what we've come to expect from the Texans (308/1191 rushing yards this season as a team, a 3.9 ypc average).He has only scored 1 TD in the last 4 weeks (53/246/1 rushing and 5/41/0 receiving during weeks 9-11), so he isn't lighting up the scoreboard in most fantasy leagues lately. Stacey Mack has missed the last few games with a toe injury, and the Texans have missed Mack at the goal-line.

The Atlanta rush defense isn't much of a defense in 2003, allowing a league-worst 17 rushing scores to date and ranking next-to-last in yards allowed per game (150.4) - pretty much everyone has a solid game against this bunch. The Titans, behind Eddie George and their 3.1 yards-per-carry season average, put up 35/144/1 as a team against the Falcons last week. Deuce McAllister and New Orleans tore them up for 36/210/2 two weeks ago - they are pathetic at rush defense in Atlanta.

Besides Mack, the Texans played last week without backup OL Milford Brown (knee). Atlanta's defense was slowed last week by a wide-spread flu bug, and DT Ed Jasper missed the game due to the illness.

The forecast for Reliant Stadium calls for a high of 77 F and a low of 58F with a 10% chance for precipitation. That's close to perfect football weather.

At home, against the super-flaccid Falcons D, Domanick Davis (and Mack, if he can get healthy) should enjoy a great game. A huge edge flows to the Texans in this matchup.

Kansas City's Priest Holmes vs. The San Diego Defense (Great Matchup)

Priest Holmes scored twice (18/85/2 rushing, with 7/98/0 receiving) on the Chargers the last time these two teams met, way back in week 1. Since then, the Chiefs have gone 10-1, and the Chargers are 2-9. Holmes was restricted to 16/62/0 rushing with 4/36/0 receiving by the Browns two weeks ago, but roared back to form against the Raiders last week (21/91/1 rushing and 6/100/0 receiving). He runs behind the league's 10th-ranked OL (in terms of yards-per-carry), averaging 4.4 yards per carry in 2003. There is no reason to expect Holmes to do less against the Chargers this time around than he did in September, because:

The Chargers are the 29th ranked rush D in the league, allowing 142.4 yards per game on average (8 scores given up to date). They have also given away 26 passing scores, worst in the league - which could bode well for Holmes owners, as he is such a double-threat. They have been stomped for 200+ yards rushing in each of their last two games - 201 yards surrendered to the Broncos two weeks ago, and 225 were given away to the Bengals last week. The Chargers are playing worse and worse as the weeks go by.

Starting LB Ben Leber (shoulder) was injured in the game last week, and reserve DL Raylee Johnson (foot) missed the game. Holmes and starting C Casey Wiegman suffered contusions in the game last week (shoulder and thigh, respectively), but both are considered minor injuries.

The forecast for Qualcomm Stadium calls for a high of 65 F and a low of 46F with a 30% chance for precipitation. If the rain comes down hard around game time, the field could get slick and slow, and ball handling may become an issue.

Holmes should eat up the Chargers like a Thanksgiving Feast.

New Orleans' Deuce McAllister vs. The Washington Defense (Great Matchup)

Nobody in the NFL is hotter than Deuce McAllister right now. He has 8 straight 100+ yard games rushing (and just missed 2 other games), and he has scored 2 rushing TDs and topped 200 yards combined in each of his last two games (19/184/2 rushing and 4/48/0 receiving last week; 28/173/2 rushing and 9/64/0 receiving two weeks ago). Just start him and smile all the way to the bank if he is on your fantasy roster.

Washington isn't very fearsome in this phase of the game, ranking as the 23rd NFL rush D this season (128.4 yards per game allowed, with 13 scores given away to date). 32/144/2 was the damage from the Dolphins last week, and Carolina also scored twice on the defensive front two weeks ago (35/110/2) - the Redskins don't scare anybody.

Starting DT Jermaine Haley continues to miss time for the 'Skins due to his injured hand/shoulder. New Orleans' starting G Kendyl Jacox is sidelined indefinitely due to his injured knee.

The forecast for FedEx Field calls for a high of 54 F and a low of 42F with a 10% chance for precipitation. A nice, cool day to play football is on tap.

McAllister is a fantasy force, and the Redskins are soft. Advantage, New Orleans.

St. Louis' Marshall Faulk vs. The Minnesota Defense (Great Matchup)

Marshall Faulk built on his first 100 yard effort of 2003 from two weeks ago by rushing for 24/100/1 (with 5/33/0 receiving) in the game against the Cardinals. He looks like he is finally finding his comfort zone in this offense again. The Rams are tied for 29th in the NFL averaging 3.4 yards per carry this year, so coach Martz and the Rams would love to see Faulk continue to run well during the stretch run to the playoffs.

Minnesota was crushed by the Raiders in this phase of the game two weeks ago, hemorrhaging 13/191/3 to the Garner-less Oakland attack. Last week, it was Detroit's turn to run at the Vikings - they managed 19/74/0. Minnesota is near the bottom of the league, allowing an average of 129.6 rushing yards per game with 13 scores given away to date. They are bouncing around that average in recent weeks - don't be too impressed with their dominance over the Lions, who have a very limited offense at this point in the season due to injuries.

Minnesota emerged from the Lions game healthy, although reserve LB Raonall Smith continues to miss time with his hamstring injury. St. Louis is finally healthy in this phase.

This game is to be played in the Edward Jones Dome, so weather is not a factor in the matchup.

Marshall Faulk at home on turf is a serious problem for most defenses, while the Vikings have been vulnerable in this phase lately, and soft most of the year. This looks like a great matchup for Faulk.

Tennessee's Eddie George vs. The New York Jets Defense (Great Matchup)

Eddie George ran all over the doormat Falcons last week, with 26/115/1 rushing and 2/7/0 receiving in the high-scoring affair. Two weeks ago, he had a more modest game against the stout Jaguars (20/73/0). Tennessee has been unimpressive all year in this phase as a team, averaging a league-worst 3.1 yards per carry. Fortunately for the Titans and Eddie George owners, the Jets are even worse at run defense than the Falcons.

The Jets' rush defense is abominable, ranking dead last in the league allowing an average of 154.5 yards per game, with 15 rushing scores surrendered to date. They have played down to that average in recent weeks - Jacksonville racked up 37/158/1 against them last week, and the Colts spanked them for 40/145/4 two weeks ago. They give up lots of yards and points by the barrel-full in 2003, folks.

The Jets' starting DE John Abraham re-injured his groin in the game on Sunday, and probably won't play this week. Tennessee's backup OL Matt Martin (knee) missed the game last week (he was listed as questionable).

The forecast for Giant's Stadium calls for a high of 54 F and a low of 35F with a 30% chance for precipitation. As this game is being played on Monday night, the precipitation could easily be sleet or snow - with another game on this same field on Sunday, and wet conditions, footing is likely to be an issue if there's damp or slick conditions. Ball handling is always an issue in the event of cold/damp weather.

A clear road to 100+ yards and at least one TD lies in front of Eddie George this week against the laughable Jets' defensive front.

Washington's Trung Canidate/Chad Morton vs. The New Orleans' Defense (Great Matchup)

The story out of Washington in this phase of the game is injuries - Ladell Betts remains sidelined by his injured forearm, and starting FB/backup RB Rock Cartwright missed the game last week with a bum ankle. In the absence of his supporting cast, Trung Canidate managed 20/69/1 rushing (with 2/12/0 receiving) last week, with an assist from Chad Morton (8/47/0 rushing and 2/21/0 receiving). It wasn't a world-beating performance, but Canidate put up some decent fantasy points for his owners last week. It looks like the Redskins will need to go with the same tandem this week, unless Cartwright's ankle improves rapidly.

New Orleans' rush D has been horrible in recent weeks, getting blown up for 32/201/2 by the Eagle's stable last week, and giving away 28/168/1 to the Falcons two weeks ago. Ouch. The Saints are the 27th ranked rush D in the NFL this season, allowing an average of 139.5 yards per game, with 10 rushing scores surrendered to date - they are playing much worse than those numbers indicate in recent weeks.

Starting LB Darrin Smith (groin) and starting DE Willie Whitehead (knee) missed the game on Sunday for the Saints. Both teams have injury issues heading into this matchup.

The forecast for FedEx Field calls for a high of 54 F and a low of 42F with a 10% chance for precipitation. A nice, cool day to play football is on tap.

Washington isn't really strong in this phase of the game, but they have a great opportunity in the form of the reeling Saint's defense in front of them this week.

Atlanta's Warrick Dunn/T.J. Duckett vs. The Houston Defense (Good Matchup)

First off, the word on Warrick Dunn is not good as his season is over after being placed on the IR list. Dunn was making the most of his return to the starting lineup, and had become a fantasy football point machine in the last few weeks, with 9/129/1 receiving and 14/14/0 rushing last week (T.J. Duckett plunged in a score, with 4/8/1 rushing on the day).

It looks like the Falcons are going back to Plan B with T.J. Duckett the rest of the way - he has averaged 4.2 yards per carry this season (101/426/7 rushing with 7/57/0 receiving), but isn't as much a factor in the passing game. His best game this season was in week 4, vs. Carolina, when he ran for 14/100/0 and snagged a pass for 21 yards. He has 5 TDs in the last 4 games (at least one score in every game), so he has been a stalwart around the goal-line even when he wasn't the starter. Justin Griffith will also likely see time.

Houston hasn't been too great in this phase lately, allowing 41/128/0 to the Patriot's stable last week, and 28/182/0 to Travis Henry and company two weeks ago. The team is 28th in the NFL allowing 140.3 rushing yards per game in 2003, and has coughed up 10 rushing scores to date. They have been very generous with yards between the 20's, but tougher in the red-zone, in recent weeks.

Starting DE Gary Walker (toe) has been sidelined in recent weeks, along with reserve LB's Antwan Peek (foot) and Steve Foley (shoulder). Atlanta's RT Todd Weiner (wrist) and LT Kevin Shaffer (shoulder) suffered minor injuries in the game last Sunday.

The forecast for Reliant Stadium calls for a high of 77 F and a low of 58F with a 10% chance for precipitation. That's close to perfect football weather.

The Falcons struggled in this phase against the top-ranked Titans' D last week - but Houston isn't Tennessee. T.J. Duckett should get his chances against a weak Texans' defensive front this week.

Buffalo's Travis Henry / Sammy Morris vs. The New York Giant's Defense (Good Matchup)

Travis Henry gutted it out last week, with 22/77/0 rushing and 4/21/0 receiving in the near-miss loss to Indianapolis. Sammy Morris plunged in a TD (1/7/1), and caught 3 balls for 23 yards in change-of-pace duty. Said coach Williams of Henry's heroics: "It's very impressive. He's a very tough player. He came in here with a toughness, and he shows us every single day what it is to be a battering ram, a running back in this league. It's a tough position to play . . . I'm glad he's on our team. He's a leader by example." (Buffalo News article by Bucky Gleason, 11/25/03). How much longer Henry's fractured fibula will hold out is anybody's guess right now, though - forewarned is forearmed, Henry owners.

The New York Giants were very generous with rushing TDs surrendered to Philadelphia two weeks ago - they gave up 2 scores even though the Eagles only managed 21/65 yards rushing. Last week, against the Buccaneers on Monday night, they allowed 38/93/1 and forced the Buccaneers to fight for every inch. This season, the Giants are smack in the middle of the league, allowing an average of 114.6 rushing yards per game (15th in the NFL) with 11 rushing scores given up.

Buffalo says that Henry got through the last game in decent shape, if a guy playing on a fractured fibula can be said to be in decent shape. Jonas Jennings is playing through a hip injury, LG Reuben Brown has a steadily worsening elbow injury, and RG Mike Pucillo injured his right big toe and couldn't continue last week. The OL is in danger of falling apart due to injuries and fatigue, folks. The Giants' defensive front didn't have any new injuries of note Monday night.

The forecast for Giants' Stadium calls for a high of 48 F and a low of 40F with a 10% chance for precipitation. That's good football weather.

If Henry's fibula (and the OL) will hold up, look for him to enjoy decent success against the reeling Giants.

Carolina's Stephen Davis vs. The Philadelphia Defense (Good Matchup)

Stephen Davis is looking to get back on top of his form - one week after cramming in the winning TD against the Redskins (28/92/1), he pounded the ball for 26/59/1 against the top-shelf Cowboy's defense - not a dominant performance, but he put in one of 5 scores the Cowboys have allowed all year. From week 9-11, Davis was the 6th best fantasy RB in FP per game, with 58/245/1 rushing and 2/40/0 receiving in 2 games. The Panthers average 4.2 yards per carry as a team, 12th in the NFL at this point in the season.

Philadelphia has persevered through numerous injury challenges in 2003, and currently ranks 20th in the NFL against the rush this season, allowing an average of 120.5 yards per game with X scores surrendered to date. Two weeks ago, the Giants gained 24/109/0, but last week New Orleans' Deuce McAllister smashed them for 19/184/2 rushing - they had no answers for McAllister last week.

Philadelphia escaped New Orleans largely intact - the Panthers came out of Dallas intact, too.

The forecast for Ericsson Stadium calls for a high of 59 F and a low of 47F with a 10 % chance for precipitation. Just about perfect football weather, in other words.

Davis and the Panthers love to pound the ball early and often, and should find themselves making decent gains against the middle-of-the-road Eagles' defenders.

Cincinnati's Rudi Johnson/Corey Dillon vs. The Pittsburgh Defense (Good Matchup)

The Bengals piled up 45/225/0 rushing against the Chargers, with Johnson and Dillon basically splitting carries (Dillon had 18/108/0 rushing with 1/5/0 receiving, Johnson put up 16/65/0 rushing and 2/21/0). It looks like the competition with Johnson has helped motivate Dillon, who played very well and may reclaim his starting job as a result. "I will just keep doing what the coaches ask me to," Johnson said. "As long as we keep winning, I don't care. We're just going out there telling each other we've got to get it done." (Cincinnati Enquirer article by Mark Curnutte). In any case, the Bengals have a heck of a 1-2 punch to deploy against Pittsburgh.

The last time these teams met, back in week 3, Corey Dillon was still the featured running back and Rudi Johnson was on the bench, so recent history isn't much of a guide in this matchup.

Two weeks ago, the Steelers were walloped to the tune of 32/169/1 by the San Francisco 49'ers, and they followed that performance up with 28/90/0 allowed to Cleveland's backup James Jackson and company. This season, the Steelers are in the top ten of NFL rush defenses, allowing an average of 98.8 yards but giving up 10 TDs - they are playing fairly well in this phase in recent weeks.

Cincinnati is down a couple of OL - backups Victor Leyva (ankle) and Matt O'Dwyer (foot) missed the game last week. Pittsburgh is reasonably healthy at this point.

The forecast for Heinz Field calls for a high of 58 F and a low of 43F with a 30 % chance for precipitation. If the rain comes down hard around game-time, the field could get sloppy and slow, and ball handling would become an issue.

Dillon and Johnson have got it going, and Kitna is playing well enough in the passing phase to force defenses to play the run honestly. We expect for both backs to see significant time again this week. Pittsburgh will have their hands full with this unit in week 13.

Chicago's Anthony Thomas vs. The Arizona Defense (Good Matchup)

Anthony Thomas had a hard time against the Broncos last week, putting up 21/60/0 rushing - two weeks ago, he hit the Rams for 23/92/1 in the close loss to St. Louis. The Bears average a respectable 4.0 yards per carry this season (302/1203 yards rushing as a team) - they are solid but unspectacular in this phase of the game.

Arizona has been pretty mediocre in this phase all season long, ranking 12th in the NFL allowing an average of 104.7 rushing yards per contest, with 9 rushing scores surrendered to date. Marshall Faulk had 24/100/1 against them last week, and Cleveland put up 33/89/2 rushing two weeks ago - 1/3 of the Cardinals' rushing scores allowed this season have been put in the end-zone in the last 2 games. They are struggling in this phase right now.

Chicago is relatively healthy in this phase of the game, while the Cardinals have been doing without reserve LB Gerald Hayes (shoulder) for many weeks. Injuries aren't a huge factor in this matchup.

The forecast for Soldier Field calls for a high of 53 F and a low of 35F with a 40% chance for precipitation. The precipitation could be rain, sleet or snow at this time of year - and wind is always an issue in Chicago at this time of year. If the field gets really wet, footing and ball handling will be issues in this game.

Thomas and the Bears mount a respectable if unspectacular attack, while the Cardinals play middle -of-the-road rush defense and have struggled in recent weeks. This looks like a good matchup for Thomas, at home in Chicago.

Green Bay's Ahman Green vs. The Detroit Defense (Good Matchup)

Ahman Green has been on a tear lately - from weeks 9-11, he was the top fantasy back in the land, with 71/438/2 rushing and 11/99/2 receiving. In week 12, he added 27/154/0 to that total in the game vs. San Francisco. He's a dominant force in fantasy football right now. Green Bay averages almost 5 ½ yards per carry this season as a team, leading the NFL. Way back in week 2, Green lit up the Lions for 23/160/1 (and the team ground out 35/200/1) rushing and backup RB Tony Fisher snagged 2/16/1 in the passing game - recent history suggests that Green should be in for a huge game on Thanksgiving.

Detroit's rush D is mediocre - they average around 116 rushing yards per game allowed, and have given away 10 rushing TDs this season. Two weeks ago, vs. Seattle, they coughed up 33/159/2 to Shaun Alexander and company. Last week, it was Minnesota who rushed for 28/121/1 against the Lions.

On the injury front, Green Bay is in good shape, while the Lions backup LB James Davis remains sidelined with his separated shoulder.

This game is being played in a dome, so weather isn't an issue.

Detroit has a middle-of-the-road rush defense, while Green Bay mounts a top-5 rushing attack that blistered the Lions for 200 yards earlier this season. Advantage, Green Bay.

Minnesota's Moe Williams/Michael Bennett vs. The St. Louis Defense (Good Matchup)

Moe Williams continues to be a top Vikings' back, due in large part to his pass receiving skills. In weeks 9-11, he was the 9th best fantasy RB in FP per game with only 34/147/0 rushing but 21/232/2 receiving. When the Vikings' D collapses and the team needs to throw the ball, Williams is still a big part of the equation. Last week, Williams added 5/14/0 rushing with 6/56/0 receiving to his season totals in the game against Detroit. Michael Bennett contributed with 15/73/1, and looks ready to step back into the starting role for Minnesota.

St. Louis allowed 26/95/1 to the Bears two weeks ago, and coughed up 30/166/0 to the Cardinals last week. This season, the Rams are in the middle of the NFL (17th), allowing an average of 116.6 yards per game on average and only 6 rushing scores to date. They remain tough to score on even when they surrender large chunks of real-estate between the 20's.

Minnesota came out of the last game with a clean bill of health, while the Rams are still missing DT Damione Lewis (ankle) and DE Leonard Little (pectoral) on their DL.

This game is to be played in the Edward Jones Dome, so weather is not a factor in the matchup.

The Vikings average 4.5 yards per carry in 2003 - they have a top-notch OL - and have been able to rush the ball well in almost every game this season. The Rams are a middle-of-the-road bunch in this phase, but have home-field advantage. With Bennett looking so strong last week, we give the nod to the Vikings although it's tough to predict how the carries will be split between these two guys.

New York Giants' Tiki Barber vs. The Buffalo Defense (Good Matchup)

Tiki Barber has been a consistent fantasy producer even as his team struggles, with 56/308/0 rushing and 17/90/1 receiving during weeks 9-11 (12th best fantasy back in FP per game during that span). Last week, against the yo-yoing Buccaneers defense, he amassed 13/55/0 rushing and 5/34/0 receiving. The Giants have a respectable 4.1 ypc average this season, so the motley crew up front is doing an adequate job of run blocking, for the most part. The one knock on Barber is that he doesn't get in the end-zone very often.

Buffalo's rush D is nothing special in 2003, but they aren't horrible either, allowing an average of 104.1 rushing yards per game (11th in the NFL) with 10 TDs given away to date. Two weeks ago, Domanick Davis had 28/68/0 running the ball against the Bills (WR Andre Johnson had 1/-34/0 that threw the team statistics out of whack). Edgerrin James and the Colts slapped down 28/108/2 against them last week to pull out the game in the 4th quarter.

Buffalo came out of the Indianapolis game in decent shape - and the Giants' OL is healthy at this point.

The forecast for Giants' Stadium calls for a high of 48 F and a low of 40F with a 10% chance for precipitation. That's good football weather.

Tiki Barber finds a way to make good things happen most weeks - that should be true this week, too, against the average Bills' rush defense.

San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson vs. The Kansas City Defense (Good Matchup)

LaDainian Tomlinson is losing heart as another disastrous season drags on in San Diego: "I am ready to get this season behind me." And who can blame him? At least the Chargers got the ball into Tomlinson's hands again last week (16/95/1 rushing and 4/49/0 receiving), after virtually ignoring him two weeks ago. During the weeks 9-11, Tomlinson had 40/252/3 rushing and 14/82/0 receiving (including the horrible 8/29/0 and 4/16/0 game week 11), so he's been fantasy gold 3 out of the last 4 weeks - but you have to feel for a guy like Tomlinson playing his heart out for so little in the way of results (2-9 is the mark the Chargers bring into this game). Way back in week 1, Tomlinson had a rough outing vs. the Chiefs, with 13/34/0 rushing and 5/27/0 receiving.

Kansas City coughed up 35/166/2 to the hated Raiders last week, and 33/200/0 to the Bengals two weeks ago - they've been porous in this phase, recently. In fact, they have been allowing a lot of yardage all year long (133.7 rushing yards per game, on average), but stiffen in the red-zone most weeks (8 rushing scores allowed to date).

Starting OT Solomon Page has been missing games lately due to his bad ankle. Starting LB Mike Maslowski (knee) and reserve DL Eddie Freeman (toe) missed the game last week, and starting LB Shawn Barber (left wrist sprain) was injured in the game. Barber's injury is considered minor, though.

The forecast for Qualcomm Stadium calls for a high of 65 F and a low of 46F with a 30% chance for precipitation. If the rain comes down hard around game time, the field could get slick and slow, and ball handling may become an issue.

Tomlinson is a warrior, and the Chiefs are vulnerable in this phase of the game lately. Look for him to shake off his disappointment and put his best foot forward against the weak Chiefs' defensive front.

Arizona's Marcel Shipp/Emmitt Smith vs. The Chicago Defense (Neutral Matchup)

Emmitt Smith is expected back in the lineup this week, playing as Marcel Shipp's backup. Shipp flirted with 100 yards rushing but fell just short last week (24/95/0 rushing with 2/2/0 receiving), after his disappointing effort vs. Cleveland (9/23/0 rushing and 2/28/0 receiving). The Cardinals' offensive linemen have been solid in this phase all year, averaging 4.0 yards per carry generated in 2003 (279/1112 yards rushing as a team).

The Chicago defense was shredded by the Broncos last week in this phase, allowing 21/200/0 to a limping Clinton Portis (and friends). Two weeks ago, the Rams slapped down 25/112/0 against the Bears - Chicago is giving away a lot of real estate but not points to opposing rushers lately. This season, the Bears are the 24th ranked rush D in the league, allowing 128.5 yards per game, with 9 scores given away to date.

Arizona's starting G Chris Dishman missed the game last week due to an unspecified illness. Chicago's defensive front is in good health at this point.

The forecast for Soldier Field calls for a high of 53 F and a low of 35F with a 40% chance for precipitation. The precipitation could be rain, sleet or snow at this time of year - and wind is always an issue in Chicago at this time of year. If the field gets really wet, footing and ball handling will be issues in this game.

The Cardinals have been sputtering somewhat of late - on the other hand, Chicago is pretty soft. This looks like an even matchup between unspectacular units.

Baltimore's Jamal Lewis vs. The San Francisco Defense (Neutral Matchup)

Jamal Lewis had a strong game last week, with 26/117/0 rushing and 6/43/0 receiving in the game vs. Seattle. During the three weeks prior (9-11), he had 74/267/1 rushing and 4/37/0 receiving - Lewis is a consistent producer of fantasy points week in, and week out, unless you play in a basic scoring league. The Ravens are 4th in the NFL averaging 4.8 yards per carry this season - their line does its job run-blocking.

San Francisco did a horrible job in this phase of the game last week, getting stomped for 48/243/0 by the Green Bay attack (27/154/0 rushing for Ahman Green, to lead the Packers). Two weeks ago they were much better, holding Jerome Bettis and company to 20/44/1. For the season, the 49'ers are the 9th ranked rushing D, allowing an average of 101.1 rushing yards per game with only 6 scores allowed to date - the Green Bay game was way out of line with the teams' usual standard of play.

Baltimore comes into this game healthy among the starting unit, while the 49'ers are also largely healthy in this phase. Injuries aren't a big factor here.

The forecast for M&T Bank Stadium calls for a high of 53 F and a low of 44F with a 10% chance for precipitation. It should be a great day to play football.

Lewis is a consistent top producer, and he suddenly has a passing game to complement his talents, which should help open up rushing lanes (if Anthony Wright can keep it going in the passing phase this week). San Francisco is reeling from their bashing by Green Bay - but they are usually stout. We call this one an even matchup before the fact.

Cleveland's James Jackson vs. The Seattle Defense (Neutral Matchup)

James Jackson has been making things happen in recent weeks, with 25/94/0 rushing and 5/49/0 receiving vs. the Steelers last week, and 19/45/2 rushing with 2/8/0 receiving in the laugher over the Cardinals two weeks ago. Barry Sanders he is not, but Jackson is getting stronger as he gets more reps and game-time.

Seattle is not dominant in this phase of the game, but they aren't pathetic, either. The team ranks 19th in the NFL allowing an average of 117.7 rushing yards per game this season, and have surrendered 8 rushing scores to date. They've bounced around that average in recent weeks, with 17/81/0 allowed to the Lions two games ago - the Ravens racked up 35/150/0 last week.

Cleveland has a serious problem in the middle of their OL this week - starting C Jeff Faine has a serious high right ankle sprain and is very unlikely to play this week (and may not play at all for the rest of the season), while backup OL Chad Beasley missed the game last week. Seattle's rush D is relatively healthy, but they miss big Norman Hand (torn biceps muscle) in a big way.

The forecast for Seahawks Stadium calls for a high of 46 F and a low of 38F with a 40% chance for precipitation. If the rain comes down hard around game time, the field could get slick and sloppy, and ball handling may become an issue.

Two mediocre units that face injury challenges hook up in this matchup - neither is in a position to dominate the other, but be aware that the Browns will have trouble with the middle of their line, most likely.

Detroit's Olandis Gary / Shawn Bryson vs. The Green Bay Defense (Neutral Matchup)

The Detroit rushing attack is nothing to get excited about in 2003. They rank near the bottom of the league with 3.6 ypc on average. From weeks 9-11, Shawn Bryson was the top back on the team, with 30/96/0 rushing and 14/95/0 receiving over the course of 3 games. Last week, it was Joey Harrington who led the team with 2/34/0. Things are bad when your pocket-passer out-rushes your running backs. In the first game between these two teams, Bryson was the top back with 7/43/0 rushing and 5/48/0 receiving (Gary had 9/8/0 rushing and 2/7/0 receiving back in week 2).

Green Bay, meanwhile, is playing pretty mediocre rush defense. Two weeks ago, career under-achiever Thomas Jones exploded for 9/134/0 against the Packers, and the Buccaneers racked up 18/154/0 as a team. Last week, San Francisco slapped down a mere 21/73/0, though. For the season, the Packers are in the middle of the NFL at run defense (14th), averaging 114.3 yards allowed per game, with 8 TDs allowed to date.

Detroit has a healthy team coming into this game, while Green Bay's LB Nick Barnett may miss the Thanksgiving game due to a sprained ankle, and backup DT Kenny Peterson sprained his right MCL last week.

This game is being played in a dome, so weather isn't an issue.

A poor offense with sub-par running backs faces a mediocre D in this matchup - home-field helps level the playing field in this one. We call it a neutral matchup.

Indianapolis' Edgerrin James vs. The New England Defense (Neutral Matchup)

Edgerrin James has come to life in his last two games, with 36/127/3 rushing and 6/33/0 receiving vs. the Jets two weeks ago, and 28/10/2 rushing with 6/39/0 receiving vs. the Bills last week. It's a big improvement over his numbers earlier in the season - the Colts are near the bottom of the league averaging 3.4 yards per carry through week 11 - that's way too low for a team that boasts Edgerrin James on its roster. 5 TDs in 2 games is the level of production that helps propel fantasy teams into the playoffs.

New England held the Cowboys to 28/84/0 two weeks ago, and limited the Texans to 30/89/0 last week. The Patriots are a top ten rush D this season, allowing an average of 91.4 rushing yards per game (5th in the NFL) with 8 rushing scores allowed to date. They are playing just as tough as the season numbers indicate they should right now.

Indianapolis has several OL that are dealing with injuries: T Tarik Glenn has a bad knee and missed last week's game, while T Ryan Diem (hand) and C Jeff Saturday (knee) are also banged up. New England's defense saw their unit come through the game last week in good shape.

This game is being played in the RCA Dome, so weather won't be a factor.

Indianapolis is on a roll in this phase of the game, despite their banged-up line, while the Patriots play stout rush D - this matchup looks pretty even to us.

New England's Antowain Smith / Kevin Faulk vs. The Indianapolis Defense (Neutral Matchup)

Last week, due to a rash of injuries among the WR corps, Kevin Faulk spent a significant amount of time split out as a receiver to help make up for a lack of healthy players. That left Antowain Smith as the starter, and he responded by choking big-time, gaining a mere 10 yards on 8 carries. Faulk did all the heavy lifting, with 23/80/0 rushing and 8/108/0 receiving. From weeks 9-11, Smith had piled up 33/106/1 rushing and 3/28/0 receiving in 2 games, putting him at 29th among all fantasy RB's in FP per game during that span. For most of the year, this team has struggled to gain ground in large chunks, averaging 3.5 yards per carry (near the bottom of the NFL) - but Faulk makes the chains move, when he can stay healthy.

Two weeks ago, against the New York Jets, the Colts allowed 17/132/0 to Curtis Martin and company, while last week they surrendered 27/110/2 to Buffalo's tandem of Henry and Morris (with Brian Moorman thrown in for 1/21/0). The Colts have been unimpressive in this phase of the game all year, allowing an average of 125.5 rushing yards per game with 10 TDs given away so far.

New England came out of last week's game in good shape, while the Colts continue to have LB Jim Nelson (collarbone) on the sidelines.

This game is being played in the RCA Dome, so weather won't be a factor.

Faulk is a reliable if unspectacular rusher, depending on the week, while the Colts are a fairly soft unit - sounds even to us.

Seattle's Shaun Alexander vs. The Cleveland Defense (Neutral Matchup)

Shaun Alexander had a mediocre outing against the tough Ravens' defense last week, managing 22/72/0 rushing with 1/0/0 receiving - not too much here, fantasy-wise. During weeks 9-11, he had piled up 62/252/3 rushing and 8/46/0 receiving (10th best fantasy RB during those 3 weeks), so his game last week was atypically poor. The Seahawks average 4.5 yards per carry as a team, so it was a unusually bad game from that standpoint, too.

The Cleveland defense has been pretty stout in this phase of the game in recent weeks, with 31/109/0 allowed to the Steelers last week, and a mere 13/41/0 given up to Arizona two weeks ago. That's significantly better than their season average of 116.5 rushing yards allowed per game this year (16th in the NFL) - the Browns are also tough to score on, as they have given away only 6 rushing scores all season.

Cleveland's starting LB Ben Taylor has been hospitalized for a serious staph infection in his elbow, and may not be available for this game. Seattle is basically healthy coming into the game.

The forecast for Seahawks Stadium calls for a high of 46 F and a low of 38F with a 40% chance for precipitation. If the rain comes down hard around game time, the field could get slick and sloppy, and ball handling may become an issue.

Alexander and his mates on the OL are usually very productive, but stumbled last week. Cleveland plays stout D, and doesn't allow a lot of scoring - this looks like an even matchup in the Seahawk's house.

Dallas' Troy Hambrick/Aveion Cason vs. The Miami Defense (Tough Matchup)

In a surprising move, Adrian Murrell was cut again last week, to make room for a backup LB. In response to this, Troy Hambrick came out against Carolina's top-ten unit and stumbled again, managing only 12/26/0 rushing and 1/0/0 receiving while Aveion Cason amassed 6/26/1 rushing and 2/9/0 receiving. This season, the Cowboys sport a 3.8 ypc average through week 11, tied for 21st in the NFL. Hambrick was the 24th fantasy RB in FP per game from week 9-11, with 50/174/2 rushing and 2/16/0 receiving in 3 games. It appears he will be splitting carries with Cason going forward, if he manages to do better than 12/26 to start this game.

Miami was fairly stout against Jamal Lewis and company two weeks ago, allowing 32/118/0 to the Ravens. Last week, they gave up 32/129/1 to Trung Canidate and company. They are the 4th ranked rush D in the league this season, averaging 88.7 rushing yards allowed per game (with 6 TDs allowed), but are not playing up to that standard lately.

Dallas remains surprisingly healthy, while Miami has concussion worries with LB Zach Thomas, and DT Larry Chester had a minor thigh injury in the game last week.

The forecast for Texas Stadium calls for a high of 64 F and a low of 37F with a 10% chance for precipitation. It sounds like ideal football weather is coming to central Texas.

Hambrick is a mediocre-to-poor back, depending on the week, and Cason mainly a change-of-pace guy - while Miami brings a top-5 rush defense to the table. We give the nod to the visitors in this one.

Jacksonville's Fred Taylor vs. The Tampa Bay Defense (Tough Matchup)

Jacksonville's Fred Taylor overcame several nicks and bruises to post a solid effort last week (albeit against the 32nd-ranked Jets' rush defense) - 32/119/0 rushing on the day. During weeks 9-11, Taylor had amassed 64/295/2 rushing and 6/30/0 receiving (15th in FP per game among fantasy backs), so he is pretty solid over his last 4 efforts. The Jaguars average a respectable 4.0 yards per carry this season - the OL has done it's job, for the most part.

Tampa's rush D made it tough for Tiki Barber and friends all night last Monday, keeping the Giants to 17/79/0 rushing. Two weeks ago, it was a different story as the Packer's dynamic backfield touched them for 38/190/1 rushing. If the Buccaneers follow their season-long pattern, they would put forth a sub-par effort this week - but the Keyshawn Johnson benching was designed to send a message to this team - we'll see if the defense is tuned into that message this week. For the season, the Bucs are 13th in the NFL allowing an average of 109.6 rushing yards per game (with only 6 rushing scores allowed, though) - it's symptomatic of their up-and-down play in 2003.

Both teams are in fairly good health, although starting LB Nate Webster (toe) missed the game on Monday night.

The forecast for ALLTEL Stadium calls for a high of 74 F and a low of 56F with a 10% chance for precipitation. Sounds like great football weather to us.

Tampa can be very solid in this phase, when they are motivated. Jacksonville has a great back, but a rookie QB (they may actually start David Garrard this week, rumor has it) who isn't generating much of a passing threat. Taylor may find running room hard to come by against the improving Buccaneers.

Miami's Ricky Williams vs. The Dallas Defense (Tough Matchup)

Ricky Williams just hasn't been the fantasy back most people thought he would be in 2003. For weeks 9-11, he was the 25th best fantasy RB in FP per game, with 62/178/1 rushing (a very poor 2.8 yards per carry average) and 13/69/0 receiving to his credit. Last week, vs Washington, he managed to gain 23/107/2 rushing and added 2/10/0 receiving - the return of Jay Fiedler to the lineup gave the offense a big lift.

Dallas plays very stout run defense, averaging well under 90 yards per game allowed in 2003 (82.4, 2nd in the NFL), with only 5 rushing scores surrendered to date (tie - 1st in the NFL). Two weeks ago, they limited New England's tandem to 25/65/1 rushing, while last week Carolina's Stephen Davis amassed 26/59/1 rushing (1/7/0 receiving) in the close game on Sunday. Even the very best attacks enjoy limited success against the Cowboys.

Miami's walking wounded include G's Jamie Nails (ankle) and Todd Perry (elbow) - the latter 2 missed the game last Sunday. Dallas is incredibly healthy at this stage of the season.

The forecast for Texas Stadium calls for a high of 64 F and a low of 37F with a 10% chance for precipitation. It sounds like ideal football weather is coming to central Texas.

Miami has been stalling in this phase of the game for most of the season, and Dallas is brutal on opposing backs - and, the Dolphins are visiting Texas Stadium. Williams is still a starter in most leagues but we see the advantage flowing to Dallas.

Oakland's Charlie Garner/Tyrone Wheatley/Zack Crockett vs. The Denver Defense (Tough Matchup)

Tyrone Wheatley did his job against Kansas City last week (19/77/1 rushing), while Charlie Garner got in a few licks (9/36/0 rushing and 2/18/0 receiving). Zack Crockett faded back into the background (1/5/0 rushing). It was Wheatley's second rushing TD in as many weeks (32/109/1 vs. Minnesota two weeks ago). Back in week 3, before starting LB's Ian Gold and John Mobley went down for the Broncos, the Raiders were frustrated to the tune of 16/39/1 (5/16/0 for Wheatley, 4/9/0 for Garner, and 1/4/1 for Crockett).

Denver is playing very solid rush D in 2003, with an average of only 91.9 rushing yards allowed per game (6th in the NFL), and a mere 5 rushing scores given away (tied for 1st in the NFL). LaDainian Tomlinson put up a mere 8/29/0 against this unit two weeks ago, while the Bears managed 33/106/1 last week in their upset victory. However you slice it, the Broncos look stalwart in rushing D this year.

Oakland's banged up OL managed to play fairly well last week, while Denver's remaining LB from opening day, Al Wilson, is struggling with a steadily worsening pinched nerve in his neck - he says it is getting worse every game. Starting DE Daryl Gardener is in a feud with coach Shanahan and may end up getting the "Keyshawn Johnson" treatment from the Broncos before the week is out.

The forecast for Network Associate's Coliseum calls for a high of 61 F and a low of 43F with a 10% chance for precipitation. That's just about ideal football weather.

Oakland has managed to find a rhythm with a back-to-basics offense in recent weeks, but Denver is formidable at defending the run, even with several starters out or limited. This looks like a tough matchup for Wheatley and Garner.

Pittsburgh's Jerome Bettis/Amos Zereoue vs. The Cincinnati Defense (Tough Matchup)

Jerome Bettis has been less-than-stellar since his return to the starting lineup - in weeks 9-11 he put up 48/143/1 rushing and 3/23/0 receiving in the course of 3 games - those numbers put him at #35 among all fantasy RB's in FP per game. Last week, he added 24/93/0 (1/9/0 receiving) against Cleveland, while Zereoue chipped in with 6/18/0. Bettis is not the scoring machine he once was, but he is starting to get up to speed in his featured role again, it appears.

The last time these teams met, in week 3, both Bettis and Zereoue got 16 carries - Bettis had 16/59/1 and Zereoue put up 16/69/0 (with 1/29/0 receiving).

Cincinnati contained LaDainian Tomlinson to 16/95/1 rushing last week, after smothering Priest Holmes and company to the tune of 17/67/0 rushing two weeks ago. They are playing much better than their season average of 121.1 rushing yards allowed per game (21st in the league) would indicate in recent weeks, and have only allowed 1 score in 2 games (8 total rushing scores this season).

Cincinnati is healthy after their clash with San Diego, while Pittsburgh C Jeff Hartings strained his right MCL and may be gone for two weeks. Starting G Keydrick Vincent missed the game with a strained groin.

The forecast for Heinz Field calls for a high of 58 F and a low of 43F with a 30 % chance for precipitation. If the rain comes down hard around game-time, the field could get sloppy and slow, and ball handling would become an issue.

Bettis and Zereoue are a sub-par duo in 2003, while the Bengals have hit their stride in recent weeks - this is a tough matchup for the Pittsburgh backs.

Philadelphia's Brian Westbrook/Duce Staley/ Correll Buckhalter vs. The Carolina Defense (Tough Matchup)

As usual, the Eagles' attack was a jumble of backs - the guy at the top of the class this week was Duce Staley with 8/77/0 rushing, but Brian Westbrook scored a TD (9/52/1) as did Correll Buckhalter (7/18/1). Westbrook added 3/47/0 receiving, while Staley had 2/26/0. The team as a unit slapped down 32/201/2 on the Saints - not bad, for a RBBC. Don't look for coach Reid to suddenly feature one of these guys when he's winning with a diverse attack.

The Panthers smothered the Redskins' attack two weeks ago, allowing a mere 22/54/0 rushing, and held the Cowboys to 25/65/1 last week. The Panthers have a top ten rush D this year, allowing 97.6 yards per game on average with a mere 5 TDs surrendered to date (tied for 1st in the league). They are a very stout defense.

Carolina is in good health at this point in the season, as are the Eagles - G John Welbourn has missed a couple of games with his injured knee, though.

The forecast for Ericsson Stadium calls for a high of 59 F and a low of 47F with a 10 % chance for precipitation. Just about perfect football weather, in other words.

Carolina is tough to gain yardage against, and very hard to score against. The Eagles bring a diverse array of talent to the table - they usually manage to get the job done, collectively. In Ericsson Stadium, we give the nod to the Panthers' tough-as-nails defensive front - this one is a tough challenge for Philadelphia.

San Francisco's Garrison Hearst/Kevan Barlow vs. The Baltimore Defense (Tough Matchup)

Just one week after one of his best games in 2003 (8/98/1 rushing vs. Pittsburgh), Kevan Barlow had one of his worst outings of the year (4/18/0 rushing) in the game against Green Bay. The reason for the sudden reversal of fortune was the constant blitzing the Packers threw at the 49'ers - Garrison Hearst is considered far superior at blocking assignments and picking up the blitz, so he was in the game for most downs - 15/69/0 rushing with 2/10/0 receiving on the day. There just wasn't a lot of fantasy points to go around on Sunday, with only 10 points scored all night.

Baltimore, of course, plays very tough defense, and is 10th in the league averaging 101.5 rushing yards per game, with only 5 rushing scores given away all season. In the surprise shoot-out vs. Seattle, the team allowed 32/133/0 to Shaun Alexander and company. One week before, the Ravens grudgingly allowed Ricky Williams and the Dolphins to gain 42/141/0. Teams have had limited success running the ball against the Ravens lately, but not around the goal-line.

The Ravens are in good shape on their defensive unit - San Francisco continues to have trouble on the OL. This past week, starting G Eric Heitmann missed the game due to his injured ankle, while G's Ron Stone (hamstring, questionable) and Dwayne Ledford (ankle, questionable) were injured during the game.

The forecast for M&T Bank Stadium calls for a high of 53 F and a low of 44F with a 10% chance for precipitation. It should be a great day to play football.

San Francisco has a solid rushing attack most weeks, but failed to get much going last week. The Ravens have loosened up their grip on opposing backs in recent weeks, but are very difficult to score on - we call this a tough matchup for San Francisco's backs and their thin, banged-up OL.

New York Jets' Curtis Martin/LaMont Jordan vs. The Tennessee Defense (Bad Matchup)

Curtis Martin has been the man in recent weeks, carrying the ball 33 times in 2 games, while LaMont Jordan has handled 2 handoffs in that time span. The results have been mixed, with Martin racking up 13/105/0 rushing (with 2/27/0 receiving) two weeks ago against the Colts, but only managing 20/56/0 rushing (with 7/52/0 receiving) against the Jaguars last week. The bottom line is that Martin has been able to make hay against less-than-impressive defenses, but struggles when he faces a top-shelf unit.

Tennessee is definitely a top-shelf rush D in 2003 - they lead the league averaging a mere 73.9 rushing yards allowed per game, and have given up only 6 rushing scores all year (tied for 2nd best in the league). Two weeks ago, they did give up 30/126/0 to the Jaguars, but absolutely crushed the Falcons last week (20/25/1). Most backs don't do much at all when they face the Titans.

Tennessee is down DE Jevon Kearse, who did not suit up last week due to his injured ankle, and backup DL James Atkins (back) missed the game as well. The Jets enjoy good health on this squad.

The forecast for Giant's Stadium calls for a high of 54 F and a low of 35F with a 30% chance for precipitation. As this game is being played on Monday night, the precipitation could easily be sleet or snow - with another game on this same field on Sunday, and wet conditions, footing is likely to be an issue if there's damp or slick conditions. Ball handling is always an issue in the event of cold/damp weather.

Martin and company have a huge challenge in front of them in the form of Tennessee's D.

Tampa Bay's Thomas Jones/Michael Pittman vs. The Jacksonville Defense (Bad Matchup)

Thomas Jones continues to work his way into the action for the Buccaneers, with 10/27/1 rushing last week - Michael Pittman put up 19/55/0 rushing and 2/22/0 receiving in his looks on Monday night. Neither guy had a huge fantasy outing - it is starting to look a lot like a running back by committee in Tampa these days. The Buccaneers have been mediocre as a team all year long (290/1120 yards), sporting a slightly sub-par 3.9 yards per carry average.

Jacksonville has been very tough in this phase of the game all year long (86.2 rushing yards allowed per game, on average (3rd in the NFL)), and they are playing up to that standard in recent weeks (32/96/0 to the Titans 2 weeks ago, 21/61/0 to the Jets last week). There just isn't much room to roam when you face the Jaguars in 2003.

Both teams are relatively healthy coming into this game, with no major problems to report.

The forecast for ALLTEL Stadium calls for a high of 74 F and a low of 56F with a 10% chance for precipitation. Sounds like great football weather to us.

The Buccaneers mount an average assault in this phase of the game, and the Jags are more than equipped to handle it. This looks like a bad game to be a Buccaneer running back.