Upgrades

QB Kyle Boller (Bal) - Things are looking very good for Boller. Jamal Lewis should be very close to full strength this week, and Todd Heap is finally healthy. Boller led all QBs in fantasy points this week on the strength of his 4 touchdown passes.

QB Carson Palmer (Cin) - Carson was having a great game Sunday before leaving the game with a knee injury. He is seeing the field very clearly and could be big down the stretch (provided the knee injury does not keep him out of action).

QB Byron Leftwich (Jac) - After missing time with his injury, it looks like Leftwich is rounding back into form. He had a solid game (242 passing yards and two TDs) against a Bears defense that has been very strong against opposing QBs. Leftwich ends the season with three good matchups and could be very strong the rest of the way.

RB Emmitt Smith (Ari) - Smith started the week as doubtful but ended up carrying the ball 18 times for 53 yards and a TD. We're a little concerned that Obafemi Ayanbadejo could be a TD vulture, but that seems unlikely given Smith's history of success around the goal line. We'll chalk up Ayanbadejo's two scores to Smith still being less than 100%.

RB T.J. Duckett (Atl) - As a team, the Falcons running game is hitting on all cylinders. Warrick Dunn is still the big guy between the 20s, but Duckett's four TDs against Oakland were a franchise single-game record.

RB Jamal Lewis (Bal) - Lewis wasn't completely healthy, but he started against the Giants and logged 32 yards on 8 carries. He should be ready to carry the major load this weekend.

RB Willis McGahee (Buf) - McGahee racked up 105 rushing yards and 2 TDs in an easy win. Things should continue to be easy for McGahee as he faces the Bengals and 49ers the next two weeks.

RB Nick Goings (Car) - Goings just keeps piling up quality games (108 yards and a TD). That's four straight 100 yard efforts for him, and we get the feeling that he will run well against anyone.

RB Reuben Droughns (Den) - What an up-and-down day for Droughns. He fumbled twice in his first four carries and ran with tentativeness that kills productivity. Then, Tatum Bell looked like he had moved Droughns to the bench with an amazing effort against the Dolphins, but a shoulder sprain has likely finished off the rookie for the rest of the season. That leaves Droughns as the Broncos' starting RB again.

RB Kevin Jones (Det) - We longer think Jones will be a good back. He already is. His 33 carries, 156 yards, and 1 TD are impressive on their own. The fact that he had that kind of day when Joey Harrington completed only five passes for 47 yards makes the effort amazing.

RB Domanick Davis (Hou) - For much of the game, Davis had over 90% of his team's total yards and finished with just under 75% (201 out of 273) for the day. He is truly the vital cog for the Texans offense and looked unstoppable at times against the Colts.

RB Sammy Morris (Mia) - He was questionable at best to even see the field against the Broncos, but Morris outshined Travis Minor and showed that (if healthy) he will be the primary RB for Miami.

RB Deuce McAllister (NO) - McAllister had a good day (120 total yards and a pair of TDs), but the biggest stat is his season-high 30 carries. He should be able to build upon this outing to close out the season.

RB Jerome Bettis (Pit) - Jerame Tuman, 10-yard pass from Jerome Bettis for a TD? That can't be right, but it is. Bettis completely took over the 4th quarter against the Jets and threw and run for a TD.

RB Maurice Hicks (SF) - Hicks looked very good against the Cardinals, but this is a cautionary uptick. There's no way to know if Barlow will be handed the job when healthy, but (more importantly) the 49ers have three tough defenses (Was, Buf, and NE) to end the season.

RB Clinton Portis (Was) - Portis had three TDs in the first 11 games and four in the last two. If that's not an upswing, we've never seen one.

WR Anquan Boldin (Ari) - Targeted a whopping 14 times, Anquan delivered with 109 yards on 9 catches.

WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh (Cin) - T.J. continues to catch everything thrown his way. He finished with 12 catches for 145 yards (on 13 targets). Over the last three weeks, only Chad Johnson has been a bigger fantasy receiver.

WR Rod Smith (Den) - When the team needs a first down, they throw the ball to Rod Smith. Ashley Lelie may now be the deeper threat, but Rod Smith is where the ball goes when the team has to move the chains. He finished the day with 8 catches for 97 yards (on 13 targets).

WR Jimmy Smith (Jac) - He had a good day yesterday (85 yards and a score), but gets the upgrade because Leftwich is healthy and Jacksonville has easy games coming up.

WR Randy Moss (Min) - Although he is still not at 100%, he managed 104 yards and a TD. His pass play at the end of the game was horrible, but he gets the upgrade because he broke through with a decent fantasy game. He should be in your lineup every week going forward.

WR Donte Stallworth (NO) - He had 9 targets while Pathon had just 1. He caught 5 of these for 113 yards. The Saints defense should dictate a lot of passing to stay in games. Look for Stallworth to finish strong.

WR Eric Parker (SD) - Eric had a great game against a tough Tampa Bay defense. When McCardell let the game, Eric was often covered with two players. Despite this, he finished the day with 118 yards and a score on 6 catches.

WR Darrell Jackson (Sea) - He returned to the team after his father passed away this weekend. He responded with a huge game and giving the team a much needed spark (and victory). He finished with 10 catches for 135 yards and a score.

WR Torry Holt (StL) - Despite a change at quarterback, Torry had a huge game. He finished with 151 yards and a TD and showed us all that his stats won't suffer with Chandler at the helm.

WR Michael Clayton (TB) - He did not look like a rookie yesterday. He looked like the #1 WR that the team counted on to make the big play time and time again. He finished the day with 145 yards and an electrifying TD.

WR Laveranues Coles (Was) - He had 17 targets Sunday night. He caught 12 for 100 yards, but did not score. The team continues to feature Coles in the passing game. With 17 targets, he is capable of very explosive numbers.

TE Todd Heap (Bal) - The Baltimore passing game needed Heap all season. Finally healthy, he responded with 5 catches for 76 yards and 2 TDs (on 10 targets). He is a must start the rest of the way.

TE Jason Witten (Dal) - He was targeted 11 times on Sunday. He only caught 4 for 59 yards, but gets the upgrade for being featured so often.

PK Matt Stover (Bal) - He has field goals and 6 extra points (with no misses) over the last 3 games.

PK John Kasay (Car) - He has averaged 14 points per game over the last two weeks (8 FGs, 4 EPs with no misses). The offense is clicking on all cylinders yielding additional opportunities to Kasay.

PK Mike Vanderjagt (Ind) - He is averaging over 10 points per game over the last three weeks.

Def Buffalo - They had 8 sacks, 2 interceptions, 3 fumble recoveries while allowing just 7 points. That's getting it done.

Def Carolina - They had a whopping 6 interceptions on Sunday. They also added 3 sacks and 1 fumble recovery while allowing just 7 points.

Def Indianapolis - This unit still gives up a lot of yardage and isn't very good against the run. But lately they have created quite a bit of disruption. Yesterday they recorded 5 sacks, 1 interception and 1 fumble recovery. With their high powered offense, this is exactly what is needed from this unit to win games.

Downgrades

QB Jeff Garcia (Cle) - He was already at odds with Terry Robiskie, but Garcia suffered a knee sprain in his only series during the third quarter and is lost for the year.

QB Luke McCown (Cle) - What a horrible day for McCown and Browns. We're wondering how he completed eight.

QB Vinny Testaverde (Dal) - The Cowboys likely just blew any shot at the playoffs. We expect Drew Henson to get the call soon.

QB Jake Plummer (Den) - Plummer played like the mediocre quarterback Shannon Sharpe said he was against the Dolphins. His "finger pointing" to the Denver fans showed that Plummer may not have his head completely in the game. Combine that with Droughns' sagging performance and things don't look all that rosy for Plummer and the Broncos.

QB Joey Harrington (Det) - Sure there were snow flurries and swirling winds, but if he completes only five passes against the poor Packers defense then we cannot imagine any opponent bad enough to make Harrington worth a fantasy start.

QB David Carr (Hou) - The Colts' defensive lineman were able to disrupt Carr all day. Note to Houston: Indianapolis defense is not that great. We do not expect much from Carr the rest of the way (against tougher competition).

QB Eli Manning (NYG) - At least McCown tossed a TD. Manning had only six passes that didn't touch the ground. Unfortunately for him, two of those were caught by Ravens. Manning was benched for Kurt Warner, but HC Tom Coughlin says the rookie is still the team's starting QB. We think his confidence is shot and expect more of the same from Eli the rest of the way.

QB Chris Chandler (StL) - Wow. Six INTs in only 29 attempts is beyond words. It was almost like an incompletion was a positive for the Rams.

RB Larry Croom (Ari) - Thanks for coming and be sure to pick up your parting gifts on the way out.

RB Chester Taylor (Bal) - Taylor filled in very well for Lewis, but he will be heading back to the bench in week 15. Lewis had only 8 carries against the Giants, but if he was well enough to play (and actually start) he will be well enough this week to carry the heavy load.

RB William Green (Cle) - 10 carries for 5 yards. Yuck. Lee Suggs at 30% may start over him next week.

RB Tatum Bell (Den) - Just when things were looking up for Bell (and looking like he was going to be huge for the fantasy playoffs), a sprained shoulder may have knocked him out for the remainder of the year.

RB Travis Minor (Mia) - With the return of Sammy Morris, Minor will be nothing more than a change of pace RB.

RB Tiki Barber (NYG) - Barber's production is getting killed with the horrible QB play. He faces the Steelers this week so don't expect things to improve.

RB Marshall Faulk (StL) - First Steven Jackson cuts into his production. Now the team holds him out in favor of Arlen Harris. At best he looks like he will be in a RBBC the rest of the way.

WR Javon Walker (GB) - Facing the Lions, Walker should have had a huge game. He ended with just 26 yards in a stiff wind.

WR Andre Johnson (Hou) - He managed just 3 catches for 34 yards against an at best average Colts secondary.

WRs Ike Hilliard and Amani Toomer (NYG) - They have yet to score a TD all year. Ouch.

WRs Jerry Porter and Doug Gabriel (Oak) - Neither managed much of anything all day despite starter status (due to Ron Curry's injury). They combined for 4 catches and 52 yards.

WR Freddie Mitchell (Phi) - He had 1 catch for 2 yards. He has had a very disappointing year.

TE Antonio Gates (SD) - He is still a must start every week, but the Bucs did limit him to just 1 catch for 17 yards.

PK Jay Feeley (Atl) - He has made just 1 field goal and 8 extra points over the last 3 games (He missed just 1 other FG attempt).

PK Paul Edinger (Chi) - He has missed more FGs (3) than he has made (2) over the last 3 weeks.

Def Oakland - Over the last 3 weeks, the Raiders have only 1 sack, 2 interceptions and 2 fumble recoveries.

Def Cleveland - They have allowed 116 points over the last three weeks (38.7 points per game).