Upgrades

QB Josh McCown (Ari) - Sure, McCown scored four TDs (two passing and two rushing), but the best part about his game against the Rams was completing two or more passes to seven different receivers.

QB Jake Delhomme (Car) - The Panthers are all about passing these days. Jake tossed for 340 yards and 2 scores this week.

QB Joey Harrington (Det) - Sure, he was playing the Vikings, but Harrington threw for 361 yards and a pair of TDs...all while battling the flu.

QB Eli Manning (NYG) - It's only one game, but Manning finally played like he was tired of being called the worst starting QB in the league. He made good use of his TEs around the goal line, but he still needs to build a better connection with his WRs. Bottom line: Manning gets the upgrade because he was facing a tough defense and put up decent stats. That's something he and Giants can build on to close out the season.

QB Chad Pennington (NYJ) - Maybe he was tired of people questioning his shoulder.

QB Kerry Collins (Oak) - Anyone that throws for 371 yards and five TDs deserves an upgrade. he also faces the Chiefs in week 16 which means he should stay red-hot.

QB Marc Bulger (Stl) - He is expected to return this week. Considering how Chris Chandler and Jamie Martin have played the last two weeks, this has to be an upgrade.

QB Billy Volek (Ten) - Sixty pass attempts from Billy Volek? Unreal! In his last two games, Volek has 918 yards and eight TDs. With Chris Brown done for the year, Volek should continue to throw a lot of passes.

RB Warrick Dunn (Atl) - Dunn has been sharing time with T.J. Duckett, but Duckett is now out with an injury (Duckett could return soon or be held out until the playoffs to get 100% healthy). Dunn was given 28 carries against the Panthers and amassed 134 yards and a TD. Look for him to be the workhorse RB the rest of the way.

RB Lee Suggs (Cle) - If he can just stay healthy, Suggs will be the man for the Browns. It's as simple as that. He looked good running in the snow after a long layoff. He should be even better this week.

RB Tatum Bell (Den) - Despite a super sore shoulder, Bell played well amassing 105 yards on 21 carries. we expect that he will start and get the majority of the carries going forward (if he can handle the pain).

RB Fred Taylor (Jac) - The playoffs are in grasp, and Fred Taylor is running as good as he has all season. He got 165 yards and a score (on just 22 carries). Look for the Jags to give the ball to Fred 20-25 times this weekend.

RB Larry Johnson (KC) - He has taken over the job with Priest Holmes on the bench. Against the Broncos, Johnson had 30 rushes for 151 yards and two TDs.

RB Tiki Barber (NYG) - With Eli Manning playing better, teams now can't stack the box against Tiki Barber. He draws the Bengals this week which should also help his stats.

RB Jerome Bettis (Pit) - He certainly looks like the best running back in Pittsburgh to us. Look for Pittsburgh to rest Duce Staley again this week since they are solidly in the playoffs.

RB Antowain Smith (Ten) - Chris Brown is lost for the season which makes Smith the RB by default for the Titans.

WR Larry Fitzgerald (Ari) - He caught just 4 passes for 37 yards, but scored twice as he was featured around the goal line. The Cardinals are still mathematically alive for the playoffs in the crazy NFC.

WR Lee Evans (Buf) - Despite his rookie status, he has become the homerun threat on the improved Bills. He finished with 5 catches, 101 yards and a score on 9 targets. He is licking his chops knowing he goes against the 49ers this week.

WR Muhsin Muhammad (Car) - This guy is an absolute must-start every week. He had 9 catches for 131 yards again this week. He had another day with double digit targets (13).

WR Roy Williams (Det) - He seems to finally be close to 100%. He finished the day with 104 yards and 2 scores (on 11 targets).

WR Donald Driver (GB) - The Packers face the Vikings which should be a shootout. Robert Ferguson won't likely be on the field after his hard hit, so expect Walker and Driver to have huge weeks.

WR Javon Walker (GB) - He had 16 targets this week and could get that many against Minnesota in week 16. He finished with 11 catches for 152 yards.

WR Jabar Gaffney (Hou) - He had 109 yards on just 4 catches.

WR Jimmy Smith (Jac) - Leftwich is finding his groove again and Jimmy Smith is a big part of that. The veteran scored twice while catching 4 for 87 yards.

WR Eddie Kennison (KC) - With Johnnie Morton missing the game, Eddie became the primary target (along with Tony Gonzalez). He finished with 101 yards and 2 scores on 8 targets.

WR Nate Burleson (Min) - Moss is back, but clearly not 100%. But Moss will still get the double teams regardless. This has opened things up for Nate Burleson who is now seeing single coverage on virtually every play. He caught 5 for 134 yards and 2 scores. He should be a big factor in the likely shootout with the Packers this week.

WR Santana Moss (NYJ) - He caught all 5 of his targets scoring twice. That sounds like he is deserving of an upgrade.

WR Jerry Porter (Oak) - We expected Porter to explode last week after the injury to Ronald Curry forced him into the #1 role. It did happen this week and will likely continue the rest of the way. Porter caught 8 passes for 148 yards and 3 TDs. He goes against the weak secondary of the Chiefs in week 16 so this level of production is likely to continue.

WR Antwaan Randle El (Pit) - He came up big when the team needed him. We could see the Steelers continue to rest Burress so that he is 100% healthy for the playoffs.

WR Hines Ward (Pit) - He broke out with 9 catches and 134 yards (on 14 targets) this week. Big ben won't always throw this much, but Hines Ward is too good to leave out of your lineup. This week showed us that he is capable of having a huge week.

WR Rashaun Woods (SF) - He will get more playing time now that the 49ers are eliminated from the playoffs. Actually the 49ers may be the only NFC team officially eliminated right now.

WR Torry Holt (StL) - Despite juggling QBs each week, Torry had another productive day finishing with 6 catches for 95 yards. He was targeted on 12 pass plays. His production should increase with Marc Bulger coming back.

WRs Todd Pinkston and Freddie Mitchell (Phi) - They are now the starting receivers for the Eagles.

WR Drew Bennett (Ten) - He has been on fire lately. Over the last three weeks he has 28 catches for 517 yards and 8 TDs. Keep him in your lineup. He is that hot.

WR Derrick Mason (Ten) - Playing through pain, Mason had 9 catches for 121 yards and a score (on a whopping 17 targets). With Chris Brown out of the equation going forward, the Titans are going to throw the ball a lot.

WR Rod Gardner (Was) - He made the most of his 7 targets, catching 6 for 111 yards.

TE Todd Heap (Bal) - He is the redzone guy for the Ravens. He finished with 4 catches for 58 yards and scored again. He is the only TE with 3 TDs over the last three weeks.

TE Jason Witten (Dal) - He finished with 6 catches for 66 yards on a whopping 11 targets. Look for the Cowboys to continue to feature Julius Jones and Jason Witten as they represent the future of this franchise.

TE Jeremy Shockey (NYG) - The forcefield that has denied any of the WRs from catching a TD continues. Shockey now has 6 TDs and has stayed healthy. He should benefit from better play from Eli Manning going forward.

TE Teyo Johnson (Oak) - He had 49 yards and a score this week. He is seeing the most playing time to date the last few weeks.

TE Eric Johnson (SF) - The 49ers finally let him run some routes this week after weeks of keeping him back to block. The 49ers have stated they will play rookie Rashaun Woods more down the stretch so expect Eric Johnson to get his targets. He finished with 8 catches for 73 yards.

TE Ben Troupe (Ten) - He led all tight ends with 75 yards and a score. He should get plenty of playing time as the Titans evaluate their rookie the rest of the way.

Def Kansas City - They recorded 6 sacks, 2 interceptions and 1 fumble recovery against Denver. They also allowed 17 points (low for them).

Def Miami - They play at home against the Browns this week. That's all you need to know.

Def Tampa Bay - They recorded 7 sacks and 1 fumble recovery while allowing just 14 points. Had they tackled Aaron Stecker on the return they would have beat the Saints this weekend.

PK Rian Lindell (Buf) - He has made 7 field goals and 13 extra points over the last 3 weeks. He has missed just 1 FG.

PK John Kasay (Car) - The offense is moving the chains and he has been redhot. He has 9 field goals and 8 extra points over the last 3 weeks. He also has not missed during this span.

PK Jeff Chandler (Was) - He made the most of his opportunity this week connecting on all 4 field goal attempts and 2 extra points.

PK Mike Vanderjagt (Ind) - He is getting more chances now that the Colts are facing tougher defenses. He has 8 Field goals and 10 extra points over the last 3 weeks.

Downgrades

QB Jake Plummer (Den) - The Broncos were embarrassed by the Chiefs. Plummer did toss for 292 yards and a TD, but he was also sacked six times and had two INTs. HC Mike Shanahan says Plummer is in the longterm plans. If that's the case, we are guessing HC Mike Shanahan may be looking for employment soon too.

QB Donovan McNabb (Phi) - With nothing to play for and his star receiver out, we do not expect much the rest of the way.

QB Matt Hasselbeck (Sea) - He injured his elbow and may not be able to play this week.

QBs Chris Chandler & Jamie Martin (StL) - Said Mike Martz on the team's QBs: "It's tragic for this football team, for that position to hold this whole football team hostage, but that's where we are." Marc Bulger really needs to get healthy.

RB T.J. Duckett (Atl) - He is dinged up and could be rested since Atlanta is already in the playoffs with the #2 NFC seed.

RB Willis McGahee (Buf) - An injured stud is still injured. We do not expect him to play this week.

RB William Green (Cle) - If he and Suggs are both healthy, Suggs will turn in the better numbers. Right now, Suggs is healthy.

RB Reuben Droughns (Den) - Droughns started against the Chiefs, but he was given only four carries. Tatum Bell and Garrison Hearst each had more rushes that Droughns. We expect Tatum Bell will be the guy the rest of the way provided he can play with the pain.

RBs Michael Bennett & Onterrio Smith (Min) - Which RB will be given more carries next week? Does Mike Tice even know? It looks like Bennett is the guy again, but it's definitely not clear.

RBs Maurice Hicks & Kevan Barlow (SF) - This offense is shot.

RB Brian Westbrook (Phi) - Conventional wisdom says he will be used more with Owens out. But with nothing to play for, we think Andy Reid won't risk another star player getting hurt before the playoffs. Expect McNabb and Westbrook to be played sparingly the rest of the way.

WR Eric Moulds (Buf) - As he draws the double teams, Bledsoe is throwing to Lee Evans.

WR Reggie Williams (Jac) - Shouldn't he know the offense by now? He had just 1 catch for 11 yards on Sunday against the Packers.

WRs Amani Toomer and Ike Hilliard (NYG) - Don't you have to catch at least 1 TD to be considered a starting WR receiver in this league?

WR Terrell Owens (Phi) - He is available for late night interviews only until the Super Bowl.

WR Issac Bruce (StL) - He has disappeared down the stretch with virtually all the targets going to Torry Holt.

TE Doug Jolley (Oak) - He appears to have lost his job to Teyo Johnson. He still plays, but had just 1 catch for 4 yards yesterday.

Def Seattle - They managed no sacks, no interceptions and no fumble recoveries while holding the Jets to 229 rushing yards and 37 points. That defines suck.

Def St. Louis - They allowed the CARDINALS 402 yards and 31 points. Mike Martz can blame it all on QB play, but c'mon. The defense did their part too.

PK David Akers (Phi) - If you started him this week he gave you a goose egg. And it might be that bad going forward with no TO and a team that could start resting it's starters.