Quarterbacks

Billy Volek (Ten) - Holy Cow! Volek has literally exploded the past few weeks and arguably is the league's hottest QB as far as fantasy impact goes right now. He and the Titans face the Denver Broncos this coming week and he could very well continue his hot streak against them. The Broncos supposedly strong defense has taken on water in recent games, so don't downgrade Volek much if at all. Denver is sputtering once again to the finish line and doesn't appear to have much left in the tank for a playoff run. Their defense is beset by injuries to various players in their secondary and they remain without Luther Elliss and Trevor Pryce on their defensive line. Volek has a chance to emerge as the Titans long-term starter, too, if McNair backs up his retirement talk this off-season. We think McNair will be back, but even then it's become far too frequent of an occurrence with McNair in street clothes and Volek leading the Titans on the field. The rest of the season Volek is a safe starter with impact value as a starter in almost any scoring system or league.

Kerry Collins (Oak) - Collins delivered a huge game this past week against the Titans and could be set to repeat against the KC Chiefs in Arrowhead Stadium next week. The Chiefs defense is tougher at home because of their rabid fan base, but Collins should still produce big-time yardage with a solid shot at throwing 2 to 3 TDs. Obviously, Collins always has the other foot that can fall, too.. that being the dreaded turnovers. It's always a consideration with Kerry, but if he limits the mistakes he's easily one of the best looking sleeper picks for next week.

Drew Bledsoe (Buf) - With McGahee possibly hurt or limited next week and the Bills playing in SF against a defense that is challenged to stop opposing teams from throwing the football, Bledsoe looks like a nice sleeper play in week 16. Eric Moulds and Lee Evans are coming together nicely to give Bledsoe a terrific 1-2 receiving combo. Those two players will be a handful for the 49ers corners to keep under wraps, so if you can get Bledsoe then think about him as a plug and play option this week.

Josh McCown (Ari) - McCown produced his 2nd straight big game in the stat book throwing 2 TDs to rookie WR Larry Fitzgerald while rushing for 2 more scores himself. This week McCown and the Cardinals play against Seattle, which looks like a bit tougher matchup on paper. With the Cardinals WR corps healthy and the Seahawks continuing to struggle in various aspects of their game, McCown is once again a sleeper play, though not as good of one as Bledsoe, Collins or Volek above.

There are other potential options to pick up and play depending on your league and your own level of desperation. The second tier of options include Eli Manning (NYG at Cin), Patrick Ramsey (Was at Dal), Joey Harrington (Det vs Chi), A.J. Feeley (Mia vs Cle) and Chad Hutchinson (Chi at Det). All of these QBs are possibly available in a lot of leagues, but none of them are exactly inspiring choices. That said, Ramsey, Feeley and Harrington possibly hold the most potential this week as stop-gap players. Dallas and Cleveland are decent matchups while the Bears are a tricky matchup for Harrington, who is hard to put a finger on himself. Manning and Hutchinson would probably be nothing more than total reaches, but each has potential despite making starts on the road - always a tough task for a young QB. Ken Dorsey (SF) is home against Buffalo, and we'd advise you to steer clear of that matchup at all costs. The Bills defense is playing very well right now and you don't want to chance Dorsey against even a good defense, much less a very good one at this point.

Koy Detmer (Phi) could get the start this week if the Eagles opt to hold out Donovan McNabb and hold him back for the playoffs. Against the Rams he could be a decent play.

Other possible options as injury replacements in week 16 include Jamie Martin (Stl), Kelly Holcomb and Luke McCown (Cle), Trent Dilfer (Sea) and David Garrard (Jac). Martin replaced Chris Chandler in the Rams loss to the Cardinals, but Marc Bulger is expected back and should start this week, so Martin should go back to the bench. Holcomb could possibly emerge as the Browns starter this week depending on his elbow. If not, Luke McCown makes another start but it's hard to expect much from him on the road against the Dolphins. Trent Dilfer got into the game this week as Hasselbeck left the game in their loss to the Jets. At this time I simply don't know what Hasselbeck's status is, so keep an eye on that one and if Hasselbeck is out next week, then Dilfer might be worth a look against the Cardinals. Garrard could get a look as well if Leftwich is held out or unable to play next week. He took some shots this week against the Packers but didn't appear to be too hurt where he couldn't or won't start this next week against Houston.

Running Backs

Larry Johnson (KC) - Johnson got the start this week and blew up against the Broncos rushing 30 times for 151 yards and 2 TDs. Ironically those numbers are almost identical to what Priest Holmes produced in game 1 in Denver. With Holmes out for the season and Derrick Blaylock sitting out this week due to injury, Johnson seized the opportunity and cashed in. Look for him to continue in this role the last two weeks with his next game coming against the mighty vulnerable Oakland Raiders run defense. If you got him, start him. If you can get him, pick him up and start him. It's that simple.

Tatum Bell (Den) - Despite playing with what's been called a 3rd degree shoulder separation, Tatum Bell emerged as the Broncos lead back for the 2nd game in a row as Reuben Droughns appears to be losing a grip on his status as the Broncos featured back of the moment. Droughns started but gave way to Bell early. Droughns ended up with just 4 carries for 27 yds in the Broncos blowout loss in KC while Bell carried 9 times for 50 yards and also produced a 58 yard catch and run. Bell fumbled once which won't help his cause any, but it looks like Bell will continue his ascent towards the Broncos featured running back job as long as he remains healthy. The Broncos are at Tennessee next week so as long as Bell doesn't suffer any setbacks or Shanny make any announcements about Droughns starting, then Bell's owners may be safe starting him. Stay tuned for "As the Broncos Burn".

Lee Suggs (Cle) - Suggs probably isn't available in most leagues, but it's worth noting he's back and appears to have re-emerged as the Browns lead back. They be in Miami to face the Dolphins in week 16 so if you can get Suggs, do it. This is a good matchup even for the Browns offensive line and sputtering ground attack. The Chargers have a stout run defense and Suggs produced a solid 21 carries for 105 yards against them in the snowy conditions in Cleveland. In Miami, Suggs has a very good opportunity to better those numbers.

Michael Bennett (Min) - So much for Onterrio "SOD" Smith, eh? Apparently, Mike Tice thought Mike Bennett deserved more touches as he played the majority of the snaps this week in the Vikings squeaker against the Lions. Bennett also looks like he'll start on Christmas Eve against the Packers. If Bennett was cut or if he is lingering around on your league's waiver wire then pick him up. It's always a bit of a crap shoot with Tice because he could pull another fast one with his cute little RBBC approach, so Bennett is anything but a slam dunk. He's just a very fast and capable back who appears to have the best shot of getting the most touches next week for the Vikings. Moe Williams, who ran for an 11 yd TD this week, is also in the picture as the goal line back and infrequent 3rd down option.

Antowain Smith (Ten) - Jeff Fisher has reportedly said he'll shut down Chris Brown for the rest of the season and let him get healthy for next year with the Titans well out of the playoff race. As we all know Chris Brown's fast start this season short circuited due to a painful turf toe injury that lingered and didn't allow him to practice for much of the season. Brown played through the injury for several games, but consistently wasn't able to finish games and required pain-killing shots to endure the pain for even the first half of game-action. Meanwhile, Antowain Smith will become the Titans lead back for the final two weeks. You'll probably see some Troy Fleming in the mix as well catching passes out of the backfield and getting a handful of carries spelling Smith on occasion. The Titans face a Broncos defense that ranks on the tougher than average side in terms of run defense, but they were also steamrolled by the Chiefs this week, so Smith certainly has some potential in terms of fantasy impact these last two weeks if you can still grab him of the waiver wire.

Lamont Jordan (NYJ) - The Jets went into cruise control mode against the Seahawks this week allowing Jordan to get more extended carries rushing 15 times for 84 yards while catching 2 passes for another 18 yards in relief of Curtis Martin. The Jets play the divisional rival Patriots this week in a game with playoff implications. Unless Curtis Martin gets hurt, Jordan's role will remain spotty. He's getting a decent amount of work spelling Curtis Martin as Herm Edwards wants to keep his ground attack healthy and with fresh legs for the playoffs, but if Martin were to have any setback than Jordan's value obviously would skyrocket. The Jets ground attack is firing on all cylinders, and backed by a good defense, they get ample opportunity to run out the clock protecting leads.. but that scenario is much less likely to happen this week against the Patriots.

Dorsey Levens (Phi) - The Eagles will face the St. Louis Rams on Monday night football in week 16, but it might prove to be a crappy game for all viewers. Terrell Owens might not be available due to injury and the Eagles have very few reasons to play all their studs with their playoff picture already sharply in focus. That could lead to a lot of carries for Levens as they could opt to keep McNabb, Westbrook and most of their starters out of the game, or only play them sparingly. The Rams run defense isn't very good though so if Levens is available you could pick him up and potentially start him if you know ahead of time that Westbrook will only play a half of the game or less.

Justin Fargas (Oak) - Whether or not Fargas gets enough touches next week at KC to have some fantasy value might be a risk/reward type of gamble. Fargas carried 7 times for 17 yards against the Titans this week while Zack Crockett got 8 carries for 27 yards. Amos Zereoue is also in the mix still but only carried the ball once for 4 yards. All three are involved as receivers as well. What does this mean? Probably nothing as we should on some level expect more of the same wretched committee from Norv Turner. They will be facing a soft Chiefs run defense, but you could probably surmise that the Raiders, like the Broncos this week, will be playing from behind quickly leading to fewer carries and more of the same type of Raider box score. Three or four backs getting touches and nobody with more than 10 - making all of them worthless. Fargas could be the sleeper in the group with Crockett the most likely to get into the end zone. Otherwise, you'd clearly be reaching if you need to plug in one of the Raiders backs despite the good matchup on paper.

Sammy Morris (Mia) - Morris and Travis Minor are both worth a look in week 16 with the Dolphins hosting the  Cleveland Browns. Since the Dolphins play tonight on MNF you get a chance to scout this opportunity to see what might fall out. Knowing the Dolphins RB situation this year it wouldn't be a surprise if one or both get hurt tonight leading to an opportunity for the other - or yet another back like Vick King. Whoever starts for the Dolphins in week 16 will garner mild interest for fantasy implications but one of them could be productive if forced into the lineup as your 2nd back. The Browns are playing out a string right now as are the Dolphins and you never know what to expect when two teams meet in an otherwise meaningless game. Usually something crazy happens from a fantasy point of view.

Maurice Hicks or Kevan Barlow (SF) - Against arguably the league's toughest defense Maurice Hicks wasn't able to muster much of a ground game for the 49ers and did very little to separate himself from Kevan Barlow, who he seemed to displace the week prior. Hicks rushed for just 37 yards on 11 carries with 2 catches for 18 yards while Barlow carried 6 times for 18 yards. Next week the 49ers welcome the Buffalo Bills and their red-hot defense, so don't look for any fantasy impact between these two. Looking ahead at 2005 and it could be either Barlow or Hicks that could emerge as the 49ers lead back, or it might not be a surprise if they draft a back on the first day of the NFL draft to provide competition and push Barlow to earn some of that loot he stole from the front office last year as a free agent. Without unloading too much on Barlow for a hugely disappointing season it's worth noting that nobody will have much success in SF until they figure out their QB position and most importantly get something going up front with their offensive line. If they can magically solve both problems in one off-season then one of these two backs could emerge and become a solid contributor perhaps. Until then, it ain't gonna happen.

Verron Haynes (Pit) - Duce Staley is expected back this week and we know Jerome Bettis is up for another game of 25+ carries. The Steelers face the Baltimore Ravens this week so there's probably not a lot of fantasy production to go around, but if the Steelers decide to give Staley and/or Bettis more rest than usual than it's conceivable that Haynes could once again get just enough touches to make himself a deep sleeper this coming week. He's a solid receiver out of the backfield, plays a little full back and could be compared favorable from a talent perspective to other fullbacks turned fantasy heroes like Nick Goings and Reuben Droughns, but Haynes has two super solid backs in front of him on the depth charts and his value lies completely in Cowher's hands. If the Steelers rest Staley and/or Betts though, Haynes could be a decent sleeper in the last two weeks.

Shaud Williams (Buf) - Willis McGahee injured his right knee on Sunday and as a precaution sat out the 4th quarter in the Bill win over the Bengals. Shaud Williams saw most of the action in his place as the Bills cruised to victory with a big lead. Williams rushed 14 times for 30 yards and caught 1 pass for 10 yds. Next week the Bills are at SF, so if McGahee isn't able to play or if he's limited then Williams could assume the primary back duties and be a solid sleeper. Travis Henry, thought to be lost for the season, has not been placed on IR and it's not known if he could be available, though some have speculated he might be able to return either for the playoffs if the Bills sneak in or for the last week of the season. That remains to be seen and I wouldn't expect much there. McGahee could be fine, but until the Bills have their post-game press conference on Monday and his status is revealed we won't really know much if anything. Keep Williams on a short list to consider for this week's waivers just in case.

Kevin Faulk (NE) - The Patriots might opt to give Cory Dillon more rest than usual down the stretch in the last two games. The Jets are on the schedule next week. If Dillon is held back then Kevin Faulk would likely get more touches running the ball and catching passes out of the backfield. Cedric Cobbs also would pick up some carries and if Dillon is rested and held out of week 17 completely then Cobbs could be the Patriots primary ball carrier with Faulk spelling him and playing on 3rd downs. All of this is purely speculative right now, but you must think ahead because the last two weeks of the season is almost always chock full of surprises.

Josh Scobey and Obafemi Ayanbedejo (Ari) - Scobey carried 9 times for 23 yards and caught 3 balls for 52 yards, while Ayanbedejo ran just 2 times for 2 yards but caught 4 balls for 45 yards. Emmitt carried 19 times for 71 yards and caught 2 balls for 21 yards. Dennis Green is working Scobey and Ayanbedejo nicely into the mix suiting each player's strong points fairly well. Ayanbedejo is a better bet to score a TD. He's been used in short yardage in week 14 and could be used there again. Scobey is more of a 3rd down option with good straight line speed. Emmitt got hurt in the 2nd half, but it's not known if he'll miss any playing time or to what extent he's injured (if at all). At any rate, if Emmitt is limited look for both of these backs to see more touches and Damien Anderson could probably get some work. too. 

Ernest Graham (TB) - Graham continues to serve as the primary backup to Michael Pittman for the Bucs. He's probably not worth much, if anything, though because Pittman remains healthy and productive and Mike Alstott always figures into the mix. Graham could get some extra touches though as the Bucs fade from playoff competition and face the Carolina Panthers next week in TB. Otherwise, Graham is playing for a roster spot next year with the Bucs and possibly the same role as the team's primary backup.

Grab for next year

Don't forget about the backs who are hurt and long forgotten amongst this year's playoff race because players like Travis Henry (Buf), Correll Buckhalter (Phi), Lamar Gordon (Mia), Marcel Shipp (Ari), Stephen Davis or DeShaun Foster (Car) and Charlie Garner (TB) could re-emerge next year with another team, or in some of their cases because they remain under contract, with their current teams.

Other backs like Lamont Jordan, Anthony Thomas (Chi), Mewelde Moore (Min), Najeh Davenport (GB), Dominic Rhodes (Ind) and Maurice Morris (Sea) could earn bigger roles either with their current teams due to players leaving via free agency or because they are free agents themselves and could sign with another team and get a legitimate chance to compete for a starting job. Chris Perry (Cin) could be elevated into a featured role if the Bengals don't resign Rudi Johnson, but with his lackluster rookie season marred by injuries, setbacks , inconsistent practices and a need for improved blocking and blitz pickup, it shouldn't be a surprise if the Bengals do everything in their power to get Johnson back. Then again, Johnson's agent has been throwing out some meaty numbers and if that kind of posturing takes center stage it shouldn't come as a surprise if he walks and Perry enters 2005 with the best shot of winning the job.

Troy Fleming (Ten) - A young Richie Anderson. Fleming will grow into the full-time FB job next year and will probably see an increase in overall touches if not a few more carries.

Dynasty dark horses

You never know when the next Nick Goings, Reuben Droughns, Bernie Parmalee or Marcel Shipp will come along and turn into an impact RB. Some of the signs that usually accompany a players sudden rise often include a strong offensive line, good quarterback play or both. In deeper leagues that allow you to keep full rosters from year to year it pays to know as much as possible about the roster fillers around the league. Many of these guys spend time on special teams proving their toughness and football instincts before they ever get an opportunity. Nick Goings only got an opportunity after three backs went down from Davis to Foster to Hoover.

Derrick Ward (NYG) - Strictly a kick returner for now but Ward was an extremely productive back in college. He comes with a small school pedigree and is very raw, but he's got size and speed and if an opportunity comes along either with Ron Dayne's exit from the Big Apple or otherwise, Ward could earn himself a bigger role with the Giants next year as Barber's primary backup.

ReShard Lee (Dal) - It would appear that Lee's biggest drawback has been Bill Parcells reluctance to trust him as a blocker in pass situations. Lee has looked very good on kick returns and running the football in the backfield. He's big, got a nice burst of speed and runs downhill between the tackles, but he doesn't have a lot of "make you miss" potential and he's still a liability in pass protection. With Julius Jones locked in as the club's future back and current starter Lee's best shot is to make the team as his primary backup - since we all expect Eddie George to depart and try his luck elsewhere - and if he gets a shot to start because of injury, well, you never know.

Bruce Perry (Phi) - A lot of people have no clue who Perry is, but don't be one of them. In all likelihood he won't amount to much if anything, but there's always a chance he could so familiarize yourself with his name and talents. Perry is sort of a poor man's Brian Westbrook. A small, scat-back like do-it-all back who can catch the ball out of the backfield, return kicks and punts and provide a change of pace option behind Westbrook. Perry is even smaller than Westbrook, but he has some of the same wiggle and ability to make defenders miss that makes Westbrook so dangerous. The Eagles have little competition right now for jobs in their backfield next season with Buckhalter injured and a free agent and Levens possibly not returning again. Perry could be competing with a draft pick, Reno Mahe, Eric McCoo and Thomas Tapeh for a roster spot next summer. Keep tabs on him this off-season to see if he figures into the Eagles future plans.

Wide Receivers

Lee Evans (Buf) - Evans continues to exploit defenses with his speed and playmaking savvy. He's only a rookie, but don't overlook him as he's scored in four straight games and five of his last seven. Simply said, the kid is a big play waiting to happen. With a matchup against SF this coming week he could continue his hot streak and give your starting lineup a boost - if needed.

T. J. Houshmandzadeh (Cin) - After a couple ridiculous box scores Houshmandzadeh finally settled down a little in week 15, but he could rev it back up this week against the NY Giants. Houshmandzadeh had a pretty tough matchup with the Bills this week but still managed 4 catches for 43 yards. He's been one of the hottest WRs in the league and probably isn't available, but if you can still grab him, do it and play him.

Donte' Stallworth (NO) - Look who is finishing the season on a strong note. Stallworth has a good matchup this week against the Falcons, so if you can still land Stallworth and need a possible 3rd WR then take your chances with him. This game promises to have some fireworks on both sides and with defenses spending a lot more time trying to cover Joe Horn, Stallworth is more able to take advantage of his speed and make something happen.

Jerry Rice (Oak) - Rice only caught 3 passes for 25 yards against the Jets, but he did make the most of those targets catching a TD. Against the Cardinals next week Rice is once again a nice sleeper play, but like Evans and Houshmandzadeh, he's probably not available any longer. If so, he's worth a pickup and a start depending on how bad you need a WR.

Joey Galloway (TB) - Galloway is making me look good with another strong game. We've been pimping Galloway since mid-season as a good waiver wire pickup with a strong schedule to finish the season. He hasn't disappointed even though he continues to ward off cramps and other assorted, small injuries. This week brings the Carolina Panthers and they make for the toughest matchup the Bucs have faced in a few weeks from a passing matchup angle. He's not a great looking sleeper in this game, but because he's a playmaker and the Bucs rely heavily on their passing game, he's always worth a look as long as he's healthy and playing. Check and check to both, so proceed accordingly.

Dennis Northcutt (Cle) - A tough matchup this week for the Browns in Miami, but Northcutt is surprisingly still available in some leagues. Antonio Bryant is probably the better play, or at least more explosive in terms of scoring TDs and making big plays happen, but Northcutt is perhaps a decent bet to catch as many passes and produce solid numbers himself. How much either of them will produce against the Dolphins remains to be seen but it's not a great matchup overall, so don't expect a lot.

Doug Gabriel (Oak) - Gabriel was one of last week's top sleeper picks and he delivered. This week against the KC Chiefs, he looks like another solid sleeper play. Jerry Porter exploded but Kerry Collins was throwing the ball all over the field and had more than enough to go around as he also go Teyo Johnson into the mix. Johnson is a TE, but he's been receiving playing time at WR because of injuries, so if you can get one over on your league's commissioner and exploit this subtlety then consider Teyo Johnson as a possible pick up and play TE as well.

Clarence Moore (Bal) - Moore looked like a nice play this week, but he came up empty against the Colts. This week the Ravens face the Steelers so his chances don't look any better. He's a talented kid with a lot of size, speed and leaping ability but one thing that really bugs me about him is that I've now seen him quit on a route twice in the past three weeks. He appeared to have quit on a route this week that resulted in an interception by Kyle Boller. A few weeks ago he pulled a Todd Pinkston and cut off his route when he saw the safety coming from about 10 yards away... 10 yards away. It's not like he couldn't have went for the ball and curled. I have an issue with WRs who quit on the ball. Quincy Morgan is another one. But for what it's worth I remain enchanted by Moore's tremendous physical attributes and he's at least worth a gamble each week because of his ability to haul in TD catches in the red zone against smaller corners.

Freddie Mitchell (Phi) - With Todd Pinkston and Terrell Owens both ailing it could be a lot of Freddie Mitchell this week when the Eagles go to St. Louis to play on MNF. Mitchell could turn into a nice sleeper play and produce decent numbers whether it's Koy Detmer or Donnie Mack behind center. Obviously, this game doesn't mean much to the Eagles, so keep an eye on what Andy Reid says this week to see if Mitchell makes sense or not.

David Terrell (Chi) - Despite some nice matchups on paper, Terrell's sleeper status continues to be a hit and miss ordeal. When you watch a couple drives of the Bears you can see why. They are not in a rhythm offensively and just need to get better QB play and more consistent work up front from their offensive line. That said, the Lions are a great matchup for any WR and Terrell could be more "hit" than "miss" this week. Your mileage may vary of course.

Jabar Gaffney (Hou) - Gaffney had a strong game catching 4 passes for 109 yards. This week the Texans do battle against their divisional rival Jaguars. Gaffney is a fairly steady performer despite not being a full-time starter and he continues to improve making himself a solid sleeper pick for bigger numbers in 2005 as well. As for next week and the last two weeks of the season, he's a gamble. Nothing more and nothing less.

Samie Parker (KC) - Parker took advantage of Johnnie Morton missing the game by filling in with 3 catches, 84 yards and a 48 yard TD catch. The diminutive rookie will get a long look this off-season as the Chiefs will probably start figuring out how they plan to upgrade their WR corps for 2005. Morton is slowing down, but Eddie Kennison is playing as well as he's ever played in his career. Parker is probably better suited for playing inside in the slot position rather than outside at split end or flanker. He's small, but very quick. However, he could have trouble beating the jam consistently and getting off the line. If Morton misses next week than consider Parker as a possible waiver wire pickup who could be useful in your lineup. Against the Raiders he could have another decent game.

Dez White (Atl) - White caught a TD this week and did his "once in a blue moon" thing as he continues to be more of a tease and spotty producer than anything else. White has good speed and has a solid matchup at NO this week, but gambling on any Falcons WR whether it's Peerless Price, Brian Finneran, White or rookie Michael Jenkins is risky business. Because about 25 to 30% of the pass plays called end up being Michael Vick runs all of these guys have their targets affected and simply don't get enough consistent work to make themselves useful. As such, take it all into consideration. Good matchup, but that's about it.

Antonio Chatman (GB) - Robert Ferguson was knocked out of the game with a vicious forearm from Jaguars safety Donovin Darius. Chatman caught a TD in the closing minutes of the games and figures to gain more playing time as the Packers third WR if Ferguson isn't able to play next week vs Minnesota. Obviously, that will be a great matchup for all players involved, so if Ferguson is held out or can't play, then Chatman becomes a nice sleeper, but not likely to put up big numbers with Walker and Driver still ahead of him in the pecking order.

Grab for next year

Charles Rogers (Det) - Out for the season for the 2nd straight year. Rogers has Pro Bowl talent if he can ever stay healthy. If you can get him for cheap this off-season, consider doing it. He'll be back and he's got just as much talent if not more than Roy Williams, but first he needs to get on the freaking field and stay there.

Antwan Randle-El (Pit) - Randle-El produced HUGE numbers this week and could be in a prime position to produce big-time numbers next year if Plaxico Burress leaves via free agency. Plax could be back this week against the Ravens, so Randle-El might not have a lot of value the last two weeks, but keep him in mind for next year as he could be at the top of next year's list of breakout players.

Ron Curry (Oak) - Curry is out for the season, but he's quickly turning into another Hines Ward. A former quarterback who converted to WR, Curry has the physical size and skills to be a stellar possession WR for the Raiders moving forward. With Jerry Porter possibly leaving as a free agent the Raiders could get a lot more production out of Curry, Doug Gabriel and even fellow rookies Johnnie Morant and Carlos Francis should be on your radar for sleepers next year.

Steve Smith and Keary Colbert (Car) - Smith is out until next year after breaking his ankle in week one. If Muhsin Muhammad is gone in the off-season due to his contract and big cap hit this coming season then it would make Smith and Colbert the starters for 2005. Both are big-play WRs though Colbert would probably provide more of a Muhammad-like possession role with Smith being more of the deep/explosive threat. Keep this situation in mind as we head into the off-season. The Panthers are primed for another solid offensive effort next season as long as Delhomme and their running game remain effective - and they both look like they will.

Tyrone Calico (Ten) - Calico might be back around the beginning of the season next year, but he's got a long road before he's back to 100%. Assuming he does get there, then he's got super talent and huge upside in the Titans offense. Think about how effective Drew Bennett has been this year. Calico has more physical talent than Bennett so imagine the possibilities if he - like Charles Rogers - ever makes his mark on the field.

Dynasty dark horses

Greg Lewis (Phi) - Lewis signed a long-term contract with the Eagles and he could emerge as a solid slot WR for the team next year. He's already the fastest guy on the team. So, keep an eye out for him in the off-season news.

Lee Mays (Pit) - Mays could work his way into a bigger role next year is Burress leaves town as a free agent. Either way I expect the Steelers to invest in the WR position in the draft, but Mays has talent and experience with the team so he'd get a shot to compete and it would probably take some time for a rookie to push him aside.

David Tyree, Jamaar Taylor and Tim Carter (NYG) - The Giants have three young WRs who will compete for bigger roles next year. Don't be surprised if Ike Hilliard is reaching the end of the line or if/when the Giants sign a free agent WR or draft one early this April. They need more talent here to help Eli Manning grow into the club's leader and starting QB. Taylor might have the best shot among these three because of his size and decent speed. He and Carter both need to prove they can stay healthy though as they've missed a lot of time this year due to injuries and Taylor is coming off an ACL injury from college. Carter, when healthy, is one of the faster guys on the team. Tyree is also in the mix but might be the third player in the line for more playing time, but given their penchant for injuries, he could emerge from this trio.

Arnaz Battle and Derrick Hamilton (SF) - The 49ers have a lot of youth at the WR position when you also consider Brandon Lloyd and Rashaun Woods. Between these four players the 49ers have the position fairly well fortified for next year depending on what they do with Cedrick Wilson and Curtis Conway as well. Battle and Hamilton can both serve double duty as return men as well which help their chances to win a roster spot and continue developing next year.

Tight Ends

Teyo Johnson (Oak) - Johnson is also getting playing time at WR due to the injuries on the Raiders and against a poor defense like Kansas City, he could have another strong game for the 2nd straight week.

Ben Troupe, Shad Meier and Erron Kinney (Ten) - Depending on who is healthy and who is not healthy, one of these TEs is a good bet to produce fantasy numbers every week. This week with Kinney out and Meier somewhat limited, the talented rookie Ben Troupe broke out. Next year he should ascend to greater things regardless, but for the final two weeks he could also be worthwhile unless Kinney is back on the field against the Broncos.

Chris Cooley (Was) - Cooley is rounding into shape as a consistent 3 catch tight end. Against Dallas this week he's a decent sleeper if nothing else, but still not a front-line guy worth starting on a weekly basis.

Kris Mangum (Car) - Mangum has been productive in some games this year, but he's still a touch and go type of fantasy TE. Next year could bring about the emergence of Mike Seidman in the Panthers offense, so keep an eye on him in dynasty leagues. It's probably not worth picking up Mangum this week against the Bucs, but he's been productive at times and could be worth a gamble.

Ken Dilger (TB) - Dilger was quiet this week which means he'll probably sneak up on us next week. It seems like Mangum above that Dilger has a useful game about every two or three weeks followed by a stinker or two and then he bounces back with some decent numbers. Again, free agent TEs are risky business, but Dilger has a decent matchup and might catches 3 or 4 balls this week if you're lucky.

Desmond Clark (Chi) - Clark has made some strides in the past few weeks and faces the Lions this week in Detroit. He's a long shot to produce starter-quality numbers but Hutchinson has looked towards the TE more than the previous guys who've taken turns at QB for Chicago this year.

For next year

Courtney Anderson (Oak) - Anderson looks like the best bet to emerge as the Raiders starting TE next year. File that one away and if you have Anderson already in a dynasty league you may want to hold onto him until further notice.

Ben Watson (NE) - When Watson went down earlier this year so did Daniel Graham as a fantasy force. Look for Watson to emerge as a solid threat next year along with Graham but how these two will merge with one another and in what roles remains to be seen. Both of them are very talented players who could have an impact if they are used in a fantasy-friendly role.

Jimmy Kleinsasser (Min) - Jermaine Wiggins is perhaps the best free agent pickup of the year this position and it all became possible when Kleinsasser went down for the season with a knee injury. Kleinsasser will be back next year though and if he emerges as the starting TE again then he warrants special consideration as a potential sleeper and like Wiggins a possible impact player. The Vikings use their TEs frequently as check off WRs and on dump offs. Kleinsasser must not be forgotten, at least not until we know who will be back on the team next year (Wiggins?).

Defense / Special Teams

Cincinnati Bengals vs NYG - Eli looked better this week, but he's got a long way to go.
Detroit Lions vs Chi - The Bears offense is pretty bad and the Lions pass rush is pretty good.
Kansas City Chiefs vs Oak - Turnover potential with Kerry Collins behind center
New Orleans Saints vs Atl - The Falcons are at or near the top in most sacks allowed
Seattle Seahawks vs Ari - Which Seahawks team will show up? 
San Francisco 49ers vs Buf - No McGahee possibly means the 49ers could focus on blitzing Bledsoe
Miami Dolphins vs Cle - The Browns gave up a few weeks ago