Blitz Packages - Week 16
December 20th, 2002

Dolphins @ Vikings (Sat.)

Dolphins: With the Vikings still allowing an average of over 4 sacks per game, Jason Taylor should have another good outing. He should get at least a sack as well as four tackles. Zach Thomas is still the only starter among the 'fin LBs, but he will probably have a down day at 8-10 tackles since I don't expect the Vikings to run much at the Dolphins. The Dolphins don't play well on the road, and they are in the dome, so Bennett could very well rack up some yards, but I will stay conservative here and hope for more. Besides, it's Zach Thomas - it's not like you can sit the guy anyway. The DBs haven't been very productive to this point, so why expect more out of them? The best produce over the last month has been Marion, and he has a paltry 10-6-0. Give them all 2-3 tackles and 1-2 PDs at most.

Vikings: The Vikings barely have a pass rush, so don't expect much. The tackle totals stand to be good given the Dolphins dedication to the run. Give Hovan 3-4 tackles. DL Johnstone should get that and a sack. Biekert should be a good play at 9-11 tackles. The other LBs will have 6-8. DB Chavous will have 6, and the others 4-6 as well.

49ers @ Cardinals (Sat.)

49ers: DL Carter has been erratic late in the season, and you need to pick your spots to play the guy. This is one of those spots. He is quick, and against a hurt Card OL, he should get 1-1.5 sacks and 3-4 tackles. Okeafor should also be a good #2 DL play and have 2-1-1. LBs Smith and Ulbrich were outstanding last week, and will again be good plays. I don't expect the Cards to be able to run much late, but they should both be good for 7-10 tackles. With the secondary ravaged by injuries, they have been cycling those they do have in and out during the game, killing all their value. Give them all 2-4 tackles, and since Plummer throws as many picks as he does, give one to Webster.

Cardinals: The tough 49er OL will impose its will upon the Cards DL. I think they will get 1-2 sacks at best. Give one to Vanden Bosch (2-1-1). The LBs have been a wasteland. Give them 5-7 tackles, and Thompson 9-10. DB Wilson should shine, and get 6-8 tackles and a pick. The others should get 6.

Eagles @ Cowboys (Sat.)

Eagles: After seeing the Cowboys last week, they look like a team that has packed up and gone golfing early. Start whatever Eagle DL you can find. Douglas should be a terror at 3-2-2. The others will have 2-4 tackles. Give Simon and Kalu (3 tackles) a sack. Give one to DB Lewis too (4-2-1). DB Dawkins should get at least one pick and five tackles.

Cowboys: Greg Ellis should stay a solid start and have a sack as well as five tackles. Glover will have at least four as well. LBs Coakley and Nguyen will be busy and have at least 9 stops. Roy Williams continues to justify his high draft selection with outstanding play. He will get at least 7 tackles.

Bears @ Panthers

Bears: Daniels got a sack last week, and should get another this week as well (2-1-1). Brown will be close to that as well. Urlacher remains studly, but the other LBs should struggle with 5-7 tackles. The DBs have been taking turns going nuts, and trying to predict which one will do it is driving me there! Green, Brown and Azumah are the ones to start, in that order.

Panthers: It seems like no matter what happens - injuries, teammate suspensions, Rucker still plays at a high level. Give him 4-6 tackles and a sack. Buckner and Wallace (playing in place of Peppers) are the next best options. LB Fields went nuts last week with an eye popping 11-3-1. He'll be more normal at 4-3-0, and Witherspoon should rebound at 7-2-0. DB Howard gets lit up like a candle on a regular basis, which is good news if you need a tackling DB. Give Howard and Minter at least 7.

Lions @ Falcons

Lions: If the Lions can get two sacks, against Vick, I will be surprised. Not a good week for sacks from the Lion DL. I expect pretty average numbers from them 3-5 tackles. The LBs shouldn't exceed 9 tackles, and Claiborne is too slow to keep pace with either Dunn or Vick. Give DB Goodman 6 tackles, and the others 4.

Falcons: Kerney isn't as good a play this week as normal since McMahon is so mobile, but he's talented enough that you should start him. The Brookings' production will be good (9-11 tackles)- IF Stewart plays. Otherwise, the three-headed monstrosity that debuted last week won't generate enough tackles to be useful - say 4-6 each. The DBs haven't been useful all season and there isn't any reason to think they will be now.

Saints @ Bengals

Saints: The Bengals have been protecting the QB well but they Saints could break that up a bit. The Saints DL hasn't done much in a while, but last week Hand, Whitehead and Howard showed signs of life with each getting at least 1/2 sack. I think they make nice long shot plays since the Bengals OL could be overwhelmed by the talent the Saints have at DL. The LBs will have a hard time getting tackles since Dillon has been absolutely flat. 7-9 tackles is about right for Clemons, and the others 1-2 less. DB Knight has a great matchup against the turnover-prone Kitna, and could get two picks. Bellamy could get one as well.

Bengals: It's hard to recommend the underperforming DL on this team. The LBs should do well against a limited McAlister. Spikes should also get a sack (6-3-1). Simmons will be ok at 6 tackles, if you have no other option. DB Hawkins continues his solid play at 4-2-0 1 PD.

Bills @ Packers

Bills: Schobel should get a sack, but the other Bill DL are risky plays since the Packer OL is good enough, and Favre elusive enough, to keep them from getting many sacks. LB Fletcher has come on the last few weeks and will get you at least 10 tackles. Robinson is a good spot play with 7 stops. The DBs have been quiet. Prioleau vanished after the first few weeks. They could be good plays this week as backups since they should be busy. Give them all 4-6 tackles.

Packers: The Packers front four will hassle Bledsoe all day since they are at home and finally all healthy. KGB should easily get a sack and has a high possibility of getting two. Holliday should get one as well. DB Sharper should get a pick if the pressure on Bledsoe turns out the way I think it will.

Giants @ Colts

Giants: Watch Strahan's neck injury. Otherwise he should be able to get at least a sack and five tackles. The LBs should do well since I expect the Colts to keep the D on the field. Give Jones 9 and Barrow 7. DB Williams is the best play and should get six tackles.

Colts: The DL should have a field day hitting and sacking Collins. Freeney should get 6 tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble. Scioli and Bratzke will also get sacks and 3-5 tackles. The secondary is pretty average fantasy wise, so look elsewhere for you starters. Collins should throw two picks. Harris and Macklin are the likely ones to get them.

Titans @ Jaguars

Titans: Kearse is back, and had a bad outing(1 assist and 1 PD). Even if you still have him on your squad he won't shake the rust off fast enough to help you. At best, he'll get 2-4 tackles and a sack. Bulluck will again get 10+ tackles. The other LBs will get 4-6. DB Schulters will have 7 tackles and a PD.

Jaguars: The Titan OL is now down two starters in Pillar and Hopkins. Good news for Henderson owners (4-2-1). He could also get two sacks. The LB corps has been a fantasy non-factor. Give them all 5-7 tackles. DB Darius should easily hit seven stops. DB McCree will get 6 tackles and Craft 5.

Chargers @ Chiefs

Chargers: This should be a game where the DL for San Diego shows up. The Chiefs are allowing over four sacks per game right now. Give Wiley 2-1-1 and Fisk 1-2-1. Too bad Holmes is done, this would have been a great game for both Edwards and Seau. This hurts Harrison as well, say six tackles. The coverage DBs are going to see a lot of action. Give McNeil 6 tackles and Molden four.

Chiefs: Eric Hicks has been playing well over the last four weeks. That will continue this week with four tackles and a sack. Clinton Portis made Mike Maslowski a monster last week. This week Tomlinson should net him at least 11 tackles. Give Patton 4-3-0. DBs Wesley and Harts will have five tackles, and the others 2-4.

Texans @ Redskins

Texans: Ladell Betts will be hard pressed to generate enough rushing yards to make the Texan LBs useful. There's an outside possibility that he could be decent, but I am not expecting much since this is a game the Texans could win - their strong points match up well with the Redskin weaknesses. Give the LBs5-7. Sharper will be the best player and have 8 and likely a sack. It's tough to predict turnovers, but I think that DB Glenn will be able to get an interception from the rookie Ramsey.

Redskins: As usual, start any DL you have against the Texans. Bruce Smith actually makes a good spot play this week thanks to the accommodating Texan OL. LB Arrington should get a sack as well. The LBs should have about 6-9 tackles. DB Bailey could take one to the house this week against the rookie QB Carr. Give him 5 tackles, 2 PDs.

Rams @ Seahawks

Rams: The Seahawks have been doing a much better job of protecting Hasselbeck lately. If Wistrom plays, he will have four tackles and a sack. He only managed a single solo last week, and I think his injury may still be affecting him. Otherwise, give that to Little. LB Duncan was average filling in for missing LB Polley, with 7 tackles. He should do better against Alexander and get 9-10. What is up with Archuleta? Last week Travis Fisher gets 7 tackles and Archuleta manages 2? I hope he hasn't quit. He should be able to get 7-9 tackles. If he doesn't, I will definitely have to think he has packed it in.

Seahawks: The Rams are allowing an average of nearly 5 sacks per game. So get Eaton, Randle and Cochran into the game since they should be a nice surprise play for you this week. Give LB Simmons a sack and 6 tackles. The other LBs will get you 5. DB Robertson will have 5 tackles and a PD. Ken Lucas should be busy, especially if Springs can't go. Give Springs 5 tackles as well.

Browns @ Ravens

Browns: On the DL, Roye and Warren will again be ok plays, with 5 tackles. LB Holmes has been playing very well the last month. I am surprised since the DL is so banged up that they are keeping people off him enough to make plays. Give him 9 tackles. DB Griffith should be the best DB play on the team with 6 tackles.

Ravens: The Ravens should find the going easy rushing against the Browns. So I expect a down day from Hartwell and the other LBs. Hartwell should get at least 8, but the possibility is there for him to do poorly if the Ravens easily get out ahead. Give DB Reed 5 and McAlister 5 since they will be busy with RB Green and then the Browns receivers.

Broncos @ Raiders

Broncos: Oakland does a solid job protecting Gannon, so don’t expect DL Pryce to break out of his slump this week. Three tackles is about right. LB Wilson is an animal and should easily get 10+ tackles. Gold will get 6-8. The DBs will be busy, and one will get a bunch of tackles. Oakland gave the Miami DBs 3-5 last week, and a whopping 7-3-0 to SD DB Jammer the previous week. If the pick on Poole he could be nice and have 7.

Raiders: DL Coleman has really broken out lately, and should do well against a relatively immobile Griese and RB Portis. Give him five tackles and a sack. LB Harris bounced back nicely with 7 stops, and should get at least that this week too. With DBs James and Woodson out, Griese should have a nice day against this wounded secondary. Give Rod Woodson 4 tackles and an interception. The other DBs will have 4-6 as well.

Jets @ Patriots (SNF)

Jets: DL Abraham had a nice outing last week, but he will come down to earth some here and get you 4-6 tackles and a sack. Cowart and Lewis were animals as well week 15, but unless the Patriots commit more to the run that won't happen. Watch the weather since that could force them to do so. Project Cowart for 8-10, Lewis for 7-9. The DBs all are pretty average fantasy players. Give them all 3-5 tackles.

Patriots: With RB martin coming on strong (late season, as always), the DTs for NE should do well. 5-6 tackles for them is right on the mark. The ends will struggle since the Jets aren't allowing many sacks. They'll bring the pressure, but I think the sacks go predominantly elsewhere. 3-5 tackles is what they will get. Give Johnson 7-2-0 and the others 6. Give DB Green 5 tackles and a sack.

Steelers @ Bucs (MNF)

Steelers: Talk about a baseball score…the kickers should be busy in this one. Alstott will generate tackles for DL Smith, say 3 and 2 assists, and a sack. Bell will have 9 tackles, and Gildon 7. Give DB Johnson four tackles, and Washington 6. Each should get 1-2 PDs as well.

Bucs: Sapp has been in a slump, and against a solid Steeler OL he won't bust it here. Give him three tackles. Simeon Rice will have a bit better luck since Sapp draws so much attention. He will have four tackles and a sack. LB Brooks makes a safe bet against the plodding Bettis and will have at least 10 hits. Quarles will be a good play too at 8. The DBs will be good plays at 4-6. Howell could again have 7-8 subbing for Lynch.