BEWARE OF
BUST
VINCE YOUNG
QB TITANS
vs.
Jaguars
His 39-yard game-winning scamper against the Texans in OT was a thing of beauty, but do you really want to gamble on a rookie in the playoffs? Keep in mind that at this point in the season most newbies, unaccustomed to the NFL schedule, are suffering from exhaustion. The first-year quarterbacks who started in Week 15 last year (the Rams' Ryan Fitzpatrick, the Browns' Charlie Frye, the Bears' Kyle Orton and the 49ers' Alex Smith) totaled 402 yards, with three picks and one TD. Moreover, Young may be fun to watch--and he certainly brings a lot to the table for Jeff Fisher's resurgent Titans--but he's no TD machine. His fantasy stats were weak even in a rout of the Eagles, and seven teams have held him to one or no TDs. That list includes Jacksonville, which gets a second crack at Young this week. In their first meeting, the still-green signal-caller threw for a measly 163 yards and was intercepted three times.
QUARTERBACK
TRENT GREEN
Chiefs AT Chargers
No twosome has combined for more sacks than San Diego LBs Shaun Phillips and
Shawne Merriman (23). If Green gets enough pass plays, he'll see plenty of that
duo--which could spell trouble. Over the last two seasons, in the six games in
which he was sacked at least three times, Green has thrown a total of eight
picks.
CARSON
PALMER
Bengals AT Colts
Hot hand notwithstanding, this isn't the week to ride Palmer. Indy is tough
against the pass--it ranks behind only Oakland--and a sieve against the run.
(The Jaguars' Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor each had more than 130 yards
on Sunday.) So Cincy likely will hand the ball to bruising running back Rudi
Johnson.
PHILIP
RIVERS
Chargers VS. Chiefs
In Week 7 this matchup was a pass-heavy affair, and Rivers threw for 266 yards
with two TDs. But San Diego is now emphasizing its ground attack--LaDainian
Tomlinson has rushed for at least two TDs in each of the seven games since
then. The Chargers will run, run, run the ball until the final whistle
blows.
RUNNING BACK
JULIUS
JONES
Cowboys AT Falcons
Dallas seems on the cusp of the Marion Barber era. Even if Jones can hold onto
his job, the signs don't point to a big game this week. Barber steals all of
the goal line carries, and the porous Atlanta pass defense could make this a
field day for Tony Romo, T.O. and the Dallas receivers--at the expense of the
ground game.
WILLIS
MCGAHEE
Bills VS. Dolphins
Why bench McGahee when he finally looked like a healthy and productive back
against the Jets (125 yards and a 57-yard touchdown run)? Reason: The operative
phrase is "against the Jets." This week he meets a stingy Miami run
defense (100.5 yards per game) that has allowed but six TDs this year.
TRAVIS
HENRY
Titans VS. Jaguars
After four 100-yard efforts in six games Henry has cooled, having three
straight sub-100-yard days. Meanwhile the Jacksonville D is coming off a
stellar outing against the Colts and ranks near the top in rushing yards
allowed (87.1). The last time Henry faced the Jags, he was held to 67 yards on
19 carries.
WIDE RECEIVER
JOEY
GALLOWAY
Buccaneers AT Bears
Galloway's far too unpredictable to start in the playoffs, where one bad game
could ruin you. After an up-and-down start he has played poorly of late: The
wideout hasn't broken 100 yards or caught more than five balls since Week 6.
Plus he'll have to deal with ball-hawking corner Charles Tillman.
MATT JONES
Jaguars AT Titans
Coming off his best game ever (128 yards and one touchdown), Jones disappeared
against the Colts last week (one catch, seven yards) while his team put up 44
points. Don't risk a repeat, especially since Jones will be going up against
Tennessee cornerback Pacman Jones, who's having an All-Pro season.
ANDRE
JOHNSON
Texans AT Patriots
Last week Johnson had a solid performance (seven catches for 68 yards), but
this late in the year, you can't afford to start a player whose team is playing
out the string and tinkering with its lineup. Johnson won't sit, but the 4--9
Texans will give priority to their running back situation.
TIGHT END
KELLEN
WINSLOW
Browns AT Ravens
It will take serious guts--or impressive depth--to sit K2, who has been one of
the better tight ends this season. But he's coming off a game in which he had
four catches for 19 yards. (Afterwards, Steelers linebacker Joey Porter called
him "soft.") And Winslow goes up against a Ravens defense that has not
allowed a touchdown to a tight end this year.
KICKER
JASON
HANSON
Lions AT Packers
Hanson has only three games in which he has at least 10 points but still ranks
10th in scoring in the NFL. If Detroit's offense (--3 rushing yards last week)
was more dependable, he'd be a better play. Even though the Lions face the
porous Packers D there's no guarantee they will move the ball. And December in
Lambeau can be a kicker-killer.
DEFENSE
BRONCOS AT
Cardinals
The Broncos have just five sacks and four interceptions over the last four
games, and a spotty Denver offense has not been able to keep its D off the
field. Meanwhile Matt Leinart & Co. seem to be coming on. Even
disappointing Edgerrin James has rushed for 100 yards in consecutive games (his
first 100-yard efforts of the year).
FISH OR CUT
BAIT?
SANTANA MOSS
WR REDSKINS
It's time to face the facts: Moss hasn't healed sufficiently from a hamstring injury, and as long as he keeps playing on it, he won't be 100% for the rest of the season. He has appeared in four of six games since he got hurt. His 123-yard, one-TD performance against Atlanta kept owners loyal, but look at the three awful games that surrounded it (when he logged only 17, 12 and 34 yards). Next week he faces the Saints, who boast the NFL's fifth-best pass defense. You should think long term--retain Moss only if you play in a keeper league.
WEEK 15 INJURY WATCH
JERIOUS
NORWOOD
RB Falcons
knee
WARRICK
DUNN
RB Falcons
calf
KEVIN JONES
RB
Lions
out, foot
KRIS MANGUM
TE Panthers
hip
CASEY
RABACH
C Redskins
hand
BRANDON
STOKLEY
WR Colts
out, Achilles
BENJAMIN
WATSON
TE Patriots
leg
For the latest injury news, go to SI.com/football/nfl/injuries.
