AFC North Week 16 Fantasy Outlook

December 20, 2007 @ 14:53:11

By Christopher Watkins
Edited by Herija C. Green

Note: All statistics appearing in this article are from Weeks 12-15, unless otherwise noted.

Do Not Bench List - All Positions

• Quarterback Carson Palmer, Cincinnati Bengals: While he did not explode with a massive offensive assault, Palmer was solid, completing 19 of his 31 passes for 251 yards and a touchdown last Sunday. He also avoided the interception bug. In the last meeting with Cleveland, Palmer threw five touchdowns. You can use him as a No. 1 fantasy quarterback this week.
• Quarterback Derek Anderson, Cleveland Browns: Anderson struggled amid atrocious weather conditions in Week 15. He completed nine of the 24 passes he threw for 137 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. In the last meeting with Cincinnati, he threw for six touchdowns. Like Palmer, he can be used as a No. 1 fantasy quarterback.
• Running Back Willis McGahee, Baltimore Ravens: McGahee toted the ball 29 times, gaining 104 yards but failing to score in Week 15. He has been utilized in a little more than 38 percent of the Ravens' offensive plays in the past four weeks. He can be used as a low No. 1 or a solid No. 2 fantasy running back this week.
• Running Back Jamal Lewis, Cleveland Browns: Lewis virtually has been on fire for the past month. He has averaged more than 100 rushing yards and 17 receiving yards per game during that time period. In addition, he has reached the end zone both by rushing and by receiving for an average of once per game. He has done well in past meetings with the Bengals and, although he is a No. 1 fantasy running back, he is a weak play this week.
• Wide Receiver Chad Johnson, Cincinnati Bengals: Johnson caught six passes for 78 yards last week. In the past month he has averaged 6.5 receptions, 81.8 receiving yards and 0.75 touchdowns per game. He has done extremely well in past meetings with the Browns. He should be considered a No. 1 receiver in Week 16.
• Wide Receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Cincinnati Bengals: Houshmandzadeh continues to slide. He caught five passes for 62 yards but failed to reach the end zone again in Week 15. He has not scored in the past four weeks. That pretty much kills the once high possibility that he might break the team's single-season touchdown mark for a wide receiver. Although he has done very well in past meetings with the Browns, he is a weak play and should be considered a No. 3 fantasy wide receiver or an injury replacement.
• Wide Receiver Braylon Edwards, Cleveland Browns: Edwards failed to score in Week 15. For the past month he has averaged 4.5 receptions, 83.2 receiving yards and 0.75 touchdowns per game. He has performed well in past meetings with the Bengals and enters the game this week as a No. 1 fantasy wide receiver.
• Tight End Kellen Winslow, Cleveland Browns: Although Winslow caught only two passes for 28 yards last week, he has averaged 4.75 receptions, 51 yards and 0.25 touchdowns per game over the past four games. He has done well in past meetings with the Bengals and is a solid No. 1 fantasy tight end.

Quarterbacks

Player	Team	Gm	Pass Yds/G	Pass TD/G	INT/G	Rush Yards/G	Rush TD/G
Kyle Boller	Baltimore Ravens	4	173.0	1.25	1.25	12.0	0.00
Troy Smith	Baltimore Ravens	2	41.0	0.00	0.00	3.0	0.50

Boller - Boller (concussion) completed 10 of his 19 passes for 159 yards, a touchdown and an interception in Week 15. He left the game with a concussion but is expected to start in Week 16. Keep an eye on this situation but, even if he plays, Boller should be benched.

Smith - Smith should get the nod if Boller is not able to play or if he is forced to leave the game in Week 16. He is a weak play and should be benched in fantasy leagues.

Running Backs

Player	Team	Gm	Util (%)/G	RZ (%) Plays/G	Rush Yds/G	Rush TD/G	Rec/G	Rec Yards/G	Rec TD/G
Rudi Johnson	Cincinnati Bengals	4	17.75 (27.94)	5.75 (38.99)	57.5	0.75	0.50	2.0	0.00
Kenny Watson	Cincinnati Bengals	4	9.50 (14.95)	1.50 (10.17)	20.8	0.25	3.75	25.0	0.00

Johnson - Johnson has struggled this season, even when he has been healthy. He had seven rushing attempts for 16 yards and broke his string of successive games with a touchdown in Week 15. He can be considered a low No. 2 or strong No. 3 fantasy running back but a weak play.

Watson - Watson rushed eight times for 33 yards and caught four passes for 20 yards in Week 15. He is also a weak play, but he can be used for an injury replacement. Otherwise, keep him on your bench this week.

Wide Receivers

Player	Team	Gm	Util (%)/G	RZ (%) Plays/G	Rec/G	Rec Yards/G	Rec TD/G
Derrick Mason	Baltimore Ravens	4	9.25 (13.42)	1.50 (14.55)	5.00	60.2	0.50
Mark Clayton	Baltimore Ravens	4	5.25 (7.62)	1.00 (9.70)	3.00	46.2	0.00
Joe Jurevicius	Cleveland Browns	4	5.75 (9.20)	0.50 (7.65)	3.00	35.0	0.00

Mason - Mason pulled in four passes for 45 yards and a touchdown in last week's game. Consider him a low No. 2 or solid No. 3 fantasy wide receiver and a strong play in Week 16.

Clayton - Following a good outing in the previous week, Clayton returned to form with two receptions for 28 yards in Week 15. With the number of injuries in the league, you might want to consider him if you have no other options. Other than needing an injury replacement, in spite of his being a strong play, he should be benched.

Jurevicius - Jurevicius caught two passes for 34 yards in Week 15. He is a weak play and should be benched.

Tight Ends

Player	Team	Gm	Util (%)/G	RZ (%) Plays/G	Rec/G	Rec Yards/G	Rec TD/G
Todd Heap	Baltimore Ravens	0	0.00 (0.00)	0.00 (0.00)	0.00	0.00	0.00
Reggie Kelly	Cincinnati Bengals	4	1.50 (2.36)	0.25 (1.70)	1.25	11.5	0.00

Heap - Heap (hamstring) continues to be a "no show" and did not play last week. Don't bet your league championship on his being available in Week 16.

Kelly - Kelly's role in Cincinnati gives him no value in fantasy football. He should not be on your roster.

Place Kickers

Player	Team	Gm	XP/G	XPA/G	FG/G	FGA/G	Kick Pnts/G
Matt Stover	Baltimore Ravens	4	2.00	2.00	1.00	1.50	5.0
Shayne Graham	Cincinnati Bengals	4	2.00	2.00	1.75	2.25	7.2
Phil Dawson	Cleveland Browns	4	1.75	1.75	1.75	1.75	7.0

Stover - Stover kicked three field goals, missing two more, and an extra point to help his team with 10 kicking points in Week 15. Despite that solid showing he is a weak play and should be benched in Week 16.

Graham - Graham has been fairly productive in the past month, successfully converting both field goal attempts and his lone extra point attempt in Week 15. He can be considered a No. 1 fantasy kicker this week.

Dawson - Dawson converted both field goal attempts in Week 15, but he did not get an opportunity to kick an extra point. He can be played as a No. 1 fantasy place kicker or he can be sent to the bench.

Defensive Teams

Team	Gm	Off Pnts Allw/G	INT/G	Sacks/G	FR/G	DEF/ST TD/G
Baltimore Ravens	4	30.8	0.25	2.00	0.00	0.2
Cincinnati Bengals	4	13.5	1.00	0.75	1.00	0.0
Cleveland Browns	4	14.0	1.25	1.50	0.25	0.0

Ravens - Baltimore became the Miami Dolphins' first victim of the season in Week 15, allowing a long pass play in overtime for the loss. They barely resemble the unit they once were. Keep them away from your lineup this Sunday.

Bengals - While they have played well in the past month, the Bengals, who face the Browns in Week 16, are a weak play and should be benched.

Browns - Likewise, the Browns are a weak play and should be benched this week. Although they got credit for a safety in Week 15, it had little or nothing to do with their effort, rather it was poor field conditions that led to an errant snap from center.

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Christopher Watkins
Christopher Watkins has been a KFFL contributor since 2007.

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