Tennessee Titans Fantasy Analysis - Week 18

January 4, 2008 @ 06:36:54

By Herija C. Green
Edited by Michael Egnak

Tennessee Titans Fantasy Matchups - AFC Wild Card Playoff Game

Opponent: at San Diego Chargers

The Titans (10-6) earned the 12th and final NFL playoff spot with a 16-10 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 17, edging out a Colts team that played a lot of backups during the game to eliminate the Cleveland Browns. Veteran quarterback Kerry Collins did a nice job of leading the team to the win after quarterback Vince Young (quad) was forced from the game with a quadriceps injury. On the other side of the ledger, the Chargers defeated the Oakland Raiders, 30-17, to secure the third seed and play host to the Titans this Sunday. These two teams met in the Music City back in Week 14 with the Chargers erasing a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit to earn a 23-17 overtime win. This Sunday could prove to be another physical contest between the two teams.

Quarterback

Table: Per-Game Statistics - Weeks 14-17

Player	G	Comp/G	Att/G	Pass Yds/G	Pass TDs/G	INTs/G	Rush Yds/G	Rush TDs/G	PH
Vince Young	4	14	22	158.8	0.50	0.75	13.5	0.00	-
Kerry Collins	2	6	8	52.0	0.00	0.00	-1.5	0.00	-

Young was efficient in Sunday night's win over the Colts before an injury forced him to the sidelines, completing 14 of his 18 passes for 157 yards but failing to throw a touchdown pass. He is expected to return to practice this week and should play this Sunday, but that is not guaranteed at this time. Even if he does play, he has a tough matchup against the Chargers. When they met back in Week 14, San Diego held him to 121 yards passing and intercepted him twice. Young is a weak play as our lowest-rated starter in the first round of the playoffs.

Collins was solid in relief, throwing for 106 yards and leading the team from the midpoint of the third quarter. He'll likely be back in the No. 2 role this week pending Young's health. Were he to be a surprise starter, he would slide into Young's spot towards the bottom of the rankings.

Table: Opponent vs. Position

Team	G	Comp/G	Att/G	Pass Yds/G	Pass TDs/G	INTs/G	Rush Yds/G	Rush TDs/G
Chargers	4	19	34	200.0	0.75	2.50	11.0	0.00

San Diego has done a nice job of stifling opposing signal callers, particularly in picking off passes with 10 interceptions to only three touchdowns allowed during the past month.

Running Back

Table: Per-Game Statistics - Weeks 14-17

Player	G	Util/G (%)	RZ Util/G (%)	In-5 Util/G	Rush Yds/G	Rush TDs/G	Rec/G	Rec Yds/G	Rec TDs/G	PH
LenDale White	4	24.25 (39.21)	3.00 (42.07)	0.00	88.5	0.25	0.75	6.0	0.00	+
Chris Brown	4	6.75 (10.91)	1.50 (21.04)	0.25	19.0	0.75	1.00	4.2	0.00	X
Chris J. Henry	2	5.00 (4.04)	1.50 (10.52)	0.00	7.5	0.00	0.50	4.0	0.00	N/A
Ahmard Hall	4	2.25 (3.64)	0.00 (0.00)	0.00	2.0	0.00	1.50	9.2	0.00	N/A

White (knee) never really got going last Sunday, gaining just 45 yards on 16 carries against a tough Colts defense. He'll be looking to bounce back this Sunday, provided the knee injury he's been dealing with for a while allows it. He ran very well against the Chargers in their last meeting, carrying the ball 30 times for 113 yards and a touchdown while adding 24 yards through the air. He is a No. 1 or No. 2 back this weekend.

Though he had less than half as many carries as White it was Brown (back) who found the end zone for Tennessee's lone touchdown in Week 17. It marked the fourth time in five games that Brown has scored a touchdown, though he isn't getting a lot of work outside of the red zone with seven or fewer carries in four straight contests. Brown injured his back last Sunday and his status is unknown for their playoff tilt. If he goes, view him as a solid No. 2 option.

Henry had 10 touches for 23 yards last week and could see an expanded role if injuries limit White or Brown this week. However, there are too many variables in play so keep Henry out of your lineup this week.

Hall doesn't see enough touches to warrant fantasy consideration.

Table: Opponent vs. Position

Team	G	Att/G	Rush Yds/G	Rush TDs/G	Rec/G	Rec Yds/G	Rec TDs/G
Chargers	4	22.2	81.8	0.75	5.00	35.2	0.00

Outside of their legendarily poor outing against Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, the Chargers did a pretty good job against the run all season long. They've held their opponents to 3.7 yards per carry in the past month.

Wide Receiver

Table: Per-Game Statistics - Weeks 14-17

Player	G	Targets/G (%)	RZ Targets/G (%)	In-5 Targets/G	Rec/G	Rec Yds/G	Rec TDs/G	PH
Justin Gage	4	5.75 (9.30)	0.25 (3.51)	0.00	3.50	52.2	0.00	-
Roydell Williams	4	6.50 (10.51)	1.00 (14.02)	0.00	4.25	59.2	0.50	-
Eric Moulds	4	2.75 (4.45)	0.25 (3.51)	0.00	2.25	23.0	0.00	N/A

Gage finished strong with a seven-catch, 104-yard performance against the Colts last Sunday. It was his best game of the season from a yardage standpoint and it matched his season high in receptions. Unfortunately, one of his worst games of the year occurred the last time Tennessee faced the Chargers as he had just a single catch for 12 yards. He makes a solid No. 2 receiver in the Wild Card game.

The only Titans receiver to catch a touchdown in the last month, Williams (ankle) was the team's home run threat with more than 50 yards receiving in four of his previous five games. Unfortunately, he suffered a broken ankle in practice Wednesday, Jan. 2, knocking him out for the postseason. His loss is obviously a big blow to the team, as he was Vince Young's favorite target over the past four weeks.

Moulds caught three passes for 28 yards last week, which is about as much as one can expect from the veteran these days. He should not be in your fantasy lineup this week.

Table: Opponent vs. Position

Team	G	Rec/G	Rec Yds/G	Rec TDs/G
Chargers	4	9.50	116.8	0.75

San Diego has done a great job against opposing receivers in the past month, allowing fewer than 10 receptions per game while also ranking in the top 10 in fewest yards and touchdowns allowed in that timeframe.

Tight End

Table: Per-Game Statistics - Weeks 14-17

Player	G	Targets/G (%)	RZ Targets/G (%)	In-5 Targets/G	Rec/G	Rec Yds/G	Rec TDs/G	PH
Bo Scaife	4	3.00 (4.85)	0.00 (0.00)	0.00	1.50	12.0	0.00	-
Ben Hartsock	4	1.75 (2.83)	0.00 (0.00)	0.00	1.00	13.5	0.00	N/A
Ben Troupe	4	0.00 (0.00)	0.00 (0.00)	0.00	0.00	0.0	0.00	N/A

Scaife (liver) posted his first reasonably productive game of the past month in Week 17, catching three passes for 22 yards. However, he suffered a lacerated liver during the game. He will not be eligible for the postseason, as he will need at least six weeks to recover.

Though he had only one catch, Hartsock fell just one yard shy of Scaife's total of 22. In fact, he has actually outgained the starter over the last month, which allows him to garner the same low-end No. 1 or bench ranking for Sunday.

Troupe does not have a catch in the last month and should not be owned.

Table: Opponent vs. Position

Team	G	Rec/G	Rec Yds/G	Rec TDs/G
Chargers	4	4.25	42.8	0.00

The Chargers have been decent against opposing tight ends overall, but they have been great in the red zone having not allowed a touchdown catch to the position in the past month.

Place Kicker

Table: Per-Game Statistics - Weeks 14-17

Player	G	FG/G	FG Att/G	XP/G	XP Att/G	Kick Pts/G
Rob Bironas	4	2.25	2.50	1.50	1.50	8.2

Bironas tallied 10 points in the regular season finale, marking the second time in the last three weeks that he has reached double digits. He's missed just one kick in the last month and, despite a tough matchup that makes him a weak play, he is still a solid No. 1 option.

Table: Opponent vs. Position

Team	G	FG/G	FG Att/G	XP/G	XP Att/G	Kick Pts/G
Chargers	4	0.75	1.25	1.50	1.50	3.8

The Chargers have ranked among the league's elite against opposing kickers, allowing just 3.8 points per game over the last month, which is good for second in the NFL.

Defensive Team/Special Teams

Table: Per-Game Statistics - Weeks 14-17

Team	G	Off Pts Allowed/G	Net Yds Allowed/G	Sacks/G	INT/G	Fum Rec/G
Titans	4	14.0	284.2	3.25	1.75	0.25

The Titans defense has gotten back on track during the last four weeks, ranking in the top 10 in fewest points and yards allowed. They've done even better in regards to applying pressure, as their 3.25 sacks per game are third-best in the NFL, and forcing interceptions (1.75 per game - second in the NFL). San Diego's offense figures to have its work cut out for them, and the Titans are a top-tier fantasy defense this week.

Table: Opponent Offense vs. Defense

Team	G	Off Pts/G	Net Yds/G	Sacks Allowed/G	INT Thrown/G	Fum Lost/G
Chargers	4	28.8	336.0	2.00	0.75	0.50

Tennessee's defense isn't the only unit to experience a renaissance in the past month as the Chargers offense is averaging just a little less than 30 points per game in that time. They've also done a solid job of protecting quarterback Philip Rivers and their ball security has been excellent. With both units playing so well it should be an exciting matchup.

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Herija C. Green

Herija is a graduate from California State University - San Marcos. He was a contributing writer and editor with KFFL.com

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