NFL Fantasy Matchups - Week 16 (Superbowl!)

How quickly the season's gone by! It's week 16 and the Fantasy Superbowl in most FFLs. Many NFL teams have locked their postseason berths and nothing to play for. Some teams will begin to rest their starters while others still fight for a playoff spot. Check our game-by-game fantasy matchups below and good luck in your Fantasy Superbowl!

Pittsburgh Steelers (9-5) @ St. Louis Rams (3-11) 8:00 TNF NFLN

Expect Ben Roethlisberger to put up some pretty strong numbers against this D...could be another game of 3 or 4 TDs for Roeth as they try to keep pace with Cleveland for the lead in the AFC North. TE Heath Miller and WRs Santonio Holmes / Hines Ward are all decent plays here. RB Willie Parker has produced a ton of yards this season, but has been limited in scoring...this may be the week Fast Willie adds another TD to his resume. For the Rams, Steven Jackson has been running over people with determination...and Pittsburgh isn't going to stop him at home in the dome. Torry Holt is also worth playing this week (the 3-11 Rams are much better than their record indicates).

Dallas Cowboys (12-2) @ Carolina Panthers (6-8) 8:00 SNF NFLN

It doesn't matter what happened in week 15 with these two teams, this game will be all Dallas. Start QB Tony Romo, WRs Terrell Owens / Patrick Clayton, TE Heath Miller, and RB Marion Barber with confidence as the Cowboys take the wood to the Panthers. Play WR Steve Smith if on your roster for Carolina, although he's certainly not a lock by any stretch with the QB problems this season with the Panthers.

New York Giants (9-5) @ Buffalo Bills (7-7) 1:00 FOX

It's hard to believe that NYG is 9-5 with the way Eli Manning has played this season...and now the G-men are without TE Jeremy Shockey for the season. Start WR Plaxico Burress and RB Brandon Jacobs this week for the Giants, but that's about it. For Buffalo, I like WR Lee Evans. Buffalo's RB situation is a bit cloudy against a formidable NYG defense...esp. in a game that the Giants need to win.

Green Bay Packers (12-2) @ Chicago Bears (5-9) 1:00 FOX

Play QB Brett Favre, WR Greg Jennings, TE Donald Lee, and RB Ryan Grant as the Green Bay Packers stay in the running for home field advantage throughout the playoffs (with Dallas). The Bears will again start QB Kyle Orton, but Orton nor any of the Bears are worth a fantasy start this week. Keep an eye on the weather forcast here before starting you Packers.

Cleveland Browns (9-5) @ Cincinnati Bengals (5-9) 1:00 CBS

Cleveland is tied with the Steelers for the lead in the AFC North and wants this game badly against Cincy. Start QB Derek Anderson, TE Kellen Winslow, WR Braylon Edwards, and RB Jamal Lewis against the shoddy Bengal defense. AGAIN, Cincy has some of the best offensive talent in the league with QB Carson Palmer and WRs Chris Henry / T.J. Houshmandzadeh / Chad Johnson...but Cincinnati has proven themselves repeatedly as an extreme bunch of underachievers under head coach Marvin Lewis. They're capable of a huge 60 point shootout against a weak Cleveland defense, but that doesn't necessarily mean the Cincy offense will produce.

Kansas City Chiefs (4-10) @ Detroit Lions (6-8) 1:00 CBS

This game isn't worth watching. Larry Johnson threatens to play this week, but it will probably again be Kolby Smith with the nod in the KC backfield (and he should do well against Detroit indoors). Rookie WR Dwayne Bowe and TE Tony Gonzalez are the other plays for the Chiefs. For Detroit, rookie WR Calvin Johnson and RB Kevin Jones could both do something against KC's defense.

Houston Texans (7-7) @ Indianapolis Colts (12-2) 1:00 CBS

Play WR Andre Johnson for the Texans (Andre is just too good to bench and he'll be playing indoors...likely from behind all game). Tony Dungy is wising up after benching his players for a whole month leading up to the playoffs a couple of years ago (resulting in a flat team). Dungy vowed this week to keep his starters in the game. Play Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne, Joseph Addai, and Dallas Clark with confidence. Marvin Harrison is still out, but rookie WR Anthony Gonzalez has been hot in his absence the past couple of weeks (Gonzo has 3 TDs, 13 receptions, and well over 200 receiving yards in the 2 week period) and should do well again this week.

Oakland Raiders (4-10) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4) 1:00 CBS

RB Justin Fargas has been hot lately, but Jax has been shutting people down on defense. For the Jags on offense, QB David Garrard is a decent start (although most in their fantasy superbowl likely won't be resorting to playing Garrard). RB Fred Taylor has been busting out recently and is putting up some of his best numbers of his career. Taylor should do well again this week, but the Jaguar backfield is crowded with Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew both back there.

Philadelphia Eagles (6-8) @ New Orleans Saints (7-7) 1:00 FOX

Donovan McNabb will start again for Philly and could have a nice game against the Saints, but not enough that you risk starting him in your fantasy superbowl. Brian Westbrook, however, is always a lock and needs to be started here. For New Orleans, the Saints need this game. Drew Brees to Marques Colston is perhaps the best QB/WR combo going right now and each should be started in all FFLs. Aaron Stecker filled in nicely for Reggie Bush last week...Stecker will look to get things going in both the receiving and rushing games again this week and should end up with plenty of versatile yardage.

Atlanta Falcons (3-11) @ Arizona Cardinals (6-8) 4:05 FOX

The Falcons are not a good team...period. The Cardinals, on the other hand, are very capable with plenty of offensive weapons. I believe you play Kurt Warner this week and consider him in a top 10 QB against Atlanta at home. Monitor the injury status of WRs Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, but both are solid plays this week if healthy. RB Edgerrin James should get 25 touches this week and will pound the Falcons D.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-5) @ San Francisco 49ers (4-10) 4:05 FOX

RB Earnest Graham has been tearing it up for the Bucs and is a strong play against the meek defense of the Niners. WR Joey Galloway should also be good for at least 100 yards and a score here. On defense, Tampa Bay should shut down the 49ers...but RB Frank Gore needs to be in your lineup for San Fran if on your roster (he's just too explosive to bench unless a really good alternate option presents itself this week).

Miami Dolphins (1-13) @ New England Patriots (14-0) 4:15 CBS

Are you kidding me? There's nobody on the Fins worthy of a roster spot. For New England, plan on Tom Brady needing a calculator for his stats this week as he tosses repeated TDs to Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Donte Stallworth, and his tight ends. RB Laurence should go back to back weeks with 100+ yards and a score. This one's over before it begins. Don't be surprised if the Pats win this game by 40 and Brady gets the passing TD record this week.

Baltimore Ravens (4-10) @ Seattle Seahawks (9-5) 4:15 CBS

Baltimore is playing horrible and the Seahawks have nothing to play for since they can't improve their playoff position. For the Ravens, Willis McGahee is a fantasy consideration...and that's about it. For Seattle, Matt Hasselbeck looked awful last week and didn't throw a TD until the last second. And...the Seattle running game looked sick. Seattle should win this game handily, but not if they play the lackluster style they played last week. Don't be surprised if Mike Holmgren starts benching some guys to rest them for the NFL playoffs beginning this week.

New York Jets (3-11) @ Tennessee Titans (8-6) 4:15 CBS

Forget it if considering any Jets players. For the Titans, RB LenDale White is an option...but QB Vince Young is way too inconsistent to start at this point of your fanasy season. Young threw a couple of TDs in week 15, but has basically been invisible this season in the stat column.

Washington Redskins (7-7) @ Minnesota Vikings (8-6) SNF 8:15 NBC

The Skins play yet another nationally televised night game this weekend. Fantasywise, I think you can start Clinton Portis...but remember that he's facing the league's stingiest run defense. For the Vikes, this game will be all about rookie sensation Adrian Peterson (who some are already calling "the best NFL running back that will ever play the game"). What's my opinion on that?.....I also believe he's beyond good, but believe it's a bit premature to place those kinds of lofty standards upon him (esp. considering his injury history). If he's in your fantasy lineup, keep him there...and lobby your league for a keeper format if not already in a keeper league.

Denver Broncos (6-8) @ San Diego Chargers (9-5) MNF 8:30 ESPN

Denver is playing better, but played poorly enough early to knock themselves from playoff contention. Jay Cutler is a possible fantasy play this week with Javon Walker, but most owners who have made it this late into their fantasy playoffs aren't considering Cutler or Walker. On the ground, Travis Henry should play for the Broncos...but Henry's too banged up to be counted upon. For San Diego, the Chargers have little to play for with a lock on their division. I still think you start LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates...but keep in mind that both could be pulled by halftime.

BYE WEEKS - None

____________________________________________

send your fantasy questions to: [e-mail]