Fantasy Football Flyers: Week 13

Don’t forget about the Thursday night game this week where the Philadelphia Eagles travel to Seattle. SET YOUR LINEUPS!!!

QB: Last week I mentioned Matt Leinart and of course he gets hurt and is done for the year. He put up 6 fantasy points and Bradford put up 10 fantasy points in his loss to the Cards.   

Matt Moore – Matt Moore seems re-energized and has this team rolling. They nearly beat the Cowboys and Moore continues to play well. The Raiders did get the best of Caleb Hanie, but he did play better in the second half. You can’t run on the Raiders but you can pass on them.

Vince Young – The Eagles aren’t winning games but Vince Young is playing well. It looks like Vick will be out at least another week due to the short week. Young threw for over 400 yards against New England and it easily could’ve been 500 yards. The Eagles may struggle to run on Seattle, so look for them to throw the ball a lot.


RB: Another injury killed me this week when Kevin Smith went down in the middle of a great game where he scored 5 points and Ryan Grant stumped me with 4 points because James Starks decided to play despite reports saying he wouldn’t on a short week.


C.J. Spiller – With Fred Jackson out, Spiller is a smart pickup for many reasons. Obviously because he will be the new starting back, but also because he qualifies as a RB/WR. This means that you can play him as a WR and you will get a WR who is guaranteed about 20 touches, can you ask for more than that?

Roy Helu – Helu is always a risky play because he runs for head coach Mike Shanahan. However, earlier this week Shanahan publically stated Helu is now the starter. I know it is tough to trust him but you can certainly trust Helu and his talent. This offense run through the RB, if he is back there he will get a lot of touches.



WR: Last week I recommended Jabar Gaffney who scored 7 points as well as Jerome Simpson who failed and scored 1 measly point.

Greg Little – Greg Little dropped an abnormal amount of passes last week, but that isn’t certainly a bad thing in fantasy. What is important is that McCoy is targeting Little so often. If Little can catch half those passes he could easily be a double-digit scorer this week.

Johnny Knox – Two weeks in a row now Johnny Knox has had big fantasy weeks. Last week he pulled off his best week of the season with Caleb Hanie at QB! Hanie certainly seems to target Knox more than any of the other options on the Chicago offense.


TE: I mentioned playing both Heath Miller and Dustin Keller in the previous week. They scored 2 and 18 points respectively. 1 for 2 on TE’s, not bad.  


Jake Ballard – Eli Manning is on fire which is usually a good thing for all recipients of his passes. However, he is playing so well that he is spreading the ball all around. With all the injuries, it seems Nicks, Cruz and Ballard are the only stable Giant weapons. I expect Ballard to get into the end zone this week.

Jared Cook – Matt Hasselbeck seems to like going to his TE Cook in the red zone. Outside of the red zone, Damien Williams and Nate Washington are the primary targets. But around the end zone, Hasselbeck looks to Cook more than anyone else.



D/ST: Not a huge week for my recommended defenses as the Seahawks and Raiders scored 6 and 7 fantasy points respectively. Keep playing the matchups!

Titans D/ST – The Bills offense seemed to come back to life this past Sunday but it isn’t fully back. The Titans defense has been very solid and should be able to contain Fitzpatrick. I sense at least one defensive touchdown and possibly even a special teams touchdown.


Raiders D/ST – The Raiders are becoming turnover machines! Not only that but they shut down Matt Forte last week like it was nothing. The Raiders strong offense has only helped keep their defense fresh and it is really showing. Possible KR/PR TD here? SEBASTIAN JANIKOWSKI!!!

*** All references to points are based off of ESPN.com Fantasy Football Leagues ***

NFL Power Rankings: Week 13

1. (1) Green Bay Packers (11-0) – Green Bay may have possibly overcome their biggest threat to perfection on Thanksgiving night facing a good Lions team on a short week in Detroit. They see the Bears and Lions both again, but the Bears are without Jay Cutler and the last game of the year will be against in the Lions at Lambeau Field.   

2. (6) Baltimore Ravens (8-3) – Baltimore and Mr. John Harbaugh took care of business on Thanksgiving night to stop the streaking 49ers. If their offense gets going, this team could be playing games all the way into February.

3. (4) New Orleans Saints (8-3) – The Saints looked healthy and rested coming off their bye. Drew Brees has this team rolling and the defense is playing better. This team could be very dangerous down the stretch.  

4. (5) New England Patriots (8-3) – Despite their defense allowing Vince Young to throw for 400 yards, they managed to handily win in Philadelphia. Tom Brady renewed his relationship with Wes Welker and the Patriot offense looked of old.  

5. (3) Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3) – Big Ben looked decent with that right thumb injury and managed to lead the Steelers to a close win on Sunday night. Their defense will keep them in every game and the offense will only get better. (Hopefully Troy Polamalu is okay.)

6. (2) San Francisco 49ers (9-2) – The 49ers ran into the wrong team on their short week Thanksgiving night and paid the price as the Ravens sacked Alex Smith 9 times! If the offensive line cannot protect Smith, they could have some serious issues down the road come playoff time.    

7. (8) Houston Texans (8-3) – So much for the Matt Lienart show in Houston, he may be gone for the year as well. Luckily though the Texans escaped with a close win thanks in part to their defense and strong running game. I’m not sure how good this team will be with C.J Yates at QB heading into the future.

8. (9) Atlanta Falcons (7-4) – Matt Ryan continued his dominance at home as the Falcons took care of business against the seemingly dead Minnesota Vikings. If Ryan can continue to stay hot, this team could be very dangerous down the stretch.

9. (10) Dallas Cowboys (7-4) – The Cowboys escaped with a win on Thanksgiving with a last second win against the Dolphins. Tony Romo looked good but not as great as the past few weeks. This team goes as far as Tony Romo goes, plain and simple.

10. (13) Oakland Raiders (7-4) – The Raiders matchup with the Bears couldn’t have come at a better time as they took full advantage of QB Caleb Hanie. The defense was forcing turnovers and looked great. The one thing the offense needs to do is punch the ball into the endzone and not kick so many field goals.

11. (14) Cincinnati Bengals (7-4) – The Bengals did not look good for three quarters against the Browns but came up with the win in the end. Good teams find ways to win, and that’s what I am seeing from this young Bengals team.

12. (7) Chicago Bears (7-4) – The Bears clearly struggled with Caleb Haine at QB. He made some bad decisions and ultimately cost them the game. You can’t turn the ball over and expect to win games; no matter how good your RB and defense are.

13. (11) Detroit Lions (7-4) – The Lions were just the next victim of the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving Day. I still am disappointed in the way this team loses whether it be Jim Schwartz or now Ndamukong Suh stomping an opposing player. This team has a lot of potential, but they need to mature before they win big time games. 

14. (12) New York Giants (6-5) – The Giants are banged up all across their offense and it showed on Monday night. They especially miss the heart and soul of their offense Ahmad Bradshaw. This is a good football team that hasn’t gotten any breaks. It won’t get any easier for them with a very tough schedule ahead.

15. (16) Denver Broncos (6-5) – Tebow is now 5-1 this year as the Broncos starting QB and he has beaten every single team in his division ON THE ROAD! The Broncos defense has been outstanding and Tebow continues to make good things happen by not turning the ball over.  

16. (17) New York Jets (6-5) – The Jets came very close to losing this game but found a way to win despite Mark Sanchez once again throwing interceptions at crucial points in the game. This team will not go far if this trend continues.

17. (18) Tennessee Titans (6-5) – It seems as if CJ2K has woken up from his nap and has decided to run all over the place. He nearly rushed for 200 yards which helped the Titans secure a nice win against the Buccaneers. They could make a run at the division title with Houston losing another starting QB. 

18. (15) Philadelphia Eagles (4-7) – I am not sure what is going on with the Eagles. Their defense had no answer for the New England offense and they couldn’t find ways to put the ball into the end zone. How does your QB throw for 400 yards and only come away with 20 points? Whatever bad can happen is happening to the Eagles at this point. Andy Reid is on the hot seat!

19. (25) Washington Redskins (4-7) – This time around the Redskins successfully pull off an upset in a close game against the Seahawks. This team seems to be playing better with Rex Grossman under center; if it ain’t broke don’t fix it!

20. (19) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-7) – The Buccaneers stuck to their guns and pounded Blount as he literally ran over and hurdled defenders. But Josh Freeman continues to throw balls he didn’t a year ago and he is costing this team big time.

21. (20) San Diego Chargers (4-7) – The Chargers hopes for making the playoffs are all but gone. The QB play is inconsistent, the effort on the field is embarrassing and the coaching decisions are even worse. Something big needs to change soon for this franchise.

22. (21) Seattle Seahawks (4-7) – Just as the Seahawks seemingly began to hit their stride, they were shut down by the Redskins. Their defense played good but the offense just isn’t scoring enough points consistently for this team to win football games win in and week out.

23. (23) Buffalo Bills (5-6) – The Bills didn’t look as bad as they have the past few weeks but they still aren’t back to the football they were playing early in the year. Fitzpatrick seems to be back on track but the defense is giving up way too many yards and is not forcing any turnovers.

24. (27) Arizona Cardinals (4-7) – Once again Patrick Peterson bails out the Cardinals with his 4^th punt return TD this season. One good sign for Arizona is that Beanie Wells looked awesome rushing for more than 200 yards! Skelton will never have to throw the ball, whew!

25. (22) Miami Dolphins (3-8) – The Dolphins nearly racked up their 4^th straight win but lost a heartbreaker to the Cowboys on Thanksgiving. I like what I see from this team and expect them to keep up the pace.

26. (26) Kansas City Chiefs (4-7) – The Chiefs looked very solid against the Steelers on Sunday night, especially their defense. But they won’t win games with Tyler Palko under center just giving the ball away, get Kyle Orton in their ASAP!

27. (24) Cleveland Browns (4-7) – The Browns have been in very tight games the past three weeks. If the Jaguars wouldn’t have handed the Browns the win last week, the Browns would’ve lost all three. Good teams find ways to win, bad teams find ways to lose

28. (30) Carolina Panthers (3-8) – The Panthers looked hot and cold against the NFL’s worst team this Sunday. We all know Carolina can run the ball with Newton-Stewart-Williams, but they certainly cannot stop the run on defense. Carolina nearly handed Curtis Painter and the Colts their first win of the season, nothing to brag about.


29. (28) Jacksonville Jaguars (3-8) – The Jaguars are at a desperation point now where they end up benching Blaine Gabbert in the middle of a game in which they had a chance to win. McCown showed some good things, but he is not the long term solution.


30. (29) Minnesota Vikings (2-9) – The Vikings offense clearly struggled without having Adrian Peterson in the game. Toby Gerhart and Percy Harvin played well, but that is about all. This is another classic case of bad teams finding ways to lose close games. 

31. (31) St. Louis Rams (2-9) – The Rams came up short once again this week against the division foe Arizona Cardinals. St. Louis showed no ability to stop the run as they allowed Beanie Wells to rush for over 200 yards on his own, that will be a huge problem as the season progresses on if it isn’t fixed soon.

32. (32) Indianapolis Colts (0-11) – The Colts were oh so close to getting their first win this weekend. Painter was hot and cold again which will continue to leave the Colts chances of winning a game in the balance. Indy has a tough road ahead, but I believe they will find a way to win at least 1 game.

NFL Week 12 Predictions

*** It is worth noting that both the GB vs. DET and SF vs. BAL games would’ve been in the Top 3 games, but they were played on Thanksgiving and this post isn’t written until the weekend. ***

Top Games:

1) CHI vs. OAK – Both of these teams are on the rise in their respective divisions. The Raiders have looked very strong with Carson Palmer leading them in a division where everyone has a chance to bring home the title. It looks like the Raiders may be without McFadden a little bit longer but Michael Bush hasn’t skipped a beat; they continue to run the rock and take their deep shots down the field. The Bears take a similar approach with their offensive tactics. However that may change as they have now lost Jay Cutler for a significant amount of time. I expect to see a heavy dose of Matt Forte and a very passive passing game from Caleb Hanie. That being said, I think the Raiders tough run defense finds a way to slow down Forte and makes the Bears one-dimensional. This will be a lower scoring contest with two great defenses battling each other. WINNER = DA RAIDERS!!!

2) NE vs. PHI – The Eagles and Patriots are both fresh off of nationally televised games in which they won on Sunday and Monday night respectively. The Patriots have shown that though they have flaws in their defense they can win football games because of #12. With Brady leading the bunch, the Pats always have a chance. As for the Eagles, they may get Michael Vick back but Jeremy Maclin and Nnamdi Asomugha may be sitting out. The Eagles have tons of potential and are only beginning to realize what they can become. To my surprise, Vince Young showed some good things and may be a better option than Vick for the Eagles. All Vince Young has done in this league is win football games, regardless of his off the field actions.  All things considered, I will have to side with the Killer B’s, Brady and Belicheck. WINNER = THE BRADY BUNCH!!!  

3) NYG vs. NO - The Giants and ELIte Eli seemed to be hitting their stride until just recently. They have a tough schedule in front of them and it doesn’t get any easier this week when they have to travel to the Superdome. The Giants have struggled to keep Eli rolling without a consistent running game from Ahmad Bradshaw who has been injured. Their defense has been getting better by keeping their pass rush up while also getting 1^st round pick Prince Amukamara back in the defensive backfield. On the other side of the field, the Saints are fresh off of their bye week and will come back fresh. I expect Sean Payton to have this team fully prepared to get a win on their home turf. Drew Brees is having a great season and the defense has been getting more consistent. WINNER = WHO DAT???

Remaining Games:

(Thursday)

GB vs. DET – GB (GB wins)

Tim Tebow (pictured above) will attempt to lead the Broncos
to an above .500 record this week in San Diego. He nearly led
them from a 16 point comeback back in Week 5 of this season.

MIA vs. DAL – DAL (DAL wins)

SF vs. BAL – SF (BAL wins)

(Sunday)

MIN vs. ATL – ATL

CLE vs. CIN – CIN

CAR vs. IND – CAR

HOU vs. JAC – HOU

BUF vs. NYJ – NYJ

ARI vs. STL – ARI

TB vs. TEN – TB

WAS vs. SEA – SEA

DEN vs. SD – DEN

PIT vs. KC – PIT

College Football - Top Games: Week 13

It's rivalry week in college football and we couldn't be more excited! There is an extrodinary amount of great games this weekend which made it very tough to select the three best from this weekends action. I can assure you that these three games will not dissapoint.

3. UCLA at No. 10 USC - This storied rivalry will renew their rivalry tonight in a battle for the Victory Bell. The stakes are always high when these two teams duke it out which makes for a great football experience. As of last night, UCLA was guarenteed a spot in the first ever PAC-12 championship thanks to Colorado. On the other side of the ball, USC obviously is not bowl or conference championship eligible due to infractions from the Pete Carrol reign. Many are now calling this game, "pointless" but I am sure that neither ball clubs see it that way. This game is about much more than a W in the stats sheet, it's about bragging rights over the millions of Southern California football fans. There is no Los Angeles Football team, this is the biggest stage for football in the Los Angeles area. Look for the crowd to be roaring at the Coliseum as UCLA looks to up end USC for the first time since 2006 where Bruce Davis tipped and intercepted a pass to seal the deal for UCLA. USC also looks to continue their roll coming off a huge win against Oregon and nearly taking down Stanford as well. This game has all the characteristics of being a thriller, if you like physical football this is a must watch game! PICK: USC

2. No. 22 Notre Dame at No. 6 Stanford - This game has more meaning than it has in quite some time. These two teams will go head to head in a brawl for the Legends Trophy. This matchup will mark the first time in this historic rivalry that both teams are ranked in the Top 25 of the BCS. Overall, Notre has dominated the series winning 17 of the 25 total games played. Stanford looks to continue to change that trend and decrease the margin as they look for their third consectutive win against the Irish. Andrew Luck has looked somewhat human these past few games, but look for him to come out strong at home with a crowd that will be roaring. But don't count out the Fighting Irish, led by sophomore QB Tommy Rees, as they look to continue to validate their Top 25 ranking and possibly make a move towards a BCS bid. Stanford will have their BCS bid on the line as well as a loss could drop them down significantly. This game should be a close one all the way until the final whistle. PICK: STANFORD

1. No. 2 Alabama at No. 24 Auburn - Bragging rights will be up for grabs as these two football teams meet in the 77th Iron Bowl. Alabama leads this storied rivalry 41-34-1 but Auburn took the most recent matchup as Cam Newton led the Tigers from a 0-24 deficit. It might be a little tougher for Auburn this year as they wont have their Heisman Trophy winning QB under center. Not only that, but Alabama looks as good as they have in quite some time. They have their run game going and the defense is one of the best in the country. In the end, I think that Alabama will prove to be to strong on the ground and on the defensive side of the ball for Auburn to win. Alabama should end up in the BCS Title Game and this game will only solidify that. PICK: ALABAMA (ROLL TIDE!)

We want to apoligize for this article coming in so late today. We had a bit of Thanksgiving food poisioning that kept us from posting this article until now. Sorry for the inconvienence. We hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and a great weekend of football!

CIF Playoffs - Quarterfinals: Top Games

Santa Margarita vs. No. 3 Long Beach Poly - The best game in Southern California features two of the most athletic teams in the Southland. Santa Margarita quarterback Johnny Stanton has controlled every game he's played in this year but will face a physical Jackrabbits defense that has allowed an average of 8 points per game over their last four games. Poly's offense is a classic example of a balanced attack, with a quarterbacks Chaiyse Hales and Nicholas Pope combining for 176 passing yards a game and running backs Manusamoa Luuga and Gerard Wicks combining for 173 rushing yards per game. The game also features two of the most successful coaches in California history. Poly's Raul Lara and Santa Margarita's Harry Welch have created winning cultures at their respective schools and expect nothing less than a excellence from their players. In a championship caliber game, Stanton and the Eagles will come out with the tough win over the Poly Jackrabbits. PICK: Santa Margarita

Charter Oak at No. 3 Upland - The top game in the Inland Empire features two of the top offenses in California. The Upland running game is led by Donta Abron and Christian Powell, two backs who lead a ground game that averages 263 yards per game. Arizona State-commit Kenny Lawler has 952 yards receiving on the year but will have trouble against a strong Charter Oak secondary. Charter Oak's Travis Santiago has had a strong senior campaign for the Chargers but will face the best defense in the Inland Division tonight in Upland. The Baseline League and Sierra League champions have each won the big games this year and this will be the toughest challenge for each team. Upland has been dominant in each contest and their first team offense is yet to be shut down. Expect more of the same tonight. PICK: Upland

San Clemente at St. John Bosco - The St. John Bosco Braves are riding high after an upset road win over fourth ranked Alemany last Friday. Senior quarterback Rene Medina has been savvy in the pocket but came through with a Tebow-like run to cap their first round comeback. Medina will have to be the key to the game for Bosco and will have to distribute the ball to star receiver Bryce Treggs, running back DaVonte Young, and running back Royce Moore. The Braves offense will put points on the board against the Triton defense but their defense will have to stop the dominant San Clemente running game that is averaging almost 250 yards per game. All-American tackle Kyle Murphy anchors a huge offensive line that spells trouble for the Braves' front eight. Expect a close one in Bellflower that will come down to the very end. PICK: St. John Bosco

A Game of Harbaughs

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours. Thanksgiving provides one of the few opportunities to spend time with loved ones and eat some of the most delicious food man can make. Such joy is rare. Days like today remind us how fortunate we are to be Americans and enjoy the freedoms that our Founders fought for and our generation works so hard to preserve. On a day that is truly American, it seems only fair that America's game captivates the homes of millions. But tonight's final game is unlike any other ever played in the history of the National Football League.

Like every year, my brother is town for Thanksgiving. He lives in Chicago and rarely gets the opportunity to come to the west coast. We cherish the few moments we spend together and try to avoid fights as much as possible. The same cannot be said for John and Jim Harbaugh, two brothers who will meet in one of the biggest regular season showdowns in the history of the league. John, head coach of the 7-3 Baltimore Ravens, and Jim, head coach of the 9-1 49ers, are making headlines for coaching the first game in NFL history in which brothers are opposing head coaches. The only thing bigger than the matchup of Harbaugh's is the matchup between their respective teams, as the Niners and Ravens come into the game as two of the top teams in the league.

The Ohio natives grew up not only best friends, but fierce rivals. John, the elder by only two years, was a standout player at defensive back but was always overshadowed by the younger Jim, a star quarterback. Jim matched John in intensity and competitiveness at every stage of his life and overshadowed him on the football field, earning a scholarship to the University of Michigan while John earned a scholarship to Miami University of Ohio. While Jim starred in Ann Arbor, John realized his playing days were numbered and turned his sights to coaching. After several assistant coaching jobs in the college ranks, John was hired by the Philadelphia Eagles to be their Special Teams Coordinator in 1998. A decade later, the Baltimore Ravens hired him as head coach and he has returned the franchise to their winning ways. John's toughness and defensive prowess have fit perfectly in Baltimore's system and he looks to be the long-term solution to the once great franchise.

Jim Harbaugh led the Wolverines to the Rose Bowl in his senior year and finished third in the Heisman voting. Jim was a first round draft choice of the Chicago Bears in 1987 but was unable to live up to first round expectations.  He would play for the Bears, Indianapolis Colts, Ravens, Chargers, Lions, and Panthers in his 15 year NFL career. Jim was nicknamed "Captain Comeback" by fans after several come from behind playoff wins with the Colts but could never get to a Super Bowl. Jim has said that John's coaching success sparked his interest in the profession and many believe his competitiveness with his brother was the main reason he started coaching. After several assistant coaching gigs, Jim would become the head football coach at the University of San Diego in 2004. "Captain Comeback" turned around the Toreros' program and won back-to-back Pioneer League championships in 2005 and 2006. It didn't take long for major programs to take notice and Jim would take over the farm in Stanford in 2007. Once again, Jim re-energized a program and led the Cardinal to an Orange Bowl victory in the 2010. 

After being hired by the 49ers this past spring, many wondered if Jim could extend his success to the pro game. The 49ers were coming off almost a decade of mediocre performances, draft busts, and an assembly line of quarterbacks, but had a core that many thought could win. Jim has led the Niners to an unbelievable start to the 2011 season and has turned around the career of almost-forgotten quarterback Alex Smith. John Harbaugh has been impressive on the other side of the country, as the Ravens are 7-3 and have beaten the tough Pittsburgh Steelers twice thus far in 2011. The Ravens have looked inconsistent at times and have faltered in games against inferior teams but, luckily for Harbaugh, the Ravens have done well against elite teams.

The 49ers will travel to Baltimore in a game both teams need the win to remain in the hunt for the top seed in each of their respective conferences. Although the game features many of the top players in the NFL, I expect more camera shots of the Harbaugh brothers' reactions to the game than of the players themselves.

The Harbaugh's stand out above the rest as two of the top men in the game of football. They are the good guys. They are classy. They are passionate. They are leaders. They exhibit everything that is right about the game of football. They have always cared about their players more than the final score. Although the players won't be with their families on this holiday, both John and Jim Harbaugh have created family atmospheres within their locker rooms and this closeness has directly translated to the field. At a time when child sex abuse scandals and various other coaching violations are all over the sports pages, the Harbaugh's are the shining lights in the coaching world. There is always hope for the good guys. Tonight, we are lucky enough to sit back with our families, enjoy football, and, in one of the rare moments in sports, root for the good guys. 

My only problem with the game is that they have yet to establish a special overtime rule for these two teams. Instead of the normal overtime system I think these two coaches need a more fitting way to end tonight's contest. My proposal: John and Jim meet up at midfield and brawl it out until one surrenders or is unable to continue. As you know, it is Thanksgiving. Brothers fight. 

PICK: 49ers

Fantasy Football Flyers: Week 12

Finally! The Bye weeks are over! That being said, Thursday night games have started up and due to Thanksgiving there are three games on Thursday, so keep your team up to date!

QB: Last week I chose John Skelton (Ha!) and Matt Moore who scored -3 and 18 points respectively. Never trust a Cardinals QB, don’t make the same mistake I did.

Matt Lienart – With Matt Schaub being out for the rest of the year, the Texans will feature Matt Lienart. One great thing for Lienart is that he will be getting Andre Johnson back. He also has a great TE in Owen Daniels and his RB’s love to catch the ball out of the backfield. I think Lienart could have a great day against the aggressive Jaguars defense.

Sam Bradford – No doubt Sam Bradford has been having a much worse year than he did last year. This is surprising because he has a solid running game and much more weapons at his disposal. Bradford is still owned in less than 50% of leagues and has a good matchup against the Arizona Cardinals this week.



RB: In the previous week I listed Kendall Hunter and Dexter McCluster who each put up 3 points. They didn’t see much action but are great handcuffs at this point in the year.



Kevin Smith – Last week this guy looked like the RB we all thought he could be a few years back. He ran all over the Panthers and made them look ridiculous. Smith helps the Lions get away from being one-dimensional like they have been most of the year. Green Bay is a great football team but their defense is not very good, he could have another big day. 

Ryan Grant – With James Starks being a game time decision, Grant is a good option if he is available in your league. The Lions have a solid defense but the one problem they have is stopping the run. We know Green Bay can throw and so do the Lions, which could open up some big holes for THE REAL 25!!!

WR: Last week I recommended Laurent Robinson (9) and Vincent Brown (0). I’m batting .500 but both of these guys are still worth keeping on your roster if you have the room.


Jabar Gaffney – Gaffney had a good game against the Cowboys this past week and seems to have solidified himself as the #2 WR behind Santana Moss. Despite his stupid comments on twitter and the confusing QB/RB position, I think Gaffney is a solid guy to have on your roster.


Jerome Simpson – Simpson had a huge receiving day on the Ravens this past week despite not getting into the end zone. Although the Bengals didn’t benefit from missing A.J. Green, this man did. If Green is out, he could be a solid play against the Browns this week.




TE: In the week prior I mentioned Ed Dickson and Delanie Walker who scored 0 and 2 points respectively. TE’s are slim; find the ones who get a lot of playing time and good looks from younger QB’s.


Heath Miller – The Steelers TE was on a bye last week but is owned in a surprisingly low 35% of leagues. With Big Ben’s thumb hurting, I expect the Steelers to take less deep shots to Wallace and give him easier throws short to his reliable TE Miller. Pick him up!

Dustin Keller – The Jets are falling apart because of Mark Sanchez not taking care of the ball. Last year they thrived on a short passing game that incorporated Dustin Keller, I expect them to get back to that. Because as stated above, when you have a young, struggling QB their TE is their best friend. Keller has the potential, he just needs the opportunity.



D/ST: Another huge week for defenses as the Dolphins were the top scoring defense with 19 points and the Seahawks scored 17 themselves to merit a top 5 finish. Play the matchups!


Seahawks D/ST – The Seahawks will be the first player/defense to make this list two weeks in a row! Their defense is playing great by taking away the run and are making teams one dimensional. They have another favorable matchup against the Redskins this week who were destroyed by the Dolphins just one week ago.  

Raiders D/ST – The Raiders defense has not only improved because of their play, but they have benefited from their offense getting better as well. They go against the Bears this week who have no Jay Cutler and will rely on Caleb Hanie. I expect the Raiders to get him to the ground a couple of times as well as force a few turnovers.

  

*** All references to points are based off of ESPN.com Fantasy Football Leagues ***

NFL Power Rankings: Week 12

1. (1) Green Bay Packers (10-0) – The Packers at least looked HUMAN this Sunday when the Buccaneers ran Blount through nearly their entire defense, but they are still undefeated. Rodgers continues to have a remarkable season despite throwing his 4^th INT of the year…SHAME!  

2. (2) San Francisco 49ers (9-1) – Once again Alex Smith led this tough 49er team to a victory over their division rival. It may not look pretty, but they are winning games week in and week out. The Har-Bowl should show what this team is all about on Thanksgiving night.   

3. (3) Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3) – The Steelers bye came at the perfect time as it gave Big Ben time to rest his thumb injury. They are beginning to look like the Steelers we all know and love, well…know at least…as this season progresses on.

4. (4) New Orleans Saints (7-3) – The Saints will be fresh off of their bye feeling good about that 4^th and 1 OT stand they had against their biggest threat in their division. The only question going forward is the play of the defense.

5. (5) New England Patriots (7-3) – Brady and the Pats continue to get work done as usual. Just when you want to count them out they start smashing teams like the Jets and Chiefs. You can never count out a team with Tom Brady under center, no matter how bad the defense is.

6. (8) Baltimore Ravens (7-3) – The Ravens fought a tough battle against the Bengals without their Hall of Fame MLB Ray Lewis and found a way to come away with the victory. Good football teams find ways to win, and that’s exactly what they did. Another nasty battle is facing the Ravens on Thanksgiving night when history is made in the Har-Bowl!

7. (6) Chicago Bears (7-3) – The Bears picked up another impressive win against the Chargers this week pushing their winning streak to 5 games. But they lost their QB Jay Cutler for an extended period of time. If any team is able to overcome this type of injury, it’s the Bears due to their solid defense and great running game.

8. (7) Houston Texans (7-3) – One good thing about the Texans having this late bye is that Matt Lienart got more reps and time to get familiar with this offense. The Texans may have lost Matt Schaub for the year, but it looks like they will be getting Andre Johnson back this weekend. That will alleviate some of the pressure facing Matt Lienart for the rest of the season.

9. (10) Atlanta Falcons (6-4) – The Falcons survived a scare from rookie QB Jake Locker of the Titans. With Julio Jones out, Roddy White stepped up and showed what he brings to the table. With Turner, Gonzalez, Jones and White this offense is as good as any when clicking.

10. (11) Dallas Cowboys (6-4) – Tony Romo and the Cowboys continue to roll as they too survive an overtime scare against the Redskins. If Romo continues to play at this level, I expect the Cowboys to win the NFC East over the New York Giants.

11. (12) Detroit Lions (7-3) – The Lions had another impressive 2^nd half comeback this weekend but it could be a cause for concern. If you get behind on a team like Green Bay or Chicago, they aren’t going to let you back in the game. 

12. (9) New York Giants (6-4) – Just when I was ready to crown Eli as ELIte, he goes and loses to the Philadelphia Heat, I mean Miami Eagles, you get my point. The Giants need to get Ahmad Bradshaw back for the stretch run for the NFC East crown with the Dallas Cowboys.

13. (15) Oakland Raiders (6-4) – DA RAIDERS look to be back and rolling with Carson Palmer manning the ship! Their offense is explosive and the defense is playing great, all of this without their biggest weapon, RUN DMC!

14. (14) Cincinnati Bengals (6-4) – The Bengals had possibly the most rough two weeks of the entire NFL season when they had to play the Steelers and Ravens back to back. They fought hard and nearly won both games, which is impressive to me especially with this young core on offense. 

15. (20) Philadelphia Eagles (4-6) – Desean Jackson came back off of his vacation and proved to be just as childish as ever. But Vince Young led the Eagles to an impressive victory over the Giants. Personally, I think he should be starting because all he did in Tennessee is win games and this team has much more talent than his former team could ever dream of. Late season push?

16. (21) Denver Broncos (5-5) – Tim Tebow is now 4-1, what else can I say? This kid is finding ways to will this team to victory. I can’t wait to see him in action this weekend to see if he can’t lead these Broncos to an above .500 record!

17. (13) New York Jets (5-5) – Rex Ryan and the Jets fall victim to the phenomenon we know as Tim Tebow! With the Patriots beginning to pull away, the Jets are still very much a player in the wildcard if they get their act together this week.

18. (16) Tennessee Titans (5-5) – Matt Hasselbeck got hurt which at first seemed like a bad thing but actually turned out good as Jake Locker stepped in and didn’t skip a beat. I don’t think there is any reason for the Titans to wait to start this kid, he can win them games and possibly take them to the playoffs with the Texans losing Matt Schaub. 

19. (19) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-6) – The Buccaneers finally got back to playing Buccaneer football by pounding Lagarrette Blount straight through the entire Packers defense, literally. Even though they lost they showed good signs of the team we knew last year.

20. (18) San Diego Chargers (4-6) – Yet again Phillip Rivers leads his team straight to a loss. He is turning the ball over like he is Ryan Leaf and they will not win any games until he fixes it. I guess he has too many weapons on offense that he is confusing himself?

21. (24) Seattle Seahawks (4-6) – The Seahawks won a game they were supposed to win this week, congratulations. If Marshawn Lynch can continue to pound the ball, this team could be a threat to teams trying to secure playoff spots late in the year.

22. (28) Miami Dolphins (3-7) – The Dolphins are surging! 3 straight wins with the most recent being a smashing of the Bills by a score of 35-8. Matt Moore and Reggie Bush seem to be working their UCLA and USC magic down in Miami.

23. (17) Buffalo Bills (5-5) – The Bills have not only come back down to earth, they have crash landed. The Dolphins absolutely dominated this team that looked so strong early in the year. What happened to Ryan Fitzpatrick and all the turnovers forced on defense?

24. (30) Cleveland Browns (4-6) – One week after handing the Rams a victory, the Browns did the exact same thing to the Jaguars except the Jaguars politely gave the win back to the Browns. This is a good football team that is making very poor mistakes, could very well be above .500.

25. (29) Washington Redskins (3-7) – The Redskins nearly pulled off a huge upset against a very hot Dallas Cowboys team. What concerns me is after the game having your starting WR and CB talking about how bad they are playing and asking to be cut, what’s going on in DC?

26. (22) Kansas City Chiefs (4-6) – The Chiefs played the Patriots well for 15 minutes, and then got absolutely crushed. To their defense they were without Matt Cassel, not to mention Jamal Charles or Eric Berry, but they continue to be a very inconsistent football team. 

27. (23) Arizona Cardinals (3-7) – John Skelton went from dethroning Kevin Kolb to losing his job in half a game against the 49ers. The only bright spots on this team right now are Larry Fitzgerald and Patrick Peterson, who got burned by Michael Crabtree all day actually.

28. (26) Jacksonville Jaguars (3-7) – The Jaguars were basically handed the game by Cleveland and decided that they didn’t want the victory. This is another team that proves to be way too inconsistent on a weekly basis.

29. (25) Minnesota Vikings (2-8) – Just as everything seemed to begin clicking in Minnesota; Adrian Peterson suffered a high ankle sprain that will keep him out at least one week. I hope he is back soon because I feel this team has a lot of potential, just a very tough division to play in.  

30. (27) Carolina Panthers (2-8) – The Panthers came out hot against the Lions, but then they died down very, very quickly. Cam Newton was inaccurate all day and the Lions basically did whatever they wanted to the Carolina defense.

31. (31) St. Louis Rams (2-8) – The Rams don’t escape with a win this week as the Seahawks handled their business. Sam Bradford just doesn’t look the same despite having much more talent at the WR position this year.

32. (32) Indianapolis Colts (0-10) – Good news everyone, the Colts didn’t lose this week!!!

2011 All-CIF Southern Section Team

The following list consists of the top prep players from across the Southern Section. Regular season performance and strength of opponents were the two key factors in our selection process. (Stats up to Round 1 of CIF Playoffs)


All CIF - Southern Section
Offense
QB: Larry Cutbirth, Etiwanda, 31 TD'S, 10 INTS and 2,780 YDS
RB: Romello Goodman, Corona Centennial, 1913 YDS and 32 TD'S
FB: Christain Powell, Upland, 350 YDS and 5 TD'S
WR: Bryce Treggs, St. John Bosco, 1300 YDS and 11 TD'S
WR: Alex Villalobos, San Gabriel, 1567 YDS and 18 TD'S
TE: Christo Kourtzidis, Orange Lutheran, 25 REC and 261 YDS
OL: Max Tuerk, Santa Margarita, No sacks allowed
OL: Travis Averill, Servite, No sacks allowed
OL: Colby Cyburt, Mission Viejo, No sacks allowed
OL: Jordan Simmons, Crespi, No sacks allowed

OL: Kyle Murphy, San Clemente, No sacks allowed

Defense
DE: Kache Palacio, Gardena Serra, 12.5 Sacks
DL: Christian Powell, Upland, 13 Sacks
DL: Jesse Ojeda, San Dimas, 13 Sacks
DE: Andrew Vega, Citrus Valley, 19 Sacks
LB: Bryce Smith, Vista Murrieta, 136 Tackles and 5 Sacks
LB: Nicholas Hastert, St. John Bosco, 130 Tackles and 4 Sacks
LB: J.T. Wells, Nipomo, 156 Tackles and 4 Sacks
DB: Ishmael Adams, Oaks Christain, 2 INTS and 5 Catches allowed
DB: Kevon Seymour, John Muir, 3 INTS and 6 Catches allowed
SS: Curtis Dozier, Chaparral, 3 INTS and 43 Tackles

FS: Bryan Harper, Colony, 3 INTS and 4 Catches allowed

Special Teams
K: Alex Ball, Westlake, 77% FGM and 65 for 65 XP
P: Garrett Swanson, Riverside King, 46.8 YD/P and 75 YD Long
KR/PR: Cole Cottrell, Corona Del Mar, 800 total YDS

NFL Week 11 Predictions

Top Games:

1) SD vs. CHI

This should be a great contest of teams that seem to be headed in opposite directions. The Chargers have lost 4 straight while the Bears have won 4 straight. As much as I dislike Philip Rivers and Norv Turner, I expect them to bounce back and have a good game. On the other hand, Chicago has looked great with a balanced offense and very solid defense that is beginning to force turnovers. All of this said, I expect the Soldier Field crowd to be loud and help cheer their home team to a victory. DA BEARS!!!

2) CIN vs. BAL

This game is much more than a matchup of two AFC North teams. In past years, this game would be a walk in the park for the Ravens, but things have changed over in Bengal Land. Both of these teams are 6-3 meaning this game has playoff implications. Andy Dalton and A.J. Green have given the city of Cincinnati something to cheer for; however Dalton will be without his favorite target Green this week. On the opposite side of the field, the Ravens are fresh off a loss to the Seahawks. The Ravens will be most likely be without Ray Lewis, but I still fully expect Ed Reed and the Ravens to bounce back in a big way. THAT’S SO RAVEN!!!

3) PHI vs. NYG

To many this may seem like a game that the Giants will easily won, but I disagree. Yes, the Eagles will be without Michael Vick AND Jeremy Maclin, but could this be a good thing? Personally, I believe that Andy Reid has been depriving this team of its full potential by putting the ball in the hands of Vick too often instead of giving the ball to Shady McCoy. Eli and the Giants have been playing very solid football, but will be without Ahmad Bradshaw for another week. The Giants run defense has been shaky at times and with Vince Young starting I expect the Eagles to unleashed McCoy. All things considered, I expect the Giants to rebound from their tough loss at San Francisco and come away with a close victory. ELIte ELI MANNING!!!

Remaining Games:

(Thursday) NYJ vs. DEN = NYJ (DEN won 17-13)

Frank Gore (picture above) looks to have a big game against
the 49ers division foe Arizona Cardinals as the 49ers look to
win their 8th straight game.

JAC vs. CLE = CLE

CAR vs. DET = DET

TB vs. GB = GB

BUF vs. MIA = BUF

OAK vs. MIN = OAK

DAL vs. WAS = DA

ARI vs. SF = SF

SEA vs. STL = SEA

TEN vs. ATL = ATL

(Monday Night) KC vs. NE = NE  

College Football - Top Games: Week 12

3. No. 13 Kansas State at No. 23 Texas (5:00 PM PT on FX) - Kansas State's recent struggles might come to an end tonight in Austin in a pivotal Big 12 match-up. Although their championship hopes probably died after back-to-back losses to the Oklahoma schools, Kansas State can still finish the year strong and make a case for an At-Large bid in the BCS. Quarterback Collin Klein has been spectacular on the year, throwing for 1500 passing yards, but has taken advantage of opponents with his ability to run the ball. Texas' stout run defense will look to limit the Wildcats' ground attack and put the pressure back on Klein's arm. Texas coach Mack Brown has done a spectacular job guiding a young team but has been without a superstar since their 2009 National Championship game loss. The game could be close if Texas' offense plays big, but expect a dominant Kansas State victory. PICK: Kansas State

2. No. 5 Oklahoma at No. 22 Baylor (5:00 PM PT on ABC/ESPN3) - Oklahoma is back in the national championship picture after rival Oklahoma State's loss last night to Iowa State. Quarterback Landry Jones is without star wide receiver Ryan Broyles but has plenty of targets to make-up for Broyles' absence. Baylor's Robert Griffin III leads the top ranked offense in the Big 12, averaging 40.3 points per game and 568 total yards per game. Griffin was a top Heisman candidate early in the season but recent losses have hurt his bid. He will need a big game to get back in the Heisman picture and an upset victory over Oklahoma might do the trick. The Sooners are riding high after big wins over Kansas State and Texas A&M and will look to take advantage of Baylor's inconsistent pass defense. Oklahoma already experienced the trap game blues against Texas Tech and will step up big with the road victory. PICK: Oklahoma

1. USC at No. 4 Oregon (5:00 PM PT on ABC/ESPN3) - Oregon will look to extend their 21 game home winning streak in their toughest remaining Pac-12 challenge. The Ducks went to L.A. and shocked the Trojans last year in a game that officially ended USC's kingship in the West. Oregon's athleticism was too much for Stanford last week, but the Trojans match up better with the Ducks' speed. The game will ultimately come down USC quarterback Matt Barkley and whether or not he can be effective in leading an offense that is averaging 34 points per game. Although the Ducks rely heavily on quarterback Darron Thomas and running back LaMichael James, the Oregon offense will need Freshman running back and L.A. native De'Anthony Thomas to be a factor on the ground and at receiver if they want to continue their dominance over the Trojans. Oregon and the fans at Autzen Stadium will prove to be too much for Lane Kiffin and the Trojans and the Ducks will clinch the Pac-12 North Division. PICK: Oregon