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| AFC South |
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AFC South - Insights Intelligence |
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AFC Intelligence Reports |
NFC Intelligence Reports |
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AFC East - BUF, MIA, NEP, NYJ
AFC South - HOU, IND, JAX, TEN
AFC North - BAL, CIN, CLE, PIT
AFC West - DEN, KAN, OAK, SD |
NFC East - DAL, NYG, PHI, WAS
NFC South - ATL, CAR, NO, TB
NFC North - CHI, DET, GB, MIN
NFC West - ARZ, STL, SF, SEA |
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Insights Intelligence is a free product of Fantasy Insights. Our writers submit their reports on a voluntary basis each week and, although we strive to post updated reports for every team each week, reports may not always get updated before the Thursday deadline.
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| Houston Texans |
By: Steve Dent
Updated: 12/27/2008
Please access our Premium Products for the Houston Texans Team Capsule, Player Rankings/Statistics, Crystal Ball Projections, Fantasy Recommendations and much more.
Last Week:
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I apologize for the late notice, but quite frankly...after last week's sickening performance in Oakland, it became difficult to hold down solid foods. An unbelievably horrific performance that followed the most significant win in frnachise history sent this team reeling. The mark of a truly good team is the ability to take care of business and beat the teams you are suppossed to beat. The Texans obviously couldn't do that. Ugh.
This Week:
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Buying into the rhetoric of excuses...last week's game was the ultimate "trap game" with a lousy opponent after Tennessee. This week the Titans get Chicago, who very much have something to play for. So you will get a playoff-type atmosphere from a team that desperately wants to be thought of as a playoff team. The Bears are very weak against the pass (27th in league). So expect a lot of balls in the air this week
Rumors:
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Not really a rumor, but something to watch. Andre Johnson was on the BENCH for the final possession of the Oakland game last week. Kubiak actually questioned Johnson indirectly as being responsible for only having 2 balls thrown his way. Best player in franchise history. Top three wide receiver in all of football. The week before he lauded the team for being close and winning together. Yet this week, Kubiak calls him out? Strange.
Injuries:
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Ahman Green
Position Analysis:
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QUARTERBACKS: MATT SCHAUB was visably frustrated against Oakland and ripped coaches and players. Look for him to rebound against a bad pass defense and torch the Bears for 300+ and 2/3 TDS.
RUNNING BACKS: STEVE SLATON will have tough sledding this week against the #4 ranked rushing defense in the league. Not a strong play this week.
WIDE RECEIVERS: ANDRE JOHNSON will be challenged this week and the Texans will force feed him again after a 2 catch performance last week. Look for big day for AJ. KEVIN WALTER has been a very good #3 fantasy receiver this year and will be a good play this week as a bad pass defense tries to help on Johnson.
TIGHT ENDS: OWEN DANIELS is a good tight play this week.
PLACE KICKER: KRIS BROWN is having a record breaking year. This is because the offense struggles to get the ball in the end zone. With a desperate Bears team, look for them to stiffen in the red zone and the Texan woes to possibly continue.
DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS:The defense was horrid Sunday at Oakland, making a very BAD Demarcus Russell look like Kenny Stabler. They have been better against the run, but Chicago will try to pound on them with a potent run game.
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| Indianapolis Colts |
By: Brian Fischer
Updated: 12/27/2008
Please access our Premium Products for the Indianapolis Colts Team Capsule, Player Rankings/Statistics, Crystal Ball Projections, Fantasy Recommendations and much more.
Last Week:
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Week 16 at Jacksonville was, as always, a game where overused cliches actually apply. We knew JAC would run and stop the run ... old-school, hard-nosed, smash-mouth football. We knew this would be a "throw out the W/L records" game. We knew JAC was of a mind to "play the spoiler" with "nothing to lose". We also knew the Colts would buck convention and attempt to ride the arm of Peyton Manning. After all, "big-time players make big-time plays in big-time games". Well, all of the above occurred last Thursday, and for the unfortunately small percentage of US households who were able to see the game, it was worth the price of admission (or NFL Network, as the case may be). Once again this season, the Colts overcame a 14 point deficit on the road and scored the last 17 points of the game to pull out a 7 point victory.
From a fantasy perspective, the players we've come to rely on this season took care of business. Owners of Manning, Clark, Wayne, and Rhodes continued to ride this season's rather peculiar wave.
Week 16 Predictions / Actuals:
PEYTON MANNING - prediction 300 yds, 2 TD, 0 INT / actual 364 yds, 3 TD, 0 INT
JOE ADDAI - prediction 30 yds, 0 TD / actual suited up but DNP
DOMINIC RHODES - prediction 90 yds, 1 TD / actual 89 total yds, 1 TD
REGGIE WAYNE - prediction 120 yds, 1 TD / actual 108 yds, 1 TD
MARVIN HARRISON - prediction likely out / actual out
ANTHONY GONZALEZ - prediction 50 yds, 1 TD / actual 38 yds, 0 TD
DALLAS CLARK - prediction 80 yds, 0 TD / actual 105 yds, 1 TD
ADAM VINTATIERI - prediction 3/3 XP, 2/2 FG / actual 4/4 XP, 1/2 FG
IND DST - prediction 20 PA, 275 YdsA, 3 Sks, 2 FR, 1 INT, 0 DTD / actual 24 PA, 409 YdsA, 3 Sks, 1 FF (0 FR), 1 INT, 1 DTD
prediction IND 27, JAC 20 / actual IND 31, JAC 24
This Week:
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This week, the Colts host TEN in a meaningless game from the standpoint of playoff positioning. Neither team's position will be impacted by this game. This, of course, makes playing time, stat projections, etc. extremely difficult. However, there are a few cues on the Colts side to make some reasonable guesses. From a team standpoint, IND would love to extend its NFL-leading 8 game winning streak while playing key players as little as possible. The sense here is that IND will squeak out a victory in a game that promises an ugly 2nd half.
TEN Defensive rankings:
Passing 10th in NFL (212 yards/game); Rushing 5th in NFL (92 yards/game); Scoring 1st in NFL (14.1 points/game)
Rumors:
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The rumor mills are flying in Indy, but mostly in relation to the offseason. There isn't enough space to properly address all the scenarios here, but the following is an attempt to sort out a few which are relevant to this week's game:
1.) Without a major contract restructuring, this may very well be Marvin Harrison's last home game as a Colt. He and Manning may have some incentive to rekindle memories of past magic.
2.) Rumors surround Joe Addai, especially after his healthy, suited-up DNP last week in an important game for the Colts. He could be in for a surprisingly big week, especially considering the RB injury situation (see below).
3.) Manning will open the game 93 yards shy of 4,000 on the season. Dallas Clark opens the game 42 yards shy of the Colts single season record for receiving yards by a TE (John Mackey - HOF). As a gauge for how long the starters will play, both will likely attempt to eclipse these marks.
Injuries:
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Key offensive injuries:
DOMINIC RHODES (chest) - officially OUT for the game
CHAD SIMPSON (ankle) - officially QUESTIONABLE (likely won't play)
Note - Coach Dungy has indicated that "dinged" players will likely not play this Sunday.
Position Analysis:
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QUARTERBACKS:
Look for Manning to play the first 2 or 3 series, then give way to Jim Sorgi. Better fantasy options likely exist this week.
PEYTON MANNING - 120 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT
JIM SORGI - 120 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
RUNNING BACKS:
Here is where things get interesting. Rhodes is OUT, and rookie Chad Simpson is likely to sit. That leaves Joe Addai, not listed at all on this week's injury report, and recently acquired Najeh Davenport. Addai's playing time in this game may well be an indicator of his playoff and long-term future with the Colts. (Significant PT may indicate that he is no longer in the long term plans for the Colts.)
JOE ADDAI - 70 total yards, 1 TD
DOMINIC RHODES - OUT
CHAD SIMPSON - likely out
NAJEH DAVENPORT - 30 total yards, 0 TD
WIDE RECEIVERS:
As mentioned, there may some incentive for Marvin to have a productive day in front of the home fans. All other stats are highly dependent on playing time.
REGGIE WAYNE - 60 yards, 0 TD
MARVIN HARRISON - 50 yards, 1 TD
ANTHONY GONZALEZ - 40 yards, 0 TD
TIGHT ENDS:
Look for Clark to play long enough to get the 42 yards he needs to make the Colts record books. We may finally see rookie Jacob Tamme aka Dallas Clark Jr.
DALLAS CLARK - 50 yards, 1 TD
PLACE KICKER:
Expect the usual from AV; he may have a FG attempt or 2 more than normal.
ADAM VINTATIERI - 3/3 XP, 2/2 FG
DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS:
Many, many Colts defenders will likely get the week off. Bob Sanders has already been ruled out, and Gary Brackett is still out.
24 PA, 300 YdsA, 2 Sacks, 0 FR, 1 INT, 0 DTD
IND 27, TEN 24
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| Jacksonville Jaguars |
By: Open Position
Updated: 12/25/2008
Please access our Premium Products for the Jacksonville Jaguars Team Capsule, Player Rankings/Statistics, Crystal Ball Projections, Fantasy Recommendations and much more.
Last Week:
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Colts - 31, Jags - 24: When you write a weekly report like this one, sometimes you just blow a prediction and you can't take it back because it's in writing for everyone to see. Last week, I would have bet a mortgage payment that Dennis Northcutt wouldn't have been able to reproduce his terrific effort from the week before, but he did. David Garrard has had two good weeks in a row now that the Jags are finished for the playoff hunt. And, Maurice Jones-Drew contintued to cement his standing as a true #1 fantasy RB.
This Week:
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The warm weather Jags travel to Baltimore to take on the Ravens.
Rumors:
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Nothing that will affect your fantasy squad this week.
Injuries:
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Nothing new that will affect your fantasy team.
Position Analysis:
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QUARTERBACKS: If you're playing in your league championship, chances are you DON'T have Garrard as your starter. If you do, I hope you have a decent alternative because the Ravens defense isn't the one you want your QB to be playing against during Championship Week. Projection: 185 yards passing, 1 touchdown, 1 interception.
RUNNING BACKS: Maurice Jones-Drew has a horrible match-up, but you'll kick yourself all off-season if you don't "ride the horse that brung ya" in your championship game. MJD should be playing the whole game because they're done after Sunday anyway. Projection: Jones-Drew - 90 total yards, 1 touchdown.
WIDE RECEIVERS: Don't play any Jags WR. Northcutt's 2 weeks in the spotlight ends this week.
TIGHT ENDS: I don't think that the Jags even have one.
PLACE KICKER: Josh Scobee is a decent play because the Ravens don't usually give up a lot of touchdowns, so the Jags may be trying 4 or 5 FG attempts.
DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS: Though they played better against the Colts than I thought they would, they still gave up a ton of points and passing yards. Their run defense was outstanding though. If they force the Ravens to throw, there could be some turnovers, so the Jags could be a decent back-up alternative at defense this week.
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| Tennessee Titans |
By: Joe Book
Updated: 12/24/2008
Please access our Premium Products for the Tennessee Titans Team Capsule, Player Rankings/Statistics, Crystal Ball Projections, Fantasy Recommendations and much more.
Last Week:
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TITANS 31 Steelers 14
The Titans answered the bell for this heavyweight clash, defeating the Steelers and wrapping up home-field advantage throughout the AFC Playoffs. The defense put up a blue wall against Pittsburgh's run offense, and they forced two interceptions by Ben Roethlisberger, who was sacked five times.
This Week:
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I've been wrong in my prediction twice in a row, so I'm due for a correct pick. The problem is that Week 17 offers a matchup at Indianapolis, in a completely meaningless game for both the Titans and Colts. It's hard to tell how much playing time starters will be given, so I'll throw arbitrary numbers in the air... Titans win 21-17.
Rumors:
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The rumor mill is off this week.
Injuries:
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Offense
--C Kevin Mawae injured his elbow last week against the Steelers. He won't play Sunday, mainly as a precaution.
Defense
--DL Kyle Vanden Bosch: (groin) will miss the rest of the regular season.
--DL Albert Haynesworth: (knee) will miss the rest of the regular season.
Position Analysis:
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QUARTERBACKS: Kerry Collins had an efficient game against Pittsburgh, throwing for 216 yards and one touchdown, without an interception. It's hard to say how much he'll play this week, so I wouldn't use Collins in your fantasy starting lineup. Vince Young probably won't be a fantasy factor.
RUNNING BACKS: With a two-headed monster behind the signal caller, LenDale White and Chris Johnson could find themselves touching the ball more often than coach Jeff Fisher would like. We'll also likely get a healthy dose of Chris Henry, but none of the three should be started. LenDale White could get another slop touchdown, but you are taking a risk by starting him.
WIDE RECEIVERS: Justin McCareins led the team in catches with six for 55 yards, but Justin Gage was the star of the corps, catching five balls for 104 yards, including a 34-yard touchdown in the first half. Tennessee's starters probably will only play the first half, and it's hard to say who will get the looks after the intermission. Regardless, no Titans receiver should be starting this weekend for your team.
TIGHT ENDS: Bo Scaife caught four passes for 26 yards as the Steelers linebacker corps keyed in on stopping him. He also won't be a factor in this meaningless tilt this Sunday. Alge Crumpler actually outgained Scaife last week, but who cares? He's been a huge disappointment this year.
PLACE KICKER: Rob Bironas- Bironas is the only Titans player worthy of starting this weekend. In games with no playoff implications, teams won't bench their kicker unless a lingering injury could worsen. In this case, you can and should start Bironas. He's been fantasy's second best kicker (Gostowski) this season.
DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS: The defense played just well enough to hold Pittsburgh to 14 points, including none in the last 24 minutes of the game. While Ben Roethlisberger posted 331 yards, he committed four turnovers, and was pressured all day. Rookie defensive tackle Jason Jones was credited with 3.5 sacks, and forced three fumbles in a dominant performance. Michael Griffin notched two interceptions, and returned the final one 83 yards for a touchdown with 16 seconds left in the game.
Even with Indianapolis reserves potentially playing most of the game for coach Tony Dungy, starting the Titans defense is a risky proposition. The Colts might use their starters for the first half, and they feature one of the most powerful offenses in the league. If you have a better defensive option, use it.
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