Value Plays - Week 16

  Posted 12/18 by Jeff Tefertiller, Exclusive to Footballguys.com

This article will take a weekly look at players who could provide value in a given week. The basis for this value will be the difference between the Top 250 forward, a look at the top 250 players with the whole season in mind, and the weekly rankings. Both of these are from the Footballguys.com subscriber content. An emphasis will be on the players with the largest differences between the season outlook and this week only. Also, a preference will be given to differences for the higher ranked players. Some of these differences will be due to injury, matchup of the week, or short-term situation. Now, let's take a look at this week's value players.

Quarterback

Seneca Wallace

• Top 250 ranking: 26
• Weekly ranking: 6
• Difference: +20

Seneca Wallace has played decent since taking over for Matt Hasselbeck. He had a big fantasy game a couple of weeks ago and could again this week. The Seahawks host the Jets in week sixteen. The New York secondary is not strong. He makes a good sleeper this week.

Matt Cassel

• Top 250 ranking: 8
• Weekly ranking: 2
• Difference: +6

Matt Cassel has led the Patriot offense to the second most points scored in the AFC. This week, the Patriots play the Cardinals in the great northeast. Arizona gives up the most fantasy points in the league to opposing passers. The only concern is the weather.

Jeff Garcia

• Top 250 ranking: 24
• Weekly ranking: 7
• Difference: +17

Garcia is back in the lineup this week. The Buccaneers host the Chargers in what could be a high scoring game. San Diego gives up huge production through the passing game. Garcia is a winner and will pass enough to get Tampa Bay a win.

Running Back

Marshawn Lynch

• Top 250 ranking: 10
• Weekly ranking: 3
• Difference: +7

Marshawn Lynch gets an ideal matchup against the Denver Broncos. The Broncos have one of the worst rush defenses in the league. Denver has given up huge games to opposing rushers. The Bills get Trent Edwards back in the lineup and will look to run the ball a ton.

Pierre Thomas

• Top 250 ranking: 20
• Weekly ranking: 6
• Difference: + 14

Pierre Thomas has come out of nowhere to be an elite running back late in the season. Reggie Bush is now on Injured Reserve. Plus, the Saints face the worst run defense in the league, the Detroit Lions. Expect a monster game from the former undrafted back.

Kevin Smith

• Top 250 ranking: 24
• Weekly ranking: 12
• Difference: + 12

Kevin Smith has quietly had a good rookie season. Yes, he has been overshadowed by other rookies in the class. Getting Dan Orlovsky back under center will help. The Lions host the Saints in what could be a high scoring game. Smith makes a very good RB2 this week.

Maurice Jones-Drew

• Top 250 ranking: 11
• Weekly ranking: 4
• Difference: +7

When the Jaguars and the Colts meet, the game usually pretty close. The weakness of the Colt defense is against the run. Add in the move of Fred Taylor to Injured Reserve and you can see a big game for the diminutive runner. He should be the lone bright spot for the Jaguar offense n Thursday night.

Wide Receiver

Braylon Edwards

• Top 250 ranking: 31
• Weekly ranking: 11
• Difference: +20

The Browns looked bad on Monday night. With Kellen Winslow still ailing, Ken Dorsey will look to the big play receiver to make plays against the across state rival. The Bengals will be a good matchup for the inconsistent star receiver.

Deion Branch

• Top 250 ranking: 32
• Weekly ranking: 16
• Difference: +16

Branch has been on fire the last couple of weeks. They face a weak Jet secondary as the Seahawks try to get a win for coach Holmgren. In the last couple of weeks, very few receivers have produced as well as the former Patriot. He has a good rapport with Seneca Wallace.

Antonio Bryant

• Top 250 ranking: 25
• Weekly ranking: 5
• Difference: +20

Antonio Bryant has been elite with over 300 receiving yards the last two weeks. Also, it will be good for the Buccaneers to get Garcia back in the lineup. The way he has played, Bryant has to be in fantasy lineups this week.

Vincent Jackson

• Top 250 ranking: 19
• Weekly ranking: 12
• Difference: +7

Vincent Jackson has emerged as the "go to" receiver for Philip Rivers. The Chargers will need to throw to keep pace with the Buccaneers. Jackson makes big plays in the passing game.

Tight End

John Carlson

• Top 250 ranking: 8
• Weekly ranking: 4
• Difference: 4

John Carlson has been playing well with all of the Seattle Seahawk quarterbacks. Carlson and the Seahawks offense face the Jets in week sixteen. The rookie is one of the few must start tight ends this week. The Jet defense has not been playing well of late.

Visanthe Shiancoe

• Top 250 ranking: 21
• Weekly ranking: 13
• Difference: 8

Shiancoe is coming off a down week with only one catch. He has not had two consecutive bad weeks this season. The Vikings host the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons do not have a stout defense. Shiancoe is a marginal fantasy starter for those teams that are in need.

Kicker

Garrett Hartley

• Top 250 ranking: 8
• Weekly ranking: 2
• Difference: 6

Hartley has been red hot of late. He gets a great matchup against the Detroit Lions in week sixteen. The Lions are among the worst teams in the NFL at yielding points to kickers. This is because of the very bad Lion defense. Drew Brees will move the ball.

Robbie Gould

• Top 250 ranking: 17
• Weekly ranking: 3
• Difference: 14

Robbie Gould won the game last week for the Bears. He, and the Bears, face the rival Green bay Packers. The Packer defense has not been playing well. Gould should be a top kicker this week.

Defense

Cleveland Browns

• Top 250 ranking: unranked
• Weekly ranking: 5
• Difference: N/A

The Cleveland Brown defense has played well and caused turnovers. The Browns were able to pick off Donovan McNabb on Monday night so facing Fitzpatrick should not be too difficult. The Bengals make a tasty matchup for the Browns. Cleveland will try to beat the cross state rival.

New Orleans Saints

• Top 250 ranking: 23
• Weekly ranking: 1
• Difference: 22

The Saint defense has been playing well. They face Dan Orlovsky and the Lions. Orlovsky has been playing well when healthy this season. This could be the game that the former UConn passer makes costly turnovers.