QB Shaun Hill, SF - Hill is getting comfortable in the 49er offense. He was able to be effective even without much of a run game. Hill was efficient against the Jets, completing 28 of 39 passes for 285 yards. He also threw two touchdowns and one interception. He would have had another touchdown on his stat line if Jason Hill would not have fumbled at the one-yard line. Hill has thrown for two touchdowns in four of the last five games. Shaun Hill might be the long-term starter in San Francisco as he has led the 49ers to wins in three of the last four games. The team only has two other wins on the season.

QB Tarvaris Jackson, MIN - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Jackson entered the game against the Lions just before halftime. He replaced Gus Frerotte after the veteran hurt his back making a tackle after an interception. Jackson completed eight of ten passes for 105 yards, including a touchdown pass to Visanthe Shiancoe.

QB Peyton Manning, IND - Manning was in complete control against an overmatched Bengals secondary in Week 14. Manning had three touchdowns to three different receivers, working the ball downfield to several options and connecting with seven different Colts at least twice. He could have had 300+ yards but slowed it down with the game well in hand in the second half. Expect big numbers again from Manning against Detroit next week.

QB Matt Schaub, HOU - Schaub was back in the starting lineup against the Green Bay Packers after missing four weeks. He started off hot with a 58-yard touchdown early in the first quarter and had 199 passing yards just in the first half. The Packers have been strong against the pass for most of the year, so this was a good showing for the oft-injured Texan quarterback. Schaub looked good in his first game back from the knee injury. For the game, he completed 28 of 42 passes for 414 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

QB Seneca Wallace, SEA - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Matt Hasselbeck was held out of the Week 14 game against the Patriots, giving Wallace another start this season. Not much was expected of him, yet Wallace was 20 of 28 in passing for 212 yards and three scores, plus he added 47 more yards with his legs. Given his matchup next week against the Rams, Wallace (assuming he plays again) could be a nice sleeper quarterback and a good insurance policy for fantasy owners in need of a backup option for Week 15.

Downgrade

QB Brett Favre, NYJ - Favre had another disappointing game against a less than stellar defense. He completed 20 of 31 passes for a mere 137 yards and only scored on a rushing touchdown while throwing one INT. This was the second consecutive week without a passing touchdown for the veteran passer, and the Jets lost both games. Neither opponent (Denver and San Francisco) was in the top two-thirds of the league in defending the pass. The Bills and Seahawks are next on the schedule.

QB Gus Frerotte, MIN - Frerotte did not play well in the game against the Lions. He was picked off twice in just the first half. On the second interception, the veteran passer injured his back trying to make the tackle. He only had 70 passing yards on seven of ten passing before exiting the game. Tarvaris Jackson took his place.

QB Matt Hasselbeck, SEA - Matt Hasselbeck was scratched from the Week 14 game against the Patriots and it is not known yet if he can go next week against St. Louis. Given Seneca Wallace's strong performance and Hasselbeck's health and underwhelming performances of late he cannot be used with any confidence in Week 15 even if he does get the starting nod.

QB J.P. Losman, BUF - J.P. Losman was knocked around all game long against Miami. He was sacked four times, intercepted once and fumbled the ball three times (one of which was a turnover). Losman was filling in for an injured Trent Edwards, who was out with a groin injury. Edwards was shown in uniform on the sidelines during the game. Our guess is that Edwards may play next week at the Jets, but that is yet to be determined. If so, Losman and his inconsistencies will return to the bench.

QB JaMarcus Russell, OAK - Russell had a rough night against the Chargers, throwing two interceptions and fumbling once in he first half before he left the game with an ankle injury. X-rays on the ankle were negative, but MRI results are not yet available. The injury does not appear to be serious, but it is the same ankle that has bothered Russell intermittently this season. We do not recommend starting Russell from here on out.

Holding steady

QB Trent Edwards, BUF - Edwards was a game-time decision against the Dolphins, but Buffalo decided to go with J.P. Losman at QB instead of risking further injury to Edwards' sore groin. It is our guess that Edwards will start next week at the Jets, but that has yet to be announced. Either way, we don't recommend starting Edwards next week. The Buffalo offense is sputtering in all areas and is too risky to consider.

QB Eli Manning, NYG - Manning struggled with both the Eagles and the wind in Week 14 in the Meadowlands. He did hit several Giants receivers but they dropped several balls, including an 85-yard sure touchdown to Domenik Hixon. Manning should bounce back next week against the Cowboys in a big Sunday night game next week in Dallas.

QB Tony Romo, DAL - Romo and the Cowboy passing game faced the top defense in the league on the road in unsavory conditions. No, he did not play well, but there were a lot of factors. Romo should bounce back with a better game next week. On the game, Romo completed just 19 of 36 passes for 210 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. The Cowboys play at home the next two weeks in what should be better weather.

Running Back

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RB Tatum Bell, DEN - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Depending on Selvin Young's availability (Young has been out since Week 10 with a groin injury), Tatum Bell may start the final few games for the Broncos, whose RB corps suffered further depletion on Sunday when Peyton Hillis injured his hamstring. Bell averaged 4.7 yards per attempt against the Chiefs on Sunday. He will get next crack at the job.

RB Ladell Betts, WAS - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Betts came on in the second half to take over most of the Redskin tailback workload with Clinton Portis on the sideline. Portis is very banged up and Betts has proven in the past to be more than just a capable backup. Should Betts be used more next week against the Bengals he should be able to put up very good numbers.

RB Tashard Choice, DAL - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - The rookie looked strong against the top defense in the NFL. He ran well and showed good hands out of the backfield. Dallas ran Choice 23 times. He gained 88 yards, including a 22-yard dash. Choice was active in the passing game as well. He caught five passes for 78 yards. His biggest gain on the day was a 50-yard reception when he split two defenders on the outside. Choice is able to make plays for a big runner. He would start again next week against the New York Giants if Marion Barber can't go.

RB DeShaun Foster, SF - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Foster got the carries after Frank Gore was injured in the third quarter against the Jets. He carried the ball 16 times for only 35 yards and added an eight-yard reception. Foster is not a strong runner and also lost a fumble. If Gore misses much time, Foster could split time with Michael Robinson.

RB Chris Johnson, TEN - Johnson torched the Browns for 166 total yards and a touchdown on Sunday. Over the next three weeks, the Titans will face the Texans, Steelers, and Colts. The week 15 and week 17 games against the Texans and Colts are both very good matchups for Johnson.

RB Maurice Jones-Drew, JAX - Jacksonville is really struggling right now, but the mighty-might powers of Maurice Jones-Drew are in high force. He is arguably the only viable Jaguars player worth starting. Next week Jones-Drew plays a Packers team at home that has been horrendous against the run in their last three games. Jones-Drew has not had less than two receptions in a game this year and he has 19 catches in his last three games.

RB LeRon McClain, BAL - Le'Ron McClain got the bulk of the workload again in Week 14, picking up 20 carries against the Redskins on Sunday Night Football. The Ravens attempted to give Willis McGahee an increased workload, but he fell flat on his face with two miscues and also looked to get injured again. That's a boost to McClain's value, which positions him well to get the bulk of the tailback work for Baltimore for the rest of the season.

RB Dominic Rhodes, IND - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - With Joseph Addai missing time in the second half against the Bengals, Rhodes was once again called upon to carry the load to finish the game. The Colts love to work Rhodes into the mix and he had 13 touches in Week 14 for 43 combined yards, but the upside here is for next week. Should Addai be unable to go against Detroit in Week 15, Rhodes has the potential to put up big numbers against one of the weaker teams in the league.

RB Ray Rice, BAL - Ray Rice had five touches in Week 14 against the Redskins, the third most of any tailback for the Ravens (behind McClain and McGahee), but he gets more value now as McGahee looks to have performed very poorly in his latest chance to get more work. Assuming McGahee drops down the depth chart, Rice should get more work as the second option in the Baltimore backfield going forward.

RB Pierre Thomas, NO - Thomas has scored at least one TD in each of his last four games, including two games with multiple TDs. He has seven total TDs this season, six of which are in the last four weeks. Thomas had only 17 total touches against Atlanta, but he gained over 100 yards for the third time in four games. Thomas represents good value as a RB2 going forward. Next week's opponent is Chicago on the road, but the week after, which is the championship game for most fantasy owners, the Saints play at Detroit.

RB Leonard Weaver, SEA - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - This one is a bit of a reach, but if you need some help at running back and are scrambling, look no further. Weaver had 32 yards on just five carries against the Patriots in Week 14, plus he also had 28 more on a carry that was lost due to a penalty. Weaver was the most impressive rusher for Seattle and has a very favorable matchup against the Rams in Week 15. If Seattle continues to mix him in, which seems to be the trend given Maurice Morris' average numbers and the lack of confidence in Julius Jones, Weaver may be worth a roll of the dice.

RB Brian Westbrook, PHI - Westbrook continues to provide great production down the stretch as he had 39 touches against a formidable New York Giant defense, a career high. The Eagles continued to give Westbrook carries all day as they dominated the time of possession and yardage in Week 14. The numerous touches gave Westbrook enough opportunity to break off two big gainers that highlighted the afternoon. Westbrook found the end zone twice on the big plays, rushing in from 30 yards and adding a 40-yard catch and run in the second half. Look for another big game next Monday night against the Cleveland Browns.

RB LenDale White, TEN - The Titans use White to pound the ball when they have a lead. He had a team-high 24 carries against the Browns, converting them into 99 yards and a touchdown. With a relatively easy matchup this week against the Texans, at least on paper, White could have another strong fantasy performance.

RB Selvin Young, DEN - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Young still seems to be battling his groin injury, but he'll need to get healthy quickly with Peyton Hillis now lost for the remainder of the season. The Broncos say Tatum Bell will get first crack at the starting job, but it's hard to have faith in him. Young might soon get a turn.

Downgrade

RB Joseph Addai, IND - Addai had 10 carries for a scant 26 yards against Cincinnati in Week 14, a terrible performance given that favorable matchup. Addai was questionable this week on the injury report and then got injured again in the third quarter. He was on the sideline with trainers working on him in the third quarter and did not return to the game. Addai has a nice matchup again this week against Detroit, but he cannot be relied upon for consistent production at this point.

RB Marion Barber, DAL - Barber did not play against the Steelers. He is still battling the dislocated pinkie toe and is not a lock to play in Week 15. Tashard Choice played very well in his place against the stingy Pittsburgh Steelers defense.

RB Frank Gore, SF - Gore injured his ankle in the third quarter. He did not return to the game. The injury looked as though it could keep him out of the lineup for a while. Before leaving the game, Gore ran the ball 14 times against the stout Jet rush defense for only 52 yards. He added 13 yards and a touchdown on three receptions. If the injury is serious, it would be a huge blow to the 49er offense.

RB Peyton Hillis, DEN - Hillis played well in limited action against the Chiefs, but left the game with a hamstring injury that caused him to be placed on injured reserve. He will miss the remainder of the season.

RB Brandon Jacobs, NYG - Brandon Jacobs was having another productive day in Week 14 against Philadelphia, averaging over five yards a carry, but then had to leave the game in the third quarter with an apparent knee injury. His status remains up in the air for the Week 15 game against Dallas. Jacobs said he could have gone back in, but given the Giants' comfortable position in the NFC East it is possible that their 11-1 record did factor into the decision.

RB Jamal Lewis, CLE - The Browns' entire offense struggled against the Titans with Ken Dorsey at QB. The Titans did not respect the Browns' passing threat, and Lewis ended the day with just seven yards on seven carries. The offense will likely continue to struggle, making it difficult for Lewis to make much of an impact in fantasy terms.

RB Deuce McAllister, NO - McAllister may or may not be suspended by the NFL, but he is clearly third on the RB depth chart in New Orleans. As long as Pierre Thomas is healthy, McAllister has little value.

RB Darren McFadden, OAK - McFadden got only one carry for no yards on Thursday night as Justin Fargas got the lion's share of the carries. In the passing game, Fargas has two receptions for nine yards, but failed to make a play on a catchable ball when he heard footsteps. McFadden does not appear to be playable in fantasy leagues right now.

RB Willis McGahee, BAL - The Baltimore Ravens attempted to give Willis McGahee more work in Week 14, but he fell flat on his face with his performance. McGahee dropped a pitch from Joe Flacco (that was scored as a Flacco fumble) and also fumbled again later in the contest that set up Washington's second touchdown. McGahee was also injured on the play in which he fumbled, which could provide a good excuse for the Ravens to demote him permanently to third on the tailback depth chart. McGahee had just 32 yards rushing on 11 attempts and lost eight yards on his only reception. He is underperforming and his future playing time will likely reflect that for the rest of the year.

RB Willie Parker, PIT - Parker has not enjoyed much success since Week 1's three-touchdown outburst. Since that game, he has only one score. In addition, he has only one reception on the season. Willie Parker has eclipsed the 100-yard mark only once since Week 2. Against the Cowboys, Parker ran the ball 12 times for a meager 25 yards. He and the Steelers play at the Ravens and at the Titans the next two weeks. That's a pair of tough matchups.

RB Clinton Portis, WAS - Clinton Portis managed to get just 32 yards on 11 carries against a formidable Baltimore defense, including a fumble that was returned for a score by the Ravens. He struggled against the Ravens and is not 100% healthy by any stretch of the imagination and even his head coach (Jim Zorn) is suggesting that he needs time off to heal. Portis was allegedly benched in the second half in favor of Ladell Betts and may not be the starter next week against Cincinnati. If Portis does face the Bengals he could be in store for good numbers, but that is a big if right now.

Holding steady

Wide Receiver

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WR Davone Bess, MIA - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Bess is on the fast track to gaining more playing time in the Dolphins offense. He has 3, 5, 6 and 9 receptions in each of his last four games. He has 87, 94 and 74 yards receiving in his last three games. In short, he's on the rise and can't be taken lightly. The quick, sure-handed rookie wideout from Hawaii has our attention and could be used as a surprise flex option next week at home against San Francisco.

WR Deion Branch, SEA - Deion Branch looked impressive with four catches, 88 yards and two scores in Week 14 against his former team. New England seemed to take Branch a little lightly in coverage and Branch made two beautiful highlight-reel caliber touchdown plays to spark the Seahawks. Branch gets the Rams next on the schedule which could produce another solid performance, but he will need either Seneca Wallace or Matt Hasselbeck to give him the chance to make some plays. If you need some WR depth or a big play gamble, take a look at Branch for Week 15.

WR Jabar Gaffney, NE - Gaffney had nine targets against the Seahawks in Week 14, catching four for 48 yards. He lost out on what looked to be a sure touchdown when he stumbled at the Seahawk 45 with clear sailing in front of him. Gaffney tied Randy Moss in targets and is the clear third option in a high-powered passing offense.

WR Devin Hester, CHI - Slight upgrade to Hester here. He can be a surprise WR4 or flex option in the playoffs, because he has a favorable match up in each of his next three games (NO, GB, @HOU). Hester also has 13 receptions in his last three games with over 200 yards receiving and two TDs.

WR Domenik Hixon, NYG - Despite just three catches for 30 yards against the Eagles in Week 14, Hixon warrants an upgrade for several reasons. Hixon is now the starter for the Giants with Plaxico Burress getting sidelined for the rest of the year, and Hixon also had nine targets against the Eagles to lead all New York receivers. He dropped a sure 85-yard touchdown pass that would have boosted his stats by a large margin, but the wind in the Meadowlands played a big factor. Hixon will start again next week against at Dallas in a big Sunday night game for Week 15.

WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, CIN - T.J. Houshmandzadeh caught eight passes for 75 yards in Week 14 against the Colts, continuing his 100-catch pace. The Bengals are a bad team, but Houshmandzadeh remains the lone fantasy bright spot. He snagged all but one of his nine targets and is likely to continue to put up solid numbers against a struggling Redskins defense next week.

WR Chad Johnson, CIN - Chad Johnson was benched early in the game against the Colts in Week 14, but he came in on the third possession and played well. Johnson caught all five of his targets including several highlight reel grabs and a 26-yard reception, his longest of the season. Johnson may be a sneaky pick to finish the year strong with three good matchups against a struggling Redskins team followed by the Browns and Chiefs.

WR Antwaan Randle El, WAS - Randle El led all Redskins in Week 14 with eight targets as he made the most of them with five receptions, 47 yards and a leaping score in the fourth quarter. With teams rolling coverage more and more towards Santana Moss and even Chris Cooley, Randle El is producing with the increase in workload. The Week 15 matchup against the Bengals is favorable for him to put up good numbers, so Randle El could make for an interesting pickup this week.

WR Wes Welker, NE - Wes Welker continued to rack up catch after catch against the Seahawks with a remarkable 17 targets in Week 14. Welker had 12 catches and 138 yards (and a two-point conversion catch) as he bounced back from getting knocked out of the game last week on a hard hit. Look for Welker to continue to produce big numbers next week against Oakland.

Downgrade

WR Bernard Berrian, MIN - Berrian had another disappointing game. In the last five games, he has only one touchdown and one game over 50 receiving yards. Against the weak defense of the Detroit Lions, Berrian was targeted six times, four by Frerotte and two by Jackson. He caught three of those passes for 29 yards. The Vikings did employ a conservative offense after Frerotte departed.

WR Chris Chambers, SD - Over the second half of this season, since returning from an injury, Chambers has not been an integral part of the Chargers' offense. He has caught just one pass in the last two weeks, and does not appear to be a good option even at a flex position going forward.

WR Laveranues Coles, NYJ - Brett Favre only targeted Coles four times in the game against the 49ers, and one was intercepted. He caught one pass for only five yards. After this week, he has only one game with at least 50 receiving yards in the last six weeks.

WR Jerricho Cotchery, NYJ - Cotchery has been very inconsistent this season. Against San Francisco, Brett Favre only threw four passes his way. Cotchery grabbed just one of those targets for ten yards. In his last six games, Cotchery has only one game with more than seven fantasy points.

WR Kevin Curtis, PHI - Curtis grabbed a nice deep ball for 32 yards in the first half in Week 14 against the Giants, one of his two catches on four targets before halftime. He was diagnosed with a concussion during the intermission and did not return. If Curtis is able to play in Week 15, expect him to fare much better against a bad Cleveland Browns defense next Monday night, but head injuries are worrisome.

WR Braylon Edwards, CLE - With Ken Dorsey, it appears that the Browns' offense will struggle for the rest of the season. Edwards was targeted 16 times on Sunday, but most balls were not catchable, and Edwards finished with just 3 catches for 38 yards.

WR Lee Evans, BUF - The Bills offense has been wildly inconsistent recently, despite having a fairly easy schedule. There was the thought that Evans may be a strong play when paired with J.P. Losman, who is a better down field passer than Trent Edwards, but Evans struggled on Sunday. Aside from his poor game against Miami, he was coming off two consecutive good games with 12 total receptions for 180 yards. The Bills are out of the playoff race and may start to lose steam, if they haven't done so already. Evans has only three TDs this season which doesn't help his fantasy value. We recommend seeking other alternatives at WR in next week's match up at the Jets. With the playoffs on the line, Evans is not someone we would count on to produce big numbers for your team.

WR DeSean Jackson, PHI - Jackson could not get involved enough in Week 14 against the Giants. He was given two carries but lost yardage both times and had just three targets in a blustery Meadowlands stadium. Donovan McNabb only threw 12 times to wide receivers against the Giants, with none of them getting more than four chances. The Eagles threw to running backs and tight ends 18 out of 30 times, minimizing the upside of all wideouts.

WR Shaun McDonald, DET - McDonald missed the game against the Vikings with an ankle injury. John Standeford started in his place, but caught only one pass.

WR Randy Moss, NE - Randy Moss had just three catches for 56 yards against Seattle despite nine targets. He struggled again in the Red Zone, but expectations will be high next week as Moss returns to Oakland, his former team. Expect him to put up good numbers despite likely drawing tough coverage against the Raiders next week.

WR Hines Ward, PIT - Ward only caught one pass for two yards against the Cowboys as Big Ben targeted him just four times. The Ravens and Titans are next up for the Steelers. Both are away games. This is Ward's third straight game with less than 40 receiving yards.

WR Reggie Wayne, IND - Wayne still cannot find the end zone and is suffering from Peyton Manning spreading the ball around. With Marvin Harrison, Anthony Gonzalez and Dallas Clark getting a combined 10 catches and 12 targets, Wayne is not commanding the ball in the offense. He is still getting decent chances as he did lead all Colts with seven targets and five catches, yet he has not found the end zone in over a month.

Holding steady

WR Torry Holt, STL - Holt has really dropped off this year, but he may have a little gas left in the tank to help your playoff run. We wouldn't rank him any higher than a WR4 or flex option, but there are two reasons to think Holt might actually have some value in the next few weeks. First, he Rams host Seattle and then San Francisco, which are two fairly good passing match ups. Another reason to consider Holt - he has 17 catches in his last four games and this past week against Arizona, it was Holt that was the primary down field target for Marc Bulger. While he was not targeted until the third quarter, he finished with five catches on eight targets for a team-high 61 yards. Holt was targeted in the end zone in the fourth quarter, but the pass was intercepted for a 99-yard TD by Cardinals rookie CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

WR Santana Moss, WAS - Baltimore swarmed all over Santana Moss (and also QB Jason Campbell), limiting his production. He was able to get four catches and 48 yards on seven targets. Moss gets to face the Bengals next week which should give him more chances to regain his fantasy starter production levels.

WR Roddy White, ATL - White has solidified himself as one of the premier WRs in the league. He was heavily targeted in the game against New Orleans (14 targets) and finished with ten receptions for 164 yards. The only downside to his recent rise to stardom is that he has not scored a TD in four games. Atlanta will face the Buccaneers at home next week. It's not a great match up, but we don't recommend benching him anytime soon.

Tight End

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TE John Carlson, SEA - Rookie tight end John Carlson did not miss a beat without Matt Hasselbeck under center in Week 14. Carlson grabbed eight of nine targets from Seneca Wallace, giving Wallace a reliable target especially near the goal line. Carlson found the end zone again for the fourth time this year and has a very attractive matchup in Week 15 against the Rams.

TE Owen Daniels, HOU - Daniels was happy to have Schaub back in the lineup. He was nonexistent with Sage Rosenfels under center. He caught all six of his pass targets for 65 yards in the game against the Green Bay Packers. The Schaub to Daniels combination was very hot early in the season and looks to have picked up where it was left off.

TE Tony Gonzalez, KC - Gonzalez is already the number one fantasy TE, so there's really nowhere to upgrade him to. But he just keeps outperforming everybody else at his position so handily that we have to include him on this list. Gonzalez has an excellent matchup this week against the Chargers, who have struggled to cover opposing TEs this season.

TE Donald Lee, GB - Lee has been able to find the endzone the last few weeks. Against the Texans, Lee grabbed all three of his pass targets for 48 yards, including a 20-yard scoring catch. Lee is able to make plays and get down the field with defenses focusing on the prolific wideouts. Two of his receptions went for over 20 yards. This is the third game in four weeks that the veteran tight end has caught at least three passes AND scored a touchdown.

TE Zach Miller, OAK - Miller has more than three times as many receiving yards as the Raiders' next leading receiver this season. He has become by far the team's most reliable receiver, and is the only Raider worth starting in offense-only fantasy leagues.

TE Jeremy Shockey, NO - Shockey has elevated his game in the last four weeks totaling 20 catches for 212 yards. He appears to finally be fully recovered from his sports hernia injury. The only downside is no TDs. Shockey has not celebrated in the end zone this season, which is a bit of a concern considering how potent the Saints offense has been. Shockey is not considered a top flight TE, but he does represent some value going forward. His strong play this past week against Atlanta kept fellow TE teammate Billy Miller without a catch. Shockey often lined up as a wide receiver, which caused problems for the Falcons defense. Consider starting Shockey next week at Chicago. If the trend continues he should have four to five catches for 50+ yards at worst.

TE L.J. Smith, PHI - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - With the wind howling in the Meadowlands, the Eagles checked down to Smith often against the Giants in Week 14. Smith collected six out of eight targets for 44 total yards, giving Donovan McNabb a reliable option on a tough passing day. Smith has reclaimed his starter role with this solid performance and should be in store for another productive game against Cleveland next week.

Downgrade

TE Kevin Boss, NYG - In a tough NFC East game against the Eagles, Kevin Boss was not much of a factor at all. The Giants should have incorporated the tight end more as they were both without Plaxico Burress and the wind was howling, taking away most of the deep ball options. Boss had just one catch on three targets and also lost a touchdown chance to his backup, Darcy Johnson.

TE Brent Celek, PHI - Celek had zero targets and is now firmly behind L.J. Smith on the Eagles' depth chart.

TE Antonio Gates, SD - While Gates is still the number three fantasy tight end this season, and it's hard not to start him if you got him, he has now had four games in a row in which he's been held to fewer than 30 yards and no touchdowns. He was completely shut out last week against the Raiders, and at this point should no longer be considered a top-tier fantasy tight end.

TE Billy Miller, NO - The health of Jeremy Shockey has pushed Billy Miller to more of a reserve role. This past week against the Falcons, Shockey had five receptions, while Miller failed to catch a pass. We don't recommend starting Miller next week as a result, although we would be surprised to see him go without a catch.

Holding steady

TE Chris Cooley, WAS - Cooley could not get open against a tough Baltimore defense, collecting just one 12-yard catch on four targets. Cooley should be able to bounce back well against a weaker secondary for Cincinnati in Week 15.

Kicker

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PK Rob Bironas, TEN - Bironas has cranked up the accuracy recently. After three misses earlier in the year, he has been perfect over the last three games (six FGs and ten PATs).

PK Kris Brown, HOU - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Brown converted three of four field goal opportunities, including the game winner at the end of the contest, versus the Green Bay Packers. This is his third straight game with three made field goals. He also knocked in the only extra point attempt. In the last five games, Brown has at least two made field goals in every contest. With Matt Schaub back in the lineup, Brown should get plenty of scoring chances.

PK Nick Folk, DAL - Folk has been perfect in the last three weeks. He has booted eight FGs and eight PATs. With Tony Romo back in action, there should be plenty of opportunities for Folk to excel.

PK Jeff Reed, PIT - Over the last three weeks, Reed has connected on eight of his ten FG chances and all eight of his PAT attempts. While the misses can hurt in some scoring systems, it's hard to fault the guy for playing at Heinz Field.

Downgrade

PK Mason Crosby, GB - Crosby had no field goal attempts in the game against the Houston Texans. This is his second game in the last three weeks that Crosby was held without a field goal opportunity.

PK Josh Scobee, JAX - Scobee has been dreadful lately. First of all, the Jaguars are allowing very few kicking chances (only six FG attempts and four PAT tries in the last three weeks). The terrible part for fantasy owners is that Scobee has missed half of those FGs for only three makes.

Holding steady

Team Defense

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TD San Diego Chargers, SD - The Chargers were a top fantasy defense in 2007 because they pressured opposing QBs and forced turnovers. The pressure has been lacking for the most part this season, but Thursday night against the Raiders they played a much more aggressive style and had success similar to last year. The Chargers face the Chiefs this week and could have another nice outing.

TD Indianapolis Colts, IND - Sure, they were playing the Bengals, but Indianapolis' defense likely won some fantasy games by themselves in Week 13. Overall, though, they seem to have turned the corner and are now a viable fantasy option. Over their last three games, the Colts have forced seven turnovers while accumulating 10 sacks and scoring two TDs. While they are still allowing 101 rushing yards per game in that time frame, they are very tough against the pass (allowing fewer than 180 yards per game).

TD Dallas Cowboys, DAL - The Dallas defense controlled most of the game against the Steelers and is looking like the unit most expected to see all season. Against their last three opponents, the Cowboys have sacked the QB an amazing 16 times while forcing six turnovers. Those are excellent numbers.

TD Houston Texans, HOU - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - This group has become a nice fantasy option. They are forcing lots of turnovers (nine in their last three games) and are benefiting from the improved Houston offense. With opposing offenses needing to keep up with the Matt Schaub-led passing game, this defense can take more chances and score more fantasy points.

Downgrade

TD New York Giants, NYG - No, we aren't jumping ship on the Giants, but we have to back off a bit here. This is still a good defense, but they aren't scoring fantasy points at an elite level. Over their last three games, they have forced only four turnovers and sacked the QB only six times. Those are decent numbers, but not something you expect from an every-week starting defense.

TD New York Jets, NYJ - A few weeks ago, it looked like the Jets were ready to become an elite fantasy defense. That didn't happen. In their last three games, they have accumulated only three sacks and forced only four turnovers. That's quite poor.

TD Green Bay Packers, GB - This defense has really been a disappointment this season, and they have really struggled lately. Over their last three games, Green Bay has allowed over 400 yards and 35 points per game. They aren't scoring much on their own either with only six forced turnovers and four QB sacks in that span. This just isn't a viable fantasy unit.

Holding steady