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Week 13 Rushing Matchups

by Mark Wimer and Joe Bryant, Exclusive to Footballguys.com

Great Matchups: [DEN] [JAX] [NYJ] [PIT] [STL]
Good Matchups: [CHI] [CIN] [DAL] [KC] [MIN] [NE] [SD] [SF] [TB] [TEN] [WAS]
Neutral Matchups: [BUF] [CAR] [NO] [PHI] [SEA]
Tough Matchups: [ATL] [BAL] [CLE] [GB] [HOU] [IND] [MIA] [NYG]
Bad Matchups: [ARI] [DET] [OAK]

PLEASE NOTE: This does NOT replace the Cheatsheet ranking. The Cheatsheet rankings are the final say on where we see a player for that week. The Matchup Breakdowns are simply one more tool in the box when it comes to helping choose your lineup.

Also note, just because a player has a "bad" matchup, it does NOT mean he's not a starter in your league. If Peyton Manning is playing the toughest pass defense in the league, that just means he's got a tough matchup that week. He's also your starter unless you're loaded at QB. In the same way, if the worst QB on your roster has a "great" matchup that week, it doesn't necessarily mean he's your starter. It means we think he'll fare better than normal that week.

Bottom line is that the cheatsheets are the final say.

Denver Broncos Rushing Offense at Kansas City Chiefs Rushing Defense (Great Matchup)

Both of these divisional rivals have been up and down over the past two weeks - they come into this first showdown with a 1-1 record during that time span. Denver snapped a four-game skid last week with a 26-6 victory over the New York Giants on Thanksgiving evening, led by Knowshon Moreno's 19/88/1 rushing (2/19/0 receiving). He was assisted, as usual, by Correll Buckhalter who added 20/51/0 rushing and 1/5/0 receiving to the effort. Two weeks ago, in the 3-32 loss to San Diego, Moreno posted 10/80/0 rushing with 1/6/0 receiving - the young back is definitely hitting his stride coming into December. We'll see if he can keep up the intensity during the stretch run into the playoffs.

The Chiefs' rush D isn't very good this year, ranking 27th in the NFL through 11 games with an average of 134.5 yards allowed per game, and 11 rushing TDs handed over so far. San Diego compiled 34/94/2 rushing against this group last week; Pittsburgh had 31/114/0 rushing two weeks ago. Over the past four weeks, K.C. has surrendered 563 yards rushing (140.8 per game on average) - like we said, they aren't very good.

Moreno and Buckhalter comprise an effective tandem, while the Chiefs are very suspect in this phase of the game. That sounds like a great matchup for Denver to us.

Weather: Arrowhead Stadium expects a high of 43 F on Sunday, with a low of 26 F later in the day - there is a 20% chance for precipitation during the game. If the wind stays relatively calm, weather conditions shouldn't play a big role in this contest.

The official NFL injury report with Probable, Questionable, Doubtful and Out designations will be available by Saturday. Please refer to the week 13 injury report for the latest injury news regarding your players.

Jacksonville Jaguars Rushing Offense vs Houston Texans Rushing Defense (Great Matchup)

Maurice Jones-Drew propelled the Jaguars to victory over Houston back in week three, with 23/119/3 rushing and 4/28/0 receiving to his credit - since that early-season game, Jones-Drew has been the engine that drives the Jaguars' attack, with 209/1,001/13 rushing and 41/273/0 receiving through week 12. Last week was the first time in six weeks that he didn't have at least one rushing TD (15/75/0 rushing with 5/35/0 receiving vs. San Francisco). Jones-Drew is a fantasy points machine this year, folks.

The Texans' rush D is in the bottom tier of the NFL this year, averaging 120 yards allowed per game with 14 rushing scores given up to date. They've allowed 414 rushing yards in their last three contests (138 per game on average), with 23/114/1 given away to the Colts last week and 42/228/1 handed over to the Titans two weeks ago. Opposing backs average 4.8 yards per carry against the Texans during 2009. Ouch.

This is a great week to have Jones-Drew in your lineup. Enjoy!

Weather: Jacksonville Municipal Stadium expects a high of 68 F with a low of 55 F on Sunday - there is only a 10% chance for rain. Weather conditions shouldn't impact the outcome of this matchup.

New York Jets Rushing Offense at Buffalo Bills Rushing Defense (Great Matchup)

The last time the Jets faced the Bills, Thomas Jones (22/210/1) and Leon Washington (15/99/0) led the team to 40/318/1 rushing (but due to five interceptions thrown by Mark Sanchez, the team lost the game 16-13). Since that week six game, Jones has by necessity become the primary ball carrier for New York as Washington is out for the season due to a broken leg. Over the past four weeks, Jones has ground out 66/252/2 rushing with 3/11/0 receiving, while Shonn Greene has pitched in with 20/61/0 rushing. Last week, Jones had 25/75/1 rushing with 3/11/0 receiving vs. Carolina, helping his team snap a three game losing streak.

The Bills' rush D continues to be a mess. They allowed 37/157/1 rushing to the Dolphins last week; they've given up 427 rushing yards in their last three games(142.3 per contest on average); and the team currently averages 165.1 rushing yards allowed per game during the season, with 16 rushing scores handed over. These guys are akin to turnstiles - they just keep on allowing people through.

This is a great week to have Thomas Jones in your lineup.

Weather: This game will be played in the Rogers Centre, up in Toronto, Canada. The venue has a fully retractable roof, but at this time of year it will almost certainly be closed - weather shouldn't be an issue for either team in this early contest on Thursday night.

Pittsburgh Steelers Rushing Offense vs Oakland Raiders Rushing Defense (Great Matchup)

Rashard Mendenhall (24/95/0 rushing with 2/22/0 receiving last week) and company ground out 38/153/1 vs. the Ravens last week, which is a respectable accomplishment considering that Baltimore is the sixth-ranked rush D in the land as of week 13 averaging just 97.6 rushing yards allowed per game). However, Mendenhall has been underwhelming his fantasy owners over the last five weeks due to a lack of rushing TDs (he does have one receiving score during that time span, against KC two weeks ago). Over the last four weeks, Mendenhall is the 20th-ranked fantasy RB in the land, with 80/366/0 rushing and 8/72/1 receiving to his credit (PPR format). Willie Parker and Mewelde Moore are bit players in the attack at this point - Parker had 5/14/0 rushing last week, while Moore posted 4/2/0 during the game. It's all about Mendenhall coming into December, friends.

The Raiders rush D is among the worst in the land this year, averaging 161.1 yards per game allowed, with 17 rushing TDs given away to date. Over the past four weeks, the team has coughed up 484 rushing yards in three contests (161.3 per game on average), right in keeping with their season average, including last week's gift of 25/195/1 rushing to the Cowboys, an average of 7.8 yards allowed per carry. The Raiders' defensive front is scary-bad.

This should be a great week to have Mendenhall on your roster.

Weather: Heinz Field expects fairly mild weather on Sunday, with a high of 39 F and a low of 33 F with a 10% chance for precipitation - as long as the forecast holds up, conditions shouldn't play a large role in determining the outcome of this game.

St. Louis Rams Rushing Offense at Chicago Bears Rushing Defense (Great Matchup)

As expected, Steven Jackson had less room to roam with Kyle Boller under center - he still eclipsed 100 yards combined, with 23/89/1 rushing and 5/27/0 receiving, but his string of 100+ yards rushing games was snapped at three last week. Jackson has scored a TD in four straight games and has rushed for 485 yards over those four games, with 89 yards receiving as well - he's just hampered by the lack of fire-power on the offense surrounding him as we enter December. Also, starting OT Jason Smith has been sidelined due to post-concussion after-effects - he wound up in the hospital when dizziness and nausea affected him on the sidelines last Sunday (he wasn't suited up, he was inactive - the symptoms were triggered without him being touched). The Rams' OL is pretty banged up entering week 13, with G Richie Incognito also out due to a foot injury. Also, Jackson is battling through a sore back that could worsen if it gets aggravated - 'Absolutely. It bothers me now,' Jackson said on Tuesday. 'A lot of people question, why did I play? Well, I played because I love to play. I look forward to Sundays.'

Chicago's D has been trampled for 608 rushing yards in their last four games, and they gave up 34/159/1 rushing to the Vikings last week - it's no wonder that the Bears are 24th in the NFL averaging 125.6 rushing yards allowed per game, with 10 rushing scores allowed through 11 contests. They're playing even worse than their lowly season ranking would indicate entering December.

Jackson is an elite back who just needs a little help to break out - the Bears are very accomodating hosts this year. Even with the above-mentioned OL issues we like Jackson's chances in this game. Advantage, St. Louis.

Weather: Soldier Field expects a high of 37 F with a low of 28 F on Sunday, with a 10% chance of precipitation - as long as the forecast holds up, it should be decent weather up in the Windy City. However, at this time of year wind conditions can be variable and extreme - owners of Bears and Rams will want to check a shorter-term forecast with anticipated wind conditions before setting their lineups this week.

Chicago Bears Rushing Offense vs St. Louis Rams Rushing Defense (Good Matchup)

As expected, the Bears' Matt Forte didn't find much room to roam against Minnesota's top-shelf D last week, eking out 8/27/0 rushing and 4/34/0 receiving in the course of the 10-36 loss. Forte has posted just 47/135/0 rushing in his last four games (2.9 yards per carry), but his dual-threat role on the team has salvaged some of his fantasy value for PPR leagues (he's grabbed 22/248/0 receiving during that four week span, and lands at #19 among all fantasy RBs in points per game during that time frame). Basically, the bottom line for Chicago is this: they struggle to move the ball against the better defenses this year, but have some signs of life when facing sub-par opponents.

The Rams are definitely sub-par rush defenders, currently averaging 148.5 rushing yards allowed per game (28th in the NFL), with 16 rushing TDs handed over to date. The Rams have coughed up 556 rushing yards in their last three contests (185.3 per game on average), with 31/170/2 handed over to the Seahawks last week. St. Louis is playing worse than usual entering December - and they were usually horrible already.

Forte and the Bears haven't excited fantasy owners for awhile, but he's got a good matchup to work with this week. Don't expect 200 yards combined and you won't be disappointed, but Forte should put up respectable numbers against the playing-out-the-string Rams.

Cincinnati Bengals Rushing Offense vs Detroit Lions Rushing Defense (Good Matchup)

Cincinnati bounced back from their 17-20 loss to Oakland two weeks ago to plow under the Browns with 45/210/0 rushing as a team last week. Newly-arrived Larry Johnson showed his joy at getting out of Kansas City by rushing for 22/107/0 (with 2/-2/0 receiving), and Bernard Scott was solid, too, with 18/87/0 rushing during the game. The early word this week is that Cedric Benson will be starting again this week - we'll see how he holds up in practices later this week or if his hip flares up. Suddenly, the Bengals have an embarrassment of riches at the RB position.

The Lions were blown out 34-12 on Thanksgiving Day, allowing 27/80/0 rushing to the Packers. Over the past four weeks, the Lions have coughed up 418 yards rushing (104.5 yards per game), with 40/131/0 given up to the Browns two weeks ago. To date, the Lions are 19th in the NFL averaging 112.9 rushing yards allowed per game, with nine rushing TDs handed over so far this year.

The Bengals have a good matchup to work with in this phase of the game this week.

Weather: The forecast for Paul Brown Stadium on Sunday calls for a high of 43 F and a low of 26 F with a 10% chance for rain - it'll be cool during the game, but not unpleasant, if the forecast holds up.

Dallas Cowboys Rushing Offense at New York Giants Rushing Defense (Good Matchup)

Marion Barber and Felix Jones tore up the Giants back in week two, with 18/124/1 rushing and 2/31/0 receiving for Barber, while Jones posted 7/96/1 rushing during the contest - all told, the Cowboys had 29/251/3 rushing as a team (Tony Romo ran in the third TD, with 1/3/1 to his credit). Since that early-season game, Jones has missed time due to injury and hasn't been as effective since his return to the field, while Barber has been the main ball-carrier. Over the past four weeks, Barber has posted 51/236/0 rushing with 9/80/0 receiving, while Jones has managed 24/133/1 rushing and 3/8/0 receiving - Tashard Choice has chipped in with 10/94/1 rushing and 2/17/0 receiving.

The Giants have been on a roller coaster the last few weeks, squeaking out a 34-31 win over Atlanta two weeks ago (while allowing 30/90/2 rushing to the Falcons) and then getting blown out at Denver on Thanksgiving evening by a 6-26 margin (allowing 40/138/1 rushing in that contest). Over the past four weeks, New York has coughed up just 262 yards rushing, but they've been vulnerable in the red zone as you can see above.

The Cowboys are on a roll now, and they want to put more distance in the NFC East race with a win in this game. Meanwhile, the Giants have floundered against opposing backs in the last two contests - advantage, Dallas.

Weather: Pleasant weather is forecast for Giants' Stadium on Sunday, with a high of 46 F anticipated (low of 34 later that evening), and a 10% chance for precipitation - if the forecast holds up, conditions shouldn't play a big role in the outcome of this contest.

Kansas City Chiefs Rushing Offense vs Denver Broncos Rushing Defense (Good Matchup)

Jamaal Charles has risen to the opportunity as Kansas City's lead RB - he's scored one TD in each of the last three games, with 18/103/1 rushing and 3/19/0 receiving vs. Oakland three weeks ago; 17/58/0 rushing with 2/8/1 receiving vs. Pittsburgh two weeks ago; and then 14/93/1 rushing with 3/54/0 receiving while facing the Chargers last week. He's been a consistently good play in fantasy terms, even when the matchup wasn't favorable (vs. Pittsburgh). Backup Kolby Smith managed just 1/1/0 rushing and 1/5/0 receiving behind Charles last week.

Denver's defense re-asserted itself against the Giants last week, holding Brandon Jacobs and company to 16/57/0 on the ground. They've allowed 607 rushing yards in their last four games (151.8 per contest on average), but managed to get back on track while snapping their four-game skid on Thanksgiving evening. We'll see if the Broncos can keep their backbones stiff this week. One game does not a trend make.

Charles has been consistently productive of late, while the Broncos performed well last week but were very suspect prior to the solid game. Overall, this looks like a good matchup for the home team - advantage, Kansas City.

Minnesota Vikings Rushing Offense at Arizona Cardinals Rushing Defense (Good Matchup)

Adrian Peterson was the sixth-best fantasy RB in the land over the past four weeks (PPR format), with 67/300/3 rushing and 8/44/0 receiving for the Vikings in their last three games played. He has fumbled (and lost) the ball three times in that same time frame, but nobody in Minnesota is thinking about sitting him down due to the ball security issues. His sidekick, Chester Taylor, was the 33rd-ranked fantasy RB over the past four weeks, with 22/122/0 rushing and 9/70/1 receiving to his credit. The Vikings' offense is firing on all cylinders entering December, folks.

The Cardinals are in the middle of the NFL range this year, allowing an average of 108.6 rushing yards per game, with eight rushing TDs given up over the first 11 games. Over the past four games, they've coughed up 520 rushing yards (130 per game on average), with 23/163/1 allowed to Tennessee last week and 27/123/1 coughed up to the Rams back in week 10. The Cardinal's defensive front is regressing as we hit the final month of the season.

Peterson is one of the league's elite talents (and Taylor is no slouch, either) - given the declining fortunes of the Cardinals' defenders, this looks like a good matchup for the visiting Vikings.

Weather: University of Phoenix Stadium expects a high of 70 F on Sunday, with a low of 47 F later in the evening. There is only a 10% chance for rain - it should be a great night to play pro football if the forecast holds up. The retractable roof may be open on Sunday night.

New England Patriots Rushing Offense at Miami Dolphins Rushing Defense (Good Matchup)

Laurence Maroney ran strong the last time he faced the Dolphins, with 20/82/1 rushing during the game, and in the three weeks since then he's scored even more fantasy points, with two two-TD games in the last three weeks (22/77/2 rushing vs. NYJ and then 15/64/2 rushing with 3/23/0 receiving vs. New Orleans on Monday Night Football). Over the past four weeks, Maroney is 12th among all fantasy backs, with 70/254/6 rushing and 5/38/0 receiving - he's hot right now, folks. Kevin Faulk is (as always) an effective change-of-pace/third-down back, with 3/22/0 rushing and 2/30/0 receiving to his credit in the game vs. New Orleans on Monday Night Football.

The Dolphins field the league's 12th ranked rush D that averages 108 yards allowed per game, with 13 rushing scores given up over 11 games. Buffalo's Fred Jackson and QB Ryan Fitzpatrick ripped up Miami for 25/129/3 rushing last week, and Carolina had 27/182/0 rushing vs. the Dolphins two weeks ago - they look pretty suspect in this phase of the game entering December, folks.

Maroney has gathered momentum during November and will have a suspect defense in front of him on Sunday in this divisional matchup - advantage, New England.

Weather: LandShark Stadium expects a high of 77 F with a low of 68 F and a 30% chance of rain on Sunday. The forecast calls for scattered showers, which in South Florida could be intense cells of heavy rain - if the sky opens up at game time, footing, ball handling and the passing/kicking games could all be more troublesome than usual. Owners of Dolphins and Patriots will want to look at a shorter-term forecast before setting their lineups this week.

San Diego Chargers Rushing Offense at Cleveland Browns Rushing Defense (Good Matchup)

LaDainian Tomlinson only had 14 touches on the football last week, but he made those few chances count with 13/39/2 rushing and 1/5/0 receiving. Over the past three weeks, Tomlinson has scored five rushing TDs, with two games in which he's pushed in two TDs. He's not throwing down for 150+ yards combined anymore, but he has found pay dirt quite a bit lately. A large cast of characters carried the ball for San Diego last week (eight different players attempted a rush) - Mike Tolbert was second on the team with 4/19/0 rushing, while Darren Sproles kicked in 9/17/0 rushing and 5/66/0 receiving. At the end of the day, the Chargers had manufactured 34/94/2 rushing, and a 43-14 victory over the Chiefs.

The Browns' rush D is among the league's worst, averaging 159.9 rushing yards allowed per game - they've also coughed up 13 rushing TDs to date. Cincinnati's backup RBs hung 45/210/0 on the Browns last week; though Detroit could only muster 17/57/0 in the wild 38-37 shootout two weeks ago - the low total was more due to the Lions preferring to pass (43 pass attempts vs. 17 rushing attempts) than anything else. The Browns are not feared defenders in general this year.

Tomlinson and company have a good matchup to work with this week.

Weather: Cleveland Browns' Stadium expects a high of 37 F on Sunday, with a low of 33 F and a 20% chance3 for rain - it should be a decent afternoon to watch (and play) pro football.

San Francisco 49ers Rushing Offense at Seattle Seahawks Rushing Defense (Good Matchup)

Frank Gore blasted the Seattle D wide open back in week two, plastering them with 16/207/2 rushing and 5/39/0 receiving (he led the team in both categories). Over the last two weeks, his production has been lagging, though, with 7/59/0 rushing and 3/9/1 receiving vs. Green Bay, and 16/33/0 rushing with 7/14/1 receiving vs. Jacksonville - his receiving TDs have saved his fantasy owners from ruin during the last two games.

The Seahawks average 110.7 rushing yards allowed per game this year (18th in the NFL), with nine rushing TDs handed over to date. Over the past four weeks, the team has coughed up 509 rushing yards in four contests (127.3 per game on average), including 28/113/1 rushing handed over to the Rams last week and 37/160/0 surrendered to Minnesota two weeks ago. This team is not playing at the top of their game right now (and they are only mediocre in this phase of the game at the best of times during 2009).

Gore tore up the Seahawks in the first game of this rivalry - he should have a productive afternoon in the rematch, too.

Weather: Qwest Field expects a high of 42 F on Sunday, with a low of 33 F and a 60% chance of precipitation - if the skies open up during the game, precipitation could mean rain, sleet, snow, or any combination of the above. This venue is also subject to unpredictable, swirling winds in stormy conditions - all phases of the game are likely to be trickier than usual on Sunday. Owners of Seahawks and and 49ers will want to check a shorter-term forecast before setting their lineups on Sunday.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Rushing Offense at Carolina Panthers Rushing Defense (Good Matchup)

Cadillac Williams led the Buccaneers in rushing during the first contest against the Panthers (16/77/1 rushing) - since then, the team has switched QBs and become more wide-open on offense. Williams has seen his touches and productivity tail off during the past four weeks, though, going from 16/56/0 rushing vs. Green Bay during week nine to 10/30/0 rushing with 1/8/1 receiving last week vs. Atlanta - Derrick Ward actually had more carries than Williams last week (13/29/0 rushing with 1/2/0 receiving), but not better results.

The Panthers' rush D has been soft all year long, and currently averages 131.5 rushing yards allowed per game, with 12 rushing scores handed over to date. Over the past four weeks, they've laid down for 553 rushing yards in four games played (138.3 per contest), with 39/139/1 handed over to the Jets' stable last week.

Williams has been quiet of late, but he and his compatriots have a good matchup to work with this week.

Weather: Bank of America Stadium should see a high of 55 F on Sunday, with a low of 34 F later that evening - there is only a 10% chance for precipitation. Weather conditions shouldn't play a big role in determining the outcome of this matchup.

Tennessee Titans Rushing Offense at Indianapolis Colts Rushing Defense (Good Matchup)

The last time these teams faced off, the Titans were in the midst of a dismal losing streak and Tennessee didn't manage to score a TD. Since the team switched QBs, though, the offense has been playing at an entirely different level - looking back to week five isn't going to tell us a lot about the Titans entering week 13, as they've performed an amazing comeback over the last five weeks.

Chris Johnson just keeps piling up the impressive performances - last week, he rushed for 18/154/1 vs. Arizona (an 8.6 yards per carry average) and added 3/32/0 receiving to his totals. He's had six straight games with 128 or more yards rushing, and has three two-TD games during that time span, with a total of seven rushing TDs scored since he went on this rampage. Start him if you've got him.

The Colts' rush D is not intimidating this year, averaging 108.9 yards allowed per game (15th in the league), with eight rushing TDs given up through 11 games. They've coughed up 414 rushing yards in the last four weeks (103.5 per game on average), including 31/98/0 allowed to Baltimore two weeks ago and 24/122/1 handed over to the Texans last week. The Colts' defensive front is merely average when it comes to defending vs. opposing rushers.

Johnson has been a fantasy goldmine for weeks - we think he'll yield more paydirt against the so-so Colts this week.

Weather: Inside Lucas Oil Stadium (under the retractable roof), weather conditions shouldn't impact either squad this week.

Washington Redskins Rushing Offense vs New Orleans Saints Rushing Defense (Good Matchup)

Rock Cartwright and company ground out 25/82/1 rushing vs. the Eagles last week, with 15/38/0 rushing and 3/26/0 receiving to Cartwright's credit during the game. Quinton Ganther assisted with 5/32/0 rushing (with 1/-4/0 receiving) last week. Clinton Portis (concussion) said Tuesday, Dec. 1, that he has been cleared to play by a local doctor but will wait until an examination by a doctor in Pittsburgh Monday, Dec. 7, before returning to action. Portis will not play in Week 13. Portis said during a radio interview, 'It's just the vision. Outside of that, I haven't really tried anything else. I wasn't having any headaches or nausea or anything. Once we realized that, it was basically getting my eye back up to speed,'. This week, it will once again be up to Cartwright to move the football on the ground - he's put up 44/162/0 rushing and 13/107/0 receiving during the past four weeks while subbing for Portis and Ladell Betts.

The Saints' rush D is in the middle of the NFL pack this season when it comes to yards allowed per game (116.3, 20th in the NFL), but they have allowed 14 rushing scores through 11 games, which is near the bottom of the NFL in that category. New England pushed in two rushing TDs last week (28/122/2 as a team); Tampa Bay compiled 23/119/0 rushing vs. New Orleans two weeks ago. If there is a part of this team that can be termed a weakness, the Saint's rush D is it.

Cartwright is doing a workmanlike job toting the football for the Redskins - against the sub-par Saints, this looks like a fairly good matchup for the home team. Advantage, Washington.

Weather: FedEx Field should see pleasant weather on Sunday, with a high of 49 F and a low of 34 F forecast (10% chance for precipitation) - weather conditions shouldn't play a large role in the outcome of this game.

Buffalo Bills Rushing Offense vs New York Jets Rushing Defense (Neutral Matchup)

The last time the Bills faced the Jets (week six), Marshawn Lynch (19/61/0 rushing with 2/11/0 receiving) and Fred Jackson (15/52/0 rushing) combined to lead the team to 42/142/0 rushing. During the time since the teams last met, a coaching change has led to a shake-up in the RB stable, leaving Jackson as the featured runner entering week 13 - Jackson had 15/73/2 rushing and 5/43/0 receiving vs. Miami last week, while Lynch was given spot duty with 3/6/0 rushing and 1/9/0 receiving. 'I made the decision really during the course of the week just watching us practice,' head coach Perry Fewell said after the game. 'Fred has been very productive for us and it was just a gut (instinct) to help our football team.' Jackson appears to have cemented his hold on the top job with the strong game vs. Miami - look for a heavy workload to land on his shoulders for the rest of the season. Ryan Fitzpatrick showed off his legs against Miami, too, with 7/50/1 rushing, including a 31-yard TD scamper.

The Jets have been up and down in recent weeks, defeating Carolina 17-6 last week while allowing just 25/75/0 rushing, but being trampled for 35/111/2 by the Patriots in their 14-31 loss to New England two weeks ago. Their season average reflects the Jets' up-and-down season, currently ranking 13th in the NFL with 108.2 rushing yards allowed per game, and eight rushing TDs given up through 11 contests. Over the last four weeks (three games), the Jets have stuck close to their usual pace, with 325 rushing yards allowed.

Jackson and Fitzpatrick sparked the Bills' rushing attack last week - they have an even shot at good results again this week when the so-so Jets join the Bills in Toronto on Thursday night.

Carolina Panthers Rushing Offense vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers Rushing Defense (Neutral Matchup)

Carolina crushed the Tampa Bay defensive front the last time these teams faced off, in week six - at the end of the game DeAngelo Williams (30/152/23 rushing with 2/20/0 receiving) and Jonathan Stewart (17/110/1 rushing) had led the team to a total of 48/267/3 on the ground. Carolina won the game 28-21. Given Jake Delhomme's struggles this year, the team will likely rely on Williams and Stewart again heavily during this contest. Over the last four weeks, Williams has led the stable with 69/403/2 rushing and 7/58/0 receiving, while Stewart has posted 45/184/2 rushing and 1/14/0 receiving. However, it has been three weeks since Williams scored a TD, and his 16/40/0 rushing with 4/10/0 receiving performance vs. the Jets last week didn't have his owners turning handsprings. We'll see if he can get back on track against the generous Buccaneers.

Since the previous showdown between these squads, the Buccaneers have demoted their defensive coordinator and head coach Raheem Morris took over the defensive play-calling/system. He's taken the team back to their 'Tampa Two' scheme, and utilized a lot of blitzing last week vs. Atlanta - Tampa kept the score close last week, but still lost 20-17. However, it was the first time since week four that Tampa held someone to under 21 points scored, so there was some notable improvement. Atlanta could only muster 26/75/0 rushing last week, which is considerably better than Tampa's season mark of 160.4 rushing yards allowed per game on average (with 12 rushing TDs given away to date). We'll see if the improvement continues this week.

The Panthers field an outstanding tandem of backs who performed poorly last week, while the Buccaneers have been very suspect in this phase of the game for most of the year but looked rejuvenated last week. We'll call this a neutral matchup between divisional rivals.

New Orleans Saints Rushing Offense at Washington Redskins Rushing Defense (Neutral Matchup)

New Orleans has dominated their last two opponents by an average margin of 26 points, taking down Tampa 38-7 and then ripping the Patriots 38-17 on Monday Night Football's big stage this past Monday. During the game vs. New England, the passing game took center stage when it came to scoring (Brees threw five TDs), but the offense was actually pretty balanced when it came to play calling, with 26 rushes called vs. 23 passing plays. Pierre Thomas led the team in rushing last week with 11/64/0, and added a receiving TD to his season totals (3/23/1) - to date, Thomas has 116/648/5 rushing and 20/135/2 receiving to his credit. Mike Bell banged away for 13/50/0 vs. the Patriots, while Reggie Bush (and his sore knee) stayed on the sidelines last week. Bell and Thomas also handled most of the carries two weeks ago vs. Tampa, with 11/92/0 rushing and 3/11/0 receiving belonging to Thomas and 13/75/2 rushing (with 1/5/0 receiving) flowing to Bell. With or without Reggie Bush, the Saints' RB stable is cranking out first downs and points. There is speculation in the news media this week that Bush may be on his way out of New Orleans in 2010 - he's become a secondary player for this squad rather than the key contributor.

The Redskins have dropped two close games by a total of four points - two weeks ago they held Dallas to seven points but were trampled for 33/153/0 rushing; the Eagles scored 27 points last week with 29/123/1 rushing as a team. The Redskins are currently 25th in the NFL with an average of 127.9 rushing yards allowed per game, but they do get stubborn in the red zone, with just six rushing TDs allowed over 11 contests. Moving the ball on the Redskins isn't that hard, but pushing in rushing TDs isn't so easy.

New Orleans has a talented collection of RBs to bring to the table, while the Redskins play bend-but-don't-break rush D this year. On balance, this looks like a fairly even matchup from where we're sitting.

Philadelphia Eagles Rushing Offense at Atlanta Falcons Rushing Defense (Neutral Matchup)

The Eagles are in the process of re-evaluating RB Brian Westbrook this week, after encouraging him to take total rest the last two weeks (he was out of practices as expected while recovering from his latest concussion). There is no word as of mid-week whether he'll return to action for this game - stay tuned to Footballguys.com's players in the news later this week to assess his practice participation/injury status. During the last four weeks, while Westbrook has been mostly absent from the lineup, LeSean McCoy is the 29th-ranked fantasy RB in points per game (PPR format), with 53/234/1 rushing and 12/104/0 receiving to his credit. Leonard Weaver checks in at 70th during that same time span, with 19/88/0 rushing and 3/16/0 receiving, including the 6/44/0 rushing and 1/4/0 receiving he posted last week. McCoy led the team vs. Washington, with 17/76/0 rushing and 4/25/0 receiving, while little-known RB Eldra Bunkley punched in the rushing score on Sunday with 2/1/1 - all told, the Eagles posted 29/123/1 rushing vs. the Redskins last week.

Atlanta's rush defense has been a struggling unit for much of the year, currently ranking 23rd in the NFL averaging 121.3 yards allowed per game, with nine rushing scores handed over to date. Last week, they held the Buccaneers to 26/73/0 rushing, though, and the New York Giants only managed 26/88/1 two weeks ago - over the past four weeks, the Falcons have been up and down in this phase of the game with 482 rushing yards allowed in four contests. The showing against Tampa Bay was sign of a continuing improvement, though.

The Eagles have forged ahead in this phase of the game despite Westbrook's injury woes, while the Falcons have grown a backbone of late - this looks like a fairly even matchup for the visiting Eagles.

Weather: Inside the Georgia Dome, weather conditions won't impact either team on Sunday.

Seattle Seahawks Rushing Offense vs San Francisco 49ers Rushing Defense (Neutral Matchup)

Way back in week two, Justin Forsett was the Seahawk's leading rusher vs. San Francisco (with 5/35/0 rushing and 6/57/0 receiving to his credit), but the team was still juggling in Julius Jones and Edgerrin James at that point, leading to 23/66/0 rushing as a team. However, entering December Forsett has been the team's leading rusher for the past three weeks, with two solid games wrapped around a frustrating outing vs. the stalwart Minnesota Vikings (he had 8/9/1 rushing in that game, but added 8/80/0 receiving) - last week, Forsett posted 22/130/2 rushing vs. St. Louis as Julius Jones' sore chest/injured lung kept him on the sidelines for week 12. 'Julius is our starter. He's our starting running back,' head coach Jim Mora said Monday, Nov. 30, adding that he hasn't even thought about demoting Jones while he remains pained by a bruised lung. 'If he's fully healthy, and he's had a full week of practice, and everybody feels comfortable that he would be able to bear the workload that he would have to handle to be effective, then he would start.' Going forward, we think Forsett is likely to figure heavily in the mix at RB even when Jones is healthy - Forsett has been too productive in his chances to keep on the sidelines.

San Francisco's rush D is currently fifth in the NFL averaging just 94.8 rushing yards allowed per game, but they've allowed nine rushing scores through 11 games - the team is good, but not elite in this phase of the game. Over the past four weeks, the 49ers have allowed 449 yards rushing (112.3 per game on average), with 19/96/0 handed over to Jacksonville last week and 32/158/1 rushing given away to Green Bay two weeks ago. As you can see, the 49ers have been up and down in this phase of the game during the third quarter of the season.

Forsett has played well of late, while the 49ers' D seems to have slipped a notch during November - on balance, this looks like a fairly even matchup for this divisional contest.

Atlanta Falcons Rushing Offense vs Philadelphia Eagles Rushing Defense (Tough Matchup)

Michael Turner injured his ankle (again) on Sunday - current reports indicate that he didn't aggravate the high-ankle sprain that previously kept him on the sidelines, but that the most recent injury is to another region of his ankle. In any case, Turner is fighting to rehab the injury and may (or may not) be available for action vs. Philadelphia. If he can't go, look for Jason Snelling (47/145/3 rushing with 6/45/0 receiving in three games over the past four weeks, 21st-ranked fantasy RB (points per game) during that time span in the PPR format) and Jerious Norwood (6/22/0 rushing with 2/28/1 receiving in his return to action last week vs. Tampa Bay) to handle the work load until Turner can get back on the field. Also note that the team will be starting their backup QB this week, Chris Redman, who is a respectable player but not the talent that Matt Ryan is (when Ryan is healthy).

The Eagles' rush D is among the league's top-ten units, with an average of 102.3 rushing yards allowed per game, and eight rushing TDs allowed through 11 contests. Philadelphia has allowed 403 yards rushing in their last four games, with 25/82/1 handed over to the Redskins last week and 20/126/0 allowed to Chicago in the previous contest (72 yards of that total came on one long run by Kahlil Bell). The Eagles have a hard-nosed defensive front this year, and they are playing pretty well entering December.

The Falcons may be without their lead back this week, and whoever totes the football for Atlanta faces a tough matchup when the Eagles come calling at the Georgia Dome.

Weather: Inside the Georgia Dome, weather conditions won't impact either team on Sunday.

Baltimore Ravens Rushing Offense at Green Bay Packers Rushing Defense (Tough Matchup)

Ray Rice continues to be the engine that drives the Baltimore rushing attack, with 71/296/2 rushing and 23/233/0 receiving over the past four weeks - he's posted 20/71/0 rushing and 7/64/0 receiving (vs. Indianapolis) and 19/88/0 rushing with 5/67/0 receiving (vs. uber-tough Pittsburgh) in the last two weeks. Willis McGahee has been creaming off all the goal-line carries in recent weeks, and managed to put one in the end zone last week (5/18/1 rushing with 1/1/0 receiving) - all told, the Ravens rushed for 29/132/1 as a team vs. the Steelers last week, which is impressive considering Pittsburgh averages 74.9 rushing yards allowed per game this year (first in the NFL).

The Packers cruised to an easy 34-12 win over the hapless Lions on Thanksgiving Day, holding the Detroit squad to 23/73/0 on the ground. Two weeks ago, San Francisco was limited to 10/69/0 rushing. Over the past four weeks, the Packers have given up just 284 yards rushing during four games (71 yards per game on average) - their defensive front has only allowed three rushing TDs all year and currently sits at fourth in the NFL averaging 89.1 rushing yards allowed per game.

Rice is an elite talent, but he's got another tough challenge on his plate with the top-five Packers lurking in Lambeau Field on Monday Night Football this week.

Weather: Lambeau Field expects a high of 37 F on Monday afternoon, but it will be closer to 25 F when the game starts on Monday Night Football - there is a 30% chance for sleet/snow/ice on Monday. Wind conditions can be extreme in this venue during December - owners of Ravens and Packers will want to check a shorter-term forecast with anticipated wind conditions before setting their lineups this week.

Cleveland Browns Rushing Offense vs San Diego Chargers Rushing Defense (Tough Matchup)

Facing the Bengals' top-five rush D last week, the Browns had little room to roam during the game. Top back Jamal Lewis scraped up 11/40/0 rushing during the game, while Brady Quinn scored a rushing TD with 2/10/1 during the contest - all told, Cleveland had 18/58/1 rushing as a team last week - when not facing the cellar-dwelling Lions, this team has had lots of trouble producing points this year.

The Chargers are playing hard-nosed defense of late in the red zone, with just 374 rushing yards allowed over their last four games (93.5 yards per game on average) and a total of 60 points from scrimmage allowed (15 per game on average) - Kansas City managed 23/114/1 rushing last week but lost the game 14-43; Denver was limited to 17/115/0 rushing during the 3-32 loss to San Diego two weeks ago. To date, the Chargers are 21st in the NFL averaging 118.1 rushing yards allowed per game, with eight rushing TDs given up, but they have been very stout during the third quarter of the season when it comes to points allowed.

The Browns' offense is a joke most weeks - against the Chargers, we expect them to be their usual bumbling selves. Advantage, San Diego.

Weather: Cleveland Browns' Stadium expects a high of 37 F on Sunday, with a low of 33 F and a 20% chance3 for rain - it should be a decent afternoon to watch (and play) pro football.

Green Bay Packers Rushing Offense vs Baltimore Ravens Rushing Defense (Tough Matchup)

Ryan Grant went over 100 yards combined last week, with 20/61/0 rushing and 3/42/0 receiving during the 34-12 shellacking of the Lions on Thanksgiving Day. Grant has compiled 81/365/2 rushing and 7/66/0 receiving over teh past four weeks, to land at #16 among all fantasy RBs in points per game (PPR format) during that time frame. Understudy Brandon Jackson has chipped in with 12/32/0 rushing and 10/89/0 receiving during the same time frame (59th-ranked fantasy RB in the land).

The Ravens field the league's sixth-ranked rush D, averaging 97.6 yards allowed per game, with seven rushing TDS given up over the past 11 contests. Over the past four weeks, the team has been a little more generous with rushing yardage and TDs of late, handing out 461 yards in this phase of the game (115.3 per contest, on average) - Pittsburgh reeled off 38/153/1 rushing last week and the Colts posted 25/76/1 rushing during the previous game.

Grant is providing a credible threat to run the ball to the Packers, but he's got a tough assignment ahead when the Ravens land at Lambeau Field on Monday Night Football.

Houston Texans Rushing Offense at Jacksonville Jaguars Rushing Defense (Tough Matchup)

Back in week three, Steve Slaton (12/76/0 rushing with 3/37/0 receiving that day) and Chris Brown (8/19/0 rushing) were the tandem of backs that Houston threw at Jacksonville - since then, the stable has gone through various permutations but is back to the above mix entering December. Slaton had the most work (and success) that he's had over the past four games last week, with 10/57/0 rushing and 7/49/0 receiving vs. Indianapolis, while Brown posted 11/56/1 rushing with 3/20/0 receiving during the contest - all told, the Texans ripped off Indianapolis for 24/122/1 rushing last week. Houston's backs have found their top form entering December.

The Jaguars have held each of their last two opponents to under 60 yards rushing, with 20/52/0 given up to the 49ers last week and 19/53/0 allowed to Buffalo two weeks ago. Over the past four weeks, they've surrendered just 275 yards rushing (68.8 per game) - the Jaguars are suddenly very stubborn in this phase of the game (they've only given up six rushing scores this season, while averaging 106.6 yards rushing allowed per game, which is 10th in the NFL currently).

The Texans have recovered their best mix in this phase of the game, but against the stubborn Jaguars they are in for a tough fight this week.

Weather: Jacksonville Municipal Stadium expects a high of 68 F with a low of 55 F on Sunday - there is only a 10% chance for rain. Weather conditions shouldn't impact the outcome of this matchup.

Indianapolis Colts Rushing Offense vs Tennessee Titans Rushing Defense (Tough Matchup)

Joseph Addai didn't gain a lot of ground rushing the ball vs. Tennessee back in week five (14/27/1 rushing), but he added 10/53/0 receiving to make most fantasy owners satisfied with his showing. Donald Brown chipped in with 6/22/0 rushing and 2/13/0 receiving as the complimentary back during the 31-9 rout of the Titans. Since that game, the picture in this stable has remained basically the same, with Addai leading the team and Brown assisting in the understudy role. Over the last four weeks, Addai is the eighth-ranked fantasy RB in the land (PPR format), with 58/247/3 rushing and 11/96/2 receiving, while Brown has chipped in 13/51/0 rushing and 3/19/0 receiving (71st-ranked fantasy RB).

The Titans have clamped down on opposing backs over the third quarter of the season, with 329 rushing yards allowed in their last four games (82.3 per game on average) - Arizona managed to muster 20/75/1 rushing vs. the Titans last week. Houston posted 17/57/0 rushing vs. Tennessee the week prior - the Titans are now among the top-ten rush defenses in the NFL, with an average of 101.5 rushing yards allowed per game (seventh in the NFL), and nine rushing scores given away to date.

Addai and company have been very productive of late, but the Titans are on a hot streak and very stubborn in this phase of the game. This looks like a tough matchup for Indianapolis' RB stable.

Weather: Inside Lucas Oil Stadium (under the retractable roof), weather conditions shouldn't impact either squad this week.

Miami Dolphins Rushing Offense vs New England Patriots Rushing Defense (Tough Matchup)

The last time these teams faced off during week nine, Ronnie Brown (now on IR due to his foot/Lisfranc injury) led the Dolphins with 15/48/0 rushing, but Ricky Wiliams scored the rushing TD for the team with 7/33/1 rushing (1/3/0 receiving). All told, the Dolphins piled up 31/133/1 rushing as a team during the contest. During the three weeks since these teams last clashed, Williams has been very productive for his fantasy owners, with 69/336/3 rushing and 4/24/1 receiving - Lex Hilliard has chipped in with 9/46/0 and Lousaka Polite has posted 9/47/0 in bit roles while Williams has been the featured back. Williams will continue to get a heavy workload during December.

The Patriots have swung from a big divisional win two weeks ago to a humiliation on Monday Night Football last week - The Saints rushed for 26/113/0 during the 38-17 thrashing that Drew Brees laid on the Patriots. Two weeks ago, the Jets also went over 100 yards rushing as a team, with 26/104/0 - as we've pointed out many times, this is a bend-but-don't break defensive front, with an average of 109.7 rushing yards allowed per game (16th in the NFL), but a mere three rushing scores given up through 11 games.

The Dolphins' attack is very productive, but against the stubborn Patriots this has to be considered a tough matchup for Williams and company.

New York Giants Rushing Offense vs Dallas Cowboys Rushing Defense (Tough Matchup)

Neither Brandon Jacobs (16/58/0 rushing) or Ahmad Bradshaw (9/37/0 rushing with 2/8/0 receiving) impressed fantasy owners the last time they played Dallas, back in week two. Since then, Bradshaw has sustained a foot/ankle injury that sidelined him last week for the Denver game, while Jacobs was limited to 11/27/0 rushing and 3/30/0 receiving by the Broncos (he hasn't rushed for more than 40 yards in the past two games following the team's week 10 bye, and has just one rushing TD in his last four games played). Danny Ware, who stepped into Bradshaw's change-of-pace role last week, logged 4/27/0 rushing and 1/-4/0 receiving in his appearances vs. Denver.

Dallas has allowed 395 yards rushing in their last four games (~99 yards per game), with 24/124/0 given away to the Raiders on Thanksgiving Day and 20/78/0 allowed to the Redskins two weeks ago. To date, the team is ninth in the NFL averaging 102.7 rushing yards allowed per game, but Dallas has given away just four rushing scores over 11 games. They are stubborn when the field is compressed in the red zone.

The Giants' backs are sputtering as of December, while the Cowboys simply don't give up many points in this phase of the game. That sounds like a tough matchup for the home team in this key NFC East game - advantage, Dallas.

Arizona Cardinals Rushing Offense vs Minnesota Vikings Rushing Defense (Bad Matchup)

Over the last four weeks, Chris Wells and Tim Hightower have combined to create a powerful rushing attack for the Cardinals. For fantasy owners, the split duties have resulted in less-than-stellar results, with 51/251/3 rushing and 5/64/0 receiving for Wells (26th-best fantasy RB in the land), and 50/279/1 rushing with 11/70/0 receiving for Hightower (28th-best fantasy RB in the land). Last week, against Tennessee, Hightower led the team in rushing with 11/55/1 (3/23/0 receiving), while Wells posted 8/20/0 rushing and 1/21/0 receiving. All told, the Cardinals had 20/75/1 rushing as a team vs. the Titans.

The Bears managed just 11/43/0 rushing vs. Minnesota last week - the Vikings have only allowed three rushing TDs all year long, and currently average just 81.6 rushing yards allowed per game (2nd-ranked rush D in the land as of week 12). Over the past four weeks, the Vikings have held their last three opponents to a total of 140 yards rushing (46.6 yards rushing allowed per game, on average).

Wells and Hightower have given the Cardinals a credible threat to run the football this year, but they face a bad matchup this week when the Vikings come calling.

Detroit Lions Rushing Offense at Cincinnati Bengals Rushing Defense (Bad Matchup)

Kevin Smith did the best he could given the offensive collapse last week, posting 18/43/0 rushing and 4/46/0 receiving vs. the surging Green Bay defense. He's compiled 55/210/0 rushing and 13/169/1 receiving over the past four weeks to land at 23rd among all fantasy RBs in points per game (PPR format) - he's simply not going to get much higher up the slate until the rest of the team around him improves enough to afford Smith more scoring opportunities.

The Bengals field the league's third-ranked rush D, averaging just 81.9 rushing yards allowed per game, with only five rushing scores given up to date. They held the Browns to 18/58/1 rushing last week, and limited the Raiders to 24/92/0 two weeks ago. The team has given up 285 yards rushing in their last four games (71.3 yards per contest on average).

This looks like a bad week to give Smith a whirl if you can find better options on your roster. Both phases of this game look ugly for the Lions, which will most likely limit Smith's receiving yardage this week, too.

Oakland Raiders Rushing Offense at Pittsburgh Steelers Rushing Defense (Bad Matchup)

Oakland's rushing attack has trickled to a near-halt over the third quarter of the season in fantasy terms - Justin Fargas has been the top back on the attack with 30/136/1 rushing and 3/21/0 receiving over the last four weeks (three games) - he lands at #42 among all fantasy backs with those numbers (PPR format) for the stated period. Michael Bush (21/154/0 rushing and 2/10/0 receiving) and Darren McFadden (16/59/0 rushing with 7/53/0 receiving) are cheek-by-jowl at #53 and #54 on the RB board during that four week span. Last week, Fargas led the team in rushing with 12/63/0 (1/4/0 receiving), while McFadden compiled 6/23/0 rushing and 4/43/0 receiving during the 7-24 loss to Dallas. There simply aren't a lot of fantasy points to be had here, folks.

The above should be doubly true this week as the Raiders face Pittsburgh's number one-ranked rush D in Heinz Field on Sunday (the team averages 74.9 rushing yards allowed per game). The Steelers also lead the league (tied with three other teams) with only three rushing TDs given up this year. Baltimore did manage 29/132/1 rushing in their win over Pittsburgh, but even with that game on the books the Steelers have given up just 288 rushing yards over the last four weeks (an average of 72 rushing yards per game). These guys are extremely stubborn rush defenders.

Oakland's attack is losing steam and faces the best rush D in the land on Sunday - that's a bad matchup, folks.

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