Fantasy Football: Breaking Down the Playoffs

Collin HagerJan 7, 2009

There are many out there that are taking advantage of "second season" opportunities that let you challenge your buddies during the playoffs. That in mind, we got the gang back together and decided to look at who you should have out on the field this weekend and what they could do for you.

Let's get to it!

Carolina vs. Arizona

TOP NEWS

Bleacher Report1w

Bleacher Report1w

Bleacher Report1w

These two teams played a tough game back in October. Carolina held the Cardinals to just 50 yards on the ground but saw Kurt Warner put up 375 through the air. Carolina brought out a very balanced attack. Jake Delhomme went for 248 yards, and the rushing game accounted for 113 in the 27-23 Panthers win.

Arizona does not travel well, and they haven't seen good numbers on the East Coast much at all this season. Look for the Panthers to take advantage of the weak front seven and attack with a lot of the running game.

DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart - Let's start with a couple obvious names. The Cardinals cannot stop the run, and these two have combined to be one of the better tandems in football. I like Williams more than Stewart, and in leagues that limit pickups you have to like Williams and the Panthers to move on past the Cardinals and give you another shot as well.
Jake Delhomme and Steve Smith- I'm going to shy away from Muhsin Muhammad in this case, but Delhomme had good numbers in the last matchup, and you can never really go wrong in starting Smith.
Kurt Warner- The Panthers weren't able to stop him last time, and we know that all Arizona can do is throw the football. He could close in on 300 yards again this matchup without breaking a sweat.
Larry Fitzgerald, Steve Breaston, and Jerheme Urban - You need to start Warner's receivers as well. Urban is on the list because of the Anquan Boldin injury. Boldin has been held out of practice, and could be limited in game action. Certainly isn't likely he'll be 100 percent. If that's the case, Breaston becomes the second option with Urban the third. Even the third option in a pass-happy offense is worth a look.

New York Giants vs. Philadelphia

To say these teams know each other is likely an understatement. The teams played twice this season, with each winning on the other's home field. The Eagles will need to ensure a balanced attack to beat the Giants, and that means being able to effectively run the football. Short-yardage situations have failed them most of the season.

The Giants have the running attack, but Eli Manning has struggled at home for the better part of the season and hasn't had much luck without Plaxico Burress. He has no receiver that he can just throw it up to and let them go get it.

We've seen him try that with Domenick Hixon. They have three very good running backs, and that's where they'll need to win this one.

The Philly Usual Suspects - Brian Westbrook and Donovan McNabb are going to be solid plays, but I wouldn't always want to hitch my wagon to their star. Warner has to be the best quarterback play this week, followed by McNabb, but it's a distant second. Westbrook has been hurt off and on, but is a threat every time he touches the football.
DeSean Jackson and Kevin Curtis- I'm leaving L.J. Smith off this list because it seems that Brent Celek will get the start at tight end. Jackson is going to be given the chance to make plays in the passing and return games. Curtis is effective in the slot, and the Giants secondary took a hit with injuries at the end of the regular season.
Kevin Boss- Boss has been targeted in the red zone and will likely be the primary receiver this week in that area as well. He's the best bet to score a touchdown through the air. Hixon is No. 2, but I'd look to avoid the remaining area of the Giants passing attack. Manning will need to "manage" this game and avoid mistakes against a blitz-happy, and convoluted, defensive scheme from Jim Johnson.
All three Giants RBs - I like them in the order of Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward, then Ahmad Bradshaw. Bradshaw will be the fourth quarter back that he's been most of the season, with Ward spelling both Jacobs and Bradshaw most of the game. Jacobs is the horse, and the Giants will set the tone with him early on.

Tennessee vs. Baltimore

Baltimore has the best defense in football, that's really all there is to it. With that trump card, there is no way they will let Joe Flacco lose the game for them. They'll be just as content to let the defense come up with a big play and then capitalize on it. That may be more challenging, as Ed Reed missed practice yesterday with a knee injury.

The Titans won't be able to run all over the Ravens the way they've done against other teams. In fact, Tennessee struggles against stronger run defenses. It means there could be more passing than we might anticipate. With center Kevin Mawae out, the blocking scheme up front could suffer as well.

Derrick Mason- He's the one receiver you need to trust on the Ravens. While Mark Clayton represents a threat for a big play, Flacco continues to look Mason's way on most passing plays. He'll be a big factor in this one, as will Todd Heap (should he be healthy enough to play).
Chris Johnson- I like him more than LenDale White, but I don't see a lot of success for either back. The Ravens work sideline to sideline very well and have the best linebackers in football in pursuit. You won't get far up the middle, especially without Mawae. That's White's game, so I'm putting him lower on the list.
Justin Gage and Brandon Jones - Kerry Collins isn't going to want to throw a lot of passes, but attacking the Ravens through the air deep isn't a bad way to beat them. Gage is a deep threat and Jones put up solid numbers several weeks in a row. The Titans adjusted their game against the Bears when they had to, and I think they'll need to do that here as well.

Pittsburgh vs. San Diego

These two teams played a fantastic game earlier this season, with the Chargers falling 11-10 in another game where controversy and officiating overshadowed the end result. The Steelers put up solid offensive numbers, but this was a game where we didn't get the best of any offensive player on the Chargers.

It doesn't look like we'll see LaDainian Tomlinson again, and that will change the Chargers attack as well. We also need updates on Vincent Jackson's availability after his arrest earlier this week.

We know what Pittsburgh will be trying to do, and we'll see how strong the defense comes out to set the tone.

Darren Sproles - I'm a believer. He gets yards in every phase of the game. The Steelers are stronger than any team in the NFL against the run, but Sproles has the chance to make some plays in the receiving and return games as well. He's not the best running back play out there, but you can't sleep on him. Michael Bennett will spell Sproles, but don't look for him to be a major play here.
Philip Rivers - I'm buying this one. I think with Chris Chambers and Jackson both available that this will be a different game. Rivers turned this team around in the second half of the year, and it will be on his arm that they win or lose this one.
Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes - We saw the Colts take advantage of a Chargers team that still struggles in the second layer of the defense. ESPN pointed out that the Colts spent the day running crossing patterns, and Ward has made a living over the middle. We've also seen the Chargers get beaten deep, and that's where Holmes or Nate Washington come in to play.

I'm leaving Ben Roethlisberger alone here. He could put up a solid game, he might not play with the concussion, or he could find a way to throw three interceptions. Too much of a wild card, especially given how he played against them last time out.

Ranking the Key Players

Quarterback