Fantasy Football Friday: Thanksgiving Thursday Edition

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

I have to say that Thanksgiving is my absolute favorite holiday. Do you know why? The two most important reasons why are: 1) No presents. You don't have to fight the mall and buy presents for anyone. 2) The wonderful gift of 3 NFL games! Yes, don't forget there is a 3rd game played on Thursday night!

Thanksgiving Day Match Ups:

1. Green Bay @ Detroit - There are some easy options for this game. Aaron Rodgers, Ryan Grant, Donald Driver & Greg Jennings. I really like both tight ends in this game, as you'll read below. I also love Megatron and like Kevin Smith as well. The Packers defense is really banged up.

2. Oakland @ Dallas - With the exception of Zach Miller, who Gradkowski seems to love, there isn't a fantasy worthy Raider in my opinion. One would think this is a good opportunity for the Cowboys to get the offense back on track, but Oakland's defense is pretty decent. I like Marion Barber, but after that I'm not thrilled with the Cowboys passing prospects this week.

3. NY Giants @ Denver - This is a very intriguing game to me on Thursday night. Denver has been pretty awful the past month, and I don't really see how they can turns things around this week. Don't go near Kyle Orton, but Brandon Marshall is still a must start. I have never been a fan of Eli Manning, and he goes up against a pretty good pass defense.

Put em' in the lineup:

QB - Matt Hasselback, Ben Roethlisburger, Jake Delhomme

It's time for the most inconsistent fantasy quarterback to have a good game. Of course it helps the Seahawks are playing the Rams. Despite the Big Ben's concussion I look for him to play big in this heated division game. Jake the snake has been playing much better of late. I like him against the Jets as long as he goes away from Steve Smith and Darelle Revis.

RB - Steve Slaton, Justin Forsett, Jason Snelling, Rock Cartwright

If you play in a PPR league, than go ahead and start Slaton. He had 5 receptions on Monday night. Forsett is now the man in Seattle, and he takes on the Rams this weekend. I don't think Turner plays this weekend so that means another start for Snelling. Rock Cartwright gets his first start of his NFL career. He looked good in limited time last week, so use him if you really need a 2nd running back.

WR - Terrel Owens, Nate Burleson, Kevin Walter

Last week was not all that much of a fluke. Fitzpatrick will make sure he targets TO again this week. After a dismal game the week before, Nate Burelson had a very good receiving game this past week. I am a sucker for Kevin Walter. I also think the Texans will pass all over the Colts on their way to ending the Colts perfect season.

TE - Jermichael Finley, Brandon Pettigrew, Zach Miller

Finley is finally healthy again and quickly returned as one of Aaron Rodgers favorite targets. Look for much of the same on Thanksgiving against the Lions. Pettigrew, the impressive rookie, caught the game winning TD against the Browns. I am a big fan of his and think he'll just get better as the season goes on. Zach Miller was by far Bruce Gradkowski's favorite target last week, and he will be getting the start again at quarterback.

DEF - Cowboys, Bengals, Eagles

This one is easy. The Cowboys take on the Raiders, the Bengals play the Browns and The Eagles play the Redskins. Enough Said!

Make em' ride the bench:

QB - Kyle Orton, Jay Cutler, Jason Campbell

Man, what happened to Kyle Orton? I was so high on him before the season, and he made me look like a genius earlier this season. Let's just say you couldn't pay me to have Jay Cutler on my fantasy team anymore. It's not that I think Campbell is a terrible QB, but he's just not that good and he plays the Eagles.

RB - Michael Turner, Jamaal Charles, Brandon Jacobs

It looks like Turner will not play this week. I know he wants to, but really he needs to get healthy. The Chargers defense completely shut down the Broncos last week. I see much of the same this week for the Chiefs. I am severely disappointed in Brandon Jacobs. I will not play him myself until he shows me he can get more than 40 yards rushing in a game.

WR - Steve Smith (CAR), Lee Evans

Darelle Revis pretty much shut down Randy Moss again last weekend. The last time I checked, Steve Smith is no Randy Moss. With Fitzpatrick targeting Owens so much, it's only obvious Lee Evans takes a step back.

TE - John Carlson, Todd Heap, Kevin Boss

0 points? 0 points? John Carlson is the tight end bust of the season. Todd Heap takes on the Steelers defense. No thank you. I like Kevin Boss, but he's been so inconsistent this season. He had a very good week with 2 TD's in Week 11, so you can expect him not to do much this week.

DEF - Colts, Patriots, Saints, Bears

I really think the Colts are going to get scored on a ton and lose to the Texans. The Pats and Saints take each other on in what should be a Browns/Lions type of game. Did I really just say that? The Bears are the most frauds and take on the high flying Vikings. Enough of Adrian Peterson, can anyone stop Brett Favre?

Happy Thanksgiving All!

Enjoy a six-pack on Thanksgiving, undefeated football style

By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Seeing as Thanksgiving is this week, I'm doing the college football thing a day early. This week features six teams still undefeated and all of which have a chance to remain that way. Let's take a look at all six games, ordered by BCS ranking. I know none of these teams are actually playing on Thanksgiving, but you get the point.

Florida vs. Florida State
We all know about Florida. How could you not with all the media that surrounds them? Florida State's struggles were well documented earlier in the season and Bobby Bowden was in the midst of a coach's nightmare with trustees calling for his job. But the Seminoles rebounded, winning their next two, giving them an outside shot of winning the ACC Atlantic division if they won out and Christian Ponder was garnering a little bit of Heisman attention. They lost to Clemson the following week with Ponder throwing four interceptions as he tried to play through an injury and sustained another one. Behind backup EJ Manuel, they have won their next two. But it hasn't been Florida State's offense that has been in need of help. The offense is 26th overall. The defense, however, is 95th in scoring defense and 104th in total defense. Say what you will about Tim Tebow and I'd probably agree with you if you were telling me he was overrated, but the offense as a unit is pretty spectacular, scoring 50 touchdowns in 11 games, good for 12th in the nation.
Prediction: Florida 38, Florida State 24

Alabama at Auburn
The Iron Bowl might be the most intriguing matchup this week, even though Alabama is clearly the better team. Auburn has a dynamic offense that has scored over 30 points in six of its 11 games. They are 6-0 in those games. But Auburn's weakness plays right into Alabama's strength. Mark Ingram faces the 89th ranked rushing defense this year and if the Tide's offense can keep the ball away from Auburn's balanced attack, they will win. If Auburn can come up with some turnovers they may have a shot. But the offense will have to flow through the passing game maybe more than they'd like. Ben Tate is one of the most underrated running backs in the country, but Alabama has one of the best run stopping defenses in the nation.
Prediction: Alabama 26, Auburn 13

Texas at Texas A&M
As much as ESPN wants to make this game a possible upset, especially since the Aggies beat Colt McCoy at home two years ago, but the teams just don't match up. Texas has dispatched much better teams than the Aggies. Nine of their 11 wins have come by more than three touchdowns, including Oklahoma State. A&M, with one of the worst pass defenses, is getting McCoy at exactly the wrong time. His play left something to be desired earlier in the season, but in Novemeber, he's thrown eight touchdowns and just one interception.
Prediction: Texas 45, Texas A&M 20

TCU vs. New Mexico
One of the best defenses in terms in stats and possibly the best in terms of ability takes on a pretty terrible offense this week. You can pretty much do the math. With all the attention the Horned Frogs' defense has gotten this season, it should be noted the team has put up 38 points or more in each of its last five games and seven of their 11 games overall. They don't have any standout players on offense, but Andy Dalton has been one of the most efficient quarterbacks in college football. In fact, his passer rating is just .42 lower than Jimmy Clausen. He doesn't throw for many yards, but when the defense is giving you great field position, you don't really need to. His 18 touchdowns and just five interceptions speak for itself.
Prediction: TCU 56, New Mexico 9

Cincinnati vs. Illinois
This could be a tough one for the Bearcats. Illinois is 3-7, but has been playing some of its best football. While not a spectacular number, the Illini have averaged about a touchdown more per game offensively in November and have gone 2-1 in their last three games. The two wins came with Juice Williams under center and they scored 38 and 35 points in those games as he put up QB ratings of 196.66 and 255.04, respectively. With him injured against Northwestern, they scored 16. But Williams is expected to start this weekend. But Cincinnati is getting their quarterback back. Sure, Tony Pike did come back against West Virginia, completing two passes, both for touchdowns. But this is the first game he will start since the once Heisman candidate was injured. Not that Zach Collaros did badly.
Prediction: Cincinnati 33, Illinois 21

Boise State vs. Nevada
Not only has Boise State dominated Nevada in the past, but the Broncos have not lost on the blue turf since the MPC Computers Bowl (now the Humanitarian Bowl) in 2005. Still, Nevada has been resurgent since starting the year 0-3, including getting shut out by a Notre Dame unit that has proven to be a pretty awful unit. This is the only game this week with any championship implications, as the Nevada sits at 7-0 in the league, while Boise sitas at 6-0 in the WAC. Should Nevada win, they will win the league, but the WAC would lose any BCS clout. If this game ends up being a close loss for the Wolfpack, it could be extremely scrutinized. But that probably won't happen.
Predition: Boise State 45, Nevada 27

Giving Thanks for High School Football

By Rick Eggleston
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Two days from now the annual tradition that is Thanksgiving Day high school football in New England kicks off in all of its glory. Yes, there’s just something inherently special and enchanting about playing high school football games on Thanksgiving that to this day remains almost exclusively a regional phenomenon.

Sure, you’ve got the NFL’s Lions and Cowboys facing their respective foes every Turkey Day, but that’s the pros. The schoolboy gridiron is what truly embodies what it is to play on Thanksgiving, the ultimate family holiday when generations gather around the same table to give thanks, eat and reminisce.

But before they dive into the butterball it’s all about the football. Fathers, sons, brothers, grandfathers and uncles are taken back to their Thanksgiving Day game when they faced their school’s rival for the final time. Moms, grandmas, daughters and aunts, too, are reminded of their days cheering or playing in the band for arguably the biggest game of the year.

Of course, Thanksgiving is when the biggest game of the season always takes place, as oftentimes it pits two rival schools against one another for the umpteenth time. Fitchburg–Leominster, Barnstable–Falmouth, Boston English–Boston Latin to name a few, are some of the oldest Turkey Day rivalries in the country.

What makes Thanksgiving Day high school football unique is the fact each individual team’s record means nothing heading in. One team could be unbeaten and the other winless, and both will claw, scrap and fight on every down as if it’s their last. And for many of the seniors who buckle their chinstrap on Thanksgiving morning at 10 o’clock sharp, it will be their final game.

Fortunately, they’ll have next Thanksgiving to look forward to, and a story to tell of the greatest game they ever played.

Fantasy Football Friday

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Hello all you fantasy football players out there. I wanted to reach out and let everyone know that the weekly fantasy article will be posted on Thanksgiving morning instead of the usual Friday morning. With three games on Thursday, I have to dispense all of my spot on fantasy knowledge to the legions of fans who can't possibly set his/her lineups until they read the brilliant words that have been spit from my keyboard. Just kidding!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

What we learned this week in college football: Week 12

By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Apologies for the brief lapse in college football coverage by yours truly, but never fear. I have returned.

The Weis era is unofficially over.
In reality, it was over after they lost to Navy twice at Notre Dame Stadium. After that, the snowball got rolling. Weis did a very nice job as far as recruiting is concerned, at least on the offensive side of the ball. Jimmy Clausen said he wouldn't be in South Bend if not for Notre Dame. Stud receivers Golden Tate and Michael Floyd as well as standout tight end Kyle Rudolph are all his. While we haven't see much of him, Dayne Crist was the top QB recruit a couple of years ago and is now the heir apparent to Clausen. Linebacker Mani Te'o has already developed into a marquee defensive talent. The class coming in next year, assuming they hold to their commitments, is 11th in the nation. But when it came to coaching, Weis came up short. This season, which is sure to be his last, the Irish were tabbed as having a vaunted offense. What the media should say is they have a vaunted passing game and that alone is easy to figure out. Ever since Darius Walker left, the Irish have struggled to have a running game, thanks to a combination of ineffective backs and a poor offensive line. So by the second half of the season, teams had figured out how to beat the vanilla Notre Dame offense. Boston College actually wrote the blueprints on how to contain the Irish, employing a cover-two or Tampa Two defense, which took away the big play downfield and forced the Irish to make short passes and try to beat them with the run. The result is a ton of yardage and a high completion percentage for Clausen, but a lack of explosiveness that keyed the offense earlier in the season. Since the Boston College game, every team Notre Dame has faced has run some variation of that offense and as a result, the Irish have not scored more than 22 points in regulation. They have lost all three of those games and a huge reason for that is the lack of any defense whatsoever. Jon Tenuta was supposed to come in and shore up the unit, but it's become clear that it's not the scheme, but Weis' inability to recruit enough defensive playmakers. There are several good athletes on that defensive unit, but other than Te'o and perhaps Kyle McCarthy, whose 5 interceptions are 11th nationally, the team lacks real difference makers. Weis will lose to Stanford, then go to a mediocre bowl, then will probably find a job as an NFL offensive coordinator, which is where he belongs. All this said, the team's decision to walk out with arms linked with Charlie Weis speaks to how much he's meant to the Irish players. But sentimentality does not overshadow the fact that this team has now underachieved for two straight seasons. At least they finally beat Boston College (Note the sarcasm).

Some things don't change.
Let's face it, this week was kind of a yawner when it came to the top teams and the week upcoming week looks to be no different. This week saw no change among the top 7 BCS teams and none really look to stand a chance of dropping or gaining in the coming week. The only team with somewhat of a challenge is Boise State, going up against red-hot Nevada. After starting the season 0-3 against Notre Dame, Colorado State and Missouri, the Wolfpack have rattled off eight straight wins, the last seven all being league games. Nevada has a vaunted running attack, averaging 373.2 yards per game, but that plays right into Boise State's hands. The Broncos have a top-30 run defense. Should Nevada win, it would be a huge blow to the WAC, who assuredly would lose any BCS legitimacy.

The Pac-10 championship is still in doubt.
The Ducks stayed on top with a 44-41 thriller over former Pac-10 darling Arizona, but don't look now. Here comes another darkhorse. Oregon State is playing its best football at this point, winning four straight. Granted, those teams are a combined 18-25. Still, the final game of the regular season is a huge one for the state of Oregon and either way, one team from that state will walk away with it. If Oregon wins, obviously, they walk away with the prize with an 8-1 Pac-10 record. If Oregon State wins, both teams will sit at 7-2, but with the Beavers holding the tiebreaker, they will win.

Week 11 Recap: Pats Back on Track

By Dan Shouse
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

The Pats got back on track, and a couple of underdogs pulled off upsets to headline week 11 in the NFL.

Patriots 31 (7-3) Jets 14 (4-6)

The Patriots were expected to dominate, and for the most part they did. The defense bounced back nicely, picking off Mark Sanchez four times. The win gets the Patriots back in position to have a shot at a number 2 seed in the AFC.

Chiefs 27 (3-7) Steelers 24 (6-4)

Who saw this one coming? Chris Chambers 61 yard reception in overtime set up the game winning field goal, as the Chief stunned the defending champs at Arrowhead. Special teams continue to haunt the Steelers, as they gave up yet another kick return for a TD.

Raiders 20 (3-7) Bengals 17 (7-3)

The Chiefs were not the only team to pull off a big upset on Sunday. Andre Caldwell's fumble on a kick return, set up a Sebastian Janikowski 33 yard game winning field goal, as the Raiders shocked the Bengals in Oakland. The Bengals scored 10 points in the final 33 seconds to get the win. Turnovers haunted Cincinnati , as the Bengals turned the ball over 3 times, including once inside the Raiders 15 yard line.

Giants 34 (6-4) Falcons 31 (5-5)

The Giants needed overtime, but they were finally able to end their four game losing streak with a win over the Falcons. Matt Ryan rallied the Falcons from a 14 point hole in the 4th quarter, but Eli Manning took over in overtime, and led a drive to set up the game winning field goal by Lawrence Tynes from 39 yards out. The win keeps the Giants playoff hopes alive.

Colts 17 (10-0) Ravens 15 (5-5)

For the fourth straight week, the Colts dodged a bullet, this time against Baltimore, and remained perfect on the season. Peyton Manning looked human, throwing a pair of interceptions, but the story of this game was the Indy defense. Indy kept the Ravens out of the end zone, and picked off Joe Flacco at the Indy 13 yard line with just over 2 minutes left, sealing the win.

Lions 38 (2-8) Browns 37 (1-9)

What looked like on of the worst games of the season on paper, actually turned out to be one of the more entertaining games of the year. A pass interference call in the end zone gave the Lions one more play with no time on the clock. Matthew Stafford took advantage of the free play, hitting Brandon Pettigrew for the game winning touchdown. Stafford had a huge day, throwing for over 400 yards and 5 TDs. Brady Quinn also had a nice game for the Browns, throwing for 300 yards and 4 TDs in the loss.

Cowboys 7 (7-3) Redskins 6 (3-7)

So much for the Redskins offense showing signs of life. The Redskins were dreadful on offense, struggling to move the ball all game. The Cowboys were not much better on offense, but Tony Romo's 4th quarter TD pass to Patrick Crayton was all the offense Dallas needed. Romo and the Cowboys were booed by their home fans most of the game before pulling out the win.

Packers 30 (6-4) 49ers 24 (4-6)

The Packers held off a late comeback attempt by the 49ers, remaining in the hunt for a spot in the playoffs. Aaron Rodgers had a big day, throwing for 344 yards and 2TDs in the win.

Vikings 35 (9-1) Seahawks 9 (3-7)

Brett Favre continues to deny father time. Favre is still playing like a young man, as he threw for 4 TDs at home in an easy win against the Seahawks.

Saints 39 (10-0) Buccaneers 7 (1-9)

The Saints were never really challenged in this one. Drew Brees threw for 3 TDs, and the Saints defense made life miserable for rookie QB Josh Freeman. Freeman struggled mightily, throwing 3 picks and fumbling once.

Jaguars 18 (6-4) Bills 15 (3-7)

TO finally had a big game, catching 9 passes for 197 yards and a score, but it was still not enough to get by the Jags. David Garrard hit Mike-Sims Walker with the go ahead TD with less than one minute to play, preventing the Bills from pulling off the upset in Jacksonville.

Cardinals 21 (7-3) Rams 13 (1-9)

Kurt Warner helped build a 21-3 lead before leaving with a concussion, and the Cardinals held on for the road win in St. Louis. Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald combined for 16 catches and almost 200 yards in the win.

Chargers 32 (7-3) Broncos 3 (6-4)

The Broncos look like they may be done. The Chargers made it five wins in a row, blowing out the hapless Broncos. Josh McDaniels benched Chris Simms in the 1st quarter and turned to injured QB Kyle Orten, but it didn't matter. The Chargers dominated and took control of the AFC West.

Eagles 24 (6-4) Bears 20 (4-6)

The Eagles remain alive, and the Bears' season is all but over. LeSean McCoy's 10 yard TD run put the Eagles ahead in the 4th quarter, and then the defense picked off Jay Cutler with under a minute to play, sealing the victory.

Monday Night Football: Rare Big Game for Texans

By Dan Shouse
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Since joining the NFL as an expansion team in 2002, the terms "big game" and "Houston Texans" have rarely gone together. Times are changing however, as the Texans head into Monday night's game against the Tennessee Titans. This is arguably the biggest game in the franchise's short existence.

At 5-4, the Texans are in position to compete for a wild card playoff spot. This is the latest in a season that the Texans have been over 500 in team history. A win over the Titans would go a long way in proving that the Houston is for real.

A trendy pick to make the playoffs before the season began, Houston struggled early in the year, but has come on strong winning 3 of 4 heading into Monday night. The quick reaction is to give credit to the offense for the team's recent success. With players like Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson, you have to give the offense their due respect, but the defense has also been impressive.

Prior to their bye week last Sunday, the Texans came close to upsetting Colts in Indy. The defense limited the Colts to 20 points, and if not for a missed 42 yard field goal by Kris Brown as time expired, the game would have gone to overtime. With a recent injury that has sidelined tight end Owen Daniels for the year, and with Steve Slaton's turnover issues, the defense may have to continue its strong play if the Texans hope to make the postseason.

Things will not get much easier for the Texans this week, as they get to face arguably the best running back in the NFL in Chris Johnson. After staring the season 0-6, the Titans have caught fire, and have now won three straight. The team may be undefeated since Vince Young took over for an ineffective Kerry Collins, but the real reason for the turnaround is Johnson. During the last 3 weeks, Johnson has rushed for almost 500 yards, and added over a 100 receiving yards during that span. If not for the Titans poor overall record, you could argue that Johnson has been the league MVP.

There is no doubt that if Houston is going to win, it all comes down to stopping Johnson. If they do not, then it may be the same old Texans we have seen the past few years - a team loaded with potential, but always seems to fall short of a winning season. It is time for Houston to start living up to its preseason hype.

Look for the Texans to limit Chris Johnson and get the win behind their defense. This is almost like a playoff game for Houston. Win a few more wins, the Texans may be able to take part in a playoff game for real.

Prediction: Texans 28 Titans 24