Week 16 fantasy football

Matchups to exploit or avoid

By Jeff Agrest, Senior editor
Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2000

Matchups to exploit

Broncos WR Rod Smith has broken the 100-yard-receiving mark twice in his last two meetings with the Chiefs. That trend could continue, as Kansas City has been beaten for scores through the air in recent weeks.

Packers RB Ahman Green, who has scored five touchdowns in his last three games, should stay hot vs. a Vikings defense that surrendered 162 rushing yards and five touchdowns to the Rams on Sunday. Green scored twice in his previous meeting with Minnesota in Week 10.

Niners QB Jeff Garcia should produce vs. a Bears defense that has surrendered 22 TD passes, among the most in the league. It allowed Patriots QB Drew Bledsoe to have one of his finest outings of the season last week.

Giants RB Ron Dayne’s first 100-yard performance as a pro came at the expense of the Cowboys. In that Week Seven game, Dayne carries 21 times for 108 yards and one touchdown.

Matchups to avoid

Redskins RB Stephen Davis may not be the best play this week. Not only is he banged up, he’s running behind an even-more-banged-up offensive line. OG Keith Sims is the latest Redskin lineman to succumb to injury. Washington will face a Steelers defense that held the Giants to 68 rushing yards last week.

With QB Jake Plummer iffy and the best defense in the league on the docket, Cardinals WR David Boston could be held to nothing. Last week vs. another top-10 defense (Jacksonville), Boston caught only two passes for 25 yards. Neither Cardinals backup quarterback, Dave Brown or Chris Greisen, was anything special.

In his first meeting of the year with the Jaguars, Bengals RB Corey Dillon was held to 32 yards on 17 carries. Though Jacksonville’s defensive production dropped significantly in the following weeks, it has since picked up the pace, holding its last two opponents well below 100 yards rushing.

The Raiders have been a tough team to run against of late, holding five of their last seven opponents to 71 yards or fewer. That doesn’t bode well for Seahawks RB Ricky Watters, whose has one 100-yard game all season. In his career, Watters has averaged only 66.9 yards rushing in seven games vs. Oakland.

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