1. Adrian Peterson vs. Chicago Bears. If there’s one team in particular that AD feasts on, it’s the Chicago Bears. Pop in any highlight tape and you’ll see Peterson taking one 50+ yards yards to the house on numerous occasions.

While the Vikings don’t scare anyone in the passing game, the Bears are quite poor in stopping the run and that’s not going to be a formula for success when playing in Minnesota. Look for Peterson to go off this weekend. 125 yards and two TDs.

2. Thomas Jones vs. Denver Broncos. Ever since Favre became less risky with his throws and the Jets began to re-emphasize the running game, Jones has taken off in a big way. He’s hit the century mark or come close to it in each of his last three games and has put six balls into the end zone in his last five games.

Look for that trend to continue against a soft Broncos’ run defense. Strong fantasy play: 100 yards and two TDs.

3. Ronnie Brown vs. St. Louis Rams. Brown should be able to add to his pro bowl consideration after this game vs. the Rams. The Rams have been making an awful lot of opposing players look very good in recent weeks. Look for Miami to pound the ball early and often and once they get a commanding lead, use Brown to run down the clock. 100 yards and two TDs.

4. Marion Barber vs. Seattle Seahawks. With the re-entry of Romo into the lineup, defenses can no longer just focus on stopping Barber because the passing game must be respected. Look for Dallas to come out passing and then use Barber to wear down Seattle’s smaller defensive lineman. 100 yards and one TD.

Sleepers

1. Darren McFadden vs. Kansas City Chiefs. After last week’s game, it appears that the fourth pick in this year’s NFL draft is healthy once again, and he responded with a two-TD effort vs. the Broncos. Look for another big day out of McFadden as the 1-10 Chiefs come to town.

2. Warrick Dunn vs. New Orleans Saints. The Saints can score with the best of them, but that usually comes on turf or at home. They’ve struggled mightily in recent years in Tampa and we like Dunn to have a strong day vs. a soft New Orleans’ interior defense.

Others with favorable matchups

1. Chris Johnson vs. Detroit Lions. The road to imperfection is alive and well in Detroit. Chris Johnson and Tennessee will once again look to re-establish the running game after getting beaten pretty badly by the Jets, and Johnson should be able to use his blazing speed to pop a few long ones on Thanksgiving.

2. Brandon Jacobs vs. Washington Redskins. The image most remember from the last time these two teams played was Jacobs steamrolling S LaRon Landry on a big gain. Look for the Giants to once again make the running game the focal point of the offensive attack and for Mr. Jacobs to do some damage.

3. Michael Turner vs. San Diego Chargers. This is really a must win game for San Diego but so was the last one they blew on Sunday. The Falcons are playing for something meaningful as well: a division championship. Look for Turner to have a big day in his homecoming and for him to outperform his old mentor, LaDainian Tomlinson.

Must Starts

1. Willie Parker vs. Cincinnati Bengals. Parker came back with a strong effort vs. the Chargers this past Sunday, and on Thursday he gets the Bengals. Got to love that matchup.

In what could be frigid conditions at Heinz field Thursday night, look for the Steelers to get back to playing Pittsburgh Steelers football and pounding away on the ground. And as the line begins to gel together, this all bodes very well for Parker. 100 yards and two TDs.

2. Matt Forte vs. St. Louis Rams. Ok, the game by the Bay (San Francisco) last Sunday convinced me that the Rams have officially mailed the season in.

After a few nice efforts that led to upsets over Washington and Dallas, the bottom has fallen out and this defense has given up 40 and 35 points respectively in the first halves alone of each of the past two games.

Look for the Bears to get back on track after the debacle in GB and for Forte to be a major focal point of the offensive attack. 100 yards and two TDs.

3. Joseph Addai vs. San Diego Chargers. Addai came back strong with a nice effort vs. the Texans (100+ yards and two TDs) and now he gets the lackluster Chargers’ D.

Look for the Bolts to kept off balance all night as they have trouble with both the pass and run, and for Addai to be a major fantasy performer on the ground and out of the backfield. 100 yards and one TD.

4. Ryan Grant vs. New Orleans Saints. The Packers head down to the Big Easy in what has all the makings of a shootout in the Superdome. Both teams possess rather iffy defenses, but the Saints is actually in worse shape coming into this game.

GB will try and minimize the amount of time that Brees spends on the field so look for a lot of carries to go Grant’s way. 100 yards and one TD.

Sleepers

1. Ahmad Bradshaw vs. Arizona Cardinals. As of Tuesday, there’s a strong possibility that the Giants will keep RB Jacobs out of their game in Arizona. If that’s the case, look for the talented second-year back to be more of a factor in the game plan.

In his limited opportunity last week vs. the top ranked rushing defense (Baltimore), he broke off a 77-yard run and finished off with 96 yards in the fourth quarter alone. With four quarters to play in this one, 100-yards is definitely with in his reach.

2. Warrick Dunn vs. Detroit Lions. Check the injury report prior to the game, and if Cadillac Williams is set to play, consider him, but regardless of who plays, the Tampa Bay backfield should enjoy a lot of success on the ground.

The Panthers talented duo ran for over 250 yards combined on this Lions’ D, so look for a big game from Dunn if in fact he is the featured back on Sunday.

Others with favorable matchups

1. MarShawn Lynch vs. Kansas City Chiefs. Lynch broke out of his slump on Monday night with his 1st 100-yard game rushing of the season. He also added 50+ receiving yards and a score. This week they travel to Kansas City and Lynch should enjoy a lot of success against a weak Chiefs’ D. A strong fantasy option.

2. Steve Slaton vs. Cleveland Browns. Slaton had hit the proverbial wall prior to last Sunday’s game but bounced back nicely with a 156-yard effort that included a 71-yard TD. Look for more of the same this week as Slaton goes up against a less than formidable Browns’ D.

3. Clinton Portis vs. Seattle Seahawks. Even in the midst of their two-game slump, Portis has run the ball well. This week the ‘Skins head out to Seattle where the Seahawks have stopped nobody. Look for Zorn to rely heavily on his No. 1 tailback and for Portis to hit the 100-yard plateau with at least one score. ]]> https://profootball101.com/2008/11/19/week-12-rb-fantasy-rankings/feed/ 0