All times Central
Chiefs at Falcons
Noon, CBS
LINE — Falcons by 6
SERIES — Chiefs lead 5-3; Falcons beat Chiefs 40-24, Sept. 9, 2012
CHIEFS TO WATCH WR Tyreek Hill last week became first player since Gale Sayers in 1965 to score on a kickoff return, rushing attempt and pass reception in the same game. … Travis Kelce is third among TEs with 57 catches and 675 yards receiving. … LB Justin Houston had 10 tackles, 3 sacks and a forced fumble against Broncos last week.
FALCONS TO WATCH QB Matt Ryan last week became first NFL player to pass for at least 200 yards in 50 consecutive games. … WR Julio Jones leads league with 1,140 yards receiving. … LB Vic Beasley is second in the NFC with 9½ sacks, and he has 6½ sacks and 3 forced fumbles in past 3 games against AFC teams.
FANTASY TIP Falcons WR Taylor Gabriel has 4 TDs over a 4-game span, including first career 2-TD game with 75 yards last week. He is a sleeper going forward.
INJURY REPORT OUT Falcons: Adrian Clayborn. QUESTIONABLE Chiefs: DT Dontari Poe, LB Donald Ford, LB Justin Houston, WR Jeremy Maclin, DE Kendall Reyes; Falcons: LB Paul Worrilow.
ON OFFENSE
(RK) CHIEFS VS. FALCONS (RK)
(23) 96.5 RUSH 108.4 (15)
(23) 231.7 PASS 303.1 (3)
(27) 328.3 YARDS 411.5 (3)
(16) 22.9 POINTS 32.5 (1)
ON DEFENSE
(29) 121.4 RUSH 98.8 (10)
(20) 260.5 PASS 282.2 (32)
(28) 381.9 YARDS 381.0 (27)
(8) 19.5 POINTS 27.5 (29)
Lions at Saints
Noon, Fox
LINE — Saints by 6
SERIES — Saints lead 12-11-1; Lions beat Saints 35-27, Dec. 21, 2015
LIONS TO WATCH QB Matthew Stafford has thrown 1 INT in past 7 games and 6 in past 18 games. … TE Eric Ebron has 7 receptions in each of his past 2 road games. … LB Tahir Whitehead had 12 tackles in Week 12, giving him 101 for the season.
SAINTS TO WATCH This is QB Drew Brees’ ninth season with at least 30 TDs passing, tied for most all-time. Brees has a TD pass in NFL-record 60 consecutive home games. … RB Tim Hightower has at least 100 yards from scrimmage in 4 of past 5 games. … Rookie DT Sheldon Rankins has a sack in past 2 games at home.
FANTASY TIP Saints WR Brandin Cooks did not have a catch last week, and he expressed his displeasure. Look for Brees to get Cooks (981 yards receiving, 11 TDs in past 10 home games) involved early and often.
INJURY REPORT OUT Saints: T Terron Armstead (UAPB), RB Daniel Lasco. QUESTIONABLE Lions: DE Ezekiel Ansah, S Don Carey, WR Marvin Jones, LB De-Andre Levy, RB Theo Riddick, LB Tahir Whitehead; Saints: RB Mark Ingram
ON OFFENSE
(RK) LIONS VS. SAINTS (RK)
(30) 80.8 RUSH 114.6 (9)
(17) 248.7 PASS 319.5 (1)
(26) 329.5 YARDS 434.1 (1)
(19) 22.5 POINTS 30.4 (2)
ON DEFENSE
(16) 102.5 RUSH 99.1 (12)
(14) 250.9 PASS 271.4 (27)
(15) 353.5 YARDS 370.5 (26)
(15) 21.6 POINTS 27.9 (30)
Giants at Steelers
3:25 p.m., Fox
LINE — Steelers by 6
SERIES — Giants lead 44-29-3; Steelers beat Giants 24-20, Nov. 4, 2012
GIANTS TO WATCH A victory would give Giants Coach Ben McAdoo the first 7-game winning streak by a rookie coach since Jim Harbaugh in 2011 with the 49ers. … QB Eli Manning needs 98 yards passing to become fourth QB to reach 3,000 yards in 12 consecutive seasons. … DE Jason Pierre-Paul had 3 sacks last week.
STEELERS TO WATCH Coach Mike Tomlin is two victories shy of 100 for his career. … QB Ben Roethlisberger and WR Antonio Brown’s 48 career touchdown connections rank as the second most all time by a Steelers’ QB-WR combo (Terry Bradshaw-John Stallworth, 49).
FANTASY TIP Roethlisberger is one of the league’s most productive QBs at home, averaging 336 yards per game at Heinz Field this season to go with 15 TDs against 2 INTs. He is a must start against a hot Giants’ defense.
INJURY REPORT OUT Giants: S Natneal Berhe, LB Sandon Herzlich, DE Owamagbe Odighizuwa, G Justin Pugh; Steelers: WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, RB DeAngelo Williams (Wynne) QUESTIONABLE Giants: C Brett Jones, T Marshall Newhouse.
ON OFFENSE
GIANTS (RK) VS. STEELERS (RK)
(31) 79.5 RUSH 100.9 (18)
(12) 256.5 PASS 263.9 (8)
(21) 335.9 YARDS 364.8 (12)
(21) 21.0 POINTS 24.2 (13)
ON DEFENSE
(5) 89.1 RUSH 95.3 (9)
(24) 264.7 PASS 263.5 (23)
(16) 353.8 YARDS 358.7 (18)
(5) 19.4 POINTS 20.2 (10)
Panthers at Seahawks
7:30 p.m., NBC
LINE — Seahawks by 7½
SERIES — Seahawks lead 7-4; Panthers beat Seahawks 31-24, Jan. 17, 2016
PANTHERS TO WATCH QB Cam Newton has 13 TD passes and 18 total TDs through 11 games. Last season, he had 20 TD passes and 27 total TDs after 11 games. … WR Ted Ginn Jr. had 88-yard TD last week, the Panthers’ third-longest ever. … LB Thomas Davis had 7 tackles and 1 INT last week.
SEAHAWKS TO WATCH TE Jimmy Graham has 8 career TDs vs. the Panthers. … WR Doug Baldwin has 8 TD catches in past 8 home games. … LB Bobby Wagner leads the NFL with 118 tackles.
FANTASY TIP Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart had 106 yards rushing and 2 TDs in playoff victory over Seahawks last season. Seattle has been shaky against the run, giving up 100.2 yards per game on the ground. Stewart is a solid option. INJURY REPORT OUT Panthers: DE Mario Addison, S Kurtis Coleman, LB Luke Kuechly, T Daryl Williams; Seahawks: LB Brockway Coyle; RB C.J. Prosise, WR Paul Richardson, LB Jordan Tripp. QUESTIONABLE Seahawks: RB Troymaine Pope, DE Michael Bennett, DE Damontre Moore, TE Luke Willson.
ON OFFENSE
PANTHERS (RK) VS. SEAHAWKS (RK)
(13) 109.5 RUSH 88.9 (27)
(19) 243.4 PASS 253.0 (14)
(14) 352.9 YARDS 341.9 (17)
(10) 25.1 POINTS 20.4 (23)
ON DEFENSE
(2) 79.5 RUSH 100.2 (14)
(29) 275.2 PASS 235.5 (10)
(17) 354.7 YARDS 335.6 (7)
(24) 25.5 POINTS 17.0 (1)
Broncos at Jaguars
Noon
LINE — Broncos by 3½
SERIES — Jaguars lead 6-5; Broncos beat Jaguars 35-19, Oct. 13, 2013
BRONCOS TO WATCH RB Devontae Booker (475 yards) on pace to become first rookie to lead team in rushing since Knowshon Moreno in 2009. … All 6 catches this year by TE A.J. Derby (Arkansas Razorbacks) have come in the past 2 weeks.
JAGUARS TO WATCH QB Blake Bortles has thrown at least 2 TD passes in 5 consecutive games. … DT Malik Jackson, who left Denver for a 6-year, $85.5 million contract with Jacksonville in free agency, plays against former team for the first time. FANTASY TIP Jaguars WR Marqise Lee has a TD catch in back-to-back games, making him a more viable option than 2 teammates: WR Allen Hurns and TE Julius Thomas.
INJURY REPORT OUT Broncos: RB Andy Janovich, S Casey KreiterL, QB Trevor Siemian, WR Bennie Fowler; Jaguars: WR Rashad Greene, WR Allen Hurns, RB Christopher Ivory, DE Jared Odrick. DOUBTFUL Jaguars: TE Julius Thomas. QUESTIONABLE Jaguars: De Yannick Ngakoue.
ON OFFENSE
(RK) BRONCOS VS. JAGUARS (RK)
(19) 99.8 RUSH 96.3 (24)
(22) 237.5 PASS 237.9 (21)
(19) 337.4 YARDS 334.2 (23)
(13) 24.2 POINTS 19.5 (26)
ON DEFENSE
(27) 120.0 RUSH 116.6 (24)
(1) 193.9 PASS 204.3 (3)
(4) 313.9 YARDS 320.9 (6)
(9) 19.9 POINTS 26.6 (27)
Dolphins at Ravens
Noon
LINE — Ravens by 3
SERIES — Ravens lead 7-6; Dolphins beat Ravens 15-13, Dec. 6, 2015
DOLPHINS TO WATCH Coach Adam Gase can lead franchise to its first 7-game winning streak since 1985 with a victory. … QB Ryan Tannehill has 9 TD passes and 1 INT during winning streak. … LB Kiko Alonso has 24 tackles, 2 INTs and 2 fumble recoveries in past 3 games.
RAVENS TO WATCH QB Joe Flacco is 4-0 lifetime vs. the Dolphins with 5 TDs and 2 INTs. … LB Terrell Suggs had 2 sacks and 2 forced fumbles last week. … K Justin Tucker’s run of 34 consecutive field goals over 2 seasons is tied for sixth best all time.
FANTASY TIP Ravens WR Breshad Perriman has a TD in 2 of his past 3 games. He is a deep sleeper and worth a stash on the bench.
INJURY REPORT OUT Dolphins: C James Pouncey; Ravens: TE Crockett Gillmore,T Alexander Lewis, RB Lorenzo Taliaferro. DOUBTFUL Dolphins: CB Xavien Howard; Ravens: RB Javorius Allen. QUESTIONABLE Dolphins: WR DeVante Parker, LB Kristian Alonso, LB Jelani Jenkins, DT Earl Mitchell.
ON OFFENSE
DOLPHINS (RK) VS. RAVENS (RK)
(6) 116.0 RUSH 87.8 (28)
(28) 216.4 PASS 246.4 (18)
(25) 332.4 YARDS 334.2 (23)
(17) 22.6 POINTS 19.8 (24)
ON DEFENSE
(30) 132.2 RUSH 74.9 (1)
(9) 229.7 PASS 222.9 (6)
(20) 361.9 YARDS 297.8 (2)
(16) 21.8 POINTS 18.3 (4)
49ers at Bears
Noon
LINE — 49ers by 2
SERIES — 49ers lead 33-30-1; 49ers beat Bears 26-20 OT, Dec. 6, 2015
49ERS TO WATCH QB Colin Kaepernick has completed 59.3 percent of his passes for 1,110 yards, 8 TDs, 2 INTs and a 96 rating over past 4 games. … RB Carlos Hyde had 95 yards from scrimmage (65 rushing, 30 receiving) and a TD catch last week. … LB Nick Bellore has 65 tackles, 5 passes defended, 2 forced fumbles, 1 recovery, 1 sack and 1 INT on the season. BEARS TO WATCH QB Matt Barkley threw for 316 yards and 3 TDs last week in first career start. … WR Marquess Wilson set career highs with 8 catches and 125 yards receiving last week.
FANTASY TIP The Bears’ defense has 8 takeaways, tied for the league’s second-lowest total. The 49ers’ offense is playing better, so resist employing the Bears if you stream defenses.
INJURY REPORT OUT Bears: QB Jay Cutler. QUESTIONABLE 49ers: LB Aaron Lynch, WR Quinton Patton; Bears: WR William Royal, LB Willie Young, S Adrian Amos, LB Leonard Floyd, C Deiondre’ Hall, G Josh Sitton
ON OFFENSE
49ERS (RK) VS. BEARS (RK)
(4) 126.5 RUSH 98.5 (21)
(30) 198.2 PASS 251.7 (15)
(28) 324.6 YARDS 350.2 (16)
(22) 20.7 POINTS 16.2 (31)
ON DEFENSE
(32) 171.8 RUSH 103.4 (18)
(15) 252.6 PASS 239.8 (12)
(32) 424.5 YARDS 343.2 (11)
(32) 31.3 POINTS 24.0 (18)
Buccaneers at Chargers
3:25 p.m.
LINE — Chargers by 3½
SERIES — Chargers lead 8-2; Buccaneers beat Chargers 34-24, Nov. 11, 2012
BUCCANEERS TO WATCH WR Mike Evans cracked 1,000 yards receiving and had multiple TDs for the third time this season last week against the Seahawks. … DE Noah Spence was voted the NFL defensive rookie of November with 11 tackles, 2½ sacks and 2 forced fumbles. … LB Lavonte Davis has forced 4 fumbles this year.
CHARGERS TO WATCH QB Philip Rivers has 3,128 yards passing with 23 TDs and 12 INTs this season. … TE Antonio Gates was held without a target or catch for the first time in 77 games last week. … Rookie DE Joey Bosa has 4½ sacks in 7 games. FANTASY TIP Chargers WR Dontrelle Inman has received at least 6 targets for 5 weeks in a row, and he’s a strong sleeper in a game that could become a shootout. INJURY REPORT OUT Bucs: S Christopher Conte, C Evan Smith; Chargers: LB Jeremiah Attaochu, LB Jatavis Brown, CB Brandon Flowers. QUESTIONABLE Bucs: DT Gerald McCoy; Chargers: WR Tyrell Williams.
ON OFFENSE
BUCS (RK) VS. CHARGERS (RK)
(16) 107.1 RUSH 99.7 (20)
(13) 256.4 PASS 271.5 (5)
(13) 363.5 YARDS 371.2 (8)
(17) 22.6 POINTS 28.5 (4)
ON DEFENSE
(22) 115.8 RUSH 89.8 (6)
(17) 253.5 PASS 271.3 (26)
(24) 369.3 YARDS 361.1 (19)
(18) 24.0 POINTS 26.5 (26)
Texans at Packers
Noon
LINE — Packers by 6
SERIES — Packers lead 2-1; Packers beat Texans 42-24, Oct. 14, 2012
TEXANS TO WATCH RB Lamar Miller needs 6 carries to set single-season career high, passing previous best of 216 in 2014 with Miami. … LB Brian Cushing needs 10 tackles to pass DeMeco Ryans
(636) as Houston’s all-time leading tackler. PACKERS TO WATCH QB Aaron Rodgers has a passer rating of at least 115.0 in past 2 games. … WR Jordy Nelson has 9 TD catches and Davante Adams has 8. FANTASY TIP Adams has 3 less catches and 22 more receiving yards than Nelson, but defenses still focus on Nelson and WR Randall Cobb. Adams is the best option in the Packers passing game.
INJURY REPORT OUT Texans: RB Tyler Ervin, LB John Simon, WR Jaelen Strong; Packers: LB Kyler Fackrell, CB Demetri Goodson DE Jadeveon Clowney. DOUBTFUL Texans: G Thomas Lang, C Joseph Tretter. QUESTIONABLE Texans: S Andre Hal, RB Alfred Blue, LB Brian Cushing; Packers: LB Blake Martinez, LB William Matthews, QB Aaron Rodgers, LB Jake Ryan.
ON OFFENSE
(RK) TEXANS VS. PACKERS (RK)
(5) 121.0 RUSH 98.2 (22)
(31) 195.9 PASS 266.7 (7)
(29) 316.9 YARDS 364.9 (11)
(29) 17.6 POINTS 24.9 (11)
ON DEFENSE
(19) 107.5 RUSH 90.2 (7)
(5) 209.2 PASS 260.6 (21)
(5) 316.7 YARDS 350.8 (13)
(12) 21.5 POINTS 26.3 (25)
Eagles at Bengals
Noon
LINE — Bengals by 1½
SERIES — Bengals lead 8-3; Bengals beat Eagles 34-13, Dec. 13, 2012
EAGLES TO WATCH QB Carson Wentz has 579 yards passing, 4 TDs and no INTs for a 112.3 passer rating in 2 games vs. the AFC. … TE Zach Ertz has 23 receptions since Week 9, tied for most in NFL at his position. … WR Dorial Green-Beckham tied his career high with 6 catches last week.
BENGALS TO WATCH QB Andy Dalton has 4 TDs, 4 INTs and been sacked 11 times in past 4 games. … K Mike Nugent, a second-round Jets pick in 2005, has missed past 3 PAT attempts and 4 of past 8.
FANTASY TIP Bengals WR Tyler Boyd has assumed a bigger role with with WR A.J. Green out. He had 5 catches for 62 yards vs. the Ravens last week and is a strong WR3 against a struggling Eagles’ secondary.
INJURY REPORT OUT Eagles: RB Ryan Mathews, T Halapoulivaati Vaitai, Bengals: DE Wallace Gilberry, WR Adriel Green, S Derron Smith. DOUBTFUL Bengals: TE Christopher Uzomah, LS Clark Harris. QUESTIONABLE Eagles: WR Jordan Matthews.
ON OFFENSE
EAGLES (RK) VS. BENGALS (RK)
(8) 114.9 RUSH 108.8 (14)
(27) 221.1 PASS 259.5 (10)
(20) 336.0 YARDS 368.4 (10)
(15) 23.1 POINTS 19.4 (27)
ON DEFENSE
(17) 102.8 RUSH 120.5 (28)
(11) 236.5 PASS 246.0 (13)
(8) 339.4 YARDS 366.5 (23)
(5) 19.4 POINTS 22.3 (17)
Bills at Raiders
3:05 p.m.
LINE — Raiders by 3
SERIES — Raiders lead 20-19; Raiders beat Bills 26-24, Dec. 21, 2014
BILLS TO WATCH RB LeSean McCoy had 103 yards and 2 TDs on the ground last week. … WR Sammy Watkins caught 3 balls for 80 yards last week.
RAIDERS TO WATCH QB Derek Carr led a fourth-quarter comeback for the fifth time this season last week, and 10 of his 19 career victories have come in that fashion. FANTASY TIP The Bills allow 114 rushing yards per game, so Raiders RB Latavius Murray is a must play.
INJURY REPORT OUT Bills: CB Ronald Darby, WR William Harvin, WR Robert Woods, TE Charles Clay (LR Central), G Richie Incognito; Raiders: LB Shilique Calhoun, CB Derek Hayden, DT Darius Latham DT Stacy McGee. QUESTIONABLE Bills: LB Lorenzo Alexander, S Sergio Brown, DT Marcell Dareus, RB Mike Gillislee, T Cordy Glenn, WR Marquise Goodwin, S James Ihedigbo, G John Miller, WR Samuel Watkins; Raiders: CB David Amerson, WR Michael Crabtree, C Rodney Hudson, RB Latavius Murray, G Kelechi Osemele, LB Perry Riley, LB Malcolm Smith.
ON OFFENSE
BILLS (RK) VS. RAIDERS (RK)
(1) 157.4 RUSH 112.4 (10)
(32) 182.5 PASS 278.6 (4)
(18) 339.9 YARDS 391.0 (5)
(8) 25.5 POINTS 27.9 (5)
ON DEFENSE
(21) 114.2 RUSH 116.9 (26)
(8) 227.7 PASS 273.5 (28)
(10) 341.9 YARDS 390.4 (29)
(12) 21.5 POINTS 25.0 (23)
Redskins at Cardinals
3:25 p.m.
LINE — Cardinals by 2½
SERIES — Redskins lead 74-45-2; Cardinals beat Redskins 30-20, Oct. 12, 2014 REDSKINS TO WATCH QB Kirk Cousins needs 229 yards to jump from ninth to fourth on the franchise single-season passing list. … WR Jamison Crowder has 114 catches over past 2 seasons and has returned 2 punts for TDs this year. … LR Ryan Kerrigan has 7½ sacks in his past 7 games.
CARDINALS TO WATCH QB Carson Palmer has been sacked 32 times in 10 games after being sacked 25 times in 16 games last season. … WR Larry Fitzgerald is 1 of 6 NFL players all time with 1,000 catches for 1 team. … LB Chandler Jones has at least 1 sack in 7 of 11 games this year.
FANTASY TIP Redskins TE Vernon Davis (31 catches, 450 yards, 2 TDs) is a viable start option.
INJURY REPORT OUT Redskins: De Anthony Lanier, TE Jordan Reed. DOUBTFUL Cardinals: DB Tyrann Mathieu. QUESTIONABLE Redskins: CB Bashaud Breeland, T Attauyo Nsekhe, G Brandon Scherff; Cardinals: WR John Brown
ON OFFENSE
(RK) REDSKINS VS. CARDINALS (RK)
(11) 111.5 RUSH 106.8 (17)
(2) 314.8 PASS 262.3 (9)
(2) 426.3 YARDS 369.1 (9)
(9) 25.5 POINTS 22.3 (20)
ON DEFENSE
(25) 116.7 RUSH 98.9 (11)
(16) 252.9 PASS 195.1 (2)
(25) 369.6 YARDS 294.0 (1)
(18) 24.0 POINTS 20.7 (11)
Rams at Patriots
Noon
LINE — Patriots by 13½
SERIES — Patriots lead 7-5; Patriots beat Rams 45-7, Oct. 28, 2012
RAMS TO WATCH Coach Jeff Fisher is 1-5 vs. the Patriots. … QB Jared Goff is making his third career start, and he has completed 58.7 percent of his passes for 348 yards, 3 TDs and 1 INT this season. PATRIOTS TO WATCH QB Tom Brady has 2,201 passing yards, 18 TDs, 1 INT and a 116.7 passer rating in 7 games. … Coach Bill Belichick has a 4-1 record against the Rams, including his first Super Bowl victory as a head coach in February 2002. FANTASY TIP Rams’ rush defense (20th in league) leaves much to be desired, so expect Patriots RB LeGarrette Blount to be busy.
INJURY REPORT OUT Patriots: TE Rob Gronkowski, S Jordan Richards. DOUBTFUL Rams: WR Tavon Austin. QUESTIONABLE Rams: DE Robert Quinn, C Timothy Barnes, T Andrew Donnal, T Rodger Saffold; Patriots: DT Woodrow Hamilton, WR Matthew Slater, TE Martellus Bennett, QB Tom Brady, S Nate Ebner, WR Julian Edelman, DE Trey Flowers (Arkansas), WR Chris Hogan, LB Elandon Roberts.
ON OFFENSE
(RK) RAMS VS. PATRIOTS (RK)
(29) 83.1 RUSH 115.8 (7)
(29) 212.0 PASS 270.4 (6)
(31) 295.1 YARDS 386.2 (6)
(32) 15.5 POINTS 26.6 (6)
ON DEFENSE
(20) 112.3 RUSH 99.5 (13)
(7) 227.5 PASS 253.6 (18)
(9) 339.8 YARDS 353.2 (14)
(12) 21.5 POINTS 17.9 (3)