Fantasy Mastermind Moment

Sleeping through the playoffs might just work

Trung Canidate could get some quality carries if the Rams overwhelm the Panthers offensively. AP

By Michael Nazarek, Special to CNNSI.com

It's week 15, and if you are still reading this column, it probably means you've had a successful season and made your fantasy playoffs. Now is not the time to get shy. In most leagues, it's now or never. You lose, and you are out! While the best advice anyone can give a fantasy owner this time of year is to "stick with the horses that brought you to the dance," sometimes injury can get in the way of an owner and a championship. That's why I'm here to offer a few opinions on some interesting sleeper plays. Some of these names are very familiar and some might be quite surprising, but all of them should be considered for various reasons. Look over the list and pick and choose carefully. There are no guarantees, but sometimes a risk must be taken to win the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Let's get right to it…

Quarterbacks

Injuries to San Francisco 49ers QB Jeff Garcia, Tennessee Titans QB Steve McNair, and Minnesota Vikings QB Todd Bouman have them all questionable to play this weekend. Do you stick with them or play it safe and choose an alternative? Let's take a quick look at who might save the day for your team…

Chris Chandler, ATL - Chandler has had a surprisingly productive season to date and is coming off a 2-TD performance against the Colts. He's facing a one-win Buffalo team at home this week, a team he should be effective against. Two TDs is a good probability here, so if you want to play it safe, Chandler could be your man.

Mark Brunell, JAX - Brunell has limped his way through nearly the entire season with a sore quad. However, that hasn't stopped him from tossing 15 scores despite the fact he's missed a few games. Best of all, he'll be facing a soft Vikings secondary this week. Looks like another 2-TD game here too!

Vinny Testaverde, NYJ - Yes, Vinny has been just a shell of his former self this season, as the Jets have gone to a truly conservative version of the West Coast Offense. However, when the team needed him to produce, he came through with two big TD passes late last week. The Colts are struggling, but can still score quite easily. This game could be a shootout with Testaverde tossing another two scores.

Alex Van Pelt, BUF - Van Pelt has struggled to throw TD passes in each of the team's last three games, tossing only one over that period. However, he hung in there last week against a tough Patriots secondary and exceeded 200 passing yards. He faces an average Falcons team this week and should be good for a score or two in addition to the yardage. Don't overlook his value, especially for owners in larger leagues.

Running backs

Stacey Mack, JAX - Mack has been an enigma this season in his efforts to fill in for the injured Fred Taylor. One good game followed by two bad ones. Mack rebounded with a solid 100-yard game last week after disappearing the week before. What makes me think he'll produce again this week? RB Elvis Joseph is beat up with an injured shoulder. Mack will start against the Vikes. If he can't produce this week, he doesn't have much of a long-term future with the team.

Terry Allen, BAL - Allen has recovered from his broken hand and will start this week against the Bengals. Yes, the Bengals run defense is improved, but the Ravens know they must win to make the big dance. Allen won't get all of the carries, but he'll see most of the workload and maybe a score. If you like to gamble, he makes a good bet.

Skip Hicks, TEN - Eddie George owners must be one frustrated bunch with the way Hicks has performed in recent weeks. Last week, George struggled to gain just 26 yards on 15 carries. Hicks comes in and steals the show, rushing for 142 yards on 17 carries (most in the second half) and a score. But George will start this week. No matter, Hicks is the better play. HC Jeff Fisher said the team has a "compliment" of RB's, and no RB controversy. George may start, but Hicks will finish.

Shawn Bryson, BUF - Talk about your timely free agent! I'm sure no one had this guy on their roster entering week 14, and yet because of a knee sprain, RB Travis Henry won't play this week. Bryson gets the start against a Falcons run defense that allowed RB Dominic Rhodes to run wild on them last week for two scores. I think you know what to do here.

Trung Canidate, STL - Remember that big half of play by Canidate several weeks back? Well, those 145 and a score came against the Carolina Panthers. Who do the Rams play this week? Yup, the Carolina Panthers. RB Marshall Faulk was just added to the injury list with a sore bursa sack in his knee. Who will take over once this game is in hand? That would be Canidate. Can history repeat itself? Only time will tell, but it's looking good from my vantage point…

Wide recievers

San Francisco 49ers WR Terrell Owens has a sore hip and may not have his starting QB in the lineup this weekend. Tennessee Titans WR Derrick Mason also has a hip problem and could be a game-time decision. Carolina Panthers WR Muhsin Muhammad is all but out for this week's game due to turf toe. Miami Dolphins WR Oronde Gadsden said yesterday that he couldn't play if the game was today. What a mess! Can we clean it up?

Tony Martin, ATL - Do I have a thing for Falcons? Not really, but no one can deny that since Martin has returned from a broken clavicle injury, he's made a positive impact on the team's passing game. For the second time in two weeks, Martin produced solid numbers, catching seven passes for 84 yards last week against the Colts. Don't overlook this sly veteran against the Bills.

Wayne Chrebet, NYJ - Laveranues Coles may still be the primary threat in the Jets passing game, but Chrebet is seeing many more looks in recent weeks. The coaching staff knows he must be involved more in order for the team to win. Playing the Colts in what should be a high scoring affair could easily mean another score and close to 100 yards for "The Green Lantern."

Reggie Wayne, IND - This rookie has struggled all season with nagging ankle and knee injuries. Starting last week for the first time as a healthy player, Wayne caught five passes for 78 yards. He's finally gained the trust of QB Peyton Maning, meaning he'll continue to see quality looks, especially with WR Terrence Wilkins still sidelined with a sore hamstring.

Marvin Minnis, KC - His season nearly mirrors the one of Reggie Wayne, as a series of injuries has kept him from playing for much of the year. Minnis has a bit more growing to do with regard to his route running, but he did manage to make the key play last week that got the team in position for their game-winning FG. Minnis will start against an injury-depleted Chargers secondary. What more could a rookie ask for?

Joey Galloway, DAL - Remember when this guy was a fantasy STUD? Times are much different for Galloway as a Dallas Cowboy. After working his way back from a torn ACL, Galloway has suffered through a lack of chemistry with any of the Cowboys 683 QB's since week #1. But, all is not lost. Rookie QB Quincy Carter actually starting to find Galloway early and often last week against his old team, the Seattle Seahawks. Can that magic carry over into this week against the Cardinals? Don't be shocked if it does.

Tight ends

Carolina Panthers TE Wesley Walls is uncertain to play this week with an ankle injury. Cleveland Browns rising HB Aaron Shea is OUT with a shoulder injury. Arizona Cardinals TE Terry Hardy and Cincinnati Bengals TE Tony McGee are on IR, while Washington Redskins TE Stephen Alexander has been nothing but a shell of his former Pro Bowl self. Where is the gold mine at this position?

Tywan Mitchell, ARZ - Boy, where did this big kid come from? With Hardy out, Mitchell has stepped in to produce like nobody's business. Against the Giants last week, Mitchell caught seven passes for 62 yards and a score, even outdoing WR David Boston! Mitchell should see more good looks against the Cowboys this week at home.

Cam Cleeland, NO - If he could only stay healthy, Cleeland could be a true STUD TE. After suffering through another ankle injury, Cleeland is starting once again and you can bet QB Aaron Brooks knows his big man is on the field. Cleeland can be a devastating force in the red zone and playing a Bucs team on the road with the playoffs on the line should mean quality looks from Brooks in critical times.

Fred Baxter, CHI - The former Jet is making an impact for the rising Bears this season coming up with a big catch between two defenders last week for a score. Baxter doesn't get many looks, but he's quickly becoming a solid target in the red zone.

Kickers

OK, we all know no can accurately predict a kicker's performance, but owners of Arizona Cardinals PK Bill Gramatica are looking for a replacement. There are also some worries over the health of Indianapolis Colts PK Mike Vanderjagt (back) and Oakland Raiders PK Sebastian Janikowski (groin), but they should be good to go this week. Still, mentioning a few positive situations that might pique your interest…

Jay Feely, ATL - I know, another Falcon. Still, Feely has been one of the pleasant surprises in this age of the unknown kicker. He's made 23 of 30 FGA's and should see a few more tries this week against Buffalo. He's worth a look if you care.

Mike Hollis, JAX - OK, I know my boy Hollis has had a poor season, but the number of attempts he receives isn't his fault. Still, Hollis looked good nailing all three of his FGA's last week and faces a Vikings team that should allow him 2-3 more chances once again. That fact alone makes him an interesting choice in my book.

With all these sleeper picks, does the magic crystal ball have enough power to provide one final deep sleeper? Let's look into its cloudy center…

Deep Sleeper of the Week

WR Isaac Byrd, CAR - Yes, the Rams will probably clobber the Panthers, but rookie QB Chris Weinke has to throw to someone, right? Byrd has good chemistry with Weinke and has produced surprising statistics when given the chance. Look for one more big play from this combo for a score. The final score may be 56-7, but if that seven points is a score by Byrd, that's all that matters, right?

Final thoughts

In closing, I'd just like to wish everyone good luck in their fantasy playoffs and to remember to play hard, but play fair. And I do stand by the rule to start the healthy STUDs that got you into the playoffs over sleepers with good matchups. Remember, if you start Tony Martin over Torry Holt just because Holt didn't do much last week, you are only setting yourself up for a long off-season of "If I had only started Holt…." See you in two weeks with my annual season-long fantasy awards!

Michael Nazarek is the Fantasy Football Mastermind, and has more than a dozen years of fantasy related experience. His company offers an NFL draft kit, preseason draft guide, a weekly newsletter, and free fantasy news (updated daily) at its web site. For more information go to http://www.ffmastermind.com or call 256-851-1749.

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