FANTASY FOOTBALL IN-SEASON FEATURES

Prediction: DET 13, TB 31

No reason to over think this game. The Lions are on the road and that's all that matters.

QUARTERBACK: Matthew Stafford remains out with a bad shoulder though they won't put him on injured reserve in the hopes that he can be back by the finale against the Vikings. It's probably too about just trying to get some pay back on his salary for an oft-injured quarterback. Shaun Hill is out with his bad finger until next week at the earliest so by default it should be Drew Stantonagain this week though the Lions have not yet named a starter. Probably because they do not want to face the truth.

Stanton has thrown for exactly one score in all three of his games and his best effort was 222 yards in his only road matchup in New York. The Buccaneers have given up 11 scores to visiting quarterbacks and only Jimmy Clausen failed to score there. Stanton should be good for the one score and marginal yardage.

RUNNING BACKS: The rushing attack has morphed into one of the worst in the league and only those opening games by Jahvid Best makes it rank better than it is. Best won't be put on injured reserve because of his turf toes but has not scored since week two and aside from one run against the visiting Bears has been marginal at best. Last week he had 13 carries for 38 yards as one of his better games. There is no upside here and apparently no chance for a score.

Maurice Morris has been marginally more effective but his workload is always split with Best. I will project for Morris who has a bigger role and slightly better stats but neither back is worth fantasy consideration.

WIDE RECEIVERS: It is a sure sign of greatness that Calvin Johnson can rack up 12 touchdowns on this team when it continues to be devoid of anything else interesting to a defense. Nate Burleson has one touchdown in the last five weeks and rarely more than 50 yards in a game. Bryant Johnson lives on one or two catches per week. But Calvin has been productive in all but a couple of games.

The Bucs have given up eight receiving touchdowns to visiting wide receivers and eventually Johnson should end up with one if only late in trash time from getting ten or more passes thrown his way. He is a must start every week even with the occasional clunker game because it is so rare that he gets shut down.

TIGHT ENDS: Will Heller caught the game winning (and only) touchdown last week but that was only his third game and third catch this year. Brandon Pettigrew has only scored three times but has been a constant factor in the passing offense and more so when the Lions are on the road.

Pregame Notes: The Bucs come off a lucky win in Washington when the Skins could not kick an extra point to tie the game and there is still a small chance that they could reach 8-8 on the season if they can win out. Hosting the Lions and Seahawks should be near-guaranteed wins but that finale in New Orleans probably has to hope that the Saints have clinched a wild card and can not improve their seeding by trying to win.

RUNNING BACKS: Carnell Williams has all but disappeared from use with LeGarrette Blount accepting the full work load and that bodes well for this week since his four games with a score had three of them at home alone with his better yardage efforts. Blount almost never has any catches but but gets up to 20 or more carries per week and the Lions not only have allowed five runners to top 100 yards, but have given up 17 touchdowns to running backs this year. Expect good rushing yards here with at least one score. Five different runners had two touchdowns on the Lions so there is upside there.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Last week was all about Arrelious Benn who had his normal four targets but caught them all and had 122 yards on the game thanks to 64-yard and 43-yard receptions. Benn had previously topped out at 53 yards when he had one long catch in Arizona and otherwise had not produced more than 33 yards in a game. Mike Williams was held to only one catch last week though he just missed on one touchdown. But he remains the clear primary wideout where with seven touchdowns on the season and more than 60 yards in most games.

Williams should bring in a score this week against a Lions secondary that allows about one per game. Benn's game was great and there is a chance it could repeat here but he needs more than one game to rely on.

TIGHT ENDS: Kellen Winslow continues to be lighter in yardage this year and rarely tops 50 yards in a game but he has scored three times in the last five games and shows up more when the opponent has a softer secondary like the Lions. The confidence on the score is not great but he should snare around 50 yards here.