FANTASY FOOTBALL IN-SEASON FEATURES

Prediction: TB 13, NO 31

Update: Pierre Thomas was limited in practice on Friday and listed as questionable on the injury report because of his ankle which was the same that kept him out so long earlier this year. I am downgrading him and he may not play but the Saints are not disclosing his playing status yet and may not until game time. Marques Colston had his knee scoped and has not practiced at all. He is not ruled out yet this week but I am removing him from the projections.

The Buccaneers can win a playoff spot if they win and the Packers and Giants both lose. The Saints have clinched a wildcard at least and can win the NFC South if the Falcons lose to the Panthers - very unlikely. So the Saints have a wildcard and nothing to really win in this game. This is a rematch from week six when the Saints won 31-6 in Tampa Bay. The Bucs have never beaten a team with a winning record.

QUARTERBACK: Josh Freeman has been adequate this year at worst and he has scored in all but one game though rarely more than the one time and he needs a weaker secondary to get beyond the 220 yard mark. Back in week six against these Saints, Freeman passed for 219 yards and one score. The Saints have allowed only five passing scores in New Orleans so anything above one touchdown by Freeman would be a major success.

RUNNING BACKS: The Buccaneers had not yet discovered what they had in LeGarrette Blount when the first played the Saints and Carnell Williams only gained 18 yards on ten carries but added 73 yards on six receptions. Blount has been an upgrade to be sure but the Saints at home have been tough to run on and Blount has scored in only one road game in Arizona. Expect yardage but likely no score here. Carnell Williams will still be the third down back.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Arrelious Benn was placed on injured reserve with a torn ACL but he is expected to be back in time for training camp. Mike Williams closes out a tremendous rookie season with ten touchdowns but he only had four catches for 45 yards in the previous matchup with the Saints who sport the #1 defense against wide receivers. No other receiver here has been of merit to a fantasy team outside of Williams and even he should be seeing a depressed effort this week.

TIGHT ENDS: Kellen Winslow was nearly worthless through the first eight games when he never had a touchdown and rarely rose above 50 yards in a game. He only gained 43 yards on seven catches in previous Saints game but has since scored five times in the second half of the season. WInslow is the most likely to score here though only marginally so.

Pregame Notes: Since this game and the Falcons game are both at 1:00 PM, the Saints cannot know for sure that the Falcons beat the Panthers and as such, HC Sean Payton says the team will approach this game with every intention of winning and will not be resting players. That is a risky notion to buy into though he could keep his word. Or he could hear at halftime that the Falcons have a 28-0 lead on the Panthers and then he starts pulling players. Payton says there is no risk of pulling players and maybe he is right - are you a gambling man? Panthers are the worst team in the league and are on the road this week in Atlanta where the Falcons are trying to secure homefield advantage through the playoffs.

QUARTERBACK: Drew Brees is coming off another monster season with a score in every game and only twice not topping 250+ passing yards in a game. Brees passed for 263 yards and three touchdowns in Tampa Bay this year. Pierre Thomas is back and that could help the rushing attack but Brees is an automatic start every week anyway. Saints want to win this one and Brees should have no problems.

RUNNING BACKS: Reggie Bush needed an MRI after last week but his collarbone is supposed to be fine and he should be able to continue to offer marginal production again this week. Back in week six, Chris Ivory ran for 158 yards on 15 carries though he never scored. Ladell Betts scored once in that game. This week should see a rushing score that has to favor Thomas again and it was encouraging to see the Saints rely on Thomas for 19 of the 21 carries last week in Atlanta.

WIDE RECEIVERS: This unit has produced 21 receiving touchdowns this year but that has been neatly split out amongst mainly Marques Colston (7), Lance Moore (8) and Robert Meachem (5). In the last meeting with the Bucs, Moore caught two passes for 57 yards and one score. Marques Colston gained 53 yards in 5 catches and Meachem had 71 yards and a score on four receptions. There is always a risk starting a Saints wideout but at least they will be at home and against an opponent they should handle.

TIGHT ENDS: The rookie Jimmy Graham has taken over the primary tight end role and scored three touchdowns over the last two games. He has not scored since week nine but usual ends with 30 or more yards. Graham is the one to watch for next season as he has already been given the toughest job.