FANTASY FOOTBALL IN-SEASON FEATURES

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Prediction: MIA 17, NE 34

The 5-9 Dolphins take their 2-5 road record to face the Patriots who only have to win two home games to secure the #1 seed in the AFC. This is a replay of the season opener when the Patriots won 38-24 in Miami.

QUARTERBACK: While Matt Moore is no lock to start next year, he has played above expectations with a touchdown in almost every game and what should be a nice ending for the year this week against the same team that Chad Henne passed for 416 yards and two scores against in the season opener. With any luck, there will be plenty of trash time that makes Moore a fantasy consideration like all quarterbacks facing the Patriots.

RUNNING BACKS: Daniel Thomas is winding down his rookie season with no rushing touchdowns and marginal use that keeps getting lower. But Reggie Bush has been better than ever since midseason and has scored six times over the last seven weeks and is on a three game streak of 100+ yard rushing games including his career best 203 yards in Buffalo last Sunday.

In week one, Bush ran for 38 yards on 11 carries and added nine catches for 56 yards and a score versus the Patriots but never again had more than five catches in any game. Bush has to be considered a must start back but is likely to have lesser production this week unless they use him as a receiver more.

WIDE RECEIVERS: The production of this group has never been higher than in week one when all three mattered. Brandon Marshall caught a season high seven passes for 139 yards while Brian Hartline scored his only touchdown of the year with his 47 yards on four catches. Even Davone Bess caught five passes for a season best 92 yards. While Marshall has maintained his value and is on a three game scoring streak, the other two have faded into marginal use with almost no scoring.

Marshall is a must start every week and in New England should be about as good as he gets. Hartline and Bess still remain too risky for fantasy play.

TIGHT ENDS: Anthony Fasano could be a factor this week despite the high ranking that the Pats have against the position. Most teams have it easy enough with wide receivers so that they do not bother with tight ends. But Fasano recorded a season high 82 yards on five catches in their previous meeting and remains at least a small factor every week.

Pregame Notes: The season is shaping up to be another good year for the Patriots who look to be in the driver's seat for the #1 seed in a conference with no dominant team. No one has figured out to stop both tight ends yet and even though the secondary is a collection of mannequins and cardboard cutouts, the Pats are still tied for the second best record in the NFL. Fortunately there are three teams just one game back which makes the Pats need to ensure a win for these next two weeks.

QUARTERBACK: Tom Brady started the year with a monster game of 517 yards and four touchdowns in Miami and while he has scored in all other games, his home stands are less productive. That is attributed in part to a better rushing effort but Brady has not throw for more than two scores in home game since week two. The Pats will want to win this decisively but no need to go nuts like in the season opener. Tom was hit enough last week.

Still have to like the Pats to reach 30+ points and that usually means three scores for Brady.

RUNNING BACKS: The Patriots still employ up to four different runners each week and there is reliable way to forecast who will do what each week. All you can hope for is that BenJarvus Green-Ellis runs in a score which he has done nine times this year and yet he rarely has any notable yardage. Projecting for any of the other runners is just folly. BGE ran for 34 yards and one touchdown in the season opener versus the Dolphins.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Hard to believe that Chad Ochocinco actually scored a touchdown last week for the first time as a Patriot but it was his only catch in the game and he carries no fantasy value. Deion Branch was held out because of his groin and could miss this week as well. He has not produced any significant stats in recent weeks anyway. I'll project for him being limited.

Wes Welker opened the season with eight catches for 160 yards and two touchdowns against the Dolphins but comes off a surprising 41 yards and no scores in Denver. Welker is the only wideout worthy of a fantasy start and should have no worse than a decent game here with the chance for a big effort just in time for fantasy championships.

TIGHT ENDS: The Broncos were able to hold Rob Gronkowski to only 53 yards on four catches but that allowed Aaron Hernandez to explode for 129 yards on nine catches with one score. Sort of pick your poison here until someone figures out how to stop two tight ends. Gronk turned in 86 yards and a score in the season opener while Hernandez caught seven passes for 103 yards and one touchdown versus the Dolphins. Both tight ends are must starts.

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