FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEKLY FEATURES

NYG (5-6) vs WAS (3-8)

Game Prediction: NYG 10, WAS 14

The battle between the new quarterback and the team that cannot score. This screams "bet the under" all over it.

This is a coin flip game and both teams need a win badly. The problem is both offenses play just that - badly.

Pre-Game Notes - NYG

The Giants now have a four game losing streak and have not scored more than 14 points in the last three games. This is not Eli Manning struggling through the learning curve, it's the entire team struggling through Eli Manning's learning curve - with a worsening defense.

Quarterback: After two starts, Eli Manning has one touchdown. He has completed 23 of 58 passes for 310 yards and four interceptions in those two games. The process is painful but necessary and this week. Manning faces one of the very best defenses against quarterbacks in Washington but not to worry - his schedule really lightens up after that with games in Baltimore and then against the Steelers. He didn't want to play in San Diego (8-3) and opted for the 5-6 Giants that have a brutal schedule and a coach that does not like to throw.

Brilliant!

Running Backs: Tiki Barber comes off his eight 100 yard game of the year, gaining 110 yards against the Eagles last week. He's already totaled 1145 rushing yards this season and is the only facet of the offense that matters.

Wide Receivers: In two weeks with Manning, Amani Toomer has three catches for 30 yards. This is marginally better than Ike Hilliard who has four catches but only 28 yards. This is only possible because Hilliard had no catches last week. Fantasy wasteland for the next several weeks if not entire season.

Tight Ends: Jeremy Shockey is the only consistence factor in the passing game but now that means only about 30 or 40 yards per game. He has six scores on the year and the lone touchdown by Manning.

Match Against the Defense: This offense was already bad and with Manning against a tough schedule, the Giants only have 16 points in the last two weeks. The Redskins defense has rarely allowed over 200 passing yards a game and if Manning scores even once it will be a big accomplishment.

Tiki Barber has a decent shot at his ninth 100 yard game of the year but mainly because the Giants will want him to run the entire game. Regardless of the matchups, Barber is a fantasy starter every week. No other Giant player is other than Shockey and those expectations are pretty low now as well.

Pre-Game Notes - WAS

The Redskins have lost their last three games and continue to have - easily - the worst offense in the entire league. Only a decent defense has made it appear that Washington can be competitive. Like the Giants, they are getting sub-par results from their passing game.

Running Backs: For merely $50 million dollars, you too can own an NFL running back that only games 17 yards in a game and sits out the second half. Clinton Portis has spent the last month gently wafting to the bottom. He only had six carries last week and while he had 17 carries against the Eagles, he only gained 37 yards.

HC Joe Gibbs said he expected that Portis would be upset with the lack of use, but for all that money, opting to rely on Ramsey throwing poorly seems questionable, especially since the Redskins have been in almost every game this year thanks to their good defense.

Ladell Betts had 34 yards on eight carries and 35 yards on three catches but Gibbs contends that Portis remains the starter.

Wide Receivers: During the Ramsey weeks, Laveranues Coles has improved but that still only means around 50 yards per game with only one score all season (not from Ramsey either). Rod Gardner used to score the occasional touchdown but not has only around 20 yards per game and no scores in the last four games. There are not enough passing yards nor accurate passes for a Redskins wideout to have any fantasy value.

Tight Ends: The rookie Chris Cooley has caught both of Ramsey's touchdowns during the last three weeks but has not exceeded 31 yards. He remains at least as popular as Coles for a target.

Match Against the Defense: Clinton Portis has a chance for a nice game this week if he just gets the carries (and the blocking). The Giants defense has been torn up by injuries lately and have allowed nine scores to running backs over the last six weeks. If Portis fails here, he should just pack it in.

The Giants pass defense is nothing special but neither is Patrick Ramsey. Expect more of the same you want to avoid.