FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEKLY FEATURES

BUF (8-6) vs SF (2-12)

Game Prediction: BUF 24, SF 13

Here's a study in contrasts. The 49ers are wrapping up what will be a tie for the worst season in franchise history while the Bills have won their last five games and have been one of the best teams in the NFL over the last half of the season.

Update: Rashaun Woods is expected to get some playing time this week as a precursor to how he may be used next season. I am removing Conway and substituting Woods.

Pre-Game Notes - BUF

The Bills will likely take a big hit with McGahee hobbled but seriously - that defense against the 49ers? The offense may not need to score any points for the Bills to win here.

Running Backs: Willis McGahee has a hyper-extension of his right knee and won't be playing at least this week. Shaud Williams will likely take the start this week after gaining 72 yards on 24 carries over the last two weeks. Could be an interesting waiver wire pickup if you are absolutely out of options but the 49ers typically lose by the pass anyway.

There's some talk about trying to rush Travis Henry back in but it's likely still too early. I won't consider him for now.

Wide Receivers: Eric Moulds still commands the double coverage but there seems to be less reason why each week. Moulds has only scored once in his last seven games. Lee Evans is on a tear now, with touchdowns in each of his last four games and though Bledsoe only had 183 passing yards last week, Evans snagged 101 of them.

Tight Ends: Not much here other than Tim Euhus occasionally sneaking in a score. The loss of Mark Campbell this season has left the tight ends mostly blocking.

Match Against the Defense: While McGahee would have turned in a nice game here, expect that Shaud Williams only manages a moderate game against a defense that has been at least adequate against most rushers. The 49ers are soft against the pass and that should yield some nice numbers for the only three players that really matter - Bledsoe, Evans and Moulds who all have a great chance for a nice game here.

The 49ers are playing in their final home game but that is no major motivation. There is no guarantee any of them will be back next year.

Pre-Game Notes - SF

The 49ers are 2-12 and with the Bills and Patriots up next, that's likely as good as it is going to get.

Running Backs: Maurice Hicks only gained 37 yards on 11 carries against the Redskins which was roughly equal to the 18 yards that Kevan Barlow gained on six runs last week. The 49er rushing game needs a soft opponent before anything good happens and with the Bills bringing one of the toughest rush defenses to town this week, there's little chance that the 49ers will be running well.

Barlow has been named as the starter this week and Hicks will be backing him up.

Wide Receivers: Brandon Lloyd rarely gets much yardage - his 51 yards last week was well above his average with Dorsey as quarterback. But he has scored in both of the last two games and was joined by Curtis Conway in the Redskins game. Conway had his first touchdown in the last four weeks and only had one catch for five yards in the three previous games. Cedrick Wilson may have been the big scorer in week 14 in Arizona with two touchdowns and 83 yards but he only had three receptions for 40 yards last week which is much closer to what he normally does (which includes two games with no catches).

Tight Ends: The biggest positive from the game last week was that Eric Johnson had eight catches for 73 yards - easily his best game since week five when he led the NFL with 162 yards on 13 catches. He had topped 60 yards only once in the last eight weeks.

Match Against the Defense: Barlow could have timed getting the starting nod back better with BUF and NE left to play. Expect that Barlow struggles because he always does against even average defenses.

Dorsey was actually much improved against the Redskins last week but he'll be hard pressed to match even those numbers (206 yards, 2 scores). The Bills have allowed more than one passing score in only three games all year and the biggest hope that the 49ers have is that the Bills try to overlook this game with the Steelers left in week 17.

Buffalo has featured a solid secondary and has allowed only two 100 yard games all year to wideouts. Don't expect much here but there should be one passing score and that favors Lloyd the most.