FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEKLY FEATURES

Prediction: SF 6, DEN 24

The 49ers somehow managed a win in Seattle and yet sandwiched that game with home losses to the Packers and Cardinals. The Broncos clinch a wildcard with a win or a Chiefs loss and playing in Denver this week, it looks like it won't matter what the Chiefs do - these Broncos are heading to the playoffs.

Quarterback: Take away the Seattle game and the 49ers passing attack has been good for only one score - if that - for the last nine weeks. Alex Smith ends with 15 passing scores and two rushing touchdowns which is a major upgrade over 2005 but the second-year player still has far to go to deliver on his high draft selection. The 49ers have done little to upgrade th3e receivers outside of drafting tight end Vernon Davis and now Antonio Bryant is suspended for four games and likely will not be with the team in 2007. Smith has not had a lot to play with this year and his numbers reflect he cannot make something out of nothing.

Running Backs: The lone pleasant surprise this season has been the play of Frank Gore who has scored nine times this year and currently has 1542 rushing yards. He'll almost certainly end up behind only Tomlinson and Larry Johnson in that critical stat and can only get better if the 49ers' passing game improves next year. Gore has run for over 100 yards in eight games this year.

Wide Receivers: Antonio Bryant was suspended for four games and that now means the 49ers are trying to pretend that Arnaz Battle is worthy of being a starter, let alone a #1 wideout. Battle has scored in only two games this year and has never broken the 100 yard mark this season. Bryan Gilmore and Taylor Jacobs have never accounted for more than one catch per game since week one. This unit needs to be the primary focus in the offseason.

Tight Ends: Vernon Davis ends his rookie season with three scores but he only played in eight games and the last three weeks have seen him score twice and turn in a 91 yard game just last week. It is a small beginning but encouraging here at the end of the year.

Match Against the Defense: The Denver rushing defense has been much softer in the final stretch but mostly because the carries per game is up by opponents since the Broncos have no scored much. Look for a solid game here by Gore but not as big as others have managed. Gore does not have the passing game to concern the defense and will get too much attention to break long gainers.

Smith faces an outstanding secondary with Arnaz Battle as his best wideout. Hands off this passing attack and hope that it does not impact the rushing game too much.

Pregame Notes: After starting in week 13, Jay Cutler is now 2-2 as a starter thanks to the Bengal's inability to kick an extra point and the Broncos finally get to host a team that is not an offensive powerhouse. After hosting the Colts, Chargers, Seahawks and Bengals, here's the chance for the team to secure a wildcard spot and look like they did earlier in the year when the defense was holding every opponent to ten points or less. Cutler is playing well and this game should be a tune-up before the playoffs.

Running Backs: The Broncos backfield is ending just as confusing as it started. Now both Bells are sharing almost 50/50 with Mike Bell the preferred runner near the goal line. This all smacks of Jones and Barber in Dallas only without all the touchdowns and more yardage from Tatum who last scored back in week seven.

Wide Receivers: It would be encouraging enough that Cutler has connected with Javon Walker for scores in the last two games but he's also been using Brandon Marshall in equal measure. Marshall has had nine catches for 123 yards in the last two weeks while Walker has turned in eight receptions for 136 yards. Rod Smith is playing out his final games but the Broncos already have his replacement.

Tight Ends: Yet another encouraging development - the rookie Tony Scheffler has come to life with Cutler at the helm and has scored three times in the last three games with more than 50 yards twice.

Match Against the Defense: Denver needs a win to gain that wildcard and the final home game this year should serve up some nice numbers here. The 49ers offense on the road is weak in all facets so expect the standard since Cutler has been the starter - two passing scores that likely favor Walker and Scheffler and yardage by Tatum Bell and a score by Mike Bell.