QUARTERBACK
STEVE MCNAIR
Ravens AT Titans
McNair should be pumped to face the franchise he played for during his first 11
NFL seasons. With Brian Billick calling plays the last two weeks, Baltimore
scored 61 points against the Saints and the Bengals, and McNair threw for 404
yards and two touchdowns. The Titans allow nearly two TD passes per game.
JON KITNA
Lions VS. 49ers
With TD tosses in six straight games and at least 250 passing yards in five of
his last six starts, Kitna is becoming a terrific week-to-week play. Last year
against the Niners, current Detroit offensive coordinator Mike Martz's QBs
( Marc Bulger and Jamie Martin) combined for 716 yards and three TDs in two
games.
DREW BREES
Saints AT Steelers
Over his last three games Brees has thrown for nine TDs, the second most
prolific stretch of his career. (He had 10 in three games in 2004.) Expect
Brees, buoyed recently by excellent pass protection, to match Jake Plummer's
Week 9 performance against the Steelers (227 yards and three TD passes).
RUNNING BACK
RONNIE BROWN
Dolphins VS. Chiefs
So good to have you back, Ronnie. Brown thrashed the league's most respected D
for 157 yards last week. It was his second impressive performance in three
games--not bad for a guy who was on the trading block in many leagues. He'll
have an easier go against K.C., against whom he ran for 95 yards and a TD in
'05.
JOSEPH ADDAI
Colts VS. Bills
In the clash with the Patriots last week Addai was called upon 18 times while
his nominal time-sharer, Dominic Rhodes, got four touches. More important,
Addai got the goal line carries, once the exclusive property of Rhodes. The
Colts have shown confidence in Addai, and you should too, especially against
lowly Buffalo.
COREY DILLON
Patriots VS. Jets
Dillon's last two years haven't been his best, but against AFC East--rival New
York he has run for four TDs in the last three meetings. Dillon, who bounced
back from his near-benching against the Vikings in Week 8 with two TDs against
the Colts, is worth gambling on versus the Jets, who rank 30th against the
run.
WIDE RECEIVER
ROY WILLIAMS
Lions VS. 49ers
Williams has either gained 100 yards, caught a TD pass or done both in five of
his last six games. His 89.9 receiving yards per game ranks in the top five
among all wideouts. As for the Niners, until shutting down the Vikings last
week (91 passing yards), they had surrendered 15 passing touchdowns.