10 Telling Tussles

THE TITANS-TEXANS game in Week 14 won't feature many fantasy studs. But when the Bengals visit Indianapolis the following week, every fantasy owner still in contention will have a rooting interest. The point: In the world of fantasy football, some games are much more compelling than others. With just five weeks remaining in the fantasy season, these games loom as the most significant.

WEEK 12

BEARS AT PATRIOTS

Welcome to the Quarterbacks Who Cannot Be Trusted Bowl. The Bears ' Rex Grossman was the biggest fantasy surprise of the first half, but he has cooled quicker than Chicago 's weather. New England 's Tom Brady , meanwhile, has vexed owners with his boom-or-bust performances: He had his second four-TD game in four weeks on Sunday, but in the other two games he threw one TD pass and five interceptions. Given the strength of both pass defenses, the running backs have the best chance of being productive.

Fantasy Forecast
Each team moves the ball well on Gillette 's new FieldTurf , but Pats rookie running back Laurence Maroney comes away as the highest fantasy scorer.

Sleeper Pick
Bears TE Desmond Clark

WEEK 13

COWBOYS AT GIANTS

The first meeting between these NFC East rivals, on Monday night in Week 7, was the game in which Dallas coach Bill Parcells replaced Drew Bledsoe with Tony Romo at quarterback. New York won 36--22, but since then the Cowboys have been a much more productive passing team, averaging 264.5 yards, up from 218.5.

Fantasy Forecast
Romo goes wild against a banged-up Giants defense as Dallas exacts revenge.

Sleeper Pick
Cowboys TE Anthony Fasano

WEEK 14

SAINTS AT COWBOYS

With the additions of free-agent quarterback Drew Brees and rookie receiver Marques Colston out of Hofstra , the New Orleans offense has become the fantasy surprise of the season. But Brees and Colston will face a difficult matchup here--at week's end Dallas had allowed 200.1 yards per game through the air and just nine passing touchdowns--while Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens meets a pass defense that has allowed 20 scores.

Fantasy Forecast
Dallas shuts down Brees and Colston while Owens and running back Julius Jones have a field day.

Sleeper Pick
Cowboys WR Sam Hurd