FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEKLY FEATURES

DET (5-7) vs GB (7-5)

Game Prediction: DET 17, GB 34

This is a rematch of the week six game when the Packers spanked the Lions 38-10. The amusing fact is that the Packers were humiliated by the Titans in week five and took it out on the Lions the next game. The Packers now are coming off an even worse loss this week and could use their Detroit whipping boy.

Pre-Game Notes - DET

The Lions started the season with a surprising defense and a good passing game without a hint of any rushing ability. Now the defense no longer inspires fear and the rushing game is the only offensive aspect that truly works. Imagine if the Lions ever were able to make everything work at the same time.

Yeah, I know. Hard to imagine.

Quarterback: Joey Harrington fared slightly better last week when he threw for 196 yards and one score but still, as always, turned the ball over once. He has lost the ball exactly once on either a fumble or interception in every game this year except one. He only has two touchdowns over the last four games though and has not exceeded 200 yards passing in a month.

Harrington threw for only 101 yards and one score in the last meeting with the Packers. And one interception.

Running Backs: Kevin Jones, like Julius Jones, continues the Jones Rookie Assault on the NFL in the last three weeks. He comes off his best game ever (and best in the NFL last week) with 196 rushing yards on 26 carries and one touchdown. That makes three straight weeks of 99+ yards.

Jones only had two carries for five yards back in week six when he was still injured.

Wide Receivers: Roy Williams comes off his best game in two months with 76 yards on four catches but he has not scored since week seven. Williams missed the previous game against the Packers with his ankle sprain. Az-Zahir Hakim was a big contributor back in weeks eight and nine but has been out injured since with a hip injury. He almost played last week but dislocated a finger in pregame warmups. I'll assume he plays this week but with Hakim, it's too often just something new getting in the way of him playing. Hakim had a touchdown and 49 yards in week six.

Tai Streets caught a touchdown last week, thereby proving he is actually on the roster. His 54 yards against the Cardinals dwarfs everything else he has done this season.

Tight Ends: Stephen Alexander had been a bigger factor in the passing game lately but only had one catch for five yards last week. Tight ends are for blocking when the running back gains 196 yards.

Match Against the Defense: Traveling to Green Bay to face the Packers once again after they lost badly the previous week is likely not a good piece of timing.

Look for the Packers to rise up and play back to the same form that had won them the previous six games - a streak that started with the Detroit win. The running game by Kevin Jones will be the focus but Green Bay has not allowed any runner to exceed 70 yards since week five. Lower your expectations for Jones this week.

The Packers secondary comes off two straight games of allowing 448 and 464 passing yards but the Lions passing attack has struggled to meet 200 yards the last month. Detroit should net one passing score but the yardage should remain average at best.

Pre-Game Notes - GB

After winning six straight games, the Packers were overwhelmed in every facet of the game in Philadelphia last week. They are still tied for the NFC North lead and with three divisional tilts on tap in the next four games, they have to win them all to ensure the title.

Running Backs: Ahman Green was able to play last week by wearing a flak jacket and that was appropriate considering the ambush that awaited the Packers. Green only had 37 yards on 11 carries but should be better this week. He had 81 yards on 23 carries back in week six though he did not score.

Wide Receivers: Javon Walker is rarely good for much yardage in the last five games, but he almost always scores a touchdown even if a trash time score in the final minute. He has ten touchdowns on the season and has scored in eight of the last ten games. Against the Lions in week six, he had only 62 yards and the rare non-scoring game.

Donald Driver was the star in the last meeting with the Lions when he had 110 yards on nine catches with two touchdowns. He remains a more common target for Favre than Walker though he does not score as often.

Robert Ferguson has also been doing more lately. He had three catches for 68 yards last week and has been a legitimate #3 option again for the last three games.

Tight Ends: Bubba Franks turned in his fifth touchdown of the year last Sunday but only had 19 yards and no scores against the Lions earlier this season.

Match Against the Defense: This should be a "get back to scoring" game for the Packers that will be balanced only by the improved rushing game of the Lions.

Expect that Ahman Green has at least a moderate game here but could turn in bigger numbers if the Packers get an early lead and elect to mainly rush. With his ribs still a little tender, that would likely only mean that Davenport gets more carries though.

Favre should be a lock for at least two scores this week and some decent yardage. Look for the normal duo of Walker and Driver to benefit.