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Updated: Thu 12/24/2009 9:30 pm
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The Eagles expect to put RB Brian Westbrook back in play Sunday when they host the Broncos.
But is he worth starting? Most fantasy GMs still alive in a playoff format already have the position covered, but there may be a few folks out there desperate for an alternative.
Westbrook has suffered numerous injuries, including consecutive concussions that threatened to end his season. So how much will play? How well will he play?
And if he does play well, how long will he last?
We’re guessing fantasy GMs will use him gingerly, if at all. And yet . . . Westbrook is a big play waiting to happen, especially in that offense.
Eagles coach Andy Reid will still lean on RB LeSean McCoy and FB Leonard Weaver, but he would like to get Westbrook into the attack as the team makes its playoff push.
“I don’t think it’s fair to him to throw him in every snap,” Reid said. “I’m just concerned about him not having played in games, getting up on game speed.”
Here are some other Week 16 fantasy dilemmas:
Will Vikings QB Brett Favre play his best after a week of controversy? Probably, knowing Brett. He is a diva. He knows the world will be watching after his tiff with coach Brad Childress got wide media play. Favre will be in the spotlight at Chicago, so look for him to tear up the dispirited Bears.
“I think the team as well as the coaching staff knows where I stand and what I stand for, as I do them,” Favre told reporters this week, trying to smooth things over. “We’re trying to do this thing together.”
Can Ben Roethlisberger keep up his second-half assault? Perhaps. The Steelers QB has thrown for 398 yards or more three times since midseason. He strafed Green Bay for 503 yards. The Ravens aren’t as tough to throw against with cornerback Lardarius Webb and safety Ed Reed injured.
Has Josh Morgan become a viable WR option? Yes. The 49ers youngster caught seven passes at Philly Sunday. After catching 24 passes in his first 10 games this season, he has caught 22 passes in his last four games. Next up for San Francisco: the woeful Lions defense.
“I think I just got more comfortable with the way he wanted me to be,” Morgan said. “I am held accountable for making plays when I have the ball and when I’m blocking for (Michael) Crabtree or (Vernon) Davis. If I get my assignment wrong, the whole play goes bad.”
Will the Colts rest their big offensive weapons against the Jets? Well, maybe. Indy played to the wire against Jacksonville, but at some point coach Jim Caldwell may put playoff health ahead of his bid to go 16-0.
We’re guessing that QB Peyton Manning, WR Reggie Wayne and the others would like to play this out. “It’s not really set up that way, to lobby,” Manning said. “I don’t think there’s one guy in that locker room that’s going to tell you, ‘No I don’t want to play.’ But we’ve followed his (Caldwell’s) orders all year, and I think that’s a good plan. Those are decisions I don’t have to make and whatever decision he makes, I think will be the right one.”
Will the Patriots RB rotation change this week? Perhaps. RB Fred Taylor told reporters that he had a “50-50” chance of returning to action this week. But he also said he was “questionable” to face his old team. Laurence Maroney has become productive in his absence, so Taylor will be eased back into the offense if and when he plays again.
Who will play quarterback for the Bills? Good question. Starting QB Ryan Fitzpatrick is hobbled by an ankle injury and back-up QB Trent Edwards is out with an ankle injury. That leaves newcomer Brian Brohm taking snaps with the No. 1 unit in practice this week.
Fitzpatrick is making some progress, but much of Fitzpatrick success (such as it has been) is due to his mobility. So WRs Lee Evans and Terrell Owens don’t look like great bets this week.
Have the Panthers turned the page on Jake Delhomme? Definitely so. Carolina put the veteran QB on injured reserve, possibly ending his career with the franchise. QB Matt Moore has started the last three games -- and he threw for 299 yards and three touchdowns against Minnesota to solidify his standing.
QB A.J. Feeley moves up to the No. 2 spot with Delhomme’s demise.
Must you bench WR Percy Harvin became of his migraine headaches? Maybe not. A visit to the Mayo Clinic left him optimistic that he can get this issue under control. He has been missed one game because of the headaches this season and been limited in other tilts.
“Yeah, it’s a relief,” Harvin told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. “Without going into it, we had a great visit and came up with a great plan. I saw great doctors and it should be good from now on. I’m all good.”
