BRADSHAW JAWING

TREND

The Damage: Although Brandon Jacobs is still starting for the New York Giants and has split the backfield touches almost evenly with Ahmad Bradshaw in recent weeks, Bradshaw has topped him in fantasy scoring two games in a row. In Week 14 against the Philadelphia Eagles, Jacobs racked up 69 total yards, one catch and one rushing touchdown on 17 touches, while Bradshaw compiled 101 total yards, four receptions and one rushing score on 18 touches. Facing the Washington Redskins on Monday Night Football in Week 15, Jacobs touched the ball 17 times, amassing 54 total yards and one reception without scoring. Bradshaw, meanwhile, compiled 89 total yards, three receptions and two rushing touchdowns on just 13 touches.

The Diagnosis: If you own the Jacobs/Bradshaw combo, Bradshaw is one that you should be starting. The Giants have morphed into a passing team, and Bradshaw's big-play ability and receiving skills make him a better fit for the offense. Jacobs is not running as hard as he did last season -- the Giants' run-blocking has left something to be desired this year; the fifth-year pro's fantasy value has become heavily dependent on touchdowns. Bradshaw has a decent Week 16 matchup against a Carolina Panthers defense that has been soft against the run -- aside from a strong showing against Adrian Peterson this past Sunday. If you need Bradshaw in Week 17, he will face a Vikings defense that suddenly looks shaky.

SAN FRANCISCO SURPRISE

TREND

The Damage: Two weeks ago, I blasted the San Francisco 49ers for throwing the ball a shocking 75 percent of the time from Week 11 through Week 13, which had relegated Frank Gore -- the team's best offensive player -- to a minor role (average of 15 touches per game). However, things have changed. Facing the Arizona Cardinals in front of a national television audience in Week 14, Gore carried 25 times for 167 yards and one touchdown, and caught two balls for 10 yards. In Week 15, he played solidly on the road against a tough Philadelphia Eagles defense, racking up 107 rushing yards on 16 carries and catching three passes for 19 yards.

The Diagnosis: Gore has a tough time running out of the spread formation, which the team had used frequently to provide a comfort zone for Alex Smith. Nevertheless, the light must have come for one of the 49ers coaches after watching Gore pound out that huge game against the Cardinals. With Gore apparently serving as one of the main cogs in the offense again, he should amass some huge numbers against a porous Detroit Lions defense (Week 16) and against the soft St. Louis Rams defense (Week 17).

FULL SPEED A-HENNE

TREND

The Damage: The Miami Dolphins' famed Wildcat offense all but disappeared shortly after Ronnie Brown (knee) was lost for the season. During the last few weeks, the team has chosen to run a pro-style offensive scheme most of the time, which is similar to the one that Chad Henne successfully directed as a four-year starter at Michigan. This past Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, Henne went 29/46 for a career-best 349 yards and one touchdown along with three interceptions. Since Week 13, Henne has topped the 300-yard passing mark two times, averaging 42.33 attempts, 301.33 passing yards, 1.0 touchdown passes and 1.67 picks per outing. He also has notched a rushing touchdown.

The Diagnosis: Miami's defense has been struggling to hold leads, and Ricky Williams is showing signs of wear and tear, so you should expect Henne to keep putting it up. No, I would not expect you to start Henne in your big-cash fantasy bowl. However, if you are in a quarterback-heavy league, a deep league or even a toilet bowl and don't like your options, check and see if Henne is available in your free-agent pool. His last two games of the regular season are at home (hint: warm weather) against the soft defenses of the Houston Texans (Week 16) and the Pittsburgh Steelers (Week 17).

TROUBLE IN FAVRE-LAND?

TRAP

The Damage: Favre's fantasy production has fallen off a cliff during the last two weeks. During an ugly Week 15 loss to the Carolina Panthers, Favre went 17/27 for 224 yards with one interception, and it was only the second game this season in which he did not throw a touchdown pass. Since Week 14, Favre has averaged just 208.0 passing yards and 0.5 touchdown passes per game, which is probably why his owners are having flashbacks to Favre's December 2008 collapse with the New York Jets. We also learned that Favre and Brad Childress had a heated sideline conversation when Childress unsuccessfully attempted to pull the 40-year-old Favre out of the Carolina game when the Vikings were leading 7-6. Will this lead to a divided locker room? Will Favre's play suffer further?

The Diagnosis: Do not even think about benching Favre. You can blame his poor stats during the last two weeks on the matchups. In Week 14, Favre faced a rock-solid Cincinnati Bengals defense. With a national television audience watching in Week 15, he battled an otherwise mediocre Panthers defensive unit that played one of its best games of the season. As for Week 16, Favre will take on a sagging Chicago Bears defense that just yielded a career passing day to Joe Flacco. Back in Week 12, Favre torched the Bears for 392 yards and three touchdown passes. A win over the skidding "Monsters of the Midway" should make everyone in Vikings Land -- Favre and Childress included -- happy again.

WAYNE'S WORLD

 

TOSSUP

The Damage: The big question... Should you bench Reggie Wayne against New York Jets cover corner extraordinaire Darrelle Revis? The third-year pro has successfully shutdown all the stud receivers that he has faced this season, including Randy Moss (4-24-0, 5-34-1), Andre Johnson (4-35-0), Steve Smith (Car) (1-5-0), Marques Colston (2-33-0) and Roddy White (4-33-0). Wayne's fantasy production also has been more miss than hit during the last four weeks. If you disregard his five receptions for 132 yards and one touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars last Thursday, he has averaged just 3.67 catches, 38.33 receiving yards and 0.33 touchdowns per game in three outings. In addition, the Colts already have locked up home-field advantage throughout the playoffs and having nothing to play for this week, so Wayne may not be on the field for all four quarters.

 
The Diagnosis: This is a tricky situation. If you receive definitive information that Wayne will not play the entire Jets game, you of course bench him. I do not think he will amass many fantasy points against Revis during shortened playing time. If you find out that Wayne will play the entire contest, here is what I would do: bench him if you have a solid option that will produce double-digit fantasy points. Otherwise, roll with Wayne and pray.

MORE MOORE?

 

TOSSUP

The Damage: Steve Smith and young backup quarterback Matt Moore have been gradually improving their on-the-field chemistry -- especially on deep balls -- since Moore became Carolina's starter. Things came together in Week 15 against the Minnesota Vikings with the duo hooking up on long passes of 45 yards and 42 yards. Smith finished the game with a season-best nine catches for 157 yards, along with the one touchdown. The nine-year pro has topped the 80-yard receiving mark in three straight games and has scored in two of his last three contests.

 
The Diagnosis: Will we see Smith and Moore hook up on more long passes this week against what we had thought was a leaky, banged up New York Giants secondary? This is suddenly a tricky call. Two weeks ago, Donovan McNabb torched Big Blue for 275 yards and two scores. However, this past Monday night, a Giants defense that played with a sense of urgency harassed the red-hot Jason Campbell non-stop, sacking him five times and intercepting him twice. Campbell managed to throw for just 192 yards and one touchdown. Which New York defense will show up this week to play Smith and Moore? I suspect it will be the one that made life miserable for Campbell, but don't be surprised if this combination still manages a couple of big plays in garbage time.