Fantasy Football: Indianapolis Colts Vs. Oakland Raiders

For many of you out there, Week 16 is championship game week. Lots of leagues have moved to the final game being the fifteenth or sixteenth week of the season for fear that teams who have locked up their seeding in the playoffs will rest starters in the final week of the season (as the Indianapolis Colts famously did in Weeks 16 and 17 last year).

This year, the Colts are most certainly not undefeated heading into the second-to-last game of the 2010 NFL regular season. Unlike the past seven years, Indy is fighting for its playoff life this late in December. At 8-6, they sit atop the AFC South, but their perch is wobbly. Right behind them are the Jacksonville Jaguars, the team that just lost to the Indianapolis Colts last Sunday.

For Indy to be guaranteed a playoff birth, they must win out in their final two regular season games. Even if the Colts win and the Jaguars lose this Sunday, Indy is still not awarded a playoff spot. So, if you are involved in a championship game this week or next, going with Colts players is a safe bet.

Some players to consider:

• Donald Brown: He just ran for 129 yards and a touchdown last week. The Raiders spot the NFL's 26th ranked rushing defense, surrendering an average of 130 yards a game.
• Javarris James: He is Indy's goal-line back with Mike Hart out. 'Baby J,' as he is called by his famous cousin Edgerrin James, is tied with LaGarrette Blount of the Buccaneers for the lead in NFL rookie back rushing TDs with 6.
• Pierre Garcon: He started the season very poorly, but in the last three weeks he has 19 receptions for 193 yards and 3 TDs. He is also Indy's only deep threat.

Players you might want to avoid:

• Austin Collie: He sustained another concussion this past Sunday. While nothing is official yet, Stampede Blue is reporting the Colts have placed Collie on IR.
• Reggie Wayne: Wayne certainly piles up the yardage (240 yards in three weeks), but he has only one TD during that stretch. With the Raiders corner Nnamdi Asomugha shadowing Wayne all game, it might be wise to sit the prolific Colts receiver.
• Joseph Addai: He hasn't played since injured his shoulder against the Redskins back in Week 6. That's two whole months of nothing. The Colts might be holding Addai back for a possible run in the playoffs.