Upgrades
All Cardinals: Have you looked at the Cardinals remaining schedule? It's crazy how easy it is. They have four games with league doormats (Rams twice, Lions, Titans) and only one game against an above-average defense (Vikings), but even they can be thrown on (7.7 YPA; only seven teams have allowed more passing TDs). While other teams are struggling in bad weather in the northeast, the Cardinals will be playing their home games in ideal conditions in the desert. Even their road games won't be problematic, as two are in domes and one is in SF. Bump up all Cardinals a notch, particularly running back Chris Wells, who should get more playing time as he continues to learn how to protect Kurt Warner in the passing game.
Shonn Greene, RB, Jets: Eighty percent of fantasy owners asked "Who is Shonn Greene?" after seeing Greene post 144 yards and 2 TDs after Leon Washington broke his leg last week. The rest are experts who've been stashing him on their bench waiting for this moment to arrive. With Washington out for the year, Greene is an injury to 31-year old Thomas Jones from being a top 10 fantasy running back. Even if Jones holds up, Greene is a solid matchup starter running behind a terrific offensive line.
Sidney Rice, WR, Vikings: I upgraded Rice last week, but after watching him torch a terrific Steelers defense last week, let me be even more emphatic.Rice is going to join Marques Colston, Roddy White and Larry Fitzgerald in the Pro Bowl for the NFC.
Vernon Davis, TE, 49ers: This is not a fluke, folks. In his fourth year in the league, Davis is finally showing why he was drafted sixth overall in the 2006 draft. Don't sell high; Davis is better than everyone except the top three (Gates, Gonzalez, and Clark).
Saints D/ST: If you aren't using the Saints defense every week, you should be. They are like a carnival, scoring points in every way imaginable. Darren Sharper, a safety, has three touchdowns all by himself! After Atlanta this week, the Saints have a three-game stretch with the Panthers, Rams, and Bucs. Hop on board before it's too late.
Downgrades
All Redskins: If the Cardinals schedule is a fantasy dream, Washington's is a fantasy nightmare. Only two of the Redskins remaining games look appealing (Raiders, Chargers), and the Chargers game is in Week 17, after most fantasy seasons are over. Clinton Portis, Jason Campbell, and Santana Moss haven't done much up until now, when they were facing winless teams week after week. With a brutal schedule staring them in the face, their prospects look even gloomier. At least they aren't out several weeks with a broken ankle, like Chris Cooley.
Matt Forte, RB, Bears: Forte has been awful all season and his upcoming schedule doesn't bode well for a turnaround. Part of the problem is that Jay Cutler doesn't throw check downs like former Bears quarterback Kyle Orton used to, but the real issue is that Forte just isn't talented enough to be a feature back. If you still own Forte, enjoy his matchup this week with the Browns, then trade him while he still has value. For example, I just unloaded Forte for Anquan Boldin (love that schedule!) and an upgrade at tight end (swapping Jason Witten, who hasn't been used in the red zone, for Tony Gonzalez).
LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, Chargers: Watching the hapless Chiefs hold LT out of the end zone last week, even as the Chargers kept giving him the ball inside the five, was pathetic. I'm not sure which it more closely resembled — Cardinals Emmitt Smith or a high school team doing everything possible to let the water boy score a touchdown, but failing because the water boy is just that bad.
