Raiders Projections:
Carson Palmer: 235 yards passing, 1 TD
Darren McFadden: Out (foot)
Michael Bush: 100 yards rushing, 1 TD, 30 yards receiving
Denarius Moore: 30 yards receiving (foot)
Darrius Heyward-Bey: 40 yards receiving, 1 TD
Jacoby Ford: Out (ankle)
TJ Houshmandzadeh: 20 yards receiving
Chaz Schilens: 25 yards receiving
Louis Murphy: 10 yards receiving
Kevin Boss: 30 yards receiving
Analysis:
Denarius Moore is expected to return this week versus the Lions. Moore hasn’t played since Week 12 and the Raiders have clearly struggled without him. Moore practice every day this week, if any Raiders wide receiver is likely to produce against the Lions, it will be Moore.
Darren McFadden is not going to play this week, and the current speculation is that the best case scenario he’ll Week 17 return. But playoffs for most leagues will be over and thus McFadden has no more value this season. McFadden hasn’t play in two months. Michael Bush will carry the load the rest of the way.
Chargers Projections:
Philip Rivers: 270 yards passing, 2 TD
Ryan Mathews: 60 yards rushing, 20 yards receiving
Mike Tolbert: 35 yards rushing, 20 yards receiving (questionable, hamstring)
Vincent Jackson: 85 yards receiving, 1 TD (questionable, hamstring)
Malcom Floyd: 40 yards receiving (questionable, hip)
Antonio Gates: 70 yards receiving 1TD (questionable, foot)
Vincent Brown: 25 yards receiving
Analysis:
Ryan Mathews has rushed for 100 or more yards in three straight games, proving himself as one of the best young running backs in the NFL. Mathews rushed 20 times for 114 yards and added six catches for 34 yards in the Chargers win over the Bills. If Mathews wants to extend his streak to four games he’ll have to do it against one of the best defenses in the NFL in the Ravens. We got confidence in Mathews. Start’em if you got him.
Philip Rivers has seven touchdown passes and no picks over the last three weeks. For some owners it might be to late but if somehow, someway you made the playoffs, Rivers is a must start versus the Ravens at home on Sunday Night.
