In Week 16 of the **Home Team Challenge**, the free fantasy football game with great prizes on HoustonTexans.com, the winning player will take home a mini-helmet autographed by Texans linebacker DeMeco Ryans.
Here's my weekly fantasy advice, with a few players I like and a few players I don't.
PRICE IS RIGHT
RB Pierre Thomas, NO, 37 points (@ DET): In the past five games, Thomas has 398 yards rushing, 176 yards receiving, and eight total touchdowns. On top of that, New Orleans just put running back Reggie Bush on injured reserve, so Thomas won't have to split carries with him. He also faces the Lions' rush defense, which is giving up a league-worst 168.7 yards per game on the ground. To say Thomas should have a huge game would be an understatement.
VALUE PICK
RB LaDainian Tomlinson, SD, 47 (@ TB): Everyone knows that Tomlinson hasn't had the season he was expected to have. He's still amassed 924 yards and eight touchdowns this season, though. Tampa Bay has a pretty good defense, but in the past two weeks, the Bucs have been torched for 474 yards on the ground, including 299 yards by the Carolina Panthers two weeks ago on Monday Night Football. A 100-yard game and a touchdown isn't out of the question for Tomlinson.
WR Lance Moore, NO, 32 (@ DET): The ridiculous Saints' passing attack is ranked first in the NFL. Quarterback Drew Brees has thrown for 4,332 yards and 28 touchdowns. Moore has been on the receiving end of 801 of those yards and eight touchdowns. Detroit's 21st-ranked pass defense is giving up 220.9 yards per game and should find the Saints receivers difficult to cover.
NOT WORTH IT
RB Chris Johnson, TEN, 49 (vs. PIT): Johnson has rushed for 1,159 yards and eight touchdowns and was just named to the Pro Bowl as a rookie. But he has to run against the Steelers' second-ranked rush defense this week, which is only giving up 75.8 yards per game to opposing running backs. Johnson could only muster up 65 yards against the Texans' 24th-ranked rush defense last week. This week looks bleak for Johnson.
SLEEPER SPECIAL
WR Braylon Edwards, CLE, 27 (vs. CIN): The Browns are a little dysfunctional at the quarterback position right now, but any time you're going against the Bengals' 22nd-ranked defense, you can have a big game. Edwards has 837 receiving yards and three touchdowns this season, and one of those touchdowns came in his last game against Cincinnati. He had 102 yards on five receptions against a stingy Eagles defense last week.
TEXANS FANTASY STARTER OF THE WEEK
QB Matt Schaub, HOU, 43 (@ OAK): Schaub is hot right now, and I don't see him cooling off in Oakland. Even with a 3-11 record, the Raiders' pass defense is still ranked ninth in the league, giving up only 195.1 yards per game through the air. But in the two games Schaub has played in since his knee injury, he has thrown for 698 yards and three touchdowns. It also helps that he has the best receiver in football to throw to. Schaub helped wideout Andre Johnson set a new personal and team-best mark with 207 receiving yards against the Titans last week.
To register for the Home Team Challenge, click **here**. Make sure to set your lineups by Thu., Dec. 18, at 4:15 pm.
