Monday night football offers the chance for fantasy owners to collect crucial last-minute points that could be the difference from winning and losing in the playoffs. With just two weeks left and championship seasons on the line, here is a look at tonight's matchup between the New York Jets and the Tennessee Titans.
The Jets have a ton riding on the game, since they are technically still alive for the playoffs. They will need some help from other teams and a win on Monday to stay in it, while the Titans are just playing for pride at this point with a 4-9 record.
Scoring for this article is based on a Yahoo fantasy league with one point per reception, one point for every 30 passing yards, one point for 10 rushing yards, one point for 10 receiving yards and six points per touchdown. Here is look at the top fantasy performers from Week 15.
QUARTERBACK
Jake Locker, Tennessee Titans
Locker has been inconsistent as a fantasy option this season and is a weak start against a Jets defense that allows the sixth-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks. He has been better over the past few weeks, posting four straight double-digit fantasy games, but has only thrown nine touchdowns this season.
Last week Locker has a solid game against the Colts, passing for 262 yards and one touchdown, but he had two interceptions while posting 14.83 points. Locker could be a good option on Monday night in deeper leagues because he is playing at home and Chris Johnson will be healthy for the game, allowing him to open things up with play-action.
Locker has dealt with injuries this year and has played in just eight games, including the Titans' last win over Miami 37-3. He had only 122 yards passing in that game, but threw for two touchdowns and zero interceptions. His worst game of the season came against the Texans two weeks ago when he threw three interceptions.
Mark Sanchez, New York Jets
Sanchez has not been a valuable fantasy player this year, but might put up some surprising numbers against the Titans. He is not expected to have a great game, but the addition of wide receiver Braylon Edwards, who was cut from the Seahawks last week, should provide another weapon for Sanchez to use.
The fourth-year quarterback has regressed this season and was benched two weeks ago during New York's 7-6 win over the Cardinals. Over the past two weeks, Sanchez has posted 3.8- points and negative 2.57 points after throwing for three interceptions and zero touchdowns.
Tennessee gives up the ninth most fantasy points to quarterbacks, so Sanchez could be in line for a solid night, but that also depends on the running game. If the defense focuses in on Sanchez, he will be pressured all night and will not be able to have time to throw.
Things might be looking up for Sanchez though, as he has is second in the AFC with a 65.6 completion percentage over the past four games. While he has only posted 115 fantasy points this season, this could be a game where he breaks out, but that largely depends on how healthy his receivers and running backs are on Monday night. Head coach Rex Ryan will have him on a short leash no matter what.
RUNNING BACK
Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans
Johnson has been a top-15 fantasy running back this season, but he was drafted with owners looking at him as a top-five scorer. He has been much better in the second half of the season, posting double-digit fantasy points in four of the last six games.
Over his past two games he has put up just nine and eight points, but he faces a Jets team this week that is ranked 29th in rushing defense and gives up the 11th-most fantasy points to running backs. Over the past five weeks the Jets have been even worse than that and will have a tough matchup with the speedy and strong Johnson.
The fifth-year running back has rushed for 1,037 yards and four touchdowns this season, but hasn't scored a touchdown since a 37-3 win over Miami on Nov. 11. That was the last time the Titans won and since then he has gained 80, 51 and 44 rushing yards. He should have a big game against a weak Jets defense that allows over 130 yards per game.
Johnson posted back-to-back 20 points fantasy games against Miami and Chicago and also has a season-high 32 points after rushing for 195 yards and two touchdowns against the Buffalo Bills in a 35-34 win.
Shonn Greene, New York Jets
Greene, like most other offensive Jets, has been a disappointment this season. The Jets preached that they would be a "ground and pound" team this year, but it simply has not happened. Greene has rushed for just 883 yards and six touchdowns this year and has posted 143 fantasy points.
Over the past two weeks Greene has posted double-digit fantasy points and faces a favorable matchup in the Titans, who are giving up the second-most fantasy points to running backs this season. Last week he posted 13 points while rushing for 77 yards and scoring one touchdown.
Greene snapped a four game streak with no touchdowns after having three against the Colts on Oct. 14. The running back posted a season-high 34 points in that game, but has yet to reach 20 points in any other contest. He could be poised for a breakout game tonight.
Other notables:
-Kendall Wright, WR, Tennesse Titans
-Braylon Edwards, WR, New York Jets
-Jeremy Kerley, WR, New York Jets
-Bilal Powell, RB, New York Jets
