Matt Schaub, QB, Houston Texans

Week 12 Outlook

Matt Schaub has thrown four of his seven touchdown passes this season to the recently healthy Andre Johnson. If the return of Andre Johnson isn’t enough, factor in that when Schaub throws the ball 30+ times in a game this season he’s generally been in the upper 200’s in passing yards. Houston faces Cleveland in Week 12, who have only faced a QB who threw less than 30 times twice this season, in weeks one and two.

Remaining Season Outlook      

The Texans have followed a promising start with a slide that has found them in the cellar of the AFC South once again. If the Texans are to make the playoffs they will likely do so on the arm and hands of Schaub and Johnson. They face Indianapolis and Jacksonville in the final two weeks of the season, and while they are both above average defenses, they are also division opponents, and those games could have major playoff implications for the Texans.

Long-Term Outlook

The Texans are a growing franchise, and Schaub is certainly “The guy” under center. While Sage Rosenfels has actually outperformed Schaub on the field, Schaub outperforms Sage at the bank, in a league where money talks. Don’t look for John Elway type success in the offense of one of my man-crushes Gary Kubiak, but are Marc Bulger numbers so far out of reach?

Amani Toomer, WR, New York Giants

Week 12 Outlook

Toomer and the Giants face the weak secondary of the Minnesota Vikings. The Purple People Eaters have swallowed the running game this season, but are a poor matchup against the Giants, who have two very well sized WR’s in Toomer and Plaxico Burress. As long as there is enough balls to go around after Burress and Jeremy Shockey have their fill, look for Toomer to have a decent fantasy weekend.

Remaining Season Outlook

Toomer is flanked by two ineffective and injury prone youngsters on the Giants depth chart. If Sinorice Moss builds on his Week 11 success look for Toomer to be phased out of the passing game. The return of Steve Smith (the rookie) could have the same effect. The Giants are essentially locked into a wild card spot, on both ends. Dallas is likely too far ahead, and too good to catch, and the Giants are two games ahead of the nearest, yet not current playoff teams. This should give them the luxury of beginning to integrate their younger players into the offense, which could also help to phase Toomer out as the season shapes itself.

Long-term Outlook

Toomer seems to be ageless, and has seemingly been on the Giants forever. He is in his 12^th year with the team, and was drafted two years before Joe Jurevicius, and his first head coach in New York was Dan Reeves, however, he’s only 33. With the Giants spending high draft picks on receivers in recent years Toomer will likely be phased out for good, or be forced into a 3^rd or 4^th receiver role. If Toomer catches on somewhere else he could have a few more productive seasons but is a poor choice as a keeper.

D.J. Hackett, WR, Seattle Seahawks

Week 12 Outlook

Seattle’s Week 12 opponent, St. Louis, doesn’t as though they have a terrible pass defense on the surface. They give up a little over 210 yards per game, which isn’t terrible, but much like the 2006 Oakland Raiders, the Rams’ defensive numbers are very deceiving. Large, physical receivers have torched the Rams this season. Patrick Crayton, Braylon Edwards, Larry Fitzgerald, and Marquez Colston have combined for 566 yards and 5 touchdowns in their respective games against the Rams, not to mention Steve Smith’s week 1 effort, which netted a 118 yard day with a score, or Will Heller, Seattle’s backup Tight End, who scored twice in the team’s first matchup against the Rams while Hackett was injured.

Remaining Season Outlook

Hackett faces the same problem that guys like David Patten and David Givens faced in New England, ironically the former home of current Seahawks receiver Deion Branch, that problem being “too many mouths to feed.” The Seahawks are stacked with mediocre receivers, Bobby Engram and Nate Burleson are healthy, with Deion Branch winged but looking like he’ll be back to full strength soon. Hackett is a decent 3^rd option as a receiver for the rest of the year, but probably shouldn’t be counted on for much more than that.

Long Term Outlook

Bobby Engram is old, Deion Branch has been a hit and miss proposition, and Nate Burleson will probably be jettisoned to the free agent market, or forced to restructure his contract within the next 18 months. Hackett is the biggest receiver who sees a lot of snaps in Seattle, and barring a major change in Mike Holmgren’s philosophy will probably remain that. The same problem that Hackett faces this season will probably plague him throughout his career, but he’s a decent 3^rd option on a fantasy roster.