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Each week, Tristan H. Cockcroft offers his strategies for the Gridiron Challenge game. Look for his best and worst matchups every Thursday.

Lee Evans, WR, Bills (@CLE, 4.5 price tag): In an otherwise lost season for Evans, he has still, on occasion, flashed his big-play potential, such as in Week 13, when his two catches went for touchdowns and 79 yards total. Now he battles the Browns, who have allowed a league-high 27 passing touchdowns and rank 30th against the pass (259.2 ypg). Evans finished 2006 strong, so there's no reason he can't do it this year, too.

Ryan Grant, RB, Packers (@STL, 5.8): Among guys who entered 2007 as no-names, you can't get more automatic a weekly fantasy choice right now than Grant. He has averaged 111.6 rushing yards per game, 5.4 yards per carry and has five touchdowns the past five weeks, serving as a must-start No. 1 fantasy option. He'll be in that class yet again Sunday, battling a Rams team that ranks 21st against the run (115.7 ypg).

Greg Jennings, WR, Packers (@STL, 5.9): He has eight touchdowns in his past seven games, averaging 14.9 fantasy points during that span, effectively slotting in as a No. 1 receiver statistically speaking. Plus, the most recent time these teams faced, in Week 5 of the 2006 season, Jennings had five catches for 105 yards and a touchdown.

Jamal Lewis, RB, Browns (BUF, 6.0): He has seven touchdowns in his past six games and has averaged 101.5 rushing yards per game and 4.6 yards per carry the past four weeks, ranking among the hottest running backs in the NFL. Again, ride that streak as his price tag continues to increase, as the Bills have been routed on the ground the past five weeks, allowing nine touchdowns and 107.8 yards per contest during that span.

Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings (CHI, 5.9): If you're worried about his three total yards from Week 14 or the fact that the Bears are sometimes regarded as an elite run defense, don't be, not in either case. The most recent time these teams battled, Peterson ran "All Day" against Chicago, for 224 yards and three scores on 20 carries. He's a game-changing talent and hardly the kind of player likely to be held quiet in consecutive weeks.

Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers (DET, 6.7): He has averaged 235.8 passing yards with seven touchdowns the past four weeks, registering at least 13 fantasy points in three of those contests. That's not a bad recent performance, and this matchup represents a much better one than any of those four; the Lions have allowed 280.8 passing yards per game with 12 passing touchdowns the past five weeks. Both numbers are league worsts.

Kurt Warner, QB, Cardinals (@NO, 6.7): The Kurt Warner of old is apparently back. It's remarkable considering his receivers, Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald, have been banged up or sidelined entirely in recent weeks. In his past seven games, Warner has averaged 37 pass attempts and 273.4 passing yards with 14 touchdowns. Granted, he has 13 interceptions during that span, but in a matchup against the Saints, ranked 29th against the pass (252.3 ypg), he should offer you more success than mistakes.

Chris Chambers, WR, Chargers (DET, 4.0 price tag): If Rivers is a fantasy standout accounting for the matchup, so then should be his No. 2 receiving target (after Antonio Gates). Teams can and do throw all day against the Lions, and Chambers does have 43 targets the past six weeks; that's a healthy enough total to capitalize on this matchup.

Owen Daniels, TE, Texans (DEN, 3.6): The Texans do incorporate him in their pass attack, handing him 79 targets, eighth-most among tight ends and nearly 20 percent of the team's entire total. Daniels' main drawback is that he's not a red-zone option, though a guy like this, facing a matchup like this, could catch enough balls to be of help. Denver, after all, allows the most fantasy points to tight ends of anyone (9.0 per game).

Kolby Smith, RB, Chiefs (TEN, 4.2): Like Peterson, Smith is coming off a dreadful Week 14, rushing 13 times for 12 yards against the Broncos. Still, the matchup plays rather well to a rebound from the rookie. The Titans, after all, have allowed 149.4 rushing yards per game the past five weeks, second-worst in the NFL, and nine rushing touchdowns, tied for the most during that span. I'm expecting Smith to bounce back in a big way.

Laveranues Coles, WR, Jets (@NE, 4.6 price tag): His ankle remains an issue, and he has an underwhelming 13 catches for 173 yards and no scores in his past three games. Coles will do everything he can to give it a go in such an important game, but the Patriots have the strength in the secondary to contain a limited receiver like this.

Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jaguars (@PIT, 5.4): That he has three touchdowns in his past four games might hide the fact that Jones-Drew hasn't been performing particularly effectively during that span, averaging 2.8 yards per carry. Fred Taylor, meanwhile, has strung together three straight 100-yard rushing efforts. Pittsburgh's defense ranks second in the league against the run (72.6 ypg), and hasn't allowed a touchdown since Week 9.

Jon Kitna, QB, Lions (@SD, 6.6): He's still airing it out regularly, averaging 39.8 pass attempts the past five weeks, but totaling five touchdowns compared to six interceptions during that span. Now he battles the Chargers, the league leader in interceptions (22) for the season and ranked third in sacks (16) the past five weeks. Kitna might throw for a decent yardage total, but if he's not picked multiple times, I'd be surprised.

Donovan McNabb, QB, Eagles (@DAL, 6.6): He has but three "solid" fantasy efforts all season, the two four-touchdown performances, one against the Lions, one against the Redskins, and that 333-yard, one-touchdown game against the Vikings. In other words, he's a matchups quarterback, and if that's the case, this one is one to avoid. The Cowboys allow the league's third-lowest quarterback rating (73.2).

Adrian Peterson, RB, Bears (@MIN, 3.6): In the "Battle of Adrian Petersons," the Bears A.P. is the one to avoid. He has averaged 2.6 yards per carry in his three starts, and now he gets a road game against the league's No. 1 run defense (70.7 ypg). As a team, the Bears have averaged 72.3 rushing yards with one score in these teams' past three meetings.

Steve Smith, WR, Panthers (SEA, 4.8): The mess that is Carolina's quarterbacking situation is killing Smith's fantasy value; he hasn't had a truly productive game since before the Week 7 bye. In six games since he has totaled 30 receptions for 249 yards and no scores, and that's with a healthy 60 targets to boot. Seattle found a way to contain Smith in his prime during the 2005 playoffs, and their red-hot defense should do it again here.

Roddy White, WR, Falcons (@TB, 5.0): When White faced the Buccaneers in Week 11, they were one of the few teams all year to keep him in check, limiting him to four catches for a season-low 28 receiving yards. These Bucs rank fourth in the league against the pass (185.8 ypg), so expect another quiet day from White and the Falcons.

They rank among the 10 most expensive at their respective positions, and the matchup dictates you'd be better off spending the money elsewhere.

Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers (JAC, 7.6 price tag): The two most recent times the Steelers played at home, they played on less-than-favorable field conditions, and sure enough, the weather in Pittsburgh this weekend calls for snow and rain. That's enough of a worry that Roethlisberger could be limited statistically yet again, especially since the Jaguars have more interceptions (8) than passing touchdowns allowed (7) the past five weeks.

Their matchups might not look good, but you shouldn't be worried.

Steven Jackson, RB, Rams (GB, 6.4 price tag): Green Bay's run defense is one of the better units in the league, allowing four touchdowns all season, but don't let that worry you with regard to Jackson. For one thing, he has rushed for at least 90 yards in each of the past four weeks, and topped 100 total yards in each of the past two. For another, it's a home game for the Rams, and as we know, the Rams usually play better in the dome.

Andre Johnson, WR, Texans (DEN, 6.3): Champ Bailey and Dre' Bly present a challenge for Johnson, but when you're as productive a receiver as him, one or two big plays can often be enough to mean a worthwhile fantasy performance. Johnson has four 100-yard receiving efforts and six touchdowns in six games this season, and those Broncos corners, after all, have been beaten for 21 passing scores in 13 games all year.

Week 14 Recap: Drew Brees, Ryan Grant, Jamal Lewis and the Jaguars defense were each good for 20-plus fantasy points apiece, though Carson Palmer was a real letdown against the Rams, totaling a mere seven. With Brees, Grant and Lewis facing more favorable matchups and continuing to see their prices increase, I see a lot more repeat business. Score: 120 points in Week 14, 1,446 points for the season (68.8 percent).

QB2: Kurt Warner, Cardinals (@NO, 6.7 price tag)
QB1: Drew Brees, Saints (ARI, 7.9)
RB1: Ryan Grant, Packers (@STL, 5.8)
RB2: Jamal Lewis, Browns (BUF, 6.0)
WR1: Brandon Marshall, Broncos (@HOU, 5.2)
WR2: Lee Evans, Bills (@CLE, 4.5)
TE: Kellen Winslow, Browns (BUF, 4.7)
K: Phil Dawson, Browns (BUF, 4.2)
D/ST: Seattle Seahawks (@CAR, 5.8)

Tristan H. Cockcroft covers fantasy sports for ESPN.com. You can e-mail him here.