A defense attorney for the man convicted of killing retired New Orleans Saints star Will Smith in 2016 has told a Louisiana appellate court that his client deserves a new trial Authentic Alex Anzalone Jersey , in part because of evidence that surfaced after trial that he said lends credibility to Cardell Hayes' self-defense assertion.Hayes' appeal attorney, Paul Barker, told three 4th Circuit Court of Appeal judges Wednesday that New Orleans prosecutors failed to disprove that Hayes acted in self-defense. Hayes is serving a 25-year sentence for manslaughter in Smith's death and attempted manslaughter in the wounding of Smith's wife during a confrontation following a traffic collision in April 2016.Hayes insisted at trial that he fired after a drunk, angry Smith retrieved a gun from his car and fired first.Barker said none of a host of witnesses had a clear view of everything that happened amid the tumult following the accident in New Orleans' Lower Garden District.Assistant District Attorney Kyle Daly countered that Hayes was alone among witnesses in saying Smith brandished a gun or fired it. A semi-automatic handgun was found loaded but unused in Smith's car. And while Barker said gunfire residue on Smith's body raises doubt that he never fired, Daly said it was consistent with being shot at close-range with a larger weapon.It was unclear when the three-judge appellate panel would rule.Barker argued that trial judge Camille Buras should have granted a new trial because a witness who contacted the defense a day after Hayes' conviction said he had heard two gun fire from two weapons at the time of the shooting.The witness, military veteran Michael Burnside, delivered rambling and at times profane testimony at a post-trial hearing last year. Daly argued that he wasn't credible. Burnside lived blocks from the shooting scene and, Daly argued, his testimony indicated a series of shots fired at a slower rate than the rapid-fire shooting Hayes had described.Parker also contends the trial judge should have allowed testimony about Smith's 2010 arrest on a domestic abuse charge after former Saint Deuce McAllister spoke of Smith's sterling reputation among his teammates and friends.Smith was arrested outside a southwest Louisiana bar in 2011 on misdemeanor charges of domestic abuse battery and public intoxication. Lafayette Parish prosecutors dropped the charges in 2012 after Smith completed community service and participated in counseling.Daly argued that Buras was right to avoid what would have amounted to a "mini-trial on the Lafayette incident."Smith, a 34-year-old father of three, was a defensive leader on the Saints team that lifted spirits in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. He helped carry the team to a winning season in 2006 and a Super Bowl victory four years later.Hayes was 29 when he was convicted in December 2016. He owned a tow-truck business, had played semi-pro football and is the father of a young son. Fantasy semifinals in Week 15 give greater consequence to unexpected breakouts and duds from stars 鈥?win and you're playing for a title, lose and it's on to 2019.Playing games in mid-December also assures that weather will be a factor for some players in a week where matchups favor quarterbacks. Bad weather brings the potential of heavy workloads for several running backs.START: Jared Goff, QB, Rams: Expect a major reversal of Sunday night fortunes for Goff Limited Khairi Fortt Jersey , who gets an Eagles defense that ranks 30th in net passing yards allowed. After throwing four interceptions in last Sunday's loss at the Bears, Goff will carry many fantasy teams into Week 16 at the expense of Philly's secondary, which gave up 455 yards to Dak Prescott in the overtime loss at the Cowboys.SIT: Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers: Held to under 200 passing yards in three of his last five games, Rodgers must contend with a stifling Bears defense that is third in the league in fewest fantasy points per game allowed to opposing quarterbacks. Rodgers has just one interception this season, but that could easily change against Chicago, which leads the league with 25 interceptions. Fantasy owners who desire to play a meaningful game next week will help their chances by keeping Rodgers benched.START: Doug Martin, RB, Raiders: While his overall numbers are underwhelming, Martin has scored in each of his past three games and is being fed into the buffet that is the Bengals, who are last in fantasy points per game allowed to opposing running backs. Martin has averaged 18 touches per game in the last two weeks and with the temperature expected to be in the upper-30s on Sunday, he should be able to get a steady dose of carries. He's a good RB2/flex option whose value will be stronger in non-PPR formats.SIT: Courtland Sutton, WR, Broncos: A huge flop in Week 14 Michael Hoomanawanui Jersey Salute to Service , Sutton caught two passes for 14 yards against a weak 49ers pass defense. With Emmanuel Sanders out for the rest of the season, the opportunity for Sutton to assert himself as the team's featured receiver is still there, but he's also failed to record more than six targets in all but one game since Denver traded Demaryius Thomas last month. The Browns are 30th in receiving yards allowed yet plugging Sutton into the lineup is a risk not worth taking.START: Josh Reynolds, WR, Rams: Only the Saints allow more fantasy points per game to opposing receivers than the Eagles, which makes Reynolds a great play despite his recent skid. Reynolds has just 55 receiving yards in his last two games but is a must-start against Philadelphia, which is also 31st in receiving yards allowed. Robert Woods will get the bulk of the targets from Goff, yet there will be more than enough opportunities for Reynolds to justify his solid WR2 status.SIT: Marlon Mack, RB, Colts: Although he scored last week, Mack managed just 33 yards on 14 carries against the Texans and faces stiffer competition in the form of a Cowboys defense that has allowed just one rushing touchdown in their last five games, while not conceding more than 70 yards to a running back in the same span. Mack is far removed from the midseason spurt that vaulted him into RB2 territory and is now more of a last-ditch option whose value declines considerably in PPR formats.START: Baker Mayfield, QB, Browns: While the Broncos' pass rush can make life miserable for quarterbacks (40 sacks, tied for fourth) Andrus Peat Jersey , they're also 26th in net passing yards allowed, numbers that play well for Mayfield, who has completed better than 70 percent of his passes in three of his last four games. Denver has allowed an average of 324.5 yards and two touchdown passes in its last six. With Mayfield making a concerted effort to get Jarvis Landry involved, the formula is there for Mayfield to be a sneaky good fantasy option for a team whose normal starter may have an unappealing matchup.SIT: Cameron Brate, TE, Buccaneers: Despite three touchdowns in the last three games, Brate is too red zone dependent to roll the dice on at this late a juncture. The Ravens are third in fewest receiving yards allowed and with Brate a non-factor between the 20s, fantasy owners are best off looking for better streamers at the position.START: D.J. Moore, WR, Panthers: The rookie hasn't pulled in a touchdown pass in his last three games, but Moore has at least eight targets in each of his last four. In what could be an elimination game for Carolina, look for Cam Newton to call upon Moore frequently against a Saints defense that has given up the most fantasy points to opposing wideouts. Moore also averages 12.5 yards per carry and will be good for a jet sweep or two as well.SIT: Robert Foster, WR, Bills: He's become an intriguing fantasy option, having caught 13 passes for 330 yards and a touchdown in his last four games while becoming the deep-ball wideout of choice for Josh Allen. Foster sets up to be the type of fantasy player who comes out of nowhere to produce big numbers Authentic Tyeler Davison Jersey , but Buffalo faces a Detroit defense that is 12th in receiving yards allowed. Deep leaguers can take the risk, but Foster is too much of a penthouse/outhouse proposition for those in more standard leagues.START: David Johnson, RB, Cardinals: It's been more than a month since Johnson scored, but the Falcons and their 26th ranked run defense means taking the plunge on the disappointing Redbird back.SIT: Alshon Jeffrey, WR, Eagles: Yes, Jeffery scored last week, but still hasn't exceeded better than 50 receiving yards since Week 8. With the Eagles committed to getting rookie TE Dallas Goedert into the flow of the offense, the targets will continue to come in a light drizzle for Jeffery. Custom Philadelphia Eagles Jerseys