Pick-ups

Well if your league is like mine then you are entering the last week before the playoffs start this week!  Time to earn your week 14 bye or solidify your playoff spot.  At this point in the season Weekly additions are hard to come by and typically injury related.  So lets use this chance to cover all eventualities that could hurt you down the stretch!  Some of these pick-ups will be all wrong for your team and are not a concern, but if you have a roster spot up in the air due to concussions… (who doesn’t… honestly!) then having one of these players may pull you out of a tough jam!  This week I will be going by position and talking about the most likely available people at each spot.

QB

Alex Smith (SF) – This QB was expected by most to be inside the top 10 Sunday with a very good match-up against Jacksonville.  If you are among the people nervous about the Warner or Roethlisberger injuries then Smith can provide relief.  Apart from a 2 point flop against Chicago, Smith has provided double digit fantasy points in each game he appeared (including his second half against Houston).

Ryan Fitzpatrick (BUF) – This is a big stretch, but there are leagues out there that start two QBs and have 12 or 14 teams, given the injuries and uncertainties in some of the NFL franchises you can do worse than Fitz.  Given that Brady and Brees haven’t played yet this week Ryan Fitzpatrick sits at number 3 among all fantasy QBs (as always based on ESPN standard scoring) and he played a very solid Dolphins defense.  This team is on a bit of a turn around at the moment, and in a fantasy perspective this guy out performed almost everyone… including both Manning’s, Schaub, Rivers, Romo, and McNabb!

Vince Young (TEN) – His style has never been effective in translating to fantasy productivity, and I do not see anything changing.  From a real perspective Young looks polished, disciplined, and like a leader as the Titans needed!  You shouldn’t ever need Young to break 20 points but you can rely on double digits from how it looks.

RB

Three of the top four RBs in fantasy football this week were at the beginning of the season were virtually nobodies!

Justin Forsett (SEA) – This guy has been on add lists all over the place including my own, and for good reason.  Number one fantasy back honors for week 12 against a phenomenal match-up Sunday vs the Rams.  If your league managers have been in a closet for three weeks it’s not too late, grab him now!

Fred Jackson (BUF,)  -  Being in Buffalo I have heard a lot about the Jackson Lynch time-share today and it is going flip what we have been expecting and seeing since the duo got together.  Jackson is expected to become the starting back and Lynch will be a compliment to him.  Fewell has this team believing in itself and on a short week Jackson is a solid RB2 down the stretch assuming the Bills stay on this path!

Jamaal Charles (KC) – Again, If your fellow managers have been living under a rock don’t think it’s too late this guy is on the rise!

Lex Hilliard (MIA) – Williams had another very good game this week in a tough loss to the Bills, but he is 32 and cannot handle the workload Ronnie Brown had, Hilliard has been productive when he gets carries which will be increasing all the rest of the season.

Jason Snelling and Jerious Noorwood (ATL) – Turner owners are at a loss for words after he re-injured his ankle after the surprising and stupid decision to test the ankle so soon.

WR

Jason Avant (PHI) – DeSean Jackson has a concussion and owners should expect a week or two off, Avant is a great addition to any team that needs help these weeks, but especially to those of you who lost Jackson!

Kenny Britt (TEN) – This team is scary good since Young started taking snaps and everyone is benefiting greatly, Britt becomes a decent flex or WR3 choice from here on out.

Antonio Bryant (TB) – 91 yards and a TD Sunday and because of his injury he is available in over 50% of Yahoo! leagues.

Chris Chambers (KC) – If you were skeptical before you really can’t be any more…

TE

I heartily recommend that owners ignore stats other than fantasy points allowed to tight ends.  They require the defender to have a unique skill set to cover in the passing game, only certain teams have players capable of keeping a TE consistently covered.  And also many times a team’s offensive success HURTS the tight end as if the receivers are getting open deep the check down is not used.

Fred Davis (WAS) – Davis broke double digit points this week with a TD catch and is available in 87% of leagues.  Been some injuries at the position this season and there is no reason to keep adding and dropping based on match-ups.

Bo Scaife (TEN) – Again, this team is on the swing, and Scaife’s targets will be up.

Dump List!

Hester, Moats, Lynch, Julius Jones, Westbrook, Bowe, McGahee (still owned in over 50% of Yahoo! leagues… I can’t believe that!)

Good Luck making the last minute playoff push! Remember, you can submit questions to me on twitter by following me (see the link above!) and get answers right away as well as featured in my weekly mailbag post!

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Matt Ryan hurt his foot while being sacked in the first half on Sunday.  He looked very unsteady on his feet on the sideline and went back to the locker room, I have heard nothing on his return as of yet.

Adrian Peterson is officially active for the Vikings late game today.

Kurt Warner is officially listed as inactive

DeSean Jackson was hurt on a 6 yard grab early in the 2nd half.  His return is probable.

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“Uh-oh. Kurt Warner woke up with sore neck and Cardinals now proceeding as if Matt Leinart will start. Source also said Warner could play.”

“So more and more, Warner looks like he is following the same path that Ben Roethlisberger did this week — to the bench to rest.”

This was just tweeted by Adam Schefter now!

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EARLY GAMES!
Laveranues Coles, WR, CIN: Active

Steven Jackson, RB, STL: Active

Julius Jones, RB, SEA: Inactive

Steve Smith, WR, CAR: Active

Jonathan Stewart, RB, CAR: Active

Michael Turner, RB, ATL: Active

Cedric Benson, RB, CIN: Inactive

Late Games

Adrian Peterson, RB, MIN  (Illness related if you are confused! He is listed as questionable…. but they are saying he’ll be a go!)

Kurt Warner, QB, ARI  unlikely to play!

Night Game

Ben Roethlisberger, QB, PIT Inactive

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Welcome back from the Holiday to Week 12! I hope you enjoyed the time with your family as much as I did, Noon injury update to follow soon.  Doing a Q&A on Yahoo! this morning check it out!:

http://messages.fantasysports.yahoo.com/Fantasy_Sports/Football/threadview?m=tm&bn=fan-whotostart&tid=832129&mid=832129&tof=1&frt=2

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Love

The Seahawks! – against the Rams, who love to give up big points to the passing game.  Forsett will have a huge game too!

Jason Snelling – he is no Michael Tuner, but he’ll do! ESPN is projecting 123 yards and two TD’s I won’t go that far but I wouldn’t be surprised if he did it!

Marion Barber – Raiders are terrible and Barber will be the workhorse to get this offense back on track.

Michael Crabtree – Look at what Ryan Fitzpatrick was able to do to this Jaguars defense.  I expect Crabtree’s second consecutive game with a TD.

Cedric Benson and Chad Ochocinco – Two studs at their position against a team that let the Lions score at will, gotta like the odds!

LeSean McCoy – He looked great last week and should have a monster game versus a soft run D that is also the top passing D.

Ricky Williams – Bills did contain MJD pretty well last week but that is the only back all season that they can say that about.  Trust the history more than the single performance! (for all Bills players!)

Brandon Jacobs – Ahmad Bradshaw was on crutches tuesday and now has two injured feet!  Jacobs will be the primary back again… If he wants to keep his career going he needs to step it up.  I think he will!

Hates

T.O. – Phins are too good on D to trust the inconsistency at QB

Matt Forte – great run D and unless he gets it done in the air he shouldnt do much at all!

Matt Shaub – Coach Kubiak keeps ruining this team by taking away thier balance.  Without a running game they cannot be successful, and CHRIS BROWN GOT MOST THE CARRIES?! Over Slaton!? Insanity!

Pierre Thomas – This should be a shootout, and Thomas doesn’t get the goal line carries.

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Studs

Brady Quinn and Matthew Stafford – I want to address the performances of the two quarterbacks at the same time. Stafford’s game is statistically the best performance from a rookie QB ever. Look it up, stafford is the first rookie to throw five TD passes since 1937!!!!… Leather helmet wearing Ray Buivid of the Bears was the last one to do it. In addition the 422 yards is the best ever, beating Leinart’s 2006 season-high total of 405 in Arizona. This means little in fantasy football to be honest, neither QB is someone you want to rely on going into the playoffs. All season we have been happily starting anyone playing the Browns and the Lions anyways, so the stars did their job under the ideal circumstances… big deal. From a non-fantasy perspective these games mean that these QB’s have the ability, and its up to the coaching staffs and front offices to make the teams better with more talent and getting everything they can from what they have.

Terrell Owens

Who knew the Bills had an offense? No one!. After one game it has become relatively apparent that Jauron was largely to blame for many of the offensive issues. Fitzpatrick was the first 200 yard passer in Buffalo since dating back to last season, and Owens totaled 9 catches on 14 targets for 197 yards including a 98 yard TD pass. He also finished the week as the highest scoring fantasy WR in the league. The real question is can we expect this type of output from the Bills week after week? We all know I certainly hope so, however it is not likely. Fitzpatrick played really well, and the success of this team is dependant on the QB position (where is it not?) and I do not think Fitz is the answer for the Bills. Remember the name Brian Brohm, because I think you’ll see him taking snaps before the season is over, and I sincerely think he would be better than Edwards and Fitzpatrick. So where does this leave Owens and Evans? Who knows, they are both worth a roster spot for a match-up play its up to the Bills to find a QB for them though!

Greg Jennings

Wow, you finally got what you drafted! The question is, did you already find better options to replace him? Lots of owners are going to feel more than a little burned by Jennings’ performance versus a solid opposing defense on Sunday. Jennings got 10 grabs for 128 yards and a TD which are about the numbers you expected to see probably 4 times by now. Jennings was drafted a top10 WR in most leagues and has been a pretty steady disappointment since week 3, which was the last 100 yard game. Jennings remains a deep threat and a red zone threat as well, and with a superb match-up Thursday versus a Lions D that Brady Quinn made look like a college team… wonder what Rodgers will throw for!?

Brett Favre

Well I don’t know what the Vikings are thinking letting Brett throw so much with AP in the backfield. Did they not watch the film from the end of last season when he just wore out and his team crumbled around him. I am a Peterson owner and have loved every minute of the incredible consistency that he continues to show despite tying the lowest total he has had all season, 9. However with that said, in Fantasy Football you are a fool if you don’t have a pretty short memory. I don’t think he will be able to keep up this kind of output into the playoffs, but as a fantasy owner you dont care start him till the game he tosses 4 or 5 picks in a game. Hope that’s not the playoffs!

Duds

Roy Williams – Dump list earning performance this week versus, admittedly, the best passing defense in the league, but the match-ups don’t get better. His only chance is if teams are still keying on Austin who has been lackluster as of late, and could be tossed aside onto my dump list soon too.

Brandon Marshall – Orton had to play hurt versus a very good pass defense and Marshall suffered. Only 2 points… his fantasy production is linked to Orton’s so it’s up in the air. Your probably still starting him baring you have an obviously better option.

Braylon Edwards – Exactly the same number of drops as fantasy points… ONE! Not a ridiculous number of drops, but not too many catches either (1 on 5 targets).

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Rock Cartwright – After Betts was carted off the field midway through the first quarter on Sunday Rock Cartwright was thrust into the lead role. From the time he became the lead guy he racked up 13 carries for 67 yards, as well as showed ability in the passing game as well being targeted 8 times for 7 catches and 73 yards. Portis is already ruled out for week twelve so Cartwright is set to have a good game versus an okay match up in Philly next week making him my pickup of the week.

Terrell Owens – Its just weird typing his name in the Pickup of the week article to be honest, but with his best game of the season coming the week after a new head coach and starting QB and installed, you’ve got to figure that TO is set to benefit from these moves. T.O. Would have been on my dump list for the last month if the site had been up that long, so if he was let go GRAB HIM UP! Owens will be a flex play at best until the Bills can prove they are consistently able to get him the ball. Next week you should be safe to start him versus a Miami defense that has played mediocre at best this season.

Fred Jackson – Fast Freddie is an explosive back that wears down a defense over the course of the game. In the first three games of the season Jackson was a very serious fantasy threat. Given the offensive woes he was unable to find the end zone very much if at all, but yardage wise he was a big surprise. Lynch was carted off the field Sunday with a shoulder injury, and will likely be a game time decision. If Lynch cannot go Sunday, I would expect to see a pretty good fantasy game from Jackson.

Kahlil Bell – The Bears RB got the first carry of his NFL career and scampered for 72 yards. I know I almost fell outta my chair… but that was largely because I thought that Forte finally was gonna break 100 yards rushing! If you are in a very deep league or have a playoff birth in the bag and a dead-spot in your roster grab Bell and wait to see what happens. The Bears have re-dedicated themselves to the run as to give Cutler a chance to utilize the play action and keep opposing defenses guessing. If Bell can show that he has the ability to handle a larger work load he’ll get the chance and Forte would be pushed to more of a third down back. This is a long shot, so you had better have the ability to probably never play him.

Chris Chambers – had another really good game this week with Bowe on suspension. Three more weeks of Chambers being the top guy so if you have an injury issue or are light at WR go ahead and grab Chambers… he should put up solid performances at least while Bowe is out!

Kevin Boss – 4 TD’s in his last 3 games. The Giants and the Falcons looked much improved this week, and the Giants has a record that will keep them in the playoff hunt. Boss is a nice outlet for Manning who seems to like him in the red zone.

Jason Snelling and Justin Forsett – I am gonna lump these two together as they were number one and two on my add list last Monday. Snelling barely eeked out the top spot on the list last week, and did not disappoint. In Turner’s wake he was the second highest scoring back in the league on Sunday. Forsett had a terrible match-up versus a stout Vikings pass D Sunday and still managed to show his worth to fantasy owners that were desperate with the slew of injuries this week. While not a single point gained was on rushing yards (only 9), Forsett still managed 80 yards receiving and punched in a goal line carry for a rushing TD. Forsett is very unlikely to lose the top spot on the depth chart when Julius Jones returns, so he should be an option down the stretch, however Snelling is only likely to see one more game as the lead back and that should be with Jerious Norwood back sharing some time as well.

Alex Smith – If you have injury or bad match up concerns at QB or are in a 2 QB league Smith has a relatively easy schedule for the rest of the season and while his play has been inconsistent he sure could do some good getting you through a rough patch.

Dump list!

Dwayne Bowe has three more weeks of suspension left to go, and wasn’t producing all that well before. I wouldn’t trust him after a month off and very few games left in the season.

Felix Jones couldn’t even produce when Jerry Jones was screaming that he needed the ball more.

Roy Williams looks like he will indeed be too inconsistent to be a good fantasy football option

Devin Hester has seen his targets AND production on a sharp decline in the past few weeks, and I expect this trend to continue. It is a stretch to just drop him, but if TO or Chambers is there, I say make the move.

Kyle Orton totally collapsed last season after he hurt his foot, I’m scared for Orton AND the Broncos.

Ryan Moats – Can someone please make sense of whaat Coach Kubiak is doing here… cuz I can’t…  Slaton looked explosive off the ball, and you could SEE that he was protecting the ball.  The Texans lost last night because they couldn’t control the ball and extend drives.  Schaub played well but Kubiak is likely joining the unemployment line after this season if he doesn’t get them in the playoffs!

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I Hope Benson owners nabbed Bernard Scott as insurance, because Benson is inactive today!

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Redskins fans can only sigh deeper as their backup RB was carted off the field early sunday.  His return has been ruled out, and they will need Portis back asap!

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