Bengals at Steelers

The Bengals have been one of my favorite teams to watch thus far this season.  They have one of the most prolific rookie QB to rookie WR combinations ever as well as a solid running game to compliment one of the best and most complete defenses in the NFL. Despite being in the middle of 4 games against their division rivals Pittsburgh and Baltimore, if the season ended today, the Bengals would be in the playoffs. They will need a big win this week against the Steelers to keep the Jets and Tim Tebow in the rear-view mirror and they certainly have a good shot at it. The status of Troy Polamalu could easily tell the tale of how this game will go.  AJ Green will be able to blow the top off of the coverage a few times without Troy and his hair out there on Sunday and this season teams have been able to run against the Steelers with limited success. Pittsburgh on the other hand had issues moving the ball on offense against the Chiefs last week and this has me far from confident that they can find a way to win this game.  I am going to follow my gut and take the underdog Bengals to win a very close game.  Cedric Benson falls JUST outside my top 20 (to 21st) in my running back rankings, which makes him a great flex option or passable RB2. I am continuing to consider AJ Green matchup-proof still and kept him inside my top 20 this week at wide receiver. Rashard Mendenhall has proven to be nothing more than an RB2 this season and I ranked him on the low-end of my top 20 against the 5th best rush defense in the NFL. Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown were unaffected by the match up when doing my rankings so you can start them confidently in whatever role you have been using them in.  Big Ben doesn’t have a lot of upside and he remains a low-end starting QB this week.

Packers at Giants

The Giants are in a dog fight over the NFC East title and this game is huge for them.  Unfortunately this is also one of the two games remaining where the Packers can reasonably be beaten.  I am obviously going to put my money on Green Bay but if they win this one, I only see the Lions in week 17 as the only team capable of beating them. I expect Green Bay to play for the undefeated season as they remain the best and among the least injured teams in the league. The Giants on the other hand have had a variety of injuries but have persevered through them and sit one game behind Dallas for the division lead. Neither team has a defense that scares me at all and surprisingly, the Packers are the 31st ranked pass defense in the league.  This is helped by the fact that they always have a sizable lead late and teams are throwing in desperation to try and play catch-up.  I think Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks can be started with supreme confidence in this game as junk-time should be very good to them at least. Brandon Jacobs should be rendered irrelevant by the time the 4th quarter comes around and the duo of Starks and Grant for Green Bay has not been worth much attention for fantasy owners, so stay away.

Lions at Saints

The Lions have an opportunity to jump ahead of Chicago in the wild card race now that Caleb Hanie is at the helm for the Bears.  It won’t be easy this week against the Saints, who have really hit their stride in recent weeks.  Last Monday, the Saints dismantled the Giants and I honestly expect another convincing win for Brees. Detroit seems to have issues pushing the ball down field when they don’t have balance with the running game.  Teams have been able to roll coverage to Calvin Johnson and contain him in order to try and force someone else to make the big play.  This formula has worked better for some teams than others but I think it works very well for the Saints this week, who are bound to score plenty of points on offense.  Neither defense scares me from a fantasy-owners stand point, so you can go ahead and start your QBs and WRs with confidence.   Don’t bother with any of the running backs unless you are really desperate. James Jones is the most questionable receiver in this game and I think you have to play him if your light on options and are looking for a high-upside player that can beat a really high scoring opponent.

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Jets at Bills

I am lucky enough to be going to this game and there might not be one that has a bigger impact on the playoff picture in week 9. Buffalo currently sits atop the AFC East and would have the #2 seed in the playoffs if the season ended today. Currently, the Jets are on the outside looking in on the playoff race and would have a really steep hill to climb if they lost this game. On offense, the Jets have gotten away from the ground and pound offense that has gotten them to two straight AFC championship games.  Buffalo’s defense has been incredibly opportunistic and currently leads the NFL with 14 interceptions. In order for Sanchez to get the win for his team and get back on track towards their Super Bowl aspirations, it will take a heavy dose of Shonn Greene and the run game. The Bills offense has been very explosive and it all starts with Fred Jackson, who is having an MVP caliber season. The Jets have been weak against the run and Jackson will pick them apart if they turn the ball over or get off to a slow start and force Sanchez to go to the air and play from behind. Unfortunately for Jets fans, that is how I see this game going.  Jackson just always seems to make the big play when it matters the most and the defense is constantly turning the ball over in crucial spots to help them put the game away. Steve Johnson is a flex play despite being on Revis island this week.  Fitzpatrick will look to him when he is in man coverage and should be able to put up OK stats in this game.  He hasn’t been great in recent weeks and I do not think that he will be able to do too much, but I just don’t think he can be benched. You can start all your normal Bills and Jets in this game, but I would avoid Sanchez as usual and expect this game to be largely about the running game.

Giants at Patriots

The Giants have a two game lead on their division and have been getting some incredible performances from both Bradshaw and Manning.  Bradshaw unfortunately is going to miss around a month of time and I am not sure Brandon Jacobs will be able to provide the same balanced offensive attack.  Luckily for them you do not need balance to attack the Patriots secondary, which is ranked dead last in the NFL and is allowing 323 yards per game. Hakeem Nicks is questionable going into this game and his presence would mean the difference in this game being either competitive or a blow out. If he plays it could go either way but without him, I do not know if they will be able to keep pace with Tom Brady. Brandon Jacobs gets a bump in value with Bradshaw out and you should play every Giants wide receiver that you own in this game.  Tom Brady is of course a must-start despite a pretty average performance last week and there are still no Patriots Wide Receivers that I would go out of my way to start.  I am expecting a Patriot victory in this game but if Nicks plays it will be a pretty close and high scoring affair.

Ravens at Steelers

My favorite part of the AFC North is that these two teams meet up twice a year.  There is always some great football to be had when defenses of this caliber meet up and these have been the best two defenses for at least a decade or two. This particular game could get out of hand as the Steelers are surging and the Ravens struggling, but nothing forces you to play your best like a divisional rivalry game that decides who will sit in first place. I would stay away from any flex plays from either team and just focus on your typical starters: Ray Rice, Rashard Mendenhall, Mike Wallace and Ben Roethlisberger.  Anquan Boldin is typically a very good WR2 option, but I think of him more as a poor flex play this week against this Steelers team that just shut down Brady.  I like Pittsburgh to get a tough win, but the Ravens defense has not been what has struggled as of late so I don’t see it being by any more than 10 points.

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Love

Matthew Stafford, QB, DET – Denver has allowed the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks, averaging just over 20 per game.  I think we will probably see Calvin Johnson get back to 2 TDs per in a game this week.  And with Jahvid Best most likely out again, I think the Lions are going to air it out and win this game big to snap the two-game losing streak.

Mike Wallace, WR, PIT – I think Wallace is in for a really big game this week.  Pittsburgh hasn’t been able to protect Roethlisberger long enough to let him hit the open receiver deep down the field.  Luckily for Ben and all his receivers, New England has not had an effective pass rush and has struggled in coverage!

DeMarco Murray, RB, DAL – The Cowboys have not had a very good running game recently and Murray was a young prospect that they liked a lot before last week’s breakout performance. With a good match-up against Philadelphia this week, I expect Dallas to try and feature Murray heavily and see if he can put up big numbers on a consistent basis.

Fred Davis, TE, WAS – With Shawne Merriman placed on IR, the Bills are wearing thin at line backer. They have been pretty bad at stopping opposing tight ends and with Santana Moss out, Davis should see the biggest increase in carries.  PPR owners especially should take notice but he comes in at 5th in my rankings regardless.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB, NE – The Law Firm has re-asserted himself as the leader of the committee in New England. While Tom Brady hasn’t typically had an issue passing against the Steelers, running the ball hasn’t been a viable option for years.  I do not downgrade Green-Ellis at all due to match up and think he has a decent shot at a nice game.

AJ Green, WR, CIN – Green has been great for Cincinnati and has developed a lot of chemistry with fellow rookie Andy Dalton.  Seattle allows over 20 fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers and Green has been able to score double digit fantasy points in all but one game this season.

Darren Sproles, RB, NO – You can’t ask for more from Sproles so far this season. He has been able to produce explosive plays on a consistent basis and his opponent this week just gave up over 250 yards on the ground to a rookie.

Hate

Doug Baldwin, WR, SEA – The Bengals defense is for real and I am yet to be convinced that Baldwin is. If Seattle wants to win this game, they need to get it done on the ground.

Bernard Scott, RB, CIN – This is the week that Cedric Benson is serving his suspension and I see a lot of people looking to Scott to pick right up where Benson left off.  I don’t see that happening against the under rated Seahawks rush defense.  Brian Leonard will get some carries if Scott struggles too and I could easily see him at 5 points or less.

Brandon Jacobs, RB, NYG – Jacobs could end up OK this week due to his goal line work, but I do not see him having a big yardage total or large number of carries in his first game back from the injury.

Kevin Kolb, QB, ARI – Baltimore’s defense has been solid all season and I clearly do not expect such a repeat terrible performance.  With Beanie Wells on the bench, this Cardinals offense is one-dimensional and very sub-par. Kolb does not have enough quality receivers at his disposal to be able to get anything done against Ray Lewis and company.

Alfonso Smith, RB, ARI – Smith didn’t play well after Wells went down last week and I’ve already mentioned the terrible match up for Arizona this week.  The ONLY Cardinal worth starting is Fitz.

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Love

Michael Vick, QB, PHI – The Eagles face a stout defense that will need to spend a TON of time on the field this Sunday. Last week, the Bears drew up a blueprint for how to beat Joe Webb. They were very effective at disguising pressure and forcing Webb to make mistakes. With the ballhawks in the secondary for the Eagles, don’t be surprised to see a blow out come from this Sunday night game.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB, NE – Isn’t it the law that I have to love running backs against the Bills?  It should be!  Despite having a decent performance last week against the Dolphins, the Bills run D is still ranked 32nd in the league.  Don’t expect the Pats to look past Buffalo either, especially not after such a narrow escape against Matt Flynn and the Packers.

Mike Wallace, WR, PIT – The Steelers are likely to obliterate the Panthers this week at home on Thursday night. Wallace is a huge part of their vertical passing game and should see his share of targets early on in the game.  If he is not able to haul one in before it gets out of hand Wallace owners could be in trouble, but I don’t think the Panthers will be able to cover him with any consistency.

LeGarrette Blount, RB, TB – Except for in Week 14 against the Redskins, Blount has been a major contributor against each below average defense the Buccs have faced since he took over the starting job.  Despite breaking the road game losing streak for the Lions last week, look for the Buccaneers’ young core group of players to rebound strong and be able to produce offensively.

Matt Ryan, QB, ATL – There is a lot going for Ryan here.  He beat the Saints on the road earlier in the season and he is a much more efficient and productive QB at home.  The Saints offense will score points and force Ryan to air it out plenty in this game and he should be able to produce a quality outing for fantasy owners regardless of whether they win or lose.

Brandon Lloyd, WR, DEN – The Broncos face the Texans this week, who are on pace to be the worst pass defense in NFL history.  While Tebow scares me some, his ability to run will force defenses to stay honest and Lloyd was targeted enough last week to maintain some value going into your Super Bowl.

Chris Johnson, RB, TEN – The Titans play the Chiefs this week who are allowing just over 100 yards per game on the ground.  I think we can all agree that Johnson is better than the average running back and with Kerry Collins able to move the ball effectively through the air, you shouldn’t be shy about playing your first round draft pick.

Hate

Knowshon Moreno, RB, DEN – Since the Bye week, Moreno has been a picture of consistency.  Last week he got hurt and was not able to finish the game.  If somehow this didn’t knock you out of the playoffs, stay away from Moreno this week.  Tebow will be running a little more and these carries will be taken from Moreno.  Couple that with his sore ribs and he is just a little bit too risky for my liking this week.

Anquan Boldin, WR, BAL – Boldin has really only had one good game this season and it was a 3 TD outing against the same opponent that the Ravens face this week.  With his incredible lack of consistency, there is no reason you should risk starting him.

Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, BUF – I expect this to a be a one-sided affair and the Bills are clearly not who I anticipate winning.  He is a solid QB2 play, but there are better options for standard leagues.

Brandon Jacobs, RB, NYG – Many teams would not be able to recover from the crushing defeat that the Giants suffered last week.  It is tough not to be mentally affected by a let down like that and since Aaron Rodgers is looking to return in time for this week’s game, they would have their hands full under the best of circumstances.

Brandon Marshall, WR, MIA – Marshall has TDs in consecutive games for the first time all year and just caught 11 passes last week against what was the league’s 4th ranked defense.  With that said, after a long disappointing season the odds are pretty bad that he is able to put together another quality performance even with his very nice match up. Consider him a flex play at best this week.

Matt Forte, RB, CHI – You’re still going to need to start him because of his involvement in the passing game, but lower expectations of Forte this week as he faces the Jets.  Their injuries have weakened their front 7, but the Jets’ blitzing scheme is still among the best in the league.  If Forte is to be successful he will need to break a fair few tackles in the backfield.

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Studs

Michael Vick, QB, PHI – After being pretty well shut down for the first three quarters of the game, Vick picked the Eagles up and carried them to an amazing comeback victory that many are calling the Miracle at The New Meadowlands. Vick was personally responsible for 372 of the Eagles’ 418 yards.  He made one hell of a convincing argument for the NFL MVP and earned the top spot in my rankings for next week.

Ray Rice, RB, BAL – Rice had by far his best game of the season, with 31 carries for 153 yards and a TD, as well as 5 receptions for 80 yards and a second touchdown.  With the Browns as opponents next week, Rice is sure to have another solid performance and just in time for your super bowl.  Colt McCoy does provide stability and efficiency for the Browns offense, so don’t expect a repeat performance.

Vincent Jackson, WR, SD – He only caught five passes on 7 targets, but racked up 112 yards with THREE scores.  This is exactly why people drafted him in the late rounds, knowing it would take until at least half of the season for him to touch the field.  He is a top 10 WR as far as talent is concerned and with one of the best and most consistent quarterbacks in the NFL throwing to him, he is a must start this week against the Bengals’ injured secondary.

Rex Grossman, QB, WAS – This is by far the best performance of Week 15 that NO ONE got the points for.  There have been many opportunities for Grossman to prove that he can be a starting QB in the NFL and he has never before managed to sustain success.  I will be assuming that this was a fluke, but regardless of how average his talent may be, the Jaguars do not have a very good secondary.  I am much more intrigued with Santana Moss and Anthony Armstrong, but Rex should be able to get you double digit points if you are desperate for a QB2 in your super bowl.

Cedric Benson, RB, CIN – Finally, the Bengals used Benson as their work horse and he saw over 30 carries in this game.  It looked oddly reminiscent of last season, when they were a winning football team.  With the Chargers coming into town there is little reason to assume the Bengals will be able to run the ball for long.  They should be down by a sizable margin by halftime and unable to provide the number of carries that Benson will need to be this productive again.

Mario Manningham, WR, NYG – This is the perfect scenario for Manningham to be productive.  I do not think he is good enough to be the top receiver and he is not able to maximize his potential as the slot receiver.  By being 2nd on the depth chart he avoids double teams and is on the field enough to really get into a rhythm with Manning.  He managed 8 catches for 113 yards and 2 TDs in his new role and I like Manningham as a low-end WR2 or great flex play in your super bowl.

Bears, D/ST, CHI – The Bears’ D outscored Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Jamaal Charles and Chris Johnson… this is no easy accomplishment!  If they had Webb leading the Vikings offense all game, there would have been more turnovers (though they did force an INT from Favre on a nice tipped pass at the line of scrimmage).  They were able to disguise their blitzes in order to confuse Webb all throughout the second half.  They should have a good game against the Jets inconsistent offense, in what should be a low scoring affair.

Jason Witten, TE, DAL – This makes 4 great fantasy-performances in a row under Jason Garrett and there is little reason to think it will stop with a game against the Cardinals coming up. It will be either Witten or Vernon Davis at the top of my TE rankings this week but i’m pretty sure you don’t own them both so don’t over think it, Witten is a must start for your Super Bowl match up.

Duds

Anquan Boldin, WR, BAL – I am almost lost for words about how disappointing his level of production and consistency has been in his new offense.  Whether you like it or not, Derrick Mason is the top receiver on the Ravens offense and Boldin cannot be trusted for your super bowl this week.

Brandon Jacobs, RB, NYG – Jacobs was only able to muster 3 fantasy points after stringing together some very nice outings over the past few weeks.  This is primarily because they were not able to close out the game against the Eagles.  With Vick controlling the ball for the vast majority of the 4th quarter, Jacobs was on the bench during the part of the game where he normally excels.

Reggie Wayne, WR, JAC – The reason for this week’s 3 point game is pretty simple, Collie did a great job in the first half and stole the show.  In the 2nd half, Donald Brown was able to efficiently close out the game with the best performance of his short career. Wayne is still a top 5 wide receiver and should be in your lineup when the Colts play the Raiders next week.

Jahvid Best, RB, DET – Another hugely disappointing game with just 1 point for his fantasy owners.  Meanwhile, Maurice Morris was able to get 17 points.  Leave Best on your bench and if you have no better options than Morris, go ahead and use him!

Vernon Davis, TE, SF – To say that the 49er offense had troubles on Thursday is putting it mildly.  Their struggles should not be blamed on Alex Smith, who played a decent game.  He got no help from any of his receivers and all he needed was someone to step up and make a play.  That person should have been Davis, but the play calling of their newest offensive coordinator did not make an effort to get the ball into his hands.   You have to keep playing him, because hopefully they will realize how important he is to the synergy of their Frank Gore-less offense.

Tim Hightower, RB, ARI – After a big week 14, Hightower let his fantasy-owners down against the Panthers of all teams.  I did not expect him to top 100 yards, but I certainly thought he would manage more than two points!

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Love

Darren McFadden, RB, OAK - I have used this stat a lot, but it stays relevant so here it is again: McFadden has gotten 100 yards from scrimmage in all but two starts this season and one of them was against the Steelers.  The players that perform consistently all season are the ones you should be using in the playoffs.  DMC also has a great match up against the Broncos who are the 31st ranked rush defense in the NFL, who allow an average of 150 yards per game.

Ray Rice, RB, BAL – With the Saints as opponents next week, we should expect to see the Ravens attack New Orleans on the ground.  The Greg Williams blitzing scheme has been disrupting the timing of opposing QBs all season and when you have such a talented backfield with Rice, McClain and McGahee… there is little reason to not attempt to control the clock and run the ball as much as possible.  If the Saints are able to build an early lead, then this will all go out the window and the Ravens will go to the air.  IF you didn’t know Rice is pretty good at catching the ball out of the back field.

Mike Williams, WR, TB - I expect a good bounce-back game for Williams who was shut down last week.  Arrelious Benn is developing into another vertical threat for the Buccs offense and he will force the Lions’ depleted secondary to single cover Williams who should be able to get deep and find the end zone at least once.  Another nice thing to note here, is that the Lions seem to be competitive in every game they play.  This will keep Williams and the passing game relevant deep into the fourth quarter.

Felix Jones, RB, DAL - The Jason Garrett-led Dallas Cowboys have found an element of their offense that did not exist when Wade Phillips was running the show… the run game.  Tashard Choice has proven to be a versatile weapon with his ability to run between the tackles, as well as his speed through the hole.  Jones is the guy they look to get the ball to in open space and because of this, he is a threat to score every time he touches the ball.  With the run-game being effective lately, his touches have increased and that is all that Jones will need to be a quality flex-starter for fantasy owners, opportunity!

Pierre Garcon, WR, IND - The Jaguars corner backs have been terrible this season, they allow big plays and are unable to cover physical receivers in a one on one scenario.  Wayne should have a good game as well, despite drawing double teams and safety help over the top, but Garcon should be left isolated on the other side of the field.  Coming off a big game, look for Pierre to catch at least 8 passes, totaling 80 yards and a score.

Kenny Britt, WR, TEN – The Texans pass defense has been terrible this season, they are on pace to be the worst in NFL history and even with Kerry Collins at QB, Britt should do just fine.  Keep in mind that, before his injury, Collins was the QB for Britt’s HUGE game back in week 7.

Roddy White, WR, ATL – After watching Alex Smith tear the Seahawks’ secondary to shreds last week, I have a lot of confidence in White this week.  Matt Ryan never plays that well on the road and outdoors, but he doesn’t need to play well to get White a great fantasy performance this week.  There is no one that can cover him one-on-one if they don’t at least provide safety help over the top, they will be burned by a big play.

Brandon Jacobs, RB, NYG – With the outstanding performances of both Jacobs and Bradshaw in recent weeks, fantasy owners can NOT leave either guy on the bench any longer.  Jacobs will be the first to see a drop off in production, when opposing defenses figure out how to shut them down… but I don’t expect that to happen this week against the Eagles.  Philadelphia’s defense has two VERY important players on it, Stewart Bradley and Asante Samuel.  Bradley will be out for the remainder of the regular season (at least) and Samuel has missed the past three games.  If Samuel does not come back, expect the Giants to win… but without Bradley, the Eagles are not likely to stop the run with any consistency.

Hate

Michael Crabtree, WR, SF - Last week Crabtree was a non-factor in the 49er offense and they got a great game from Alex Smith.  This week they face the Chargers, who lose games only because of abysmal special teams play.  Their defense has been fantastic all season and have only allowed an average of 13 points per week to opposing receivers.

Brandon Marshall, WR, MIA – The Bills have the 4th ranked pass defense in the league and despite finding the end zone last week, he has performed FAR under everyone’s expectations.  He is no longer a viable fantasy-starter and should be reserved for your flex spot at best.  Don’t take a chance on him this week when common sense dictates the Dolphins will be running whenever possible.

Ladainian Tomlinson, RB, NYJ - It is tough to start any Jets offensive players, except possibly Santonio Holmes.  Against Pittsburgh, there just won’t be any big plays and field goals are likely to decide this one. I know he is a large part of the reason you made the playoffs, but he is simply too risky to play this week.

Adrian Peterson, RB, MIN - I would hate to do it, but I would still have to start Peterson this week.  You have to lower expectations as the Vikings offense has had little success lately, but Peterson remains the most complete and talented running back in the league.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB, NE – The Packers run defense has been great and Clay Matthews is my favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year, but this is another situation where you will likely need to start him anyways.  The Patriots have been fantastic the past two weeks, decimating playoff teams and smart money is, they will be able to produce on offense no matter who their opponent is.

Brandon Lloyd, WR, DEN – Last week is enough to plummet the values of every Denver Bronco for fantasy purposes, with one exception… Knowshon Moreno.  Studesville was not able to lead an offense that could produce at all against the Arizona Cardinals.   Oakland has a quality secondary and should have few problems shutting down Orton and Lloyd.

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Darren McFadden, RB, OAK – If last week was not enough to convince you that DMC is back and playing at an elite level, then hopefully the 123 yards rushing, 86 yards receiving and 3 TDs are enough to confirm in your mind that this guy is a huge part of your playoff hopes.   Don’t get caught with him on your bench as there are still only two games that he started where he did not exceed 100 yards from scrimmage… and one of those was against the Steelers.

DeSean Jackson, WR, PHI – Jackson’s big-play ability and break away speed are unmatched at this time in the NFL.  These skills were on display this week, as Jackson was able to haul in 4 catches for 210 yards and a TD.  Is 52.5 yards per catch good enough for you?  He may not be the most consistent performer, but if you drafted him then you have to start him… wouldn’t want to miss one of these monster performances that can happen any week.

Michael Turner, RB, ATL – What impresses me most about this Falcons team is their versatility on offense.  They have a very balanced attack with Pro Bowl talent at WR, QB and RB.  The passing game never seems to run on all cylinders while on the road, but this week Turner carried the team on his back to a victory against the inept Panthers.  Turner racked up 28 carries with 112 yards and 3 rushing TDs.  He is fulfilling the dream he destroyed for fantasy owners last year when injuring himself just in time for the fantasy football playoffs.  Turner owners this year should get Jason Snelling on their team now in case there is a repeat of last season.

Andre Johnson, WR, HOU – There is something about this Texans team that likes to rally late in games, but unfortunately they are not able to finish games after closing the gap and they lost a heart breaker in OT late last night on a Matt Schaub INT that was run back for a touchdown. Andre Johnson was a beast in their late-game resurgence.  He started with a 42 yard TD grab to finish the first half and added another 8 catches to total 140 yards receiving and 2 scores. Games like this are why AJ was drafted in the first round as the top receiver… but they have been hard to come by this season and it is re-assuring to see it at the start of the playoffs.

Tim Hightower, RB, ARI – We did know that the Broncos were a bad run defense, but we did not know that Hightower would be able to grind out 148 yards and 2 TDs on 18 carries!  With the Panthers 25th ranked rush defense coming up next week and this clear indication that Wells is not going to be seeing extensive work… I think Tim would be an excellent flex play next week and should be in the top 25 at the RB position.

Deion Branch, WR, NE – No matter how good the opponent is, Tom Brady has been tearing them to shreds as of late.  It is a great time to own a Patriot in your fantasy football league as there are tons of catches to go around.  Welker also had a great game, topping 100 yards… but Branch had 151 yards and a TD making him the best receiver from New England this week.  I will still give Welker the edge in my rankings, but Branch is acclimating nicely into his old offense and will move up considerably as long as Brady and the Pats can keep this up.

Pierre Garcon, WR, IND – We finally saw shades of the talent that made me so excited about this guy in the preseason.  It is too little, too late for most of the fantasy owners who drafted Garcon, but if you were able to replace him and make it into the playoffs… then you’ve gotta start him next week against the Jaguars, who have not been able to cover WRs all season long (they are allowing just over 23 fantasy points per game to opposing WRs).

Jason Witten, TE, DAL – Witten has been among the best and most consistent TEs in the NFL over the past three weeks and with a 69 yard, 2 TD performance this week, he provides a much needed consistency at an injury-riddled position for fantasy owners this season.  Consider him a must-start and feel free to drop any other TEs you may have have on your bench as you need not look any farther to find your starter throughout the playoffs.

Ryan Torain, RB, WAS – Torain saw 24 carries and made the most of them by totaling 172 rushing yards.  Most of this came in the first half, when the Skins were not losing by enough to abandon the running game.  Usually you see a week of mediocre production after sitting out as long as Torain did due to his injury… but at least now we know who the starter will be in Washington for the rest of the way.  Torain should be considered for your flex spot with good, not great, match ups over the next two weeks.

Brandon Jacobs, RB, NYG – What happened here? Consider the combo of Jacobs and Bradshaw as the best in the league as both are essentially must-starts going into the fantasy-playoffs.  Jacobs broke off the longest single rush of his career with a 73 yarder to help push the Giants past their nightmarish experience of trying to play their scheduled game this week.  Both teams looked out of sync after the 30 hour delay and I think it is reasonable to expect this type of performance (probably a little worse, given the match ups) for the rest of the season.

Duds

Adrian Peterson, RB, MIN – Let me tell you a little story about how bad AP killed his fantasy owners this week.  I played my brother this week and going into Monday’s games, he had a 3 point lead with AP still to play… I had Andre Johnson.  The game ended with me as a clear victor, but I thought for sure I would lose.  2 points from the 2nd overall draft pick is simply not enough.  The bad performance can likely be written off as a precaution by the Vikings after AP and Jackson collided on a handoff and both players were banged up on the play.  Anyways, thanks a bunch Adrian!

Michael Crabtree, WR, SF – What is truly surprising about the complete lack of production from Crabtree was how well Alex Smith played in this game.  You would expect Crabtree to be productive when he gets such good play from the signal-caller… but all the catches went to Westbrook,  Morgan and Davis.  Don’t expect him to get shut down like this again, however these inconsistencies are exactly what keep me from raising Crabtree to a starter in my rankings.

Kyle Orton, QB, DEN - The rebuilding process should begin in a hurry after only 166 yards and FOUR TURNOVERS from Orton this week.  He may have been a great post-draft pickup, but he also probably just ended your season early with that performance.  If you benched him, had a bye week, or weren’t in the playoffs yet… don’t get caught dead with Orton in your lineup next week after getting destroyed by the Arizona Cardinals.  Tim Tebow anyone?

Jay Cutler, QB, CHI - After watching the Patriots dismantle yet another playoff team in the Bears this week, I am willing to excuse this performance from Cutler.  This is a shining example of why he is not an elite QB though.  The Patriots have a young and easily manipulated secondary and he couldn’t get the job done.  I expected an upset by the Bears in this game, but no one beats Tom Brady when the weather outside is frightful…

Benjamin Watson, TE, CLE – This poor game is inexcusable against Buffalo, who has not effectively been able to stop the opposing TE all year.  I place most of the blame on Jake Delhomme, but Watson is getting downgraded after this performance… even if McCoy is back in time for next week.

Davone Bess, WR, MIA - The Dolphins offense struggled as a whole this week in a tough divisional victory over the Jets.  Bess isn’t a huge factor in standard leagues, but in PPR formats he has been a beast.  You can keep using him given the quality of defense that shut him down.

Terrell Owens, WR, CIN - The Steelers shut down Owens this week with their zone blitzing scheme forcing some poor decision-making out of Carson Palmer.  He will remain in my top 20, but with the whole Bengals team floundering… you shouldn’t consider TO a top 10 guy any longer.

Jeremy Maclin, WR, PHI - One catch on three targets for 11 yards.  The worst game of the season for Maclin came at a terrible time for his fantasy-owners.  Don’t worry too much about playing him next week (if you’re still alive), you have to trust the guys that got you this far… and he sure helped quite a bit I am sure.

Mike Williams, WR, TB - The Redskins defense is pretty bad, especially against the pass and Williams was not a dynamic play maker in this game.  The big plays were made by Arrelious Benn, but don’t worry… you can still start Williams with confidence, it was only one bad game so don’t panic.

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Pickups

Blair White, WR, IND - After Austin Collie left this game with an injury AGAIN, White was able to show what he can do with the chance to get on the field.  He was an effective slot receiver and Collie owners should go and pick this guy up to ensure they get the value that comes with Peyton’s slot receiver!  While initially it looked like Collie suffered a second concussion, there has been no confirmation of that and you will want to keep a close eye on this situation.

Mike Goodson, RB, CAR - Logic dictates that the Panthers will look to Jonathan Stewart to fill-in for DeAngelo Williams now that we know Williams is out for the season.  However, given the back-to-back 100 yard performances from Mike Goodson, this is no given.  The situation is hazy still, so both Stewart and Goodson should be owned… but I like Goodson due to the fact that he has been the most productive Panthers RB of the season thus far.

Nate Burleson, WR, DET - I really thought Burleson would lose all of his fantasy-value when Stafford was injured for the second time… but he has found a way to be productive and find the end zone.  I would rather own this guy than Lance Moore, Robert Meachem, Nate Washington, Mario Manningham and maybe Randy Moss…  To clarify this a bit, DO NOT DROP MOSS JUST YET.  He has the Texans and Jaguars in consecutive weeks and that is exactly what sparked the resurgence of Dwayne Bowe.  If he flops next week, you can drop him if there are better options.

Keiland Williams, RB, WAS - Portis suffered a setback in his week 11 return and with Ryan Torain also looking like he should miss at least one more week… Williams has a leg-up on his competition by simply being the healthiest back that the Redskins have on their roster.  Make sure that he is owned in your league!

TJ Houshmandzadeh, WR, BAL – I won’t start trusting a performance like this, but Anquan Boldin owners are searching for answers on how to add to their depth…. Housh appears to have settled into his role in the Ravens offense.  If you’re in a deeper format, look to this former-fantasy stud to bolster your bench going into the playoffs.

Davone Bess, WR, MIA - Brandon Marshall suffered a hamstring injury and has been a huge disappointment thus far this season.  Even with the poor QB play exhibited on Thursday night, Bess is worth a roster spot going into next week with a longer break than normal.

Steve Breaston, WR, ARI – Derek Anderson is not a great QB.  Despite that, the Cardinals offense has been able to move the ball down the field as well as find the endzone.  He probably isn’t available in your league still… but make sure because he could be a fill-in should you suffer injuries at any point late in this season.

Brandon Jacobs, RB, NYG - There are rumors floating around that Ahmad Bradshaw has fumbled his starting job away.  While I don’t see how that could be true, if he keeps putting the ball on the ground while the team struggles… then it will certainly happen.  Jacobs is probably owned, but until now…. he probably shouldn’t have been.

Jon Kitna, QB, DAL – Cowboys football is fun to watch again?! He isn’t a savior… he isn’t even a great player.  But, if he can use the weapons that the Cowboys have at their disposal… he is a better backup than most.

Dump List

Willis McGahee, RB, BAL – The chance that McGahee sees the goal line carries is declining.  That is 100% of his value, so now that he isn’t a shoe-in to to get the short rushing TDs… why own him?

Lance Moore, WR, NO – Reggie Bush was so close to coming back for the game this week, that he is sure to make his return in week 12.  Moore saw increased touches in the passing game on the same kind of plays where Brees usually looked to Bush.  Moore is now down with Meachem in the rankings from here on out.

Kenny Britt, WR, TEN – I know he is hurt, but a lot of people held onto him after his huge performance in week 7.  Now that the locker room is melting down and the QB situation is a mess, there is no need to reserve a roster spot for a guy who has no solid information available about his return.

Marshawn Lynch, RB, SEA - I know that I for one expected Lynch to have a big comeback in Seattle… Justin Forsett is now the Seattle RB you want to own, so if there are any good alternatives on the waiver wire… bail now before it is too late.

Mario Manningham, WR, NYG - Watch the Steve Smith injury very closely over the next few days.  We expected him to make it back after two weeks off and when he returns the value of Manningham goes out the window.

Clinton Portis, RB, WAS - I usually don’t include injured players here, you can read the reports to see how bad it is and make your decision.  Nothing I have seen does this justice however.  Get out now, my guess is he is done for the season and will likely not suit up as a Redskin again in his career.

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Question 1: Asked by Emily

Should I drop D. Driver and pick up Britt??

Answer

No, even though Britt has been surprisingly consistent at finding the end zone this season, Driver is an integral part of one of the best passing offenses in the league.  The Packers are riddled with injuries and they will get better.  This week Britt’s TD streak is in question as we do not yet know if Vince Young will be playing.  You very well may have someone worth dropping for him on your team, but you can’t do it for Driver.

Question 2: Asked by Anonymous

I drafted Finley, then traded for Clark and now I am screwed! Which TEs that are likely to be on free agency do you like the most?

Answer

I feel your pain, but luckily for you there are a TON of serviceable replacements.  You will likely need to swap them a few times throughout the year, but I will list off some of the options you have to chose from.  They are in order of how much I like them: Tony Moeaki, Heath Miller, Marcedes Lewis, Benjamin Watson, John Carlson and if Chris Cooley sits, Fred Davis ought to be a great play this week.

Question 3: Asked by @benstori

BenJarvus Green-Ellis or Brandon Jacobs as a flex play this week? #fantasyfootball

Answer

I am pretty well known for disliking Brandon Jacobs. I don’t tend to have any nice things to say about him, most adjectives including fat, slow, worthless, etc. When I read this and didn’t know my answer immediately… I surprised myself.  Once I thought about it, I did end up realizing that Jacobs is still fat, slow and worthless so I have to say go with the law firm this week.  Despite how unpredictable his value is sure to be all year long, he is going to be the back that the Patriots trust on the red zone.  His membership in the committee backfield is always something to be concerned with, but he is more than just a goal line back.  Jacobs is able to be dropped in a standard ten-team league and has no big games left in the tank.

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Pickups

Demaryius Thomas, WR, DEN – This rookie impressed a lot of people in the off season and even though he missed all of the preseason, Thomas fully participated in practice this week.  Clearly waiting until he was 100% was the way to go as the rookie totaled 97 yards and found the end zone in a sound whipping of the Seahawks.  I still am most confident in Eddie Royal, but Thomas was a sleeper pick of mine before his injury held him out of the preseason.  Nice to see him being an impact player immediately upon his return.

Mike Williams, WR, TB - Some of you more avid fantasy football researchers might not think of this as someone who should be available, but Yahoo! says he is owned in only 38% of leagues and after TD’s in each of his first two games Williams is a steal to grab off of waivers.  There is some undeniable chemistry between Williams and 2nd year QB Josh Freeman that could make this duo something special as they develop throughout their careers together in Tampa Bay.

Aaron Hernandez, TE, NE – Just when it looked like Gronkowski was going to be the best TE for fantasy owners Hernandez has a breakout game topping 100 yards.  I don’t think you should rely on him on a week to week basis but if you are still not comfortable with Owen Daniels, it is worth noting that Buffalo is very good at stopping receivers but not-so-much with TE’s.

Marshawn Lynch, RB, BUF – This is a bit of a reach and you may think I’m nuts, but I dropped Fred Taylor for Lynch right before game time Sunday.  I am not naive enough to think that he will be productive in a Buffalo Bills uniform, but after hearing the trade talk about Lynch I figured now is the time if they are going to deal him at all.  After seeing Lynch get 17 carries to Jackson’s 9, I am relatively certain that the Bills were showcasing him to the Packers and any other interested teams.  He did a very good job given how inept the offense truly is.

Jason Snelling, RB, ATL - Turner left after totaling 75 yards on 9 carries in Week 2 with a groin injury.  It was later said that Turner was cleared to return to the game, but with the performance of Snelling and the game in the bag there was no reason to push his return.  This was smart considering how costly it was for Turner and the Falcons when they tried to rush him back the week after hurting his ankle last season.  Snelling is not likely to see significant work with Turner in the mix, but he is a great handcuff who could certainly be effective with a feature-role in this offense.

Mark Clayton, WR, STL – I still don’t anticipate Clayton making the top 30 in my rankings, but if him and Sam Bradford keep this level of production up, I won’t be able to deny it for very long.

Mike Tolbert, RB, SD – Tolbert is not someone I would reach for unless we hear that Mathews is inactive for Week 3.  Since Mathews stayed in uniform after his injury it is possible he would have been available in a pinch… but I for one would not be surprised if the Chargers rest their prized rookie against the Seahawks who shouldn’t be a big problem.

Kevin Walter, WR, HOU - Jacoby Jones was a popular sleeper for fantasy owners on draft day and Kevin Walter has been completely under the radar.  Not anymore.  Walter finished Sunday as the leagues number 2 receiver, 14 yards behind teammate Andre Johnson.  I am not convinced he should be started just yet, because Schaub won’t throw for 500 yards every week… but he certainly earned a spot on a bench in all but the smallest of leagues.

Dump List

Bernard Berrian, WR, MIN – The Vikings have had a terrible passing attack so far this year and because of this they are discussing a Vincent Jackson trade with the Chargers.  Berrian is not getting the job done at the top of the depth chart and I don’t see that changing any time soon.  Hopefully for Favre they scrape out a couple wins and not be out of the playoff race by the time a quality number one receiver shows up, whether its Rice or Jackson.

Jabar Gaffney, WR, DEN – Gaffney is not a viable fantasy option that anyone should be relying on.  Both Demaryius Thomas and Eddie Royal look to be better athletes than Gaffney is and if he is Orton’s third best option then he is not an option for us.

Tony Gonzalez, TE, ATL – I hate to do it to a legend, but Fantasy Football leagues are even more cut-throat than the NFL and with how deep the talent pool is at TE I would not be able to trust Gonzo any more.

Brandon Jacobs, RB, NYG - Clearly a game in prime time is past Jacobs’ bedtime because after performing poorly last night his helmet “accidentally” found its way into the stands.  Temper tantrums are for children, not professional athletes.  Bradshaw’s workload will continue to increase.

Derek Anderson, QB, ARI – If you aren’t in a 2 QB league Anderson is not worth a roster spot for any extended period of time.  If a good match up coincides with your guys’ bye week then you can pick him up the week you need him.

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