Starting Fantasy Lineup
Dec
11
2011

Week 14 Gameday Injury Update

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Dallas Clark, TE, IND – Active

Billy Cundiff, K, BAL – Active

Josh Freeman, QB, TB – Active

Kyle Orton, QB, KC – Inactive

Jeremy Maclin, WR, PHI – Active

Adrian Peterson, RB, MIN – Inactive

Christian Ponder, QB, MIN – Active

Kevin Walker, WR, HOU – Active

Kevin Smith, RB, DET – Inactive

Nate Washington, WR, TEN – Active

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Nov
09
2011

Love and Hate Lists for Week 10

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Love

Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, JAC – Most of us doubted whether MJD could stay healthy this entire season and he has shown no signs of old age or wear and tear over the first half the year.  The Colts are an abysmal rush defense and are currently allowing over 21 points per game to opposing RB’s.  MJD is the feature back and workhorse for the entire Jags offense.  He is normally a must-start but I am looking for a huge game from him this week.

Jeremy Maclin, WR, PHI – DeSean Jackson may be a disappointment for fantasy owners this year due in large part to opponents scheming to keep his explosive plays from taking over games.  Maclin is now the top fantasy-receiver on the Eagles offense but this will not signal a shift in who defensive coordinators scheme to stop. Maclin should have a GREAT game this week and DJax should draw the attention of Patrick Peterson the vast majority of the time as well as safety help to stop the deep ball from going to Jackson’s side of the field.

Tim Tebow, QB, DEN – Tebow finally played well last week in a win that likely secured his job as the starter for the rest of the season.  Funny thing is, he has produced fantasy points no matter how bad he has played.  With a match-up against the hapless Chiefs I see no reason why he can’t pass the twenty point mark again this week.  I don’t expect another 100 yards rushing but the Chiefs secondary is vulnerable since they lost Pro Bowler Eric Berry.

Steve Johnson, WR, BUF – I sure hope this isn’t wishful thinking on my part as a Bills fan but I think that Stevie matches up very well against the Cowboys secondary.  They don’t have an elite cover corner to take him out of the game (and even Revis allowed him to gain 80+ yards in a game where the Bills couldn’t get much done at all on offense).  Dallas’ run defense has even been slipping as of late and I think Buffalo’s attack is too well balance for the Cowboys to keep them in check.  If Romo tosses a few INT’s it could get out of hand for Dallas, if he doesn’t throw ANY then they have a serious opportunity to win this game though.  Either way, you have to put Johnson in your lineup.

DeMarco Murray, RB, DAL – You might be worried because Felix Jones is possibly returning for this game against a soft buffalo rush defense that just had to put Pro Bowl Nose Tackle Kyle Williams on IR. This is a serious blow for the Bills and really impacts their chances at making the playoffs.  Jones has been very inconsistent during his time in Dallas and I think that Murray will continue to be the feature back with Jones handling 3rd down work and serving as a change of pace. You shouldn’t need any convincing to start Murray if you have seen him play in the past 3 weeks.

Laurent Robinson, WR, DAL – The Bills secondary might turn the ball over a LOT, but they also allow a lot of yardage to be gained and INT’s don’t negatively impact a receiver’s fantasy point totals.  With this match up being very decent and Robinson having an undeniable chemistry with Romo, you are able to grab Robinson off of waivers and immediately throw him into your flex spot.

Chris Johnson, RB, TEN – While it was encouraging to see CJ over 100 all-purpose yards again last week, that is not why he is on this list.  He has an unbelievably soft match-up against the Panthers, who have been decimated by injuries on defense.  Jon Beason was the glue that held that linebacking corp together and since he went to IR, opponents have been been running all over Carolina.  I just don’t think 8 Panthers defenders in the box is enough to slow Johnson in this game.

Hate

Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, NYG – I don’t care how much practice he gets in this week, if any.  I also don’t care if Jacobs gets the start this week either, whoever the Giants play at RB is going to have a horrible fantasy performance against the 49ers, unless they do it in the receiving game. San Fran has only allowed 411 yards rushing and ZERO rushing TD’s this season.  To put that in perspective, there are five teams that have allowed over 1000 yards rushing already. Jacobs is not start-able this week and if Bradshaw plays, he is just a flex play.

Sidney Rice, WR, SEA – The Ravens defense has been lights out and especially against the pass.  I don’t know if anyone has told you this before, but Tavaris Jackson is not that good.  I would be floored if he was able to put up 200 yards in this game and that doesn’t bode well for his receivers.

Ryan Mathews, RB, SD – Oakland has a relatively stout rush defense and with Mathews coming off the injury, I expect him to be eased back in.  The goal line work is definite Tolbert’s and with limited carries, I don’t think Mathews is a must-start.

Julio Jones, WR, ATL – I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see 100 yards and a score from Jones.  I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see 2 catches for 15 yards either.  This guy is feast or famine and you shouldn’t over react to one game.  If you have a really good group of receivers, then you should feel free to leave the inconsistent guy on your bench of trade him before the deadline.

Chris Ogbonnaya, RB, CLE – He just looked awful last week and while he has a nice match-up, there aren’t any teams on a bye this week and you probably have a better option unless you’ve been bitten by the injury bug.

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Oct
27
2011

Week 8 Preview: Key Matchups and Their Fantasy Relevance

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Cowboys at Eagles

Dallas has been a very inconsistent team this season.  Half the time Romo looks like a hero and the other half he looks like a scapegoat. Philadelphia has the opposite problem.  They have been consistently awful all season long!  They struggle to stop the run on defense and they also have not been able to keep from turning the ball over on offense. Offensive production in terms of points and yardage have never been the issue, but they just simply have not been able to overcome the turn overs.  I expect Dallas to lean on DeMarco Murray to take full advantage of the Eagles undersized defensive front and inability to contain the running game.  Because of Murray, the Cowboys should be able to keep Vick and the Eagles high-flying offense on the sideline and control the clock.  Dallas also has the ability to go deep with Austin and Bryant at receiver so this should be a great game regardless of who wins. I slightly downgrade the Cowboys ground game and think Murray is a must-start as an RB2 for this week. The Dallas defense is not good enough to make me downgrade any of the Eagles and you should still be starting all the usual suspects despite the losing streak. I like Dallas to win a close game with a heavy dose of the run game.

Patriots at Steelers

Brady has historically had no trouble passing against the Steelers and Pittsburgh has no one that can contain Welker, but I expect the run game to be a big part of New England’s plan this week.  Law Firm has been running strong the past couple of weeks and Ridley has been coming along as his primary backup.  With two quality runners and a Steelers defense that has been pretty mediocre against the run, Brady will probably not stick to the pass too much.  I think that the Steelers passing game should be in a for a big day.  Roethlisberger has not had much time to throw this season but then again, the Patriots have not been able to get much pressure on the QB or cover receivers in the vertical passing game.  Mike Wallace is an absolute MUST start in this match up and if you have Big Ben, you likely do not have a better option either. Welker and Brady have just been too good this season to bench ever too and I think New England squeaks out a win in a VERY close game.

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Oct
12
2011

Week 6 Player Rankings: Wide Receivers

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1. Calvin Johnson Vs. SF
2. Roddy White vs. CAR
3. Greg Jennings Vs. STL
4. Mike Wallace Vs. JAC
5. Wes Welker Vs. DAL
6. DeSean Jackson @ WAS
7. Miles Austin @ NE
8. Hakeem Nicks Vs. BUF
9. Jeremy Maclin @ WAS
10. Steve Smith (CAR) @ ATL
11. Stevie Johnson @ NYG
12. Dez Bryant @ NE
13. AJ Green Vs. IND
14. Santonio Holmes Vs. MIA
15. Brandon Marshall @ NYJ
16. Marques Colston @ TB
17. Santana Moss Vs. PHI
18. Anquan Boldin Vs. HOU
19. Reggie Wayne @ CIN
20. Percy Harvin @ CHI
21. Jordy Nelson Vs. STL
22. Mario Manningham Vs. BUF
23. Mike Williams Vs. NO
24. Victor Cruz Vs. BUF
25. Michael Crabtree @ DET
26. Lance Moore @ TB
27. David Nelson @ NYG
28. Plaxico Burress Vs. MIA
29. Pierre Garcon @ CIN
30. Deion Branch Vs. DAL
31. Jacoby Ford Vs. CLE
32. Julio Jones Vs. CAR
33. Mike Thomas @ PIT
34. Johnny Knox Vs. MIN
35. Robert Meachem @ TB
36. Hines Ward Vs. JAC
37. Jacoby Jones @ BAL
38. Jabar Gaffney Vs. PHI
39. Torrey Smith Vs. HOU
40. Darrius Heyward-Bey Vs. CLE
41. James Jones Vs. STL
42. Kevin Walter @ BAL
43. Denarius Moore Vs. CLE
44. Jason Avant @ WAS
45. Davone Bess @ NYJ
46. Danario Alexander @ GB
47. Jerome Simpson Vs. IND
48. Greg Little @ OAK
49. Nate Burleson Vs. SF
50. Antonio Brown Vs. JAC
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Sep
20
2011

Studs And Duds From Week 2

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Studs

Miles Austin, WR, DAL – Austin was on fire in this game and managed to get hurt just to make it all barely worth it. None-the-less, its tough to lose in a week when you have a receiver catch 9 balls for 143 yards and 3 TDs.

Fred Jackson, RB, BUF – If you missed the Bills game this weekend, you missed one hell of a game. Go find a way to watch it.  There were 5 lead changes in the 4th quarter and Buffalo scored on all five of their 2nd half possessions. Jackson just had 15 carries, but was able to rip off some big gains and totaled 117 yards with two TDs.  Surprisingly, Jackson is the 4th highest scoring fantasy RB on the season so far and he is shaping up to be one of the better second RBs out there.  I won’t go crazy over my Bills until they beat New England in week 3 and sit on top of the division, so lessen your expectations for this week as the Bills are going to be passing like crazy to try and keep up.

Jeremy Maclin, WR, PHI – Maclin had a really good game in week 2 and needed to in order to alleviate concerns that his fantasy owners might have had after the illness scare and a sluggish week 1.  Maclin racked up a staggering 13 receptions for 171 yards and 2 TDs. I was never concerned that much and think that Maclin is a top 15 receiver the rest of the way.

Cam Newton, QB, CAR – Even after his big week 1, I didn’t think Newton would be able to be too effective against a VERY good Packers defense. Despite the pass rush and secondary, Cam was the 2nd highest scoring QB in fantasy this week and while I don’t see him keeping up this production consistently the rest of the way, but I see no reason to not ride out this hot streak if you are in need of a QB. He is definitely a must-start for a while in 2 QB leagues.

Jahvid Best, RB, DET – I am not a big fan of Best, but he has big play ability and is on an offense that is clearly going to have little issue with producing stats for fantasy owners. Best was a factor in both the passing and running game this week with 57 yards on the ground and 66 in the air with both a rushing and receiving score. His rushing performance was mediocre at best considering he saw 15 carries but at the end of the day, who doesn’t love 23 fantasy points for your RB2?

Eric Decker, WR, DEN – With Brandon Lloyd inactive in this game, Decker was a fashionable plug-in for people in need of a flex play this week and it paid off big time. He caught 5 passes for 113 yards and had 2 TDs against the Bengals and should have ensured that Orton looks his way more when Lloyd is back and 100%.

Kenny Britt, WR, TEN – I’ll stop writing about him when he stops making me look so smart. Britt had another huge day in week 2 with 135 yards and a TD on 9 catches. He’s a top 10 receiver and at this point it is pretty hard to argue with that. Start him every week.

Duds

Antonio Gates, TE, SD – Gates was double teamed all game in week 2 and shockingly put up zero points against the Patriots. They schemed to take him out of the game and it was a successful strategy.  But let’s not panic, he is still by far the top TE in fantasy football.

Matt Cassel, QB, KC – Cassel was terrible both weeks so far.  I never expected the Chiefs to be what they were last year, but I did hope for something.  In my league (which does not have standard scoring) Cassel lost me three points and even in a standard format, he certainly didn’t do you any favors.  With Moeaki and Charles gone for the season, I have no faith in the Chiefs’ offense anymore and see no reason to risk starting Cassel any longer.

Mike Williams, WR, TB – Zero points? What happened?! This was a weird game for the Buccs and it took them some time to be productive on offense.  Arrelious Benn caught the TD pass from Freeman and LeGarrette Blount led the comeback.  I am not worried about Williams the rest of the way, but I wasn’t quite as high on him as others were going into the season.

DeAngelo Williams, RB, CAR – The rise of Cam Newton seems to be spelling the downfall of Williams.  As long as Cam is able to be effective in pass-first offense, I expect Ron Rivera and the Panthers to let him go for it. Williams isn’t seeing a lot of work and has not been able to do much with his limited touches.  Don’t drop him yet, but he is not a quality start even as a flex play for a while in my opinion.

Marshawn Lynch, RB, SEA – You can’t start Lynch any more and if Seattle can’t drum up any offense next week, I expect to see Lynch show up on my Dump List. He had just 11 yards in week 2.

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Dec
14
2010

Studs And Duds From Week 14

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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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Dec
11
2010

Week 14 Player Rankings 2.0: Wide Receivers

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1. Greg Jennings @ DET
2. Roddy White @ CAR
3. Andre Johnson Vs. BAL
4. Calvin Johnson Vs. GB
5. Dwayne Bowe @ SD
6. Marques Colston Vs. STL
7. DeSean Jackson @ DAL
8. Brandon Lloyd @ ARI
9. Jeremy Maclin @ DAL
10. Anquan Boldin @ HOU
11. Mike Wallace Vs. CIN
12. Miles Austin Vs. PHI
13. Terrell Owens @ PIT
14. Mike Williams (TB) @ WAS
15. Steve Johnson Vs. CLE
16. Wes Welker @ CHI
17. Larry Fitzgerald Vs. DEN
18. Michael Crabtree Vs. SEA
19. Sidney Rice Vs. NYG
20. Santonio Holmes Vs. MIA
21. Percy Harvin Vs. NYG
22. Donald Driver @ DET
23. Mario Manningham @ MIN
24. Derrick Mason @ HOU
25. Steve Smith (NYG) @ MIN
26. Hines Ward Vs. CIN
27. Chad Ochocinco @ PIT
28. Malcom Floyd Vs. KC
29. Brandon Marshall @ NYJ
30. Johnny Knox Vs. NE
31. Santana Moss Vs. TB
32. Braylon Edwards Vs. MIA
33. Jacoby Ford @ JAC
34. Anthony Armstrong Vs. TB
35. Steve Smith (CAR) Vs. ATL
36. Danny Woodhead @ CHI
37. Davone Bess @ NYJ
38. Roy Williams Vs. PHI
39. Lance Moore Vs. STL
40. Mike Thomas Vs. OAK
41. Steve Breaston Vs. DEN
42. Ben Obomanu @ SF
43. Lee Evans Vs. CLE
44. James Jones @ DET
45. Robert Meachem Vs. STL
46. Jason Avant @ DAL
47. Mike Williams (SEA) @ SF
48. Nate Burleson Vs. GB
49. Jordan Shipley @ PIT
50. Jabar Gaffney @ ARI
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Dec
02
2010

Week 13 Preview: Key Matchups and Their Fantasy Relevance

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Jets at Patriots

The Battle for the AFC East will be fought on Monday night this week as the Patriots play host to the cardiac Jets.  The Jets managed to win this match up when they were at home in week 2 this year, but in order to demonstrate they are a true threat to make it to the Super Bowl… they will need to prove they can go on the road and beat an elite team.  Despite the fact that the Patriots have the same record, I don’t foresee them being able to beat the Jets in this match up.  The Patriots’ pass defense has fallen to last place in the NFL and with the development of Sanchez coming along smoothly and the integration of Santonio Holmes into the Jets offense being finished, I am going to go out on a limb and say that the Jets complete a comeback win inside the last two minutes of the game.  Because of the Jets defense you should stay away from starting any and all Patriots players on your fantasy team… except Brady. Upgrade Sanchez and his receivers as the Patriots have proven they are not able to keep receivers covered for very long at all.  The Patriots run defense is solid, but they are not good enough to lower expectations for LT or Shonn Greene.

Texans at Eagles

The number two game on my list of must-see games this week is the Thursday night game on NFL Network tonight.  The Texans are another pass defense that does not seem to be able to cover anyone and until last week they appeared to have a strangle-hold on the worst ranked pass defense in the NFL.  On the other side of the ball Michael Vick is having an MVP season this year.  He has thrown just ONE interception thus far and while facing off against such a terrible secondary, Vick is sure to have a huge performance in this game and he has been locked in as my top ranked QB for the week.  Also look for great performances from each of the Eagles’ top two receivers as each has been a beneficiary of Vick’s play.  Lots of people have lowered their expectations for DeSean Jackson, largely due to the consistency of Jeremy Maclin… but no receiver in the league has the big-play ability that Jackson does and I feel he is a must start for the rest of the way.  The Eagles defense has been able to contain most of the RBs they have faced this season, but with Foster being the top rusher of the season… he remains a must start and it is reasonable to expect a good game from him this week.  Andre Johnson is still a stud and since he was not suspended, you still have to start him as he is the best all-around receiver in the NFL.  I expect a big win for the Eagles if they get Asante Samuel back in their lineup for this match up, but if not… this game could go just like the Bears game did.

Steelers at Ravens

A football fan’s favorite match up comes in as the third must-watch game of the week.  The past 10 or so years have featured elite defenses from both the Steelers and Ravens every year.  Since they face each other twice a year, there is also a rivalry element when these teams meet… which almost always leads to a hard-fought and entertaining defensive battle.  So, if you want to see long passing TDs and breakout offensive performances… your going to want to find a different game to watch.  Downgrade EVERYONE involved in this game on the offensive side of the ball, though with the struggles of the Ravens defense this year… your Steelers are likely still starters for your week 13 fantasy match up.  I expect the Steelers to create a big play or two with Big Ben’s scrambling ability and that should be enough to get the win in this game.  As for the Ravens on your fantasy team, don’t expect a big game from  Boldin… but with Ray Rice’s involvement in the passing game he will remain a top 20 RB.

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Dec
01
2010

Week 13 Player Rankings: Wide Receivers

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1. Andre Johnson @ PHI
2. Dwayne Bowe Vs. DEN
3. Roddy White @ TB
4. Reggie Wayne Vs. DAL
5. Greg Jennings Vs. SF
6. Brandon Lloyd @ KC
7. DeSean Jackson Vs. HOU
8. Calvin Johnson Vs. CHI
9. Jeremy Maclin Vs. HOU
10. Larry Fitzgerald Vs. STL
11. Marques Colston @ CIN
12. Steve Johnson @ MIN
13. Terrell Owens Vs. NO
14. Santonio Holmes @ NE
15. Mike Wallace @ BAL
16. Miles Austin @ IND
17. Mike Williams (TB) Vs. ATL
18. Mario Manningham Vs. WAS
19. Dez Bryant @ IND
20. Percy Harvin Vs. BUF
21. Braylon Edwards @ NE
22. Santana Moss @ NYG
23. Hines Ward @ BAL
24. Michael Crabtree @ GB
25. Wes Welker vs. NYJ
26. Johnny Knox @ DET
27. Anquan Boldin Vs. PIT
28. Pierre Garcon Vs. DAL
29. Malcom Floyd Vs. OAK
30. Brandon Marshall Vs. CLE
31. Sidney Rice Vs. BUF
32. Blair White Vs. DAL
33. Davone Bess Vs. CLE
34. Chad Ochocinco Vs. NO
35. Steve Smith (CAR) @ SEA
36. Deion Branch Vs. NYJ
37. James Jones Vs. SF
38. Ben Obomanu Vs. CAR
39. Derrick Mason Vs. PIT
40. Mike Thomas @ TEN
41. Steve Breaston Vs. STL
42. Lance Moore @ CIN
43. Mike Sims-Walker @ TEN
44. Randy Moss Vs. JAC
45. Jacoby Ford @ SD
46. Donald Driver Vs. SF
47. Nate Washington Vs. JAC
48. Danny Amendola @ ARI
49. Nate Burleson Vs. CHI
50. Lee Evans @ MIN
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Dec
01
2010

Love and Hate Lists for Week 13

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Love

Jamaal Charles, RB, KC – The Broncos run defense is not quite as bad as Buffalo’s… but it is close!  They are currently ranked 30th in the NFL and are allowing an average of 141 yards per game… and the Chiefs have the best rushing attack in the league.

Santonio Holmes, WR, NYJ – The Patriots’ secondary has done the unthinkable… fallen below the Texans in yards per game allowed.  Also, Brady and the Pats’ offense is firing on all cylinders… so Sanchez and the Jets will need to score a lot of points and move the ball primarily through the air in this game.

Michael Vick, QB, PHI – Vick goes against the Texans 31st ranked pass defense and given his level of play over the course of the season, he is going to be my top ranked QB this week.

Mario Manningham, WR, NYG – The Redskins defense has fallen apart and the offense is not able to consistently produce points.  It looks as if Manningham will be the top receiver on the depth chart for New York this game and other than Kevin Boss, there is no one else Manning will trust near the end zone.

Mike Tolbert, RB, SD – With the Raiders 28th ranked run defense at home for a match up, I have a good feeling that Tolbert will be able to put together his third straight 100 yard performance.  Tolbert also specializes in short yardage runs, so there is no one to vulture any TDs from him at the 1 yard line.

Jeremy Maclin, WR, PHI – Even though DeSean Jackson is on the top of the depth chart, Maclin has been remarkably consistent over the course of the fantasy season and the Texans are not able to stop people from passing on them.  I foresee a blowout performance by the Eagles in this game, who are looking to make a statement after a week 12 loss to the Bears.

Steven Jackson, RB, STL – The NFC West is up for grabs and with Frank Gore out for the year, the Rams are the team that is best equipped to make a run for the playoffs.  Why? Because of Jackson and his power-running style.  As for this week, the Cardinals are allowing an average of 24 fantasy points per game to opposing running backs.

Jay Cutler, QB, CHI – How can you not love Cutler after a 4 TD 0 INT performance against the Eagles last week, especially with a game against the Lions!  Detroit should be starting Drew Stanton at QB for this game and with the struggles of their running game, expect the Bears to win this one handily.

Reggie Wayne, WR, IND – The Colts have to get their season back on the right track.  Addai is going to be returning soon and Manning will have both of his trusted veterans back in place.  Wayne has not had very many big games this season, but he has been consistent and he has the trust of his QB.

Hate

Wes Welker, WR, NE – There is some talk that Revis might not be on Welker the entire game… how can this be true?  Who is a bigger threat at receiver than Welker for the Patriots? Exactly. Despite his recent turnaround, there is too much risk with starting Welker here.  Treat it as a test… if he can get decent production in this matchup, he is back to a must-start for the playoffs!

Cedric Benson, RB, CIN – With the defending super bowl champions coming to town this week, the Bengals are extremely likely to be playing from behind almost the entire game and Benson will be made irrelevant by the need to pass the ball.  This has been the story of his entire season.

Calvin Johnson, WR, DET – With the Lions down to their 3rd QB for their week 13 matchup against the Bears, there is little chance that the Lions are able to play at a high level like they have all season.  The Bears will pressure Drew Stanton all game and it is very difficult to throw touchdown passes to your pro bowl wide receiver when you are lying on your back.  You still have to start Megatron, but lower your expectations.

Brian Westbrook, RB, SF – The 49ers have come out and said that they will not likely use Westbrook as the feature back for the rest of the way.  This is due to the fact that they are just one game back from leading their division and making the playoffs!  Westbrook would not be able to play at a high level with 25 or so carries a game into the playoffs and you can expect to see him share carries with Anthony Dixon.  The main reason for not liking Westbrook this week is their opponent however… I don’t see how the Packers lose back to back games when they host the 9ers this week.

Chad Ochocinco, WR, CIN – He is still just too risky to start.  The Bengals offense is in disarray and the defense is being dismantled by injuries.  The Saints are currently ranked 3rd in the NFL at defending the pass, so the only Bengal receiver you should consider starting is TO unless you’re in a deep format or injury trouble.

Matt Schaub, QB, HOU – the Eagles were missing Asante Samuel last week in their loss to the Bears.  It appears as though he will be a go for the Thursday night game this week against Schaub and the Texans.  You should sit Schaub if you have a viable alternative, as Samuel is the ball hawk that completes this Eagles secondary.

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