As we said in our AFC North preview, if you’re in your league’s championship game, good luck, and happy holidays!

 

MINNESTOA VIKINGS at Cincinnati Bengals

 

Matt Cassell had a huge game last week against the Bears, with 3 total scores and over 400 total yards. He should come back to earth this week, and can’t even be considered a QB2 against a Bengals defense giving up the 8th fewest points to opposing fantasy QBs. Per ESPN, the Bengals have given up just 3 running back scores all season, so if Adrian Peterson does return, expectations should be tempered. Toby Gerhart should also see significant work unless Peterson is 100%, making this a murky situation. If he’s a full go, though, Peterson is in line for his usual 100 total yards and a score prediction. Cassell’s return has provided a kickstart for Greg Jennings‘ fantasy productivity, and he’s worth a flex spot this week. Cordarrelle Patterson is also a low-end flex prospect, as he’s proven he can put up a nice fantasy day on just one play. Jerome Simpson and Jairus Wright have shown they can have big days, but are too inconsistent to merit real consideration.

 

New York Giants at DETROIT LIONS

 

Calvin Johnson hasn’t posted double digit points in standard scoring leagues in either of the last two weeks, and is listed as questionable for the game against the Giants. If he suits up, however, there’s no way you’re benching him. As always, he’s a threat for over 100 yards and a score. There’s no other Lions WR worth playing this week, but Joe Fauria is someone we believe can help owners win championships this week with Brandon Pettigrew out. If you’re missing Jordan Cameron, for example, you could do a lot worse than slotting Fauria into your lineup. It’s a risk for sure, but one worth taking, with his upside. We like Reggie Bush for over 100 total yards this week, but there’s a very real chance Joique Bell vultures a score from him. Bell himself is worth flex consideration, and Bush is as always a top-8 option at the position. Matt Stafford has tortured owners with a pair of terrible games over the last two weeks, but should bounce back against a Giants defense which has been iffy at best all season long. He’s still a top-8 fantasy QB this week. It’s also hard not to like the Lions D/ST facing Eli Manning in the midst of a historically bad season.

 

Pittsburgh Steelers at GREEN BAY PACKERS

 

Aaron Rodgers is once again out, meaning Matt Flynn will lead the Packers against the Steelers. Flynn had a nice game last week with 299 passing yards and 4 scores, but we feel like that was the exception, rather than indicative of future performance. He’s barely in the QB2 conversation, and 250 yards and 2 scores seems like the upper end of what he can achieve this week. Jordy Nelson is still the only Packers WR worth starting when Flynn is in the game, and at that he’s a lower-end WR2. James Jones and Jarrett Boykin are too inconsistent with Flynn at the helm to consider starting in such an important game, though Andrew Quarless is a sneaky option after scoring in back-to-back games. Eddie Lacy is the most trustworthy Packers fantasy option, and his blend of workload and talent mean he’s a top 5 option against a Steelers defense which has given up 16 scores on the ground through 14 games. 100 total yards and a score should be his baseline.

 

CHICAGO BEARS at Philadelphia Eagles

 

Brandon Marshall benefited from his QB’s return last week, finishing the game with 6 catches for 95 yards and a score. The real takeaway though is his 13 targets, proving again that Jay Cutler will always try to forcefeed Marshall the ball. He’s in line for another big game, and should have 100 yards and another score. Cutler himself returns to top-10 QB status, picking up where John McCown left off. This week he faces an Eagles defense giving up the 6th most points to opposing QBs. Alshon Jeffery is also a strong start, with the Eagles giving up the most points to opposing fantasy WRs. He should have at least 80 yards and is also a good bet to score. Matt Forte has been simply sensational this season, and should have another 130-total yard game. Outside of weeks 10 and 12, Forte has scored double digit points in standard scoring leagues in every game. He is a top-5 option as always. Martellus Bennett hasn’t had close to the same level of consistency this season, and has fallen out of the TE1 discussion completely, particularly against an Eagles defense which has given up just two scores to tight ends all season.

 

 

Two simple words for you if you’ve made it this far into your fantasy season – GOOD LUCK!

 

Minnesota Vikings at CINCINNATI BENGALS

 

In the two games after his clunker against the Chargers, Andy Dalton threw for over 500 yards, 5 TDs and 0 INTs. Last week against the Eagles the Vikings defense gave up over 400 yards passing. Dalton is a legitimate top-10 option this week. This also bodes well for A.J. Green, with the Vikings giving up the second most points to opposing wide receivers. 100 yards and a score is a very realistic proposition, and Green may even exceed that. Marvin Jones is also a viable option if you’re in desperation mode, though the possibility of him putting up a goose egg is just as likely as a score. Giovanni Bernard is a great RB2 this week, and should break off a long run or catch as the Vikings don’t have the LBs to keep up with him. He should flirt with 100 total yards. BenJarvus Green-Ellis shouldn’t be viewed as more than a low-end flex. As has been the case all season, it’s too hard to trust either Tyler Eifert or Jermaine Gresham, who cannibalise  each other’s value. It is worth noting that the Vikings are giving up the third most points to opposing TEs, however.

 

CLEVELAND BROWNS at New York Jets

 

Josh Gordon has scored at least once in each of his last 5 games. The Jets have nobody in the secondary who can cover him, and he could have a field day this week. He’s our number 3 WR this weeek, and should have at least 100 yards and a score. No Browns RB is worth starting against a stout Jets defensive line. Jason Campbell is also impossible to trust, and has low-end QB2 status this week. Gordon’s stat line will make up most of Campbell’s, as Jordon Cameron is out with a concussion. No other Browns TE is worth considering starting in his stead. A special mention goes to the Browns D/ST who face “the GenoCoaster”, who has had the Christmas spirit all season, giving gifts of interceptions to opposing teams. The Browns are a legitimate top-5 option this week.

 

New England Patriots at BALTIMORE RAVENS

 

If Joe Flacco fully fit, we like him for around 250 yards and 2 TDs against a generous Pats defense of late. However, last week’s horror show against the Lions will give many owners cause for concern. Ray Rice and Bernard Pierce should both be riding the pine, as they’ve simply not shown they’re worth even considering starting, even against an injury depleted Patriots defense. We like Torrey Smith to top 80 yards and a score, but he should still only be deployed as a WR2. Jacoby Jones and Marlon Brown should see in the region of 40 to 60 yards each, but neither should be in consideration for a spot on your team in the championship game. Dennis Pitta is as safe an option at tight end as there is outside of the elite players at the position. He could have anywhere from 50 to 120 yards, but he has a high floor. Justin Tucker won’t replicate last week’s heroics, but he could have a big say in determining the winner of this game, and yours. Start him.

 

PITTSBURGH STEELERS at Green Bay Packers

 

Per ESPN, the Packers’ defense has given up seven passing TDs over the last 3 weeks. Last week’s showing against the Bengals aside, Ben Roethlisberger has been one of fantasy’s hottest QBs, and he’s a borderline QB1 against this vulnerable Packers unit, and around 275 yards and 2 scores is realistic. Antonio Brown would have had a respectable enough stat line last week with just his 5 catches for 66 yards and a score, but he tacked on a special teams score also. He’s a sure-fire WR1 this week, and he’s our 6tth ranked wideout this week. Le’Veon Bell had almost as many receiving yards as he did rushing last week, and he may repeat that feat this week. He should eclipse 100 total yards, and is a good bet to score. He’s a borderline RB1. Jerricho Cotchery and Emmanuel Sanders are hard to trust, but Heath Miller is a nice play this week. We like him for around 60 yards and a score.

CHICAGO BEARS at Cleveland Browns

 

Jay Cutler provides an interesting dilemma for owners this week. He was impressive early on in the season, but not to the extent that Josh McCown has been. Then there’s the memory of him returning against the Cowboys, only to aggravate his injury and miss a further 4 games. If he plays a full game, he should have around 275 yards and 2 scores. Brandon Marshall should be the main beneficiary of Cutler’s return, and while it may hinder Alshon Jeffery slightly, each are bona fide WR1 options this week. Neither should score under 12 standard points. Matt Forte may have a tough time scoring on the Browns this week, but we like him for over 120 total yards. Per ESPN, the Browns have also allowed 4 tight end scores over the last 4 games, so Martellus Bennett may be in line for a nice game, but his recent performances mean he remains a low-end TE1. In summation, start your Bears (except maybe Bennett).

 

Philadelphia Eagles at MINNESOTA VIKINGS

 

Ugh. With Adrian Peterson‘s status questionable, it’s very difficult to recommend starting any Vikings players in your fantasy playoffs. Matt Cassell just won’t give you the production you need in such a pivotal game. Toby Gerhart, Peterson’s presumptive backup, is injured himself, and going against an Eagles defense that has been sneakily good of late. They have nobody of note fit at tight end, and the wide receiver corps has underperformed all season. The ray of light is that the Eagles are giving up the most points to opposing WRs on the season. Greg Jennings has seen 19 targets over the past two games, and Cordarrelle Patterson is finally beginning to translate his return game ability into the offense. Of the pair, we’d rather start Patterson, as his ceiling is sky-high – as last week’s 20 standard points show.

 

GREEN BAY PACKERS at Dallas Cowboys

 

Matt Flynn faces the defense giving up the most points to opposing fantasy QBs. Unfortunately for his owners, that likely means Flynn only puts up respectable numbers, rather than a huge game. His play since he’s taken over the Packers’ starting QB position has been uninspiring (to put it kindly), and he’s doing nothing to help the value of those around him. As a result, Jordy Nelson is a low-end WR2, even against a soft defense, and James Jones and Jarrett Boykin are barely even worthy of flex consideration, and that’s only because of the matchup. Andrew Quarless is only worth consideration in extreme desperation, because his useage has been inconsistent even just taking Flynn’s starts into account. Eddie Lacy is the Packers player with the best chance of putting up big numbers this week. The Cowboys are giving up the most points to opposing RBs this season, and this week again miss arguably their best player in Sean Lee. Lacy, providing he’s fit enough, should see at least 20 carries, and has a chance to post a monster stat line. Even with the injury concern, he’s a top-5 RB option this week.

 

Baltimore Ravens at DETROIT LIONS

 

If you were to just look at Matt Stafford‘s stat line from last week, you’d think he was horrible. If you watched any of the game, you’d know why. The weather conditions in Philly were as bad as any seen in a recent football game, and in reality no players had a decent shot of producing anything of note. Kind of difficult when you have to lift your foot to knee height to get it out of the snow. We like him as a top-3 option again this week, even against an improving Ravens defense. It goes without saying that Calvin Johnson is fantasy’s top option at the position, especially when he’ll be looking to prove a point to Matt Elam. Unfortunately, no other Lions wideout is worth considering using, especially at such an important part of the season. Reggie Bush is likely to give owners a headache this week, as his status will remain unclear right up until Monday night’s game. If he can’t go, Joique Bell will be a nice option, but unless you have him as a handcuff it might be best to bench Bush, as there are so few other options. As per usual, avoid Joe Fauria and Brandon Pettigrew. You’ll be less annoyed if you bench them and they score 10 points than if you start them and the score 0.

Chicago Bears at CLEVELAND BROWNS

 

Finally, Josh Gordon  has some company as a Browns player worth considering for fantasy purposes! Obviously, you’ll be starting Gordon given his superhuman performance and production this season. His current pace extrapolated over a full 16 game season would have him at 2,036 yards and 11 TDs. Gordon is our #2 ranked WR this week, and he isn’t far behind Calvin in those rankings. Jordan Cameron finally showed some signs of life last week, finishing with 9 catches for 121 yards and a score. It’d be ambitious to expect a similar stat line, but 60-70 yards and a 50/50 chance to score seems rasonable. Jason Campbell had a monster game last week with almost 400 passing yards and 3 scores, and having Gordon at his disposal helps. However, he’s a risky start in your fantasy playoffs outside of a 2 QB league, and more than 275 yards and 2 scores would be impressive. If you’re still missing Aaron Rodgers, for instance, you could do worse, but don’t bet the house on Campbell. Chris Obgonnaya gets a special mention this week as a result of going against a poor Bears rush defense and Willis McGahee being out. He’ll still share work in the backfield, but he’s a sneaky flex option this week, and could see around 100 total yards.

 

CINCINNATI BENGALS at PITTSBURGH STEELERS

 

There’s a distinct chance this will be a snow game, so if that happens, throw every prediction out the window. Ben Roethlisberger has been on a terrific tear of late, with 11 scores and 0 INTs over the last 4 weeks. He’s a safe bet for at least 250 yards and 2 scores, and is a high-upside QB2. Andy Dalton is a player we like a lot this week, and feel that he can exploit Pittsburgh’s secondary which has been prone to giving up big plays all season. His stat line should look similar to Roethlisberger’s by the end of the day. BenJarvus Green-Ellis is unlikely to put up big yardage, but is a good bet to score. Giovanni Bernard is a nice option, and we like him to pile up over 120 total yards. Le’Veon Bell will be in for a tough game, and his ceiling could be around 90 yards, though there’s every chance he can do more with his usual 20 touches. He’s best used as a flex option this week. Per ESPN, the Bengals’ defense has given up 6 WR scores over the last 4 games, though we think that benefits Emmanuel Sanders and Jerricho Cotchery more than Antonio Brown, who will still see his yardage top 100. All three are worthwhile options this week, depending on how desperate you are. A.J. Green has a very realistic shot at being fantasy’s highest scoring WR, as there looks to be nobody in the Steelers’ secondary capable of keeping up with him. Marvin Jones is also a sneaky option this week with a chance to go for over 60 yards and a score, but he’s a risky play. In spite of his score last week, we can’t recommend Jermaine Gresham, as week 14 was his first game with double digit fantasy points all season, and he finished with just 10. His floor and ceiling are just too low. Heath Miller, on the other hand, should have a baseline of around 60 yards, and is a safe play this week.

 

BALTIMORE RAVENS at Detroit Lions

 

Joe Flacco has, on paper, a juicy matchup with the Lions’ secondary. However, they’ve given up just 1 passing TD over the past 2 games. In the 3 weeks prior to last week’s game with the Vikings, Flacco had a solitary touchdown pass in each. Start him at your own risk. This also obviously hinders the Ravens’ WR corps, though Torrey Smith remains a high-upside WR2. We wouldn’t trust Marlon Brown who saw his targets increase from 1 in week 13 to 11 (!!!) in week 14. There’s just not enough consistency to consider using him. Dennis Pitta is a cause for optimism though, showing upon his return from injury that Flacco would target him often in key situations. His upside rivals that of almost any TE in the league, and if he’s on your roster he’s worth starting. Ray Rice and Bernard Pierce are not even worth considering starting against the Lions’ fearsome defensive line, which has been sensational against the run in recent weeks. Justin Tucker gets a bonus kicker mention, and should have a bounce-back game in a matchup in which the Ravens may struggle to move the ball.

I think this would be a week to start any Atlanta Falcons player that you have…..or at least the relevant ones. Matt Ryan plays great at home, which will only benefit the rest of his team. Super Geno (haha) heads into Carolina to take on Super Cam and the mad Panthers after their crushing loss at the hands of the Saints last week. Nice matchup of the bay teams, as the 49ers head into Tampa which could be a defensive struggle. And of course the Saints get lucky with an indoor road game against the lowly Rams which could benefit any team that starts a Saints player.

Washington at Atlanta

If you somehow rode Matt Ryan to this point in the playoffs, well done. He has an outstanding match up this week and I think he could finish around the QB5 level this week. I would definitely recommend starting him this week. They are currently the 27th ranked defense in stopping the pass and they have given up 25 TDs through the air this year. Matt Ryan is going to eat this week.

Oh they can’t stop the pass so they must be good at stopping the run right? WRONG! Well, actually they give up 4.1 yards per carry on the ground, good for 15th in the league. So they’re not great but they’re not terrible either. Given that I think the Falcons are going to move the ball up and down the field, I love Steven Jackson this week as well. I think he will get a ton of carries and more than likely a short score.

DeAngelo Hall should match up with Roddy White, but given how Roddy has played the past couple of weeks, I think Atlanta will try and feed him the ball, moving him around the field to get him away from Hall who is Washington’s best DB. I like Roddy this week, I like Harry Douglas this week, heck I even like Tony G this week! Well, Gonzo has scored the past two weeks and I think this could continue. Harry Douglas had a down week, but they’ll be back in their home dome against a weak defense, so I’m thinking he gets back to seeing over 8 targets and catching more of those throws.

San Francisco at Tampa Bay

San Francisco has been playing excellent on defense as of late. Due to that, I do not like Mike Glennon. Not that you were going to start him over many QBs, but this week especially is not good for him.

I can’t recommend Bobby Rainey this week either. This defense shut down Zac Stacy who had been running wild the previous few games before taking them on. They held Marshawn Lynch to under 75 yards and he always has their number! In fact, San Fran has not given up 100 yards rushing to a running back all season!

Vincent Jackson is the only player in the receiving corps worth a start. A very tough match up this week, but there’s no way you have a better option than him for this week. He’s gotten you here more than likely, ride it out. Ride the roller coaster and hope that Glennon the Giraffe has enough time to throw a couple deep bombs to him.

New York Jets at Carolina

This Jets defense has given up 2 passing TDs in each of the past two games. I think that’s a good sign for Cam Newton who is probably mad after getting crushed in prime time by the Saints. They game up those TDs to two QBs who in my books are less talented than Cam Newton – McGloin and Tannehill. Also, I don’t see Carolina having much of a run game since the Jets are excellent against the run, so I think Super Cam may take that into his own hands.

As I’ve said the past few weeks, tough to start any of the Panthers RBs, even if Stewart is out. The Jets are solid against the run and its clearly a running back by committee. Yuck.

Steve Smith had a late TD last week against the Saints which salvaged his fantasy day. Tough to trust him here, but him and Greg Olsen are the only guys worth a start on this team. They were 1 and 2 in targets and receptions last week and no other pass catcher had more than 2 receptions last week. Steve Smith may be a WR3 this week with WR2 upside. Hopefully he is that kind of player on your team, or you may be in trouble. As for Greg Olsen, he had 8 receptions for 40 yards, so he gets a bump in value in PPR. If he scores (2 of the last 4 games he has a TD) he will obviously have a nice game. In PPR I still think he’s a good play regardless of him scoring, but for him to be worth it in standard, he has to score. Good thing about TEs is that most of the other TEs are similar to him (outside of Julius/Graham of course).

New Orleans at St. Louis

Start Drew Brees. Carson Palmer had a nice game last week, but I think he didn’t have the game he could have because Arizona ran the ball so well. Brees is going to pass and pass a lot. Of course there’s no way you’re sitting Brees basically ever anyways.

Apparently the Saints like to spread the carries around just as much as they like to spread the throws around. St. Louis is not the run defense that Carolina is, plus I think the Saints will control this game from the beginning. They are on the road yes, but they are still indoors. Pierre Thomas and Darren Sproles in PPR I think are going to be solid plays this week. Both had down weeks, but I think I will chalk that up to how that game played out. Don’t think Mark Ingram is a very good option unless you play in a super deep league, he could get some work later in the game if the Saints are up big after halftime.

So…..I missed on Colston last week. Thing about him is that its tough to predict when those games will happen with him. I think he could have another good week against a weak St. Louis defense. My guess is that they’re going to focus on Graham/Sproles, leaving things open for Colston. Obviously you’re starting Jimmy Graham, no matter how much the Rams want to try and shut him down. It seems like the only one that could do it was Aqib Talib and Graham left that game early. The other WRs you can’t really start or trust because Brees throws it all over the place after his favourite targets.

So if you managed to make it this far, well done! I hope you have a few of the studs in this division as they can pay some solid dividends this week. Will we see a repeat of the Andre Johnson / TY Hilton huge games in Indy this week?

Houston at Indianapolis

Last time these two met, both QBs had awesome games. Things have changed recently – I would not start Case Keenum because I think there’s a lot of better options out there, plus he’s been playing poor lately with just 2 TDs in his last 4 games (oh and he was benched last week for Captain Pick-6). Andrew Luck had been playing poor until last week – so I think he will have a nice game here. He has a nice game against a tougher Cincy defense last week; I feel that will continue in a nice divisional game.

Can’t trust either of the Indy running backs – if you start them this week, they will probably ruin your life. As for Ben Tate, he didn’t have a great game last time against Indy, but he did get a ton of work which was a good sign. I don’t expect a huge game for him this week either, unless he scores. Problem is, outside of the NE game where he scored three TDs, he had not scored since October against the Rams.

Tough to trust TY Hilton or even Coby Fleener here given what this offense has been over the past little while and last game they combined for 7 receptions and 60 yards. TY Hilton did have his best game of the year against Houston last time around, but he has basically been a non-factor over the past few weeks. As for Houston, I really like Andre Johnson in this matchup, as is with most matchups. He gets a boost in PPR, but obviously still a strong play in standard formats. Garrett Graham was very solid last week with 8 receptions for 73 yards and a TD, so if you need a TE he could be a sneaky play.

Buffalo at Jacksonville

I’m going to keep this one short. MJD you have to start as he eclipsed 100 total yards and almost had a TD to add to that. Cecil Shorts only had 2 receptions last week – good thing one was for a TD! He’s worth a start this week against a Buffalo defense that gave up a nice game to Vincent Jackson last week. Ace Sanders is an interesting guy as he looks like the #2 guy there and apparently can throw passing TDs. More of a deep league play.

Arizona at Tennessee

Ryan Fitzpatrick I think is no more than a streaming option or a deeper league play. A good thing for him is that the mighty Nick Foles had 3 TDs and almost 250 yards against this defense just two weeks ago.

CJ2K has been just “meh” for me the past couple of weeks. Had a short TD and managed double digits last week against Denver and the road does not get any easier this week. Arizona gives up the 3rd least yards per carry in the league at 3.6 which does not bode well for CJ2K. I don’t think he has a great game this week, but there’s always a chance he can get a short TD…..or maybe not as Arizona has given up just 5 rushing TDs all year! He’s a sit for me if you have someone better.

Kendall Wright I think is the only name worth mentioning here. He had “one of those games” last week against Denver. He should get back to his standard 6 receptions for 60 yards or better as he’s done all season. Justin Hunter I guess is an intriguing name, but I think last week was a game that nobody could predict and he will go back to being fairly irrelevant. No more than a deeper league play, or if you reeeeeeallllyyyy feel like gambling!

As with the NFC North piece, we’re going to do away with talking about players who might get you a few points, but won’t realistically help you win in the playoffs this week. As such, there’ll be no talk of the Vikings QB situation, or the Vikings TE situation, or the VIkings…….you get the idea.

 

 

MINNESOTA VIKINGS at Baltimore Ravens

 

Adrian Peterson

Peterson is matchup-proof, we all know that. That’s a good thing as he’s facing a Ravens defense giving up the 4th fewest points to opposing RBs. A bigger concern for Peterson is his health, as he was still listed as questionable on Friday. As long as he suits up, he’s a threat to go for over 100 yards and a TD. But this week, he’s “merely” a top-5 option rather than a top 1-2.

 

Greg Jennings

We aren’t fooled by Jennings’ big day last week. While the Raven’s secondary hasn’t been fantastic, they’ve been a sight better than the Bears of late. The only other time Jennings has scored or posted double digit points in standard leagues was against Pittsburgh in week 4, so a repeat of last week’s performance is highly unlikely. 50 yards and no score seems a much more likely scenario.

 

Cordarrelle Patterson

If you have to start any Vikings receiver, it should be Patterson. His role in the offense is increasing and he’s still a threat to score in the return game. His upside is much higher than that of Jennings, but he’s a real boom-or-bust risk. His 30-yard floor mean you shouldn’t use him as anything more than a flex, but we have a sneaky feeling Patterson scores this week.

 

 

Atlanta Falcons at GREEN BAY PACKERS

 

Eddie Lacy

Last week, Lacy struggled against the Lions’ ferocious front seven. But that’s been the case with almost every running back facing the Lions’ ferocious all season. The Falcons have not been impressive defending the run all season, and Lacy will continue to be the centrepiece of the offense in Rodgers’ absence. Over 100 total yards and a score should be a given, and Lacy is a borderline top-5 RB option this week.

 

Jordy Nelson

Rodgers’ absence has torpedoed Nelson’s value to his fantasy owners, with neither Matt Flynn nor Scott Tolzien able to get on the same page as “White Lightning”.  He’s now squarely in WR2 territory at best, and you shouldn’t go in expecting more than around 70 yards. If you have an option like Harry Douglas in the same game, it’s not a crazy thought to bench Jordy.

 

James Jones

Jones has been getting closer and closer to breaking off one of his patented long play TDs. We think it might happen this week, with the Falcons focusing on stopping Lacy and the running game. Like any Packers player, he’s a risky start, but if you’re an underdog and need a high upside play, there are worse options than Jones.

 

 

DETROIT LIONS at Philadelphia Eagles

 

Matt Stafford

The Eagles defense has stiffened in recent weeks. In spite of that, Stafford is still our top ranked QB this week, and we like him for over 300 yards and 3 scores. With the weapons he has at his disposal and his O-line playing at a high level, the sky is the limit for Stafford, and we like him as the top scoring QB for week 14.

 

Reggie Bush

Let’s be honest – if Bush suits up, you’re playing him. But he’ll lose work this week, and expectations should be tempered to a certain degree at least. Bush is still worth a spot in your line-up, but we have him closer to a low-end RB1 / high-end RB2 than his usual top-5 status. Of course, we’ve been wrong before.

 

Joique Bell

Hands up if you knew Bell was the 16th highest scoring RB in standard leagues? That’s more an indictment on the position than Bell’s production which has been spotty at best, but with Bush nicked up this week there’s a perfect opportunity to play him. We like Bell to put up over 80 yards, and he’s a good bet to score. He’s a good RB2 this week.

 

Calvin Johnson

#1 WR. Defense giving up most points to opposing WRs. There’s a very real chance Calvin sets some records this week.

 

 

Dallas Cowboys at CHICAGO BEARS

 

Josh McCown

Make no mistake, McCown is a QB1 this week. He’s performed terrifically well in each of his performances, and this week he gets the defense giving up the most points to opposing fantasy WRs. Throw in that he has great weapons and a stout O-line and there’s really not a lot not to like about McCown this week. He will help owners win playoff games this weekend.

 

Matt Forte

The Cowboys are giving up most fantasy points to opposing RBs – notice a theme here? Forte has the third most scrimmage yards in the league this season, and ought to feast on the Cowboys’ spongy defense. He’s our number 2 ranked running back this week, and anything less than 120 total yards and a score will be a big disappointment.

 

Brandon Marshall

Marshall had a bad game last week. He likely won’t again this week against a Cowboys secondary which has been torn up all season, giving up the most yards to wide receivers out of any team in the league. Marshall is a lock for over 100 yards, and is a virtual certainty for a score.

 

Alshon Jeffery

Jeffery has had an incredible season, but it’s been slightly inconsistent. This matchup could be one of the few where he and Marshall have productive games at the same time. Were it not against the Cowboys, chances are that Jeffery would be a prime candidate for a huge letdown game. But a generous secondary means he should see at least 80 yards, and he has a good chance to score also.

 

Martellus Bennett

We think Bennett has a chance to record his first back-to-back scoring games since weeks 1 and 2. He’s fallen away from “must start” status after a very strong start to the season, but there are worse plays than The Black Unicorn this week. He’s still a low-end TE1, and should have at least 60 receiving yards.

 

 

To streamline the content in this column so you can get right to the information you need to win in the playoffs, we’ve opted to cut out the “dead wood” players who will likely only post 2-3 points like Dallas Clark, Andrew Hawkins, etc., or any of the Browns QBs.

 

Minnesota Vikings at BALTIMORE RAVENS

 

Joe Flacco

Through 12 games, Flacco has 15 TDs and 14 INTs. It’s true, look it up. It’s been difficult to trust him, but if ever there was a week to do so, this is it. The Vikings have given up the most points to opposing fantasy QBs, and Flacco should post at least 260 yards and 2 scores. He’s a high-end QB2 this week.

 

Ray Rice

Ray Rice is a flex option. Who’da thunk it? Has lack of production has been truly stunning, given that he’s consistently seen a reasonable (or better) workload all season since he’s been fit. He should put up a slightly better game than he did against Pittsburgh last week, with around 80 total yards.

 

Torrey Smith

Smith has been Baltimore’s most reliable fantasy player this season, ahead of even the great Blair Walsh. He’s had double digit points in each of the last 3 weeks in standard leagues, and that streak should continue this week against a shoddy secondary. We like him for 80+ yards and a score, and he has the potential to double that. He’s a borderline WR1.

 

Jacoby Jones

If you need a high-upside play this week, you could a LOT worse than Jones. He’s a boom-or-bust player going against a poor defense, and has every chance to take a long one to the house. If you’re an underdog in the playoffs, Jones should be on your radar.

 

 

Indianapolis Colts at CINCINNATI BENGALS

 

Andy Dalton

Dalton was a huge letdown last week with just 10 points in what looked like a juicy matchup with the Chargers. Although their defense has been stingier, we like him to put up more points against the Colts and break his mini-slump. Dalton should put up over 275 yards and 2 scores.

 

Giovanni Bernard

Bernard had a poor game last week for fantasy purposes, but he’s due a decent game after a couple of sub-par outings. He’s somewhat hard to trust after Green-Ellis’ strong showing last week, but Bernard has the ability to make playing him worthwhile with just one play. If you can play him as an RB2 or even a flex, don’t hesitate to do so.

 

BenJarvus Green-Ellis

We’ll eat some crow on BJGE, after he posted 13 standard points last week. However, that was his best game of the season, and his first double digit outing since week 5. This week, we as usual suggest he’s played as nothing more than a flex, and benched if at all possible. His upside is just so limited.

 

A.J. Green

Green’s upside, conversely to Green-Ellis, is unlimited. Outside of his week 11 goose egg, Green’s posted double digit points in standard leagues since week 6. He’s Dalton’s favourite target, and for good reason. 100 yards and a score, as always.

 

 

Cleveland Browns at NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

 

Josh Gordon

As we’ve said all season, Gordon is one of the highest upside players in all of football. We urge a note of caution this week, as the Patriots are notorious for taking away an opposition’s best player. But you likely drafted Gordon as your WR2, and his baseline this week should be around 70 receiving yards. As we’ve seen all year, his upside is spectacular.

 

Jordan Cameron

Cameron stands to be the potential beneficiary of the Patriots’ attention on Gordon. He’s averaged 8 targets per game over the last 3 weeks, which is good for 6th most in the league over that span. He’s going to explode at some point, why not this week? In all likelihood you don’t have a better option anyway, so roll with Cameron.

 

 

PITTSBURGH STEELERS at Miami Dolphins

 

Ben Roethlisberger

Big Ben is quietly the 11th ranked QB in standard scoring leagues, and the #8 in 6-point per passing TD leagues. The Dolphins are giving up the 3rd fewest points to opposing QBs, with just 4 passing TDs given up over the last 8 weeks. Not quite an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object, but it provides an interesting dilemma. Some people are reluctant to start Ben this week, but we like him at a similar level he’s been all season – a high-end QB2.

 

Le’Veon Bell

Before his injury against the Ravens, Bell was having one of his best games of the season, showing off his power and vision. He’s passed the concussion protocols and should be a full go for Sunday’s game. The Dolphins are much weaker against the rush than the pass, and Bell should see his usual steady workload only slightly lessened after the injury. We like him for at least 90 total yards, and he’s a good bet to score.

 

Antonio Brown

Brown’s 3 worst games this season have all come against AFC North opponents. Outside of those, he’s had at least 80 yards in every game but one, and he scored in that. The Dolphins are an imposing matchup, having allowed just one WR TD all season, per ESPN. This might be a game on the lower end of Brown’s potential production, but he should still have at least 80 yards. He’s a lower end WR2.

 

Heath Miller

We really like Miller this week. The Dolphins have given up the 5th most points to opposing TEs on the season. He’s averaged 9.3 targets over the last 3 weeks, trailing only Garrett Graham and Rob Gronkowski. He’s our 7th ranked tight end this week.

 

Well, it was painful to watch Seattle crush my Saints. Very painful. And of course this week it does not get any easier as Carolina comes to town – but hey at least its on Sunday Night and the Saints are at home. Its also fantasy playoff time. This is the time to trust your studs. Players that have gotten you through the year and have been reliable. Don’t get cute! Buffalo heads into Tampa in what could be one of the most pointless games of the year. Atlanta heads to the cold in Green Bay which was probably one of those games on paper that looked great in the off season, until you know, both teams started to suck at football. Well, at least Green Bay has an excuse.

Buffalo at Tampa Bay

Matt Ryan could have had a far better game last week against Buffalo – threw for over 300 yards but just 1 TD. Mainly because his run game finally had some steam and had two TDs. I think this will be a nice game for Mike Glennon. A bit of a gamble in your playoffs, but if you employ the streaming strategy he could be a solid play this week.

Steven Jackson totaled 87 yards and 2 TDs on the ground against this defense last week. I have a hunch this could be a big week for Bobby Rainey. He was slowed down against the tough Carolina defense, but this could be a nice rebound. He exploded against a weak Atlanta defense, so I would not be surprised if he did the same this week.

Roddy White torched this defense last week, just torched it. Vincent Jackson was unimpressive last week, so I feel a big game for him this week. Roddy has been pretty bad this year and V-Jax has been much better, so the matchup is juicy for him. Tim Wright has fallen off a bit, though this could be a nice game for him. Deeper league play in my eyes as Tony G last week had a nice game with a score against Buffalo. Bad news is that Mr. Wright is not Tony Gonzalez.

Atlanta at Green Bay

Stafford ripped this defense last week (except for his couple INTs). The fact that GB won’t be dominating this game bodes well for Matt Ryan. If you’ve been riding him all year, this might be the big payoff. There could be better options out there, but if you’re in a 12+ team league or a 2 QB league, he could be a nice play this week.

So Reggie and Joique crushed this defense last week. Steven Jackson has a really nice matchup here and I’m thinking he will have a really good game. I’m expecting over 100 total yards and at least 1 TD.

Roddy White is no Megatron. But there’s no denying the Green Bay defensive secondary is weak. Roddy White is tough to trust after how this year has played out, but after seeing 14 targets and going over 100 yards last game, I think you can trust him this week. Harry Douglas had a decent game, but he’s better in PPR because he just simply doesn’t score. He has only 2 TDs this year but he does see a lot of targets. Tony Gonzalez looks like the 3rd option after last week, but he’s still a TE1 this week. He should see his share of looks and I think there’s a good chance he scores.

Carolina at New Orleans

I think this was just one of those games for the Saints. Playing outdoors on the road in arguably the toughest place to play in the NFL, I’m not surprised they didn’t show up. Well, maybe a little surprised but still. Good news is if you have Brees, he’s probably going to go off. Carolina’s defense has been excellent this year, but Brees is lights out at home and my guess is that him and Sean Payton want to send a message after they got thumped in Seattle. Going to Newton, I think he’s a great play this week as well. After watching the read option crush New Orleans, I think Newton could pile up the rushing yards. Also, the Saints shut down Marshawn Lynch last week, so Cam may have to (try to) win this with his arm and his legs.

Going to skip over the Carolina running backs because Tolbert is getting most of the snaps for Carolina. I’ll leave it there. Good news for Darren Sproles was that he was far more involved last week than in the past this season. Bad news is he did about zero with his touches (not really his fault). I like him to get involved a lot in this game, along with Pierre Thomas. Pierre normally gets the bulk of the carries (though minimal) which will help him in this game. However, the Panthers have been fantastic against the run this year so I wouldn’t expect much from him on the ground. He should get a few screen passes and hopefully a score, but he’s a tough start this week.

I think Jimmy Graham is really the only Saints pass catcher that you can trust. Obviously you’re starting him in any game, but its a statement against the rest of the New Orleans WRs. Its mainly that Brees spreads the ball around and finds the open man – a lot of the time Jimmy Graham due to his mismatches. Looking to Carolina, Steve Smith will be matched up with Keenan Lewis who has had a fantastic year. He had given up just 1 TD before last week against Seattle, according to Pro Football Focus. I think Steve Smith is a sit for me this week due to the match up and he also has not been that great all year. Greg Olsen is the only other mainly relevant pass catcher here – he didn’t score last week but he still had 5 receptions for 85 yards which is a really nice game for TE standards. Think he scores this week and if not, still has a nice game.

I think the AFC South could be the worst division in football this year. There are a lot of talented players on these teams and I think some solid coaching, but its been such a painful season of ups and downs. We have a barn burner in Jacksonville, a potentially very good game in Cincy (if Indy gets off their bus) and a potential blowout as the Titans head into Denver in hopes of stopping Peyton Manning. Oh, and I guess its fantasy playoffs!

Houston at Jacksonville

For the preview of the game of the week (I have to stop making that joke, but honestly who decided it was a good idea for this to be a prime time game?) check out the podcast on Wednesday night!

Indianapolis at Cincinnati

Andrew Luck…..just wow this year. I can’t get over it. Not sure if its poor OL play, poor play calling or his poor play but this just doesn’t seem right for him. I think he’s much better than this. Unfortunately, Cincy sports the 8th best pass defense this year. Luck has been unimpressive as of late in terms of fantasy and real football, so for me he’s a sit this week. Try and find a streamer if you can.

Donald Brown finally got most of the work last week! He was fairly unimpressive but did manage a TD. Cincy does give up 4.0 yards per carry, but they have also given up just 4 TDs this year. He’s a sit for me this week, especially since Trent will likely take some work away from him, even if Brown is the “starter”.

Last week Keenan Allen ate up this defense for 100+ yards on 8 catches. I think TY Hilton could have a similar game here. A bit of a hunch but I think Indy has to get their game together at some point. Think he’s more of a boom or bust WR this week, but we have seen his upside. Moving to Fleener, the TEs last week for San Diego combined for 7 catches, 86 yards and 1 TD – a big reason why I like Fleener this week. Start him and reap the benefits.

Tennessee at Denver

I think if you’re desperate at QB, Ryan Fitzpatrick could have a decent (fantasy) game here. There’s bound to be garbage time since Peyton Manning stops for nobody. They gave up 22 points last week to Indy…..guess how many Denver is going to put up?

So Denver sports the 7th best rush defense in the league and they allow 3.9 yards per carry. Jamaal Charles had a really nice game last week (not sure why Andy Reid didn’t get him the ball more) so I think CJ2K has a nice game this week too. Not saying that CJ2K = Jamaal Charles, but he looks to be involved in the passing game more and if Tennessee wants to have any shot of beating Denver, they will have to run the ball and try to control the clock and time of possession.

Kendall Wright is Kendall Wright, no real analysis to put into him haha. He’s a guy you want to start for sure this week as I think (or its the most likely case) the Titans will have to throw a lot and Wright is the #1 guy here. I don’t buy Nate Washington at all, so don’t bother with him. Delanie Walker left last week’s game early so that’s what caused his down game. If he plays in this game, I think he’s a TE1 for sure for the same reasons I like Wright.

The AFC North was represented in Thursday’s slate of games, with the Steelers unable to come back against the Ravens. Le’Veon Bell had a nice fantasy game, with 19 non-PPR points, before exiting with injury after a nasty helmet to helmet hit. After Bell, Torrey Smith had the best fantasy performance with 6 catches for 93 yards and a score, and he burned Ike Taylor all night. Justin Tucker is the only other notable player with 5 field goals made. Emmanuel Sanders had 10 standard points, but could have had a much bigger night were it not for several key drops.

Not a great game for fantasy enthusiasts.

 

 

CINCINNATI BENGALS at San Diego Chargers

 

Andy Dalton

In spite of being up and down all season, Dalton is quietly the 12th ranked QB in standard (4 point per passing TD) scoring. This week, he faces a Chargers defense giving up the third most points to opposing QBs. It’s difficult to trust Dalton sometimes, but the matchup is too good to pass on. If you’re an owner still missing Rodgers, for instance, Dalton is worth a long look. He’s a borderline QB1 this week.

 

Giovanni Bernard

The Chargers have been stingier against the run than the pass, but certainly not to the extent where you consider sitting Bernard. He’s currently the 13th highest scoring player at the position, and should post another 100 (or more) total yards this week.

 

BenJarvus Green-Ellis

By this point in the season it should be obvious what returns you will get from BJGE – he’s only reached double digit fantasy points once, and had a grand total of 12 that day. He’s still seeing plenty of workload, but he just doesn’t have the upside of many other options, including his teammate in the backfield. He’s not worth starting, unless you like your RBs getting 55 yards.

 

A.J. Green

While we love Joe Haden here, we didn’t expect him to shut Green down so absolutely in Cincy’s week 11 meeting with the Browns. It snapped a streak of 5 games with double digit points for Green, but he should get that back on track with a meeting against the defense giving up 4th most points to wideouts. Over 100 yards and a score for Green.

 

Marvin Jones / Mohamad Sanu

While either of these players are capable of having a big game, the reality is it’s absolutely impossible to predict which, or when. They’re best left on your waiver wire.

 

Tyler Eifert / Jermaine Gresham

While Gresham scored last week, he had just 2 catches in the game. As has been the case all season, the two will cannibalise each other’s value, and it’s difficult to start either. We prefer Gresham, simply due to his (presumably) higher workload.

 

 

Jacksonville Jaguars at CLEVELAND BROWNS

 

Brandon Weeden

If you watched his last performance (or any of his performances, for that matter), you’ll have seen that Brandon Weeden is simply very bad at football. Even in a juicy matchup, Weeden should not find himself on any fantasy teams outside of 2 QB leagues.

 

Chris Ogbonnaya

Interesting stat – Ogbonnaya’s highest amount of carries in any game this season is 8. EIGHT. He stays involved in the passing game which has buoyed his fantasy production, but he’s little more than a low-end flex option. Expect around 60 total yards.

 

Josh Gordon

JOSH GORDON. Gordon has been the darling of many a fantasy player for quite some time now, but finally the rest of the world is sitting up and taking notice. With the numbers he’s put up so far extrapolated over 16 games, he’d be on pace for over 1,640 yards. He’s matchup proof, and there should NEVER be any “should I start Gordon or _______________ this week” questions. He’s reached the territory where 100 yards and a score can be expected almost every week.

 

Jordan Cameron

Hopefully, Weeden’s return will bolster Cameron’s numbers, which have been severely lacking over the past few games. He should have at least 60 yards and a score against a defense giving up the second most fantasy points to opposing tight ends. If ever there was a week to perform, this is it.

 

 

 

Thursday night had an NFC North grudge match, which ended up a massively lopsided victory for the Lions. The Packers’ best performer was their D/ST, in spite of giving up 40 points. They had no other fantasy performances of note. The Lions, on the other hand, had big games from Stafford, Johnson, Bush and even Joique Bell. Aaron Rodgers can’t return soon enough to save the Packers’, and fantasy football seasons.

 

CHICAGO BEARS at MINNESOTA VIKINGS

 

Josh McCown

The Vikings are giving up the second most points to opposing fantasy QBs, and McCown has performed more than admirably filling in for Jay Cutler this season. With Cutler presumably coming back next week and a contract to play for, expect a nice showing from McCown this week. We like him as a solid QB1 this week, and he’s a borderline top-10 option. Look for close to 300 yards and multiple scores.

 

Christian Ponder

If you’re thinking about starting Ponder, re-evaluate yourself.

 

Matt Forte

Forte left last week’s game with a knee injury, but it appears he’ll be okay to play on Sunday. He had a long score called back by penalty last week, and his fantasy day would have ended much differently had that counted. As always, Forte is a safe bet for 100 total yards and a score.

 

Adrian Peterson

Per ESPN, the Bears’ defense has given up 5.9 yards per carry over the last 5 weeks. Madness. Peterson should, if all goes to plan, have 150 total yards and 2 scores this week.

 

Brandon Marshall / Alshon Jeffrey

We’ve put Marshall and Jeffery together here, as we love them both this week. We like them for close to 100 yards and a score EACH, and they’re both top 10 options. The Vikings’ defense has been susceptible to giving up big plays all season, and that doesn’t look like it’ll end here.

 

Cordarrelle Patterson

It’s stunning that Patterson is currently the only Vikings WR worth writing about. He led the team in catches last week, although he gained just 54 yards on 8 grabs. His natural talent is ready to break out though, and we think this is the week he finally shows what he’s capable of in the passing game. BOLD PREDICTION ALERT – Patterson has a score of 50 yards or more this week.

 

Martellus Bennett

In their earlier meeting this season, Bennett scored twice against the Vikings. In spite of a down few weeks, he’s still the 8th highest scoring TE in fantasy, and is worth starting every week. He should be good for around 70 yards, and is 50-50 to score.

 

John Carlson

Since his week 10 breakout, Carlson’s involvement in the passing game has diminished. He is a low-end TE2, and shouldn’t put up more than around 30 yards. Avoid.

An intriguing NFC South battle going on in Carolina where the Bucs can help out the Saints with a win this week. Atlanta comes to Toronto to take on the Bills in a game that should have been better than it probably will be at this point in the year. Then we have probably the game of the year as New Orleans heads outdoors to Seattle to take on the Seahawks and the 12th man.

Tampa Bay at Carolina

Cam Newton has been up and down the past couple of weeks. Last week he had a poor passing game, but his fantasy day was saved by some rushing and a rush TD, which is what you hope for owning a guy like Newton. Stafford passed for 300 yards and 3 TDs on this Bucs D last week, though he did throw 4 INTs. I like Newton in this game and like I’ve said a few times before, you probably don’t have a better QB to play over Newton. Looking to Mike Glennon, its tough to like him this week. Carolina has an awesome pass rush and they also rank 6th against the pass. They’ve given up just 9 passing TDs this year. Not a week you’d want to stream Mike Glennon.

The Carolina backfield is still a committee, so don’t bother. Newton was the leading rusher with 51 yards last week, so I’ll leave it at that. Bobby Rainey came back to Earth last week against a strong rush defense and it doesn’t get any easier this week. Carolina ranks 3rd in the league in yards per game and 7th in yards per carry (3.8), not to mention they’ve given up just 3 rushing TDs this year. I would sit Rainey this week for sure.

Vincent Jackson is the only guy you want to start from Tampa Bay. Yes he had a down week in a good matchup, but after seeing what Mike Wallace did to this secondary, I really like V-Jax. If Glennon can have some time to pass, Jackson should have a great game since you know the targets will be there. Underwood had a great game last week but had just 3 receptions and most of his yards came on his one big 85 yard play, so its tough to expect that every week. Okay, I lied – Tim Wright is a decent TE option every week as Glennon looked for him a lot without his favorite toy Vincent being open to throw to. Moving to Carolina, Steve Smith probably won’t have a good game against Revis this week. Megatron couldn’t find the end zone last week but still had a good game. Thing is, Steve Smith is not Megatron. Last time he was up against an elite CB in Talib, he was held to just 62 yards on 4 receptions. Greg Olsen is a solid TE option as he has scored in 4 of the past 5 games. He isn’t putting up a ton of yards, but the weekly score helps. Either hope that he gets some more looks from Newton or gets a classic score.

Atlanta at Buffalo (In Toronto!!!!)

In Matt Ryan’s last 5 games, he had just 5 passing TDs to go with his 9 (yes you read that correctly) INTs. Buffalo ranks 11th in pass rushing according to PFF and Atlanta ranks 28th in the league in pass blocking. I think Matt Ryan is going to get beaten around against a solid Bills pass rush which won’t be great for his fantasy stats. He’s a sit for me this week as there are a lot of better options out there.

Over the past 3 games for Buffalo, they have not allowed a running back to eclipse 100 rushing yards. They held Jamaal Charles to 90 yards and they held Ivory to 98 yards on 15 carries (though 69 of those yards were on one run), so I don’t see a good game here for Steven Jackson. A short TD saved an otherwise unimpressive fantasy day against the porous Saints run defense.

Roddy White has not had more than 50 yards the past 3 weeks and has just 1 TD in that span. Tough to recommend a start for him this week. Tony Gonzalez is a little bit banged up, but chances are you don’t have a better option than him this week. Good news is that Cumberland scored against this Bills defense in their last game – bad news is he only had 25 yards. Don’t like the matchup for Gonzo this week. Surprisingly, the only real start on this team that is comfortable for me is Harry Douglas. He isn’t getting into the endzone a lot, but I would chalk that up to Matt Ryan’s play rather than Douglas. The receptions and the yards are there, so his value is better in PPR formats. I think he has another solid WR3 maybe WR2 game for you this week. Darius Johnson had a decent game against the Saints last week, but he’s more of a deeper league play.

New Orleans at Seattle

Drew Brees outdoors this year in 4 games – 7 TDs and 5 INTs. Tough to sit Brees as good as he has been and I can’t recommend it. This is one of those weeks where you have to roll with your stud QB and hope for the best. Can’t say I’m expecting a huge game but I do think there is hope since Seattle will be missing Brandon Browner and Walter Thurmond. Brees’ two games in Seattle in 2010 – 786 passing yards, 6 TDs and 2 INTs…..so there’s that.

I think this is going to be a big game for Pierre Thomas, especially if Sproles misses another game (which I think he won’t). Its very frustrating that Ingram is still getting carries, but PT is still heavily involved in the passing game, which I expect to continue and maybe increase in this game. Seattle is 2nd against the pass and they do have a very good secondary and pass rush, so PT could see a lot of short screen/dump passes, making him a PPR monster. Sproles I don’t think you can trust just yet, but if he is back and healthy, he could have a lot of usage similar to PT minus the carries.

Jimmy Graham you have to start obviously, but as I have mentioned before, Seattle may be one of the only teams able to match up to Graham as their secondary is full of big guys. He is Brees’ favourite target however and I think Sean Payton will find ways to get Jimmy the ball. I don’t think Colston will see Sherman so he could be a decent play if you think Seattle will focus on Jimmy/Sproles/PT. He obviously has some risk and I don’t think he finishes better than a WR3.

A repeat of the TNF game a couple weeks ago as Tennessee heads into Indy for a pivotal matchup in the AFC South. This could decide the division!!! Houston hosts a strong New England team in a game that was probably better on paper in the preseason than it is now. And finally, the game of the week. Jacksonville at Cleveland! I can die happy now that I’ll be able to watch such a fantastic game.

Jacksonville at Cleveland

There are two guys worth starting on this team. MJD somehow keeps proving me wrong (I wonder if he reads this and says “No Pat, I’m not gonna have a bad week. I’m gonna go for over 100 yards and score a TD this week!). But seriously, he’s scored in 4 of the past 6 games including a score in each of the last 3. He’s finally worth starting, but this matchup is pretty bad. Cleveland ranks 6th in the league in rushing and 2nd in Yards Per Carry (3.4). I think you have to ride him until he goes back to his classing 15 carries for 23 yards games.

Cecil Shorts is the other guy. He whined and then he was fed like a little baby. 11 targets for 8 receptions and 71 yards, leading the team in all 3 categories. Unfortunate part is that he is going up against Joe Haden, who has been up and down the past 2 weeks (completely crushing AJ Green but then getting lit up by Antonio Brown). I would think he’s about a WR3 this week with some upside.

Tennessee at Indianapolis

Ryan Fitzpatrick had a solid week last week and could have another good one this week. We saw what Carson Palmer did to this defense – Fitz is a very solid streaming option this week at QB as Indy is ranked 19th against the pass. Moving to Luck, he has not looked great in the past couple of weeks. He’s had just 2 TDs to go along with 4 INTs in his past 3 games. Tennessee also ranks 7th against the pass and they’ve given up only 8 TDs through the air this year. I may look to stream this week if you own Luck – in fact I would probably start Fitzpatrick over Luck this week.

We saw what CJ2K did in just one half against this Colts team two weeks ago. Start him, end of story. Looking to Trent and Donald Brown……..ugh. I would not start either of these guys. Tennessee is a decent matchup as they rank 17th against the run and have given up 15 rushing TDs. Start with caution, but it will be tough to tell who is going to get most of the work between them.

Kendall Wright found the end zone! He found the end zone! Start him in another great matchup this week. He had 9 catches for 80 yards in the last game against this Colts defense. I think he gets into the end zone again. Justin Hunter is a stash guy who could be solid down the stretch in a deeper league, but nothing more than that in my opinion. TY Hilton – the targets are there and receptions are there, but not enough yardage and he hasn’t found the end zone in the last 3 games. He was held to 5 catches for 44 yards in the last meeting, so I would expect much of the same in this game.

Both TEs in this matchup are solid starts. Fleener found the end zone last week for the lone TD of the game for the Colts. In the last game between these teams, he had 107 yards from 8 receptions – so I would be playing him this week for sure. Delanie Walker had a down game but was still decent in PPR formats. Walker crushed this Colts team in their last meeting for 10 receptions, 91 yards and a TD. He may not get that again but its definitely a possibility, so the upside with Walker is worth the gamble of playing him.

New England at Houston

Its a tough year if you’re a Houston fan…..I went through it as a Saints fan last year, though not quite this bad. Its tough to trust anyone on this team to produce for you. I wouldn’t recommend starting Case Keenum this week as New England ranks 9th against the pass and chances are Andre will be neutralized by Aqib Talib. I don’t see a good game coming from Keenum this week.

Ben Tate was awful last week, plain and simple. The only bright spot was that he was involved in the passing game. It would be tough to start him here because Dennis Johnson ran the ball effectively last week when Tate did not. The good news is that New England ranks 31st against the run, but the bad news is we don’t know what the workload split will be between these two. Knowshon Moreno shredded this defense last week, so there is a lot of upside for Tate if he is still the lead back.

Andre Johnson…..Aqib Talib…….might be a good game to sit him. Its really tough to sit him this year though and chances are you don’t have any better options. My expectations for him this week are very bad though. Hope he gets a short TD like Demaryious did last week. Garrett Graham had a week where he came back to Earth, which makes him tough to start again this week.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at DETROIT LIONS

 

Matt Stafford

Stafford had one good quarter last week. He still finished with 362 passing yards and 2 TDs, which would have been a lot more if he hadn’t missed on 3 long (potential TD) passes. The Buccaneers have given up the 6th most fantasy points to opposing QBs, and Stafford is poised for another huge game. Over 300 yards and at least 2 TDs should be in order. He’s a top-3 option this week.

 

Reggie Bush

Bush was seemingly benched last week, presumably for fumble issues. However, prior to that, he hadn’t exactly been doing much, as the Steelers focused on taking him out of the game. However, his day could have ended much differently had Stafford not overthrown him on what would have been a long TD. It may be hard to trust him this week, but we still like him as a top-10 option, with over 100 total yards.

 

Calvin Johnson

Calvin is a monster. Calvin is the best player at his position in the league, in both real life and fantasy football. Calvin should be the top point scorer again this week. Over 100 yards and a TD should be in order, as always.

 

Kris Durham / Nate Burleson

Both of these guys are desperation plays this week, because beyond Bush and Calvin, it’s too difficult to guess where the targets in Detroit are going. Neither is likely to go beyond 50 yards.

 

Joe Fauria / Brandon Pettigrew

Removing his week 6 explosion, Fauria has averaged 1.8 points per game. Avoid. Per ESPN, Stafford has targeted Pettigrew at least 5 times in all but 1 game this season. He’s managed to convert that into an average of 3.3 points per game. Avoid.

 

MINNESOTA VIKINGS at GREEN BAY PACKERS

 

Scott Tolzien

So, Tolzien has underwhelmed in his two starts this season. Perhaps that will be rectified when he faces a Vikings giving up the second most fantasy points to opposing QBs. When he has weapons at his disposal and a tasty matchup, Tolzien is in solid QB2 territory. Over 250 yards and 2 TDs seems a reasonable expectation, albeit with multiple turnovers.

 

Minnesota QBs

The Vikings seem to have started some strange kind of “quarterback by committee” situation, rotating players in and out as the game progresses. Avoid at all, all costs.

 

Eddie Lacy

Lacy was mainly disappointing last week, averaging under two yards per carry. He also scored a TD, which left him with a respectable fantasy total. He should get back on track this week against the Vikings, and should approach 100 total yards and a TD. He’s reached the level where that can be expected every week.

 

Adrian Peterson

Peterson hasn’t been himself this season, and is still the 5th highest scoring RB. Given the fears after his monster season last year, Peterson has performed admirably. As always, he’s a top-3 option at the position, and can be pencilled in for 100 yards and a TD.

 

Jordy Nelson

 

So Tolzien hasn’t been setting the world alight, but last week he and Nelson showed some rapport, with Jordy finishing with 8 catches for 117 yards. This week we like him to score, and add around 80 yards. He’s a top-10 option at the position, like every week.

 

Jarrett Boykin

Boykin and Tolzien continue to show they are on the same page, and Boykin continues to be in the (low-end) WR2 discussion. Against a porous Vikings secondary, he should continue his production and record around 80-90 yards.

 

James Jones

Jones is too dependent on big plays to start without an elite QB. With Rodgers on the field, he’s a threat to score on any play. Without Rodgers, his chances of a long score diminish greatly, and he’s far from a possession receiver. Start him at your own risk.

 

Greg Jennings

After Jennings’ tirade against the Packers (and strangely Rodgers, specifically), he’s hugely underperformed, particularly against his old team, finishing with one catch for 9 yards in his first meeting with the Pack. If he breaks 50 yards this week, we’d be VERY surprised.

 

Jerome Simpson / Cordarrelle Patterson

Simpson might not play, and if he does, it’ll likely be on a snap count due to his recent off the field troubles. Patterson has seen his role increase lately, but the Vikings’ passing attack is just so toothless that it’s next to impossible to trust any player involved.

 

Brandon Bostick

Last week against the Giants, Bostick caught his only target for 26 yards. His role in the offense is still undetermined, but he’s a much more viable fantasy consideration than Andrew Quarless, due to his added dynamism. He’s still not a viable starter.

 

John Carlson

Since replacing Kyle Rudolph two weeks ago, Carlson has been more involved than “The Red Zone Reindeer” outside of the red zone. He’s a safe bet for between 50 and 80 yards, and has an above average chance to score this week.

 

 

CHICAGO BEARS at Saint Louis Rams

 

Josh McCown

Since McCown will play the whole game (barring some absolutely unforseen circumstance), he’s an absolutely worthwhile start. He’s performed admirably when he has played, and whether it’s due to him or Trestman more, we #degenerates really don’t care. McCown sits just outside QB1 territory this week.

 

Matt Forte

Hooray! Forte bounced back from his disappointing game in week 10 and had another big game (18 non-PPR points) against a good Ravens defense. This week, he faces the Rams, who have given up the 3rd most points to opposing RBs. Forte should record around 120 total yards and a TD this week, and is a top-3 option.

 

Brandon Marshall

Marshall was disappointing last week, but most players (outside of Ray Rice, strangely) were. It’s easy to think that Marshall is having a down year, but he’s the #5 non-PPR wideout on the season. Continue to roll him out as so, and expect a baseline of 80 yards and a TD.

 

Alshon Jeffery

Alshon is challenging Josh Gordon as our “WR2 with the highest upside in the league”. He’s been exceptional this season, and his talent is too much to bench against any team, much less a soft Rams secondary. He should have at least 80 yards and is a better than 50-50 shot to score.

 

Martellus Bennett

For the first time this season, Bennett ranks outside our top-12 tight ends for the week. He’s faded after a bright start, and that shows no signs of changing at the minute. We’d love to be wrong, because Bennett has shown he can be a top-5 option at the position, but his ceiling at the minute seems to be capped at 50 yards. Avoid using him if you can.