The fantasy playoffs kind of snuck up on me this year. We’re in week 13….already, and, for many custom leaguers your playoffs start next week.
Whether you’re playing for a spot, seeding, or pride at this point this is the week that the questions matter and I’m happy to help.
If you need a win this week, I know the feeling… my quest for 10/10 teams in the playoffs is looking good, but, I’ve got to get a W in a few spots to be sure.
As always, good luck this week!
23 comments
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Ryan
December 4, 2011 at 9:43 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Depending on MIchael Turner’s status today, I may be in need of a fillin. I have Roy Helu and CJ Spiller on the bench. Thining Helu but I am also wondering if I would be better off with Helu even if Turner plays considering he will not be 100%. Your thoughts? Thanks as usual.
Checkdown
December 4, 2011 at 9:50 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I thought against Helu last week and was way off. I’m shocked at the workload that Shannahan gave him, but, given ow it worked out last week I’d be surprised if he wasn’t the horse for the Redskins again.
Turner has a tough matchup against the Titans, no doubt, they give up just 14.1 fantasy points to running backs, 28th in the league. However, the Jets run defense has really gotten better since the start of the season and they don’t give up many more.
If Turner plays, I think you’re fine to start him, the indications are he was just given a little practice time off to rest up. However, if he does miss the game I think you should go with Helu over Spiller, based upon what we saw from both last week. CJ was unexciting in his first start of the season.
Checkdown
December 4, 2011 at 10:09 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
(T)
beanie wells or kevin smith in ppr league?
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Smith might do more for you in a PPR league, but, its tough to trust him coming off of that ankle, he’s not even 100% to play, and, if he does I think Morris takes a healthy share of the workload because they’ll want to keep him healthy.
Sure, the Saints give up 5YPC, but, the Lions will find themselves in a passing matchup in this one.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys have been beaten on the ground since their hot start, and, Wells is coming off a signature performance. There’s no reason not to trust him.
Checkdown
December 4, 2011 at 10:13 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
(Kristin)
this is not a ppr
i need 2 rbs…r. mathews, j. stewart or m. ingram?
also 3 wrs….h.nicks, v.cruz, andre johnson, aj green, v. brown?
Thanks alot!!
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I’d go with Mathews i the Monday nighter; Jacksonville doesn’t give up a ton of points to RBs, but, he’s likely to have the most work of the bunch, and, I’d go with Ingram over Stewart. Williams is coming on in recent weeks and may take more of the carries and Ingram has a chance to close out the game against a Lions team without its best run plugger.
At WR, I think I’d start both the Giants, given that they’ll have to put the ball in the air a ton, and,I think I’d start AJohnson over AJ Green. Ideally, we’d see more of a connection from Yates/Johnson before we trusted them, but, the Texans will have to throw it to someone and the Falcons allow 8 fantasy PPG more than the Steelers, plus, they are without their top corner this week.
Mike
December 4, 2011 at 10:14 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Stewart or Starks??
Also, I am starting Cam Newton & he is starting Aaron Rodgers if that means anything.
Checkdown
December 4, 2011 at 10:19 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Hey Mike,
The starting QB doesn’t mean a whole lot in this situation, I’ve said on here before…. independent players will get their points. Sometimes its nice to double up on receiver to QB, but, at the end of the day, its about matchups and potential there rather than who else is in the lineup.
I think I like Stewart better than Starks this week. Its a bit challenging because the Packers will likely win, again, presenting run out the clock opportunities for the RB and Stewart finds himself in a heavy timeshare, but, he also gets a Bucs run D that was just SHREDDED by an otherwise pedestrian Chris Johnson, Tampa gives up 25.3 fantasy points per game to opposing rushers, so, even if Stewart splits those with DeAngelo he’s a healthy lock for 100 total yards and a score with any luck.
Checkdown
December 4, 2011 at 10:15 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
(Jody)
OK I need 2 of these 3, Brandon marshall, Shonn Greene, and AJ Green. I thin both receivers may get more pts than Greene. Thnaks and GO Texans!
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Good luck to the Texans this week, but, it might be tough sledding vs. Atlanta.
Marshall is a fine start, he’s got a great connection with Moore and the matchup is right around the league average with the Raiders giving up 22 fppg to receivers.
And, I think you’re right to start AJ over Greene. He’s shown to be matchup proof, and, with Tomlinson coming back in New York Greene’s workload will be lessened against a stout Redskins run D.
Checkdown
December 4, 2011 at 10:22 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
(bostons)
standard league i need WR pick 1
larry fitz
aj green
antonio brown
RB pick 2
michael turner
the law firm
kevin smith
flex- 1 of the guys i sit from above
THANX!!!
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I think you go with Fitzgerald at WR. The matchup is awful for Green, and interesting for Brown with Bengals corner Leon Hall out, and, he’s posted no less than 8 fantasy points for the last 5 weeks, but, Fitzgerald will be in a game where Kolb will have to throw, and, will have something to prove after coming back from injury. I think he looks to his top target a lot.
At RB, provided Turner starts he’s a play despite the tough matchup, and then I’d play Green-Ellis over Smith. We don’t know his health status, and, Green-Ellis has a tasty matchup against the Colts who yield the 3rd most fppg to RBs. Its a bit troubling that the young backs seem to be getting the clock killing work, but, you can trust Green-Ellis to get it done.
At flex, its one of the WRs and I think I’d go with AJ Green. Its a brutal matchup, again, with the Steleers 30th in points allowed to WRs, but, he’s beaten every tough matchup he’s had this year and Dalton will continue to look his way.
Checkdown
December 4, 2011 at 10:26 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
(Wayne)
Starting line-up help please:
1) Big Ben or Matt Ryan
2) Jennings, R. White, M. Wallace or V. Cruz (need 3)
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The matchup numbers are ugly for Ryan, while Big Ben gets a Bengals D without their top cover corner. Historically, they’ve played him tough but I don’t know if they have the personnel to keep it up, so, I’d go with him.
At WR, you’re stacked.
Cruz might be the start of the bunch in a game where the Giants will have to pass early and often, particularly given the state of the run game. Then, I think I’d start Jennings against a Giants team giving up a healthy 23.6 fantasy points per game to receivers and between Wallace and White, despite what hot Roddy has done the last two weeks, I’d go with Wallace based on the matchups discussed above.
Checkdown
December 4, 2011 at 10:28 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
(Corey)
Hey, in my flex spot, in the event Michael Turner DOES NOT play, should I play Nate Washington vs BUFFALO or Eric Decker vs MINNESOTA? Thanks!!
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I think you’re going to be fine with Turner, and, I’d keep him in if he’s in the lineup.
If not, I think its Decker over Wash. Its a bit of a gamble given the number of completions Tim Tebow has every game, but, Decker is consistently open and the Vikings corners have been easy to expose this season, I’d expect him to have 1 or 2 long grabs in this one. The Bills pass D hasn’t been great either but they’re in the middle of the league in PPG allowed to receivers while the Vikes are right near the top.
Checkdown
December 4, 2011 at 10:32 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
(God)
Pick 5 Please:
Beenie, Bush, Vjax, Antonio Brown, Dez Bryant, AJ Green
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I don’t know if this is Michael or Reggie Bush, but, I like em both this week facing off against each other. If Rolando McClain plays, it may get tougher for Reggie but he’s been hot recently. I like Wells coming off a monster week with a chance to build on that against a Dallas D that has allowed some big plays to backs over the middle stretch of the season.
Then, with Jacksonville’s secondary decimated by injury I think you can like Jackson a lot this week.
I’d start Dez against the Cardinals who give up the 8th most fantasy points per game to receivers and allow guys to get behind the coverage, and, I’d start AJ in the AFC North matchup. Brown has been very consistent and PPR spikes his value, but, if we’re thinking of who will get into the endzone, I think AJ Green can continue to exploit tough matchups and he’s very hard to sit.
James
December 4, 2011 at 10:45 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I have matt ryan and tim tebow i need to pick which to start for a qb position in a regular league. Ryan has a bad matchup but has been hot of late.
I also have kevin smith, mark ingram, and ahmad bradshaw for running back spot and for flex i have andre johnson, mark ingram, or nate washington.
Checkdown
December 4, 2011 at 10:49 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I think I’d start Tebow. Ryan will likely benefit from a condensed field a couple of times, if Yates makes some turnovers and the Falcons get the ball in good field position, but, I like the way it looks for Tebow against the Vikings.
While they may limit his options in the running game by getting some pressure with Jared Allen et. al Tebow has shown that he can beat the blitz, and, he’ll get his chances to hit Eric Decker against the Vikes secondary. I’m finally drinking the Tebow Kool-aid and given Ryan’s matchup you should be too.
I’ve just read that Smith is going to play this week, but, I expect his workload to be curtailed a bit, and, Mark Ingram has posted some solid points in recent weeks by helping the Saints close out the clock. Given that the Lions have injuries in the secondary and their missing Suh to plug the run, I think this could be a good week for Ingram and I’d go with him. I don’t know Bradshaw’s status, but, this is going to be a pass heavy game for the Giants, anyway.
At flex, I’d go with Andre. The matchup is there for the taking against the Falcons allowing more than 23 fantasy points per game to receivers and I think its one that he can exploit, with Yates having a full week to prepare as starter.
James
December 4, 2011 at 10:55 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
thanks alot!
Checkdown
December 4, 2011 at 10:59 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
happy to help. good luck this week.
Rolando
December 4, 2011 at 10:46 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Please help! sproles or murray in PPR and I need 2 WRs in PPR between A. Brown, Bowe and Stevie johnson. Help!!!!!!!!!!!!
Checkdown
December 4, 2011 at 10:53 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I’d go with Murray against the Cards. He had a quiet week last week, but, continues to be a heavily featured back for the Cowboys. Sproles will continue to contribute in the passing game, but, the Lions have been solid on rushing defense, and, continue to be a tougher matchup even with Suh out of the lineup. Given this, and, Murray’s feature back status he’s the play.
At WR, I like Brown and Bowe in PPR. Despite the ‘miscommunication’ at the end of the game last week, Palko has to trust Bowe and he’ll have to throw the ball against the Bears. Bowe could be a bigtime PPR asset this week. Brown has been hauling in a lot of balls recently, and has 80+ ypg over the last 5 weeks. Now, he gets the Bengals missing their top corner and should be able to exploit the matchup. Stevie Johnson may have something to prove after the whole scene last week, but, Tennessee has done a great job of limiting fantasy wideouts this year (28th in league in points allowed)
drbrown751
December 4, 2011 at 11:00 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Would you play Harvin, J Jones or B Lloyd
Checkdown
December 4, 2011 at 11:03 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I’d play Lloyd.
I like what Harvin did last week, and, I hear he’s good to go after his unexplained ‘illness’ this week, but, the Broncos defense has been stifling lately and I think they’ll find a (reasonable) answer for him and keep him fairly contained, meanwhile, Feeley or Bradford Lloyd has stood out as the top option for the Rams and he seems like he’s in the endzone every week, I’d go with him and know that the production will be there.
I don’t trust Jones’ hammy yet, and, the matchup isn’t great there. Plus, White’s recent performance means that he demands more targets.
Carl
December 4, 2011 at 11:04 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Greg Little or Erik Decker? Seems like Little doesn’t do as much with tons of targets. But I have a hard time trusting Decker when Denver passes so rarely.
Checkdown
December 4, 2011 at 11:08 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I don’t think you can trust Little based on the production you mentioned, and, the fact that they face the Ravens who just absolutely got after Alex Smith and should cause the same problems for Colt.
Tebow is an errantic passer, I know, and there isn’t much I like about him in that role, but, he’s made a productive receiver out of Decker over the last few weeks and against the Vikings woeful secondary there is no reason to believe he won’t do it again.
Carl
December 4, 2011 at 11:11 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Awesome, thank you much!
Checkdown
December 4, 2011 at 11:12 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
No worries, good luck this week.