+9
For more on the 49ers, check out SBN's Niners Nation
The 49ers fantasy options face an intriguing matchup against a tough Philly defense. More importantly, it's going to be down in the 30s with a chance of snow. Snow always livens things up and could mean trouble for many of these 49ers.
RB Frank Gore would likely benefit the most from inclement weather. Gore is coming off a huge game against Arizona that netted him NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors. Gore is a weekly must-start, although owners will have to deal with likely inconsistencies week to week. A lot of this depends on the play-calling. And given the fact that the Eagles have a fairly explosive offense, the 49ers could be playing from behind all day. The upside to even being behind is that Gore gets a lot of catches out of the backfield.
QB Alex Smith didn't exactly blow people away last Monday Night, but he's finding the end zone, which is certainly a big plus each week. However, given that this is the playoffs for fantasy football, it's questionable whether you roll the dice with him. If you're a heavy underdog it might be worth the risk given his big upside. But if you're a favorite it's probably smarter to play it safe.
WR Michael Crabtree remains due for a huge performance, but this might not be the week. However, Crabtree is consistently getting yards and is a regular target of Alex Smith. He's a great flex option, and even a possibly decent #2 receiver.
TE Vernon Davis is the biggest scoring threat on the 49ers. Even in the toughest matchup he's a must-start over just about every tight end in fantasy football.
The 49ers defense faces an explosive Philly attack and could give up a lot of points. However, Eagles QB Donovan McNabb while still somewhat mobile is a guy they can definitely sack. The 49ers rank #7 in the NFL in total sacks so you're likely to get some points out of that. The defense plays especially aggressive, and while I wouldn't expect similar turnover numbers to last week, they're a good bet to get something out of it.
For more on the Panthers, check out SBN's Cat Scratch Reader
RB DeAngelo Williams: Williams averaged 6.3 yards per carry last week against the Patriots in his return from a one game absence due to an ankle injury. But this week he faces the #1 fantasy defense against the run without RT Jeff Otah, who is now out for the season. His backfield mate Jonathan Stewart will get the goal line carries this week as Williams get 60 yards rushing and 15 receiving no stays out of the end zone. If I had him on my team I'd look for a better option.
RB Jonathan Stewart: As already stated I expect Stewart to get some goal line carries but he will his number of carries will still be low and subsequently the yardage. If you consider the offense is now missing its starting QB, LT and RT it doesn't look pretty for the Panther offense. If were keeping it real he gets 30 yards and score.
WR Steve Smith: The Viking secondary gives up on average (ESPN Scoring) 18 points a game which means about 14 of those should go to Steve Smith. 80 yards and a score sounds about right.
QB Matt Moore: I'm sure there are some diehard Panther fans who might play Moore out of loyalty but otherwise I can't imagine you wouldn't have a better option. Second year RT Geoff Schwartz makes his first start in place of the injured Jeff Otah. I have a feeling the added pressure causes Moore to regress in ascension to Panther lore by throwing a pick or two. I'm bearish prediction is 200 yards passing, 1 TD and 2 INT's.
Panthers Defense & ST: The Panther defense isn't as bad of play this week as you might first think. The weather conditions will slick, the Panther secondary has been very opportunistic this year and Brett Favre is due to one of his multi-pick games. On the contrary I don't think the Panther special teams is due for anything but mediocrity. Put the Panther D down for two INTs and a sack for a total of 6 to 8 points.
K John Kasay: With the Panther offense in a funk its hard to imagine Kasay getting more than a couple opportunities and PATs. As much as I want to hope the Panthers could bust out of their scoring funk I wouldn't bet my FFL season on it. It's looking like 8 to 10 points for Kasay.
Panthers TEs Jeff King, Dante Rosario and Gary Barnidge
None of these players are consistent enough for a play this week and Moore has yet to build a rapport with any of them. If I had to pick one for a big game against the Patriots it would be Rosario. He is the best at stretching the field and breaking LB coverage.
For more on the Packers, check out SBN's Acme Packing Company
QB Aaron Rodgers: So your fantasy MVP went into the tank last week, putting up 180 yards with 0 TD, just in time for the playoffs. What are you going to bench him now? He's up against the Steelers and they're still starting CB William Gay. Start.
RB Ryan Grant: His big game last week, 137 yards and 2 TDs, sure looked great. But that was against the Bears porous run D. The Steelers run D is tops in the league. Bench.
WR Greg Jennings: Last week's 3 catch, 56 yard game was disappointing, especially since he was a split second away from catching a 36 yard TD reception. He's still the main receiver in the passing game, but he also hasn't caught a TD on the road this season. Start, but don't expect a big game.
WR Donald Driver: His 2 catch, 11 yard killer last week didn't help anyone in the fantasy playoffs. He's been catching a TD every other week, and unlike Jennings, he plays just as well on the road. Start.
TE Jermichael Finley: He's listed as a TE, but he's playing the role of a WR. Since his return from a leg injury 4 weeks ago, he's been targeted 31 times, more than any other Packer receiver. He might not be a fantasy star in 2009, but he might just be warming up for 2010. Toss-up.
Packers Defense: They are the No. 2 defense. The Steelers struggled to score 6 points last week against the Browns. Start.
For more on the Falcons, check out SBN's The Falcoholic
QB Matt Ryan: He's going to be a gametime decision against the best defense in the NFL this weekend. I'm sure you can read between the lines here. He and Chris Redman are only quality fantasy options if you're truly desperate, and considering it's time for the playoffs in many leagues, I hope you aren't.
RB Michael Turner: This is going to be one of those weeks. Turner is also a game-time decision against the best defense in the NFL. Play it by ear, and consider him more of a RB2/flex option if he's healthy enough to play. Jason Snelling and Jerious Norwood can be considered decent flex plays if Turner's not up for the game, but keep in mind that they're sharing carries.
WR Roddy White: One of the most reliable receivers in fantasy has one of his toughest challenges of the year against the Jets. Corner Darrelle Revis is about as good as it gets, and he will test White's ability to separate. I never bet against Roddy because of his talent, but don't count on him to deliver a huge stat line this week.
WR Michael Jenkins: If Chris Redman is under center, Jenkins is a favored target and will draw more looks because Revis will be locking down White on the other side of the field. If Ryan's playing, forget about him. Either way, he's a flex option at best.
TE Tony Gonzaelz: Gonzo's got the best shot of any Falcon to do something. The Jets aren't quite as strong against tight ends, and he's one of the best in league history. Get him active and hope that the Jets' secondary funnels a lot of targets his way.
Falcons Defense: The Jets aren't nearly strong offensively as they are defensively, and if Mark Sanchez is going to play there'll be a few lame duck passes which can be picked off. The Falcons are also more than overdue to come up with a few sacks, so consider them if you don't have a no-brainer to play this week.
For more on the Redskins, check out SBN's Hogs Haven
With the firing of Vinny Cerrato and the impending announcement of Mike Shanahan as the new head coach, the Redskins have a lot to play for....their jobs next year. The Giants secondary is very suspect so there's no reason to think the Redskins won't continue their offensive success. I think Campbell is a solid start as is Devin Thomas and Santana Moss. Quinton Ganther will be the featured RB for the second game in a row.
Haynesworth and DeAngelo Hall are returning to action, but the Giants offense is a point machine. The Redskins defense has lacked in creating turnovers, especially for TDs, so bench the Redskins D if you have a better option. Weather could be a factor with Eli's poor throwing in bad weather, so keep an eye on the forecast. D.C. is suppose to get 5-9 inches on Saturday.
For more on the Chargers, check out SBN's Bolts From The Blue
Philip Rivers - Although the Bengals have a great CB tandem that could limit big plays for Malcom Floyd and Vincent Jackson, they haven't been able to cover TEs all season. The Bengals run D is one of the league's best, so expect lots of passing from the very efficient Rivers.
For more on the Chiefs, check out SBN's Arrowhead Pride
Matt Cassel
The leader of the Chiefs offense is always a hard player to predict because he, along with the rest of the offense, has been so inconsistent. Last week, Cassel had a rough game with four interceptions so look for him to rebound a little bit. He shouldn't be your first option because the Chiefs offense is one of the worst in the NFL but look for him to throw for around 200 yards with at least one touchdown.
Jamaal Charles
Charles has been a nice fantasy surprise down the stretch. He's been getting more and more carries as the season goes along. The Chiefs have taken him off kick return duty so he can focus on rushing the ball. He should push 100 yards and continue his streak of five consecutive games with a touchdown.
Dwayne Bowe
He's back from suspension and the head coach has said he needs to learn some of the new offensive playcalls they've put in since he's been gone. Still though he was a favorite target of Cassel before the suspension so I imagine that to continue. Things might be a little rough early on, but he could still get 50-75 yards receiving. Cassel is solid in the red zone and Bowe's a big target so he should get some looks down there as well.
Chris Chambers
Here's the wildcard. Chambers really came on during Bowe's suspension so his fantasy output with Bowe back is the big unknown. He and Cassel have developed a rhythm and I expect that to be interrupted slightly with the return of Bowe. If you've gotta pick between Chambers and Bowe, go with Bowe.
Chiefs Defense
Brady Quinn has surprisingly been protective of the football in the last month so I suspect they'll employ a somewhat conservative gameplan in order to avoid turnovers. The Chiefs should create at least one turnover and one sack.
For more on the Bills, check out SBN's Buffalo Rumblings
Ryan Fitzpatrick - The typical Ryan Fitzpatrick games have returned as he's thrown for 184 yards the past two games....combined. Don't expect those numbers to improve greatly this week, even against a very susceptible Patriots' pass defense that's giving up 211 yards per game and has allowed 22 touchdown passes on the season. They've allowed over 300 yards passing in four of their last five road games. The opportunities will be there, but with Fitzpatrick as the quarterback, those will likely be wasted opportunities like so many other chances the Bills have had. Verdict: Sit 'Em
Fred Jackson - Jackson continues to start and get the higher percentage of the rushes. I think that will continue. Jackson has been very successful against the Patriots recently putting up 276 total rushing and receiving yards and a touchdown in the past two match-ups between the teams. With Marshawn Lynch starting to come on, don't expect Jackson to get the type of work needed to reaches those numbers again, but he could be in line for a pretty solid fantasy day. I expect him to be a big factor in the passing game and he seems to be the goal line back at this point. I'd take a chance and go with him as a flex this week. Verdict: Start 'Em as a flex only
Marshawn Lynch - Lynch is starting to run a lot better recently, picking up 144 yards on 18 rushes over the past two games. With an offensive line that is beginning to run block a little better, Lynch is starting to benefit. However, he's still only averaged 8 rushes per game over his last six games. Don't expect a big game out of him, but he could have a solid game all around. He's not worth starting in fantasy though. Verdict:Sit 'Em
Terrell Owens - Owens scored last week, but again had a down game. He's put up good numbers against teams that reside in Florida this season, but has struggled in pretty much every other game. In the first match-up, Owens had just 2 receptions and was effectively taken out of the game. The Patriots will try to do that again and it's hard to believe they won't succeed. Verdict: Sit 'Em
Lee Evans - If ever there is a team to definitely bench Evans against, it's the Patriots. He's struggled mightily against them during his career and those struggles should continue. Evans has been a non-factor for much of the season. God bless you if you are actually contemplating starting him this week, or ever again! Verdict: Sit 'Em
Rian Lindell - Surprisingly enough, Lindell is actually tied with Gostkowski with those 23 field goals made. Still, you really can't rely on him to get his chances from week to week. Verdict: Sit 'Em
Buffalo D/ST - The pass defense has been opportunistic this season, but it's still hard to imagine them shutting down the Patriots this week. Verdict: Sit 'Em
For more on the Browns, check out SBN's Dawgs by Nature
First up in our weekly Fantasy Friday team reports are the...Cleveland Browns! They actually have a pretty favorable matchup with the Chiefs this weekend, so if you're desperate, they could be sneakily useful.
Odds are that you are in the playoffs right now. Although the Browns' offense has been the worst in football all year long, who would've ever expected that fantasy teams around the country would be considering adding members of the Browns to their roster in Week 15? Let's find out why!
START 'EM!
TE Evan Moore: Again, I'm going to point to a situation where you might have a guy like Dallas Clark on your roster. If it's determined that he will only play a half, Moore is a viable option. He only had two catches last week, but most of Quinn's incompletions came on passes over the middle to him. The windy conditions caused the throws to be just out of his each, but if the throws were better, Moore had the linebacker beat and could've broke a few plays for touchdowns. Moore appears to be Quinn's new favorite target/security blanket; even if you want a backup tight end in case of an injury to yours, Moore is definitely worth picking up. The Chiefs have been susceptible to giving up yardage and touchdowns to tight ends as well.
SIT 'EM!
RB Jerome Harrison, Chris Jennings, or Joshua Cribbs: This is way too risky of a situation (signing any of them). Cribbs saw increased activity in the Wildcat last week, but then there are some weeks where he might only see one snap out of the formation. Jennings was productive last week against the Steelers, but there's a chance his playing time was merely the result of "riding the hot hand." Unless you want to take a 50/50 chance between starting Harrison and Jennings in a flex position and dealing with the possibility of one of them getting under 10 yards for the game, don't play either of them.
WR Mohamed Massaquoi: While Quinn still seems to target Massaquoi the most out of his wide receivers, the connections just aren't happening -- last week, Massaquoi only had one catch. With Chansi Stuckey and Brian Robiskie also at the receiver position, the production of all three players is too random to make it worth starting any of them against the Chiefs. K Phil Dawson: The Browns' improvements on offense has led to more opportunities for Dawson, but not enough to warrant him starting over some of the other kickers already on your roster or on the free agent wire.
Browns' Defense: Don't get too excited about adding the Browns' defense just because they sacked Ben Roethlisberger eight times last week. It is intriguing to add them against the Chiefs' offense, but the playoffs are too important of a time to take a chance on a team that was torched by the Detroit Lions and numerous other teams this season.
GAMEDAY INSURANCE!
QB Brady Quinn: Obviously, if you have quarterbacks like Drew Brees or Kurt Warner, you're not going to bench them in favor of Quinn. However, consider a situation where the quarterback you've relied on is Peyton Manning. If Manning plays less than a half, it might be worth adding Quinn to "save" your quarterback position. Before not throwing up very well in the windy conditions as Browns stadium this past Sunday, Quinn was averaging about 24 fantasy points per game over a span of three games. Quinn hasn't thrown an interception in his past four games. The Chiefs don't have an intimidating defense, and without the wind playing a factor, Quinn can actually use the playaction fake to take shots down the field like he did prior to the Pittsburgh game. It's definitely risky to bank on Quinn over a quarterback you've played all season, but if you're definitely going to add a quarterback and will consider using him at the last minute, take him over the other free agents.
Oakland Raiders Report
For more on the Raiders, check out SBN's Silver And Black Pride
Anyone who is currently leading their respective Fantasy League is probably doing so because they, either, did not draft an Oakland Raider player/component, drafted one and soon sent him/it to the waiver pile or has kept one, Darren McFadden, cough cough, on the bench all season.
This strategy should be continued this week. If you are in my Fantasy League, where we have 20 teams then you will probably need to play some Raiders in order to have a complete roster. Below are the players that I would use, in order by their "Potential" to get you some points this Week.
Charlie Frye: The offense really came alive under Bruce Gradkowsi and Charlie Frye is more than prepared to step right in and guide the ship.
Louis Murphy: Murphy has become the Oakland Raider's best option to score on any play. Or once a month, which is about his average.
Johnnie Lee Higgins: In the last two weeks, "JLH", has been close to breaking a punt return for a TD. He has also made some nice receptions.
Chaz Shilens: He is supposed to be Oakland's version of Marcus Colston, but, unfortunately he has has not come anywhere close to that lofty expectation this season.
Justin Fargas: Justin has always run well against Denver and he could be in store for a 100 yard game this weekend.
Darren McFadden: "D-Mac" had his best game of the year last week. If he can build off of it, Maybe I didn't waste my second round pick!!!
Michael Bush: He has been burried on the bench.
Dec 18 4:11p by Matt O'Brien - 0 comments