Fantasy Friday: Week 13 Team Scouting Reports From SB Nation

The Pack is rolling, we ask Acme Packing Company if they can keep it up.

QB Aaron Rodgers. Arguably the Ravens are the toughest pass defense he’s faced all year, though they haven’t recorded a sack since LB Terrell Suggs was injured (torn MCL). Rodgers is listed on the injury report this week with sore ribs, and he’s been playing through some foot injuries this season too. However, the game is being played on Monday night with a good chance of snow, so the playing conditions might be less than optimal. He should still be a start for most teams, but it depends on your bench.

RB Ryan Grant. The Ravens have a solid run defense, but, as I mentioned above, it might snow. The last time Grant played in a snow storm was during the 2008 playoffs when he rushed for over 200 yards against the Seahawks. Start.

WR Donald Driver. He’s been lights out against lousy pass defenses (Detroit, Cleveland, Tampa), but with only modest production against good NFL secondaries (Dallas, 49ers, Vikings). Still, he’s a No. 1 receiver without any injury problems. Start, but you might find a better matchup on your bench.

WR Greg Jennings. Almost a reverse Driver, with modest games against the Lions, Browns and Bucs, while scoring TDs against the Vikings and 49ers. Also, he’s scored all his TDs at home this season. In the snow, he might have an advantage because he’s always gotten big yards after the catch, and the slick field may give him an added edge. Start.

Packers Defense The Ravens have a good offense, but the Packers have the No.1 defense. A potential snow game could turn bring out the turnovers. Start.

Back the Pack at Acme Packing Company.

Will the Ravens deliver a beatdown this week? We check with Baltimore Beatdown.

Ray Rice: The Baltimore Ravens primary option on offense is second in the league in all-purpose yards, averaging close to 125 yards/game combined rushing and receiving. He is now Joe Flacco’s primary or secondary target, as between him and WR Derrick Mason, they are getting targeted on almost 75% of all passes thrown lately. Rice is a threat to break a long one every time he touches the ball, so start him if you have him.

Joe Flacco: The Ravens 2nd year QB is not regressing like many people think he might be. He is on target to throw for close to 4000 yards but sometimes it seems like the team relies on his rocket arm more than it should on the running game. Flacco’s completion percentage and QB rating (90) are up there with some of the better B’s in the league but if he gets into a shootout with the Packers on Monday night, he is prone to the Red Zone interceptions that have led this team to three losses in close games where Joe has thrown a Red Zone pick.

Derrick Mason: Flacco’s main target and one of the steadiest and most consistent receivers in the league over the past few years. The problem is that Mason’s YPR are low and he doesn’t get the TD passes that some of the guys he is compared to gets. Expect the Packers Charles Woodson to be on him so that he might not get a lot thrown his way Monday night.

Ravens Team Defense: The Ravens have been one of the stingiest teams in giving up points the last six weeks, averaging under 15 points a game. However, their takeaways are not as high as they were last season and facing a high scoring offense in Green Bay puts them at a distinct disadvantage if you are thinking of playing them this week.

Get your Ravens news at Baltimore Beatdown.

The 49ers are still in the playoff hunt, but need to get hot. What does Niners Nation say about this upcoming game?

The 49ers head north to Seattle and continue to await the huge breakout game from Michael Crabtree. Crabtree has consistently put up solid numbers each week, even managing a touchdown one week. This past weekend against the Jaguars he dropped a would-be touchdown pass and another deep ball that would have pushed him over the top in terms of fantasy performance. This week he faces a less than stellar Seahawks secondary in a huge game. Crabtree has not only been a playmaker for the 49ers, but he’s stepped up in big situations. The NN fantasy guru suggested starting him, and I’m thinking if you’re in a tight playoff race and want to go with a high upside guy, start Crabtree.

The other 49er that continues to be a must-start is Vernon Davis. In one league I’m in with pretty general scoring, Vernon Davis is the #1 scoring tight end. That’s certainly quite a turn around for a guy who was considered a bust by many heading into this season. No matter who is QB for the 49ers, Vernon Davis will find ways to score points because he’s too fast for linebackers and too big for most safeties and cornerbacks. The only corner to provide consistent coverage of him was Charles Woodson, and there aren’t a lot of Charles Woodsons in the league. If you don’t start Vernon Davis, and subsequently lose out on a big game, it’s your own fault.

Alex Smith is quietly becoming the best available option on the waiver wire. The Seahawks pass defense isn’t so hot, and Alex Smith has had some decent success in Seattle. I don’t recommend starting him. However, in one league I’m in where I have Peyton Manning, I’m in the hunt for the playoffs (4 teams, 2 rounds). Given that the playoffs will be week 15 and 16, if the Colts lose a game at some point, Manning will start to see more bench time, and you’ll need a decent QB option. Without many left on the waiver wire, Alex Smith will face the Detroit Lions week 16, when most leagues have their championship games. Keep that in mind.

Finally, the 49ers defense. The Seahawks have a healthy Julius Jones, even though Justin Forsett showed a lot of success. This might benefit the 49ers if the Seahawks roll out Jones fairly frequently as he’s struggled for the most part this season. The defense remains a decent start each week because of the aggressiveness they bring to the table. This weekend is a solid enough matchup to roll them out.

Join the Nation at Niners Nation.

How do the fantasy prospects of the Begnals shape up this week? We asked Cincy Jungle.

Carson Palmer – He isn’t having a great statistical season by any means. In his last 15 starts, Palmer has failed to throw for 300 yards or more. He’s only recorded two touchdown passes in his past four games and in only three games this season Palmer has recorded more than one touchdown pass. Hey, he just wins games. However, the Detroit Lions sport the league’s worst passing defense, allowing league highs in passing yards (281.4 yards/game), opposing quarterback rating (111.8) and touchdowns (27). So if he’s going to have a breakout game this season, it’ll be this week against the Lions.

Chad Ochocinco – The same goes for Ochocinco, who like Palmer has recorded career-lows compared to his 16-game averages between 2003-2007. If there’s a weekend to start anyone in the Bengals passing game, this might be it.

Cedric Benson, Larry Johnson – He is expected to make his return to the field Sunday after missing the past two games with a hip injury. Benson should get the majority of work on the ground game, but don’t be surprised if the Bengals decide to rotate Larry Johnson after last week’s 109-yard performance against the Cleveland Browns. You might want to be cautious with Benson this week, until we understand how the Bengals utilize a Benson and Larry Johnson rotation.

The scoop on the Bengals can be found in the Cincy Jungle.

The Falcons are battling injuries but are still in the playoff hunt. The Falcoholic divines the production from their fantasy options this week.

QB Matt Ryan: The young quarterback was injured against the Bucs and has been confirmed as out for the upcoming weekend. Get him on your bench.

QB Chris Redman: Against a tough Eagles defense and potentially under center with two of the Falcons’ offensive linemen and star running back Michael Turner out, Redman is a shaky play this weekend. His best attribute is his ability to find the open man and the Falcons match up well against the Eagles secondary, so the strength of his stat line will depend on how much time he’s given. If you have better options, don’t take the chance.

RB Michael Turner: Turner is extremely unlikely to play, and you’re probably already leery about him after he got into the game last week and proceed to do nothing before getting injured again. Look elsewhere.

RB Jerious Norwood: Both Norwood and Jason Snelling will be sharing carries this weekend, thus somewhat negating their effectiveness. The coaching staff is historically unwilling to give Norwood more than a handful of carries a game, and while he may do something amazing with them, Snelling is just the safer choice with 20 touches a possibility on Sunday.

WR Roddy White: This is the kind of game where White could break out, but there are some limiting factors here. First, White has been dealing with a leg injury for weeks on end, which has slightly slowed him come gametime. Also, while he’s one of Matt Ryan’s favorite targets, Chris Redman looked to Michael Jenkins and Tony Gonzalez much more frequently. Because of his size and physicality, White’s a good bet to grab a score Sunday, so start him without expectations of 100+ yards.

WR Michael Jenkins: A good choice in a PPR league this week because he has a good rapport with Redman. He hasn’t scored yet this season and shouldn’t be expected to this weekend.

TE Tony Gonzalez: He’s one of the top three tight ends in fantasy and puts up an excellent stat line almost every week. Start him with confidence against a porous Eagles pass defense.

K Matt Bryant: An unknown quantity this week, but if you had Jason Elam you need to pick this guy up. After the Falcons cut Elam this past week, the younger and hopefully more accurate Bryant will be called upon from longer distances and has a chance to put up a good line if the Falcons can score.

Falcons D: Even down DeSean Jackson, the Falcons defense struggles hugely and puts up virtually no sacks, fumbles or interceptions to help your stat line out. Bench ’em or cut ’em to make way for a superior option.

For top-shelf Falcons coverage, visit The Falcoholic.