By: Steve DeAngelo
As always I try to leave the obvious choices out. Enjoy and GL this weekend!
QB’s
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Jay Cutler @ Detroit
As most of you know I’m not a huge Cutler guy but he should be fine in this spot. He’s coming of a nice performance against Philly where he threw 4 TD’s for 247 yards and surprisingly no Int’s. In Cutler’s last 3 games vs Detroit he has 8 TD’s and only 1 pick. Cutler is confident right now the matchup is right, get Jay in your lineup this week
Sam Bradford @ Arizona
What a truly impressive rookie season by the baby-faced Sam Bradford as he has 17 TD’s to just 9 picks. Bradford has been hot of late with 3 straight games over 225 yards and last week having his first 300 yard game of the year which also came on the road in Denver. He also has tossed 6 TD’s in his last 3 Games with only 1 Int. This is a juicy matchup vs Arizona secondary ranked 25th in the league. Get Bradford in your lineups this week.
Josh Freeman vs Atlanta
Freeman had a rough one last week against Baltimore being held under 175 yards passing with only 1 TD but again he didn’t turn the ball over. That was his 3rd straight game without an interception. This week it gets a bit easier at home vs Atlanta and their 27th ranked secondary. Williams tossed two TD’s when they faced off in Atlanta and threw for 189 yards. I expect the TD total to remain the same while throwing over 200 yards this week and maybe adding another 30 or so on the ground.
Mark Sanchez @ New England
After the Texans shut down Rusty White and the Titans passing attack last week the Patriots fell to worst in the league in pass defense. They are letting up 288 yards a game and have let up 21 TD’s through the air. Expect the Jets to come out and attack the Pats secondary. Sanchez should have plenty of time to throw and find Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards and Dustin Keller. Also what helps Sanchez is Jerricho Cotchery returns this week. Sanchez struggled a bit last week against Cincy but expect him to be fired up and focused for this matchup. 250+ yards with a couple of scores is highly likely.
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Carson Palmer @ New Orleans
A Hideous matchup for Palmer last week and it happens again this week vs the 3rd Ranked New Orleans Saints Pass defense. The Saints have only allowed 7 TD’s all year through the air and only 197 yards per game. Palmer might need to throw a ton to keep up in this one but he will probably end up throwing at least 2-3 Int’s because of it. Keep him on your bench
Bruce Gradkowski @ San Diego
Gradkowski was playing well before his injury which kept him out several weeks, but came back last week and struggled at home vs Miami. This week it doesn’t get any easier against a very stout Pass defense in San Diego. San Diego is ranked #2 in pass defense and also have the #1 amount of sacks at 33. Gradkowski will be running for his life this Sunday. Stay away!
RB’s
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Ronnie Brown/Ricky Williams vs Cleveland
I like both of these guys as flex plays this weekend. I like the fact that the Miami got back to the ground game last week against Oakland and I expect them to stick with it again against the Browns. The Dolphins ran the ball 44 times last week giving Brown 24 carries and Williams 20. The Browns will be running themselves meaning neither team will be forced to pass in this game. Expect a similar gameplan to last week for the Dolphins and keep the ball on the ground. Williams and Brown should both easily go over 70 yards rushing and maybe both finish with a TD. The Browns are letting up 121 a game on the ground but only have let up 4 rushing TD’s. Still one of these guys either Brown or Williams finding the endzone, they are both bruisers who can score around the goal line.
Mike Tolbert vs Oakland
Ryan Mathews is probably returning this week, but Tolbert has now had back to back 100 yard games and should continue to get the full load of carries. Also he will remain the goal-line back. This is a nice matchup for Tolbert against Oakland and their 28th ranked rush D. The Chargers should be playing with a lead all game which means plenty of carries for Tolbert. Expect him to finish with close to 100 yards with a score.
Tashard Choice @ Indy
Choice will fill in for the injured Marion Barber this week and I expect him to play well. The Colts are really having a tough time stopping the run right now as they are banged up on defense. Right now they are ranked 29th. Choice is a fairly physical runner with good quickness and good hands. He should get about 10-12 touches in this game while sharing time with Felix Jones. He makes for a fairly good flex play this week. The only thing you worry about is the Colts blowing out the Cowboys forcing them to pass, but I think Choice will still be fine regardless.
Jonathan Stewart @ Seattle
Stewart came back last week from Concussion and out-produced Mike Goodson averaging 8.2 YPC to Goodson’s 3.9. Stewart finished with 12 carries for 98 yards. Expect him to take over the starting role this week, while Goodson plays more on passing downs. I like the way Carolina ran the ball last week against Cleveland and I think they can produce again vs Seattle and their 22nd ranked Run D.
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BenJarvus Green-Ellis vs NYJ
Green-Ellis has been running solid of late with 3 TD’s in his last 2 games, but obviously this is a tough matchup vs the Jets and their 4th ranked run D. Ellis probably won’t sniff 50 yards but he could find the endzone. If anything he’s a low-end flex play.
Jahvid Best vs Chicago
His toes have been a huge hindrance all season and really have cost fantasy owners who put so much stock into him. He had the big game in week 2 but that was really it. It now appears Best may not contribute at all for the remainder of the season. He shouldn’t touch your lineups this week especially against Chicago and their 2nd ranked Run D. The Lions should really just bench him this week and let him rest.
Ladainian Tomlinson and Shonn Green
Right now these guys are offsetting each other while both failing to find the endzone. Neither has had a 100 yd game in weeks. I would stay away from both this week, although they do make decent flex-plays. The Jets will be passing more often in this game than running.
WR’s
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Terrell Owens vs New Orleans
Even though I think Palmer will struggle, I think Owens will return to form a week after facing the best corner in Football in Darelle Revis. Expect Owens to find the endzone at least once and finish with around 6 catches for 80 yards.
Mario Manningham vs Redskins
The only legit target Manning has should be in for a nice day vs a very poor secondary in Washington ranked 29th overall. Manningham had 60 yards and a TD last week and would have had another if it weren’t for a holding penalty. Expect Manningham to finish with about 5-6 catches for 70-80 yards and a possible score.
Danny Amendola @ Arizona
A solid play in PPR leagues, Amendola has a nice matchup here against Arizona. He may not reach the endzone but expect about 100 total yards with about 6-7 catches.
Mike Williams vs Atlanta
The Rookie has been solid all season and will keep it rolling at home this week against Atlanta who he had 4 catches for 89 yards and a TD in week 9. Expect similar numbers this week.
Mike Wallace @ Baltimore
Wallace streak of 3 straight hundred yard games last week was stopped as he only had 33 yards against Buffalo. Don’t let that and the fact he’s facing the Ravens this week scare you off. This Ravens secondary is vastly overrated even though they are ranked 7th in the league. Stick with Wallace and expect him to score and finish with over 75 yards.
Randy Moss vs Jacksonville
Kerry Collins should return this week and he will find Moss deep against this porous 28th ranked Jacksonville secondary. Expect Moss to have his best game as a Titan this week as God’s stars align.
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Ochocinco vs New Orleans
Palmer will target Owens and won’t find Ocho and when he does throw to him he will probably overthrow him like he’s been doing all year. Stay away from Esteban.
Michael Crabtree @ GB
Not a good matchup for the Crabtree this week as he will most likely draw Charles Woodson most of the day who slowed down Roddy White last week. Troy Smith has found Crabtree for a couple TD’s since he’s been the starter but not this week.
Jacoby Ford @ San Diego
This guy has been hot of late, but this simply isn’t a good matchup. The Chargers will disrupt Bruce Gradkowski all game and he will not have time to connect with Ford. Stay away
TE’s
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Brent Celek vs Houston
He heated up a little bit last week with 3 catches for 50 yards and a score, now he faces the Texans who have let up the most points to Tight Ends. Give him a shot this week
Visanthe Shiancoe @ Buffalo
Shiancoe has been a disappointment all year but has nice matchup vs Buffalo who are letting up the 2nd most points to Tight Ends.
Joel Dreesen @ Philly
Dreesen is probably Schaub’s 2nd best receiving option. With Daniels out again and facing the Eagles who have let up the 5th most point to Tight Ends, this is a good matchup here. Dreesen has TD’s in his past two games.
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Heath Miller @ Baltimore
Miller has been inconsistent even with the return of Big Ben and now faces a Baltimore defense that lets up the fewest points to Tight Ends
Ben Watson @ Miami
Colt Mcoy liked him, but now that Jake Delhomme is back it’s a different story, plus Miami is letting up the 3rd fewest points to Tight Ends.
Fantasy Savvy 