As the Fantasy regular season gets ready to close, I want to thank everyone who has followed this column each week. I hope my information and insight has helped your Fantasy squads perform at a higher level.
Onto Week 13, an extremely important week whether you are trying to get into the playoffs or are already in the playoffs and just trying to improve your seeding.
Disclaimer: Defenses and Kickers are left out each week, we trust you can handle that on your own. Also try to leave the obvious choices out, Start Victor Cruz!!!
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QB’s Start ‘Em
Vince Young @ Seattle
Vince Young threw for 400 yards and a TD last week against the Patriots in what proved to be a very fine fantasy performance. Some argue, it was “garbage time” stats and yes the part of that is true. However, people seem to forget that DeSean Jackson dropped two TD’s, one which was about a 60 yard pass. Add those two TD’s and that is a MONSTER fantasy performance. Vince also added 40 rushing yards, despite the fact he is now staying in the pocket more than ever and only really running when he has to. He is getting it done, he is showing good pocket presence, making good reads and looking accurate on deep balls. So stick with Vince once again as I make it the 3rd consecutive week of recommending him.
Tim Tebow @ Minnesota
Tebow is getting it done each week, averaging around 18 fantasy points per game. The running stats will always be there, but he is starting to throw a bit better each week. This week Tebow matches up against the Vikings who have the WORST pass D in the NFL. Look for Tebow to get the usual running stats, but find Eric Decker, Eddie Royal and Demaryius Thomas more often on Sunday. Trust Tebow, he hasn’t let his owners down yet.
Matt Stafford @ New Orleans
Stafford didn’t look all that great on Thanksgiving and some are concerned about this finger injury. However reports are he shed the splint and the gloves he has been wearing since the injury. Look for Stafford to get it going against New Orleans as he will be slinging the ball left and right in order to keep up Drew Brees. He is going to finish with at least 2 TD’s in his matchup with close to 300 yards passing.
Sit ‘Em
Joe Flacco @ Cleveland
Can’t trust Flacco here. He’s been underwhelming all year and now goes against the best pass defense in the NFL.
Andy Dalton @ Pittsburgh
Dalton, very talented Rookie, but not a very good matchup here. Yards could be there, but TD’s will be limited, may only end up throwing one in this game. Look for other options.
Matt Ryan @ Houston
After a faulty start to the year, Ryan has officially turned it around with two 300 performances and 9 TD’s in his last four games. But this is a tough matchup for Ryan against the much improved Texans defense which ranks 2nd against the pass. Don’t expect a big game from Ryan this Sunday.
RB’s Start ‘Em
LeGarrette Blount vs Carolina
We all know how bad Carolina’s run D is, WORST IN THE LEAGUE! Blount is pretty much a must-start in this game.
Ben Jarvus Green-Ellis vs Indianapolis
You never really know what Bill Belichick is going to do with his running backs from week to week, but I think Green-Ellis will get enough burn here to be effective. New England will have plenty of scoring possessions early and that means the Lawfirm will be getting goal line opportunities. He may eventually make way to Steven Ridley, Shane Vareen or Danny Woodhead in the 2nd half, but Ben-Jarvus should finish with enough overall fantasy points to be worthy of the start.
Reggie Bush @ Oakland
Props to Bush for silencing some of the haters. He has started to hit the hole, run hard and has proved to be durable throughout the season. He has been pretty steady the last 4 weeks and I wouldn’t expect it to be any different this week against Oakland who has been struggling against the run all year giving up the 27th most points to opposing Running Backs.
Sit ‘Em
Steven Jackson @ San Francisco
49ers D, No.1 Rush D in the league, no TD’s allowed all year! Forget about Jackson this week, he will produce little.
Peyton Hillis vs Cleveland
The Madden curse has been in full affect this year and even though Hillis returned last week he still only averaged 3.4 YPC on 19 carries. He will fare worse this week against the stifling Baltimore D. Stay away.
Michael Turner @ Houston
Turner never has fared well against good defenses and he will face one this week in Houston, allowing the 3rd fewest points to opposing RB’s. Also expect this Houston D to step up even more, since their QB situation is so dire.
WR’s Start ‘Em
Riley Cooper/Jason Avant @ Seattle
Chances are one of these guys has a nice game. Two weeks ago it was Cooper, last week it was Avant who had over 100 yards. Cooper still had a decent game as well with 71 yards receiving. I would give Riley the slight edge, just because I think he has a little more rapport with Young, but with Maclin out again, both could be effective.
Eric Decker @ Minnesota
Decker is easily Tebow’s favorite and best target right now. He also deserves some credit for finishing these games late as he keeps catching big TD’s. Look for Decker to add more in the yards department against this Minnesota secondary and possibly find the endzone once again.
Reggie Wayne @ New England
This just has been a rough season for Reggie Wayne and the Colts. Peyton Manning’s injury has ruined both of their seasons. But at least last week, coming off his bye, Wayne showed some life going over 100 yards and catching a TD. Dan Orlovsky takes over for Curtis Painter this week, but he can’t be any worse than Painter, can he? The matchup is sound enough to use Wayne in this spot. The Colts will be passing all game, so Wayne should at least put up serviceable numbers with a chance to go over 100 yards again against this poor New England secondary.
Sit ‘Em
Anquan Boldin @ Cleveland
I’ve been picking against WR’s who match up with Joe Haden and the Cleveland secondary all year. AJ Green fared well by going over 100 yards, but that kid is a very special talent while Boldin isn’t the player he used to be. Avoid Boldin this week in a harsh matchup.
Santana Moss vs New York Jets
Stevie Johnson surprised all of us with this performance against Darelle Revis last week and it actually burnt me in one of my leagues. But it’s very hard to suggest starting somebody when they face the Jets secondary led by Revis. If Moss starts to get hot, the Jets will just put him on the island and it will most likely be all over from there. I don’t think you can be confident in Moss against the Jets.
Julio Jones @ Houston
Jones returned from his hammy injury last week, but didn’t have a catch. No denying Jones talent and ability to have a strong game out of the blue, but I think you need to sit him against this strong Houston secondary allowing the 5th fewest points to fantasy wideouts.
TE’s Start ‘Em
Fred Davis vs New York Jets
If your a Jets fan like me you know they can’t cover Tight Ends. Davis has been Washington’s main go to guy pretty much all year, look for Davis to have a solid game as he exposes the Jets Safeties in coverage.
Brent Celek @ Seattle
Celek now has five straight games with over 50 yards receiving and in four of those games he has five catches or more making him a very solid start in PPR leagues. Seattle is 5th worst at defending the Tight End, so gotta roll with Celek again.
Dustin Keller @ Washington
Can Mark Sanchez have another late season revival like we have seen the last two years? Well, regardless he’s going to try and Dustin Keller will be his safety net. Last week Keller had 60 yards and 2 TD’s on 4 catches and Keller has been serviceable with four 50 yard performances in his last six games. When the Jets play well Keller is usually involved. Give Keller a shot, I think he does well down the stretch here.
Sit ‘Em
Owen Daniels vs Atlanta
Daniels has been disappointing all year and now it gets even worse with Schaub and Leinart both out for the season. At least Leinart would throw underneath a bunch, while the new starter TJ Yates likes to go downfield a bit more. Plus they will probably run the ball more than ever now. Keep Daniels on your bench.
Vernon Davis vs St. Louis
Davis was held in check last week against Baltimore with just 4 catches for 38 yards. This week an even tougher matchup on paper against the No. 1 defense in defending the Tight End. Keep Davis reserved.
IDP’s Start ‘Em
Kyle Arrington, CB, New England Patriots vs Indianapolis
Arrington has had a pretty solid year fantasy wise with 12 pass deflections and 7 Int’s. Those deflections and Int’s could increase this week against the Colts new starter Dan Orlovsky. Who knows how Dan the Man will perform, but it probably won’t be pretty. Good spot to go with Arrington here.
Chad Greenway, LB, Minnesota Vikings
Here come the Denver Broncos and their run heavy offense. Greenway will have plenty of chances to rack up tackles which makes him a safe start.
Aldon Smith, DE, San Francisco 49ers vs St. Louis
Smith has had a pretty solid year so far with 8 sacks. He should add onto that total against Sam Bradford and his offensive line who have allowed the most sacks in the league. This should be a dominating performance by the 49ers and Smith.
Sit ‘Em
Jabrari Greer, CB, New Orleans Saints vs Detroit
Never like starting a corner who will be matched up against Calvin Johnson. Greer has been on of the best in the pass deflection category ranked 2nd overall, but don’t like the matchup this week.
Kyle Vanden Bosch, DE, Detroit Lions @ New Orleans
Drew Brees will be slinging a ton, but Vanden Bosch chances of getting sacks will be limited. The Saints are allowing the sixth fewest sacks so far this season and a big part of that is Drew Brees getting the ball out quick enough and getting out of the pocket to make plays.
Fantasy Savvy 