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Happy Thanksgiving to all. Everybody enjoy and be grateful for Family, Food, and of course, Fantasy Football. We have just two weeks left until the Fantasy Playoffs, so it is truly crunch time. I hope you all have done everything in your power to get your teams where they need to be. If you guys have any questions you can email me at SteveDeAngelo@gmail.com or @FantasySavvy on Twitter.
You won’t see the obvious names on here, that would be pointless. Maybe occasionally to give you a reminder, but rather we are looking to identify some guys that you may be on the fence with and encourage you to either start or sit them. Matchups will be broken down, stats will be used, some projections will be provided and some “gut” feeling will be mixed in. But when it comes down to the come down, it’s your “gut” you need to roll with.
*Players listed in order of projected effectiveness in the start ‘em category and ineffectiveness in the sit ‘em category.
Quarterbacks
Start ‘Em
Tony Romo vs Washington
Romo is starting to pick it up of late and despite the fact he only has one multi touchdown game in his last four outings he does have one 400-yard and two 300-yard performances to his credit. Romo and Dez Byrant also seem to finally be getting on the same page. At home, on Thanksgiving, against the Washington Redskins and their poor defense allowing the 6th most points to Fantasy QB’s, Romo can be trusted and should be in your lineups.
Colin Kaepernick @ New Orleans
Technically there has been no starter named for Sunday’s game against the Saints, but I think there is no doubt that the 49ers will go with Kaepernick. I highly doubt that Alex Smith would have had the type of performance Kaepernick had against the Bears throwing for 243 yards with two TD’s. Expect Harbaugh to go with Kaepernick on Sunday and once Kaepernick succeeds against the Saints, and he will, the 49ers will keep going with him. If you are in need of QB help and he is still available in your league, do not hesitate to snatch him up. Look for over 300 total yards and at least two TD’s.
Update: Kaepernick named starter.
Chad Henne vs Tennessee
Blaine Gabbert was simply not the answer for the Jacksonville Jaguars and he was killing the entire teams Fantasy value. After Gabbert went down against the Texans, Chad Henne came in and completely ignited this offense and specifically Justin Blackmon and Marcedes Lewis. All this against a very tough Houston Texans defense. Start Henne in Week 12 as the Jaguars welcome the Titans into town, who have allowed the 9th most points to Fantasy QB’s.
Sit ‘Em
Cam Newton @ Philadelphia
Just a disappointing season overall for Cam, throwing for over 300 yards just once and having just 12 TD’s overall. I have been waiting for him to break out and have a big time performance but it still hasn’t come. If you have Andy Dalton, or Kaepernick, I would start them both over Cam this weekend. At this point Cam really doesn’t offer much upside, he’s going to give you his usual 230 yard passing, 30 yards rushing, one TD game.
Eli Manning vs Green Bay
Eli Manning might very well turn it around coming off the bye week, but after three straight brutal games where he didn’t throw even one touchdown, he needs to show his owners he can be trusted again.
Matthew Stafford vs Houston
Here is another guy who has been inconsistent all season and is hard to trust on a week to week basis. Stafford put up another dud last week throwing two INT’s with just one TD, although he did throw for over 250 yards. Yes, Chad Henne did just torch the Texans secondary, but they are still ranked 10th best against Fantasy QB’s and will be much more focused than they were last week. I want two to three TD games from my starting QB, not one TD, two interception performances. I think that is most likely what we will see from Stafford this week.
Running Backs
Start ‘Em
Marcel Reece @ Cincinnati
Keep Marcel Reese going as Darren Mcfadden continues to sit out. Reece has totaled 151 rushing yards and 146 receiving yards in his last two games and the Bengals are allowing the 7th most points to Fantasy backs. Expect another 100+ total yard game and a possible score.
Ronnie Hillman @ Kansas City
With McGahee on injured reserve, Hillman steps into a great situation playing with Peyton Manning. Lance Ball will get some carries, but Hillman should get the majority and be the the Broncos goal line option. There should plenty of opportunities to score against the Chiefs who are ranked 10th worst against Fantasy RB’s so look for Hillman to approach 100 total yards and possibly find the endzone.
Jalen Parmele vs Tennessee
Rashad Jennings has lost the starting job and Parmele is next in line. He runs harder than Jennings and is the more talented back. With Chad Henne the Jaguars will be able to move the football which bodes well for Parmele. Look for him to have a nice game against the Titans who are allowing the 4th most points to Fantasy Backs.
Sit ‘Em
James Starks @ NYG
Starks, Alex Green it doesn’t matter, neither one of these guys is talented enough to get the job done. Starks is still the better runner but McCarthy was not happy with his performance last week and it looks like he will go back into more of a timeshare with Green now.
Reggie Bush vs Seattle
Bush has just not been the same since his week three injury to the Jets. Ever since then his YPC has decreased and his touches have went down. At this point, it looks like the Dolphins are intentionally not using him because they don’t want to bring him back next year. They do not give him enough carries and they use him horribly in the pass game.Daniel Thomas is playing more than Bush, it’s pathetic. This is just a rough matchup and you can not trust Bush at all right now, his playoff schedule is very light however, but at the same time he couldn’t get it done against the Bills last week. Keep Bush reserved until this coaching staff shows that they want to feature him in the offense again.
Chris Ivory vs San Francisco
Besides the horrid matchup against the best Run D in the league, Darren Sproles should also be returning this week which kills Ivory’s value.
Wide Receivers
Start ‘Em
Michael Crabtree @ New Orleans
Kaepernick provides legitimacy to this passing game again and Crabtree will get it going against the Saints and their horrible defense. Start him comfortably.
Justin Blackmon vs Tennessee
Finally! We have been waiting for this game all year, it just sucks it took 11 weeks to finally come. Chad Henne knows how to get this man the ball and Blackmon had 13 targets last week with over 200 yards receiving. He should also be able to exploit the Titans defense so stick with JB.
T.Y. Hilton vs Buffalo
T.Y. Allday long! Love this little guy. Donnie Avery could be out with a concussion which means a ton of targets for Hilton as Luck throws it up and down the field against the Bills. Hilton has two 100-yard games in his past three and needs to be in your lineups this week.
Sit ‘Em
Santana Moss @ Dallas
While Moss has four TD’s in his last four games he has just 150 yards receiving which is less than 40 yards per game. Besides all that, I do not like this matchup against the Cowboys and their secondary who have been tough against fantasy WR’s all year, ranked 9th best.
Mike Wallace @ Cleveland
Do you trust Charlie Batch tossing the rock to Wallace? Didn’t think so. Making matters worse, Joe Haden has a good shot to return for this game. No matter, Wallace is just too risky to rely upon this week.
Jeremy Maclin & DeSean Jackson vs Carolina
These two guys couldn’t get it done in a plus matchup against the Skins last week with a combined two catches for five yards, therefore I do not trust them this week against Carolina. Nick Foles looked pretty bad and until he proves he can get the ball to these guys, you need to sit em down. Two catches for five yards?
Tight Ends
Start ‘Em
Vernon Davis @ New Orleans
Vernon has been freed! Finally they throw this guy the dang football. I guess Alex Smith just was not looking his way? Just another reason for the 49ers to start Kaepernick this weekend against the Saints. Look for Vernon to go over 60 yards and potentially find the endzone once again.
Brandon Myers @ Cincinnati
Myers, aka Carson Palmer‘s older brother has been extremely steady of late with 27 targets in his last three games with three TD’s and over 150 receiving yards. The Bengals are 4th worst against defending the Tight End so look for Myers to continue his success.
Dwayne Allen vs Buffalo
Coby Fleener will be OUT once again so get Allen in your lineups as he has 20 targets in his last three games going over the 60-yard receiving mark twice.
Sit ‘Em
Dennis Pitta @ San Diego
Pitta left last weeks game early after suffering a concussion and although he did practice Wednesday and should pay Sunday, he cannot be trusted. Flacco has regressed, Pitta has regressed and you can feel pretty comfortable letting Pitta loose if you need to.
Heath Miller @ Cleveland
Same story with Mike Wallace, without Big Ben Miller can not be trusted. It’s a shame because he was one of the best producers at the position with Ben back there. Cleveland is also 2nd best at defending the Tight End, so just not a good look all around.
Kyle Rudolph @ Chicago
After being abused by the 49ers and Colin Kaepernick last week, the Bears are going to take their anger out onChristian Ponder. Ponder will struggle meaning Rudolph will likely be limited as well.
IDP’s
Start ‘Em
Wesley Woodward vs Kansas City
The Denver Broncos defense has been on fire of late and Wesley Woodward has been a huge reason why. Woodward leads the Broncos in tackles with 54, has three sacks and also three interceptions. The Chiefs have allowed the 2nd most points to Fantasy LB’s this year so Woodward is a must start this week.
Charles Johnson @ Philadelphia
Johnson who has 8.5 sacks this season steps into a nice matchup against the Eagles who have allowed the third most sacks this season. Look for Johnson to get to Foles at least twice.
Sit ‘Em
Tamba Hali @ Denver
Hali has been one of the bright spots on the KC defense with six sacks, but against Peyton Manning and the Broncos who have allowed the 3rd fewest sacks, Hali’s sack chances will be minimal.
Jonathan Joseph @ Detroit
Joseph’s hamstring has hindered him all season and he now has has to play on a short week against Calvin Johnson. Keep him reserved.
Fantasy Savvy 