For some of you the playoffs may have started already, but for the majority, this is the last week of the regular season. Thanks for reading all season and make sure to continue to follow us throughout the Fantasy playoffs. If you guys have any questions you can ask me on twitter @FantasySavvy.
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 Philly
Romo delivered for Fantasy Owners on Thanksgiving and has been turning it on of late after a slow start to the season. There is no doubt he should keep it going against the Eagles who are falling apart at the seams. Expect another nice day.
Colin Kaepernick @ St. Louis
Kaepernick will get another start this week and as long as he continues his solid play he will remain the starter. The Rams don’t pose a threat to Kaep’s potential effectiveness in this one, so keep him rolling in Week 13.
Matt Schaub @ Tennessee
The Titans are allowing the 6th most points to QB’s and Schaub has been picking up the pace in his last couple of games. Look for Schaub to have a very efficient game, something along the lines of 250 yards and two TD’s.
Sit ‘Em
Joe Flacco vs Pittsburgh
Lets face it, Joe Flacco is who we thought he was. The guy just will never be a bigtime QB. He can’t be trusted going against the Steelers who are the best at defending Fantasy QB’s.
Jay Cutler vs Seattle
Seattle CB’s Brandon Browner and Richard Sherman will both play in this game because they are appealing their suspensions and that equates to bad news for Jay Cutler. Cutler probably will be limited to just one TD in this game.
Phillip Rivers vs Cincinnati
Rivers has failed to have above 20 fantasy points in five of his last six games and against the Bengals who have been playing great defense of late he needs to be reserved.
Running Backs
Start ‘Em
Bryce Brown @ Dallas
Brown impressed on Monday Night against the Panthers displaying his speed and ability to turn the corner on the defense. He should keep it going against Dallas and their average run D (ranked 13th best) and I expect close to 100 total yards with at least one TD.
Darren Sproles @ Atlanta
Good Spot to use Sproles tonight in what should be a high scoring game in Atlanta. The Falcons are giving up the 9th most points to Fantasy Backs so get Darren in your lineups.
Mikel Leshoure vs Indy
Leshoure keeps producing for Fantasy Owners finding the endzone in five of his last six games. He also was the first back to score against the Houston Texans this season. The Lions should be in the redzone often against the Colts, so look for Leshoure to find the endzone at least once making him a nice start once again.
Sit ‘Em
Shonn Greene vs Arizona
The Jets are just a complete mess right now and NO JET can be trusted. Arizona is 8th best against Fantasy Backs and Greene usually duds in tough matchups.
Steven Jackson vs 49ers
Jackson has been running hard all year, it just hasn’t equated to much production as he has just two TD’s. Against the 49ers you need to find other options.
Matt Forte vs Seattle
Forte has been burning fantasy owners of late constantly failing to find the endzone. Michael Bush took two TD’s away from him last week. With the ankle sprain and the Seahawks coming to town, consider benching Forte.
Wide Receivers
Start ‘Em
Hakeem Nicks @ Washington
Nicks appears to be finally healthy now and has a wonderful matchup on Monday Night against the Skins. DeAngelo Hall can not cover Nicks and Eli should find him often. Expect a 6-7 catch, 80-100 yard performance with a possible TD.
Justin Blackmon, Cecil Shorts @ Buffalo
Shorts has been solid pretty much all season and Blackmon has emerged ever since Chad Henne has taken over at QB with three TD’s in his past two games. The duo should keep up the production against Buffalo who are allowing the 10th most points to Fantasy WR’s.
Pierre Garcon vs New York Giants
Garcon is back and healthy and along with Santana Moss will be RG3′s favorite target. The catch he made against the Cowboys where he caught it behind his body and took it the house, shows that he can be trusted and against the Giants who are allowing the 2nd most points to WR’s, he needs to be in lineups.
Sit ‘Em
Brandon Lloyd @ Miami
This is a good matchup for Lloyd, but he is just not getting the job done and has been brutal the past three weeks. Brady prefers Welker, Hernandez and now Edelman over Lloyd. He is becoming the 4th option in the passing game. Until he shows more of a rapport and a connection with Brady he needs to be benched.
Donnie Avery @ Detroit
Avery gets a lot of targets but does very little with them. He hasn’t scored since week one and only has one game with more than 70 yards receiving in his last nine.
James Jones vs Minnesota
Jones wasn’t even targeted last week and now with Greg Jennings set to return he is the Packers WR who will suffer the most as a result. Keep him away from your lineups.
Tight Ends
Start ‘Em
Aaron Hernandez @ Miami
Don’t worry about his game last week against the Jets where he had just 30 yards, Hernandez is going to get it going eventually and it should begin to happen against the Dolphins. Look for around 60-70 yards with a possible score.
Vernon Davis @ St. Louis
Davis is a very frustrating player to own. He arguably is the most talented Tight End in the league, he just doesn’t put up the numbers to back that up. I think the biggest problem was Alex Smith, now with Kaepernick, Davis should start to flourish. He did absolutely nothing last week, but be patient with him.
Dallas Clark @ Denver
The Freeman, Clark connection has been improving the last few weeks and against Denver who are giving up the most points to Fantasy Tight Ends, he’s not a bad option. I expect him to go over 50 yards.
Sit ‘Em
Brent Celek @ Dallas
Celek has just one TD all year and without Vick he can’t be relied upon. Dallas also has been 10th best against Fantasy Tight Ends this year.
Dustin Keller vs Arizona
The only team that Keller has really produced against was the Pats, besides that he has done very little. Arizona boasts the 2nd best ranking against Tight Ends, so keep Keller benched.
Dennis Pitta vs Pittsburgh
Pitta has scored in two of his last three games and appears to have picked up the pace again, but I am steering clear of him against the Steelers who have allowed the 7th fewest points to Tight Ends.
IDP’s
Start ‘Em
Aldon Smith @ St. Louis
Smith had a bad matchup against the Saints last week and still produced. He needs to be in your lineups the rest of the way, the guy is a straight beast. Smith should put Bradford on his behind at least twice.
DeMarcus Ware vs Philly
Ware has been very quiet the past three weeks, but expect that to change against Philly who are allowing a ton of sacks and the most points to Fantasy DE’s.
Sit ‘Em
John Abraham vs New Orleans
The veteran is having another solid season with nine sacks, but Drew Brees doesn’t get sacked often and the Saints are allowing the 2nd fewest points to DE’s.
Cameron Wake vs New England
Don’t trust Wake against the Pats and Brady who are allowing the 4th fewest amount points to DE’s.
Fantasy Savvy 