Lineup calls: QB | RB | WR | TE | K | D/ST
Is this your moment of truth? Are you locked in a win-or-else matchup this weekend?
I’m in a league where I’ve amassed the fourth-most points this season yet need a win and some help to crack the playoffs. That second-round selection of Randy Moss left me wanting, and we’ve started to see the well-traveled receiver dropped en masse.
I digress.
In several instances, fantasy owners are going to face with hand-wringing decisions at the quarterback slot. Do you bench Tom Brady against the Jets? Ben Roethlisberger? Matt Ryan?
Top Quarterbacks
(Other than Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Philip Rivers, Kyle Orton and Michael Vick)
Matt Cassel vs. Denver
He’s almost in the “Automatic starts” list at this point. Cassel has been brilliant in recent weeks, having tossed 18 touchdowns with one interception (one lost fumble) since the Chiefs’ Week 4 bye. Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones continue to barrel over opposing defensive lines, thereby creating space for the frequent Cassel connections to Dwayne Bowe.
He’s not matching the 469-yard, four-touchdown effort that he posted against Denver several weeks back, but Cassel will add a couple of notches to the plus side of the ledger here.
Sam Bradford at Seattle
I just love watching Bradford play. His confidence is growing week after week, and he’s developed a nice rapport with his receivers. Danny Amendola has been a steady PPR option, the young tight ends have played a huge role and the team finally returned Danario Alexander to the mix. I can’t wait to see how this finishes.
Bradford has thrown multiple touchdown passes in four of the past five weeks and finally has a healthier receiving corps. He’s thrown the fifth-most passes in the league and has a glorious opportunity here. Seattle ranks 30th in pass defense, allowing 278.6 yards and 1.82 passing touchdowns per game.
Jay Cutler at Detroit
Cutler posted a huge effort in an unlikely spot against the Eagles in Week 12. He tossed four touchdown passes, his third multi-touchdown effort in the past four weeks. Cutler has been more efficient behind a fortified, united Mike Tice offensive line, and the boost provided by the running game has pushed this offense forward. Cutler takes advantage of this week’s matchup against the Detroit secondary. He figures to be afforded multiple short-field opportunities by the stout Chicago defense.
Mark Sanchez at New England
Sanchez’s recent run-up was stifled on Thanksgiving night by the Bengals. He passed for only 166 yards and a touchdown, a disappointing effort given his recent successes. Sanchez is ready to rebound this week against the New England secondary. He passed for 220 yards and three touchdowns in the Jets’ Week 2 victory, a game played without the suspended Santonio Holmes. I don’t expect Sanchez to dominate this week, but he’ll have his opportunities with those speed options downfield.
Joe Flacco vs. Pittsburgh
Flacco threw two early touchdowns against the Buccaneers last week. Derrick Mason broke through for a big game, and Todd Heap streaked 65 yards for a touchdown. He’s thrown multiple touchdown passes in five of the past six games and has spread the ball around effectively. Flacco’s been better with his progressions and has more consistently utilized his secondary options. That growth in Flacco’s game will be key this week against the aggressive Pittsburgh pass defense that ranks 22nd in the NFL (240.5 yards per game). Matt Ryan at Tampa Bay
Ryan posted a tremendous “real” game against the Packers in Week 12, completing 24-of-28 attempts for 197 yards and a touchdown. Fantasy owners wanted more, but it was actually better than I’d anticipated.
This week, he’s locked in a divisional battle against the impressive Tampa Bay pass defense. Ryan will have opportunities (Tampa Bay has allowed 17 passing touchdowns), but he’ll need to find a secondary option (Tony Gonzalez could be HUGE) with Roddy White locked up against Aquib Talib. He passed for 235 yards with one touchdown in the first meeting between these teams.
Josh Freeman vs. Atlanta
Freeman has been shut out only once this season, the Week 3 blowout loss to Pittsburgh. He’s not someone who is going to light up the yardage column (205.5 yards per game), but can tuck the ball and run. Freeman passed for 189 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in the first meeting with Atlanta. Interestingly, the Atlanta game was his only performance this season with multiple turnovers. I just have to wonder if playing at home against this lower-tier Atlanta pass defense doesn’t help.
Brett Favre vs. Buffalo
Who doesn’t want to solidify their playoff seeding with Favre under center? He’s in a great spot this weekend against the Bills, a squad that gets run over consistently (Toby Gerhart is the hero this week) and typically cedes short touchdown strikes. Buffalo has allowed 20 passing touchdowns. I’m anticipating a rare multi-touchdown effort from Favre this week.
Ryan Fitzpatrick at Minnesota
The overtime drop by Steve Johnson obviously got its run at the beginning of this week and fantasy owners are still shaking their fists. Fitzpatrick finished the day with 265 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception. It was a solid day, but could have been so much more.
In any event, Fitzpatrick’s monster start has slowed in recent weeks, but he’s still hasn’t been shut out. He’s completed at least one touchdown pass in nine consecutive games, although Fitzpatrick has logged only one multi-touchdown game in his past five starts. Despite this trend, Fitzpatrick is on the radar against a middling Minnesota pass defense. The Minnesota pass rush has been inconsistent this season, leaving the secondary exposed for big plays. The Bills’ recent use of Fred Jackson is vital, as it’ll provide Fitzpatrick opportunities downfield.
Sleepers
Matt Hasselbeck vs. Carolina
Hasselbeck passed for 282 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions (one fumble) in Week 12 against Kansas City. He’s worthy of a look-see this week in deeper leagues. Ben Obomanu, who caught an 87-yard touchdown last week, has caught four or more passes in three consecutive games, and Mike Williams may return. Even without a viable running game, Hasselbeck will be able to make plays downfield. Jason Campbell at San Diego
I’m not insane. The Chargers rank second in pass defense and are surging down the stretch, as always. However, I’ll toss Campbell into the mix for garbage time points. Jacoby Ford has emerged as an intriguing deep ball prospect, having recorded two 100-yard games in the past three weeks. Darren McFadden can’t run of late, but he’s still catching the ball out of the backfield. Campbell’s on the board for those of you in two-quarterback leagues.
Chad Henne vs. Cleveland
Henne passed for 307 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in his return to the field last week. He’s a sneaky play this week against a Cleveland pass defense that has surrendered 237.2 yards and 1.7 passing touchdowns per game. Brandon Marshall returns to the field, the coaching staff took the shrink-wrap off of Ricky and Ronnie last week, and Davone Bess and Brian Hartline are playing with confidence.
Flops
Ben Roethlisberger at Baltimore
Roethlisberger began the work week in a walking boot, so there’s an injury concern with regard to his ability to scramble and buy time. The larger concern for me this week is that Roethlisberger has been contained by the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. He’s completed 54.5 percent of his attempts for 636 yards with three touchdowns and four interceptions in three games. Roethlisberger absorbed 14 sacks in these games and lost two fumbles. Shut him down.
Carson Palmer vs. New Orleans
Palmer’s streak of multi-touchdown games ended at seven games. He completed 17-of-38 attempts for 135 yards against the Jets with one touchdown and two interceptions. Palmer has been held under 200 passing yards on four occasions and has thrown multiple interceptions in five games. I’ll pass against the rejuvenated, upper-tier New Orleans pass defense.
Donovan McNabb at New York Giants
McNabb is the model of consistency, which can be attractive in fantasyland on some level. However, when his numbers routinely run in the 200-225 level with one touchdown and one interception, you’re hardly inspired. McNabb has been sacked 31 times this season, a total equal to the number of sacks delivered by the Giants. Take your middling effort if you must, but that big fantasy effort isn’t coming here.
