Week 14
Games through Dec. 13

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The fantasy postseason has finally has arrived in many leagues, and if you are still in the running, you of course know which players have carried you all season long. However, some players have only started to make an impact recently, the prime example being RB Julius Jones. With 348 yards and five TDs in the last two weeks, Jones is the lone reason Dallas is somehow in the playoff hunt. But Dallas isn’t the only team to benefit; countless fantasy squads are riding the rookie’s success into the playoffs.

Jones is one of several young backs playing a key role at this stage of the season. Willis McGahee, who may have the best matchups of all running backs in the league in the upcoming weeks, is showing why he is the future in Buffalo. Kevin Jones is looking better and better in Detroit, and Onterrio Smith and Larry Johnson are also turning into fantay options.

If you have solid performers like Julius Jones or McGahee, you might not have much difficulty setting your lineup, but just in case, let’s a look at a few players whose prospects are good, and a few who might be best left on the bench, in our weekly Start & Sit column.

START

QB:

David Carr, Hou: Carr has not been at his best recently, passing for more than one TD just once in his last seven games. However, if there ever is a week when you should start him, then it’s this one. Despite having improved against the pass, Indianapolis still gave up 269 yards and three TDs to Billy Volek and the Titans. Carr is a somewhat risky start, but if you don’t play him now, when will you?

Vinny Testaverde, Dal: Testaverde proved in last Monday’s game against Seattle that he is still the best option at quarterback for the Cowboys. With this surprise victory, Dallas somehow has managed to get back into playoff contention again – and it looks like Vinny will start as long as they remain in the postseason picture. Testaverde is a rock solid option at QB this week, playing against the worst passing defense in the league, New Orleans. The way the Cowboys offense is performing, Testaverde should put up solid numbers.

Others to start:
Aaron Brooks, NO
Steve McNair, Ten (if healthy)
Michael Vick, Atl
Jake Plummer, Den
Carson Palmer, Cin
Matt Hasselbeck, Sea

No-brainers:
Daunte Culpepper, Min
Peyton Manning, Ind
Donovan McNabb, Phi
Trent Green, KC
Brett Favre, GB
Jake Delhomme, Car
Tom Brady, NE

RB:

Chester Taylor/Jamal Lewis, Bal: Taylor filled in nicely for Jamal Lewis last week, and he should have another solid game on Sunday against the Giants if Lewis cannot play. New York has seriously troubles stopping the run, allowing 135 yards on the ground, so if you can wait until more information on Lewis’ status becomes available before setting your lineup, whoever starts for Baltimore should be active for your team.

Onterrio Smith, Min: Despite being the featured running back in Minnesota’s offense for now, Smith has not really impressed in recent games. This could change this week, as the Vikings play against the Seahawks, who gave up a whopping seven rushing TDs in the past two games.

Others to start:
Duce Staley, Pit
Chris Brown, Ten (if healthy)
Domanick Davis, Hou
Clinton Portis, Was
Curtis Martin, NYJ
Deuce McAllister, NO
Willis McGahee, Buf
Nick Goings, Car
Kevin Jones, Det
Steven Jackson, StL

No-brainers:
LaDainian Tomlinson, SD
Shaun Alexander, Sea
Edgerrin James, Ind
Ahman Green, GB
Corey Dillon, NE
Reuben Droughns, Den
Fred Taylor, Jax
Julius Jones, Dal

WR:

Az-Zahir Hakim, Det: Hakim was sidelined for a month, and just when he was ready to take the field again he injured a finger in the pre-game warm-ups. However, he should be back this week, and has good upside against an inconsistent Green Bay defense. The Packers are third-worst in the league against the pass, so expect Hakim and fellow wide-out Roy Williams to keep busy all day.

Dennis Northcutt, Cle: Antonio Bryant picked up the headlines with his recent play, but don’t overlook teammate Dennis Northcutt. Northcutt caught passes for an average of 90 yards per game in the last two weeks, and now heads to Buffalo to face the Bills. If you need a fill-in who might be available on the wire, Northcutt could be just what you’re looking for.

Others to start:
Eric Moulds, Buf
Deion Branch, NE
Keyshawn Johnson, Dal
Michael Clayton, TB
Darrell Jackson, Sea
Rod Smith, Den
Hines Ward, Pit
Jerry Porter, Oak
Antonio Bryant, Cle

No-brainers:
Torry Holt, StL
Randy Moss, Min
Terrell Owens, Phi
Joe Horn, NO
Marvin Harrison, Ind
Reggie Wayne, Ind
Chad Johnson, Cin
Brandon Stokley, Ind
Javon Walker, GB
Andre Johnson, Hou
Derrick Mason, Ten
Muhsin Muhammad, Car

TE/K/D:

Desmond Clark, Chi: Clark led all Bears receivers last week with six catches and 58 yards. While those are not stellar numbers, it does show that Chad Hutchinson has confidence in throwing to hie tight end. Being the favorite target of a new QB immediately makes him a solid option at the thin TE position, so if you are hurting at TE, do not hesitate to put him in your lineup.

John Kasay, K, Car: The Panthers offense has really been on fire lately, and should keep on scoring points against the Rams. St.Louis has given up a league high 25 FGs so far, so you can expect lots of work for Kasay.

San Francisco Defense: The quarterback carousel continues to turn in Arizona, but that doesn’t mean the Cardinals offense will magically come alive. The 49ers defense remains one of the few brighter spots on the team, and they should be able to put on some pressure on Josh McCown and the Cardinals, who have scored just 25 points in the last three weeks.

 
BENCH

QB:

Drew Brees, SD: This is a very tough call. We know Brees has been a key factor in many fantasy seasons, but this may be the perfect time to sit him for a week. Brees struggled mightily last Sunday against Denver, and it won’t get any easier this week. Tampa Bay leads the league in fewest passing yards allowed, but this alone might not be enough to sit a passer like Brees. But the Buccaneers’ weakness against the run is what could make Brees a bad start. The Chargers will rely heavily on the run, and Brees might only pass to keep the defense honest.

Chad Pennington, NYJ: Pennington came back after his injury last week, but he did not find his groove at all against a vulnerable Texans defense. This simply is not a good sign for this week, considering the Pittsburgh Steelers are taking the field against Penny and the Jets. The Steelers are allowing just 176 yards per game through the air, and Pennington will have a hard time putting up big numbers.

RB:

Tiki Barber, NYG: Barber has not scored since Eli Manning took over at quarterback three weeks ago, and he was shut down almost completely by the Redskins last Sunday. Unfortunately, the Ravens defense is as tough as Washington, so Barber may struggle again this week. We know he carried your team the whole season, but this is a week where sitting him may be advisable.

Travis Minor, Mia: Minor surprised everyone last week with a good game against the Bills’ strong defense, but he remains a risky back to entrust with your team’s fortunes down the stretch. He plays a tough unit again this week, and the Broncos won’t be taken by surprise this week.

WR:

Isaac Bruce, StL: Crazy? Perhaps, but there are reasons you should at least consider benching Bruce this week. We have often seen quarterback changes raise or lower the fantasy value of WRs, as different quarterbacks have different targets they prefer. And it looked like last week as if we may have a perfect example here. With Chris Chandler behind center, Torry Holt had his best game of the season, while Bruce had only two catches for a lowly 18 yards. It’s too early to tell whether this trend will continue, but it does make the ever-reliable Bruce riskier than he usually is. Weigh all your options carefully.

Marty Booker, Mia: Booker had a nice game last week, catching five passes for 96 yards. However, he still has not visited the end zone this season and will have a tough opponent this week. The Broncos have allowed only 191 yards passing per game so far, and held Drew Brees to 106 yards last week. This is not the matchup you want for an underachieving Booker. Bench him.

TE/K/D:

Chris Cooley, Was: Cooley has three TD catches in the past four weeks and is tied for the team lead with five. However, he has never had more than 31 yards receiving, so he isn’t exactly a reliable option. Washington is playing a red-hot Eagles team that shut down Bret Favre completely last week, so you cannot expect the Redskins to have significant success. Scoring chances for the Skins may be few and far between, and Cooley simply is not the guy you want to rely on to put up points this week.

Jeff Reed, Pit: Reed has established himself as one of the more dependable kickers in fantasy football behind a solid, steadily-producing Steelers offense. But this week his success is likely to be limited against a Jets defense that allowed just one score in each of their last three games. The Jets have also given up the fewest overall points in the league, so looking elsewhere for production from the kicker slot may be wise.

Detroit: The Lions had a great defensive game last week, with four interceptions and just over 200 total yards allowed. On the other hand, the Packers had a terrible offensive game, which makes the Lions a great start on the paper. But not so fast. Green Bay will be eager to come back strong on the offensive side, and it’s very difficult to imagine Favre having two dismal days in back-to-back weeks. Don’t expect too much from the Lions defense.

 
Fantasy Football Cafe’s Start & Sit lists are suggestions intended to give fantasy football players an edge in their weekly matchups. Savvy owners will see these lists not as an absolute ranking, but as an indication of possible outcomes of a given week, and use them together with their own opinions and hunches to field the lineup that will give their team the greatest odds of winning. The Start & Sit lists are compiled by Dan Spazierer (not Madame Zelda). For more insights and additional fine-tuning, visit our Who to Start/Bench forum section.