Week 12: Turkey Day Special

Alright folks, thanks for bearing with us. Due to turkey-related responsibilities there was a slight delay in the commentary this week. I hope everyone is having a good Thanksgiving so far, and that you all got your last minute lineup changes in this morning. Now we can start looking ahead to what the weekend might have in store…

Rank	Quarterbacks	Team	Opponent	Average
1	Aaron Rodgers	GB	at DET	96.67
2	Peyton Manning	IND	at HOU	89.67
3	Philip Rivers	SD	KC	87.00
4	Drew Brees	NO	NE	85.67
5	Tom Brady	NE	at NO	84.00
6	Carson Palmer	CIN	CLE	83.33
7	Kurt Warner	ARI	at TEN	82.67
8	Matt Schaub	HOU	IND	82.00
T-8	Brett Favre	MIN	CHI	82.00
10	Matt Ryan	ATL	TB	78.67
11	Ben Roethlisberger	PIT	at BAL	76.37
12	Donovan McNabb	PHI	WAS	76.33
13	Matt Hasselbeck	SEA	at STL	75.33
14	Jay Cutler	CHI	at MIN	74.67
15	Tony Romo	DAL	OAK	74.33
16	David Garrard	JAC	at SF	68.67
17	Eli Manning	NYG	at DEN	67.67
18	Vince Young	TEN	ARI	64.67
19	Alex Smith	SF	JAC	64.33
20	Joe Flacco	BAL	PIT	63.33
T-20	Matt Cassel	KC	at SD	63.33
22	Josh Freeman	TB	at ATL	59.00
23	Kyle Orton	DEN	NYG	58.67
24	Jason Campbell	WAS	at PHI	58.33
25	Mark Sanchez	NYJ	CAR	54.33
26	Kyle Boller	STL	SEA	54.00
27	Bruce Gradkowski	OAK	at DAL	51.33
28	Brady Quinn	CLE	at CIN	51.00
29	Chad Henne	MIA	at BUF	50.33
30	Jake Delhomme	CAR	at NYJ	49.67
31	Daunte Culpepper	DET	GB	47.92
32	Ryan Fitzpatrick	BUF	MIA	35.33
33	Matt Leinart	ARI	at TEN	8.53
34	Matthew Stafford	DET	GB	7.38
35	Chris Simms	DEN	NYG	5.00

 
Start: Carson Palmer, Bengals. Palmer has not thrown a touchdown in his last two games, much to the chagrin of his fantasy owners (although he did run for two scores last week). However, I expect this week’s game against the Browns to be a return to form for the Bengals’ passing game. Cleveland is 26th in the league in passing defense and has allowed 15 touchdowns to only 6 interceptions.
 
Start: Matt Ryan, Falcons. Ryan did not throw an interception last week, for the first time since Week 3. The rookie QB also threw for 268 yards and 2 touchdowns, making it his best game statistically since the Falcons stomped San Fransisco in Week 5. Ryan has a good matchup this week against the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay has allowed the third most passing touchdowns in the NFL this year (22).
 
Sit: Brady Quinn, Browns. I don’t think anyone expected a 300-yard, 4 touchdown game from Quinn last week. Not even against the Lions. I wouldn’t get too excited though, the Browns’ offense hasn’t been fixed overnight, and the Bengals secondary should prove a much tougher test this week.
 
Sit: Matt Cassel, Chiefs. Cassel had a nice game last week, leading the Chargers past the Steelers in over-time, and this is without his best receiver, Dwayne Bowe. I wouldn’t push your luck too far with this one though. The Chargers pass defense isn’t elite, but it is pretty good, and they have some play makers in the secondary. Cornerback Antonio Cromartie, for example, has three interceptions in his last four games.

Rank	Running Backs	Team	Opponent	Average
1	Maurice Jones-Drew	JAC	at SF	90.67
2	Chris Johnson	TEN	ARI	90.00
3	Adrian Peterson	MIN	CHI	89.33
4	Ricky Williams	MIA	at BUF	86.33
5	Steven Jackson	STL	SEA	83.67
6	DeAngelo Williams	CAR	at NYJ	81.33
T-6	Frank Gore	SF	JAC	81.33
8	Ryan Grant	GB	at DET	81.00
9	Thomas Jones	NYJ	CAR	80.67
10	Joseph Addai	IND	at HOU	78.67
11	Marion Barber	DAL	OAK	78.33
12	Ray Rice	BAL	PIT	76.67
13	LaDanian Tomlinson	SD	KC	75.00
14	Pierre Thomas	NO	NE	73.00
15	Brandon Jacobs	NYG	at DEN	72.00
16	Bernard Scott	CIN	CLE	69.00
17	Laurence Maroney	NE	at NO	68.67
18	Justin Forsett	SEA	at STL	68.33
19	Rashard Mendenhall	PIT	at BAL	67.00
20	Beanie Wells	ARI	at TEN	66.00
21	Tim Hightower	ARI	at TEN	64.67
22	Felix Jones	DAL	OAK	64.33
23	Kevin Smith	DET	GB	63.67
T-23	Steve Slaton	HOU	IND	63.67
T-23	Cadillac Williams	TB	at ATL	63.67
26	Jonathan Stewart	CAR	at NYJ	63.33
T-26	Jamaal Charles	KC	at SD	63.33
28	Knowshon Moreno	DEN	NYG	62.33
29	Fred Jackson	BUF	MIA	61.00
T-29	LeSean McCoy	PHI	WAS	61.00
31	Donald Brown	IND	at HOU	60.67
32	Matt Forte	CHI	at MIN	59.67
33	Cedric Benson	CIN	CLE	58.55
34	Tashard Choice	DAL	OAK	58.33
T-34	Darren Sproles	SD	KC	58.33
36	Jason Snelling	ATL	TB	57.87
37	Shonn Greene	NYJ	CAR	57.33
38	Mike Bell	NO	NE	57.00
T-38	Rock Cartwright	WAS	at PHI	57.00
40	Marshawn Lynch	BUF	MIA	56.25
41	Reggie Bush	NO	NE	55.70
42	Correll Buckhalter	DEN	NYG	52.33
43	Derrick Ward	TB	at ATL	50.33
44	Kevin Faulk	NE	at NO	47.33
45	Jamal Lewis	CLE	at CIN	47.00
46	Michael Bush	OAK	at DAL	46.67
47	Darren McFadden	OAK	at DAL	45.33
48	Chester Taylor	MIN	CHI	44.00
49	Kolby Smith	KC	at SD	43.33
T-49	Justin Fargas	OAK	at DAL	43.33
51	Julius Jones	SEA	at STL	41.70
52	LenDale White	TEN	ARI	40.67
53	Ryan Moats	HOU	IND	39.00
54	Brian Leonard	CIN	CLE	37.67
55	Maurice Morris	DET	GB	36.33
56	Sammy Morris	NE	at NO	36.30
57	Chris Brown	HOU	IND	35.67
T-57	Lex Hilliard	MIA	at BUF	35.67
T-57	Mewelde Moore	PIT	at BAL	35.67
60	Earnest Graham	TB	at ATL	31.00
61	Danny Ware	NYG	at DEN	30.00
62	Louis Rankin	SEA	at STL	28.67
63	Michael Turner	ATL	TB	27.97
64	Chris Jennings	CLE	at CIN	27.00
65	Rashard Jennings	JAC	at SF	26.33
66	Glen Coffee	SF	JAC	23.67
67	Willis McGahee	BAL	PIT	23.33

 
Start: Ricky Williams, Dolphins. Last week, Williams really took advantage of his new role as feature back due to Ronnie Brown’s injury. Ricky ran for 119 yards and two touchdowns, and also scored on a pass out of the backfield. He should be a great start again this week against a Bills’ defense that ranks 31st in the NFL against the run.
 
Start: Thomas Jones, Jets. Jones has been a dependable fantasy starter this year, as he has gone over 100 yards and/or scored in each of the Jets’ last seven games. I expect that streak to continue this week against Carolina. The Panthers are 26th in the league in run defense after being gashed by the aforementioned Ricky Williams last week in Charlotte.
 
Sit: Marshawn Lynch, Bills. It looks like Lynch will be able to play this weekend against Miami, but I would not expect much from him. The Bills’ runner has recorded fewer than 10 carries and 50 yards in each of his last three games. Fred Jackson is a viable option for Buffalo, and if Lynch’s shoulder injury bothers him, the Bills will likely keep him on the sideline for a good chunk of the game. Not to mention that the Dolphins run defense is ranked in the top half of the league.
 
Sit: Ryan Moats, Texans. Moats looked like a viable fantasy option for a minute there, but he has quickly slipped off the map. Moats did not even touch the ball last week, as the Texans turned back to Steve Slaton as their starter, and Chris Brown as the change of pace back. Moats is certainly not a fantasy option at this point.

Rank	Wide Receivers	Team	Opponent	Average
1	Larry Fitzgerald	ARI	at TEN	97.33
2	Randy Moss	NE	at NO	89.67
3	Reggie Wayne	IND	at HOU	89.00
4	Andre Johnson	HOU	IND	88.33
5	Vincent Jackson	SD	KC	87.67
6	Roddy White	ATL	TB	86.67
7	Wes Welker	NE	at NO	83.67
8	Greg Jennings	GB	at DET	83.00
9	Chad Ochocinco	CIN	CLE	82.00
T-9	Mike Sims-Walker	JAC	at SF	82.00
11	Anquan Boldin	ARI	at TEN	81.33
12	Sidney Rice	MIN	CHI	81.00
13	Donald Driver	GB	at DET	80.33
14	Marques Colston	NO	NE	79.33
T-14	T.J. Houshmandzadeh	SEA	at STL	79.33
16	Brandon Marshall	DEN	NYG	75.00
T-16	Percy Harvin	MIN	CHI	75.00
T-16	DeSean Jackson	PHI	WAS	75.00
19	Nate Burleson	SEA	at STL	74.67
20	Steve Smith	NYG	at DEN	72.33
21	Hines Ward	PIT	at BAL	71.67
T-21	Michael Crabtree	SF	JAC	71.67
23	Miles Austin	DAL	OAK	71.33
24	Terrell Owens	BUF	MIA	71.00
25	Lee Evans	BUF	MIA	69.67
T-25	Devin Hester	CHI	at MIN	69.67
27	Derrick Mason	BAL	PIT	68.33
28	Steve Breaston	ARI	at TEN	66.67
29	Steve Smith	CAR	at NYJ	66.00
30	Santonio Holmes	PIT	at BAL	65.67
T-30	Malcom Floyd	SD	KC	65.67
32	Bernard Berrian	MIN	CHI	65.00
T-32	Donnie Avery	STL	SEA	65.00
34	Torry Holt	JAC	at SF	62.67
35	Pierre Garcon	IND	at HOU	62.33
36	Austin Collie	IND	at HOU	61.67
37	Kevin Walter	HOU	IND	61.00
38	Chris Chambers	KC	at SD	60.67
39	Josh Morgan	SF	JAC	60.33
40	Jerricho Cotchery	NYJ	CAR	60.00
41	Devery Henderson	NO	NE	59.33
T-41	Nate Washington	TEN	ARI	59.33
43	Johnny Knox	CHI	at MIN	59.00
44	Michael Jenkins	ATL	TB	58.67
T-44	Robert Meachem	NO	NE	58.67
46	Mario Manningham	NYG	at DEN	58.33
47	Roy Williams	DAL	OAK	58.00
T-47	Santana Moss	WAS	at PHI	58.00
49	Earl Bennett	CHI	at MIN	57.67
T-49	Jeremy Maclin	PHI	WAS	57.67
51	Braylon Edwards	NYJ	CAR	57.33
52	James Jones	GB	at DET	57.00
T-52	Antonio Bryant	TB	at ATL	57.00
54	Laveranues Coles	CIN	CLE	56.67
55	Mark Clayton	BAL	PIT	56.33
56	Mike Wallace	PIT	at BAL	55.00
57	Brandon Gibson	STL	SEA	54.33
58	Michael Clayton	TB	at ATL	54.00
T-58	Kenny Britt	TEN	ARI	54.00
60	Patrick Crayton	DAL	OAK	52.67
61	Mohamed Massaquoi	CLE	at CIN	52.33
T-61	Eddie Royal	DEN	NYG	52.33
63	Hakeem Nicks	NYG	at DEN	51.00
T-63	Legedu Naanee	SD	KC	51.00
65	Deion Branch	SEA	at STL	50.00
66	Bryant Johnson	DET	GB	48.67
67	Davone Bess	MIA	at BUF	48.33
68	Muhsin Muhammad	CAR	at NYJ	46.33
69	Louis Murphy	OAK	at DAL	45.00
T-69	Jason Hill	SF	JAC	45.00
71	Calvin Johnson	DET	GB	43.73
72	Ted Ginn	MIA	at BUF	43.00
T-72	Greg Camarillo	MIA	at BUF	43.00
74	Chansi Stuckey	CLE	at CIN	40.33
75	Kelley Washington	BAL	PIT	39.67
76	Brandon Stokley	DEN	NYG	39.00
77	Mike Thomas	JAC	at SF	38.67
78	Antwaan Randle El	WAS	at PHI	38.00
79	Andre Caldwell	CIN	CLE	37.67
80	Darrius Heyward-Bey	OAK	at DAL	37.00
81	Josh Cribbs	CLE	at CIN	36.87
82	Mark Bradley	KC	at SD	36.00
83	Brian Hartline	MIA	at BUF	35.67
T-83	Isaac Bruce	SF	JAC	35.67
85	Danny Amendola	STL	SEA	34.33
86	Josh Reed	BUF	MIA	33.67
87	Jordy Nelson	GB	at DET	33.00
88	Lance Long	KC	at SD	32.00
89	Dennis Northcutt	DET	GB	31.67
90	Lance Moore	NO	NE	29.83
91	Julian Edelman	NE	at NO	29.00
T-91	Jason Avant	PHI	WAS	29.00
93	Sam Aiken	NE	at NO	26.33
T-93	Chaz Schilens	OAK	at DAL	26.33
95	David Clowney	NYJ	CAR	25.67
96	Domenik Hixon	NYG	at DEN	25.00
97	Devin Thomas	WAS	at PHI	24.67
98	Jacoby Jones	HOU	IND	24.33
T-98	Johnnie Lee Higgins	OAK	at DAL	24.33
100	Jabar Gaffney	DEN	NYG	23.33

 
Start: Wes Welker, Patriots. OK, so he hasn’t scored in his past three games, but the catch and yardage totals this guy puts up are pretty amazing. He’s a top 5 receivers in PPR leagues for sure, and is a must-start in just about any scoring system. His 15 catch (!!!) game last week puts him on pace for 126 catches on the year, and that’s after missing two games earlier in the season! The Patriots may have even more incentive to throw Welker’s direction this week, as New England – New Orleans has the potential to turn into a shootout.
 
Start: Michael Crabtree, 49ers. Crabtree has adjusted quickly to the speed of the NFL game, and has managed to record pretty good numbers through five games with the 49ers. He found the endzone for the first time last week, and has the potential for another good game this week against the Jaguars. Jacksonville  has the 25th ranked passing defense in the league, and will also be missing their top cornerback, Rashean Mathis, due to a groin injury. This could be a real statement game for Crabtree.
 
Sit: Steve Smith, Panthers. Smith has had a nice little mid-season resurgence these past couple of weeks, but this week is not the greatest of matchups for him. The talent of cornerback Darelle Revis has been well publicized at this point, and the Jets will likely keep him matched up with Smith the entire game. The Jets will try to force Jake Delhomme to use his other, less explosive, receivers.
 
Sit: Kevin Walter, Texans. Walter is usually good for a few catches and middling yardage totals, but has not scored since Week 3, and just does not seem to be a true #2 target in the eyes of Matt Schaub. Andre Johnson will get his catches, but the rest of the passes are spread out among a host of wideouts, including Walter, Jacoby Jones, and David Anderson.

Rank	Tight Ends	Team	Opponent	Average
1	Tony Gonzalez	ATL	TB	91.00
T-1	Dallas Clark	IND	at HOU	91.00
3	Antonio Gates	SD	KC	88.67
4	Kellen Winslow	TB	at ATL	83.00
5	Vernon Davis	SF	JAC	82.33
6	Greg Olsen	CHI	at MIN	80.67
7	John Carlson	SEA	at STL	79.67
8	Brent Celek	PHI	WAS	78.00
9	Jeremy Shockey	NO	NE	75.67
10	Visanthe Shiancoe	MIN	CHI	75.33
11	Tony Scheffler	DEN	NYG	71.33
12	Zach Miller	OAK	at DAL	70.33
13	Heath Miller	PIT	at BAL	70.00
14	Fred Davis	WAS	at PHI	67.00
15	Dustin Keller	NYJ	CAR	65.00
16	Jason Witten	DAL	OAK	64.50
17	Donald Lee	GB	at DET	64.33
18	Brandon Pettigrew	DET	GB	63.33
19	Jermichael Finley	GB	at DET	61.50
20	Todd Heap	BAL	PIT	60.67
T-20	Ben Watson	NE	at NO	60.67
22	Bo Scaife	TEN	ARI	59.00
23	Kevin Boss	NYG	at DEN	58.00
24	Daniel Coats	CIN	CLE	57.00
25	Derek Fine	BUF	MIA	55.67
T-25	Sean Ryan	KC	at SD	55.67
27	Marcedes Lewis	JAC	at SF	55.00
28	Stephen Spach	ARI	at TEN	54.00
29	Robert Royal	CLE	at CIN	52.00
30	Dante Rosario	CAR	at NYJ	49.67
31	Joel Dreessen	HOU	IND	49.33
32	Martellus Bennett	DAL	OAK	36.33
33	Shawn Nelson	BUF	MIA	36.00
T-33	Randy McMichael	STL	SEA	36.00
35	Daniel Graham	DEN	NYG	22.67

 
Start: Kellen Winslow, Buccaneers. Winslow is managing to have a pretty good season despite the struggles of his team.  (He’s on pace for 700+ yards, 8 TDs). The Falcons have trouble against the pass (29th ranked pass defense), so Winslow should have the opportunity for some big plays this week.
 
Sit: Bo Scaife, Titans. Scaife has yet to really see the results of Vince Young’s improved play, and is probably not worth a start in any but the deepest leagues at this point. However, if Young continues his progression, Scaife could develop into a decent fantasy option yet! Just something worth keeping an eye on…

Rank	Kickers	Team	Opponent	Average
1	David Akers	PHI	WAS	88.67
2	Stephen Gostkowski	NE	at NO	87.67
3	Mason Crosby	GB	at DET	86.33
T-3	Nate Kaeding	SD	KC	86.33
5	Ryan Longwell	MIN	CHI	86.00
6	Nick Folk	DAL	OAK	85.67
7	Lawrence Tynes	NYG	at DEN	80.00
8	Neil Rackers	ARI	at TEN	79.67
9	Matt Stover	IND	at HOU	79.00
10	Jason Elam	ATL	TB	75.33
T-10	Kris Brown	HOU	IND	75.33
12	John Carney	NO	NE	73.33
13	Shayne Graham	CIN	CLE	72.33
14	Rian Lindell	BUF	MIA	70.67
T-14	Joe Nedney	SF	JAC	70.67
16	Jeff Reed	PIT	at BAL	70.33
17	Josh Scobee	JAC	at SF	69.67
T-17	Jay Feely	NYJ	CAR	69.67
T-17	Rob Bironas	TEN	vs. ARI	69.67
20	Matt Prater	DEN	NYG	69.33
T-20	Dan Carpenter	MIA	at BUF	69.33
22	Robbie Gould	CHI	at MIN	68.67
23	Billy Cundiff	BAL	PIT	66.00
24	Olindo Mare	SEA	at STL	65.33
T-24	Shaun Suisham	WAS	at PHI	65.33
26	Josh Brown	STL	SEA	61.67
27	Sebastian Janikowski	OAK	at DAL	61.00
28	Ryan Succop	KC	at SD	60.33
29	John Kasay	CAR	at NYJ	59.67
30	Connor Barth	TB	at ATL	57.33
31	Jason Hanson	DET	GB	55.33
32	Phil Dawson	CLE	at CIN	51.67

 
Start: Neil Rackers, Cardinals. This is a matchup of a top 10 scoring offense and a bottom 10 scoring defense, so theoretically Rackers should have several attempts to put the ball through the uprights. The hope is simply that the Cardinals stall a few times in the redzone. This can be hard to predict, but at least you know the potential is there.
 
Sit: Shaun Suisham, Redskins. Suisham was perfect on the season going into last week’s game against the Dallas Cowboys. The Redskins gave him four field goal attempts in that game, but Suisham was only able to convert two of them, allowing Dallas to come back and win the game 7-6. Any potential lack of confidence stemming from that game, coupled with the Redskins’ weak offense, make Suisham a bad fantasy start.

Rank	Defense	Team	Opponent	Average
1	Eagles	PHI	WAS	93.67
2	Vikings	MIN	CHI	81.33
T-2	Saints	NO	NE	81.33
T-2	Steelers	PIT	at BAL	81.33
5	Packers	GB	at DET	81.00
6	Seahawks	SEA	at STL	80.67
7	Bengals	CIN	CLE	79.00
T-7	Dolphins	MIA	at BUF	79.00
9	Cowboys	DAL	OAK	77.00
10	Giants	NYG	at DEN	76.67
T-10	Jets	NYJ	CAR	76.67
12	Ravens	BAL	PIT	75.33
T-12	Panthers	CAR	at NYJ	75.33
14	49ers	SF	JAC	74.00
15	Broncos	DEN	NYG	73.67
T-15	Chargers	SD	KC	73.67
17	Falcons	ATL	TB	70.67
18	Patriots	NE	at NO	69.00
19	Cardinals	ARI	at TEN	66.33
20	Colts	IND	at HOU	65.33
21	Redskins	WAS	at PHI	64.33
22	Titans	TEN	ARI	63.33
23	Buccaneers	TB	at ATL	59.33
24	Bills	BUF	MIA	58.67
T-24	Texans	HOU	IND	58.67
26	Bears	CHI	at MIN	57.33
27	Jaguars	JAC	at SF	56.67
28	Raiders	OAK	at DAL	55.33
29	Lions	DET	GB	54.67
30	Rams	STL	SEA	53.33
31	Browns	CLE	at CIN	50.67
32	Chiefs	KC	at SD	47.67

 
Start: Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles must be licking their chops thinking about playing a Redskins’ team that is missing not only two starting linemen and a pro bowl tight end, but also both their starting and primary backups at running back. Washington only scores at a 14.6 points per game clip, and quarterback Jason Campbell has been sacked 32 times this season (that’s good for 4th most in the NFL) . Trent Cole, Juqua Parker, and the rest of the Philly pass rushers should be able to wreak havoc at home against the Skins.
 
Sit: Indianapolis Colts. Peyton Manning and the offense gets most of the credit for Indy’s success, but the Colts’ defense leads the league in points allowed per game at just 15.7. However, while the Colts are usually a fairly safe option in fantasy, I would be wary of their matchup this week. Houston has some weapons on offense (namely Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson) and always seems to play the Colts fairly close, particularly at home.
 

 
Nick Hopkins is a Cafe member who has been contributing to the Start & Sit since 2006. He posts on the Cafe under the name terpfan. R.J. White is a fantasy blogger at the sports site FanHouse. Check out his work both here and there, and feel free to talk to him in the forums, where he posts under the name daullaz.
 

(13 votes, average: 4.54 out of 5)  Loading ... Want to see your own fantasy wisdom published? Check out the Cafe's Pencil & Paper section!