Week 13: Playoffs looming… - 6 comments

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Week 13 approaches, and the fantasy football playoffs draw near! Whether you need to make one last push to get into the postseason, or you are just trying to lock up your league’s #1 seed, the Cafe is here to help! Once again, we have a Thursday night game to consider, so let’s bypass the pleasantries and get right into the rankings!

Rank	Quarterbacks	Team	Opponent	Average
1	Peyton Manning	IND	TEN	94.50
2	Tom Brady	NE	at MIA	90.25
3	Matt Schaub	HOU	at JAC	88.75
4	Carson Palmer	CIN	DET	87.00
T-4	Philip Rivers	SD	at CLE	87.00
6	Drew Brees	NO	at WAS	86.25
7	Brett Favre	MIN	at ARI	85.50
8	Aaron Rodgers	GB	BAL	85.00
9	Donovan McNabb	PHI	at ATL	82.75
10	Tony Romo	DAL	at NYG	75.75
11	Kyle Orton	DEN	at KC	73.53
12	Eli Manning	NYG	DAL	72.50
13	Ben Roethlisberger	PIT	OAK	72.39
14	Jay Cutler	CHI	STL	72.00
15	Joe Flacco	BAL	at GB	67.75
16	David Garrard	JAC	HOU	66.75
17	Matt Hasselbeck	SEA	SF	64.50
18	Vince Young	TEN	at IND	61.25
19	Kurt Warner	ARI	MIN	61.03
20	Alex Smith	SF	at SEA	60.75
21	Matt Cassel	KC	DEN	57.50
22	Chad Henne	MIA	NE	56.00
23	Matthew Stafford	DET	at CIN	55.65
24	Kyle Boller	STL	at CHI	55.00
25	Chris Redman	ATL	PHI	54.50
26	Mark Sanchez	NYJ	at BUF	54.25
27	Josh Freeman	TB	at CAR	53.75
28	Matt Leinart	ARI	MIN	53.00
29	Jason Campbell	WAS	NO	52.25
30	Ryan Fitzpatrick	BUF	NYJ	50.50
31	Matt Moore	CAR	TB	49.50
32	Brady Quinn	CLE	SD	49.00
33	Bruce Gradkowski	OAK	at PIT	47.50
34	Chris Simms	DEN	at KC	14.50
35	Dennis Dixon	PIT	OAK	12.25

 
Start: Matt Schuab, Texans. Schaub has been great all season, and with two touchdowns in each of his last two games, and a matchup against the Jaguars coming up, he should be in line for a great game this weekend. The Jaguars are 26th in passing yards allowed, and tied for 24th in passing touchdowns allowed. Not to mention, the last time Schuab faced Jacksonville he threw for 300 yards and three touchdowns.
 
Start: Kyle Orton, Broncos. Orton may not be a top-level fantasy quarterback, but he should be able to contribute a solid game this week. The Broncos seem to have turned around their slide with a 26-6 win over the Giants, and Orton looked better as well, throwing for his highest total since Week 5. The Broncos face a weak Chiefs’ defense this week (30th pass defense), so Orton should get a few chances go downfield. If you are weak at quarterback and are considering starting Orton, this might not be a bad week to do it.
 
Sit: Vince Young, Titans. Not only did Vince Young impress with a 99-yard game winning drive, but the young QB put up 387 yards through the air as well. While that might have sent some fantasy owners scrambling to the waiver wire, don’t expect that kind of total very often. Young had not topped 210 yards in any of his previous four games, and has still yet to throw more than one touchdown in a game this season. I certainly would not expect a big game from Young this week against the Colts. Indianapolis has given up only nine passing touchdowns this year.
 
Sit: Kurt Warner, Cardinals. Warner missed last week’s game due to a concussion, and is questionable again this week. Be wary of starting him for that fact alone, but also consider the team he would be playing if he does start. Minnesota may only be a middling pass defense, but their pass rush leads the NFL with 40 sacks. That makes Warner a risky play even if he does get on the field.

Rank	Running Backs	Team	Opponent	Average
1	Adrian Peterson	MIN	at ARI	91.25
2	Chris Johnson	TEN	at IND	90.50
3	Maurice Jones-Drew	JAC	HOU	90.25
4	DeAngelo Williams	CAR	TB	89.00
5	Steven Jackson	STL	at CHI	85.25
6	Cedric Benson	CIN	DET	84.75
7	Frank Gore	SF	at SEA	84.25
8	Thomas Jones	NYJ	at BUF	80.25
9	Ray Rice	BAL	at GB	79.50
10	LaDanian Tomlinson	SD	at CLE	78.00
11	Rashard Mendenhall	PIT	OAK	75.25
12	Ricky Williams	MIA	NE	74.75
13	Matt Forte	CHI	STL	74.25
14	Joseph Addai	IND	TEN	73.75
15	Ryan Grant	GB	BAL	72.25
16	Jonathan Stewart	CAR	TB	72.00
17	Pierre Thomas	NO	at WAS	71.75
18	Knowshon Moreno	DEN	at KC	71.00
19	Marion Barber	DAL	at NYG	67.23
20	LeSean McCoy	PHI	at ATL	67.00
21	Brandon Jacobs	NYG	DAL	66.00
22	Steve Slaton	HOU	at JAC	64.75
23	Laurence Maroney	NE	at MIA	64.00
24	Kevin Smith	DET	at CIN	63.00
25	Fred Jackson	BUF	NYJ	62.75
26	Darren Sproles	SD	at CLE	62.00
27	Cadillac Williams	TB	at CAR	61.25
28	Justin Forsett	SEA	SF	60.75
29	Mike Bell	NO	at WAS	60.25
30	Bernard Scott	CIN	DET	60.13
31	Correll Buckhalter	DEN	at KC	59.90
32	Felix Jones	DAL	at NYG	58.50
T-32	Jamaal Charles	KC	DEN	58.50
34	Donald Brown	IND	TEN	58.25
35	Beanie Wells	ARI	MIN	57.25
T-35	Shonn Greene	NYJ	at BUF	57.25
37	Rock Cartwright	WAS	NO	56.50
38	Larry Johnson	CIN	DET	56.00
39	Tim Hightower	ARI	MIN	55.75
40	Jason Snelling	ATL	PHI	54.00
T-40	Jerome Harrison	CLE	SD	54.00
42	Marshawn Lynch	BUF	NYJ	51.59
43	Tashard Choice	DAL	at NYG	51.50
44	Derrick Ward	TB	at CAR	51.25
45	Chester Taylor	MIN	at ARI	50.75
46	Sammy Morris	NE	at MIA	50.60
47	Mewelde Moore	PIT	OAK	49.75
48	Chris Brown	HOU	at JAC	49.25
49	Michael Bush	OAK	at PIT	49.00
50	Darren McFadden	OAK	at PIT	48.00
51	Kevin Faulk	NE	at MIA	47.50
52	Reggie Bush	NO	at WAS	46.68
53	Jerious Norwood	ATL	PHI	45.06
54	LenDale White	TEN	at IND	42.75
55	Julius Jones	SEA	SF	41.03
56	Chris Jennings	CLE	SD	41.00
57	Maurice Morris	DET	at CIN	37.00
T-57	Justin Fargas	OAK	at PIT	37.00
59	Willie Parker	PIT	OAK	36.25
60	Willis McGahee	BAL	at GB	35.25
61	Ahmad Bradshaw	NYG	DAL	33.63
62	Glen Coffee	SF	at SEA	32.25
63	Ryan Moats	HOU	at JAC	31.25
64	Kolby Smith	KC	DEN	30.25
T-64	Lex Hilliard	MIA	NE	30.25

 
Start: Cedric Benson, Bengals. Benson seems ready to return to the field after missing the last two games with a hip injury. Normally I would be a bit hesitant to start a player coming off an injury, but the Bengals are playing Detroit so I wouldn’t worry too much about it. Check before kickoff to make sure Benson is, in fact, active, but as long as he is starting you should feel good with him in your lineup.
 
Start: Ladainian Tomlinson, Chargers. Several weeks ago I suggested that LT may be done as an every-week fantasy starter. Well, Tomlinson has scored seven touchdowns over his last five game (despite not yet hitting 100 yards), as the Chargers offense has really exploded. As long as he is on this roll, there is no reason not to expect another touchdown or two against the struggling Browns.
 
Sit: Jamaal Charles, Chiefs. It’s hard not to be impressed with the numbers Charles has put up these past three weeks. He has scored in all three games (2 on the ground, 1 through the air) but I expect that streak to come to an end this week. The Broncos have a strong defense (they have allowed only six rushing touchdowns this year) and are looking to use momentum from last week’s win to carry them into the playoffs. Prepare for a below average day from the Chiefs’ runningback.
 
Sit: Beanie Wells, Cardinals. Wells has had Tim Hightower to compete with for carries all year. While it seems that Wells may be gaining favor in Arizona, at least in the red zone, this week is not a good week to use him. The Cardinals face Minnesota’s imposing run defense. The Vikings allow just 81.6 yards per game on the ground, and have given up a measly three rushing touchdowns this season.

Rank	Wide Receivers	Team	Opponent	Average
1	Andre Johnson	HOU	at JAC	94.75
2	Reggie Wayne	IND	TEN	93.50
3	Randy Moss	NE	at MIA	91.75
4	Chad Ochocinco	CIN	DET	88.00
5	Larry Fitzgerald	ARI	MIN	87.75
6	Wes Welker	NE	at MIA	86.75
7	Vincent Jackson	SD	at CLE	85.00
8	Sidney Rice	MIN	at ARI	83.00
9	Brandon Marshall	DEN	at KC	82.50
10	Marques Colston	NO	at WAS	80.75
11	Mike Sims-Walker	JAC	HOU	78.00
12	Steve Smith	CAR	TB	77.50
13	Hines Ward	PIT	OAK	75.75
14	Anquan Boldin	ARI	MIN	75.25
T-14	T.J. Houshmandzadeh	SEA	SF	75.25
16	Percy Harvin	MIN	at ARI	74.50
17	Steve Smith	NYG	DAL	73.50
18	Roddy White	ATL	PHI	73.25
19	Miles Austin	DAL	at NYG	70.25
T-19	Nate Burleson	SEA	SF	70.25
21	Greg Jennings	GB	BAL	69.75
T-21	Donald Driver	GB	BAL	69.75
23	Derrick Mason	BAL	at GB	69.50
24	Pierre Garcon	IND	TEN	68.50
25	Devin Hester	CHI	STL	67.71
26	Kevin Walter	HOU	at JAC	67.25
27	Santonio Holmes	PIT	OAK	66.50
T-27	Michael Crabtree	SF	at SEA	66.50
29	Donnie Avery	STL	at CHI	66.25
30	Jeremy Maclin	PHI	at ATL	65.50
31	Calvin Johnson	DET	at CIN	65.16
32	Austin Collie	IND	TEN	64.00
33	Santana Moss	WAS	NO	63.75
34	Johnny Knox	CHI	STL	63.50
T-34	Bernard Berrian	MIN	at ARI	63.50
36	Eddie Royal	DEN	at KC	63.00
37	Robert Meachem	NO	at WAS	60.25
38	Earl Bennett	CHI	STL	60.00
39	Laveranues Coles	CIN	DET	59.75
40	Chris Chambers	KC	DEN	59.25
T-40	Jerricho Cotchery	NYJ	at BUF	59.25
42	Terrell Owens	BUF	NYJ	59.00
43	Devery Henderson	NO	at WAS	58.75
44	Malcom Floyd	SD	at CLE	58.50
45	Torry Holt	JAC	HOU	58.00
T-45	Josh Morgan	SF	at SEA	58.00
47	Steve Breaston	ARI	MIN	57.75
48	Lee Evans	BUF	NYJ	57.25
49	Mark Clayton	BAL	at GB	57.00
T-49	Hakeem Nicks	NYG	DAL	57.00
51	Mario Manningham	NYG	DAL	56.80
52	Roy Williams	DAL	at NYG	56.75
T-52	Davone Bess	MIA	NE	56.75
T-52	Kenny Britt	TEN	at IND	56.75
55	Nate Washington	TEN	at IND	56.25
56	Jason Avant	PHI	at ATL	56.00
57	Braylon Edwards	NYJ	at BUF	55.75
58	Muhsin Muhammad	CAR	TB	55.00
59	Ted Ginn	MIA	NE	54.75
T-59	Mike Wallace	PIT	OAK	54.75
61	Mohamed Massaquoi	CLE	SD	53.50
62	Greg Camarillo	MIA	NE	51.75
63	Patrick Crayton	DAL	at NYG	51.25
64	Michael Jenkins	ATL	PHI	50.25
65	Brandon Gibson	STL	at CHI	49.75
66	Brian Hartline	MIA	NE	48.25
67	DeSean Jackson	PHI	at ATL	48.05
68	Bryant Johnson	DET	at CIN	47.00
69	James Jones	GB	BAL	45.75
70	Deion Branch	SEA	SF	45.25
71	Andre Caldwell	CIN	DET	44.75
72	Michael Clayton	TB	at CAR	44.25
73	Josh Cribbs	CLE	SD	43.90
74	Antonio Bryant	TB	at CAR	42.25
75	Chansi Stuckey	CLE	SD	42.00
T-75	Louis Murphy	OAK	at PIT	42.00
77	Kelley Washington	BAL	at GB	40.50
78	Darrius Heyward-Bey	OAK	at PIT	40.00
79	Mike Thomas	JAC	HOU	39.00
80	Mark Bradley	KC	DEN	38.75
81	Brandon Stokley	DEN	at KC	38.25
82	Danny Amendola	STL	at CHI	37.25
83	Legedu Naanee	SD	at CLE	35.50
T-83	Jason Hill	SF	at SEA	35.50
85	Julian Edelman	NE	at MIA	35.30
86	Antwaan Randle El	WAS	NO	35.25
87	Sam Aiken	NE	at MIA	35.00
88	Isaac Bruce	SF	at SEA	32.40
89	Jacoby Jones	HOU	at JAC	32.25
T-89	Lance Long	KC	DEN	32.25

 
Start: Sidney Rice, Vikings. The addition of Brett Favre has made for a pretty spectacular season from third-year wideout Sidney Rice. Favre has been looking for Rice even more often lately – Over the Vikings past six games, only once has Rice been held to less than 6 catches or less than 89 yards. Rice should have no problem getting open this week against Arizona’s 29th-ranked passing defense.
 
Start: Marques Colston, Saints. Drew Brees has a lot of weapons in New Orleans, but there’s no doubt that Colston is his #1 receiver. This week the Saints take their high-powered offense to Washington. The Redskins have been able to maintain their #1 pass defense ranking, but lately they have been letting top receivers burn them for long touchdowns (see Marshall, Brandon and Jackson, Desean). Washington will also most likely be missing their top cornerback, Deangelo Hall, for this game.
 
Sit: Terrell Owens, Bills. Going up against Darrelle Revis and the Jets will kill you in our rankings. While I would not say that TO is un-startable tonight (he has been a big part of the offense the last two weeks) he certainly does not have an ideal matchup. If you have receivers with better matchups going this weekend, you might want to bench Owens tonight.
 
Sit: Santonio Holmes, Steelers. Again, Holmes is not a terrible start, but he is not a great start either. Holmes and Roethlisberger have still yet to connect for a touchdown since Week 1 (Santonio scored last week, but with Dennis Dixon under center). The Steelers play Oakland this week. The Raiders have pretty good numbers against the pass, partly because of All-Pro corner Nnmadi Asomugha, and partly because opposing offenses usually find no resistance running the ball.

Rank	Tight Ends	Team	Opponent	Average
1	Dallas Clark	IND	TEN	90.50
2	Antonio Gates	SD	at CLE	89.75
3	Vernon Davis	SF	at SEA	86.50
4	Tony Gonzalez	ATL	PHI	85.25
5	Greg Olsen	CHI	STL	82.50
6	Brent Celek	PHI	at ATL	81.50
7	Visanthe Shiancoe	MIN	at ARI	75.75
8	Jason Witten	DAL	at NYG	73.63
9	Tony Scheffler	DEN	at KC	72.25
10	Kellen Winslow	TB	at CAR	71.75
11	John Carlson	SEA	SF	69.75
12	Jeremy Shockey	NO	at WAS	68.75
13	Heath Miller	PIT	OAK	67.25
14	Dustin Keller	NYJ	at BUF	66.75
15	Zach Miller	OAK	at PIT	66.00
16	Ben Watson	NE	at MIA	65.75
17	Kevin Boss	NYG	DAL	64.25
18	Todd Heap	BAL	at GB	63.25
19	Dante Rosario	CAR	TB	59.00
20	Ben Patrick	ARI	MIN	58.00
T-20	J.P. Foschi	CIN	DET	58.00
22	Anthony Fasano	MIA	NE	57.25
23	Marcedes Lewis	JAC	HOU	57.00
24	Will Heller	DET	at CIN	55.75
T-24	Fred Davis	WAS	NO	55.75
26	Joel Dreessen	HOU	at JAC	54.00
27	Robert Royal	CLE	SD	53.00
28	Jermichael Finley	GB	BAL	51.88
29	Donald Lee	GB	BAL	51.50
30	Bo Scaife	TEN	at IND	51.00
31	Derek Fine	BUF	NYJ	46.50
32	Sean Ryan	KC	DEN	45.75
33	Randy McMichael	STL	at CHI	38.75
34	Martellus Bennett	DAL	at NYG	29.50
35	Daniel Fells	STL	at CHI	26.25
36	James Casey	HOU	at JAC	24.25

 
Start: Greg Olsen, Bears. The Bears have struggled on offense over their current four game losing streak, but Olsen has had his best four game streak of the season. Olsen has caught at least 5 passes in each game, including a three-touchdown performance against the Cardinals in Week 9. The Bears have a good matchup this week in St. Louis, so start Olsen with confidence.
 
Sit: Todd Heap, Ravens. Heap hasn’t topped 50 yards since Week 6, and hasn’t scored since Week 2. A game against the Packers in Green Bay is not a favorable one. Leave Heap on the bench if you can.

Rank	Kickers	Team	Opponent	Average
1	Ryan Longwell	MIN	at ARI	87.25
2	Stephen Gostkowski	NE	at MIA	86.75
3	David Akers	PHI	at ATL	84.25
4	Nate Kaeding	SD	at CLE	81.50
5	Shayne Graham	CIN	DET	78.75
6	Lawrence Tynes	NYG	DAL	78.25
T-6	Rob Bironas	TEN	at IND	78.25
8	Matt Prater	DEN	at KC	77.75
9	Mason Crosby	GB	BAL	76.75
10	Jeff Reed	PIT	OAK	75.25
11	Kris Brown	HOU	at JAC	75.00
T-11	John Carney	NO	at WAS	75.00
13	Robbie Gould	CHI	STL	73.50
14	Nick Folk	DAL	at NYG	72.25
15	Matt Bryant	ATL	PHI	70.00
16	John Kasay	CAR	TB	69.25
17	Neil Rackers	ARI	MIN	68.75
18	Jay Feely	NYJ	at BUF	67.75
19	Olindo Mare	SEA	SF	66.75
20	Josh Scobee	JAC	HOU	64.50
21	Joe Nedney	SF	at SEA	63.25
22	Billy Cundiff	BAL	at GB	62.75
23	Dan Carpenter	MIA	NE	62.25
T-23	Shaun Suisham	WAS	NO	62.25
25	Josh Brown	STL	at CHI	62.00
26	Rian Lindell	BUF	NYJ	61.75
27	Sebastian Janikowski	OAK	at PIT	59.75
28	Jason Hanson	DET	at CIN	58.00
29	Ryan Succop	KC	DEN	57.75
30	Matt Stover	IND	TEN	56.25
31	Phil Dawson	CLE	SD	55.75
32	Connor Barth	TB	at CAR	55.00

 
Start: Stephen Gostkowski, Patriots. The Dolphins have given up the most field goals in the NFL this season (25). Who knows exactly why… but it makes Gostkowski a great start!
 
Sit: Billy Cundiff, Ravens. Cundiff has started his stint with the Ravens strongly (at least from a fantasy perspective) making seven field goals in his last two games. Still, I don’t think Cundiff is a great play this week against the Packers at Lambeau Field in December.

Rank	Defense	Team	Opponent	Average
1	Steelers	PIT	OAK	93.00
2	Saints	NO	at WAS	91.25
3	Bengals	CIN	DET	86.75
4	Eagles	PHI	at ATL	84.50
5	Chargers	SD	at CLE	82.25
6	Broncos	DEN	at KC	82.00
7	Vikings	MIN	at ARI	81.50
8	Ravens	BAL	at GB	77.25
9	Bears	CHI	STL	74.75
10	49ers	SF	at SEA	73.50
11	Jets	NYJ	at BUF	73.00
12	Packers	GB	BAL	72.50
T-12	Patriots	NE	at MIA	72.50
14	Colts	IND	TEN	71.25
15	Panthers	CAR	TB	70.25
16	Seahawks	SEA	SF	69.50
17	Giants	NYG	DAL	69.00
18	Texans	HOU	at JAC	68.25
19	Cowboys	DAL	at NYG	67.50
20	Dolphins	MIA	NE	65.75
21	Raiders	OAK	at PIT	63.75
22	Bills	BUF	NYJ	62.50
23	Buccaneers	TB	at CAR	62.25
24	Cardinals	ARI	MIN	62.00
25	Redskins	WAS	NO	61.25
26	Falcons	ATL	PHI	61.00
27	Titans	TEN	at IND	57.75
28	Jaguars	JAC	HOU	54.75
29	Chiefs	KC	DEN	53.50
30	Rams	STL	at CHI	52.50
31	Lions	DET	at CIN	52.25
32	Browns	CLE	SD	49.25

 
Start: New Orleans Saints. The Saints have scored seven touchdowns on defense this year. The Redskins have only scored 18 touchdowns on offense. Advantage New Orleans.
 
Sit: New England Patriots. Drew Brees had no trouble carving up the Patriots last week, and while the Dolphins are no New Orleans, it’s understandable that the Pats would fall down our rankings this week. New England just doesn’t have the personnel that they used to have on defense. It’s hard not to wonder what difference Richard Seymour might have made…
 

 
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.
 

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