Week 15: Semi-final Action - 5 comments

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You’ve probably heard us mention how well the Cafe rankings are doing, according to the website FantasyXPERT.com, but here’s a little reaffirmation straight from them. Thanks for taking the time to compile and rate us, guys! Nick is going to have his normal selection of write-ups for you in a bit, but we wanted to get our rankings up as soon as possible, so here are the charts …

OK I made it! This was my first week at my new “real job,” so I’ve had less time to do these write ups during the day. I hope everyone is geared up for the fantasy playoffs… Here we go! And in the interest of time (and because I’m pretty tired) I’m gonna go back to the old “1 Start, 1 Sit” per position, at least for this week. – Nick

Rank	Quarterbacks	Team	Opponent	Average
1	Drew Brees	NO	DAL	94.33
2	Kurt Warner	ARI	at DET	90.67
3	Matt Schaub	HOU	at STL	89.33
4	Peyton Manning	IND	at JAC	88.67
5	Philip Rivers	SD	CIN	86.33
6	Aaron Rodgers	GB	at PIT	84.00
7	Tom Brady	NE	at BUF	78.67
8	Brett Favre	MIN	at CAR	78.00
9	Ben Roethlisberger	PIT	GB	77.67
10	Donovan McNabb	PHI	SF	76.67
11	Matt Hasselbeck	SEA	TB	75.33
12	Tony Romo	DAL	at NO	75.00
13	Eli Manning	NYG	at WAS	74.00
14	Jason Campbell	WAS	NYG	73.33
15	Joe Flacco	BAL	CHI	73.00
16	Kyle Orton	DEN	OAK	71.33
T-16	Chad Henne	MIA	at TEN	71.33
18	Jay Cutler	CHI	at BAL	71.00
T-18	Carson Palmer	CIN	at SD	71.00
20	Alex Smith	SF	at PHI	70.00
21	Matt Cassel	KC	CLE	66.00
22	Brady Quinn	CLE	at KC	64.67
23	David Garrard	JAC	IND	63.00
24	Josh Freeman	TB	at SEA	61.33
25	Kerry Collins	TEN	MIA	60.60
26	Chris Redman	ATL	at NYJ	57.33
27	Ryan Fitzpatrick	BUF	NE	54.33
28	Kellen Clemens	NYJ	ATL	48.00
29	Vince Young	TEN	MIA	46.50
30	Mark Sanchez	NYJ	ATL	42.67
31	Charlie Frye	OAK	at DEN	40.67
32	Matt Moore	CAR	MIN	37.00
33	Michael Vick	PHI	SF	36.67
34	Daunte Culpepper	DET	ARI	36.33
35	Keith Null	STL	HOU	35.17
36	Jake Delhomme	CAR	MIN	32.67
37	Kyle Boller	STL	HOU	29.43
38	Matt Ryan	ATL	at NYJ	23.93
39	Matthew Stafford	DET	ARI	23.50

 
Start: Kurt Warner, Cardinals. Warner had a pretty tough game last week, as he threw for only 178 yards and turned the ball over three times. This week has the look of a classic rebound game though, as Warner and the Cardinals face the hapless Lions. Detroit has the NFL’s 32nd ranked pass defense and got absolutely pummeled by the Ravens last week.
 
Sit: Alex Smith, 49ers. Smith has quietly had a great season in his second stint as the 49ers starting QB. The Niners’ signal caller has thrown ten touchdowns to only three interceptions in his past four games. And while, its worth noting that he plays two weak defenses in Weeks 16 and 17, his Week 15 matchup is a tough one. Sit Smith this week against the Eagles in Philadelphia.

Rank	Running Backs	Team	Opponent	Average
1	Adrian Peterson	MIN	at CAR	95.33
2	Chris Johnson	TEN	MIA	94.67
3	Steven Jackson	STL	HOU	88.67
4	Ray Rice	BAL	CHI	86.33
5	Maurice Jones-Drew	JAC	IND	85.33
6	Cedric Benson	CIN	at SD	84.33
7	Thomas Jones	NYJ	ATL	83.67
8	Jamaal Charles	KC	CLE	83.33
9	Ricky Williams	MIA	at TEN	81.33
10	Knowshon Moreno	DEN	OAK	80.00
T-10	Laurence Maroney	NE	at BUF	80.00
12	Frank Gore	SF	at PHI	78.00
13	Joseph Addai	IND	at JAC	77.33
14	Beanie Wells	ARI	at DET	76.33
15	DeAngelo Williams	CAR	MIN	75.00
16	Marion Barber	DAL	at NO	74.33
17	LaDanian Tomlinson	SD	CIN	73.33
18	Justin Forsett	SEA	TB	72.67
19	Ryan Grant	GB	at PIT	71.33
20	Fred Jackson	BUF	NE	71.00
21	Rashard Mendenhall	PIT	GB	70.00
22	Arian Foster	HOU	at STL	69.33
T-22	Kevin Faulk	NE	at BUF	69.33
24	Pierre Thomas	NO	DAL	69.00
T-24	Brandon Jacobs	NYG	at WAS	69.00
26	Matt Forte	CHI	at BAL	68.67
27	Tim Hightower	ARI	at DET	68.33
28	Ryan Moats	HOU	at STL	66.33
29	Felix Jones	DAL	at NO	65.00
T-29	LeSean McCoy	PHI	SF	65.00
31	Chris Jennings	CLE	at KC	64.33
32	Reggie Bush	NO	DAL	63.67
33	Quinton Ganther	WAS	NYG	63.33
34	Marshawn Lynch	BUF	NE	62.67
35	Ahmad Bradshaw	NYG	at WAS	62.33
36	Julius Jones	SEA	TB	61.67
T-36	Cadillac Williams	TB	at SEA	61.67
38	Jonathan Stewart	CAR	MIN	60.63
39	Mike Bell	NO	DAL	59.00
T-39	Shonn Greene	NYJ	ATL	59.00
41	Jerome Harrison	CLE	at KC	58.67
T-41	Darren Sproles	SD	CIN	58.67
43	Chester Taylor	MIN	at CAR	58.33
T-43	Sammy Morris	NE	at BUF	58.33
45	Chris Brown	HOU	at STL	58.00
T-45	Justin Fargas	OAK	at DEN	58.00
47	Jason Snelling	ATL	at NYJ	57.67
48	Maurice Morris	DET	ARI	57.33
49	Tashard Choice	DAL	at NO	57.00
50	Darren McFadden	OAK	at DEN	56.00
51	Michael Bush	OAK	at DEN	50.67
52	Derrick Ward	TB	at SEA	49.67
53	Lex Hilliard	MIA	at TEN	48.00
54	Jerome Felton	DET	ARI	46.00
55	Willis McGahee	BAL	CHI	45.33
56	Correll Buckhalter	DEN	OAK	45.00
57	Leonard Weaver	PHI	SF	42.67
58	LenDale White	TEN	MIA	40.67
59	Larry Johnson	CIN	at SD	38.00
60	Chad Simpson	IND	at JAC	36.67
61	Glen Coffee	SF	at PHI	32.67
62	Jerious Norwood	ATL	at NYJ	31.33
63	Willie Parker	PIT	GB	30.33
64	Michael Turner	ATL	at NYJ	29.35
65	Aaron Brown	DET	ARI	25.33
66	Rashard Jennings	JAC	IND	23.33
67	Bernard Scott	CIN	at SD	22.00
68	Kahlil Bell	CHI	at BAL	20.67
69	Ahman Green	GB	at PIT	20.00
70	LeRon McClain	BAL	CHI	18.00
71	Brian Westbrook	PHI	SF	16.10
72	Peyton Hillis	DEN	OAK	16.00
73	Samkon Gado	STL	HOU	15.00
T-73	Rock Cartwright	WAS	NYG	15.00
75	Mewelde Moore	PIT	GB	9.00

 
Start: Knowshon Moreno, Broncos. Moreno has had what can only be considered a successful rookie season so far (on pace for 1030 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns). He has a good matchup this week against Oakland’s 30th rushing defense, and his RBBC counterpart Correll Buckhalter will miss the game with an injury.
 
Sit: Deangelo Williams, Panthers. Williams carried the ball just 13 times in his return from an injury last week. With Jonathan Stewart also available, the Panthers have two good options at runningback, but probably won’t see a lot of running room this week against the Vikings and their 4th ranked run defense. It also doesn’t help that the Panthers’ passing game is a mess, which will allow the Vikings to really stack the box against the run.

Rank	Wide Receivers	Team	Opponent	Average
1	Larry Fitzgerald	ARI	at DET	96.00
2	Andre Johnson	HOU	at STL	92.00
3	Reggie Wayne	IND	at JAC	91.33
4	Anquan Boldin	ARI	at DET	88.67
5	DeSean Jackson	PHI	SF	86.67
6	Brandon Marshall	DEN	OAK	85.67
7	Calvin Johnson	DET	ARI	85.00
8	Miles Austin	DAL	at NO	84.67
9	Wes Welker	NE	at BUF	83.67
T-9	Marques Colston	NO	DAL	83.67
11	Randy Moss	NE	at BUF	81.33
12	Vincent Jackson	SD	CIN	78.67
13	Steve Smith	NYG	at WAS	77.67
14	T.J. Houshmandzadeh	SEA	TB	77.33
15	Derrick Mason	BAL	CHI	77.00
16	Sidney Rice	MIN	at CAR	76.33
17	Steve Smith	CAR	MIN	76.00
T-17	Chad Ochocinco	CIN	at SD	76.00
19	Terrell Owens	BUF	NE	75.33
20	Donald Driver	GB	at PIT	74.67
T-20	Pierre Garcon	IND	at JAC	74.67
T-20	Mike Sims-Walker	JAC	IND	74.67
23	Antonio Bryant	TB	at SEA	74.30
24	Santonio Holmes	PIT	GB	74.00
25	Steve Breaston	ARI	at DET	73.33
T-25	Roddy White	ATL	at NYJ	73.33
27	Greg Jennings	GB	at PIT	71.67
28	Hines Ward	PIT	GB	71.13
29	Lee Evans	BUF	NE	71.00
T-29	Roy Williams	DAL	at NO	71.00
31	Davone Bess	MIA	at TEN	70.33
T-31	Robert Meachem	NO	DAL	70.33
T-31	Kenny Britt	TEN	MIA	70.33
34	Jerricho Cotchery	NYJ	ATL	70.00
35	Austin Collie	IND	at JAC	69.67
36	Mohamed Massaquoi	CLE	at KC	68.67
T-36	Santana Moss	WAS	NYG	68.67
38	Braylon Edwards	NYJ	ATL	68.00
39	Josh Cribbs	CLE	at KC	65.33
40	Devery Henderson	NO	DAL	64.33
T-40	Jason Avant	PHI	SF	64.33
42	Michael Crabtree	SF	at PHI	64.00
43	Hakeem Nicks	NYG	at WAS	63.00
44	Torry Holt	JAC	IND	62.67
45	Kevin Walter	HOU	at STL	62.33
46	Chris Chambers	KC	CLE	62.00
47	Donnie Avery	STL	HOU	61.67
48	Bernard Berrian	MIN	at CAR	61.33
49	Mario Manningham	NYG	at WAS	60.33
50	Johnny Knox	CHI	at BAL	59.67
T-50	Bryant Johnson	DET	ARI	59.67
52	Deion Branch	SEA	TB	58.00
53	Earl Bennett	CHI	at BAL	57.67
54	Brandon Gibson	STL	HOU	57.33
55	Malcom Floyd	SD	CIN	57.00
T-56	Devin Thomas	WAS	NYG	56.67
58	Patrick Crayton	DAL	at NO	56.00
59	Josh Morgan	SF	at PHI	55.00
60	Michael Jenkins	ATL	at NYJ	54.00
T-60	Mike Wallace	PIT	GB	54.00
62	Greg Camarillo	MIA	at TEN	53.33
63	Andre Caldwell	CIN	at SD	53.00
64	James Jones	GB	at PIT	52.67
65	Dwayne Bowe	KC	CLE	52.00
66	Percy Harvin	MIN	at CAR	51.00
T-66	Danny Amendola	STL	HOU	51.00
68	Laveranues Coles	CIN	at SD	48.33
69	Muhsin Muhammad	CAR	MIN	45.67
70	Brian Hartline	MIA	at TEN	44.33
71	Dennis Northcutt	DET	ARI	44.00
T-71	David Clowney	NYJ	ATL	44.00
73	Maurice Stovall	TB	at SEA	43.67
74	Devin Hester	CHI	at BAL	42.10
75	Chansi Stuckey	CLE	at KC	42.00
T-75	Louis Murphy	OAK	at DEN	42.00
77	Chaz Schilens	OAK	at DEN	41.33
78	Eddie Royal	DEN	OAK	39.67
79	Michael Clayton	TB	at SEA	39.00
80	Mark Clayton	BAL	CHI	38.70
81	Nate Washington	TEN	MIA	38.67
82	Mike Thomas	JAC	IND	38.33
83	Mark Bradley	KC	CLE	37.67
84	Ted Ginn	MIA	at TEN	37.00
85	Antwaan Randle El	WAS	NYG	36.67
86	Malcom Kelly	WAS	NYG	36.00
87	David Anderson	HOU	at STL	33.33
T-87	Sam Aiken	NE	at BUF	33.33
89	Isaac Bruce	SF	at PHI	32.00
90	Domenik Hixon	NYG	at WAS	31.33
91	Sam Hurd	DAL	at NO	30.67
92	Darrius Heyward-Bey	OAK	at DEN	29.67
93	Kelley Washington	BAL	CHI	28.20
94	Johnnie Lee Higgins	OAK	at DEN	27.00
95	Lance Moore	NO	DAL	26.17
96	Early Doucet	ARI	at DET	24.67
97	Lance Long	KC	CLE	23.00
98	Legedu Naanee	SD	CIN	21.00
99	Josh Reed	BUF	NE	18.33
100	Demetrius Williams	BAL	CHI	17.33

 
Start: Miles Austin, Cowboys. Austin has scored three weeks in a row now and the Cowboys have a pretty good matchup on Saturday night. The Saints are 24th in the NFL in passing defense, due to injuries in the secondary, and a tendency to get big leads, forcing their opponents to go to the air often. Start Austin with confidence this week.
 
Sit: Roddy White, Falcons. White is a questionable start this week for two reasons. First off, he may be without his starting quarterback, Matt Ryan, again. And secondly, he’s going to be matched up with the WR stat-killer Darrelle Revis of the Jets. If you’ve got good receivers on your bench, this would be the week to use them.

Rank	Tight Ends	Team	Opponent	Average
1	Vernon Davis	SF	at PHI	95.67
2	Antonio Gates	SD	CIN	90.00
3	Dallas Clark	IND	at JAC	87.67
4	Tony Gonzalez	ATL	at NYJ	85.33
5	Fred Davis	WAS	NYG	83.67
6	Kellen Winslow	TB	at SEA	82.33
7	Brent Celek	PHI	SF	79.33
8	Jason Witten	DAL	at NO	77.33
9	Heath Miller	PIT	GB	77.00
10	Visanthe Shiancoe	MIN	at CAR	76.33
11	Dustin Keller	NYJ	ATL	72.67
12	Kevin Boss	NYG	at WAS	70.00
T-12	John Carlson	SEA	TB	70.00
14	Bo Scaife	TEN	MIA	69.67
15	Jeremy Shockey	NO	DAL	68.20
16	Joel Dreessen	HOU	at STL	68.00
17	Greg Olsen	CHI	at BAL	67.67
T-17	Will Heller	DET	ARI	67.67
19	Dante Rosario	CAR	MIN	67.33
20	Ben Watson	NE	at BUF	67.00
21	Todd Heap	BAL	CHI	65.00
T-21	Jermichael Finley	GB	at PIT	65.00
23	Ben Patrick	ARI	at DET	62.67
T-23	Tony Scheffler	DEN	OAK	62.67
25	Leonard Pope	KC	CLE	62.00
26	Randy McMichael	STL	HOU	59.33
27	Marcedes Lewis	JAC	IND	58.33
28	J.P. Foschi	CIN	at SD	56.00
29	Donald Lee	GB	at PIT	55.67
30	Robert Royal	CLE	at KC	47.33
31	Anthony Fasano	MIA	at TEN	41.33
32	Alge Crumpler	TEN	MIA	37.67
33	Shawn Nelson	BUF	NE	32.00
34	Evan Moore	CLE	at KC	22.33
35	Tony Stewart	OAK	at DEN	21.00
36	Joey Haynos	MIA	at TEN	20.00
37	Daniel Fells	STL	HOU	19.00
38	Daniel Graham	DEN	OAK	18.67
39	James Casey	HOU	at STL	16.67
40	David Thomas	NO	DAL	16.27

 
Start: Fred Davis, Redskins. Davis has been great for the Redskins since Chris Cooley’s season ending injury. The second year man out of USC has four touchdowns in his past three games. Jason Campbell seems to be quickly developing a rapport with Davis similar to the one he had with Cooley. Expect another productive day from Fred against a Giant defense that has issues at safety.
 
Sit: Greg Olsen, Bears. Olsen has struggled mightily the past two weeks (just 4 catches and 15 yards over that span). Could he turn it around this week? Sure, he could. But the Bears aren’t showing many signs of life so I don’t know that I would necessarily expect a resurgence from Olsen any time soon.

Rank	Kickers	Team	Opponent	Average
1	David Akers	PHI	SF	90.00
2	Rob Bironas	TEN	MIA	86.67
3	Lawrence Tynes	NYG	at WAS	85.67
4	Ryan Longwell	MIN	at CAR	85.00
5	Stephen Gostkowski	NE	at BUF	84.33
6	Mike Nugent	ARI	at DET	82.00
7	Nate Kaeding	SD	CIN	81.33
8	Kris Brown	HOU	at STL	80.00
9	Matt Prater	DEN	OAK	77.67
T-9	Matt Stover	IND	at JAC	77.67
11	Garrett Hartley	NO	DAL	76.67
12	Jay Feely	NYJ	ATL	74.67
13	Mason Crosby	GB	at PIT	73.67
14	Robbie Gould	CHI	at BAL	73.33
15	Olindo Mare	SEA	TB	73.00
16	Dan Carpenter	MIA	at TEN	72.67
17	Nick Folk	DAL	at NO	72.33
18	Rian Lindell	BUF	NE	72.00
19	Josh Brown	STL	HOU	68.67
20	Billy Cundiff	BAL	CHI	67.33
T-20	Josh Scobee	JAC	IND	67.33
22	Ryan Succop	KC	CLE	67.00
23	Phil Dawson	CLE	at KC	66.67
24	Shayne Graham	CIN	at SD	66.33
25	Matt Bryant	ATL	at NYJ	65.00
T-25	John Kasay	CAR	MIN	65.00
27	Joe Nedney	SF	at PHI	64.67
28	Jeff Reed	PIT	GB	62.67
29	Jason Hanson	DET	ARI	62.00
T-29	Sebastian Janikowski	OAK	at DEN	62.00
31	Connor Barth	TB	at SEA	61.67
32	Graham Gano	WAS	NYG	60.00

 
Start: Mike Nugent, Cardinals. Nugent was recently signed by Arizona to fill in for injured starter Neil Rackers. The former Jets’ draft pick has a chance to put up a good point total in his first week, against Detroit, a team that allows over 30 points per game.
 
Sit: Billy Cundiff, Cowboys. Cundiff hasn’t yet matched the 15 point total he recorded in his first week with Baltimore. He only got two field goal attempts last week despite the Ravens scoring 48 points, because Baltimore didn’t have much trouble finding the endzone. I wouldn’t be surprised if that happened again this week, but with a few less touchdowns… He’s just a so-so start against the Bears.

Rank	Defense	Team	Opponent	Average
1	Vikings	MIN	at CAR	92.67
2	Packers	GB	at PIT	91.67
3	Broncos	DEN	OAK	87.33
4	Eagles	PHI	SF	86.00
5	Jets	NYJ	ATL	84.33
6	Saints	NO	DAL	81.00
7	Steelers	PIT	GB	80.67
T-7	Chargers	SD	CIN	80.67
9	Cardinals	ARI	at DET	80.00
10	Colts	IND	at JAC	79.67
11	Giants	NYG	at WAS	79.00
T-11	Seahawks	SEA	TB	79.00
13	Ravens	BAL	CHI	78.33
14	Texans	HOU	at STL	78.00
15	49ers	SF	at PHI	77.67
16	Patriots	NE	at BUF	77.00
17	Dolphins	MIA	at TEN	75.67
18	Redskins	WAS	NYG	73.67
19	Falcons	ATL	at NYJ	70.33
T-19	Bengals	CIN	at SD	70.33
21	Titans	TEN	MIA	69.33
22	Browns	CLE	at KC	68.67
23	Bills	BUF	NE	67.33
24	Chiefs	KC	CLE	65.67
25	Cowboys	DAL	at NO	65.00
26	Panthers	CAR	MIN	63.67
27	Bears	CHI	at BAL	62.00
28	Buccaneers	TB	at SEA	61.67
29	Raiders	OAK	at DEN	60.00
30	Lions	DET	ARI	57.67
31	Jaguars	JAC	IND	51.00
32	Rams	STL	HOU	45.00

 
Start: Minnesota Vikings. Panthers QB Matt Moore threw four picks and zero touchdowns last week. Kevin Williams, Jared Allen, and Co. should have no trouble forcing the young quarterback into a few more mistakes this week.
 
Sit: Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals have been a respectable starting defense in certain situations this year. This upcoming matchup against the red-hot Chargers in San Diego, however, would be one to avoid. If you have been playing the matchups on defense you can probably find a better option somewhere on your bench or free agency.
 

 
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. Nick Hopkins is a Cafe member who has been contributing the Start & Sit since 2006, and posts on the forums as terpfan.
 

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