Week 16: For All The Marbles - 7 comments

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I hope everyone’s having a great holiday season. We’re here with a championship edition of Start and Sit. Rankings are up now, analysis will be up later. Enjoy!

Merry Christmas everybody! I hope everyone has a good holiday weekend (and wins all their fantasy games of course!) Now let’s see what the rankings have in store this week… - Nick

Rank	Quarterbacks	Team	Opponent	Average
1	Aaron Rodgers	GB	SEA	94.33
2	Drew Brees	NO	TB	93.33
3	Philip Rivers	SD	at TEN	91.67
4	Tom Brady	NE	JAC	89.71
5	Matt Schaub	HOU	at MIA	89.00
6	Kurt Warner	ARI	STL	87.00
7	Brett Favre	MIN	at CHI	85.67
8	Peyton Manning	IND	NYJ	79.33
9	Ben Roethlisberger	PIT	BAL	78.67
10	Carson Palmer	CIN	KC	77.67
11	Tony Romo	DAL	at WAS	77.33
T-11	Alex Smith	SF	DET	77.33
13	Joe Flacco	BAL	at PIT	73.67
14	Eli Manning	NYG	CAR	73.00
15	Jay Cutler	CHI	MIN	72.67
T-15	Donovan McNabb	PHI	DEN	72.67
17	Matt Hasselbeck	SEA	at GB	69.33
18	Kyle Orton	DEN	at PHI	68.67
19	Vince Young	TEN	SD	68.00
20	Matt Moore	CAR	at NYG	67.00
21	Jason Campbell	WAS	DAL	66.67
22	Matt Ryan	ATL	BUF	65.33
23	David Garrard	JAC	at NE	64.67
24	Chad Henne	MIA	HOU	62.33
25	Matt Cassel	KC	at CIN	59.67
26	Mark Sanchez	NYJ	at IND	57.73
27	Derek Anderson	CLE	OAK	56.33
28	Keith Null	STL	at ARI	52.33
29	Charlie Frye	OAK	at CLE	50.80
30	Josh Freeman	TB	at NO	49.00
31	Brian Brohm	BUF	at ATL	38.00
32	Drew Stanton	DET	at SF	33.67

 
Start: Phillip Rivers, Chargers. Rivers has had a Pro Bowl season this year, and has the Chargers just rolling along into the playoffs. Rivers has not only put up great numbers; he has been a model of consistency. The Chargers’ QB has accounted for at least one touchdown in every game this year, and he has not had a QB rating lower than 84.5 in any game this year. You can bet on Rivers having another solid game this week against the Titans’ 31st ranked pass defense.
 
Sit: Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks. Hasselbeck has been hard to read this year. Sometimes you get the good Hasselbeck (4 touchdown passes in Week 5), and sometimes you get the bad Hasselbeck (4 INTs last week). I think you are more likely to see the latter against a talented Packer pass defense this week.

Rank	Running Backs	Team	Opponent	Average
1	Chris Johnson	TEN	SD	95.00
2	Adrian Peterson	MIN	at CHI	92.33
3	Cedric Benson	CIN	KC	88.67
4	Frank Gore	SF	DET	87.67
5	Steven Jackson	STL	at ARI	86.67
6	Maurice Jones-Drew	JAC	at NE	83.67
7	Thomas Jones	NYJ	at IND	80.33
8	Ricky Williams	MIA	HOU	79.67
9	Jamaal Charles	KC	at CIN	78.67
10	Beanie Wells	ARI	STL	78.33
T-10	Pierre Thomas	NO	TB	78.33
12	Ray Rice	BAL	at PIT	77.00
13	Fred Jackson	BUF	at ATL	76.67
14	Ryan Grant	GB	SEA	75.67
15	Jason Snelling	ATL	BUF	74.67
T-15	Brandon Jacobs	NYG	CAR	74.67
T-15	LaDainian Tomlinson	SD	at TEN	74.67
18	Knowshon Moreno	DEN	at PHI	73.00
T-18	Reggie Bush	NO	TB	73.00
T-18	Ahmad Bradshaw	NYG	CAR	73.00
21	Jonathan Stewart	CAR	at NYG	71.33
T-21	Joseph Addai	IND	NYJ	71.33
23	Rashard Mendenhall	PIT	BAL	70.67
24	Jerome Harrison	CLE	OAK	70.33
T-24	Mike Bell	NO	TB	70.33
26	Laurence Maroney	NE	JAC	70.00
27	Marion Barber	DAL	at WAS	69.67
28	Tim Hightower	ARI	STL	67.00
T-28	Michael Bush	OAK	at CLE	67.00
30	Marshawn Lynch	BUF	at ATL	66.00
T-30	Darren McFadden	OAK	at CLE	66.00
32	Jerious Norwood	ATL	BUF	65.33
T-32	Maurice Morris	DET	at SF	65.33
T-32	Quinton Ganther	WAS	DAL	65.33
35	Matt Forte	CHI	MIN	64.67
36	Justin Fargas	OAK	at CLE	64.00
37	LeSean McCoy	PHI	DEN	63.67
38	Leonard Weaver	PHI	DEN	63.00
39	Felix Jones	DAL	at WAS	61.67
40	Cadillac Williams	TB	at NO	61.00
41	Darren Sproles	SD	at TEN	60.00
42	Justin Forsett	SEA	at GB	59.33
43	Ryan Moats	HOU	at MIA	58.67
44	Chris Jennings	CLE	OAK	58.33
45	Kevin Faulk	NE	JAC	58.00
46	DeAngelo Williams	CAR	at NYG	57.40
47	Arian Foster	HOU	at MIA	57.00
T-47	Derrick Ward	TB	at NO	57.00
49	Chester Taylor	MIN	at CHI	56.67
50	Shonn Greene	NYJ	at IND	56.00
51	Willis McGahee	BAL	at PIT	55.00
52	Brian Westbrook	PHI	DEN	54.27
53	Sammy Morris	NE	JAC	53.33
54	Chris Brown	HOU	at MIA	52.00
55	Tashard Choice	DAL	at WAS	51.00
T-55	Julius Jones	SEA	at GB	51.00
57	Lex Hilliard	MIA	HOU	47.33
58	Larry Johnson	CIN	KC	44.00
59	LenDale White	TEN	SD	42.67
60	Correll Buckhalter	DEN	at PHI	41.33
61	Chad Simpson	IND	NYJ	38.33
62	Ahman Green	GB	SEA	35.33
63	Mewelde Moore	PIT	BAL	34.00
64	Michael Turner	ATL	BUF	33.35
65	Rock Cartwright	WAS	DAL	33.33

 
Start: Cedric Benson, Bengals. Benson has yet to find the endzone since returning from his injury, but I expect that to change this week against the Chiefs. Kansas City ranks 31st in the NFL in rush defense, and has allowed 16 rushing touchdowns on the year. There’s a good chance Benson will sit at some point during this game, especially if the score gets out of hand, but he should be able to do plenty of damage early on.
 
Sit: LeSean McCoy, Eagles. McCoy scored a touchdown last week, but was only given nine carries. The young Eagles’ runner has not carried the ball more than 10 times in a game since Week 12. The Eagles remain a pass first team, so McCoy is going to remain an inconsistent fantasy option. This week’s opponent, Denver, has also only allowed eight rushing touchdowns all year.

Rank	Wide Receivers	Team	Opponent	Average
1	Andre Johnson	HOU	at MIA	96.67
2	Randy Moss	NE	JAC	94.67
3	Wes Welker	NE	JAC	92.67
4	Vincent Jackson	SD	at TEN	90.67
5	Marques Colston	NO	TB	89.67
6	Larry Fitzgerald	ARI	STL	89.33
7	Anquan Boldin	ARI	STL	82.67
T-7	Sidney Rice	MIN	at CHI	82.67
T-7	DeSean Jackson	PHI	DEN	82.67
10	Donald Driver	GB	SEA	82.33
11	Chad Ochocinco	CIN	KC	82.00
T-11	Brandon Marshall	DEN	at PHI	82.00
13	Miles Austin	DAL	at WAS	81.67
14	Greg Jennings	GB	SEA	81.00
15	Derrick Mason	BAL	at PIT	79.33
16	Steve Smith	CAR	at NYG	79.00
17	Reggie Wayne	IND	NYJ	78.67
18	Percy Harvin	MIN	at CHI	78.41
19	Calvin Johnson	DET	at SF	77.67
20	Michael Crabtree	SF	DET	76.67
21	Robert Meachem	NO	TB	76.33
22	Roddy White	ATL	BUF	75.33
23	Hines Ward	PIT	BAL	74.33
24	Mike Sims-Walker	JAC	at NE	73.33
T-24	Josh Morgan	SF	DET	73.33
26	Steve Smith	NYG	CAR	73.00
27	Antonio Bryant	TB	at NO	71.17
28	Devery Henderson	NO	TB	71.00
29	Terrell Owens	BUF	at ATL	70.93
30	Santonio Holmes	PIT	BAL	70.33
31	Lee Evans	BUF	at ATL	70.00
32	Roy Williams	DAL	at WAS	69.00
T-32	Dwayne Bowe	KC	at CIN	69.00
T-32	Malcolm Floyd	SD	at TEN	69.00
T-32	T.J. Houshmandzadeh	SEA	at GB	69.00
36	Braylon Edwards	NYJ	at IND	68.67
37	Santana Moss	WAS	DAL	68.33
38	Kenny Britt	TEN	SD	67.67
39	Kevin Walter	HOU	at MIA	66.33
T-39	Donnie Avery	STL	at ARI	66.33
41	Jerricho Cotchery	NYJ	at IND	66.00
42	Johnny Knox	CHI	MIN	65.00
T-42	Torry Holt	JAC	at NE	65.00
44	Mohamed Massaquoi	CLE	OAK	64.33
T-44	Bernard Berrian	MIN	at CHI	64.33
46	Pierre Garcon	IND	NYJ	63.33
47	Mark Clayton	BAL	at PIT	62.83
48	Chris Chambers	KC	at CIN	62.33
49	Earl Bennett	CHI	MIN	62.00
50	Steve Breaston	ARI	STL	61.80
51	Davone Bess	MIA	HOU	61.33
52	Devin Hester	CHI	MIN	61.07
53	James Jones	GB	SEA	61.00
T-53	Mario Manningham	NYG	CAR	61.00
55	Austin Collie	IND	NYJ	60.33
56	Jason Avant	PHI	DEN	60.00
57	Lance Moore	NO	TB	58.50
58	Justin Gage	TEN	SD	57.00
59	Nate Washington	TEN	SD	56.93
60	Josh Cribbs	CLE	OAK	56.33
T-60	Bryant Johnson	DET	at SF	56.33
T-60	Mike Wallace	PIT	BAL	56.33
63	Danny Amendola	STL	at ARI	55.67
64	Michael Jenkins	ATL	BUF	55.33
T-64	Andre Caldwell	CIN	KC	55.33
T-64	Brandon Gibson	STL	at ARI	55.33
67	Patrick Crayton	DAL	at WAS	54.33
68	Laveranues Coles	CIN	KC	54.00
69	Eddie Royal	DEN	at PHI	53.67
T-69	Devin Thomas	WAS	DAL	53.67
71	Hakeem Nicks	NYG	CAR	53.43
72	Deion Branch	SEA	at GB	49.67
73	Ted Ginn	MIA	HOU	48.67
74	Bobby Wade	KC	at CIN	47.67
75	Nate Burleson	SEA	at GB	46.67
76	Chaz Schilens	OAK	at CLE	45.33
77	Louis Murphy	OAK	at CLE	44.67
78	Demetrius Williams	BAL	at PIT	42.67
79	Dennis Northcutt	DET	at SF	42.00
T-79	David Clowney	NYJ	at IND	42.00
81	Muhsin Muhammad	CAR	at NYG	41.67
82	Chansi Stuckey	CLE	OAK	40.33
83	Isaac Bruce	SF	DET	39.53
84	Sam Aiken	NE	JAC	38.67
85	Josh Reed	BUF	at ATL	38.33
T-85	Michael Clayton	TB	at NO	38.33
87	Mike Thomas	JAC	at NE	36.33
88	David Anderson	HOU	at MIA	35.67
89	Lavelle Hawkins	TEN	SD	35.00
T-89	Antwaan Randle El	WAS	DAL	35.00
91	Malcom Kelly	WAS	DAL	34.33
92	Jeremy Maclin	PHI	DEN	34.27
93	Kelley Washington	BAL	at PIT	32.67
94	Greg Camarillo	MIA	HOU	32.33
95	Darrius Heyward-Bey	OAK	at CLE	31.33
T-95	Legedu Naanee	SD	at TEN	31.33
97	Sam Hurd	DAL	at WAS	29.33
98	Domenik Hixon	NYG	CAR	28.67
T-98	Johnnie Lee Higgins	OAK	at CLE	28.67
100	Brian Hartline	MIA	HOU	26.33

 
Start: Donald Driver, Packers. The 34-year-old driver continues to play well, proving to be every bit as important to Green Bay’s offense as his younger counterpart, Greg Jennings. He has a good matchup this week against a Seattle team that ranks 29th in the NFL in both passing yards and passing touchdowns allowed. Both Driver and Jennings make good starts this week.
 
Sit: Steve Smith, Giants. Smith was held under 50 yards for just the first time since Week 6 last week (although he did manage to find the endzone). I don’t mean to suggest that he is falling off, but this week isn’t that favorable of a matchup for him. The Panthers totally stifled Minnesota’s passing attack last week, and have done a good job against the pass all season (4th in the NFL in passing yards allowed, just 13 TDs allowed). The Giants will spread the ball around as usual, but against the Panthers there may not be that many passing yards to go around.

Rank	Tight Ends	Team	Opponent	Average
1	Vernon Davis	SF	DET	95.00
2	Antonio Gates	SD	at TEN	94.00
3	Tony Gonzalez	ATL	BUF	90.33
4	Dallas Clark	IND	NYJ	84.33
5	Visanthe Shiancoe	MIN	at CHI	80.67
6	Fred Davis	WAS	DAL	79.00
7	Jason Witten	DAL	at WAS	77.00
T-7	Kellen Winslow	TB	at NO	77.00
9	Brent Celek	PHI	DEN	76.41
10	Heath Miller	PIT	BAL	76.33
11	Tony Scheffler	DEN	at PHI	75.33
T-11	Jermichael Finley	GB	SEA	75.33
13	Greg Olsen	CHI	MIN	74.33
14	Kevin Boss	NYG	CAR	73.00
T-14	John Carlson	SEA	at GB	73.00
16	Dante Rosario	CAR	at NYG	68.00
17	Bo Scaife	TEN	SD	67.33
18	David Thomas	NO	TB	66.93
19	Joel Dreessen	HOU	at MIA	66.33
20	Anthony Fasano	MIA	HOU	66.00
21	Todd Heap	BAL	at PIT	65.67
22	Stephen Spach	ARI	STL	63.67
23	J.P. Foschi	CIN	KC	63.33
24	Marcedes Lewis	JAC	at NE	62.67
T-24	Dustin Keller	NYJ	at IND	62.67
26	Ben Watson	NE	JAC	62.00
27	Randy McMichael	STL	at ARI	59.67
28	Leonard Pope	KC	at CIN	59.00
29	Jeremy Shockey	NO	TB	57.20
30	Will Heller	DET	at SF	55.00

 
Start: Visanthe Shiancoe, Vikings. Shiancoe has had two quiet weeks in a row now, but I think this week he gets back on track. The Vikings will be looking to bounce back from a tough loss, and the Chicago Bears have allowed 25 touchdowns through the air this season.
 
Sit: Jeremy Shockey, Saints. This is a bit of a cop-out because Shockey is hurt, but “sit” tight ends are sometimes hard to come up with… Shockey missed last week with a toe injury, and has been limited in practice so far this week. The Saints don’t have all that much left to play for at this point, so don’t be surprised if they play it safe with Shockey and rest him up for the playoffs.

Rank	Kickers	Team	Opponent	Average
1	David Akers	PHI	DEN	89.00
2	Ryan Longwell	MIN	at CHI	88.67
3	Stephen Gostkowski	NE	JAC	86.00
4	Kris Brown	HOU	at MIA	85.67
5	Nate Kaeding	SD	at TEN	85.33
6	Garrett Hartley	NO	TB	82.33
7	Rob Bironas	TEN	SD	81.67
8	Shayne Graham	CIN	KC	78.00
9	Matt Prater	DEN	at PHI	77.00
10	Mike Nugent	ARI	STL	76.00
T-10	Shaun Suisham	DAL	at WAS	76.00
T-10	Joe Nedney	SF	DET	76.00
13	Lawrence Tynes	NYG	CAR	75.67
T-13	Jay Feely	NYJ	at IND	75.67
15	Rian Lindell	BUF	at ATL	74.33
T-15	Mason Crosby	GB	SEA	74.33
17	Dan Carpenter	MIA	HOU	71.33
T-17	Sebastian Janikowski	OAK	at CLE	71.33
19	Matt Stover	IND	NYJ	70.67
20	Phil Dawson	CLE	OAK	69.00
T-20	Jeff Reed	PIT	BAL	69.00
22	Robbie Gould	CHI	MIN	68.00
23	Matt Bryant	ATL	BUF	67.00
24	Josh Brown	STL	at ARI	65.33
25	John Kasay	CAR	at NYG	63.33
26	Billy Cundiff	BAL	at PIT	63.00
27	Ryan Succop	KC	at CIN	62.67
28	Jason Hanson	DET	at SF	62.33
29	Olindo Mare	SEA	at GB	62.00
30	Connor Barth	TB	at NO	60.67
T-30	Graham Gano	WAS	DAL	60.67
32	Josh Scobee	JAC	at NE	55.33

 
Start: David Akers, Eagles. Akers had made a whopping 29/33 field goals this year, and is on pace for 145 total points. There is a reason is near the top of our kicker rankings each week! At home against a Broncos defense that is good, but not great, Akers should be able to add at least a couple more field goals to his total.
 
Sit: Robbie Gould, Bears. Gould has had trouble putting points on the board lately, mostly due to  Chicago’s struggling offense. He has not scored more than 5 points in any of the Bears’ past four games. The Vikings’ defense got exposed a little bit last week against Carolina, but still, they are no slouches. Gould will also have to deal with the cold December weather on Monday Night in Chicago.

Rank	Defense	Team	Opponent	Average
1	Vikings	MIN	at CHI	89.33
2	Saints	NO	TB	88.00
3	Packers	GB	SEA	87.67
4	Eagles	PHI	DEN	86.67
T-4	49ers	SF	DET	86.67
6	Bengals	CIN	KC	83.00
7	Giants	NYG	CAR	82.00
8	Cardinals	ARI	STL	80.67
9	Chargers	SD	at TEN	79.67
10	Colts	IND	NYJ	79.33
11	Ravens	BAL	at PIT	77.67
T-11	Cowboys	DAL	at WAS	77.67
13	Dolphins	MIA	HOU	76.67
T-13	Steelers	PIT	BAL	76.67
15	Broncos	DEN	at PHI	75.67
16	Patriots	NE	JAC	75.33
T-16	Jets	NYJ	at IND	75.33
18	Falcons	ATL	BUF	74.00
19	Redskins	WAS	DAL	70.67
20	Bills	BUF	at ATL	70.33
21	Texans	HOU	at MIA	68.67
T-21	Seahawks	SEA	at GB	68.67
23	Browns	CLE	OAK	67.67
24	Raiders	OAK	at CLE	67.00
25	Panthers	CAR	at NYG	65.67
26	Titans	TEN	SD	61.67
27	Bears	CHI	MIN	60.33
28	Lions	DET	at SF	59.00
29	Chiefs	KC	at CIN	57.67
30	Buccaneers	TB	at NO	52.33
31	Jaguars	JAC	at NE	51.00
32	Rams	STL	at ARI	48.33

 
Start: Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals’ defense has a big play mentality that makes them dangerous for fantasy purposes. Arizona is 5th the NFL in sacks and 8th in interceptions, and this week they play host to the offensively challenged Rams. If the Cardinals are available in your league, they would make a sneaky playoff pickup-and-play.
 
Sit: New York Jets. The Jets this week are a classic case of a solid fantasy defense running into an offensive juggernaut. Even when it looks like someone has figured the Colts out, Peyton Manning finds a way to make a second half run and reverse any deficit. You don’t want to be starting any fantasy defense against these guys. (Even if the Colts decide to rest their starters at some point in this game, it’s still a risky move).
 

 
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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