Week 16: Championship Week - 8 comments

• Tweet

• Tweet

If you’re reading this, you’re probably playing for a championship. Congratulations. And, remember, it doesn’t matter how you made it here. Some of you played against Terrell Owens last week. Others accidentally started Rex Grossman. Some may have simply drafted a solid team. Perhaps you followed my advice on Kyle Orton. Perhaps you knew when to stop following my advice on Kyle Orton. It doesn’t matter. You’re here now. And, while it’s an honor just being nominated, this week is about winning. Too much is at stake. Trophies, prizes, bragging rights, and the opportunity to refer yourself as “defending champion” to name a few.

Fortunately, I’m not in this alone. As always, the Café rankers are here to help. Here at the Café, we rank all the players we expect could see a significant amount of game action each week. We factor in a player’s overall ability, his weekly match-up, and the current status of his health. The result is one Start/Sit number, based on a scale of 100, and we’ll use each member’s ratings to find an average for each player. The higher a guy is on our list, the better you should feel starting him. Finally, below each table, I will give my personal Start/Sit recommendations for each position. Without further ado, here’s Start/Sit for Championship Week.

Rank	Quarterbacks	Team	Opp	Average
1	Drew Brees	NO	at ATL	90.5
2	Peyton Manning	IND	at OAK	89.5
3	Michael Vick	PHI	MIN	89
4	Matt Schaub	HOU	at DEN	86
5	Tom Brady	NE	at BUF	85
6	Philip Rivers	SD	at CIN	84.5
7	Matt Ryan	ATL	NO	75.5
8	Joe Flacco	BAL	at CLE	74.5
9	Matt Cassel	KC	TEN	74
10	Aaron Rodgers	GB	NYG	73.7
11	Ben Roethlisberger	PIT	CAR	73.5
12	Josh Freeman	TB	SEA	73
T-12	Rex Grossman	WAS	at JAC	73
14	Ryan Fitzpatrick	BUF	NE	72.5
15	Jon Kitna	DAL	at ARI	69.5
T-15	Eli Manning	NYG	at GB	69.5
17	David Garrard	JAC	WAS	67
18	Tim Tebow	DEN	HOU	66
19	Jay Cutler	CHI	NYJ	65.5
20	Chad Henne	MIA	DET	64
21	Jason Campbell	OAK	IND	63
22	Sam Bradford	STL	SF	62
23	Colt McCoy	CLE	BAL	58.5
24	Kerry Collins	TEN	at KC	57.5
25	Mark Sanchez	NYJ	at CHI	55.5
26	Carson Palmer	CIN	SD	55
27	John Skelton	ARI	DAL	54.5
28	Matt Hasselbeck	SEA	at TB	50.9
29	Joe Webb	MIN	at PHI	47.5
30	Troy Smith	SF	at STL	44
31	Jimmy Clausen	CAR	at PIT	40.3
32	Shaun Hill	DET	at MIA	28.5

 
Start: Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons. Ryan averages over four more fantasy points per game at home than he does on the road. He threw for a respectable 228 yards with two touchdowns and no picks the last time he faced New Orleans. With so many quarterbacks facing uncertain weather conditions in Week 16, Ryan is a “safe” play with upside.
 
Start: Rex Grossman, Washington Redskins. Look, if your team is in the finals, you probably have better options. Okay, if your team was eliminated before the trade deadline, you probably have better options. However, for those who need to roll the dice – those dealing with uncertainly due to injury and/or weather – you could do worse Grossman this week. Rex threw for 366 yards and four scores against Dallas. Now he plays at Jacksonville, a place where the vacancies in the stands are surpassed only by those in the secondary.
 
Sit: Kerry Collins, Tennessee Titans. If you picked him up last week, it was strictly because of the Houston match-up. Don’t push your luck.
 

Rank	Running Backs	Team	Opp	Average
1	Darren McFadden	OAK	IND	87
T-1	Rashard Mendenhall	PIT	CAR	87
3	Maurice Jones-Drew	JAC	WAS	86.5
4	Michael Turner	ATL	NO	85
T-4	Ray Rice	BAL	at CLE	85
T-4	Chris Johnson	TEN	at KC	85
7	Arian Foster	HOU	at DEN	82.35
8	BenJarvus Green-Ellis	NE	at BUF	82
9	Jamaal Charles	KC	TEN	79.5
10	Peyton Hills	CLE	BAL	79
T-10	LeSean McCoy	PHI	MIN	79
12	Steven Jackson	STL	SF	78.5
13	Marshawn Lynch	SEA	at TB	74.5
14	Ryan Torain	WAS	at JAC	74.2
15	LeGarrette Blount	TB	SEA	73.5
16	Cedric Benson	CIN	SD	73
17	Fred Jackson	BUF	NE	72
18	Matt Forte	CHI	NYJ	68
T-18	Danny Woodhead	NE	at BUF	68
T-18	Mike Tolbert	SD	at CIN	68
21	Ronnie Brown	MIA	DET	66.5
22	Felix Jones	DAL	at ARI	65.7
23	Thomas Jones	KC	TEN	65.5
T-23	Brandon Jacobs	NYG	at GB	65.5
25	Donald Brown	IND	at OAK	65.45
26	Tashard Choice	DAL	at ARI	65
27	Ahmad Bradshaw	NYG	at GB	64.4
28	Michael Bush	OAK	IND	62
29	Adrian Peterson	MIN	at PHI	61.9
30	Ryan Mathews	SD	at CIN	61.6
31	Justin Forsett	SEA	at TB	61.5
32	Knowshon Moreno	DEN	HOU	60.95
33	Jonathan Stewart	CAR	at PIT	60.5
T-33	LaDainian Tomlinson	NYJ	at CHI	60.5
35	Ricky Williams	MIA	DET	59.5
36	Tim Hightower	ARI	DAL	59
37	Beanie Wells	ARI	DAL	58.55
38	Shonn Greene	NYJ	at CHI	58.5
39	Maurice Morris	DET	at MIA	58
40	Toby Gerhart	MIN	at PHI	57
41	Brian Westbrook	SF	at STL	55.1
42	Cadillac Williams	TB	SEA	53.5
43	Jason Snelling	ATL	NO	53
T-43	Lance Ball	DEN	HOU	53
T-43	Darren Sproles	SD	at CIN	53
46	Rashad Jennings	JAC	WAS	52.5
T-46	Pierre Thomas	NO	at ATL	52.5
48	Willis McGahee	BAL	at CLE	52
49	Jahvid Best	DET	at MIA	51.6
50	C.J. Spiller	BUF	NE	51
51	Brandon Jackson	GB	NYG	50.5
T-51	Anthony Dixon	SF	at STL	50.5
53	Bernard Scott	CIN	SD	50
54	Reggie Bush	NO	at ATL	49.5
55	Mike Bell	CLE	BAL	45
56	Chester Taylor	CHI	NYJ	43
57	Dimitri Nance	GB	NYG	37.5
58	Marion Barber	DAL	at ARI	34.9
59	Mike Goodson	NO	at ATL	32.5
60	Derrick Ward	HOU	at DEN	30.5

 
Start: BenJarvus Green-Ellis, New England Patriots. He only got six carries last week as the Flynn-led Packers established an early lead, forcing New England to the air. Fortunately, the Bills have a strict policy against early leads that should allow Green-Ellis to get his normal 20 carries. Moreover, Buffalo’s 32nd ranked run defense should help him make the most of those attempts.
 
Sit: Tim Hightower, Arizona Cardinals. 81 yards in Week 13. I’m intrigued.
148 yards and two scores in Week 14.
Wait, this feels wrong.
A playoff match-up against the front-runners in the Andrew Luck sweepstakes.
Well, I guess there’s no harm in …
Six carries, 16 yards, and a chance at a bronze medal.
Thanks a pant-load, Tim.
 

Rank	Wide Receivers	Team	Opp	Average
1	Andre Johnson	HOU	at DEN	86.1
2	Larry Fitzgerald	ARI	DAL	85.5
3	DeSean Jackson	PHI	MIN	85
4	Calvin Johnson	DET	at MIA	83.5
5	Roddy White	ATL	NO	83
T-5	Reggie Wayne	IND	at OAK	83
7	Marques Colston	NO	at ATL	82.5
8	Vincent Jackson	SD	at CIN	82
9	Miles Austin	DAL	at ARI	80
T-9	Santana Moss	WAS	at JAC	80
11	Greg Jennings	GB	NYG	79
T-11	Brandon Marshall	MIA	DET	79
13	Steve Johnson	BUF	NE	78.5
T-13	Brandon Lloyd	DEN	HOU	78.5
T-13	Wes Welker	NE	at BUF	78.5
16	Mike Williams	TB	SEA	77.5
17	Kenny Britt	TEN	at KC	77
18	Dwayne Bowe	KC	TEN	76.5
T-18	Mike Wallace	PIT	CAR	76.5
20	Jeremy Maclin	PHI	MIN	75
21	Deion Branch	NE	at BUF	72.5
22	Pierre Garcon	IND	at OAK	72
23	Sidney Rice	MIN	at PHI	71.8
24	Mike Williams	SEA	at TB	70.5
25	Hakeem Nicks	NYG	at GB	68.8
26	Hines Ward	PIT	CAR	68.5
27	Anquan Boldin	BAL	at CLE	67.5
28	Santonio Holmes	NYJ	at CHI	66.3
29	Lance Moore	NO	at ATL	65.5
T-29	Josh Morgan	SF	at STL	65.5
31	Jabar Gaffney	DEN	HOU	64.5
32	Steve Breaston	ARI	DAL	63.5
33	Sam Hurd	DAL	at ARI	63
T-33	Anthony Armstrong	WAS	at JAC	63
35	Derrick Mason	BAL	at CLE	62.5
36	Mike Sims-Walker	JAC	WAS	62
T-36	Mario Manningham	NYG	at GB	62
T-36	Nate Washington	TEN	at KC	62
39	Johnny Knox	CHI	NYJ	61.5
T-39	Eddie Royal	DEN	HOU	61.5
41	Mike Thomas	JAC	WAS	61
42	Kevin Walter	HOU	at DEN	60.5
T-42	Michael Crabtree	SF	at STL	60.5
44	Louis Murphy	OAK	IND	60
45	Robert Meachem	NO	at ATL	59.5
46	Mohamed Massaquoi	CLE	BAL	59
47	Devery Henderson	NO	at ATL	58.5
48	Braylon Edwards	NYJ	at CHI	58
T-48	Laurent Robinson	STL	SF	58
50	Andre Caldwell	CIN	SD	57
51	Davone Bess	MIA	DET	57
52	Jacoby Jones	HOU	at DEN	55.5
53	Percy Harvin	MIN	at PHI	53.6
54	Brandon Gibson	STL	SF	53
55	Nate Burleson	DET	at MIA	52.5
56	James Jones	GB	NYG	52
T-56	Danny Amendola	STL	SF	52
58	T.J. Houshmandzadeh	BAL	at CLE	51.5
T-58	Devin Hester	CHI	NYJ	51.5
60	Brian Robiskie	CLE	BAL	50
61	Roy Williams	DAL	at ARI	49.25
62	Donald Driver	GB	NYG	49
63	Chad Ochocinco	CIN	SD	48.95
64	Steve Smith	CAR	at PIT	48.5
T-64	Earl Bennett	CHI	NYJ	48.5
66	Michael Jenkins	ATL	NO	48
T-66	Jordan Shipley	CIN	SD	48
68	Dexter McCluster	KC	TEN	47.5
69	Blair White	IND	at OAK	46
70	Danario Alexander	STL	SF	44.3
71	Brandon LaFell	CAR	at PIT	41.5
72	Jordy Nelson	GB	NYG	38
73	Brandon Stokley	SEA	at TB	33
74	Jacoby Ford	OAK	IND	32
75	Arrelious Benn	TB	SEA	31.5

 
Start: Santana Moss, Washington Redskins. Rex Grossman is already listed as a “Start.” That’s not the kind of bet you can hedge.
 
Start: Mike Williams, Seattle Seahawks. He looked good in his return from injury last week, catching eight passes for 66 yards. More importantly, he was targeted a team-high 13 times. In fact, he’s already received 15 or more targets on three separate occasions this season. Tampa Bay is very average against the pass, surrendering 22 passing touchdowns this year. Williams has a decent chance to find the end zone and should make a solid WR2 this week.
 
Sit: Michael Crabtree, San Francisco 49ers. At 5–9, the 49ers aren’t finished in the NFC West. Not be a long shot. In fact, they’re in great shape. If they can get to 7–9, all they would need is a loss by Seattle and they’d be division champs. That’s the same as controlling your own destiny. The Seahawks stink. Have you seen their receivers? Just kidding. (Note: Much like on Sundays, you’ll find no mention of Michael Crabtree here.)
 

Rank	Tight Ends	Team	Opp	Average
1	Jason Witten	DAL	at ARI	88.5
2	Vernon Davis	SF	at STL	85
3	Tony Gonzalez	ATL	NO	79.5
4	Chris Cooley	WAS	at JAC	77.5
5	Marcedes Lewis	JAC	WAS	75.5
6	Aaron Hernandez	NE	at BUF	72.5
7	Kevin Boss	NYG	at GB	70.5
8	Jacob Tamme	IND	at OAK	69.9
9	Kellen Winslow	TB	SEA	69.75
10	Ben Watson	CLE	BAL	69.5
11	Rob Gronkowski	NE	at BUF	65.5
12	Visanthe Shiancoe	MIN	at PHI	65
13	Brent Celek	PHI	MIN	64.5
14	Zach Miller	OAK	IND	64.4
15	Tony Moeaki	KC	TEN	63.5
16	Anthony Fasano	MIA	DET	61.5
17	Jimmy Graham	NO	at ATL	61
18	Owen Daniels	HOU	at DEN	59.7
19	Fred Davis	WAS	at JAC	59.5
20	Jermaine Gresham	CIN	SD	59
21	Brandon Pettigrew	DET	at MIA	58.5
22	Dustin Keller	NYJ	at CHI	58
23	Todd Heap	BAL	at CLE	56
T-23	Greg Olsen	CHI	NYJ	56
T-23	John Carlson	SEA	at TB	56
26	Jeremy Shockey	NO	at ATL	54.9
27	Daniel Graham	DEN	HOU	48.5
28	Andrew Quarless	GB	NYG	47.5
29	Randy McMichael	SD	at CIN	47
30	Daniel Fells	STL	SF	46

 
Start: Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers. It was only one week. It was the wrong week, but it was only one week.
 
Sit: Dustin Keller, New York Jets. The Jets have plenty of passing options, but they don’t throw the ball all that much. This makes it tough for any pass-catcher to be reliable on a week-to-week basis. Throw in a tough Chicago defense and Keller belongs on your bench.
 

Rank	Team Defense	Team	Opp	Average
1	Steelers	PIT	CAR	91.5
2	Chargers	SD	at CIN	87
3	Jets	NYJ	at CHI	86
4	Cowboys	DAL	at ARI	79.5
5	Giants	NYG	at GB	78.5
6	Eagles	PHI	MIN	78
7	Ravens	BAL	at CLE	74
8	Colts	IND	at OAK	72
T-8	Patriots	NE	at BUF	72
10	Bears	CHI	NYJ	71.5
T-10	Packers	GB	NYG	71.5
T-10	Texans	HOU	at DEN	71.5
13	49ers	SF	at STL	69.5
14	Chiefs	KC	TEN	69
15	Dolphins	MIA	DET	68.5
16	Jaguars	JAC	WAS	68
17	Falcons	ATL	NO	67.5
T-17	Saints	NO	at ATL	67.5
19	Lions	DET	at MIA	67
20	Cardinals	ARI	DAL	66.5
T-20	Panthers	CAR	at PIT	66.5
T-20	Bengals	CIN	SD	66.5
T-20	Rams	STL	SF	66.5
24	Browns	CLE	BAL	65.5
25	Buccaneers	TB	SEA	64.5
26	Vikings	MIN	at PHI	64
27	Titans	TEN	at KC	62
28	Redskins	WAS	at JAC	61.5
29	Seahawks	SEA	at TB	60.5
30	Broncos	DEN	HOU	59.5
31	Bills	BUF	NE	59
32	Raiders	OAK	IND	57.5

 
Start: New York Jets. I think the Jets will put their foot down on Sunday. They should be able to keep the Bears offense on its heels. Stopping Chicago would be quite a feat. Okay, that’s enough.
 
Sit: Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons are 12–2, indicating they must know something about defense. However, there are plenty of rookie quarterbacks starting this week and Atlanta isn’t facing any of them. They’re going up against Drew Brees and the Saints. Better match-ups are available.
 

Rank	Kickers	Team	Opp	Average
1	David Akers	PHI	MIN	84
2	Nate Kaeding	SD	at CIN	81.5
3	Shayne Graham	NE	at BUF	80.5
4	Jay Feely	ARI	DAL	78
5	Neil Rackers	HOU	at DEN	77.5
6	David Buehler	DAL	at ARI	77
7	Steve Hauschka	DEN	HOU	74.5
T-7	Sebastian Janikowski	OAK	IND	74.5
9	Rob Bironas	TEN	at KC	73.5
10	Matt Bryant	ATL	NO	72.5
T-10	Mason Crosby	GB	NYG	72.5
T-10	Garrett Hartley	NO	at ATL	72.5
T-10	Shaun Suisham	PIT	CAR	72.5
T-10	Josh Brown	STL	SF	72.5
15	Jeff Reed	SF	at STL	71.5
16	Robbie Gould	CHI	NYJ	70
T-16	Dave Rayner	DET	at MIA	70
18	Adam Vinatieri	IND	at OAK	69
19	Billy Cundiff	BAL	at CLE	67
T-19	Josh Scobee	JAC	WAS	67
21	Phil Dawson	CLE	BAL	66.5
T-21	Lawrence Tynes	NYG	at GB	66.5
23	Ryan Longwell	MIN	at PHI	65.5
24	Connor Barth	TB	SEA	64.5
25	Ryan Succop	KC	TEN	63.5
26	Graham Gano	WAS	at JAC	63
27	Nick Folk	NYJ	at CHI	62.5
28	Dan Carpenter	MIA	DET	61
29	John Kasay	CAR	at PIT	60
T-29	Clint Stitser	CIN	SD	60
31	Olindo Mare	SEA	at TB	59.5
32	Rian Lindell	BUF	NE	57

 

 
Drew is a lifelong Jets fan. Playing and writing about fantasy football has proven helpful in easing the pain.
 

Want to write for the Cafe? Check out the Cafe's Pencil & Paper section!