Monday Pickup

It's Playoff time Boom!

So let's talk about pickups that will help you in the weeks to come.


It seems like the Tight End position is the most decimated position in football this year. So many big names are out or hurt. Last night didn't help any with Heath Miller (concussion) and Todd Heap (quad) both going out and being out for the game.

So let's look at some TEs who should be available to help you.

Ben Watson (Browns) - the next two weeks the Browns face Buffalo and the the Bengals, then it's Pitt and the Ravens so you at least like him for two weeks.

Jimmy Graham (Saints) - if Shockey misses any more time then Graham is a decent start, he will have up and down weeks, but at least he will score some points.

Joel Dreessen - (Texans) as long as Owen Daniels is out he is the guy I think he is a top ten guy with no Daniels.

Possibly the backups to Miller and Heap, if they miss time,  David Johnson and Ed Dickenson, but chances are you are not that desperate, I know I am not.


Other Pickups

Browns and Falcons Defenses - if you are matchup playing defenses these two are pretty good, and have meetings with the Bills (Browns) and Panthers x 2(Falcons) on tap.

At this point in time in the fantasy season you know who is good and who isn't. So just dance with you brought you and hopefully at the end of prom you will make 3rd base. ;)

Sit Start Week 13

Well it's week 13 and that means last week before the playoffs.

Word to the wise here.... since it is week 13 it could your last week of meaningful fantasy play. So here is a strategy you can try to help give you the best chance this week. If you are a team who has a playoff spot locked then just start your normal guys, yeah that was easy. Now, if you are a bubble team or a team that needs to win to get the bye in the playoffs then try this. Instead of just blindly starting the "normal" guys start guys with high upside... meaning if you are stuck between two guys pick the one who "could" provide you with the better day. Example, say you have Joel Dreesen as your TE, and you also have Aaron Hernandez, consider starting Hernandez, sure he may only get 2 fantasy points, but he may have the 100 yard 2 touchdown, 22 fantasy day.....

Sunday December 5

1 PM EST Kickoff Games

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Tennessee Titans

Well if you own any Titan you really really hope that Kerry Collins plays. If he does you start Chris Johnson "no brainer", if not well chances are you have to start him. Without some threat of a pass I really don't like Johnson who has been, shall we say, no where near the back he was last year. If Collins plays I think that means good things for Moss and to a lesser degree Nate Washington. If Collins does not play the only Titan I consider is Johnson.  For the Jags I think it's MJD and Mike Thomas, and that's about it. The Titans defense is better than they showed last week, and the Defense will have to play well to keep them in the game. 

Chicago Bears @ Detroit Lions

Da' Bears defense is tough against the pass and the run. Since Stafford and Shaun Hill are both out for the Lions, I really don't like any of them here. I think that if you have Calvin Johnson you have to start him, but there are instances where I think he is a flex or less this week depending on your team. Maurice Morris should have flex consideration this week, other than that I am down on the Lions. For the Bears it's pretty much the opposite. I see Cutler, Forte, and Johnny Knox all having big games. The Lions blitz quite a bit so I can see Greg Olson and Earl Bennett getting some check downs, so if you like to roll the dice, there you go. 

Cleveland Browns @ Miami Dolphins

The Browns are still the Browns... you start Hillis, possibly the Browns defense, and Ben Watson if you are desperate at TE. Don't get cute, it's the Browns. For the Fins, with Chad Henne back in the lineup it helps their offense quite a bit. I really like Ronnie Brown this week as he has been looking better over the past few weeks. If Brandon Marshall plays then you really like him in this match up, if not then Davon Bess should elevate to a top 30 guy or so. Also Anthony Fasano to me is a good play at TE this week, the Browns average giving up about 8 points per week to the position. I really like him if Marshall is out.

Washington Redskins @ New York Giants

To me this game will be all Giants. I think that Eli, Manningham, Bradshaw, and Kevin Boss go off in this game. I can see Jacobs being a flex play as well, but no matter who the starter is Bradshaw is the back you want here. Hakeem Nicks and Steve Smith are both going to be out again so expect good things from Manningham. For the Skins maybe Santa Moss as a WR 2 or a flex, and Chris Cooley will probably be ok, I don't trust McNabb or any of the 45 running backs. 

San Francisco 49ers @ Green Bay Packers

For all of you who rushed to the wire to get Westbrook good job, now put him on the bench. I think that going forward the rushing will be much more 50/50 between Westbrook and Antony Dixon. For me I like Dixon better, because I think that the 49ers will want to see what they have in him, and that he could see a starter's workload in the weeks to come. So what did all that mean? I really have no confidence in starting any 49er. I say Westbrook and Crabtree are flex at best. Start Vernon Davis if you must, but he has been below average too this year. For the Packers you have to love Rodgers and Jennings in this match up. I like Brandon Jackson as a flex type guy this week. For me I think that James Jones has the most value of all the other WRs

New Orleans Saints @ Cincinnati Bengals

This one is easy, you are starting all of your Saints pass catchers with the exception of the TEs, I'm not a fan of the Saints TEs. Also, I think that Chris Ivory is still the guy you want there at least for this week, but Bush is back and Pierre Thomas should be too, so I really have no faith in just the RBs seeing enough work to be relevant. For the Bengals I guess you have to consider T.O. and Benson, but honestly I am not really a fan of either this week, so beware. 

Buffalo Bills @ Minnesota Vikings

For the Bills, Steve Johnson and Fred Jackson have elevated to start regardless of match up status. That said other than those guys, maybe Ryan Fitz if you are weak at QB, maybe because Shaun Hill is out or Palmer has a tough match up. For the Vikes, if Peterson plays and it looks like he will start him, if not start Gerhart, I don't think it will matter against the Bills soft defense. I actually like Harvin and Rice as a WR2 and WR3 in this game, no way you ever start the jeans salesman.... sorry. 

Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs

I think all the Broncos should be good plays here, Orton, Lloyd, Moreno, Royal. I can see this one getting into a shootout. For the Chiefs I like everyone here too, Charles, Thomas Jones to a lesser extent, Bowe, Moeaki, and Matt Cassell. I think Cassell is a top 8 QB this week.

4:05 PM EST Kickoff Games

Oakland Raiders @ San Diego Chargers

Vincent Jackson is a no go this week, that being the case I really like Malcom Floyd and Legadu Naanee to come up big in the passing game. Obviously you are starting Rivers and Tolbert, Gates if he is active and Kaeding the kicker and heck start the defense while you are at it. For the Raiders, McFadden is the only guy I start with any certainty. To a degree I guess you go with Louis Murphy and possibly Jacoby Ford. The Chargers defense has been up and down this year, so it could be feast or famine, my guess famine. 

Carolina Panthers @ Seattle Seahawks

I can see Matt Hasselbeck being decent in this match up, but I don't love him. Not really a fan of the Seahawks rushers either, if you have to Marshawn Lynch is the guy there. I really like Mike Williams this week if he plays, but he is likely to be a game time decsion, so my gut says go with WR Ben Obomanu. For the Panthers I really like Mike Goodson and Johnathan Stewart this week. Still not trusting the passing game, but hey, as long as your name is Steve Smith someone might throw it to you. 

Atlanta Falcons @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bucks defense is not the worst in the League, but they are also not very scary. I see no reason not to start all your Falcons here. For Tampa Bay I think they are down big and will need to throw. I like Josh Freeman, Mike Williams, and possibly Kellen Winslow (to return from the dead) and play well.  Not a huge fan of the running game for the Bucs, because the Falcons defense is pretty good and they will be down big.

St. Louis Rams @ Arizona Cardinals

After last week's garbage performance how do you possibly start any Cardinal other than Larry Fitz and possibly Steve Breaston? Answer... you don't. On the Rams side of the ball I look for Bradford, Steven Jackson and Danny Amendola all to have big games. Don't really trust the TEs of the Rams even after a few big weeks. Just call it a hunch. 

Dallas Cowboys @ Indianapolis Colts

Dallas has been really up and down this whole year. The Colts come in with one of the league's worst run defenses. So I guess that makes Felix Jones a decent start this week. I see this one as the Colts being up big and Dallas needing to throw, so in all honestly I think for Dallas you roll the dice on Miles Austin, and Dez Bryant, play Witten and leave everyone else alone. For the Colts you love Peyton Manning, Jacob Tamme, and Reggie Wayne this week.  If I am starting a Colts RB it's Donald Brown who I think will be good, not great this week. I like him more than Jones though.

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens  

The last time these two team met the Ravens as a team played awful. This time, however, I think they have their offense a bit more figured out, and I like Ray Rice, Boldin, and Mason in this game. Not a huge Flacco fan and not real big on Todd Heap either as the Steelers are fantastic against the TE. For the Steelers I can see Mike Wallace and Mendenhall being decent here. I'm not real high on Roethlisberger this week because of the tough match up and the fact he has been in a walking boot most of the week. I see this game being a 14 - 10 type knock down drag out game so it's hard to love anyone here. 

Monday December 6


Could this be the biggest game of the year so far??? You tell me.

New York Jets @ New England Patriots  

To me for the Jets, Tomlinson, Sanchez, Holmes, and Keller are must starts. This is because as good as the Jets defense is New England will still score points and the Jets will have to match them. That should not be hard considering the Pats defense is not all that great. For the Pats much of the same argument as above applies. Brady, Branch, Welker, and Green-Ellis are must starts. Reason would show that Revis should cover Branch part of the time and Welker part of the time, giving each a chance to make plays. I could see anything from no catches to a 20+ fantasy day for either of the TEs for New England, sorry folks your guess is as good as mine on this one.   Should be a fun game.