You may be starting the fantasy playoffs this week or next, but there’s no doubt that you’re in need for the best fantasy advice possible. Along with your fantasy team, in reality, several NFL teams are nearing the last stretch of games that will decide if they make playoffs or not. This season’s NFL playoffs are going to go down to the wire with so many teams hovering around .500, and it’s going to be an exciting end of the season and playoffs. Without further ado, let’s review Week 12 and look forward to Week 13.
Click here for this week’s NFL power rankings.
Reflection on Week 12
Per usual, I will be evaluating my picks from the previous week utilizing completions (good advice), interceptions (wrong advice), and incompletions (irrelevant advice).
Week 1: 16-15-5
Week 2: 11-16-9
Week 3: 13-14-9
Week 4: 19-13-4
Week 5: 19-10-7
Week 6: 17-13-6
Week 7: 18-13-5
Week 8: 14-14-8
Week 9: 17-12-7
Week 10: 15-16-5
Week 11: 15-15-6
Week 12: 14-10-12
Total: 188-161-83
| Completions |
|
Incompletions |
| Blake Bortles (START) | Tony Romo (START) – INJURED | Doug Martin (START) |
| Brian Hoyer (SLEEPER) | Ryan Tannehill (SIT) | TJ Yeldon (START) |
| Teddy Bridgewater (SIT) | Tyrod Taylor (BUST) | Randall Cobb (START) |
| Lamar Miller (SIT) | James White (SLEEPER) | Vincent Jackson (SLEEPER) |
| Latavius Murray (BUST) | Ronnie Hillman (SIT) | Jimmy Graham (START) – INJURED |
| Emmanuel Sanders (START) | Donte Moncrief (SIT) | Benjamin Watson (BUST) |
| Delanie Walker (START) | Tavon Austin (SIT) | Dan Bailey (START) |
| Charles Clay (SIT) | Martavis Bryant (BUST) | Sebastian Janikowski (START) |
| Eric Ebron (SIT) | Richard Rodgers (SLEEPER) | Kai Forbath (SIT) |
| Josh Lambo (SLEEPER) | Pittsburgh D/ST (SLEEPER) | Greg Zuerlein (SIT) – INJURED |
| Robbie Gould (BUST) | Arizona D/ST (START) | |
| Philadelphia D/ST (SIT) | New York Jets D/ST (START) | |
| New York Giants D/ST (SIT) | ||
| St. Louis D/ST (BUST) | ||
| 14 | 10 | 12 |
Week 13 Start/Sit
Note: All fantasy point references come from ESPN Standard leagues.
Click here for this week’s fantasy football rankings.
Quarterbacks
Start
Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons (@ Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
I know he’s struggled recently and you probably want to bench him out of outrage, but the Buccaneers are a good matchup for Ryan. In the first game against Tampa, Ryan had 19 points on 397 yards passing and two touchdowns. The Bucs have given up 23 passing touchdowns and intercepted 10 passes this season, coming off a loss in which the defense gave up 315 yards and two touchdowns to the ageless Matt Hasselbeck.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, New York Jets (vs. New York Giants)
Basically a neutral site for the New York showdown, Fitzpatrick should benefit from playing against the Giants, who have given up the most passing yards this season. I expect this game to be a shootout, and Fitzpatrick has some talented receivers to throw to.
Sleeper: Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins (vs. Baltimore Ravens)
Tannehill, expected to be a fantasy sleeper this season, has not really lived up to that accolade so far. Luckily for him, he takes on the Ravens’ pass defense that has only held three quarterbacks to less than 15 fantasy points this season.
Sit
Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. Atlanta Falcons)
Last time out against the Falcons, Winston had 19 points, mainly stemming from his legs, as he only threw for 177 yards and a touchdown. The Falcons defense has been pretty solid against quarterbacks this season, and they should be able to get a lot of pressure on Winston.
Tyrod Taylor, Buffalo Bills (vs. Houston Texans)
The Texans have given up a combined 32 points to opposing quarterbacks in the team’s past four games. Taylor, who has been dealing with an injury, may have trouble against JJ Watt and the Texans’ revamped defense.
Bust Alert: Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals (@ St. Louis Rams)
Palmer has been exceptional and the Rams have struggled against the pass, but St. Louis always plays divisional opponents at home very well. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Rams really got pressure on Palmer in this one. Still, you’re probably starting him.
Running Backs
Start
LeGarrette Blount, New England Patriots (vs. Philadelphia Eagles)
I’m not sure where he’s gone the past couple of weeks, but Blount should have a breakout week this week. The past two weeks, the Eagles have been shredded by Doug Martin and the Lions’ three running backs, and I mean shredded. Opposing running backs have 67 fantasy points against Philadelphia the past two weeks. 67! Start Blount.
CJ Anderson, Denver Broncos (@ San Diego Chargers)
He thrashed the Patriots on Sunday night, and I would think he will get a lot more carries this week over Ronnie Hillman. Gary Kubiak loves to run the ball, and I’m sure he will continue to feed Anderson against the worst fantasy rush defense in the NFL.
Sleeper: Javorius “Buck” Allen, Baltimore Ravens (@ Miami Dolphins)
Miami’s run defense has fallen apart in the past six weeks, giving up 24 points per game to opposing running backs. Allen, who looked solid against Cleveland in the run and pass game on Monday night, should continue to get touches along with Terrance West.
Sit
Frank Gore, Indianapolis Colts (@ Pittsburgh Steelers)
Gore has been really bad this season, only running for four touchdowns on 3.6 yards per carry. He only ran for 1.3 yards per carry last week, and now he faces the top fantasy run defense in a game where Indianapolis will probably have to throw the ball a lot to keep up with the Steelers, unless Ben Roethlisberger doesn’t play.
TJ Yeldon, Jacksonville Jaguars (@ Tennessee Titans)
I don’t think Jacksonville will abandon the run game against the underrated Titans’ run defense, but they will just have a lot more success throwing the ball. Yeldon may see an expanded role in the passing game, but I see him as a touchdown or bust player that will give you single digits.
Bust Alert: Charcandrick West, Kansas City Chiefs (@ Oakland Raiders)
West is expected to share the backfield with Spencer Ware, and he’s still coming off an injury. I would start somebody else in his place if you can afford to, although the matchup is very favorable.
Wide Receivers
Start
Michael Crabtree, Oakland Raiders (vs. Kansas City Chiefs)
Kansas City struggles against #2 wide receivers, and this could be a huge game for Crabtree. Amari Cooper will get a lot of attention, but Crabtree should thrive against Sean Smith and his backups.
Donte Moncrief, Indianapolis Colts (@ Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh gave up five touchdowns to one of the worst receiver cores in football in the Seattle Seahawks last week. Moncrief is one of Hasselbeck’s favorite targets, and he should be able to find the end zone at some point Sunday night.
Sleeper: Brandon LaFell, New England Patriots (vs. Philadelphia Eagles)
The Patriots face off against the worst team against opposing wide receivers, and who else is Tom Brady going to throw the ball to (besides Scott Chandler) if Danny Amendola can’t play?
Sit
Brandin Cooks, New Orleans Saints (vs. Carolina Panthers)
Josh Norman Island is now a thing, and Cooks is his next victim. The Panthers defense in general has been exceptional as well, and Cooks’s best hope is likely garbage time in this one.
Stevie Johnson, San Diego Chargers (vs. Denver Broncos)
Philip Rivers is running low on options to throw the ball to, but Johnson will likely get outplayed by Aqib Talib or Chris Harris, Jr. on Sunday. I wouldn’t risk starting Johnson at this point in the fantasy season despite his targets in recent weeks.
Bust Alert: Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. Atlanta Falcons)
The Falcons haven’t given up a touchdown to an opposing wide receiver since Week 7. Along with that, they’ve only given up around 9 (!!!) receptions to opposing receivers since Week 4. Start these guys at your own risk.
Tight Ends
Start
Julius Thomas, Jacksonville Jaguars (@ Tennessee Titans)
Tennessee isn’t good against tight ends, and Thomas may get more targets with Allen Hurns’ status up in the air.
Scott Chandler, New England Patriots (vs. Philadelphia Eagles)
As I said before, who else is Brady going to throw the ball to?
Sleeper: Justin Perillo, Green Bay Packers (@ Detroit Lions)
The Packers are digging deep for answers. Why not Perillo on Thursday night?
Sit
Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys (@ Washington Redskins)
Redskins have only given up two touchdowns to opposing tight ends, and Witten’s role in the passing game seems to be a thing of the past without Tony Romo.
Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles (@ New England Patriots)
Especially if Jamie Collins finally returns, Ertz will struggle on Sunday if he plays (concussion).
Bust Alert: Gary Barnidge, Cleveland Browns (vs. Cincinnati Bengals)
The only game all year Barnidge really struggled was against Cincinnati.
Kickers
Start
Cairo Santos, Kansas City Chiefs (@ Oakland Raiders)
Josh Brown, New York Giants (vs. New York Jets)
Sleeper: Chris Boswell, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. Indianapolis Colts)
Sit
Kai Forbath, New Orleans Saints (vs. Carolina Panthers)
Dan Bailey, Dallas Cowboys (@ Washington Redskins)
Bust Alert: Chandler Catanzaro, Arizona Cardinals (@ St. Louis Rams)
Defenses/Special Teams
Start
Arizona Cardinals D/ST (@ St. Louis Rams)
Cincinnati Bengals D/ST (@ Cleveland Browns)
Sleeper: Pittsburgh Steelers D/ST (vs. Indianapolis Colts)
Sit
Philadelphia Eagles D/ST (@ New England Patriots)
St. Louis Rams D/ST (vs. Arizona Cardinals)
Bust Alert: Green Bay Packers D/ST (@ Detroit Lions)
Week 13 Predictions
Week 1: 10-6
Week 2: 7-9
Week 3: 10-6
Week 4: 8-7
Week 5: 7-7
Week 6: 10-4
Week 7: 9-5
Week 8: 8-6
Week 9: 5-8
Week 10: 6-8
Week 11: 8-6
Week 12: 9-7
Overall: 97-79 (55%)
Week 13 Score Predictions
Green Bay Packers 30, Detroit Lions 24 (Packers -2.5)
New York Jets 28, New York Giants 17 (Jets -1)
Arizona Cardinals 31, St. Louis Rams 17 (Cardinals -7)
Atlanta Falcons 24, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 14 (EVEN)
Seattle Seahawks 23, Minnesota Vikings 20 (EVEN)
San Francisco 49ers 19, Chicago Bears 20 (Bears -8.5)
Jacksonville Jaguars 26, Tennessee Titans 21 (Jaguars +2.5)
Houston Texans 17, Buffalo Bills 21 (Bills -3)
Baltimore Ravens 13, Miami Dolphins 17 (Dolphins -3.5)
Cincinnati Bengals 31, Cleveland Browns 14 (Bengals -10.5)
Kansas City Chiefs 20, Oakland Raiders 27 (Raiders +2.5)
Denver Broncos 23, San Diego Chargers 17 (Broncos -3.5)
Philadelphia Eagles 20, New England Patriots 29 (Patriots -11)
Carolina Panthers 38, New Orleans Saints 28 (Panthers -7.5)
Indianapolis Colts 17, Pittsburgh Steelers 30 (Steelers -7.5)
Dallas Cowboys 13, Washington Redskins 23 (Redskins -4.5)
Sources: Yahoo! Fantasy, ESPN Fantasy, Rotowire
Photo: Fansided