Fantasy Football


2013 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers

Winners:
Anybody on the Denver Broncos Offense
Before the season started, many fantasy football players questioned how productive any single player on the Denver Broncos offense would be; there are just too many weapons.  Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker, Eric Decker, Julius Thomas, and Knowshon Moreno are all superstar-caliber players, and it seemed impossible for them all to provide consistent fantasy performances within the same offense. The remedy for the overcrowded nature of this offense was one we should have seen all along: Peyton Manning.  I guess 5211 yards and 51 touchdowns (plus any stats that he compiles in week 17) was enough to go around.

Defenses Going Against the Giants, Jets, or Jags
The quickest thing to go every week on the waiver wire this year was any defense facing up against the Giants, Jets, or Jags.  The Giant's Eli Manning threw a league high 26 interceptions, while the Jet's Geno Smith was right behind him with 21 interceptions and was also sacked 43 times (third in the league). The Jags dynamic quarterback combo of Blaine Gabbert and Chad Henne also never failed to impress, racking up an impressive 20 total interceptions.  Don't be surprised if you find yourself constantly picking up defenses playing any of these three teams next year too.

Josh Gordon, WR, Cleveland Browns
Give me one person who thought that Josh Gordon would have more fantasy points than Calvin Johnson after week 16 and I'll give you a liar.  Megatron has had an incredible season, but Gordon's has been just as good if not better, despite playing in one fewer game.  Nine touchdowns and seven games with more than one hundred receiving yards (two with more than two hundred) make for a pretty damn impressive season.  Congrats if you jumped on the bandwagon early; I'm dearly sorry to those of you who passed on this gem of a player.

Top Tier Tight Ends
Receiving tight ends are making a comeback in the NFL, and it is largely thanks to an elite group of a few truly special tight ends.  Included in this remarkable group are the likes of Jimmy Graham, Rob Gronkowski, Vernon Davis, Julius Thomas, Tony Gonzalez, and Jason Witten (fringe stars include James Cameron, Charles Clay, Greg Olsen, and Antonio Gates). Jimmy Graham has caught an incredible 15 touchdowns, while Vernon Davis has managed 12, Julius Thomas has recorded 11, and Gronk got 4 in just 6.5 games.  The immense consistency of Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten cannot be overlooked either. We may never see a group of tight ends as productive in fantasy terms, so enjoy it while it lasts.

Losers:
Running Backs outside of the Elite
By elite I mean AP, Jamaal Charles, Shady McCoy, and Marshawn Lynch.  Outside of them, this year's running back group has disappointing.  Sure, there have been a few bright spots, like the emergences of Matt Forte, Eddie Lacy, Knowshon Moreno, and DeMarco Murray as good fantasy producers.  However, first round running backs like C.J. Spiller, Doug Martin, Arian Foster, Ray Rice, Trent Richardson, and Steven Jackson have failed to perform.  Where did the projected breakout seasons of David Wilson and Lamar Miller go? Why are Chris Johnson, Frank Gore, and Reggie Bush so inconsistent? Why won't the Redskins give Alfred Morris the ball in the red zone? Where is MJD? Sorry to be cliché, but there are so many questions and really so few answers.

Injures
The NFL has a real problem, and it is the injury bug. Injured quarterbacks have included Aaron Rodgers, Michael Vick, and Tony Romo.  Meanwhile the injury list for running backs is much larger, including Adrian Peterson, C.J. Spiller, Arian Foster, Doug Martin, Steven Jackson, Stevan Ridley, MJD, David Wilson, Darren McFadden, Eddie Lacy, Reggie Bush, and pretty much anybody else that you can name outside of Ryan Mathews (how weird is that).  The list goes on and on for wide receivers and tight ends too, but I'm not going to make you read through another long list of injured players.  All I'll say is that something needs to change in the NFL.

Keeping the Same Defense for the Whole Season
It used to be common to draft a defense pretty high and use them consistently throughout the entire season.  To put it simply, there was a remarkable amount of scoring this year, and not even the best defenses were safe from a horrid performance.  The much more reliable technique has become to rotate defenses weekly based on matchups.  The reality is, not even the best defenses are a good start against a team like the Broncos.

Blair Walsh, K, Minnesota Vikings
Walsh was supposed to be the bee's knees this year, and through the first four games it looked like he was just that.  He had more than eight fantasy points in each of those four games, but it went sharply downhill after that, with consecutive fantasy performances of 4, 0, 7, and 5 points.  He has recovered to a certain extent, but still, we expected more out of Walsh.  The morale of the story is, kickers are about as unpredictable as they come, so don't go about drafting a kicker anywhere near the top/middle of the draft next year.


Start 'Em, Sit 'Em (Week 17)

Start 'Em:
DeAngelo Williams, RB, Carolina Panthers
The major fantasy setback for Williams this year is that he has had to share carries with Cam Newton as well as two capable backups, Jonathan Stewart and Mike Tolbert.  With Stewart injured and Tolbert acting more as a fullback now, evidenced by his one carry last week, Williams is set up to prosper. Additionally, it can't hurt that he gets to go up against the 26th ranked fantasy run defense of the Atlanta Falcons.

Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Minnesota Vikings
Early in the season Patterson put his athleticism on display in the return game, but now the Vikings have started to allow him to show off his skills in their normal offense.  He has more than ten fantasy points in each of the last three weeks, which is a product of the Vikings desire to get the ball in his hands in whatever way possible.  In a meaningless game against the Lions on Sunday, the Vikings will likely put the ball in Patterson's hands often to see what they truly have in their first round pick.

Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Roethlisberger has had a sneakily good season, and going up against the 23rd ranked Browns fantasy defense, you would expect him to produce.  Averaging over two touchdowns per game over the past eight weeks, Roethlisberger looks primed for another successful week.

Sit 'Em:
Frank Gore, RB, San Francisco 49ers
Gore has had a good season, but he has been a bit inconsistent at times.  My guess is that this week is not one of his better weeks, in a tough matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, who have allowed the fewest yards to opposing running backs.  This defense has allowed just four touchdowns to running backs all year in addition to just two weeks of allowing over one hundred rushing yards... That's pretty good.

Harry Douglas, WR, Atlanta Falcons
It was nice while it lasted, but it seems as if Douglas' time in the spotlight is over, with Roddy White finally returning to his old form with a huge game against the 49ers last week.  Even when White was not producing, Douglas' numbers were not entirely encouraging, as he has not scored more than seven fantasy points in the last five weeks.  To make matters worse, he has to go up against a Panthers defense that is second in allowing fantasy points to opposing wide receivers.

Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots
Tom Brady's number one target is a former quarterback at Kent State... That shouldn't be a recipe for success.  However it was worked out well for the 11-4 Patriots who currently sit comfortably atop the AFC East.  This week, though, the Patriots face up against the Bills, and I believe that the talented cornerback duo of Leodis McKelvin and Stephon Gilmore along with a talented front seven featuring Kiko Alonso, Marcel Dareus, Kyle Williams, and Mario Williams, will be able to expose the Patriots lack of receiving options, making for a difficult fantasy week for Tom Brady.


Start 'Em, Sit 'Em (Week 16)

Start 'Em:
Bobby Rainey, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Rainey has been frustratingly hit-or-miss through the last few weeks, but the pattern would suggest that this week will be a good one.  He consistently gets enough carries to make an impact, it is just a matter of whether he is able to turn those carries into good production.  This week he will have a good chance to produce, as he is going up against the weak Rams run defense.

Mike Wallace, WR, Miami Dolphins
Wallace is doing his best to recover from a very underwhelming start, recording more than 14 fantasy points in three of the past four weeks.  This week, you would expect that trend to continue with Wallace going up against a Bills pass defense that is 29th in allowing fantasy points to opposing wide receivers.

Jay Cutler, QB, Bears
Last week the Eagles defense allowed 28 fantasy points to Matt Cassel - surely Cutler should do just as well against them.  Cutler will have his full cast of targets including Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jefferey, and Matt Forte, a group that is much more dangerous than the tandem of Matt Asiata and Greg Jennings that tore up the Eagles defense last week.

Sit 'Em:
Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Arizona Cardinals
Mendenhall is on fire right now, but it is more than likely that the stout Seahawks defense will be able to put out that fire this week.  It doesn't help that Mendenhall will also have to share carries with Andre Ellington, who has also put in some impressive outings recently.

Larry Fitzgerald, RB, Arizona Cardinals
I'm sorry to you Cardinals fans out there for recommending that you sit two Cardinals players, but the reality is that the Seahawks defense is just too good.  It doesn't help that Fitzgerald is coming off a concussion and will likely be blanketed by Richard Sherman.

Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons
This week, Matty Ice gets the other outstanding defense in the NFC west - the 49ers defense.  Ryan, who has not been very productive as of late, should not be expected to put up big numbers against a defense that is second in allowing points to opposing quarterbacks.

Start 'Em, Sit 'Em (Week 15)

Start 'Em:
Shane Vereen, RB, New England Patriots
It is always risky to start a Patriot's running back because coach Bill Belichick rotates through several ball carriers with no consistency.  Thus, it is completely a mystery whether Vereen will be the primary runner for the Patriots offense, with both LeGarrette Blount and Steven Ridley also in the mix. However, what is certain is that Vereen is the only running back trusted to be in the game during passing downs.  With Gronkowski injured, the Patriot's will be starved for players to throw the ball to, and Vereen should be able to put in a significant receiving performance.

Cecil Shorts, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars passing offense is absolutely horrendous, but I believe that Chad Henne, who has been playing well as of late, will toss at least on touchdown on Sunday.  The reality is, if the Jags do manage a passing touchdown, it will be to Cecil Shorts, as only one touchdown has been scored by any other wide receivers on the roster.

Ryan Tannehill, QB, Miami Dolphins
Tannehill has been on a roll recently, and his production is not likely to end this week against a patriots defense that allowed 29 fantasy points to Jason Campbell last week (yes, Jason Campbell).  Surely, Tannehill will be able to utilize his speedy wide receiving core including Mike Wallace and Brian Hartline to put some points on the board against a notoriously slow-starting Patriots team.

Sit 'Em:
Le'Veon Bell, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Bell's only real redeeming value this season has been his consistent ability to get into the end zone.  He doesn't provide much upside in the yards department, averaging just 3.4 yards per carry, and is only a decent factor in the passing game.  This week, Bell has to go up against a Bengal's defense that has not allowed a rushing touchdown since week 3.  If he can't get into the end zone, there is no reason for Bell to be a starter in your fantasy team.

Victor Cruz, WR, New York Giants
Truth be told, I don't expect you to sit Victor Cruz, one of the most explosive wide receivers in the NFL, and also probably one of your first few picks.  However, I simply don't believe that Cruz will have any effect in a game against the Seahawks where he will be guarded by one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL, Richard Sherman, not to mention that Cruz has not gotten into the end zone since week 4.

Jason Campbell, QB, Cleveland Browns
If you are naive enough to put Campbell into your starting lineup after just one outstanding week, I pity you.  This is Jason Campbell that we are talking about, and based on past experiences, he should come crashing back to earth this Sunday against a very good Bear's defense.


Start 'Em, Sit 'Em (Week 14)

Start 'Em:
Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Arizona Cardinals
Last week against the Eagles, Mendenhall defiantly took the starting job back from Andre Ellington (who was hurt).  Mendenhall received a season-high eighteen carries for 76 yards against an improved Eagle's run defense.  This week he gets a Ram's defense that has allowed an average of one touchdown a game to opposing running backs.  If Mendenhall gets the same amount of carries as he did last Sunday, he should put in a big week.

Alshon Jeffery, WR, Chicago Bears
This Bears offense may be the second most difficult matchup in the NFL behind the Denver Broncos. Both Jeffery and Brandon Marshall command double teams, they are simply to big, fast, and strong for one defender to handle.  The problem is, if you double team them both, all the Bears have to do is hand the ball off to Matt Forte.  Thus, most teams choose to double just one of the wideouts and take their chances with the other.  Every week it is inevitable that one of them is going to have a huge game, and my guess for this week is Jeffery, who should dominate Morris Claiborne, the Cowboy's underperforming second cornerback.

Joe Flacco, QB, Baltimore Ravens
I don't believe Flacco is a top ten quarterback in the NFL, however, with the right matchup he could be a very productive fantasy play.  It is likely that Flacco will be able to shred a miserable Viking's secondary that is worst in the NFL in allowing fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks.

Sit 'Em:
Zac Stacy, RB, St. Louis Rams
Stacy has been an absolute revelation this season for fantasy owners, however this week he should be sitting on your bench with a tough matchup against the Cardinal's defense that is first in the NFL in fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs.  Last week this same defense managed to slow down the Eagle's LeSean McCoy, so you should temper your expectations for Stacy.

Marques Colston, WR, New Orleans Saints
Outside of one big week, Colston has been terrible this season, registering over ten fantasy points just twice all year.  Fantasy owners just have to accept that Colston is not longer a big part of the Saint's offense.  In the red zone Jimmy Graham receives all of the targets, while the Saint's versatile set of running backs gets the attention in the rest of the field.  Bottom line, there is no way Colston should be in your lineup any time soon.

Colin Kaepernick, QB, San Francisco 49ers
Though Kaepernick has put together a couple successful weeks in a row now, he will run into a roadblock this weekend against the Seahawk's defense.  This outstanding unit has allowed over ten fantasy points to an opposing quarterback just six times this year and none of those performances passed eighteen points.  Kaepernick is a solid quarterback, but he won't look one against the Seahawks defense.


Start 'Em, Sit 'Em (Week 13)

Start 'Em:
Frank Gore, RB, San Francisco 49ers
After seven straight weeks of ten or more fantasy points, Gore has failed to reach this mark in each of his last two games, registering a mere 79 yards and no touchdowns.  His week 11 output of just four points was understandable as Gore was going up against the tough Saints defense.  However, last week against the woeful redskins, Gore put up just three points.  Hopefully, for fantasy owners, week 12 was an outlier as opposed to the normal.  Gore will have a great opportunity to redeem himself in a matchup against the 31st ranked Rams defense.

Michael Floyd, WR, Arizona Cardinals
Floyd has broken out in a huge way over the past two weeks, posting 297 yards and a touchdown. With Carson Palmer's resurgent season, the Cardinals finally have a solid quarterback to throw to their stud wide receivers.  Additionally, Fitzgerald will command a lot of the coverage, allowing Floyd to run one-on-one against the secondary cornerback.  That secondary cornerback will be a member of the feeble Eagle's secondary.  Chances are, the Cardinals will tear up the Eagle's defense, and Floyd will be a big part of that attack.

Josh McCown, QB, Chicago Bears
McCown has performed fantastically in replacing the injured Jay Cutler, and the fun shouldn't stop now with an easy matchup against a Viking's defense, which has allowed more than 12 points to opposing fantasy quarterbacks in every week so far this year.  This may be McCown's last week as a starter, but he will look to go out with a bang.

Sit 'Em
Bobby Rainey, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
After his huge week 11 performance, Rainey failed to impress in week 12, only registering 35 yards. The reality is, his performance should be expected to be a middle ground between these two weeks. However with a tough matchup against the Panthers, I don't think that Rainey will put up a significant amount of points.  He is going to get fed the ball a lot, but if he only gets around 2 yards per carry (like last week), your fantasy team could be in trouble.

Keenan Allen, WR, San Diego Chargers
Allen is having a breakout season, recording four 100 plus yard games already.  However, his inability to be an effective red zone threat for the Chargers has reduced his fantasy value, and against a tough Cincinnati Bengal's defense, I wouldn't expect this disappointing theme to change.

Andrew Luck, QB, Indianapolis Colts
Don't get me wrong, Andrew Luck is always a decent fantasy start.  But, this week, if you have a solid backup quarterback (see: Josh McCown) available, it may be worth it to start him over Luck.  He is going up against a Titans defense that has allowed just two passing touchdowns over the last seven weeks.  One of these games included a matchup against Luck, himself, where he didn't manage to register a passing touchdown.  It is always difficult to sit a guy with the credentials that Luck has, but there are simply better options out there this week.

Top 5 Fantasy Tight Ends

It's been a while since my last installment of this series, but I'm back, and so is the age of the receiving tight end.  This renaissance has largely been sparked by two of the best tight ends that the NFL has every seen: Jimmy Graham and Rob Gronkowski.  Though these two are the centerpiece of what the NFL has to offer, there is certainly a solid supporting cast including Julius Thomas, Vernon Davis, Jason Witten, Jordan Cameron, Antonio Gates, Greg Olsen, and Tony Gonzalez.

1. Jimmy Graham, TE, New Orleans Saints
This former University of Miami basketball player has blossomed into a truly incredible tight end.  With enough speed to outrun linebackers and safeties, and the strength to overpower smaller cornerbacks, Graham is a mismatch for any defender.  With eleven touchdowns already this year, he is primed to rival, if not overtake Rob Gronkowski's record 17 touchdown catches in 2011.  In addition to averaging over a touchdown per game, Graham has also posted more than one hundred yards in already six of the ten games that he's played.  Simply put, Graham is undoubtedly the number one receiving tight end in the league right now.

2. Rob Gronkowski, TE, New England Patriots
Despite being injured for the first six weeks of the season, Gronk is only 15th in terms of fantasy points for tight ends.  This is a testament to how incredibly he has played in the last three weeks, compiling 292 yards and three touchdowns.  Even in the two weeks before that, when he was still partially injured, Gronk managed and impressive 141 yards.  With Tom Brady at quarterback, Gronkowski's numbers should only improve with his health, especially with the lack of other options in the Patriot's passing game.

3. Julius Thomas, TE, Denver Broncos,
Thomas, another former basketball player, came out of nowhere this year and has established himself as Peyton Manning's favorite red zone target.  Averaging just under one touchdown per game, Thomas is a very consistent option, for even when he doesn't manage to compile a lot of yards, he usually manages to reward fantasy owners with a touchdown.  It is by no means a coincidence that the top three tight ends on this list belong to the top three quarterbacks in the NFL: Brees, Brady, and Manning.  In years to come, with Manning at the helm, Thomas could develop into a tight end that could challenge the currently untouchable combo of Graham and Gronkowski at the top of this list.

4. Vernon Davis, TE, San Francisco 49ers
What has really hurt Davis this year is the inconsistent quarterback play from Colin Kaepernick.  When Kaepernick has performed, though, Davis has performed too.  Like Julius Thomas, Davis is averaging just under one touchdown per game.  Also like Thomas, more than once, touchdowns have concealed games that would otherwise be considered very poor for Davis.  This is not too take anything away from his great season, but it just outlines the fact that if his touchdown production stops, Davis could be in a fair bit of trouble, especially with the up-and-down quarterback play of Colin Kaepernick.

5. Greg Olsen, TE, Carolina Panthers
I know it, you're surprised, but you shouldn't be. I could have picked so many players for this final spot, and I chose Greg Olsen, but when you look at all the other players I could have picked, they all have obvious flaws, and Olsen doesn't.  For example, Jordan Cameron has to deal with the horrible quarterback play of Brandon Weeden, while Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten have to compete for targets among talented receiving cores, and Antonio Gates is simply not the player he was five years ago.  Greg Olsen has a talented quarterback, is the Panther's only real red zone threat, and is only 28 years old.  The results have showed too, as Olsen has four touchdowns in his last five games.


5 Ways to Sneak Out of Your Thanksgiving Dinner to Check Your Fantasy Football Team

Thanksgiving is the holiday of, well, giving thanks... that is thanks to the fantasy football gods for blessing you with the good fortune of drafting Jamaal Charles with the fifth overall pick.  These same gods demand that you check your fantasy football team in order to pay homage to them, as the only thing sweeter than that delicious cranberry sauce would be another successful fantasy football week.

Go To The Bathroom - You just ate two full pounds of turkey, so I can't believe that anyone would take a second look at you when you say that you have to go to the bathroom.  When people ask why you where in the bathroom for fifteen minutes, simply reply, "I guess I ate more turkey than I thought." Flawless.

You're Feeling Sick - Its perfectly reasonable that you might feel sick during a holiday that is purely dedicated to eating.  This plan adds a bit of time versatility that you don't get with the previous option... just make sure you're feeling better before dessert.  The fantasy football gods will surely understand if you have to take a short leave from your duties to grab some apple pie.

Take a Nap - Understandably, you're probably a bit tired after all the holiday processions, so just join in on a little nap with your five year old niece and nephew.  Don't tell anybody, but you're not actually sleeping.  With the TV on mute and your computer on the live fantasycast, you're screwed if anybody walks in, but the reward is worth the risk.

Spill Water on Your Shirt - You could go all out and "accidentally" pour some gravy on your shirt, but unless you're willing to throw away a perfectly good shirt, water is probably the best option.  This move will surely buy you a couple minutes, just make sure that you do actually change your shirt, otherwise you're going to have an awkward reception on returning to the dining room.

The Walk of No Shame - If all else fails, there is no shame in simply walking out of the room with no explanation.  Let the others decide why you had to take an intermission from Thanksgiving dinner. When making your escape, all eyes are going to be placed on you, but don't be fazed, continue on walking unashamedly towards the doorway.  Once out of the room feel free to celebrate with a quick fist pump or look towards the heavens... You're free.


Start 'Em, Sit 'Em (Week 12)

Start 'Em:
Rashad Jennings, RB, Oakland Raiders
In the three weeks that Darren McFadden has been injured, Jennings has dominated, posting two touchdowns and 340 rushing yards.  Additionally, with 19 carries per game during this spell, and a matchup against the Titan's 27th ranked run defense, all the pieces are in place for Jennings to have another fantastic week.

Aaron Dobson, WR, New England Patriots
Sunday night's blockbuster game between the Patriots and the Broncos is undoubtedly going to be a shootout, with two of the best quarterbacks ever to play the game, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, going up against each other.  Despite his early-season drop difficulties, Dobson has managed to jump Julian Edelman and Kenbrell Thompkins on the depth chart, and now lays claim to the role of Tom Brady's number one wide receiver.  He will still receive fewer targets than Gronkowski and Shane Vereen, but he should get enough balls headed his way to put in a good performance.

Scott Tolzien, QB, Green Bay Packers
The way the Minnesota pass defense is playing right now, I'd start Uncle Rico in my fantasy league if he was playing against them.  Even if Tolzien is not Aaron Rodgers, he still has loads of offensive weapons, and looks a pretty good pick against a Minnesota defense that has allowed more than one passing touchdown against them in all but two games.

Sit 'Em:
Lamar Miller, RB, Miami Dolphins
Miller has not lived up to the lofty expectations we had for him at the start of the year, but he has managed to provide a decent amount of consistency in a year that has seen very poor running back production.  Thus, he continues to be played in a number of leagues despite his low upside.  In the past two weeks, though, he only has eleven rushes for nineteen yards, as Daniel Thomas has emerged as the Dolphin's number one back.  In addition, Miller goes up against a top 5 Panther's defense this week.  Lack of touches and a tough matchup are not a good recipe for success; keep Miller on your bench this Sunday.

Steve Smith, WR, Carolina Panthers
Steve Smith always seems to have a positive impact on the Panthers, whether he's making a clutch catch or requiring double coverage.  However, the play of Smith that has been so important to the Panthers this year, has not quite translated well to fantasy football.  He only has three touchdowns on the year, and has yet to record more than 70 yards.  Thus, with a tough matchup against the Dolphin's defense this week, Smith should be taking a rest on your bench.

Robert Griffin III, QB, Washington Redskins
Though his fantasy production has been great  in the past two weeks, I think its if fair to asses these games as outliers for Griffin.  In particular, last week Griffin struggled mightily against a lousy Eagle's defense before recording two long touchdowns late in the fourth quarter (one of which was a bit fluky).  If you watched the game, its was obvious that Griffin is not that same quarterback that he was last year, when he won rookie of the year.  If the Eagles were able to stifle RGIII, surely the sturdy 49er's defense will be up to the task.

Start 'Em, Sit 'Em (Week 11)

Start 'Em:
Ben Tate, RB, Houston Texans
Perhaps the best backup running back in the NFL, Tate should be able to cash in on Arian Foster's injury.  The Texan's quarterback situation is less than favorable, with Case Keenum playing in only his forth career game, and Tate will go up against the mediocre Raider's run defense this week.  The Texan's running back is primed for a successful week 11 and chances are a productive remainder of the year.

Riley Cooper, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
Cooper's stats have dramatically improved since Nick Foles took over the starting quarterback job for the Eagles and the trend shouldn't end this week.  Cooper will go against a very poor Redskins secondary that has allowed the third most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers.  The Redskin's only decent cornerback, DeAngelo Hall, will surely be locked up on DeSean Jackson all game, which would allow Cooper to have a very big day.

Carson Palmer, QB, Arizona Cardinals
Now, last week I projected Jake Locker to have a good week against the Jaguar's miserable defense.  That didn't turn out too well... However, this week I'm right back at it, picking the Jaguar's defense to return to their old ways against Carson Palmer.  Palmer does have more weapons than Locker, the most prominent being Larry Fitzgerald, but my faith in this pick still arrises from my opinion that the Jaguar's defensive performance last week was an outlier.

Sit 'Em:
Fred Jackson, RB, Buffalo Bills
Jackson has been the most consistent fantasy performer for the bills offense this year, but there are just too many things going against him this week for him to be a good fantasy start.  First off, he is going up against the third ranked Jets run defense that has only given up five rushing touchdowns all year.  Also, as C.J. Spiller gets healthier, Spiller's carries continue to cut into Jackson's, putting a major dent in his potential.  The five fantasy points that Jackson had last week may be more indicative of what his production will be for the rest of the year.

Denarius Moore, WR, Oakland Raiders
Moore is undoubtedly the Raider's number one wide receiver, but when he has Matt McGloin throwing to him (Pryor is out), that does not mean too much.  The tough Texans defense probably won't be the remedy for the Raiders faulty passing game; keep Moore on your bench this week.

Colin Kaepernick, QB, San Francisco 49ers
Kaepernick is in the midst of a disappointing season, and a difficult matchup against the Saint's defense won't help.  The Saint's shut down Tony Romo last week, and should have no trouble containing Kaepernick, who only managed a measly two points last week.


5 Guys That You Hate in Your Fantasy Football League

Mr. Auto Draft - Fantasy football is all about dedication and the least you can do to display your dedication is show up to the draft.  I don't want to hear excuses like "Oh, it's my anniversary," or "I have the SAT's tomorrow," because when you asked to be part of the league you signed your RSVP to the draft.  I hope you got Jeremy Maclin in the fourth round...

That Guy That Never Sets His Lineup - I'm asking for you to check your team for ten minutes a week - that's all it takes - but you stubbornly refuse to comply.  At some point it just becomes disrespectful; tighten up your tie, put your writing utensil of choice behind your ear, and show fantasy football the respect it deserves.

The Trade Spammer - No, I won't trade you A.J. Green for five different players you just picked up.  If I had wanted them, I would have picked them up myself.  The notification emails I constantly get from you are almost as annoying as the daily emails I get from drugstore.com because I bought my sister nail polish for her birthday.  Stop it!

The Guy Who Only Knows Players From His Favorite Team - Bro, it's embarrassing... you just dropped Larry Fitzgerald so you could pick up Dexter McCluster.  You tell me "McCluster has insane potential because he returns kicks and punts also."  Are you sure you didn't pick him up just because you only know Chiefs players.  I'm not mad at you, I just feel bad for you - you're making a fool of yourself.

The League Leader Who Doesn't Know Anything about Football - You drafted Knowshon Moreno in the third round because you loved the name "Knowshon."  Now you're winning the league and you haven't checked since the draft.  Last week you beat the second best team even though you had two players on a bye and started Reggie Wayne, who's been on the IR for the last three weeks.  Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good... That being said, we all hate you.

Start 'Em, Sit 'Em (Week 10)

Start 'Em:
Pierre Thomas, RB, New Orleans Saints
Thomas continues to get consistent touches for the Saints, both in the passing and rushing game, making him a fairly low risk option. The adage goes "low risk, low reward," however, this week, with the Saints heading into a shootout against the Cowboys, Thomas could provide a quite high reward for fantasy owners.

Keenan Allen, WR, San Diego Chargers
Allen is in the middle of a breakout year, and his production does not seem likely to end any time soon. It is undeniable at this point that he is Phillip River's number one option, and he has a favorable matchup against the Denver Bronco's defense this week. Chances are, the Broncos will get up early and the Chargers will air the ball out the remainder of the game, which means big numbers for Keenan Allen.

Jake Locker, QB, Tennessee Titans
At this point in the season, you should have noticed a positive trend in terms of fantasy points when offensive players go up against the Jaguars. Locker is having a great season (despite being injured for two weeks) against some quality defenses, including an outstanding performance against the stout 49er's defense.  The jags, on the other hand, do not have a quality defense, and should be lit up by Locker.

Sit 'Em:
BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
The "Law Firm" has put in another unremarkable, but at times productive, season. As the year has gone on, though, Giovani Bernard has been receiving a significantly larger workload than Green-Ellis. Additionally, the Bengals go up against the tough Raven's run defense that has allowed only one rushing touchdown all year.

Anquan Boldin, WR, San Francisco 49ers
Boldin looked as if he was going to have a great year after a huge week one performance, but since then he has looked quite underwhelming. Vernon Davis has emerged as the clear-cut number one option for the 49er's offense and Boldin has been forced to play second fiddle. To make matters worse, this week, Boldin goes up against the tough Panther's pass defense that ranks second in fantasy points allowed to opposing wide receivers.

Joe Flacco, QB, Baltimore Ravens
After receiving a huge contract during the offseason, Flacco has failed to impress.  On sunday, the Ravens face a Bengal's defense that has had a great season so far. Flacco has struggled against lesser defenses such as the Dolphins, Texans, and Bills, so it seems likely that Flacco will have a difficult sunday against the Bengals.


Start 'Em, Sit 'Em (Week 9)

Start 'Em:
Ryan Mathews, RB, San Diego Chargers
Mathews is finally healthy and we're beginning to see what sort of numbers he can produce.  Before his bye last week, he had two straight performances of over 100 yards and also added in a touchdown in week 7.  This week has the potential to outshine both of those games, as he goes up against the last ranked fantasy run defense, the Washington Redskins.

Denarius Moore, WR, Oakland Raiders
Any wide receiver that is going up against the Eagles secondary has the opportunity to put up big numbers, and Moore is no different.  The speedy wideout has loads of big play ability, and is the Raider's only real receiving threat.  If Pryor can deliver Moore with just one good deep ball, he could provide owners with a great return.

Alex Smith, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
This pick is made out of a favorable matchup than anything else.  The Chiefs go up against the Buffalo Bills, who have a defense that is 27th in terms of fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks.  Smith is not a flashy quarterback choice, but should be a good play this week against a week secondary.

Sit 'Em:
Steven Jackson, RB, Atlanta Falcons
I said it last week, and I'll say it again this week: Steven Jackson is a poor fantasy start.  He is just coming off an injury, and it showed last week as he only managed six yards on eleven carries.  Additionally, the Falcons are going up against the tough Panthers defense.  Leave Jackson on your bench this week, and maybe for weeks to come as well.

Torrey Smith, WR, Baltimore Ravens
Smith has had only a mediocre fantasy season so far, and the reason for this is that he has only gotten into the end zone once.  On Sunday, he goes up against a Cleveland secondary that has managed to shut down the likes of Calvin Johnson and A.J. Green.  The man behind Cleveland's success has to be cornerback Joe Haden, who is having a tremendous year.  With Haden shadowing Smith all game long, it may be another "bust" day as opposed to a "boom" day for the wideout.

Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots
Brady has had perhaps his most frustrating professional season so far, as he has only thrown two touchdowns in his last four games, and has broken 300 yards just once this year.  Part of this is due to his horrendous receiving core, and another part is due to the emergence of a very solid red zone running game.  Tom Brady simply cannot be expected to put up good fantasy numbers any more, and a date with a tough Steelers defense certainly won't help.


Top 10 Fantasy Football Team Names

In fantasy football, fielding a successful team is always difficult, however, what may be even more difficult is giving that team a name.  See, this name has to be clever, witty, concise, and punny; a group of characteristics that can be nearly impossible to accomplish.  Fear not, though, because here is a list of my top ten fantasy football team names that will make your friends question how such a boring guy like you could come up with such a hysterical team name.

10. Newton's Laws of Physics
No, not Isaac Newton, Cam Newton, who seems to play by his own theory of general relativity when scrambling outside of the pocket.  The 6'5" Panthers quarterback is nearly impossible to take down, and you could be too if you choose this as your team name.

9. Foster: Australian for Touchdown
Ripping off of the slogan for the Australian beer "Foster's," this name, though not the most original, will certainly earn you a couple of laughs.  Unfortunately, you may be wishing the name provided more truth, for Foster only has a measly one rushing touchdown on the year.
8. Rice Rice Baby
Alright stop, collaborate and listen,
Rice is back capturing the nation,
Something grabs ahold of him tightly,
Escape from defenders daily and nightly,
Will he ever stop? Yo - I don't know,
Fourth and 29, he won't slow,
To the extreme a defender he tramples,
Light up the field, the opposing team is dismantled.

7. Shake and Tate
When Ricky Bobby and Cal Naughton Jr. tore up the racetrack in "Talladega Nights," their catchy motto was "Shake and Bake."  When you tear up your fantasy league, you will also need a catchy team name, and what better than "Shake and Tate."  The only thing that would make this better is if Ben Tate (or Golden/Brandon) was a legitimate fantasy football option.

6. Fantasy Football is My Forte
Any team name that uses the "Forte" pun is a solid one, but this is my favorite.  Perhaps being the most practical of any on this list, it screams "I'm a fantasy football stud so get out of my way."

5. Too Legit to Britt
If Kenny Britt is on your fantasy team, you probably should quit fantasy football and pick up a different hobby.  However, I could not resist adding this awesome name to the list, as any team that is "Too Legit to Quit" deserves to be top of the league in my book.

4. My Vick in a Box
Does it have anything to do with football? No. Is it still a hilarious reference to the song by Justin Timberlake and Andy Samberg? Yes.  Sometimes, you don't need a practical name, as long as it is as laugh-inducing as this one.

3. The Luckness Monsters
If you have Andrew Luck on your team, you're doing things right.  Having gotten off to a good start, Luck is certainly going to help your team gobble up the opposition, much like the Lockness Monster would (see what I did there).

2. RG-3PO
Whoever thought up this name is a genius.  This combination of Robert Griffin III's nickname, RG3, and the robot in Star Wars, C-P30, is almost too clever.  The only thing holding that is holding RG-3PO back is Robert Griffin's poor fantasy season so far.

1. Taste Dwayne Bowe
I could have gone with "Somewhere Over the Dwayne Bowe," but that's too mainstream, and this name is a rip off of the hilarious Skittles "Taste the Rainbow" add campaign.  Dwayne Bowe isn't exactly the type of player that you want to name your team after.  However, when you can tell your opposition to "Taste the Dwayne Bowe," it doesn't really matter how good the player actually is.


Start 'Em, Sit 'Em (Week 8)

Start 'Em:
Fred Jackson, RB, Buffalo Bills
Fred Jackson has dominated the Bill's backfield despite having to share carries with C.J. Spiller all season.  Now, imagine the game that Jackson could have with Spiller completely out of the picture.  Though he did have an injury scare last week, Jackson is second to none when it comes to toughness.  Expect Jackson to get into the end zone at least once against a poor Saints defense.


Terrance Williams, WR, Dallas Cowboys
Having solidified his spot as Tony Romo's second favorite wide receiver, Williams should be worthy of a flex spot in your team this week with a good matchup against the Detroit Lions.  In a game that is destined to be a shootout, Williams will receive more than enough passes to have a significant fantasy game.

Michael Vick, QB, Philadelphia Eagles
If Vick is able to go this week (which seems likely), he should have a field day against the Giant's weak secondary.  The giants defense has allowed the third most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this year, and many of those games came against quarterbacks with a lower pedigree than Vick (see Alex Smith and Nick Foles).  Though his run game will likely be limited this week, Vick has the arm to put up great numbers nonetheless.

Sit 'Em:
Steven Jackson, RB, Atlanta Falcons
If you are a Steven Jackson owner, you're probably thrilled to insert him into your lineup after being injured for the last four weeks, but not so fast.  First off, Jackson is going up against a tough Arizona run defense that has allowed the sixth fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs.  Also, Jacquizz Rodgers has performed admirably in Jackson's absence, especially in the passing game.  Rodgers should be on the field for nearly every passing down which will certainly work to limit the effect that Steven Jackson could have on this game.  Lastly, you have to remember that Jackson is an old-ish running back and the Falcons will probably look to ease him back into the offense after his injury.  When taking all of this into consideration, it is clear that Jackson should not be in your lineup this week.


Geno Smith, QB, New York Jets
Smith has been very inconsistent this year, but recently he has been much improved from his horrid start.  Last week against a decent Patriot's defense, Smith had a very good game, but the Pat's mediocre pass rush is nothing compared to what the Bengals have up front.  Carlos Dunlap, Geno Atkins, James Harrison, and Vontaze Burfict will put pressure on Smith all game long and will likely take him out of his comfort zone.  Unless you are in a two quarterback league, leave Smith on your bench this week.


Harry Douglas, WR, Atlanta Falcons
Douglas seems like a good fantasy start this week, coming off of a huge game and being Matt Ryan's favorite target (now that White and Jones are injured).  However, Douglas will be blanketed by Arizona's Patrick Peterson and the Falcons will likely be playing run-out-the-clock for much of the second half.  Don't be fooled by Douglas' breakout week 7, as he should be falling back to earth in week 8.


Top 5 Fantasy Wide Receivers

It is truly a golden age for the wide receiver position in the NFL right now.  With more than 15 top-tier receivers to choose from, this was understandably a very difficult list to make.  Calvin Johnson, or Megatron, may have finally found his Optimus Prime in Bengal's youngster A.J. Green, while Dez Bryant and a field of other outstanding wide receivers hope to adopt the role of Sam Witwicky in this hollywood-esque competition to be the best.

1. Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit Lions
Johnson has been injured for portions of the season (1.5 weeks), yet is only eight fantasy points off the pace of the leading wide receiver A.J. Green.  That's how good Megatron is.  Already with six touchdowns and three games over 100 yards receiving, Calvin Johnson seems to be the Matthew Stafford's only trusted receiver, and should be set up for another fantastic fantasy season.

2. A.J. Green, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
The competition for second place in these rankings was very tight between Green and the Cowboy's Dez Bryant.  The only thing that separates Green from Bryant is Green's marginally larger role in his offense.  Dalton is entirely reliant on Green, who has the 78 targets so far, good for first in the NFL.  More targets will inevitably result in more touchdowns and yards, as has been the case for Green, who is third in the NFL in yards and is tied for fifth in touchdowns.

3. Dez Bryant, WR, Dallas Cowboys
Now, when I said that A.J. Green was more a focal point of his offense than Bryant, I was being very picky, because the Cowboys offense is clearly centered around Bryant, though not to the same extent as the Bengal's is around Green.  Dez is fourth in the NFL with 71 targets this year.  Additionally, these targets have produced the ninth most yards in the league and the second most touchdowns for the electrifying wide receiver.  If Bryant can stay healthy all season, he could surpass Green in these rankings, but fantasy owners have to wish that he was on a team with fewer star playmakers.

4. Wes Welker, WR, Denver Broncos
Welker provides something that no other receiver on this list can truly bring to the table, and that is consistency.  Welker has yet to score less than nine fantasy points (ESPN standard) and has gotten into the end zone in all but one game so far.  As long as Peyton Manning is your quarterback, good things are going to happen, and that has been the experience for Welker.

5. Demaryius Thomas, WR, Denver Broncos
There are so many options for this fifth spot, but every wideout except for Thomas has significant downfalls.  For example, DeSean Jackson, Brandon Marshall, and Vincent Jackson all have tumultuous quarterback situations while Victor Cruz and Eric Decker have been "boom or bust."  Meanwhile, Thomas has no such problem and, with Peyton Manning at quarterback, should continue to produce consistent, impressive numbers.


Top 5 Fantasy Running Backs

It is likely that you picked a running back in the first round of your fantasy draft back in September, and the way this season has gone, it is just as likely that you have been disappointed by your choice.  C.J. Spiller, Doug Martin, Ray Rice, Trent Richardson, and Alfred Morris were all highly-touted fantasy selections that have failed to live up to expectations.  Here's a list of the few running backs that have been able to keep their heads above the water in a season that has seen most running backs leaving owners sweating over poor waiver wire replacements.

1. Jamaal Charles, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
If you have read any of my articles before, you will understand that the most important statistic in fantasy football is touchdowns.  While Charles only has one week over 100 yards, he has six rushing touchdowns and two receiving touchdowns through seven weeks.  His eight total touchdowns are tied for first in the NFL, and this production should not end any time soon, as the Chiefs continue to lean heavily on Charles, their only star skill player.

2. Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seattle Seahawks
In a similar situation to that of Jamaal Charles, Lynch only has one game over 100 yards.  However, "Beast Mode" owners will be happy to know that he has more than made up for the lack of yardage with seven total touchdowns (6 rushing, 1 receiving).  It seems that his diet of skittles is working, as Lynch has rewarded fantasy owners with another steady and productive fantasy year that should continue with match ups against the two worst fantasy rush defenses in the league soon (I'm looking at you St. Louis and Minnesota).

3. Knowshon Moreno, RB, Denver Broncos
Moreno's production this season has been incredible, but may be more a function of the rest of Denver's awesome offense than anything else.  When game planning for the Bronco's, coaches certainly focus on Manning and his receiving core more than Moreno, who has obviously taken advantage of this.  As the season goes on, expect opposing teams to be more prepared for what Moreno brings to the table.  However, until teams begin to make adjustments, Moreno will remain a top five fantasy running back.

4. LeSean McCoy, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
Though McCoy may be putting up the most impressive numbers of any running backs on this list, his inconsistent amount of touches inside the red zone is worrying.  He only has three touchdowns on the year, and though he leads the league in rush yards by a long shot, until he begins to produce touchdowns, he will remain a good fantasy play, but not a great one.

5. Matt Forte, RB, Chicago Bears
Forte has been an absolute workhorse for the Bears, not posting less than ten fantasy points in any game so far this year.  His touchdown production has been key, as he has 6 touchdowns through the first seven weeks (all rushing).  Additionally, he has provided top notch receiving stats for a running back.  Forte has done it all this year, and owners should be exuberant after drafting him most likely in the third round or later.


Start 'Em, Sit 'Em (Week 7)

Start 'Em:
CJ Spiller, RB, Buffalo Bills
If you picked Spiller with your first round pick in this year's fantasy draft, you're probably about as happy as an environmentalist watching Swamp Loggers.  However, this could be the week that Spiller begins to turn it around.  Injuries have haunted him all year, but in the last two weeks, Spiller has had a fantastic average of 6.7 YPC, and as his injury problems continue to fade away, he should see more and more of the ball.  Additionally, Spiller gets to go up against a very weak Dolphins run defense this week.  Expect a breakout week out of Spiller that will help him steal the starting spot back from Fred Jackson.


T.Y. Hilton, WR, Indianapolis Colts
Hilton has had a very inconsistent season, with one very impressive week of 140 yards and two touchdowns, but also four weeks with less than 50 yards.  This week, you should expect a performance more reminiscent of the former, with Hilton going up against a Broncos secondary that has given up the 30th most points to opposing wide receivers.  Also, if the Broncos get up early on the Colts, we may see a long game of Andrew Luck playing catch-up, which means more targets for the speedy T.Y. Hilton.
Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants
There's no denying it, Manning has had a horrendous year.  But there are some positives that can be taken out of his performances so far.  For instance, he is on pace for a respectable 24 touchdowns.  Of utmost importance in fantasy football is touchdowns, while interceptions have a significantly smaller effect.  Thus, going up against a poor Vikings defense, Manning could very well put up a couple touchdowns and 200 or more yards (in addition to a pick or two).


Sit 'Em:
Lamar Miller, RB, Miami Dolphins
Miller was a guy that many people picked up as their sleeper pick at the start of the year.  Unfortunately, he has not quite lived up to expectations, as he is yet to reach 70 yards in a game this year.  In Miller's only two weeks above ten fantasy points (ESPN standard) he scored a touchdown, but the Buffalo Bill's defense has only given up one rushing touchdown all year.  If Miller is unable to get into the end zone, he could have a very disappointing week.


Andre Johnson, WR, Houston Texans
Johnson has underperformed so far this year, and a new quarterback, Case Keenum, probably won't help him turn around his season.  Keenum, in his first NFL start, will be going up against a sturdy Chiefs defense that should cause him lots of problems.  Meanwhile, Johnson still has not gotten into the end zone, and this trend probably will not end against a Chiefs defense that has allowed only five passing touchdowns all year.  Expect Johnson to rebound from his slow start at some point, but don't expect it to be this week.


Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers
The biggest knock against Rodgers this week is his hurting receiving core.  With Randall Cobb and James Jones out this week, Rodgers will be at a big disadvantage.  Additionally, the Browns pass defense, lead by cornerback Joe Haden, is quite formidable and should take advantage of a wounded Green Bay offense.


Top 5 Fantasy Quarterbacks

Quarterbacks and fantasy quarterbacks are two entirely different breeds, so while you may have an idea who the best quarterbacks in the NFL are, you probably have no idea who will best improve your chances to win your fantasy football league.  For example, a quarterback like Cam Newton, who consistently provides valuable rushing touchdowns is more productive in fantasy football than a quarterback like Tom Brady, who, despite being one of football's all-time greats, is not going to provide you with an incredible amount of fantasy points.

1. Peyton Manning, QB, Denver Broncos
Manning is undoubtedly the best quarterback in fantasy football right now.  With a seemingly unlimited supply of weapons, including Wes Welker, Demaryius Thomas, and Julius Thomas, Manning's record-breaking rate of production should not end any time soon.  If he continues the pace that he is on, Manning will end the season with 59 touchdowns, shattering the previous record held by Tom Brady by an incredible 9 touchdowns.  Don't expect Manning to be vacating the number one spot in these rankings any time soon.

2. Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints
The only quarterback who is even comparable to Manning right now in terms of production is Brees, which is largely due to his talented tight end.  Jimmy Graham was on pace for an incredible season (probably even better than Gronkowski's last year), however, the Patriots managed to stifle him for zero catches on Sunday.  If teams are able to consistently stop Graham, Brees could be in a fair amount of trouble, as his other receiving options are only decent.  For now, Brees will stay at number two, but his stock could be on the drop soon.

3. Matthew Stafford, QB, Detroit Lions
The first six weeks of the season have been good, but not great for Stafford, yet there is reason to believe that Stafford may end up a top-three fantasy quarterback when all is said and done.  In three tough games so far against the Cardinals, Bears, and Browns, he has put up very respectable numbers.  Compared to these three games, the rest of the year looks to be a walk in the park for Stafford, playing against the feeble secondaries of the Cowboys, Steelers, Buccaneers, Eagles, and Giants, among others.  Additionally, Stafford will once again get to work with star wide receiver Calvin Johnson who was recently injured.  Now would be a great time to get a window seat on the Matthew Stafford bandwagon which surely will be full by the season's end.

4. Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers
Cam Newton, at 6'5" and 245 pounds, is a threat both through the air and on the ground in the red zone.  The most important part of fantasy football scoring is touchdowns, and there few better than Newton in this category.  Though he will turn the ball over more than you would want, he can more than make it up by reaching the end zone.  Because of his ability to produce touchdowns, Newton may have the most upside in fantasy football right now.

5. Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle Seahawks
After Michael Vick, Wilson is probably the best running quarterback in the NLF.  Additionally, he is an exceptional passer, however, Marshawn Lynch tends to take most of the Seahawks touchdowns, which hurts Wilson's fantasy value.  He is able to make up for this with his running ability and low amount of turnovers.  Thus, though Wilson is unlikely to have a break out game, he will consistently provide for your fantasy team this year.

Notable Omissions:

Philip Rivers: Only good weeks were against Philly, Dallas, and Oakland. Not exactly top tier secondaries.  He has a significantly harder schedule over the second half of the season, and his production will likely not hold up.
Tony Romo: Once again, a very poor early schedule has allowed for solid numbers which will not be maintained over the entire season.
Aaron Rodgers: Rodgers has looked pretty good so far, but what really hurts him here is that James Jones and Randall Cobb are going to be out for significant amounts of time with injures, and I am unsure if Rodgers will be able to produce.
Tom Brady: This omission is entirely at the fault of the Patriot's atrocious receiving core.  Any other year Brady would be in the top 5, but when Kembrell Thompkins is your best receiver, you're in trouble.


Start 'Em, Sit 'Em (Week 6)

Hello readers, I'm Gabe Schmittlein, The NFL Report's new fantasy football blogger, and I have one goal in my blogs: to guide you to fantasy football success.  Success in fantasy football is as fulfilling as a cold sprite on a hot day.  On the other had, failure in fantasy football to is as disappointing as when you order a sprite at a restaurant and the give you seltzer water instead.  I intend to ensure that all you readers are drinking sprite at the end of your fantasy football season as opposed to the impostor that is seltzer water.  Thus, here are the players that should be inserted into your lineup or warming your bench come Sunday.

Start 'Em:
Willis McGahee, RB, Cleveland Browns
McGahee had an impressive fantasy week against a much-improved Buffalo Bill's defense last week, and should be able to put up some big numbers against the Lion's weak run defense.  Despite managing just 2.6 YPC in his first three weeks as a Brown, McGahee is getting a lot of valuable carries inside the red zone, and just one touchdown could turn his week from mediocre to good.  Additionally, the Browns will likely lean heavily on McGhee this week, as their quarterback situation is not favorable.

Robert Griffin III, QB, Washington Redskins
Redskins QB Robert Griffin is poised for a big week against the Cowboys pass defense that has been dissected by the likes of Eli Manning, Alex Smith, Phillip Rivers, and most recently Peyton Manning.  Griffin's poor start certainly shouldn't continue in a shootout against the Cowboys.

Antonio Brown, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
It has been an abysmal start to the season for the Steelers, however, the season has been much kinder to Antonio Brown.  Coming into the season, there were question surrounding Brown about whether Brown could be a legitimate number one receiver for the steelers, and he hasn't disappointed.  Having been Ben Roethlisberger's clear favorite target so far, Brown should get his fair share of targets this week against the lousy Jet's pass defense.

Danny Woodhead, RB, San Diego Chargers
Danny Woodhead puts a base on his fantasy output through his contributions to the Charger's pass game, already with 31 receptions this year.  However, this week, with Ryan Mathews sitting out again, Woodhead should also make a solid contribution in the running game.  Despite going up against the stingy Colt's defense, Woodhead should get enough touches to make a difference.

Sit 'Em:
Trent Richardson, RB, Indianapolis Colts
Yet to reach 60 rushing yards in a game this year, Richardson has only provided fantasy merit in his two touchdowns.  However, as Donald Brown continues to prove himself as a solid running back for the Colts, Richardson may begin to lose his valuable red zone carries.  If he isn't getting you touchdowns, than what else does he provide?  At least for now, Richardson should remain on your bench, especially when playing a Charger's defense that has questions in the secondary but has been solid up front.

Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit Lions
It is unclear whether Johnson will play this week against the browns, but even if he does, he should remain on your bench.  If Johnson is active, he will likely be a decoy more than anything else.  Additionally, he will be blanketed by one of the top corners of the game, Joe Haden.  I know it is difficult to bench your first round pick, but he simply shouldn't have a very large effect on this week's game against the Browns.

Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle Seahawks
Wilson has played pretty well this year, but so has the sneaky-good Titan's defense.  Russell Wilson's season could be quite accurately described as up-and-down, and it makes sense that a "down" will come against a good defense.  The Titans defense has performed admirable against Matt Schaub, Ben Roethlisberger, Phillip Rivers, and Alex Smith.  Wilson may be better than these quarterbacks, but not by much, and simply put, there are better options out there for this week.

Vincent Jackson, WR, Buccaneers
The Philadelphia Eagles pass defense is certainly not good, but they may just be better than the Buc's horrid pass game.  Despite having Jackson and Mike Williams, quarterback Mike Glennon and former quarterback Josh Freeman have severely under-impressed this year.  Moreover, Vincent Jackson is one week out of an injury and has yet to play a game with Glennon.  It would be wise to let Jackson warm your bench for now.

Important Announcement: Fantasy Football Section

     The NFL Report will be having a new writer, Gabe Schmittlein, join our staff within the next few days, as he will be writing weekly posts on fantasy football. His first article will be a "Start 'em, Sit 'Em" post for Week 6, and from there, Gabe Schmittlein will offer fantasy advice throughout the season to help you win your fantasy league. Gabe Schmittlein is referred to as 'The Fantasy Football Guru', so be sure to return within the next day or so in order to read his first post for The NFL Report.

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