Fantasy DC’s Week 16: Waiver Wire

Special Holiday Note: 

With Christmas time coming the Staff of FantasyDC is taking some much needed time off from their regular fulltime jobs and from writing fantasy football articles. Join back up with us in January as they take on the offseason full steam with weekly article for dynasty, keeper and redraft leagues!

Running Backs 

Maurice Morris — I’m fairly certain that I was the only one talking this cat up all week and it paid off with a huge effort on Sunday. I speculated that Morris could touch the ball close to 20 times and he responded with 17 carries for 126 yards and a rushing touchdown along with six looks, five receptions, and 35 receiving yards. That’s a solid 20+ point effort in most formats.

Advice: I see no reason why anything would change in weeks 16 and 17. Morris should continue to approach 20 touches each week unless the team decides to give Aaron Brown a chance to show what he do. I can’t guarantee Morris will go over the century mark again, but he’s a solid RB2 play in 12 team leagues.

Jerome Harrison — Not many people had Harrison in their lineup this week and rightfully so. There was no telling if Harrison would see most of the looks, or if it would be Chris Jennings, who saw 20 carries in week 14, compared to just seven for Harrison.

Still, even has the backup, Harrison should’ve been considered a very deep sleeper up against the porous Chiefs. He showed up big time with 34 carries, 286 yards, and three touchdowns in what is the biggest fantasy performance by a running back this season.

This is not Harrison’s first big game of the season. Back in week four he went for 152 yards on 34 touches, but the next week he touched the ball just eight times with Jamal Lewis back in the fold. Lewis is gone now, but Jennings is still in the mix in Cleveland.

Advice: You almost have to consider Harrison in your flex spot for week 16, but you shouldn’t feel comfortable about it and you won’t hear me recommending it. The Browns run offense has been anything but effective for a majority of the season and the split in carries has been off the charts inconsistent. He has upside, but don’t be shocked if he ends up with 28 total yards on nine touches.

Michael Bush — An injury to Justin Fargas allowed Michael Bush to rush for 133 yards and a score on 18 carries against Denver on Sunday. Prior to that game, Bush had carried the ball only eight times since week 11. Fargas’ injury seems to be minor and if he is back in the fold next week, Bush cannot be relied on for double-digit looks once again. Although you’d expect him to see more looks after such a strong effort, it’s still a three-headed monster in Oakland.

Advice: Unless Fargas is out or Coach Cable says otherwise, Bush is third in line for carries and should not be considered in any format. If Fargas is out or Bush is named the RB2, those of you in very deep leagues who are desperate for help at your flex spot can consider his services.

Jason Snelling — Michael Turner made his return in week 15, which led to the masses dropping Snelling. Turner lasted only one carry before sitting out the rest of the game and it’s unknown whether he will suit up for the rest of the season, especially considering that Atlanta has been eliminated from the playoffs. Snelling ended up with only 64 yards, but did have an intriguing 21 looks, which was 10 more than seen by Jerious Norwood.

Advice: Snelling has done an okay job filling in for Turner when he’s missed time and that, coupled with the fact that he could start the team’s final two games, means he’s worth consideration as a flex play going forward. That said, if Turner plays, Snelling should not be in your lineup.

Derrick Ward — Whenever I’ve had an empty roster spot this season, Ward has been a player I’ve consistently turned to. Cadillac Williams has stayed relatively healthy so it hasn’t quite paid off as I’d hoped, but consider that in week 15, Ward carried the ball 19 times compared to 12 for Williams. Williams did, however, rack up 88 total yards on 13 touches, which was more efficient than the 73 yards on 20 touches for Ward. Neither has been overly impressive this season, but it’s worth keeping an eye on the timeshare.

Advice: You can’t rely on 20 touches for Ward unless news breaks that he is the new starter. If you have a roster spot to fill, he’s a good speculative pick for your bench, but nothing more right now.

 

Wide Receivers

Lance Moore — Moore was back in the fold in week 15 and took advantage by scoring a touchdown despite only two looks. Despite the score, two looks should concern you if you’re considering using him in week 16 for several reasons.

(a) It’s two looks. That’s not a lot

(b) The Saints threw the ball 45 times, which is almost a dozen more pass attempts than they average a game this season

(c) The percentage of passes going to his teammates was about the same as in recent weeks. I’d mention that Jeremy Shockey was out as another reason to be skeptical of Moore, but David Thomas filled in with a whopping 10 targets, which is more than even Shockey is accustomed to.

Advice: Moore will always have decent potential because of the outstanding offense he is a part of, but he’s going to have trouble finding playing time with all the stars around him. At this point, he’s only worth a desperate play in a deep league.

Malcom Floyd — Floyd didn’t exactly light it up after Chris Chambers was cut loose, but he’s now been targeted a total of 16 times over the last two games. That is a healthy number for a player not being used in most leagues, but part of the reason for that is the fact that he’s caught only seven of those 16 balls.

Advice: Any player seeing eight targets a game in an above average offense is worth keeping an eye on. Floyd isn’t the safest play, but he has a ton of upside and is worth consideration in WR-deep leagues.

Josh Morgan — One of the most popular sleepers heading into this season, Morgan has been a disappointment for fantasy owners who reached on him in their draft. He’s quietly been picking it up over the last few weeks, as he’s now been targeted eight times in three of the 49ers last four games.

His numbers from the last four games (which include a three-catch, 14-yard week 14 effort) total to 29 targets, 22 receptions, 174 yards, and two touchdowns. Morgan is the third option in San Francisco with Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis keeping Alex Smith busy, but he’s a talented receiver yet to break out who is now seeing almost double-digits in looks every game.

Advice: Definitely worth considering in deeper leagues and someone you should definitely snag for your bench if you’re in any type of dynasty league. The Gore-Crabtree-Morgan-V Davis offense has tons of potential.

 

Tight Ends 

Bo Scaife — Although Scaife is anything but a gamebreaker, he’s been extremely consistent over the last 6 games and is worth a mention. In those six games, he’s been targeted 42 times, has 25 receptions, 261 yards, and one score.

He was targeted 10 times on one occasion and has caught five balls, three times. His high for yardage is 68. What does that all mean? It means he’s a safe play for close to eight points in PPR formats and considering all the targets, it’s only a matter of time before he gets into the endzone again.

Advice: Again, he doesn’t have a ton of breakout potential, but he’s safe for four catches, 50 yards. If you’re desperate for tight end help and looking around on the Waiver Wire, he’s worth a look.

 

Quick Hits and Follow Ups 

Arian Foster / Ryan Moats / Chris Brown — I’ve been preaching this and preaching this. Stay away from Houston running backs. Everyone was excited about Foster this week and I just didn’t understand it. All it takes is one fumble and the “starter” gets sent to the bench for the rest of the game. Anyone who owned Steve Slaton or Ryan Moats knows all about this. If you played Foster in week 15, now you do, too.

Felix Jones — His touches continue to increase over the last month or two and it’s something worth keeping an eye on. Since week 11, he’s seen no fewer than nine looks in any given week. His latest effort was 15 looks (14 touches) against the Saints. He racked up 68 yards on those touches and is still averaging just under six yards per carry.

Greg Camarillo — Mentioned him last week after he was targeted 17 times in two games. Make it 27 times in three games after 10 more looks this week. He only caught five of them for 46 yards, but bump him up a few notches on your watch list.

Devin Aromashodu — Devin Hester was out again so another guy I mentioned last week saw significant action. Aromashodu saw 10 more targets, but disappointed in the execution part of the deal with only twp receptions for 10 yards. Hard to recommend him going forward, but if Hester is out again in week 16, those double-digit targets in back-to-back weeks make him worth consideration in deeper leagues.

Bernard Berrian — seven targets, five catches, 36 yards. Six targets , four catches , 43 yards. Five targets, three catches , 25 yards. Those are Berrian’s stat lines from his last three games. Add to the equation that Brett Favre and the running game are struggling and that 6-4-35 average line feels even worse.

Kevin Curtis — Back in the fold in week 15, but was targeted only twice. Jeremy Maclin should still be out in week 16, but there is no reason to believe Curtis will see more than 4-5 looks a game going forward with Jackson, Celek, Avant, and Brown ahead of him for looks. He has potential because this offense is so stellar, but he’s not worth the gamble this week.

 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Fantasy Depth Chart: Week 15 Saturday Night Sits & Starts Special

(Check out FantasyDC’s Week 15: Waiver Wire  , WR/TE Sits and Starts  & QB/RB Sits and Starts  )

This is a special edition of my Sit/Start reserved solely for Saturday night’s game. Sometimes the added pressure of making an early-week decision compounds the effects of basic fantasy logic (of which no such thing really exists, lol).

So lets take a team-by-team look at some of the names playing (or not playing as the Playoffs approach).

 

• Dallas Cowboys
• Tony Romo, QB
• Look up the phrase “December Collapse” in the dictionary. You don’t see the Cowboys’ picture, you see Romo’s picture. The poster boy for failing to play when it matters faces one of the biggest regular season games of his career. Another loss would put Dallas at its “breaking point” in the eyes of media and fans.
• So how do I feel he’ll do?
• He’ll crack.
• The Saints are playing good defense. They have made QBs look flat-out silly all year. Romo is just as likely to throw two-plus INTs as he is two-plus TDs. Start at quarterback only if you have no other options.




Marion Barber, RB

Barber has failed to score a TD or go over the century mark in the last six weeks! This is not just a rut, this is a sign of the times. Start Barber is a flex spot or maybe a second running back in PPR leagues.

 

Felix Jones, RB


Jones is the fewer-running-attempts, fewer-TDs version of Marion Barber. So, unless you get points off of return yards, consider him benched for the season.




Tashard Choice, RB 

The fewer-running-attempts, more-TDs-and-receptions version of Jones. Choice is the man that is more likely to replace Barber in case of injury, or in times of need. The Cowboys use him exactly like Barber when Barber is on the sideline. This hurts both RBs and helps none. Unless he gets a spot-start in the next few weeks, keep him benched.




Miles Austin, WR  

Three straight games with TDs, none with fewer than six receptions, and only one game with fewer than 100 yards. Yes, Miles Austin has carried you into, and is carrying you through, the playoffs. The Saints are mediocre in the amount of points they provide for WRs. Austin is a must start.




Roy Williams, WR

If his game against the Redskins is ignored, Williams himself has been on a fair fantasy tear (the verb not the moist droplet from the eye) the past five weeks. His value isn’t really found in PPR leagues, but his big body helps him score TDs, and makes him a good second choice at WR in TD-heavy leagues, and a decent second WR in PPR leagues.




Patrick Crayton, WR

Crayton is a talented guy with too many talented players around him. The guy can not be started as even a third WR or flex in nearly any circumstance as his production is literally tied to TDs alone.




Jason Witten, TE 

The big man is worth starting in PPR leagues. The lack of TD production this entire season has crippled Witten and made him bench material in non-PPR leagues. Rough season for a great player.

• New Orleans Saints




Drew Brees QB

Start him. You can’t afford to bench Brees against anyone. He plays well in big games.




Pierre Thomas, RB

Thomas is the only must start NO RB. Despite seeing just over 10 carries per game, he is producing with receptions as well. His lack of TDs is discouraging, but Thomas should be used as a second RB or flex in PPR leagues.




Mike Bell, RB 

Mike Bell is the man making Thomas less of a factor. Averaging more carries than Thomas over the past few weeks, Bell has established a two-headed monster that was really benefiting no one but the Saints. Bell should be kept on the bench this week as TDs may be hard to predict in this one, and I expect the Saints “PPR” RBs to do better against the Cowboys 3-4 defense.




Reggie Bush, RB


Bush once again reminded people of what he can do in PPR leagues when he is healthy. The Cowboys are actually the perfect team to bring Bush back out against, as he will likely hurt Dallas when it blitzes with it LBs. The Saints are the hardest team for whom to predict TDs and chances, so Bush should only be used as a flex spot in the most desperate of circumstances.




Marques Colston, WR

Colston is a redzone freak. Part of the reason the Saints RBs don’t score TDs is because the WRs excel in the redzone. None are better than Colston. Start him against the Cowboys and their small DBs.

 

Robert Meachem & Devery Henderson, WRs


All Saints’ WRs must be start every week with the understanding that it can be feast or famine. Meachem & Henderson provide mismatches in the secondary for the Saints, and I expect both to come away with some significant yardage. Start either as a third WR.




Jeremy Shockey, TE


No one questions his heart. But I do question his toe. Mediocre reception levels, and no TDs since week six, have me benching Shockey everywhere.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Fantasy Depth Chart’s Week 14 Monday Night Sits & Starts Special

(Check out FantasyDC’s Week 14  Buy/Sell Trade Report ,  Waiver Wire , WRs & TEs Sit/Start and RBs & QBs Sit/Start )

Every week, owners are burned by playing their guys too early on Thursday or waiting too late for a guy on Monday night. Here is a rundown of the guys playing Monday night.

The format is much like my Thursday night articles.

Arizona Cardinals

Kurt Warner QB : Good ol’ Kurt was on fire last week (just like I thought he would be). It’s fair to say though that I am not a big fan of the aging wonder and the 49ers are tough against the pass. Not great, tough.

But tough enough to make fantasy points minimal. Use Warner as a border line QB1 with a strong possibility that he doesn’t get the touchdowns he needs or throws too many interceptions to be anything more than a QB2.

Tim Hightower RB: You can look at my RB & QB article to find more info on Hightower. But needless to say, I’m really liking him this week.

Chris Wells RB: This is the guy you should be high on. But sadly for him, the 49ers will provide plenty of underneath looks to RBs & TEs. Hightower is the man for the job in PPR leagues. If it’s a TD-heavy league, consider Wells a possible flex start at best against the 49ers with little upside.

Larry Fitzgerald WR: Fitzgerald had an okay game against the San Francisco last time around. I expect similar numbers this time around as well. Seventy yards receiving and one TD would not be bad. Start him and hope he explodes.

Anquan Boldin WR: Boldin has been amazing as of late. His rhythm with Warner has been excellent at times. He has 28 receptions in the last four games and I expect him to be the more dominant of the WRs with regards to receptions and yardage. He is worth starting as a WR2 with WR1 PPR upside.

Steve Breaston WR: The only man that could really cut into Boldin’s targets is Breaston. The 49ers like to stay in their 3-4 defense which allows for some slot mismatches. Breaston is not likely to make too many big plays against this defense but could eat into some of the underneath and screen throws to make for a good WR3.

All TEs: The Cardinals have tight ends? I didn’t know that.

San Francisco 49ers

Alex Smith QB: 10 of 31, 201 yards, 1 TD. Those were Shaun Hill’s numbers against the Cardinals in Week 1. Do I think Alex Smith can beat them? Yes. But not by too much.

I’d throw in another TD and another 20-30 yards. He should make for a viable QB for all the owners that benched Roethlisberger (like me) or anyone else that needs a QB due to a bad weather matchup.

Frank Gore RB: Incredibly enough, the Cardinals are an excellent run-stopping team. Thankfully Gore’s true value lately has been in PPR leagues. He could excel this weekend with underneath throws and should be started as a RB1 in all PPR leagues.

Otherwise, he should be treated as a RB2 or maybe even as low as a flex option.

Michael Crabtree WR: Crabtree is really only a TD a game away from becoming a viable fantasy WR. But until he shows that he is an option in the red zone alongside Vernon David, he should be played as a risky WR3. His yardage and receptions are good enough to carry him but a dip in looks (without consistent TDs) will drop his value quickly.

Josh Morgan WR: This guy is basically a duplicate of Crabtree. Both have the potential to put up big games but only if they come through for touchdowns. Vernon Davis is the TD vacuum and neither Morgan nor Crabtree can be played as trusted WR3s even in a good matchup against the Cardinals.

Vernon Davis TE: This is the man I wish I had this week. He has simply gone into freak mode this season and made a lot of people look very foolish for doubting him. His talent level is beyond compare (except for maybe Antonio Gates) and he is not getting the targets he needs to make plenty of plays.

I would start Davis in place of many many many WRs. He is THE TE to play to have starting for you this week.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Fantasy Depth Chart’s Week 13 Sits & Starts (WRs & TEs)

(Check out FantasyDC’s Week 13 Lineup: Buy/Sell Report , Waiver Wire Hawk & Sit/Start: QBs & RBs )

WRs

Start

Chad OchoCinco vs Detroit Lions

Not like you could sit him anyways. He could have a huge day. Think Donald Driver last week type huge just with an extra TD.

 

Pierre Garcon vs Tennessee Titans

This guy has been kinda iffy this year. But with Reggie Wayne drawing Finnegan’s coverage, Garcon should have around 50 yards and a TD. With potential for more receptions, target Garcon as a great WR3.

 

Mike Wallace vs Oakland Raiders

I tend to pimp him out from time to time. This week, the Raiders secondary should handle Holmes. Look for Wallace to carry the Steelers with some deep balls.

 

Malcolm Floyd @ San Diego

The Browns should get lit up. If there is enough to go around (aka Vincent Jackson shares), Floyd could be in for a huge half of fantasy production.

 

Sit

Antonio Bryant @ Carolina Panthers

Much like his QB counterpart, Bryant has show some signs of fantasy life in the last couple weeks. This week, however, will be a let down. Look for Bryant to help close out the season but not this week.

 

Miles Austin @ New York Giants

 Austin and his QB Tony Romo could also face some heavy pressure this week. Romo could still have a good day if Witten, Williams and Crayton come up big. But the one   Cowboy to struggle will be Austin. The guy is super talented, but I expect the Giants to lock him down at the expense of letting others move the ball downfield.

 

Chris Chambers vs Denver Broncos

The veteran has been playing good. But so have the Broncos on the defensive side of the ball. I expect KC to struggle throughout the entire game. Chambers should be listed ranked lower in PPR leagues but is still the best bet for a Chiefs receiving TD.

 

Donnie Avery @ Chicago Bears

The little guy has had some good games lately. But the Bears pass defense is better then they are given credit for and I expect Avery to struggle again a full day of Cover 2.

 

TEs

Tony Gonzalez vs Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles give up more points to TEs then any other NFL team. Look for Chris Redman to take advantage of a make shift LB crew and find Tony G all day long.

 

Jason Witten @ New York Giants

The Giants have failed to produce a good enough pass rush to compensate for their poor secondary. As such, they’ve had to let the big blocking/receivers do damage in the middle of the field. Miles Austin will take defensive priority and allow Witten to have one of his best games of the season.

 

Brent Celek @ Atlanta Falcons

Hate to dip from the same game for the same position, but this one is crucial. Picking TEs to encourage as starts is rough because I’m really only trying to name guys I believe will be in the top five. That said, Celek should have a field day against Atlanta who like the Eagles and Giants have given up plenty of plays to TEs.

 

Sit

Heath Miller vs Oakland Raiders

The Raiders are somehow not given lots of points to TE. Maybe its because you can run on them? I think its because they blitz a lot to make up for poor defense. Look for the Steelers to play conservative and keep Miller in to block for Big Ben.

 

Jeremy Shockey vs Washington Redskins

The big burly TE has had his ups and downs this season. In the midst of a huge Brees performance last week, Shockey went basically unnoticed. This week the Saints will need to keep Shockey in to block a talent Redskins DL.

 

John Carlson vs San Francisco 49ers

Carlson has been spotty at best. Leave him on the bench or waiver wire this week against the 49ers.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Fantasy Depth Chart’s Week 13 Sits & Starts (RBs & QBs)

(Check out FantasyDC’s Week 13 Lineup: Buy/Sell Report & Waiver Wire Hawk )

School is almost done. Until then, I can do nothing but throw out names to you for this week.

RBs

Start:

Jonathan Stewart vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Carolina duo can’t be sat on most weeks. This week is no exception. Going against a very weak defense, consider both RBs lower RB1 type players.

 

Matt Forte vs. St Louis Rams

Sooner or later he’d end up on this side of the list again, right? Well its about that time for Forte to show us what he could do behind a real offensive line. The Rams are BAD against the run. Forte owner’s enjoy the week.

 

LeSean McCoy at Atlanta Falcons

If McCoy again sees the lion’s share of the carries, he should improve upon his 4.5 YPC (for at least the first half) that he posted last week against the Redskins. The Falcons defense is on par with the Redskins in terms of rushing defense, but the Falcons could also find themselves behind where as the Redskins kept thing reasonably close.

 

Sit:

Justin Fargas at Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers are still playing great run defense. Fargas and the Raiders could keep this close with a strong rushing attack so expect the carries but not the yardage associated with RB2 type numbers.

 

Laurence Maroney at Miami Dolphins

The Patriots passing attack was just embarrassed on national television. Of course they were as embarrassed as the passing defense, but that doesn’t really matter. The Patriots will look to get their big names clicking again and making headlines. Maroney should suffer from a lack of looks and an above average rushing defense.

 

Jamal Charles vs Denver Broncos

The Broncos running defense is better then its given credit. RBs have need many carries to post the numbers that have been posted against the Broncos. Jamal Charles will need a lot of looks this weeks if he wants to put up middle tier RB2 type numbers. However. in PPR, he is almost a must start with huge pass receiving upside.

 

QBs

Start:

Matt Hasselback vs. San Francisco 49ers

With injured RBs littering the past few weeks, the Seahawks go up against a formidable run defense in the 49ers. I expect the Seahawks to place the game in Hasselback’s hands and hope they can keep him on his feet. If they can, expect good numbers this week.

 

Matt Leinart/Kurt Warner vs. Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings have actually produced fewer sacks and pass rush then people realize. As the 19th best pass defense in the league, they have had a moderate amount of pass attempts against while still providing decent scoring chances for QBs. I expect a middle tier QB2 game at the very least with some high swinging upside while the Cardinals try to keep up with the Vikings.

 

Shaun Hill at Seattle Seahawks

Oh yeah. I’m double dipping on the same game. Hill has gotten into the endzone a lot lately through Vernon Davis. I think the Seattle 4-3 (and hybrid 3-4) is likely to struggle against the big man.

 

Sit:

Josh Freeman at Carolina Panthers

Freeman shouldn’t be started in any league this week. That includes 2QB leagues. All my readers should know this. But I just wanted to double triple check.

 

Tony Romo vs. New York Giants

The Cowboys have lacked offensive fire power against good defense. Are the Giants a good defense? I can’t say with certainty that they are. But division games also produce some close scoring affairs. I expect this one to be a low scoring game.

 

Joe Flacco at Green Bay Packers

Flacco took quite the beating last week. The Steelers had the number of the offensive line and the Packers have the players to pull off the same type of destruction. As long as Flacco is nursing a sore ankle, he will struggle against the blitz.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Fantasy DC’s Week 13: Waiver Wire Hawk

 

(Check out FantasyDC’s Week 13 Buy/Sell Trade Report & Thursday Night Sit/Start )

PHI WR3 Jason Avant

20 targets over the last three weeks, but only 42 on the season. Considering how the Eagles like to spread the ball around, it can be frustrating to own any of their receivers. That being said, DeSean Jackson will likely miss some action, which should only mean more looks for an up-and-coming receiver in a pass-heavy offense.

Jason Avant has been a vacuum for the Eagles over the last three weeks and could see even more looks with DeSean Jackson likely to miss some time.

Advice: Assuming Jackson is out, he’s worth a spot start this week if you’re desperate for a WR in any 12 team+ league. He is definitely worth at least a bench spot in deep leagues and in some standard formats.

 

PHI WR4 Reggie Brown

Is expected to start this week against Atlanta with DeSean Jackson likely on the shelf. He could easily see six to seven targets on a team that is averaging 36 pass attempts per game and possibly more if the Eagles are trailing.

Advice: Won’t help you much once Jackson is back, so you’re better off rolling with Avant. That said, he’s not the worst one week fill-in.

 

WAS TE1 Fred Davis

Chris Cooley was officially placed on Injured Reserve, which means Davis is the starter for the rest of the season. Since Cooley was injured a few weeks ago, Davis has been targeted 10, four, six, three, and nine times, respectively. That is clearly a bit inconsistent, but not terrible for a tight end.

Advice: Borderline starter in 16 team leagues and should be on someone’s bench in all but shallow leagues. Considering the potential he has to catch 5-7 balls, if you’re shaky at tight end, he’s at least worth a spot as your backup.

 

ATL RB2 Jerious Norwood & RB3 Jason Snelling

Snelling was the main man in week 11 when Michael Turner and Norwood were out, but saw only four carries in week 12 when both were active. If Turner misses more action, you should expect Snelling and Norwood to split the carries, with Norwood seeing a heavier dose of the third down looks and Snelling carrying the ball more, primarily near the goal line. If Turner is active, Norwood will spell him and Snelling won’t see more than five looks.

Advice: Norwood’s production will be limited to no more than a few carries and several targets a game regardless of whether it’s Turner or Snelling stealing a majority of the carries and goal line looks. He’s worth a bench spot in deeper leagues and a start if you’re desperate in a PPR league and Turner is out. Snelling should be on someone’s bench in all leagues considering Turner’s health issues.

 

CHI WR3 Johnny Knox

Knox is probably owned in most of your leagues, but some owners have been dumping him after a poor November. He went without a score from weeks 7-11 before finally catching one in week 12. The week 12 score might prompt people to jump back on the bandwagon, but consider that he was targeted only twice in week 12 and five times the week before.

He’s made some big plays and Chicago is throwing more than all but two teams, but he’s the fourth or fifth option in the pass game most weeks and is lucky to have six balls thrown his way.

Advice: The potential is there for the rookie, but he’s too shaky to start right now. If you have room, leave him on your bench and keep an eye on the target numbers.

 

STL WR2 Brandon Gibson & WR3 Danny Amendola

Gibson has now been targeted a grand total of 33 times over the last three games, but only 15 of those looks were receptions and those catches were translated into only 172 yards and zero touchdowns. Amendola is back as a relevant contributor to the passing game after Keenan Burton’s season-ending injury with 15 targets for 11 catches over the last two games.

Advice: The Rams’ offense has been better as of late, but it isn’t going to score touchdowns very often, which means limited value for its wide receivers not named Donnie Avery.

That being said, both are seeing a ton of looks and with looks comes production. Both are worth bench spots in deep leagues, but you shouldn’t feel comfortable with them in your starting lineup.

 

HOU RB2 Chris Brown & RB3 Ryan Moats

The Texans’ cloudy running back situation has taken form over the last few weeks. It appears that Brown will see most of the carries and Slaton won’t be far behind. Slaton will also be used heavily as a pass catcher out of the backfield. Ryan Moats is not being used at all and likely won’t be unless Slaton struggles or is injured.

Advice: Brown should be treated very much like Beanie Wells. He’s going to carry it 10-15 times most weeks and could score a touchdown here or there, but his value will always be limited (especially in PPR) because another back (Slaton for HOU and Hightower for ARZ) is stealing a portion of the carries and third down looks.

 

TEN WR2 Kenny Britt

Vince Young and the rookie Britt seem to be developing some chemistry and that could bode well for Britt’s stock going forward. He’s been targeted by Young 16 times over the last two weeks and has responded with 11 catches for 170 yards and two scores.

Britt should continue to see a respectable amount of looks over the next few weeks, but two things will consider to hinder Britt’s stock. (1) Justin Gage is still out with a back injury and could return and take back his starting job soon. (2) Tennessee is throwing the ball only 22-25 times a game most weeks now that Young is behind center. The 43 pass attempts in week 12 are not something you can expect to see going forward.

Advice: Britt is definitely worth a roster spot in deep leagues, but you shouldn’t feel comfortable with him as a starter in a your standard 12 team league.

 

PIT WR3 Mike Wallace

Wallace has caught only three balls total over the last three games with the lowlight of his season coming in week 12 when Dennis Dixon failed to connect with him on any of the four passes thrown his way.

Advice: Although the rut started while Roethlisberger was behind center, it is not time to give up on Wallace. The Steelers will continue to throw his way five to seven times a game, which has been enough for him to put up decent numbers. He’s not someone you want as a No. 1 or No. 2 WR, but he’s a respectable third option in most leagues.

 

CLE WR1 Mohamed Massaquoi & WR2 Chansi Stuckey

Massaquoi (20 targets over the last two weeks) and Stuckey (14) seem to have earned the trust of Brady Quinn, who has thrown their way a ton over the last two weeks. Stuckey has been more consistent, with five catches and a score in week 11 and four catches in week 12, while Massaquoi went from five catches, 115 yards, and a score in week 11 to only one catch in week 12.

Advice: Massaquoi is Quinn’s No. 1 option, which gives him at least some value in most formats. He’s not the worst you can do in 16 team leagues, but his production is too volatile to be starting him in 12 teamers. Stuckey seems to be developing chemistry with his new quarterback, but don’t expect much more than a few looks and catches each week from him in this shaky offense.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Fantasy DC’s Week 13: Buy/Sell Report

Thanksigiving hit the FantasyDC team HARD. Hope you enjoyed your holidays and survived without us! Now back to your regularly scheduled program! 🙂

Donald Driver GB, WR

Jon Dove—Buy— Driver has been the most consistent fantasy receiver for the Packers.  Driver would be a nice addition for the remainder of the season.  Keeper league owners beware that Driver is getting older and his skills may diminish as the seasons progress.

Billy Smith-Buy— If you need a third wide receiver, Driver might be your guy. He is having a solid season, but I wouldn’t count on big numbers every week.

 

Fred Jackson BUF, RB

Jon Dove—Hold—Jackson has seem to take over as the lead back in Buffalo but that could change at anytime.  My prediction is that Lynch will get some of his carries back.  Moving forward it’s a shaking situation due to the upcoming coaching change.

Billy Smith—Sell— Jackson got off to a great start, but has tailed off due to Marshawn Lynch returning. Lynch has been banged up and Jackson has taken advantage. However, if you didn’t sell Jackson earlier, this might be the best time.

 

Vince Young TEN, QB

Jon Dove—Buy— At the beginning of the season I thought that the Titians offense would have a balanced attack due to the upgrades at wide receiver.  It seems as though this is finally coming true.  Young is young and has been playing well. The future seems to bright again for Vince Young.

Billy Smith—Buy—As a Titan follower I will say I was down on VY. That was until last week when he proved to me he can be a productive QB in the league. He used his legs to make plays with his arm. If he keeps throwing the ball like he did Sunday, he will have some nice passing numbers and great fantasy value.

 

Kenny Britt TEN, WR

Jon Dove—Buy— Britt is a big play threat and will only get better as the season continues.  Having Young at quarter back adds a new dimension to this offense.  A lot of big plays can happen when Vince breaks the pocket.

Billy Smith—Buy— Britt is the future #1 guy in Tennessee. He is getting more and more looks every week. I would buy Britt, especially in a keeper league.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Fantasy DC’s Week Eight Waiver Wire Hawk

(Look for FantasyDC’s Buy/Sell Report  & Waiver Wire Rush out already! Also look out for tomorrow’s Week Eight Sit/Start article!)

Each week I will predict next week’s hot waiver wire pickups so you can snag them before they become a hot commodity. I will continue to focus mainly on running backs and wide receivers because that is where your bread is buttered in fantasy football.

The players are listed in order of relevance, and it is up to you to decide on which one is valuable enough to fit in a league your size. Make sure you don’t miss this article each week to become the waiver hawk in your league.

The two waiver wire darlings of this week are San Francisco’s Alex Smith and the Jets’ Shonn Greene, who are nice options if available now in your leagues. Had I the ability to predict injuries, Greene would have been a sure pickup last week. 

Other than San Francisco quarterback Shaun Hill’s bad performance, we put up a respectable performance last week.

Oakland’s Justin Fargas was No. 1 on my list last week and is being mentioned in many articles this week as Michael Bush is rumored to be falling out of good faith with the team. 

Green Bay receiver James Jones got in the end zone as promised.

So did Jets receiver David Clowney as he had a nice day, including 79 yards and a touchdown.

Arizona’s Beanie Wells was one of the main pickups as well and was mentioned in my under-owned section. On to Week Eight.

 

This Week’s Pickups

 

Mewelde Moore RB, Pittsburgh Steelers (Eight Percent)

Yes, he is on a bye week. This is in reality a pickup that won’t show up in main fantasy circles for two weeks. I suggest that you snag him now if you can find room before someone smart finds a place to stash him.

Rashard Mendenhall continues to have trouble with fumbling and Willie Parker is struggling.

Moore was very productive down the stretch last year and I expect Tomlin to turn to him to carry the load again.

Pittsburgh plays against Oakland and Cleveland Weeks 13 and 14 and would be a respectable playoff RB option you could stash until then.

 

Mike Thomas WR, Jacksonville Jaguars (One Percent)

Thomas was targeted nine times in Week Six and takes on the weakest pass defense in the league in Tennessee.

It is fairly clear to me that Thomas is being worked into the offense more as the team is looking to develop its future.

We know that it is very hard to run against Tennessee and all three Jaguar receivers could be started this week in deep leagues.

 

Kenny Britt WR, Tennessee Titans (11 Percent)

Britt has seemingly unnoticed been the most targeted receiver in the Tennessee offense the last three weeks.

This offense has been poor so his value is limited. But, he should see a lot of looks and has a great matchup against the third-worst pass defense in the league in Jacksonville.

Britt has all the physical tools to break out in his rookie year and this could be the week that he makes an impact.

 

Correll Buckhalter RB, Denver Broncos (38 Percent)

Mentioned in my under-owned section last week, Buckhalter is now featured.

Coming off a bye week, Denver takes on the Baltimore Ravens. Buckhalter showed he is healthy last week and I believe he could be a big part of a run first offense with a great offensive line this week.

McDaniels is smart and I believe he has figured out that Baltimore has allowed the second-most receptions to running backs this season.

Baltimore is not the great defense that we are used to and can be beat with the screen. I expect the screen pass play to be featured heavily this week. Both Knowshon Moreno and Buckhalter should see a nice jump in value.

 

Austin Collie WR, Indianapolis Colts (63 Percent)

Collie is owned in a large majority of leagues. However, this is the week that he truly becomes universally owned.

Wayne is questionable against San Francisco. Even if he does not play, I expect him to be limited. 

Expect Collie to get most of the looks since San Francisco will try to limit Dallas Clark over the middle of the field.

Garcon is steadily losing more looks to Collie and Collie is looking like he has the ability to challenge Anthony Gonzalez for his starting gig.

 

These Guys Should Be Owned in More Leagues

Anthony Gonzalez WR, Indianapolis Colts (44 percent), Knowshown Moreno RB, Denver Broncos (83 percent), Torry Holt WR, Jacksonville Jaguars (64 percent), Justin Fargas RB,Oakland Raiders (13 percent), Carnell Williams RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (54 percent), Mike Bell RB, New Orleans Saints (39 percent), Hakeem Nicks WR, New York Giants (68 percent), Beanie Wells RB, Arizona Cardinals (44 percent).

 

Biggest Movers from Past Articles

The first percentage is where I talked them up. The second percentage number is the highest percentage the players were owned.

Austin Collie WR, Indianapolis Colts (seven percent) (63 percent), Carnell Williams, RB Tampa Bay Buccaneers (22 percent) (65 percent), Fred Jackson, RB Buffalo Bills (49 percent) (85 percent), Correll Buckhalter RB, Denver Broncos (22 percent) (42 percent), Laurent Robinson WR, St. Louis Rams (five percent) (23 percent), Johnny Knox WR, Chicago Bears (one percent) (63 percent), Mario Manningham (nine percent) (88 percent), Steve Smith (28 percent) (93 percent) WR, New York Giants, Tashard Choice RB, Dallas Cowboys (10 percent) (46 percent), Jerome Harrison RB, Cleveland Browns (two percent) (38 percent), Pierre Garcon WR, Indianapolis Colts (eight percent) (69 percent), Mike Sims-Walker Jacksonville Jaguars (25 percent) (85 percent), Miles Austin WR, Dallas Cowboys (18 percent) (84 percent), Jermichael Finley TE, Green Bay Packers (eight percent) (27 percent), Hakeem Nicks WR, New York Giants (13 percent) (55 percent), Mohammad Massaquoi  WR, Cleveland Browns (zero percent) (24 percent).

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

NFC Team By Team Notes: Position Breakdown

Note: Everything you see here is pretty straightforward with one exception: The percentages in parentheses after the name of each RB/WR/TE. For WR and TE, the number is the percent of the team’s targets that went to that player so far this season. For RB, the first number is the percent of the team’s carries that the player has received and the second number, like with WR and TE, is the percent of the team’s targets that went to that player.

 

 

Dallas

 

QB1: Tony Romo – Averaging 14 yards-per-completion, which is second best in the NFL behind only Philip Rivers. 6:4 TD:INT ratio needs improvement.
RB1: Marion Barber (43%, 3%) – Still the starter, but Choice and Jones will continue to share a big chunk of the workload.
RB2: Tashard Choice (32%, 10%) – Expected to see a bigger chunk of the carries going forward.
RB3: Felix Jones (15%, 1%) – 10.1 yards-per-carry is the best mark in the NFL.

WR1: Roy Williams (15%) – Hasn’t produced and is injury plagued, but is still the team’s WR1.
WR2: Miles Austin (17%) – Austin will replace Crayton as a starter this week after his explosive week five performance. He leads NFL WRs (min. 25 targets) with a 22.1 yards per reception mark.
WR3: Patrick Crayton (20%) – Lost his starting job to Austin, but should still contribute with a few catches a game.
WR4: Sam Hurd (6%) –

TE1: Jason Witten (20%) –Witten is averaging just 9.3 yards per completion and has just one TD. That is especially scary considering he is catching an NFC best 85 percent of passes thrown to him.
TE2: Martellus Bennett (7%) – Has caught an NFL worst 36 percent of passes thrown his way.

 

 

New York

 

QB1: Eli Manning – 13.8 yards-per-completion ranks him third in the NFL, while his 10.9 percent touchdown/completion mark is third best in the league. 11:3 TD:INT ratio is outstanding.
RB1: Brandon Jacobs (54%, 5%) – 3.6 yards per carry is killing his value, but don’t overlook that he is 11th in the league in looks. 0.9 percent of his carries have resulted in a touchdown, which is one of the league’s worst marks.
RB2: Ahmad Bradshaw (34%, 4%) – 6.2 yards per carry is fourth best in the NFL, but he won’t be passing Jacobs out on the depth chart any time soon.
RB3: Gartrell Johnson (6%, 1%) –

WR1: Steve Smith (29%) – 54 targets rank him third in the league.
WR2: Mario Manningham (24%) – 16.7 percent of his receptions have been touchdowns, which is one of the league’s best marks.
WR3: Hakeem Nicks (11%) – 25 percent of his receptions have been for a TD, which is the highest mark in the league for a WR with 20+ targets. He leads the team in targets the last two weeks.
WR4: Domenik Hixon (7%) – Was targeted seven times in the team’s week six game, but his value is limited as the WR4.

TE1: Kevin Boss (9%) – Not seeing a ton of looks, but is averaging 14.6 yards per reception, which is third in the NFL among TEs.
TE2: Travis Beckum (3%) –
TE3: Darcy Johnson (3%) –

 

 

Philadelphia

 

QB1: Donovan McNabb – Coming off a rough week, but his 12.8 yards-per-completion is 5th best in the NFL and his 10.4 percent of his completions have been touchdowns, which is 4th best in the NFL.
QB2: Michael Vick – Only one touch in week six.

RB1: Brian Westbrook (33%, 12%) – Has missed a lot of action so far, but he is still 14th in the league in targets with 22.
RB2: LeSean McCoy (39%, 8%) – Basically splitting the carries with Westbrook right down the middle.

WR1: DeSean Jackson (22%) – 48 rushing yards are the most for a NFC WR.
WR2: Jeremy Maclin (12%) – As long as Curtis is out, Maclin is a solid play. Had just one catch in week 6, but was targeted six times.
WR3: Kevin Curtis (7%) – Still battling injuries, but if he’s healthy and in the starting lineup, he has some value.
WR4: Jason Avant (9%) –
WR5: Reggie Brown (1%) – Brandon Gibson was traded this week, which means Reggie Brown is the unquestioned WR5.

TE1: Brent Celek (21%) – 378 receiving yards are 3rd most in the NFL for a TE.
TE2: Alex Smith (1%) –

 

 

Washington

 

QB1: Jason Campbell – Campbell is struggling with a 6:6 TD:INT ratio and is certainly on the hot seat, but will start this Sunday vs. Philadelphia.
QB2: Todd Collins – Saw some action in week six, but completed less than half of his 14 passes.

RB1: Clinton Portis (72%, 7%) – Isn’t having the year he had in 2008, but will continue to contribute as long as he is top 10 in the NFL in looks. 0.9 percent of his carries have resulted in a touchdown, which is one of the league’s worst marks.
RB2: Ladell Betts (7%, 8%) – Averaging just 1.9 yards per carry, but on only 11 carries.
RB3: Rock Cartwright (0%, 2%) – Marcus Mason was the team’s third RB option, but he was cut earlier this week, moving Cartwright back to the RB3 slot.

WR1: Santana Moss (22%) – Has consistently been targeted 5-6 times a game, but can only go as far as the Redskins’ pass game lets him.
WR2: Antwaan Randle El (15%) – Lost the starting job to Kelly prior to the season, but he’s been the team’s second best WR option.
WR3: Malcolm Kelly (9%) – Has caught only 44 percent of the passes thrown his way.
WR4: Devin Thomas (6%) – 6.5 yards per reception mark is worst in the NFC for WRs with 10+ looks. Has caught only 40 percent of the passes thrown his way.

TE1: Chris Cooley (23%) – Might be the team’s second best receiver and has seen more passes thrown his way than anyone else on the team.
TE2: Fred Davis (4%) –

 

 

Chicago

 

QB1: Jay Cutler – 4.1percent of his passes have resulted in an interception, which is 6th worst in the NFL. 10 TDs are nice, however.

RB1: Matt Forte (72%, 13%) – Getting a larger chunk of his team’s rushing load than all but 4 NFL running backs. 3.4 yards per carry and 1.2 percent TD/Carry rate needs improvement.
RB2: Garrett Wolfe (12%, 1%) – Will have solid value if Forte were to go down.
RB3: Adrian Peterson (4%, 1%) –

WR1: Devin Hester (16%) – Leads the receivers in catches with 20 and yards with 272.
WR2: Johnny Knox (18%) – 17.6% of his catches have been touchdowns, which is one of the league’s best marks.
WR3: Earl Bennett (15%) – Continues to see about the same workload as Hester and Knox.
WR4: Rashied Davis (1%) –

TE1: Greg Olsen (21%) – Has caught just 43 percent of passes thrown his way, which is third worst in the league among TEs.
TE2: Desmond Clark (6%) – Good for about four looks a game, which is more than can be said about some starting TEs.

 

 

Detroit

 

QB1: Matt Stafford – Only 3.8 percent of his completions have been touchdowns, which is one of the NFL’s worst marks. His 4.3 percent interception/attempt mark is fifth worst in the NFL. Right now he is out with an injury and could be out for a few more weeks.
QB2: Daunte Culpepper – 2:1 TD:INT ratio in limited action so far. Not getting the yardage Stafford was, but has also been playing without Calvin Johnson.

RB1: Kevin Smith (69%, 12%) – Has had some injury issues, but is still 5th in the league in looks. 3.2 YPC is too low.
RB2: Maurice Morris (8%, 2%) – Hasn’t made much of an impact as Smith’s backup.
RB3: Aaron Brown (8%, 2%) – Sharing time with Morris as the backup RB and actually has the exact same amount of looks.
RB4: Jerome Fulton (5%, 4%) – One of the few fullbacks you’ll see here, but he’s seeing enough action to warrant some attention

WR1: Calvin Johnson (19%) – Only one TD so far despite 40 targets. He’s missed almost all of the last 2 games with an injury, but could be back in week seven.
WR2: Bryant Johnson (18%) – Averaging about six looks a game.
WR3: Dennis Northcutt (13%) – Was brought in to run the slot and he’s done exactly that.
WR4: Derrick Williams (3%) –

TE1: Brandon Pettigrew (14%) – No NFL TE has failed to score a touchdown and been targeted more than Pettigrew. He seems to only contribute when Stafford is behind center.
TE2: Will Heller (8%) –

 

Green Bay

 

QB1: Aaron Rodgers – Racking up 13.7 yards-per-completion, which is fourth best in the NFL. Only 1.2 percent of his passes have been intercepted, which is the sixth best mark in the league. 8:2 is his TD:INT rate.
RB1: Ryan Grant (73%, 9%) – 73 percent mark is the third highest in the league and he’s also been targeted about 3 times a game.
RB2: Brandon Jackson (2%, 1%) – Finally healthy, he will need to step right in and replace injured Wynn as the RB2.
RB3: Ahman Green (0%, 0%) – Signed on Wednesday to replace DeShawn Wynn as the RB3 after he was placed on IR.

WR1: Greg Jennings (19%) – It’s been an up and down season for Jennings, but he is still Rodgers’ go-to WR.
WR2: Donald Driver (23%) – Driver has actually seen seven more targets than Jennings and has eight more catches, 91 more yards, and one more TD.
WR3: James Jones (7%) – Jones and Nelson have split the WR3 production right down the middle.
WR4: Jordy Nelson (7%) – Is expected to miss a few weeks with an injury, which will allow to Jones to further supplant him as the WR3.

TE1: Jermichael Finley (12%) – Appears to now be the top option at tight end. His 15.3 yards per reception mark is the highest in the NFC for TEs with 10+ looks.
TE2: Donald Lee (14%) –

 

 

Minnesota

 

QB1: Brett Favre – No one would’ve guessed it, but Favre has actually been one of the quarterbacks least prone to the interception this season with a Int/Att rate of 1.1 percent, which is 4th best in the league. His 12:2 TD:INT ratio is one of the best in football.
RB1: Adrian Peterson (70%, 9%) – Leads the NFL rushing thanks to a 5.2 YPC carry mark, is fourth in the NFL in looks, and third in total yards. He has caught 88 percent of the passes thrown his way, which is the NFC’s best mark for RBs with 10+ targets
RB2: Chester Taylor (21%, 15%) – Despite playing a backup role, Taylor still can make a solid contribution in PPR leagues thanks to his 27 targets, which is the eighth most among running backs.

WR1: Bernard Berrian (21%) – Was shut out in week one, but has done well since, leading the team in targets.
WR2: Sidney Rice (19%) – Rice has come on very strong with Favre behind center. His 23 catches and 409 yards lead the team.
WR3: Percy Harvin (16%) – Harvin will continue to make plays, but he’s third behind Rice and Berrian in targets the last three weeks.

TE1: Visanthe Shiancoe (12%) – A red zone machine, Shiancoe has scored on just under 30% of his receptions and leads all TEs with five scores.
TE2: Jim Kleinsasser (3%) –

 

 

Atlanta

 

QB1: Matt Ryan – 9:4 TD:INT ratio isn’t bad, but this team will continue to run more than most teams, which as expected, limits his fantasy value.
RB1: Michael Turner (69%, 3%) – Turner has turned 6 percent of his carries in to a TD, which is the league’s 8th best mark. His 3.5 yards per carry mark is disappointing.
RB2: Jerious Norwood (13%, 6%) – Has had injury issues all season, but is extremely valuable if Turner is out. He is expected to miss a few more weeks.
RB3: Jason Snelling (8%, 8%) – Filling in for Norwood as the RB2 while he is out.

WR1: Roddy White (27%) – Ryan is using his top WR a ton and it’s paid off for White with 4 scores.
WR2: Michael Jenkins (18%) – No TDs yet for Jenkins, but he’s been solid as the WR2.
WR3: Brian Finneran (5%) –
WR4: Marty Booker (6%) –

TE1: Tony Gonzalez (24%) – Hasn’t exactly dominated, but does have three TDs.
TE2: Justin Peelle (2%) –

 

 

Carolina

 

QB1: Jake Delhomme – 7.5 percent interception/attempt mark is the worst in the NFL. The team appears to be returning to its run heavy style, which bodes well for the team, but not for Delhomme’s already dim fantasy value.
RB1: DeAngelo Williams (59%, 12%) – Williams was a slow starter in 2008 and the same can be said about 2009 (at least until his big week six performance). He will continue to share the workload with Stewart, but is still one of the most valuable/consistent RBs in the league.
RB2: Jonathan Stewart (33%, 6%) – Racking up 1/3 of the carries on the season, but saw over half in the team’s week six win.

WR1: Steve Smith (31%) – No NFL receiver has been targeted by his team at a higher rate than Smith. He also has the most targets in the league for a player with no touchdowns.
WR2: Muhsin Muhammad (27%) – Muhammad’s 27 percent rate is fifth highest in the NFL.
WR3: Kenny Moore (3%) – One of the few WR3’s who are a complete non factor.
WR4: Dwayne Jarrett (1%) –

TE1: Dante Rosario (10%) – One of the most prolific TD scoring TE duos, Rosario and King have combined for four touchdowns on just 17 catches (24 percent). By themselves, they ranked second and third in the NFL in TD/Rec percentage.
TE2: Jeff King (7%) – See Rosario

 

 

New Orleans

 

QB1: Drew Brees – An NFL best 11.8 percent of his completions have gone for a touchdown. 13:2 TD:INT ratio is one of the NFL’s best.
RB1: Pierre Thomas (28%, 3%) – 5.9 yards per carry mark is seventh best in the league, while his 6.3 percent TD/carry mark is 6th best. Great back, but is stuck in a platoon.
RB2: Mike Bell (35%, 1%) – Bell is back from injury and it appears he and Thomas will split their share of the workload right down the middle.
RB3: Reggie Bush (24%, 16%) – 12th among running backs with 25 targets. He will continue to play the pass receiving role with Bell and Thomas carrying more of the traditional RB work.

WR1: Marques Colston (22%) – Colston will continue to thrive as the top WR on arguably the best pass offense in the league.
WR2: Devery Henderson (16%) – Seeing a handful of looks a game and always has at least some value in this offense.
WR3: Robert Meachem (7%) – 25.2 yards per reception mark leads the NFC (min. 10 looks)
WR4: Lance Moore (7%) – Has caught 82 percent of the passes thrown to him, which is tied for the highest mark in the NFC for a WR with 10+ looks.

TE1: Jeremy Shockey (18%) – 9.0 yards per completion is one of the lowest marks for a TE.
TE2: David Thomas (3%) –

 

Tampa Bay

 

QB1: Josh Johnson – The NFL’s top rushing QB has racked up 141 yards already, which is a solid 14 fantasy points in most formats. On the flip side, his 5.1 percent  interception/attempt mark is the fourth worst in the NFL.
RB1: Cadillac Williams (47%, 9%) – Appears to be the undisputed RB1 and is doing a nice job, averaging 4.3 yards per carry and catching 15 of the 18 balls thrown his way.
RB2: Derrick Ward (24%, 4%) – Ward was expected to play a large role in the team’s run offense, but has taken a back seat to Williams and had just two looks in week six.
RB3: Earnest Graham (6%, 2%) –

WR1: Antonio Bryant (14%) – Having an up and down season, but he’s still the teams top WR.
WR2: Michael Clayton (16%) – Has caught just 33 percent of the passes thrown his way, which is the lowest mark in the NFC among WRs with 10+ looks.
WR3: Sam Stroughter (12%) – Has quietly been a consistent contributor to the offense
WR4: Maurice Stovall (4%) –

TE1: Kellen Winslow II (22%) – No NFL tight end has more looks than Winslow, who has 47.
TE2: Jerramy Stevens (10%) – Hasn’t seen as many looks with Johnson behind center.

 

 

Arizona

 

QB1: Kurt Warner – Has thrown more passes than anyone in the NFC, but his 201 attempts place him just seventh overall in the NFL. 8:5 TD:INT needs improvement.
RB1: Tim Hightower (52%, 16%) – Still the third most targeted running back in the league thanks to that huge week one performance, but his 3.1 yards per carry mark is the worst in the NFC for a starting RB.
RB2: Chris Wells (35%, 0%) – Has just one target to go with his 35 carries, which is the worst ratio in the NFL for backs with 20+ touches. He continues to take the back seat to Hightower.
RB3: LaRod Stephens-Howling (1%, 3%) –

WR1: Larry Fitzgerald (24%) – 50 targets rank him 9th in the NFL and he is the only WR in the league with more than four receiving touchdowns (five).
WR2: Anquan Boldin (21%) – Boldin, as usual, cannot stay healthy and it is costing his fantasy owners. Despite the injuries, he does have 44 targets, which is only six behind Fitzgerald.
WR3: Steve Breaston (14%) – Breaston missed some time with injury, but has racked up almost eight targets game since his return.
WR4: Jerheme Urban (11%) – Most teams do not have a WR4 who contributes as much as Urban, who will continue to see a few targets a game in this pass heavy offense.

TE1: Ben Patrick (1%) – Patrick was suspended for the team’s first four games, but returned in week six. He should take over as the team’s top receiving TE, although that isn’t saying much as the Cardinals barely look to the TE.
TE2: Stephen Spach (3%) –
TE3: Anthony Becht (3%) –

 

 

Seattle

 

QB1: Matt Hasselbeck – 11.1 percent of his completions are touchdown passes, which is the NFL’s best mark behind only Drew Brees. His 7:3 TD:INT ratio benefited from a big 4:0 week five, but he has a good group of WRs and should be a solid play all season.
RB1: Julius Jones (48%, 6%) – Jones, as expected, has fallen off after a big start to the year, but will continue to see a majority of the carries.
RB2: Edgerrin James (26%, 1%) – 2.7 yards per carry is sixth worst in the league.
RB3: Justin Forsett (12%, 6%) – Stuck in the RB3 role, but his 5.7 yards per carry mark is eighth in the league for RBs with 20 plus touches

WR1: TJ Houshmandzadeh (24%) – 53 targets rank him fifth in the league. He continues as one of the best PRR WRs of the decade.
WR2: Nate Burleson (24%) – 54 targets rank him third in the NFL. Burleson has had nine TD seasons twice already in his career so don’t overlook his productive start.
WR3: Deion Branch (9%) – Managing just 7.8 yards per reception, but has seen 17 targets over the last 3 weeks.
WR4: Deon Butler (4%) –

TE1: John Carlson (18%) – Hasn’t done much the last few weeks, but is still seeing a nice amount of looks for a tight end. If you’re desperate at TE, he’s a good buy low.
TE2: John Owens (2%) –

 

 

San Francisco

 

QB1: Shaun Hill – Not throwing for a ton of yards or touchdowns, but is avoiding interceptions with a 1.4% Int/Att mark.
RB1: Frank Gore (31%, 8%) – Fifth in the league with a 6.2 yards per carry mark and is expected to be back from his injury this week. Seven point seven percent of his carries have been touchdowns, which is the 2nd highest mark in the league.
RB2: Glen Coffee (56%, 11%) – Was forced to start with Gore out, but struggled to a yard per carry mark of just 2.6, which is fourth worst in the NFL.
RB3: Moran Norris (5%, 4%) –

WR1: Isaac Bruce (21%) – Everyone felt Bruce was the odd man out of the starting lineup when the team drafted Crabtree. But Bruce stepped up as the most targeted WR and will now keep his job despite Crabtree’s activation this week.
WR2: Michael Crabtree (0%) – Crabtree finally signed as is expected to make his pro debut in week 7. As is always the case with rookie WRs, expectations should be limited.
WR3: Josh Morgan (16%) – Morgan lost his job to Crabtree, but could re-take it if the rookie struggles. He has not met expectations in five games of work this season.
WR4: Arnaz Battle (4%) –

TE1: Vernon Davis (28%) – No tight end has been targeted by their team at a higher rate than Davis has been by the 49ers.
TE2: Delanie Walker (6%) –

 

St. Louis

 

QB1: Marc Bulger – 10.0 yards-per-completion is one of the league’s worst marks, but his 0.9% interception/attempt mark is third best in the NFL. This offense is a mess, but they run smoother when Bulger is behind center. His TD:INT ratio sits at 3:1.
RB1: Steven Jackson (81%, 16%) – Leads the NFL in looks (151) and touches (140), but has yet to score a touchdown. Only three runningbacks have been targeted more than Jackson and he is 4th in the league in total yards.
RB2: Kenneth Darby (5%, 2%) – Is getting more work than Gado, but it’s hard to see much playing time when you’re stuck behind Jackson.
RB3: Samkon Gado (3%, 1%) –

WR1: Donnie Avery (18%) – Struggling with injuries this season, but has come on strong the last few weeks. He could be out with another injury in week seven.
WR2: Keenan Burton (17%) – Not going to do much in this offense, but is starting and had 15 targets the last 2 games.
WR3: Danny Amendola (6%) – Has caught 82 percent of the passes thrown to him, which is tied for the highest mark in the NFC for a WR with 10+ looks.
WR4: Brandon Gibson (0%) – Acquired from Philadelphia this week and should make an impact almost immediately due to the team’s lack of depth.

TE1: Randy McMichael (15%) – No NFL TE has failed to score a touchdown and been targeted more than McMichael
TE2: Daniel Fells (8%) –

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Fantasy Depth Chart’s Week Five Sits and Starts

After a huge week four, I wrote a special article reviewing the entire week. Let’s list the yearly recap and head into week five predictions.

Week 1: 11-5, Week 2: 15-8, Week 3: 12-9, Week 4: 11-6

 

RBs

Start:

Larry Johnson vs. Dallas Cowboys—I know some of you think I’m crazy, but child please. The Dallas Cowgirls have given up 11 rushing TDs this season. With their passing defense even worse, Matt Cassel should be able to provide some red zone carries for the once fantasy stud. I wish Johnson was more PPR friendly—because this matchup would be even sweeter—but still consider Johnson a strong flex play and capable RB2 spot start.

Rashard Mendenhall @ Detroit Lions—This one is as easy as they come. I don’t trust Mendenhall, but a renewed Steelers offensive line should be able to push down the Lions. The Steelers will do what the Bears were unable to, which is to open up consistent big gains for their second-year RB.

Knowshon Moreno vs, New England Patriots—This matchup is being hyped more than it deserves, but the Denver Broncos have the offense to make the Patriots pay. Pass catching RBs have had great PPR days against New England and, without Buckhalter available, Moreno looks to fulfill plenty of roles on Sunday. The only concern owners should have is his ability to carry a full load. But one game shouldn’t kill the young man. Start with confidence the former Bulldog.

Timothy Hightower vs. Houston Texans—The de-vaunted Texans’ run defense has been way overblown. They have been fairly consistent in stopping the run and, when they do get beat, letting themselves get beat bad. However, I don’t see Hightower breaking off too many deep runs. I do see plenty of goal-line carries and numerous chances to get into the secondary in the passing game. Hightower is a better PPR start this week, but should be a flex start in every league that has the position.

 

Sit:

Cedric Benson @ Baltimore Ravens—This is a gimme. Just avoid any RB that plays the Ravens or Titans. However, if bye weeks force you into this spot, Benson will do better against the Ravens than the average RB. Being a division game will help both teams move the ball, but only start Benson as a desperate flex or RB2.

Ronnie Brown vs New York Jets—The Jets’ defense is giving up 100 yards a game and looks prime for a decent game from the Brown led Dolphins. However last year’s Jets defense only provided Ronnie Brown games of 23 and 57 yards, despite giving up 94 yards per game for the year. Now, it is correct to say that one of those games was the first game of the season, but let’s look at what a Rex Ryan defense did to Ronnie Brown last year: 27 yards on 13 carries (week seven) and 19 yards on 12 carries (wild card weekend). Do you see what I’m getting at? Rex Ryan could help the Jets play even better against the Dolphins on Monday night.

Justin Fargas @ New York Giants—This again goes without saying. But someone out there is excited he’ll be starting and will make the mistake of spot-starting him against a great NY defense. Bench Fargas everywhere.

 

QBs

Start:

Peyton Manning @ Tennessee Titans—This game reeks of trap. I have half a mind to put Manning in the “sit” section simply out of fear. But the stats don’t lie (and neither does the video tape). The Titans’ pass defense is the league’s worst and they are going up against the league’s best (damn straight I just said it) QB. This should be a no-brainer. So on to the fun ones!

Seneca Wallace/Matt Hasselbeck vs Jacksonville Jaguars—Like the Titans, the Jags can’t put it together on defense. Whichever QB starts for the Seahawks will put up good numbers for the week. Last week, the offense seemed to find a little more cohesion, and that should pay off this week.

Matt Cassel vs Dallas Cowboys—Much of this matchup has already been described above with LJ. The Cowboys are not playing great defense (in terms of yardage) and may find themselves spread thin at DB (even with the poor KC WRs). Matt Cassel is a better bye week starter than he is a normal starter, so don’t be pulling him off your bench in every circumstance.

Ben Roethlisberger @ Detroit Lions—This is another gimme. The Lions have given up more passing TDs then any other team in the league. I actually believe that Big Ben will score more TDs than Mendenhall. All in all, most Pittsburgh players should be starting for your team.

Sit:

Josh Johnson @ Philadelphia Eagles—Two weeks to study the offense, one week to study the fresh-meat QB? This one will get ugly. If it’s between Johnson and an empty position, you may risk rolling the dice with Johnson.

Tony Romo @ Kansas City Chiefs—The Chiefs have gotten ripped up by passing attacks recently (most memorably Eli and Steve Smith). This is a very risky call on my part, but something in my gut thinks the KC pass rush (yes, they actually have one) might get to Romo. KC has some decent young CBs I think can handle the clunky Clayton and Roy Williams. This is a big boom/bust prediction.

Mark Sanchez @ Miami Dolphins—I hope Sanchez learned from last week, but I’m not sure he will have learned enough. The Dolphins can stop the run and they can provide open passing lanes, but Sanchez will have to refine the timer in his head this weekend. The Dolphins aren’t the best blitzing team but they are physical. If Sanchez finds himself in too many long-distance passing downs it could spell serious trouble for the young passer.

 

WRs

Start:

All Colts and Steelers vs. respective opponent—Should be pretty clear at this point, good matchups through the air for both teams. Should see plenty of passing TDs with few favorites being shown the by the QBs. Start all WRs with confidence.

Eddie Royal vs. New England Patriots—I just heard an audible gasp. OK, maybe it was from the tv. But still, it was there. NE can be had through the air. Eddie Royal is the zone coverage man to do the job, too. Royal has been nothing more than a novelty on the field up to this point, but he should have a great week. Extra note: I dropped Royal this morning because I felt long-term there were better WR options. However, I do regret not being willing to wait till Monday to make a trade.

Sit:

Ted Ginn vs. New York Jets—He’ll have Darrell Revis on him most of the game. Enough said.

Steve Smith vs. Oakland Raiders—I’m assuming he’ll draw coverage from Nnamdi Asomugha. Enough said.

Roddy White @ San Francisco 49ers—I believe Matt Ryan will have a sufficiently good day. But I think he’ll have to settle on many plays. Should be good for Tony G and/or Jerious Norwood (if he is healthy), but not White.

 

TEs

Start:

Brandon Pettigrew vs. Pittsburgh Steelers—I don’t feel the Steelers will matchup well against this big beast. Detroit would be smart to match him up in single coverage to beat any blitzes the Steelers bring. Pettigrew should have at least a TD along with plenty of yards. Look for him to be a major waiver pickup next week.

Sit:

Kellen Winslow @ Philadelphia Eagles—Hopefully he isn’t on anyone’s roster. But if he is, do yourself a favor and don’t start him this week.

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