Couch Potato Blitz: Week 15 Fantasy Edition
I hope that everyone had a great opening weekend to their fantasy football playoffs. Rodgers would get knocked out and Schaub wouldn’t wake up until the 4th quarter?
This week I am going to change the fantasy focus a bit. Instead of putting my input on guys I know everyone will start, I’m going to focus on the guys that aren’t so obvious or questionable. Also, in this week’s sit’em, I will cover the marquee names you should avoid and players to leave out secondary or flex positions.
If in the following I don’t cover your concerns please contact me via Twitter so I can help you, or direct you to the right people who can help.
Fantasy Studs – Start’em
Quarterback
I know that it’s not the sexiest name in fantasy football, but it could mean the difference between a win and a loss by starting Jon Kitna. Over the last 5 weeks Kitna has averaged 18 fantasy points.
Last week the Seahawks gave up 23 fantasy points to Alex Smith. This week Matt Ryan gets Seattle and looks like a good start. In the last 7 games the Seahawks have given up 20 plus fantasy points 5 times.
A week ago Kerry Collins looked like a top fantasy QB in the 4th quarter when he found his rhythm. Collins draws the Texans who have allowed 15 passing TDs in the past 7 weeks.
Look no further than the silver and black this weekend if you are in a pinch. Jason Campbell has 37 fantasy points in his last two games and scored 17 in the first meeting with the Broncos in Denver.
Running Back
I believe there will be a Ricky Williams sighting this weekend. In 9 of 13 games this season the Bills have surrendered at least 1 rushing TD RBs.
In the last 3 weeks Jonathan Stewart has a total of 35 fantasy points. This weekend he gets to play the Cardinals, who rank last against all fantasy RBs this season. Also, Stewart’s QB is Jimmy Clausen and he is best when handing the ball off.
On the other side of the field from Stewart will be Hightower. The Panthers have allowed 3 TDs to RBs in each of the last 3 games. Hightower got the load last weekend and notched 24 fantasy points.
For the second consecutive week Javarris James had increased carries and double-digit fantasy points. I would say if Joseph Addai is still inactive for this weekend then James is safe and smart play.
On teams that rely on a strong running attack like Carolina and Jacksonville, I would say it’s safe to start Mike Goodson and Rashad Jennings. They are both playing teams that don’t stop the run well.
This week I would give Choice the start because the Redskins struggle to stop the run. Choice may also receive some sort of luck after getting his glove autographed by Michael Vick.
Wide Receiver
Overall this season Larry Fitzgerald has been a disappointment, but this week I believe he will help the rookie John Skelton throw his first passing TD. It would be his 1st receiving TD in 3 weeks.
Last week Kenny Britt returned from injury and caught 4 passes for 39-yards. This week he will pick up where he left off against the Eagles way back in week 7.
The Colts have been decimated at the WR position this season. In the past 2 weeks Pierre Garcon has become Peyton Manning’s favorite target. He has 33 fantasy points in those weeks with 3 TDs.
We finally saw Vincent Jackson contribute to the Chargers this season. This Thursday he will score his first TD of the season.
In the last meeting against Minnesota, Johnny Knox had 5 catches for 90-yards. The Vikings DBs have a difficult time covering him when Cutler is flushed from the pocket. Knox may be worth a flyer this Monday.
There are several high profile fantasy football WRs that are listed as Questionable – be sure to check the availability of Andre Johnson, Deion Branch, Malcom Floyd, DeSean Jackson, Terrell Owens, and Chad Ochocinco. You may want to grab one of their back-ups if they are going to see a limited roll or are inactive for this weekend.
Fantasy Duds – Sit’em
Quarterback
When you look at the way QBs have been destroying the Cowboys defense this season, Donovan McNabb seems like a tempting start. However, the coaching staff has already said that if McNabb struggles they will pull him in favor of Rex Grossman.
Be weary of playing Matt Cassel after returning from surgery last week. St. Louis has been getting cut open by the opposing QBs, but Cassel was literally cut open.
The Struggles of Eli Manning have been pretty obvious lately. In his previous meeting this season with the Eagles, Manning only managed 7 fantasy points. In the last 4 weeks Manning has only broken double-digits once.
This weekend is a tough time to be a QB on one of the top two teams from the AFC North. Joe Flacco plays the Saints and Ben Roethlisberger faces off against the Jets – their pretty good against QBs not named Tom Brady.
Running Back
If you have 2 better or equal match-ups, I wouldn’t play Ray Rice. The Saints are average against RBs and Rice has lost goal-line carries. On the season Rice has only scored 3 rushing TDs.
The Patriots haven’t been good against the run this season and the Packers have been terrible running the football. This could be a game of catch-up for the Packers rendering James Starks and Brandon Jackson worthless in fantasy football.
The 49ers play the run really well and most likely Philip Rivers will do most of the damage on TNF. I would sit out Mike Tolbert and Ryan Mathews unless you’re desperate or have inside information as to who will receive the bulk of the carries.
Since the hot start LaDainian Tomlinson has cooled down considerably. LT hasn’t broken 5 fantasy points in the last 3 weeks. He has also been less of factor in the passing game based on the fact that they haven’t had one.
Remember to check the status of guys like Adrian Peterson and Ahmad Bradshaw. They are both banged up and it may affect the amount of carries they receive this weekend.
Wide Receiver
I know the Falcons have struggled with containing WRs this season and Mike Williams appears as though he will give it a go on Sunday, but be cautious. In the playoffs I would rather start a guy who isn’t entering the game returning from injury.
Make sure to check if Rodgers is starting for Green Bay. If he isn’t a go, I wouldn’t start Greg Jennings or Donald Driver. Last week Matt Flynn defined the meaning of “Back-up.”
I know it seems like the Panthers’ Steve Smith, has to have a big game eventually, but it’s likely for him to have another quiet weekend with Clausen at QB.
Last week, Derrick Mason had a huge game for the people who owned him in fantasy. With the Saints defending the pass well I wouldn’t expect back-to-back 2 TD weeks out of him.
Questionable starts at the flex position or 2nd WR slot are Sidney Rice, Jabar Gaffney, Blair White, and Kevin Walter. All of these guys are extremely contingent on QB play or the impact of the running game.
Thank you for seeking my fantasy football advice and I wish the best to your fantasy team(s) this weekend. Please check picks and predictions for all 16 in week 15 of the NFL.
