With the Fantasy playoffs a couple of weeks away, it is time to start utilizing key matchups that, at any other time of the year, would be considered no-brainer starts or easy picks.
This week should feature a myriad of receivers feasting on really bad coverage teams with equally—sometimes worse—tackling that could make this a make or break week for you and your quest to the Fantasy postseason.
Let’s take a look.
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1. B. Marshall
This guy is gonna be a huge issue for the Chiefs poor covering/poor tackling defense.
There hasn’t been one bad team that “The Marshall” hasn’t destroyed, and to make matters worse he’ll be on the rebound. |
2.Wes Welker
Welker saw plenty of targets last week, but just couldn’t break into the wide open thanks to very good tackling by New Orleans.
This is something you don’t have to worry about when the Pats face the lowly Dolphins.
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3.Andre Johnson
The Jags are pretty beat up and Johnson will look to redeem himself for a dropped TD pass that could have closed the door on the Colts early.
Aside from a beat up secondary, the Jags are also dealing with D-line issues now. |
4.Ocho Cinco
Ok, the Lions are really that bad in coverage, and Ocho will have no trouble dominating the Lions porous secondary at home where he feels most comfortable.
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5. Vince Jackson
Jackson hasn’t been all that spectacular as of late, but that will certainly change this week against the Browns even with Brandon McDonald doing his best impersonation of Darrell Revis.
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Top Ten Starts:
| #1 Randy Moss: Randy Moss always has fun with the Dolphins and considering the Fins are WORSE than the last time these two met ( 6 for 147 and 1 TD ), Moss should be a nightmare for the weak Dolphins secondary. |
| #2 Robert Meachem: Washington is the number one rated pass defense which is nice….cause apparently if you try to cover the Saints, it doesn’t matter. Drew Brees could be blind and the receivers could be wearing shoes with cement blocks in them, and they would STILL find a way to throw 4+ TDs. |
| #3 Reggie Wayne: The Colts will need to win to secure, and although there will be plenty of love to go around, Wayne will be the guy to handle the finishing blow. |
| #4 Miles Austin: The Giants have proven they can be burned and Austin is the perfect guy to do it. The Playoffs are on the line for both teams. |
| #5 Greg Jennings: I see Driver being used as a decoy and Finley being used to keep the pressure on Rodgers at a minimum making Jennings a great chess match style start against a banged up Ravens D. |
| #6 Mike Sims-Walker: Houston doesn’t offer any reason to sit Sims-Walker despite Garrard slipping as of late. |
| #7 Austin Collie: I like the likelihood of Collie becoming more of a factor in the Colts offense this week and this week could be his final test drive. |
| #8 Sidney Rice: If it wasn’t for all the offensive options at Favre’s disposal, Rice would be in the top 3 every week, still he’s a great low top ten start. |
| #9 Derrick Mason: Mason faired very well against a very good Steeler defense and could be a difference maker at Lambeau this week. |
| #10 Hines Ward: Look for Ward to play makeup with Big Ben against the Raiders and maybe even a kiss under the mistletoe. |
Must Sit of the Week:
Santana Moss has become a player you should not only drop, but should altogether forget going forward, as he has definitely seen better days.
His career is in decline, his numbers are actually worse than most WR 4 options out there, and isn’t even being considered a major threat to any defense; something that doesn’t boad well in Fantasy Football at all.
He’s a 200 pound receiver who is only 5’ 10”, he has broke 50 receiving yards only ONCE in 7 games, and has one lone TD that came last week, and had it not been for a bit of confusion on the part of the Eagles he would have never scored—get rid of him and say good riddance to bad rubbish.
Two Through Ten:
| #2 Kenny Britt: The magical comeback story the Titans have been writing should end this week. Sit Britt. |
| #3 Steve Smith (Car): Until we know for sure what’s going on at the helm and who exactly will throw the ball, Smith should be sat. |
| #4 DeSean Jackson: Jackson is out, BUT the Eagles did sign Jordan Norwood from the practice squad. He’s a bit small, but was a standout at PSU…..a little waiver wire secret love for you guys if your looking. |
| #5 Braylon Edwards: Drop him now, just like the Browns sort of did…you’ll thank me later. |
| #6 Calvin Johnson: Johnson is not 100% and he faces another tough challenge in the Bengal’s pro-bowl caliber corners. |
| #7 T.O.: I really hate to do this, I really do but not to sound like a broken record, Darrell Revis…shutdown corner. |
| #8 Roddy White: White will be dealing with Asante Samuel all day, and although White can ball with premier DBs, it is still up in the air whether or not Redman can handle premier pass rush attacks. He is very risky and should be sat in favor of a better option. |
| #9 Chris Chambers: The Broncos are in playoff mode and have no time to screw around with anyone, especially divisional foes. Look for the Broncos to focus on Chambers allowing everyone else to THINK they are having a good day. |
| #10 Mohamed Massaquoi: Massaquoi saw plenty of targets but just couldn’t haul the ball in; San Diego will prove to be a much more formidable challenge. |
Fantasy Matchup of the Week: Showdown in the Desert, Vikes vs. Cards.
The 7-4 Cardinals are getting set to host the 10-1 Vikings, in a showdown of two explosive offenses, and two defenses that have huge playmaking ability; depending on certain situations this could be a Fantasy feast for all owners of the players involved.
At one point, the Cardinals were the best defensive team against the run allowing just under 60 yards a game, but all of that has changed dramatically as the Cardinals have dropped to 14th over the past month; mostly due to injury and the inability to close out the 4th quarter.
Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor could be heavily featured in this game as the Vikings will need to keep the ball in their hands as much as possible to avoid a possible shootout. ON the Cardinals side I don’t like either Beanie Wells or Tim Hightower against the 2nd ranked rushing defense the Vikings have—a defense that seemingly gets better every week.
IN the passing game, both teams have, at times, shown they are vulnerable downfield especially late in the game, but there are a couple of factors involved here.
1. Kurt Warner’s status is still very much in the air and even if he does get cleared by today I can’t see him getting the nod against a ferocious Vikings pass rush leaving Matt Leinart at the helm. Although I love the matchup of Larry Fitzgerald against Benny Sapp, I can’t see the Cardinals having too many opportunities on the field, and when they get on the field, I can’t see them doing much with that pressure Minnesota brings..
2. Sidney Rice and Percy Harvin have been Favre’s go to guy, and although I like Rice as a low end WR1 I still feel Rodgers-Cromartie will wreak some havoc in the secondary for the Cardinals, making the other receivers a bit risky. The Vikings used a lot of ball control last week; something I see them using more of more of on Sunday night.
In my opinion, a lot of Fantasy value rests on Warner’s health, which will dictate pretty much everything else’s so keep a close eye on him all week long. I will update this article Saturday morning with complete details about Warner and a final analysis on the game, but right now it appears the Cardinals receivers AND their running backs are facing a sit situation.
See you Saturday, and Good Luck this week all!
Check out all our Rankings, in our usual start sit fashion.
