Now that the playoffs are upon us in most of the fantasy leagues it is time for me to step up my preview for Week 14. However, the players that I see putting up the most points this week are the ones that have been doing it all year.
QUARTERBACKS:
There is nothing that Drew Brees can’t do in the NFL and especially against the Falcons pass defense. Atlanta’s pass defense has been poor for the past 8 weeks and Brees, who is possibly the best QB not named Peyton in the league, will put up massive numbers. I don’t see the Saints running the ball too much until they are up by double digits and have the game under control. Remember, this is a NFC game, divisional game, and a road game; all which are important for the Saints to declare themselves a powerhouse in the NFL.
[adinserter block=”1″]You know I was going to bypass Matt Schaub but I think he will put up big numbers against the Seattle defense. I mean if Alex Smith can try and pass all over them, can’t Matty Schaub? The Texans are all but out of the playoff chase unless they make a huge run for the next couple of weeks. I don’t see that happening but I do see the Texans leaning on one of the best QBs in the league in Schaub to make their fans interested in the rest of the season.
As I said in my Studs/Duds article, the Cardinals can and will put up big passing numbers as long as Warner and his dynamic duo of WRs are healthy. Last week looks like all three are healthy and ready to make a return run into the playoffs and possibly Super Bowl. Warner has a chance to clinch the division and convince most people that the Cardinals are a force to be reckoned with in the NFL. I wrote this early and I will continue to write it for the rest of the year: the Cardinals are very dangerous and will compete with most any team they play.
RUNNING BACKS:
Again I will lead this off with the most explosive man in the NFL, Chris Johnson. He has the pleasure of playing the St. Louis defense and I have the pleasure of playing him in the first round of the playoffs in my fantasy league. I can only hope that the St. Louis defense can hold him under 25 points. I expect him to score near 30 so if 24 comes up on his final score for the week I will be happy. Johnson owners should see him carry your team into the next round of the playoffs.
It is true that I’m playing against Chris Johnson, but Mighty Mouse might be the kryptonite that I need. MJD had an off week with only 7 points last week against the Texans, but I don’t see the Jags throwing too much on a good Dolphins pass defense. I said last week if Del Rio doesn’t give MJD 25 touches he will lose and I was wrong. Well I repeat that statement and I don’t the Jags winning otherwise in a game that both teams need to win in order to make a playoff run.
There is absolutely no way that Ray Rice doesn’t bounce back from a rough effort against a very, very good Packer defense. Rice and the Ravens are playing the Lions. The Lions are a fantasy feast and Rice should show owners why he is going to be a first round draft pick in next year’s draft. If you don’t believe me or think that I am “jumping the gun”, check out his stats for the year and then see how good he does against the Lions on Sunday.
WIDE RECEIVERS:
Boldin, Fitzgerald, and Andre Johnson are going to be a good start with what you read from my QB picks. I just don’t see any of them having an off game against a favorable matchup for either team.
Like I said last week, it is bad to come across an angry Tom Brady and the Patriots. That means that Randy Moss and Wes Welker are great plays against the below average Carolina Panthers team. The Pats need a convincing win to put fear back into the teams they play and they do that with a healthy dosage of passing to the two headed monster of Moss and Welker. Did I mention that they are playing at home where they play lights out?
As much as I love my Bears, I just don’t see them stopping the passing attack of Jennings or Driver. I’m not sure which one of these guys will have the monster game because it has been a toss up. However, I’m going to go with the more consistent and veteran of the two and pick Driver. Bears defense has many, many flaws, and Rodgers will expose them to Driver who needs a bounce back game after having a below average effort last week.
SLEEPERS:
[adinserter block=”2″]Whoever is running the ball for the Redskins against the awful Raiders defense. That means even Quinton Ganther is a solid start in the playoffs. Never in the years I have been following football would I have guessed I would suggest starting a 4th string running back in the playoffs, but he should be ok.
Another one of my “Why Not” starts is Kyle Boller. Tennesse Titans pass defense has improved but the Rams will be behind in the game and he has a legit chance in getting garbage time points. If you need a deep, deep quarterback, start Boller and see a solid start.
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