Week 13 Fantasy Sit/Start: Ride the Marshawn Lynch to Fantasy Gold
By Editorial Staff
My Fantasy Preparations Record 10-2
Opponent
X-Men
Record 10-2
Transactions:
I did not make any transactions this week. As I have shown throughout the season the waiver wire is vital to winning in fantasy football: the acquisitions of Laurent Robinson, Roy Helu, Dan Bailey, and Ben Tate have paid great dividends for me. This is the last game until the playoffs so I believe, baring injuries, that my roster is set.
Starters
Matthew Stafford really needs to get his act together. It is rumored that his splint comes off this week and with it the glove. Every since he has hurt his ring finger on his throwing hand his accuracy has been inconsistent. My hope is it is the injury and not regression on his part. This week he goes into New Orleanswho is giving up the 9th most points to fantasy Quarterbacks. I expect a solid outing byStafford.
At RB I am starting Ray Rice versus the Browns. Ray Rice has been a PPR stud and has a favorable matchup. Browns run defense is in the middle of the pack, but I believe the Ravens will ride Rice through the end of the season. With the Ravens probably winning most of this game I expect plenty of touches for Rice.
Why is McFadden still hurt????? Why was I unable to get Michael Bush???? That being said I am glad I held onto mighty Marshawn Lynch who has a touchdown in 7 straight games and has three straight 100 yard games against elite run defenses. Lynch now plays at home against an Eagle team who is giving up the 7th most fantasy points to RB’s. With the Eagles playing on the road on a short week I expect Beast Mode to dominate.
Wes Welker is playing at the Colts at home this week!!!! Thank you Fantasy Gods for giving me this gift. Colts are giving up the 3rd most points and I expect Welker to pad his stats on Sunday.
Jordy Nelson had a horrible Thanksgiving game. I think he will bounce back versus the Giants. Packers have tons of weapons but Nelson is one of Rogers’s favorite targets on 3rd down and in the red zone. Giants are giving up the 9th most fantasy points to opposing Wide Receivers.
Recently acquired Laurent Robinson is the reason I am going to win another fantasy title. I know Miles Austin might be coming back this week but hamstring injuries are tough to rebound from and Robinson has Romo’s complete confidence. Robinson travels to Arizonawho is giving up the 6th most fantasy points to Wide Receivers. Man my WR group has great matchups this week.
TE Jimmy Graham is going to make life hard when I have to choose my keeper list. Playing on the Saints Graham will get to play with Brees for the foreseeable future. This week Graham plays the Lions who have shut down opposing Tight Ends this season….Graham is not the usual TE though and is a must start every week.
Utility position was tough to fill this week. I have three options: Steve Johnson at home versus the Titans and Courtland Finnegan. Johnson showed life last week with a strong outing onReevisIsland. I could play Roy Helu versus the Jets who have shut down most run games…but Helu has 38 receptions this season…that is a lot for his playing time. Lastly, I could play Deion Branch who has the Colts. I am leaning on Steve Johnson and hoping he has turned the corner. Titans are a middle of the road pass defense so I think Johnson can have a solid outing…I keep wanting to play Helu though. If McFadden comes back I will not have these problems.
Dan Bailey plays the Cardinals in Arizona. With presumably favorable weather and the fact the Cardinals are giving up the 6th most points to kickers; I am expecting a solid point total from my kicker/
Cowboys’ defense plays atArizona. The Cardinals offense is non-existent and with John Skelton tossing as many completions to the opposition as his own targets I believe the Cowboys defense will post elite numbers.
Foe:
Sun Tzu states, “Know thy enemy.” My enemy is a friend of mine who is pushing me for 1st place. We played back in Week 2 and I killed him. Though we have the same win/loss totals I do have almost 100 more points than him. Still I expect a high scoring affair in this contest on both sides.
At QB he has Drew Brees who is playing the Lions at home. Drew Brees has been dominant at home this season and I think that trend will continue. At RB he is has Matt Forte who is playing the Chiefs at home. Chiefs are giving up the 10th most fantasy points to Running Backs but without Cutler will get the Chiefs full attention. Michael Bush is the other starter he stole before I could pick him up. Bush plays at Miami which has not been a great spot for Running backs. Dolphins have given up the 4th least points to fantasy running backs. Starting Wide Receivers are Steve Smith who has a favorable matchup atTampaBay, Hakeem Nicks who will probably be shut down by Charles Woodson; and Andre Johnson who was not productive in his first game back. He is starting Antonio Gates at TE who has a great matchup atJacksonville. At utility he is starting Victor Cruz who is a big game play almost weekly. He has Mason Crosby and the New York Jets defense which are both solid plays.
Prediction:
Yahoo predicts a close win for X-Men. While our teams are evenly matched I do not think our matchups are. I expect my Wide Receivers to score more than Yahoo predicts. I also am waiting for McFadden to come back that will strengthen my team and weaken his team. Once Bush is done as a starter he has no other quality option. Whoever wins this game claims the 1st seed in the playoffs…this is not important since both of us have clinched either 1st or 2nd seed and get a bye week in the first round of the playoffs. Difference is not much between who we would play in Round 2.