Fantasy Football Week 15 Start and Sit Ben Rothelisberger Dilemma
I’ve been working so hard getting our scouting reports done that I haven’t been keeping up with the fantasy football posts. Add into that our Fantasy Football writer has become consumed with work (if you’re interested in writing with us email me at bartolisj@gmail.com. If you’re a banker from Nigeria, I don’t want your million dollars and please leave me alone).
This week I’m doing the fantasy sports though because for me it’s a little bit of therapy this week. You see I’m in my fantasy football playoffs and I’ve been clinging on for deal life all season. This season I have lost Kenny Britt, Fred Davis, and Darren Mcfadden (not officially out, but he’s out). But thank you to the pickups of Antonio Brown and the smart handcuff of MIchael Bush I’ve stayed alive.
But this week I have to figure out what to do with Big Ben. Big Ben is my whichquarterback who is questionable to play coming off an injury in which most people take a month to recover from, on top of that he’s playing against San Fran and it’s on Monday Night. Meaning if I decide to play him I have to hope and pray he gets healthy. Yikes.
This is the playoffs which means if you’re still alive you probably have some good players, but if you’re desperate here are some plays I like this week.
Start (If you’re desperate)
Quarterback:
Josh Freeman:
Freeman is having an absolute awful year, but he get the luxury of going up against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. The Cowboys defense is falling apart now. The Cowboys gave up 288 yards and a touchdown to Matt Moore, 247 yards and a touchdown to Kevin Kolb, and 292 yards and two touchdowns to Rex Grossman in three of their four last games. The other game was against Eli Manning and the Giants and well I’m sure you know what happened there.
Freeman has been bad most of the year, but he’s had some huge games. If you’re desperate roll the dice with Freeman.
Rex Grossman:
The last time Grossman faced the Giants he threw for 305 yards and two touchdowns. Now I don’t think he’ll put up those kind of numbers, but every quarterback this year has torched the Giants through the air. Grossman just made the Patriots look absolutely terrible on Sunday. Grossman is scary though because bad Grossman is real bad.
Sit:
Big Ben
You have to, right? If you bank on Big Ben playing and he doesn’t you just lost. It’s rough that Big Ben is playing on Monday night because there is no real contingency plan.
Ryan Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick has been most of the year. The last time he faced the Dolphins he barely over passed 200 yards. Last week against San Diego a team that let Mark Sanchez throw the ball over the field Fitzpatrick didn’t even eclipse 200 yards. The Dolphins defense is playing pretty well, even though the Eagles put up a lot of points it was more because of odd circumstances then just driving the football up the field.
Running back:
Felix Jones Dallas Cowboys
Did you know that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are last in the league against the run in touchdowns allowed, 8th worst against the rush in yards per attempt (4.6 yards per rush), and the 5th most yards against the rush. With DeMarco Murray out for the season and Tashard Choice recently released Jones should be in line for a ton of carries.
Maurice Morris, RB Detroit Lions
The Oakland Raiders have been awful against the rush, if you’re desperate you could try and use one of the Detroit Lions linebackers. Morris only had four carries last week while Keiland Williamas got the bulk of the carries with 12, but I think that was an aberration Williams only had four carries the two previous. Make sure though that Lions running back Kevin Smith is not playing before you start Morris. He missed practice on Wednesday (Kevin Simth) so it’s possible he misses this weekend as well.
Marion Barber, Chicago Bears
Barber despite his bonheaded end of the game last week has looked pretty good filling in for Matt Forte and is someone you can rely on to put up solid numbers.
Sit
C.J. Spiller
Spiller has ability in some leagues a wide receiver, in those cases he’s a very intriguing start because you know at the very least he’s going to touch the ball 10-15 times. The Dolphisn have really done a good job this year against the run, the Bills have offensive line woes and it’ll be a chore for the Bills to run on the Dolphins.
Rashard Mendenhall
The San Francisco 49ers have given up ZERO touchdowns this week against the run this season. If Big Ben is out, it could be really tough sledding for Mendenhall on Monday night. Mendenhall hasn’t been that great this year to begin with only averaging 3.8 yards per rush and rushing for only 8 touchdowns. Go a different route if you can.
Wide Receiver
Start
Demaryius Thomas
Thomas is playing a lot better this year. He’s very talented, but has battled injuries through much of his two early seasons. The Patriots can’t stop any passing offense, I don’t see how the Broncos would be the exception. I think only Thomas and Decker are start worthy this week though, not any other Broncos wide receiver.
Santana Moss, Redskins
Every week some player is in line for some 50 yard plus easy touchdown reception against one of the Giants blown coverages. Moss is a nice flex play this week
Brandon Marshall
The Bills secondary isn’t that talented and they have no pass rush. Matt Moore might not play, but the Bills passing defense isn’t very good. I’d be surprised if Marshall doesn’t get you at least 7 points.
Sit:
Andre Johnson
I don’t think Johnson will suit up, or play much. The Texans don’t have everything locked up, but they are in good position and they won’t push him more than they need to.
Plaxico Burress
I don’t think Burress matches up well with Nnadmi Asmougha and the Eagles seem to be figuring some things out on defense, which makes him a risky start.
Tight End:
Start:
Jermaine Gresham, Bengals
Gresham has seen more targets towards the end of this year and he gets the awful St. Louis Rams defense. I think Gresham has a great chance to get in the end zone this weekend.
Dustin Keller, Jets
The Eagles aren’t great against tight ends in the middle of the field and Keller is a nice security blanket for Mark Sanchez. I think he could be in for a big week here this weekend.
Sit Em
Antonio Gates
Im’ being risky here, but I think if you have a better option you should consider sitting Gates here. I really think the Ravnes are going to force Rivers to throw the ball down field and try to do it before Terrell Suggs can get to him and hope that Ed Reed can pick off some of those passes. Obviously you’re not going to sit Gates if you’re backup tight end is Anthony Fasano or something, but maybe if your back up tight end is Owen Daniels or a Jake Ballard you could consider it. Just a gut feeling
Defense
Start
Tennessee Defense
The Colts are absolutely terrible and the Titans have a returner who can bring it back to the house. Even when the Colts are good their special teams are awful. The Titans are a good defensive play this weekend.
Seattle Defense
The Bears haven’t been able to score on anyone and I don’t think that changes this weekend against the Seahawks who have a pretty good defense. This is only if you’re very desperate, if you’re defense is Kansas City or something.
Sit:
Redskins defense
I don’t think the Redskins will stop the Giants much this weekend, just a gut feeling.
Thoughts?
Follow us on twitter @NFLmocks