TheStandardOne: Fantasy Football Shootouts, Sits, and Starts: Week 11 Edition

Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Redskins

: Nicky Football?

This game has all the making of a shootout despite the absence of Michael Vick. Nick Foles has a strong arm and stays in the pocket. If the Eagles can protect him against a pretty bad Redskins defense that is bottom five in the NFL in yards per pass attempt (7.9—27th) and is third worst at sacking the quarterback (14—tied for 28th). The Redskins will be plenty motivated with new team captain and rookie-of-the-year candidate Robert Griffin III at the helm. Plus the Redskins big free-agent add, Pierre Garcon, is going to start. The Eagles defend the pass decently but can’t get after the quarterback either. This game will be an aerial attack; Foles can afford did get down against the Redskins secondary. Foles needs big targets in this game so I like Jeremy Maclin better than DeSean Jackson and McCoy will be major in the passing game as well.

Start: Nick Foles, Robert Griffin, Jeremy Maclin, Pierre Garcon, LeSean McCoy

Meh: Alfred Morris, DeSean Jackson, Santana Moss, Brent Celek

Avoid: Both Defenses, Logan Paulsen

Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots

: The Newest Patriot Act

Again these two teams don’t defend the pass very well. The 6-3 Colts are going to let Andrew Luck sling it around the yard to get back into the game, assuming the Colts depleted secondary folds under the Patriots top-ranked offense, at first. For fantasy purposes, you would hope the Patriots conservative scheme will allow Luck to methodically march the Colts up and down the field in attempt to catch up. The Patriots added former Tampa Bay cornerback Aqib Talib to match up against the Colts number one wideout Reggie Wayne. That may or may not work; the key is who Luck looks to as his second and third options. The prime candidates will be T.Y. Hilton and Dwayne Allen, two rookies. Donnie Avery is the dark horse to come away with some major pointage. On the Patriots side..
you wouldn’t necessarily call Brandon Lloyd a must-start but would be a sneaky flex play. Aaron Hernandez may cut into targets for Rob Gronkowsi and Wes Welker, but who are we kidding? The Colts secondary makes all these guys, even Hernandez, desirable options. Hernandez is a low-end starter just because the time away due to injury this season. Stevan Ridley may find the running a little harder against the Colts and conversely, Vick Ballard sees an uptick in fantasy potential if Donald Brown can’t go. Between them, they’ve scored 1 touchdowns rushing--quite the tandem. I like Brown slightly better if he can go but monitor the situation.

Start: Tom Brady, Andrew Luck, Ron Gronkowski, Reggie Wayne, Wes Welker

Meh: Stevan Ridley, Donald Brown, Vick Ballard, Dwayne Allen, T.Y. Hilton, Patriots D

Avoid: Aaron Hernandez, Shane Vereen, Brandon Lloyd

San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos

Believe it not, this game will actually be a shootout game. The Broncos could very well be caught in this trap game against the most desperate Bolts squad fresh off a disappointing loss to the Buccaneers last week. The Chargers rolled up 400+ yards even though Rivers forgot to throw to Antonio Gates in the second half. The Chargers and Broncos both are middle-of-the-pack in terms of total defense, but the Denver Broncos aerial attack led by so-far MVP Peyton Manning have played lights out in their last three contests. Philip Rivers, on the other hand, has to be perfect for the Chargers to win anything, getting nothing from 2012 fantasy draft bust Ryan Matthews, (who for this game is questionable) and faulty special team play. Rivers has also throw bad interceptions in the redzone the last two weeks. Not expecting Rivers to play perfect here but he’ll get enough yards passing via Gates, newcomer Danario Alexander and Malcom Floyd to be useful in fantasy. Both teams running games are just okay, but I’ll give the benefit to Willis McGahee at home. They’re both just “Meh” because the Chargers shut down the run pretty well. Eric Decker who had 98 yards and a touchdown against San Diego earlier this year, should eat up Antoine Cason, the Chargers cornerback, all day.

Start: Peyton Manning, Eric Decker, Antonio Gates

Meh: Willis McGahee, Jackie Battle, Malcom Floyd, Philip Rivers, Broncos D

Avoid: Chargers D, Ryan Matthews, Danario Alexander