The trade deadline is nearing closer and there are a bunch of you owners sitting there at 4-5, 5-4 or 3-6 trying to figure out to eke out a win this week. I’m not going to waste your time by telling you to start Arian Foster or sit Ryan Fitzpatrick. Let’s look at guys that are actually debatable.
Quarterback
Start Em’
Cam Newton, Panthers
Don’t look now but the Panthers are quietly getting their groove back and remain a trap game for Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos. Of course Cam Newton will need to continue to find the balance between throwing and running for optimum fantasy pointage. Basically he needs to run for 60 yards and a score, throw for 200 yards and 1 touchdown with no picks to be an effective fantasy QB1. The good thing is the Broncos come in with the fourth-ranked passing offense so you know they’re going to throw. The key here is a commitment to running the ball for Carolina, which they seem to be intent on doing. Denver hasn’t faced a mobile quarterback since Ben Roethlisberger in Week 1.
Andy Dalton, Bengals
The A.J. Green and Antrel Rolle trashtalking notwithstanding, Andy Dalton is licking his chops to go up against a Giants defense that gives up 8.2 yards a pass attempt, which is 30th in the league. The Bengals are morphing into a passing team, with Dalton averaging nearly 40 attempts in the last four games. The key for the Dalton will be to go to A.J. Green early and often and soften the defense up with underneath throws to emerging Jermaine Gresham. The Bengals will trade points with the Giants in this one, as Eli Manning has a subpar game, again.
Josh Freeman, Bucs
Freeman is on a roll, his team has played offense like they never have in their franchise history and now they’re coming home after two long road trips. If the Chargers, who give up 83 yards on the ground, try to load the box up against phenom Doug Martin, then Freeman will use play-action and bait the Chargers into single-covering either former Charger Vincent Jackson or Mike Williams. These two wideouts have averaged 18 yards per catch as a tandem.
Sit Em’
Matt Schaub, Texans
Charles Tillman will play in this one and spell bad fantasy news for Andre Johnson and Matt Schaub. Owen Daniels is looking to be a gametime decision as well which is also a headache. Schaub . If the Texans defense can hold the Bears offense, Houston will try their luck with the Bears defense, which is quietly giving up 4.3 (21st in the NFL). The Bears are playing lights-out on defense right now, particularly passing defense.
Carson Palmer, Raiders
Carson Palmer will always throw a pickable pass if he sees single coverage with no safety help. The dead-last pass defending Tampa Bay Buccaneers baited him into a pick last week. The Ravens know Carson Palmer better than anyone; really and have a better pass rush. He won’t be able to throw 61 passes. Denarius Moore and Darius Heyward-Bey are speedy wideouts but Palmer will throw two interceptions guaranteed trying to get the Raiders back in this game. The Ravens defense is better than it looks on paper, anyway.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bills
A notorious September quarterback, Fitzpatrick normally starts messing up this time of year. He has not played well on the road the last few games and even a homecoming to Foxboro of sorts (he played at Harvard) won’t keep him from throwing some picks in this one. The turnovers will also come with yards (he’s averaged 284 per game in six matchups). It’s just hard to see him not repeating history; he’s thrown 16 picks in those same six games.
Running Back
Start ‘Em
C.J Spiller, Bills
C.J. Spiller is a threat to score every time he touches the ball; even against top-flight defenses which the Patriots are not. The Bills will be able to score points against the Patriots and Spiller wasn’t part of the 34-31 win last year. Look for the Bills to get passes out to Spiller in space; he’s average five catches the last three games and has two 20+ yard receptions in those games on top of averaging 7.2 yards a carry on the season. If only he could get more touches…
Pierre Thomas, Saints
Old Frenchy is made for this type of divisional game. The Falcons can be run on; the question is always how patient will the Saints be with the running game. In a game with such prolific offenses, go ahead and start Pierre as a RB2. He catches the screen pass better than most running backs and when Ingram and Ivory are in the backfield the Falcons will key on them since there both one-dimensional. Pierre Thomas will be trusted and yards will follow.
Isaac Redman, Steelers
The Chiefs defense notwithstanding, Jonathan Dwyer is a threat to split carries in the Steeler backfield. Redman gets the majority of the carries in this one. The Steelers have ran the ball more successfully than anticipated this season and Todd Haley knows the Chiefs weaknesses all too well. Dwyer isn’t going to be healthy enough to make an impact. Ride with the hot hand. Its a Monday night game so monitor the situation closely.
Sit Em’
Marcel Reece, Raiders
Reece is more of a hybrid fullback that exploits defenses in the passing game. He’s had once carry this year and 48 in his entire career. He won’t run for many yards in this game and will likely be focused on in the passing game by the Ravens 3-4 linebackers. He’s been splitting reps with Taiwan Jones who remains a deep sleeper due to his explosive speed on screens and draws.
Shonn Greene, Jets
The Seattle defense was gashed by a resurgent Adrian Peterson and the Jets don’t have the same type of varied arsenal to confuse a angry Seahawk defense that prides itself on its defense, especially at home. Shonn Greene isn’t Adrian Peterson either. Shonn Greene has picked it up in the passing game but has broke 80 yards in game once since the Colts game. Look elsewhere.
Matt Forte, Bears
Forte has been running really well of late but Houston has not allowed an opposing running back to score a touchdown all season. It is what is folks. It won’t happen this week either. The Texans secondary is inviting for Jay Cutler but will his offensive line hold up? For all the talk about Chicago’s defense, Houston’s rushing defense has allowed a long of 22 yards (1st) and 4.0 yards a carry (9th). He’s a good flex but not an RB1. The Texans will Texas-hold him up.
Wide Reciever
Start Em’
Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs
Bowe will need to bring it this week against the number one pass defense in the league. I don’t think this game will be a laugher as everyone else does. Matt Cassel, Jamaal Charles and Dexter McCluster should be able to move the ball. Dwayne Bowe has a modest track record of success against Ike Taylor, his likely adversary. Look for some garbage time scores.
Brian Hartline, Dolphins
Hartline reestablished himself as a fantasy weapon last week against a porous Colts secondary and faces another bad secondary, the Titans, at home. Tannehill is on a roll, and Hartline will see lots of Jason McCourty, which lately isn’t a bad thing. The Titans will put some points up
Titus Young, Lions
Now we know why Calvin Johnson is dropping passes. Titus won’t get on your nerves in Week 10 however. He is the Lions #2 reciever and will get plenty of targets; WR2’s have been killing the Vikings secondary. They do a good job of blanketing teams number ones. Go with Titus on the turf; the Lions won’t have much luck running the football.
Sit Em’
Kenny Britt, Titans
The Miami Dolphins can’t defend the pass well at all and were exposed by Andrew Luck and company. The Dolphins do defend the run anyway, but I’m thinking since Britt has never actually played an NFL regular season game with Jake Locker that their chemistry may take awhile to develop. Jared Cook is a better complement for Locker’s style of quarterbacking, with Cameron Wake and company chasing him around all day.
Sidney Rice, Seahawks
Does not match up well with Antonio Cromartie who is big and rangy just like Rice. The Seahawks will just try to run the ball on the sucky Jets rushing defense, anyway. Golden Tate will likely see more looks.
Jeremy Maclin, Eagles
Dude is tied to a offense that right now is having success running the ball. Has disappeared majorly because Vick doesn’t have time to go through reads with a sieve of an offensive line. Better look elsewhere. DeSean Jackson is still making plays, however.
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