Fantasy Football Week 12: Start’em / Sit’em
Sit’em:
QB:
Matt Ryan NO (61%,17): I have been bullish on Ryan the last few weeks, but he keeps letting me down. I guess it’s just a down year for the Falcons. I’m making a note to try to get Ryan on the cheap next year. The Falcons have too much talent to be this bad for long.
Ben Roethlisberger @CLE (32%, 18): Has two 4-TD games over last 3, but also 5 1-TD games over last 7. He’s a little too boom-or-bust for my taste and Cleveland’s defense is normally pretty good (except last week). You should be able to find a better option. I’d rather start Eli or Keenum.
Philip Rivers @KC (39%, 16): If there were any doubts about KC’s defense due to their weak schedule, holding Peyton Manning to 16 fantasy points should erase them. Rivers hasn’t broke 20 fantasy points since week 5 and will be lucky to break 15 against the Chiefs swarming D.
RB:
Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Ray Rice NYJ (76%,14): Don’t let Rice’s 22 point outburst last week fool you. Teams have run wild on the Bears since Lance Briggs went down in week 7. The Jets run defense is one of the toughest in the league and Rice is going to struggle to find any running lanes.
Trent Richardson (47%,10): T-rich’s start percentage finally dropped under 50%. It’s about damn time. T-Rich has less than 10 carries for three weeks in a row and I don’t see that changing any time soon. He probably shouldn’t even be owned much less in your starting lineup.
Ryan Mathews @KC (42%,8): Mathews has had a decent season, but this is strictly a match-up decision. The Chiefs defense is tough against the run (7th fewest RB fantasy points allowed) and I don’t think Mathews is anything special. If you are happy with 15 carries for 45 yards, then by all means put Mathews in your lineup.
Joique Bell TB (20%,9): Tampa’s run defense is tough, Bell is banged up, and Reggie Bush is complaining about not getting enough carries last week. Everything is pointing to a down week for the Joiquer.
Lamar Miller CAR (34%,8): How frustrating is this guy? Over his last 4 games, Miller has combined for 194 yards in two of them and 19 yards in the other two. I have no idea what he’s going to do week-to-week, but I do know that Carolina’s defense is awesome, which doesn’t bode well for Miller’s chances this week.
WR:
Keenan Allen @KC (58%,11): He’s cooled off a little with only 86 total yards over the last two weeks. This week he’s banged up a little and should be matched up with Chiefs CB Brandon Flowers. I don’t like it.
Mike Wallace CAR (51%,10): Boo. Wallace has been a huge disappointment this year with only 2 100-yard games and 1 touchdown on the season. I’m expecting another bad game against Carolina with Wallace either pouting, visibly quitting on the field, or yelling at his QB/coaches by halftime. I’m relieved that the team I root for didn’t sign this bum in the off-season.
Anquan Boldin @WAS (55%,10): Quan made me look bad last week with his first touchdown since week 4, but he still only had 56 receiving yards. He’s got a favorable match-up this week against Washington, but if Crabtree comes back as expected that is going to cut into Boldin’s already inconsistent number of targets.
Dwayne Bowe SD (50%,11): Don’t get excited because Bowe scored a TD last week. He still hasn’t had more than 67 receiving yards in a game and hadn’t scored for 6 straight week before his TD catch against Denver. Something really bad would have to happen to my roster for me to start Bowe again this season.
James Jones MIN (38%,10): How much does Jones miss Aaron Rodgers? He went from averaging 5 catches for 87 yards a game with Rodgers under center to 2 catches for 39 yards with the Wallace / Tolzien combo running the show. Keep him on your bench until Rodgers gets back.
TE:
Antonio Gates @KC (71%,11): Nothing against Gates, but the Chiefs are giving up the fewest fantasy points to TEs. I’m basically avoiding all Chargers except Woodhead.
Martellus Bennett @STL (40%,8): The Rams give up the 2nd fewest fantasy points to TEs, but more importantly Bennett hasn’t broke 50 yards since week 6 and has been less involved in the offense since McCown took over. It pains me to say it, but leave Bennett on your bench this week.
Twitter: @MikeFlannery_