Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Sit’em
QB
Matt Stafford, @NE (65%, 18) – His projections lately are strictly based on past performance because he has not been good lately. Over the last 6 games, Stafford hasn’t had a passer rating over 90 and has turned the ball over 10 times (6 INT / 4 FUM) with just 8 TDs. A match-up in the cold against a pass defense playing very well right now could be disastrous for Stafford. If you still own him, you should start someone else this week.
Colin Kaepernick, WAS (48%, 20) – Has completed just 47% of his passes over the last two weeks and has 5 fumbles over the last 3 games with only 3 TDs. Still doesn’t have a rushing TD this season either.
Mark Sanchez, TEN (26%, 18) – The Titans have a top 10 pass D (9th) and Sanchez has made enough mistakes the last two weeks to remind me of his time on the Jets and keep him on my bench until he proves I can trust him. His stats from last week look decent, but they came in garbage-time and Sanchez was awful when it mattered in the 1st half against a mediocre Packers pass D.
RB
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Trent Richardson, @JAX (53%, 16) – On paper this looks ideal for T-Rich, but there are a few things that could go wrong. First, T-Rich sucks. Second, the Colts could be up big early and could rest T-Rich so they don’t lose another RB. Third, Boom Herron could outplay T-Rich.
Ryan Matthews, STL (44%, 10) – The Rams front 4 is playing very well right now and as a team they have given up the 5th fewest points to fantasy RBs. There is still some concern over the health of Matthews’ knee and I didn’t see enough explosion last week to think he’s going to do much against the Rams. Especially not if limited to around 15 touches like last week.
Fred Jackson, NYJ (22%, 12) – Still banged up and not practicing fully. With the blizzard in the Buffalo, I don’t see the Bills giving F-Jax too many carries and risking another injury.
Jonas Gray, DET (24%, 10) – I just don’t trust Belichick at all. The Pats signed LaGarrette Blount today who is a similar back to Gray and was on the team last year so is already familiar with the offense. The Lions run defense is also the #1 ranked unit in the league and especailly tough up the middle where Gray does most of his damage. I think Vereen is the RB to play in this one.
Stephen Jackson, CLE (49%, 12) – Still old and slooow.
Charles Sims, @CHI (15%, 10) – The Bears run defense has been surprisingly effective this year. They are ranked 14th in rushing yards allowed and 3rd in rushing TDs allowed. I like Sims, but I don’t think this is the week to start him.
Darren McFadden, KC (22%, 9) – It sounds like DMC is about to lose his job to the much more explosive Latavius Murray. DMC broke my heart so many times over the years, I am not sad at all to see him go.