Hot
- Start'em if ya Got'em
QB - Vince Young – Seattle has been tough against the run all season, although they have come to earth in recent weeks, they are still starting a young secondary. McCoy has been limited this week with a toe injury and believe it or not Vince Young threw for 400 yards last week without Maclin and Djax’s benching. Start Vince with confidence as Vick is likely to come back with the extra time allowed before week 14. Vince should put up borderline QB1 numbers this week.
RB – DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart - The duo is facing a Buc’s run defense that is allowing 140 yards per game and last week Chris Johnson got 130 yards against them, this is with newly acquired Albert Haynesworth plugging the middle. Tampa’s offense should be run oriented too and there figures to be lots of opportunities for both Carolina backs. You still have to worry about Cam at the goal line, but DWill can break a big one on any play and Stewart offers upside as a pass catcher. I like Dwill as a decent RB2 and Stewart as a Flex play with upside in PPR.
WR – Eric Decker – Denver and the Tebow show head to the Great Lakes. When Tebow does actually throw his pond skipper or deep shot, it usually is in the direction of Decker. Minnesota doesn’t have their top 2 DB’s and they rank 30th against the pass. With big play capability on play action and his bail out crossing routes, Decker figures to get a lot of action while Tebow is on the run from Jared Allen. Start Decker confidently as a WR3 with the possibility of putting up WR2 numbers based on the matchup.
TE – Greg Olsen – With Steve Smith shadowed by Aqib Talib figure Olsen to be the Tampa 2 buster up the middle. The Panthers will probably deploy a run heavy approach but Olsen figures to be the main chain mover on 3rd down for Cam Newton. There is good upside here in PPR leagues.
Not
- Nate Dogg: "Hold up;..... Wait"
QB – Matthew Stafford – I don’t suspect that Stafford’s accuracy will hold up under the pressure of N.O.’s blitz. Saints know they can’t run the ball and Detroit is in the shotgun 75% of the time. Banking only on a shootout to help out Stafford, I think New Orleans dominates the clock with Ingram back healthy as the Saints prepare for cold outdoor ball (and no Suh) with a heavy dose of the running game, thus countering Stafford's ability to 'catch up.'
RB – Ryan Mathews and Mike Tolbert – The Jags sport a top 5 defense and Rivers has his well documented issues. But I think this is a bounce back / get right game for Rivers because Rashean Mathis is out for the season and he and Vjax should just chunk their way up and down the field; thus nullifying any committee value Mathews and or Tolbert would have. Jags are stout in the front 7.
WR – Steve Smith (Carolina) – Steve Smith’s kryptonite is Aqib Talib. In two games in 2009 - 4 catches for 82 yards. In the two games last year 6 catches for 113 yards against Tampa and Talib. Combine that history with his last 3 games in which he is only averaging 4.3 catches for 47.3 yards. This is not the week to roll with Smith. A high upside WR3 should do you better here.
TE – Owen Daniels – Oh where oh where is the breakout season from the newly healed Owen Daniels?? I too often see Joel Dreessen as the TE of late getting all the endzone love. With a rookie qb taking over, look for the Texans to go run heavy even against a tough Atl defense. Perhaps Owen can be Yates safety valve, but let’s see it happen first before inserting Daniels into your line ups.