Gaining/ Losing Steam Week 15

If you guys were lucky to make the playoffs or to win your first round or rounds, this guide will be of use to you. If, you had the pleasure of Mason Crosby’s field goal fest, Jennings injury, Drew Brees’ late game heroics, Steven Jackson’s resurgence, the Seahawks defense’s nice game, Morris’ no show for Detroit, or the second straight week Bailey was ripped off of a field goal, and lost by a point, like I have, just enjoy the football talk.

Gaining:

Quarterback: Tony Romo.

I do not have any confidence that Felix Jones can finish a game, or have back to back productive fantasy games. Miles Austin is back and healthy and if Romo didn’t overthrow him last week, Tony could have netted 5 touchdown throws and 2 of which would have been over fifty yards. Few QB’s have a better stable of receivers than Romo with Austin, Bryant, Robinson, Witten, and Jones has good hands out of the backfield. I view him as my top option not named Rodgers, Brady, or Brees. The Cowboys desperately need every game the rest of the way and his aerial assault starts on Saturday, with the national audience on the NFL network. Finally, he is on my last pay league team that I have a legitimate chance of getting a championship, and I need all the karma I can get.  

Running Back: Marshawn Lynch

Truth be told I dropped him after he was declared inactive with back spasms right before the Browns game. My thought process was that while he is talented, he is also injury prone and Seattle is not very good. Boy was I wrong, with Tom Cable working miracles with their makeshift offensive line, he has rattled off the following point totals the last 6 weeks, 19,21,14,19,26,17. Beast mode has made my gaining lists in the past, but now he is a bona fide top 5 option, and I can make an argument that he should start over any other runner the rest of the way based on matchups.

Wide Receiver: Julio Jones

Julio was passed on by my hometown Browns, and I couldn’t be happier for him. Heaven forbid Cleveland gets a playmaker, and being a Steeler fan, I am glad I do not have to see him torch my secondary twice a year. Sure, he is banged up and is a roller coaster of varied points, but so is Vincent Jackson, and that guy is no slouch. This is my bold call, if you need a Hail Mary chance at a WR getting you obnoxious points, I like Jones on Thursday night. He could burn me and put up next to nothing, but lets hope he mirrors weeks 9 and 14 and nets you 20 plus points against the hapless Jags.

Tight End: Aaron Hernandez

Just a gut call since maybe teams will realize Gronk is demolishing every single tight end record imaginable, and cover him with 3 people. Sure, Welker will still run wild, but maybe Hernandez could get some love too. Aaron has had his chances and targets, and may get even more if Bailey and the stingy Denver defense look to lock down Welker and Gronkowski. Hernandez has not had less than 4 points in any week, and has battled injuries this season and looks to be as healthy as he has been since his back to back double digit outputs in weeks one and two. How does 15-20 points sound to you, it sounds like sweet playoff round winning music to my delicate ears.

Kicker: Mason Crosby

16 points last week. For a kicker. Against me. Too bad he can’t go against me every week so that his owners across the board can bank on him scoring elite running back and receiver points on a weekly basis. Since the Packers will look to ease into their perfect season by resting Rodgers and sputtering in the red zone on occasion to their 40 point blowout wins, Mason should get plenty of work in this weak kicking economy.

Defense: Cardinals

2 words will sum up why this will be an elite option this week, Cleveland Browns. No Colt McCoy, no running game to speak of, a rookie WR who can’t catch, and other receivers and tight ends who would be organizational depth or practice squad players on actual NFL teams. Pair that with the fact Shurmer is a ridiculous head coach who was a terrible coordinator, they have no playmakers, their offense is pop warner, and they will be playing from behind, all signs point to the Cards coming up Aces against this horrific Browns team on Sunday. On a side note, since I live in the Cleveland area, I get to miss the Pats/Broncos contest for this glorified XFL scrimmage of a game.

Losing:

Quarterback: Michael Vick

Much of Vick’s fantasy value was his remarkable accuracy last year and his legs. In this point this season, he has neither. Vick only rushed the ball 2 times last week and is complaining about being sore, but will play hurt this week against the suddenly sizzling Jets and their top notch pass defense. I do not believe that Vicks value as a keeper has plummeted, but his seasonal value has dipped to barely being in the top 10 and based on matchups, you could make a case to start 10 plus QBs on a given week. Swallow your pride and bench him unless your only other option is bottom barrel waiver wire stock like Seneca Wallace or Matt Hasslebeck.

Running Back: BenJarvus Green-Ellis

After the bye week, BGE has tallied 0,6,0,10,16,7,1. Do you really want to bank on the fact that after a heated exchange with his coordinator, that Brady would like Green-Ellis get any touchdowns this week against the mighty Tebow and the Broncos? No chance, and unless you are forced to start him in a TD only league, leave him on your bench and start the likes of Bell in Chicago, Ryan Grant, or any other non-Lion runner. Thanks again to Detroit and their complete and total allergic reaction to anything that involves handing a football off to a running back. I know it is not BGE’s issue, but he is hanging out near them in the bottom rung of backs the rest of the way.

Wide Receiever: Calvin Johnson

Is Megatron the most talented receiver in the league? Probably. Especially with injuries to AJ and Jennings, he should be a clear cut number 1 receiver, but this is the year of the underdog, Cruz, Nelson, Robinson, etc. Since the bye week, Calvin has scored no more than 10 points in a week and has averaged barely 6 points in those games. Sure you start your studs, but if you somehow have a plethora of options, maybe play the matchups and see if recent statistical trends will continue to hold down the monster that is Megatron.

Tight End: Jason Witten

This ranking is based solely on his recent production, not his huge weekly upside. There are too many options in Dallas to rely on Jason, but also there are few options better than Witten amongst the thin tight ends this year. In 5 of his last 7 weeks Jason has produced the following ugly numbers of 2,3,4,4, and 1 whole point. Dallas may be playing from ahead most of the game this Saturday and try to establish a running game to end a game without a field goal debacle, so killing the clock by running with Witten leading the way may be a recipe for fantasy bust stew this week.

Kicker: Phil Dawson

He plays for the Browns, the Browns don’t score, and there is some hidden curse that Cleveland players carry that affects your fantasy team. Maybe it is the fact that he spreads the injury bug by carrying the blind trainers or the staph infected training facilities with him. Seriously, you do not need the bad vibes that anything associated with the Browns will bring you this late in the year unless you are tanking for a higher draft pick.

Defense: Cowboys

Blowing 12 point leads, giving up 500 plus yards, and the non-fantasy aspect that there needs to be 25 gratuitous Rob Ryan camera shots per game, all add up to an underwhelming unit. If you are in an IDP league, then obviously start Ware, but avoid this unit as a whole even against a good matchup against the Bucs this week. In the last 4 weeks, the Cowboys have not topped 10 points and have hit 20 just once on the season, so there is more a fat bearded camera friendly aura to this defense than any actual fantasy value.

Best of luck to all, and hopefully skill outperforms luck for the remainder of the fantasy season.