Empty the Bench

Ranks Preview by Andrew Thell

The Arizona Cardinals defense looked stellar on Sunday night in keeping the Minnesota offense completely off balance. They’re a strong unit, but limiting TE Visanthe Shiancoe to just 2 receptions for 14 yards was a surprise. Shiancoe managed to turn one of those catches into a TD though, and on the season the Cards have been one of the most generous defenses to opposing TEs in the NFL. Expect the league’s best receiving TE, Vernon Davis, to keep rolling.

On a similar note, the Eagles have boasted a stout passing defense all season, but they’ve given up the most fantasy points in the NFL to tight ends. A big part of that is Philadelphia is such a blitz-heavy team. They put too much pressure on the quarterback to give him the time to deliver it downfield and he ends up dumping off to the TE often. That makes Giants end Kevin Boss a fringe option this week – though still not a reliable one given his inconsistency even with 4 TDs in the last five games.

Jason Witten hasn’t scored since Week 2 despite playing in every game. It’s been an incredibly disappointing streak. Still, he’s had at least 5 receptions in each of the past five weeks and posted his best game of the season last week with 14 receptions for 156 yards. You should roll with him once again; the best way to attack the Chargers is by grinding it out with the running game and the short-passing game.

Fred Davis has been a great late-season fantasy story, propelling some teams into the postseason with his 9 receptions, 96 yards and 2 TDs the last two weeks. He’ll find the row tough to hoe this week in Oakland against the only team yet to allow a touchdown to a TE. However, the passing attack has been much improved under new “offensive consultant” Sherman Lewis, and QB Jason Campbell is looking for Davis. Unless you have another TE1, you can roll with him.

See also:
- Week 14 QB Rankings
- Week 14 RB Rankings
- Week 14 WR Rankings
- Week 14 DEF Rankings

1. Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers vs. ARI
2. Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers @ DAL
3. Dallas Clark, Indianapolis Colts vs. DEN
4. Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys vs. SD
5. Heath Miller, Pittsburgh Steelers @ CLE
6. Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta Falcons vs. NO
7. Brent Celek, Philadelphia Eagles @ NYG
8. Jermichael Finley, Green Bay Packers @ CHI
9. Fred Davis, Washington Redskins @ OAK
10. Visanthe Shiancoe, Minnesota Vikings vs. CIN
11. Kellen Winslow, Tampa Bay Bucs vs. NYJ
12. Todd Heap, Baltimore Ravens vs. DET
13. Greg Olsen, Chicago Bears vs. GB
14. Bo Scaife, Tennessee Titans vs. STL
15. Dustin Keller, New York Jets @ TB
16. Kevin Boss, New York Giants vs. PHI
17. Jeremy Shockey, New Orleans Saints @ ATL
18. Zach Miller, Oakland Raiders vs. WAS
19. John Carlson, Seattle Seahawks @ HOU
20. Benjamin Watson, New England Patriots vs. CAR

Ranks Preview by Andrew Thell

The Ravens have not played as well as expected this season, but they’ve also had an extremely difficult schedule. That schedule gives them a repreive this week with the Lions rolling into town, but I don’t expect Baltimore’s defense to take the week off. Far from it: in this must-win game they should come out inspired.

The Ravens offense should be able to spot them a lead, their rush defense is still elite, and Kevin Smith has hard enough time generating yards on the ground as it is. That means Daunte Culpepper, stepping in for the injured Matthew Stafford, will be forced to throw all day. I fully expect Baltimore to tee off, making them an elite option win Week 14.

The Green Bay Packers were most impressive on Monday Night Football. This is a complete unit that is really gelling right now. They’re opportunistic, can take away the opponent’s best option, and don’t have any glaring weaknesses despite a couple of big injuries. This week they head into Chicago and face off against the quarterback who shares the NFL interceptions lead with Matthew Stafford at 20. On the ground, the Bears offensive line and RB Matt Forte are a complete mess. There’s no reason not to expect big things out of the Pack DEF on Sunday.

See also:
- Week 14 QB Rankings
- Week 14 RB Rankings
- Week 14 WR Rankings
- Week 14 TE Rankings

1. Baltimore Ravens vs. DET
2. Green Bay Packers @ CHI
3. Pittsburgh Steelers @ CLE
4. New Orleans Saints @ ATL
5. Minnesota Vikings vs. CIN
6. New York Jets @ TB
7. New England Patriots vs. CAR
8. Arizona Cardinals @ SF
9. Tennessee Titans vs. STL
10. Philadelphia Eagles @ NYG
11. San Diego Chargers @ DAL
12. Indianapolis Colts vs. DEN
13. Tampa Bay Bucs vs. NYJ
14. Buffalo Bills @ KC
15. Washington Redskins @ OAK
16. Miami Dolphins @ JAC
17. Oakland Raiders vs. WAS

Ed Reed Photo Credit: Icon SMI

Ranks Preview by Andrew Thell

You just can’t trust the Seattle Seahawks passing game right now. Matt Hasselbeck has only tossed 2 TDs in the last month, and it’s killing the fantasy value of Nate Burleson and TJ Houshmandzadeh. The ‘Hawks should have been able to pass all over the Rams in Week 12, but managed 0 TDs and just 102 yards though the air on 25 passes, which works out to a cringe-inducing 4.1 yards-per-attempt. It’s a real shame, too, because we know these two can play. San Francisco has given up the fifth-most passing yards in the NFL this year at 256.5 per, but the bend-but-don’t-break unit has only given up 11 receiving TDs thus far. They might do it, but it’s hard to count on either Seattle wide receiver scoring.

In that same matchup, Alex Smith sure has looked comfortable in the spread offense, hasn’t he? At least, more comfortable than NFL observers have ever seen him. Smith and Michael Crabtree have developed a nice rapport, with the rookie wide receiver grabbing 26 passes for 346 yards and TD in his first 6 games as a pro. Seattle has allowed a large 20 receiving TDs on the season, and we like the rook’s chances of scoring in this divisional matchup.

They’ve fallen off slightly since leading the NFL in pass defense earlier in the year, but it still seems weird to me that the Giants have allowed 18 receiving TDs despite giving up just 182.6 yards a game through the air. Still, in Week 2 the G-Men certainly had Tony Romo’s number as the Dallas QB finished 13-for-29 with just 127 passing yards and 1 TD against 3 INTs. Roy Williams belongs on your bench, and expectations must be tempered for Miles Austin.

Despite lofty expectations for the 6-5 receiver after Chris Chambers was cut, Malcolm Floyd has been pretty quiet in San Diego. He’s yet to top 4 catches in a game this season, but still the big man perpetually seems on the cusp of big things. He keeps coming so close. Last week Floyd was robbed of a TD when erroneously called down inside the 5 after a 53-yard catch, and he’s now 6th in the NFL in receptions of 40+ yards. He’s talented, and this passing game is potent. It’s hard to endorse a guy with such little production thus far, but I can’t help but feel like a breakout game is coming at some point. This week in Cleveland is as good a time as any.

Your Weekly Darrelle Revis Alert: Downgrade Terrell Owens.

See also:
- Week 13 QB Rankings
- Week 13 RB Rankings
- Week 13 TE Rankings
- Week 13 DEF Rankings

1. Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Colts vs. TEN
2. Randy Moss, New England Patriots @ MIA
3. Andre Johnson, Houston Texans @ JAX
4. Vincent Jackson, San Diego Chargers @ CLE
5. Sidney Rice, Minnesota Vikings @ ARZ
6. Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals vs. MIN
7. Chad Ochocinco, Cincinnati Bengals vs. DET
8. Wes Welker, New England Patriots @ MIA
10. Marques Colston, New Orleans Saints @ WSH
11. DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles @ ATL (Check Status)
12. Donald Driver, Green Bay Packers vs. BAL
9. Miles Austin, Dallas Cowboys @ NYG
13. Roddy White, Atlanta Falcons vs. PHI
14. Steve Smith, New York Giants vs. DAL
15. Hines Ward, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. OAK
16. Brandon Marshall, Denver Broncos @ KC

WR rankings 17 through 43, after the jump…

Read the rest of this article »

Ranks Preview by Brian Spencer

The MVP race is overloaded with worthy QB candidates this season, but after the Saints’ Monday Night mauling of the New England Patriots, it’s just about time to whittle this down to a three-man competition. Tom Brady, it’s nice that you’re back, but you’re officially out of the discussion.

I can’t remember the last time a Brady-led Patriots team was humbled like they were at the Superdome… and in primetime, nonetheless. We were (literally) betting on the Saints’ unbeaten streak ending at 10, but outside of RB Laurence Maroney, very few Patriots bothered to show up.

Not Brady (who played timidly, repeatedly missed open receivers, and was squeezed all night by impressive Saints’ DEs Charles Grant and Will Smith), not Randy “Mr. Monday Night” Moss (3 catches, 67 yards), and certainly not the porous secondary. Somebody teach those guys how to tackle.

But enough about the Pats’ disappointing performance: the Saints’ 38-17 laugher was just as much about what they did as what the Patriots didn’t do. The defense, decimated by injuries, rose to the occasion and held the league’s second- or third-best offense well below its per-game averages for points and total yards. (Can Mike McKenzie and Chris McAlister keep that up?)

As well as that unit played, however, it was Drew Brees and his cadre of interchangeable weapons that stole the show: Brees became the first QB to ever throw for 5 TD passes against a Bill Belichick-coached team, and finished with an eye-popping box of 18-23 for 371 yards, 5 TDs, 0 INTs, and just one taken sack. That’s an average of over 20 yards per completion (!). He calmly spread the ball around to 7 different receivers, and has now thrown TD passes to 10 of his teammates so far with five more games to go.

Insane.

When it’s all said and done, though, will Brees win out over Brett Favre and Peyton Manning? What if none of their teams lose another game, with the Saints and Colts finishing undefeated and the Vikings with just one blemish on their record? Right now our vote goes to Favre, but this MVP race is shaping up to be one of the closest in recent history.

See also:
- Week 13 RB Rankings
- Week 13 WR Rankings
- Week 13 TE Rankings
- Week 13 DEF Rankings

1. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints @ WSH
2. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts vs. TEN
3. Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers @ CLE
4. Tom Brady, New England Patriots @ MIA
5. Brett Favre, Minnesota Vikings @ ARZ
6. Carson Palmer, Cincinnati Bengals vs. DET
7. Matt Schaub, Houston Texans @ JAX
8. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers vs. BAL
9. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. OAK
10. Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia Eagles @ ATL
11. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys @ NYG
12. Eli Manning, New York Giants vs. DAL
13. Kyle Orton, Denver Broncos @ KC
14. Vince Young, Tennessee Titans @ IND
15. Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens @ GB
16. David Garrard, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. HOU
17. Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears vs. STL
18. Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle Seahawks vs. SF
19. Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay Bucs @ CAR
20. Alex Smith, San Francisco 49ers @ SEA
21. Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions @ CIN
22. Matt Leinart, Arizona Cardinals vs. MIN (We’re assuming Warner is out.)
23. Jason Campbell, Washington Redskins vs. NO

Drew Brees’ Head Photo Credit: Icon SMI

Ranks Preview by Brian Spencer

With playoff berths and seeding on the line this week in most fantasy leagues, now’s not time to get overly cute with your starting lineup: stick with the horses that have gotten you here (unless they’re injured, of course) and ride them to the end.

Example: last week was the first time all year that I left Jason Witten on my bench. His production has been way down, I don’t particularly have much faith in Tony Romo, and Green Bay Packers TE Jermichael Finley was there for the taking on waivers. Healthy and getting more and more looks by the week, Finley seemed like a lock to go off against the Paper Lions secondary on Thanksgiving Day. I went with his upside over Witten’s proven fantasy track record.

Maybe that was the right play on paper, maybe not, but in the end it was the wrong play: Finley was somehow limited to just 3 catches for 25 yards, while Witten turned his best performance of the year with 5 catches for 107 yards. He didn’t score, and has still only done so once this year (thanks for that, guy), but he’s going back into the fray from here on out. No more being cute.

See also:
- Week 13 QB Rankings
- Week 13 RB Rankings
- Week 13 WR Rankings
- Week 13 DEF Rankings

1. Dallas Clark, Indianapolis Colts vs. TEN
2. Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers @ CLE
3. Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers @ SEA
4. Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys @ NYG
5. Kellen Winslow, Tampa Bay Bucs @ CAR
6. Visanthe Shiancoe, Minnesota Vikings @ ARZ
7. Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta Falcons vs. PHI
8. Heath Miller, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. OAK
9. Greg Olsen, Chicago Bears vs. STL
10. Brent Celek, Philadelphia Eagles @ ATL
11. Jeremy Shockey, New Orleans Saints @ WSH
12. Jermichael Finley, Green Bay Packers vs. BAL
13. Dustin Keller, New York Jets @ BUF
14. John Carlson, Seattle Seahawks vs. SF
15. Kevin Boss, New York Giants vs. DAL
16. Zach Miller, Oakland Raiders @ PIT
17. Tony Scheffler, Denver Broncos @ KC
18. Fred Davis, Washington Redskins vs. NO
19. Donald Lee, Green Bay Packers vs. BAL
20. Benjamin Watson, New England Patriots @ MIA

Ranks Preview by Andrew Thell

It took the Bills entirely too long to realize that Fred Jackson is their best option in the backfield. Hopefully it’s not a case of too little, too late for those of you who drafted him. Marshawn and his absurd grill are the brand name, and we were generally fond of the Cal product in his rookie year. But it’s been a long time seen we’ve seen him in Beast Mode, and in the interim the less-excitingly-named, grill-less Fred has clearly emerged as the superior talent. Dick Jauron force-fed Lynch 90 carries this season, but he’s only managed to convert them into 278 yards (3.1 YPC, yuck) and 1 TD with 3 fumbles.

Meanwhile, Jackson got the nod on Sunday and turned 15 carries into 73 rushing yards and 2 TDs. That brings his season total to a far more respectable 601 yards on 143 carries, good for a perfectly fine 4.2 YPC. Jackson has also emerged as a strong option in the receiving game, grabbing 32 balls in limited duty. The Jets matchup isn’t ideal this week, but he draws the toothless Chiefs in Week 14 and Falcons in the all-important championship week.

DeAngelo Williams will be playing on a sprained ankle and the Panthers will start Matt Moore, he of the 3-to-6 TD-to-INT ratio in 11 career appearances. The Panthers will be looking to hide their QB, so the forecast calls for a ton of handoffs. That’s a recipe for fantasy production out of Jonathan Stewart, who we absolutely love as a Flex or potential RB2 play this week.

I hate to say it, Matt Forte owners, but this is your last opportunity to expect a big game out of your first-round pick. Forte (and the Chicago offensive line) has struggled with anything resembling a respectable defense, but he’s feasted on the Lions and Browns in two home matchups that have accounted for all of his 3 TDs on the season. Next week Green Bay Comes to town and then the Bears face off against two top-5 NFL rush defenses in Baltimore and Minnesota in the fantasy playoffs. Ouch.

The Bills and their NFL-worst rushing defense are frequent topics in this space. This week the Jets and their No. 2 rushing offense come into town, making Thomas Jones a must-start option. Hell, I know he hasn’t done anything outside of that 144-yard- 2TD game in Oakland, but Shonn Greene might be an option if your team has been ravaged by injuries and you’re desperate. We haven’t ranked him, but Greene got 10 carries last week and could be good for 50 yards with an outside shot at a TD. Again though, only if you’re desperate.

See also:
- Week 13 QB Ranks
- Week 13 WR Ranks
- Week 13 TE Ranks
- Week 13 DEF Ranks

1. Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans @ IND
2. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. HOU
3. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings @ ARZ
4. Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens @ GB
5. DeAngelo Williams, Carolina Panthers vs. TB (Check Status)
6. Ricky Williams, Miami Dolphins vs. NE
7. Cedric Benson, Cincinnati Bengals vs. DET
8. Steven Jackson, St. Louis Rams @ CHI
9. Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers @ SEA
10. Joseph Addai, Indianapolis Colts vs. TEN
11. Thomas Jones, New York Jets @ BUF
12. Rashard Mendenhall, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. OAK
13. LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers @ CLE
14. Matt Forte, Chicago Bears vs. STL
15. Jonathan Stewart, Carolina Panthers vs. TB

Running back rankings 16 through 36, after the jump…

Read the rest of this article »

Ranks preview by Andrew Thell

You can make a strong argument that the New Orleans Saints DEF is the MVP of the fantasy season through 12 weeks. It’s reminiscent of the Rams defenses of the late 90s and earls 00s – they may not be the most talented bunch, but they’re playing with a big lead nearly every week and opposing offense are forced to abandon the run and pass more often and more recklessly than they ever would otherwise. Give Gregg Williams’ unit credit for taking advantage of the opportunities though, racking up 7 TDs, and constantly creating pressure on quarterbacks with strong defensive-end play.

In the ETB scoring format NO has racked up a whopping 160 total points. The second-best DEF has 133. That’s a 27-point gap, far greater than the difference at any ther position. At all other positions the top performer has only netted 10 or fewer more points than the rest of the pack. Coming into the season ranked outside the top 12 on nearly all cheat sheets, no free-agent pickup or late-round pick has had the positive impact the Saints DEF has. In a season in which top-12 ranked options like NYG, BAL, TEN, DAL, CHI and MIA are outside the top 12 in total scoring, the Saints are just the latest reason you never want to be the guy who drafts a DEF in the middle rounds.

The second-best DEF in fantasy pigskin this season has been the Minnesota Vikings, who we have tentatively ranked at number 6 this week. Early reports have Kurt Warner and Matt Leinart splitting reps in practice though. Minnesota’s All-Pro corner Antoine Winfield should be back this week, and if Leinart plays there may not be a better DEF option than the Vikings this week. The former USC star has shown next to nothing in his 27 career NFL starts to make us think he’s a passable QB.

See also:
- Week 13 QB Rankings
- Week 13 RB Rankings
- Week 13 WR Rankings
- Week 13 TE Rankings

1. New Orleans Saints @ WSH
2. Cincinnati Bengals vs. DET
3. San Diego Chargers @ CLE
4. Pittsburgh Steelers vs. OAK
5. Philadelphia Eagles @ ATL
6. Minnesota Vikings @ ARZ
7. Green Bay Packers vs. BAL
8. New York Jets @ BUF
9. Denver Broncos @ KC
10. Baltimore Ravens @ GB
11. San Francisco 49ers @ SEA
12. Buffalo Bills vs. NYJ
13. Indianapolis Colts vs. TEN
14. Chicago Bears vs. STL
15. New York Giants vs. DAL
16. Dallas Cowboys @ NYG
17. New England Patriots @ MIA

Shawne Merriman Photo Credit: Icon SMI

Ranks preview by Andrew Thell

It’s amazing what taking a few years off of football can do to rejuvenate the legs, isn’t it? Ricky Williams has been stellar all season, averaging far and away his career high in yards per carry at 5.3. He’s taken over full-time duties for the run-centric Dolphins the last two weeks and absolutely run with the opportunity: 42 carries, 4 receptions, 245 total yards and 3 TDs. The train rolls on this week as Ricky rolls into Buffalo to face off against perhaps the worst rush defense in football. The Bills are giving up 165.9 rushing yards a game and have given up 15 scores on the ground, both second-most in the NFL. This week they’ll once again be without starting DT Marcus Stroud, making it a dream matchup for one of the hottest RBs in football. Ricky Williams is an elite play this week. Bet you didn’t think we’d be saying that about the 32-year-old back when you drafted him. You have something to be thankful for, Williams owners.

Joining Williams are several other unlikely strong fantasy plays. Bernard Scott should have several huge plays on his way to a big game at home against division rival Cleveland. There’s every reason to believe Jason Snelling will keep the ball rolling at home against a Tampa Bay unit surrendering the most rushing yards in the NFL on Sunday. Justin Forsett, who has shown some real moves and the ability to hit small holes, will also be a must-start in St. Louis for most teams.

In fact, all three waiver-wire heroes are above Matt Forte in our rankings this week. Yes, the Matt Forte you used your 2-5 pick on this summer. Fantasy football is a bitch. We didn’t like Forte as much as most people on draft day, he’s simply not that talented or explosive a runner. Still, he’s a good receiver who managed over 1,700 total yards and 12 TDs as a rookie despite gaining just 3.9 yards a carry. Talent questions aside, the situation figured to be at least the same as last year, if not better with Jay Cutler in town, so he was a good pick. Jay Cutler’s incredibly inconsistency is partially to blame for the poor season, but the Chicago Bears offensive line has been simply horrendous this year and Forte is having a hard time compensating for his lack of skills with sheer volume of carries as a result.

This year the Bears featured back is putting up a pathetic 3.3 yards per carry, which has netted a paltry 51.6 rushing yards a game and he’s only managed 3 total TDs. This week Forte goes into Minnesota to face a defense that has only given up 3 TDs on the ground all season and is allowing just 85.5 rushing yards a game, third-fewest in the NFL. The Vikes figure to be ahead most of the game, have a talented trio of LBs and run-stuffing CB Antoine Winfield is scheduled to return, making Forte an even riskier bet than usual. There’s a chance you have better options.

Laurence Maroney hasn’t been especially impressive, but he’s getting the carries around the stripe for New England. We expect this to be a high-scoring affair and think Maroney should be good for a touchdown and some yardage against a mediocre (at best) Saints rushing defense that will once again be lacking their starting NT.

See also:
- Week 12 QB Rankings
- Week 12 WR Ranks
- Week 12 TE Rankings
- Week 12 DEF Rankings

Kevin Smith Photo Credit: Icon SMI

1. Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans vs. ARZ
2. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings vs. CHI
3. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars @ SF
4. Ricky Williams, Miami Dolphins @ BUF
5. Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens vs. PIT
6. DeAngelo Williams, Carolina Panthers @ NYJ
7. Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers vs. JAC
8. Steven Jackson, St. Louis Rams vs. SEA
9. Ryan Grant, Green Bay Packers @ DET
10. Bernard Scott, Cincinnati Bengals vs. CLE (Check Benson’s Status)
11. Marion Barber, Dallas Cowboys vs. OAK
12. Brandon Jacobs, New York Giants @ DEN
13. Thomas Jones, New York Jets vs. CAR
14. Jason Snelling, Atlanta Falcons vs. TB
15. Joseph Addai, Indianapolis Colts @ HOU

Running back rankings 16 through 37, after the jump…

Read the rest of this article »

Ranks Preview by Andrew Thell

It seems like Peyton Manning is starting to trust Pierre Garcon, despite some ill-timed drops, and that makes him a fine WR3/4 with upside in most formats going forward. Garcon has great playmaking abilities, and the Colts know he can stretch the field and open things up for Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark. If he keeps getting a high volume of looks Garcon will be a weekly candidate for huge plays and consistent yardage. Pierre has posted at least 50 yards in four straight now (including 6 for 108 last week and a TD the week before), and the matchup at Houston this week sets up nicely again.

Chris Chambers has seen a mini resurgence since joining the Kansas City Chiefs earlier this month. In three games he’s totaled 10 receptions for 249 yards and 2 TDs compared to just 9 receptions for 122 yards and 1 TD in his first seven games of the season with the San Diego Chargers. This week Chambers gets a chance to go into SD and get some revenge against the Bolts for cutting him earlier in the season. The Chiefs should be playing from behind often, and the revenge factor is always a nice angle, so we’re endorsing Chambers as a WR3 in deeper leagues.

Don’t let Terrell Owen’s explosion from last Sunday cloud your judgment. Before that 9-catch, 197-yard blowup the aging, depressing “star” wideout had only managed 26 catches and 1 TD in the previous eight games. He’s an option this week, but by no means a strong one.

Miles Austin stays inside our top-25 for the week, but his inability to shed doubles and respond to opponents game-planning for him the last few weeks is increasingly disconcerting. He’s merely a borderline WR2 right now.

The hits keep on coming for the Detroit defense. Starting strong safety Ko Simpson will miss Thursday’s game, leaving an already depleted secondary that much more vulnerable. The Lions already sport the worst secondary in the league, so you’ll obviously want to have Greg Jennings and Donald Driver in your lineups – and even James Jones makes for a solid speculative play for those in need of a WR4.

See also:
- Week 12 QB Rankings
- Week 12 RB Rankings
- Week 12 TE Rankings
- Week 12 DEF Rankings

1. Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Colts @ HOU
2. Randy Moss, New England Patriots @ NO
3. Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals @ TEN
4. Andre Johnson, Houston Texans vs. IND
5. Vincent Jackson, San Diego Chargers vs. KC
6. Wes Welker, New England Patriots @ NO
7. Greg Jennings, Green Bay Packers @ DET
8. Roddy White, Atlanta Falcons vs. TB (Check Status)
9. Sidney Rice, Minnesota Vikings vs. CHI
10. Chad Ochocinco, Cincinnati Bengals vs. CLE
11. Mike Sims-Walker, Jacksonville Jaguars @ SF
12. Anquan Boldin, Arizona Cardinals @ TEN
13. DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles vs. WAS
14. Brandon Marshall, Denver Broncos vs. NYG
15. Marques Colston, New Orleans Saints vs. NE
16. Donald Driver, Green Bay Packers @ DET

WR rankings 17 through 42, after the jump…

Read the rest of this article »

Ranks Preview by Brian Spencer

You already know how we feel about anybody wearing Packers green this week: start ‘em, including emerging fantasy threat Jermichael Finley, who looks to finally be healthy and could be primed for a breakout run these final 5 weeks of the fantasy season. (I know we’re beating up on the Lions this week; for the record, I’m a lifelong Lions fan and would love to see them upset the Pack on Thanksgiving. But, well, it is what it is.)

All of the elite TEs have favorable matchups this week, though it’ll be interesting to see if Brent Celek can get involved against the Redskins: last time he faced the ‘Skins, in Week 7, he caught just 3 passes for a total of 8 yards. If you’re hurting for a plug-in play this week–and I’m looking at you, Jason “Game-time Decision” Witten owners–consider Lions rookie TE Brandon Pettigrew a sneaky play with upside, even without Matthew Stafford behind center.

The big, bruising first-round pick is starting to come into his own, with 15 catches for 165 yards and 2 TDs in the last three weeks, including the game-winning score with no time remaining on the clock against the Browns. This is a defense that TEs are exploiting: last week, Vernon Davis burned the Pack for 6 catches, 108 yards, and 1 TD, while in the past month the Bucs’ Kellen Winslow and the Vikings’ Visanthe Shiancoe have also found the endzone against Green Bay.

Daunte Culpepper does not inspire confidence, but given his preference to check down and the fact that Calvin Johnson probably won’t play, Pettigrew (and RB Kevin Smith) is the closest thing the Lions will have to a receiving threat. Keep expectations modest, but he’s a decent gamble if you’re in need.

See also:
- Week 12 QB Rankings
- Week 12 RB Rankings
- Week 12 WR Rankings
- Week 12 DEF Rankings

1. Dallas Clark, Indianapolis Colts @ HOU
2. Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers vs. KC
3. Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers vs. JAX
4. Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta Falcons vs. TB
5. Kellen Winslow, Tampa Bay Bucs @ ATL
6. Brent Celek, Philadelphia Eagles vs. WSH
7. Jermichael Finley, Green Bay Packers @ DET
8. Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys vs. OAK (Check Status)
9. Jeremy Shockey, New Orleans Saints vs. NE
10. Visanthe Shiancoe, Minnesota Vikings vs. CHI
11. Heath Miller, Pittsburgh Steelers @ BAL
12. Kevin Boss, New York Giants @ DEN
13. Greg Olsen, Chicago Bears @ MIN
14. John Carlson, Seattle Seahawks @ STL
15. Brandon Pettigrew, Detroit Lions vs. GB
16. Zach Miller, Oakland Raiders @ DAL
17. Benjamin Watson, New England Patriots @ NO
18. Dustin Keller, New York Jets vs. CAR
19. Tony Scheffler, Denver Broncos vs. NYG
20. Todd Heap, Baltimore Ravens @ PIT

Ranks Preview by Brian Spencer

Aaron Rodgers’ Thanksgiving feast starts early this year, and the fattened turkey that is the Detroit Lions secondary is so juicy, so bountiful, that there probably won’t be any room left for dessert. As far as fantasy matchups go, it just doesn’t get any better for investors in the Packers’ passing attack than this.

Last Sunday we saw Cleveland Browns QB Brady Quinn, recognized as one of the league’s worst starting quarterbacks on literally the NFL’s worst offense, light the Lions up like a Christmas tree to the tune of 21-33 for 304 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INTs, and a staggering 133.1 QB Rating. Impressive, especially when you consider that in his previous four games combined, Quinn had thrown for 303 yards, 4 INTs, and 0 TDs.

So, yeah–expect big things from Rodgers Thursday morning. To make matters worse for the Lions, not only will they likely be without Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson on offense, the already razor-thin depth in the defensive secondary became stretched even further this week when starting SS Ko Simpson was ruled out with a knee injury. That forces somebody named Marvin White into a featured role. Good God.

See also:
- Week 12 RB Rankings
- Week 12 WR Rankings
- Week 12 TE Rankings
- Week 12 DEF Rankings

1. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers @ DET
2. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts @ HOU
3. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints vs. NE
4. Tom Brady, New England Patriots @ NO
5. Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers vs. KC
6. Matt Schaub, Houston Texans vs. IND
7. Carson Palmer, Cincinnati Bengals vs. CLE
8. Brett Favre, Minnesota Vikings vs. CHI
9. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons vs. TB
10. Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia Eagles vs. WSH
11. Kurt Warner, Arizona Cardinals @ TEN
12. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers @ BAL
13. Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens vs. PIT
14. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys vs. OAK
15. Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears @ MIN
16. Eli Manning, New York Giants @ DEN
17. Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle Seahawks @ STL
18. Vince Young, Tennessee Titans vs. ARZ
19. Kyle Orton, Denver Broncos vs. NYG (Check Status)
20. Alex Smith, San Francisco 49ers vs. JAX
21. David Garrard, Jacksonville Jaguars @ SF
22. Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay Bucs @ ATL
23. Matt Cassel, Kansas City Chiefs @ SD

Aaron Rodgers Photo Credit: Icon SMI

Ranks Preview by Brian Spencer

This might be the last week you see the solid Green Bay Packers DEF rated this highly on our weekly board. A top-10 fantasy play coming into this week’s juicy Thanksgiving matchup against the battered Detroit Lions, the Packers endured two big blows against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday when both DL Aaron Kampman (third on the team in sacks with 3.5) and CB Al Harris (third in interceptions with 2) succumbed to season-ending injuries. While neither were having standout seasons, these losses still hurt and the unit should be downgraded come Week 13 against the Baltimore Ravens.

But not this week. Though back in the day the Lions were always dangerous on Turkey Day, regardless of their record, they’ve lost their last five Thanksgiving games by an average of 23.4 points (though it’s perhaps worth noting that their last victory, in ‘03, came at the Packers’ expense). As if the talent deck isn’t already stacked heavily in their opponents’ favor, Detroit will likely be without the services of Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson, the two pistons that power the offense. Without Stafford, they’ll turn to Daunte Culpepper. Without Johnson, they’ll turn to the dynamic trio of Bryant Johnson, Dennis Northcutt, and Derrick Williams.

We’ll let you put two and two together. By the way, random fact of the week (stop reading here, Lions fans): Sunday’s 38-37 come-from-behind win over the Cleveland Browns was only the second time since 1957 that a Detroit Lions team has come back from a 10+ point deficit to win.

See also:
- Week 12 QB Rankings
- Week 12 RB Rankings
- Week 12 WR Rankings
- Week 12 TE Rankings

1. Philadelphia Eagles vs. WSH
2. Green Bay Packers @ DET
3. Minnesota Vikings vs. CHI
4. Cincinnati Bengals vs. CLE
5. San Diego Chargers vs. KC
6. Dallas Cowboys vs. OAK
7. Baltimore Ravens vs. PIT
8. New York Giants @ DEN
9. Pittsburgh Steelers @ BAL
10. Miami Dolphins @ BUF
11. Carolina Panthers @ NYJ
12. New Orleans Saints vs. NE
13. Atlanta Falcons vs. TB
14. Denver Broncos vs. NYG
15. Seattle Seahawks @ STL

Green Bay Packers Defense Photo Credit: Icon SMI