Hello and Welcome to Market Fantasy!
For the vast majority of fantasy football players, we’ve reached the end of yet another year. For a lot of people, the way they did or didn’t get to this point was a pretty wild ride culminating with week 15 giving us everything from the stalling of the NFL’s best offense one of the all-time single game fantasy performances, to championship hopes being dashed by a 61 yard field goal with under a minute in the Monday night game. However your season ended, I hope it was a good one.
This will be the last Go For It/Punt of the year since most leagues are finished after this week. The next couple weeks will wrap up consistency and efficiency ratings and the FOW. After that it’s on to football wrap ups and then on to baseball! I’ve got lots of good stuff in the works for baseball as I continue to refine and grow this blog.
For now, read on to see who I think you should be starting and sitting this week. As always, don’t get too cute in the championship, but if you’re in a bind, these are some overlooked guys who I think can help out your squad and some widely owned guys who would probably be better off on your bench. Best of luck to those of you playing for something and as always, thank you so much for your continued readership and support!
Go For It!
QB:
Tony Romo – The Romo hate is ridiculous as has been shown by a number of other fantasy columnists. Romo is currently sixth in QB scoring this year and has thrown the third most touchdowns. He’s also thrown only 9 picks, putting him ahead of Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Tom Brady to name a few. He still has a top three WR, a healthy run game, and this week gets to take on the Redskins. The Redskins are bad at defense. The other good thing for Romo is that the Cowboys are on pace to be historically bad at defense. This game is going to be a shootout and I would use both QBs in it without hesitation.
Jay Cutler – It took Cuter about a half to get it back last week, but once he did, the offense was humming right along against a Browns team that even after last week is top 10 in the league in passing yards allowed. This week, Cutler is facing an Eagles team that is second to last in passing yards allowed. The Bears are in a must win situation this week, and the Marc Trestman offense if clicking. Expect another circus touchdown from Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall to get his too. This is going to be another high scoring game, although the possibility of the Bears getting Lance Briggs back should stiffen up the Bears defense slightly. I can easily see Cutler posting top five numbers this week.
RB:
Giovanni Bernard – Last week’s game against Pittsburgh may not have been Bernard’s best, but it was significant for one reason: he got some goal line touches. Also of note, BenJarvus Green-Ellis gained four yards on four carries. It looks like we might finally be seeing the changing of the guard in Cincinnati. Just in time for Bernard owners as this week he faces the Vikings who have ceded 10 plus points to an RB in 11 straight games. Given the increase in usage, I expect Bernard to be the 12 straight back to hit double digits.
Jordan Todman – Last week, Todman filled in for Maurice Jones Drew and ran for 109 yards on 25 carries. That is both production and opportunity. With Jones-Drew no lock to play again this week, Todman could again be in line for a large workload against the Titans who are the tenth best defense to run on this year. They’re also very good against the pass. With the Jags aerial attack sputtering, expect Todman to again get the carries to post solid numbers in a good matchup.
Le’Veon Bell – Le’Veon Bell rates as my most consistent RB, and in fact hasn’t been below 8 points since week 6, or his second game in the NFL. This week, Mr. Consistency gets to take on a Packers team that is giving up 121 yards to opposing RBs. Given that the game is in Green Bay, I would have to think the Steelers would lean on their star back for a clock killing approach given the matchup. Given that Bell is averaging 18 carries per game and the matchup, Bell should keep the good times rolling for your team this week.
TE:
Zach Ertz – Owners will be turned off by Ertz’s doughnut in week 14, but other than that, he has double digits in his other two over a three game stretch. Historically, the Bears struggle with big, athletic TEs, and Ertz fits that bill. In the last two weeks, Ertz has 10 targets to Brent Celek’s 4. Foles is favoring Ertz and he has a good matchup this week.
Zach Miller – I read last week that the Cardinals give up basically Jimmy Graham’s average game to opposing tight ends. Zach Miller is the TE playing the Cardinals this week. It’s really that simple.
Punt!
QB:
Carson Palmer – Much like Zach Miller, this one is very simple. Palmer is hurt, he has the toughest passing matchup in the NFL and Larry Fitzgerald is dealing with a concussion. There is absolutely nothing to like about Palmer this week.
Matt Ryan – If you’ve been rolling with Ryan because of his good matchups, if last week’s stinker hasn’t convinced you to look elsewhere, then his date with the Niners should. The Niners sport the fourth toughest pass defense on the year. The Falcon’s defense might make for some Ryan garbage time stats, but don’t risk it. There are so many other good options this week.
RB:
BenJarvus Green-Ellis – If you’re thinking about dialing up the Law Firm in a good matchup, don’t be so hasty. Remember everything I said about Bernard taking over the lead role above. Green-Ellis isn’t getting the touches and playing him is a Mike Tolbert-esque hope for a vulture TD. I’m not betting my championship (or third place matchup! Those still win money in most leagues. No one is giving the third place games love!) on that.
Andre Brown – Last week against the Seahawks, Brown managed 21 total yards on 16 touches. That is brutal. This week, the matchup is no better against the Lions who have allowed the fourth fewest rushing yards to date. Throw in that Brown has only scored in two of his six games since coming back, and I have to avoid him if I can. The Giants are a mess right now and I want no part of that offense while I’m playing for money.
Steven Jackson – Jackson has experienced somewhat of a renaissance as of late with double digit fantasy points in three of his last four. I don’t expect the party to last into this week, however. Jackson is taking on the 49ers who have allowed the sixth fewest yards to opposing RBs. The Niners could probably run the score up in this one as well, leaving few touches for Jackson. Like the other two in this list, you’re banking on a score. I can’t do that.
WR:
Greg Jennings – Jennings has shown signs of life lately with double digits in two out of his last three games. He has especially clicked with Matt Cassel at QB, putting up 163 yards and a touchdown. Be careful this week, however, as the Vikings take on the stingy Bengals pass defense who rebounded nicely last week after their week 14 humiliation against the Colts. Yes, the Steelers threw up 30 points last week on the Bengals, but they held Big Ben to 191 yards and only 1 TD. I expect the Bengals passing defense to continue to play tough this week, keeping expectations for Greg Jennings in check.
Marques Colston – Colston has been up and down all year, and while he’s been up the last two games, this week is going to be a tough matchup against the Carolina Panthers. Colston had a great game against them last time out in week 14, but that was in New Orleans. On the road, the Saints passing -attack is the ugly side of two-face. I don’t think this will be as bad as New Orleans’ visit to Seattle, but I’m expecting a defensive struggle in this one.
Dwayne Bowe – Last week while Jamaal Charles was going nuts on the Raiders, Bowe was an afterthought. Unfortunately, with a good matchup for Charles again in the Colts, Bowe could again disappear. The Colts are a slightly tough matchup for passing games also, making a Charles focused game plan all the more likely. Bowe has scored double digits in three of his last five, but he’s been invisible for large portions of the year. I’d look elsewhere.
TE:
Martellus Bennett – Bennett saw a slight uptick in production with Jay Cutler back at the helm of the offense, but it wasn’t enough to make me comfortable to start. He’s just not being looked for in the red zone. The offense flows through Marshall, Jeffery and Forte, and with Earl Bennett all of a sudden getting his own red zone looks (two TDs in two weeks), I just don’t think there’s enough there for Bennett. It’s a shame, since he’s made some big plays earlier in the year.
Jordan Cameron - It looks like Cameron’s big week 14 was ananomoly, as he posted just 2.1 points against the Bears last week. Other than that, his last double digit game was in week 7. He’s just not getting the chances to put up points despite his talent, and is battling a concussion. I would have a hard time playing him this week even if he does in fact suit up.
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