Fantasy Football: Week 12 Start Em' And Sit Em'

By Derek of The Sportmeisters

Welcome to the best time of the year sports fans. I will tell you who I think you should start or who I think you should sit for your fantasy team. This year, I will give you your obvious must starts (guys you start every week no matter who they play), a few players from each position who you should start, a sleeper start em’, and a must sit em’. I will also be giving projections for those players. If you have more questions, don’t forget to join me for my Sunday Morning Start Em’/Sit Em’ Chat from 10:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Go to www.Sportmeisters.com for more info. Enough talk, let’s get down to business!

QB Obvious Must Starts

Drew Brees —NO vs. NE – Projection: 275 Yards, 2 TD, 1 INT

Peyton Manning —IND vs. HOU – Projection: 300 Yards, 2 TD, 1 INT

Tom Brady —NE vs. NO – Projection: 300 Yards, 2 TD, 1 INT

Philip Rivers —SD vs. KC – Projection: 295 Yards, 2 TD, 0 INT

Kurt Warner —ARI vs. TEN – Projection: 280 Yards, 2 TD, 1 INT

QB Start Em’

Carson Palmer —CIN vs. CLE —After three disappointing games in which Palmer has thrown just one touchdown and one interception, without throwing for more than 225 yards, a game against the 26^th ranked pass defense of the Cleveland Browns couldn’t come at a better time. In his last five games against them, he has 14 touchdowns. Start Em’. Projection: 270 Yards, 3 TD, 0 INT

Matt Ryan —ATL vs. TB —Ryan finally broke out of his slump last week with 268 yards and two touchdowns against the Giants. This week, he faces the 13th ranked pass defense of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have allowed 22 passing touchdowns on the year. Start Em’. Projection: 275 Yards, 2 TD, 0 INT

Alex Smith —SF vs. JAX —While Smith hasn’t lit the world on fire, he hasn’t been too bad either. He played well last week against a good Green Bay defense, throwing for 227 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. If you own him, this would be the week he could surprise you against the 25th ranked pass defense of the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have allowed 17 passing touchdowns this year. Sleeper Start Em’. Projection: 250 Yards, 2 TD, 1 INT

QB Sit Em’

Joe Flacco —BAL vs. PIT – Flacco hasn’t been great in his last four games, throwing just one touchdown and three interceptions. This week, he faces the 12th ranked Pittsburgh Steelers pass defense that will be extremely fired up after being upset by the lowly Chiefs last week. Sit Em’. Projection: 240 Yards, 1 TD, 1 INT

Matt Schaub —HOU vs. IND —As good as Schaub has been this year, he has just three touchdowns to four interceptions in his last three games, although two of those games he did throw for over 300 yards. However, he faces the Indianapolis Colts and their 18th ranked pass defense this week and they have allowed just seven touchdowns through the air all year. Plus, Schaub has just two touchdowns and four interceptions in his last two games against them. Sit Em’. Projection: 285 Yards, 2 TD, 2 INT

Matt Cassel —KC vs. SD —After a surprisingly good game last week against Pittsburgh, Cassel will fall back to Earth against the 11th ranked San Diego pass defense, where he completed just 10 passes for 97 yards and three interceptions in week seven. Must Sit Em’. Projection: 150 Yards, 1 TD, 3 INT

RB Obvious Must Starts

Adrian Peterson —MIN vs. CHI —Projection: 115 Yards Rushing, 1 TD, 2 Receptions, 20 Yards

Maurice Jones-Drew —JAX vs. SF — Projection: 80 Yards Rushing, 1 TD, 4 Receptions, 35 Yards

Steven Jackson —STL vs. SEA —Projection: 120 Yards Rushing, 1 TD, 3 Receptions, 25 Yards

Chris Johnson —TEN vs. ARI —Projection: 100 Yards Rushing, 1 TD, 3 Receptions, 30 Yards

Ray Rice —BAL vs. PIT —Projection: 80 Yards Rushing, 1 TD, 6 Receptions, 50 Yards

RB Start Em’

LaDainian Tomlinson —SD vs. KC — LT looks to be back and fully healthy with 44 carries for 169 yards and three total touchdowns in the past two games. This week, he should do better than his 71 yards performance against the Chiefs and their 27^th ranked run defense. Start Em’. Projection: 95 Yards Rushing, 1 TD, 2 Receptions, 15 Yards

Joseph Addai —IND vs. HOU —Addai has quietly put together a strong fantasy year thus far with 10 total touchdowns and 788 all-purpose yards. This week, he faces the 22nd ranked run defense of the Houston Texans, a team which he had 112 total yards and two touchdowns against in week nine. Start Em’. Projection: 65 Yards Rushing, 1 TD, 3 Receptions, 35 Yards, 1 TD

Ricky Williams —MIA vs. BUF —Williams has proved these past two weeks that he can still be a featured back in the NFL with back to back 100+ yard games and three touchdowns against Tampa Bay and Carolina. This week, he has another great matchup against the Buffalo Bills and their 31st ranked run defense, whom he torched for 85 yards and a touchdown in week four while he was still splitting carries with the now injured Ronnie Brown. Start Em’. Projection: 100 Yards Rushing, 1 TD, 2 Receptions, 15 Yards

Thomas Jones —NYJ vs. CAR —Did we all forget about Thomas Jones this year? All he has done is put up 884 yards and eight touchdowns. This week, he faces the Carolina Panthers and their 26th ranked run defense that allowed Ricky Williams to find the end zone three times last week. Start Em’. Projection: 100 Yards Rushing, 1 TD

Bernard Scott —CIN vs. CLE —Even if Cedric Benson plays this week, I like Scott. He ran for over 100 yards last week with Benson out and faces the 29th ranked run defense of the Cleveland Browns this week. Do you really think that Cincinnati will leave Benson in when they are up 28—0? Me neither! Can you say garbage time points? Sleeper Start Em’. Projection: 75 Yards Rushing, 1 TD, 2 Receptions, 20 Yards

RB Sit Em’

Rashard Mendenhall —PIT vs. BAL —As good as Mendenhall has been over the past few weeks, I still have to bench him against the Baltimore Ravens and their fifth ranked run defense that has allowed just six rushing touchdowns all year. Sit Em’. Projection: 60 Yards Rushing

Matt Forte —CHI vs. MIN — Forte has pretty much been a bust this year. However, his ability to catch passes out of the backfield has been what keeps him from being a complete bust. While he has had just 39 carries for 108 yards in the past three games, he has had 18 receptions for 214 yards in those same three games. This week, he faces the Minnesota Vikings, who are ranked third in the NFL against the run, allowing just three rushing touchdowns all year. If he is going to have any impact, it will be as a receiver, but I still say to Sit Em’. Projection: 40 Yards Rushing, 6 Receptions, 55 Yards

Marshawn Lynch —BUF vs. MIA — Lynch appears to be ready to play this week after being carted off the field last week against Jacksonville with an injured shoulder. However, I suspect that the injury will limit his carries and he is facing a tough Miami Dolphins run defense that ranks 11^th in the NFL. Sit Em’. Projection: 30 Yards Rushing, 3 Receptions, 25 Yards

Jamal Lewis —CLE vs. CIN —Lewis has not been effective this year and has just 460 yards with no touchdowns. That may be because they haven’t had a passing game, but either way, now isn’t the time to start using him (or any Cleveland Browns player), especially against the second ranked run defense of the Cincinnati Bengals, who have allowed just four rushing touchdowns all year. Must Sit Em’. Projection: 40 Yards Rushing

WR Obvious Must Starts

Randy Moss —NE vs. NO — Projection: 7 Receptions, 100 Yards, 1 TD

Wes Welker —NE vs. NO — Projection: 12 Receptions, 110 Yards, 1 TD

Larry Fitzgerald —ARI vs. TEN —Projection: 8 Receptions, 105 Yards, 1 TD

Anquan Boldin —ARI vs. TEN — Projection: 7 Receptions, 100 Yards, 1 TD

Reggie Wayne —IND vs. HOU —Projection: 9 Receptions, 100 Yards, 1 TD

Andre Johnson —HOU vs. IND — Projection: 8 Receptions, 80 Yards, 1 TD

Roddy White —ATL vs. TB —Projection: 5 Receptions, 85 Yards, 1 TD

Marques Colston —NO vs. NE —Projection: 6 Receptions, 80 Yards, 1 TD

WR Start Em’

Chad Ochocinco —CIN vs. CLE —Ocho Cinco has returned to the All-Pro Wide Receiver that we all remember this year, catching 50 passes for 735 yards and five touchdowns. However, he has hit a bit of a slump recently, with just 11 receptions for 162 yards in his last three games. This week should be just what the fantasy doctor ordered, as he plays the 26th ranked pass defense of the Cleveland Browns, who gave up two touchdowns Ochocinco in week four and has torched for over 1000 yards and 11 touchdowns in his career. Start Em’. Projection: 8 Receptions, 115 Yards, 1 TD

Vincent Jackson —SD vs. KC — Although Jackson has just five receptions for 66 yards in his last two games, you still have to start him this week against the 28th ranked pass defense of the Kansas City Chiefs, whom he torched for five receptions, 142 yards, and a touchdown in week seven. Start Em’. Projection: 6 Receptions, 120 Yards, 1 TD

T.J. Houshmandzadeh —SEA vs. STL — We all thought that T.J. was finally coming out of a season long slump in week 10, when he caught nine passes for 165 yards against Arizona. However, he caught just four balls for 36 yards last week against Minnesota. Housh has been incredibly inconsistent this year, but I think he has one of those days against the 24th ranked pass defense of the St. Louis Rams, who have allowed 15 passing touchdowns this year. Start Em’. Projection: 8 Receptions, 80 Yards, 1 TD

Kenny Britt —TEN vs. ARI — Britt appears to be clicking with Vince Young, catching six balls for 97 yards and a touchdown in his last two games. This week, he faces the 27th ranked pass defense of the Arizona Cardinals and he could surprise some people. Sleeper Start Em’. Projection: 4 Receptions, 50 Yards, 1 TD

WR Sit Em’

Braylon Edwards —NYJ vs. CAR —Edwards has just four receptions for 89 yards in the past two weeks and the Jets will probably be running the ball this week against the 26^th ranked run defense of the Carolina Panthers, who rank fourth against the Pass. Sit Em’. Projection: 3 Receptions, 35 Yards

Santana Moss —WAS vs. PHI — The Redskins offense has been a mess this year and Moss has suffered as well. He has just 12 receptions for 93 yards over the last three games and faces the ninth ranked Philadelphia Eagles pass defense this week, the same Defense that held him to six receptions for 74 yards in week seven. Sit Em’. Projection: 4 Receptions, 40 Yards

Chris Chambers —KC vs. SD —When the Chargers released Chambers, everyone thought it was because he was washed up. However, the Chiefs signed him and he has rewarded them with 10 receptions for 249 yards and two touchdowns in three games. However, this week he faces his former team and who would know how to shut him down better than his former coaches? Especially since the Chargers rank 11th in pass defense. Sit Em’. Projections: 4 Receptions, 40 Yards

Bernard Berrian —MIN vs. CHI —Berrian was supposed to be the Vikings number one receiver when the season started. However, he was injured and has now been reduced to the third or fourth option behind Sidney Rice, Percy Harvin, and Visanthe Shiancoe. He has just eight receptions for 80 yards and two touchdowns in the last three games, and I don’t see any success against his former team, the Chicago Bears and their eighth ranked pass defense. Must Sit Em’. Projection: 3 Receptions, 30 Yards

TE Obvious Must Starts

Antonio Gates —SD vs. DEN —Projection: 6 Receptions, 60 Yards, 1 TD

Tony Gonzalez —ATL vs. NYG —Projection: 7 Receptions, 75 Yards, 1 TD

Vernon Davis —SF vs. JAX — Projection: 7 Receptions, 80 Yards, 1 TD

Dallas Clark —IND vs. BAL —Projection: 7 Receptions, 75 Yards, 1 TD

TE Start Em’

Kellen Winslow —TB vs. ATL — The Falcons rank 29th vs. the pass and rookie QB Josh Freeman has relied heavily on his veteran Tight End, who has 16 receptions for 188 yards and a touchdown in the last three games. Expect that to continue this week. Start Em’. Projection: 6 Receptions, 55 Yards, 1 TD

Greg Olsen —CHI vs. MIN —After Olsen’s slow start, many people wrote him off as a bust. However, he has responded with 18 receptions for 188 yards and three touchdowns in his last three games. This week, he faces the 21st ranked pass defense of the Minnesota Vikings and QB Jay Cutler should continue to look his way. Start Em’. Projection: 6 Receptions, 50 Yards, 1 TD

Fred Davis – WAS vs. PHI – As much of a mess as the Redskins Offense has been this year, Davis has been a pleasant surprise. He has 23 receptions for 223 yards and a touchdown and eight of those catches and 78 yards and the touchdown came against Philadelphia in week seven. Sleeper Start Em’. Projection: 6 receptions, 60 Yards, 1 TD

TE Sit Em’

Dustin Keller —NYJ vs. CAR — With the Jets running the ball against a weak Carolina run defense, the pass game will be put on the shelf and that means Keller won’t see much thrown his way. Sit Em’. Projection: 3 Receptions, 35 Yards

Heath Miller —PIT vs. BAL —Miller was very good last week, but that was against a weak Kansas City pass defense. This week, he plays the 17th ranked pass defense of the Baltimore Ravens and he usually doesn’t fair well against them, averaging less than three receptions and 20 yards in his last six games against them. Sit Em’. Projection: 2 Receptions, 20 Yards

Ben Watson —NE vs. NO —Even though this game will be a shootout, I don’t see Watson becoming too involved in the game plan. He has just five receptions for 85 yards in his last three games and New Orleans usually keeps the opposing Tight End in check. Plus, he has a back injury that may keep him out of the game all together. Must Sit Em’. Projection: 2 Receptions, 20 Yards

D/ST Start Em’

Cincinnati Bengals vs. CLE —Aside from last week, Cleveland’s Offense has been horrendous this year and the Bengals much improved Defense should feast on them this week. Start Em’.

Philadelphia Eagles vs. WAS —The Eagles forced four fumbles and had an interception for a touchdown in their week seven matchup against the Redskins. This week should be much of the same, especially with Clinton Portis, Ladell Betts, and Chris Cooley hurt. Start Em’.

San Diego Chargers vs. KC —The Chargers held the Chiefs to seven points in their week seven game, sacking Matt Cassel five times and picking him off three times. I expect much of the same this week. Start Em’.

D/ST Sit Em’

New England Patriots vs. NO —This game will be a complete shootout with two of the best Quarterbacks in the game and two of the best Offenses in the game facing off. Sit Em’.

New Orleans Saints vs. NE —The same reason as why you don’t start the Patriots D this week. Sit Em’.

Tennessee Titans vs. ARI —Kurt Warner has thrown nine touchdowns without throwing an interception over the last three games and the Cardinals Offense has put up an average of 31 points per game in those three games. Not good news for the Titans fantasy owners. Sit Em’.

There you have it Sports Fans. Any questions or concerns, please email me at [e-mail] and don’t forget to join me for my weekly Sunday Morning Start Em’/Sit Em’ Chat from 10:45am to 12:45pm. Go to www.Sportmeisters.com for more info.