Fantasy Football: Week 13 Start Em And Sit Em

Welcome to the best time of the year, Sports Fans. Here is where 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’. Also, I will 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 10:45am to 12:45pm. Go to www.Sportmeisters.com for more info. Enough talk, let’s get down to business!

QB Obvious Must Starts

Drew Brees —NO vs. WAS —Projection: 290 Yards, 3 TD, 1 INT

Peyton Manning —IND vs. TEN —Projection: 300 Yards, 3 TD, 1 INT

Tom Brady —NE vs. MIA —Projection: 325 Yards, 3 TD, 0 INT

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

Aaron Rodgers —GB vs. BAL —Projection: 250 Yards, 2 TD, 1 INT

QB Start Em’

Brett Favre —MIN vs. ARI —Favre has been on fire, throwing eight touchdowns in his last three games. This week, he faces the 29th ranked pass defense of the Arizona Cardinals, and I fully expect him to put up yet another monster game. Start Em’. Projection: 300 Yards, 3 TD, 0 INT

Carson Palmer —CIN vs. DET —After four disappointing games in which Palmer has thrown just two touchdowns and one interception (including last week’s 110 yard, one touchdown clunker against Cleveland), a game against the worst pass defense in the NFL, The Detroit Lions, couldn’t come at a better time. Sleeper Start Em’.
Projection: 270 Yards, 2 TD, 0 INT

QB Sit Em’

Tony Romo —DAL vs. NYG —Romo had one of the worst games of his career against the Giants on week two, throwing for just 127 yards and three interceptions. He faces them again this week, and they are ranked fourth in the NFL vs. the pass. Sit Em’.
Projection: 215 Yards, 1 TD, 2 INT

Matt Cassel —KC vs. DEN —After a surprisingly good game two weeks ago against Pittsburgh, Cassel fell back to Earth last week against The San Diego Chargers. This week, it doesn’t get any easier against the fifth ranked pass defense of the Denver Broncos. Must Sit Em’.
Projection: 175 Yards, 1 TD, 2 INT

RB Obvious Must Starts

Adrian Peterson —MIN vs. ARI —Projection: 95 Yards Rushing, 1 TD, 2 Receptions, 25 Yards

Maurice Jones-Drew —JAX vs. HOU —Projection: 90 Yards Rushing, 1 TD, 4 Receptions, 35 Yards

Steven Jackson —STL vs. CHI —Projection: 85 Yards Rushing, 1 TD, 4 Receptions, 25 Yards

Chris Johnson —TEN vs. IND —Projection: 90 Yards Rushing, 1 TD, 3 Receptions, 30 Yards

Ray Rice —BAL vs. GB —Projection: 80 Yards Rushing, 1 TD, 5 Receptions, 50 Yards

RB Start Em’

LaDainian Tomlinson —SD vs. CLE —LDT looks to be back with five touchdowns in the past three games. This week, he should feast on the 29th ranked run defense of the Cleveland Browns. Start Em’.
Projection: 90 Yards Rushing, 2 TD, 3 Receptions, 25 Yards

Rashard Mendenhall —PIT vs. OAK —Last week, against a good Baltimore run defense, he ran for 95 yards and had 22 yards receiving. This week, he faces the Oakland Raiders and their 31ST ranked run defense. Start Em’.
Projection: 100 Yards Rushing, 1 TD, 3 Receptions, 20 Yards

Matt Forte —CHI vs. STL —As inconsistent as Forte has been this year, you can’t afford not to start him against the St. Louis Rams and their 28TH ranked run defense. Especially with Jay Cutler throwing so many interceptions lately. Start Em’.
Projection: 100 Yards Rushing, 1 TD, 5 Receptions, 40 Yards

Cadillac Williams —TB vs. CAR —Williams has faced three decent run defense’s these past three weeks and his numbers show it. He ran for just 114 yards and scored just two total touchdowns in those games against Miami, Atlanta, and New Orleans. However, this week he faces the Carolina Panthers and their 26th ranked run defense. Sleeper Start Em’.
Projection: 65 Yards Rushing, 1 TD

RB Sit Em’

Ryan Grant —GB vs. BAL —If Grant could only manage 61 yards last week against a weak Detroit run defense, how is he going to fare against the Baltimore Ravens and their sixth ranked run defense? Sit Em’.
Projection: 40 Yards Rushing, 3 Receptions, 20 Yards

Kevin Smith —DET vs. CIN —Smith is coming off a decent game last week against Green Bay, where he ran for 43 yards and had 46 yards receiving. He will probably have the same type of game against the third ranked Cincinnati Bengals run defense. Sit Em’. Projection: 30 Yards Rushing, 4 Receptions, 40 Yards

Darren McFadden and Justin Fargas and Michael Bush —OAK vs. PIT —Does any fantasy expert/writer ever tell you to start a Running Back against the best run defense in the NFL, the Pittsburgh Steelers? I didn’t think so. Must Sit Em’ All.
Projections: McFadden: 20 Yards Rushing, 3 Receptions, 25 Yards – Fargas: 35 Yards Rushing – Bush: 20 Yards Rushing

WR Obvious Must Starts

Randy Moss —NE vs. MIA —Projection: 7 Receptions, 100 Yards, 1 TD

Wes Welker —NE vs. MIA —Projection: 11 Receptions, 100 Yards, 1 TD

Larry Fitzgerald —ARI vs. MIN —Projection: 6 Receptions, 95 Yards, 1 TD

Anquan Boldin —ARI vs. MIN —Projection: 6 Receptions, 80 Yards, 1 TD

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

Andre Johnson —HOU vs. JAX —Projection: 7 Receptions, 80 Yards, 1 TD

Roddy White —ATL vs. PHI —Projection: 5 Receptions, 65 Yards, 1 TD

Marques Colston —NO vs. WAS —Projection: 5 Receptions, 80 Yards, 1 TD

WR Start Em’

Chad Ocho Cinco —CIN vs. DET —Ocho Cinco has returned to the All-Pro Wide Receiver that we all remember this year, catching 53 passes for 773 yards and five touchdowns. However, he has hit a bit of a slump recently, with just 14 receptions for 200 yards in his last four games. This week should be just what the doctor ordered, as he plays the Detroit Lions, who have the worst pass defense in the NFL. Start Em’. Projection: 7 Receptions, 105 Yards, 1 TD

Vincent Jackson —SD vs. CLE —Although Jackson has just seven receptions for 93 yards in his last three games, he is still Philip Rivers’ favorite target and you have to start him against the 24th ranked pass defense of the Cleveland Browns. Start Em’. Projection: 5 Receptions, 90 Yards, 1 TD

Devin Hester —CHI vs. STL —I know, I know, Hester has been stinking up the joint lately with just 12 receptions for 84 yards in his last three games. However, if there was ever a week for the Bears pass attack to get back on track, it would be this week against the 22nd ranked pass defense of the St. Louis Rams. Start Em’.
Projection: 5 Receptions, 65 Yards, 1 TD

Jeremy Maclin —PHI vs. ATL —With DeSean Jackson out with a concussion, Maclin should get the start and should see the majority of Jackson’s balls thrown his way. This is especially good news facing the 27th ranked pass defense of the Atlanta Falcons. Sleeper Start Em’.
Projection: 6 Receptions, 75 Yards, 1 TD

WR Sit Em’

Roy Williams —DAL vs. NYG —The last time that Williams faced the fourth ranked New York Giants pass defense, he caught just one pass for 18 yards. I don’t see him doing much better this week, especially with CB Aaron Ross back in the lineup. Sit Em’. Projection: 3 Receptions, 30 Yards

Steve Smith —CAR vs. TB —Smith was invisible last week against The Jets. Maybe that’s because he was blanketed by Darrelle Revis all day? Nevertheless, Smith had just one catch for five yards. This week, he faces a Tampa Bay Buccaneers pass defense that has allowed 24 passing touchdowns, despite being ranked 11th in the NFL vs. the pass.

So why sit him you ask? Because, Matt Moore will probably be starting and that means a lot of DeAngelo Williams (if he can play on his injured ankle) and Jonathan Stewart and a lot less Smith. Sit Em’.
Projection: 4 Receptions, 50 Yards

Chris Chambers —KC vs. DEN —As good as Chambers has been over the last two weeks (11 receptions for 189 yards and a touchdown), his chances of producing like that against CB Champ Bailey and the fifth ranked Denver Broncos pass defense don’t look good. Must Sit Em’.
Projection: 3 Receptions, 30 Yards

TE Obvious Must Starts

Antonio Gate —SD vs. CLE —Projection: 6 Receptions, 60 Yards, 1 TD

Tony Gonzalez —ATL vs. PHI —Projection: 7 Receptions, 65 Yards, 1 TD

Jason Witten —DAL vs. NYG —Projection: 6 Receptions, 70 Yards, 1 TD

Vernon Davis —SF vs. SEA —Projection: 6 Receptions, 60 Yards, 1 TD

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

TE Start Em’

Greg Olsen —CHI vs. STL —After Olsen’s slow start, many people wrote him off as a bust. However, he has responded with 25 receptions for 233 yards and three touchdowns in his last four games. This week, he faces the 22nd ranked pass defense of the St. Louis Rams and QB Jay Cutler should continue to look his way. Start Em’. Projection: 7 Receptions, 55 Yards, 1 TD

Visanthe Shiancoe —MIN vs. ARI —Shiancoe has a Touchdown in each of the last two games and faces the Arizona Cardinals and their 29th ranked pass defense this week. Plus, Tight Ends have six touchdowns against them this year. Sleeper Start Em’. Projection: 5 Receptions, 45 Yards, 1 TD

TE Sit Em’

Jeremy Shockey —NO vs. WAS —Shockey has been losing targets to Dave Thomas and has just six catches for 74 yards in his last three games. This week, he faces the Washington Redskins and their second ranked pass defense. With the way that the Saints spread the ball around, I think you have to Sit’ Em.
Projection: 3 Receptions, 25 Yards

Zach Miller —OAK vs. PIT —Does anyone trust Bruce Gradkowski yet? I highly doubt it. Especially against the Pittsburgh Steelers 13th ranked pass defense. Must Sit Em’. Projection: 3 Receptions, 30 Yards

D/ST Start Em’

Cincinnati Bengals vs. DET —Matthew Stafford threw five interceptions last week and the Bengals defense is for real this year. Start Em’.

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. OAK —Even without Troy Polamalu, we are still talking about James Harrison, Lamar Woodley, and that Dick LeBeau pass rush against Bruce Gradkowski. Start Em’.

San Diego Chargers vs. CLE —The Chargers held the Chiefs to 14 points last week, but only sacked Matt Cassel once and also picked him off once. I expect much better against the Browns this week. Start Em’.

D/ST Sit Em’

Washington Redskins vs. NO —Was anyone watching how the Saints destroyed a Bill Belichick defense last week? I certainly was. Even if the Redskins are second vs. the Pass, you have to Sit Em’.

Baltimore Ravens vs. GB —Green Bay has an explosive passing attack and plays much better at home. Sit Em’.

Tennessee Titans vs. IND —Does the name Peyton Manning mean anything to anyone? 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.