Fantasy Football Week 12: Philip Rivers, 10 Players Bound for a Big Game Sunday
The NFL season is entering the stretch run.
For fantasy football players, that means the playoffs are just around the corner.
Some of you are sitting comfortably atop your league coasting to the postseason. Others are scrambling to try and string enough wins together just to make it.
We are also at the point of the season where we now know who is for real and who isn't. Players like Arian Foster, Peyton Hillis and Brandon Lloyd have proved that they can get it done week in and week out regardless of who they're opponent is.
They have become reliable fantasy starters for owners.
With that being said let's get to 10 guys who are bound for big things come Sunday.
Andre Johnson
1 of 10
Johnson's having a down year compared to what he's done in the past.
His four touchdowns aren't cutting it for a guy that was taken in the first round in some drafts. Owners of Johnson will be pleased to see the matchup he has this weekend, going up against the Titans' 26th ranked pass defense.
Injuries have also been a big reason why the star receiver's numbers have taken a hit. But from all reports, his ankle seems to be progressing.
He practiced this past Wednesday, which was the first time he practiced that early in the week in awhile.
Matt Schaub is playing better of late. Having a healthier Johnson on the field should bring some of the magic back from last year.
Johnson is a must-start every week because of his potential.
This week, he should certainly live up to expectations, if not surpass them.
Vincent Jackson
2 of 10
You'll notice in the picture above Jackson is in his Pro Bowl uniform.
I found it to be fitting since that was the last time he had a jersey on during a game.
It's been a tumultuous season for the talented receiver, who originally held out for a new contract. But was unsuccessful in luring San Diego into giving him one.
Now he is back and set to make his season debut against the Indianapolis Colts in a game the Chargers need to win to jump over .500. Normally, it would be odd to see a player that has sat out the entire season jump in and make an instant contribution.
Jackson won't step into a normal situation, though. Instead, he should see plenty of playing time due to injuries.
Philip Rivers' top target, Antonio Gates, can't seem to kick a toe and foot injury, Patrick Crayton just had surgery on his wrist and Malcom Floyd aggravated his hamstring against Denver. It doesn't hurt that this will be a game that features two of the league's best offenses.
All of this means that Jackson could and should break onto the scene with a big game against Indy and reestablish that he is still one of the best WR's in the game.
Philip Rivers
3 of 10
Continuing on with the Chargers, now it's time to talk about a man that is playing the best football of his career.
Tom Brady, Michael Vick, and Peyton Manning are all excellent candidates for MVP at the moment.
However, none of them stack up to Rivers this season in terms of stats. It hasn't mattered who's in the lineup at wide receiver or who's in the backfield with him he's produced.
And he will continue to against the Colts, regardless of their somewhat-surprising top 10 pass defense this season.
As mentioned in the slide before, Jackson will be returning at a much-needed time when the Chargers have been struck again by the injury bug. There's a great chance this game will produce a lot of points, something Rivers' owners will be pleased with.
Rivers should continue to produce at an MVP level this game. If he leads the Chargers to a W, he will continue to be mentioned in the MVP race in a year where there are a number of quality candidates.
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Steven Jackson
4 of 10
For three consecutive games, the St. Louis running back hasn't reached the 100-yard mark.
This is interesting because, prior to that, he had three consecutive games of 100+ yards.
Overall, Jackson's churned out another impressive year yardage-wise. But for the second straight season, he seems to be allergic to the end zone.
The good thing is this weekend he goes up against a Denver defense that has been vulnerable against the run. Even better for Jackson owners is that the Broncos have given up the most rushing TD's (15) in the NFL.
100+ yards and a couple of TD's are definitely in reach here, especially if the Rams want to keep the Broncos' passing attack off the field.
This is a great spot for Jackson to have a signature performance and validate owners who drafted him in the first round.
Peyton Hillis
5 of 10
Hillis has been a bruiser for Cleveland this season and been a bright spot on a 3-7 team.
What's more impressive than his running is his ability as a pass catcher. Last week, he caught six balls for 95 yards and found the end zone.
Those receiving yards have been a huge boost in his yardage total and is a reason he's producing like a top five back.
It also doesn't hurt that he's been a touchdown machine thus far. He's found the end zone in every game, except in Week 6 against Pittsburgh.
Now the 1-9 Carolina Panthers will host Hillis and Co. Sunday. While the Panthers haven't been miserable against the run, they've been miserable on offense and ball control in general.
This means the Browns should enjoy a good majority of possessions that will turn into rushing attempts for Hillis.
Having Jake Delhomme under center instead of Colt McCoy means that Eric Mangini is likely to simplify things and keep the ball on the ground.
Expect a lot of carries for Hillis and for him to find the end zone for the fifth straight game.
Brett Favre
6 of 10
Call this a gut feeling.
But dare I say, I trust Favre this week? Yes I do.
And it isn't just because the Washington defense is a favorable matchup for No. 4.
Most of it has to do with the fact that Favre has been freed of Brad Childress' presence, which undoubtedly has weighed heavily on Favre throughout his time as a Viking. Now, Leslie Frazier is the king of the castle.
He brings more of a democratic approach opposed to Childress, who decided this season that under his reign it was going to be a dictatorship.
Bottom line: The drama in Minnesota has subsided with Chilly gone. The pressure of making the playoffs has been lifted off the shoulders of the players due to their abysmal record.
Favre and Co. now can focus on football and just going out there and letting loose.
What was supposed to be a team that could make a Super Bowl run isn't even going to make the playoffs. But that doesn't mean Favre wants his career to finish in flames where everyone is questioning his decision to return this season.
Consider these last games of Favre's career as a last stand to prove that he's still got it. There aren't any stats that can back up my argument other than he has way too much pride to end his career like this.
Which means a big day for Favre and those who choose to gamble and start him.
Steve Johnson
7 of 10
Originally looking at the matchup, you may be thinking why would you start Johnson against the Pittsburgh defense?
Look closer and you'll see that the only way teams are moving the ball against the Steelers this year is through the air.
So Fred Jackson owners should look elsewhere this week. But Johnson owners shouldn't shy away from starting the breakout receiver.
If you hadn't heard of Johnson a few weeks ago, you definitely know him after his latest performance in which he torched the Cincinnati defense to a tune of 137 yards and three TD's. Don't expect him to find the end zone three times against the Steeler defense, but he should finish with a productive day.
Buffalo is going to struggle to run the ball, meaning Ryan Fitzpatrick will have to air it out plenty come Sunday. All of the above is good news for Johnson.
Greg Jennings
8 of 10
Jennings got off to an extremely slow start, and for awhile wasn't worthy of cracking a fantasy lineup.
Now he is back to producing the way many expected he would perform all throughout the season. He torched the Vikings' secondary for three TD's and now will take a crack at a susceptible Atlanta secondary.
With the way Aaron Rodgers is throwing the football, there's no reason to think Jennings slows down this week. In terms of fantasy production, Jennings' worst game in the last five was against the Jets, when he was held to 81 yards without a score.
Consistency is the biggest thing in fantasy football. That's exactly what No. 85 has brought to the table lately.
Expect another big day for Jennings, and the Packer offense in general, against the Falcons.
Dwayne Bowe
9 of 10
Known more for dropping passes than catching touchdowns, Bowe has had an amazing six-game stretch in which he has done his best to alter everyone's perception of him.
He'll have an excellent chance of continuing his impressive play against a Seattle defense that has struggled mightily against the pass this season.
The Seahawks are giving up the third-most passing yards to opponents, something that bolds well for a Kansas City passing game that has gotten better as the year has gone on. It also doesn't hurt to have two stud running backs to loosen up the defense for Bowe.
Bowe should continue his impressive stretch on Sunday.
Kyle Orton
10 of 10
Orton may not be producing wins for the Broncos, but he is putting up good numbers for fantasy owners.
Last week Orton had a subpar game against a very good Charger secondary. Now he will look to get back on track against the Rams.
The last time the Broncos played at home, Orton threw for 296 and tossed four TD's. And he has had great success against the NFC West this season, throwing for over 300 yards in two contests against West opponents.
Taking a step down in competition from San Diego will be a welcomed sight for a struggling Denver team. Expect Orton to continue to rack up the yardage numbers through the air since the Broncos still haven't found a solution to their rushing woes.
It's been quite a season statistically-speaking for Orton, and he'll need to keep producing to keep Tim Tebow and Brady Quinn on the sidelines.
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