Fantasy Football Week 13: AFC News, Notes, Injuries, and Matchups

AFC NORTH 

RECAPPING WEEK 12

PITTSBURGH: Big Ben tossed for 246 yards, but was held without a TD pass in Buffalo (had 6 TDs passes over previous two weeks). Hines Ward led the Steelers with 107 yards as Mike Wallace produced an unusual clunker (3 catches for 33 yards). Rashard Mendenhall had a career-high 36 carries for 151 yards and a touchdown against the Bills league worst rush defense.

BALTIMORE: Ray Rice rushed 20 times for 85 yards and added seven receptions for 47 yards – the 6th time in 7 games that he has topped 100 yards from scrimmage (only has three TDs all season). 

QB Joe Flacco passed for 289 yards and 2 TDs and is averaging 247 yards/game (18 TDs and 8 INTs). WR Anquan Boldin had 3 catches for 27 yards and has really struggled lately (hasn’t topped 50 yards in past 4 games). Derrick Mason led the Ravens with eight receptions for 87 yards and a touchdown in week 12 but this marked only the third time all year that he’s topped 50 yards receiving.

CLEVELAND:  RB Peyton Hillis is the one and only reliable fantasy option on this team. Yet again he carried fantasy squads to victory as the one man wrecking crew finishing with 26 carries for 131 yards and three touchdowns in a week 12 win over Carolina.  He also added six catches for 63 yards. QB Jake Delhomme filled in for an injured Colt McCoy and was predictably not fantasy worthy as he passed for 245 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions.

CINCINNATI: Carson Palmer has become an interception machine and now has 15 on the season. To no one’s surprise the Bengals' passing game was anemic against Revis Island. Palmer only had 135 yards passing, one touchdown, and two interceptions in Week 12. Cedric Benson was held 41 yards on 18 carries and has only topped 100 yards twice in his contract season.

INJURIES:

PITTSBURGH: Ben Roethlisberger (foot sprain) is in abwalking boot but will play on Sunday night.

BALTIMORE: Le’Ron McClain (ankle) is questionable for week 13 – could see Rice and McGahee in the backfield together. LT Michael Oher (sprained knee) is expected to play in crucial week 13 game against the vaunted Steeler pass rush. Derrick Mason (fractured finger) – playing through injury.

CLEVELAND: Colt McCoy (ankle sprain) - missed week 12 and initial rumors suggested  it could be a high ankle sprain that could keep the rookie out multiple weeks—there is an outside chance he could return this week but we doubt it. Josh Cribbs (dislocated toes) returned in week 12 but was limited to kick return duties.

CINCINNATI: The Bengals secondary has been decimated by injuries as FS Chris Crocker was lost for the season with a torn ACL suffered in week 11. Shutdown CB Jonathan Joseph reaggravated his ankle injury and could miss multiple weeks.

WEEK 13 PREVIEW:

		Defense
Team	Opponent	Run	Pass
Baltimore	Pittsburgh	1	22
Pittsburgh	at Baltimore	10	7
Cleveland	at Miami	13	4
Cincinnati	New Orleans	15	3

PITTSBURGH: The Charlie Batch led Steelers struggled in week 2 as they had only 141 yards passing (Wallace – 24, Ward- 14 yards).

Rashard Mendenhall accounted for all of the scoring with 2 TDs and 79 yards rushing against a Ravens run defense that ranks 10th (102 yards/game). Expect a much better aerial show with Big Ben at the helm as he has a 12:4 TD:INT ratio in his 7 starts and is averaging 260 yards/game. The Ravens pass defense ranks 7th (206 yards/game) but they have been shuffling CBs on the left side. Mike Wallace could be in store for a few long bomb opportunities.

BALTIMORE: In the Ravens week 2 17-14 win in Heinz Field, Ray Rice was held to 8 carries for 20 yards. Willis McGahee led the team with 14 carries for 39 yards. The Steelers No.1 ranked run defense is allowing only 64 yards/game and four TDs on the ground all season.  In week 2, Flacco passed for 256 yards and a TD to TJ Houshmanzadeh. Derrick Mason led the team with 80 yards and Boldin had 68.  The Steelers CBs are average at best and their pass defense ranks 22nd (241 yards/game).

CLEVELAND:  The Cleveland passing game is not a fantasy option and this week they face Miami’s 4th ranked pass defense (201 yards/game) led by shutdown CB Vontae Davis. Hillis has 13 total TDs on the season. The fantasy monster has rushed for 905 yards (82 yds/game) and has 46 catches for 414 (38 yards/game). Miami’s defense ranks 13th against the run (104 yards/game). They allowed 97 yards and a TD from Matt Forte two weeks ago and Hillis has proven to be a much more talented back this season.

CINCINNATI:  The Bengals' lost season continues when the Saints bring their 3rd ranked pass defense (198 yards/game) to town this week. Through 11 games, the 30 year old Palmer has 19 TDs and is averaging 250 yards/game. He hasn’t topped 20 fantasy points in any game since week 7. This game could have shootout potential (Brees should exploit injury riddled Bengal secondary) making Palmer worth considering as a low end QB1 this week.  However, it’s worth noting that Greg Williams’s defense has only allowed 7 passing TDs through 7 games so temper your expectations for the Bengal passing attack. Cedric Benson has 218 carries for 718 yards (72 yards/game) and 4 TDs through 11 games. New Orleans run defense is allowing 109 yards/game and have allowed 18 fantasy pts/game to opposing RBs – Benson is a decent RB2 this week.

Click here for the rest of the AFC Divisional Fantasy Football Posts.