Fantasy Football Start 'Em or Sit 'Em: Week 13

Trying to decide who you should start or sit this week?  Let’s take a look at a few potential decisions owners have and try to sort through them:

Quarterbacks

Start – Mark Sanchez – New York Jets – at New England

He faces the worst passing defense in the league, allowing 288.5 passing yards per game.  They also have allowed the sixth-most passing touchdowns in the league at 21.  Over the past three weeks, they have seen the follow quarterbacks produce:

• Ben Roethlisberger: 30-49, 387 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT
• Peyton Manning: 38-52, 396 yards, 4 TD, 3 INT
• Shaun Hill: 27-46, 285 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT

Will Sanchez get that many opportunities to throw the ball?  Probably not, but it is not hard to imagine him making the most of whatever he gets.  In Week 2 he went 21-30 for 220 yards, 3 TD and 0 INT, and that was before the return of Santonio Holmes.  From Weeks 9 through 11, Sanchez averaged 316.7 yards per game.  In the past four games, Sanchez and Holmes have combined for four touchdowns.

It certainly isn’t hard to imagine Sanchez putting up another strong day, is it?

Other quarterbacks to start:

• Jay Cutler – Chicago Bears – at Detroit
• Matt Cassel – Kansas City Chiefs – vs. Denver

Sit – Carson Palmer – Cincinnati Bengals – vs. New Orleans

Palmer has seven interceptions in his past three games, not to mention just 365 total yards over his past two games.  Now, he draws a New Orleans passing defense that is allowing the third-fewest passing yards per game at 197.8.  They have also allowed a league-best seven touchdowns (one of only two teams that have allowed less than 10).

This is the same defense that shut down Ben Roethlisberger to the tune of 195 yards in Week 8 (one of just two games where he has failed to throw a touchdown this season).  Couple Palmer’s recent struggles with the Saints strong defense and it is nearly impossible to trust him.

Other quarterbacks to sit:

• Ryan Fitzpatrick – Buffalo Bills – at Minnesota
• Jon Kitna – Dallas Cowboys – at Indianapolis

Running Backs

Start – Brian Westbrook – San Francisco 49ers – at Green Bay

The talk is that Westbrook will share carries with Anthony Dixon, though that shouldn’t be a surprise.  Westbrook was hardly used over the first 10 games of the season, only to be thrust into a 23 carry, 136 yard, 1 TD performance after Frank Gore went down.

Still, who would you consider the better fantasy bet this week?  Westbrook has always shown an ability both running the football and in the passing game (he’s had as many as 90 receptions in a season), so if the 49ers do fall behind (which wouldn’t be a huge surprise against Green Bay), you would have to expect Westbrook to see more time on the field.

Start – Mike Tolbert – San Diego Chargers – vs. Oakland

The early talk is that Ryan Mathews could return in Week 13, but that shouldn’t matter in the least.  Tolbert has over 100 rushing yards in each of the past two games and 271 total yards over that span (as well as two touchdowns).

You have to believe that he’s going to get the bulk of the carries, regardless.  Against an Oakland defense that is allowing the fifth-most rushing yards per game (133.7), how could you not start him?

Other running backs to start:

• Darren McFadden – Oakland Raiders – at San Diego
• Fred Jackson – Buffalo Bills – at Minnesota

Sit – Ronnie Brown/Ricky Williams – Miami Dolphins – vs. Cleveland

Cleveland’s defense has allowed just four rushing touchdowns this season, making it tough to trust either of Miami’s running backs right off the bat.  Couple that with the unknown of who is going to see the bulk of the carries, and how could you play either of them?

I know that they were each productive in Week 12 (180 yards, 1 TD combined), but is there any chance they get a combined 44 carries again?  The risk is too big at this point.

Sit – LeGarrette Blount – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – vs. Atlanta

Atlanta’s rushing defense (93.7 yards/game, 4 TD) alone would be enough to make you push Blount to your bench.  Coming off a poor game in Week 12 (55 yards on 13 carries) and a nonexistent presence in the passing game (a total of two receptions for nine yards on the season) and it is impossible to trust him outside of the deepest of formats.

Other running backs to sit:

• Beanie Wells/Tim Hightower – Arizona Cardinals – vs. St. Louis
• Keiland Williams – Washington Redskins – at New York Giants

Two Wide Receiver Formats

Start – Pierre Garcon – Indianapolis Colts – vs. Dallas

The biggest problem with Garcon is that he has found the end zone just once this season.  That’s hard to imagine with Peyton Manning throwing him the ball, isn’t it?  He has at least five receptions in three straight games and Dallas’ passing defense has not been very good (23 TD allowed vs. just 9 INT).  With Manning at the helm, you have to like Garcon’s chances of producing.

Other wide receivers to start:

• Anquan Boldin – Baltimore Ravens – vs. Pittsburgh
• Mike Williams – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – vs. Atlanta

Sit – Hines Ward – Pittsburgh Steelers – at Baltimore

He may be coming off a big day (seven receptions for 107 yards), but he had just 53 yards in the three prior games.  Baltimore’s defense has also been strong against the pass, allowing just 205.6 yards per game and 13 TD.  He’s too big of a gamble to trust.

Other wide receivers to sit:

• Mike Sims-Walker/Mike Thomas – Jacksonville Jaguars – at Tennessee
• Michael Crabtree – San Francisco 49ers – at Green Bay

Three Wide Receiver Formats

Start – Derrick Mason – Baltimore Ravens – vs. Pittsburgh

The Steelers defense is one of the best in the league, but teams that can spread them out have had success.  Tom Brady torched them for 350 yards a few weeks ago and even the Bills had their moments (and it would’ve been even better if Steve Johnson didn’t let the ball slip through his fingers in overtime).  Mason certainly could be the beneficiary of that.

Other wide receivers to start:

• Brandon Marshall – Miami Dolphins – vs. Cleveland
• Miles Austin – Dallas Cowboys – at Indianapolis

Sit – Steve Smith – Carolina Panthers – at Seattle

He’s gone four consecutive weeks with less than 50 yards and hasn’t scored since Week 2.  Is there really any reason to trust him at this point?

Other wide receivers to sit:

• Deion Branch – New England Patriots – vs. New York Jets
• Randy Moss – Tennessee Titans – vs. Jacksonville

What are your thoughts on these decisions?  Who would you start?  Who would you sit?

Make sure to check out Rotoprofessor’s Week 13 Rankings:

• Top 25 Quarterbacks
• Top 40 Running Backs
• Top 60 Wide Receivers
• Waiver Worthy

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