Fantasy Football Week 13: Big-Play Performers Sure To Be Point Machines
Fantasy football Week 13 is a must-win for many owners around the country. Teams are fighting for their playoff lives, which means every point you can muster counts more than ever. The tension is ratcheted up a few notches as the season winds down, and you need to know your team will perform.
That's where we come in. These 20 players are big-play performers. They're capable of delivering you a strong outing this week even if they can't find the end zone. Some of them might be matchup plays, others are the league's top performers week in and week out.
Without further ado, let's get to the list.
20. Mike Tolbert, RB, San Diego Chargers
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Why He’s a Big Play Candidate: Tolbert has been sublime in the last two weeks, posting back-to-back 100-yard rushing performances. The bruising tailback has been the Chargers' best rusher all year long and he's capable of breaking off some solid gains now and then.
Who’s the Matchup: Tolbert and the Bolts get Oakland's run defense which ranks 29th in the NFL this season.
The Verdict: Even if Ryan Mathews returns this week, expect Tolbert to get the lion's share of the carries against a Raider defense that can't stop the run: 18 carries, 80 yards.
19. Brandon Lloyd, WR, Denver Broncos
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Why He’s a Big Play Candidate: For some reason, Lloyd has flown under plenty of fantasy radars for most of 2010, but he's posted the best stats of his career by far. He's pulled in plenty of deep balls as the pass-happy Broncos' best downfield threat, and he's posted five games with 100-or-more receiving yards.
Who’s the Matchup: Kansas City ranks 24th in the NFL against opposing wideouts in 2010, and Lloyd gashed the Chiefs for 90 yards on six catches in Week 9.
The Verdict: The Chiefs couldn't contain Lloyd in Week 9. Don't expect much more success this week: 4 catches, 84 yards.
18. Marques Colston, WR, New Orleans Saints
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Why He’s a Big Play Candidate: Colston has turned on the burners in the second half, posting three 100 yard games since Week 8. He has yet to finish a game in the second half with fewer than 60 yards receiving.
Who’s the Matchup: The Bengals' defense is a hot mess this season and currently rank 25th in the NFL against wideouts. They will struggle to contain Colston all game long.
The Verdict: With his size and speed, look for the former Hofstra Flying Dutchman to torment Cincy's shoddy defense: 5 catches, 85 yards.
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17. Andre Johnson, WR, Houston Texans
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Why He’s a Big Play Candidate: Johnson is the best wideout in football right now, and with good reason. He's got the size, speed and hands to make him Matt Schaub's favorite target, regardless of the matchup.
Who’s the Matchup: Philly's pass defense might be down an elite corner or two and rank 11th in the NFL against opposing wideouts. If Asante Samuel plays, they'll live up to the hype. If he doesn't, the Eagles are in deep trouble.
The Verdict: Samuel or no Samuel, expect Johnson to get plenty of passes thrown his way this week, and look for him to pull down enough to have a strong day: 6 catches, 85 yards.
16. Reggie Wayne, WR, Indianapolis Colts
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Why He’s a Big Play Candidate: Wayne is the Colts' best wideout and with a pass-happy system like theirs, he's a serious threat for a monster game every week.
Who’s the Matchup: Dallas ranks 31st in the NFL against opposing wideouts in 2010. Expect Wayne to bounce back from last week's miserable effort.
The Verdict: Wayne's going to be highly motivated to improve on last week and with a Dallas secondary that's been routinely torched, expect him to have a strong game: 8 catches, 90 yards.
15. Greg Jennings, WR, Green Bay Packers
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Why He’s a Big Play Candidate: Jennings has been stellar since Week 5, as he hasn't finished with fewer than five catches or 74 yards in any game since that point. He's capable of shredding vulnerable secondaries and he gets enough looks to put up strong numbers against good defenses as well.
Who’s the Matchup: San Francisco ranks 13th in the NFL against opposing wideouts, which makes them a tough matchup, but Jennings has found success against better defenses.
The Verdict: Jennings won't have as strong of a performance as he did last week, but he won't make you pull your hair out, either: 6 catches, 90 yards.
14. Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit Lions
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Why He’s a Big Play Candidate: Johnson is one of the NFL's most talented receivers and he's been unstoppable recently. Megatron has four games with 50-or-more receiving yards in his last six contests, and even elite defenses struggle to contain him.
Who’s the Matchup: The Bears certainly fit the bill of an elite defense, ranking fourth in the NFL against opposing wideouts. They held Megatron to just 45 yards on four catches in Week 1.
The Verdict: Megatron's got the skills to make plays on what is an excellent Bears' defense. Does Shaun Hill have the arm to get him the ball? The answer: sort of: 7 catches, 90 yards.
13. Matt Forte, RB, Chicago Bears
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Why He’s a Big Play Candidate: Has Forte finally figured out how to run the football effectively? He's posted 97 yards and 113 yards rushing in Weeks 11 and 12 and looks better than ever carrying the ball. His skill as a receiver is undeniable and if he's rushing the ball well, watch out.
Who’s the Matchup: Detroit ranks 30th in the NFL against opposing running backs, but Forte managed just 50 yards against them on the ground in Week 1.
The Verdict: Look for the former Tulane Green Wave to have some success against a soft defense, even if it doesn't all come on the ground: 15 carries, 50 yards; 4 catches, 40 yards.
12. Antonio Gates, TE, San Diego Chargers
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Why He’s a Big Play Candidate: Gates has been one of the best fantasy contributors in all of football in 2010, much less the best tight end in the NFL. He's posted seven games in which he racked up 50-or-more receiving yards and he is getting back on track after injuries curtailed his effectiveness in recent weeks.
Who’s the Matchup: Oakland ranks 16th in the NFL against tight ends, but Gates has smoked them once already (5 catches, 92 yards in Week 5).
The Verdict: If the Raiders keep this one close (a real possibility), look for Gates to match his output from Week 5: 5 catches, 95 yards.
11. Steve Johnson, WR, Buffalo Bills
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Why He’s a Big Play Candidate: Johnson has been one of the NFL's pleasant surprises in 2010 and he is the go-to wideout in Buffalo's potent passing attack. He's a frequent target of Ryan Fitzpatrick and has posted four 50-plus yard days in his last six games.
Who’s the Matchup: The Vikings defense ranks 22nd in the NFL against opposing wideouts, and they'll struggle to keep the speedy Johnson reined in the whole game.
The Verdict: Johnson is the type who can make your week if he has a good one. Against a softer Minnesota defense, he'll have one of those weeks: 7 catches, 95 yards.
10. Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota Vikings
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Why He’s a Big Play Candidate: Sure, Peterson is battling an ankle injury that could hinder his effectiveness somewhat. But the Vikings have such a fantastic matchup that it might not matter all that much.
Who’s the Matchup: The Bills have been one of the NFL's worst run defenses for most of 2010 and currently rank 27th against the position.
The Verdict: The injury is troubling, but even at 80 percent, AP is capable of having a strong game: 20 carries, 95 yards.
9. LeSean McCoy, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
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Why He’s a Big Play Candidate: McCoy's carries might have taken a hit with Michael Vick back under center, but fear not; McCoy has shown he doesn't need 20-25 carries to succeed. Just look at his numbers against the Giants in Week 11 (14 carries, 114 yards) and his pass-catching skills last week to know McCoy can go off.
Who’s the Matchup: Houston ranks 17th in the NFL against opposing running backs, but McCoy has had success all season long against mid-level defenses.
The Verdict: McCoy will get his yards one way or another, and Houston's defense won't be able to do much to stop him: 12 carries, 60 yards; 4 catches, 40 yards.
8. Chris Johnson, RB, Tennessee Titans
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Why He’s a Big Play Candidate: Ignore his howler in Week 12. That was more of a product of Rusty Smith than anything else. Johnson is one of the best backs in football, and he's capable of lighting up defenses every time he touches the football. He's blazing quick and strong enough to be tough to tackle.
Who’s the Matchup: Jacksonville's defense ranks 22nd against the run in 2010 and Johnson blew the Jaguars apart for 111 yards in Week 6.
The Verdict: With such a favorable matchup and a functional quarterback under center, look for Johnson to bounce back in a big way this week: 22 carries, 105 yards.
7. Steven Jackson, RB, St. Louis Rams
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Why He’s a Big Play Candidate: Jackson has re-proven himself as an elite rusher in 2010, posting eight games with 70-or-more yards and failing to finish with fewer than 50 yards in any game this season. He's getting a ton of carries, and with a tasty matchup this week, he should be able to make the most of them.
Who’s the Matchup: Arizona's defense is the NFL's worst against opposing running backs, allowing 24.1 points to the position per game.
The Verdict: Given the Cards' collapse, it's not unthinkable that Jackson gets close to the 25-30 carry range to exploit their defensive weakness. Look for him to have a huge game: 20 carries, 108 yards.
6. Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
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Why He’s a Big Play Candidate: Jones-Drew has caught fire in the second half of 2010, posting four straight 100-yard rushing games since Week 8. He's got a decent matchup, but you have to play the hot hand regardless.
Who’s the Matchup: Tennessee ranks 17th in the NFL against the run, but with the way MJD is running, does it really matter?
The Verdict: When you're running this well, even a decent defense can't stop you from having a great day: 23 carries, 110 yards.
5. Jamaal Charles, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
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Why He’s a Big Play Candidate: Charles is one of the most explosive running backs in the NFL and he's shown it with two 170-yard rushing days in the last five games. He's a skilled receiver and he can get even more yards that way.
Who’s the Matchup: Denver ranks 31st in the NFL against the run. While the Broncos held Charles to 41 yards on 14 carries in Week 9, the back racked up 80 yards on five catches in that game.
The Verdict: The Broncos won't be able to sprint to a big lead this week, and even if they do, Charles will still get his stats:15 carries, 80 yards; 3 catches, 30 yards.
4. Michael Turner, RB, Atlanta Falcons
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Why He’s a Big Play Candidate: Turner has been one of the NFL's most reliable rushers in 2010, totalling six 100-yard rushing games in 12 games this season, including four of his last five games. He's getting the carries and making the most of them.
Who’s the Matchup: Tampa Bay ranks 25th in the NFL against opposing running backs, and Turner lit the Bucs up for 107 yards in Week 9.
The Verdict: With the Bucs' soft defense, Turner is sure to make the most of his potentially monster day. 20 carries, 115 yards.
3. Dwayne Bowe, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
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Why He’s a Big Play Candidate: Bowe has been one of the NFL's best receivers for much of 2010. Since Week 6, he has posted four games with 80 receiving yards, including three 100-plus yard outings. He's capable of lighting up any defense he faces.
Who’s the Matchup: Denver ranks 22nd in the NFL against wideouts this season, but Bowe flat out dominated the Broncos in Week 9, racking up 183 yards and three touchdowns on 13 catches.
The Verdict: Can Denver stop Bowe? Given the Week 9 performance, I'm going with no: 8 catches, 115 yards.
2. Peyton Hillis, RB, Cleveland Browns
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Why He’s a Big Play Candidate: Can anyone slow down Peyton Hillis? When they contain his rushing skills, he smokes them catching the ball (like Week 11 against Jacksonville). When they stop him from catching the ball, he blows them up with his explosive, powerful rushing style (like Week 12 against Carolina). Hillis has gashed some of the NFL's best defenses (Baltimore, Pittsburgh, New York Jets) and dominated the dregs.
Who’s the Matchup: Miami ranks eighth against the run this season, but with Hillis, it won't matter in the slightest.
The Verdict: Hillis is one of the NFL's most reliable backs and not even the Dolphins' run defense can slow him: 20 carries, 90 yards; 3 catches, 30 yards.
1. Arian Foster, RB, Houston Texans
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Why He’s a Big Play Candidate: Foster has been lighting up almost every defense he's come across in 2010. He's put up six games with 100 or more rushing yards, including that 231-yard destruction of the Colts in Week 1. He's been a workhorse for the Texans all season and he shows no signs of slowing.
Who’s the Matchup: Philadelphia ranks 20th in the NFL against opposing running backs, and the Eagles have given up plenty of big games this season. Most recently, the Eagles allowed 113 yards to punchless Matt Forte.
The Verdict: Foster's got the skills to blow up Philly and the Eagles don't have anyone to stop him. He's in line for yet another huge day: 22 carries, 125 yards.
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