Fantasy Football Week 13: New Orleans Saints at Cincinnati Bengals

Week 13 Match-up:  New Orleans Saints (8-3) @ Cincinnati Bengals (2-9)

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Rankings based on top 16 QBs, 32 RBs, 48 WRs, and 16 TEs

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New Orleans Saints (Saints Schedule)

Opponent Defensive Ranks

Cincinnati Pass Defense – 2010: Yards Allowed/Game 15th - TDs Allowed 15th

Cincinnati Rush Defense – 2010: Yards Allowed/Game 23rd – TDs Allowed T-24th

New Orleans Offensive Cast

Drew Brees (QB Week 13 Ranking: No. 3)

2010 Season: 313/456 – for 3,321 yards & 23 TDs

Believe it or not, Brees is now actually tied for the league lead in passing TDs with 23 and is just 48 yards behind Kyle Orton for the NFLs best in that category as well.  The guy has been outstanding since his sluggish start, and even though last week was the first time since Week 4 that he threw for less than two TDs, he still made up for it with 352 passing yards on the day.

Reggie Bush (RB Week 13 Ranking: Not ranked)

2010 Season: 8 carries for 19 yards & 0 TDs || 10 receptions for 75 yards & 1 TD

Pierre Thomas might be back for this one, which doesn’t coincide very well with Bush trying to break back onto the scene.  His return to the field last week wasn’t so hot, so leave him benched until he proves his mojo is workin’ again.

Chris Ivory (RB Week 13 Ranking: No. 20)

2010 Season: 108 carries for 519 yards & 3 TDs || 1 reception for 17 yards & 0 TDs

He ain’t the prettiest of backs, but he gets the job done.  Two TDs last week was a huge bonus for anyone who took a chance on him, and even though Pierre might be back to steal a few carries, Ivory should still garner the heavy load and be able to put together some decent numbers against a declining Cinci rush D.

Pierre Thomas (RB Week 13 Ranking: Not ranked)

2010 Season: 46 carries for 147 yards & 1 TD || 17 receptions for 133 yards & 0 TDs

So Pierre looks like he might finally get back on the field this week.  Don’t get too excited though, as he’ll likely be limited to just a few carries to see how he reacts.  Sit him until he shows us something.

Ladell Betts (RB Week 13 Ranking: Not ranked)

2010 Season: 45 carries for 150 yards & 2 TDs || 23 receptions for 141 yards & 0 TDs

Fuhgetaboudit!

Marques Colston (WR Week 13 Ranking: No. 6)

2010 Season: 68 receptions for 810 yards & 4 TDs

Once Colston found his groove back in Week 7, he hasn’t looked back.  Over the last five games, the Big Queese has four TD catches while averaging 7.6 catches and 94 yards.  Basically just roll with him.

Lance Moore (WR Week 13 Ranking: No. 36)

2010 Season: 43 receptions for 530 yards & 6 TDs

Outside of Brees and Colston, Lance Moore is the most likely candidate for production out of the bunch.  Is that to say he’ll win you your fantasy week?  Hell no!  But if you’re looking for a fill-in or play in a deep-league, Moore is your guy.

Robert Meachem (WR Week 13 Ranking: Not ranked)

2010 Season: 28 receptions for 409 yards & 4 TDs

Like I keep saying, his inconsistency is absolutely maddening.  If you like your hair and really don’t want to punch any more walls, don’t bother with this guy.

Devery Henderson (WR Week 13 Ranking: Not ranked)

2010 Season: 27 receptions for 376 yards & 1 TD

Even more frustrating than Meach is Devery Henderson.  As he proved last Thursday with his once-in-a-blue-moon 97-yard effort, he’s a total crapshoot every week, period.  Don’t bother.

Jeremy Shockey (TE Week 13 Ranking: Not ranked)

2010 Season: 31 receptions for 314 yards & 3 TDs

Jeez Louise, another crapshoot… and that’s just to get on the field!  If he plays, he might do well.  Again, don’t bother.

Jimmy Graham (TE Week 13 Ranking: Not ranked)

2010 Season: 16 receptions for 193 yards & 1 TD

Just forget it when it comes to the Saints tight ends.  It’ll probably be David Thomas who goes off this week.

Cincinnati Bengals (Bengals Schedule)

Opponent Defensive Ranks

New Orleans Pass Defense – 2010: Yards Allowed/Game 3rd - TDs Allowed 1st

New Orleans Rush Defense – 2010: Yards Allowed/Game 15th – TDs Allowed T-20th

Cincinnati Offensive Cast

Carson Palmer (QB Week 13 Ranking: Not ranked)

2010 Season: 257/432 – for 2,760 yards & 19 TDs

A New Orleans prolific pass defense plus Carson Palmer’s declining skills equals a headache, and heartache, for fantasy owners across the world.

Cedric Benson (RB Week 13 Ranking: No. 15)

2010 Season: 218 carries for 788 yards & 4 TDs || 20 receptions for 126 yards & 1 TD

The only way the Bengals are going to take this game is if they get Benson rolling from the first snap of the ball, and that’s exactly what they’ll try to do.  I expect upwards of 25 carries for The Drunken One in this game, which could amount to around 100 yards with a possible TD thrown in for fantasy owners’ delight.

Terrell Owens (WR Week 13 Ranking: No. 23)

2010 Season: 65 receptions for 914 yards & 8 TDs

As bad as Carson Palmer has played this season, Owens has still been good enough to make up for the obvious ineptitude.  In fact, if both he and Ochoschizo were seven years younger, Palmer might still be an All-Pro.  However, they’re not.  So even though it’s possible for TO to work a little magic, don’t go depending on it, especially with one of the best corners in the league (Jabari Greer) in his hip pocket all game.

Chad Ochocinco (WR Week 13 Ranking: No. 31)

2010 Season: 54 receptions for 628 yards & 4 TDs

Schizocinco has been drawing coverage from the second-best corner on opposing teams for a little while now, yet he hasn’t been able to put up his old-school numbers with the mismatch just yet.  Against one of the best pass Ds in the league, I can’t foresee the breakout coming this week either.

Jordan Shipley (WR Week 13 Ranking: Not ranked)

2010 Season: 40 receptions for 518 yards & 2 TDs

Like last week, Shipley might end up being the beneficiary of tight coverage on TO and Schizocinco in this one.  The Bengals in general aren’t good enough to depend on him, but if you’re in a bind, you could do worse.

Jermaine Gresham (TE Week 13 Ranking: Not ranked)

2010 Season: 44 receptions for 366 yards & 3 TDs

Gresham could turn out to be the cherry on top of the melted sundae in this one.  The Saints are certainly one of the best at defending the pass this year, but one area they’ve had a bit of a problem with is the tight end.  I’m not expecting the world, but with all the injuries coming at that position, Gresham might not be too bad of a call.

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