Fantasy Football Week 13 Matchup: Oakland Raiders vs. San Diego Chargers

Week 13 Matchup:  Oakland Raiders (5-6) @ San Diego Chargers (6-5)

CLICK HERE FOR ALL OTHER GAMES

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

(brought to you by pyromaniac.com)

Oakland Raiders (Raiders Schedule)

Opponent Defensive Ranks

San Diego Pass Defense – 2010: Yards Allowed/Game 2nd - TDs Allowed 4th

San Diego Rush Defense – 2010: Yards Allowed/Game 3rd – TDs Allowed T-13th

Oakland Offensive Cast

Jason Campbell (QB Week 13 Ranking: Not ranked)

2010 Season: 104/190 – for 1,322 yards & seven TDs

With Gradkowski likely out for the season, Campbell will have the starting job all to himself.  That in no way means you should ever play him, especially against this Chargers defense.

Bruce Gradkowski (QB Week 13 Ranking: Not ranked)

2010 Season: 83/157 – for 1,059 yards & five TDs

Gradkowski will likely miss the remainder of the season with a separated right (throwing) shoulder.  Drop him as quickly as you can.

Darren McFadden (RB Week 13 Ranking: No. 27)

2010 Season: 157 carries for 773 yards & four TDs || 33 receptions for 321 yards & two TDs

McFadden has been plain awful the last two weeks rushing for a total of 16 yards on 18 carries combined.  He’s special enough to take a chance on but don’t bet on the numbers getting much better against this vicious Chargers D.

Michael Bush (RB Week 13 Ranking: Not ranked)

2010 Season: 90 carries for 358 yards & four TDs || 11 receptions for 145 yards & 0 TDs

I can actually see Bush getting the call for a good 7-10 carries this weekend as the Raiders will at least want to move the line a little bit in this one.  He’s still not worth using though.

Louis Murphy (WR Week 13 Ranking: Not ranked)

2010 Season: 28 receptions for 435 yards & one TD

With Jason Campbell at the helm and the Chargers on the other side of the ball, it’s not looking good for Murphy or any of the Raiders receivers this Sunday.

Jacoby Ford (WR Week 13 Ranking: Not ranked)

2010 Season: 16 receptions for 320 yards & one TD

Because of his playmaking abilities, Ford is the only WR I can see making a dent this weekend.  That said, it’s still too steep of chance to take this late in the fantasy season.

Darrius Heyward-Bey (WR Week 13 Ranking: Not ranked)

2010 Season: 19 receptions for 266 yards & one TD

DHB is basically DOA.  Don’t mention his name or you will be too.

Zach Miller (TE Week 13 Ranking: Not ranked)

2010 Season: 37 receptions for 476 yards & four TDs

Miller’s injuries have really taken their toll this year as you can now add a painful leg contusion to the torn plantar fascia he was already dealing with.  Don’t bother taking a chance with him against the mighty San Diego D if you don’t have to.

San Diego Chargers (Chargers Schedule)

Opponent Defensive Ranks

Oakland Pass Defense – 2010: Yards Allowed/Game 5th - TDs Allowed T-26th

Oakland Rush Defense – 2010: Yards Allowed/Game 28th – TDs Allowed T-20th

San Diego Offensive Cast

Philip Rivers (QB Week 13 Ranking: No. 6)

2010 Season: 249/376 – for 3,362 yards & 23 TDs

Rivers could have a field day in this one…or the Chargers could do what they did last week which was to dominate the game on defense and simply run the clock out with Tolbert the whole game.  I’m betting on a slight mixture here, so look for around 250-275 yards and a TD or two.  I realize Rivers went off (in a loss) against these same Raiders earlier in the year, but this is a different, smarter San Diego squad now.

Mike Tolbert (RB Week 13 Ranking: No. 9)

2010 Season: 138 carries for 609 yards & nine TDs || 18 receptions for 158 yards & 0 TDs

Tolberticus Touchdownimust strikes again!  The guy just keeps on rolling out the TDs as he took yet another ball into the end zone last week against the Colts.  Even though rookie Ryan Mathews will be back this Sunday, Tolbert has done enough to hold onto the starting job and has yet another easy matchup against one of the worst rush Ds in the league.  Don't worry about his hand/finger, he'll be just fine.

Ryan Mathews (RB Week 13 Ranking: Not ranked)

2010 Season: 87 carries for 382 yards & 2 TDs || 15 receptions for 92 yards & 0 TDs

Mathews might be coming back this week, but either way, he’s already lost his starting job and won't get more than about 10 touches.

Malcom Floyd (WR Week 13 Ranking: No. 25)

2010 Season: 26 receptions for 537 yards & four TDs

Floyd barely got any action last week, but it turns out the Chargers didn’t need him.  With Vincent Jackson sidelined and Gates still a bit gimpy coming into this one, he could make up for last week’s zero-catch performance with a big game this week. 

Oh and by the way, Floyd happened to go off for 213 yards on eight catches with a TD last time these two teams hooked up.  I'm just saying.

Legedu Naanee (WR Week 13 Ranking: Not ranked)

2010 Season: 14 receptions for 219 yards & one TD

Naanee came back to put up 38 yards on three catches last weekend.  It’s a crapshoot to try and predict which one of the 75 different receivers on this team will put up the numbers from week to week, so don’t bother if you don’t have to.

Seyi Ajirotutu (WR Week 13 Ranking: Not ranked)

2010 Season: 10 receptions for 201 yards & two TDs

Same thing with Ajirotutu.

Vincent Jackson (WR Week 13 Ranking: Not ranked)

2010 Season: 0 receptions for 0 yards & 0 TDs

He’s back!  No wait, he’s gone again.  Looks like a calf strain will keep VJax out of action at least this week and possibly beyond.

Patrick Crayton (WR Week 13 Ranking: Not ranked)

2010 Season: 28 receptions for 514 yards & one TD

Crayton (wrist surgery) probably won’t play until Week 15 at the earliest.

Antonio Gates (TE Week 13 Ranking: No. 2)

2010 Season: 44 receptions for 709 yards & nine TDs

Gates is back, but to what extent his foot injury will hamper him remains to be seen.  He came up with four catches for 46 yards in his return, so at least he’s off to a good start.  Unless you happen to have Jacob Tamme, you simply have to take a chance on Gates.

Randy McMichael (TE Week 13 Ranking: Not ranked)

2010 Season: Eight receptions for 96 yards & two TDs

With Gates return, McMichael goes back to relative insignificance.

 CLICK HERE FOR ALL OTHER GAMES