Fantasy Football: Tashard Choice, Cardinals D/ST and 5 Pickups for Playoff Teams

With Week 13 of the NFL in the books, most fantasy football leagues enter the playoffs.

In head-to-head leagues, everything you've done to this point is irrelevant (other than for seeding purposes), and one bad week can ruin your entire season.

Studs like Peyton Hillis, Adrian Peterson and Tom Brady could have one bad week, leading you to a loss over a team who simply got lucky with the matchups.

My point is, while you should count on the players who got you to the playoffs, you need to look closely at the matchups to ensure you are making the best play to move on and stay in the championship hunt.

Here are five players who will be worthy of playing in at least one of the playoff weeks (Week 14-16), and why you should pick them up now and plug them in if your starters are facing tough matchups.

5. Tashard Choice, RB, Dallas Cowboys

Scott Boehm/Getty Images

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 05: Tashard Choice #23 of the Dallas Cowboys runs in the end zone for a touchdown in the 1st quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 5, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Scott Boehm/Getty

This one is more of a pickup based on opportunity, as Choice filled in for the injured Marion Barber admirably last week, as he's done his whole career.

Felix Jones got more touches, but Choice was more effective with 100 yards rushing and a touchdown.

He has an underrated matchup this week against the Eagles (11th-worst rushing defense in fantasy), and then follows that up with solid matchups against Washington and Arizona.

If you have a chance to grab Choice, do it now.

4. Cardinals D/ST

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GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 10: Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie #29 of the Arizona Cardinals during the NFL game against the New Orleans Saints at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 10, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Sa

Defenses are often overlooked, but playing a defense with a bad matchup could cost you a title.

If you have a team like the Packers as your defense—who is ranked first but play the Patriots in Week 15—you're going to need a one-week replacement.

No defense is worthy of starting against the No. 1 offense in the league—not even the top-ranked Pack—and you should be able to find a team with a good matchup to replace them.

In the Green Bay case, pick up the mediocre Cardinals defense, which plays the Panthers in Week 15 (fantasy's best offense for a D/ST to face).

3. Cowboys D/ST

Tom Pennington/Getty Images

ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 21: Quarterback Shaun Hill #14 of the Detroit Lions scrambles with the ball under pressure by Demarcus Ware #94 of the Dallas Cowboys at Cowboys Stadium on November 21, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. The Cowboys beat the Lions 35-19.

Sticking with the theme of defense, here's another option if you have a D/ST facing a tough matchup in the playoffs.

After a horrible start, the Cowboys have 40 points in their last four—in tough matchups against the Colts, Giants, Lions and Saints—and they face Washington and Arizona in Weeks 15 and 16.

Stay away from them this weeks against the Eagles—it's just too risky—but pick them up now and stash them for the semis and finals.

2. Jason Campbell, QB, Oakland

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

SAN DIEGO - DECEMBER 05: Quarterback Jason Campbell #8 the Oakland Raiders drops back to pass against the San Diego Chargers during the second quarter at Qualcomm Stadium on December 5, 2010 in San Diego, California. The Raiders defeated the Chargers 28-

Campbell deserves a roster spot based on performance alone—he's reached double digits six times in just eight games as Oakland's exclusive quarterback—and his matchups may make him starter-worthy if you don't have a better option.

He has an incredibly favorable two game stretch coming up, against 29th-ranked Denver this week, followed by 31st-ranked Denver.  Then he plays 14th-ranked Indianapolis.

1. Roy Williams, WR, Cowboys

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

GREEN BAY, WI - NOVEMBER 07: Roy Williams #11 of the Dallas Cowboys drops the ball in the end zone against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on November 7, 2010 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

I'll stick with the recurring Cowboys theme here.

Williams is owned in just 39.5 percent of ESPN standard leagues, and he'll be receiving a lot more targets in the coming weeks with Dez Bryant now out for the season.

His matchup this week against Philly is just average so he may not merit a start, but pick him up now and start him in Weeks 15 and 16, against Washington and Arizona.

The Redskins are the fifth-best defense for a fantasy receiver to face and the Cardinals are the worst.

Comments

Scott Boehm/Getty Images

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 05: Jason Garrett of the Dallas Cowboys looks on against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 5, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Cowboys defeated the Colts 38-35 in overtime. (Photo by Scott Boehm/Getty I

What do you think?

Did I miss anyone?

Am I wrong with any of these?

Voice your opinion in the comments.

Matt Rudnitsky is a student at the University of Michigan and a Featured Columnist/writing intern at Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Mattrud.