Fantasy NFL Saturday Night: Start 'Em or Sit 'Em (Larry Fitzgerald and More)

Eric StashinDec 25, 2010

The NFL is throwing fantasy players a slight curveball this week, and at the worst possible moment. With titles on the line they added a lone Saturday night game, just to give us something extra to worry about. Let’s take a look at some of the key decisions fantasy owners face in tonight’s Cowboys-Cardinals game and try to decide who we should start and who we should sit:

Larry Fitzgerald—Wide Receiver—Arizona Cardinals

When John Skelton took over as quarterback fantasy owners were concerned. Not that the quarterback play for the Cardinals could get any worse, but no one was sure that the rookie would be able to make the plays. No one knew if the rookie would be able to put Fitzgerald in position to pile up the yards and find the end zone.

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Over the past two weeks Fitzgerald has 15 receptions for 197 yards. It’s the most receptions he’s had in a two-game stretch this season and the second-most yards (he had 198 yards on 14 catches between Weeks 9 and 10). Yes, he hasn’t found the end zone recently, but you have to think that those will come. The fact that he is getting both receptions and yards is vital.

Against a Cowboys passing defense that is allowing 256.6 passing yards per game, fifth worst in the league, and tied for the league worst with 31 passing TDs allowed, how can you not use Fitzgerald? As long as Skelton keeps getting him the ball it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him score at least one touchdown this week.

On a side note, Steve Breaston is a viable third wide receiver depending on the other options available to you given the favorable matchup.

Felix Jones/Tashard Choice/Marion Barber—Running Backs—Dallas Cowboys

As if having both Jones and Choice in the backfield wasn’t enough, it appears that Barber is going to return to the lineup for the first time since Week 12. There had been talk that Jones wouldn’t be able to play, but that no longer appeared to be a worry earlier in the week. Now, with three backs potentially seeing carries, fantasy owners are left scratching their heads.

In Week 15 the Cowboys split carries between Jones and Choice fairly equally, at 12 to 15. Jones was more productive (70 yards vs. 53 yards), but Choice found the end zone while Jones did not.

With Barber now in the mix as well, how can we know for sure who is going to get how many carries? It’s a tremendous matchup with a Cardinals defense allowing 145.7 rushing yards per game, third worst in the league. They also have allowed 16 rushing touchdowns on the season, tied for third most in the league.

If the Cowboys had one clear-cut running back, it would be a no-brainer to use him. That’s not the situation that we have here, unfortunately. We could just as easily see all three backs get about 10 carries throughout the game as we could see one of the backs getting hot and getting the bulk of the looks. That’s not a gamble you should want to take with your fantasy title on the line.

Miles Austin—Wide Receiver—Dallas Cowboys

Over the past seven weeks he has not had more than four receptions in a game (and he’s only done that once). Only once has he eclipsed 47 yards in that stretch. Yes, he’s scored a few touchdowns, but is that something we are going to depend on against a defense that has allowed just 18 passing touchdowns on the season?

Jon Kitna has forged a much better rapport with Jason Witten (who is a must-use at tight end), but it just isn’t there with Austin. As a third receiver then maybe, but otherwise he’s too big of a risk to trust.

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

Also make sure to check out Rotoprofessor’s rankings for Week 16:

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