Fantasy Football Game of the Week: Week 12

We hit the prediction pretty solid last week as the Colts/Texans game was a high scoring affair.  This week the Fantasy Football Game of the Week will be when the New York Giants travel across the country to face the  Arizona Cardinals. 

You might not think this is a great pick given the way the Giants play defense, but I think the Cardinals will be able to put up points on the G-Men and in turn they will have to bring out their offense to keep pace.

For Arizona they have had a hell of a time running the ball lately, with rookie starterTim Hightower having under 60 yards on the ground in the last two games combined.  It won’t get any easier in this game as the Giants are ranked eighth in the league against the run, allowing just over 90 yards per game. 

The Cardinals are going to have to run a little bit or the Giants defenders will just sit on the pass and their defensive line will have no reason to do anything but rush Kurt Warner.

Speaking of Warner, expect him to have another big game against the Giants.  Why?  Well, he’s done it pretty much every game this year, so why think the Giants will be any different?  I will say this.  If the New York defensive line is able to get to Warner and consistently pressure him, that could lead to turnovers which is the one area that has plagued Warner throughout his career.

I still think that he will throw for over 300 yards and three touchdowns.  That prediction makes Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, and Steve Breaston good plays this week for Arizona.  Hey, if Warner is going to throw for 300 yards, he has to throw it to someone, right?  This should come as no surprise, however, as Boldin and Fitzgerald continue to do their thing as they have every season.  Breaston has emerged as a great third option and could have his fourth 100 yard game of the year.

For New York, they will do what they do best and that is run the ball.  Whether Brandon Jacobs plays or not (which is looking like a better possibility all the time), the G-Men will run the ball.  The Cardinals run defense is seventh in the league against the run, but the Ravens were ranked No. 1 and the Giants ran for over 200 yards. 

Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw are perfect change-of-pace backs from Jacobs and have each had a good season of their own.  If Jacobs plays I wouldn’t want to put either into my fantasy lineup, but if there is no Jacobs on Sunday, both Giants running backs become viable if you are dealing with some injury problems.

With the way the Cardinals are able to score, Eli Manning is going to have to put the ball in the air this week for the Giants to win, though.  Look for Eli to throw for 250 yards and three touchdowns as this game could very well get into the 30s as far as points.  If Plaxico Burress is able to go, he should have a great game. 

I know he hasn’t shown up much in the last month, but Burress is far too talented to produce this poorly forever.  All other Giants’ receivers (Amani Toomer, Steve Smith, Kevin Boss) are guys that I would consider playing but they have all been inconsistent.  One of them will probably have a really good game, but more than one might not show up.

As always, your comments and questions (adds/drops, lineup advice, etc.) are welcome at .  I guarantee a response within 18 hours.