Fantasy Football: Week 13 Preview, Part Two

Quick recap of yesterday's games before we get started.

The only one that threw out any surprises was the Arizona-Philadelphia game at night. We continued to see how utterly awful Detroit is, and Dallas did exactly what they should be doing with Romo getting healthier. The Eagles and Cardinals gave us some things to consider.

I wasn't sold on McNabb at all yesterday. The way I took his benching was that the Philadelphia crowd wasn't going to help pick him up. These are the same fans that decided to boo him on draft day, so why pick him up now? Yet, McNabb torched what seems to be a secondary susceptible to being beaten by a better teams.

The Giants and Eagles have now done some major damage against the Cardinals.

I still don't know how this will play out the rest of the way, but I'm still going to look at him as a matchup play. Andy Reid seems to feel that McNabb is always one play away from being benched each week. Typical poor coaching.

As for Arizona, Kurt Warner didn't have a bad game. The three interceptions do mitigate one of his touchdowns, but he threw for three of them and cracked 300 yards again. You can't blame him for this one.

Anquan Boldin had his worst game of the season, as he dropped two touchdown passes and fumbled late in the game. Larry Fitzgerald had all the work and performed well.

Let's get to the second half of Sunday's festivities.

New York Giants at Washington

Who to Start: Brandon Jacobs, Domenick Hixon, Kevin Boss

Who to Sit: Antwaan Randle El, Amani Toomer

What to Expect: Interesting matchup, this one is.

The Redskins aren't incredibly tough against the pass, but they do very well against it at home. Eli Manning has been very consistent, finding a way to hit right around 200 yards and two scores nearly every week. Regardless of the strength of the Washington secondary, I think he finds a way to continue to hit these numbers.

The way Kevin Boss has played over the middle will still give Manning the outlet to find one in the red zone to the tight end. I like Hixon for the other, as we still don't know if Burress is completely healthy in this case. I'm avoiding reaching for any other Giants receivers because I do think that the Redskins will be able to shutdown the fringe options.

Brandon Jacobs says he'll be ready to go. If that's the case, you start him here. I like Ward and Bradshaw as flex options if we find out late in the game that Jacobs won't be able to get on the field. No concerns yet.

For the Redskins, I'm keeping Jason Campbell reserved, as he goes up against one of the top-five pass defenses in the NFL. Campbell hasn't shown the ability to consistently beat stronger opponents with his arm. Moss, to me, is a number three receiver this week.

I use Cooley because you likely don't have better options in this case. Keep all others on the bench.

Clinton Portis is a must-start in every game, keep him as you normally would.

Sleeper Pickup: Hixon. He has the chance to do something big in this one.

Atlanta at San Diego

Who to Start: Matt Ryan, Jerious Norwood, Vincent Jackson, Michael Jenkins
 
Who to Sit: Chris Chambers
 
What to Expect: I like this matchup to produce some offense on both sides of the ball.

Atlanta has trouble stopping the pass, and Rivers has done well exploiting secondaries with holes. I think this creates big days for Gates and Jackson, specifically. We just haven't seen enough of Chambers to assume he'll be solid in this one. Jackson is a weekly play that isn't getting the respect. Look for him to find the end zone this week.

I'm not benching Tomlinson, especially against a defense that falls in the lower-half of the league against the run.

The Falcons should be able to put up some points as well. Matt Ryan continues to improve, even though he has struggled without Roddy White being fully healthy. This week, that won't matter. The Chargers are a weak defense in every respect. Ryan is a decent play in every format. Look for him to find both White and Jenkins for a score in this one.

Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood will both be able to perform well. Norwood should get enough carries against a bad run defense to make him viable as a flex option. Turner is a must play.

Sleeper Pickup: Norwood. He gets the nod because even secondary backs do well against the Chargers.

Pittsburgh at New England

Who to Start: Ben Roethlisberger, Santonio Holmes, Mewelde Moore, Wes Welker, Kevin Faulk, Matt Cassel
 
Who to Sit: Willie Parker
 
What to Expect: Tough one here. The Patriots secondary is awful, plain and simple. The Steelers defense is one of the best in the game.

The question is, can Roethlisberger exploit such a bad defense and can the Patriots find a way to beat one of the best in football?

I think Roethlisberger will be very effective. His performance won't be anything spectacular, but it will get the job done. Santonio Holmes and Hines Ward will be fine. They'll make enough plays to be active in any format. I'd even expect Nate Washington to come up with a big play.

The Patriots are in shambles. Linebackers are hurt, which opens up the middle of the field for tight ends. Cornerbacks and safeties are very young, meaning they get confused more easily.

They allowed Chad Pennington to throw for 350 yards. Big Ben won't be that big, because of the Steelers tendency to run the ball. He should hit 240 with three touchdowns.

I like Moore much more than Parker this week. Parker seems to start, but never ends up finishing games. He's still listed as questionable, but I'm not taking that chance. Give me Moore and I'll take the results.

The Pats have thrown for more than 400 yards in each of the last two weeks. Cassel won't do that to the Steelers. Just not going to happen. This is the toughest defense that he has faced. I think if he hits 250, that's a stretch. He does find Moss and Welker for scores.

Kevin Faulk is the wild card here. I like him to hit the end zone in some way. He will combine for around 80 yards through rushing and receiving.
 
Sleeper Pickup: Faulk. Just not getting the respect, but PPR leagues should take note of his ability.

Denver at New York Jets

Who to Start: Jay Cutler, Eddie Royal, Leon Washington, Thomas Jones
 
Who to Sit: Peyton Hillis, Tatum Bell
 
What to Expect: The Jets are one of the better running teams in football. The Broncos can't stop the run.

I'm starting Leon Washington and Thomas Jones in every format that I can find them in. The two should combine for four touchdowns, and I think they split them evenly. Great matchup for them in every sense. Owners should be giddy.

In the passing game, I think Favre should be able to put up two touchdowns, one will be through the air to one of his backs, the other to Keller. He seems to like the young tight end a lot, and has looked to give him plenty of chances the past three weeks.

Coles and Cotchery are below-average plays this week, simply because of how poorly the Broncos defend the run.

For the Broncos, they go up against a team that stops the run better than almost anyone in football. Don't go reaching for Hillis or Bell this week. Look for Cutler to take them down in the passing game. I see big things for Marshall and Royal this week. The sleeper play here is Stokley. He finds the end zone as the number three guy this week.
 
Sleeper Pickup: Washington. He's only 50 percent owned, I don't get it.

Kansas City at Oakland

Who to Start: Tyler Thigpen, Mark Bradley, Justin Fargas, Darren McFadden, Ashley Lelie
 
Who to Sit: JaMarcus Russell, Dwayne Bowe
 
What to Expect: I'm sure you're wondering about Bowe, so let's get right to the Chiefs.

Thigpen has been spreading the ball around very well, creating opportunities for everyone in the passing game. This week, though, Bowe will draw Asomugha. No one has done well against him, and Bowe will be no exception here. Bradley gets a few more touches as a result. I like him to find the end zone with 90 yards.

I think both Jamaal Charles and Larry Johnson will be fine as running back options in deeper leagues. They will do well against another weak run defense. They should be used if you don't have other options, mainly because of the split carries in this one. I like Charles slightly more here.

With the Raiders, people are talking about how Russell went 10-for-11 last week. I don't see how this is as big a deal. Is he better than he was in the beginning of the season? Yes. 

The Raiders, though, aren't out to make this guy do anything. I think Lelie will be fine, but I'm not starting Russell or Zach Miller this week. Lelie has scored recently, and I like his chances to do that this week as well.

Fargas and McFadden both performed well last week. I like them both in this one. Fargas gets the yards, but McFadden will be the one that finds the end zone. Give Fargas another 100-yard day, and McFadden gets 40 with two touchdowns.
 
Sleeper Pickup: Bradley. Simply because he doesn't draw the best corner in the NFL.

Chicago at Minnesota

Who to Start: Kyle Orton, Rashied Davis, Devin Hester, Sidney Rice, Visanthe Shiancoe
 
Who to Sit: Chester Taylor
 
What to Expect: Neither team can stop the pass, but both certainly can stop the run.

Matt Forte will be in for a much tougher day than he's faced the last two weeks. I'm not looking for a major day out of him in this one. He is still a guy you need to start, but you can do better than what he'll give you.

Kyle Orton is going to need to win this one, and that makes Davis, Olsen, and Hester good options. The Vikings can't stop the pass, so I'd use Orton in nearly every format. Look for him to crack 265 yards with two touchdowns in this one.

I think that the Chicago defense does the job and shuts down the running game, making Gus Frerotte beat them. Adrian Peterson is still a must start, but he's not the great play that you would hope for out of your first round pick in this one.

There are going to be better options, sadly. In that sense, don't go reach for Chester Taylor this week, as he is even less viable.

Frerotte has shown that he can throw the ball. Sidney Rice and Bernard Berrian are going to find the end zone this week. Frerotte makes mistakes, but they won't outweigh his positives.

I like him for 230 and two touchdowns here. He likely gets picked off once or twice as well. Shiancoe should be a decent tight end play this week because of how often they Vikings will need to throw the ball.
 
Sleeper Pickup: Davis. Just a feeling that he's able to get into the end zone in this one.

Jacksonville at Houston

Who to Start: Kevin Walter, Marcedes Lewis, Owen Daniels
 
Who to Sit: None
 
What to Expect: There isn't much not to like about this matchup from a fantasy point of view.

The running game for the Jaguars should be out in full force, so starting Taylor and Jones-Drew should work for all owners. I like Jones-Drew better, because he has proven himself more often this year than not.

Owners that get return yards should upgrade him even further. Taylor won't be a bad play either, but likely is held out of the end zone unless he breaks off a big run.

David Garrard should be solid, and he'll find Lewis and Jones for scores. Garrard does it with his feet as well, and that makes him worth it as a start for owners in deep leagues here. He keeps his totals around 220 yards, but throws for a touchdown, runs for 50 yards, and finds the end zone with his legs.

The Texans running game will be in there for this one. Steve Slaton is going to be one of the better plays this week, and he cracks 130 yards with two scores. Great matchup for him in this one. About all there is to it.

Sage Rosenfels won't even be able to screw this one up, and he'll throw for two touchdowns here. Kevin Walter, Owen Daniels, and Andre Johnson should all be good plays. You never sit Johnson, but Walter is getting a fair amount of looks now as well. Daniels is a top-ten tight end play this week, especially against the Jaguars defense here.
 
Sleeper Pickup: Lewis. Garrard definitely finds him this week in the end zone.

Enjoy the games!