Jets-Broncos: Fantasy Football Game of the Week

Welcome to the Week 13 version of the game that will most likely make and break many fantasy matchups this weekend. The New York Jets are among the highest scoring teams in the NFL, and the Denver Broncos have one of the best young quarterback/wide receivers options in the entire league.

There are at least six or seven players in this game that are sure to be on every team in your league.

On the side of the Jets, few players in fantasy have had as much of a 180 as Brett Favre. In the first six weeks of the season, Favre was (1) trying to get on the same page and learn a new offense, and (2) was trying to be the old gunslinging Brett Favre going deep down the field and taking stupid chances.

In the last three games Favre seems to have bought into the game plan and has five touchdowns to just one interceptions. Not only that, but he has completed at least 73 percent of his passes over that time. In just a month, he went from too risky to play, to a must start, unless you have a elite quarterback option.

The biggest surprise in fantasy this season, in my opinion, has been Thomas Jones. Jones already has more touchdowns through Week 13 than he had in the last two season combined. Given the improvement of the offensive line, Jones has become a must start, and has even had great games against quality run defenses.

Rookie tight end Dustin Keller has 20 catches over the last three games and has quickly become one of Brett Favre’s favorite targets. Keller has become a quality option at tight end in his rookie season, and if you are just recycling tight ends by matchups, Keller is someone you can count on for a weekly basis.

The Jets’ two main receivers Jerricho Cotchery and Laverneous Coles both have very similar statistics, but they both have been inconsistent this season. They will have seven catch, 100 yard games followed by one catch, 11 yard games. It is impossible to guess which one will have a good game, but they are both safe starts.

Denver will really have a hard time running the ball. Not only are they facing a top five defense, but running back Peyton Hillis is about 14th on the depth chart, isn’t he? Your only real chance of getting points out of Hillis is to hope that a receiver gets tackled at the one or two on a long reception and Denver tries to punch it in.

I don’t see him even breaking the 50-yard plateau. Although Jay Cutler has been struggling some of late, I still have not lost faith in him. As good as the Jets’ run defense is, their passing defense is that bad.

They allow nearly 250 yards a game and have allowed 15 passing touchdowns. Look for Cutler to approach 300 yards and two TDs. Who will get those TDs? I can’t help but think that one of them definitely goes to Brandon Marshall.

The guy is a physical beast and one of the top five to seven receivers in the NFL. I’d like to see the second go to Eddie Royal.

The rookie has had the best impact of any rookie receiver and he has the chance to run past the Jets secondary. Brandon Stokely or Tony Scheffler are other receiving options, but I would want to trust either one of them at this point.

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