Atlanta-New Orleans: Fantasy Football's Game of the Week

This week’s game of incredible fantasy importance will be the Saints and the Falcons in New Orleans.  At this point of the season, if you are reading this, you are most likely in the playoffs or this week will make or break your chances of being in the playoffs. 

If you are completely out of it and are still reading this then you either are trying to play spoiler and knock one of your buddies out of the playoffs or you are really and truly obsessed with fantasy football and can’t handle the fact that this is the last week that your team will play for the next eight months.

Either way, I salute you.

Drew Brees still has Dan Marino’s passing-yards record in sight, as he should go over 4,000 yards this week. Atlanta’s pass defense is in the bottom third of the league and they allow nearly 225 yards per game through the air. I definitely think Brees will get more than that, more in the 275-300 yard range. Look for Brees to also throw for two touchdowns as well. 

Reggie Bush should be more involved this week, as he returned last week, but really did nothing as he only got three carries and recorded zero yards. Bush should get at least 10 carries and probably catch four or five passes too. I guess it looks like Deuce McAllister will be able to play, but don’t be surprised if Pierre Thomas is an important part of their game plan as he has gotten at least 10 carries in three straight weeks. 

Marques Colston is always a must start, and Lance Moore has definitely held his value much more than any of us expected when Colston and Shockey returned from injury.  New Orleans now has a two headed monster at tight end with Billy Miller and Jeremy Shockey.

Between the two players last week they had seven catches for nearly 80 yards. It is hard to guess which one will be targeted more, but neither has scored in the past couple weeks. Both of them are decent play against a weaker Falcons’ pass defense, and I would lean towards Miller.

For the Falcons, Matt Ryan has proven that he is no ordinary rookie, and will look to improve on the 250 yard, two touchdown effort that he had the first time these two teams faced off. Expect his statistics to be about the same the second time around.  Michael Turner has been on a hot streak and looks to have another good game this week.

The first time these two teams met, Turner rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown. I don’t think it is unrealistic in anyway to expect similar numbers, if not better, from the first year starter.

On the receiving corps of course you can count on Roddy White. He is already over 1,00 yards and is having a great follow up to his breakout 2007 season. After a few solid weeks, Michael Jenkins has returned to his usual unproductive self. He has just five catches the past two weeks after having 11 the two weeks before that.

I don’t expect much out of him in Week 14. The Falcons get very little out of their tight ends, but Justin Peelle did score last week if you need to use a Falcons TE.

Both teams have a great shot at scoring 28 points or more and if you have anyone on the Falcons or Saints you have a great chance of scoring some high fantasy points this week. Even with Reggie Bush coming back, expect Drew Brees to be the guy in this game that scores the most fantasy points.

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