Fantasy Football Advice: To Play or Not to Play Michael Turner?

You own Mike Turner. He's carried your team into the playoffs and helped you win your playoff game last week by scoring his 14th touchdown of the season.

If you're like me, you watched Monday night's game between the Bucs and Panthers to see exactly how good that Tampa Bay rush defense was, because you knew that Turner is going to be facing them in week 15. 

I was expecting Tampa's defense to limit the Carolina run game and confirm my belief that, although I am very, very grateful to Burner, I will have to sit him in week 15 against that beast of a Monte Kiffin defense.

But, like most things in life, it didn't go at all as I expected.

As we know by now, Carolina's dynamic duo of D'Angelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart combined for over 300 yards and four touchdowns.  

Suddenly, I'm in a major dilemma.  

What if Turner and Norwood can do just a fraction of that damage?  You know Turner gets all of the goal line carries.  Do I just start my stud RB and never look back?  How in the world did Carolina succeed in running the ball so well against the Bucs vaunted D?

What many people don't realize, is that Tampa's starting DT Jovan Hoye was inactive and Chris Hovan, who is the other starting DT, was banged up going into and during the game. Everyone knows that the key to stopping the run is having a solid defensive line.  In particular, a team needs good play from their DTs.  

Both Hoye and Hovan are on the injury report this week.  This may be a good thing to keep an eye on going into Sunday.  The game is at 1 PM so you'll have all of your options to work with.  

FACTORS TO KEEP IN MIND:

Atlanta's Offensive Line

If you remember back to the preseason, the reason so many people weren't amazingly high on Turner had to do with Atlanta's supposed weak offensive line.  But, as the season has worn on they've gotten better every week.  

It helps that teams can't stack the line like they did early in the year now that Matt Ryan is a legit threat on any given play.  They're underrated and getting better, so don't rely so much on that early season performance versus the Bucs as a reference point.

The 14 carry 42 yard Performance from Week Two

Now, I know I just told you not to worry so much about that week two debacle, but you have to at least keep it in mind.  There are positives and negatives to take from the information available to us from this prior meeting.

The fact is: before last week the Bucs rush defense was pretty stout.  Week two was just one of many that Tampa shut down their opponent's running game.  

Looking closer though, the Bucs haven't really played that many really good running teams. Only Minnesota and Adrian Peterson jump out at me as a real threat and Tampa's defense did hold AP to 85 yards and a little over four YPC, but besides him they've been dealing with some middle of the road rushers.  

If you're still worried about that week two performance, remember Carolina was shut down in week six by Tampa in Tampa, and then last week happened in their second meeting.

301 Carries and an Injured Thumb 

Mike Turner "The Burner" hadn't had over 80 carries in a single season before this year. He's now at 301 carries on the year and a lot of the talking heads around the league are saying that last week's semi-disappointing 61 yards on 18 carries had to do with his damaged thumb.  This is something to also take into consideration when contemplating whether or not you want to play the man this week.

Ultimately, I have no definitive answer for you.  I have Turner in two leagues and in one I'm sitting him because I have Chris Johnson and MJD starting.  In another, my only option is Tim Hightower so it looks like I'm going to have to roll with him come Sunday, but I'm not scared to do so.

If you have a C. Johnson, MJD, Steve Slaton or even (maybe) a Thomas Jones I would consider politely benching The Burner.  Otherwise, no one can blame you if you throw him in your starting lineup, once again, against an angry and motivated Tampa Bay Bucs defense.

Good luck and godspeed my fellow fantasy fanatics...Godspeed.