Fantasy Football: 5 Best QB Matchups This Weekend

When analyzing how a quarterback will fare for a fantasy team on any given week, there are a couple of things that need to be accounted for.

The first and most obvious factor is the caliber of the opposing team's pass defense.

However, this isn't the only thing you should be looking at when predicting your quarterback's production.

The second factor is how the game will play out until the last second of the fourth quarter. If your quarterback's team goes ahead three or four touchdowns in the first half, then you are likely to see little fantasy production from your quarterback during the second half. (There are exceptions to this rule: See Drew Brees against the Colts in Week 7)

So, that is what we will be taking a look at here for Week 12: Which games will be shootouts and what kind of numbers we can actually expect from our quarterbacks.

Matthew Stafford (Lions) vs. Green Bay

We are in for a treat this Thanksgiving, as the revived Detroit Lions take on the dominant Green Bay Packers.

There's one thing we know about the Packers, and it's that teams will always be playing catch-up.

This is one of those matchups that doesn't look good for a quarterback if all you're doing is looking at Green Bay's defensive roster or depth chart. However, the simple fact that teams are never ahead of the Packers means that teams never abandon the passing game. Add that to the fact that the Packers secondary has struggled at times this season, and we get a dream fantasy matchup for Matthew Stafford in Week 12.

Coming off a five-touchdown performances, Stafford and the Lions look like one of the few high-powered offenses who could keep up with Rodgers and the Packer. Stafford threw five touchdowns to five different receivers in Week 11, and none of them were named Calvin Johnson.

Expect huge numbers again this week from Stafford and the Lions.

Philip Rivers (Chargers) vs. Denver

I would say that this game could fall under the category of one where the Chargers are ahead the whole game so they abandon the pass game at some point. Then I remember the Broncos have Tim Tebow, who always finds some way to keep Broncos in games until the end.

Looking beyond Champ Bailey, the Broncos pass defense is just plain terrible. Sure, they kept Mark Sanchez in check during Week 11. But that's Mark Sanchez. That passing attack is nothing close to what Philip Rivers and the Chargers bring to the table.

Antonio Gates is only getting healthier, and Vincent Brown is coming around.

We can temper our expectations for River's No. 1 receiver Vincent Jackson since he will be blanketed by Bailey the whole game. That doesn't mean that Rivers won't get his numbers.

Start Rivers with confidence against this struggling secondary.

Tony Romo (Cowboys) vs. Miami

I don't know if you have heard, but the Miami Dolphins are no longer in the running for the "Suck For Luck Sweepstakes." They have won three straight. On Thanksgiving day, they will face their toughest opponent since their win streak begun in the Dallas Cowboys.

The reason I mention Miami's recent success is to ease your concerns of a possible blowout that would have Romo abandon the pass game in the second half. It very well could happen, but in the past three games, the Dolphins have outscored opponents 86-20. I see Miami at least hanging around in this one.

Since the Cowboys have found a running game, Tony Romo has been playing like a Pro Bowler. Against a secondary giving up tons of points to fantasy quarterbacks, I don't expect his stretch of amazing performances to end in Week 12.

Romo is a solid option against the Dolphins, and he will continue to be for the remainder of the season.

Eli Manning (Giants) vs. New Orleans

This one falls under the shootout category of fantasy matchups.

The New Orleans Saints defense has been nothing to write home about this season, but it doesn't matter when you have Drew Brees on your team. Brees keeps the Saints ahead in games, and he also keeps the opposing quarterbacks throwing to keep up.

This one also falls under the category of "My team just lost a heated division match, and we are a little ticked off."

I expect Eli Manning to bounce back in a big way against this suspect defense after facing the Eagles and one of the toughest secondaries in the league.

Ahmad Bradshaw should also be back from injury, which forces the Saints to focus some attention on the run game. He also gives Manning a good pass-catching option out of the backfield to pad the quarterback's stats.

Manning has been playing like a stud all season. After a subpar performance against the Eagles, we can look for him to return to form in a big way against the Saints in Week 12.

Michael Vick or Vince Young (Eagles) vs. New England

Thou shalt always start a quarterback who is going against the New England Patriots. It's one of the fantasy football 10 commandments.

The Patriots fall under both scenarios we hope our fantasy quarterbacks to be in. Teams are always trying to keep up with Tom Brady's explosive offense. On the other side of it, the Patriots defense is terrible.

It's a win-win for fantasy football quarterbacks.

If Michael Vick is healthy enough to start, he makes for a very solid play in Week 12. However, if Vince Young starts, he still makes for a good high-upside start.

Either quarterback will have a good game against this defensive squad.

Whoever starts for the Eagles in Week 12, you should be starting on your fantasy football team.