Friday
Fantasy Football, Top PostsFantasy football starters, sitters for Week 15
Start Drew Brees, Kurt Warner, Matt Schaub, Donovan McNabb, yada, yada, yada and a yo-ho-ho to you. For those who waited too long to draft a stud QB, here are this week’s (waiver wire) picks:
Quarterbacks
Starters:
Brady Quinn (at K.C.): As first-year starters are bound to do, Brady Quinn’s stats have been like a yo-yo the past four weeks, alternating between Peyton and Jamarcus.
The Browns’ opposition: Detroit, Cincinnati, San Diego, Pittsburgh. Can you guess when Quinn had success?
This week, he’s scheduled for an up arrow as the Browns head to Kansas City. That’s called opportunity, friends. Don’t fight the trend it (or overthink it), ride it.
Chad Henne (at Ten.): Henne has averaged 200 passing yards and a TD in his 10 starts. Couple that with the fact that the Titans have the second most generous (let’s hear it for the Lions) pass defense in the league and you have an emergency starter in your hands.
Other recommendations: Matt Hasselbeck (vs. TB), Alex Smith (at Phi.), as well as the stiffs mentioned at the top of the column.
Take a seat:
Aaron Rodgers (at Pit.): I can’t shake the image of Bruce Gradkowski rallying the Raiders at the Ketchup bottle. It’s like hearing the sickening sound of a car crash yet having to drive on. The defending champs are down to their last chance and the betting is, they not only answer the bell, they ring Rodgers’s a few times as well.
Tony Romo (at N.O.): The Superdome will be rocking and the Cowboys will get haloed just like the Eagles, Giants and Patriots have this season. The saving grace for Romo might be that Dallas falls so far behind, he piles up garbage points in the second half.
Other recommendations: Philip Rivers (vs. Cin.), Eli Manning (at Was.)
Running backs
Again, start the usual suspects: Adrian Peterson, Chris Johnson, Steven Jackson, etc.
Starters:
Laurence Maroney (at Buf.): Nobody, nobody gives up more rushing yards than the Buffalo Bills. Of the last six opposing backs, only Maurice Jones-Drew failed to top the century mark. Let somebody else figure that out and click on Maroney.
Knowshon Moreno (vs. Oak.): When you’re the only back left standing in a committee and the other team has already given up 2,000 rushing yards, you lick your chops.
Other recommendations: Ryan Moats (at StL), Jamaal Charles (vs. Cle.)
Take a seat:
Rashard Mendenhall (vs. GB): For whatever reason, Mendenhall and the Steelers had a tough time figuring out the Browns last week. The test is infinitely stiffer this week. The Packers, by a smidge, outrank even Pittsburgh against the run.
LaDainian Tomlinson (vs. Cin.): The Bengals are generally tough to run on and will have the added motivation of playing for Chris Henry on Sunday.
Other recommendations: Matt Forte (at Bal.), Ryan Grant (at Pit.)
Wide receivers
Starters:
Randy Moss (at Buf.): Motivated? Check. Extra touches in the game plan? Check. Easy opposition? Check. Giant freaking chip on the shoulder? Check. All systems go.
Kenny Britt (vs. Mia.): The Dolphins like to give up big passing plays, the type Britt has been providing since he replaced the injured Justin Gage as a starter.
Other recommendations: Santonio Holmes (vs. GB), Robert Meacham (vs. Dal.)
Take a seat:
Brandon Marshall (vs. Oak.): 21 catches will draw some heat. The Raiders don’t like to lock CB Nnamdi Ashomugha on a receiver but you can bet there’ll be an extra wrinkle or two for the record-setting Marshall.
Roddy White (at N.Y. Jets): The Jets do like to move CB Darrelle Revis around and White will draw the short stick.
Other recommendations: Carolina’s Steve Smith (vs. Min.), Roy Williams (at N.O.)
Tight Ends
Starters:
Fred Davis (vs. N.Y. Giants): Four TDs in last three games and playing against a team that has given up beaucoup points to Brent Celek and Jason Witten in last two.
Other recommendations: Jeremy Shockey (vs. Dal.), Visanthe Shiancoe (at Car.)
Take a seat:
Kevin Boss (at Was.): The Redskins are one of the toughest teams to score on and have granted just 13 passing TDs all season.
Other recommendations: Greg Olsen (at Bal.), Heath Miller (vs. GB).
Kickers
Starters:
David Akers (vs. S.F.): The Niners give up yards but not a lot of points. Which means more FG attempts for the league’s second-leading scorer.
Other recommendations: Nate Kaeding (vs. Cin.), Matt Prater (vs. Oak.)
Sitters:
Nick Folk (at N.O.): When you get to keep your job by hitting on 2-of-4 FG attempts in a mid-week audition, there is an increased likelihood of 4th-down gambles.
Other recommendations: John Kasay (vs. Min), Robbie Gould (at Bal.)
Defense
Starters: N.Y. Jets, Minnesota and Arizona
Take a seat: Dallas, San Francisco and N.Y. Giants.
