Start Sit Week 13

Lucky week 13. I had a hard time finding players to put on the sit list this week, which is a good thing for the action this week. here is a look at my starters and players riding the pine for me this week.

Starts

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Calvin Johnson (DET) is obviously a starter for most of you every week. Johnson has been a bit of a disappointment this season, missing time with injuries and being used as a decoy in a few games. Nut this week is the game we have all been waiting for. I myself traded for Matthew Stafford specifically for this week and the fantasy playoffs. If Megatron is going to have a game, this is likely the week. The Lions face off against the Chicago Bears in a Thanksgiving Day match up. The Bears defense has been terrible this season. Having allowed 260.5 yards per game and 25 touchdowns through the air, expect good things from the Lions offense. If they can't do it against this team, I no longer like the odds of the Lions for the playoffs. Johnson should be a monster against the Bears this week.

Jordan Matthews (PHI) faces the Dallas Cowboys in another Thanksgiving game this week. Dallas was exposed last week in the first 3 quarters of the game against the Giants allowing Eli Manning and Odell Beckham Jr. to pass all over them. Since Mark Sanchez has taken over as the quarterback for the Eagles, Matthews has seen an increase in his production and scoring. I would say Matthews is a good start this week as a wide receiver 2 or a solid flex play.

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Kenny Stills (NO) had 8 catches for 98 yards on Monday night against the Ravens in his increased

role minus Brandin Cooks for the Saints. Stills and the Saints are playing at the Steelers this week, and I would look for Stills production to continue against the Steelers 16th ranked pass defense. The Steelers allow 241.6 yards per game, and have allowed 19 passing touchdowns on the year. Stills is a good flex play this week for your fantasy team.

Jarvis Landry (MIA) has a great game awaiting him in the Dolphins match up at the New York Jets. The Jets are the 14th ranked pass defense by yards per game at 238.6, but they have allowed a league high 27 passing touchdowns on the season. After the terrible performance against the Bills last week, it is a hot mess for the Jets on all sides of the ball. I would not be surprised if Landry keeps up his productive ways, and believe he has a great chance to score this week for the Dolphins. Landry is a solid wide receiver 2 or flex play for you this week.

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LeGarrett Blount (NE) got another shot for the Patriots last week, and he didn't disappoint New England Fans. This week the likely game plan will be run to control the clock and keep the high octane offense of the Packers off the field. Look for Blount to get a good deal of work for the Pats this week against the 30th ranked run defense of the Packers. Start Blount this week.

Sits

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Brandon Marshall (CHI) has been banged up and sporadic this season. Facing off against the 10th ranked pass defense of the Lions isn't a very good match up for a Bears offense that has been struggling as of late. Detroit allows only 233.1 yards per game and has 14 touchdowns to 13 interceptions on the season. I'm sitting Marshall this week.

Frank Gore (SF) faces the 6th ranked run defense of the Seahawks this week. Gore has lost a share of the goal line work, and has seen his workload diminished. Along with those facts, the play calling in San Francisco has been suspect this season. Gore has also fumbled in each of his last 2 games. I personally have Gore on one of my fantasy teams, and have been less than enthusiastic about playing him. This week playing against a defense only allowing 88.4 yards per game I think Gore is a sit.

Steve Smith Sr. (BAL) is a player I wrote about earlier this season. This week, I am not a fan of playing him in a match up against the 6th ranked pass defense of the San Diego Chargers. Allowing only 221.3 yards per game through the air, the Chargers may prove to be too much for the Ravens and Smith. In the last few weeks the production has been spotty, having less than 40 yards in 3 of his last 4 games, and only scoring one time since week 6. Sit Steve Smith this week.

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Eric Decker (NYJ) is a victim of his circumstance. At the start of the season Decker had a hamstring

injury that was limiting his production, but now the play of the quarterbacks and team in general is hampering him. Michael Vick took over a few weeks ago, and has played about as poorly as Geno Smith, who returns to the starting role this week. I wouldn't trust Decker one bit this week against the stout defense of the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins are the 4th ranked pass defense in the NFL, allowing 211.7 yards per game on the season. If you were playing him, this is time to jump off that train.

Ryan Mathews (SD) has a big task ahead this week facing the run defense of the New York Jets, who allow only 86.2 yards per game. A caveat to the Mathews situation is that the Jets might be without Muhammad Wilkerson this week. If Wilkerson is out, the Jets run defense will suffer. But as a whole, I am not sure that I trust using Mathews this week. If the Chargers get out to a big lead, you can expect to see more of Branden Oliver in an effort to save Mathews for the rest of the season. With so many variables to the possible performance for Mathews, I would try to find myself a better option this week.

Well we once again find ourselves at the end of another start sit column. Here is hoping that you all have a Happy Thanksgiving of enjoying a triple header of football action, and some well prepared turkey. Good luck this week!

Waiver Wire Week 13

The last week before many of you will be entering the playoffs, if you have made it that far. Not a ton of activity for the waiver wire this week, but here is the list of players who may help you going forward.

Running Back 

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Latavius Murray (OAK) had only 4 touches last week before being sidelined with a concussion, but he had monster numbers with them. Rushing for 112 yards and 2 touchdowns, it seems that once healthy, Murray will see more touches for the Raiders and could likely help a running back poor team out.

Daniel Herron (IND) has taken the place of Ahmad Bradshaw in the Colts backfield, and actually had more touches than Trent Richardson last week. The Colts have a good schedule moving forward, and Herron is likely to continue with at least his current workload. Definitely worth an add if you need running back health.

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LeGarrett Blount (NE) came right in and scored twice for the Patriots last

week. I am always skeptical of the running back situation in New England, but with Jonas Gray putting himself in the dog house by being late to practice, Blount might be the ground guy moving forward. I think Blount is a risky player, but if you are desperate, you could do worse.

Wide Receiver 

Jarvis Landry (MIA) has 49 catches on the season for the Dolphins, and is averaging almost 50 yards per game over his last 4 games. In a PPR league, Landry is a solid play moving forward and has a decent schedule including games against the Jets in week 13, and Baltimore in week 14. Landry is a flex option for you the rest of the season.

Charles Johnson (MIN) has earned himself some consideration and more playing time in the

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Vikings offense. The next 2 weeks of the schedule are looking good for the Vikings passing game, facing Carolina and the Jets in week 13 and 14, and if your playoffs go through week 17, Chicago is a tasty match up. Johnson had 52 yards and a score last week, and 87 yards on 6 catches in his last two games. Johnson would make a decent flex play with his newly increased role.

Tight End 

Kyle Rudolph (MIN) is back, and actually caught some passes last week. With the previously mentioned good match ups for the Vikings, it seems likely that Rudolph will be a productive player in the black hole that has been much of the tight end position this season. If you have either an under performing or injured tight end, Rudolph should be a suitable replacement for you.

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Tim Wright (NE) has had sporadic production this season, but in a world where the tight end position has been hit and miss altogether this season, you could do worse than Wright. The red zone offense of the Patriots has featured Wright for multiple short yardage scores this season, and with some tough match ups ahead, Wright might find himself scoring again at an end zone near you. If I were in a desperate situation, Wright would be on my list of high risk players that may also have a high reward.

My final suggestion this week will be on the defensive front. For those who have been streaming defenses this season, I highly recommend carrying 2 defenses at this point in the year. Take a look at the defenses that are available in your leagues and find one or two that have decent match ups the rest of the season. I would cut a 5th receiver or non stud running back that you are never playing and line up your defensive needs for the rest of the year.

If you have clinched your playoff spot already, congrats. If not, good luck this week locking up that post season berth.

Start Sit Week 12

Week 12 is upon us, and some fantastic match ups for some great individual players are on tap for this week. On the flip side a few fantasy stalwarts may not be the scoring dynamos that we have come to rely on this week. Let's take a look at this weeks start sit players.

Starts 

Josh Gordon (CLE) is back this week from suspension. According to report he is in great shape, and has been at the team facility and looking good. The Browns play against the Atlanta Falcons this week, which is about the best match up you could think of for Gordon in his return. Atlanta has the worst pass defense in the league, allowing 281.2 yards per game through the air. Most of you have been keeping him on your bench for a part of the season, now is your time. start him this week.

Andrew Hawkins (CLE) is now the other half of the receiving attack that could now be much more formidable than it has been. Hawkins has been a solid PPR performer all season, but now with Josh Gordon returning, it seems likely that Hawkins will be receiving less attention from defenses and have more room to work with. Facing the Falcons this week I expect big things from Hawkins in his now complimentary role to Gordon. Hawkins is a great start for a wide receiver 2 or flex this week.

Trent Richardson (IND) is quite possibly now the man in Indianapolis. With Ahmad Bradshaw
breaking his ankle in week 11, Richardson is now the lead back and should see the larger share of the workload for the Colts going forward. This is only somewhat exciting as Richardson has been less than thrilling since coming into the league, but a starting running back has value for fantasy. This week the Colts face off against the 26th ranked run defense of the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jags are allowing 126.2 yards per game on the ground this season. Richardson is now a running back 2 or flex play and should be started this week.

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Sammy Watkins (BUF) should take on the Jets in Buffalo this week, assuming that the entire stadium isn't covered in snow. As of writing this post, it is less likely that the game will be in Buffalo on Sunday, and could likely move to either Detroit or Washington on Monday night. Given lots of rest and assuming that the Bills get a chance to get in some practice before the game, Watkins should be healthy and ready to score against the New York Jets 15th ranked pass defense. The Jets don't give up the most yards per game (240.5), but they have allowed the most passing touchdowns through the air at 25 on the season. Look for Watkins to put up some numbers this week and start him.

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Andre Ellington (ARI) has a match up against the 7th ranked run defense of the Seattle Seahawks
this week. This normally would look to be a negative thing, but the Seahawks are missing some key players on defense. Couple that with the fact that the Cardinals are starting their back up quarterback on the road, and a commitment to the running game seems to be in order for Arizona. Look for Ellington to get a fair amount of touches both out of the backfield and in the passing game against the Seahawks this week.

Ryan Mathews (SD) has reasonably fresh legs for the San Diego Chargers after missing time earlier this season. The Chargers play against the 18th ranked run defense of the St. Louis Rams who allow 114.6 yards per game on the ground. The Chargers quarterback, Phillip Rivers, has a rib injury and I expect them to hand the ball to Mathews a lot this week in a decent match up at home. Mathews is a definite start for me in week 12.

Sits 

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Golden Tate (DET) faces a tough match up this week and is likely to be covered by a player quite familiar with him. Tate is likely to face off against former teammate Brandon Browner in New England this week. The Patriots have a good pass defense, which is ranked 17th, but had been missing Browner for the first few games of the season due to suspension. On the other side there is Revis Island to take care of Calvin Johnson, and that leaves Tate and Browner. The Lions have struggled on offense this season, both with and without Johnson, and I don't expect a huge game from any of the Lions in their second straight road game this week. I am sitting Golden Tate this week.

Cordarelle Patterson (MIN) is a guy I am finally done with. I held on as long as I could, but he's dead to me now. The Vikings offense is a mess. Patterson can't run routes or get open, and the Packers only allow 238.2 yards per game and have a 15:14 touchdown to interception ratio on the season. If you are still rostering Patterson, you may safely release him back into the wild at this point.

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Alfred Morris (WAS) faces a daunting task this week squaring off against the 6th ranked run defense
of the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers allow 88.6 yards per game on the ground, and have only allowed 5 rushing touchdowns on the season. Given that Robert Griffin III is playing terribly, and the offense is a mess, it seems likely that San Francisco will be stacking the box and daring RG3 to beat them with his passing. Sit Morris this week.

Mark Ingram (NO) will be running into the 5th ranked run defense of the Baltimore Ravens in week 12. Baltimore allows 84.5 yards per game on the ground, and only 6 rushing touchdowns on the season. Ingram had a bad rushing game last week, and only really had value in PPR leagues due to catching 7 balls last week. In addition, I would be concerned that the heavy workload that he has been getting might catch up with an injury prone running back soon. Over the last 4 games Ingram has 104 runs, and has been anything but durable throughout his career. I don't trust the match up, and I don't trust Ingram this week.

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Jonas Gray (NE) is the flavor of the week for the Patriots. Rushing for 201 yards and 4 touchdowns last week, Gray is set up to let you down this week. Among the many issues with Gray is the fact that Bill Belichick isn't the kind of coach that will give a running back consistent work, and you can never really trust the Patriots running backs. On top of that, the Pats face the top ranked run defense of the Detroit Lions this week. Detroit only allows 68.8 yards per game on the ground. The final issue I see with Gray this week is the arrival of LeGarrette Blount. Blount has a chance to take touches from Gray as he is likely fairly familiar with the offense of the Patriots having played for them last season. All of these reasons are more than enough for me to not trust Gray this week and recommend sitting him this week.

With just 2 weeks left in most leagues regular season, the final push is on. Many teams need a win this week to keep hope alive for the 2014 fantasy season. Here's hoping that this article will help you make good decisions and provide insight to help you make those playoffs. Good luck this week!

Match Up Monsters And Misses

Week 12 of the NFL season is already upon us. Seems like just yesterday I was mock drafting around the clock to try to get a feel for the draft value for different players. I blinked, and we are merely weeks away from the end of many peoples seasons, and the tourney to crown a champion for others. Let's take a look at the good and bad match ups for this weeks NFL action.

Match Up Monsters

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The Cleveland Browns are likely to go through one of the biggest late season transformations of any team in the league. The addition of Josh Gordon back to the receiving corps for the Browns is primed to completely change the Cleveland offense. Gordon has been a prolific pass catcher in the past, and as long as he can be in somewhat game ready shape this week, he figures to have a soft landing spot this week. The Browns face the last ranked pass defense of the Atlanta Falcons this week. Atlanta allows 281.2 yards per game through the air, and Josh Gordon and Andrew Hawkins factor to catch a lot of passes in an offense that threw the ball 50 times last week.

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Kansas City Chiefs running backs Jamaal Charles and Knile Davis have a great match up on

Thursday this week against the Oakland Raiders. Oakland is allowing 129.8 yards per game on the ground with their 27th ranked run defense. Keeping with the tradition of Thursday night games being great for running plays right into the strength of the Chiefs offense. Charles is always a must start guy, but Davis could see some work as well if the Chiefs get out to a lead, and in spelling Charles.

 Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts wide receivers will likely be out for blood this week after getting trounced last week by the Patriots. Bad news for the Jaguars and their 26th ranked pass defense. Allowing 261.9 yards per game, and 18 touchdowns through the air, the Colts will likely take it to the Jags porous defense. Look for lots of big numbers for the likes of the Colts pass attack.

DeMarco Murray and the Dallas Cowboys running backs should be licking their chops at their match up this week. Facing the worst ranked run defense of the New York Giants who allow 145 yards per game and 13 rushing touchdowns on the season. The Giants were gashed by the Seahawks two weeks ago, and last week gave up 5 yards per carry to Frank Gore last week. Look for Murray and maybe even Joseph Randle to get some quality points for your fantasy teams this week.

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I've been down on the Chicago Bears offense the last few weeks, and will admit being mostly wrong last week. This week I see a big week ahead for the Bears against the 30th ranked pass defense of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tampa Bay has given up 20 touchdowns through the air this season, and 266.1 yards per game. This should be a game that Jay Cutler can get right in, and light up the scoreboards in your fantasy leagues with Alshon Jeffery, Brandon Marshall, and maybe even some Martellus Bennett. The bears offense is a full go for me.

Match Up Misses 

The New York Jets offense has been a mess this season, and I don't see it getting better this week against the Buffalo Bills defense. Ranked 9th against the run, allowing 99 yards per game and only 5 rushing touchdowns on the season against the pass, it seems like it might be a long day for Chris Johnson and Chris Ivory. The receivers for the Jets might not fare much better against the 7th ranked pass defense the Bills are sporting. Only allowing 222.6 yards per game and 14 touchdowns to 12 interceptions on the season, the Bills run a formidable defense out every week. If you have been playing the Jets offense, I can't say that I see much to like this week.

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Speaking of a mess, Washington is a hot one. Robert Griffin III was a good college quarterback. Yes, College. In the NFL he is well on his way to being a bust. This doesn't lead to good things for those surrounding him on the offense. This week I expect tough sledding for the Washington running game, namely Alfred Morris. The opponent, the San Francisco 49ers, sports the 6th ranked pass defense in the NFL at 88.6 yards per game and 5 scores on the season. I fully expect the 49ers to stack the box and force RG3 to beat them, and I don't think he can. Alf would likely not be a guy making my starting lineup this week if I had any shares of him.

The injury to Carson Palmer seems to be a bad omen for the Arizona Cardinals offense. Yes, they did face a touch match up last week against the Detroit Lions, but they managed only 2 early touchdowns and held on for dear life shutting down the Lions offense.  This week they will be led into Seattle by Drew Stanton in his second start since Palmer went down. Add to that a grade 2 MCL tear for Larry Fitzgerald, and facing the 3rd ranked pass defense of the Seahawks, and it smells like a recipe for disaster. The Cardinals will likely find a better chance at using Andre Ellington in the run game to try to beat Seattle the same way that the Chiefs did last week. I am sitting my Cardinals wide outs this week.

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The New Orleans Saints running backs, be it Mark Ingram alone, or along with any of the rest of the compliment, has a tough game ahead of them against the 5th ranked run defense of the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens only allow 84.5 yards per contest on the ground, and have only given up 6 rushing touchdowns on the season. This does not bode well for Ingram, who managed only 67 yards on 23 carries last week against the Bengals at home. At the time of this writing the status of the other backs for the Saints is not known for week 12, but I can't say I am a fan of starting any of them this week.

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The New England Patriots rushing attack was fantastic last week. This

week however they face a top ranked run defense in the Detroit Lions that allows 68.8 yards per game, and has given up only 4 rushing touchdowns on the season. On top of those dismal stats for the Patriots there is usually no consistency to their game plans from week to week, and it wouldn't shock me if Jonas Gray was used very little. It is hard to say if Shane Vereen will be used much as a receiver out of the backfield, but if I was forced to start a Patriots running back this week, Vereen would likely be the one. The Lions have a stout defense, and relying on Gray is not on my to do list this week.

And so ends another match up monsters here in week 12. Some great games await us this weekend, and I hope that these takes on the match ups upcoming provide you with some insight into what may be in the future of your fantasy teams. Start that ideal line up this week and lets hit that playoff push hard together. Good luck this week!

Waiver Wire Week 12

At this point in the season, teams that are pushing toward the fantasy playoffs should be fairly well set. As is such, the waiver wire pickups that are made from now moving forward will most likely be defensive ones, or to get players to fill in for guys who get injured. This week there were some important players going down with injuries. Let's take a look at the guys you might need to pick up this week.

TE

Julius Thomas and Dwayne Allen both went out with ankle injuries in week 11, and the entirety of the tight end position has been pretty scarce outside a few outliers this season. Here are a few guys you can look to use to replace these guys if they miss any real time.

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Jacob Tamme (DEN) is a solid addition if you have a tight end need if Julius Thomas is out. Tamme knows the offense, and he is familiar with Peyton. I can't tell you that he is going to be Julius, but he has shown the ability to catch passes and score in the past.

Coby Fleener (IND) had a monster game against the Patriots on Sunday night in a losing effort. Assuming that Dwayne Allen misses any time, look for Fleener to be able to see good production on what should be a pass heavy offense and a good schedule for the rest of the season.

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Niles Paul (WAS) could also see an increase in targets and production with the possibility of Jordan

Reed out for any significant time. Reed can't seem to stay healthy, and in his absence earlier this season, Paul was a good fantasy option.

Kyle Rudolph (MIN) was a disappointment in his first game back since his early season injury, but should hopefully see some targets and production in the coming weeks. One issue with the Minnesota offense is that it is a mess. Teddy Bridgewater is having a hard time getting positive results, and that may hamper the ability of Rudolph to score for you.

Garrett Graham (HOU) is a guy to think about. With a change in quarterback to Ryan Mallett in week 11, Graham found his way to the end zone and his highest fantasy score this season. While he only had 2 catches, if he proves to be a trusted asset for Mallett, he could see an uptick in production.

RB 

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CJ Anderson (DEN) is a player that gained huge relevance after Sundays games. With Ronnie Hillman now possibly out for up to 6 weeks, and Montee Ball re-injuring his groin in his first game back, it seems that Anderson might be the guy the rest of the season for the Broncos. CJ didn't do much on the ground in a game where the Broncos were trailing early, but he was big in the passing game with 8 catches for 86 yards. If the other players in your league didn't pick him up in week 11, punish them for this transgression in week 12.

Juwan Thompson (DEN) is now the likely handcuff for the Broncos assuming that they don't sign another back this week. Thompson has been getting some goal line work in recent weeks, and is a solid pass blocker. If you have CJ Anderson, Thompson is a must add this week.

Ryan Mathews (SD) was back this week, and had a healthy workload. Moving forward look for Mathews to be the feature back for the Chargers down the stretch. In the same situation last season, Mathews proved to be up to the challenge. If he is still floating on your wire, pick him up.

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Alfred Blue (HOU) had a huge game in week 11 with Arian Foster out. Carrying the ball 36 times

for 156 yards, Blue proved an adequate replacement in the Houston offense. If Foster misses more time, Blue is a viable option to help out a struggling running back situation for your fantasy team.

Trent Richardson (IND) might be a desperation add for a team who has lost a running back or just needs a guy that is likely to get work. Ahmad Bradshaw left the game on Sunday night for the Colts, and was in a boot and on crutches after the game. These are not good things for a guy with a history of foot issues. I can't tell you Richardson is too impressive as an NFL running back, but if the alternative is nothing, he's probably better than that.

WR 

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Josh Gordon (CLE) is back in week 12. And Brian Hoyer was chucking the ball all over the field in week 11. Throwing the ball 50 times in week 11, look for Gordon to see plenty of targets for a Cleveland team that will welcome him back and look to push toward the playoffs.

Andrew Hawkins (CLE) is a PPR machine. And with Josh Gordon returning, Hawkins will likely have some more space to work in. Hawkins is only owned in 45% of ESPN leagues, and can give you a PPR boost to get you to the mountain top that is your playoffs.

Kenny Britt (STL) is a name you might want to look at. I am not a fan of him, but he is the guy for the Rams, and I use this same logic with why to love Kelvin Benjamin. I would only suggest to add Britt if you have no other options, as the Rams will be playing some tough defenses in the remainder of the season. Proceed with caution and at your own risk.

QB 

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Ryan Mallett (HOU) had a decent debut for the Texans. Mallett had 211 yards and 2 touchdown passes for the Texans, and an interception that was on a tipped ball in the end zone. A fantastic remaining schedule remains for Houston, with match ups against the Bengals, Titans, Jaguars, Colts, Ravens, and Jaguars again to end the season. Not a whole lot to be scared of there, except the fact that Mallett has 1 start.

Brian Hoyer (CLE) is a guy to look at if you are stuck at

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quarterback. If we believe that Josh Gordon and Andrew Hawkins will both remain productive wide receivers for the rest of the season, it seems to make sense that the guy throwing them the ball will also be putting up some decent numbers. Good match ups remain for the Cleveland passing attack the rest of the season featuring: Atlanta, Buffalo, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Carolina, and Baltimore to close out the season. Hoyer is a good addition to a 2 quarterback league, or as slight gamble for a team with an under performing signal caller.

All the players on this list are either plug in now or handcuff options that can give you the stability and depth to help you surge the last few weeks to make a run for your championship. Make good choices and good luck this week!

Monster Match Ups And Misses Week 11

The week 11 match up monsters and misses features some surprising teams and position groups. Let's take a peek into the good and bad match ups for the 11th week of the NFL season.

The Good 

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The Carolina Panthers have a great match up this week for their wide receivers and tight ends against the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons pass defense has been pretty terrible this season allowing 280.8 yards per game to opposing receivers. Look for huge games out of Kelvin Benjamin and Greg Olson in week 11. Also Cam Newton will be a benefactor of the soft passing defense, and should be a good start if he is floating around on your waiver wire.

Houston Texans running back, whether it be Arian Foster, or Alfred Blue if Foster is out, should have a good game against the Cleveland Browns running defense. Cleveland has allowed 134.2 yards per game on the ground to opposing running backs on the season, and the Texans are a run first team. Keep an eye on the injury and practice reports this week to see if Foster plays if you are a Blue owner. Both guys might be a good play if both are healthy and play, but Blue moves way up the ranks if Foster is out.

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The Minnesota Vikings wide outs have a monster opportunity to take advantage of a reeling Chicago Bears defense that was throttled by the Green Bay Packers last week. Look for Teddy Bridgewater to have the best game of his young career in week 11. Greg Jennings and Cordarelle Patterson are good starts this week in my opinion, as the bears have allowed 268.6 yards per game and a whopping 23 receiving touchdowns so far this season. Look for Kyle Rudolph to get back into practice this week, and if he does, you may consider playing him as well this week.

San Francisco 49ers running backs are primed for success this week against a New York Giants defense that gave up 350 yards on the ground in week 10 to the Seattle Seahawks. The Giants are now the worst ranked run defense in the league allowing 144.7 yards per game on the ground, and 13 rushing touchdowns on the season. Look for Frank Gore and Carlos Hyde to feast upon the corpse of the Giants Defense. Gore is a must start, and Hyde has been getting goal line work as of late, and could be a flex start in a pinch.

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The Philadelphia Eagles running backs have a good match up against the 30th ranked run defense of

the Green Bay Packers in week 11. Green Bay has been allowing 142.6 yards per game on the ground this season, and 9 rushing scores on the year. It also figures that the Eagles may want to try to play a little ball control against the prolific offense of the Packers. Look for LeSean McCoy to provide you some fantasy performance in this week 11 match up.

The Bad

The Buffalo Bills wide outs have a monumental task ahead of them in week 11. Not only do they have a short week, playing on Thursday night, but they also face off against the 2nd ranked pass defense of the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins have only allowed 210.8 yards per game through the air on the season, and Thursday night games have historically proved to be a bad influence on the passing game of its participants. On top of all of this, Sammy Watkins has a groin injury that left him questionable and largely ineffective last week. If you have better options than the Bills wide receivers this week, sit your Bills.

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Miami Dolphins running backs have a similar plight to the Bills this week. Injury and bad match ups leave me not wanting anything to do with the Dolphins running game this week. Lamar Miller has a sprained AC joint which saw him limited to only 5 touches last week. On a short week it is unlikely that he will be in much better shape this week. The choices behind Miller are not particularly good either. A rookie in Damien Williams and Daniel Thomas would not make me feel very good about my squad if that is who I were running out there. Sit your Dolphins running backs this week.

Tre Mason and the St. Louis Rams running game have a tough draw this week against the top ranked run defense of the Denver Broncos. Denver is only allowing 67 yards per game and only 5 rushing scores on the season. Along with that bad stat for the Rams, it seems likely that the Rams will fall behind, and the running game will become a forgotten thing early in this game. I can't think of a reason I would want to start a Rams running back this week against the Broncos.

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The wide receivers of the Houston Texans have a touch draw this week against the 12th ranked pass defense of the Cleveland Browns. The Browns made Andy Dalton and the Bengals passing game look pedestrian last week. That and the fact that Cleveland has been bad against the run, and Houston runs a lot leave me wanting to sit my Houston wide outs this week against the Browns. The ascension of Ryan Mallett to starter also leaves us with a question as to how the Texans pass game will look. Mallett is unproven as a starter, and I am not willing to gamble on him if my team needs a win this week.

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The Chicago Bears dysfunctional passing game has another tough draw this week against the Minnesota Vikings and their 4th ranked pass defense. Allowing only 213.6 yards per game through the air, Minnesota has been stingy for opposing wide receivers. Brandon Marshall has an injury that at the time of this writing, looks like it may keep him out or limit him. That would leave the Bears with a one dimensional passing attack with Alshon Jeffery as the only down field threat for the corners of the Vikings to worry about. In addition, Jay Cutler has been playing a pretty terrible brand of football as of late, and seems to be severely lacking in confidence. I don't really want to run my Bears passing game out there this week if I have better match ups.

That brings us to the end of our monster match ups and misses for week 11. Some teams not often thought of in the good match ups this week, and a few teams that find themselves with some touch match ups for sure. Hopefully this will help you make educated decisions to get yourself a big late season fantasy win. Good luck this week!

Start/Sit: Week 11

Week 11 already. Fantasy playoffs on the horizon. Where did the season go? Hopefully it has gone well for you and you are making your preparations to dominate your playoffs. I'm here to try to help you to a win this week with some start/sit advice.

Start

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Kelvin Benjamin (CAR) has been about the only weapon through the air that the Panthers have been able to consistently count on. Lining up opposite the now worst ranked pass defense in the league in the Atlanta Falcons this week, Benjamin is set up to have a monster game. Atlanta is allowing 280.8 yards per game through the air and doesn't have anyone that can really match up against the size and speed of Benjamin. Look for him to have a big game this week.

Golden Tate (DET) is a player that loyal Fantasy Squads readers may recall I wrote about previously. Tate is a fantastically talented receiver, and the return of Calvin Johnson to the field did not slow him down. In week 10 Tate had 11 catches for 109 yards against a top tier defense of the Miami Dolphins. In week 11 the Lions face off against the 30th ranked passing defense of the Arizona Cardinals. The Cards have allowed 274.2 yards per game to opponents through the air. There should likely not be a week you take Tate out of your lineup the rest of the season, and certainly not this week.

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Martavis Bryant (PIT) has exploded on the scene in Pittsburgh. Scoring 6 touchdowns in his first 4 games, Bryant has shown a wide range of skills. From deep ball threat, to solid red zone target, what can't Bryant do? With a weakened and old defense in for the Steelers, most of their games are likely to feature lots of passing down the stretch. This week the Steelers take on the Titans in Tennessee. The Titans have the 11th ranked pass defense in the NFL going into this week, but this stat may be a function of their terrible run defense. If you don't have to pass against them, why do it? Well I think the Steelers will have to pass against them at least a bit, and Bryant is a versatile player that is in a good offense opposite Antonio Brown taking most of the extra attention. Get Bryant in your lineup this week.

DeSean Jackson (WAS) laces them up against the 31st ranked pass defense of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in week 11. Tampa bay has given up 277.1 yards per game on the season, and allowed 19 receiving touchdowns to only 6 interceptions. Jackson has proven to still be a big deep pass threat this season, and I would look for him to get loose for at least one big play this week.

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Cordarelle Patterson (MIN) has been a big disappointment this season. Being ranked in the top 24 of wide receivers in the preseason by many fantasy analysts, Patterson has not performed. In the Vikings last game, there were some signs of life, including added usage, and him breaking free on a busted coverage only to be overthrown by Teddy Bridgewater. Look for the Vikings to have used the bye week to work on some timing and chemistry to fully take advantage of their match up against the 28th ranked pass defense of the Chicago Bears. The Bears were just torched on Sunday Night Football for 6 first half touchdowns by the Packers. Yes, Teddy is not Aaron Rodgers, but the Bears passing defense is terrible, allowing the second most (23) receiving touchdowns on the season. Take a chance on Patterson this week, I think you might be rewarded.

Sit

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Sammy Watkins (BUF) tweaked his groin in practice last week, and was largely ineffective in week 10. The news doesn't get much better in week 11 when the Bills will face off against the number 2 pass defense of the  Miami Dolphins on Thursday Night football. The Dolphins are only allowing 210.8 yards per game to opposing teams via the pass, and have allowed 14 touchdowns through the air on the season. I say this speaking as a guy who just traded for Watkins last week, I'm likely sitting him this week in favor of another wide receiver or flex option.

Lamar Miller (MIA) continues our Thursday night flare on the sit column. Miller has a sprained AC joint in his shoulder, and was only able to manage 5 touches in week 10 against the Lions. This week the Dolphins face the 8th ranked run defense of the Bills on a short week. The short turn around for the Dolphins, coupled with the lack of touches in last weeks game don't bode well for Miller and his chances this week. If I were a miller owner, I would be looking for another option for this week.

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Bobby Rainey (TB) has been a sometimes bright spot this season for the Bucs. This has been due to the fact that there are not really any bright spots at all for them. Rainey will have his workload cut into by the recently activated Charles Sims, and didn't do much with his 6 carries last week, only gaining 14 yards. Rainey did slightly better in the passing game, 4 catches for 42 yards, but facing the 14th Washington run defense who has been somewhat stingy with the rushing touchdowns, and only allowing 110 yards per game on the ground, I am not a fan of starting Rainey this week.

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The next section will be dedicated to the three headed not so scary monster that is the Detroit Lions backfield. The first key issue is that they can't stay healthy. Reggie Bush has had a very hard time staying on the field, and it seems as if he is alternating missing time with Joique Bell this season. The guy who has been putting up the best fantasy numbers has been Theo Riddick, and he only played 7 snaps last week, he just happened to be the one to catch a touchdown pass on one of them. This week against the 3rd ranked pass defense of the Arizona Cardinals, who only allow 78.6 yards per game on the ground, I can see the reason to start any of the Lions running backs. I am not even sure at this point I would want to be taking up a roster spot with any of them.

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Tre Mason (STL) is the man out front, sometimes, for the Rams running game. The indecision by Jeff Fisher as to what he is doing with his running backs, along with the lack of overall production team up to make Mason a sit this week in my book. Facing the top ranked run defense of the Denver Broncos, who allow 67 yards per game on the ground, does not make me change that opinion in any way. It will likely be a long week for the Rams if, more like when, Denver gets out to a big lead on them. If the rams are getting blown out, the game will turn to more passing for the Rams, and Mason is not a good pass blocker as of yet, so may not even be on the field much. Sit Mason this week.

That is the finale of our look at starts and sits this week. I hope to have given you some helpful information to make good decisions for your fantasy rosters this week. Good luck!

Waiver Wire Week 11

Heading into the home stretch for the 2014 fantasy season. It seems like it has gone by so fast. Just the other day we were all cramming our heads with all the information we could to draft our teams as best we could. Now we are just weeks away from the fantasy playoffs. Lets take a look at the guys you might add to your roster this week to bolster your squad for upcoming battle.

RB 

CJ Anderson (DEN) got the bulk of the work in week 10 after Ronnie Hillman went down with a foot

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injury. The news on Monday morning is that Hillman will miss 2 weeks with a foot sprain. Bring on the cloudy situation in the Denver backfield. Anderson has been in and out of favor with the Broncos this season. With Montee Ball inactive in week 10, still out with the groin injury that has sidelined him the past few weeks, Anderson got 90 yards on 13 carries and caught 4 balls for 73 yards, including a 51 yard touchdown catch. The water is murky on the Denver running back situation with the impending return of Ball, and the hot and cold attitude of the Broncos on Anderson. I would add Anderson and hope some clarity comes during the week. Trying to add him and Montee Ball is the smart play if you want to own the Denver backfield.

Damien Williams (MIA) was the recipient of the most carries for the Dolphins on Sunday. Even with Lamar Miller active, he did not see much work after spraining his AC joint in his shoulder. The Dolphins had a tough run match up last week against the Lions, and it doesn't get a lot easier moving forward. Williams had the best average on his runs, going for 4.9 yards per carry. Confounding the situation is the fact that there were reports on Monday that the Dolphins were adding LaMichael James to their active roster. Given the unclear situation and the bad schedule coming up, I would avoid the Dolphins backfield altogether.

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Rashad Jennings (NYG) is a good addition if he was dropped in your leagues. The Giants run game has been terrible with Andre Williams. Since taking over for Jennings, Williams has a high water mark of 66 rushing yards. He has done nothing to keep the job when Jennings gets back. The schedule for the Giants breaks nicely as we head into the fantasy playoffs, and if Jennings is unowned, snatch him up.

QB 

Drew Stanton (ARI) is a decent addition for very deep leagues and 2 quarterback leagues. With Carson Palmer out for the season, this is now Stanton's job. A daunting task for the Cardinals quarterback awaits, facing the Seahawks twice, the Lions, and the Chiefs the rest of this season. Temper expectations, but if you are playing match ups, he will play Atlanta in week 13 if you need a quick boost to win a playoff spot. Week 15 will also provide a good match up against the Rams, albeit in St. Louis. 

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Michael Vick (NYJ) didn't wow you through the air, or on the ground, but if you are in trouble at the quarterback position, Vick likely has the higher upside of the available quarterbacks in your deep or 2 quarterback leagues. Vick has the chance of big rushing numbers every week for the Jets. His ceiling is very high, and conversely, his floor is very low. I would say that in case of emergency, break glass. The next two match ups for the Jets see them play good defenses in Buffalo and Miami. The next two games which start the fantasy playoffs see much easier tasks playing at Minnesota and at Tennessee. Vick may provide you a boost in the first weeks of your playoffs.

WR 

Odell Beckham Jr. (NYG) should be owned in every fantasy league in the galaxy. Beckham announced his presence with authority this week, beating Richard Sherman deep on more than one play. Beckham is a talented reciever and has a role carved out for him in the Giants offense for the rest of the season with the absence of Victor Cruz. Odell is only owned in 57.5% of ESPN fantasy leagues, snatch him up if he isn't in yours.

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Jarvis Landry (MIA) has been a decent PPR play in recent weeks averaging 5 catches a week over his last 5 games. Landry so far has not been a flashy play with huge upside, but he has been pretty consistent. If you are missing a usually solid player, or just want to add some consistent play to your bench just in case, Landry is a solid addition.

John Brown (ARI) is one of the best stories of the season. A small receiver who has had some big numbers in games this season. Brown, and now quarterback for the Cardinals, Drew Stanton have had chemistry so far when they have been on the field together. Brown has both caught long bombs for scores, and underneath passes a la Wes Welker. Brown has 5 scores on the season, and if you are picking up Stanton, you may consider adding brown to double up on the scoring.

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Martavis Bryant (PIT) is only owned in 60.4% of ESPN leagues. Martavis Bryant has only caught 6
touchdowns in his 4 games for the Steelers. Yes his touchdown rate may be unsustainable, but with Antonio Brown on the opposite side, he is unlikely to get double coverage. Bryant has both the ability to catch short passes, and the long ball, as evidenced by his 80 yard touchdown in week 10. A big receiver who has tons of speed and skill, Bryant may be the guy that wins you a championship. If he is unowned, go get him.

TE 

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Mychal Rivera (OAK) has averaged 7 catches over his last 3 games, and is averaging a score in each. Rivera is the Raiders best red zone target, and has found some good consistency in the last few weeks in some good match ups. Coming down the stretch games against Kansas City, St. Louis, and San Francisco provide some solid opportunities for Rivera to score for your fantasy team. If your tight end has been under performing, Rivera may be the shot in the arm you need to bring home the trophy.

Charles Clay (MIA) is a boom or bust guy for a PPR league. In his last 5 games he has 7, 5, 1, 4, 3 catches per week. Clay has scored in two of those games, but is mainly an emergency outlet for Ryan Tannehill. If you are desperate at the tight end spot, and there isn't much out there, Clay might be worth a look.

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Kyle Rudolph (MIN) should be making his return soon. Rudolph was highly touted this preseason with
Norv Turner taking over the offensive coordinator spot for the Vikings. The early season injury for Rudolph likely led to many of his owners dropping him. If you have a hole in your tight end spot in your weekly lineup, Rudolph should be returning to the field soon. I would consider him a speculative add at this point in the season, but one that could help a starved fantasy owner in the quagmire that has been tight end this season.

That brings us to the finish on this weeks waiver wire adds. One suggestion I would have this late in the year is to only fill glaring holes or add depth for injured guys if you are not cutting a better player or one with more upside to take a flyer on these players. Your roster should be fairly well set, barring injuries, at this late date in the season. Good luck this week!