Week 13 Fantasy Football Where to Put em

Thursday, Dec 2, 2010 at 12:00 pm ET


fantasy football rankings
Where to Put 'em is the Fantasy Football Nerd's look at the best and worst match ups for Week 13 in the NFL. Decisions are based upon the FFN rankings and match up analysis. Given the known conditions, these fantasy match ups are the ones to watch and/or avoid.



Put 'em In The Game: Kyle Orton
Three weeks ago Kyle Orton threw for 296 yards and 4 scores against the Chiefs. While he may not throw 4 TDs again, he's sure to have a fantastic fantasy day on Sunday. Kansas City gives up an average of 259 yards through the air and also gives up the 21st most fantasy points.
Put 'em In The Game: Michael Vick
Houston has become the opposing QB's red carpet this year, ranking dead last in virtually every defensive passing category including fantasy points given up. Vick is playing too well to think that he's not going to tear up that defense. Vick plays Thursday night.
Put 'em In The Game: Matt Cassel
This is a different Matt Cassel that you and nobody else bothered to draft and this is a sweet matchup for him. Like Orton above, you have to consider his stats when they played against each other just 3 weeks ago. Cassel threw for a monstrous 469 yards and 4 touchdowns. The best thing about Cassel is that he continued dominating every game since. Cassel is simply too hot to sit right now.
Put 'em In The Game: Mike Tolbert
Who's Ryan Mathews again? Who cares? Mike Tolbert has come on strong as of late and fantasy owners couldn't be happier. After racking up 153 all-purpose yards against Denver and 118 all-purpose yards against Indy (oh yeah, and a score in both games), Tolbert is primed for a great match up against the 27th-ranked rush defense in Oakland.
Put 'em In The Game: Matt Forte
Mike Martz's offense has been putting a heavier emphasis on the run since the Bear's bye week and that has propelled Matt Forte back into the fantasy spotlight. After racking up 243 all-purpose yards and a score in just the past two weeks, Forte and company are going to roll into Detroit on Sunday to face the 25th-ranked rush defense. We're expecting a big game out of Matt, particularly because nobody gives up more fantasy points to opposing RB's than the Lions.
Put 'em In The Game: Mario Manningham
We called it last week and were happy to see Manningham in the end zone although we were expecting more than 3 receptions. We're calling his number again this week against Washington's 31st ranked pass defense. The Redskins are giving up the 27th most fantasy points to opposing WR's according to FleaFlicker. This should be a sweet match up.
Put 'em In The Game: Steve Johnson
Even with the dropped passes, including the potential game winner, Steve Johnson still grabbed 7 receptions for 68 yards. Here's our advice: forget about last week. Deity or no deity, Johnson has been an amazing play for many fantasy owners and that should continue this week against the Vikings who are very middle-of-the-road against the pass giving up the 17th most fantasy points to opposing starting WR's.
Put 'em In The Game: Marcedes Lewis
Marcedes Lewis has quietly become one of fantasy football's best tight ends. According to FleaFlicker, he's ranked 3rd among all of them on the season and this week he faces a Titans' defense that has had difficulty containing opposing TE's. Tennessee gives up an average of 65 yards/game to them (3rd worst in the league) and the 4th most fantasy points to them.
Put 'em In The Game: Jacob Tamme
Full confession time: we have a serious man-crush on Jacob Tamme. #84 has been simply amazing filling in for injured Dallas Clark. When it's crunch time, Peyton is looking for Wayne and Tamme. The 3rd-year player faces a Dallas defense that ranks 20th in the league in fantasy points given up to opposing TE's.
Put 'em In The Game: Adam Vinatieri
Even with the disappointing past two weeks, Vinatieri has been a Top 10 fantasy kicker this year. Based on the statistical match up, Vinatieri should have a good game against the Cowboys who have given up the 5th most fantasy points to kickers this year.
Put 'em On The Bench: Carson Palmer
We called it correctly for Palmer last week and we're recommending a sit again this week. The Jets shut him down last week allowing a measly 135 yards & 1 score and snatching away 2 picks. If Carson thought the Jets were tough, the Saints are going to show him how tough their pass defense is (2nd fewest yards allowed per game and 3rd fewest fantasy points). Have a seat.
Put 'em On The Bench: Joe Flacco
Flacco has been Mr. Consistency as of late, particularly over the past 6 games. We're anticipating a minor disruption to his otherwise great play as he faces the Steelers for the 2nd time this year. He threw for 256 yards, 1 score, and 1 pick when they met earlier this year. That was actually above his average for play against the Steelers. Flacco should have a difficult time moving the ball this week, and unfortunately we're expecting to see at least 1 or 2 picks.
Put 'em On The Bench: Ray Rice
With a guy like Ray Rice it's always possible that he'll go off even against a formidable defense, however we're not counting on it this week. If you've got Rice, you most likely drafted him with your #1 pick and won't be sitting him (we're still playing him), but set your expectations lower for this weekend's performance. When he last faced the Steelers in Week 4, he rushed for 20 yards on 8 attempts and snared 1 pass for 9 yards. A 3 pt fantasy day hurts. Considering the fact that Rice has yet to see the end zone against these guys (ever), we're not holding our breaths for a big day.
Put 'em On The Bench: Brian Westbrook
WOW - that looked like the Westbrook of old didn't it? Before Gore went down, Westbrook had carried the ball just 5 times all season. After Gore came out, Westbrook rushed 23 times for 136 yards including a walk-in touchdown. Westbrook was the hottest name on the waiver wire this week, but hold your horses. The Packers defense is NOT the same as the Cardinals. Green Bay allows the 4th-fewest fantasy points to opposing rushers and they're at home this week. Don't put Westy too far away though - he's got a sweet match up next week!
Put 'em On The Bench: Deion Branch
Many fantasy owners can thank Deion Branch for their wins last week as he tallied 113 yards and 2 scores against Detroit. The Jets are certainly NOT Detroit and you can be sure that Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie are going to be all over Branch on Monday night.
Put 'em On The Bench: Michael Crabtree
We're putting Crabtree on the sit list for the same reasons we're putting Westbrook there: Green Bay's defense. Crabtree is getting his targets and that will probably continue this week, however Charles Woodson and Tramon Williams are awfully tough on opposing wideouts. In fact, Green Bay gives up the 6th-fewest points to them in the league.
Put 'em On The Bench: Chad Ochocinco
Many Ochocinco owners have begun referring to #85 as Chad "Ocho-stinko" with his lackluster performance this year. With the exception of 3 games, they'd be right. We don't like Chad's chances this week for the same reasons that we mentioned above for Carson Palmer. The Saints have a brutally tough pass defense and Ochocinco is playing 2nd-fiddle to T.O. The match up for him this week is very tough and the odds are simply not in his favor.
Put 'em On The Bench: Heath Miller
Heath Miller is usually good for 3 or 4 catches a game which isn't saying much considering the expectations on him, particularly when Big Ben came back, were much higher. When he last faced Baltimore in Week 4, he produced just 2 catches for 32 yards and no scores. Nobody allows fewer fantasy points to opposing TE's than the Ravens. We're expecting Miller to struggle again this week.
Put 'em On The Bench: Todd Heap
Playing opposite of Miller above is Todd Heap who has quietly become a Top 10 fantasy tight end this year. While you can never solely base a sit/start decision upon what he did last time he faced the Steelers, it's hard to ignore the fact that Heap could only grab 3 catches for 35 yards and no scores. We're anticipating numbers along those lines this week as well.
Put 'em On The Bench: Nick Folk
With the exception of the doughnut from Week 8, Folk has been a pretty solid kicker earning him a Top 10 fantasy kicker status. He has completed 73.3% of his field goals, but the ones he missed were costly ones. The Jets have reportedly given Folk one more opportunity to save his job so the pressure is on. If you need safety out of your kicker this week, it may be in your best interest to look elsewhere.




Join the Discussion

Pepito CommentedDec 2, 2010 11:00 am

saying KC has allowed the 21st most points doesn't sound all that great. What you meant is that they've allowed the 11th most.

Nerd CommentedDec 2, 2010 11:00 am

Thank you - nice catch. Freudian slip.


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