Fantasy Football Week 14 | In the Eyes of The Optiongirl

Let the Fantasy Football playoffs of 2012 begin as the regular season is coming to a close with many NFL teams still fighting for  the opportunity to get into the playoffs.  I have made the fantasy playoffs, the 8^th seed in a 16 team league. This week I play the first place team in our league who has won 9 weeks in a row.  I will continue to think positive and be thankful for my opportunity to still have a chance.   Don’t forget to check your rules and instructions for the playoffs. 

Here is the link if you are in a Yahoo League.   http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/sports/fantasysports/football/rules/frules-17.html

Injuries continue to occur creating opporunity.  Remember rookies will be playing more than usual in the  the next few weeks as NFL teams that are out of the playoffs will give them more playing time. Sit back, and enjoy the games this week starting with Thursday night and  good luck in keeping your season alive.

This week I will share with you part of the waiver wire article

The Blunt Truth on Tight Ends by Chris Wesseling of Rotoworld.com

TE Fred Davis will miss the final four games of the season for violating the substance abuse policy for a third time over the summer. ”The suspensions commence immediately and end Jan. 2. According to a report from SI.com, both players have failed three tests for marijuana. If they get caught violating the NFL’s substance policy again, it’s likely that a one-year suspension would be forthcoming. The Redskins figure to put a high priority on re-signing leading receiver Davis, though his guaranteed money could take a big hit. Logan Paulsen, more of a blocker than receiver, will take over as the Redskins’ starter at tight end. Rex Grossman figures to lean on Santana Moss and Jabar Gaffney going forward. “Fred has had an opportunity since Chris has been down to take over the tight end position and has really taken advantage of the opportunity,” Shanahan added. “He has big play ability, he has practiced hard, he has played hard. Now we wait and see what the situation is.” Davis leads the Redskins with 59 catches and 796 yards in a breakout season, sitting behind only Rob Gronkowski, Jimmy Graham, Tony Gonzalez, and Jason Witten among fantasy tight ends. The impending free agent will be a priority for the Redskins this offseason, but he’s cost himself a chunk of guaranteed money. If he’s caught smoking weed again, the next suspension could be for a full year. Teammates have been critical rather than supportive since hearing the news.

NOTE: “The NFL announced Tuesday that Redskins TE Fred Davis and LT Trent Williams will be suspended for the final four games of the 2011 regular season.”

Fantasy owners casting a wide net for a Davis replacement are faced with a blunt truth about the tight-end market: At this point in the season, viable alternatives are scarce. Owen Daniels (QB questions, run-heavy offense), Greg Olsen (banged up, offense leaning on the run), Brandon Pettigrew (hit-or-miss), and Vernon Davis (spotty at best) have fallen from the ranks of the legit TE1 options. Borderline fantasy tight ends such as Jermaine Gresham, Heath Miller and Jake Ballard have seen a drain on their production of late while Scott Chandler is questionable to play with an ankle injury. As unappetizing as these options are, they’re still owned in the majority of fantasy leagues because there are no superior tight ends available for free. To go a step further, note the matchups for Week 14. The most generous tight-end defense in the league, Chicago’s, draws fantasy persona non grata Daniel Fells. The second-most generous tight-end defense in the league, Green Bay’s, faces Kevin Boss, who is splitting snaps and production with some creature named Brandon Myers.

Just how bleak is it at tight end? Over the past five weeks, Anthony Freaking Fasano is No. 7 in fantasy points. Over the past three weeks, Bears TE Kellen Davis (really?) is the No. 12 fantasy tight end. Not so unequivocally, the good news is that Fasano is available in most leagues as a last-ditch option. Jacob Tamme is certainly worth a sniff in PPR formats, though I’d point out that the Colts are facing a Ravens defense this week that has been death to tight ends all season.

Waiver wire pickups of the week:

Quarterbacks: Christian Ponder Rex Grossman Matt Moore Tarvaris Jackson Dan Orlovsky Kevin Kolb

Running Backs:Marion Barber Brandon Saine Maurice Morris Montario Hardesty Ricky Williams

Dexter McCluster Isaac Redman Kendall Hunter

Wide Receivers:Santana Moss Golden Tate Malcom Floyd Jacoby Ford Demaryius Thomas Damian Williams Brad Smith Chaz Schilens

Tight Ends: Anthony Fasano Jacob Tamme  Jared Cook  Ed Dickson

Defense/Special Teams: Dolphins Seahawks Broncos

Quarterbacks

Christian Ponder, Vikings - The Minnesota media despaired all week that Michael Jenkins’ season-ending knee injury and Percy Harvin’s late-week illness could leave Ponder with a receiving corps with a total of fewer than 15 receptions on the season. Instead, Ponder lit up Denver’s defense for 28 fantasy points, a Vikings rookie record 381 yards, and three TDs. With Harvin heating up, it’s the second time in three games that Ponder has reached 25 fantasy points. This week, he draws a short-handed Lions defense that just surrendered 342 yards and three TDs to Drew Brees.

Rex Grossman, Redskins - Bad Rex showed up in Week 13 against the league’s premier secondary. The way Grossman’s career has played out, there’s nothing stopping Good Rex from resurfacing against the Patriots’ patchwork defensive backfield. Responsible for the best statistical game of Dan Orlovsky’s ignominious career, New England still allows the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Play Grossman if you’re feeling lucky.

Matt Moore, Dolphins - Moore reached 20 fantasy points against the Raiders thanks to a rushing score, but it was also the sixth time in eight starts that he’s failed to top 210 passing yards. Even if he’s playing at a high level, it’s hard to get excited about Moore as a fantasy option in a conservative offense often playing keep-away to protect a lead. He draws the Eagles in Week 14.

Tarvaris Jackson, Seahawks - T-Jack draws a Rams defense that made Alex Smith a top-10 fantasy QB for Week 13 behind 274 yards and two TDs. Just keep in mind that Seattle’s offensive attack figures to be extremely run-heavy behind Marshawn Lynch, arguably the hottest back in the NFL.

Dan Orlovsky, Colts - There’s no question that Orlovsky can move the offense better than Curtis Painter. Just be sure to place a giant asterisk next to his 30-of-37 for 353-yard performance in Week 13. The Patriots were playing several defenders out of position throughout, and Orlovsky was still down 31-3 early in the fourth quarter. The bulk of his production came in extremen garbage time. The Colts have a brutal matchp with the Ravens this week. Leave Orlovsky on the bench if you want to stash him in deeper leagues.

Kevin Kolb, Cardinals - All starters have to be owned in two-quarterback formats, but even those in deeper one-quarterback formats should hold off on Kolb for now. While Kolb certainly didn’t faceplant in the win over the Cowboys, his schedule is brutal the next two weeks. The Cardinals face the ferocious 49ers defense in Week 14 before drawing a Browns defense in Week 15 that allows the fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks.

Running Backs

Marion Barber, Bears - Even with Matt Forte (MCL sprain) out, it’s conceivable that Barber’s fantasy production could actually come down from where it was a couple of weeks ago. With Forte and Jay Cutler out of the lineup, the Bears will struggle to find goal-line opportunities for MBIII. On the other hand, it’s awfully hard to find available backs who could touch the ball 15+ times in Weeks 14-16. Barber is playing better this year than last, and should be owned in all leagues with Forte out. Leave Kahlil Bell on the waiver wire in all but the deepest leagues.

Brandon Saine, Packers - I’m going to part ways with the estimable Gregg Rosenthal on this one. With James Starks’ (ankle) status in doubt for Week 14, Rosie suggested picking up Ryan Grant as a desperation matchup play against a Raiders defense allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing fantasy backs. Grant doesn’t take goal-line carries, doesn’t participate in the passing game, and hasn’t had a 10-yard run or a 30-yard rushing game since Week 3. After the coaching staff and beat writers talked up Saine during the week, the undrafted rookie out-played Grant in the win over the Giants. Saine wasn’t limited to any specific plays after Starks went down, and he should have the distinct advantage of the passing-down role in Aaron Rodgers’ unstoppable attack. At the very least, there’s flex potential here if Starks sits out.

Montario Hardesty, Browns - Hardesty is the fallback starter for Thursday’s game against the Steelers if Peyton Hillis (hip) can’t go. Coach Pat Shurmur revealed that he held Hardesty out of last week’s game with an eye on the short week. At this point, Hillis is expected to play. If that changes, Hardesty would be a mere flex option against the Steelers’ No. 7 run defense which is allowing just 3.16 yards per carry over the past five games.  

Ricky Williams, Ravens - Coordinator Cam Cameron is finally saddling up Williams and Ray Rice to match a dominant defense of late. Williams is coming off a season-high 16 carries and 76 in a game where the Ravens controlled the ball throughout. There’s a decent chance for more of the same this week against the Colts as well as in Week 16 versus the Browns. You could do worse for a flex play in deeper leagues.

Dexter McCluster, Chiefs - McCluster’s 13/107/1 line from Week 13 was artificially inflated by a 38-yard Hail Mary going into halftime, but he still managed a season-high with 61 rushing yards. If you insist on owning a Kansas City running back, McCluster is the clear choice. Just don’t expect much even in PPR leagues against the Jets this week. Scoring opportunities will be few and far between in Tyler Palko’s offense.

Kendall Hunter, 49ers - Week 17 alert: Although coach Jim Harbaugh says he won’t rest Frank Gore in the coming weeks, that could change by the season finale. With no incentive to risk injury to key players versus the Rams in the final regular-season contest, Hunter could see double-digit touches against a defense allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing backs.

Isaac Redman, Steelers - Week 17 alert: It’s quite possible that Pittsburgh will be resting starts for a good portion of the rematch with Cleveland in the season finale. The Browns defense has rolled over for 1,044 rushing yards (5.35 YPC) and seven TDs over the past six games. If Redman sees 12-15 touches in the finale, he’s going to merit top-30 consideration.

Wide Receivers

Santana Moss, Redskins - Washington’s No. 1 receiver is still owned in fewer leagues than Jabar Gaffney. That’s backwards. Moss was targeted 12 times to Gaffney’s goose egg against the Jets. Our initial Week 14 rankings for Season Pass have Moss as a top-25 fantasy option against a Patriots defense that allows the most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers as well as quarterbacks. If he’s still out there, Moss is a must-own this week.

Golden Tate, Seahawks - Coach Pete Carroll announced Ben Obomanu as Sidney Rice’s replacement last week, but it was Tate who emerged as the clear No. 1 receiver versus Philly. Showing impressive run-after-catch ability and red-zone chops, Tate played 51 snaps whereas no other Seattle receiver surpassed 30. “This is what we see in practice all the time, we just haven’t got him in there as much to give him the focal point opportunities,” said Carroll after the game. “It’s great to see Golden; we’re just going to keep doing it. He’s really special. He makes plays, so we have to keep giving it to him.” The next day, Carroll went even further, “I’m always on his butt about something, but that’s because he’s going to be really good.” If Moss is already owned, Tate would be my No. 1 target at receiver this week even in a run-heavy offense.

Malcom Floyd, Chargers - Floyd proved to be over his troublesome hip injury while reeling in all four targets for 108 yards and a long score against the Jaguars’ injury-depleted secondary. Floyd does boast three 100-yard performances in his last four games, but that string goes all the way back to Week 5. While he’s overly dependent on Philip Rivers’ come-and-go accuracy on deep balls, Floyd does have two home games and a dome game over the next three weeks. Weather hold the Chargers’ vertical passing game back the rest of the way.

Jacoby Ford, Raiders - To be clear, Denarius Moore would be the recommended pickup in Oakland, but he’s already owned in 80 percent of CBSSports.com leagues. As we’ve stated several times this season, Ford has enough playmaking ability to merit a roster spot in fantasy leagues even if it’s purely as a stash. Ford (foot) is hoping to be cleared for a return to practice this week. 

Demaryius Thomas, Broncos - We’ve been through this one before. Thomas is an ultra-talented but injury-prone playmaker whose production will be hit-or-miss in an offense that typically attempts 15-20 passes per game. Thomas’ upside is certainly worth stashing if he keeps the starting job ahead of Eddie Royal, but he’s far from guaranteed to out produce Eric Decker going forward.

Damian Williams, Titans - With a 36:31 target edge over Nate Washington, Williams has taken over as Matt Hasselbeck’s favorite target over the past five weeks. Although Williams’ 4/62/0 line from Week 13 looks rather pedestrian, the two came close to hooking up for a series of big plays, including a near-touchdown off Williams’ fingertips. Keep expectations low in what is now a run-heavy offense, but Williams is at least worth stashing at the end of the bench.

Brad Smith, Bills - I filed Smith’s 4/77/1 line in Week 12 under the “fluke” category, but he’s now topped 70 yards in back-to-back weeks. In two games as the starter opposite Stevie Johnson, Smith has compiled 17 targets, 11 receptions, and 149 yards. There’s no harm in adding him to your roster, but I’d still be hesitant to play him as a WR3 option.

Chaz Schilens, Raiders - The oft-injured one was Oakland’s top receiver in Week 13 with Jacoby Ford and Denarius Moore out of the lineup. Schiles caught 6-of-7 targets for 87 yards before departing with a foot injury of his own. Although coach Hue Jackson expects Schilens to play this week, his role is up in the air with Moore and Ford possibly returning.

See further analysis by going to Rotoworld for the balance of the article http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/nfl/39445/64/the-blunt-truth-on-tight-ends

Thank you for visiting my blog. Please share your thoughts on my site or ask me questions directly by email at BonnieGortler@gmail.com. Create an excellent week! ~Bonnie Gortler, the Option Girl

Bonnie Gortler is a successful stock market guru who is passionate about helping people reach their dreams, persevere and live life to the fullest. Bonnie has successfully lost 65 pounds through her commitment to living a healthier lifestyle focused on personal growth. You are invited to learn how to cultivate relationships using Twitter, the Social Media Phenomenon, by downloading Bonnie’s FREE guide, Twitter Magic. This powerful and informative resource is packed with great tips showing you how to effectively build lifelong relationships while growing your business. Connect with Bonnie via Twitter & Facebook  plus subscribe to her  blog at BonnieGortler.com. 

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