Saturday December 19, 2015
New York Jets @ Dallas Cowboys

This is wonderful. The fantasy playoffs hit and we get NFL football on Saturday. This is not a great matchup, but hey, it’s football. The Jets should, in theory, steam roll the Cowboys. Nonetheless, they are the Jets and they’ll find some way to miss the playoffs, and this could be it. The Cowboys are just horrendous, though. They aren’t particularly good at anything, and it’s hard to imagine their offense scoring at all against the Jets’ defense. Either way, it’s bonus football during the most crucial time of the year.

New York Jets: Key Players
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick has been red hot as of late. He’s only thrown two interceptions in the past eight games. Over the past three games he’s thrown nine touchdowns and totaled 930 yards. However, the Cowboys’ greatest strength is slowing down fantasy quarterbacks and the exact opposite goes for their ability to stop running backs. Only five teams have allowed fewer fantasy points to opposing QBs.
Verdict: Sit Fitzpatrick. We don’t love him this week against the Cowboys. He’s not a terrible start, but he’s not great either.

RB Chris Ivory
Ivory should be in for a monster game. The Cowboys are allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs. He’s rushed for 914 yards and seven TDs on the season, as long as he stays healthy, we expect him to surpass the 1,000-yard mark tonight. Hopefully Bilal Powell won’t cut into his touches too much.
Verdict: Start Ivory. He’s an excellent play this week and should dominate the Cowboys defense.

WR Brandon Marshall
Marshall has been outstanding this season. He already has 89 receptions for 1,187 yards and 11 touchdowns. He’s caught a TD in all but three games this season and has not failed to catch at least three passes in a game. Over the past three weeks, his lowest-yardage total was 125 yards and he’s snagged four touchdowns.
Verdict: Start Marshall. He’s a must-start each and every week at this point.

WR Eric Decker
Decker has been very consistent this season and has become an excellent flex option. Much like Marshall, he’s only failed to catch a touchdown in three games this season. However, he also has only topped the 100-yard mark once all season. Although he is completely TD reliant, he hasn’t let owners down often.
Verdict: Start Decker. He is a solid option as a flex option. We don’t expect him to do much, but he could snag a TD.

Dallas Cowboys: Key Players
QB Matt Cassel
Cassel is absolutely awful Of course you’re not starting him against the Jets. The only thing Cassel has been good at this year is not winning games. Jerry Jones says “why not us”, well here’s your answer. Matt Cassel, that’s why.
Verdict: Sit Cassel. He is far overmatched by the Jets defense.

RB Darren McFadden
Only the Seahawks are allowing fewer points to opposing running backs. McFadden has been better than expected but is not great. We expect very little out of McFadden tonight and at this point, we’re just hoping he doesn’t get injured.
Verdict: Sit McFadden. It would be shocking if he did much of anything tonight.

WR Dez Bryant
Bryant has been completely ineffective this season and tonight he has Darrelle Revis on him. While Revis hasn’t been the lockdown guy he once was, he has fallen off a lot less than Bryant this season. He should be able to shut Dez down, when he doesn’t, Cassel will probably miss him.
Verdict: Sit Bryant. It’s hard to imagine that this will be his breakout game.

TE Jason Witten
Witten is clearly on his last legs. He looks old and slow out there and the quarterback situation has done little to help. He could have a handful of short dump offs, but we expect little else from the aging TE.
Verdict: Sit Witten. Only if you are very desperate should you roll with Witten. You’re better off going with a guy like Heath Miller or even Vance McDonald this week.

Final Score
New York: 34
Dallas: 13

Best Play
Jets: Chris Ivory
Cowboys: Jason Witten

Sleeper
Bilal Powell