Rise:
Brent Celek (PHI, 19) has really picked it up over the last few weeks. Sure his week 13 performance wasn’t that great, the Eagles were down nearly the entire game, and with the clock quickly diminishing the ball needed to be aired out deeper down the field. Despite only having four targets in week 13, Celek has collected at least 4 receptions in each of his last 6 games. Of those six games only two of them did he bring in less than 60 yards receiving, and he also reached the end zone twice during that span. As Tight Ends go, Celek is getting the looks, with Vick back this week, and Fred Davis (WSH, 5) being suspended for the rest of the season take a look at Celek for the playoff push. Philly has the 9th easiest schedule for tight ends still to come, including games against the Dolphins, Jets, and Cowboys, three teams who give up more than 8 points per game to opposing tight ends.

Dez Bryant (DAL, 15) has been inconsistent at best so far in his sophomore season in the NFL. Tony Romo (DAL, 7) has several weapons at his disposal including Laurent Robinson (DAL, 19) who I mentioned a few weeks ago, who has been his go to guy since Miles Austin (DAL, 49) went down with his second hamstring injury this season. Although the season has been a bit of a disappointment so far for owners of Bryant, he has scored a touchdown in three of the last 4 weeks, while also securing at least 60 yards receiving in that same span. Going forward Dez Bryant and the rest of the Cowboys wide receiver core face the 5th easiest schedule for wide outs in football. The three remaining opponents the Cowboys face are all giving up more than 20 fantasy points per game to wide receivers and the Cowboys face the Giants twice.

Mark Sanchez (NYJ, 11) started the season off with a bang producing two 300-yard games, and 4 multiple touchdown performances in the first 5 weeks of the season. Since then he has slightly slowed down, only breaking the 300-yard mark once since week three and only two multiple touchdown performances since week 5. However, over the last 4 weeks Sanchez has recorded double-digit fantasy points in 3 of those games, and threw for 4 touchdowns in week 12. Going forward Sanchez has a pretty favorable slate of matchups with games against the Giants, Eagles, Dolphins, and Chiefs good for the 10th easiest remaining schedule for quarterbacks in the National Football League. Sanchez is playing like a high end QB2, but with injuries to QB1’s like Matt Schaub (HOU, 15), Matt Cassel (KC, 27), Josh Freeman (TB, 19), and Jay Cutler (CHI, 22), Sanchez can step in for the playoffs nicely.

Percy Harvin (MIN, 11) loves the absence of Adrian Peterson (MIN, 5). Since All day Adrian Peterson went down with a high ankle sprain, Harvin has reeled in a total of 16 passes for nearly 300 yards and 3 touchdowns. In that span, Harvin is also getting the ball on the ground, and while he isn’t doing much with his opportunities to carry the ball (10 carries for 30 yards) he at least is getting the touches. If Harvin can continue to break the double-digit touches category for the Vikings his explosive numbers should continue. Harvin doesn’t have the most favorable set of games left in 2011 with the 11th toughest schedule for wide receivers, but as long as Peterson is out, Harvin will be the beneficiary as the main playmaker still left on the field. 

Fall:
Matt Forte (CHI, 7) went down this past week with a sprain to the MCL, and we may get to see him again just before the regular season in the NFL comes to an end. In the interim current backup to Forte, Marion Barber (CHI, 40) will take over the starting duties for the ball club. Starting in week 4 Barber began a stretch of 5 rushing touchdowns in the next seven games, although he failed to pass the 50-yard mark during that same span. Barber may be the one getting the ball, but he has been proven not to be able to handle the full workload. Insteps Kahlil Bell (CHI, 105) who following Forte’s injury ran the ball four times for 34 yards, 10 yards shy of what Barber did with 10 more carries. The remaining schedule for the Bears isn’t very favorable for running backs as they have the 10th toughest schedule for that position. Knowing the Bears also have the 3rd easiest schedule for quarterbacks and 2nd easiest for wide outs, the Bears will probably look more to the air than the ground, which will hurt the value of any Bear in the backfield, including Forte when he returns.

Beanie Wells (ARI, 10) saw a spike in fantasy production two weeks ago when he ran for more than 200-yards vs. the Rams in week 12. He followed up with a 67-yard performance in week 13 against the Cowboys a significantly tougher opponent against the run. Surprisingly Wells has been able to put together two consecutive games of 20 or more carries something he hasn’t done since weeks 4 and 5 earlier this season. Wells major downfall is his ability to stay on the field and to be healthy. His second major downfall is his schedule, with games still to come against the 49ers who have yet to give up a rushing touchdown or more than 100 yards on the ground in a single game so far this year, Cleveland, Seattle, and Cincinnati round out the rest of his 2011 schedule, the 7th toughest schedule for running backs. Not only will his health be in question but also his production.

Hakeem Nicks (NYG, 11) found the end zone in week 13 twice and for only the 2nd time since week 5. Victor Cruz (NYG, 3) has stepped in as Eli Manning’s (NYG, 6) favorite target which has significantly downgraded Nicks value. Although he has failed to reach the end zone regularly, in most weeks he has been PPR gold bringing in at least 6 passes five times this season. Nicks is on my list of players falling because of the inconsistency we are getting from the former North Carolina receiver, and his remaining schedule. There are only two teams with a tougher schedule for wide receivers in the NFL, which will not help Nicks or any other Giant pass catcher the rest of the way.  With the playoffs starting this week, I would absolutely begin to play the matchups with Nicks who could hurt your chances of winning if played in the wrong situation.

Andre Johnson (HOU, 54) hurt himself again, this time his left hamstring. When will enough be enough though? Andre missed more than 5 games the first time he hurt himself, and while reports are much more optimistic this time around his value will continue to drop with T.J. Yates (HOU, 46) at the helm. Johnson did pull in nearly 100 yards receiving before going down with the injury which looked promising going forward but with yet another injury to his lower half that will hamper his ability to break away and cut from the defender his value will significantly drop. This is now the second season in a row where Johnson has missed time due to injuries, and the fourth time in his career where he wasn’t able to play in a full season. With the 15th toughest schedule for wide receivers and his history of missing time due to injury I strictly advice you to give up on Johnson who is turning out to be the Beanie Wells of wide receivers.

Greg Olsen (CAR, 12) has been slipping down the list fast. In week 8, Olsen was able to record 13 fantasy points, since then only 8 including 4 straight 2 fantasy point outings in a row. Olsen isn’t getting the looks that he once was, and Cam Netwon (CAR, 2) seems to be doing it all by himself. The toughest part of it all is that Olsen is getting the targets, just isn’t doing anything with the ball once he does. So far in 2011, Olsen has failed to bring in at least 3 receptions only three times and prior to the bye week was able to record at least 40 yards receiving 5 times, since the bye, only once. Carolina has the third toughest schedule for tight ends still to come, which isn’t going to help Olsen’s value going forward.

All stats are based on NON-PPR leagues unless otherwise stated, and are as of the end of week 13 games. 

(November 19, 2011 – Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images North America)