Week 15 Fantasy Football Previews & Predictions: Giants & Cowboys Are A Must Win
Nicks & G-Men (credits below)
Still alive in the fantasy football playoffs?
If you're reading this, that probably means you are.
I know I cut off all contact with fantasy football once my team is eliminated, so it's good to be alive in Week 15. No matter your league format, this week is likely an elimination round, so pay close attention to the injury news of the week before setting your line-up. Plus, there is a Saturday game thrown into the mix, so don't get caught off guard there either.
Good luck this week. Hope to see you back here next week.
Lets take a look at the week’s games…
Jacksonville at Atlanta: For the 15th week in a row, Maurice Jones-Drew is the only Jaguar you want and boy, do you want him. He's been great as of late. Same can be said for Matt Ryan, so get him in your line-up along with both Roddy White and Julio Jones. I know Michael Turner has not been great lately, but he hasn't been terrible and chances are you don't have two backs better than him. I like the Falcons defense here too.
Dallas at Tampa Bay: The DeMarco Murray injury hurts in the fantasy playoffs, but it could be a blessing too. He had been on a downward spiral but his upside was too tough to bench. Now you can sit him and play a more reliable option. Felix Jones is not the answer, as I am not putting my playoff hopes on a guy who always seems to disappoint when given a chance to start. Tony Romo and Jason Witten are the only must-start Cowboys because that receiving group is too tough to predict. Miles Austin and Dez Bryant are the top options and can be started, but I think Laurent Robinson is down to a flex play. LaGarrette Blount is the only guy I want in Tampa Bay.
Carolina at Houston: This could be a shootout between a couple rookie quarterbacks who have been better than we thought. By now, Cam Newton and Steve Smith are reliable starters and T.J. Yates looked great last week. If he gets Andre Johnson back against the Panthers defense, he could get near 20 points per game again. Arian Foster will be better this week but he's the only running back in this game I would play.
Washington at New York Giants: Roy Helu is getting as close to trustworthy as a running back can be for Mike Shanahan, so I’d feel OK playing him this week. Santana Moss could be a sneaky play here too as he remains available in many leagues despite a strong return from injury. Ahmad Bradshaw killed his owners by missing a curfew and thus missing the first half of last week’s game while Brandon Jacobs ran wild. If you have Bradshaw with no better alternatives, you need to forgive him and get him in the lineup because he should be in from the start this time. Don’t buy into Brandon Jacobs at this late stage in the season. Eli Manning, Hakeem Nicks, and Victor Cruz are must-starts and Mario Manningham should see some targets here too.
Miami at Buffalo: This is one of those games that nobody wants to watch, but some unexpected player will come up with a career day that could give you a huge playoff boost, but he's probably on your bench. The greatest example of this was when Jerome Harrison ran for 286 yards and three scores for Cleveland in December of 2009, leaving all his owners wishing they had only known. Best chances for that type of unexpected performance here are Reggie Bush, C.J. Spiller, and Davone Bess.
Seattle at Chicago: Marshawn Lynch has become the No. 2 running back in my rankings behind Maurice Jones-Drew and a true fantasy playoff beast. If you have him, you're probably still playing and he'll come through for you again. He's the only guy to count on in this game.
New Orleans at Minnesota: Drew Brees was struggling for a half last week and still finished with nearly 30 points. That’s the kind of QB you love in the playoffs because he’s going to find a way to get you big points. Marques Colston looks great and Jimmy Graham, of course. Injuries have made Minnesota tough to predict, but Percy Harvin continues to be reliable.
Cincinatti at St. Louis: Should be a big day for Andy Dalton and A.J. Green here and I think this is another week that Jermaine Gresham and Jerome Simpson get into double digits. Cedric Benson too. Steven Jackson and Brandon Lloyd remain the only Rams to play.
Tennessee at Indianapolis: A lot of people are going to tell you this week that you should start Jake Locker if the Titans do. Don't buy it. I know Indy is bad, but Locker has always been overrated and this is another example. In a full game, I don't see him getting more than 12 points because his rushing yards will be negated by turnovers. Chris Johnson killed his owners again, but Indy could be the remedy he needs, so if you have him, you have to play him.
Green Bay at Kansas City: Greg Jennings owners are hurting. He gave you only two fantasy points before being hurt and now he’s going to miss a boat race against the Chiefs. That injury could cost you 25 points over the two weeks. If you had him, pick up another Packers receiver because Donald Driver and James Jones are likely available. If James Starks is out, I think Ryan Grant is a viable RB2 who will score in double digits. Packers defense should score in the high teens.
Detroit at Oakland: Detroit's passing game is becoming tough to trust and on the road, I'm not as high as usual on Matthew Stafford or Calvin Johnson. Injuries and unpredictability makes Maurice Morris and Kevin Smith hard to trust either. I'd avoid Oakland's passing game as well and just play Michael Bush is Darren McFadden is out again.
New England at Denver: This should be fun to watch and I think Tom Brady, Wes Welker and Rob Gronkowski will be as reliable as usual, but you're not trusting their run game. Tim Tebow will find a way to 15 or 16 points and Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas could benefit from a poor New England pass defense. I like Willis McGahee to top 100 yards on the ground.
New York Jets at Philadelphia: Love the running backs, Shonn Greene and LeSean McCoy, but hard to trust either passing game. Michael Vick and Mark Sanchez are in the top 10-15 range this week and I think Dustin Keller and Brent Celek could be among the best tight ends. I can't put my faith in any of the wide receivers, even DeSean Jackson.
Cleveland at Arizona: No Browns for me, thanks. This has the feel of one of those big Beanie Wells days, who is up and down but should be up here. I like him as an RB2 and Larry Fitzgerald is the only other Cardinal in my line-up.
Baltimore at San Diego: I think both quarterbacks will have decent days, 18-20 points and I love Ray Rice to go off here. Antonio Gates is another great bet and I think Vincent Jackson gets into double digits.
Pittsburgh at San Francisco: Even if Ben Roethlisberger plays, he will be limited and facing a tough defense on the road, so I would look elsewhere for a quarterback. Rashard Mendenhall may be the best fantasy bet for the Steelers. Frank Gore is the only 49er that I really like, but Vernon Davis is a sneaky play at tight end.
If you're reading this, that probably means you are.
I know I cut off all contact with fantasy football once my team is eliminated, so it's good to be alive in Week 15. No matter your league format, this week is likely an elimination round, so pay close attention to the injury news of the week before setting your line-up. Plus, there is a Saturday game thrown into the mix, so don't get caught off guard there either.
Good luck this week. Hope to see you back here next week.
Lets take a look at the week’s games…
Jacksonville at Atlanta: For the 15th week in a row, Maurice Jones-Drew is the only Jaguar you want and boy, do you want him. He's been great as of late. Same can be said for Matt Ryan, so get him in your line-up along with both Roddy White and Julio Jones. I know Michael Turner has not been great lately, but he hasn't been terrible and chances are you don't have two backs better than him. I like the Falcons defense here too.
Dallas at Tampa Bay: The DeMarco Murray injury hurts in the fantasy playoffs, but it could be a blessing too. He had been on a downward spiral but his upside was too tough to bench. Now you can sit him and play a more reliable option. Felix Jones is not the answer, as I am not putting my playoff hopes on a guy who always seems to disappoint when given a chance to start. Tony Romo and Jason Witten are the only must-start Cowboys because that receiving group is too tough to predict. Miles Austin and Dez Bryant are the top options and can be started, but I think Laurent Robinson is down to a flex play. LaGarrette Blount is the only guy I want in Tampa Bay.
Carolina at Houston: This could be a shootout between a couple rookie quarterbacks who have been better than we thought. By now, Cam Newton and Steve Smith are reliable starters and T.J. Yates looked great last week. If he gets Andre Johnson back against the Panthers defense, he could get near 20 points per game again. Arian Foster will be better this week but he's the only running back in this game I would play.
Washington at New York Giants: Roy Helu is getting as close to trustworthy as a running back can be for Mike Shanahan, so I’d feel OK playing him this week. Santana Moss could be a sneaky play here too as he remains available in many leagues despite a strong return from injury. Ahmad Bradshaw killed his owners by missing a curfew and thus missing the first half of last week’s game while Brandon Jacobs ran wild. If you have Bradshaw with no better alternatives, you need to forgive him and get him in the lineup because he should be in from the start this time. Don’t buy into Brandon Jacobs at this late stage in the season. Eli Manning, Hakeem Nicks, and Victor Cruz are must-starts and Mario Manningham should see some targets here too.
Miami at Buffalo: This is one of those games that nobody wants to watch, but some unexpected player will come up with a career day that could give you a huge playoff boost, but he's probably on your bench. The greatest example of this was when Jerome Harrison ran for 286 yards and three scores for Cleveland in December of 2009, leaving all his owners wishing they had only known. Best chances for that type of unexpected performance here are Reggie Bush, C.J. Spiller, and Davone Bess.
Seattle at Chicago: Marshawn Lynch has become the No. 2 running back in my rankings behind Maurice Jones-Drew and a true fantasy playoff beast. If you have him, you're probably still playing and he'll come through for you again. He's the only guy to count on in this game.
New Orleans at Minnesota: Drew Brees was struggling for a half last week and still finished with nearly 30 points. That’s the kind of QB you love in the playoffs because he’s going to find a way to get you big points. Marques Colston looks great and Jimmy Graham, of course. Injuries have made Minnesota tough to predict, but Percy Harvin continues to be reliable.
Cincinatti at St. Louis: Should be a big day for Andy Dalton and A.J. Green here and I think this is another week that Jermaine Gresham and Jerome Simpson get into double digits. Cedric Benson too. Steven Jackson and Brandon Lloyd remain the only Rams to play.
Tennessee at Indianapolis: A lot of people are going to tell you this week that you should start Jake Locker if the Titans do. Don't buy it. I know Indy is bad, but Locker has always been overrated and this is another example. In a full game, I don't see him getting more than 12 points because his rushing yards will be negated by turnovers. Chris Johnson killed his owners again, but Indy could be the remedy he needs, so if you have him, you have to play him.
Green Bay at Kansas City: Greg Jennings owners are hurting. He gave you only two fantasy points before being hurt and now he’s going to miss a boat race against the Chiefs. That injury could cost you 25 points over the two weeks. If you had him, pick up another Packers receiver because Donald Driver and James Jones are likely available. If James Starks is out, I think Ryan Grant is a viable RB2 who will score in double digits. Packers defense should score in the high teens.
Detroit at Oakland: Detroit's passing game is becoming tough to trust and on the road, I'm not as high as usual on Matthew Stafford or Calvin Johnson. Injuries and unpredictability makes Maurice Morris and Kevin Smith hard to trust either. I'd avoid Oakland's passing game as well and just play Michael Bush is Darren McFadden is out again.
New England at Denver: This should be fun to watch and I think Tom Brady, Wes Welker and Rob Gronkowski will be as reliable as usual, but you're not trusting their run game. Tim Tebow will find a way to 15 or 16 points and Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas could benefit from a poor New England pass defense. I like Willis McGahee to top 100 yards on the ground.
New York Jets at Philadelphia: Love the running backs, Shonn Greene and LeSean McCoy, but hard to trust either passing game. Michael Vick and Mark Sanchez are in the top 10-15 range this week and I think Dustin Keller and Brent Celek could be among the best tight ends. I can't put my faith in any of the wide receivers, even DeSean Jackson.
Cleveland at Arizona: No Browns for me, thanks. This has the feel of one of those big Beanie Wells days, who is up and down but should be up here. I like him as an RB2 and Larry Fitzgerald is the only other Cardinal in my line-up.
Baltimore at San Diego: I think both quarterbacks will have decent days, 18-20 points and I love Ray Rice to go off here. Antonio Gates is another great bet and I think Vincent Jackson gets into double digits.
Pittsburgh at San Francisco: Even if Ben Roethlisberger plays, he will be limited and facing a tough defense on the road, so I would look elsewhere for a quarterback. Rashard Mendenhall may be the best fantasy bet for the Steelers. Frank Gore is the only 49er that I really like, but Vernon Davis is a sneaky play at tight end.
Written by Steve Mims exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com. Follow Steve on Twitter @nwsportscards
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(December 3, 2011 – Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images North America)
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