Fantasy Football News and Notes 11-13-13
News and Notes from Wednesday Night's "Red Zone" Radio Program
Fantasy News and Notes 11-13-13:
BYE WEEKS: Dallas, St. Louis
Quarterbacks
As expected, Peyton Manning was held out of practice today because of his ankle injury. There's a chance he may miss tomorrow's practice as well, but he's fully expected to practice at least in limited fashion by Friday and he is currently expected to start week 11.
Aaron Rodgers has said he isn't going to play this week, but that he is hoping to come back in week 12. That would be a week earlier than expected as Rogers was originally expected to return on Thanksgiving in week 13. I get the feeling he's trying to rush himself back and I hope the Packers can hold on until Thanksgiving so he isn't coming back too soon from his collarbone injury. Scott Tolzien will start this week for Green Bay.
The bye in week 10 was enough time for Cleveland's Jason Campbell to get his ribs injury healed up enough for him to be able to play week 11. He's fully expected to start against Cincinnati this week.
Terrelle Pryor was held out of practice today to rest his injured knee. Pryor has been hindered the last 2 games because of the knee injury and there's even a chance he may not play week 11. Those counting on Pryor this week should have a backup ready to go in his place if he isn't able to practice by Friday.
Christian Ponder practiced today and he is tentatively expected to be able to start week 11 despite an injury to his non-throwing shoulder. While I admire his moxie, I am dubious of his chances for success this week on the road against Seattle and I wouldn't recommend starting him.
Running Backs
Atlanta has said they want to increase the rushing attempts for Steven Jackson and put more of a power running game in place. But Jackson has looked sluggish since returning from quad and hamstring injuries and I have my doubts about him being a guy who will start producing the numbers expected from him at the start of the season. I think we're going to see a RBBC with hi and Jacquizz Rodgers. But that's just me speculating. Officially, the team says they are going to get him the ball more often. We'll see what happens in actual games going forward. Jackson was limited in practice today because of a listed toe injury.
Darren McFadden missed practice today because of his hamstring injury. McFadden is not expected to play this week. Rashad Jennings should start and be the Raiders featured RB week 11.
Maurice Jones-Drew was held out of practice today. The team lists a knee for the reason but Wednesday's off has pretty much been the norm for MJD this season as he's an aging veteran RB with a lot of mileage on his legs. He'll be fine to play week 11.
Brandon Jacobs didn't practice again today and added a knee issue to go along with his hamstring. Jacobs has had his one magical game and is now clearly the 3rd RB at best behind Andre Brown and Peyton Hillis even when he gets healthy. I hope you've dropped Jacobs by now.
Instead of signing a street free agent, the Buccaneers signed Michael Hill off the Packers practice squad today. Hill will be the 3rd RB behind Brian Leonard and Bobby Rainey.
Wide Receivers
Calvin Johnson was held out of practice today. It's believed to be just a day of rest for him though and not anything serious. He should return to a limited practice tomorrow.
Vincent Jackson was limited today because of a listed knee issue. He's not known to have an actual injury though so we'll keep an eye on this during the week. It should turn out to be nothing of concern. Jackson is due for a big week after 1 mediocre game and 2 clunkers in the last 3 games.
Dwayne Bowe will play week 11 despite having been arrested this past weekend for speeding and marijuana possession. Per the CBA the team can't discipline a player for a circumstance like this. Don't ask me, I don't make the rules. Bowe should be plenty motivated to have a good game to regain some favor with the organization and fans.
Neither of Buffalo's Steve Johnson nor Robert Woods practiced today. Johnson is dealing with a groin injury and Woods has an ankle injury. Neither player is looking like he will play week 11. T.J. Graham and Marquise Goodwin will probably start for the Bills this week.
Roddy White was limited in practice today but there's been no word about any setback suffered in week 10 so I assume he's just taking it kind of easy as he gets himself over hamstring and ankle injuries that have plagued him. What's curious is that he was limited because of a listed shoulder issue. Tentatively expect White to be fine for this week.
Jerome Simpson will play week 11 despite having been arrested for DUI over the weekend. Just like with Dwayne Bowe, the Vikings don't have the power to do anything in a case like this and the NFL won't do anything until the court system runs its course.
Eddie Royal sat out practice today. Royal hasn't practiced at all the last 3 weeks but hasn't missed any game action and hasn't looked limited much by his toe injury. Likely he's not going to practice this week either but still play week 11.
Tennessee's Damian Williams has been officially ruled OUT for Thursday night's game because of a quad injury. Williams is considered to be week to week.
Tight Ends
Vernon Davis has passed the first stages of his concussion protocols and is taking part in non-contact drills in practice. This is a positive sign that he should tentatively be okay to play this week. We'll know more as the week goes along.
Tony Gonzalez missed practice today because of the toe injury he suffered week 10. Gonzalez doesn't need to practice to play for Atlanta but it would be preferable for him to get some time in before the week is out. Hopefully we get more definitive word by Friday than "Questionable" and "Game Time Decision".
Jeff Cumberland practiced today and apparently has been cleared for all contact drills. Cumberland suffered a concussion back in week 8. He should be a go for the Jets this week. The return of Kellen Winslow though curbs his upside
Jermaine Gresham practiced today and appears to be on track to play week 11 after missing week 10 with a groin injury. Gresham's presence is good for the Bengals, but bad for fantasy owners as all it does is cancel out the upside of Tyler Eifert.
Kickers
Although the Saints worked out a few kickers yesterday, none of them have been signed as of yet. For now I expect New Orleans will stick with Garrett Hartley, but if he doesn't start making FG's soon, he could be on the way out.
2013 Fantasy Playoffs Matchups to Help Make the Right Trades for Your Championship Run
Rankings for all 32 NFL teams vs. both the run and the pass in weeks 14-16
With fantasy playoffs approaching, it's the savvy owner who makes the shrewd deals now to put himself in the best position to win. By knowing the matchups during weeks 14, 15, and 16 and knowing which players to trade for, and trade away, you can set yourself up for your championship run.
Below are the rankings vs. the run for all 32 NFL teams in weeks 14-16 based on the amount of fantasy points their opponents allow on average thru week 10. The higher the total score; the more favorable the matchups are in those 3 weeks combined.
Rushing Matchups Fantasy Playoffs Weeks
|
Rank
|
Team
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
Total
|
|
1
|
Green Bay Packers
|
22
|
27
|
31
|
80
|
|
2
|
Cincinnati Bengals
|
21
|
31
|
24
|
76
|
|
3
|
Dallas Cowboys
|
30
|
15
|
28
|
73
|
|
4
|
Houston Texans
|
32
|
21
|
13
|
66
|
|
5t
|
Arizona Cardinals
|
25
|
29
|
9
|
63
|
|
5t
|
Atlanta Falcons
|
15
|
28
|
20
|
63
|
|
5t
|
Buffalo Bills
|
5
|
32
|
26
|
63
|
|
8t
|
Denver Broncos
|
29
|
17
|
16
|
62
|
|
8t
|
Philadelphia Eagles
|
8
|
24
|
30
|
62
|
|
10
|
Kansas City Chiefs
|
28
|
12
|
21
|
61
|
|
11
|
Chicago Bears
|
27
|
19
|
14
|
60
|
|
12
|
Miami Dolphins
|
31
|
18
|
10
|
59
|
|
13
|
Washington Redskins
|
7
|
22
|
27
|
56
|
|
14t
|
Jacksonville Jaguars
|
16
|
10
|
29
|
55
|
|
14t
|
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
|
10
|
20
|
25
|
55
|
|
16
|
Cleveland Browns
|
18
|
30
|
3
|
51
|
|
17
|
Baltimore Ravens
|
24
|
8
|
18
|
50
|
|
18t
|
Carolina Panthers
|
23
|
3
|
23
|
49
|
|
18t
|
New England Patriots
|
19
|
26
|
4
|
49
|
|
20t
|
Pittsburgh Steelers
|
26
|
6
|
15
|
47
|
|
20t
|
Tennessee Titans
|
13
|
2
|
32
|
47
|
|
22t
|
San Diego Chargers
|
11
|
13
|
12
|
36
|
|
22t
|
San Francisco 49ers
|
9
|
5
|
22
|
36
|
|
24
|
New York Giants
|
17
|
9
|
8
|
34
|
|
25
|
Seattle Seahawks
|
20
|
11
|
2
|
33
|
|
26
|
New York Jets
|
12
|
1
|
19
|
32
|
|
27
|
St. Louis Rams
|
2
|
23
|
5
|
30
|
|
28t
|
Detroit Lions
|
14
|
4
|
11
|
29
|
|
28t
|
Indianapolis Colts
|
6
|
16
|
7
|
29
|
|
30t
|
New Orleans Saints
|
1
|
25
|
1
|
27
|
|
30t
|
Oakland Raiders
|
3
|
7
|
17
|
27
|
|
32
|
Minnesota Vikings
|
4
|
14
|
6
|
24
|
As you can see, the Green Bay Packers have the most favorable schedule against opposing run defenses of all 32 teams. Conversely, the Minnesota Vikings have the worst schedule vs. the run overall. Now, while I am a big advocate f trying to acquire Packers RB Eddie Lacy based on this, I would not be trading away Vikings RB Adrian Peterson straight up for him. Peterson has proven to be an elite fantasy RB who can get his points against any opponent. There is a measure of common sense that must be applied when using these rankings for determining what players to trade for and trade away.
For example, the Atlanta Falcons have been a miserable rushing offense this season. While Steven Jackson was supposed to provide them with the missing element of a power rushing attack, it just hasn't happened. And a split situation with Jacquizz Rodgers and maybe even Jason Snelling by week 14 is not farfetched to the imagination. I wouldn't recommend trading Zac Stacy of the Rams or Reggie Bush of the Lions (the 27th and tied for the 28th toughest schedule vs. the run) to acquire any Falcons RB.
However, if I could package a trade of Zac Stacy for Eddie Lacy, that I would strongly recommend doing.
And it also needs to be remembered which RB's give a lot of value in the passing game as well as the rushing game for their team. A guy like Reggie Bush not just gets you fantasy points through his legs, he gets receiving yards as well on a regular basis. So apply common sense to this.
That said, here are some guys to definitely target to acquire:
1) Eddie Lacy, Green Bay Packers.
2) Giovani Bernard, Cincinnati Bengals.
3) Demarco Murray, Dallas Cowboys.
4) Ben Tate, Houston Texans.
You can even target guys that are the better fantasy RB's but are part of a time share as well. Andre Ellington of the Arizona Cardinals, Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller of the Buffalo Bills, and even Benjarvus Green-Ellis of Cincinnati. These guys may or may not be the best RB's for you to start those weeks, but having bench players who have superior matchups is certainly a lot better to have in case of an injury than having guys like Trent Richardson and Donald Brown, or Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell.
And even though I wouldn't trade away Adrian Peterson just because of the matchups, I might consider trading Peterson in a package deal that nets me great players with great matchups those weeks.
For example if you look at the passing matchups below, I could easily see making the offer of Adrian Peterson, Larry Fitzgerald, and Marques Colston in return for Eddie Lacy and Brandon Marshall. You could even ask for a lesser player with great matchups as the 3rd player in the trade and maybe get Riley Cooper or Kendall Wright. The matchups for Lacy and Marshall are fantastic while the matchups for Peterson, Fitzgerald, and Colston (the 2 WR's having higher name value than actual fantasy value) are poor.
Here are the rankings vs. the pass for all 32 NFL teams in weeks 14-16 based on the amount of fantasy points their opponents allow on average thru week 10.
Passing Matchups Fantasy Playoffs Weeks
|
Rank
|
Team
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
Total
|
|
1
|
Philadelphia Eagles
|
25
|
31
|
16
|
72
|
|
2
|
Chicago Bears
|
32
|
10
|
28
|
70
|
|
3
|
Baltimore Ravens
|
31
|
25
|
13
|
69
|
|
4t
|
Kansas City Chiefs
|
30
|
23
|
14
|
67
|
|
4t
|
Tennessee Titans
|
29
|
21
|
17
|
67
|
|
4t
|
Washington Redskins
|
8
|
27
|
32
|
67
|
|
7
|
Dallas Cowboys
|
16
|
20
|
30
|
66
|
|
8
|
San Diego Chargers
|
12
|
29
|
23
|
64
|
|
9
|
Green Bay Packers
|
27
|
32
|
4
|
63
|
|
10
|
Houston Texans
|
17
|
14
|
29
|
60
|
|
11
|
Detroit Lions
|
28
|
19
|
12
|
59
|
|
12
|
Atlanta Falcons
|
20
|
30
|
7
|
57
|
|
13t
|
Minnesota Vikings
|
19
|
28
|
9
|
56
|
|
13t
|
Oakland Raiders
|
22
|
8
|
26
|
56
|
|
15
|
New York Giants
|
26
|
1
|
25
|
52
|
|
16
|
Cleveland Browns
|
13
|
16
|
22
|
51
|
|
17
|
Cincinnati Bengals
|
14
|
4
|
31
|
49
|
|
18t
|
Buffalo Bills
|
18
|
17
|
11
|
46
|
|
18t
|
San Francisco 49ers
|
1
|
18
|
27
|
46
|
|
18t
|
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
|
24
|
7
|
15
|
46
|
|
21
|
St. Louis Rams
|
21
|
6
|
18
|
45
|
|
22
|
Miami Dolphins
|
4
|
13
|
24
|
41
|
|
23t
|
New England Patriots
|
10
|
11
|
19
|
40
|
|
23t
|
Pittsburgh Steelers
|
11
|
9
|
20
|
40
|
|
23t
|
Seattle Seahawks
|
7
|
12
|
21
|
40
|
|
26
|
New York Jets
|
23
|
2
|
10
|
35
|
|
27t
|
Carolina Panthers
|
6
|
22
|
6
|
34
|
|
27t
|
Denver Broncos
|
3
|
26
|
5
|
34
|
|
29
|
Jacksonville Jaguars
|
5
|
24
|
3
|
32
|
|
30
|
Indianapolis Colts
|
9
|
5
|
8
|
22
|
|
31t
|
Arizona Cardinals
|
15
|
3
|
1
|
19
|
|
31t
|
New Orleans Saints
|
2
|
15
|
2
|
19
|
As you can see here, the Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears have the best passing/receiving matchups for the fantasy playoffs. Nick Foles, DeSean Jackson, Riley Cooper, along with Jay Cutler (and Josh McCown is not a bad safety net to have for Cutler), Brandon Marshall, and Alshon Jeffery all are great players to have on your fantasy roster come the fantasy playoffs.
On the other side, the Saints, Cardinals, and Colts are all on the wrong side of the equation. Now just like with Adrian Peterson at RB, I certainly would not be giving up Saints QB Drew Brees in a trade that didn't net me a lot in return. Those 2 games against Carolina's 2nd ranked pass defense in weeks 14 and 16 are weighing heavily. But you know a stud QB like Brees is still going to get his fantasy points. So I wouldn't trade away Brees.
But I could trade away his pass catchers, maybe even Jimmy Graham because of the injury concerns. The Saints may have things locked up by week 16, and then they'd likely sit Graham so he can be as healthy as possible for the NFL playoffs. I could also definitely trade away anyone involved in the Cardinals or Colts passing games, including Andrew Luck. T.Y. Hilton might be the only guy from those 2 teams' passing games I would have a high degree of hope for producing quality fantasy points.
Look at trying to pry Aaron Rodgers away from the guy who has him in your league. Rodgers is fully expected back by week 14 and gets great matchups in weeks 14 and 15, and the Packers are likely to be fighting for a playoff spot.
Use these rankings to make the right trades to help put you in the best position to win your league's fantasy championship. The final piece of putting together your championship run is getting those great players who also have those great matchups during your playoff weeks. Go make it happen.