TheDC Fantasy Outsider Andy Hayes: Week 14

Quarterbacks:

Comments:

Rodgers should carve up Detroit this weekend.
Vick will get stats, but it won’t be easy.
I know conventional wisdom has Mendenhall cleaning house Sunday against Cincy – I think Big Ben gets involved, and gets some stats.
Rivers should get it going again this weekend despite ongoing injuries to Gates and his WRs.
Matt Ryan has a good match-up and if Carolina has any fight left in them, Ryan will have to throw at least some passes. Should get some pass TDs.
Favre should bounce back this week and do OK. Missing Harvin hurts, but I expect MN to make this a game.
Ryan Fitzpatrick could be good this weekend, if he can avoid picks…Cleveland’s specialty.

Running Backs

Comments:

Michael Turner should do pretty much what he wants Sunday against Carolina. Matt Ryan too. Shouldn’t even be close.
I like Moreno lately. He’s played decently and he is clearly becoming a featured guy on the Denver offense. If Denver can get it’s passing and running games coordinated for one game here this weekend, they could score 50 points on AZ.
Giants’ D is good and they will be playing like they need to win…because they need to win. But Peterson will get his stats and MN will make this a good game.
As expected Rice did virtually nothing last week against Pitt. My guess is the weaker Texans’ D won’t be able to do much to stop him – especially in the screen game.
McFadden is a tough one. He’s had a couple slower weeks recently, but if Oak comes out as determined as they were last week, McFadden and Bush could run all over a soft Jax D.
Chris Ivory is getting more and more time. And even with Thomas apparently coming back, Ivory is someone to consider playing this week. Once a player gets in the groove of the Saints offense, they can do some serious damage – and Ivory is in that groove.
Jackson, Blount, Bradshaw, Forte, Lynch, Starks and even Wells are all guys who could put up serious numbers this week but they are not as reliable as the options ranked before them.

Wide Receivers

Comments:

Colston and the Saints should put up some passing yards and stats (though this could be a close game).
Brandon Lloyd and the Denver offense my go nuts.
Steve Johnson may get back into it this weekend even though the Cleve’s secondary isn’t bad.
Malcolm Floyd should be active this weekend as Rivers is due to get things going again through the air.
Michael Crabtree is a player who could stand out this weekend.
Thought about leaving Donald Driver off the list and then I thought about putting him toward the top. He’s always played well against Detroit and if last week is any indication, he appears to be healthy enough again to do some serious damage. While the Pack will be testing newbie RB James Starks, it will be Rodgers’ passing that takes down Detroit.
Last week, I predicted that Dwayne Bowe’s production would soon decline – though I indicated his slump wouldn’t start until this week (and I didn’t think he’d get totally shut out). Concerning that he’s playing in SD possibly without Cassel, but I think KC will need Bowe especially in the 2nd half if they fall behind.
One guy to keep an eye on here toward the end of the season is Jacoby Ford. While Jason Campbell is not a great QB, Oak simply not having a QB controversy may help the team. And last week, Campbell looked really good. Ford is lightening quick and when you watch him play, you’ll see immediately why some folks are really high on the guy.

Tight Ends

Comments:

Gates is amazing that he can barely walk yet still catch TDs. Should be active this week.
Davis had a great week last week at Green Bay. Should be good again vs a soft Seattle D.
Benjamin Watson was huge last week. Don’t expect him to be as productive this week, but he’s definitely one of the few other options besides Hillis that Cleve has.
Tony Gonzalez will likely get back to catching TDs in Atlanta’s blowout win.
Jimmy Graham has been coming along nicely – may get in on the action this week.

Kickers

Comments:

Akers is a very solid FF kicker.
Carpenter continues to be quite good this year. It’s easy to envision Miami getting into NYJ territory but not scoring TDs.
Crosby and Bryant should both be busy.
Same with Graham and Gould (I see the NE/Chic match-up being FG heavy).

Defense/Special Teams

Comments:

Some tough calls for D this week.
Pitt should dominate defensively.
NYJ and Miami may be a low scoring affair.
Atlanta has a good match-up and this is still an important game for them – should be solid.
Cleve and Buff may also be a low scoring game.
SD could hold down the Chiefs to some extent, especially if Cassel is out.
Wash is my sleeper pick this week. They played a terrible game last week and I just have a feeling they come out with some renewed energy now that the Haynesworth drama has been resolved. They could make the going tough on TB (unless Blount gets it going).