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Week Twelve | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Green Bay at Detroit Bench: Kevin Jones, RB, Lions: A short rest-week, coupled with Mike Martz’s aversion to the run game of late, makes Jones an iffy play. Start: Shaun McDonald, WR, Lions: For whatever reason, McDonald has emerged as a favorite target of Jon Kitna. Is usually good for 5-7 catches and the occasional score. New York Jets at Dallas Bench: Laveraneus Coles, WR, Jets: Had one long catch in their win last week, but figures to sit out due to an ankle injury. If Coles sits out, you can go ahead and bench Kellen Clemens, who you weren’t starting anyway. Start: All of Your Cowboys: Empty the benches as this should be a score-fest for Dallas....even Marion Barber, who has struggled to find the end zone lately, should find room. Indianapolis at Atlanta Bench: Everyone Except Peyton Manning, Joseph Addai and Reggie Wayne: There has been no rhyme or reason to the Colts passing game sans-Marvin, so the above are your only safe plays. And you’re already benching the entire Falcon roster. Start: See Above. Buffalo at Jacksonville Bench: Marshawn Lynch, RB, Bills: If you have a better option, look at it this week, as Jacksonville is tough vs. the run and Marshawn may still be a little dinged up. Start: David Garrard, QB, Jags: This guy isn’t flashy, but he’s ultra consistent, and should be good for 200 and a couple of scores vs. Buffalo. Houston at Cleveland Bench: Ron Dayne, RB, Texans: Wasn’t horrible last week, but resist the urge to use him. He’ll disappoint you. Start: Everybody Except a Texans Back: Oh my, this has the makings of a shootout. One horrible defense (Cleveland) plus one subpar defense (Houston) plus offenses full of weapons makes this a great week for fantasy owners. Minnesota at New York Giants Bench: Eli Manning, QB, Giants: His receiving corps is hobbling and he lost his best RB in Brandon Jacobs to a tweaked hammy (watch reports), so don’t expect fireworks from Peyton’s brother. Start: Chester Taylor, RB, Vikings: The Vikings o-line proved that you could plug Darrin Nelson and Ted Brown back into the lineup and produce a 100 yard, multiple-score rusher. New Orleans at Carolina Bench: Reggie Bush, RB, Saints: He just isn’t getting it done. If you have other options, use them. Start: Drew Brees and Marques Colston, Saints: Though they have struggled as a team, these players have had their moments of late, and Carolina is very, very bad. Vinny Testaverde, QB, Panthers: Read this very carefully do not start Vinny unless you are desperate, but if you are desperate he threw for 258 and 2 scores against the Packers, and may be a decent play. Especially if Steve Smith is back. Oakland at Kansas City Bench: Brodie Croyle, QB, Chiefs: The Raiders secondary actually isn’t too shabby, as they completely shut down another bad young quarterback last week in Tarvaris Jackson. Croyle, for the record, is also a bad young quarterback. Start: Priest Holmes, RB, Chiefs: This is your week to start the Priest, as he faces an awful Oakland run defense that made Chet Taylor look like a Hall of Famer last week. 100 and a score is a real possibility. Ronald Curry, WR, Raiders: This guy is the best WR on the Raiders...which is, well...at any rate, Daunte Culpepper seems to trust him. Seattle at St. Louis Bench: Marc Bulger, QB, Rams: The fact that he couldn’t get going against the 2-8 Niners last week doesn’t bode well. Start: Matt Hasselbeck and Maurice Morris, Seahawks: Hass has been hot of late, and Morris looks solid in relief of SA, scoring in each of the last two weeks. They both, of course, face a very limited Rams defense. Steven Jackson, RB, Rams: Let’s put it this way the Seahawks gave up a rushing TD to Cedric Benson last week. Steven Jackson is not Cedric Benson. Tennessee at Cincinnati Bench: Bengals Backs: Stay far far away from both Rudi Johnson and Kenny Watson, as they are job sharing against a stout run D this week. Start: Vince Young, QB, Titans: You’re probably benching him each week, but if there was ever a week for VY to post numbers, it’s this one, against the awful Bengals. He also showed signs of life as a passer and runner vs. Denver. Washington at Tampa Bay Bench: Clinton Portis, RB, Redskins: There are a lot of mediocre things about the Redskins. Their 5-5 record and the play of Clinton Portis come to mind. That won’t change this week. Start: Jeff Garcia, QB, Bucs: We know this about Garcia he’s way over the hill, but he’s also been ultra consistent (11 TD, 3 INT) and faces a banged up Redskin secondary. San Francisco at Arizona Bench: Frank Gore, RB, 49ers: Would be the bust of the year were it not for Shaun Alexander, Steven Jackson, Rudi Johnson, and Larry Johnson. Start: Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Edgerrin James, Cardinals: The Cards manage to look wholly uninspiring, even in victory, but the aforementioned are all having decent fantasy seasons, and should be in your lineup against the Niners. Baltimore at San Diego Bench: Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers: I’m officially giving up on Phil Rivers...seriously, his underperformance is one of the surprise stories of 2007 for me. Start: Willis McGahee, RB, Ravens: What Willis is talking about is a touchdown in each of his last five starts. He should get at least one against the ‘Bolts. Denver at Chicago Bench: Muhsin Muhammad, WR, Bears: Grossman loves Berrian, and Moose has only 3 TD’s on the year. Start: Cedric Benson, RB, Bears: I can’t believe I’m typing this, but Benson actually makes a good play against a famously bad Broncos run defense. A TD is not out of the question. Selvin Young, RB, Broncos: The Bears have become adept at giving up rushing scores, and Selvin should get one this week. Jay Cutler, QB, Broncos: Welcomes Javon Walker back into the fold, and faces a Bears secondary that has underperformed. Philadelphia at New England Bench: Laurence Maroney, RB, Patriots: The Eagles have only surrendered 4 rushing TD’s, and Maroney seems to be the disposable part of this aerial circus. Start: Brian Westbrook, RB, Eagles: The only Eagle that can be counted on to produce numbers each week. Miami at Pittsburgh Bench: Jesse Chatman, RB, Dolphins: Welcomes Ricky Williams back into the fold this week, and faces a Pittsburgh defense that is overwhelming against the run. Start: Santonio Holmes, WR, Steelers: Is emerging as perhaps the most consistent fantasy Steeler, and should torch Miami’s secondary. Sleepers: JaMarcus, QB, Raiders: It’s only a matter of time here, and keeper leaguers should keep him in mind. Ricky Williams, RB, Dolphins: I welcome Ricky and his unintentionally hilarious interviews back into the league with open arms. Ted Kluck is the author of three books, including “Paper Tiger: One Athlete’s Journey to the Underbelly of Pro Football.” Visit him online at www.tedkluck.com.
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