This is a special edition of my Sit/Start reserved solely for Saturday night’s game. Sometimes the added pressure of making an early week decision compounds the effects of basic fantasy logic (of which no such thing really exists lol). So lets take a team by team look at some of the names playing (or not playing as the Playoffs approach).
- Dallas Cowboys
- New Orleans Saints
Tony Romo QB: Look up the word “December Collapse” in the dictionary. You don’t see the Cowboys picture, you see Romo’s picture. The poster boy for falling to play when it matters faces one of the biggest regular season games of his career. Another lose would Dallas at its “breaking point” in the eyes of the media and fans. So how do I feel he’ll do? He’ll crack. The Saints are playing good defense. They have made QBs look flat silly all year. Romo is just as likely to throw +2 INTs as he is +2 TDs. Start as a bottom rung QB1 max only if you have no other options.
Marion Barber RB: Barber has failed to score a TD or go over the century mark in the last six weeks! This is not just a rut, this is a sign of the times. Start Barber in a flex spot or maybe a RB2 in PPR leagues.
Felix Jones RB: Jones is the fewer running attempts, fewer TDs version of Marion Barber. So unless you get points off of return yards, consider him benched for the season.
Tashard Choice RB: The few running attempts, more TDs and receptions version of Jones. Choice is the man that is more likely to replace Barber in case of injury or in times of need. The Cowboys use him exactly like Barber when Barber is on the sideline. This hurts both RBs and helps none. Unless he gets a spot start situation in the next few weeks, keep him benched.
Miles Austin WR: Three straight games with TDs, no fewer than six receptions and only one of them below 100 yards. Yes Miles Austin has been carrying you into and through the playoffs. The Saints are mediocre in the amount of points they provide for WRs. Austin is a must start WR1.
Roy Williams WR: If his game against the Redskins is ignored, Williams himself has been on a fair fantasy tear (the verb not the moist droplet from the eye) the past five weeks. His value isn’t really found in PPR leagues but his big body helps him score TDs and make him a high WR2 in TD heavy leagues and a lower WR2 in PPR leagues.
Patrick Crayton WR: Crayton is a talented guy with too many talent players around him. The guy can not be started as a WR3 or flex in nearly any circumstance as his production is literally tied to TDs alone.
Jason Witten TE: The big man is worth starting in PPR Leagues as a bottom rung TE1. The lack of TD production the entire season has crippled Witten and made him bench material in non-PPR leagues. Rough season for a great player.
Drew Brees QB: Start him. You can’t afford to bench Brees against anyone. He plays well in big games.
Pierre Thomas: Thomas is the only must start NO RB. Despite seeing just over +10 carries per game, he is producing with receptions as well. His lack of TDs is discouraging but Thomas should be used as a RB2 or flex spot in PPR leagues.
Mike Bell: Mike Bell is the main making Thomas less of a factor. Averaging more carries then Thomas over the past few weeks, Bell had established a two headed monster that was really benefiting no one but the Saints. Bell should be kept on the bench this week as TDs may be hard to predict in this one and I expect the Saints “PPR” RBs to do better against the Cowboys 3-4 defense.
Reggie Bush: Bush once again reminded people of what he can do in PPR leagues when he is healthy. The Cowboys are actually the perfect team to bring Bush back out against to hurt them when they blitz their LBs. The Saints are the hardest team to predict TDs and looks for so Bush should only be used as a flex spot in the most desperate of circumstances.
Marques Colston: Colston is a redzone freak. Part of the reason the Saints RBs don’t score TDs is because the WRs excel in the redzone. None are better than Colston. Start him against the Cowboys and their small DBs.
Robert Meachem & Devery Henderson: All Saints WRs must be start every week with the understanding that it can be feast or famine some weeks. Meachem and Henderson provide mismatches in the secondary for the Saints and I expect both to come away with some significant yardage. Start bout as WR3s
Jeremy Shockey: No one questions his heart. But I do question his toe. Mediocre reception levels and no TDs since week six have me benching Shockey everywhere.
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Thanks for the great post. I have bookmarked it and will return for new posts.