Every Saturday morning, I'll take a quick look at all the week's games, offering my own take on what I think will happen, as well as touching on significant injury news since our Weekly came out. I'll check in every so often over the course of the day to answer questions, too.
Week 11, and the season is flying by. Now's the time when I drop useless depth guys and pay much more attention to upcoming schedule. I like the Miami Defense, but I definitely don't want to use them at Denver next week, so I want an alternative more than I want that 4th or 5th running back or wide receiver I'll never actually start. That kind of thing. But still, gotta focus on each individual week in order. Buoyed by watching the last half hour of "The Best of Times" on FLIX this morning, what a great movie, I'll move right on to the games.
Falcons at Panthers: Defenses aren't good, so you can certainly use the big names on offense here. Even though I knocked Steven Jackson earlier in the week, he had a couple of good games in a row, he's their main running back, and the Falcons somehow remain in the hunt to win the NFC South. Atlanta's defense bad, but the running back committee makes things ugly. Panthers running backs never pay off for me.
Vikings at Bears: Speaking of ugly, things got bad very quickly for the Bears. I am thinking about using Kyle Rudolph somewhere, it's either him or Jared Cook, so clearly my options aren't great. This is being painted as Jerick McKinnon's last start, as the NFL will have to do something about Adrian Peterson before the next game. Not sure what they think they're gaining by delaying the PR hit they'll take when they let him play, but whatever. I would and am using the regular Chicago starters. Minnesota's passing game just hasn't shown enough to get too excited about.
Texans at Browns: No Arian Foster, by all accounts, so it's Alfred Blue against the Browns. I would use him if I'd been holding him anywhere. Possible Houston's offense gets totally shut down here, of course. I would use West or Tate for Cleveland, while conceding 50 percent of the workload is probably the ceiling. No Jordan Cameron, and scary to think they're already talking about him not playing again this season. They don't usually say stuff like that lightly.
Seahawks at Kansas City: Big game for both conferences playoff wise. I think Seattle should be able to run the ball but don't much like Wilson as a passer this week. Similar story for Kansas City, though Travis Kelce gets a bump against a defense that has problems defending most tight ends. (I say most because they shut down Greg Olsen a few weeks back.) Anthony Fasano might not play, helping Kelce's appeal. Obviously you don't bench Jamaal Charles, but the matchup is poor.
Bengals at Saints: I imagine the Bengals studied how the 49ers won in New Orleans last week and have a similar plan revolving around Jeremy Hill. It would be nice if these teams told us exactly what the injuries to Giovani Bernard and Khiry Robinson that have sidelined them for going on a month now actually are. In any case, Hill and Ingram are the respective running games. I wouldn't bench Green or Sanu, thinking the Saints will score plenty and the Bengals will eventually have to throw a lot. Cut Marques Colston this week, I give up on him.
49ers at Giants: Ian thinks the 49ers are going to win the NFC West. I'm not so sure. Their win in New Orleans was impressive, but they were lucky; I still see the team that lost to the Rams and could easily even lose this game. Their offense should be fine, but I could see the Giants having some success moving the ball, too. Rashad Jennings returns. I'd probably use him (he'll catch some passes). Frank Gore has another good game left in him here, I suspect. Starting Anquan Boldin, too.
Broncos at Rams: C.J. Anderson is the Broncos back I would use this week. Not Montee Ball. No promises, but that's my guess. Denver's passing game should be great. I want no part of St. Louis. At all.
Buccaneers at Washington: Perhaps you're wondering about my suicide pool. No? Well, it kind of ended. The guy who picked the Steelers last week was knocked out, leaving three of us who'd gone with the Ravens. We decided to split the bulk of the money three ways, then continue the pool for the remaining sum. We all get something, and get to play on. I am taking Washington, the other two took Pittsburgh in Tennessee. As for this game, I really like Washington's offense, and I guess Tampa's passing game should be OK. I want no part of the Rainey-Sims tandem.
Raiders at Chargers: Chargers offense should be good, Raiders are the Raiders, so you don't want to use them. Darren McFadden might actually be OK, that's it. I am benching Philip Rivers for Tom Brady; think San Diego will run effectively and often. I'd go ahead and use Ryan Mathews, and consider Oliver in PPR (though figure a Danny Woodhead type ceiling).
Lions at Cardinals: Two good defenses, so I'm fairly cool on the offenses. Considering benching Andre Ellington for Anquan Boldin in a PPR flex spot; it's close. I believe Drew Stanton will be OK the rest of the way, although maybe not against this particular defense. No Reggie Bush, but Detroit's ground game shouldn't do anything anyway.
Eagles at Packers: Oh yeah, quarterback shootout. Aaron Rodgers against ... Mark Sanchez? Well, Sanchez delivered against the Panthers, who were terrible, but I would probably trust him again here if I had him (and didn't also have Brady in the week's other likely shootout). Use both team's regular starters. Lots of yards and points here, inevitably.
Patriots at Colts: I made the mistake of sitting down Brady and Edelman in the game against Denver's "good" defense a couple of weeks ago, and won't do it again. Colts are improved and maybe they'll make me pay for it, but I learned my lesson and will take my chances. Shane Vereen, Brandon LaFell, Colts offense...I'm using all of them. Well, not Jonas Gray or Trent Richardson, I want guys involved in the passing games.
Steelers at Titans: Saw Ken Whisenhunt's postgame interview after the Titans lost at Baltimore last week. He looked tired and depressed. Just passing it along. Titans have a chance here against a soft Steelers defense, but I'd much rather use LeVeon Bell, who should be huge. It's a little odd to me that nobody else has made any mention of Chase Coffman being a fill-in tight end with Delanie Walker (concussion) almost certainly out. I realize Coffman has done nothing in the league while bouncing from team to team, but presumably he can still functionally catch the ball, right? Anyhoo, that's my deep-league dark-horse tight end pickup for you if you're desperate.
Enjoy the games.
--Andy Richardson
