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.
Happy after Thanksgiving. A few quick thoughts on those Thursday games. Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson are going to be pretty good the next three weeks. The Eagles have a better defense than most believe -- they give up superfluous numbers, but can be pretty tough when it counts. And San Francisco may have an easier schedule the rest of the way than Seattle, but the Seahawks are going to get the head to head sweep, making the other games mean less. The 49ers aren't going to make the playoffs, and Harbaugh will be gone.
Chargers at Ravens: I know Drew Brees threw for 400 yards against the Ravens last week, but I want no part of San Diego's offense here. Ryan Mathews, Rivers, Gates, Allen -- best avoided. For Baltimore, there's nothing special about San Diego's defense, so Forsett (grr....facing me last week), Smith Sr., Smith, Flacco, all can be considered. Schedule has done/will do in San Diego, who might not even finish 8-8.
Browns at Bills: Matchup looks good for Buffalo, but hard to know who to start. Too many running backs involved, Sammy Watkins will see a lot of Joe Haden. Would use Watkins, but this could be kind of an uglier, lower-scoring contest. Am benching Isaiah Crowell against a good Buffalo defense, but understand some may have no choice. Not counting on Jordan Cameron being out there. Josh Gordon, yes, you're using him if you have him.
Titans at Texans: Sounds like Arian Foster will return, and he's too good and the matchup is too awesome not to use him if he does. I like Tennessee's passing game, but the only guy I'm definitely starting is Delanie Walker. Not as keen on Bishop Sankey. Houston's passing game is also less appealing, but DeAndre Hopkins was pretty good with Ryan Fitzpatrick in the lineup.
Washington at Colts: It's fun to speculate where Robert Griffin III will end up, but the bottom line is it already seems at least reasonable to write him off long-term. Physically he's not the player he was when he was dominating and electric. I don't know (obviously) if the concerns about his work ethic or whatever are accurate. He's a smart guy and if he's driven enough and ends up in the right situation, maybe he re-establishes himself as a great quarterback, but the chances of him being that guy physically AND landing in the right situation and everything working out just seem slim to me. Hey, that's Andrew Luck across the way! I like the Colts passing game, not their running game. Don't much like Washington's offense here, although intrigued by Pierre Garcon against his former team.
Giants at Jaguars: New York's offense should be fine here; Jennings against his former team and of course Beckham. Giants D one of my favorite one-week pickups. For the Jaguars, it's a week to use Denard Robinson, but hard to trust the wideouts.
Panthers at Vikings: Strange to say since they're 3-7-1, but if the Panthers can win this one, I think they have an outside chance to win the division at 7-8-1. They can win at home against Tampa Bay and Cleveland, and then just need to win either at New Orleans or Atlanta (both of whom I think will lose this week to fall to 4-8). What an ugly division this is. Carolina, I like Benjamin, Olsen, and maybe even Newton for a good game coming out of his bye. Minnesota won't have Jerick McKinnon. I would not want to start any of their prospective running backs.
Saints at Steelers: As noted above, I expect the Steelers to win, but wouldn't bet it. Maybe the Saints go in and hang 30 on them. Either way, high-scoring game coming. Use any and all Steelers. For the Saints, I am using Mark Ingram and the usual passing game components. Would consider Kenny Stills and Marques Colston. High-scoring game.
Raiders at Rams: Ugh. St. Louis playing better, so I don't like any Raiders here. Oakland's defense not as horrible as expected. I would and am using Tre Mason, but want nothing to do with either passing game. Move along.
Bengals at Buccaneers: Bucs defense has played a little better of late, but like the Bengals here anyway. Both starting wideouts, both running backs, even Andy Dalton. For Tampa Bay, forget the running backs, but sure thing on Evans and Vincent Jackson.
Cardinals at Falcons: I hate Atlanta's defense, so fire up all key Cardinals -- that are healthy. I don't see Larry Fitzgerald playing or doing anything if he's active; don't use him. For Atlanta, hells to the no on Steven Jackson. Julio Jones, sure, Roddy White, who's hurting, no. Not keen on Matt Ryan, either. Cardinals should win, but it is a road game with a backup quarterback starting, so maybe I get surprised.
Patriots at Packers: Fun. I have come around to the idea of LeGarrette Blount being key here, but I can't promise anything of course. I do think this game just has to be high-scoring -- both quarterbacks are that good -- and would certainly be using all Packers players. A week ago I'd have said to use Shane Vereen, but now I'm not so sure; I like Blount a little more, even in PPR. Am using Brady and would start Edelman and LaFell and hope for the best. The idea of this being a Super Bowl preview is not far-fetched at all, but how often do the games we get in Week 13 that we say, Ooh, Super Bowl preview! actually turn out that way?
Broncos at Kansas City: Big game, but I don't see Kansas City having enough firepower to win it. You've got to make some plays in the passing game to beat Denver, and Kansas City only has Alex Smith and his laughable receiving corps. Jamaal Charles is the only real player here, though I suppose in some leagues you can think about Travis Kelce. Speaking of tight ends, you've got Julius Thomas questionable. Sounds like he'll play, maybe. What I would do if I didn't have a really good option in an earlier game is try to pick up either Tamme, Fasano or (god help me) Jeff Cumberland, so I'd have somebody to start if it turned out Thomas couldn't go.
Dolphins at Jets: The NFL really needs to be able to flex out bad Monday night games late in the year. I realize that's not possible, switching a game from Monday to Sunday, not fair to the fans attending it. So the solution here is to simply not schedule the Jets for a Monday night game late in the year. Who exactly thought the Jets were going to be competitive? The NFL is fortunate one of the teams in this game can actually play. I like Miami's offense and love their defense. New York's entire offensive team has no value in this game, but Jace Amaro won't play, so consider Jeff Cumberland if you're in a Julius Thomas/Charles Clay bind (Clay is also very iffy to play).
Enjoy the games.
--Andy Richardson
