Top Targets for 2011 week 15

I hope you are all still alive after week one of the playoffs. If you are, here is some help.

Quarterbacks

Taylor Yates, Houston Texans – Taylor has had big shoes to fill in the world of fantasy quarterbacks. Matt Schaub has been pretty consistent when Andre Johnson is healthy over the past few seasons. Schaub is hurt, Johnson is hurt so Yates in the guy and seems to be getting feet under him. Best part is that he faces the awful Panthers and the awful Colts in the next 2 weeks.

Running Backs

Head Smacker

Kahlil Bell, Chicago Bears – Marion Barber will be the work horse in Chicago but Bell has been a very good change of pace back and the defenses that the Bears face in the next 2 games are much better against the run than they are against the pass so look for Bell to be more of a factor in the increased passing game.

Wide Receivers

Demaryius Thomas, Denver Broncos – Thomas is finally completely healthy and has emerged as the only guy on the Broncos receiving staff who can catch a Tim Tebow wounded duck. Denver faces the patriots and the bills who are 31st and 19th against the pass. The Broncos will most likely be trailing in both games so Thomas might have some real value in your playoff drive.

Robert Meachem, New Orleans Saints – Meachem exploded in week 13 with 119 yards and a touchdown but tumbled back to earth this week with only one catch. The saints face some bad defenses in the next 2 weeks and the you never know who will heat up on the Saints offense. Meachem can go big at any time.

Pretzel’s Picks Week 14

Green Bay Packers by 11 at home over the Oakland Raiders
Packers need a win this week to lock up home field advantage throughout the playoffs and continue the
undefeated season.  They won  close one last week against the Giants so I look for this to be a statement
game.  Oakland does not have the defence to stay with these guys.  Green Bay by 14.
Miami Dolphins by 3 at home over the Philadelphia Eagles
Miami is the best 4-8 team in the league.  They dismantled the streaking Raiders last week and that trend
should continue this week against the “Dream Team”.  Vick should be back this week but it isn’t like he
was having a banner year before he went down.  Dolphins by 7.
New England Patriots by 8 at the Washington Redskins
A team with 4 wins in a row against a team that has lost 7 of their last 8.  Patriots should dominate.
New England by 10.
Cincinnati Bengals by 3 at home over the Houston Texans
For my upset pick of the week I will take the Texans over the Bengals.  Texans have won 6 in a row and it
doesn’t seem to matter who is playing quarterback for them.  The Bengals have lost 3 of their last 4,
their only win against the Browns.  The Bengals are sliding and the Texans will benefit on the road to
further their playoff/Division champion bid.
Eliminator
For my eliminator Pick I will take the Lions over the Vikings.

Top Targets for 2011 Week 14

It is playoff season in most leagues so it is more important than ever to pay attention to who is available!!

Quarterbacks

Ryan Fitzpatrick, Buffalo Bills – I was really high on Ryan earlier in the year and he appears to be back in the land of the living. As you may have noticed I am big on match ups this time in the season and Fitzy (ginger Fitzy not dreadlock Fitzy) has great match ups in weeks 15 and 16, when is matters most.

Christian Ponder Ponder turned the ball over a bunch last week, but he also put up big yards and 3 touchdowns. Better yet, he is feeling some mojo with Percy Harvin, and he faces really bad defenses in weeks 14 and 15. Best yet, he is available in over 60% of leagues.

Running Backs

Head Smacker

Marion Barber, Chicago Bears – The Bears lost Matt Forte for a 2 – 6 weeks with a bad knee sprain and their QB situation is tenuous at best so Marion Barber is going to be back in the saddle and ready to run. If you are familiar with Barber, he was a monster in Dallas when he could stay on the field and although he isn’t the beast he once was, but he is still a beast and worth picking up if you need RB help. He doesn’t have spectacular matchups but they are pretty good.

Hail Mary

Brandon Saine, Green Bay Packers – There are a lot of RB names being tossed around on the waiver wire this week but Brandon Saine is probably not one of the them. James Starks left the game on Sunday with an ankle injury and his status is still up in the air. If Starks misses time, Saine will probably get the bigger workload in the inevitable Green Bay RB timeshare. Now the match up speech, Green Bay faces some fantastic pass defenses in the next few weeks but he doesn’t face great rush defenses. Not a bad shot in the dark if I had to take one.

Wide Receivers

Johnny Knox, Chicago Bears – The Bears are not going to have an aerial assault with Caleb Haine at the helm but he has to throw to someone and the Bears face the Broncos, Seahawks and Packers awful pass defenses in the next 3 weeks. Knox seems to be the guys who is finding the ball for Haine so he might actually put up some numbers in your playoff run.

Pretzel’s Picks Week 13

Baltimore Ravens by 6.5 at the Cleveland Browns
Baltimore is on top in the AFC North winning 4 of their last 5.  Cleveland is last in this
division losing 4 of their last 5.  Baltimore by 10
New York Jets by 3 at the Washington Redskins
Washington was actually able to pull one out last week… although it was against the Seahawks. 
Prior to that they had lost 6 in a row.  They should be able to pick the streak back up this
week as the Jets come to town.  Jets by 7.
Dallas Cowboys by 4.5 at the Arizona Cardinals
Kevin Kolb should be playing this week although I am not sure if that is a good thing, you
remember how bad they were with him at the helm right?  It is a good thing Patrick Peterson
showed up last week otherwise they would have lost to the awful Rams.  Dallas by 10.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers by 3.5 at home over the Carolina Panthers
The Panthers won last week with some help from their running game…didn’t these guys
have an all world back feld with John Fox coaching…I guess they couldn’t throw though. 
Any way the Newton-Smith connection is for real and should have a big day against the Bucs
who have lost 5 in a row. Carolina wins this one.
Eliminator
For my eliminator pick I will take the Patroits over the Colts.  Really, anyone over the Colts is a good pick.