Pretzel’s Picks Week 13

Chicago Bears by 5 at the Detroit Lions

The Lions have done any damage they were able to manage through the air this year.  This week they have Drew Stanton under center.  All the Nate Burleson guarantees in the world aren’t going to help them in this game.  Bears by 10.

Atlanta Falcons by 3 at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Atlanta showed in the first meeting that they were the better team.  This time around they won’t let up.  Falcons by a touchdown.

Indianapolis Colts by 5 at home over the Dallas Cowboys

It has seemed for years that it does not matter who gets hurt on the Colts, as long as number 18 is under center the team will win.  This season has been extreme. Indy is pulling people off the streets with all the injuries they have had to the skill positions and they don’t really seem to miss a beat.  Colts by 10.

St. Louis Rams by 3.5 at the Arizona Cardinals

The Rams look good and the Cardinals look awful.  Rams by 14.

Eliminator

This week I am going to take a bit of a risky pick and take the inconsistent Seahawks over the lowly Panthers.  Seattle has shown they have as good of a chance to lay an egg as they do to be all world.  That being said they are 3-2 at home and are scoring almost 7 points a game more then the Panthers on  average.

Top Targets for Week 13 (free agents dummy!)

After weeks of us saying that it is hard to pick up a running back that you can count on this late in the season, we have stumbled upon the week of waiver wire running back!  Injuries a’plenty and finally a couple of backfield option that might actually help you don’t the stretch.

Brian Westbrook, RB, San Francisco 49ers – Once a fantasy superstud but largely forgotten this season sitting behind the surprisingly durable Frank Gore, Westbrook proved this weekend that he still has some left in the tank. The 49ers offense runs through Frank Gore but with Gore for the rest of the season with a broken hip (look for him to rehab in Port Charlotte FL) look for Brian Westbrook to put up respectable numbers do the stretch. Westbrook has a decent schedule coming up too so he should be your number one target this week.

Toby Gerhart , RB, Minnesota Vikings – It looks like Peterson is going to play this weekend even with his injury, but if you own AD you should own Gerhart as well. Peterson was already losing some carries to the rookie (not many) but there will most likely be a timeshare situation this week if AD is not 100%

Maurice Morris, RB, Detroit Lions – Kevin Smith is out….again and Jahvid Best has been nicked up since draft day. This leaves Maurice Morris and the last man standing in the Detroit running game. Don’t count on Morris to save your season but he might stop a leak if you really need help.

Tashard Choice, RB, Dallas Cowboys – Marion Barber is one of those players who only knows one speed, FULL. This leads to very few full season and 2010 looks to be following the same path. Barber hurt his calf in the second half of the Thanksgiving tilt against the Saints. Felix Jones will get the lion’s share of the workload initially, but Jones has not been the most durable back in the world either so choice is one play from being the starter. Look for Choice to get some time on the field and if history is any indicator, he will make the most of his opportunity.

Blair White, WR, Indianapolis Colts – White is not the go to guy on the Colts, in fact he usually only see the field in 4 receiver sets, but the way the Colts have been playing this season, they are using a bunch of those! With Dallas Clark no where to be found, Blair also seems to be one of Peyton’s favorite redzone targets as of late. He is not going to catch 10 balls for 140 yards but he might go 3 catches for 25 and a TD on a regular basis.

Danario Alexander, WR, St. Louis Rams – We talked about Alexander after his first big week and like many injury plagued players before him, he took his potential and packed it in his injury bag and sat on it for the next several weeks. But Alexander is back and everything we said about him in October is still valid. Big body, freakish athlete, good target for Sam Bradford.

Joel Dreessen, TE, Houston Texans – Dreesen has taken Owen Daniels’ place as Matt Schaub’s third favorite set of hands. Schaub has had a lot more trouble finding time to look for Andre Johnson downfield this season, this has lead to him looking for help from his TE. Since Daniels is out, that guy is Dreesen. When it comes to low second tier tight ends, Joel will produce as well as anyone else. Decent option if you need help.

Sam Bradford, QB, St. Louis Rams – As rookie fantasy QBs go, Bradford has been rock solid. He doesn’t make big mistakes, he moves the offense and he hits his receivers. Best of all, he is probably still available in your league because no one believes in rookie quarterbacks. He will continue to put up 15+ points a game and that my friend, can win a fantasy championship.

Pretzel’s Picks Week 12

Minnesota Vikings by 1 at the Washington Redskins

Minnesota just fired there coach.  That should mean less babying Brett Favre and more emphasis on the running game.  Peterson and crew should no problem with the up and down Redskins.  Minnesota by 10

Houston Texans by 6 at home over the Tennessee Titans

Houston has lost 4 in a row.  Tennessee has lost their last 3.  Both teams are struggling but Tennessee just sat the cancer in their locker room on the bench.  With Collins under center look for more Chris Johnson and more throws down the field.  Tennessee takes this on be a touchdown.

Cleveland Browns by 10 at home over the Carolina Panthers

As I mentioned last week Cleveland is playing very well.  Carolina…are they even playing anymore.  Browns by 2 touchdowns.

Kansas City Chiefs by 3 at the Seattle Seahawks

Seahawks have lost 3 of their last 4 in embarrassing fashion.  The Chiefs will rely on their league leading running game and the resurgence of Dwayne Bowe to take this one.  Kansas City by a touchdown

Eliminator

For my eliminator pick I will take the Steelers over the Bills. 

Top Targets for 2010 Week 12 (free agents dummy)

Well it looks like the injury bug has struck again and made us looks smarter than we actually are.  With Portis headed to the IR and Torrain questionable, Keiland Williams should be a safe bet for the rest of season. Manningham should be the number one target with both Nicks and Smith out now.  You know what they say… better to be lucky than good!  So let’s see if we can make some lucky calls again this week.

Mike Goodson, RB, Carolina Panthers – With the revolving door at the Panthers running back position, Goodson might actually be available in your league.  It appears that unless Jonathon Stewart does something he has not been able to do his whole career (finish a season) Goodson will be the guy down the stretch.  We know some things about the Panthers that should be noted, they can’t win and they can’t throw but for some reason, they can still run the rock.  This should be good for Goodson owners

Mike Thomas, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars – Mike Sims-Walker has turned into the fantasy football kryptonite for everyone who drafted him and Thomas is emerging as the only guy on the team that can catch a ball beside Maurice Jones-Drew.  With the return of the fantasy relevant David Garrard, Thomas will be a good flex play down the stretch if you need help.

James Jones, WR, Green Bay – Green Bay has a ridiculous offence and with Driver’s injuries this season, Jones has stepped up his game.  Even with the Jets fiasco, Jones has been a very productive receiver over the past 5 weeks and is probably available in your league.

Sidney Rice, WR, Minnesota Vikings – Not that any of the Minnesota Receivers are very valuable right not, but Rice did have 3 catches in his season debut and had 1300 yards on the other end of Favre last season.  He could have some stretch value if Brett gets his head out of his ass.