Top Targets for 2012 week 16

Well, I picked up Santana Moss last week instead of Demaryius Thomas….and I lost by half a point. I hope you faired better my friends.

Quarterbacks

Kyle Orton, Kansas City Chiefs Yes, for the second time this season I am recommending Kyle Orton. Yes, I think he is horrible. But, He has already faced the retched Raiders pass defense this season and put up over 300 yards. Now he was on a different team then, but the Raiders pass defense is still really bad.

Taylor Yates, Houston Texans – Yates let me down last week in one of my few questionable calls this season. But…facing the atrocious Colts, he will vindicate me for my faith in him.

Running Backs

Pierre Thomas, New Orleans Saints – Ingram is battling turf toe and even though Chris Ivory padded his stats in garbage time, Thomas is the go to guy at the goal line in the big easy. Thomas is playing a very stout run defense in Atlanta this week but with the way that Brees is slinging the ball around the Falcons will not be able to stack the box like they have in some previous matchups.

Sammy Morris, Dallas Cowboys Murray is gone for the season, Felix Jones in still missing practice so it looks like Morris will get the start versus the 17th ranked Eagles run defense. Morris is experienced when it comes to taking over as the starter in week 16 when the feature back is out due to injury. If he Morris starts, he will produce.

Wide Receivers

Demaryius Thomas, Denver Broncos – I told you to start him last week and Thomas is still available in many leagues, still producing and facing a Bills team that got torched by the lowly Dolphins last week. I have been right a lot this year and I intend to continue this week. Grab him, start him.

Brian Hartline, Miami Dolphins – Hartline is not consistent but if you need help, he is still around in almost every league and playing the worst pass defense in the league. I have waited years to say this but the Patriots pass D is TERRIBLE.

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.

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.

Top Targets for 2011 Week 13

Quarterbacks

Kyle Orton, Kansas City Chiefs – Kyle Orton is a quarterback that I have dumped on for many, many seasons. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think he is a good option, but he may be the best one you have available to you. He will still make bad decisions and read defenses terribly, but the Bears, Packers and Raiders are awful against the pass. I my humble opinion (which is what you paid for) your best bet is listed directly below.

Rex Grossman, Washington Redskins The following is what I wrote last week… still true. 31, 17, 27, this is the passing defenses that Sexy Rexy faces in weeks 14, 15 and 16 respectively. Now if “good Rex” shows up he could put up 25 a game for you, if “bad Rex” shows up it could be the end of your fantasy season.

Running Backs

Head Smacker

CJ Spiller, Buffalo Bills – With Fred Jackson out for the season, it was only a matter of time before the Bills turn to the versatile and highly drafted CJ Spiller to finally step up. With 22 touches in week 12 he did that and should continue to be a critical piece of the offense for the rest of the season. Best part is that 3 of the 4 teams he faces down the stretch have bad run defenses. Grab him.

Not so Obvious

Maurice Morris, Detroit Lions – Mo Morris is no Javid Best, he is not Kevin Smith and he probably isn’t even Keiland Williams. He is however, a starter this week on a team that can score playing against a team that gives up points.

Wide Receivers

Santana Moss, Washington Redskins – In for a penny in for a pound right? If Rex is Good so is his best deep threat. Moss has been battling injuries most of the season but he has declared himself “good to go” just in time for fantasy football playoffs. And remember, he plays the same terrible pass defenses that Rex plays down the stretch.

Riley Cooper, Philadelphia Eagles – It looks like Jeremy Maclin is going to miss more time which means that Riley Cooper will once again be the only WR in uniform that has the stones to go across the middle. Mike Vick looks like he will be out again too and since Vince Young can only hit receivers when they are in the dead middle of the field Cooper should continue to see plenty of off target balls coming his way.