The WN Fantasy Football Report: Playoff Start em and Sit em

You have worked 13 long weeks to get to this point. Grabbing the right guy off the waiver wire, making the right trade, and of course, setting that right lineup. Well, now it’s time to turn that hard work into a trophy and maybe even some money.

STARTS THAT MADE US LOOK SMART:

Andy Dalton: 220 yards passing, 2 TDs, 11 yards rushing, 1 TD
Ryan Fitzpatrick: 390 passing, 2 TDs, 22 yards rushing
Jonathan Stewart: 82 rushing, 3 for 31 receiving, 1 TD, 1 TO
Michael Crabtree: 5 receptions, 45 yards, 1 TD
Martavis Bryant: 4 receptions, 114 yards, 1 TD
Javorius Allen: 63 yards rushing, 12 for 107 receiving and 1 TD
Ted Ginn: 5 for 80 receiving and two TDs
Alex Smith: 162 passing, 2 TDs, 23 yards rushing, 1 TD

STARTS YOU SHOULD HAVE SAT:

Jay Cutler: 202 passing, 1 INT, 10 yards rushing
C.J. Anderson: great start, but left hurt and did not return
Ryan Tannehill: 86 yards PASSING, 1 TD, 11 yards rushing
Jarvis Landry: 2 receptions for 5 yards
Kyle Rudolph: 3 for 13 receiving

SITS WE GOT RIGHT:

Matt Ryan: 269 passing, 1 TD, 1 INT
Eric Ebron: 2 receptions for 9 yards, 1 TD
DeMarco Murray: 24 yards rushing
Stevie Johnson: late scratch DNP

SITS YOU SHOULD HAVE STARTED:

Carson Palmer: 356 passing, 2 TD
Drew Brees 282 passing, 3 TD, 12 rushing

There were some borderline sits that were near the bottom of the weekly rankings, but may have helped you. For example, Frank Gore was a recommended sit but tallied 45 yards rushing, 45 receiving and a TD. Jordan Matthews was a recommended sit as well. He finished with 3 for 36 yards receiving and a touchdown. That’s 12 points in a PPR, and I think you can do better than that, so I stick by my sit.

Let’s get right into it this week.

Dunton

Starts of the Week: RB Doug Martin. Who saw this coming? Over the past 2 weeks Muscle Hamster has averaged 96 yards on the ground and last week he capped it off with a TD. Did I mention he is playing the Saints Defense? Enough said. In fact it may be wise to throw Jameis in there too but that’s on you.

WR Sammy Watkins. A few weeks back Sammy complained about the ball not getting to him enough. You know what happened? Buffalo started using him more and they started to compete more and win some games. They are in the playoff hunt and a weak Eagles secondary is ripe for Watkins to take advantage of. The NFC East is a joke and this week the Eagles lack of coverage is exposed as Watkins takes advantage of them.

Sits of the Week:

QB Tom Brady. It would be hard to sit Mr.Brady in one of your biggest games but if you have a better matchup (Russell against Ravens or Jameis against Saints) play them. Brady is playing the Texans whose defense has showed up as of late and we saw what Tom is like without Gronk and Julian and an injured Amendola last week. I think Tom has average numbers against a tough Texans D. You may be better off playing him in week 15 when Gronk is definitely back (if you make it to the next round).
WR Julio Jones is on the injured list, problem number one. Problem number two he is going against a tough Panthers D. Problem number three: Matt Ryan stinks. I am sure Julio is one of the reasons you have gotten this far but he has not scored a TD since week nine and the Falcons are in a free fall of epic proportions.

Fee:

Starts of the Week:

QB Tyrod Taylor: Have you seen the last 2 weeks? The Eagles D is less than good. If you read Law Dog’s latest on the top five reasons it’s so hard to be a Philly fan, he’d agree.

QB Jameis Winston: The guy is a model of consistency getting you 15 or more in almost every game this year. If you want a high floor guy, he’s it, especially versus the New Orleans D.

RB Lamar Miller: have you watched the Giants lately? They give up tons and tons of yards and points. MIller has also been very consistent over the last few weeks.

RB David Johnson: banged up Minesota D on a short week? Sounds good to me!

WR Sammy Watkins: What Dunton said.

Sits of the Week:

QB Matt Ryan: Carolina D is tough on QBs and something is wrong with the ATL offense. I’d sit him if you can.

Packers RBs.: Lacy may be back but I just can’t trust him…will it be RBBC? Will it be Starks if Lacy can’t get going? Will it be John Crockett, whoever the hell that guy was? Who knows.

Cincy RBs: Like The Wayniac with Eric Ebron these guys are a weekly pick for me. I just don’t see enough volume for either guy to warrant a play in the playoffs. Go another way if you can.

WR Amari Cooper: Denver’s secondary is just that good.

TE Jason Witten: He’s scored less than six points in six straight games.

J.D.

(Note from J.D.: I square off against The Wayniac in the first round of the playoffs this week. The last time I faced Wayniac in the playoffs was the semi-final of 2012 — which is also the night my wife became a fan of fantasy football. Down 31-3 to the 49ers, Brady’s 2nd half comeback fell short for the Patriots, but lead my fantasy team to the finals over Wayniac. In honor of our meeting this week, I am limiting my sit/start selections to our rosters.)

(Note from The Wayniac: I’m still bitter.)

Starts of the Week: QB Tyrod Taylor– Coming off back-to-back three TD pass weeks and also scoring on the ground last week, he gets Philly’s defense.

RB Todd Gurley– The Rams have faced two of the best teams the past two weeks and Gurley only received 9 carries in each of the comeback efforts. You may be doubting starting Gurley, and rightfully so. The fields are more level this week hosting Detroit. Gurley should get his touches, which means he’s back to RB1 status

Sits of the Week: QB Kirk Cousins– Facing an underrated Bears passing defense and rain in the forecast. Keep this gem on the bench until next week.

WR Martavis Bryant– I’m a little worried about Big Ben finding Markus Wheaton on big plays the past 2 weeks. There are a lot of mouths to feed on this Pittsburgh offense and relying on a big Bryant play at Cincy is too risky for me.

The Wayniac

Starts of the Week:

QB: It’s crazy that Ryan Fitzpatrick is an option to start in the fantasy playoffs, but he has been playing well. Don’t be scared off by the Titans defensive number as they are inflated by some nice early season performances. The last three weeks they have allowed over 20 points to opposing QBs and the last time Fitzpatrick faced them, he threw six TDs.

RB: I am advising two RBs against two bad defenses. I have to agree with Fee on Lamar Miller against that Giants defense, but here’s a doozy for you. Shaun Draughn against the hole-y Browns defense should have a nice day. The 49ers are surprisingly playing much better with their “backups” and Draughn registered 20 points in a PPR league last week.

WR: Mike Evans is against the Saints. Any other questions?

TE: Orange Julius is back! Julius Thomas has scored a TD three weeks in a row and the Colts defense is by no means imposing. Blake Bortles is quietly becoming a superstar and when the Allens get doubled in the red zone, Julius will be waiting.

Def: Chiefs are playing a Chargers team that is simply atrocious. KC is on a five game romp and it is in large part from their defense giving Alex Smith the ball. They will have you a day.

Sits of the Week:

QB: There is something wrong with Matt Ryan and at this point, you have to think some of it is mental. Josh Norman is no one to solve your problems against.

RB: The Steelers own Jeremy Hill, and if you do, you should sit him. Also Buck Allen is going against a rejuvenated Seahawks team. This is the time of year that they turn it on, so you can’t expect another week like he had against the Dolphins last week.

WR: I have three match-ups I don’t like at all. Amari Cooper may struggle against a Super Bowl caliber defense in Denver. Stefon Diggs will struggle against the Cardinals, especially after Teddy Bridgewater threw for 117 yards last week. DeSean Jackson is a tough sit because he always sneaks that long TD in, but the last three games, that’s ALL he has snuck in. It’s the playoffs, and it’s too dangerous to rely on a guy that gets you three points if he doesn’t score and the Redskins are abysmal on the road.

TE: Don’t act like you don’t know… Eric Ebron. Last week was awesome. He scored that early TD, and my phone blew up with texts. “Wayniac, looks like your boy is finally coming through,” they said. He had one more catch for six yards in the next three quarters, and if you aren’t in a PPR, he finished with six points. Whoopty doo.

Def: I think Dunton is nuts telling you to sit Brady. Now, I believe in my Texans, and they very well may find a way to win this game, but that doesn’t mean Brady won’t get his points. I don’t care if Brady is throwing to their fifth string wide receiver and the beer vendor from section 103… Brady scores. Ever since Brady started these annoying check down in the dirt passes, he has been avoiding sacks as well. Like I said, I do believe the Texans can surprise people, but that doesn’t mean their defense is going to be fantasy relevant this week.