:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/44242448/usa-today-8212383.0.jpg)
Armando Marsal
Fantasy Writer
Quarterbacks
Start Em
Ben Roethlisberger, PIT vs. NO - The Steelers are coming off of a bye week and are taking on the Saints who had a tough loss on Monday night to the Ravens. You have a well-rested team taking on a team traveling on a short week. Not to mention, Big Ben has played close to perfect football in Pittsburgh. At home, he has thrown 18 touchdowns and one interception. He has a passer rating of 130.5 in Heinz Field. In addition, the Saints aren't the best defending quarterbacks. In fact, they give up 16.9 fantasy points per game, and have allowed 17 passing touchdowns. In the last three games, the Saints have allowed over 200 passing yards and at least one touchdown in each game. This is the perfect matchup for Big Ben coming out of a bye.
Other Starts
Matthew Stafford, DET vs. CHI
Ryan Tannenhill, MIA at NYJ
Tony Romo, DAL vs. PHI
Eli Manning, NYG at JAC
Sleeper Alert: Andy Dalton, CIN vs. TB
Sit Em
Colin Kaepernick, SF vs. SEA - Kaepernick is set to take on a team that has his number, and is also very good defensively. The Seahawks give up the second fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. In their last six games, they've allowed five touchdowns and only one quarterback was able to throw over 200 yards against them. In four career games against the Seahawks, including the playoffs, Kaepernick has three touchdowns and seven interceptions. The Seahawks are his kryptonite, and it's unlikely that changes this week. Kaepernick has only thrown for over 300 yards once this year, hasn't rushed for more than 64 yards in a game, and has only thrown multiple touchdowns in three of his 11 games. This could end up being a defensive battle on Thanksgiving Day.
Other Sits
Kyle Orton, BUF vs. CLE
Cam Newton, CAR at MIN
Russell Wilson, SEA at SF
Josh McCown, TB at CIN
Bust Alert: Jay Cutler, CHI at DET
Running Backs
Start Em
Andre Ellington, ARI at ATL - Here's a back who has struggled on the ground in recent weeks. In the last three games, Ellington has averaged fewer than three yards per carry. What's kept him fantasy relevant, at least in PPR formats, is that in that time frame he's caught four or more passes in each game. In his defense, he has played against three of the top 11 run defenses in the league. This week, Ellington has a chance to get back on track against the second worst run defense in the NFL. The Falcons give up the second most fantasy points per game to opposing backs 21.9 and have allowed the most rushing touchdowns (14). They've surrendered over 100 rushing yards in six games. Ellington has yet crossed the century mark in any game this year, but that could change this weekend. Get him in your lineup this week.
Other Starts
Alfred Blue, HOU vs. TEN (as long as Arian Foster is out)
Rashad Jennings, NYG at JAC
Justin Forsett, BAL vs. SD
Alfred Morris, WAS at IND
Sleeper alert: Joique Bell, DET vs. CHI
Sit Em
Ryan Mathews, SD at BAL - Mathews is coming off of a nice performance against the Rams. He ran for 105 yards and one touchdown. One thing to note is that he left the game early with a shoulder injury. Reports are that it's nothing serious and he'll play this week. However, I'm concerned because through the years he's proven to be fragile and can breakdown at any minute, especially if he's playing at less than 100 percent, which is likely the case this weekend. Another red flag is that Mathews will be facing the best run defense in the NFL. The Ravens are allowing the fewest fantasy points per game to running backs (10.4), and have only allowed three rushing touchdowns. In Baltimore, the Ravens have not surrendered a touchdown. There's not much to be excited about when a banged up back is taking on a stout run defense.
Other Sits
Steven Jackson, ATL vs. ARI
Frank Gore, SF vs. SEA
Chris Ivory, NYJ vs. MIA
Latavius Murray, OAK at STL
Bust Alert: Isaiah Crowell, CLE at BUF
Wide Receivers
Start Em
Odell Beckham, NYG at JAC - This kid is special. He arguably made the best catch in NFL history last week. It was definitely the best I've ever seen in my lifetime. Beckham heads to Jacksonville to take on the Jaguars. The Jags defense has allowed one or more receiving touchdowns in their last four games. They are giving up 22.3 fantasy points per game to opposing receivers, and have surrendered more than 24 fantasy points in each of the last three games. In his seven starts, Beckham has 41 catches for 609 yards and five touchdowns. He's gone over 100 receiving yards in three games, has scored at least one touchdown in three games, and has caught six or more passes in the last four games. He's becoming one of the league's better young receivers and should be active in all formats this Week.
Other Starts
Kelvin Benjamin, CAR at MIN
Martavis Bryant, PIT vs. NO
Jordan Matthews, PHI at DAL
Mike Wallace, MIA at NYJ
Sleeper Alert: Brandon LaFell, NE at GB
Sit Em
DeSean Jackson, WAS at IND - In the last two weeks, Jackson has been nowhere to be found. He's caught six passes for 74 yards in his last two games combined. The Redskins team is in disarray, and has decided to bench Robert Griffin III for Colt McCoy. Jackson has proven he can do well with any quarterback under center, but has struggled in recent weeks. This week's matchup is a tough one for him. The Colts are allowing the sixth fewest fantasy points per game to opposing receivers (17.8). They have not allowed any receiver to score a touchdown in the last two games, and have only allowed one receiving touchdown at home this year. It's safe to say, this secondary has locked down receivers in Indianapolis. The only thing that may help Jackson this weekend is garbage time, because it's very likely that the Redskins will trail throughout this entire game. However, that's not a good enough reason to start him in my eyes.
Other Sits
Robert Woods, BUF vs. CLE
Vincent Jackson, TB at CIN
Percy Harvin, NYJ vs. MIA
Kenny Britt, STL vs. OAK
Bust Alert: Anquan Boldin, SF vs. SEA
Tight Ends
Start Em
Travis Kelce, KC vs. DEN
Jason Witten, DAL vs. PHI
Delanie Walker, TEN at HOU
Sit Em
Owen Daniels, BAL vs. SD
Vernon Davis, SF vs. SEA
Mychal Rivera, OAK at STL
Defense
Start Em
Miami Dolphins at New York Jets
St. Louis Rams vs. Oakland Raiders
Sit Em