This is the weekend of the young/backup/craperrific quarterbacks getting their shots. It shouldn’t make for much good football, but it could be funny. Add Jimmy Clausen and John Skelton to some of the guys below and we really should appreciate Manning, Brady, and Brees a little more.
Donovan McNabb: Mike Shannahan has done lost his mind. If he thinks Rex Grossman and John Beck are better quarterbacks than DMac he needs to get out of the business. This hurts Chris Cooley and Santana Moss and Ryan Torain. Maybe I saw Sexy Rexy too often here in Chicago, but I would start the Cowboys defense a few times over.
Kyle Orton: He didn’t throw on Friday and it is looking like Tim Tebow might get his first start. Tebow will hurt the Broncos fantasy players, especially Brandon Lloyd. Knowshon Moreno should still be good to go, but could have trouble getting many goal line looks. The Raiders become a viable fantasy defense this week and we should see first hand why Josh McDaniels was fired.
Aaron Rodgers: He didn’t practice on Friday and it’s looking more likely that Matt Flynn will get the start. He did ok getting the ball to Greg Jennings, but this does drop Jennings out of elite range. It does make the Patriots a good start.
Joe Webb: It looks like Webb will get the start and he has wide receiver eligibility in Yahoo leagues. They will be playing in God awful cold weather, but little wind and no precipitation. Webb is an extremely gifted athlete and should take off with the ball at anytime. I wouldn’t be surprised at 50 yards rushing and 150 yard passing with a TD either rushing or passing. If you get a good chunk of negative points for an interception or only 4 points for a passing TD, he does lose a little value. His upside is worth a WR3 slot.
Matt Cassel: He has been practicing and it looks like he might get the start. If he does I wouldn’t play him unless you are desperate, but I would feel better about Bowe and JC.
Aaron Hernandez: He has the flu and has been limited. I’m guessing he will be ok for the game, but the lack of practice does hurt him. I would boost Gronkowski up a notch or two.
Marion Barber: He was limited in practice, but could return this week. Tashard Choice loses any upside if The Barber cuts into his work.
David Garrard: His hammy got a bit of a whammy and even though he should play he loses a lot if his legs aren’t 100%. We should see a lot of MJD and Rashad Jennings.
Chris Ivory: He didn’t practice on Friday. His chances of playing aren’t great and if he were to play he wouldn’t be the main guy. Pierre Thomas would gain some value if Ivory is out.
DeSean Jackson: He has been limited in practice, but guaranteed he would start. I’m going to take him at his word.
Adrian Peterson: He hasn’t practiced, but they do have a Monday night game so it’s not crazy to give his ankle the rest. Just make sure he goes on Saturday. He is downgraded with Webb in there, but he’s too good to bench unless you have three top ten options at RB this weekend.
Percy Harvin: He’s finally back to practicing, but Webb does hurt his upside. In return yardage leagues he is still viable though.
hey Doc,
I’ll make a small donation to the site if you can be right about this one. It’s the semi finals for me and I have Aaron Rodgers :(.
I need to start 1 QB. I have Big Ben and picked up Jason Campbell. Which guy would you start? 6pt/TD in this league. I’ve been going back and forth on this all day. On one hand, Jason Campbell is playing the lowly Broncos and he’s played decently the past few games. On the other hand, he’s Jason Campbell. With Big Ben, he’s facing a good Jets D BUT he plays well at home.
Please help!!
@Doc: Would you rather have T.O. or Webb at WR3…4pts per touchdown…already had VJax put me up 29-23, he had Rivers…this is first round of playoffs and he has Turner/SjaX/Jennings/Colston. I have Vick/McCoy/Blount/White/Wayne…
Doc:
12 team PPR.
In light of Tebow starting, should I start Jamaal Charles over Moreno?
Also, in light of McNabb’s benching, should I grab Boss or Gronkowski to start in place of Cooley? (WTF SHANAHAN?!) Cooley did go to the coaches requesting more balls be thrown his way… wouldn’t he get a slight bump in value with Rex starting anyway?
Thanks a million again…
Ive got Greg Jennings and Bowe for my second wide receiver spot need to pick one.
I’m looking at some under-the-radar keepers for next year. Anyone whose not likely to be on a fantasy roster now but could emerge as a started next year (pref. qb or rb). As soon as my team loses, I can’t drop/add anymore so I’d like to look ahead before kickoff.
Thanks
Would you play the Giants D or Falcons D this week?
Doc: in the flex, .5 ppr: santana Moss w Grossman, PT Cruiser or Donald Brown?
Who’s the safest bet for my rb/wr slot this week of these four:
A banged up (and most likely heavily guarded) Adrian Peterson.
A Rodger-less Greg Jennings
A Hit-or-miss Mike Wallace
Or a hot-hand/great match-up in Tim Hightower…
Thanks DOC!
*** ARod officially out ***
Adjust your lineups and play NE.
Excuse me as I dance around the room for awhile.
@MJD Took A Knee: let me guess…your opponent has ARod and you have NE Def?
LFitz, Blount, or Joe Webb at Flex?
0.5 ppr (0.2/completion), 6 points for any TD, -2 for INT
@Teddyballgame: I still like AP as long as he practices today.
@Joel: I think Cruiser has the most upside. Moss is safer even with Grossman though.
@Steve Mc: Falcons
@papa: Earl Bennett, Jacoby Jones, Emmanuel Sanders. James Jones, John Skelton, James Starks, James Davis, Stephen Williams, Deji Karim, Rashad Jennings, Bernard Scott, Montario Hardesty, Colt McCoy, Mohamed Massoquoi, Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker, Jerome Harrison
@In a Bind: leaning Bowe
@CL: I’d still lean Moreno, but it is close. Cooley could actually see a bump, but he’s also riskier now. I like Gronk’s upside.
@Nick: I like TO. Webb is a wild card.
@Eric: It is very close. I am leaning Ben with Revis a little gimpy.
@batman the horse: I like the points for completions for Webb, but Blount is safer.
@Doc
I need help with two questions if you don’t mind.
Its a PPR, 6pts for all TDs, 50yds for 1 pt return yards league.
What i need to know is who should start at WR between
Joe Webb vs Chi
or
Percy Harvin vs Chi
At RB i need to start two
MJD vs Ind (i can’t not start him right)
Jacobs vs Phi
Torain vs Dal
Felix vs Was
Ronnie Brown vs Buf
Ricky Williams vs Buf
Thanks any advice is greatly appreciated.
@Wilsonian: Opponent has Rodgers and Jennings and only Garrard as back up. He has NE Defense. It’s even better that I started VJax.
With the latest Developments in Was, still start cooley or get OD off the wire?
Also, Santana Moss or Mike williams (TB)!
Hey Doc,
I have to start Tashard Choice, Marshawn Lynch, or Rashad Jennings. Obviously no guarantees there. I’m tempted to start Jennings though and hope he gets a TD. With Jones-Drew less than 100% I would guess Jennings would at least get a fair number of carries. Who would you start there?
You mentioned Grossman, which means I have to trot out this obligatory article:
http://kissingsuzykolber.uproxx.com/2006/11/f-k-it-im-throwing-it-downfield.html
Oh, and caution: article contains NSFW language.
who would you start at RB2? Forte against viks or Blount against Lions? PPR league.
@MJD Took A Knee: haha, makes sense…I’d be dancing a little too. It only helps me on the NE defense front, but I’ll take it.
Is Jahvid Best worth starting over Ray Rice, Ahmad Bradshaw, or LeSean McCoy?
Also, is Kitna worth starting over Eli and Cutler?
huge bench fail with V Jax this week, need big things from these guys…
Pick 2 (PPR, opponent has Kitna):
J Stewart
Hightower
Jennings
Witten
Tamme
With news that Rodgers is out, please pick 3 in a PPR: Jennings, Nicks, Blount, Sid Rice, Mike Williams (TB)?
And looking ahead, who is the better DEF play next week: Chargers(@Cin), Jets(@Chi), Giants(@GB), or Cowboys(@Ari)?
Okay, pick 3 out of these 5… Britt, Best, B. Marshall, A. Hernandez, or M. Thomas (JAC). It’s very flexible and PPR… THANKS!
Doc,
Sending you the last double whiskey shot of the year. Unless, you pull a miracle out of your hat for me. PPR League.
Ochocinco or Obomanu? A wise sage once told me when in doubt look at the over/under. Bengals game 40. Seattle game 45. Both WRs will play just about every snap. Gotta go balls to the wall I’m the dog.
Merry Xmas!
Ur thoughts?
Which two to start: Jennings, Bowe or Nicks? I’m leaning Bowe and Nicks with ARod out, but Bowe’s craptastic past two weeks scare me.
Let’s play who would you start?
Miami D vs ‘da Bills….or Tampa D vs Lions?
Doc, you gonna re-rank? has the DAL D become a better start than the Bears?
If I decided to go withthe Bears, would it be crazy to start Webb at WR2, or would it be a smart hedge?
Need some flex help…
Webb, Choice, or M. Bush
-.5 passing attempts/+1 completions
-2 int’s
4 pt passing td’s
.5 ppr
Thanks.
Gotta start 3, PPR: Bradshaw, JC, LeSean, Felix, Torain. Thanks Doc.
…the reason I ask is because Yahoo projections have Felix scoring more than all 4 of the other guys this weekend, of course I take their projections with a grain of salt but still…
@dcr: Ouch, bad format for Webb, but not in love with your other options. I’d lean his way.
@Joel: Always hard to say there. Who would you play instead of Webb? I could see playing Webb and Dallas. Dallas and Chicago are very close.
@JackInTheBox: Miami
@DP: Yeah, he is a little scary. If Cassel goes I would lean that way.
@Greg: Ocho has been playing a little better recently and TO is a little banged up. I would say he is the safer play. Obo is a bit of a wildcard. I want to say he has more upside than Ocho, but I think they are probably about the same. I’d lean Ocho.
@longbeachyo: Britt, Best, B. Marshall
@nick m.: Jennings, Nicks, Blount I think Flynn will at least get Jennings a shot. I’d lean Chargers
@Mark: Stew, Hightower
@Slam: No and Kitna
@Ryan: Blount
@Playoff Time: I’d go with Webb, MJD and Jacobs.
@Slim: OD, Williams
@emceeperiod: Bradshaw, JC, McCoy are the way I would go, but I do like Felix’s upside.
Can’t decide on flex between Britt, Ronnie B or Joe Webb? 6 pts all TDs. 5 point bonus at 100 for rushing/recieving
Doc: with regard to the follow up fromabove, my choice at wr2 is webb, Buc Williams or Boldin. non-ppr, minus 2 for turnovers, all tds 6 pts. I guess my gut tells me that Buc williams is safer than webb, and the Bears are safeer then Dallas. The whole webb thing is incredibly tempting though. so, Final Answer: Webb, Boldin or Buc @ wr2, dal or bears @ D???
I keep thinking about what the Bears did to Thigpen, and he was an actual NFL QB, in temperatures above ten degrees. if the Bears are a legit D, isn’t Webb really dead meat?
Branch, S Moss, or S Rice for my WR3 spot to go along with Wes Welker and Megatron this week? Thanks as always! (Oh and I haven’t said it yet but thanks for getting me addicted to fanduel)
Saints or Dolphins def. you get – points for an offense scoring over 30.
3wr to start Reggie W, D. Jackson, welker and Witten.
Kicker balt-billy C
or Dallas-David B
Hey Doc,
need the prescription for getting to the finals. Thanks for your help.
PPR and Point per Completion league where I need to pick three:
Wayne, Santonio, Lloyd, Maclin or young Joe Webb (in a wr slot).
Also, need to pick between Shaub or Kitna.
What say you?
Rosie
Thanks, Doc!
I own the NYG D…OAK and NE are available and, as you noted, are nice plays this week.
I have some dead weight I can drop to make room. Would you go with either OAK or NE over NYG this week?
@Commish Cauda: I’d go with NE.
@Rosie: Wayne, Holmes, Webb. I’m torn between Schaub and Kitna. I like Schaub’s upside, but think Kitna is safer.
@Bluety: Dolphins, Reggie W, D. Jackson, welker, Buehler
@Mark: I’d lean Branch. yeah, FanDuel is addictive for sure.
@Joel: Thigpen doesn’t have Vick-like speed, but it is for sure a gamble, but I think it’s one worth taking. Even Thiggy got 7 points in that Bears game. Not a horrible number for a WR3, but it makes for a little more concern for a WR2. I am more afraid of Webb than Grossman since they do have AP and they don’t really know what to expect from Webb. I’d lean Dallas and Webb.
@DSimms: Tough one. I like Brown.
@Doc: Quick question for ya Doc. Need helping figuring out who to start at QB in my bizzaro league (interceptions, fumbles, sacks get you points). I picked up Joe Webb and am starting him in my WR position and now I have four players to choose from:
Rex Grossman
Matt Flynn
Jimmy Clausen
Mark Sanchez
Who will be the worst QB of these four guys tomorrow?
@ Doc Desperate for QB in deep league. Here are the choices
Flynn, Grossman, Tebow, Skelton, Clausen!!! (also can get hill but he’s unlikely to start looks like)
@Doc: PPR, daniels over gronk even with a-her out?
Doc,
Who do you like better Megatron or H Nicks in non PPR? Quick reasoning would be awesome as well. THANKS!
Hey Doc,
I have to start Tashard Choice, Marshawn Lynch, or Rashad Jennings. Obviously no guarantees there. I’m tempted to start Jennings though and hope he gets a TD. With Jones-Drew less than 100% I would guess Jennings would at least get a fair number of carries. Who would you start there?
@cruisinkc: I like Flynn for worst
@Rim: I’d lean Flynn or Grossman. Grossman should have better weather.
@herschel: AHer is out, but should see less work. I like both, but am leaning OD.
@primetime: Now with Stanton starting for sure I’d probably lean Nicks.
@Nuke LaDouche: Yeah, it’s a tough call between Jennings and Choice. I could see going Jennings.
Hey doc been on autopolt for the last couple of weeks and still won regular season championship. Have an RB question for today. Because of matchups and injuries would you go with:
Blount (TB) or Peterson (Minn)?
By the way happy holidays and thanks!
Hey doc modify my question above to picking two of the followng three RBs:
Blount, Peterson and Bradshaw
I’m leaning Blount and Bradshaw based on injuries and game conditions.
@MR: Tough call. I find it hard to sit AP, but you need to go with your gut there.