Although you might not realize it yet, this week is the most important week in the season. You can not falter, you must despise your opponent, and most importantly, you can not lose. Wait...isn't every week in your fantasy football season like this? Oh yeah, that's right: Football season is intense. Speaking of intense, I'd like to introduce to you the three I's of fantasy football: Identification (you must learn your opponents identity, including what beer they like, their favorite player, how to feed them lineup advice, etc.), Intensification (make this matchup count. Even if it isn't close, make it seem close; or intense.), Impact (change your season, and your opponent's season. Make this matchup miserable for him and successful for you.). Now that we have gone over (actually, I just made that up, but we'll go with gone over) the three I's, we can move on to what this article is really about: my Bank and Tank, or in other words: my Start and Sit. This week, I've got a guy that people are really overlooking, and another one who is going to have a staggering game coming off of his bye.
A thing about the article: These are not always the people I would literally start and sit, but rather guys that I like a lot this week. Keep that in mind. Also, remember that you can always ask me a question or make a comment about this, or any other article, on my Twitter. I love getting questions from my readers, and I love it even more when you guys appreciate my writing. I will give advice all throughout the week, answering every single question I get to the best of my ability. I also wanted to include what I ranked each guy next to what ESPN analysts ranked him. The first number next to the players name is my ranking, the second one is the ESPN consensus rankings
Quarterbacks
Bank
Tony Romo @ New England (3rd, Tied-4th) - How can you not love a quarterback that is going to be playing against the worst pass defense in the league. Not only are they getting torched in real life football, but in fantasy football the Patriots are getting smacked; they have allowed 19.6 points per game to opposing quarterbacks. That is tied for the third worst in the league, and they haven't even played great quarterbacks. And to make this even more scrumptious, Tony Romo has two wide receivers better than Calvin Johnson on his team! How awesome is that!
Mark Sanchez vs Miami (10th, 15th) - Speaking of delectable matchups, how about Mark Sanchez.I know "the Sanchise" has been playing, well, like Mark Sanchez, but with this kind of matchup, how could you not like him? Miami is 31st in passing yards allowed, and they have allowed nine touchdowns through the air in just four games (Dolphins have already had their bye). And even though Sanchez has been playing very mediocre, he has played good against the Dolphins: In four games against them, he has six touchdowns to go along with 909 yards, and that was before the Dolphins' defense looked this bad. Look for Sanchez to have around 250 yards and two touchdowns on ESPN for Monday Night Football.
Extra: Colt McCoy (15th, 18th)
Tank
Matt Schaub @ Baltimore (20th, 13th) - Alright, so the hate didn't payoff in week five, but that was only because I completely overlooked the defense of the Raiders. But against the Ravens, well, it's a little bit hard to over look them. They have allowed just one touchdown when their defense has been on the field at home. So, fear the beak? Yes, yes you should.
Josh Freeman vs New Orleans (17th, 14th) - Here's the scoop, Freeman is bad. That's my insight. He is playing bad right now and he has a 71.4 passer rating to show for it. This isn't a terrible matchup, but I'm just trying to make the point that until Freeman shows you something, you have to sit him. Right now, he isn't impressing anyone.
Extra: Joe Flacco (20th, 13th) - Texans allowing just 13 fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks.
Running Backs
Bank
Michael Turner vs Carolina (4th, 8th) - It's obvious that you start Michael Turner, but I think this matchup is more favorable than people are making it out to be. The Panthers have allowed the second most fantasy points to opposing running backs this season (24.6 ppg). Granted, lots of those points have game through the air to running backs, which Turner does very little of, but you get where I'm headed here.
Darren Sproles @ Tampa Bay (13th, 18th) - Correct me if I am wrong, but is this the third consecutive time that Sproles has been on my "bank" list one way or another? I know that last week was his worst week yet even though he had the most touches he has gotten all year, he still did not succeed with those carries. This week he takes on the Bucs who allow 17 point per game to opposing running backs. I guess I just want to make this clear as can be: Start Sproles and start him every week because consistency is everything in the regular season.
Extra: Cedric Benson (10th, 13th), Shonn Greene (17th, 20th)
Tank
BenJarvus Green-Ellis vs Dallas (25th, 19th) - It's as simple as this: Don't play your running back who is playing the number one rushing defense in the league. The Cowboys have allowed only 10.8 points per week to opposing running backs (nearly half of that that through the air). They have allowed just one touchdown on the ground in four games and you think BenJarvus Green-Ellis is going to be able to do anything? Temper you're expectations.
Steven Jackson @ Green Bay (26th, 14th) - The Rams are a very lousy football team, and do you actually think that the Rams will be able to run the ball in this game. Not only are the Rams going to be playing from behind, but they are also playing from behind. I really do not like Steven Jackson's chances this week. With the name "SJax" you probably won't be able to sit him, but I highly recommend that you do.
Extra: Jahvid Best @ San Francisco (18th, 15th) - Playing the best fantasy rush defense
Wide Receivers
Bank
Torrey Smith vs Houston (25th, NR) - I'm trying to ponder why no one at ESPN ranked Smith. Johnathan Joesph, playing the best he ever has right now, is going to be on Anquan Boldin and that is going to put Kareem Jackson in a mismatch with Torrey Smith. Flacco should be finding Smith all day long and I expect him to have an above-par game.
Victor Cruz vs Buffalo (9th, 21st) - The job is his! Matthew Berry, Eric Karabell, whoever else that is still rankings Manningham above Cruz, listen up! All jokes set aside, Cruz is a physical specimen and Manningham can not compete with him. This job is Cruz's (just like I predicted it would be two weeks ago) until the stat line at the end of a game shows other wise. Cruz is a great play this week and he has huge upside and with the time he is getting on the field, he has very little downside.
Extra: Michael Crabtree (19th, 32nd), Jabar Gaffney (27th, 36th)
Tank
Percy Harvin @ Chicago (29th, 24th) - The reason I don't like Harvin? The Bears' fierce pass defense? Nope. The Bears don't allow touchdowns through the air (Harvin has zero this year)? Nope. It's Donovan McNabb: He has been absolutely terrible and he can not (seriously, can not) toss the ball into the endzone with only four this year (two in one game). I don't like Harvin much this week, as well as the rest of the year.
Brandon Marshall @ New York Jets (24th, 18th) - Revis Island is coming to Brandon Marshall, and who is throwing the party? None other but Matt Moore. The situation for Marshall couldn't get much worse for this week, and I really would not be surprised if he drops a goose egg. The Jets have only allowed 15.6 points per game to wide receivers this year and they haven't played Matt Moore yet.
Extra: Santana Moss (23rd, 20th)
Tight Ends
Bank
Greg Olsen @ Atlanta (5th, 9th) - Olsen has consistently put up honorable numbers in three straight games, and I don't think it ends here. The Falcons haven't been playing particularly bad this season against opposing tight ends, but why can' that change against a guy that Cam Newton has been depending on? Don't look for Greg Olsen to have a huge game, but don't listen to these other guys' rankings.
Extra: Jake Ballard v Buffalo (13th, 22nd)
Tank
Jason Witten @ New England - Okay now, don't go and plopping Witten on the bench, that's not what I mean when I say he is going to tank. I know that Witten is a huge part against of this offense, but with Austin and Bryant in such favorable matchups (worst defense against wide receivers in the league) I expect a lot less looks from Romo.
Extra: Scott Chandler @ New York Giants (25, 20)
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I know you are kidding when you wrote this article.
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ReplyDeleteKid, don't waste your time reading if it is so bad. It is as simple as that. Now get outta here.
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