Fantasy Column 13
QB
Drew Brees @ TB- Tampa’s defense has been solid all year but Brees may be able to get through them. Plus, he gets Reggie Bush back this week and Deuce McAllister isn’t suspended so should have plenty of weapons in a must-win game.
Aaron Rodgers vs. CAR- Rodgers should do well at home against slipping defense. He has all of his weapons so he should get it done here.
Phillip Rivers vs. ATL- Atlanta’s secondary has played extremely better than what you’d expect them to be on paper, but Rivers has played better. Rivers should have a good game at home in a battle of teacher and apprentice in LT vs. Michael Turner.
Jay Cutler @ NYJ- Cutler has been so-so lately and is not the same QB he was in the beginning of the season and Jets secondary has been solid. He may have trouble getting the ball to Marshall since he will see plenty of CB Revis but Eddie Royal could help him out in this one.
Peyton Manning @ CLE- Cleveland’s secondary is horrendous and Manning has all of his weapons so expect a huge day for Peyton as he will do something his brother couldn’t which is beat Cleveland.
*Matt Cassel vs. PIT- Cassel has thrown for 400 yards the past 2 weeks which is something Brady couldn’t do. Expect that trend to end against a solid Pittsburgh defense. That isn’t to say Cassel won’t do well this week, but don’t expect 400 yards and 5 TDs.
BOOM PICK
Tyler Thigpen @ OAK- Thigpen has thrown for 1 INT in his 3 starts and the 4 games he has played in. Oakland’s secondary is underachieving and Thigpen should exploit them in this one and look to get a huge divisional win.
BUST PICK
Derek Anderson vs. IND- This is a bad matchup for a shaky QB in Anderson against the surprisingly stingy Colts secondary.
RB
LaDainian Tomlinson vs. ATL- LT should have a great week this week. His team needs a win and Atlanta’s front-7 is beatable if LT is on his game. LT is not the same gamebreaker that we all know and love but he will get it done.
Adrian Peterson vs. CHI- Peterson has owned Chicago getting 423 yards and 7 TDs in 3 career games against them. He gets them at home in this matchup in a must-win game which would give the winner sole possession of first place in the NFC North.
Michael Turner @ SD- Turner has been on fire lately so expect much of the same as he tries to outdo his teacher in LT.
Clinton Portis vs. NYG- Portis is coming into this matchup a little banged up so check his status. With that said, the Giants look untouchable right now so Portis will not have his best day in this one.
Matt Forte @ MIN- This will be a tougher matchup for Forte but he did score in the last matchup against Minnesota. Don’t expect the 48-45 score of last game. It would shock me if either team broke 25 in this rematch.
BOOM PICK
Thomas Jones vs. DEN- This is a dream matchup for Jones. Denver’s defense is awful and Jones has played extremely well lately.
BUST PICK
Ryan Grant vs. CAR- Although their defense has slipped, Grant is not the RB he was last year and Carolina still has a great front-7.
WR
Greg Jennings vs. CAR- Tougher matchup for Jennings but could find the end zone at home in a game that Green Bay needs to use everything it has to make sure it can win.
Roddy White @ SD- White is a little banged up but since he should be good to go he has a great matchup in a bottom 5 pass defense in SD.
Andre Johnson vs. JAC- Johnson underperformed in the first matchup this year and he will see a lot of Rashean Mathis so don’t expect much from him.
Reggie Wayne @ CLE- Wayne should have a field day against an awful secondary in Cleveland. Maybe hell top 150 yards and multiple scores.
Randy Moss vs. PIT- Normally this is a tough matchup but it’s Randy Moss. If Cassel makes good throws Randy Moss will haul them in.
BOOM PICK
Eddie Royal @ NYJ- As I said earlier, Royal will help out Cutler in this one since Jets will likely take out Marshall in this one.
BUST PICK
Dwayne Bowe @ OAK- Even though Thigpen should have a good day, Bowe may not be the cause of it. He will likely see a lot of Nnamdi Asomugha which is never good.
TE
Tony Gonzalez @ OAK- I like his chances of scoring in this one as Thigpen always checks down to him and their LBs and Safeties, except Gibril Wilson, have really underperformed.
Antonio Gates vs. ATL- Gates has been slumping the past few weeks but look for a turnaround since Atlanta will focus on LT and the receivers a lot more and have mediocre LBs and Safeties.
Kevin Boss @ WAS- Boss has really picked it up lately since his sluggish start. Without Burress, Eli will look to him a lot more and may get more red zone looks in this one.
Dallas Clark @ CLE- Clark couldn’t find a more favorable matchup anywhere. Expect great numbers for Clark this week.
Tony Scheffler @ NYJ- May struggle this week as he will see a lot of LB Harris and S Rhodes but he may get a cheap TD and get 6 points.
BOOM PICK
Anthony Fasano @ STL- STL is horrific on defense in all areas and Fasano is going to see more action now that Camarillo is out for the season.
BUST PICK
Visanthe Shiancoe vs. CHI- Even though he gets TDs on an unpredictable scale, I will predict against Shaincoe since Chicago’s secondary actually isn’t that bad and it will be more of a ground battle in this game.