2014 Fantasy FootballFantasy Football

2014 Fantasy Football: Week 12 Monday Night Football Preview

watkins land
Sammy Watkins

New York Jets @ Buffalo Bills (in Detroit, 7 PM EST)
                                  &
Baltimore Ravens @ New Orleans Saints

Thanks to a massive snow storm in Buffalo, we have a second Monday Night Football game. Not only do we get the scheduled Ravens and Saints game, we now also get the rescheduled Jets and Bills game. In Detroit the Bills lose a home game due to catastrophic conditions in their own city. The Bills handled their business in New Jersey less than a month ago against the Jets. They should be able to do the same in Detroit. The Saints, who are usually unbeatable in the Super Dome, have lost their last two games at home. The team is in shambles and Drew Brees looks like the aging QB that he is. The Ravens have some issues in their secondary but it would be a bit of a surprise if they can’t put up enough points to get by a struggling Saints’ team. Then again, winning in New Orleans is never a safe bet.

New York Jets: Key Players
QB Michael Vick
Vick is a big improvement from Geno Smith. With that being said he’s not a big improvement from anybody else. He is way too high-risk to start on your fantasy team down the stretch. He has little upside through the air and is a walking turnover. He is also always a risk to get injured early. Of course that’s hard to predict but with guys like Vick and RG3 it has to be taken in to consideration.
Verdict: Sit Vick. Too much risk, not enough reward.

RB Chris Ivory
Ivory has probably been the Jets’ offensive MVP this season, if there is such a thing. This of course is more by default than anything else. While he is a solid option from time to time depending on the matchup, the Bills defense is very tough against the run and coming off a tough loss.
Verdict: Sit Ivory. Ivory is more of a matchup based play due to the Jets offensive ineptitude. This matchup is not a good one. The Bills have the 9th best rush defense in the league.

RB Chris Johnson
It has become clear that Johnson is not the CJ2K of old and the Jets have no idea how to utilize him even if he was. Johnson along with everybody else now realize that he made a terrible mistake signing on with that dumpster fire of an organization.
Verdict: Sit Johnson. Right now he’s a shell of his former self. A change of scenery could do wonders though.

WR Percy Harvin
Harvin has all the talent you could hope for in an athlete, yet two teams have already sent him packing. Injuries and a foul attitude appear to be dooming his career. His love of the game, work ethic and commitment to his teammates has been brought in to question on numerous occasions. I do not know the man personally so I cannot assess his character but I can assess his on field performance. Between flashes of brilliance he has greatly underperformed on offense.
Verdict: Sit Harvin. He lacks consistency and the Jets’ offense lacks pretty much everything. Unless you need to swing for the fences Harvin is best left on your bench.

WR Eric Decker
Decker already wasn’t a very good receiver and now he’s not even the team’s best receiver. Unless the Jets claim Peyton Manning off waivers at some point today, Decker is best left alone.
Verdict: Sit Decker. He was clearly the product of the system and situation in Denver.

 

Buffalo Bills: Key Players
QB Kyle Orton
This is an ideal matchup for “The Viper” Kyle Orton. When these teams played less than a month ago, Orton threw for 238 yards and four TDs. While it is kind of greedy to hope for another four TDs, there is really no reason it can’t happen. He should be plugged in as a starter in most 12 team leagues.
Verdict: Start Orton. Look for him to bounce back with a great matchup after a few very tough ones.

RB Fred Jackson
You have to love the oldest active RB in the league but you don’t have to love his situation. Until he re-establishes himself as the lead dog in the backfield, he will be very difficult to trust.
Verdict: Sit Jackson. There are just too many questions surrounding his health and the Bills’ snap distribution.

RB Bryce Brown
Brown is kind of like Jackson just not as good. Pretty much all the Bills’ RBs are muddled in fantasy obscurity right now and will be until the backfield situation is figured out.
Verdict: Sit Brown. He may have some PPR value but it’s hard to predict how much with Jackson returning.

WR Sammy Watkins
Last time these teams met Watkins torched the Jets. He tallied 157 yards and a TD and probably should have had two TDs. The Jets’ secondary just has no answer for Watkins, they cannot match his talent. Look for another big game this Monday night.
Verdict: Start Watkins. This is as good a matchup as he’ll have all year and he gets it twice. Plug him in your lineup and add him in daily leagues.

WR Chris Hogan
Chris “Hollywood” Hogan has emerged as a viable second option in Buffalo. He is far from a safe play but does hold some sleeper value as a desperation flex in deeper leagues.
Verdict: Sit Hogan. However, like I said he’s not an awful option if you’re desperate. Especially against the lowly Jets.

 

Predictions

Final Score
New York: 17
Buffalo: 33

Best Play
Jets: Chris Ivory
Bills: Sammy Watkins

Sleeper
Chris Hogan

 

Baltimore Ravens: Key Players
QB Joe Flacco
Flacco heads to the Super Dome this week where all struggling QBs go to get back on track. No opposing QB has failed to hit the 200 yard mark in New Orleans this season. Flacco hasn’t been great he past month but will turn things around on Monday night. Much like Andy Dalton did after his Thursday night debacle.
Verdict: Start Flacco. He has been pretty solid this year but is still only a matchup based start. This is one of those matchups.

RB Justin Forsett
Forsett has been a very pleasant surprise for his owners this season. Averaging 5.4 yards-per-carry and chipping in in the passing game, Forsett will likely hit the 1,000 total yard mark this week. He is very close to a must start.
Verdict: Start Forsett. The Saints are worse against the pass but can be had on the ground as well. Look for him to have a nice night.

WR Steve Smith Sr.
The previously red-hot Smith Sr. has gone ice cold. He has really struggled in the past four games as Torrey Smith has taken the lead. The good news for Smith Sr. owners is he has not seen a decrease in targets.
Verdict: Sit Smith Sr. He is a very borderline start but a very risky one. He may be best left on your bench until he starts to show some promise again.

WR Torrey Smith
After a miserable start to the season, Smith is heating up lately. He has scored six TDs in the past seven games and one game he was forced out of early against the Bengals and held without a catch. He is still a boom-or-bust WR but has been all boom lately.
Verdict: Start Smith. With a matchup like this you have to start one of these guys and we’re going with him. He should have a big game against a bad Saints’ secondary.

TE Owen Daniels
Since taking over for Dennis Pitta, Daniels has caught only one TD pass. While he has had decent PPR numbers he doesn’t give you much else. Before last week when Jermaine Gresham inexplicably caught his first two TDs of the season, the Saints had only allowed one TD to a TE all season.
Verdict: Sit Daniels. If you need to start him he’s not a bad start, there are just better options out there.

 

New Orleans Saints: Key Players
QB Drew Brees
Brees is still a great fantasy option, just not as great an option as he once was. However, the battered Ravens’ secondary is a very favorable matchup. Especially in the dome.
Verdict: Start Brees. He may not be the elite of the elite anymore but there are still very few better options than Brees. You are still starting him pretty much every week.

RB Mark Ingram
Pierre Thomas is expected to return this week but that shouldn’t really effect Ingram. Once Khiry Robinson returns that may hurt Ingram. Until then, Ingram is a RB2 at worst. The Ravens do have a tough rush D so temper expectations a bit.
Verdict: Start Ingram. He has been great lately and is seeing a ton of touches. He is a must start just about every week.

WR Marques Colston
Colston may be a nice play this week against the Ravens who are allowing the third most fantasy points to opposing WRs this season and have been getting progressively worse. He is still only a WR3 but a much more solid WR3 than usual.
Verdict: Start Colston. He is a nice option to plug in at WR3 or flex this week.

WR Kenny Stills
Stills is the most likely candidate to benefit from the injury to Brandin Cooks. He is a deep threat facing a team that can’t seem to stop the deep ball. Look for Stills to burst back on to the scene on Monday night.
Verdict: Start Stills. He is a very good WR3/Flex option this week. He has a great sleeper start and it would not surprise me if he leads all WRs in fantasy points in this game.

TE Jimmy Graham
What is there to say? He is one of the most elite fantasy TEs the league has ever seen. He is great and should have a great game.
Verdict: Start Graham. The former Miami Hurricane is a must start every single week that he is healthy.

 

Predictions

Final Score
Baltimore: 33
New Orleans: 31

Best Play
Ravens: Joe Flacco
Saints: Jimmy Graham

Sleeper
Kenny Stills

Previous post

2014 Fantasy Basketball Daily Fix, November 24th

Next post

2014 Fantasy Baseball: Disappointments -- AL Starting Pitchers