And the playoffs keep rolling along. Awkward week last week. Lots of stars putting up pretty awful performances. A handful of no-names came out of nowhere.
Overall, the pick-ups here are pretty simple. When we get into the playoffs, I am far less likely to count on sleepers, so I don’t have any pickups for that either.
Basically, if you want to get anyone off of free agency, you are looking for great matchups, or injury fill-ins.
Biggest injury of the week has to go to DeMarco Murray. Felix Jones filled in and had a decent day. But I think that, for the most part, that we because the Giants did not game plan for him. The Cowboys have another good matchup though as they face the Bucs, who just gave up four touchdowns to Maurice Jones-Drew.
If Felix is still floating in free agency, I think he is a must add. He will be a great play for the next two weeks, facing the poor run defenses of Tampa Bay and Philadelphia. He will also be working with fullback Fiammetta, who has been largely credited with Murray’s success. The Cowboys just signed ex-Patriot Sammy Morris to the team. He could get some runs, and steal the goal line work, but I would not add him unless you are in a mind-blowingly deep league.
And the second major injury goes to Greg Jennings. While Jordy Nelson and Jermichael Finley will likely pick up most of his slack, Donald Driver and James Jones could be in free agency for you still. With so many receiving weapons on the Green Bay offense, neither one of them is a lock to get the biggest boost, but you can count on both of their stat lines improving with the injury.
Both should crack the top 50 as the GB offense is still explosive without Jennings, but neither of them are very solid if you have better options.
Matchup adds to consider this week are:
Christian Ponder. He had a huge day the last time he played at home. And going up against the Saints on home turf should mean a lot of passing and a lot of confidence. If you are suffering at the QB spot, he could be worth the gamble.
Jake Locker. I fully expect him to get the start. The Titans started off hot with Hasselbeck, but have slowed recently. The only surges that their offense has seen in recent weeks is when Locker takes the field. And you have to love everyone’s matchup when they are against the Colts.
Golden Tate. Mentioned him briefly last week, and I’ll do it again. He seems to be the man picking up Sidney Rice’s slack. His numbers haven’t been near elite, but he could make a good flex play if you need him. Seahawks are facing the Bears who have a solid run defense, meaning that Seattle could be forced to go to the air more often than in recent weeks.
Titus Young. He has come on pretty strong as of late. It’s damn hard to be comfortable with his numbers as he has been up and down all season. But the Lions are making a big playoff push right now, and defenses are spending all their time trying to contain Calvin Johnson. At this point, I would consider him a better play than fellow wideout not named Megatron, Nate Burleson.
Chaz Schillens. Keep in mind throughout this paragraph… this is a REACHHHHH. Deep leagues only need apply. Heyward-Bey left last week’s game. Moore and Ford both missed the game and neither are guaranteed to return this week. That would leave Oakland with the receiving talents of Schillens, Louis Murphy and T.J. Houshetc. Of the three, I like Schillens. Impossible to call which one would step up, but against the Lions, you know Carson Palmer will need to be throwing to somebody.
And for all you crazy SDS kids out there... I present your Sleeper Defense Picks.
I like... Cowboys at the Bucs. Titans at the Colts. Seahawks at the Bears. Cardinals at the Browns. Patriots at the Broncos.
