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PLAYERS TO TARGET
Percy Harvin – WR: Seattle Seahawks
Fantasy brethren, the moment we’ve all been waiting for is finally about to happen … Percy “the magnificent” Harvin is back this week, and barring any setbacks will play for Seattle this weekend against his former squad – The Vikings. While he will undoubtedly be on a snap count this week, The Seahawks bye comes next week and with that in mind, here is Harvin’s remaining schedule: Week 13 at Home vs. the Saints, Week 14 at San Francisco, Week 15 at the Giants and Week 16 at home against Arizona. The only matchup there that scares me even a little is San Francisco because of their ability to shut down offenses, but as we all know, if Percy is healthy he is matchup proof. While you should keep your expectations for Harvin in check, know that he is coming off major hip surgery and has the potential upside of a WR1 in any fantasy format and now is probably your last chance to get him. If you have held onto him this long, enjoy the moment … he’s baaaaaaack!
Michael Crabtree – WR: San Francisco 49ers
Much like Harvin, Crabtree is coming off a major injury – this one to his Achilles. That being said, when the former Texas Tech stud returns he should make an immediate impact. The difference between him and Harvin is that while Percy is coming back this week; Crabtree is still a few weeks away from returning. With that said, Crabtree makes for an excellent late season pick up, especially for those already locked in their playoffs. Crabtree, much like Harvin again, has WR1 potential if fully healthy. While that’s unlikely to happen this season, Crabtree showed enough rapport with Colin Kaepernick last year that if he is actually playing he should be considered a boom or bust WR3. This late in the season, you could do a lot worse than picking up one Michael Crabtree.
Nate Burleson – WR: Detroit Lions
When Burleson went down early in the season due to a broken arm he suffered while reaching for a pizza in his car, the pick up of the week was Ryan Broyles. Well, Broyles did nothing in Burleson’s absence and now he’s out for the season with a torn Achilles. While there is no question Kris Durham has done an admirable job filling in as the WR opposite Calvin Johnson, Matthew Stafford trusts Burleson and he has proven in the past to be a legitimate #2 option opposite ‘Megatron’. The upside for Burleson is not through the roof, but his schedule is relatively easy with a game this week at Pittsburgh followed by games at home against Tampa Bay and Green Bay. The Lions finish the fantasy season with contests at Philly, at home against Baltimore and again at home against the depleted Giants secondary. For a team looking for an extra WR to add for the playoffs, Burleson could provide a much-needed burst, especially for those in PPR leagues.
CJ Spiller – RB: Buffalo Bills
CJ … ohh CJ … How you’ve tormented us through the past couple fantasy seasons. Teasing us with flashes of elusiveness and speed, while seeming as though he is as fragile as a glass house. Finally showing a full glimpse of what he could do last year, Spiller became a unanimous first round pick this season with expectations of a very, very poor man’s Marshall Faulk type year. Whelp … so far this season we’ve seen the occasional glimpse of speed, but Spiller has made Fred Jackson look more like Jim Brown than himself Faulk. Not to worry, however, as Spiller can be traded for in most leagues right now … and there is no better time to deal for him! While he has played with an ankle injury most of the season, (which caused him to miss Week 8 against the Saints) Spiller is finally getting healthy and Head Coach Doug Marrone has pledged to get him the rock more. With a bye next week and then ATL at home, at Tampa, at Jacksonville, and at home against Miami, Spiller is the ultimate buy low candidate and the former Clemson talent should be considered a high upside RB2/Flex for the rest of the season.
Brian Leonard – RB: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
First Doug Martin, then Mike James. Tampa Bay hasn’t seemed to have much luck this season, especially when it comes to their running backs. Both Martin and James are out for the year with season ending injuries and while those who drafted Martin in the top 5 are reeling, opportunity lies in none other than the next Great White Hope, Brian Leonard. Leonard, who was already the passing down back with Mike James, is a Rutgers product whom HC Greg Schiano loves. According to Schiano, he will be “ham & egging it” with Browns outcast Bobby Rainey. While that sounds nice and all, Leonard knows the system, has been in Tampa all year and is a great pass blocker. Leonard is definitely the running back to own in this backfield and while there aren’t many bright spots in Tampa these days, Leonard has the opportunity to be a solid RB3 down the stretch and into the fantasy playoffs.
Cleveland Browns Defense
While defenses are often considered an after thought when compiling your fantasy roster, having a solid ‘D’ can oftentimes be the difference between taking home that ring and leaving yourself wondering ‘what if?!’ Assuming that the likes of Seattle, San Francisco and Carolina are unavailable in your league, the Browns offer serious upside with not only how they are already playing, but also with their upcoming schedule. The Brownies currently rank 6th overall against the run and 10th overall against the pass. While these are extremely solid numbers for your fantasy ‘D’, they only look to only get better as their schedule for the remainder of the fantasy season looks like this: This week at Cincy, at home vs. Pitt, at home vs. Jacksonville, at New England, at home vs. Chicago and finally at the Jets. Besides that New England game, Cleveland is a top 5 defense every other week and if you can get them as a throw in a deal or for a player you will not be using, that’s a move that could be the difference between you poppin’ bottles of champagne celebrating a title, or staring at your computer screen for 10 straight hours wondering how you lost!
SELLING … FAST
Darren McFadden – RB: Oakland Raiders
To be perfectly honest with you, I was never buying McFadden. He can’t stay healthy, and he is the epitome of what I like to call a fantasy tease. With that being said, the appeal for ‘Run DMC’ is there as he’s shown serious talent in the past and when healthy, he gets carries. The problem with McFadden now is that not only can he not stay healthy (currently hampered by a bad hamstring) but also that Rashad Jennings isn’t going anywhere. His last 4 games in the fantasy season look like this: at Dallas, at the Jets, at home vs. KC and at San Diego. With only one semi-favorable matchup in there (at Dallas), to go along with his other issues, McFadden is a definite sell and if you can get a solid deal for him, take it.
Tony Gonzalez – TE: Atlanta Falcons
Man, I really hate putting Gonzo here. I love Tony G. One of the best football players in the history of the NFL. For the rest of the season, Gonzalez is a definite sell. While Gonzalez came back this season to give himself one last chance at that elusive ring, Atlanta has crumbled and has struggled all season long. After losing Julio Jones, Gonzalez was thought to be Matt Ryan’s main target. With Roddy White finally back in action and Ryan’s growing trust in Harry Douglas, Gonzo hasn’t had the type of production his fantasy owners would have liked. Now, Gonzalez is dealing with a foot injury that Atlanta is being extremely hush hush about and could keep him out at least this week. That’s never a good sign and combining that with the Dirty Birds falling apart, one has to wonder what Gonzalez’s motivation will be for the rest of the season. A consummate pro, Gonzalez will show up if he’s healthy, but don’t expect Atlanta to force him out there and even if he is playing, look for Atlanta to head toward a youth movement featuring Douglas and young WR Drew Davis more and more with Roddy White being Matt Ryan’s go to veteran. The thought that blows my mind is … Why didn’t Atlanta trade Gonzo to KC for a Draft Pick?!?
Jeremy Kerley – WR: New York Jets
Bye bye Kerley. A solid pick up a few weeks ago, Kerley’s time of fantasy relevance this season has all but ended. While the future looks bright for the former TCU WR, Kerley has seen his production dip consistently and hasn’t seen the field since dislocating his elbow in Week 9. With Stephen Hill playing better weekly and the return of Santonio Holmes – possibly this week, Kerley won’t see many targets even if he does return to action and can be safely dropped in all leagues.
Darren Sproles – RB: New Orleans Saints
In PPR leagues, Sproles has almost as much value as he had to start the year. He can consistently be relied on to grab balls from Drew Brees and in a league that awards a point per catch, this luxury should not be discounted. In standard leagues, Sproles has become extremely touchdown dependent and with Pierre Thomas playing like he did two years ago, Mark Ingram coming back fully healthy looking like he did wearing the Crimson & Tide, Sproles touches going forward will be extremely erratic. Despite his outburst last Sunday Night against Dallas, Sproles only has two other double-digit fantasy performances – while also mixing in two zeros! Yeah, I said it, z-e-r-o! I doubt that was what you were expecting from your 2nd or 3rd round multi-purpose RB. Keeping in mind that the Saints upcoming schedule includes San Francisco this week with later matchups at Seattle and Carolina twice, Sproles is a definite sell considering his name value and what you could get in return. While I would not give Sproles away as he still holds value with Brees and co., but if you are able to get the likes of a CJ Spiller or another RB2 with higher upside, that’s a move you should make 7 days out of the week. While Sproles will probably have a couple more great games, his inconsistency is too tough to rely on for those trying to make a push for a fantasy title.
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