Start 'Em / Bench 'Em - Week 13

Here we are - week 13 of the regular NFL season and in many cases the end of the regular season in fantasy football.  This could be your last chance to make the playoffs or maybe you are playing spoiler or maybe even thinking about next season already.  Whatever the case is we are here to help so here are the start/bench for week 13:

Thursday Night:

Baltimore @ Cincinnati
Baltimore has been winning convincingly ever since Jim Fassel was fired.  The Bengals have been looking more like their 2005 selves in the last 3 weeks and are giving themselves an outside shot to make the playoffs.  This is basically a must win for the Bengals.  Look for them to try to run and have limited success – this game will come down to Palmer and his 3 amigos, Johnson, Houshmandzadeh and Henry.  Baltimore will pound Lewis and hit Heap, they may try something longer, but they have not been that successful in that arena.  This is up to Cincy to score early and often and keep the Ravens playing from behind.

Start ‘em – J. Lewis, T. Heap, C. Palmer, C. Henry, C. Johnson
Bench ‘em – T. J. Houshmandzadeh, R. Johnson, S. McNair, D. Mason
Marginal – M. Clayton

Sunday’s Games:

Detroit @ New England
This should be an easy win for the Patriots.  The Lions just can not seem to get it done this year and once again many are wondering how Matt Millen stays employed.  The Pats will move the ball efficiently and be able to contain the Detroit offense.   This should be a nice follow up game to the Bears win last week and allow the Pats to regain some composure.  The Lions will try to get back to moving the ball with Jones (who is still listed as out) and setting up the big play to Williams, but it won’t be enough this week.

Start ‘em – T. Brady, B. Watson, R. Williams, C. Dillon, L. Maroney
Bench ‘em – D. Gabriel
Marginal – M. Furrey, K. Jones (if he plays), R. Caldwell

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San Diego @ Buffalo
San Diego needs to start thinking about getting a bye in the playoffs and with Baltimore leading they need to get all the wins that they can.  Buffalo has been playing better for the last couple of weeks and should be due for a let down with LT coming to town and Merriman returning to the San Diego D.  The Chargers will run and pass and will have success doing both.  Buffalo may still be thinking it has a chance in the playoff picture, but they are on the outside looking in, but it may provide incentive to get the job done.  The Chargers win this one from start to finish for a change.

Start ‘em – L. Tomlinson, A. Gates, P. Rivers, W. McGahee, L. Evans
Bench ‘em – V. Jackson, K. McCardell, J. P. Losman, P. Price
Marginal – E. Parker

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Indianapolis @ Tennessee
Believe it or not, I think Tennessee has a shot in this game.  The running attack of Travis Henry should be able to keep the Colts O off the field, and the Titan D has been playing better in recent weeks.  Peyton will have to win by throwing and he can do that, but it is really up to the Colt D to stop the Titan’s running game.  They should not be taking this game lightly or they may suffer the same fate as the Giants last week.

Start ‘em – T. Henry, B. Scaife, P. Manning, R. Wayne, M. Harrison, B. Utecht
Bench ‘em – D. Rhodes, D. Bennent, B. Wade
Marginal – J. Addai

Arizona @ St. Louis
What could have been…  Both teams have disappointed in their bid to take down the Seahawks and now it is all but too late.  St. Louis has been bad for weeks now and it probably has something to do with not getting the ball into Tory Holts hands.  This week they will probably rely on Jackson once again to give them their best shot so Holt may still be an after thought.  Look for Leinart to try to get things done and open up space for James who should have a decent day, but why rely on him when he has done nothing but disappoint.

Start ‘em – M. Bulger, S. Jackson, A. Boldin, L. Fitzgerald
Bench ‘em – I. Bruce
Marginal – T. Holt, M. Leinart, E. James

San Francisco @ New Orleans
Both teams need to keep winning – New Orleans to make the playoffs and San Fran to have a shot at them.  The Saints have a 1 game lead over the Panthers for the division, the 49ers are looking up 2 games at Seattle, but already beat them once.  This should be a good game for watching just because these 2 teams have been playing good and are still trying to make the playoffs.  Take the home team as it is an early game and they are playing a West coast team.

Start ‘em – D. Brees, D. McAllister, M. Colston (if he plays – other wise Henderson), F. Gore, A. Bryant, A. Smith
Bench ‘em – A. Battle
Marginal – J. Horn, R. Bush

N.Y. Jets @ Green Bay
Chad needs to get back on track and this may be the game to do it.  Green Bay is fresh off a season killing 7th loss on Monday night and should be the elixir that Pennington needs to get back on track.  Look for decent days from Washington and Coles and even Cotchery as the Jets keep the playoff hopes alive.  The Packers will run Green and Favre will turn the ball over and cause the Packer faithful to wonder if 2007 will see number 4 again in the green and yellow.

Start ‘em – C. Pennington, L. Coles, L. Washington, D. Driver, A. Green
Bench ‘em – K. Barlow, B. Franks, D. Martin
Marginal – J. Cotchery, G. Jennings, B. Favre

Kansas City @ Cleveland
Another field day for Larry in this one, expect at least 150 yards and 2 TD’s.  Cleveland just stinks.  Droughns will not get anywhere and Edwards is not making plays.  This is Frye and Winslow as the team right now.

Start ‘em – L. Johnson, T. Gonzolez, K. Winslow Jr.
Bench ‘em –E. Kennison, S. Parker, T. Green, R. Droughns, C. Frye

Minnesota @ Chicago
The first game between these two was real close, but that is before the Vikings went into a tail spin.  Minnesota is still alive in the NFC picture, barely, but if they want to they can give a game of it.  Both offenses have issues with playing difficult defenses so expect a low scoring game.  Not many choices here, but expect a usable performance from Chester, but nothing extraordinary.

Start ‘em – C. Taylor, T. Taylor, D. Clark
Bench ‘em – B. Johnson, M. Robinson, T. Williamson, T. Jones, R. Grossman, B. Berrian, M. Bradley

Houston @ Oakland
Is this the Brady Quinn bowl?  Houston has fallen far below expectations this season, even though they have been in many of their games.  The only beat Miami and Jacksonville twice.  Oakland has been playing a little better, but still has issues generating offense and that could doom them as the Texans can generate offense and with any bit of a running game they should emerge victorious. 

Start ‘em – W. Lundy, D. Carr, A. Johnson, O. Daniels, R. Moss, R. Lee
Bench ‘em – R. Caldwell, C. Jackson, D. Martin, B. Franks
Marginal – R. Curry, Z. Crockett

Dallas @ N.Y. Giants
Dallas has had additional days to rest and prepare for the divisional battle this week against the Giants – this is probably the end of the road for the G-Men if they let this one get away.  Dallas looks to be in the driver’s seat for the division with Romo playing so well.  Don’t expect 5 TD’s, but do expect another good game from him this week.  The Giants will try to run and will need to stick with it or risk putting the game in Eli’s hands and that, so far, has never been a good thing.

Start ‘em – T. Romo, T. Owens, T. Glenn, J. Witten, T. Barber, P. Burress, J. Shockey
Bench ‘em – J. Jones, M. Barber

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Sunday Night:

Seattle @ Denver
Another battle for the sole possession of 2nd place in the AFC West.  Seattle took a half to get going last week and looks to be ready to win again in Denver.  Denver changed QB’s to be Cutler – don’t know what to expect, but would not be surprised to see him mess up in his debut against a decent defense on a nationally televised game.  Denver will attempt to run and run well to take pressure off of Cutler so he can make some plays.

Start ‘em –  J. Walker, T. Bell, S. Alexander, M. Hasselbeck, D. Branch
Bench ‘em – J. Cutler, Steven Alexander, N. Burleson
Marginal – M. Bell, D. Jackson