Week 12 Fantasy Football Match-up Analysis!

Cincinnati at Pittsburgh

Cincinnati will have their work cut out for them against the #1 defense in the league. Pittsburgh is allowing just 69 yards per game on the ground and have yielded just 4 rushing TDs this year. The Bengal's still don't have a premier running back and you likely wouldn't have any of their running backs in your lineup anyway but if you had them in your lineup sit them this week. Fitzpatrick has been playing a little better and the Bengal's had a good game in the air last week but don't expect much against a stout Steeler's pass defense that is allowing just 169 yards per game and have given up 9 passing TDs all year. Houshmandzedah is the only person you're starting on the Bengals and temper your expectations for him as well. Chad Ocho-Cinco has been deactivated for this weeks game for breaking a rule(s) of the team. This means that Housh will be drawing even more double teams than normal. Housh still leads the NFL in receptions so if he finds the end zone he could have a reasonable game but not a game like last week.

In Pittsburgh Willie Parker appears to be healthy and is a must start this week against the Bengals. They allow 131 yards on the ground and have yielded 12 rushing TDs. In the air Ben R will try to get back on track against a bad Bengal's pass defense that has given up 14 passing TDs. Hines Ward is a good start and is the main target for the Steeler's. Heath Miller has practiced two days in a row and hopes to play Thursday night but don't expect huge things as he has been mostly quiet this year even when he is healthy.


Houston at Cleveland

Brady Quinn got his first win amidst a pretty poor game. Quinn broke his right index finger on one of the Bills' helmets last Monday but is cleared to play for Sunday. Keep an eye on him though because if he plays he has a good matchup if you're struggling at QB. The Texans have allowed 211 yards per game and have given up a putrid 17 passing TDs. Braylon Edwards still has a case of the dropsies but is still a prime target. Edwards is a #2 or #3 receiver at this point. Kellen Winslow strained his shoulder Monday night but is likely for Thursday night. Keep your eye on him but he should be a good start. On the ground Houston gives up 133 yards per game and have yielded 15 TDs. Jamal Lewis is a good start this week as the Browns will have to protect Quinn's finger.

Cleveland's defense isn't much better than Houston and that means that Rosenfels should have a reasonable game. Schaub is out for up to an additional month and Rosenfels will try to rebound from a horrible game. Sage is not a good start at all and should be on your bench. Andre Johnson is too good to sit but temper your expectations. On the ground Slaton should have a nice game against a Browns defense that allows 149 yards on the ground and have yielded 11 rushing touchdowns.


San Francisco at Dallas

Romo came back last week and performed just well enough to pull a win out thanks to some superior play from their defense. He will still wear his pinkie splint but is improving. After taking a hobo to the movies this week Romo and the Cowboys will try to stay on task by beating the bad 49'ers. The 49'ers are allowing 235 yards in the air and have yielded 15 TDs. Terrell Owens has been off the must start list for a few weeks but I do expect him to find the end zone this week. The Cowboys will likely try to keep it on the ground as much as possible against a San Francisco that allows 107 yards per game and have allowed 10 rushing TDs. Marion Barber should have a good game despite the bad news that Felix Jones will be put on IR with a torn ligament under his big toe. After missing time with a torn hamstring Jones tore a ligament under his big toe while rehabbing the hamstring.

On the 49'ers side of the ball Frank Gore is a must start against a Cowboys team that gives up 106 yards per game and have yielded 8 TDs on the ground. On the passing side of the ball nobody on the 49'ers are must starts. Shaun Hill has been serviceable and Vernon Davis has finally put together a couple decent games but the Cowboys team has a refreshed secondary after getting Terrence Newman back and they are allowing just 188 yards per game but have allowed 13 passing touchdowns.


Tampa Bay at Detroit

Tampa Bay struggles to stay ahead in the wild card standings and should have an easy time of it going against the 0-10 Lions. Detroit has put up a couple close games but Tampa Bay should have a good game this week. Detroit is allowing 172 yards per game on the ground and 231 yards in the air. Earnest Graham and Cadillac Williams are both out for Tampa Bay which makes Warrick Dunn a must pick-up and start. Detroit has given up an impressive 17 rushing touchdowns and Dunn should have a nice game. Garcia is a reasonable start against a Detroit team that has given up 16 passing touchdowns. Antonio Bryant should be in your lineup if possible.

Kevin Smith has quietly put together quite a decent sleeper running back sleeper season but he should be on your bench against a Tampa Bay defense that has only allowed 1 rushing TD all year while allowing 99 yards per game. In the air Tampa Bay's cover 2 defense is allowing 182 yards per game and have yielded 13 TDs. Calvin Johnson is the only person you're starting for the Lions but he is questionable with a quad injury. Keep your eye on him but if he's playing he has to be in your lineup with 5 scores in his last 6 games, he's the Lions' only legitimate option now.


Jets at Tennessee

The tough Jets rush defense could be the end of the Titans' 10-0 run although Collins proved last week that he can still throw the ball with a 230 yard game with 3 scores last week. It's good time for him to be getting into a rhythm against a poor Jets pass defense that is allowing 240 yards per game and have yielded 14 passing TDs. He will likely need to win the game for the Titans since Chris Johnson and LenDale White will have a tough game against the Jets that allow just 81 yards per game and have only allowed 7 rushing TDs. If you drafted Chris Johnson as your number 3 running back treat him like that this week.

Brett Favre has been riding the Thomas Jones engine and will try to continue that ride this week. Tennessee allows 95 yards on the ground and have yielded 10 TDs. While they are a stout run defense their pass defense is more stout, mostly because of the pressure that Hainsworth puts on the QB. The Titans allow just 187 yards in the air and have allowed a stingy, league leading, 5 passing TDs. Favre, Coles, Keller and Cotchery are not great plays if you have better options but if Favre decides to play Vintage Favre a big game should never surprise anybody. Thomas Jones is a #2 or 3 back this week despite being the 4th best fantasy back thus far.


Buffalo Bills at Kansas City

Tyler Thigpen has been the only bright spot in a terrible KC team. He has thrown for an average of 2 TDs a game over the last 4 games making Tony Gonzalez and Dwayne Bowe viable fantasy options. This week he should have a decent chance of expanding his positive play going against the Bills pass defense that allows 202 yards per game but just 7 TDs allowed in the air to date. Larry Johnson got the bulk of the carries last week by default. Larry Johnson is still not a consistent runner and is averaging around 3 yards per carrie.

On the Bills side of the ball most of their players should be in your lineup if possible. Lynch finally looked like he did when he was a rookie last year and has a phenomenal match-up this week against KC that allows 165 yards per game on the ground and have yielded 16 TDs to date. Lynch is a must start. In the air Trent Edwards has played terrible. Edwards has thrown 2 or more interceptions in the last three games and at inopportune times to boot. Edwards needs to be on the bench despite the fact that KC allows 237 yards per game in the air and have allowed 12 TDs. Until Edwards proves that he remembers how to be a professional QB he should be on your bench. Think of Lee Evans as a #3 receiver at best until Edwards gets back on track.


Chicago at St. Louis

Chicago finds itself in a three way tie for 1st at 5-5 and will try to get an easy win against a very bad Rams team. Matt Forte is primed for a huge game against a Rams team that allows 158 yards per game on the ground and have allowed a league worse 18 TDs on the ground. Forte is my start of the week at running back and should be in your lineup regardless of who else you have. Orton looked shaky last week in his first week back and coupled with the fact that Forte is going to demolish the Rams defense I don't like any of the Bears passing game this week.

On the ground Chicago looks a bit like retro Bears defense. They are allowing just 87 yards on the ground per game and have yielded 10 TDs. Steven Jackson is out of the lineup again this Sunday and that makes Antonio Pittman the main guy behind Bulger. You are not starting Pittman against a tough Bears defense. In the air the Bears can be beat. They are allowing 249 yards per game in the air and have allowed 13 TDs. Donnie Avery is the receiver you want to start in St Louis and is the only Ram I would want to start this week on both sides of the ball.


New England at Miami

Always a tough fight Miami will try to steal a win from the Brady-less Patriots. While allowing 104 yards on the ground the Patriots have only allowed 5 rushing touchdowns. Ronnie Brown could be a good start but I expect him to not find the end zone making him a #2 running back. In the air the Patriots are susceptible allowing 204 yards per game and have yielded 16 passing touchdowns. Unfortunately Pennington hasn't been playing consistently well and Ted Ginn Jr is too inconsistent to be a must start. They are deeper plays if you're having injury problems.

On the Patriots side of the ball Cassel is coming off of a huge game where he passed for over 400 yards and rushed for 60. Cassel and the Patriots should continue their air exploits going against a Dolphin's team that allows 223 yards in the air and have given up 12 TDs especially since Miami's rush defense is stout at 91 yards per game allowed and just 5 rushing touchdowns allowed all year. Randy Moss, Wes Welker and Matt Cassel should probably be in your lineup this week.


Minnesota at Jacksonville

Adrian Peterson had an off week last week and will look to get back on track against the mediocre rush defense of the Jaguars. The Jags allow 113 yards per game and have allowed 7 rushing touchdowns. As if you needed to hear it from here but Adrian Peterson should be in your lineup! Frerotte is looking more like what we expected him to look like over the last few weeks and should not be in your lineup along with all the other Vikings' pass game. Jacksonville is allowing 215 yards per game in the air and have given up 18 passing touchdowns. Sidney Rice and Visanthe Shiancoe are the only two people in the Vikings' pass game that I would want to start.

The is trying hard to hold on to some sort of playoff hope but they are looking up at Indianapolis and Tennessee. If you're expecting any production from any Jaguar it is probably Garrard. The Vikings are allowing 223 yards per game and have given up 8 passing touchdowns. MJD and crew will find it difficult to get started against a Minnesota team that allows just 74 yards per game on the ground. MJD is finding the end zone and has periodic flashes of great talent but could still lay an egg at any time.


Philadelphia at Baltimore

The Eagle's had a horribly disappointing week against a bad Bengal's team last week and will find it difficult to right the ship this week against the always physical and tough Ravens defense. The ravens are allowing just 80 rushing yards per game and have given up a stingy 3 rushing TDs. Brian Westbrook is obviously not 100% and has gone three games without finding the end zone. Westbrook is not a must start until he shows that he is healthy and this week does not look good for that to be the week. In the air Baltimore is a little more susceptible. They are allowing 188 yards per game and have given up 12 passing touchdowns. McNabb and DeSean Jackson will try to get back on track this week but with the Raven's 20 sacks and 15 INTs they will have a rough time at it.

The Ravens are the new winners of the running back heart breakers. If you start whoever had the big game the previous week for the Ravens you will be wrong the next week. It looks like McGahee is the man again but as soon as you get comfortable with that Ray Rice will have 100 yards and a score! The Eagle's rush defense is allowing 98 yards per game and have allowed just 5 rushing TDs. This makes me nervous to start McGahee but he is the back you want to start if you have to start a Ravens back. In the air Philadelphia is allowing 194 yards per game and have given up 13 passing TDs. Flacco has proven he can do more than just "manage" a game but he should be on your bench along with the rest of the Raven's passing game.


Oakland at Denver

Oakland will have a supposed healthy McFadden back this week against a bad Denver defense. Denver is allowing 143 yards on the ground and have given up 13 rushing TDs. McFadden and Fargas have little value despite the good match-up as they will both be getting snaps. In the air the Bronco's have been Terrible. They are allowing 244 yards per game and have allowed 14 TDs. They have just 4 interceptions and get virtually no big plays. That being said Russell and the rest of the Oakland passing team still has little to no value and should not be in your lineup.

Cutler has been slowly returning to form and has should have a decent game. Oakland's pass defense is surprisingly better than you would think. They are allowing 195 yards per game and have allowed 12 passing touchdowns. On the ground it is a different story. Oakland is allowing 165 yards per game on the ground and have given up 15 touchdowns. Unfortunately you don't want to start any Denver backs (see the Baltimore analysis!)


Carolina at Atlanta

Carolina is having a good year and will try to continue their winning season with a win against the quick and surprising turn around Atlanta Falcons. Delhomme has been a huge disappointment this year and will continue to struggle as the Panther's will stay on the ground with the two headed monster known as DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. Atlanta is allowing 226 yards per game and have yielded 13 passing touchdowns but I don't trust Delhomme until he shows me he can play the position again. On the ground Atlanta allows 120 yards per game and have given up 11 passing touchdowns. DeAngelo Williams is still the guy you want in Carolina but Stewart has some value as a low #2 or flex running back.

Matt Ryan is having a phenomenal rookie year but will likely struggle this week against a tough Panther's pass defense. Carolina is allowing just 185 yards per game and have only given up 8 passing touchdowns. Roddy White has earned a spot in most people's lineups. Turner is another big play guy this year that has to be in your lineup. Carolina are allowing 108 yards per game but have given up a stingy 5 rushing touchdowns.


New York Giants at Arizona

This is somewhat of a test game for Arizona and Warner will have his work cut out for him. The Giants are allowing just 175 yards per game and have allowed 12 passing touchdowns on the year. They have 31 sacks and know how to get pressure on the QB. Warner broke his streak of consecutive games with 2 more TD passes and will look to start up a new streak. He has been nothing short of amazing and if the Arizona offensive line can give him time he is still one of the most potent and dangerous passers in the league. Boldin and Fitzgerald are obviously both still in your lineup. Tim Hightower and whoever else runs with him will also have a tough game against the Giants that allow just 91 yards per game and have allowed just 4 TDs on the ground. I am sitting Hightower if I have any other options.

From the Giants side of the ball you need to keep a watchful eye on Brandon Jacobs as he is questionable this week. If he practices Friday he will likely play Sunday. The Giants have been relying on the run this year and will have a tougher time this week. Arizona is allowing just 90 yards per game and have allowed 7 rushing TDs. Arizona is allowing 210 yards in the air but have racked up 23 sacks while giving up 19 passing TDs. If Arizona gets to Manning it could be a long game for the Giants.


Washington at Seattle

Clinton Portis missed practice on Wednesday but did the same last week against the Cowboys and still started. Portis has been the heart and soul of the Redskins offense and they will want him in if at all possible. Seattle is allowing 116 yards per game on the ground and have given up 9 TDs so if Portis can play you want him in your lineup. In the air Jason Campbell has struggled recently and will try to get back on track against the terribad Seahawks pass defense. Seattle is allowing 265 yards per game in the air and have allowed 15 passing touchdowns. Santana Moss and Cooley are the only two people I'm starting from the Redskins passing game this Sunday.

On the Seattle side of the ball they will have a tough go at it. Washington is allowing just 84 yards on the ground and 192 yards per game in the air with 7 and 10 TDs respectively. Hasselbeck's first game was tough, as expected, and shouldn't be used in week 12 unless you have to. Nobody on the Seahawks are must starts this week but Engram and Carlson have the best chances of doing something positive.


Indianapolis at San Diego

You want Peyton Manning and Reggie Wayne to start clicking? Well this is your week. San Diego owns the worst pass defense in the league allowing 267 yards per game and have given up 17 passing touchdowns while only having 6 interceptions. Wayne is a must start and Harrison could be a decent deeper start this week if you have injury problems. On the ground San Diego is allowing just 105 yards per game and have allowed 6 touchdowns. Addai showed last week while he's still a premier back and as long as he's healthy should probably be in your lineup.

The Colts rush defense is bad. They allow 149 yards per game and have allowed 15 rushing TDs. LT showed a flash of his old self last week and should have a nice game this week. LT and Antonio Gates are you only two must starts this week. Indianapolis is allowing just 189 yards per game and have allowed just 2 passing TDs thus far. Rivers had a horrible game last week and will likely struggle again this week.


Green Bay at New Orleans

Green Bay is playing for first place and will try to stick to the Saints. The Saints are a mediocre to bad defense allowing 111 yards on the ground and 235 yards in the air. Aaron Rodgers should be in your lineup this week as well as Greg Jennings. Driver is a strong #3 receiver this week. Ryan Grant has finally looked like the running back that took the NFL by storm last week. He looks healthy and assuming he plays should be in your lineup.

The Saints are fighting for relevancy and a lot of it will come down to Bushes status. Bush is still questionable so keep your eye on him. If he can go you have to start him against a bad Green Bay rush defense. Green Bay is allowing 147 yards on the ground and have given up 9 rushing TDs. In the Air Green Bay is strong and are allowing just 176 yards per game and have allowed 11 passing touchdowns. Drew Brees has been one of the better QBs in the league but may struggle this week after a mediocre week last week.