The Minnesota Vikings fired Brad Childress this week, and there was speculation that Brett Favre may not finish the season, but now he is expected to do so. Since he has a TD:INT ratio of 10:17, I wouldn't own him this season… let alone start him as I try and reach the fantasy playoffs. Sidney Rice saw 10 targets last week and the Redskins are ranked 29th against the pass. Even though I don't like Favre, Rice is the big-play receiver he will target as he finishes out his legacy.
Vince Young has been placed on I.R. with a thumb injury, so his season is over in Tennessee and his future there is in doubt.
Word came down Wednesday morning that Brandon Jacobs will start in place of Ahmad Bradshaw in Week 12. So, get him out of your lineups if you own Bradshaw. Brandon Marshall is also in danger of missing Week 12 and it wouldn't shock me if I didn't see him again this season. Clinton Portis was put on I.R., but he shouldn't have been on your team anyway.
Start 'em
Joe Flacco: Flacco has been solid this season, but he has hit 300-plus yards just once and we need yards to go with the 16 TDs. This weekend the Ravens meet up with the Buccaneers' sixth-ranked pass defense, but that doesn't worry me as I think he will finish at the bottom end of the QB1 standings this weekend.
Philip Rivers: Rivers and the Chargers offense get their playmaker back this week, Vincent Jackson. V-Jax is going to hit the ground running as he has been practicing with the team for a few weeks now and Rivers is a top-three fantasy QB this weekend.
Peyton Hillis: Hillis is back in my starting lineup as he faces the lowly Panthers run defense. The Panthers enter Week 12 ranked 24th against the run and have allowed eight rushing TD thus far, so play Hillis as a solid RB1 this weekend.
Knowshon Moreno: Moreno broke out with 106 rushing yards and 50 receiving yards with a TD in Week 10 and followed it up with 58 rushing yards and 62 receiving yards in Week 11. This weekend he gets the Rams' defense. He will hit the 100 total yards and I see him scoring, so he has solid RB2 value this weekend.
Vincent Jackson: This is risky because Jackson hasn't played a snap this season, but if Rice can play almost the whole game then Jackson is going to crush this weekend. I have him ranked as a WR2, so play him with confidence as I certainly am!
Sidney Rice: I like Rice because in his first week back he was targeted 10 times, which accounts for 26 percent of the total passes thrown. Rice looks like a solid WR2/3 play this week and I don't think you should question his value as Favre wants to finish his career with a bang and Rice is a big-play receiver.
Jason Witten: When you look at the stats, Witten has only had three "good" fantasy weeks this season (weeks 5, 7 and 8), but this is going to be #4. The Saints are ranked 2nd against the pass, but the Cowboys have a chip on their shoulder and have won two games in a row. I see Witten having a good week.
Cleveland Browns defense: The Browns defense is available in roughly 64 percent of fantasy leagues and this weekend they get to face the lowly Carolina Panthers offense. The Panthers rank dead last in offensive YPG and total points scored, and have scored 43 fewer points than the 31st-ranked 49ers (117 points to 160 points).
Sit 'em
Donovan McNabb: If there is any team I don't want to play against this weekend it is the Vikings. The coaching shakeup is going to fire them up to prove it wasn't their fault, so I have no interest in playing McNabb even in two-QB leagues.
Carson Palmer: Anyone who knows me knows that I am still a Carson Palmer fan and supporter. But, this weekend he gets to throw against the Jets' shutdown corners and I am going to avoid playing him because of it. I'm sure he will get some late yards and TDs, but we are battling for fantasy playoff spots and you've got to play it safe.
Matt Forte: Forte and his owners are still bragging about his Week five performance where he rushed for 166 yards and hauled in another 22 yards from the pass. The truth is he averages just 56.7 rushing YPG, 33.1 receiving YPG and has scored one TD in the last four weeks. I'd rank Forte as nothing more than a flex play this weekend.
Brandon Jackson: I've got more e-mails asking about Brandon Jackson and Fred Jackson than any other RBs this week. I put Brandon up here, but both should be avoided this weekend if at all possible. The Falcons are still an underrated defense this season (ranked 6th against the run and 7th in total points against), but you aren't going to sleep on them because I told you not to.
Brandon Marshall: Marshall's value has dropped like a boulder in a lake and I wouldn't even try and talk you out of dropping him outright. The Dolphins have QB problems and now Marshall has a bum hamstring. I don't think he will play this weekend and it is possible that he could sit out most, if not all, the remaining games with the team having nothing left to play for.
Randy Moss: I warned you about Moss, did you listen? In his first two games with the Titans he has just two receptions and 34 yards to show for it. Rusty Smith is the starting QB and the team signed Chris Simms to play backup while Kerry Collins is out with a calf injury. I'd cut Moss and Marshall personally; but, then again, you are pretty much stuck with them at this point of the season since the waiver wire is picked clean.
Antonio Gates: Gates missed last week's game with his foot injury and is no guarantee to play in Week 12. Add to that V-Jax coming back this week and you have a recipe for a fantasy bust this weekend. Either Marcedes Lewis or Brandon Pettigrew are solid plays this weekend in place of Gates.
San Diego Chargers defense: The Chargers defense has played well this season, despite the lack of big names. The Colts are 4th in total points scored with 268 and YPG with 388.1. You can't stop Peyton Manning this weekend as the Colts are fighting to regain the division lead over the surprising Jacksonville Jaguars.
Question of the Week
Q: Do you have your doctorate in fantasy football yet? High five on the picks last week! Who is the odd man out this week: Steve Johnson, Mike Williams (tb), Marques Colston, Jeremy Maclin, Mike Wallace, Darren McFadden. (Trey Hilt from Prairie Village, KS)
A: Odd-man out for me is Johnson. I know he has come on strong and looks like a superstar, but the Steelers have given up the 5th-fewest receiving TDs (11), despite being ranked 22nd in passing YPG (239.1).
I want to wish a happy Thanksgiving to everyone around the world and a special shoutout goes to my military brothers and sisters fighting for the freedom we treasure so dearly. Freedom isn't free and you are in my thoughts.
James Morris United States Army Disabled Veteran
