FantasyNFL

Start These 11 Players In Fantasy This Weekend

by Pat Mayo | 2:05 pm, November 9th, 2012

Each week, Pat Mayo of RotoExperts.com will bring you 11 fantasy football players with favorable matchups. Whether it’s a wide receiver facing a weak-kneed secondary, a running back taking on a dinged-up front seven, or a team defense preparing to eat a cupcake rookie quarterback, these are the guys who are poised for a big fantasy output this Sunday.

This week, Mayo likes two Lions, two Bills, and whatever defense gets the Chiefs.

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1.1. Stevan Ridley

While I continue to preach that Ridley is Fantasy’s number one “sell high”, you may want to hold off a week. Ridley’s value should rise to the power of seven after another massive game against the Bills’ putrid run defense. Problem is, he has really labored against stout run defenses – posting single digit points squaring off with the Cardinals, Ravens and Seahawks. He’ll still be useful, but a week 13-15 stretch with Dolphins, Texans and 49ers has serious flame-out potential: all three teams currently sit inside the Top Six in points allowed to opposing running backs. Fortunately, none of that is a concern this week.

2.2. Matt Stafford

For the most part, drafting Stafford as your Fantasy pivot has been an anchor that has pulled you the bottom of the standings. Although, after a gigantic week 8 it appeared like he may have turned a corner. Expectations went through the roof for a juicy match up against the lowly Jags. And once again, Stafford rolled a seven and crapped out. But it wasn’t really his fault. Once every 25 years the Lions score four rushing touchdowns, Sunday just happened to be that day. Don’t expect Detroit’s ground prowess to persist. It was an aberration. Stafford will get back into the endzone indoors, against a Vikings secondary that withdrew from coverage 101 went it was clear they were getting an F.

3.3. Kenny Britt

For all the talk of Miami’s defense being “great”, they have real problems covering receivers. Enter Kenny Britt. Like every week, the Titans will attempt to run the ball, once that fails, they’ll take to the air. Britt has been getting progressively more involved each week coming off his injury/suspension/severe mental issues and looks primed to finally flash the upside that made him such a popular late round flyer around draft time.

4.4. Brandon Pettigrew

Stafford wasn’t the only Lion that let you down last Sunday. Pettigrew came in averaging six receptions and just under 60 yards over his last five games – not great, but with the crop of zeros being posted by the position this year take what you can get – then apparently fell into the same abyss that took the life of Ozzie Smith. One catch, 11 yards is a tough stink to wash off. You’ll just have to plug your nose and get him back in your lineup. Minnesota has been burned by pass catching TEs including an 8 catch, 83 yard Pettigrew performance in week 4.

5.5. Malcom Floyd

Lost in Tampa Bay’s offensive surge has been its complete inability to mitigate the pass. Over the past three games the Bucs are ceding an average of 30.33 fantasy points per game to opposing receivers. And two of those games were against Oakland and Minnesota – teams with just one capable wideout. Perfect for the Chargers because they only have one legit WR too. Sorry Danario Alexander and Seyi Ajirotutu. Floyd will be the downfield option of choice and God knows Philip Rivers is a big fan of goin’ deep.

6.6. Frank Gore

I’ll admit it. I was convinced Gore was washed up, and the lurking presence of Kendall Hunter only added to my apprehension. Couldn’t have been more wrong. Gore has been superb flashing 2010 levels of explosiveness. And he’ll keep rolling against the Rams. St. Louis has been extremely boom or bust in its attempt to hold running back at bay, however it has been predictable. Teams with stellar running games – Washington, Seattle, New England – have been wildly successful; teams that are still unaware that anything besides the forward pass exists – Green Bay, Arizona, Detroit – have come up short. San Francisco pounds the ball harder than Blake Griffin, Gore is going to go nuts.

7.7. Stevie Johnson

It’s been a precipitous drop for Stevie Johnson. His pitiful yardage totals were perfectly acceptable when he was getting into the endzone each week, but failing to score in four of the last five games has rendered the Bills receiver inert as a viable fantasy option. That all changes this week. Despite coming up empty in his week three outing against the Pats, Johnson has excelled at Foxborough in his career. Two games, two touchdowns. It would be shocking if he doesn’t make it three for three on Sunday.

8.8. Dan Carpenter

It’s becoming too predictable to take whichever kicker plays the Panthers, so I need another team to pick on. God bless the Titans. Scoring on Tennessee is easier than posting a genius level score on an Online IQ test. Opposing kickers have scored at least seven points every time out against the Titans, and Dan Carpenter will be no different, despite hair that makes him look like a girl.

9.9. Steelers D/ST

This is an easy one. If you don’t own the Bears defense, starting whoever is squaring off with the Chiefs is the second best defense possible. Pittsburgh has been a tremendously disappointing fantasy unit this season, but it won’t matter, Kansas City will find ways to hand the ball over. Plus, it’s a Monday night game. There’s nothing more satisfying than a final day comeback.

10.10. Michael Turner

One thing is for certain; Michael Turner will be fed the ball. It’s all part of his 30,000 calorie-a-day diet. Frankly, turner struggles to maintain a physique so robust. He may actually have to consume some extra meals this week for all the fat he’s going to burn running over the Saints defense. New Orleans has only allowed fewer than 16 fantasy points to opposing running backs once this season. And the Packers shouldn’t count since they don’t actually employ a RB. It’s just an illusion.

11.11. Ryan Fitzpatrick

It was inevitable that Fitzpatrick’s scorching start would eventually swing in the other direction. First four games: 12 TD. Last four games: 3 TD. Fortunately for anyone dealing with the loss of Aaron Rodgers, Cam Newton or Robert Griffin, the Fitzmagic is back this week. In his last three outings against New England, Fitzpatrick has tossed 1026 yards and 8 TDs.

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