FantasyNFL

Start These 11 Fantasy Football Players This Week

by Pat Mayo | 1:44 pm, November 15th, 2012

Each week, Pat Mayo of RotoExperts.com will bring you 11 fantasy football players with favorable matchups. This week, he likes a pair of Bengals and Raiders, as well as both ends of a Colts connection.

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1.Carson Palmer, QB, Raiders

If you tune into Raiders games every week, this will seem like a bizarre choice. Along with a plethora of picks and frequent trips to the ground, Palmer has actually been one of the most consistent fantasy QBs this season. He’s gone under 14 fantasy points just once in nine games and produced multiple touchdown passes in three straight. And now he gets to post extended garbage time numbers against a rejuvenated Saints squad. Just remember, you’ll feel better if you don’t tune in. Let Palmer post his points in peace.

2.Reggie Bush, RB, Dolphins

Hope you benched Bush in week 10 - although the awesome matchup against the Titans probably forced him into your lineup. Tough break. But despite a four-carry, fumble riddled performance, Bush gets the chance to put it all behind him on Thursday night. Buffalo cedes a league high 27 fantasy points per game to running backs, and in two matchups against the Bills last season, Bush averaged just under 140 yards and a score.

3.Andrew Luck, QB, Colts

One benefit of the Patriots constantly forcing some extra hertz out the scoreboard bulbs: their opponents are forced to take to the air and play catch up. Fine with Andrew Luck. Luck’s tossing up almost 300 yards per game as it is, and has multiple scores in four of his last five coming in. Add, what’s likely to be, a quarter and a half of garbage time in the mix and the super rook will post another quality fantasy effort.

4.Donnie Avery, WR, Colts

Try as he may, Luck can’t force it to Reggie Wayne on every dropback. Surprisingly, Avery healed fast enough to get himself back into the lineup Thursday, just four days after suffering a hip injury - and did it with some respectable results. Wayne clearly dominates the majority of looks, but Avery is a clear second in terms of targets. (Sorry, T.Y. Hilton owners.) And against New England, he’ll come down with more of those targets than usual.

5.Marcel Reece, RB, Raiders

So, Marcel Reece is the man in the Raiders backfield. Take that, Taiwan Jones! With Mike Goodson and Darren McFadden likely out again this week, Reece gets to fill his robust belly on the pitiful Saints defense. Don’t worry about New Orleans getting ahead early; Reece actually becomes more valuable when Oakland is forced into passing situations. In a game and half as the primary back, the fullback has hauled in 15 receptions. He’s a Top 10 option in PPR leagues and will get enough work to warrant a start in standard formats as well.

6.Joique Bell, RB, Lions

Whenever the Lions fall behind, it becomes Joique Bell time. And that scenario is definitely in play against the Packers. Look away in standard leagues, but Bell definitely has low end RB2/FLEX potential this week in PPR formats. He’s averaging four catches over his last seven games, so he won’t leave a big donut in your lineup, and has a terrific opportunity to really break out against Green Bay. He could grab close to 10 receptions.

7.BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB, Bengals

I wonder if there’s a reason the Bengals seem to love mediocre running backs. From Rudi Johnson to Cedric Benson to BenJarvus Green-Ellis, lack of explosiveness seems to be the only quality Marvin Lewis desires in his backfield. Most weeks, that strategy leads to below average numbers, but in the right match up it can produce a big game. BJGE will continue to be fed the ball – he’s averaging over 19 touches a game – and through attrition, will post very useable stats against a weak Chiefs defense.

8.Antonio Gates, TE, Chargers

It’s about time Gates is rounding into form. Hailed a sleeper entering the season, injuries limited his effectiveness the first quarter of year. Apparently it’s tough to running a proper route on one foot. But, he has returned to his scoring ways the last two weeks, and now gets his best matchup to date against the Broncos - Denver’s propensity to blitz its linebackers creates a lot of space over the middle of the field. Something the opposition has taken advantage of: The Broncos are the third most generous team to the position, allowing almost 13 points per game to tight ends.

9.Greg Olsen, TE, Panthers

Dexter’s twin brother finally murdered an opposing defense. On the heels of his two-touchdown effort against the Broncos, Olsen can now plan the demise of the Bucs secondary... which shouldn’t be all that challenging, considering Tampa hasn’t been notified of the creation of pass defense. So no need to waste a bunch of saran wrap and plastic gloves this week. Despite his bloodthirsty ways, Olsen is always environment first.

10.Bengals Defense

Unless you own the Bears' defense, or possibly the Broncos', whoever gets the Chiefs is a Top 3 fantasy option. KC won’t get to play every game in the pouring rain! This week it’s the Bengals, fresh off a defensive domination of the Giants. They’ll be too much for Kansas City to handle. They get no press, but Cincy’s pass rush is one of the premier units in the NFL and any sort of pressure will inevitably lead to a tuft of turnovers from Matt Cassel and company. It’s too bad “forcing bounce passes” isn’t a defensive fantasy stat, because Cassel is going to send a slew of passes into the feet of his offensive lineman.

11.Connor Barth, K, Buccaneers

After deviating from my ‘pick on the Panthers’ strategy with Dan Carpenter last week – Sorry about that – I’m getting back to a matchup that always produces a positive performance. Whether it’s the extra crowd noise or the sounds generated by the stadium’s proximity to the freeway, Carolina tightens up in its own end at home. Marvelous news for Connor Barth. At Bank of America Stadium, the Panthers are giving up almost 15 fantasy points per game to washed-up soccer players, and the way Tampa has been moving the ball, Barth should see opportunities aplenty.

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