Fantasy Football Start and Bench Advice: Week 13

Below is our Fantasy Football Start ‘Em and Sit ‘Em Advice for week 13 of the 2007 season. Also, make sure you check out our Weekly Projections for Week 13, and if that isn’t enough, swing by our Start / Bench Forum, where Tavaner, Craphonso and Smitty attack all of your questions daily.

Smitty’s Week 13 Projected Studs & Duds

STUD: LaDainian Tomlinson
RB	(@KC)	125/20 yards, 3TDs
While most expect Tomlinson to do well each and every week, the stud-rusher hasn’t played like most fantasy owners had hoped. The Chargers face the Chiefs (18th against the run) in Week 13, so Tomlinson should have no problem finding running room on Sunday. Expect the Chargers to get off to an early lead and expect them to continuously feed their horse on the ground.

DUD: Willis McGahee
RB	(vs. NE)	72 total yards
New England and Baltimore are both top 5 defenses against the run, which means that neither team will be doing much running on Sunday. Don’t sit McGahee for garbage-type talent, but if you have a better, or safer, option to go with in Week 13, consider using it! McGahee should be held out of the end zone and might not reach 70-75 total yards in this contest.

STUD: Adrian Peterson
RB	(vs. DET)	100/20 yards, 2TDs
There is still a chance that Peterson doesn’t play, but assuming the rookie suffers no setbacks, you might want to get ready for the Adrian Peterson show! Surprisingly, the Lions have a top 9 rushing defense, but this game is in Minnesota, so look for Peterson to explode on even 15-18 or so carries. Keep checking Peterson’s status throughout the week… make sure he is a "go" before you leave him in your line-up.

DUD: Kevin Jones
RB	(@MIN)	65 total yards
Minnesota has the best rushing defense in the league, surrendering just 74.8 rushing yards per game on the ground. With Kevin Jones clearly still not 100% healthy, and given that this game is in Minnesota, we advise that you roll with another option if you have one available… at least for Week 13.

STUD: Selvin Young
RB	(@OAK)	130/15 yards, 2TDs
Oakland has an AWFUL rushing defense. They are the worst in the league, giving up an average of 153.6 yards per game on the ground. Even worse, they have given up a league leading 18 rushing touchdowns in 11 games this year — A Denver starter might not get named until late in the week, so monitor this as we near Saturday night, but all indications are that Andre Hall (ankle) and Travis Henry (PCL/knee) are far from healthy, and Henry may end up getting his year-long suspension before the day is up. The runner that does get the nod on Sunday is going to have a VERY big day, even if it ends up being Cecil Sapp (Yes, we do own him in a couple of larger Expert Leagues).

DUD: Carson Palmer
POS	(@PIT)	195 yards, 1TD, 1INT
While it is hard to ever label Carson Palmer as a projected bust, this game is in Pittsburgh and that insanely solid defense is giving up just 152.1 passing yards per game and has surrendered just 11 passing TDs in 11 games on the year. Don’t go sitting Palmer for a scrub, but if you have a better option, you may want to consider using it this week.

STUD: Jesse Chatman
RB	(vs. NYJ)	110/45 yards, 1TD
The Jets have the second worst rushing defense in the entire league, giving up an average 150.5 yards per game on the ground. Now, Chatman is banged up right now with a neck injury that he suffered in Week 12 against the Steelers, but the runner seems likely to play this weekend — if he does, get him in your line-up! Match-ups don’t get much better than this!

Others To Consider Benching

Rudi Johnson / Kenny Watson @PIT
Ryan Grant @DAL

Be sure to check out all of our Weekly Projections!

Week 13: Who Do I Start & Who Do I Sit?

Greg Jennings (@DAL) or Torry Holt (vs. ATL) ?

ASK THE EXPERTS – A questioned asked by a FFX Forum user.

	The Falcons are actually 8th in the league against the pass, so Holt isn’t exactly the best start this week, especially with Bulger banged up. Favre and the Pack are playing some insane football right now, so I roll with that offense on Thursday night. Start Greg Jennings against that 21st ranked Dallas passing defense.
	Holt has no quarterback and Jennings is Favre’s favorite target. Expect GB to be pumped for their Thursday night game. Start Greg Jennings.

Ryan Grant (@DAL) or Reggie Bush (vs. TB) ?

ASK THE EXPERTS – A questioned asked by a FFX Forum user.

Not even close. Tampa Bay is right smack in the middle of the pack for defenses against the run, so Reggie Bush should have a very solid outing. He needs to bounce-back this week and I think that will happen. Ryan Grant doesn’t have a good match-up at all this week, as the Packers are in Dallas, a rushing defense that is ranked 4th in the entire league against the run. Grant is playing great and is a serviceable flex-option no doubt, but you can’t sit a guy like Reggie Bush… you don’t want to be on the other end of his bounce-back game wishing you had started him. Especially given the match-ups, start Reggie Bush.

Dallas is at home, this is a difficult match-up for Grant. I believe Favre is going to have to pass a lot on Thursday night and I’m not sure Grant will even rush for 60 yards. Start Reggie Bush.

Kolby Smith (vs. SD) or Reggie Bush (vs. TB) ?

ASK THE EXPERTS – A questioned asked by a FFX Forum user.

I knew we would get a lot of Reggie Bush questions this week — My answer is the same… I just can’t bench Reggie Bush for a runner like Kolby Smith or Ryan Grant. I’ve watched too many studs and top dog players bounce-back after mediocre runs, and Bush is the perfect bounce-back candidate this week against that 17th ranked Tampa Bay rushing defense. Kolby Smith did what he did last week (150/2) against the Raiders rushing defense, a defensive unit that gives up 153.6 rushing yards for a living… Oh, and they have given up 18 scores in 11 games. There is no worse rushing defense in the NFL! Kolby is talented, but don’t let that Week 12 match-up fool you into thinking that he is already a bona fide RB2. Oakland is going to make this week’s starting RB in Denver look just about as good. Start Reggie Bush with much confidence.

I don’t think Kolby Smith will even come close to matching last week’s totals and this is a must-win for San Diego. I really like Reggie Bush and the Saints this week, so again I say start Reggie Bush.

Need Advice before kickoff? Swing by our FFX Start / Bench Forum and post your “tough calls” there!

Week 13 Fantasy Player Projections

Packers @ Cowboys

Thursday at 8:15PM EST

Player	Match-Up	Week 13 Projections
QB Tony Romo	vs. GB	275 yards, 3TDs, 1 INT
RB Marion Barber		85/20 yards, 1TD
RB Julius Jones		34/8 yards
WR Terrell Owens		7 rec, 135 yards, 1TD
WR Patrick Crayton		4 rec, 65 yards, 1TD
WR Sam Hurd		2 rec, 14 yards
TE Jason Witten		5 rec, 65 yards, 1TD

Player	Match-Up	Week 13 Projections
QB Brett Favre	@DAL	295 yards, 3TDs, 1 INT
RB Brandon Jackson		20/0 yards
RB Ryan Grant		85/20 yards, 1TD
WR Donald Driver		6 rec, 88 yards, 1TD
WR Greg Jennings		6 rec, 90 yards, 2TDs
WR James Jones		5 rec, 40 yards
TE Donald Lee		3 rec, 48 yards

Player	Match-Up	Week 1 Projections
QB Brodie Croyle	@IND	225 1TD, 2 INTs
RB Larry Johnson		0/0
RB Priest Holmes		45/5 yards
WR Kolby Smith		25/5 yards
WR Dwayne Bowe		6 rec, 80 yards, 1TD
WR Eddie Kennison		0/0
TE Tony Gonzalez		5 rec, 65 yards