Fantasy Football - Week 14: The Playoffs Begin

Hopefully you’re playing for more than consolation.

Don’t forget about the game on Thursday!

I’ve got two decisions I’m waffling on:

Rodgers or Vick

Rodgers has been on fire lately, and gets the Lions in Detroit. The Lions have been giving up 18.5 points to QBs since their week 7 bye, but there were a couple stinkers in there by Washington and Buffalo that are dragging the average down. They’ve also given up 27 to Kitna and 29 to Brady, and I rate the GB passing attack as closer to those two than WAS and BUF.

On the other hand, Vick is heading to Dallas to play a team that is, on paper, one of the worst defenses in the League, but since firing Phillips has been giving up only 16.5 points to QBs–and that includes match-ups against both Mannings and a Brees.

I’m leaning towards Rodgers. I’m aware of Vick’s ability to rack up points with his feet, but I’m also aware that the Giants and Bears have both shown that he can be relatively contained with a good pass rush from his left, and Dallas has Ware. Also, Vick went from no interceptions thrown to 2 in as many games, and has fumbled 7 times in the past 3 games… and the Cowboys D has 8 interceptions in four games under Garrett.

Sidney Rice or Derrick Mason

Neither are optimal choices, but I’m really thin at WR and keep getting my waiver pick-ups snatched out from under me.

Mason has the match-up, but Rice has the hot hand. Both teams will want to win, but the Ravens will probably have more fire in their bellies.

I’m wary that all of Rice’s production last week came after Favre left the game and without Harvin in the line-up and I don’t know for certain if either or both of those conditions will be replicated this week. They are playing the Giants, who’ve made a habit of knocking QBs out of the game this year, but it seems like there are too many variables that need to fall into place for Rice to have a good game.

On the flip side, even though Boldin is the number 1 WR for the Ravens, I see that game becoming more of a shootout and Houston couldn’t stop my grandmother from getting 60 yards and a TD, so Mason is likely to get some targets and some running room.

There’s also the distinct possibility that the NYG/MIN game might turn into a rush heavy time of possession battle.

Advantage: Mason?

On Rodgers vs Vick, my amateur gut says to go with Vick. The Cowboys have improved a lot, but they still give up plenty of points.

My question is a WR/TE one. Pick two: Deion Branch @ Chi, Derrick Mason @ Hou, and Vernon Davis v Sea. I think Davis is definitely a yes and I lean towards Mason because of the Texan’s crappy D. However, Branch has performed really well lately.

RE Thursday’s game- The game itself was great; those are the Colts I’m familiar with. Problem is our defense kinda lets up when we get nice leads and things always finish too close. The fantasy aspects were wonderful for me. Bironas at kicker underperformed, but Peyton Manning and Pierre Garcon both had great games. After the crappy few weeks Manning has had, Thursday was a welcome return to normal. I’m already at 57 points with what look to be good prospects at RB.