Fantasy Football Preview - Week 12

Thanksgiving gave us 3 games, of which I only watched one, and it was about as much of a game as the Packers schalacking the Lions. Anyway, with 2 weeks left in the regular season these matchups are pretty important, with every yard, point and injury taking on a more significant meaning.

LT Get Outta My Way (2-9) vs. Vick's Vet Service (8-3)

After Thanksgiving, LT leads 22 to 5, having used 3 roster spots.
This matchup couldn't have come at a better time for Vick's Vet Service, having lost 2 in a row for the first time all season and raising the hopes of teams across the league. However, they find themselves in a hole heading into Sunday. QB Tony Romo and his 29 points are on the bench and will watch David Garrad with interest as he tries to lead the team back and to victory. RB Ricky Williams will surely be the team's focal point this week as he should be able to run roughshot over the Bills and their horrible rushing defense. His backfield mate, Maurice Jones-Drew gets a stauncher test in the 49ers, but as one of the top 5 backs in the NFL should still be able to make a solid contribution.

The Breakfast Club (6-5) vs. Mr. Scott's F**kUps (2-9)

I don't know what kind of speech BigWeen gave the fellas in the team meeting but he's got the ship turned around, and TBC is riding a 2 game winning streak and looks to be playoff contenders again. Thanks to DB Charles Woodson's bountiful Thanksgiving performance they amassed a whopping 50.5 points, while using only 5 roster spots. Still waiting to show off what they can do this holiday weekend is QB Drew Brees, who will have the Monday Night showcase against the Patriots. WRs Chad and Andre Johnson ("no relation" says Andre) both face weak secondaries and plan on reaching the endzone. This team is starting to roll again and that can be very dangerous for everyone else.
The F**kUps gave it a good run, but with Eli Manning (and really the whole Giants team's) poor performance on Thanksgiving, they find themselves with only 20.5 points having used 4 spots. RB Cedric Benson is banged up and may not go, but the same can be said about the rest of the team's running backs, and Cadillac Williams' numbers haven't been all that impressive. There is hope - his name is Randy Moss, but given the large deficit the team is facing it's unlikely that even he can provide a comeback.

Giant Ten Pins (5-5-1) vs. Wide Right (5-6)

The epitome of of mediocrity, the Giant Ten Pins are exactly .500 after 11 games. Impressive in it's own right but they're looking for a more impressive playoff berth. A pair of 16.5 point performances from WRs Donald Drive and Miles Austin have the 10Pins in comfortable position for the moment. RB Jamaal Charles steps in for the injured Micheal Turner this week, and pairs with fellow backup LeSean McCoy. The two backs won't need to set the world afire, just play consistent and put up 6-7 points each and they should be able to ensure their team a victory this week.
Just about every member of Wide Right has an injury indicator letter next to them. The team of the walking wounded isn't going to go down without a fight though, not with QB Tom Brady at the lead. Brady has his eyes set on a shootout with New Orleans' Drew Brees and 40 points is not out of the question. RB Steve Slaton's job remains in limbo, however, now it appears that Kris Brown is gunning for the #1 spot, not Ryan Moats. Ladies and gentlemen, meet Gary Kubiak, the new Mike Shanahan. Dick. WRs Percy Harvin and Steve Breaston will need to come up big in their games (10 points +) if Wide Right is going to have any chance of making the Ten Pins fall.

NY DAs Office (5-6) vs. The New Good Ones (7-4)

The DAs Office is hot, winning 3 straight to keep their names in the playoff mix. However, 3.5 from Brandon Jacobs on Thanksgiving was not something for J Weiner to be thankful for. It also puts the team in a very vulnerable position going up against a top tier opponent. While they currently lead by 7.5 points, they have used an additional roster spot, and an important one - running back. If there is one saving grace for the DAs Office it's the fact that under center they have Peyton Manning, orchestrator of this 3 game winning streak. In a divisional game, against a team who almost beat him at home, look for Manning to set the record straight and put his team on top with a flurry. Additionally, breakout WR Mike Sims-Walker should be able to find some space against the 49ers secondary and may be able to partially make up for Jacobs' shortcomings.
The New Good Ones are looking to solidify their playoff position at this point. QB Philip Rivers has a soft matchup against the Chiefs, however, it's unlikely he'll be able to match Peyton Manning on his own. RB Matt Forte will attempt to get something against the tough Vikings D, but his pass catching abilities out of the backfield give him a better chance than many of the RBs that have come before him. On the other side, Thomas Jones should have a big game against the Panthers as the Jets look to slow down the handing the franchise over to rookie QB Mark Sanchez. As usual, WRs Reggie Wayne and Anquan Boldin form an impressive unit that makes you question how one team could get both guys. With the entire offense left to play, and only a 7.5 point deficit to make up, the New Good Ones look primed to make it 3 straight.

Dogs and Guns (5-5-1) vs. Beer Burgers and Blue (7-4)

It's getting to be desperation time for the defending champs. Last week they fell victim to the Weiner Whack, as The Breakfast Club put up on unconscionable 180+ points. This week they look to dust themselves off against perennial powerhouse BBB. Highly drafted QB Jay Cutler remains on the bench as the team believes that Bengals QB (and likely comeback player of the year) Carson Palmer gives the team the best chance to win. You know who gives them the best chance to win? RB Chris Johnson. I've been able to watch him about 3 times so far this season; he's the best back in the NFL. Faster than anyone, catches the ball better than Adrian Peterson and has the toughness to get the last yard (despite Jeff Fisher using fat ass LenDale White last week and costing me a game in my money league). Seattle backup RB Justin Forsett will do his best to try to replace Ronnie Brown, but Brown was a top 10 back and they aren't replaced easily.
Thanks to the Lions/Packers game, Beer Burgers and Blue has a 36 point lead heading into Sunday's games. QB Matt Schaub has been replaced by Brett Favre after Favre's ridiculous 4 TD performance last week. This week he's at home against a Bears team that no longer scares anyone on defense. RB Steven Jackson is hurt and may not go, a potential problem for BBB as backup Pierre Thomas has started to see his workload decrease in New Orleans and given the likelihood of a shootout with the Patriots may just be on the bench the whole game. If Jackson can't go, the weight will fall on the shoulders of Ray Rice who is having an incredible fantasy season. However, facing the Steelers is tough enough when you don't have extra pressure on you. Help may come from the receivers as Chris Chambers faces the team that cut him, the Chargers, and the Great White Hope Wes Welker should catch up to 20 passes on Monday Night against the Saints.

And now for this week's game of the week:

Any Given Sunday (7-4) vs. Wandering Jews (6-5)

Thanks to a big game from QB Aaron Rodgers, Sunday is out to a big lead. However, the rest of the Thanksgiving guests didn't bring enough for the whole table and the door is left slightly open for someone to come in and ruin all of the fun. Hoping to protect his house, RB Adrian Peterson. One of the most dynamic backs in the league, he's finally teamed with a passing game which means that defenses can't load up the box to stop him. As a result, expect him to put up Peterson like numbers. Rookie WR Michael Crabtree is improving every week and against a beatable Jacksonville team, Sunday hopes that potential translates into points. Inconsistent WR Santana Moss would do well to show up this week as well. Not only because it's good manners, but Sunday could really use his help in getting the poor taste of Mario Manningham's four and a half point turkey day out of her mouth.
The Wandering Jews have tied a season high by winning 3 straight. They're now down 40.5 points and got 0 from one of their WRs. Not a great start, but not one that can't be overcome. QB Donvan McNabb faces a familiar foe in the Redskins, and with help from TE Brent Celek and WR DeSean Jackson could throw for a few TDs. The RBs, DeAngelo Williams and LaDanian Tomlinson each could contribute a TD to the mix and look for Marques Colston in the endzone during the Saints/Pats shootout. So what does that mean? Well, TE Greg Olsen will need to have one of his good games, and not one of his regular games this week. And as well as everyone else plays it will be up to McNabb to contribute at least 20 points to cut into the lead that Aaron Rodgers has given their opponents.