Fantasy Football Preview - Week 13

So here we are, the last week of the regular season. No time like the present for the bubble teams to make a strong push into the playoffs, for the 5th and 6th place teams to hang on for dear life, and the guys (and girl) at the top to start looking towards a title run. With final assignments looming over my head, and my money team in a must win and get some help game to make it into the playoffs (ridiculous I know), the previews are going to be a bit abbreviated. Not to worry, you probably know what I was going to say anyway.

LT Get Outta My Way (2-10) vs. Dogs and Guns (5-6-1)

LT finishes up a season in the only way fitting - trying to ruin big brother's playoff hopes. He currently leads by 9.5.
It's been a tough road for last year's champion and he finds himself in need of a win and some help just to qualify for the playoffs this season. What changed? Well, one could easily point to marriage as the cause of his downfall but that would be too easy. Wouldn't it? The injury to Ronnie Brown didn't help and D&G has been on a 2 game slide since he was placed on IR. They wind up the season with Carson Palmer at QB, best running back in football (no matter how fast Adrian Peterson drives on the highway) Chris Johnson and Rashard (Mendelbaum!) Mendenhall as the running backs. Larry Fitzgerald is turning in another great season but unless he puts up exceptional numbers this week the best D&G can hope is one of those signed balls he's sending out to his fantasy owners.

Mr. Scott's F***kUps (2-10) vs. Beer Burgers and Blue (8-4)

First off, a huge thanks to the F**kUps for participating this year. Sure, given that LT never joined the league they weren't really necessary to balance things out, but it's the sign of a good friend to help out despite knowing little to nothing about football. And hey, they got 2 wins so far and lead 17.5 to 11. WR Randy Moss is looking to bounce back from a poor showing against the Saints by ceremonially torching the Dolphins secondary. Giants QB Eli Manning is playing hurt but against the Cowboys he's sure to suit up. The running backs are the returning Cedric Benson (who was picked up in a great trade) and Cadillac Williams, as Reggie Bush and Ahmad Bradshaw are both dealing with injuries.
BBB is heading into the playoffs with a bit of a QB controversy going on. Matt Schaub was drafted to be the starter but you can't argue that Brett Favre isn't playing out of his mind right now. If that's the worst of your issues heading into the playoffs you'll be alright. The running game is powered by Ray Rice and Steven Jackson, two beasts in the backfield and the revolving door at #3 WR seems to be a bit more stable with the acquisitions of Robert Meachem and Chris Chambers. The team is currently playing from behind but needs to win in order to solidify a first round bye in the playoffs.

Any Given Sunday (8-4) vs. Wide Right (5-7)

Sunday is playing for playoff seeding this week, but starts Sunday off down by 13. QB Aaron Rodgers has been on a tear of late but will face a Baltimore defense that may be able to limit his potential damage. That of course, leaves recently de-throned RB Adrian Peterson to rip through the Arizona Cardinals. Heading into the playoffs this team's biggest question mark is going to be the receivers, and they get a chance this week to prove they can scare opponents with favorable matchups for Steve Smith and the rookie Michael Crabtree.
Wide Right will be heading into the offseason after this week, but that's no reason not to come out and play hard in the last game. They currently lead by 13 thanks to the efforts of hometown pick Marshawn Lynch and with Tom Brady at QB there is always the potential for a very big scoring day. A big play or two from streaky WRs Steve Breaston and Percy Harvin could see this team going out with a bang, and a W, this season.

The Breakfast Club (7-5) vs. Wandering Jews (6-6)

From unstoppable #1 team, to not going to make the playoffs to solid playoff contender everyone should fear, it's been a long strange trip for the Breakfast Club. They currently have a 12.5 point lead thanks to a defensive player, putting them in excellent position this week to improve their playoff standing. Of course you know Drew Brees at QB and the Johnsons (Andre 1,000 [yards] and Chad) as the WRs, but it's been the running backs, the tandem of Kevin Smith and Ryan Grant who have quietly been getting work done. If they can keep the momentum going through this week and into the playoffs the Breakfast Club is just as dangerous as they were week 1. Maybe even moreso.
8th place. That's where the Wandering Jews are now. It's not where they would like to end up. To get in they'll need an all out assault from RBs DeAngelo Williams and LaDanian Tomlinson, which means no TD vulturing from Jonathan Stewart or Darren Sproles. QB Donovan McNabb faces an Atlanta secondary which is nothing to be concerned about, however, McNabb isn't known for always putting up the big numbers when he should. This week he needs to for the sake of Jews everywhere (well I guess with the exception of the one who controls the Breakfast Club). WRs Marques Colston and Brandon Marshall will also need big games because when you're playing against Drew Brees, everyone needs a big game.

Vick's Vet Service (9-3) vs. The New Good Ones (7-5)

For a long time VVS looked unbeatable, but they've gone 1-2 in their last 3 games and although they have locked up a playoff spot, this game against a potential playoff opponent is huge for their psyche. The RB duo of MJD-Lite and Ricky Williams has gotten a boost with the season ending injury to Ronnie Brown, making their combined scoring even more impressive. However, it is now December and QB Tony Romo is notorious for sucking it up during this month (much to the delight of Giants fans and other Cowboy haters). The unsung heroes at WR, Roddy White and Vincent Jackson will have to up their game if the QB struggles as the backs are already pushing beyond maximum capacity. In this last big challenge, how will the top seed perform?
The New Good Ones are almost assured of a playoff spot (I'm not checking tie-breakers to confirm that). But a win against the top seed would obviously mean a lot more than just about any other win they've had this season. Not to mention it's potential impact on seeding. Jets RB Thomas Jones has already put up 5 points to give the team the early lead. QB Philip Rivers faces Cleveland, so it's fair to say that they are expecting big things from him. Neither the Titans nor the Vikings have very good secondaries. That means that WRs Reggie Wayne and Anquan Boldin could each post 15 point games. And of course the sleeper will be TE Visanthe Shiancoe who seemingly catches a TD from Brett Favre every week. This week he could change the playoff landscape.

And finally, this week's game of the week because of playoff implications:

NY DAs Office (6-6) vs. Giant Ten Pins (6-5-1)

The DAs Office got hot at the right time. Winners of their last 4 they are currently in 7th place, a half game behind their opponent, the Giant Ten Pins. Ain't it great when things work out like this? QB Peyton Manning will have to contend with a feisty Titans pass rush, but if his O-line can hold up he can pick apart their depleted secondary for big points. RBs Brandon Jacobs and Joseph Addai will need to show up big this week and leave it all on the line. If Manning (Peyton that is) can lossen up the Titans with some big throws, it will open up lanes for Addai both out of the backfield and as a check down option. Jacobs on the other hand will need to get out of his season long funk and run someone over on the first carry, and then repeat for the rest of the game. Otherwise, the DAs Office will need to rely on their patchwork receiver corps of Steve Smith, Mike Sims-Walker and Johnny Knox to get them into the playoffs.
The Giant Ten Pins hold the last playoff spot. For now. If they want to keep it, they need to win, simple as that. They currently lead by 10 points thanks to a George Wilson. Not a name you'd expect, but in this situation those kinds of contributions are crucial. Vince Young starts at QB for the injured Matt Ryan, and we'll see if he can continue his impressive win streak, or if the Colts defense, at home, is fast enough to catch up with him. The running game of LeSean McCoy and Jamaal Charles probably isn't what the Ten Pins were hoping to pin their season on, but you can't always get what you want. They'll be front and center in determining if this team makes it to the playoffs. At WR Donald Drive has been solid, Miles Austin is a big play threat and Donnie Avery is the only guy worth throwing to in St. Louis. It ain't pretty but it gets the job done. They'll have one more shot to do it.

Thanks everyone for playing this year. For those teams not making the playoffs, I hope you'll continue to follow the league as the top teams battle it out for this year's crown and at the end of the season trophies will be passed out for various achievements, low-lights, etc. So stay tuned.