As we always do, we’ll be live chatting starting at 10:00 CT. Join us and get any and all start/sit questions answered.

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First off, congratulations!

Second, what the hell are you thinking?

Playing fantasy football in Week 17 is the ultimate crapshoot.  Some teams are going all out, others have already packed it in, and which end of that spectrum teams fall on can change throughout the day based on other results.

My best advice is to focus on players whose teams have something to play for.  (Here are the playoff scenarios for the two leagues: AFC | NFC.)

But while I may be judging you for playing in Week 17, I am still willing to help you out with the waiver wire.  By now you know the drill, players listed here are owned in fewer than 50% of Yahoo leagues.

Fantasy Football Week 17 Waiver Wire Pickups: QB

Matt Moore (20%), Miami

The matchup against the Jets is definitely a tough one, but after tossing three TDs against New England, Moore now has eight total TDs in the last four weeks.  Consider him a QB2 based on how well he’s been playing lately, but if you need a desperation play, there are probably better options out there.

Kyle Orton (19%), Kansas City

Orton racked up 300 passing yards against Oakland, and this week he gets a chance to stick it to his old teammates when the Chiefs travel to Denver.  He now has 599 passing yards in his two starts with KC, and the Broncos have given up some big games to opposing QBs.

John Skelton (4%), Arizona

It’s unclear whether Kevin Kolb will start the finale against Seattle, but Skelton rebounded from a disastrous performance in the early going to throw for nearly 300 yards and two scores against Cincinnati.  Over his last three games, he’s averaging 297 passing yards with six TDs.  He’s also thrown six picks, but it’s not like Kolb was lighting it up either.

Joe Webb (1%), Minnesota

With Christian Ponder sustaining a concussion against the Redskins, Webb may be in line to start against the Bears in Week 17.  He tossed two TDs and ran for another in relief of the rookie, and he passed for one TD and ran for another when he played against Detroit in Week 14.  His running ability gives him an added dimension as a fantasy QB, so consider him another QB2 option with some upside.

Fantasy Football Week 17 Waiver Wire Pickups: RB

Toby Gerhart (43%), Minnesota

Gerhart is once again the starter in the Minnesota backfield after Adrian Peterson tore his ACL and MCL.  He ran for 109 yards on just 11 carries against the Redskins, including a 64-yard run in the third quarter.

Photo credit: Jim Mone/AP via MPR News

It was his fifth straight game with double-digit points, and even though the Bears are tough against the run, he’s at least a flex play based on his ability to contribute in the passing game as well.

Kahlil Bell (34%), Chicago

Regardless of his health, it’s tough to see the Bears turning back to Marion Barber given how well Bell has played in recent weeks.  He tallied 108 yards and a TD in Week 15 then followed that up with 121 rushing yards along with four catches for 38 yards against Green Bay.  Much to the chagrin of his owners, Bell narrowly missed scoring on a pair of goal line attempts.

He has been particularly valuable in PPR leagues given his 14 receptions over the last three weeks.  Bell is a solid RB2 against the struggling Vikings this week.

Kendall Hunter (27%), San Francisco

With the 49ers already locked in as the two seed in the NFC, don’t be surprised to see them rest Frank Gore for the playoffs.  If that comes to fruition, Hunter is a solid option against a Rams defense that has been flat out awful against the run.  Hunter ran for 73 yards on 12 carries against Seattle and is also an able receiver out of the backfield.  Consider him a RB2 if the 49ers confirm he’ll get the bulk of the carries.

Isaac Redman (5%), Pittsburgh

Playing him would be a huge gamble, but if the Steelers once again employ a run-heavy attack against Cleveland’s suspect run defense, Redman might find his way into the end zone for a second straight week.

Evan Royster (5%), Washington

Since Roy Helu was hurt, I guess we can’t chalk Royster’s 19-carry, 132-yard effort to yet another Shanahanigan.  That said, the fact that he played so well should earn him the start against Philadelphia in Week 17.  With Shanahan, you really never know, so consider him a flex play…and start him at your own risk.

Chris Ivory (4%), New Orleans

Depending on what the Saints do Monday night, the Saints may not have anything to play for, which could lead to Ivory getting plenty of touches against Carolina.  The Panthers are among the teams who have allowed the most fantasy points to opposing running backs, making Ivory a strong flex option (or maybe more) depending on New Orleans’ situation.

Stevan Ridley (4%), New England

The Patriots need a win to lock up home field advantage in the AFC, and against a Buffalo team that has been shredded on the ground over the latter half of the season, that could be good news for Ridley.  He got the bulk of the work in the second half against Miami and has rushed for at least 60 yards in each of the last two weeks.  Consider him a RB2.

Fantasy Football Week 17 Waiver Wire Pickups: WR

Nate Burleson (43%), Detroit

The Lions locked up a playoff bid, so it’s unclear how much they will play their starters at this point.  With six catches and 83 yards against the Chargers, Burleson now has at least five catches in six of his last seven games and has at least eight fantasy points in five of those contests.  If he plays, he’s a solid start in PPR leagues against a Packers team that has nothing to play for at all.

David Nelson (41%), Buffalo

With New England’s porous pass defense on the schedule, Buffalo wideouts are sure to be hot commodities.  While Stevie Johnson is the best option, Nelson looks like the second choice.  He hauled in six balls for 84 yards in Buffalo’s first matchup with the Pats, so he’s a solid gamble if you’re in a jam.

Demaryius Thomas (41%), Denver

Once again, Thomas led the Broncos in targets, finishing with 76 yards on four receptions.

Photo Credit: Andy Cross, The Denver Post

He now has at least that many yards in each of the last four games.  Thomas will continue to be Tim Tebow’s go-to receiver in a must-win game against the Chiefs, who got burned by a couple big plays against Oakland on Sunday.

Doug Baldwin (32%), Seattle

The Seahawks couldn’t get much going in the passing game, but Baldwin did catch a touchdown and led the team in targets.  He should find more room to operate against the Cardinals, but keep in mind that he’s caught two or fewer passes in three of the last four games.

Darrius Heyward-Bey (31%), Oakland

DHB’s long reception in overtime set up the game-winning field goal for the Raiders.  He finished with 70 yards for the game, and he now has 17 receptions for 303 yards in the last three games.  The Chargers just got torched by the Lions and have nothing to play for, which makes Heyward-Bey a decent WR3 option at worst.

Damian Williams (23%), Tennessee

Williams had a field day against Jacksonville’s secondary, finishing with eight catches for 83 yards.  Houston’s coverage will most certainly be a notch or two above that, but the Texans are also locked into their playoff slot.  The Titans need to win and get some help, so they’ll be playing all their starters throughout, making Williams a potential flex option in deep leagues.

Andre Roberts (3%), Arizona

After catching six passes for 75 yards, Roberts now has at least six receptions and 60 yards in three of his last four games, and he caught a TD in the other one.  With Larry Fitzgerald drawing so much attention from opposing secondaries, Roberts should continue to find room to operate against Seattle this week.

Fantasy Football Week 17 Waiver Wire Pickups: TE

Brent Celek (49%), Philadelphia

Celek caught a TD for the second straight week and has been a relatively consistent contributor over the latter half of the season.  The Eagles finish their disappointing season versus the Redskins, against whom Celek racked up 42 yards and a TD in Week Six.

Jermaine Gresham (47%), Cincinnati

While he had a solid game with five catches and 56 yards against the Cardinals, Gresham and the Bengals close out the season against a Baltimore defense that has shut down opposing tight ends.  He had three catches for 48 yards in their first meeting this season.

Jared Cook (27%), Tennessee

I guess it’s better late than never for Cook, who was picked by many as a sleeper heading into the season.  If his owners held onto him, they have finally been rewarded for their patience with 17 catches and 272 yards over the last two games.  There’s no one hotter at the position, but beware of a Texans defense that has been stingy against opposing TEs.  As I mentioned with Damian Williams though, Houston doesn’t really have anything to play for.

Streaming Defense(s) of the Week

Seattle (45%) at Arizona

The Seahawks have allowed over 17 points just twice over the last seven games, and the Cardinals showed last week just how mistake-prone they can be.

Atlanta (29%) vs. Tampa Bay

Thanks to Chicago’s loss on Christmas, the Falcons are in the playoffs, but if they beat New Orleans on Monday, they still have a chance to win the NFC South.  The Bucs come in losers of nine straight games, and they have scored over 20 points just once over that span while turning the ball over 28 times.  If you look up “playing out the string” in the dictionary, you’ll find Tampa Bay’s team photo.

There are thirteen games being played on Christmas Eve, where the bulk of fantasy playoff games will be decided. Quality time with the family will be second priority for those fantasy owners in the championship game, so here are some last minute tips for this week in fantasy.

Don’t forget about our start/sit live chat, which starts today at 10:00 CT and goes all the way up until kickoff to get you ready for your championship matchup.

Fantasy Football Week 16: Big Names Who Could Disappoint

Joe Flacco

The Ravens are taking on the Browns with a chance to clinch the AFC North title, and a first-round bye in the playoffs. They already beat the Browns 24-10 in Week 13, but Joe Flacco did not throw a single touchdown.

Baltimore should easily win this game, but that does not mean Flacco will have a great game.

The Browns currently have the league’s third ranked pass defense, but the 31st ranked rush defense. This means the bulk of the offense will be geared towards Ray Rice and even Ricky Williams.

It is unlikely Flacco will eclipse the 200  yard mark, so it is a good idea to look elsewhere for a quarterback, especially during the last week of the fantasy season.

Marshawn Lynch

Lynch has been a great runner all year, but no one has been able to have a good rushing game against the 49ers, who are the Seahawks’ opponent today. The 49ers allow an average of 71.5 rush yards per game, and have only allowed 1,001 yards on the year, which is 259 yards better than the next closest team in Baltimore.

In his last four games, Lynch has rushed for five touchdowns and a total of 416 yards. However, in Week 1 against San Francisco, he only rushed for 33 yards on 13 carries. No one has been able to get anything going on the ground against the 49ers, so don’t look for anything to be different this week.

Steve Johnson

The Bills have destroyed their great start to the season by dropping the last seven games. During this streak they have only scored more than 17 points twice, and Johnson has only had two touchdowns.

Buffalo is taking on Denver this week, and the focus on offense could be the run game. C.J. Spiller is projected to have a big game, so Johnson could be a victim, in a fantasy sense, to Spiller’s success. Along with that, Johnson will be covered by Champ Bailey, who is not going to give anyone an easy time.

Fantasy Football Week 16: Under-the-Radar Players to Consider

Kahlil Bell

The Bears have not been the same team since Jay Cutler and Matt Forte went down, and they have searched for answers. They seemed to have found an answer in Marion Barber, but a calf injury is keeping him out on Christmas night in Green Bay.

Bell is getting the start, and he had a solid game last week with 65 yards on 15 carries. Josh McCown is starting at QB, so the Bears will look to Bell to take the pressure off of McCown. The Packers allow just over 108 rushing yards per game, so look for Bell to get near the 100 yard mark, with at least one touchdown.

Greg Little

Seneca Wallace is getting the start at QB for the Browns, which will be his second game in a row as the starter. Last week in Arizona, he hooked up with Little five times for 131 yards and a touchdown.

The Browns are taking on the tough Baltimore defense, but Little will be Wallace’s favorite target all game. Little only had three catches the last time these teams met, but he was struggling with drops at the time, and Colt McCoy was not exactly playing great. Look for the Seneca Wallace to target Little all game, and he should have another solid game, just as he did last week.

Demaryius Thomas

Thomas is becoming a big-name for Tebow-maniacs, but he is relatively unknown to the average NFL fan. He has become Tebow’s favorite target, and has caught 18 passes for 338 yards and three touchdowns in the last three games.

Denver is facing Buffalo, who is 17th in the NFL in pass defense. However, the Bills D has not allowed less than 23 points in any of the seven games during their losing streak. Tebow should be able to throw the ball to Thomas, who will find the endzone at least once in Buffalo.

I don’t know who will be manning the majority of the chat, but I’ll start it off around 10:00 CT and then we’ll see if Zach can make it. If not, I’ll make sure you’re covered.

Fantasy Football Start em, Sit em Live Chat for Week 16

In case you missed them, here are this week’s articles for your fantasy football Week 16 edification:

• Week 16 Start em, Sit em Advice
• Week 16 Waiver Wire Pickups

One, you are in your league’s championship round and looking for some advice as you try to make the most important lineup decisions of the season. We congratulate you, and we’re here for you. Skip ahead and start soaking in the analysis as you go for your league’s equivalent of The Shiva.

Two, you are in your league’s semifinal round, which means that you play your championship in Week 17. We’re still happy to help you make lineup decisions, but just know that we vehemently disagree with how your league is setup and blame you personally for going along with it.

Or three, you are devastated after a bad beat in Week 15 and engaging in the masochistic act of still reading fantasy football analysis even though you have nothing left to play for. This is pathetic and you should should be ashamed of yourself. Get over it man (or woman). Still though, we feel your pain. We’ve been there. So we welcome your wandering eyes as well.

I suppose you could also be in some kind of keeper league that uses the consolation bracket to help determine next year’s draft order (something we do highly encourage as a great idea) or a league in which money is doled out for third place (a less great idea). Either way, we group you with the first set of folks who still need advice even in Week 16.

Okay, onto this week’s Start/Sit picks…for anyone and everyone who may have stumbled upon this post today.

Fantasy Football Week 16 Start em, Sit em QBs

Start Em QB – Matt Moore

Matt Moor-ino has been very solid the past seven games for which he’s been healthy, putting up at least 13 points in six of them. He’s not at all a high-profile name, but if you don’t have a top 12 QB, or Tim Tebow, I would look at giving Moore the nod in Week 16.

His best WR, Brandon Marshall, has been a TD-machine as of late, and they will also be playing the porous New England passing defense.

If you don’t have another option, look at Moore. You might even be able to pick him up off of the waiver wire.

Matt Moore fantasy football Week 16 projection: 285 passing yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, 30 yards rushing

Other Start Em QBs:

• Tim Tebow – On the road in Buffalo…depending on weather…he may RUSH for 100 yards…and throw in a few TDs as well.
• Mike Vick and Tony Romo – Let’s just say, I don’t think there will be a lot of great defense in this game on Saturday.

Sit Em – Ryan Fitzpatrick

Hopefully, you got off of the Fitzpatrick bandwagon in week six…but he is still the #12 ranked fantasy QB and presents a LITTLE value from week to week based on matchups.

Not this week.

The Denver defense is incredibly over-rated (They are ranked 22nd overall, Tebow-haters. That’s a fact. Don’t try to argue against it.), but they have been much better against mediocre offenses. Fitzpatrick should have plenty of trouble against Denver’s speedy linebackers. Most of Buffalo’s offense has come on the ground lately, anyways…don’t expect that to change in week 16.

Ryan Fitzpatrick fantasy football Week 16 projection: 225 passing yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs

Other Sit Em QBs:

• Andy Dalton – This is not your “beginning-of-the-year-Cardinals-secondary” (stats forthcoming).
• Carson Palmer – We should all just sit him out of principle at this point, don’t you think?

Fantasy Football Week 16 Start em, Sit em QBs

Start Em RB – CJ Spiller

Spiller has had GREAT days two of the last three weeks, including his monstrous 28-point performance last week. If the weather is bad in Buffalo this weekend, look for Spiller to have another breakout.

On wet/slippery/cold fields, the offense ALWAYS has the advantage – especially shifty playmakers like CJ Spiller.

CJ Spiller fantasy football Week 16 projection: 75 rushing yards, 4 receptions, 50 yards receiving, 1 TD

Other Start Em RBs:

• Kendall Hunter – Look for Hunter (who has looked absolutely AWESOME at times) to carry a little larger load down the stretch run of the season as Jim Harbaugh tries to keep Frank Gore fresh for the post-season.
• DeAngelo Williams – Favorable matchup against Tampa Bay, and plus, doesn’t he seem to KILL everybody in the fantasy playoffs like every single year?

Sit Em RB – Marshawn Lynch

Man. What a tough one. I absolutely LOVE Beast Mode. He’s been an absolute fantasy stud the past several weeks. This brings us to the age-old quandary, “Do you play the stud, or do you sit him because of the matchup?”

98% of the time, I would say you should always play the stud. But this year’s San Francisco run defense is FAR from ordinary. Through 14 weeks games, they have not allowed one single rushing touchdown all year!

It’s possible you have NO other options at RB and are forced to start Lynch, but if you have 2 or 3 other guys you like, don’t hesitate to sit Lynch against one of the best run defenses ever – that’s not hyperbole.

Marshawn Lynch fantasy football Week 16 projection: 60 rushing yards, 3 receptions, 12 receiving yards, 0 TDs

Other Sit Em RBs:

• Mike Tolbert – I think Mathews gets most of the touches this week.
• Ryan Grant – The Bears’ defense is great, and they will keep Grant blocked in all day.

Fantasy Football Week 16 Start em, Sit em WRs

Start Em WR – Plaxico Burress

A complete hunch…but I think this is one of those weeks where he has like 4 catches for 28 yards…and TWO touchdowns.

He’s been pretty quiet lately, and the Giants will definitely be focusing on stopping the Jets’ running game. I think the Jets will counter by trying to give Sanchez some easier throws…and as bad as he is at times, Sanchez can throw that fade on the sideline very well. Look for Plax to get several looks in the red zone this week.

Plaxico Burress fantasy football Week 16 projection: 4 receptions, 28 yards, 2 TDs

Other Start Em WRs:

• DeSean Jackson, Laurent Robinson, Miles Austin, Dez Bryant – Yes, I’m predicting at least 10 points for ALL of these WRs this week.
• DeMariyus Thomas – He’s actually the #1 WR in fantasy over the last three weeks. Tebow loves him, and he should have another good day in Buffalo this week.
• Victor Cruz – Read below.

Sit Em WR – Hakeem Nicks

Darrelle Revis is an awesome CB…but he’s slightly less awesome when he has to move inside and cover the slot WR. I expect Revis to stay outside and try to shut down the Giants’ deep threat this week. Victor Cruz will be the primary beneficiary as Eli will have to check down to him constantly.

Nicks MIGHT get free on one or two deep balls, but if he doesn’t (or if he drops them when perfectly thrown, like he did last week), he will be a fantasy disappointment in Week 16.

Hakeem Nicks fantasy football Week 16 projection: 4 receptions, 45 yards, 0 TDs

Other Sit Em WRs:

• Brandon Lloyd – Against Pittsburgh AND he’s banged up AND the Rams have QB issues.
• Reggie Wayne – I’m finally turning on him…he’s just nothing without Peyton Manning. It’s a good thing it took me sixteen weeks…

Fantasy Football Week 16 Start em, Sit em TEs

Start Em Tight End – Greg Olsen

Cam LOVES his tight ends in the red zone, and look for Olsen to be the recipient this week.

Greg Olsen fantasy football Week 16 projection: 3 receptions, 40 yards, 1 TD

Sit Em Tight End – Owen Daniels

The big fella is banged up, and I expect Houston to pull him as soon as they can tonight against the Colts. If they get up big, look for all of Houston’s studs to sit.

Owen Daniels fantasy football Week 16 projection: 2 receptions, 25 yards, 0 TDs

Fantasy Football Week 16 Start em, Sit em D/STs

Start Em Defense – ARIZONA CARDINALS

This is my game-changing pick of the week.

Did you know that the Cardinals defense has been improving all year, and that in the last seven weeks, they have only allowed EIGHT touchdowns.

I’ll let you guess where that ranks, league-wide.

Anyway, they will be playing a good Cincinnati team, but a team whose offense is definitely not “lights out” by any means.

If you don’t have one of the top three defenses, go ahead and swoop up the Arizona defense…to the surprise of everyone. And then dominate them this week to win your league.

Sit Em Defense – Detroit

All flash, no substance…especially against a rejuvenated San Diego offense. I would stay away from BOTH defenses in this game.

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Best of luck in Week 16 everyone! We’ll be here all week answering questions in the comment section, and we will have our weekly live chat on Saturday this week. We’ll see you then!

Oh, you thought I meant Christmas?

Ideally you’ve been shopping the waiver wire all season long and have picked up some bargains along the way.  But just in case you waited until the last minute, there are still a few options out there in your hour of need.

Alright, enough with the holiday metaphors, let’s check out a handful of guys on the waiver wire who just might put you over the top.  As always, players listed here are owned in fewer than 50 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

Fantasy Football Week 16 Waiver Wire Pickups: QB

Matt Moore (18%), Miami

By now you know that it’s a sound practice to start the QB playing against the Patriots, who have routinely given up big fantasy numbers to opposing signal callers.  Moore has at least one TD in five straight games with nine total scores over that span.  New England has allowed multiple TDs to six of the last eight QBs they have faced, and they also allowed Chad Henne and the Dolphins to throw for 400 yards against them in Week One.

Rex Grossman (17%), Washington

I realize starting Grossman with your league title on the line seems like a suicide mission, but the matchup is almost too good to pass up.  After being shredded by Drew Brees and the Saints, the Vikings have now allowed 25 passing scores over their last nine games.  If nothing else, you may want to pick up Grossman to prevent your opponent from grabbing him.

Kyle Orton (17%), Kansas City

Moore and Grossman have better matchups, but Orton is another waiver wire option after throwing for 299 yards in KC’s upset win over Green Bay.  Orton faces an Oakland defense that has allowed multiple TDs to their last seven opponents.  Like the others listed here, he’s a solid QB2 based on the matchup and someone you could talk yourself into starting if your other options are struggling.

Image credit: Jamie Squires / Getty Images via B/R

Fantasy Football Week 16 Waiver Wire Pickups: RB

Toby Gerhart (45%), Minnesota

With Adrian Peterson back, fantasy owners (myself included) moved Gerhart back to the bench and watched him catch two touchdown passes.  Still, he had just two carries on the day, so you shouldn’t expect a heavy workload going forward.  He’s only startable next week in deep PPR leagues, so don’t get carried away here based solely on his fantasy points from Week 15.

Jackie Battle (29%), Kansas City

As bad as the Raiders have been against the pass, they’ve also struggled against the run.  Since the Lions were playing from behind and generally have no interest in running the ball, they weren’t able to exploit that weakness.  However, the Chiefs are more likely to stick with the run after giving it to their running backs over 30 times against the Packers despite relatively limited success.  Battle did convert a short TD run and would be the goal line option this week as well.  Consider him a potential flex option in deeper leagues.

Donald Brown (21%), Indianapolis

Brown gained roughly half of his 161 rushing yards on an 80-yard scamper to seal the game, and he’s now scored a TD in three of the last four games.  He continues to outperform Joseph Addai and should continue to see a larger portion of the workload.  That said, the Texans have been among the stingiest defenses against opposing RBs, which makes Brown a flex option at best.

Lance Ball (12%), Denver

With Willis McGahee limited by a leg injury, Ball racked up 105 total yards and a TD against the Patriots.  If McGahee can’t go, Ball becomes a solid option against a Buffalo defense that has been getting shredded on the ground over the last seven games.

Kahlil Bell (8%), Chicago

Bell outplayed Marion Barber against the Seahawks, rushing for 65 yards on 15 carries to go with five receptions for 43 yards and a TD.  It was his second straight game with five catches, which makes him a solid flex option in PPR leagues despite a relatively tough matchup against Green Bay.  Still, it’s hard to see a scenario where he doesn’t get the bulk of the backfield touches in that game.

Chris Ivory (3%), New Orleans

Keep in mind that Ivory got most of his work when the Saints were essentially running out the clock against Minnesota, but he finished with 74 rushing yards on the day.  Things won’t be quite as easy against the Falcons, but it’s worth noting the Atlanta defense has allowed either 100 rushing yards or a TD to opposing runners in each of the last four games.  Even so, Ivory is only an option in very deep leagues with Darren Sproles and Pierre Thomas also in the backfield mix.

Fantasy Football Week 16 Waiver Wire Pickups: WR

Nate Burleson (42%), Detroit

After a disappointing performance against Minnesota last week, Burleson bounced back with seven catches for 81 yards and a TD against Oakland.  He has at least five receptions in five of the last six games, and you know the Lions will be airing it out with regularity.  Consider Burleson a WR3 in PPR leagues with the Chargers up next on the schedule.

Steve Breaston (37%), Kansas City

Breaston led the team in targets against the Packers and wound up with four receptions for 50 yards to go with a 25-yard run.  He now has at least four grabs in seven straight games, but keep in mind he’s been held to 50 receiving yards or less in five of those contests.  Breaston caught five balls for 64 yards in the first matchup with Oakland, which is probably a reasonable expectation for this game.  He’s consistent, but don’t count on a ton of upside here even with a great matchup.

Demaryius Thomas (34%), Denver

After another big game against the Patriots, Thomas now has 18 catches for 338 yards and three TDs over the last three games.  He was targeted a total of 13 times against the Pats and continues to be Tim Tebow’s go-to receiver.  Buffalo’s defense is reeling, which makes Thomas a solid option for your championship lineup.

Darrius Heyward-Bey (25%), Oakland

The Chiefs have been tougher against the pass than you might think, but DHB should enter that matchup with plenty of confidence after racking up eight catches for 155 yards and a score against the Lions.  He had five receptions for 89 yards against Kansas City in their first meeting and is a WR3 at best this week.  Despite his solid recent numbers, putting your fantasy fate in his hands is a pretty frightening proposition.

Fantasy Football Week 16 Waiver Wire Pickups: TE

Brent Celek (36%), Philadelphia

Apparently Celek and the Eagles aren’t quite dead yet.  He caught five passes for 156 yards and a TD against the Jets and nearly missed a second score when he was brought down just short of the goal line after a 73-yard catch-and-run.  Celek has at least four grabs in eight of his last nine games, including a Week Eight matchup with Dallas where he posted seven receptions, 94 yards, and a TD.  He’s a borderline TE1 in a must-win game against the Cowboys.

Jared Cook (26%), Tennessee

After being held without a catch for two straight games, Cook had nine receptions for 103 yards against the Colts, most of which came after the Titans were forced to go to a pass-heavy attack.  Next week’s matchup with the Jaguars is a decent one, but starting the inconsistent Cook would be an extremely risky move.

Streaming Defense(s) of the Week

Tennessee (41%) vs. Jacksonville

I won’t blame you if you don’t want to trust the Titans after they lost to Indy.  That said, outside of their “where the hell did these guys come from” performance against Tampa Bay, Jacksonville has scored more than 14 points just once since Week Five.

Washington (16%) vs. Minnesota

The Redskins held the Giants without a TD until the final minute and tallied three sacks and three interceptions.  Meanwhile, the Vikings have lost six straight and have turned the ball over 16 times and allowed four defensive/special teams TDs over that span.

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Finally, Happy Holidays and best of luck this week to all of you.  Hopefully we’ve been able to help you over the course of the season, and for those of you masochists out there who play in Week 17, I’ll be back with one last round of waiver wire suggestions next week.

Have any questions or feedback?  Leave them in the comments below or hit me up on Twitter (@andybottoms).

This Sunday, ESPN’s Outside the Lines did a piece on another long-time fantasy sports franchise that ran into trouble in 2011 and ultimately shut down.

I found the 8 ½ minute piece fascinating, and in my mind it beats OTL’s breaking lead story from last week. (I’m fine with Major League Baseball’s drug-testing program – but the first I want to hear about a violation is from MLB itself, not from a media outlet digging out a story and breaking the code of confidentiality.)

But back to this week’s OTL piece, which focused on the high-stakes operation that was known as the World Championship of Fantasy Football.

“Fantasy Flop” at World Championship of Fantasy Football

Those who have played fantasy sports in the past and purchase the preseason magazines annually have no doubt heard of them. They’re the ones in which the overall winner gets the oversized check from Suzy Kolber at the Super Bowl.  Obviously, very few fantasy football magazines went to print this year due to the lockout, so I personally did not know what was going on with WCOFF or any other fantasy sports business – but until recently WCOFF was guilty of nothing more than having a WFL-like logo, which perhaps should had been a clue of impending doom right there.

The story begins with the plight of a Wyoming man named Tony Windis, who won the $300,000 grand prize for the 2010 football season following the same blueprint of many others who won fantasy football titles last year: drafting Adrian Peterson and then picking up Michael Vick off the waiver wire. Windis says he received $150,000 of his winnings, and is still awaiting the remaining amount.

The piece then focuses on several others who had invested in WCOFF over the years, including self-described ‘professional gambler’ Chad Schroeder, who invested $50,000 annually, won WCOFF’s 2010 baseball contest, and was owed over $250,000 of his winnings. Also featured was Ian Ritchie, who had played in the contest since 2003, and Scott Atkins, who now runs the Fantasy Players Association.

It is noted in the segment that the landscape of the company changed in 2007 when WCOFF’s original owners sold out to Gridiron Fantasy Sports, an arm of a company known as 360 Sports Marketing.

Ashby had huge corporate plans for his acquired franchise. WCOFF’s Draft in Las Vegas spared little expense, involving 100 women hired as cocktail waitresses clad in referee’s outfits, and also flying in two former NBA players as celebrity contestants. Ashby also started a weekly TV show which aired on Versus and had visions of televised fantasy football drafts becoming the new poker, with his contestants becoming television celebrities – while taunting the contests involving ‘the best of the best’.

By 2009, WCOFF was no longer timely in processing  payoffs, and this September it closed up shop. It is said that the operation had gotten to the point that they were waiting for the income from baseball sign-ups in the spring before paying off football winners. WCOFF then took out a loan this year (claiming they were working on sponsors), but it was still not able to pay all of the winners.

ESPN quoted Dustin Ashby (right) as saying ‘the economy got us’ and ‘we made some bad bets’ (figuratively, literally, or both??), adding that the company had lost $4 million.

The segment closes with news of a lawsuit being applied for by the ‘winners’, with a frustrated Tony Windis saying on camera ‘I just want what I want. I don’t want to hurt anybody, I don’t want any extra, I just want to get paid’. Ashby also was hit by a lawsuit a couple weeks back by the Missouri Attorney General.

There is another angle to the Dustin Ashby story. He was also a golf coach at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. While in that capacity he utilized one of his volunteer assistants, and three of his student-athletes, with the WCOFF operation on a contract basis.

Not surprisingly, something known as the NCAA did not take a very good view of this. The UMSL golf program has now been placed on two years probation for ‘major violations regarding sports wagering and unethical conduct’ and for Ashby not disclosing the involvement of his staff and student-athletes. The NCAA, which has long prohibited sports wagering by student-athletes/coaches, officially expanded the rules to include fantasy sports in 2007.

Dustin Ashby is also seen often on television on various golf programs, and St. Louis sportswriter Jeff Gordon was a featured contributor to the WCOFF website, as he had been for CDM Inc. (also based in St. Louis area) in the past.

At one point it was thought that Gridiron raked in upwards to $3 million per year, while awarding $1.6 to $1.8 million in prize money. This may have been based on WCOFF acquiring the maximum 1,200 contestants for its football contest. It can be imagined that attracting less than the 1,200 number ($1,750 buy-in) cut into the revenue stream, as well as the added administrative expenses with the Las Vegas event in recent years.

Who knows how the mismanagement (making other investments that may have tanked, etc.) got Gridiron into deep red ink, but the damage to the fantasy sports industry as a whole is far-reaching. There are many other businesses in fantasy sports that have been well-run in the years, but then again WCOFF had a clean rep until very recently, and this is not the first company to encounter ‘accounting issues’ and not make payouts in a timely manner. The result is more potential customers who may ultimately decide to sit on the sidelines, or join close-knit leagues at home with co-workers/family or other people that they know on a face-to-face business.

And the fantasy sports industry worked had to keep the hobby alive, successfully winning in court in the early-2000’s proving that fantasy sports differ from other ‘investments’ known as gambling – and again just a few years ago as professional sports leagues attempted to copyright the use of players names and player statistics. It would not take much for another bill to come forward in the future and for those decisions to eventually be reversed in some fashion.

It is frustrating enough to lose in fantasy sports based on events that happen in the field of play. It’s quite another to win but not get paid. This is something that might end up boding very bad for the fantasy sports industry.

Here are some last minute tips for this week in fantasy football on guys like Philip Rivers, Rashard Mendenhall, Roy Helu, and others.

And once you’re done reading them, head on over to our Sunday live chat and get any last minute questions answered.

Fantasy Football Week 15: Big Names Who Could Disappoint

Philip Rivers

The Chargers are still technically alive for the playoffs, but their chances are very slim. It is another season of disappointment in San Diego, even though they are currently on a two-game winning streak.

Philip Rivers and his Chargers are going up against the Ravens, who are looking to hold their lead over the Steelers in the AFC North. The Ravens have the fourth ranked pass defense in the NFL, and have held their last three opponents to ten points or less. Rivers will have a tough time getting anything going, and should have a down week in a fantasy sense.

Rashard Mendenhall

Mendenhall has only gone over 100 yards once this season, and he will not do so for a second time on Monday night against the 49ers.

The 49ers have the league’s top ranked rush defense, at an average of 70.5 yards per game, and should hold strong against Mendenhall on Monday Night Football. He has scored his touchdowns in spurts this year, but the Steelers will have to find points through the air on Monday night.

Sam Hurd

For obvious reasons.

Torrey Smith

Smith has burst onto the scene this season as a rookie with the Ravens. He has six touchdowns on the year, but three came in Week 3 against St. Louis.

The Chargers have the seventh ranked pass defense, so the Ravens will have to try and win through the run game. Ray Rice should have a solid game, but Torrey Smith will not see much of the action.

Fantasy Football Week 15: Under-the-Radar Players to Consider

Roy Helu

Helu is a bright spot on the Redskins and has taken over the running back position in Washington. He has rushed for over 100 yards in three straight games, and he could easily reach that number today against the Giants.

New York has the 22nd ranked rush defense in the league, and Helu, being a threat both in the run and pass game, should be able to rack up a decent amount of points.

Eric Decker

Decker has seen a lack of receptions due to an increase in production by Demaryius Thomas, but he is still the Broncos’ leading receiver.

The Patriots have the worst pass defense in the entire league, so Tebow should be able to spread the ball around. John Fox will look to take advantage of the Pats’ secondary, and call more pass plays for Superman Tebow. Decker should be able to find the endzone at least once today.

Evan Moore

Moore has not been utilized as much as he should be by the Browns, but with Benjamin Watson on IR, Moore is now the main option at TE.

The Cardinals have the 23rd ranked pass defense, and with Seneca Wallace making his first start of the season, Moore should be the main option when, not if, the Browns are in the red zone.

Zach is back this week! I’ll probably kick things off and then hand it over to him. We should be able to take you right up until kickoff, providing answers to whatever start/sit questions you have about your Week 15 lineups.

Fantasy Football Start em, Sit em Live Chat for Week 15

In case you missed them, here are this week’s articles for your fantasy football Week 15 edification:

• Week 15 Start em, Sit em Advice
• Week 15 Waiver Wire Pickups

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In my league of 14 teams, I finished right in the middle of the pack in terms of points…but because I had the third most points scored on me, I missed the playoffs…by a lot.

I finished second to last.

Lame.

Sometimes, fantasy football goes that way. I will spare you my three heart-breaking losses of the year because, quite frankly, we all have them…and nobody else cares.

Jerod’s thoughts:

Nobody cares Jon except for certain other people in that same league who finished in first place with an 11-2 record despite only scoring the 6th-most points but having by far the least points scored against.

DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS!]

Let’s get to this week.

Once again, “Start Em” guys are QBs/TEs outside of the Top 12 and RBs/WRs outside of the Top 25. “Sit Em Guys” include QBs/TEs that are in the Top 12 and RBs/WRs that are in the Top 25. Why? Because if you have a guy in the top 20…you should be thinking about starting him anyway. I’m not going to sit here and tell you “enlightening” information like, “LeSean McCoy is going to score points this week!”

Fantasy Football Week 15 Start em, Sit em QBs

Start Em QB: Tim Tebow (at NE)

He’s tied for 18th among QBs…AND HE’S ONLY PLAYED EIGHT GAMES!

If you don’t believe in Tebow yet (and by that, I mean in terms of fantasy football), you probably never will.

Tebow will be playing against the New England Patriots and their league-worst defense. It should also be mentioned that for the first time all year, John Fox was complimentary of Tebow’s passing this past week. He admitted that Tebow is improving a lot, and they will be able to start trusting him more and more in the passing game. This is great news for Tebow-owners.

Will The Broncos win this week? I’m not sure, but that doesn’t matter for your fantasy team.

Tebow will go crazy like he did two weeks ago against Minnesota. New England’s pass defense is ranked dead last in the league. Start Tebow with confidence.

Tim Tebow fantasy football Week 15 projection: 260 passing yards, 2 TDs and 1 INT; 80 rushing yards, 1 TD

Other Start Em QBs for Week 15:

• Tony Romo – Tampa Bay is ranked 27th in the league against the pass, and Romo finally has four legitimate receiving weapons now that Miles Austin is back. Add this to the fact that they just lost DeMarco Murray, and I expect Romo to be the #1 QB of Week 15.
• Matt Stafford – Playing against Oakland (Carson Palmer…you can LOL right now). They are awful.
• Andy Dalton – Love his matchup against St. Louis. Cincinnati needs a win right now, and Dalton and AJ Green should make beautiful music in the dome on Sunday.

Sit Em QB: Mark Sanchez (at Philadelphia)

Mark Sanchez is, unbelievably, the 10th ranked QB in all of fantasy right now. Don’t be fooled though.

Sanchez has padded his stats against poor pass defenses. He put up at least 17 points against Dallas, Oakland, Miami, New England, and Buffalo. None of those teams are ranked in the top 14 in the league against the pass. Against Baltimore, Jacksonville, Denver, and Washington, he failed to break THIRTEEN.

The Eagles aren’t a great pass defense, but they are ranked 12th in the league. The way you beat the Eagles is on the ground.
Once you factor Shonn Greene’s resurgence into the picture, Sanchez is a must-sit in week 15.

Mark Sanchez fantasy football Week 15 projection: 180 passing yards, 1 TD, 1 INT

Other Sit Em QBs for Week 15:

• Alex Smith – I really hope you weren’t planning on starting him. He’s been terrible lately, AND he’s playing the Steelers. Good luck with that, Mr. Smith.
• Matt Ryan – He’s the most hit or miss QB in fantasy. He could very well have a big game, especially if Julio Jones stops dropping the ball, but I think he’s a miss this week. Jacksonville has the 4th best defense in the league against the pass, and both teams are playing off of a short week on Thursday night. Stay away from Matty-Ice this week.

Jerod’s thoughts:

Jon, you picking Tebow as your start ‘em QB this week is the most predictable choice of 2011. It’s also correct.

Picking Sanchez as the sit ‘em QB though? Boy, I don’t know. I certainly do not agree that he a “must sit”. Do you really trust Philly and its defense that much? Even if Shonn Greene does the heavy lifting, the Jets still like to pass in the red zone.  I don’t love Sanchez, and he’s certainly not a “must start” by any means, but he does have 7 TDs over the last three games. I don’t care who they are against, that’s good. Let’s put it this way: you could do worse.

Fantasy Football Week 15 Start em, Sit em RBs

Start Em RB: Ryan Grant (at Kansas City)

After losing Greg Jennings last week, I have the feeling that Green Bay will start playing a little bit more conservatively late in games. Fortunately for them, Ryan Grant appears to be peaking at the right time.

It always takes a while to fully recover from injury, and Grant appeared to be at top form last week.

Look for Green Bay to start shortening games in the second half as the season ends. They will definitely start this week against Kansas City and their atrocious run defense.

Ryan Grant fantasy football Week 15 projection: 150 total yards, 1 TD

Other Start Em RBs for Week 15:

• Shonn Greene AND LaDainian Tomlinson – Don’t be freaked out that they might steal each other’s points…BOTH players should be good for more then 10 this week against Philadelphia.
• Chris Johnson – Against Indianapolis in a game that really doesn’t matter? (Tennessee is basically out of the playoffs at this point) Come on…I think we all know that this is the type of game that Chris Johnson will EXPLODE in.

Sit Em RB: Rashard Mendenhall (v San Francisco)

I will let Jerod confirm this one by explaining to you once again how impossible it is to run on San Francisco.

Rashard Mendenhall Projections: 60 total yards

Other Sit Em RBs for Week 15:

• Ryan Mathews – Tough matchup against Baltimore. San Diego will have to air it out to beat the Ravens.
• DeAngelo Williams – Houston is great against the run as well. I actually like Jonathan Stewart a little bit this week – he’s the Panthers’ threat to catch the ball out of the backfield – but stay away from DeAngelo Williams in Week 15.

Jerod’s thoughts:

Wow, I pretty much agree with everything here. I’m not as high on Grant as you are, but I certainly think he’s worthy of playing for the exact reasons you explained.

As for Mendenhall, San Francisco still has not allowed 1,000 total rushing yards this year – they give up just 70.5 rushing yards per game – and have not allowed a single rushing touchdown. Sure, that second stat is a bit fluky (everyone else has allowed at least five) but you can’t even be in a position to have it unless your run D is awesome. I would sit Mendy too. If he scores, oh well. Can you really be upset with yourself?

Other running backs who simply have to be in your starting lineups because of their matchups:

• Felix Jones – yes, Felix Jones. Dallas is playing Tampa Bay, a team that has essentially quit on the season and can’t stop anyone.
• Cedric Benson – the Rams can’t stop anyone from running either.
• Roy Helu – He’s on fire, has Shanahan’s trust, and gets to face a Giants’ D that rushes the passer but barely passes the rushers.
• Arian Foster and Ben Tate – Carolina’s run D is that bad.
• Beanie Wells – Cleveland can defend the pass, at least statistically, in large part because they can’t defend the run.

Fantasy Football Week 15 Start em, Sit em WRs

Start Em WR: Demaryius Thomas (v NE)

New England, as I covered before, is just atrocious against the pass. World-renowned Patriots fan Bill Simmons even thinks that Julian Edelman is their BEST defensive back.

Thomas has quickly become Tebow’s favorite target in the end zone ever since he returned from injury. Look for Thomas to have a BIG day again in Week 15.

Demaryius Thomas fantasy football Week 15 projection: 8 catches for 140 yards and 2 TDs

Bonus Start Em WR: James Jones (at KC)

Usually, I only give you one guy that I’m super strong on, but I felt that this was too important to skip over.

The Greg Jennings injury will not hurt the Packers too badly; they will just spread around the points a little more. Look for James Jones (and Jordy Nelson) to have a huge day in Jennings’ absence.

James Jones fantasy football Week 15 projection: 6 catches for 120 yards and 1 TD

Other Start Em WRs for Week 15:

• AJ Green – Big day for the Cincinnati passing game on the turf in St. Louis. I expect AJ to catch AT LEAST two bombs in this game.
• EVERY wide receiver for the Saints and Vikings playing in Minnesota this week – Both teams are terrible against the pass…both teams have tons of speed…both teams are playing inside. Yay, free points.

Sit Em WR: Roddy White (v JAX)

I hate his matchup, and I hate his QB this week. The only receiver I like for the Falcons this week against Jacksonville is Tony Gonzalez. I would stay away from Roddy AND Julio Jones actually, but Roddy is the guy that’s ranked in the top fifteen, so that is why he is my sit ‘em wide receiver for Week 15.

Roddy White fantasy football Week 15 projection: 4 catches, 50 yards, 0 TD

Other Sit Em WRs for Week 15:

• Michael Crabtree – Won’t do much against the Steelers this week.
• DeSean Jackson – Revis Island.

Jerod’s thoughts:

I was going to say that’s scary how much we are agreeing this week, but then I got down to Roddy White and realized that we do disagree on something. I’m not a huge fan of White’s upside this week, but I do like his consistency. Look at those last three games (all with TDs). That’s tough to sit in the playoffs.

Let me say this about Demaryius Thomas though: be careful. He is still a rookie with questionable hands. And if he hadn’t caught that late TD from Tebow, all people would be talking about regarding him is all the drops early in the game. Can he handle the pressure of a game this big? I like him. He has explosive potential because of his talent and the matchup. Just be careful.

Other guys I particularly like this week include:

• Mike Williams of Tampa – Dallas’ secondary is pretty poor.
• Nate Washington and Damian Williams against Indianapolis.
• Antonio Brown‘s underrated consistency against San Francisco.
• Laurent Robinson – I know that Dallas has all of its weapons back, but they did last week too and he exploded again. He’s not flash in the pan. Romo loves him.

Fantasy Football Week 15 Start em, Sit em TEs

Start Em Tight End: Jermichael Finley (at KC)

The irony here is that if you have Jermichael Finley, you probably didn’t advance in your fantasy playoffs after his goose egg from last week. However, I think he will get much more involved in the passing attack now that Greg Jennings is out, and he should have his typical explosive day that he gets once a month.

Jermichael Finley fantasy football Week 15 projection: 95 yards, 2 TDs

(Yes, everybody, I’m well aware that I predicted at least three receiving TDs for the Packers after I said they would run the ball more. I don’t care. I expect all of the throwing to be done in the first half, and then Grant to dominate in the second.)

Sit Em Tight End: Vernon Davis (at PIT)

As you well know, I’m pretty high on the Steelers’ pass defense. This game will be ugly one way or the other, and nobody on the 49ers (outside of their running backs) will have a big game offensively.

Jerod’s thoughts:

What, no “other guys” to start and sit? Come on Jon! This is Week 15!

By the way, I agree on both Finley and Davis. You’d have to have balls of steel to start Finley this week, but those who made it this far probably do.

A couple of other names to consider:

• I know that Aaron Hernandez no longer gets the red zone looks in New England, but there is still value in a tight end who catches 4-5 balls per week and gets 50-70 yards. Plus, he’s due for a TD one of these days right?
• Jake Ballard continues to be a solid under-the-radar selection. He should be as well this weekend against Washington.

Guys not to consider:

• Dallas Clark caught one ball last week in his return to lineup. Don’t be seduced by the name.
• Marcedes Lewis has some yardage potential, but I just don’t see many scoring chances for anyone other than MJD against the Falcons.

Fantasy Football Week 15 Start em, Sit em Defenses

Start Em Defense: Chicago (v SEA)

They are playing with their backs against the wall, and pretty much have to hold their opponents scoreless. Fortunately for them, they are playing against Seattle. Look for the Bears to contain the Beast and dominate the Seahawks.

Also, whenever their backs are up against the wall, Devin Hester seems to do something crazy, which helps the Bears D/ST unit. 
Da Bears will play well this week.

Chicago Bears D/ST fantasy football Week 15 projection: 10 or fewer points, 2+ turnovers, 2+ sacks, 1 TD

Sit Em Defense: Denver (v NE)

I love Denver’s offense this week, in part because I think the New England offense will have their way with the Broncos.

You can’t stop Rob Gronkowski…even with OLBs as good as Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil.

I will be cheering for Denver to pull it off again this week, but once again it looks like Tim Tebow will have to carry the load.

Denver Broncos D/ST fantasy football Week 15 projection: 24 or more points, 1 turnover, 2 sacks

Jerod’s thoughts:

Okay, now I forgive you for not doing the “other” tight ends. You stepped up with some D/ST analysis! And I like both picks.

Also consider that Seattle gave up two return TDs to Ted Ginn back in Week 1. While their special teams may now be better, Hester is Hester. He offers lots of upside for Bears owners.

And as for the Broncos, you’re exactly right. Miller and Dumervil are rushing OLBs, not coverage guys. Gronk will dominate, and Welker should find plenty of success too.

Other D/STs to consider:

• Seattle’s D is criminally underrated. Facing Caleb Hanie, they too should be able to get the scoring to a minimum.
• Cincinnati playing at St. Louis is a no-brainer. So is Tennessee at Indy.

D/STs to stay away from:

• Baltimore is excellent, but they are facing a San Diego offense that is starting to click. If I had Seattle or Cincy, I’d play them over the Ravens, who face a desperate Chargers team that literally almost never loses in December.

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There you go. 2,500 words of fantasy analysis for Week 15, which should have you all ready to make every lineup decision facing you for Week 15.

Wait…what’s that? You still have questions? Well of course be our guest and pop on down to the comment section below. We’ll take good care of you, as well as be here on Sunday morning for our weekly live chat to make sure you are ready to win your playoff matchup.

Good luck in Week 15 everyone!

No, I didn’t make the playoffs in all of my leagues, but I did get to enjoy a couple of Week 14 byes, and my teams that did play meaningful Week 14 games all did well.

Sure, it all could come crashing down this week, but I’m going to spend a few extra minutes studying stats and trends and matchups to ensure that I put myself in the best possible position for victory.

And it all starts with analyzing the waiver wire to see if there are any players out there who may be able to help me out now that the fantasy pressure is racheted up to its highest levels.

Here are this week’s waiver wire pickups, and as always all of these players are owned in 50% or fewer of Yahoo leagues.

Fantasy Football Week 15 Waiver Wire Pickups: QB

Matt Moore, Miami (20%, at Buffalo)

Matt Moore did not have a great game in Week 14. This is surprising based on the previous several weeks, but coming into the year no one would have been surprised if the Eagles’ high-priced secondary had shut down the Dolphins’ backup QB.

Week 15 appears far more appealing for Moore owners – especially those who have him in two-QB leagues like I do. He is facing the Buffalo Bills, who are giving up big numbers to everyone. You wouldn’t want Moore starting in a single QB league, but he’ll put up sneaky good numbers this week.

Rex Grossman, Washington (13%, at New York Giants)

Did you see how many Cowboys wide receivers were running wide open in the Giants’ secondary last week? That’s been a weekly theme. Grossman proved in Week 14 that he can put up good numbers against a poor secondary, and he can and should do it again this week.

You might think I’m crazy to say this, but Grossman could very well be a top-10 QB this week. I know, I know. I’m not sure I could trust him either, but just don’t be surprised if it happens.

T.J. Yates, Houston (5%, v Carolina)

This is only for deep-leaguers and two-QB leagues, but T.J. Yates has been surprisingly serviceable in fantasy football and real life football since taking over for Matt Leinart taking over for Matt Schaub. Yates has 3 TDs and one pick in the his last two games. There is some value there, and we know that Carolina struggles to stop everyone.

Jake Locker, Tennessee (2%, at Indianapolis)

This assumes that Matt Hasselbeck is hurt and that you are terribly desperate at QB, but wouldn’t you want whoever is facing the Colts in at QB? I wouldn’t mind it. Don’t go crazy and start Locker in a one-QB league, but he could put up some numbers against the woeful Colts.

Fantasy Football Week 15 Waiver Wire Pickups: RB

Toby Gerhart, Minnesota (47%, v New Orleans)

If Adrian Peterson doesn’t play, which seems unlikely since he was so close to playing this week, Gerhart has some value. If Peterson does play, then obviously Gerhart needs to go to your bench.

Ryan Grant, Green Bay (43%, at Kansas City)

Ryan Grant lives!

Grant hasn’t done much this year, but he burst back onto the scene in Week 14, filling in quite admirably for James Starks and making the Packers RB slot fantasy-relevant for the first time…pretty much all year. If Grant is slated to start again, with Kansas City up next on the schedule, he could provide some value again. Don’t go crazy with your expectations, but he’s at least worthy of giving you some depth as you approach the final week.

Donald Brown, Indianapolis (21%, v Tennessee)

Brown did very little in Week 14, but in his defense he plays for the Colts who were playing Baltimore. Did anyone really expect anything? Brown did lead the Colts in carries and yards, and there is value in that for those desperate for ball carrier, and Tennessee is not nearly as imposing against the run as the Ravens are.

Keiland Williams, Detroit (3%, at Oakland)

I’m not a huge fan of Williams, but he did lead a high-powered offense in carries in Week 14. With the quickly fading Oakland Raiders on the schedule in Week 15 – the same Oakland Raiders who made Ryan Grant relevant again – any running back slated to get 10-15 touches against them has some value.

Christopher Ivory, New Orleans (1%, at Minnesota)

Few things frustrate fantasy owners more than the Saints’ backfield, and it happened this week. Ivory led Saints backs in touches with 13, followed by Sproles’ 12. All of Ivory’s touches were carries, and he churned out 53 yards on them, looking pretty explosive with fresh legs. Who knows if he’ll get 13 more carries next week, but anyone getting that many touches for the Saints warrants mention.

Fantasy Football Week 15 Waiver Wire Pickups: WR

JABAR GAFFNEY, WASHINGTON (49%, at NEW YORK GIANTS)

No, I did not mistakenly hit the CAPS LOCK button when typing Jabar Gaffney’s name. I just wanted to make sure you know exactly how much I love Gaffney this week. He was my start ‘em WR in Week 14, and he came through big time, and he should do the same this week against the Giants’ very generous secondary.

Nate Burleson, Detroit (43%, at Oakland)

Burleson didn’t do quite as well against the Vikings as I thought he might, but he has been pretty productive over the last month. As I mentioned above, the Raiders are terrible right now, so I want plays who are going against them in my lineup or at least on my team as an option.

Damian Williams, Tennessee (25%, at Indianapolis)

I expected more out of Williams than just two catches in Week 14 (though he did pop for 62 yards), but Nate Washington ended up playing and got the bulk of the catches and yards. Still, Williams has major potential in Week 15 because of the matchup.

Demaryius Thomas, Denver (13%, at New England)

Yes, Thomas struggled with drops in Week 14, but he also caught the huge 4th quarter touchdown, which to me helps validate his 144-yard Week 13 as more than just a fluke. With New England on the schedule, and their terrible pass defense tasked with defending Tebow and Co, Thomas could have another nice day.

Titus Young, Detroit (6%, at Oakland)

Yes, a second Lions WR makes the list because, again, they are playing Oakland. And I like Young more than Burleson. Young was better in Week 14 and at this point in their respective careers he is the more explosive player. Don’t be surprised he has another 4-catch, 87-yard, 1-TD day in Week 15. That’s what he did last week.

Fantasy Football Week 15 Waiver Wire Pickups: TE

Jermaine Gresham, Cincinnati (48%, at St. Louis)

Greshman was okay in Week 14, but he faced a very tough Houston defense. His matchup in Week 15 is not nearly as tough, and Gresham looks like a good candidate to get back into the endzone to me. At the least, he should grab 4-5 balls and get 50-60 yards.

Jake Ballard, New York (46%, v Washington)

Ballard continues to be a solid under-the-radar option at tight end. He caught four balls in Week 14 and scored a touchdown. We saw what Rob Gronkowski did to the Redskins last week, and while Ballard may only be 25% of Gronk, 25% of what Gronk did v Washington would be pretty good for your TE spot.

Marcedes Lewis, Jacksonville (17%, at Atlanta)

Apparently someone told Blaine Gabbert that he has a really talented tight end. After a very disappointing start to the season, Lewis is producing again. He had 77 yards on two catches in Week 14, coming on the heels of 14 catches over the previous three weeks.

Streaming Defenses of the Week

Seattle Seahawks (43%, at Chicago)

I don’t even know what Seattle will do against St. Louis on Monday Night Football, but I’m recommending them. It’s much less about my trust in Seattle and much more about my complete lack of faith in Caleb Hanie and Co. Seattle is a very safe option this week.

Tennessee Titans (27%, at Indianapolis)

All things considered, the Titans weren’t terrible against New Orleans in Week 14; and they have been a good defense at times this year. In Week 15, they may well look like a great defense going up against Indy. Again, another safe option.

Arizona Cardinals (16%, v Cleveland)

Arizona’s defense is not as bad as you might think, though they do struggle defending the pass. Well guess what? Cleveland can’t pass. And with a Patrick Peterson return TD always looming as a realistic possibility, Arizona has a shot to be a solid value this week.

If you have roster-specific questions, pose them below. Let’s all get Ws in Week 15!

Zach is out this week, so it’s my show. And since the 49ers don’t play until the afternoon, I can chat right up until kickoff. So get your questions ready.

Fantasy Football Start em, Sit em Live Chat for Week 14

In case you missed them, here are this week’s articles for your fantasy football Week 14 edification:

• Week 14 Start em, Sit em Advice
• Week 14 Waiver Wire Pickups
• Playoff Defense Analysis

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Big Names Who Could Disappoint

Andy Dalton

Dalton has burst onto the scene as a rookie, and would be a favorite to win Rookie of the Year if a certain Cam Newton was not doing even better than Dalton. Last week was tough for the Andy Dalton, and the Bengals as a whole, as the Steelers took care of business at home with a 35-7 win. Dalton went 11 for 24 with a touchdown, but sat out the fourth quarter due to the large deficit.

Things will only get harder this week as the Bengals are taking on the Texans. Houston’s defense is ranked third in passing yards per game (183.4) and is second in sacks (35). I would expect Dalton to be towards the bottom of the fantasy quarterback ratings this week, and sitting him would be a wise choice.

Steven Jackson

Jackson and the Rams are going up against the Seahawks on Monday Night Football, in a game that is scheduled for the wrong time on the wrong day. (Really NFL schedulers, this game is on MNF?)

Jackson has been held under 100 yards for three straight games, after having over 100 in three straight, and has not scored a touchdown since Week 8 against New Orleans. The 2-10 Rams have not been able to live up to high expectations for this season, and Jackson is a part of this. The Seahawks held him to 42 yards in Week 11, and will once again be held under 100 yards on Monday night.

Brandon Marshall

The Dolphins have been one of the hottest teams as of late, the only problem being that they lost their first seven games. Matt Moore has turned the team around, but Brandon Marshall has not had a major impact.

Marshall only has three touchdowns on the year, even though he is the Dolphins leading receiver. He has only had at least 100 yards in two of his last seven games, and he is going up against the Eagles secondary this week. I understand that the Eagles are playing well below their expectations, but the talent in their secondary is capable of shutting down talent like Marshall.

Under-the-Radar Players to Consider

In the past, I have always listed one quarterback in this category. This week I decided to leave out a quarterback because, with playoffs being underway, most teams already have a quarterback in place. Saying that Matt Moore could have a good game would not change someone’s mind about whether to start Moore over someone like Drew Brees or Aaron Rodgers.

C.J. Spiller

Now that Fred Jackson is on IR, Spiller has taken over as the main running back for the Buffalo Bills. In his last two games, he has rushed for a combine 138 yards with a touchdown.

The Bills are going up San Diego and their 26th ranked rush defense, who allow over 131 yards on average. Spiller is also a threat as a receiver, and should be able to find the endzone one way or another.

Marion Barber

Barber is in a similar situation to Spiller, as his team’s leading rusher, Matt Forte, is injured. Barber is likely going to get the majority of the carries wtih Forte out, and will get a decent amount of points as a result.

Barber and the Bears are facing the Broncos, who own the 20th ranked rush defense in the league. The Broncos have been playing great defense as of late, but the Bears will be trying to establish a ground game due to Caleb Hanie being the quarterback. Giving Marion Barber a chance would be a safe bet this week.

Demaryius Thomas

Thomas was the main beneficiary of Tim Tebow primarily throwing the ball last week, as he had four catches for 144 yards and two touchdowns.

The Broncos seem to be trying to get Tebow throwing the ball more often, and Thomas is his most likely target. It also seems that Tebow has a few long passes per game, which was evident last week as Thomas caught one of these for a touchdown. Look for Thomas to have a big day, given that Tebow looks to throw more than run.

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Also check out this week’s start/sit column, our waiver wire pickups, and the Week 14 Sunday live chat.

But he’s thinking about you.

It’s especially important to take taxes into consideration when you’re playing for cash through a legitimate fantasy sports provider. In fact, if you win more than $600 and are playing through an established company, you’ve probably already been asked for your Social Security number and will probably receive a 1099 form that states your winnings. Which means they’ve already told the feds about your windfall.

Technically, though, these rules apply even if they’re from an informal betting pool at work. Not that anyone ever has an informal betting pool at work.

Anyhow, check out this infographic from our friends at TurboTax and make sure you don’t run afoul of the law. Of course, if you have to pay taxes, that means you won. And that’s something, isn’t it?

Via TurboTax.com

We’ll see. If they do though, I sure as hell better be prepared to give the some good nuggets. They’ll need something positive after their franchise icon bolted to the coast for the big bucks.

So here is my quick look ahead three defenses that may very well be on your waiver wire that you will want to own in Weeks 14, 15, and 16 of the fantasy football season.

Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks have played decent defense this year – they are 12th in scoring defense in the NFL – and have a nice upcoming schedule, especially this week when they play the Rams in Seattle.

In Week 15 Seattle is at the Bears, who will still be without Jay Cutler and Matt Forte. In Week 16 Seattle gets San Francisco at home, and remember that the last time they played Seattle shut down SF’s offense pretty good; Ted Ginn’s two return TDs were the difference.

If you have any defensive questions, grab the Seahawks. With matchups like these, they might just be the difference in you winning your league or not.

Arizona Cardinals

Another NFC West team? Yes, another NFC West team.

The Cardinals face San Francisco this week, then get the Browns in Week 15 before traveling to Cincinnati in Week 16. I don’t love the Cincy matchup, and the Cardinals did get torched by San Francisco last week, but Arizona has been improving and none of those offenses is particularly explosive.

Plus, there is the constant threat of Patrick Peterson, who has already set the franchise record for career return touchdowns…in 12 games! That helps add a little more potential reward for the risk of rolling the Cardinals out there.

Tennessee Titans

I was surprised to learn that Tennessee is 6th in the league in scoring defense this year. Did you know that?

Their matchup this week obviously isn’t ideal, though at least they face New Orleans at home as opposed to the Superdome, but their matchups in Weeks 15 and 16 are outstanding: at Indianapolis and home against Jacksonville.

Grab Tennessee now, sit them this week, and then enjoy your D/ST facing Dan Orlovsky and Blaine Gabbert in the playoffs. Woo-hooo!

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If you have questions about your current D/ST unit, ask below. Otherwise, head now to our Week 14 start/sit column or the Week 14 waiver wire pickups to further prepare yourself for fantasy football domination.