Week 13: Start 'Em
Big week 13 is finally here. For many leagues week 13 is the last week of the regular season. All bye weeks are over, so if your team is healthy you should have all your players ready to go this week. If you are dealing with injuries, you might be looking to your bench for some help to win this all important week. If so, take a look below and consider using one of these guys. Good luck to everyone and if you have any questions feel free to contact me (danielkalles@hotmail.com)
QB Kyle Orton, ---
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Since being benched midway through week 5, Kyle Orton has been itching to get back on the field and start to play again. Over the past few weeks starting quarterbacks in Houston, Kansas City and Chicago went down with season ending injuries. Orton asked Denver for his release with the hope that the Chicago Bears (the team that drafted him in the 4th round of the 2005 draft) would claim him off waivers and he could go back and help them get into the playoffs. Unfortunately for Orton, things didn't work out for him like that. Not only will Orton not be playing for the Bears, but after being claimed by the Kansas City Chiefs, he will actually face Chicago in week 13. In the 4 games Orton started and finished for Denver, he averaged 236 yards and 2 touchdowns per game and he faces a Bears defense giving up the 3rd most passing yards per game (270). Look for Orton to try and make a statement as he plays for a contract next year. With all the injured quarterbacks, Orton makes for a solid start this week. While they won't announce Orton as the starter so early in the week, anyone who has seen Tyler Palko play the last 2 weeks knows there is no doubt Orton will start in the upcoming game.
RB LeGarrette Blount, ---
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While Blount was drafted high, he seems to still be sitting on many owners' benches due to his injuries and inconsistent start. After missing 2 games with an injury, Blount came back and looked the same, putting up useless fantasy games and most owners either cut him or put him on their bench hoping to never use him again. Things have changed over the past 2 weeks as Blount as been running like he did as a rookie last season, rushing for 210 yards and 1 touchdown as well as 4 receptions for 62 yards. This week Blount faces the 5th worst rush defense in the league in the Carolina Panthers. Make sure Blount is in the lineup this weekend.
RB Reggie Bush, ---
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There was a lot of hype when the Dolphins acquired Reggie Bush this off season, but 6 weeks into the season Bush had once again failed to live up to expectations as he has often done through his first 5 years. The Dolphins were 0 and 6 and heading in the wrong direction and Bush was nowhere to be found. Then all of a sudden he awoke in week 8 and has been a key ingredient to the Dolphins winning 3 of their last 5 games (both losses came at the end of the game). Over those 5 games, Bush is averaging 95 total yards per game; he is catching just over 3.5 passes per game and has scored 4 touchdowns. Bush's value rises in PPR leagues, but with so many running backs injured, he is worth a start in standard leagues as well (especially with a juicy match-up this week vs. the Oakland Raiders). If you need a start at RB2 or flex, Bush might be your man.
RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis, ---
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When it comes to running backs on the Patriots, it is very hard to tell from week to week who will do the heavy carrying, but after 11 games it seems to be Benjarvus Green-Ellis more than everyone else. The only time Green-Ellis hasn't been the main man is when the Patriots have been losing and been forced to play from behind; that won't be happening this week when the Patriots face their old rivals -- the Indianapolis Colts. The Patriots should have no problems with the Colts, who have the 2nd worst rush defense in the NFL, giving up an average of 150 yards per game. All this points to a big week from BGE. If you have been hesitant to start him over the season, this is one of the weeks he is a must start.
RB Jonathan Stewart, ---
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The Carolina Panthers have 3 dangerous runners:l Jonathan Stewart, DeAngelo Williams and rookie QB Cam Newton. When you have a running situation like this, it makes it very hard to start either of the running backs (especially when Newton gets most of the goal line carries), but as the season goes on and injuries pile up, you are sometimes forced into starting guys you might not love. Jonathan Stewart goes into that category; while you might not love it, he is a good start this week. Williams and Stewart split the carries, but Stewart plays on all passing downs -- increasing his value, especially in PPR leagues due to the fact that he is averaging 3.2 receptions per game for an average of 31 yards a game. This week the Panthers face the 3rd worst rush defense in the Tampa Bay Bucs who are giving up 140 yards per game on the ground. Due to this match-up and his pass catching ability, I would start him this week.
