Week 14: Start 'Em
Week 14 -- playoff time for most leagues and if not, it is most likely the last week of the regular season. If it is playoff time and you made it, congrats. I know it couldn't have been easy, as it never is. My first recommendation is to go with the team that got you to the playoffs, don't change things and try and be too fancy with your lineup. However, if you made it to the playoffs and are dealing with some injury issues, you might want to take a look below at some of the players that might be able to help you out this week. Good luck and May the Force be with you.
RB Tashard Choice, ---
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It seems like the Cowboys finally made the right 'Choice' at RB, no pun intended. Coming into the game Choice only had 14 carries, but he finished the game with 19 carries for 100 yards and 1 TD helping Dallas to an upset victory over the Indianapolis Colts. After flipping back and forth between Felix Jones and Marion Barber, the Cowboys were forced to give Choice a chance to play with Barber out due to injury. With Dallas out of the playoffs, look for them to finally give Choice a chance to show what he has over the next few weeks to try and figure out who they want to keep for next season. If you're having issues at RB or need a flex start, Choice might be the guy for you.
RB C.J. Spiller, ---
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After being drafted in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft, there were high hopes for CJ Spiller in Buffalo. Problem was he was part of a three headed running attack (with Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch) to start the season, and we all know how good that is for one's fantasy production. After a few weeks, Lynch was traded to Seattle, leaving Spiller and Jackson to split the RB duties. That went ok for a few a weeks until Spiller went down with a hamstring injury forcing him to miss 2 games. Spiller returned last week and in mop up duty when the game was out of hand, Spiller rushed for a career high 35 yards on only 7 carries. Look for Buffalo to get Spiller more involved in the offense, in the running and passing game. Spiller has a great match up this week vs. Cleveland, so if you really need a RB to start, take a look at Spiller.
RB James Starks, ---
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The Packers' coaching staff has been raving about James Starks since before training camp; the only issue was that no one had really seen him do anything in live action as he came into camp injured. Due to his injury, Starks started off his rookie season on the PUP, and was finally activated for last week's game and carried the ball a team high 18 times for 73 yards, pretty solid numbers for a player that hadn't seen live game action in almost a year. Green Bay has been looking for someone who can run the ball and gain first downs, so look for them to keep feeding the rock to Starks this week when they face the Detroit Lions.
RB Jonathan Stewart, ---
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After finishing the season so strong last year, there was a lot of talk about Jonathan Stewart unseating DeAngelo Williams or that both would get so many touches they could both be started in fantasy. As you all know, none of that happened; Stewart started out slow and then was banged up and Williams didn't play much better and is now out for the season. After missing two games due to injury, Stewart has returned and it looks like he wants to finish the season strong like he did last year. In his last 2 games he has rushed for at least 90 yards, the most since week 2 when he ran for 43 yards. With no Williams and Mike Goodson banged up, look for Stewart to finish strong, making him a good start the rest of the way as either a RB2 or flex start.
WR Earl Bennett, ---
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When Mike Martz came on board this past off season, there were high hopes of the Bears having a high powered passing attack. Unfortunately that hasn't turned out to be entirely true; some weeks the offense looks great, some weeks not so great. One of the players many thought would gain from this new offense was Earl Bennett, unfortunately that too was not to be... until the last two weeks that is. After having a very quiet season, Bennett has exploded these last two weeks, catching 11 passes for 160 yards and 2 TD's. Look for that to continue this coming week as the Bears face the New England Patriots. The Bears will most likely be playing catch up, which will be good for Bennett because the Patriots are giving up over 285 passing yards per game. Bennett makes for a good WR3 or flex this week.
