All in Sports - Fantasy Advice and Rankings Week 15

Ah, the fantasy football playoffs are in full swing. So, raise of hands, how many of you had the better team/projections/match-ups going in…and lost? That should be about half of you. Not to mention, I am sure there is a good portion that scored more than the team who won in the other match-up(s).

You know what though? I don’t want to hear the complaining. You had Randy Moss? Tough cookies. You faced Andre Johnson? Suck it up. You needed just 5 points from Hightower to win? Ok, that one stings, but get over it. We all knew going into this year that fantasy football is a game of luck.

So, a lot of you are already thinking about next year, or what you are going to do with your time now. My advice? start thinking about fantasy baseball. You get to tinker with your lineup daily, you don’t have to wait a week to see how they do, and the better team and talent wins 9 out of 10 times (instead of maybe 6 out of 10).

So, if you haven’t yet, give it a try. If you enjoy baseball at all, and you obviously enjoy fantasy sports, take a swing at in (pun totally intended). Don’t go joining super deep league, or one with a myriad of categories, or on with rookie drafts, etc. Fantasy baseball can get exceptionally involved and complicated fast.

Just look for your standard 8-10 team league, with standard scoring. Use a draft guide (ESPN, FoxSports, etc.). And, just go into it with no expectancy other than trying it out and having fun. Trust me, as I said, if you are a fan of baseball and fantasy sports, you’ll enjoy it (maybe even more than fantasy football).

Week 14

All In (player(s) who you should put your chips on)

You’re still alive and in the playoffs. So, don’t mess with what got you here. You can snag Chris Jennings, Ganther, Collie, Camarillo, etc., for some injury insurance. However, that’s all they are worth at this point. There’s two weeks left (unless you’re in a crazy league ending on week 17…don’t do that again!), and there’s a reason you’re still alive. Dance with the one who brought you.

Gut Shot (player who really let you down when you thought he’d come through big)

The “Dash” makes a back-to-back appearance. Let’s see, he wasn’t supposed to play, then he comes out at game time and starts. That’s the best it got, though. It was another week of a sub-par (actually what’s worse than that? sub-bogey?) performance. You can include Garrard in this let down award, but at least we knew he was this inconsistent…not MSW too.

River Rat (player who came up big that no one expected)

Brandon Marshall was just…wow! He set the record for catches in a game, plus scored two TDs. It doesn’t get much better than that. If you had him, pretty sure you won…if you still lost, you have my permission to drop-kick a puppy.

Muck ‘em (players who won’t help us anymore, throw them back)

At this point, you hopefully moved on from anyone who can’t help you. As I mentioned above, your bench is close to meaningless now. That said, here’s the strategy piece: drop players you don’t need (and likely won’t help anyone) to pick-up potential needs for playoff opponents. Example: your opponent has a mid-tier kicker or one with a tough match-up and someone like Tynes is out there (who’s been pretty consistent with points). Drop your 3^rd bench RB and pick up Tynes to keep points away from your opponent. It’s all about first place at this point, and you should do anything to help your chances.

Week 15

Top Pair (player(s) who guarantee a good week)

Jamaal Charles

If you’ve paid attention, you’ll notice he’s gone from a suggested pick-up to a Top Pair play. Talk about a quick ascent to glory. Charles plays against Cleveland, and as always, has little to no competition for carries. Play him in every format.

Both Cardinals WRs (as long as Fitz is healthy and plays)

Arizona against Detroit, hmm, yes please. I don’t think I need to go into detail why both are expected to have rather big days.

Gut Shot (player who will surprise you with a good week)

Jason Campbell

Have you seen the Giants’ defense stop anyone through the air recently? Exactly. Even Campbell can throw for a solid 250 and 2 TDs against them. Don’t expect Drew Brees (or even McNabb) numbers, but he can be a rather sneaky playoff plug-in this week.

The Turn (player is going to come back around, so buy in now)

No One

Vincent Jackson bounced back nicely last week. However, at this point, there just are not enough games left to turn things around. Ok ok, if really pressed, I’ll say Beanie Wells. But, it’s not like he hasn’t performed, I just expect even more from him now that it looks like Arizona has officially moved on from Hightower.

The Flop (player who will let you down)

Roddy White

He’s been up and down this year, and really he’s been sort of a disappointment. Now he gets the matchup-of-death, Revis. Yup. Game over White. See you next time.

Rankings

Rank - QB - Team (Opp)

1 - Drew Brees - NO (Dal)

2 - Kurt Warner - ARI (@Det)

3 - Peyton Manning - IND (@Jac)

4 - Matt Schaub - HOU (@StL)

5 - Aaron Rodgers - GB (@Pit)

6 - Philip Rivers - SD (Cin)

7 - Tom Brady - NE (@Buf)

8 - Donovan McNabb - PHI (SF)

9 - Tony Romo - DAL (@NO)

10 - Brett Favre - MIN (@Car)

11 - Ben Roethlisberger - PIT (GB)

12 - Jason Campbell - WAS (NYG)

13 - Eli Manning - NYG (@Was)

14 - Matt Hasselbeck - SEA (TB)

15 - Alex Smith - SF (@Phi)

16 - Vince Young - TEN (Mia)

17 - Kyle Orton - DEN (Oak)

18 - Joe Flacco - BAL (Chi)

19 - Carson Palmer - CIN (@SD)

20 - Matt Cassel - KC (Cle)

21 - David Garrard - JAC (Ind)

22 - Jay Cutler - CHI (@Bal)

23 - Chad Henne - MIA (@Ten)

24 - Josh Freeman - TB (@Sea)

25 - Ryan Fitzpatrick - BUF (NE)

Rank - RB - Team (Opp)

1 - Chris Johnson - TEN (Mia)

2 - Adrian Peterson - MIN (@Car)

3 - Ray Rice - BAL (Chi)

4 - Maurice Jones-Drew - JAC (Ind)

5 - Thomas Jones - NYJ (Atl)

6 - Cedric Benson - CIN (@SD)

7 - Jamaal Charles - KC (Cle)

8 - Knowshon Moreno - DEN (Oak)

9 - Ricky Williams - MIA (@Ten)

10 - Frank Gore - SF (@Phi)

11 - Steven Jackson - STL (Hou)

12 - Joseph Addai - IND (@Jac)

13 - DeAngelo Williams - CAR (Min)

14 - Laurence Maroney - NE (@Buf)

15 - LaDainian Tomlinson - SD (Cin)

16 - Beanie Wells - ARI (@Det)

17 - Rashard Mendenhall - PIT (GB)

18 - Ryan Grant - GB (@Pit)

19 - Pierre Thomas - NO (Dal)

20 - Fred Jackson - BUF (NE)

21 - Brandon Jacobs - NYG (@Was)

22 - Tim Hightower - ARI (@Det)

23 - Quinton Ganther - WAS (NYG)

24 - Marion Barber - DAL (@NO)

25 - Matt Forte - CHI (@Bal)

26 - Justin Forsett - SEA (TB)

27 - Reggie Bush - NO (Dal)

28 - Chris Jennings - CLE (@KC)

29 - Arian Foster - HOU (@StL)

30 - Jason Snelling - ATL (@NYJ)

31 - LeSean McCoy - PHI (SF)

32 - Ahmad Bradshaw - NYG (@Was)

33 - Cadillac Williams - TB (@Sea)

34 - Ryan Moats - HOU (@StL)

35 - Marshawn Lynch - BUF (NE)

36 - Julius Jones - SEA (TB)

37 - Willis McGahee - BAL (Chi)

38 - Felix Jones - DAL (@NO)

39 - Jonathan Stewart - CAR (Min)

40 - Justin Fargas - OAK (@Den)

41 - Leonard Weaver - PHI (SF)

42 - Maurice Morris - DET (Ari)

43 - Darren Sproles - SD (Cin)

44 - Darren McFadden - OAK (@Den)

45 - Jerome Harrison - CLE (@KC)

46 - Mike Bell - NO (Dal)

47 - Sammy Morris - NE (@Buf)

48 - Jerious Norwood - ATL (@NYJ)

49 - Kevin Faulk - NE (@Buf)

50 - Chester Taylor - MIN (@Car)

51 - Chris Brown - HOU (@StL)

52 - Brian Westbrook - PHI (SF)

53 - Shonn Greene - NYJ (Atl)

54 - Rock Cartright - WAS (NYG)

55 - Larry Johnson - KC (Cle)

Rank - WR - Team (Opp)

1 - Andre Johnson - HOU (@StL)

2 - Larry Fitzgerald - ARI (@Det)

3 - Anquan Boldin - ARI (@Det)

4 - Wes Welker - NE (@Buf)

5 - Brandon Marshall - DEN (Oak)

6 - DeSean Jackson - PHI (SF)

7 - Marques Colston - NO (Dal)

8 - Reggie Wayne - IND (@Jac)

9 - Randy Moss - NE (@Buf)

10 - Sidney Rice - MIN (@Car)

11 - Miles Austin - DAL (@NO)

12 - Vincent Jackson - SD (Cin)

13 - Chad Ochocinco - CIN (@SD)

14 - Calvin Johnson - DET (Ari)

15 - Donald Driver - GB (@Pit)

16 - Derrick Mason - BAL (Chi)

17 - Santonio Holmes - PIT (GB)

18 - Steve Smith - CAR (Min)

19 - Robert Meachem - NO (Dal)

20 - Greg Jennings - GB (@Pit)

21 - Pierre Garcon - IND (@Jac)

22 - Steve Smith - NYG (@Was)

23 - Hines Ward - PIT (GB)

24 - Roddy White - ATL (@NYJ)

25 - T.J. Houshmandzadeh - SEA (TB)

26 - Terrell Owens - BUF (NE)

27 - Antonio Bryant - TB (@Sea)

28 - Michael Crabtree - SF (@Phi)

29 - Hakeem Nicks - NYG (@Was)

30 - Mike Sims-Walker - JAC (Ind)

31 - Kenny Britt - TEN (Mia)

32 - Dwayne Bowe - KC (Cle)

33 - Roy Williams - DAL (@NO)

34 - Braylon Edwards - NYJ (Atl)

35 - Santana Moss - WAS (NYG)

36 - Steve Breaston - ARI (@Det)

37 - Jerricho Cotchery - NYJ (Atl)

38 - Percy Harvin - MIN (@Car)

39 - Kevin Walter - HOU (@StL)

40 - Chris Chambers - KC (Cle)

41 - Johnny Knox - CHI (@Bal)

42 - Devin Thomas - WAS (NYG)

43 - Austin Collie - IND (@Jac)

44 - Mohamed Massaquoi - CLE (@KC)

45 - Lee Evans - BUF (NE)

46 - Devery Henderson - NO (Dal)

47 - Jason Avant - PHI (SF)

48 - Mario Manningham - NYG (@Was)

49 - Nate Burleson - SEA (TB)

50 - Greg Camarillo - MIA (@Ten)

Rank - TE - Team (Opp)

1 - Vernon Davis - SF (@Phi)

2 - Dallas Clark - IND (@Jac)

3 - Antonio Gates - SD (Cin)

4 - Brent Celek - PHI (SF)

5 - Tony Gonzalez - ATL (@NYJ)

6 - Jason Witten - DAL (@NO)

7 - Fred Davis - WAS (NYG)

8 - Visanthe Shiancoe - MIN (@Car)

9 - Kellen Winslow - TB (@Sea)

10 - Jermichael Finley - GB (@Pit)

11 - Heath Miller - PIT (GB)

12 - Kevin Boss - NYG (@Was)

13 - Greg Olsen - CHI (@Bal)

14 - Jeremy Shockey - NO (Dal)

15 - Dustin Keller - NYJ (Atl)

16 - John Carlson - SEA (TB)

17 - Bo Scaife - TEN (Mia)

18 - Benjamin Watson - NE (@Buf)

19 - Todd Heap - BAL (Chi)

20 - Anthony Fasano - MIA (@Ten)

Rank - Kicker - Team (Opp)

1 - David Akers - PHI (SF)

2 - Garrett Hartley - NO (Dal)

3 - Rob Bironas - TEN (Mia)

4 - Ryan Longwell - MIN (@Car)

5 - Nate Kaeding - SD (Cin)

6 - Stephen Gostkowski - NE (@Buf)

7 - Lawrence Tynes - NYG (@Was)

8 - Kris Brown - HOU (@StL)

9 - Jay Feely - NYJ (Atl)

10 - Shayne Graham - CIN (@SD)

11 - Matt Prater - DEN (Oak)

12 - Neil Rackers - ARI (@Det)

13 - Nick Folk - DAL (@NO)

14 - Mason Crosby - GB (@Pit)

15 - Matt Stover - IND (@Jac)

16 - Robbie Gould - CHI (@Bal)

17 - Jeff Reed - PIT (GB)

18 - Dan Carpenter - MIA (@Ten)

19 - Ryan Succop - KC (Cle)

20 - Rian Lindell - BUF (NE)

Rank - Def (Opp)

1 - Minnesota Vikings (@Car)

2 - Arizona Cardinals (@Det)

3 - Denver Broncos (Oak)

4 - Baltimore Ravens (Chi)

5 - New York Jets (Atl)

6 - Green Bay Packers (@Pit)

7 - Philadelphia Eagles (SF)

8 - Houston Texans (@StL)

9 - Indianapolis Colts (@Jac)

10 - New Orleans Saints (Dal)

11 - New England Patriots (@Buf)

12 - San Diego Chargers (Cin)

13 - Tennessee Titans (Mia)

14 - Pittsburgh Steelers (GB)

15 - New York Giants (@Was)

16 - Seattle Seahawks (TB)

17 - Miami Dolphins (@Ten)

18 - Washington Redskins (NYG)

19 - Cincinnati Bengals (@SD)

20 - Cleveland Browns (@KC)

21 - San Francisco 49ers (@Phi)

22 - Kansas City Chiefs (Cle)

23 - Atlanta Falcons (@NYJ)

24 - Buffalo Bills (NE)

25 - Chicago Bears (@Bal)