“Playoffs?! Playoffs?! Don’t talk to me about playoffs!” – Jim Mora.
If you secured a playoff spot already then … congratu-frickin-lations , buddy. For the rest of us, we’re too busy making moves to win this week. No time for looking ahead when you’re on the bubble. We’re looking for any advantage we can find.
To help with those small differences, let’s take a long look at the consensus picks of Yahoo, CBS and ESPN. They can provide great information on who to play and who to sit.
Good luck out there… and when in doubt, always bet against the Jaguars.
Brian Reddoch is a CraveOnline reporter and rabid fan of all teams Seattle. You can follow him on Twitter @ReddReddoch or “like” CraveOnline Sports on Facebook.
Week 13 Fantasy Football Rankings
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Quarterbacks
Jay Who? Surprise Play: Josh McCown, Bears
ESPN projects him 3rd, CBS 7th, and Yahoo 5th. Holy wow… Cutler owners must be foaming right about now since we all expected him to be back in the starting spot by this time. Since he is owned in only 20% of Yahoo leagues, he is probably available too. Stop reading, go pick him up and then come back and finish – I’m that serious about the urgency.Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
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Quarterbacks
Best Waiver Available: Alex Smith, Chiefs
Instead of listing McCown twice, let’s go with the Chiefs “gunslinger”. He is available in 40% of Yahoo leagues and is projected as a top 5 QB this week by ESPN.Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
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Quarterbacks
Best Risk Play: Matt Flynn, Packers
Packers versus Lions on Thanksgiving day… is there anything more American? The gravy to the mashed taters will be when a full on laser show breaks out at Ford Field. ESPN and CBS have Flynn ranked 11th, but there is a good potential for more if Flynn and Stafford start airing the ball out.Photo Tom Lynn /Getty Images
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Quarterbacks
Top Tier: Peyton Manning, Cam Newton
2nd Tier: Matthew Stafford, Josh McCown, Tony Romo, Tom Brady, Nick Foles, Drew Brees, Russell Wilson, Alex Smith, Colin Kaepernick, Matt Flynn
Shaky starts: Phillip Rivers, Carson Palmer, Ben Roethlisberger, Andrew Luck, Eli Manning, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Eli Manning, Case Keenum
Desperate Only: Robert Griffin III, Matt Ryan, Ryan Tannehill, Brandon Wheeler
Don’t Bother: Joe Flacco, Jason Campbell, Ryan Tannehill, Josh Freeman, Kellen Clemens, Matt McGloin, Chad Henne, Christian PonderPhoto by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images
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Running Backs
Cranberry Potential: Giovani Bernard, Bengals
Most of the time, the cranberries on the Thanksgiving table is a can-shaped tube of blah. But, once in awhile someone fancies up the cranberry sauce and it becomes foodie art greatness. Bernard may be the cranberries this week. ESPN has him projected 11th and CBS has him 17th both of which are a viable #2 starter this week. -
Running Backs
Turkey Teaser: Chris Johnson, Titans
If you own Chris Johnson, then you have my empathy. He has been disappointing all season but good enough to tease each week. This week is no different as he faces the 27th ranked Colts run defense. Will he provide you the gravy or will he just be turkey? Roll the dice and bet on the Colts to remain bad on stopping the run.Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
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Running Backs
Mortal Lock: Adrian Peterson, Vikings
As sure as bad traffic on the afternoon before Thanksgiving… As sure as a Macy’s parade on Thanksgiving morning… As sure as we will all overeat on Thanksgiving evening … Adrian Peterson will run rampant all over the Bears this week. Chicago’s run D has been a carpool lane of letting running backs through all year long.Photo Tom Lynn /Getty Images
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Running Backs
Keep and Stash: Benny Cunningham, Rams
Zac Stacy is on concussion watch and could be out this week… or could start. Pick up Cunningham if you need a flex option and keep an eye on Stacy. The Rams face the stout 49ers so neither is a great play but could be helpful as a high risk-high reward flex option. He is owned in a whopping 5% of leagues.Photo by Michael Thomas/Getty Images
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Running Backs
Epic Tier: Adrian Peterson
Top Tier: Matt Forte, Jamaal Charles, Eddie Lacy, Andre Brown, Frank Gore, Knowshon Moreno, LeSean McCoy, Reggie Bush
2nd Tier: Marshawn Lynch, Darren McFadden, Giovanni Bernard, Alfred Morris, Fred Jackson, Danny Woodhead, DeMarco Murray
Shaky starts: Zac Stacy, Ben Tate, Chris Johnson, Ray Rice, Donald Brown, Andre Brown, Steven Jackson, Maurice Jones-Drew, Bilal Powell, Shane Vereen, Pierre Thomas, Le’Veon Bell, Steven Ridley, Ben Tate
Bye Week Only: Danny Woodhead, Rashad Jennings, Chris Ivory, Ryan Matthews, Lamar Miller, Joseph Randle, Darren Sproles, Trent Richardson, DeAngelo Williams, Montee Ball, Bobby Rainey, Andre Ellington, Joique Bell
Don’t Bother: Jacquizz Rodgers, Shonne Greene, James Starks, Mike Tolbert, Roy Helu, Rashard Mendenhall, Brian Leonard, Fozzy WhitakerPhoto by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
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Wide Receivers
Roll Potential: Golden Tate and Percy Harvin, Seahawks
This is not a reference to the Iron Bowl. This is a warning against filling up on rolls before Thanksgiving dinner. Rolls have the potential to wad up your stomach and prevent more pie eating later in the meal. In fantasy, this week’s dud taking up a roster space might be the Seattle wideouts. The Seahawks host the stingy Saints who have the third best defense against receivers this year. There will be rain and Lynch will be a better option… especially in the redzone.Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images
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Wide Receivers
Flip Side Analysis: Marques Colston, Saints
Seattle has been the second best defense against receivers this year. Again, it will be a rainy day against the Seahawks, who haven’t lost at home since 2011. It won’t be a shootout (probably). The Saints receivers will suffer. Sit them if you can.
Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images
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Wide Receivers
Double Dip: Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery, Bears
The Bears wideouts are projected #2 and #3 this week against the Packers. There isn’t much that you can take from this fact, but it is fun to know. And knowing is half the battle, Go Joe!Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images
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Wide Receivers
Underowned #1: Jarrett Boykin, Packers
Yahoo has him projected 18th but owned in only 60% of leagues. CBS has him much lower in the mid-30’s. He is worth the risk if you don’t like any other option on your lineup.Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
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Wide Receivers
Jax Gift: Josh Gordon, Browns
Gordan has had a quiet year but this week he is projected 8th since he is going against the Jaguars. Enjoy the early holiday gift.Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images
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Wide Receivers
Megatron Tier: Calvin Johnson
Top Tier: Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery, AJ Green, Dez Bryant, Josh Gordan, Demaryius Thomas, Harry Douglas, Andre Johnson
2nd Tier: Pierre Garcon, Victor Cruz, Larry Fitzgerald, Jordy Nelson, DeSean Jackson, Torrey Smith, Wes Welker, Vincent Jackson, Keenan Allen, Cecil Shorts III, Antonio Brown, Mike Wallace, Michael Floyd
Shaky starts: Torrey Smith, Marques Colston, Steve Smith, Eric Decker, Riley Cooper, Rod Streater, Percy Harvin, T.Y. Hilton, James Jones, Jarret Boykin, Dwayn Bowe, James Jones
Desperate Play: Nate Burrelson, Stevie Johnson, Hakeem Nicks, Julian Edelman, Rueben Randle, Tim Wright, Kendall Wright
Don’t Bother: Golden Tate, Roddy White, Emmanuel Sanders, Kenny Stills, James Jones, Anquan Boldin, Miles Austin, DeAndre Hopkins, Aaron Dobson, Jerricho Cotchery, Danny Amendola, Tiquan Underwood, Ted Ginn Jr, Robert WoodsPhoto by Stacy Revere/Getty Images
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Tight Ends
Top Tier: Jimmy Graham, Jason Witten, Rob Gronkowski, Jordan Cameron, Tony Gonzalez
2nd Tier: Julius Thomas, Vernon Davis, Martellius Bennett, Antonio Gates, Greg Olsen
Shaky starts: Heath Miller, Coby Fleener, Charles Clay, Garrett Graham, Jeff Cumberland
Desperate Play: Jermaine Gresham, Jared Cook
Don’t Bother: Jordan Reed.Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images
