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Fantasy Football Report: Week 13

In a lot of leagues, the playoffs have begun. This is because most leagues don’t play during week 17. I don’t see why. In the SoB league, we play all the way through to the end. This means that we are in our final week of our regular season. I think playing during week 17 is great for a championship match because it involves more strategy; knowing what teams will bench their starters and who you need to pick up. It involves knowledge of the game and it tests how deep your commitment is to this game really is. All hail Week 17 playoffs!

Headlines

Steve Slaton Has Neck and Shoulder Problems

Houston RB Steve Slaton missed Sunday’s game against the Jaguars with neck and shoulder numbness that extended all the way down to his thumb. No word yet on his availability for Week 14, but given that his production has come to a screeching halt, it is not a good idea to start him anytime soon.

Matthew Stafford Injured

This is a song that is all to familiar. Detroit rookie QB Matthew Stafford once again injured his left shoulder this past Sunday. No official decision has been made on whether or not he will start this week, but seriously, give the kid a week off before you permanently injure him.

DeAngelo Williams Misses Game

Carolina RB DeAngelo Williams was out for Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay with a sprained ankle. The injury isn’t too serious and he is listed as day-to-day this week.

Week 13 Top Performers

Tony Romo (QB), Dallas Cowboys

All of the “Romo is overrated” talk should be silenced by now. The QB turned in a masterful game against New York with a career-high 392 yds and 3 TD.

Week 14 Outlook

Dallas opposes San Diego, who have a pretty tough pass defense (204 yds per game), but they just let Brady Quinn throw for 271 yds and 3 TD last Sunday.

Brandon Jacobs (RB), New York Giants

Jacobs contributed on the ground and through the air with 113 total yds and 2 TD.

Week 14 Outlook

Combining splitting carries and nagging injuries, Jacobs has not had a 100-yd game this season and has found the endzone just five times. The Eagles are just one of seven teams to allow less than 100 rush yds per game, so don’t expect Jacobs’ fortune to get any better this week.

Robert Meachem (WR), New Orleans Saints

Meachem had his best game of the season with eight catches for 142 yds and a TD. He also returned a fumble for a TD.

Week 14 Outlook

Saints top ranked pass offense + Atlanta and the 4th worst pass defense in football = Good day to be a Saints receiver.

Jermichael Finley (TE), Green Bay Packers

Finley had 79 yds on the day and led all tight ends with two scores.

Week 14 Outlook

Finley has 17 catches over the past three games and the Packers get to face the struggling Bears defense that has allowed an average of 232 pass yds over the last three weeks.

Matt Prater (K), Denver Broncos

Prater once again came out big for Denver, going 3/3 on field goal and 5/5 on extra points.

Week 14 Outlook

This makes seven field goals for Prater in his last two games. Temper your expectations this week as the Broncos travel to Indianapolis to face the undefeated Colts.

Carolina Defense/Special Teams

The Panthers shut down Josh Freeman and the Buccaneers, allowing just six points and accumulating two sacks and five interceptions.

Week 14 Outlook

Another dominating performance won’t come easy against the Patriots. Tom Brady and New England will refuse to lose three games in a row this season.

Week 13 Duds

Joe Flacco (QB), Baltimore Ravens

Flacco ran into a wall known as the Green Bay defense and threw for only 137 yds, 1 TD, and 3 INT.

Week 14 Outlook

Flacco’s luck is about to change as the Ravens will have a field day against the NFL’s worst pass defense in the form of the Lions.

Adrian Peterson (RB), Minnesota Vikings

Even the best have a bad day as Peterson has 65 total yds on the day with no scores.

Week 14 Outlook

Peterson could be in store for another poor game against the Bengals and their rush defense, which is the 2nd best in football. Then again, I don’t think AP will have two bad performances in a row on his record.

Reggie Wayne (WR), Indianapolis Colts

Wayne looked terrible on the stat sheet with four catches for 48 yds and trips to the endzone.

Week 14 Outlook

This makes just seven catches and 67 yds over the past two games for Wayne. He may be in more trouble against the Broncos, who allow only 180 pass yds per game. Plus, you know Champ Bailey won’t let Wayne get the best of him.

Dallas Clark (TE), Indianapolis Colts

Clark’s numbers suffered as a result of Indy’s desire to run the ball on Sunday and he came away with three catches for 25 yds.

Week 14 Outlook

I can’t see the Colts running that much this week against Denver, so I think Peyton Manning should be back to throwing it. With Champ Bailey all over Reggie Wayne, Clark should get a lot of looks.

Nick Folk (K), Dallas Cowboys

Folk was terrible all day as he was just 1/3 on field goals. This makes him 2/5 on field goals in the last two games.

Week 14 Outlook

Even if he gets the opportunities, he is clearly not making the most of them. Do not play until he gets his head on straight.

Pittsburgh Steelers Defense/Special Teams

The Steelers continue to struggle without safety Troy Polamalu and they let Oakland beat them. Pittsburgh gave up 27 points and had three sacks for the day.

Week 14 Outlook

I would say that facing Cleveland is a favorable matchup, but that’s what everyone said last week about Oakland.

Unexpected Stars

Bruce Gradkowski (QB), Oakland Raiders

Even an Oakland QB can have a good day against the Steelers. Gradkowski tore the Steelers’ secondary a new one with 307 yds and 3 TD.

Week 14 Outlook

The Redskins have the 5th best pass defense in football, but they let Drew Brees throw for over 400 yds against them on Sunday. Then again, Bruce Gradkowski is not Drew Brees.

Chad Henne (QB), Miami Dolphins

The Patriots’ defense has been suspect all season and Henne exposed it for 335 yds and 2 TD.

Week 14 Outlook

Henne gets to face a Jaguars defense that allows the 10th most pass yds per game this season and had given up 252 pass yds per game over the last three weeks.

Jerome Harrison (RB), Cleveland Browns

With no more Jamal Lewis this season, Harrison filled in nicely with 97 total yds and 2 TD.

Week 14 Outlook

His rushing wasn’t impressive on Sunday (3.5 ypc), but he had seven catches out of the backfield. His versatility will come in handy against those struggling Steelers.

Alex Smith (QB), San Francisco 49ers

Smith is still getting little respect these days, but it is your loss. He turned in another great game, throwing for 310 yds and 2 TD.

Week 14 Outlook

The Alex Smith-Vernon Davis duo is one of the best in football and it will be on full display against Arizona this week. The Cardinals have the 3rd worst pass defense in football and have allowed an average of 293 pass yds over the past five weeks.

Louis Murphy (WR), Oakland Raiders

Murphy has his best game of the season with four catches for 128 yds and 2 TD.

Week 14 Outlook

Don’t expect this from the rookie this week against the Redskins who have allowed 200+ pass yds in a game only four times this season.

Sports of Boston Football League

• I take a loss by the score of 130.88-102.58. I am sitting in 9th place going into the final week of our regular season.
• With eight playoff spots up for grabs, we have three teams that have clinched a spot in the playoffs.
• Recent pickups include: Matt Moore, Jermichael Finley, Robert Meachem, Jason Avant, and Chris Brown.

Tags: Adrian Peterson, Alex Smith, Brandon Jacobs, Bruce Gradkowski, Chad Henne, Dallas Clark, Fantasy, Fantasy Football Report, Jermichael Finley, Jerome Harrison, Joe Flacco, Louis Murphy, Reggie Wayne, Robert Meachem, Tony Romo

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