We’re nine weeks into the fantasy football season and things are starting to get interesting. With the bye weeks soon evaporating and the fantasy playoffs looming, it’s time to start planning ahead. Check the schedules for your fantasy studs for weeks 14-17. If you have some bad matchups, it could be time to make a trade or find someone on waivers who has better matchups. A little homework now will go a long way in a couple weeks.
Teams on bye week: Carolina, Detroit, Jacksonville, Minnesota
Wide Receivers
Could Impress: Mario Manningham. Even with a healthy Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz, Manningham retook his role as the #2 guy, catching 6 balls for 60 yards and a score. Cruz and Nicks (who will not be 100% Sunday) will get their looks, but there should be plenty of balls to go around against the Patriots.
Could Disappoint: Reggie Wayne. Wayne makes this list again, and there’s a possibility it won’t be the last. He’s the 29th ranked wide receiver in fantasy football, and his numbers continue to dip. Atlanta will dominate time of possession on Sunday. Simply put, it could be a long day for Wayne.
Keep an eye on: Jon Baldwin. Welcome back from injury rook. Baldwin had 8 targets, 5 catches, 82 yards and a score against the Chargers on Sunday. Todd Haley clearly wants to make Baldwin a part of the offense. He’s certainly a guy worth monitoring.
Injury Replacement: Malcom Floyd. Green Bay might be undefeated, but the Packers have been absolutely torched in the passing game, giving up the most plays of 20 yards or more this season. If he’s on your waiver wire, Floyd should be your top claim.
WR Rankings
1. Greg Jennings GB (@ San Diego)
2. Hakeem Nicks NYG (@ New England)
3. Mike Wallace PIT (vs. Baltimore)
4. Roddy White ATL (@ Indianapolis)
5. A.J. Green CIN (@ Tennessee)
6. Wes Welker NE (vs. New York Giants)
7. Marques Colston NO (vs. Tampa Bay)
8. Dwayne Bowe KC (vs. Miami)
9. Miles Austin DAL (vs. Seattle)
10. Larry Fitzgerald AZ (vs. St. Louis)
11. Dez Bryant DAL (vs. Seattle)
12. Vincent Jackson SD (vs. Green Bay)
13. Brandon Lloyd STL (@ Arizona)
14. Jeremy Maclin PHI (vs. Chicago)
15. Andre Johnson HOU (vs. Cleveland)
16. Sidney Rice SEA (@ Dallas)
17. Brandon Marshall MIA (@ Kansas City)
18. Julio Jones ATL (@ Indianapolis)
19. DeSean Jackson PHI (vs. Chicago)
20. Anquan Boldin BAL (@ Pittsburgh)
21. Steve Johnson BUF (vs. New York Jets)
22. Mario Manningham NYG (@ New England)
23. Victor Cruz NYG (@ New England)
24. Santonio Holmes NYJ (@ Buffalo)
25. Pierre Garcon IND (vs. Atlanta)
26. Darrius Heyward-Bey OAK (vs. Denver)
27. Jordy Nelson GB (@ San Diego)
28. Mike Williams TB (@ New Orleans)
29. Deion Branch NE (vs. New York Giants)
30. Nate Washington TEN (vs. Cincinnati)
31. Reggie Wayne IND (vs. Atlanta)
32. Plaxico Burress NYJ (@ Buffalo)
33. Michael Crabtree SF (@ Washington)
34. Eric Decker DEN (@ Oakland)
35. Jabar Gaffney WAS (vs. San Francisco)
36. Antonio Brown PIT (vs. Baltimore)
37. Malcom Floyd SD (vs. Green Bay)
38. James Jones GB (@ San Diego)
39. Lance Moore NO (vs. Tampa Bay)
40. Greg Little CLE (@ Houston)
41. Steve Breaston KC (vs. Miami)
42. Doug Baldwin SEA (@ Dallas)
43. Jon Baldwin KC (Vs. Miami)
44. Braylon Edwards SF (@ Washington)
45. Kevin Walter HOU (vs. Cleveland)
46. Johnny Knox CHI (@ Philadelphia)
47. David Nelson BUF (vs. New York Jets)
48. Early Doucet AZ(vs. St. Louis)
49. Jacoby Jones HOU (vs. Cleveland)
50. Denarius Moore OAK (vs. Denver)
Winslow could impress this week
Tight Ends
Could Impress: Kellen Winslow. The Saints are among the league’s worst at defending the tight end, and the Bucs are coming off a bye week where the coaches had a chance to break down this matchup. Winslow should be a good play this week.
Could Disappoint: Vernon Davis. For all of the Redskins’ faults, they do defend the pass pretty well. Davis has not been a focal point of the offense the last two weeks, both of which were good wins. He’ll be good, but don’t expect him to be great.
Keep an eye on: Brent Celek. Two straight games with a score should get your attention, but it’s the improvement of the Eagles offensive line that should really help Celek’s stock. He’s spending less time helping to block for Michael Vick, and Andy Reid has made him a bigger part of the offense. Celek’s available in 90% of leagues but he won’t be for long.
Injury Replacement: Jake Ballard. Three straight games with at least 50 yards, Ballard has proven to be an extremely consistent option. New England’s pass defense is far from impressive and Ballard is a decent spot start.
TE Rankings
1. Jimmy Graham NO (vs. Tampa Bay)
2. Jason Witten DAL (vs. Seattle)
3. Owen Daniels HOU (vs. Cleveland)
4. Fred Davis WAS (vs. San Francisco)
5. Jermichael Finley GB (@ San Diego)
6. Antonio Gates SD (vs. Green Bay)
7. Rob Gronkowski NE (vs. New York Giants)
8. Tony Gonzalez ATL (@ Indianapolis)
9. Kellen Winslow TB (@ New Orleans)
10. Aaron Hernandez NE (vs. New York Giants)
11. Dustin Keller NYJ (@ Buffalo)
12. Vernon Davis SF (@ Washington)
13. Brent Celek PHI (vs. Chicago)
14. Heath Miller PIT (vs. Baltimore)
15. Dallas Clark IND (vs. Atlanta)
16. Scott Chandler BUF (vs. New York Jets)
17. Jermaine Gresham CIN (@ Tennessee)
18. Jared Cook TEN (vs. Cincinnati)
19. Jake Ballard NYG (@ New England)
20. Ed Dickson BAL (@ Pittsburgh)
21. Benjamin Watson CLE (@ Houston)
22. Zach Miller SEA (@ Dallas)
23. Daniel Fells DEN (@ Oakland)
24. Todd Heap AZ (vs. St. Louis)
25. Kevin Boss OAK (vs. Denver)
Stephen Kelley is a contributor at The Sports Bank where he covers Fantasy Sports and Pro Drafts. You can follow him on Twitter @stephen_tsb.
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