Quarterbacks

Tony Romo – The Cowboys have been on a roll lately and Romo has benefitted from the return of DeMarco Murray as well as the emergence of Dez Bryant. With an extremely favorable match up against the Saints he is a must start this week.

Cam Newton – After starting off slow this season, Newton has bounced back and may be leading teams that were able to survive the early season drought to fantasy glory. His ability to run coupled with Oakland’s terrible run defense are the right receipt for a big fantasy day for Cam.

Under the radar

Sam Bradford – Despite some off games, Bradford has had fairly steady production this season. He gets a favorable match up against the Bucs this week and could be good spot play this week for deeper leagues.

Others to consider: Andrew Luck – He is a strong candidate for rookie of the year honors. The Chiefs are simply trying to ride out the rest of the season and the Colts are vying for a playoff spot. If you can swallow the INTs Luck is a great start for your championship game. Matt Schaub – He might not be a preferred play in standard leagues, but Schaub game put up points especially when defenses sell out against the run as the Vikings should this week. He is better as a deeper league play.

Running Backs

DeMarco Murray – He has slowly been getting back to full speed, but has been the fantasy beast many hoped he would be on draft day. Another player that may have sunk quite a few teams this season, but if your still in it, Murray is a spectacular play this week, especially with Dallas finally coming to their senses and using him on the goal line.

Knowshon Moreno – Perhaps the pickup of the season, though there are others not named, Moreno will get another good match up against a soft Browns defense. The Broncos have confidence in Moreno to be their workhorse right now and Moreno is playing with that confidence. Fantasy owners should ride on his coattails to fantasy bliss.

Under the radar

Mikel LeShoure – If nothing else he has been consistent, scoring 7 TDs over the last 7 games, but he remains a slightly fringe player listed as starting in only 46% of leagues. The Falcons have given up the 6th most TDs in the league on the ground and have had problems at times stopping the run. He might not get you the big yards of other backs, but is a good bet to get some red zone carries this week.

Others to consider: Alfred Morris – RG3 is looking probable to play this weekend, which will certainly help Morris. The Redskins will want to win to keep their playoff hopes alive, but will also not risk long term damage to their franchise QBs health, leaving more touches for Morris against a struggling Philly team. Stevan Ridley – His late season fumble problems returned last week, and though there is reason to beware the Hoody benching him in stretches of the game, he remains the best runner for the team and has a solid match up against the Jags. He will still likely see some red zone carries.

Wide Receivers

Dez Bryant – After a gutsy performance last week, he is a must start this week as long as he is not held out for any reason. The Saints Cowboys game has the looks of a shootout and Bryant has been on fire since Week 10.

Pierre Garcon – Now seemingly healthy, Garcon has been everything owners who drafted him thought he would be and is seemingly everything owners who grabbed him off waivers hoped he would return in time to be. Apologies to the owners who are on the outside looking in on this one, but Garcon should be a solid play this week with or without RG3.

Under the radar

Rod Streater – He has come alive over the past 3 games and could be a decent play against the Panthers this week as Team Garbage Time looks continue to pad the stats for fantasy owners. Streater has become a reliable target for Carson Palmer with Denarius Moore falling out favor. He is best suited for deeper league unless you have a taste for Rolaids.

Others to consider: Cecil Shorts – After missing a game with a concussion, Shorts picked up right where he left off with 101 yards on 6 receptions. Expectations should be tampered as Bill Belichick called him one of the best receivers they will play against this season meaning he could try and game plan him out the game. Vincent Jackson – He has played well enough to be a must start in most leagues, and as long as Josh Freeman can bounce back from last week’s let down, he should be in for a good day.

Tight Ends

Heath Miller –Another candidate for pickup of the season, had a good performance in his last game against the Bengals this season and should be a good play in what could lead many owners to their respective promised land.

Dennis Pitta – He has turned it up as of late after a midseason drought and is a solid play against the Giants this week. Just remember that Pitta put up last week’s numbers in garbage time and against one of the league’s worst defenses versus tight ends.

Under the radar

Marcedes Lewis – He has returned his old inconsistent play over the last few weeks, but with the Patriots likely to put a lot of attention on Cecil Shorts and Justin Blackmon, Lewis could benefit versus a Pats defense that has struggled to cover the tight end position.

Others to consider: Tony Gonzalez – If you have him you are starting him, and rightfully so. He gets a shaky Lions defense and looks to yet again be a bargain price TE that could lead many to glory. Greg Olsen – He has been a shaky fantasy play all season and could fall on either side of the line, but he tied a team high in targets with 9 last week and gets a favorable match up against the Raiders. If you’re in need, you could do worse this week.

The Cowboys have managed to keep their hopes alive after an overtime win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, with some strong late play from their defense and a gut it out performance from Dez Bryant. With a win against New Orleans and Washington the playoff hopes for the Cowboys is still a real possibility, though it would also require a few things outside of their control to go right for them. Some scenarios open up the possibility of the team being a Wild Card team as well, were the Vikings, Seahawks, or Bears to lose and the Cowboys win out. Even if things do not work out it has still got to be great for fans to have something to root for this late in the season.

Last week, the Cowboys had a strong performance against the Steelers from Dez Bryant and after playing through a fractured finger last week, even that staunchest Dez haters have to give credit to the toughness he showed playing through the injury to help keep the team’s hopes alive. Playing through an injury that could cause extended or permanent stiffness in his finger is no small matter for position who relies on being able to catch the ball. So kudos are due.

The secondary, though flawed at times in the game, came up big when it matter in overtime and was a welcome sight for fans who all too often have seen the Cowboys cede the late game heroics to the opposition.

Now, Dallas must try to hold off a New Orleans team with nothing to lose and pride on the line. There will likely be an underlying story between the two organizations that will likely be fighting over who can land the coaching services of Sean Peyton in the off-season. The back story and the playoff implications will help to put a spotlight on the match up this week.

It’s fantasy championship week for most leagues and perhaps the are many owners who would like to deliver a swift kick to the nether regions of a few players such as Doug Martin, Ray Rice, Jamaal Charles, and Bryce Brown to name just a few, who not only came up short but fell so flat that many teams were destroyed as their star players scored between 2-4 points. All this while lowly players such as Dennis Pitta, James Jones, and Brandon Llyod lit up the score boards. Such is course of the fantasy landscape though, and most owners know that any given week the floor can fall out from under the strongest of teams.

For the teams still in it here a few players that may be floating around the desolate wasteland of the waiver wires as well as some players to consider for keeper leagues or Week 17 (for those leagues that go the distance).

Jackie Battle – Ryan Mathews’ season has finally been put out of its misery after Mathews suffered another broken collar bone, his left one this time. Jackie Battle, who had some moderate value earlier this season, will be first in line to carry the load for San Diego with Ronnie Brown currently nursing a hamstring injury. If he keeps the job and you are in a league with the playoffs going through Week 17 he could have big value versus a leaky Raiders D. He is currently available in 90% of leagues.

Leonard Hankerson – He is worth a flier for desperate owners in deeper leagues after hauling in 2 TDs last week. However, they came on his only 2 targets of the day. He is currently available in 96% of leagues.

Jacoby Jones – Torrey Smith was yet another player concussed this season and will likely have a hard time being cleared for Week 16. In the event he is out it makes sense to add Jacoby Jones who could take over his role against a bad Giants secondary when it comes to speedy receivers. He is currently available in 90% of leagues.

Russell Wilson – There are still a few leagues with Wilson floating on waivers and if owners needed any incentive to pick him up it was last weeks’ 4 TD performance. He is a player best added for the aforementioned leagues going the distance of Week 17 or for keeper leagues though as he will draw the 49ers defense this week. He is currently available in 64% of leagues.

Dennis Pitta – After exciting owners early this season only to go cold and be a spotty play at best, Pitta returned during the pivotal Week 15 of the fantasy playoffs to ruin the season for many owners. His 2 TDs were garbage time scores, but he is worth adding as a play against the Giants this week and could also benefit from Torrey Smith being sat. He is currently available in 68% of leagues.

Tony Scheffler – Though he did receive 7 targets on the day, Scheffler only managed 3 catches as the Lions’ season continues to spiral. With Brandon Pettigrew still a question mark for this week, he is worth an add in deeper leagues. He is currently available in 90% of leagues.

Ben Tate – He has reassumed thee back up duties to Arian Foster and would greatly benefit in Week 17 if the Texans clinch a BYE for the playoffs and the decide to sit their star back. He would be in line to face the Colts’ soft run defense. He remains a solid handcuff. He is currently available in 68% of leagues.

Lamar Miller – The Dolphins are not likely to retain Reggie Bush this offseason and with the team out of playoff contention they could look to see what they have in Miller late this season, perhaps Week 17, to see if he can handle feature back duties. He is best added for keeper leagues, deeper leagues, and leagues going to Week 17. He is currently available in 995 of leagues.

Shane Vereen – Alas, another player who could take over for the final week of the season. If the Patriots are out of reach of claiming a BYE week for the playoffs after this week, Vareen could see an uptick in carries against the Jags in Week 17. He could also see an increase in playing time this week after Stevan Ridley’s fumbling problems emerged against the 49ers. He is currently available in 87% of leagues.

Quarterbacks

Andy Dalton – Chances are if your team is in the playoffs and you have Dalton you have been rolling with him. His Thursday night match up against the Eagles should be another solid night for the QB. Philly’s team is a mess right now and they are clearly looking to evaluate some of their younger talent as they will be looking to rebuild over the offseason. Their secondary has been beat up over the past few weeks by opposing QBs and Dalton will be no exception.

Josh Freeman – It’s been no secret that the Saints have been terrible defensively and Freeman owners should have no problems rolling him out during their playoff run, especially when you recall that Freeman threw for 420 yards against them in Week 7. The Saints have done nothing to really improve on their D either. He should be a solid play this week.

Under the radar

Russell Wilson – Until last week Wilson had thrown at least 2 TDs a game since Week 8, and the lack of TDs was due in large part to the blow out of the Cardinals. He gets a great match up against the Bills this week and should be worth starting in 2 QB leagues and in other leagues where owners like playing the odds.

Others to consider: Carson Palmer – The king of garbage time points should be a good match up this week against the Chiefs who been very beatable versus the pass. Ben Roethlisberger – Big Ben showed how much his team truly missed his play while he was out and was solid in his return last week. Dallas has been vulnerable at times in their secondary unit, and the possibility of Morris Claiborne missing time could help the Steelers passing game.

Running Backs

CJ Spiller – Owners got a taste of what Spiller could do as the unquestioned starter a few times this season and should be ecstatic about the opportunity again in the fantasy playoffs. Even against a stout run defense like Seattle’s, Spiller is a must start.

Reggie Bush – He finally saw a majority of the carries for Miami against the 49ers last week, and owners could see a similar type of output from Bush this week against a vulnerable Jags defense. His play has been sporadic this season, but this week should be a good one to run him in.

Under the radar

David Wilson – Ahmad Bradshaw’s injury has opened a door for Wilson and savvy owners may want to roll the dice on Wilson this week. Even if Bradshaw can suit up, though he has yet to practice this week and is highly questionable to play, he will likely cede a number of carries to Wilson as the Giants will look to take it easy on the injury riddled back.

Others to consider: Knowshon Moreno – He remains the workhorse in Denver and gets a Ravens defense that is stronger in name than they have been in performance this season. Shonn Greene – He has been running much better lately and with the news that Bilal Powell suffered a fractured toe, Greene will likely shoulder a bigger load this week against a porous Titans D.

Wide Receivers

Danario Alexander – Defense have yet to slow down Alexander, who the Chargers pick up of waivers earlier this season. He is clearly rolling and even though there are still question about starting Philip Rivers in fantasy leagues, Alexander should be started in most line ups.

Mike Wallace – Apparently all Wallace needed was his best bud Ben Roethlisberger slinging him the ball, because he exploded for 112 yards and 2 TDs last week. After suffering the title of “co-starter” a few weeks back, Wallace is the clear go to guy for Big Ben and should be started in fantasy leagues.

Under the radar

Josh Gordon – He has shown signs of being a better match up play than anything after going quiet following his break out 3 game stretch from Weeks 5-7. He has resurfaced over the past few weeks and gets a match up against Washington’s bottom dwelling secondary.

Others to consider: Vincent Jackson – He has been fairly consistent for player who has been known for disappearing in patches during the season. He has a great match up against the Saints and should be in all line ups. Miles Austin – There is a lot of uncertainty about whether or not Dez Bryant will play this week and even if he does, Miles Austin will likely be the more targeted of the two. It’s great gesture of will and pain tolerance that Dez even wants to play, but the team will likely be wise and look to keep their budding start receiver from further injuring himself.

Tight Ends

Heath Miller – He continues to be a strong fantasy start and owners who have him in the playoffs are likely starting him, but the return of Big Ben will only help his numbers much in the way that they have helped Mike Wallace.

Owen Daniels – The Colts are another team that has been vulnerable to the tight end position, and Daniels is a borderline must start player this week. The Texans will look to rebound from the shellacking they received from New England and Daniels stands to benefit.

Under the radar

Tony Scheffler – Brandon Pettigrew very questionable for this week’s game, Scheffler will get a major boost in playing time and targets. He has already played some in the slot for the injury riddled Lions, and could be in for a big day.

Others to consider: Martellus Bennett – After a dry spell of 8 games putting up mediocre numbers, Bennett has re-emerged as a viable starter. He gets a favorable match up against the Falcons this week. Dennis Pitta – He is another player that has struggled with mediocrity this season, but gets a Broncos team that has been one of the league’s worst versus tight ends. If you’re in need of a spot start tight end, he is worth a look.

David Wilson – Ahmad Bradshaw’s knee injury opened the door for Wilson to put on a show this weekend, and with Bradshaw’s status for this next week up in the air he is a must add. He exploded for 100 yards and 2 TDs on the ground and added 227 return yards along with a score. The Giants may decide to take a look to see what they have the rookie as they try to maintain their playoff position, making him late season gold. He is currently available in 68% of leagues.

Kirk Cousins – Another player who suffered a knee injury was RG3, and Kirk Cousins would be line to fill in if he were to miss. Reports right now have Griffin as questionable so RG3 owners should grab Cousins as a safety valve in the event that the Redskins hold him out. Cousins is a very capable backup and could be a starter on other teams. He is currently available in 99% of leagues.

Montell Owens – MJD remains out and no updates have been given regarding a return, so Owens should be owned in all leagues after putting up 91 yards and a TD on 14 touches despite missing time early in the game with cramps. He is currently available in 77% of leagues.

Kenny Britt – The drought seemed to finally end for Britt against the Colts last week where he put up 143 yards on 8 catches. Many owners may have lost confidence in stashing him to this point leaving him available in a number of leagues. He gets a tough match up this week against the Jets and Antonio Cromartie, but if you’re an owner who can wait his match up against the Packers in Week 16 is a little more enticing. He is currently available in 50% of leagues.

Jon Baldwin – Dwayne Bowe has been put on IR with broken ribs, and though Baldwin has been less than stellar throughout the season and with Brady Quinn slinging the ball around, he is worth a speculative add, especially in keeper leagues. He is now in a situation to prove that he can handle the job over the last few games of the season. He is currently available in 96% of leagues.

Dwayne Harris – More injuries, this one to Dez Bryant who sustained a fractured left index finger. Harris has moved up the depth chart above Kevin Ogletree and is a much more reliable player. If Dez Bryant is held out, owners may want to have Harris in waiting. He is currently available in 100% of leagues.

Tony Scheffler – He has been moved into the slot position for the Lions and saw 10 targets last week. The Lions are already thin at the WR position and having a TE at the WR position could be a big boost for owners if it sticks. Couple this with the possibility that Brandon Pettigrew, who injured his ankle, possibly being held out this week and Scheffler should be added in most leagues. He is currently available in 98% of leagues.

Quarterbacks

Andrew Luck – He has been slinging the ball all over for the past few weeks and had strong box score last week putting up 391 yards and 4 TDs in the Colt’s comeback victory. He did throw 3 INTs, but Luck is on a tear right now and is worth starting in your fantasy playoffs. He gets a weak Titans defense and could have a big day.

Eli Manning – He’s been a lot better since returning from the Giants Week 11 BYE week and has a favorable match up against the Saints. Owners are likely salivating over match ups facing teams like the Saints, Titans, and Raiders defenses. He may not wow you, but he is a solid start this week.

Under the radar

Colin Kaepernick – His numbers haven’t been explosive, but as the starter for the 49ers he has made few mistakes. His ability to run the ball, in the red zone especially, make him a great sleeper even against a stout run D in Miami and can make those accurate throws when needed. He is probably a much stronger play in 2 QB leagues, but remains a viable play in standard leagues as well.

Others to consider: Tony Romo – He has for over 300 yards in the past 3 games and the consistent play of Dez Bryant has been a big part of that. The Bengals could put up some points on Dallas this week, leaving the Cowboys in comeback mode for a good portion of the game. Josh Freeman – The Eagles continue their downward spiral this season, and Freeman could be at the receiving end. He hasn’t been great as of late, but a bad defense often cures a struggle QBs woes.

Running Backs

Knowson Moreno – He has a great match up against the Raiders who have been abysmal against the run, allowing plodders like BJGE to run amuck on them. Though he is no big play guy, he continues to be the Broncos workhorse and should see goal line carries.

Bryce Brown – The Eagles have yet to clear LeSean McCoy 2 weeks after receiving a concussion, and Brown has been electric since. It is becoming more and more possible that McCoy may be shut down for the season, and Brown has played well enough to be a must start despite the match up. With McCoy likely to be out at least one more week, Brown should be in all line ups.

Under the radar

Vick Ballard – The fragile one, Donald Brown, experienced yet another injury this last week with an ankle sprain. Ballard should have a shot at carrying the load for the Colts, and has a prime match up against the Titans. His ability to catch the ball should allow him to be the team’s every down back.

Others to consider: Ahmad Bradshaw – It’s a match up against the Saints porous defense and Bradshaw has received very little competition from rookie David Wilson. He should be a solid play this week. CJ Spiller – He ceded a number of carries last week due to the bad weather according to Chan Gailey. This week he should resume the slight advantage in Buffalo’s timeshare and is a strong play against the Rams.

Wide Receivers

Pierre Garcon – After many owners finally gave up on the injured Garcon he has returned and quickly regained the status of top option for RG3 at the WR position. He should be started in most leagues despite a match up against the Ravens.

Lance Moore – The Giants will likely focus a good amount of attention towards Jimmy Graham and Marques Colston this week, and Moore could capitalize, as he did last week, with the deep middle routes. The Giants continue to struggle versus the pass this season and the Saints should continue to sling it around.

Under the radar

T.Y. Hilton – Hilton is still the number 3 wide out for the Colts, but has lead the team to utilize more 3 wide receiver sets. Though Donnie Avery had a solid game, Hilton has been the better player and the team has taken notice. He gets a solid match up against the Titans this week.

Others to consider: Randall Cobb – With Jordy Nelson possibly out this week, Cobb should continue to be a solid play even with Greg Jennings back. The Lions and Packers could easily turn into a shootout. Torrey Smith – I don’t trust Joe Flacco even against the Redskin’s 31st ranked secondary, but Smith could have a solid day despite him.

Tight Ends

Brandon Myers – Denver has not defended against tight ends well at all this season, and coming off of a 14 catch 130 yard game, Myers should be started over most others not named Jimmy Graham or Aaron Hernandez. He can be a reception machine, but mostly gets them when the Raiders are trailing which they should be doing against the Broncos.

Heath Miller – He has posted respectable numbers with Roethlisberger out, but with Big Ben returning this week, he should be elevated to WR1 status again.

Under the radar

Marcedes Lewis – He has returned from the fantasy graveyard due to Chad Henne, and could see a higher amount of targets this week with Cecil Short’s availability in question and Justin Blackmon being shadowed by Antonio Cromartie.

Others to consider: Kyle Rudolph – Rudolph is another player who could benefit from the loss of a WR. Percy Harvin’s season is over after being placed on IR, and will be Christian Ponder’s first read on most plays. Owen Daniels – He continues to be a solid play every week and should be a solid option as the Texans will face a Patriots team that will look to shut down Andre Johnson.

The Cowboys got a strong win against a reeling Eagles team this week to keep their faint playoff hopes alive, with a little help from the Redskins’ win over the Giants on Monday. The win gets the team back in the familiar territory of a .500 record on the year at 6-6.

Sunday night saw the return of DeMarco Murray for the Cowboys after a 6 week absence. His return had a clear effect on the Cowboys offense as he had a team high 27 touches for 102 yards and a touchdown. Though the team might deny it, the dynamic that Murray brings adds an element to the run game that the team just doesn’t have with Felix Jones, despite the steady play from Jones over the past few games. Murray ran well but was clearly tentative when he touched the ball, but reportedly suffered no setbacks in the game.

The game also saw the continued emergence of a consistent Dez Bryant who had his 3rd 2 touchdown day of the season and continued to build rapport with Tony Romo. It has taken two and a half seasons, but it appears that Bryant has begun to play at a high level on with the consistency expected from a first rounder.

Doug Free continues to play at a subpar level and has not lived up to the 4 year $32 million deal the Cowboys shelled out to keep him. Even a slight increase in productivity from Free would help out Dallas’s O-line struggles and will be much needed as the get set to face an aggressive Bengals defense led by former Cowboy Mike Zimmer that currently leads the league with 39 sacks.

As per usual the Cowboys played well and clicked in many aspects of the game against the Eagles, but the lack of consistency could rear its ugly head this next week and they hold on to hope of the possibility of remaining in contention for a playoff spot.

Chris Givens – The injury to Danny Amedola has made Givens the go to receiver in St. Louis and he has responded well when given the opportunities this season. As long as Amendola continues to miss time Givens is worth an add and possibly a start for owners in need of WR help. He is currently available in 85% of leagues.

Golden Tate – After earning early season infamy, Tate has earned a share in the passing offense in Seattle. He has had solid production for the last 5 weeks and is adding some explosion to the Seahawks passing game. His value should also be up a bit with Sidney Rice’s concussion at the end of last week’s game. He is currently available in 70% of leagues.

Vick Ballard – He continues to be heavily involved in the Colt’s offense even after Donald Brown returned. With the injury prone Brown suffering an ankle injury during the game this weekend, Ballard should have a shot at carrying a heavy load against the Titans which would make him a solid under the radar flex play. He is currently available in 62% of leagues.

Martellus Bennett – He may have been dropped in many leagues due to a long TD drought, but came to life in the first half of the Monday night game. He could be a great help to those Gronkowski owners still searching for a replacement. He is currently available in 48% of leagues.

Montell Owens – After Rashad Jennings became the de facto starter for Jacksonville again he suffered a concussion in last weekend’s game. Now Montell Owens has become the favorite to take over as the starter as many owners continue to wait for MJD to return. As long as MJD and Jennings are out then Owens is worth owning and gets a susceptible Jets run defense this week for the Jags revitalized offense. He is currently available in 98% of leagues.

Josh Gordon – He has sustained viability in a destitute Browns passing offense and continues to gain the faith of Brandon Weeden. He blew up for 116 yards and a TD last week and gets solid match ups against Kansas City and Washington over Weeks 14 and 15. He is currently available in 65% of leagues.

Jonathan Dwyer – His numbers don’t show it, but Dwyer ran hard for the Steelers last week as they upset the Ravens and has led Mike Tomlin to give him the nod as the starter for next week against the Chargers. His match up may not be the most solid one on paper, but owners may not be able to pick and choose too much if they are scouring waivers for a starting RB in varying leagues. He is currently available in 53% of leagues.

Jake Locker – For owners who are desperate for a starting QB you could do worse than Locker. He had 309 yards and a TD last week to go with 3 INTs and 2 fumbles. To be fair the Texans defense got pretty salty in that game. He will have a slightly more forgiving match up against the Colt’s defense this week, and don’t forget that Locker can make plays with his feet. The season is lost for the Titans and new OC Dowell Loggains will give Locker a little more rope to run the offense. He is currently available in 83% of leagues.

Joquie Bell – He remains the back up to Mikel LeShoure, but has run very well when spelling him and is sporting a healthy 5.7 YAC average on 57 rushes for the year. LeShoure owners should be stashing him as LeShoure has not yet proven to be an unbreakable workhorse, while others keep him mostly as a speculative add. He is currently available in 74% of leagues.

Knowshon Moreno – After spending all last week talking about how they planned to use Ronnie Hillman as the starter for Denver last week, the coaching staff decided to run recently activated Knowshon Moreno as their every down back. Moreno looked strong and decisive as the lead back and looks like he has a healthy grasp on the job. He is set to be the main guy in Denver for the rest of the season and owners should be running to grab him off of waivers where he is still available. He is currently available in 77% of leagues.

Bryce Brown – While filling in for the concussed LeSean McCoy, Brown ran to the tune of 178 yards and 2 TDs on Monday night against the Panthers. Early signs are showing that McCoy may miss the Eagle’s Week 13 game as well, while some rumors are circulating that they could shut down McCoy since the season is lost. Either way Brown should be grabbed immediately. He is currently available in 60% of leagues.

Michael Bush – Matt Forte reinjured the same ankle that sidelined him earlier this season, and though reports are saying that it is a mild injury owners should not expect him to be available this week making Michael Bush another must add at the RB position. He doesn’t have the pizzazz of a shifty back like Forte, but he is a usual suspect for the Bears in goal line duties even when Forte was healthy. He is currently available in 43% of leagues.

Chad Henne – In his second start for the Jaguars, Henne posted a solid line of 261 yards and 2TDs to go with a pick. With a match up against Buffalo this week he is bordering QB1 value. He has made Cecil Shorts, and more obviously Justin Blackmon and Marcedes Lewis, fantasy relevant again. He is currently available in 89% of leagues.

Colin Kaepernick – Many are saying he out dueled Drew Brees this last week. That’s probably an overstatement, but Kaepernick did play very well with 231 yards and 2 TDs (1 passing and 1 rushing) making it a solid effort this last week. There is still some confusion coming from Harbaugh about who is the starter (which makes Henne a slightly stronger add), but in all likelihood he will go with Kaepernick who is giving the team a long needed dynamic on offense and is simply the better QB. He is currently available in 64% of leagues.

Pierre Garcon – He is easily the top receiving the threat for the Redskins and showed it this last Thursday with a 5 reception, 93 yard, and 1 TD day. He reportedly had not issues with his foot after the game, and was likely dumped by many fantasy owners after he showed little signs of returning during the course of the season. He is currently available in 44% of leagues.

TY Hilton – He has scored in back to back games and seems to have overtaken Doney Avery for the #2 option for Andrew Luck at the wide out position. He was injured during the game, but only missed one possession. He is worth a look, especially in deeper leagues. He is currently available in 56% of leagus.

Jonathan Dwyer – After a horrible game but Pittsburghs backs, Rashard Mendenhall has been demoted 3rd string and Dwyer to starter. It’s tough to say how long this will last, but Dwyer has been running with more urgency and power than his teammates this season. So there is a possibility Mike Tomlin and the Steelers stick with Dwyer making him worth adding in most formats, though owners shouldn’t reach too far as the Steelers backfield is still a mess. He is currently available in 63% of leagues.

David Wilson – With the injury to Andre Brown (broken leg), effectively ending his season, Wilson will once again take over as Ahmad Bradshaw’s primary back up. With Bradshaw’s injury history grabbing his back up makes a ton of sense, especially with the Giants syphoning carries away from Bradshaw in an attempt to preserve him for late in the season. He is currently available in 85% of leagues.

Rashad Jennings – Jalen Parmele experienced groin issues during last week’s game, and may have worsened it when he tried to play through it. With MJD likely to be out at least another week, Jennings would take over as the prime back again for this week when the Jags face a favorable Bills match up. He will be worth a spot start in the event that Parmele and MJD are out this next week. He is currently available in 62% of leagues.

Update: Jalen Parmele has been placed on IR making Jennings a must add at this point for MJD and Parmele owners at least for this week.

Quarterbacks

Andy Dalton – He has benefited from playing back to back weeks against weak pass defenses and gets another one this week against the Raiders. Consequently, he has also not thrown an interception over the past two games. Should be another good week for Dalton.

Andrew Luck – It was a tough week for Luck and the Colts last week, and despite the turnovers he played fairly well putting up 334 yards through the air. He gets a much more manageable secondary against Buffalo this week and he should continue to put up solid numbers.

Under the radar

Chad Henne – If you suffering the the loss of a QB, Henne is worth a gamble this week. He is a clear boost to the Jags offense and showed it by lighting up a strong Texans defense. You shouldn’t expect a box score like last week’s, as they are still the Jaguars, but the offense is showing signs of life and play a leaky Titans defense this week.

Others to consider: Colin Kaepernick – Jim Harbaugh has reportedly named Kaepernick the starting QB even with Alex Smith healthy enough to play. Like Henne, he is a roll of the dice play, but gets a soft match up against the Saints this week. Carson Palmer – He has quietly been a top 10 QB in standard fantasy leagues and continues to put serviceable numbers each week. Keep running him.

Running Backs

CJ Spiller – Fred Jackson is set to return this week, however, the Bills are going to keep Spiller as their starter. This is a great sign for owners of Spiller, as it means the Bills could continue with the increased touches for Spiller. He faces a beatable Colts run defense and is a threat for big chunks of yardage on every touch.

BenJarvis Green-Ellis – He is probably best used as a match up play, but this is one of those match ups this week against the Raiders. Despite losing some touches over last few weeks he remains the workhorse for the Bengals.

Under the radar

Marcel Reece – All signs are pointing to McFadden being out for at least another week, and Reece would then draw another start. After last week’s near 200 total yard performance, owners should run him without hesitation, especially in PPR formats.

Others to consider: Frank Gore – He has been a spotty pay since Week 6 with seesaw like production from week to week. He faces the Saints this week and should see better holes opened up with the threat of Kaepernick’s running ability. Bryce Brown – The Eagles have not declared LeSean McCoy out for Monday, and McCoy could play. The likelihood is that they play it safe and run Brown instead. Brown has a ton of talent and gets a menial Carolina run defense.

Wide Receivers

Dez Bryant – He has come to life for fantasy owners over the past few weeks, and he gets the Redskins’ secondary this week. It should be a fun turkey day for owners.

Randall Cobb – Cobb has been on fire with 6 TDs over the past 4 weeks. He isn’t showing any signs of slowing, nor are the Packers looking to scale back his involvement. The Giants have had problems with speedy receivers and this looks like it could be another strong day for Cobb.

Under the radar

Justin Blackmon – He nearly had the same amount of yards receiving last week as he had on the entire year. So expectations should be scaled back some, but the addition of competent QB play can only help Blackmon, who is showing signs of being the WR Jacksonville drafted him to be. I don’t think many would blame you for waiting a week before running him out there on your fantasy team this late in the season, but I don’t think we’d blame you for riding the hot hand either.

Others to consider: Michael Crabtree – Crabtree is another player who should benefit from the emergence of Colin Kaepernick. Even without Kaepernick, he has been playing well with 3 TDs over the last two weeks. Kenny Britt – The Titans have said that they want to get Britt more involved with the offense and the BYE week should have given him some much needed rest. He gets a soft Jacksonville defense to see if the coaches can get him more involved this week.

Tight Ends

Jason Witten – He is better play in PPR formats than in standards, but Witten should be a great play this week against the Redskins defense that has not been able to cover opposing tight ends.

Aaron Hernandez – With the injury to Rob Gronkowski, Hernandez should see a major boost in production, and owners who have been steadily holding on should see a payoff this week. He is listed as questionable this week so keep an eye on whether he is active, but the entire Patriots roster is usually listed as questionable every week and all signs have pointed to Hernandez being a go.

Under the radar

Marcedes Lewis – Yes, I am recommending the hot hands in Jacksonville this week if for nothing else for the fact that they are facing the Titans. Chad Henne utilized Lewis for his size in the red zone and came away with 2 TDs. He is best suited as a TD or nothing play this week.

Others to consider: Jermine Gresham – He has been reliable over the past 3 weeks, though his day would have been a stinker against the Giants had he not scored. All that aside, he gets a favorable match up against Oakland this week. Martellus Bennett – He is one of the players who may have benefited the most from the late BYE week, Bennett has a slew of vulnerable pass defenses over the next 4 weeks and could return to early season form.