Stock Market Thursday: NFL Week 16
Posted on 23. Dec, 2009 by Bryan Fontaine in Columns, Stock Market
Happy Holidays from the staff of RookieBlitz.com!
Our weekly feature will take a look at the Week 16 matchups and evaluate what players should see an increase or decrease in value in the Championship Game Week of the fantasy football playoffs.
Stock Up
Jerome Harrison – Cleveland Browns
The general consensus is that Head Coach Eric Mangini will continue to befuddle fantasy football owners with his tailback rotation with Jerome Harrison and Chris Jennings. This comes one week after Harrison broke Jim Brown’s team rushing record with 34 carries for 286 yards and 3 touchdowns and added another 2 receptions for 12 yards for good measure. There is no doubt that Harrison has the talent to play in the NFL, he just have never gotten a consistent shot at playing time. Mangini won’t be a fool, he’ll continue to give Harrison the lion’s share of the carries and against the Raiders 28th ranked rush defense. Harrison should top 100 yards rushing on the day and have a great chance of scoring a touchdown, don’t hesitate and get him in your lineup this week.
Beanie Wells – Arizona Cardinals
We’ve been high on Beanie Wells all season and it’s time he started paying dividends on his crazy good playoff schedule. After a subpar team performance against Detroit, Coach Whisenhunt has indicated the Cardinals will play to win the final 2 games despite already clinching the NFC West. This is great news for Wells; he is an excellent high-end RB2 this week against the 27th ranked Rams rush defense (140.8 YPG). Brandon LaClair covered most of the basics on Wells earlier this week here; there is little doubt Wells will be vital to a lot of championships this weekend.
Greg Jennings – Green Bay Packers
Greg Jennings is back on the map after a huge game with 5 receptions for 118 yards including an 83 yard touchdown from QB Aaron Rodgers. Jennings will again come up huge in the championship game against the weak Seattle pass defense (29th in the league). The Seahawks were able to keep the Buccaneers in check last week, but Andre Johnson shredded them for 193 yards receiving and 2 touchdowns just 2 weeks ago. Rodgers will continue to look for his favorite target, and another big day is in the cards for Jennings this week.
Michael Crabtree – San Francisco 49ers
Alex Smith struggled mightily against the Eagles last week and Crabtree’s production took a serious hit (4 receptions for 26 yards). The Detroit Lions come to town this week, and the 49ers will take advantage of their league worst pass defense. The Lions have allowed opposing wide receivers to score 24.4 fantasy points per game all season, and Crabtree is an excellent bet to register his first 100 yard receiving day in the NFL and score another touchdown.
Stock Down
Jason Campbell – Washington Redskins
Jason Campbell has been on a lot of sleeper lists lately with his improved play, but that all came crashing down to earth in Week 15 as the Redskins got Zorned. You have to be impressed with the leadership and toughness he has displayed in another lost season in Washington, but those intangibles don’t win you fantasy football matchups. DeMarcus Ware will not allow Campbell the time to throw, and I wouldn’t trust my fantasy title hopes on Campbell if I could avoid it.
Jamaal Charles – Kansas City Chiefs
Jamaal Charles has been one of the league’s hottest running backs for the past 6 weeks (Scored a touchdown in 6 straight games, averaging 101 rushing yards per game) and has been dubbed a poor man’s Chris Johnson. Charles is due for a subpar performance and it will happen this week versus the stout Bengals rush defense. This might be the week you consider sitting Charles for a running back with a better matchup (Wells, Snelling, and Harrison) even though Charles got you to the championship round.
LeSean McCoy – Philadelphia Eagles
McCoy hasn’t taken advantage of the opportunity given to him with Brian Westbrook’s injury, and now it looks like Westbrook could be back this week or next. That would kill any fantasy value that McCoy still has. The Eagles simply are not a running team, and Head Coach Andy Reid only sprinkles in a token run every so often to keep the opposing defense honest. Don’t count on much from McCoy against the tough Broncos run defense.
Roddy White – Atlanta Falcons
Roddy White can breathe a sigh of relief that he doesn’t have to line up against the top ranked Jets pass defense in Week 16, but he shouldn’t get too comfortable because the Buffalo Bills are as tough as the Jets against the pass. The Bills can expect a heavy dose of Jason Snelling and Jerious Norwood to exploit their league worst run defense. The Bills have proven they can limit big play receivers and that makes White a risky start in your championship game. White is not a great candidate to find the end zone, and he’ll be lucky to top 75 yards receiving.
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