It’s all about the playoffs. With only three weeks left in the regular season, NFL teams are still playing for that first week bye, home field advantage or hoping for the right scenario that they can nab one of the coveted Wild Card spots.
On the fantasy football side of things, if your league has playoffs, they are probably underway or starting this week. Either way, it’s important to take not of what teams are playing for and what they have to lose. The division leaders will start resting players with lingering injuries or their older, veteran players. Teams totally out of the playoff picture might start to focus on next year, giving their younger guys an opportunity to play and gain valuable experience. In the fantasy world, this results in a collective “Fuck!” from fantasy football managers.
Good luck to all, now on to the Waiver Wire Scramble for week 14:
Pick-up Deion Branch, WR, Seattle - Branch finally looked healthy for the first time all year against the New England Patriots on Sunday, garnering 88 yards receiving and 2 TDs. The motivation might have come from playing his former team and maybe back-up QB Seneca Wallace was most comfortable throwing to the veteran, but Branch could be a good pick-up for deep leagues. Seattle travels to St. Louis, although the quarterback situation is still up in the air, Branch is likely to be a favorite target for whoever is throwing it to him.
Don’t Bother with Tarvaris Jackson, QB, Minnesota - Last week was Ken Dorsey, this week it’s Tarvaris Jackson. Things are still uncertain about who’s going to start in Minnesota between Jackson and Frerotte, but it’s a lose-lose situation for fantasy owners. Jackson put up decent numbers in a half against Detriot, but don’t expect the same this week on the road in Arizona. Even if Jackson gets the start, expect Minnesota to be playing from behind, putting a lot of pressure on Jackson’s arm and the passing game. There could be a huge up-side to Jackson this week, but is your fantasy team’s success worth the risk?
Pick-up Darren Sproles, RB, San Diego - There are a lot of back-up running backs looking at significant playing time this week due to injuries, but before you sprung off of those FA pick-ups, check out the match-ups and reconsider. Sproles might be your best bet. The Chargers get the Chiefs this week, and once they get a big enough lead, expect LT to sit and Sproles to carry the garabage time load. He caught 2 TD passes last week, and should be able to get at least one TD somehow this week.
Die Matt Cassel, QB, New England - This week Cassel killed me emotionally and he has an opportunity to do it again next week. Cassel lead the Patriots in a come-from-behind win against my Seahawks, a win that could have brought some joy to an overall shitty season. But no, Cassel relentlessly marched the Patriots back in the second half to pick up the win. Now I face Cassel in my fantasy football playoffs - and he’s playing against Oakland. FUCK! Somehow he already has 10 fantasy points, this is bullshit! I will be praying for another fantasy miracle this week, down with Cassel!
