Several Superstars Return In Week 13…
November 30, 2008 at 11:35 pm | Article by Paul Hickey |
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| Just when it appeared that several star caliber players had fallen off to the point that owners should consider benching them, many of them came back and showed their stuff in Week 13. Guys like Brian Westbrook, Donovan McNabb, and a few others drastically improved their fantasy value.
Rising - Brian Westbrook, Eagles RB - Westy hadn’t done anything going into Week 13. He was banged up beyond belief, and hadn’t rushed for more than 61 yards since Week 8. Fantasy owners were ready to start benching him, even in PPR leagues. Even with knee and ankle injuries, Westy played on Thanksgiving night, rushing 22 times for 110 yards and two TDs. He also caught three passes for 20 yards and two additional scores.
Rising - Donovan McNabb, Eagles QB - My, how the drama ends quickly after you toss four TDs on national TV on Thanksgiving night. One week after a freaking debacle at Baltimore, McNabb went from being benched, to tossing the rock for 260 yards and four TDs. McNabb has a tough match-up in Week 14 against the Giants, but his overall fantasy value is saved for the moment.
Rising - Bernard Berrian, Vikings WR - From Weeks 5 through 9, Berrian was one of the NFL’s hottest receivers, getting into the end zone in each game. But then, for some strange reason, he only caught a total of four balls for 52 yards in the next three weeks, making him hardly a fantasy asset at all. It even started looking like Sidney Rice would eventually become a better option in the long term. However, Berrian stepped up huge against his former team, hauling in four balls for 122 yards - including a 99 yard TD catch - against the Bears. Berrian has the Lions in Week 14 and the Cardinals in Week 15, making him a very solid option in all leagues moving forward.
Rising - Chris Johnson, Titans RB - Like others on this list, Johnson was in a huge slump heading into Week 13, and had owners wondering what to do with him. He had rushed for barely more than 100 yards cumulatively over a three week span, but lit up the Lions on Thanksgiving Day - rushing for 125 yards and two scores on only 16 carries. In other words, Johnson hasn’t hit the rookie wall, he was just in a mini-slump. His speed is uncanny and his big play ability makes him a must-start against the Browns in Week 14.
Rising - LenDale White, Titans RB - White was in a similar boat to his teammate Johnson, coming off a horrible Week 13 performance in which he only rushed one time for negative one yard, and as a result was in danger of losing all fantasy value. All he needed was a good match-up, and he found it against the Lions. After rushing 23 times for 106 yards and two scores, he’s looking like a pretty good option heading into Week 14 against the Browns.
Rising - Le’Ron McClain, Ravens RB - With Willis McGahee not fully healthy, and rookie Ray Rice not fully trusted yet in Baltimore, second year man Le’Ron McClain has seized the featured RB role over the last two weeks. The 6′0″, 260 lb. bruiser carried the rock 18 times for 88 yards and a score against Philly in Week 12, and 25 times for 86 yards against Cincy in Week 13. McClain is likely to get the bulk of the load next week against Washington on Sunday night.
Rising - Peyton Hillis, Broncos RB - The rookie fullback turned tailback has 271 yards rushing in his last four games, and four scores in his last three contests, including 129 yards on 22 carries in Week 13 against the Jets’ top five ranked run defense. The Broncos love his downhill style and there’s a solid chance that the 6′2″, 250 lb. rusher could keep the starting gig for quite a while. It’s safe to say Mike Shanahan likes him a lot better than Tatum Bell and Selvin Young, the only other healthy backs on Denver’s squad right now.
Falling - Clinton Portis, Redskins RB - Be careful here. Portis is definitely a top five overall fantasy player from a big picture perspective - especially for dynasty leaguers. When we put “falling” next to his name, here is what we mean - Portis is banged up beyond belief right now. He’s nursing knee, ankle, rib, hip and neck injuries. While he may play on Sunday night in Week 14, he faces Baltimore. The Ravens’ run defense ranks in the top two in several categories. There are plenty of better options than Portis in Week 14, but long term, he’s still one of the top backs out there, and is likely to be a top five pick in 2009 seasonal drafts.
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