Arizona
Even without Carson Palmer, the Cardinals continue to win. Drew Stanton scattered 300 yards passing to 10 different receivers with no one receiver going over 70 yards. This week's game at division rival Seattle is a huge game, but I don't love the match up for the Cardinals. I'm expecting a low scoring game with little fantasy value, however I do see Andre Ellington being a big part of the offensive attack. John Brown has been Drew Stanton's go-to receiver in the clutch and he has the most touchdowns (3) of all the Cardinals receivers with Stanton under center. Take that for what it's worth. Another reason to like Brown this week is because Richard Sherman will most likely have the task of covering Larry Fitzgerald or Michael Floyd (if Fitzgerald is unable to play due to a sore knee. Brown could be targeted often in this game and yield positive results. If you're looking for a wide receiver with potential, Brown is a decent candidate, even against the Seahawks defense at home.
Atlanta
The Falcons return home after extending their unbeaten streak against the division to four games. That's right, the Falcons are 4-0 against NFC South foes. This week the Browns come to Atlanta and I like this match up for the Falcons passing game. Julio Jones, Roddy White and Matt Ryan are good starts, especially White, who will draw the Browns second corner (Buster Skrine), while Julio Jones faces Joe Haden. The match up favors White here, but I don't expect Julio Jones to be blanketed by Haden. I like both to have a big impact on the game.
Baltimore
The Ravens return from their bye to play at New Orleans. This is not your 2013 Saints team that dominated every game at home. Baltimore doesn't have it easy, but there is still hope for some fantasy value in this game. The Saints are banged up in the secondary, which is good news for Joe Flacco and the Ravens. Steve Smith knows New Orleans well from his days in Carolina and Torrey Smith has scored in four of the last five games. Justin Forsett may regress some in the second half of the season, but he is still the team's primary rushing threat and should continue to produce quality points. Fantasy speaking, I like this match up for the Ravens especially if the Saints defense continues to struggle and this is a back and forth battle of offenses.
Buffalo
The Bills host the Jets this week in what looks like a win for the home team. New York has gained some confidence beating Pittsburgh before their bye, but they still have a poor secondary that can be exploited. I expect Sammy Watkins to be a big part of the Bills offense this week, especially with uncertainty at the running back position. I'm not sold on Fred Jackson (groin) being fully healthy and the other alternatives aren't anything to be too excited about. Bryce Brown saw a lot of short passes in the loss to Miami last week, but that was more a result of the game script that Miami's defense was giving them. It is worth noting that Brown has 13 catches in the last two games, so we may see more of the same against the Jets who just allowed 8 receptions to LeVeon Bell.
Carolina
Bye Week (at MIN, at NO, TB)
Cincinnati
The Bengals rebounded from a disastrous home loss to Cleveland and righted their season with a win at New Orleans. It's yet to be seen if that win was more Cincinnati's doing or New Orleans' unraveling at home? One thing is for sure, it looks like A.J. Green is back, or at least productive despite still dealing with a toe injury. It's safe to assume WR1 numbers going forward. The Bengals play at Houston this week and they may still be without Giovani Bernard (hip, shoulder). Jeremy Hill has two 125 yard rushing games in the three games where he has replaced Bernard. If Bernard misses more time, Hill has earned at RB2 start from a fantasy perspective.
Cleveland
Cleveland is dominating the news this week. Josh Gordon returns in Week 12 at Atlanta, plus Ben Tate has been released by the team. Filling the void at running back is Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West. I fully expect this to be Crowell's role going forward with some West sprinkled in for good measure. What can we expect from Josh Gordon in his season debut? Honestly, I think Cleveland will force feed him the ball upwards of 10-12 targets. If he's healthy and able, which there is no reason to think he won't be, he should yield strong fantasy numbers going forward.
Chicago
Brandon Marshall doesn't appear to be affected by the ankle injury that he suffered in the Week 10 loss, which is a good sign of things going forward. Both Marshall and Alshon Jeffery produced big numbers in the win against Minnesota. This week, the Buccaneers come to Soldier Field, which should be another big day for the Bears offensive weapons, Marshall, Jeffery, Matt Forte and Jay Cutler are all good fantasy starts.
Dallas
The Cowboys return from their bye week to play the Giants in New York. DeMarco Murray should have a field day against the Giants, especially if the game flow keeps the running game a part of the game plan, which it should. Dez Bryant has scored a touchdown or 150 yards in each of the last four games. He's coming on strong lately and Tony Romo is only getting more healthy, especially thanks to the bye week. Here's a little nugget - Jason Witten has scored four times in the last two games against the Giants. He also collected 18 catches for 167 yards against the Giants in Week 8 of 2012. It sure looks like he has their number. Recently, Witten has 16 catches in the last three games with two scores.
Denver
C.J. Anderson looks to have taken over the role as the Broncos lead running back. Montee Ball can't get healthy after he re-injured his groin, plus Ronnie Hillman (foot) is out again this week and possibly more. Rumors are circling that he could be out for six weeks with a sprained foot. That leaves Anderson as the team's primary back going forward, which elevates his fantasy value into weekly starter territory. Julius Thomas suffered a sprained ankle last week but he still could play this week vs. Miami. Monitor his practice schedule to see if he can get in a full practice on Friday. Emmanuel Sanders is dealing with a concussion and may miss this week's game. If both Thomas and Sanders are out, look for Demaryius Thomas to see a big workload. This also means we could see more of Wes Welker and/or Cody Latimer.
Detroit
The Lions are coming off a loss at Arizona and face another tough road test at New England this week. I fully expect the Patriots to rotate their defense to focus on Calvin Johnson this week, which will leave Golden Tate in single coverage. I like Tate to bounce back after a luke warm outing at Arizona. Reggie Bush (ankle) is expected to return this week, but keep an eye on his practice schedule to be sure. If he's healthy, Bush could be an interesting play this week in what could result in several passes out of the backfield. I don't like Detroit's fantasy impact as much as I would if this were a home game, but there is a strong chance that Matthew Stafford has over 40 attempts in this game, which benefits his receiver teammates.
Green Bay
Green Bay has scored 50 points in back to back games and this week, they play at Minnesota who just allowed Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery to score at will. The outlook isn't as rosy as it would be if this was at Lambeau Field, but the Packers are still a potent offense and the Vikings are struggling to make stops on defense. It all points to success for the Packers fantasy options. Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb should both produce solid numbers with Davante Adams getting some offensive table scraps as well. Eddie Lacy also has a positive match up and could wind up scoring at least once in this game.
Houston
Alfred Blue was heavily used last week (36 carries for 156 yards) while Arian Foster continues to battle back from a hamstring injury. Blue's success could mean more rest for Foster, but it also could mean more touches in games when Foster is healthy. The success of Blue is not great news for Foster owners, but as long as Foster is healthy, he should continue to see plenty of touches and scoring opportunities. Ryan Mallett's first career start when well. On the road no less. He spread the ball around well to both Andre Johnson and DeAndre Hopkins, so there is no early leader in terms of which receiver will be targeted most often. That could remain the case going forward, but Hopkins is the better end zone presence and in my opinion, he's the more valuable receiver in the second half of the season.
Indianapolis
Tight end Dwayne Allen suffered a sprained ankle last week vs. New England and is expected to miss this week's game. If Allen is indeed out, look for Coby Fleener to have an increased role in the offense. Fleener has played his way into an increased role regardless of Allen's status, but now his chances to make some fantasy noise is amplified by opportunity to be the team's primary receiving tight end. Also worth noting, Ahmad Bradshaw will be lost for the remainder of the year with a broken ankle. That leaves Trent Richardson to pick up the slack. As much as we are reluctant to rely on Richardson, he may have a chance at decent fantasy value. It's possible that the Colts will sign a free agent running back, but that hasn't happened yet, which leads me to believe that Richardson will see an increased role going forward.
Jacksonville
Allen Robinson (foot) is out for the year, which opens up an increased role for Allen Hurns as well as veteran Cecil Shorts. Marqise Lee has been a bit of a disappointment in a rookie class filled with standouts. He could see an increased role, but he isn't expected to be featured in the offense. Denard Robinson has been one of the biggest fantasy surprises this year. Each week I expect him to fall back to earth, however he has done the opposite so far and there is no reason to expect a let up. Consider him a good, but not great RB2 start this week at Indianapolis.
Kansas City
Dwayne Bowe snapped his streak of four games with at least five catches. It's safe to say that he was the victim of Richard Sherman and that he should bounce back this week at Oakland. Jamaal Charles is starting to show signs of his 2013 self. If goes on a hot streak, I won't be surprised. He already has five consecutive games with at least one touchdown and with the Raiders this week, it looks like he'll keep that streak going.
Miami
Jarvis Landry leads all Dolphins with 20 receptions in the last four games with two touchdowns to go along with it. He is starting to get more involved in the offense and I don't see it letting up. I would take a chance on Landry going forward this year and the window to acquire him is getting smaller. In fact he may already be snatched up in your league. Mike Wallace is quietly having a decent year. He has scored in six of the Dolphins ten games, but he's not on most people's radar because he has only exceeded 75 yards only once. The schedule opens up for the passing game in the second half of the season. If Miami wants to be competitive against Denver, the offense will have to show up. I expect Landry, Wallace and maybe Charles Clay (if he's healthy enough) to see plenty of action this week at Denver.
Minnesota
The news in Minnesota regarding Adrian Peterson has gone from iffy to worse. The NFL has not lifted his suspension, which means Peterson won't be back this year. It's possible and highly likely that he will appeal the decision, but for now, he's not playing. Moving on from Peterson means that Jerick McKinnon will see the majority of the carries with Matt Asiata handling goal line duties. This scenario is not great for either party, but we've seen Asiata have plenty of multiple touchdown games. I don't expect a lot of fantasy production this week vs. Green Bay, especially from the running game.
New England
Jonas Gray was the soldier in Bill Belichick's offense last week at Indianpolis. Belichick wanted to neutralize the game against Andrew Luck and giving the ball to the big back not only moved the ball, but also kept the clock running and kept Andrew Luck on the sidelines. Gray finished with 38 carries for 199 yards and four touchdowns! This week, the Lions come to Foxboro, so you can expect Darrelle Revis to cover Calvin Johnson. Using a run-dominant approach would definitely help keep Matthew Stafford and the Lions off the field, but I'm not convinced we'll see that this week. Update: New England has recently signed LeGarrette Blount off waivers, which puts a wrinkle Gray's value going forward. Blount already is familiar with the offense and has a proven record of success in the Patriots system. Lower your rest of season outlook for Gray going forward as this latest news is sure to affect him.
New Orleans
Even in a loss, Mark Ingram carried the ball 23 times last week against Cincinnati. In years past, the Saints passed the ball at will and rarely used the ground game. This year, thanks to Mark Ingram, the running game is up and the passing game is...well it's still up, but not as high as it has been in seasons prior. The Ravens visit New Orleans this week and they have allowed only one rushing touchdown this year. Their Achilles heel has been their pass defense. I expect Drew Brees to exploit the weakened Ravens secondary, which is good news for Jimmy Graham, Marques Colston and Kenny Stills. Brandin Cooks is out for the season with a wrist injury, so his targets will be divided among the aforementioned group. His loss will be felt, but Colston, Stills and Graham (sounds like a 70's rock band) will rise to the occasion. I also think Travaris Cadet could see an increased role, especially with Pierre Thomas still on the mend.
NY Giants
Teams are starting to defend Odell Beckham Jr more and pay closer attention to him, but he is still able to produce. He is a must start going forward despite the match up. Rueben Randle had a good game last week with over 100 yards receiving, but his consistency isn't at the same level as Beckham's. Both receivers are averaging over 10 targets a game in the last four games, so there is optimism for both as fantasy options, but Beckham has the clear edge in my opinion. Rashad Jennings returned from a knee injury last week and totaled 59 yards on 18 carries. He also added four receptions. His workload will increase in the coming weeks as he gains confidence in his knee. I see him as a decent RB2 option vs. Dallas this week.
NY Jets
The Jets are coming off a big win against Pittsburgh, followed by a bye. They play at Buffalo in what looks like a low scoring game. Percy Harvin has 17 receptions on 27 targets in his three games as a Jet so far. He also has 11 carries in that span which tells me he is going to be utilized heavily in their offense going forward. I see another six-catch game this week that could result in a score. Chris Ivory scored twice against the Bills in the last meeting. I would not be surprised to see him get a lot of carries in this game. He is a decent RB option this week in what could be a ground and pound style of game with some mixes of jet sweeps, read options and quick strikes to Harvin to get him open in space.
Oakland
The Raiders don't have a lot of positives right now and the lastest news of a quad injury to Derek Carr, is not good news at all. If Carr cannot play, look for Matt McGloin to get the start. The Chiefs come to Oakland this week in what looks like another blow out for the Silver and Black. Mychal Rivera may be the only bright spot on this team right now and even his performance took a hit last week. James Jones may be the only other player worthy of fantasy consideration, as a flex option at best.
Philadelphia
The Eagles took their lumps against the Packers last week and we learned that Mark Sanchez is not an elite fantasy quarterback in Chip Kelly's system. Sanchez and the Eagles return to their home nest this week vs. the upstart Titans. I expect to see a much better Eagles offense at home against a Titans defense that has struggled on the road. The Steelers ran all over Tennessee last week. Chip Kelly would be foolish not to try the same with LeSean McCoy this week. I like this match up for Philadelphia's ground game and passing game. Jordan Matthews is coming on strong lately. Both he and Jeremy Maclin have scored a total of 9 touchdowns in the last four games (Maclin 5, Matthews 4).
Pittsburgh
Bye Week (NO, at CIN, at ATL)
San Diego
The Chargers have a tough match up this week vs. the Rams, despite this being a home game. The Rams youthful defense is turning a corner as evidenced by key wins over Seattle, San Francisco and now Denver. Not many teams can boast that accomplishment. The Chargers coming off their bye, struggled to beat the Raiders after being decimated by the Dolphins. This Chargers team is going in the wrong direction and will face a stiff opponent this week. The Rams have not allowed more than one passing touchdown in each of the last three games and that includes Peyton Manning. I don't love this match up for Philip Rivers or the Chargers receiving corps, but it still could yield a game with plenty of pass attempts.
Seattle
The Seahawks aren't the same dominating team that they were the last few years, however they are still a formidable group at home. This week's divisional game against Arizona at home will most definitely raise the level of play across the board. I see Seattle coming out strong and confident, but make no mistake, this will be a battle. Russell Wilson has not had a 200 yard passing game in the last four games. Marshawn Lynch has been a key piece of the offense in that stretch, which should continue this week. Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse are the two receivers that interest me in this game. Baldwin will likely see Patrick Peterson with Kearse drawing the lesser Antonio Cromartie. I don't love the match up for Seattle here but I also don't see Wilson getting blanked in the scoring column either.
San Francisco
The 49ers host Washington, who is reeling right now. Robert Griffin is struggling to find the game he used to have and the team has struggled on both sides of the ball. This has the makings of being a strong match up for Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers receiving unit, led by Anquan Boldin and Michael Crabtree. Boldin has been the team's primary receiving threat over the last three games. He has 241 yards receiving on 17 catches with two touchdowns in that span. Washington (at home) struggled to keep Josh McCown and Mike Evans in check last week. This is a big opportunity for the 49ers offense to flex their muscle. I also like the ground game to be a threat in what looks like a 10+ point win for San Francisco. Frank Gore has 14, 23, and 19 carries in his last three games. It's possible that Carlos Hyde gets a goal line touchdown, but Gore is the back to own in this game. He's a decent RB2 but he needs to reach the end zone to make his owners happy - something he's only done twice in the last seven games.
St. Louis
The Rams mixed things up by switching back to Shaun Hill at quarterback and sending Austin Davis to the bench. The move paid off with a convincing win against Denver. Tre Mason carried the ball 29 times for 113 yards. He is looking more and more like the Rams go-to rushing option. I expect that we will see more of Mason this week at San Diego. From a fantasy perspective, he is still a flex option in my eyes but his window is opening wider each week. Kenny Britt had a big catch and score last week, but he didn't amount to much else. He could be a reliable option for Shaun Hill going forward, but I still don't trust him to be a consistent threat.
Tampa Bay
Josh McCown has been a nice surprise since he was named starter again in Week 10. McCown has a 300-yard game and nearly a 300 yard game in his starts with two touchdown passes in both games. Mike Evans continues to be a productive receiver option. He has five touchdowns and three 100+ yard games in the last three weeks, including a 200-yard effort last week. He is quickly becoming a must start fantasy option. Vincent Jackson is still holding on as a decent fantasy threat, but Evans is clearly the top dog right now. Charles Sims is starting to see more carries than Bobby Rainey, which I believe will continue in the coming weeks. The Buccaneers want to see what he can provide as a lead back, plus he brings a versatile element to the offnese that can definitely help move the ball and create scoring chances. The window to acquire Sims is closing fast. Don't be surprised if he has 20 touches in a game soon enough.
Tennessee
Kendall Wright and Justin Hunter had decent games in a losing effort against Pittsburgh last week. Their stats could've been much higher had Pittsburgh not dominated time of possession. Their fantasy value this week at Philadelphia is largely dependent on the health of Delanie Walker who missed last week with a concussion. It is unknown what his status will be for this week. If Walker misses another game, look for Wright to be a big part of the offense in what should give the Titans plenty of offensive plays. Bishop Sankey tried to get into a rhythm but the game script didn't allow it to happen. That could change this week, but I am still a bit leery on Sankey as a fantasy threat right now.
Washington
Washington is struggling right now and to make matters worse, they have to go into San Francisco and try to fight a battle they probably won't win. Robert Griffin has not had a game with more than one touchdown all season, which doesn't bode well for his supporting cast. Pierre Garcon has four catches in his last two games and has not scored since Week 7. DeSean Jackson is the team's best receiving threat and even he is dealing with inconsistent play. Jordan Reed hurt his hamstring again and has not been anywhere close to his level last year. He seems safe enough to drop in redraft leagues. Niles Paul was a big part of the offense when Reed was out, so expect to see his role increase in the coming weeks. Griffin has been throwing a lot of balls near the line of scrimmage lately which is good news for Paul, as well as Roy Helu. If you're looking for an upside running back in a pinch, Helu has 10 catches in the last two games with one touchdown.
Questions, suggestions and comments are always welcome to haseley@footballguys.com