Faceoffs: Leave Favre on the bench?
By Dave Richard | Senior Fantasy Writer Follow DaveFollow CBS Fantasy Football
Editor's note: Each week Senior Fantasy Writers Dave Richard and Jamey Eisenberg will debate the value of a handful of key Fantasy players heading into a certain week. They not only state their case below, but they also provide owners with some alternatives.
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| Dave Richard | Jamey Eisenberg |
 There's a lot going against Brett Favre here: It's December, when he's been at his worst. It's outdoors in the cold, where he's struggled. And it's close to the postseason, when Favre doesn't necessarily have to play an entire game in order to help the Vikings. And on top of all of this, he's in a tiff with head coach Brad Childress. There's no better way to mend fences than by winning, and the Vikings don't have to throw on the Bears to do it. The Bears rank in the Top 10 against the pass and in the bottom 10 against the run, and the Vikings still have one of the best running backs in football in Adrian Peterson. Citing his recent play and the variables involved, I don't think Favre is a safe option in Week 16.I'd rather start: Eli Manning (vs. CAR), Alex Smith (vs. DET) and Vince Young (vs. SD) |  We all know about Favre's struggles in December, and there is definite cause for concern about starting him this week based on his poor performance against Carolina in Week 15. But this matchup is still a great one; even though the Bears rank highly against the pass, they have allowed big games to quarterbacks of late. They have allowed seven quarterbacks to score multiple touchdowns this year, including Favre in Week 12 when he had 392 yards and three touchdowns. Chicago also just lost key pass rusher Adewale Ogunleye (leg) for the rest of the season, and Joe Flacco threw four touchdowns against the Bears last week. I'll take my chances with Favre on Monday night coming off that bad game -- it could be the last Monday night game of his career. If you've been using Favre as a starting Fantasy quarterback all year then go with him again for one more week. He won't be a disappointment again.I'd start him over: Alex Smith (vs. DET), Eli Manning (vs. CAR) and Vince Young (vs. SD) |
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| Dave Richard | Jamey Eisenberg |
| We've seen Boss play really well against defenses that struggle against opposing tight ends. The Panthers are not one of these teams. Carolina started the year with some poor defense against tight ends, but from Week 3 on they've allowed just two touchdowns to tight ends and have done a good job of limiting their stats. Elite tight ends like Visanthe Shiancoe, Kellen Winslow and Tony Gonzalez all failed to get 70 receiving yards in their recent matchups with the Panthers. Boss should be no different. I'd rather start: Heath Miller (vs. BAL), Jason Witten (at DAL) and David Thomas (vs. TB) | Boss has a few things working in his favor this week against the Panthers. He could see more targets if Hakeem Nicks (hamstring) is out. He has played well at home with four touchdowns in his past four games at Giants Stadium. And he scored against Carolina last year at home when he had five catches for 46 yards and a touchdown. Eli Manning is playing at a high level, and even though the Panthers' secondary has done a good job this season, they have still allowed five touchdowns to opposing tight ends. Boss has done well with favorable matchups this season, and this is a good week to consider him a starting option. I'd start him over: John Carlson (at GB), Bo Scaife (vs. SD) and Jason Witten (at WAS) |
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| Dave Richard | Jamey Eisenberg |
| My life-long Fantasy Football mantra -- "It's all about the matchups" -- is not something I'm going to stop following now. Harrison should see plenty of opportunities against a beleaguered Raiders run defense that has allowed seven 100-yard rushers and 20 rush touchdowns this season. LaDainian Tomlinson has struggled on the ground for much of the season and has a challenging matchup at Tennessee this week (even with two Titans linebackers out). Ricky Williams' rushing average isn't as gaudy as it once was; he has four fumbles lost in two games and faces a Texans run defense that has allowed one 100-yard rusher since Week 4. And Rashard Mendenhall won't see the same opportunities he saw against Baltimore earlier this year when Ben Roethlisberger was sidelined. He won't shoulder the offense this time around against a Ravens run defense that's given up seven rushing touchdowns all year. | Harrison has proven this year when he gets enough touches he can be a successful Fantasy option. Four times this season he's had at least 10 carries, and each time he's had at least 80 total yards with five touchdowns. Coming off his record-breaking performance in Week 15 at Kansas City when he got 34 carries for 286 yards and three touchdowns, there's no way the Browns can go away from him. He also has a favorable matchup against the Raiders, who have allowed 17 running backs to reach double digits in Fantasy points this season. I like Harrison so much this week I would use him ahead of such stalwarts as Brandon Jacobs, Joseph Addai and Knowshon Moreno. Jacobs has struggled all season, Addai could be resting in the second half against the Jets and Moreno has a difficult matchup at the Eagles. |
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| Dave Richard | Jamey Eisenberg |
| Could someone explain to me why we wouldn't consider an every-down running back that averages over 16 Fantasy points per week in a standard league a potential first-round pick? Charles has delivered that average since taking over as the starter in Kansas City, surpassing all expectations along the way. It is believed that he's earned the starting role going forward and has filled one of the many holes the Chiefs have to fill this offseason. Next year he'll presumably run behind a better O-line and in an offense far more cohesive than the one we saw this year. He's way too good a player to leave for owners who pick early in Round 2. I'd draft him over: Knowshon Moreno, Joseph Addai and Ryan Grant | Charles has been awesome this season since taking over for Larry Johnson. I would definitely want Charles on my Fantasy team in 2010. And I would rank him as a Top 12 running back heading into next season. But I see more value in taking a quarterback like Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady in the first round over Charles. And I would also take Andre Johnson or Larry Fitzgerald ahead of him as well since those are safer picks. Charles has plenty of upside, but the Chiefs also have plenty of question marks, especially on the offensive line. Take Charles in the second round because he's a special player, but don't reach for him too early. I'd drafting Charles after: Andre Johnson, Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers |
Do you agree with Dave or Jamey? Send your thoughts or questions to DMFantasyFootball@cbs.com. Be sure to put Attn: Fantasy Faceoff in the subject field. Include your full name, hometown and state.
