Bye Weeks: N/A

Ellington has been in a mini-slump the last three weeks but the schedule breaks in his favor in Week 13.

Grab a Helmet

Le’Veon Bell v. NO: Thanks to Odell Beckham’s scintillating Sunday night sideshow, I headed into Monday’s games with a healthy 15-point lead against my cousin in our two-week first round playoff matchup. It was an especially gratifying cushion because I’d scored most of my points late (I also own Demaryius Thomas) and Cuz’ had been talking trash all day. Naturally, I turned the tables come Monday morning and gave as well I’d received. Just one problem: He still had Justin Forsett playing Monday night. Whoops. Karma was right bitchy down in N’awlins, sure, but my takeaway was far more scientific than spiritual: The Saints’ defense sucks. Like, really, really bad. It’s a crying shame I don’t own Bell because I’m certain I’d exact my revenge this coming Sunday. He’s the fourth best option and the second best pass-grabber at RB. Accordingly, he’s option 1A in PPR leagues this coming week.

Andre Ellington @ ATL: It didn’t help my mood any that Ellington, my workhorse, seemingly ran out of steam just as we hit the most critical part of the schedule. There’s a lot of stuff swirling around about missed practices catching up to him and general wear and tear adding up and yada, yada, yada. Ellington’s issues are pretty simple IMHO: A) His quarterback was lost for the season, putting a bull’s eye squarely on his chest; B) His offensive line isn’t that good; and C) He just faced two of the league’s dominant defenses, Detroit and Seattle, back-to-back. That last piece explains away most of his woes and is the primary reason I’ll roll with him again on Sunday, my playoff life firmly on the line. Atlanta is yielding 24.3 pts/game to opposing RBs (dead last) and is especially susceptible to those who can catch. Gimme some of that.

C.J. Anderson @ KC: You ever get the feeling it doesn’t matter who totes the rock for Denver so long as Peyton Manning is under center? Willis McGahee, Knowshon Moreno, Montee Ball, Ronnie Hillman, and now Anderson have all been successful in the role of Broncos lead back since Peyton came west in 2012 and the only real issue we have with any of them is that they can’t stay healthy. Very few running backs do, however, so maybe that’s not such a fair or unique criticism. Regardless, the job appears to be Anderson’s for the rest of 2014 (or until HE succumbs to injury) and he follows up last week’s explosive 167-yard, one-score performance with a favorable matchup against KC. The Chiefs have, strangely, yielded just two rushing scores (fewest in the league) but have also been gashed for 5.0 yards/carry (the most). Keep riding this Bronc Sunday night.

Grab a Gatorade

Matt Forte @ DET (Thursday): We’re 12 weeks deep and Detroit’s league-leading run stoppers haven’t really come close to allowing a hundred-yard rusher. The closest backs to that magic number were Chris Ivory (84 yards in Week 4) and LeGarrette Blount (78 yards last week). Only one other RB (Stephen Jackson) even topped 50. Forte’s easily the most talented guy Ndamukong Suh et al. will face, granted, but I’m betting the Lions will make him the focal point of their scheme this Thanksgiving and force Jay Cutler to win the game aerially. Cutler’s more than capable, as we’ve discussed many, many times, but also prone to self-destruction and allergic to pressure. Oddly, that pressure might be the only thing working in Forte’s favor as relief valve dump-offs are his signature. I know you won’t sit him but if your playoff chances depend on him, think through all available options first.

Ryan Mathews @ BAL: The perpetually banged up Mathews returns to San Diego’s lineup in Week 11, posts effective totals (175 yards and a score in two weeks), and works his way back into the good graces of fantasy GMs who’d previously written him off as too risky. Hmmm. Haven’t we heard this story before? I’ll give Mathews this much: Though insanely frustrating as a fantasy option overall, he does seem to save his best work for the most important part of the season. Count me among those, however, who view him as an accident waiting to happen and a fantasy matchup waiting to be lost. He’s the best the Chargers have and one of the more dynamic players at the position when healthy. It’s that “when healthy” part I’m just not able to get past. Avoid him against a Ravens team holding opponents to fewer than 100 rushing yards/game.

Trent Richardson v. WAS: I haven’t picked on Richardson in some time, but something happened this past weekend that put him on my fantasy radar again. Or rather, something DIDN’T happen. Following Ahmad Bradshaw’s season-ending injury, most fantasy pundits were convinced the steadily but unspectacularly productive Colt would reprise his role as an undisputed alpha dog in an NFL backfield. Naturally, he went out and notched just 13 touches in Indy’s blowout win while his running mate, a guy named Dan Herron, logged 17 way-more-productive looks (96 v. 42 total yards). Dan Herron…Dan Herron…where have I heard that name before? Look, I’m no genius – I actually started Reggie Bush and Jonas Gray in our FF Today “experts” league this past week…and won! – but I know a bum when I see one and Richardson’s a bum. If you filed that Herron advice away back in August and took advantage, you’re absolutely welcome.

Wide Receivers