My Apologies for not making a post last week, unfortunately, I had the flu and was unable to do any writeups while I was ill, but I promise you this week will be a week to remember for the Starts, Sits, and Risks segment, follow this advice, and you should be able to win your playoff matchup this week.

The Starts:

Alex Smith – The Baltimore Ravens are a train wreck in the secondary, and Alex Smith is leading a hot Chiefs team that’s won 7 straight. Their passing game is improving, and in the fantasy football playoffs, you need all the points you can get, Smith will help you get to championship week. If he’s still available, pick him up now.

Allen Hurns – With the floundering Falcons coming down to visit the surging Jaguars offense (That felt strange to write), Allen Robinson will probably be covered by Desmond Trufant, meaning his production could be limited, but that leaves Hurns to be covered by Robert Alford, who got burned by Tedd Ginn last week. Look for Hurns to get a new touchdown streak going.

Denard Robinson – Putting 2 Jaguars on the start list would be blasphemous at the start of the year. Robinson looked great last week against the Colts, and as a threat to catch the ball as well, he could present a matchup nightmare for the Atlanta defense.

Eric Ebron – Ebron is going against the New Orleans Saints defense this week, and even though they played better last week against the Buccaneers, I wouldn’t expect them to be good for 2 weeks in a row. Look for Ebron to be a matchup nightmare for the New Orleans safties and linebackers.

The Sits:

Jordan Cameron – This guy has been a disappointment in Miami this season, he’s just not been able to put together the same level of production that he had in Cleveland. Despite the great matchup against the Chargers, sit Cameron down, Lamar Miller is likely to get most of the action today, if the Dolphins play to their strengths

Frank Gore – The Inconvenient Truth about Gore is that he’s no longer the elite back that he was in San Francisco, the fact that Matt Hasselbeck is banged up and probably starting this week, and Charlie Whitehurst (A.K.A “Clipboard Jesus”) could finish the game, I don’t like Gore’s chances of seeing open holes against the Houston Watts…. I mean Texans.

Kirk Cousins -Kirk, normally, I like that, I like that, but this week, I do not, Buffalo has a good set of corners, and if the Redskins are  going to win this week, they’re going to need  to get it done on the ground, Cousins could be very limited in his production this week. Ground Captain Kirk this week.

The Risks:

Gary Barnidge – Barnidge has been a sensation this season, coming out of nowhere to become a touchdown machine, but this week, he faces the legion  of  boom  with inexperienced QB Johny Manziel  at the helm. He could score again, but it’s always a risk  to rely on a touchdown for a productive fantasy day.

Sammy Watkins – Watkins has been the ultimate Boom or bust candidate this season, and I expect that to be no different this week going up against the Washington Redskins, with Tyrod Taylor under center, he could be in line for a great game, but there is a possibility that Watkins disappears as he’s done at times this season. I’d look for him to have a good game, but he is a definite risk

This week, when the Atlanta Falcons go on the road to face the undefeated Carolina Panthers, there will be a lot of talk about the Panthers run at perfection, and Cam Newton’s MVP status, etc. There is one matchup that will bear watching for a long time within this division: Julio Jones vs. Josh Norman. These two are two of the best at their respective positions, and a lot of sports analysts will make comparisons to boxing or come up with other sports analogies to talk about how big this matchup is. When I was coming up with an idea to feature this matchup, I tried to go outside the box. That’s when I remembered this interview with Josh Norman, and it reminded me of another interview with a noteworthy set of rivals: The Joker vs Batman. How can I relate a pair of football players to a comic book hero and villain? Glad you asked.

1. Julio Jones and Josh Norman have been going at it for a while – This is the 4^th year that they’ve been in the league together (Granted, Jones missed both matchups in 2013), but in the games they’ve come together, their teams are currently 2-2: opposite, but even, like the Joker and Batman, as the Panthers have been a run first, defensive team, while the Falcons like to win shootouts.
2. The personalities match – Josh Norman, outspoken, big personality, will fight with just about anyone, including his own quarterback, Cam Newton. Julio Jones – soft spoken, uses his physical might as well as his mind to outwit and outmaneuver his opposition, and can always be relied upon by Matt Ryan and his teammates to make a play when needed. Norman has gotten the better of Jones is each of their previous matchups, holding him to a combined 10 catches for 117 yards. Thankfully, Jones doesn’t use a ridiculous voice whenever he talks on the field, no one wants to hear that.
3. That interview – Seriously, go back and look at those clips, when Norman says “Julio completes me” it’s eerily similar to the way the Joker says Batman completes him, as well as the smile Norman gives, reminded me of the Joker immediately.

This round of the matchup, I’m taking the Joker though, as Batman will be fine, but the team around him will have problems going against the Joker’s men. Batman should get about 7 receptions for 98 yards, but no touchdowns, and the Joker gets away 13-0 on the season. Do you agree with my comparison? Have another one? Leave your thoughts in the comments!

We’ve come a long way this season, from injuries to beakout years from guys we’d never heard of to replace injured stars, to the disappointments that make us say “What was I thinking drafting him?” It’s almost playoff time, and I’m here to help you make that final push for a playoff spot.

The Starts

Jay Cutler – Cutler has played some good football over the last month or so, becoming a winner for an organization that had been labeled as a loser for the last couple of years. The reality is, Cutler didn’t score much fantasy wise the last two weeks, but he was also against some tough competition in Green Bay and against Denver. This week, he gets a reprieve in the form of the San Francisco 49ers, how have been atrocious on defense this season, I’d look for a good game from Cutler this week.

Broncos RBs – Ronnie Hillman and CJ Anderson go against the San Diego Chargers this week, who seem to be fielding a squad of backups around Phillip Rivers, the offense is still functional, as for the defense, not so much, if you’ve got either Bronco running back, starting them might be a good idea as no one gives up more points than San Diego does to opposing running backs

Jarvis Landry – Going against the Ravens this week… I can stop there, but I won’t. Landry had an incredulous 13 catches for 165 yards and a touchdown against the vaunted Jets secondary. The Ravens don’t have nearly that level of talent in their secondary, if you’ve got him, play him.

Jordan Reed – Reed has been Captain Kirk’s favorite target when he’s in the lineup, and even more so in the last 5 weeks, having been targeted at least 8 times in 3 of those games. Combine that fact with the fact that Dallas is awful against the tight end position, and you’ve got yourself a formula for success, Start Reed this week, you won’t be disappointed.

The Sits

Tyrod Taylor – A rising Texans defense going against a player in Taylor that has been trending down is not a recipe for success. Taylor has struggled since returning from injuries, and it shows by his fantasy numbers being below average, and the Bills not winning games the way they did in the early part of the season. Taylor is primed to ride the pine in most leagues this week.

Melvin Gordon – Gordon has struggled to say the least in this, his rookie season, as he has fumbled 4 times, losing 3 of them, and has yet to score a touchdown. Plus his Chargers go against the Denver Bronco defense this week, giving him little chance to be successful.

Brandin Cooks – Against the Panthers defense, and one of the best corners in the league: Josh Norman, I don’t see how Cooks is a starter in your lineups this week, there’s just too much potential for him to be blanketed and blanked by, arguably, the top corner in the league this season.

Jordan Matthews – The Eagles are a bad football team, this is not a new piece of news, but a necessary one, and Matthews is not a #1 receiver, as much as Chip Kelly may like to believe he is, he has disappointed in a big way this season. While he had a good Stat line against the Lions, don’t expect that to continue against the Patriots, take a chance on another player, Matthews won’t win you a matchup this week.

The Risks

Russell Wilson – It’s DangeRuss to try to predict what Wilson will do against the Vikings this week… I’ll show myself out. All puns aside, Wilson has been on fire the last few weeks, but the Vikings defense is far superior to the Steelers and 49ers units, as the Vikings have only given up 14 touchdown passes this season. Wilson could continue his hot streak, but he’s also a risky play, proceed with caution

Doug Martin – Martin has been having a terrific season, eclipsing the 1000 yard mark last week against the Colts, and has found his inner “Douggernaught” again (I still prefer “Muscle Hamster”, but what do I know?) and this week, faces a team that has been near the top of the league in run defense all season in the Atlanta Falcons. Last time against Atlanta, Martin only gained 71 yards on 23 carries, and failed to score a touchdown, however, Martin could break away on a long run and put up terrific numbers the way he did against the Eagles, I’d consider him a risk this week that might be worth taking, depending on your other RB options.

Sammy Watkins – Watkins feels like he’s a perpetual risk so long as he is inconsistent – take last week as a perfect example, in a PPR format, he scored over 30 points in the first half, then did nothing the entire second half, if that doesn’t sum up the season for Watkins, then I’m not sure what does. As the ultimate boom or bust play every week, proceed with caution against the Texans suddenly stout defense.

Jordan Cameron – Cameron has been a disappointment this season, having only 25 catches for 302 yards and only 2 touchdowns. Normally a talented pass catcher, he has been unable to play to his potential this year, but could he find a way against a Ravens team in tatters this week? It’s possible, even though the Ravens have been solid against tight ends this year, there won’t be much of a focus on Cameron, as all of the Ravens energy may go to try to stop Jarvis Landry. Leaving Cameron to play his game in single coverage. It’s a risk, but this is a play with potential.