Helu set for another big week
Fantasy owners are locked and loaded for the final week of the fantasy regular season. More drops of sweat will drop and more hand-wringing will be done when submitting lineups this week than in any week of the year. The pressure may just become too much for some and coins may be used to make those gut-wrenching decisions.
Don’t fret. We have you covered. In addition to the “Lineup Calls” pieces and our team rankings at FOXSports.com, you have a three-hour chat marathon with Fowler, Halpin and Beall on Sunday morning, the Twitter verse (@swollendome) and a three-hour gabfest on FOX Sports Radio (6-9a PT) to help guide you to fantasy dominance.
We’re all in this together. Now, let’s win.
Exclude: Ray Rice, Arian Foster (danger spot), Maurice Jones-Drew, Matt Forte, DeMarco Murray, Frank Gore
Click here for Harmon’s Week 13 QBs
Click here for Harmon’s Week 13 RBs
Click here for Harmon’s Week 13 WRs
Click here for Harmon’s Week 13 TEs
Week 13 RB Heroes
LeGarrette Blount vs. CAR: Blount rates among the strongest (think 100,000-Star LOCK) plays of Week 13. He’s run for 100 yards in back-to-back weeks and shocked the football world when he caught three passes for 56 yards in the Buccaneers’ Week 12 loss to Tennessee. Blount leaps would-be tacklers at a single bound and will run roughshod on the NFL’s most generous run defense. The Panthers surrender 130 yards per game to running backs.
Chris Johnson at BUF: Johnson rumbled for 190 yards last season and finally provided a glimpse of that old “CJ2K” magic. He’s set for an encore this week against the 21st-ranked Buffalo run defense (123.8 yards and 1.1 touchdowns allowed per game). The Bills have surrendered sixth-most points to running backs. If you’ve hung around the edges of the playoffs despite Johnson’s slow start, perhaps he can deliver on the big preseason promise and paycheck.
DeAngelo Williams at TB: What’s they saying? “Better than never …” I guess that applies to the recent resurgence of Williams, who has provided fantasy owners with strong back-to-back outings (105 total yards in Week 11 and two touchdowns in Week 12). He’ll make it a hat trick against the terrible Tampa Bay run defense that has surrendered 140 yards and 1.2 touchdowns per game.
Roy Helu vs. NYJ: We have to trust that Helu’s performance between the white stripes finally keeps the ball in his hand for Week 13. Helu amassed 162 total yards against the Seahawks, his second effort of at least 140 total yards in the past four weeks (the other came against the 49ers).
He’s in play as a RB2 option against the Jets this week. The New York run defense has improved in recent weeks, thrusting the unit back into the middle of the pack (114 yards per game). However, enters “Hero” status because of his aptitude as a receiver (26 receptions in the past four weeks).
Reggie Bush vs. OAK: Bush has scored or amassed at least 96 total yards in five consecutive games. He’s on the board for another huge effort this week against the 27th-ranked Oakland run defense (5.3 yards allowed per carry). The Raiders have allowed seventh-most points to running backs.
BenJarvus Green-Ellis vs. IND: Green-Ellis logged two touchdown runs in last week’s beat down of the Eagles, his first scores since Week 5. He’s on the radar for another big week against the putrid Indianapolis run defense (150 yards and 1.4 touchdowns per game). It does take some faith to put him into a starting role, as Green-Ellis did finish games against the Jets and Steelers with fewer than 10 rushing yards. I’ll take my shot that the scoring barrage from New England includes at least one sniff of the painted grass from the leader of our all-name squad.
Willis McGahee at MIN: McGahee sprinted 24 yards to set up Matt Prater’s game-winning field goal in Week 12 against the Chargers. With that run, McGahee eclipsed 100 yards on the day, his fifth such effort of the season. It was a tremendous bounce-back effort from his injury-impacted outings against the Chiefs and Jets.
I’ll cast a vote for a strong follow-up effort from McGahee this week. The Vikings have allowed the 15th-most points to running backs despite the low weekly yardage output (99.6 yards per game).
Ryan Mathews at JAC: Fantasy owners were reticent to trust Mathews in their lineups last week and he made them pay with a 137-yard performance against the Broncos. I’ll bang the drum for a strong follow-up effort in Week 13 against the Jaguars on Monday night. The Jaguars have surrendered the seventh-fewest points to running backs, but I won’t count him out after last week’s output.
Week 13 RB Flops
Michael Turner at HOU: The Vikings relegated Turner to “Flop” status in Week 12 by limiting the powerhouse tailback to 60 yards on 19 carries. He’s destined for another rough day in Week 13 against the fourth-ranked Houston run defense (92.5 yards and 0.55 touchdowns allowed per game). The Texans have allowed the fifth-fewest points to running backs this season.
Steven Jackson at SF: Jackson usually rates among the “Exclusions” because of his heavy weekly workload. Despite the guaranteed touch count, I can’t get onboard the No. 39 Express this week. The 49ers have obliterated opposing running games all season, including a strong goal-line stand against the Ravens on Thanksgiving night. The Rams’ deficiencies in the red zone have been well-chronicled (Sam Bradford may not be available, either), and I don’t anticipate that Jackson is the one to break the 49ers’ 11-game shutout.
Michael Bush at MIA: I don’t put much stock in McFadden this week. I still believe that he’ll sit out for another week. Bush earned a late touchdown against the Bears to save a pedestrian day. I don’t anticipate much better for him this week against the strong Miami run defense. The Dolphins rank seventh against the run and have ceded just three rushing touchdowns this week.
Rashard Mendenhall vs. CIN: Alas, Mendenhall ranks only as a low-end RB2 option as we wind toward the fantasy playoffs. He’s eclipsed 60 rushing yards only three times this season despite averaging 15.3 carries per game. Owners desperate for a guaranteed workload or a vulture touchdown might look to Mendenhall, but there are better options to be found in this all-important Week 13.
Week 13 RB Ninja Alerts
Donald Brown at NE: Brown has emerged as a valued performer for the Colts in the past four weeks. He’s averaged 13.5 carries and 59 rushing yards during this period with two touchdowns. The Patriots rank in the middle of the pack against the run despite the presence of Vince Wilfork. I’m anticipating garbage yardage in this game, including a few receptions out of the backfield (he’s caught seven passes in the past four weeks).
Jonathan Stewart at TB: Stewart posted 13 touches for 82 yards against the Colts (70 rushing yards). Alas, he did not get to participate in the red zone glory and ran his scoreless streak to four games. I know that Stewart’s workload has been sporadic, but this is a glorious spot against the weak Tampa Bay run defense.
Mark Ingram vs. DET: Ingram rumbled for 80 yards in the Saints’ crushing win over New York on Monday night, including a 35-yard sprint to pad the point total. He’s on the books for another strong start this week against the 23rd-ranked Detroit run defense. I do recognize that the Lions have allowed only seven rushing touchdowns (and that Pierre Thomas is a red zone vulture as well), but I’m taking the 12-15 touches from Ingram this week.
Marion Barber vs. KC: Barber ran with authority and gave the Chicago running back a boost against the Raiders in Week 12. He posted 63 yards on 10 carries, including a 21-yard run in tandem with Matt Forte. I expect to see more of the same this week against the 26th-ranked Kansas City run defense (133.7 yards and a touchdown per game).
