For the majority of fantasy football owners out there the longer the NFL goes the more you’re just hoping that your fake football team isn’t hit by the injury bug in the NFL. Every week there’s a new injury to talk about and this week that designation, unfortunately for his owners, falls on Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte.
Nov 25, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte (22) is injured during the second half against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field. The Bears won 28-10. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-US PRESSWIRE
Forte left Sunday’s game against the Vikings on Sunday during the third quarter, never to return. It was nice he didn’t need the assistance of a cart, as we was able to walk off the field on his own accord, but the bottom line was that he got hurt. To make matters worse for those that started Forte in fantasy football this past weekend was that his backup Michael Bush scored two touchdowns.
It seems that Forte’s inured ankle is the same one that he injured earlier in the season, which could lead to some questions marks about his availability this weekend. If you own Forte hopefully you also own Bush and if you didn’t it’s time to pick him up, that is if he’s still available.
Another big injury happened to a member of the New York Giants, as backup running back Andre Brown left the game against the Packers Sunday night and it turns out the news is pretty dire. Brown will miss the remainder of the season with a broken left fibula. For those of you thinking about rushing out and picking up David Wilson, thinking he will see an uptick in touches you might want to hold off on that thinking. Wilson doesn’t see much time on the field because of his poor pass protection and until that improves he should be a fantasy football afterthought.
So, to recap, yes to Bush, no to Wilson. Below you’ll find a few options to consider when deciding who to use your waiver wire priority on for the upcoming Week 13 in the NFL season.
QUARTERBACK
Colin Kaepernick. There were many skeptics out there regarding Kaepernick and his quick ascension to the thrown of top signal caller in San Francisco. He took care of the Bears in his first start and the Saints were no match for him either, as he went 16 of 25 for 231 yards passing and one passing touchdown. He also added 27 yards rushing on the ground and a rushing touchdown. Kaepernick is the real deal and can be a fantasy football difference maker down the stretch. If you’ve been starting the likes of Cam Newton or Philip Rivers all year long I would recommend picking up Kaepernick and starting him for as long as the 49ers do.
RUNNING BACK
Michael Bush. If Forte is out Bush will become the man.
Knowshon Moreno. It wasn’t the much buzzed about rookie Ronnie Hillman that was given an opportunity at the running back position in Denver after Willis McGahee was put on I.R. Instead Moreno, most recently seen as inactive on the Broncos just last week was given a surprise start and a shot at redemption. The word around the NFL is that Hillman isn’t good enough in the pass blocking skills department and for a team that has Peyton Manning slinging the rock each week that’s a big no-no. Moreno and his pass blocking expertise took his shot and ran with it, gaining 85 yards on the ground and 26 yards through the air for a total 111 yards on 24 touches. Moreno is the starting running back in Denver for now and is in a good spot to be a weekly producer.
WIDE RECEIVER
Greg Jennings. The Packers’ former #1 wide receiver is expected back for Week 13 just in time to take part in the team’s divisional clash with rivals their the Minnesota Vikings. Jennings can be found on a large number of free agency pools around the fantasy football land and now is the time to pick him up. He’s no longer the team’s top pass catching option, as that role now belongs to both Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb but look for Jennings to slide right back into the groove of things and become one of Aaron Rodgers’ favorite targets, as long as he’s healthy. All you James Jones owners out there should be concerned about Jones losing targets to Jennings.
Pierre Garcon. We all saw what a health Garcon could do this season when he went for 109 yards and a touchdown in one quarter of play in the first week of the NFL season. Garcon is a burner with exceptional hands and when healthy he is a legitimate WR1 in fantasy football. The only thing holding him back was the foot injury that he has been dealing with all season long. Garcon returned to action in Week 11 but he wasn’t much of a factor catching three passes for a measly five yards. Many owners picked him up hoping he would produce and then start him rest of the season but those that took a flier on him more than likely immediately dropped him. Well, the next week the Garcon of old was back catching five passes for 93 yards and a touchdown. The best news regarding Garcon’s performance against a very good Cowboys secondary is that he came out the game without any setbacks. If Garcon is still available in your league pick him up and start him without any concern.
Mohamed Sanu. The Bengals have been sorely lacking a consistent threat at the wide receiver position behind A.J. Green and it looks like they may have finally found one in Sanu. The rookie from Rutgers was a major red zone threat on Sunday for the Bengals, as he hauled in two red zone touchdowns. His receiving yards production wasn’t much, just five catches for 29 yards, but his two touchdowns make up for it. Sanu looks to be the Bengals #2 wide receiver for the rest of the season and if Dalton keeps targeting him, especially in the red zone, he might become a very useful WR3/Flex play for the rest of the season.
TIGHT END
Heath Miller. The Pittsburgh Steelers offense has been left for dead by many football observers thanks in large part to the absence of franchise quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Miller was at the forefront of the shunning since many believed he wouldn’t be as involved in the passing game with Byron Leftwich/Chaz Batch at the helm but on Sunday Chaz Batch targeted Miller a surprising eight times, which resulted in six catches for 63 yards for Miller. There are reports that Roethlisberger will be back as early as this week and even if he’s not a Week 14 can’t be out of the question. Miller was producing as a top five fantasy football tight end up until Big Ben’s injury and once Roethlisberger was out many were quick to drop Miller. If he’s available pick him up and start him once Big Ben is back. Going into Week 12 Miller was among the league leaders in red zone targets and that trend will continue once the best quarterback on the Steelers roster is back.
DEFENSE
New York Jets. I highly doubt that the Jets defense isn’t available in your league and if they are and you are in need of a defense/special teams this week in fantasy football, owners of the Seattle Seahawks defense I’m looking at you, then you would be foolish not to consider the Jets. Yes, I know these aren’t the same ferocious and intimidating Jets of prior years but there still are some playmakers on that side of the ball for the Jets like Antonio Cromartie.
The main reason why I recommend the Jets this week is mainly due to the fact that they will be playing the Cardinals and their atrocious starting quarterback Ryan Lindley. The same Lindley who threw a total of four interceptions against the St. Louis Rams in his starting debut this week, two of which were returned for touchdowns.