Denver Post fantasy football expert Cecil Lammey is a senior writer for and an “NFL Insider” for Denver sports radio station The Ticket, 87.7-FM.
E-mail your questions to lammey@footballguys.com. Please mention your question is for “Denver Post Fantasy Football.”
I play in a start-two quarterback league but I’m in desperate need of help. My best option is Cardinals rookie QB John Skelton. Will he be effective enough against the Broncos’ defense? My league deducts two points for every interception. I don’t want to leave that spot open and take a zero, but I don’t want negative points either
— Luke
Cecil Lammey: I watched Skelton up close during the week of practice for the Shrine Game in Orlando earlier this year and was impressed by his size and arm strength. Scouts compared his upside to that of Ravens QB Joe Flacco. Skelton is a big quarterback, who sees the field well, and can throw downfield with ease. He played at a small school (Fordham) like Flacco (Delaware) and even looks a little bit like the Ravens’ starter. However, that’s where the comparisons end. Skelton is extremely raw and will take time to develop on his upside.
Grab the Broncos defense if you can because they may be the best fantasy football defense this week. Skelton locks on to his primary targets too often and feels pressure even when it’s not there. I would go ahead and start him so you don’t take the zero. Just lower your expectations for this young rookie as the Broncos’ defense should have their way with him.
What do you know about Packers rookie RB James Starks? As you know, this is a big week since playoffs start for a lot of leagues. Who is the better young running back to play this week, Starks or 49ers rookie RB Anthony Dixon?
— Hans, Castle Rock
Lammey: Starks is a powerful, north-south running back who gets stronger as the game goes on. He has the ability to wear down a defense and is difficult to bring down when he builds a head of steam. The Packers loved his physical upside, and that’s why they drafted him out of Buffalo this year even though he missed his entire senior season due to a shoulder injury. Starks has missed most of this year with a hamstring injury, but was activated off the physically unable to perform list a few weeks ago.
I do like Starks more than Dixon this week. The Packers are playing the Lions, and Starks could have a monster performance against one of the worst teams in the league.
Now that the 49ers have inserted Alex Smith as their starting quarterback, what kind of effect will it have on the offense?
— David
Lammey: San Francisco goes back to the former No. 1 overall pick, and should also return to more of a spread offense. Smith can pick apart a defense on short and underneath routes, and his return is great news for the passing game. WR Michael Crabtree should be more featured going forward and becomes a solid flex play at WR in most leagues. TE Vernon Davis already had plenty of fantasy value, even when Smith was out of the lineup. He should continue to perform at a good level during the fantasy playoffs.
The player who is perhaps helped the most by this news is RB Brian Westbrook. Smith likes to check down to his running backs, and Westbrook is the team’s best receiving back. This takes away some fantasy value from Anthony Dixon as the team takes on a more pass-happy look. Even a guy like WR Josh Morgan becomes more of a “what the heck” flex with Smith back under center.
What do you know about the status of Chiefs QB Matt Cassel? Will he actually be able to play after undergoing an appendectomy earlier this week? I have Chiefs WR Dwayne Bowe, but am concerned about his production if Brodie Croyle is the starting quarterback.
— Jordan
Lammey: I would still start Bowe this week. He’s not facing off against Champ Bailey, and should have a good day even if Cassel doesn’t play. Croyle is a thin and somewhat fragile quarterback, but he has a rocket arm. The Chiefs are likely to run the ball much more than they throw on Sunday against the Chargers, but when they do air it out it will be to Bowe. I believe that Croyle has improved during the course of his career in the NFL, and it won’t be a total disaster for KC if he has to start this week.
I need help at my flex position. I can start either Cowboys RB Tashard Choice or Dolphins RB Ricky Williams. Which way should I go?
— Tyrone
Lammey: Choice is one of the most talented backups in the league, and could start for other teams. He has been buried on the depth chart behind Marion Barber and Felix Jones, but because of injuries he now gets his chance to shine. We’ve seen him sparingly this year and most every touch he’s had has gained positive yards. Choice is a grinder who can punish a defense when he runs. However, he has more game-breaking ability than some give him credit for. He can break a run outside to gain positive yards and also be used effectively as a receiver out of the backfield.
I like Choice a lot this week — much more than Williams. I believe the Dolphins are going to attempt to air it out against the Jets this week because it is difficult to run on them. This means more from QB Chad Henne, and less from RBs Ronnie Brown and Williams.
I’m headed into the playoffs and have two quick questions for you. First, should I start Bears QB Jay Cutler or Cowboys QB Jon Kitna? Second, should I start Broncos RB Knowshon Moreno or Rams RB Steven Jackson? This is a PPR league, with bonuses for 100-yard rushing games and 300-yard passing games.
— Rob
Lammey: Your quarterback problem can be solved by starting Kitna this week. The Cowboys are going to be without rookie WR Dez Bryant, but have veteran Roy Williams to fill his place. Kitna has shown great chemistry working with all of his weapons in the passing game, and I expect him to take advantage of a weak Eagles secondary.
At running back you should go with Moreno. He’s coming off the best game of his career, and the hot streak should continue against the Cardinals. Moreno has also shown consistent hands, and is a good receiver out of the backfield. I fully expect the Broncos to play hard for interim head coach Eric Studesville and they should easily crush the Cardinals on the road.
With the Giants playing the Vikings this week, can I trust Giants RB Brandon Jacobs? Will the Minnesota defense force them to go through the air? I can start Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart or Chiefs RB Thomas Jones in his place.
— Kirk
Lammey: The Vikings are a tough defense to run the ball against. I would stay away from Jacobs, but not only for that reason. The Giants may get both WR Steve Smith and WR Hakeem Nicks back this week. That is great news for QB Eli Manning, but it could signal a move to more passing when the Giants have the ball. You should start Stewart this week with confidence. Sure, the Panthers may not win against the Falcons, but they will continue to grind things out with Stewart on the ground. Backup RB Mike Goodson is also banged up with a shoulder injury. Even though he’s going to play, the team could use Stewart more to save wear and tear on Goodson.
How do you feel about Ravens rookie TE Ed Dickson this week against Houston? Is he a better play then someone like Bears TE Greg Olsen or Saints rookie TE Jimmy Graham?
— Lance
Lammey: I talked to Dickson at the Senior Bowl earlier this year and was impressed by his football knowledge. He’s extremely athletic and plays more like a “super sized” wide receiver, and could be very dangerous against the Texans’ 32nd-ranked secondary on Monday night. Olsen’s play has been up and down with the Bears using a more balanced offense.
Graham’s upside is huge, but we’ve also seen the rookie drop too many easy passes. Plus, New Orleans has a multitude of weapons that QB Drew Brees can throw to. With Todd Heap likely missing the game with a hamstring injury you can start Dickson with confidence.
What do you think of Bears WR Earl Bennett? Is his emergence a function of the Bears becoming more balanced on offense? Is Bears QB Jay Cutler getting rid of the ball sooner and the deep routes to WR Johnny Knox just taking too long? Do you think Bennett’s good for 12-plus points per week in PPR leagues during the weeks 14-16 fantasy playoffs?
— James
Lammey: Bennett was Cutler’s favorite target in college at Vanderbilt, and now the duo has carried that chemistry over to the pros. Bennett is a thick receiver who is developing into a better route runner. Bennett is tough to bring down after the catch, and should get plenty of targets on short and underneath routes. Cutler certainly trusts him and you should too. I believe that he can easily get 12 points per week in a PPR league, and maybe more because he’s a good target when the Bears get to the red zone.
I hate to say it, but the more I watch Panthers rookie QB Jimmy Clausen the more I’m impressed. Do you think he’s coming around as a player? He’s got Atlanta and Arizona these next two weeks and some of us in the playoffs have Panthers WR Steve Smith getting splinters on the bench. Is Smith going to be a sneaky flex play during the playoffs?
— Bill
Lammey: You’re right Bill, Clausen is looking better each week. He’s not abandoning his reads so quickly, and looks more comfortable every time he’s under center. This is good news for Smith’s fantasy owners. I believe that Smith can at least be a “what the heck” flex play every week during the fantasy playoffs. In deeper leagues his value is that of a low end WR2. You can trust him in your lineup especially in the week 15 game against the Cardinals.
