Studs, Duds and Sleepers

Week 16 is here, and the end of the NFL regular season is barreling down the tracks.  Hopefully for most of you, your Fantasy Football season is still alive.  Which is why the Benchwarmers are here to provide our amateur advice to make sure your championship hopes don’t let slip through the cracks.  Here are your can’t miss studs, unexpected duds, and the players being overlook for week 15.
QUARTERBACKS
Studs
Tom Brady, Nothing to see here.  All world QB Tom Brady will torch a Jacksonville defense that has absolutely no help from it’s offense.
Peyton Manning, The Cleveland Browns are much improved from last year, but Peyton Manning is as surgical as a QB could be.  Manning will identify mismatches, throw a strike, and then celebrate his success with a few Papa John’s Pizzas. 
Cam Newton, Newton made the list last week, and he delivered.  The Carolina QB will not disappoint this week either; in part because Cam Newton is a gifted athlete playing some good football, the other reason being he faces the Oakland Raiders.
Duds
Eli Manning, Eli has really struggled of late, as have the Ravens’ defense he will face.  If I were a betting man, I’d put my money on the Ravens.  They were picked apart by last week, by Eli’s older brother no less, and they have something to prove. 
Andy Dalton, Dalton has quietly put together a good year, ranking him in the top 10 for QB’s this year.  Make not however;  Andy Dalton has been owned by the Pittsburgh Steelers.  I don’t expect that to change this week IN Pittsburgh. 
Sleepers
Nick Foles, The rookie has been up and down since moving into the starting role.  This week he will face a Redskins’ defense that held him to 204 yards and forced two interceptions.  Since then, Foles has vastly improved; the Redskins, not so much.
Sam Bradford, Cautiously, I advise you to start Sam Bradford.  The caution comes in the fact that prior to last week, Bradford had not thrown for 300 yards since week 6 against Miami.  We advise you to start Bradford, however, because last week he found a groove and torched the Minnesota Vikings.  This week, he has a chance to do the same against the Buccaneers and the worst pass defense in the league.
RUNNING BACKS
Studs
Adrian Peterson, All Day has been running like his hair is on fire, and he is within striking distance of Eric Dickerson’s single season rushing record.  The Texans will undoubtedly load the box and try to make life miserable for Peterson; but at this point, I’m convinced that AP is a creature from another dimension that simply can not be stopped.
Doug Martin, The Muscle Hampster let us down last week, but we are going to stay strong and keep faith in the rookie.  Last week was a complete meltdown by the Bucs; I don’t anticipate that being the case this week.  The St. Louis Rams tend to struggle against the run, and Tampa Bay is surely seeing red after last week’s embarrassing loss.  Doug Martin, do your thing.
Arian Foster, The Texans are looking to lock up home field advantage for the playoffs, this week, and they will do so by riding their horse.  Arian Foster is averaging 23 carries per game, and he is turning those carries into production; just shy of 17 points per game.  Arian Foster WILL get touches.  Arian Foster WILL produce.
Duds
Ray Rice, The Ravens made news after firing offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, in part because he wasn’t utilizing Ray Rice.  Rice’s touches should increase, but don’t’ expect his fantasy numbers to skyrocket.  The Giants are a top 10 run defense, and they will be willing to load up on the run and challenge Ravens’ QB Joe Flacco.
Frank Gore, Frank Gore has had a solid season running the football.  In week 7, he ran for 131 yards against the Seahawks.  This week, San Francisco and Seattle rematch, IN Seattle.  The Seahawks have improved against the run, and they love playing at home.  And Gore won’t score a fluke fumble recovery TD like last week.
Sleepers
Reggie Bush, Bush has disappointed many owners this year.  Aside from his week 2 explosion, he has only scored double digit fantasy points 5 times.  This week Bush faces a Bills’ defense that held him to 3 points in week 11.  This week they play in Miami, and Bush has gradually seen his workload increase.
Matt Forte, Many expected Forte to be a top 5 RB this year.  Injuries and a soft offensive line have hampered that effort.  This week will be a good one for the Bears’ RB.  Chicago has their backs against the wall, and they are facing a Cardinals’ defense that defends the pass pretty well, but struggles against the run.  The Bears’ should lean on Forte early and often.
Stevan Ridley, Last week the Benchwarmers (correctly) told you to bench the New England RB.  This week, make sure he is in the line-up.  The Patriots face the Jaguars; in other words, this could get ugly.  the Patriots will get a lead, and Ridley will get touches as the game winds down. 
WIDE RECEIVERS
Studs
Demaryius Thomas, Peyton Manning spreads the wealth pretty well, but Demaryius is his go to guy.  The favorable matchup against the Browns will give Thomas a chance to bounce back from his 1 point performance last week.
Andre Johnson, Johnson has been a roller coaster for owners as he has had his share of fantasy peaks and valleys.  This week will be a peak.  The Vikings are an average team against the pass.  The Texans want this one badly so they can begin resting their studs for a playoff push.
Dez Bryant, What can we say?  We make mistakes too.  Last week we advised you to bench Bryant, and we blew it.  Not this week!  The Cowboys are rolling, and the Romo-Bryant connection is part of the reason.  Make sure you get Dez into your starting lineup this week when he faces the Saints.
Duds
Anquan Boldin, ESPN projects Boldin for 15 points; don’t buy it.  The Giants still can rush the passer, and last I checked, Joe Flacco is the one throwing passes to Boldin.  The Ravens will lean on Ray Rice and look to stretch the field with Torrey Smith.  Don’t expect Boldin to score more than a handful of points.
Wes Welker, Welker is questionable this week, but still expected to play.  Welker has slowly slid down Brady’s list of favorite targets, however, so don’t expect much either way.  WIth Brandon Lloyd and Aaron Hernandez, Welker is a move the chains guy, not a score a TD guy.
Sleepers
Jeremy Maclin, Nick Foles is improving, and the Eagles are playing one of the worst pass defenses in the Washington Redskins.  Maclin didn’t record a catch in the first meeting with the Redskins, so expect him to play with a chip on his shoulder.
Justin Blackmon, The rookie hasn’t done a lot this season, but since week 11, he’s been getting more looks.  Henne likes Blackmon and his big play ability.  The Jaguars play the Patriots, who surprisingly, have one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL.  Combined with the likelihood of trailing in the game, there is opportunity for Blackmon.  Start him.
Reggie Wayne, Wayne’s solid season has slowed down of late with the emergence of T.Y. Hilton.  The Colts play the woeful Chiefs this week, though, and he will get back on track with a solid performance.
TIGHT ENDS
Studs
Jason Witten, The Cowboys air attack has been renewed during their current hot streak.  Jason Witten won’t complain, as he is getting plenty of targets.  Look for Witten to get a flurry of passes his way as he finds plenty of holes in the Saints’ secondary.
Jimmy Graham, Yup, Graham is good.  He’s a freak.  And Drew Brees is his QB.  Not really anything else to say here.  Just be sure you have him in your lineup.
Duds
Dennis Pitta, The Giants have been effective defending opposing tight ends this year, and with Joe Flacco doing the QBing for the Ravens, that will continue.  Pitta will get some looks, but there are better options available at TE.
Jermaine Gresham, The Steelers’ defense has been dominant against the Bengals.  It can’t be stressed enough how much Andy Dalton struggles against Pittsburgh.  Gresham will undoubtedly be impacted by this.  Make sure he is warming your bench.
Sleepers
Jermichael Finley, Aaron Rodgers has plenty of weapons out wide, but look for Finley to own the middle today against the Titans.  Tennessee is not very good.  There, I said it.  Aaron Rodgers is really good.  I said that too.  Put those together and it equals opportunity for Finley.  Seize it, Jermichael!
Heath Miller, The Bengals’ D is actually rather formidable, but for whatever reason, TE’s always find room.  Heath Miller and Ben Roethlisberger have a way of being on the same page and they will connect this week.  Miller should put up a nice stat sheet this afternoon.