Mulligan’s fantasy forecast: Week 15
As I mentioned last week, now that NFL teams are beginning to lock up their division titles it’s important to keep an eye on how much playing time some of the league’s stars are going to get for the rest of the season. With that in mind, much of these columns through the rest of the season will focus heavily on waiver wire guys who may be available in your league to help you replace those stars who may see big cuts in playing time.
What that basically means is a little more info and a little less of my patented rambling introductions.
Injury news
Gus Frerotte, QB, Vikings: Frerotte left last week’s game against the Lions with an apparent back injury and his status for the Vikings’ upcoming game against the Cardinals is up in the air. Either way, if you were relying on Gus Frerotte for a significant amount of points, your team was doomed anyway. Check on him later in the week if you need to as there should be an update on him by then.
Peyton Hillis, RB, Broncos: Just another Broncos running back headed out to pasture. Hopes were high for Hillis after he racked up 129 rushing yards and a touchdown against the Jets two weeks ago but the Denver running back tore his hamstring against Kansas City last Sunday and will miss the rest of this season. Tatum Bell and Selvin Young will probably pick up the slack at RB the rest of the way.
Joseph Addai, RB, Colts: Addai injured his shoulder in last week’s game against the Bengals but should reportedly be fine to play this coming week against the Lions. Just make sure he will play and obviously start him because there’s a chance he could run for 900 yards against the Lions.
Good match up
Philip Rivers vs. Chiefs pass defense: A few weeks ago I listed Ben Roethlisberger as my good match up and Philip Rivers as my not so good match up. In Week 15, the roles get reversed. I’ll get to Big Ben but let’s start with Rivers whose Chargers have been the biggest disappointment in the NFL this season.
Rivers heads to Kansas City this week to take on the NFL’s fourth worst pass defense (only Rivers’ Chargers, the Jets and Seahawks allow more yards per game through the air). The Chiefs really can’t stop anybody through the air which was proven when Trent Edwards ripped them apart a couple weeks ago. Rivers has the ability and, just as important, the weapons to do some big damage in this match up. With the Chargers not playing for anything, you won’t have to worry about Rivers’ playing time either. At least the Chargers disappointing season has helped Rivers fantasy owners in that sense.
Not so good match up
Ben Roethlisberger vs. Ravens pass defense: You might say Roethlisberger looked a bit uncomfortable during last week’s game against the Cowboys. And I’m sure there are plenty of Steelers fans who would agree with you if you said that. If you thought he played poorly against a good defense, just imagine how he might play against one of the best.
The Ravens are allowing just 176 passing yards per game, second best in the NFL. The best team in that category? Roethlisberger’s Steelers. Big Ben has had quite and up and down 2008 season. He’s had some great games like in Week 5 against the Jaguars when he threw for 309 yards and 3 TDs and he’s had some stinkers like when he threw for just 131 yards, 0 TDs and an interception against the Eagles two weeks prior. Expect something more along the lines of a stinker this week in Baltimore.
Waiver wire watch
Matt Schaub, QB, Texans: By the time you read this there’s no way Schaub should be available in your league. But you should run now to double check, I’ll wait. Many fantasy owners dropped Schaub at some point in the last 4-5 weeks due to his injury but he let those owners know what a mistake that was last week with his 414 yard, 2 TD performance against the Packers in his first game back. If by some miracle he is available in your league, scoop him up.
Seneca Wallace, QB, Seahawks: Wallace was excellent in last week’s game against the Patriots, throwing for 212 yards and 3 TDs. It helps that nobody really has any idea when or if Matt Hasselbeck will play again this season. It also helps that Wallace has one of the best remaining schedules of any QB in the NFL with games against the Rams, Jets and Cardinals coming up. Really the only way that schedule could get any better is if Wallace gets to face his own defense. I feel like I can trust Wallace for the rest of this season and you should too.
Shaun Hill, QB, 49ers: Like Seneca Wallace, Shaun Hill has great match ups in the coming weeks. Hill and the Niners will play against the Dolphins this week and follow that up by traveling to St. Louis to take on the Rams in Week 16. After seeing how well he played against a Jets pass defense that is just as bad, if not worse, than Miami or St. Louis’, Hill is a very good choice to start at QB for your fantasy team in the next two weeks.
Tashard Choice, RB, Cowboys: Speaking of choices, Tashard may not be a bad one at running back if Marion Barber misses more time. Choice racked up 88 yards rushing and hauled in 5 catches for 78 yards against what is arguably the best defense in the NFL in the Pittsburgh Steelers last week. The Cowboys will likely want to get Barber back as soon as possible as they fight for their playoff spot in a tough match up against the Giants this week. Monitor Barber’s status throughout this week and if it looks like he may not be healthy, choose Choice.
Deion Branch, WR, Seahawks: Branch reminded everyone that he is indeed still in the NFL with his four catches for 88 yards and two TDs against his former team, the Patriots, last week. I wouldn’t expect this kind of performance from him every week from here on out and I probably wouldn’t pick him up but it’s worth repeating that the Seahawks passing game has very favorable match ups the rest of the way. I suppose you could do worse if you need a WR.
John Carlson, TE, Seahawks: I mentioned Carlson’s performance lately in this spot last week and he followed that up with eight catches for 69 yards and a touchdown against the Patriots. In standard scoring leagues, Carlson is the fifth ranked TE, one point behind Houston’s Owen Daniels. So, uh, yeah…he’s not bad. And did I mention the Seahawks passing game has very favorable match ups the rest of this season?
Visanthe Shiancoe, TE, Vikings: If someone in your league has already scooped up Carlson, may I offer you an alternative in Vikings TE Visanthe Shiancoe. Shiancoe’s solid season has flown under the radar for the most part but he gets some good match ups in the next two weeks against Arizona and Atlanta. He hasn’t shown the ability to bust out a huge game this season but that probably has more to do with the fact he’s on the Vikings and not, say, the Cardinals. He is, however, a good bet to snag a TD pass in the next two weeks, so that should count for something.
Kyle Mulligan welcomes your predictions and feedback. He can be reached at kjmulli@gmail.com