Just have to love an intra-divisional game to get Week 11 started in a division that could be in a state of flux in the next few years. One has to ask though, did the schedulers think that at least one of these two teams would be having a better season than they are right now? Maybe. The Fantasy Greek certainly expected that the Bills would be better than they have been given the major defensive signings made in the off-season. In The Fantasy Greek’s estimation, this was supposed to be a week that Bills Mafia (an expression hardcore Bills fans lovingly refer to themselves as) was discussing which team’s were in the way of a long awaited playoff birth. As for the Dolphins, the team is playing better than expected in what was expected to be a promising of-season of building for the future. In any case, the AFC East has been more competitive than many expected in the first ten weeks of the season.
The goal in “Fantasy Football Choices” is to provide you, the fantasy football player, with enough information to make sensible and reasonable choices in setting your line-up this week by reviewing the weekly match-ups and identifying which players are “On the Gridiron,” a “Coach’s Decision,” or “On the Pine.” For many of you, the information provided simply provides affirmation to the decisions you have already made. If you like, skip the fluff, and find your player’s match-up for analysis. We also provide a down & dirtly listing of players listed in each category within the Quick Hits.If you are looking for a waiver wire pick-up, then look for those players still on your waiver wire, and you can read that analysis too.
Thursday, November 15, 2012, 8:30 p.m. EST
DOLPHINS (4-5) v. BILLS (3-6)
The Dolphins may not be an offensive juggernaut, but there have been games this season where their rushing game and passing game has looked explosive. The Dolphins defense is solid, and the team isn’t bad on the road, 2-3. The Bills have obviously been a big disappointment this season. They are not a winning team at home or on the road, and the Bills are 0-3 against teams in the division. Both teams are on a losing streak. This is the first meeting between these two teams so the Bills have a statement to make this week. In the end, the Bills can outscore the Dolphins. The Bills should be motivated playing at home. The Bills defense should step it up in this game. The match-ups are right for a Bills win.
ON THE GRIDIRON: Last week’s benching of Reggie Bush after he fumbled was a disappointment for fantasy players that needed him last week. Bush apologized but what a poor decision on the Dolphins coaching staff. You don’t bench your star player. Expect the Dolphins to rely on Bush heavily. Bush is a must start against fantasy football’s worst rush defense, which allows themost fantasy points to the position. The Bills seem to have learned something this season and that is in order for the team to win, running back C.J. Spiller needs to get the ball as often as possible. Since being an initial draft disappointment, Spiller has shown elusiveness in his step and explosion in his burst. Not only does Spiller have the makings to be one of the top rushing backs in the NFL, he has been pretty much been a match-up proof play regardless of the opponent. Start Spiller this week, especially with Fred Jackson having been ruled out. Bills fans, and fantasy football fans, have likely been disappointed with wide-receiver Stevie Johnson this season as he has been a little underwhelming. Still, this is a favorable match-up against a Dolphins pass defense that is allowing the eight most fantasy points to wide-receivers. Johnson should make for a nice low WR2 or high WR3 play this weekend.
COACH’S DECISION: Last, quarterback Ryan Tannehill was awful in what was supposed to be a favorable match-up. This week, Tannehill gets another chance to post some fantasy significant stats against a Bills defense allowing the ninth most fantasy points to quarterbacks. While Tannehill does not make for a must start fantasy play, this is a game he should play well in. With Reggie Bush posied to have one of his better games of the season, RB Daniel Thomas is in a position to make a solid contribution to the offense. Consider Thomas a low-end RB2 ir high-end flex-play this week. Given the favorable passing match-up, Brian Hartline makes for a WR3 start (with upside) this week.Some fantasy players have been using the Dolphins DST as a match-up based play. This is a week to consider a different unit with the Bills ranked towards the middle of all teams in fantasy points allowed. Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick has been a pretty good match-up based play this season and he has another decent match-up against a Dolphins team allowing the twelfth most fantasy points to its opponents. Bills wide-receiver Donald Jones made for a good play last week, and he makes for another good play this week. While tight-end Scott Chandler can be on fantasy gridirons again this week, his final stats should be more in-line with a TE2 play than a TE1 play in fantasy football. The same can be said about Dolphins tight-end Anthony Fasano whose match-up is more favorable than Chandler’s (the Bills allow the eighth most fantasy points to the position). However, Fasano can be hit-or-miss. Still, he is an option this weekend.
ON THE PINE: Since a fairly good start to the season, Dolphins wide-receiver Davone Bess has posted some very pedestrian numbers for fantasy football purposes. The Bills Fred Jackson has been ruled out. While the Bills DST is the better fantasy play between the two teams, the Bills DST has had three great games, and nine others that have been average to forgettable.
Good luck this week!