Giants Daily Blitz Blog

Week 15 Fantasy Football Primer

The views expressed in this article are not of the New York Football Giants but those of an independent Fantasy Expert.

Josh Freeman QB Buccaneers, last week: 189 passing yards, 2 touchdowns

Freeman will be going against a New Orleans Saints defense that ranks 30th in the NFL (284 ypg) against the pass.  In their first meeting, Freeman had his best game of the year, throwing for 420 yards and three touchdowns, back in Week 7.  More of the same should come this Sunday.

Jonathan Dwyer RB, Steelers, last week: 32 yards rushing

Dwyer gets the nod this week for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have a pivotal matchup vs. Dallas that will affect both teams’ playoff hopes.  Expect plenty of carries for Dwyer because of the simple fact that the Dallas secondary, which ranks eight against the pass, will be trying to shut down the passing game first, as they usually tend to do.

Danario Alexander WR Chargers, last week: 88 yards receiving, 2 touchdowns

Since Week 9, Alexander has combined for 555 yards, 33 receptions and five touchdowns in just six games played in 2012. The Chargers’ new stud wideout will be looking to continue that success in Week 15, when he will be playing a Panthers defense that is pretty solid against pass (13^th) but gives up too many big plays. Alexander should be a part of at least one.

Top defense: Lions, last week: 27 points allowed, turnover, 3 sacks

Detroit’s defense isn’t necessarily the selling point this week, but their opponent is.  With the Arizona Cardinals play against your defense, think of it in most cases as an automatic start at this point in the season.  Arizona has scored a total of six points in their last two games, including last week’s 58-0 loss. Add in some Calvin Johnson and Matthew Stafford, the scoreboard will be lighting up.

Bench

Colin Kaepernick QB 49ers, last week: 185 yards passing

Kaepernick has been stellar in his four starts thus far in the 2012 season.  After taking over for Alex Smith in Week 11, he has six total touchdowns, three of which were rushing. He also notched a 50-yard rushing touchdown last week vs. Miami. Monday Night Football is a totally different story, though, especially when you’re in New England.  Just ask Houston.

Shonn Greene RB Jets, last week: 77 yards rushing, touchdown

Greene’s had an up and down 2012 season to say the least.  With only two games in which he rushed for over 100 yards this year (and only four games in where he scored a touchdown), Greene is due for a down game, despite having over 100 yards two weeks ago and a touchdown this past week.  Even with the 24th ranked rush defense (127 ypg) in the Tennessee Titans, it’s just been going that bad for this Jets offense.

Anquan Boldin WR Ravens, last week: 78 yards receiving, 2 touchdowns

Boldin has three touchdowns in his past two games and just four on the entire season.  You never know what type of performance will come out of this Baltimore Raven offense, considering they just fired their offensive coordinator this late in the season.  It doesn’t help either that the team they will be playing, the Denver Broncos, rank seventh vs. the pass (215 ypg) and sixth against the run (93 ypg).

49ers defense, last week: 13 points allowed, turnover

San Francisco’s defense has been nothing short of stellar all year long, but all that changes this Monday.  Reality sets in whenever you face Tom Brady this late in the year — and in New England.  It could be another rough night for a top defense in back-to-back weeks in Gillette Stadium.  Don’t let it happen to you, play it safe.