Fantasy football: Time for Matt Ryan to roll
Here are my picks to roll, and get rolled, in Week 16 of the 2014 season. Watch 'em roll Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons at Saints. Julio Jones (hip) should be back, but even if he's not, Ryan will take full advantage of New Orleans' generous secondary with the other weapons at his disposal. He tore up the Saints in Week 1, as has virtually every other offense that faces this defense. Even Jay Cutler managed to toss two TDs against this bunch.
Here are my picks to roll, and get rolled, in Week 16 of the 2014 season.
Watch 'em roll
Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons at Saints. Julio Jones (hip) should be back, but even if he's not, Ryan will take full advantage of New Orleans' generous secondary with the other weapons at his disposal. He tore up the Saints in Week 1, as has virtually every other offense that faces this defense. Even Jay Cutler managed to toss two TDs against this bunch.
Jonathan Stewart, RB, Panthers vs. Browns. Everyone (but me) was high on Stewart last week, but in my experience, the veteran too often comes up short when the most is expected. His modest 73-yard performance against Tampa Bay is about what I anticipated. This week is different. Facing a weak Browns run defense, Stewart can't mess this one up.
Fred Jackson, RB, Bills at Raiders. Oakland's run defense has fared marginally better of late than its season average, but a workhorse like Jackson should have plenty of success.
Marques Colston, WR, Saints vs. Falcons. With three TDs over his last four games, Colston is finally looking like his reliable old self again. More important, Drew Brees is targeting him more often, especially in the red zone.
Brandon LaFell, WR, Patriots at Jets. LaFell hasn't found the end zone since his two-TD performance against the Packers in Week 13. But he's still getting plenty of Tom Brady's attention, and the Jets have surrendered a next-to-worst 29 passing scores to date.
Roll 'em back
Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers at 49ers. He's suffering from a painful back injury as well as tender ribs, and Keenan Allen (collarbone) is out for the season. The 49ers' secondary kept Russell Wilson in check last week.
LeGarrette Blount, RB, Patriots at Jets. Just when it looked like Bill Belichick had settled on Blount as his workhorce, he let Jonas Gray out of the doghouse with 11 carries last week. Blount still found the end zone against the Dolphins, but the going gets tougher against New York's stingy run defenders.
Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West, RBs, Browns at Panthers. Those of us banking on Crowell or West to take the pressure off Johnny Manziel last week were rudely awakened by just how quickly this offense fell apart.
DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Texans vs. Ravens. All bets are off for the Houston passing game with Case Keenum (most likely) or Thaddeus Lewis starting at quarterback. Hopkins has been sitting out practice to nurse a wobbly ankle, but he'll be in the starting lineup come Sunday.
Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Cardinals vs. Seahawks. Arizona's passing game is in a similarly precarious position with Ryan Lindley at the controls. Lindley has never celebrated a touchdown among his 181 career passes.