It's Hallamentary! Questions and Answers For Week 15

Posted by Ryan Hallam on 12/13/2012 | 0 Comments

Tags: Ray Rice, Jay Cutler, Josh Freeman, Cecil Shorts, David Wilson, James Jones, Detroit Lions, Cam Newton, Monday Night Football

Only three weeks to go in the NFL season, and while you think you know exactly what is going to happen, none of us have any idea. With that being said, all of us still have questions in our mind as far as each and every game is concerned and below are the ones that I have looking at the games in Week 15.  How do you win your fantasy football matchups this week?  It’s Hallamentary of course!

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Questions about your team or a waiver move?  Lineup decisions?  You can email me at ryan@fantasyalarm.com for answers to those questions.  You can also hit me up by following me on Twitter @ryanhallamFA or if you just want to read some of my incoherent babbling in 140 characters. 

With Cam Cameron fired, will this help Ray Rice?  Fantasy owners have been mystified by the low number of touches that Rice has had this season, although it has been trending upwards of late.  Cameron’s ousting says to me that the organization wants to go away from Joe Flacco throwing so much, and more to grinding it out with Rice.  I can easily see him carrying the ball at least 20 times a game and scoring in each of those games.  His numbers haven’t been as bad as they have made out to be, and Rice could get very close to where he finished 2011.

Can Jay Cutler survive this season?  Man, if you have been able to watch Bears’ games this year, you have to feel some pity for Cutler.  Game after game he has been pummeled from pillar to post as his offensive line has failed to offer him protection.  And you wonder why his production hasn’t been very good the past couple of seasons?  Find me a quarterback that can have a great game when he spends half of it on his back.  I can’t recommend starting Cutler in Week 15 against the Packers unless you are in a really desperate situation. 

Should you start Josh Freeman against the Saints? He torched the Saints for 420 yards and three touchdowns in what was one of the best games of his career.  We now come down the stretch of the fantasy playoffs and you may have the decision of starting Freeman or someone you drafted higher.  The Saints have been pretty giving to opposing passing games, but if you are thinking about Peyton, Rodgers, Brees, Ryan, etc, I wouldn’t start Freeman this week just because of the matchup.  I believe he will have a good game, but I don’t see another 400 yard effort out of the young star. 

Should you start Cecil Shorts this week?  Shorts missed last week with a concussion and cost me and others their fantasy playoffs.  Well, it isn’t likely that Shorts alone cost you the matchup, but still.  He has been cleared to play and symptom free heading into Sunday and now the question comes can he finish what he’s done over the past two months?  I don’t think there’s any question here at all.  Shorts has had over 80 yards receiving and/or a touchdown in seven of the last eight weeks, why should you think he won’t do it again?  The Dolphins have been pretty good on defense this year, but it’s Shorts or Bust to me in Week 15. 

Should you start David Wilson Sunday? Once again he is one of the most talked about players in fantasy football, and with just a couple of weeks to go questions abound are coming in if Wilson is a viable fantasy start this Sunday.  Last week he looked great, but the Giants were also blowing out the Saints, so they ran the ball more often than normal.  The Saints are also one of the poorer defenses in the league.  This week they face the Falcons, who are much better, but were just gashed by Cam Newton and DeAngelo Williams.  If Ahmad Bradshaw is unable to go Sunday, Wilson becomes a top 15 fantasy runner against the Falcons, if Bradshaw does play, I still think Wilson is worth starting in your flex position. 

Is James Jones a sneaky play?  Greg Jennings or Jordy Nelson have missed most of the season for the Packers and outside of a four week period, Jones hasn’t really been a factor.  Granted, those four weeks were pretty spectacular, but Jones has been pretty much a non-factor for the last month.  And while the Packers’ offense has been pretty good of late (outside of the Giants’ game), Jones still hasn’t made a fantasy impact.  I wouldn’t start Jones in Week 15. 

Is there a better play than the Detroit Lions D/ST?  Have you ever seen a more pathetic offense than the Arizona Cardinals the past few weeks?  The Seattle defense outscored one of my entire fantasy teams last week by themselves. The bad news for Arizona is that Kevin Kolb is officially done for the season, so it has to be either John Skelton or Ryan Lindley under center this week, which means another piss poor performance and likely five to six turnovers and perhaps as many sacks.  If you are playing the waiver wire matchup game and the Lions are out there, pounce NOW!

Remember that Cam Newton guy?  Yeah, he’s back!  Newton has looked like the 2011 version of himself over the last month as he has piled up nine touchdowns in the last four games, and was absolutely masterful in last week’s upset of the Falcons.  Unfortunately, those of you who banked your season on Newton probably have been eliminated from contention for the playoffs this season, but if you are in a keeper league this is an awesome sign that 2013 will be another good season for Cam and you should definitely keep him if you have that option. 

Jets vs. Titans—Really?  Wow, Monday Night Football, I hope you weren’t planning on getting ratings this week. 

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