Week 12 Must Starts

Quarterbacks

Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals: There are multiple reasons why Andy Dalton is a smart play this week, first off is that the Oakland Raiders defense has been absolute terrible over the past three games.       While Dalton’s numbers are very good for a second year player, this start is more of statement to how awful the Raiders defense has been. Over the past three games Oakland has given up 42, 55 and 38 over the last three weeks.

Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos: Manning is almost a lock for comeback player of the year and is a strong candidate for MVP, along with Tom Brady. So far on the season Manning has 2,975 passing yards and has amassed 24 touchdowns and only thrown seven interceptions with a passer rating of 106.2. These numbers coupled with the Broncos playing the Chiefs make Manning one of best plays of the week. Expect Manning to throw more with McGahee out with a torn MCL, who expects to be out six-to-eight weeks.

Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: On paper this looks like a total mismatch, Ryan after coming off the worst game of his career against a Buccaneers defense that has been the worst in the league against the pass, but Freeman has the hot hand. Freeman has had six straight games with at least two passing touchdowns, four of those six games he has three passing touchdowns. Freeman will be hard for the Falcons to contain; it won’t be as easy as John Skelton or his back up, Arizona’s third string quarterback.

Running Backs:

Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens: I don’t see Rice getting only 40 yards again this week even though the Chargers are one of the better rushing defense, ranked third in the league allowing 87.9 yards a game. Rice isn’t a running back that has multiple bad games in a row and San Diego might have a defensive letdown after losing a big divisional game against the Broncos last week.

Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers: The 49ers are the league’s best rushing team going against the leagues worst rushing defense. Gore should be able to gash the Saints through the ground and the 49ers are very run oriented so I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get 100-plus yards on the ground and haul in a few receptions.

Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans: The Jaguars defense was horrible last week, while most of that was through the air but the Jaguars seem like they lose a different way each week. I expect to Johnson to have a big game especially since the Titans don’t have a receiver like Andre Johnson but then again not many teams do.

Wide Receivers:

Brandon Marshall, Chicago Bears: I only like Marshall against the Vikings this week if Cutler is back in the lineup next week. The Bears looks terrible Monday night and Marshall was still able to get a receiving touchdown even though he had two receptions for 21 yards and a receiving touchdown. Expect Marshall to return to form this week and have a big game against a divisional opponent with a lot of playoff implications involved.

A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals: One of the league’s best young receivers is going up against a defense that is reeling. Green is having a pro bowl season with 64 receptions with 911 yards receiving with 10 receiving touchdowns. Oakland has been eaten alive the last three weeks and I believe that it will continue especially through the air, as the Bengals have been able to do nothing on the ground as of late.

Marques Colston, New Orleans Saints: This might seem like a bad play especially since the 49ers have one of the leagues best defenses but Drew Brees is a million times better than Jason Campbell. Brees has thrown a touchdown in 53 straight games and I can’t see that changing this week and I believe Colston will benefit from that. Colston has 51 receptions for 721 yards receiving and seven receiving touchdowns.

By: Michael Ferraro