When I started selecting my DraftStreet lineup this week, I didn’t plan on showing severe conference bias. But after I looked over my completed roster, it was unmistakable. I had one NFC pick -- the Panthers defense. Every other player selected is playing in the AFC this weekend.
The problem with the NFC comes down to matchups, weather and consistency. The 49ers-Panthers contest involves two teams that have strong defenses and questions on offense. The Panthers could be even more anemic because of the knee injury to Steve Smith and it’s hard to trust Colin Kaepernick against the Panthers defense.
Meanwhile, in Seattle, the Saints offense is a total risk. Not only was it shut down against the Seahawks the first time the teams met, this game will be outdoors in the rain and wind. But the Seahawks are no locks either. Marshawn Lynch hasn’t been as consistently productive as he was last season, and Russell Wilson has been up and down in fantasy since that first Saints meeting in Week 13.
It’s not that the AFC teams are guaranteed to score points. But none of those teams boast strong defenses. The Colts just surrendered 44 points to Alex Smith (minus Jamaal Charles); the Patriots front seven has been brutalized by injury; the Broncos have lost Von Miller again; and the Chargers defense hasn't been very good anyway.
In other words, this is the week to load up on AFC players. None of those four teams have strong defenses and all could be high-scoring affairs.
Collegues Bill Bender and Matt Lutovsky have other strategies for the NFL Weekly League Salary Cap. Check them out and see who you think has the best team for this weekend. Better yet, make a team yourself and try to win cash.
QB: Peyton Manning ($18,894). I decided to pay for quality here. Normally I might have tried to save with someone like Philip Rivers, but the higher-priced options at other positions didn’t jump out at me this week.
QB: Tom Brady ($14,439). It was Brady or Andrew Luck. Of the two, I feel Brady has the slightly lower ceiling, but a much higher floor.
RB: Knowshon Moreno ($10,338). In my opinion, the top running back available this week, even over Marshawn Lynch.
RB: Shane Vereen ($8,962). I debated between Vereen and Danny Woodhead, but feel as though Vereen is a safer bet to be a big part of the offense. He’s had plenty of time to rest his injured groin.
WR: T.Y. Hilton ($11,494). Hilton’s price is a touch inflated because of his two straight huge games. However, he’s going to get targeted if Andrew Luck has to throw and it’s likely that the Colts’ quarterback will have to sling it plenty.
WR: Wes Welker ($8,906). It’s a half point per reception in salary cap leagues. While he did struggle before his concussion, Welker’s first half of the year is too good to ignore. At this price, he’s a value.
TE: Coby Fleener ($4,787). Normally I’d pay for Jimmy Graham, but the Seahawks matchup, and the poor weather for that game, scares me. I decided to go lottery ticket with Fleener here.
Flex: Keenan Allen ($8,435). Allen had his worst game in weeks against the Bengals but I’m going to go back to the well one more time. The Broncos defense isn’t exactly lights out, even if he has a tough matchup with Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie.
Flex: Julian Edelman ($8,115). A target monster for the final month of the season, there’s no reason Brady won’t keep going to Edelman in the postseason. Edelman should be a lock in any league that scores receptions.
DST: Panthers ($5,497). There are a few defenses I like this week so I went with the cheapest of the bunch. I don’t know if the Panthers will beat the 49ers, but I do believe it will be low-scoring affair.