Fantasy Football Start or Sit - Week 13 2008 | SPIKE

It's the last week of the regular season in most fantasy football leagues, and we're guessing that more than a few of you are in a dogfight for your playoff lives. One wrong start can knock you out of the playoffs, so lean on our game-by-game analysis with Saturday injury updates to maximize your squad.

If you are one of those people on the bubble, then chances are you may have developed a relationship with your league's tie-breaker system for the first time. It can be disheartening to learn that you won't make the playoffs even though you've scored more points than someone else, and now's the time to express your displeasure over your tie break system for next season. Honestly, we like to roll with total points scored as the tie break. Fantasy football is a whole lot of luck and we try to take as much of it out of the equation as possible. Your total points scored is the only thing that you have total control over. You can't manage how many points are scored against you, which is where the luck comes into play in head-to-head leagues. Some leagues use conference record as the tie break, but this makes no sense. If your league schedule is set up correctly, you're playing everyone in your conference twice. That's more than enough opportunity to put your stamp on the standings. Why toss more luck into the equation when you can have a league that's much more fair by using total points scored as the tie break?

It's too late to change things for this season, but if you make this argument to the other owners in your league it will be hard for them to say no to changing the rule for next season. Either way, best of luck to you as you try to sneak in.

 Sunday November, 30

San Francisco at Buffalo

Start- Marshawn Lynch is finally starting to turn it on. He's been a monster of late, and that will continue here. Lee Evans went on a horrible stretch of games when owners needed him for the playoff push, but after last week's encouraging 100-yard game, he should be licking his chops here with the improved confidence of Trent Edwards after his monster game last week. Get Edwards in your lineup as well. Remember what Tony Romo did to the 49ers? Frank Gore had yet another awful game last week and he's quickly becoming fantasy irrelevant. However, the Bills are 20^th against the run, so he makes a decent flex start this week.

Sit- Tight end Robert Royal is out, but if your games are still relevant then we're guessing he doesn't matter.  Josh Morgan has a busted hammy and will not play for the Niners. Don't be fooled by Isaac Bruce's big game last week. The Niners were playing from behind and the Cowboys were giving them the underneath stuff. Shaun Hill had a huge game last week because of this, but in the cold in Buffalo in a tight game, we don't expect the same kind of numbers. Arnaz Battle is out this week. We don't know why we're mentioning him other than the fact that there aren't many more players to talk about on the Niners.

Baltimore at Cincinnati

Start- Holy cow, the Ravens really poured it on last week against a respectable Eagles defense. It was a debacle, but no one player really stepped it up for the Ravens except for LeRon McClain, but if you've been following the revolving wheel of Baltimore RBs, then you know to stay away from that situation. If you're falling on hard times due to injury, Joe Flacco is proving that he's a consistent starter who can get you 10-13 fantasy points a week if you really need them. TJ Houshmandzadeh is ready to go, and he's probably the only Bengals player we recommend starting, but even then only as a third receiver. Despite the scoring bonanza, Derrick Mason had his first real stinker last week. We think he'll bounce back here.

Sit- The Ravens will score decent points in this game, but it's really hard to tell who's going to score them. We would sit Willis McGahee as he has one big game every three or four. Truth be told, he's due, but you never know who's going to get the carries. Mark Clayton was the Ravens' leading receiver last week, but he hurt his back in practice on Thursday and is a little dinged up. Plus, that was his first start-worthy performance of 2008. Chad Ocho Cinco is going to have problems getting open against the healing Ravens secondary, but then we wouldn't recommend him as a start against anyone at this point.

Carolina at Green Bay

Start- The Packers are starting to use the media to express its displeasure with Ryan Grant. He's been playing a lot better of late, but he's still nowhere near the fantasy stud he was last season. He's a mudder, though, and games like this are made for backs of his style. Carolina's run defense is ranked 17^th, and remember what Michael Turner did to them last week? Look for Grant to have one of his better games with the criticism and cold weather in Green Bay. DeAngelo Williams continued his torrid streak last week and he should keep on rolling here. We always knew all he needed was a chance. It makes you wonder why Carolina's coaches didn't see it. Jake Delhomme had to have seen the Monday night game and saw how vulnerable the Packers secondary looked against the Saints. He's got to be licking his chops. The same goes for Steve Smith, who should put up nice stats. One way or another, Greg Jennings gets his every week.

Sit- Jonathan Stewart is probable with his bum heel, but since the emergence of DeAngelo Williams he's become a flex start at best with minimal touches. Donald Driver is looking like he's in the sunset of his career. Aaron Rodgers simply isn't looking his way much, so only start him if you think he's the only player on your roster who can get you eight points and you need them. Aaron Rodgers looked out of sorts on Monday night, and things won't get much better here against the eighth-ranked pass defense of the Panthers. He'll be good for around 200 yards and a TD or two if that's all you need.