FANTASY FOOTBALL IN-SEASON FEATURES

Sortable Player Projections | Game Predictions Summary | Projections by Team

Prediction: CLE 6, ARI 24

Update: Colt McCoy has been ruled out with a concussion and Seneca Wallace will take over. Ben Watson has been placed on injured reserve with a concussion and has been removed from the projections as well.

The 4-9 Browns are on a three game losing streak and pretty much have thrown the towel in with only a 1-5 road mark. The Cardinals remain at home after taking down two straight division leaders. Sweeping out the cellar of the AFC North should not prove too hard.

QUARTERBACK: Colt McCoy suffered a concussion last week though he returned to play after the incident and did not exhibit signs until afterwards. McCoy has been more of a game manager in the west coast variant and rarely passes for more than 200 yards in any game. There is also no long ball element to this dink and dunk offense so no receivers ever turn in much yardage.

I will project for McCoy though he may not be cleared for the game. Seneca Wallace would take over otherwise and that would be even worse. There has never been any real fantasy value here.

RUNNING BACKS: Let's take a bad situation - the Browns rushing effort in this case - and then make it completely bereft of fantasy value by sharing the load with three players. Peyton Hillis (10-25), Montario Hardesty (11-24) and even Chris Ogbonnaya (2-31) all played in Pittsburgh now than the trio is healthy again. The risk here is high, the reward minimal and that is not going to change with a murderous final schedule that should see the running effort shut down for the rest of the year.

The Cardinals at home have only allowed three rushing scores and just one game over 72 rush yards. No reason to look for Hills or Hardesty to produce anything more than marginal stats.

WIDE RECEIVERS: There is hope that in some future season, Greg Little will be a big part of a passing game that actually works but for now all he does is flash his talent and size advantage and yet rarely have any effort of any note. This unit has no reliable fantasy value in any week and each receiver is usually stuck at very marginal yardage. No reason for any fantasy starts here and again - the schedule is going to make it even worse. If there was a touchdown in this game - and the Browns had none last week - it would end up with a wideout but there is zero reliability who that would be.

TIGHT ENDS: No reliable fantasy value and only one touchdowns from either tight end since week four.

Pregame Notes: Nice way to end a season with wins over the visiting Cowboys and 49ers. The brewing problem may be that John Skelton is better than Kevin Kolb but in a forgettable year, at least the Cardinals can feel like they have made some progress. The running game has been better and yet rarely good and the passing is an upgrade from 2010. This is the easiest remaining game on the schedule.

I like a defensive score in this game.

QUARTERBACK: Kevin Kolb had a concussion last week and gave way to John Skelton who once again had a great showing with 282 yards and three scores on the visiting 49ers. The early week speculation is that Skelton will take this start as well and allow Kolb to fully recover.

Problem this week is that the Browns bring in the top unit against quarterbacks and wide receivers and the Cardinals rarely rely on tight ends. The Browns have only given up 12 touchdowns to passers so even one by Skelton would be an accomplishment. Expect a far less productive game from Skelton this time.

RUNNING BACKS: No secret that the Browns are the gift that keeps on giving to running backs. Beanie Wells goes against a defense that has already allowed eight 100+ yard rushing efforts and one that went for 204 (Ray Rice). Wells was stuffed by the 49ers last week but should have a nice bounce back here against one of the weakest units in the NFL. Expect one score and healthy yardage. There is always the chance it could turn into a monster game of course, but that depends on how well his knee holds up.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Have to assume that CB Joe Haden latches onto Larry Fitzgerald and that should at least depress his stats. The Browns have only allowed six touchdowns to wide receives this year and more often it has been the #2 guy for the opponents team. Both Early Doucet and Andre Roberts scored last week but it was the first of the year for Roberts. Doucet has five scores on the year and is a better bet to be the long touchdown receiver. Fitzgerald still has potential, but Haden is very good and the Cardinals do not have a complement to him that matters enough to stop the extra attention.

TIGHT ENDS: No fantasy value.

 Print