The weather could hurt Big Ben's numbers.
It’s the final week for making your playoff push for a lot of leagues, and for those that are already gearing up for the first round of the playoffs, well, this is it.
It’s make or break time, and if you’re not confident in your roster, you better start making some rash decisions. This means a quick glance at our Start/Sit column could do you a lot of good. And at the very worst, it will remind you of your options.
While few people are relying on any Cleveland Browns to make a difference this week, there are some borderline playoff teams out there that may have to decide between the likes of Brady Quinn and Bruce Gradkowski, or may be forced to take a chance on Jerome Harrison.
Let’s hope not, but regardless of your situation, there’s never anything wrong with getting some more info before you set your final line-up. If you’re considering any of the options in tonight’s NFL game, read on:
Pittsburgh Steelers
QB Ben Roethlisberger
He’s always a tempting play, and considering a lovely match-up against the weak Cleveland Browns defense this week, why not, right?
Well, the weather isn’t expected to be exactly favorable for passing tonight, so if you have a better alternative at quarterback, you may want to roll with it. We still like Big Ben to post decent numbers (after all, it is the Browns), but there’s no doubt that the weather can come into play, especially when the Steelers can run the ball extremely well against weak opponents.
The Browns can’t stop the run at all, and Mendy is due a big game. That, and the poor weather forecast suggests more running that usual for the Steelers, and that’s saying something.
Mendenhall is a must-start play in every format.
WR Hines Ward
He’s extremely doubtful for Thursday, and despite the tasty match-up, you just can’t risk it this late in the season. Don’t play with hamstring injuries, folks. Leave Ward on your bench and look for a guy like Kenny Britt to take his place this week.
WR Santonio Holmes
Even with the weather concerns, we like Holmes this week. He’s scored two times in this last two games after being shut-out of the end-zone since Week One. Big Ben may not have a huge day through the air, but that doesn’t mean Holmes can’t beat the Browns woeful secondary a few times.
WR Mike Wallace
As we said, Ward is almost certainly out of this game. That means more looks and better production than usual for Wallace. Again, the weather could play a huge hand in how this game, and how each player’s production goes, but Wallace would still make a fine WR3.
TE Heath Miller
Miller is a strong candidate to get a lot of dump-off passes and red-zone targets every week, and especially so if the weather restricts Roethlisberger from airing it out. Miller is a solid TE1 in most leagues.
QB Brady Quinn
He’s thrown seven touchdowns to zero picks in his last three games, while adding another on the ground, so he has to be considered. Why? Because the Steelers will stop the run with ease, and bad weather or not Quinn will be passing all night long tonight.
There’s definitely a decent chance that the weather and Steelers aggressive pass rush gets to him, but with Troy Polamalu out and the Pittsburgh secondary ailing, he’s a fine sleeper pick. Consider him a better than advertised QB2 this week.
The Steelers stop the run with the best of them; there’s no doubt about that. But that’s not really how Harrison has been making a living this year, anyways. He recorded 70+ yards and two scores through the air last week, and could be very useful on screens again in poor weather.
He was out of practice with an illness on Wednesday, but all signs point to him starting and having a solid role for the second week in a row. He stands to provide solid Flex numbers if you were depending on guys like Steve Slaton or Rock Cartwright this week.
WR Mohamed Massaquoi
He is extremely hit-or-miss, and we’re not going to sugar-coat it. He has the potential to go off against a beat-up and under-performing secondary, though, and while we won’t vouch for him, we still not that he can help you out in a bind.
The Browns should pass all night, and though he drops the ball with the best of them, he still has the ability and role to help you out as a WR3 or Flex. Brian Robiskie and Josh Cribbs also have minor roles in the offense that could suggest them being useful this week, but Massaquoi continues to be the only receiver in Cleveland we would even dare to half-way promote.
TE Evan Moore
The second-year Stanford alum came out of nowhere last week to rescue the inept Cleveland tight end corps, catching six passes for 80 yards. The guy is as tall as the Empire State Building, and has great hands and speed for the position.
We’d be foolish to suggest he’ll automatically repeat those numbers in his just second appearance with the team, but if Brady Quinn liked him the first time around, chances are he’ll go to him this week, too.
If you’ve been putting all your eggs in one basket with James Casey or Marcedes Lewis, Moore could be a nice, surprising alternative.
