Fantasy Football Over/Under: Week 13

This week, Ryan Dembinsky and I are going head-to-head for the final spot in the FanHouse Challenge league. For an added wrinkle, we're also going to go head-to-head in this week's Over/Under.

I've thrown some key matchups out there, and Ryan has weighed in with his picks. I'll do the same, and then I'll defend myself at the points where we differ. This way, Ryan has a chance at winning something this week.

(I kid -- but seriously, you're going down, Ryan.)

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Quarterbacks

Aaron Rodgers, GB vs. BAL. R.J.: Over. Ryan: Under.
Donovan McNabb, PHI at ATL. R.J.: Over. Ryan: Under.
Carson Palmer, CIN vs. DET. R.J.: Over. Ryan: Over.
Eli Manning, NYG vs. DAL. R.J.: Under. Ryan: Over.
Tony Romo, DAL at NYG. R.J.: Under. Ryan: Over.
Ben Roethlisberger, PIT vs. OAK: R.J. Under. Ryan: Under.

Dissension right off the bat! The matchup for Rodgers is a little bit tough, but since he's the top QB in the league this season, I think it's reasonable to expect QB1 numbers from him regardless of who he plays. McNabb has a tasty matchup against the Falcons, though he'll likely be without No. 1 weapon DeSean Jackson. McNabb has shown in the past that one receiver doesn't make or break the Philly offense, and I'd still start him.

I ranked Manning fairly high in this week's rankings, but I feel there's a huge dropoff right before his slot. Frankly, QB points are going to be tough to come by this week in my opinion, so having one of those top studs is critical if you're fighting for a playoff spot. Do I trust Romo in December in breezy New York (or New Jersey, rather)? Of course not.

No. 1 Running Backs

Frank Gore, SF at SEA. R.J.: Over. Ryan: Under.
Ricky Williams, MIA vs. NE. R.J.: Under. Ryan: Under.
Steven Jackson, STL at CHI. R.J.: Over. Ryan: Under.
Adrian Peterson, MIN at ARI. R.J.: Over. Ryan: Over.

Week 2: 16 carries, 207 yards, two TDs against Seattle. That's all I have to say about Mr. Gore.

Steven Jackson has been much better in his last four games, scoring a touchdown in each while averaging over 140 total yards. Last week, Peterson reached 100 yards and scored a touchdown against the Bears, and I'd expect at least that from Jackson as well.

No. 2 Running Backs

Matt Forte, CHI vs. STL. R.J.: Over. Ryan: Over.
Cedric Benson, CIN vs. DET. R.J.: Over. Ryan: Under.
LeSean McCoy, PHI at ATL. R.J.: Under. Ryan: Under.
Knowshon Moreno, DEN at KC. R.J.: Over. Ryan: Over.
Kevin Smith, DET at CIN. R.J.: Under. Ryan: Under.
Marion Barber, DAL at NYG. R.J.: Under. Ryan: Under.

We agree on most of these backs this week, but I still think Benson can manage RB2 numbers, even if he's not at 100 percent. A touchdown or two against the hapless Lions seems inevitable, which means he really doesn't have to rack up a huge yardage game to put up respectable fantasy points.

No. 1 Wide Receivers

Larry Fitzgerald, ARI vs. MIN. R.J. : Over. Ryan: Over.
Marques Colston, NO at WAS. R.J.: Under. Ryan: Over.
Roddy White, ATL vs. PHI. R.J.: Under. Ryan: Over.
Sidney Rice, MIN at ARI. R.J.: Over. Ryan: Over.

Ryan sees all of these guys putting up WR1 numbers this week, but I'm skeptical on two. Colston's big game against the Patriots was his first in a month. In his previous three games, he had totaled just 136 yards and no touchdowns. I wouldn't bench him, but I don't see Washington allowing him a touchdown in this game.

White has the privilege of taking on the extremely-tough Eagles secondary. They haven't given up many points to receivers this year, while they generally get abused by tight ends. It seems to me that White will end up playing second fiddle to Tony Gonzalez this week.

No. 2 Wide Receivers

Donald Driver, GB vs. BAL. R.J.: Under. Ryan: Under.
Pierre Garcon, IND vs. TEN. R.J.: Over. Ryan: Over.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh, SEA vs. SF. R.J.: Over. Ryan: Over.
Jeremy Maclin, PHI at ATL. R.J.: Under. Ryan: Under.
Derrick Mason, BAL at GB. R.J.: Under. Ryan: Over.

We differ just at Derrick Mason, whom I'd likely bench for Maclin had I the choice. I see Maclin having a solid WR3 day against a bad Falcons secondary, but McNabb spreads the ball around too much to expect anything higher. Mason is in the midst of a nice little stretch, with 16 catches, 204 yards and a TD in his last two games, but I think that stretch ends against Green Bay.

No. 3 Wide Receivers

Kevin Walter, HOU at JAC. R.J.: Over. Ryan: Over.
Devin Hester, CHI vs. STL. R.J.: Under. Ryan: Under.
Steve Breaston, ARI vs. MIN. R.J.: Under. Ryan: Under.
Hakeem Nicks, NYG vs. DAL. R.J.: Under. Ryan: Over.
Donnie Avery, STL at CHI. R.J.: Over. Ryan: Under.
Kenny Britt, TEN at IND. R.J.: Under. Ryan: Over.

Nicks is still fighting Mario Manningham for playing time, which limits the usefulness of both. Nicks hasn't scored a TD since recording one in four straight games earlier in the season, and with no trips to the end zone, his numbers have been pedestrian. Avery hasn't topped 100 yards in a game this season, but he will. He's scored three TDs in the last three weeks and should have another in Chicago. Britt comes off a performance to remember, but he faces an Indianapolis secondary playing well and getting healthy.

Flex Players

Chris Jennings, CLE vs. SD. R.J.: Over. Ryan: Over.
Carnell Williams, TB at CAR. R.J.: Over. Ryan: Over.
Justin Forsett, SEA vs. SF. R.J.: Over. Ryan: Under.
Jason Snelling, ATL vs. PHI. R.J.: Under. Ryan: Under.
Jason Avant, PHI at ATL. R.J.: Over. Ryan: Over.
Andre Caldwell, CIN vs. DET. R.J. Under. Ryan: Under.
Mike Wallace, PIT vs. OAK. R.J.: Under. Ryan: Under.
Antonio Bryant, TB at CAR. R.J.: Under. Ryan: Under.

Justin Forsett may not be the starter in San Francisco any longer, but I do think he'll maintain flex value this week while Julius Jones gets his running legs underneath him. San Francisco doesn't stop the run well, so both should have value. I still like Chris Jennings more, though. Antonio Bryant had 80 yards and a touchdown in Tampa Bay's first drive last Sunday, but just one catch the rest of the way. For that reason, neither of us think he'll have success against Carolina's excellent secondary.

Tight Ends

Tony Gonzalez, ATL vs. PHI. R.J.: Over. Ryan: Over.
Jason Witten, DAL at NYG. R.J.: Over. Ryan: Over.
Kellen Winslow, TB at CAR. R.J.: Over. Ryan: Over.
Greg Olsen, CHI vs. STL. R.J.: Over. Ryan: Under.
Heath Miller, PIT vs. OAK. R.J.: Under. Ryan: Under.

Olsen is being targeted plenty by Jay Cutler -- he's just not getting down the field. The Bears tight end has 20 catches for 162 yards over his last three weeks. He should find more room to work against St. Louis, and may score his first touchdown since his three-TD day in Week 9.

Normal scoring (passing 20/4, rushing/receiving 10/6) applies. Benchmarks:

QB - 18 points (200 yards passing, 2 TDs; 220 yards passing, 2 TDs, 1 INT, etc)
RB1 - 16 points (100 yards and 1 TD)
RB2 - 10 points (100 yards, zero TDs; 40 yards, 1 TD)
WR1 - 14 points (80 yards and 1 TD)
WR2 - 10 points (100 yards, zero TDs; 40 yards, 1 TD)
WR3 - 8 points (80 yards, zero TDs; 20 yards, 1 TD)
FLEX - 6 points (60 yards or a TD)
TE - 6 points (60 yards or a TD)