Quarterback
Jake Locker— Titans at Rams
Locker has multiple touchdown passes in three of his last four games and has thrown just one interception. He is becoming a viable starting quarterback, and receivers Nate Washington, Kendall Wright, Delanie Walker, and Chris Johnson out of the backfield can score fantasy points. The Rams have allowed 14 scoring throws but have played much better against the pass, allowing just one multiple-touchdown pass game in their last four. The Rams are playing better but if Locker can throw for 326 yards and two scores against the 49ers, I like him against the Rams.
Running Back
Donald Brown—Colts at Houston
Who would have thought the Houston run defense would be ranked 24th, allowing a rushing score in four of the last five games? Brown is not the starter on the depth chart, Trent Richardson is, but Brown is running more effectively than the former Brown. Head coach Chuck Pagano will give the touches to the back with the hotter hand in this road divisional game and that guy is Brown. Richardson will probably out-gain Brown the rest of the year, but for this week Brown is the more favorable play.
Fred Jackson— Bills vs Chiefs
With CJ Spiller limited again this week, Jackson will continue to be the workhorse back. He has averaged 16 touches the last five games and the Bills do not want to have to put the game on quarterback Thad Lewis. This is a winnable match-up for them and Jackson will be the center of the game plan. The Chiefs have not lost a game but are allowing 103 yards per game on the ground, totaling 4.7 yards a carry.
Wide Receiver
Rod Streater—Raiders vs Eagles
Denarius Moore might be more of a noteworthy name than Streater, but on the fantasy scale, I have them ranked even. The Eagles don’t have much in the secondary, but everything they have to offer will focus on Moore. For that reason, I prefer Streater in this one. The statistics speak for themselves: the Eagles are 31st against the pass, allowing 302 yards a game and a total of 14 touchdown throws.
Vincent Brown— Chargers at Redskins
The Chargers are 3-1 in games played in Eastern Time Zones this year. Even in the game they lost in Tennessee, Philip Rivers had just four incomplete passes. The Redskins are tied for 23rd against the pass, allowing more than 272 yards a game in the air and 15 touchdown passes. Brown is tied with Keenan Allen with 26 receptions this year, a number ranking second on the Chargers. Brown and Allen are playing well at wide receiver and the Redskins have allowed an average of 14 receptions per game in their last two games to the starting wide receivers. This should be a great day for Brown.
Tight End
Dallas Clark— Ravens at Browns
You can measure Clark’s speed with an hourglass! He gets virtually no separation from linebackers or safeties, but after all these years Clark still has great hands and has the veteran intangibles that only Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates share among active NFL tight ends. The Baltimore offense desperately misses Dennis Pitta, and Clark can only fill part of that void. Regardless, his match-up against the Browns this week is favorable. The Browns have allowed four touchdowns to the tight end their last four games, and Clark has scored in consecutive weeks having at least four receptions in four of his last five games. Bank on Clark to have an impressive outing.
