Look ahead to fantasy playoff matchups

Photo credit: Game Face

Michael Turner of the Atlanta Falcons (Photo by Getty Images)

By Ryan Chatelain

No one wants to see their fantasy football team cruise through the regular season only to bow out in the first round of the playoffs.

To avoid going one-and-done in the postseason, it’s important to look ahead to your players’ matchups in weeks 15 and 16, the fantasy playoffs in most leagues.

If any of your players have especially brutal games those weeks, you might want to think of a Plan B -- either trade him for someone with a more promising postseason slate or make sure you have a reliable option on your bench.

Here are five players with particularly unfavorable matchups in the fantasy playoffs:

Michael Turner, RB, Atlanta

The Falcons’ breakout star will meet Tampa Bay (11th in the NFL against the run) in Week 15 and Minnesota (third) in Week 16. That’s particularly bad news for Turner owners considering he has been superb against poor defenses but unimpressive against quality defenses. The Buccaneers, for example, held Turner to 42 yards rushing earlier this season.Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh

Let’s face it, Big Ben, who ranks 20th in the NFL in passing yards, has been a disappointment this season. So it’s tough to imagine him putting up great games in your fantasy playoffs against Baltimore and Tennessee Both rank in the top 12 in stopping the pass.

Terrell Owens, WR, Dallas

Owens hasn’t eclipsed 40 yards receiving since Oct. 5, and he hasn’t broken the 100-yard mark all season. In weeks 15 and 16, the Cowboys face the Giants (second against the pass) and Baltimore (ninth). And who’s to say whether the temperamental All-Pro hasn’t lost all interest by that point?

Marion Barber, RB, Dallas

While it will be tough to bench Barber, the heart and soul of the Cowboys offense, fantasy owners with other viable options should consider it. Not only are the Giants and Ravens tough against the pass (don’t forget, Barber has the third most catches on the Cowboys), those defenses also rank in the top seven in stopping the run.

Eli Manning, QB, Giants

Big Blue takes on the Cowboys (11th against the pass) and Carolina (fourth) in the fantasy playoffs. Manning hasn’t passed for more than 200 yards in five straight games. That’s a sign that the Giants prefer to establish the run first – a philosophy they’d be wise to continue following in weeks 15 and 16.

WEEK 11: START/SIT

Start

Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta (vs. Denver). The rookie has tossed two touchdowns in each of his last three games, and the Broncos are in the NFL’s bottom five against the pass.

Jerious Norwood, RB, Atlanta (vs. Denver). The Falcons’ No. 2 running back has averaged 83 yards of offense over his past three contests and scored TDs each of the past two weeks.

Dwayne Bowe, WR, Kansas City (vs. New Orleans). Bowe has caught five passes in seven of nine games, and the Saints’ pass defense is ranked 27th.

Sit

David Garrard, QB, Jacksonville (vs. Tennessee). The Titans have allowed just five passing scores this season, second fewest in the NFL.

Ryan Grant, RB, Green Bay (vs. Chicago). If the Bears could hold Tennessee’s Chris Johnson and LenDale White to a combined 22 yards, they can shut down Grant, too.

Plaxico Burress, WR, Giants (vs. Ravens). Plax hasn’t surpassed 35 yards in four straight games, and the Ravens are ranked ninth against the pass.

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