5. Torrey Smith vs. Calvin Johnson

This week’s top five matchup begins with some top receivers on teams that are looking to make a push for the playoffs.  Torrey Smith’s big play ability is what makes him fantasy relevant in standard leagues.  He seems to be either a stud or dud every other week.  One week you’re looking at a 75 yard game and a touchdown, and another game you’re looking at a 30 yard game and no touchdown.  This week he is facing a frail Lions defense that gives up tons of yards and touchdowns week after week.  Smith has a good chance to be a stud this week as long as Joe Flacco doesn’t have any issues getting him the ball.

For the first time in six games, Johnson was held to single digit fantasy points and it was the first time in three games that he was held to under 100 receiving yards.  A lot of that had to do with the poor weather conditions and limited him to just three receptions for 49 yards.  This week, weather will play no factor since the Lions will be home in the dome.  Matthew Stafford should be targeting Megatron as much as he usually does since the Ravens defense has given up four touchdowns and 350 yards in the past two games to opposing receivers.  Expect Johnson to get back to his scoring routine.

Projections:

Torrey Smith – Five receptions, 70 yards, one touchdown

Calvin Johnson – Seven receptions, 100 yards, one touchdown

4. Eddie Lacy vs. DeMarco Murray

Lacy has seen a huge workload since the Packers bye week back in Week 4 but has been keyed on ever since Aaron Rodgers went down with an injury. 

Since the bye week, Lacy has put up single digit fantasy number just three times and this week he is facing the worst ranked defense against the run and that would be the Dallas Cowboys. 

In eight out of the 13 games played so far this season, the Cowboys have allowed over 100 yards rushing so plan on Lacy having an outstanding day.  He is a must start for this week and likely the rest of the season.

Murray has been red hot as of late.  It also helps when he is against defenses that are just as bad against the run as his own team.  The past three games combined he has just less than 300 yards rushing and three touchdowns.  The past three games the Packers run defense has actually been worse than the Cowboys giving up over 500 rushing yards and three touchdowns.  It’s hard to think that Murray will not stay hot this week.

Projections:

Eddie Lacy – 90 rush yards, three receptions, 25 receiving yards, two touchdowns

DeMarco Murray – 85 rush yards, four receptions, 30 receiving yards, one touchdown

3. Antonio Brown vs. A.J. Green

Brown has been one of the highest targeted receivers in the NFL all season.  Since Week 9 he has been on a tear just racking up yards and touchdowns.  Brown is clearly one of Ben Roethlisberger’s favorite and most reliable receivers.  Earlier this season when the Steelers played the Bengals, Brown was held to just 57 yards but had six receptions.  This week the game is in Pittsburgh and the Bengals defense has surrendered six touchdowns in the past four games and Brown has four touchdowns himself in the same span.  Brown will definitely see his number of targets and receptions so expect a good outing.

In my ‘Sit These Wide Receivers’ article that I posted earlier this week, I had A.J. Green on my list simply because of his performance from the first time these two teams met this season where he had just 41 yards on six receptions.  But today we are looking at the positives that are looking in Green’s direction.  The past four games the Steelers defense has given up five touchdowns to opposing receivers.  Green has a two week streak of touchdowns and looks to continue it this week.  His upside looks great for this matchup.

Projections:

Antonio Brown – Six receptions, 85 yards, one touchdown

A.J. Green – Five receptions, 40 yards, one touchdown

2. Brandon Marshall vs. Josh Gordon

Marshall was able to reach 100 yards receiving for the fourth time in six games this past Monday against the Cowboys. 

With backup quarterback Josh McCown slinging the ball the way he is, it makes the receivers for the Bears just as dangerous as if they were still with Jay Cutler. 

Marshall will have the pleasure to line up across an excellent cornerback in Joe Haden who has done well in shutting down receivers. 

Keep in mind though that the Browns defense has allowed 11 touchdowns to opposing receivers in the past seven games.  Marshall has great potential to have another big game.

Even with Gordon missing the first two games of the season due to suspension, he has manages to work his way up to the number two receiver in total fantasy points this season in standard leagues.  He has a four game streak of at least one touchdown and over 100 yards receiving.  He seems to be the only guy they throw to and it is working.  The Bears pass defense is average which means an above average receiver like Gordon should be able to continue at least one of the two streaks he has in progress right now.

Projections:

Brandon Marshall – Five receptions, 70 yards, one touchdown

Josh Gordon – Seven receptions, 95 yards, two touchdowns

1. Philip Rivers vs. Peyton Manning

The matchup of the week is none other than a division battle between two top fantasy quarterbacks.  Philip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers travel to the Mile High City to take on Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos.  Get your popcorn ready because this Thursday night game will surely be a good one (and is also probably the most exciting game on Thursday Night Football this season.)

Rivers has propelled himself into the top 10 fantasy quarterback this year after being snubbed in most of our fantasy drafts before the season began.  The past three games he has seven touchdown passes to just a single interception.  This week he plays a low ranked Broncos defense that gives up plenty of yards and touchdowns to opposing quarterbacks.  A few weeks ago when these teams first met in San Diego, the Broncos defense gave Rivers some fits and only allowed 218 passing yards and one touchdown.  Rivers needs a much improved performance if they want any chance of upsetting the number one team in the AFC.

What more can you say about Peyton Manning?  This man is a machine who is on a mission to have the single greatest performance by a quarterback in a season.  As of now Manning has 45 touchdown passes and needs five more to tie the current record holder Tom Brady at 50.  With three games left there is a solid chance that Manning can do it and it starts Thursday against a Chargers defense that he absolutely torched back in Week 10, throwing 330 yards and four touchdowns.  The past two games he has 800 passing yards and nine touchdown passes.  Manning is hotter than hot right now and that is expected to continue Thursday night.

Projections:

Philip Rivers – 260 passing yards, two touchdowns

Peyton Manning – 310 passing yards, three touchdowns