Everybody loves the movie "Back to the Future." It's fun, entertaining and has time travel. It's like the perfect cocktail of movie goodness. One of the best scenes in the movie is when Marty McFly's father finally stands up to the bully Biff Tannen by knocking him out cold with one punch, essentially saving the future as we know it from being erased completely. You could call this moment in the film the climax, or the decisive moment of the story.
For many fantasy owners out there, the decisive moment of the season is right now. There are only two regular season games left in standard leagues. That means every team hovering around .500 only has two more weeks to sneak into the playoffs. It's now or never, folks. Will this be a successful climax to your fantasy season or a lowly defeat?
In an effort to help you reach your goals, here are a few players that are worth starting this week and some to avoid:
Worth It:
QB: Tony Romo
The Giants have allowed the 7th most points to opposing quarterbacks this season. Romo, meanwhile, is quietly enjoying one of the most efficient seasons of his career. He hasn't thrown an interception since Week 7 (granted, it was against these same Giants, but still). He's averaging 2.25 touchdown passes over his last four games, and the G-Boys surrendered three in their previous matchup against the Cowboys this season. If the Cowboys want to prove me wrong and make the playoffs, they need a win coming out of their bye week.
RB: LeSean McCoy
I mean, you were starting him anyway, so this isn't exactly hard hitting, out on a limb territory. I'm not "60 Minutes." But if you're a Shady owner like me, you're probably disappointed with his production this season considering you spent a top-three pick on him. Yes, he's had offensive line issues, but he also hasn't had a single "wow" game this year (only two touchdowns). You know, the type of games he routinely had last season. Hopefully, that changes against the Tennessee Titans this week. The Titans have allowed the eighth most fantasy points to opposing rushers this season. This includes five rushing touchdowns in their last three games and the demoralizing 204 yards they just surrendered to Le'Veon Bell on Monday night. It's not like the Eagles are going to let Mark Sanchez throw it all night.
WR: Anquan Boldin
Guess who has three double digit fantasy games in his last five? Guess who leads the 49ers in targets this season? Guess which lazy writer still hasn't had their coffee and can't think of anything better than rhetorical questions? I love Boldin as a player. He's one of the toughest in the game. Guy got his face broken in 2008 and came back in three weeks. That shouldn't be possible unless you've got Wolverine's healing powers. Boldin also has a knack for showing up in big games. With San Francisco at 6-4 and desperately trying to fight off the Cowboys, Seahawks and Packers for a wild card spot, every game is a big game. Lucky for Boldin, this one comes against a Washington Redskins defense that just allowed 200-plus yards to rookie receiver Mike Evans. Boldin may be 34 years old, but you know what they say: no school like the old school.
TE: Coby Fleener
Matthew McConaughey, Marvel's bank account and tight ends on the Indianapolis Colts. Sorry, I'm just listing a few things that are having great years (#McConaissance). Dwayne Allen was killing it for a while before an ankle injury took him out of Sunday night's game. He's questionable for this week's match against the Jacksonville Jaguars. No matter, because Fleener has been on fire the last two weeks with 11 catches for 221 yards and a touchdown on 18 targets. Do you think that hot streak will continue against Jacksonville's 29th ranked defense? Because I do.
Avoid:
QB: Matthew Stafford
This column isn't a rankings or set-in-stone doctrine. It's just a list of players I feel good and bad about. Stafford owners likely don't have a better option, so I don't expect them to bench him. I just don't think he'll have a great game this week. He's been inexplicably shaky since getting Calvin Johnson back. Stafford is completing just 57 percent of his passes for a measly 6.6 yards per pass attempt with three interceptions in the last three weeks. The Lions will travel to Foxborough this week, where the Patriots have four interceptions and eight sacks in five games this season. I don't think Stafford will stink up the joint, but I also don't think he'll light it on fire.
RB: Frank Gore
I know I just bashed the Redskins defense, but they've been surprisingly stingy against the run this year. Washington is allowing just the sixth fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs. Plus, the 31-year-old tailback has been more gruel than Gore this season. Just one double digit game in his last five. Gore has been solid yet unspectacular. I expect a little more of the latter the rest of the season.
WR: Larry Fitzgerald
You know who really gets the short end of the field? Larry Fitzgerald. Fitzy was enjoying a very nice career resurgence this season thanks to Carson Palmer before he went down with a torn ACL. Now, the Cardinals receivers have to make due with Drew Stanton. NEWSFLASH: That isn't good for their fantasy value. Fitzgerald saw just four targets last week with Stanton under center. In fact, Fitzy is averaging just 3.5 catches and 43.75 receiver yards in the four games Stanton has started this season, plus the veteran receiver is dealing with a sprained MCL. Playing a Seattle Seahawks defense that has surrendered the second-fewest fantasy points to receivers doesn't seem like the remedy to this situation.
TE: Antonio Gates
The St. Louis Rams are the most maddeningly inconsistent team this season. They lost Sam Bradford for the season, but show a small spark with Austin Davis under center. They then benched the young QB for How-Am-I-Still-In-The-NFL Shaun Hill only for him to lead the Rams to a 22-7 win over the Denver Broncos. You can't nail this team down. But one thing you can count on from St. Louis is solid defense against opposing tight ends. The Rams have only allowed two receiving touchdowns to TE's this season, and the last one was way back in Week 7. They haven't allowed more than 68 receiving yards to the position all year. That probably doesn't change with a downward trending San Diego Chargers offense up next.
