In my print column today I predicted three players — a QB, RB and WR — who I felt would have really strong games down the stretch of the season. Now it’s time to look at the TEs and DEF units I feel will do the same. I’m also throwing in a dark horse candidate, someone you can likely pick up on the wire and who I feel will put up big numbers in some games down the stretch.
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My second half guy for the tight end position is going to be Jason Witten. The Cowboys TE has been a disappointment for fantasy owners who likely took him in the first five rounds of most drafts. Witten has just 312 yards receiving and one TD. But now with the emergence of Miles Austin at wide receiver defenses will have to respect the outside, thus opening the inside routes for Witten to exploit. Throw in the fact that Dallas has a nice schedule over the final 10 games and you have a strong option in Witten.
Dark horse: Kevin Boss. With the weather getting worse, Eli Manning will rely more and more on his burly tight end. Don’t expect huge numbers, but Boss could have a few really solid games, starting with this Sunday against the Eagles.
DEF In their win over the New York Giants, the Arizona Cardinals showed they might be changing from a high-flying offense into a defense-first team. They have the best run defense in the NFL (shocking, I know, but look at the numbers) and they’re a big-play defense with Adrian Wilson and Dominiue Rodgers-Cromartie in the backfield. Throw in the nice schedule down the stretch (Carolina, St. Louis – twice, Tennessee and Detroit) and you have the right mixture for a great stretch run by the Cardinals defense.
Dark horse: Atlanta Falcons. They’ve been a disappointment so far, and not every game is a winner (they play New Orleans twice, but there are some juicy matchups, including Washington, Carolina, Tampa Bay – twice and Buffalo.
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