Another week passes into the end of the regular football season and teams are starting to put that final push into making playoffs.  Which players are stepping up when you need it for your fantasy team, and what players are straight up flopping towards the end of the year?  Find out here in the weekly Studs and Duds.

Studs

Ben Roethlisberger, QB Pittsburgh Steelers: I know I wrote about Ben in Start ’em Sit ‘ em this week telling everyone to bench him, and I was way wrong.  Ben really stepped it up Sunday night against the ravens and added his 3rd 500 yard passing game to his repertoire.  Big Ben is stepping it up at the end of the year and should be counted on week in and out.

Alex Collins, RB Baltimore Ravens: Collins has been lighting it up the last couple weeks as the leading running back for the Ravens.  Racking up 5 touchdowns in the past 4 games Collins is easily a RB2 the rest of the year with the Ravens fighting for playoff spots.

Dede Westbrook, WR Jacksonville Jaguars: Westbrook came into the Jags offense saying he was going to get 200 receiving yards, well he hasn’t topped the 100 yard mark yet in any games.  However he has been slowly becoming a bigger part of the Jags offense and Bortles is getting hot at the end of the year.

Jessee James, TE Pittsburgh Steelers: James had 12 targets 10 catches and 97 yards against the Ravens Sunday night.  As Ben is getting hot I think James is a good filler TE for those of you who might not have other solid options.

Duds

Matt Ryan, QB Atlanta Falcons: Ryan has been on my duds list so many times this year and I really hope nobody is still starting this guy.  He’s a good QB I just don’t know what’s going on with him this year and it’s way to risky to start him in the fantasy playoffs.

DeMarco Murray, RB Tennessee Titans: Murray hasn’t been great the past couple weeks and neither has the Titans offense in general.  If they are going to get back on track I think it is going to be through the run game but it’s just too risky to rely on Murray right now.

T.Y. Hilton, WR Indianapolis Colts: Hilton has been giving me headaches.  He will go games without scoring more than 5 fantasy points but then he will randomly go for 175 yards and two touchdowns (whenever I play against him).  If you’re a gambler you can keep him in your lineup but to me he’s a Dud.

Jimmy Graham, TE Seattle Seahawks: Honestly, I think Graham just had an off day last Sunday against the Jags.  Look for him and his MVP QB Russell Wilson to get back on track in a fight for their playoff spot in the NFC.

Written By: Jon Tetreault ( @jtetreault13 )