And last week highlighted the emotional roller coaster that we call fantasy football. One week after nearly two dozen players registered 30 or more points, they all came crashing back to earth. One week after 180 points was getting you a one point win, you were hoping to sneak a victory out by scoring 90 points. This is the life we have chosen, folks.
How did we do?
Dunton and Saucy T were right that Derek Carr would make a nice bye week/injury replacement. I, myself, listened to their advice and was able to beat our own Wayniac Nation expert JD by starting Carr for Andrew Luck. Saucy T also nailed that Martellus Bennett, whose 24 point day crushed me in one league.
A bevy of running backs picked by our experts as sits played just as they said… poorly. Carlos Hyde‘s three points, certainly didn’t help anyone, while Joseph Randle‘s whopping eight points were quite the opposite of his three TD performance last week. C.J. Anderson has entered must sit territory and is now part of the dreaded RBBC.
I must admit how proud I am. The Wifeyiac knocked it out of the park as four of her predictions should have won you games. She told you Devonta Freeman was no joke and to start him and that Cam Newton, despite many thinking he would struggle with a depleted WR corps, is back to must start status. If you sat Matthew Stafford (as she and Teddy Ballgame advised) and Alfred Morris you did alright.
The Wayniac? I had an off week. My start of the week came through in a big way as Philip Rivers went off for 358 yards and three TDs. Unfortunately, Jeremy Hill snuck in the end zone three times to disguise the fact that he still isn’t running the ball very well at all, making my sit of the week wrong. I aso told you to start Jonathan Stewart, with the label that if he couldn’t get it done against the Bucs, he wasn’t gong to get it done. Well, folks, his five points led me to my only fantasy loss in my three leagues last week, so Mr. Stewart is not an advised start until further notice.
Panthers, Dolphins, Jets and Vikings are on a bye this week. So, who’s on the menu for fantasy football week 5?
(Note to the reader: I’m not sure that some people realize this, but these picks are made by a collection of experts. I don’t necessarily agree with all of theirs, and they certainly don’t agree with all of mine. Keep in mind as you read, that these are not always consensus picks, and should you find as the season goes on that you feel more comfortable with one of our experts starts, by all means, make he or she your go-to expert.)
Dunton:
Starts of the Week: RB Justin Forsett. Yes I was down on him last week but then the Ravens went out and did something. They won a game. And do you know how they won said game? They established the run with Forsett. This week against the Browns I expect more of the same for Baltimore to right this ship.
Sit of the Week: RB Beast Mode. Lynch is currently listed as questionable and makes the dreaded early start on the eastern side of the country on Sunday. I think Beast Mode is tamed in the jungle that is Cincy this weekend. Keep him on your bench for another week.
Fee:
Starts of the Week: RB Arian Foster. Last week was a get-your-feet-wet game. This week vs Indy’s terrible D is a get right game. Start the Chiefs D against whoever the Bears decide to trot out at quarterback and receiver. The Philly/Saints game might be a shootout, get WR Jordan Matthews and QB Sam Bradford in while on the other side I really like this WR Willie Snead kid on the Saints. Oh and obviously, RB Todd Gurley... every game… for the rest of the season.
Sits of the Week: RB Melvin Gordon struggled against the Browns, he’s not going to get it done against the Steelers. This also may be the one week you sit WR Amari Cooper. That Broncos secondary is second to none (see what I did there?).
Sit QB Tyrod Taylor. The honeymoon may be over. Two weeks ago, I told you to start this guy, but with Sammy Watkins out and Karlos Williams hurt, they might not have much to go to this week even against the soft Titans D.
Teddy Ballgame:
Starts of the Week: I like WR Vincent Jackson to have a big game at home against Jacksonville. I also think WR Rueben Randal will see a lot of targets against San Francisco.
Sits of the Week: I would sit RB Joseph Randle against the Patriots, I’m sure they will load up against the run and make Weeden try to beat them. I would sit QB Joe Flacco because he has no one to throw it to in a tough divisional game.
Saucy T:
Starts of the Week: RB TJ Yeldon – Yeldon is a true 3 down back, which is rare in today’s NFL. When Jacksonville keeps games close, Yeldon will get a heavy workload. I expect a close game between the Jaguars and Bucs, which means Yeldon should be in your lineup
RB Todd Gurley – All it took was one great quarter for Gurley to vault himself into the RB1 conversation. I’m not sure he finishes top 12 this week, but I expect him to be a high end RB2 against Green Bay with a HIGH ceiling. If you drafted Gurley and had the patience to not trade him away, enjoy.
Sits of the Week: RB Jeremy Hill – It’s hard to bench one of your top 2 picks, especially when he just had a 3 TD game, but Hill only had 9 carries last week (Gio had 13) and faces the reinvigorated Legion of Boom. Without the touchdowns, Hill will disappoint his owners this week.
WR Amari Cooper/ QB Derek Carr – Over the last two weeks, the connection that Raiders fans have dubbed “AC/DC” has been a fantasy goldmine. This young duo may be able to help bring the Raiders into relevance, but it won’t happen this week. The Denver defense leads the league in sacks, and Demarcus Ware and Von Miller will be shaking Carr all night long. After this game, Carr and Cooper will be left thunderstruck.
The Wifeyiac:
Starts of the Week: Sorry, hubby, but WR Donte Moncrief will continue his hot start against a struggling Texans defense. Even with Matt Hasselback behind center last week, he saw his fair share of targets and put up 13 points, the same as his counterpart T.Y. Hilton. QB Philip Rivers was the top scorer last week, and leads the NFL in yards passing. He will continue to do it Monday night against a poor Steelers defense that seemingly allows 20 points to every quarterback they face… even Colin Kaepernick.
Sit of the Week: RB Melvin Gordon. He failed miserably against the Browns worst rush defense in football. He may be just like his Wisconsin pals Ron Dayne and Montee Ball… not at all what we thought he was going to be.
The Wayniac:
Starts of the Week:
QB: I hate that I am about to say this, but Eli Manning looks like a good start this week. I’m not impressed with any aspect of the 49ers game right now, and on a two game winning streak in prime time, it seems like Eli will right the ship and get the Giants over .500.
RB: People keep saying Devonta Freeman won’t keep up his big play. Why not? It’s not simply that Freeman is good, it is that this is the best Atlanta Falcons offensive line since Jamal Anderson was slicing people up. Freeman has holes open all day long, and when you need multiple D-Backs to focus on the dangerous Julio Jones on the outside, things open up even more for Freeman.
WR: I am going to go with Fee here. I like this Willie Snead kid on the Saints. Anyone who establishes a good rep with Drew Brees is good for some targets. Against an up and down Philly defense, he should make good on those targets.
TE: LaDarius Green has had some nice games thus far, but Philip Rivers favorite target is back in the fold this week. You didn’t draft and stash Antonio Gates to bench him, right? I get him the start this week with a big chip on his shoulder.
Def: The Packers have long been one of my favorite fantasy defenses. They allow points and yards, but they are highly opportunistic, blitzing the QB (six sacks last week alone) and causing turnovers. They could give the Rams some problems. I like the Patriots for the same reasons against the Cowboys.
Sits of the Week:
QB: You know who was a Top Five QB last week in fanatsy? QB Josh McCown. After two 300-yard, two TD performances he is a hot pickup this week with Cam Newton, Ryan Tannehill and Teddy Bridgewater on bye. The Browns and Ravens games are usually a slugfest and I don’t see McCown keeping that pace up this week.
RB: My problem with drafting Latavius Murray was that he was going to be a third round investment. Thus far, he hasn’t been worth it, with really only one wow game under his belt. In said game he posted 139 of his 297 rushing yards this season. He won’t improve against the Broncos.
WR: Doug Baldwin has had a pretty steady year, surprisingly surpassing the 10-point mark three out of four times. The Bengals defense is another story, however, and they will shut him down, making Jermaine Kearse and Tyler Lockett beat them.
TE: Owen Daniels might be attractive to you because he has scored in consecutive weeks, but that is all he has done. He may return to the end zone this week against the Raiders, but you can still do better than the seven points that will net you.
Def: The Rams actually showed up and played well when I advised to sit them last week. Those pesky NFC West divisional games, you sometimes forget how the Rams take it to another level. They won’t do that against Aaron Rodgers, who turns the ball over once every four weeks.
Don’t forget, any last minute questions can always be answered in the comments below!
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