Let me tell you a little something about The Wayniac and fantasy football. For every genius play I pull, somewhere down the line I am still an idiot.
I was nearly perfect this week. I told you to start Eli Manning (who dropped 32 points), Devonta Freeman (who dropped 33 points), and Willie Snead (who dropped 21 points). I also reminded you that you drafted Antonio Gates to start and not to hesitate in getting him in your lineup this week, and hopefully he rewarded your starting team with his 30 points and not your bench. My Packers defense start was the top netting fantasy defense in several formats, so that helped as well. A perfect 5-for-5 in starts.
My Latavius Murray sit was right on as he wound up getting benched, as was my Owen Daniels sit who didn’t even secure one target. The Wayniac, however, bought the stats. In the wee hours of Sunday morning, I looked at the Raiders NFL worst defense against tight ends, and dropped Gary Barnidge to roll the dice with OD against the hapless Raiders. The Wayniac went against The Wayniac, and watched a goose egg from OD (which I originally projected) while Barnidge dropped nearly 30 points.
I also went against myself in the case of Josh McCown. I told you to sit him. However, my QB situation in one league is in complete disarray. Andrew Luck is my starter and Derek Carr is my backup. Luck was ruled out and there was no way (and rightfully so) was I starting Saucy T’s sit of the week in Carr (which he was correct on as well). So I picked up Kirk Cousins, but when DeSean Jackson and Jordan Reed we declared inactive I dropped him for Jay Cutler. When Alshon Jeffery and Eddie Royal were declared inactive, I dropped Cutler and picked up the top QB available… Mr. Josh McCown. He would be the number one scoring QB on the week and lead my team to a 212-point performance, third best in league history (incidentally, yours truly is number one AND number two as well — insert pat on back here).
We all make mistakes. I usually keep mine to one, so hopefully you took the other 90% of my picks to heart and won a few games this week.
The Cowboys, Raiders, Bucs and Rams are on byes. Luck, Julio Jones and a bevy of other superstars are highly questionable. Who do you turn to this week?
(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: Tom Brady, Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski are automatic starts, but against the Colts, consider starting any Patriot you have. RB LeGarrette Blount? Start him. RB Dion Lewis? Start him. Do you honestly think Brady is going to take his foot of the gas against the team that were the tattle tales? No chance. I’m hoping for 70 points.
It’s good to see WR Larry Fitzgerald back in the must start column. Larry is heading home on a roll the past three weeks to play the Steelers. Expect this to continue against a shell of themselves Steelers secondary.
With Julio on a “Pitch Count” WR Leonard Hankerson may be next man up. This whole Roddy White saga is intriguing and clearly Hankerson has become the number two WR behind Julio. Leonard may grab a TD and some yards when Julio is being saved for further down the road this season.
WR Ty Montgomery of the Packers may be a decent play this weekend if you don’t have Cobb or Jones. Montgomery had 59 yards and a TD last weekend. This weekend a weak San Diego defense comes into Lambeau against Aaron Rodgers who seems annoyed about the way he is playing. It must have been his first 2 INT’s of the year. This has the makings for some fireworks from number 12 on Sunday. Montgomery may be on the receiving end of a couple of those.
Sit of the Week: This may surprise some of you but I think WR Antonio Brown may be someone to bench this weekend, especially if Big Ben is still calling plays from the sideline. The Steelers are playing a tough Arizona defense with the possibility of a backup QB who has struggled. Expect LeVeon Bell to carry the ball 30+times but I don’t see Brown doing much damage against the Cardinals defense, unless Big Ben is back in the fold. Keep an eye on this situation as it is constantly changing.
Teddy Ballgame:
Starts of the Week: I expect WR Willie Snead to see a bunch of targets, as Drew Brees will have to throw it all over the field trying to keep up with the 5-0 Falcons. I also like TE Delanie Walker to have a big game against a struggling Dolphins defense.
Sits of the Week: I would sit RB Mark Ingram as he will struggle and probably give way to Spiller and the passing game. I would also sit RB Jonathan Stewart. He has struggled to get it going all year and facing Seattle at home won’t help.
Saucy T:
Starts of the Week: QB Andy Dalton – We are all waiting for the clock to strike midnight, and Andy Dalton to turn back into a pumpkin, but despite his bright orange hair, Andy Dalton is a top five QB for the rest of the season. This week’s matchup with Buffalo might make you nervous, but after having a great day against Seattle’s Legion of Boom, expect another solid day from The Red Rifle.
RB Lamar Miller – Lamar Miller owners may finally be rewarded for their patience. Miller’s problem has never been his talent. Joe Philbin refused to commit to the run game, and it cost him his job. Dan Campbell was a journeyman TE known for his toughness, a leader in the locker room for Bill Parcells in Dallas, and coached under Parcell’s disciple Tony Sparano. I would bet the NFL’s youngest head coach will lean heavily on his star running back, which could lead to a huge day for Miller.
Sits of the Week: WR Antonio Brown – Antonio Brown has been Mr. Consistent over the last two years, but his 35 game streak of 5 catches and 50 yards came to an end once Ben Roethlisberger was injured and Michael Vick took over. Ben wants to make it back to face former OC Bruce Arians and his Arizona Cardinals, but most likely will miss one more week. With Vick still under center facing a tough Cardinals defense, I would expect Brown’s new two game streak of under 50 yards and 10 fantasy points (PPR) to reach 3 weeks.
QB Peyton Manning – While the Cleveland Browns may look like a great matchup for fantasy QBs, I think it’s time to recognize that Peyton Manning is just not the same guy anymore. Age catches up with everyone at some point, even the great ones. I remember watching Jordan cling to his playing days while he suited up for the Washington Wizards, and this seems eerily similar to me. I really want to be wrong, but after 5 games of his passes just floating in midair waiting for his WRs to win a jump ball situation with the CB, I’m ready to throw in the towel on Peyton Manning. No way I’m starting him, and I may even consider dropping him if I needed a roster spot.
The Wifeyiac
Starts of the Week: Four big running backs (Joseph Randle, Latavius Murray, Todd Gurley and The Muscle Hamster) are all on bye this week. That makes RB Dion Lewis a good start. He’s Tom Brady’s little pet and Colts D won’t figure him out.
QB Matt Ryan is tricky. He’s not good the past few games. However, out of pure rivalry and the Saints being the ugliest bust (which I predicted before the season started) I would start him. If he burns you again this week, it may be time to consider a switch.
Sit of the Week: RB Ameer Abdullah needs to be on Fantasy benches until he shows us something a little more consistent, which is exactly why I traded him to my husband last week!
The Wayniac
Let me preface this by explaining what a huge week I have in store. Not only do I square of against my 18-year rival and Wayniac Nation fantasy expert Dunton for sole possession of first place in Nitro, I square off against Teddy Ballgame as well. For three years, Ballgame and I discussed fantasy night and day, but when a slot opened in my Old School Football League, he claimed it. This will be the first time Ballgame and I tee off in fantasy history.
Starts of the Week:
QB: The good news is that not one viable starting fantasy QB is on a bye this week (Tony Romo being hurt obviously), and Andrew Luck looks as if he will return. That leaves only Big Ben as injured, so you shouldn’t have to dig too deep for a starting QB this week. That being said, I’m going to surprise a few people here. If QB Matthew Stafford doesn’t have a fire lit under his rump after being benched, he needs some serious soul searching to do. He faces off against the Bears 30th ranked pass defense that has allowed 11 TDs to only two INTs this season.
RB: I’m going to disagree with Teddy Ballgame here and say RB Mark Ingram. The Falcons do have the league’s best rush defense, but they have also let up a league worst eight rushing touchdowns. Look for Ingram to bang one or two in.
WR: Jordan Matthews may be a good start come Monday Night. Sam Bradford has looked like an actual QB, and the Giants 32nd ranked pass defense may have their hands full.
TE: I’m going Jordan Cameron here. The Titans have been surprisingly good against the TE after being smoked by Austin Seferian-Jenkins in Week One. But the Dolphins are fresh off of a bye and their new head coach happens to be a former TE. You can bet Cameron is going to see some targets.
Def: I guess my Packers are a must-start now, but they should cause Philip Rivers plenty of trouble at Lambeau.
Sits of the Week:
QB: Russell Wilson. Again, the Panthers haven’t really played anyone, but I am down on this Seahawks offense right now. Until they realize that Jimmy Graham is their best offensive pass weapon, this team will struggle. Plus the Panthers have allowed only four TDs while causing eight INTs. Fresh off a bye, they may be looking to prove they are for real.
RB: The Redskins backfield. They aren’t very good in the first place, but with so many RBs on a bye this week, you may be tempted by the PPR ability of Matt Jones or Chris Thompson. The Jets have allowed ONE touchdown to RBs this season. That won’t change this week.
WR: I’m tempted to say Julio Jones with this whole snap count thing going down, but… well, that may just happen to be an article later today. I love these two kids in Jacksonville (Allen Hurns and Allen Robinson) but the Blake Bortles situation has to be closely monitored. If he plays with a sprained shoulder it’s bad. If Chad Henne has to go, it’s even worse.
TE: I have but no choice to start him in my league, but Jimmy Graham may be a bad play this week. The Panthers haven’t allowed 100 combined yards receiving to TEs yet this season (grant it, they haven’t played any good teams), and only one touchdown that was a one handed, lucky grab by an ever-dropping Garrett Graham. This is more than Graham, however. The fact that Russell Wilson can’t get the ball to his best target is showing how he may not be an elite QB just yet.
Def: People are still starting the Ravens defense, huh? Let me welcome you to 2015. They have allowed Oakland and Cleveland to drop over 30 points on them. You all know by now how I feel about the 49ers, but this Ravens defense is not good.
Any questions? Let us know!
Wayne Cavadi's Online Portfolio 