Byes are here and this week has two significant teams off the board. The red hot Eagles may leave a few holes to fill and the Green Bay Packers are all starters. Who can you use to replace them?
We got you covered!
EXPERT OF THE WEEK: Saucy T. His starts were a bit incomplete with Sammy Watkins inevitably getting scratched, but Matty Ice had a decent enough game. His sits were spot on. Jeremy Langford was struggling before he left the game injured, Sam Bradford didn’t even throw for 200 yards and of Matthew Stafford’s 385 yards passing, Golden Tate caught 40 of them.
Dunton:
Starts:
QB-Trevor Siemian-If you have Aaron Rodgers or Carson Wentz (what a story he has been) on a bye this week, Siemian is your man. He has gotten better each week and this week he heads to Tampa Bay who allowed the Rams and Case Keenum to put up 37 points.
RB-Can LeGarrette Blount repeat last week’s performance? Maybe not but he is going to garner you some points this week. You know Belichick is chomping at the bit to go 4-0 in his Bradyless start to the season and running the ball against the Bills is going to help with that.
WR-Marvin Jones-The Detroit receiver has been on an amazing run over the past two weeks and there is no reason to expect the hapless Bears stop this. Jones is poised for a big day this weekend.
Emmanuel Sanders-The Broncos’ receiver complained about the lack of looks he was getting in the first two weeks, that changed last week in Cincy where he got 13 targets and converted them into 9 receptions for 117 yards and 2 TDs. This week the Broncos high powered offense (who would have thought this right?) heads to Tampa who just let the Rams score 37 points. 37 Points to the Rams? Yeah Sanders may have a good day this weekend, get him in your lineup.
Sits:
QB-I am going to call him my Yo Yo this year but that’s just the nature of his schedule. Jameis Winston is playing a tough Denver defense and I don’t expect much to come of this. Maybe the Bucs surprise me (here’s hoping) but I see that Denver defense showing Winston and the Bucs why they are defending champs.
RB-Yes he comes back this week but I think there will be some growing pains with Le’Veon Bell. Let’s not forget he is coming back against a strong front line in the KC Defense. Give him some time but this week it may be best to see what shape Bell is in before you go ringing him up.
WR-Mike Evans, see why Winston is a sit. The Bucs WR is having a Pro Bowl caliber start to the season but not this week.
Odell Beckham Jr-I picked him to be my MVP but this Vikings Defense is no joke. Eli will be under a lot of pressure and that is never good for ODB getting you points.
Teddy Ballgame:
Starts:
QB- Philip Rivers is going to be at home against the Saints . The Saints defense has been just awful this year. Rivers and Brees will probably go nuts in this game.
WR- Tyrell Williams should have a monster game against the Saints at home. He has become one of Philip Rivers’ favorite targets and should see plenty of action on Sunday.
WR-Kelvin Benjamin and the Panthers are visiting Atlanta on Sunday. Atlanta’s offense has been much improved this year but their secondary is still full of holes and I expect Benjamin to take full advantage of that.
TE- Eric Ebron and the Lions are headed into Chicago to face the struggling Bears. Their not so good defense has been decimated by injuries, I think Ebron will have plenty of opportunities in the red zone.
Sits:
RB-Shady McCoy has been his usual awesome self so far this year. So it kind of seems crazy to sit him right? Except for the fact that they are facing New England at home. I think Belichick will look to shut him down and make Tyrod throw the ball.
WR-Victor Cruz and the Giants will be headed into Minnesota on Monday night. The Vikings defense has been lights out and I expect more of the same.
Saucy T:
Starts:
QB: Alex Smith – Last week we saw behind the Steel Curtain, and it’s no secret that the Pittsburgh defense is not what it once was. Andy Reid’s protege, Doug Pederson, destroyed the Steelers with a rookie QB throwing for 301 yards and 2 TDs. This week the Steelers will face an almost identical game plan with Alex Smith at the helm and better players at almost every skill position. Alex Smith should put up numbers equal to or better than Carson Wentz and will help Wentz and Aaron Rodgers owners deal with the season’s first bye weeks.
RB: Jordan Howard – The Jeremy Langford injury only sped up the inevitable… The Jordan Howard Show. John Fox is notorious for not trusting rookies, and maybe that’s why the change took this long, but fantasy owners should put 100% trust in Howard now that Langford is hurt. Jordan Howard has been the better RB since the season began, and even on a terrible Bears offense, expect Howard to rack up fantasy points for his owners. Howard should easily slide into a RB2 role for fantasy owners and remain a top 12-15 back as long as Langford is out, and if John Fox is smart, for the rest of the season.
WR: Cole Beasley– Beasley has quietly had three straight weeks of double-digit fantasy points in PPR leagues without scoring a single touchdown. Beasley has become Dak Prescott’s safety valve, and their chemistry is growing every week. With news that Dez Bryant is dealing with a hairline fracture of his knee Beasley might see his role grow in the coming weeks as well. Even if Dez plays, expect Beasley to have another double digit week and score an overdue touchdown against a bad 49ers team.
Sits:
QB: Andrew Luck – If not for a 35 point week 1, Andrew Luck would be looking like a bust for the second year in a row. I’m not ready to say his season will be a replay of 2015 just yet, but traveling to London to play a game at 9:30 AM Eastern doesn’t seem like a recipe for success even if it is against a bad Jaguars defense. I expect Luck and the Colts offense to struggle yet again and fantasy owners would be wise to leave him on the pine while he’s across the pond.
RB: Latavius Murray – Once again Latavius Murray was bailed out by a touchdown in week 3. Latavius Murray was great last year because of his workload, but with 15, 14, and 11 touches through the first three weeks, he just isn’t the workhorse he was in 2015 and when those TDs go away you are left with a mediocre fantasy running back. To expect him to continue to score while giving up carries to other running backs on the team is playing with fire, and I would try to stay away if I had a better option.
WR: Brandon Marshall – Last week we saw the reason the Jets didn’t want to give all that money to Ryan Fitzpatrick. He had one of the worst quarterback performances I can ever remember watching, and while I don’t think he can be THAT bad again, he faces a tough Seattle defense and probably won’t be that much better either. Between being slowed by injury and hampered by a below average quarterback, Brandon Marshall will struggle in week 4 and should remain on the bench.
The Wayniac:
Starts:
QB: Matthew Stafford is in the zone right now and against the Bears he should do just fine. Joe Flacco could be a decent spot start if you have Aaron Rodgers on bye, playing a Raiders defense that has allowed seven passing touchdowns already this year and usually performs poorly on the East Coast.
RB: LeGarrette Blount is leading the NFL in rushing. The Buffalo Bills have allowed the tenth most points to running backs and are second with five touchdowns allowed. Blount is the Pats workhorse right now. It may be the last time it’s a safe bet to play a Pats running back with Brady’s return next week.
WR: You would be insane to sit Marvin Jones right now. The Bears have allowed nearly 500 yards through the air and three touches right now. Stafford should shred them and Jones is his main squeeze.
TE: Zach Miller should have a big day as the Lions have allowed the most points and touchdowns to tight ends this season. I would also keep an eye on the Antonio Gates situation because Hunter Henry looked pretty good minus a fumble in his debut as a starter.
DEF: The Bengals defense is playing the Miami Dolphins. Tannehill puts up fantasy points, but he also puts up bad passes. And looks clueless under pressure. Win or lose, the Bengals should get some points.
Sits:
QB: The Seahawks haven’t allowed a passing touchdown this year, so after Ryan Fitzpatrick’s doozy last week, I would sit him. Stay away from New York for that matter. I don’t trust Eli Manning against that Vikings defense either.
RB: The Dolphins and Giants backfields are a mess. There is no reason to think that any one of them is going to get enough snaps to make a difference. If you thought Jay Ajayi touchdown meant anything last week, think again. Even with Rashad Jennings returning, I wouldn’t touch any of the seven or eight running backs in this mix.
WR: Jeremy Maclin was the first wide receiver who could own Revis Island this season. Even when the Eagles dismantled the Steelers last weekend, the bulk of Wentz’s yards went to the running back and tight end. The Steelers are in the top ten in fewest points allowed to wide receivers this year, and Maclin will continue the trend.
TE: The Jaguars have allowed 86 yards and a touchdown to opposing tight ends this season. That’s enough to sit Dwayne Allen this week.
DEF: Texans lost J.J. Watt. Everyone seems to think they will be ok against the Titans at home, but I think this is a wait and see approach.
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