With so many options to choose from, sometimes fielding a fantasy lineup can be quite the headache.
Obvious are the starts akin to Antonio Brown, Brandon Marshall, Matthew Stafford, Adrian Peterson and
the games other bigger names. However, it’s the tougher choices – namely the less obvious starts – that
will end up winning your league.
Here are a few names you might want to consider.
Kirk Cousins QB Washington – My guess is Cousins will be Washington’s quarterback for the rest of
the year. Coach Jay Gruden made it clear he prefers Cousins to start over Robert Griffin III because he
is a better fit in his offense and now his wish has come true, albeit by an ankle injury to RGIII that will
have him sidelined at least the next month. Cousins is the pocket passer that Gruden envisions will
move his offense down the field, maximizing his two stud receivers in Pierre Garcon and Desean Jackson
and eventually tightend Jordan Reed. Cousins will go up against a Philadelphia defense that actually
held Indianapolis’ quarterback Andrew Luck in check last week, but this is a divisional rivalry that often
lights the scoreboard up. Should Cousins start the rest of the year, he could end up being a top ten
quarterback. Cousins is a safe start in leagues that start one quarterback but is a great option if you can
use him as your QB2.
Zac Stacy RB St. Louis – Zac Stacy, not Benny Cunningham is the ball carrier in St. Louis – at least for
now. Stacy responded to the runningback controversy that began after Week 1’s subpar performance
with a decent game at Tampa Bay where he ran for 71 yards and added a rushing TD. This week Stacy
goes up against one of the projected worst defenses when St. Louis takes on Dallas at home. Though
Dallas has only given up one rushing TD so far this year, it shouldn’t be much of a concern. Stacy is a
tough runner who should find himself at the goal line via the run more so that the teams’ weak passing
game. St. Louis’ tough defense should keep the Dallas offense in check, keeping a ground game in the
game plan. Look for Stacy to have his best year to date this season and start him as a solid RB2.
Matt Asiata RB Minnesota – Who knows what is in store for Adrian Peterson. That said, while Peterson
finds himself in NFL limbo, Asiata will start in his place in Minnesota’s Week 3 matchup at New Orleans,
a team that struggles mightily against the run. For the time being Asiata should be the man in Minnesota
but look for the team to slowly implement their star-in-waiting runningback, Jerick McKinnon, who
experts believe can overtake the starting role in the next few weeks should Peterson not return. Asiata
should get the bulk of the running load this Sunday and also showed he could be an effective pass
catcher last week, reeling in five balls for 48 yards and a touchdown. While Asiata is still the starter
he can be a worthy start when the matchup is right, and this week the matchup is right. Asiata can be
started as a nice RB2 option this week.
Desean Jackson WR Philadelphia – Revenge games are always nice and you can bet Desean Jackson had
this week’s game against Philadelphia on his calendar for some time. Washington was already working
on improving the deep passing game after Week 1, and you can bet Jackson will be frothing at the bit to
burn the team that kicked him and his bad attitude to the curbside. Jackson makes his living on the long
ball and there is no reason to think a long score or two wouldn’t be in the realm of possibility for him.
Start Jackson as a high end WR2 and you will be glad you did.
Owen Daniels TE Baltimore – Owen Daniels has been cutting into the stats for teammate Dennis Pitta
and really outshined his counterpart last week with 5 catches for 28 yards and two TDs. Though the
receiving yards were not so impressive, he was clearly quarterback Joe Flacco’s favorite new end zone
target. This week should also see a split between Pitta and Daniels but since Flacco loves his tightends,
both can be a decent play. With a very real possibility that Daniels could be targeted in the end zone a
handful of times in Cleveland this week, you may want to think of him as a formidable TE2, especially in
PPR leagues.
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