Fantasy Football / NFL
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- Written by Tad Bukowski
The weeks in the middle of the season that include the bye weeks are always crucial in a confidence pool. There aren’t as many points to get during the week so every game and every point are crucial.
Lucky for you, you are following my picks! After a week that saw 12 of 14 games picked correctly you should be close to if not on top of your league.
Let’s keep it going!
WEEK 9 – HERE WE GO!!
(HOME TEAM IN ALL CAPS)
13 – NEW ENGLAND over Washington – Ho-hum, what do you know? The Patriots are at the top of our list again. Probably something you should just get used to.
12 – CINCINNATI over Cleveland – The Bengals are undefeated…and are playing at home…against the Browns…who will have Johnny Manziel starting…need anything else?
11 – NEW ORLEANS over Tennessee – Drew Brees tied the NFL record last week with seven touchdown passes. His reward? A game against the Titans.
10 – NEW YORK JETS over Jacksonville – The Jets were completely shut down last week in Oakland. They need a game against the Jaguars to get some confidence back.
9 – MINNESOTA over St. Louis – Minnesota is really solidifying their spot as a playoff contender in the NFC. They may have what it takes to slow down the unstoppable tank known as Todd Gurley.
8 – Atlanta over SAN FRANCISCO – Blaine Gabbert is under center for the Niners and Pierre Thomas is now in the backfield after spending the first eight weeks of the season without a team…best of luck with all that.
7 – BUFFALO over Miami – A healthier Bills’ team gets a home game against a team that they blew out on the road just a few weeks ago.
6 – SAN DIEGO over Chicago – After this game, ESPN will be working feverishly on a logistical way to move the flexing ability from Sunday night games to Monday night.
5 – Denver over INDIANAPOLIS – Peyton Manning came as close to the old Peyton as he has this season last week against the Packers. I expect more of the same as he heads back to his old stomping grounds.
4 – Green Bay over CAROLINA – Speaking of the Packers, after reaching their low point of the season last week (by far!) they have a lot of aggression to take out on the unbeaten Panthers. No more unbeatens in the NFC.
3 – Philadelphia over DALLAS – Dez Bryant should have more balls thrown his way this week – unfortunately those balls will still be thrown by not Tony Romo.
2 – Oakland over PITTSBURGH – Another HUGE game for the Raiders after a big win last week. My BOLD PREDICTION this week is NOT ONLY WILL THE RAIDERS MAKE THE PLAYOFFS, BUT THEY WILL WIN A PLAYOFF GAME.
1 – New York Giants over TAMPA BAY – Tampa seems to play their best only when they’re on the road against the division…this game is neither of those.
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- Written by Shawn Foss
Rookie Report: Week 9
Welcome back to the Rookie Report! Week 8 was a brutal one with one season-ending injury after another. Hopefully your fantasy team survived unscathed, and hopefully your waiver position will allow you to pick up D'Angelo Williams. He'll be a top 15-RB the rest of the way. This isn't a waiver wire column, but there may be a few rookies who will prove worthy of a pick up over the next few weeks. Let's dive into what to expect in week 9, and I'll throw in a few rooks in the sleeper section who may be worth a flyer (Any fantasy point totals listed are based on ESPN standard scoring)...
Rookies to Start:
RB Todd Gurley, STL (Wk. 9: @Min.): With the way Gurley is running, you have to throw out the matchup in this one. The Vikings have been strong against opposing RBs since struggling against Carlos Hyde in week 1 (10 fantasy points per game for opposing RBs since), but Gurley's breakout started against the Cardinals, who have allowed just 11 RB points per game aside from the Rams game. The Vikings also allow 4.4 yards per carry, which is hardly impressive. Gurley should have success again.
RB Jeremy Langford, CHI (Wk. 9: @SD): Matt Forte will likely be out for the next couple of weeks, and Langford should step into a major role at just the right time. He's the next best waiver add after D'Angelo this week if you can get him. He faces the Chargers, who have been awful against running backs...like worst in the league awful. The Chargers allow 5 yards per carry, 124 rushing yards per game, and have given up 8 rushing scores in 8 games. They've also given up an extra 450 receiving yards and 3 receiving TDs to RBs. Langford should at least be a passable RB2 in this plum matchup.
WR Amari Cooper, OAK (Wk. 9: @Pit.): Cooper should find the sledding easier this week after a rough go last week against the Jets. The Steelers do allow fewer WR points than the Jets, but thanks to Darrelle Revis, the Jets limit WR1s much more effectively than the Steelers. Pittsburgh is fresh off allowing an 11-118-1 line to AJ Green last Sunday. Cooper is safe to fire up this week as a WR3. The floor this week should be higher than his final numbers against the Jets.
Borderline Rookies:
QB Jameis Winston, TB (Wk. 9: vs. NYG): Jameis is starting to look like the number 1 pick he's supposed to be. He's put up at least 12 fantasy points in each start this season, despite struggling with turnovers early on in the year. He may have recently turned a corner. He hasn't thrown a pick in his last 3 starts, and has scored 19 points in each of the last two. This week, he gets the Giants, who allow a league-high 315 yards passing and just over 2 passing scores per game. They're also fresh off giving up 7 TDs to Drew Brees. With that said, they've also picked off 13 passes on the year. I'd expect Jameis to throw his first INT in 4 games this week, but there is also a ton of upside. He should be on the low-end QB1 radar.
QB Marcus Mariota, TEN (Wk. 9: @NO): Mariota seems to be on track to play this week, and he gets to face the defense that allows the most fantasy points to QBs in the league. The Saints have allowed a league-high 20 TDs through the air, and an additional 2 QB rushing scores. With Ken Whisenhunt gone, things might get better for Mariota. Interim head coach Mike Mularkey has vowed to tweak the offense to better suit Mariota's strengths. That should mean more running attempts, which would bump his floor up in a matchup that already has a high ceiling. Like Jameis, he's on the QB1 radar this week. I'd prefer Winston over Mariota since Jameis has a higher floor, but both are interesting streaming options.
RB Melvin Gordon, SD (Wk. 9: vs. Chi.): This actually isn't a bad spot for Gordon. He's been watching Danny Woodhead light it up in garbage time, but the Bears allow 128 rushing yards per game. They haven't allowed many long runs, and just two rushing TDs, but with Keenan Allen out the Chargers are likely to try to get the run game going more. This game sets up for Gordon to have RB2 upside.
RB TJ Yeldon, JAX (Wk. 9: @NYJ): Yeldon has been coming into his own recently, scoring 13 points per game in his last 3 outings, but he hasn't faced a defense like the Jets in that stretch. The Jets have allowed more than 6 points to opposing RBs just twice all season. Volume makes TJ an RB2/flex option this week, but not a great one.
RB Duke Johnson, CLE (Wk. 9: @Cin.): Duke managed a decent day yet again last week, and he did so despite just a few touches. His value isn't going anywhere. He remains a decent PPR flex play week in and week out, and coach Mike Pettine expressed this week that he knows Duke needs more touches. Isaiah Crowell and Robert Turbin have been an unimpressive tandem.
WR Stefon Diggs, MIN (Wk. 9: vs. StL.): Diggs isn't an automatic start this week against a tough Rams' secondary, but he's not a guy to avoid either. I would ride the hot streak while it lasts. He's the clear number one receiver for Minnesota right now, and the Rams should make it tough to get the running game going. Good passing attacks have had success against the Rams. I don't know if I'd classify the Vikes' attack as good, so Diggs is more WR3 than WR2 this week.
Rookies to Sit:
RB Matt Jones, WAS (Wk. 9: @NE): I think there's a chance Jones has a nice game, and I expect him to still see more work than Alfred Morris, but he will lose passing down work to Chris Thompson and Washington is likely to be playing from behind for most of the game. Those factors make him too risky to play this week. He's averaged just 3 fantasy points per game in his past 5 games.
RB Karlos Williams, BUF (Wk. 9: vs. Mia.): You should hold onto Williams in deeper leagues if you have the room, but a healthy LeSean McCoy saps some of his value. There will be some decent games down the stretch. Karlos tallied 50 fantasy points in the first 4 games of the season before suffering a concussion, and he did so on limited touches. Unfortunately it will be tough to tell which weeks will be the productive ones. If anything happens to Shady, Karlos is instantly a starting caliber RB, but for now he belongs on the bench.
WR Nelson Agholor, PHI (Wk. 9: @Dal.): Agholor should be back on the field this week, but that's not a reason for him to be in your lineup. There is upside this week, but he would have to show some production before you can consider putting him in the lineup.
WR Jamison Crowder, WAS (Wk. 9: @NE): With D-Jax and Chris Thompson returning this week, it'll be Crowder's targets that will take the biggest hit. Even with a plus matchup against a bottom-10 WR defense, Crowder is a dicey PPR WR4 this week.
WR Ty Montgomery, GB (Wk. 9: @Car.): Pretty simple here. Davante Adams is back, Montgomery is banged up, and the Panthers are a really tough matchup for any WR. Steer clear this week.
TE Clive Walford, OAK (Wk. 9: @Pit.): Nothing to see here this week. The Steelers may allow the 4th most points to opposing TEs, but the majority of the points they allowed were to Gronk and Antonio Gates. If you throw out the games against New England and San Diego, the Steelers have allowed just 4 points per game to opposing TEs, which would be good for 3rd fewest in the NFL. Walford will eventually get more involved, but it likely won't be this week.
Deep League Sleepers and Cheap DFS Options:
QB Bryce Petty, NYJ (Wk. 9: vs. Jax.): Ryan Fitzpatrick has torn ligaments in his non-throwing hand, and Geno Smith got banged up in relief of Fitz. It's a long shot, but there's a chance that they are forced to go to Petty this week. He played in a spread passing attack in college, so he may be okay in Chan Gailey's scheme. He does have a decent matchup. The Jaguars allow the 8th most fantasy points per game to QBs. If you're in a pickle in a 2 QB league and Petty gets tabbed to start...he might be worth a shot.
RB Tevin Coleman, ATL (Wk. 9: @SF): This is just a hunch...This game could get ugly. The 49ers are a dumpster fire right now. Why would the Falcons want to risk getting Freeman injured if they get comfortably ahead early? There is a strong chance for plenty of Coleman garbage time in this one. He could be a fun cheap option in DFS tournaments.
RB David Cobb, TEN (Wk. 9: @NO): Cobb may be poised to be activated from short-term IR this week, and his timing likely couldn't be better. You can't confidently start him this week, but there is hardly a clear lead back on the Titans at this point. Antonio Andrews had his best game of the season last week, but with the coaching change there should be an opportunity for Cobb to carve out a role. He's an intriguing deep league pickup who could provide solid value in the 2nd half of the season.
WR Dorial Green-Beckham, TEN (Wk. 9: @NO): I'm sure DGB isn't unhappy to see Whisenhunt go. Just a week ago, the former coach said he was in no hurry to make Green-Beckham a bigger part of the offense. That should change with Mularkey in charge. If he has any designs on shedding the interim tag, he should be getting the most talented players on the field more. I've mentioned Green-Beckham before, and he has struggled to break through, but this is as good a spot as any. The Saints have allowed 13 WR TDs on the season.
WR Justin Hardy, ATL (Wk. 9: @SF): Much like Tevin Coleman, Hardy could benefit from the mess that is the 49ers. It sounds like there is a real chance Leonard Hankerson is out again, and Hardy caught two passes in his pro debut last week. If Hank is out again, I think Hardy could be in line for 5+ catches in a game with plenty of playing time for the backups.
That's all I've got for this week. Hopefully it helps you overcome some byes and injuries, and helps you make some of those tougher lineup decisions. Feel free to hit me up on twitter if you have any questions or want to yell at me (@shawn_foss). As always, good luck, trust your gut, and have fun. It's just a game.
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- Written by Troy Maples
Injuries abound in week 8 of the NFL, so the waiver wire is extra important this week. Make sure to take a long look at some trade options as trading deadlines come up. Also, check out the injuries from Week 8 to make sure you aren't missing anyone.
Quarterbacks
Tyrod Taylor, BUF – Coming off the bye week Tyrod Taylor will be healthy and ready to go. Before his injury Taylor had 106 fantasy points through 5 weeks. His week 9 match up with Miami is round two for the year with the divisional opponent. When they last faced in week 3 Taylor put up his best numbers of the season going 21 of 29 for 277 yards and 3 touchdowns. He is owned in 39% of leagues right now.
Derek Carr, OAK – Since his week 6 bye, Derek Carr has 7 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. Carr is a good streaming quarterback play as he averages over 30 pass attempts per game. He continues to show improvement in his second year and has outscored players like Ryan Tannehill and Cam Newton, both of whom are owned in over 85% of leagues. Carr’s matchup with Pittsburgh in week 9 is neither really good nor really bad. He did just pick apart the Jets defense though.
Running Backs
DeAngelo Williams, PIT – At 32 years old DeAngelo Williams continues to hold value. LeVeon Bell went down this week and is out for the rest of the season. When Bell went down Williams stepped in and on 9 carries amassed 71 yards. His overall production topped 100 yards as he added 39 yards on 4 catches. He will be a popular pick up this week on the waiver wire. He’s only owned in 24% of leagues.
Jeremy Langford, CHI – The Bears’ Matt Forte suffered an injury this week and will be out at least a couple of weeks. Jeremy Langford stepped in as the every down back when Forte exited. Despite his crucial drop late in the game, Langford was used in a way that makes him valuable to fantasy owners heading into week 9. I will mention that there are rumors of the Bears signing Monte Ball. This is important for two reasons; If Ball is signed this diminishes Langford’s value, and could point to a potential serious injury with Forte. Either way Matt Forte owners will want to add depth at the position on the wire.
Wide Receivers
Kamar Aiken, BAL – Injuries are piling up this season and Steve Smith Sr. couldn’t avoid being bit by the bug either. Kamar Aiken will take over WR1 duties on a brutally thin Baltimore wide receiving corps. That being said there is value in Aiken as he steps into this role. He has value built on his targets this season. He seen 6+ targets in 5 of the 8 games they have played. Baltimore is heading into a bye week for week 9 but you can’t sleep on Aiken. He should be picked up in most formats this week.
Malcom Floyd, SD – Keenan Allen was another casualty this week and all reports indicate he will miss some time. At 34 years old Malcom Floyd is passed his prime, but he will be leaned on in Allen’s absence. At 6’5 Floyd is a huge target and that proved valuable already in week 8. He had 2 TD catches on 6 targets in week 8. Floyd has a decent matchup against Chicago in week 9 before the Charges head into the bye. If you are looking for a guy to plug Floyd is still available in 80% of leagues.
Tight Ends
Benjamin Watson, NO – The Saints are on a 3 game winning streak and Benjamin Watson has had his two best games in those last three weeks. In week 6 Watson had 127 yards on 10 catches and a TD. Last week we saw similar production with 9 catches for 147 yards and a TD. We all know that the Saints famously utilized the TE position and Watson may finally be stepping into that role. He is owned in 53% of leagues, but with tight end production lacking this season Watson is a good add heading into week 9
Kicker
Blair Walsh, MIN – 55 points over his last 3 weeks has Blair Walsh on the waiver radar this week. Minnesota continues to improve as a team behind Teddy Bridgewater. This has been paying off for Walsh in a big way. Double digits are always a welcome sight from your kicker. Three straight weeks in double digits is a good trend and those players streaming kickers should grab Walsh heading into home match up with the Rams.
Defense/Special Teams
Cincinnati Bengals – Cincinnati is coming off of a huge game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Defensively they kept their team in the game which ultimately lead to a victory. They will be riding that high heading into a great match up with Cleveland in week 9. The icing on the cake is Josh McCown being a question mark with a short week ahead. This Thursday night match up give McCown little time to heal which means Johnny Manziel will be the Cleveland QB. The only thing Maziel does better than grabbing negative headlines off the field is turning the ball over on the field. Bengals are widely available and should be picked up for week 9. It should also be noted they have some good match ups coming up with Houston, St Louis and Cleveland again in 3 of their next 4 weeks following week 9.
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- Written by Jason Evans
Week 8 was one of the worst injury weeks in recent memory. Even the return of Dez Bryant and Ben Roethlisberger couldn't soften the blow. Several big names went down in a set of noon games that seemed to have a new injury every 15 minutes. So, pardon my slight exaggeration as we get on with this week's casualty report.
Quarterbacks -
Josh McCown has been injured two weeks in a row. He hurt his shoulder week 7, and now his ribs in week 8. He left the game with a few minutes remaining, and now his status for week 9's Thursday night matchup with Cincinnati is up in the air. McCown has averaged 20 points/game over his last 6 games.
Ryan Fitzpatrick injured the thumb on his non-throwing hand and his status is currently day to day. Geno Smith inspired no confidence from the Jets, who were reportedly calling around for a QB before the game was even over. We'll know later on in the week if he'll be starting against the Jags Sunday.
Running Backs -
Le'Veon Bell has been placed on IR, and his torn MCL means that his season is done. He seemed to pick right up where he left off, so it's a shame that he goes down right as Big Ben comes back. He'll be back in full force next year, and for now, he makes Deangelo Williams the hottest waiver pick up this week.
Matt Forte exited Sunday's game against the Vikings, and of course, the Bears were very hush-hush about it. They did clue us in a little bit later on - Forte hurt his MCL, but doesn't need surgery and should only miss a couple weeks. Forte's absence makes Jeremy Langford possibly the second hottest waiver pickup this week.
Reggie Bush slipped on some concrete and tore his ACL, ending his season, and possibly his career. The 49ers are one of the biggest messes in recent memory, so whoever does wind up replacing Bush will have a really hard time being fantasy relevant. The only hope for fantasy value there is when Carlos Hyde returns.
Khiry Robinson wins the most painful injury of the week award - the worst award you can win on a weekly basis. A broken tibia will end his season, where from fantasy football's perspective, he was just vulturing TD's from Mark Ingram. The Saints will likely sign a third guy, but look for Ingram to monopolize the Saints backfield for now.
Wide Receivers -
Steve Smith Sr. is a guy who I've come to really admire as an NFL player. He's of the toughest players that I can remember watching, so seeing him be carried off the field with a towel covering his face was a little hard to watch. I don't want to see this be his last moment on an NFL field, and hope, like Jim Harbaugh, that he comes back next year. For the rest of 2015, Kamar Aiken will move up to the #1 WR spot in Baltimore. Aiken is still young, and won't be able to produce anywhere close to Smith's numbers.
Calvin Johnson suffered an ankle injury which was probably minor, but since it occurred in a blowout loss, he didn't return to the game. The Lions have the week off coming back from London, so we won't know a lot about Johnson until next week, but there's no reason to think he'll miss week 10.
Keenan Allen has an interesting injury track from the game Sunday. He left, reportedly with a shoulder injury, then it was called back spasms, but now the Chargers report that he is out indefinitely with a kidney injury. It's pretty safe to assume that he will miss week 9 and try to get back after the Chargers' week 10 bye.
Kendall Wright suffered a sprained MCL, which reportedly feels "horrible". Hey, it's nice to know that not everyone has a canned cliché response about an injury. Wright's absence from the lineup may finally lead the way to Dorial Green-Beckham getting some action week 9, when Marcus Mariota is expected to return.
John Brown is a savage, apparently. Go read his twitter if you're trying to figure that one out. Brown disappointed everyone who started him this week by pulling the rare move of being active, but not getting into the game. Clearly, his hamstrings are an issue, but he has a bye week to heal up and we'll know more about his week 10 status a week from now.
Tight Ends -
Larry Donnell was carted off the field in New Orleans, but his injury was just apparently a muscle spasm in his shoulder or neck, which is good news (relatively speaking). It's not clear if he'll be playing week 9 yet, we'll know more by Wednesday. Either way, he's not fantasy relevant for now.
Ladarius Green was in line to get a lot of work with a hobbled Antonio Gates, but then went down with his own injury in the first quarter. With Gates back on the field, the Chargers won't rush Green back, though they really are hurting with injuries this year. The Chargers play Monday night, which means we won't have an official injury report until Thursday night.
Garrett Celek left the game with a concussion, but is now the top tight end in San Francisco with Vernon Davis being traded to the Broncos. Celek won't be a TE-1, especially on this anemic offense.
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- Written by Jim Hutchins
We are coming up to the halfway point of the season means we have a lot more information on the identities of teams, which means we can use that information to our advantage! This week we are going with a high cost QB/WR stack playing against an extremely weak secondary, taking two RB's that have great matchups, spending high on our TE/K/DEF to get the best value and betting on a couple bargain WR's to come through.
QB - Philip Rivers, SD - $8,500 at BAL: Rivers has put up the most fantasy points at the QB position over the past 4 weeks and now gets a matchup against the Baltimore Ravens weak secondary. High price tag, but well worth it this week.
RB - Todd Gurley, STL - $8,100 vs. SF: The Rams have been giving teams a heavy dose of Todd Gurley, as over the past 3 games he's rushed 68 times for 433 yards and 2 touchdowns and also getting some looks in the passing game as well. This should continue in a great matchup against the 49ers.
RB - Justin Forsett, BAL - $6,900 vs. SD: Forsett is a great play for the price this week as he faces against a Chargers defense allowing a league worst 5.3 yards per carry.
WR - Keenan Allen, SD - $8,000 at BAL: Picking the top receiving option in San Diego to stack with Rivers this week. Look for Allen to top 100 yards with the chance for multiple scores.
WR - Stefon Diggs, MIN - $6,700 at CHI: Diggs has emerged as the top receiving option for the Vikings and is coming off back to back games over 100 yards. Looking for this streak to continue against Chicago in week 8.
WR - Michael Crabtree, OAK - $5,700 vs. NYJ: The Oakland passing attack draws a tough matchup this week but Crabtree should still see plenty of targets at the low price tag.
TE - Tyler Eifert, CIN - $6,000 at PIT: Eifert has been a top TE option all year and this game has shootout potential, which should mean plenty of opportunities for him to reach the end zone.
K - Brandon McManus, DEN - $5,000 vs. GB: Denver could have trouble finding the endzone against a tough Packers defense but should still be able to move the ball enough to give McManus plenty of field goal opportunities.
DEF - St. Louis, STL - $5,100 vs. SF: Great defense going up against a completely inept offense which is always a good play.
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- Written by Tad Bukowski
Boy do I love this league!
Every week seems to leave you with a fresh set of questions that you just cant wait those seven days until the next set of games to answer. “Any Given Sunday” isn’t just for Willie Beaman! Still, with all of these questions, we are still managing to come out with positive weeks. If you are following my picks this season, you should be looking good in the quest for a season title. Let’s keep it going!
WEEK 8 – HERE WE GO!!
(HOME TEAM IN ALL CAPS)
14 – NEW ENGLAND over Miami – The Dolphins have hit a bit of a surge after their coaching change. But that surge was against the Texans and Titans…not the Patriots.
13 – CAROLINA over Indianapolis – At the beginning of the season this would be a big game for the Panthers to prove their worth. In the middle of the season its just another home game against a mediocre team.
12 – ATLANTA over Tampa Bay – Tampa Bay already has a divisional road win on their resume this year. It’s hard to see them getting another one though.
11 – ST LOUIS over San Francisco – The reported locker room turmoil with the 49ers is just more reason to have less and less confidence in them this season.
10 – Arizona over CLEVELAND – The Cardinals need a win like this. I think they will have the needed motivation to get it.
9 – Minnesota over CHICAGO – With a win last week in Detroit, the young Vikings confirmed that they have what it takes to get a divisional road win. Why not get another?
8 – KANSAS CITY over Detroit – The Lions just seem out of it. A team like the Chiefs should welcome the chance to host them for a week.
7 – Seattle – over DALLAS – Even if Dez Bryant returns for the Cowboys, it won’t be enough. Though I will say that my BOLD PREDICTION is that if Bryant plays, he will have over 100 yards receiving.
6 – NEW ORLEANS over New York Giants – The Saints showed signs of life last week on the road. I can see them carrying that momentum through another week.
5 – OAKLAND over New York Jets – What to think of the Raiders? Maybe it’s a fan’s bias, but I don’t think another team has created more intrigue in the league this season. If they want to hold on to playoff hope, they need to win this game.
4 – BALTIMORE over San Diego – A week after taking the Packers to the limit in Green Bay, the Chargers give up 30 first half points to the aforementioned Raiders. Another hard to figure out team.
3 – PITTSBURGH over Cincinnati – Big Ben coming back should be enough to knock one team from the ranks of the unbeaten.
2 – DENVER over Green Bay – But if the Steelers don’t, we are guaranteed to lose one undefeated team here as two undefeateds go head-to-head. Regardless of who you think will win, there is no reason to have one team or the other higher than this on your sheet.
1 – HOUSTON over Tennessee – We go from Broncos/Packers to Texans/Titans…minus Arian Foster. Not worth talking about.
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- Written by Shawn Foss
Welcome back to the Rookie Report! We're 7 weeks in, and there are an NFL record FIVE unbeaten teams remaining entering week 8...hopefully your fantasy team is in the same kind of shape as the Panthers, Broncos, Bengals, Pariots and Packers. I was right on a few rookies last week (Diggs, Gurley, Lockett, Jameis, Gordon), and wrong on a couple others (Amari, Yeldon). I've learned to stop doubting Cooper at this point. Twice this season I've felt like the matchup wasn't in his favor (against Baltimore and against San Diego), and those have been his two best games of the year. This past week was especially impressive. A lot of elite receivers have struggled with Jason Verrett and the Chargers. With last week in the books, let's move on to week 8...
Rookies to Start:
RB Todd Gurley, STL (Wk. 8: vs. SF): Gurley continued his domination tour last week, and you really can't sit him right now with how well he's running. If you need any deeper reasoning...the 49ers allow the 7th most points to opposing running backs and were shredded for 156 yards and a TD by a physical Seahawks run game in week 7. Teams who have committed to the run against the 49ers have had success, and you know the Rams will be committed to it. Gurley has RB1 upside again this week.
WR Amari Cooper, OAK (Wk. 8: vs. NYJ): As I said in the intro, I'm done doubting Amari. The matchup again isn't great, not as bad as you'd think on paper, but Cooper should still see some Darrelle Revis coverage. With that said, Cooper has come through in tough matchups this year and can't be benched unless you have 3 stud WRs to play over him.
WR Stefon Diggs, MIN (Wk. 8: @Chi.): Can Diggs make it 3 big games in a row? I'm guessing he can. He's clearly moved ahead of Charles Johnson on the depth chart, and the Bears give up more WR points than any team not named 'Chiefs' or 'Ravens.' The Bears have allowed 3 or more WR touchdowns in 3 of their 6 games this season. Diggs is a really good bet to find the end zone again this week, and is the best WR on the Vikings right now. He's a borderline WR2/3 this week.
Borderline Rookies:
QB Marcus Mariota, TEN (Wk. 8: @Hou.): This is an interesting matchup for Mariota. On the season, the Texans' defense has been better against QBs at home than on the road (16.7 fantasy points per game allowed at home vs. 21.8 on the road), but they've been especially bad overall the last two weeks, allowing 627 yards and 7 TDs combined to Blake Bortles and Ryan Tannehill. There is also the question of where this team is mentally after losing Arian Foster for the season in an embarrassing loss in which they trailed 41-0 at one point. It looks like Marcus will be able to play this week, and if he does, he could shred the Texans. He's worth consideration as a high-end QB2 or as a streamer if your QB is on a bye.
RB Melvin Gordon, SD (Wk. 8: @Bal.): Last week was a rough one for Gordon owners. It looked like his benching from week 6 carried over into week 7, but the fact that he got on the field as they tried to mount a furious rally to get back in the game hopefully means he'll be back out there this week. Unfortunately, he has limited upside this week in a matchup that should favor the pass game. The Ravens have allowed just 3 RB rushing scores this year and only 2 100-yard rushers despite playing from behind several weeks during their 1-6 start. I'd think long and hard before trusting Gordon as anything more than a deep league flex this week.
RB Duke Johnson, CLE (Wk. 8: vs. Ari.): This is another tough matchup for Duke, but he's been producing lately in tough matchups. In the last 3 weeks, Johnson has faced the Ravens, Broncos and Rams, and he's averaged 5.3 catches and 74.3 scrimmage yards per game, and had at least 8 PPR points in each game. Over his last 5 contests, he's tallied at least 6 catches in 4 of them, and the Cardinals have allowed 46 RB receptions on the season. only the Falcons have allowed more than 48 on the season. Duke should be a decent PPR flex option once again despite facing a top-7 RB defense.
Rookies to Sit:
QB Jameis Winston, TB (Wk. 8: @Atl.): The Falcons have been the 5th best defense in the NFL against opposing QBs, but that ranking doesn't tell the whole story. Atlanta has allowed a robust 280 passing yards per game, but they've limited opposing signal-callers to an 8-8 TD:INT ratio in 7 games. Winston has already shown that he's going to throw some picks this year, but with the weapons he has, a multiple TD game isn't out of the question. I wouldn't dare start him in a one QB league (I'd rather start the Atlanta defense), but he should be a low-end QB2 this week with some upside.
RB Ameer Abdullah, DET (Wk. 8: @KC): Nothing I've seen from Abdullah would make me feel good about playing him this week. Abdullah has yet to rush for more than 50 yards in a game, and his passing down work is now going to Theo Riddick and even Joique Bell, who had 3 catches last week to Abdullah's zero. While the Chiefs have been bad against opposing WRs, they've done a much better job limiting opposing RBs, ranking in the top-10 against the position. With Joique back in action, the backfield situation is just too muddled to roll Abdullah out there this week. Add in a new offensive coordinator and there is even less clarity on what to expect this week.
RB Thomas Rawls, SEA (Wk. 8: @Dal.): As mentioned last week, with Lynch back at full strength, there isn't enough volume to go around for Rawls to be start-able. He did see more work in week 7 than the 1 carry he got in week 6 (6 car. for 32 yds, 2 catches for 9 yds), but 9 touches aren't enough to rely on Rawls in season-long leagues. The Cowboys are bad at stopping opposing RBs, but you should have better options on the roster.
RB Tevin Coleman, ATL (Wk. 8: vs. TB): Much like Rawls, there isn't enough volume to trust Coleman. With the emergence of Devonta Freeman, Coleman hasn't had more than 4 touches in a game since returning from his rib injury. He's purely a handcuff for Freeman in re-draft leagues at this point, and in Dynasty you almost have to hope he changes teams at some point. The Freeman breakout is for real.
WR Tyler Lockett, SEA (Wk. 8: @Dal.): On the road against a bad run defense, expect heavy doses of Marshawn Lynch in this game. Lockett had a really nice game last week with his first receiving touchdown, but I have a feeling it's someone else's turn this week. The Seahawks employ a WR-by-committee approach, and Doug Baldwin, Ricardo Lockette and Jermaine Kearse are just as likely as Tyler to make an impact. I'd avoid Lockett (no E) this week.
WR Ty Montgomery, GB (Wk. 8: @Den.): With a season-high of just 59 receiving yards, Montgomery has needed to find the end zone to have productive weeks. Denver has allowed just one WR touchdown all season long. While having Aaron Rodgers as your QB gives you a better chance than most, Montgomery is still not a good bet to score a TD this week. He is also battling a high ankle sprain suffered before the bye week.
WR Dorial Green-Beckham, TEN (Wk. 8: @Hou.): This would be a prime week for the Titans to get DGB going. It would be, if Coach Whiz had any interest in getting him involved. Whisenhunt stated this week that he's in no hurry to increase the rookie's workload, and as such, you can't start Dorial until you see his target count start to come up.
WR Chris Conley, KC (Wk. 8: vs. Det.): Conley had a really nice game in week 7, pulling in 6 catches for 63 yards and a touchdown starting in place of the injured Jeremy Maclin, but Maclin is almost certain to be back this week. That means Conley goes back to the bench. The Lions are a juicy matchup for WRs, but in the 4 games prior to week 7, Conley averaged 1.75 catches and 23 yards per contest. At 6-3, he's the big receiver the Chiefs sorely need, so his future is bright. He should be rostered in dynasty formats and should pass Albert Wilson on the depth chart by the start of next season.
Deep League Sleepers and Cheap DFS Options:
RB David Johnson, ARI (Wk. 8: @Cle.): I can't recommend starting Johnson in season-long leagues this week since he's really only promised a handful of touches, but he could be an interesting punt play in DFS tournaments. We've seen him be very productive with limited touches earlier in the season, and while that has proven unsustainable, this matchup is the perfect one for him to strike again. The Browns allow the 2nd most fantasy points to opposing RBs in the league.
WR Devin Funchess, CAR (Wk. 8: vs. Ind.): Much like Johnson, this doesn't mean you can start him in season-long leagues. He's still yet to eclipse 2 catches in a game and is working behind Ted Ginn and Philly Brown. Despite that, I think there is some upside here for Funchess as a DFS punt play (again, like David Johnson). The Colts' defense has been shoddy against opposing WRs, allowing them 9 TDs in 7 games, and over 150 yards in 6 of those 7 games. He's still a long shot, but if Carolina gets in close, Ginn and Brown simply aren't the matchup problem Funchess is. There is legitimate TD potential for Funchess here.
TE Clive Walford, OAK (Wk. 8: vs. NYJ): Walford is not startable yet in season-long leagues, but I wanted to mention him as a dynasty league add if he's available. He's made a couple of big plays in the last two weeks and put up a 3-75-1 line in those two contests. He should be passing Mychal Rivera on the depth chart soon, and Derek Carr really likes him. Carr said before last week's game that he thinks Walford has a chance to be a 'special' player in this league. That kind of praise is worth a dynasty roster spot.
That's all I've got for this week. Hopefully it helps you set the lineup this week. Always make sure to fit these suggestions to your league rules and your roster, and feel free to hit me up on twitter if you have any questions or just want to yell at me (@shawn_foss). As always...Good luck, trust your gut, and have fun. It's just a game.
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- Written by Jason Evans
Well, it just doesn't feel like a proper NFL season until Arian Foster goes on the IR, am I right? Now that balance has returned to the universe (I was kicking myself for not drafting him when he was available late), we can look forward to the Week 8 rankings. This week, we have to deal with Buffalo, Philadelphia, Washington and Jacksonville taking a bye week. That's plenty of good fantasy players on bye, however there's plenty more to choose from - check out our waiver wire picks if you need any more help.
Derek Carr has a tough draw this week, facing the Jets, but at least he gets to do it at home. Last week, Tom Brady showed that the Jets are vulnerable to the pass, throwing it a whopping 54 times. Carr can have similar success as long as he doesn't turn the ball over, and despite the matchup, needs to be starting in all 2-QB formats. Matthew Stafford should remain on your bench, people. His ECR this week is still way up at 8, but he had an injury to his non-throwing hand and has to deal with the circus of going to London. The Chiefs have had a chance to gain some confidence, beating up on Landry Jones and Teddy Bridgewater this week. Stafford won't be an insurmountable challenge for them.
Dion Lewis practiced on Tuesday and should return to the Patriots lineup on Thursday night, healed up from his abdomen injury. He can be fired up as a solid RB2 as the Patriots look to re-establish their run game. The Pats ran the ball 9 times in Week 7, a number that is not at all sustainable. Just make sure the Pats aren't messing with the injury reports and verify he's playing when Thursday night rolls around. It's not certain who will emerge in Houston as the main back, but one thing IS certain - don't start Chris Polk, even though he might look like a tempting flex play.
Nate Washington had a great time collecting lots of garbage points in Miami on Sunday, and look for him to be in a similar high-volume role this week if Cecil Shorts is still out. The Texans throw the ball more than any other team (including the Chargers!) and they need guys there to soak up targets. Washington is the only decent receiver other than DeAndre Hopkins on that team, so there's plenty of balls to go around. Stay away from Brandin Cooks this week. Marques Colston is back, Willie Snead has been involved a lot in the offense, and Ben Watson has become a decent facsimile of Jimmy Graham. There isn't enough consistent work for Cooks to be an every week start. Try to sell high on him if you can.
Having tight end problems? Well, if they're fantasy football related, try a nice relaxing Crockett Gillmore for your pains. Gillmore is the second best target on his team and is going up against a Chargers team that got beat badly through the air last week. He's a good replacement if you're tired of trotting out Kyle Rudolph or Jordan Cameron.
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- Written by Jason Evans
Week 7 wasn't particularly special as far as injuries go. A big name went down, another name emerges as a big fantasy producer because of an injury above him. The NFL season carries on - at this point, everyone's a little injured. Here are the guys who were banged up this past week and are expected to not only miss time, but create a void on your fantasy team.
Arian Foster tore his Achilles and is, once again, out for the season. Alfred Blue and Chris Polk are going to split the duties, but neither of them are likely to emerge as a dominant fantasy player that is even close to Foster’s production.
Louis Murphy tore his ACL is and out for the season. In the same game, Vincent Jackson left with a knee injury, paving the way for Mike Evans to finally have a good game this season. Murphy was just a WR3 anyways, but it can’t hurt Evans and Jackson’s production going forward.
Josh McCown left the game on Sunday with a shoulder injury and it sounds like he’s currently day-to-day. He has a real tough matchup against Arizona this week, so maybe find a different starter for him for this week while he gets healthy.
Phillip Dorsett fractured his fibula in Sunday’s game and will be out 4-6 weeks. Donte Moncrief is already solidly in the #2 role behind T.Y. Hilton, so there isn’t much shuffling to be done on that team. Coby Fleener could see a few more targets, but isn’t really a TE1 option right now.
Joseph Randle left the game on Sunday with an oblique injury and is expected to miss at least one game. In his absence, Darren McFadden carried the ball 29 times for 152 yards and a TD. McFadden has already been confirmed as the starter this week, and if he continues to play well, could remain in that position for the rest of the year.
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- Written by Troy Maples
We step into week 8 with some more major injuries (Arian Foster, anyone?) and some really poor QB play that has called into question a lot of previously assumed starters like Peyton Manning. As always, we're here to make some suggestions for pickups to improve your team's current lineup. Remember, you should always be improving your fantasy football team throughout the season however you can, whether through trade or the waiver wire. This week is no different.
Quarterbacks
Ryan Fitzpatrick, NYJ – Since the Jets' week 5 bye, Ryan Fitzpatrick has been a great streaming option at QB during the bye weeks. Four touchdowns and only one interception have led Fitzpatrick to two 20+ point weeks. Next week the Jets have a good match-up against the Raiders. The Oakland pass defense ranks last in yards per game this season. Fitzpatrick is another good streaming option in week 8 and is only owned in 28% of leagues.
Running Backs
Darren McFadden, DAL – The Cowboys have been dealing with injuries all year; Tony Romo, Dez Bryant and the most recent being Joseph Randle. Darren McFadden stepped in against the Giants in week 7. He racked up 152 rushing yards on 29 carries and a trip to the end zone. Hot pick Christine Michael only saw 5 attempts for 18 yards. McFadden will have the starting job until he proves otherwise. He is available in 64% of fantasy leagues.
Alfred Blue, HOU – In the lone game that the Texans leaned on Alfred Blue this season, he performed well. That was back in week 3 when Blue had 31 attempts for 139 yards and a touchdown. Arian Foster is out for the year with his torn achilles. Blue is the favorite to get the start in week 8. He’ll be a quick pick off the waiver wire this week so prioritize him high. He’s only owned in 17% of leagues.
Wide Receivers
Danny Amendola, NE – The Patriots look to be the lone juggernaut in the NFL to this point. Tom Brady continues to impress despite his age, and as always he makes everyone around him better. Recently Danny Amendola has capitalized on his opportunities. Over the last two weeks, Amendola has 191 yards and 1 touchdown. More important are his 18 targets (9 in each game) of which he has caught 15. That kind of catch percentage is only going to earn Brady’s trust. He’s available in 87% of leagues.
Marvin Jones, CIN – Cincinnati is coming off their week 7 bye with a juicy match-up against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Leading up to their bye Marvin Jones had his best game of the season, catching 9 of 12 for 95 yards and a touchdown. He was a sleeper pick heading into the season and continues to have a high ceiling in this offense. I like the match-up in week 8 against the Steelers. Willie Snead and Michael Floyd owners might want to swap out now for better depth.
Tight Ends
Eric Ebron, DET – At 6’5” 255, Eric Ebron is a great target for Matt Stafford. He has yet to really “break out” but if you are streaming tight ends you will want to look to Ebron in week 8. He gained a lot of trust last week catching all 5 of his targets for 89 yards and scoring his third touchdown of the season. Tight ends have been hard to come by this season, so roll with the hot hand. I also like him a lot in week 8 DFS line ups. He is available in 77% of leagues.
Kickers
Blair Walsh, MIN – Hey everyone, Minnesota is 4-2 and in second place in the NFC North. The way the Bears and Lions have played the latter is not too impressive, but they are continuing to show signs of improvement and Blair Walsh is a good streaming kicker to take advantage of. Last week Walsh had 20 points against Detroit. This week he has a good match-up as Minnesota should be able to move the ball well against the Chicago Bears.
Defense/Special Teams
Green Bay Packers – They are owned in 73% of leagues, but the team to pick from this week goes against my morals (Editor's Note: Bears fan). The Packers have a great match up against the Broncos in week 8. Aaron Rodgers will be tested against one of the best defenses of the season, but he is too good to not find the holes. Peyton Manning will be forced to actually make plays in this one. I am willing to bet this leads to more mistakes that the Green Bay defense will capitalize on.