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We’re a quarter of the way through the season. Now is the time that off-season questions are answered and we have an idea of what we can expect from this season. Which teams will be at the top of the league, which teams will be at the top of the draft board next year and what teams will be comfortably in the middle?

 

Don’t worry though – this is the NFL! Nothing is really predictable! (As proven by some of last week’s outcomes).

 

Week 5 – HERE WE GO!!!!!!!!

 

(HOME TEAM IN ALL CAPS)

 

14 – GREEN BAY over St. Louis – Yes, the Rams did spoil our top line game last week, but this is in Lambeau. Different story. Aaron Rodgers won’t let what happened to the Cardinals last week happen in his house.

 

13 – ATLANTA over Washington – The Falcons seem to be turning things around. After a couple years of mediocrity at best, the Falcons look prime to make run to return to the playoffs. This week’s BOLD PREDICTION is that THE FALCONS WILL WIN THE NFC SOUTH.

 

12 – NEW YORK GIANTS over San Francisco – The Giants are taking advantage of the depleted Cowboys. Look for them to make a statement against the struggling Niners.

 

11 – KANSAS CITY over Chicago – The Bears showed some signs of life last week. That should be short-lived with a trip to Arrowhead.

 

10 – BALTIMORE over Cleveland – Baltimore lucked into their first win of the season in Pittsburgh last week. Lucky for them they get a visit from the lowly Browns. The Ravens should be able to enjoy their first legit win this week.

 

9 – PHILADELPHIA over New Orleans – Well this would have been a great game in the off-season! Now, the Eagles are at home so that gives them the edge.

 

8 – Buffalo over TENNESSEE – After years of waiting, this week 5 win 15 years later will finally accept the Music City Miracle! Right?

 

7 – SAN DIEGO over Pittsburgh – The week ends with an intriguing Monday night game. If Roethlisberger was playing, then the Steelers win this game. Unfortunately, Michael Vick showed that he is not the quarterback that the Pittsburgh offense needs.

 

6 – CINCINNATI over Seattle – Game of the week by far! This has an outside chance of being this year’s Super Bowl matchup! Lucky for the Bengals this one will be played at home.

 

5 – New England over DALLAS – This was billed as the Eastern Illinois Bowl in the pre-season with a potential Tony Romo vs Jimmy Garoppolo battle. Instead we get the opposite Tom Brady vs Brandon Weeden. Sorry Cowboys, you’re struggles without Dez and Romo continue this week.

 

4 – Denver over OAKLAND – Pump the brakes on the Raiders. They showed last week that they still aren’t there yet. Though the last time I said that they won at home against Baltimore. Hope is the only reason that this game isn’t higher on our list.

 

3 – Arizona over DETROIT – The Cardinals losing at home to the Rams may be the most surprising outcome of the year. I can see them looking to take some aggression out on the seemingly confused Lions.

 

2 – TAMPA BAY over Jacksonville –The state of Florida has three NFL teams…and not an ounce of entertaining football.

 

1 – HOUSTON over Indianapolis – It took overtime for the Colts to beat the Jaguars…at home. If Luck still isn’t 100%, it’s hard to see the Colts win this game.

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Injury Updates:

 

Andrew Luck, QB, IND - partial shoulder separation may miss another game on a short week (Thursday vs. HOU)

 

LeSean McCoy, RB, BUF – hamstring injury aggravatated, 3-4 more weeks possible. Backup Karlos Williams suffered a concussion, Anthony Dixon may split carries with newly signed ex-Colts RB Dan Herron if Williams can’t go.

 

Lance Dunbar, RB, DAL – knee injury, out for season. This solidifies Darren McFadden as the Cowboys’ 3rd down back and means that newcomer Christine Michael will start getting carries, but Joseph Randle looks to remain the lead back at this time.

 

Marshawn Lynch, RB, SEA – hamstring.. rumors of a grade 1 or 2 tear but nothing has been officially announced. Fred Jackson has a high-ankle sprain and will likely be gone for a few weeks. In the meantime Thomas Rawls will monopolize carries if Lynch can’t get back on the field – Seattle is not carrying any other RBs.

 

Nate Washington & Cecil Shorts, WR, HOU – Both have been somewhat productive this season so far across from DeAndre Hopkins, though the Houston offense is very inconsistent on a week-to-week basis. We’ll likely see rookie Jaelen Strong take the field at this point but he is only a consideration in deep leagues due to the Texans’ QB woes.

 

Stevie Johnson, WR, SD – hamstring injury, has had the same thing in the past – may sideline him for a game or more so keep an eye out!

 

Jordan Reed, TE, WAS – Reed was playing well but it was only a matter of time before an injury caught up with him. Not only did he suffer a concussion in the game against the Eagles, but he also sprained his knee and his ankle. Yikes.

 

(Listen to the Fantasy Football Podcast: 10/6/15, Week 5 Preview)

 

Player Trends:

 

Blake Bortles, QB, JAC – After a disappointing week 1 against the Panthers stout defense (putting up 22/40 for 183 yards, 2 TDs and 1 INT), Bortles has thrown 5 TDs with only 1 INT over the last 3 games (21.62, 17.28 and 19.02 points per game, respectively). He’s currently the #10 QB in overall fantasy points and we’re now entering into the bye weeks. Only 18% owned in Yahoo leagues currently, Bortles will likely be snatched off many a waiver wire to be played in weeks 5 and 6 against Tampa Bay and Houston (allowing 15.5 and 18.5 points per game, respectively. Plus, he gets Julius Thomas back shortly. Last year, Bortles finished as the 24th highest scoring QB in standard leagues – can he keep up his current production to stay within the top 15 this year? Will Bortles finally lead Jacksonville to at least 6 wins in a season for the first time since 2010?

 

sam bradford player trending week 5 2015

 

Sam Bradford, QB, PHI – Bradford hadn’t played in an NFL regular season game since 2013, but hopes were high this year for a landmark season out of the Eagles and a lot of that comes from the QB. So far this year he is only the 19th highest scoring QB in standard leagues even though some experts had him as high as 7th to start the season. Bradford has been trending down since week 1, having scored 15.44, 9.86 and then 8.52 fantasy points over the first 3 weeks, but his performance in week 4 against the Redskins was a bright spot, registering 270 yards and 3 TDs with no interceptions. Facing a hapless Saints’ passing defense giving up the 2nd most fantasy points to quarterbacks so far in 2015, is this the beginning of a resurgence for the Eagles’ offense and Bradford’s fantasy hopes in general? He is owned in 63% of Yahoo leagues, and so likely not available, but looks to be a great spot start (at the very least) in weeks 5 and 6 against the Saints and the Giants.

 

Todd Gurley, RB, STL – Gurley didn’t play in an NFL game until week 3 against the Steelers, but he was really only getting his feet wet in that game, mixing in for a few touches only. In Week 4, Gurley broke out in a big way with 19 rushes for 146 yards and 2 catches for 15 yards. He didn’t hit pay dirt, but it’s looking like Gurley could definitely be a workhorse for this offense and a weekly mention among the top RBs. The Cardinals have a fairly stingy rushing defense, so this was a good test for Gurley. As the season progresses, the Rams play quite a few soft rushing defenses including Cleveland, Minnesota, Chicago and Green Bay. Will Gurley continue to run all over them as was foretold by so many after the draft this year? Could he end up being a top 10 RB when the dust clears?

 

C.J. Anderson, RB, DEN – Anderson has only scored 17.4 points total so far this season, which basically makes him a big, red, neon sign flashing the words, ‘DISAPPOINTMENT’. Some of this can be attributed to the injury issues that Anderson had in the first few weeks, but the fact that the Broncos have looked more and more towards Ronnie Hillman in clutch game situations tells the story. No TDs on the year and no games with more than 50 rushing yards are certainly leading fantasy team managers that have played Anderson each week to frustration. Does C.J. get his groove back? Will Ronnie Hillman take the reins of the Broncos’ rushing offense, or will they just continue with the current RBBC that is shaping up in Denver?

 

Allen Hurns, WR, JAC – Hurns is currently sitting as the 21st highest WR this year with a total of 41.40 fantasy points in standard leagues. He started off slow (so did Bortles), but has since scored 6.8, 13 and 17.6 fantasy points in his last 3 games, respectively. Against the Colts this past weekend, Hurns had 15 targets and brought down 11 receptions for 116 yards and 1 TD. He goes on to play the Bucs this week who have given up the 10th most fantasy points to WRs. Is there enough room for several receivers on the Jacksonville offense? Maybe. Hurns is trending up but he does have to face the Bills and the Jets in his next two matchups. Regardless, he is an excellent spot start this coming week with 4 teams on bye. He is only 21% owned. *included in week 5 waiver picks

 

Marvin Jones, WR, CIN – There has been a lot of talk about Jones over the past few years. The Bengals have been clicking on offense this season, but there are a lot of mouths to feed: A.J. Green, Tyler Eifert and Mohamed Sanu are also soaking up targets, not to mention Giovani Bernard. We thought that Marvin Jones was settling in as the WR2 this year, but it looks like Eifert has usurped that role, leaving Jones as a boom or bust play on a weekly basis. His next game is against Seattle, who boasts a top passing defense, so it’s likely that Jones will not be a play in week 5 except in desperation. What do you do with a guy like Marvin Jones? Drop him? Keep him on your bench for a good matchup and roll the dice? His last 4 games have resulted in scores of 1.9, 11.1, 15.4 and 1, respectively.

 

Gary Barnidge, TE, CLE – Who is this guy? Seriously, I had barely heard the name ‘Barnidge’ until this week 2, when he exploded onto the scene with 6 receptions for 105 yards and 1 TD. His past 4 games have resulted in scores of 3.8, 1.7, 16.5 and 13.5 and he has scored TDs in the last two while averaging 8 targets per game. Will this 30-year-old tight end continue to act as a security blanket for Josh McCown and a redzone threat? Week 5’s matchup has him going against the Ravens who have somehow only allowed 8 receptions for 31 yards to all tight ends that they have played. Would it be crazy to play Barnidge against the Ravens knowing this information? *included in week 5 waiver picks

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We're at the quarter point of the fantasy football season, assuming (and let's do just that) you will make the championship. It's what we're all here for, anyways. This week, Carolina, Miami, New York (Jets) and Minnesota are on bye, so at least you get Gronk back, but you might lose AP. And if you do have both of those guys on the same team, then you're probably doing just fine.

 

Andy Dalton has been on fire all year, scoring the second most points among all QB's. Make sure to keep him in your lineup, despite his ECR of 15. Giovani Bernard is still getting more touches per game than Jeremy Hill, so while he may be making his way out of the doghouse, Bernard is still a solid every week RB2/Flex play. Arian Foster's premier was less than inspiring, so while you want to dial him up Thursday night, do it as a flex play and not RB1/2. The QB situation in Houston is just too bad to rely on their defense heavily.

 

Martavis Bryant returns to the Steelers lineup, and despite missing big Ben, he should still fill in just fine as a WR3. Brandin Cooks is a guy who you might want to stay away from, as Willie Snead seems to be Brees's new favorite target. Make sure to check out the waiver picks for Week 5 to keep your team from accumulating too much dead weight!

 

 

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Grab’em while they’re hot! Week 5 is getting ready to start and the waiver wire continues to bear fruit. Bye weeks are in full swing this weekend too with Carolina, Miami, Minnesota and the New York Jets all off. My recommendation is to dig deep this week. The season is really starting to take shape and waiver wire gold tends to get slim in the middle of the season.

 

Quarterbacks

 

Jay Cutler, CHI – The Bears are not staging a comeback or anything this year but fantasy value can still be found on losing teams. Jay Cutler came back last week and had his best game of the season despite his bum hamstring. The Andrew Luck and Drew Brees injuries should be a wake-up call to all owners. Stashing a good streaming QB on your bench is valuable and Jay Cutler has yet to really hit his full stride this season. Playmaker Alshon Jeffery should be returning soon too giving him another dynamic player to target. He is only owned in 25% of leagues.

 

Brian Hoyer, HOU – Houston plays on Thursday and that might be the only reason Brian Hoyer doesn’t replace Ryan Mallett in week 5. Mallett is too inexperienced and immature to handle his poor play and benching properly so I do expect Hoyer to win back the starting position soon. Houston isn’t setting any offensive records but Hoyer does have DeAndre Hopkins to target. Plus, we haven’t really seen the full impact of Arian Foster returning. Foster should open up the field a bit more and Hopkins continues to play very well despite his QB handicap. Hoyer is wide open and only owned in 1% of leagues. He must have a lot of family playing fantasy football.

 

Running Backs

 

Duke Johnson Jr., CLE – We knew Duke Johnson Jr. was going to find his way onto the field this season. Though he remains the backup - for now - the Browns have found a way to use him effectively. In his last 2 games Johnson has 15 catches for 117 yards and a touchdown. He’ll continue to get some touches too, but his impact in the passing game is obviously a big plus for a guy only owned in 31% of leagues.

 

charles sims waiver wire week 5 2015

 

Charles Sims, TB – The RBBC approach is starting to take on a bit of a new look this season. Players like Lance Dunbar, Duke Johnson Jr. and now Charles Sims are finding success through the air when they sub in. Sims has 10 receptions for 108 yards and 2 touchdowns. His value is further increased based on the fact that he is the third down back for Doug Martin. I will point out too that I like him in DFS lineups, especially as a FLEX. He is only owned 11% of leagues.

 

Wide Receiver

 

Allen Hurns, JAX – The waiver wire gold is few and far between this late into the season, but I believe Allen Hurns has just that type of value as a WR3. He has made the most of his opportunities early, racking up 13 catches for 186 yards and 2 touchdowns. Hurns narrowly missed making my waiver picks last week and quite honestly I am disappointed in myself. He is still only owned in 19% of leagues. That won’t last long after putting up two consecutive weeks of WR3 numbers.

 

Willie Snead, NO – A new name that should make his way onto everyone’s radar is Willie Snead. He has overtaken Brandon Coleman as the 3rd wide out in New Orleans. The amount of playtime he is seeing gives him good enough upside to make my picks this week. He also plays in the Saints pass happy offensive system. For now he is a streaming option with high upside. I predict his ceiling will continue to rise as the season moves on. He is only owned in 3% of leagues.

 

Leonard Hankerson, ATL – Atlanta is rejuvenated under new Head Coach Dan Quinn; especially on the offensive side of the ball. Julio Jones was predicted to dominate, and he has, but Roddy White was a question heading into this season because of his age. Enter Leonard Hankerson to offer the Falcons another option in the passing game. Through the first 4 weeks he has been boom or bust, but is seeing a good number of targets for a guy only owned in 19% of leagues. Whether or not he gains more consistency is still up in the air, but don’t pass up on the number 2 wideout in a top 5 passing yards per game offense.

 

Tight Ends

 

Gary Barnidge, CLE – After the two weeks the 30 year old Gary Barnidge has had I would be an idiot not to recommend picking him up. He has 12 catches in his last two games for 180 yards and 2 touchdowns. The tight end position continues to be a popular streaming position as the talent pool has large gaps between tiers. Injuries are another issue with the TE position; see Jordan Reed (SHOCKER). Barnidge is a bright spot on an otherwise dismal Browns team. His is only taken in 9% of leagues.

 

antonio gates week 5 waiver wire 2015

 

Antonio Gates, SD – Injuries are starting to mount up for the San Diego offense with Stevie Johnson exiting in week 4 and Malcom Floyd going through concussion protocol. That is why it surprises me that Antonio Gates is still only owned in 54% of fantasy leagues right now. Gates is finally back after serving his 4 game suspension and will no doubt make an immediate impact. Philip Rivers and Antonio Gates have long been a great fantasy marriage. The injuries only boost his ceiling in his week 5 return.

 

Kickers

 

Cairo Santos, KC – Kansas City’s losing streak continued in week 4 but Cairo Santos had a hell of a game. Most kickers are lucky to see half the number of field goals Santos made last week. His 7 field goals were good for 27 fantasy points. Streaming kickers is popular because, well, they’re kickers. Kansas City plays Chicago next week and it’s a favorable matchup for Jamaal Charles. That said, Alex Smith handicaps drives and an improved Bears defense should be good enough to keep the Chiefs out of the end zone.

 

Robbie Gould, CHI – The only game in which Robbie Gould has yet to put up favorable kicker numbers is the Seattle game where Chicago was shut out. He has 41 points on the season despite that, and is one of the most accurate kickers in the NFL. Jay Cutler is back and Matt Forte hasn’t been traded yet so I like the Bears ability to move the ball against Kansas City next week. Gould is owned in 18% of leagues which is just ridiculous considering his history and the numbers he has put up this season.

 

Defense/Special Teams

 

New York Giants – If you are heading into week 5 and find yourself in need of a defense then the New York Giants offer a good matchup option. There are two huge advantages to their week 5 matchup. One, San Francisco is traveling across the country. Two, and most important, San Francisco is the worst offense in the league led by an increasing disappointing Colin Kaepernick and coached by an increasingly greasy Jim Tomsula. Coach and Quarterback aside, you can’t ignore the numbers. The Giants have yet to put up big numbers as a D/ST this season, but they are 3 of 4 on the season in maintaining double digit fantasy points.

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So,last week was pretty rough thanks to two RB dud performances from both Forsett and Hyde as well as an Eifert goose egg; but we will move on to bigger and better things in week 4. This week there are a lot of value plays due to injured starters, which we will plug in to be able to afford some top tier talent. Good luck this week gamblers!

 

QB  - Andy Dalton, CIN - $7,600 vs. KC:  Coming off 383 yard 3 TD performance, Dalton gets now gets a home game against a Chiefs defense that has given up the most fantasy points to opposing QB's thus far this year. Expect Dalton to continue to roll.

 

RB - Jamaal Charles, KC - $8,700 vs. CIN:  Charles has been consistently putting up points all season, never recording less than 16 in a game - mostly due to the large amount of red zone touches he receives. Look for the Chiefs to lean heavily on their best player again this week.

 

RB - Karlos Williams, BUF - $6,300 vs. NYG:  LeSean McCoy has been ruled out this week with a hamstring injury which means Karlos Williams will get every down back duties. Perfect play this week for high volume at a low price tag.

 

WR - A.J. Green, CIN - $8,400 vs. KC:  Green erupted in week 3 posting 227 yards and 2 TDs against the Ravens. He gets an even better matchup this week against a shaky KC pass defense and is a great combo play to go with Dalton.

 

WR - Larry Fitzgerald, ARI - $7,400 vs. STL:  Fitzgerald has had his way with teams lately, scoring 5 TDs over the past 2 games. A bit of a tougher matchup this week with a home matchup against the Rams, but I expect another strong performance.

 

WR - James Jones, GB - $6,000 at SF:  It looks like Davante Adams will miss this week after reinjuring his ankle, which should mean an expanded role for Jones. Great matchup this week as SF has been giving up the 5th most fantasy points to opposing WRs this year.

 

TE - Greg Olsen, CAR - $6,300 at TB: The Panthers don't seem to have any other weapon in their passing game this year besides Olsen, so he should be a legitimate play almost every week. With Jonathan Stewart questionable this week it could mean even more targets going Olsen's way.

 

K - Robbie Gould, CHI - $4,600 vs. OAK:  Looking for a bounce back game for Gould after the Bears were shut out in Seattle. Forte should at least be able to move the team into field goal range a few times at home against the Raiders.

 

DEF - Broncos, DEN - $4,700 vs. MIN:  Rolling with the defense that is averaging the most fantasy points per game.

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As the general manager of a fantasy team, each week you are presented with many decisions to make. The choices you make can then have dire consequences on the fate of your team for the remainder of the season. It’s important to weigh these start/sit questions very heavily against the health and recent performance of the player, the efficiency of the defense they are facing and the ability of the offense in which they play to score points on a week-to-week basis. We’ll help to make some of these decisions easier, but ultimately it’s up to you which way you decide to go! Here are our Week 4 Rankings, and feel free to use the start/sit tool here on the site as well.

 

Quarterbacks


START Tyrod Taylor (BUF) vs. NYG – We've been telling everyone that we can find every week to pick up Tyrod Taylor as part of our waiver wire picks, and he is finally owned in more than 2/3 of Yahoo leagues. Took long enough! As the 5th highest scoring QB in standard leagues so far this year, it would be borderline insane not to start him now on a weekly basis. The Giants passing defense also happens to be the worst in the NFL so far this year, allowing more than 1000 yards of passing offense over just 3 games. Enjoy!

 

SIT Philip Rivers (SD) vs. CLE – Rivers has a worse-than-average matchup this week against a good Cleveland secondary, and is sorely missing Antonio Gates. Over the past 3 games he has put up 5 TDs and 4 INTs. Rivers is now - for all intents and purposes - a QB2 with some upside, and we're staying away from him until he can show us otherwise.

 

Running Backs


START Justin Forsett (BAL) vs. PIT – Forsett has had some trouble getting it going this year (and some of that blame can be put on the overall Ravens' offense and play-calling, as well), but he should have a good game this week against the division rival Steelers' front without Ryan Shazier. Both teams may have some issues generating offense early in the game and will lean on the run to some degree. I'm predicting he has the best game of his year so far against Pittsburgh on Thursday night.


START C.J. Spiller (NO) vs. DAL – Spiller will continue to get more opportunities in the backfield starting with this week's game against Dallas. Finally healthy, he should be able to produce against the Cowboys at a FLEX level at least - especially in PPR leagues. I saw Spiller dropped in a few leagues already - those teams will be regretting that decision after his performance in week 4.

 

jonathan stewart sit week 4 nfl

 

SIT Jonathan Stewart (CAR) vs. TB – Stewart has not been playing well this year and Cam Newton has had to shoulder most of the load, along with Greg Olsen. With Stewart's recent injury (knee) he is not going to be a start even if he does give it a go on Sunday. This is a situation where you need to be extra cautious, because he could go out there and only touch the ball 8 times. I'd rather start a running back with less upside this week, along as they're healthy.


SIT Ronnie Hillman (DEN) vs. MIN – The rumors of C.J. Anderson's demise have been far overblown. True, Hillman has seen the field a lot while Anderson has been nursing an injury, but the Broncos' coaching staff has repeatedly said that they are still looking at C.J. as the main guy in Denver and has been getting the snaps in the situations that count.

 

Wide Receivers


START Calvin Johnson (DET) vs. SEA – Yes, they're playing the Seahawks. Yes, the Lions have had all sorts of issues with their offensive line and play-calling. Still, it's likely that Detroit will need to chuck the football in order to keep pace in this game and Megatron is the #1 target that they'll be going to. He scores 100 yards and a TD in this game for sure! Quote me on that.


START Marvin Jones (CIN) vs KC – It's been disappointing to be a Marvin Jones owner over the past few years. The guy is extremely talented but never seems to stay healthy when all the planets are aligning for him to excel. This year he gets another shot: the Dalton machine is running better than it ever has before and Jones has locked up the #2 WR role in this offense. Expect consistent high-end production on a week to week basis from here on.

 

SIT John Brown (ARI) vs STL – The Rams have one of the better passing defenses this year, allowing just over 200 yards per game and only 2 TDs over the past 3 games. Not that Arizona will have too tough a time moving the ball, but I think that they will be passing the ball around a lot and utilizing their newly found running game as well. Brown is still getting a few receptions per game but he has not shown as much of that big play ability that made him such an attractive pick on draft day. Sit him!

 

Tight Ends


START Maxx Williams (BAL) vs. PIT – C'mon, the guy's name is MAXX! Anyway, the lack of targets in Baltimore has forced Flacco to keep checking down to his tight ends and without Crockett Gillmore (out, calf), Maxx Williams steps up to the plate. We've seen this guy grab a pass and knock through a few defenders like bowling pins and I'm expecting that to happen a few times in this game against a pretty weak passing defense.


SIT Eric Ebron (DET) vs. SEA - Ebron has been performing well this year, much to many fantasy expert's chagrin. I think that is mainly due to the inability of the offensive line to give Stafford time to throw to his receivers but I expect Detroit's scheme and play-calling to get better. Hope you enjoyed your time in the spotlight, Ebron - I think we'll be seeing less production from you in the weeks going forward.

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The Chicago Bears have shown their cards after starting the season 0-3. Jared Allen was shipped off two days ago, followed by Jonathan Bostic as Rookie GM Ryan Pace sheds ill-fitting pieces left over from the Phil Emery era. These two moves have opened up a TON of cap space for the rebuilding Bears, but I don’t think we have seen the end of the wheeling and dealing.

 

Rumors surfaced immediately about Matt Forte being on the trading block after the Allen and Bostic news broke. An abundance of sources are being cited left and right; some claiming Forte is definitely on the block, while others are claiming he isn’t. I might not have the sources, but I can look at this from a pure business sense and tell you that it makes sense for the Bears to move Matt Forte.

 

First, Forte is 29 years old (turning 30 in December) and is in the final year of his contract. His resume boasts five 1000+ rushing seasons and he holds high marks in the passing game. From the Bears point of view they are in total rebuilding mode. It makes no sense for the Bears to invest in Forte when their path to relevance only leads into his declining years.

 

matt forte trade rumors nfl 2015

 

Second, his contract extension, or lack thereof, was an early sign. I have to hand it to Matt Forte for the way he handled the off season media blitz surround his potential contract extension. He stayed out of it for the most part and didn’t hold out. That doesn’t mean he didn’t vocalize his disappointment. In an Interview with NBC 5’s Mike Adamle, Forte says this about his future, “I’ve come to the realization that this might be my last year here, so I’m gonna make it the best year I can possibly make it. So if I’m a free agent at the end of the year I might have to go somewhere else.”

 

Lastly, the Bears have no reason not to try to trade Forte before the deadline. From a business standpoint he is worth nothing to them once he explores free agency. Trading him for a draft pick is the best they can do in the position they are in. Ryan Pace has already shown that he is in full-on rebuilding mode and his plan has to include stashing draft picks.

 

Where does Matt Forte Get Traded?

 

Dallas Cowboys – This was one of the first teams involved in the trade talks as the rumors swirled. As a Bears fan I like this destination simply because Jerry Jones is most likely to give the most if a bidding war was to take place. Jerry doesn’t like to lose. Looking at their team depth chart, the Cowboys don’t really have a need for Matt Forte. Joseph Randle is running well behind that stout offensive line, Lance Dunbar covers the pass catching role while Darren McFadden subs in for change of pace. They also have Christine Michael in the wings. Not saying a deal couldn’t get done between these two teams, but it would be complicated from the Dallas Cowboys stand point when looking at the running back depth they already have.

 

Baltimore Ravens – This is a popular pick for a potential Matt Forte trade. Justin Forsett is struggling early this season with only 124 yards through 3 games. There is also no denying that Joe Flacco would benefit from Forte’s pass catching abilities. We also need to discuss the obvious link between Matt Forte and Marc Trestman. Trestman is the offensive coordinator in Baltimore now and must be lobbying to trade for Forte. Forte has had his two most productive seasons when Marc Trestman was running the Bears offense as the head coach.

 

Carolina Panthers – The Panthers running back woes are very similar to those in Baltimore. Jonathan Stewart has only 170 yards through 3 games. Unlike the Ravens, however, the Panthers are off to a great start this season at 3-0. A Matt Forte trade to Carolina actually makes a lot of sense. Stewart is unproven as a lead back after multiple seasons of splitting time with DeAngelo Williams. Carolina could use Forte’s talents and leadership after the good start. When Kelvin Benjamin went down the Panthers lost a major offensive play maker. Greg Olsen is the lone threat right now with Ted Ginn Jr. being the only other worthwhile target.

 

Arizona Cardinals- This is my very own dark horse trade destination. Chris Johnson appears to have earned the starting role in Arizona, even after Andre Ellington returns. His game last week against the 49ers was impressive with 110 yards on the ground and 2 TD’s. That being said, I still like Matt Forte in this offense, and the timing seems to make sense. Carson Palmer is playing great despite his age (35) and Larry Fitzgerald is off to a good start with 333 yards and 5 touchdowns despite being 32. My point here is that Arizona’s chance for a Super Bowl is on the clock. Putting Matt Forte in the mix instantly makes them an offensive juggernaut.

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TNF: 9/24/15: Washington Redskins vs. N.Y. Giants
Well, chalk up one for the N.Y. Giants, they cut their losing streak at the expense of the Redskins, 32-21. I guess Eli can talk about his 1st win of the season while Big Bro. Peyton talks about # 3 so far. I'm sure it's been some quite dinners at the folks house these last few weeks. In their previous losses against Dallas & Atlanta, the Giants fell apart in the 4th Qtr & loss. This time they were dominant in the 4th and held on to the victory. The Giants scored in almost every way possible, beginning with Jennings blocking Tress Way's punt for a safety on the Redskins opening series. Andre Williams scored on a 1yd run, Josh Brown kicked 3 FGs and Beckham toasted Bashaud Breeland to settle matters. For Washington, Rashad Ross returned the kickoff 101yds for the final score. Gruden still sticking to his "no QB controversy" every chance he gets, so then, you know it is. This is Washington's 5th straight lost to the Giants. Things just might be looking up for the Giants with Dallas being 2-0 who now have major folks out and Philly is 0-2. The Redskins, well, today, they were just here. Nuff said about that. E. Manning threw for 279yds & 2 TDs, R. Jennings had 11 carries for 32yds & R. Randle had 7 receptions for 116yds & 1 TD. K. Cousins threw for 316yds, 1 TD & 2 ints. M. Jones had 11 carries for 38yds & 1 fumble, J. Reed finished up with 6 receptions for 96yds. I heard that RGIII made up to #2 spot. I'm just saying.

 
 
MNF: 9/28/15: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Green Bay Packers.
Aaron Rodgers lights up Chiefs for 5 TDs and drops K.C. like a plague. Now, K.C. did put up a fight but you have to play all 4 Qtrs against the Packers. Smith was getting hit so much, he was just throwing the ball anywhere at one point to avoid the hit. He was sacked a total of 7x.  On one of his TDs to Cobb in the 4th, Rodgers set the franchise record with his 4th career game of at least 5 TD passes. The Chiefs did not fail with the dropped passes and GB dropped a few themselves. The bright side for the Chiefs? They stopped their long streak of no TD receptions by a receiver when Jeremy Maclin hauled in a 5yd TD pass with 56 seconds left in the 3rd Qtr. Randall Cobb and James Jones were the preferred targets for the night. Rodgers connected with Cobb for 3 of the 5 TDs. Green Bay built a 38-14 lead early in the 4th Qtr before withstanding a late rush by Jamaal Charles & the Chiefs. Charles rushed for 3 TDs for K.C. Charles 7yd TD with 1:25 left got the Chiefs with 10pts but result was the same for K.C., which lost it's second straight. Despite the 3 TD runs, the Packers put the breaks on Charles from making explosive plays and shut him down to 49yds on 11 carries. The Chiefs were on alert for Rodgers tendency to take advantage of free plays and they still got beat. But Rodger's backup, Scott Tolzien, who sees the greatness of Rodgers every week, said it best. He said, "I mean, to me, it's like watching Jordan in his prime. He's at the top of his game. He makes it all go." Rodgers said what he loved about MJ was that MJ brought his "A" game every night because he knew that each night, there was someone in the stands that had never seen him play and he made sure to put on a show. Same with Rodgers, even on his bad days, he's good! He saw Jordan when he was 8 and said he will never forget it. A. Rodgers threw for 33yds & 5 TDs. His no interceptions at home was almost broken today but the ball was dropped. E. Lacy had 10 carries for 46yds & J. Jones had 7 receptions for 139yds & 1 TD. A. Smith threw for 290yds, 1 TD & 1 int., J. Charles had 11 carries for 49yds & 3 TDs. Did you know that Charles had a speech impediment as a child and he first discovered his football talents playing in the Special Olympics. J. Maclin had 8 receptions for 141yds & 1 TD.
 
 
NFC NORTH:
 
Green Bay Packers: 3-0
Good game, I really enjoyed this one. The Packers skinned the Chiefs, 38-28. Rodgers is just cold!!! Nothing else you can say. Read the MNF update for the details. Well, I can tell you that he won the NFC Offensive Player of the Week.
 
 
Minnesota Vikings: 2-1
Hummm, so they won again and this time, like the last, it wasn't because of A.P. I know they are happy to have him back but they are holding their own as a team as well. He doe's do better with each game. This week before the game, he showed up at the practice facility on his day off to run a series of 100yd sprints, 18 in all. He looks to be in mid-career form now or so I heard. They beat the San Diego Chargers 31-14. Still can't believe that, I thought the Chargers would put up a better fight. His 1st TD was the first time crossing the goal line in more than 22 months, that's 2 years. The last time he scored was on Nov., 24, 2013 @ GB, before a foot injury slowed him down in the stretch that season. Fallout from the child abuse case last year kept him out of all but one game. Rivers was pretty beat up in this game. He was pulled out midway through the 4th Qtr when the deficit was 24pts. He was sacked 4x for a loss of 28yds. He had 2 turnovers and took a hard hit to the mid-section from Anthony Barr in the 3rd Qtr. Peterson tied Randy Moss for 2nd place, (93) on the team's all-time TD list, trailing Cris Carter (110). T. Bridgewater threw for 121yds & 1 int., that's less yds than Peterson rushed for in this game. A. Peterson had 20 carries for 126yds & 2 TDs & M. Wallace had 3 receptions for 49yds. P. Rivers threw for 246yds, 1 TD & 1 int., and a bunch of bumps & bruises. M. Gordon had 14 carries for 51yds & K. Allen finished with 12 receptions for 133yds & 2 TDs.
 
 
Chicago Bears: 0-3
I know, same story, different day. Bears lose to Seattle, no, they were shut out by the Seahawks, 26-0. This was the first shut out for my Bears in more than a decade. Dec., 29, 2002 to be exact, they lost to Tampa Bay 15-0 in the season finale. Bennett played against his brother, Bears traded Jon Bostic to Patriots & Jared Allen to Panthers and word on the street is that there may be more. Oh yeah, Clausen says he plays as good as Jay. Really? News flash Claussen, you suck too!! Read about the shut out in Seattle's update.
 

Detroit Lions: 0-3
What did you expect? They played Denver and they lost to Denver, 24-12.  Read the Broncos update for details.

 
 
NFC SOUTH:
 
Atlanta Falcons: 3-0
How sweet it is for the Falcons. It's even sweeter for Julio Jones who now has 34 receptions through 3 games. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, that is the most receptions in NFL history, for 3 games of course. They got their 3rd win at the expense of, the "man down" Dallas Cowboys, 39-28. I told Lofton his team is going down without Dez then you add Romo, it is a game changer. Matt Ryan hit WR Julio Jones for 2 TDs. Julio had his 3rd straight 100yd game to start the season. He finished up with 164yds and a, put this one in the books, 2yd score late in the 4th Qtr. RB Devonta Freeman didn't ease up on the Cowboys either, he ran for 141yds & 3 scores starting for injured rookie Tevin Coleman. Dallas RB Lance Dunbar had 10 catches for 100yds but several were ill fated attempts to get 1st downs in 3rd and long situations. Cole Beasley was the only receiver to catch a pass. They pretty much took the home crowd out of the game. This is quite a change for the Falcons. If you remember they had not won their 3rd game until WK 10 last season and WK 13 in 2013, so you know they are flying high. According to the NFL, Atlanta is the 1st team to start 3-0 after trailing in the 4th Qtr of each game. M. Ryan threw for 285yds & 2 TDs, D. Freeman had 30 carries for 141yds & 3 TDs, he did his job for the day. J. Jones had 12 receptions for 164yds & 2 TDs. They got him working day & night. B. Weeden threw for 232yds & 1 int., J. Randle had 14 carries for 87yds & 3 TDs, not bad at all JR. L. Dunbar stats listed above.
 

Carolina Panthers: 3-0
Ho hum, Carolina wins another one. Now, I am sure that I read somewhere in the off season that the Panthers has the 3rd or 5th easiest schedule this year, somebody on that team must be Irish with all the luck they having. It's amazing what a QB can do when he is not crying & complaining all the time. They beat down the doomed Saints, 27-22. They said this is one of the most complete efforts of his 5yr career. He tossed his bud, former Bear, Greg Olsen, 2 TD passes to sweeten up his stat sheet. He put the icing on the cake when he ran in for a score himself. This gave him his 35th rushing TD of his career, tying him with Randall Cunningham & Stever Grogan for 7th most in NFL history by a QB. They said his "maturation" showed in this game, that means he is not crying on the side lines as much. The Panthers are 3-0 for the 1st time since reaching the SB in the 2003 season. This is the 1st game Brees has missed because of injury since he became a Saint in 2006. Luke McCown started in Drew's place. The previous time he started was Sept., 18, 2011, a game in which he threw 4 ints. in a 32-3 loss while playing the Jaguars. Be afraid New Orleans, be very afraid. C. Newton threw for 315yds & 2 TDs, J. Stewart had 14 carries for 52yds and Cam's #1 man, G. Olsen had 8 receptions for 134yds & 2 TDs. L. McCown threw for 310yds & 1 int., M. Ingram had 14 carries for 50yds & 1 TD, B. Cooks had 7 receptions for 79yds.

 
 
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 1-2
It's a sad day in the NFL when the TBB are over the Saints in the NFC South, but that is the case. Even thought the lost to the Texans, 19-9, they are still one game better in the standings than a couple of teams. Read the details in Houston's update.
 

New Orleans Saints: 0-3
The lost boys, aka: The New Orleans Saints dropped another one, leaving them 0-3 and shaking their heads. Read the 411 in the Panthers update. Brees is still a ? for WK4.
 
 
NFC EAST:
 
Dallas Cowboys: 2-1
You know your team is doing bad when T.O., Terrell Owens says Dallas should give him another shot.  As of today, he hasn't heard back from them. Dallas tried to win without Romo & Dez, but it was not to be. Read about their lost to the Falcons in that update.
 

N.Y. Giants: 1-2
Read about their 1st win of the season against the crashing Redskins. Check out the TNF update, right at the top.
 
 
Washington Redskins: 1-2
No surprise here, they dropped the ball on TNF and lost to the Giants, 32-21. Check out that update above.
 

Philadelphia Eagles 1-2
Eagles finally win one over the N.Y. Jets, 24-17. D. Sproles, aka, Mighty Mouse, led the way. Have you seen the thighs on that guy?  It's like the MM cartoon from way back, come on now, some of y'all know what I'm talking bout lol. He started off with an 89yd punt return for a score & added a 1yd TD run. The D caused 4 turnovers & Philly got it's first win. QB, Bradford threw a TD pass to Ryan Mathews, who rushed for 108yds on 25 carries while starting in the place of the injured DeMarco Murray. The Eagles improved to 10-0 all time against the Jet's who had just put the smack down on the Colts on MNF last week. Even though Fitzpatrick threw TD passes to B. Marshall & Jeremy Kerley, it was really pointless when he turns around and throws 3 ints. Even with them holding the Eagles scoreless after halftime. They couldn't add any more points on the board. With this win, the Eagles avoided their 1st 0-3 start since 1999. So much more to read about this game, but I try really hard to keep it short & to the point. Good luck with that huh, lol. S. Bradford threw for 118yds & 1 TD., R. Matthews had 24 carries for 108yds & 1 fumble and on double duty, he had 6 receptions for 49yds. R. Fitzpatrick threw for 283yds, 2 TDs & 3 ints., Ouch! No rushing worth mentioning. My boy, B. Marshall had 10 receptions for 109yds, 1 TD and some butter fingers with 1 int.  
 
 
NFC WEST: 
 
Arizona Cardinals: 3-0
You knew it was going to be a great day for the Cardinals when they immediately put the 49ers on notice by returning 2 interceptions for a TD in the opening minutes. S, Tyrann Mathieu, who brought back the 2nd TD and later picked off another pass in Arizona's 47-7 slaughter. He had his part in setting an NFL record as the Cardinals became the 1st team in NFL history with a pair of interception returns for scores in the first 6 minutes of a game. To make it feel like Christmas for Mathieu, he was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week. Larrry Fitzgerald caught 9 passes, he was on fire in this game and he's still my boyfriend, I don't care what anyone says, lol. It's the first time the franchise has had two 40pt victories in a row since 1969. It's also the largest margin of victory since a 44-0 win over Houston in 1970. Palmer won his 9th in a row, the NFL's longest active streak, and is 16-2 in his past 18 starts. The scary part, they can only get better. Kap threw 4 pics in this game, he had a QB rating of 16.7, the worst in his career. I see he still hasn't found his MoJo yet. In his favor, he did score on a 12yd TD run. That's all I got to say about this one. C. Palmer threw for 311yds, 2 TDs & 1 int., C. Johnson had 22 carries for 110yds & 2 TDs and Larry had 9 receptions for 134yds & 2 TDs. C. Kap, smh, threw for 67yds & 4 ints. that's the worse I've seen for any QB. c. Hyde had 15 carries for 51yds & no receiving yards worth talking about.
 
 
St. Louis Rams: 1-2
They were handed their 2nd loss of the season at the hands of the Steelers. Check it out in Pittsburgh's update.
 

San Francisco 49ers: 1-2
Man, go back up 2 spots and read about the 47-7 slaughter they took from the Cardinals in that update.
 

Seattle Seahawks: 1-2
So Russell was like, ok guys, we are 0-2 but we got the Bears Sunday so we 1-2 going into WK4. I'm just saying, that's how the pep talk went in the Seahawks locker room. The game was really slow for a bit. Tyler Lockett provided a need jolt to his boys with a start to the 2nd half with a 105yds kickoff return for a TD. After that, Wilson, Graham and a defense that was whole again with the return of Kam Chancellor took over. They still didn't look all that great, they were only up 6-0 at halftime. I mean you beat my Bears, that's all I'm saying. But they may have paid for the shut out on the Bears. Already dealing with a sore back and neck and a calf injury that had him limited in practice last week, Lynch has to have an MRI on injured hamstring. I'm just saying, he been put down a lot lately & it may have just caught up with him. He may be out for WK 4. R. Wilson threw for 235yds & 1 TD, T. Rawls had 16 carries for 104yds & J. Graham look like the Saint from past play with 7 receptions for 83yds & 1 TD. J. Clausen, loser, had 63yds & you say you better than Jay. You must have grew up together. M. Forte had 20 carries for 74yds & Z. Miller, who the hell is that, had 1 reception for 21yds. SMH. Pitiful!
 
 
AFC NORTH:
 
Cincinnati Bengals: 3-0
Good game against the Ravens, I honestly could not tell who was going to win this one until the very end. Bengals remained undefeated with a 28-24 win over the losing Ravens. It was the battle of Andy Dalton & A.J. Green against Joe Flacco & Sam Smith Sr. It was truly amazing to watch. When the smoke cleared and the game was over, the Bengal boys came out on top. You just should have saw this one. The Bengals blew a 14-0 lead & twice trailed in the 4th Qtr before Dalton & Green brought them back. This is what I'm saying, it was that kind of game, again, you should have saw this one. The Ravens went ahead for the 1st time, turning a fumble by Dalton into a 41yd TD return by Mosley for a 17-14 lead with 6:49 left. Green immediately got free & caught a pass in stride that he turned into an 80yd score. Green broke a tackle by J. Smith, shook off W. Hill & scrambled into the end zone. The Ravens answered with a 79yd drive that featured 2, 3rd down conversion & ended with Steve Smith catching a 16yd TD pass in front of Dre Kirkpatrick for a 24-21 advantage with just under 4 minutes to go. After that, Green comes up with the game winner and that's all she wrote. I'm so glad I didn't miss this game. Cincinnati has won 4 in a row in this AFC North rivalry for the first time. 5 of the past 6 games have been decided by 7pts or fewer. Baltimore WAS the only existing NFL team NEVER to start 0-3, before this season. It had been a decade since the Ravens began with 2 straight defeats. A. Dalton threw for 383yds, 3 TDs & 1 int., G. Bernard had 13 carries for 49yds. But the real "Superman" A.J. Green had 10 receptions for 227yds & 2 TDs. J. Flacco threw for 362yds, 2 TDs & 1 int. No rushing yards worth mentioning. S. Smith Sr. had 13 receptions for 186yds & 2 TDs. To bad if you missed this game.
 

Pittsburgh Steelers: 2-1
Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, the injury shark gets you. True, the Steelers won this one over the Rams but they paid a heavy price. Big Ben was injured and will be out for at least 4 games. At least he has Michael Vick to back him up and not Clausen. Vick said he was stunned that Ben got hurt, but I bet he grabbed his helmet so quick to hit the field, all you could see was sparks from his feet. Ben hasn't missed a game since 2012. He won his franchise-record 108th game, passing Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw. LeVeon Bell scored from a yard out in the 1st half, his first game back after a suspension, making up for lost time no doubt. The Rams were limited to 2 FG and have scored only 16pts in their last 2 games. Ram's QB said they will say some prayers for Ben. Rams MLB James Laurinaitis became the franchise career tackle leader, passing late Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen. He has started all 99 games since being drafted in the 2nd round in 2009. B. Ben threw for 192yds & 1 int. before going out on a knee/leg injury. L. Bell had 19 carries for 62yds & 1 TD. A. Brown had 11 receptions for 108yds. N. Foles threw for 197yds & 1 int., no rushing yards worth mentioning. K. Britt had 7 receptions for 102yds. Good luck Big Ben.
 

Cleveland Browns: 1-2
The Oakland Raiders handed the Browns this loss, 27-20. Check out that update for details.
 

Baltimore Ravens: 0-3
Wouldn't believe it, if I wasn't writing it. The Ravens are still searching for a win with yet another loss, this one to the Bengals. Check it out in that update.

 
 
AFC SOUTH:
 
Jacksonville Jaguars: 1-2
So it turns out that the 49er's were not beat up the worst, the Jaguars were. Read the details of the 51-17 stomp you down to the ground beating they took from the Patriots in that update.
 

Indianapolis Colts: 1-2
They finally pulled one out by the hair of their chiny, chin, chins or by Lucks beard. They beat the Titans 35-33, so they barely won, but it's still a win. This was their first 0-3 start since 2011 and they disparately needed this win, especially since he was the "answer" for the Colts. I still think he's okay, not great. Not saying he won't get there, but he isn't just yet. They trailed 27-14 before Luck got going. Luck threw 2 TD passes, 56 seconds apart. Frank Gore ran for 2 TDs including the winner on a 6yd run with 2:51 left.  Luck finally had that rabbit's foot working in his favor. He did add 2 interceptions, but what's a game without a pic six here and there.  The Titans, well we know their story, they have lost 13 of 14 against the Colts so this day was not a surprise to them at all. The Titans were down 14-0 in the 2nd Qtr, they scored 27 straight points to take that 27-14 lead. Though they lost, they stayed in the game and that's more than I can say for a few teams. A. Luck threw for 260yds, 2 TDs & 2 ints. F. Gore had 14 carries for 86yds & 2 TDs and T. Hilton had 4 receptions for 94yds. M. Mariota threw for 367yds, 2 TDs & 2 ints., when he grows up in the NFL, he's gonna be on fire. A. Andrews had 12 carries for 49yds & 1 TD. K. Wright had 7 receptions for 95yds & 1 TD.
 

Houston Texans: 1-2
They finally put one in the win column with the 19-9 win over the Tampa Bay Bucs. Mallett got his 2nd NFL win in his 2nd start this season after Brian Hoyer was benched after struggling in Houston's opener. The Texans didn't care if it was a H.S. team they beat, as long as they didn't join the 0-3 club. Texans, DeAndre Hopkins, who missed practice this week because of a concussion, finished with 8 receptions for 101yds & 1 TD. QB, J. Winston threw for 261yds and a TD but added an int. Mike Evans tried to pitch in but hampered more than helped with a couple of drops. Here is the sad part, after making a 58yd FG, rookie kicker Kyle Brindza, missed one for the 1 extra point and then missed 3 more FG attempts, which would have tallied 10pts, which is what they lost by. We'd be reading a totally different update, if he didn't. Watt snickered as he said the FG kicker helped us out, hell, he gave them the game. One thing Houston can brag about for sure is this.  With the Chiefs loss against GB, the Texans are the only team in the NFL that has never lost in Lambeau Field. R. Mallett threw for 228yds, 1 TD & 1 int., A. Blue had 31 carries for 139yds & 1 TD. D. Hopkins, back to work, his stats are noted above. J. Winston threw for 1 TD & 1 int., D. Martin had 14 carries for 46yds & M. Evans had 7 receptions for 101yds.
 

Tennessee Titans: 1-2
Indy beat these guys 35-33, simple enough. Read about it in the Colts update. Mariota did grab the honors of the Offensive Rookie of the Month for September. In his first 3 starts, the No. 2 overall pick in last April's draft lead the Titans to a 1-2 record, completing 61-0f-97 passes for 833yds & 8 TDs, with 2 interceptions. Jay/Claussen, you guys taking notes yet?
 
 
AFC EAST:
 
New England Patriots: 3-0
Pulverized the Jaguars, 51-17. They didn't even give them a chance for false hope in this game. Jags fresh off their first win, feeling pretty good taking down the Dolphins then this. Talking about skinning a cat alive, the Patriots stripped them of everything in this game. To top it off, Brady gets that 400th TD in the bag. Brady became the 4th QB in NFL history to throw for 400 TDs and he added his 401st, a 13yd pass to Keshawn Martin late in the 3rd Qtr. He Joins P. Manning, B. Favre & D. Marino. LaGarrette Blount had 3, 1yd TD runs & Gostkowski added the extra point on all 6 TDs to run his streak to an NFL record 425 in a row.  He has led the NFL in points for each of the past 3 season.  By this time, it was 37-10 and the Jaguar fans were knocking each other down to get out and beat the traffic. The Patriots are headed into their by week with a perfect record still intact. Jacksonville was flagged 7x for 114yds, including back-to-back pass interference penalties in the 3rd Qtr. The first one cost them 52yds, the second negated an interception and 82yd return, instead, it put the Patriots on Jacksonville 1. T. Brady threw for 358yds & 2 TDs, L. Blount had 18 carries for 78yds & 3 TDs, dangggg. R. Gronkowski had 4 receptions for 101yds. B. Bortles threw for 242yds, 2 TDs & 1 int. No rushing yards worth writing. A. Hurns had 2 receptions for 70yds & 1 TD.
 

Buffalo Bills: 2-1
Man, they whipped it on Miami, 41-14. TE Charles Clay scored the Bills first TD, 3 minutes into the game. This was Tyrod Taylor won his first NFL road start and embarrassed the Dolphins on the way. We are only finishing up WK 3 and the Dolphins are already in last place in the AFC East with two consecutive loss. The loss was the most lopsided defeat in a home opener for the Dlphins, who are beginning their 50th season.  Buffalo improved to 5-2 against Miami over the past 4 years.  The victory was especially sweet for former Dolphins Clay & Richie InCognito, who were co-captains in Buffalo. Fans were booing after less than 12 minutes and by the 4th Qtr, the stadium was mostly deserted. I know this is WK4 news. But, Dolphins Coach J. Philbin said he wasn't worried about his job. Not 1 hour later, I got the next ESPN alert that said he had been fired. So much for job security. T. Taylor threw for 277yds & 3 TDs. K. Williams had 12 carries for 110yds & 1 TD. C. Clay had 5 receptions for 82yds & 1 TD. R. Tannehill, who just year people were comparing him to Dan Marino! Come on man. He threw for 297yds, 2 TDs & 3 ints. No rushing yards worth writing about & R. Matthews had 6 receptions for 113yds & 2 TDs.


N.Y. Jets: 2-1
They were cut off at the pass on their way to an 3-0 start when Sproles and the Eagles said, not today. Read Philly's update on this one.
 

Miami Dolphins: 1-2
You just never go to work each day, thinking that you will be punked on national TV. Well, that's what happened to the Dolphins. Check it out in the Bills update.
 
 
AFC WEST:
 
Denver Broncos: 3-0
No surprise here as the Broncos move up to 3-0 with a win over the Lions in WK 3. It wasn't a beat down @ 24-12, just a reminder that you ain't going to beat us. Whether it was 3rd or 4th down, 1st or 4th Qtr, Manning at 39, still has it. Manning hit D. Thomas with a 43yd TD pass on a 4th down with 5 seconds left in the half. Then he threw an 11yd scoring pass to Owen Daniels on 3rd down with 2:28 remaining. That lifted the Broncos up for the win for good. He credited the coaching staff with using a pistol formation, giving him the ball in a short shotgun with a RB behind him. Whatever all that is I just wrote, it's working out for the better for Manning and the team. He was only sacked once in this game. That's a load off his body considering he was sacked 7x in the first 2 games. Stafford had 3 turnovers, including a fumble & interception at midfield in the 4th. Detroit was in reach of this one until they were called for an illegal formation. Not only did Denver miss the FG but they got it back and 5yds closer and you know what happened with that, they made the next FG.  That put Denver up by 5pts and they never looked back. The last time the Broncos won their first 3 games was in 2013, when they reached the Super Bowl. They could go all the way, but way to early to tell. Still got Arizona & Green Bay out there. P. Manning threw for 324yds, 2 TDs & 1 int., no rushing yards worth writing and D. Thomas had 9 receptions for 92yds, 1 TD & 1 fumble. M. Stafford threw for 282yds, 1 TD & 2 ints. No rushing yards worth writing about, less than 25 on both teams. C. Johnson, now renamed mini tron for the start of the season finished for 8 receptions for 77yds.
 

Oakland Raiders: 2-1
Sayyyy whatttt, the Raiders went at least 9 games last year before they won one, now they rolling round town, picking up wins. This one was against the Cleveland Browns, 27-20. Derek Carr is doing pretty good for the Raiders. Before this game Carr was 0-8 on the road. Carr threw 2 TD passes and Safety, Charles Woodson made a game clinching interception with 38 seconds left as Oakland snapped an 11 game, road losing streak. This was their 1st road win since Nov., 17, 2013. They said even the ball boys were happy while picking up shoulder pads & other game over stuff to load on the bus back home. Cleveland was driving for a tying TD in the final minute before Woodson stepped in and intercepted Josh McCown, who was trying to hit Travis Benjamin down the right sideline. That's all she wrote folks, game over. D. Carr threw for 314yds & 2 TDs, L. Murray had 26 carries for 139yds & 1 TD & A. Cooper tied it up with 8 receptions for 134yds & 1 fumble. J. McCown threw for 341yds, 2 TDs & 1 int. No rushing yards to mention. G. Barnidge had 6 receptions for 105yds & 1 TD.
 

Kansas City Chiefs: 1-2
They started off slow, picked up, then slowed down again in this 38-28 loss to the Cheese heads. Read the MNF update to catch up.
 

San Diego Chargers: 1-2
I got my eyes checked and I'm reading it right. The Chargers have only won 1 of 3 games to start off the season. It was the Vikings that they bowed to on this day. Read the Vikings update for more details.

Details

Welcome back to the Rookie Report! Week 3 was full of explosive performances from some expected and some unexpected places. A.J. Green, Julio Jones, Aaron Rodgers, Randall Cobb and Jamaal Charles are supposed to blow up on a regular basis. Devonta Freeman, Joseph Randle and Rishard Matthews are not. Some rookies got into the act as well...Amari Cooper cleared the century mark again, as did Thomas Rawls and Karlos Williams on the ground. Williams also found the end zone for the 3rd consecutive week (the only player in the league to do so). Hopefully the big days in week 3 worked in your favor, but even if not, lets see what we can do about getting the right rookies in the lineup for week 4...

 

 

Rookies to Start:

amari cooperAmari Cooper has really impressed this year

RB Karlos Williams, BUF (Wk. 4: vs. NYG): Williams finally got double-digit touches with LeSean McCoy hampered by a balky hammy, and he didn't disappoint, racking up over 100 yards with a TD on just 12 carries. He now boasts a ludicrous 7.75 ypc average for the season on 24 carries and should get the start against a defense that has allowed over 18 fantasy points per game to opposing RBs. As long as McCoy sits, Karlos is a rock solid RB2 this week with RB1 upside.

 

RB Melvin Gordon, SD (Wk. 4: vs. Cle.): Gordon hasn't had a role in the red zone, but he continues to run for respectable yardage totals and has his most favorable matchup of the season-to-date. The Browns are allowing about 5 yards per carry and a league-worst 158 rush yards per game so far. Gordon should even have a reasonable chance to break a long TD. Cleveland has given up 4 rushes of 20 or more yards so far, 2 of which went for 40+. Fire him up as an RB2 this week.

 

WR Amari Cooper, OAK (Wk. 4: @Chi.): In case you need any reason from me to know you should play Cooper this week, the Bears allow the 4th-most WR fantasy points per game in the league, and have allowed averages of 12.6 receptions, 153 yards, and 2.3 TDs per game to opposing WRs. I would expect Cooper to be good for at least half of that, and he could have WR1 upside in a cake matchup.

 

Borderline Rookies:

RB TJ Yeldon, JAX (Wk. 4: @Ind.): After last week, there's obviously reason for pause before firing up Yeldon considering that the Colts' high powered offense could have the Jags playing from behind again. With that said, Indy's defense has given us very little reason to trust their ability to stop the run, allowing 18 RB fantasy points per game and 4 RB scores in 3 games. I'd say there's a 50/50 shot that Yeldon gets his first TD this week. He's more flex play than RB2, but he could have a nicer day than expected.

 

RB Duke Johnson, CLE (Wk. 4: @SD): San Diego has been absolutely shredded by opposing run games the past 2 weeks, and Crowell was back to being inefficient last week against Oakland. The Chargers have allowed over 500 total yards and 5 TDs to opposing RBs in just 3 games, and the Browns did finally involve Duke in the passing game last week. I expect him to factor back in to the rush attempt mix a little bit this week as well. I have a feeling he comes up with a solid PPR-Flex game this week.

 

WR Ty Montgomery, GB (Wk. 4: @SF): The 49ers have been just as bad as the Bears in terms of WR fantasy points allowed. After Monday night, you'd expect there to be an increased focus from the defense to stop Randall Cobb, which should open things up for Montgomery and Jones. There is some risk here. Davante Adams might be able to play, which would kill Ty's value. Jeff Janis could run ahead of him due to the mental mistakes and silly penalties Montgomery committed against the Chiefs. Still, most signs point to him being the WR3 for GB this week, which should get him WR3 consideration in your lineup.

 

 

Rookies to Sit:

QB Jameis Winston, TB (Wk. 4: vs. Car.): Last week wasn't particularly pretty for Jameis, and things don't get much easier this week. The Panthers' DBs have been a nightmare on opposing WRs, especially Josh Norman, and Jameis may struggle to get going this week. Duplicating last week's stat line is about all you can expect this week. Anything more would be a nice bonus.

 

RB Matt Jones, WAS (Wk. 4: vs. Phi.): While it was a great sign to see Jones running ahead of Alfred Morris last week, this matchup doesn't set up particularly well for Jones, and Morris isn't exactly going to vanish either. The Eagles have allowed just 3.1 ypc, and have yet to allow a RB touchdown. The one place they've struggled is against RBs catching passes out of the backfield, but thus far, Chris Thompson has pretty much had that role to himself in the Redskins' backfield rotation. Jones is always a threat for a red zone TD, but I'd shy away this week if I have reasonable options.

 

RB Ameer Abdullah, DET (Wk. 4: @Sea.): The Seahawks at home are just an opponent you don't want to play skill players against unless they are every week studs. When you have Matt Forte there, you leave him in and hope for the best. With Ameer Abdullah, a part-time player in a 3-back rotation? Not so much, even if he is the best talent of the trio. Seattle is yet to allow a TD to an opposing RB on the year. Abdullah should be avoided this week.

 

RB David Johnson, ARI (Wk. 4: vs. StL.): The Rams defense looks daunting on paper, but they're vulnerable on the perimeter. Yes, Chris Johnson has looked good, but David has still been a factor in this offense. Unfortunately, it looks like Andre Ellington will be back this week. If for some reason Andre sits again, David has some value as a flex option, but his floor is scary low if he's fighting both CJ and AE for touches.

 

RB Todd Gurley, STL (Wk. 4: @Ari.): It was nice to see Gurley back on the field, even if the results weren't impressive. On the plus side, he did look healthy, but he gets a tough matchup this week. I believe he's close to being handed bellcow duties, but I don't think this is the week where it comes together. Arizona has been throttling teams so far, and if the Rams fall behind, I'd expect a fair amount of Benny Cunningham.

 

WR Nelson Agholor, PHI (Wk. 4: @Was.): Agholor has been mostly invisible this season despite playing plenty of snaps. He was barely targeted at all last week, and if he were to put up even 4 catches and 50 yards this week in a plus matchup, it would be a pleasant surprise. You can do better.

 

WR Phillip Dorsett, IND (Wk. 4: vs. Jax.): Dorsett found the end zone last weekend, but his volume hasn't been consistent enough to trust going forward. I still feel like the Colts want to get Andre Johnson more involved at some point (If Andre is still capable), and banking on another TD from a guy who is only going to see a few targets isn't often a recipe for success.

 

WRs Devin Smith & Quincy Enunwa, NYJ (Wk. 4: @Mia.): The matchup seems ripe for the picking after Tyrod Taylor shredded the 'Fins on Sunday, but Eric Decker is likely to return this week and severely cut down on the snaps and targets this pair will see. If you had to pick one, Smith is the choice due to the threat of a long TD against a shaky secondary. With that said, I wouldn't want to play either in a season-long league.

 

WR Willie Snead, NO (Wk. 4: vs. Dal.): I like Snead a lot, but I'd like him a lot more if I was confident that Drew Brees was going to go back to being Drew Brees at some point. He's not quite the matchup nightmare that 6'6" Brandon Coleman is, but I would argue he's already got a better rapport with Brees and is the option the QB trusts more of the 2. The problem is that this offense just isn't very good right now. Even if Brees plays, I wouldn't feel good about playing Snead even in really deep leagues this week.

 

 

Deep League Sleepers & Cheap DFS Options:

thomas rawls waiver wire pick week 4RB Thomas Rawls, SEA (Wk. 4: vs. Det.): It sounds like Marshawn Lynch should be fine and ready to roll for week 4, but keep an eye on the situation. If Lynch were to miss this one, it would be another plus matchup for a back that just put up over 100 yards in his first real action as a pro. The Lions have allowed over 130 ypg and 4 rushing TDs to RBs through 3 games. There are also some out there who feel that what we've seen so far is the beginning of the end for Beast Mode. If that's the case, Rawls would make a nice stash in case something happens, and should absolutely be owned in Dynasty formats. With Christine Michael and Robert Turbin gone, Rawls is the heir apparent in Seattle.

 

RB Jeremy Langford, CHI (Wk. 4: vs. Oak.): Rumors have been rampant that the Bears are shopping Matt Forte, and if they move him, Langford would likely become the starter. He, like Rawls, is worth a speculative stash for the next few weeks in case Chicago does pull the trigger, but don't be surprised if the Bears look to get him more involved if they are actually planning a trade. The Raiders' run defense is nothing special, so Langford might surprise this week if he gets some work.

 

WR Devin Funchess, CAR (Wk. 4: @TB): Trust me, it's coming for Funchess. He still has just 4 catches through 3 games, but the Bucs are weak in the secondary. This should be another great opportunity for Funchess to make an impact if the Panthers let him. I wouldn't trust him in a season-long league, but he could be a pleasant surprise in DFS.

 

WR Tyler Lockett, SEA (Wk. 4: vs. Det.): The usage in the passing game still isn't where you'd like to see it to use him in regular leagues, but he has 2 return TDs in 3 games, and will be a solid WR3 in return yardage leagues before long. Detroit has allowed 22.3 points per game to opposing WRs, and after Doug Baldwin, very little of the WR target volume is spoken for. Lockett still has plenty of upside despite limited usage so far.

 

TE Maxx Williams, BAL (Wk. 4: @Pit.): The Steelers 14 points per game allowed to opposing TEs is misleading. All 4 TDs they've given up to the tight end position occurred in week 1 against New England (3 to Gronk and 1 to Scott Chandler). They've been much better since then, but Williams will undoubtedly be a factor this week. He already set career bests last week with 3 catches on 7 targets for 44 yards. Most of that came in the second half after Crockett Gillmore went out with injury, and Gillmore isn't expected to play Thursday. Williams has sneaky TE1 upside based on volume alone.

 

That's it for week 4. If you have any questions or angry rants, feel free to reach out on twitter and let me know (@shawn_foss). Hopefully this info helps you this week. As always, good luck, trust your gut, and have fun. It's just a game.

Details

And we’re back!

 

After a pretty dismal week 2 (silver lining – I’m sure everyone had an off week) we come roaring back only missing two games in week 3! You’re welcome!

 

youre welcome

 

That’s what makes the NFL so exciting! It’s going to be a 17-week roller coaster leading up to what always ends up being an exciting four weeks of playoffs. Drama! Let’s keep it rolling though. Unlike your typical roller coaster, the ups on this ride are a lot more fun than the downs!

 

Week 4 – HERE WE GO!!!!!!!!

(HOME TEAM IN ALL CAPS)

 

15 – ARIZONA over St Louis – The Cardinals are a legit threat in the NFC this year. Get used to seeing them this early in my posts.

 

14 – ATLANTA over Houston – Keep an eye on the Arian Foster situation here. If he doesn’t play than the Falcons will roll. If he plays, Atlanta will still win but I would drop them down considerably.

 

13 – INDIANAPOLIS over Jacksonville – OK Colts – I’ve been singing your praises all year! The last time I had you this high you broke my heart and lost at home to the Jets. But come on, this is the Jaguars we’re talking about!

 

12 – SAN DIEGO over Cleveland – Reports are that there is an internal struggle with many Browns upset that Johnny Manziel isn’t the starter. This distraction is something Cleveland doesn’t need to deal with right now. Oh, and a very large lack of talent…that won’t help either.

 

11 – BUFFALO over New York Giants – So remember how I spent the first week or two talking about how the Dolphins were going to be a sleeper AFC East contender this year? Well, switch all that over to the Bills!

 

10 – SEATTLE over Detroit – The word going around is that all three teams the Lions have played have known their plays. If the Seahawk defense has that added to its arsenal, they’ll easily be able to round out consecutive dominant wins against the cellar of the NFC North.

 

9 – CINCINNATI over Kansas City – The Ben Roethlisberger injury is a golden opportunity for the Bengals to lock in their hold on the top of the AFC North. Hard to see them passing up that chance.

 

8 – Green Bay over SAN FRANCISCO – The big story coming out of their Monday night win was how perfect Aaron Rodgers is at home. Well, he’s not all that bad on the road either.

 

7 – DENVER over Minnesota – Peyton is starting to get back into his Peyton groove. That can be scary for the AFC.

 

6 – Oakland over CHICAGO – The fire sale is underway in Chicago. Keep an eye on it – as more big names leave the Bears keep bumping this game up your list. Especially since…the Raiders…MIGHT be legit???

 

5 – PITTSBURGH over Baltimore – The Ravens are coming to Pittsburgh at the right time with the Ben Roethlisberger injury. Won’t be enough though – they start the year 0-4.

 

4 – Carolina over TAMPA BAY – Cam Newton has turned things around quickly and have the Panthers undefeated. Not much should change when going up against Jameis Winston.

 

3 – NEW ORLEANS over Dallas – This would have been an exciting game a few weeks ago. Take away Drew Brees, Dez Bryant and Tony Romo and NBC is left wishing that they can starting flexing games out early…Bengals/Chiefs would look pretty good under the prime-time lights.

 

2 – Miami over New York Jets (game played in London) – I look at this game at want to say that my bold prediction would be that the loser stays in London…buuuuuut pretty sure that won’t happen. So I’ll just say after being the pre-season darlings, even with the win this week, my BOLD PREDICTION for this week is that THE DOLPHINS WILL FINISH LAST IN THE AFC EAST.

 

1 – WASHINGTON over Philadelphia – The Redskins have firmly set their place in the group of “if you think they will win, put them on the one line” teams. Congrats Jacksonville, you have a friend!

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