It’s easy to help the teams with good records, so let’s try to help the teams that don’t. Now’s the time to trade your best players for solid parts if your record is 2-4 or worse. You’re running out of time and you need to make some things happen. Just get a nice haul when giving up someone who was a first or second round pick. In the same vein, don’t completely sell low on someone, but sell low on your guy and buy low on another guy who you feel better about. DeMarco Murray hasn’t lost his starting job because his replacement have been awful. Go get him and sell off Matt Forte who clearly isn’t trending up.
Below is a list of guys I’m focused on for one reason or another this week. They’re especially important in daily fantasy sports (DFS) leagues like DraftKings. If you’re curious about guys you don’t see listed here, you can always find me on Twitter (@MrT_BroBible) to ask questions, but remember to mention league specifics like PPR. You can always ask about trades as well.
You Know Who You Should Start?
Kirk Cousins (QB – Washington)
There are a few good streaming options at quarterback this week, but none better than Cousins. Detroit has given up at least 200 passing yards and two passing touchdowns in every game this season. Nobody is going to argue with 16 points as a floor with plenty of upside.
T.J. Yeldon (RB – Jacksonville)
Last week was incredibly disappointing from Yeldon, but we’re going to take another chance with him this week. Jacksonville hosts Oakland, who has allowed 21+ points to running backs in four of the six games so far this year. They’ve also never allowed less than 72 rushing yards in a game. There’s something happening here this weekend.
Jacquizz Rogers (RB – Tampa Bay)
Get ready to use some really low-talent running backs this week. Rogers fits that mold, but you’ll want to use him with Doug Martin continuing to on the shelf. The 49ers have given up 24 points or more fantasy points to running backs in the last four games.
Cameron Meredith (WR – Chicago)
Your first reaction is that I’m two weeks too late on this. If you don’t read the below part about who else to start then that would be a reasonable account. Now that we’re straight, you’ll notice Meredith goes against the Packers pass defense that’s missing their three best corners. That’s another win from our new waiver wire man.
T y Montgomery (WR – Green Bay)
He qualifies as a wide receiver, but Montgomery will see plenty of time at running back this week. With Green Bay devoid of any options, Montgomery will get all the passing down work and a few carries and that’s not a bad thing to insert in your lineup.
Robert Woods (WR – Buffalo)
Woods isn’t lighting the world on fire, but he’s certainly getting some things done for Buffalo since Sammy Watkins got hurt. Woods has another opportunity to produce this weekend since the Dolphins were very average against the pass and that was before their best player in the secondary went down with an injury.
Hunter Henry (TE – San Diego)
This may be seen as chasing last week’s points, but it’s more than that. Henry has been really good for the last three weeks and conveniently plays a team who has given up 11.8 fantasy points to the position in each game so far this year. It seems as if San Diego is realizing Henry is worth more snaps than Antonio Gates, so change is definitely happening.
Other guys you should start: Andy Dalton (QB – Cincinnati), Blake Bortles (QB – Jacksonville), Marcus Mariota (QB – Tennessee), Alex Smith (QB – New Orleans), Brian Hoyer (QB – Chicago), Joe Flacco (QB – Baltimore), Spencer Ware (RB – Kansas City), LeGarrette Blount (RB – New England), Tevin Coleman (RB – Atlanta), Mike Davis (RB – Tampa Bay), Randall Cobb (WR – Green Bay), Desean Jackson (WR – Washington), Tyrell Williams (WR – San Diego), Mike Wallace (WR – Baltimore), Mohamed Sanu (WR – Atlanta), Julius Thomas (TE – Jacksonville), Cameron Brate (TE – Tampa Bay) Mike Gilleslee (RB – Buffalo) and Jack Doyle (TE – Indianapolis)
You Know Who You Should Sit?
Russell Wilson (QB – Seattle)
Wilson hasn’t exactly excelled so far this year because of his ankle injury, but he’s always a slow starter. This probably isn’t the week for him to take off, despite coming off the bye, because Arizona allows the fourth fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks. With great streaming options, don’t be afraid to look elsewhere.
Matt Forte (RB – New York Jets)
Times have gotten really bad for Forte. He’s barely useable in leagues because his workload is cut and he’s just not producing anything with the workload he has. Facing off against the #1 DVOA (from Football Outsiders) run defense doesn’t help Forte this week either.
Ryan Mathews (RB – Philadelphia)
The hope was Mathews would come out of the bye and get full control of the touches in Detroit. Apparently that wasn’t the case. It ended up being quite the committee, which didn’t help Mathews. The Vikings run defense also doesn’t help Mathews as it’s only given up one rushing touchdown from a running back all season and also hasn’t allowed more than 78 rushing yards to the position.
DeAndre Hopkins (WR – Houston)
The Broncos not only know Brock Osweiler like the back of their hands, but they also have a tremendous pass defense. It will be hard to get to Hopkins with the pass rush breathing down Osweiler’s neck the entire night.
John Brown (WR – Arizona)
Brown has certainly been featured a lot more as Michael Floyd gets phased out of the offense. Floyd’s disappointing season has open the door for Brown to run as a WR2 on the team. This, however, isn’t the week for him as he’ll work on the outside and see a lot of Richard Sherman and Seattle’s fourth best pass defense.
Coby Fleener (TE – Cincinnati)
Fleener has definitely been hit or miss most of the year. This week the Chiefs should keep him on the miss-cycle. Kansas City has only allowed more than 4 points to the position in one of their five games. With Drew Brees’ propensity to play better at home, the Fleener move definitely warrants some conversation.
Other guys you should sit: Drew Brees (QB – New Orleans), Carson Palmer (QB – Arizona), Eli Manning (QB – N.Y. Giants), Matthew Stafford (QB – Detroit), Frank Gore (RB – Indianapolis), Jerrick McKinnon (RB – Minnesota), Rashad Jennings (RB – N.Y. Giants), Emmanuel Sanders (WR – Denver), Jordan Matthews (WR – Philadelphia), Allen Hurns (WR – Oakland), Kyle Rudolph (TE – Minnesota)