It’s time to get creative as we continue to run through the bye weeks. You might need to look deep into the wire due to injury or lack of available player. Just make sure you’re paying attention to the right information. Look for guys taking over starting jobs due to injury like Riley Cooper did last week. Look at the match-up information to find a pass-catching running back in a good match-up like Duke Johnson this week. Do the work and things will pay off.
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?
Drew Brees (QB – New Orleans)
You might wonder how a player of Brees’ caliber ends up on this list, but those who own him know better. Brees hasn’t exactly delivered this season and missed time with a shoulder injury. His owners have generally looked elsewhere for production at least a couple times this season. Brees has looked better in recent weeks and he has the opportunity to go off in this one. It should be a high scoring game with an over of 52 and the Saints, as the underdog, should be trailing and throwing often. The Colts have given up at least 298 passing yards in each of the last four games and have also given up 8 passing touchdowns during that span. You can feel safe putting Brees back in your lineup this week.
Latavius Murray (RB – Oakland)
Surprising to many, the Chargers actually play pretty solid pass defense this year. Sadly they can’t offer the same quality against the run. San Diego has allowed at least 100 rushing yards to running backs in their last five games. They’ve also allowed at least 20 total points to running backs in the last four games. That should suit Murray well as he’s the bell cow for Oakland handling every down work. As Oakland looks to keep Philip Rivers off the field, Murray will romp to another successful week.
Christine Michael (RB – Dallas)
The names at running back seem a little too obvious this week, so I’ll throw Michael out there as a flyer in case you’re in need. Michael seems to be taking the first-team reps in practice this week as the Cowboys used the bye week to make a change to their backfield. The Giants started off the season playing the run well, but have given up 100 yards to running backs in back-to-back games. They clearly aren’t the same force they were earlier in the season. Michael will run behind the best offensive line in the league, so he might be able to strike it rich this time around.
Donte Moncrief (WR – Indianapolis)
Andrew Luck is Moncrief’s best friend or so it seems. Moncrief has scored a touchdown in every game Luck has played so far this year. He’s also had no less than four catches in any of those games, having clearly earned the confidence of his quarterback. The Saints have the worst pass defense in the league according to Football Outsiders, so Moncrief is in line for another solid Sunday.
Michael Floyd (WR – Arizona)
Some quality receivers are on the bye this week and Floyd is a nice alternative for those needing one. Arizona hosts Baltimore on Monday night and the Ravens have allowed the second most passing yards to wide receivers this season. The numbers get even worse when you look at the games Baltimore didn’t face the ghost of Peyton Manning and Michael Vick. Floyd came through last week with five catches for 50 yards and a touchdown. He’s worth a flyer in primetime.
Jordan Cameron (TE – Miami)
Cameron is surely happy that his new coach, Dan Campbell, is a former tight end. Cameron got 8 targets last Sunday, so it’s clear his coach is making sure he gets the football. Cameron had 62 and 73 yards in the first two games of the year before he got banged up. The Texans, who Cameron plays this week, average 7.5 points allowed to TEs. They gave up 70 or more yards to the three decent TEs they faced: Kelce, Olsen, and Julius Thomas. It’s time to get back on the Cameron bandwagon.
You Know Who You Should Sit?
Sam Bradford (QB – Philadelphia)
I’ve been pro-Bradford for most of the season, which has been mildly unfortunate. It’s only going to get worse for Bradford this weekend against Carolina. The Panthers are allowing the fourth fewest points to quarterbacks so far this season. (The Jets have allowed the second fewest, but I’m not crazy enough to tell you to bench Brady.) Bradford’s scored less than ten points in half his games this season, so it’s not worth giving him a run in a tough match-up.
Doug Martin (RB – Tampa Bay)
Martin is somehow sixth in standard scoring so far this season. That includes the bye week he had last week, but more importantly it includes his two-game breakout in Weeks 4 and 5. Life likely won’t be as nice for Martin this week against Washington. Running backs as road underdogs tend to produce less and that’s the situation Martin finds himself in this weekend. Washington’s only given up three rushing touchdowns to RBs this year and the four touchdowns in recent week were what pushed Martin’s scoring. Look for a better option in Week 7.
Charcandrick West (RB – Kansas City)
You probably wasted a pretty penny in FAAB or a prime waiver spot to grab West off the wire before last week’s game. You also were probably extremely disappointed when West didn’t do anything for you against the Vikings. Don’t expect much from West this week either as he goes against one of the best run defenses in football. The Steelers haven’t given up a rushing touchdown to an RB so far this season and have held five out of six opponents to 70 yards or less from their running backs.
Julian Edelman (WR – New England)
It appears as if Edelman will be followed by Darrell Revis this weekend. Revis should be primed to show his former team that he still has the goods despite leaving town for his former squad. Edelman is likely to struggle and his finger issue from last week probably won’t help matters. With plenty of other options for Brady to throw it too, it might be best to leave Edelman on the pine for a better option.
Michael Crabtree (WR – Oakland)
Most receivers are in a good spot this weekend, but Crabtree isn’t one of them. As mentioned above, San Diego is surprisingly good against the pass. Crabtree has been solid this year, grabbing at least four balls in every game. He has, however, only found the end zone once and he’d need to score in order to make himself a worthwhile start against San Diego. That doesn’t seem likely.
Larry Donnell (TE – New York Giants)
As you look for a tight end option this weekend, Donnell should not be on your radar. Donnell only saw 5 targets last week when the receivers on his team weren’t 100%. Donnell hasn’t had more than 38 yards in any game this year, so you’re relying on him scoring a TD for him to have any value. He’s done that twice in six games. The Cowboys, who the Giants play, only allow 4.8 points per game to tight ends. They’ve only given up one touchdown to a tight end all year. They held Gronk to 67 yards. Donnell also only had 3 for 21 against them in the opener. Keep looking.