QUARTERBACK
SWIM
Matt Ryan (Atlanta Falcons):
While disappointing most weeks, Ryan has still been a solid back-end QB1 more often than not and is heading into his easiest match up of the season, a defense that got destroyed by Matt Moore last weekend. His floor remains steady this week while also having significant upside.
Alex Smith (Kansas City Chiefs):
He is coming off the worst game of his season in what was supposedly a great match up, but I like the chances of him bouncing back this week at home against a Bills team that is falling off the rails.
Marcus Mariota (Tennessee Titans):
He has been a huge disappointment this season, but he is about to go through the softest part of the schedule starting this week against the Colts, a team he went over 300 yards on earlier in the year.
SINK
Derek Carr (Oakland Raiders):
The Bronco’s have been more vulnerable than usual lately against opposing QB’s, although two of them are likely MVP finalists. Carr has been up and down all year and has had trouble finding the end zone multiple times in games this season, limiting his upside immensely.
Jared Goff (Los Angeles Rams):
Last week proved that Goff is still not ready to be an every week fantasy play, as he struggled mightily against the Vikings defense. This Saints defense is almost as good, although they are banged up a bit in the secondary which could obviously help boost Goff’s day. Still, there are at least 12 other QB’s I’d rather start this week over him.
RUNNING BACK
SWIM
Tevin Coleman (Atlanta Falcons):
Already a good play heading into the weekend, he gets an even bigger boost with Devonta Freeman ruled out for this game. He should be in for at least 20 touches against a defense that has struggled some against opposing backs, making Coleman a legit RB1 option this week.
Dion Lewis (New England Patriots):
His upside is contingent on him finding the end zone, which isn’t exactly a safe bet, but he has been one of the safer RB plays over the past few weeks and should be again this week. Fire him up as a surefire RB2 with a chance to return RB1 value if he get in the end zone.
Demarco Murray (Tennessee Titans):
In a plus match up against the Colts, both Murray and Derrick Henry are in is this week, but Murray is definitely the safer of the two. He is still seeing more touches and snaps than Henry while getting more work in the passing game. He’s a solid bet for a TD this weekend.
Deep Dives–Danny Woodhead, Devontae Booker
SINK
Adrian Peterson (Arizona Cardinals):
He’s only had two fantasy worthy games this season, and both were in perfect conditions for him to go off. The Jaguars run defense has improved as of late, and expect them to stack the box all day with no worry of Blaine Gabbert being able to throw on them.
Doug Martin (Tampa Bay Buccaneers):
He continues to see RB1/2 volume, but hasn’t been able to put together RB2 value the last few weeks. He’s struggling to even get to 3 yards per carry and could (should?) begin to lost touches to other backs on the roster.
WIDE RECEIVER
SWIM
Jeremy Maclin (Baltimore Ravens):
Maclin continues to return solid fantasy value, and makes for a good DFS play in 50/50 tourneys with a safe floor. The Texans secondary has been allowing a lot through the air this season, and the return of Danny Woodhead should help to improve the entire Ravens passing game going forward.
Mohamed Sanu (Atlanta Falcons):
While not producing many catches or yards as of late, Sanu has been a favorite red zone target of Matt Ryan’s and gets a favorable match up here, as Tampa Bay has been vulnerable to slot receivers this season. He should be a steady WR3 with potential WR2 upside this weekend.
Cooper Kupp (Los Angeles Rams):
Kupp should see an uptick in targets with Robert Woods out, and has the best match up of the Rams receiving options as the Saints have been most vulnerable to slot guys this season. Theres still a low floor as usual with him, but I expect him to at least return WR3 value.
Deep Dives–Kenny Stills, Martavis Bryant, Zay Jones
SINK
Larry Fitzgerald (Arizona Cardinals):
Sure Fitzgerald runs most of his routes in the slot, so he will be able to avoid Jalen Ramsey and AJ Bouye, but he’ll still draw one of the better slot corners in the game in Aaron Colvin. It’s not even his own individual match up that worries me the most, its will Blaine Gabbert have enough time to do anything in the passing game against that Jaguars front 7.
Michael Crabtree/Amari Cooper (Oakland Raiders):
You probably weren’t considering Cooper in this game anyway, but I’d strongly consider sitting Crabtree as well. Despite the rest of the teams problems, the Broncos are still elite at taking away opposing teams perimeter receivers.
TIGHT END
SWIM
Jack Doyle (Indianapolis Colts):
While the Titans are relatively solid defending the tight end position, Doyle and T.Y. Hilton have accounted for roughly half of Jacoby Brisset’s targets this season and remains one of the safest TE plays. He posted a 7/50/1 line against them in their first meeting.
Tyler Kroft (Cincinnati Bengals):
Although Kroft hasn’t been utilized much the past two weeks, he does get a Browns defense that has been highly susceptible to tight ends for most of the season thus far. His best game of the season came against the Browns earlier this year and he is a great streaming option with a high chance at a TD.
Jared Cook (Oakland Raiders):
The only way to beat the Broncos through the air is to utilize RB’s and TE’s in the passing game, so this sets up as a potential blow up spot for Cook.
SINK
Cameron Brate (Tampa Bay Buccaneers):
He hasn’t had any value with Ryan Fitzpatrick in the lineup as he has yet to catch more than one ball in the past 3 games.
Austin Hooper (Atlanta Falcons):
Hooper continues to be hit or miss and figures to land on the miss side this week in a tough match up with a Buccaneers defense that has been stingy against opposing tight ends all season.