Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, October 11th at 1:00 PM ET
Location: FedExField, Landover, MD
Betting Odds: LAR -9, 46 total via Oddsshark
Network: FOX
Los Angeles Rams
Quarterback
Jared Goff (Start-able, High-end QB2)
Jared Goff had a poor fantasy performance last week but should be in line to have a solid bounce-back game this week. Washington is averaging 20.7 fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks so far this year. The Football Team is top-four in passing yards allowed per game so far this year, but I’m confident Goff can put up low-end QB1/high-end QB2 numbers this week.
Running Backs
Darrell Henderson (Sit, Flex), Malcolm Brown (Sit, Flex), Cam Akers (Sit)
Darrell Henderson and Malcolm Brown have, in some ways, split their fantasy relevance over the past two weeks. To make matters worse, Coach Sean McVay expects Cam Akers will return this week. With the backfield becoming harder to predict by the week, I’m not fully trusting any of these guys right now. If you’re desperate enough, Henderson and Brown are both worth flex consideration. Brown could have a safer floor in PPR leagues; he had his biggest target total of the year this past week. Akers would be a gutsy call if you decide to start him. Better to wait a week and see how his usage is looking.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Cooper Kupp (Start, WR2), Robert Woods (Start, WR2), Tyler Higbee (Start, High-end TE2), Gerald Everett (Sit)
A few weeks ago, my advice on Cooper Kupp was to hold and avoid panic. Patient fantasy football owners should be pleased with themselves because Kupp has been looking good over the past couple of weeks. Sure, he salvaged his performance last week with a 55-yard touchdown catch, but that’s Cooper’s game. He’s always capable of breaking off a big one with his yards-after-catch ability. The Washington Football Team has been pretty good against receivers so far this year, but Kupp should still be capable of another WR2 performance this week.
Robert Woods struggled last week, even though we saw a similar target share to what he’s seen all year. Woods had the worst performance of his season last week, but I wouldn’t lose faith in him just yet. It’s not the best match-up; Washington is top-four in passing yards allowed per game and top-two in fantasy points allowed to wide receivers so far this year. Still, with the same amount of usual targets, Woods should be capable of WR2 numbers.
I’m not sold on Tyler Higbee. He’s scored eight points or less the past two weeks. Yeah, he blew up in Week 2, but do you honestly think he’s going to catch a touchdown on three of five receptions every week? Washington is bottom-six in the league in fantasy points allowed to tight ends. If Higbee can’t get it done again this week, it’s likely past time you moved on from him. I’m listing him as a high-end TE2 this week with a touchdown-dependent TE1 upside. To make matters worse, Gerald Everett is in the mix too. Everett isn’t fantasy-relevant, but he did vulture a (rushing) touchdown last week. Speaking of rushing, 57% of Higbee’s snaps on the field have been rushing plays.
Washington Football Team
Quarterback
The Washington Football Team staff warned Dwayne Haskins that he was close to losing his starting job before Week 4. They must not have liked what they saw because Kyle Allen will be the starting quarterback this week. Allen will get his shot on a new team with a familiar head coach, Ron Rivera. The Rams have been middle-of-the-road against quarterbacks so far this year, but I’m still staying away from Allen, at least for this week. I’m having a tough time believing Kyle will be much of an improvement.
Running Backs
Antonio Gibson (Start, RB2), J.D. McKissic (Sit), Peyton Barber (Sit)
It seems Antonio Gibson could have finally had the breakout performance that we’ve all been waiting for last week. Gibson has a rushing touchdown each of the past three weeks and truly started to shine in the passing game in Week 4. With Antonio’s increasing role on this team, he should put up RB2 numbers against a Rams defense that’s been pretty average in fantasy points allowed to running backs since last year.
Last week, J.D. McKissic had his best fantasy performance since Week 10 of 2019. If his targets keep trending up, he could have some value in PPR leagues, but he won’t be worth your time just yet. Peyton Barber isn’t worth a roster spot either after scoring less than one point in the past three weeks.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Terry McLaurin (Start, WR2), Dontrelle Inman (Sit), Logan Thomas (Sit, TE2)
October has officially begun and Scary Terry McLaurin didn’t waste any time impressing fantasy owners last week. I’m excited about “Scarence Terrance” heading into Spooktober. Terry received the most targets of his career last week (14). The Rams are doing pretty well in fantasy points allowed to receivers so far this year (top six), but I’m still playing McLaurin with confidence and expecting WR2 numbers.
With just a couple catches to work with each game, Dontrelle Inman will remain very touch-down dependent. Do not waste your time with him this week.
I’ll admit, I was the next in a long line of unlucky (or downright stupid) souls to trust Logan Thomas for the first and last time this past week. I’m ashamed to admit this guy burned me. I feel dirty even listing this guy as a TE2. That said, a new quarterback at the helm could target Thomas more often. I’m not holding my breath, though.
-Ryan Kruse (@ryanpkruse on Twitter)
Just to be clear. Carson was not concussed. he was checked for a concussion after a hit. There are no tiers to concussions. Had he had a concussion he would have been pulled from the game.