After a week off, we’re back with another edition of The Sporting Tribune’s weekly fantasy football start ’em’ sit ’em.
Quarterbacks:
Start ‘EM:
Justin Fields vs Broncos:
Last week, everyone was so caught up in Taylor Swift at the Chiefs game and Travis Kelce scoring a touchdown that we forgot to talk about the lowlights of Justin Fields’ horrific performance. Last week , Fields threw for 99 total yards and hasn’t even reached 15+ points for a Fantasy QB this year. Fields may look robotic this year. Fortunately for Fields, this is a get-right game against the Denver Broncos, who last week let up the most points on the road to the Miami Dolphins, who scored 70 points! 70!. The Broncos have also let up the most Fantasy points to opposing Quarterbacks this season. We trust Fields as a top 10 QB this week.
Russell Wilson vs. Bears:
Yes, the Broncos lost 70-20 last week, and they are 0-3 on the season. That said, you cannot put much of that on Russell Wilson. Wilson has had back-to-back 300 + passing yard games and has thrown multiple passing touchdowns in two of the first three games. This screams potential, as the Bears have allowed the fifth most passing yards to opposing QBs this season. Wilson has also averaged 19 points in Fantasy since Nathaniel Hackett got fired. Chicago is now a defense to QB stream against here. We are letting Russ cook in this one.
Geno Smith vs. Giants:
Opposing QBs have been torching the Giants defense this year. Joshua Dobbs scored 27.2 points against the Giants in week two,, and Purdy scored 24.2 points against the G-men in week three. The last time Geno faced the Giants was week eight last year at home, where he totaled 23.1 Fantasy points, and we could see a similar outing for Geno here on Monday night. Start him with confidence.
SIT ‘ EM
Deshaun Watson vs. Ravens:
We already don’t recommend starting Watson this week due to being limited in practice all week due to a shoulder injury. Even if he was healthy, we still wouldn’t reccommend starting him. Baltimore has allowed an average of 230 passing yards a game and surrendered just three passing touchdowns through three games. Ravens are allowing just an average of 15.1 Fantasy points to opposing QB’s this season. Watson throughout his career his struggled against the Ravens. He scored 14.6 points last year vs Ravens and we don’t expect this to get better with a bad shoulder.
Baker Mayfield vs Saints:
Baker Mayfield benefited with an easy schedule out of the gate, going up against the Vikings and the Bears, two of the leagues worst pass defenses. Last week, he came back down to Earth against a scorching Eagles defense totaling just 12 Fantasy points. We don’t expect this to get better against the Saints. The Saints have allowed just 14.7 points to opposing quarterbacks and they have extended their franchise record of holding opponents to 20 points or fewer to 11 games. We recommend sitting Baker.
Sam Howell vs Eagles:
Sam Howell, had just about as bad of s atart as you could have against the Bills. He had four interceptions, was sacked nine times, and totaled 0.6 points in Fantasy. Next up, Howell gets to face a hleacious defensive line in the Eagles. We recommend sitting him in all formats.
Wide Receivers:
Start ‘EM:
DJ Moore vs Broncos:
We know things have been brutal for the Bears offense,but Moore still topped 13+ Fantasy points in back to back games and caught a garbage time touchdown against the Chiefs. We are trusting Justin Fields for this week against a team that let up 70 points to the Dolphins last week and we expect DJ Moore to break out for this game as well. Broncos have allowed receivers to score 12.6 PPR points in three games and while this hasn’t been a breakout season for Moore yet, we expect him to do some damage against the Broncos secondary.
Tutu Atwell vs Colts:
Cooper Kupp is eligible to return off IR next week, so until then enjoy Tutu Atwell for this week while you can. This is a great matchup for Atwell, as their have been already six receivers to total 13 PPR points against the Colts. Atwell has scored at least 15.2 points in each outing and we expect that trend to continue for his last big game of targets before Kupp comes back and receives all the attention.
Adam Thielen vs Vikings:
This could not be a perfect setup for Adam Thielen going up against his former team that cut him, and that he is also the main receiving target on the Panthers. Thielen has totaled at lest 20.4 PPR points in his last two outings. The Vikings allow the third most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers. We got a Thielen this could pay off!
SIT ‘ EM
Deandre Hopkins vs Bengals:
The Titans offense hasn’t generated many points or production this year, despite it’s talent on the offensive side of the ball. Hopkins has scored just eight points or fewer in two straight games. He also has seven catches on 12 targets during that span and is also dealing with an ankle injury during this time frame. We reccmeond sitting him on this one.
Garrett Wilson vs Chiefs:
Garrett Wilson is a very talented receiver in this league and had Aaron Rodgers not gotten hurt, he would be on numerous start lists. However, he is going to be featured on some sit lists for this season. Not his fault, but when you have Zach Wilson as your QB, Wilson has become difficult to trust in Fantasy this year. Next up he is against the Chiefs, who have allowed the seventh fewest yards and just two touchdowns to wide receivers on the season. Wilson is big play dependent and we don’t expect those big plays for this week.
Kendrick Bourne vs Cowboys:
Since week one, Bourne has failed to top double digit Fantasy points nor 50 receiving yards. He had a season low five targets in week three and the Cowboys are 10th in fewest yards allowed to receivers. Bourne has potential for later season breakout but not for this week. It’s best to sit him.
Running Backs:
Start ‘EM:
Zack Moss vs Rams:
Moss was outstanding against the Ravens last week. He totaled 30 carries for 122 yards and a touchdown. He has scored at least 20.7 PPR points in back to back games and has a juicy matchup against the Rams, who have allowed 14 PPR points to to running backs in each of their past two games. This screams potential for Moss.
James Cook vs Dolphins:
Cook has topped 100 total yard in back to back games and gives you double digit Fantasy points every game too. He has a nice matchup against the Dolphins who have allowed the ninth most rushing yards to running backs to this year. We like Cook in a high scoring affair.
Alvin Kamara vs Bucs:
Kamara returns from a three game suspension and has a matchup agains the Bucs, who just allowed 130 rushing yards to D’Andre Swift and over 200 to the Eagles as a whole. There is also no Jamaal Williams who is on the IR list with a hamstring injury, so the volume is infinite. Kamara should blend in with this matchup and will be a benefactor in the passing game as well. Start Kamara with confidence.
SIT ‘ EM
Brian Robinson vs Eagles:
Robinson has a tough matchup against the Eagles, who have allowed only 121 rushing yards through three weeks to running backs and second fewest in the NFL. No running back has scored on the Eagles this season. The last running back to generate double digit Fantasy points was Rhomondre Stevenson back in week one. Bench Robinson with confidence.
Breece Hall vs Chiefs:
Since week one, it’s been tough sledding for Breece Hall. He totaled just four touches in week two and only registered 27 yards last week despite an uptick in rushing attempts. The Chiefs have allowed just 233 rushing yards to running backs this season with only one rushing touchdown which dates back to week one. Hall is touchdown or bust at this point and with the Jets will probably be trailing by a lot to start the game, we don’t expect them to rely on the run.
Gus Edwards vs Browns:
Ravens are an injured backfield right now with Gus Edwards exiting the game early due to injury. This is a good week to stay away from Ravens running backs as the Browns have yielded the second fewest rushing yards to backs so far this season on 3.4 yards per carry. We don’t recommend starting Edwards here.
Tight Ends:
Start ‘EM:
Darren Waller vs Seahawks:
This might be a risk, but Waller’s slow start is due to the inadequacies of the Giants offense and especially it’s weak passing game and the weaker running game due to Saquon’s ankle injury. This is a favorable matchup for Waller as the Seahawks have allowed the sixth most passing yards to tight ends. Start Waller with confidence this week.
Sit ‘EM:
Zach Ertz vs Niners:
Ertz only saw just two targets last week in a very tough matchup against the Cowboys and gets a tougher matchup against the Niners. Niners have allowed just 62 total yards to tight ends this year and this is a week to bench Ertz.
Defense/ Kickers:
Start ‘EM:
Chiefs Defense vs Jets:
If you are looking for defenses to stream on the waiver wire, stream the defenses that are going up against the New York Jets. Zach Wilson has thrown four interceptions and tied for the third most in the league and the Chiefs as a defense have topped double digit Fantasy points back to back weeks and totaled seven sacks. Chiefs are a must start streamer right now.
Jason Meyers vs Giants:
Meyer broke out last week with 17 Fantasy points and faces a Giants team that has allowed the most Fantasy points to kickers. Start Meyers if you have him this week.
SIT ‘ EM:
Jets Defense vs Chiefs:
The Jets are still a strong unit but it hasn’t generated a lot of success of late and have totaled just four Fantasy points in the last two games combined. The Chiefs have allowed only one sack on Patrick Mahomes and they are starting to find their groove on offense with scoring 41 points last week. It’s best to look else where for streamers.
Joey Slye vs Eagles:
Slye has failed to reach double-digit points for kickers this season, and this does not bode well going into his matchup against the Eagles. Slye’s offense has struggled mightily in moving the ball and we don’t expect much movement in this one against the Eagles.
