Can you see it? The path to your fantasy football championship is slowly being paved right before your eyes. Navigating the fantasy football season is a lot like playing a game of chess. At first, you’re looking at a dizzying array of moves and the path to victory seems murky. Then, as pieces are acquired and each side begins to reveal their hand, the path to victory becomes more clearer. Fantasy sheep play checkers, wolves play chess.
Last week saw plenty of good start ’em, sit ’em calls. If you took our advice and started guys like Cooper Kupp or Devin Singletary, you were pleased with your results. Hopefully you also heeded our advice and sat players like Phillip Lindsay and Robby Anderson. Feel free to shake your heads at us with haughty derision if you sat players like Aaron Jones and Russell Wilson.
Still, fantasy is a long game and the season is still in its adolescence. Onward to who’s just fine and who rides the pine!
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Start ‘Em
Quarterback: Russell Wilson vs Saints
Too soon? Yeah typing his name up after recommending he be sat last week kind of stings. However, as fantasy players, we should always remain water with our approaches and be willing to play the matchups. Wilson faces a great matchup this week against a Saints defense that allows the 7th most points to the QB position. The data might be skewed a little, since the Saints have started the season out playing quarterbacks like Deshaun Watson and Jared Goff. But to suggest that Wilson isn’t of the caliber of those quarterbacks is utter malarky. Start Wilson and remedy the mistake of sitting him last week.
Honorable Mention: Philip Rivers, Jameis Winston
Running Back: Sony Michel vs Jets
The Patriots are 23 point favorites against the Jets. No that is not a typo…23 points! Michel has had a bit of a rocky start to the season. He put up that absolute stinker week one against the Steelers in a blowout win. It’s highly unlikely that history repeats itself, unless the Jets have a backwards game plan of trying to stop the run and letting Tom Brady throw all over the yard. The Jets have allowed the 12th most points to opposing running backs. There’s still always a chance of someone like Rex Burkhead stealing goal line work from Michel. Still this game could get out of hand early and the Patriots will most likely look to Michel to run the clock out on the ground.
Honorable Mention: Devonta Freeman, David Montgomery
Wide Receiver: Tyler Lockett vs Saints
This looks like a good week to fire up any Wilson/Lockett stacks as the Saints have been a pass defense pushover this season. Allowing the fifth most points to opposing WRs bodes extremely well for someone like Lockett. Capable of scoring on any play, he and Wilson appear to still have some of the magic they had last season.
Lockett gave everyone a scare in fantasy week one, only seeing two targets. Still he caught one of those two targets for a touchdown. He followed that up with a 10 catch week on 12 targets. The pass volume appears to be there and the chemistry is still as good as ever. Lockett is a great start this week.
Honorable Mention: Calvin Ridley, Larry Fitzgerald
Sit ‘Em
Quarterback: Baker Mayfield vs Rams
Mayfield has had a bit of a rough start for fantasy owners this season. While nothing short of being Patrick Mahomes would have been sufficient for his lofty offseason standards, he has still disappointed as a whole. Mayfield has thrown only two touchdowns to go along with four picks.
This is a bit of a bold call. The Rams have allowed the second fewest points to QBs this season. However, they have faced Cam Newton, who is nothing short of a mess this season… injury not withstanding, and Drew Brees who got hurt early and was followed by Teddy Bridgewater. Still this defense is scary good and Aaron Donald is an absolute terror on that offensive line. The Browns offensive line allowed the Titans pass rush to chew them up and spit them out.
Mayfield certainly has a chance to make something happen, talented quarterbacks with a stacked offense can sometimes be matchup proof. It might be better to stream options like his counterpart, Rivers, this week.
Honorable Mention: Andy Dalton, Derek Carr
Running Back: Adrian Peterson vs Bears
This one should go without saying. The Bears defense is absolutely filthy. Even in a loss, they absolutely shut the Packers offense down and looked dominant doing so. They repeated things against Joe Flacco (garbage) and the Broncos. That’s not exactly something to brag about, but two dominant performances in a row is still something to pay attention to.
The Bears have allowed the ninth fewest points to opposing RBs this season and Peterson hasn’t exactly come out with his ancient guns blazing. He still looks powerful and semi-explosive on some of his runs. He averaged a putrid 2.5 YPC against the Cowboys but was fortunate enough to fall into the end zone. Goal line rushing touchdowns are always unpredictable, but the odds say stay away from Peterson and be merry for it.
Honorable Mention: Latavius Murray, Chris Carson
Wide Receiver: Emmanuel Sanders vs Packers
The Packers secondary looks LEGIT! Part of this has been game plan dependent, particularly when you’re letting Dalvin Cook run all over you on defense. Last week, Cousins only completed 14 of 32 passes and he is leaps and bounds better than Joe Flacco. Sanders has looked sensational since coming off of his achilles tear last season. Jaire Alexander is a young, talented corner that will likely have Sanders in his crosshairs all game.
The Packers have given up the fourth fewest points to opposing WRs, and that includes the likes of Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen. Sanders could be fine as a flex option, but there are other options like Fitzgerald that provide a safer floor this week.
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