Start em: Melvin Gordon vs. Giants
A match-up against one of the few other winless teams in the NFL could be Gordon’s best chance to have a big day on the ground. In all of their games this season, the Chargers have fallen behind early, forcing them to focus on a passing attack to come back. Playing another bad team could let the Chargers focus on getting Gordon touches, which would pay dividends for fantasy owners.
Start of the week: Le’Veon Bell vs. Jaguars
Bell is back. After a slow start to the season he busted out with 144 rushing yards and two touchdowns with 35 touches—that’s right, 35—against the Ravens. I’d start anyone who can get 35 touches in a given week, but add it’s arguably the best running back in the league going up against a ragged Jacksonville defense who gives up the 3rd most points to running backs, that’s all the components I need for a start of the week.
Start em: Aaron Rodgers vs. Cowboys
Jared Goff put up good numbers against the Cowboys secondary with 244 passing yards and two touchdowns. Now imagine Aaron Rodgers and his offense rolling into town. The Packers QB1 has put up over 30 points the past two weeks, and I don’t see that stopping when going into Dallas, who combined have allowed 35+ points two of the past three weeks to very young quarterbacks.
Sit em: Blake Bortles vs. Steelers
Blake Bortles is only two weeks removed from an impressive four touchdown performance against the Ravens, but I think that could easily be a flash in the pan. Take that game out of his season stats and he has only three touchdowns, three interceptions and one fumble lost—not a great ratio. Given that he’s going up against a stingy Steelers secondary who gives up the third fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks, I think he’s not someone you’ll want to see in your starting lineup come Monday.
Sit of the week: Patriots Defense vs. Buccaneers
The secondary is confused, and they have been all year. Sure, getting coached up and probably screamed at all week by legendary coach Bill Belichick might help, but I don’t see them stopping Jameis Winston and Mike Evans tossing the ball down field. All year, the Patriots have been plagued by the pass, with receivers coming wide open seemingly every drive. This secondary has given up the most passing yards per game this season and I don’t see it changing this week.
Sit em: Amari Cooper vs. Ravens
Cooper has struggled since week one with only 48 receiving yards and no touchdowns since then. Take Derek Carr out of the equation and the outlook is even worse for Cooper, who has been dealing with a knee injury himself. All in all, Cooper doesn’t look the same as he has in past years, unable to get away from defenders, not able to catch balls he would have otherwise. Something isn’t right with him, and changing quarterbacks will be anything but good.
Deep sleeper: Tyler Kroft vs. Bills
Kroft burst onto the scene last week with six catches and a pair of touchdowns. With Eifert out for a possible few weeks, you can bet that kind of production with Kroft will continue as Dalton’s safety blanket in the middle of the field. Going against a Bills defense who beat a great passing attack in Matt Ryan and Julio Jones will be tough, but not impossible.
Sleeper: Devin Funchess vs. Lions
With Greg Olsen out and Kelvin Benjamin nursing a sore knee, Devin Funchess really stepped up last week as the big receiver for Cam Newton with seven catches for two touchdowns. The connection between Newton and Funchess in the red zone is evident, and with Newton overthrowing many of his receivers so far this season, Funchess’ height and athletic ability makes him the best option to target on any point in a drive. No matter what, Funchess is going to see a lot of targets, and many in the endzone this week.
Sleeper: Cooper Kupp vs. Seahawks
Kupp has been targeted 21 times in the first four games this season and has become Jared Goff’s favorite target this season. With 2 touchdowns this season and the Rams needing all they can get from the passing game to beat the stingy Seahawks defense, Kupp should have a lot of chances to score your team some fantasy points.
– By Jonathan Robbins
