We’re now a quarter of the way into the season but for most of you, we’re actually 30% of the way there as your Fantasy league’s regular season probably goes through Week 13.
In no way am I adding any pressure on you to turn things around or anything. Relax.
Here are your best performers so far at each position so far.
Quarterbacks
5. Tyrod Taylor (BUF) – 988 pass yards, 8 TD / 4 INT, 111 rush yards
4. Carson Palmer (AZ) – 1,155 pass yards, 10 TD / 3 INT
3. Andy Dalton (CIN) – 1,187 pass yards, 9 TD / 1 INT
2. Tom Brady (NE) – (Week 4 Bye) 1,112 pass yards, 9 TD / 0 INT
1. Aaron Rodgers (GB) – 995 pass yards, 11 TD / 0 INT, 107 rush yards
Running Backs
5. Matt Forte (CHI) – 367 rush yards, 1 TD, 133 rec. yards, 13 catches
4. Mark Ingram (NO) – 204 rush yards, 2 TD, 203 rec. yards, 22 catches
3. Adrian Peterson (MIN) – 372 rush yards, 3 TD, 92 rec. yards, 9 catches
2. Jamaal Charles (KC) – 306 rush yards, 4 TD, 151 rec. yards, 20 catches, 1 TD
1. Devonta Freeman (ATL) – 252 rush yards, 7 TD, 196 rec. yards, 17 catches
Wide Receivers
5. DeAndre Hopkins (HOU) – 31 catches, 409 rec. yards, 3 TD
4. Antonio Brown (PIT) – 34 catches, 478 rec. yards, 2 TD, 70 return yards
3. Travis Benjamin (CLE) – 16 catches, 328 rec. yards, 4 TD, 214 return yards, 1 TD
2. Larry Fitzgerald (AZ) – 30 catches, 432 rec. yards, 5 TD
1. Julio Jones (ATL) – 38 catches, 478 rec. yards, 4 TD
Tight Ends
5. Charles Clay (BUF) – 21 catches, 255 yards, 2 TD
4. Tyler Eifert (CIN) – 16 catches, 222 yards, 3 TD
3. Jason Witten (DAL) – 25 catches, 238 yards, 2 TD
2. Travis Kelce (KC) – 21 catches, 293 yards, 2 TD
1. Rob Gronkowski (NE) – 16 catches, 308 yards, 4 TD
Mail Time!
Starting with your WRs…
Sammy Watkins is still listed as Questionable and being considered day-to-day. I wouldn’t bank on him going this weekend, nor do I like Michael Crabtree against the Broncos defense. Denver’s pass defense is currently tops in the NFL…Eddie Royal, on the other hand, goes against the league’s worst pass defense when it comes to allowing WR touchdowns. The Bears also appear to be getting Alshon Jeffery back, which will only soften the coverage on Royal. So yeah, Royal.
While I don’t love starting anyone against the Seahawks defense, Andy Dalton (aka “ADalt” in my Fantasy world) has been too good to sit this season. Dalton is throwing 300+ yards and multiple touchdowns in all of his games so far, and Seattle has faced only 1 decent quarterback so far.
I know Bruce Arians is dubbing Chris Johnson as the #1 running back in Arizona, but I’m not sure how much weight that holds when he has Andre Ellington back. Detroit’s run defense has only given up more than 50 yards once, and that was to Adrian peterson…With Sean Lee and Orlando Scandrick out, I think the Cowboys are in big trouble going against New England. The #BradyRevengeTour is going call for a lot of scoring and a lot of red zone opportunities for the Patriots running backs again. If his usage in the 2nd half of Week 3 is any indication, LeGarrette Blount is going to get his.
If Andy Reid’s play calling wasn’t so conservative, I would lean toward Alex Smith. But Andy Dalton hasn’t done anything to warrant benching him yet, and I’m very eager to see what he can do against the Legion of Boom. The Bears have also somehow figured out how to get to quarterbacks after cutting ties with Jared Allen (weird).
RB: Ronnie Hillman – He’s basically a co-starter with CJ Anderson getting the same amount of touches and more production. And he’s actually reached the end zone…Tevin Coleman’s taking a backseat to Devonta Freeman and his Jim Brown-like numbers. And just no on Ryan Matthews. No.
WR: Emmanuel Sanders – If the Bears weren’t enough proof, that Raiders secondary is BAD. Sanders is also getting ALL the Peyton Manning passes, and you’re not going to get that kind of production with your other options. Then I go with Kendall Wright. The Bills have an incredible front 7 but are incredibly susceptible to the pass. Wright’s averaging 10.5 yards per target too.
I’m not an odds maker, but I would keep betting on Todd Gurley while he’s healthy.
Two reasons I like Pierre Garcon the most. (1) Even if Desean Jackson comes back this weekend, he’s not going to be 100% and only takes pressure off Garcon. (2) Kirk Cousins loves throwing to Garcon and you have to think Washington will be playing catchup against the high power Falcons offense.
I like Sproles in the flex if you get return yard points. If you have better running back options, play them…but you get the feeling he’s going to get as many chances as possible to make the team that let him go pay for it.
(1) Derek Carr is either going to show us all how good he can be, or he’s going to get his ass kicked by the best pass defense in the league. If Alex Smith is your best available option, you can try him…however, I like Jay Cutler even better in his game against the KC D that’s giving up the most passing TDs in the league.
(2) The upside is higher with Latavius Murray. He may have been put in timeout but if the Raiders want to have a chance against the Broncos D, I think he’s learned his lesson. Cardinals front 7 is too good for me to feel comfortable starting Abdullah ahead of him, despite the strong showing he had against the Seahawks.
(3). If I’m picking 3, I’m not playing Carlos Hyde. The Giants run defense is one of the best in the NFL and this is what the 49ers offense looks like:
I know Breesus, King of the Drews, just threw his 400th touchdown but Carson Palmer is far more trustworthy this season at this point.
TJ Yeldon finally eclipsed 100 yards and his next matchup should make Fantasy owners hungry. The Bucs are giving up the 3rd most rushing yards and a touchdown to running backs in 3 of their first 4 games. Given the matchups and Jack Del Rio’s benching trigger finger, I feel much better about Yeldon.
I would go with neither of the Kearses. Seattle WRs are more unpredictable than Belichick running backs and retired defensive players are retired defensive players…Snead got more snaps than any Saints WR last week and I say roll with the Waiver Flavor of the Week.
michaelpiff 