We are officially on the home stretch in terms of the 2021 fantasy football regular season, and lucky for you, the ‘Studs, Duds, and Sleepers’ staff is back this week with our 11th straight ironclad, foolproof list of players to target – or avoid!
Studs:
Quarterbacks:
Aaron Rodgers, GB:
Ok, my prediction of scorched earth Aaron Rodgers was a week premature last week and if I keep leaving him here, eventually I will be right!
Dak Prescott, Dal:
After putting up 300 total yards and three total touchdowns last week against a bad Falcons defense, Dak gets an even worse Chiefs defense and I like him to put up big numbers again this week.
Others receiving votes:
Tom Brady, TB:
Another of my swing and misses from last week, I am goingto the well again here. I am confident that Brady and crew bounce back big after an embarrassing loss last week to a bad Football Team.
Running backs:
Najee Harris, Pit:
The only highlight last week for the Steelers was Harris and his 30 touches and 130+ all-purpose yards. He has another great matchup this week as he goes from the league’s 29th ranked run defense to the league’s worst run defense in the Chargers.
Christian McCaffrey, Car:
In his first week back, McCaffrey looked plenty healthy, leading the team in rushing yards (95), receiving yards (66) and receptions (10). Now he is reunited from his running partner (literally) from the last few years and gets a weak Washington defense which just lost it’s best pass rusher.
Others receiving votes:
Nick Chubb, Cle:
Assuming Chubb is back from the COVID list, he should have a huge day against a winless Lions team that gave up 105 yards last week to Najee Harris.
Pass Catchers:
Davante Adams, GB:
Last week I projected Adams and Rodgers pairing up for a big day. I was wrong on both. I can’t be wrong two weeks in a row, can I?
Deebo Samuel, SF:
Deebo pulled in all five of his targets last week for 97 yards and a touchdown and also added five rushes for 36 yards and another touchdown while shredding what we thought was going to be the world’s best defense. If he had a day like that against a defense with Aaron Donald, Von Miller and Jalen Ramsey, I expect big things from him against a Jaguars defense which doesn’t have a single defensive player in the class of any of those three.
Others receiving votes:
Jamar Chase, Cin:
After two disappointing weeks and a week off, I expect he and Burrow to bounce back this week against a porous Raiders secondary.
Duds:
Quarterbacks:
Joe Flacco, NYJ:
Last time we saw Flacco starting, he wasn’t very good. I don’t expect him to be much better with the Jets.
Justin Herbert, LAC:
Herbert had his worst game of the season a few weeks back against the Ravens defense. While the Ravens defense is known to confuse quarterbacks, they aren’t very good this year. The Steelers defense, on the other hand, is very good, and I expect Herbert to struggle mightily in this one.
Others receiving votes:
Carson Wentz, Ind:
Wentz has been playing well this season, going seven of his last eight games without an interception. During that stretch, he has 14 touchdowns. However, the Bills have a top five defense and I expect Wentz to struggle on the road this week.
Running backs:
Saquon Barkley, NYG:
As a Barkley owner, it is tempting to play him this week, but I would think his touches will be limited this week, and I can’t see him making much happen against this Bucs defense which is giving up less than 80 yards per game on the ground.
Philadelphia Running Backs:
Jordan Howard, Boston Scott and Jalen Hurts put up 219 yards last week against a mediocre Denver defense, but they get the league’s top rushing attack this week in the Saints. The Saints give up just 72.9 yards per game on the ground and will make Hurts try and beat them with his arm.
Others receiving votes:
James Robinson, Jax:
Despite averaging 5.4 yards per carry, Robinson is only averaging about 12 runs per game…one of many questionable decisions this year by Urban Meyer. Like most teams have this year, the 49ers will focus on Robinson and force Trevor Lawrence to beat them.
Pass Catchers:
Terry McLaurin, Was:
Don’t look for Taylor Heinicke to repeat his performance from last week against the Panthers this week. As a result, I don’t see McLaurin doing much this week either.
Michael Pittman, Jr., Ind:
Pittman is having a great season with Wentz, but since I am predicting a down week for Wentz, I predict a similar down week for Pittman.
Others receiving votes:
Mike Williams, LAC:
Like my prediction for Pittman above, my dislike of Williams this week is because I expect his quarterback to struggle this week.
Sleepers:
Cam Newton, Car:
Don’t look for Cam to put up big passing numbers, but I could see him having some value this week just for his ability to run and potential goal line opportunities.
Tyrod Taylor, Hou:
Taylor struggled last week, but I wouldn’t look for that to continue this week. The Titans give up two passing touchdowns for each interception and with Derrick Henry out, this game will likely be closer than most think, meaning Taylor shouldn’t need to be forcing any throws.
Jimmy Garoppolo, SF:
Jimmy was effective and efficient last week against a tough Rams defense, so I expect him to play well against a bad Jaguars defense.
Running backs:
Myles Gaskins, Mia:
If you have other options, I wouldn’t be starting Gaskins, because he has been brutal this year. That being said, if byes and injuries have you thin at running back, he is worth a flyer against a bad Jets defense which has given up 24 or more points in all but one game this year, 34+ in their last four and 45 each in their last two.
Jeremy McNchols, Ten:
Like Gaskins, I am not recommending starting McNichols if you have other options, but if you are thin at the running back position and need a spot starter, he too may be worth a flyer this week as he gets a favorable matchup against the league’s 31st ranked run defense.
Others receiving votes:
AJ Dillon, GB:
With Aaron Jones out, I’m not sure Dillon counts as a ‘Sleeper’ so to speak, but I love the way this guy runs and I think he has a big week this week.
Pass Catchers:
Hunter Renfrow, LV:
Little known fact, Renfrow is tied for the team lead in yards with Darren Waller (494) and leads the team in both receptions (52) and touchdowns (4) – twice as many as Waller. The Bengals have struggled with underneath routes the past few weeks and that is where Renfrow excels.
Jaylen Waddle, Mia:
Over the last five weeks, Waddle is averaging just shy of 10 targets a game, and while he has only found the endzone in two of the Dolphins 10 games this week, the shear volume he sees on a weekly basis makes him a potential flex play every week.
Elijah Moore, NYJ :
Moore has seen six or more targets four weeks in a row, and while Flacco and Moore have barely played together at all, Flacco threw three passes last week, two of which went to Moore – both completed – and one went for a touchdown. He is a potential flex this week as well.
