If you are in a 13 Week league, you are hitting the first round of the fantasy playoffs with byes still occurring. I am not sure who came up with the idea of having bye weeks extend out this far, but regardless, it makes this weeks ‘Studs, Duds, and Sleepers’ article even more critical than normal! Lucky for you, the ‘Studs, Duds, and Sleepers’ staff is pumping out our 14th straight week of ironclad, foolproof fantasy football knowledge!
Studs:
Quarterbacks:
Justin Herbert, LAC:
The Giants just gave up two touchdowns, forced zero turnovers and surrendered a 104.1 quarterback rating to a far less dangerous quarterback (Tua), and after a solid week on the road against a formidable Bengals defense, I see a big week against a Giants team that doesn’t look very competitive right now.
Aaron Rodgers, GB:
Just remember, Aaron Rodgers owns the Bears, and after a week of rest, I don’t see that changing. I look for Rodgers and Davante Adams to try and demoralize their division rival.
Others receiving votes:
Kyler Murray, AZ:
In his first game back, Murray only threw for 123 yards and accounted for under 200 yards total…but he still had four touchdowns! Despite the Rams and Cardinals both having solid defense, I look for this game to be a shootout, meaning lots more touchdowns for Murray.
Running backs:
Najee Harris, Pit:
Harris didn’t have a big week last week – 21 carries for 71 yards, no touchdowns – but that was more carries and more yards than he had in his last two games combined (20 for 62). More encouraging was the fact that he did that against the Ravens and their number one run defense. He gets a much friendlier matchup this week – albeit a short week – in Minnesota.
Alvin Kamara, NO:
Normally I would be hesitant to predict a big game from a guy coming off a multiple week absence due to a knee injury, but Kamara has a few things going for him. 1) He is playing the Jets and their 30th ranked run defense. 2) His backfield buddy – Mark Ingram – may miss the game…meaning more touches for Kamara. And 3) He is playing the Jets!
Others receiving votes:
James Robinson, Jax:
After a disappointing week and a lot of weirdness surrounding his health and usage last week, it might seem odd to have him on the ‘Studs’ list, but Robinson and Trevor Lawrence both went public this week with gripes about Robinson needing to see the ball more. Look for Urban Meyer to try and quash this story by playing Robinson – and giving him the ball – a ton this week.
Pass Catchers:
George Kittle, SF:
I nailed this one last week and am riding the hot hand here! Kittle went off for nine receptions on 12 targets for 181 yards and two touchdowns. He single handedly won a lot of folks their gamse last week (just not the 49ers). With Deebo Samuel out, and the Bengals without their top two cover linebackers, this seems like a recipe for another big day for Kittle.
Davante Adams, GB:
Rodgers owns the Bears, theretofore Adams also owns the Bears.
Others receiving votes:
Cooper Kupp, LAR:
Kupp leads the NFL in targets by nine, receptions by 14, yards by 157 and touchdowns by one. He is the definition of ‘Stud’ every week.
Duds:
Quarterbacks:
Matt Ryan, Atl:
Second straight week Ryan finds himself on the ‘Duds’ list and it shouldn’t really be a surprise anymore. Ryan is struggling without his top receiver Calvin Ridley, and over his last four games, he has just one touchdown and five interceptions. Things won’t get easier this week on the road against the second ranked Panthers pass defense. When these two teams played a few weeks back, Ryan threw for just 146 yards, one touchdown and two picks.
Lamar Jackson, Bal:
Over his last three games, Jackson has three touchdowns, six picks and zero games with multiple touchdowns…one of those games being a four interception performance against this Browns defense just two weeks ago. I don’t expect four more picks, but I also don’t expect a big game.
Others receiving votes:
Jared Goff, Det:
Coming off a three touchdown, one interception and 296 yard performance, Goff may be tempting to start if you have a quarterback on a bye this week. Don’t do it. I expect the Lions to be drained from finally getting their first win and suffer a Mile High hangover this week against a good Denver secondary.
Running backs:
Nick Chubb, Cle:
Chubb leads the NFL in yards per carry at 5.8 and is second in rushing touchdowns with eight, but two weeks ago when the Browns and Ravens last played, the Ravens number one run defense held Chubb to just 16 yards on eight carries. I don’t know if they can do that again, but they certainly look to have a good idea on how to keep Chubb in check.
Devonta Freeman, Bal:
He made the ‘Sleepers’ list last week, but after putting up just 52 yards on 14 carries (3.7 ypc) against one of the league’s worst run defenses, I don’t expect much production from him this week against the 11th ranked Browns defense. When these two teams played two weeks ago, Freeman had just 52 yards on 16 carries (3.3 ypc). Look for something similar.
Others receiving votes:
Ezekiel Elliott, Dal:
Something isn’t right with Elliott. Over his last five games, his carries have been 10, 14, 9, 9, and 13, for a whopping total of 51, 41, 32, 25, and 45 yards. Tony Pollard is cutting into his work and is outplaying Elliott. Throw in the fact that the Football Team only gives up 91.3 yards per game on the ground (3rd) and this is not a good week for Elliott.
Pass Catchers:
Kyle Pitts, Atl:
Pitts leads the Falcons in targets (82), receptions (49), yards (709), average (14.5), and yards per game (59.1). That being said he only has one touchdown on the season, hasn’t gone over 62 yards in any of the teams last six games and only had two catches for 13 yards the last time the Falcons played the Panthers.
Kenny Golladay, NYG:
The Giants gave Golladay a four-year, $72 million contract over the offseason, and through nine games, he has one 100-yard game. He has more games with zero catches (1), than he does touchdowns (0). He ranks 128th in receptions (26), 75th in yards (409) and dead last in touchdowns (0). If you drafted Golladay, I am sorry. He is unplayable.
Others receiving votes:
Darnell Mooney, Chi:
With Justin Fields set to return, it hurts Mooney’s stock. Worse yet, the Bears are playing on the road in Green Bay. The last time these two played, Mooney did have a touchdown, but only had five receptions for 45 yards.
Sleepers:
Ben Roethlisberger, Pit:
Ben played ok last week against their rival the Ravens, and now gets what should be a friendly matchup against a bottom half defense in Minnesota. With the Steelers season on the line, I could see Ben putting up some decent numbers again this week.
Taysom Hill, NO:
Hill did throw four picks last week, but he also had two touchdowns and accounted for 365 total yards, including 101 with his legs. Against a bad Jets team, I could see Hill accounting for 400 total yards this week and three touchdowns.s.
Russell Wilson, Sea:
Wilson didn’t play great last week – 231 yards, two touchdowns, one interception – but it was his second week in a row with multiple touchdowns, and after two weeks with zero touchdowns, that is progress. I like the matchup this week against a Texans team that looks like they have mailed it in for the year.
Running backs:
Saquon Barkley, NYG:
With 11 carries for 55 yards and nine targets last week, the Giants may finally be ready to start Barkley carry the load again, and after 13 weeks of frustration for Barkley fantasy owners, that would be a good thing. With a matchup this week against one of the league’s worst rush defenses, there may not be a better time to release Barkley.
Rashaad Penny, Sea:
Penny won’t be the only back in the Seahawks backfield, but he saw almost half of the carries last week and was the most productive back for the Seahawks. With a matchup against the league’s worst run defense (Texans), Penny may be worth a play if you are thin at running back.
Javonte Williams, Den:
Fresh off his second 100-yard game of his rookie season, Williams gets another friendly matchup this week with the Lions coming to town.
Pass Catchers:
Michael Gallup, Dal:
Gallup may be the Cowboys third receiver, but he was second on the team in targets last week (9), trailing only CeeDee Lamb (13) and pulled in the Cowboys only receiving touchdown. With what should be a friendly match against a depleted Football Team secondary, Gallup may be worth a Flex play this week.
DJ Moore, Car:
The Panthers passing game has been brutal most of the season and Moore’s numbers have suffered because of it, but he is the Panthers leading receiver, and is coming off his most productive game since Week 4 (10 targets, four receptions, 103 yards). Maybe he and Cam can find some rhythm here after the bye week.
Hunter Renfrow, LV:
Not really a ‘Sleeper’ any more, but it seems as though he still is on the bench in a lot of leagues. It is time to put him in the lineup folks! Over the last two weeks, Renfrow has pulled in 17 of his 19 targets for 236 yards. Those are WR1 numbers. This week, he gets a Chiefs defense which is bottom ten against the pass.
