Each week there are some obvious starts and sits in fantasy football. Other decisions are not quite so simple. With that in mind, I offer up some not-so-obvious picks with my weekly Studs, Duds & Sleepers. Here are this week’s picks.
STUDS
QB: Dak Prescott (DAL) vs. DET: Dak is back! And the matchup with the Lions is too tempting not to immediately insert him back in the lineup. Three of the five signal callers to face Detroit this season have eclipsed 27 FP.
RB: Dameon Pierce (HOU) at LV: Lovie Smith has placed his trust in the rookie running back and the volume has been there as a result. He has carried the rock 20, 14, and 26 times over his last three. The Raiders have been fairly solid vs. RB’s thus far, but the projected volume alone has Pierce as a back-end RB1 on my board this week.
WR: Michael Pittman Jr (IND) at TEN: Pittman and the Colts’ passing attack snapped out their early-season funk a bit a week ago. In two meetings vs. Indianapolis last year Pittman delivered 16 catches for 154 yards and two scores and no team has allowed more fantasy points to wide receivers through six weeks this season than Tennessee.
TE: George Kittle (SF) vs. KC: Last week was promising for Kittle and his fantasy managers as he was targeted 10 times and finished with a 8/83 statline. Granted a few of those catches came in the final drive against cake coverage, still it was hope. With the Chiefs likely to put points on the board this week, look for Jimmy G to have to air it out a bit again and that will make Kittle look like the guy many drafted him to be.
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DUDS
QB: Jared Goff (DET) at DAL: Goff cooled off a bit before the bye as the Lions worked through injuries and the last time out against New England was concerning. Things won’t get easier this time around against a stellar Dallas’ defense. I remain optimistic for the season on Goff and the Lions’ passing attack, but will avoid using Goff in the week ahead if possible.
RB: Melvin Gordon (DEN) vs. NYJ: This whole Gordon situation has been very peculiar to me. It boils down to incompetency of Nathaniel Hackett as a NFL coach. Gordon played more than he should’ve been when Javonte Williams was healthy. Then was benched in favor of Latavius Murray last week. Fantasy managers need to keep Gordon on the bench until more clarity is given to this situation. I think the Broncos’ offense is broken and with all of the injuries it is not going to get right at any point in 2022.
WR: Curtis Samuel (WAS) vs. GB: With the quarterback chance, the dip in his production, and a tough matchup vs. the Packers on tap, Samuel is a guy I am having a tough time endorsing this week as anything more than a desperate flex play. Neither him nor Terry McLaurin are in my top 30 this week and the ceiling seems low on the entire offense as a whole.
TE: Tyler Conklin (NYJ) at DEN: Since Zach Wilson came back under center, Conklin has disappeared in the Jets’ passing attack. Over the last three weeks Conklin has been targeted just eight times with four receptions for 68 yards and a score. This week he gets a Broncos’ D that hasn’t yielded much to the position, including holding TE’s scoreless in five straight games.
SLEEPERS
QB: Daniel Jones (NYG) at JCK: The Giants are 5-1 this season despite the fact that Jones has eclipsed 20 fantasy points once all year. His two TD passes last week equaled a season high, but in the four games before that he had just one TD pass. All that said, with some studs on bye this week Jones’ high rushing floor and matchup vs. a Jags’ D that let Carson Wentz and Matt Ryan get to 30 fantasy points this season makes him a solid streaming option.
RB: Tyler Allgeier (ATL) at CIN: Since DJ Reader went down the Bengals have been getting bashed by opponents on the ground. Now linebacker Logan Wilson is hurt and likely to miss this week’s game too. Atlanta’s strength is in the running game and that might also be the best way to slow down Joe Burrow. Allgeier has only been targeted twice all season, but has 41 carries over the last three. Consider him a flex option here, especially in non-PPR formats.
WR: Rondale Moore (ARI) vs. NO: Even with DeAndre Hopkins back in the fold, the injury to Hollywood Brown should keep Moore a factor in the Cardinals’ passing attack. His steady of targets give him a decent floor in PPR leagues. While his ceiling isn’t very high he should be on your flex radar in Week 7 vs. the Saints.
TE: Hunter Henry (NE) vs. CHI: Over his last two contests Henry has pulled in eight of his 12 targets for 115 yards and a score. Despite who is at quarterback on Monday night vs.the Bears, the veteran could be a decent option for fantasy managers in a pinch.
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