With eight weeks in the books, all fantasy leagues are on the home stretch, which means your weekly moves on who to start or who to sit are even more crucial. With more big injuries this past week and more players hitting the COVID list, it has never been more important to monitor your roster every day. Lucky for you, I am here, combing through the fantasy rubble each week to deliver you the stone cold ‘Studs, Duds & Sleepers’!
Studs:
Quarterbacks:
Russell Wilson, Sea:
Wilson is a staple here. Through seven games, he has 26 touchdowns, on pace for nearly 60 touchdowns and 5,000 yards. He is the MVP frontrunner for sure, and has a permanent spot here on the ‘Studs’ list.
Aaron Rodgers, GB:
After two straight disappointing weeks for the Packers, I expect an angry Rodgers this week, and against a 49ers defense which has been decimated by injuries, that could mean a huge week for Rodgers and his receiving corps.
Others receiving votes:
Tom Brady, TB:
Brady was anything but impressive on Monday night, but I don’t expect that to happen two weeks in a row, and I could see this week’s matchup against the Saints turning in to a high scoring affair. If that happens, the NFL’s two senior citizens (Brady and Drew Brees) could put up some big numbers.
Ben Roethlisberger, Pit:
Roethlisberger and the Steelers passing offense hasn’t been what we were used to seeing back in 2018 – the last time Ben was healthy – but they are efficient. Despite failing to surpass 200 yards passing in two of his last 3 games, and only surpassing 250 yards passing twice this season, Ben has 15 touchdowns to just four interceptions. I think the Cowboys defense gets the Steelers offense back on track this week.
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Running backs:
Dalvin Cook, Min:
Cook is back and he looks healthy. He lead the Vikings in not only rushing yards (163) but also in receiving yards (63) this past week, piling up 223 all-purpose yards and accounting for all 28 of the Vikings points – four touchdowns. Despite only playing six games, Cook trails only Derrick Henry in yards and yards per game.
Derrick Henry, Ten
The Titans put up more than 200 yards rushing against the Bengals last week and the only reason Henry himself didn’t have 200+ is because they only gave him the ball 18 times. At this point, I don’t think it matters who Henry plays, it is an uphill battle for any defense to prevent Henry from getting to 100+ yards. The Bears defense is middle of the road against the run, nothing that would prevent Henry from being a top five running back again this week.
Others receiving votes:
Alvin Kamara, NO:
The Saints-Bucs game this weekend is for first place in the NFC South and has a high likelihood of being an high scoring shootout. Even if Michael Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders are back, Kamara is still likely to be the centerpiece of this offense.
Josh Jacobs, LV:
After putting up just 17 yards on 10 carries the previous week against a stout Buccaneers defense, Jacobs had a huge bounce back game against the Browns, putting up 128 yards on 30 carries. I like Jacobs to continue his success this week against a Chargers defense which is allowing opponents to rush for 4.7 yards per carry.
Pass Catchers:
Davante Adams, GB:
Adams only had 53 yards receiving, but he had seven catches on 12 targets and accounted for all three of the Packers touchdowns last week against the Vikings. With Aaron Jones still nursing a calf injury, AJ Dillon out on the COVID list and the depth issues at wide receiver, Adams is going to continue to be option #1 for this offense.
DK Metcalf, Sea:
Like Henry, Metcalf is an athletic phenomenon and the two of them are the most difficult players to stop right now in the NFL. After another big week – 12 receptions, 161 yards and two touchdowns – I don’t think there is anyone who can stop Metcalf and Wilson right now. As a result, he will continue to be on the ‘Studs’ list quite often.
Others receiving votes:
Robby Anderson, Car:
I keep thinking that the glass slipper on Anderson and Teddy Bridgewater is going to fall off at some point, but half way through the season, it seems like this may be the real deal. Anderson ranks third in receiving yards () and seventh in receptions (51). The only week spot in his stats at this point is the touchdowns. Anderson has found the end zone only once. Eventually, this will even out. If Anderson has 50+ catches in the second half, I can assure you, he will have more than one touchdown.
Stefon Diggs, Buf:
No one has come crashing back down to earth faster or harder the past three weeks as Josh Allen, and as a result, Diggs’ numbers have slowed as well. That being said, they will be facing a Seahawks team this weekend which is going to put up points, so the Bills are going to need to throw it and Diggs should benefit.
Duds:
Nick Mullens, SF:
There may not be a team which wants 2020 to end more than the 49ers. The team has been gutted with injuries and Mullens will be starting, on a short week, without his top two receiving threats (George Kittle, Deebo Samuel) and his top two running backs (Raheem Mostert, Tevin Coleman).
Whomever is tasked with the job of throwing the football for the Dallas Cowboys (aka QB Cowboys):
Ok, the Cowboys may want ask the 49ers to ‘hold my beer’ when it comes to which NFL team wants 2020 to end the most. Unlike Mullens, the Cowboys starter will at least have all of his weapons, but his offensive line is a mess and he will be facing a Steelers defense which leads the league with 30 sacks and is second with 10 interceptions…despite only having played seven games.
Others receiving votes:
Tua Tagovailoa, Mia:
Yes, Tua won his first start of his career. No, I was not impressed. He completed just 12 of his 22 passes for 93 yards. He didn’t throw a pick, but the Tua lead offense produced…145 total yards.
Phillip Rivers, Ind:
This may be a bit surprising, as Rivers has put up 600+ yards passing and six touchdowns to only one interception over his past two games, but that was against the Bengals and Lions. Things will be much different this week against a Ravens defense coming off a big loss against the Steelers.
Running backs:
Ezekiel Elliott, Dal:
You are going to notice a theme in this week’s article…stay away from Cowboys players. Going up against the Steelers this week, with a terrible offensive line and a third string quarterback is a bad place to be.
James Robinson, Jax:
Robinson is having a very good year – ranking 11th in the NFL with 481 yards – and the Texans defense is not very good, but, with the Jaguars going with the sixth-round rookie quarterback this week, I doubt Robinson ever gets to run with less than eight men in the box. He may get a lot of work, but I don’t expect a lot of production.
Others receiving votes:
Lions running backs:
Only the Jaguars, Bears and Texans are averaging less rushing yards per game than the Lions, whose leading rusher is the 35 year old Adrian Peterson. While the Vikings defense is not what it has been over the past few years, I still don’t like any of the Lions running backs this week.
Leonard Fournette, TB:
Fournette saw a season high 15 carries last week, and is averaging a solid 4.5 yards per carry – just like Ronald Jones – but thus far, Jones is getting about 2.5 carries for every carry Fournette sees. Maybe last week gave us a peak of where the Bucs backfield is heading in the future, but with fantasy playoff hopes on the line, I wouldn’t bet on it if you don’t have to.
Pass Catchers:
Amari Cooper, Dal:
Over his past four games, Cooper has 187 yards combined, including a one catch five yard outing last week. Those weak numbers are going to continue this week against the Steelers.
Michael Gallup, Dal:
See the analysis of Cooper and QB Cowboys above. Combine that, with the fact that Gallup – outside of a Week 3 matchup against the Seahawks terrible defense – has yet to surpass 75 yards in a game this year and has just 84 yards receiving over his last three games…combined.
Others receiving votes:
Jaguars pass catchers:
With Gardner Minshew out with a hand injury, the Jaguars may be completely in on the ‘Tank for Trevor’ race now as they are turning the offensive reigns over to their sixth-round rookie quarterback, Jake Luton. That may be good news for the future of the Jaguars franchise (if they land Trevor Lawrence), but it is not good news for anyone paid to catch passes for the Jaguars…so don’t start them this week.
Antonio Brown, TB:
Ok, I was off on this one last week as Brown was not eligible to play yet….well, he is this week and my analysis is the same! I would resist the urge to play him unless you are in a huge bind! Not only has he only played one game in the last two years, he hasn’t even been with a team for most of that time. We have zero idea what type of shape he will be in, how he will fit in this offense, etc. If you picked him up, you may want to leave him on your bench for a week or two so you can see where he fits in this offense.
Sleepers:
Nick Foles, Chi:
Foles has been anything but impressive this year, but he has a favorable matchup this week against a Titans defense which gives up a lot of yards in the air, can’t get to the quarterback and can’t get off the field on third down. Only the Jaguars (6) have fewer sacks than the Titans (7).
Kirk Cousins, Min:
Another guy not having a great season, but with a favorable matchup, is Cousins. The Lions give up nearly 250 yards per game in the air and have only 10 sacks in seven games. I like Cousins to have a good game this week.
Deshaun Watson, Hou:
Watson is top five in yards (2,095), top seven in touchdowns (15), and has a three-to-one TD:Int ratio, but he is under the radar because his team is 1-6. But, the Texans second half of their season is much easier, and it starts this week against Jacksonville.
Running backs:
James Conner, Pit:
Conner ranks 10th in yards, so it may seem odd he is on the ‘Sleepers’ list, but he isn’t being talked about much. That may change this week as he gets a matchup against a Cowboys defense which is arguably the worst in the NFL in 2020.
Mike Davis, Car:
Even if Christian McCaffrey is active this week, Davis may have value. The Panthers are likely to ease McCaffery back in, so Davis should still see a decent amount of work, and against a Chiefs defense which is bottom five against the run, that could mean an RB2 value on Davis this week.
David Johnson, Hou:
As DeAndre Hopkins leads the league in receiving, and Johnson is 19th in rushing, it is hard to say anything other than this was a disastrous trade for the Texans. That being said, Johnson is still getting about 18 touches per game and has a very favorable matchup this week against a Jaguars team that may be mailing it in.
Pass Catchers:
Terry McLaurin, Was:
Despite poor quarterback play, McLaurin is having a good season, and over the last two weeks, has averaged 11.5 targets and 82 yards. Two weeks ago, he pulled in seven of his 12 targets against the Giants for 74 yards. I would expect similar numbers this week in the rematch.
JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pit:
Despite leading the Steelers in targets (50) and receptions (39), Smith-Schuster is second in yards (346) and touchdowns (3) and by most accounts, is having a disappointing season. However, the Cowboys are good at helping getting players back on track, and I like that to happen for Smith-Schuster this week.
Allen Robinson II, Chi:
See my analysis on Foles above. I see a big week for the Bears passing game, and Robinson is the most likely to benefit.
