Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears:
This isn't your Green Bay Packers of past years where the team could carry 3 relevant fantasy wide receivers. What they are though is a team with two top 10 in Randall Cobb & Jordy Nelson. Nelson led the team in targets (12), receptions (10), and finished behind Cobb in yards (108). Both men were able to find the endzone twice and no other receiver had more than 3 targets. Aaron Rodgers had his best game of the season and was clearly backing up his statement to Packer fans to relax. My concern with Eddie Lacy is legit. He had his first touchdown of the season yesterday but only average 2.8 yards per carry against a team who allowed 5.8 yards week 1, 4.7 week 2 (skewed by the fact Miller and Hyde ran it 5 times for 0 yards), & 4.4 week 3. This was his easiest matchup and couldn't do much with it, I would look to trade him now that he finally scored his first TD before it is to late and you don't get anything for him.
Old Jay Cutler returned this week and he made some bad decisions trying to force the ball into some tight windows. Good news for Matt Forte owners is he returned to form in a great matchup, he had 28 touches for 171 yards. Here is the difference between Forte and Lacy, both were drafted on average 4th and 5th in most peoples draft. Lacy had 19 touches for roughly 50 yards in a really good matchup and Forte had the 28 for 171 in his really good matchup. I am holding on to Forte knowing great days are here to stay. Martellus Bennett is making a case that he should be considered in that top 3 conversation. He led the team in receptions, yards and targets. Brandon Marshall is clearly still hobbled by his ankle injury but even with that he is still a redzone threat as he scored his 5th touchdown of the season. I am starting him every week but right now until he is healthy he is touchdown dependent. Alshon Jeffrey saw 7 targets but the Packers were able to eliminate his usual big play, but he was able to find the endzone which helped his fantasy day.
Buffalo Bills at Houston Texans:
EJ Manuel had his worst game of the season so far barely completing 50% of his passes and throwing 2 interceptions. CJ Spiller led the running back tandem in touches seeing 15 carries and 3 receptions. Putting together 84 yards on his 18 touches and having one of his better offensive games of the season. Fred Jackson was able to put together a nice game as well seeing 13 touches for 85 yards. Both can be considered low end RB2 during these bye weeks. Robert Woods led the team with 12 targets but only converted 3 of them. Sammy Watkins continues to play around the WR3 level but owners should understand they will get burned some weeks by the rookie.
The Bills run defense is legit and they shut down Arian Foster & Alfred Blue as both avg 1 yard per carry or less. This was their heaviest passing game of the season and Ryan Fitzpatrick did well enough but did make the 2 interceptions. Foster made his day better for fantasy owners in PPR leagues seeing 7 catches for 55 yards. Andre Johnson led the receivers in targets, reception and yards but it was DeAndre Hopkins finding the endzone again. Hopkins finished 5 for 64 and a touchdown and is making a case he is a legit WR2. He should be starting for most teams right now.
Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts:
As was to be expected Jake Locker ended up being inactive for the game and that led to Charlie Whitehurst to start. The most telling thing for me in this game was the fact that Bishop Sankey led the running backs in carries. Looks like he is starting to take over the running back duties in Tennessee. I lowered all Titans in my rankings except Walker and that paid off as Delanie Walker found the endzone again this week and is playing top 5 level at tight end right now. Kendall Wright had an ok PPR game but isn't worth starting in standard leagues and Justin Hunter continues to disappoint fantasy owners who thought he was due for a breakout year.
Andrew Luck is the best fantasy QB in football right now and even in these blowouts is putting up great numbers. Luck threw for 4 touchdowns and passed for almost 400 yards dominating all fantasy QBs again this week. Trent Richardson dominated all RBs in carries seeing 20 to Ahmad Bradshaw's 9 but only managed 2.4 yards per carry (Bradshaw only had 3.4) but he did find the endzone. Interesting to see is that Richardson also led Bradshaw in receptions seeing 4 to his 2 and getting 52 yards in that department. Reggie Wayne had his best game post ACL surgery but still finished 2nd in targets to TY Hilton who also had an excellent game. Wayne wins because he caught the TD pass.
Carolina Panthers at Baltimore Ravens:
Cam Newton continues to get beat up this season and that should worry most fantasy owners. Even though this turned into a blowout this is another game in which Cam didn't finish. DeAngelo Williams injured himself and Darren Reaves took over but he didn't do anything that made you want to pick him up next week. Kelvin Benjamin is the only fantasy consistent receiver I want to own on this team. Greg Olsen got a bit banged up and I think thats why his numbers ended up being so low yesterday.
It was the redemption for Steve Smith and he didn't disappoint. Through the first four games of this season Smith has as many multi receiving TD games as he did in 3 years with Cam Newton (Adam Shefter). I put Smith in my top 8 but clearly he needed top 10 status as he finished with 7 catches 139 yards and 2 TDs. Torrey Smith found the endzone but he clearly isn't an offensive threat right now seeing just 3 targets. The biggest news was Bernard Pierce being active and not getting a touch as Justin Forsett & Lorenzo Taliaferro split the duties and both found the endzone. Both can be considered back end RB2s during the bye weeks ahead.
Detroit Lions at New York Jets:
Coach Caldwell clearly his helping Matthew Stafford make smarter decisions and it is paying off. Stafford is making smart throws and in turn having a lot less interceptions. Interesting for my is the Reggie Bush led the team in carries (for the first time this season) and receptions. Joique Bell had a very quiet day but the Jets defense has been very good against running backs. Calvin Johnson played but he didn't play well for fantasy owners. The big news was Golden Tate I will be the first to admit that I was to low on him. He is a good WR2 and based on Johnson's health is a must start if he sits at all.
Chris Ivory has taken over as the #1 running back in New York. He almost tripled the carries between him and Chris Johnson who did salvage his day with the nice touchdown run. Ivory was also targeted 6 times to Johnson's 2. I was way to high on Johnson coming into the season and way to low on Ivory. Geno Smith had another rough game and Michael Vick rumblings are beginning to become a lot louder. Jace Amaro had his best game of the season and is an interesting guy to keep your eye on.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Pittsburgh Steelers:
Mike Glennon only completed 50% of his passes so I am not sure how much of an upgrade he was from Josh McCown but he does take more shots towards the endzone. Louis Murphy was his favorite target down the stretch but Mike Evans was out and not sure the severity yet, Vincent Jackson found the endzone late which helped fantasy owners. Doug Martin is still clearly the guy in Tampa when healthy seeing 14 carries to Rainey's 4.
Ben Roethlesberger had another great game and with the lack of play from other top QBs he is looking like a top 12 type of quarterback right now. Antonio Brown is dominating at wide receiver right now and is playing like a top 3 receiver this season. Heath Miller had a dominating game at tight end but I think this is once every few weeks he puts up numbers like this. Nothing to say about Le'Veon Bell other than he is the 2nd best running back in the league right now.
Miami Dolphins at Oakland Raiders:
Coach Philbin lit a fire under Ryan Tannehill and he responded with his best game of the season. Lamar Miller continued his hot run at running back with a two touchdown performance. Knowshon Moreno is supposed to return after the bye week so it'll be interesting to see what happens. Mike Wallace salvaged a quiet day with another touchdown and Brian Hartline and Jarvis Landry continue to battle for the #2 WR spot.
Derek Carr got injured late in this game and he may be out a few weeks with sprained knee. Darren McFadden led all ball carries for the Raiders which was surprising for some people who thought Maurice Jones-Drew would get more touches. James Jones had a good WR3 game and Andre Holmes had his best game of the season. Nothing worth owning other than Jones.
Jacksonville Jaguar at San Diego Charges:
Blake Bortles had a decent game and clearly is more dangerous back there than Henne was. Bortles did a nice job spreading the ball around on offense but no receiver stuck out. Shorts got hurt and Allen Robinson & Allen Hurns are deep league owns only. Toby Gerhart found the endzone on what was a quiet fantasy day again for him.
Keenan Allen looked like the top 15 receiver everyone drafted him to be this season. Another quiet game for Antonio Gates which isn't to concerning for fantasy owners who probably drafted Gates as their #2 tight end. Eddie Royal had two touchdowns and looks like last years early season success. If you have him I am selling high if I can. In a great matchup both San Diego's running backs struggled. Donald Brown & Brandon Oliver disappointed.
Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings:
Matt Ryan continues to struggle on the road he is a decent back end top 10 QB rest of the way because he is on the road every game until week 12. Antone Smith is getting close to taking over for Stephen Jackson as he had another long TD run and his to explosive not to give more touches too. Wide Receivers had their usual production.
Teddy Bridgewater looked great until he got hurt and that was the concern with him coming into the season. Matt Asiata found the end zone 3 times this game but Jerrick McKinnon looked like the future at running back this season showing explosion and big play ability. Jerius Wright was Bridgewaters favorite target and was used a lot in the quick screen game. He is a player to monitor.
Philadelphia Eagles at San Francisco 49ers:
Lesean McCoy owners need to start worrying, with all these offensive line injuries they are struggling to block for him in the run game. In the pass game Nick Foles is getting hit often and that is causing him to rush throws. Only player to have a decent game was Jeremy Maclin who saw a crazy 16 targets but only was able to convert 5 of them.
Colin Kaepernick had a good game so did Anquan Boldin & Michael Crabtree but they weren't top wide receivres. Frank Gore looked youthful in his 100 yard rushing game and there is still no split carries with Carlos Hyde.
New Orleans Saints at Dallas Cowboys:
Drew Brees got it going late but still doesn't look like his old self in this offense. Pierre Thomas was healthy but barely saw the field and that is very concerning for Thomas owners. Khiry Robinson had an "OK" game again this week and can be looked at as a flex RB for the time being. Wide Receivers and Tight ends nothing stuck out.
Tony Romo had his best passing game of the season and Terrence Williams was the recipient of that good game. DeMarco Murray is still the best RB in the league and in redraft leagues he is probably the #1 RB and #1 player drafted today. Jason Witten had one of his better games of the season.
No comments:
Post a Comment