By: Jared Leonard
This week we’re attacking the main Sunday slate and again we want to do it with some studs, balance, and value.
Quarterbacks: Some great options at QB this week from high price to mid range choices.
Tom Brady, Patriots- Always a great option and facing a bad Oakland secondary.
Alex Smith, Chiefs- Facing a Giants team that looks like they don’t want to play football anymore. KC could put up the highest point total of the week.
Derek Carr, Raiders- Great option this week and is going to have to put a lot of points on the board to keep up with the Patriots offense. This game is looking like a shoot out.
Eli Manning, Giants- Love is matchup against a mediocre KC defense and the Giants will be playing from behind, so Eli will be throwing the ball a ton. *No Shepard, Eli and Giants’ offense could struggle with all the injuries. I would get off him.
Jay Cutler, Dolphins- Tampa Bay is terrible. They will make Cutler look good.
Running Backs: I may be making a mistake here, but I’m fading both Saints’ running backs.
Kareem Hunt, Chiefs- Has a great matchup against the Giants but needs at least 24 points to hit value. Have not been a fan of his usage over the past 6 weeks.
LeSean McCoy, Bills- Rookie QB starting for Buffalo, which means heavy workload for McCoy.
Melvin Gordon, Chargers- Love Gordon this week. Buffalo has been awful against the run since trading Darius.
Lamar Miller, Texans-In order to keep this game close, Houston needs to run the ball. When Miller gets 15+ touches he typically produces double digit fantasy points, I see that happening this week in a plus matchup.
Marshawn Lynch, Raiders- He may not rack up the rushing yards but I can see him getting in the end zone twice this week.
Chris Ivory, Jaguars- If Fournette doesn’t play, which I don’t think he will, Ivory will see the bulk of the carries and is a great low priced option. *Illness, I would not play him.
Samaje Perine, Redskins- Very cheap and starting, but does have a pretty tough matchup against New Orleans. Tournament play only.
Rex Burkhead, Patriots-Rex has become a bigger part of the Patriots offense lately and I don’t think that will change.
Giovanni Bernard, Bengals- Super sneaky play and could have a bigger role this week against Denver, who struggles against covering running backs out of the backfield.
Wide Receiver: Looking to load up at wideout this week and with saving at QB and other places, you can afford to do so.
*Mike Evans, Bucs- He’s a late add to the list and has a great matchup. Hopefully Fitzpatrick can get him the ball.
Tyreek Hill, Chiefs– Love the matchup against the Giants.
Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals- Should keep producing even with Gabbert at QB. He is a target monster.
Brandin Cooks, Patriots– Great matchup against a bad Oakland D.
DeVante Parker/Jarvis Landry, Dolphins– Tampa Bay sucks, that’s it.
Sterling Shepard, Giants- Top receiving option in the Giants’ offense and will produce against a mediocre KC D. * Out due to illness. Do not play.
DeAndre Hopkins, Texans- Even without Watson, production hasn’t dropped off. I don’t think Peterson will shadow him.
Amari Cooper/Michael Crabtree, Raiders- They should be able to produce against the Patriots’ defense but I’m leaning more towards Crabtree.
Jeremy Maclin/Mike Wallace, Ravens– If Flacco plays well, both these cheaper options could produce against a bad Green Bay secondary.
Kendall Wright, Bears- Trubisky looks his way often and has received at least 8 targets over the last 2 weeks. Tournament play only.
Tight End: The options at the top have fantastic matchups this week but again, I’m looking to pay down here.
Travis Kelce, Chiefs- Playing the Giants, and they haven’t been able to cover bad tight ends this year.
Rob Gronkowski, Patriots- Oakland is another team that can’t cover the tight end and Gronk should be able to take advantage.
Evan Engram, Giants- He’s been awesome since all the injuries to the Giants’ offense and he will continue to be awesome. *Fading Engram due to all the attention he will receive from KC defense.
Cameron Brate, Bucs-I’m expecting a bounce back week from Brate and he should be involved against a bad Dolphins’ defense.
Hunter Henry, Chargers– Another tight end that I’m expecting to have a bounce back week and will be facing a Buffalo defense that has been terrible of late.
Tyler Kroft, Bengals-Love the matchup. Denver is almost as bad as the Giants when it comes to tight ends.
Defenses:
Jaguars
Broncos
Vikings
Chargers
Baltimore
Green Bay