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Quarterbacks
Ryan Tannehill, TEN (vs Tampa Bay) - Tannehill has revived the Titans pass offense just in time for the matchup against the sometimes hapless Bucs pass defense. He riffed well with his receiver group and Jonnu Smith last week and there’s no reason to think the Bucs defense will put up much resistance in this one.
Teddy Bridgewater, NO (vs Arizona) - This situation could be trending towards Drew Brees playing, but if he doesn’t, Bridgewater is an attractive option. He has been an adequate to excellent fantasy option over the last three weeks. The Cardinals defense has been one of the most generous in the league this year, although Patrick Peterson’s return seemed to invigorate them last week.
Daniel Jones, NYG (at Detroit) - Jones hasn’t exactly dazzled us since his splashy starting debut vs. Tampa, but he has faced some tough defenses and conditions over that four week span. The Lions defense looked gassed last week against the Vikings and the Giants are getting some good talents healthy in a credible pass offense that will only get better when Sterling Shepard returns.
Matt Moore, KC (vs Green Bay) - Once upon a time, we thought of Moore as an aggressive passer who merited a longer look as a starter. While he is past his prime, Moore is in a good offensive structure with lots of talent at the other end of his throws. The Packers defense barely stopped the Raiders at all last week, making two goal line stands and having another drive end with a Derek Carr fumble through the end zone.
Running Backs
David Montgomery, CHI (vs Los Angeles Chargers) - Matt Nagy wants to show us he’s not an idiot and establish the run this week. Luckily for him, the Chargers defensive weakness is their run defense and they have faced a lot of carries because of it. The Titans, Broncos and Steelers ground them up over the last three weeks and tackling Montgomery should only make them more weary this week.
Ty Johnson, JD McKissic, DET (vs New York Giants) - The Lions move at running back this week was to call up Paul Perkins. They are trusting what they have against the Giants, and they can win without value-added running back play. Johnson has looked mediocre and linear in a running game that couldn’t open enough functional holes for Kerryon Johnson, but he’ll get plenty of opportunity against a run defense that Chase Edmonds toyed with last week. McKissic has had more apparent burst than Johnson and could be as productive as the starter with half of the touches. He could easily end up being the better play this week.
LeSean McCoy, KC (vs Green Bay) - The Chiefs should try to rely less on the passing game with Patrick Mahomes II sidelined this week. McCoy has been running with the fresh legs of a youngster on a limited workload this year and should be able to be in attack mode as a runner against a defense Josh Jacobs ran over, around, and past last week. Minnesota, Denver, and Philladelphia all had good days on the ground against the Packers this year.
Latavius Murray, NO (vs Arizona) - Murray looked like he was in his prime the last two weeks, running with renewed vigor and power. The Saints practically yoked their offense to him last week against the Bears and together they moved mountains of humanity. The team cut Zach Zenner, who was signed to be the #3 back last week while Kamara was out, so it appears Kamara will play, but it makes sense for the team to employ more of a 50-50 committee, with Murray possibly favored at the goal line. Against Arizona, that’s enough for him to make hay.
Alexander Mattison, MIN (vs Washington) **Thursday** - Mattison has been effective in the will-imposing Vikings running game, and this week’s contest promises the potential of multiple goal line trips and copious amounts of garbage time.
Wide Receivers
Allen Lazard, GB (at Kansas City) - Lazard played more snaps than any Packers wide receiver last week and Aaron Rodgers went right back to him after a bad early drop. Lazard played his targets well after that, including one highlight reel catch inside the five. The Chiefs pass defense is notorious for breakdowns in coverage and Lazard could be taking advantage of one or more of them this week with Aaron Rodgers in the zone.
Jarvis Landry, CLE (vs New England) - No player is all that appealing against the Patriots this year, but if there’s an overachiever in the Browns offense this week, it will be Landry. Bill Belichick simply won’t allow Odell Beckham Jrto get his, which leaves Landry as the most attractive option for Baker Mayfield.
Darius Slayton, NYG (at Detroit) - The Lions defense was letting Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen get behind them too often last week. If Daniel Jones takes a few deep shots to Slayton, one of them could into a long touchdown.
DK Metcalf, Jaron Brown, SEA (at Atlanta) - We’ll keep picking on the Falcons secondary when we set our lineups. Metcalf should be a top red zone option with Will Dissly out, and Brown has made the most of his targets lately, including a two touchdown game. The Falcons have allowed multiple wide receiver scores in three of the last five games.
Kenny Stills, Keke Coutee, HOU (vs Oakland) - Everything worked against the Oakland defense last week. Stills is a must start WR3/Flex as Deshaun Watson’s preferred deep target, and Coutee should have a larger role in the gameplan with a week to contemplate his now full-time role in the slot. He also has the potential to score a runner as he did last week. The Raiders have given up a wide receiver touchdown in every game and multiple receiver scores in two games.
Corey Davis, A.J. Brown, TEN (vs Tampa Bay) - It’s time to update our range of outcomes for Davis and Brown when we project them. Ryan Tannehill has made the pass offense viable and demonstrated just how much value Marcus Mariota was leaving on the table. Tampa Bay has been giving up massive wide receiver games lately and both Davis and Brown have showed good timing and chemistry with Tannehill.
Ted Ginn Jr, NO (vs Arizona) - The Cardinals got Patrick Peterson back last week but it seems absurd to imagine Vance Joseph keeping Peterson on Ginn over Michael Thomas. Ginn should get to go against a weaker corner and he dropped a touchdown last week.
Diontae Johnson, PIT (vs Miami) - The Dolphins could be getting back Xavien Howard, but if they do, he should be matchup up on Juju Smith-Schuster when possible, leaving Johnson opportunities to get open downfield against lesser coverage. He already has two long scores from Mason Rudolph and should get a few chances at a third on Monday night.
Emmanuel Sanders, SF (vs Carolina) - Sanders knows the Kyle Shanahan offense. This year, he played under Shanahan’s quarterbacks coach Rich Scangarello who implemented Shanahan’s offense when he was a college offensive coordinator. The 49ers have been pursuing Sanders for a while and he should become the team’s #1 receiver right away.
Tight Ends
Kyle Rudolph, Irv Smith Jr. MIN (vs Washington) **Thursday** - The Vikings passing game is red hot and facing the sinking Washington ship this week. Adam Thielen is out and most everything Kirk Cousins does should work, so Rudolph and Smith are likely to be on the receiving end of red zone targets with fewer mouths to feed.
Jonnu Smith, TEN (vs Tampa Bay) - Delanie Walker is banged up, and last week showed us even if he’s active, he might not play for the entire game. Smith meshed well with Ryan Tannehill last week and this week, he’ll face a Tampa defense that has consistently given up good to great fantasy stat lines to tight ends this year.
Cameron Brate, TB (at Tennessee) - Brate could be the lone receiving tight end this week with OJ Howard ailing. He has always been Jameis Winston’s preferred red zone target. Austin Hooper (9-130) and Hunter Henry (6-97) both had big games against Tennessee this year, and they allowed tight end scores in four other games.
Josh Hill, NO (vs Arizona) - Tyler Eifert and rain have been stronger than the Arizona hole against tight ends, so Hill is far from a sure thing, although it won’t rain in the Superdome. Hill did score last week and Jared Cook is trending towards not playing this week and resting through the bye.