Buy Low
Derek Carr (QB- LV), Josh Jacobs (RB-LV) - There was a lot more there for the Raiders offense against the Giants, but Carr and the offensive line had breakdowns at the worst possible time. The team was playing in the wake of their teammate being charged with four felonies and being released, so they were probably not exactly in the best mindset to play. They’ll come home this week and face a hapless Chiefs defense that relies on dink and dunk drives from their offense to keep them off of the field. The Raiders had a lot of success against a better Chiefs defense last year, so this should be a big bounceback game for them with Cincinnati, Dallas, Washington, and another game with the Chiefs coming up.
Mike Williams (WR-LAC) - Williams got some high-value targets last week, but didn’t convert enough of them into targets to get back into fantasy teams' good graces. With four poor results in the last five games, Williams is officially in a major slump, but he’s facing the slump-busting Vikings secondary that has allowed 10 scores and six 100-yard games to wideouts so far this year.
Matthew Stafford (QB-LAR) - Stafford just gained Odell Beckham and the Rams have a bye next week to get him integrated into the offense. Beckham never looked washed up this year, he and Baker Mayfield could just never get onto the same page. Beckham should be close to a full-time player in the Rams three-wide offense, and the team has an interest in using him to his fullest because it can create interest in the free-agent market next year where the Rams will recoup a high comp pick if Beckham signs a big deal. Also, get your MVP bets on Stafford before the odds come down.
Dalvin Cook (RB-MIN) - The allegations against Cook are serious and it’s reasonable to want to avoid him because of the nature of his legal problems, but chances are the league isn’t going to take any action against him this year because they prefer to wait for legal proceedings to play out unless a player is charged with a felony. Cook is facing the Chargers run defense that just made Jordan Howard look like he was in his prime last week, so he should put up one of those week-winning point totals to remind everyone why he was a top-three pick in almost every draft this summer.
Mark Ingram (RB-NO) - Alvin Kamara’s injury issue has been confirmed as a knee problem as he has missed the first two practices this week, which sets Ingram up as the lead back at Tennessee. Ingram was already in an arrangement similar to the old one with Kamara, getting 14 touches to Kamara’s 17 last week. With Kamara less than 100%, expect that to persist when he returns to the field, giving Ingram lasting value past this week.
Eno Benjamin (RB-ARI) - While we wait to see if Chase Edmonds lands on injured reserve, Benjamin has a golden opportunity with Edmonds sidelined for at least the next two weeks heading into the Cardinals bye. The team will either slot Benjamin into a big portion of Edmonds' role to save Conner some punishment, or they will ride Conner in a development that could lead back to the injury issues that kept the Steelers from investing in him as a lead back when he hit free agency last year. Either way, Benjamin could easily be the next backup to go from the waiver wire into lineups, so try to find a roster spot for him.
Buy High
Tyler Johnson (WR-TB) - Johnson’s value is up this week with Chris Godwin missing two practices because of a foot issue. Antonio Brown shed his walking boot, but he might be a couple of weeks away, as is Rob Gronkowski. Johnson is set up to be a focal point of the passing game for at least a week or two, and we shouldn’t assume that Brown, Godwin, and Gronkowski’s injury issues will resolve themselves on schedule. Johnson is set up for a huge opportunity in a pass-first highly-productive offense. His value could last longer than anyone expects.
Sell High
Joe Mixon (RB-CIN) - As outlined on the couch this week by Dwain McFarland, Mixon is actually seeing his role shrink just as his fantasy numbers are spiking because of good touchdown luck. Mixon is seeing closer to 60% of snaps than the 80% expected going into the season as Samaje Perine has been taking more of the passing down work. Mixon is on bye this week, so you might have to wait until next week to use him to pivot to another top back, or trade him for a lesser back plus another piece that will help you.
Jordan Howard (RB-PHI) - Howard’s comeback story is heartwarming, but it probably has more to do with facing the Lions and Chargers than it does represent a real resurgence for a player with a limited application. The Eagles get the stout Saints run defense in Week 11 after facing the Broncos this week, and they face Washington twice in Weeks 15 and 17, a team that induces a lot more passing than running from their opponents.
Javonte Williams (RB-DEN) - Williams has a great career ahead of him, but even with the Broncos finally establishing the run last week, he is still stuck in a committee backfield where he doesn’t get the touchdown opportunities with an offensive coordinator that will abandon the run at the first sign of difficulty. Hold in dynasty leagues, but in redraft try to take advantage of this positive moment in his rookie year trajectory.
