Bank On
Running Back
Adrian Peterson, Washington at New York Giants. Fresh off a 24-carry, 99-yard showing in Week 7, Peterson is averaging 4.3 YPC in his 13th NFL season. He faces a Giants team that traded defensive tackle Damon Harrison to Detroit and allows 27.3 fantasy points per game to RBs. Known for stopping the run, Harrison’s absence opens up the lanes for Peterson, whose 29 evaded tackles rank No. 10. Chris Thompson carries a questionable tag (knee, ribs) and Peterson out-carried fill-in Karpi Bibbs 24-2 in Week 7. Washington’s commitment to the run means Peterson gets a workload conducive to fantasy output. The odds favor him finding paydirt at MetLife Stadium and leading Washington to a divisional win.
Marlon Mack, Indianapolis at Oakland. Picking Mack up off waivers and playing him last week paid off handsomely. His 29.9 standard points made him the RB2 for the week. His lead dog status in Indy’s backfield is rock solid, confirmed by his 21 touches in Week 7. Mack runs behind the No. 5 ranked run-blocking offensive line in the NFL. This week he benefits from a trip to Oakland to face the “we’re not tanking” Raiders. Oakland allows opposing backs to average 4.9 yards per carry and score 26.8 fantasy points per game. Keep an eye on Mack’s status, though, as he missed Thursday’s practice following a limited session Wednesday.
Wide Receiver
Emmanuel Sanders, Denver at Kansas City. Manny scored and topped 100 yards receiving in each of his past two games, seeing 17 targets during that span. He plays nearly half his snaps out of the slot and figures to match up mainly with Chiefs cornerback Kendall Fuller. That’s good news: Fuller has allowed 39 receptions for 548 yards and three touchdowns, earning him a -15.7 coverage rating.
Stefon Diggs, Minnesota vs. New Orleans. It’s been an up-and-down season for Diggs, whose past two games have been of the down variety. Week 6 (3-33-0) saw Patrick Peterson and the Cardinals defense shut him down. Week 7 (8-33-0) was a fluke. He was, however, targeted a whopping 15 times in that contest. In standard scoring formats he’s the WR20 while Adam Thielen is WR1. But Diggs will right the ship against the Saints, who allow an average of 293.7 passing yards per game and the most fantasy points per game (51.2) to opposing WRs.
Quarterback
Kirk Cousins, Minnesota vs. New Orleans. He’s failed to reach 20 fantasy points in his past three games, and has eclipsed that mark three times this season. Cousins is not winning your squad games and it’s frustrating. I feel your pain. I have him in one league and traded Brandin Cooks for Matt Ryan. Regardless, start Cousins this week. The Saints rank No. 2 in fantasy points allowed to opposing QBs (25.3). They also allow opposing teams to score an average of 27.2 points per game, and rank near the bottom of the league in total yards allowed per game. Minnesota ranks No. 5 in pass attempts per game. Dalvin Cook (hamstring) is out again, and New Orleans holds opposing backs to 2.75 YPC and has given up three rushing TDs.
Andy Dalton, Cincinnati vs. Tampa Bay. Dalton needs a get-right game. Lucky for him, the Bucs come to town bringing what’s left of their depleted secondary. The latest casualties are linebackers Kwon Alexander and Jack Cichy, who both landed on injured reserve with knee injuries. Tampa Bay allows the most fantasy points per game to opposing QBs (27.2) and the second-most to opposing WRs. The last time Dalton faced a defense comparable to the Bucs (the Falcons in Week 4) he scored 26 fantasy points.
Tight End
O.J. Howard, Tampa Bay at Cincinnati. Howard ranks No. 7 among tight ends in standard scoring despite having his bye in Week 5. He’s scored fewer than 10 PPR points twice, has caught two of three red zone receptions and averages 11.2 fantasy points per game. The Bengals rank No. 4 in fantasy points allowed to opposing TEs (17.5) and have yielded four TDs to the position.
D/ST
Philadelphia at Jacksonville. The Jaguars have totaled 28 points during their current three-game losing streak. In the latest loss Blake Bortles was benched in favor of Cody Kessler. The offense can’t keep the defense off the field, and Jacksonville’s -12 turnover differential ranks 31st. This all spells trouble for the Jaguars and puts the Eagles defense in position to score beaucoup fantasy points.
Bench
Running Back
Isaiah Crowell, New York Jets at Chicago. With Bilal Powell out for the season (neck), he’ll be a popular play. But a disappointing fantasy day looms for Crowell. Exhibit A: Trenton Cannon. The rookie took Powell’s place and promptly led the Jets backfield with 73 total yards in Week 7. With Cannon proving capable, Crowell won’t see an increase in touches. Exhibit B: His best games of the season came against two of the three worst defenses against the run (Detroit, Denver). Take away those outliers and his PPR points per game average is 7.9. Exhibit C: Chicago ranks No. 4 in rushing defense, limiting opposing RBs to 3.9 YPC and no touchdowns. The Bears allow an average of 17.8 fantasy points per game to opposing RBs, tied for the third best mark in the league.
Alex Collins, Baltimore at Carolina. Collin’s hasn’t rushed for more than 68 yards in a game this season and his 3.5 YPC ranks No. 48 among qualified backs. His two breakaway runs and 16 evaded tackles scream pedestrian runner. Needing a TD to stay fantasy relevant, Collins will be hard pressed to find the end zone against Carolina. The Panthers have given up two rushing TDs and rank No. 9 in rushing defense.
Wide Receiver
Marquise Goodwin, San Francisco at Arizona. He’s never been targeted more than five times or caught more than four passes in a game this season. After he captured some magic with C.J. Beathard in Week 6 (4-126-2) he came crashing back down in Week 7 (2-24-0). Now he draws top-ranked cornerback Patrick Peterson and his +30.7 coverage rating. Peterson has allowed one TD this season.
Danny Amendola, Miami at Houston. Call this a Thursday night gut call, but Amendola fails to produce against Houston. He’s shown rapport with Brock Osweiler the past two games, catching 14-of-18 targets for 143 yards and his first TD of the season. He’ll be in many starting lineups. But my belief is that Bad Brock shows up, and that’s terrible news for Amendola. Especially considering the Texans limit opposing receivers to 32.7 fantasy points per game, and have given up six TDs to the position. With DeVante Parker returning from injury, Amendola’s target share will drop meaning a TD will be needed.
Quarterback
Cam Newton, Carolina vs. Baltimore. He hasn’t faced a defense as good as the Ravens since Week 1 against Dallas. In that game he scored his second-lowest fantasy point total (18.24) of the season. Newton hasn’t thrown for more than 275 yards since Week 2 against Atlanta. The Ravens allow an average of 190.4 passing yards per game. His rushing prowess boosts his fantasy scoring, but Baltimore hasn’t let a QB score a rushing TD so far. The Ravens hold opposing QBs to an average of 13.3 fantasy points per game, second only to the Seahawks.
Tight End
Jordan Reed, Washington at New York Giants. Reed failed to reach 10 PPR points in four of six games this season. He has as many fumbles lost (one) as he does TDs. The Redskins offense ranks No. 27 in passing. Against a Giants defense that has allowed one TD to the position this season, chances are good that Reed underwhelms.
D/ST
New York Jets vs. Chicago. The Bears offense hit its stride of late: Chicago scored 107 points in its past three games. The Jets rank in the bottom half of the league in total defense (371.7 YPG) and let their last two opponents (Indy and Minnesota) score more than 30 points.
