(Neil Miller/Sportsday Wire)
Quarterbacks
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Andy Dalton: Dalton is coming off two straight games with three scores. He also threw for 383 yards against his division rival, the Ravens. Luckily for Dalton the schedule remains favorable, as he now goes against the Chiefs. No team has allowed more fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks than the Chiefs have at 25. The Chiefs have also allowed the most passing touchdowns in the league (10). Expect Dalton to be throwing early and often, taking advantage of his big receiving targets.
Derek Carr: It may have gone under the radar, but Carr has been very hot. He has topped 300 yards and multiple scores in two straight, including throwing for 351 yards and three touchdowns in Week 2. This week he goes against a weak Bears defense that has allowed eight passing touchdowns, the second most in the league. Carr is a Top 12 option this week and owners can start him with a lot of confidence.
Sit:
Sam Bradford: Everyone’s preseason sleeper has not lived up to expectations early. In fact, he has yet to throw multiple touchdowns in any game and has twice thrown for two interceptions. After throwing for 336 yards in Week 1, he has thrown for 224 yards against the Cowboys and 118 against the Jets. He simply is not getting the job done and owners are advised to bench him until he puts together a string of big games, despite his favorable matchup this week.
Colin Kaepernick: Many Fantasy owners have been asking if they should start Kaepernick against the Packers. The answer is, no. The Packers defense has only allowed four passing touchdowns. Kaepernick has only thrown two touchdowns and both came against a weak Steelers defense. In that same game he threw for 335 yards. Take that outing away and he has a game with 165 yards and no touchdown and one with 65 yards, no touchdowns and four interceptions. I understand the hope of catching lightning in a bottle, but there are much safer options to look into such as Dalton, Carr and Tyrod Taylor.
Running Back
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Karlos Williams: Williams has a shot at being a Top 12 running back with LeSean McCoy likely out this week. Williams has looked like the more effective back all year, as he is a hard North to South runner. He has found paydirt in every game this year and in the lone outing he saw double digit touches (12), he picked up 110 yards. There will be plenty of opportunities for him this week, especially against a Giants defense allowed over 21 fantasy points per game to opposing running backs.
T.J. Yeldon: I like Yeldon’s odds of doing something he has never done before, finding the end zone. Okay, so he did have a score called back in Week 2, but he is still searching for his first official NFL touchdown. This week he gets the Colts, who are allowing 21.67 fantasy points per game to opposing backs, the eighth most in the league, including four rushing touchdowns. Yeldon has a monopoly on red zone rushing attempts, as he has seen all the rushes by a running back but one, which went to Bernard Pierce. That trend should continue, giving Yeldon a great shot at scoring.
Sit
Redskins Running Backs: This includes Alfred Morris and Matt Jones. Jones seemed to have stolen the job as he had 11 rushes last week compared to Morris’ six, but a costly fumble could cause Jones some carries. Add in that they go against an Eagles defense that has been surprisingly good against the run, allowing just 12.4 fantasy points per game to opposing backs. Owners are advised to sit them until the situation plays out. Could you really afford another one point performance as both Jones and Morris put up last week?
Alfred Blue: Do not buy into the hype. Yes, he had 139 yards and a touchdown, but he was going against a Bucs defense that has been burned by the run all year. Yes, this week he gets one of the three teams who have been worse than the Bucs against the run in the Falcons, but we still do not trust him. The Texans are going to have to throw more in order to keep up with the Falcons, plus this is the same guy who had not topped five points in standard leagues prior to Week 3. This is also the same player who had the lowest yards-per-carry mark in the NFL last year amongst qualified runners. Add in that Arian Foster is a game-time decision and Fantasy owners should see why they should have other options.
Wide Receiver
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Marvin Jones: Part of the reason I like Dalton so much is he once again has his deep threat in Jones. He can stretch the field for the Bengals and keep defenses honest. Last week he hauled in five receptions for 94 yards and a score, with a long of 32 yards. In Week 2 he had a 45-yard catch. There is a boom-or-bust factor with Jones, but all owners need is for him to secure one deep pass, and we like those odds against the Bears defense.
Percy Harvin: Harvin has a good rapport with Tyrod Taylor, as he has been targeted five or more times every game, including eight times last week. If Sammy Watkins sits, which is very likely, that should mean even more looks for Harvin. The Bills will look to put the ball in the hands of their explosive wide receiver, making him especially valuable in PPR formats.
Sit
Nelson Agholor: Man, it has been a rough start to the season for Agholor. The rookie has four catches and 36 yards on the season. Fantasy owners wouldn’t be happy with those numbers in Agholor’s first game in the NFL, yet alone his first three. The targets are not coming his way, as he received zero targets against the Jets and only two against the Falcons in Week 1. Owners are advised to hold onto him, but bench him and take a wait and see approach for the time being.
Terrance Williams: Speaking of not being targeted, Brandon Weeden did not target Williams once last week against the Falcons. In fact, the only wideout he did target was Cole Beasley. Weeden has shown that he would rather check down to his running back or hit the safe pass to his tight end, rather than risk turning the ball over. This week against the Saints do not expect much different, as the Cowboys will likely be able to keep the game low scoring and Weeden will once again look to just make the safe play.
Tight End
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Martellus Bennett: It has been a rough start for Bennett as he has not topped 55 yards in a game. Add on that after a 90-catch campaign in 2014, he only has 13 through three games. He especially struggled last week without Jay Cutler as he had just four receptions for 15 yards. However, this week he goes against a Raiders defense that simply cannot stop the tight end. The Raiders are allowing 20.17 fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends, by far the most in the league. The Saints are second in that category at just 14.93. The Raiders have also allowed tight ends to find the end zone five times this year. Owners should trust Bennett this week.
Charles Clay: In his last two games Clay has seen at least six targets and caught a touchdown in both. Clay figures to be on the field early and often as he is a key cog in their run-blocking scheme. Not only that, but he provides Taylor with a big safety blanket, who can do damage with his legs after the catch. This week he matches up against a Giants defense allowing the fourth most fantasy points to opposing tight ends, including three receiving touchdowns.
Sit
Jordan Cameron: This could be a rough one to sit, as owners may not have a backup plan. However, Cameron has yet to find the end zone as a Dolphin and even worse his yardage has dropped in three straight games. This week he matches up against a Jets defense that has been great against tight ends, allowing just 3.17 fantasy points per game to them, the third lowest mark in the league.
If you have any other questions make sure to follow me on Twitter, @MichaelFFlorio.
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