(Neil Miller/Sportsday Wire)
Quarterback
Start
Matthew Stafford: After firing their offensive coordinator reports indicate that the Lions plan on letting Stafford loose to sling the ball. This is when Stafford is at his best and the past year and a half he clearly looked limited. This could not come at a better time as he takes on a Chiefs defense that have been torched by QBs, allowing 15 passing touchdowns.
Ryan Fitzpatrick: Fitzpatrick has a high floor, as he has thrown multiple touchdowns in six of his seven games. He has also rushed for 29 or more yards in three straight. There should be points to be had in this matchup against Oakland, which has allowed 11 passing touchdowns. Fitzy is a safe bet for 250+ passing yards and multiple touchdowns.
Sit
Peyton Manning: He just isn’t getting the job done. Manning has broken 300 yards just once and has only thrown for multiple scores twice and hasn’t done so in three straight games. He has thrown at least one interception each week, including multiple ones in the last two. Stay away.
Russell Wilson: Wilson has topped 250 passing yards twice and his high is 287. He has thrown multiple scores just once. The one thing you expect from Wilson is to add points with his legs, but the truth is he is remaining in the pocket more than Fantasy owners would like. He has topped 50 yards rushing just twice, and has failed to break 30 yards three times. He does not have a rushing touchdown. He takes on a Cowboys defense that has allowed just over 15 Fantasy points to per game to opposing QBs. He has a low ceiling.
Running Back
Start
Chris Johnson: Johnson has put up borderline RB1 numbers, but owners have yet to treat him as such. He has topped 100 yards in three of his last five, including three scores in that stretch. This week he takes on a Browns defense that has allowed a league high 1,026 rushing yards to opposing running backs. Expect Johnson to torch the Browns.
Charcandrick West: West clearly has a firm grip on the starting RB job, as he had 22 carries last week and no other running back had more than two. He also got the bulk of touches inside the red zone, giving him a great chance of scoring against the Lions, who have allowed nine rushing touchdowns to opposing running backs.
Sit
Darren McFadden: DMC is going to provide owners with lots of value going forward, as long as he is healthy. However, this is not the week to trust him. The Seahawks defense have completely limited opposing running games, allowing just over 11 Fantasy points per game to them. They also have allowed just two rushing touchdowns to opposing running backs.
Latavius Murray: Murray is coming off of a strong game against the Chargers, who were a fantastic matchup. This week he is not so lucky, facing the best run stopping defense in the league. The Jets allow less than 10 points per game to opposing RBs and have only let them score two touchdowns.
Wide Receiver
Start
Stefon Diggs: I am going to keep beating this drum until owners start using Diggs with confidence. Diggs has been heavily targeted, having Teddy Bridgewater look his way nine or more times in three straight. In that span he has at least six catches in each game, and has broke 100 yards twice. He also found the end zone last week. He takes on a Bears defense that has been torched by wide receivers all year, including 11 touchdowns.
Golden Tate: Nothing in Tate’s recent performances indicate that he is worth starting, however, I am buying into the Lions cutting the offense loose. No team allows more Fantasy points to opposing WRs than the Chiefs. Tate has a great chance to break out in a big way this week.
Sit
James Jones: I have recommended sitting Jones once before and it came back to haunt me. However, this week he has an extremely tough matchup against a Broncos defense that has allowed the second-fewest Fantasy points per game to opposing WRs. The Broncos have allowed just one touchdown to WRs and Jones has relied on the touchdown to provide value, as he has scored in all but one game this year, while only topping 80 yards twice.
Dez Bryant: Reports indicate that Bryant will play this week, but owners should wait before plugging him in their lineups. There are reports that state that Bryant may not be 100 percent just yet, plus he takes on a Seahawks defense that has allowed the fewest Fantasy points to WRs.
Tight End
Start
Ladarius Green: Green has proved to be a great red zone target when Antonio Gates is out. It appears that Gates will once again sit out this week and perhaps weeks to come, which bodes well for Green, who has scored in four of his six games this week.
Sit
Gary Barnidge: Barnidge has been amazing as of late, but this could be a slow week for the stud tight end. The Cardinals are allowing under four Fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends. They have not allowed an opposing tight end to find the end zone yet. Barnidge easily could be held in check this week.
Kyle Rudolph: Rudolph has provided value as the Vikings’ best red zone target. However, he has proven to be touchdown dependent, meaning that if he doesn’t score, Fantasy owners will be left wanting more. This week he takes on a Bears defense that has limited opposing tight ends, including allowing just two scores to them.
If you have any other questions make sure to follow me on Twitter, @MichaelFFlorio.
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