(Neil Miller/Sportsday Wire)
Quarterback
Start
Matt Stafford: You can bet that a QB is a strong start any time they take on the Saints. They have allowed 21.2 Fantasy points per game to opposing QBs in the past month. Stafford will have plenty of opportunities to throw, as he has over 30 passing attempts all but one time this season.
Matt Ryan: Another Matt that owners have been hesitant to trust, and rightfully so. Ryan has struggled as of late, but the Falcons could cut him loose against a Jaguars defense that struggles to stop the pass. Do not be surprised if Ryan has his best game of the year this week.
Sit
Eli Manning: Manning is coming off of a stellar performance against the Dolphins. However, he now has to take on a tough Panthers defense. The Panthers have limited opposing QBs to just 10.3 Fantasy points per game over the past month.
Derek Carr: Carr has slowed down a bit as of late, topping 300 yards just once in the past four weeks. In two of those weeks he failed to top 200 yards. This week he takes on a Packers defense that has allowed just 13.3 Fantasy points per game to opposing QBs in the last month.
Running Back
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Jeremy Hill: Hill has been very inconsistent this season, but owners need to trust him this week. With Andy Dalton out, the Bengals are likely to rely on the run game, which means a ton of carries for Hill. Gio Bernard will do some damage, but I expect 20+ carries for Hill this week. Hill has seen 20-or-more carries once this year, and he rushed for 98 yards and a touchdown. Last year, in five games with 20-or-more carries he topped 100 yards in each and posted 147 yards or more in four of them.
Denard Robinson: Robinson looked very effective after T.J. Yeldon went down last week. He should get the bulk of carries this week and is always a safe bet to break a long run or two. The Falcons are allowing 27.1 Fantasy points per game to opposing RBs in the past month.
Sit
Darren McFadden: DMC has been effective despite the Cowboys’ shaky play on offense. However, he takes on the Jets, who have allowed just 823 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown to opposing running backs this year.
Frank Gore: Gore appears to be running out of gas, as he has not averaged four yards-per-carry in any game since October. This week he gets a physical Texans D-line.
Wide Receiver
Start
Broncos WRs: It could be hard to expect big days from either Demaryius Thomas or Emmanuel Sanders at this point, but if there ever is a week it is this one. Over the past month the Steelers have allowed 31.67 Fantasy points per game to opposing WRs.
Tyler Lockett: It’s time to ride the Lockett Rocket again! Lockett has come on strong, making the most of his targets. He has been targeted seven times in each of the past two weeks, posting a game with seven receptions for 90 yards and six receptions for 104 yards and two touchdowns. Expect more of the same against a weak Browns defense.
Sit
Martavis Bryant: Something has to give this week as the stout Broncos secondary takes on the Steelers elite offense. However, while I do expect Antonio Brown to have a good game, Bryant could be the one to struggle this week. The Broncos have allowed just four passes of 40 or more yards to receivers, the fewest in the league.
Amari Cooper: Cooper got shut out last week. In fact, he has just one game of over 100-yards in his last seven, with just one score in that stretch. He is expected to be limited due to a foot injury and takes on a Packers defense that has allowed the third fewest Fantasy points to opposing wide receivers in the past month.
Tight End
Start
Julius Thomas: Thomas has scored in four straight games, re-establishing himself as one of the best red zone threats in the game. The Falcons have allowed eight touchdowns to opposing tight ends.
Eric Ebron: Ebron has a great matchup against a Saints defense that is allowing 11 Fantasy points to opposing TEs in the past month. With Brandon Pettigrew now on Injured Reserve, he could be in for a larger workload.
Sit
Antonio Gates: Gates continues to beat Father Time and post strong numbers. However, teams will continue to double-team him, especially in the red zone. So much of his value is tied to being a great red zone option.
Jason Witten: Witten has not topped 50 yards since October and has not found the end zone since Week 1. There is little reason to trust him anymore the rest of the season, let alone against a Jets defense that has stifled TEs all year long.
If you have any other questions make sure to follow me on Twitter, @MichaelFFlorio.
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