Week 4: Fantasy Studs & Duds

Studs

Cameron Newton- Newton had a forgetful week in fantasy last week, playing the Vikings at home. The Vikings defense shut him and the Panthers out of the game. Look for Newton to bounce back this week in a big way. The Panthers are taking on the Falcons in Atlanta, a Falcons team that has given up the second most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. Newton will replicate some of the numbers that Brees posted against the Falcons on Monday night football. This could get into a bit of a shoot out, and Newton could walk away with over 300 passing yards and over 50 rushing yards. Start Newton with confidence this week, and put last weeks’ lacklustre effort down to a strong defensive performance by the Vikings.

DeSean Jackson- It looks like the Redskins offence may have finally found its grove. After a frustrating start to the season Kirk Cousins looks to have finally settled in. DeSean Jackson is a major benefactor of this, catching over 90 yards and a touchdown last week. Jacksons value does rely on the deep ball, but this week he is going up against a Browns secondary that has been getting torched through the air. Look for Jackson to go over 100 yards this week with a touch down or two, his speed and chemistry with Cousins will prove to be too much for this Browns defense struggling so far this season.

Isaiah Crowell- Crowell has looked fantastic this season, rushing for over 270 yards with two touchdowns. Last week he struggled against a stout Miami front, look for him to find more room to run this week. The Redskins have not been good at stopping the run, giving up the third most fantasy points to running backs over the past three weeks. Look for the Browns to involve Crowell in many aspects of the game, if the Browns are going to get their first win of the season, it will come on the back of Crowell. His speed and burst threw the hole is very impressive, look for him to take advantage of a good matchup.

A.J. Green- I stated last week that Green would struggle against the Broncos secondary, and I was right. Green will bounce back this week, look for him to take advantage of a good matchup against the Miami Dolphins secondary that has been giving up the seventh most fantasy points to receivers so far this season. Green is the focal point of this Bengals aerial offence, and will be targeted heavily. I see him going over 100 receiving yards and a touchdown.

Melvin Gordon- Gordon is looking like the running back the Chargers believed that drafted before last years underwhelming campaign. Whilst Gordon’s rushing total did regress in a good matchup against the Colts last week, finishing the day with only 35 rushing yards and a touchdown, his fantasy upside now also lies in his ability to be used in the passing game. The Colts sought to restrict Gordon’s running lanes, yet Rivers was looking for him on numerous occasions in the passing game, just missing a wide open Gordon which may have been an easy walk in touchdown. With Danny Woodhead gone for the season, Gordon’s involvement in the passing attack is music to the ears of his fantasy owners. This week he goes up against a Saints defense that ranks dead last in the NFL, being repeatedly gouged last week against the Falcons, both Freeman and Coleman had huge days. Look for Gordon to exploit this porous Saints defense, he may end up the number one running back this week, when its all said and done.

Duds

Brandon Marshall- Marshall came into last weeks’ game under an injury cloud, he proceeded to get targeted 10 times in the Jets woeful loss to the Chiefs. Yet with 10 targets he only managed to catch 3 of these for 27 yards. The Jets aerial offence was dominated by a very aggressive Chiefs secondary. One of the biggest issues for this team is the sporadic play of Ryan Fitzpatrick, throwing six interceptions will never win you the game. Marshall is going up against at Seahawks defence at home, that hasn’t allowed a single passing touchdown all season, and keeps receivers locked down. Start Marshall at your own peril this week, as I foresee the Legion of Boom to give Fitzpatrick and that aerial attack of the Jets major problems.

Mike Evans- Evans has been dominant this season, catching over 300 yards and scoring three touchdowns. This week he has the task of facing the leagues best secondary, the Denver Broncos. Denver will limit all of the plays that Winston can make to Evans, locking him out for most of the game. The only value Evans will get, is if the Broncos are up by a lot and Evans gets garbage time statistics. This may be a possibility if Siemian throws like he did last week, but I think the Broncos will look to use CJ Anderson a lot in this game, and grind down the clock, thus limiting Evans opportunity. You will have to start Evans due to his ability and consistency, just temper expectations against a stellar Broncos secondary.

Lamar Miller- Whilst many came into this season expecting big things from Miller, we are still waiting for him to break out. I don’t think it will come this week, against a Titans defense that is the fifth best against running backs. Miller hasn’t been able to find the space in order to break off those big runs, and a lot of this comes down to the Texans offensive line issues. Temper expectations with Miller, last week the Texans ran themselves out of the game, this week his carries may be reduced in order for the aerial attack to have more of an opportunity to flourish.

Giants Receivers- Whilst I wanted to just put Odell Beckham here, I think he may find a way to score fantasy points this week, but don’t expect big numbers. The Vikings defense at home will make life very difficult for these receivers and Eli Manning in particular. The Vikings recorded 8 sacks and 3 intercepts against a strong Carolina Panthers team last week, look for them to keep rolling this week. If you have Sterling Shepard, Victor Cruz or ODB, don’t expect monster games from any of them. ODB is the only exception, being an elite talent he may prove a handful for the Vikings secondary. Yet ODB did show his maturity, or immaturity last week, and if the Vikings can get into his head, he may end up like Kelvin Benjamin and not record a single catch.

Be Careful- Russell Wilson- After suffering a sprained MCL in his left knee during his game against the Forty- Niners, he is expected to train and play this week. If you own Wilson, I suggest you look for another option at quarterback this week. Even if Wilson does play, he is going up against a stacked Jets front seven, that love to hunt the quarterback. Wilson’s fantasy upside comes from his ability to scramble and keep the play alive, so far this season he has suffered injuries to both legs, thus severely limiting his scrambling ability. I wouldn’t even trust that he will play this week, so look for other options before Monday.