One week off of Fantasy Football and I could not resist! This is the first year I have decided not to play the game in about six of them, and I won all my leagues for five straight of those seasons. In 2017, I drafted David Johnson number one overall not to have him play a game for me but my team will pulled it out throughout patchwork running backs all the way through the playoffs and ‘ship. I decided to retire after but want to provide weekly advice of my own now that I’m on the other side. I still enjoy the prediction and picking aspect to see when I’m right or wrong! I hope to get to a point where I’m more accurate than not and people come to me for advice on how to set their lineups, not that they don’t on Twitter already. There is no concrete formula I use as I rely mostly on matchups. I shift through a lot of information so you don’t have to – research I feel are credible and worthwhile.
Below, I will pick players at every position who I feel will over perform their weekly rank on ESPN and do this by sorting them into separate categories. The first two are what most are familiar with: the start and sit them options. To make things more challenging for myself, I will try not to choose anyone predicted by ESPN’s consensus “fantasy experts” to have top nine performances: thus only picking people who are placed at 10 and after. This serves a good purpose for daily fantasy players since adding my selections will be cheaper for them and regular non PPR too. I will try to boldly predict who in the top nine will not be worth their price, when everyone else says otherwise. This of course, may come back to make me look silly as these are some of the top dogs in the NFL and betting against them is always a risky proposition. Nevertheless, my third and fourth guesses will be on who you should get off waivers and sign as free agents to shock your friends, then someone who is getting too overhyped to maybe being worth it.
Without further ado, let’s begin!
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Quarterbacks
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STARTING
Phillip Rivers, LAC vs. BUF.
Ranked #10 for W2
An easy decision, although my only worry here is that the Chargers will be blowing out the Bills so much that Rivers won’t have to air it out that much by the end of the game. The damage should be done regardless against arguably the worst team in football who gave up 47 POINTS TO JOE FLACCO AND CO. Sure, I can go deeper but Buffalo is just not good, even at home against Phillip on his dreaded east coast. Chances are he’ll have very good field position whenever he gets the ball (sorry Josh Allen) and convert in the red zone in at least 3 of them with his multitude of weapons both in the backfield and receiver.
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SITTING
Ben Roethlisberger, KC vs. PIT
Ranked #4 for W2
Why are we sure Big Ben is going to shred the Chiefs if he couldn’t even do that against THE BROWNS? He passed for 300 yards only after close to five quarters and turned the ball over like hot cakes. I didn’t even mention his so called “elbow injury” that might have been a factor that he wants you think about. He’s another old QB like Rivers but closer to Father Time, in my opinion, just like El Manning. Their teams could surround them with the best collection of offensive talent and it wouldn’t matter sadly. Andy Reid does struggle against him for some reason but I believe in Kansas City not being as bad as you say they are on pass defense thought they’ve taken plenty of hits. There are much better options like..
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PICKING UP
Tyrod Taylor, CLE vs. NO
Ranked #17 in W2
I see the look on your face but just hear me out! He had a rough go throwing the ball as seen by his abysmal completion percentage and yet he found away to have a good fake game with his legs. I’m sure there were some first game jitters too for Cleveland and he has to play better with Baker Mayfield breathing down his neck. His history says he will, coupled with the fact he’s about to participate in an old fashioned shoot out at the dome where he will likely be playing from behind a lot and have to make things happen himself in the dome against a porous Saints team that gave up 50 points to freaking..
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NOT FALLING FOR
Ryan Fitzpatrick, PHI vs. TB
Ranked #19 in W2
What can you say about someone like this? I guess at least he makes the most of his opportunities but the thing is he never plays well when you have any sort of real expectations for him as a full time starter. I say this from experience as a Jets fan who watched him wreck us for way too long but it’s OK since we got Darnold now. It would be something to see him steal Jameis Winston’s job if he keeps it up and if the Giants traded for the former number one overall pick after. But the only certainty I have is he’s going to be running for his life against the world champion Eagles and their pass rush who’ve had lots of rest.
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Running backs
STARTING
Jordan Howard, CHI vs. SEA
Ranked #11 in W2
The Bears and Seahawks are teams headed in totally opposite directions. Chicago has a future brighter than ever with a coach Matt Nagy who put on a display the first half of the Rodgers legend performance. His usage of Howard was outstanding, giving him 20 carries and mixing him with Tarik Cohen until he seemed to forget about him down the stretch with Mitch Trubisky which is why he lost. I’m sure this won’t happen again for someone who helped Kareem Hunt become a monster and lead everybody. Seattle gave up almost 200 yards to the Broncos two young backs so this is not the old them at all.
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Jay Ajayi, PHI vs. TB
Ranked #17 in W2
Jay hurt his foot and ended up having a great game anyway, scoring two times and almost matching in touchdowns one day what he did with the Dolphins. He has the chance to play a full game against the team that got ripped to pieces by Alvin Kamara, who does that routinely in his sleep. His having half tat success is a heck of value for where you can get him, especially compared to someone more pricier like Ezekiel Elliott who is comparable rushing on similar touches and is missing some of his blockers. Maybe that’s just me on Zeke but I don’t have a good feeling for as high as he’s going with a bad Dak Prescott.
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PICKING UP
Tevin Coleman, CAR vs. ATL
Ranked #12 in W2
Always believe in the super sub whenever Devonte Freeman is out for the Falcons. I can’t wait for the day Tevin gets his own team and gets to show what he’s made of. He’s a great pass catcher already and will get more chances to show his versatility running the ball too instead of just being a flex like usual. Originally, I had the much more attainable TJ Yeldon here behind his improved o-line thinking he might get the start but with Leonard Fournette looking like a go, it’s not meant to be. The Patriots are definitely going to be ready after getting humiliated by the tandem of Lamar Miller and Alfred Blue.
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FALLING FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER WEEK
Adrian Peterson, WAS
Ranked #14
Speaking of fun, how nice was it to see All Day turn back the clock against the Cardinals in a kind of a revenge game for him? There is a good chance he will make it two great games in a row against the lowly Colts who casually gave up 150 yards to young Joe Mixon. He might not have that same burst but he has some fantastic teammates to help him in ways he did not have in his previous stops. I am not saying he will last for weeks to come but it is going to be exciting to track his and Washington’s progress (change the damn name) when just a few weeks ago they thought their season was over after the Guice injury even with a new Alex Smith.
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Wide receivers
STARTING
WR1 Stefon Diggs, MIN vs. GB
Ranked #12 in W2
Speaking of Minnesota icons, Diggs just kills the Packers and demonstrated decent chemistry with Kirk Cousins a former face of Washington. See how this all connects together? Thielen is the go to receiver for yardage but does not catch the home run throws that Minnesota will need to survive this important game against the Packers.
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WR2 Larry Fitzgerald, ARI vs. LAR
Ranked #11 in W2
All over the place this week, I can see why some are scared but this is a test Larry can win and has won before against 5’8 slot corner Robey-Coleman. Everything considered, it is a plus, he won’t have to go up against the Rams revamped corners who are a nightmare for opposing wideouts unless he kills it which I’d be fine with it.
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WR3 Devin Funchess, CAR vs, ATL
Ranked #24 in W2
Why are websites hating on Funch? He filled in admirably for Greg Olsen late before, the last time Olsen broke his foot and became Cam’s favorite target and weapon. What’s to say this won’t happen again this time? All he needs is one good throw high and up for him to catch with his frame and he would pay off big time tomorrow.
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SITTING
DeAndre Hopkins
You are not going to do it and it pains me to even imply he is not finishing top five this week but the Titans secondary is not terrible. He will have his hands full if he has to go solo again without Will Fuller. Also, we have to think about how much time Deshaun Watson will take to round fully back into form which could take another month.
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NOT FALLING FOR YET
Randall Cobb, MIN vs. GB
Ranked #27 in W2
Sorry but it had to be done. I know lots are going to put him in because of guilt of benching him last time when he absolutely went off in what looked like garbage time. The Vikings spook him historically for whatever reason and their defense is outstanding, not giving up fluke 76 yard catches very often. I would love for him to be back!
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PICKING UP
Tyler Lockett, SEA vs. CHI
Ranked #33
Now this is a long shot but I am hoping the speedster will haul in many of them going forward since someone has to for Russell Wilson while Doug Baldwin is out and it sure ain’t going to be old Brandon Marshall. He is going to be hard to trust and bet early on but there are far worse options out there with much lower ceilings than him.
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Tight ends
STARTING
Jared Cook, OAK vs. DEN
Ranked #12 in W2
I don’t know if you noticed but the Broncos are horrible against TEs. They gave a career night to a dude named Will Dissly who is seen as a blocking specialist. Jared has talent and maybe Gruden sees something from week one to prioritize him over former top pick Amari Cooper. He is crazy enough as we saw with the Mack trade.
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SITTING
Jared Doyle
Ranked #6 in W2
No particular reason. I know he and Luck have had connections in the past but he kind of cost them against the Bengals who were playing short with a fumble and that is never good for game planning. Also, the focus will be on TY the whole way so I am not sure he does enough with his attention to warrant him over somebody else.
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PICKING UP
Benjamin Watson
Ranked #13 in W2
Why not? Cleveland is inevitably going to leave somebody wide open and Drew Brees likes to spread the wealth around whenever he can. As a streamer, I don’t hate it because even on the low end, Watson delivers more often than not at least average showings. Jonnu Smith intrigues me long term but who knows if Mariota is playing.
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FALLING FOR UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
George Kittle, DET vs. SF
Ranked #9 in W2
IS THIS CHEATING? Hopefully you have Jimmy G’s favorite weapon at your disposable and available for taking. Kittle is going to be a hell of an investment until the 49ers decide they want to surround their franchise with even more playmakers but he will do for now with upside. My only other option was Eric Ebron who has burned me before.
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Kicker
STARTING
Brandon McManus, OAK vs. DEN
Ranked #15
I like him here in the friendly confines of Colorado where his kicks will boom louder and farther, facing the Raiders who will bend but won’t completely break like they did with the Rams against the very solid Case Keenum which is perfect for what we need in field goals.
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SITTING
Matt Prater, DET vs. SF
Ranked #10
Prater did not have a good first week, with only 5 points scored which is not what owners expected. They should be careful again and not be burned two times in a row. Some of this was not his fault as much as it was Matthew Stafford but it does not get easier for either of them to score until there is a clear pecking order for wideouts.
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PICKING UP
Josh Lambo, NE vs. JAX
Ranked #19
A extremely respectable 85% kicker, Lambo is a solid add here against a team Blake Bortles will struggle to get 6 point drives against. The bold prediction here is that Stephen Gostkowski fails to do much better when he goes head to head as the Jags are as tough as it gets even with Tom Brady at the helm. Playoff revenge for JAX?
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ONE MORE
D/ST
STARTING
New York Jets, vs. MIA
Ranked #12
I am not being a homer here but I have never been happier as a Jets fan. The positive fortunes should continue to roll now that we have the golden child Sam Darnold now. The emergence of Darron Lee and Jamal Adams picking passes off show you what more this unit is capable of, moreso against the lowly Dolphins, Stills and Ryan Tannehill show.
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How did I do? I guess we’ll find out! Thanks for checking this out. Hope you stick around
The Draftnik 