Quarterbacks
A few good matchups at QB - Tua’s got Washington this week, and QBs have just eaten against this team - Dak last week with 4 passing TDs, Tommy Devito threw 3 TDs the week before… even Geno Smith got in on the action with a huge game the week prior. Tyrod Taylor and Desmond Ridder also had big days, I mean look at these names - Tua should have a big week.
I have CJ Stroud ahead of Justin Herbert and Patrick Mahomes in my rankings this week as the QB4… he has a better matchup than both of them. Justin Herbert should get it done but his matchup isn’t as good going into New England - it’s tough putting Stroud over him, but I think I will this week.
I got a lot of shit for putting Herbert so low in my rankings last week at QB12, and he finished as the QB13… this week he’s my QB5. Stroud’s been getting it done since his bye, and that’s made it really hard to keep him out of lineups.
After Stroud, I think I might have to start Purdy over Mahomes this week. Purdy’s going up against Philly, who are giving up the 2nd most fantasy points to the QB position on the season…. I think I have to do it, Purdy at 6, Mahomes at 7.
Trevor Lawrence has had two straight solid fantasy performances, and now he gets the Bengals at home this week on Monday night. I think this is a Travis Etienne game, but I also think Lawrence is back in the Top-10 for me with his last two performances. The fact that he has high enough of a floor, and the matchup also isn’t too bad this week makes him a relatively comfortable start.
There aren’t a ton of streaming options I like this week - I like Russell Wilson this week in Houston, he’s been quietly getting it done, I like Gardner Minshew in Tennessee, and Derek Carr at home in a great matchup against Detroit, but he’s missing a lot of weapons so I’m a little weary of putting him in my lineup if I have other options. When I look at guys like Jordan Love, Baker Mayfield, Matthew Stafford, Geno Smith… they all have tough matchups this week, so there’s a chance that Derek Carr ends up ahead of them by default anyway.
Running Backs
The Saints could be without Chris Olave, they’re already out Michael Thomas, Rashid Shaheed is likely out… it might be all Alvin Kamara this week for the Saints. Tough matchup against the Lions, they’re allowing the fewest receptions per game to RBs… but hey, I think Kamara racks up those receptions regardless. This is where the opportunity most likely will trump the bad matchup.
Rachaad White is set up nicely this week… didn’t see the targets this past week that he’s used to getting but I’m expecting that bounce back. The other thing is that he has a chance of being efficient in the run game for a second straight week given the Panthers are bottom 5 in yards per carry given up to RBs this year… they’ve been good at limiting opposing RBs in the receiving game, limiting them to the 2nd fewest yards per reception, but White has been good enough this year to be able to put it all together in a good matchup this week.
I have Joe Mixon ranked really low this week; I don’t want to play him. He’s on a bad offense, he averaged 2 yards per carry last week, Jacksonville’s allowing the 5th fewest yards per carry to RBs, and he had one 39 yard catch that put him to 44 yards receiving on 2 targets for the day. Unless the Bengals can move the ball through the air and then Mixon can get some work near the goal line, I don’t see how his fantasy day becomes a good one. I think the chances of that happening are pretty low, so he’ll be on my bench this week.