Every Saturday morning, Andy Richardson offers brief overviews of the upcoming Sunday games, including significant developments involving injuries. He'll also offer opinions on lineup questions over the course of the day.
Critical week -- I know, aren't they all -- for many fantasy coaches. Maybe you're sitting at 2-3, and a win or loss this week makes the difference between being in thick of the playoff chase or facing an uphill battle the rest of the way. I've got a couple of those teams, and like many, I've got looming bye issues, so I need to get a win now.
My plan is generally to make a choice I think I can live with, today, and stick to it (barring injury developments). Very seldom do I make a lineup switch on Sunday morning that I'm glad I made later. I make my choice, move on, and then hope things go my way. Usually works out better than still agonizing over it at noon on Sunday.
Packers at Ravens:Tough matchup for the Packers, but I have enough faith in their offense that I'd use them all anyway. Including Eddie Lacy. For the Ravens I think it's Torrey Smith and Ray Rice, and no one else. I'd consider Joe Flacco, but most should have a better option.
Bengals at Bills: Tricky game, with a pair of running back committees to work through. Every time I personally have started Giovani Bernard he's had a quiet week. Will probably go with him anyway and hope. I have no great insight on the Bills runners. Spiller is banged-up but will play, but it seems like Fred Jackson is the best choice. I am avoiding the Bills passing game.
Lions at Browns: I am using both of these defenses in various leagues, the Lions because Brandon Weeden takes 5 sacks per game, the Browns because they are home, have a good defense, and have a great punt returner. Calvin Johnson. Probably playing, but there's definite risk. If I had him anywhere, I'd probably leave him on the bench unless my other options were really ugly. Hurt, tough matchup. Ditto for Stafford. If you start Willis McGahee, you're hoping he gets a few chances from the 1-yard line. Or that he got inspired by Brandon Jacobs the other night and drinks from the same fountain I guess.
Rams at Texans: If you've got Zac Stacy, use him. You picked him up, won the sweepstakes, what the hey. Tough matchup, but so are a lot of running back matchups, right? I am through with Rams receivers. Sounds like Andre Johnson will play, though he's a "gametime decision" so make sure he's active. Love Foster this week. Have given up on Jared Cook, which means he'll have a big game.
Raiders at Kansas City: Not a week to use any Raiders. Jamaal Charles should be good. Are there other players in this game? Sean McGrath if your other TE is, I dunno, injured or on a bye.
Panthers at Vikings: Adrian Peterson's 2-year-old son died yesterday. It's a terrible thing and I am not going to waste time on the obviously insignificant fantasy ramifications. I just can't imagine. If he is active, and he probably will be, I am starting him. I like Steve Smith and Cam here.
Steelers at Jets: What's the over-under on this thing, anyway? Low, and that also applies to the number of players I'd use in it. Ian's ranking of LeVeon Bell looked higher than I expected. Jets have a very good run defense, great even. But Bell should play full-time and will catch some passes. He's the guy I'm debating Giovani against. My current thought is to save Bell for a better matchup. I'm using Antonio Brown, and both defenses could be good. Oh, I won't be talking about my suicide pool anymore, since I made the mistake of assuming the Falcons wouldn't let the Jets come into Atlanta and send them to 1-4. I knew the Falcons were bad and the Jets could play some defense. Dumb. No Santonio Holmes or Kellen Winslow, for that small percentage of folks who care.
Eagles at Bucs: No Michael Vick, probably. Only Eagles I'd use are McCoy and I suppose DeSean Jackson, though I'd rather not on DJax. For the Bucs you've got a nice matchup for Doug Martin, and need to worry about the receivers since who knows if Mike Glennon can actually play or not. Soft opposing defense, but expectations need to be managed.
Jaguars at Broncos: Upset special I think. Oh yeah. Nah, seriously, though, I would take the points. Broncos will post huge numbers, so go ahead, though I wouldn't get cute by sticking someone like Montee Ball or even Ronnie Hillman in a lineup unless it's a really, really deep league. That just seems destined to disappoint, to me. I like Justin Blackmon and Cecil Shorts, because Jacksonville is going to have to pass. A lot. And then the second quarter will start. Speaking of my suicide pool, I never even used the Broncos. It's like that Amazing Race team that was eliminated without using their Express Pass! I know, right?
Titans at Seahawks: Speaking of that suicide pool I wasn't going to talk about anymore, Seattle looks like a nice pick. Not keen on the Titans offense here. For Seattle, their defense and Marshawn Lynch at home should be grand.
Saints at Patriots: I was going to pick on the Patriots still not having Rob Gronkowski, but the news that it's his forearm and not his back that's worrying doctors explains things. Guess his absence is good news for the wide receivers. This game should be fairly high scoring, although I've come to respect the defense being played by the Saints. Won't be surprised if they win this thing. I am using player on both teams' passing game if I've got 'em, because the offenses are still the best parts of these teams. No Lance Moore. Expecting some running back questions. The only ones I would use are the passing down types -- Darren Sproles and Brandon Bolden. That's it.
Cardinals at 49ers: I am benching Larry Fitzgerald. Not fully healthy, tough matchup. I'm benching Kaepernick these days, too. Never would have figured that in the preseason. Basically want nothing to do with Arizona's offense, and am only interested in Gore and to a lesser extend Boldin. I'm not even using Vernon Davis these days if I can help it, and since I have Julius Thomas everywhere, I usually can.
Washington at Cowboys: Oh joy, it's another primetime Dallas-Washington game. Lots of stars here and lots of fantasy options. Sounds like Miles Austin is fine, so I wouldn't use Terrance Williams (and wouldn't be thrilled about Austin, since they should both play some). Like the obvious starters on both teams, a lot. Secondary play poor from both.
Colts at Chargers: The Monday game, and I'm weighing Luck versus Rivers in one league. Luck has the superior matchup, Rivers has been playing better. Leaning Luck at the moment. The noteworthy injury here is Ryan Mathews, who has a concussion. Injury report will be posted later this evening. I am not really keen on the running games regardless, though I do like Danny Woodhead. (More, obviously, if Mathews doesn't play.) Am starting to give up on the Richardson ghost. I have him in a league (same as the Bernard-Bell one) and am currently leaning toward benching him. A tacit admission I was wrong about him, I guess. My thought process: Richardson is the clear starter, Bell is a full-time guy with a very poor matchup, Bernard is maybe -- maybe -- the most talented guy with the best matchup. PPR league, so right now it's Bernard in my lineup. Feel free to talk me out of it.
Enjoy the games.
