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.
It's around this time each year when I offer up status reports on my own teams. If you don't care, and I can hardly blame you, feel free to scroll on down. I cut back this year, dropping out of a couple of longtime leagues I'd been in. In one, I didn't know anyone and there wasn't much money at stake, so where's the fun in that? In the other, it was just kind of boring.
So I'm down to six teams. Two are dynasty teams, one just starting up and one I've won twice in the last three years. Three others are with friends or various fantasy experts, and one is a league with some money at stake -- the only one my wife cares about, not coincidentally. Five of them are 3-3 or 4-2, and I think four of them have a shot at the title. The sixth is 1-4-1, and it's as good as or perhaps better than the others, the classic high-scoring loser that's 2nd or 3rd on points most weeks but loses -- or ties, which is a little crazy in a PPR league.
OK, enough with the overview. Bottom line, my season is going OK. I've got a couple of disappointments (Colin Kaepernick, Jared Cook), a couple of gems (Antonio Brown), and Index sleepers like Julius Thomas everywhere. He was my last-round pick in the money league, so I owe him big-time. Hope your teams are doing well too. Moving on.
Bucs at Falcons: Ian sometimes brings out phrases I've never heard, like "Don't try to catch a falling knife" in regards to Matt Ryan in last night's update. The Falcons don't have Steven Jackson, Roddy White or Julio Jones, and I wouldn't recommend investing in the healthy options. Harry Douglas should be a decent starter, a 6-catch, 80ish yards guy, and maybe he scores. But volume of looks is the only reason to start him, and I wouldn't use him over a much better player. Mike Williams is the iffy guy for Tampa but it sounds like he'll play.
Rams at Panthers: I've been burned a lot on DeAngelo Williams over the years, but it's a pretty tasty matchup with a bad run defense. Nice matchup for Steve Smith, too, although it's fair to wonder if Father Time is catching up with him. Greg Olsen, sounds like he'll play. For the Rams, I don't think it's a great situation for Zac Stacy, but he should be the guy. Rams receivers, no thanks.
Bengals at Lions: Gio Bernard is in, Trent Richardson is out, I've learned my lesson. Calvin Johnson is as healthy as he's been all year, based on the practice participation. If you opt for Kris Durham, good luck, I wouldn't.
Chargers at Jaguars: Don't use Cecil Shorts, but sounds like Justin Blackmon is fine. I'll be looking at the inactives Sunday morning. Philip Rivers should be fine (though I'm benching him for Andrew Luck in a shootout loss), Ryan Mathews and Danny Woodhead should be busy. Keenan Allen is legit, wish I had him in my dynasty league.
Bills at Dolphins: I kind of like the running games here, Spiller and FJax and Lamar Miller. Both teams have good pass rushes, will need to run the ball some and probably have some success. No great interest in the receivers for either team, but I'd use Hartline and Wallace if need be. Stevie Johnson is at least healthy, but probably won't do much.
Patriots at Jets: Ah, the butt fumble matchup. But these aren't your 2012 Patriots or Jets. No Amendola. I wouldn't use Patriots running backs, but Julian Edelman and Kenbrell Thompkins, yes. Rob Gronkowski is supposed to return. I don't have him anywhere, but if I did, I might want to see him play a game before sticking him into a lineup, unless I have no other good option (and it's Week 7, so you've been using someone else for long enough that you can probably use that player one more week, right?). For the Jets, I kind of like Jeremy Kerley as a spot starter, and Bilal Powell too.
Cowboys at Eagles: Joseph Randle is the starting running back for Dallas with a favorable matchup. I still like the passing game better. Both of them. Miles Austin, can't really be counted on, although, nice matchup. Just concerned he and Terrance Williams will kind of share that No. 2 spot. DJax should be good, Nick Foles could be OK, if you've got Drew Brees on a bye or something.
Bears at Washington: Both offenses should be fine. I like Matt Forte and Alfred Morris, but you probably don't need help to start them. Would use the main wideouts and probably Jordan Reed, too. Both quarterbacks should be productive.
49ers at Titans: Respect for both defenses, so step lightly with the offensive players. Frank Gore, if you have to, same with Chris Johnson. Things will get better for Johnson in the second half of the season, I am telling you.
Browns at Packers: I picked up Jarrett Boykin somewhere. He'll have to be involved, since it seems James Jones won't be available. I am a little wary about starting him, since he was out there a bunch last week but caught only 1 pass. I think Jordy Nelson and Jermichael Finley are the big beneficiaries, although Nelson will of course be covered by Joe Haden. Use Finley, manage expectations if you use Boykin. Eddie Lacy should be a little more busy. I hope the Browns are being honest about no plans to trade Josh Gordon, for their sake. He's part of the solution.
Texans at Kansas City: Case Keenum starts, and if you use anybody on Houston besides Arian Foster, good luck. I mean, Andre Johnson will catch some passes, but I think their whole passing game does very, very little here. Kansas City you've got Jamaal Charles and obviously the defense.
Ravens at Steelers: I imagine I'll get some LeVeon Bell questions. I'm using him in a standard league over Stevan Ridley, benching him in a PPR league for Gio Bernard. I don't like the matchup, do like the volume of touches he'll enjoy. Ray Rice should be, well, decent I guess. Not playing well, but Pittsburgh's run defense isn't as stellar as in the past.
Broncos at Colts: If you have any components of the Broncos or Colts' passing game, you were rubbing your hands with glee at Jim Irsay poking a stick at Peyton Manning this week. Because Manning is going to light it up out there, and Luck will put up plenty of yards and hopefully touchdowns in defeat. I kind of get what Irsay was saying, but those are the kind of things you keep to yourself. A lot of great teams didn't win one Super Bowl ring, Jim. Tough game to watch for Colts fans, I imagine. I bet when they watched Brett Favre facing the Packers in primetime four years ago, they never figured it would happen to them.
Vikings at Giants: Josh Freeman starts against a really bad defense. Eli Manning starts against a really bad defense. Sometimes we say shootout and are wrong, but I can't see any way this game isn't a pretty high-scoring affair. I've been burned so often by Hakeem Nicks this year I'm parking him, but the passing game looks fine. Brandon Jacobs, too.
A note on recommendations, for those who weigh in with questions. Ian doesn't tend to answer lineup questions here, because if you're a subscriber, the answers are in his rankings. Wondering whether to use Steve Smith or Alshon Jeffery? Check the rankings. I offer opinions here which sometimes run counter to the rankings, and I realize some people asking are subscribers, and some aren't. You're getting my opinions; if you subscribe and have the rankings, you also have our weekly analysis to work with.
Good luck, and enjoy the games.
