Every Saturday morning, I'll take a quick look at all the week's games, offering my own take on what I think will happen, as well as touching on significant injury news since our Weekly came out. I'll check in every so often over the course of the day to answer questions, too.
Week 4 seems like a critical one for a lot of fantasy teams. I've got a hard-luck 0-3 team (Andrew Lucked one week, Darren Sproled another) that I'm certain is pretty good, and it's an eight-team playoffs, but I need a win -- there's probably no coming back from 0-4. And if you're 1-2 in a four-team playoff league, there's a big difference between 2-2 and 1-3.
Add in the fact that you've got 6 teams on byes, and it's a complicated week. Most of us have no doubt had to pick up a kicker, defense, or tight end at a minimum just to field a complete lineup. So let's take a quick look at all the games, shall we?
Panthers at Ravens: I do believe in payback games, so I'm starting Steve Smith everywhere I've got him. And Kelvin Benjamin, since I think he's pretty good. I am not going near the Ravens backfield, as I do think all three guys will play. Four if you count Kyle Jusczyzk. Actually, I am probably starting Taliaferro in a league where I've got Ingram hurt and it's him or Jerick McKinnon, Denard Robinson, or Chris Johnson. I really like DeAngelo Williams here, while conceding he's burned me before. But beggars can't always be choosers.
Packers at Bears: Nothing out of the ordinary here. It's a 1 p.m. game so we know if Marshall will be active. I'm assuming he'll be out there and would take my chances, even after his poor game at the Jets. I'm starting Lacy, too. No Jarett Boykin most likely, big deal.
Bills at Texans: In another league, where Ingram is hurt and Ellington is on a bye, I've currently got Bobby Rainey in the lineup. But if Arian Foster is inactive, I will hurriedly get Alfred Blue into that spot in stead. If Foster is active, I will suffer with Rainey. Rough week. You can chance a Bills running back in a seemingly favorable matchup, but the usage is risky. I personally never want to use Spiller unless Jackson is injured.
Titans at Colts: No Jake Locker in this game, and as Ian Allan outlined in the Friday update, backup Charlie Whitehurst cannot play. (Would like to point out that the Seattle braintrust so rightly applauded for all of its excellent moves did trade a second-round pick for Whitehurst back in the day, and signed Matt Flynn to start before drafting Russell Wilson, so everyone makes mistakes.) So I'd be staying far away from the Titans offense and am wishing I'd picked the Colts in my suicide pool (I went with the Chargers instead). I like the Colts offense, but it's hard to know where the points outside of Luck will come from (and inside of Luck, you don't want those points, ba dum bump!).
Lions at Jets: Calvin Johnson has an ankle injury, so you need to make sure he's active. I assume he's fine, and don't have him anywhere anyway, but have a backup plan in place. I am avoiding Chris Johnson, as noted above, though I MAY switch off Taliaferro's crowded committee to Johnson. I like Ivory more right now, as does everyone else. Eric Decker is iffy, but a healthy Eric Decker is off minimal value anyway. Lions D looks good.
Dolphins vs. Raiders in Merry Olde England: Lamar Miller and Mike Wallace are about it for appealing options in this game. MJD should return, so no thanks to the committee. Oh, Dolphins defense is on a couple of my Bronco- and Seattle-less teams this week. I like that pass rush. Imagine if Dion Jordan could ever get on the field. Nice pick, Ireland.
Bucs at Steelers: Like most, I expect Doug Martin to get most of the work here, and would use him. Like some, I suppose, I may have to use Bobby Rainey, and just hope his two fumbles didn't bury him in the dog house, though they probably did. Nothing scary about either defense, so both sets of wide receivers look good, and I'm using Heath Miller somewhere, too. Some people took Pittsburgh as their suicide pick, but I give the Bucs a chance at this one (and used Pittsburgh in Week 1 anyway).
Jaguars at Chargers: Blake Bortles gets his first start and has a puncher's chance of getting some points and maybe an upset. Chargers defense has played well but isn't outstanding. Chargers should run and pass with success against this lousy defense. Donald Brown, Philip Rivers, Antonio Gates, maybe (finally) Keenan Allen. No Ladarius Green, it sounds like.
Falcons at Vikings: Vikings defense has exceeded expectations. I'd be using Ryan, Jones and White, but that's probably it. For Minnesota, you can use Asiata, but they haven't given McKinnon enough of a shot to really try him. Cordarrelle Patterson looks tempting. I turned down a Patterson for Benjamin offer this week, which I certainly wouldn't have contemplated doing a month ago. Teddy Bridgewater era begins. I have Adrian Peterson on a roster and haven't dropped him yet, but I concede it's looking bad for him. You have to consider the possibility of a plea deal and 6-game suspension which includes the games he's already missed. Right?
Eagles at 49ers: I am buying into the Chip Kelly offense and putting faith in their passing game here. I am also of the belief that every Eagles game will be high-scoring for both teams, so I'd be using 49ers receivers, too. Vernon Davis remains iffy but it sounds favorable. Jordan Matthews a nice sleeper type, but he scored 2 TDs last week so normally those guys take a step back a week later. Frank Gore should be busy this time, though I still like the passers more than runners.
Saints at Cowboys: Both teams better on offense than defense, so start the big guns -- Brees, Romo, Graham, Witten, Bryant. Colston and Williams have merit. Murray obvious, and Khiry Robinson still looks like a better bet than Pierre Thomas. There are surprises all the time but there should be a lot of scoring here.
Patriots at Kansas City: Jamaal Charles should play, but I'd feel a lot more comfortable about using him if I had another running back in this game, specifically Knile Davis, to plug in. Shane Vereen, Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski are the safer choices for me. I'm benching Tom Brady for Philip Rivers without regret this week.
Enjoy the games.
--Andy Richardson
