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.
Tough week for byes, with Green Bay, Denver, Cincinnati and Chicago out. On the bright side, we're all spared the frustration of starting the wrong Green Bay or Cincinnati running back, or wasting lineup spots on disappointing Broncos. As always, we've got some injured players to fret over, and there's another of those 9:30 a.m. games to distract us from the repetitive pregame shows with actual football. Kind of actual football.
A note on answers. I know there are some subscribers asking questions and some nonsubscribers. My goal is to help subscribers with close lineup questions involving injuries are stuff in the rankings. If the gap in the rankings is large, I will either say "use the rankings" or ignore the question, because the answers are right there. Good? OK, on to the games.
Bills versus Jaguars in Merry Olde England: LeSean McCoy is good to go and he's arguably the only Bill you actually want to use given all the injuries. Maybe Charles Clay. Sammy Watkins, Percy Harvin, Tyrod Taylor, all out. For the Jaguars, T.J. Yeldon is questionable. Can't safely be used (and against Buffalo's run defense, why would you want to?), but Allen Hurns and Allen Robinson look fine. Game starts early, set your lineups involving these players Saturday night.
Vikings at Lions: There's the Stefon Diggs-Charles Johnson issue, but really, you don't want to invest in Minnesota's passing game if you can help it. They don't, so why should you? Same problem with the Lions running game. You can use Theo Riddick in PPR, I guess, but can't use Joique Bell (if active) or Ameer Abdullah anywhere. Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate look fine, or fine as they've been this year, which isn't great in Tate's case. But that's how Detroit will move the ball.
Saints at Colts: Should be plenty of yards and points in this one, and accordingly I've got Daily lineups littered with the likes of Moncrief, Snead and Gore. Saints can't play defense much at all, Colts marginally better. If you have to use Brandin Cooks, you're just hoping, but I've pretty much given up on the Saints trying to feature him. I like Snead more at this point.
Steelers at Kansas City: I see sneaky value in both defenses, which is why I'm using them everywhere with Green Bay on bye and the Jets facing Tom Brady. I'm wary of Steelers receivers with Landry Jones at quarterback. I know if you have Martavis Bryant you've got to use him coming off last week's huge game, but he's not going to take a short throw for an 88-yard touchdown every week. Or maybe he will. Anyway, a boom or bust option. Sounds like Jeremy Maclin, surprisingly, is good to go. I would give Charcandrick West another shot.
Texans at Dolphins: Miami seems to have sorted itself out a little bit. I like their starters in this game. For Houston, Foster and Hopkins are must-starts as long as they're healthy. Beyond that, I'm not desperate enough to try Nate Washington, even as the No. 2 and with a whole bunch of wideouts ailing around the league. Lamar Miller looks fine.
Jets at Patriots: Don't sit down Tom Brady or Julian Edelman, but to me they and Gronkowski are the only Patriots you absolutely have to use against the Jets defense. I don't know if Brandon LaFell will be out there or not, and there's a questionable tag on Dion Lewis, but I wouldn't want to risk them regardless. For the Jets, Brandon Marshall and Chris Ivory look fine, Eric Decker not quite as much but sure. I'm benching the Jets D.
Browns at Rams: Todd Gurley should be huge and I'm using him anywhere I can. Gary Barnidge also has to be in lineups. Otherwise I don't think there's anyone I really want to use here. Except the Rams Defense, obvs.
Falcons at Titans: Zach Mettenberger is in for the Titans, which is no reason to downgrade any of their receivers. If you're thinking of using any Titans running back, ever, I probably can't help you. I like Wright and Walker. For Atlanta, start the key starters. I'm a little wary of Leonard Hankerson right now, but otherwise all Atlanta looks good.
Buccaneers at Washington: Washington's run defense looked good early in the year, but not as much lately, so I'll sign off on Doug Martin. Washington's secondary definitely has issues, so Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans look OK, limited only by their rookie QB. For Washington, you've got Garcon and Crowder in PPR, Jordan Reed returns and looks like a nice option. The running game is trickier with Matt Jones back, but the matchup is soft for the running game. If you don't use Alfred Morris against the Bucs defense, you're probably not going to find a better spot to use him.
Raiders at Chargers: Sounds like Keenan Allen is fine, but check those inactives just to be sure. A bigger issue is Antonio Gates, since he has a sprained MCL and those guys haven't been playing around the league. If he's out, Ladarius Green looks great. Just, make sure you have a late-start backup option here. Raiders offense looks fine.
Cowboys at Giants: I've decided to bench Christine Michael in the leagues I have him in. He might very well start and get most of the carries, but then again he might not, and the Giants defense has been very sound against the run. I do like Terrance Williams more this week with Matt Cassel in the lineup; he can't do less than he did with Brandon Weeden in there. Probably. Jason Witten looks good. For the Giants, I'm using Beckham Jr. Eli Manning looks fine. Rueben Randle, I've decided, is just a lousy wide receiver. Occasionally he'll turn in a big game, but it won't be on any of my teams.
Eagles at Panthers: Should be an entertaining primetime game. Greg Olsen and Cam Newton look good for the Panthers. I will pass on Jonathan Stewart, even though the Eagles have some linebacker injuries. Just can't trust him, and Newton still more likely to score any short touchdowns. Eagles offense, well, you're just hoping your running back gets the most snaps if you start him. I'm using Darren Sproles in a PPR league, despite getting burned by him a week ago. It's him or Abdullah, and Sproles at least occasionally shows up in primetime. You know, except for last week.
Ravens at Cardinals: Tough one here. Love Steve Smith Sr., and Justin Forsett should also be pretty good. Arizona has the John Brown situation; I'd love to use him against a soft Ravens pass defense, but he's iffy. Didn't practice on Friday. Says he'll be a full go, but players often say that. See if he practices today, and act accordingly. If you can manage to have another player in the same game to plug in if he isn't available, that would be best. A Kamar Aiken or somebody. Love Palmer.
Enjoy the games.
--Andy Richardson
