BYE WEEK – Jacksonville, Kansas City, New Orleans, Seattle will have the week off, so there will be several talented players missing.
THIS WEEK – Here are some brief fantasy facts and tips on each game.
PATRIOTS (3-1) AT BROWNS (0-4) – Browns are a bottom 10 defensive team, so New England will score some points. They have averaged 248 yards passing and have rushed for at least 120 yards per game, but they are facing New England. Look for the Pats to try and blow out everyone out now that Tom Brady is back. They might try to ease him back in, but I doubt it. FANTASY PLAYERS I’LL WATCH: Terrelle Pryor, Brady and WR Chris Hogan, who could be a sleeper this year.
EAGLES (3-0) AT LIONS (1-3) – Is Philly rusty after the bye week and will the Lions be fired up to play well at home. Lions have bottom 12 defense vs run and pass (12 TDs). FANTASY PLAYERS I’LL WATCH: TE Zach Ertz, sleeper RB Wendell Smallwood, Matthew Stafford and Eric Ebron (if he is healthy).
BEARS (1-3) AT COLTS (1-3): Indy has allowed 30-or-more points three times. Colts are averaging 371 yards and 27 points but Bears have seen Andrew Luck sacked 15 times in 4 games. FANTASY PLAYERS I’LL WATCH: RB Jordan Howard, WR Eddie Royal, Luck, WR T.Y. Hilton and PK Adam Vinatieri, still going strong.
TITANS (1-3) AT MIAMI (1-3): Miami’s defense has held up pretty well and Tennessee’s offense hasn’t scored more than 2 TDs in a game. WR Taje Sharpe hasn’t come through yet and TE Delanie Walker is the Titans most reliable receiver. Miami plays the next 4 games at home and could turn it around. FANTASY PLAYERS I’LL WATCH: RB DeMarco Murray and WRs Jarvis Landry and Kenny Stills.
REDSKINS (2-2) AT RAVENS (3-1): Only Cleveland passed for over 200 yards against Baltimore, but opponents do have 8 passing TDs. All four Ravens games by been decided by 6 points or less. He might not play much, but watch RB Kenneth Dixon, coming off a knee injury. He was Ravens’ best RB in August, but hurt his knee. FANTASY PLAYERS I’LL WATCH: QB Kirk Cousins, WR DeSean Jackson and TE Jordan Reed. RBs Dixon, Terrance West and WR Steve Smith, Sr.
TEXANS (3-1) AT MINNESOTA (4-0): All three Houston wins came at home. Vikings have played 8 straight games allowing 17 points or less. Brock Osweiler has led the offense to 5 TDs in 4 games. Minnesota has not allowed more than 4 kicking points in any game. Stefon Diggs has crashed and burned the last two weeks. FANTASY PLAYERS I’LL WATCH: RB Lamar Miller, WR DeAndre Hopkins and TE Kyle Rudolph.
JETS (1-3) AT STEELERS (3-1): Ryan Fitzgerald is averaging 253 passing yards, but has 5 TDs in 4 games. Jets defense has 11 sacks in 4 games. They have allowed 300 yards passing in 3 of 4 games. Ben Roethlisberger has tossed 46 TDs in last 16 home games. FANTASY PLAYERS I’LL WATCH: WRs Quincy Enunwa, Antonio Brown and RB Le’Veon Bell.
ATLANTA (3-1) AT DENVER (4-0): The Falcons face a good defense (16 ppg, 17 sacks, 5 interceptions, 3 recovered fumbles), so let’s see what happens as Atlanta leads the NFL in yards and points. Broncos have held QBs with 210 or less yardage four times in a row. Matt Ryan won’t reach his average here (368 yards). Trevor Siemian (left shoulder) day-to-day. FANTASY PLAYERS I’LL WATCH: TE Virgil Green (if he’s healthy), WRs Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders if QB healthy Julio Jones and RB Devonta Freeman.
BENGALS (2-2) AT COWBOYS (3-1): Dallas is 11th vs the run and Bengals defense is more than respectable. but they have allowed 10 TD passes. Andy Dalton is averaging 309 yards (third-best in league), but the Bengals will focus on the run. Still A.J. Green could pose a match-up problem. Ezekiel Elliott won’t rush for 100 yards, but Zak Prescott is the key here. Cole Beasley and Jason Witten get catches and yards, but no TDs, while Terrence Williams has two TDs the last two weeks. PK Dan Bailey has a bad back and Cowboys brought in kickers this week. FANTASY PLAYERS I’LL WATCH: RB Jeremy Hill and WR A.J. Green, WRs Brice Butler if Dez Bryant doesn’t play and Beasley, one of my favorites.
BILLS (2-2) AT RAMS (3-1): Anthony Lynn being moved to OC has helped this offense, but RB LeSean McCoy is the only fantasy guy worth anything. Bills allowed 13 (Baltimore), 18, (Arizona) and 0 (New England) points in 3 of their games. Rams defense seemed to stop good QBs and then blow it against average ones. In three of four games, the offense has managed 0 (SF), 9 (Seattle) and 17 (Arizona) points. Todd Gurley has a 2.6 average. FANTASY PLAYERS I’LL WATCH: RB McCoy and WR Brian Quick (2 TDs in last 3 games). Not much here.
CHARGERS (1-3) AT RAIDERS (3-1): Despite the records, this should be a fun fantasy game. RB Melvin Gordon leads all RBs with 6 TDs, but averages only 58 yards (3.2 YPC). anyway). QB Phil Rivers is amazing (278 YPG and 2 TDs). The Raiders rank 31st in run defense (134 yards, 5.1) and last in pass defense (333 yards), but they are third in yards and eighth in points offensively. San Diego is 20th or lower in yards (372) and points allowed (27). QB Derek Carr is becoming a stud. Tim Crabtree is better than Amari Cooper in my eyes. FANTASY PLAYERS I’LL WATCH: All 4 San Diego receivers (Travis Benjamin, Tyrell Williams, Dontrelle Inman and Hunter Henry) and Crabtree and Cooper.
BUCCANEERS (1-3) AT PANTHERS (1-3): Jameis Winston (277 yards, 9 TDs) is the best QB in this game if Cam Newton (concussion) is out. Bucs’ TE Cameron Brate has stood out the last 2 games (5 rec, 113 total yards, 2 TDs). Tampa Bay has 9 sacks. I don’t like any of the Carolina backs since Newton is their main running threat (hence the concussion). Derek Anderson should throw at least 2 TDs in this game. TE Greg Olson is their best receiver. FANTASY PLAYERS I’LL WATCH: QB Winslow and WR Mike Evans. Carolina WR’s Kelvin Benjamin, Ted Ginn, Jr., Devin Funchess and Philly Brown. I also like the Carolina defense on MNF.
GIANTS AT PACKERS: Giants averaging 2 TDs per game, but they are overdue and I see 3 scores. Packers haven’t allowed 50 yards rushing against anyone. Eli Manning will throw at least 2-3 TDs unless the Green Bay defensive line pressures him. I look for Odell Beckham, Jr. to break out – who is going to guard him. If Pack O-line protects Aaron Rodgers he could have a big game. FANTASY PLAYERS I’LL WATCH: OBJ, Sterling Shepard and Victor Cruz and RB Paul Perkins for the Giants. Green Bay I want to watch Rich Rodgers being the top TE now and Eddie Lacy could get his first TD. Also curious to see if the other WRs get a shot to play and do something. The 2-3 WRs are way over-rated, but coach Mike doesn’t know that.
