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.
Here's the drill: our official rankings and projections are in Fantasy Index Weekly. That's the content you're paying for. My goal here is to answer questions on players who are close, and on occasion I will have opinions that clash with the rankings -- sometimes I like a player a little more than Ian. Or a little less. OK, on to the games!
Jaguars versus Colts across the pond: 9:30 a.m. Eastern start time for this one, so make sure you players are in or out of the lineup before you go to bed Saturday night (for those of you who get to sleep in on Sunday). Based on what the defenses have shown you'd guess high-scoring, but the Jaguars haven't really held up their end of the offensive bargain yet -- yes, Allen Hurns is not helping thing. Julius Thomas a gametime decision; will probably play, but I've just gone ahead and benched him; picked up Zach Miller, he'll do fine (probably better this week).
Panthers at Falcons: Atlanta has started out on fire but they haven't faced a good defense, either. Here's one, but the game's in Atlanta and I don't see anyone realistically benching the guys who have been carrying them so far. Bounce-back for Julio Jones, probably. I mean, he owes us, right? No Jonathan Stewart, but the matchup will get Artis-Payne and Whittaker into a lineup or two in deeper leagues. No other noteworthy injuries.
Raiders at Ravens: Those of you holding Kenneth Dixon, he was doubtful. So he's not going to play, but is getting closer -- maybe next week. I'm a believer, personally, and am stashing him here and there. Granted, I'm also stashing Robert Kelley, and most of these stashes don't pan out. Anyway, no injuries of note. Using Pitta, and would consider the Ravens' top wideouts. Baltimore defense seems solid, but not sure you can sit down Cooper or Crabtree.
Lions at Bears: Am gung ho on both offenses. Pretty much willing to start almost everyone with a pulse on the Lions. For the Bears, I'd take a shot on Jordan Howard, and Alshon Jeffery is a given. And definitely Zach Miller against a defense that seems to have no interest in covering tight ends.
Titans at Texans: Had medium-high hopes for Marcus Mariota and Tajae Sharpe. It's not too late, but things aren't starting out particularly well. Houston doesn't have J.J. Watt, of course, but he wasn't really himself out there anyway. And their defense is still pretty good. I know the Patriots seemingly clobbered them, but fumbling kickoffs was also a factor there. Anyway, nothing special to say about this one. I like Houston and think it's a good spot for them to bounce back. Maybe Lamar Miller has a good game.
Bills at Patriots: Safe to say I will never draft Sammy Watkins again. Not feeling too happy about Dez Bryant or Keenan Allen these days, either. We never knew how good we had it, all those years of drafting Marvin Harrison, Randy Moss and Terrell Owens. Anyway, Bills offense is LeSean McCoy and that's about it. New England has Rob Gronkowski limping around and I'm not starting him until he gets a full game in healthy. Not sure who New England will start at quarterback, but they could probably just start Julian Edelman and still win. Using Blount in a couple of daily leagues.
Seahawks at Jets: Brandon Marshall isn't 100 percent, Eric Decker is out, and the Seahawks Defense is in town. It doesn't look good, though I do like Matt Forte in PPR, and would consider Quincy Enunwa in deeper leagues. Seattle, sounds like Russell Wilson will play, and Christine Michael will be the main back. A couple of months back I could have traded Thomas Rawls for a decent alternative and/or picks in dynasty. This week I almost cut him outright. Maybe next week.
Browns at Washington: Josh Gordon is in rehab and although we're still short on details I'm OK with just cutting him loose. As for this game, both offenses have potential against banged-up and/or poor defenses. Oh yes, survivor pool. I picked Washington, just because picking against the Browns seems a good way to go. It doesn't feel like a sure thing but there are no sure things. Home team with some offensive firepower against a bad defense seems like a good choice.
Broncos at Bucs: Wait, didn't the Bucs play on Thursday? Oh no, that was just the Dolphins in their ridiculous Color Rush uniforms looking like the 70s era Bucs (in all aspects). Broncos defense has been very good but teams have run on them a little, and Charles Sims is about all the Bucs have. Tampa's defense terrible. No Virgil Green. Moving on.
Rams at Cardinals: The other survivor pool pick, on the idea that the Cardinals will bounce back after getting rolled up in Buffalo. And the Rams don't score much, last week's big game against Tampa Bay notwithstanding. Both teams fairly healthy as far as guys you'd want to start.
Saints at Chargers: Really no need to overthink this one. New Orleans looks like its usual self from recent years on both offense and defense. You start the key offensive players on both teams and watch the fireworks. Willie Snead is iffy but at least practicing on a limited basis; I'm benching him. Chargers have some offensive line injuries but I think you have to use everyone given the matchup. I am trying Travis Benjamin and Tyrell Williams in a couple of leagues. The Snead uncertainty makes it risky to count on Michael Thomas, though.
Cowboys at 49ers: The Cowboys have been susceptible to the run at times, so you can consider Carlos Hyde. It doesn't feel great (miraculous the 49ers let him pile up rushing numbers in a blowout loss last week), but there are no other Niners were considering. No Dez Bryant, sigh, and I think there's some benefit to Witten, Williams and Beasley, but they ain't Bryant and I think the main result is a negative for Dak Prescott. Ezekiel Elliott should have a big game.
Kansas City at Steelers: Cut Charcandrick West loose in dynasty this week and he was immediately snapped up. Look, somebody had to go and he's Kansas City's third-string running back with Jamaal Charles maybe back for a few snaps this week and definitely back after the Week 5 bye. Plus West is hurt. Whatever. Steelers without Ryan Shazier, helping the matchup for Spencer Ware, but I like Pittsburgh to win this game. Antonio Brown and LeVeon Bell the only Steelers I feel good about.
Giants at Vikings: Unless you have both Rashad Jennings and Orleans Darkwa, not sure how you can use either one, with Jennings a gameday decision. That being said, it's a rough matchup anyway and neither guy is going to have a huge game. I think you use Odell Beckham Jr. because he's him, and Sterling Shepard is a viable No. 2, but the matchup isn't good. For the Vikings, you can use Diggs and Rudolph, probably nobody else. Just the defense.
Enjoy the games.
--Andy Richardson