Fantasy Football Week 4: Start’em / Sit’em
Last week’s results: 10-7-3, Season: 21-18-8
Week 4 is the NFL’s first bye week. They are breaking us in slowly with only 2 teams inactive this week. Unfortunately, it is the fantasy rich Packers and the Panthers just as Cam Newton is breaking out of his slump. So for those of you with stock in Green Bay wide receivers or one of the bye week QBs, I will try to provide some solid replacement options. Or if you have no bye week issues but are not sure what to do with one of your struggling high-priced players (Kaepernick, Ridley, Bush, Bowe), I’ll throw out my opinion on what you should do.
Note: Only players started in less than 75% of yahoo leagues will be listed in Start’em section. These recommendations are for players you may be on the fence about that I think will over (Start) or under (Sit) perform their Yahoo projections.
Start-Em
QB:
Tony Romo @SD (56%, 20): The Chargers 31st ranked defense should be easy sailing for Romo on Sunday. If they give Murray another 27 carries it could limit the amount of passes Romo gets to throw, but I think his fantasy output will be closer to 30 than the projected 20.
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Jay Cutler (14%, 16): The Bears have kept things conservative on offense through the first 3 weeks of the season, but I think they will need to let Cutler loose this week to keep up Detroit’s offense. The Bears defense has been relying on turnovers to end drives, but have given up quite a few yards in the process including 406 to Ben Roethliberger last week. As much as I’d like the Bears D to shut down Stafford, I can’t shake the feeling that this will be a shootout with big fantasy numbers for the skill players on both squads.
RB:
Darren McFadden WAS (75%, 15): The Redskins are giving up over 500 yards a game! They are by far the worst defense in the league and McFadden is the best weapon the Raiders have. His week 3 rushing stats were pathetic, but the Redskins D is basically the opposite of the Broncos D he faced Monday night. McFadden is probably getting hurt soon so get him in the lineup while you can.
Stevan Ridley @ATL (61%, 10): Reports out of Patriots camp state that Ridley did a great job blocking on Sunday. That’s about all he did well on Sunday (35 yards) or this season for that matter. Keeping Tom Brady clean should be the Pats first priority and Ridley is a better pass blocker then Brandon Bolden (inexperience) or Legarrette Blount (lack of skill) so that should keep Ridley on the field the majority of the time. Playing time should lead to touches and maybe, hopefully, please a touchdown.
Bernard Pierce @BUF (38%, 10): This recommendation is valid only if Pierce starts. If Ray Rice is ready to go on Sunday, then move Pierce back to your bench. Whoever starts at RB for the Ravens should have a good day. Buffalo just gave up 149 rushing yards to Bilal Powell of all people. Pierce hasn’t been impressive this year, but he’ll get a lot of carries Sunday and by pure volume should put up 100 yards and a TD or two.
Montee Ball PHI (12%, 7): Despite Ball’s fumble, week 3 was his best game as a pro (11-66) and Knowshon Moreno was ineffective (3.3 YPC). I think that leads to a bigger slice of the pie for Ball this week. I expect Denver to run the ball more often than normal to keep the Eagles’ high-octane offense off the field and Ball to lead the team in carries.
Le’Veon Bell @MIN (7%, 7): Steelers T Marcus Gilbert compared Bell to AP, which is obviously ridiculous, but it makes sense when you look at the other RBs on the roster (Redman, Felix Jones, Dwyer). Bell is a huge upgrade in talent over those three and even coming off injury he gives the Steelers the best shot at having a sustainable running game, which should keep him on the field in week 4.