It is freaking NOVEMBER already???? Damn it! Living in upstate New York I am a huge hater of Winter, but like they say on Game Of Thrones, winter is coming. However, that is still a few weeks away but the NFL season is just about half over already. We have six teams on bye again this week, but fear not friends, we are close to the end of the annoying byes! That being said, lineup decisions get more intense every week and here are the guys you should give a start and those you should sit this week.
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Quarterbacks
Start: Sam Bradford, Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions. It was a quick transition to start the season for Bradford as he changed teams right before the regular season started. However, he may be having his best season to date as Bradford is yet to have a game without a touchdown pass. The Lions are one of the worst defenses against the pass and have allowed 19
There are so many terrible pics on the Internet of Stafford and you shouldn’t play him this week
passing touchdowns already this season. I could see Bradford topping 275 passing yards and two to three touchdowns.
Sit: Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings. After his subpar performance in Week 8, that is now two straight weeks for Stafford with just a single touchdown pass. The Lions signal caller gets no luck in Week 9 at breaking that streak as he faces one of the top defenses in football. I do love Stafford as a fantasy quarterback, but this has to be a week that you look towards another option as I think he will have under 250 yards passing and another single touchdown pass.
Running Backs
Start: Charcandrick West, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Jacksonville Jaguars. Jamaal Charles is done for the season, and Spencer Ware still isn’t practicing after sustaining a concussion last week. This all means that Charcandrick West is the next man up for the strong Chiefs running game. West did quite well last season when Charles was hurt in 2015, so I expect him to carry the load for the Chiefs this Sunday. He is helped by having a cupcake matchup against the Jags and should run for over 85 yards, receive 30 or more and score a touchdown.
Start: Darren Sproles, Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants. I have never, ever, ever been a fan of Sproles as a fantasy football running back as I’ve always looked at him as a gadget player and someone who needs a long play to be fantasy relevance. However, Ryan Mathews is in front of him and he is so average that Sproles is actually taking over the number one job. The Giants defense is pretty decent, but look for Sproles to run for 75 yards and receive for another 75 and a touchdown either on the ground or through the air.
Sit: Frank Gore, Indianapolis Colts vs. Green Bay Packers. Their offensive passing game might be a mess, but damn the Packers run defense is top shelf. They are allowing fewer rushing yards than any other defense, and I don’t see any reason that won’t continue. Gore has been a great surprise this season as I have completely written him off two years ago, but this is certainly not the week to play him. Unless you really have no other option because of bye weeks, I would look in another direction.
Sit: Jay Ajayi, Miami Dolphins vs. New York Jets. The Ajayi bandwagon is full right now as back to back 200 yard games has everyone believing. I’m sure if you own him it was hard to sit him last week as the team had their bye, and I am sure you are itching to get him back into your lineups. Be wary though as the Jets are one of the best in the league against the run, and always play the Dolphins tough. Ajayi hasn’t exactly been a huge producer in his time in the NFL before the last two weeks, and he was even left home from one game for his subpar attitude. I know the hype is really crazy right now, but I’m very skeptical still.
Can Dolphins, RB Jay Ajayi find success vs. Jets’ top-rated run defense? https://t.co/e3aUGDYq7N
— James Walker (@JamesWalkerNFL) November 3, 2016
Wide Receivers
Start: Terrence Williams, Dallas Cowboys vs. Cleveland Browns. As usual, it has been a very inconsistent season for Williams as he has very strong games one week, and disappears the next. Even though he only had two receptions last week, he was still targeted seven times, and it wasn’t Dak Prescott’s best game. This week Dallas will face perhaps the worst defense in the league in Cleveland, and even with Dez Bryant back I expect this to be a 100 yard game for Williams with a touchdown, and two scores wouldn’t shock me.
Start: Emmanuel Sanders, Denver Broncos vs. Oakland Raiders. I have to admit that I didn’t have any hopes for Emmanuel Sanders this year with the change in offensive philosophy AND the loss of Peyton Manning. However, after a slow start, Sanders has seriously picked it up in a few games, this week seems tailor made for him. The Oakland Raiders pass defense is among the worst in the league, and even Trevor Siemien should be able to throw for 250 yards on them. I would be surprised if Sanders didn’t haul in at least seven catches for 90 yards and a score.
Sit: Michael Crabtree, Oakland Raiders vs. Denver Broncos. It has been another awesome season for Crabtree as he continues to enjoy a career resurgence in Oakland as he has five games over 85 yards out of eight, and six touchdowns. He has been helped by a fairly easy schedule so far for the Raiders, but I do think he will be solid all season long. However, this one is going to be tough sledding as the Raiders will play perhaps the best pass defense in football. Crabtree could still pull in 50-60 yards, but I am not expecting him to get a touchdown this week.
Sit: Sterling Shepard, New York Giants vs. Philadelphia Eagles. After a great first three weeks to start the season, the wheels have come off for the rookie Shepard in the last month. Granted they have played four pretty good defenses too, but the Giants passing game just isn’t clicking. They are coming off their bye week, but they are going to roll into another very solid passing game on Sunday against the Eagles. He will likely do better than the 25 yards he has averaged the last four weeks, but don’t look for one of those 90 yard and a touchdown game from Shepard against Philadelphia. Look for a better option for the week.
Tight Ends
It’s been a weird season for Fleener but he should thrive this week
Start: Coby Fleener, New Orleans Saints vs. San Francisco 49ers. It hasn’t been the best season for Fleener in his first year with the Saints, but he has had a few good games. He has had his best games against subpar defenses, and (to be kind) that is what he faces in San Francisco. The Niners might be coming off their bye, but their defense is terrible and I expect at least five catches and 75 yards from Fleener on Sunday.
Sit: Charles Clay, Buffalo Bills vs. Seattle Seahawks. I had a hard time coming up with a tight end. With six teams on bye, and tight end not being strong, just play whoever you have. Clay is inconsistent and the Seahawks defense is very good. Don’t fall trap there.
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