With week 9 approaching in the NFL, here a few players fantasy owners should start or run away from:
Thou Shall Start:
Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers quarterback against Washington Redskins: Come on, you know your pass defense is bad when Josh McCown is throwing 204 yards and a touchdown in one half a play. The Redskins’ defense is so atrocious that it has more holes than SpongeBob. Look for the veteran quarterback to tarnish Washington coming off a bye week and two consecutive games with less than 20-fantasy points. On that note, start any quarterback that plays the Redskins this year. Except Blaine Gabbert, he sucks.
Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs running back against Buffalo Bills:
If you don’t know that Charles is the most consistent running back in football by now, then you should just stop playing. Considering he has a minor knee injury, Charles as a solid match-up against a Bills defense that has allowed 118 rushing yards per game. With a guy that ahs recorded double-digit points every game this season, start Charles without hesitation.
Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver against Minnesota Vikings: No, I don’t like Dallas. I don’t even like Dez Bryant for that matter, but in fantasy, you have to let go of your ego and play the best players. The best player at the wide out position this week is Bryant. Yes, Calvin Johnson put up like 403,976,172 fantasy points last week, but with Bryant going up against a Vikings defense that allowed Aaron Rodgers and the Packers to throw all over them. So, start Bryant, because he wants the ball in his hands and he will get it against Minnesota.
Jimmy Graham, New Orleans Saints tight end against New York Jets: Do I really need explain this pick? 10, 23, 25, 22, 13, 0, 15. That’s Graham’s season points line this year.
Stephen Gostkowski, New England Patriots kicker against Pittsburgh Steelers: Other than Matt Prater , Denver’s kicker, Gostkowski has been one of the best fantasy kickers this year. In fantasy, a good offense means a good kicker. Sure, Tom Brady hasn’t been his vintage self, but Gostkowski has been accurate as a TI-83 calculator.
Carolina Panthers defense going against the Atlanta Falcons: If you have the Kansas City Chiefs or Seattle Seahawks defense, than those are obvious starts. But the Carolina Panthers have built a defense that has become a fantasy gem. The Panthers are picked up in only 41 percent of NFL Network leagues and 68 percent of ESPN leagues and have garnered double-digit points in each of the past four weeks. Pick them up and play them against a struggling Falcons squad.
Thou Shall Not Start:
Any Philadelphia Eagles quarterback: Michael Vick? Hurt. Nick Foles? No. Matt Barkley? NO. Ever since abandoning LeSean McCoy and the run game, the Eagles have been awful. With a 3-5 record, the ship is sinking fast for the Eagles. Starting any Eagles quarterback in fantasy is like touching an oven. Just don’t do it.
C.J. Spiller, Buffalo Bills running back against Kansas City Chiefs: Spiller has simply stunk up the field this year. Other than a 54-yard touchdown run against the Cleveland Browns, Spiller has been a fantasy bust for owners who wasted a first round pick on him. Don’t start him against the stingy Chiefs and until he can provide some fantasy production, put him on your bench.
A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver against Miami Dolphins: Before Bengals fans send me loads of hate mail let me make my point. Thursday Night Football has been proven to be a trap game for most fantasy owners. The short week for the Bengals may be a cause for concern and though Green had 100 yards last game, Marvin Jones overshadowed him. Although I don’t think he’ll lose his job, Green’s Thursday night matchup with the Dolphins is not a favorable one. The Dolphins have only allowed nine throwing touchdowns this season.
Jordan Cameron, Cleveland Browns tight end against Baltimore Ravens: Cameron, who has been a dominant in fantasy this season, may have trouble getting owner’s points against the Ravens. Baltimore has only given up nine points against tight ends this season and Cameron may see a drop in targets with Jason Campbell as quarterback. Although it’s a bye week for some teams, try picking Greg Olsen or Jordan Reed who have more favorable match-ups.
Steven Hauschka, Seattle Seahawks kicker against Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Even though Seattle has been one of the NFC’s best teams, they still have struggled on offense at times. The team only mustered up 14 points against the Rams. The Rams! Anyway, don’t rely on Hauschka to earn many points.
Jacksonville Jaguars defense against anybody: I know they are on a bye week, but seriously, don’t pick up Jacksonville’s defense or the Steelers’ defense. Just don’t.
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