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Fantasy Watch
Week 4 Quick Hits
By Chad Stapley
Eli Manning seems to be getting comfortable in this new offense and he looks like a major fantasy QB point scorer. If somehow Manning is still available in your league or after the first two games you put him on your bench, it is time to start him again.
Who is Larry Donnell? He is a second year TE out of Grambling State, and until last week no one has really ever seen him play any significant time. He is a serious red zone threat and it seems like Manning is starting to look to him more and more when he gets down to that area of the field. If Donnell is somehow still available in your league you need to put a waiver request in for him now.
Randall Cobb & Jordy Nelson did it again; this week they absolutely destroyed the Chicago defense grabbing 17 receptions for 221 yards and four TDs. Is there any defense in the NFL that can truly contain these two animals?
There is one good thing to take away from the awful Bears loss. Matt Forte & Kadeem Carey ran the ball 37 times for 194 yards but were held from the end zone. That is the type of running game that will keep defenses true and open the pass game. Carey is most likely still available in your leagues and he could see some extended playing time if he keeps playing with this type of effort.
Andrew Luck is playing like an elite QB right now; he tossed four TD passes in the beat down of the Titans this week. If TY Hilton, Reggie Wayne, Dwayne Allen, or Coby Fleener are somehow still available in your league you should grab them and think seriously about starting them with the way Luck has been playing lately.
Delanie Walker keeps finding his way to the end zone and is putting up steady stats each week thus far. If you need a sub TE for a week when your starter has a bye and Walker is still available you should pick him up. He will be a great plug in for a week depending on the opposing team and who is playing QB for the Titans.
Bishop Sankey needs the ball in his hands more often. This week he had 11 touches for 89 yards and a TD. Sankey is a gamer and should absolutely be starting on your team.
Lorenzo Taliaferro had a pretty good game in what turned out to be pretty equal playing time to the Ravens starting RB, Justin Forsett. Taliaferro has 15 runs for 58 yards and a TD. He has the build of an every down back and he runs between the tackles with no fear.
Steve Smith is starting to play like the former pro-bowl Smith from a couple years ago. This week he got revenge on his former team and caught seven passes for 139 yards and two TDs. Smith is quickly becoming Joe Flacco’s favorite target. Speaking of Flacco he threw for three TDs and is starting to get this offense under control and going in the right direction.
On a day where Calvin Johnson was limited to just two catches for 12 measly yards; the Lions big offseason acquisition; Golden Tate played like he is worth the money. Tate caught eight passes for 116 yards. He constantly helped move the Lions down field and stepped up when his team needed him the most. Start him if he is sitting on your bench; which is where I mistakenly left him this week.
Why hasn’t Mike Glennon been the starter since day one? Glennon led the Bucs to a come from behind victory over the Steelers throwing for over 300 yards and throwing for two TD passes. Glennon has a huge arm and it was a big reason for the Bucs being able to score late in the fourth quarter.
The Steeler defense is a far fetch from the once scary Steel Curtain. The Bucs; who have been trampled on all season marched down the field in the fourth quarter and stole a victory from the Steelers.
Antonio Brown continues to impress; he caught seven passes for 131 yards and two TDs. I don’t think any defense has any answer for how to stop this man.
Ryan Tannehill answered questions for now in an easy defeat over the Raiders where he threw for 278 yards and two TDs. Lets hold off judgment until Tannehill shows some consistency.
Philip Rivers is playing with the most consistency and at the highest level of everyone in the NFL right now. This week he threw for 377 yards with three TD passes and no turnovers. The Chargers are going to be a tough playoff team. Two of Rivers TD passes went to Eddie Royal who is starting to have a real nose for the end zone. Royal is most likely available in your league, and if the Chargers continue to play this well I would throw Royal in your starting lineup.
Blake Bortles got his first NFL start and he did better than average. He threw for over 250 yards with just one TD to two INTs. The thing that stands out about Bortles performance is that he threw to ten different WRs, that is impressive. As Bortles continues to learn the playbook look for the Jaguars to become a much more competitive team.
The 49ers got back to the basics and won how they use to; running the ball down the opponent’s throat. Frank Gore ran the ball 24 times for 119 yards and the Eagle defense had no answer for him all night. If Gore continues to get 20+ touches a game he will be a consistent fantasy starter.
DeMarco Murray played his best game of the season this week solely because he did not fumble the ball for the first week; it helps that he had 25 touches for 155 yards and two TDs. Murray was on his way to stardom last year and this season thus far is easily the best RB in the NFL. He is a huge reason why the Cowboys are 3-1 and not 0-4.
With the new found run game and much improved offensive line, Tony Romo is playing winning football again. Romo went 22/29 throwing for 229 yards and three TD with no turnovers, this was also his best and most complete game of the season. Romo should be starting on your fantasy team, he has a ton of weapons when it comes to the red zone and the Cowboys love to pass when they get inside the twenty.
The Saints offense, Eh. The Saints defense my oh my they have more holes than a golf course. This will be a very long season for Saints fan if the defense can’t figure out how to stop the run or the pass.
Khiry Robinson ran the ball eight times for 87 yards which is good for 10.9 ypc. With that type of production why in the world don’t the Saints give him the ball more? Look for the Saints to get back to the basics and start running the ball more, I would throw Robinson in the starting spot as a WR/TE/RB.
Alex Smith was the model for game management yet again; this time he dismantled the Patriots going an efficient 20/26 for 248 yards and three TD passes. It helps that Jamaal Charles finally woke up and Kniles Davis continued his stud like play. The due combined to run the ball 34 times for 199 yards and two TDs. This is a very dangerous back field.
The Patriots much like the Saints are in for a world of trouble. They have an absolutely awful offensive line, and Tom Brady has almost no time to throw the ball. It might be time to start looking at Brady as a backup option for your fantasy team unless they seriously change something with their offensive line.
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