Each week Ray Flowers will give his thoughts on a series of fantasy football players. Should you hold on to the guy? Should you be moving on from the player? Is his recent run of success sustainable? Why does he stink so bad – will he rebound? Ray will break it all down before rendering his verdict on the player - which most likely will be he stinks, knowing Ray's cantankerous personality. 

Dunks, 3-pointers and pressure D. The 2014 Fantasy Alarm Basketball Guide has you covered from all angles. Category targets, breakout performers, players to avoid & more than 300 players ranked highlight the offering. 

 

QUARTERBACK 

Robert Griffin III, Redskins
The Kirk Cousins era is over before it really got going. For now the Redskins will start Colt McCoy and wait for the return of RGIII. Coming back from an ankle issue, Griffin has started to practice and though not officially ruled out for Week 8, he's not going to play. It would also be a bit surprising to see RGIII back in Week 9 because the Redskins have a bye in Week 10. Target Griffin for a Week 11 return. For all the talk about him "losing it" do yourself a favor and remember that this guy is an elite talent.
Verdict: BUY. You could try to wait a week or two to add him, but why not do it under the radar right now? He could be the starting QB on a myriad of championship winning fantasy football squads this year. 

Zach Mettenberger, Titans
Gotta love the NFL. Mere days after stating, emphatically, that Jake Locker was their quarterback when healthy, the Titans have named Zach Mettenberger their starter for the game with the Texans. So stupid. Zach M. enters an offensive lineup with a disappointing young runner (Bishop Sankey) and a disappointing young wideout (for more on Mr. Hunter see below). Standing 6'5", Zach comes out of a pro-style offense at LSU. He owns a cannon and can make every throw in the playbook. He's also slow, immobile and has a long delivery that will give defenders time to get on him. He needs a clean pocket to succeed. He also has displayed tunnel vision at times, locking on to one receiver. 
Verdict: SELL. He's only an option in 2QB leagues if you own Eli Manning or Colin Kaepernick who are on byes. 

How did we miss this in Star Wars?  

RUNNING BACK

Travaris Cadet, Saints
Cadet has taken PPR leagues by storm with 15 receptions, 129 yards an a score the last three weeks. But break that down. That's an average of five reception and 43 yards a week, or roughly 11.4 points a game in a PPR setup (if we spread the TD across three games). Yippee. He should have some run with Pierre Thomas likely to miss 2-3 weeks with a shoulder injury, but there's little chance that Cadet performs so well that Thomas is benched when healthy. Cadet wont do anything as an early down runner, and his touchdown outlook is certainly dimmed by the presence of Khiry Robinson and Mark Ingram. 
Verdict: SELL. Caveat. It would be wise to hold him this week in the matchup with the Packers. Jimmy Graham still figures to be limited and Drew Brees lights up the Packers. 

Tre Mason, Rams
Fact. NFL coaches either (a) are stupid, (b) lie or (c) have no true game plan from week-to-week. A week ago Rams' OC Brian Schottenheimer said that Zac Stacy, Benjamin Cunningham and Tre Mason would all get work. Stacy was name the starter. Cunningham actually started the game. Mason was the leader in the backfield as he ran the ball 18 times for 85 yards and a touchdown. So Mason is now the starter, right? Well... “We’re going to play all three backs," coach Jeff Fisher said Sunday. He further went on to say, and this is the mind boggling part of all of this... “It’ll be a week-to-week thing," Fisher said. "Zac could get 25 carries this week. We had some things in early this week. It was working so we decided to stay with ‘Mase.' It’s nothing that Zac has done or hasn’t done." Any of that fill you with comfort Mason owners?
Verdict: SELL. Mason is the best runner of the trio. He's also incapable of catching passes. You can take a shot that Mason will lead this team in touches the rest of the way. If so, he's an RB2. Just know he may be the RB3 on his own team this time next week. 

Denard Robinson, Jaguars
Robinson carried the balls 22 for over 125 yards and a score last week. He's the best football in Florida history (obviously). He will get 20+ touches every week now. Or will he? “I think we’ll continue to mix and match a little bit,” OC Jedd Fisch said. “I don’t know exactly how that will all play out yet." Gulp. Storm Johnson has scored in each of the last two weeks, and it sure sounds like Toby Gerhart is about ready to return to action after being out of the mix the last couple of weeks. 
Verdict: SELL. We don't know what Robinson's role will be. The offense is far from polished (the Jags rank 27th in passing and 30th in rushing). Robinson is far from polished. Sell on the hype.

Talk about invention... 

Darren Sproles, Eagles
I really don't get this one. Fact. Sproles has averaged 5.5 touches per game over his last four outings. Fact. He has one touchdown in four games. Fact. He had a total of two receiving yards since Week 3. Fact. LeSean McCoy has run for 230 yards the past two weeks.  
Verdict: SELL. Do you need any more to tell you that Sproles early season excellence is a thing of the past?

WIDE RECEIVER 

Brice Butler, Raiders
Brice, don't tell me I need a "Y" in my name, Butler might be ready to take a step forward, this according to those that cover the team. Not just those folks actually. Check out what Browns HC Mike Pettine had to say. "Brice Butler jumps off the tape. I know he doesn't get a ton of touches, but when he does, he's a major threat." In each of the last games Butler has scored from at least 47 yards out and with the Raiders in need of establishing something consistent through the air there is certainly a chance for Butler to take over as the 3rd option in the passing attack behind James Jones and Andre Holmes. 
Verdict: BUY. The cost is low, but the return might be as well. You can certainly add him as a WR5 type and hope things click with Derek Carr, but don't get carried away. 

Justin Hunter, Titans
Hunter has played nearly 96 percent of the snaps the last three weeks. He's always on the field. The problem is he isn't producing with just seven receptions for 182 yards and one score in those three games. Hell, he's only seen 12 total targets. A game changing talent and true red zone weapon, Hunter needs a strong armed weapon to get him the football. Well lookie here, that's exactly what Mr. Mettenberger is. 
Verdict: BUY. Moderate your expectations should be. Don't go dealing a tangible asset for a shot with Hunter, and don't drop a producing player either. But if Hunter is on waivers in your league it would be wise to add him if possible. You could always deal him if he has a big game this week.

Julio Jones, Falcons
Verdict: BUY. I can't believe I even have to list his name here. Sure the o-line is an issue with the Falcons, but come on. If you're selling him at 90 cents on the dollar you're a fool. 

 

New to the daily game space? Don't worry, it's pretty simple. Sign up to get entry into a free $2 contest with Draft Kings and start your journey.

 

TIGHT END

Charles Clay, Dolphins
My favorite TE option listed outside the top-10 on draft boards this summer, Clay has been battling a knee issue that has caused him to miss practice time and be limited during game action. He finally did something last week catching four balls for 58 yards an a score and he takes on a Jaguars defense that is painfully ineffective against tight ends. 
Verdict: BUY. He cannot be trusted as a TE1, but his health is improving, his talent is undeniable, and Ryan Tannehill just might be figuring things out. 

Kyle Rudolph, Vikings
An intriguing talent who is closing in on a return to action. Rudolph (sports hernia) was on the field Wednesday for the first time since surgery in late September. The Vikings have their bye in Week 10 so we may not see Rudolph til then, but with Cordarrelle Patterson failing to do anything, and no one really stepping up in any appreciable way on offense, Rudolph should return to a role of prominence with the club and function as "the" red zone target.
Verdict: BUY. Hard to add a guy and wait three weeks for the payoff, but if you can, do it. 


Make sure you tune in to the Drive at 7 PM EDT, Monday through Friday on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Sirius210, XM87), to hear Ray Flowers pontificate about the world of sports