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Hopefully by now you are planning your week three lineups with help from our Assistant G.M. tools and my week four fantasy football rankings. But as good of a job as we do with our rankings there are always questions as to why so and so is so high and others so low down. That is why I will try my best to answer your questions even before they are asked, here in Wednesday’s Rankings Review.
All In On Thursday
I know that we’ve been subjected to some real stinkers on Thursday Night Football in the past year but I feel like that trend is starting to change. The Falcons definitely didn’t disappoint last week and I am expecting a real nice fantasy output this week for the Giants and Redskins.
Kirk Cousins is my #2 QB overall this week. So, that means I really like the Redskins receivers such as Pierre Garcon (#7 in PPR; #5 in Non-PPR), DeSean Jackson (#24 in PPR; #19 in Non-PPR) and Niles Paul (#6 TE in PPR; #10 in Non-PPR).
I also like the Giants receivers such as Victor Cruz (#10 in PPR; #9 in Non-PPR), Ruben Randle (#38 in PPR; #33 in Non-PPR) and of course RB Rashad Jennings (#6 in PPR & Non-PPR).
Rebound Week
Eddie Lacy, RB, Packers (#7 in PPR & Non-PPR)
I hate to call week four a “make or break week” for any player let alone one that was taken in the first round but this is a big week for Eddie Lacy. The Bears defense is horrible against the run and with Aaron Rodgers struggling with accuracy it makes sense that the Packers will focus on the run game this week. I am very confident Lacy will make a positive impact this week.
Doug Marin, RB, Buccaneers (#12 in PPR & Non-PPR)
Here we go!! My junk is officially on the table as I back Dougie Martin in his return to the Buccaneers backfield this week against the banged up Steelers defense. For everybody who wants to rip on Martin let me clarify a few things for you. You have absolutely no basis to hate on Doug Martin. He was a top three pick in most drafts last season coming off nearly 2,000 of total offense. Then he struggles a bit on a team who fired its coach half way through the season and had Josh Freeman as their QB. Mind you he still averaged more yards per carry than Le’Veon Bell last season. His injury was a shoulder tear which is pretty much the best possibly injury for a RB. The Bucs hire a run first head coach and improve their offensive line this offseason (Evan Dietrich-Smith and Logan Mankins have been to multiple Pro-Bowls). Martin played in just one game this season against a terrific defense and got just nine yards. I am buying up all shares of Martin at this point and believe this week is the start of his march back toward fantasy respectability.
Greg Jennings, WR, Vikings (#38 in PPR; #36 in Non-PPR)
Anytime there is a QB change you must watch out for chemistry changes among passer/receiver as well. It was evident to me last week that Teddy Bridgewater is comfortable throwing to Jennings as he targeted him seven times in just over one half of football. Jennings is a great buy low guy right now and I really like him this week against the Falcons.
Buying This Week
Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers (#10)
The Chargers are a fun team to watch these days. Unlike previous years, this team is fearless and capable of beating any team on any given day. All of that starts with QB Phillip Rivers and his tenacious passing approach. Rivers will challenge and likely destroy the Jaguars awful secondary this week making him an absolute QB1 this week.
Jason Witten, TE, Cowboys (#10 in PPR; #8 in Non-PPR)
Witten has been a major disappointment thus far this season. Much of this can be attributed to the Cowboys offense focusing on the run game far more this season. They are not going to have the luxury of being able to control the clock and field position against the mighty Saints offense this Sunday Night. Therefore, Tony Romo and company will wind up reverting to old form and throwing the ball far more this week.
Sleeper
Justin Hunter, WR, Titans (#39 in PPR; #35 in Non-PPR)
Whenever there is a QB change it also completely rearranges the expected targets & receptions of that teams receiving corps. Hunter has so much upside the only thing that has held him back so far this season is a lack of opportunities. Charlie Whitehurst will start this week for the Titans and could wind up throwing a few TD’s to the high flying WR in Hunter.
Super Sleeper
Marqueis Gray, TE, Vikings (#24 in PPR; #26 in Non-PPR)
Kyle Rudolph will be out a minimum of six weeks leaving the Vikings TE position incredibly thin. The depth chart says that Rhett Ellison would be the next in line for the Vikings. But Gray got more snaps in passing situations after Rudolph’s injury and he also shares some history with offensive coordinator Norv Turner. Turner and Gray were both with the Cleveland Browns last year. Turner had the Vikings bring in Gray because of his nice size, speed and great hands.
Take A Pass
Cam Newton, QB, Panthers (#11)
It’s not just the injuries that concern me at this point with Cam, it’s his demeanor also. The guy just isn’t showing the fire that he did two years ago when he was single handedly moving the Panthers offense up and down the field. Until I see that tenacity return to Cam’s game I am going to have to find other QB’s to lead my teams.
All Falcons RB’s
First of all there are four players that are currently playing a role in the Falcons limited running game: Steven Jackson, Jacquizz Rogers, Antone Smith and Devonta Freeman. That is simply too many chefs in the kitchen and I don’t like what they are serving up. Let somebody else deal with all of these RB’s in Atlanta while you start somebody that actually has a defined role.
Steve Smith, WR, Ravens (#22 in PPR; #24 in Non-PPR)
I really don’t expect much offense in this game in general and thus I just can’t see Smith making anything more than a minimal impact. As much as he will want to put up some big numbers against his former team, this is just not a good matchup for him overall.
Lorenzo Taliaferro, RB, Ravens (#42 in PPR; #34 in Non-PPR)
Bernard Pierce is likely back this week and will step right back into the lead RB role for the Baltimore Ravens. Taliaferro no doubt earned himself some more looks with his play last week but he most likely will be back down to around 8-12 snaps in total against the tough Panthers defense. I would still continue to hold him on your roster though as Pierce hasn’t been productive in the past two seasons.