The best part about fantasy football is winning. The second best part is the draft. However, the draft has come and gone, and fantasy owners struggle with who to start, who to sit, and who to target as a sleeper each week. Thankfully, three of our writers (Mike Fanelli, Mason Thompson, and MJ Hurley) offer up their takes on who fantasy owners should start, sit, and play as a sleeper this week. Be sure to follow all of them on twitter and reach out with any fantasy football questions you may have. Without further ado, let’s get started.
Quarterbacks
Starts
Ben Roethlisberger vs Cleveland Browns
Big Ben has been nothing but consistent this season. He has scored at least 18 fantasy points and thrown two or more touchdowns in every game. Furthermore, he has just one interception on the season. Meanwhile, the Browns have struggled to slow down quarterbacks. They have given up 24.5 or more fantasy points to the position in three of their five games this season. Furthermore, they have given up 12 passing touchdowns this season. – Mike
Matthew Stafford at Jacksonville Jaguars
Stafford has scored at least 17 fantasy points in every game so far this season. In his last game against the Saints, he had over 23 fantasy points. Coming off of the bye week, Stafford has a great matchup against the Jaguars, who are allowing the seventh-most points to the quarterback spot this year. Quarterbacks have finished as the QB22, QB8, QB8, QB20, and QB6 this year against Jacksonville. – Mason
Ryan Tannehill vs Houston Texans
Tannehill is averaging 22 fantasy points per game and is a top 15 quarterback this season. He will be facing a Texans team that has been consistently in the bottom 10 teams in the league in allowing fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Tannehill has been showing his increased ability to score with his legs, and the possibility of a shootout increases the chances of Tannehill again going over 20 points. – MJ
Sits
Teddy Bridgewater vs Chicago Bears
Over the last two weeks, very few quarterbacks have been as good as Bridgewater. During the month of October, Bridgewater is averaging 294.5 passing yards, 2.5 touchdowns, and 23.5 fantasy points per game. However, he faces his toughest matchup of the season tomorrow. The Bears have given up the second-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this season, giving up only 12.1 per game. Furthermore, the Bears have given up only four passing touchdowns this season, including only one to Tom Brady last week. – Mike
Carson Wentz vs Baltimore Ravens
Wentz has, unfortunately, had a rocky start to the year as he’s only the QB18. He has done better the last three weeks but is still struggling behind an injured offensive line and receiving core. Things won’t get better this week as he faces the Baltimore Ravens, who are 10th-best against the quarterback position. It was a rough outing for Wentz in Pittsburgh last week, but it could be even worse against Baltimore. – Mason
Kyler Murray vs Dallas Cowboys
Murray has not been as dynamic and consistent as many fantasy owners had hoped. With concerning performances against the Lions and Panthers, Murray has struggled in the passing game, and his running averages have decreased from last season. With Murray’s recent struggles, fantasy owners should consider benching him despite the appealing matchup. – MJ
Sleepers
Matt Ryan at Minnesota Vikings
After 23 or more fantasy points in each of his first two games this season, Ryan has struggled since. Over his last three games, Ryan has a total of 30.8 fantasy points. Furthermore, Ryan hasn’t scored a touchdown since Week 3. However, Ryan should turn things around this week against the Vikings. So far this season, the Vikings have given up 20 or more fantasy points to the position in three of their five games. Furthermore, they have given up 517 passing yards and five passing touchdowns to quarterbacks over the last two weeks. – Mike
Ryan Fitzpatrick vs New York Jets
Fitzpatrick is currently the QB7 of the year, ahead of several pick names like Deshaun Watson and Lamar Jackson. He has posted four-straight games with over 21 points and gets to face off against the incompetent Jets this week. If Fitzpatrick is out on the waiver wire in your league, go pick him up. – Mason
Kirk Cousins vs Atlanta Falcons
The biggest issue for Cousins in 2020 has been the turnovers. With seven interceptions through the first five games, Cousins only has one more touchdown pass than interception. Thankfully, Minnesota welcomes the struggling Falcons to their house. The Falcons have been riddled by injuries in their secondary, which will benefit Adam Thielen and breakout rookie Justin Jefferson. Look for Cousins and his new dynamic duo to dominate this week. – MJ
Running Backs
Starts
Antonio Gibson at New York Giants
While Gibson hasn’t run away with a featured role in Washington, he has scored double-digit points in four straight games. However, last week was the first time he did it without scoring a touchdown. Furthermore, he has nine catches over his previous two games and appears headed for a three-down role. Meanwhile, the Giants have struggled to slow down running backs over the last three weeks. During that span, they have given up four rushing touchdowns and an average of 29.1 fantasy points per game to the position. – Mike
James Robinson vs Detroit Lions
This is the third week in a row where Robinson is listed as a start. Unfortunately, he hasn’t had as much success in the last two weeks as many would’ve hoped. Thankfully, Robinson goes against the Lions, who surrender the fourth-most points to the running back position this week in what will be a high-scoring game. The best part about Robinson this week is that he is getting more involved in the receiving game as he has had 17 targets over the last three weeks. – Mason
Todd Gurley at Minnesota Vikings
Gurley has been a touchdown machine for the Falcons. After coming to Atlanta, Gurley is averaging one rushing touchdown a game and will face off against the Vikings. The Vikings have struggled to slow down opposing running backs this season. Even with the Falcons taking advantage of the Vikings’ secondary, expect a big game for Gurley as well. – MJ
Sits
Darrell Henderson at San Francisco 49ers
Last week, Henderson appeared to take over the Rams backfield as he played more snaps than Malcolm Brown or Cam Akers. However, the matchup should force fantasy owners of all three to put them on the bench this week. The 49ers have given up the second-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs, giving up only 17 per game this season. Furthermore, they have held opposing running backs under 90 rushing yards in every game while giving up only two rushing touchdowns this season. – Mike
James Conner vs Cleveland Browns
Conner has quietly had a great start to the 2020 campaign. It’s unlikely he continues that success this week against the Browns, who are tough against running backs coming in at 10th-best in the league. Cleveland is also allowing the fourth-lowest rushing yards per game this year. With the Browns hurting in the secondary, this will be a big week for Big Ben and the receivers, not Conner. – Mason
Ronald Jones vs Green Bay Packers
The Packers have boasted one of the best rushing defenses in the NFL so far this season. Even without nose tackle Kenny Clark in the last few weeks, the Packers have held opponents to less than 100 yards per game and do not allow rushing touchdowns often. Assuming Leonard Fournette is healthy on Sunday, the committee in Tampa Bay will still be strong enough to split carries and take away points from Jones. – MJ
Sleepers
Frank Gore at Miami Dolphins
If you put in a waiver claim for Gore after the Le’Veon Bell news thinking he will be the starter for the rest of the season, you aren’t playing fantasy football correctly. La’Mical Perine is the Jets running back to own for the longer-term outlook this season. However, for this week, Gore should be your target. While he has done little so far this season, he averaged 16.3 rushing attempts per game when Bell was on injured reserve. More importantly, the Dolphins have given up the sixth-most fantasy points per game to the position, giving up 29.9 per game this season. Furthermore, the Dolphins have given up an average of 34.7 fantasy points per game and five rushing touchdowns to the position over the last three weeks. – Mike
D’Andre Swift at Jacksonville Jaguars
Both Stafford and Swift are in great spots this week. While he hasn’t gotten the attention many thought he would, Swift is making the most of his opportunities. He had eight touches last week that went for 52 yards and a touchdown. Jacksonville is in the bottom-third against the run, and it would be in Detroit’s best interest to get him into the game. – Mason
Chase Edmonds vs Dallas Cowboys
Do not be deceived by the good performance Kenyan Drake had against the Jets last week. Drake has only been averaging 3.7 yards per attempt this season and does not get goal line touches. This game against the Cowboys will likely be a shootout, which won’t benefit Drake as Edmonds’ role is expanding every week. – MJ
Wide Receivers
Starts
Jarvis Landry at Pittsburgh Steelers
Over the last two weeks, Landry has seen an uptick in targets and fantasy points. Landry has averaged 7.5 targets and 14.1 fantasy points per game in the month of October compared to 4.3 targets and 8.8 fantasy points per game in his first three contests. The difference? Nick Chubb has missed the last 1.5 games because of a knee injury. Now Odell Beckham Jr. might miss tomorrow’s game with an illness. Meanwhile, the Steelers just gave up 43.8 fantasy points to the duo of Travis Fulgham and Greg Ward last week. Landry is a must-start this week, whether OBJ plays or not. – Mike
Terry McLaurin at New York Giants
Due to Washington’s erratic quarterback play, McLaurin’s spectacular season has gone unnoticed. He is the WR16 on the year and will get the chance to help Washington get their second win against the Giants this year. While this doesn’t scream as a great matchup thanks to the Giants being 21st against receivers, but McLaurin should be able to have a great game and help Washington get a win. – Mason
Stefon Diggs vs Kansas City Chiefs
Diggs has been the clear favorite for Josh Allen in the young quarterback’s breakout season. Diggs was targeted 16 times in the Bills’ Week 5 loss to the Titans, and he is averaging over 100 yards per game this season. In a game where the Bills will have to match the playmaking of Patrick Mahomes and Tyreek Hill, look for Allen and Diggs to take their fair share of shots downfield. – MJ
Sits
CeeDee Lamb vs Arizona Cardinals
Lamb has been excellent this season, averaging eight targets and 17.1 fantasy points per game. However, the quarterback situation should give fantasy owners pause on whether to start him this week. It is unknown how the Cowboys offense will change or produce with Andy Dalton under center. Meanwhile, the Cardinals have given up the fifth-fewest fantasy points per game to the position, giving up an average of only 30.3 per game. Furthermore, the Cardinals have given up only three touchdowns to opposing wide receivers this season. – Mike
Tyler Boyd at Indianapolis Colts
Boyd squares off against the elite Indianapolis defense that has allowed the seventh-lowest points to the receiver position this year. With the offensive line still struggling, it will be difficult for Joe Burrow to get the ball to Boyd on time. Though they will be behind, that didn’t work out to his advantage last week as he only had 8.2 points. There are better options out there this week. – Mason
Jamison Crowder at Miami Dolphins
Crowder has always had a weak spot for the Miami Dolphins. In 2019, the Dolphins held Crowder to 37 yards a game and one touchdown catch in their two matchups. Without Bell, Flacco will be searching to find the new identity of the New York offense. Byron Jones and the Dolphins will mainly have to focus on Crowder and only Crowder, which spells trouble for his fantasy owners. – MJ
Sleepers
Christian Kirk at Dallas Cowboys
After last week’s performance, could Kirk be finally breaking out? After averaging just under five targets per game this season, Kirk saw a season-high seven targets last week, catching five of them for 78 years and 12.8 fantasy points. Meanwhile, the Cowboys have given up the third-most fantasy points per game to the position, giving up 45.6 per game. Furthermore, the Cowboys have allowed opposing wide receivers to score 53 or more fantasy points in three of their last four games. – Mike
Preston Williams vs New York Jets
Right when you think that you can safely drop Williams, he balls out. He had four catches for 106 yards and a touchdown against the 49ers last week. Now, this week, he faces the Jets and all their struggles. If you’re in desperate need of a receiver due to bye week blues, Williams is a good option this week. – Mason
DeVante Parker vs New York Jets
Parker has been a weird receiver to have in fantasy this season. He dominated against the Seahawks, who are the best team Miami has played in 2020. However, he has also struggled against the Jaguars and 49ers. With Fitzpatrick handling the Dolphins offense so well and the Jets in complete disarray as an organization, taking the risk on Parker this week could pay off. – MJ
Tight Ends
Starts
T.J. Hockenson at Jacksonville Jaguars
Hockenson has been productive for fantasy owners this season, scoring nine or more fantasy points in every game this season. He is also second on the team with 20 targets. Furthermore, Hockenson has either a touchdown or over 50 receiving yards in every game this season. Meanwhile, the Jaguars have struggled to slow down opposing tight ends. They are giving up an average of 15.6 fantasy points per game to the position. Furthermore, the Jaguars have given up four touchdowns to opposing tight ends this season. – Mike
Evan Engram vs Washington Football Team
Listed as a start last week, Engram finally had the game many were expecting from him. Unfortunately, he only had three touches. That number should rise this week against Washington, who is allowing the fifth-most points to the tight end position. He has done far better against teams that are bad against tight ends, and that’s what Washington is. – Mason
Eric Ebron vs Cleveland Browns
Ebron has averaged six targets throughout the last three games and gets a good matchup against the Browns tomorrow. Ebron’s catch percentage has been going up every single week, and the chemistry with Big Ben improves every week. Look for Ebron to get more valuable red zone touches against a Browns secondary that does not have a good matchup against the veteran tight end. – MJ
Sits
Rob Gronkowski vs Green Bay Packers
While Gronk has seen an uptick in targets over the last three weeks, he remains a shell of his former self. Despite averaging 5.3 targets per game over his previous three contests, Gronk averaged only 7.6 fantasy points per game. Furthermore, both Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are off the injury report and appear 100 percent for tomorrow’s game. Meanwhile, the Packers have given up the sixth-fewest fantasy points per game to the position, giving up only 8.4 per game. Furthermore, the Packers have yet to give up over 65 yards or a touchdown to opposing tight ends in any game this season. – Mike
Robert Tonyan vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tonyan exploded onto the scene on Monday Night Football against Atlanta with three touchdowns but won’t receive the same production this week. Tampa Bay is 12th against tight ends, and while Tonyan was great against Atlanta, Green Bay was without Davante Adams, leading to Tonyan receiving more targets. Tampa Bay’s defense is much better than Atlanta’s, so that will hurt his production. – Mason
Trey Burton vs Cincinnati Bengals
Burton was one of the most added tight ends in fantasy this week, but Burton should not be started against the Bengals. Philip Rivers has been inconsistent this season, and the Colts have three tight ends they like to use. Facing an awful Bengals defense, expect the Colts to lean on their star players in T.Y. Hilton and Jonathan Taylor. – MJ
Sleepers
Irv Smith Jr. vs Atlanta Falcons
Last week Smith tied for the second-most targets on the team with five. Also, despite playing fewer snaps than starter Kyle Rudolph, Smith has more targets this season. Furthermore, Smith played on a season-high 68 percent of the snaps last week. Meanwhile, the Falcons have given up the second-most fantasy points per game to the position, giving up 21.3 per game. Furthermore, they have given up at least 27 fantasy points to opposing tight ends in three of their last four games. – Mike
Austin Hooper at Pittsburgh Steelers
Over the last two weeks, Hooper is the TE6. He has seen 17 targets for 10 catches, 91 yards, and a touchdown. With the tight end landscape the way it is, Hooper is on the fringe of the TE1 conversation. Despite a tough match against Pittsburgh this week, the offense has done great while targeting the tight ends, so it should continue. – Mason
Cameron Brate vs Green Bay Packers
Brate had a breakout game against the Bears in Week 5. Now the Buccaneers are getting healthy at wide receiver, which should take the defense’s attention off of Brate. With Jaire Alexander focused on Mike Evans, expect Brady to target Brate against the Packers’ weak coverage linebackers. – MJ
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