Garrett Lee | @TheBasedGarrett
Thursday, October 15, 2015 | BataviasBest.org
To start off this week’s Hate It or Love It, there’s a Dallas Cowboys’ running back who is a MUST-ADD in all leagues. It was reported yesterday that the Cowboys are considering benching Joseph Randle (as a staunch Randle supporter, this upsets me) in favor of Christine Michael (HE’S FINALLY GETTING HIS OPPORTUNITY!!!!!!). The former Seahawk is owned in just 24.2% of ESPN leagues, so I’d snatch him up fast. There has to be a guy who is probably on your roster for no reason, or you have an open bench spot. I’m not guaranteeing Michael breaks out and is a top-20 back for the rest of the year, but this guy’s talent is the real deal. If you’re a team hurting at running back, this is a golden ticket for you. This is a very low risk-very high reward move, that could definitely turn your season around.
Alright, now into the players I like heading into week 6:
QUARTERBACK:
If you’ve been streaming QBs due to an injury, the maddeningly-inconsistent Matthew Stafford plays the Bears this week. ESPN’s Ron Jaworkski summed up how a lot of us feel about the former first overall pick:
Watching film on Matt Stafford… Some plays=???????? Other plays=????????
— Ron Jaworski (@jawsespn) October 8, 2015
It wasn’t that long ago that Stafford was hailed as the next great QB. He was seen as the young gun that was expected to break through the glass ceiling on his way to join the rest of the league’s elite signal callers. I think that window has shut for Stafford, but a matchup with the Bears isn’t half bad.
The next guy was featured in the waiver wire article from the other day, and that’s Sam Bradford. Yes, the Eagles offense has looked pathetic for the most part. Yes, we were all expecting this offense to light up the league. Bradford and the rest of that offense seems to have finally found their groove. Bradford has scored over 40 points in his last two games, and has a matchup with the Giants who made Colin Kaepernick look respectable.
RUNNING BACK:
I know I’ve stated that the volatility of New England’s backfield scares me. So far, Dion Lewis has taken his opportunity and ran with it. He even received a contract extension because of it! The Colts defense is awful. Indy is the next stop on the 2015 Tom Brady Murder Everyone Tour. Lewis has been a top-1o back so far this year, and I’d be shocked if he doesn’t do continue his success. I also like LeGarrette Blount to maybe snag a goal-line TD or two. He’s used to mauling that defense anyways.
The next guy used to be a Patriot, but left for the Giants this offseason. I’m expecting the Giants vs, Eagles game to be pretty high-scoring, so I believe that Shane Vereen will get his fair share of touches. He’s the best catching back in New York, and one of the best in the league. He has tremendous PPR value, and has shown that good things happen when the ball is put in his hands. Vereen won’t be a RB2 or anything like that, but he’s a solid flex play this week.
WIDE RECEIVER:
Juilo Jones is reportedly on a pitch count tonight against the Saints. Even though it’s not in Atlanta, the Falcons are still playing in a dome. The Saints defense was just lit up by Philly. With Jones limited, Leonard Hankerson should see his targets increase quite a bit. He’s been one of the bigger breakout players of 2015 so far, and is the number 2 receiver in an elite offense. A matchup versus the Saints is a dream come true.
Even with Blake Bortles having an injured shoulder, I really like the Allens in Jacksonville. Both Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns have blossomed into very good young receivers, and they have a date with Houston this Sunday. The Texans defense has been miserable all season long, and I don’t see it getting any better. Robinson and Hurns are this century’s incarnation of the famous Marks Brothers from the Dolphins back in the 80s.
TIGHT END:
With Jamaal Charles getting hurt in Kansas City, Travis Kelce should be seeing more targets coming his way. The Chiefs are playing a good, but not great, Vikings defense. I think Jeremy Maclin will be getting a lot more focus from defenses, which should open things up for the third-year tight end.
I still have no idea what’s going on with the Seahawks, but they’ve given up 4 TDs to opposing tight ends this year. That bodes well for Greg Olsen. Cam Newton has been able to overcome the loss of Kelvin Benjamin this year, and that trend should continue against the Seahawks.
DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS:
The Redskins aren’t good. Kirk Cousins isn’t good. The New York Jets have a very good defense on all levels. This could be a huge game for the Jets defense.
Moving onto the players that I’m not fond of heading into the weekend:
QUARTERBACK:
He’s missed the last two games with a bad shoulder, and he’s playing the Patriots. If you own Andrew Luck, you’re probably going to start him. Don’t expect a 300+ yard, 3 TD game from him. Keep your expectations in check.
Peyton Manning is nothing more than an average NFL quarterback. He’s thrown more picks (7, and 2 have been returned for TDs) than TDs (6). That isn’t the Peyton we’re used to seeing, but it’s time to get used it. The line isn’t helping the cause, but this is probably just Father Time catching up to him. The Browns aren’t anything great on defense, but I’d have a hard time starting Peyton from here on out if I owned him.
RUNNING BACK:
It seems like Giovani Bernard has reclaimed his throne as the top back in Cincy. This is BAAAAAAAAAD news for Jeremy Hill owners. With Hill being relegated to short yard and goal line situations, there’s still the chance that he gets the occasional TD, but I’m not expecting much versus the Bills. Hill has scored 48 points, in my 1/2PPR league this year. 42.3 of those points of come in two games; week 1 versus the Raiders (he barely averaged 3 YPC, but had 2 TDs) and week 4 versus the Chiefs (just under 4.5 YPC, had 3 short TDs). In his other 3 games, Hill has scored 0.6, 2.1, and 3 points. Not something you want out of a player that was drafted in the top 20.
Frank Gore plays the Pats. I’m expecting this game to get UGLY. Gore hasn’t been that good this year anyways, but I would want no part of him in this game.
WIDE RECEIVER:
Even though I said I’m a fan of Matt Stafford this week, I don’t share the same sentiment for Calvin Johnson. Megatron is not-so-mega anymore. Long gone are his days of putting up Madden-like numbers on teams. He’s not a WR1 anymore, so it’s time to start acting like it’s 2015 and not 2012. Yes, he plays the Bears. You’re going to start him if you own him, but don’t expect WR1 numbers out of a guy who’s producing more like a WR2 (that might be a little generous, too).
Not many people saw Rishard Matthews doing what he did in the first 3 weeks happening. He put up a dud in week 4 and had his bye last week. The Dolphins aren’t a stable team right now. Their head coach was fired, Tannehill is getting picked off by practice squad guys. This isn’t looking like the team that was predicted to go to the Superbowl by a Harvard study.
TIGHT END:
Whether it’s a one-legged Tyrod Taylor or EJ Manuel under center for the Bills on Sunday, I’m not a fan of Charles Clay in week 6. The Bengals defense hasn’t allowed a TD to an opposing tight end yet. Having an injured QB or a QB that has struggled with consistency throwing you the ball doesn’t help either.
DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS:
This could come back to bite me, but I’m not too fond of the Buffalo Bills on defense this week. Dalton hasn’t reverted back to the turnover prone Andy Dalton yet, and the rest of the Bengals offense is meshing very well. Gio Bernard, Tyler Eifert, and AJ Green are all having great 2015 campaigns, and have shown no sign of slowing down. While the clock could strike midnight for Dalton this week, don’t be shocked if he continues what is currently his best season in his career.
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