Start ‘Em
Dak Prescott
Dak Prescott feasts on bad defenses. The Giants are a bad defense. Start him in your fantasy leagues, and he’s worth the cash in DFS leagues.
Matt Stafford
I love Matt Stafford this week. The Raiders are phenomenal against the run, but cannot defend the pass. The Lions have yet to develop a consistent running game, are without their starting running back, and love to pass. Oakland’s surrendered over 2,000 yards passing and 19 touchdowns, compared to only three interceptions this season.
Jimmy Garrapalo
Jimmy G isn’t normally a starting quarterback in fantasy, but with some key quarterbacks on byes, others injured, and even more with tough matchups, Garrapolo makes for a decent flier against a Cardinals team that cannot stop the pass.
Le’Veon Bell
Bell has been on the other side of this list more often than not, but I’m going to give him a little love this week. The Jets decided to hold onto him at the trade deadline, and they get to play the lowly Dolphins this week. Miami has given up over 1,200 total yards and ten touchdowns to running backs so far this season. If Bell can’t find some success this week, he can’t be trusted to start in any matchup.
Melvin Gordon
Gordon has been a disappointment for fantasy owners even after returning from his holdout. He has yet to accumulate more than 32 yards on the ground in a game this season. However, I have a gut feeling this is the matchup he breaks out in. The Packers are not well-equipped to stop the run and also tend to let backs have some success in the passing game. San Diego is going to have to score in this one to keep up with Green Bay. I like Gordon this week.
Dalvin Cook
Cook’s been unbelievable this season and has a juicy matchup with the Chiefs this week. He’s the back I’m spending top dollar on in DFS leagues.
Allen Robinson
Mitch Trubisky has hamstrung Allen Robinson’s value, but this is a fantastic matchup for the Bears’ wide receivers, who are up against an Eagles secondary that is prone to giving up big plays.
Amari Cooper
Cooper is a strong DFS play. He has a matchup with the lowly Giants on Monday Night Football, who have given up the third-most fantasy points to opposing wide receiving cores. I could see him being the highest-scoring wide receiver this week.
George Kittle
Kittle is a must-start every week, but I’m paying the price for him this week in DFS leagues. Arizona’s given up 531 receiving yards and seven touchdowns to tight ends, leading the league in fantasy points allowed with 140.1.
Sit ‘Em
Kyler Murray
I start Kyler Murray in a couple of leagues, but he’ll be on my bench in both on Thursday. They play San Francisco, who has been the most impressive defense in the league thus far. Their front four against Arizona’s offensive line is a total mismatch. Give Murray the week off.
Lamar Jackson
Have you seen what the Patriots have done to opposing quarterbacks? Maybe Lamar Jackson poses some problems for Bill Belichick, but I’m not betting on it. I’d rather surf the waiver wire for a one-week replacement.
Adrian Peterson
Adrian Peterson’s had some great weeks running the ball of late, turning back the clock and showing why he still belongs in this league, but this isn’t the weekend you’re going to want to have him in your lineup. The Bills defense is suffocating, and I don’t see the Redskins moving the ball successfully in Buffalo.
Miles Sanders
Sanders went off last week for over 20 points, and the Bears defense hasn’t been nearly as dominant as we expected, but I’m still staying away from starting Sanders if I can. He’s an RB4 this week.
LeSean McCoy
McCoy is not receiving enough touches to be started in most leagues unless he has a favorable matchup. Well, he doesn’t have one this week against a Vikings defense that has allowed the 28th most fantasy points this year. Sit shady this week.
Odell Beckam Jr.Â
The Broncos aren’t a good team, but they still have a pass rush and Chris Harris. Cleveland’s offensive line is piss poor, and Baker Mayfield hasn’t been much better – if at all. I know Odell Beckam fantasy owners are still sitting around waiting for the breakout, but I don’t see it happening this week.
Larry Fitzgerald/Christian Kirk
See Kyler Murray.
Mark Andrews
If you have him, you probably have to start him. However, the Patriots have been the stingiest team in football against tight ends. The first two things Belichick is going to take away from Lamar Jackson are his legs, followed by Mark Andrews. I have a hard time seeing him accumulate more than ten points.