Start Sit Week 8

It's been a while. I've missed you. Have you missed me? Well we find ourselves here in the eighth week of the NFL season. It's moving so fast. So many of our preseason guesses have moved into the right or wrong category. We are turning the corner toward the playoffs. Hopefully you are still worried about making them and bringing home the ship.

Well I am here to help. Bringing back the start and sit article from the dead for Halloween. Giving you some insight on what I think are some good match ups for some of your players this week. Let's dive in.

Start

Ladarius Green, TE, San Diego Chargers

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Green has once again found himself with a tremendous opportunity. The start of the season presented one as well with the suspension to Antonio Gates. And now Gates is likely to miss his second game in a row. Last week Green made the best of his opportunity scoring on one of his five catches for

45 yards. The Chargers have had a big aerial attack this season, and that is just how you beat the Ravens. Green is a must start this week.

Jonathan Stewart, RB, Carolina Panthers

Stewart has a fantastic schedule ahead of him, and this week starts off the rest of the year with a top tier game. Facing the Colts on Monday night, Stewart squares off against the 7th worst defense in fantasy points allowed to running backs. Indy is allowing an average of over 100 yards and more than a touchdown per week. Coming off of a big game where he ran for 125 yards last week against the Eagles, make sure you play Stewart this week.

Stefon Diggs, WR, Minnesota Vikings

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Diggs has become a rookie sensation. After missing the first three games of the season, Diggs has made his presence known in the last three Vikings games. Averaging over 100 yards and 6.3 catches per game, Diggs is a great play for a PPR or Standard league. The Vikings face off against the Bears this week, and their 10th worst rank in Fantasy points allowed to wide receivers. Expect there to be a lot of opportunity for Diggs this week.

Michael Floyd, WR, Arizona Cardinals

Floyd and the Cardinals face off against the Cleveland Browns and their lackluster passing defense. The Browns don't allow a huge amount of yards per game, 242, but they do allow a lot of touchdowns. So far on the season the Browns have allowed 11 touchdowns through the air. This sets up the passing game of the Cards well. Another possible benefit for Floyd is the status of John Brown. Brown is questionable this week, and it has been rumored that the team will rest him this week to get him healthy. If Brown is out, Floyd is a Halloween weekend monster.

Willie Snead, WR, New Orleans Saints

Snead had a good start to his season, and then cooled a bit in the last game. This week Snead and the Saints will face the beat up New York Giants defense and their 30th ranked pass defense. The Giants are allowing 288 yards per game and 10 scores on the season. Snead should find a nice match up awaiting him this week.

Sit

Isaiah Crowell, RB, Cleveland Browns

Crowell has been extremely inconsistent so far this season. The worst bit of news for him is that there are now three mouths to feed again in Cleveland. Crowell has not been making the most of his touches in recent weeks either. In his defense there have been some difficult match ups, but Crowell has lost a lot of his share of touches to both Robert Turbin and Duke Johnson. This week the Browns face off against the Arizona Cardinals and their eighth ranked run defense. The Cards only allow 97 yards per game, and only three touchdowns on the ground through seven games this year. I can't play Crowell on any of my teams this week.

Dez Bryant, WR, Dallas Cowboys

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Dez has been out since the first game of the season with a broken bone in his foot. This week he participated in practice in a limited fashion. The Cowboys have been snake bitten so far this year, losing not only Bryant, but then Tony Romo the next week. The quarterback situation has been a mess, and now here comes Seattle. It is likely that Richard Sherman would roll with Dez on Sunday if he plays, and I won't want any part of that match up playing for me. I have put my money where my mouth is on this one too. I traded for Dez in a few leagues after he got hurt, and I am not even considering playing him this week. I want to see how he looks, and see him playing against a different defesne.

Latavius Murray, RB, Oakland Raiders

Murray has the misfortune of facing the top ranked run defense of the New York Jets this week. The Jets have allowed 71 yards per game, and only two scores on the season. So far this year Murray has only had one monster game. There is not a lot of positive feeling about this game for me about the ability of Oakland to run. I have Murray on the bench in leagues where I can afford to bench him.

Amari Cooper, WR, Oakland Raiders

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Cooper is the other side of the terrible match up the Raiders have this week. Cooper will draw the coverage of Darrelle Revis, who is a top shut down corner. Cooper has been able to take advantage of his good match ups this season, and has not done much in the harder ones. In week five Cooper faced Denver and their tough secondary, and had four catches for 45 yards. Week four saw Cooper face the oddly shut down in yards and allow touchdowns pass defense of the Chicago Bears. Cooper followed the trend, with only 49 yards, but a score. So while he may one day be an all time great, and is quite polished as a rookie, Cooper will likely be shut down this week, and you should shut him down too.

All the 49ers

There is not a player on the 49ers I am excited about playing this week. Facing the Rams in St. Louis is a daunting task. Now add to that the fact that Carlos Hyde will not be playing. Colin Kaepernick has been mostly terrible this year. Anquan Boldin hurt his hamstring in practice on Thursday and might not play. The offense will rely on Reggie Bush, who can't stay healthy, and Torrey Smith. I don't want anything to do with any player from the 49ers this week.

So there you have it. Welcome back to the FTW blog, and thanks for your time. I hope in the next few weeks to continue to provide you some strategy and advice artilces. Feel free to find me on twitter, or email me any questions you have. Make sure to check out my injury article on socalledfantasyexperts.com. Thanks for reading.

Start Sit Week Three

The Week Three slate is underway. Game on! The Giants played a great all-around game on Thursday night, taking it to the Redskins. OBJ looked good. Reuben Randle had the game of his life. And Washington was handled. Their offense was stuck in the mud. Now we head into the weekend slate of games. All teams still playing this week for the last time until Week 12.

So here we are again. Meeting here is becoming commonplace these days. I don’t mind. Always happy to talk about Fantasy and give you my thoughts about players and their situations. Who do I like this week? Who do I not like? What defense am I interested in? What quarterbacks can be streamed this week? Well let me tell you what I think.

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Start

John Brown, WR, Arizona

Get used to Brown being on this list. He is a great player in a great situation. As long as Carson Palmer, the offensive line, and Brown stay healthy, he’s pretty much a weekly starter in this offense. Brown has had decent stats so far, and a monster is coming. On top of his nine catches for 91 yards and a score, Brown has drawn two pass interference calls. This week the Cardinals play a 49ers defense that was lit up by the Steelers last week. Still reeling, I don’t believe the 49ers are the team from Week One, and are actually the leaky boat that played Week Two. A big game is in the works for John Brown. Don’t let him have it from your bench.

Jimmy Graham, TE, Seattle

Graham was missing in action last week in Green Bay. One catch on two targets and one leak that he is pissed. This week the lowly Chicago Bears come to town to face an 0-2 Seahawks squad that will be looking to make a statement to the league. Chicago is weak on both offense and defense. The walking wounded roster of the Bears is likely to be missing Jay Cutler and Alshon Jeffery. The defense for the Bears is not in much better shape. This is the reset season. Ctrl+alt+delete on the whole team. The defense is a 4-3 squad being made to play in a 3-4 scheme. This preseason I saw Jared Allen dropping into coverage. Not something I would want to see from my team. This leads me to want to play Graham this week. I expect Seattle to score at will. And if they get in close, expect them to try to feed Graham, pissed or not.

Latavius Murray, RB, Oakland

Murray faces a Browns team this week that was dead last in run defense last season. Even with additions this year, they still aren’t a good unit. In their first game of the season the Browns allowed Chris Ivory to run for 91 yards and two scores. Last week they allowed Dexter McCluster to run for 98 yards. Murray had 65 yards on the ground last week and a score. I expect to see him run a lot this week. I have him inserted in my starting lineups where I have him, and so should you.

Frank Gore, RB, Indianapolis

Gore has some of the Fantasy world concerned. Not this guy. I had no desire to have any shares of Gore this season, yet ended up with him on multiple squads. At some point a value is too good to pass up. At this point I have absolutely no idea what to think of Gore. The first two weeks of the season were against some very good defensive units. The Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets were 11^th and fifth against the run last season. The schedule gets a bit better for the next two weeks, and if you have Gore and are ever going to play him, this is the week. Don’t let his good matchups go to waste and fire him up this week.

CJ Anderson, RB, Denver

Anderson was a very early draft pick, and he has not met expectations. A toe injury and some very bad offensive line play have hampered the efforts of Anderson so far this season. Normally I wouldn’t be telling you that a matchup with the Lions is just what the doctor ordered. The Lions were the top ranked run defense last season. But this year is different. Suh is gone. Levy is out. And the Lions are letting you run. I am a staunch supporter of Anderson, in fact completing a trade for him in a league today, and writing an article in support of trading for him you can read here. With 10 days off, Anderson has had time to heal and has been a full participant in practice so far this week. Get him in your lineup this week.

Sit

Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

Miller has been pretty much a disappointment so far this season. Miller left last week with an ankle injury. What he did before that wasn’t very impressive. Only rushing for a total of 67 yards in the first two weeks, and catching six passes for 50 yards is not a good start. Miller has returned to practice on Thursday, but his matchup leaves a lot to be desired. The Buffalo Bills travel to take on the Dolphins this week. The Bills had a stout run defense last year and shut down the Colts in Week One. Week Two the Patriots solved the riddle to an extent, but Dion Lewis only had 40 yards rushing. I can’t see a banged up Miller doing a lot on the ground for the Dolphins, and if you have another option get him on your bench.

Matt Forte, RB, Chicago

Forte might be the only healthy guy on the Bears offense. Don’t think that this fact will escape the 0-2 Seahawks. The box will likely be stacked against Forte until likely starter Jimmy Clausen makes them back off. Forte is going to have a long day, with Jay Cutler and Alshon Jeffery highly likely to be out this week. I would sit Forte if you have a capable replacement on your bench.

DeMarco Murray, RB, Philadelphia

Murray has been bad. It’s not all his fault. The offensive line play has been atrocious. The quarterback play has been worse. And the offense is a giant pile of smoldering garbage. Expect it to erupt into flames on Sunday this week. In addition to the issues the Eagles have been having, Murray left practice on Wednesday with a hamstring injury. This sit recommendation might be moot by Sunday if Murray cannot go. And we haven’t even considered the matchup. Say hello to the Jets. Yeah, the ones who shut down the Colts high powered offense last week. If Murray plays, I would be expecting the status quo of the season. Sit your Murray shares this week.

Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans

Brees and the Saints offense have not played well so far. And now Brees has a shoulder injury that might affect his throwing and distance. Weakness in the shoulder is a side effect of a rotator cuff contusion. This does not make me feel confident in an offense that has struggled in scoring so far this season. And the Saints draw the Carolina Panthers and their stout defensive line and secondary. With a loss of identity apparent, a tough matchup in front of him, and an injury to his throwing shoulder, I have to suggest benching Brees this week.

Doug Martin, RB, Tampa Bay

Martin has had some favorable matchups in the first two weeks of the season. Sadly he hasn’t done a lot with them. On 32 carries so far this season, Martin has had only 130 yards. Three catches for 22 yards are not much of a boost. And these numbers came against the Titans and the Saints. This week the Bucs face the 10^th ranked run defense from last season in the Houston Texans. The front seven for the Texans is a very strong unit. I fail to see how a bad matchup against a good defense is going to be the breakout that Martin owners are looking for. Sit Martin this week.

Defenses to stream

New England Patriots

The Pats play the Jaguars this week. Last season a streaming strategy was to get who the Jags were playing. I have not seen a reason to change this yet.

Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons face a Cowboys squad that is reeling after losing their top wide receiver and their quarterback in the first two weeks of the season. Despite a stout line their running game has not been impressive. I want to play the defense that plays the Cowboys until either Romo returns or they prove me wrong.

Quarterbacks to Stream

Marcus Mariota, QB, Tennessee

Mariota had a great debut in Week One. And then he came back down to earth last week. But Mariota is accurate, and accuracy is not something everyone has. This week facing the Colts, I could see Mariota having a good game. Consider him as a streaming option this week.

Ryan Fitzpartick, QB, New York Jets

Fitzy has been solid so far this season. He isn’t a huge fantasy scorer, but he won’t kill you either. Averaging 15.75 points per game is a good fill in for your quarterback. This week against the Eagles I would love to be playing Fitzpatrick in as many leagues as I can. Hopefully Eric Decker can get back on the field this week to give Fitzpatrick some extra help. I love Fitzy this season as a good option to stream.

So this ends the start sit article for Week Three. I hope that it has been helpful in making your decisions a little more educated. Make sure to check out my injury report articles using thislink. You can follow me on twitter, and sign up to receive notices when I post a new article at the top of this page. Thank you for your time and reading what I have to say. Good luck in your leagues this week.