Got the BYE week blues? While we never like to settle, here are some guys looking better than usual to produce this week. Of course, a few others are included that could deceive and should be left out of lineups if possible.
Week 5/Season Recap
Adam Thielen, Evan Engram and Teddy Bridgewater (starts), and Odell Beckham Jr. (sit) were my good calls last week. Despite the matchup, Jimmy Graham got a touchdown. He looks like he’ll be good for at least a score pretty much every week. I wouldn’t have recommended sitting Myles Gaskin had I known touchdown vulture Jordan Howard would be a healthy scratch. My season tally: 20-9.
Love ‘em
David Montgomery, RB Bears – The Panthers have been allowing the most fantasy points to running backs. They just now lost defensive tackle Kawaan Short to a season-ending shoulder injury. Montgomery is averaging only 3.7 yards per rush, but he’s getting more opportunities in the passing game. He saw six or more targets in two straight games, and he caught seven passes last week. Carolina has already given up nine total touchdowns to the position. He’s a must-start in season-long this week.
Andy Dalton, QB Cowboys – It was heartbreaking to see Dak Prescott suffer a season-ending injury last week. He was having an MVP-type season averaging a career-high 34.3 fantasy points per game heading into Week 5. Dalton now takes over under center and is positioned for success, inheriting one of the league’s top receiving corps. The Red Rifle has had many knocks on him in the past, but he’s a consistent performer when he has a strong supporting cast. Plug him into your lineups to cure your BYE week blues during his next three matchups against Arizona, Washington and Philadelphia.
Laviska Shenault Jr./Keelan Cole, WRs Jaguars – Shenault’s floor has been pretty solid, and his role has increased over the last few weeks with teammate D.J. Chark ailing. He caught a team-high seven passes for 79 yards against the Houston Texans last week. This week, he faces the Detroit Lions, and Chark is questionable again with an ankle injury. However, Shenault didn’t practice Wednesday or Thursday with a hamstring injury himself, so keep an eye on the reports. If he can’t go, Keelan Cole could shine in this plus matchup.
Other good starts this week: James Robinson, Myles Gaskin
Leave ‘em
Marvin Jones Jr, WR Lions – I think Jones ghosted us. He’s only scored once this season and has yet to top 55 receiving yards in a game. Jacksonville is allowing the 13th most fantasy points to receivers, and starting Jones is tempting. However, he is expected to face primary coverage from cornerback Sidney Jones this week.
Sidney Jones, a fourth-year player formerly with the Eagles, had a lot to prove heading into last week. When he and rookie Chris Claybrooks stepped in for injured starters, Claybrooks struggled mightily in the team’s loss to the Texans, while Jones had his best day in his NFL career. According to Pro Football Focus, Jones was targeted five times on Sunday while covering Brandin Cooks and Will Fuller. He gave up one catch for nine yards. He also had four pass deflections and one interception. With C.J. Henderson limited in practice Wednesday and now Claybrooks questionable for Sunday, Sidney Jones will likely assume a starting cornerback role opposite Tre Herndon.
Darrell Henderson, RB Rams – Henderson is coming off a good game from a fantasy perspective. While Henderson paced the other backs in snaps, the rookie Cam Akers led the team with 61 yards rushing. Akers made an impression on Coach Sean McVay and earned himself more touches this week. So Henderson or Malcolm Brown’s workload will decrease, and Henderson was the least effective with just 38 yards on 15 carries. Add to that an away game against the Niners, who allow the third-fewest fantasy points to the position, and Henderson doesn’t have much upside this Sunday.
Logan Thomas, TE Washington Football Team – Put this man’s face on a milk carton because he went missing since starting with at least four grabs in the first three games. Don’t expect him to show up in the stats this week, either unless someone’s willing to pay the Giants a ransom. The Giants are the third-best in the league at holding tight ends at bay. He’s not going to help your BYE week blues.
Other recommended sits: Matt Ryan, Deebo Samuel, Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
As always, start your studs! Unless it’s under extreme circumstances, obvious players will not appear in this column.
Logo graphic courtesy of @TheDiamondMike
