Week 7 Sleepers & Emerging Players
MiWeek 7 Sleepers, Potential-Emergent Players, and Opportunistic Plays This article is contributed by Brad Kruse This column is NOT intended to provide Week 7 waiver claims lists. Instead, the purpose is to look at young players whose opportunity could emerge and should be monitored. I will also look at potential injury replacement players with my Week 7 Sleepers. My goal is to help look around corners for the season which might give some ideas for pre-emptive adds to your roster. 2024 has been a bit of a rollercoaster with all the injuries and enticing flashes of many rookies. Young Running Backs and Their Opportunity Status Chase Brown: Brown again out-performed Zach Moss on the ground in Week 6. Perhaps his higher usage was due to a Moss fumble; yet Brown also fumbled the ball. Brown had 10 carries for 53 yards and a touchdown in this game. Moss only logged six carries for 13 yards without finding the endzone. Brown also out-targeted Moss 2:1. Brown is separating himself from Moss in this offense. Braelon Allen: The Jets’ rushing attack looked better last night. However, one of the wrinkles to the changes the Jets made on offense was to increase Hall’s snaps compared with Allen. Allen only ended up with three carries and two targets without a catch. Allen did have a touchdown called back due to a holding penalty, unfortunately. Roschon Johnson: Johnson continued in his role as a third-down back and short-yardage back. Johnson did collect two catches on three targets this week for 25 yards. But no touchdowns on his five-carry eight-yard ground performance. His ceiling performances are low with Swift dominating the action on the ground and through the air. But, Johnson does have good contingent value as the likely lead RB if Swift were to miss time. Jaylen Wright: Miami returns from BYE in Week 7 with each of their running backs healthy. This will be a test to see if Wright has moved up the depth chart. He started the year as a healthy scratch, but he’s taken advantage of his opportunities over the last four weeks to turn in 29 carries for 139 scoreless yards. That’s a solid 4.79 yards per carry. If he can split the work with Achane and not cede too much work to Mostert, he could become playable and still have strong contingent value if Achane were to miss more time this year. Wright is one of the better backup running backs to own going forward. Tank Bigsby: Bigsby is playing great this year. Bigsby’s hot streak took a somewhat surprising step back in Week 6. Etienne went down with an injury, yet D’Ernest Johnson led the way in action from the running back position. As I alluded to a couple of weeks ago, this was likely game script-dependent. The Jaguars fall behind and Johnson picks up the passing down action with Etienne out of the game. Bigsby should lead in normal and positive game scripts while Etienne recovers from his injury. Bucky Irving: Irving stepped in for White in Week 6 matchup with the Saints. He continued to run well gaining 81 yards on 14 carries (5.8 yards/carry) including a touchdown. He also collected two catches for 24 yards. The surprise was that Sean Tucker, running as the RB2 for the week split carries and gained 136 yards on 14 carries (9.7 yards/carry) including a touchdown, and caught three balls for 56 yards and another touchdown. Tucker was a draft sleeper last season after falling out of the draft with a heart condition. He was eventually cleared and signed with Tampa Bay but failed to make a significant impact. Irving quickly supplanted him as the RB2 this year. But, Tucker put on a show and the coach has indicated he deserves a role in this offense. Let’s hope this doesn’t dissolve into a three-way committee once White returns. But there appear to be two young RBs who you could play in lineups in Week 7 vs Baltimore. Ray Davis: Monday night we saw a head fake with James Cook shifting from expected to play to OUT. It was then talked about how Ty Johnson would have some sort of revenge game vs the Jets who had previously cut him. Taylor even got the first carry, but Davis then picked up most of the action gaining 97 yards on 20 rushes, and led the Bills with 55 receiving yards on his three receptions. Davis showed he belongs in this offense, and it will be interesting to see if he can carve out a strong enough role once Cook returns. Young Breakout Receivers Second Year Players Jayden Reed: Week 6 saw Reed run 60% of the routes with Doubs’ and Watson’s return. He collected six receptions for 28 scoreless yards and a touchdown. This was somewhat of a muted output for Reed, but he continues to be the focal point of the offense. Dontayvion Wicks: Wicks did not deliver on his promise in Week 6. He only ran 17% of the routes before succumbing to injury. He did get a surprising 50% target per route run for a sub-optimal 1.50 yards per route run. Wicks is reportedly week to week so you may have to be a pit patient to see if he’ll re-emerge onto the fantasy landscape. Zay Flowers: Flowers was featured in Week 6 running 97% of the team’s routes and earning a 31% targets per route run metric while delivering 4.55 yards per route run. For the week, Flowers delivered nine catches for 132 scoreless yards. Another solid fantasy day for Flowers. Flowers is having a secondary breakout season in his sophomore campaign. Jaxon Smith-Njigba: JSN continues to float around the start line in dual flex leagues. He secured 21% targets per route run while running 81% of the routes. His 1.23 yards per route run was unencouraging. His fantasy day of five receptions for 53 yards and no touchdowns on nine targets gives fantasy managers an
Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 6
Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 6 The year of the injuries strikes again. And making matters worse, Week 6 is a rough bye-week slate with the Chiefs, Rams, Dolphins, and Vikings unavailable. Our Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 6 will help you dig deep to find the optimal starts and sits to consider. Subsequently, our Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 6 will help you navigate that turbulence to pick a winning lineup this week. Additionally, FullTime Fantasy has some of the top tools of the trade and accurate rankings. Quarterbacks Start ‘Em Justin Fields (Pittsburgh Steelers) at Las Vegas Raiders Fields has kicked off this season in impressive form, sitting 11th among quarterbacks with 18.1 fantasy points per game. The Raiders play man coverage at the eighth-highest rate in the league and have struggled against deep throws, allowing a 53.7% completion rate on such passes, the seventh-highest in the NFL. They’ve also forced incompletions on just 11.1% of those plays, ranking among the worst in the league. Fields has been great against man coverage this season. Caleb Williams (Chicago Bears) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars Williams is coming off his best game yet, posting 304 yards and two touchdowns through the air while adding 34 yards on the ground, finishing with 23.6 fantasy points against Carolina. He faces a fantastic matchup against a Jaguars defense that has given up more fantasy points per game to quarterbacks than any other team. Though the game being in London might cause a little hesitation, Williams’ form and this juicy matchup make him a strong play. Sit ‘Em Aaron Rodgers (New York Jets) at Buffalo Bills Rodgers is only a starting consideration in Superflex or two-quarterback leagues this week against the Bills. The Jets are in a bit of chaos after firing head coach Robert Saleh, and while that could pay off down the line, it’s not likely to help Rodgers much in this tough matchup. Buffalo has been stingy, allowing only one quarterback to top 17 fantasy points this season. Rodgers himself has only passed 19 points once this year, and his recent performances against Denver and Minnesota have combined for just 27 points. Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville Jaguars) at Chicago Bears Lawrence just had his best game of the season with 371 passing yards and two touchdowns against the Colts, but that performance says more about Indy’s defense than it does about Lawrence. In his other four games, he’s averaged just 182 yards and 12.2 fantasy points per game. The Bears defense has given up the fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks, with only two passing touchdowns allowed and six interceptions. Running Backs Start ‘Em Chase Brown (Cincinnati Bengals) at New York Giants Chase Brown’s potential is climbing, especially if Zack Moss (ankle) sits out against the Giants this week. Moss missed Wednesday’s practice. That is a positive sign for Brown’s opportunity. Brown has shown what he’s capable of over the past two games, racking up at least 15 touches in each contest and scoring at least 16 PPR points both times. Three running backs have already managed to score at least 13 PPR points against the Giants this season. Even if Moss plays, Brown is emerging as a key figure in the Bengals’ backfield and could be taking control for good. Chuba Hubbard (Carolina Panthers) vs. Atlanta Falcons Since Andy Dalton took over as the Panthers’ quarterback, Hubbard has become a top-seven fantasy running back for three consecutive weeks. His value will dip significantly once Jonathon Brooks returns to the lineup, but Brooks hasn’t started practicing yet, so it’s unlikely he’ll be active this week. The Panthers have the third-best matchup for running backs this week, as they go up against a vulnerable Atlanta Falcons defense. Sit ‘Em Jerome Ford (Cleveland Browns) at Philadelphia Eagles Ford has delivered at least 15 PPR points in two games this season, but he’s also failed to crack 10 points in three other contests, including last week’s game against Washington. Nick Chubb’s status for Week 6 is still up in the air, but if Chubb doesn’t play, Ford will get the start. That said, his matchup against the Eagles is a tough one, as Philadelphia has only given up one touchdown to a running back this season. I suggested Ford as a start last week, not this time. Rico Dowdle (Dallas Cowboys) vs. Detroit Lions It’s tempting to chase Dowdle after his 20-point fantasy explosion last week but don’t be fooled. The Cowboys running back benefited from a favorable, rain-soaked game against the Steelers where he had 22 touches. However, this week, he faces the Lions, who have been the stingiest team in the league against running backs, allowing the fewest rushing and receiving yards to the position. Zeke has also been a squeaky wheel about getting red zone touches so Rico could see less work in that area moving forward. Wide Receivers Start ‘Em Darnell Mooney (Atlanta Falcons) at Carolina Panthers Mooney has been outstanding this season, and Week 6 presents another prime opportunity as he faces the Panthers. He has posted at least 14 PPR points in three of his last four games, including a massive Week 5 performance against Tampa Bay, where he notched nine catches for 105 yards and two touchdowns on 16 targets. Carolina has already allowed six receivers to score at least 17.5 PPR points this season. On the road against the Panthers’ defense, Mooney will continue his hot streak. Diontae Johnson (Carolina Panthers) vs. Atlanta Falcons Johnson has been a reliable fantasy asset, ranking ninth in points among wide receivers since Andy Dalton took over at quarterback. After struggling last week against Jaylon Johnson, one of the league’s top cornerbacks, he now faces A.J. Terrell, who is far less daunting with the 48th-ranked coverage grade among cornerbacks. Johnson is in a good position to bounce back. Sit ‘Em Christian Kirk (Jacksonville Jaguars) at Chicago Bears Kirk has been heavily involved in recent weeks, but with
Week 6 Sleepers & Emerging Players
Week 6 Sleepers, Potential-Emergent Players, and Opportunistic Plays This article is contributed by Brad Kruse This column is NOT intended to provide Week 6 waiver claims lists. Instead, the purpose is to look at young players whose opportunity could emerge and should be monitored. I will also look at potential injury replacement players, but I will try not to focus on the obvious choices for this week’s slate of games as that is covered elsewhere on the sight. My goal is to help look around corners for the season which might give some ideas for pre-emptive adds to your roster. Now that we have five weeks in the books, I can start extrapolating on statistics more reliably. Young Running Backs and Their Opportunity Status Chase Brown: Brown again outperformed Zack Moss on the ground in week 5. Moss also got injured and is uncertain if he’ll play in week 6 right now. Brown’s opportunity is here to grow his market share of opportunities in the running game for the Bengals. Carson Steele: Steele received some short yardage work for the Chiefs in Week 5, but Hunt took over the rushing role with Samaje Perine mixed in on third downs and in the 2-minute offense. Braelon Allen: The Jets’ rushing attack has stalled the last two weeks. They need to figure out why these two elite running backs behind a seemingly improved offensive line can’t generate yards and the line can’t open up rushing lanes. Roschon Johnson: Johnson scored on two short-yardage rushing plays this week. He’s far behind D’Andre Swift in the offense which has shifted to using Swift in the passing game where his skill set is best used. Johnson could be a spot starter for you with his role but don’t expect huge fantasy days. Jaylen Wright: Raheem Mostert returned in Week 5, but Achane went out with an injury. Wright led the backfield in rushing with 86 yards. His numbers seem to improve each week and he had 6.6 yards per carry in week 5. We’ll see if Achane can return during week 6 and what role Wright will have in the backfield. I’m anxious to see how he’s used and how he performs when Tua returns to the QB position here. Tank Bigsby: Bigsby is playing great this year. He had 13 carries for 101 yards on the ground including 2 TDs. His 7.8 yards per carry is eye-opening. He also had one catch for 28 yards. There are rumors that the Jags have put Travis Etienne on the trade block. If Etienne were to be traded, Bigsby would get a huge usage lift. Young Breakout Receivers Second-Year Players Jayden Reed: Week 5 saw Reed run 75% of the routes and collect 4 receptions for 78 scoreless yards. He added two carries for 19 yards rushing. Reed’s six targets represented a 27% targets per route run performance which is what you want for your starting receivers. His 3.55 yards per route run was elite. Adding a touchdown to his performance would have been nicer, of course, but the advanced metrics continue to point to Reed being a player you want in re-draft and dynasty. Rashee Rice: We now have the results of the preliminary surgery, and it sounds like Rice has a six-month recovery ahead of him, but the prognosis for him to return to form is good. Unfortunately, it looks like we now are on suspension watch for 2025 with Rice as his 2024 time is done. Dontayvion Wicks: Wicks did not put in a fantasy day to remember to write home about, but his underlying metrics were strong. He didn’t get to the coveted 70% route participation rate; he came in at 62%. He did have a 33% targets per route run. Unfortunately, he only caught two of the targets as he leads the receivers in drops so far this year. That yielded a disappointing 1.11 yards per route run performance. He’s getting open, he needs to correct those drops to become a staple in people’s lineups. Zay Flowers: Flowers delivered in week 5 running 85% of the routes while earning a 30% targets per route run metric and 2.78 yards per route run. These are all solid numbers that contributed to his seven-catch, 111-yard day. Flowers is likely a matchup play based on expected game script. Against teams that the Ravens will likely attack with Derrick Henry and the running game, Flowers’ output might be muted. But, if they are likely to be more pass-heavy, Flowers is the focal point of the attack. Jaxon Smith-Njigba: JSN delivered four receptions for 31 yards and a TD vs the Giants in Week 5. He only achieved a 16% targets per route run and 0.72 yards per route run. The TD saved his fantasy day. There will be better matchups for JSN going forward. Jordan Addison: The Vikings struggled against the Jets in London. Addison only managed three receptions for 38 yards on eight targets. He participated in 91.6% of the routes and earned a 25% targets per route run rating. Unfortunately, the Jets held him to 1.06 yards per target. The Jets have potentially the top pair of cornerbacks in the league. Better days will come. Josh Downs: Downs flourished with Joe Flacco under center. He was third on the team with a 68% route participation and earned a 35% TPRR rating. He delivered a strong 2.03 yards per route run performance on nine receptions for 69 yards. Adonai Mitchell: Mitchell is a good dynasty asset, but is currently buried on the depth chart in Indy. With Anthony Richardson at QB, there isn’t the volume. But, Mitchell may eventually fight his way into a stronger share of routes and if QB play is more traditional, his underlying metrics are tough to ignore. In Week 5, he had 58% targets per route run and 3.18 yards per route run. Unfortunately, he only ran 24% of the routes. Demario Douglas: Douglas was second to Polk with a
Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 5
Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 5 Bye weeks have arrived to complicate matter for fantasy managers. Additionally, Week 4 brought the latest crop of injuries in what is shaping up to be a disastrous season. Our Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 5 will help you determine which players make good fill-ins, and which ones to avoid. Subsequently, our Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 5 will help you navigate that turbulence to pick a winning lineup this week. Additionally, FullTime Fantasy has some of the top tools of the trade and accurate rankings. Quarterbacks Start ‘Em Justin Fields (Chicago Bears) vs. Carolina Panthers Justin Fields delivered a massive 32 fantasy points in his last game, the highest for any quarterback this season. He ranks seventh among his peers with a strong 78.1 PFF passing grade. This week, Fields is up against the Dallas Cowboys, which may not be the most favorable matchup, but his recent performances have solidified him as a must-start QB in fantasy lineups moving forward. Deshaun Watson (Cleveland Browns) at Washington Commanders The Commanders have been a goldmine for opposing quarterbacks, allowing the most fantasy points to the position. Watson has underwhelmed in three of his four outings this year, failing to surpass 15.4 fantasy points in those contests, including a low 14.2 points against Las Vegas in Week 4. However, Week 5 presents a juicy opportunity against Washington, where quarterbacks are averaging 25.8 fantasy points per game. If the Browns can keep Watson upright—he’s been sacked 19 times already—he could be a sneaky starter in one-QB leagues. Sit ‘Em Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) vs. New Orleans Saints Mahomes has been struggling from a fantasy perspective, surpassing 20 points just once in his last nine regular-season games. You’d have to go back to Week 7 of last season to find the last time he hit 25 fantasy points. Now, with Rashee Rice out, his top receiver, it’s hard to trust Mahomes in one-QB leagues. Despite his incredible talent, he seems more focused on winning than padding stats, and the Saints have been tough on opposing QBs, allowing no more than 15.2 fantasy points in a game this season. Aaron Rodgers (New York Jets) at Minnesota Vikings What year is this that I am recommending to sit Mahomes AND Rodgers? Rodgers has only posted one top-10 fantasy finish in the past three seasons. This week, he faces a Vikings’ defense that ranks sixth in the NFL, allowing just 4.4 adjusted net yards per pass attempt. On top of that, Rodgers is dealing with a knee injury and was limited in practice. It’s hard to recommend starting him in this tough matchup. Running Backs Start ‘Em Najee Harris (Pittsburgh Steelers) vs. Dallas Cowboys Harris disappointed last week, managing 73 scoreless yards in a loss to the Colts. But don’t overlook his high usage rates. He logged a season-high 69% snap rate, ran routes on 62% of passing plays, claimed 65% of the team’s RB carries, and secured a 17.6% target share—also a season high. With Jaylen Warren and Cordarrelle Patterson potentially sidelined for Week 5, Harris is primed for another heavy workload against a Cowboys defense that had been vulnerable to the run before facing the Giants last week. Jerome Ford (Cleveland Browns) at Washington Commanders Jerome Ford has quietly tied Alvin Kamara for third-most targets among running backs, making him a reliable fantasy option. He’s posted double-digit fantasy points in all but one game, twice surpassing the 15-point mark. This week, Ford faces a Commanders’ defense that has allowed explosive runs (10+ yards) on 22% of opposing rushes, the highest in the league. With such a favorable matchup, Ford has the potential to put up a huge game. Sit ‘Em Zack Moss (Cincinnati Bengals) vs. Baltimore Ravens Moss came through for fantasy managers last week, but there are red flags. He split carries with Chase Brown and even saw Brown take over goal-line duties. To make matters worse, the Bengals face the Ravens in Week 5, a defense that’s been stellar against the run. Baltimore has allowed the fewest rushing yards to RBs this season and hasn’t given up an explosive run in four games. Avoid Moss if you can. Rico Dowdle (Dallas Cowboys) at Pittsburgh Steelers Dowdle had his best performance of the year in Week 4, putting up 13.1 PPR points. While he should be rostered, especially if he takes over more of the Cowboys’ backfield, Week 5 isn’t the time to start him. The Steelers have been stingy against running backs, allowing the second-fewest fantasy points to the position and only one touchdown to RBs all season. Subsequently, Dowdle is a risky flex option at best. Wide Receivers Start ‘Em Dontayvion Wicks (Green Bay Packers) at Los Angeles Rams I’ve been high on Wicks since the offseason, and he’s delivered on a per-route basis in his first 2 NFL seasons. With Christian Watson out, Wicks is set to see a significant increase in snaps. The Packers face the Rams this week, whose defense ranks 27th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to wide receivers. Wicks will be running most of their routes on the outside, where the Rams have struggled the most. Terry McLaurin (Washington Commanders) vs. Cleveland Browns McLaurin has amassed 50.1 fantasy points this season, placing him 25th among wide receivers. The Browns, McLaurin’s Week 5 opponents, have the eighth-lowest team coverage grade this season, even though they’ve been solid in coverage for much of 2023. Therefore, McLaurin could exploit this weakness if the game script favors Washington’s passing attack. Sit ‘Em Jaylen Waddle (Miami Dolphins) at New England Patriots Waddle has been nearly invisible in the Dolphins’ offense since Tua Tagovailoa went down with an injury. Over the past two weeks, he’s managed just 8 catches for 62 yards. With Miami likely to lean on their running game against the Patriots’ shaky run defense, Waddle could see another low-target day. Therefore, he’s not a must-start this
Week 5 Sleepers & Emerging Players
AllenWeek 5 Sleepers, Potential-Emergent Players, and Opportunistic Plays This article is contributed by Brad Kruse This column is NOT intended to provide Week 5 waiver claims lists. Instead, the purpose is to look at young players whose opportunity could emerge and should be monitored. I will also look at potential injury replacement players, but I will try not to focus on the obvious choices for this week’s slate of games as that is covered elsewhere on the sight. My goal is to help look around corners for the season which might give some ideas for pre-emptive adds to your roster. Now that we have four weeks in the books, I can start extrapolating on statistics a bit more reliably. Young Running Backs and Their Opportunity Status Bucky Irving: The story with Irving continued into Week 4. Irving and Rachaad White both had 10 carries for 49 yards in this game. Irving had the lone RB TD. White out-targeted Irving 2:1 in the game. Irving is earning snaps and opportunities in this offense. White hasn’t gone away but he’s used far less than last season. Irving can be put into lineups during the byes. Chase Brown: Brown did get the 50/50 split with RB carries in Week 4 that has been indicated as the plan since the off-season. Brown’s fantasy day was much larger with 80 yards on 15 carries plus two rushing touchdowns to go along with two receptions for 12 yards. Brown might be the back to own in this offense going forward, but Zack Moss is still playing well. Brown’s speed does jump out at you and Moss seems to be the preferred back in passing situations. Moss received all snaps in the two-minute drill and 60% of the third down action. Carson Steele: This might have been a short-lived lead-back role for Steele. After a fumble in the first quarter, Kareem Hunt led the way from the 2nd quarter through the end of the game. He played well enough for the offense to operate. Samaje Perine was still the preferred third down and two-minute drill back. That didn’t leave a whole lot of action for Steele. You might hold him if you can afford to for another week to see if he can reprise his role or if the fumble gave way to an opportunity that Hunt seized. Ray Davis: Davis again received some garbage time action in week 4. He’s not in the rotation enough to trust in your lineups and is strictly a handcuff right now who could split time with Ty Johnson if an injury happens to James Cook. Braelon Allen: The Jets seem to have a problem, although a good problem. They have two good running backs. Breece Hall is struggling running the ball this year averaging only 3.11 yards per carry. Allen is averaging a robust 4.81 and seems to be getting used more each game. Allen is averaging 9.4 ppg and would be huge if Hall were to get injured. He’s useable during bye weeks and a premium handcuff for fantasy managers. Roschon Johnson: The Bears have shrunk their three-headed running back committee to two backs. Johnson has gone from the outside looking in at the crowded running back rotation to part of the two-person committee. He didn’t have the break-out day many were hoping for as signals were coming in saying he would be used more. Johnson did get the majority of third-down work, he got a goal-line carry. But he ceded most of the two-minute snaps to D’Andre Swift who had a huge fantasy day. Johnson’s usage was encouraging despite the modest fantasy output despite the touchdown. He appears to be the current backup to Swift as he took about 25% of the early down work plus got the majority of third-down activity and one of the two goal-line touches. Jaylen Wright: With both Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson OUT, Wright continued to earn opportunities. His usage excluded short yardage and goal line – all of those went to De’Von Achane, other than that he was used on early downs, third down, and even in the two-minute drill. He hasn’t yielded a fantasy day yet and the Dolphins offense is struggling without Tua. If he can carve out a role good things could happen once Tua Tagovaioa returns. However, he could also disappear once Mostert returns. Tank Bigsby: Bigsby played a fair number of snaps in week 4, but D’Ernest Johnson picked up 4 third-down snaps to Bigsby’s one. Bigsby again demonstrated his proficiency in running the ball with 90 yards on seven carries. Unfortunately, he didn’t receive any targets in the passing game, nor did he score a TD. He carries premium handcuff appeal as well as being usable during byes, but if Travis Etienne were to go down, the passing down work would like to go to Johnson. Breakout Wide Receivers Sophomore Wideouts Jayden Reed: Reed has continued with strong performances after his rookie breakout campaign. The crowded receiver room made many drafters nervous. But Reed’s talent has come to the forefront. He’s only run 72.6% of routes but is securing a decent, if underwhelming 18% target share. His yards per route run of 3.43 is elite. The Packers need to get him the ball more. Rashee Rice: Another rookie year breakout that looked to have a secondary breakout this year. Going into week 4, Rice was participating in 76.9% of routes and had an outstanding 31% target share from Mahomes. His yards per route run of 3.60 was looking to provide league-winning numbers for those who drafted him. However, in week 4 he looked to have suffered a significant knee injury. Many have speculated it was a season-ending torn ACL. At the time of this writing, however, they have yet to confirm that and provide any timeline. Hopefully, we will learn in the next day or two so fantasy managers can make appropriate lineup decisions. Dontayvion Wicks: Wicks got his QB back and, unfortunately, Watson
Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 4
Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 4 Another slate, another round of underwhelming scoring, and major injuries. At this point, every fantasy football manager has had to reach out for reinforcements to field a competitive lineup. Our Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 4 will help you determine which players make good fill-ins, and which ones to avoid. Subsequently, our Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 4 will help you navigate that turbulence to pick a winning lineup this week. Additionally, FullTime Fantasy has some of the top tools of the trade and accurate rankings. Quarterbacks Start ‘Em Geno Smith (Seattle Seahawks) at Detroit Geno Smith came out firing in Week 3, but after that, he didn’t have to do much as the Seahawks cruised past a Dolphins team missing Tua. The game was in hand, so Smith’s workload eased off. Detroit’s defense has already allowed over 300 yards to Matthew Stafford and a top-five fantasy finish to Baker Mayfield. While Kyler Murray didn’t light up the scoreboard last week, he missed plenty of chances. With the game indoors, Smith will likely have to keep pace with the Lions’ offense, making him a solid start. Caleb Williams (Chicago Bears) vs. LA Rams Kyler Murray and Brock Purdy have shredded the Rams’ defense over the past two games, putting up huge numbers. Williams is coming off a 21.3-point fantasy performance against the Colts and should have another opportunity to shine at home against the Rams. He’s a low-end starter you can confidently plug into lineups across all formats. Sit ‘Em Baker Mayfield (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) vs. Philadelphia After tossing six touchdowns in the first two weeks against Washington and Detroit, Mayfield came back to earth against Denver in Week 3. Now, he faces the Eagles, who boast the stingiest pass defense in the league, allowing a completion rate of just 57.3% to quarterbacks in 2024. Mayfield is a clear sit this week. Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville Jaguars) at Houston Lawrence’s rough start to the season continued in Monday night’s blowout loss to Buffalo, where he put up just 9.4 fantasy points. With only two touchdowns and a season-high 220 passing yards so far, he’s been a disappointment. Even though the Texans were shredded by the Vikings last week, Lawrence struggled against them in two games last season, throwing just two touchdowns with two picks. Until we see more, he’s not a trustworthy option. Running Backs Start ‘Em Chuba Hubbard (Carolina Panthers) vs. Cincinnati Hubbard has been a steady contributor this season, ranking 19th among running backs with 40.9 fantasy points. His best showing came last week with Andy Dalton under center. Hubbard’s role has been consistent, playing over 54% of the snaps and seeing a solid share of touches. Once rookie Jonathon Brooks is fully healthy, Hubbard’s value could take a hit, but for now, expect him to be the lead back for at least one more week. Najee Harris (Pittsburgh Steelers) at Indianapolis It says a lot about Harris’ season that his 13.6-point showing against the Chargers was his best so far. But this week, he’s worth your trust. Harris has been getting plenty of volume, with at least 17 carries in every game this season and nine total targets. Plus, he faces a Colts defense being torched by running backs. Joe Mixon and Josh Jacobs both rushed for over 150 yards against Indianapolis. If you can’t start Harris in this matchup, then why even have him on your roster? Sit ‘Em D’Andre Swift (Chicago Bears) vs. LA Rams Swift has been a non-factor so far, tallying just 37 carries for 68 yards and 10 targets for 46 yards through three games. The Bears might start increasing Roschon Johnson’s workload, further cutting into Swift’s opportunities. Swift has done nothing to warrant trust, and even in good matchups, he’s a low-end flex option at best until he proves otherwise. Javonte Williams (Denver Broncos) at NY Jets Denver’s backfield is a headache for fantasy managers, with three different running backs involved last week. Williams led in snaps and targets, but Jaleel McLaughlin punched in a touchdown, while Tyler Badie outpaced them both in rushing yards. And with QB Bo Nix using his legs more—he scored the other rushing TD—there’s simply too much uncertainty to start Williams in Week 4. Wide Receivers Start ‘Em Diontae Johnson (Carolina Panthers) vs. Cincinnati The switch at quarterback meant everything for Diontae Johnson in Week 3, as he exploded against the Raiders with eight catches for 122 yards and a touchdown on 14 targets. Andy Dalton’s replacing Bryce Young seems to have unlocked something for Johnson, who’s in line for more heavy usage with Adam Thielen sidelined. Cincinnati’s defense has allowed at least 18.5 PPR points to the top opposing receiver in back-to-back games. Johnson looks like a strong start for Week 4 in all formats. D.J. Moore (Chicago Bears) vs. LA Rams D.J. Moore has been a consistent target magnet, tied with Amari Cooper at 27 targets this season. His fantasy stock has climbed every week, and his quarterback Caleb Williams earned his best PFF grade of the year in Week 3. Facing a Rams’ defense that’s been generous to wide receivers, Moore is in a great spot to continue producing. The Rams have given up the third-most fantasy points to WRs this season. Sit ‘Em Michael Pittman (Indianapolis Colts) vs. Pittsburgh Pittman has struggled through a lackluster season with few yards and no touchdowns. His deep-ball production has been nonexistent, and with the return of Josh Downs, Pittman’s target share could shrink further. The Colts face a Steelers’ defense that has been tough on wide receivers, making Pittman a risky play. Until he shows a bounce-back, it’s best to keep him benched. Jaylen Waddle (Miami Dolphins) vs. Tennessee Without Tua Tagovailoa under center, Waddle managed just four catches for 26 yards on five targets in Week 3 against Seattle. Until we know who will be starting for the Dolphins in Week 4,
Week 4 Sleepers & Emerging Players
AllenWeek 4 Sleepers, Potential-Emergent Players, and Opportunistic Plays This article is contributed by Brad Kruse This column is NOT intended to provide week 4 waiver claims lists. Instead, the purpose is to look at young players whose opportunities could be emerging and should be monitored. These are the Week 4 Sleepers and Emerging players to monitor moving forward. My goal is to help look around corners for the season which might give some ideas for pre-emptive adds to your roster. Young Running Backs and Their Opportunity Status Braelon Allen: Allen didn’t match his week 2 output, but his usage was again strong. Allen played 23 of the 73 snaps in the game and got 11 carries and 3 targets. He averaged 5.0 yards per carry to lead the team with 55 rushing yards. Also, Allen added three receptions for 13 yards and demonstrated his premium handcuff appeal if Breece Hall were to go down plus a playable emergency RB2 or flex alternative in leagues. Bucky Irving: The story with Irving continued into week 3. He is outperforming Rachaad White on the ground as he received nine carries to White’s six and gained 78 yards (7.8 yards/carry) to White’s 17 (2.8 yards/carry). White plays a lot more snaps and garners more targets. But the Bucs have to get Irving into the action more. His time is near. Roschon Johnson: A new edition to this list is the Bears 2nd year RB. Swift has disappointed fantasy managers. With Travis Homer’s injury, Johnson regained his third-down back role from last year and earned eight carries and five targets for the Bears. He also led Chicago’s backfield with 30 yards rushing and 32 yards receiving on 4 receptions. I wouldn’t look for Swift to disappear, but you have to like the passing game usage for Johnson. For him to be startable, however, the Bears will need to increase the output of the offense. Jaylen Wright: Another week without Raheem Mostert and another ho-hum day for Wright. This entire offense looks like a disaster until Tua Tagovailoa returns (likely after his 4-week IR stint). Tua is reportedly symptom-free, so I’d lean toward him returning when eligible. However, that’s still three weeks where the Dolphins will look to be run-heavy. But they need to figure out a way to be more efficient with the run. Wright’s looking like a disappointment so far as he’s had a few opportunities in the last two weeks but hasn’t flashed yet. Blake Corum: Corum has devolved into strictly a handcuff. He’s had no action and it’s somewhat inexplicable that they drafted him for someone who they could trust to relieve Kyren Williams and so as not to wear Williams down. Williams is handling a monster workload just like last year. He’s tough to hold in leagues right now, but the appeal of playing for the Rams’ fantasy juicy offense will probably keep fantasy managers loyal to their draft pick another week. Tank Bigsby: Bigsby played in week 3 on a questionable tag, but only received nine snaps, two carries and no targets in the blowout loss to the Bills. D’Ernest Johnson out-snapped Bigsby. Bigsby still appeared to be the primary backup before garbage time, but he’ll need better matchups or an injury to Étienne who is dominating snaps right now. Ray Davis: Davis chopped up the snaps behind James Cook with Ty Johnson then picked up the garbage time carries which yielded a TD. However, Davis doesn’t appear to be trusted on third downs, yet which is a disappointment that if Cook were to go down, Davis would likely be the between-the-tackles runner and Ty Johnson would get 3rd downs. Marshawn Lloyd: Lloyd is on IR, but the role behind Josh Jacobs is fruitful and Emanuel Wilson showed in Week 3. Wilson is playing well, and Lloyd may be able to secure the backup job if he can stay healthy when he returns. Lloyd is a player to keep in mind for a fresh-legged runner down the stretch but don’t sleep on Wilson in the meantime. Carson Steele: We didn’t get a lot of clarity this week on Steele. He did get the start and was used a bit in the passing game, however Samaje Perine was used more in the passing situations (3rd down and 2-minute drill). Plus, we might see Kareem Hunt enter the scene next week, so this is a fragile situation. Right now, Steele is probably the RB to own, but as soon as it sorts itself out, Pacheco could return. Breakout Wide Receivers Jalen McMillan: McMillan was quiet again, but the skillset is there. He’s behind solid veterans in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. He’s out there consistently running routes. Hopefully, it won’t take an injury for him to get involved more. Adonai Mitchell: With Josh Down’s return, Mitchell’s snap share plummeted. For now, he seems behind Pierce, but Ashton Dulin also played twice as many snaps (14:7) as Mitchell. Mitchell is back in wait-and-see mode. Malik Washington: Washington’s opportunity will have to wait until Tua’s healthy. He’s likely on the waiver wire and should stay there until this offense gets on track. Alec Pierce: The Bears have a strong secondary and they essentially shut down the passing attack for the Colts, who relied on the running game to bulldoze the Bears in Week 3. Pierce’s one reception on two targets did lead the Colts with 44 receiving yards demonstrating his deep-threat role on the team. But this time he didn’t get in the end zone. Regardless, his skill set seems to match Richardson’s strong arm. He’s flexible against lesser secondaries and games that figure to be negative game scripts for the Colts. Ja’Lynn Polk: Polk’s role seemed to shrink in week 3 after getting only 26 snaps and was outtargeted by DeMario Douglas (9:2). Polk will likely be a fine wide receiver, but he’ll need this offense to perform better and open up. That might not happen until Drake Maye takes over. Jordan
Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 3
Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 3 Passing and scoring are down significantly after two weeks. Also, injuries have piled up. That common has fantasy managers scrambling. Our Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 3 will help you make the best decisions to get yourself a crucial victory this week. Subsequently, our Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 3 will help you navigate that turbulence to pick a winning lineup this week. Additionally, FullTime Fantasy has some of the top tools of the trade and accurate rankings. Quarterbacks Start ‘Em Derek Carr (New Orleans Saints) vs. Philadelphia Derek Carr ranks fourth in fantasy points among quarterbacks, despite being 31st in pass attempts. Carr is on fire, leading the league in both Pro Football Focus’s passing grade and NFL Next Gen Stats’ completion percentage above expectation. Offensive Coordinator Klint Kubiak is pulling out all the stops with heavy use of pre-snap motion and play action, leading the league in both categories. Expect Carr to stay hot this week at home against the Eagles, whose pass defense ranks 25th in DVOA and 24th in fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks. Baker Mayfield (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) vs. Denver Baker Mayfield is off to a red-hot start in 2024, posting QB2 and QB5 finishes in fantasy. He currently leads all quarterbacks in total fantasy points. He’s set up for another big game this Sunday against a Broncos defense that ranks second-to-last in pass defense DVOA. The Buccaneers are projected for 23.25 points, making their offense one of the top-scoring units of the week. Sit ‘Em Dak Prescott (Dallas Cowboys) vs. Baltimore Cowboys fans, brace yourselves! Dak Prescott has struggled in his first two games, failing to top 13 fantasy points or throw for multiple touchdowns. He’s added minimal value with his legs, rushing for just 15 yards so far. He hasn’t been a threat on the ground in years. Now, he faces a Ravens defense that ranks sixth in sack rate and has allowed just two passing touchdowns. Baltimore’s defense even held Patrick Mahomes to 15 fantasy points in Week 1. With Prescott’s early struggles and the tough matchup, it might be time to look elsewhere. Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville Jaguars) at Buffalo Trevor Lawrence has only thrown one touchdown through two games and hasn’t cracked 14 fantasy points yet. Lawrence is allergic to throwing TDs after only having 21 in 2023. His best passing yardage total is just 220, and in Week 2 he only managed 16 passing yards in the first half. The Bills’ secondary is good, allowing the third-lowest yards per attempt and ninth-lowest pass EPA in the NFL. Given Lawrence’s early-season struggles and the tough matchup, you’re better off finding another quarterback this week. Running Backs Start ‘Em Zack Moss (Cincinnati Bengals) vs. Washington Zack Moss’s fantasy production hasn’t exploded yet, but it’s going to happen. He’s out-touched Chase Brown 21 to seven in carries and five to three in targets. Moss is primed for a breakout in Week 3, as the Bengals are 7.5-point favorites at home against the Commanders, who are getting gashed by RBs. Tony Pollard (Tennessee Titans) vs. Green Bay Tony Pollard is sitting at RB12 so far this season. He’s been a workhorse, ranking in the top 10 for both rushing attempts and targets. Meanwhile, Tyjae Spears is dealing with an injury and missed practice time this week. Pollard will face a Green Bay Packers defense that has given up the seventh-most fantasy points to running backs this season. Sit ‘Em D’Andre Swift (Chicago Bears) at Indianapolis D’Andre Swift’s season is off to a sluggish start, averaging just 2.0 yards per carry, tied for the lowest among backs with at least 20 attempts. He’s been hit behind the line of scrimmage on 37.5% of his runs, the highest rate among backs with that volume. While the Colts have allowed the most rushing yards this season, they’ve also faced the highest number of attempts. With the Colts favored Swift might struggle to turn his opportunities into meaningful fantasy points this week. Najee Harris (Pittsburgh Steelers) vs. Los Angeles Chargers Najee Harris has been the Steelers’ leadback through two games, but his stats are underwhelming. He has yet to score more than 8.9 PPR points, and Jaylen Warren played more snaps than Harris in Week 2. The Chargers haven’t allowed a rushing touchdown yet, and Harris doesn’t figure to see much work in the passing game. Finally, if he doesn’t find the end zone, his fantasy output will be limited. He’s a flex play at best this week. Wide Receivers Start ‘Em Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Seattle Seahawks) vs. Miami After a quiet Week 1, Jaxon Smith-Njigba broke out in Week 2 against the Patriots, hauling in 12 catches for 117 yards on 16 targets. Hopefully, this continues especially with DK Metcalf continuing to dominate. Smith-Njigba enters Week 3 as a potential WR2 against the Dolphins. Look for the Seahawks’ passing attack, led by Geno Smith, to continue leaning on Metcalf and Smith-Njigba. Dionte Johnson (Carolina Panthers) vs. Las Vegas Dionte Johnson’s first two weeks have been rough, with just five catches for 34 yards on 12 targets. However, things could turn around in Week 3 as the Panthers switch to Andy Dalton at quarterback in place of Bryce Young. Facing the Raiders, who have allowed at least one wide receiver to score 14.9 PPR points in every game this season, Johnson could rebound as a WR3 in fantasy lineups this week. If Andy Dalton can even run a functional offense, Johnson can turn his season around. Sit ‘Em Xavier Worthy (Kansas City Chiefs) at Atlanta Xavier Worthy may be the Chiefs’ No. 2 receiver, but he’s only played in under 70% of their snaps and has just two catches along with a single carry in each of the first two games. The Chiefs are 3.5-point favorites this week, and they may opt to run the ball more even without Pacheco. Worthy is also dealing with a
Week 3 Sleepers
Week 3 Sleepers, Potential-Emergent Players, and Opportunistic Plays This article is contributed by Brad Kruse This column is NOT intended to provide Week 3 waiver claims lists. Instead, the purpose is to look at young players whose opportunities could be emerging and should be monitored. I will also look at potential injury replacement players, but I will try to not focus on the obvious choices for this week’s slate of games as that is covered elsewhere on the sight. My goal is to help look around corners for the season which might give some ideas for pre-emptive adds to your roster. Young Running Backs and Their Opportunity Status Braelon Allen: The big story of week 2 concerning these young RBs was Allen’s surprise opportunity. He carried the ball seven times for 33 yards and a TD and added two receptions for 23 yards and another TD. He’s graduated from premium handcuff to a flex or RB2 candidate. He’s officially emerged. Bucky Irving: Through two games, Irving has 16 rush attempts for 84 yards (5.3 yards/carry) and has caught two of his three targets for 14 yards. He will be worked in as White continues to disappoint on the ground (25 carries for 49 yards or 1.96 yards/carry). But Rachaad White continues to excel in the passing game with 7 receptions for 80 yards and a 14% target share). Irving could give you a non-zero number at RB2 right now if you went with a Zero RB strategy, but time will tell if he can eat into White’s passing game usage. Jaylen Wright: There was some hope to see what Wright could do with Mostert OUT in week 2 and Wright active. But it was mostly the Achane show. Wright’s potential emergence will be on HOLD for now. Blake Corum: Corum got some mop-up action this week, but the Rams’ offensive line has been decimated with injuries along with their two-star wide receivers. Barring an injury to Kyren Williams, Corum will be in a holding pattern as well. Tank Bigsby: Bigsby has looked better this year. He did suffer a shoulder injury although he officially returned to the game but didn’t see any action as D’Ernest Johnson took over the RB2 role. We’ll see if Bigsby is healthy enough for week 3. Marshawn Lloyd: Lloyd got on the field, but then injured his ankle and is now on IR. This will keep the door open for Emanuel Wilson who has 9 carries for 55 yards through two games. With the Packers playing run-heavy game scripts with Jordan Love on the mend, Wilson is a name that could be a stopgap for some lineups. Carson Steele: Pacheco is now on IR and talk is he may miss up to six weeks. Samaje Perine could be the better fantasy play as he has been used in passing downs by the Chiefs so far. The Chiefs also signed Kareem Hunt. It’s unclear how much he has in the tank. For now, consider Steele a short yardage back that will get some early down action. He’ll have the highest ceiling of the players that are in the RB room right now, just due to the fact it’s unknown, but it’s also hard to believe they fully trust him in pass protection and two-minute drill situations. Breakout Wide Receivers Jalen McMillan: McMillan was relatively quiet again, but the skillset is there. He’s behind solid veterans in Evans and Godwin and White is used a lot in the passing game so it may take some time for him to emerge, but the talent is there. Adonai Mitchell: Mitchell has a similar problem with McMillan. His offense isn’t generating enough targets for his role. He’ll likely have some boom games but will be tough to trust until Richardson becomes more efficient passing the ball. Malik Washington: Two of Tua’s interceptions seemed to be caused by miscues with WRs not named Hill or Waddle. This would seem to indicate that Washington will have an opportunity when healthy; however, Tua is on IR with a concussion so it’s uncertain when he will return. That will shrink the offense. Jaxon Smith-Njigba: JSN delivered in week 2 catching 12 of 16 targets for 117 yards. He should be a foundational piece of that offense. Alec Pierce: Pierce has been the beneficiary of Anthony Richardson’s tendency for the long passes and inaccuracy in the short range. Pierce as the field stretcher has caught 8 balls in two games resulting in 2 TDs. This trend could stick. Be careful with Josh Downs nearing a return to see how this wide receiver rotation evolves. Ja’Lynn Polk: Polk had a much better week 2 and seems firmly in the receiver rotation. It will probably take a Drake Maye entrance to unlock him as right now the Patriots are trying to win games with their defense and rushing attack. Jordan Whittington: Whittington started seeing more opportunities as Cooper Kupp exited the game injured. Week 3 could give us a sign of life from Whittington, but this Rams unit is banged up. He’s a decent stash to see if something is there. Dontayvion Wicks: He flashed great efficiency as a rookie, then put in a dud in week 1. He did catch a TD in week 2, but the offense is too run-heavy to trust. However, when Love returns Wicks will end up on rosters in every league. Young Tight Ends Brock Bowers: Bowers turned in a 9 rec 98-yard effort and is officially on overall TE1 watch. It is an uphill battle for him to get there. But he’s in everybody’s top-6 TEs right now and has been the most consistent TE scorer so far. Tucker Kraft: Like most Green Bay receiving weapons, Kraft will have to wait until Love returns before he is unlocked. However, he seems to have locked down the TE1 role in Green Bay ENTER OUR WEEK 3 DRAFT CONTEST! How it Works: Firstly, draft your team using our On-Demand Simulator.
Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 2
Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 2 Week 1 had its share of unpredictable performances. Both good and bad. Now that we have a week’s worth of action to go by, here are the top Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 2 players to target and fade in the second week of the 2024 NFL season. Additionally, FullTime Fantasy has some of the top tools of the trade and accurate rankings. Quarterbacks Start ‘Em Brock Purdy (San Francisco 49ers) at Minnesota Purdy’s fantasy performance in Week 1 was less than stellar, but there’s no need to panic. He faced a tough New York Jets defense, completing 19 of 29 passes for 231 yards and no touchdowns, resulting in 10.3 fantasy points. However, he earned the second-highest quarterback grade of the week and led the 49ers to victory. His outlook improves in Week 2, as he transitions from facing one of the best defenses in the Jets to the more manageable Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings impressed last week, but this matchup will present a new challenge for their defense. Purdy has historically thrived against zone defenses, earning an 85.7 grade versus zone compared to 68.5 against man coverage. Under Brian Flores, Minnesota has tended to lean heavily on zone coverage. You can confidently start Purdy Week 2 Baker Mayfield (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) at Detroit Mayfield’s transformation since his Week 6 debacle against Detroit last year has been remarkable. In Week 1, he exploded for 37.7 fantasy points against Washington, continuing a streak where he’s posted at least 20.3 points in seven of his last eight games, including playoff action. The Lions limited Matthew Stafford to 16.7 fantasy points last week, but Mayfield has momentum as he enters Week 2. The game’s expected total is 51.5 points, the highest of the week, making it likely that Mayfield will contribute to a high-scoring affair. Sit ‘Em Caleb Williams (Chicago Bears) at Houston Williams’s NFL debut was rough, completing less than half his passes for 93 yards and adding only 15 rushing yards, totaling just seven fantasy points. While Anthony Richardson had a strong fantasy day against Houston, it’s important to remember that the Texans generated pressure at a high rate. This makes it hard to trust Williams, especially with injuries to key receivers. Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals) at Kansas City Burrow’s 8.1 fantasy points in Week 1 ranked 29th among quarterbacks, with no touchdowns and only 5.7 yards per attempt. He faces a tough matchup against Kansas City’s defense, which ranks as the sixth hardest for quarterbacks according to PFF. Burrow’s dealing with a wrist injury, and Tee Higgins’s status remains uncertain, making it difficult to rely on Burrow in Week 2. Running Backs Start ‘Em J.K. Dobbins (Los Angeles Chargers) at Carolina I was drafting a ton of Dobbins during the pre-season and I am so happy it paid off. Dobbins played on 59% of the snaps, turning 10 carries into 135 yards and a touchdown. His explosive runs, while chased down, are even more impressive given that this was his first game back since tearing his Achilles. Dobbins led Chargers’ backs in routes run and targets, showing his versatility. With a favorable matchup against the Panthers, who gave up 180 rushing yards last week, Dobbins is a must-start in all formats. Jerome Ford (Cleveland Browns) at Jacksonville Ford played a career-high 57 snaps in Week 1, accounting for 75% of the Browns’ offensive plays. Heading into Week 2, he faces a Jacksonville defense that surrendered the sixth-most fantasy points to running backs in Week 1 and was one of the 12 worst teams in points allowed to the position last season. Ford’s usage and favorable matchup make him a strong fantasy option this week. Sit ‘Em D’Andre Swift (Chicago Bears) at Houston Swift’s Week 1 was a disaster, managing just 30 yards on 10 carries, with half of those attempts going for minimal gains. His lack of involvement in the passing game is concerning, and a matchup against the Texans, who just held Jonathan Taylor in check, doesn’t inspire confidence. Swift is a low-end flex option at best. Javonte Williams (Denver Broncos) vs. Pittsburgh Williams was on the field for 52% of the snaps in Week 1. But he only saw eight carries and two targets. Meanwhile, Jaleel McLaughlin had more opportunities. With the Broncos’ offense struggling under rookie QB Bo Nix, it’s hard to trust Williams, especially against a tough Pittsburgh defense. Wide Receivers Start ‘Em Jameson Williams (Detroit Lions) vs. Tampa Bay Williams exceeded expectations in Week 1, hauling in five catches for 121 yards and a touchdown on nine targets. His offseason improvements have paid off, and he looks poised for a breakout in his third year. With Tampa Bay’s secondary banged up, Williams should stay hot and is a solid WR2 in fantasy this week. Terry McLaurin (Washington Commanders) vs. New York Giants McLaurin has been reliable against the Giants, scoring at least 13.0 PPR points in eight of his last nine meetings against Big Blue. While he had a quiet Week 1, recording just two catches for 17 yards in Jayden Daniels‘s debut, Week 2 should see better chemistry between the two. The Giants allowed big performances from Justin Jefferson and others last week. This bodes well for McLaurin to bounce back. Sit ‘Em George Pickens (Pittsburgh Steelers) at Denver Pickens delivered with six catches for 85 yards last week. But he faces a tough test against Denver and star cornerback Pat Surtain II in Week 2. Surtain shadowed DK Metcalf last week, holding him to just 29 yards. With Pittsburgh likely shifting focus to the run, Pickens is best left on the bench this week. Calvin Ridley (Tennessee Titans) vs. New York Jets Ridley had a mediocre Week 1, managing just three catches for 50 yards on seven targets. The matchup against the Jets and their elite corner Sauce Gardner doesn’t bode well for Ridley’s fantasy prospects in Week 2. He’s a