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Your team is beginning to take shape after Week 3, as are your postseason hopes. Your success during the first four weeks of fantasy season are often determined by the strength of your draft, your luck with injuries and your fortunes on the waiver wire.
Another important factor is picking the right player to start during the right week. Identifying and taking advantage of great matchups and playing situations helps fantasy owners make the best possible decisions.
This weekly column will examine all of the early Sunday games of the week and pick out which players are most likely to have big games and which ones are most likely to put up duds.
Potential Booms for Week 4
Quarterbacks:
Cam Newton, QB, Panthers: Seven total TDs against just two turnovers has Cam Newton looking like an early MVP candidate. While the Buccaneers have tightened up their passing defense over the last two weeks, Marcus Mariota’s Week 1 explosion against Tampa Bay still has me convinced that their passing defense is suspect. Newton has produced big time fantasy numbers over the last two weeks and it should continue on Sunday.
Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons: One of the most underrated quarterbacks in fantasy football, Matt Ryan has quietly put together a solid start to the season (five TD passes, two INTs) and looks like a strong candidate to keep it going this week against the Texans. Houston just got ripped to shreds by Newton and the Panthers, and the Texans have surrendered six TD passes in three weeks.
Andy Dalton, QB, Bengals: Consider me all-in on the “Red Rifle’s” bandwagon. Eight TDs, one INT and at least 18 points in every game this season has Andy Dalton looking like a Top 10 or even Top 5 quarterback. I see no reason why he can’t keep his early season success going against a Chiefs team that has given up 10 TD passes this season and has one of the worst passing defenses in the league.
Running Backs:
Latavius Murray, RB, Raiders: Latavius Murray has suddenly thrust himself into the RB1 discussion after consecutive weeks breaking into the endzone and racking up 139 YDs on the ground last week. Against a porous Bears D that has allowed 335 rushing YDs and two rushing scores through the first three weeks, Murray should have another good game.
Karlos Williams, RB, Bills: There’s only one running back in the NFL with at least one touchdown every week this season, and it’s not any of your usual suspects. Receiving limited carries behind LeSean McCoy, Karlos Williams has managed 186 rushing YDs, three TDs and an astounding 7.75 yards per carry. With McCoy slated to miss this week’s game, Williams is in line for a big day. The Giants have not been great at stopping running backs from scoring big fantasy points either.
Wide Receivers:
Jordan Matthews, WR, Eagles: Don’t be discouraged by last week’s dud, Jordan Matthews was stuck on Revis Island. This week, against a much more forgiving Redskins passing defense, expect Matthews to return to his Week 1 and Week 2 form. The Skins have surrendered four TDs and 380 YDs to receivers in three games. Matthews will be targeted heavily and will score big on Sunday.
Amari Cooper, WR, Raiders: Just as his teammate Murray has thrust himself into the RB1 conversation, Amari Cooper is now in the WR1 discussion. In his last two games he has 15 receptions, 243 yards, 22 targets and a score. He’s clearly the top option in Oakland and is facing a Bears team that has been smoked by WRs this season. Start Cooper with confidence and expect big things.
Julio Jones, WR, Atlanta: If you have Julio Jones on your team, there’s no way in the world you would consider benching him anyway. It’s still worth pointing out that Jones has been the best receiver in the NFL so far this season and is downright unfair in PPR leagues. Jones has hauled in 34 receptions, 440 YDs and four TDs so far this season, and although the matchup against Houston doesn’t look great on paper, Jones is as matchup-proof as a player can get right now.
Tight Ends:
Martellus Bennett, TE, Bears: Even with Jay Cutler looking iffy to play on Sunday, it’s hard to overlook how vulnerable the Raiders have been against tight ends. So far this season, the Silver and Black Attack have allowed five TDs and 305 receiving YDs to tight ends. Even with Bennett’s modest numbers early this season, he looks poised to have a big week against Oakland, just like the last three tight ends facing the Raiders have.
Charles Clay, TE, Bills: A pair of TDs in the last two games and a Giants defense that has shown some vulnerability in defending TEs makes Charles Clay an enticing start. The Bills will be at home and with Sammy Watkins hurt, more targets should be coming Clay’s way.
Defenses:
New York Jets: With the game in London at 9:30 AM Eastern Time and the Dolphins offensive attack looking well below average, the New York Jets defense is poised for a big bounce-back game. The unit has scored double digit fantasy points in two of three weeks and should make it three of four after facing Miami.
Potential Busts for Week 4
Quarterbacks:
Ryan Tannehill, QB, Dolphins: It’s hard to have faith in anyone on the massively disappointing Dolphins offense. Ryan Tannehill has turned the ball over four times already and has only scored in the 20s once this season. With this game being in London and the Jets defense holding fantasy QBs to an average of 9.2 points per game, it’s time to bench Tannehill.
Eli Manning, QB, Giants: While Eli Manning has picked up his play over the last two weeks (four TDs, no INTs), a start against Buffalo is an average one at best for any quarterback not named Brady or Rodgers. If you have other options, consider going elsewhere.
Running Backs:
Lamar Miller, RB, Dolphins: Lamar Miller is already likely stuck on your bench after a very disappointing start to the season. A favorite preseason breakout pick, Miller has not reached 55 rushing YDs yet or received more than 13 carries in a game. Despite the fact that he was a third or fourth round pick for most fantasy owners, continuing to start him, especially against the Jets, is ill-advised.
Rashad Jennings, RB, Giants: As a preseason supporter of Rashad Jennings as an undervalued running back, I’m a bit surprised at his lack of production so far this season. He has just one score and only 96 rushing YDs through three weeks. His touches have been limited by the presence of Shane Vereen and Andre Williams, and the Bills have also been great against the run. Leave Jennings on the bench.
Wide Receivers:
Jarvis Landry, WR, Dolphins: Revis Island is where No. 1 receivers go to die for a week, and this time around it’s Jarvis Landry’s turn. He still has not reached the endzone this season and is beginning to lose targets to Rishard Matthews. Landry will likely have big games down the road, but in London against the Jets and on a dysfunctional offense, this is not the week.
Vincent Jackson, WR, Buccaneers: It’s time to give up on Vincent Jackson as a viable Top 20 receiver. After seeing 11 targets in Week 1, he has seen a combined nine over the last two weeks and has a measly nine receptions so far. Additionally, Carolina has only allowed one TD to WRs this season. Unless you’re desperate, Jackson is nothing more than a mid to low-end flex play.
Tight Ends:
Jordan Cameron, TE, Dolphins: At this point, I’m hesitant to start any Dolphins. Though Jordan Cameron has posted respectable numbers for his position (10 receptions, 151 YDs), the state of the Dolphins offense, the difficulty of the Jets defense and a home game in London all seem to indicate a poor outing for Cameron.
Defense:
Houston Texans: Houston was supposed to be one the best defenses in the NFL, but they have been far from it. A road game against a revitalized Falcons offense doesn’t seem to be the remedy to get the unit back on track.
Kansas City Chiefs: Another unit that is performing below expectations, the Kansas City Chiefs got torched by Aaron Rodgers last week and have been fairly mediocre so far. Dalton is certainly no Rodgers, but if you watch the Bengals offense this season, it doesn’t look like a favorable matchup for any defensive unit.
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