Well that was a strange week. The studs just didn't perform well. Who would have guessed that both Julio Jones and Antonio Brown would have been so bad in the same week? It is time though to forget the past week and move on to week 5. These guys are considered studs for a reason, you always start them no matter what. Occasional performances like this will happen from even the best players, you just have to remember to not overreact to one game.
While only two teams were off last week, we now have four teams this week. The amount of teams will stay up until we reach the end of the bye weeks. Each week remember to take a look at which guys won't be playing, and how many active guys you have. If you only have 3 active WR's in a week, but one of them is a little banged up, it is best to play it safe, and try to find a guy on your team you are willing to drop to add a security net for you. Without going much further, it is time to go to the rankings.
Teams on Bye: Dolphins, Jets, Panthers, Vikings
Rank |
Player |
Team |
Opponent |
1 |
Julio Jones |
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2 |
Demaryius Thomas |
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3 |
Randall Cobb |
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4 |
Odell Beckham Jr. |
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5 |
DeAndre Hopkins |
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6 |
Antonio Brown |
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7 |
A.J. Green |
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8 |
Jeremy Maclin |
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9 |
Julian Edelman |
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10 |
Larry Fitzgerald |
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11 |
Emmanuel Sanders |
Broncos |
Raiders |
12 |
Keenan Allen |
Chargers |
Steelers |
13 |
Calvin Johnson |
Lions |
Cardinals |
14 |
T.Y. Hilton |
Colts |
Texans |
15 |
Allen Robinson |
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16 |
Donte Moncrief |
Colts |
Texans |
17 |
Jordan Matthews |
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18 |
Amari Cooper |
Raiders |
Broncos |
19 |
James Jones |
Packers |
Rams |
20 |
Kendall Wright |
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21 |
Mike Evans |
Buccaneers |
Jaguars |
22 |
Pierre Garcon |
Redskins |
Falcons |
23 |
Vincent Jackson |
Buccaneers |
Jaguars |
24 |
Allen Hurns |
Jaguars |
Buccaneers |
25 |
Brandin Cooks |
Saints |
Eagles |
26 |
Terrance Williams |
Cowboys |
Patriots |
27 |
John Brown |
Cardinals |
Lions |
28 |
Leonard Hankerson |
Falcons |
Redskins |
29 |
Martavis Bryant |
Steelers |
Chargers |
30 |
Eddie Royal |
Bears |
Chiefs |
31 |
Kamar Aiken |
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32 |
Rueben Randle |
Giants |
49ers |
33 |
Travis Benjamin |
Browns |
Ravens |
34 |
Michael Crabtree |
Raiders |
Broncos |
35 |
Percy Harvin |
Bills |
Titans |
36 |
Willie Snead |
Saints |
Eagles |
37 |
Doug Baldwin |
Seahawks |
Bengals |
38 |
Golden Tate |
Lions |
Cardinals |
39 |
Anquan Boldin |
49ers |
Giants |
40 |
Kenny Britt |
Rams |
Packers |
41 |
Tavon Austin |
Rams |
Packers |
42 |
Torrey Smith |
49ers |
Giants |
43 |
Marvin Jones |
Bengals |
Seahawks |
44 |
Marquess Wilson |
Bears |
Chiefs |
45 |
Cole Beasley |
Cowboys |
Patriots |
46 |
Jermaine Kearse |
Seahawks |
Bengals |
47 |
Nate Washington |
Texans |
Colts |
48 |
Dorial Green-Beckham |
Titans |
Bills |
49 |
Jamison Crowder |
Redskins |
Falcons |
50 |
Sammy Watkins |
Bills |
Titans |
Jeremy Maclin - The last two weeks have shown us the upside that Maclin brings on a week to week basis. There is no reason to think that Maclin can't continue this great stretch against the Bears. Whatever you think of Alex Smith as a starting QB, he is doing a fine job getting the ball to his best receiver. Maclin needs Smith to continue providing top 15 numbers.
Allen Hurns - A big play option who was a target monster last week. The Jaguars are letting Bortles air out the ball right now, and that is providing enough targets to sustain two top receivers. The main guy will be Allen Robinson, but Hurns will get enough to justify production most weeks. This week he gets a nice bump because of the matchup against Tampa Bay. Both guys should put up the production this week, and Hurns has a nice chance to break a long TD.
Brandin Cooks - Yes Cooks just had a down game again, but I saw somthing in that game that explains it. The Cowboys saw the threat that Cooks can be to them, and because of that, they had Morris Claiborne opposite of him the entire game. The fact that the Cowboys still recognize Cooks is still a big threat, shows the respect he is getting as a 2nd year receiver who has yet to play well this year. I see a nice turnaround coming for Cooks, and the start could be this week. The Eagles are the fifth worst at stopping opposing WR's, giving Cooks the opportunity to right the ship here.
Martavis Bryant - Would rank higher if Roethlisberger was playing. This is his first game back, and while I recommend a wait and see approach, he is such a dynamic player that I can justify starting him if you have a guy on a bye. It will be interesting to see what the Steelers have Vick do with the extra time they had between games. This could be the start to a great last 12 games for Bryant.
Kamar Aiken - Steve Smith will be out this week, and with that Kamar Aiken will step up to be the number one guy for Joe Flacco. Aiken had a decent game last week, and now has a good matchup against the Browns. While I want to believe that Aiken will be just as good as Smith was, I need to see him do it first. The upside seems limited, so he will need quite a few targets to put up a great
Jamison Crowder - Not a player you will be starting this week, but someone to keep an eye on. Crowder has now had two straight games of at least 6 receptions, and has been targeted 9 times a game in that span. While Crowder may not amount to something when Jackson returns, in the short term Crowder could prove himself a nice player, earning more playing time over Garcon in the second half of the season.