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Quarterbacks
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Philip Rivers, SD vs. PIT - In two home games this season, Rivers is averaging 380 passing yards per game, has thrown five touchdowns, and is averaging 27.1 fantasy points per game. He also has an impressive 112.9 QB rating. This is a good matchup for Rivers at home versus the Steelers who have surrendered seven passing touchdowns and are allowing 252 passing yards per game. The Steelers haven't faced many quarterbacks that can sling it this season, but when they did, they got torched for 288 yards and four touchdowns. He's playing at a high level in Qualcomm Stadium and should continue that streak this week versus a subpar defense.
Jay Cutler, CHI at KC
Eli Manning, NYG vs. SF
Sam Bradford, PHI vs. NO
Carson Palmer, ARI at DET
Sleeper Alert: Blake Bortles, JAC at TB
Sit Em
Derek Carr, OAK vs. DEN - After putting together two 300+ passing yard games, Carr had an underwhelming performance last week against the Bears. I definitely expected a much better performance due to the favorable matchup, but he finished the day with just 14.8 fantasy points. This week he has a much tougher matchup against the league's best pass defense this season, Denver Broncos. They're allowing the fewest fantasy points per game (6.8), have surrendered the fewest passing touchdowns (2), and are giving up just 215 passing yards per game. They have held two quarterbacks this season to fewer than 200 passing yards and without a touchdown pass. This will be Carr's toughest matchup and we've already seen him struggled against a good defense once this season (Week 1 vs. CIN).
Other Sits
Matthew Stafford, DET vs. ARI
Colin Kaepernick, SF at NYG
Michael Vick, PIT at DET
Nick Foles, STL at GB
Bust Alert: Andy Dalton, CIN vs. SEA
Running Backs
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Dion Lewis, NE at DAL - In the first three games of the season, Lewis is averaging 14.8 fantasy points per game and 6.3 targets per game. He's been targeted in 14.5 percent of the teams passing attempts and has caught 15 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown. He has a favorable matchup on deck as he will head to Dallas to take on the Cowboys who have allowed 33 receptions and the second most receiving yards to opposing backs. Something that caught my eye is that running backs are averaging 9.25 targets against the Cowboys. They have allowed back-to-back 100+ rushing yards games and four rushing touchdowns in the last two weeks. Lewis should continue to see plenty of opportunities in arguably the league's best offense.
Other Starts
Danny Woodhead, SD vs. PIT
Justin Forsett, BAL vs. CLE
T.J. Yeldon, JAC at TB
DeMarco Murray, PHI vs. NO
Sleeper alert: Ronnie Hillman, DEN at OAK
Sit Em
Melvin Gordon, SD vs. PIT - If there was a week I thought Gordon could have his break out game, it was last week against the Browns. Instead, he struggled averaging 3.2 yards per carry (season low) on 12 carries and once again was out snapped and outperformed by Danny Woodhead. Gordon is averaging 57 yards per game, has not scored a touchdown, and has not received a red zone carry. The Steelers are one of four defenses who have not allowed a rushing touchdown this season and one of three defenses who have not allowed a touchdown to a running back, period. Opposing backs are averaging 87.3 rushing yards per game and 10 fantasy points per game against the Steelers. Until the Chargers feel comfortable enough to get him more involved, it's tough for fantasy owners to have too much faith in Gordon in their starting lineups.
Other Sits
Isaiah Crowell, CLE vs. BAL
Alfred Morris, WAS at ATL
C.J. Anderson, DEN at OAK
Ameer Abdullah, DET vs. ARI
Bust Alert: Joseph Randle, DAL vs. NE
Wide Receivers
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Julian Edelman, NE at DAL - Edelman has received 32.1 percent of the team's targets and is averaging 14 targets per game. He has yet received fewer than 11 targets in a single game this season. He has 30 receptions for 279 yards and two touchdowns. Coming off of a bye week, Edelman should be well rested. The Cowboys are surrendering 18.5 fantasy points and 152.3 receiving yards per game to opposing receivers. They've also allowed three touchdowns. I'm fully expecting for Tom Brady to pick apart this vulnerable secondary and Edelman would be one of the several Patriots to benefit from that.
Other Starts
Keenan Allen, SD vs. PIT
Jordan Mathews, PHI vs. NO
Allen Robinson, JAC at TB
Mike Evans, TB vs. JAC
Sleeper Alert: Leonard Hankerson, ATL vs. WAS
Sit Em
Amari Cooper, OAK vs. DEN - It's difficult to bench a receiver who has scored double digit fantasy points in three consecutive games. In that span, he's caught 19 passes for 292 yards and two touchdowns. However, this week he has arguably the toughest matchup he's had all season. The Broncos are allowing the second fewest fantasy points per game (12.5), surrendering just 123.8 receiving yards per game, and have allowed the fewest touchdowns to opposing receivers (1). Prior to last week, they hadn't surrendered a touchdown to a receiver. If you roll with Cooper, temper your expectations as the Broncos have done a very good job to contain opposing receivers.
Other Sits
Golden Tate, DET vs. ARI
Anquan Boldin, SF at NYG
Doug Baldwin, SEA at CIN
Marvin Jones, CIN vs. SEA
Bust Alert: Kendall Wright, TEN vs. BUF
Tight Ends
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Owen Daniels, DEN at OAK
Antonio Gates, SD vs. PIT
Charles Clay, BUF at TEN
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Gary Barnidge, CLE at BAL
Jared Cook, STL at GB
Heath Miller, PIT at SD
Defense
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Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders
Green Bay Packers vs. St. Louis Rams
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St. Louis Rams at Green Bay Packers