Hello FantasyHolics! I hope you were able to either bask in the glory of a Ja'Marr Chase 50-burger or be lucky enough to not be in his way. If not, well I hope the rest of your weekend goes well since it might have been ruined fantasy-wise by the Bengals star wideout.
Truly, you're never out until it's all over! The rest of their team could put up 4 points a piece... You never know! So don't quit until your last player plays and listen to the sound advice of a self-proclaimed fantasy football expert so that you can make the biggest comeback of the season.
So let's get down to business.
QUARTERBACKS
START Jared Goff vs Houston Texans
Ja-Red Goff! Ja-Red Goff! Ja-Red Goff! The chants rain loud across the league due to his elite play bringing the Lions to a 7-1 record. Last week, it was not a surprise that Goff's fantasy production was not there in a soggy mess of a game drowned in rain and wind all game. His finish as QB27 and only 3 Top 10 QB finishes this season don't bode well for him as a weekly play but he gets a favorable matchup vs Houston in primetime. The Texans have given up the 9th most points to QBs this season and with Jameson Williams returning, Goff will have his full supporting cast and can get another Top 10 QB finish this week.
SIT Patrick Mahomes vs Denver Broncos
Mahomes came back with outstanding production in the Chiefs' win vs Tampa Bay last week in a QB4 performance. It significantly outdoes the rest of his season and looks to be just an outlier more than anything. Going up against division rival Denver this week presents a tall task for even Mahomes (4th least points to QBs this season) The Chiefs' star QB is a bit hobbled as well after getting banged up vs Tampa with an ankle injury. It's best to leave Mahomes on the bench this week.
RUNNING BACKS
START Austin Ekeler vs Pittsburgh Steelers
Ekeler and the Commanders don't get the friendliest of matchups this week. The Steelers have given up the 9th least number of points to opposing RBs this season. Ekeler gets another look as the lead back with Brian Robinson already being announced as OUT for Sunday's game. Ekeler is coming off of an RB13 finish last week where he got 15 touches for 83 all-purpose yards and a rushing score. His ability to affect the game through the air is still evident and raises his floor. I think Ekeler should stay in your starting lineup this week despite the tougher matchup based on the fact that he'll have the volume and the offense still is running smoothly with Jayden Daniels crushing it as well as anyone this year.
SIT Javonte Williams vs Kansas City Chiefs
Williams has a nice ceiling and a lower floor. He gets crushed in tough matchups this year with several games under 8 PPR points. This week has potential to be one of those games against division rival Kansas City who is the best in the NFL at limiting opposing RBs this season and it's not close. The Chiefs allow 4 less points to opposing RBs than the 2nd best team. Williams may get volume but that won't matter versus the Chiefs who straight-up choke out the run game. Williams is best benched this week in anticipation of the tough matchup.
WIDE RECEIVERS
START Parker Washington vs Minnesota Vikings
There's a few factors here for this one. First, the Jaguars will for sure be playing from behind as the Vikings are the superior team, therefore the game script is good for the passing game. Second, the Vikings give up the most points to opposing receivers this season. Third, Brian Thomas and Gabe Davis are going into this contest both nursing injuries. Both are questionable to play on Sunday so Washington would be a great streaming option if one were to miss. Despite Trevor Lawrence potentially missing Sunday's game, Washington provides another option if you are in desperation mode looking for some prime garbage time production.
SIT Jalen McMillan vs San Francisco 49ers
Don't fall for it like I have. Yeah, we know Chris Godwin is out for the year and Mike Evans is still OUT this week and McMillan was presumably the top option in the Bucs option. That could not be further from the case with McMillan missing last week and barely catching half of his targets in the game before that. The upside is there but the lack of production continues to be concerning. The matchup doesn't really matter as I see the potential volume outweighing that. I just think that the breakout of Cade Otton continues leaving McMillan fighting for the scraps with the rest of the receiving corps, whom all should be left on the bench.
TIGHT ENDS
START Taysom Hill vs Atlanta Falcons
Need I say more than what I said last week? Its Taysom's yearly stretch of good fantasy production due to injuries around him! Continue riding it with another solid matchup versus Atlanta (10th most points allowed to TEs). He's ready to repeat another top 5 TE performance. That's it. That's the play.
SIT Jake Ferguson vs Philadelphia Eagles
It's a tough take for one of the most reliable tight ends this season fantasy-wise. He just has everything working against him. He draws the Eagles who have been the best in the NFL at limiting tight end production. He also has backup QB Cooper Rush playing this week as Dak Prescott was place on IR. Ferguson has been really good in plus matchups yet dismal in tougher matchups. In Week 6 versus Detroit (2nd least TE points in the league), he was held to 3 catches for 11 yards. It's smart to follow this pattern and perhaps find another streaming option in place of Ferguson this week... Taysom?
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