Every week I will give you facts that you need to know about every matchup in the NFL to help you set your lineup for the highest probability of winning.
Six teams are off this week, so we will have to dig deep to find some bye week fill-ins for your teams. We have a lot to get to, so let's get right into the facts.
Titans at Rams, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
• Jake Locker has produced
multiple touchdowns in four straight games and has scored 24 or more
Fantasy points in three straight. Six of the eight quarterbacks to face
the Rams have thrown for multiple scores this year, but not one
quarterback has produced 20 Fantasy points against them in five straight.
•
Chris Johnson has not run for 40 yards
in a game since Week 3, but he does have over 60 yards and a touchdown
receiving in two of his last four games. After averaging 23 carries per
game over the first three weeks, he has taken only 11.5 over the last
four games. Despite a bizarre game where the Rams manhandled Seattle on
Monday night, the Rams have allowed 146 total yards and a touchdown per
game to backs this year (18.8 points per game, sixth most).
• Kendall Wright has five or more catches in six straight games and had a
season-best nine catches for 98 yards in Week 7.
• Nate Washington has eight or more targets in four of his last five
games and has topped 100 yards receiving in two of them. He has 100
yards or a touchdown in two of Locker's last three starts with three
catches for 62 yards being his worst game during that run. The opposing
No. 1 receiver has scored a league-high nine touchdowns against the Rams
this year and only Andre Johnson (88
yards) failed to find the end zone.
• Opposing defenses have scored
33 points against the Rams in the last two weeks and six of the eight
teams to face them this year have produced double-digits. The Titans
defense has 10-plus in five of their seven games this year and is
averaging 13.4 points per game themselves.
• Zac Stacy is the only Fantasy relevant player on the Rams right now
and gashed the Seahawks for 134 yards on 26 carries. He has 13-plus
Fantasy points in back-to-back weeks and look like the much-ballyhooed
sleeper he was back in August. Stacy has had at least 20 touches and 87
total yards in each of his last three games.
• The Titans have given
up 20-plus Fantasy points to backs in three straight games. During that
span, three different backs have netted at least 17 Fantasy points and
two have produced 22 or more. Backs are averaging 165 total yards, 1.7
touchdowns and 25 Fantasy points per game against the Titans over those
last three. Granted, they did face Jamaal Charles,
Marshawn Lynch and Frank Gore in the last three games.
• The Rams are still the only
team in the NFL without a rushing touchdown. The Titans have allowed
five to backs in the last three games.
• In case you care, Jared Cook led the Rams with six targets in Kellen Clemens' first start. Chris Givens
and Lance Kendricks were tied for
second with five targets each.
• No wide receiver has scored in five
straight games against the Titans and no tight end has scored in three
straight.
Vikings at Cowboys, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
• Adrian Peterson has not received
more than 13 carries or rushed for more than 65 yards in three straight
games. Three of the last four (Philly was the exception) running back
groups to face Dallas have rushed for 110-plus yards, produced at least
175 total yards, scored a touchdown and netted at least 23 Fantasy
points.
• Greg Jennings and Jerome Simpson do not have a single receiving touchdown between them
on American soil.
• No tight end has scored or reached 60 yards
against the 'Boys over the last three games. Tight ends are averaging
just 43.7 yards and 4.3 Fantasy points per game during that span. Kyle Rudolph has reached 55 yards in just one game all year and has
just one touchdown in his last five.
• Six of the seven defenses to
play the Vikes have scored at least 13 Fantasy points in 2013. Defenses
are averaging 15 Fantasy points per game over the last three weeks
against Minnesota and Dallas is averaging 15 Fantasy points per game
itself over the last three, thanks in large part to nine takeaways.
• Tony Romo threw three touchdowns against the Lions in Week 8 and
will look to stay hot against an injured Vikings secondary. Five
quarterbacks have already thrown for multiple touchdowns and produced at
least 23 Fantasy points against them this year. For the season, the
Vikes are giving up 297 yards, 2.14 touchdowns (third most) and 22.14
points per game (seventh most).
• The Vikings have allowed seven
running back scores in the last four games and are giving up 23.75
Fantasy points per game to the position during that span. DeMarco Murray -- who has four games of 10-plus in his six starts --
should have a great return against the Vikings, who are giving up 158
total yards, a league-high 1.43 touchdowns and 22.3 Fantasy points per
game to backs this year.
• The Vikings have allowed a receiver to
score in six straight games and have given up eight total receiver
touchdowns during that span.
• Dez Bryant has eight receiving scores himself this year and
amazingly six of them have come from inside the opponent's five-yard
line.
• Terrance Williams has
scored in four straight games and is averaging 11.5 Fantasy points
during that span. After catching 24 of his first 28 targets this year,
Williams caught just two of 10 against the Lions last week, but one of
them was a nice 60-yard touchdown.
• Jason Witten has only one touchdown and one game of more than six
Fantasy points in his last seven starts. In his last three games Witten
has received only 13 targets and has just nine catches for 80 yards
total. No tight end has scored against the Vikes in four straight games
and they have given up exactly 10 Fantasy points to the position (seven
of which came from Heath Miller back in
Week 4).
Chiefs at Bills, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
• Alex Smith threw a touchdown
pass for the first time in three games against the Browns in Week 8 and
liked it so much that he did it twice. Smith also ran for 40 yards and
finished with 25 Fantasy points. Buffalo has allowed 11 passing
touchdowns and an average of 30.7 Fantasy points per game to
quarterbacks over the last three weeks alone. For the year, seven
quarterbacks have thrown for multiple passing scores against Buffalo,
which has allowed a league-high 20 touchdowns through the air.
•
Smith is currently fifth among all quarterbacks with 248 yards rushing
this season.
• A receiver has scored in every game against Buffalo
and the Bills are allowing 218 yards (second most), 1.9 touchdowns
(league-high) and 32.3 Fantasy points (also the league-high) per game to
the position. Three straight receiver groups, five of the last six and
six of eight on the year have caught multiple touchdowns and produced 31
or more Fantasy points. In other words, you could do worse than Dwayne Bowe and Donnie Avery as bye
week fill-ins this week.
• Over the last two weeks, Dexter McCluster has been targeted 15 times and has 11 catches for 137
yards and a touchdown, so he is definitely worth a look in PPR leagues.
•
Five of the last six defenses to face the Bills have produced 10 or more
Fantasy points and opposing defenses are averaging 13 Fantasy points per
game during that span. After a disappointing effort against the Browns,
look for the Chiefs to get back on track.
• Fred Jackson has 10 or more Fantasy points in seven of his eight
starts this year. With C.J. Spiller
likely back this week, it could be tough to trust either Buffalo back
against the Chiefs. KC has allowed only one running back rushing score
all year and have held four consecutive teams to less than 65 running
back rushing yards. Only one running back has reached 10 Fantasy points
against the Chiefs in their last five games and Chris Johnson needed a 50-plus yard receiving score to do it.
• Steve Johnson is the main man for Thad Lewis
and has caught 13 of his 24 targets for 134 yards and a touchdown over
the last two weeks. Johnson has at least 11 targets and six catches in
each of his last two games.
• The opposing No. 1 receiver has reached
85 yards in three straight games against Kansas City and they have
scored in two of those.
• Only Jordan Cameron (81 yards) has topped 45 yards receiving against the
Chiefs, who have yet to allow a tight end touchdown and are giving up a
league-low 3.0 Fantasy points per game to the position this year.
Chargers at Redskins, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
• Philip Rivers has two passing
scores in his last two games but should have a nice day against the
'Skins, who are allowing 293 yards, 2.14 touchdowns (third most) and
22.6 points per game (fifth most) to quarterbacks. Peyton Manning just threw for 354 yards and four scores against
Washington, but he is the only quarterback to throw for multiple passing
scores or top 20 points in the last four against Washington.
• Ryan Mathews has 100 yards rushing in two straight games and 100
total yards in three straight. Mathews has 20-plus total touches in all
three of those games as well. Believe it or not, Mathews is the only
back in the NFL with back-to-back 100-yard rushing games this year. Wow.
•
Danny Woodhead has at least four
catches, 47 yards receiving and 70-plus total yards in five straight
games. He has a touchdown in three of his last four games, with four
total scores during that span as well.
• Washington has given up
multiple running back scores in three straight games. During that span,
the 'Skins have given up an average of 25.3 Fantasy points per game to
opposing running backs. For the year, Washington is allowing 156 total
yards, a league-high 1.43 touchdowns and a league-high 22.6 Fantasy
points per game to backs.
• Over the last two weeks, Keenan Allen leads the San Diego receivers with 18 targets, 12 catches
and 174 yards with a touchdown. Both Eddie Royal
and Vincent Brown have fewer than six
targets and 70 yards receiving over the same two games.
• Antonio Gates should be able to score against the 'Skins, who have
allowed a tight end to score in six of seven games this year. Tight ends
are averaging 9.1 points per game against Washington and Gates is
looking to get back on the board after two games under 35 yards and
without a touchdown.
• Robert Griffin III was dreadful in Week 8 and has now completed 50 percent or
fewer of his passes in two of his last three games. After running for
161 yards in Weeks 6 and 7, he was held to just seven yards by the
Broncos in Week 8. San Diego has allowed multiple quarterback touchdowns
in five games this year, but they have not allowed a single passing
score in either of the last two games against the Colts and the Jaguars.
•
The Chargers have not allowed 80 yards rushing to a running back in four
straight games and have not allowed a running back to score on them all
season long. Alfred Morris has run for
at least 80 yards in three straight games, has 90-plus yards in two
straight and has two total rushing scores during the three-game run.
Amazingly, Alf does not have a single game with 20 carries yet this year.
•
Pierre Garcon has at least five catches
in every game, but has just one touchdown in his last five games and has
not reached 75 yards receiving in any of them. He is averaging just 6.6
yards per target, down from 9.5 last year. Every opposing No. 1 receiver
has at least 80 yards against the Chargers this year and they have
scored four touchdowns while averaging 14.6 Fantasy points per game.
•
Jordan Reed leads all tight ends with
17 catches for 224 yards and a touchdown over the last two weeks. He has
at least eight catches and 90 yards receiving in each game. San Diego
has not allowed a tight end to score or reach six Fantasy points since
Week 1.
Falcons at Panthers, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
• Without a running game and a bad defense, Matt Ryan is chucking the ball all over the yard. He threw it 61
times against Arizona last week and has tossed it 45 or more times in
three of his last four games. Ryan has 300-plus yards in six of his
seven games and has thrown for multiple touchdowns in six of seven as
well. All of the above could be tough against the Panthers, who have not
allowed multiple passing touchdowns or 17 Fantasy points to a
quarterback all year. Carolina has not allowed a 300-yard passer in six
straight games and is giving up a league-low 11 points per game to the
position.
• Steven Jackson had
an ugly return to action as he ran 11 times for six yards against the
Cards while adding just seven yards receiving on three catches. Carolina
has allowed only one running back group to reach 100 yards this year and
is giving up just 63 yards rushing on 3.9 yards per carry over their
last five games. They have allowed only one rushing score during that
span.
• Harry Douglas has been
the target of 32 percent of Ryan's passes the last two weeks. He has
caught 19 of his 25 targets for 270 yards and a touchdown while
eclipsing the century mark in both games. You have to wonder what his
role will be once Roddy White returns,
but for now, Matty Ice is feeding him the ball.
• No receiver has
scored and only two have reached six Fantasy points in five straight
games against Carolina. Receivers are averaging 10.2 points per game as
a group during that span.
• Without Roddy or Julio Jones, Tony Gonzalez has found
limited success in the middle of the field. He has just five catches for
58 yards the last two weeks and failed to find the end zone. A tight end
has scored in three of the last four against the Panthers, so hopefully
he can get back on track this week.
• The Carolina defense is a
Fantasy juggernaut with 12-plus points in five straight games, while
averaging 17.4 per game during that span. The Falcons just produced 20
Fantasy points for the Cardinals last week and are reeling due to
injuries on the offensive side of the ball.
• Every single
quarterback who has faced the Falcons -- including Geno Smith, Mike Glennon and Carson Palmer (the last three they have faced) -- has thrown for
multiple passing touchdowns this year. Cam is red hot and that won't
stop this week.
• Mike Tolbert
has scored in three straight games and has 10 touchdowns in his last 10
games, which is 10 more than Andre Johnson
in his last 10. The Falcons have allowed a running back to rush for a
score in each of their last two road games.
• Atlanta is giving up
121 yards rushing to backs on 5.2 yards per carry over their last five
games. DeAngelo Williams scored his
first touchdown of the year in Week 8 but has not rushed for 65 yards in
four straight games. He has a thigh bruise and Jonathan Stewart could be back, so keep an eye on all of this before
putting D-Will -- who does have 10-plus points in two of his last three
and three of his last five -- back in your lineups.
• Atlanta has
allowed a wide receiver score in every game this year and is providing
1.6 touchdowns and 27.5 Fantasy points per game to the position, both
third most. The opposing No. 1 receiver has scored in three straight
against the Falcons, which is good for Steve Smith,
who has two scores of his own over the last three weeks.
• The
Falcons have also allowed five scores to opposing No. 2 receivers, third
most in the league. That's good for taking a flier on either Brandon LaFell or Ted Ginn (80 yards
last week) as a bye week flier.
• Greg Olsen scored last week, but still has not reached 50 yards
receiving since injuring his foot over three weeks ago. He had more than
50 yards receiving in each of his first four games.
Saints at Jets, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
• Drew Brees has not thrown for
300 yards with two touchdowns in six straight outdoor games. However, Andy Dalton just shredded the Jets for 325 yards and five scores
last week.
• Darren Sproles
played only 17 snaps against the Bills on Sunday and has been below 20
snaps played twice in the last three games. In fact, Sproles has played
fewer than 30 snaps in three straight games after playing more than 30
in each of the first four. He did not have a single yard of offense last
week and has been held below 60 total yards and without a score in three
of his last five games. He has scored in just one game all year.
• No
running back group has rushed for more than 90 yards against the Jets
all year and three of the last five groups have produced single-digit
Fantasy points. I should point out that Pierre Thomas has at least 80 total yards in three straight games.
•
Marques Colston has a grand total of 11
targets and six catches for 44 yards in his last three games combined.
He is not even amongst the 60 most targeted receivers in the red zone
and does not have a red zone touchdown yet this year. That's a big
reason why he has not scored since Week 1.
• Lance Moore made his return to action in Week 8 and caught three of
his four targets for 34 yards and a score. He has not seen more than
four targets in any game yet this year.
• Kenny Stills has scored in each of the last two games and seems like
the only Saints receiver who can get down the field. Over the last two
weeks he has caught six of his seven targets for 193 yards and three
scores. He is still very much feast or famine, but Stills is definitely
worth a look.
• The Jets gave up four touchdowns to the Cincy
receivers (actually just Marvin Jones
last week) and have given up eight receiver scores over their last five
games.
• Jimmy Graham played
only 18 snaps with his injury but made them count by catching all three
of his targets for 37 yards and two scores. If he only plays 18 snaps
per game, he will be tough to count on. The Jets have allowed a tight
end to score or top 80 yards receiving in six straight games (11.2
points per game during that span).
• Opposing defenses have scored
12-plus in three straight against the Jets and are averaging 19.3 points
per game during that span. The Saints are averaging 13.2 points per game
themselves over their last five games and have feasted on inexperienced
quarterbacks like Geno Smith.
• David Nelson leads the Jets with 19 targets, 12 catches and 160 yards
over the last two weeks (80 in each game). The Saints have allowed four
receiver touchdowns over the last three games and all of them have gone
to outside receivers.
• The Saints have allowed five running back
touchdowns in their last five games. After Chris Ivory dominated the playing time and took 34 carries in Week 7, Bilal Powell was the main man in the come from behind effort against
the Bengals (44 snaps to 12 for Ivory). This is likely to be the same,
so if you were going to gamble on a Jets running back, it should be
Powell. After all, a back has had 10-plus points in four straight games
against New Orleans.
Eagles at Raiders, Sun., 4:05 p.m. ET
• The Eagles will either have Nick Foles
under center on Sunday, which seems like a situation to avoid. Only one
of the last four quarterbacks to face the Raiders (Rivers) threw for
multiple touchdowns or produced 20 Fantasy points, and they are
averaging 14.5 Fantasy points per game during that span.
• LeSean McCoy has not scored in three straight games and has been held
to just 103 yards rushing on his last 33 carries. He averages over 117
yards rushing in Michael Vick's four
full games and just 66.3 over the last four games without him under
center for more than three quarters total.
• Oakland has allowed a
running back to score in five straight games and the opposing primary
ball carrier has at least 10 points in every game. However, Oakland has
given up just 146 yards rushing on 2.5 yards per carry over the last
three weeks, so don't expect the moon from McCoy.
• The opposing No.
1 receiver has 80 yards or a touchdown in six of seven games against the
Raiders this year, so hopefully DeSean Jackson
can get it going after posting 11 catches for 84 yards the last two
weeks. In fact, Jackson has more than 65 yards receiving in just one of
his last six games.
• Keep an eye on Riley Cooper, because opposing No. 2 receivers have 10-plus in each
of the Raiders last two home games. Cooper has 10 catches for 208 yards
and a touchdown in the two full games started by Foles.
• Terrelle Pryor produced 15 Fantasy points (93 yard touchdown run) on his
first play from scrimmage against the Steelers in Week 8, but finished
the game with just 15 points. Believe it or not, only one of the last
four quarterbacks to face the Eagles (Mike Glennon) has produced 20
Fantasy points and they held Eli Manning
and Tony Romo to a combined one score
the last two weeks. Still, Pryor is a great bye week option against a
pass defense that has given up multiple scores in five of eight games
this year.
• Darren McFadden
was held to just 3.0 yards per carry and 78 total yards on 22 touches,
but he scored twice in the win over the Steelers. The Eagles have not
allowed 100 yards rushing in four straight games and have surrendered
just two scores to backs during that span while giving up 11.5 points
per game to the position. DMC has 10-plus points in four of his five
full games and has not been below eight Fantasy points in any of them.
•
Denarius Moore has scored in three of
his last four games with Pryor at quarterback and in five of their seven
starts together. The Eagles have allowed 14 receiver scores this year --
second most in the NFL -- and they give up 219 yards (most) and 31.5
points per game (second most) to receivers.
• The Raiders Fantasy
defense has scored 11-plus points in four straight games and are
averaging 15.75 points per game in their four home games. The Eagles
have produced 19 or more Fantasy points for the opposing defense each of
the last two games, so yes, the Raiders are a great streaming option
again this week.
Buccaneers at Seahawks, Sun., 4:05 p.m. ET
• Mike Glennon has thrown more
passes in his first four starts (181) than any other quarterback in NFL
history. Don't expect much return on all those chucks this week against
a Seattle team that allows 11 points per game to quarterbacks, the
fewest in the NFL.
• Mike James
has picked up only 117 total yards on 31 touches over the last two weeks
(3.8 yards per touch). Doug Martin
didn't even average six Fantasy points per game in this offense the
three weeks before his injury so just say no to James against the Hawks,
who are giving up just 78 yards and 12 points to backs, fourth fewest in
the NFL. Yes I know Stacy ran wild, but this is a different defense in
Seattle.
• Vincent Jackson has
at least 11 targets in every game started by Glennon this year and is
averaging 15 targets, 6.5 catches, 89.5 yards and a touchdown per game
with the rookie. Four opposing No. 1 receivers have already hit 10-plus
points against the Hawks this year, so Jackson is worth the gamble in a
tough matchup.
• Timothy Wright
scored his first touchdown in garbage time against the Panthers last
week and will try to build on that in Week 9. He now has eight or more
targets and nine-plus Fantasy points in two of his last three games.
With Mike Williams injured (and now out
for the year), Wright has been second on the team with 26 targets with
Glennon at quarterback. Seattle has allowed a tight end to eclipse 60
yards or a score in only one game all year.
• Russell Wilson takes on a Bucs team that has given up at least three
quarterback scores and 28 Fantasy points to the position in three
straight games. Wilson himself has multiple passing scores in
back-to-back games and three of his last four.
• Marshawn Lynch will rebound from a horrendous outing against the Rams in
which he was held to a season-low 23 yards on eight carries. Lynch had
at least 10 Fantasy points in four straight games before that and four
different backs have 10-plus against the Bucs in their last three games
alone.
• Percy Harvin could
make his debut here in Week 9 against a Tampa secondary that is reeling.
Tampa Bay has given up eight passing scores in the last three games and
three receivers have eclipsed 18 Fantasy points during the season.
• Golden Tate has a touchdown in two of his last four games and has
three total scores during that span. He leads the team in targets (32
with at least seven in each game), catches (19), yards (254) and
touchdowns (three). He could struggle this week now that Greg Schiano
has finally figured out that Darrelle Revis
should, you know, play some man-to-man coverage.
Ravens at Browns, Sun., 4:25 p.m. ET
• Joe Flacco has just one game of
20-plus points against the Browns in his last six outings, and he needed
a rushing touchdown along with 356 yards and a passing score to get
there in Week 4 of the 2012 season. Flacco has two 20-point games this
year, but both came in big come from behind efforts against Denver and
Green Bay. That is unlikely this week against Cleveland, but the Browns
have allowed multiple passing scores, 25-plus Fantasy points and nine
total touchdowns to the position in the last three games.
• Ray Rice has rushed for more than 50 yards in just one game this
year and has found the end zone in one of his last five starts. He was
held to 39 yards on 13 carries against the Browns in their first meeting
this year, but he did not finish due to injury. The Browns have allowed
six running back scores and an average of 25 points per game to the
position in their last four games.
• Rice does not have more than 35
yards receiving in a single game this year, but you have to hope it all
turns around this week. During the last four games, backs have caught 25
passes for 220 yards and two scores against Cleveland (7.5 points per
game on receiving totals).
• Torrey Smith has at least eight Fantasy points in three straight games
against the Browns and Joe Haden. Of
all the receivers to face Haden this year, Smith had the best game with
85 yards. Still, Haden's lock down defense has allowed just one
touchdown and an average of 31.5 yards per game to the opposing top
target.
• Marlon Brown scored
in the first meeting with the Browns and Baltimore has had a secondary
receiver or a tight end score four times in the last four games. The
Browns have allowed four tight end touchdowns and two secondary receiver
scores in their last three games alone.
• The Ravens defense scored
15 Fantasy points in the first game against Cleveland but, believe it or
not, opposing defenses are averaging just 8.0 points per game against
the Browns when anyone other than Brandon Weeden
starts the game.
• Jason Campbell
threw for 292 yards and two scores in his Cleveland debut against the
tough pass defense of the Chiefs. Do not expect a repeat against a
Baltimore defense that has not allowed multiple passing scores or even
19 Fantasy points to a quarterback since Week 1.
• Josh Gordon had five catches for 132 yards and a touchdown on 10
targets in Campbell's first start. The opposing No. 1 receiver has
topped 100 yards in two of the last three against the Ravens and is
averaging 10.7 Fantasy points per game during that span. Amazingly,
Baltimore allowed six receiver touchdowns in Week 1 and has allowed just
two total since then.
• Jordan Cameron
had five catches for 95 yards in the first meeting with Baltimore and
grabbed four passes for 81 yards in Campbell's debut. The Ravens have
given up 70 yards or a touchdown to tight ends in three straight games.
•
Opposing defenses have scored 10-plus in five of the seven games against
the Ravens, including the Browns back in Week 2 (10 points). Over the
last four games, defenses are averaging 12.3 points per game against the
Ravens and the Browns average 12.3 points per game at home.
Interestingly enough, the Browns also average 14.5 points per game in
games not started by Weeden.
Steelers at Patriots, Sun., 4:25 p.m. ET
• Ben Roethlisberger has only one
game with 20 points or multiple touchdowns all year. Only two of the
last seven quarterbacks to face the Pats have thrown for multiple
touchdowns and they are averaging 14.3 Fantasy points per game.
• Le'Veon Bell scored against the Raiders to salvage an otherwise ugly
day, but he will do much better this week. Both Miami backs reached 10
Fantasy points against the Pats last week and New England has now
allowed over 120 yards rushing to backs in each of the last four games
with four total touchdowns to boot. The Pats are banking on the addition
of Isaac Sopoaga to help, but his impact
might not be felt this week.
• Emmanuel Sanders has scored in two of his last three games after
catching a season-high eight passes for 77 yards and a score against the
Raiders. Of the five receiver touchdowns allowed by the Pats this year,
three have gone to No. 2 receivers and a secondary receiver has scored
in three straight games against them.
• Heath Miller had a touchdown overturned last week but still enters
Week 8 with 70 yards or a score in three of his last four games. Only Tony Gonzalez has scored against the Pats and if you take out his
monster game, opposing tight ends are averaging just 3.7 Fantasy points
per game.
• Tom Brady still has
one game in the Top 12 and only one game with 20 Fantasy points this
year. He has not thrown for multiple scores in four straight games and
has been held below 200 yards in two of them. The Steelers are allowing
188 yards (second fewest), 0.7 touchdowns (fewest) and 13 Fantasy points
per game to quarterbacks (fourth fewest).
• Stevan Ridley has a touchdown in three straight games and has produced
at least 13 Fantasy points in two of them. Darren McFadden scored twice on the Steelers last week, but he is the
only back to score on them in the last three games. The Steelers have
allowed a running back touchdown in five of seven games this year and
have given up multiple scores in three of their last five games.
• Brandon Bolden has scored in each of the last two games, so he can be a
"Bye Week Broski" option if you are desperate.
• Here is
the breakdown of the Pats receivers in the first week with everyone
active: Aaron Dobson (50 snaps, 24
routes, five targets, four catches and 60 yards with a touchdown), Danny Amendola (40, 21, six, three, 15), Austin Collie (33, 19, zero, zero, zero), Julian Edelman (33, 11, two, two, seven) and the forgotten man Kenbrell Thompkins (14, six, one, zero, zero)
• Rob Gronkowski played only 35 of the 60 snaps (down from 51 of 79
last week) and saw five targets of which he caught two for 27 yards.
•
The Steelers have given up only three receiver scores (fourth fewest)
and one tight end score (third fewest) all year.
• The Steelers have
produced 11 or more Fantasy points for the opposing defense in six of
their seven games this season and are allowing 13.6 for the year, fifth
most. The Pats are averaging 14 Fantasy points per game at home this
year.
Colts at Texans, Sun., 8:30 p.m. ET
• No team allows fewer passing yards per game than the Texans, who give
up just 158.1 yards per game. Only two quarterbacks all year have topped
20 points on the Texans (Rivers with four scores in Week 1 and Sam Bradford with three in Week 6). Still, Andrew Luck has been held below 19 Fantasy points only twice all year
and has 21-plus in three of his last four.
• A running back has
scored in four of the last five against the Texans (five total) and
backs have rushed for at least 90 yards against them in four straight. Trent Richardson has not scored in three straight games and has not
topped 60 yards in a game all year. He has only two catches for 19 yards
since joining the Colts and is averaging just 6.4 points per game in
Indy.
• Reggie Wayne was the
target on 27 percent of Luck's passes this year, so an average of 8.5
passes per game will be headed elsewhere. T.Y. Hilton is expected to be the main beneficiary, though Hilton
has just two games of 10 Fantasy points this year despite a bump in
targets per game from his rookie year. In 2012, Hilton had 100 yards and
10-plus Fantasy points in four of the six games in which he received
eight or more targets. This year, Hilton is just one for four in heavy
volume games. Over the last two weeks, he has been targeted 19 times and
has just seven catches for 70 yards.
• Darrius Heyward-Bey scored his first touchdown in Indy last week and
saw a season-high seven targets in the game. He will also step up in
Wayne's absence and is worth an add as a No. 3 receiver.
• The Texans
have given up only two receiver scores since Week 1 and allow a
league-low 88 yards and 12.3 points per game to the position.
• Coby Fleener has a touchdown and at least nine Fantasy points in
three of his last six games. Houston has allowed three tight end scores
and an average of 10.3 points per game to the position in the last three.
•
Case Keenum will get the start against
the Colts, but keep in mind that only Peyton Manning has produced 20 Fantasy points against this defense
without adding 10-plus points as a runner. That being said, two of the
last three quarterbacks to face Indy have thrown for multiple scores.
•
Andre Johnson has not scored in 10
straight games dating back to last year, but the opposing No. 1 has
scored in three straight against the Colts. Can he break the drought?
•
DeAndre Hopkins scored in Keenum's
first game, but it was his first touchdown or 10-point game since Week
2. The Colts have allowed multiple receiver scores in two of their last
three games.
• Garrett Graham
has a grand total of five catches for 63 yards since Owen Daniels went down with an injury. Only Julius Thomas has scored or produced six Fantasy points against the
Colts since Week 2.
• Opposing defenses are averaging 17.7 points per
game against the Texans this year. They have scored at least 12 Fantasy
points in six straight games and the Chiefs tallied 13 in Keenum's
debut. The Colts have 12-plus points in four of their last five games
and are averaging 14.6 per game in their own right during that span.
Bears at Packers, Mon., 8:30 p.m. ET
• The only game that Robert Griffin III
has looked like the old RG3 was against the Bears. That is not good news
considering Aaron Rodgers will slice and
dice this defense, which has allowed 23-plus Fantasy points to the last
two good quarterbacks they have faced (sorry Eli!).
• Eddie Lacy has touched the ball at least 24 times in four straight
games and has 97-plus total yards in each game. He rushed for 120 in
Week 6 against the Ravens, totaled 108 yards with a score in Week 7
against the Browns and added 112 total yards with a score against the
Vikings in Week 8. He has arrived and I should add that James Starks is his handcuff right now.
• The Bears have allowed
at least 25 Fantasy points to backs in each of their last four games
while giving up 660 total yards and eight touchdowns along the way.
• Jordy Nelson is a beast! Still tops in the league among the 60 most
targeted in both yards (12) and Fantasy points per target (1.98).
• James Jones has 100 yards or a score in each of his last three full
games and could finally return this week. The Bears have given up a
receiver touchdown and 24 points per game to the position over the last
two weeks.
• Jarrett Boykin
has at least 89 yards receiving in each of his two starts, but I am not
100 percent confident that he retains his role once Jones is back. In
his two-game stint, Boykin has caught 13 of his 16 targets for 192 yards
(12 per target) and a touchdown (1.6 Fantasy points per target), which
are very impressive numbers.
• The Packers D has at least 11 Fantasy
points in five straight games and is averaging 14.8 per game during that
run.
• Alshon Jeffery had 105
yards receiving in just one half with Josh McCown,
as he caught four of his five targets.
• Brandon Marshall saw seven targets from McCown and caught three for 47
yards in their half together. Marshall had 80 yards in two games against
the Packers last year, but did score a touchdown in the second meeting.
•
The Packers have not allowed a wide receiver touchdown in two straight
games, but they were against Cleveland and Minnesota. Still, it should
be noted that Torrey Smith and Josh Gordon (the last two big time receivers to face Green Bay) were
held to just 36 yards combined by the Pack.
• The opposing tight end
has led the team in receiving in each of the last two games against the
Packers. Bennett caught the lone touchdown from McCown against the
'Skins and has been a Top 12 Fantasy tight end in three of his last four
games.
Bengals at Dolphins, Thu., 8:30 p.m. ET
• We're going streaking! There is no quarterback hotter than Andy Dalton, who has thrown for 320-plus yards and three-plus
touchdowns in three straight games. He has 1,034 yards and 11 touchdowns
passing in those three games. No quarterback has even 10 Fantasy points
in three straight against Miami, so something has to give.
• Giovanni Bernard has not run for 30 yards in three straight games and
has one game of more than six Fantasy points in his last five.
• BenJarvus Green-Ellis has just one rushing score in his last five games
and has been held below 35 yards rushing in four of his last six.
•
That said, both Bengals backs should fare well against Miami, which has
allowed at least 17 Fantasy points and a running back touchdown in six
straight games. Four of the last five running back groups to face Miami
have produced at least 24 Fantasy points and seven different backs have
scored at least eight Fantasy points.
• Marvin Jones had a career day in Week 8, catching all eight of his
targets for 122 yards and four scores. Jones has scored in three
straight games and did all of his Week 8 damage despite running only 13
routes! He has not run 20 routes in a game all season, but man does he
need more playing time. After all, among the 100 most targeted receivers
this year, Jones leads the league at 2.32 Fantasy points per target.
•
Miami has allowed only one wide receiver to score on them all year.
•
Defenses have scored 10-plus against the Fins in five straight and six
of seven games this year. Three of the last four Fantasy defenses to
play Miami has scored 16 or more Fantasy points. A big reason for that
is that Miami has allowed a league-high 32 sacks this year.
•
Battered Ryan Tannehill has five
passing touchdowns in his last two games, but still does not have a
single game of 20 Fantasy points this year. Tannehill also has six
turnovers in the last game as well.
• Lamar Miller (112 total yards) and Daniel Thomas (47 yards and a touchdown) both hit 10 Fantasy points in
Week 8. No running back has scored a touchdown or reached 10 Fantasy
points against the Bengals in four straight games.
• Mike Wallace has not scored in five straight games and it has been
four straight for Brian Hartline. Only
two receivers have produced 10 Fantasy points against the Bengals in
their last five games.
• Brandon Gibson,
who had three touchdowns in the last two weeks alone, is now out for the
year. Gibson was the slot receiver for the 'Fins and was replaced by Rishard Matthews, who caught three of his six targets for 30 yards once
Gibson was hurt in Week 8.
• Charles Clay has a touchdown in three of his last four games and a
tight end has scored on the Bengals in two of their last four. Clay has
just six catches for 44 yards and a touchdown in the last two games.
Stay in touch with the most passionate Fantasy staff in the business by following us via Twitter @CBSFantasyFB . You can also follow Nathan at @nathanzegura .