KTXT FFB Week 8 Matchups

KTXT FFP Week 8 Matchups

By: Marshall Gelder

BYE: Packers, Titans, Rams, Giants, Cardinals, Jaguars

Thursday Night Football

• Dolphins @ Ravens
  • Jay Cutler will not play in this game which could mean more fantasy points for Jay Ajayi. This will probably be Ajayi’s first touchdown game on the season with the Ravens allowing the fifth most points to RBs. I would also start Jarvis Landry who has been getting more points each week lately.
  • The Raven’s defense might be a good play for this game against a QB with not much playing time this year. Jeremy Maclin is still questionable with a shoulder injury, so he probably won’t play. The only Raven that could start this week and have a great game is Javorius Allen.

Sunday Noon Games

• Vikings @ Browns
  • Even after Latavius Murray’s great game last week, I wouldn’t start him or Jerick McKinnon against the Browns who have allowed the 26^th most points to RBs. Their secondary is a different story. Stefon Diggs is supposed to play in this game, so start him, Adam Thielen, and Kyle Rudolph.
  • The Vikings have the worst defense for RBs in the league, so I would only start Isaiah Crowell in a PPR league and start Duke Johnson as a flex player.
• Raiders @ Bills
  • Is Derek Carr really back? I would actually start him for this big game, as well as Michael Crabtree and Amari Cooper. But if you want a raider RB, you are going to have to go to the wire. Both are good flex players, but you can choose either between DeAndre Washington (14% owned) who had a TD last game or Jalen Richard (24% owned) who had the same amount of carries.
  • Tyrod Taylor and LeSean McCoy should be in your lineup this week, and should each score one or two times each. Some sneaky picks would be Jordan Matthews (32% owned) and Nick O’Leary (2% owned), who should be heavily targeted in this matchup.

• Colts @ Bengals
  • With Indianapolis not looking too pretty, the only starters against this decent defense is T.Y. Hilton, Jack Doyle, and Frank Gore. If you absolutely don’t have another flex player because of players on a bye, play Marlon Mack at your flex.
  • Andy Dalton looks to redeem himself after a 4-interception game last week, especially with Malik Hooker out with an ACL injury. Start Dalton, A.J. Green, Joe Mixon, and Tyler Kroft (33% owned) who should have massive games.

• Chargers @ Patriots
  • Surprisingly, New England’s defense lets up the most points for QBs. Rivers should be in your lineup as well as Melvin Gordon, Keenan Allen, and Hunter Henry for this shoot out.
  • The Chargers secondary has been nice to receivers this year, so look for Brandin Cooks to have a breakout game along with Danny Amendola and Chris Hogan. And of course, Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski should both have great games this week
• Bears @ Saints
  • Jordan Howard should be a set starter by now and Tarik Cohen is a good start for PPR leagues against the Saints who have given up the 11^th most points to RBs. Now, because the Bears don’t really like to throw the ball, the only other starter that should score in this game is Zach Miller.
  • Drew Brees might not have as an explosive of a game as he did in the last couple of weeks, because the Bears defense is actually very solid. I would only start Michael Thomas, Mark Ingram, and maybe Ted Ginn at your flex spot.
• Falcons @ Jets
  • The Falcons have had quite a disappointing season this year, but I expect them to have a bounce back performance this week. Look for lots of points from Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, and Devonta Freeman. Even Austin Hooper and Tevin Coleman should start at the flex position.  The Falcon’s defense (25% owned) will be a good pick up against the Jets.
  • On the Jet’s side, Matt Forte and maybe Bilal Powell should both have great games against a defense who lets up the 6^th most points to RBs. The only other starter in this game is Austin Seferian-Jenkins, who has scored 3 weeks in a row.
• 49ers @ Eagles
  • For a team who has yet to win their first game, and who has a rookie QB, I would only start Pierre Garcon and Carlos Hyde as they face the best team in the league.
  • The Carson Wentz wagon trails on as they look to have a dominating home win this week. Wentz, Alshon Jeffery, Nelson Agholor, Zach Ertz, the defense, and even Torrey Smith (10% owned) should all have great games against a weak defense.
• Panthers @ Buccaneers
  • Tampa Bay gives up the 3^rd most points to QBs, so Cam Newton should be off your bench as well as Kelvin Benjamin, Devin Funchess, Christian McCaffrey, and Ed Dickson against another weak defense.
  • You must start Mike Evans, Desean Jackson, Jameis Winston, and Cameron Brate for this high scoring game. If you are streaming your TE’s, try to pick up O.J. Howard (30% owned) who is coming off of a 2-touchdown game and should find the end zone again this week.

Sunday Afternoon Games (3pm ct)

• Texans @ Seahawks
  • Coming off a bye, watch for this game to be very high scoring. Look for big games from Deshaun Watson, DeAndre Hopkins and Lamar Miller with Will Fuller in at your flex.
  • Russell Wilson could have fun with the Texan’s soft secondary, so start Doug Baldwin, Jimmy Graham, Paul Richardson (25% owned), and Thomas Rawls in a PPR league.

• Cowboys @ Redskins
  • After Ezekiel Elliott’s explosive game, start him along with Dak Prescott, Dez Bryant and Jason Witten who could all cross the pylon in this divisional game.
  • Jordan Reed is back and is looking to be a week to week starter in your lineup. Kirk Cousins should also stand out this game against the weak Boy’s defense. Rob Kelly and Chris Thompson should both have great games and for sneaky plays, pick up rookie Josh Doctson (32% owned) and although he has struggled this year, I see Terrelle Pryor scoring against this secondary.

Sunday Night Football

• Steelers @ Lions
  • This week has been very enjoyable to watch drama with Martavis Bryant go down. Ben Rothlisberger with Antonio Brown, and stiff-arming Le’Veon Bell should put up decent numbers this week. If many of your players are on a bye and you are desperately looking for a receiver to get some flex points, pick up Juju Smith-Schuster (23% owned) and also return his bike if you have it.
  • Matt Stafford and the Lions are coming off from a bye, but are facing a menacing secondary. I would sit Stafford and Eric Ebron, but start Ameer Abdullah to have a top 5 RB performance this week.

Monday Night Football

• Broncos @ Chiefs
  • It’s not looking too hot in Denver right now, especially with winter coming. But Trevor Siemian is going to miss Emanuel Sanders again this week, but he will have Demaryius Thomas who should fare well against a defense who allows the 2^nd most points to receivers. If you are looking for a sneaky start, I can see C.J. Anderson having a breakout game even against the great Kansas City defense.
  • Alex Smith should play well against the Bronco’s great defense, as well as Kareem Hunt, Travis Kelce, and Tyreek Hill.