Time to navigate another frustrating and fun week of fantasy football to get you even closer to your league championship! Can I just vent about something that everyone else wants to vent about?...
CMC... The fantasy football darling of the last 7 seasons. He's been synonymous with being highly volatile. He's either in it and lights up the scoreboard or he's on IR. What I find frustrating is the fact (and a mere first-world problem) for fantasy football purposes: We knew he was dealing with something in training camp and the preseason, yet it was played off to be a minor bug. We should've known with McCaffrey that this would lead to some sort of absence. However when someone sits out the preseason nobody bats an eye. Its expected the studs with injury history will sit out. We at FantasyHolics (and literally any other FFB site) all kept him at the #1 overall position as we were still naive to the severity of the injury. Apologies to all of the people that picked #1 overall and selected McCaffrey and are potentially in a hole if they didn't pick up or draft Jordan Mason at the end of their draft.
Rant over. Now it's matchups.
QUARTERBACKS
START Justin Fields vs Indianapolis Colts
The upside of Fields is starting to show. He finished as QB12 last week and the trust in Fields by the Steelers is evident with the 3-0 start to their season. Fields draws his rushing QB counterpart in Anthony Richardson. Other big news to use in his start in your lineup is the fact that RB Jaylen Warren has already been deemed OUT. So far, the Colts have been middle-of-the-road in QB points allowed this season (18th most in NFL). I expect both QBs to use their legs to take over the game with two stout defenses against each other.
SIT Aaron Rodgers vs Denver Broncos
Last week, the Broncos shut down Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers holding him to 8.5 points in standard formats (QB27). Despite the resent resurgence of Rodgers, I would advise against playing him this week against a stout Broncos pass defense led by Patrick Surtain II. Both the Jets and the Broncos are coming off of strong performances and both defenses present challenges that may lead to a slugfest and less fantasy points.
RUNNING BACKS
START Carson Steele vs Los Angeles Chargers
Steele has taken over for the injured Isiah Pacheco and led the Chiefs in rushing last week with 4.2 YPC for 72 yards. He took 62% of the snaps and was pretty efficient against a tough Falcons rush defense (3rd least RB points in NFL). The Chargers haven't faced too many great running backs yet this season (Zamir White, Chuba Hubbard) and they've been doing pretty well at stopping them. Najee Harris fared better against the Chargers last week and Steele has a chance to show he can be a lead back and perform at a high level.
SIT D'Andre Swift vs Los Angeles Rams
He may be falling out of favor early in the Chicago backfield. He's been extremely inefficient and has yet to find the end zone this year. He has finished no better than RB32 in Week 2. He only had 53% of the snap share for the Chicago running backs. Roschon Johnson appears to have found room where Swift could not. Even against a susceptible Rams run defense, I wouldn't feel confident playing Swift until I see differently that he can be a difference maker like he was in Philly.
WIDE RECEIVERS
START Khalil Shakir vs Baltimore Ravens
Shakir is currently WR19 on the year through 3 weeks. He's been pretty consisten going over his estimated totals each week and finishing about 10 points each week. He's become a reliable target for Josh Allen and many outlets still only rank him weekly around WR40. He should be a confident FLEX start where you need him especially against a Ravens defense this week that has allowed the 28th most points to WR's this year so far. This will also look to be a high scoring affair with Josh Allen facing off against Lamar Jackson.
SIT Jameson Williams vs Seattle Seahawks
I know. Me? Sit Jameson Williams? Yeah I think this week's MNF matchup between the Seahawks and Lions is going to have way less scoring than the previous affairs between the two. The Seattle defensive backfield with Devon Witherspoon, Tariq Woolen and Julian Love is one of most stout in the NFL with tons of young talent that allowed the 2nd least amount of points to WRs. They will certainly be able to contain the deep threat in Williams. The Lions will elect to run the ball early and often this time around and limit the exposure of the Lions pass catching to a talented Seahawks defensive back crew.
TIGHT ENDS
START Cole Kmet vs Los Angeles Rams
Kmet finally had his breakout performance for the season and is ready to be confidently returned to starting lineups. Against the Rams this week (4th most points given up to TEs this year) Kmet is an easy start with Caleb Williams targeting him an astounding 11 times last game. Kmet had a slow start to the year but with Williams starting to get his legs under him, Kmet could see a huge value boost if his target share stays up.
SIT Elijah Higgins vs Washington Commanders
Trey McBride has already been ruled OUT for this week's contest vs the Commanders. Kyler Murray loses a reliable target. In comes Higgins to take his place. I would not guarantee a complete replacement in production for Higgins as McBride has been one of the more reliable TE's so far this year. The Commanders, as bad as their pass defense has been this year, have been surprisingly stout against tight ends this year allowing the 5th least points to the position this season. Don't play the replacement hoping for McBride's production this week.
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