Last week saw some chalk bust and some chalk bust out. Marquise Brown was seemingly in a spot where he couldn’t, and wouldn’t, be stopped. Then the Browns secondary, filled with backups, held him to just 22 yards on four receptions. Keenan Allen finished with just 48 yards on five catches. Of course, Allen also had a 70-yard touchdown called back due to offensive pass interference.
Going running back centric last week was the way to go, with numerous backs eclipsing 20 points. It really boiled down to who you wanted to fit into your lineups. For myself, I didn’t have much intention of playing Wayne Gallman in my cash lineup. It nearly bit me.
When Terry McLaurin was officially ruled out, the debate became a bit more clouded. Instead, I ended spending up at the position across the board with Christian McCaffrey, Austin Ekeler and Leonard Fournette. Much to my chagrin, Gallman had a great day. Of course, then came the afternoon and Fournette racked up 245 yards from scrimmage. I was back in the green again after a rough Week 3.
Sometimes the process leads us astray. Other times tinkering can lead us to making decisions that we otherwise wouldn’t. Trust the information you’re soaking up during the week and have contingency plans in place in the event a surprise happens during the inactive announcements.
During Week 3 I fell victim to making unnecessary changes and told myself I wouldn’t the following week. Sometimes your own logic can help and hinder your ability to be successful. Gallman was a great play at his price and I was stubborn. However, as is often the case, there are several routes to be able to get points in fantasy football.
Here are some of the players I’m targeting for cash game considerations:
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Quarterbacks
Deshaun Watson (HOU): $8,000 vs. Atlanta Falcons
While both quarterbacks in this game are likely cash game considerations, the home favorite can make plays with his legs, and the Konami Code always takes precedence. The health of the Falcons’ offensive line is also a concern as well, considering many members have missed time this week in practice.
Thus far this season, the Falcons have allowed seven touchdowns to opposing receivers. Now they get to face Will Fuller and DeAndre Hopkins in what is projected to be the highest-scoring game on the slate.
The Falcons defense has allowed a league-high 6 TDs on throws with a depth of target between 10-19 yards.
DeAndre Hopkins has the sixth-most targets from that depth with 2 TDs.
— Jarad Evans (@Jarad_Evans) October 3, 2019
Jameis Winston (TB): $7,600 @ New Orleans Saints
Winston has fared well thus far this season after a shaky start. He’s doing so facing immense pressure, both figuratively and literally. When pressured this season, Winston is “leading the NFL in completion percentage (81.8%), yards per attempt (13.9) and TD-INT ratio (6:0), with a perfect passer rating (158.3) on such passes.”
Kirk Cousins (MIN): $6,800 @ NYG
Carson Wentz (PHI): $7,800 vs. NYJ
Running Backs
David Johnson (ARI): $7,500 vs. Cincinnati Bengals
In a battle of winless teams, the Cardinals being at their own stadium might ultimately prove to be the X-Factor. Suffice to say, Johnson has once again become the Cardinals’ X-Factor. With the Bengals coming to town, that’s the perfect recipe for a blowup game by DJ.
Currently, the Bengals rank 22nd in run DVOA and 30th in overall defensive DVOA by Football Outsiders. Opposing backfields are averaging nearly 121 rushing yards and 73 receiving yards with two touchdowns per game to running backs.
David Johnson is currently out-scoring these WRs with his receiving stats alone (51.2 PPR fantasy points):
– Julian Edelman (50.5)
– Adam Thielen (49.0)
– JuJu Smith-Schuster (48.8)
– Calvin Ridley (48.6)
– Stefon Diggs (39.9)— Graham Barfield (@GrahamBarfield) October 3, 2019
According to Pro Football Focus, the Bengals are allowing a 140.3 passer rating to opposing running backs. Additionally, “Johnson is tied with Christian McCaffrey for a league-high 127 routes run while also being used out of the slot (32 routes), where the Christian Kirk injury could spark a slot snap uptick.”
Ezekiel Elliott (DAL): $8,300 vs. Green Bay Packers
The Packers have been atrocious against running backs thus far this season. Now they travel down to Jerry World to take on the Cowboys, with both teams reeling from close losses last week. Over the last three weeks, the Packers run defense has been reeling as well. Since their defeat of the Chicago Bears, the Packers have allowed 529 yards on the ground, worst in the league.
Other notables:
Austin Ekeler (LAC): $7,200 vs. DEN
Mark Ingram (BAL): $7,500 @ PIT
Wide Receivers
Michael Thomas (NO): $7,700 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Pricing is soft enough this week where you can fit an insane amount of studs. Thomas might be the biggest pricing discrepancy of Week 5 however. A home favorite of only three points (Pick-em on a neutral field) against a defense like the Buccaneers? Priced as the WR7? Going against Vernon Hargreaves? Yes, please.
Most Yards per Target Allowed among CBs this season (min 18 targets):
DeAndre Baker – NYG (17.06)
Tramaine Brock – ARI (13.28)
Vernon Hargreaves III – TB (11.70)
Marshon Lattimore – NO (11.18)
Dre Kirkpatrick – CIN (11.11)cont.
— Chris Kennedy (@ChrisKennedy318) October 3, 2019
Golden Tate (NYG): $4,500 vs. Minnesota Vikings
This might be a bold call considering it’s Tate’s first action of the season, but a receiver of his caliber at $4,500 seems really tempting to act on. Especially one that should avoid a heavy dose of Xavier Rhodes. Rhodes has played just six snaps in the slot this season, where we should see a bulk of Tate’s work.
Other notables:
DeAndre Hopkins (HOU): $8,300 vs. ATL
Allen Robinson (CHI): $6,900 @ OAK
Tight Ends
Jimmy Graham (GB): $5,500 @ Dallas Cowboys
In the likelihood that Davante Adams misses this game, someone is going to need to catch passes from Aaron Rodgers. Last week Graham was fourth on the team with 53 air yards. He caught six passes for 61 yards and a touchdown. As of late, when Adams went down, Graham stepped up his play.
Jimmy Graham
2018-2019 w/ 🚫 Davante Adams
Small sample but Notable
(1126 snaps with / 154 w/o)2018: (w/ ——-> w/o)
Tg Share: 13.8 —> 14.9%
Rz Tg Share: 10.9 —> 40%2019:
Tg Share: 9.7 —> 18.2%
Rz Tg Share: 14.3 —> 37.5%Per @TheQuantEdge Injury Tool
pic.twitter.com/8r76UuyXZp— Derek Brown (@DBro_FFB) October 2, 2019
With the tight end position being somewhat bleak on the main slate, Graham offers a nice floor with high upside at a very affordable cost.
Tyler Eifert (CIN): $4,600 vs. Arizona Cardinals
I absolutely hate suggesting any of the Bengals tight ends. I really do, but the Cardinals are just constantly giving up play after play to opposing tight ends. Maybe this is the week that the streak finally ends. A large part of that might be the inconsistency in snaps and opportunities.
Other notables:
Noah Fant (DEN): $4,900 @ LAC
Darren Waller (OAK): $6,400 vs. CHI
Defense
New England Patriots DST: $5,500 @ Washington Redskins
Just lock them in.
Philadelphia Eagles DST: $4,900 vs. New York Jets
With Luke Falk starting the Eagles become a viable option in cash.
Other notables:
Chicago Bears DST: $5,000 @ OAK
Buffalo Bills DST: $4,300 @ TEN
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Matt Giraldi is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Matt, check out his archive or follow him @Mgiraldi.
