The halfway point of the fantasy season can be frightful, with lineup decisions more daunting as the incorrect ones will haunt us while we strive for the playoffs. So, to help alleviate some fear during Halloween week, the following is my verdict on some players I think will either feast or suffer from famine based on the Fantasy Pros consensus rankings.

In this column, I analyze players with some of the most considerable variances (standard deviations) in the individual PPR rankings by my FantasyPros colleagues. Hopefully, these comparative assessments against the rankings will aid with fantasy lineup decisions, and I will try to include less obvious and trending players when possible. If you like my work, please follow me on Twitter.

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Feast

Jerry Jeudy – (DEN)       

ECR: WR31­ – STDEV 3.3

There is some apprehension regarding starting Jerry Jeudy in his first game back from injury. It’s not a scary proposition, though, as Jeudy was close to returning last week. The Denver Broncos just wanted to give the wideout a little more time to recover from the high ankle sprain he suffered in the season opener. Even if the team eases him back in, the second-year receiver should get enough work next to Courtland Sutton after catching six of seven targets for 72 yards in Week 1 before suffering the injury. There should be plenty of balls to go around against a Washington defense that gives up the second-most points to the position and the most passing yards in the league. Confidently fire him up as a WR3 with WR2 upside.

Kenneth Gainwell – (PHI)          

ECR: RB22­ – STDEV 3.7

After Miles Sanders left the game early against the Las Vegas Raiders, Kenneth Gainwell took over the lead back duties. He and Boston Scott split most of the carries in the backfield, but with quarterback, Jalen Hurts serving as the lead rusher, Gainwell did most of his damage in the passing game. He finished the game with four receptions on eight targets and a touchdown, along with five touches for 20 yards. There’s nothing ominous about this matchup for the rookie out of Memphis as the Lions’ defense surrenders the fourth-most fantasy points to running backs and gives up the eighth-most passing yards. Boston Scott could handle a significant amount of the early-down work, but look for Gainwell to be the focal point on passing downs.

Famine

Jakobi Meyers – (NE)    

ECR: WR36­ – STDEV 3.4

Jakobi Meyers sees a team-high average of over eight targets per game but might not be that productive this week against Los Angeles. With the Chargers giving up the fewest points to wide receivers, it would behoove New England to lean on the ground game instead. Teams are running all over the Chargers to the tune of a league-worst 162.5 yards per game. Patriots’ running back Damien Harris is in line for a monstrous game and is coming off two successive games with over 100 rushing yards.

Jamison Crowder – (NYJ)            

ECR: WR61­ – STDEV 6.5

Slot receivers usually maintain a safe floor in PPR leagues, but I’d be a bit fearful of Jamison Crowder this week. While he has seen 21 targets in his three games this season, Crowder has only conjured 115 receiving yards and a lone touchdown. The Bengals defense has stiffened up against wide receivers, giving up the seventh-fewest fantasy points to the position over the last four weeks. It also doesn’t help that backup quarterback Mike White will be under center for the game. White went 20 of 32 for 202 passing yards and two interceptions against the New England Patriots in his first NFL action since entering the league in 2018, and now teams have some film on him.

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Bonnie Robinson is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Bonnie, check out her profile and follow her @FantasyQueenB.