Another week of football means another crazy week of Fantasy Football. Former number one pick candidate in drafts, Eddie Lacy, was inactive Sunday after just disappointing everyone who owns him this season, and James Starks had a decent, but uninspiring day against the lowly Lions, finishing with 96 yards from scrimmage on 21 touches. Lacy is borderline droppable in leagues simply because of how much better Starks is playing and also the fact that Lacy is injured as well, and who knows when he could even be relevant this season, if at all. In most leagues, he is still worth owning and having on your bench, but won’t be more than a low-end RB3 for Week 11. Starks, meanwhile, will be a low-end RB2 for the time being.
[graphiq id=”ehSNdWXQs8R” title=”James Starks Overview” width=”640″ height=”545″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/ehSNdWXQs8R” link=”http://football-players.pointafter.com/l/19634/James-Starks” link_text=”James Starks Overview | PointAfter”]
It wouldn’t be a week in Fantasy Football without another major injury to a major play-maker. Julian Edelman exited Week 10 early with a foot injury, and it was reported on Sunday night that Edelman suffered a broken bone in his foot and he did have surgery on Monday to repair the fracture, which is very similar to Dez Bryant’s. Dez missed six weeks after having surgery and Edelman is expected to have around the same timeline, placing him to return Week 17 if not perhaps holding that off to keep him fresh until the playoffs. Edelman is most likely droppable in all re-draft leagues going forward considering his timeline. But in his absence, someone did step up.
Danny Amendola had his hot weeks earlier in the season when Brandon LaFell did not play, and even when Dion Lewis was out prior to his torn ACL. He finished with 10 receptions for 79 yards as the immediate benefactor of Edelman’s injury. With Lewis and now Edelman out for the foreseeable future, Amendola is now a must-add in all leagues and will be an immediate WR2 given the high volume he will receive as no worse than the #3 target in the high-powered New England offense. Amendola was also used on the crucial 4th quarter comeback and will continue to be relied by Tom Brady and is especially valuable in PPR leagues. Go get him if you can and start him in your lineup rather than just on your bench.
Against a weak Saints defense, Matt Jones had a career day mirroring his week two outbreak. He finished with 11 carries for 55 yards and three receptions for 131 yards and a touchdown. Alfred Morris also had 15 carries for 104 yards, but that barely beats his past five week total of rushing yards combined of 113 yards. Morris is still not worth owning in most leagues, but Jones had a strong game in both the run and pass game. He will continue to split carries in the run game with Morris but is the best option in the pass game. He will be definitely worth owning with mid-tier RB3 upside in PPR leagues on a weekly basis. His role could continue to grow as Washington gets more consistent play from Kirk Cousins and their offensive playmakers being healthy.
In his past two games, Michael Floyd has accumulated at least 100 yards receiving and a touchdown in both games. He has continued to operate as the #2 wide receiver and had an impressive performance against a tough Seahawks defense (and had a 60+ yard reception slip through his hands as well). In the high-powered offense of the Cardinals and how much they throw the ball, Floyd needs to be owned in all leagues and considered a strong WR3/FLEX play on a weekly basis if not a low-end WR2. He continues to play like the 2013 Michael Floyd who had a strong breakout season and could be a key waiver wire pick up as crunch time gets closer and closer in Fantasy Football.
Kamar Aiken operated as the number one wide receiver for Baltimore and received 14 targets. He corralled in 7 of them for 73 yards, a modest day as that is a double digit day in both half point PPR and full PPR leagues. He isn’t expected to replace the production of Steve Smith, but Aiken has the volume to put up consistent WR3/FLEX and should be owned in all leagues going forward based off of his volume of working going forward. Because of his role, he has a relatively high floor with a decently high ceiling depending on the matchup. He is one of the safer wide receiver plays for FLEX consideration. There are much worse options to have on your bench (like Christine Michael, sorry C-Mike truthers) considering he has become Joe Flacco’s favorite target in a hurry.
Speaking of Ravens’ playmakers, Crockett Gilmore is coming off two straight games with a touchdown. He has quickly become the number one red-zone target for Joe Flacco and is trying to bring some value back to the position since Dennis Pitta (RIP his hip) did. He is not going to be a barnburner at the tight end position, but he is a threat to score a touchdown every week, which could by itself separate the TE2s and the TE1s. Gilmore is a high-end TE2 based on his opportunity to score, but being limited outside of that. With the lack of playmakers in Baltimore with Kamar Aiken, Justin Forsett, and Gilmore, sprinkled in with someone named Chris Givens (who?), Gilmore could put up some decent stats on a weekly basis and could have his role expand as the season progresses, making him a valuable commodity as a bench tight end if not a solid streaming option.
Despite putting up only one yard rushing on seven rushes last week against the Colts, Ronnie Hillman came back and ran decently on 11 carries for 42 yards and a touchdown in a train-wreck of an offensive game for the Broncos. He out-touched C.J. Anderson 13-2 (Hillman had two receptions for nine yards) and continues to have a strong hold on the starting role for the Broncos. He has been the more explosive player this season out of the two and appears to be close to fully healed from his thigh injury. Denver’s offense is struggling right now, but Hillman appears to be on the right track even in a game where his quarterback was benched (yes, Peyton was benched). Keep him on your roster as a high-end RB3/FLEX play on a weekly basis. C.J. Anderson can be dropped (again?) in most leagues and formats.
Oh, and Peyton Manning can be safely dropped in all leagues and formats, including dynasty as he simply does have “it” anymore, in case you were wondering.
That’ll do it for this week. And remember, if Donald Trump calls you dumb, then you’re actually smart.
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