It doesn’t matter if you won the championship in your fantasy league last year against your best friends or if you were busy watching your peers beat you week-in and week-out: you love fantasy football.
Even though no one wants to hear about your team, winning a fantasy football championship to earn those all-important bragging rights over your friends is a wonderful feeling. You can’t be the joke of the fantasy group, and that may require getting a little advice. For people who aren’t a huge fan of football, but love other sports, then luckily for you, there are plenty of fantasy sports out there like fantasy baseball that you can enjoy (just check out this website here for more information).
So, here are my best and worst players for each position of your fantasy leagues in this year’s first MTSU Sidelines: Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em.
Quarterbacks:
Start ‘Em of the Week: Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers: Philip Rivers and his San Diego Chargers do not have an easy task ahead of them in their Week 4 match up with the Jacksonville Jaguars… they have a ridiculously easy task. Rivers has played pretty well for a fantasy quarterback through the first three weeks of the season, throwing for 778 yards, six touchdowns and only one interception. The Jaguars defense, on the other hand, have allowed 119 points already in the young 2014 season. Philip Rivers was able to pass for 284 yards and three scores against the Super Bowl Champion defense of the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2. If Kirk Cousins can pass for 250 yards and two touchdowns against the Jaguars’ defense, then the five-time Pro Bowler could prove to have a great game with weapons like Keenan Allen and Eddie Royal at his disposal.
Start ‘Ems: Andrew Luck (IND), Ben Roethlisberger (PIT), Drew Brees (NO)
Sit ‘Em of the Week: Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens: Flacco has not been a great fantasy quarterback so far this season, throwing for 728 yards, but only four touchdowns compared to his two interceptions. Flacco draws a tough match up against the Carolina Panthers, who may be motivated to avenge a blowout loss to the Steelers on Sunday night. Flacco is always due for a bad game, fantasy-wise, and this might just be his week.
Sit ‘Ems: Tony Romo (DAL), Ryan Tannehill (MIA), Jake Locker (TEN)
Sleeper of the Week: Teddy Bridgewater, Minnesota Vikings: After Matt Cassel was injured against the Saints, rookie Teddy Bridgewater got his first regular season playing time of his career. If Matt Cassel is ruled out for the Week 4 match up against the Atlanta Falcons, who only intercepted one pass between Josh McCown and Mike Glennon, Bridgewater could rise to the occasion with a week of better preparation.
Running Backs:
Start ‘Em of the Week: Ahmad Bradshaw, Indianapolis Colts: Ahmad Bradshaw only got nine carries against the Jaguars, but he was dominant in those carries with 65 yards. Bradshaw will get plenty of yards and carries against a weak Titans run defense, especially with Trent Richardson still struggling to find running room. He will still split carries with Trent Richardson, but there are still plenty of guaranteed yards for Bradshaw and his owners, which means a lot for fantasy running backs this year.
Start ‘Ems: Le’Veon Bell (PIT), Matt Forte (CHI), Alfred Morris (WAS)
Sit ‘Em of the Week: Rashad Jennings, New York Giants: In case you missed it, the Washington Redskins were able to hold Philadelphia’s LeSean McCoy to only 22 yards on 19 attempts. Rashad Jennings is by no means McCoy, but he still remains a decent No. 2 back or flex choice given his offensive explosion this past Sunday. If possible though, avoid starting him this week.
Sit ‘Ems: Reggie Bush (DET), Eddie Lacy (GB), Toby Gerhart (JAX)
Sleeper of the Week: Bishop Sankey, Tennessee Titans: The first running back taken in the 2014 NFL Draft finally got some meaningful carries in the Titans’ disappointing loss to Cincinnati on Sunday. Coach Whisenhunt may finally be leaning towards Sankey, given the uptick in snaps the rookie back saw in averaging 6.1 yards per carry this past Sunday. Sankey could live up to the high expectations finally against a Colts defense that is giving up 111.3 rushing yards per contest this year.
Wide Receivers
Start ‘Em of the Week: Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers: The Buccaneers were roasted on defense through the air by the Falcons in Week 3. Brown is averaging 98.7 yards per game against very solid defenses so far this season. Expect a huge game from him this week.
Start ‘Ems: DeSean Jackson (WAS), T.Y. Hilton (IND), Keenan Allen (SD), Julian Edelman (NE), Julio Jones (ATL), Jeremy Maclin (PHI)
Sit ‘Em of the Week: Mike Wallace, Miami Dolphins: Despite averaging over 70 yards per game, the Dolphins are a mess. The Raiders were able to hold down Tom Brady and the Patriots passing game to a manageable level, which means they should be able to hold down Wallace and whoever is passing him the football.
Sit ‘Ems: Steve Smith Sr. (BAL), Dwayne Bowe (KC), Golden Tate (DET), Sammy Watkins (BUF)
Sleeper of the Week: Allen Hurns, Jacksonville Jaguars: Despite being quiet in the past two weeks after exploding on the fantasy scene in Week 1, Hurns could break out again in Week 4. With Blake Bortles being the new starter, he could bring some new life to the offense. The two young guys could hook up well in this game.
Tight Ends:
Start ‘Em of the Week: Jimmy Graham, New Orleans Saints: Debatable, Jimmy Graham has established himself as the best tight end, maybe pass catcher, in the league. In Week 4, Graham faces off against a Dallas defense that allowed the Titans’ Delanie Walker to look like… Jimmy Graham! Drew Brees and the high-powered Saints offense should be able to torch Dallas behind one of the best tight ends in the league, in what could be a possible shootout.
Start ‘Ems: Dwayne Allen (IND), Delanie Walker (TEN), Travis Kelce (KC)
Sit ‘Em of the Week: Larry Donnell, New York Giants: Despite Donnell being Pro Football Focus’ second best tight end in the passing game, he probably will not have a great game against a defense that held Zach Ertz of the Eagles to 14 yards. Donnell is just too far down in the pecking order of targets, with the Giants likely airing it out behind targets Victor Cruz and Rueben Randle.
Sit ‘Ems: Charles Clay (MIA), Zach Ertz (PHI)
Sleeper of the Week: Brandon Pettigrew, Detroit Lions: Remember Pettigrew, who was supposedly replaced by rookie Eric Ebron? Well, he’s doubled Ebron’s snap count. The Jets allowed Martellus Bennett to have a wonderful game for the Bears Monday night, setting Pettigrew up for a potential big game in Week 4.
You can follow Kenneth Goit on Twitter at @KennethGoit
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To contact sports editors Connor Grott and Ritchie Simmons, email sports@mtsusidelines.com
