Start Em’
Derek Carr QB, OAK, has thrown for a total of seven touchdowns and 622 passing yards in the past two games. He is one of only two quarterbacks this season, the other being Tom Brady, to throw three touchdowns and no interceptions in two consecutive games. This week Carr will face a Pittsburgh Steelers defense that is 27th against the pass in the past five weeks and has allowed over 900 passing yards in the past three. Carr has scored over 20 fantasy points in each of the past two weeks and looks poised to do so again this week.
Prediction: 20 pts; 300 yds, 2 TD
Jeremy Langford RB, CHI, is new to the fantasy football conversation as he will play in the absence of Matt Forte (knee injury). Langford will be a good play as he should see a large workload in a run first Bears offense. Langford will take on the San Diego Chargers who have allowed a league-high 5 yards per carry and have also allowed four different running backs to rush for a 100 yard game. Look for Langford to make the most of his new starting role.
Prediction: 13 pts; 70 yds, 1 TD
Stefon Diggs WR, MIN, is once again a great play this week, despite facing a decent St. Louis Rams defense. Diggs is one of only four wide receivers to average at least 100 receiving yards per game. Diggs has also had at least six receptions in each of the four games he has played, only DeAndre Hopkins has had a longer streak of such games. Watch for Diggs to continue to be Bridgewater’s favorite target moving forward.
Prediction: 13 pts; 75 yds, 1 TD
Sit Em’
Ryan Tannehill QB, MIA, is coming off of a lackluster performance in which he threw a pair of interceptions with no touchdowns. The Dolphins travel to Buffalo this week, where Tannehill has struggled in the past. In three career games in Buffalo, Tannehill has averaged 154 passing yards while throwing a combined two touchdowns. Over the past five weeks Buffalo has ranked 4th against the pass, making this a tough week for Tannehill and his fantasy owners.
Prediction: 11 pts; 280 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
Melvin Gordon RB, SD, has averaged 3.7 yards per carry which ranks 38th out of 50 qualifying running backs. Gordon has been unable to reach the endzone this season as he has carried the ball 103 times without a touchdown. No other running back this season has had as many carries without a touchdown. Gordon and the Chargers will face the Chicago Bears, who have allowed only two rushing touchdowns this season which is tied for best in the NFL.
Prediction: 6 pts; 60 yds
Tavon Austin WR, STL, has scored six or less fantasy points in each of the games in which he was held without a score. Austin will have difficulty reaching the endzone this week against a stout Minnesota Vikings defense. The Vikings are 5th against the pass and 6th in scoring defense over the past five games. The Vikings have also given up the fewest 20 yard plays this season, which will challenge Austin and his explosiveness this week.
Prediction: 4 pts; 40 yds
Top Players by Position
QB
Tom Brady, NE: Has 20 touchdowns and only one interception through the first seven games, putting him on pace for 45 touchdowns and only two interceptions this season.
Prediction: 25 pts; 330 yds, 3 TDs
Philip Rivers, SD: Has thrown the ball an average of 52 times per game over the past four weeks.
Prediction: 21 pts; 340 yds, 2 TDs
Cam Newton, CAR: Has consistently averaged just under 19 fantasy points per game as the 8th best fantasy quarterback this season.
Prediction: 17 pts; 240 yds, 2 TDs
RB
Todd Gurley, STL: Has averaged 6.4 yards per carry while rushing for at least 128 yards in each of the past four games.
Prediction: 18 pts; 120 yds, 1 TD
Devonta Freeman, ATL: Has been held without a score in the past two weeks but has had over 120 total yards in each of those games.
Prediction: 17 pts; 110 yds, 1 TD
Doug Martin, TB: Faces a Giants defense that has given up four consecutive 100 rushing yard outings by opposing running backs.
Prediction: 16 pts; 100 yds, 1 TD
WR
Antonio Brown, PIT: Had at least 10 targets in each of the four games that Big Ben has played, scoring in three of those four.
Prediction: 17 pts; 110 yds, 1 TD
Julio Jones, ATL: Has had at least 12 fantasy points in all but two games this season. Up next is the 49ers defense that has allowed the 4th most fantasy points per game to opposing wideouts.
Prediction: 16 pts; 100 yds, 1 TD
Odell Beckham Jr., NYG: Has caught a touchdown in three of the past four games. He will face Tampa Bay who has allowed the 3rd most fantasy points to receivers.
Prediction: 15 pts; 95 yds, 1 TD
Teams on bye week: Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Kansas City Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks
Check out a comprehensive injury report here.
Thanks for reading and check back next week for more fantasy football insights.
Questions about your lineup?
Collegian Sports Reporter Alec Grimes can be reached at sports@collegian.com and on Twitter @GrimesAlec.
