NFL Grind Down: Week 5 - Page Two
Jacksonville Jaguars at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
| Jacksonville Jaguars | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | |||||||||
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| Sunday – 1 p.m. | Raymond James Stadium | |||||||||
| Vegas Odds | Sprd | Total | Proj.Pts | Vegas Odds | Sprd | Total | Proj.Pts | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 42 | 19.5 | -3 | 42 | 22.5 | |||||
| Tm Stats | PPG | Scoring | Pass | Rush | Tm Stats | PPG | Scoring | Pass | Rush | |
| Offense | 15.5 | 31 | 18 | 17 | Offense | 18.0 | 26 | 24 | 15 | |
| Opp. Defense | 29.3 | 30 | 4 | 30 | Opp. Defense | 26.8 | 25 | 26 | 4 | |
| Opp. Def vs. Pos | QB | RB | WR | TE | Opp. Def vs. Pos | QB | RB | WR | TE | |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 12 | 22 | 20 | 11 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 21 | 19 | 18 | 28 | |
| Rec. Stats | Targets | Receptions | TDs | Yards | Rec. Stats | Targets | Receptions | TDs | Yards | |
| Robinson | 39 | 15 | 2 | 330 | Evans | 28 | 10 | 0 | 133 | |
| Hurns | 30 | 22 | 2 | 314 | Jackson | 35 | 19 | 2 | 292 | |
| Lee | 6 | 3 | 0 | 52 | Murphy | 17 | 9 | 0 | 169 | |
| Lewis | 14 | 5 | 0 | 40 | Myers | 7 | 4 | 0 | 26 | |
The Quick Grind
Notable injuries and suspensions: Julius Thomas (JAC, Hand, Doubtful), Marqise Lee (JAC, Hamstring, Doubtful), Allen Hurns (JAC, Ankle, Questionable), Austin Seferian-Jenkins (TB, Shoulder, Out)
JAC Matchup Rating: 3.5
TB Matchup Rating: 5.0
Jacksonville Jaguars
Quarterback: Blake Bortles (FD $6,900, DK $5,100) has posted 21.6, 17.4 and 19.0 FanDuel points in his last three games, all respectable numbers for a player at a price point under $7,000. And while none of those games were against particularly tough opposition (The Dolphins are a mess and the Colts aren’t really known for their defense outside of Vontae Davis), the Buccaneers are another favorable enough matchup for the Jacksonville QB. Even his 12-point performance to open the season against the Panthers would be “okay” at his price, but the Bucs aren’t the Panthers, and Bortles should be able to get 15 or more fantasy points. The Bucs are a below-average pass defense according to Football Outsiders DVOA, and rank 23rd in the league in pass defense according to numberFire. It isn’t for the faint of heart, but Bortles is viable in cash games this week, and is a worthy GPP starter thanks to his rushing ability and his big play receiver in a good spot for success.
Running Game: Last week was supposed to be T.J. Yeldon (FD $6,600, DK $4,400) week, going up against a lacking Indy run defense in what was expected to be a competitive game. Yeldon did eclipse 100 rushing yards, but added only four yards on two receptions and failed to find the end zone for a pretty mediocre final result. However, he is his team’s primary ballcarrier and the only player to receive more than one rushing attempt inside the opponent’s 20 so far this season. The Bucs have allowed five touchdowns to running backs in five weeks, and Yeldon is due to score after being shut out in his first four professional appearances despite numerous attempts in the red zone. He’s an excellent GPP play.
Pass Catchers: This is hardly the most efficient offense in the NFL, but it is somewhat predictable. Yeldon is the bellcow back, while Allen Robinson (FD $6,300, DK $5,500) and Allen Hurns (FD $6,100, DK $4,500) see a majority of the passing game targets. The duo have 39 and 30 targets so far this season, respectively, and the next closest healthy player is Yeldon, with 14. There are a handful of players who see a couple of targets per game, but none compare to the two Allens. Hurns had his breakout game for the season a week ago, and should be a popular option this week as people check his box score and see a reasonable price. But Robinson is more talented and has been more explosive on the season, and no one in the Tampa Bay defensive backfield can match up with him. His price on FanDuel makes him a cash game option, especially when compared to Hurns, while the two are more evenly matched from a points per dollar perspective on DraftKings. No other pass catcher should be on your radar from this team, as there are no other players with clearly defined roles and any sort of talent.
The Takeaway: There is a surprising amount of fantasy potential from this offense, as Bortles, Robinson, Hurns and Yeldon all have nice prices in a good matchup against a hapless Tampa Bay defense. Mix and match them as you wish, but with the understanding that these are still the Jaguars, and even in cash games, they’re more risky than your average selection.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Quarterback: Similar to Blake Bortles, Jameis Winston (FD $6,400, DK $5,100) is priced at a point where he could stumble into value based on the performances we’ve seen from him to start the season. He’s gone over 16 points on FanDuel in three of his four games as a pro, which would comfortably pay off his modest salary. There’s not a lot of upside with Winston, especially since turnovers are likely to subtract a few points from his score, but the matchup is solid. The Jags rank 25th in DVOA against the pass, and allowed 282 yards and a touchdown to Matt Hasselbeck a week ago. Winston may have his fair share of struggles, but he’s got more talent than Hasselbeck does at this point in his career, and the Tampa Bay QB’s passing game weapons are comprable, if not better. I think we can expect 250+ yards, one or two touchdowns, and a handful of rushing yards, which will be good enough for cash games as long as he doesn’t generate a ton of turnovers. I think Bortles has more upside for tournaments, but Winston is in play for GPPs as well, as he should carry fairly low ownership after making highlight reels for all the wrong reasons over the first four weeks.
Running Game: Lots of people, both in fantasy circles and who cover the Buccaneers, seem to think Charles Sims (FD $5,700, DK $3,600) is a superstar in the waiting, held back by that pesky Doug Martin (FD $6,400, DK $4,700) and his boom-or-bust rookie season still earning him playing time in 2015. The truth is, Martin is, was, and will be the most talented back in Tampa, and while he’s not great as a receiver out of the backfield, he showed last week why he’s the best runner on the roster. The Jaguars aren’t an ideal matchup for running backs, ranking fourth in the league in DVOA against the run, and not allowing a ton of points to backs outside of garbage time in a blowout loss to New England. They held the Colts, Dolphins and Panthers in check on the ground, giving up no touchdowns and no runners over 60 yards in those games. The Bucs have a mediocre offensive line, and will likely rotate their backs in and out of the game, so I’ll pass on this situation entirely.
Pass Catchers: Winston is an appealing option, but figuring out who will see the majority of his passes is a nightmare. In Week 1, with Mike Evans (FD $7,500, DK $6,100) sidelined, Vincent Jackson (FD $6,800, DK $5,000) saw 11 targets. In Week 2, the team barely threw the ball at all in a win over New Orleans, and spread it around evenly among their healthy wideouts. Evans returned to full strength in Week 3 and saw 17 looks in the passing game, but had a couple of drops. Then, in Week 4 in garbage time, it was Jackson again who saw a majority of the looks from Jameis Winston. Evans is a talented young receiver with skills to dominate any defensive back in the red zone, especially the ones offered up by Jacksonville, who rank 24th against top opposing receivers according to Football Outsiders. But he and Jackson are just GPP options for me thanks to uncertainty about their roles and their quarterback’s efficiency.
The Takeaway: Winston is a cash-game viable bargain quarterback, but everyone else on this offense should be a tournament play only. This is a bad offense with uncertain roles and workloads, and investing in the one player we know will touch the ball every play (Winston) is the only move that makes sense.
New Orleans Saints at Philadelphia Eagles
| New Orleans Saints | Philadelphia Eagles | |||||||||
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| Sunday – 1 p.m. | Lincoln Financial Field | |||||||||
| Vegas Odds | Sprd | Total | Proj.Pts | Vegas Odds | Sprd | Total | Proj.Pts | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.5 | 49.5 | 22.5 | -4.5 | 49.5 | 27 | |||||
| Tm Stats | PPG | Scoring | Pass | Rush | Tm Stats | PPG | Scoring | Pass | Rush | |
| Offense | 21.5 | 19 | 2 | 27 | Offense | 19.5 | 22 | 25 | 29 | |
| Opp. Defense | 21.5 | 12 | 24 | 13 | Opp. Defense | 26.0 | 23 | 19 | 27 | |
| Opp. Def vs. Pos | QB | RB | WR | TE | Opp. Def vs. Pos | QB | RB | WR | TE | |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 27 | 9 | 28 | 4 | New Orleans Saints | 31 | 12 | 7 | 30 | |
| Rec. Stats | Targets | Receptions | TDs | Yards | Rec. Stats | Targets | Receptions | TDs | Yards | |
| Colston | 23 | 15 | 0 | 164 | Matthews | 38 | 25 | 1 | 281 | |
| Cooks | 31 | 20 | 0 | 215 | Huff | 6 | 4 | 0 | 39 | |
| Coleman | 17 | 9 | 1 | 113 | Agholor | 16 | 7 | 0 | 100 | |
| Watson | 16 | 12 | 0 | 103 | Celek | 3 | 2 | 1 | 16 | |
The Quick Grind
Notable injuries and suspensions: Brandin Cooks (NO, Ankle, Probable)
NO Matchup Rating: 5.0
PHI Matchup Rating: 6.0
New Orleans Saints
Quarterback: Drew Brees (FD $8,100, DK $7,200) had a very nice bounce-back game last week against Dallas, and will look to continue his comeback tour against a Philly defense that was expected to be weak against the pass, but that has been halfway decent so far this season. The Eagles rank tenth in DVOA against opposing passing games, and they’re projected to be a top-five defense this season according to Football Outsiders. They have elite players at every level, but are prone to mistakes and blowups. Those will be exploited by Drew Brees, even at his advanced football age and with a hurting shoulder. He’s an option in tournaments this week.
Running Game: The run defenses in this game are likely far better than you would expect when looking at the team names and the Vegas line. The Eagles have the second-best defense against the run, according to DVOA, and have allowed the fifth-fewest points to opposing backs this year. The Saints have multiple players they like to rotate in at running back, and none of them are going to have a great time rushing against this tough front seven for Philly. Mark Ingram (FD $8,000, DK $6,100) is priced too high for this fixture, but C.J. Spiller (FD $5,500, DK $3,800) does have some interest in tournaments on PPR sites, as he’s likely to see few targets out of the backfield.
Pass Catchers: This is where the money will be made in this game on both sides of the ball, and even though the Saints are underdogs, there should be points to go around for receivers. The Eagles have been strong against the passing game this year, but when they do allow yards and scores, it’s to top receivers from their opponents. Julio Jones and Brandon Marshall both went for over 100 yards while finding the end zone, and Terrance Williams (deputizing for the injured Dez Bryant as the WR1 for Dallas) added a late game touchdown as well. That bodes well for Brandin Cooks (FD $6,800, DK $5,900), if healthy, as he’s the clear top receiver in New Orleans, even if his season has started slowly. But it’s Willie Snead (FD $5,300, DK $3,000) who will attract a lot of attention this week, as his low price and fairly consistent workload (six or seven targets in each of the last three games) mean he could haul in several passes and easily get into double digits in a PPR format, easily providing the output needed to justify his salary. I wouldn’t stray from these two, and I feel that Cooks is the tournament option, and on PPR sites, Snead is the cash game play.
The Takeaway: The Saints are underdogs, but the total in this game is high enough to accommodate scoring on both sides. Look for Drew Brees and either Cooks or Snead to be your tournament stack to get exposure to this offense.
Philadelphia Eagles
Quarterback: The Saints have started off the season with injuries everywhere in the defensive backfield, and while some of their key players are returning, there still isn’t much resistance being provided to opposing passing games. Brandon Weeden threw for 246 yards and a score on only 26 attempts last week, and he was the first quarterback to not reach two total touchdowns against the Saints this year. Sam Bradford (FD $7,500, DK $6,000) has let a lot of people down over the first month of the season, and there’s a chance he’ll do it again this week, but the matchup is perfect and he seemed to open things up a bit last week with some deep throws, an encouraging sign that would be great to see repeated against a vulnerable New Orleans secondary. Bradford is a top tournament quarterback.
Running Game: DeMarco Murray (FD $7,400, DK $6,200) is the starter, but shouldn’t be, Ryan Mathews (FD $5,400, DK $3,500) would be a decent play if he was going to get playing time ahead of Murray, and Darren Sproles (FD $5,700, DK $4,200) is around to take passing game snaps away from both. The Saints are pretty good against the run, anyways, so just avoid this situation and focus on a passing game in a prime matchup, with the exception of Sproles as a tournament play on PPR sites.
Pass Catchers: Jordan Matthews (FD $6,800, DK $6,400) missed out on the Sam Bradford mini-breakout last week, but he’s still the most targeted player on the team (by a healthy margin), and the most talented receiver as well. Receivers haven’t found the end zone that often against the Saints this year, but the Cowboys without Dez Bryant, Panthers and Buccaneers without Mike Evans aren’t great examples of strong receiving corps. Look for Matthews to help bring the New Orleans DvP against wideouts closer to their last-place ranking against the pass according to DVOA. Nelson Agholor (FD $5,200, DK $4,200) hasn’t quite found his rhythm in this offense, but definitely has talent and showed a couple flashes of his upside last week. No other wideouts should be considered. Zach Ertz (FD $5,000, DK $2,900) might be out of mind for most daily fantasy players, but tight ends have torched the Saints so far this year, and Ertz is more than capable of having a big game.
The Takeaway: Stack up Bradford with Matthews, or take a chance on Agholor or Ertz. Otherwise, avoid the running game, and watch the points fly in what should be a high-scoring affair.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens
| Cleveland Browns | Baltimore Ravens | |||||||||
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| Sunday – 1 p.m. | M&T Bank Stadium | |||||||||
| Vegas Odds | Sprd | Total | Proj.Pts | Vegas Odds | Sprd | Total | Proj.Pts | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.5 | 43 | 18.25 | -6.5 | 43 | 24.75 | |||||
| Tm Stats | PPG | Scoring | Pass | Rush | Tm Stats | PPG | Scoring | Pass | Rush | |
| Offense | 21.3 | 20 | 10 | 25 | Offense | 23.3 | 17 | 14 | 18 | |
| Opp. Defense | 26.0 | 23 | 16 | 15 | Opp. Defense | 25.5 | 21 | 21 | 31 | |
| Opp. Def vs. Pos | QB | RB | WR | TE | Opp. Def vs. Pos | QB | RB | WR | TE | |
| Baltimore Ravens | 24 | 7 | 31 | 1 | Cleveland Browns | 25 | 24 | 27 | 24 | |
| Rec. Stats | Targets | Receptions | TDs | Yards | Rec. Stats | Targets | Receptions | TDs | Yards | |
| Benjamin | 27 | 16 | 4 | 328 | Smith | 47 | 29 | 2 | 373 | |
| Hawkins | 19 | 10 | 0 | 112 | Aiken | 18 | 11 | 1 | 165 | |
| Hartline | 16 | 8 | 0 | 123 | Perriman | |||||
| Barnidge | 22 | 16 | 2 | 235 | Gillmore | 13 | 10 | 2 | 151 | |
The Quick Grind
Notable injuries and suspensions: Robert Turbin (CLE, Ankle, Doubtful), Crockett Gillmore (BAL, Calf, Doubtful), Steve Smith (BAL, Back, Out), Breshad Perriman (BAL, Knee, Out)
CLE Matchup Rating: 3.5
BAL Matchup Rating: 6.5
Cleveland Browns
Quarterback: Since returning from an injury suffered on a play during which he was about to get into the end zone for a rushing score, Josh McCown (FD $6,700, DK $5,100) has thrown for nearly 700 yards with four touchdowns and only one interception in his last two games. This week he’ll face a defense that has allowed the ninth-most points to opposing quarterbacks this season, including seven total touchdowns from Derek Carr and Andy Dalton in Weeks 2 and 3. The Ravens’ other two games featured much lower fantasy point totals from opposing quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Michael Vick. Football Outsiders’ predictive metrics have Baltimore as the 11th-best defense by the time the year is out, and so there’s reason to believe the positive showings against the Broncos and Steelers are more “normal” than the poor showings against the Bengals and Raiders. With all that said, McCown has been playing well, and the Ravens have shown that they’re certainly vulnerable to big days in the passing game, so the Cleveland quarterback should be on your tournament radar, but there are several other cheap passers in better situations this week.
Running Game: The Browns start Isaiah Crowell (FD $6,100, DK $4,100) at running back, but I don’t have much interest in him for daily fantasy purposes. Through four games, he’s never carried the ball more than 15 times in a game, and doesn’t seem to have potential for breakaway plays. He’s an early-down back who doesn’t get involved in the passing game, and while he is his team’s primary red zone rusher, that’s really the only positive trait on his fantasy profile. I am much more interested in Duke Johnson (FD $5,900, DK $4,600), who holds the Danny Woodhead role in the Cleveland offense, catching passes out of the backfield and providing a change of pace as a runner. After not seeing a single target in his first two weeks, during which Johnny Manziel was the quarterback for most of the snaps, he’s seen 17 in his last two games with McCown under center. The Browns throw more often with McCown, and the veteran is more likely to check down and run something resembling a normal offense when he’s in charge. Johnson is a very interesting option on DraftKings, where a five-catch, sixty-yard game with a few carries sprinkled in would be a pretty solid return on investment, and a touchdown would provide the sort of value multiplier you look for in tournament play.
Pass Catchers: Despite not seeing a target for two weeks, the aforementioned Johnson is actually fourth on the team in targets. Tight end Gary Barnidge (FD $5,400, DK $3,800) is among the top three, and faces a defense that has been very tough against his position this season, and can be avoided. Travis Benjamin (FD $6,200, DK $4,500) seemed like a flash in the pan after a couple of long touchdowns early this season, but back-to-back ten target games put him on tournament radars in favorable matchups, which one could argue the Browns have this week. Andrew Hawkins (FD $4,800, DK $3,000) is the third-leading receiver in terms of targets, but I’m not sure if there’s a player who does less with more in the NFL. He has managed to pick up only 112 yards and no scores on his 19 targets, with a long catch of only 18 yards. Benjamin is the receiver you want, and even then, it’s a GPP play at best.
The Takeaway: McCown and Johnson are interesting picks thanks to their recent performances and prices, and Benjamin will be more popular than he probably should, but presents obvious big play upside. No one else for Cleveland is worth your consideration.
Baltimore Ravens
Quarterback: Joe Flacco (FD $7,700, DK $5,600) has kicked off his season with two 20+ point FanDuel performances, and two games in single digits. Insert your own commentary here, likely based on which weeks you chose to roster the Baltimore signal caller. There is no trend among his four performances that show why he struggled against some teams and not others, he’s simply been inconsistent, a trait he’s shown for most of his career apart from a noteworthy run in the postseason that has earned him lots of money. His situation this week could not be any better, as he’ll suit up at home after a longer-than-usual break to face a Cleveland defense that has some pretty weak numbers so far against the pass, allowing the seventh-most points to opposing quarterbacks. However, he has so little talent among his receivers due to injury that it’s very difficult to recommend him for fantasy purposes.
Running Game: The Browns have been a bad football team so far this season, especially on defense. They rank 24th against the run and 27th against the pass according to Football Outsiders, and numberFire ranks them dead last against the ground game. This is great news for Baltimore, who would be happy to hand the ball off 30-40 times and keep their depleted receiver situation as a non-factor in this game. Justin Forsett (FD $7,200, DK $5,800) is still fairly priced for a lead back on a team with a good offensive line. The main reason his price is so fair? He hasn’t scored yet this season. When the Ravens are inside their opponent’s 20, Forsett has become a different player this year, picking up only 13 yards on seven carries in the red zone. However, much like T.J. Yeldon, he’s seemingly due for a bit of positive regression, as he scored eight rushing touchdowns on 44 attempts last season. Look for him to have a solid game against a team that has allowed three rushing touchdowns in four weeks, and over 550 yards on 109 carries for backs this year.
Pass Catchers: Kamar Aiken (FD $5,800, DK $3,800) with theoretically be the top receiver for the Ravens this week, but he’s never seen more than seven targets in a game, and his best performance of his career came last week with five catches for 77 yards and a touchdown against the Steelers. The Browns haven’t shown it, but they’ve got more talent on defense than the Steelers, and I don’t trust Aiken in this matchup. Newcomer Chris Givens (FD $4,500, DK $3,000) will have a part to play in the offense, as will Marlon Brown (FD $4,500, DK $3,000), but there’s no certainty or clarity here. Maxx Williams (FD $4,800, DK $3,300) would be interesting if Crockett Gillmore (FD $5,100, DK $3,100) remains out, but otherwise, I am avoiding this situation altogether.
The Takeaway: The passing game for Baltimore has too many questions and too few answers (and talented options) to be worthy of anything more than a very contrarian GPP play. The running game, specifically Justin Forsett, is where you want to spend your fantasy dollars.
St. Louis Rams at Green Bay Packers
| St. Louis Rams | Green Bay Packers | |||||||||
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| Sunday – 1 p.m. | Lambeau Field | |||||||||
| Vegas Odds | Sprd | Total | Proj.Pts | Vegas Odds | Sprd | Total | Proj.Pts | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 46 | 18.5 | -9 | 46 | 27.5 | |||||
| Tm Stats | PPG | Scoring | Pass | Rush | Tm Stats | PPG | Scoring | Pass | Rush | |
| Offense | 18.5 | 25 | 28 | 22 | Offense | 28.3 | 6 | 19 | 3 | |
| Opp. Defense | 17.8 | 3 | 8 | 21 | Opp. Defense | 22.3 | 13 | 17 | 26 | |
| Opp. Def vs. Pos | QB | RB | WR | TE | Opp. Def vs. Pos | QB | RB | WR | TE | |
| Green Bay Packers | 16 | 10 | 5 | 19 | St. Louis Rams | 5 | 29 | 10 | 25 | |
| Rec. Stats | Targets | Receptions | TDs | Yards | Rec. Stats | Targets | Receptions | TDs | Yards | |
| Britt | 18 | 11 | 1 | 183 | Cobb | 36 | 25 | 4 | 301 | |
| Austin | 20 | 14 | 3 | 215 | Adams | 15 | 9 | 0 | 92 | |
| Quick | Jones | 21 | 17 | 4 | 317 | |||||
| Cook | 22 | 14 | 0 | 161 | Rodgers | 17 | 13 | 2 | 121 | |
The Quick Grind
Notable injuries and suspensions: Davante Adams (GB, Ankle, Doubtful)
STL Matchup Rating: 2.0
GB Matchup Rating: 6.5
St. Louis Rams
Quarterback: The Packers have a top-five defense against the pass according to DVOA, and have not allowed many fantasy points to opposing passers this season. Nick Foles (FD $6,400, DK $5,200) may have a good game, but after missing in a couple of nice matchups recently, you would be banking on luck and variance more than skill and situation if you got 15 or more fantasy points from the Rams QB.
Running Game: Todd Gurley (FD $6,700, DK $4,300) had a big game last week and announced his arrival in the NFL in style. His big play ability means he’ll be a GPP option, but the Packers have allowed only 120 rushing yards to opposing backs since Week 1, and the Rams are expected to be playing from behind for most of this one. Gurley is still cheap enough to be a tournament pick despite a likely limited workload, but don’t expect another 150-yard breakout.
Pass Catchers: Tavon Austin (FD $5,800, DK $4,300) played well in Week 4, but he was essentially invisible for the first three weeks in the passing game. Jared Cook (FD $5,200, DK $3,000) is impossible to trust, and there are no other consistent targets in this offense. The Packers have a tough defense against the pass, anyways, so don’t waste your time trying to find value plays here.
The Takeaway: Todd Gurley could break a big play or two and help you cash in a tournament, but otherwise, stay away from these big road underdogs.
Green Bay Packers
Quarterback: The Rams have yet to allow more than one touchdown pass from an opposing quarterback this season. They’ve allowed only one 300-yard passer. Aaron Rodgers (FD $9,200, DK $7,900) is still a viable play in all formats, because he’s the best quarterback in the NFL. He threw for 249 yards and two scores against the Seahawks, and while that’s not the production you need to win a tournament, it’s a floor you can expect from a truly great player and fantasy option. There are better options available, but you can never go wrong with Rodgers.
Running Game: The Rams have allowed quite a few points to opposing backs this year despite having some elite players along their defensive front. Matt Jones had his breakout game against the Rams, and Le’Veon Bell returned to action with a nice game against St. Louis as well. With the Packers expected to control the flow of this game, Eddie Lacy (FD $7,600, DK $6,700) is in play in tournaments, but his unsteady workload means he’s not viable for cash games.
Pass Catchers: Randall Cobb (FD $8,200, DK $7,500) is always in play, just like his quarterback, and James Jones (FD $6,400, DK $5,700) and Ty Montgomery (FD $4,700, DK $3,400) will share the rest of the targets in what should be an easy win for Green Bay. The Rams have been tough on opposing receivers this year, however, so reserve these guys for tournament stacks with Rodgers.
The Takeaway: There’s not a ton of analysis needed in this one. The Rams have been more competitive than they should be to start the season, and while the Packers may not run away with this one and score seven or eight touchdowns, it’s hard to see any outcome other than an easy Green Bay win. Just be cautious of the likelihood for another 17-3 type of outcome rather than the 50-point explosion we prefer as fantasy players.