Good Call/Bad Call - Week 4 fantasysharks.com Fri 9/27/13 8:15 AM13 Comments

Quarterbacks I was surprised that Terrelle Pryor was able to put up 20 fantasy points last week playing Denver. Even more surprising is that he's ranked as the 13th best fantasy quarterback. That means he should be owned in all fantasy leagues as a solid QB2. This week, if you have the chance, go ahead and start him. His home game against the second worst ranked Washington Redskins makes for a good matchup. Opposing Redskins quarterbacks are averaging 29 points so far this season. Michael Vick who plays a similar style to Pryor had nine runs for 54 yards and a touchdown in Week 1, and I think Pryor should be able to have some similar rushing stats to go along with his passing stats.[Editor's note: As of Thursday, Matt Flynn had been practicing with the first team and it appears that Pryor will not play in Week 4. Check back Sunday morning for official word on Pryor's status.] Temper you expectation for Matt Ryan this weekend. His matchup at New England is going to be a tough one. New England has been able to hold opposing quarterbacks to an average of 200 passing yards and less than a touchdown a game. Granted those quarterbacks were E.J. Manuel, Geno Smith, and Josh Freeman , but it's still something to hold back quarterbacks who are playing from behind. You've still got to start him. One guy you're definitely not going to want to start is Matt Schaub . His matchup with Seattle is not going to be a pretty one. Seattle is the toughest team for quarterbacks to go against. Only one quarterback has thrown a touchdown against the Seahawks this year. They were able to keep Cam Newton and Colin Kaepernick to under 130 passing yards. Don't expect Schaub to go for three passing touchdowns like he did in Week 1 and 2. If you've got Schuab keep him on your bench this week, he's a bad call. Running Backs Giovani Bernard has been increasing his fantasy points every week this season; from three, to 19, to 21. This is reflective of his expanded role in the Bengals offense, and he's currently the 16th ranked fantasy running back. His matchup this week is a favorable one, and you're going to want to make sure he's in your starting lineup. The Browns have allowed five rushing touchdowns this year, and Bernard actually got two red zone carries last week. It was assumed at the beginning of the season that BenJarvus Green-Ellis would be getting all the red zone carries. With Bernard cutting into Green-Ellis' carries it seems like the Bengals coaching staff is becoming more comfortable with calling Bernard's number. You too, should be calling Bernard's number and starting him this week. Stevan Ridley . Is anyone still starting this guy? If you are, stop. Leave him on the bench this week. Not only is he not producing, but he's also got a horrible matchup this week. The Atlanta Falcons allow just 79 rushing yards per game and have allowed just one rushing touchdown on the year. With Ridley losing touches to Brandon Bolden and a tough game ahead of him, he's a bad call for you to start this week. If you've got Arian Foster you might want to consider sitting him. Foster has been under-performing for his fantasy owners this year. He definitely hasn't been performing like a top-five pick. This week he has to play the tough Seattle defense, which is strong against the pass and the run. Currently, they allow less than 100 rushing yards a game, and have let just two running backs score touchdowns against them this year. Foster has been outplayed by teammate Ben Tate and is averaging just 3.87 yards per carry. That's not going to get it done for his fantasy owners and it's going to be worse against Seattle this week. He's a bad call for you to start this Sunday. Wide Receivers Pierre Garcon is going to rack up the yards and the fantasy points this week. If you own him, start him, and expect big things. The Oakland/Washington game is going to be a lot closer than it should be, but that means both teams are going to be playing hard all game. Oakland ranks as the fourth easiest team for wide receivers to go against. The Raiders have allowed six receiving touchdowns through three games, which means there should be at least two in this game. Garcon might get both of them, and that's the kind of production that you're going to want in your starting lineup. Start Garcon, he's a good call this week. Typically, you just start whatever Denver wide receiver you have and move on, but Eric Decker is the one that requires some thought. Decker is the third or fourth option on the Broncos, depending on if you think Julius Thomas is ahead or behind Decker. This week, start Decker. Denver plays Philadelphia, and the Eagles are the second easiest team for wide receivers to score against. They're probably the easiest just because offenses spend so much time on the field against the Eagles, since the Eagles spend so little time on offense. Expect Denver to keep the pedal to the metal, since they know that the Eagles could sneak up and score a bunch of points quickly if they get the chance. Lots of offense means that even Decker should get enough action to be in your starting lineup this week. It always seems like there's one game where I'm telling you to start or sit all of the guys on one team. This week that game is Houston and Seattle, and that team is Houston. Last week I told you to start DeAndre Hopkins , this week I'm telling you to sit him. For the same reasons that you're not playing Matt Schaub and Arian Foster, you're going to want to leave Hopkins on your bench; Seattle has a good defense. There will be other games to start this rookie wide out, but this isn't one of them. Tight Ends Antonio Gates has been slipping in his old age, but this week you're going to want to start him. The Chargers play Dallas, and the Cowboys rank in the bottom third of the league in points given up to tight ends. Factor in the home game for San Diego and Gates should put up some solid numbers for you this week. He's a good call to be in your starting lineup. Heath Miller got into his first game last week and didn't have any setbacks. Look for Miller to get a bigger role this week against the Vikings. Minnesota is the second easiest team for tight ends to go up against as they have already given up six receiving touchdowns to tight ends. Look for Miller to put up a good stat line this Sunday and make sure you start him. One tight end you're not going to want to start this week is Brandon Myers . The Giants play the Chiefs and the Chiefs are one of the toughest teams for tight ends to play against. No tight end has scored double digit points against Kansas City this year. The Giants don't look like a strong team this year, and it looks to be a rough week for your fantasy team if you plan on starting Myers. Good luck this week and, as always, may your starters stay healthy and I hope you make all the right calls.

Comments

MICHAELJ Sat 9/28/13 9:21 PM

Vick or RGIII

HO-BEAU Fri 9/27/13 10:55 PM

Tony Romo or Matt Ryan this week?

Qwestyun Fri 9/27/13 11:35 PM

This is what the Bucs are best at... shooting themselves in the foot by throwing out QB studs, talking about Doug Williams & Steve Young. Now, Freeman looks like he is going to be replaced by a human "Big Bird"....It is only week 4, and 5th round "stick-man" Q.B. LOOKS so injury prone. What a dramatic fallout. I believe that Josh feels bad about "getting Rahim fired"... Josh, it isn't all your fault. If I had one wish, G.M. U would bring back Rahim Morris, and sign him to a 4yr deal, so the team can build unity, and trust... all the players LOVED, Coach Rahim!! He and Freema, and the best team that the Bucs have EVER put onto a field. Now, that would be a beautiful thing to see happen NOW, before we become "paper tigers", again. IDK...WTF BUCS?! This time, I hope to be proven wrong... with respect G.M. Dom! Go Bucs!!!!!! 1 BUC PLACE 4 LIFE!!!

Bobdigi Sat 9/28/13 12:44 AM

Romo

JeffSteinberg Sat 9/28/13 10:02 AM

Well there is no way I'm sitting Foster and Tate for Pierre Thomas and Willis McGahee, thats for sure...

yanks2 Sat 9/28/13 3:51 PM

v jax or Antonio brown

JAWZ82 Sat 9/28/13 4:08 PM

v jax

JeffSteinberg Sat 9/28/13 5:22 PM

second that. it's likely he'll get more opportunities with the rookie throwing to him

Ernest_A Sat 9/28/13 11:43 PM

Foster,Bernard or J.Bell in ppr league ?

JAWZ82 Sun 9/29/13 12:43 AM

#1 I would go with Bernard against the Browns.

#2 Joique Bell is going up against Bears Defense but he also racks up receptions

#3 definitely not Foster he looks horrible this year and due to Tate slated to get more carries and Tate gets more receptions

Ernest_A Sun 9/29/13 12:58 AM

In another ppr league I have Foster,Powell and J.Bell. Who would you start there ?

Johnny590 Sun 9/29/13 6:03 AM

^ Powell.

JeffSteinberg Sun 9/29/13 9:32 AM

How do you sit Foster? I'm starting both Foster and Tate and hoping for the best.