This week I had an interesting interaction on Twitter. Apparently, a lot people feel very strongly about not having players on bad teams rostered on their own fantasy team. The player in question was Jamison Crowder, where many people felt the person asking the question should drop Crowder in a redraft PPR league.
Crowder’s stats through the 2 weeks he has played:
Week 1: 13 targets, 7 receptions 115 yards and 1 touchdown with a 37% of the target share. WR-5 finish for week 1!
Week 4: 10 targets, 7 receptions 104 yards with a 23% of the target share. WR-16 finish for week 4!
In the two weeks he has played he has been a top scoring wide receiver. This is not a player you drop in a points per reception format or any format to make room on your roster because he plays for a bad team. Each week he is seeing double digit target share as the primary receiver on a team that will be throwing the ball a lot. The Jets have a small passing tree where Crowder and then Herndon are getting more than half the targets of the entire team. In PPR that is exactly the kind of player you not only want on your team but in your starting line-up. So please lets stop the “drop the guy on the bad team” stuff, this is a bad take.
Whew, now that I have that off my chest on to this week’s Money Makers and Heart Breakers.
Money Maker – I think this person will perform well this week and be better than expectations
Heart Breaker – These players will not have a good week
Quarterbacks
💰 Money Makers
Joe Burrow– Burrow has three 300 yards games in a row and this week will be playing the Ravens. Though a good defense, the Ravens are easier to throw on than to run against. Last week Dwayne Haskins threw for 314 yards against the Ravens and ran for a touchdown. I don’t want to say Burrow is better than Haskins and has better weapons than Haskins, because I am a kind man, but I think we all know the answer; Burrow is better than Haskins and has better weapons than Haskins. ($7,300 on Fanduel and $6,000 on DraftKings)
Danny Jones– O Danny boy… O Danny boy… O Danny boy hasn’t looked great so far. I think people were wondering if has has come down with something. The truth is his offensive line is pretty bad and the first 4 weeks of the season brought him defenses that are tough against the pass. Well luckily Week 5 is here and it brings the Dallas Sieves, sorry Cowboys, secondary. The Cowboys have given up 3 or more touchdowns to the passing game in each of the past three weeks. This match-up is just the one to act as a get right game for Jones, and I believe the 3 touchdown trend will continue in week 5. ($7,000 on Fanduel and $5,400 on DraftKings)
Teddy Bridgewater– In Week 4 Bridgewater was amazing, throwing for 276 yards and 2 touchdowns and running for another 32 yards and 1 touchdown on the ground. In Week 5 he gets the Falcons defense that is by far the friendliest defense to Quarterbacks there is. They have given up over 300 yards every week in the air to the position and multiple touchdowns weekly as well. He is a must start if you are streaming QBs. ($7,100 on Fanduel and $5,900 on DraftKings)
For more information on why to play Teddy check out Kyle Larson‘s The Stream Option.
Other quarterbacks I like in week 5:
There is the obvious: Russell Wilson, Dak Prescott, Patrick Mahomes, Kyler Murray and Lamar Jackson.
The not so obvious: Kirk Cousins, Justin Herbert, and Gardiner Minshew.
💔 Heart Breakers
Baker Mayfield– If you were looking to play Mayfield; last week was the time. This week he draws the Colts and the toughest match-up he has seen all season. Take into account he hasn’t been that good, rating out as the QB-21 or worse every week, and factor in the Colts have been the stingiest defense to QBs this season, it becomes a much clearer picture to walk away from. Sit him, waive him, don’t even look at him.
Others quarterbacks to avoid: Nick Foles, Philip Rivers, Kyle Allen, Joe Flacco, and Derek Carr.
Running Backs
💰 Money Makers
Kareem Hunt– Hunt has the backfield mostly to himself with the Nick Chubb injury. The match-up isn’t easy against the Colts defense. but the Browns are the best running team in the NFL. Expect Hunt to dominate the touches, only getting a breather from D’Ernest Johnson (watch him this week too) when necessary. Hunt will be utilized heavily in both the pass and run game, which is exactly what you want to spend on. We are looking at a top 12 finish for running backs this week easily. ($7,000 on Fanduel and $6,500 on DraftKings)
I am not the only one high on Kareem Hunt:
KAREEM HUNT STONKS 📈📈 pic.twitter.com/H23M6X48Df
— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) October 7, 2020
Mike Davis– Since he has taken over the running back duties for the Panthers he has produced both through the air and on the ground. Davis is averaging 7 targets per game and last week had 81 yards and a touchdown on the ground as well. Last week the Falcons gave up 8 receptions and 95 yards to Jamaal Williams, Davis will produce in Week 5. ($7,000 on Fanduel and $6,400 on DraftKings)
James Robinson– Robinson has touched the ball at least 17 times per game. The Jaguars play the Texans in Week 5. The Texans have managed to allow the 4 worst defenses against running backs so far this season, giving up well over 100 yards and a touchdown every single week. Robinson is a great play in week 5. ($6,600 on Fanduel and $6,700 on DraftKings)
Other running backs to play:
The obvious: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chris Carson, Alvin Kamara, Ezekiel Elliott and Dalvin Cook.
The not so obvious: Todd Gurley, Joshua Kelley, and Ronald Jones.
💔 Heart Breakers
Myles Gaskin– Gaskin has been solid so far as the starter this season for the Dolphins. This week though he goes up against the Niners and the league leading run defense. The Niners have not given up 100 yards on the ground or through the air to a running back this season and also have only given up 1 touchdown to the position. That will most likely continue in Week 5.
Miles Sanders– Sanders is a case of if you have him rostered you are definitely playing him, even when you know it won’t end well. This week he draws the Steelers, who are the second best defense against the run. He may produce in the air this week but that is probably the only place it is happening, if it does. The Steelers have not allowed more than 70 yards on the ground this season. Sanders is going to need to fall into the Endzone to make his week palatable for fantasy purposes.
Other running backs that will cost you in week 2: Le’Veon Bell, Melvin Gordon, and Rams Running Backs.
Wide Receivers
💰 Money Makers
Darius Slayton– Slayton is a guy who has 38% share of his teams air yards and has seen at least 6 targets in each of this seasons games. If you were wondering when the right time was to pop him back in your line up was, the time is now. As alluded to in the Daniel Jones write-up, outside Wide-Receivers have been torching the Cowboys D to the tune of either 100 yards and/or a touchdown this season. Fire up Slayton and expect big things this week. ($5,800 on Fanduel and $4,800 on DraftKings)
Dallas has given up the week’s number one overall WR each of the last three weeks
Week 2 – Calvin Ridley with 2 TDs
Week 3 – Tyler Lockett with 3 TDs
Week 4 – OBJ with 2 TDsDarius Slayton pic.twitter.com/7aFoUn4SeV
— Randell “Memphis” Young (@DWZMemphis) October 7, 2020
DJ Moore– You can add Robby Anderson if you are wondering to this as well. The Panthers passing game gets to play the Falcons this week. The Falcons give up big plays to receivers and that is Moore’ s game. The Falcons defense is giving up over 200 yards and touchdown per game to wide receivers. It’s a boom week Moore (and Anderson too). ($6,600 on Fanduel and $6,000 on DraftKings)
DJ Chark– Chark looked healthy last week which was certainly a welcomed sign for both Minshew and fantasy fans. He had 9 targets for 8 receptions, 95 yards, and 2 touchdowns, and this week he is playing the Texans. Last week the Texans were torched by the Vikings passing game with Adam Thielen getting 114 yards and a TD and Justin Jefferson with 103 yards. Expect Chark to continue to produce in Week 5.
Other wide receivers to play:
The obvious: Adam Thielen, Dendre Hopkins, Tyler Lockett, Devante Parker, and Tyreek Hill
The not so obvious: CeeDee Lamb, Jamison Crowder, Scotty Miller, and Tee Higgins
💔 Heart Breakers
Terry McLaurin– McLaurin gets a new quarterback and a tough match-up this week. The Rams have only given up one 100 yard game to a Wide Receiver this season, and have also only given up 1 touchdown to the position. In season long format, you are playing him if you have him, but unless he gets overwhelming volume again, it’s a tough spot that I would avoid in DFS.
Robert Woods– Surprisingly the Washington Football Team is good against wide receivers. Only DeAndre Hopkins has had true success against them with his 68 yards and one touchdown game, which isn’t exactly a boom game. No other wide receiver has scored against them and only one other wide receiver has over 60 yards. This looks more like a Kupp/Higbee game.
Odell Beckham JR– Last week a money maker and this week a heart breaker. That is how Beckham has been since joining the Browns. The only Wide Receiver with more than 64 yards against the Colts is Allen Robinson. The Colts have for the most part held opponent passing games in check. Look for Beckham to get his usual 4 or 5 targets.
Other wide receivers will cost you: Jerry Jeudy, TY Hilton, AJ Green, and Julian Edelman,
Tight Ends Week 5
💰 Money Makers
Tyler Higbee– If you just read the above you know the WFT is good against Wide Receivers, but they are the fifth friendliest team against the Tight End position. They gave up 2 touchdowns last week to Mark Andrews on only 3 receptions. Overall they have given up 5 touchdowns to the position through only four weeks, only Atlanta has given up more TDs to tight ends. ($6,000 on Fanduel and $5,600 on DraftKings)
Hunter Henry– The first three weeks of the season saw Henry getting a total of 23 targets for 206 yards. Week 4 was unkind to Henry as the match up was not good against the Buccaneers. This week he gets the Saints and the second kindest defense for tight ends to play against. The Saints have given up a touchdown weekly to the position. This is a week where Henry will bounce back.
Other tight ends to play:
The obvious Jonnu Smith, George Kittle, Mark Andrews, Travis Kelce, Zach Ertz and Darren Waller.
The not so obvious: Mo Alie-Cox, Evan Engram and Eric Ebron
💔 Heart Breakers
Austin Hooper – Look at that, I am telling you to sit another Browns player involved in the passing game against the Colts. Hooper had best game of the season last week, that but that was last week. The Colts are the best defense against Tight Ends. Hooper has not been very good playing for the Browns, he doesn’t exactly get a lot of targets as well. YUCK.
Mike Gesicki – Last week I said to sit Gesicki, although many others had him as a play. This week I say sit him again. The Niners are the second best team against Tight Ends. One catch for 15 yards on 3 targets last week, expect similar numbers this week. The Dolphins will pass, unfortunately they will pass to Devante Parker, and not Gesicki.
Other tight ends that will cost you: Dalton Shultz, Hayden Hurst, Tyler Eifert and Greg Olsen.
Thanks for checking out our Money Makers and Heart Breakers column. For more great content from the Undroppables, follow us on Twitter, follow @MikeReedyFF for more great content, and visit back for Mike’s weekly UNtangling the Wire (waiver wire) article.
