With the significant lack of time last week due to the recent birth of my child, I skipped my position picks versus the ESPN experts. My Week 5 picks were terrible, so it wasn't the worst thing in the world to have the week off anyway. I'm back at it this week though, as our family of three (OK, four if you count the dog) has started to get in the groove and are actually getting a little bit of sleep.
Believe it or not, we're nearing the midway point of the fantasy season. And if you consider the fantasy regular season, we ARE half way. Time to buckle down and get some Ws.
To the rankings!
BYE: Carolina & Dallas
QBs
1.Tom Brady
2.Matt Ryan
3.Matthew Stafford
4.Aaron Rodgers
5.Derek Carr
6.Andy Dalton
7.Drew Brees
8.Andrew Luck
9.Philip Rivers
10.Blake Bortles
11.Marcus Mariota
12.Kirk Cousins
13.Russell Wilson
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14.Tyrod Taylor
15.Brian Hoyer
16.Jameis Winston
17.Eli Manning
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18.Alex Smith
19.Carson Palmer
20.Colin Kaepernick
I'm high on: Derek Carr (ESPN #14, ME #5)
 Carr has been a top-10 fantasy QB through 6 weeks, and he has been top-5 outside of two games. One of those games was at Tennessee in Week 3, and the Titans have a much improved defense in 2016. The other poor performance came last week against the Chiefs, and we all know how good Andy Reid's teams are coming off a bye when they have that extra prep time. This week the Raiders travel to Jacksonville, and I think Carr is a locked in QB1 and obviously I like him as a top-5 play. Meanwhile, the ESPN experts would rather you start a guy like Alex Smith...
I'm down on: Alex Smith (ESPN #12, ME #18)
Everyone had Alex Smith as a top QB last week, as the Chiefs were coming off a bye and facing a Raider defense that gives up a ton of fantasy points to opposing QBs. Smith threw for just over 200 yards and had zero touchdowns. This week, one would think he should shred the Saints D, but I think it'll be the running backs doing the damage yet again. I don't like him as a QB1, even against New Orleans.
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RBs |
1.DeMarco Murray
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2.David Johnson
3.LeSean McCoy
4.Le'Veon Bell
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5.Melvin Gordon
6.Lamar Miller
7.Devonta Freeman
8.Christine Michael
9.Todd Gurley
10.Mark Ingram
11.Spencer Ware
12.Frank Gore
13.Terrance West
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14.Jacquizz Rodgers
15.LeGarrette Blount
16.Jay Ajayi
17.Jordan Howard
18.Isaiah Crowell
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19.Matt Jones
20.C.J. Anderson
21.Tevin Coleman
22.Jamaal Charles
23.Giovani Bernard
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24.James White
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25.Jerick McKinnon
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26.Jeremy Hill
27.Matt Forte
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28.Ryan Mathews
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29.Rashad Jennings
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30.Chris Ivory
31.Theo Riddick
32.Mike Davis
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33.TJ Yeldon
34.DeAndre Washington
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35.Knile Davis
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36.Bilal Powell
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37.Duke Johnson
38.Devontae Booker
39.Jalen Richard
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40.Darren Sproles
41.Matt Asiata
42.Shaun Draughn
43.Arian Foster
44.Chris Thompson
45.Bobby Rainey
46.Ka'Deem Carey
47.Zach Zenner
48.Derrick Henry
49.Rob Kelley
50.Wendell Smallwood
I'm high on: Knile Davis (ESPN #42, ME #35)
I had a hard time finding a RB I was really high on versus the ESPN experts, but I thought I could talk about basically the only healthy RB on the Packer roster as of this writing. Green Bay traded a conditional pick to get Knile Davis earlier this week, and that's because Lacy and Starks are both expected to miss extended time. Ty Montgomery will certainly be in the backfield mix, but I think the Packers will throw Knile into the game right away. It's also possible Green Bay is up big in this game and could use the second half as an opportunity to pound the rock with their new addition.
 I'm down on: C.J. Anderson (ESPN #11, ME #20)
After a hot start to 2016, Anderson has cooled off quite a bit in his last four games. He's only averaging 41 rushing yards in those contests, and overall he's outside of the top-25 in that time frame. Also, those opposing run defenses weren't teams like the Ravens or Seahawks. We're talking about the Bengals, Bucs, Falcons, and Chargers. Meanwhile, Devontae Booker has been getting more involved in the offense every week. I just don't see C.J. as a RB1 this week (or maybe any week moving forward).
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WRs
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1.Julio Jones
2.A.J. Green
3.Odell Beckham, Jr.
4.Mike Evans
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5.Jordy Nelson
6.Allen Robinson
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7.Antonio Brown
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8.TY Hilton
9.Amari Cooper
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10.Marvin Jones Jr.
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11.Brandon Marshall
12.Brandin Cooks
13.Jarvis Landry
14.Jeremy Maclin
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15.Alshon Jeffery
16.Michael Crabtree
17.DeMaryius Thomas
18.Terrelle Pryor, Sr.
19.Larry Fitzgerald
20.Randall Cobb
21.Emmanuel Sanders
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22.DeAndre Hopkins
23.Doug Baldwin
24.Cameron Meredith
25.Julian Edelman
26.Stefon Diggs
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27.Travis Benjamin
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28.Jordan Matthews
29.Golden Tate
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30.DeSean Jackson
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31.Ty Montgomery
34.Tyrell Williams
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36.Allen Hurns
37.Willie Snead
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38.John Brown
39.Brandon LaFell
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40.Robert Woods
41.DeVante Parker
42.Jamison Crowder
43.Quincy Enunwa
44.Will Fuller
45.Sterling Shepard
46.Anquan Boldin
47.Sammie Coates
48.Michael Floyd
49.Tavon Austin
50.Torrey Smith
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I'm high on: Brandon LaFell (ESPN NOT RANKED, ME #39)
 A couple of weeks ago, I whiffed in a similar spot when I talked up Kenny Stills and he laid a big fat goose egg. While Stills relies on that big play for fantasy points, LaFell has actually averaged 7 targets in his last three games and has 3 TDs in his last two. I like Andy Dalton a lot at home against the Browns, and I don't think Eifert will be rushed back just yet. The running backs will likely get a lot of points in this one, but I think LaFell could find the endzone for a third straight game. Meanwhile, the ESPN experts didn't even rank him in their top-60 WRs!
I'm down on: Willie Snead (ESPN #29, ME #37)
Michael Thomas has been a top-10 WR in the last 4 weeks, but Snead has fallen off the fantasy scene as he has battled back from injury. Snead's first two games of the season were fantastic, but his last two have been subpar. I trust Brees a lot more at home than on the road, and I'm not feeling Snead at Arrowhead this week.
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TEs
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1.Rob Gronkowski
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2.Jordan Reed
3.Jimmy Graham
4.Travis Kelce
5.Delanie Walker
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6.Zach Miller
7.Martellus Bennett
8.Kyle Rudolph
9.Cameron Brate
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10.Hunter Henry
11.Coby Fleener
12.Dennis Pitta
13.Julius Thomas
14.Gary Barnidge
15.Charles Clay
16.Jack Doyle
17.Zach Ertz
18.C.J. Fiedorowicz
19.Antonio Gates
20.Jesse James
 I'm high on: Cameron Brate (ESPN #13, ME #9)
Vincent Jackson landed on the IR this week, and Jameis will need to throw the ball to someone other than Mike Evans against the 49ers. I think that guy will be his tight end, and Brate should easily be in the TE1 mix this week.
I'm down on: Antonio Gates (ESPN #14, ME #19)
Hunter Henry. So hot right now. Meanwhile, old man Gates hasn't had more than 30 receiving yards in any game this season. He's always a threat for a TD, but Antonio may find himself out of the top-20 very soon.
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DEF
1.Broncos
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2.Vikings
3.Bills
4.Patriots
5.Bengals
6.Cardinals
7.Ravens
8.Rams
9.Packers
10.Eagles
11.Chiefs
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12.Seahawks
13.Titans
14.Texans
15.Jets
I'm high on: Tennessee Titans (ESPN #18, ME #13)
 In case you hadn't noticed, the Titans have been a top-12 fantasy defense this season. Not only that, but they've been very consistent. They've only given up more than 17 points twice, and they have 6 sacks in each of their last two contests. This week they face Andrew Luck, who has been sacked a league-high 23 times. I think he might hit the 30 mark this week against Tennessee.
I'm down on: New York Giants (ESPN #8, ME NOT RANKED)
I don't know what's to like about the G-Men, but apparently the ESPN guys like this defense against the Rams in London. New York has 4 games this year in which they haven't forced a turnover, and they only have 6 total sacks in 6 games. LA has given up a lot of points to opposing fantasy defenses, but they've also put up 37 points in Tampa (Week 3) and 28 in Detroit just last week. I don't see the Giants stopping the Rams much, and I just can't see them as a top-10 fantasy defense until they prove me otherwise.
Good luck to everyone in Week 7!
(Except you, Bird...)
Cheers,
Bart
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