We have a HUGE bye week upon us as 6 teams are getting a rest this week. Pair that with the injuries across the league and the fact that a dozen players were just traded on deadline day and we have what might be the most complex week of fantasy football this season. Who do we start? Who do we sit? Let's take a closer look!
Teams on Bye: Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers
"STARTS" OF THE WEEK: QB
Justin Fields vs Miami Dolphins
Fields and the Bears appear to have FINALLY figured something out. I have been more critical on Fields than most, but this start designation comes off of 4 straight games with 17+ fantasy points, the last 2 of those performances 20+. He also has a matchup against Miami's 26th ranked defense to help his case this week even more. Fields is available in about 50% of NFL fantasy leagues and is a great streamer to help through some of these bye weeks.
Tua Tagovailoa vs Chicago Bears
Does this matchup seem familiar? That's because it is! I like both QBs in this matchup, despite the fact that Chicago's defense is actually fairly solid. Tua exploded onto the scene early in the season and then we all know what happened with his head injury. Since returning, Tua had a good first game knocking off some rust vs Pittsburgh and then handled business vs Detroit. I expect Tua to return to his early season form where he is a fantasy starter most weeks.
Trevor Lawrence vs Las Vegas Raiders
Trevor Lawrence has quietly been one of the most predictable QBs in the league this season. In red matchups, he has struggled (5.66, 10.34, 5.82). Every other one of his matchups has been considered neutral and he has just 1 game under 18 points in those matchups. This is his first green matchup and it's against Las Vegas who is the worst defense against the QB. Bonus, you can pick up Lawrence to stream this week, and keep him for next week in another green matchup vs KC.
"SITS" OF THE WEEK: QB
Matthew Stafford vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Playing Stafford this week screams TRAP to me. Stafford is coming off of his 2nd best game of the season, scoring 17.38 in week 8. Tampa Bay's scary defense is not looking quite as scary these days, especially after giving up 21.82 last week to a QB. With that being said, the Rams are still not looking good on offense and his only real weapon, WR Cooper Kupp, was injured in the 4th quarter of the last game. I don't like Stafford as is this season, but with a banged up Kupp too, no thank you.
P.J. Walker vs Cincinnati Bengals
With bye weeks, we really have to expand our minds to look at some QBs we would not usually. This week, Walker is not one of those guys for me. He has been solid in his first 2 starts, but facing Cincinnati and their defense that gives up an average of just 12.56 points per game to the position, I am avoiding Walker and finding a different backup plan.
Tom Brady vs Los Angeles Rams
Tom Brady is another QB also coming off of one of his better games of the season, but let's not have the GOAT shroud our vision. He has been, at best, a matchup based starter this season and this is a red matchup. Avoid Brady if you can help it.
"STARTS" OF THE WEEK: RB
Photo by: Mitchell Leff /Getty Images
Miles Sanders vs Houston Texans
I hope you do not need to be told to start Sanders. He has been a very solid back so far this season and is getting more volume than any of us expected before the season began. I have him here to say the same thing about him that I said about Derrick Henry last week. He is going for 50 points. The Eagles are a top running offense and the Texans are literally the worst defense against the RB. If you are debating between some other back and Sanders this week, the answer is Sanders.
Jamaal Williams vs Green Bay Packers
Our first half top waiver wire pickup is continuing to rake in TDs and frustrate DeAndre Swift owners. I know, a lot of us are not confident enough to start him on a regular basis when Swift is in the lineup, but with the TON of byes and injuries this week, you can do much worse than a solid red zone back on a strong offense.
Tyler Allgeier vs Los Angeles Chargers
Eno Benjamin vs Seattle Seahawks
Kenyan Drake vs New Orleans Saints
I bunched these 3 together because they are all the same this week. All are great plays IF their starters are out. Cordarrelle Patterson was designated to return from IR on Wednesday, but he may not play this week. James Conner is still very questionable with his rib injury. Finally, Drake is expected to start with Gus Edwards dealing with a hamstring injury. The sketchiest play in the bunch is Drake, but that is just because of his game being on Monday night, so we will not know Edwards status as early as the others. Keep an eye on injury reports for the week, and play these guys if their starters are out.
"SITS" OF THE WEEK: RB
Brian Robinson vs Minnesota Vikings
Brian Robinson was getting the workload of a starting RB, and then last week, his ineffectiveness started to catch up to him. He averaged just 2.5 yards per carry and was actually out-touched by Antonio Gibson 14-8. A lot of that was Washington using backs in the passing game, and the Commanders have proven that they would rather use Gibson and McKissic in those roles. For Robinson to have the opportunity to have a boom game, he needs to have a lead. I don't see that happening this week for Washington.
Devin Singletary vs New York Jets
I have a feeling that Singletary will be a regular in the sits section in the coming weeks. The Bills made a splash at the trade deadline and acquired Nyheim Hines. Hines is more of a pass catching back, so Singletary should have a role still in this offense, but I do believe it will be smaller. Singletary has been playing over 70% of the Bills offensive snaps recently. If that number drops to 50% now, I wouldn't be shocked. In the weeks that Singletary played about 50% of the snaps this season, he is averaging about 5 points per game.
Darrell Henderson Jr. vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Not only is this matchup tough, Henderson is losing touches in the Rams backfield to guys like Ronnie Rivers right now. Who? Exactly. I am not touching Henderson until I see a better workload.
"STARTS" OF THE WEEK: WR
Jakobi Meyers vs Indianapolis Colts
Meyers has been about as steady as they come at the WR position so far this year. He really has been for most of the last 2 seasons, but his biggest knock was that he can't score TDs. That may be changing. Meyers has 3 TDs in the last 4 games and continues to see the volume we love. He is starting to reach into every week WR2 territory with the consistency.
Romeo Doubs vs Detroit Lions
As Tyler said on our waiver wire episode, when Aaron Rodgers threw his TD pass to Doubs in week 8, that was the first time he has seen him smile on the field all season. Doubs was loved by this coaching staff all offseason and now with a slew of injuries, he could be the top target on the field against the poor Lions passing defense.
Rondale Moore vs Seattle Seahawks
Moore was in the spotlight in week 7 being a waiver wire candidate and he busted. Part of that was the return of DeAndre Hopkins, but the other part was the Cardinals using him outside instead of in the slot. In week 8, thanks to Robbie Anderson being more involved in the offense, Moore was used more in the slot and seemed at home. Hopkins being there will make defenses worry elsewhere and leave the speedster with some softer coverage. Moore could be a sneaky good play, at least until the return of Hollywood Brown.
"SITS" OF THE WEEK: WR
Drake London vs Los Angeles Chargers
This is a talented rookie WR in a positive matchup, but I am here to tell you to not fall into the trap. There are very few targets to go around in that offense that throws about 15 passes a game. I can't trust London until that changes on a consistent basis.
Garrett Wilson vs Buffalo Bills
You may not have a choice but to play Wilson thanks to bye weeks, but I do believe that playing him would be chasing fantasy points. He just posted his best week since the return of Zach Wilson, but now a tough matchup vs Buffalo will make that very hard to repeat.
Robert Woods vs Kansas City Chiefs
Woods is someone who people could be streaming off the waiver wire this week due to all of the byes. Between the familiar name and the good matchup, he seems like a great streaming option, but I disagree. Woods has only performed decently in 2 games this season. He has never looked quite the same on the Titans this season. Add that to the run first mentality of the Titans limiting his targets, and the formula is just not there for Woods this year so far.
"STARTS" OF THE WEEK: TE
Robert Tonyan vs Detroit Lions
Good matchup, offense depleted of weapons, things are looking good for a decent Tonyan game this week. Of the TD dependent TEs, I think this is one of the more likely places to find one this week.
Evan Engram vs Las Vegas Raiders
Engram has been the best dart board TEs of the last few weeks and is now entering a matchup against the Raiders, who are 30th against the TE. They cannot cover the position and he just continues to see targets. If he is available and you need a tight end, you need to smash that add button.
"SITS" OF THE WEEK: TE
TJ Hockenson vs Washington Commanders
It was a bad time for this trade to come for fantasy owners. So many byes make the TE pool thin, and Hockenson having less than a week in the building means he is unlikely to be used heavily in that offense this week. If you can, look elsewhere.
Dawson Knox vs New York Jets
Tough divisional game for Knox here. We also know he is going to be inconsistent thanks to all of those weapons around him. I just do not believe he will score a TD this week, especially after scoring one last week.
"STARTS" OF THE WEEK: DST
Minnesota Vikings vs Washington Commanders
The Vikings defense have actually scored over 10 points in their last 2 games against the Dolphins and Cardinals, two solid offenses. Taylor Heineke is very up and down with turnovers and Washington gives up sacks left and right, so look for some good points out of Minnesota this week.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Los Angeles Rams
In recent weeks, the Bucs D has been disappointing, failing to break 10 points since week 2. This Rams offense might be down Kupp and even with him, they have been BAD. They give up almost 12 points per game to defenses. If there is a get right game for the Bucs, it's this one.
"SITS" OF THE WEEK: DST
New Orleans Saints vs Baltimore Ravens
There were an explosion from the Saints defense last week in a shutout of the Raiders, but the Raiders offense is far from as dynamic as the Ravens. That was also the only matchup this season that the Saints D scored more than 7. Do not chase these fantasy points.
Miami Dolphins vs Chicago Bears
This Dolphins defense has been very up and down this season. This Bears offense was so bad and now in recent weeks has caught fire. I am not going to go against the hot streak with an up and down defense, so I will be looking elsewhere if possible.
Good luck this week!! Be sure to follow the Couch GMs on Twitter for the latest news on who is in and who is out this week. Listen to this week's podcast for even more insight on who you should start and who you should sit. Our DMs are always open for any fantasy advice you may need to win your matchup.
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