BYE WEEK: DEN, NYJ, SD, ATL

QUARTER BACKS

Marcus Mariota, TEN vs IND

Mariota has been one of, if not the hottest QB in football of late. In his past 4 games he has thrown 11 TDs and only 1 INT. He has also rushed for a TD. Mariota is a duel threat QB who can beat you with both his legs and his arm and he looks like he is finally starting to figure out how to be an elite QB in this league. Indianapolis has struggled on defense this year and gives up an average of 20 fantasy points per game against opposing QBs.

Ben Roethlisberger, PIT vs CLE

Big Ben is coming off of avery strong game against Dallas where he threw for 408 yards and 3 TDs with 0 INTs. As a team, Pittsburgh needs to figure it out if they hope to make a strong playoff push but they don’t have to worry about Roethlisberger. Since coming back from injury he has been very good. He has 5 TDs, including 1 rushing TD, and only 1 INT in 2 games. This week he faces the winless Browns and we expect him to continue his strong play.

Tyrod Taylor, BUF vs CIN

Taylor may not be the best passer in the league but his ability to make plays with his legs has made him a good fantasy option this season. He has a very impressive TD to INT ration at 10:3 but more importantly he has 4 rushing TDs. This week he faces a Cincinnati defense who gives up the 5th most fantasy points to opposing QBs. Look for another strong week from Taylor.

SLEEPER: Colin Kaepernick, SF vs NE 

He may not be the most popular player in the league right now, and his team is pretty terrible but Kaepernick has been putting up some serious fantasy points since his bye week. The past two weeks he scored 22 and 23 points respectively. This week he faces New England who got lit up by Russell Wilson last week. Wilson and Kaepernick are the same type of QB. His team will more than likely lose but Kaepernick could give you a solid amount of points again.

BUST: Russell Wilson, SEA vs PHI

Last week Wilson had a monster game against New England with 348 yards and 3 TDs for a solid 26 fantasy points.However this week he faces a tough task against Philadelphia. Philly gives us an average of only 14 fantasy points per game. Wilson has been underwhelming for most of the season and we expect him to come back down to earth this week.

RUNNING BACKS

LeGarrette Blount, NE vs SF

San Francisco has been absolutely atrocious against the run this season. They give up an average of 28 fantasy points per game which is most in the NFL. Belichick and the rest of the New England coaching staff will devise a game plan to tear apart this run defense which is soft as baby poo. Blount may not get a lot of yards but we expect him to get multiple TDs and have another strong week.

Spencer Ware, KC vs TB

Last week Ware returned from his concussion and silenced any fear of a RB controversy by finishing the game with 16 touches, 11 more than backup Charcandrick West. With Jamaal Charles on IR there is no real threat to a healthy Ware. This week he faces a Tampa Bay defense that gives up an average of 20 fantasy points per game to opposing RBs. Ware will see a lot of action and should have a good game.

Lamar Miller, HOU vs OAK

Miller can be considered by many as one of the biggest busts this season. Many people (including us) drafted him in the first round expecting him to put up elite numbers all year. However this week he has a good matchup against an Oakland team who has struggled against the run this season. We’re going to trust Miller this week and expect him to take advantage of a good matchup.

SLEEPER: Theo Riddick, DET vs JAX

Roddick isn’t your standard RB. He gets most of his yardage and points off of receptions but no one ever said that was a bad thing. This week Riddick faces a weak Jacksonville team that has underachieved all season. Riddick is a guy who has either been on your bench or in your FLEX all season. If you’re looking for a bye week fill in Riddick is a solid option.

BUST: Todd Gurley, LAR vs MIA

While some may consider Miller to be a bust most will argue that Gurley has been the biggest bust of the season so far. Gurley has failed to put up big numbers like he did when he took the league by storm last year and we don’t expect that to change this week. Rookie Jared Goff will be getting the start on Sunday and Miami could stuff the box and force the young QB to beat them. You may not have any better options but if you do stay away from Gurley.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Jamison Crowder, WAS vs GB

Crowder may not be putting up monster numbers but he is very consistent. In his past 4 games he has scored 10 fantasy points in 3 of them and 16 in the other. powder has proven to be one of Cousins’ favorite targets and we expect him to continue his solid play against a Green Bay defense who gives up the fourth most fantasy points to opposing WRs.

Kenny Britt, LA vs MIA

Jared Goff is making his first career start on Sunday so there is a little uncertainty around the Rams’ offense. However Britt has been one of the only consistent offensive weapons for an otherwise dismal Rams offense. This week he faces a Dolphins defense who gives up an average of 25 fantasy points per game to opposing WRs. If anyone on the Rams offense has a good game Sunday it will most likely be Britt.

Donte Moncrief, IND vs TEN

Moncrief has scored a TD in every game he has been healthy this season. He may not be racking up 100 yards per game but he has been scoring a very consistent 10 points per game. Tennessee gives up an average of 24 fantasy points per game to opposing WRs. Lok for Moncrief to continue on his consistent season.

SLEEPER: Eli Rodgers, PIT vs CLE

The last two weeks Rodgers has been a very solid secondly option for Big Ben behind Antonio Brown. In the two weeks after the bye, he has scored 10 points in each. Look for that trend to continue this week against the lowly Browns. Rodgers can be a good bye week fill in who is most likely available in your league.

BUST: Terrelle Pryor, CLE vs PIT

Pittsburgh may not be the stout defense they used to be but they have been very good against the pass this year. They give up the 4th least fantasy points to opposing WRs. Cleveland’s offense has been inconsistent all season and that includes Pryor. We just don’t trust him this week.

TIGHT ENDS

Delanie Walker, TEN vs IND

Walker is coming off of a 124 yard and 1 TD game last week and has 3 TDs in his past 4 games. He still remains one of the best pass catching TEs in the game. This week he faces and Indianapolis team who gives up an average of 10 fantasy points per game to opposing TEs. Yes have been weak this year but you should start Walker with confidence.

Martellus Bennett, NE vs SF

Gronk is most likely out this week with a punctured lung (ouch) which makes Bennett the starting TE this week. Even with Gronk in the lineup Bennett has been successful. San Francisco has been average against TEs but Brady and New England’s offense are such a well oiled machine that you should have confidence starting Bennett.

Zach Miller, CHI vs NYG

With Alshon Jeffery out for the next 4 weeks, every WR on the Bears being inconsistent with scoring points, and the Giants defense actually playing well expect Jay Cutler to throw a lot of short passing to his security blanket that is his tight end Zach Miller.

SLEEPER: Vernon Davis, WAS vs GB

When Jordan Reed came back everyone expected Vernon Davis’ production to drop off but that hasn’t been the case. Since week 6 Vernon Davis has been pretty consistent with scoring which is surprising for a tight end. Last week the Packers gave up 47 points to the Titans so expect the Redskins to score points against them and Vernon Davis to catch a few passing and hopefully find the end zone.

BUST: Kyle Rudolph, MIN vs ARZ

The Vikings offense hasn’t been good all year and in the last few weeks the defense hasn’t been able to carry their team to victory. Unfortunately they run into the Cardinals now when they are down. The Cardinals have a really good defense and don’t give up points to tights so we suggest staying away from Kyle Rudolph

DEFENSE / SPECIAL TEAMS

Miami Dolphins vs LAR

The Dolphins’ defense have been playing good all year and now that their offense is rolling it has been helping the defense by keeping them off the field for 45 mins a game. The Rams offense as a whole have been inconsistent all year and now they are starting Jared Goff. We expect them to have a boring game plan, to minimize the tough situations Goff is in and to not score many points on offense.

New York Giants vs CHI

Just like we said before the Giants defense has been playing well this year. Jay Cutler is missing his best WR and he is the definition of a gunslinger. Expect Jay to force a couple of throws and to turn the ball over.

Arizona Cardinals vs MIN

The glaring weakness of the Vikings is their offense and the strength of the Cardinals is their defense. We expect the Cardinals defense to dominate this game and the Vikings losing to continue because their offense can’t move the ball or generate points.

SLEEPER: Oakland Raiders vs HOU

The Raiders defense has been playing better of late. Khalil Mack has 6 sacks in their last 4 games and was named AFC defensive player of the week when they played the Broncos.  Brock Osweiler sucks (worst 72 million dollar QB in football) and loves to turn the ball over. Expect the Raiders to play good defense and get a turn over or two.

BUST: Houston Texans vs OAK 

The Texans defense hasn’t been as good as everyone expected going into the year and the Raiders offense have been scoring points and protecting the quarterback. With JJ Watt missing, Brock being awful at his job, and the Raiders being hot expect the same until something changes.