I doubt anyone expected that by within one week Amari Cooper is now a Cowboy, and Carlos Hyde is a Jaguar, but it is happening. There’s a lot to talk about so let’s jump right into it with start ‘em, sit ‘em, and waiver wire pickups. Point totals done in basic ESPN PPR point format.

Must Start:

C.J. Uzomah- Tight End- Cincinnati Bengals- Uzomah has stepped into the TE1 role for the Bengals since Tyler Eifert’s season ending injury, and has been solid. He has averaged 9 points per game since stepping in for Eifert. This week he his home against the Buccaneers. The Bucs have allowed the most fantasy PPG to opposing TE (19.6), and have allowed the most yards per game to TE as well. Uzomah is a must start at the TE position as Buccaneer pass defense has been dreadful this year.

Jarvis Landry- Wide Receiver- Cleveland Browns- Landry put up a season high 25.7 points last week, and had a season high 10 receptions too. This week they head to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers. The Steelers have allowed the third most total PPG to opposing WR, and are one of five teams to allow over 200 yards per game to wide outs. Teams tend to have success with the passing game with WR over RB and TE against the Steelers, so Landry should have a high volume game. Landry has high WR1 upside this week against a WR friendly Steeler team.

Andy Dalton- Quarterback- Cincinnati Bengals- I typically do not like to choose two players on the same team to say start, but Dalton has the greatest fantasy conditions I have seen in a while. They take on the Buccaneers as I mentioned above, and against opposing QBs they are horrid. They allow 27.2 points per game to opposing to QBs, and the Bucs have only one interception all season. Dalton will get lots of passing attempts as the Bucs are almost always in shootouts, and the Bucs do not get interceptions, so do not worry about Dalton’s and interceptions. I think Dalton will do so well this week that I am benching Drew Brees for him in a couple leagues.

Do not start:

Christian McCaffrey- Running Back- Carolina Panthers- McCaffrey has been great this season with a top 10 RB ranking this season. This week they play a Ravens team who have allowed a league low total 14.3 fantasy points per game to opposing RB, and are top three in total RB receptions allowed to RB all season too with just 25. McCaffrey gets majority of his fantasy points from the high number of receptions that he gets, and that number should take a massive hit with the Ravens only allowing 3.6 receptions to opposing RB per game. McCaffrey has low appeal this week against a harsh fantasy RB defense.

Nick Chubb- Running Back- Cleveland Browns- Due to how easily teams are able to get through the Steeler pass defense teams are not running as much against them. The Steelers have the third lowest amount of rushing attempts against them all year, and have allowed the lowest total YPG to opposing RB. Chubb will most likely not receive high volume which is where Cleveland RBs thrive. The Browns will coordinate their game plan around the passing game, and Chubb will have a hard time finding point production from this.

Alshon Jeffery- Wide Receiver- Philadelphia Eagles- Jeffery has looked good recently averaging 19.9 PPG since returning from his injury keeping him out of the Eagle’s first three contest. Jeffery struggled against Xavier Rhodes (only put up 5.9 points) on the VIkings and really has not played another top CB since then. Now he heads to take on Jalen Ramsey and the Jaguars. The Jaguar pass defense has allowed the lowest total fantasy PPG to opposing WR with 28.9 (only team under 30), and has allowed the lowest total yards per game to WR too. Jeffery is a very risky play this week, and has next to no upside at all.

Waiver Wire Pickups:

Jalen Richard- Running Back- Oakland Raiders- The Raiders are a mess right now, and things are not looking like things are going to get better any time soon. Marshawn Lynch is out for a while, if not the entire season, so now it is down to Doug Martin and Jalen Richard. Martin may get more carries, but the Raiders are going to do a lot of passing being down in most games. Richard has established himself as the prestige pass catcher out of the Raider backfield, so Richard should see a lot of targets with the team playing from behind in most games. He is only owned in 34.4% of ESPN leagues too, and is great pickup as potential flex play.

Tyrell Williams- Wide Receiver- Los Angeles Chargers- Williams has got exactly 118 yards twice in his last two games while adding 3 TDs. Williams has a lot of big play potential, and has eight points or more in every game this season except for one. Williams has been a great play, and is owned in an alarmingly low 17.8% of ESPN leagues. Williams is an extremely solid pickup who is quickly making a name for himself, and is becoming a constant target of Philip Rivers.

Tre’Quan Smith- Wide Receiver- New Orleans Saints- The Saints have one the best offenses in the NFL and Smith is quietly WR2 for them. He received 6 targets, and put up seven points against a very good Raven pass defense. He is getting volume, and is a super dangerous deep threat. Smith only owned in 12.8% of ESPN leagues, and is the next best WR on the Saints behind Michael Thomas.