Need help setting your fantasy football lineup? Jordan Goethe of Football Sunday has you covered with his weekly rankings. You can hear him discuss this week’s topics at 10am each Sunday on Sportsfan Radio 1330.
QBs
1) Patrick Mahomes vs Hou
2) Deshaun Watson vs KC
3) Tom Brady vs NYG
4) Lamar Jackson vs Cin
5) Russell Wilson vs Cle
6) Matt Ryan vs Ari
7) Dak Prescott vs NYJ
8) Aaron Rodgers vs Det
9) Kyler Murray vs Atl
10) Carson Wentz vs Min
11) Jimmy Garoppolo vs LAR
12) Kirk Cousins vs Phi
13) Jared Goff vs SF
14) Jameis Winston vs Car
15) Phillip Rivers vs Pit
16) Kyle Allen vs TB
17) Mathew Stafford vs GB
18) Gardner Minshew vs NO
19) Baker Mayfield vs Sea
20) Andy Dalton vs Bal
Jordan: Once again, Kyler Murray is a great play this week vs Atlanta. The Falcons are coming off of a blowout loss to the Texans, where Deshaun Watson passed for over 400 yards and 5 TDs. Atlanta’s secondary is flat-out terrible. Roll with Kyler Murray again this week if you have him.
Don’t look now, but we’re six weeks into this fantasy season, and Gardner Minshew is just outside the top-10. WHAT?! The Jaguars’ quarterback has been consistent thus far, throwing for at least 2 TDs in four of his last 5 games. On top of that, he’ll see a Saints defense that is ranked 30th vs opposing QBs in fantasy. Case closed. Roll with Minshew this week.
Jackson: I’ll preface this by saying that this recommendation exists for this week only. After all, we’re into the four-team-bye-week portion of the season, and you might need extra help in a pinch. Your league should have this player available – even if it’s filled with a bunch of owners who use the word “SKOL.”
Yes, I’m intrigued by the Kirk Cousins matchup this weekend. Not only has he made it a point to get his star receivers involved more, but it appears that Mike Zimmer is finally remembering that they exist.
Cousins’ offense takes on a Philadelphia defense that hasn’t allowed 100 yards against the run in any of their first five games. The Eagles have, however, given up a combined 1,295 yards and 9 TDs to Keenum, Ryan, Stafford, and Rodgers. The way for the Vikings to win this Sunday will be through the air. Take Cousins if you need to fill a week.
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RBs
1) Christian McCaffrey vs TB
2) Dalvin Cook vs Phi
3) Ezekiel Elliott vs NYJ
4) Alvin Kamara vs Jax
5) Aaron Jones vs Det
6) Mark Ingram vs Cin
7) Nick Chubb vs Sea
8) David Johnson vs Atl
9) Austin Ekeler vs Pit
10) Derrick Henry vs Den
11) Kerryon Johnson vs GB
12) Chris Carson vs Cle
13) Sony Michel vs NYG
14) Todd Gurley vs SF
15) Leonard Fournette vs NO
16) Le’Veon Bell vs Dal
17) Phillip Lindsay vs Ten
18) James Connor vs LAC
19) Devonta Freeman vs Ari
20) Joe Mixon vs Bal
21) Melvin Gordon vs Pit
22) James White vs NYG
23) Matt Breida vs LAR
24) Carlos Hyde vs KC
25) Jordan Howard vs Min
26) Ronald Jones vs Car
27) Chris Thompson vs Mia
28) LeSean McCoy vs Hou
29) Damien Williams vs Hou
30) Adrian Peterson vs Mia
31) Kenyan Drake vs Wsh
32) Peyton Barber vs Car
33) Tevin Coleman vs LAR
34) Miles Sanders vs Min
35) Royce Freeman vs Ten
36) Insert Giants RB here vs NE
37) Duke Johnson vs KC
38) Rashad Penny vs Cle
39) Alexander Mattison vs Phi
40) Gus Edwards vs Cin
Jordan: The RB matchup I’m watching for this weekend is the Packers/Lions game on Monday night. This past offseason the Lions went all-in with upgrades to their front seven to defend better against the run. So far this year, that has not worked out. The Lions rank 29th vs opposing RBs in fantasy. As for the Packers…well, they’re not much better. Green Bay is 30th vs RBs. The Lions want to continue to use Kerryon Johnson more, while the Packers have no real options in their backfield aside from Aaron Jones.
Also, Mark Ingram is a MUST start this week as he faces the Bengals. Cincinnati is ranked 32nd vs opposing fantasy RBs.
Jackson: It’s 2019, and we’re still talking about Adrian Peterson as a fantasy option. Why? Because he’s the best option for Washington this weekend…and also because the Dolphins have not improved much from last season’s 32nd-ranked run defense. Two winless teams won’t be fun to watch on Sunday, but it should be a tight game. Set Adrian Peterson in your lineup and trust that he’ll give you a double-digit return.
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WRs
1) DeAndre Hopkins vs KC
2) Michael Thomas vs Jax
3) Julio Jones vs Ari
4) Cooper Kupp vs SF
5) Amari Cooper vs NYJ
6) Chris Godwin vs Car
7) Adam Thielen vs Phi
8) Keenan Allen vs Pit
9) Julian Edelman vs NYG
10) Larry Fitzgerald vs Atl
11) Tyler Lockett vs Cle
12) Odell Beckham Jr. vs Sea
13) Josh Gordon vs NYG
14) Robert Woods vs SF
15) Mike Evans vs Car
16) Kenny Golladay vs GB
17) Stefon Diggs vs Phi
18) Brandin Cooks vs SF
19) DJ Moore vs TB
20) Courtland Sutton vs Ten
21) Ju-Ju Smith Schuster vs LAC
22) Terry McLaurin vs Mia
23) Tyler Boyd vs Bal
24) DJ Chark vs NO
25) Devante Adams vs Det
26) Marquise Brown vs Cin
27) Will Fuller vs KC
28) Calvin Ridley vs Ari
29) Michael Gallup vs NYJ
30) Tyreek Hill vs Hou
31) Mike Williams vs Pit
32) Alshon Jeffrey vs Min
33) Jarvis Landry vs Sea
34) Curtis Samuel vs TB
35) Marvin Jones vs GB
36) Marquez Valdez-Scantling vs Det
37) DK Metcalf vs Cle
38) Emmanuel Sanders vs Ten
39) Demarcus Robinson vs Hou
40) KeeSean Johnson vs Atl
Jordan: Larry Fitzgerald, DJ Chark and Terry McLaurin all have great matchups and should start this week.
I really like Michael Gallup’s matchup as well. The second-year wideout from Colorado State returned to the field last week vs Green Bay, catching 7 passes for 113 yards and a touchdown. What’s better? He also had 14 targets! So far, Gallup has had at least six receptions and 12 fantasy points in his three games played this season. This week, he gets to play the Jets (23rd vs WRs).
Jackson: Let’s go crazy. Do you want a fun matchup? Try Dede Westbrook (Jaguars) against the Saints.
In his last three games, Westbrook has 17 catches for 194 yards. While those aren’t the most impressive numbers, he’s also been overshadowed by [fellow Jaguars wideout] DJ Chark on the opposite side of the field. Now that the word is out on Chark, expect Marshon Lattimore (the Saints’ best cover corner) to shadow that side of the field on Sunday. This can open up opportunities for Westbrook in single coverage.
Westbrook’s numbers have steadily been improving. In mid-sized leagues (and especially PPR), he’ll give you a solid return.
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TEs
1) Travis Kelce vs Hou
2) George Kittle vs LAR
3) Zach Ertz vs Min
4) Mark Andrews vs Cin
5) Austin Hooper vs Ari
6) Will Dissly vs Cle
7) Greg Olsen vs TB
8) Delanie Walker vs Den
9) Gerald Everett vs SF
10) OJ Howard vs Car
11) Jared Cook vs Jax
12) Jimmy Graham vs Det
13) Chris Herndon vs Dal
14) Vance McDonald vs LAC
15) Evan Engram* vs NE
16) Noah Fant vs Ten
17) Jason Witten vs NYJ
18) Tyler Eifert vs Bal
19) TJ Hockenson* vs GB
20) Ricky Seals-Jones vs Sea
Jordan: It’s slim-picking again this week for TEs, but there are two guys I am keeping a close eye on this week.
Austin Hooper is having a great year so far for the Falcons, and now he gets to play the team who ranks last to opposing TEs this season (Arizona). Expect a great day from Hooper.
Chris Herndon (Jets) will be reunited with quarterback Sam Darnold this week, as both return to the starting lineup. Herndon and Darnold started to build some chemistry down the stretch last season, as Herndon was targeted 49 times through his final 11 games. He finished the year with 455 receiving yards along with 4 touchdowns. If he’s available in your league, he’s worth picking up.
Jackson: What he said.
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Catch the Football Sunday podcast, which gets released on Friday nights. Jordan and Jackson will run down the biggest games of the week, with a focus on the Bears and Packers. They’ll also take your fantasy football questions from Twitter, @Sportsfan1330.