Fantasy Week 7 Start and Sit. I think its time to pick up Doug Baldwin
By Editorial Staff
My Fantasy Preparations Record 5-1
Opponent
Go Blue!!!!
Record 4-2
Transactions:
This week my whole wide receiving corps seemed to be on a bye. I will be without Wes Welker, Deion Branch, and Steve Johnson. I was forced to add another receiver from the waiver wire and it’s a player you should target as well. I dropped my backup defense in Houston and picked up UFA WR from Seattle-Doug Baldwin. In his first five games this season, he has 20 receptions, 330 yards, and 2 TD’s. If he keeps this pace up by the end of the season he will be around 64 receptions, 1056 yards, and 6-7 TD’s. Not bad for a one week starter and solid backup. As I always tell you Fantasy Padawans….the waiver wire is like the force…be attuned to it and it will be your best weapon.
Starters
Matthew Stafford finally gets a break from elite defenses. He had to play the Vikings, Cowboys, Bears, and 49ers in a row. Now he plays at home versus the Falcons. Falcons are giving up the third most fantasy points in the league to quarterbacks and I expect Stafford to have a big day.
Ray Rice and Darren McFadden are the backbone of my team. Rice plays at Jacksonville who is a middle of the road run defense team. Rice has over 100 yards from scrimmage in 4 of his first five games and over the past three seasons leads the league in that category. In a PPR league he is a consistent force and I expect a solid game from him.
McFadden plays the Kansas City Chiefs at home. The Chiefs are giving up the 11th most points to opposing RB’s and McFadden leads the NFL in rushing yards. With the Raiders starting a rusty Carson Palmer, I expect a great game from McFadden.
Jordy Nelson was one of my main sleepers in this season and he has delivered. He goes up against the Vikings on the road. Vikings are a middle of the road team in the defensive passing department. It should be noted Nelson did not do anything versus the Vikings last season but he is not the same player he was in 2010. I think an okay game, but far from elite numbers, should be expected from Nelson.
Doug Baldwin is my new starter as he goes up against the Browns on the road. The Browns have not given up many points to WR’s this year…but with an injured Joe Haden, this is a good time to play the Browns. I think Baldwin can get me a decent amount of points.
Reggie Wayne has had a down year but is still on pace for over a 1,000 yards. His lack of touchdowns is the problem. He plays at New Orleans this week and that is a good matchup. The Saints are giving up the 8th most points to WR and I think the Colts will be forced to throw the ball a lot. I know Painter is most comfortable with Garcon, but given Wayne a solid amount of targets, I expect a big game this week from him.
At TE Jimmy Graham might be the best fantasy TE in the NFL and might post one of the best seasons of any TE ever. I am in a keeper league that only allows a owner to keep two players. It will be hard to let Graham go, however, let tomorrow’s problems be tomorrow’s problems. Graham plays the Colts who have locked down TE’s this season. No worries though, Graham is not benchable in any scenario this season and I think he will knock down the Colts rankings this week.
For my utility it goes to Marshawn Lynch. Lynch is starting to rack up bigger numbers as the season goes on. He plays the Browns on the road which is a decent matchup. The Browns have given up yards but not a lot of rushing TD’s.
Dan Bailey was a big time pickup at kicker. With the Cowboys offense being explosive but not a great red zone offense he gets plenty of work. The Rams defense is horrible so I expect more PAT than FG’s this week…but he should be good for 6-9 points.
Cowboys’ defense plays the Rams. The Rams are giving up the most points to defenses this season. I expect huge amounts of sacks with 1-2 interceptions. I almost feel bad for Sam Bradford…almost.
Foe:
Sun Tzu states, “Know thy enemy.” My enemy is a friend of mine who is an obnoxious U of M fan. You would think MSU beating his team 4 years in a row would settle him down, that is not the case. I think a fantasy beat down will do the trick however.
He is 4-2 and is in third place in our league. It would normally be a hard matchup but his team is even more decimated with players on their bye week than I am. He is starting Tony Romo at QB who plays the Rams and will score plenty for him. At RB Reshard Mendenghall and Pierre Thomas are his starters…nothing to fear. At WR he has Preston Parker, Derrius Heyward Bey, and Jacoby Jones. Umm that is the worst WR unit ever. He currently has no starting TE since Vernon Davis has a bye week. His utility player isJamesStarks who plays a stout Vikings run defense. His K/Def is Matt Bryant and the Chicago Bears which is very sound. At first glance many will say, “Will he even score a point and how did he win 4 games?” The bye week has struck him taking out Vernon Davis, Ahmad Bradshaw, LeSean McCoy, and AJ Green. That sucks but as I like to say, “That sounds like a you problem.”
Prediction:
Even Yahoo believes I will destroy my opponent by around 50-60 points. I have to agree. What might have been a great matchup was destroyed by his player’s bye week. I fully expect him to say that when I trounce him but there is an adage that applies here. “It is better to be lucky than good.”