BUY / SELL / STEAL FOR WEEK 2
(Based on PPR format)
Emptying out the notebook
— Delanie Walker was placed on the IR.
— Doug Baldwin (MCL) will miss at least a month.
— Greg Olsen (foot) will miss a “significant amount of time”.
— Carson Wentz and Alshon Jeffery both remain out for Philadelphia.
— Josh Allen has been named the starting QB in Buffalo.
— Check the injury report on these players before setting your line-ups: Aaron Rodgers, Marcus Mariota, Leonard Fournette and Marquise Goodwin.
— Waiver wire pick-ups for the week: Austin Eckler (RB/LAC), Phillip Lindsey (RB/Den), T.J. Yeldon (RB/Jax), Quincy Enunwa (WR/NYJ), Geronimo Allison (WR/GB), Brandon Marshall (WR/Sea), Will Dissly (TE/Sea), Jonnu Smith (TE/Ten).
— Baltimore at Cincinnati is the Thursday night game.
— Seattle at Chicago closes out the week on Monday.
Ravens Fantasy Outlook
— Willie Snead: Snead was tied for the team lead in targets (6) hauling in four passes for 49 yards (team high) and a touchdown. He is worth a play in DFS and a sleeper in season-long.
— Nick Boyle: With Walker and Olsen out, Boyle is a hot pick up. The Bengals allowed 11 receptions for 101 yards and a TD to the Colts tight ends.
— Buck Allen: With Kenneth Dixon out, Allen will get more work. Alex Collins was less than impressive last week and Allen doubles as the pass catching back. Cincinnati has allowed the second most completions to running backs since the start of 2017.
Buy
QB: Pat Mahomes: Could Mahomes owners have asked for anything more in Week 1? This week could be a shootout against Pittsburgh, who will be without top corner Joe Haden.
Alex Smith: The Colts allowed Andy Dalton to complete 75% of his passes for 250+ yards and two TD. Imagine what Smith will do at home against that same defense.
Other names: Philip Rivers, Kirk Cousins, Aaron Rodgers, DeShaun Watson, Drew Brees, Jared Goff, Jimmy Garoppolo, Tom Brady, Eli Manning
RB: Carlos Hyde: Hyde is a solid start this week against the Saints, who allowed 69 yards to Peyton Barber. Cleveland wants to run the ball and Hyde will see more action then Barber did.
Alfred Morris: This will be a nice rebound week for Morris against the Lions, who allowed Isaiah Crowell 102 yards on the ground with a 10.2 ypc.
Other names: Christian McCaffrey, Melvin Gordon, Dalvin Cook, Lamar Miller, Alvin Kamara, Kareem Hunt, Jay Ajayi, Todd Gurley, Royce Freeman, Leonard Fournette, Ezekiel Elliot, Saquon Barkley, Jordan Howard
WR: Kenny Stills: Stills is the clear number one option after going 4/102/1 in the opener. He gets the Lions ,who allowed seven receptions to two different receivers on Monday.
Emmanuel Sanders: Sanders lead the Broncos in targets (11), receptions (10) and yards (135). He is the Broncos WR with the highest ceiling against Oakland.
Other names: Julio Jones, Keenan Allen, Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen, Davante Adams, Randall Cobb, DeAndre Hopkins, Jarvis Landry, Michael Thomas, Tyreek Hill, Antonio Brown, Mike Evans, Cooper Kupp, Brandin Cooks, Larry Fitzgerald, Pierre Garcon, Demaryius Thomas, Odell Beckham, Jr.
TE: Jordan Reed: Alex Smith loves tight ends, and Reed looks to be the number one option. That continues against the Colts secondary.
George Kittle: Against a tough Vikings D, Kittle still managed to haul in five catches for 90 yards. At home against Detroit makes Kittle a top five tight end.
Other names: Jimmy Graham, Travis Kelce, Zach Ertz, Rob Gronkowski
Def: L.A. Chargers, Houston, L.A. Rams, San Francisco, Denver, N.Y. Giants
Sell
QB: Russell Wilson: No Baldwin, a bad offensive line, a suspect run game and playing against Khalil Mack? Do you need more reasons to bench Russ this week?
Matthew Stafford: Stafford threw four picks and just looked flat out bad. Not buying he can fix all his issues on the road with a short week.
Other names: Andy Dalton, Marcus Mariota (if he plays), Ryan Tannehill, Ben Roethlisberger, Nick Foles, Derek Carr, Dak Prescott
RB: David Johnson: Johnson was limited to 37 yards rushing. Until Sam Bradford can be a threat in the passing game, Johnson will not live up to being a top-three fantasy pick. Life will not get easier against the Rams.
Derrick Henry: The Texans defense held Rex Burkhead in check last week and Henry is a similar style runner. Dion Lewis is the Titans back to start.
Other names: Joe Mixon, LeSean McCoy, Jamaal Williams, Kenyan Drake, Peyton Barber, Marshawn Lynch, Chris Carson
WR: T.Y. Hilton: Hilton found the end zone, which saved his fantasy day but 5/46 on 11 targets is not what owners were hoping for with Andrew Luck back. Hilton draws Josh Norman this week.
A.J. Green: Last year when Green was matched up against Marlon Humphrey he was held to 2/17 on 10 targets. Expect the same this year.
Other names: Rishard Matthews, Robert Woods, Allen Hurns, Josh Doctson, Amari Cooper
TE: Jared Cook: Last year Cook went for 8/126 and followed up with just eight points combined in his next three games. Don’t believe Monday night.
Evan Engram: It’s early but there may not be enough balls in New York to keep Engram owners happy. It doesn’t get better this week either against Dallas, who held Carolina tight ends to 4/37.
Other names: Austin Hooper, Charles Clay, O.J. Howard, Trey Burton
Def: Cincinnati, Minnesota, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, Jacksonville
Steals
QB: Case Keenum: Another three-TD and 300-yard game is in play against Oakland.
RB: Isaiah Crowell: Crowell had an impressive showing on Monday and now gets the Dolphins, who allowed over 100 rushing last week.
WR: Cole Beasley: Beasley lead the team in targets, catches and yards. He is the Dallas receiver to start.
TE: Antonio Gates: Is Gates really a sleeper? At this point of his career yes! With all the TE injuries, this would be a good week start him.
Def: Los Angeles Chargers: Did you see the Bills offense last week? I don’t care who starts at QB, grab whoever plays them.
