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Bye Weeks: N/A
Wheaton's lack of connection with Roethlisberger
in a preseason game made him a draft day bargain.
Grab a Helmet
Markus
Wheaton @ BAL (Thursday): Much like Joseph seemed to
do last week, I hope
to provide some lower tier WR3s who have a chance to provide WR2
or better production, and this week my first inclusion is Markus
Wheaton. Wheaton shined is his first chance as a starter opposite
Antonio Brown, racking up 6 catches for 97 yards. Showing a great
grasp of the offensive system, and with speed to burn, Wheaton has
quickly earned the trust of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and Coach
Haley (he tied for the team high in targets with 7). Guaranteed
to see single coverage on a weekly basis, and on an offense that
won’t hesitate to throw it around, Wheaton is a great upside option
in a division game Thursday night.
Justin
Hunter v. DAL: After a strong preseason it seemed the
only thing holding Justin Hunter back from fantasy relevance was
opportunities. Even running as the No.3 receiver, Hunter paced the
Titans in targets (8). Although he only caught 3 for 63 yards, the
potential was there for more and Dallas is ripe for the picking.
Forced to respect teammates Kendall Wright on short and intermediate
routes, and Nate Washington down the middle, look for Hunter to
exploit 1-on-1 match-ups and bunch formations as the Dallas defense
tries to provide some form of resistance. Plug Hunter in as your
WR3 and sample the bountiful feast that Dallas is sure to serve
up.
Kelvin
Benjamin v. DET & Travis
Kelce @ DEN: Joseph was half right in this slot last
week, as Brandin Cooks flashed some serious game against Atlanta.
So in the name of consistency, I’m going throw caution to the wind
and select two more rookie (yes I know Kelce isn’t a rookie, but
he’s close enough for this column’s purposes!) pass catching options
this week! Benjamin looked like the real deal vs Tampa Bay, scoring
while being blanketed in coverage, and show a more diverse route
tree than what was expected. His size, the return of Cam Newton,
and the depleted Lions secondary (they may be without three starters
this week) mean than Benjamin has a real chance to put up a monster
game. Kelce, the darling tight end of the preseason, saw only five
targets, and played second fiddle to statue-like Anthony Fasano.
After a dismal offensive performance at home against the Titans,
look for the Chiefs to make some offensive adjustments this week
in Denver. Fasano will be forced to stay in and temper the outside
rush of the Broncos, and Denver will likely focus their attention
on Charles and underwhelming, but occasionally dangerous Dwayne
Bowe. With injuries and uncertainty at the tight end position, Kelce’s
upside might be worth the gamble.
Grab Some Pine
Rueben
Randle v. CAR: Randal was an under-the-radar (based
on ADP) target by many a fantasy owner. Possessing strong run
after catch skills, and prime redzone capability, Randle was a
colossal bust Monday night against the Lions (He had one more
yard receiving than I had). Despite intriguing talent and offensive
system, Randle still seems to be unable to develop any sort of
chemistry with quarterback Eli Manning. Worse yet, the Giants
were calling red zone passes for undrafted free agents and tight
ends, while Randle sat by the wayside. While he may have some
value down the road, this Giants offense is such a train wreck
at the moment it’s hard to suggest starting Randle, or any other
Giants pass catcher for that matter. Send Randle to the bench
and hope that the Giants offense emerges from the darkness.
Sammy
Watkins / Robert
Woods v. MIA: What’s with teams on the coast of Lake
Erie finding their way on this list? Last week the Cleveland receivers
were shot down by the “Caller” and this week I bring you the Buffalo
Bunch. The Buffalo recipe for success vs Chicago was a heavy dose
of workhorse running backs (33 carries) and minimal chances for
EJ Manuel to screw things up (22 pass attempts). As long as this
formula keeps the Bills competitive, don’t look for much value
out of any receiver from upstate New York. While Watkins might
have a few weeks that make him a viable starter, it shouldn’t
come at the expense of guys with higher upside. Sit them all until
further notice.
Greg
Jennings v. NE: With 6 catches for 58 yards and a score,
Jennings provided some solid numbers in Week 1 vs the Rams. With
Cordarrelle “Man Amongst Boys” Patterson providing
the highlights, and seemingly most of the defensive attention,
Jennings seems like a decent bet for production against New England.
But upon closer inspection, last week vs Miami, Darrelle Revis
remained almost exclusively on his side, and didn’t shadow
Mike Wallace. Jennings might spend more time on Revis Island than
you might expect, so give him a life preserver and keep him on
the bench.
May you avoid the injury bug and the always amusing vultured touchdown.
Good luck this week everyone!
Quarterbacks 
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