Raise your hand if you’re like me, and forgot to scoop up a solid bye week fill in for Jimmy Graham this week!!! Really, just me? You guys are liars. With a plethora of studs on bye this week, it’s time to scavenge your bench, as well as the waiver wire for some solid fill-ins. Unfortunately in one of the leagues I have Graham in, I grabbed Dwayne Allen and started him with confidence. Well, that’s what I get for relying on a touchdown-reliant player. But, what about Drew Brees, Khiry Robinson, Jamaal Charles and Travis Kelce? There are several reasonable replacements for these guys that we’re going to go over. I’ve also included in the list some otherwise fantasy starters that might disappoint you this week. Now as always, I would just like to reiterate that this is not a fantasy football start em’/sit em’ column. These are just guys that I trust, as well as am terrified to start this weekend. Let’s get rocking!!!
Like #1: Ronnie Hillman – RB
Thanks to a timely injury from Montee Ball, Ronnie Hillman has been handed a starting job. The good news about Hillman is the job is his to lose. The bad news is, he has a minor issue with fumbling. All it will take is one ball to touch the turf for him to find the bench but, I don’t think that’s going to happen. The otherwise stout Jets front seven just got destroyed by Branden Oliver for 114 yards, a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown. With the Jets likely to focus on stopping Denver’s aerial attack, Ronnie Hillman is going to see a lot of weakly stacked boxes. Look for a lot of draw plays from Denver this weekend, especially inside the 20-yard line.
Like #2: Kelvin Benjamin – WR
Yes, Kelvin Benjamin disappointed a lot of owners last week. But, the good news is he saw a healthy 11 targets from Cam Newton. The Bengals defense has allowed the ninth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers thus far but, Carolina has no choice but to throw. DeAngelo Williams is likely to sit again, and there will be absolutely nowhere to run behind the Panthers atrocious offensive line. It wouldn’t surprise me if Kelvin Benjamin led all NFL receivers in targets this Sunday. It’s safe to assume one or more of those targets come near the goal line, as well.
Like #3: San Diego Chargers D/ST
It isn’t often I talk up a team’s defensive unit in one of my articles. The Chargers defense is the exception. On top of an extremely juicy matchup with one of the worst offenses in the league, the Chargers have been one of the most dominant defenses in the entire NFL. They’re allowing a league-low 12.6 points per contest, as well as a ridiculous 290 total yards a game. They just shut out a bad Jets team, and I believe the Raiders are a lot worse than the jets. Seriously, I would start this defense over Cincinnati’s, Seattle’s and San Francisco’s. They’re going to put up double-digit fantasy points again.
Dislike #1: Alfred Morris – RB
Alfred Morris just got stonewalled in primetime fashion by the Seattle Seahawks, and things don’t get any easier this weekend. Morris goes up against an Arizona Cardinals defense that is surrendering just 76 rushing yards a game, as well as a lowly 11.88 fantasy points a game to opposing running backs. Though Morris is extremely talented, he simply will not have any room to run this Sunday, and I expect Washington to throw when they get down close to the goal line. Put Morris on your bench this week in favor of Justin Forsett, Andre Williams, or maybe even Bishop Sankey as long as Shonn Greene is inactive.
Dislike #2: Mohamed Sanu – WR
Arguably the hottest waiver target this week thanks to an injury to A.J. Green, Mohamed Sanu is looking to be the Bengals number one receiver against the Panthers. While everyone else is sold on the speedy receiver, I am not. He’s shown glimpses of remarkable speed and route running ability thus far but, Mohamed Sanu is extremely dependent on big plays, and is nowhere near the caliber of player A.J. Green is. Considering how bad the Carolina Panthers have been at stopping the run as of late, I expect the Bengals to lean heavily on Giovanni Bernard and Jeremy Hill. Please hinder your expectations for Sanu this week; the Bengals are a run-first football team.
Dislike #3: Tom Brady – QB
Though Tom Brady’s history against the division rival Buffalo Bills would disagree with me, I do not think the Patriots offense is going to click quite like it did last week. The Bills are allowing just 15 fantasy points a game to opposing quarterbacks, and are tied for first in the league with 17 quarterback sacks. The Patriots offensive line hasn’t gotten any better since last week. Brady has given me no reason this season to trust him on the road against one of the league’s stingiest defensive lines. I would start Teddy Bridgewater, Kirk Cousins, or even Cam Newton this weekend before I start Tom Brady.
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