Quarterbacks
Andrew Luck (IND, QB)
Week 3 vs. SD – 24/37, 331yds, 1 TD, 1 INT, 14.24pts
Week 4 @JAX – 27/42, 234yds, 2 TD, 1 INT, 18.66pts
Week 5 vs. CHI – 28/39, 322yds, 2 TD, 0 INT, 22.18pts
After a huge fantasy performance in week 1 against the Detroit Lions where he put up 35.5 points, Luck and the Colts offense in general has been having issues, starting with the offensive line play which has Luck currently on track for 60+ sacks this season. Still, there’s something to be said for playing from behind and Luck is always capable of a good performance. How will he fare this week in Houston – can he put up at least 18 points to stay afloat as a weekly starter?
Kirk Cousins (WAS, QB)
Week 3 @NYG – 21/35, 296yds, 2 TD, 0 INT, 19.34pts
Week 4 vs. CLE – 21/27, 183yds, 3 TD, 1 INT, 18.32pts
Week 5 @BAL – 29/41, 260yds, 1 TD, 1 INT, 13.30pts
Cousins was ranked pretty highly overall by most experts this preseason, but his recent performance has most of us sliding him to the bench in favor of other upside QBs. Week 6 does not bring Cousins any favors, statistically, as he’ll be going up against the Eagles’ #2 ranked passing defense, allowing only 194yds per game on average and only 3 total passing touchdowns so far this season. Can Cousins buck the trend, scoring at least 17 points in a standard scoring league?
Running Backs
Ezekiel Elliott (DAL, RB)
Week 3 vs. CHI - 30/140yds, 0 TD, 2rec, 20yds, 0 TD, 16.00pts
Week 4 @SF – 23/138yds, 1 TD, 1rec, 19yds, 0 TD, 21.70pts
Week 5 vs. CIN – 15/134yds, 2 TD, 3rec, 37yds, 0 TD, 29.10pts
Elliott has actually been trending up from his very first NFL game this year. Each week he has performed better than the last. It doesn’t look like he’ll be very involved in the passing game at all (for now, at least), but that doesn’t really impact his fantasy value. The Cowboys are full-speed ahead now, even with a rookie under center. Is it possible for Elliott to keep it going and bring owners at least 22 points on his first trip to Lambeau field to face the Packers?
Duke Johnson Jr. (CLE, RB)
Week 3 @MIA – 10/69yds, 0 TD, 5rec, 12yds, 0 TD, 8.10pts
Week 4 @WAS – 8/45yds, 0 TD, 6rec, 31yds, 0 TD, 5.60pts
Week 5 vs. NE – 4/1yd, 0 TD, 2rec, 21yds, 0 TD, 2.20pts
The Browns are a disaster this year, and although Johnson was drafted as the more valuable running back before the season started, Isaiah Crowell has taken the mantle thus far. Although one could argue that Johnson has some PPR value, he has not shown up as a productive fantasy player so far this year in standard leagues. Will he continue to fall off of benches everywhere? Will Johnson score less than 5.3 points this week against the Titans?
Wide Receivers
Cameron Meredith (CHI, WR)
Week 3 @DAL – 2/3, 24yds, 0 TD, 0.40pts
Week 4 vs. DET – 4/5, 28yds, 0 TD, 2.80pts
Week 5 @IND – 9/12, 130yds, 1 TD, 17.60pts
Welcome to the NFL, Cameron. Sorry you’re on the Bears! Regardless of his situation, though, it looks like Hoyer and Meredith are enjoying some great chemistry and – due to Cutler’s fall from grace and White’s serious injury – both will probably be starting for the foreseeable future. The real question here is if Meredith can keep up the production on a high level in the weeks to come. Let’s put the number at 8 points or more to continue this trend. Yay, or nay?
Victor Cruz (NYG, WR)
Week 3 vs. WAS – 3/3, 70yds, 0TD, 7.00pts
Week 4 @MIN – 5/9, 50yds, 5.00pts
Week 5 @GB – 0/2, 0yds, 0.00pts
Over the last 4 games, Cruz has had at least 50 yards or a touchdown. At the beginning of the season things looked super promising for a resurgence to Cruz’s career and for the Giants’ offense in general – but things aren’t looking quite so bright now. Will the Giants regain control of their offensive play and utilize Cruz in week 6 in Baltimore? Will Cruz score less than 4 points, continuing the downward trend?
Tight Ends
Martellus Bennett (NE, TE)
Week 3 vs. HOU – 2/3, 10yds, 0 TD, 1.60pts
Week 4 vs. BUF – 5/6, 109yds, 0 TD, 10.90pts
Week 5 @CLE – 6/8, 67yds, 3 TD, 24.70pts
Bennett’s first outing with Tom Brady as quarterback was fruitful, to say the least. Even though Gronkowski was back in action and looking healthier than he has so far this season, Bennett was the primary red zone target for most of the game, scoring 3 touchdowns against the hapless Cleveland Browns. In order to keep up this trend, Bennett will need to put up 12 or more points in a standard scoring league. Can he pull it off?
