Let’s dive into the upcoming week and break down every game for you so you could optimize your team to it’s highest potential.

Photo by Jeffrey Becker

WSH Redskins @ MIN Vikings – Thurs. 8:20 PM ET

Over/Under: 42

Spread: Vikings -15.5

Kirk Cousins and Case Keenum face off against their old teams with one team fighting for a playoff spot while the other is fighting for draft picks. The Vikings are 5-2 and trying to keep pace being Green Bay in a very competitive NFC North Division while the 1-6 Redskins continue trying to beat any other team besides Miami.

WSH Redskins

Case Keenum – Keenum isn’t the best streaming option going into this Thursday night game as he’s had little fantasy success so far aside from Week 1. However, he might actually put up a decent game this week as Adrian Peterson is likely to miss the game with an ankle injury so Washington could throw the ball more against Minnesota’s struggling secondary who are giving up 40 fantasy points per game to WRs.

Adrian Peterson – As stated above, Peterson suffered a high-ankle sprain and isn’t likely to play. Even if he does suit up it’s not the best idea to play a banged up Peterson against a top 5 run defense of the Minnesota Vikings. Wendell Smallwood would be the next man up and it’s definitely not an exciting choice for this week.

Terry McLaurin – Terry is coming off his worst game of the season as the Redskins barely threw the ball in an ugly weather game against SF in Week 7. That should change this week since Washington will have to throw in order to beat the Vikings. McLaurin is Keenum’s favorite target and should get more looks this week with the Vikings secondary ranked in the bottom 5.

MIN Vikings

Kirk Cousins – Cousins was been red hot the past couple of weeks with close to 1,000 yards thrown over a 3 game period along with 10 TDs. No reason for that not to continue as the Vikings are 15 point favorites and the Redskins defense is ranked in the bottom 10. Even if Adam Thielen does miss the game, Cousins showed last week that he can distribute the ball to other WRs and score points.

Dalvin Cook – Cook is coming off of his best game of the season against Detroit where he ran for 142 yards and 2 TDs. The Redskins give up 26.4 fantasy points per game to RBs and should have their hands full with Cook. He took over his backfield last week with 25 carries compared to splitting work with Mattison in Week 6 and is a weekly RB1 start regardless of who he’s up against.

Adam Thielen – Thielen left the Week 7 game early with a hamstring injury but still hasn’t been officially ruled out for Thursday’s game. If he plays, he’s a weekly WR2 start with WR1 upside after the Vikings fixed their passing issues. Redskins secondary gives up 37.9 fantasy points per game to WRs.

Stefon Diggs – Also can be started as a WR2 with WR1 upside if Thielen plays or not. With Thielen on the field in Week 6, Diggs put up 167 yards and 3 TDs and then added another 142 yards on 7 receptions in Week 7 with Thielen missing most of the game.

Kyle Rudolph – Rudolph could be a streaming option this week based on Thielen’s status. Last week he caught 5 receptions for 58 yards and 1 TD against Detroit. Could get some more looks this week from Cousins but is definitely a riskier play if Thielen does suit up.

Photo by Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

SEA Seahawks @ ATL Falcons – Sun 1:00 PM ET

Over/Under: 54

Spread: Seahawks -3.5

This should be a fun high scoring game is Matt Ryan does play. Plenty of fantasy relevant players in this one with both teams coming off of a loss in Week 7. Similar to the game above though, the Seahawks are 5-2 and trying to keep pace with the 49ers while Atlanta’s season is basically done with them sitting at 1-6 losing 5 in a row.

SEA Seahawks

Russell Wilson – Wilson struggled a bit last week as the Baltimore defense stepped up but should have no problems against Atlanta’s terrible defense. The Falcons give up the most points to QBs and 43.1 fantasy points per game to WRs. Wilson is a weekly must start QB and should get back on track this week.

Chris Carson – The Seahawks in general struggled against the Ravens with Carson only rushing for 65 yards on 21 attempts. Atlanta’s strongest part of their defense is against the run but they’re pretty average compared to the rest of the league. Carson continues to get fed weekly with Rashaad Penny dealing with a hamstring injury over the past couple of weeks and C.J. Prosise not making much of an impact in the running game. With the volume Carson is receiving and being ranked top 5 in yards after contact, he’s a weekly RB1 start.

Tyler Lockett – Lockett scored the Seahawks only TD last week and should have a nice game this week against a bottom ranked Atlanta secondary. Lockett continues to be the most targeted WR on Seattle with 48 on the season and can be started as a WR2 with WR1 upside.

DK Metcalf – DK is more of a weekly boom or bust play depending on if he gets targeted more or is able to grab a TD. With Will Dissly out for the season though it opens up targets that could come DK’s way especially in the end zone. He has a perfect opportunity to boom this week against Atlanta’s secondary and can be started as a WR3 with WR2 upside.

ATL Falcons

Matt Ryan – Ryan is dealing with a sprained right ankle from Week 7 but hasn’t been ruled out yet. Ryan is always a weekly start as he’s managed to throw for 300+ yards every week this season when playing a full game. Seattle’s defense has been pretty average this year giving up 20.6 fantasy points per game to QBs so Ryan can definitely expect a solid game if he actually starts. His backup, Matt Schaub, does not need to be picked up and you can look elsewhere for streaming options if Ryan sits out.

Devonta Freeman – Let’s hope he doesn’t get ejected this week! Freeman had a nice stretch of games from Weeks 4-6 where he really got involved in the passing game and was able to score 3 TDs. Last week he got ejected from the game early but wasn’t doing much either way. With Ito Smith out this week with a concussion, Freeman should get majority of the work with Brian Hill backing him. Seahawks have an average run defense giving up 23.3 points per game to RBs so Freeman can be started as an RB2.

Julio Jones – Jones is the WR6 on the season so far and continues to be a weekly WR1 start. He had a nice game against Jalen Ramsey last week putting up 93 yards on 6 receptions and is a safe start against any match up. Matt Ryan suiting up obviously impacts Jones directly but would feel comfortable starting him even if Schaub plays.

Calvin Ridley – Ridley has been a boom or bust option all season with so many options on the Atlanta offense but with Mohamed Sanu getting traded to the Patriots it automatically bumps Ridley’s stock up. Ridley is definitely affect more by Matt Ryan’s status and can be started as a WR2 with WR1 upside if Ryan does suit up. With Schaub starting though, Ridley is more of a WR3 option.

Austin Hooper – Hooper continues to be reliable being the TE1 on the season and shouldn’t be as affected by Ryan’s status. He’s a weekly start as Atlanta loves to use him with 55 targets on the season. If Schaub starts, Hooper is still a safe play as he could be used as more of a safety blanket and the Seahawks give up 15.2 points per game to TEs.

Photo by Stephen Lew/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

ARI Cardinals @ NO Saints – Sun 1:00 PM ET

Over/Under: 48

Spread: Saints -8.5

The Cardinals luck finally comes to an end as their schedule difficulty increases starting this week against the Saints. New Orleans has been steady with Bridgewater while awaiting the return of Brees and are coming off of an impressive win against the Bears in Week 7.

ARI Cardinals

Kyler Murray – Murray had his first real dud of the season last week against the Giants as the Cardinals decided to just run the ball with Chase Edmonds instead. Murray has put up decent numbers against tougher opponents like throwing for 349 yards against Baltimore in Week 2. The one spot the Saints defense has a weakness in is their secondary especially with Eli Apple likely to miss Week 8. We can expect Arizona to throw the ball more than last week ,with the Saints having a top 5 run defense, making Murray a safe start with limited expectations.

David Johnson/Chase Edmonds – Tough to know what’s going to happen with DJ this week until we start getting reports from practice. Even then, they could keep DJ active for the game without him even playing a snap. This puts Edmonds into a tough spot with an already tough match up. If DJ is downgraded and expected to miss Week 8, Edmonds is a solid RB2 start due to expected volume and being involved in the passing game. If DJ is listed as active he’s probably your first round pick and it would be tough to sit him. I would keep an eye on the practice reports and make a judgement call if you want to risk what happened last week. A healthy DJ is an RB1 start weekly and you can start Edmonds in the FLEX spot if DJ is active.

Larry Fitzgerald – Fitzgerald had a disappointing Week 7 as the Cardinals mainly ran the ball but should be back this week as Kyler will be forced to throw more. Fitz is the leading WR on the team with 7.9 targets per game and is a safe WR2 start with WR1 upside if he can grab a TD.

Christian Kirk – Kirk continues to be questionable for this week with an ankle injury but can be started as a WR3 with WR2 upside if he does end up being active. The Saints give up 40.1 points per game to WRs and Arizona will have to throw in order to win.

NO Saints

Teddy Bridgewater – Teddy has been steady for the Saints as he manages to control the games and make smart decisions leading New Orleans to 5 wins in a row. He hasn’t been great for fantasy purposes besides in Week 5 against TB throwing for 314 yards and 4 TDs but is a viable start this week with Arizona allowing 24.5 points per game to QBs.

Alvin Kamara/Latavius Murray – Kamara has not yet been ruled out and will likely be a game time decision for the Saints as they do approach a Week 9 bye and could want to rest him for another week. If Kamara does play he’s a weekly start especially against Arizona who struggle against pass catching backs. Murray on the other hand, is a FLEX option even with Kamara active as the Saints will likely use him more, especially in goal line work, after his dominating performance against the Bears in Week 7. If Kamara is inactive, Murray is a solid RB2 start with RB1 upside.

Michael Thomas – Thomas is a weekly must start as he’s the WR1 on the season and leading all receivers in the NFL with 78 targets on the season so far. Arizona has an average secondary giving up 36.4 points per game to WRs and he should have a solid game with plenty of upside.

Jared Cook – Cook missed Week 7 with an ankle injury just as him and Bridgewater were starting to form a connection in the end zone with 2 TDs in his last 2 games. If Cook is healthy, he’s a top TE start this week as Arizona’s defense is known to give up the most points to TEs with 24.3 points per game.

Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

LAC Chargers @ CHI Bears – Sun 1:00 PM ET

Over/Under: 40

Spread: Bears -5.5

Both teams are coming off of losses in Week 7 and both teams are struggling with their offenses right now. It should be an interesting game as the Bears need to turn things around quickly in order to stay play off relevant in a very tough NFC North division. While the Chargers only have 2 wins and need to turn things around quickly as well for even a chance at a wild card spot.

LAC Chargers

Phillip Rivers – Rivers has been really hit or miss for fantasy purposes so far this season and has a higher chance to miss this week against a tough match up. The Bears only allow 14.7 points per game to QBs and have a lock down secondary only allowing 32 points per game to WRs. So there are better options to go with this week.

Melvin Gordon/Austin Ekeler – Gordon hasn’t done much since his return from his holdout putting up only 81 yards on 36 carries over his last 3 games which translates to 2.25 yards per carry. Chicago’s run defense isn’t as good as it was last year as they’re giving up 30.2 points per game to RBs. Gordon hasn’t done anything to earn a start unless you have no other option. I would only start his as a FLEX play with RB2 upside. Ekeler on the other hand has been pretty consistent even with Gordon returning. Gordon has definitely taken away all of Ekeler’s ground work but he’s been very involved in the receiving game which makes him very valuable in PPR formats. Ekeler can be started as an RB2 weekly with RB1 upside if he can get into the end zone.

Keenan Allen – A major part of the Chargers’ struggles has been the disappearance of Keenan Allen. Along with offensive line issues, trying to get Melvin Gordon going and Hunter Henry returning it seems like Allen has been forgotten. Over his last 4 games he’s only gotten 15 catches for 160 yards which was basically his Week 3 game against Houston going for 183 yards on 13 catches. Chicago is still very solid in the secondary so it doesn’t give Allen much of a chance to get going again. He’s a WR2 start still due to his potential upside at any given time.

Hunter Henry – Henry put up another nice game in Week 7 against TEN with 97 yards on 6 catches. He’s the TE13 on the season already after missing 4 games. With the TE position being so tough to find consistency in, Henry is a great choice for a set and forget option when healthy.

CHI Bears

Mitch Trubisky – Trubisky came back after a Week 4 shoulder injury and was pretty awful. He did manage to pump his stats a bit in 4th quarter garbage time against the Saints putting up 2 TDs but isn’t a relevant weekly fantasy option. The Chargers are pretty solid against QBs only allowing 16.6 points per game and the Bears are likely to establish their run game more this week.

David Montgomery/Tarik Cohen – Montgomery was only given the ball twice on the ground last week and ran for 6 yards. Matt Nagy stated this week that “he’s not an idiot and knows they have to run the ball more.” With that statement in mind combined with the Chargers giving up 25.9 points per game to RBs and Trubisky being terrible , I think Montgomery gets plenty of work this week and has his potential break out game. He should be a decent RB2 start if he gets the volume I’m expecting him to. Cohen on the other hand has been a pretty safe FLEX option especially in PPR leagues and should continue to stay involved this week as he had a season high 9 receptions in Week 7.

Allen Robinson – Robinson is probably the only safe Bears WR you can consider starting and actually has good upside potential as he’s WR14 on the season. Whether Trubisky is starting or Chase Daniel, Robinson has proved that he’s their favorite target and continues to receive plenty of work weekly. He’s a safe WR2 start and has WR1 upside if he can find the end zone.

Photo by Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

NY Jets @ JAX Jaguars – Sun 1:00 PM ET

Over/Under: 41

Spread: Jaguars -4.5

The Jets hosted the Patriots in Week 7 on MNF and embarrassed themselves even with Sam Darnold back while the Jags are coming off of a comfortable win against the Bengals and looking to stay in the battle for a highly competitive AFC South division with all 4 teams neck and neck.

NY Jets

Sam Darnold – Darnold put up a top 10 worst fantasy performance by a QB ending the night with 86 yards, 4 interceptions and 1 lost fumble resulting in -6.7 fantasy points. He faces another tough week this week before his schedule gets a lot easier. The Jags give up 19.2 points per game to QBs and have a solid secondary. Darnold is worth a stash for upcoming weeks but there are better streaming options this week.

Le’Veon Bell – Bell Actually didn’t have a horrible game against the Patriots being able to rush for 70 yards and should have an easier time against the Jags defense who give up 25.3 fantasy points per game to RBs. Bell has had one of the toughest RB schedules for the last 7 weeks and the time for Bell owners is coming starting next week against Miami. Since you likely drafted him in the 1st round he’s your weekly RB1 start and should start putting up better numbers soon.

Robby Anderson/Jamison Crowder – These 2 guys are going to perform based on how well Darnold does. Hopefully no one started them against NE anyways. With the Jags having a pretty average secondary and trading away Jalen Ramsey, both Anderson and Crowder are WR3 options with Robby having more big play upside while Crowder has more PPR upside.

Chris Herndon – Herndon seems to be on pace to return sooner rather than later as he he’s practicing in limited fashion this week. If he plays, he’s a definite start since the TE position is so shallow already. The Jags only give up 9.8 points per game to TEs but Herndon just needs to find the end zone once to make your day.

JAX Jaguars

Garnder Minshew – Minshew has been a very reliable fantasy QB option while only getting less than 16 points in Week 6. The Jets have a very average secondary allowing 37.6 points per game to WRs and Minshew has shown that he’s able to run as well giving him a pretty safe floor. Minshew isn’t a top streaming option this week but he’s a very safe one.

Leonard Fournette – Fournette has been getting plenty of volume the last 4 weeks with 20+ carries weekly. In those 4 games where he’s gotten 20+ carries he’s put up 536 yards and 1 TD. While Fournette isn’t finding the end zone much, his given volume and production make him a safe weekly start. The Jets run defense has been struggling giving up 29.3 points per game to RBs so Fournette should comfortably put up RB2 numbers with RB1 upside if he can find the end zone.

DJ Chark/Dede Westbrook – Chark is still ranked as the WR5 on the season but his last 2 games haven’t shown that type of performance as he surprisingly only put up 96 yards total on 6 catches. He still remains a safe WR2 start and if he can continue his run from the start of the season he has WR1 upside. Dede Westbrook is starting to build more of a connection with Minshew and was able to put up 103 yards on 6 catches against Cincinnati in Week 6. Westbrook is a safe WR3(FLEX) play and has WR2 upside if Minshew continues to look for him.

Photo by Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

CIN Bengals @ LA Rams (London) – Sun 1:00 PM ET

Over/Under: 48.5

Spread: Rams -12.5

We have a London game this week and the NFL decided to send the 0-7 Bengals overseas to show them the best of the best! The Rams snapped their 3 game losing streak in Week 7 and look to start a winning streak in order to stay alive in a very competitive NFC West division.

CIN Bengals

Andy Dalton – Dalton has been a very average fantasy QB with his best game being in Week 1 where he put up 20.7 fantasy points. He doesn’t have a great opportunity to improve on that this week and the Rams only allow 16.3 points per game to QBs and sacked Matt Ryan 5 times last week. With the Bengals giving up 24 sacks on the season so far I don’t expect this week to be much better. Go with a different route instead of Dalton this week.

Joe Mixon – Mixon has been one of the biggest disappointments of the season so far as he’s ranked the RB35 on the season behind an awful offensive line. The Rams have an average run defense giving up 24.5 points per game to RBs but with Mixon’s performances the last couple of weeks its hard to comfortably start him. He’s not even a safe play because if he doesn’t get a TD his floor can be very low. Sadly, he’s a RB3(FLEX) play at this points and does have RB2 upside as he’s shown that in Week 3.

Tyler Boyd/Auden Tate – Looks like AJ Green isn’t returning for another week again which continues to give Boyd and Tate WR1 and WR2 duties. Boyd has been quieter the last 2 weeks after an incredible start to the season. The Rams do have a solid secondary and pass rush so Dalton could struggle to get his WRs the ball. Boyd can still be started as a WR2 but does have limited upside this week. Tate has been picking up Boyd’s work it seems like and is a WR3 option this week with limited upside as well.

LA Rams

Jared Goff – Goff returned to his normal self last week against the Falcons and threw for 268 yards, 2 TDs and rushed for 1 TD. He should continue this type of performance this week as the Bengals give up 22 points per game to QBs and we could see plenty of dump offs to Todd Gurley against the Bengals worst ranked run defense.

Todd Gurley – Gurley returned from injury in Week 7 against the Falcons only to disappoint once again only putting up 41 yards on 18 carries but saving his day with a TD. Gurley has agreat opportunity this week to put up his best game of the year yet against Cincinnati’s terrible run defense. If he doesn’t put up big numbers in this week’s game, then it’s definitely going to be tough comfortably starting him weekly hoping for upside. He continues to be an RB2 and should see RB1 numbers this week. Malcolm Brown is questionable for this week still and if he’s active then it would be tough to start him or Darrell Henderson. If Brown sits, Henderson is a viable FLEX option with RB2 upside if he gets the goal line work.

Cooper Kupp/Robert Woods/Brandin Cooks – Another great match up for them this week after being a bit disappointing in Week 7 against the Falcons. Kupp only hauled in 6 receptions for 50 yards but is the WR3 on the year and should be started weekly as a WR1 being Goff’s favorite target. Woods and Cooks on the other hand continue to fight for any targets they can get with Cooks being last in line. Woods is definitely a safe WR2 choice weekly who can put up WR1 numbers while Cooks is more of a WR3 option with WR2 upside and other options on your bench can be started over him.

Gerald Everett – Everett continues to be a part of this offense and is second in line for targets behind Kupp. Cincinnati only gives up 8.9 points per game to TEs but Everett can be started comfortably as he’s caught 2 TDs in the last 4 games and has put up 239 yards total in those games.

Photo by Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

NY Giants @ DET Lions – Sun 1:00 PM ET

Over/Under: 50

Spread: Lions -7

This should be a fun one with 2 pretty solid offenses up against 2 pretty average defenses. Both teams only have 2 wins right now but still do realistically have a chance to compete in their divisions and try to get a wild card spot.

NY Giants

Daniel Jones – Jones hasn’t been that same QB that we saw who put up great numbers against TB in Week 3. He’s been very mediocre throwing 4 TDs since then and 7 interceptions along with 2 fumbles. He does have a solid opportunity this week against Detroit who give up 22 points per game to QBS but is more of a boom or bust play rather than a safe start.

Saquon Barkley – Barkley is my prediction to finish as the top RB on the week if he’s all good to go with his ankle. Detroit allows 32.9 points per game to RBs and are sitting right behind Cincinnati in that category. Dalvin Cook ran all over them for 142 yards and 2 TDs last week so I expect much of the same from Barkley.

Golden Tate – With Sterling Shepard likely to miss another week being under the NFL’s concussion protocol, Tate is the lead WR on the team with Jones spreading the ball all over the place after him. Tate has caught 12 passes for 182 yards and 1 TD in his last 2 games and should continue to see more of the same as Stefon Diggs blew up Detroit’s secondary for 142 yards last week.

Evan Engram – Engram did return from injurt last week against the Cardinals even though it definitely didn’t seem like it as he only hauled in 1 reception for 6 yards. He’s typically on of the top TEs weekly as the Giants love to use him and can be considered a safe start against Detroit who give up 12.8 points per game to TEs.

DET Lions

Matthew Stafford – Stafford put up his best game of the season against the Vikings in Week 7 as he threw for 364 yards, 4 TDs and 1 interception. He’s a top QB streaming option this week as NY allows 21.4 points per game to QBs as well as 41.3 to WRs.

Kerryon Johnson/Ty Johnson/J.D. McKissic – With Kerryon placed on IR with a knee injury, Ty Johnson will be taking over lead back duties most likely with J.D. McKissic backing him. Ty was one of the top waiver wire pick ups of the week and should be a safe RB2 play if he gets majority of the volume against the Giants who allow 25 points per game to RBs.

Kenny Golladay/Marvin Jones Jr. – So far it seems like these two WRs can’t co-exist as whenever one has a big game the other seems to disappear. Golladay is still a weekly WR2 start as he’s WR25 on the season and top 10 in air yards per game. Jones Jr can be started as a boom or bust WR3/FLEX play with pretty crazy upside as we saw in Week 7 when he caught 4 TDs.

T.J. Hockenson – Hockenson continues to be pretty average as he’s used more as a blocking TE rather than a pass catcher. He’s not a terrible play this week against the Giants who give up 7.9 points per game to TEs but there are definitely some better options out there and Hock should be used as more of a last resort.

Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post

DEN Broncos @ IND Colts – Sun 1:00 PM ET

Over/Under: 44

Spread: Colts -6.5

Jacoby Brissett has lead the Colts to a 4-2 record, taking over the top spot in the AFC South after beating the Texans in Week 7. Joe Flacco on the other hand has lead the Broncos to a 2-5 record and management is likely to make some changes going into next year’s season.

DEN Broncos

Joe Flacco – Flacco has been a terrible fantasy QB and shouldn’t be considered in any format. He has 6 TDs on the season along with 5 interceptions and losing 3 fumbles as well. The Colts secondary has been struggling allowing 40.2 points per game to WRs but there are better streaming options this week.

Phillip Lindsay/Royce Freeman – These 2 haven’t been terrible based on where you likely drafted them but it’s definitely tough starting them as you never know who’s going to be more effective or get more of the work. Lindsay is the RB13 on the season with two RB1 performances against GB and LAC but the Colts are one of the top ranked run defenses only allowing 20.4 points per game to RBs so you can expect a FLEX performance most likely with RB2 upside. Freeman is coming off of his best fantasy performance of the season in Week 7 against KC and finally breaking his TD dry spell. Same as Lindsay, you can start him in a FLEX spot and likely expect around 10 points from each of them.

Courtland Sutton – Sutton has been a stud so far this year ranking as the WR11 on the season. A lot of people were expecting this breakout last year when Sanders went down but now with Sanders getting traded to the 49ers, it gives Sutton WR1 duties. We will have to see how he handles it as it does mean even more targets coming his way along with top CB coverage. Sutton is a weekly WR2 start and does have WR1 upside this week against the struggling Colts secondary. DaeSean Hamilton is a potential pick up but we would like to see how he performs with a great opportunity this week.

Noah Fant – Fant also gets a boost with the departure of Sanders and could see his targets go up as Joe Flacco does look for his TE often. However, Fant does need to make the most of his opportunities and actually catch the ball as last week he was targeted 5 times and only caught 1 pass for 7 yards. Flacco definitely isn’t a good QB but can’t put all the blame on him there.

IND Colts

Jacoby Brissett – Brissett has been great for the Colts with 14 passing TDs, only 3 interceptions and even 1 rushing TD. Denver does have a solid secondary and only allow 11.1 points per game to QBS but with Brissett averaging 2.3 TDs per game he’s a pretty safe weekly streaming option.

Marlon Mack – Mack went into the Colts bye week being ranked 5th in rushing yards but disappointed in Week 7 against Houston only picking up 44 yards on 18 carries. The good news is he’s averaging just under 20 carries per game and should continue to see that volume this week as the Broncos defense is weaker against the run allowing 24.7 points per game. He’s a solid RB2 start.

T.Y. Hilton/Zach Pascal – When Hilton is healthy he’s a weekly must start as he’s the WR23 on the season while missing 2 weeks(injury and bye). Hilton comes with a nice end zone safety net with 5 TDs on the season and is a WR2 play with WR1 upside this week. Pascal had a breakout game last week putting up 106 yards on 6 catches and 2 TDs while Hilton was playing which is a good sign moving forward. He is a WR3/FLEX option this week against a tough Denver secondary.

Eric Ebron – Ebron has been more of a red zone threat compared to Jack Doyle and is a boom or bust TE that you can start if you need someone off waivers. He is TD dependent but Denver allows 10.4 points per game to TEs and could pay off with just 1 play.

Photo by AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio

TB Buccaneers @ TEN Titans – Sun 1:00 PM ET

Over/Under: 46.5

Spread: Titans -2.5

The Bucs are coming off of a bye week after a “home” game in London and continue a brutal road schedule with what’s likely their last chance to stay relevant in the NFC South. Tennessee have switched QBs and are feeling good coming off of a win against the Chargers and are in one of the most competitive divisions so far this year where anybody can take the top spot.

TB Buccaneers

Jameis Winston – Winston had a pretty awful performance in Week 6 where he did throw for 400 yards and 1 TD but also gave up the ball 6 times(5 interceptions and 1 fumble). He doesn’t have a great match up this week against a tough TEN defense who are pretty solid in all areas but Winston does always have the ability to throw for 300+ yards and multiple TDs on any given day. Just don’t be surprised to see turnovers if you do start him.

Peyton Barber/Ronald Jones – Barber and Jones are RBs 41(Barber) and 38(Jones) on the season so far and it’s tough to start either one as the Bucs offensive line has been pretty bad and we never know who’s going to get majority of the work. A couple of weeks ago it was starting to look like Jones was heading towards being the lead back but Bruce Arians stated he likes having the one-two punch both of them provide. That being said, both of these guys are FLEX options with limited upside as the Titans run defense allows 24.1 points per game to RBs.

Mike Evans/Chris Godwin – This is definitely the better one-two punch that you want a piece of. Godwin went into the bye week ranked as the WR1 on the season and is currently the WR2. With Evans drawing top CB coverage and Godwin being an excellent route runner, he has 4 games so far with 100+ receiving yards and is tied with Thielen for 6 TDs leading all WRs. Evans on the other hand has been struggling compared to his usual self as he started the season slow and had 0 receptions in Week 5 but is likely to only go up from there as Winston is aware that Evans needs to be targeted in order to win games. Winston showed that in Week 6 as he targeted Evans a crazy 17 times. Both of these guys are WR1 weekly plays because of the pure upside that they bring.

O.J. Howard/Cameron Brate – Everyone’s favorite disappointment of the season is Howard. He was drafted as a set and forget upside TE but has been anything but that. He did get more involved in Week 6 with 4 targets but was limited in practice on Wednesday with a hamstring injury. If Howard were to miss this week, Brate might not be a bad option to start as he’s been the TE who’s more involved with 2 TDs on the season and the Titans do struggle against TEs a bit giving up 14 points per game to them.

TEN Titans

Ryan Tannehill – Tannehill had a solid performance for his first start of the season in Week 7 as he threw for 312 yards, 2 TDs and 1 interception. He has a prime opportunity to continue off that performance against a terrible TB secondary who give up 44.9 points per game to WRs. He’s a pretty safe streaming option this week as TB have a top 5 run defense which will force the Titans to throw more.

Derrick Henry – Henry really hasn’t been amazing aside from his Week 1 game against Cleveland but he’s been very consistent and is ranked as the RB12 on the season. He does face a tough challenge this week against TB who only allow 17.8 points per game to RBs. Henry is still a weekly RB2 play as they love using him for goal line work but don’t expect any huge runs coming out of his this week.

Corey Davis/A.J. Brown – Both Brown and Davis were Tannehill’s top targeted receivers with Davis getting 7 targets and Brown getting 8. Davis was more efficient with his as he caught 6 of them for 80 yards and 1 TD while Brown also caught 6 for 64 yards. These 2 are pretty safe WR3/FLEX options this week with WR2 upside as they face one of the worst secondaries in the league.

Delanie Walker/Jonnu Smith – Walker left the game early in Week 7 after just 5 snaps and is questionable this week with an ankle injury. He didn’t practice Wednesday which isn’t a great sign so monitor his progress as the week continues. If Walker were to miss time, Smith is the next man up and made the most of the opportunity in Week 7 catching all 3 of his targets for 64 yards. As mentioned before, the TB secondary is not good as struggles with TEs as well so Smith is definitely an option to start this week.

Photo by Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

PHI Eagles @ BUF Bills – Sun 1:00 PM ET

Over/Under: 43.5

Spread: Bills -2

The Bills are keeping pace with the Patriots after a shaky win against Miami in Week 7. If they keep it up with a favorable schedule coming up, they could definitely see themselves in the wild card. The Eagles just got destroyed by the Cowboys last week, and are hoping to make up ground in order to fight for the top of the NFC East.

PHI Eagles

Carson Wentz – Wentz is a top 10 QB on the season but is coming off of a horrible game against the Cowboys throwing for only 191 yards, 1 TD, 1 interception and losing 2 fumbles. He doesn’t exactly get an ideal bounce back match up against the Bills who are a top 5 ranked defense in every category. However, Wentz is usually always a safe play with 13 TDs on the season and only 4 interceptions. If you’re looking for upside though, it’s probably best to look elsewhere this week.

Jordan Howard/Miles Sanders – It seems like Howard has taken over lead back duties while Sanders has been getting more involved in the passing game. As stated above, with the Bills defense being top ranked in every category we have to limit expectations with both backs and would start them as FLEX options with potential RB2 upside for Howard if he gets closer to 20 carries.

Alshon Jeffery – Jeffery has been a pretty safe option when healthy besides for an ugly Week 7 performance where he only caught 2 of his 5 targets for 38 yards. It’s hard to expect more of him this week and he is a WR2 option with limited upside since DeSean Jackson is likely to miss another week.

Zach Ertz/Dallas Goedert – Ertz has been pretty consistent this year up until Week 6 where Goedert seems to have taken over. The Bills only give up 6 points per game to TEs so this is likely not the bounce back game Ertz is looking for. He’s still the TE6 on the season and can be started but just limit expectations so you won’t be disappointed. He is a safe weekly play but if you’re looking for upside this week, is best to look elsewhere and Dallas Goedert is not the answer.

BUF Bills

Josh Allen – Allen had a solid performance against Miami last week throwing for 202 yards and 2 TDs. He should continue playing at that level if not better this week against the Eagles who have the worst ranked secondary in the league giving up 46.8 points per game to WRs. He’s a safe QB option this week with high upside.

Frank Gore/Devin Singletary – Singletary was looking like the better back out of the two before his hamstring injury but either the coaches didn’t think so or they wanted to limit him on his return as Gore lead the backfield in carries compared to Singletary’s 7. Both backs couldn’t get much done against Miami and shouldn’t expect to see a lot of volume this week as the Eagles have a top 5 ranked run defense. The Bills are likely to throw against their secondary in order to win the game. Gore and Singletary are both last resort FLEX options with very limited upside.

John Brown/Cole Beasly – Brown showed up last week as expected with 5 catches, 83 yards and 1 TD. Brown was battling against a groin injury last week but did end up playing and sat out Wednesday’s practice this week due to rest not injury according to reports. He’s a top WR2 option to start this week against the Eagles and has plenty of WR1 upside. Beasly is another option you could go with if you need a FLEX/WR3 in ppr formats. He matched Brown in targets last week with 6 and could see plenty of looks against this secondary.

Dawson Knox – Knox didn’t get the job done for TE streamers against the Dolphins but he did receive 5 targets while only catching 2. With the Bills likely to focus on the passing game this week, he does qualify for a streaming option with those 5 targets possibly matched if not more. The Eagles give up 11.9 points per game to TEs.

Photo by Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

CAR Panthers @ SF 49ers – Sun 4:05pm EST

Over/Under: 42

Spread: 49ers -5.5

Two of the hottest teams in the league meet up this Sunday afternoon for a game that I think will be the hardest to predict. Ever since the Panthers lost their franchise QB Cam Newton, they have won 4 straight with back-up Kyle Allen. The 49ers haven’t lost a game yet this season but this match up will be a true test to whether their record reflects how good they really are.

CAR Panthers

Kyle Allen – This QB sensation has taken everybody by surprise with 4 straight wins under his belt – though it wasn’t all because of him. Allen’s season best is 261 passing yards and has averaged 1 touchdown a game for his past 3 starts. With the 49ers allowing the second-fewest QB fantasy points, I wouldn’t rely on Kyle to win the game through the air. I would not recommend him being a play.

Christian McCaffrey – You already know McCaffrey is a must start no matter what. Even with facing a tough defense, the volume that McCaffrey gets will guarantee he will pull his weight for your fantasy team. But, because both teams will be running the ball a lot this week, don’t expect one of those crazy games where CMC gets 40+ fantasy points. There just won’t be enough time in the game.

D.J. Moore – Continuing with my lecture about how the Panthers are playing a tough defense, I wouldn’t expect much from this promising receiver either. Even though Moore is the most targeted receiver on the Panthers, the 49ers defense has allowed only about a 50% catch rate. This means that DJ Moore will most likely not ball out this game. But, if you’re desperate due to injuries, you can start him and hope for the best – you never know with Fantasy Football.

SF 49ers

Jimmy Garrapolo – If you look at the numbers, you can also see that Jimmy is not the reason the 49ers are doing so well. The defense and the running game are the reasons that they are still undefeated. Jimmy G has the 4th worst passer rating and has not broken out over 300 passing yards. Even though the 49ers just acquired Emmanuel Sanders, I would wait a week or two till the new guy is in the mix – then we can re-evaluate Jimmy’s start potential. For now, bench him.

Matt Breida/Tevin Coleman – Last week’s game should not even be considered when talking about these two. The 49ers are averaging 172 rushing yards a game and because of Jimmy’s lack of productivity, the possibilities for these two backs are endless. Between the two, Coleman has slowly started to become the lead RB as he is also catching passes from his quarterback. Even though it isn’t easy to run against the Panthers, Coleman will be involved in the offense no matter what. Start Coleman and bench Breida this week.

Dante Pettis/Marquise Goodwin – These two just aren’t reliable starters because the 49ers are not a passing team. With defense and running the ball being their strengths, don’t expect these two to have much action. Maybe once Sanders comes in, the passing game will become more developed… but until then, bench these two. If you need a waiver pick up check out our article before you think putting Pettis as your flex is a bold play!

George Kittle – Kittle is the only receiver that can be started on the 49ers because of the amount of targets he gets. Although Jimmy does not throw the ball a lot, when he does, he looks for his giant tight-end. Although Kittle isn’t having the season everyone thought he was going to have like last year, you drafted him high for a reason and you have to play him. I would expect 5 – 10 points this week with a slight chance of a boom just because of his pure athleticism.

Photo by AP Foto/David Richard

CLE Browns @ NE Patriots – Sun 4:25 PM ET

Over/Under: 46.5

Spread: Patriots -10.5

With all the hype the Browns were getting in the off-season, this game looked like it was going to be a solid test for both teams at the halfway point of the season. Now it’s likely going to be the 7-0 Patriots killing any hype the 2-4 Browns have left.

CLE Browns

Baker Mayfield – Baker has been nothing short of disappointing this year which directly reflects on this entire team. Having a below average offensive line definitely doesn’t help but if you watch just one game you’ll see how Baker truly can’t handle pressure and makes plenty of mistakes trying to make something happen when the play is already dead. These mistakes have caused him to throw 11 interceptions and only 5 TDs. He can’t be trusted even in really favorable match ups(not this one) so look elsewhere for a starting QB.

Nick Chubb – Chubb has been the best thing about Cleveland’s offense and is currently the RB6 on the season with a bye week under his belt. He faces his toughest test yet this season against the best defense but did manage to put up 87 yards on SF’s elite run defense in Week 5. Chubb has a pretty safe floor as he gets plenty of volume and gets involved in the passing game as well. He’s a safe RB1 start this week but we’ll have to temper expectations for him.

OBJ/Jarvis Landry – OBJ has been pretty average this season and definitely not giving you the production you drafted him for. He is coming off of one of his better games of the season putting up 101 yards on 6 catches in Week 6 and still has the talent to produce upside if Baker can get him the ball. This week he’s a WR2 start with limited upside. Landry has also been nothing special besides his Week 4 game where he put up 167 yards on 8 catches. He’s a WR3/FLEX start this week and also has limited upside potential.

Ricky Seals-Jones – With David Njoku placed on IR, Seals-Jones has been filling in nicely for him with 6 catches, 129 yards and 2 TDs over the last 3 games. While there are better options to go with this week as the Patriots only give up 4.9 points per game to TEs, he could be an option going forward with a more favorable match up.

NE Patriots

Tom Brady – Looks like Brady is actually a fantasy relevant QB this year. He’s ranked in the top 10 on the season and has had one of the best schedules so far to get him there. It does start to get a little harder with a match up against the Browns who only allow 20 points per game to QBs and have Myles Garrett who has 9 sacks on the season. Brady is a pretty safe start but would look for upside elsewhere as I expect the NE defense to take advantage of Baker rather than the offense running the show.

Sony Michel/James White – Michel has had a very up and down season and if definitely an RB who’s reliant on TDs rather than producing points on the ground. He’s tough to trust on a weekly basis as you never know how the Patriots will use him. Last week he did manage to score 3 TDs on goal line carries which could be a good sign going forward. The Browns give up 28.8 points per game to RBs so Michel should be a safe RB2 start with RB1 upside if he continues to get goal line work. White on the other hand is as consistent as they come in PPR leagues. If you ever need 13 points to win, you plug him in and he will get you there. He’s a safe weekly FLEX play and has upside as he was inches away from scoring a TD last week.

Julian Edelman/Mohamed Sanu – Edelman is one of the best slot receivers in the league and is about as safe of a WR2 as they come. Brady loves throwing to him, targeting him 68 times so far this season. The Browns do have a decent secondary who give up 35 points per game to WRs but Edelman is a safe weekly WR2 start who has WR1 upside when he finds the end zone. Sanu just got traded from the Falcons and he should be a safe WR3/FLEX play. He is a solid WR with 33 receptions, 313 yards and 1 TD on the season with the Falcons while being the 4th/5th option. Now he has a shot to be a 2nd/3rd option and I do think the Patriots might feed him as they did with Antonio Brown in Week 2 to start the game.

Ben Watson – Watson is back with the Patriots and made his start last week against the Jets catching 3 of his 5 targets for 18 yards. With NE obviously trying to get receiving help wherever they can, Watson might be a decent TE choice for this week as the Browns give up 12.5 points per game to opposing TEs.

Photo by Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

OAK Raiders @ HOU Texans – Sun 4:25 PM ET

Over/Under: 51.5

Spread: Texans -6.5

Both of these teams have had up and down moments on the season but are struggling to find consistency. It has lead them to the same spot, second in their divisions with 3 losses. The Raiders do have a prime opportunity to take advantage of with Mahomes out for the Chiefs. If things go their way they could sneak into first place. The Texans just gave up first place with a loss to the Colts but are still very much in the race being only 1 game behind.

OAK Raiders

Derek Carr – Carr has been a serviceable QB for Raiders skill players but hasn’t been too fantasy relevant. He does have 8 TDs on the season along with 4 interceptions and 3 fumbles. He does have a prime opportunity this week with Houston’s secondary giving up 22.9 points per game to QBs and it might turn into a bit of a shootout with both teams having awful secondaries. Carr is more of a boom or bust play though if you’re willing to take a chance.

Josh Jacobs – After getting off to a hot start in Week 1, the rookie RB dealt with illness and injury and put up pretty average numbers in Weeks 2-4. However, he’s coming off of back to back impressive performances against the Bears and Packers where he put up a total of 247 yards and 2 TDs. Jacobs is dealing with a shoulder injury this week and didn’t practice Wednesday but has a shot to play on Sunday. If he’s good to go he’s a safe RB2 start with Houston giving up 24.4 points per game to RBs and does have RB1 upside if they game turns into a higher scoring shootout and he gets plenty of goal line opportunities.

Tyrell Williams – Williams has been dealing with plantar fasciitis the past couple of weeks and has been out. He did practice in a limited fashion on Wednesday which gives him a chance to play on Sunday. If he’s good to go, Williams is a safe WR2 start as he’s caught a TD in every game he’s played in so far this season. With Houston’s secondary allowing 44.7 points per game to WRs, Williams has plenty of WR1 upside. If Williams is out again, it’s tough to comfortably start any Raiders WRs besides him as Carr’s primary target becomes Darren Waller and then he spreads the ball around across the WR core.

Darren Waller – So far he’s one of the best late round draft picks/waiver wire pickups of the season. Waller is ranked as the TE2 on the season and finally broke his TD dry spell last week with 2 TDs(should have been 4). He’s a weekly start for the TE position and one of Carr’s favorite targets whether Tyrell Williams is playing or not. Waller is used more as a WR than a TE so we can expect plenty of upside this week in what should be a higher scoring game. Foster Moreau is also a TE option more so if Williams were out again.

HOU Texans

Desahun Watson – Watson has been up and down this season putting up crazy numbers like 426 yards and 5 TDs in Week 5 but also only throwing for 159 yards and 0 TDs in Week 2. That being said if you have him, you should be starting him weekly because his upside will make up for any down games and he has a great opportunity against the Raiders who just gave up 5 TDs to Aaron Rodgers last week.

Carlos Hyde/Duke Johnson – This is a very tough backfield to have a piece of as both backs are ranked as RB27(Hyde) and RB36(Johnson) on the season. It’s always a challenge to figure out if you should start them as they’ve been no better than FLEX plays all season. The Raiders do have a decent run defense allowing 25.4 points per game to RBs and we expect this game to be a higher scoring shootout with the lower ranked secondaries so these guys are only FLEX plays this week and could see some upside with more end zone opportunities.

DeAndre Hopkins/Kenny Stills – Hopkins has been a bit disappointing after Week 1 especially since he was drafted in the first round. However, his last 3 weeks have gotten better with a total of 25 receptions for 249 yards and 1 TD. Hopefully that means he’s trending in the right direction and should have one of his best games of the season this week against Oakland’s secondary who give up 43 points per game to WRs. Hopkins is a weekly WR1 start and has plenty of upside potential this week. Stills was a hot waiver pick up this week with Will Fuller likely to miss several weeks with a hamstring injury. With Fuller leaving the game early last week, Stills stepped up and caught 4 of his 5 targets for 105 yards. With Hopkins drawing the best coverage in an already terrible secondary, Stills has an amazing opportunity right off of the waivers to put up WR1 numbers. He’s a WR2 start with Fuller out and has a high ceiling this week.

Darren Fells – Fells is the more targeted TE between him and Akins but he still is very TD dependent. If you need a boom or bust TE option this week, Fells could be your guy with Oakland giving up 15 points per game to opposing TEs.

Photo by Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

GB Packers @ KC Chiefs – Sun 8:20 PM ET

Over/Under: 48

Spread: Packers -3

This game was supposed to be one of the prime time games of the season with one of the best veteran QBs facing off against a new QB star. Sadly, Mahomes is out for a couple of weeks with a knee injury so it’s going to be Aaron Rodgers vs. Matt Moore and should still be an entertaining game. Both teams sit at the top of their divisions and are Super Bowl contenders when fully healthy.

GB Packers

Aaron Rodgers – Rodgers is coming off of his best performance of the season against the Raiders where he threw for 429 yards, 5 TDs and ran another TD in. KC’s secondary is better than Oakland’s as they only give up 18.3 points per game to QBs but it’s still a great match up to comfortably start Rodgers and if you have him you likely don’t have a better option to go with anyways.

Aaron Jones/Jamaal Williams – Jones made all owners worry in Week 6 when he dropped a wide open TD pass and fumbled the ball causing Williams to pass him in carries and snap count. Jones put that worry aside in Week 7 as he retained his role as the lead back getting 12 carries compared to Williams with just 3 and catching a beautiful TD from Rodgers. Both of these guys can be started this week as KC gives up 28.4 points per game to RBS. Jones can be started as a RB2 with RB1 upside while Williams is a FLEX play with RB2 upside. It’ll be good to keep an eye on how they split the work this week for future games.

Davante Adams – Adams seems to be a game time decision this week and is a definite start if he plays as owners have been waiting to get him off of their benches. That being said since it is a Sunday night game, you need to have a back up plan in case he sits out. If you have solid WR options on your bench playing earlier it’s not the worst idea to play them instead unless a report comes out Sunday morning saying if 100% ready to go. Otherwise you can risk it with Adams and grab a boom or bust WR from GB or KC or even the Monday night game. MVS, Geronimo Allison, Lazard and Kumerow are all risky plays as we never know who’s going to get the work. MVS seems to be the most reliable out of the 4.

Jimmy Graham – Graham showed up last week with 4 catches for 65 yards and 1 TD. He’s still a very TD dependent TE even with Adams out and is also part of the GB receiver roulette. If Adams does sit out, you can take a chance with Graham if needed since KC gives up 13.8 points per game to TEs.

KC Chiefs

Matt Moore – Moore is filling in for Mahomes while he’s out with a knee injury and was able to manage the game against Denver throwing for 117 yards and 1 TD which was a nice 57 yard pass to Tyreek Hill. Moore however is not a great choice for your fantasy team as he’s likely going to manage to keep KC in the game and try not to make mistakes rather than have high upside potential. There are better options to stream for this week.

LeSean McCoy/Damien Williams – The back and forth story of this backfield continues as it seems McCoy is the lead back for now. McCoy had 12 carries compared to Williams’ 9 in Week 7 but McCoy was able to put up 64 yards on his carries while Williams put up 7. With KC likely to run the ball more with a backup QB in, McCoy has a decent opportunity to get some higher volume than he has all season. GB’s run defense gives up 26.9 points per game so he’s a RB2 start. Williams on the other hand is a tougher choice as he hasn’t done much with his given opportunities. We would only put him in the FLEX out of necessity since the RBs could see more volume with Mahomes out but don’t expect much upside from Williams.

Tyreek Hill – Hill is probably the only WR you can start comfortably on KC now with Mahomes out. His targets will decrease for sure but he does have that big play potential that could make him worth it. Last week he did have a 57 yard TD catch from Moore and only 2 more catches on the night but put up 16.4 fantasy points in PPR formats. He’s a WR2 with Moore starting and does have WR1 upside if they can establish a connection.

Travis Kelce – Kelce was likely the first TE to go in your drafts and hasn’t been putting up his usual “WR” numbers which most people are disappointed with. However, he still is the TE3 on the season and should be started weekly. He had 8 targets last week even with Mahomes out and Moore will likely look for Kelce as a safer play while trying to make bigger plays happen with Hill. That means Kelce will get more targets and they’ll add up to a solid performance. GB also allows 14.6 points per game to TEs and it’s their weakest spot in their secondary.

Photo by Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

MIA Dolphins @ PIT Steelers – Mon 8:15 PM ET

Over/Under: 42.5

Spread: Steelers -14.5

Not sure who thought this would be a good game for Monday Night Football but here we are. The 0-6 Dolphins take on the 2-4 Steelers. Both teams are out of the playoff conversation as Miami gave up early on their season trading away players for draft picks and looking forward to next year while the Steelers lost Big Ben in Week 2 and have Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges leading them.

MIA Dolphins

Ryan Fitzpatrick – Fitzpatrick actually had a decent Week 7 performance against the Bills putting up 282 yards, 1 TD, 1 interception and 1 rushing TD. He has almost lead the Dolphins to back to back wins but there are better options to stream going into this week.

Mark Walton/Kenyan Drake – Walton is now the lead back in Miami as the Dolphins are looking to trade Drake. In Week 7, Walton had 14 carries for 66 yards against a top 5 ranked Bills run defense which is pretty good. If Walton continues to get an increased workload, he could be a FLEX option going forward. The Steelers allow only 24.2 points per game to RBs so it’s not a great match up for him this week. Walton is a desperation FLEX option with limited upside in Week 8. While Drake is losing carries to Walton, he’s still involved in the passing game with 4 targets last week against the Bills. Drake is also a desperation FLEX play this week in PPR formats and should be stashed with the trade deadline coming up next week.

Preston Williams/DeVante Parker – These 2 guys were Fitzpatrick’s top targets last week with a total of 18. The Steelers do have a solid secondary only allowing 34.5 points per game to WRs so it’s not the best match up but neither were the Bills last week and this duo managed to put up 137 yards and 1 TD on them. Just like any player on Miami now, they are a desperation WR3/FLEX play with limited upside.

Mike Gesicki – Gesicki has been getting more involved these last 2 games with Fitzpatrick taking over totaling up 92 yards on 7 catches. The Steelers biggest weakness in their secondary is their TE coverage. They give up 15.7 points per game to TEs and Gesicki can be used as a boom or bust option this week, needing a TD to make your day.

PIT Steelers

Mason Rudolph – Rudolph is back from a concussion this week and there’s no better team to play when coming off of an injury than arguably the worst team in the league. It’s also one of the only times Rudolph could be considered as a streaming option for fantasy. Miami allows 24.2 points per game to QBs so Rudolph should have plenty of opportunities to make him a pretty safe start. His upside is limited though as his best game this season has been throwing for 229 yards and 2 TDs.

James Conner – Conner is coming off of his best game of the season against the Chargers in Week 6. He rushed for 41 yards and 1 TD and caught 7 passes for 78 yards and another TD. We can expect plenty of volume for Conner on the ground and in the air this week as Miami gives up 32.9 points per game to RBs. He’s a safe RB1 start this week. Jaylen Samuels seems to be close to returning from a knee injury and hasn’t been ruled out of Monday night’s game. He would be a pretty safe FLEX play if he’s good to go with RB2 upside.

Juju Smith-Schuster – It’s tough to start any WR on the Steelers right now as you never know what the game plan is going to be for them. In Week 5 with Rudolph exiting the game early, Juju had 7 receptions for 75 yards and 1 TD. In Week 6, he only had 1 reception on 3 targets for 7 yards. With PIT likely to rely more on their RBs this week, Juju is a WR3/FLEX option with WR2 upside depending on the Steelers game plan.

Vance McDonald – Everyone thought McDonald would be used as Rudolph’s safety blanket after putting up 2 TDs in Week 2 but that hasn’t been the case. Just as hard as it is to trust any WR on this team right now it’s harder to trust the TE. Miami does give up 12.3 points per game to TEs so McDonald is a boom or bust TD dependent option to go with this week.