Alright, folks, we’re back with another edition of my weekly fantasy predictions. The Thursday night game was a good one, but no one really had eye-popping stats. Tyler Lockett, Russell Wilson, and Kyler Murray all got their fantasy owners right around 20 points each. There are some great games on this week’s slate including headlined by SNF and MNF matchups. So let’s dive right into this.
Top 3 QBs
Matt Ryan – Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons will be on the road this week vs. the Drew Brees-less Saints. In Ryan’s last four contests vs. the Saints, he’s eclipsed 300+ yards three times, while also throwing for eleven touchdowns. He has his best touchdown to interception ratio vs. the Saints out of the NFC South opponents. The Falcons are in need of a win to keep their playoff hopes alive and they will have to rely on Matty Ice’s arm.
Joe Burrow – Cincinnati Bengals
Burrow is the second-best rookie QB this year behind Justin Herbert. He’s eclipsed 300+ five times this year, though his past two games he’s been subpar for fantasy owners. I see a nice bounce back this week on the road in Washington. Washington does have one of the better defenses vs. fantasy quarterbacks this year, but that doesn’t deter my confidence in a big game for the rookie on Sunday.
Jared Goff – Los Angeles Rams
Goff and the Rams will duel it out with the Buccaneers in Tampa Bay on MNF this week. This game looks like it has the makings of being a shootout. Fantasy owners will hope it looks something like the Rams MNF game vs. the Chiefs a couple of years ago. He’s surpassed 300+ yards the past two games but has lacked in the touchdown department. If he can find the endzone a few times, fantasy owners will be delighted.
Top 3 RBs
Mike Davis – Carolina Panthers
The Panthers play host to the Lions this week. With Teddy Bridgewater uncertain to start, the Panthers will need to rely on their run game to keep the ball out of the hands of the Lions offense. The good thing about this matchup? Dalvin Cook gashed the Lions defense two weeks ago for 206 yards and two scores. I don’t see Davis’ numbers being that crazy, but I expect a few scores.
Alvin Kamara – New Orleans Saints
The Saints will be without Drew Brees on Sunday, something they’ve had to get used to the past two seasons. Weirdly, in Kamara’s six career contests vs. their divisional foe, he has not scored a rushing or receiving touchdown. I expect that to change this week. The Saints will have to rely on Kamara’s playmaking ability if they want to stay in this game from the get-go.
Dalvin Cook – Minnesota Vikings
Cook played a stout Bears defense last week and was held in check for the most part. The Vikings play host to the Cowboys this week, a team defense that has given up the second-most yards to opposing running backs this year. Last week was an anomaly for Cook as it was the first time all year he was held out of the endzone. I see him getting back on that touchdown horse this week and snagging two scores.
Top 6 WRs
Keenan Allen – Los Angeles Chargers
Allen and the Chargers play host to the winless Jets this week. I hope for the sake of all Chargers fans that they win this week. With that being said, Allen is Justin Herbert’s favorite target as he has eclipsed 10+ targets in six of his eight games played with the rookie. He’s also found the endzone three consecutive weeks. Look for that production to stay steady this week.
Tee Higgins – Cincinnati Bengals
The rookie to rookie connection in Cincinnati has been one of the bright spots for the Bengals this year. In his eight contests this year, Higgins has seen at least five targets a game. He’s surpassed 100+ yards twice in his past four contests and secured two touchdowns. Look for the Joe Burrow and Higgins connection this Sunday, it’ll be nice.
Julio Jones – Atlanta Falcons
Jones has been targeted 38 times over the past four contests. He has two 100+ yard games and three scores over that span. Jones’s career numbers vs. the Saints are the lowest among NFC South opponents. That doesn’t faze me though. In his past six contests, he’s gone over 95+ yards five times, twice for 140+ yard performances. His value this week will rely on if he gets in the endzone.
Cooper Kupp – Los Angeles Rams
I picked Kupp last week because I thought he had a good matchup with the Seahawks. That didn’t fare well. This week, however, I think he has a better matchup. This game I believe will be won through the air and Kupp should be a big part of that. He’s due for a touchdown as he hasn’t been able to score in the past five weeks.
Antonio Brown – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Brown will look to get back to his boomin’ business this week. With Jalen Ramsey most likely covering Mike Evans, Brown should get a hefty amount of looks this week. If Tom Brady can connect with Brown on the deep ball, something they’ve missed the past two weeks, Brown could surpass the 100+ yard mark for the first time since 2018.
Chase Claypool – Pittsburgh Steelers
Claypool has been a revelation this year as arguably the best rookie receiver. The Steelers will travel into Jacksonville to try and keep their undefeated season alive. Claypool has had the eye of Ben Roethlisberger the past three weeks as he’s seen 32 targets. He hasn’t broken 100+ yards since week four but he’s secured three touchdowns in the past three games. Look for another week of touchdowns for Claypool.
Top 3 TEs
Travis Kelce – Kansas City Chiefs
Kelce is the best tight end in the league right now and for good reason; he’s the most athletic. Kelce has had back-to-back weeks with 100+ yards receiving and will look to continue that stat line this week in Las Vegas. In the first matchup this year, his stat line was 8/108/1. Look for the Chiefs to come out firing and for Patrick Mahomes to hook up with his favorite target,
Darren Waller – Las Vegas Raiders
Waller, like Kelce, is one of the more athletic tight ends in the league. He scored in the first meeting with the Chiefs this year. He’s only once surpassed 100+ yards this year, but I expect him to add his second this week in this rivalry game. Waller and Derek Carr will have to be on in order to try and beat the Chiefs twice in the same year for the first time since 2012.
Jonnu Smith – Tennessee Titans
Smith and the Titans travel to Baltimore this week to take on the Ravens. Both teams are coming off losses and will likely come out hot. Smith is one of Ryan Tannehill‘s favorite red-zone targets, so his fantasy value could rely heavily on the Titans getting close to the goal line.
Top 3 Kickers
Rodrigo Blankenship – Indianapolis Colts
The Colts have a tough matchup with the Packers this week at home. While I expect the Colts to score, in the recent weeks they have stalled out. Cue the kicking leg of Blankenship to keep them in the game.
Justin Tucker – Baltimore Ravens
The Titans have a solid defense but have been a little lackluster as of late. Baltimore has the offense to move the ball against any defense in the league. I expect them, however, to stall out on multiple occasions and rely on the opera master himself to boom some kicks in.
Jason Sanders – Miami Dolphins
Sanders perfect streak ended last week with his first missed kick of the year. Nonetheless, he is still one of the more reliable kickers in the NFL this year. The Broncos have shown flashes to be able to stop opposing offenses, but I expect the dolphins to score touchdowns and kick a few times.
Top DEF/STs
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins defense and special teams have been the best the past three weeks as they’ve found the endzone on multiple occasions. Even if Drew Lock can go, I expect the Dolphins defense to harass the quarterback and force some turnovers. They might even get in the endzone again.
Cleveland Browns
The Browns defense has been somewhat of a surprise this year. They’ll be facing an Eagles team that hasn’t impressed anyone this season. Given Carson Wentz‘s struggles with the turnovers, I expect the Browns to force a few and hold them to a low point total.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Jaguars were in the game last week all the way down to the wire with the Packers. Rookie Jake Luton hasn’t faced a defense like the Steelers though. I expect some turnovers and maybe a defensive touchdown.
To Conclude
As always, I’m feeling pretty confident in these predictions. Some may be on the nose no-brainers, but some are a little bit more of question marks. That’s alright though because, in this business, it’s difficult to know who will the best players week in, week out because of the nature of the NFL. Any given Sunday. Have a good weekend and enjoy some football, I’ll see y’all next week for my recap.
Minnesota Vikings Running Back Dalvin Cook. Photo Credit: All-Pro Reels | Under Creative Commons License