News and notes to help you make those all-important lineup decisions for Week 10…
Byes: Cleveland, Kansas City, New England, New York Jets.
• Don’t call it a comeback. He’s been here for years – even if it took until Week 9 for Tom Brady to finally rock his fantasy peers. The last two weeks, we wrote that Brady had become a matchup play. He entered last weekend as the 20th-ranked fantasy quarterback. He posted 15 or more points in standard leagues in just three of his eight games. And he was facing the Steelers, who had allowed the fewest fantasy points per game to opposing QBs. So, naturally, Brady had his best game of the season, completing 23 of 33 passes for 432 with four touchdowns and no interceptions. That worked out to 41 points in standard leagues. Only Nick Foles had more. If you own Brady, he’s back to being an auto-start. Just hope he doesn’t cool off while the Pats are on bye this week.
• Foles – who is the hottest waiver wire pickup of the week – should be the starting QB for the Eagles for the rest of the season, even after Michael Vick is healthy and ready to play again. That’s what happens when you tie an NFL-record and throw for seven touchdowns and 406 yards. Foles can be safely started in all formats and leagues moving forward. The Eagles face the Packers this weekend. Green Bay allows 22.5 fppg to QBs (14th), making the Packers a neutral matchup for Foles.
• Poor Aaron Rodgers owners. The Green Bay quarterback went down on the first drive of Monday night’s game against the Packers. He reportedly suffered a cracked collarbone and is expected to miss approximately three weeks. The Packers will replace him with Seneca Wallace. Wallace threw an interception on his first drive against the Bears. He completed 11 of 19 passes for 114 yards. It’s not good news for the Packers, and it’s certainly not good news for fantasy owners who have Jordy Nelson, James Jones or any other Green Bay pass-catcher. You’re still starting Nelson – and probably Jones if he’s healthy – but don’t expect much. And you’re staying away from Wallace unless you’re in a super-deep league (16 or more teams) and you’re OK with huge risk.
• The Raiders give up the fifth most points (24.5 fppg) to opposing quarterbacks, and they just allowed Foles to torch them and tie an NFL record. Now might be a good time to get Eli Manning into your lineup if you’re looking for a bye-week replacement. The Giants play the Raiders this weekend.
• Looks like Giants running back Andre Brown (leg) is set to make his season-debut against Oakland. Running backs have averaged just 61 yards against the Raiders in their last four games. But Oakland has allowed running backs to score five rushing touchdowns and two receiving touchdowns in the last six games. Temper expectations with Brown, but the matchup isn’t bad.
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• Maybe taking a week off was exactly what CJ Spiller needed. The Buffalo running back has been a huge disappointment from a fantasy perspective this year, but he’s also dealt with a nagging ankle injury for much of the season. That led him to sit out Week 8’s game against New Orleans. He returned in Week 9 and had his best fantasy game of the year against Kansas City’s usually-stout defense. Spiller rushed for 116 yards on 12 carries - including a 61-yard dash - and added two catches for 39 yards. There was some concern that he might have re-injured the ankle at different points during the game, but reports out of Buffalo this week said Spiller “felt good” and is expected to play against Pittsburgh in Week 10. The Steelers surrender 22 fppg to opposing RBs, seventh most
• If three is a trend, then Zac Stacy has suddenly become a fantasy starter in most league sizes and formats. Stacy had his third-straight solid outing in Week 9, carrying the ball a career-high 27 times for 127 yards and two touchdowns. He also had six catches for 51 yards. That’s a lot of touches. In his last three games, Stacy has averaged 27 touches. That’s the kind of workload you love but rarely see in fantasy. Indianapolis – the Rams’ opponent this weekend – has given up just 13.9 fppg to opposing RBs (fifth fewest), but you have to keep Stacy active. The touches matter more than the matchup.
• Chargers receiver Keenan Allen has been targeted an average of 9.5 times in his last four games. He’s gone over 100 yards and added a touchdown in three of those outings. Even in 10-team leagues, he’s a starter until further notice.
• Quick hits: Tampa Bay tight end Timothy Wright has at least nine fantasy points in three of his past four games. He has a good matchup this weekend against Miami. The Dolphins give up 10.6 fppg to opposing TEs (second most)…Andrew Luck is on a roll. The Colts’ quarterback posted 20 or more points and two or more touchdowns in four of his last five games. He’s an auto-start in all league sizes and formats…That came out of nowhere. Dwayne Bowe was targeted a season-high 12 times in Week 9. He caught seven passes, which was also a season-high. But that still only worked out to six points in standard leagues. Bowe has just two double-digit fantasy games this season and the Chiefs are on bye in Week 10. He can be dropped without much concern in standard 10-team leagues.