With superstars underperforming,
no-names overperforming, and everyone else being a best guess,
this fantasy football season has been a wild ride so far. With
five weeks in the books and teams and players showing their true
identity, perhaps this week’s installment of the Shot Caller’s
report can provide some clarity, or at least offer an improvement
over a coin flip!
Note: Fantasy points
based on FF Today’s standard scoring system.
Bye Weeks: Kansas City, New Orleans
Atlanta QB Matt Ryan has thrown three touchdown
passes in each of his two home games this season.
Grab a Helmet
Matt
Ryan v. CHI: Atlanta is playing at home this week, and
that’s all the reason you need to start Matt Ryan. Fresh air seems
to be the Falcons kryptonite, as they haven’t won an outdoor game
since 2012, and Ryan has a mediocre 5-6 touchdown to interception
ratio in away games so far this year. In two home games he’s thrown
for 6 touchdowns and zero interceptions while completing a video
game like 80% of his passes. Chicago comes to town missing at least
two starters in the defensive backfield, and while they haven’t
been horrible, they are far from the Monsters of the Midway. Working
in Ryan’s statistical favor is a Falcons defense that can’t stop
anyone. Look for big numbers from both offenses and this week’s
fantasy buffet.
Jay
Cutler @ ATL: How can I predict an offensive feast and
not invite Jay to eat! Cutler has been a solid QB1 so far this year
in fantasy, but still committing too many back-breaking turnovers
for his team. He’s second in the NFL in passing touchdowns with
12, and ninth in yards, but is also among several players who lead
the league with 6 interceptions. 300 yards and 3 scores seems like
a fair floor for Cutler this week as he faces off against an Atlanta
defense that can’t generate a pass rush (only 4 sacks). Play as
many Chicago offensive players as you can!
Kirk
Cousins @ ARI: I had Russell Wilson in this spot before
he went nuts on MNF. So I’m challenging myself by digger deeper
and going with the former Spartan, Cousins. A few weeks back I said
a few nasty things about Kirk (as a Michigan alum I’m a little bitter
right now) and he went out and threw for 400 yards and 3 touchdowns.
He fell back to earth against the Giants, but I saw some pretty
special things against the Seahawks that have changed my tune. He
still can’t win a game as a starter (0-6) and despite hitting the
road against a scrappy Cardinals team, Cousins is worth a long look.
He’s been connecting on the deep ball with DeSean Jackson, and handled
adversity fairly well against the rampaging Seahawks defense. Arizona
is wounded on defense, physically and mentally, after their whooping
at the hands of the Broncos, and could be ripe for the picking.
Grab a Headset
Mike
Glennon v. BAL: It’s still mind boggling to me that
Glennon didn’t get a chance to compete with Josh McCown for the
starting job in the off-season. His rookie year didn’t get the
respect it deserved because of his team’s market and win-loss
record, but he’s continued to play very solid for a second-year
quarterback. In his last three starts (all on the road mind you),
Glennon has completed almost 60% of his passes and thrown for
5 scores against 2 picks. His sit recommendation is more about
his opponent than his play. The Ravens have squandered a league
low four touchdown passes, and made life miserable for Andrew
Luck last week in a tough loss. The Ravens have the talent and
scheme to shut down the Bucs only weapon in Vincent Jackson, and
despite rebounding well from their blowout in Atlanta, Glennon
just doesn’t have enough reliable weapons to make a fantasy difference
this week.
Teddy
Bridgewater v. DET: Bridgewater made waves (water puns,
ha!) by throwing for over 300 yards in his first NFL start. But
remember, that start came against what could eventually be a historically
bad Atlanta defense. Lost in the afterglow of anointing him the
franchise savior was the fact he failed to throw a touchdown pass.
In comes an angry, banged up Lions team that is a decent kicker
away from being 4-1. Like a weird episode from the Twilight Zone,
the Lions DEFENSE is actually carrying this team while the offense
bumbles its way around the field. Bridgewater might provide the
franchise with a spark, but the combination of an ankle injury,
and one of the league’s best pass defenses (only 5 touchdown passes
surrendered) means Bridgewater could be in for a tough day at
the office in a game where both teams could struggle to score
20 points.
Cam
Newton @ CIN: Sometime in March we’re going to
read an interview with Cam Newton where he admits he played the
season with various debilitating injuries that would cripple a
mere mortal. Fantasy owners will shrug, and lament the possibilities
of what could have been. Playing behind a line that doesn’t
block well as a unit, and with 4th and 5th string running backs
at his side, Newton is going to war each week with water pistols
as his weapons. In four starts this year Newton has failed to
top 19 yards rushing in a game, and in fact has three games under
10 yards. During 16 games last year Newton failed to rush for
at least 10 yards only once! His running ability has always set
him apart and made him a fantasy asset and at the moment he simply
isn’t capable of carrying his team, or being a starter on
your fantasy team. Sit him against a Bengals defense that was
embarrassed against the Patriots and will be out for blood.
Running Backs 
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