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Colby Cavaliere | Archive | Email |
Staff Writer


The Shot Caller's Report - Quarterbacks
Your Guide To Fantasy Lineups: Week 7
10/22/15
QBs | RBs | WRs

Bye Weeks: Green Bay, Cincinnati, Denver, Chicago

Andrew Luck

Nice mathup for Luck: The Saints have given up the second most fantasy points to Quarterbacks.


Grab a Helmet

Carson Palmer vs BAL (Mon): As the bye week crunch hits for real this week, I’m not going to apologize for going to drink from the Palmer well two weeks in a row; such is life for a fantasy writer doing his best to get more right than wrong. Palmer had an up and down week against the Steelers last week throwing for a million yards (ok it was 421), but only one score and two befuddling interceptions. This passing game has mismatches all over the place with John Brown a legitimate deep threat, Fitzgerald having a renaissance season, and Michael Floyd showing signs of life. Like Palmer, I’m going to target Baltimore’s secondary relentlessly in this column, and with good reason. They are surrendering a league high 26 FPts/G to opposing fantasy quarterbacks, and Colin Kaepernick looked like a Hall of Famer against them last week. Look for a big game Monday night from Palmer and his pass catchers.

Andrew Luck v. NO: Buoyed by some garbage time points, Luck had easily his best statistical game of the season last Sunday vs the Pats. His shoulder looked relatively healthy, and best of all, he didn’t turn the ball over. Luck is ripe for a big follow-up in a game the Colts have to win. The Saints come to town giving up the 9th-most passing yards in the league. They’ve also allowed quarterbacks to throw for 11 touchdowns while picking off only 2 passes. Look for a heavy dose of 3 and 4 receiver sets to help the Colts get out to a big lead and lean on Gore to bleed the clock. It’s been a rocky road for Luck owners this season, but he’s a must start QB1 in this match-up.

Matt Ryan @ TEN: Despite being at the helm of an ultra-effective offense, Ryan hasn’t quite been the fantasy darling we might expect. The yardage has been good, but fantasy money is made with touchdowns, and this is where Ryan has fallen short. With only eight touchdowns in six games, he’s on pace for his lowest touchdown total since his rookie year. The reason doesn’t much lay in the lap of Ryan, but more on the legs of Devonta Freeman. Freeman has been the stud of studs, especially with red zone rushing touchdowns. Look for a pedestrian yardage day from Ryan because of potential big lead game flow issues, but I expect Tennessee to stack the box inside the 20, where Ryan can take advantage of single coverage. A multi-touchdown day, and a low end QB1 finish could be in the cards.

Grab a Headset

Blake Bortles v. BUF: Undoubtedly improved from a year ago, Bortles has been a legitimately viable fantasy QB. Heck, he’s been more than viable, as he currently sits as the overall QB4 in most fantasy leagues. With numbers clearly inflated by several blowout losses, Bortles continues to throw touchdowns to the wrong team, and has completed 60% of his passes only once this season. The 1-5 Jags head across the pond to face a dysfunctional Bills defense. The griping from Bills defensive players has started, and the bloom is fading from the Rex Ryan rose. Look for the Bills to come out aggressive and oppressive as they make Bortles’s life miserable. With star in the making receiver Allen Robinson banged up, and running back T.J. Yeldon still hobbled with a groin injury, the Jaguars will be looking at a long afternoon.

Matthew Stafford v. MIN: Why did it take six games for the Lions to open up the pass offense and take some shots downfield? For the first time in a few years, Stafford and Megatron played some schoolyard football, and the result was Stafford’s highest yardage game since a 488-yard outing in 2013. The 4 passing touchdowns were the most since 2013 as well. Joe Lombardi, the Lions OC, needs to realize that Stafford isn’t and will never be as cerebral as his former quarterback Drew Brees. Stafford is going to win games with arm talent and challenging the defense down the field. Maybe Stafford returns to his gunslinger roots and this offense opens up and becomes as deadly as it should be. My guess is the big game came against a shoddy Chicago defense, and the stink on this Lions offense isn’t washed away. Minnesota is fairly strong against the pass, yielding only 6 touchdowns through the air, 2nd best in the NFL. I’d need to see Stafford protect the ball better, and follow last week’s game up with another quality outing before I start him will full confidence.

Sam Bradford @ CAR: Inaccurate, immobile, and turnover prone is no way to succeed in the Chip Kelly scheme. Blame on it on two years of rust if you want, but if you are a Bradford owner hoping to see some return on the risky investment you paid, it might be a long wait. Bradford’s middling fantasy numbers are boosted by volume, rather than solid play. He’s thrown more interceptions than touchdowns in three of the first six games, and other than a hot half or quarter here or there, has simply not been able to move this offense. Let’s forget the fact that he’s such a non-threat to run that defenders totally ignore him on the read options and crush the running backs behind the line of scrimmage. If the Eagles hadn’t invested a 2nd- and 4th-round pick in him, I’m fully convinced he’d be on the bench by now. To top it off this week’s match-up is miserable on the road against Carolina. It’s time to seriously consider other options if you were all-in on Bradford, but if you have to roll with him, anything more than mid-level QB2 numbers would be a surprise.

Running Backs