Bye Weeks: Baltimore, Los Angeles,
Miami, N.Y. Giants, Pittsburgh, San Francisco
Time for Hopkins to get on track. The
The Lions have given up four 100-yard receiving games to WRs.
Grab a Helmet
DeAndre
Hopkins vs DET: It’s no coincidence Hopkins’ struggles
correlate to the Texans being near the bottom of the league in scoring.
His targets are way down, but more discouraging is his catch rate
is horrendous. Hopkins and Osweiler don’t seem to be on the same
page at all, but this is the week patient owners get the payoff.
Hopkins is way too talented to be held in check for this long, and
the Lions will likely be without the only player who can hope to
cover Hopkins, as Darius Slay is dealing with a hamstring injury.
I feel like O’Brien and the Texans coaches will look to scheme the
ball to Hopkins in a big way this week. Look for a few big plays
downfield and at least a touchdown, giving Hopkins the WR1 value
his owners have been waiting for.
Travis
Kelce @ IND: Despite being a dominant physical talent,
the Chiefs continue to find ways to misuse Kelce. He’ totaled only
6 targets over the last two weeks after averaging about 7 after
the season’s first three weeks. Game flow should favor the passing
games in this contest, and the Colts have allowed huge games to
tight ends the last two weeks. If you are Kelce owner you are likely
running him out on a weekly basis based on upside alone, so the
reward could finally come this week.
Mike
Evans vs OAK: The weekly yardage totals haven’t impressed,
but Evans has been a target and touchdown machine so far this year.
His catch rate is way up from last year, and he’s shown an obvious
rapport with Winston. This game has the second highest over/under
for the week, so points should come fast and furious. Oakland doesn’t
have anyone in the secondary capable of covering Evans so he has
a chance to dominate. Evans has been a top-5 receiver this year
and there’s no reason to think he’ll dip below that. I think he
gets at least 100 and a score in this one, making him a WR1 lock.
Grab Some Pine
Willie
Snead vs SEA: After missing Week 3 with a turf toe
injury, Snead struggled in the two games after his return. He
flashed last week with a 9-87 line on a season high 11 targets,
but faces off against a Seattle secondary that is dominant again.
The Saints could struggle to get the ball to their outside receivers
on a consistent basis in this one, as Seattle has only given up
one 100-yard game and three total touchdown receptions receivers.
Snead has without a doubt surpassed expectations, and useful games
are ahead, but this will be a tough one to find anything more
than shaky WR3 value.
Allen
Robinson and Allen
Hurns vs TEN (Thu): The 39th and 51st overall receivers,
Robinson and Hurns have been massive disappointments. Hurns probably
hasn’t destroyed anyone, but Robinson is the ultimate frustration.
He’s barely a WR3, but his big play upside means he’s nearly impossible
to sit. Tonight the Jags face off against a Titans defense that
is quietly playing great football. They have given up only the
23rd most points to receivers, and should be able to control the
flow of the game with their offense. Robinson is seeing looks,
but hasn’t surpassed 72 yards or 7 catches in any game this season.
There’s always a possibly for a big play from either of these
guys, but their floor has been so depressingly low it’s tough
to trust either of them as anything more than a WR3 or FLEX play.
Travis
Benjamin @ DEN: In Week 6 of the 2015 season Benjamin
busted out for his best game of the year, dropping a 9-117 line
against this same Denver secondary. Contrast that with the 2 catches
for 17 yards back in Week 6. I think the best reality you can
hope for is somewhere in between, as Benjamin is playing through
a lower body injury, and the Denver defense was absolutely stifling
against Houston on Monday night. Benjamin has also been wildly
inconsistent, having three solid weeks mixed in with some near
goose eggs. San Diego’s pass offense is a flat out committee
and its tough trusting any of them, especially in this match-up.
Look for bigger upside options at your WR3 spot.
