I know you drafted him high, but Taylor is ranked just 27th this
season among fantasy backs and you might even be tempted to sit
him this weekend. Don’t. The Dolphins can’t stop the run, having
yielded 34 FPts/G to opposing backs and most of that was on the
ground (362 yards and four scores) meaning Taylor and not Nyheim
Hines. Follow whether OG Quenton Nelson (sprained ankle) plays
as this could be a big bonus too.
The best way to defend Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill and Travis
Kelce is to have them sitting on the bench with their helmets
off. Sanders should be well rested since he saw just two carries
on Monday night (for 27 yards). Hopefully, first-year coach Nick
Sirianni learned his lesson about having a balanced offense. The
Chiefs rank 29th against opposing running backs yielding 318 yards
and four scores on the ground. Sanders should be running early
and often as the Eagles can’t win if he sees less than 18
touches.
Just as keeping Mahomes off the field is the way to win, keeping
Lamar Jackson off the field keeps your team in the game. Williams
has seen consistent work on the ground (double-digit rushing attempts
in all three games) and last week the team gave him some receiving
work as well. Gordon also has been active averaging almost 18
touches per game. Both need to see a lot of work for the Broncos
to win this game.
And maybe Ezekiel Elliott too. Don’t be fooled by their domination
of the Eagles Monday night, in Week 4 they are playing the best
defense in the league versus opposing running backs – Carolina.
The Panthers have allowed just 8.6 FPts/G to opposing RBs. They
have allowed a total of 94 yards and no rushing touchdowns in
three games, including just five yards on eight carries to Alvin
Kamara. They have allowed just 3.8 ypc (lowest in the league).
Matt Ruhle has assembled a very good defense and this will be
a close game.
The Bucs simply don’t give up much on the ground primarily because
most teams are playing catch up to Tom Brady and the explosive
Tampa Bay offense. Following that theory, Harris is rarely involved
in the passing game (six targets, five receptions and 16 yards)
and even with James White sidelined the receiving work figures
to go to Brandon Bolden or Rhamondre Stevenson. I expect the Tampa
offense to be at peak form in Brady’s first-ever appearance in
New England as a visitor and the Patriots will be playing from
behind.
If it’s Cook at less than 100% or Mattison, I don’t
like the matchup against a Browns’ run defense which has
allowed just 151 yards and no scores on the ground to running
backs. Cooks’ issue is an ankle injury which means he likely
can’t cut much and would be a straight ahead runner which
isn’t what he does best. Mattison had a great game against
Seattle, but the Seahawks aren’t the “Legion of Boom”
anymore. The Browns have held Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Mark Ingram
and last year’s late-season sensation David Montgomery to
10 fantasy points or less. If Cook is 100% then I retract this
statement, but I don’t believe he will be anything close
to healthy.
