Fantasy Football Ride or Die, Week 3

Do you eat sushi?? This is important.

Why?

Because sushi is like fantasy football. Seriously. I have said before there is a correlation in sports about anything in life. The first time you ate sushi was just like the first time you tried fantasy football. I bet it was one of two ways.

A large group of you were introduced to it by a friend. They told you about this great sushi place. They talked about how the people there spoke a completely different language. At first you thought whatever they were saying was funny so you just laughed along. After a while you pick up a few sayings and realized they were making fun of you. It didn’t matter though because the experience was so much fun. One to three times a week you go there with your friend. The first time you were scared. You don’t know which one to pick. Salmon is the safe pick. I know salmon. That yellow tail might be a sleeper. By the end of the first two months you’re turning into a sushi connoisseur.

You’re reading sushi blogs. You watch shows on food channels about specifically only sushi. You follow sushi personalities on twitter. You even begin to critique the sushi of said personalities with remarks about how stupid the sushi looks or how bad it must taste. By the holiday season you’ve become a sushi snob. It didn’t take long. As long as you’re having fun and you’re enjoying it then keep coming back. The sushi isn’t going anywhere.

Then there’s the other group of fantasy err.. I mean sushi eaters. They were in college. Or in their early twenties. Or actually 19. You were sitting alone in the libra.. I mean sushi restaurant. You looked at the menu. You chose a few different pieces to make your sushi lineup. There were ten pieces on that first plate. One piece of salmon. The safe pick. Two pieces of tuna. I’ve been known to take two pieces of tuna with my first two picks. Three pieces of yellow-tail because you know they’ll go fast. One piece of white tuna because you believe it’ll be consistent. One piece of eel because it caught you’re eye late. Lastly, you choose a piece of crab. All you know about crab is you need to have at least one.

That first sushi experience was incredible. You felt like you won the championship of sushi.

What?

You got it by now..

Sushi is fantasy football. Fantasy football is sushi. Anyone who has tried has either liked it or they didn’t. At least they know what it’s all about.

Here is your Ride or Die for week three.. Please, enjoy.

Quarterbacks to Ride With:

Aaron Rodgers- The Lions do not have a great secondary. With that said this game has the makings of a shoot out. Reminiscent of the Saints/ Falcons game back in week one. Rodgers owners keep it rolling this week.

In .007 seconds his chest is nearly shattered.

Jay Cutler- Those of you who passed on Cutler to draft Nick Foles have to be kicking themselves. If you give it the ol’ eye test Cutler looks to have way more fantasy value than Foles. I’m not saying Foles won’t ever out-score Cutler. I’m just saying he won’t do it much. The Jets are a good defense but this is a Monday Night game and you know how I feel about those. Cutler has shown already he can handle the pressure.

Andrew Luck- What if I told you the top scoring QB in fantasy through two weeks would be on an 0-2 team. You might ask how did Eli Manning score the most points? Wrong 0-2 quarterback. Luck hasn’t had much luck in the ‘win’ column but he is making his fantasy owners happy. I heard a little voice who was worried the Colts might run more in this game. Then I realized the Jags are giving up over 300 yards a game in the air and two passing touchdowns. Then I told that little voice to shut up.

Quarterbacks to Die With:

Andy Dalton- I continue to believe the best you will see out of Dalton will occur at the most random of times. I am sorry to those of you who were lead to believe elsewhere that he would be a reliable and consistent option for you. Tennessee might have given up a lot on the ground to Dallas last week. Not in the air however.

Alex Smith- You might be using him in a two quarterbacks league. To that person I ask, wish you took a chance a Gino now, don’t you?

Derek Carr- I like this kid. I truly believe he has what it takes to win in this league. But not this week. Oakland just lost Rod Streater at the receiver position and the New England defense is good. Like better than Derek Carr good.

Running Backs to Ride With:

Arian Foster- Do you remember his rookie season? I do to. I don’t know why but in the first two weeks I’ve seen a different Arian. He’s still older than his rookie self but he seems.. I dunno.. Healthier. Which is a big deal in Houston. If they can continue their stellar defensive ways and Foster can run the ball as effectively has he has though two weeks than who knows what’s going to be possible. Anyone who owns Foster- Houston included, could be looking at post season play in 2014.

Joique Bell– I’ve been relatively quite this season on the Lions running backs. I believe Reggie Bush’s better days are behind him. I also believe Bell’s best days are ahead of him. Like, right ahead of him. Like, only a couple of days from now. The Packers defense loves making games interesting. The Lions may not give them a choice this week.

“This is the guy who’s going to make me look good.”

Giovani Bernard- Speaking of coming out parties.. It was this time last year that Bernard came out on a Monday Night against Pittsburgh. Two weeks in he is already paying off in fantasy. We all saw what Tennessee let DeMarco Murray do in week two. Should be some of the same in week three for the Bengals rushers. I also believe we see some Jeremy Hill this week as well. Not enough to cut into Bernard’s touches. There will be a lot to go around this week.

Running Backs to Die With:

Montee Ball– I watched the Chargers beat Seattle last week. In that game I saw a goof performance out of Philip Rivers and Antonio Gates. Now the Seahawks come home to face Peyton Manning and the Broncos in a Super Bowl re-match. The only thing I can say with any kind of certainty is that Ball will see the worst of it. It’ll be tough for his numbers on the ground to help us in fantasy.

Darren McFadden- Even if Maurice Jones-Drew was the healthy starter I wouldn’t feel any kind of confidence in starting him this week. The Patriots are for real on defense. They can stop running games. The Raiders running game can be stopped.. Pretty easily I might add. Tough to be old and slow in this game.

Steven Jackson- He’s had plenty of touches in the first two games and he hasn’t done much with any of them. I’m out on him.. Even after Jake Matthews is healthy.

Carlos Hyde- There is no starting him until Gore is either cut or hurt. Neither look very likely.

Wide Recievers to Ride With:

Any Packer- Well, I shouldn’t say any Packer. I don’t think Jarrett Boykin is a viable option anymore. It looks as though Davonte Adams will become the new starter opposite Jordy Nelson. I do think Adams should be owned in all leagues.

Julio Jones- Roddy White is a little banged up. I bet he plays on Thursday Night but it’ll resemble the Roddy White of 2013. He’ll be more of a decoy. If this wasn’t a short week I might feel different. That and the Tampa Bay defense help Julio have a monster game.

Brandon Marshall- I wasn’t one of those people who sat Marshall Sunday Morning. I had a plan. If he didn’t play I was picking up either Jordan Matthews or Hakeem Nicks. Both of whom played Monday Night and were available in my league. I had options. I get it if you sat him because you needed to make a decision. Think about this next time. When I sit Brandon Marshall next will be a week after he retires. Just to make sure.

DeAndre Hopkins- I think the Giants defense is good. Until the offense gets any better they will continually be out on the field too much. I think that leads to a pretty darn good game for Hopkins.

Wide Receivers to Die With:

“You know, I’m all you got Tom.”

Any Patriot not named Julian Edelman- After Edelman, who I really only like in a PPR format there aren’t any real receivers options for fantasy. I realize Kenbrell Thompkins when healthy or Aaron Dobson could score a touchdown. They are not having any 100 yard games any time soon. Also, if Tom Brady cannot get it going at home against the Raiders I am going to start feeling very, very nervous about his performances going forward.

Kendall Wright- Jake Locker was brought back down to earth last week. Plus a good Cincinnati secondary has me weary.

Michael Floyd- No Carson Palmer and a decent enough San Francisco defense. All I can say has a Floyd owner is; Hurry back Carson!

Tight Ends to Ride With:

Rob Gronkowski- He was limited in practice this week. Get used to hearing that. He’s still a potential top three tight end each week. Oakland doesn’t cover tight ends well. They don’t cover anyone really well.. But especially tight ends.

Larry Donnell- Look at Ride or Die for Week 2.  Scroll down to the tight ends section. Right there. Did you see it? See, I told you.

Greg Olsen- Kelvin Benjamin, albeit good is still a rookie. Olsen continues to be the most reliable receiver in Carolina.

Tight Ends to Die With:

“Tony, it isn’t funny anymore. It never was.”

Jason Witten- He just looks done. Done with Dallas. Done with Romo. Done with the whole thing.

Ladarius Green- I still believe in him later in the season. We’re going to have to wait for now.

Levine Toilolo- It definitely looks like Tony Gonzalez retired in Atlanta. Matt Ryan doesn’t even look towards the tight end any more. He forgot it exists.

Defense/ Special Teams to Ride With:

New England- He who has defense has wins. No wise man said this. I did. Wait? I know how that sounds. Still, I believe if you can find that top three defense no one expected you have a real advantage on your team. I think the Patriots have that defense this year. This is one of those weeks you will thank having them.

Cincinnati- Same ol’ story. This weeks victim is poor ol’ Tennessee.

San Francisco- With no Carson Palmer this game is ripe for a turn over or five.

Houston- Turnovers? Did someone say turnovers?

Defense/ Special Teams to Die With:

New York Jets- The Jets are good. Not that good however. They still have a problem getting to the quarterback. When Jay Cutler has time he burns you. Sorry Jets fans.

Chicago- Oh, by the way. Chicago still can’t stop the rush. Somewhere, somehow the Jets do some damage on the ground. They will score some points.

Washington- Terrible. Just terrible. Plus, Chip Kelly. Oh, and Darren Sproles. Also, LeSean McCoy.