Handcuffs and Ride or Die for Week 6
There is a really good chance that through the first five weeks of fantasy football you are extremely frustrated. LeSean McCoy, Jamaal Charles, Calvin Johnson, Adrian Peterson and Montee Ball all averaged as a first round pick in fantasy drafts this year. In fact, if you remove Ball the remaining four players averaged as a top five pick. All of these players have vastly unperformed for a plethora of reasons. This goes to show you how unpredictable the NFL really is.
So what are we supposed to do? We can’t control how often Chip Kelly calls a play for McCoy, we can’t make Megatron play while he is hurt and we definitely can’t tell the Vikings we spent a top five pick on A.P. The only thing we can do is handcuff. A handcuff, if you don’t already know is when you own player ‘X’ and then you handcuff him with his backup. This way if player ‘X’ gets hurt or indicted you have his replacement ready to go into your line up next week.
Handcuffs aren’t just for running backs anymore. How many of you out there drafted Calvin Johnson and later in the draft picked up Golden Tate? I bet not many. Maybe because Tate was getting drafted a little too high. After all, how many times would you seriously consider playing both Tate and Johnson in the same lineup on the same week?
Answer: More than you think.
That’s another column. For today, the question is what players should you handcuff on your team. This past week we watched as Denver running back Montee Ball went down with a groin injury. He should miss around a month. That then lead to a mad dash of Ball owners and not Ball owners to pick up Ronnie Hillman off of waivers. If you’re a Ball owner and had a low priority on the waiver or if you were simply slower than the next guy you are screwed. I can’t help the Ball owners. Instead I will try to help those of you who have a chance to still be prepared.
DeMarco Murray; Lance Dunbar
Murray has been the early season leader for fantasy among running backs. He has also never played all 16 games in any season of his four year career. If I own Murray there is no way I am taking the chance in not owning Dunbar. Joesph Randle would see a little work as the change of pace back but Dunbar would see a majority of the work. Dunbar is a high end RB2 is Murray goes down.
Arian Foster; Alfred Blue
Much to the enjoyment of his owners Foster has looked real good in the games he has played in. Key term is’games he has played in.’ He has already missed some time with a hamstring injurie. He sat out the week three match up in New York and rushed the ball a season low eight times the following week against Buffalo. He returned the last week in Dallas rushing for 157 yards and two touchdowns. Alfred Blue didn’t look outstanding in his sub role but it was against a tough Giants rush defense. You obviously don’t want to lose Foster to injury but there is a decent possibility it happens again. Why not at least be prepared. Blue will be a RB2 if that happens.
Rob Gronkowski; Timothy Wright
You might sit there thinking how weird it would be to handcuff your tight end. You’re right. It is weird. That doesn’t mean it’s wrong. Since 2011 Gronk has had an injury to his ankle, hip, forearm, back, knee, hamstring and a concussion. He’s played through some and others he probably shouldn’t have. When and if he suffers another Tom Brady will look towards Tim Wright who, after an early season trade with Tampa Bay is becoming the new Aaron Hernandez in the Patriots offense. Wright would be TE1 if Gronk misses a serious amount of time.
Le’Veon Bell; LeGarrette Blount
Bell had some injury concerns coming out of college in 2013. He ended up missing the first three games of his rookie season. Thus far he has been as good as he was last year. It is a very long season. You never know what might happen. I would hate to have drafted a really good team and then lose someone like Bell down the stretch. Why not simply have Blount waiting. Blount would be a low end RB1 high end RB2 if Bell is lost for a significant amount of time.
If there are more handcuff tandems that I didn’t cover please write them below in the comments.
Now, onto the Ride or Die. Remember, this isn’t a start them or sit them column. These are just the guys I expect to have a better or worse than normal day this week.
Enjoy!
Quarterbacks to Ride With:
Russell Wilson vsDal – I’m not trying to ride on the coattails of his Monday Night performance this week. I did notice however that Russell doesn’t care if you have a bad secondary, Washington. He’s going to run, run and run. Dallas is kind of like that girl you took out. The first date was OK. The second date was a lot of fun! Then, by the third or fourth date you realized this was as good as it gets. Dallas has looked good on defense the last two weeks. They will be exposed against an offensive scheme as organized as Seattle’s.
Oct 5, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) prior to the game against the Atlanta Falcons at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim O
Eli Manning @Phi – I am a fan of Big Blue. You would never know it by reading me. I hardly, if ever put Eli in the Ride section. He usually doesn’t have a match up that would warrant his placement there. This week, he does. The Eagles defense has allowed the second most points to QB’s so far this season. Over the past three weeks Eli and his offense have been playing better. In that span Eli has thrown eight touchdowns and only one interception. This week I bet he even throws for 300 yards for the second time this year.
Philip Rivers @Oak – Mr. Rivers? Let me introduce you to the forever burning tire fire known as the Oakland Raiders.
Quarterbacks to Die With:
Colin Kaepernick @StL – The Rams are not that bad on defense. They aren’t that good either. With that said, Kaepernick was not that bad verses the Rams last season. He wasn’t that good either. His general lack of ability to get the ball outside to Michael Crabtree is worrisome. I can’t rely on him at this point.
Andy Dalton vsCar – This has to due purely on the news that came out Wednesday about A.J. Green getting carted off the field during practice. Carolina is bad in the secondary so he might get lucky. I am exploring other match ups before I put in Dalton.
Tom Brady @Buf – Yea, he was better last week. It made me feel silly for dropping him after his blow out loss in Kansas City. Still, Buffalo is allowing the 11th fewest amount of points to opposing QB’s. I will probably use Brady again later this season but not this week.
Running Backs to Ride With:
Bell @Cle – The Browns defense has allowed the third most points to opposing running backs. Bell is the third ranked back in most fantasy leagues. Maybe second if your league is a PPR. I’m not sitting him. He’s a stud and should have been a first round pick this season.
Ahmad Bradshaw @Hou – Trust me. I hate the Thursday Night game. At least, when it comes to fantasy. You never really know which way it’s going to go. At least I know he’s going to lead the Colts in touches again this week and the Houston defense can be run on. The rank 15th in the league in the category.
Frank Gore @StL – Speaking of defenses who can be run on. The Rams slowed down A.P. in week one and gave the Eagles a rough game in that respect. They also gave up big games to Bobby Rainey and DeMarco Murray. So you see they’re a little all over the place. I’ll take my chances with Gore as the 49ers are going to have to run the ball effectively to give Kaepernick any sort of chance against the Rams pass rush.
Running Backs to Die With:
DeMarco Murray @Sea – I am starting him but I am not ignoring the facts. Seattle has given up the fewest amount of points to running backs dating back to 2012. I’m not totally sure on that stat but it seems legit. My only hope is this isn’t the game Murray goes down. He has a lot more work to do this season.
Andre Ellington vsWas – The ‘Skins are almost a top five team against the rush. The rank sixth. That might be because everyone throws passes for days against that secondary. Ellington might not have his worst game of the year.. His third. It’ll end up his third worst game of the season.
Shane Vereen @Buf – I put him in the Die section so of course he’s going to have a career game this week. My bet is still to avoid Patriots running backs.
Wide Receivers to Ride With:
Antonio Brown @Cle – He’s match up proof. I love Joe Haden but I still make a wager that Brown finds the end zone. Subsequently, #2 WR’s do pretty good against the Browns also so if you have a bye week issue it’s not bad idea to play Markus Wheaton. The Browns are allowing the 8th most points to opposing wide outs so far.
Rueben Randle @Phi – He has seen 10 targets in each of the last three weeks. He is filling in the role Hakeem Nicks has vacated. The rookie Odell Beckham Jr. debuted last week and it didn’t appear to hurt Randle’s stock. It’s my belief he is learning from his mistakes each week and eventually he will have a breakout game much like Victor Cruz a few years ago. As long as he’s seeing the targets I will take him every time there’s a weak match up. Philly is allowing the most fantasy points to receivers.
Steve Smith Sr. @TB – He seemingly came back down to earth last week. Even in a game were the Ravens were behind, throwing the ball he didn’t manage any sort of respectable numbers. This week he’ll have to try hard to have a game that lackluster again as the Buccaneers are giving up the seventh most fantasy points per game to #1 wide receivers. Yes. Steve Smith is the #1 receiver in Baltimore.
Andrew Hawkins vsPit – The Steelers are injured all over their secondary. Plus, they aren’t that good. He caught 8 of his 10 targets in week one versus them and went for 87 yards. He’s the leading target for Brian Hoyer. If you have Brandin Cooks or Marques Colston there are worse subs.
Wide Receivers to Die With:
Oct 6, 2014; Landover, MD, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin (11) catches the ball against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Percy Harvin vsDal – I don;t understand it. He’s the better athlete of all the wide outs on the Seahawks. Still, his numbers are docile at best. Now he goes into Dallas where they allow the 5th fewest fantasy points to receivers. I’m OK putting him on the bench this week.
Mike Wallace vsGB – I don’t know how many Packers games you’ve watched. I’ve seen them all. They have a good secondary over there. They are currently a top 10 defense versus the pass. The Dolphins aren’t exactly a passing juggernaut so in a week were there aren’t too many receivers on a bye I can see sitting Wallace down.
Michael Crabtree @StL – Kaepernick simply can’t get him the ball.
Tight Ends to Ride With:
Larry Donnell @Phi – I know he gave his fantasy owners (himself included) a big fat zero last week. I bet against the team who doesn’t cover tight ends week like Philly gives him a chance at a bounce back. Bold prediction time.. I bet he finds the end zone twice this week. There, I’ve said it. Can’t go back now.
Greg Olsen @Cin – He continues to be a stud TE this season. He also continues to be the most reliable target for Cam Newton. Barring any injury this could be a career year for the seven-year pro.
Oct 5, 2014; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots tight end Timothy Wright (81) celebrates a touchdown by tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) during the third quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports
Rob Gronkowski @Buf – He appears to back to almost, nearly 100%. Buffalo has covered tight ends well so far this season being the 10th hardest team to score against. Still, they haven’t seen Gronk yet this year. Something tells me there’s a little but more motivation in New England lately. I’m excited to use him and so should you.
Tight Ends to Die With:
Zach Ertz vsNYG – What happened? Did my love for Ertz disappear? He’s been a ride for nearly five weeks and now I’m saying he’s a Die? No, I still love this kid. The Giants are giving up the second fewest PPG to tight ends so naturally I’m going with Larry Donnell in this game. Yes. I own them both. Yay me!
Jordan Reed, Niles Paul @Ari – These two guys just can’t get healthy enough to play right now. Logan Paulsen isn’t the type of tight end I want to rely on. I’m out on the Washington tight ends.. For now. Things do tend to change. With that said I still believe both need to be owned in a standard league.
Defense/ Special Teams to Ride With:
Denver @NYJ – The last time the Broncos were in the Meadowlands it was a real bad day. This times, instead of Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch they face Geno Smith and Chris Ivory. Not the same thing.
San Diego @Oak – Like in science class. When one force in motion collides with another force in motion then there is some sort of reaction like an explosion. So, when the Oakland offense is in motion it will meet the Chargers defense also in motion. I wasn’t that good at science in school but I am pretty sure the Raiders won’t be in motion for that long.
San Francisco @StL – Don’t be fooled by the last two game for the Rams offense and Austin Davis. The 49ers are a professional defense that should take care of the Rams pretty handily.
Green Bay @Mia – After last week why not take a chance on them. If you need a flyer ‘D’ for the week they’re worth a look.
Defense/ Special Teams to Die With:
Carolina @Cin – Even without A.J. Green I’m not playing this defense. There’s just too many holes in the defensive backfield.
Chicago @Atl – I want to like this defense. I know I’ve mentioned that before. Still, on the road and against a passing team like the Falcons I have my reservations.
Dallas @Sea – If this was a home game I might not be as low on them. Going into that environment in Seattle has not been the best thing for opposing defenses.
Well, there ya have it. Week six is in the books. You can always comment below if you want more. Good luck this week and may the fantasy gods smile upon you this week.