Real Life vs. Fantasy Football: Ride or Die Week 7

Every week in Fantasy Football we look at the match ups. How our players will fair in their own weekly contest and how it might affect your fantasy team. We’ll stare at our computer and tablet screens hoping for lineup nirvana when trying to figure it all out. Should I start Ronnie Hillman? Will Brandon Boldin get the majority of the work in New England? Is Markus Wheaton even worth my attention? There are hundreds of these match ups to think about every week. There is one match up that we all need to figure out before we even look at our rosters. The match up of Fantasy vs. Real Life.

Real life can and will play some defense against your fantasy team. Your job, kids, mom’s doctor appointment plus anything else that life wants to throw your way. Your wife, girlfriend, grandmother and your great-aunt Rose will quite possibly never understand your plight that is fantasy football. Why you do it, where you find the time to do it and the places you’ve been caught doing it. Remember the church confessional?

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I can remember on more than one occasion where my real life interfered with my fantasy life. On one such occasion the woman I was dating back in 2007 wanted me to go over to her parents house for a formal Sunday dinner. Our first since the two of us began living together. I am a descendant of some great Italian cooking and eating, of course I am all about Sunday dinner. I am more so about them between February and August however. I digress, my special lady friend wanted me to visit with her parents on this particular Sunday so I obliged. Hey, I’m a good guy. I wanted to make her happy. The thought did cross my mind that if I missed anything that Sunday during football I might lose out on a Championship.

Dinner is not only beautiful but it’s delicious. Her mom was a wonderful cook. Her dad was a conversational artist. It was all in all a great Sunday afternoon. They were not the kind of people who watch football so not only was there no NFL Sunday Ticket package to watch but there wasn’t even a local game on. Ugh!

Later, we are in the car leaving her parents house on our way home. I clicked on the radio. On the sports radio station I hear how a running back went down with a knee injury. My running back. Then I hear about another running back who was hurt during the afternoon’s games. Two! Two running backs go down, one on my team. This is before everyone had a smart phone or tablet so I could do nothing until I arrived at home and could log on my desktop computer.

By then it was too late. Not only was the backup for my player already picked up from the free agents list but the other injured players backup was also gone. There are no other backs to consider. I am stuck. I never recovered.

I was 7-2 going into that Sunday dinner. Over the next few weeks my record would fall to 8-5. I still made the playoffs only to be ousted in the first round. Real life cost me a fantasy title. I know how that sounds. It does not matter. When you work, study and try with everything you can to be the best at something, then something out of your control takes over you can feel nothing more than disappointment.. and buddy, you’re allowed to be.

I don’t date her anymore. In fact, the relationship only lasted until that following spring and we were done.

Take that story into the following Ride or Die section. You really can’t tell what’s going to happen next. Remember, this is not a start them or sit them column. This is just some little bits of info on why I think some guys will be better or worse than usual. Enjoy!

Quarterbacks to Ride With:

“I just want to make sure you’re the real Aaron Rodgers!”

Aaron Rodgers, vs.Car – Home or away I don’t really care. A-Rodge is the man. Since it helps, Carolina is giving up the 8th most points to opposing QB’s. They are not the defense we thought they were. The secondary is the real issue for the Panthers. As decent as their pass rush can be so can the Packer offensive line. Enjoy another stellar performance from your Packers QB.

Ryan Tannehill, @Chi – I know I have been pretty tough on him this season. Since the pre-season I’ve said I don’t like him for fantasy purposes. In his last two games however he has improved his completion percentage being at or around 60%. The Bears have averaged close to 300 yards passing to their opposing QB’s this season. Since I do expect the Dolphins to be playing from behind in this game there is a decent chance Tannehill can reach that 300 yards mark. If you have Nick Foles on a bye this week this is a pretty good fill in.

Ben Roethlisberger, vs.Hou – In case you were wondering I would personally choose Big Ben over Tannehill. It is less likely he’s available in your league however. Still, if you can use him against the Texans on Monday Night then I think you should.

Tony Romo, vs.NYG – I think this is a lot more like last week for the Giants than it was earlier in the season. If the Giants offense can’t stay on the field then Romo and the Cowboys will be. With all the extra time he more than likely does something extra with it.

Matthew Stafford, vs.NO – Good game, then two bad games. Good game, then two bad games. That has been Stafford’s season so far. He’s up for a good game this week.

Quarterbacks to Die With:

Colin Kaepernick, @Den – There are only two QB’s that have scored over 20 points against the Broncos defense. Russell Wilson and Andrew Luck were those QB’s and I believe Kapernick is not like those other two. Now, Geno Smith managed close to 20 points but still through a pick six late in the game. I am not comfortable using Kaepernick in a spot like this. I am still wary on his ability to get the ball to the outside when he is in the pocket. Michael Crabtree owners, be warned.

Matt Ryan, @Bal – He’s on the road this week and that already isn’t a good thing. Plus, the Ravens defense has allowed the 10th fewest points to opposing QB’s and that’s with a game versus Andrew Luck. I’m guessing it gets better for the Ravens this week and not Matt Ryan.

Running Backs to Ride With:

Giovani Bernard, @Ind – The Colts have allowed only one 100 yard rusher so far this season but that stat is a little misleading. They haven’t faced a team where only one guy was focused rushing the ball. The one game was Arian Foster. The other backs still scored points on Indy because if TD’s and receiving yards. Well, Gio does all of that and then some.

“Look at my pretty shoes!”

Ben Tate, @Jax – They like him. No, they really do. It doesn’t matter what you or I think of the guy as an every down back. The Browns feel that way. Ride it. Keep plugging him out there each week. Who knows, he may not get hurt.

DeMarco Murray, vs.NYG – The Giants defense is not as bad as some of their stats indicate. However, it’s hard to ignore the fact that they’ve allowed the sixth most points to running backs. Just another good day for Murray owners.

Ronnie Hillman, vs.SF – It’s difficult to ignore the starting running back in a Peyton Manning run offense. Sometimes you have to ignor ethr match up and just go with your gut. This is what makes fantasy football interesting.

Running Backs to Die With:

C.J. Spiller, vs.Min – Is his name Fred Jackson? No? OK. Then I am not starting him.

Marshawn Lynch @StL – This may seem harsh but go back and look at his first five games this season. He’s only rushed for 100 yards once. He’s scored a rushing touchdown in only two games. Without the two uncharacteristic receiving touchdowns he is pretty light in the fantasy production. The Rams are only allowing the 6th fewest points to opposing running backs. No, I probably don’t sit him. I am taking an extra look where I can get some extra points from the rest of my roster.

Wide Receivers to Ride With:

“Wait! Where’d you come from!?!”

DeSean Jackson, vs.Ten – I suppose you can write in Pierre Garcon as well. I am more excited about D-Jax however. I think he’s back. I think the WR1 you knew only a few years ago is potentially back. He is the deep threat but does have possession qualities that his QB Kirk Cousin can rely on. Also, Tennessee.. They ain’t so good at that defensive thing. They have averaged almost 10 points a game to opposing wide outs.

Davante Adams, vs.Car – Really, any Packer receiver but I wanted to make special noe of Adams. I’ve mentioned him before. The time is quickly approaching where he is the third passing weapon on Green Bay. No point in waiting any longer. If he is still available in your league pick him up.

Terrance Williams, vs.NYG – As long as Dez Bryant is on the other side of the field the Giants will be doing a better job at defending that side. Williams will have better match ups leaving more space for him to make plays. He might only have three or less catches but he probably does a lot with them. He has scored a receiving touchdown in four of the six Dallas games this season.

Wide Receivers to Die With:

Kelvin Benjamin, @GB – Currently he is questionable with a concussion for Sundays game in Green Bay. Early reports Thursday morning indicated he was not practicing. Give a look on Friday but even if he does suit up I don’t think the surprisingly stingy Packer secondary will allow him to do too much. Each week it gets increasingly difficult to throw on them.

“I don’t know if you wanna go talk to Drew but I can’t. I’m too new.”

Brandin Cooks, @Det – If you were hoping that after the bye week Cooks would breakout again with a stellar game then.. I’m sorry. He won’t. Even with Jimmy Graham on the shelf it is still going to be hard to throw effectively on the Lions. The really weird part is the only team to throw over 300 yards on them was the Bills with Kyle Orton. Geno Smith and Cam Newton were the only two who got over 200 yards. Aaron Rodgers vs. the Lions? Yea.. 162 yards. If the guy throwing the ball can’t get it going then what chance does the receiver have?

Brian Quick, vs.Sea – It’s Seattle dude. I’m not going to do it and you can’t make me.

Roddy White, @Bal – That whole Matt Ryan not as good on the road thing doesn’t bode well for Mr. White. He has gone over 70 receiving yards only twice this season and those were also the only games he scored in. With a defense on the other side that is improving greatly each week I just don’t have the faith Roddy can get it done this week.

Tight Ends to Ride With:

Jordan Reed, vs.Ten – He caught eight of his 11 targets against the Cardinals last week. This was his return to action and with a Tennessee defense who is allowing the 8th most points to opposing tight ends I believe he can do even better. Over 100 and a touchdown are definitely not out of the question.

Either TE playing in the Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants game – I mean it. I’m not trying to be funny. It happens naturally. Either Jason Witten or Larry Donnell will have a great game this week. Perhaps both. Both teams have athletic tight ends and both teams have trouble covering athletic tight ends.

Jordan Cameron, @Jax – Something along the performance he had last week would do nicely here. Jacksonville is the 4th worse team against the tight end.

Dwayne Allen, vs.Cin – Since they don’t have a tight end the Bengals feel it unnecessary to cover anyone else’s. They allow the most points to the position. I bet Andrew Luck already knew this.

Tight Ends to Die With:

Greg Olsen, @GB – He is a top five tight end. Without a doubt that last statement is true. However, the Packers are allowing only the fourth fewest points to opposing tight ends. The ankle injury should be fine, so you can ignore the (Q) next to his name on Sunday. Still, don’t ignore that defense lining up opposite him.

Travis Kelce, @SD – The Chargers have a tight end. In fact, they have two pretty good tight ends. So they know the importance of keeping those guys covered and under wraps. It’s probably why they’ve only allowed the 30th most amount of points to the position. That’s out of 32 teams. In case you were new to this.

Defense/ Special Team to Ride With:

Cleveland, @Jax – Need a flier defense for the week? Well, they do play Jacksonville. Rookie QB down there, ya’ know.

“Why are we even making this a prime time game?”

New England, vs.NYJ – I had to put at least one Thursday Night match up in this week. Geno Smith has thrown an interception in every game this season. It was close last week but managed one in the final two minutes. They are pressing hard down there in Jets country but to no avail. Try as they might they simply do not have the tools to get the job done. Easy one for the Patriots this week.

Baltimore, vs.Atl – They have eight sacks in the last three weeks. We already mentioned Matt Ryan’s ineffectiveness on the road. Just start them already and stop holding on to two defenses.

Green Bay, vs.Car – They are available in almost 70% of leagues. They could be a really sneaky play this week. Carolina’s offense has enough problems for the Packers to exploit. They have a sack in every game this season as well as a turnover. Both of those tidbits are impressive. Trust me.

Defense/ Special Teams to Die With:

Tennessee, @Was – No, it is not a good idea to play them against Washington because, “they suck.” The friend who said this knows who he is and now he is quoted. D-Jax is, “gonna make you pay.” Ahhhh.. Inside jokes.

Carolina, @GB – Yes, it’s ok to drop them now. Probably for that Packer ‘D’ or maybe even Baltimore.

San Francisco, @Den – Here is your weekly Peyton Manning warning. Remember, the secondary is not as good as you think in San Francisco. Peyton will remind you.

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