Fantasy Football, Enjoy the Burn: Ride or Die Week 8

Scotch is my favorite thing to drink. I love it. It is delicious to me. I even feel a little cool while drinking it. I even like the way people react when I tell them I am a scotch drinker. Then I expunge a bunch of scotch knowledge on them and convince a few of them to indulge into my pleasure. Needless to say, scotch is not for everyone. Neither is fantasy football.

Do you enjoy sleepless nights? Do you enjoy daily attacks from some of your closest comrades degrading your very existence? Do you like spending at least some portion of everyday stressed out over flex options? Do you constantly wonder why you do it?

No one enjoys those things. Yet, every single year millions of us sign up. For better or worse most of us are addicted. It’s not necessarily a bad thing. I am sure there are fantasy team owners who let it consume them. Heck, it consumes me. I write a blog about the damn thing. Still, it’s fun. As long as it remains fun I will continue to do it.

Quarterbacks to Ride With:

It’s nice having a professional back.

Carson Palmer, vsPhi – Look, in his two games since his return to action he’s scored over 20 points in each. He’s surpassed 250 yards and also threw for two touchdowns in both games. Maybe you have Colin Kaepernick on a bye this week. Maybe you drafted Tom Brady, dropped him after the Kansas City loss, picked up Eli Manning, dropped him (but it doesn’t matter because he also is on a bye) and you now have nobody to start at quarterback. If you have that precise scenario you may feel like picking up Palmer. He is owned in 47% of leagues since the Wednesday waiver wire period.

Ryan Tannehill, @Jax – No one has been harder on Ryan Tannehill more than me. However, in his last three games he’s thrown for 799 yards and six touchdowns. He did sprinkle in three interceptions but two of them came against the Packers defense -More on them later. If you’re at need for a solid QB start, the Jaguars do average 296 yards passing against.

Aaron Rodgers, @NO – More of the same. Believe it or not, A-Rodge has only thrown for 300 yards or more in only two games thus far. He’s also thrown for just one score in two games as well. Against a Saints defense who currently ranks as the seventh worst against the pass which scenario do believe is more likely to happen? If I’m guessing.. 325 yards and three touchdowns. One goes to Davante Adams. The other two are probably Jordy Nelson.

Russell Wilson, @Car – If I were a betting man, and no one is saying I am not, but I would bet Wilson has a really good game this week. Carolina was once the second ranked defense coming into the season. They are completely droppaple now. They have allowed the sixth most points to opposing QB’s and that includes 35 points to Joe Flacco. If you’re a guy who drafted Tom Brady, dropped him after that Kansas City loss BUT already had Wilson because you picked him up the week before.. You’re a smart man. A smart, smart man.

Quarterbacks to Die With:

Nick Foles, @Ari – Arizona has allowed the 14th most points to opposing QB’s this year. This stat is suffering from what I call, The Peyton Manning Syndrome. The Cardinals have kept three QB’s under the 20 point mark. Manning however, was not one of them. He threw for over 400 yards and three TD’s. So unless you have Peyton Manning I would think long and hard if I want to start my QB against the Cardinals. Foles hasn’t gone over 20 points since week three. Just saying.

Andy Dalton, vsBal – Even if A.J. Green plays this week (although it’s still highly unlikely) I am not super pleased in having to play Dalton. The Ravens have allowed a mere 18 points a game to opposing quarterbacks. Yeah.. I’m out.

Ben Roethlisberger, vsInd – Speaking of teams who are getting better, the Colts are one better than Baltimore. They are the second hardest defense to score fantasy points on, especially for the QB. Big Ben is usually good in decent match-ups but he’s dreadful when his offense is struggling and the defense opposite him is really good. Just look back to the game versus Baltimore in week two. 37 pass attempts with only 22 completion for a measly 217 yards. That’s what I am expecting from him even at home versus the Colts

Running Backs to Ride With:

Marshawn Lynch, @Car – Yea, you’re going to want to use him this week. Duh! Seriously, the Panthers are allowing over 5.5 yards a carry this year to running backs. Here’s a good play for those weekly games.

Jerick McKinnon, @TB – I am shocked to find out that he is owned in only 69% of leagues. Even with Matt Asiata owned in only 38% of leagues this does not make sense to me. Go look, right now. Click away from this page and come back. You need to find out if McKinnon is available in your league. The Buccanears are the fourth easiest team to run on. Go! Do it!

Montee who?

Ronnie Hillman, vsSD – Welcome back. Did you get him? Well, you’re just in time for the Gut Call for the week. I think Hillman has a top five week in week eight. So far, through his first two starts Hillman has averaged 87 yards and a touchdown. San Diego is just OK at stopping the run and they have a lot more to worry about in this short week. Thursday Night game ya’ know. He has already made Montee Ball owners embarrassed they used a first round pick on him. If Hillman puts in another good performance there is no guarantee Ball is given back the starting job.

Running Backs to Die With:

Lamar Miller, @Jax – To be honest, I was researching him for the Ride section. Then I did some numbers crunching. If you add up all of the ‘fantasy relevant’ running backs they have faced so far this season you come up with 9.7 points. That’s it. They are allowing under 10 points to opposing backs this season. A week ago Ben Tate was held to three points. I like Miller but I am tempering my expectations this week.

LeSean McCoy, @Ari – He finally had a decent game going for 149 rushing yards against the Giants in week six. Now, he’s coming off the bye and he’s about to face a team who is allowing the fourth fewest points to running backs. The Cardinals haven’t allowed a rusher to average more than 3.5 yards a carry over the last five weeks. Sorry to say, it’s forecasting for a more frustration for McCoy owners.

Doug Martin, vsMin – I know you want to feel excited about having him fresh off of the bye week and facing a team who is in the top 10 as far easiest teams to rush against. Then you are reminded he is Doug Martin. Here is why it was good to read about Martin however. Charles Sims is about ready to come back. If you have the roster space it might be a sneaky little pick up before the week nine waiver period. It’s something that could pay off the closer we get to fantasy playoff time.

Wide Receivers to Ride With:

I am so happy you are my quarterback.

Jordy Nelson, @NO – In case you missed it I predicted earlier that he would score two touchdowns this week. No real analysis other than it’s Jordy Nelson on the turf in New Orleans with the come, cool and relaxed Aaron Rodgers tossing him the ball. No. You’re right. It’ll be three touchdowns.

Golden Tate, @Atl – Here’s to the game he hopefully does what we expect him to do. Pretend he is Calvin Johnson for just one game. Last week he gave us 150 yards and a touchdown. This week let’s make two. The 13th worst secondary could definitely allow it.

T.Y. Hilton, @Pit – The Steelers are ranked as the seventh hardest team to throw on. With that said I don’t think they’ve been challenged. They have benefited from a particularly easy schedule when you consider the quarterbacks and receiving corps the;ve faced in the first seven weeks this season. The Colts and especially T.Y. will challenge them and succeed.

Brandon Marshall, @NE – I’m allowed two gut calls a week. It’s my column. I just feel it. Emotions boiled over in Bears locker room after there third loss in four games. I say this fires them up. They start playing pissed off and with a lot more sass. Yeah, I said sass. In what will be a pretty decent struggle I see Marshall coming out and making this game competitive. Whether the Bears win or lose I bet he has something, anything in this game.

Wide Receivers to Die With:

Antonio Brown, vsInd – There is actually a lot of good receiver match-ups this week. It was hard finding some that were bad. The Colts secondary is the toughest to score fantasy points on. You should know that going in. Hey, maybe he scores. Maybe he has 100 receiving yards. Maybe he’s just like the other receivers who didn’t do all that much in that game against the Colts.

Percy Harvin, vsBuf – Consider this a public address announcement. Really think about using him. There, did you get it out of your system. I’m going to have to see it first before I use him with any confidence.

Mohamed Sanu, vsBal – I said I didn’t care if A.J. Green played. He’s probably not going to. The Ravens are just that tough to throw on.

Keenan Allen, @Den – This is for Thursday Night. I have him in a league and I have to use him but I am just not that happy about it. He’s been less than stellar throughout most of this season and the Broncos are just good and frustrating other players into bad games. I hate the short week for guys like him. He’s the one who suffers and gets lost.

Tight Ends to Ride With:

Is my tongue blue? Blahhhh

Rob Gronkowski, vsChi – The Bears are that kind of defense who is sneaky good sometimes. But Gronk is this player who can embarrass those kinds of defenses. He is and will continue to be Tom Brady’s most reliable target.

Dwayne Allen, @Pit – This is a guy who can really do well in this match-up. He’s been consistent with 4 catches and over 40 yards. He’s scored a TD in all but two games this season and the Steelers are allowing top 10 points to the tight end position this season.

Zach Ertz, @Ari –If the Cardinals have a weakness on defense it is their ability to cover tight ends. He’s a top five-r this week.

Tight Ends to Die With:

Jimmy Graham, vsGB – He is at decoy status right now. He’s running around out there not healthy. Plus, the Packers are a top 10 team in defending tight ends this season. Maybe he gets a catch. I’m not betting on it again this week.

Travis Kelce, vsStL – He’s been limited in practice all week. I’m not betting on a barely top 10 tight end when he isn’t 100%.

Defense/ Special Teams to Ride With:

Detroit, @Atl – I realize this is a road game and Matt Ryan plays better in Atlanta but the Lions have been a pretty reliable defense every week. They’ve had a knack at getting turnovers. They’ve recovered at least one turnover in all but one game this year. That was back in week two.

Buffalo, @NYJ – This is just a weekly reminder of the Jets match-up this week. Not too mention that the Buffalo ‘D’ is pretty solid.

Dallas, vsWas – The defense is suspiciously good at times and reluctantly bad at others. Still, the team form our nations capitol is a mess at the QB position right now. I’d take my chances if I was streaming defenses.

Baltimore, @Cin- They’ve been a double-digit defense in five out seven weeks this year. They’ve been getting better each week. I don’t think the Bengals will give them any sort of trouble this week. Historically Andy Dalton is putrid in games against the Ravens.

Green Bay, @NO – New Orleans seems discombobulated and the Packers have become a turnover machine. Worth a shot in a 10 team standard league.

Defense/ Special Team to Die With:

Seattle, @Car – They are going to kill me out there for this but I just don’t have the same kind of faith in them that I used to. They’ve gone in the negative twice this year. They’ve allowed good and bad teams to score on them. Carolina can be good but they can be bad. I feel like they can be good in this game. Yes, even throwing the ball.

Pittsburgh, vsInd – I am not starting any defense against Andrew Luck.

Philadelphia, @Ari – The Cardinals will continue to shock the world each week. I’m not even a fan but I am starting to believe. Bruce Ariens can do no wrong.

Don’t forget to write something nice down below. Or don’t. But remember, my mom reads this. And she finds them hilarious.

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