Calvin Johnson combined for 17 catches,
249 yds and 2 TDs in his two games with Chicago last season.
Grab a Helmet
Calvin
Johnson v. CHI: Lost in the abysmal 0-5 start for the
Lions is the fact they’ve faced a murderous schedule. Road games
to start the year in San Diego and Minnesota, followed by the elite
defenses of Denver, Seattle, and Arizona have made fantasy life
miserable for Lions owners. We should have seen a slow fantasy start
coming, but the schedule makers have finally thrown the Lions a
bone (would a Lion get a bone?) when they host the Bears this week.
Johnson owned the Bears in last year’s meeting at Ford Field to
the tune of 11 catches 146 yards and 2 touchdowns. I think we have
to come to grips with the fact Johnson is no longer a match-up proof
WR1, and instead is a player who can occasionally have big games
against lesser defenses. Well, this is the week. Stay the course,
and get Johnson in your line-ups. He’s still seeing over 10 targets
a game, and is a good bet to tally 100+ yards and a score in a game
the Lions desperately need to win.
Jarvis
Landry @ TEN: Opportunities are king when looking for
upside pass catchers, and there aren’t many receivers seeing more
looks than Landry. One of the few players in the league to see double
digit targets in all games this year, Landry remains the No.1 option
in whatever the Dolphins passing game will look like this week.
The match-up isn’t suffocating, and I actually have a good feeling
about the Dolphins offense having some semblance of balance and
coordination. Landry is not a sexy high ceiling target, but his
floor is one of the highest in the league, making him a strong WR2.
Zach
Ertz v. NYG: The Eagles offense despite some recent signs
of life, are not nearly the fantasy buffet we thought we might be
feeding on this season. Ertz’s slow start isn’t helping, as he has
yet to find the endzone, and has topped 50 yards only once. But
a few things make Ertz a sneaky Week 6 play. Despite the lack of
bottom line production, he has seen 7-plus targets in 3 of 5 games,
and is coming off a season best 5-60 line in Week 5. The Eagles
get the Giants defense at home, who are giving up the 2nd most fantasy
points to tight ends (31 receptions, 369 yards, 3 touchdowns). The
Giants struggle to cover the middle of the field with young players
at middle linebacker and safety. Ertz could sneak into the back
end TE1 conversation this week.
Grab Some Pine
Antonio
Brown v. ARI: Gulp! There is a very good chance this
pick will look ridiculous when Brown goes for 7-153-1 this week,
but I’m taking a chance. If you’ve watched the Steelers passing
game the last two weeks it’s painfully obvious Toddy Haley is
trying his best to mitigate the damage Michael Vick will do to
this offense. Heck, they turned back the clock to 2006 and ran
the WILDCAT on a half a dozen plays last week, including the final
play of the game! Brown thrives on his YAC ability, and that requires
timing passes in tight windows, something Vick just doesn’t do
well. Vick still has a cannon for an arm, but that doesn’t necessarily
fit Brown’s game. Until Big Ben returns, Brown simply won’t approach
his normal stratospheric production. Sitting Brown is insanity,
so you won’t do it, but don’t expect a big rebound game against
a great Arizona pass defense either.
Seahawks Receivers v. CAR:
Vegas has this game as a 41 over/under, the lowest of any game
this week. After watching Seattle struggle to get consistent offense
going the last two weeks against the Lions and Bengals, the Panther
defense presents an extremely difficult challenge. Josh Norman
and the Carolina secondary should be able to contain Seahawk receivers
with the Carolina pass rush bearing down on Russell Wilson. I
never feel good about starting anyone on this offense other than
Wilson and Lynch, and I like it even less when elite defenses
come to town. There are higher upside receiving options out there,
go find em.
Gary
Barnidge v. DEN: Ok, I’ll admit, I’m salty after Barnidge’s
butt-catch touchdown cost me a game if one of my leagues last
week. I will also admit that I love Barnidge’s rags to riches
fantasy story, so having him grab some pine is more about match-ups
than bias. The Cleveland passing game has risen from ruin over
the last three weeks, but’s it’s come against some
of the league’s most porous secondaries. Denver’s
defense has been Ebenezer Scrooge-like to opposing pass offenses,
and for the first time in his life Barnidge is going to be game
planned against. He’ll have other TE1 days this year, but
it won’t come this week.
