1) Jakobi Meyers vs Tampa Bay

The Tampa Bay offense ranks No. 1 in scoring (34.3 PPG) and Bill Belichick’s team doesn’t have the tools to stop them so the only way they stay in this game is to score some points through the air. Meyers is their leading receiver (29 targets, 176 yards) even though he is averaging a pedestrian 12.2 FPts/G, so he’ll have to step it up. He has never caught a touchdown pass in his career (he’s thrown two), but that changes this weekend.

2) Calvin Ridley vs Washington

Are you depressed because you heard all the hype about Ridley, picked him as a top-three receiver and he’s currently ranked 29th? Are you ready to trade him for nickels on the dollar? Don’t do it. This is the week he shows you what you have been waiting for all month. The targets have been there all along, just his production has been lacking. That changes against a WFT which has allowed 53.5 FPts/G to opposing wideouts, including seven double-digit games of which four were 19-point plus performances in three games (Mike Williams, Keenan Allen, Emmanuel Sanders and Cole Beasley).

3) Odell Beckham Jr. at Minnesota

Beckham Jr. looked healthy in his first game back from a 2020 torn ACL, but the truth is his name has been bigger than his production since he left New York in 2018. He has just three 20-point games in 25 contests since arriving in Cleveland. Why should you start him then? Because the Vikings have allowed 47.2 FPts/G to the opposition and because OBJ’s big ego will drive him to play up to Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen’s level.

Grab some Pine

1) Henry Ruggs III at Los Angeles Chargers (Mon)

People are getting rightfully excited about Ruggs’ improvement from his rookie year (6.8-to-13.9 FPts/G) but this week might not be his best week. The Chargers’ have solid corners and a great safety in Derwin James along with a pass rush led by Joey Bosa which has combined to allow the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing receivers. They are averaging just 110 yards per game total and have yielded just one receiving touchdown in three games despite having faced Terry McLaurin, Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb and Tyreek Hill.

2) DeAndre Hopkins at Los Angeles Rams

First off, Hopkins is dealing with a rib injury which forced him into a decoy role last weekend. He saw six targets and caught three for just 21 yards. Reason two, he’ll be covered by Jalen Ramsey. That should be enough said. But if you need more, last year Ramsey held Hopkins to four catches for a measly 35 yards in SoFi Stadium.

3) Julio Jones at New York Jets

Sure, I know A.J. Brown might not play, but the Jets are so bad at defending the run that Ryan Tannehill and the Titans may not throw the ball more than 25 times. I’d like to believe Jones (leg) would see a lot of that, but I just think every score will be a Derrick Henry or Tannehill run. Without a touchdown and given limited opportunities by a ground and pound strategy, I think Jones gets a decent amount of yards if he plays but nothing else. Would you be happy if he posted a 6-78-0 line? Neither would I.

Quarterbacks | Running Backs | Wide Receivers