This Week Around The NFL.

[Greenbacks]

2017 NFL Draft order and needs for every team.

This is the first-round order of the 2017 NFL Draft, with an early look at the top positional needs for every team, heading into Week 5. The draft order is determined by record, and using strength of schedule as a tiebreaker (record and strength of schedule are official tiebreakers to determine the draft order).

1. Cleveland Browns
2016 record: 0-4 (.556)
Top needs: QB, CB, S
Analysis: The Browns took a pass on Carson Wentz so now they are still looking for "that guy." Finding a future star across from Joe Haden could be an early priority while the safety spot can potentially be addressed later in the draft.

2. Tennessee Titans
2016 record: 1-3 (.460)
Top needs: CB, WR, TE
Analysis: The secondary has to be addressed early for the Titans with the WR talent inside the division. Tajae Sharpe was a nice find, but the Titans could still use a true WR1. The Titans TEs are getting older and a new infusion of talent is warranted.

3. Miami Dolphins
2016 record: 1-3 (.469)
Top needs: G, DE, TE
Analysis: Will Mario Williams and Brandon Albert be back next year? If Albert and Williams become cap casualties, Laremy Tunsil will move to LT, which opens up a guard spot, and defensive end will be in play via the draft. Tight end is a likely target.

4 (tie). San Diego Chargers
2016 record: 1-3 (.484)
Top needs: OT, WR, QB
Analysis: The Chargers have serviceable tackles, but they've been going with "serviceable" for too long. It's time to commit. With another injury to Keenan Allen, San Diego could look to add another option at the position. Philip Rivers is locked in but the team is badly in need of an upgrade behind him on the depth chart.

4 (tie). New Orleans Saints
2016 record: 1-3 (.484)
Top needs: DE, CB, LB
Analysis: The Saints have to eventually find Drew Brees' replacement, but for now, addressing the defense is the priority. Finding an edge rusher is essential, as is help in the secondary. Adding depth/talent at linebacker could be in play here, too.

4 (tie). San Francisco 49ers
2016 record: 1-3 (.484)
Top needs: QB, Edge, WR
Analysis: We can all talk about what the "right fit" is for a Chip Kelly offense, but the bottom line is that the 49ers simply need a better quarterback. Finding a pass rusher will be high on the priority list while adding a weapon or two at WR for a new QB could make sense.

4 (tie). New York Jets
2016 record: 1-3 (.484)
Top needs: G, TE, LB
Analysis: I'd like to make QB one of the top three needs, but we'll give Christian Hackenberg another year. The interior offensive line should be addressed, as should the tight end spot. With aging inside 'backers, the Jets could look for another youngster to pair with Darron Lee.

8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2016 record: 1-3 (.500)
Top needs: DL, S, C
Analysis: Tampa Bay will need to find a high-impact player along the defensive line who can create mayhem on a regular basis. Safety is a need and could get early round consideration. The Bucs have to upgrade the talent along their offensive line. They need a good, young center.

9. Indianapolis Colts
2016 record: 1-3 (.508)
Top needs: LB, OL, RB
Analysis: The Colts are getting old on the defensive side of the ball and could use a young, splashy playmaker at outside or inside linebacker. Protecting Luck is essential and the offensive line isn't doing that well enough. Finding another quality RB shouldn't be difficult.

10. Arizona Cardinals
2016 record: 1-3 (.516)
Top needs: G, QB, ILB
Analysis: Veteran right guard Evan Mathis is more band-aid than solution. Carson Palmer will turn 37 this season, so that position is becoming a priority quickly. A playmaking inside 'backer should be in play, too.

11. Jacksonville Jaguars
2016 record: 1-3 (.524)
Top needs: OL, DT, S
Analysis: The play at tackle and guard has been spotty for Jacksonville. Finding a defensive force to plug into the middle of the line and a talented cover safety should also be considerations.

12. Chicago Bears
2016 record: 1-3 (.525)
Top needs: QB, OT, DB
Analysis: Jay Cutler's dead cap money drops dramatically, which could lead to his departure. Charles Leno might not be talented enough to man the left-tackle spot full-time. The Bears' secondary talent (at safety and corner) isn't on par with what is expected from a quality team.

13. Carolina Panthers
2016 record: 1-3 (.531)
Top needs: OT, DE, RB
Analysis: It seems like Carolina has needed an offensive tackle for at least the last three years and that is the case again. Upgrading the pass rush off the edge could be an early priority. Jonathan Stewart's injury and cap hit could put RB in play.

14. Detroit Lions
2016 record: 1-3 (.557)
Top needs: DT, CB, WR
Analysis: The offensive line might make its way onto this list, but we will give it time. The defensive line, however, needs a penetrator at defensive tackle and the Lions might have to draft one. Finding a third wide receiver and a potential starter at cornerback should be on the to-do list.

15. Buffalo Bills
2016 record: 2-2 (.469)
Top needs: OT, DE, DB
Analysis: The Bills will likely be looking for a bookend right tackle after the season. Finding a defensive lineman who can win at the point of attack as well as rush the passer should be a priority. The Bills need more talent at cornerback and safety.

16. Kansas City Chiefs
2016 record: 2-2 (.500)
Top needs: QB, ILB, S
Analysis: While his contract might preclude the Chiefs from moving on without Alex Smith, finding a potential future starter wouldn't hurt. The Chiefs could look to hit reset on their safety situation and the addition of an ILB should be in play for the Chiefs.

17. Washington Redskins
2016 record: 2-2 (.557)
Top needs: DL, OL, QB
Analysis: As it stands now, the Washington Redskins need to be able to win the physical battles in the trenches more often. To that end, finding quality run-blocking for the O-line and run-stuffing for the D-line is a priority. Is Kirk Cousins really the guy in Washington?

18. Cincinnati Bengals
2016 record: 2-2 (.571)
Top needs: G, LB, RB
Analysis: Cincinnati has to find a way to get its running game going, and that might mean looking for help on the interior offensive line. If Jeremy Hill struggles again this year, adding another RB could be warranted. Finding quality linebackers always rates as a priority for the Bengals.

19. New York Giants
2016 record: 2-2 (.590)
Top needs: DE, QB, LB
Analysis: Jason Pierre-Paul is going to have to play exceptional football to earn another contract considering how much the Giants are now paying Olivier Vernon. The linebacker spot could use an infusion of talent and finding a young, quality backup at QB is a need.

20. Green Bay Packers
2016 record: 2-1 (.540)
Top needs: G, TE, RB
Analysis: The Packers cut OG Josh Sitton before the season, and should be looking to the draft for a long-term answer at this spot. Green Bay understands the importance of finding a top-notch tight end, while adding depth (and competition) at RB is important.

21. Tennessee Titans (from Los Angeles Rams)
2016 record: 1-3 (.460)
Top needs: CB, WR, TE
Analysis: The Titans acquired this pick when they traded out of the No. 1 slot in the 2016 draft. They need to bolster their secondary, and still could still use a true WR1. Adding young talent at TE should be a priority, too.

22. Seattle Seahawks
2016 record: 3-1 (.452)
Top needs: OT, DT, CB
Analysis: The first need should be left tackle and the second need should be right tackle. OT is that high of a priority. Adding talent at the hybrid DE/DT spot should be a possibility, as should finding another long-armed, physical playmaker at cornerback.

23. Houston Texans
2016 record: 3-1 (.460)
Top needs: ILB, OL, TE
Analysis: The Texans must find some speed for their inside linebacker spot. Along the offensive line, OT Duane Brown is coming off of injury and getting older, and G Xavier Su'a-Filo could use competition. The Texans need TE in a big way.

24. Atlanta Falcons
2016 record: 3-1 (.468)
Top needs: Edge, CB, DT
Analysis: Atlanta hasn't gotten much pass rush from Vic Beasley, so it might have to look for a rusher yet again. A dominant defensive lineman would go a long way in shoring up the defense, as would more cover help in the secondary.

25. Pittsburgh Steelers
2016 record: 3-1 (.476)
Top needs: LB, OL, QB
Analysis: With Lawrence Timmons and Jarvis Jones in the final year of their deals, the outside and inside LB spots might need to be addressed. The Steelers could use a young swing tackle and guard prospect to groom, as well as a QB to develop behind Ben Roethlisberger.

26 (tie). New England Patriots
2016 record: 3-1 (.484)
Top needs: OT, Edge, LB
Analysis: The Patriots could be in need of at least one, and perhaps two, new offensive tackles. Finding a quality pass rusher off the edge should be a priority. New England has a couple of linebacker spots that might come open after the season as well.

26 (tie). Oakland Raiders
2016 record: 3-1 (.484)
Top needs: CB, OT, ILB
Analysis: The Raiders had hoped that their offseason changes at cornerback would help shore up that deficiency, but it's still an area of need. The Raiders needed a tackle last year and they still do. Oakland is in desperate need of more talent at middle linebacker.

28. Baltimore Ravens
2016 record: 3-1 (.492)
Top needs: Edge, S, WR
Analysis: The Ravens need to find their next great edge rusher at OLB. They lack quality depth at safety right now. The Ravens are relying on aging receivers and might look to bolster the unit.

29. Dallas Cowboys
2016 record: 3-1 (.525)
Top needs: DE, CB, WR
Analysis: Dallas gambled twice on character at the DE spot and might have lost both times. It's time to go get a pass rusher yet again. Dallas could stand to find a starter at cornerback. Adding competition for the WR2 spot could be a middle-round priority for the Cowboys.

30. Philadelphia Eagles (from Minnesota Vikings)
2016 record: 3-0 (.571)
Top needs: CB, OL, RB
Analysis: The Eagles dealt away a first-rounder to acquire the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 draft, and got a first-rounder in the Sam Bradford deal before the season. Cornerback should be an area in which Philly is looking for an upgrade. The Eagles have an aging center, aging left tackle and average guard play. Finding a quality RB1 might not be difficult in the 2017 draft given the potential for depth at the position.

31. Denver Broncos
2016 record: 4-0 (.453)
Top needs: OT, S, TE
Analysis: If Russell Okung plays exceptionally well this season, perhaps left tackle won't be a need. Denver might look to go younger at safety, and a versatile TE always makes Gary Kubiak's offense better.

32. Cleveland Browns (from Philadelphia Eagles)
2016 record: 0-4 (.556)
Top needs: QB, CB, S
Analysis: Cleveland traded the No. 2 pick in the 2016 draft to the Eagles, who spent the selection on Carson Wentz. So, the Browns are still looking for "that guy" at QB. Finding a quality complement to Joe Haden should be on the to-do list, and the safety spot could be addressed later in the draft.

Teams without a first-round pick

Los Angeles Rams
2016 record: 3-1 (.406)
Top needs: CB, LB, WR
Analysis: The Rams have depth at the cornerback spot, but could use a true lockdown guy. Getting bigger and more physical at linebacker could be in the cards, while the search for a true WR1 to go with Jared Goff should be considered as well.
Note: The Rams traded their 2017 first-round pick to the Titans before the 2016 draft.

Minnesota Vikings
2016 record: 4-0 (.426)
Top needs: OT, RB, DT
Analysis: The Vikings are without a first-round pick, but with tackles Matt Kalil and Andre Smith both set to be free agents, addressing offensive tackle could be critical. The level of need at RB is dependent upon Adrian Peterson's future, and defensive-tackle depth is needed.
Note: The Vikings traded their 2017 first-round pick to the Eagles in a deal to acquire Sam Bradford.

 

[Greenbacks]

 

[Greenbacks]

Andy Reid on blowout loss: It's not the end of the world.

After last year's 1-5 start served as a prelude to a playoff run and convincing first-round victory over the Texans, people stopped worrying much about the mental makeup of this Chiefs team. But the reality of the situation is that every year is different, and Andy Reid had some work to do in his locker room after a 43-14 blowout loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night.
"We're 2-2," Reid said, via the team's official site. "It's not the end of the world, even though it feels that way. That's how things are in the National Football League. We've got a week to step back, analyze and fix some of these issues."
Quarterback Alex Smith seemed to echo those sentiments on Monday.

"We have to look at this and look at ourselves in the mirror and move on," Smith said. "At the same time, you can't let it linger. It's just one game and it's a long season."
The Chiefs don't play again until Oct. 16 against the Raiders in Oakland, which means that Reid will have plenty of time to game plan for a divisional matchup that could quickly erase the stink of a loss that very well could have been a 40-point nationally televised shutout. It could also be too much time for the Steelers game to linger.
Given Denver's unexpectedly good start and the talent curve finally catching up in Oakland, this could be Reid's toughest challenge in Kansas City to date. After inheriting a turnaround-ready franchise in 2013, Reid has never posted a losing record with the Chiefs and has made the playoffs twice in three years, but seeing how he rebounds from the Steelers game could be indicative of how much farther he can take this franchise as its currently constructed.

 

[Greenbacks]

Carroll: 2016 Seahawks have 'chance' to be his best yet.

Coming off back-to-back hammer-dropping wins, the Seattle Seahawks have shoved their slow start into the rear-view mirror.
With 64 points of offense over their past two weeks, the re-emergence of dangerous tight end Jimmy Graham, and a defense that seems to constantly unearth new contributors, the 'Hawks are working to make good on Kam Chancellor's summertime claim that "it feels like the (Super Bowl) 48 year" all over again.
Coach Pete Carroll did nothing to dim that confidence on Monday, telling reporters that this year's team has the power to be his best Seattle squad yet.
"There's a chance," Carroll said, per Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times. "I think we have a chance to, because of the experience and great leadership that we have, the development and coming of age of the quarterback, we have our kicking game in order. There's a lot of really good phases of our team that we can count on. We're growing on offense up front with the guys up front on offense, they're doing a good job and pass protection is a big deal to us right now and we'll grow in the running game. I've loved this team all along, I've seen it coming. Just the way they've gone about the work. We have a chance to be really good."

The Seahawks struggled offensively in a Week 2 loss to the Rams, but the team on Sunday overcame a rugged Jets run defense by airing out the ball in a showing that resembled Seattle's strong finish of last season. With 309 yards and three touchdowns, Russell Wilson showed no signs of the sprained ankle he's dealt with since the opener and sprained MCL he suffered against the 49ers.
"Offensively we are throwing the ball like we had hoped to, like we had seen last year, and we wanted to come out of that and have the same expertise and confidence in what we are doing, and we feel like that," Carroll said. "And in a game when you play a loaded-up front of guys and you need to throw the ball a little bit more, we did, and that allows the balance to take shape when we need it."
The X-factor this time around is the massive-bodied Graham, who struggled to mesh with Wilson last season, but is now fully aglow with 12 catches for 213 yards over his past two starts. A cornerback's night terror come to life, Graham's uprising makes this attack an entirely different beast to deal with.
We'll know more about this latest incarnation of the Seahawks after they return from their bye to face the white-hot Atlanta Falcons and division-rival Cardinals. With both sides of the ball shining, though, it's Seattle that other teams in the NFC can peer upward at as the class of the conference.

 

[Greenbacks]

Ryan Fitzpatrick's foibles front and center as N.Y. Jets flounder.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Bill Parcells was an early mentor to New York Jets coach Todd Bowles, and after each game last season, Bowles received a text message from his old boss. One of them, after the Jets lost four of five games midway through the season to put their 2015 campaign in peril, reminded Bowles that nobody remembers midseason losses, only how a team finishes.
After the Jets' 27-17 defeat to Seattle on Sunday, though, a Parcells standard might be a better fit.
"You are what your records says you are," Parcells famously used to say, and that tough-love sentiment applies not only to the 1-3 Jets but, more critically, to specific parts of Bowles' team. To quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who has thrown nine interceptions in the last two weeks, an astounding seven of them in the fourth quarter. To the vaunted defense, which allowed a hobbled Russell Wilson, playing behind a previously porous Seahawks offensive line, to stay on his spot with little pressure and to hit one big play after another -- five of his passes went for more than 20 yards -- for a total of 309 yards and three touchdowns. To a running game that lacks both explosiveness and consistency, and which provided just 58 yards on 20 runs Sunday.
If Parcells is right, and the only thing that matters is how a team finishes, then the Jets are getting to their personal finish line awfully early this season. They are already two games behind the New England Patriots, who just killed the clock on Tom Brady's four-game suspension with a 3-1 record, in the AFC East, and the Jets now face consecutive road games at Pittsburgh and Arizona.
"We lost these kinds of games last year," Bowles said Sunday. "We lost three out of four in the middle of the season. We won some and we lost some. We lost some this time."
It is probably worth a gentle reminder that while the Jets did finish with a very respectable 10 victories in 2015, they also failed to reach the playoffs.

If this season is not already on the brink of ruin, it is just a few steps away from the precipice, with no obvious safety net in sight. While the play of the defense is alarming -- Bowles signaled that lineup changes could be coming if the long pass plays don't stop -- it is Fitzpatrick on whom the harshest spotlight will shine.
The Jets waited all offseason for Fitzpatrick to return to the fold, but at the same time, they indicated their level of faith in him with a contract that was for below market value and for just one year. The final-game meltdown from 2015 is casting quite a shadow now, not just on Fitzpatrick's bank account, but on the Jets' memory bank. Fitzpatrick's record, after all, says what he is, too: an inconsistency-prone quarterback who can string together enough fine performances to raise hopes, only to toss in devastating clunkers. Last season, he had 31 touchdown passes and just 15 interceptions. He is at four and 10 through the first quarter of this season.
Last week, Bowles expressed his confidence in Fitzpatrick by noting that he could not play any worse than he did against the Chiefs, when the six-interception debacle raised alarms. He was right, but just barely.
"He started out playing decent," Bowles said Sunday. "He played better than he played last week."
That is cold comfort to the Jets, who have nowhere to turn. Their willingness to wait for Fitzpatrick until the last moment this summer told us everything we need to know about how badly they do not want to put this team in Geno Smith's hands. The offensive failings are not entirely Fitzpatrick's fault. Losing receiver Eric Decker, potentially for the season, with a partially torn rotator cuff is a crushing blow to what was previously one of the league's best red-zone offenses. The running game offered no support Sunday to relieve any of the pressure on Fitzpatrick. To turn to Smith now would not fix that and, after just one month, would be folly anyway. But if the Jets sink to 1-5 before they return home, no benchings can be off the table.
"For me, that's been my whole career," Fitzpatrick said of using the ups and downs of last season to help now. "It's not anything new for me. I just have to continue to prepare and try to be the best guy I can be every Sunday, whether that's coming off a good game or a bad game."
This is two bad games in a row. Receiver Brandon Marshall, who caught his first touchdown pass of the season against Seattle, seems at a loss to explain what is going wrong.

"I am shocked," he said. "I expect more out of our offense. Every year is different. It's a little deflating. You think you're really close, and right when you think it's going to be easy, whether in sport or life, you get slapped in the face and humbled. It's disappointing, but that's just the story of life. It's never easy. This is hard. Football is hard, and it's not for the weary."
It is clear the losing is wearing on the Jets, who scattered quickly from their locker room and now must acknowledge that the brutal start to their schedule is close to taking exactly the toll everyone feared it would.
Fitzpatrick said he still has confidence, but the real question is how much longer there will be confidence in him. A terrible start will render even the strongest finish meaningless -- in terms of both the playoffs and Fitzpatrick's viability as the starter.
"At the end of the day, I'm going down with the ship with him," Marshall said. "I don't like how any of us are playing. Myself, all of the starters."
"I am going down in the boat with Ryan Fitzpatrick," Marshall repeated, when he was pressed about whether the Jets have to reassess their quarterbacks. "OK? You got it? So can you not ask me any more questions about that? I am going down in the boat with No. 14."
The Jets have to hope the ship is not already sinking.

 

[Greenbacks]

5 Players to Spot Start in Week 5.

Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, New York Jets (15.5 percent owned)
Do we dare consider playing Ryan Fitzpatrick after he's thrown nine interceptions in back-to-back games? We did say this wasn't going to be a safe space. There's no way around it; Fitzpatrick has played like one of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL this season. Aside from the interceptions, he's completed just 50.8 percent of his passes, posted a 35.6 passer rating and averaged 5.32 yards per attempt with an average depth of 9.5 yards on his aimed throws.
With that being said, there is reason to believe he could pay off as a streaming quarterback in Week 5. The Jets travel to Pittsburgh to take on the Ben Roethlisberger-led scoring attack. In their building, the Steelers average 31.6 points per game as opposed to 22.1 on the road dating back to 2014. 2016 looks to be a continuation of that trend with Pittsburgh averaging 33.5 points per game in their two home contests and 20.5 in their two road tilts.
With the Steelers offense putting points on the board in bunches, the Jets will have to give chase to their opponents. Alex Smith was in the same position last week, and while he didn't have a good game on Sunday night, he was the QB11 in Week 4. The Steelers have allowed the third-most passing yards in the NFL and a 64 percent completion rate but just five passing touchdowns. There is some potential for regression here for their defense of passing touchdowns.

Terrance West, RB, Baltimore Ravens (37 percent owned)
Justin Forsett was inactive last week and released Tuesday morning. Terrance West drew the start in replacing Forsett and bruised through the Raiders defense on 21 carries for 113 yards and a touchdown. Plenty of people will be ready to write off West's emergence as just a flash in the pan or a random occurrence, but this follows up a drumbeat we were tracking all offseason. West received waves of praise from the team and beat writers alike before showing off a new authoritative running style in the preseason.
With Forsett gone, West should draw the start once again in Week 5. Exciting rookie Kenneth Dixon should figure in as a receiving back, but it would be a stretch to assume he's going to handle a massive workload after missing a chunk of the preseason and the first four weeks of his NFL career. West should handle the bulk of the between-the-tackles work and be the primary red zone back. West averages 2.6 yards after contact, just .01 off of noted 2016 workhorses Matt Forte, LeGarrette Blount and DeMarco Murray and up from his average of 2.15 average through his first two seasons. If given the requisite carries, West can perform in a capable fashion.
With opportunity presented, West can capitalize in Week 5. The Ravens get Washington in Baltimore on Sunday and no team bleeds more production to the running back position. Washington allowed the most yards to running backs in the NFL through four weeks at 5.1 yards per carry. They have also ceded seven rushing touchdowns. As home favorites, Baltimore should find themselves in a run-heavy or neutral game script, which will keep the ball in West's hands.

Eddie Royal, WR, Chicago Bears (2.7 percent owned)
Kevin White went for an MRI on Monday and is no sure bet to play in Week 5. Surprisingly, White leads the team in targets so his absence would open up the opportunity for slot receiver Eddie Royal. While it might seem like chasing points coming off a week in which Royal snagged all seven of his targets for 111 yards and a touchdown, there's reason to think he can post another strong game. The Colts released Antonio Cromartie today, further dinging the depth of an already shallow secondary. Royal should run most of his routes against slot corner Patrick Robinson, who has bounced around the NFL after flopping as a first round pick. The Bears travel to Indianapolis to play the Colts a week after they played in London, the first time a team has not taken a bye the following game. The Bears defense doesn't pose much of a threat either, and a high-scoring contest would only improve Royal's outlook in a spot where he could push for eight targets.

Sammie Coates, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers (2.8 percent owned)
Despite the healthy return of Markus Wheaton in his second game action of 2016, Sammie Coates played the second most snaps of any Steelers wideout in Week 5, at 57 percent. Coates also played his most complete game to date. His average depth of target was just 13.4, down from his season average of 27.2. If he's rounding into form as a more full-time player, he must be considered in fantasy as a big-play threat in this offense. The Jets have allowed 797 yards to the wide receiver position (fourth-most) through four weeks on just 66 targets. Big plays have been an issue for the Jets as receivers average 16.6 yards per reception against them. Darrelle Revis looks like he's taken a notable step back this season, and he might miss that game on Sunday either way. With the Steelers averaging 33 points per game at home this year, Coates could easily get in on the scoring action.

Richard Rodgers, TE, Green Bay Packers (7.5 percent owned)
Starting tight end Jared Cook is out for Week 5 after injuring his ankle in Week 3 prior to the team's bye. Richard Rodgers will once again take over as the team's top player at the position. Rogers scored seven red zone touchdowns last season with Jordy Nelson out of action. Nelson is back this year and is tied for the NFL lead with eight red zone targets, despite playing in just three games. Yet, no other receiver on the Packers has more than three looks inside the 20-yard line to his name.
The Giants haven't given up production to the tight end like they did in 2015, but they've still given up the 10th-most catches to the position. New York did just allow a red zone score to Kyle Rudolph on Monday night along with 55 yards and 14 targets to Jason Witten in Week 1. Their personnel at coverage linebacker and safety is not great, and their early numbers are likely skewed by playing a mistake-prone Coby Fleener in Week 2. Rodgers could put a touchdown on the board against them in a potentially high-scoring contest.

 

[Greenbacks]

Bears' Kevin White (fibula) placed on injured reserve.

Kevin White's NFL career can't get off the ground.
The Chicago Bears announced Wednesday they placed the former first-round pick on injured reserve after suffering a fractured left fibula and a high ankle sprain in the team's Week 4 win over the Detroit Lions.
General manager Ryan Pace said surgery is an option for White. He could be eligible to return in eight weeks if healed. Former first-round corner Kyle Fuller was previously placed on IR. Only one player can return from IR per team.

It's one step forward and two steps back for White, who missed his entire rookie season after suffering a stress fracture in his shin last year. His recent fracture is unrelated to the injury that wiped out his first pro season.
The news is depressing for Bears fans. White was in the midst of his best game as a pro; then injury struck. The 6-foot-3 wideout snagged six of his nine targets for 55 yards before leaving midway through the third quarter. White finally displayed toughness at the point of the catch and ability to box out defenders. White's role had grown the past two weeks with Brian Hoyer spreading the ball around.

The Bears offered an intriguing trio of receivers with Alshon Jeffery's ability to win down the field, Eddie Royal's run-after-the-catch acumen and White's big-body play. With White out, Cameron Meredith will take snaps as the No. 3 receiver. Expect tight end Zach Miller's role in the offense to grow even further.
The Bears started the season a disheartening 1-3 with an injury-plagued, talent-poor roster that ranks 30th on Around The NFL's quarter-mark Power Poll. The growth of young players like White, running back Jordan Howard and a litter of secondary cubs over the course of the season is what the fan base is counting on tracking.
White can't make progress from the rehab room.

 

[Greenbacks]

Big Ben, Julio Jones highlight Players of the Week.

There were plenty of impressive performances in Week 4, but Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and Falcons wideout Julio Jones definitely stood out in helping their respective teams improve to 3-1.

Roethlisberger was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week on Wednesday. The veteran quarterback passed for five touchdowns as Pittsburgh routed Kansas City 43-14 on Sunday night. It was the fifth time in Big Ben's career that he has thrown five TD passes in a game. Roethlisberger connected with favorite target Antonio Brown for two of those scores.

Jones earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors. The Falcons wide receiver had 12 receptions and a staggering 300 yards receiving in helping Atlanta defeat Carolina 48-33. His 75-yard catch-and-run in the fourth quarter sealed the win for the first-place Falcons. After a relatively quiet three games, the Alabama product broke out in a big way against the defending NFC champion Panthers, becoming the sixth wideout in NFL history to record a 300-yard game.

The AFC Defensive Player of the Week was Bills linebacker Zach Brown. Brown led Buffalo's defense in a 16-0 shutout of previously undefeated New England. Brown terrorized the Patriots offense, registering 12 tackles, one sack and two forced fumbles.

Will Fuller took home AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. Not only did Fuller lead the Texans in receiving with 7 catches for 81 yards, but he also scored on a 67-yard punt return in Houston's 27-20 victory over Tennessee. The rookie out of Notre Dame has definitely been a bright spot for a Texans team missing J.J. Watt.

In the NFC, Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald was the Defensive Player of the Week. Officially credited with 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble in Los Angeles' 17-13 victory over the Cardinals in Arizona, Donald was an absolute beast on defense and a big reason why the surprising Rams are 3-1 and sitting atop the NFC West.

Seahawks punter Jon Ryan was the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. Ryan punted five times in the Seahawks' 27-17 victory, with four of the punts pinning the Jets inside their own 15-yard line.

 

[Greenbacks]

Redskins sign veteran safety Donte Whitner.

Donte Whitner is back in our lives. The team confirmed Wednesday the Washington Redskins signed the veteran safety. NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported it's a one-year deal.
A street free agent, Whitner had worked out for the Giants, Panthers and Rams since being released in April by Browns. The 31-year-old defensive back spent the past two seasons in Cleveland after long stints with the 49ers and Bills.
Washington general manager Scot McCloughan knows Whitner from their time together in San Francisco, and might view the veteran as a potential starter over strong safety David Bruton, who has been hideous against the run and pass.
The Redskins need help in the secondary, but it doesn't stop there. After watching the team allow Cleveland's Isaiah Crowell to play like an evolutionary Marcus Allen in Week 4, Washington will be targeted by opposing run games until they show any hint of resistance. Don't hold your breath

 

[Greenbacks]

Carson Palmer ruled out for Thursday vs. 49ers.

The 1-3 Arizona Cardinals are desperate for a win but will need to earn it without Carson Palmer. The team announced the starting quarterback will not play Thursday night versus the San Francisco 49ers.
Drew Stanton will make his first start of the season.
Palmer suffered a concussion on Sunday in a loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Coach Bruce Arians said Palmer made progress in recovery, but won't travel with the team out of precaution.
Palmer got off to a slow start this season, throwing five interceptions through four games and struggling with his deep ball (40.5 passer rating on 15-plus air yard passes; earned a 104.7 passer rating on such balls last season).
It's Stanton's first start since 2014 when he made eight in place of Palmer (shoulder, ACL). Stanton is 7-5 in his career as a starter -- 5-3 in 2014.
Stanton can run Arians' offense well enough, but he doesn't have the downfield prowess of Palmer and struggles with accuracy and fitting balls into tight windows.
Stanton completed 4 of 11 passes (36.4 percent) for 37 yards and two interceptions in relief last Sunday.
Stanton is a career 54 percent passer. In his 2014 season, he set a career-high with a 7.1 yards per pass average -- that mark would currently place him 23rd in 2016.
The Cardinals should lean heavily on David Johnson and Andre Ellington on Thursday against a 49ers defense that has given up 165.7 rushing yards per game over Week 2-4.

 

[Greenbacks]

Denver Broncos' resilience confirms they're the team to beat.

TAMPA, Fla. -- There comes a point when you have to accept that certain teams are just too good to count out, regardless of the circumstances. The New England Patriots have proved as much under head coach Bill Belichick. The Denver Broncos are now doing the same with their head coach, Gary Kubiak. The more the reigning Super Bowl champions keep playing, the harder it is to imagine them eventually failing.
That mental toughness was on display once again when the Broncos faced the Buccaneers in Tampa on Sunday afternoon. This didn't seem like much of a game until Denver lost starting quarterback Trevor Siemian to a shoulder injury on his left (non-throwing) shoulder late in the second quarter. Suddenly the Broncos, leading 14-7 at the time of the injury, were forced to rely on untested rookie Paxton Lynch for the entire second half. All that dilemma did was give their defense more motivation to take over and the remainder of the Broncos ample reason to elevate their own performances.
The final score -- 27-7 in favor of Denver -- won't tell the full story of what happened inside Raymond James Stadium that day. This was one more substantial piece of evidence that the Broncos, now 4-0, should be considered early front-runners to hoist another Lombardi Trophy.

"It's been a good month," Kubiak said. "We divide [the season] into quarters and it's obviously been a good first quarter. There are so many things we can work on as a team, which is what I'm excited about. We've got some injuries to work through and we have another one today. But we keep stepping to the plate, playing hard and playing well late, which is what you have to do to win in this league."
The best thing about the Broncos right now is their unwavering confidence. When quarterback Brock Osweiler bolted to Houston in free agency, Siemian emerged as a viable replacement after winning a three-man quarterback competition throughout the offseason. When key defensive players like defensive tackle Malik Jackson and linebacker Danny Trevathan also signed with other teams, the Broncos simply plugged in new players and kept plugging away. Then Siemian goes down on Sunday and Lynch does just enough to help them win, including throwing the first touchdown pass of his NFL career.
This is what great teams do. They don't worry about the circumstances. They focus on solutions. The Broncos might have been perilously close to not even making the playoffs last season -- which is easy to forget in the wake of their Super Bowl win -- but they've been on fire ever since January. At this point, it's hard to not wonder what or who actually is going to slow them down.

A lot of that optimism comes back to an elite defense that nobody has been able to figure out this season. Denver is allowing just 16 points per game and the D ranks among the league leaders in both total yards (fourth in the NFL) and passing yards allowed (second). Even a broken forearm to Pro Bowl outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware hasn't hurt the overall effectiveness of this unit. That's mainly because his Pro Bowl counterpart, outside linebacker Von Miller, is terrorizing quarterbacks every time he steps onto a football field (see: 5.5 sacks in four games this season).
But also, what makes this defense so dangerous is that it seems to find a new hero each week. In a 29-17 win at Cincinnati two weeks ago, second-year outside linebacker Shane Ray tallied three sacks. This past weekend, it was defensive end Derek Wolfe picking up 2.5 sacks of his own, and Pro Bowl cornerback Aqib Talib intercepting two passes as he faced the team that drafted him into the NFL. It's reached the point that the Broncos are starting to see teams try all sorts of tactics to keep them off-balance, none of which seem to be working.
"The last couple weeks, we definitely got different looks from the opposing offenses," Talib said. "Tampa came out and did everything opposite from what we saw on film. Cincinnati came out and ran the ball a lot against us [even though the Bengals have been one of the worst rushing teams in the league this season].

We've seen different things, but we also expect that stuff."
Denver clearly expects its quarterbacks to deliver when called upon, as well. Siemian has been a revelation thus far, as he was the least recognizable of the three signal callers competing for the starting job after Osweiler's departure. (The Broncos traded for Mark Sanchez, who is now in Dallas, and selected Lynch in the first round of this year's draft.) Siemian has shown a little more of his game with each passing week and his breakout moment came against Cincinnati (312 yards and four touchdown passes). In fact, it's already fair to say he can be more than just a game manager for this team.
It's also not a leap to think Kubiak can't maximize Lynch's talents if the rookie has to play against Atlanta this coming Sunday. Doctors ruled Siemian's injury as a sprained shoulder -- and he said he could've returned to the game if necessary -- but Lynch displayed enough comfort to think he could handle more time if it comes to that. Kubiak called plays in way that allowed the rookie to find a decent rhythm. In the end, Lynch completed 14 of 24 passes for 170 yards and one touchdown, which was more than enough to help Denver secure a road victory.

This isn't to say that life won't become tougher for the Broncos as this season moves forward. There are bound to be more injuries, along with other unforeseeable setbacks down the road. It's just that this team really isn't fazed by any challenge that lands right smack in front of it. These Broncos seem to savor the opportunity to prove that last season's championship run wasn't solely about a team that got hot at exactly the right time.
So it will be interesting to see what the Broncos are capable of doing next. They've already established themselves as the team to beat once again in the AFC West and they've shown us all that it doesn't matter who they put under center. The real question then has to be if there's a reason to think this team can't turn this momentum into back-to-back championship seasons. At the rate they're going, it would be crazy to bet against that actually happening.

 

[Greenbacks]

Chargers corner Jason Verrett (ACL) to miss season.

The Chargers' injury bug has bit another victim.
Cornerback Jason Verrett is expected to miss the rest of the season with a partially torn ACL, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported via a source informed of the situation.
Verrett told reporters, "My season is over with. ... I cried yesterday," per the San Diego Union-Tribune. The cover man added that he expects to undergo surgery.
He joins teammates Keenan Allen, Steve Johnson, Danny Woodhead and Manti Te'o as those who have suffered season-ending injuries for the Chargers in 2016.
Verrett had been a force on the outside, leading a resurgent San Diego secondary that is now the strength of the defense. In the first two weeks of the season, star wideouts Jeremy Maclin and Allen Robinson were held to a combined seven catches for 80 yards when their quarterbacks targeted them against the stud corner.
The Chargers, however, also received some good injury news. First-round defensive lineman Joey Bosa (hamstring) fully participated in Wednesday's practice. Coach Mike McCoy stated the "hope" is that Bosa will make his NFL debut this upcoming Sunday against the Raiders.

 

[Greenbacks]

3 Players you should trade for.....And 2 players you should trade away.

PLAYERS TO TRADE FOR

Odell Beckham Jr., WR, New York Giants
As far as fantasy trades go, the price for Odell Beckham Jr. may never be lower than it is right now following a career-worst 23 receiving yards against the Vikings on Monday night.
Beckham's total of zero touchdowns has pretty much every fantasy owner who drafted him with their first pick confused Mr. Krabs meme-ing after four games.
So what should you do with the overly-emotional young Giants' star receiver in fantasy?
Simply put: Go out and get him! (If you happen to own him, take a deep breath and hold onto him.) And the masses agree because you guys are smart, see:
What the scared Beckham owners (the ones who are confused Mr. Krabs meme-ing) might be ignoring, is the fact that the Giants receiver ranks 11th among wideouts in targets (39), leading his team and is the only wide receiver in the league to have played on 100 percent of his team's offensive snaps this season per FantasyData.com.
He's out there, and he's getting looks. More looks than anyone else on the team.
And it's not like he's lost his ability to get open -- he torched Josh Norman in Week 3 for six catches and 107 yards when the shutdown cornerback was covering him.
As for that zero touchdowns thing? Beckham is not being ignored in the red zone. He has four targets in the red area, tied for the most on the team with Victor Cruz. It doesn't seem like a huge number but the league leaders in receiver red zone targets have eight. It just so happens to be that rookie Sterling Shepard has scored on 100 percent of his two red zone targets, therefore, he has more fantasy points than his teammate.
As the good folks over at RotoGrinders.com put it in a recent news blurb on Beckham, this may be a case where the squeaky wheel (Beckham in this case) gets the grease. We've seen this type of situation in years past with Brandon Marshall in Chicago, and even this season with Demaryius Thomas in Denver. We could be looking at a massive overcorrection in the Giants upcoming game against the Packers, and if OBJ ends up going off, fantasy owners will have missed their window to buy Beckham on the low during his slump.

Lamar Miller, RB, Houston Texans
This point in the season last year was right about when those who had drafted Lamar Miller shipped him away because of his slow start and a looming Week 5 bye. But in Weeks 6 through 10, Miller was fantasy's highest-scoring running back and averaged 20.8 fantasy points per game during that span. He put up fantasy point totals of 17.8, 35.6, 9.4, 26.1 and 15.3 in five consecutive games. Of course that was last year, and he was in an entirely different situation in Miami, but I mention it to show how instantaneously a player can turn things around if everything lines up.
Things may finally be lining up for Miller.
Through four games, Miller ranks as fantasy's RB20 in standard scoring. That ranking is impressive considering it's based on his yardage totals alone since he has yet to find the end zone. His lack of touchdown scoring can be somewhat attributed to the Texans' infrequent red zone opportunities as the team ranks 27th in the NFL with just 22 total plays run in the red area. Of the eight red zone plays that have been rush attempts, Miller has received all of them.
Miller is second in the league in rush attempts with 93 and ranks first in the NFL in third-down rush attempts with 11. The Texans running back has no fewer than 22 touches in a game yet and has collected no fewer than 97 scrimmage yards in each game so far, but his lack of touchdowns is what makes him a solid buy-low candidate.
Following a Week 5 tilt against the Vikings, Miller's schedule really opens up. He'll face Indianapolis, Detroit, Jacksonville, Oakland and San Diego in five of Houston's next six games. All of those are favorable on-paper match ups and further support the argument to trade for Miller before he blows up.

Michael Thomas, WR, New Orleans Saints
Rookie wideout Michael Thomas drew rave reviews in training camp this summer leading to some over-hyping on draft day. It's taken a few weeks, but things are starting to look promising for Thomas as a fantasy asset in his first pro season. With the Saints on a bye in Week 5, now is the time to start poking around and making offers for the talented receiver.
Thomas is averaging a 76 percent share of offensive snaps, second among Saints' wideouts to only Brandin Cooks. That means he is on the field often which as you might have inferred, leads to more opportunities for fantasy points. And in Week 4, Thomas saw more snaps than any other wideout on the team.
He's collected just one fewer target (31) than Brandin Cooks (32) and while Thomas ranks third in terms of fantasy points among Saints' receivers, the 4.3 points separating him from Cooks is not significant. What's more, Thomas is the only Saints' receiver that has logged double-digit targets in a single game this year and to ice the cake, he leads the team in red zone targets too.
With the Saints' poor defensive play from 2015 carrying over into the start of this season (NO is allowing a league-worst 32.5 points per game) it makes sense that Drew Brees is passing more than any other team except for the Buccaneers. That's great news for a guy like Thomas and his fantasy value going forward. The playing time is there, the opportunities are there, and Brees trusts the rookie in the red zone (he has scored red zone TDs in each of his last two games). Thomas is trending up as the most reliable option for fantasy owners on an offense that's averaging nearly 30 points per game.

PLAYERS TO TRADE AWAY

Matt Forte, RB, New York Jets
Matt Forte came out of the gate running wild this season, with three touchdowns and 264 total yards in his first two games. But in his next two games, which were both somewhat disastrous for the Jets, Forte collected a combined 107 total yards. He now has not scored in three of four games and has seen his snap count take a significant dip from a 78 percent average share the first two weeks, to a 54 percent average share the following two weeks.
His production has suffered because of the decline in snap share too, with his scrimmage yards declining each week and his average touches per game dropping from 29.5 for the first two weeks down to 16.5 in the next two.
Bilal Powell's playing time has increased, and he has out-produced Forte on fewer touches each of the last two games. The Jets offense is not the same without Eric Decker out indefinitely with a shoulder injury. Of course, the fact that the Jets have committed 11 giveaways (including nine interceptions) the last two games doesn't help Forte or any other fantasy asset from the Jets offense.
With games upcoming against Arizona, Baltimore, Los Angeles, and New England in four of the Jets next seven games, Forte would be an ideal trade piece before things get even worse. Maybe wait to see if he can have a decent outing against Pittsburgh on Sunday before putting Forte on the block, but consider yourself warned.

Mark Ingram, RB, New Orleans Saints
Heading into the Saints Week 5 bye, Mark Ingram was just starting to heat up for his fantasy owners. He's scored in two consecutive games and his snap count has been on a steady increase since Week 1. He's also seeing more work as a pass-catcher with a combined 13 targets in his last two games after seeing just six total in the first two. So why trade Ingram away? Two main reasons really. First, John Kuhn. In Week 4, Kuhn had three touchdowns, all of which came from inside the 5-yard line. This is not a good development for Ingram's fantasy ceiling going forward.
The second reason to move Ingram, is because his upcoming schedule is extremely unfavorable. The Saints face Carolina, Seattle, Denver, Carolina (yes, again) and Los Angeles in five of their next seven games. That's five. Match ups where you're really going to have to think about whether or not you want to start Ingram, and with bye weeks making options slimmer, you might not have any other options.
When you combine Kuhn's increased role as the go-to guy in short-yardage and goal-line situations with the Saints upcoming schedule you can see why there is no better time than now to move Ingram.

 

[Greenbacks]

Start 'Em




Start of the Week - Ben Roethlisberger vs. New York Jets

Roethlisberger went nuts in last week's win over the Chiefs, throwing five touchdown passes in what was a serious laugher. Next up is a home date with the Jets, who have allowed an average of almost 20 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks. Big Ben has also averaged 27.4 fantasy points in his last five contests at home.





Derek Carr vs. San Diego Chargers

Carr has been on fire to start the season, scoring 23-plus fantasy points in three of his first four starts. Owners should continue to lean on him against the Chargers, who have surrendered the fifth-most passing yards (1,230) and an average of 18 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. Get this Carr out on the open road, fans.





Philip Rivers vs. Oakland Raiders

Listed as a start 'em last week, Rivers went for 321 yards, two touchdowns and scored almost 19 fantasy points in a loss to the Saints. I'd keep him active versus the Raiders, as the Silver & Black have surrendered the third-most fantasy points (21.51 PPG) to quarterbacks. Rivers has also had a lot of success in Oakland.





Andy Dalton vs. Dallas Cowboys

Dalton has put up two straight poor stat lines, but I like him to rebound in a plus matchup against the Cowboys. Their defense has allowed 18-plus fantasy points to three of their first four opposing quarterbacks, including Kirk Cousins and Brian Hoyer. Dallas has also allowed nine touchdown passes in their last three home games.





Carson Wentz vs. Detroit Lions

Wentz has been better than advertised, scoring 19-plus fantasy points in two of his first three starts including a 21-point performance against the Steelers in Week 3. He's a nice bye-week option against the Lions, who have given up 12 scores and the second-most fantasy points (24.55 PPG) to opposing quarterbacks this season.


Sleepers:
Dak Prescott vs. Bengals, Joe Flacco vs. Redskins


Sit 'Em




Sit of the Week - Matt Ryan vs. Denver Broncos

I had Ryan listed as a sit last week, and wow was I wrong on that one. But here's the thing ... is Ryan now a must start? While he's been awesome in his first four games, I still can't advise owners to start him in a road game against the Broncos. Since 2015, quarterbacks have averaged just 13.3 fantasy points playing in Denver.





Matthew Stafford vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Stafford has been tough to bench this season, but he's coming off a bad week and a tough matchup against the Eagles looms. Philadelphia's defense showed it was no fluke in Week 3, holding Roethlisberger to 6.98 fantasy points before their bye week. This could be a game for Stafford owners to avoid if at all possible.





Kirk Cousins vs. Baltimore Ravens

Cousins has scored 17-plus fantasy points in three straight games, throwing for a combined six touchdowns with two interceptions. And while Carr put up four touchdown passes on the Ravens last week, their defense has still allowed the fourth-fewest passing yards (764) to quarterbacks. I'd err on the side of caution with Cousins.





Tyrod Taylor vs. Los Angeles Rams

Taylor has scored a serviceable 33 combined fantasy points in his last two starts, but he's not lighting with world on fire without Sammy Watkins. With a limited ceiling moving forward, the versatile quarterback is a tough sell for fantasy fans in what is a difficult matchup versus the Rams. Keep Taylor on the fantasy sidelines.





Ryan Tannehill vs. Tennessee Titans

Tannehill is coming off a terrible performance in a road loss to the Bengals, and this week's home matchup against the Titans doesn't bode well for his chances of putting up a monster stat line. Tennessee has surrendered just four touchdown passes and an average of 13.3 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks after four weeks.


Busts:
Ryan Fitzpatrick at Steelers, Brock Osweiler at Vikings

 

[Greenbacks]

Start 'Em




Start of the Week - Melvin Gordon vs. Oakland Raiders

Gordon continues to roll in the stat sheets for fantasy fans, as he's now scored six touchdowns this season after putting up a goose egg all of his rookie campaign. The Wisconsin product has another favorable matchup ahead against the Raiders, who have allowed an average of more than 23 fantasy points per game to running backs.





Todd Gurley vs. Buffalo Bills

Gurley has been one of the biggest disappointments in fantasy football after four weeks, but the matchups are about to tilt in his favor starting this week against the Bills. Their defense has allowed 23-plus fantasy points to two of the first four No. 1 running backs on their schedule, so Gurley should rebound for fantasy fans.





C.J. Anderson vs. Atlanta Falcons

Anderson ranks in the top 10 in snaps among running backs, and he's posted 20 or more touches in all but one contest. So despite some recent issues with the offensive line, I'd keep him in your starting lineup against the Falcons. Their defense has given up the sixth-most fantasy points (22 PPG) to opposing runners this season.





Jordan Howard vs. Indianapolis Colts

Howard has quickly become one of my favorite fantasy running backs. He showed off his skills to the tune of 132 total yards in last week's win over the Lions, and an upcoming game against the Colts makes Howard a solid choice again. Indianapolis has surrendered an average of more than 24 fantasy points per game to the position.





Latavius Murray vs. San Diego Chargers

Murray, listed as a sit 'em last week, put up a 2.4-point stinker in a win over the Ravens. Still, I like his chances to put up an improved stat line this week when he faces a Chargers defense that's been weak against the run. In fact, San Diego has surrendered the third-most fantasy points (25.98 PPG) to the position this year.


Sleepers:
Jerick McKinnon vs. Texans, Terrance West vs. Redskins


Sit 'Em




Sit of the Week - Ryan Mathews vs. Detroit Lions

Mathews had a hot start to the season, but he lost work to Darren Sproles and Wendell Smallwood in the game before Philadelphia's bye and could now be stuck in an unattractive committee. The veteran back is also going up against a Lions defense that hasn't allowed a rushing score, so beware of Mathews this week.





Tevin Coleman vs. Denver Broncos

Falcons coach Dan Quinn said that he expects Coleman to be active this week, but will he see enough work to be productive? The talented runner has sickle cell trait, which can cause complications for people under physical stress at high altitudes. I hope the best for Coleman, but fantasy fans need to keep tabs on this situation.





Matt Jones vs. Baltimore Ravens

Jones went off for 19.8 fantasy points in last week's win over the Browns, but an upcoming matchup against the Ravens is far less favorable. Over the last two weeks, Baltimore's defense has held the combination of T.J. Yeldon and Latavius Murray to a mere 5.2 fantasy points. Expect some regression with Jones this weekend.





Rashad Jennings vs. Green Bay Packers

No matter if it's Jennings, Orleans Darkwa or Paul Perkins in the lead-back role for the Giants, none of these runners are a recommended options against the Packers. While Green Bay's pass defense has been bad, it's run defense has given up the fewest fantasy points to opposing runners (9.0 FPPG) so far this season.





Jay Ajayi vs. Tennessee Titans

Ajayi looked like Miami's best runner last week in Cincinnati, but he's still mired in a four-headed committee mess ahead of this week's contest against the Titans. Even if Ajayi emerges as the "leader" of this backfield, it's tough to have much faith against a defense that's allowed an average of just 13.13 points a game to backs.


Busts:
Isaiah Crowell vs. Patriots, Theo Riddick vs. Eagles

 

[Greenbacks]

Start 'Em




Start of the Week - Kelvin Benjamin vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Benjamin has scored a touchdown in all but one game to start this season, and an upcoming Monday nighter against the Buccaneers bodes well for his chances to find the end zone again. Tampa Bay has allowed more fantasy points to wideouts than any team in the league, and that includes a league-high nine touchdown catches surrendered.





Emmanuel Sanders vs. Atlanta Falcons

Sanders is on a nice hot streak, scoring three touchdowns and a combined 38.5 fantasy points in his last two games. He'll be in position to put up another solid stat line against the Falcons, who have allowed six touchdowns and an average of almost 26 fantasy points per game to wide receivers. Consider Sanders a solid flex starter.





Julian Edelman vs. Cleveland Browns

Edelman had been a regular member of the sit 'em portion of this column, but that was due in large part to the absence of Tom Brady. Well, Brady will be back under center for the Patriots this week ... and Edelman should be in your starting lineups. He also faces a favorable matchup against Cleveland's questionable pass defense.





Jordan Matthews vs. Detroit Lions

Matthews has had his typical issues with dropping the football again this season, but he's still scored a touchdown in two of his first three games with rookie quarterback Carson Wentz. I'd keep him active for this week's matchup against the Lions, who have surrendered six touchdowns and the sixth-most fantasy points to wideouts.





Sterling Shepard vs. Green Bay Packers

Shepard has been one of the best offensive rookies in the league, scoring double-digit fantasy points in all but one of his first four games. He's a solid flex option this week against the Packers, whose banged-up defensive backfield has surrendered the third-most fantasy points (30.43 PPG) to opposing wide receivers this season.


Sleepers:
Steve Smith Sr. vs. Redskins, Cole Beasley vs. Bengals



Sit 'Em




Sit of the Week - Randall Cobb vs. New York Giants

Cobb has been buried in the sit 'em portion of this column for the better part of the last year, and he'll remain here until he shows some signs of statistical life. Since 2015, he has failed to score 10 or more fantasy points 16 times (19 games), and this weekend's matchup against the Giants defense isn't a favorable one on paper.





Stefon Diggs vs. Houston Texans

Chances are pretty good that you have to start Diggs, but you might want to temper your expectations. First, he's scored a mere 8.6 fantasy points in his last two games against the Panthers and Giants. Second, the Texans have held the trio of Alshon Jeffery, Jeremy Maclin and Edelman to a combined 22.5 points this season.





Will Fuller vs. Minnesota Vikings

Fuller V has been on fire to open his NFL career, so sitting him will be a tough choice for fantasy fans with four teams on a bye. Just keep in mind that the Vikings have allowed an average of just 13.5 fantasy points per game to wideouts this season. Their defense held another hot rookie wideout, Shepard, to three points in Week 4.





Terrelle Pryor vs. New England Patriots

Pryor has become the Browns' top option in the pass attack, so look for Patriots coach Bill Belichick to target him in his defensive schemes. New England has been tough on wideouts in their last two games, allowing a combined 8.7 points to DeAndre Hopkins and Fuller V in Week 3 and 12.7 points to Buffalo's wideouts last week.





Golden Tate vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Tate is owned in almost 80 percent of NFL.com leagues, and 32 percent of fans started him last week. Both of those percentages need to be closer to zero, as the former Golden Domer has been a bust through four weeks. While coach Jim Caldwell still calls him "an integral part" of the offense, Tate needs to be benched (or cut).


Busts:
DeSean Jackson at Ravens, Tavon Austin vs. Bills

 

[Greenbacks]

[h=4]Start 'Em[/h]


Start of the Week - Delanie Walker vs. Miami Dolphins

Walker has had a tough statistical start to the season, posting fewer than five fantasy points in two of his first three games. I'm expecting him to rebound this week in a plus matchup against the Dolphins, who have surrendered 180 combined yards and eight-plus fantasy points to two of the last three No. 1 tight ends on their slate.





Kyle Rudolph vs. Houston Texans

Rudolph doesn't have a great matchup on paper against the Texans, but at this point he's matchup-proof at a position that doesn't have a ton of depth. The Notre Damer has now scored a touchdown in three straight games, and his rapport with Sam Bradford has been spectacular for fantasy fans. Keep Rudolph in your starting lineup.





Zach Ertz vs. Detroit Lions

Ertz has missed the start of the season with a rib injury, but he's slated to return in time for a tremendous matchup against the Lions. No team has surrendered more touchdown catches (six) to tight ends, and Atlanta is the lone team to allowed a higher rate of fantasy points (15.9 PPG) to the position. Look for Ertz to find success.





Zach Miller vs. Indianapolis Colts

Miller has emerged into a solid fantasy option for owners who needed a tight end, scoring three touchdowns in his last two games. Next up is a date with the Colts, who have been vulnerable to pass-catching tight ends like Eric Ebron and Hunter Henry. Miller also has a great rapport with Brian Hoyer, which makes him even more attractive.





Hunter Henry vs. Oakland Raiders

Assuming that Antonio Gates misses another game due to an injured hamstring, Henry will project to be a viable No. 1 fantasy tight end. Listed as a start 'em last week, he put up a touchdown and 12.1 points in a loss to the Saints. This week he faces the Raiders, who have surrendered an average of 8.4 fantasy points to tight ends.


Sleepers:
Jesse James vs. Jets, Cameron Brate at Panthers (MNF)


Sit 'Em




Sit of the Week - Eric Ebron vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Ebron has been one of the most targeted tight ends in the league, but he's dealing with ankle and knee ailments in addition to what is a brutal matchup against the Eagles. In their first three games, Philadelphia has held Gary Barnidge, Zach Miller and Jesse James to a combined 4.3 fantasy points. This is a week to avoid Ebron.





Jason Witten vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Witten has been on the field for 100 percent of the Cowboys offensive snaps, and he's been targeted more than all but four tight ends in the league. With that said, these opportunities have not equated into fantasy points as he's failed to score more than 5.1 points in each of his last three contests. Keep Witten on the sidelines.





Dennis Pitta vs. Washington Redskins

Pitta is seeing a lot of targets from Joe Flacco, but does that make him startable in fantasy land? He's put up fewer than five points in three of four games this season, and the veteran has yet to find the end zone. Pitta also has a tough matchup in Week 5, as the Redskins have allowed 4.8 points per game to tight ends in 2016.





Dwayne Allen vs. Chicago Bears

Allen scored an impressive 13.3 fantasy points in his first game of the season. Since then, he's posted a combined eight points with no touchdown catches. This weekend he faces the Lions, who have held the likes of Witten and Ebron to minimal fantasy totals. With Jack Doyle also in the mix, Allen can't be trusted in fantasy land.





Charles Clay vs. Los Angeles Rams

Clay might have seen more targets in the absence of Sammy Watkins last week, but he finished with a mediocre 47 yards in a win over the Patriots. Next up is a date with the Rams, who haven't been great against tight ends overall but did hold Jimmy Graham to 4.2 fantasy points in Week 2. You can find better options on the wire.


Busts:
Gary Barnidge vs. Patriots, Jacob Tamme at Broncos

 

[Greenbacks]

Start 'Em

vs.
Start of the Week - Carolina Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Panthers got worked by Matt Ryan, Julio Jones and the Falcons offense last week, but their defense still scored a respectable seven fantasy points. I think this unit gets into the double digits on Monday night, as turnover-prone quarterback Jameis Winston (10 giveaways) and the Buccaneers come to town. Start Carolina.


vs.
New England Patriots vs. Cleveland Browns

Tom Brady is back! While his return makes the Patriots more fantasy friendly on the offensive side of the football, owners should also consider their defense a starting option this week. Coach Bill Belichick will do everything he can to confuse Cody Kessler, so I wouldn't be shocked if the Patriots found success this week.


vs.
Buffalo Bills vs. Los Angeles Rams

The Bills defense has been on fire, scoring 10 or more fantasy points in three of the last four weeks including a combined 37 points in their last two games. Next on the schedule is a date with Case Keenum and the Rams, who have been a favorable team for opposing fantasy defenses. Buffalo should be a top-10 unit this week.


vs.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New York Jets

The Steelers defense hasn't been great in the stat sheets overall, but an upcoming matchup against Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Jets makes them a viable streamer. The Amish rifle has been throwing interceptions (10) at a ridiculous rate, which explains why the Jets have become the best matchup for opposing defenses in 2016.


Sleepers:
Rams defense vs. Bills, Dolphins defense vs. Titans


Sit' Em

vs.
Sit of the Week - Houston Texans vs. Minnesota Vikings

The loss of superstar lineman J.J. Watt didn't stop the Texans from scoring 10 fantasy points last week, but that was against Marcus Mariota and the Titans. This week, Houston faces a tougher task on the road against Minnesota. After the first four weeks, defenses have averaged a mere 3.5 fantasy points against them.


vs.
New York Jets vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Jets defense has been a massive disappointment for fantasy owners this season, scoring two fantasy points in two of their first four games. Things aren't going to get better for the Men in Green this week either, as a road matchup against Antonio Brown and the Steelers awaits. Fans should pass on New York this week.


vs.
New York Giants vs. Green Bay Packers

From one New York team to another, the Giants spent a ton of cash in the offseason to improve its defense. It hasn't worked in the fantasy world though, as the G-Men are tied for 29th in points at the position. If that weren't enough to keep them on the bench, then consider an upcoming road game against Aaron Rodgers.


vs.
Detroit Lions vs. Philadelphia Eagles

The Lions defense put up a respectable nine fantasy points in last week's loss to the Bears, and a game against a rookie quarterback would normally be considered a positive matchup. That's not the case with Carson Wentz, who has played like a veteran in three pro starts. This isn't a week to roll out Detroit's defense.


Busts:
Bengals defense at Cowboys, Falcons defense at Broncos

 

[Greenbacks]

Start 'Em



vs.
Start of the Week - Adam Vinatieri vs. Chicago Bears

Old reliable, Vinatieri ranks fifth in fantasy points among kickers after the first four weeks. The future Hall of Famer has scored 10 or more points in three of four games, and he should make it four of five when he faces the Bears this week. Chicago has surrendered an average of almost 10 fantasy points a game to opposing kickers.




vs.
Mason Crosby vs. New York Giants

Crosby, a free agent in 50 percent of NFL.com leagues, should be considered a solid option when the Packers host the Giants. In their first four games, Big Blue has allowed more fantasy points to kickers (11.7 PPG) than any team in the league. That includes 17-point performances from both Dan Bailey and Dustin Hopkins this year.




vs.
Graham Gano vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Gano has scored just 11 combined fantasy points in his last two games, but I expect him to rebound when the Panthers host Tampa Bay on Monday Night Football. The Buccaneers have allowed an average of almost 10 fantasy points per game to kickers, and no kicker has scored fewer than nine points against them this season.




vs.
Josh Brown vs. Green Bay Packers

Brown put up a four-point stinker in last week's loss to the Vikings, but he has scored 19 combined points in his previous two contests. He's also in line to make a bigger impact in Green Bay against a Packers team that has surrendered an average of close to 10 fantasy points per contest to kickers. Start Brown with confidence.


Sleepers:
Connor Barth at Colts, Andrew Franks vs. Titans


Sit 'Em



vs.
Sit of the Week - Matt Prater vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Prater has been a solid option for fantasy fans over the last two weeks, scoring a combined 19 points against the Packers and Bears. Unfortunately, this week's matchup against the Eagles isn't as favorable. Philadelphia hasn't given up more than four fantasy points to an opposing booter this season, so Prater is a clear sit 'em.




vs.
Nick Novak vs. Minnesota Vikings

Novak has been one of the most underrated kickers in fantasy land this season, scoring at least 11 points in three of his first four games (he was a sleeper in this space last week). With that said, it's tough to recommend him when the veteran has a matchup against the Vikings next on the schedule. Keep Novak on the sidelines.




vs.
Matt Bryant vs. Denver Broncos

Bryant has been a fantasy machine, scoring no fewer than nine fantasy points in each of his first four games. So while it might be tough to bench him, keep in mind that the veteran could be in for a bad week against a Denver defense that has given up an average of just six fantasy points per game to opposing kickers in 2016.




vs.
Sebastian Janikowski vs. San Diego Chargers

Fantasy owners might think the Chargers have given up a lot of points to kickers because of their questionable defense, but the opposite has been true. In fact, the team has allowed an average of just six fantasy points per game (the defense has allowed 12 extra points). As a result, Janikowski should be out of your lineups.


Busts:
Dustin Hopkins at Ravens, Mike Nugent at Cowboys

 

[Greenbacks]

QB Index: Matt Ryan for MVP! Russell Wilson hot early.

Pete Carroll can find the sunny side to any storm, so he probably views Russell Wilson's injuries this season as a blessing in disguise.
Wilson's diminished mobility forced him to operate from the pocket the last two weeks and resulted in a pass-first Seattle offense we expected to see all along this season. It's hard to overstate how accurate and electric Wilson was against the Jets, delivering touch passes and fastballs past defenders seemingly in good position.
This was an artist excelling precisely because he was given limitations. Without mind-bending escape tricks available as an option, Wilson had to speed up his decisions. He danced like Brady in the pocket, rather than spinning backward on an unlimited canvas.
With a bye week for Wilson to get healthy, the rest of the NFC should be worried. Peak Jimmy Graham is back and Seattle's defense is more talented than ever. Wilson's annually a slow starter, but it only took two weeks for the 27-year-old to recapture his MVP form from the second half of 2015. If he can dissect a quality defense like the Jets' unit without all his tools available, what's he going to do when healthy?
This is the Quarterback Index. We rank every starter based on their 2016 performance alone. (So, yes, Tom Brady fans -- you'll have to wait until next week for his inclusion.) For comparison's sake, here is last week's edition.

Matt Ryan gets his own tier for one week

1) Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons
Ryan's dream day against the Panthers was a triumph for Falcons fans, Julio's fantasy owners and me. It provided an easy answer to the question, Who has played quarterback best through one quarter of a muddled season?
Ryan's statistical dominance snuck up like that sleepy Falcons season on "Hard Knocks." He's averaging a staggering 10.52 yards per attempt, more than 2 yards clear of every other NFL quarterback. To put that in perspective, the same gap exists between No. 2 in YPA (Andy Dalton) and No. 28 (Browns rookie Cody Kessler). Ryan is lapping the field.
Until the indoor fireworks show against Ron Rivera's secondary, Ryan's 2016 season was a slow burn. He was playing within himself, relying on quick decisions, great protection and excellent play calling to methodically move the ball. Watching receivers pop up wide open all over the field was reminiscent of coordinator Kyle Shanahan's hot hand early in the 2014 season with Brian Hoyer in Cleveland. Shanahan has far more talent at his disposal now, and it showed up in a Panthers game where Ryan connected on five throws that traveled 20 air yards. (He completed six such throws in the first three games combined.)
A quarterback's "weapons" are often understood to be his receivers. But this Falcons offensive line is a weapon. The threat of Atlanta's incredible two-headed running game is a weapon. Scheme familiarity in Year 2 of Shanahan's system is a weapon. With coach Dan Quinn's Falcons defense playing worse than ever this season, Ryan will have to keep slinging the ball to win games. He won't sneak up on anyone the rest of the way.

Strong starts

2) Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks
3) Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers
4) Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles
5) Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders
6) Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
7) Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
8) Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts
9) Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers
10) Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions

Ryan did me a favor by standing out this week because there is so little separation in the rest of the top 10. Roethlisberger, Rodgers, Luck, Newton and Stafford have all thrown in duds alongside their best games. Wentz has done virtually nothing wrong thus far, but he's asked to do a lot less than the rest of this tier.
Carr's numbers would be even better if not for some untimely drops, penalties and mistakes from teammates. He is a coach's dream as a young quarterback because you know what you're getting every week. He is nearly impossible to get on the ground and mixes in the occasional postcard-picture throw, like his game-winner to Michael Crabtree last week. But he's ranked in the top five after a month mostly because he's even steadier than his elders at the position.
NFL Network's Reggie Wayne is not just standing up for an ex-teammate when he blames the Colts organization for Luck's struggles. Aside from the Week 2 game in Denver, Luck is back to playing like a top-10 quarterback on an individual level. His supporting cast, though ...
It's a bad sign when Carolina's offensive line can't protect Cam Newton well against Atlanta's lackluster pass rush. The Panthers' magic up front from a year ago is sorely missing thus far. Usually the team with the most synchronized and complex running game in football, Carolina has too often lacked rhythm on the ground. From ugly handoffs to blown assignments, the Panthers' struggling running game has directly led to Newton's slow start as passer.

Next level

11) Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
12) Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals
13) Sam Bradford, Minnesota Vikings
14) Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens
15) Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers
16) Trevor Siemian, Denver Broncos
17) Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals
18) Alex Smith, Kansas City Chiefs

Prescott just assumes he'll make the first unblocked defender miss. He dispatches with professional pass rushers with the smooth calm of someone who's done it all before. Even though Pro Football Focus ranks the Cowboys 23rd in pass blocking, Prescott has yet to perspire on the season. (Note: One of those statements is made up.) Only Andrew Luck has provided more value among quarterbacks as a runner in 2016, according to ESPN's QBR metric.
Once the prime meridian between franchise quarterbacks and question marks, Dalton has solidified last season's gains. He makes lesser teammates better, while also showing increased willingness to simply throw it deep and let A.J. Green make a play. Now that prime meridian, formerly known as The Dalton Scale, hovers around Alex Smith's reliable play.
The Chargers' offense is beginning to show the limitations of playing without Keenan Allen, Danny Woodhead, Stevie Johnson and Antonio Gates. The personnel losses force Rivers to be nearly perfect to win -- and he's missed more throws than usual this season.
Palmer suffered a concussion against Los Angeles on a four-man rush where both Cardinals tackles failed to adjust to stunting Rams defenders. That continued a trend of poor communication up front for Arizona. Palmer has not seen where the pressure is coming from the last two weeks, inviting opponents to get after him with impunity. This is not the sort of repeating problem you expect to see with a veteran quarterback and offense, yet the 36-year-old Palmer has proven unable to solve problems early this season.

Middle of the pack

19) Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
20) Tyrod Taylor, Buffalo Bills
21) Eli Manning, New York Giants
22) Brock Osweiler, Houston Texans

Taylor and Russell Wilson are the only two quarterbacks whose "grades" have improved each week this season, a sign that Bills coach Rex Ryan was wise to swap out offensive coordinators. Taylor is the best pure scrambler in football and has used his movement skills more the last two weeks. The Patriots had no answer for Taylor's throws on the run, a development that warmed Ryan's Wildcat Truther heart. We're about two wins away from Rex boasting at a press conference that he was "right about Tim Tebow" all along to no one in particular.
Eli refuses to be sacked this season. That shouldn't be entirely up to the quarterback, so it's fascinating to see one exhibit that level of control about the uncertain world around him. If Manning doesn't like the play or an unblocked defender comes after him, he just throws the ball into the turf. He's only been hit 10 times this year, less than Cam Newton was knocked down in one game against Minnesota.

Replacement-level quarterbacking

23) Kirk Cousins, Washington Redskins
24) Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins
25) Brian Hoyer, Chicago Bears
26) Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars
27) Marcus Mariota, Tennessee Titans
28) Ryan Fitzpatrick, New York Jets

Tannehill and Cousins have a strange gift to consistently look better in the box scores than they do on Game Pass each week. The Thursday night letdown in Cincinnati was one of the lowest moments of Tannehill's career and a reminder that he has less job security than his play caller for the first time. Jay Cutler losing his job long-term to Hoyer would be a candidate for the lowest moment of his career, but this is the same guy who was benched for Jimmy Clausen not so long ago.
It's not a good sign that Jacksonville started to coach around Bortles in the team's first win of the season. The third-year QB didn't even attempt a vertical throw in the first half against the Colts, as the Jags' coaching staff limited Bortles' exposure. Playing not to lose against an undermanned defense like Indy's shows a lack of confidence in Bortles that should freak out his fantasy owners.

Known unknowns

29) Case Keenum, Los Angeles Rams
30) Cody Kessler, Cleveland Browns
31) Blaine Gabbert, San Francisco 49ers
32) Jacoby Brissett, New England Patriots

Running back Carlos Hyde's a nice offensive chip in San Francisco, but the 49ers own one of the most talent-poor passing games the NFL has seen since the mid-2000s 49ers led by Tim Rattay, Eric Johnson and Cedrick Wilson. Chip Kelly requires execution above all, but his offense is consistently out of sync. The first play of San Francisco's game against Seattle had Gabbert running a play fake to no one. Gabbert threw just enough jaw-droppers against Dallas to raise hopes, but his "underrated athleticism" is overrated. He runs fast but isn't a natural scrambler and made a number of poor decisions against the Cowboys about when to run in Kelly's offense. Free Colin Kaepernick!
Brissett did the best he could, but ultimately performed like you'd expect from someone who was playing in the Belk Bowl 10 months ago. He gets the Patriots' spot on the list until Tom Brady provides some tape to evaluate this season. We like his chances of out-playing the rookie.