Trashman’s Fantasy Fallout Going into Week 5

Our world has gone a little crazy(thoughts and prayers to all those affected by the events in Las Vegas), and so has our fantasy football. It seems like every week, the whole situation is turned upside down and inside out with injuries. Fortunately for you, your loyal Trashman is here to find the waiver wire warriors who can make all things right – in the fantasy world at least. Here’s the fallout going into week 4….

 

Bears vs Packers

 

• If this is the best Mike Glennon can do, why not give the rookie you traded up for a chance to learn on the job? The Bears have a good enough run game and defense to compete – with decent QB play.

 

• Ty Montgomery‘s injury isn’t as bad as it seems. He’s day to day and the same can be said for Jamaal Williams. Aaron Jones is still a wise add, as he may get the start in week 5.

 

• The Packers keep getting lucky with injuries, relatively speaking. Davante Adams was concussed on one of the most grotesque hits I’ve ever seen, but that was the worst of it, which is saying something considering the severity of the hit. If he misses time, Geronimo Allison is the pickup.

 

Saints vs Dolphins

 

• Alvin Kamara is still unowned in almost half of leagues. If you’re a Dalvin Cook owner, he needs to be your top waiver add this week. He’s going to be a pivotal part of the Saints offense every week.

 

• Adrian Peterson is owned in more leagues than Kamara, which is insane. Drop him already.

 

• Willie Snead sat with a hamstring injury. There’s no Saint to pick up in his absence, if it lasts, unless Kamara is unowned in your league.

 

• There are no words for the way the Dolphins offense has been playing. I guess Cutler is continuing his role from Chicago as an uninspired morale killer. They get Tennessee next week, so I guess there’s hope if the Titans play anything like they did on Sunday.

 

Bengals vs Browns

 

• Joe Mixon couldn’t find any room against the Browns, which is disconcerting. We were hoping he could run away with the job this week, but it looks like Jeremy Hill and Gio Bernard will remain involved. The Bengals will lean heavily on their running game against the Bills next week, so keep him loaded.

 

• Tyler Kroft‘s career day was more likely the result of a weakness in the Brown’s defense than an indication of what we’ll see from him week in, week out. That being said, he should serve as competent streamer as long as Tyler Eifert is out, which is probably going to be often… throughout his career.

 

• Isaiah Crowell is pretty useless when the Browns are trailing, and the Browns are ALWAYS trailing. I’d say he’s a buy low, but I’m not sure his value is going to improve much if at all.

 

• Duke Johnson was the Browns’ leading receiver and target getter, which says a lot about the state of the Browns passing game. To be honest, Johnson is the only Brown worth starting and maybe owning, outside of dynasty leagues.

 

Bills vs Falcons

 

• Charles Clay is a must start if Jordan Matthews sits with a thumb injury in week 5. You should be starting him anyway, considering how inconsistent most of TEs are right now.

 

• Julio Jones suffered a hip flexor on Sunday, but fortunately he gets a bye in week 5. Mohamed Sanu also suffered an injury to his hamstring. If either or both can’t go in week 6, Taylor Gabriel and Justin Hardy are the next WRs up.

 

• Austin Hooper led the Falcons in targets with 7. He and Tevin Coleman may be the biggest beneficiaries if Jones or Sanu can’t go in week 6.

 

Jaguars vs Jets

 

• I’m going to go ahead and stop saying Marqise Lee is the no.1 WR in Jacksonville until he starts playing like it. Hurns is proving more valuable.

 

• Bilal Powell had his 2017 coming out party on Sunday, but Elijah McGuire didn’t look too bad himself. I liked him for the Garbage Grab in week 4, and his performance against the Jags showed why. Bigger than Bilal Powell, and maybe as fast, he’s going to get plenty of work against Cleveland in week 5 if Matt Forte sits again.

 

• Jermaine Kearse had a poor showing on Sunday, but he still led the team in targets with 7. He should have an easier time against Cleveland in week 5.

 

Lions vs Vikings

 

• The Lions have begun to realize that Ameer Abdullah is every bit the pass catcher that Theo Riddick is. Riddick is droppable outside of PPR leagues.

 

• Oh, what might’ve been, Dalvin Cook. There’s nothing more heartbreaking than an ACL tear, and that’s what Cook most likely has. All that’s left is Latavius Murray and a hobbled Jerick McKinnon. Murray is worth the add purely based on volume and not the fact that he’s a slug. Kyle Rudolph might get a bump in the short passing game.

 

• Case Keenum fell back to earth in this one. Division games tend to do that to QBs, and the Vikings face the Bears next week with no Dalvin Cook. Proceed with caution.

 

Panthers vs Patriots

 

• Of course Cam Newton delivers the week that you swear him off. Sure, he over and under threw balls with regularity, evidence that his shoulder is still wonky, but he was able to use his legs and his receivers stepped up against a woeful Patriots secondary. We’ll know if he’s really back when the Panthers face Detroit next week on the road.

 

• The week 4 Garbage Grab was buoyed by Devin Funchess‘ 2 TD monster, and luckily for those of you who didn’t play him, he’s still available in 75% of leagues. He should be owned in all formats as long as Greg Olsen is out.

 

• Christian McCaffrey is basically a slot receiver. He can’t do much between the tackles, so if he isn’t getting targets, he’s not doing much for you.  

 

• I’ve said before that Mike Gillislee is almost entirely TD dependent in New England, which is funny because he was a shifty utility type back when he was in Buffalo.

 

• Is Chris Hogan the no.1 in New England? I’m not sure, but I can say that Brandin Cooks is not. Hogan has the higher floor from what I’ve seen and his upside is just as high.

 

• Danny Amendola is still owned in only half of leagues. He’s a comfy flex start as long as he’s healthy.

 

Rams vs Cowboys

 

• Todd Gurley is the most dominant RB in the game after a 2016 that was anything but exceptional. A revitalized passing game and his role in it has made defenses respect the Rams through the air, which has made all the difference.

 

• I said in my “Cut Bait or Just Wait” piece that Cooper Kupp was worth holding onto, and his 60 yard, 1 TD performance is why. The defenses get more difficult for the Rams on the outside going forward, so expect him to continue to be involved.

 

• Was this the last week we get to use Ezekiel Elliott before he’s suspended? Maybe so. If that is the case, Alfred Morris looks like the preferred handcuff.

 

Steelers vs Ravens

 

• The Ravens put all their efforts in containing Antonio Brown, and it worked. Fortunately for the Steelers they have Le’Veon Bell who made them pay in spades. Hopefully this is the spark to get Bell going on a regular basis.

 

• Martavis Bryant is a luxury for the Steelers. They can win without him, and JuJu Smith-Schuster is proving to be almost as effective. It looks like Bryant will be up and down all season, making him more of a flex option.

 

• Terrance West may be the odd man out in Baltimore. Alex Collins looks like the favorite early down back, if he can hold onto the ball, and Buck Allen is the passing down back.

 

• Mike Wallace had 6 catches on 10 targets in week 4 after only 3 catches in the 3 games prior. He was playing his old team, so I guess there’s some narrative street cred on that. He faces the Raiders this week, so maybe he strings a couple decent games together. No other Ravens WR has.

 

Titans vs Texans

 

• Marcus Mariota is day to day, but could very well miss the week 5 matchup with the Dolphins. In that case, all Titan’s receivers would be downgraded, except for maybe Delanie Walker.

 

• The Titans running game was garbage before and after Marcus Mariota got hurt in this one. Murray only got one more carry than Henry, but they were both in the single digits. Fortunately, the Titans will need both of them this week if Mariota can’t go.

 

• DeShaun Watson was the first rookie QB to throw 4 TDs and run for 1 in a game since 1961. He’s officially arrived and can be used on a weekly basis, after doing work on the Patriots and the Titans in back to back games. Looks like the Texans may finally have an NFL QB on their hands for the first time in their history…

 

• Lamar Miller had the better game, but D’Onta Foreman is nipping at his heels with 13 carries to Miller’s 16. Foreman needs to be owned in all formats.

 

• Will Fuller came right in on his first game after suffering a broken collarbone in the preseason to score 2 TDs on 6 targets, second on the team. It was a bit of a TD dependent performance, as he only had 35 yards on the day, but it’s a promising start to what could be a beautiful relationship with DeShaun Watson. Pick him up where you can get him.

 

49ers vs Cardinals

 

• Aldrick Robinson led the 49ers with 12 targets, but it was largely an artifact of Patrick Peterson being on Pierre Garcon most of the night. Robinson was only in the game due to a Marquise Goodwin concussion.

 

• After a preseason in which it was questioned whether Carlos Hyde would fit into Kyle Shanahan’s offense, he is now on schedule for career highs in carries, yards, TDs and receptions. He’ll need it, as he has arguably the toughest schedule for any RB going forward.

 

• Andre Ellington led the Cardinals in targets and had the most YPC for any of their RBs. I said it in the Garbage Grab, and I’ll say it again, he needs to be picked up in all formats.

 

• Jaron Brown led Cards WRs in targets for the second week in a row. As perhaps the healthiest back other than Larry Fitzgerald, he deserves a long look in most formats.

 

Eagles vs Chargers

 

• You can get bullish on LaGarrette Blount if you want to, but he was in an even rotation with Wendell Smallwood and Corey Clement for most of the game. I still the Smallwood is the best option, as he catches passes in addition to running between the tackles.

 

• Melvin Gordon is hurt, but the Chargers won’t let him rest. Austin Ekeler did have a nice 35 yard TD scamper on his 1 carry, so maybe he’ll get a little more run this week.

 

• Hunter Henry helped out with a TD grab, but it was just one of 3 targets on the day. Antonio Gates had 2 more than that.

 

Giants vs Buccaneers

 

• Rookie Wayne Gallman looks like he may have already won the starting RB job in New York. Add him in all formats.

 

• This new look Giants offense may stick. Hold onto Brandon Marshall and Sterling Shepard.

 

• Alex hates Jacquizz Rodgers, but he’s proving to be somewhat effective. On a short week, he could be worth flexing even with Doug Martin back in the saddle.

 

• The Bucs offense looks decent enough to support 3 WRs. Adam Humphries should be added PPR leagues.

 

Raiders vs Broncos

 

• Derek Carr can’t catch a break. Maybe that’s a poor choice of words considering his back is literally fractured. He’ll miss anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks, during which time, E.J. Manuel will be under center. I don’t know that I want to start any Raiders skill players during that time, but maybe they’ll actually give Marshawn Lynch more than 10 carries a game now.

 

• C.J. Anderson carried the ball 20 times to Jamaal Charles‘ 5 and DeVontae Booker’s 3. I’m not seeing the timeshare.

 

• TE A.J. Derby led the Broncos in targets with 6. They were high on him coming into the season, and maybe he actually deserves a look in fantasy. That look is not coming from me though.

 

• No Denver receiver did much on Sunday, and that was in large part due to the Bronco’s strategy of playing keepaway with the ground game. No alarms yet.

 

Colts vs Seahawks

 

• I really like Jacoby Brissett‘s moxy. He looked like a real Tom Brady getting his team pumped on the sideline. Too bad it only worked for a half. He should actually be serviceable against the 49ers this week.

 

• It should come to no one’s surprise that the Colts’ receivers couldn’t get much going against the Seahawks on the road. I still feel ok about starting T.Y. Hilton and even Donte Moncrief in deeper leagues this week.

 

• We hardly knew ye, Chris Carson, and now you’re on I.R. with a broken leg. He was the ‘Hawks best back for a blink of an eye, and he still might be come playoffs. I wouldn’t hold onto him though unless your league has an I.R. designation.

 

• Fat Eddie Lacy steps into the starter’s role now, but Thomas Rawls is sure to have something to say about that. Rawls should be the top add of the two.

 

• Don’t get excited about J.D. McKissic as the passing down back. C.J. Prosise should return in week 5.