Start ‘Em
RB Alfred Morris, @MIN: Morris did good work against the Cowboys on Monday night as he ran 18 times for 73 yards and a touchdown. He hasn’t been particularly good this year as he isn’t even averaging 4.0 YPC but with Griffin back in the lineup and a game that profiles as a close one, Morris is a solid RB2 this week. I can see him having his best game of the season.
QB Carson Palmer, @DAL: Carson Palmer has scored at least 16 fantasy points in all of his starts. He is one of three QBs to accomplish said feat with the others being Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck. He averages 38.5 pass attempts a game and is going to face a suspect Cowboys defense. With all the QBs on bye this week, Palmer is a great alternative and could very well be a QB1 the rest of the way.
WR Doug Baldwin, vs OAK: Baldwin has been targeted 20 times in the two games since the Percy Harvin trade. He has caught 16 of those for 184 yards and a touchdown. He has emerged as the primary option in the wake of the trade and against a hapless Raiders team, he should produce well.
WR Andrew Hawkins, vs TB: In the last two games, Hawkins has been targeted 12 times and has caught 12 for 200 yards and a touchdown. He’s going against a suspect Tampa pass defense and is the primary option with TE Jordan Cameron out. Hawkins could pay nice dividends in PPR leagues this week as he should be targeted quite heavily.
RB Jeremy Hill, vs JAX: Hill should be a favorite in seasonal and daily leagues this week as Giovani Bernard will miss the game. He is only $5200 on Fanduel. Hill is quietly more productive and efficient in the passing game than his running mate and can make some things happen after contact. While Jacksonville’s defense has played better over the last month, the game flow alone could make this a good play. Cincinnati is a heavy favorite and could be leading the majority of the day.
WR Rueben Randle, vs IND: In the first game after Victor Cruz’ season ending injury, Randle was targeted nine times and caught six for 74 yards. He’s gotten at least nine targets in every game since week 3 and is sixth in the NFL in redzone targets so the TD production will eventually come. If you’re hit by bye weeks, Randle makes for a nice sub, and in fanduel he’s only $6400 this week. That’s a very reasonable price for a guy with Randle’s ability and role.
TE Travis Kelce, vs NYJ: Alex Smith hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass to a WR all season. The Jets are 29th in fantasy points allowed to tight ends. The Jets run defense is still one of the league’s best. 1+2=3 If Kelce can’t get on the field for more than 50% of the snaps in this game, I don’t know if he ever will.
WR Mike Evans, @ CLE: He’s caught four passes in each of his last five games for decent yardage totals and has scored in two of his last three games. You could do a lot worse for a bye week replacement/cheap fanduel play.
Sit ‘Em
QB Tony Romo, vs Cardinals: Romo is injured and didn’t look right when he came back into the game Monday night. It’s too risky a proposition to put him in the lineup even if he does play.
RB Frank Gore, vs Rams: In the last two Niners games, Gore has toted the rock 25 times for a total of 58 yards. Carlos Hyde looming in the background and general ineffectiveness make Gore an easy guy to pass on for this week.
TE Vernon Davis, vs Rams: Since week one, Davis hasn’t scored and has averaged 2.5 receptions/24.5 yards per game. He hasn’t been particularly good and the Rams allow the seventh fewest Any Rams running back, @SF: San Francisco is stingy against the run, and well.. St. Louis’ running game leaves a lot to be desired. You have to be a new level of desperate to start any of them against that defense, I think. Avoid, avoid, avoid.
RB Le’Veon Bell, vs BAL: This is purely about DFS as you’re not sitting him in seasonal leagues. He is $8,400 on Fanduel. He’s scored one rushing TD this season, and had 59 rushing yards against the Ravens in the first contest. I’d let others take their chances while I look elsewhere.
TE Charles Clay, vs SD: Clay hasn’t had a particularly good season, and this is a terrible matchup for him. Nobody has allowed less TDs to TEs than the Chargers, and TEs have 91 yards in the last month against them. Avoid.
WR Percy Harvin, @KC: The Chiefs allow the third least points to WRs in the NFL. The Jets are a mess. Avoid.
WR Brandon Lafell, vs DEN: While Lafell has been pretty good of late, his competition stiffens this week as he goes up against Chris Harris and Aqib Talib. Both of those guys are having strong campaigns. I think Edelman returns to prominence this week after a slow October and Rob Gronkowski continues being himself. I’d avoid playing Lafell if I could.
WR Andre Holmes, @SEA: Seahawks are allowing the fourth least points to wide receivers this season, and this is a game that has ugly potential written all over it. Sit him.
Fantasy Savvy 