Fantasy football sit, start and last-second adds
Start-em: Derek Carr
Yes, I know. Start an Oakland QB? I must be crazy right? Wrong.
Carr has posted over 300 yards in his last two games, in both of which he looked impressive in wins over Cleveland and Baltimore. Over the same timeframe, Carr has thrown five touchdowns and only one interception. Every week, Carr has continued to build a relationship with with wide receiver Amari Cooper.
Cooper has over 100 yards receiving in each of his last two games. These two are turning into a fun pair to watch. I especially like this week’s matchup at Soldier Field against the Bears’ soft secondary.
For those of you out there that have lost your starting QB the last couple of weeks, Carr is a great waiver wire pick-up this week.
Sit-em: Justin Forsett
As much as it pains me to say it, it would probably be wise to leave Forsett out of your line-up this week.
Coming into the season, I was really high on Forsett. I reached for him in almost all of my leagues and was expecting a breakout year from the veteran out of Cal. I’m not ready to give up on him yet, but I’m close.
Through week four, Forsett is averaging a pitiful 41 yards per game and just over three yards per carry. However, the worst part is that Forsett has yet to score. It’s not all Forsett’s fault. The Ravens have plenty of issues to work out at 0-3, but it’s likely that Forsett’s carries will be siphoned off to Lorenzo Taliaferro if he continues to struggle.
This week’s match-up against the Steelers probably won’t be the breakout week Forsett needs either. The Steelers have only allowed about 90 rushing yards per game to the opposing team, and so far, have not allowed an opposing RB to score against them.
Forsett will be riding the pine in my leagues until he shows a little more upside.
Last-second pick-ups
Waiting to hear if one of your guys will actually play this week? Allow me to present you with some options for last-second pick-ups.
QB: Mike Vick
With so many starting quarterbacks out right now, Mike Vick could be a valuable fill-in for week four.
Sure, he’s old; sure he hasn’t had a “good” game in a few years, but Vick has stunned us in years past, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see that Vick has a little more left in the tank.
Vick is in a system in which he can excel, with weapons like Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown to take the pressure off of him. Plus, Baltimore’s defense is only a shell of the tough Ravens units we’ve become used to.
I don’t want to guarantee anything, but if you’re hurting for a QB, I don’t think you will be disappointed.
RB: Karlos Williams
The rookie has looked good in his first three games in the pros. Really good.
Williams has only averaged eight carries per game up to this point, but has averaged close to eight yards per carry and one touchdown on his limited rushes. Last week, Williams turned 12 rush attempts into 110 yards and a touchdown.
With Shady McCoy still questionable for this Sunday’s game, Williams is a solid fill in.
WR: Marvin Jones
Almost as important as talent is chemistry. Marvin Jones has seemed to find that with Andy Dalton over the last two weeks.
Jones has a touchdown in the Bengals’ last two contests and has been receiving more and more targets of late. Sunday he received more targets than everyone not named A.J. Green. Jones, it would appear, is turning into a bonafide WR2.
If the Bengals’ passing attack is anywhere near as good as it was last week, Jones is a must-add player in all leagues.
— Colby May is a senior majoring in business administration. He is an avid Packers fan and a successful fantasy football manager. Some people have called him the Vincent Van Gogh of fantasy sports. You can reach him at colbymay@aggiemail.usu.edu or on twitter at @may_colby7.