RANKINGS UPDATE

The addition of Jimmy Smith to the Ravens defense this week has me dropping Tom Brady a few notches. Matthew Stafford’s matchup has me salivating for fantasy points, as Detroit has no running back who will take over on the ground. I’ve moved him up to QB2. Jameis Winston’s matchup keeps growing on me and not like a tumor. I’ve moved him up to QB6 in what should be a barn burner. Sam Darnold is still outside My Top-12, but I scooched him up a bit with Xavien Howard done for the season and Darnold in need of a strong game against this awful defense.

This week we won’t be able to call on the services of Matt Ryan, Drew Brees, and Jared Goff due to their bye weeks. Oh, and Andy Dalton as well, although he might be on a permanent bye with the Bengals. But we do have plenty of good matchups to get us through the lean times.

The best matchup on the slate will be for Russell Wilson, as he takes on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers putrid pass defense. I don’t use the word putrid lightly either. Take a look at the quarterbacks they’ve faced of late and their stats: Ryan Tannehill — 193/3, Kyle Allen — 227/2, Teddy Bridgewater — 314/4/1, Jared Goff— 517/2/3, Daniel Jones — 336/2, 28/2 rushing. Now they’ll take on Wilson, who ranks third in fantasy points scored per game. The Bucs are the perfect matchup for Wilson to thrive, as his main trouble has been usage due to Seattle’s rushing proclivity when the score is close, or they have a lead. Tampa Bay currently has given up a league-best 2.95 yards per carry while ranking fifth in points per game with 28. With a strong rush defense and more than capable offense, Wilson will be forced to do more than hand the ball off, which really should be the norm.

It was hard ranking Deshaun Watson anything other than No. 1 with Patrick Mahomes likely out this week, but Wilson’s matchup was too appealing. Watson will face a Jaguars defense that has lost Jalen Ramsey since they first met in Week 2. Watson had trouble in that first meeting, but I expect a better showing this week, as Watson is a fantasy points machine and matchup proof.

This fantasy season for Matthew Stafford has been meteoric compared to his ho-hum 2018, and now he gets to face the Raiders pass defense that ranks dead last in fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks. Stafford has four games with three or more touchdown passes through seven games compared to just one game of three touchdown passes last season through 16 games. There’s no doubt that he is getting to air it out more, and with Kerryon Johnson out for the season, Stafford should keep getting his shots.

Aaron Rodgers has put together back-to-back strong games, totaling 734 passing yards, nine passing touchdowns, and one rushing touchdown. That’s a far cry from his first six games where he averaged just .75 touchdown passes, but I believe Rodgers and Matt LeFleur are getting on the same page, allowing Rodgers to do more within the offense.

The first time the Cowboys and Giants met was in Week 1 when Dak Prescott threw for 405 yards and four touchdowns. This week they head to New Jersey, but they’re also coming off a bye, which means Prescott’s receivers should be as healthy as they’ve been since Week 1. There’s no reason to overthink this one, as the Giants pass defense hasn’t improved since they last met.

Lamar Jackson leads all quarterbacks in fantasy points per game, only dipping below 21 points in one game. His floor is exceptionally high due to his rushing ability, as no quarterback is even close to his 576 yards rushing this season. The Patriots defense is one we need to worry about, but it is a fact they haven’t faced anyone like Jackson this season, and they’re playing in Baltimore, where the Ravens thrive. I’ll take the stud quarterback in this one.

There are some exciting streamers at quarterback this week. Derek Carr, Gardner Minshew, Jimmy Garoppolo, and even Sam Darnold all have good matchups and are worthy of getting a look as a bye replacement.