Don’t fall in love with a mouth-breather
Imagine this: you see someone from across the room that catches your eye. You admire from afar, but can’t build up the courage to go talk to them. One day, the opportunity sort of falls in your lap, and you two really hit it off. You eventually form a relationship and things are going so well that you decide to move in together! And that’s when you realize you’re in love with a doo-doo head. A real mouth breather. How could you be so stupid? You can no longer stand being with this person. So how do you get rid of them? Do you make someone else take them? Just leave them on the street, mouth-breathing in the cold? This ladies and gentleman, this is what drafting a bust is like.
How do you know when to move on from a bad draft pick, especially one you fell in love with all offseason? The first step in your breakup is the hardest: are you sure he’s a bad player? Determining if your player is bad or having a bad streak is harder than anything. I thought for sure that Derrick Henry was a bad player last season. It turns out he just needed 13 weeks to get his bearings straight. If you’re sure your player is bad (I’ll leave that decision to you), then I suggest you try to trade him based on name value. If you drafted him late, then maybe you can just drop him. Just remember that you’re going to be alright and that there are plenty of fish in the sea.
QB – Daniel Jones
Look past the fact that he’s a rookie. Look past the fact that he played a susceptible Bucs defense. Dan was the man last week. He recorded the second-most fantasy points in a quarterback debut in NFL history, trailing only Eric Hipple’s dominant six TD performance in 1981. Whether you think his performance was luck-based or not, he plays at home against Washington this week. On Monday, the Redskins defense allowed Mitch Trubisky to throw three touchdowns, and Trubisky has borne a striking resemblance to a dumpster fire this season. Washington’s defense playing on Monday night means one less day to rest and prepare for Danny Dimes. If you’re not convinced already, Saquon Barkley is gone for at least four weeks, so the offense will have to rely on Jones’ passing and playmaking ability.
RB – James White
White missed last week due to the birth of his child. He should be fully prepared to return to his usual role in the offense this week. White hasn’t produced fewer than 10 PPR fantasy points in his two games this season, and this could be the first time he breaks 20. The Pats are away against Buffalo this week, which is easily the toughest defense they’ve faced so far. The Bills have only allowed three receiving touchdowns this year, and two have been to running backs. Expect the Pats to attack the middle of the field all game, utilizing mainly White and Julian Edelman.
Alternatively, Chris Thompson of the Redskins is a quality start in Week 4. Washington’s run game just hasn’t been the same without starting tackle Trent Williams. That being said, Case Keenum has been surprisingly adequate under center, and Chris Thompson is nearly a lock for three check-downs each game.
WR – Curtis Samuel
In Week 3, Kyle Allen took over for Cam Newton and threw four touchdowns. With Cam Newton already ruled out for Week 4, Kyle Allen will get the nod again. Samuel tied TE Greg Olsen with seven targets to lead the team. Their upcoming opponent is considerably better at defending tight ends than Arizona. They face off against Houston in Week 4, a team that hasn’t quite found its defensive footing this season. Samuel could be in for a high volume role yet again, making him a strong PPR selection.
In non-PPR leagues, look no further than Marvin Jones. Jones finally broke out last game, catching six for 101 yards. Detroit plays the Chiefs next week. Given Detroit’s difficulty running the ball efficiently, they’re going to have to throw to stay in this game.
TE – Will Dissly
You know the drill. The Seahawks play against the Cardinals this week. The Cardinals are downright awful at stopping the tight end. The starting tight end against Arizona this season averages 6.6 receptions, 106 yards and 1.3 touchdowns. This matchup against the Seahawks is coming at a perfect time for Dissly. The Bozeman, Montana native has three touchdowns in his last two games and is setting himself apart as the primary red-zone option for Russell Wilson.
T.J. Hockenson of the Lions is a strong candidate this week also. He hasn’t been able to replicate the magic of his NFL debut yet, but a matchup with the Chiefs could be his bounceback performance.