By Chet Gresham – @ChetGresham
Updated Sept. 24, 2016.
Follow @walterfootball for updates.
Jamaal Charles is out, which gives Spencer Ware another start. Ware has faced Houston and San Diego so far and has a 6.0 yards per carry average and a 19.7 yards per reception average. That receiving number will go down, but the guy has a ton of upside, even in a tougher matchup with the Jets.
Thomas Rawls is doubtful against the 49ers this week, so Christine Michael will get the lead-back work. Michael has looked very good so far this offseason and in the first two games, and should be worth your hard earned DFS money. In two games, he has 157 yards on 30 touches. The 49ers stopped Todd Gurley Week 1, but the Rams had a total meltdown in that game. Last week though, Fozzy Whittaker went for 100 yards on just 16 carries against them. They will be in Seattle and I expect the Seahawk defense to step up, which should allow Michael plenty of work with a lead or, at worst, a close game.
Sammy Watkins missed every practice this week after having his injured foot stepped on in a walkthrough. He’s questionable, but Rex Ryan says he chances of playing are “not real good.” Sit him no matter what you hear on Sunday. Marquise Goodwin, Robert Woods and Charles Clay get a bump in targets, but against the Cardinals, I think this mainly moves the needle toward trying to get the Cardinals’ D/ST on your team.
Antonio Gates is listed as doubtful after missing Friday’s practice. Rookie Hunter Henry will get the start in a great matchup, but he’s still very much a mystery as to how many targets he’ll see and how he’ll do, but I could see throwing him in a DFS tournament due to his low price and nice matchup. If Henry doesn’t take Gates’ targets, then Travis Benjamin and Tyrell Williams should see an uptick.
Julio Jones didn’t practice on Friday, but coach Dan Quinn seems optimistic about his status for Monday night. If he practices Saturday, I’d feel much better about rostering him. Mohamed Sanu, on the other hand, got in a full practice on Friday and should be ready to go. If Jones looks like he may be hobbled at all, Sanu could see a plethora of targets against a bad defense.
Brandon Marshall got a limited practice in on Friday and is listed as questionable. The Jets are calling him a game-time decision, but he is leaning toward the starting side of things. Unfortunately, it is a late afternoon kickoff, which is perilous if Marshall ends up sitting. Either way you look at it though, Eric Decker and Quincy Enunwa should see a bit more work.
Willie Snead didn’t practice on Friday due to a toe injury, but could practice on Saturday since they play Monday night. Hopefully we will have a better read on this after practice Saturday, because Snead has a good matchup and Michael Thomas would be a great play if Snead can’t go.
Ka’Deem Carey is listed as doubtful, so rookie Jordan Howard should be the main backup to Jeremy Langford, but with how Langford has looked, I could easily see Howard getting the “hot hand” treatment against the Cowboys.
Alshon Jeffery got a limited practice in on Friday and is listed as questionable. I expect him to play, but he plays Sunday night, so you will want to carry another receiver from that game or Monday night’s affair just in case.
Rashad Jennings will play with a cast on his left thumb against Washington Sunday. He was bad last week in a great matchup against the Saints, so I think the cast is an extra reason to drop him off your radar this week.
Delanie Walker is listed as questionable, but didn’t practice on Friday after being limited on Thursday. If he can’t go this does hurt Marcus Mariota, but would funnel even more targets to Tajae Sharpe.
Virgil Green is out with a calf injury. John Phillips will start in his place. C.J. Anderson could see a bump in targets this week.
Dolphins coach Adam Gase still hasn’t named a starter, but we know for sure Arian Foster is out. That leaves Jay Ajayi, Kenyan Drake, Isaiah Pead and Damien Williams, but Ajayi did lead the backfield in touches after Foster went down. It will be a committee, but if you’re desperate, Ajayi is the start against a weak Browns defense.
Jonathan Stewart is out and Cameron Artis-Payne will get the start, but will split work with Fozzy Whittaker. I think they cancel each other out too much with Mike Tolbert and Cam Newton around for short yardage. Whittaker could have some use in PPR, but the Vikings defense is stout.
Chris Ivory is listed as questionable, but does look like he will play. How much he will play is up in the air, but he would likely get all the goal line looks if he is active.
Zach Ertz has been ruled out, which elevates Trey Burton once again. Burton scored a touchdown against the Bears last week and gets a good matchup with the Steelers’ weak secondary this week.
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