“Waiver is needed for all readers. By following this advice you confirm you have read the liability release and understand the risks and responsibilities for what may result.”

By Joshua B, aka Generallyaware

In a world where you are scared to start Dalvin Cook, Jordan Howard, Larry Fitzgerald, Doug Baldwin and Jordan Reed, we should know by now that the “Studs” of preseason do not demand to be started without thought. Albert Wilson has scored more points than Amari Cooper. Kenny Golladay, Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd have scored more than Jarvis Landry, Keenan Allen, and Brandin Cooks.

I’m not saying many of these “Studs” shouldn’t be started, and won’t finish the season closer to where we expected. I’m just saying the idea that any player deserves a place in your lineup by name only should be fully dismissed by this time.

If you’ve been playing it safe so far this season but find yourself with a losing record and a low Points For then I’m guessing you’ve held on too tightly to the big names on your team. Meanwhile the teams that started Golladay and Ridley and Taylor Gabriel got big games that propelled them to wins. A normal lineup of “Solid” 15 point starts is not going to get you more than the 120 points needed for a good chance to win.

Make the picks that give you the best upside and chance to win, not just the lineup with the most impressive names or the highest “projected points” sum. Consider the range of outcomes for your lineup. If the ceiling is 120 then who cares if the floor is a nice high 100. You should rather take a 150 ceiling and 70 floor.

Don’t play fantasy football scared.

Duh Starts

Ito Smith, RB, Atlanta vs Tampa Bay

ESPN 5% Yahoo 5%

Freeman has been declared out again, and Ito has established a role for himself in this offense getting more targets and more looks in the redzone than even Tevin Coleman lately. Unless Atlanta gets out to such a lead that they run it out with Tevin, Smith should be involved vs a defense weak against receiving backs.

Deep Starts

Courtland Sutton, WR, Denver vs Los Angeles Rams

ESPN 9% Yahoo 6%

The Rams have shown weakness against larger receivers, whether it’s the Tight End like Jared Cook or a receiver like Mike Williams. Sutton is now fully involved in this offense and they will need some big plays to keep up with the Rams offense.

Antonio Callaway, WR, Cleveland vs Los Angeles Chargers

ESPN 22% Yahoo 23%

Higgins is out and the Chargers are giving up points to receivers. We’ve got the opportunity and vulnerability but we just need Callaway to stop dropping passes.

Dumb Starts

C.J. Uzomah, TE, Cincinnati vs Pittsburgh

ESPN 13% Yahoo 28%

Pittsburgh has been vulnerable to Tight Ends and with the Tyler TEs out for the Bengals that leaves Uzomah. I am better more on Boyd but among little owned TEs this is probably your best shot.

Start of the Week

I’m picking out one Deep Start that I think is the best option. I try to give various players at different positions because not all of the ones I give are available, but there’s usually one I think has the best chance at a big game.

Ryan Grant, WR, Indianapolis @ New York Jets

ESPN 20% Yahoo 8%

Doyle Out, Hilton Out. Grant was the leading target after Ebron last week. This is my best bet for lots of work among these little owned receivers.

Week 5 Review

• Not a great start to my Start of the Week when Washington went completely AWOL dropping to only 57% snap share and 2 targets.
• Albert Wilson was a near miss just falling short of the target 10 points.
• Christian Kirk should have been my play, though most of it came on one big 75 yard TD run.
• Ty Montgomery was not used quite as I had hoped. This game didn’t really go the way the Packers hoped either.
• Well Rhett Ellison is nothing if not consistent. 5.9 points last week and 5.7 this week. This Giants offense is just too inept to count on.

PPR	Name	Position	Category	ESPN %	Yahoo %
0	Washington, James	WR	Deep	7.00%	2.00%
9.3	Wilson, Albert	WR	Deep	7.00%	10.00%
18	Kirk, Christian	WR	Deep	11.00%	9.00%
4.8	Montgomery, Ty	RB	Duh	39.00%	18.00%
5.7	Ellison, Rhett	TE	Dumb	4.00%	5.00%
0.8	Grant, Corey	RB	Dumb	7.00%	6.00%