It’s become a trend in the early weeks that top players have been boom-or-bust. Two of the biggest extremes are Julio Jones and A.J. Green.
Jones had 17 catches for 406 yards and two touchdowns in Weeks 2 and 4, but in Weeks 3 and 5 he had just three receptions for 45 yards.
As for Green, he had 22 grabs for 353 yards and two TDs in Weeks 1 and 4, but just six catches and 88 yards in Weeks 2 and 5.
If you knew when to expect the highs and lows from these guys, you’d be golden. But unfortunately, not many can read the future and even if we could, no one would reasonably bench receivers like those two in any situation.
But that’s part of what makes fantasy football fun. If making weekly decisions were easy, then there’d be no excitement to fantasy football.
The best we can do is to focus on the most favorable matchups and hope it turns out.
There are some good matchups this week, and there are some ugly ones. Please don’t watch the Titans-Browns game if you can help it, although Marcus Mariota is a cheaper quarterback to consider in daily leagues.
The Saints-Panthers game is set to be plenty exciting for fantasy owners with how these two defenses have looked early on. If Cam Newton is back, expect him to be in for a nice game, while Drew Brees will try and match what Matt Ryan did to the Panthers defense a couple weeks ago.
My favorite Sammie Coates could be headed for another quality game against a questionable Dolphins secondary that features rookie Xavien Howard and first-year starter Tony Lippett. Do I even have to mention the other Steelers?
Coming off a bye, this should be a good week to back some Chiefs. While Jamaal Charles remains a question, Jeremy Maclin and Travis Kelce could be set for big days against the Raiders that continue to have problems.
Also off a bye, Russell Wilson could be the top quarterback of the week going against the Falcons. Atlanta has played solid, but traveling to Denver to face Paxton Lynch and then going to Seattle the next weekend will surely produce a different result for this defense.
Brock Osweiler hasn’t been good, but could have his best game of the early season against the Colts. Whoever Vontae Davis doesn’t cover, usually goes off and that was the case for Cameron Meredith last week. In addition, Colts nickel cornerback Darius Butler is questionable to play. This could be another big week for Will Fuller if Davis stays on DeAndre Hopkins.
And if Carson Palmer returns, the Jets seem like a perfect matchup for him, at least in the secondary. If he or Drew Stanton gets enough time, the Cardinals have the offense to exploit this beat up Jets secondary.
Elsewhere, I want to make sure everyone stops overrating Aaron Rodgers. He was the No. 1 consensus QB last week (I had him 5) and I’m not completely sold on the Packers offense being elite. Of course start him in standard leagues, but he’s not someone I’d consider right now in daily fantasy. He’s definitely not worth the price.
