SUNDAY'S FANTASY FAVES

October 3rd, 2015
Saturday

Week 4: Sunday's Fantasy Faves

After watching that scintillating performance on Monday night by the Packers quarterback, Aaron Rodgers how can you not like the Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton at home this week against the Chiefs secondary. Now we must temper our expectations a bit, since Andy is no Aaron, but with a full compliment of weapons and as well as the Red Rifle has been tossing the pigskin this season (8 passing touchdowns, 866 yards passing); he's a Sunday favorite.

This Sunday will be a good road test for the Raiders young quarterback Derek Carr, although some may not consider the Bears secondary (ranked 5th most points allowed versus opposing QB) a huge test. Anytime you have to travel across the country back east and play an early game, on the road, in front of a hostile crowd, in the windy city, you will be tested. Fortunately for the 2nd year QB, he'll be bringing some nice weapons with him. With 5 passing touchdowns and 726 yards passing Carr is among the league leaders and facing the Bears who have allowed 8 passing touchdowns (2nd most) this season he's looking to enrich his stats for 2015. Carr is definitely a Sunday favorite.

Looking at some of the backfields on Sunday, I am enamored with running back Karlos Williams of the Bills. He's been a beast for fantasy owners scoring on all three Sundays thus far and tomorrow could be four against the Giants run defense (ranked 10th most fantasy points allowed versus RB). With starter LeSean McCoy sidelined (ruled OUT for Sunday), Williams should see plenty of work. The Giants have been decent agains the run, but Williams with 186 yards rushing this season is averaging more than 7 yards per carry and has three rushing touchdowns; he's my Sunday favorite.

A second ball carrier I like is the Super Charger running back Melvin Gordon. The kid runs hard and does not shy away from contact. He will get a crack at the Browns run defense that allows the third most fantasy points to opposing running backs. Gordon has yet to really get the ground game going in San Diego averaging just over 63 yards per game and 4.3 yards per tote, but the Browns are giving up more than 150 yards per game (and better than 5 yards a carry). Gordon has yet to crack the end zone this season, but all could change tomorrow. He's another Sunday favorite.

A couple of other names I like tomorrow because of the matchup and trends; the Packers rookie receiver Ty Montgomery could get plenty of looks tomorrow against a shaky Niners secondary with wideout Davante Adams out. The Bills young quarterback Tyrod Taylor has been strong through three weeks and will face the leagues secondary that has allowed the most passing yards. Let's not forget Carr's newest favorite target and Raiders rookie, wide receiver Amari Cooper; the kid has been on fire with 15 receptions and 243 receiving yards with a score the past two weeks. And one more for the road, how about the Bengals wide receiver Marvin Jones. Quietly Jones has grabbed 7 passes for 142 yards and two scores the past two Sundays and tomorrow he gets the Chiefs secondary (9 touchdowns allowed to opposing receivers).

These are some of my favorites.

That's my take.

~David G

WEEK 3 FANTASY PICKS

September 27th, 2015
Sunday morning

Week 3 Fantasy picks

When is comes to fantasy football, there is no crystal ball to check or scientific formula to follow, although some of us may disagree. But what there is that you can count on weekly are your own eyes and football instinct. Neither of these may be enough for you to win, but they are sure a lot of fun to work with.

Having both of those tools at my disposal, I give you week 3 favorites for Sunday. Now mind you, these are not the regular fantasy studs you drafted in the early rounds (the no-brainer starts), here I am trying to dig a little deeper to find the diamonds in the rough, those low cost value plays needed for success on the highly popular DFS sites.

In the backfield, I am rolling out Raiders running back Latavius Murray (36 touches in two games). Murray should see plenty of work today against a Browns defense allowing the 5th most fantasy points to opposing running backs, including better than 5 yards a pop on the ground. And for a little sexy PPR appeal, Murray has snagged 10 targets for 10 receptions thus far this season.

Out wide I am looking at the Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin. Every Sunday Baldwin is heavily involved in the pass and at a low salary, he's a low risk play on DFS sites. In two games this season Baldwin has seen 17 targets, snagging 14. Now his production is not what we'd like to see with this much activity, but today I like his chances of doing more against a Bears secondary that has already allowed 7 touchdowns to opposing wide receivers.

Under center, I have a couple of quarterbacks I will be leaning on; Ryan Tannehill and Tyrod Taylor. Tannehill is a safe play this week and has a good matchup at home against the Bills secondary that ranks 3rd highest in allowing fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks.

Taylor faces a tough road test against the Dolphins today, but he's been exceptional (from a fantasy perspective) in his two starts this season and ranks 6th among quarterbacks (standard scoring). His five total touchdowns this season rank tied for third among quarterbacks; he should be good for one in the air and one on the ground today.

Lastly, the quarterbacks safety blanket (tight end) that I am eye-balling on DFS sites today is Greg Olsen. A likely start for most owners that drafted him and today one that should pay off. After a slow start in week one (3 targets, one catch), Olsen turned things around a bit in week 2 catching 6 of 14 passes thrown his direction.He's still without a score this season, but facing a depleted Saints defense that ranks 13th worst versus opposing tight ends he should see plenty of action again this week and could finally find paydirt. In his last meeting against the Saints back in 2014, Olsen hauled ins 10 of 11 passes for 72 yards and a score; could we see a similar performance today? Time to check those crystal balls.

That's my take for Sunday, week 3.

~David G