This is it. It all comes down to these final weeks. All the hard work you put in, studying the waiver wire, paying attention to injuries dating all the way back to pre-season. Hopefully your championship is in reach and it’s all going to pay off; you just have to finish strong. And hopefully, I can help out this week with my starts and sits. Here we go.
Starts
QB - Justin Fields, Chicago Bears (@ SEA)
It’s been abysmal for the Chicago Bears as a whole this year. This is a rare appearance with a quarterback in the Chicago Bears uniform on the Starts list. It just makes sense to start Fields this week. He’s matched up against a defense giving up the second most passing yards in the league while sacking the QB only 21 times, which is 2nd fewest in the league. Fields has looked solid the last two games against the Packers and Vikings, averaging over 250 yards passing and adding 3 passing TDs. He’s also had 16 carries for 109 yards during the past 2 games. It might feel risky, but Fields has looked better down the stretch and with his running ability he could finish as a top 10 QB this week.
RB - Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos (@ LV)
You may be worried to start Williams because it’s a running back by committee in Denver. I’m here to tell you to keep him in your lineup. Yes, Gordon has been getting his fair share of carries, but it’s not cutting into Williams' load at all. He has a total of 81 touches for 453 yards and 4 TDs over the last 4 games. He’s touched the ball 10 or more times per game all year long. Matched up against a defense that’s given up over 1,700 rushing yards this season along with 15 rushing touchdowns, play Williams and don’t worry because he will get his touches.
WR - Odell Beckham Jr., Los Angeles Rams (vs MIN)
Beckham had a down game this past week after being taken off the Covid list before the game. Despite the bad performance his previous 3 games he had 13 catches for 186 yards and 3 TDs. Look for him to have a bounce back game against the Vikings who have giving up the most points to WRs this season. Cupp is the obvious favorite target in the offense, but Odell should also be starting in your lineup this week.
TE - Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears (@ SEA)
Yes I know, two Chicago players on the Starts list? It might look funny, but a majority of TEs look funny this year. With the improving rookie Justin Fields getting better every game and passing the ball more, with a career high in both attempts and completions last game, Kmet is turning into a TE1. With a total of 32 targets over the last 4 it’s kinda hard not to start a guy getting that type of volume. He’s even more of an enticing matchup seeing that he’s going up against the Legion of no-more-boom in the Seattle Seahawks defense.
D/ST - San Francisco 49ers (@TEN)
Good defense in a great matchup vs a team missing its star player. Tennessee has only passed over 300 yards twice this year. On the other hand they have had two 200 yard games in their last 3. They are a very one dimensional team and are playing a 49ers defense that is very good against the run. They have only allowed more than 100 yards rushing once in their last 6 games. The cherry on top? Ryan Tannehill has been sacked a whopping 41 times this season and the 49ers have had 12 sacks over the last three games. They are available In 25% of leagues, so pick them up and start them this week and next week as well against the Texans at home.
Sits
QB - Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings (@ LAR)
It seems like every time you depend on Kirk to do well, he disappoints. Just a few weeks ago he made it back to back on the Starts list. Since then, it’s been downhill and downhill fast. Kirk was high on my board because of high yardage and very few turnovers. In fact a few weeks ago he had a total of 25 TDs to only 3 Int. The last 2 weeks he has only combined for 301 yards and added 3 Int to those poor performances. Now he’s playing a Rams defense that’s allowed only 14 passing TDs all year along with 15 interceptions. Keep Cousins on the bench.
RB - Jeff Wilson Jr., San Francisco 49ers (@ TEN)
Jeff Wilson will be sitting at the top of most waiver wires and he might be a good pickup but he’s not a start this week. He was solid against a poor Falcons defense and took advantage of it. Now he’s up against a Titans defense that has given up just 148 yards rushing over the last 3 games combined. They have only allowed over 100 yards three times this season. Wilson seems like the hot pickup but could be a dud this week against a stout defense. Keep him on the bench.
WR - Mike Williams, Los Angeles Chargers (@ HOU)
Yes, I know he’s playing Houston and you kinda just want to play anyone playing Houston. Well I would advise keeping him on the bench. Williams is a TD dependent starter but that’s not looking good as he’s only had 1 TD in his last 9 games. Houston is a bad team but they have only given up over 300 yards passing three times this season. That’s due to the fact they are just being dominated by the run game; giving up 798 rushing yards over their last 5 games. The Chargers will lean on their stud running back Austin Ekeler and Williams might rarely see the ball. Keep him on the bench.
TE - Tyler Conklin, Minnesota Vikings (@ LAR)
With the declining play of Kirk Cousins as mentioned before, Conklin takes the rough end of it. Justin Jefferson is the only guy catching balls at the moment and with so few targets, Conklin is not a good play. He’s only had 3 catches in his last two games. With a low target share and no TDs in his last five games, combined with Kirk not playing well, find another TE for this week.
D/ST - Arizona Cardinals (@ IND)
The Cardinals are a top 5 defense this year but as of late they don’t look like it. They just gave up 30 points to the Lions who have only reached that mark twice this season. They have given up 30 points on back to back weeks and now are playing a Colts team with the potential MVP running the ball. They have allowed over 150 yards rushing 5 times this season and it might be 6 after this week. Keep ‘em on the bench.
