Hot Fantasy Updates
Kirk Cousins- QB- Washington- Cousins passed for 324 yards and four touchdowns while completing 20 of 25 passes. If you started Cousins in your fantasy league, you like that. The 4th year QB out of Michigan State has eight touchdown passes in his last three games, but this week was still only his second multi-TD game of the season. Cousins put up a perfect passer rating with today’s performance, but you may want to consider other options for next week when he has a tough matchup against the Panthers defense.
Jeremy Langford- RB- Chicago- Langford had a solid day both on the ground and over the air. Subbing in for the injured Matt Forte, Langford made fantasy news by running for 73 yards on 20 carries and 109 yards on 7 catches while scoring two touchdowns (one rushing, one receiving.) Langford has stepped up as a workhorse back for the Bears and should retain that role until Matt Forte returns. He may be a risky play next week, however, when the Bears face the Broncos.
Martavis Bryant- WR- Pittsburgh- Bryant benefitted from the return of Ben Roethlisberger, playing the role of deep threat by hauling in six catches for 178 yards and a touchdown. Bryant’s TD catch was 32 yards, and he also had catches of 44 and 64 yards, which may have been helpful in leagues with bonuses for big gains. Bryant and the Steelers have a Bye next week, but plug him right back in when he returns in two weeks, even against the notoriously difficult Seahawks defense.
Charcandrick West- RB- Kansas City- West earned the job after Jamaal Charles went down for the season and has not looked back since, reaching the 100 total yard plateau and scoring a touchdown in his last three games. West also added a receiving TD and three catches while racking up 161 total yards. If this is what West can do against a Broncos defense that had ceded the fewest yards per carry to opposing running backs, look for him to provide solid contributions on a weekly basis.
Not Fantasy Updates
Peyton Manning- QB- Denver- Have you ever wondered what it’s like to see greatness fade before your very eyes? If you watched the Broncos play Sunday, you saw it. Manning made sporting news and history by breaking Brett Favre’s career yardage record during the game, but then he threw for only 35 yards and four interceptions before getting benched for backup Brock Osweiler. Coach Gary Kubiak admitted he made a mistake in letting the injured Manning play, and he will likely be held out of next week’s matchup.
Darren McFadden- RB- Dallas- Run-DMC slowed up this week, totaling the fewest number of yards since assuming the starting job, with only 32 rushing yards on 17 carries and 26 receiving yards on three catches. McFadden also had the fewest carries since earning the job, but that could be attributed to the Cowboys’ passing game not working at full steam. McFadden may have a few duds until Tony Romo returns as starting QB, but he should shine once the offense returns to full strength.
Alshon Jeffery- WR- Chicago- Jeffery caught three of four targets for just 23 yards in the Bears’ big win over the Rams. QB Jay Cutler spread the production around to other targets while Jeffery withered in double coverage. Jeffery tends to be targeted on a regular basis and should see his numbers bounce back, even with a tough matchup next week against the Broncos.
Sammy Watkins- WR- Buffalo- Watkins spent most of the game on “Revis Island,” as the Jets cornerback covered Watkins most of the game and held him to three catches and 14 receiving yards. QB Tyrod Taylor targeted Watkins seven times, but the Jets’ D capped Watkins’ upside. Write this one off as a bad game against a tough defense, and trust a healthy Watkins to receive a steady diet of targets as the season progresses.
