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| Wednesday, October 26, 2022 |
| Tony Pollard, who could be about to cash in that massive upside you've been hanging on to him for. |
| Pollard has, of course, been useful this season, averaging 10.1 PPR points per game with four games of double-digit production in PPR scoring. But, he hasn't been a consistent contributor, putting up 1.8 points one week with 14.6 the next despite fewer touches in the big game. It's not that he hasn't been good -- it's just that the Cowboys don't seem to care much about the anguished cries of Fantasy players everywhere begging them to bench Ezekiel Elliott, or at least significantly curtail his role. |
| Well, they may not need to in Week 8. Pollard gets the Bears this week, and might just get the chance to serve as the team's lead back in an incredible matchup. Elliott left last week's game with a knee injury and didn't practice Wednesday to kick off the week's practice, with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Clarence Hill reporting Elliott is likely to miss at least this week with a torn MCL and bruised thigh . |
| This is the opportunity we've been waiting for from Pollard, and it might be his only opportunity for now -- the Cowboys are on a bye in Week 9, so Elliott could aim to be back by Week 10. So, you'll want to take advantage of Pollard's chance to be the lead back, and expectations probably can't be too high -- he might be a top-six running back for me this week against a Bears defense that has allowed the sixth-most PPR points to running backs this season. |
| This is what you've been waiting for since you drafted Pollard. He's Jamey's Start of the Week, and he needs to be in your lineup almost without exception -- if you somehow have Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, and Derrick Henry, you might have to sit Pollard, I suppose. Tomorrow morning, we'll have Dave Richard's Start and Sit picks for Week 8 along with updates on all the injuries you need to know about. But for now, here's who Jamey is starting and sitting this week: |
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| Quarterback Start 'Em and Sit 'Em |
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| Start 'Em: Tua Tagovailoa and Kirk Cousins |
| "The good news for Tagovailoa in Week 7 against Pittsburgh was that he returned from his two-game absence with a concussion and didn't have any setbacks. The bad news was he scored just 17 Fantasy points, and he could have thrown four interceptions in the game. He now has one game with more than 17 Fantasy points on the season, so hopefully some big performances are on the horizon, starting this week against the Lions . Detroit has allowed an average of 22.7 Fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks this year, and four quarterbacks have scored at least 22 points against the Lions in six games." |
| Sit 'Em: Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford |
| "Rodgers has yet to score more than 20 Fantasy points in any game this season and is averaging just 16 Fantasy points per game in his past two outings against the Jets and Commanders. He should have another down game at Buffalo, especially with the Bills coming off a bye. Patrick Mahomes is the lone quarterback with more than 14 Fantasy points against Buffalo, and the Bills have allowed five passing touchdowns and 10 interceptions to opposing quarterbacks this year." |
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| Running Back Start 'Em and Sit 'Em |
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| Start 'Em: Travis Etienne and Raheem Mostert |
| "Etienne is a solo act now that James Robinson has been traded to the Jets. And it's fantastic that Etienne will be featured even more for the Jaguars because he's been great of late with at least 12 PPR points in each of his past three games, including a season-high 18 PPR points in Week 7 against the Giants when he scored his first NFL touchdown. The Broncos have allowed a running back to score at least 13 PPR points in five games in a row, and Etienne should be considered a borderline top-10 running back in all leagues in Week 8." |
| Sit 'Em: James Robinson and Kareem Hunt |
| "Robinson is expected to make his Jets debut in Week 8, but I would try to keep him reserved in most leagues. For starters, we don't know how the Jets will use Robinson in tandem with Michael Carter, and I prefer Carter this week given his role on the team. He should get the first opportunity to replace Breece Hall (ACL) as the lead running back, and I would use Carter as a flex. Robinson could be on a snap count, and that would definitely limit his upside. Let's also keep in mind the Patriots have only allowed two touchdowns to a running back this year." |
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| Wide Receiver Start 'Em and Sit 'Em |
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| Start 'Em: Tyler Lockett and Gabe Davis |
| "Lockett should have the chance for plenty of volume in this game if DK Metcalf (knee) is out, and Lockett has scored at least 11 PPR points in five of his past six games. He has four games with at least eight targets, and he's averaging 14.8 PPR points over that span. The Giants have a good secondary, but six receivers have scored at least 13 PPR points against them this year. I like Lockett as a top-20 receiver this week, especially if Metcalf is out. And you can consider Marquise Goodwin a sleeper in this matchup since he'll see an uptick in playing time and targets if Metcalf can't go, and Goodwin just had two touchdowns in Week 7 at the Chargers." |
| Sit 'Em: Diontae Johnson and Christian Kirk |
| "The targets continue to be there for Johnson, but the production has not. He has two games with at least 10 targets in his past three outings, but he hasn't scored more than 11 PPR points in any game over that span. He hasn't scored a touchdown yet this season, and rookie receiver George Pickens has shown a better connection with rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett . This week, Johnson is facing an Eagles defense led by Darius Slay that should make things difficult for him, and Philadelphia's pass rush could be a nightmare if Robert Quinn plays following his trade from Chicago on Wednesday. Even without Quinn, it will be tough for the Steelers to throw on the Eagles, and Johnson is just a No. 3 Fantasy receiver at best in Week 8." |
| Tight End Start 'Em and Sit 'Em |
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| Start 'Em: Pat Freiermuth |
| "This won't be an easy matchup for Freiermuth against an impressive Eagles defense, but I'll trust in his potential to produce given his body of work this year. He has scored at least 12 PPR points in four of six games, and he just had 15 PPR points in Week 7 at Miami with eight catches for 75 yards on nine targets. He could get most of his production in garbage time, but Freiermuth remains a top-10 Fantasy tight end for Week 8. The Eagles also have allowed a tight end to score at least 10 PPR points in each of their past two games." |
| Sit 'Em: Kyle Pitts |
| "Pitts continues to be the pits for Fantasy managers since he has scored three PPR points in four of six games this year and has just one touchdown. The volume hasn't been there for him with how well the Falcons are running the ball, and he has five targets or less in four of his past five games. I'm still hopeful that at some point the Falcons will open up the passing game, but that isn't expected to happen this week against the Panthers. Stash Pitts if you can, but don't start him in the majority of leagues." |
| DST Start 'Em and Sit 'Em |
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| Start 'Em: Titans at HOU |
| "The Titans defense was great in Week 7 against the Colts with two interceptions, a fumble recovery, three sacks and a touchdown. The Titans DST should stay hot this week against the Texans . Excluding a 41-point blowout by the Bills in Week 2, Tennessee has been stout on defense, allowing 22 points or less in every game. The Texans offense has only scored more than 20 points one time this season, and Houston has allowed at least three sacks in three of six games this year, with five interceptions. Expect another solid performance from the Titans DST this week." |
| Sit 'Em: Packers (at BUF) |
| "The Packers defense has underwhelmed through an inviting portion of the schedule, allowing at least 23 points in four straight games to the Patriots, Giants, Jets and Commanders. The Bills have the second-highest scoring offense in the NFL behind only Kansas City, averaging 29 points per game and 40 points per game at home. Expect Josh Allen to go off again at home against the Packers, who have one just two interceptions on the season and four sacks in their past three outings." |
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