Welcome to Week 10 of The Docket, a weekly column that will highlight rule and policy issues effecting players as well as offer strategy and advice on a select few players that you should be targeting or avoiding.
I wanted to switch things up this week and just focus on a few pressing situations since we are now deep into the season and are starting to look towards the playoffs.
Leonard Hankerson and Julio Jones (Atl, WR) – I would never say to trade Julio Jones, but for those preparing for the playoffs, you may want to consider trading Julio Jones. Here is the Atlanta upcoming schedule: vs Colts (Vontae Davis), vs Vikings, @Tampa Bay, @Panthers (Josh Norman), @Jaguars, vs Panthers (Josh Norman). As you can see Julio will have to go up against shutdown corner Vontae Davis next week and then in Week 14 he gets Josh Norman and Week 16 Josh Norman again. That’s as tough as it comes and he won’t be a recommended start on any of those weeks, although he is obviously not a player you can sit either. If you can get legit value for him, it is worth considering moving him. Maybe even get two great players. Conversely, with every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. While Julio will be on lock down, Hankerson, who should be fully healthy out of the bye, should be Matt Ryan’s go to receiver those weeks. If Hankerson is sitting on waiver wires, you may want to pick him up.
Upside Runningbacks and Handcuffs – At this point in the season there are only a few difference makers sitting out there so it is important to roster them if you have some space on your bench in case they get a shot. It is also important to own your running back handcuffs so you are not having to scramble for running back help if your guy goes down. Once again, we saw last week that Jeremy Langford was plug and play for the injured Matt Forte.
Here is a list of high upside running backs that are worth owning even if you don’t have the starter. These would be plug and play RB2’s with upside if they got a shot at the starting role:
- Jay Ajayi
- Tevin Coleman
- Karlos Williams
- Christine Michael
- Ahmad Bradshaw
- Jerick McKinnon
- Thomas Rawls
And here are the current running back handcuffs with some notes. Players with an asterisk are must owns:
Arizona Cardinals:
Andre Ellington* – PPR Leagues (Has weekly PPR value now)
David Johnson* – Standard Leagues
Atlanta Falcons:
Tevin Coleman* (Would be RB1 and is playing behind Freeman who is a small guy and may not hold up the whole season carrying the load)
Baltimore Ravens:
Buck Allen (Would be a big drop off if he took over, so not a must own)
Buffalo Bills:
Carolina Panthers:
Mike Tolbert/ Fozzy Whittaker/Cameron Artis-Payne (Would be RBBC so none really worth owning)
Chicago Bears:
Jeremy Langford* (We have seen what he can do, hopefully you got him)
Cincinnati Bengals:
Giovani Bernard/Jeremy Hill (If you can acquire both, it will give you peace of mind)
Cleveland Browns:
Duke Johnson Jr and Isaiah Crowell are the handcuffs for each other behind the leagues second best offensive line.
Dallas Cowboys:
Christine Michael* (If he gets a shot, watch out)
Denver Broncos:
C.J. Anderson/Ronnie Hillman (Hopefully you own both. Hillman is the starter for now, but he is best used as a change of pace back, so Anderson would certainly work his way back into the starting role now that he is healthy)
Detroit Lions:
A running back situation to avoid.
Green Bay Packers:
Eddie Lacy* (How is Fat Eddie not in shape?)
Houston Texans:
Chris Polk (Almost a RB situation to avoid)
Indianapolis Colts:
Jacksonville Jaguars:
Denard Robinson* (Would be the lead back and the RB to own in PPR leagues)
Toby Gerhart (Could steal some goal line work, potential value in standard leagues)
Kansas City Chiefs:
Knile Davis (His ego is hurt so he is dialing it in, but if given lead duties, he should be okay)
Miami Dolphins:
Minnesota Vikings:
Jerick McKinnon* (Would get the bulk of carries)
Matt Asiata (Will be the goal-line back, so valuable in standard leagues. Would envision him having 5 carries for 11 yards and 2 touchdowns)
New England Patriots:
Brandon Bolden for Blount
New Orleans Saints:
C.J. Spiller* (Would be a RB1 if Ingram went down)
New York Giants:
No need to handcuff anyone in this run game. What a mess.
New York Jets:
Stevan Ridley* (Ivory is an injury waiting to happen)
Oakland Raiders:
Taiwan Jones (Would get a decent number of change of pace carries)
Philadelphia Eagles:
Ryan Mathews* (Please tell me you own him?)
Pittsburgh Steelers:
Isaiah Pead (I think he gets the nod over Jordan Todman)
San Diego Chargers:
Donald Brown (Only if both Woodhead and Gordon went down)
San Francisco 49ers:
Nobody worth owning here. Total dumpster fire.
Seattle Seahawks:
St. Louis Rams:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
Charles Sims* (Could flirt with RB1 numbers if given the full work load)
Tennessee Titans:
Washington Redskins:
Three headed monster. Alfred Morris and Matt Jones handcuff each other with Chris Thompson the PPR change of pace.
DFS – PLAYS OF THE WEEK
Guys I'm considering as I put together my lineups. * next to guys I'm heavily targeting:
QUARTERBACKS
- Aaron Rodgers* (He should light it up this week)
- Matthew Stafford (Could be a shootout this week against the Packers)
- Blake Bortles (The Ravens are getting killed on the backend)
- Cam Newton* (Superman is as safe a plays as there is)
- Derek Carr (Playing at home and the Vikings defense isn’t as tough as they should be)
- Andy Dalton (Eifert and Green should go off on Monday night)
- Kirk Cousins (I don’t love him as much as other do, but it’s not like the Saints can stop anyone)
- Drew Brees* (This is going to be another shootout)
RUNNING BACKS
- LeGarrette Blount* (Should get even more carries now with Lewis out)
- Gio Bernard (The Bengals are favored by 11 points at home)
- DeAngelo Williams* (He’s an every week RB1)
- Todd Gurley** (He’s a sure thing, with upside at home against the Bears)
- Charles Sims (He’s been playing more and more in both the running and pass game)
- DeMarco Murray* (Finally getting it going and it looks like Miami is sliding back to who they were to start the season)
WIDE RECEIVERS
- Kamar Aiken (This could be shootout, good bet for 8 catches)
- A.J. Green* (Should go off this week)
- Allen Robinson** (A must play, should be in every one of your lineups)
- Randall Cobb* (A must win game against a bad defense, means he’s a must play)
- James Jones (Will find the end zone once again this week)
- Jordan Matthews* (Should go off in the slot)
- Stefon Diggs (Great play again this week)
- Brandin Cooks and Willie Snead (Should be a shoot out and this guys are both coming on)
- Brandon LaFell* (He may be the biggest beneficiary of Dion Lewis going down)
TIGHT ENDS
- Rob Gronkowski* (Not a bad week to pay up for him)
- Julius Thomas (If Hurns sits, Thomas should finally have his breakout game)
- Tyler Eifert (Excellent option as usual)
- Jordan Reed** (May favorite play of the week at tight end)
- Gary Barnidge (Solid matchup against the Steelers)
- Ben Watson (Should be good for at least one touchdown).
KICKERS
- Mike Nugent
- Steven Hauschka
- Mason Crosby
- Blair Walsh
- Kai Forbath
- Justin Tucker
DEFENSES
- Bengals
- Eagles
- Rams
SONG OF THE WEEK
This week I present Pusha T, formerly of the Clipse. He put out one of the better Hip-Hop albums last year and now returns with his new single Untouchable that you can check out below:
