Quarterbacks

Start ‘Em

Derek Carr (vs. Chi) – The Saints offense exploded for 38 points last week and it came at a perfect time. Carr and the New Orleans offense were heavily scrutinized the week before and Carr was visibly frustrated. It was nice to see him back bounce under increased pressure and next up they get the lowly Bears at home. Expect Carr and the Saints offense to continue to roll as the Bears are giving up an average of 19.6 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks.

Sit ‘Em

Geno Smith (@ Bal) – Geno Smith hasn’t quite been the same player as he was last year. So far that hasn’t hurt the Seahawks as they are 5-2 and lead the NFC West. If he keeps playing like this though it could hurt their chances down the stretch. Up next they have to travel cross-country to Baltimore where the Ravens have been tough at home. Smith will have difficulties moving the ball against this Ravens defense and it’s best to sit him this week.

Running Backs

Start ‘Em

Joe Mixon (vs. Buf) – Mixon has been somewhat disappointing this season but did show signs of breaking out last week. He finished with his best performance of the year against the 49ers and racked up 87 rushing yards and 1 touchdown. Up next the Bengals will face the Bills at home and I like Mixon to continue to improve. The Bills can at times be vulnerable against the run and I expect this to be a high-scoring contest.

Sit ‘Em

Rhamondre Stevenson (vs. Wsh) – Stevenson has really been a dud the season and that will continue on Sunday vs. the Commanders. At this point in the season, it’s hard to justify starting Stevenson who has yet to break 60 yards rushing in a game. The Commanders defense is vulnerable against the pass but they have held their own against running backs.

Wide Receivers

Start ‘Em

Michael Pittman Jr. (@ Car) – Look for Pittman to have another big game on Sunday vs. the Panthers. Pittman is starting to come into his own and has had great chemistry with quarterback Gardner Minshew. He’s had 32 targets in his last three games including 2 touchdowns during that span. Up next is the Panthers defense who have struggled against the deep ball.

Sit ‘Em

DeVonta Smith (vs. Dal) – Smith has had his moments but hasn’t been consistent enough this season. He has had some puzzling drops this year and at times disappears from the game plan for the Eagles. Up next Philadelphia will face the Dallas defense that has locked down the receiver position despite key injuries. I’m not giving up on Smith yet but sitting him for this game.

Tight Ends

Start ‘Em

Taysom Hill (vs. Chi) – Hill has been one of the surprises over the last two weeks including finishing as TE1 last week. Hill has been used heavily in the run game for the Saints but also has 14 targets in his last 3 games. Expect Hill to continue to get utilized for New Orleans who will look to attack the weak Bears defense.

Sit ‘Em

Dalton Schultz (vs. TB) – Before last week’s dud, Shultz had three consecutive weeks with receiving touchdowns for the Texans. I still like Schultz long term but not this week. He will face a Buccaneers defense that is allowing just 5.9 fantasy points to opposing tight ends. Sit Schultz this week but keep him on your roster.

Start of the Week

Gardner Minshew (@ Car) – Minshew is our start of the week as he has a favorable matchup on Sunday. Minshew and the Colts offense have put up 38+ points the last two weeks and I see them putting up big numbers vs. Carolina. Minshew is averaging 19.2 fantasy points per game in his 4 starts and I see him getting 20+ again this week. Really the only thing holding him back is the turnovers (5 int’s the last 3 games). If he can eliminate the mistakes Minshew will be a plus starter the rest of the way.

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Quarterbacks

Joshua Dobbs – (3.6% Owned)

Now that we have a good sample size of his play it’s time to put Dobbs on the radar. Dobbs was impressive in week 4 despite playing a stacked 49ers defense. Sunday was the second time this season he finished with 20+ fantasy points and was inside the weekly top 10 for quarterbacks. Dobbs also gives you the rushing element and already has a rushing touchdown this year. If you need a quarterback, Dobbs is worth a look.

Running Backs

Jaleel McLaughlin – (2.3% Owned)

McLaughlin will be the priority on the waiver wire this week as he filled in well for the injured Javonte Williams. Williams left the matchup with a hip injury and McLaughlin took advantage. He had 104 all-purpose yards and 1 receiving touchdown. If Williams misses time McLaughlin will likely slide into that starting role and the rookie looks to be ready for it.

Wide Receivers

Jameson Williams – (24.2% Owned)

If Williams is somehow still available in your league he is absolutely worth grabbing. Williams had his suspension reduced due to the new NFL betting rules and is immediately eligible to play. His talent is just too good to ignore and he should see plenty of opportunities in the Lions offense that is already thriving. Williams is a gamble but he could really pay off later in the season due to his big play ability.

Tight Ends

Dalton Schultz – (45.3% Owned)

One of the surprises of the early season is how good the Houston Texans offense has looked. Houston has scored 30 points in back-to-back games as C.J. Stroud is coming into his own. Texans tight end Dalton Schultz had been quiet thus far but picked up his first touchdown of the season on Sunday. This was good enough for a top 5 weekly finish as Schultz also had 42 receiving yards. I would still like to see more consistency from him but if you’re thin at the position he is worth picking up.

The post Week 5 Waiver Wire Pickups (2023) appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Quarterbacks

Start ‘Em

Geno Smith (@Det) – Don’t give up on Geno Smith just yet. Smith and the entire Seattle Seahawks offense had a forgettable game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. Smith threw for only 112 yards on the day and 1 touchdown. I don’t expect similar numbers when Seattle visits the Lions in week 2. In 2022, Smith torched the Lions for 320 yards and 2 touchdowns when the Seahawks won in a 48-45 shootout. Expect him to bounce back this week.

Sit ‘Em

Jimmy Garoppolo (@Buf) – Garoppolo is in for a tough afternoon when the Las Vegas Raiders visit the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. Buffalo will be looking to put its miserable loss against the Jets behind them and will take out their frustrations on the Raiders. Garoppolo was efficient in the week 1 win against the Broncos but did have 1 interception and 1 fumble. I see him throwing a pair of picks against Buffalo’s defense in week 2.

Running Backs

Start ‘Em

Jahmyr Gibbs (vs. Sea) – Gibbs averaged 6.7 yards per touch in his debut against the Kansas City Chiefs. It was a small sample size as he only had 9 touches in the game but he looked explosive. Expect the Lions to ramp up his usage this week and Gibbs will get his first NFL touchdown against Seattle.

Sit ‘Em

Alexander Mattison (@Phi) – Mattison underwhelmed against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. He averaged just 3.1 yards per touch and if it wasn’t for a late receiving touchdown he would’ve been in the Dud category. Mattison will once again find yards hard to come by when the Vikings visit the Eagles. The Eagles have some concerns in their secondary but the front 7 is as good as it gets.

Wide Receivers

Start ‘Em

George Pickens (vs. Cle) – Pickens was quiet in week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers. He did have 7 targets on the day but was only able to turn that into 36 receptions yards. The Steelers will be without Diontae Johnson for several weeks which means it’s Pickens time to step up. I like the Steelers offense to bounce back this week and Pickens to find the end zone.

Sit ‘Em

Drake London (vs. GB) – London was one of the Duds of week 1 as he was completely shut out on Sunday. He only had 1 target which is concerning for the 2nd year pro expected to take the next step in his trajectory. He now faces a talented Packers secondary and will likely be shadowed by Jaire Alexander all game.

Tight Ends

Start ‘Em

Dallas Goedert (vs. Min) – Goedert was also shut out on Sunday versus a stingy Patriots defense. Don’t panic with Goedert yet as he is still the #1 tight end on the dynamic Eagles offense. I expect Philadelphia to intentionally get Goedert more involved on Thursday night. The last time he faced the Vikings, Goedert had 82 receiving yards on 5 receptions.

Sit ‘Em

Dalton Schultz (vs. Ind) – Schultz was another tight end who disappointed in week 1. The Texans brought in Schultz to be their TE1 but he didn’t look the part on Sunday. He had just 4 receiving yards on 4 targets and wasn’t much of a factor in Houston’s offense. I am sitting Schultz until I see better production.

Start of the Week

Zay Flowers (@ Cin) – Flowers was somebody I was high on all offseason and is my pick for Offensive Rookie of the Year. He did not disappoint in his debut as he hauled in 9 receptions for 78 yards. More importantly, he had 10 targets and also received 2 carries in the backfield. Don’t worry about OBJ taking targets away from Flowers as he looks to be the WR1 for the Ravens going forward.

The post 2023-24 Fantasy Football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Week 2 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

The Good

DeMeco Ryans was one of the hottest head coaching candidates after last season. The San Francisco 49ers have been one of the best defensive units over the last 2 years under Ryans. He will now be tasked with rebuilding the Texans from the ground up and build a winning culture. While the Texans defense had its struggles in 2022 it has many young talented pieces to build on. Will Anderson will be an instant difference maker and is the favorite to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. On the back end, Safety Jalen Pitre had an outstanding rookie season in which he hauled in 5 interceptions. These two players along with Ryans have me excited for the Texans defense going forward

The Bad

With the 2nd pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Texans selected Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud. I was and still am a fan of this pick. Stroud showed promise in the college football semi-final matchup with Georgia. The Bulldogs are full of studs on defense and Stroud still put up 348 passing yards and 4 touchdowns. He also showcased his running ability several times during the game. I was hoping the Texans would surround Stroud with more offensive weapons but that’s not the case.

The Texans were able to bring in tight end Dalton Schultz from the Cowboys but lack explosive wide receivers. Nico Collins showed some promise last season but he is more of a number 3 wide receiver. They also brought in Robert Woods this offseason but it seems Woods has lost a step since his time in Los Angeles. There is one bright spot for the Texans and that’s rookie Tank Dell. If Dell can develop and learn the offense quickly he has the potential to make big plays.

The Prediction

It’s important for Houston Texans fans to be patient as the team goes through this rebuild. Houston has young bright stars on both sides of the ball and a head coach that will challenge them. This year will be a struggle but going forward the Texans will only get better.

2023 Record: 5-12 (4th in the Division)

The post Houston Texans Record Prediction for 2023 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Special note: We will not include the players from the Bills vs Bengals game after what happened. With that, we would like to honor DAMAR HAMLIN as the TOP DAWG of Week 17.

QB DAWG Of The Week: Tom Brady 37.68 FP

432 Passing Yards, 3 Passing TDs, 3 Carries, 4 Rushing Yards, 1 Rushing TD, 1 2-Pt Conversion (Projected: 17.72 FP)

Tom Brady put on a vintage performance in a must-win game. Brady threw for 432 yards and three TDs, all to Mike Evans. He also had a rare rushing TD and completed a 2-pt conversion. This performance was important especially since Brady has looked a step below what we are expecting to see. His connection with Mike Evans will be key as they prepare for the postseason.

RB DAWG Of The Week: JaMycal Hasty 17.60 FP

10 Carries, 33 Rushing Yards, 1 Rushing TD, 6 Receptions, 23 Receiving Yards (Projected: 4.17 FP)

JaMycal Hasty took advantage of a blowout to get more touches when the Jaguars defeated the Texans in Week 17. Hasty had 16 touches for 56 yards and a rushing TD. The Jaguars played in a game in which the result didn’t matter. The winner of the Jaguars vs Titans in Week 18 will clinch the division and advance to the playoffs.

WR DAWG Of The Week: Mike Evans 48.70 FP

10 Receptions, 207 Receiving Yards, 3 Receiving TDs (Projected: 13.72 FP)

Mike Evans erupted with a performance of a lifetime against Carolina. Mike Evans caught 10 passes for 207 yards and three TDs. He and Brady connected for 63, 57, and 30-yard TDs. This performance put him for over 1000 yards in nine straight seasons. This game put Tampa Bay in the playoffs with a division-clinching win.

TE DAWG Of The Week: Dalton Schultz 24.60 FP

7 Receptions, 56 Receiving Yards, 2 Receiving TDs (Projected: 9.89 FP)

Dalton Schultz had his best game of the year when he caught seven passes for 56 yards and two TDs. He was targeted 10 times which tied a season-high. Both his TDs were in the second half and sealed the win against the Titans.

DEF/ST DAWG Of The Week: Green Bay Packers 24 FP

14-20 Points Allowed, 1 Defense TD, 3 Interceptions, 2 Sacks, 1 Forced Fumble, 1 Fumble Recovery, 1 Special Teams TD (Projected: 6.80 FP)

Green Bay played its best game of the year when it dominated the Minnesota Vikings in a must-win game. From the start, the defense and special teams made their presence known. Keisean Nixon had a kick-off return TD for 105 yards to start it out. Darnell Savage had a pick-6 for a 75-yard TD halfway through the first. The team ended with two sacks, two more interceptions, and a forced fumble and recovery to end the night. Green Bay is a win away from a playoff spot.

Thanks for reading! You can look forward to this series until the end of the season. You can check out the last installment of DAWGS Of Week 16.

The post DAWGS Of Week 17 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

I firmly believe the Dallas Cowboys have a terrific floor in 2022, but they can really be Super Bowl contenders if they have x-factors ascend into quality contributors next season. With that said, I’m going to simply outline a few breakout candidates for the Boys in the 2022-2023 season.

Tony Pollard

The 25-year-old Tony Pollard has been climbing the ladder over the past two seasons. He unveiled 719 rushing yards and 5.5 YPC in 15 games in 2021. I expect him to garner a bigger workload next season and transition from an efficient RB into a productive 1,000+ yard ball-carrier.

Zeke Elliot may have some gas left in the tank, but I believe Pollard will outmuscle him as the season is in progress. It would make sense for the Cowboys to test/lean on the legs of Pollard down the stretch, as he is likely the future RB in Dallas.

Dalton Schultz

Dalton Schultz had a fine 2021 season (808 yards, 8 touchdowns), but he is seeking bigger numbers in the Cowboys offense. Amari Cooper is out of the building and the mismatch nightmare Schultz could really be in line for more targets. The former Stanford pass catcher will also lay everything out on the line for a new, hefty contract in 2023 (if he doesn’t sign an extension this summer).

Dante Fowler Jr.

I expect Dante Fowler Jr. to be the biggest surprise player on the Boys defense. He will be desperately striving to prove himself in a contract season and he will have better opportunities to be successful in a Cowboys uniform than in a Falcons uni. Outside of playing on a DL featuring Demarcus Lawrence, the reigning NFC East champions will be forcing opponents to keep pace with Dak in the passing game.

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