In week 2 of the Missouri Times Fantasy Football League, Scott “Jean Shorts Qualify as Business Casual” Faughn, John “I’m not Stockard Channing in Grease” Rizzo, and Ryan “First in Fantasy – Last in Math” McKenna all find themselves undefeated. That’s it, 3 teams. In week 2 there are only 3 people who could go undefeated here. Get ready for a barnburner of a season, folks.
Jane “Put’em Up” Dueker battled Robert “No Tell” Knodell securing her place at 1-1 behind Tom Brady. Meanwhile, Knodell slides to 0-2 as his lineup full of Saints and Seahawks comes out flatter than an AFC Championship 2015 football.
“The Jewel of the” Noel Torpey’s team saw a turnaround in the second week. Flourishing behind two of our Start/Sit picks last week, QB David Carr and RB Jay Ajayi, Team Torpey claimed victory over Rep.“Be careful that’s…” Crystal Quade. 95.8 – 68.5
Rep. Elijah “Hardy Har” Haahr battled Treasurer “X Marks the Spot” Eric Schmitt, in a battle of poorly chosen pirate puns. Haahr stood on the shoulders of QB Aaron Rodgers and K Matt Bryant to topple the state’s tallest former senator. 80.4 – 75.8
Sen. Bill “It’s pronounced like the Eiffel Tower” Eigel loses by a paper-thin margin to Team McKenna 71.8 – 71.9
Becky “My Team’s Scores are” Lohmann falls to 0-2 despite big performances from TE Rob Gronkowski and the Ravens’ D. Rizzo 106.8 – Lohmann 75.5
Caleb “Hey guys, I’m on the cover of the Fall 2017 Missouri Times Magazine” Rowden falls to Faughn 87.5 – 95.4
More injuries piled up over the weekend; with TE Gronkowski pulling a groin, TE Greg Olsen’s foot, concerns over TE Jordan Reed’s health, WR Jordy Nelson, WR Corey Coleman, RB Rob Kelley, RB Jordan Howard, and QB Sam Bradford.
Bradford was a late scratch on Sunday with a knee injury, reports state that inflammation in the scar tissue around his repaired and oft damaged ACL was the culprit. This doesn’t bode well for Bradford’s durability during the season. Going forward Bradford should be viewed as an option for desperate owners and those who may need a bye week backup.
Week 3 WAIVER WIRE
Prospects
Pick up Carson Wentz, QB, WAS. He is only owned in 45% of leagues and is on pace for over 5,000 yards through the air this year. The numbers may drop off, but considering LeGarrette Blount had no attempts Sunday, I expect Wentz to continue throwing – a lot.
Howard left with a shoulder injury, and is currently still listed as questionable, which is good news for anyone who picked up our waiver wire suggestion last week – Tarik Cohen.
If you didn’t pick up Cohen or Javorius Allen, then look for Chris Carson, RB, SEA. Seattle has finally decided to give Carson the ball, and it was reflected in a healthy scratch for Eddie Lacy.
Corey Coleman missed 6 weeks last year with a broken hand, reports say that he again has a broken hand. Jordy Nelson is a tossup as to whether or not he will play, but quads are nagging injuries.
Pick up Allen Hurns, WR, JAX. A few years ago Hurns and Robinson were interchangeable and both put up big numbers week to week. Robinson emerged as the clear #1 in Jacksonville. Without Robinson, Marqise Lee has been the focus of much hype, but Hurns will probably be the more reliable play and has a better chemistry with Blake Bortles.
Look at Devin Funchess, WR, CAR as the one with the most to gain from the injury to Olsen. Funchess is only owned in 6% of leagues and was targeted 7 times on Sunday.
Look at Coby Fleener, TE, NO, who is owned in only 31% of leagues but has put up 16 and 12 point games against MIN and NE respectively. Fleener continues to be underestimated and faces a tough opponent in Carolina this week, but expect him to be a top 5 TE by the end of the year.
With the mad rush on TE’s this week, you may not get your first pick off the waiver wire. Zach Miller, TE, CHI is a consistent 6-10 point player who occasionally busts out for big numbers. With Chicago having as many wide receivers as my living room (that would be none) and the possibility of Howard going down – which would force Cohen to full-time tailback duties, Miller could be a great waiver pick up. He is currently owned in only 1% of leagues and put up 10 points amid the shellacking the Bears received Sunday.
Don’t Buy the Hype.
Last week, I told you to avoid the Cardinals backfield, three players who combined for 12 points on Sunday. I advised against Austin Hooper who mustered just 2.7 points. And I warned against the hype of Kenny Golladay who put up 1.8 points against the Giants without Janoris Jenkins.
Chris Thompson, RB, WAS. Thompson put up a monster 25 points… on three rushes. Not three rushes and a handful of receptions. Not three rushes and obscene kick return numbers. No, just three touches for 77 yards and 2 touchdowns. This won’t be repeated and he is not in line to move up with the injury to Rob Kelley.
Cooper Kupp, WR, LAR. Kupp is the third option on the Los Angeles Toupees, er, Rams. As such he has Jared Goff throwing the ball to him, he will rarely reach the end zone and probably won’t amass 100 yards in a game more than once or twice this year. He will probably get you just enough points to consistently make you wonder why you put him in your flex and then break out as soon as you sit him, only to follow it up in the same pattern. Don’t do that to yourself, there are viable options at WR, choose Mohamed Sanu or even J.J. Nelson.
Trevor Siemian, QB, DEN. Siemian is an intelligent QB with a strong arm and a talented receiving corps. What he is not is your answer to replacing Cam Newton. I’m not saying Siemian isn’t a viable fantasy QB – because he could be, but right now his stats are bloated and he will struggle with some matchups going forward.
Alvin Kamara, RB, NO – Everyone is on board the Kamara hype train this week, but I’m out. Kamara had just 1 rush attempt last week against the Pats. New Orleans has a saturated backfield and while Kamara may someday be a star, I don’t see him putting up more than 9 or 10 on a good week.
Start/Sit
Start
- DeShone Kizer, QB, CLE vs IND
- Christian McCaffrey, RB, CAR vs NO
- Alshon Jeffrey, WR, PHI vs NYG
Sit
- Russell Wilson, QB, SEA vs TEN
- DeMarco Murray, RB, TEN vs SEA
- Odell Beckham Jr., WR, vs PHI