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Streaming Defenses- Week 4

Week three is officially over and now it is time to take a look at our “team to stream” in week four.

Analysis: This week the pick is the Miami defense on the road in Oakland. This is pretty much a must win for the 1-2 Dolphins because 9-7(Chargers) may not be enough this year to make the playoffs in the AFC. Regardless, the Raiders are last in the NFL in yards, last in points per game and 26th in turnover margin. Rookie Derek Carr has just three touchdown passes this season and is sporting a 74.9 passer rating. The Oakland ground game is equally awful. The Raiders are 23rd in yards per carry and 31st in rushing yards.

The Miami defense has been fine this season despite the 1-2 record. Miami is 9th in yards allowed, 3rd in sacks, 2nd in forced fumbles and 3rd in fumble recoveries. It is disappointing that Dannell Ellerbe will miss the season but the Dolphins have a stacked front seven. The Miami D is available in 98% of fantasy leagues.

Another team to consider this week is the Detroit Lions on the road against the Jets. Geno Smith has thrown 4 picks, has been sacked 6 times, lost 1 fumble and has a 77.0 passer rating through three games.

Week 3 RB Recap

Ryan Mathews will be out of action for at least a month which means Donald Brown is a must own. However, Donald Brown is not universally owned. After just 9 carries in his first two games Brown racked up 31 carries on Sunday against the Bills. He recorded just 62 rushing yards against a very tough Buffalo front seven but he did tack on 5 receptions for 27 yards. Brown is a lock for 20 plus touches per game for the next month with Mathews out of action. Donald Brown is still available in 10-35% of fantasy leagues.

Ahmad Bradshaw rushed for 65 yards on 9 carries today against the Jaguars. He added 2 receptions for 18 yards and a receiving touchdown. He has averaged 12.3 touches per game through his first three games but expect that number to increase due to Trent Richardson’s sub 4.0 yards per carry average(again). Richardson is playing decently(for him) but Bradshaw is averaging 6.0 yards per carry thus far this season. Bradshaw also has 3 touchdowns and 0 fumbles to Richardson’s 0 touchdowns and 2 fumbles, 1 lost. Bradshaw is available in 15-30% of fantasy leagues. He is a fringe play at 12.3 touches per game but time will sort out this issue.

Week 3 WR Recap

Brandin Cooks had himself another fine ball game on Sunday against the Vikings. He caught 8 balls on 10 targets for 74 yards. He now has two 70-plus receiving yard games in his first three professional games. He is averaging 8 targets per game through three weeks which is right where he needs to be. Cooks also has 49 rushing yards this season but don’t expect more than one rushing attempt per game from the rookie burner. Cooks is available in 3-40% of fantasy leagues.

I mentioned on this site after the 2014 NFL draft that Allen Robinson was a great pick up for the Jags while Marqise Lee was vastly overrated. Robinson caught 7 balls on 10 targets for 79 yards against the Colts in week three. He had 75 receiving yards last week on just 6 targets. Jacksonville will be on the road in San Diego in week four which means the Jags will be passing the ball a ton. Blake Bortles did look good today and had 2 touchdown passes while Chad Henne took three sacks in limited time. Allen Robinson cannot be trusted to be a consistent fantasy performer but his play certainly deserves attention at this point. He is available in 92-99% of fantasy leagues.

Streaming Defenses- Week 3

Week two is officially over and now it is time to take a look at our “team to stream” in week three.

Analysis: This week I am taking the Dallas Cowboys defense. When Tony Romo isn’t turning the ball over they are a respectable bunch. This week the Cowboys will be on the road in St. Louis. The Rams are down to their third string quarterback Austin Davis. Thus far this season the Rams rank 20th in yards per game, 32nd in points per game(12.5), 24th in yards per carry and 23rd in passer rating.

Yes, the Cowboys did finish last year 30th in yards allowed and 26th in points against. However, Dallas was 13th in takeaways last year and they picked Jake Locker off twice on the road in week two. Locker recorded a 60.2 passer rating in that game. The Cowboys do not have a good defense but St. Louis has absolutely nothing on offense. The Rams have allowed 7 sacks this year which is 2nd most in the NFL and their longest play from scrimmage is just 28 yards. The Dallas D/ST is available in 97% of fantasy leagues.

Through two weeks our streams(Week1-PHI-90%available,Week2-HOU-60%available) have 22 fantasy points which is 5th among all fantasy defenses.

Week 2 QB Recap

Philip Rivers played great today in a win over the Seahawks. He passed for 284 yards and threw 3 touchdowns. He was the 6th best fantasy quarterback last season and this year is more of the same. He has a tough week three matchup on the road in Buffalo. You also have to start taking into consideration that bye weeks are approaching. In week four Peyton Manning, Andy Dalton and Russell Wilson have their byes. Philip Rivers has the Jaguars at home in week four… not bad at all. Rivers is still available in 4% of fantasy leagues.

Andy Dalton continues to do what Andy Dalton does… play great regular season football. He has thrown for 553 yards in two games this season without an interception. Dalton finished 2013 as the 5th best fantasy quarterback. He was 7th in passing yards, 3rd in touchdowns and 14th among QBs in rushing yards. Up next for Dalton is the Titans at home in week three. Dalton recorded eight wins and a 98.3 passer rating at home last year. Andy Dalton is available in 8-20% of fantasy leagues.