Author: Desktop Quarterback

Football is back – Opening Night 2018! Let’s get right back into it with our “Booms and Busts” for Week 1 2018:

Booms

A.J. Green (WR-CIN) – The Colts defense is very young and allowed the 10th most fantasy points to the position last season. This will give Andy Dalton lots of opportunities to get his favorite target the ball. Green also tends to play better on the road. Gotta like that combo.

Royce Freeman (RB-DEN) – The newly minted starter in Denver, look for Rolls Royce to start his rookie season off with some fireworks.

DeAndre Hopkins & Will Fuller (WR-HOU) – Both Hopkins and Fuller were touchdown machines with Deshaun Watson under center last year. With Watson back from injury, and the lackluster Patriots defense on the docket, look for this dynamic trio to pick up where they left off.

Busts

Odell Beckham (WR-NYG) – Hate to say this, especially right out of the gate, as I’m a big Odell fan and think that he is going to have a great season. However, Jalen Ramsey is quite possibly the best corner in the business, and is going to give Odell a very tough time on Sunday.

Jimmy Garoppolo (QB-SF) – Like Odell, Jimmy G is poised for a big year. Unfortunately, his Week 1 matchup is far from ideal. Starting the year on the road against possibly the best defense in the league (the Vikings) will be a humbly experience for the young QB.

Ezekiel Elliott (RB-DAL) – He’s going to get the ball, but with a less than stellar pass threat and a strong Panthers defense lining up against him, Zeke is going to have some trouble getting started in this one.

Good luck in the first week back!

Championship week – let’s get that belt!

Booms

Jared Goff (QB-LAR) – Todd Gurley has been an absolute beast as of late. However, just about the only thing that the Tennessee Titans defense does well is run defense. That should mean that Goff will need to be more involved, putting him in a good spot to expose a weak secondary.

Christian McCaffrey (RB-CAR) – McCaffrey has been getting a lot of touches lately, and takes on a Tampa Bay defense that has had trouble with pass catching running backs.

JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR-PIT) – Smith-Schuster has gotten 5+ targets in his last 5 games, and should get even more work with Antonio Brown hurt this week. Don’t be surprised if JuJu wins many fantasy managers their matchup.

Busts

Derek Carr (QB-OAK) – Other than a few games this year, the Philadelphia Eagles defense has been tops in the league. After struggling against the Dallas Cowboys last week, Carr is not the quarterback you’re looking for in the fantasy finals.

Devonta Freeman (RB-ATL) – Coming off a monster game, Freeman has a decent matchup on paper, especially if Tevin Coleman can’t play again. However, the New Orleans Saints could put the Falcon in a position where they’re throwing more than they’d like. Look for the Saints’ reinvigorated defense and an unfavorable game script to work against Freeman.

Demaryius Thomas (WR-DEN) – Thomas has been a target hog regardless of who is under center for the Denver Broncos. Unfortunately, the Washington Football Team has given up only 10 receiving touchdowns to the position this season. Josh Norman and Bashaud Breeland should continue to lock down the opposition in this one.

Just one more week before you get a shot at your league’s championship trophy (or hopefully a belt). Let’s take a look at the guys that are going to get you to the finals, and the ones that will leave you fighting for 3rd place.

Booms

Blake Bortles (QB-JAX) – Bortles has healthy wideouts and has been limiting turnovers as of late. That combined with the fact that Leonard Fournette is banged up might mean that Bortles gets the chance to throw quite a bit this week against a very weak Houston Texans defense.

Jordan Howard (RB-CHI) – Howard has been pretty inconsistent this season following big games up with small games. However, he’ll keep the streak alive this week when the Bears face a Detroit Lions defense that has given up the second most rushing touchdowns on the year. It doesn’t hurt that he also shredded them last time they played.

Marquise Goodwin (WR-SF) – Goodwin and Jimmy G seem to have some good chemistry. Averaging 102.5 yards and 10 targets over the span of their two game relationship, Goodwin should continue to get a lot of looks from his quarterback in a tantalizing matchup against the Tennessee Titans.

Busts

Tom Brady (QB-NE) – “It was one bad game…and he didn’t have Gronk!” We know, we know. However, that game was also against the Miami Dolphins. Not great. Look for Brady’s struggles to continue this week against a Pittsburgh Steelers defense that will have Joe Haden back, is ranked 4th in the league, and is only surrendering 201 passing yards a game.

Todd Gurley (RB-LAR) – Gurley has been unreal this season, not only on the ground but through the air as well. However, he gets a less than stellar matchup this week against a stout Seattle Seahawks rush defense. Not great timing for such a matchup.

A.J. Green (WR-CIN) – Green has been getting a lot of targets over the past few weeks, but hasn’t quite been himself. Don’t plan on him having a monster game this week against a Minnesota Vikings defense that will be assigning lock down cornerback Xavier Rhodes to him.

Ah, fantasy football playoffs, round 1. Let’s do this. Who is going to get you to the semifinal? Who is going to leave you with a mediocre draft pick next year?

Booms

Josh McCown (QB-NYJ) – McCown has been ballin’ lately, and gets a Denver Broncos defense that’s allowed the most passing touchdowns in the league this season.

Giovani Bernard (RB-CIN) – Joe Mixon is concussed following Week 13, and looks doubtful to play this week. That puts Bernard in a prime spot to receive a ton of volume in both the rushing and passing attack. Fire him up against a Chicago Bears defense that has given up 4.24 yards per carry to RBs over the last 5 weeks.

Josh Gordon (WR-CLE) – Flash Gordon is back, and he could very well be the player that wins you a fantasy championship over the next few weeks. He got 11 targets last week against a solid Los Angeles Chargers defense. This week’s matchup is against a weak Green Bay secondary that will be without top cornerback Davon House. Sign us up.

Busts

Kirk Cousins (QB-WAS) – Cousins hasn’t been particularly exciting lately, and is up against a Los Angeles Chargers defense that has allowed the 7th fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks.

Christian McCaffrey (RB-CAR) – While his prowess as a pass-catcher will come in handy this week, McCaffrey goes up against a Minnesota Vikings defense that’s second best in the league against the run.

Mike Evans (WR-TB) – It’s tough to sit Evans, and we wouldn’t even recommend it, but don’t plan on him going off this week. The Detroit Lions secondary has been inconsistent over the past few weeks, and Evans only got 6 targets last week in what was a much easier matchup.

The last week before the playoffs start. Now’s the time to lock up that bye, or clinch the final playoff berth. Let’s look at who might help you get that much needed Week 13 win, and who might leave you on the outside looking in.

Booms

Tyrod Taylor (QB-BUF) – Taylor is back as the starting quarterback in Buffalo. While New England’s defense has been much better as of late, look for Taylor and his dual-threat ability to give them trouble in Buffalo.

Isaiah Crowell (RB-CLE) – Crowell has gotten double digit touches every week but one this season. The Los Angeles Chargers are a bottom five defense against the run. Great combo for The Crow.

Marqise Lee (WR-JAX) – After an off game against Arizona, Lee has a tantalizing matchup against the Indianapolis Colts and their non-existent defense. Look for him to get back to his normal ~10 target self.

Busts

Cam Newton (QB-CAR) – Newton just couldn’t seem to get it going last week against the New York Jets, a team that he shouldn’t have had any trouble with. Follow that up with a road game against division rival New Orleans, and you’ve got the makings for a big letdown.

Ben Roethlisberger (QB-PIT) – He’s on the road in Cincinnati, a place he hasn’t played well for most of his career. His number one wide receiver is officially questionable. Fade Big Ben on Monday Night Football.

Devonta Freeman (RB-ATL) – In his first game back from concussion protocol, Freeman has a less than ideal matchup in the Minnesota Vikings. It won’t be Freeman getting you that Week 13 win.