By Chet Gresham – @ChetGresham
Posted Oct. 15, 2016.
Follow @walterfootball for updates.
There are some weather concerns on the West Coast this Sunday. Seattle has a high-wind warming for Saturday night, but it will be decreasing from crazy gusts up to 50 mph to a slightly more reasonable 16-23 mph during the day with a 60 percent chance of rain. I’m pretty much okay with that for the passing games, but I will be checking on the on field reports Sunday morning.
The other rainy spot will be in Oakland, where the wind will be gusting around 20 mph with a 60-percent chance of rain. I could see the wind hurting Alex Smith’s weaker arm, but he also doesn’t pass down the field too far to test that wind or his arm, so he could still be fine in a good matchup.
Jonathan Stewart practiced all week and should start in a great matchup against the Saints’ worst run defense in the league. The team does want Cam Newton to protect himself more, so there’s a chance Stewart at least gets a few more goal-line attempts moving forward. Of course, if he has any trouble, they would quickly go back to Newton and his usually great success rate at the goal line.
Theo Riddick will not play Sunday against the Rams due to an injured ankle, and Dwayne Washington is listed as questionable after returning to a limited practice on Friday. Beat reporter Michael Rothstein believes Washington will end up playing and splitting time with newly acquired Justin Forsett. This is a situation to monitor, but I don’t expect there is enough upside here to cash in on.
Dolphins coach Adam Gase said Friday that Arian Foster will be a game-time decision against the Steelers on Sunday. If he can’t go, Jay Ajayi would likely get the start. The Steelers should get a lead in this one, and their run defense is their strength. Foster has the most upside if he can play though, as he would likely be heavily used in the passing game.
Rashad Jennings is listed as questionable, but expects to play after missing the last three weeks due to an injured thumb. The Ravens defense has been tough this season, especially against the run. If Jennings does play, I would stay away and maybe lean toward Bobby Rainey, especially in PPR leagues.
Dez Bryant got limited practices in this week and is listed as questionable for Sunday night’s game against the Packers. He appears to be a game-time decision and we may not know if he’ll go until he warms up. Unless we hear otherwise earlier, I’d stay away from him for fantasy this week.
Steve Smith is doubtful for their game against the Giants. That designation is better than OUT as we look toward the future, but he will not go this week. Mike Wallace, Dennis Pitta, Kamar Aiken and Breshad Perriman all could see an uptick, but it’s tough to know who will see the most.
Sammie Coates practiced in full on Friday, but it was also revealed that he has a broken index finger to go with the cut on his left hand. Markus Wheaton is out for this game with a shoulder injury, so if Coates does play, his upside is high. If he doesn’t, Eli Rogers should make for a decent option, as he is now completely off the injury report after missing the last two games.
Jordan Reed has a concussion and is listed as questionable, but it would be a minor miracle if he played. Vernon Davis and Niles Paul figure to share tight end duties in Reed’s absence, but neither is worth a fantasy play against the Eagles defense this week. This should help Jamison Crowder the most, but also the Eagles D/ST.
Carson Palmer practiced in full this week and will be good to go in a great matchup with the Jets on Monday night. I’ll be playing a few Monday night-included DFS games to get Palmer and John Brown in my lineups.
Cam Newton is listed as questionable, but did get a full practice in on Friday and will play unless there is some kind of setback. Last season, Newton threw for 331 yards and five touchdowns to just one interception and ran for 49 yards in the Superdome.
Jay Cutler is still out, so Brian Hoyer will go for his fourth-straight 300-plus-yard game, this week at home against the Jaguars. Cameron Meredith, Alshon Jeffery, Zach Miller and Eddie Royal should all suit up this week, with Royal looking the iffiest.
Cody Kessler will start for the Browns against the Titans on Sunday. He has been average, but that’s better than many of the alternatives. He should be able to keep Terrelle Pryor, Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson at least fantasy-relevant.
James Starks hurt his knee on Tuesday and then had to leave due to a death in his family and has now been ruled out for this week. Eddie Lacy, on the other hand, did get three limited practices in this week. He is listed as questionable and was non-committal when asked if he’ll play, but after the practices, there’s a good chance he suits up, and without Starks to take away some receptions, he should see an uptick in work.
Latavius Murray has been ruled out with turf toe for the second-straight week. DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard figure to share backfield duties again this Sunday. They split work evenly last week, but Richard was more productive. Kansas City has allowed a 4.8 yards-per-carry mark on the ground this season, so both backs have some upside in a game where they might get extra use due to wind.
Jeremy Hill started this week with his arm in a sling, but practiced all week and isn’t on the injury report. He should be fine to go, but game flow is probably more in Giovani Bernard’s favor this week, as the Patriots will likely get the lead and the Bengals will need to be in pass mode without Tyler Eifert and with Belichick’s defense probably keying on A.J. Green.
Julius Thomas put in a full week of practice and is not listed on the injury report. He has some nice upside this week in Chicago. He’s a must start in redraft and a decent DFS play for his touchdown potential.
Eric Ebron remains out with ankle and knee injuries. Anquan Boldin should see a slight jump in value.
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