Fantasy Fool: Air Mariota
Here are my picks to roll, and get rolled, in Week 5 of the 2015 season. Watch 'em roll Marcus Mariota, QB, Titans vs. Bills. The ahead-of-schedule rookie has had an extra week to prepare for a defense that has already coughed up 10 passing TDs and nearly 300 passing yards per game.
Here are my picks to roll, and get rolled, in Week 5 of the 2015 season.
Watch 'em roll
Marcus Mariota, QB, Titans vs. Bills. The ahead-of-schedule rookie has had an extra week to prepare for a defense that has already coughed up 10 passing TDs and nearly 300 passing yards per game.
Rashad Jennings, RB, Giants vs. 49ers. Though he's not piling up the rushing yards, he's contributing nicely as a receiver. And Sunday night, Jennings will be facing one of the league's true defensive doormats.
Todd Gurley, RB, Rams at Packers. Not only did the rookie showcase the skills last week that made him such a coveted draft pick; he became the Rams' instant workhorse, with Tre Mason and Benny Cunningham combining for just four carries in Week 4.
Travis Benjamin, WR, Browns at Ravens. Against a suspect Baltimore secondary that wasn't tested much by Mike Vick, Benjamin should have a stellar outing.
Pierre Garcon, WR, Redskins at Falcons. Kirk Cousins will likely be missing both DeSean Jackson (hamstring) and Jordan Reed (concussion) against an Atlanta secondary that surrenders more than 300 passing yards per game on average.
More thumbs up (excluding the no-brainers): QBs Carson Palmer, Eli Manning, Matt Ryan, Philip Rivers; RBs Justin Forsett, T.J. Yeldon, Dion Lewis, Alfred Morris, Chris Johnson, Mark Ingram, LeGarrette Blount; WRs James Jones, Emmanuel Sanders, Jeremy Maclin, Brandin Cooks, Jordan Matthews, Kendall Wright, Larry Fitzgerald, Leonard Hankerson, Eddie Royal, Julian Edelman, Mike Evans, Doug Baldwin, Keenan Allen, Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns, Kamar Aiken.
Roll 'em back
Derek Carr, QB, Raiders vs. Broncos. Denver is playing ferocious defense, so anyone but a bona fide fantasy stud is too risky to start. Carr has been sharp most of this season, and he's making Amari Cooper a star, but the young gunslinger can't be trusted in this divisional showdown.
Carlos Hyde, RB, 49ers at Giants. Hyde has had nowhere to run in recent weeks. Now he faces a New York defense that averages a league-low 70 rushing yards per game. Ouch.
Melvin Gordon, RB, Chargers vs. Steelers. On Monday night, Gordon will face a Pittsburgh run defense that has allowed just one rushing score thus far this season.
Golden Tate, WR, Lions vs. Cardinals. Can Detroit bounce back from being robbed of a possible last-minute upset in Seattle? Against Arizona's solid secondary, Matt Stafford and any receiver not nicknamed Megatron come with great risk.
Anquan Boldin, WR, 49ers at Giants. It's hard to trust anybody in this passing attack, owing primarily to Kaepernick's ineffectiveness.
More thumbs down: QBs Matt Stafford, Joe Flacco, Nick Foles, Kirk Cousins, Mike Vick; RBs Darren McFadden, C.J. Anderson, Doug Martin, Ameer Abdullah, Latavius Murray, Thomas Rawls, Bishop Sankey, Duke Johnson, C.J. Spiller, Karlos Williams, Tevin Coleman; WRs Nelson Agholor, Roddy White, Tavon Austin, Michael Crabtree, Percy Harvin, Martavis Bryant, Markus Wheaton.
Taking a flier
Alex Smith, QB, Chiefs vs. Bears. Only Kansas City has surrendered more TD passes than Chicago. Meanwhile, Smith has built a solid rapport with Jeremy Maclin to go along with his affinity for Travis Kelce and Jamaal Charles.
Don't be . . .
the bonehead who lets Michael Floyd linger on the waiver wire. Carson Palmer targeted him seven times against the Rams, signaling that Floyd is ready to play a meaningful role in the Cardinals' high-flying passing attack again.