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Tony's back, but is he ready to work into your fantasy lineup this week? Find out inside.
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Quarterbacks
Start
Derek Carr - Carr has been money in the bank for his owners over recent weeks. He has thrown for 13 scores over the past four weeks and he has went over 20 points per outing in three of his last four outings. On the other hand the Lions defense has been very generous to the quarterback position all season long and they have been surrendering about 20 points per game to opposing passers in recent weeks.Looking at this match up on paper, i suspect that Mr. Carr should be good for at least 20 points on Sunday. There are worse ways to start your fantasy weekend.
Tony Romo - Don't expect Romo to return in mid-season form, but he could have fared much worse in his third match-up of the season. The Miami defense has been allowing over 22 points per game to quarterbacks over the past month. Only rust is keeping Romo from being my must-start passer of the week.
Matt Ryan - Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde personified, Ryan has two football personalities and you never know which one you are going to get. This week is a golden opportunity for Ryan to have a solid outing. The Colts pass defense is not quite as generous as Miami or Detroit, but they are knocking on the door. They give up over 18 points per game to home-standing quarterback this season.
Sit
Andy Dalton - This is a tough call to make, Dalton has been elite as far as fantasy QBs go this season, but this game is being played in Arizona where the Cardinals pass defense has also been elite. They allow just over 13 points per game at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Bengals quarterback will probably top that mark, but by how much? Starting Dalton will not kill your chances this weekend but it will likely impact your bottom line.
Ryan Tannehill - The Phin's quarterback is mired in the midst of a slump. A trio of consecutive terrible outings bare little resemblance to the performance Ryan turned in earlier this year when he threatened the 30 point barrier. Also worth noting is that the Dallas pass defense has quietly made a name for itself over the past several weeks. The Cowboys have allowed an average of just 12.5 fantasy points to quarterback over the last month.
Running Back
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Lamar Miller - Lest Dallas fans get too worked up, I present exhibit A, the Dallas run defense. Here the Cowboys allow nearly 23 points per contest. Lamar Miller enters this weekend's contest looking to end a hot streak that extends back for over a month. The Dolphins are not going to need Tannehill's passing if Miller continues to run wild.
Chris Ivory - The Lone Star State is weak on run support, the Texans are facing the same struggles as the Cowboys and Texas native Chris Ivory will be looking to show the home folks just what he is capable of. He will have that chance this weekend against a run defense that is allowing over 20 points per game to opposing runners. Ivory has been gold for much of this season and there is little cause for believing that his streak will end this weekend,
Darren McFadden - The veteran runner has earned his way onto your roster of late. Use him this weekend because the Dolphins run defense is atrocious plus having Romo back in the lineup gives an added threat to the Dallas offense that should open up more opportunities for the ground game. In a RB2 or flex role, Darren McFadden could be your ace in the hole this weekend.
Sit
Doug Martin - Martin has turned in far too many disappointing outings in recent weeks. He has failed to cash in on some very good match ups, and he is now in my fantasy doghouse. He should be in yours as well. Add in the fact that he faces a tough Philly run defense and there is ample reason to give Martin the week off.
Eddie Lacy - Remember when Lacy was one of those backs that was pretty much a sure thing? Well, whoever is wearing his game jersey this season bares little resemblance to that guy. Green Bay did not even dress Lacy last weekend due to his performance of late, and they may do the same this time around. Even if the Packers dress Eddie, he needs to be on your bench, he is not the weapon he once was.
Wide Receiver
Start
Mike Evans - I had to say bench one Aggie earlier in this piece, but with Evans I say start him. Mike is coming off of successive 100 + yard efforts. He also has a match up against an Eagles pass defense that has proven itself to be porous over the past few weeks. They are surrendering points to wide outs at a clip that is well over 27 yards per game. If Evans can cut down on his drops this weekend he is going to have a solid afternoon. Try using stick-um Mike! It worked for Biletnikoff.
Steve Johnson - With one and perhaps two of his counterparts unavailable, Johnson will become the go to guy for the Chargers. The Chiefs are giving up over 30 points per contest to opposing WRs this year and Johnson will get the lion's share of looks from Philip Rivers this weekend.
Dez Bryant - With Romo back and Dez rounding into game shape look for the Cowboys to go to the well several times against a sub-par Miami pass defense. If the tandem starts to get into a rhythm then big numbers are possible for both players.
Sit
Randall Cobb - Cobb used to be a reliable option for his owners, but not so of late. HE has been a single digit producer over the past few weeks. Don't expect that to change against Minnesota. Mike Zimmer has put together a solid pass defense in the great frozen north, and the Vikings have always been a tough match-up for Cobb to start with.
DeSean Jackson - Jackson is not finding success in Washington, and it has little to do with the quarterback situation. Jackson has simply not been getting the job done. Josh Norman and a tough Carolina defense will not allow him much of a chance to reverse course this week.
Tight End
Start
Jordan Reed - If there is a point to attack against the Carolina defense it is underneath with the tight end. The Panthers have allowed nearly 10 points per game to the position all season long, and Reed is more than capable of making good on the opportunity that he will be given on Sunday.
Sit
Jordan Cameron - Stopping the tight end is another one of those things that the Dallas defense does rather well. They have allowed just over six points per contest to opposing tight ends this year. Perhaps some of that comes from working against Jason Witten all week long. I don't know, and I don't care as long as it works. It has thus far.
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