Dose: Another TNF Rout
The latest Thursday Night Football route came courtesy of Eli Manning and the Giants as New York stomped Washington by a score of 45-14. Perhaps the short week is to blame, but this contest turned ugly in the second half when Kirk Cousins veered wildly off the tracks and had trouble differentiating his receivers from New York defensive backs.
Eli Manning was the star of this show, as he kept his surprisingly solid 2014 season moving in the right direction with four touchdown passes to New York tight ends and ran another score in on the ground. It was a monstrous fantasy effort from Manning, who is now up to a cool 974 yards and nine touchdowns on the season while averaging just under 18 fantasy points a week through four games. Tight end Larry Donnell won the evening’s “best supporting actor” award, catching seven of eight targets for 54 yards and a trio of touchdowns to keep his breakout season in full swing. The New York passing attack has some buttery soft defenses ahead as the Giants face Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Dallas over the next three weeks so keep plugging Eli and company into your starting lineups.
Kirk Cousins was on the tough end of this loss as he never got rolling after a first quarter fumble and the early loss of tight end Niles Paul to a concussion. When the dust settled, Cousins had thrown a four-pack of interceptions and failed to get any late game garbage time momentum rolling in Washington’s favor. Backup running back Roy Helu led the team in receptions on the night, perfectly illustrating the ineptitude of Cousins and his offense in this game.
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New York at Washington Quick Slants
Alfred Morris was stuck in an unfortunate game script as his team was trailing, but he did manage a nice 20-yard touchdown run in the third quarter to salvage his fantasy night. Morris uncharacteristically hauled in three catches on the evening as well, which were his first receptions on the season. … Rueben Randle had a relatively quiet eight catches for 89 yards on 10 targets and should have had a touchdown but the NFL’s perplexing “completing the catch” guidelines took the score away. … Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson combined for three catches and 37 receiving yards in a disappointing evening for Washington wide receivers. Things won’t get much easier as Seattle visits the nation’s capital in Week 5.
In Other News…
Texans running back Arian Foster (hamstring) was limited at practice on Thursday and coach Bill O’Brien declared that he expects Foster to be a game-time decision on Sunday when the Buffalo Bills visit Houston. Foster sat out Week 3 with the same hamstring ailment so this will be a difficult situation for fantasy folks as we head into the weekend. Soft tissue injuries have a tendency to flare up during games, so Foster would be a dicey start if he indeed is active on Sunday. Rookie Alfred Blue would jump back into the starting role if Foster is scratched, but would be an underwhelming fantasy option as Buffalo has been relatively efficient in stopping the run so far in 2014. Stay tuned for more information this weekend, but Foster owners should begin making alternate plans.
Rob Gronkowski (knee) turned in yet another limited practice session on Thursday as he and the New England Patriots prepare to travel to Kansas City on Monday. The prime-time matchup gives Gronkowski an additional day of rest for his knee, and Gronk recently declared himself “ready for more responsibility” via the Boston Herald. Things are looking up for our favorite football spiking tight end, and although Kansas City is only allowing 42 yards per game to opposing tight ends this season, they have allowed three touchdowns to the position through three games. Gronkowski (44 touchdowns in 53 career games) is a great bet to reach the endzone yet again this week and his signature dominant performances will be a weekly occurrence if his role continues to expand.
Kansas City coach Andy Reid announced that he expects running back Jamaal Charles (ankle) to be active for Monday’s home game against the New England Patriots, which is welcome news to fantasy owners. Backup Knile Davis turned an enormous workload (32 carries) into 132 yards and a touchdown against Miami in Week 3 as Charles was inactive, but the top fantasy pick should be back in action this Monday. The Chiefs finally got in the win column last week as they returned their focus to the running game and the New England defense is far more vulnerable on the ground than via the air, so Charles may return to a healthy number of touches if he does indeed suit up. As with all injury situations, stay tuned this weekend, but all signs point toward Charles playing in Week 4.
News and Notes
Houston wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is off to a solid start in 2014 but coach Bill O’Brien would like to feature the young receiver even more as he told HoustonTexans.com that “We need to do a better job of getting him the ball.” Sunday’s game against Buffalo will likely be a low scoring affair but Hopkins is a solid fantasy starter at the moment. … Carson Palmer announced that he will be back in Week 5 following Arizona’s bye. This is certainly good news for Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd fans. … Baltimore running back Bernard Pierce got in a full practice on Thursday. Pierce, Lorenzo Taliaferro, and Justin Forsett all will receive touches in this now murky backfield, so avoid this situation on Sunday as the Ravens take on the Carolina Panthers. … New England coach Bill Belichick didn’t declare the reason for wide receiver Aaron Dobson’s healthy scratch in Week 3, which is curious considering the struggles the Patriots are experiencing on offense this season. Dobson is off the fantasy map at the moment but is certainly capable of producing once he returns to the field.
Injury Quick Slants
Eric Decker (hamstring) did not practice on Thursday and his status for Sunday’s game against Detroit is in serious question. The matchup isn’t great anyway so don’t plan on relying on Decker this week. … Doug Martin (knee) declared himself to be “100 percent” with a Week 4 matchup with Pittsburgh on the horizon and can be safely inserted back into fantasy lineups. … Chicago wide receiver Brandon Marshall (ankle) did not practice on Thursday and will likely be a game-time call this Sunday as the Bears host the Packers. … Calvin Johnson (ankle) missed practice on Thursday but no serious news has surfaced about the possibility of Megatron missing Sunday’s contest against the Jets. Check back this weekend to be certain, but Johnson, who has tallied at least 82 yards in each game this season, should be active in Week 4.
