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Week 6 Start 'Em or Sit 'Em

Nick Mensio dives into the matchups and advises which players to start and sit for Week 6

Start ‘Em or Sit ‘Em is geared toward redraft leagues but can also be used for setting DFS lineups, as these are the players I’ll likely be filling out my cash lineups with on Sunday. As is the case each week, I’m ignoring the Thursday night game.

QUARTERBACK

Start of the Week: Sam Bradford vs. Giants: Bradford has survived bad first-half performances in back-to-back games only to finish as a QB1 in each of them. His numbers the past two weeks: 47-of-73 (64.4 percent) for 610 yards (8.36 YPA) and a 5:2 TD:INT ratio. Bradford is taking more shots downfield after averaging just 5.75 YPA his first three starts. The Giants play strong run defense. Due to that, they’ve faced the second-most pass attempts and allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks. With zero pass rush — the Giants have just seven sacks — Bradford should be able to comfortably operate in the pocket and go through his progressions. Giants RCB Prince Amukamara suffered a partially torn pec in the Week 5 win over the 49ers and will likely be replaced in the starting lineup by Trevin Wade or Jayron Hosley. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie mans the left side, while diminutive Trumaine McBride covers the slot. Jordan Matthews vs. McBride is a real mismatch. The Eagles have been running more up-tempo of late, so this should be an up-and-down game. And according to Graham Barfield, the Giants have allowed at least 260 passing yards in each of their five games, including three 300-yard performances. Bradford is a strong season-long and DFS play.

Starts

Colin Kaepernick vs. Ravens: This feels like a serious case of points-chasing from last week, but the matchup is strong here for Kaepernick. Coming off a 262-yard, two-touchdown outing against the Giants last week, Kaepernick now gets one of the league’s worst secondaries. Ravens LCB Lardarius Webb is banged up with a thigh injury, and fellow CBs Jimmy Smith and Kyle Arrington have really struggled in coverage. The Ravens just brought in ex-49ers CB Shareece Wright on a free-agent deal this week to try and help. Baltimore is allowing over 7.64 YPA and the second-most fantasy points to quarterbacks. It also lost top edge rusher Terrell Suggs to a torn Achilles’ in Week 1. Kaepernick gets the Ravens at home, and Baltimore is traveling cross-country. San Francisco will likely try running the ball at first, but the Ravens have help up reasonably well against the run this season, allowing just 3.74 YPC and the 11th-fewest fantasy points to running backs. The 49ers have a better-than-average projected team total of 22.25 points as 2.5-point favorites.

Matthew Stafford vs. Bears: Stafford and the Lions just ran the gauntlet, facing strong pass defenses each of the first five weeks of the season and going 0-5. Relief is on the horizon, and it starts this week against the Bears. Chicago has played better against the pass recently, but it hasn’t faced many attempts. Only the Titans and Dolphins have faced fewer attempts, and both of those teams have a bye week mixed into that. Despite seeing so few passes, the Bears have allowed the third-most touchdowns through the air. Stafford was just benched in-game last week, but coach Jim Caldwell remains committed to Stafford as his quarterback. Detroit’s offensive line hasn’t been good in pass protection, but Chicago’s pass rush hasn’t been getting after the quarterback consistently. The Lions are at home and have been installed as three-point favorites with a 23.25 team total. With the Lions being completely inept at running the football, Stafford’s arm is the only source of offense.

Jay Cutler at Lions: On the other side of the Chicago-Detroit matchup sits Cutler. Like the Bears, the Lions have also struggled containing quarterbacks. They’re allowing a whopping 9.17 YPA and the seventh-most fantasy points to quarterbacks. Cutler has attempted at least 36 passes in all three of his complete games this season and has taken over 41 drop-backs in all three. The Bears want to play fast under OC Adam Gase. Cutler is averaging just 6.6 YPA, but he’s also been without Alshon Jeffery for all but one game, and Jeffery wasn’t even healthy Week 1. Jeffery is aiming to return Sunday. Even if he doesn’t, Marquess Wilson has shown to be a solid downfield threat in his absence. We know what we’re getting with Cutler; he’s had a safe floor through three starts and is now four weeks removed from his hamstring injury. No Lions cornerback has a positive coverage grade over at Pro Football Focus.

Ryan Fitzpatrick vs. Redskins: The Jets are coming off their bye. This offense is built around Chris Ivory and the run game, but the thing the Redskins do best is stop the run, even if they were just gashed by Devonta Freeman last week. Washington is allowing 3.95 YPC and the fourth-fewest fantasy points to running backs. The Redskins have also played reasonably well against the pass, but that’s mostly due to their pass rush getting after quarterbacks. Fitzpatrick has absorbed just two sacks on 154 drop-backs with the Jets’ line protecting him well. The Jets will likely come out running it, but there will be opportunities through the air for Fitzpatrick. The Redskins’ secondary is banged up with LCB DeAngelo Hall (toe) and RCB Chris Culliver (knee) battling injuries. Hall is unlikely to play. And Culliver has been Washington’s worst cover man. The Jets are six-point favorites with a team total of 23.25 points. There’s a correlation between heavy favorites and strong quarterback play.

Sits

Peyton Manning at Browns: The comments section was abuzz when Manning was listed in the “Sits” portion of last week’s Start ‘Em or Sit ‘Em. On paper, the Raiders looked like a great matchup for Manning to get his season off the ground. He responded with yet another dud, throwing for 266 yards, zero touchdowns, and two interceptions. The 39-year-old has thrown six touchdowns to seven picks and has just one QB1 finish through five games. The Browns are another strong on-paper matchup for Manning, but he’ll again be on the road in a tough environment. Cleveland is one of five teams to allow double-digit touchdown passes, and it’s also allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks. But this sets up more for the Broncos to get their running game going, as the Browns are allowing 5.33 YPC. Chris Ivory, Latavius Murray, and Justin Forsett have each gashed them for big days. It’s hard to trust Denver’s offensive line to protect Manning enough for him to make plays. And he’s shown a complete inability to push the ball downfield this season. Bump Manning up if FS Tashaun Gipson (ankle), CB Joe Haden (concussion), and ILB Craig Robertson (ankle) can’t go, but I still wouldn’t be looking to use Manning in this spot.

Cam Newton at Seahawks: Newton has been making his hay as a runner through a quarter of the season. He’s thrown for over 195 yards just once but isn’t tossing interceptions. Newton is the overall QB4 based on fantasy points per game, but he’s heading into the lion’s den Sunday. The Seahawks are No. 1 against the run, which obviously doesn’t bode well for Newton, who’s been doing the bulk of his damage with his feet and not his arm. Seattle also has a stingy pass defense, particularly at home. Newton is going to have to throw the ball to produce, and that seems unlikely to happen against the Seahawks’ No. 11 defense against quarterbacks. The Seahawks will be looking for blood after blowing a lead and losing to the Bengals on the road in Week 5. The Panthers have the lowest team total of the week at 16.75 points as seven-point underdogs.

Russell Wilson vs. Panthers: I’m avoiding this Carolina-Seattle game altogether. This Panthers defense hasn’t faced even an average starting quarterback through four games. Wilson will be the best they’ve seen to-date come Sunday, but I’m still not looking to pick on a Josh Norman-led group that has picked off eight passes and allowed only four touchdowns. Wilson doesn’t have a top-12 finish on his resume yet in 2015. Play caller Darrell Bevell’s group has been inefficient to say the least and still seems unsure how to use Jimmy Graham. Meanwhile, the offensive line can’t protect Wilson, as he’s on pace to take over 70 sacks. Wilson is racking up yards as a runner, but he’s not scoring touchdowns on the ground or through the air.

Josh McCown vs. Broncos: McCown is white-hot, having topped 340 passing yards in three-straight games since returning from his concussion. He’s looked like Tom Brady against the Chargers, Raiders, and Ravens. McCown has thrown six touchdowns to just one interception in that span. But he’s taken 14 sacks the past three weeks and now gets the Broncos’ head-of-the-class, No. 1 pass defense. Denver is allowing 6.09 YPA and the fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks. The Broncos have picked off seven passes and allowed three touchdowns through the air. McCown at least gets them in his backyard, but the matchup is just too difficult to trust the 36-year-old.

For everything NFL, check out Rotoworld’s Player News, and follow @Rotoworld_FB and @NickMensio on Twitter.



RUNNING BACK

Start of the Week: Eddie Lacy vs. Chargers: Based on fantasy points per game, Lacy is RB42 through five weeks, behind guys like Marcel Reece and Antonio Andrews. Lacy hasn’t scored since Week 1 and has yet to total 100 yards in a single game. His sprained ankle suffered in Week 2 likely has something to do with it, but Lacy also isn’t breaking tackles like he did in 2014. Still, it’s hard not to love Lacy in this spot against the Chargers. San Diego plays stout pass defense. This isn’t to say Aaron Rodgers is going to have a bad game, but it sets up much better for Lacy. The Packers are 10-point home favorites and could be draining the clock in the second half. Only the Falcons and Cowboys have allowed more fantasy points to running backs than the Chargers. San Diego is yielding 5.11 YPC and has allowed the fifth-most rushing touchdowns. If Lacy doesn’t wake up this week, it may not happen. He’s been a notoriously slow starter, but is a good bet to be top-10 the rest of the way. Lacy makes for a fine buy-low candidate and solid DFS played at his depressed price.

Starts

Melvin Gordon at Packers: We’ve banged this drum a number of times the first five weeks. It hasn’t worked out, but I’m going back to the well on Gordon. Game script as 10-point road underdogs at Lambeau Field screams to downgrade Gordon in Week 6. But the rookie just played a season-high 61.8 percent of the snaps last week against the Steelers and turned 22 touches into 92 total yards against a tough run defense. It could be an outlier performance that saw Gordon get eight targets in the pass game after seeing just six total the first four weeks, or it could be a sign the Chargers are ready to commit to Gordon as their feature back. Danny Woodhead isn’t going away, but there’s enough to go around with the Chargers wanting to play fast. San Diego will likely want to run the ball Sunday to try and keep Aaron Rodgers off the field instead of trying to go toe-to-toe with him and trading blows. Gordon is averaging 17 touches per game, so even if it gets out of hand in the second half, he still has a safe floor in terms of volume. The Packers are allowing over 4.53 YPC. Chargers run-mauling guards Orlando Franklin and D.J. Fluker are practicing this week.

C.J. Anderson at Browns: If Lacy above has had a bad season as a first-round fantasy pick, Anderson’s has been horrendous. It’s gotten to the point where it’s become a weekly debate whether Anderson is droppable in 12- and 14-team leagues. Hold on at least one more week. Anderson remained the lead back last week against Oakland and out-touched Ronnie Hillman 13-8. Neither had much success, as Anderson gained 40 yards to Hillman’s 26. Coach Gary Kubiak is ready for one of the two take control of this backfield and has given Anderson a long leash. It’s getting tighter, but if Anderson is going to break out, this is the week to do it. Running backs have been doing whatever they want against the Browns. Cleveland is allowing 5.33 YPC and the fourth-most fantasy points to running backs. Anderson has done nothing to trust him in this spot, but it’s as good of one he’ll have all year. With guys like Doug Martin, Latavius Murray, Joseph Randle, and Todd Gurley on bye weeks, Anderson enters the RB2 picture. He has tournament-winning upside in DFS.

Shane Vereen at Eagles: To be clear, I like Vereen a lot more if Odell Beckham (hamstring) and/or Rueben Randle (hamstring) sit out Monday night. Even if one or both receivers play, this sets up as a game for Vereen to get plenty of work. He’s coming off a 13-touch, 110-yard, one-touchdown game against the 49ers last week and rolling into what should be a high-paced tilt with the Eagles. Philadelphia is allowing just 3.65 YPC on the ground and the fifth-fewest fantasy points to running backs, and the Giants can’t run the ball anyway. Vereen isn’t your typical running back, as he’s more receiver than ball-carrier. And if the Giants are shorthanded at receiver, Vereen could see increased snaps out wide in the slot. Vereen has been an RB2 two times this season and gets a boost if Eagles ILBs Kiko Alonso (knee) and Mychal Kendricks (hamstring) sit out. Neither has practiced this week. Vereen should have a floor of at least 10-12 touches with the Giants needing to score points.

Lamar Miller at Titans: Another early-season fantasy disappointment is Miller. The Dolphins average the fewest rushing attempts per game. That should change under interim coach Dan Campbell after owner Stephen Ross fired Joe Philbin during the bye week. Campbell was a blocking tight end in his playing days, and OC Bill Lazor was in Philadelphia with LeSean McCoy. The belief around the Dolphins is that with Philbin gone, Miami will make a more concerted effort to get the ground game on track. The Titans are allowing the third-fewest fantasy points ton running backs, but that’s because they’ve faced the fewest attempts. Tennessee is still allowing 4.09 YPC and three touchdowns on 82 attempts. Miller has promised to be “more decisive” as a runner moving forward.

Sits

Matt Jones at Jets: Jones has out-carried teammate Alfred Morris three of the past four games and is getting much of the goal-line work, so that’s why he’s listed here instead or Morris. Both aren’t recommended fantasy starts against the Jets. Coming out of their bye well-rested and getting former DPOY Sheldon Richardson back from a four-game suspension, the Jets might be the top team defense of Week 6. They’ve allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to running backs, including just one touchdown and a microscopic 3.20 YPC average. Jones is also battling a toe injury, though it shouldn’t keep him out after he got in a limited practice Wednesday.

Jeremy Hill at Bills: Not many running backs have faced a tougher schedule than Hill. He’s gone up against the Ravens, Chiefs, and Seahawks the past three weeks. It doesn’t get any easier Sunday. The Bills are allowing 3.82 YPC and the eighth-fewest fantasy points to running backs. Hill is being severely out-snapped by Giovani Bernard, as he played just 25 snaps to Bernard’s 66 in Week 5 against the Seahawks. The Bills have a similarly-elite run defense. It could be another Bernard game. If you’re using Hill, you’re stuck on a wing and a prayer hoping for a goal-line plunge for a touchdown. Relief will come for Hill in Weeks 9 and 13 when he gets the Browns’ defense.

Ameer Abdullah vs. Bears: Abdullah has fumbled three times through his first five games and was benched for it last week after putting the ball on the ground twice. He had ball-security issues at Nebraska. Luckily for him, the Lions have nowhere to turn at running back unless they want to increase UDFA Zach Zenner’s workload. That seems unlikely, and OC Joe Lombardi said the team doesn’t plan to limit Abdullah’s touches earlier this week. Unfortunately for Abdullah owners, he hasn’t done much when the ball has been in his hands. He’s averaging just 3.3 YPC, eight carries, and two catches per game out of the backfield. With Joique Bell (Achilles’) set to return to the lineup against Chicago, it will even further muddle the situation. Abdullah is the most talented back on the roster but isn’t being used like it. He’s impossible to trust as anything more than an RB3 in PPR formats.

Chris Johnson at Steelers: 30-year-old Johnson has been a godsend for the Cardinals, stepping in and taking over as their foundation back on early downs. He averaged 19.33 carries per game Weeks 2-4, but saw just 11 totes in Week 5 with Andre Ellington returning from a knee injury to join CJ2K and rookie David Johnson in Arizona’s backfield. Don’t read too much into Johnson’s dipped carry total last week, however. The Cardinals ran just 48 plays on offense en route to destroying the Lions 42-17. Chris remains the go-to running back on first and second down, but the matchup this week looks like one for the Cardinals’ passing game. The Steelers are allowing 3.58 YPC and one of three teams yet to allow a rushing touchdown.



WIDE RECEIVER

Start of the Week: Donte Moncrief vs. Patriots: If the Patriots are to employ the same defensive tactics they’ve used in past matchups with the Colts, they’ll likely stick the No. 2 corner on T.Y. Hilton and have FS Devin McCourty over the top in bracket coverage to take Andrew Luck’s No. 1 receiver away. That should leave Andre Johnson and Moncrief in single-coverage. I’m not buying into Johnson being “back” after his two-touchdown game against the Texans in Week 5. That was more of the Colts trying to feed Johnson against his former team, and Moncrief continues to out-snap Johnson. Moncrief is the more talented and explosive weapon. Patriots-Colts has the highest over-under of the week at 54.5 points, and Andrew Luck (shoulder) is expected to be back under center after missing two games. The Colts are going to need big plays to keep up with the Patriots, and Moncrief might be their best option. He’ll likely see plenty of Patriots CB Malcolm Butler. Butler was torched Week 1 by Antonio Brown, but hasn’t faced much of a test since against the Bills, Jaguars, and Dez Bryant-less Cowboys. He’s still allowed three touchdowns in coverage through four games. No. 2 corner Tarell Brown has a foot injury. Moncrief has week-winning upside if Luck is back.

Starts

Golden Tate vs. Bears: Tate has found his name in this article weekly, as he’s routinely been in the “Sits” portion. With the Lions’ schedule loosening up starting this week against the Bears, Tate is back in the fantasy picture after managing 264 scoreless yards the first five games. Sherrick McManis mans the slot for the Bears and has been torched for three touchdowns and 129.2 passer rating against. Tate has seen at least seven targets in 4-of-5 games and is still breaking tackles and chewing up YAC on a consistent basis. Detroit has struggled to run the ball. Tate can act as an extension of the running game in the short passing game as a way to move the chains.

Eric Decker vs. Redskins: Decker has become one of the more underrated receivers in the league after he left Peyton Manning’s side prior to the 2014 season. He was lost in the Geno Smith mess last year. With OC Chan Gailey now calling the plays and popgun-armed Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback, Decker is overall WR21. Coming out of the bye, Decker has had 14 days to rest his knee after spraining his PCL in Week 2. Brandon Marshall has been the target hog for the Jets, but Decker has scored a touchdown in each game as a sure-handed, go-to option in the red zone. The Redskins are allowing over 13.57 YPR and the eighth-most touchdowns to receivers. Decker (6’3/215) has run over 80 percent of his routes out of the slot this season and projects to see a ton of Redskins sixth-round rookie slot CB Kyshoen Jarrett (5’10/188) on Sunday. Decker has the size and skill advantage in this matchup and should see at least a handful of targets.

John Brown at Steelers: The Cardinals are three-point road favorites in coach Bruce Arians’ “revenge” game. The Steelers forced ex-OC Arians out of town following the 2011 season, and he’s since gone on to win Coach of the Year honors in Indianapolis and Arizona. Never one to hold anything back, Arians is going to make it a point to unload on his former team. With the Steelers vulnerable on the back end, it could be “Bombs over Baghdad” for the Cardinals’ passing offense, and Brown is Carson Palmer’s preferred deep threat. Brown has been extremely boom-or-bust the first five weeks. He’s failed to top 75 yards receiving in a game and been dependent on the touchdown. He moves around the formation enough to where he’ll see all of Pittsburgh’s corners.

Anquan Boldin vs. Ravens: Boldin has averaged nine targets per game the past two weeks and at least 10 in two of the past four games. He’s taken over as Colin Kaepernick’s go-to receiver, especially in the absence of Vernon Davis (knee), though Davis is on track to return after missing the past two games. Still, the Ravens defend tight ends well, but that’s not the case against receivers. Only the Chiefs have allowed more fantasy points to receivers than the Ravens. This is also a “revenge” game for Boldin after Baltimore traded him for a sixth-round pick prior to 2013. Not many players have bigger chips on their shoulders than Boldin. At 35, he’s out to prove he’s still got it.

Sits

Travis Benjamin vs. Broncos: Benjamin has become a sensation almost overnight it seems. He’s played 81.6 percent of the offensive snaps the past three weeks and taken over as the Browns/ No. 1 receiver as a lid-lifting speed demon. Benjamin has been targeted at least 10 times each of the past three games and should see plenty of looks Sunday. The matchup is too brutal. Only the Chargers have allowed fewer fantasy points to receivers than the Broncos. Benjamin will do battle with Broncos CBs Aqib Talib and Bradley Roby, provided Talib (ankle) plays. All three of Talib, Roby, and slot CB Chris Harris are legitimate shutdown cover men.

Rishard Matthews at Titans: Matthews was the trash man the first three weeks of the season doing a ton of damage in garbage time. In the Week 4 matchup against the Jets in London, he managed a meager 1-16 receiving line on just three targets. The Dolphins have made several changes to the coaching staff since then and could choose to give Kenny Stills and rookie DeVante Parker more snaps out wide. Matthews’ role as a starter is the flimsiest, especially coming off a bad performance in which he dropped his third pass of the season. Even if Matthews retains his starting spot, Dolphins-Titans has a minuscule over-under of 43 points and a two-point spread. There might not be much, if any, garbage time for Matthews to do work. He’s also likely to see a lot of outside CBs Perrish Cox and Jason McCourty. The weakness is at slot CB with Coty Sensabaugh.

Andre Johnson vs. Patriots: As noted above, I’m not a believer in Johnson following his 77-yard, two-touchdown night against his former Texans teammates last week. The Colts did Johnson a favor to get him revenge against coach Bill O’Brien. And Johnson’s diminished skill set meshed well with fellow gray-beard Matt Hasselbeck. With Andrew Luck (shoulder) set to return, the Colts are likely to try and challenge the Patriots downfield. Johnson caught just 7-of-18 targets for 51 yards in Luck’s three starts earlier this season. He still can’t separate. I like Donte Moncrief a lot more.

Marvin Jones at Bills: This isn’t a game to use Jones after he whipped the Seahawks’ non-Richard Sherman cover men for a 5-61 line in Week 5. Jones is almost strictly an outside receiver and will see a ton of Bills’ boundary corners Stephon Gilmore and Ronald Darby. Darby and Gilmore are Pro Football Focus’ Nos. 2 and 4 cover corners, respectively. As we’ll see below, this projects as a game the Bengals will have success in the middle parts of the field with Tyler Eifert, Mohamed Sanu, and Giovani Bernard. Highly volatile with a low floor, Jones is best left on benches Sunday.



TIGHT END

Start of the Week: Tyler Eifert at Bills: A.J. Green and Marvin Jones are going to have their hands full with Bills CBs Stephon Gilmore and Ronald Darby on the outside in this one. Gilmore and Darby are both top-four cover corners at Pro Football Focus out of 107 qualifiers. The Bengals are unlikely to have much success running the ball against coach Rex Ryan’s group, which means Andy Dalton will likely have to attack the middle of the field. I want to be careful not to chase after Eifert’s eight-catch, 90-yard, two-touchdown Week 5, but this is another great on-paper matchup for the Gronkowskian tight end. The Bills just lost SS Aaron Williams to I.R./return with a neck injury on Wednesday, and Buffalo allows the ninth-most fantasy points to tight ends.

Starts

Travis Kelce at Vikings: Kelce has been a disappointment after being drafted as a top-three tight end during the summer. Predictably, he’s having to do all of his damage after the catch with Alex Smith at quarterback and hasn’t topped 80 yards or found the end zone since Week 1. But with Jamaal Charles (knee) done for the season, it could open up a ton of targets for Kelce in the short passing game. Kelce will have his hands full with Vikings FS Harrison Smith, but he’s an otherworldly talent with a nose for the end zone. The Vikings have allowed the 14th-most points to tight ends.

Delanie Walker vs. Dolphins: Walker has averaged eight targets per week his past two games and scored a touchdown in the other game he was active. The Dolphins have done okay against opposing tight ends, allowing the 18th-most points to the position, but Jordan Reed went 7-63-1 against them Week 1 before Charles Clay posted a 5-82-1 line against them Week 3. Much like Reed and Clay, Walker is the safety blanket and one of the focal points in Tennessee’s passing game.

Darren Fells at Steelers: This is a total shot in the dark. The Cardinals are likely to try and light up the scoreboard against the Steelers in coach Bruce Arians’ return to Pittsburgh. To do that, Arizona will throw the ball all over the yard. The Steelers have proven to be extremely weak through the middle of their defense; they gave up four tight-end touchdowns in Week 1 and two to Antonio Gates last week. Pittsburgh has allowed the most fantasy points to the position. With ILB Ryan Shazier (shoulder) and S Will Allen (ankle) unlikely to play, the Steelers are even more depleted inside. Fells previously roasted the Saints for a 4-82-1 line in Week 1 and the Lions for a 2-25-1 line last week. Both are bottom-six defenses vs. tight ends.

Sits

Charles Clay vs. Bengals: The Bengals are one of four teams not to allow a touchdown to a tight end. They’ve yielded the 12th-fewest points to the position. And with Sammy Watkins coming back from a calf injury, some of Clay’s targets are going to go to him. The Bengals have held Ladarius Green, Travis Kelce, and Jimmy Graham out of the end zone so far this season.

Jimmy Graham vs. Panthers: It’s impossible to trust Graham until the Seahawks show an increased urgency to get him the ball. He was a no-show last week against Cincinnati, catching 3-of-5 targets for 30 scoreless yards a week after going 4-29-0 in a plus matchup against the Lions. The Seahawks’ passing offense is nonexistent at this point, and Graham is going to struggle to see more than a handful of looks. To top things off, Carolina has allowed the fewest points to tight ends.

Derek Carrier at Jets: Jordan Reed (concussion) is going to miss another game, leaving Derek Carrier as the starter. He caught a touchdown last week, but was targeted just three times. DeSean Jackson (hamstring) could be back Sunday, pushing Carrier even further down the totem pole. The Jets have allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to the position.