Fantasy Football: Play Bench

Each week in this space I will review players who are ranked outside the top 10 for QB’s and TE’s and top 20 for WR’s in the weekly ESPN rankings.  This is who I think will flourish and who will disappoint this upcoming week.  I do not review those ranked higher since they are probably highly drafted and unable to be benched.  Last week was an average week, I went 5-4 in the Play them and 8-2 in the Bench them.  We have our 1st bye week with the Packs and Panthers being off.  Let’s get to this week…

Play Them

Philip Rivers (14) –  He has had a great comeback in the McCoy offense and only the Rams made Dallas look good on defense.

Jay Cutler (15) – The Lions pass defense continues to be average at best plus Cutler is playing the best QB in years

Bilal Powell (20) – He got 29 carries and with Ivory injury he is the only option.

Bernard Pierce (26)-  Ray Rice may be back but is not close to 100%, I would take a chance here.

Jason Snelling (35) – He had a 55/45 split with Rodgers last week and will be the goal line choice.

Cecil Shorts (24)- He is the kind of garbage points plus gets a great matchup versus the Colts who will have a letdown this week.

Denarious Moore (31) – He has a ton of talent and finally broke out last week, if Terelle Pryor plays; get him in your lineup as well as Pryor.

Coby Fleener (12) – This is more of a hunch but the Jags are below average against Tight Ends and I can see Luck hooking up his college teammate.

Bench Them

Russell Wilson (11) –  He is going on the road where his effectiveness does down plus faces a very tough defense in Houston.

Eli Manning (17) – He has a tough road matchup and I can see them dialing back the pass attempts, stay away from all Giants other than Victor Cruz until this gets straightened out.

Lamar Miller (22) – He is in a 50/50 split with no inside the 10 carries, not enough volume.

Steven Ridley (22) – Unless I had no one else there is no way I would start him in his current 3-way job share.

Joique Bell (28) – Reggie Bush is back and 100% and he is due to fall off that cliff soon.

Josh Gordon (21)- He will not replicate 19 targets and now with film expect teams to roll all coverage his way.

Julian Edelman (21) – He is a decent play in PPR but at 7 yards a catch there should be better options.

Dwayne Bowe (24) – Alex Smith is not looking his way at all, need a decent game before putting him back in my lineup.

Brandon Myers (14) – The Chiefs have the 2nd best defense against Tight Ends, look elsewhere.

Thanks for reading and please free to ask any questions on Twitter.

Mike Dietrich
Mike Dietrich is the fantasy football columnist for JetNation.
Mike Dietrich

Mike Dietrich is the fantasy football columnist for JetNation.

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Mike Dietrich