Tampa Bay and Pats starts, sits ahead of Week 4 showdown
AI:
Happy Week 4 everyone. Each week Bruce and I give our top fantasy starts and sits for the guys who are highly rostered, but aren’t your obvious starters. However, this week we’re doing something a little different.
This Sunday is the most highly anticipated matchup of the season — Tom Brady’s homecoming to Foxboro to take on Bill Belichick. So we thought it’s only fitting to do our starts and sits — exclusively — for the Bucs and Patriots.
So let’s get into it:
STARTS:
First up a familiar face and former Patriot — Antonio Brown. Brady said it preseason — this is Brown’s year. He had COVID last week, so he’ll be refreshed and ready for some revenge against the team that let him go. He’s the deep threat they were missing against the Rams. Week 1, in PPR leagues, he got over 25 points, so a definite START. (Still kicking myself for not taking my own advice and starting him, but anyways, moving on).
And for the Patriots — it’s always hard to know who to start — if anyone. New England’s offensive scheme is so unpredictable, which makes it tough for fantasy GMs. But I’d say this week — start Nelson Agholor. If the Patriots offensive line gives Mac Jones more time — he should be a deep threat. Plus — Rams WR DeSean Jackson exposed the Bucs secondary last week, so even more reason to flex Agholor in.
SITS:
We know him, we loved him as a Patriot — don’t come for me, but I’m going to go with Rob Gronkowski. Belichick simply knows Gronk too well, so the scheme against him will most likely lead to few point opportunities.
And sticking with TEs… if you have him — bench Jonnu Smith. He should be one of Jones’ most reliable targets, but last week he was anything but. Plus - the Bucs linebackers will lock him up regardless of last week’s performance.
Alright Bruce, who do you have?
BC:
I have a lucky break!
When we first batted this idea around, I thought you were going to exclusively do Start/Sits for Tampa, and I was going to do them for the Patriots.
And I gotta tell you, that’s some slim pickins’ on the home team side.
STARTS:
It’s easy to be discouraged in New England right now. If you’re in a deep league there are quite likely better choices at most spots. But someone’s got to get it done. The Bucs’ D has been strafed for 9 TD passes in the first three weeks. So spin the wheel and pick one: I am going with my Arkansas homie Hunter Henry, who would jump up and have the occasional outburst game as a Charger. Why not now? Most fantasy teams are always rolling the dice for TE production, and I’m sure not gonna give Jonnu Smith the benefit of the doubt after his dud Sunday.
Tampa has an amazing set of WRs. AB is AB. Mike Evans is the best target in the red zone Brady has ever had, outside of Gronk. (And yes, ahead of Randy Moss.) Chris Godwin is dangerous across the board. But he’s not 6-5, like Evans. But this isn’t really enlightening: Any game Evans is healthy, he must be in your starting lineup.
SITS:
Jones is unplayable. So is every Patriots RB. There are better K options than Nick Folk. You also don’t want to run the Pats’ D out there this week. And the WR options are limited as well.
Tampa also doesn’t have a great option at RB; Leonard Fournette has not shown much and the Pats’ defense should (gulp) force Brady to beat them. (He will.) I wouldn’t touch a Tampa back this week. Brady actually led the Bucs in rushing against the Rams Sunday.
Check out Alexi Iafrato on WCVB’s new segment — Fantasy on Five — every Thursday ahead of TNF.