Bench Brady and Rodgers in your championship
Rivers could lead you to a title thanks to matchup with Raiders
This is it. This game is for all the marbles. In most fantasy leagues, this week’s winner gets to bring home the championship trophy, securing bragging rights for the next few months. The loser will be left pondering all the mistakes he or she made along the way.
If you are the favorite this week, minimize your risk as much as you can. Roster players who have been dependable stars with favorable matchups. In other words: Go with the chalk. If you’re the underdog, swing for the fences. Go with players that have upside. Don’t be afraid to stream a kicker or defense (or both!) that could get you more points than the ones already sitting on your roster. Be bold.
And just in case you need more help in your pursuit of a championship, here are notable start/sit moves that could help your chances.
Start
PHILIP RIVERS, QB, Los Angeles Chargers: Rivers had a night to forget against the Vikings on Sunday. The 38-year-old completed 28 of 39 pass attempts for 307 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions and also lost a fumble. Expect him to bounce back against an Oakland Raiders defense that has allowed the second-most fantasy points per game (21.5) to quarterbacks in 2019.
COURTLAND SUTTON, WR, Denver Broncos: The secondyear pro has put together a solid fantasy campaign, always having at least five targets in a game this season. He’s been kept out of the end zone for two straight weeks but Denver’s next opponent, the Detroit Lions, has already allowed 17 touchdowns to wideouts in 2019, the seventh most this year to the position.
DEVONTA FREEMAN, RB, Atlanta Falcons: Freeman has just one rushing touchdown this season, but he should get some quality chances this week against Jacksonville. The Jaguars have one of the worst run defenses of 2019, per the game charters at Pro Football Focus (26th), and are allowing 5.3 yards per carry to running backs through Week 15. Only the Carolina Panthers, whom Freeman has his lone rushing touchdown against, have been worse this season.
TOM BRADY, QB, New England Patriots: There was a time when Brady was a lock to make your fantasy starting lineup. That time has passed. Brady has surpassed 190 yards passing just once in the last four games and, according to ESPN’s Total Quarterback rating, he is the 21st best passer of 2019. Players ahead of him include Jacoby Brissett, Daniel Jones and Baker Mayfield.
Next up for Brady is the Buffalo Bills, whose defense is allowing the second-lowest passer rating against (76.7) this season. Keep him far away from your starting lineup.
AARON RODGERS, QB, Green Bay Packers: Rodgers has thrown for multiple touchdowns just once in the past six games and he’s now going to face a Minnesota Vikings defense that allows just 15.1 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this season. Meanwhile, Rodgers has only scored more than 12 fantasy points once since the bye in Week 11. He scored just 16 fantasy points against Minnesota in Week 2.
JAMES CONNER, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers: Conner missed five of Pittsburgh’s six previous games and then played 58% of the team’s offensive snaps Sunday night, touching the ball 12 times for 51 yards and a touchdown. It’s fair to have optimism after a performance like that but temper your expectations this week. Conner will be facing a New York Jets defense that is the fourth best per Pro Football Focus and the second best according to Football Outsiders.