Editor’s note: Eddie Velazquez is a football fan with very little to do other than consistently check the waiver wire. There is a high chance he survived midterm season and is ready to answer your fantasy football questions on Twitter @ezvelazquez.
Quarterback start of the week: Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts (at Oakland Raiders).
Luck has silenced all doubters—myself included—with his almost comical consistency as a fantasy player. Over the last three games, Luck has had 22 points in each one of the outings, as well as 11 total touchdowns over that same sample size.
I like this matchup against an already-defeated Raiders team, who in 2018 are still concerned about whether their quarterback was crying on the field or not.
Other QB starts: Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at Cincinnati Bengals). Mitchell Trubisky, Chicago Bears (vs New York Jets). Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings (vs New Orleans Saints).
Quarterback sit of the week: Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions (vs Seattle Seahawks)
The Lions are playing really well but in a non-Lions type of way. Usually, they show a complete dependency on Stafford to drive the offense to wins on his own. That seems to be changing with the emergence of Kerryon Johnson as a viable workhorse at the running back position and LeGarrette Blount as a potent goal-line back. According to NFL.com, he has not toppled more than 18 points in four of the last six games.
He also faces a Seattle defense that has not allowed a passer rating higher than 79.9 (per NFL.com). Even if this game is at home, these two factors should make the decision to play someone with a better matchup than Stafford’s a lot easier.
Other QB sits: Case Keenum, Denver Broncos (at Kansas City Chiefs). Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens (at Carolina Panthers) Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles (at Jacksonville Jaguars).
Running back start of the week: Marlon Mack, Indianapolis Colts (at Oakland Raiders).
Not a secret by any means, but the Colts offense looked different last week with Marlon Mack back in the lineup. He scored twice against a good Buffalo defense and had 159 yards from scrimmage as well as two total touchdowns.
His assignment gets even easier this week, as the Raiders defense is allowing 4.9 yards per carry to opposing running backs (according to CBS Sports).
Other RB starts: Phillip Lindsay, Denver Broncos (at Kansas City Chiefs). Raheem Mostert, San Francisco 49ers (vs Arizona Cardinals). Lamar Miller, Houston Texans (vs Miami Dolphins).
Running back sit of the week: Isaiah Crowell, New York Jets (at Chicago Bears)
With Bilal Powell out on injured reserve, the game script for Crowell could be favorable, but his inconsistency is too noticeable to trust him.
Chicago’s front is good against the run and according to CBS Sports, they have only allowed three running backs to go over 100 yards this year.
Other RB sits: Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns (at Pittsburgh Steelers). Corey Clement, Philadelphia Eagles (at Jacksonville Jaguars). Wendell Smallwood, Philadelphia Eagles (at Jacksonville Jaguars).
Wide receiver start of the week: Will Fuller, Houston Texans (vs Miami Dolphins)
Fuller has all of the fantasy stars aligning for him this week. He has a soft matchup against a defense who is going to double team DeAndre Hopkins with cornerback Xavien Howard and safety help over the top. He is also lucky because slot receiver Keke Coutee is out with a hamstring injury this week. Fuller has always been a boom-or-bust start, but his floor is going to be significantly higher this week.
Other WR starts: John Brown, Baltimore Ravens (at Carolina Panthers). Doug Baldwin, Seattle Seahawks (at Detroit Lions). Tyler Boyd, Cincinnati Bengals (vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers).
Wide receiver sit of the week: Marquise Goodwin, San Francisco 49ers (at Arizona Cardinals)
The Cardinals secondary is too underrated. Goodwin’s production might suffer this week, as the bird gang has only allowed a 72 passer rating to quarterbacks throwing to receivers lining up out wide (per NFL.com).
I recommend George Kittle as a pass-catching threat in the 49ers offense this week.
Other WR sits: Sammy Watkins, Kansas City Chiefs (vs Denver Broncos). Devin Funchess, Carolina Panthers (vs Baltimore Ravens). Demaryius Thomas, Denver Broncos (at Kansas City).
Tight end of start of the week: Trey Burton, Chicago Bears (vs New York Jets)
Burton has been very consistent as a touchdown threat this year, and a very forgiving Jets defense should help his production grow this week.
According to NFL.com, the Jets have allowed 799 yards and six touchdowns to players out of the slot this year. Rudolph runs most of his routes out of the slot.
Other TE starts: CJ Uzomah, Cincinnati Bengals (vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers). George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers (at Arizona Cardinals). David Njoku, Cleveland Browns (at Pittsburgh Steelers).
Tight end sit of the week: Evan Engram, New York Giants (vs Washington Redskins).
Engram is coming back from injury this week and he has not produced more than five points per reception points in a single game this year.
It also doesn’t help that he is facing a Redskins defense that is tough on passes over the middle of the field with a rejuvenated Josh Norman and a surprising addition at cornerback in Fabian Moreau (two forced fumbles this year). I’m sitting Engram this week.
Other TE sits: Chris Herndon, New York Jets (vs Chicago Bears). Vernon Davis, Washington Redskins (at New York Giants). Charles Clay, Buffalo Bills (vs New England Patriots).
Defense and special teams starts of the week: Indianapolis Colts (at Oakland Raiders). Houston Texans (vs Miami Dolphins). New England Patriots (at Buffalo Bills).
Defense and special team busts of the week: New York Jets (at Chicago Bears). Los Angeles Rams (vs Green Bay Packers). Cleveland Browns (at Pittsburgh Steelers).
Kicker starts of the week: Will Lutz, New Orleans Saints (at Minnesota Vikings). Dustin Hopkins, Washington Redskins (at New York Giants). Robbie Gould, San Francisco 49ers (at Arizona Cardinals).
Kicker busts of the week: Sebastian Janikowski, Seattle Seahawks (at Detroit Lions). Mason Crosby, Green Bay Packers (at Los Angeles Rams). Brandon McManus, Denver Broncos (at Kansas City Chiefs).
