There will be a time when Andrew Luck needs to go back into your fantasy lineup.
It may even come before the end of this season. However, the time to give the former No. 1 overall draft pick some consideration is not here yet—especially not this week, when the Denver Broncos head to the Hoosier State to show off their hard-hitting and top-ranked defense.
Not only can the Broncos win games because of their defense, but they can also embarrass the best players in the league.
The Broncos held Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers to 77 passing yards in Week 8 when they registered a one-sided 29-10 victory over the previously undefeated Packers.
Luck has been troubled by shoulder and rib injuries this year, and his numbers are down significantly. He has completed 141 of 257 passes this season for 1,629 yards with 13 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Instead of being compared to quarterbacks like Rodgers, Tom Brady, Philip Rivers, Carson Palmer and Drew Brees, he is surrounded by Sam Bradford, Kirk Cousins, Colin Kaepernick and Brian Hoyer on the passing-yardage chart.
Luck had three strong years prior to the 2015 season, so there’s no reason to panic about his long-term ability. He is having a poor year, and it’s not all his fault.
However, fantasy players must stay away from him until further notice.
Top Locks
QB Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons
After a brilliant start, the Falcons and quarterback Matt Ryan have slowed down considerably, losing two of their last three games. However, there’s no reason to bump them off the fantasy radar. They will take on the San Francisco 49ers on the road this week, and they will find a team that is in disarray.
The Niners pulled Kaepernick from the starting lineup in favor of Blaine Gabbert, and the move reeks of desperation. Gabbert is a mistake-prone passer, and he will turn the ball over to the Falcons and Ryan throughout the game.
Ryan will have the ball in position to score, and once he leads them to their first touchdown, the Falcons will rediscover their high-scoring ways. Ryan is third in the NFL with 2,399 passing yards along with a 67.0 completion percentage. Ryan has thrown 11 TD passes, and he should have an opportunity to throw for at least 275 yards and two scores against the lowly Niners.
RB Danny Woodhead, San Diego Chargers
The Chargers are the most prolific passing team in the league this year, which makes it hard to understand why they have won just two of their first eight games.
But you can be sure that Rivers is going to put the ball in the air throughout their Monday night game against the Chicago Bears. However, there’s likely to be a major change in the focus of the passing game, because the team’s leading receiver, Keenan Allen, is done for the year after suffering a kidney injury.
Danny Woodhead should be one of Rivers’ top targets. The running back has excellent hands, catching 39 of the 49 passes that have come his way, and has gained 443 receiving yards on the season.
Expect Rivers to target him at least a dozen times, and he could also see five to 10 rushing attempts. Woodhead will have at least 100 yards in the contest (rushing and receiving combined) and will get into the end zone once as well.
WR Brandon LaFell, New England Patriots
The New England Patriots have become a devastating offensive team, and the biggest reasons for their success has been the accuracy of quarterback Tom Brady and the versatility of their offensive playmakers who can win the battle in different ways.
Tight end Rob Gronkowski and wideout Julian Edelman lead the passing game, while the power running of LeGarrette Blount and the attacking style of Dion Lewis have paid off in the running game.
But the Patriots also have a rangy, athletic receiver in Brandon LaFell (6’3″, 210 lbs) who is back in the lineup after missing the team’s first five games with a foot injury.
Drops troubled him in his first game back in Week 7 against the New York Jets, but he looked better in Week 8 against the Miami Dolphins.
LaFell will be back in top form after shaking off the rust, and he will take advantage of a Washington Redskins defense that will focus on Gronkowski, Edelman and the ground game.
LaFell will have his first big receiving day of the year with eight catches for 115 yards and a touchdown.
Fantasy Flops
RB Eddie Lacy, Green Bay Packers
It has not been a productive first half of the season for Eddie Lacy, and it’s not going to get much better in Week 9 when the Packers face the undefeated Carolina Panthers on the road.
Lacy was one of the top running backs in nearly all fantasy drafts this year, and he appeared to be set for a huge year for the explosive Packers.
However, Lacy has not found his top gear this season, and he appears to lack the quickness that made him dangerous in each of his first two years in the league.
Lacy has rushed for 398 yards on 3.8 yards per carry, and he has found the end zone only two times.
The Panthers have two nasty linebackers in Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis, who will make it their mission to hammer Lacy on every carry. They will hold him to fewer than 50 yards Sunday, and he needs to stay on your fantasy bench.
WR Allen Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars have shown improvement on the offensive side of the ball as quarterback Blake Bortles has thrown for an average of 246.1 yards per game and already has 15 TD passes.
The biggest reason for his success has been the double-Allen attack at the wide receiver position. Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns have combined for 1,099 yards and 11 touchdowns. Of the two, Robinson has been slightly more productive with a line of 34 catches for 586 yards and six touchdowns through the Jaguars’ first seven games.
However, this is not the week to count on Robinson, Hurns or Bortles. The Jaguars will play the Jets on the road, and New York is coming off an embarrassing 34-20 loss against the Oakland Raiders. Head coach Todd Bowles is not happy, and he has the third-ranked defense in the league at his disposal.
Look for All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis to lock up Robinson and hold him to fewer than 60 receiving yards. The Jaguars are going to have a tough time moving the ball and an even harder time scoring.
Robinson should not be in your fantasy lineup this week.
TE Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles have gotten off to a disappointing 3-4 start, but they find themselves just a half-game behind the first-place New York Giants in the NFC East.
Head coach Chip Kelly’s Eagles should have an excellent chance to stay in the fight for the division title even though their offense has not been firing.
They’ll get back into action in a Week 9 road contest against the Dallas Cowboys after a tough loss to Carolina and a bye week. The Cowboys have been stuck in the mud offensively since losing QB Tony Romo to a shoulder injury, but their defense has held up.
The Eagles may find a way to win the game, but it will be with a late field goal or a defensive score. Don’t expect angular tight end Zach Ertz to hurt the Cowboys.
While Ertz runs good patterns and has fine hands, quarterback Sam Bradford has been erratic. Ertz has not caught a TD pass from him this year, and he won’t in this game, either.
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