Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Last-minute advice you need for Week 11
This may be the final week with byes, but it still claims three high-profile teams in the fantasy world. The Giants, Steelers and Saints are all off this week. The Browns are, too, but if that affects your fantasy team you might as well start planning for 2016. The three teams that actually matter in fantasy contribute two every-week starters at quarterback (Ben Roethlisberger and Drew Brees), two at running back (DeAngelo Williams and Mark Ingram) and four at receiver, including two of the game’s biggest stars (Odell Beckham, Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant and Brandin Cooks). Luckily, everyone will be playing with a full complement of weapons beginning next week.
Before then, however, a crucial Week 11 matchup looms. Allow us to get you ready with all the last-minute advice you need in the Week 11 Cheat Sheet.
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Denver Broncos at Chicago Bears
| vs. QB | vs. RB | vs. WR | vs. TE |
Broncos | 1st | 19th | 1st | 12th |
Bears | 13th | 14th | 16th | 6th |
Vegas lines
Bears -1
Over/under 41.5
Broncos o/u 20.5
Bears o/u 21.5
Who would have thought as recently as two or three weeks ago that the Bears would be favored in this game? Not only are they laying a point, there’s an argument that they should be even heavier favorites with Brock Osweiler getting his first career start. The Bears have clicked offensively the last two weeks, but the Broncos will provide a unique test.
Player who could surprise: Ronnie Hillman
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You may think the Bears are awful against the pass, but they’re actually right in line with league average by just about every measure. Couple that with the fact that Osweiler is an unknown commodity, and we could see a whole lot of the Denver run game on Sunday. The Bears have struggled against the run, ranking 31st in rush defense DVOA. Hillman is clearly the man, with C.J. Anderson in a support role. The former should start in all formats this week.
Player who could disappoint: Jeremy Langford
Langford has more than shown the Bears that he can be their starter next season, assuming Matt Forte leaves in free agency, and that he should have a role in the offense for the rest of the year, even after Forte returns. Having said that, his fantasy day was made last week thanks to one big play and a short field after a failed fake punt by St. Louis. He had just 73 yards on 20 carries in that tough assignment with the Rams. His life doesn’t get any easier with the Broncos and their defense, which is seventh in rush DVOA, visiting Chicago this week.
Matchup to watch: Alshon Jeffery vs. Aqib Talib
Talib returns from his one-game suspension a week too early as far as anyone invested in Jeffery is concerned. This is another week with a lot of fun receiver-corner matchups, but none will be better than what we see at Solder Field on Sunday.
Injury report
Peyton Manning (foot): Out
DeMarcus Ware (back): Out
Ronnie Hillman (quad): Probable
Emmanuel Sanders (ankle): Questionable
Matt Forte (knee): Questionable
Alshon Jeffery (groin): Questionable
Pernell McPhee (knee): Questionable
Indianapolis Colts at Atlanta Falcons
| vs. QB | vs. RB | vs. WR | vs. TE |
Colts | 22nd | 21st | 24th | 23rd |
Falcons | 4th | 26th | 4th | 28th |
Vegas lines
Falcons -5.5
Over/under 47.5
Colts o/u 21
Falcons o/u 27
The Falcons come off their bye desperate for a win with Matt Hasselbeck and the Colts in town. Frank Gore’s going to play a big role on Sunday, though Hasselbeck was steady in his previous two starts. The Falcons, however, may force Hasselbeck to have to score more than the Jaguars or Titans did in those previous wins.
Player who could surprise: Leonard Hankerson
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Hankerson is expected to return this week after a one-month hiatus due to a hamstring injury. Vontae Davis has done a very good job on top receivers this season, but that has only funneled more passes to No. 2 receivers. The Colts are 16th in DVOA against No. 2 receivers, surrendering big games to Percy Harvin, Eric Decker, Kendall Wright, Allen Hurns, Jaelen Strong and Corey Brown. Matt Ryan pointed to Hankerson’s absence as a major hindrance for the Atlanta offense, a sign that he could be significantly involved if he returns this week.
Player who could disappoint: Donte Moncrief
All of Moncrief’s fantasy value derives from touchdowns this season. He has topped 70 yards just once this year, but his overall numbers look better thanks to five touchdowns. Desmond Trufant rates 17th among corners in coverage, but the Falcons typically don’t move him around the field. The Colts will likely do what they can to keep T.Y. Hilton away from Trufant, meaning Moncrief will deal with a tough assignment for most of the afternoon.
Matchup to watch: Devonta Freeman vs. Colts run defense
Freeman has been a breakout star this season behind the Atlanta line, which ranks fifth in run blocking according to Pro Football Focus. The Colts’ run defense, meanwhile, ranks 24th in the league. That’s a bad recipe for another team desperate to get a win this week.
Injury report
Andrew Luck (abdomen): Out
Leonard Hankerson (hamstring): Probable
St. Louis Rams at Baltimore Ravens
| vs. QB | vs. RB | vs. WR | vs. TE |
Rams | 2nd | 18th | 2nd | 17th |
Ravens | 31st | 10th | 32nd | 3rd |
Vegas lines
Ravens -2.5
Over/under 41.5
Rams o/u 20
Ravens o/u 21.5
The Rams aren’t particularly suited to take advantage of Baltimore’s defensive issues, but they’re going to try in game one of the Case Keenum era. The Ravens, meanwhile, do not seem to have the horses to attack the Rams through the air. In short, expect to see a lot of Todd Gurley and Justin Forsett in this one.
Player who could surprise: Brian Quick
Quick has played about half the Rams’ snaps over the last four weeks, though he has just three receptions in that time. The silver lining is he finally had a significant role in the offense last week, getting a season-high seven targets. We know that any team in the league can exploit the Ravens through the air. Keenum is a more mobile quarterback than Nick Foles, and his ability to keep plays alive may give Quick the time he needs to develop routes down the field. Remember, Quick was breaking out last season before a shoulder injury that nearly ended his career. He finally seems healthy and ready to pick up where he left off.
Player who could disappoint: Justin Forsett
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The Rams rank first in run defense according to Pro Football Focus, and are fifth in run defense by Football Outsiders DVOA. Jeremy Langford put up a big game against them last week, but he did so thanks to one big play in the passing game and a short field that he converted into a goal-line touchdown. Forsett simply hasn’t followed up on last year’s campaign, and is no more than a low-end RB2 this week.
Matchup to watch: Kamar Aiken vs. Trumaine Johnson
Aiken has performed well in Steve Smith’s absence, 22 passes for 280 yards and a touchdown in the four games Smith has missed either partially or completely. He gets his toughest test of the season this week, with Johnson, Pro Football Focus’ No. 14 corner in coverage, opposite him.
Injury report
Chris Long (knee): Questionable
Robert Quinn (hip): Questionable
Washington Redskins at Carolina Panthers
| vs. QB | vs. RB | vs. WR | vs. TE |
Redskins | 11th | 17th | 26th | 5th |
Panthers | 7th | 16th | 5th | 16th |
Vegas lines
Panthers -7.5
Over/under 45.5
Redskins o/u 19
Panthers o/u 26.5
Kirk Cousins and the Washington offense is going to have a bit more of a challenge on Sunday in Carolina than it did against the Saints a week ago. The two defenses are nearly polar opposites, so don’t expect another monster game for the Washington offense. The Carolina offense continues to roll in its unique way, thanks to arguably the finest season of Cam Newton’s career.
Player who could surprise: Jonathan Stewart
You already know that you’re starting Stewart with a ton of confidence this, and every, week. This, however, could be his best game for the rest of the season. Washington is 20th in rush defense DVOA and 26th by Pro Football Focus metrics. Stewart has had at least 20 carries in each of the last five games, averaging 88.4 yards and 0.8 touchdowns per game. If the predictable script of an easy Panthers victory comes to fruition, Stewart will get 25-plus carries in this one.
Player who could disappoint: Jordan Reed
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Reed has turned into an auto-play at tight end, but this is going to be a very tough spot for the Washington offense. Carolina’s defense is second in overall and pass DVOA, and fourth against tight ends, specifically. Reed should get plenty of targets and Cousins may have to throw the ball 35 times if Washington is playing from behind, but it’s hard to have a ton of confidence in the team’s offense in this spot.
Matchup to watch: DeSean Jackson vs. Josh Norman
Jackson has yet to provide the Washington offense with a shot in the arm since returning from his hamstring injury, and that task will get no easier with Norman opposing him this week. According to Pro Football Focus, Norman has been the best cover corner this season.
Injury report
Alfred Morris (ribs): Probable
Corey Brown (shoulder): Doubtful
Charles Tillman (knee): Doubtful
Oakland Raiders at Detroit Lions
| vs. QB | vs. RB | vs. WR | vs. TE |
Raiders | 24th | 22nd | 14th | 31st |
Lions | 30th | 28th | 19th | 25th |
Vegas lines
Raiders -2
Over/under 48.5
Raiders o/u 25.5
Lions o/u 23
This is just about a perfect matchup for the Raiders in every way. The Lions can’t stop anyone through the air, and Derek Carr has been exploiting even good defenses over the last month. The Raiders have struggled stopping the run this year, but the Lions cannot get a thing going on the ground, and that’s not going to change at any point this season.
Player who could surprise: Matthew Stafford
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The fantasy community is basically out on Stafford, with good reason. He has had a terrible season that adds up to 2,325 yards, 6.9 yards per attempt, 15 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in nine games. Having said that, this isn’t the worst spot for him. If Carr and the Oakland passing game perform as expected, Stafford will be tasked with throwing 40 passes on Sunday. Volume alone could carry him to a low-end QB1 game. Don’t forget that there shouldn’t be anyone in this Oakland secondary who can slow down Calvin Johnson.
Player who could disappoint: Latavius Murray
I generally love Murray this week and would start him confidently. With that said, he could get vultured by the passing game in Detroit. The Lions are 28th in pass defense DVOA, 22nd in pass rush and 26th in coverage. They’re at least sort of respectable against the run. Murray could end up getting squeezed through no fault of his own.
Matchup to watch: Amari Cooper vs. Darius Slay
While the Lions have struggled as a coverage unit, Slay individually has come on of late. He has garnered a coverage grade of at least 2.4 from Pro Football Focus in three of his last four games, and is now 11th overall in the league. Cooper will give him a greater challenge than he has seen in any of those games.
Injury report
Calvin Johnson (ankle): Probable
Joique Bell (shoulder): Probable
New York Jets at Houston Texans
| vs. QB | vs. RB | vs. WR | vs. TE |
Jets | 12th | 3rd | 15th | 9th |
Texans | 18th | 23rd | 10th | 13th |
Vegas lines
Jets -3
Over/under 41.5
Ryan Fitzpatrick is expected to start against his former team, which seems like the fourth or fifth time he’s going to play a team this season that used to employ him. On the other side, Brian Hoyer is likely out because of a concussion. The Jets have no business losing this game.
Player who could surprise: Eric Decker
Decker is 12th among receivers in both total points and points per game, racking up 42 catches for 557 yards and seven touchdowns. The Texans have struggled against the pass generally, but their DVOA against No. 2 receivers is 29th in the league. Brandon Marshall will have his hands full with Kevin Johnson, meaning Decker could be Fizpatrick’s top target on Sunday.
Player who could disappoint: Brandon Marshall
Decker and Marshall have been the second most productive wide receiver duo this season, trailing only the Jacksonville Allens. Marshall, however, has been slowed by a few minor leg injuries the last few weeks. While he scored in both games, he totaled just seven catches for 67 yards. He still had 18 targets, an indication that he’s just not getting open the way he was when fully healthy earlier in the year. He’s locked into your starting lineup, but temper your expectations a bit.
Matchup to watch: DeAndre Hopkins vs. Darrelle Revis
This one sort of goes without saying. Revis remains one of the premier cover corners in the league, and Hopkins is having easily the best season of his young career.
Injury report
Eric Decker (knee): Probable
Brandon Marshall (toe): Probable
Darrelle Revis (hip): Probable
Brian Hoyer (concussion): Out
DeAndre Hopkins (knee): Probable
Nate Washington (hip): Probable
Chris Polk (hamstring): Questionable
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Dallas Cowboys at Miami Dolphins
| vs. QB | vs. RB | vs. WR | vs. TE |
Cowboys | 3rd | 29th | 6th | 7th |
Dolphins | 23rd | 31st | 18th | 18th |
Vegas lines
Cowboys -1
Over/under 47
Cowboys o/u 24
Dolphins o/u 23
Tony Romo’s triumphant return miraculously comes with the Cowboys still alive in the NFC East despite a 2-7 record. He is the rising tide that lifts all Dallas ships, making everyone on this offense relevant this week. Given the caliber of run defenses that will be on the field in this one, though, we could see a game dominated by Darren McFadden and Lamar Miller.
Player who could surprise: Jason Witten
Witten had eight catches on nine targets for 60 yards and two touchdowns Week 1. Since Romo’s Week 2 injury, he has topped 70 yards just once and has yet to visit the end zone. That ignominious streak could very well end now that Romo is back under center. As Will Carroll of FanDuel said on our podcast this week, when bones heal, they’re healed. Romo is no more likely to break his collarbone this week than any other player in the league. Witten is back in the TE1 discussion for the rest of the season.
Player who could disappoint: Ryan Tannehill
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Tannehill seems to take one step forward and two steps back every week. He has played better and has had his best games since Joe Philbin’s firing, but he has just two touchdowns against two interceptions in Miami’s last three games. Lamar Miller, meanwhile, has turned into the star so many thought he would be this season. Dallas hasn’t stopped anyone on the ground, so the Dolphins won’t shy away from featuring Miller again this week.
Matchup to watch: Cowboys offensive line vs. Dolphins pass rush
There’s plenty of reason to believe in Romo this week, but even without Cameron Wake, the Dolphins have the top-rated pass rush in the league, according to Pro Football Focus. It’ll be up to the Dallas o-line to keep Romo upright so he can bring the element that this offense has been so clearly lacking. The unit ranks third in pass blocking this season.
Injury report
Dez Bryant (foot): Probable
Darren McFadden (groin): Questionable
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Philadelphia Eagles
| vs. QB | vs. RB | vs. WR | vs. TE |
Buccaneers | 26th | 17th | 21st | 15th |
Eagles | 17th | 5th | 30th | 4th |
Vegas lines
Eagles -5.5
Over/under 45
Buccaneers o/u 20
Eagles o/u 25.5
We’ll tell our kids where we were the day Mark Sanchez made his return to the Eagles staring lineup. To be fair, Sanchez may be a better fit for this offense than Sam Bradford because of his mobility. Even though they’ve underachieved this year, the Eagles deserve to be a comfortable favorite in this game.
Player who could surprise: Mark Sanchez
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Why look any further than the Sanchize? Remember, he put up a solid eight-game run as the team’s starter last year, finishing the season with 2,418 yards, 7.83 YPA, 14 touchdowns, 11 interceptions and 87 rushing yards. That came out to 16.7 fantasy points per game in standard-scoring leagues. The Buccaneers have been quite friendly to quarterbacks, allowing the seventh-most points on average this year. There’s a decent chance Sanchez remains the starter for the rest of the season.
Player who could disappoint: Doug Martin
Maybe Chip Kelly is actually a defensive guru in disguise? The Eagles are second in overall DVOA this year, ranking third against the pass and eighth against the run. Pro Football Focus has them fifth against the run, fifth in pass coverage and seventh in pass rush. Martin has strung together three straight lackluster games, and this will be his toughest test of the last month.
Matchup to watch: Mike Evans vs. Byron Maxwell or Nolan Carroll
Evans is going to have a huge advantage this week, no matter which Philadelphia corner matches up with him. This is also where the Buccaneers can win the game. Evans has been a monster recently, topping 120 yards in three of his last four games. If they spring the upset, it will be on the back of a huge game from Evans.
Injury report
Vincent Jackson (knee): Questionable
Austin Seferian-Jenkins (shoulder): Questionable
Ryan Mathews (concussion): Out
Sam Bradford (concussion): Out
Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers
| vs. QB | vs. RB | vs. WR | vs. TE |
Chiefs | 10th | 7th | 31st | 1st |
Chargers | 16th | 32nd | 8th | 24th |
Vegas lines
Chiefs -3
Over/under 44.5
Chiefs o/u 24
Chargers o/u 21
No Jamaal Charles? No Keenan Allen? Well, it’s still a bit of a problem, but maybe not as serious of one as we would have assumed just a few weeks ago. Charcandrick West has turned into a legitimate fantasy star, and he should keep that rolling against a San Diego defense that is last against the run according to Pro Football Focus, DVOA, and fantasy points allowed. Stevie Johnson takes over as the No. 1 in San Diego, and immediately becomes a WR2 for fantasy owners, with a similarly great matchup.
Player who could surprise: Alex Smith
While West is getting all the headlines heading into this game, Smith could have one of his better performances of the year. The Chargers have been nearly as bad against the pass as the run this season, rating 27th in pass defense DVOA, 31st in pass rush and 24th in pass coverage. The only risk for Smith is that West hogs all the touchdowns.
Player who could disappoint: Philip Rivers
Rivers had his second-worst performance of the season in his first game without Allen, throwing for 280 yards, 6.67 YPA and one touchdown in the loss to the Bears two weeks ago. The Chargers had a bye to figure out how to tweak the offense without Allen, but Malcom Floyd is out with a shoulder injury, and Rivers could be missing Antonio Gates (knee, hip), as well. That might be good news for Johnson, but it’s terrible news for Rivers.
Matchup to watch: Chiefs offensive line vs. Chargers run defense
As was said at the top of this game, the Chargers have the league’s worst run defense. If the guys up front for the Chiefs do their jobs, West could be in for his best game to date.
Injury report
Travis Kelce (groin): Probable
Malcom Floyd (shoulder):
Antonio Gates (knee): Probable
Ladarius Green (ankle): Questionable
Corey Liuget (foot): Questionable
Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings
| vs. QB | vs. RB | vs. WR | vs. TE |
Packers | 19th | 12th | 11th | 22nd |
Vikings | 5th | 8th | 9th | 19th |
Vegas lines
Pick’em
Over/under 45
Packers o/u 22.5
Vikings o/u 22.5
The winner of this game will control their destiny in the NFC North, and the pick’em line reflects the reality. The Packers are better than they’ve shown the last few weeks, while the Vikings may be playing a bit above their heads. It’s never wise to count out Aaron Rodgers, but Adrian Peterson always seems to have a little something special for the teams in his division. There’s a decent chance we see both in the postseason.
Player who could surprise: Stefon Diggs
Diggs has slowed down over the last two weeks and the Packers bring a strong pass defense to bear every week. Having said that, the Vikings can’t count on Peterson and the defense to win this game on their own. They’ll have to make plays down the field, and Diggs is their best bet to do so.
Player who could disappoint: James Starks
Starks has had a couple poor showings in a row on the ground, though he has been arguably the team’s best receiver in both of the last two weeks. If he were Le’Veon Bell or Jamaal Charles that would be fine. He’s not, however, and I’m dubious about his ability to get it done through the air week after week. Minnesota’s run defense isn’t quite as good as conventional wisdom holds, but Starks still rates as no better than a low-end RB2 this week.
Matchup to watch: Everything in the trenches
This game is going to be won by which team’s star, Rodgers or Peterson, has the better game. At least that’s the bet here. That places a great deal of responsibility on both offensive lines. Minnesota ranks fifth in pass rush according to Pro Football Focus, while Green Bay is ninth in run defense. If we had to bet, we’d lean in the direction of Rodgers and the Packers.
Injury report
Aaron Rodgers (shoulder): Probable
Eddie Lacy (groin): Probable
James Jones (quad): Probable
Adrian Peterson (hamstring): Probable
Teddy Bridgewater (shoulder): Probable
San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks
| vs. QB | vs. RB | vs. WR | vs. TE |
49ers | 15th | 25th | 27th | 14th |
Seahawks | 6th | 2nd | 3rd | 27th |
Vegas lines
Seahawks -12.5
Over/under 40.5
49ers o/u 14
Seahawks o/u 26.5
Thank goodness for flex scheduling. If it didn’t exist, Packers-Vikings would still be an early game and we’d all have to watch this game rather than sort of just pretending it isn’t happening. The 49ers will get shut out in this game. Mark it down now.
Player who could surprise: Doug Baldwin
It’s hard to highlight what individual facet of this 49ers team is worst, but pass defense would be on the short list. The Niners are 31st in DVOA against the pass, 30th in YPA against and 29th in total passing yards allowed per game. Baldwin is coming off a big game last week when he caught seven passes for 134 yards and a touchdown in a much tougher matchup with Arizona. The only concern is that he doesn’t get in on the fun before the game gets out of hand.
Player who could disappoint: Marshawn Lynch
This is just as good a matchup for Lynch as it is for Baldwin, and he’s the sort of player where you don’t really worry about matchup. The problem, though, is that he’s still nursing an abdominal injury, and the Seahawks don’t exactly need him to win this game. He’s going to play, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if he ceded more touches than usual to Thomas Rawls. Quite simply, the Seahawks need to save all the Lynch ammo they need for later in the season.
Matchup to watch: Seahawks offensive line vs. 49ers pass rush
If the 49ers have any hope to pull off one of the biggest upsets of the season, it comes from getting after Seattle’s brutal offensive line. Russell Wilson has taken 33 sacks, tied for second most in the league, and the team’s line ranks last in pass blocking by Pro Football Focus grades. This is where the 49ers will have to attack.
Injury report
Carlos Hyde (foot): Out
Anquan Boldin (hamstring): Questionable
Marshawn Lynch (abdomen): Questionable
Doug Baldwin (toe): Probable
Cincinnati Bengals at Arizona Cardinals
| vs. QB | vs. RB | vs. WR | vs. TE |
Bengals | 8th | 13th | 7th | 5th |
Cardinals | 9th | 9th | 13th | 16th |
Vegas lines
Cardinals -5
Over/under 48.5
Bengals o/u 21.5
Cardinals o/u 26.5
This may not be the last time we see these teams play this season with both harboring legitimate Super Bowl aspirations. The Andy Dalton in primetime chickens came home to roost last week, but that’s no reason to shy away from the Bengals on Sunday night. Carson Palmer, meanwhile, is arguably playing the best quarterback of anyone in the league, Tom Brady included. This should be a fun one.
Player who could surprise: John Brown
Michael Floyd is dealing with a hamstring injury that could very well have him out of this game. If that’s the case, Brown will step back in as the Cardinals No. 2 receiver. Given the way Palmer is slinging the ball right now, anyone liable to get at least six or seven targets from him is a threat. Adam Jones is doubtful because of a foot injury, and the trickle-down effect will be felt throughout the Cincinnati defense.
Player who could disappoint: Tyler Eifert
Anyone who owns Eifert, myself included, should be starting him with a ton of confidence this week. Understand, though, that the Cardinals have made life miserable for tight ends, including a few good ones. Ben Watson had three catches for 19 yards against the Cardinals. Martellus Bennett had four for 48. Jimmy Graham managed just three for 41. Gary Barnidge had seven grabs for 53 yards and a touchdown, but the score came in garbage time. As good as Eifert has been this year, he has also had a few no-shows. Another one could be looming.
Matchup to watch: A.J. Green vs. Patrick Peterson
We had have had two of the best receiver-corner matchups of the week in this game, but Adam Jones will almost certainly be out, robbing us of one of them. Green-Peterson, however, should be great, with the latter checking in at seventh in Pro Football Focus coverage rankings.
Injury report
Adam Jones (foot): Doubtful
Michael Floyd (hamstring): Questionable
John Brown (hamstring): Questionable
Larry Fitzgerald (ankle): Probable
Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots
| vs. QB | vs. RB | vs. WR | vs. TE |
Bills | 14th | 15th | 22nd | 8th |
Patriots | 21st | 4th | 28th | 10th |
Vegas lines
Patriots -7
Over/under 48.5
Bills o/u 21
Patriots o/u 28
The Bills gave the Patriots one of their toughest tests of the season back in Week 2. Buffalo put up 32 points, behind three touchdown passes from Tyrod Taylor, and were within one score for nearly all of the fourth quarter. What’s more, Dion Lewis and Julian Edelman combined for 17 catches, 235 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns in that game. This could get very interesting. Or the Patriots could just bury the Bills, like they have done to so many teams this year.
Player who could surprise: Keshawn Martin
All the big-name players in this game, even on the Bills side, are expected to do well. Danny Amendola isn’t sneaking up on anyone, either. But what about Martin, who’s also likely to take on a larger role in the offense with Edelman on the shelf? The team acquired him from the Texans in the offseason, and he was the first player Brady mentioned when discussing players who could step up. The 25-year-old speedster is still a relative unknown, and the Patriots have a way of turning those types into short-term studs.
Player who could disappoint: Danny Amendola
Everyone seemingly expects Amendola to basically throw on Edelman’s jersey and do exactly what the recently injured star does on a weekly basis. This isn’t meant as a knock on Amendola, but he’s not Edelman. The latter is likely one of the very best slot receivers in the league, and while playing with Brady certainly makes him look better than he would if he were with a lesser quarterback, he’s not simply falling into his huge numbers. Amendola isn’t as precise as Edelman, and he hasn’t had a ton of reps with Brady this season. Don’t be surprised if the Patriots lean on Rob Gronkowski and Brandon LaFell on Monday night.
Matchup to watch: Tom Brady vs. Bills pass rush
Buffalo was supposed to feature one of the league’s most fearsome pass rushes, but they rank dead last in the league and have just 14 sacks, more than only three teams. Brady is a master at manipulating the defense, and this rush may give him ample time to do so. If that’s the case, Taylor will have to post the game of his life for the Bills to emerge victorious.
Injury report
The official injury report for Monday Night Football isn’t available until Sunday, but the only fantasy-relevant note is on Karlos Williams. He missed most of the practice week because of an illness, but is expected to play on Monday.
