NFL – Industry Expert Consensus – Week Four

We arrive at our first bye week of the season. With only two teams (Packers and Eagles) on bye, it didn’t have much of an effect on our Consensus for the week. Be sure to check out our NFL Expert Standings to see who is making the grade so far. Best of luck!

As a reminder, the number in the parenthesis is the number of experts that chose that player so you have more context regarding the gaps between players and the tiers.

Quarterbacks

Highly Touted

• Philip Rivers (13x) – 28% Cash / 12% GPP – Rivers topped 300 yards for the first time last week but failed to find the endzone. He should put up big numbers against a Saints defense that got lit up on Monday night.
• Cam Newton (11x) – 18% / 9% – Cam threw three picks in a loss last week. He faces an Atlanta team that has struggled defensively so far.
• Kirk Cousins (10x) – 14% / 8% – He’s averaging almost 330 yards/game through the air. Faces Cleveland at home in a potential blowout game.

Recommended

• Dak Prescott (5x) – 3% / 5% – A nice value play on the road this week. Found the endzone through the air and with his feet last week while completing almost 80% of his throws.
• Joe Flacco (5x) – 3% / 5% – At home against the Raiders provides ample opportunities throwing the ball for “Elite Joe” this week.
• Brian Hoyer (5x) – 3% / 5% – Threw for 317 yards and two touchdowns last week. Likely will be playing from behind once again with the Bears being so bad. A cheap option at the $5K minimum price for QBs.
• Trevor Siemian (5x) – 3% / 5% – Did he figure something out last week? Somewhat got called out by his two stud wideouts and proved that he might have the moxy to make it in the league.

Suggested

• Matthew Stafford (4x) – 3% / 4% – Stafford faces off against a paltry Bears team. He’s the third highest priced QB on the board. Do you pay up for him?
• Ben Roethlisberger (3x) – 3% / 4% – Ben looked pedestrian against Philly on Sunday and faces a KC defense that is still picking off Ryan Fitzpatrick as I write this.
• Jimmy Garappolo (3x) – 3% / 4% – Will he play? A very risky play in my book.

Running Backs

Highly Touted

• Jordan Howard (15x) – 65% / 35% – Howard looks like he will become the bell-cow with Langford out 4-6 weeks. It also helps that Ka’Deem Carey doesn’t look like he’ll play.
• Melvin Gordon (13x) – 54% / 20% – His rushing numbers dipped last week but he still found paydirt. The Charges should put a lot of points on the board and Gordon is a key cog in that offense.
• Carlos Hyde (8x) – 25% / 15% – Coming off a big game in Seattle. When he gets 20+ touches, he usually provides good numbers. Will the Niners be playing from behind early though?

Recommended

• David Johnson (6x) – 9% / 10% – The highest priced RB on the board again this week and rightfully so. Has yet to top the 100-yard mark.
• Le’Veon Bell (6x) – 9% / 10% – Welcome back, Mr. Bell. Tomlin has confirmed that there will be no restrictions on Le’Veon this Sunday.
• Dwayne Washington (5x) – 5% / 8% – The rookie received 10 carries last week. He’s a risky play even at a bargain price.
• Ezekiel Elliott (5x) – 5% / 8% – Zeke had a monster game but failed to score. He carried the ball 30 times. Looks like he’s getting the DeMarco Murray treatment in Dallas. Run ’em until they fall apart.

Suggested

• LeGarrette Blount (4x) – 4% / 7% – Seems to be perpetually underpriced and undervalued. Has back-to-back 100-yard efforts and has found the endzone three times in those games.
• Isaiah Crowell (4x) – 4% / 7% – Crowell provides a nice GPP option for a fairly affordable price.
• DeMarco Murray (4x) – 4% / 7% – He’s regained some of his mojo. Will continue to see Derrick Henry steal some carries but DeMarco is a nice play.
• Charles Sims (3x) – 4% / 5% – Sims had a nice game in his first as the primary ball carrier. He faces a tough Denver defense this week.
• Tevin Coleman (3x) – 4% / 5% – Coleman scored three times on Monday night. Of course, who didn’t score for the Falcons last week?
• Cameron Artis-Payne (3x) – 4% / 5% – Received 12 carries to Fozzy’s 5 last week. Backfield splits are always a tough play though if you’re going to play one of them, I’d roll with Artis-Payne.
• CJ Anderson (3x) – 4% / 5% – Had a dud last time out. The Denver offense should be able to move the ball against Tampa Bay so let’s hope CJ gets some goalline carries.

Wide Receivers

Highly Touted

• Terrell Pryor, Sr (16x) – 48% / 28% – Providing receiving, rushing and passing yards now. Also, since when did he become Terrell Pryor, Sr?
• Tyrell Williams (12x) – 44% / 24% – Probably my favorite play of the week. He should put up big numbers at value pricing.
• Antonio Brown (11x) – 39% / 21% – What else can you say here? He’s a stud, safe play any week but you’ll have to pay up to get him.
• Cole Beasley (8x) – 19% / 12% – Beasley has separated himself as Dak’s favorite target (yes, I know I said that same thing last week). Saw a fairly significant hike in pricing but still comes in at sub-$4K. Someone will have to pick up the slack with Dez ruled out.
• Marvin Jones, Jr (8x) – 19% / 12% – He’s found quite the home with Matthew Stafford. Does have the “questionable” tag on him so make sure he’s playing before dropping him safely into your lineups.
• DeAndre Hopkins (7x) – 15% / 11% – Similar to Antonio Brown. You can drop DeAndre in any week and feel good about it.
• Kevin White (7x) – 15% / 11% – For the price, he’s a great play. Received a team high 14 targets with Hoyer under center Sunday night.
• Steve Smith, Sr (7x) – 15% / 11% – Facing a vulnerable Radiers pass defense and coming off a good week.

Recommended

• Travis Benjamin (6x) – 12% / 11% – Another good play. Only caught four balls last week but that should change with the Saints coming to SD.
• Jamison Crowder (6x) – 12% / 11% – Has scored a touchdown in each of the last two weeks.

Suggested

• Doug Baldwin (4x) – 8% / 8% – About halfway through last season, something clicked with this guy. Caught 8 balls for 164 yards and a touchdown last Sunday.
• Mike Evans (4x) – 8% / 8% – Faces a tough Denver defense but that may mean he goes underowned.
• Michael Thomas (4x) – 8% / 8% – Has improved every week so far. If Snead is out again, he’s a nice play.
• Adam Humphries (3x) – 5% / 7% – At minimum price, he’s a great GPP option. Caught 9 balls for 100 yards last week.
• Kelvin Benjamin (3x) – 5% / 7% – He was invisible last week. Should be looking to bounce back in a big way.
• Will Fuller (3x) – 5% / 7% – After big games the first two weeks, he threw out a dud. Did the Pats find the key to shutting down the Texans wideouts?
• Emmanuel Sanders (3x) – 5% / 7% – Finally! Caught 9 balls for 117 yards and two touchdowns last week.
• Larry Fitzgerald (3x) – 5% / 7% – He is Palmer’s favorite target. Has had double-digit targets all three weeks.

Tight Ends

Highly Touted

• Zach Miller (13x) – 25% / 14% – Found the endzone twice last week. It’s possible that having Hoyer back there could benefit him.
• Hunter Henry (10x) – 12% / 11% – Caught five balls for 72 yards. Should continue to be an asset if Gates is out again.
• Dennis Pitta (9x) – 11% / 10% – The Raiders are vulnerable against the tight end position. Pitta falls in the Highly Touted category again this week.
• Jordan Reed (8x) – 10% / 9% – A solid option every week. Reed has not found the endzone yet this season.

Recommended

• Coby Fleener (6x) – 7% / 7% – Fleener had a big week. He topped the 100-yard mark for the first time as a Saint.
• Greg Olsen (6x) – 7% / 7% – Atlanta is bad against tight ends. Olsen is set up for a big week.

Suggested

• Jason Witten (4x) – 5% / 6% – Has had a rough couple weeks. As I mentioned above though, someone has to pick up the slack with Dez out.
• Rob Gronkowski (3x) – 4% / 5% – Gronk should see his workload increase on Sunday. Still somewhat of a risky play. Will be interesting to see his ownership numbers.

Defense/Special Teams

Highly Touted

• No Teams

Recommended

• Houston Texans (6x) – 14% / 14% – Face off against the Titans. Mariota is going to go off one of these weeks.
• Baltimore Ravens (6x) – 14% / 14% – A cheap option. The Raiders have proven to be pretty formidable on the offensive side of the coin though.
• Arizona Cardinals (5x) – 13% / 13% – The highest priced defense on the board this week. Facing a Rams team that got things going a bit against Tampa.
• New England Patriots (5x) – 13% / 13% – Completely shut down the Texans last week.
• Denver Broncos (5x) – 13% / 13% – Denver is a safe play every week. Could put up big numbers against Jameis.

Suggested

• New York Jets (3x) – 5% / 5% – Seattle has not done a ton offensively. Should be interesting to see how they fare travelling to the East Coast.

Hope that you find the right combination to cash! Follow me on twitter @mbutlerok.