We are embarking on zero hour of today's slate of games. Many of you desperately need a win in order to keep your playoff hopes alive some of you are obviously in a pretty good situation. Well, my 10-1 and 9-2 record in two leagues are prime examples of this. While I pat myself on the bag and raise my own ego a bit, let's take a gander at the individual players that I recommend you make the last minute decision to sit this week.
Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens
Flacco just isn't the same player on the road as he is at home. He has thrown three touchdowns compared to four interceptions and is averaging just eight fantasy points in five games away from Baltimore this season. This seems to be par for the course for Flacco throughout his NFL career.
While the Ravens are taking on a mediocre San Diego Chargers pass defense that ranks in the bottom half of the league, I am not expecting Flacco to put up anything resembling QB1 numbers today.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, Buffalo Bills
Fitzpatrick has struggled a great deal since being a reliable fantasy option during the first five weeks of the season. Interestingly enough, it isn't the interceptions that are afflicting him the most. Fitzpatrick has thrown only five touchdowns in his last six starts and is averaging just over 10 fantasy points per outing during that span.
There are just too many solid fantasy options this week to rely on Fitzpatrick to put up anything of substance. Waiver-wire pickup Colin Kaepernick would be a much better option here if you are sitting without one of the top 10 fantasy quarterbacks.
Reggie Bush, Miami Dolphins
If you take away Bush's 32-point performance against the Oakland Raiders in Week 2 he is averaging a pedestrian seven fantasy points this season. That just isn't going to get it done. While Miami might be looking to go back to the run a bit more after the struggles of Ryan Tannehill in the last three games, I don't envision Bush having much of an impact this week.
Miami is taking on a Seattle Seahawks rush defense that ranks just outside the top 10. Even if Miami decides to go to the ground a bit more here, I don't see it having a great deal of success.
Michael Turner, Atlanta Falcons
Turner really hasn't been a viable fantasy option this season. Most of the reason for that is due to the fact that Atlanta has gone to the pass game with Matt Ryan and company more than they did in the past. Turner ranks 16th among running backs in fantasy points this season: A far cry from previous years.
Atlanta takes on a Tampa Bay Buccaneers team that ranks dead last in the NFL against the pass and is first against the run. I can't do everything for you....Read between the lines, people.
Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals
This has absolutely nothing to do with the player and everything to do with his quarterback. I guess that previous sentence can sum up Fitzgerald's career since Kurt Warner retired. Arizona has now gone to No. 3 on its depth chart in the former of rookie sixth-round pick Ryan Lindley, who completed just 9-of-20 passes for 64 yards in his NFL debut last week against the Atlanta Falcons.
At this point it really doesn't matter who Arizona is going up against. It isn't going to be able to have sustained success in the passing game. This will have a direct impact on Fitzgerald's fantasy production.
Josh Gordon, Cleveland Browns
As I have mentioned before, Gordon isn't a viable option in PPR leagues. He has recorded an average of 2.4 receptions per game thus far this season. What the rookie from Baylor has done is average nearly 20 per reception and score a touchdown every six times the catches the ball. That is mighty impressive.
Cleveland goes up against a Pittsburgh Steelers defense that ranks first in the NFL against the pass and is tied with the San Francisco 49ers for the fewest receptions of over 20 yards allowed. Don't expect much here from the rookie.
Eric Decker, Denver Broncos
Look for the Kansas City Chiefs to focus on taking away the passing game with Willis McGahee out for the season. The Chiefs also rank a surprising sixth in the NFL against the pass this season. Demaryius Thomas might get his touches on the outside, but this is not a favorable matchup for Decker today. I am expecting some pretty pedestian numbers from him.
Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City Chiefs
Bowe hasn't even been a solid WR3 option this season. He ranks 35th among wide receivers in fantasy points and has tallied just three touchdowns in 10 games. Far cry from the WR1 production we have become accustomed to in the past. Of course a lot of this has to do with the struggles at the quarterback position, but Bowe needs to take some of the blame for it.
Kansas City must now take on a top 10 pass defense in the form of the Denver Broncos today. I would caution against expecting much from Bowe.