Chris Carson

The fantasy football regular season has officially reached the second half, and Week 8 of the NFL campaign should be a valuable measuring stick for every league.

Only two teams―the Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys―are idle, so Lamar Jackson, Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, Mark Ingram, Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup and Mark Andrews aren't available. That's a pretty large group of players, but this is practically a full-strength week in the fantasy realm.

Courtesy of FantasyPros' consensus tool―an evolving list of expert rankings―the following order is the top 50 players in points-per-reception leagues for Week 8.

         

Week 8 Expert Rankings

1. Dalvin Cook, RB, MIN (vs. WAS)
2. Christian McCaffrey, RB, CAR (at SF)
3. Saquon Barkley, RB, NYG (at DET)
4. Leonard Fournette, RB, JAC (vs. NYJ)
5. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, HOU (vs. OAK)
6. Julio Jones, WR, ATL (vs. SEA)
7. Chris Carson, RB, SEA (at ATL)
8. Michael Thomas, WR, NO (vs. ARI)
9. James Conner, RB, PIT (vs. MIA)
10. Cooper Kupp, WR, LAR (vs. CIN)
11. Chris Godwin, WR, TB (at TEN)
12. Tyreek Hill, WR, KC (vs. GB)
13. Le'Veon Bell, RB, NYJ (at JAC)
14. Tyler Lockett, WR, SEA (at ATL)
15. T.Y. Hilton, WR, IND (vs. DEN)
16. Keenan Allen, WR, LAC (at CHI)
17. Kenny Golladay, WR, DET (vs. NYG)
18. Todd Gurley, RB, LAR (vs. CIN)
19. George Kittle, WR, TE (vs. CAR)
20. Julian Edelman, WR, NE (vs. CLE)
21. Stefon Diggs, WR, MIN (vs. WAS)
22. Odell Beckham Jr., WR, CLE (at NE)
23. David Johnson, RB, ARI (at NO)
24. Mike Evans, WR, TB (at TEN)
25. Aaron Jones, RB, GB (at KC)
26. Nick Chubb, RB, CLE (at NE)
27. D.J. Chark, WR, JAC (vs. NYJ)
28. John Brown, WR, BUF (vs. PHI)
29. Austin Hooper, TE, ATL (vs. SEA)
30. Evan Engram, TE, NYG (at DET)
31. Josh Jacobs, RB, OAK (at HOU)
32. Derrick Henry, RB, TEN (vs. TB)
33. Courtland Sutton, WR, DEN (at IND)
34. Robert Woods, WR, LAR (vs. CIN)
35. Larry Fitzgerald, WR, ARI (at NO)
36. Darren Waller, TE, OAK (at HOU)
37. Travis Kelce, TE, KC (vs. GB)
38. JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, PIT (vs. MIA)
39. Allen Robinson, WR, CHI (vs. LAC)
40. Zach Ertz, TE, PHI (at BUF)
41. Hunter Henry, TE, LAC (at CHI)
42. Marlon Mack, RB, IND (vs. DEN)
43. Terry McLaurin, WR, WAS (at MIN)
44. Brandin Cooks, WR, LAR (vs. CIN)
45. Latavius Murray, RB, NO (vs. ARI)
46. Phillip Lindsay, RB, DEN (at IND)
47. Tevin Coleman, RB, SF (vs. CAR)
48. Tyler Boyd, WR, CIN (at LAR)
49. Devonta Freeman, RB, ATL (vs. SEA)
50. Golden Tate, WR, NYG (at DET)

          

DeAndre Hopkins, Houston Texans

Even in PPR leagues, DeAndre Hopkins hasn't lived up to its WR1 expectations. Prior to Week 7, he'd only cracked 14 points three times in six games this season.

Perhaps this was the turning point.

Will Fuller will "miss several weeks"

DeAndre Hopkins ✈️
Kenny Stills ✈️✈️
Keke Coutee✈️
Deshaun Watson🛬 pic.twitter.com/4kgkiCl2GK

— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) October 21, 2019

Though the Texans lost to the Indianapolis Colts, Hopkins caught nine passes for 106 yards and a score. He also had a second touchdown called back due to a controversial whistle to protect Deshaun Watson, but it was one that might have sounded too early.

Beyond the uptick in production, some unfortunate news has also boosted Hopkins' status. According to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, speedy wideout Will Fuller V is set to miss several weeks because of a hamstring injury.

While only a minor percentage of fantasy players benched Hopkins in a moment of panic, any small number is too high considering his talent and opportunity. "Nuk" is a must-start.

            

Chris Carson, Seattle Seahawks

Rashaad Penny returned to the lineup in Week 7 but logged only two snaps. Chris Carson, meanwhile, handled 24 touches.

That's a massive discrepancy, and Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll didn't provide much help on whether it's significant, per Ben Arthur for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer:

Carroll said it wasn't the plan for RB Rashaad Penny to play so little vs. Baltimore. Only got 2 snaps in his first game back from hamstring injury.

"I wish he would've played more. It just didn't happen."

— Ben Arthur 🇬🇭 (@benyarthur) October 21, 2019

Panic alarms should probably be ringing in regard to Penny, a first-round pick in the 2018 NFL draft who might already be out of the Seahawks' plans.

"It's grown increasingly clear that the Seahawks don’t believe in Rashaad Penny," said Adam Levitan of DraftKings.

As a result, Carson seems to be trending toward holding the title of a featured back. Up next for Seattle is the Atlanta Falcons, who are relatively stingy against the run at 3.7 yards allowed per carry. However, they also surrender 31.9 points per game, the second-highest clip in the NFL.

Carson may need 20-some touches to provide a solid performance, but the latest indication is he'll receive that hefty workload.

          

George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers

Are you removing George Kittle from the lineup? Almost certainly not, unless you somehow have an elite alternative.

Despite his top ranking, a low-scoring day in Week 8 is possible.

This isn't a reaction to his subpar display at Washington—forget the numbers when weather is so unkind. Not many defenses are capable of limiting Kittle to three catches and 38 yards like his rain-soaked showing, but the Carolina Panthers are one.

So far in 2019, no opposing tight end has secured more than four receptions against the Panthers, and only two have caught a touchdown. Tyler Higbee and Cameron Brate are the lone players at the position to reach double digits.

Kittle has garnered eight-plus targets in four of San Francisco's five pleasant-weather games, and chasing targets is usually a sound strategy for tight ends. Sticking with Kittle is even the advisable decision, but the risk is clear.

          

Follow Bleacher Report writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.

The Baltimore Ravens are already pulling away in the AFC North.

Baltimore extended its winning streak to three with a 30-16 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Sunday’s high-profile quarterback showdown at CenturyLink Field. Lamar Jackson spearheaded the effort with his legs, helping his 5-2 Ravens create even more separation from the 2-4 Cleveland Browns and 2-4 Pittsburgh Steelers in the division.

Russell Wilson and the Seahawks had their three-game winning streak come to an end as they fell to 5-2 and further behind the 6-0 San Francisco 49ers in the NFC West.

         

Notable Fantasy Stats

• Lamar Jackson: 9-of-20 passing for 143 yards, zero touchdowns and zero interceptions; 14 carries for 116 yards and one touchdown
• Mark Ingram: 12 carries for 46 yards
• Russell Wilson: 20-of-41 passing for 241 yards, one touchdown and one interception
• Chris Carson: 21 carries for 65 yards; three catches for nine yards
• Tyler Lockett: five catches for 61 yards and one touchdown

           

Jackson Steals the Spotlight on the Road

This was billed as a showdown between Wilson and Jackson, and the second-year signal-caller stole the spotlight from the five-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion.

It's not often a field-goal drive can be seen as a masterclass of quarterbacking, but Jackson's effort in the fourth quarter in one of the league's most hostile environments was just that. He started from his 10-yard line, went backward to the 5 because of a penalty and marched 86 yards in 13 plays and nine minutes to help go ahead 10 with less than four minutes left.

LAMAR TOOK OFF.

💨💨💨

(via @thecheckdown)pic.twitter.com/s11YlkHiCN

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 20, 2019

Lamar Jackson is just putting on the wizard cape right now running the ball.

— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) October 20, 2019

lamar jackson moves so fast that when he stops moving, the entire defense gets off balance trying to stop themselves and it creates holes where there shouldn't be any

— Robby Kalland (@RKalland) October 20, 2019

If you don't absolutely love watching Lamar Jackson play football I don't think you like the sport.

— Matt Harmon (@MattHarmon_BYB) October 20, 2019

Who does that outside of maybe Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady—and in Seattle of all places?

Lamar Jackson did.

He scrambled for 38 yards on a 3rd-and-8, mixed in a number of zone-read looks with Mark Ingram and surgically picked apart Seattle's defense with his legs. While his passing numbers looked pedestrian at best, they would have been better if Mark Andrews didn't drop three passes—one of which was a perfectly placed ball in the end zone.

Jackson battled through those drops, driving rain, the occasional thrown-off timing in the aerial attack and visible frustration on some delays of the game to take over at winning time.

LAMAR FOR THE LEAD 🏎

(via @Ravens)pic.twitter.com/cWhQYgcVUv

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 20, 2019

Lamar is the toughest guy to tackle in the NFL.

— Russillo (@ryenarussillo) October 20, 2019

Lamar should be in the MVP conversation. He’s taken his play to another level. Absolutely a blast to watch every week https://t.co/1VZcAKY1d9

— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) October 20, 2019

He still needs to make strides in the passing game and has six touchdown throws to five interceptions since the season-opening win over the Miami Dolphins, but Sunday's performance underscored how he can change a game at a moment's notice by breaking free from the pocket and evading tackles with ease.

CenturyLink Field almost always belongs to Wilson. It was Jackson's on Sunday.

          

New-Look Ravens Secondary Befuddles Wilson and Seahawks

Baltimore entered this contest a mere 25th in the league in passing yards allowed per game, and Wilson figured to find plenty of openings considering he is firmly in the middle of the MVP race and didn't throw a single interception in the opening six games.

He was also coming off two high-scoring comebacks against the Browns and Los Angeles Rams that featured him coming through in clutch moments with his usual demeanor and ability to keep his eyes locked downfield while evading pressure.

While there were some razzle-dazzle throws to Tyler Lockett during Sunday's loss, the Ravens defense had other ideas.

Holding can't stop Tyler Lockett 🤯

(via @NFL)https://t.co/vukeBoHRTs

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 20, 2019

Marcus Peters, whom Baltimore acquired via trade from the Rams earlier this week, announced his presence with a pick-six for the visitors' first touchdown. Earl Thomas flew around his old stomping grounds and made a number of tackles and hard hits, causing even the slightest hesitancy from Seattle's receivers to go across the middle.

Marcus Peters HOUSED his first pick as a Raven.

Russell Wilson's first interception of the year.

(via @Ravens)pic.twitter.com/F1UK3dNgPe

— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) October 20, 2019

Talk about making an immediate impact. @marcuspeters just became the first person to pick off Russell Wilson this year and made it a Pick Six to boot.

— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) October 20, 2019

It wasn't just Peters and Thomas who made plays.

Seattle was still within striking distance after Jackson's lengthy drive in the fourth quarter, but Marlon Humphrey scooped up a DK Metcalf fumble and iced the win with a touchdown return. Suddenly, a secondary with Peters, Humphrey and Thomas making plays looks formidable as Baltimore continues its AFC playoff run.

SCOOP AND SCORE, @marlon_humphrey ❗️❗️❗️ pic.twitter.com/UIQXQGUd3V

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) October 20, 2019

Wilson has been one of the league's best players all year, but even he couldn't unlock the Ravens defense Sunday.

            

What’s Next?

The Seahawks are at the Atlanta Falcons in Week 8, while the Ravens are on a bye. Baltimore is home against the New England Patriots in Week 9.

On Thursday night, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady rushed for two touchdowns. He now has three on the season, more than Alvin Kamara, Leonard Fournette and Saquon Barkley.

This is a superfluous statistic, but it does convey just how unpredictable the 2019 NFL season has been—both in general and in fantasy. With a few exceptions, it's been nearly impossible to predict which teams and players are going to shine from week to week. 

Overall, the Patriots didn't dominate on Thursday night, though the 35-14 final score would indicate otherwise. Two of their five touchdowns came on defense and special teams, and another arrived courtesy of a garbage-time Brady run.

Of course, winning is all that matters, and garbage-time touchdowns count in fantasy—so Patriots fans and Brady owners should be happy with the final results. Who else will be happy at the end of Week 6? That's what we're here to examine.

Below, you'll find a look at the latest odds and over/unders from Caesars, along with the top 25 fantasy players for the week's remaining games. We'll also dig a little deeper into some of the week's potential fantasy stars and why they'll be worth watching on Sunday and Monday.

             

NFL Week 6 Lines, Over/Unders and Predictions

Carolina Panthers (-2.5, 47.5) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Carolina 23-22

New Orleans Saints (+2.5, 43.5) at Jacksonville Jaguars: New Orleans 27-24

Philadelphia Eagles (+3, 44) at Minnesota Vikings: Philadelphia 24-20

Seattle Seahawks (-1.5, 46) at Cleveland Browns: Seattle 27-24

Washington Redskins (-4, 42.5) at Miami Dolphins: Washington 28-18

Atlanta Falcons (-2.5, 51.5) at Arizona Cardinals: Atlanta 24-22

Houston Texans (+4, 55) at Kansas City Chiefs: Kansas City 35-20

San Francisco 49ers (+3, 50.5) at Los Angeles Rams: San Francisco 28-21

Dallas Cowboys (-7, 45) at New York Jets: Dallas 33-24

Cincinnati Bengals (+11, 48) at Baltimore Ravens: Baltimore 29-26

Tennessee Titans (+1.5, 40.5) at Denver Broncos: Denver 25-20

Pittsburgh Steelers (+6.5, 41.5) at Los Angeles Chargers: Los Angeles 27-23

Detroit Lions (+4, 45) at Green Bay Packers: Green Bay 31-27

     

Week 6 Fantasy Football Rankings

1. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys at New York Jets

3. Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints at Jacksonville Jaguars

4. Julio Jones, WR, Atlanta Falcons at Arizona Cardinals

5. Dalvin Cook, RB, Minnesota Vikings vs. Philadelphia Eagles

6. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs

7. Keenan Allen, WR, Los Angeles Chargers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

8. Michael Thomas, WR, New Orleans Saints at Jacksonville Jaguars

9. Nick Chubb, RB, Cleveland Browns vs. Seattle Seahawks

10. Aaron Jones, RB, Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions

11. Leonard Fournette, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New Orleans Saints

12. Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers

13. Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Houston Texans

14. Amari Cooper, WR, Dallas Cowboys at New York Jets

16. Adam Thielen, WR, Minnesota Vikings at Philadelphia Eagles

16. Chris Carson, RB, Seattle Seahawks at Cleveland Browns

17. Mark Ingram, RB, Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati Bengals

18. Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Carolina Panthers

19. Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati Bengals

20. Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals vs. Atlanta Falcons

21. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Houston Texans

22. Tyler Lockett, WR, Seattle Seahawks at Cleveland Browns

23. George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams

24. Le'Veon Bell, RB, New York Jets vs. Dallas Cowboys

25. Adrian Peterson, RB, Washington Redskins at Miami Dolphins

        

Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (London)

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been quite good against the run this season, allowing an average of just 69.8 yards per game and 3.1 yards per play on the ground. However, this shouldn't dissuade you from starting Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey.

Yes, the Buccaneers held McCaffrey to a mere 53 total yards the last time these two teams met. However, that was when the Panthers had Cam Newton under center and weren't using McCaffrey as the focal point of the offense.

In the first matchup, McCaffrey had just 18 touches. He's gotten at least 25 touches in the three games since with Kyle Allen at quarterback, and he's topped 150 combined rushing and receiving yards in each of them.

Even if the Buccaneers contain McCaffrey on the ground, he should still produce as a receiver out of the backfield. He only caught two passes against the Bucs in Week 2. He's had 16 receptions over the past two weeks.

Tampa has the league's worst statistical pass defense (323.6 yards per game allowed), so attacking through the air with McCaffrey should be a big part of Carolina's game plan.

        

Chris Carson, RB, Seattle Seahawks at Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns have had some strong defensive performances this season, but they completely fell apart in Week 5. The San Francisco 49ers dismantled the Browns with the running game, racking up 275 yards on the ground and completely derailing the Cleveland hype train in the process.

Expect the Seattle Seahawks to employ a similar approach on Sunday. They'll look to establish the run early, both to move the ball and to neutralize the pass-rushing prowess of Myles Garrett and Olivier Vernon. 

While this might not result in nearly 300 rushing yards, it should produce a big day from running back Chris Carson, who has established himself as the clear starter in Seattle. Carson has gotten at least 22 carries in each of his past two games and has topped the 100-yard mark in both.

Last week wasn't the first time the Browns defense has shown cracks against the run. Mark Ingram averaged 5.9 yards per carry against it in Week 4, while Derrick Henry averaged 4.4 yards in Week 1.

Expect Carson to have a strong day on the ground, though he'll likely hold more value in standard leagues than in PPR. Carson has just 15 receptions on the season and hasn't regularly been a factor in the passing game.

             

Adrian Peterson, RB, Washington Redskins at Miami Dolphins

If you drafted Washington Redskins running back Adrian Peterson, it might finally be time to reap the rewards. The future Hall of Famer has regularly seen a light workload, but that was under former head coach Jay Gruden.

Gruden was fired this past week and replaced with offensive line coach Bill Callahan. The switch should push Peterson back into the sort of featured role he had in 2018.

"The head coach says the run game is going to be a big emphasis, then that's what it's going to be," Peterson said Thursday, per Matthew Paras of the Washington Times.

This is a perfect week for Peterson to get back to the starting lineup because, well, Miami's defense isn't good. The Dolphins have allowed an average of 175.8 rushing yards per game and 4.8 yards per carry.

Peterson should see plenty of work against the Dolphins, and he'll get plenty of chances to reward the fantasy managers who haven't given up on him.

This isn't the best Seattle Seahawks team we've ever seen. It's not filled with special players and doesn't have a great defense. There's no Marshawn Lynch or Richard Sherman. There is, however, a staple figure. The one component who, somehow and someway, year after year, always keeps the Seahawks in the Super Bowl conversation.

His name is Russell Wilson. Perhaps you've heard of him.

The game-winning Seattle touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night was typical Wilson. Fourth-and-goal from the 5-yard line, Seahawks trailing 29-24 with just over two minutes left. Wilson dropped back...nothing open...nothing open...then Wilson looked like he was going to scramble.

Rams defensive back Aqib Talib had a decision to make. Go after Wilson or stay in coverage. Don't fall for the move, Talib! Don't fall for the move!

He fell for the move.

Wilson, always a threat to run, faked like he was going to take off for the end zone. Then, suddenly, he braked the way the Space Shuttle used to after deploying its parachutes to land. He lobbed the football over Talib's head to running back Chris Carson. The Seahawks took the lead in a game they would win 30-29.

Don't worry, Aqib. He's done this to plenty of your NFL counterparts before, and he'll do it again.

"I wanted to make sure I kept the play alive," the 30-year-old quarterback told Fox Sports after the game.

It's one of the things he does best: keeping plays alive and keeping the Seahawks alive game after game.

Chris Carson bobbles it... and it's caught for the go-ahead TD! @DangeRussWilson's fourth TD pass of the night gives the @Seahawks a one-point lead. #Seahawks

📺: #LARvsSEA on FOX
📱: https://t.co/pfuFFe7HxS
Learn how to watch: https://t.co/I6INVckndX pic.twitter.com/EYQtxQhOVi

— NFL (@NFL) October 4, 2019

The move was prototypical, totally typical, special-typical, future-Hall-of-Fame-typical Wilson. And he's done it so many times it's hard not to take it for granted.

But it's also what this Seattle team needs if it hopes to be special.

These Seahawks are interesting in a lot of ways. They have a good receiver in Tyler Lockett, who had a spectacular toe-tap score on a perfectly placed football from Wilson on Thursday night. Yet their receiving group, while solid, doesn't scare anyone.

The run game can also be good. But again, there's no Christian McCaffrey in the backfield. And the defense toughened up when needed but also allowed the Rams to get into position for what should have been a game-winning field goal.

Wilson is what makes the Seahawks a force. Wilson is what has long made the Seahawks a force.

He finished the game completing 17 of 23 passes for 268 yards and four touchdowns. It was his ninth career game with four touchdown passes. He also added 32 rushing yards.

It's not that Wilson isn't recognized as special. It's that Wilson is still not always viewed as one of the greats in the game. He's often not mentioned in the same sentence as Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes or Aaron Rodgers, but he should be.

Wilson's accuracy is the most underrated part of his game. The touchdown pass to Lockett, according to NFL Next Gen Stats, had a 6.3 percent completion probability, the lowest on any touchdown pass in the last three seasons.

INCREDIBLE. 😱

TOUCHDOWN, @TDLockett12!! https://t.co/iLhTn1tbiZ

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) October 4, 2019

Wilson, as revealed on Thursday night's SportsCenter, threw for 130 yards and two touchdowns while on the run, and his passer rating while throwing on the run was 142.4.

Mahomes remains the gold standard (for now) when it comes to magical quarterbacks making magical plays.

Wilson isn't far behind, though, and in typical Wilson form, he also hasn't thrown an interception yet this season.

Typical Wilson. Typically great.

       

Mike Freeman covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter: @mikefreemanNFL.

The Los Angeles Rams have been one of the most confusing teams in the NFL in 2019. They are largely the same team that went to the Super Bowl less than nine months ago, but the Rams have not played like a legitimate title contender.

Two weeks ago, L.A. narrowly escaped Cleveland with a one-score win. Last week, they got thumped 55-40 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers—at home. The Rams can get back on track a bit here in Week 5, of course, but they'll have to do so against the Seattle Seahawks and on a short week.

Which NFC West team will prevail Thursday night? How will the rest of the week unfold? Here, you'll find predictions for all 15 games, along with the latest lines and over/unders from Caesars and some intriguing props for Thursday night.

    

NFL Week 5 Lines, Over/Unders and Predictions

Los Angeles Rams (+1, 49.5 o/u) at Seattle Seahawks: Los Angeles 27-24

Arizona Cardinals (+3, 48) at Cincinnati Bengals: Arizona 28-27

Atlanta Falcons (+5.5, 48.5) at Houston Texans: Houston 30-23

Buffalo Bills (+3, 39) at Tennessee Titans: Buffalo 17-16

Baltimore Ravens (-3, 44.5) at Pittsburgh Steelers: Baltimore 30-25

Chicago Bears (-5, 40) at Oakland Raiders (in London): Chicago 24-17

Jacksonville Jaguars (+3.5, 41) at Carolina Panthers: Carolina 26-23

Minnesota Vikings (-5.5, 44.5) at New York Giants: Minnesota 24-22

New England Patriots (-15, 43) at Washington Redskins: New England 30-12

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+3.5, 47) at New Orleans Saints: New Orleans 20-18

New York Jets (+13.5, 44) at Philadelphia Eagles: Philadelphia 30-18

Denver Broncos (+6.5, 44.5) at Los Angeles Chargers: Los Angeles 27-20

Green Bay Packers (+3.5, 46.5) at Dallas Cowboys: Dallas 26-21

Indianapolis Colts (+10.5, 56) at Kansas City Chiefs: Kansas City 33-23

Cleveland Browns (+3.5, 47) at San Francisco 49ers: Cleveland 23-22

     

Jared Goff: Over/Under 278.5 Passing Yards

Quarterback Jared Goff made his fair share of mistakes that ended up costing Los Angeles in Week 4. He tossed three interceptions and lost a fumble that was returned for a touchdown. On a positive note, he passed for 517 yards and two touchdowns.

Goff isn't likely to top the 500-yard mark again in Week 5. However, he should be able to top the over/under of 278.5 yards, which is a prop found at Oddschecker. Goff has passed for at least 279 yards in two of his last three games and narrowly missed the mark against Cleveland (258).

While the Seahawks can be tough to play in Seattle, their defense is no longer the shutdown unit of years past. They are allowing 239.5 passing yards per game. That number is heavily skewed by a game against Teddy Bridgewater and the run-first New Orleans Saints offense.

In Week 1, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton passed for 418 yards in an offense very similar to Sean McVay's—Cincinnati head coach Zac Taylor is a McVay disciple, after all. Expect Goff to have a similar outing. 

    

Brandin Cooks: Over/Under 70.5 Receiving Yards

Goff should have success against Seattle, which means wide receiver Brandin Cooks should as well. An over/under of 70.5 receiving yards can be found at Oddschecker, and once again, the over looks promising.

Despite having just 39 yards in the season opener, Cooks is still averaging 74 yards per game this season. That means an average game should get him to 71 yards—which is a mark he's hit every week since the opener.

Just as the Seahawks struggled to contain Dalton in Week 1, they struggled to contain speedy wideout John Ross. He finished with seven receptions 158 yards and two touchdowns.

Now, Ross and Cooks are not the same player, obviously. However, they are both fast downfield targets operating in similar offenses. Expect Cooks to have a strong day, even if Goff spreads the ball around more than Dalton did in Week 1.

    

Chris Carson: Over/Under 70.5 Rushing Yards

The last prop from Oddschecker we're going to examine involves Seahawks running back Chris Carson and an over/under of 70.5 rushing yards. This is a mark Carson should be able to hit, especially now that he's regained the trust of his coaching staff.

"I think probably the guy I'm most excited about is Chris," head coach Pete Carroll said, per Matt Calkins of the Seattle Times. "... Really I'm just fired up for him because we need Chris running like that."

Carson ran for 104 yards and 4.7 yards per carry against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 3, and he should have a similar day against an inconsistent Rams run defense.

Los Angeles held the Buccaneers to just 2.9 yards per carry as a team, but Ronald Jones averaged 3.7 yards and totaled 70 on the day. Two weeks ago, Nick Chubb gashed the Rams for 96 yards and 4.2 yards per run.

Seattle should have enough faith in Carson to run him 20-25 times this week, which will allow him to get to 71 yards on the ground.

Don't waive Chris Carson just yet, fantasy owners.

The 25-year-old has fumbled once in each of the Seahawks' three regular-season games, and all three of them were recovered by the opposing team. However, head coach Pete Carroll stuck up for Carson on Monday to Sports Radio KJR's Curtis Crabtree (h/t ProFootballTalk):

"Because we do believe in him, we're going to continue to show him that. He's a terrific football player, and we want to make sure and maintain that level of play from him, so we'll work at it and work with him on it. There's a lot of technical stuff that's really important, right down to the last instant of that play that he fumbled on there's another thing that he could do to ensure taking care of the ball a little bit longer.

"He thought he was secure and thought he was taking care of it and bang all of a sudden the ball comes out. That's life, you know. That's real in the league and all that. He's going to have to be really on because guys are going to continue to come after him just like anybody would."

Following the Seahawks' 33-27 loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, Carson told reporters he plans to "have a short-term memory and move on":

Chris Carson says he’ll have to have short term memory and move on. pic.twitter.com/ZPDqonVPvH

— Bob Condotta (@bcondotta) September 22, 2019

However, Carson might find comfort in his long-term memory.

Carroll's confidence in Carson could be derived from the fact that the Seahawks' 2017 seventh-round pick had only lost three fumbles since entering the league prior to this season. All three came last season in Weeks 1, 11 and 12. Carson's production far outweighed those fumbles, as he led Seattle's run game with 1,151 yards and nine touchdowns.

Through three weeks in 2019, Carson tops Seattle rushers with 159 yards and is second to quarterback Russell Wilson with two rushing touchdowns.

From a strictly fantasy perspective, fumbles and all, Carson ranked 19th among all running backs with 37.8 fantasy points through Week 3, per ESPN. His best performance came in the regular-season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals with 46 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries paired with 34 yards and a touchdown on six catches for a total of 24 points—ranking eighth at the position.

If and when Carson improves his ball security, he will likely have to share carries with second-year back Rashaad Penny throughout the season despite Penny being inactive for Week 3 because of an injury suffered in practice. It may be discouraging for Carson owners that he received the same number of carries at 15 in Week 3 without Penny as he did in Week 2 with him.

In recent years, the Seahawks have had a run-heavy offense, but on Sunday, Wilson threw the ball 50 times—eclipsing 40 passing attempts in a game for the first time since Nov. 20, 2017, which means it could be an anomaly. There should be enough opportunity to go around between Carson and Penny.

If Carson is on your roster, don't discard him yet. He's still a viable RB2 at this point in the season.

If you look across the NFL's Sunday slate, a majority of the games will be affected by injuries.

The absences of Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger and Cam Newton stand out immediately, but there are stars at other positions who will miss Week 3 as well.

The long list of injured players may require a lengthier look at the odds sheet and some statistics in order to maximize your betting profit.

That could also affect the prop bets you choose to wager on, as a few squads could struggle in the opening quarters before adjustments are made.

                                    

Sunday Schedule and Odds

All Times ET.

Odds via Caesars; predictions against the spread in bold.

Atlanta at Indianapolis (-1.5) (O/U: 47) (1 p.m., CBS) 

Baltimore at Kansas City (-5.5) (O/U: 52.5) (1 p.m., CBS)

Cincinnati at Buffalo (-6) (O/U: 43.5) (1 p.m., CBS)

New York Jets at New England (-21) (O/U: 43) (1 p.m., CBS)

Denver at Green Bay (-7) (O/U: 43) (1 p.m., Fox)

Detroit at Philadelphia (-5) (O/U: 45.5) (1 p.m., Fox)

Miami at Dallas (-23) (O/U: 47) (1 p.m., Fox)

Oakland at Minnesota (-8.5) (O/U: 43.5) (1 p.m., Fox)

Carolina at Arizona (-1.5) (O/U: 45) (4:05 p.m., Fox)

New York Giants at Tampa Bay (-5) (O/U: 48) (4:05 p.m., Fox)

Houston at Los Angeles Chargers (-3) (O/U: 48.5) (4:25 p.m., CBS)

Pittsburgh at San Francisco (-6.5) (O/U: 43.5) (4:25 p.m., CBS)

New Orleans at Seattle (-4.5) (O/U:44.5) (4:25 p.m., CBS)

Los Angeles Rams (-3.5) at Cleveland (O/U: 47.5) (8:20 p.m., NBC)

                   

Best Props

Detroit (+3) at Philadelphia 1st-Half Spread

The Philadelphia Eagles have trailed at halftime in each of their two games.

In Week 1, the Eagles stumbled out of the gates and gave up 20 points to Washington before storming back for a win. In the loss to the Atlanta Falcons, they mustered six first-half points.

In their first road trip of 2019, the Detroit Lions stormed out to a 17-3 halftime advantage before settling for a tie with the Arizona Cardinals.

The Lions could be in position to lead at the half Sunday because of the rearranging in the Eagles offense.

With DeSean Jackson, Alshon Jeffery and Dallas Goedert dealing with injuries, Carson Wentz has to get used to working with Nelson Agholor, J.J. Arcega-Whiteside and Mack Hollins.

Jackson is out, while Jeffery and Goedert are dealing with calf injuries that limited them in practice, per the team's official website.

If Wentz faces first-half struggles with a depleted receiving corps again, Detroit heads into the locker room ahead.

If the Lions are up, it will be because Matthew Stafford is dealing against Philadelphia's passing defense that has the third-worst yard concession and is tied for giving up the second-most touchdowns.

                               

Carolina-Arizona 1st-Half Under (21.5)

We do not have much of a clue as to how the Carolina Panthers offense will operate with Kyle Allen under center.

The second-year man has one career start—from Week 17 of the 2018 season against the New Orleans Saints. That can't be an indicator of his performance Sunday since the Saints were resting some players for the postseason.

In their six road losses in 2018, the Panthers scored 24 points or fewer, and the only time they hit more than 30 was in Week 17.

Arizona has nine first-half points in two games, all of which came off field goals. In fact, the pair of touchdowns Kyler Murray is responsible for occurred in the games' final stanzas.

Since we have little faith in either side making multiple first-half trips to the end zone, the under is the suggested prop.

                             

Odds Predictions

Atlanta at Indianapolis (-1.5)

Since the start of last season, Atlanta is 1-5 in road games outside of the NFC South.

The past four defeats of that type have been by 10 points or more, with the 2018 season opener in Philadelphia being the lone outlier.

Conversely, the Indianapolis Colts were 4-1 at Lucas Oil Stadium versus non-AFC South franchises a year ago.

The Colts' advantage comes on the ground if Marlon Mack is available. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the running back is "likely" to play, but he is still waiting on full clearance.

Mack has 225 rushing yards on 45 carries, and if he plays and sets the tone in the trenches, Jacoby Brissett could have more time to settle into the pocket.

The Colts are facing the top passing defense in the NFL, but that number has to be taken into perspective since the Minnesota Vikings opted to run much more than pass in their Week 1 win over the Falcons.

Indianapolis has let up the ninth-fewest passing yards, and it could frustrate Matt Ryan, just like it did in Week 2 when Marcus Mariota was limited to 154 yards on 28 pass attempts.

                  

New Orleans at Seattle (-4.5)

Upon first glance of the line, the Seattle Seahawks should be able to win by five points to cover and beat New Orleans without Drew Brees.

In order to follow through on that, the Seahawks need to improve on their home defense, as they allowed 429 total yards against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1.

Seattle could keep the ball out of Teddy Bridgewater's hands by relying on its running game.

Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny have combined for 186 yards and a touchdown each on 46 carries, and they are facing a Saints defense that gives up 5.6 yards per carry.

Seattle might be able to dictate the pace on the ground and then have Russell Wilson strike through the air against a tired defense in the second half.

In extended time in Week 2, Bridgewater went 17-of-30 for 165 passing yards. If Seattle holds him to a similar total, it can focus on silencing Alvin Kamara with its fourth-best rushing defense.

                     

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90. Statistics obtained from Pro Football Reference. 

The expectations have diminished for the New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers.

The injuries to their starting quarterbacks have been reflected in the Week 3 lines, as both are road underdogs for their respective trips to Seattle and San Francisco.

According to ESPN Stats & Info, Week 3 will be the first time since Week 17 in 2004 that both Drew Brees and Ben Roethlisberger do not play.

The Saints are not in terrible shape in the NFC South, but a loss to the Seahawks could set them back. The Steelers are in a much different situation, as they need a win to end a two-game losing streak.

Teddy Bridgewater and Mason Rudolph face stiff competition from two of the three undefeated squads in the NFC West. While an upset is never out of the question, both squads could be in for a tough Sunday.

                              

NFL Week 3 Schedule and Odds

All times Eastern

Odds via Caesars; projections against the spread in bold

Thursday, September 19

Tennessee (-1.5) at Jacksonville (Over/Under: 40) (8:20 p.m., NFL Network)

              

Sunday, September 22

Atlanta at Indianapolis (-2.5) (O/U: 47.5) (1 p.m., CBS)

Baltimore at Kansas City (-6.5) (O/U: 54.5) (1 p.m., CBS)

Cincinnati at Buffalo (-6) (O/U: 44) (1 p.m., CBS)

New York Jets at New England (-18) (1 p.m., CBS)

Denver at Green Bay (-8) (O/U: 43) (1 p.m., Fox)

Detroit at Philadelphia (-7.5) (O/U: 48) (1 p.m., Fox)

Miami at Dallas (-21) (O/U: 47.5) (1 p.m., Fox)

Oakland at Minnesota (-7.5) (O/U: 42) (1 p.m., Fox)

Carolina (-2.5) at Arizona (O/U: 46.5) (4:05 p.m., Fox)

New York Giants at Tampa Bay (-6.5) (O/U: 48) (4:05 p.m., Fox)

Houston at Los Angeles Chargers (-3) (O/U: 47.5) (4:25 p.m., CBS)

Pittsburgh at San Francisco (-6.5) (O/U: 43.5) (4:25 p.m., CBS)

New Orleans at Seattle (-5) (O/U:44.5) (4:25 p.m., CBS)

Los Angeles Rams (-2.5) at Cleveland (O/U: 50.5) (8:20 p.m., NBC)

                 

Monday, September 23

Chicago (-4.5) at Washington (O/U: 41.5) (8:15 p.m., ESPN)

                    

Pittsburgh at San Francisco (-6.5)

The 49ers put together a pair of solid wins on the road against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cincinnati Bengals to set themselves up nicely for Sunday's home opener at Levi's Stadium.

The Niners produced 572 total yards in Week 2, and a next-man-up mentality looks to have washed away their injury concerns at running back.

With Tevin Coleman out, Matt Breida, Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr. combined for 238 rushing yards and two scores on 35 carries. Mostert also had 68 receiving yards and a touchdown.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan's running back trio could have more success in Week 3 against a Pittsburgh defense that has conceded the third-most receiving yards and ninth-most rushing yards to running backs.

The Steelers rank third-to-last in yards conceded to wide receivers, but they will have some secondary help with the addition of Minkah Fitzpatrick from Miami.

But the acquisition of the defensive back might not be enough for head coach Mike Tomlin's team to contain the 49ers, who have had 10 players catch a ball from quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.

In his three home starts for the Niners, the 27-year-old has 829 passing yards, five touchdowns and an interception.

If the Steelers can't contain the San Francisco offense, they will not be able to give Rudolph an opportunity to win the contest.

The Oklahoma State product put up 112 yards and two touchdowns on 12-of-19 passing in relief or Roethlisberger on Sunday.

The 24-year-old is familiar with the offensive scheme, but the biggest concern for him could be the production of his wide receivers.

Pittsburgh's receiving corps has 47 receptions on 81 targets, with James Washington and Donte Moncrief failing to catch over half of the passes thrown at them.

If San Francisco's secondary limits the production of JuJu Smith-Schuster, Rudolph could be out of reliable targets at receiver.

The 49ers were able to contain John Ross III for the most part Sunday, with his 66-yard touchdown catch coming in garbage time. In Week 1, they held all of Tampa Bay's receivers under 60 yards.

The Niners are the safe play with a 6.5-point spread because of their early production and pair of double-digit victories.

                        

New Orleans at Seattle (-5)

Similar to Rudolph, Bridgewater is familiar with his offense after spending a season backing up Brees, but knowing the scheme and executing it are much different.

Bridgewater went 17-of-30 for 165 yards in relief of Brees against the Los Angeles Rams.

That was a decent start for the quarterback out of Louisville, but he needs to be better at CenturyLink Field, especially if Seattle continues to stop the run.

The Seahawks limited the Bengals and Steelers to 115 rushing yards, which is the fourth-best total in the NFL.

If head coach Pete Carroll's team takes away Alvin Kamara and Latavius Murray from the New Orleans offense, the Saints could struggle.

In 2018, the Seahawks held opponents under 25 points at home in five of their six wins, and in Week 1, they limited the Bengals to 20.

If that trend continues, the NFC West side could open up a double-digit advantage against a defense that has conceded 6.6 yards per play and 55 points.

Chris Carson could be in for a big game, as New Orleans ranks 27th in rushing yards conceded. The Seattle running back received 15 carries in each of his first two games and averaged 88.6 rushing yards in his last five home games.

If Carson provides Russell Wilson, who has 495 passing yards and five touchdowns, with balance on offense, the Seahawks could move through the New Orleans defense and cover the five-point spread.

                     

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.

Statistics obtained from Pro Football Reference.

The first week of the 2019 NFL season is underway. For fantasy football participants, this means that it's time to get back into the swing of roster management.

No matter how well you drafted, properly managing your roster from week to week will maximize your chances of reaching the postseason. Some players are obvious must-starts—you're not sitting Le'Veon Bell, even against a tough Buffalo Bills defense—but others are not.

For lower-tier starters and flex options, it's all about finding the right matchups. Here, you'll find some of the best and the worst of Week 1.

    

Quarterbacks

Must Start

1. Deshaun Watson at New Orleans Saints

2. Patrick Mahomes at Jacksonville Jaguars

3. Drew Brees vs. Houston Texans

4. Carson Wentz vs. Washington Redskins

5. Russell Wilson vs. Cincinnati Bengals

    

Start 'Em: Josh Allen at New York Jets

In large part because of his scrambling ability, Bills quarterback Josh Allen became a solid fantasy option toward the end of the 2018 season. He remains so in the opening week of 2019.

Allen opens on the road against the division-rival New York Jets. While the Jets have some notable defensive talent up front—including first-round rookie Quinnen Williams—their defense is not a shutdown unit. In 2018, New York ranked just 25th in total defense, allowing an average of 380.4 yards per game.

While the Bills aren't likely to attack exclusively through the air, this isn't a matchup they can simply grind away on the ground either. With guys such as Bell, Sam Darnold, Robby Anderson and Quincy Enunwa on the roster, New York will put up points.

This won't be a shootout, but Allen will have to do his fair share offensively. Expect around 200 passing yards, 60-70 rushing yards and a couple of touchdowns. It's that ground work that makes Allen worth the start.

   

Sit 'Em: Derek Carr vs. Denver Broncos

Will we see an improved Derek Carr in 2019? Perhaps, but Week 1 is not the time you want to rely on him in fantasy. The Oakland Raiders are hosting the rival Denver Broncos, who are still loaded with defensive talent and now have a defense-minded head coach in Vic Fangio. 

Oh, and the Broncos have a pair of pass-rushers named Von Miller and Bradley Chubb. They're going to make things difficult on Carr early and often.

Carr and the Raiders also won't have former No. 1 wideout Antonio Brown, who has been released from the team amid a string of controversy:

The Raiders have released WR Antonio Brown from the team today.

— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) September 7, 2019

With Brown gone, the Broncos will be able to play more single coverage and bring more pressure up front.

This is a game Oakland should try grinding out on the ground. That's good for rookie running back Josh Jacobs, not good for Carr.

                  

Running Backs

Must Start

1. Christian McCaffrey vs. Los Angeles Rams

2. Saquon Barkley at Dallas Cowboys

3. Alvin Kamara vs. Houston Texans

4. Dalvin Cook vs. Atlanta Falcons

5. Nick Chubb vs. Tennessee Titans

   

Start 'Em: Chris Carson vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Last April, the Seattle Seahawks used a first-round pick on former San Diego State running back Rashaad Penny. At some point, he could take over as Seattle's lead back. For now, though, Chris Carson remains the guy, and he's a safe start at home against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Will Carson see all of the snaps against Cincinnati? Probably not. Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll has made it clear that the backfield situation will remain fluid.

"There's plenty of chances for those guys to battle back and forth," Carroll said Wednesday, per Liz Mathews of Seahawks Wire. "We'll go in the direction that we need to go in based on how they perform."

However, Carson should see the bulk of the carries against a Bengals defense that allowed an average of 137.8 yards per game last season, fourth-most in the NFL.

Penny is a solid option in PPR, but Carson is worth starting in all formats.

   

Sit 'Em: Kalen Ballage vs. Baltimore Ravens

Miami Dolphins running back Kalen Ballage was worth taking a flier on in most formats because he may eventually emerge as a starter in 2019. He saw limited action last season but was impressive when he got opportunities.

Though Ballage only had 36 carries in 2018, he averaged 5.3 yards per rush. He also had a 123-yard outing in Week 15.

Ballage is not a good play in Week 1, however, for a couple of reasons. For one, Miami appears set to lean on Kenyan Drake in the running game.

"We're looking forward to getting him a lot of touches this week," head coach Brian Flores said of Drake, per Joe Schad of the Palm Beach Post.

Secondly, the Dolphins are going against a Baltimore Ravens defense that allowed just 82.9 rushing yards per game and 3.7 yards per carry last season.

    

Wide Receivers

Must Start

1. DeAndre Hopkins at New Orleans Saints

2. Michael Thomas vs. Houston Texans

3. Mike Evans vs. San Francisco 49ers

4. JuJu Smith-Schuster at New England Patriots

5. Keenan Allen vs. Indianapolis Colts

    

Start 'Em: Kenny Golladay at Arizona Cardinals

While Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford isn't widely considered an elite signal-caller, he is still one of the league's more prolific passers. Last year was a down year, and Stafford still threw for 3,777 yards and 21 touchdowns.

Stafford should find success against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1, which is why his top target, Kenny Golladay is a safe start. Golladay is coming off a 1,000-yard season and is hoping to become an even bigger piece of the Lions offense in 2019.

"I for sure, like any receiver would say, I can be a 100-catch guy," Golladay said ahead of the season, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.

Golladay should feast against a Cardinals defense that won't have top cornerback Patrick Peterson for the first six weeks of the season.

    

Sit 'Em: Corey Davis at Cleveland Browns

Golladay has a favorable Week 1 matchup. Tennessee Titans No. 1 wideout Corey Davis does not. The Titans open the season on the road against the Cleveland Browns.

While much of the offseason hype surrounded Cleveland and its new-look offense, it's the Browns defense that could spell trouble for Tennessee on Sunday. The Browns have a fearsome defensive front, headlined by the likes of Myles Garrett, Olivier Vernon and Sheldon Richardson.

Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota is going to have few opportunities to get comfortable in the pocket.

Davis is likely to draw Browns No. 1 cornerback Denzel Ward in coverage for much of the game. While Davis will have a size advantage on the 5'11" Ward, the 2018 Pro Bowl cornerback is both physical at the line and sticky in coverage.

Expect a decidedly average game from Davis this week.

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Need more help with your fantasy football lineup? Matt Camp solves your fantasy problems live on B/R Gridiron's new show, Your Fantasy Fire Drill. Download the B/R app now to submit your questions and tune in every Sunday at 11:30 a.m. ET.