Strikes & Gutters: Week 5 Fantasy Advice

I really need to have my head examined. Any column that leads with a photo of Darren McFadden is just asking for trouble. In fairness to me, I explicitly said "IF he can stay healthy and play the whole game, he should dominate." Of course, pontificating whether or not D-Fadd can stay healthy is like wondering if Cam Cameron will ever get another head coaching job in the NFL. McFadden was off to a great start with 29 yards on the ground in the first quarter before leaving due to yet another muscle pull in his under developed legs. As for the rest of my strike predictions, I'd say I hit the nail on the head with Antonio Brown and Andrew Luck. Both guys were a bit under the radar and both had solid performances. Wallace, and most of the Dolphins let me down on monday night, and Julius Thomas made good on all 4 of his targets, but didn't really have the game I anticipated. I'll give myself a 2 out of 4 for the week with McFadden getting an 'incomplete' for not finishing the first half, yet alone the entire game as I had been wary of.

My Gutters predictions were brutal. Hopefully you played both Greg Jennings and Andre Johnson, in spite of my advice. Sitting Kap was a good call as he was solid if unspectacular and didn't produce great fantasy numbers. I was dead on with the Bengals RBs and the Dolphins defense (sigh). So, 3 out of 5 for the week is passable. Read on at you own risk.

Strikes:

Larry Fitzgerald: I think he's due for a really big game. the Cardinals offense is sneaky good, and he has tortured the Panthers in the past. I know those were different teams (on both sides of the ball), but the talent is still there.

Mike Vick: Have you seen the Giants play football this year? It's like they are playing a different a sport. The Eagles defense is also terrible, so this game should be a shoot out. LeSean McCoy and DeSean Jackson should also have nice games as will most Giants (even David Wilson).

Eddie Lacy: The Packers Running game has produced some good numbers this season. Lacy returns against a less than formidable Lions Defense at home. I see at least one TD in his future and a good chunk of yards as the Pack tries to keep Fratty Matty Stafford and his bros off the field as long as possible.

Jared Cook: The Jaguars are the worst team I've ever seen play football in my 28 plus years watching the NFL. I would start any team Defense I could find that was playing them. I would try and start at least one guy from the offense of the team that was playing them. I feel like Bradford has a decent day and Cook is his best option right now as a pass catcher.

Courtesy Dolphin start of the week, Lamar Miller: It's criminal that the Dolphins haven't just handed the reins over to Miller yet. He is clearly the best option they have out of the backfield. He's been solid enough that I would wager if he were given the opportunity, he might actually help us turn an even blinder eye to what Reggie Bush is doing in Detroit this season. The Ravens defense isn't what it used to be, and this could be the week Miller is unleashed. Let's hope that it is.

Gutters:

Dwayne Bowe: Finally, broke out of his slump somewhat last week. Tennessee's defense is much better than advertised. I think the Chiefs get a reality dose this week. They may win the game, but it will be much tougher than their last two games.

Atlanta Falcons RBs: Rodgers, Jackson, Snelling. It doesn't matter. the Jest run defense is legit this season(it pains me to type that). I wouldn't want any part of that going into Monday night's game.

Stevie Johnson: Haden Island is the new Revis island. He's locked down some great WRs this season. Joe Haden is a real fantasy WR deterrent. 

Demarco Murray: The Broncos offense is the scariest in the NFL this season. Couple that with a defense that is not allowing running backs to find any lanes and you have a recipe for disaster if you are a Murray owner this week. I strongly recommend you look elsewhere.

Courtesy Dolphin sit of the week, Brandon Gibson: I highly doubt you would consider starting him, but he has put up decent numbers this season out of the slot, especially in PPR formats. I think Tannehill spreads it around a little more and Gibson is the odd man out. I like the Dolphins at home this week, I even think gibson will contribute, but don't expect to see the 7 or 8 catches he's been getting the past few weeks.

As always, if you have any fantasy questions please leave them in the comments section and I will get to them as soon as I can and definitely before Thursday's game and the Sunday games . Good luck!

"Sometimes you eat the bear, and sometimes, well, he eats you."