Bye weeks make things tricky for fantasy football

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I’m happy to say I’m at 5-1 in my fantasy football league but bye weeks are starting to come into play.  It actually affects two of my starters this week.  Since it’s a 14 team league the waiver wire is pretty thin.  So here’s what I’m seeing going into week seven.

I think Mahomes can withstand a strong Brees

My QB is Patrick Mahomes.  I feel good about him regardless of who the Chiefs are playing.  This week they’re playing the Bengals.  I like the Mahomes’ mobility in dealing with the pass rush.  My opponent has Drew Brees at quarterback.  Drew is going up against a touch Ravens defense.  Brees is good, but I think I have the edge here.

I hate to say bye to Devante Adams

My receivers, along with Patrick Mahomes have carried my team.  Devante Adams had a big game against the 49ers, but this is the Packers bye week.  I’ll miss him.  My other WR is DeAndre Hopkins.  Hopkins and the Texans face a Jacksonville defense looking to bounce back from an embarrassing performance that saw them give up 40 points to the Cowboys.  I still think Hopkins will put up decent numbers by virtue of his talent and the sheer number of targets he gets.

Right now I have Jags WR, Donte Moncreif, who is obviously going up against the Texans as my other starting WR.  The drop off from Devante Adams to Moncreif is steep..  I don’t care for that matchup.  I may go to my bench again and start the Bears Anthony Miller. The problem is I’m already starting two other Bears, but more about that in a minute.

These guys are really good

My opponent has Julio Jones going up against the Giants on MNF and Keenan Allen going up against the Titans in London.  I’ve got an uphill climb when it comes to receivers this week.  

My RBs are better than his RBs (I think)

Running back has been my Achilles heel for most of this fantasy season, but things have looked up recently.  After a terrible start, Kenyan Drake has been picking up steam and become more of a receiver coming out of the backfield the last couple of games.  Meanwhile Tarik Cohen has become more of a factor in the Bears offense.  Cohen’s extra touches have come at the expense of Jordan Howard. Selfishly, I hope that trend continues.

My opponent has Duke Johnson of the Browns who is up against the Tampa Bay defense and Nyheim Himes of the Colts, who are playing the Bills.  While the Bucs defense is in disarray, I actually like my running backs better this week.  That’s one of the few times I’ve been able to say that this season.

It could have been worse

At the RB/WR slot, my opponent has Demaryius Thomas of the Broncos.  Thomas picked up 9 points against the Cardinals last night.  Since the Cardinals gave up 45 points I feel like I’m getting off light.  I’ve got Pierre Garcon.  I’m not thrilled with that option, but once again the bye week has me hamstrung.

The bye week may actually help me here

At the flex position, I’ve been playing Jared Cook.  Cook has had a better season than the Raiders in general, though he’s been inconsistent.  With the Raiders bye week, I’m playing Trey Burton.  I don’t feel like I’m losing much, if anything at that position.  My opponent has Eric Ebron at the flex position.  Ebron and the Colts face the Bills Sunday.  I give a slight edge to Ebron over Burton.

It's good to face Blake Bortles

I have the Texans defense against the Jaguars Sunday.  Suffice it to say I feel pretty good about that.  My opponent has the Rams defense.  The Rams are facing the 49ers.  That’s a good matchup, but I like my matchup better.

But not so good to have the Jaguars kicker

And then there’s the kickers.  I’ve got Josh Lambo of the Jaguars. His matchup is the Panthers Graham Gano.  I’m underwater on that matchup.

And it comes down to Mahomes, again

Right now I’m projected for 108 points while my opponent is projected at 107.  Overall I would put myself as a slight favorite.  Patrick Mahomes is projected for 25 points.  I’m hoping for more than that from him.