Players who are “Hot” to start the 2016 season
QB: Matt Ryan – Ryan is averaging 365 passing yards, 2.5 passing TDs, and 25.5 fantasy points in the 2016 season. What’s more impressive is Matt Ryan posted 27 fantasy points at Oakland in week 2. It heaelps that he gets to throw to Julio Jones each week, but I’m selling Ryan while he’s hot.
Other “Hot” Quarterbacks – Cam Newton, Derek Carr
RB: Matt Forte – Forte is averaging 21 fantasy points per game through the first two weeks. He has 264 total yards and 3 touchdowns. Forte is on pace for 472 touches this season. His career high in touches is 379 in his rookie season. I’m selling Forte while his value is high.
RB: Melvin Gordon – After failing to score in last year, Gordon has three TDs in just two weeks in 2016. He’s handled 38 carries and converted them into 159 yards and three scores. With Danny Woodhead and Branden Oliver out for the season, I’m holding onto Gordon if I own him.
Other “Hot” Running Backs – DeAngelo Williams (sell), Latavius Murray (sell), C.J. Anderson (hold/buy), Isaiah Crowell (hold/buy)
WR: Stefon Diggs – Diggs has 16 catches for 285 yards and a TD through two weeks. He’s averaging 17 fantasy points per game and has twice as many targets as the next closest Vikings wide receiver. If someone’s offer blows me away, I may trade Diggs, but I’m excited about the 22-year-old’s future as a fantasy star.
WR: Kelvin Benjamin – Benjamin has 13 catches for 199 yards and 3 TDs this season. Coming off of an ACL tear, Benjamin has been impressive. He has 13 more targets than the next closest wide receiver on his team. It’s clear Cam Newton trusts Benjamin, especially in the red zone. I’m holding onto Benjamin if I own him.
Other “Hot” Wide Receivers – Mike Wallace (sell), Larry Fitzgerald (sell), Jordan Matthews (buy), Mike Evans (buy), DeAndre Hopkins (hold)
TE: Greg Olsen – Olsen is one of the only TEs this season who has put up quality numbers. Through two weeks, Olsen has 12 catches for 195 yards and a TD. Olsen finished top three in targets in each of the first two weeks. I’m keeping Olsen if I own him.
Other “Hot” Tight Ends – None
Hot: Vikings D/ST – After scoring two defensive touchdowns at Tennessee, the Vikings forced three turnovers against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. The Vikings have only conceded 30 points through two weeks. To put that in perspective, 13 different NFL teams have conceded at least 30 points in a single contest this year.
Other “Hot” D/ST – Texans, Broncos, Cardinals
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Players who have “NOT” had a strong start to the 2016 season
QB: Russell Wilson – Wilson is averaging 11 fantasy points per game this season. He has yet to throw for 260 yards and hasn’t rushed for more than 16 yards in a game this season. Additionally, Wilson has accounted for only one touchdown this year. The Seahawks have 15 points through two weeks (7.5 points per game). Even with all these negatives, I’m not selling Wilson after the tough start.
Other “Not” Quarterbacks – Kirk Cousins (hold/drop), Blake Bortles (hold), Andy Dalton (hold/drop)
RB: Todd Gurley – Gurley has 36 carries for 98 rushing yards, 2 catches for 14 yards and has not scored this season. His 2.72 yards per carry is cause for concern as is the Rams’ inability to score (4.5 points per game). While I’m not panicking if I own Gurley, I’m selling him to anyone who believes he can still be a top 10 RB this season.
RB: Mark Ingram – Ingram only has 11 fantasy points through two weeks. What’s more concerning is he has just 21 carries on the season (10.5 carries per game). The Saints have scored 47 points this season, but Ingram has yet to be a part of it. I still think Ingram can produce as a top 15 running back, but I’m souring on him a bit.
Other “Not” Running Backs – Adrian Peterson (sell), Rashad Jennings (buy), Eddie Lacy (hold), Devonta Freeman (hold)
WR: Allen Robinson – With only nine catches and 126 yards, Robinson’s six fantasy points per game have been disappointing for fantasy owners. The good news is Robinson had 15 targets in week 1 and faced one of the NFL’s best corners, Jason Verrett, in week 2. I’m buying Robinson in every league I can, and I still think he finishes the year as a top 10 WR.
WR: John Brown – Brown only has two catches for 22 yards this season. He’s been so bad, he’s not even the best J. Brown on his team. Jaron Brown has fourteen times more fantasy points than John Brown in 2016. With only seven targets this year, I’m worried John Brown is not involved in the offense enough to be relevant in fantasy, but I’m keeping him since he’s impossible to trade at this point.
Other “Not” Wide Receivers – Sammy Watkins (hold), T.Y. Hilton (hold), Randall Cobb (hold/sell), Emmanuel Sanders (buy), Golden Tate (buy), Will Fuller (hold)
TE: Gary Barnidge – Barnidge was held without a catch in week 1. When Josh McCown started week 2, many fantasy analysts expected big things from Barnidge due to his strong connection with McCown in 2015. Barnidge only had four catches for 37 yards in week 2. I’m holding on to Barnidge, but I believe he can be dropped in some leagues.
Other “Not” Tight Ends – Coby Fleener (buy), Antonio Gates (hold), Jared Cook (sell/drop)
D/ST: Raiders – The Oakland Raiders have given up 34.5 points per game and have generated only two turnovers. To make it worse, they haven’t been able to pressure the quarterback as much as fantasy owners had hoped. The Raiders only have two sacks on the season. I’m dropping the Raiders defense.
Other “Not” D/St – Bengals, Chiefs
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