With week one of the NFL season in the books, many fantasy football managers are left scrambling to make roster decisions after their “perfect drafts” came crumbling down. This article will provide key insight on what to do with your teams this week using PPR format in 10-man redraft leagues.
D’Andre Swift – Sit
When the Chicago Bears signed D’Andre Swift this offseason, the belief among many was that he would be a versatile tool in the Bears new offense. This past week against the Titans, he took 10 touches and only managed to produce 30 rushing yards. Accompanied with a two-point conversion, Swift finished with only five points in PPR Leagues. Last season, in games where he took 60% of snaps or more, he only finished below 10 points once, this week he took 70%. As a part of a Bears offense that failed to score a touchdown last week, it would be wise to leave Swift on the bench until they figure out how to make their new pieces work.
Ladd McConkey – Start
As expected, Ladd McConkey has already made himself comfortable at the professional level. The rookie was targeted seven times, of which he reeled in five for 39 yards and a touchdown in a win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. The performance earned him 14.90 fantasy points. It is obvious that McConkey has found a synergy with Los Angeles Chargers star quarterback Justin Herbert under the new Jim Harbaugh offense. Herbert struggled last year without a true number one wide receiver, and McConkey is on his way to that role. Expect McConkey to find even more comfortability this week against a Carolina Panthers defense, who allowed 47 points this past week to the New Orleans Saints.
Travis Kelce – Sit
There were many skeptics coming into this season about Travis Kelce’s fantasy value. Kelce has been a perennial number one tight end and top three round pick in the past half decade. However, last season marked the first time since 2015 that Kelce finished below 1,000 receiving yards. In Thursday night’s matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, Kelce was only targeted four times for three catches and 34 yards for a measly 6.40 points. With the emergence of speedy and skilled targets like Rashee Rice and rookie Xavier Worthy, as well as production from backup tight end Noah Gray, it makes starting Kelce a risky heading into their matchup with the Cincinati Bengals this week.
Baker Mayfield – Start
Baker Mayfield is a quarterback one. After years of scrutiny, the hot shot from Oklahoma has finally come into his own in the NFL. On Sunday against the Washington Commanders, Mayfield completed 24 of his 30 pass attempts for 289 yards and four touchdowns. He also scrambled for 21 yards on three attempts putting him at 29.66 points. Mayfield has one of the league’s most impressive offensive load outs at his disposal, with top targets Chris Godwin and Mike Evans lined up at receiver and Rachaad White alongside him in the backfield. This week, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be taking on the Lions, whose biggest weakness last season was in their secondary unit. Don’t be surprised to see Bakers targets finding themselves throughout the marquee NFC matchup.
Isaiah Likely – Sleeper
Isiah Likely burst onto the scene against the Chiefs on Thursday. The tight end hauled in nine of his 12 targets for 111 yards and a touchdown. He was a big toe away from a second, potentially game-tying, touchdown in the final moments of the game. This logged him 26.10 fantasy points positioning him as the number one tight end in fantasy football. What could be the controversy in starting the number one tight end in fantasy football? The Ravens starting tight end, Mark Andrews. Andrews has been Ravens quarterback, Lamar Jackson’s favorite and most versatile target in recent years, getting drafted in earlier rounds and often in conversation as the best fantasy tight end behind Kelce. Last season, Andrews missed half of the season to an injury. In his absence, Likely began to make a name for himself finishing as a weekly top five fantasy tight end three times. With the development of wide receiver Zay Flowers, the explosion of Likely and of course the addition of running back Derrick Henry, the Ravens offense has unlocked a new level of dynamism that could potentially leave Mark Andrews behind. With a chip on his shoulder after last week’s called back touchdown, Likely will be ravenous for another big game.
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