Alright, pick 2 out of 3: Mike James/J. Gordon/K. Thompkins.
Picking C.J. Spiller and A. Morris with my first two pick has really kill me this year. I don't even know who Mike James was until D. Martin got hurt and yet I'm needing him to be good; like 10 points good because then he's already a better start then Spiller.
Ouch. Tough match-ups make this a pick your poison scenario. I'm actually betting on the Panthers D, but in your case I'd take Mike James to start, since he is an unknown quantity. Hope he can get a short-yardage TD. I'm expecting low points tonight, so don't count on yardage. For the WR's, I like Josh Gordon over Thompkins, but only because I'd roll the dice. Neither one has a good match-up, the Dolphins D is well ranked against WR's, but the Chiefs D is so much more explosive. Gordon is a play-maker who can get free from a corner, but he does have Jason Campbell throwing him the ball. Meanwhile, if you take away that last second TD against the Saints, Thompkins would be below 3 points for 3 straight weeks. Gordon gets more targets generally, Thompkins loses them as more people get healthy.
Got Mike James at flex he can cover until Murray comes back or Bernard isn't on bye.
WR filler Jennings or Mike Williams? What about the number 2 back on Detriot, Durnham?
Mike Williams is questionable for tonight. Neither Durham nor Jennings has done anything spectacular, but I'd play Jennings simply because it's against his old team in GB and that has a more interesting angle. He's out there trying to prove something.
So does everyone think Shorts will be a better option this week than Lafell or Cooper? Shorts seems to be going up against the toughest defense of the three and is the most banged up at this time.
p.s.
Hankerson is also available in my league.
I know I recommended Shorts before, but I'm going to do it again. Reasoning? Targets. With the exception of week 6 when he left with an injury, he has had the ball thrown at him 10+ times every single week. That's the best on paper reason. The variable maybes are things like "SF is playing a noon game @ Jax. Those west coast teams playing on what is 9am to their body clock tend to start slow, as happened to Seattle a few times earlier this year. Also, the Jaguars throw a ton cause they are always behind and can't run the ball.
LaFell is an option if you are betting on the big play. He only gets 4-5 targets per week, and again minus one big play (the long TD bomb), he'd be sub 5 points for three straight weeks. Not a yardage guy, bet big - win big. In Philly, Vick is back at QB, and Cooper's best weeks came Vick was out. So he could continue to play well, and he could equally not. Hard to tell, another bet play. Don't go after Hankerson, he's actually the most hurt (foot injury, no practice) and sub-five points since week 1.
Who should I start in my FLEX? It's PPR
DeAngelo Williams
Steve Smith
Man, that's tough. DeAngelo probably, and hope they load up on swing passes or check-down plays. Steve Smith has been good recently, but will probably draw a lot of Revis. Williams hasn't seen the endzone yet, but he can catch out of the backfield. I'm guessing more of the close tight game, so DeAngelo.
Whew. That's a lot of work avoidance. I got Boykins in my FLEX, with my only other options being Gio Bernard or Steven Jackson. I think I'm set there. If Percy Harvin comes back soon, I'll have to make a cut. Here's my chopping block (in order), who should be voted off the island?
Coby Fleener (safe until week 10, I have VDavis on BYE week 9)
Steven Jackson (other RB's are AP, Forte, Gio and Le'Veon)
Roddy White (hurt hurt hurt, other WR's are Colston, Blackmon, K.Allen, Boykin, Harvin)
Jarrett Boykin (unknown quantity, depends on this week and James Jones return time)