Chris Sweet: Senior Fantasy Sports Analyst – The Wagner Wire
Good Morning my fellow Fantasy Football freaks. Just like that Week 4 is here with a tilt between two teams that have no love lost for each other. The Steelers losing Ben Roethlisberger for a month or more hurts the fantasy value of this contest a bit but we’re still going to try and find some value in here for everybody in their season long and daily leagues. Now I mentioned last week that if you are playing a Thursday contest on DraftKings the guys from this game will be heavily owned generally so a lot of time you will find value in fading this game completely. For you season long players that still haven’t been brainwashed by the millions of commercials for DraftKings what are you waiting for? Click the banner below to sign up.
Baltimore Ravens
Must Play
Steve Smith Sr.
Steve Smith Sr. might be my favorite player ever that didn’t play for my favorite team. He isn’t the biggest guy or the fastest guy and he certainly isn’t the youngest guy but the dude is coming to play every Sunday and if he catches the ball he’s looking to dish out some punishment to the closest defender. Smitty has played some of his best football early in the season so get him in your season long lineups now while he is still fresh. Until Breshad Perriman makes his debut all the targets are coming Steve Smith’s way. Not a bad play this week in cash games for daily leagues. I probably wouldn’t touch him in tournaments this week.
Flex Plays
Joe Flacco
The “Elite” one has been a mixed bag in his career at Heinz Field but had two of his better games there last year including in the playoff win averaging a little over 275 yards and 2 TDs between both contests. I’m not expecting much better of a day than that tonight but he’s still an okay start in season long leagues. I won’t be playing him in any daily lineups but he might be an ok cash play with Steve Smith.
Justin Forsett
Forsett came in to the year as an RB1 or high RB2 after his breakout in 2014. The early returns have not been promising for Fantasy owners as his yards per carry is currently 3.2. Some of the blame can be attributed to run blocking but either way he’s a risky play in tonight’s game. I’d stay away for cash games but if you think he might recapture last years form he is an ok play in tournaments.
Deep Shot
Maxx Williams
With Crockett Gilmore ruled out for Thursdays game Maxx Williams becomes an interesting streaming option in season long leagues and a decent tournament flyer in daily leagues. The Ravens drafted Maxx in the second round so they have high hopes for him. Come Friday morning the young Golden Gopher product could be worth a little more in your leagues so he might be worth snapping up before next weeks waiver wire bids.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Must Plays
Leveon Bell
If Leveon is playing you are starting him. He may have something to prove after missing the Steelers playoff loss last year. He might be the highest owned player in this game in daily contests but he is probably worth it. I don’t expect Coach Tomlin to change their offensive strategy a whole lot but Bell will be a focal point whether they throw a lot or don’t.
Antonio Brown
The injury to Big Ben definitely puts opens up some questions about whether AB will be as valuable in Fantasy Leagues. He may take a small hit but he is an every week starter unless Michael Vick really can’t play anymore. My guess is Vick will be smart enough to find Brown because he’s almost always open. I might stay off him this week in daily until you see what the offense looks like.
Flex Play
Heath Miller
Heath is a steady option at Tight End most weeks. It’s tough to tell how much Vick will target him but he should see some looks from the savvy vet. Miller could be just fine in season long leagues and cash games but you can probably find a better option. He is not a tournament play unless he is the recipient of multiple Touchdowns which are hard to forecast.
Deep Shots
Michael Vick
Darrius Heyward-Bey
For most of his career Mike Vick has been a better Fantasy QB than real QB. The running might not be there like it used to be but he still has great arm strength as evidenced in the preseason throwing that bomb to Martavis Bryant. Bryant is out one more week and in his absence the underwhelming Heyward-Bey has been the deep threat. I wouldn’t start either of these guys in season long unless you’re in a rut but they could be an interesting what the heck tournament stack in daily if you are so inclined.
Thanks for reading and as always I’m your Sweet Fantasy.
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