Patriots

week 3: game by game starts/flexes/sits

Game by Game Starts/flexes/sits

Start= Solid start.

Flex= Be wary, try to replace but isn’t the worst start.

Sit= Do not start.

Game 1: Dolphins VS Jaguars

Gardner Minshew: Start
D.J. Chark: Start
James Robinson: Start
Keela Cole: Flex
Lavishka Shelnut Jr.: Flex
Devante Parker: Start
Preston Williams: Flex
Mike Gesicki: Start
Myles Gaskins: Flex
Ryan Fitzpatrick: Flex

Game 2: Browns VS Washington

Baker Mayfield: Sit
Odell Beckham Jr.: Start
Jarvis Landry: Flex
Nick Chubb: Start
Austin Hooper: Sit
Kareem Hunt: Flex
Terry McLaurin: Start
Dwayne Haskins: Sit
Antonio Gibson: Flex
Logan Thomas: Start (Browns have been exposed be TEs, same with last year)

Game 3: Raiders VS Patriots

Josh Jacobs: Start
Henry Ruggs: Flex
Bryan Edwards: Sit
Darren Waller: Start
Cam Newton: Start
Julian Edelman: Start
Sony Michel : Sit
Kneal Harry: Flex

Game 4: Titans VS Vikings

Ryan Tannehill: Flex
AJ Brown: Flex
Corey Davis: Flex
Jonnu Smith: Start
Derrick Henry: Start
Adam Thielen: Start
Justin Jefferson: Sit
Dalvin Cook: Start
Kirk Cousins: Sit
Kyle Rudolph: Sit

Game 5: Niners VS Giants

Jimmy Garoppolo/Nick Mullens: Start/ Sit
Jerrick Mckinnon: Start
George Kittle/ Jordan Reed: Start/ Start
Niners WRs: Sit
Daniel Jones: Start
Golden Tate III: Sit
Sterling Shepard: Flex
Giants RBs: Sit
Darius Slayton: Start (Start now that shepard is hurt)
Evan Engram : Start

Game 6: Bengals VS Eagles

Joe Burrow: Start
Joe Mixon: Start
Sample: Start (Flex, wait for further usage unless absolutely needed)
AJ Green: Flex
Tyler Boyd: Start
Desean Jackson: Start
Miles Sanders: Start
Zach Ertz: Start
Dallas Goedert: Flex
Carson Wentz: Start
Jalen Raegor: Flex

Game 7: Bears VS Falcons

Matt Ryan: Start
Todd Gurley: Flex
Julio Jones: Start
Calvin Ridley: Start
Russell Gage: Flex
Hayden Hurst: Flex
Allen Robinson: Start
Anthony Miller: Flex
Mitchell Trubisky: Start
David Montgomery: Start
Tarik Cohen: Sit

Game 8: Rams VS Bills

Jared Goff: Start
Malcolm Brown/ Darrell Henderson: Start
Robert Woods: Start
Cooper Kupp: Start
Tyler Higbee: Start
Josh Allen: Start
John Brown: Start
Bill’s Backfield: Flex
Stefon Diggs: Flex

Game 9: Texans VS Steelers

Ben Roethlisberger: Start
James Connor: Start
Benny Snell Jr.: Sit
Juju Smith-Schuster: Start
Dionte Johnson: Start
Eric Ebron: Sit
David Johnson: Flex
Brandin Cooks: Flex (Start if Will Fuller is inactive)
Deshaun Watson: Start
Will Fuller V: Flex
Duke Johnson: Sit

Game 10: Panthers VS Chargers

Austin Ekeler: Start
Joshua Kelley: Flex
Keenan Allen: Start
Hunter Henry: Start
Tyrod Taylor: Flex
Mike Davis: Flex
D.J. Moore: Flex
Curtis Samuel: Sit
Robby Anderson: Flex

Game 11: Cowboys VS Seahawks

Dak Prescott: Start
Amari Cooper: Start
Michael Gallup: Start
CeeDee Lamb: Start
Ezekiel Elliot: Start
Dalton Shultz: Start
Chris Carson: Flex
Russell Wilson: Start
D.K. Metcalf: Start
Tyler Lockett : Start

Game 12: Jets VS Colts

Sam Darnold: Sit
Jets Rbs: Sit
Jamison Crowder: Start
Chris Herndon: Flex
Chris Hogan: Start if Crowder is out otherwise Siit (Flex not start)
Johnathan Taylor: Start
Nyheim Hines: Flex
Philip Rivers: Start
T.Y. Hilton: Start
Michael Pittman Jr.: Flex

Game 13: Lions VS Cardinals

Matthew Stafford: Start
Kenny Golladay: Start
Marvin Jones: Flex
D’andre Swift: Start
Adrian Peterson/ Kerryon Johnson: Sit
Kenyan Drake: Start (RB2-RB3 fringe)
Kyler Murray: Start
DeAndre Hopkins: Start
Christian Kirk: Flex

Game 14: Buccaneers VS Broncos

Tom Brady: Start
Chris Godwin: Start
Mike Evans: Start
Leonard Fournette: Start
Bucs TEs: Sit
Jeff Driskell: Sit
Melvin Gordon: Flex
Phillip Lindsey: Flex (Watch Injury Report)
Jerry Jeudy: Flex
Noah Fant: Start

Game 15: Packers VS Saints

Aaron Jones: Start
Aaron Rodgers: Start
Allen Lazard: Flex
Davante Adams: Start
MVS: (Flex for deeper leagues)
Drew Brees: Start
Trequon Smith: flex
Emmanuel Sanders: Sit
Alvin Kamara: Start
Jared Cook: Start

Game 16: Chiefs VS Ravens

Patrick Mahomes: Start
Tyreek Hill: Start
CEH: Start
Travis Kelce: Start
Sammy Watkins: Flex
Mecole Hardman: Sit
Lamar Jackson: Start
Marquise Brown: Start
JK Dobbins: Flex
Mark Ingram: Flex
Mark Andrews: Start

Week 2 Waiver Wire Adds

Week 2 was plagued by injuries in one of the most painful Sundays I’ve seen. I personally lost Saquon Barkley, Courtland Sutton and Sterling Shepherd this week. These injuries make this weeks waiver wire picks even more important. Here is our list of waiver wire targets for week 2:

Mike Davis (CAR Panthers): Christian Mccaffrey was one of the few first round picks that got hurt this week. He is likely to be out 4-6 weeks, but he did say he would work hard and be back sooner than expected. So at least for the next three to four weeks expect Mike Davis to take the workhorse role. The next three games for the Panthers are the Chargers, the Cardinals and the Falcons. Other than the Chargers, the Cardinals and the Falcons both struggle against the run and Davis should have big games. Mike Davis should be the first player targeted this week.
Dion Lewis/ Wayne Gallman (NY Giants): Saquon Barkley was the other top pick to suffer an injury this week and sadly, he will be out all year. The next running back in the depth chart is Dion Lewis and then Wayne Gallman. I would expect a committee in the Giants backfield moving forward with Lewis handling third down work along with some early down work and Gallman to handle redzone work. I believe both should be rostered with Dion Lewis having a higher priority and Wayne Gallman being targeted right after.
Jordan Reed (SF 49ers): The Niners got the worst of the bunch this past Sunday, losing Jimmy Garoppolo, Raheem Mostert, Tevin Coleman, Nick Bosa and Solomon Thomas. The Niners are also missing George Kittle and Deebo Samuel the top two receiving threats for the Niners in 2019. In week two’s matchup against the Jets, Jordan Reed had 8 targets from which he caught 7 passes for 50 yards and 2 TDs. If Kittle misses more time which is probable, Reed should be in for an expanded role in the depleted Niners receiver core.
Dalton Shultz (DAL Cowboys): Blake Jarwin went down in week one’s matchup against the Rams and he is expected to be out for the season. Backup tight end, Dalton Shultz, stepped up big in the Cowboys week 2 matchup. Dak Prescott has also already developed a connection with Shultz. Dak targeted Shultz 10 times from which Shultz caught 9 for 88 yards and 1 TD. Week 3, the Cowboys are up against a depleted Seahawks defense that lost another two starters this past Sunday. Dalton Shultz should be in for a big game along with Dak Prescott as Seahawks have allowed two 395+ yard QBs in both their matchups.
K’Neal Harry (NE Patriots): Cam Newton is looking better than his MVP season and we saw just a glimpse of that on Sunday night. The Patriots receiver core is very depleted as well, having no one outside of Julian Edelman. The only target Cam Newton has is second year WR, K’Neal Harry. After an underwhelming rookie season due to injuries, Harry cam out Sunday night with a mission. Harry had 12 targets from which he caught 8 passes for 72 yards and was inches away from a game winning TD. Edelman had 11 targets so it is promising to see that Harry had more targets and has a real connection with Cam Newton.
Other additions: Devonta Freeman (FA), Justin Herbert (LA Chargers), Drew Sample (CIN Bengals), Gardner Minshew (JAC Jaguars), Van Jefferson (LA Rams), Justin Jefferson (Min Vikings), Kendrick Bourne (SF 49ers)

Defense/ST Fantasy OUTLOOK for 2020:

Every year there is that one defense that surprises everyone and ends up being a league winner. In 2019, that was the Patriots D/ST who averaged 11.8 Fantasy ppg. It’s unlikely that another team in 2020 will do that well because the Patriots had an absurdly easy schedule last year that helped their already-strong defense succeed. In this article our analysts will list teams that are the most likely and the teams that are least likely along with some sleeper defenses to target late in the draft.

This is list is based on:

Strength of schedule
Division
Last year rankings
FA and post draft additions

As always if there are any questions about our decisions leave a comment!

Defenses primed for regression:

	Hamza + Eric + Javier (same consensus by all analysts)
1.	Niners D/ST: Loss of Buckner.Dee Ford, Nick Bosa, K’Wuan Williams dealing with soft tissue injuries.Had a superbowl run so the team has had less rest time. There is a trend that the best defense from the previous always experiences a slight regression. (Ex: Bears 2018-2019). Also is in one of the toughest divisions in football (NFC west).
2.	Patriots D/ST: Many key defensive players opted out due to COVID. Dolphins and Bills got stronger offensively (divisional teams). Also one of the toughest schedules for 2020.

Defenses to avoid:

	Hamza	Eric	Javier
1.	Bears D/ST: A struggling offense combined with a tough division puts the Bears defense in a bad position. Lost HaHa Clinton-Dix in the offseason.	NE D/ST: Being drafted at number 6 amongst all defenses is way too high for the reasons stated above.	Rams D/ST: The Rams have two of the best defensive players in football with Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey. These two helped them finish top 5 last year with 146 points an average of 9.1 points. However, their week 1 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys will prove to be tough after the great additions the Cowboys have made this offseason. You are better off looking elsewhere.
2.	Broncos D/ST: 12th hardest schedule for 2020 according to NFL.com. Offense hasn’t found their groove yet. Same division as Chiefs and chargers. Loss of Chris Harris Jr. and Derek Wolfe.	Texans D/ST: Loss of DJ Reader, Jonathan Joseph, Mingo and Tashaun Gibson. In 2019 they ranked 19th overall as a defense after ranking 11th in 2018.Play the Chiefs week 1.Same division as Colts and Titans.	Tampa Bay D/ST: The Buccaneers were able to finish in the top 10 last season by having the 5th highest turnovers in the league. Tom Brady’s arrival will also put the defense in better game scripts. However, they get a nightmare week 1 matchup against the New Orleans Saints. They are not worth drafting and will be better off as a waiver wire pickup if available.

Defenses to target:

	Hamza	Eric	Javier
1.	Vikings D/ST: Free agency additions- Michael Pierce, Trae Waynes, Anthony Zettel. Also drafted CB Jeff Gladney at pick 31 in the first round.	Cowboys D/ST: The Cowboys have relatively easy matchups against the NFC East opponents. Finishing last year at 17, the Cowboys have added Dontari Poe, Everson Griffen, and Aldon Smith. Their front seven is greatly improved and should be able to force turnovers with ease.	Bills D/ST: Talented defense and mediocre division. Offense will put them in favorable game scripts leading to opposing teams having to air it out. AFC east QBs they will face six times a year: Newton/Stidham, Darnold, Fitzpatrick/ Tua.
2.	Colts D/ST: Added Deforest Buckner, Sheldon Day, Xavier Rhodes in free agency with Juston Houston, Darius Leonord, Malik Hooker and Kenny Moore	Chargers D/ST: Finishing last season at 7, the Chargers added top CB Chris Harris Jr. and DT Linval Joseph. While they do face the Chiefs twice a year, they should be considered otherwise weekly starters.	Colts D/ST: Easy schedule and great front seven for those sack points.
3.	Saints D/ST: 9th easiest schedule. Ended 9th in 2019 in fantasy football at 8.4fppg and managed to keep most of the defense.	Ravens D/ST: Safe pick as the Ravens have been the second best in the league since 2018. They have added rookie Patrick Queen, Malik Harrison and Justin Madubuike.	Chargers D/ST: Formidable defense that added Chris Harris and Linval Joseph in free agency, then drafted Kenneth Murray.