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Fabiano’s Fantasy Focus: Week Seven, Vol. I – Bye Week Blues

Every week during the NFL season, Sports Illustrated Senior Fantasy Analyst Michael Fabiano joins Sports360AZ’s Brad Cesmat to share his insight on building and developing your fantasy team for success.

In our most recent conversation with Michael (Oct. 19), we went over the bye week plague that has descended on the fantasy football community and how managers should best approach their lineup decisions this week. Here are the Hall-of-Famer’s tips:

Several Good Quarterbacks Are On Bye This Week. Who Are You Looking At As A Potential Fill-In?

“Matt Ryan has a good matchup against Miami and Tua Tagovailoa has a good matchup against Atlanta in that same game. It really depends what’s on your bench or what’s on the waiver wire but I bet Tua would probably be available and Matt Ryan might be as well because Atlanta is coming off of a bye so maybe some people dropped him. It’s bad this week, though. You’ve got six teams off and a glut of injuries to really big-name players. You’re going to be starting some strange names in your fantasy lineups this week.”

How About Skill Positions?

“You’re going to be playing risky players this week, there’s no way around it. You’re going to be playing (Patriots RB) Rhamondre Stevenson, you’re going to be playing A.J. Dillon. People have been playing Jamaal Williams as a flex. I don’t like the matchup this week and he hasn’t been performing, but can you bench him? It all depends on what kind of depth you have, especially at running back. People are going to be starting D’Ernest Johnson this week, people are going to be starting Stevenson and A.J. Dillon. People are going to be starting James Conner. There are going to be backup running backs thrust into a prominent fantasy role because people don’t have any better options.”

Which Browns RB Should Managers Target With Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt Out?

“Based on my information, D’Ernest Johnson is the back to get in Cleveland. Demetric Felton has been playing wide receiver with Jarvis Landry out, so both players would be available on the waiver wire. If you don’t get Johnson you can put in a claim for Felton.

What Are The Defenses To Stream This Week?

“I like the Saints defense because they’re playing against Geno Smith. The Patriots might have been dropped last week because they were playing the Cowboys. You’ve got to look at the matchups. The Cardinals are probably owned in most leagues but they’re a good option as well. You’re looking at teams that are playing against poor offenses.”

 

Related posts:

Fabiano’s Fantasy Focus: Week Three Vol. I – Running Back Injuries Mounting Up

Fabiano’s Fantasy Focus: Week IV Vol. 2 – Start These Players With Confidence

Fabiano’s Fantasy Focus: Week Six, Vol. II – More Trade Talk

Fabiano’s Fantasy Focus: Week Eight, Vol. II – Bracing For The Trade Deadline