MACK’S SUNDAY SAUCE: NFL FANTASY FOOTBALL (WEEK 4)

This is Mack’s Sunday Sauce comin’ at ya! Always fresh, never stirred, where I’m here to give you your weekly dose of anything goes, no filter FANTASY FOOTBALL advice.

In Week 3, we saw back-up QB’s like Case Keenum & Jacoby Brissett and waiver wire QB’s like Jared Goff & Brian Hoyer all have massive days in fantasy. They make solid arguments for the people that draft a QB in the 11th or 12th round on draft day. On the right day, a QB is the backbone of their team and one can always be found to use in fantasy. Are any of these types of QB fliers worthy this week? Without further ado, let’s take a look at some of these QB’s, RB’s, WR’s and TE’s across some basic games along with the fantasy implications each game brings to the table! While the sauce is always delicious, sometimes you just gotta’ go with that Brisket Mac N’ Cheese Sandwich of a gut!

Sunday – 1pm – LA Rams @ DAL: It’s safe to say Todd Gurley is playing out of his mind. He is obviously locked in as an RB1 in all formats for the season. But, are any other Rams’ worthy to make a fantasy roster in Week 4? Well, I wouldn’t believe you either if you told me that the LA Rams were in first place after three weeks in 2017! Hence, they make the sauce this week when playing against a fellow first place 2-1 Dallas Cowboys and their mediocre defense. Sammy Watkins got banged up after an impressive showing against San Francisco, but should be considered a hopeful flex option if he suits up. Robert Woods also has big play ability on the other end out wide, and the Cowboys are giving up the fifth most fantasy points to opposing WR’s through three weeks. ‘W-Squared (Watkins and Woods)’ give their QB Jared Goff some talented targets and make him a deep league sleeper this week. It shouldn’t be too much of a defensive game, and the Rams are finally becoming an exciting team, so see what happens with their offense and if it gains some consistency. Aside from Gurley and Watkins, Woods and Goff are hopeful bench warmers until further notice. I drafted Dak Prescott in the 11th round in one of my leagues, and I do not regret it. While I’m not expecting Brady like numbers on a weekly basis, young Dak makes minimal mistakes for his experience, and it can be argued that he is definitely making a statement as to why he should be considered a franchise QB. But, the Rams have a solid defense and are giving up the 11th least points to QB’s after three weeks. BOLD STATLINE PREDICTION: 285 yards, 2 TD’s, 2 INT’s; 27 rush yards. Manage your expectations with Dak this week. Not a soul is sitting Ezekiel Elliot and most likely neither Dez Bryant. And Jason Witten continues to make a good case for why he should not be forgotten about in 2017. Cole Beasley is falling off the radar with an emerging Brice Butler, but both may need to help out in the slot against a stingy Rams secondary.

Sunday – 1pm - TEN @ HOU: I’ve seen one fantasy analyst rank Tennessee’s D/ST #6 while another analyst rank them #22 this week. I’ve seen one analyst rank Houston’s D/ST #5 and another rank them #24 this week! That is some serious range for BOTH teams! Separately, Tennessee is 2-1, and Houston is 1-2; but almost just beat New England on the road in Week 3! What does it all mean for these teams in fantasy football this week? Well, firstly, DeMarco Murray owners feel a lot better today than they did at the start of week 3 after his 75 yard TD run in week 3. But, even after a big game, it’s never easy to come into Houston and perform well against JJ Watt and their run defense. They are giving up the seventh least fantasy points to RB’s through three weeks, but DeMarco is still RB2/Flex worthy and is tough to sit in the narrow RB selection of 2017. Delanie Walker remains a TE1 in this game, as Rob Gronkowski torched the Texans last week. Rishard Matthews, like Walker; is also a focal point of the Titans’ passing game and Marcus Mariota will be looking for them early and often if Murray and Derrick Henry have trouble against Houston’s tough run D. Eric Decker is slowly but surely getting more and more involved in this offense, and I foresee his first TD as a Titan this week. You heard it on THE WRECKORD first. BOLD STATLINE PREDICTION: 5 CATCHES, 64 YARDS, 1 TD. On the other end we have the Texans. Is Deshaun Watson the answer for this offense? He very well may be. Going into Foxboro and throwing for 300 yards and 2 TD’s and rushing for 40 is a nice little day and dash of confidence in your third career start. He is definitely one to monitor and is a start this week in 2 QB leagues as a top 20 QB. He is also giving DeAndre Hopkins the boost in value his owners have been looking for, and the Titans are giving up the third most fantasy points to opposing WR’s through three weeks. He is a pure bred WR2 this week. BOLD STATLINE PREDICTION: 6 CATCHES, 87 YARDS, 1 TD. Then we have Lamar Miller, or should I say, “Mr. 65 yards”. Man, has he been frustrating, and has had a slow start scrapping up only 3.7 YPC on the ground. But, as much as you want to pull him, he is that RB2 that is getting 20 touches a game and always has upside. Sit him; and he may finally pound one or two in the end zone this week.

Sunday 1pm – CAR @ NE: What in the world is going on with Cam Newton? I am hearing him in fantasy trade talks all over the place! Everyone is trying to unload him fast! Do I agree he is a sell if someone wants him? Looking at this week and his schedule, I am honestly not so sure. But he is banged up, is ranked like poop this week, and will probably get sat by a lot of people. Looking inside the week though, the Patriots’ defense is giving up the MOST fantasy points to opposing QB’s through three weeks, and every game with them has turned into a shootout. I’m definitely going with the latter here and telling one not to give up on Cam Newton yet if he plays. Separately, Christian McCaffery finally broke out a bit against the Saints and went for over 100 receiving yards on 9 catches in Week 3. He is proving to be a part of this class of rookie backs making a fantasy impact in 2017. Jonathan Stewart is getting enough touches weekly to remain some type of fantasy relevant, and it’s looking like all offenses can have good days against the Pats. Kelvin Benjamin is a player that has been a yearly bust in many eyes, and has a serious consistency issue. He is flexible if Newton plays, but I would look elsewhere in a “pick one of two” scenario. With Greg Olsen out for the season, Ed Dickson is a name to watch, and may need to step up and become relevant in a struggling Panthers’ pass game. Tom Brady got his absolute favorite scenario last week in the Houston win. A fourth quarter two minute drill with the game on the line. Even with the Panthers giving up the fourth least points to opposing QB’s through three weeks, no one is sitting Brady, Brandin Cooks or Rob Gronkowski. What about Mike Gillislee? He can be flexed if you need a back this week, but definitely has some ‘boom or bust’ association with the Panthers strong historic Run D and his goal line TD necessity developing . Mack is going with the boom though! BOLD STATLINE PREDICTION: 15 TOTES, 58 YDS, 2 TD

• MACK

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