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Every week during the season NFL Network and NFL.com Senior Fantasy Analyst Michael Fabiano joins Sports360AZ.com’s Brad Cesmat to share his insight on building and developing your fantasy team for success.
Here are some hi-lights from our most recent conversation (October 28th) with the Fantasy Sports Writer’s Association Hall of Famer.
Is it just a wait-and-see situation with Ben Roethlisberger? “If he plays for the Steelers, he plays for you because that offense has got a ton of firepower. He’s got Le’Veon Bell back. Remember he missed the first few games. Martavis Bryant is back who I absolutely love. Antonio Brown. That offense is going to score points and they need this game this week. The Cincinnati Bengals…they’ve leaped ahead in the AFC North so I start Big Ben as long as he’s out there for the Steelers.”
Eli Manning or Ryan Tannehill? “(laughing) I liked Eli last week: great matchup. This is what Eli does. He will tease you with a few good games in a row and then he starts to throw out the stink bombs. Tannehill’s played well the last two weeks, although two weeks ago he was right around 15 fantasy points. I don’t know that he’s going to do that well against New England. I’d rather play Eli this week. In New Orleans against a mediocre Saints’ defense. It’s a tough call because one quarterback’s hot, one quarterback’s not but based on the matchup I’m going with Eli.”
Who do you like, don’t like at the quarterback position heading into Week 8? “Matt Ryan is a really good play. I know he’s been a little bit inconsistent lately but I’m still playing him against Tampa Bay. Philip Rivers is on fire. The guy throws the ball 60 times a game. That’s good news for fantasy owners so I would start Philip Rivers. I like Cam Newton. Carson Palmer is basically a start every week at this point. I’m benching Peyton Manning until he becomes Peyton Manning. I don’t know who’s wearing that #18 jersey but it’s not the dude I know. I’m benching Colin Kaepernick, as well. Not a big fan of Joe Flacco even though that could be a shootout I don’t trust Flacco. There are other options out there.”
Who do you like at running back? “You’re obviously starting Todd Gurley. The guy is a man child. He’s unreal. Justin Forsett’s got a great matchup. Chris Johnson. The resurrection of Chris Johnson. Great matchup against Cleveland. Doug Martin is a very good play. Mark Ingram is a very good play.”
Which have less than favorable match ups this weekend? “Latavius Murray playing the Jets. Jeremy Hill against the Steelers. That’s a pretty tough match up, as well. Frank Gore against Carolina. That’s going to be a tough match up for the old veteran so you may want to bench him if you have alternatives.”
What’s a storyline to follow at wide receiver this weekend? “Wide receivers you’re probably going to be play but aren’t really good based on the match ups: Amari Cooper. That dude went nuts last week but he’s playing against the Jets and Darrelle Revis so you can’t be surprised if he doesn’t have a good game. T.Y. Hilton. I know him, I love him [but] Josh Norman that is a tough match up against the Carolina Panthers on Monday night. Even Randall Cobb: hasn’t been good lately, Denver’s defense is one of the best in the National League at stopping number one wide receivers from a fantasy perspective so he is a risk, as well.”
Who are some good plays at tight end? “Start [Tyler] Eifert who’s been great. Gary Barnidge who’s my boy and he’s become a fantasy superstar. I like Jason Witten, Delanie Walker and Benjamin Watson at tight end, as well.”
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Eric Sorenson
A Valley native, Eric has had a passion for the Arizona sports scene since an early age. He has covered some of the biggest events including Super Bowls, national championships and the NBA and MLB playoffs in his near 20 years in local media.