Kenny Stills (MIA) @ BAL
This is a risky play for two reasons: 1) It appears Matt Moore is going to be the starting quarterback Thursday night for the Miami Dolphins due to a Jay Cutler injury. 2) Baltimore has a stifling wide receiver defense, allowing the third fewest fantasy points to the position this year.
However, Moore and Stills have been a dynamic duo in their small sample size together.
In his last two games, Stills has 134 yards and three touchdowns in DeVante Parker’s absence.
Last weekend, Stills burned my New York Jets for 85 yards and two touchdowns, but keep in mind, Buster Skrine, one of the worst cornerbacks in the league, was shadowing him for most of the day. Though the matchup was easy, Stills took advantage and showcased his burning speed, seemingly leaving behind his butterfingers behind in New Orleans. Assuming Parker remains out, fire Stills up as a solid WR3/FLEX.
Prediction: 5 receptions 70 yards 1 TD.
Mohamed Sanu (ATL) @ NYJ
If Matt Moore can burn the Jets, so can a far better Matt Ryan. The 2016 NFL MVP — Ryan, needs to earn his team a victory after an embarrassing loss to the New England Patriots. The Falcons totaled a measly seven points and will look to bounce back against the aforementioned porous Jets secondary.
Now that Sanu is back, Ryan has a legitimate second target behind Julio Jones. Given Sanu’s 10 targets and six receptions for 65 yards last week, I would be shocked if he does not match or even exceed those totals.
Before Week 4 and his injury, Sanu had either a touchdown or five receptions in his first three games. Now that he is totally healthy, he will compliment Jones who finally surfaced last week against the Pats.
Use Sanu as a lower-end WR3/FLEX option in Week 8.
Prediction: 6 Receptions 70 yards 0 TD.
JuJu Smith-Schuster (PIT) @ DET
The previous two wide receivers are far better plays than Smith-Schuster this week, but I really see the second round pick finding the endzone this weekend. The 6’1” USC product has already scored three touchdowns on the season and is developing into the number two guy behind the all-time great — Antonio Brown.
With Martavis Bryant literally trying to claw his way out of Pittsburgh, Smith-Schuster needs to establish himself in the eyes of Mike Tomlin.
With the shutdown corner, Darius Slay, inevitably shadowing Brown on Sunday, I envision the Steelers running plays for JuJu when in the redzone. He went for two catches and 39 yards last week, including a designed play that resulted in a touchdown and though his floor and ceiling are both low for the time being, he is a good play for the wide receiver-needy this week.
View the future, and perhaps present complement to Brown as a WR4/low-end FLEX this week.
Prediction: 3 catches 35 yards 1 TD.
