One to start, One to sit is a weekly column where each NFL game will be evaluated and the best/worst fantasy match-ups will be listed.
Special Thursday Night Football edition.
New York Jets @ New England Patriots
Best Option
NE- Kenbrell Tompkins/Julian Edelman
NYJ- Kellen Winslow
Could we have all gotten it wrong?
Could Julian Edelman be the stud NE wideout that comes out of obscurity and becomes a star this season? After one game it certainly looks like it (7 catches, 79 yards, 2 tds, 9 targets). With injuries to Danny Amendola and Zach Sudfield vs the Jets tonight, Edelman looks to be the number one target for Brady tonight.
Don’t count out Kenbrell Tompkins though. After a rusty outing vs. Buffalo, Tompkins looks to bounce back this week and will most likely be covered by fellow rookie Dee Milliner for the Jets.
With the exception of Steven Hill, Kellen Winslow was the only Jet WR/TE to actually produce decent numbers. Obviously this was due to his TD catch, but he was also a surprising seven catches for eight on his targets. This could be the security blanket Geno Smith needs for the season. The Pats defense had also let up the 5th most points to TE’s last season, with Winslow being the possible favorite target of Smith, he could make for a practical PPR option.
Worst Option
NE- Stevan Ridley
NYJ- Chris Ivory
I say let it ride! 2 weeks in a row Stevan Ridley underperforms. Expect a bit more of a workload for him this week with Shane Vareen put on the shelf. Although, I’d expect to see more of LaGarrett Blount as well, possibly as a goal line vulture (due to Ridley’s fumble last week).
This is also going up against a Jets DEF that held Doug Martin to only 65 yards rushing on 24 carries. With a hurt NE WR/TE core, the Pats may be forced to lean on Ridley a bit more tonight, I think he underperforms again.
10 attempts for 15 yards. Let me type that again, 10 attempts for 15 yards… Against the Bucs defense… Now he’s going up against a Pats def that held CJ Spiller to 47 yards on 17 carries… Also, Ivory gets to split time with Bilal Powell, on a team with a running rookie QB. Where is the upside to all of this?
Come back on Saturday where the Sunday/Monday games Best/Worst will be posted.