Fantasy Picks of the Week

Start Him: Michael Crabtree, WR Oakland

This also applies to fellow Raiders receiver Amari Cooper. Oakland is going up against Tennessee, who is known to have a very suspect defense in general—especially its pass defense. I expect both of these receivers to get at least one touchdown and have close to, if not more than, 100 yards. In their week 1 matchup against the Saints, Crabtree had over 80 yards receiving and Cooper had 130 yards. The Saints’ defense is nothing to brag about, but the Titans’ defense is possibly even worse. I’m really high on the Oakland offense in general in this game.

Sit Him: Carlos Hyde, RB San Francisco

Hyde rushed for over 80 yards with two touchdowns against the Rams in his first week in Chip Kelly’s scheme. But, the 49ers are going up against a completely different beast in Seattle. Kelly was known for his offensive innovation when he came to Philadelphia, and the running backs were crucial parts of that offense. Hyde is a very good fantasy back, often being used in red zone situations. I just do not think he will be that effective against a Seahawk’s defense that only allowed Arian Foster to gain 38 yards rushing on 13 carries when they faced Miami in week 1. If a dynamic back like Foster can’t find holes against Seattle, I do not think Hyde will either.

Sleeper of the Week: Victor Cruz, WR Giants

The Salsa is back, and his fantasy owners are ecstatic after they saw his performance in week 1 against the Cowboys. Cruz got involved late in the game and made a huge impact—grabbing his first touchdown in almost two years, which also happened to be the winning score for the Giants. He definitely has a favorable matchup in week 3 when the Giants take on the Redskins. Josh Norman will most likely have his hands full with Odell Beckham for the majority of the game, so Cruz will be a constant target of Eli Manning’s throughout the game. Cruz was available in many leagues until week 1, so if you were one of the lucky people who immediately picked him up in your league, I definitely suggest you start him. He will be a great player again this season as long as he stays healthy.

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