X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Thursday Night Matchups: Karlos Williams, Sammy Watkins, Chris Ivory & More

Rex Ryan is trying his hardest to hype up this week's Thursday Night Football matchup between the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets, wearing helmets into his press conferences and appointing team captains that may rustle a few feathers. But if there's one thing that Jets fans know for sure, it is that his pre-game antics doesn't always necessarily lead to winning football.

It's an AFC East rivalry game with a ton of roster connections from both sides, and the weather is leaning towards being messy (80% precipitation). The game should be fun, so lets dissect some must-play (and must-sit) fantasy choices below.

 

Bills @ Jets - Thursday Night Analysis

Karlos Williams and LeSean McCoyWith running back options thin across most leagues, I'm playing both running backs even with McCoy not being 100% with a shoulder issue. If I had to pick between the two, I'm leaning towards playing Karlos Williams over McCoy.

In every game he has played in, Williams has posted double-digit fantasy points and has scored a touchdown (the seventh player in NFL history to score a touchdown in each of his first five games). Williams will probably be even more involved with McCoy's health at least being a slight issue, and Williams' ability to sniff out the end zone is second-to-none. Going against the Jets run defense isn't an A+ matchup, but until he slows down he deserves to be in lineups.

Sammy WatkinsComplaining about touches seemed to have paid off for at least one week, as Sammy Watkins had his best fantasy game of the season last week against the Miami Dolphins. The return of Tyrod Taylor certainly boosts Watkins value, but he did tweak his ankle and should have Darrelle Revis on him for the majority of the game. Watkins is not a WR2 this week, but it would be tough to leave him out of any flex spot after last week's outburst. Ryan is going to let Taylor take a few shots down field, and Watkins should be the primary target on them. In my personal opinion, I would wait until next week to use Watkins again.

Tyrod Taylor: The Jets secondary may have actually improved with Antonio Cromartie being doubtful for the TNF game, as Marcus Williams and the recently activated Dee Milliner will see more snaps. With a banged-up Watkins and McCoy, I'm choosing a player like Blake Bortles over Taylor this week if we're discussing similar options. With bad weather in the mix and the Jets coming off a four-turnover game against Jacksonville, Taylor is on my sit list along with Watkins.

Eric DeckerEric Decker is the Karlos Williams of wide receivers. Decker has found the end zone often in 2015, scoring all games but one. He's been particularly effective in the first half of games recently, with six receptions in the first half against Jacksonville and four receptions in the first half against New England three weeks ago. He was even effective against Oakland when Ryan Fitzpatrick had to leave the game during the first drive. Both Decker and target-hog Brandon Marshall should be in all lineups.

Chris IvoryWhen Chris Ivory has 20+ attempts he's at his most effective, as his running style wears down defenders of all kinds. With Nick Mangold back in the mix for the Jets and the weather leaning on the negative side, this feels like a 20+ attempt game for Ivory. When receiving at least 20 carries (four times), Ivory has reached 20+ fantasy points in three of those contests. Surprisingly, the one game he received 20 carries and didn't have 20 fantasy points was last week against the Jaguars, and he still ended up scoring two touchdowns. I highly doubt Fitzpatrick will be slinging it all over the yard against a blitzing Ryan defense, so Ivory should feast.

 

NFL & Fantasy Football Chat Room

[iflychat_embed id="c-0" hide_user_list="yes" hide_popup_chat="no" height="400px"]

POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

NBA

Stanley Umude Signs Training Camp Deal With Spurs
NBA

Reece Beekman Joins Magic for Training Camp
NBA

Justin Minaya Signs Exhibit 10 Deal With Magic
Travis Hunter

Jaguars List Travis Hunter as Starting Wide Receiver, Backup Cornerback
Kyle Tucker

Leaves With Calf Tightness on Tuesday
Alexandre Sarr

to Miss Rest of EuroBasket
Max Scherzer

Blue Jays Confident Max Scherzer Will Make Sunday Start Despite Back Tightness
Roman Anthony

Leaves Early With Back Injury
Jared McCain

"On Pace" for Training Camp
Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

Done for the Year With Torn ACL
Luke Hughes

Devils Optimistic About Signing Luke Hughes
Martin Fehérváry

Martin Fehervary on Track to Be Ready for Training Camp
Dylan Holloway

Good to Go for Start of Season
Nick Kurtz

Back in Action on Tuesday
Josh Morrissey

Fully Healthy for Start of Season
Dennis Hildeby

Signs Three-Year Extension With Maple Leafs
Nick Lodolo

Scratched With Illness
Dalton Kincaid

Role Not Expected to Grow?
Quinshon Judkins

Zero Chance Quinshon Judkins Plays Against Bengals?
Najee Harris

Says He's Expecting to Play Against Chiefs
Adolis García

Adolis Garcia Departs Monday with Quad Injury
Franz Wagner

Collects Double-Double in Blowout Win
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Achieves Rare Numbers at EuroBasket
Nikola Vučević

Nikola Vucevic Dominates Against Sweden
Stefon Diggs

Expected to Suit Up in Week 1
Kristaps Porzingis

Finding Form at EuroBasket
Nikola Jović

Nikola Jovic Suffers Minor Injury at EuroBasket
DJ Moore

Bears Experimenting with DJ Moore in Backfield
Rome Odunze

Could Move All Around the Offense
Carolina Panthers

Dave Canales Comfortable With Panthers' Young Receivers
Quinshon Judkins

Not Considering NCAA Return
Dallas Goedert

Healthy for Week 1
Marvin Mims Jr.

Returns to Practice Monday
Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

Carted Off Monday With Knee Injury
Jason Adam

Diagnosed With Ruptured Left Quadriceps Tendon
Victor Wembanyama

Looking "Quite Stellar"
Fernando Tatis Jr.

Scratched on Monday
Matthew Stafford

Expected to Start in Week 1
Edward Cabrera

Heading to Injured List With Elbow Sprain
Najee Harris

Cleared for Contact, Could Play in Week 1
Denny Hamlin

Ends Eventful Day at Darlington in Seventh Place
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Almost Earns a Top-Five Finish at Darlington
John Hunter Nemechek

has His Best 2025 Performance at Darlington
Ryan Blaney

Has An Underwhelming Performance At Darlington
Josh Berry

Crashes Early and Suffers A Playoff Setback at Darlington
Harry Ford

Called Up for Major-League Debut
Victor Scott II

Activated From Injured List
Fernando Tatis Jr.

Dealing With Hamstring Tightness, Expects to Play Monday
Giannis Antetokounmpo

"Staying in Milwaukee"
Thanasis Antetokounmpo

Agrees to a One-Year Contract with Milwaukee
Kyrie Irving

"Healing Up Great"
Dante Exum

Mavs Agree on a One-Year Deal
Jaylen Warren

Agrees to Two-Year Extension With Steelers
De'Von Achane

Practicing Monday, on Track to Play in Week 1
Quinshon Judkins

Could Report to Browns This Week
Kansas City Chiefs

Chiefs, Trent McDuffie Not Expected to Finalize Extension
Chase Elliott

Under Playoff Pressure After 17th-Place Darlington Finish
Kyle Larson

Despite Hendrick Mediocrity, Kyle Larson Remains Pretty Safe in Playoffs
Alex Bowman

Opening-Lap Crash and Botched Pit Stop May Have Sunk Alex Bowman's Playoff Hopes
Erik Jones

Darlington Master Erik Jones Comes Up Short but Still Finishes Third
AJ Allmendinger

A.J. Allmendinger Impresses at Southern 500
Dameon Pierce

Ahead of Schedule, Ready for Season
Jordan Love

May Wear Thumb Brace During Season
Chicago Bears

Bears Head Coach Admits Offense Could Face Learning Curve
Matt Chapman

Leaves Early on Sunday, Expects to Play Monday
A.J. Brown

Says He'll Be Active For Season Opener
Luis Garcia

to Make Season Debut on Monday
Max Scherzer

Exits Due to Back Tightness
Taylor Ward

Exits Early After Collison
Sal Stewart

Reds Promoting Sal Stewart to Majors
Daniel Suarez

is A DFS Risk for Darlington Lineups?
Randy Rodríguez

Randy Rodriguez to Undergo Tommy John Surgery
Noah Gragson

Should Fantasy Managers Roster Noah Gragson for Darlington?
Ty Dillon

is an Excellent Punt Option for Darlington DFS Lineups
Bogdan Bogdanović

Bogdan Bogdanovic to Miss the Rest of EuroBasket
Denny Hamlin

Picking Up Where He Left Off At Darlington
Kyle Larson

The Sky Is The Limit for Kyle Larson at Darlington
Ryan Blaney

a Strong DFS Play at Darlington This Weekend
Tyler Reddick

Shouldn't Be Overlooked at Darlington This Weekend
Alex Bowman

An Easy Place-Differential Play in DFS This Weekend
Ty Gibbs

Could Be Strong at Darlington This Weekend
Erik Jones

Has Best Darlington Qualifying Effort Since Last Win
Zane Smith

Hopeful For Another Solid Run At Darlington
Aroldis Chapman

Agrees to Contract Extension
Dallas Mavericks

Olivier-Maxence Prosper Waived by the Mavs
Lauri Markkanen

Dominant in Win Over Great Britain
Nikola Jović

Nikola Jovic Leads Serbia to a Win
Nikola Jokić

Nikola Jokic Shines Versus Portugal
Jose Alvarado

"Good" After Recent Fall

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP