Everyone, especially around central Illinois, knows the specifics on the Monday Night Football matchup between the Bears and Cowboys. If you didn’t watch it, you looked up the box score. If you didn’t look up the box score, you saw reactions on Twitter. If you saw nothing on Twitter, then you heard chatter in class from the mouths of happy Chicago fans. And if you somehow managed to avoid the Monday Night Football discussion entirely, then I commend you for staying so far off the grid. Good work (nerd).
But if you’re like the rest of the social media and NFL-obsessed populace, you know this: Dez Bryant was abysmal. Truly awful. His incompetence at the wide receiver position directly resulted in an interception, and his three drops and crucial penalties set the Dallas offense back even more. Quarterback Tony Romo took most of the blame following the loss, but many fingers were rightfully pointed at Bryant.
Statistically, however, Bryant had a decent game. It could have been much better but still decent in its own right — eight receptions for 105 yards. That stat line would please fantasy owners any other week when they know he didn’t leave so much on the table. The point is Bryant is not that bad. In fact, he’s pretty good. He just had a terrible week.
Buy low on Bryant. Send a trade offer to your rival owner, who is surely blinded by frustration right now. Nothing serious, but put a few feelers out there. Maybe two decent-to-below average running backs, or an overachieving back and a tight end for Bryant? As long as the trade doesn’t shake up your roster too drastically, it’s a low-risk, high-reward move. Dez Bryant is a good wide receiver, but no one thinks that right now. Buy low and reap the rewards later.
Start
Alfred Morris (running back, Washington) — This dude is for real. Morris has become the undisputed workhorse in Washington, and he has excelled in the role. Four touchdowns, a 4.6 yards-per-carry average and he’s improving with each passing week. It’s tough to convince The Doctor on a sixth-round rookie after only four weeks, but ol’ Alfred has done it. I am sold.
Joe Flacco (quarterback, Baltimore) — I’m not going to discuss whether Flacco is “elite” because the moment I ask that question is the moment this column becomes ESPN First Take. And what a shame that would be. Instead, I’ll point to trends. Flacco has passed for more than 300 yards three timesalready this season (I’m including his 299-yard effort against Cincinnati. … Sue me). Kansas City allowed point totals of 40, 35, 24 and 37 through four games. The matchup just works out too well not to start him this week.
Torrey Smith (wide receiver, Baltimore) — Yup, two Ravens in the “start” column. That’s how bad the Chiefs are. Smith’s effort in Week Three following his brother’s death pulled at the heart strings, and it’s hard not to root for him. He produces, too — 224 yards and three touchdowns in his last two games.
Sit
Buffalo running backs — Put away your excitement about Fred Jackson’s return and dismiss your premature love of C.J. Spiller. Each is banged up, and, at best, each will split carries this week. Don’t even think about it.
Maurice Jones-Drew (running back, Jacksonville) — I love MJD. Don’t get me wrong, I really do. But not this week. He’s coming off a dreadful 38-yard performance against a less-than-stellar Cincinnati defense and now faces a Chicago defense that no one has been able to run against. Put Jones-Drew on your bench, cry if you have to, and then move on. He’ll understand.
Jack is a senior in LAS. He can be reached at sports@dailyillini.com. Follow him on Twitter @JCassidy10.
Source:
http://www.dailyillini.com/article/2012/10/nfl-week-5-start-alfred-morris-sit-buffalo-running-backs
