Miami Dolphins @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Spread: Steelers -14

O/U: 43.5

Offensive Breakdown

Passing

Not an exciting passing attack here for either squad. The home team is getting Mason Rudolph back who should be able to at least have success against this Dolphins lineup that has put up little resistance to most of the team’s they have faced this season. As a starter this season Rudolph has completed 67-percent of his passes for 646 yards with seven touchdowns and two interceptions. He faces a Dolphins defense allowing the eighth most fantasy points to opposing QB’s. Again, I don’t think he is the most exciting option tonight, but the receivers are running backs are talented enough to help him potentially score some points here in a game where they are favored by two scores.

I don’t hate Ryan Fitzpatrick to be completely honest. He is a true “gun-slinger’, having attempted 35 passes in Week 7 against the Bills and completed 12-of-18 passes in a near winning effort off the bench against the Redskins. He is prone to the interception, but he is also a somewhat mobile QB which can help his fantasy value. He is also FREE on DK where he costs less than the Steelers backup QB tonight. On the season Fitzpatrick is completing 69.4-percent of his throws for 717 yards with three touchdowns and five interceptions. If there was one drawback it would be that the Dolphins have no interest in winning this game.

Rushing

Miami is allowing he most fantasy points to opposing running backs this season which bodes well for the likes of James Conner who has found the end zone four times over the past three weeks. He also just caught seven passes for 78 yards in Week 6 so he is involved everywhere. Like I said, the Dolphins have no interest in winning this game and the Steelers are 14-point favorites. Locking in Conner honestly makes too much sense. Don’t over think it.

The Miami RB situation got interesting today as the team traded away Kenyan Drake . This opens up the starting back role for Mark Walton who rushed 14 times for 66 yards in Week 7 against Buffalo. The draw back to Walton is that Kalen Ballage has been getting the goal line carries. So you decide, do you want the back who will get the yards or the one who may get the touchdown if the Dolphins find themselves near the goal line? I think going Walton is the better option here.

Receiving

The Steelers receivers are only as good as their quarterback is going to be and Rudolph is OK but may get a boost here at least from the opponent as the Dolphins just get torched by every team that throws on them. JuJu Smith-Schuster is the obvious play here as is Dionte Johnson but I am really liking Vance McDonald tonight against the Dolphins. I think he finds the end zone at no ownership because everybody will pay up for George Kittle against Arizona.

So, Fitzpatrick at least ups the value of the Dolphins receivers because he is going to chuck it and give them opportunities for big plays. DeVante Parker has a touchdown in three straight games and was targeted 10 times against the Bills in Week 7. Preston Williams was also solid in Week 7, catching six of eight passes for 82 yards. If you want to be contrarian, then you can give tight end Mike Gesicki a look as he caught all four targets for 41 yards last week and has 11 total targets over the last two weeks. Albert Wilson would be a good dart in showdown slates.

 

San Francisco 49ers @ Arizona Cardinals

Spread: Cardinals +10

O/U: 44.5

Offensive Breakdown

Passing

Jimmy Garoppolo got himself a new weapon for Week 8 in Emmanuel Sanders and the two connected for a touchdown.  The passing score was his ninth of the season to go with a 69.8-percent completion rate and 1,489 yards. The Cardinals pass defense was just torched by Drew Brees and the returning Patrick Peterson hasn’t really done much to improve it. The Cardinals are also the worst team in the NFL against the tight end which is great news for Jimmy G as his favorite target is George Kittle .

I don’t think this is going to be a fun game for Murray as he faces the leagues second ranked defense in the 49ers. San Fran tortured Kyle Allen in Week 8 and Murray himself struggled against a solid Saints defense. On the year Murray has completed just 63.7-percent of his passes with seven touchdowns and four interceptions. His only saving grace could be his mobility as he is chased out of the pocket by the 49ers pass rush.

Rushing

The run game is the 49ers bread and butter as they have four running backs that can get the job done. In Week 8 we saw Tevin Coleman rush for 100 yards and score four total touchdowns. They also added Matt Breida , Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson to that mix. The Cardinals run defense ranks towards the middle of the pack but as I stated, the 49ers are going to wear them down and eventually I think we see Coleman find the end zone for another score as he continues to excel in this Kyle Shanahan offense.

The Cardinals running attack is a going to be a sh*t show with both David Johnson questionable and Chase Edmonds doubtful. This means Kenyan Drake who was acquired today and the likes of Alfred Morris or Zach Zenner could be handling the duties of running against the leagues second rank run defense. Good luck to you sir.

Receiving

The receivers for the 49ers largely start and end with George Kittle and the newly acquired Emmanuel Sanders . Now sure, Deebo Samuel found the end zone last week as well but that was on a run and with the Cardinals ranking last against opposing tight ends I just don’t see how Kittle isn’t the top overall scoring receiver on this entire slate. So just repeat after me, it’s Kittle and Sanders or bust.

At least Christian Kirk is healthy again as he caught eight of 11 targets in Week 8 for 79 yards against the Saints. He should be the most targeted receiver for the Cardinals again this week but I continue worry about the success Arizona is actually going to have moving the ball here. Outside of Kirk we take a look at Larry Fitzgerald who was held to just two catches for eight yards and Damiere Byrd who caught two passes for 18 yards. It’s not too exciting here folks that is for sure. It’s worth noting that Kenyan Drake is actually a decent pass catcher, as is David Johnson obviously so assuming one or both are active they could also be useful options for Murray….maybe.