In fantasy football, you always start your studs. Regardless of matchups and opponents, you put your best players in the starting lineup and win or lose based on their performances. But sometimes, even the best of options fail to overcome the obstacles in front of them. Take Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman for example. He posted just four standard fantasy points against the tough Carolina Panthers front this past weekend. That certainly didn't help anyone's playoff chances.
Following this line of thinking, ESPN NFL Insider KC Joyner made a radical suggestion: bench Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger and WR Antonio Brown against the Denver Broncos this weekend. Wow, I never thought I'd see that.
Roethlisberger is at the helm of arguably the NFL's most explosive offense and Brown is second in the NFL in receiving yards (1,397) and 13th in touchdown receptions (7). Yet Joyner believes the Broncos defense is too much to overcome.
"Denver has been incredibly stingy in giving up fantasy points through the air this season," Joyner wrote. "Only two quarterbacks (Tom Brady and Andrew Luck) have scored more than 15 points against Denver and only three wide receivers (Mike Wallace, Travis Benjamin and Marquess Wilson) have tallied 10 or more points versus the Broncos in ESPN standard league scoring."
Overall, the Denver defense ranks first in passing yards per game (188), second in passing touchdowns (13) and first in receiving yards per game (210.5). However, they are somewhat susceptible to the deep pass. Since Week 6, they rank 14th in stretch vertical yards allowed per game (aerial throws traveling 20 or more yards downfield), according to Joyner.
If you own Roethlisberger and Brown, it's likely you don't have better options. If you do have a capable backup QB, you may want to consider putting him in your starting lineup. Brown, however, remains a must start regardless of matchup. If there's anyone in the NFL who could take advantage of the Denver defense on aerial throws, it's Brown.
Good luck in your fantasy playoffs.
