Exploiting the Matchups: Cousins Aims for Saints

The hits just keep on coming: Andrew Luck (kidney/abdomen), Dion Lewis (ACL), Ben Roethlisberger (foot). The "Year of Injuries" is making for a constant shuffle in starting lineups everywhere. One can't help but ponder, "Who's next?"

So let's dispense with the lamenting our woes and instead scan the fantasy horizon for the right dart to stash now on our bench so we don't have to rely on waiver priority or FAAB dollars to collect a playoff starter. Sure, we're still dealing with tough byes, and some of us cannot afford a single pine needle of space on our bench. For most of us, however, we can manage those bye replacements -- especially utilizing the upgrades below -- and get by while still disposing of whatever waste lingers in that last roster spot. By this time of year you're team is either good enough to not have to start a Golden Tate-esque underachiever, or you're in such bad straits that he's a weekly flex option for you. Either way, it's ditch 'em time. Clear the scraps and either handcuff one of your starting tailbacks, or like I prefer to do, grab the best possible handcuffs that somehow remain free agents. Then simply sit back, close your eyes, and know that more injuries are coming, potentially to unearth you a star from the bowels of the bench.

Before getting on with the upgrading and downgrading, let's quickly examine the three running back handcuffs I'm adding and clinging to for the next 2-4 weeks with bated breath:

1. Jay Ajayi, MIA - Flashed physicality, vision and burst while averaging 8.2 yards per carry on his first five career attempts. Could be a workhorse if Lamar Miller went down.

2. Jordan Todman, PIT - Laugh all you want. The Pittsburgh offense is built to generate backfield production, and DeAngelo Williams has never been the picture of health. Moreover, in his final two games of 2014, then with Jacksonville, Todman racked up 174 total yards and two TD on just 19 touches.

3. Tre Mason, STL - sure, Todd Gurley is the man. He's an absolute beast. But he's also a rookie who's been handed the ball 112 times on the ground the last five games. Although Mason has been a ghost this year, he did tally more than 900 total yards and five scores in 2014, and would slide into a huge role in a run-first offense if Gurley gets hurt.

As always, this is not intended as a traditional start/sit column. Upgrades are players you wouldn't consistently start (or who have consistently underachieved), while those downgraded generally are lineup mainstays with a bad opponent/situation. With that out of the way, let's get to it.

UPGRADE

Quarterback

Brian Hoyer, HOU

Hoyer has quietly thrown for at least 230 yards and two touchdowns in five straight games, and he even came off the bench in two of those. He's tossed 12 scores to just two picks in that stretch and has the benefit of a top-5 talent at receiver to always keep him frisky. With Arian Foster on the shelf and the third-ranked Bengals scoring offense (28.6 points per game) on tap, count on plenty of volume to keep Hoyer's streak alive.

Kirk Cousins, WAS vs. NO

The Saints have allowed 10 passing touchdowns the last two weeks and now sport a disgusting 24:4 TD:INT ratio. Cousins has just three games this season with at least 290 passing yards and only one with multiple touchdowns, but with a healthy DeSean Jackson rejoining Pierre Garcon and Jordan Reed, both those things will change.

Matthew Stafford, DET at GB

The Packers are still tied for fifth in the league with 23 sacks, but they've failed to notch a single one the last two weeks. So Stafford should have plenty of time to throw against a secondary that's recently fallen on bad health, with its top four corners -- Sam Shields (shoulder), Casey Hayward (concussion), Damarious Randall (illness) and Quinten Rollins (shoulder) -- all limited or out. And, you know, with that Aaron Rodgers guy on the other sideline it's not like Stafford will be handing off too much.

Running Back

Ryan Mathews, PHI vs. MIA

Anybody watch the Bills last week trample over the Dolphins with two rushers topping 100 yards and finding the end zone on the ground? Yeah, that's about to be DeMarco Murray and Mathews, the latter of which has rumbled for an uber efficient 283 yards and three touchdowns on 34 carries (8.3 YPC) over the last four games.

James Starks, GB vs. DET

Topping 115 total yards with three total TD in two of his last three games has earned Starks the starting nod over Eddie Lacy against Detroit's 30th-ranked run defense, one which happens to lead the league with 14 rushing scores allowed. Even if Lacy does end up splitting reps, Starks is at worst a strong flex for an offense that finally found its rhythm in the fourth quarter last week.

Antonio Andrews, TEN vs. CAR

Despite being one of the better overall defenses this season, the Panthers have quietly allowed at least 90 total yards or a touchdown to an opposing running back in their last six games. Andrews, a 225-pound load to bring down, is coming off a career-high 111 total yard performance and 193 the last two weeks. He's hungry, his opportunity has arrived and the feature back of a Marcus Mariota offense that will move the ball is primed to keep Carolina's unfortunate streak going.

Wide Receiver

Davante Adams, GB vs. DET

It took Aaron Rodgers slinging a season-high 48 pass attempts while Green Bay played from behind for Adams and his fellow targets to vault back to fantasy relevancy, but it won't take the 11 targets Adams saw last week to find productivity again. The Lions have allowed a wide receiver to find the end zone in all but one game this season, while allowing an average of 185.1 yards per game to the position.

Jarvis Landry, MIA at PHI

The Eagles couldn't remotely handle Cole Beasley coming out of the slot. Imagine what headaches Landry will cause them? The slippery wideout has very quietly posted at least 65 total yards in every game this year. With no corners equipped to handle his quickness outside or in the slot, Philadelphia is about to get torched by this gamer.

Pierre Garcon, WAS vs. NO

After posting 70 yards versus the Patriots, Garcon now has at least 50 yards or a touchdown in every game this year. He's by no means been the star he was in 2013 when he led the league in receptions, but if ever there's a game for him to reach his upside, it's against a Saints defense that's tied for the most touchdowns allowed to wide receivers (14), including six yielded to the position the last two weeks.

Tight End

Eric Ebron, DET at GB

Ebron has posted at least 60 yards or a touchdown in four of the five games he's completed this season. In a game that should feature plenty of Stafford passing he will take advantage of a depleted Packers back seven that's allowed opposing tight ends to total 307 yards and two touchdowns in the last three games.

Richard Rodgers, GB vs. DET

Coming off his first two-score effort as a pro, Rodgers will now get to face a Lions defense that's allowed at least 59 yards or a touchdown to an opposing tight end in all but one game this season.

DOWNGRADE

Quarterback

Drew Brees, NO at WAS

In three road games this season Brees has managed to find the end zone only four times, compared to 14 scores in five home battles. The Redskins, of course, are no defensive juggernaut, but it's worth noting that they held Tom Brady semi in check last week, limiting him to "just" two touchdowns and forcing his second interception of the season.

Peyton Manning, DEN vs. KC

Manning has eight interceptions to just three touchdowns over his last four games, including two contests in which he failed to find the end zone. Although his yardage has been strong, he may find it more difficult to face a revived Chiefs pass rush coming off a six-sack performance and their bye week. Don't expect a repeat of his Week 2 showing when Manning notched his only three-score day this year.

Running Back

LeSean McCoy, BUF at NYJ

Seems obvious enough right? He looked great against Miami, but so did Karlos Williams, who out-produced him. And then he hurt his shoulder. Short week Thursday kickoff. Top-ranked Jets run defense. Likely to split carries. The deck just seems stacked against "Shady" at the moment.

Chris Johnson, AZ at SEA

Johnson has topped 100 yards on the ground in three of the last four games, but that hot streak will be put on ice against a Seahawks group that hasn't allowed a triple-digit rusher this season.

Marshawn Lynch, SEA vs. AZ

Call it a hunch if you'd like. After all, Lynch has a history of stepping up in big games, and it doesn't get any bigger for Seattle than this massive divisional contest. But the Cardinals have allowed opposing tailbacks to average just 69.1 yards per game and 3.5 YPC, while giving up only two scores on the ground to the position. And it's not like they've played slouches -- see Mark Ingram, Matt Forte, Carlos Hyde, Gurley, Le'Veon Bell and Justin Forsett.

Wide Receiver

Sammy Watkins, BUF at NYJ

OK, so Watkins is healthy and can get behind the Miami secondary. And catch everything that comes his way. And totally demolish a defense's gameplan with his other worldly athleticism and underrated route-running savvy. But short week. Darrelle Revis. No thank you.

Jeremy Maclin, KC at DEN

Maclin has at least 85 yards or a touchdown in his last four complete games, with two that topped 140 yards. And, yes, Aqib Talib will be suspended this week. Still, Chris Harris is arguably as good or better than his running mate Talib, and figures to be on Maclin like a cheap suit. Consider the last time Maclin faced Denver to be his ceiling this week -- four catches, 57 yards, one big fantasy sad face.

Odell Beckham, NYG vs. NE

This will come as a surprise to many. Call it faith in the superior talent. And by talent, I mean Bill Belichick's ability to scheme defensively to remove or limit the best weapon of his opposition -- something even the freakishly gifted Beckham cannot overcome with raw skills. Consider this: Allen Robinson, on pace for just shy of 1,500 yards and 12 touchdowns, has posted less than 80 yards or a touchdown once since Week 1, and that's when he posted 68 with mostly garbage-time production versus Belichick's defensive genius. That spells danger for a player who needed 17 targets versus the Bucs to post 105 yards.

Tight End

Jimmy Graham, SEA vs. AZ

Graham has four games with at least 75 yards or a touchdown and four with 31 or fewer yards. He's wildly inconsistent and will shade toward that floor against a Cardinals defense that's given up just an average of 38.5 yards per contest to tight ends and allowed only one score all year to the position.