I’ve been hearing a lot of talk about dropping Cam Newton. Really? Bueno, for a good number of leagues, it makes sense. If you’re in 2-QB or Super Flex leagues, forget about it. Just say no. But in a single-QB league, it has to be taken into account that Cam hasn’t sniffed the QB1 range since his Week 2 blowup against the Seahawks.

Plus, this is the time to work through the bye weeks. If Cam’s your backup, adios. Grab a player you need. Another droppable Cam is Akers. He played 3 snaps on Monday Night Football. THREE! There may be a day for him to start, but it won’t be IN 2020 without injuries.

OK, one more bit of advice. If Chase Edmonds is out there, get him. Vamonos! It doesn’t matter that he’s on bye. The Arizona backfield will be his alone for the next few weeks, and if he runs away with it you’ll be sitting pretty. Time for Los Waivers!

QUARTERBACK

Teddy Bridgewater vs. ATL
44%
Deja Vu all over again! Bridgewater went 27 of 37 for 313 yards and 2 TD in a Week 5 shootout in ATL. D.J. Moore is more clearly involved in the offense alongside Robby Anderson. And the Falcons have been giving up the most FPPG to opposing QBs in the league. Bridgewater is a good sub for those on bye this week. 

Baker Mayfield vs. LV
33%
OK, we’ve all heard the talk that Mayfield could be better now that Odell Beckham Jr. is out for the season. Not sure how a QB gets better when a top 10 talent at WR is taken off the field, but Mayfield did respond with 5 TD passes against the Bengals. Next up, the Raiders, who are #29 against opposing QBs. 

Derek Carr @ CLE
29%
Carr has quietly put up 23+ fantasy points in 4 of 6 games the Raiders have played. He’s taking more deep shots with Henry Ruggs and Nelson Agholor. Carr has plenty of weapons, and the Browns are #25 against opposing QBs. 

RUNNING BACK

La’Mical Perine @ KC
16%
Perine’s 11 carries for 39 yards and 1 TD look pretty pedestrian. But for the Jets, that’s very good. What’s more important is that Perine played on 70% of the Jets’ snaps, with Frank Gore accounting for 28%. The Chiefs are in the middle against the run, so Perine could be a flex play with upside as the Jets look toward the rookie to see what they have for 2021.

Carlos Hyde vs SF
12%
Chris Carson coming out of the Sunday night game looked bad. The initial reports were a foot injury that would make him week to week. Aren’t we all week to week? Hyde turned 15 carries into 68 yards and a score. The drawback was the follow-up report that said Hyde is now battling hamstring tightness. Fitting that on Halloween you have to beware of Mr. Hyde.

JaMychal Hasty @ SEA
21%
Next man up! With Jeff Wilson the latest injury casualty for the 49ers, a group that includes Hasty, Jerick McKinnon and the next guy is going to see who is the hot hand against a Seattle defense that is #11 against fantasy RBs.

Tevin Coleman @ SEA
27%
Coleman hasn’t suited up since Week 2, and there’s no guarantee that he could play this week. But he’s worth a speculative pickup, just in case he gets activated. You could do worse on the flex.

WIDE RECEIVER

Brandon Aiyuk @ SEA
49%
Now Deebo’s out? Yup, the injuries know no end for the 49ers. Aiyuk is coming off a 115-yard effort against the Patriots, and is the #2 option in the 49er offense behind George Kittle. And it’s Seattle’s #32 defense against WR. No mas. Just get him in your lineup.

Sterling Shepard vs. TB
29%
Sharpe returned from injury to 8 targets, 6 receptions, 57 yards and a TD. Since the start of the 2019 season, Sharpe has received at least 6 targets in a game all but once (Week 2, 2020). This is a tough matchup against the brutal Tampa Bay secondary, but Shepard will have better days against the more forgiving NFC East. 

Mecole Hardman vs. NYJ
33%
Coming off a donut, getting 2 catches for 57 yards against the Broncos in the snow is decent. Sammy Watkins is still out, so Hardman is a good bye-week sub against the Jets’ D that, while bad overall, is just #17 against WR in FPPG.

Jalen Reagor vs. DAL
14%
Another player coming off IR, Reagor is looking to join the long line of rookie WRs who are excelling this season. Beyond Dallas’ #29 defense against the WR, the Eagles have coming up the Giants twice, Cleveland and the Cowboys again. The latter in Week 16. Yes, this is the time to start looking ahead to fantasy playoffs. 

TIGHT ENDS

Richard Rodgers vs. DAL
9%
Seeing Rodgers go for 6-8-85-0 on a week when both Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert are out just reminds you how much Carson Wentz likes to throw to the TE position. And what was said about Reagor above applies to Rodgers. He’s a low-cost sub while Goedert is still rehabbing (Ertz is out until the end of November).

Harrison Bryant vs. LV
1%
Anyone taking a flyer on Bryant when Austin Hooper came down with appendicitis were rewarded with a couple scores and 56 yards. Yes, he’s competing with David Njoku for targets, but with OBJ down, there are targets to go around. The Raiders are #17 against WRs in FPPG.

KICKER