Exploiting the Matchups: Big Day Ahead for Evans

I am not the Twitterer I should be. And last week I really dropped the ball.

I like to think I can offer some valuable insight on players, and there are things I'd love to point out every week that just don't fit into this column. I've tried in spite of my social media ineptitude to deliver something extra for my very few followers each week (shameless plug time: @Hoover_L_A) and sometimes I just #fail. Last week was one I really regret. I upgraded Mike Wallace here, but as soon as the column was posted I began to strongly believe I got the wrong guy in the Minnesota offense. Turns out I was right.

I love Stefon Diggs' ability. He's shifty creating separation as a route runner and after the catch, deceptively physical and can make the tough grabs. He possesses qualities that Wallace astutely paralleled with former teammate and All-Pro Antonio Brown. With a weak Chiefs secondary on tap I knew he'd make a good DFS value and intended from Thursday on to put it on Twitter. I had the bullet in the barrel, the shot lined up, but I failed to squeeze the trigger.

You see, the real problem is that I'm a minimalist. Because of that I still rock and iPhone 4S and see no real reason to upgrade (it's my nature, but one I'm warming up to evolving). Given the memory limitations of this relic, I deleted my Twitter app so I could have the space to download more music (a man's gotta have the right playlist after all). So for a while now I've tweeted exclusively from my laptop. During the football season my laptop is generally with me at all times. Last weekend was a special exception, however. Thursday was my sister's 30th birthday, and then my brother and I took off early Friday morning for a road trip to Notre Dame to watch my beloved Irish win a shootout with the devil that is USC. Between driving, tailgating and living out of a bag in an old friend's basement, tweeting windows became very narrow.

So in case I'm somehow separated from my laptop this weekend here are three things you can't find below that I should tweet but probably won't (and then the reason you're here is next, I swear):

1. DFS value of the week: Danny Amendola. Shouldn't see "Revis Island" and should lead the team in targets versus a defense that's been especially stingy to running backs and tight ends.

2. Sneakiest bye week start: Brian Hoyer. In roughly eight quarters going back to Week 4 he's gone off for 837 yards and seven touchdowns. Oh, and that DeAndre Hopkins fella ain't too shabby.

3. Stash pickup of the week: Brian Quick. He's back and will emerge down the stretch as a true No. 1 for St. Louis.

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

Carson Palmer, AZ vs. BAL

I know that the premise of this column is to upgrade players you otherwise may not start (in fact if you survived the intro you just read that). Of course, you're starting the quarterback fourth in passing yards and tied for second in touchdowns. But this needs to be said: Carson Palmer will be the top fantasy QB in Week 7. The Ravens defense allowed Colin Kaepernick and Josh McCown to go for 797 combined passing yards and five total touchdowns with zero turnovers the last two weeks.

Josh McCown, CLE at STL

Last week wasn't pretty, but chalk that up to that pesky Denver defense. Nevertheless, McCown now has tossed two touchdowns in all four games he's started and finished. Somehow a Gary Barnidge, Travis Benjamin and McCown trio has managed to produce significant numbers in every game they've played together. Four straight weeks of "wow I didn't see that coming." Well, now you should.

Russell Wilson, SEA at SF

Wilson has topped 251 yards passing just once this year and not exceeded 300 yards in a game yet. In six career regulars-season games with his rival 49ers he's produced just one game topping 200 yards through the air. The struggles stop this week. This San Francisco defense allows a league-high 306.2 yards passing per game and just let Joe Flacco and Eli Manning combine for 784 yards and five scores.

Ryan Tannehill, MIA vs. HOU

Tannehill does not get enough love. Sure, he's tossed more interceptions over his last three games than scores, but he's also thrown two touchdowns in four straight while dipping below 266 yards only once. The Texans, meanwhile, even allowed over 200 yards and two scores to old man Matt Hasselbeck while he was fighting off an intestinal virus.

Running Back

Latavius Murray, OAK at SD

Murray has been awfully quiet since a Week 3 explosion versus Cleveland, but the big guy shouldn't be forgotten coming off his bye week. Despite his recent struggles he's still averaging 86.8 total yards per game and over 4.0 yards per carry. Now he gets to take advantage of a Chargers defense giving up a league-high 5.4 YPC. One that just made James Starks look like an All-Pro.

Rashad Jennings, NYG vs. DAL

Jennings has quietly produced at least 67 total yards in three consecutive games as the lead in the Giants' backfield committee. In that span he's averaged a healthy 4.5 YPC and 10.6 yards per reception. That efficiency should continue to thrive against a Cowboys defense that's allowed the third-most fantasy points per game to opposing running backs, including a Week 1 matchup in which it let Jennings find the end zone.

Antonio Andrews, TEN vs. ATL

The Falcons have allowed a touchdown to a running back in five of six games, with a league-high 11 this season allowed to the position, including three multi-score games by an opposing tailback. While Andrews is a serious gamble, he is the Titans' goal-line back, has scored in two of the last three games and leads the team's backfield with 33 touches over that span.

Wide Receiver

Michael Floyd, AZ vs. BAL

Anybody miss the dynamic Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith duo go off for 198 yards and a touchdown against the Ravens? This embarrassing secondary has now allowed eight wide receivers to hit at least 60 yards. In just SIX games. Floyd finally started seeing red-zone looks and cashed in with his first score of the year last week. Size, speed and body control make him a high upside play on Monday Night Football.

Mike Evans, TB at WAS

Of the eight touchdowns Washington has allowed to wide receivers this season six have gone to players 6-foot-2 or taller. Although he's been awfully quiet this year, the 6-5 Evans should have little trouble overmatching his smaller defenders, just like he did last year versus the Redskins for a career-high 209 yards.

Riley Cooper, PHI at CAR

This is really more of a desperation move (especially given the recent development of a knee issue), but the big-play Cooper has hit at least 70 yards and a score now in two of three games and gets the benefit of potentially drawing more targets against the Panthers with top wideout and hands liability Jordan Matthews locked down by Josh Norman.

Stefon Diggs, MIN at DET

I dropped the ball last week. But Diggs didn't. He actually snagged seven for 129 yards in just his second game as a pro, giving him 216 yards over two outings. This dynamic talent is about to take it to an inept Detroit secondary that's allowed an average of 200 yards per game to opposing wideouts.

Tight End

Ladarius Green, SD vs. OAK

Prior to facing a pathetic Peyton Manning and Owen Daniels duo, the Raiders had given up at least 80 yards and a touchdown to an opposing tight end in four straight. Of course, this spells good things for Antonio Gates, but Green can get his too. The much better athlete of the pair, Green has caught an impressive 81 percent of his looks for 9.6 yards per target and three scores this year. And it's not like Philip Rivers is going to slow any (151 attempts the last three weeks!).

Zach Ertz, PHI at CAR

He's yet to find the end zone this season, but Ertz is still a crucial part of the Eagles' offense (at least seven targets in four games). This weekend, with Matthews locked down by Norman and Cooper dealing with a knee ailment, he may become an even more integral part facing a Panthers D that was just owned by Jimmy Graham.

DOWNGRADE:

Quarterback

Tom Brady, NE vs. NYJ

No team has allowed fewer passing yards than the Jets, and the team is sporting an impressive 6:8 TD:INT ratio through five games. And then there's the whole Darrelle Revis factor. Of course, you're not benching Tom Brady, quite possibly the league MVP so far, but you should count on a down week for the All-World signal caller.

Sam Bradford, PHI at CAR

With at least 270 yards in three consecutive games and six total touchdowns over that span, Bradford has had the look of a top-10 fantasy quarterback, just like you'd expect a Chip Kelly offense to produce. But he still has tossed at least two picks in four of six games and is now staring down the barrel of a Carolina defense with a 5:8 TD:INT ratio. And he's on the road. And, as mentioned, Matthews often looks like he's attempting to catch a wet bar of soap. Woof.

Running Back

LeGarrette Blount, NE vs. NYJ

The last three weeks Blount has racked up 270 total yards and five touchdowns while averaging 5.2 YPC and not dipping below 74 yards once. The Jets powerful front seven, however, could flip the breaks on the runaway Blount train. They've allowed the second-fewest rushing yards per game (82.6) and YPC (3.5), and are one of just three defenses to give up only one rushing score so far.

Justin Forsett, BAL at AZ

Despite an ankle injury Forsett dominated backfield touches last week and managed 101 total yards against San Fran. Things are about to get worse though with a Cardinals defense on tap that just limited Le'Veon Bell to 88 yards rushing on 24 carries. Taking into account a consecutive long road trip and an Arizona offense that will force Baltimore to play from behind and you have the recipe for a fall.

Jonathan Stewart, CAR vs. PHI

Stewart notched his first two scores of the season versus a physical Seahawks defense, but he may be hard pressed to keep his momentum with the Eagles coming to town. The Philadelphia front seven has mauled opponents lately, giving up just 3.5 YPC (tied for second fewest in the league). Moreover, they're one of only two defenses that's yet to allow a single touchdown to a running back.

Wide Receiver

Amari Cooper, OAK at SD

Jason Verrett and the rest of the stingy San Diego secondary have allowed only four touchdowns to wide receivers this season. Three have come at the hands of Aaron Rodgers and Andy Dalton, two of the top passers this year. The fourth was a broken play on a Michael Vick bomb. Add it all up and you get a big challenge for Derek Carr and the Raiders' top offensive weapon.

Jordan Matthews, PHI at CAR

His own poor play has Matthews already downgraded on most lists (less than 60 yards in four straight, serious butterfingers), but this week is not the week to expect a slump-busting performance. Norman has proven to be one of the stickiest corners in the league this season and headlines a stingy Panthers secondary that's limited all but one wideout this year to less than 80 yards.

Julian Edelman, NE vs. NYJ

Averaging 11.4 targets per game, Edelman has produced at least 85 yards or a touchdown in every game this season. He was again off to a fast start versus the Colts before an apparent finger injury seemed to slow him. The finger (which is reportedly fine) won't be his problem this week, however. "Revis Island" will be.

Tight End

Jimmy Graham, SEA at SF

Despite coming off a vintage Graham performance against a very good Carolina defense, the big trade acquisition for Seattle still can't be fully trusted. Half his games have produced double figure fantasy points, but the other half have been three points or fewer. A 49ers defense allowing just 42 yards per game to the position could put him in that un-Graham-like territory again.