These players don’t have to be benched. Each individual team is different and league context matters. The matchups are more difficult than usual and if possible, seeking a better start is recommended.
QB Ben Roethlisberger @BAL
Roethlisberger tends to struggle on the road. In three road games this season, he has five touchdowns and four interceptions and one game was against a putrid Buccaneers defense in which he threw three touchdowns. Roethelisberger doesn’t play well in Baltimore, averaging 233.8 passing yards with five touchdowns and five interceptions over his last five games there. The Ravens have allowed one 300-yard passing game and it came in overtime. They have allowed ten passing touchdowns and intercepted eight passes in eight games.
RB Tevin Coleman @WAS
Coleman hasn’t produced like many expected with Devonta Freeman out. Many thought he could be a league winner and he hasn’t come close to it. Since rushing for 107 yards in Week 2, Coleman hasn’t topped 51 rushing yards. In five of seven games, he has two receptions or fewer. After getting at least 17 touches in three straight games, Coleman has nine, 11 and 13 touches as Ito Smith has been getting close to double-digit touches. Coleman has played 56.7 percent and 56.9 percent of the snaps the last two games. Over the last three games, the Redskins have shut down Ezekiel Elliott, Christian McCaffrey and Saquon Barkley.
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RB Peyton Barber @CAR
Barber is coming off one of his better games with 19 carries for 85 yards with a touchdown, but didn’t have a reception for the second straight game. Barber is still dependent on touchdowns since he doesn’t catch the football with only six receptions. The Panthers have allowed 61 rushing yards or fewer to backfields in four of the last five games,
WR Corey Davis @DAL
Davis is a talented receiver being hurt by a struggling Titans offense. Davis had nine catches for 161 yards with a touchdown in Week 4 and has been quiet since due to difficult matchups. Davis has topped 50 yards receiving in two of seven games. He still has potential in the second half, but he has a difficult matchup this week against the Cowboys, who have allowed the fewest Fantasy points to wide receivers and they struggle more against slot receivers. The schedule for the Titans gets better so hold Davis.
WR Randall Cobb @NE
Cobb returned from a hamstring injury last week and had four catches for 40 yards on five targets. He ran less routes than Geronimo Allison and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who was still involved in the offense and played seven more snaps than Cobb. Until this changes, Cobb is a risky start because the volume that was anticipated before the season isn’t there.
TE Kyle Rudolph vs. DET
Rudolph has been decent, but with Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen getting so many targets Rudolph has seen his production slip. He has two touchdowns and hasn’t scored since Week 3. He has nine receptions for 92 yards over the last three games. Rudolph has at least seven points in PPR formats in seven of eight games, so the floor is still high.
