Sometimes it’s hard to find a storyline for a game. You’re stuck saying things like “Team A has scored a lot of points. Can they keep it up?” and everyone is bored by you.
Fantasy football start/sit advice, Week 4: Panthers vs. Ravens
Steve Smith Sr. gets to play against Carolina for the first time Sunday. There are other things going on, but that’s the big story.
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However, when the Carolina Panthers travel to Baltimore to take on the Ravens in a 1 p.m. ET game, the primary storyline is obvious: Longtime Panthers WR and outspoken player Steve Smith Sr. will take on his old team for the first time, and that's the thing we'll all be watching. Other fantasy players will be in the mix as well:
Panthers
Start in every league: Cam Newton, Kelvin Benjamin, Greg Olsen, Graham Gano, Defense/special teams
Start if you're desperate: DeAngelo Williams
Bench: Jerricho Cotchery
It’s not been a super-fast start to the season for Newton, but he’s still my QB10 for this week. ... Maybe I’m investing too quickly, but I’m all-in on Benjamin, who has looked great so far. He’s an easy WR2. ... Olsen ranks second among all tight ends for me this week; he’s just so reliable. ... Gano hasn’t had a huge kicking game yet, but he’s put up at least seven all three games. ... Even after a minus-7 in Week 3, the Panthers’ defense is a strong unit and a must-start.
Williams’ stock is rising with the injuries to all his running mates in Carolina, but it’s hard to see him providing great value. If he’s your flex play, it’s not the end of the world, but that’s about it.
Cotchery missed Week 3 with injury. He’s healthy for Week 4, but not useful for fantasy.
Ravens
Start in every league: Steve Smith Sr., Justin Tucker
Start if you're desperate: Owen Daniels, Defense/special teams
After looking like he might be done in Carolina, Steve Smith Sr. has looked great through three games, with 34 fantasy points. He’s a flex play at worst, and he seems like the type who would get especially revved up for a game against his old team. ... Tucker can be a difference-maker at kicker.
I tend to be high on Daniels, who takes over the primary tight end role in a Gary Kubiak offense, though I readily admit he’s a high-risk play. ... The Ravens’ defense should be fine against a Carolina offense that doesn’t blow people away, but they’ve put up two or fewer fantasy points twice in three games.
There just doesn’t seem to be any upside to Flacco these days; he’s topped out at 15 points so far this season. ... I think Taliaferro is the best running back in Baltimore, but the team still appears to want Pierce to be involved, and Forsett is around, too, meaning no one of the three has much value for now. ... Keep Torrey Smith if you want, because I guess there is upside, but I can’t imagine running him out there in a fantasy matchup.
