By Zack Peñalva, Sports Editor
Who to add
Alex Smith, quarterback, Kansas City Chiefs
Smith threw for over 350 yards and two touchdowns in the Chiefs week one game against San Diego. Before the season started, Smith was ranked as 15th in his position and only owned in 25 percent of ESPN fantasy leagues. While he doesn’t fit into the elite category of players like Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers, Smith is an efficient producer at quarterback on a team that has a good collection of passing weapons. If you need a fill-in option and a potential weekly starter, he’d be a good pickup in most leagues.
Tajae Sharpe, wide receiver, Tennessee Titans
Even though he only scored 7 points in standard leagues in week one, don’t cast Sharpe aside yet. He’s owned in 42 percent of ESPN leagues and hasty owners might be quick to dump him after a slow start to the season. Not so fast. Sharpe’s quick rapport with quarterback Marcus Mariota, who told the Titans official website that “[Sharpe] makes things easy,” shouldn’t be ignored. The rookie wideout was targeted 11 times in the first game of the season and turned 7 catches into 76 yards. If that output continues with touchdowns mixed in, Sharpe could be a very useful player for any team needing depth at wide receiver.
Whatever defense plays the Cleveland Browns
Streaming defenses from week to week is a popular strategy, and you can have a lot of success studying the matchup and what offenses look the most vulnerable to poor play and turnovers. This year, the formula seems like it will be very easy: find whoever plays the Cleveland Browns and start them. The Eagles defense was owned in 28 percent of leagues going into the first week, but don’t get attached picking on the back of a good performance. Look to the Baltimore Ravens defense, owned in less than 10 percent of ESPN leagues. The Ravens did well against Buffalo and expect even better when they take on a Cleveland.
Who to ignore
Jalen Richard, running back, Oakland Raiders
Don’t let a high point total fool you. Good running backs are hard to find for a reason, it’s all about workload. Richard is set to be a one-hit wonder when you realize that he sits way back in the pecking order of Raiders’ running backs behind Latavius Murray and DeAndre Washington. He only got 3 carries, one of which he was able to break for 75 yards and a touchdown. Murray is the premier back in the team and that won’t change on the back of one outlier. Expect Richard to fade back into obscurity by week two.
Quincy Enunwa, wide receiver, New York Jets
Finding a reliable wide receiver can help anchor a fantasy team on the way to a championship, but look elsewhere if you think Enuwa is going to be that guy. He finished week one with 11 points in standard leagues after 7 catches for 54 yards and a touchdown. The problem here is that the Jets and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick have a lot of mouths to feed on offense. Enunwa sits behind Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker on the depth chart, not to mention new running back Matt Forte that can also get involved in the passing game. Don’t look for Enunwa’s production to be sustainable.