Hot and Cold: Bench Brown until Roethlisberger is healthy

Each week, TSN.ca takes a look at four hot players that need to be in your starting lineup, and four cold players that would be better left on your bench.

Hot

QB – Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars

Bortles is proof that fantasy football and real football can be two different things. While I’m being a little hard on the sophomore QB – he’s looked a lot better this year than last – he’s not performing as a Top 6 quarterback (his current fantasy ranking) in real life for the 1-4 Jaguars. Garbage yards count all the same in fantasy!

RB – Devonta Freeman, Atlanta Falcons

After a disappointing rookie season last year, Freeman has taken his second chance – afforded to him after starter Tevin Coleman was injured in Week 1 – and ran with it, literally. Freeman is leading all running backs in points by a hefty margin and finished the last three weeks first, first, and second. Ride him while he’s hot!

WR – Jeremy Maclin, Kansas City Chiefs

Maclin did the unthinkable in Kansas City three weeks ago, he caught a touchdown pass as a wide receiver. The former Eagles pass catcher came back to Earth a little last week after two monster games, but has been performing consistently since a slow start with the Chiefs. And KC will throw another touchdown to a wide receiver, promise.

TE – Gary Barnidge, Cleveland Browns

I don’t know who he is either, but he needs to be in your starting lineup! The journeyman turned star is tied for most fantasy points among tight ends with Rob Gronkowski after three straight big performances. His first came against the Raiders, who give up points to every TE, but his next two proved that Barnidge is a legit option at an always-thin position.

Cold

QB – Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions

It’s not yet time to release Stafford, who entered the year as a borderline QB1, but he definitely needs a spell on your bench, something the Lions did late last week. Stafford started hot, but has thrown just one touchdown to three interceptions the past two weeks. Until the winless Lions can turn things around, rely on someone else.

RB – Eddie Lacy, Green Bay Packers

Lacy may have been the first pick in your league’s draft this year, and if he was, that team is likely in trouble. After a strong season opener, the third-year back has struggled for the Packers. His workload has suffered a little due to an early-season injury, but in a Green Bay offence that has looked as good as ever this year, more should be expected from Lacy.

WR – Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers

Brown’s cold streak has nothing to do with him, but rather the guy throwing him balls. Since Michael Vick took over for an injured Ben Roethlisberger for a full game in Pittsburgh, Brown has yet to eclipse 50 yards receiving in game or catch a touchdown. Until Roethlisberger is back throwing him balls, keep Brown on your bench.

TE – Jimmy Graham, Seattle Seahawks

A lot of fantasy owners were concerned when Graham was shipped from New Orleans to Seattle this offseason. Through five weeks, those concerns seem totally justified. Graham had a big Week 3 to quiet early season fears, but it’s been two slow weeks since with the one-time top fantasy TE combining for just seven catches and 69 yards. Time to look elsewhere.