of challenging matchups Antonio Garcia Jersey , especially those who rely on the Cardinals, Chiefs, Chargers and Vikings, who are all on a bye.With few projected offensive slugfests on the docket, scores could be low, but for those competing for playoff spots or building a money-winning DFS lineup, finding hidden gems will be key to success.START: Sam Darnold, QB, Jets: The second-year pro is turning a corner, evidenced by a 6:2 TD to INT margin over the past three weeks. Darnold could continue to shine for his fantasy users as he faces a Raiders defense that allows the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks along with the third-most touchdown passes allowed (24).SIT: Jared Goff, QB, Rams: Goff has failed to throw a touchdown pass in his past two games while also tossing three interceptions. The Ravens have solved their early season issues against opposing passers and have allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Baltimore is also tied for third with just nine touchdown passes allowed.START: Nick Chubb, RB, Browns: The lack of touchdowns is a mild concern, but Chubb has rushed for at least 87 yards in eight of his past nine games, including four games of at least 100 yards. He’s a definite must-start against a Dolphins defense that has allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing runners and is second only to the Bengals in most rushing yards allowed.SIT: Miles Sanders, RB, Eagles: Granted, it was the Patriots D, but Sanders managed just 38 yards on 11 carries while getting the bulk of the carries with Jordan Howard down. If Howard is sidelined again, a heavy dose of Sanders may not go far against the Seahawks, who ranked 12th overall in fewest rushing yards allowed.START: T.Y. Hilton, WR, Colts: He’s a potential game-time decision, but if Hilton plays, it presents another opportunity to continue his career of dominating against the Texans secondary. In 15 games against Houston, Hilton has a combined 82 catches for 1 Womens Julian Edelman Jersey ,519 yards and 10 touchdowns, numbers he can improve on as the Texans have the sixth-worst fantasy defense against opposing receivers while also giving up 22 touchdown passes.SIT: Terry McLaurin, WR, Redskins: His production has continued to decline. After breaking out as a reliable WR2, McLaurin has not scored a touchdown since Week 6 while totaling a mere 158 yards since Week 7. The uncertainty of rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins also does not help his cause, even against a Lions defense that has allowed the third-most receiving yards and fifth-most TD passes.START: Mark Andrews, TE, Ravens: Lamar Jackson has no qualms of getting his tight end heavily involved, having targeted him eight times in three of the past five games. Andrews also has scored three touchdowns in the past two games and is also the best deep threat at his position, having caught 11 passes for at least 20 yards this season.SIT: Jimmy Graham, TE, Packers: The 49ers have made opposing tight ends a non-factor, ranking second only to the Bills in fewest fantasy points allowed at the position. Graham has yet to have more than 65 receiving yards this season and has 20 or fewer yards in three of his past five games. There will be better options on the waiver wire.START: DJ Chark, WR, Jaguars: His two best games this season have come with Nick Foles under center as two of his three 100-yard games have come with the former Super Bowl MVP at the helm. Chark will be good for double-digit targets and will benefit from the Titans’ focus on RB Leonard Fournette.SIT: Dak Prescott, QB, Cowboys: Prescott has accounted for 1,098 yards and nine touchdowns in his past three games but will face the almost impregnable pass defense of the Patriots, who have allowed the fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. New England has given up just four touchdown passes and a league-low 5.3 yards per completion, numbers that will cool off the fantasy playoff hopes of anyone willing to start Prescott.START: Chris Carson, RB, Seahawks: The Eagles have allowed the fourth-fewest rushing yards in the league but will run into a back that has rushed for at least 89 yards in six of his past seven games. Carson also has had four 100-yard outings in that span and could be the rare back who can generate yards on Philly, especially if the Eagles are too worried about stopping Russell Wilson and the passing game.SIT: Nelson Agholor, WR, Eagles: In the past two games, Agholor has just seven receptions on 17 targets. A 41.1% reception rate isn’t going to cut it. The Seahawks are 28th in passing yards allowed per game and while the receiving options for QB Carson Wentz are thin, starting Agholor — who has not exceeded 50 receiving yards since Week 2 — is going to produce limited results.START: Jamison Crowder http://www.patriotslockerroom.com/authentic-sony-michel-jersey , WR, Jets: The prime beneficiary of Sam Darnold’s recent success, Crowder has caught 18 passes for 240 yards and three touchdowns in his past three games. Oakland is 27th in passing yards allowed per game, making Crowder a solid option in any format.SIT: Brian Hill, RB, Falcons: Devonta Freeman’s replacement is averaging just over 3 yards per carry and has had little impact in the passing game. Now is not the time to bank on Hill’s numbers taking an upswing considering that the Buccaneers are second overall against the run and third in yards per carry allowed.START: Derrick Henry RB, Titans: Henry has averaged 104 yards in his past four games along with adding four touchdowns. The Jaguars have allowed the 10th-most fantasy points to opposing running backs and with the way Henry has run over the past month, expect Henry to keep his solid RB1-level production rolling.SIT: Tyler Eifert, TE, Bengals: The Steelers have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends, but it doesn’t mean adding Eifert to your roster, as he has managed 21 yards or fewer in five of his past six games.This column was provided to The Associated Press by SportsGrid Inc., www.sportsgrid.com New England drafted Bailey in the fifth round last month."WhitePatriots News Opinion and Analysis Contribute! FanPostsFanShotsAbout the Site List of Patriots Twitter AccountsWrite For Pats Pulpit!New User Welcome and Commenting GuideCommunity GuidelinesMastheadTopics Patriots Off-Season CoveragePatriots Opinion/AnalysisPatriots NewsPatriots Draft CoverageSportfolio ManagementNFL DraftPatriots Opinion/AnalysisPatriots 2019 NFL Draft CoveragePatriots rookie punter Jake Bailey ‘would love to be able’ to keep working on kickoffsNew,8commentsRelated: 4 reasons why the Patriots drafted Stanford P Jake BaileyEDTShareTweetShareSharePatriots rookie punter Jake Bailey ‘would love to be able’ to keep working on kickoffsStan Szeto-USA TODAY SportsWhen the New England Patriots traded up in the fifth round of last month’s draft to select Jake Bailey 163rd overall, they didn’t just add another punter to their team — they added a versatile player capable of helping out on more than just one special teams unit. After all, Bailey also served as a kickoff specialist at Stanford. Whether or not he will get a chance to do the same in the NFL remains to be seen, but the rookie certainly seems to be open for it.“I would love to be able to do that,” he told reporters shortly after he heard his name called on the third day of the draft. “It’s been a part of my game ever since I’ve been at Stanford. It’s something I would like to continue. A lot of NFL teams really value a punter that can also kickoff because it kind of helps out the kicker if he’s getting old or something or doesn’t have a strong kickoff leg, so whatever happens, I’ll be super happy with it.”Bailey hits the nail on the head in his answer: having someone else — someone like himself — work on kickoffs could lift some pressure off a place kicker. In the Patriots’ case, this is Stephen Gostkowski, who might very well benefit from seeing his responsibilities scaled back a bit. While Gostkowski is still a solid kicker, the recently re-signed veteran has had his fair shares of ups and downs over the last few seasons.In 2018, for example, Gostkowski made 98.3% of his extra points but ‘only’ 84.2% of all his field goal attempts. Could having another man do kickoffs help improve those numbers, particularly the latter? There’s no risk in trying, especially considering that Bailey has considerable experience kicking off: in his four collegiate seasons Joe Thuney Jersey , the neo-Patriot did it a combined 291 times; 173 of his kickoffs ended in touchbacks, with 12 others going out of bounds.Bailey improved each year in his dual role as punter and kickoff specialist, which led to him being drafted by the Patriots. In New England, however, the 21-year-old will not be guaranteed a roster spot despite the team moving up the board to grab him. Instead, the former Cardinal will have to go up against incumbent Ryan Allen, who was re-signed to a one-year deal in free agency after a tremendous performance during the Patriots’ 13-3 victory in Super Bowl 53.“I know he’s an awesome punter. I don’t know much about him, but I have a lot of respect for any NFL punter there is. I’m just excited to get to learn from him and get out there and compete,” said Bailey about his new teammate and rival. The competition mentioned could become a rather interesting one: Allen, the multi-year veteran and three-time world champion, going against a rookie challenger whose biggest attribute is the aforementioned versatility.His versatile skill set did not develop by accident. “I actually got started as a placekicker,” said Bailey when asked about his background and experience in the kicking game — and the versatility he brings to the Patriots’ table. “I didn’t kick or punt at all my freshman year of high school. Starting my sophomore year, there was an opening at the JV spot, so I started being a kicker there because I used to play soccer a lot when I was a kid.”“I ended up having a little bit of talent for it [...] and then senior year of high school I began punting. I really learned the ropes of punting — the in’s and out’s — from my Stanford special teams coordinator, coach Pete Alamar. I credit a lot, all of my development as a punter, to him,” continued the rookie, who is now looking at taking the next step in this journey over the course of the summer: making an NFL roster.When it comes to Bailey, this situation was in the making for quite some time now. “I’ve wanted to be an NFL punter for a really long time,” he said. “This has been what I’ve been working for for the past four years in college and a few years before that in high school, too. This has been my eventual goal for the last ten years, I guess, of my life. I’m really excited to kind of get into the building and figure out what the Patriots are all about.”
