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DeSean Jackson, WR, Washington Redskins
It’s been a tough year for Jackson: His new team is nowhere near playoff contention while his old squad is still in the hunt. He has had three different quarterbacks throwing passes to him over the course of the season. He’s been injured, and now his head coach Jay Gruden has seemingly thrown him under the bus.
“He’s a very good wide receiver but … the last couple weeks he’s been dealing with an injury and he hasn’t been quite the same,” Gruden as saying. “I’m a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately kind of guy and lately we haven’t seen the DeSean we need to see.”
Gruden reportedly praised Jeremy Maclin as well. What seems like a bad move from Gruden could just be what an ailing Jackson needs to light a fire in him as he’s failed to earn more than 40 yards in three of his last four contests. It’s bulletin-board material and somewhere between the Eagles giving up the second-most points to fantasy wideouts, RGIII coming off his best game against the Giants and of Jackson, look for DeSean to put up big numbers against his old team.
Mark Ingram/Pierre Thomas, RBs, New Orleans Saints
Thomas and Ingram will play key roles in a must-win NFC South matchup between the Falcons and the Saints. The Falcons surrender the most points to running backs; that makes Ingram a must-start. The last time these two teams went at it, Ingram had 60 yards and two touchdowns. Firmly planted as the Saints’ primary back, he should have more yards this time around. While the matchup may be more of a boon for Ingram than Thomas, Thomas has potential as a flex starter, especially in PPR formats. Thomas had 31 yards on seven carries and 58 yards on six receptions in Week 1 against Atlanta.
Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
While last Sunday’s matchup between the Bills and Packers didn’t produce anything in terms of offensive touchdowns, expect Tampa Bay to utilize its wide receivers when Green Bay rolls into town. Evans has evolved into the top offensive weapon in the passing game for Tampa Bay, even surpassing Vincent Jackson. He’s found the end zone at least once in three of his last four games. He should do well against a Packers’ defense that allows the eighth-most points to opposing receivers. Jeremy Maclin, Jordan Matthews, Roddy White and Julio Jones have all found success against the Pack.
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Malcom Floyd, WR, San Diego Chargers
Floyd may seem like a tempting play this week with fellow receiver Keenan Allen sidelined with an ankle injury and a broken collarbone, but the matchup against the 49ers is far from favorable. The 49ers give away the fifth-fewest points to opposing wideouts. Floyd is San Diego’s deep threat, and deep threats from other teams have fared poorly against the 49ers in recent weeks. New Orleans’ Kenny Stills was held to just 26 yards, DeSean Jackson had 39 and Andre Homes had 38.
Joe Flacco, QB, Baltimore Ravens
Flacco is coming off of a less-than-stellar performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and he has another matchup against an AFC South team in Houston this Sunday. The Ravens’ tour of the AFC South has been brutal for Flacco as he’s failed to throw for more than just one touchdown against Indianapolis, Jacksonville and Tennessee.
On the other side of the ball, Houston has been tough on quarterbacks limiting Blake Bortles, Andy Dalton and Zach Mettenberger to a lone passing touchdown in recent weeks. The Texans also held Andrew Luck in check. Luck managed to throw two touchdowns last week though he only had 187 yards passing. That yardage is Luck’s lowest since Week 2 against Philadelphia.
CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM
Jeremy Hill, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
In a surprising turn of events, Hill has become the clear No. 1 back in Cincinnati overtaking Giovani Bernard in a situation that draws parallels to last year’s “passing of the torch” between Bernard and then-starter Benjarvus Green-Ellis. Nevertheless, owners will have a difficult time sitting Hill as he’s been on a tear as of late. Most recently, Hill ripped the Browns for 148 yards on 25 carries and a pair of touchdowns. . Hill isn’t likely to do the same to the Broncos’ defense this Monday, however. Denver is allowing an average of just 72 yards per game and has allowed only eight rushing touchdowns on the season.
Hugh Johnson: 303-954-1037, hjohnson@denverpost.com or twitter.com/HughJohnsonDP
