Fantasy football owners seem to get smarter every year. The leagues seem to get deeper. The competition seems to get better. That's partially because of the sheer amount of information available to fantasy geeks willing to put the time in. But it's not always easy to find sound fantasy advice on players filling out the back ends of fantasy depth charts.
That's where we'll try to help fill in the gaps. Every week, we'll look at the Patriots matchup and try to help you decide which players to start and which to sit - or which to invest in if you're playing in a daily format. You know you're playing Tom Brady every week. You know you're playing Rob Gronkowski. But this is where we'll delve a little deeper with the information we've gleaned by being on the beat. We're hopeful that someone finds it helpful.
START
SONY MICHEL, RB, PATRIOTS
Last weekend wasn't Sony Michel's best. Clearly. He finished with 50 yards on 14 carries (a 3.6 average per attempt) and he lost a yard on his only catch when he couldn't shake free from a defensive who outweighs him by about 60 pounds. He's struggled with drops through two weeks. But there's reason to be optimistic fantasy-wise: volume. On 36 offensive snaps, he's taken a handoff or been targeted in the passing game 29 times. And with Rex Burkhead dealing with a neck injury, Michel is in line to see the lion's share of the workload in the Patriots backfield. Plus there's this . . . He had nowhere to run against Detroit, and he still gained 36 yards after contact and forced three missed tackles. Michel's athletic traits should flash further after he shakes off the rust from missing the vast majority of training camp. To me, the rookie is a buy-low candidate and an RB2 option this week despite the fact that Miami's run defense has been very good (3.3 yards per carry allowed through three weeks).
JAMES WHITE, RB, PATRIOTS
Because the Patriots are devoid of dependable options offensively, because I'd anticipate this being a close game where the Patriots will have to throw, and because Tom Brady loves him some James White, I'm comfortable with White as a FLEX play this week. Michel, to me, looks like the back to own because of the work he'll see on first down, second down and at the goal line, but White is certainly still worth starting. After Rob Gronkowski, White is Brady's next-best security blanket. When Brady goes to a postgame podium and essentially asks Josh McDaniels for more White, then I'd expect that he'll get more White.
KENYAN DRAKE, RB, DOLPHINS
We've said all that needs to be said about the Patriots run defense through three weeks. It's not good. So even though Miami ranks smack-dab in the middle of the league in terms of yards per carry (4.0) and rush yards per game (98.7), their lead back is worth starting this week. I believe the Patriots will eventually get a grip on opposing run games, but until they prove it, it's hard to say with any confidence that they'll make stops consistently. Frank Gore is cutting into Drake's workload, and Drake saw just five carries last weekend against the Raiders, but Adam Gase will have to feel like testing the Patriots run defense and that means early work for the third-year back. The last time Drake saw New England, he had 193 total yards on 30 touches.
KENNY STILLS, WR, DOLPHINS
Stills has just nine catches on the season thus far, but it feels like a matter of time before Ryan Tannehill starts leaning on his best receiver a little more. When targeting Stills, Tannehill has a near-perfect rating (151.4), and Stills is in the top-25 in the NFL in terms of yards per route run (2.16), ahead of players like DeAndre Hopkins (2.11), Golden Tate (1.98) and Sammy Watkins (1.83). Jakeem Grant and Albert Wilson are big-play threats, but Stills is the Tannehill's most reliable option. That pair played just 19 total snaps combined last week against the Raiders.
SIT
JOSH GORDON, WR, PATRIOTS
It's a good sign that offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels feels as though Gordon has already shown an ability to pick up the playbook. And it's clear the Patriots could use a down-the-field threat to draw coverage away from Rob Gronkowski. But until Gordon gets on the field -- until he spends a more significant chunk of practices working with the offense in team periods -- then you can't feel strongly enough about Gordon to put him in your starting lineup. Can't do it. If he's on your roster, you have to be comfortable sitting him for another week . . . or maybe two . . . or maybe more . . . if you're hoping to eventually see a return on that lottery ticket.
RYAN TANNEHILL, QB, DOLPHINS
Yes, the Patriots made Blake Bortles look like Drew Brees. Yes, Matthew Stafford had himself a nice night on Sunday. But there are 12-15 quarterbacks around the league who I'd feel better about than Tannehill this week. Ryan Fitzpatrick needs to stick in lineups. Andy Dalton has a great matchup and is a better option. Even Case Keenum, in part because he's going against a porous Kansas City secondary, would be my choice over Tannehill. If you're in a deep league, or a two-quarterback league, go for it with Tannehill. But most fantasy players will have a shot at a better quarterback on the waiver wire -- I might even start Baker Mayfield over Tannehill -- if they're scrambling this week.
CHRIS HOGAN/PHILLIP DORSETT, WR, PATRIOTS
For weeks now we've told you that Chris Hogan needs to be in your lineups. The Patriots are still an offense centered around Tom Brady, and Tom Brady needs receivers to throw to. That means targets and fantasy production for his most trusted wideout. But this is the first week that I think it's safe to move Hogan to your bench. What Xavien Howard did to Brandin Cooks last year is still fresh in my mind, and on paper it's a tough matchup for Hogan. If you have room for a fourth receiver as a FLEX, I'd think about Hogan based on his rapport with Brady alone, but I wouldn't blame you for sitting him based on what the Lions did last week. As far as Dorsett is concerned, I think his connection with Brady -- two dropped passes in Detroit and a pick that Dorsett never saw coming -- took a step back. This group needs Julian Edelman badly.