Each week of the season I will look at matchups, usage, pace of play and the injury report to highlight my favorite "higher", and sometimes "lower" picks, on Chalkboard.
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Higher
- QB Cam Ward
vs. JAX - higher than 202.5 pass yards; 0.5 TDs - WR Elic Ayomanor vs. JAX - higher than 37.5 rec yards
Ward has come through for us back-to-back weeks in tough matchups against the Seahawks and Texans. He's improving every week while making some highlight-reel throws. Now, he gets a softer spot at home against Jacksonville, and his No. 1 WR back as Elic Ayomanor is expected to return from a one-game absence. The promising fourth-round rookie has drawn at least five targets in his last five games with him and Ward narrowly missing on a couple of would-be long touchdowns.
- QB Jacoby Brissett
at TB - higher - WR Michael Wilson at TB - higher
I see no reason not to go right back to Brissett either. He's thrown for at least 258 yards in all five of his starts. The Cardinals are playing up-tempo and passing at one of the highest rates in the league as they don't have much of a running game. Sunday's matchup against Tampa Bay is a customary target as the Bucs defense remains a pass funnel. Michael Wilson has 25 catches on 33 targets over the last two games filling in for Marvin Harrison as the Cards' No. 1. He really looks the part, and assuming Harrison is out again, I'm willing to keep backing Wilson.
- RB Kenneth Walker
vs. MIN - higher than 68.5 rush yards, 0.5 TDs - QB Sam Darnold vs. MIN - higher than 1.5 pass TDs
Rookie Max Brosmer gets the start at QB for Minnesota, and I'm expecting them to get dominated in Seattle. The offense has been inept, consistently putting the defense in bad spots. It led to Green Bay Packers RB Emanuel Wilson getting 30 touches and scoring twice last week. I highlighted Walker in this article last week and he took 14 touches for 101 yards. He could be in for a bigger workload this week. As for Darnold, he'll be out to prove his old team wrong after they released him in the offseason. He's been one of the best QBs in the league, while the Vikings have struggled with McCarthy.
- WR Chris Olave
at MIA - higher than 5.5 receptions
Olave is coming of nine catches on targets. He's seen in target share jump even higher after the Saints traded away Rashid Shaheed. They're also likely to be without Alvin Kamara for Sunday's matchup in Miami, meaning Olave will be even more of a focal point.
Be careful, though, as Olave is questionable due to a back injury, and he was a limited participant in practice Friday. If he is green-lighted, though, roll with him.
- WR Jayden Higgins
at IND - higher than 36.5 rec yards, 3.5 receptions
Higgins has at least seven targets and 38+ receiving yards in three consecutive games. The Texans are underdogs, playing indoors and they get C.J. Stroud back. Higgins has the skillset of a prototypical WR1, and we haven't seen his best yet.
- WR Jalen Coker
vs. LAR - higher than 2.5 receptions
Coker has at least three catches in three consecutive games in his role as Carolina's slot receiver. The Panthers are likely to be playing from behind and chasing the game against the Rams, which would be the perfect script for their passing-game. We could even be in for a quarter's worth of garbage time.
- RB De'Von Achane
vs. NO - higher than 78.5 rush yards; 121.5 rush+rec yards
Achane has amassed 165 and 225 scrimmage in his last two games. The Dolphins are fresh off a bye and have a prime matchup at home against the up-tempo Saints.
- RB Breece Hall
vs. ATL - higher than 69.5 rush yards; 93.5 rush+rec yards
Hall has topped 118 scrimmage yards in three of his last four as he's become the focal point of the Jets offense with Garrett Wilson injured and Justin Fields benched. Tyrod Taylor is an upgrade for his prospects in the receiving game and they have a favorable home matchup against a Falcons team without Michael Penix and Drake London.
