*Three Up, Three Down is Greg Vorse looking deeper into the week-by-week fantasy rankings to tell you 3 guys ranked 15th or worse who should be in your starting lineup and 3 guys ranked inside the top 10 that he thinks could underachieve.

 

1 UP) Alex Smith, QB, Redskins: Smith is currently listed as the 16th ranked QB for this week as his Redskins take on Arizona. Last year Smith finished in the top 10 in yards and TDs plus he can sneak in and give you some yards with his legs, rushing for 355 yards. That coupled with a mediocre Cardinals defense and I'd expect Smith to finish above the 16th slot.

2 UP) LeSean McCoy, RB, Bills: Shady is currently listed at the 15th best running back for this week as Buffalo visits the Ravens. To me this is as simple as touches, McCoy has to be the Bills workhorse in both the backfield and in the passing game if they have any chance to stay competitive. Sure his being 30 and a very good Baltimore D scares me, but this should be a 30+ touch game for McCoy.

3 UP) Jarvis Landry, WR, Browns: Landry was the 4th ranked WR in PPR last year, but somehow is listed as #24 in Cleveland's game with the Steelers. He has to be higher for a few reasons, he is now with a QB in Tyrod Taylor who loves to find the short targets and the Browns could be in a spot where they are chasing points and the passing game is a must. For those two reasons he needs to be higher.

 

1 DOWN) Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Cowboys: remember I am not saying you should sit Zeke, but a top 5 back behind a banged up line with no WR threats that a defense has to key on has me nervous about the bell cows ability to roam with eight-man boxes. To me guys like Fournette, McCaffrey, and Gordon should be able to outscore Elliott.

2 DOWN) Jimmy Graham, TE, Packers: so we are expecting him to just bounce back since he is with the Packers? Rodgers? Graham in ranked the #4 TE this week against the Bears. I'll wait and see if he can become the Saints Graham again before I think he must be slotted in the top 5. I would actually probably list Graham as more of the TE 10 this week.

3 DOWN) Odell Beckham, Jr., WR, Giants: make no mistake OBJ must be in your starting lineup this week, but coming off of the new contract and lining up against the Jaguars and Jalen Ramsey could be a dangerous cocktail. The last time he was the major focus of off field talk he fell flat on his face in the playoffs after the "boat photo." I play OBJ and hope he finds the endzone, but I wouldn't pencil him in as my major point collector week one which is what being WR #8 should mean.

DEEP DIVE: I said before the draft season started that James Conner should be at the bottom of your roster (now I admit him and I are from the same town and I've enjoyed many chats with the Erieite) and now it looks like a no-brainer. That said, with Bell out for the Steelers Conner is still only listed at RB 27. I think he has the upside to be an RB1 this week especially with the Steelers playing a rival in Cleveland and wanting to make a point to Le'Veon that they don't "need" him.

 

Remember, these are only suggestions, unless your team kills it with my moves and you wanna give a little kick back.