Every Thursday on 1500ESPN’s Fantasy Football Pants Party, Anthony Maggio and Bo Mitchell field their Ballsy teams—a full fantasy lineup comprised only of players available in at least half of ESPN leagues. Each week Zoneblitz.com will publish a preview, with Maggio’s top-rated at each position among the Ballsy-eligible players.

Kirk Cousins vs. NY Giants

Cousins put up video game stats in his first start of the season last week at Philly, and now faces the Giants at home. New York’s been respectable against the pass thus far, but the last two quarterbacks they faced were Ryan Fitzpatrick and Drew Stanton. Cousins is clearly a step up in class.

 

Matt Asiata vs. Atlanta

For the first time in his career as a starter, his box score finally matched how he looks on the field. He’s not a special back, but as long as Asiata’s getting the 15+ touches he’s received the last two weeks, he’s in the RB2 conversation.

 

Jordan Matthews at San Francisco

Matthews still hasn’t supplanted Riley Cooper on the depth chart, but he certainly has in our hearts. Or at least in Nick Foles’ heart. The rookie scored twice on nine targets last week, while Cooper had only seven targets. So long as Chip Kelly doesn’t change his identity and start rocking two-wideout sets regularly, Matthews will be on the field enough to put up fantasy digits.

 

Niles Paul vs. NY Giants

Jordan Reed might be getting Wally Pipp’d here. Paul finished with six catches for 68 yards last week—and that was his worst game this season. He’s seen 20 targets come his way the last two weeks, and will be by far the most productive tight end New York has seen so far this season.

 

Shaun Suisham vs. Tampa Bay

The Pittsburgh kicker is third in the NFL in points scored, just four behind Philadelphia kicker Cody Parkey for the league lead. And with the Bucs having allowed the second most points in the league through three weeks, Suisham should make a run at Parkey for head of the class by the end of week four.

 

Buffalo Bills at Houston

I might be overly excited here, and their No. 1 ranking at team defense for me this week comes with the major caveat that it assumes Arian Foster isn’t playing. The Bills defense is 6th best in yards allowed and hasn’t ceded a rushing score this year. Alfred Blue is fine—nothing special. With Ryan Fitzpatrick prone to interceptions, Buffalo’s ability to make them one dimensional, and CJ Spiller a threat to go the distance on every kickoff, I like the Bills’ odds this week.

 

For even more Ballsy picks of the week, listen to 1500ESPN’s Fantasy Football Pants Party.