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Marcas Grant: The first person you should look toward is Charcandrick West, followed by Knile Davis. Those two backs who will do their best to fill Charles' shoes for the remainder of the season. If they're not available, it's going to be slim pickings on the waiver wire ... but here are a few names I can suggest (all owned in fewer than 50 percent of NFL.com leagues): Duke Johnson, David Johnson, Antonio Andrews and Theo Riddick. Happy hunting!
M.G.: The only way I can recommend that is if you have no one else trustworthy in your stable of running backs. My suggestion would be to try and deal Gates after his huge return to the field this week. There has to be someone in your league with tight end issues who would be willing to make a deal. Just be aware that you're likely targeting a mid-tier RB like Chris Johnson, Frank Gore or Latavius Murray. Giving up someone like Rob Gronkowski is a last resort simply because he is head and shoulders above everyone else at a very flawed position.
M.G.: It has not been a good start to the season for Lacy but be patient, better times are ahead. This week's matchup against the Chargers is a particularly tasty one. Plus there are still games against the Panthers, Lions and Cowboys coming. Remember, Lacy had a slow start to last season and finished sixth among running backs. Maybe we just have to accept that this is who Eddie Lacy is.
M.G.: If it were up to me, the answer undoubtedly would be "yes." Sadly, it's in the hands of the Buccaneers coaches. But as long as they make the choice to bring Jameis Winston along slowly, then Doug Martin is a worthwhile start. The best thing for Martin, the Bucs and fantasy owners would be to feed the Boise State product 20 or more times per game. His best production came when he's been able to get a solid volume of touches and get into the flow of the game. Martin's next matchup comes against a tough Washington defense, but there are plenty of better contests on the horizon. Definitely keep the faith!
M.G.: If I had suggested in August that Andy Dalton would be the No. 1 fantasy quarterback after five weeks, you all would have petitioned to have me committed. But right now, Andy Dalton is playing better than just about anyone in the league. And don't be too frightened of the matchup this week. For all of the hype surrounding Rex Ryan and his defense, the Bills haven't been the most formidable unit. There is plenty of reason to believe the Red Rifle will continue to fire true this week.
M.G.: It might sound crazy, but I'd ride with Jay Cutler this week. As big as I was on Bridgewater in the preseason, he's been inconsistent so far this season. However one of his best performances was against the Lions -- the same opponent Cutler faces this week. While it's been easy over the years to poke fun at the Bears quarterback, he's posted back-to-back 17-point fantasy contests. The more impressive part is that he's done it without Alshon Jeffery and with minimal support from Eddie Royal. You could do worse than starting Cutler this week.
M.G.: I'm a fan of both of these tight ends, but this week I strongly believe in Greg Olsen. As good as the Seahawks defense has been from a fantasy perspective, they've been very vulnerable against tight ends -- a trend that has endured for the past couple of seasons. Add to it that Olsen is Cam Newton's most consistent target. Eifert has a nice matchup against the Bills, but Dalton is likely to spread the ball around to a much deeper roster of pass-catchers.
M.G.: It is hard for me to consider sitting Julio Jones because of his immense talent level and how good he was for the first three games of the season. But he's struggled to produce in the past two games and is being bothered by a nagging injury. On the flip-side, Julian Edelman remains one of the best overall PPR receivers around and should be able to carve up the Colts defense. With Brandon LaFell out for at least one more week, there are fewer mouths for Tom Brady to feed in the passing game. Edelman is a much safer call this week.
M.G.: The good news for you is that you're shorthanded at the deepest position in fantasy. Whether it's Allen Hurns, Rishard Matthews, Leonard Hankerson, Marvin Jones or Ted Ginn, there are plenty of options available on the waiver wire that could be short term solutions for your roster. The better news is that Sammy Watkins could return as soon as this week and Dez Bryant's return might not be too far away. If you can weather the storm for another week or two, you could be in really good shape.
M.G.: If Davis has been producing for you, there's no reason to go away from him now. While Luke Kuechly has been the star of the Panthers defense ever since he was drafted in 2012, Davis has been productive in his own right. The veteran linebacker has finished second on the team (behind Kuechly) in tackles in each of the last three years while registering more sacks. The Georgia product might not command the same type of attention as Kuechly, but he's every bit his equal.
Bonus question:
M.G.: Big Brother is always watching.
Marcas Grant is a fantasy editor for NFL.com and a man who wants to know your favorite Arnold Schwarzenegger movie quote. Tweet him movie lines or fantasy football questions @MarcasG.
