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NFL Week 14: Pray to the Old Gods and the New

5/12/2017

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We all do it or have done it before; staring deeply at your line-up screen with such concentration that if any player’s projection moved by a decimal point you would know instantly. You have studied the player patterns, the target shares, snap counts, defensive match-up, checked the weather and looked into any sort of grudge match that may be lingering between players or teams. Yet, you are unsettled and anxious. How can you be sure Julio will throw up another 50+ point week and not another 6 point dud? Is this going to be the week that Jordan Howard finally rights the ship that is quickly sinking? Will Alvin Kamara finally fall back to earth? All you can do is sit back, slowly close your eyes and say a prayer, say the name of your star players over and over, imagine them scoring a touchdown, chant their names like a crazy person or … whatever method works for you. It’s the fantasy playoffs, It’s time to pull out all the stops.

Without a doubt if you had 1 or perhaps even more of these “gods” you made it into the playoffs on the shoulders of some big weeks by these players. Although most weeks are won and lost by the consistent numbers, the thing that can tip the scales suddenly and without warning are monster weeks. Weeks when 1-2 of your players put you near triple digit points for the week. The weeks Julio Jones goes for 50+ or the multiple weeks Antonio Brown gets you 40+. For the sheer sake of fun let’s go ahead and label some of these Old Gods and New Gods. Please feel free to respond via reddit or blog posts directly with your inputs and who you would vote for. All in good fun.




Team Old Gods:
QB: Tom Brady
RBs: Le’Veon Bell, Mark Ingram
WRs: Antonio Brown, Julio Jones, Larry Fitzgerald
FLEX: LeSean McCoy, AJ Green
TE: Travis Kelce
Substitutes: Keenan Allen, Doug Baldwin

Team New Gods:
QB: Carson Wentz
RBs: Alvin Kamara, Leonard Fournette
WRs: Tyreek Hill, Adam Theilen, Mike Evans
FLEX: Melvin Gordon, Michael Thomas
TE: Evan Engram
Substitutes: Kareem Hunt, Robby Anderson




Post Breakdown:
-Waiver Claims
-Tiered Rankings
-Daily Fantasy Favor




Put Me in Coach: Waiver Wire
Marquise Goodwin, SF WR - We have had him in this section for weeks now and the fact that he is still so low on % owned is surprising. He doesn’t have the best schedule moving forward, but with a QB that finally looks for long ball plays Goodwin could see more production like this last week. It is clear Garoppolo is looking for connections and this could be his first and most solid. The big play factor makes Goodwin a weekly flex play option. 15% owned.

Dede Westbrook, JAX WR - 6 receptions, 78 yards and 9 targets. For the third straight week Dede has seen at least 6 targets and seems to be a focal part of this offense behind Fournette and Lee. His pure athletic talent makes him a top WR on this team and if the Jags stay healthy he could maintain flex value moving forward after this week. 10% owned.

Kenny Golladay, DET WR - With Stafford injured and a difficult match-up it isn’t the most ideal time to play Golladay, but now is a great time to roster him. He is a long ball threat every play and if Stafford gets healthy again merits flex consideration against the Bucs and Packers in the next few weeks. All it takes is an injury to Marvin Jones or Golden Tate for his numbers to jump drastically. 11% owned.

Peyton Barber, TB RB - Barber replaced Martin in the starting line-up and was one of the few bright spots for the Bucs. If Doug Martin continues to miss time Peyton could see significant carries and if he produces he may hold the RB spot with Martin considering the Doug’s production lately. 1 % owned.

Giovani Bernard, CIN RB - Don’t blame yourself for this one. The Bengals coaching staff decided long ago that they wouldn’t have a run game and if they did it would belong to Joe Mixon. However, they have started to run more in the past few weeks and with Mixon taking a hard hit causing shoulder and head injuries, Gio could step into a nice role. The fact that we all know he can produce with receptions as well leaves him as an intriguing option this week against a Chicago defense that ranks middle of the pact against the run. 22% owned.

Mike Davis, SEA RB - Seattle hasn’t had a solid run game all year and they have tried all kinds of combinations. Over the past few games Mike Davis has shown sparks of life that this backfield desperately needed. He seems to be pretty evasive when it comes to tackles. If Pete Carroll continues to play him with 12+ touches then he could be a solid producer moving forward. This last week he got 16 rush attempts and 4 receptions for over 100 total yards. 3% owned.

Julius Thomas, MIA TE - Although the yards haven’t been there for Thomas in the last 5 weeks, the targets have been. More importantly targets in the red zone. In the last 5 weeks Thomas had 27 targets and 3 touchdowns. Even in the weeks he doesn’t score a touchdown he has managed to stay mediocre in PPR. It is hard to just forget about production like that at a position that is so hard to find points this season. Worth a spot on your roster for the coming playoff weeks. 29% owned.




Tiered Rankings:
100% start:
QB: Brady, Wentz, Rivers, Brees, Ryan
RB: Bell, McCoy, Ingram, Kamara, Gordon, Hyde, Gurley
WR: Brown, Hopkins, Allen, Thomas, Thielen, Landry, Green, Tate, Jones
TE: Kelce, Ertz, Engram, Walker, Graham

Confident Production
QB: Smith, Newton, Goff, McCown , Kizer, Carr, Stafford*, Keenum
RB: Fournette, Freeman, Miller, McCaffery, Howard, Drake, Lynch, Lewis, Perine
WR: Fitzgerald, Evans, Jeffery, Jones Jr., Bryant, Baldwin, Hill, Cooks, Crabtree
TE: Olsen*, Rudolph, Henry, Thomas, Anderson, Doyle,

Worthy Play
QB: Goff, Roethlisberger, Prescott*, Dalton , Wilson, Cousins, Savage
RB: Hunt, Mixon*, Burkhead, Mckinnon, Morris, Forte, Johnson Jr., Collins, Riddick, J. Williams, Davis, Coleman
WR: Thomas, Adams, Gordon, Kupp, Diggs, Sanu, Sanders, Cooper, Shepard, Anderson, Jackson, Goodwin, Coleman, Ginn Jr., Agholor, Kearse, Stills
TE: Cook, Davis, Brate, Hooper, ASJ, Clay, Witten, Kroft, Ebron, Seals-Jones

Gambling:
QB: Winston, Garoppolo, Gabbert, Siemian, Cutler, Bortles, Mariota , Brissett, Hundley
RB: Gore, Crowell, Darkwa, Murray, Barber, Peterson*, Anderson, White, Powell, Henry, L.Murray, Abdullah*, Woodhead, Cohen, Ajayi, Blount, Stewart, Jones
WR: Funchess, Hogan*, Crowder, Hilton, Lee, Watkins, Maclin, Matthews*, Benjamin*, Doctson, Westbrook, Wallace, Parker, Inman, Nelson, Z.Jones, Golladay
TE: Watson, Njoku, Allen, Higbee, Green, Lewis, Kittle, Howard





Daily Fantasy Favor: Daily match-ups/value
QB:
High: Phillip Rivers vs. WAS - $6800
Mid: Derek Carr vs. KC - $6400
Low: DeShone Kizer vs GB - $4900

RB:
High: Melvin Gordon vs. WAS - $7800
Mid: Lamar Miller vs. SF - $5800
Low: Peyton Barber* vs. DET – $4500

WR:
High: Adam Theilen vs. CAR - $7200
Mid: Michael Crabtree vs. KC - $6700
Mid: Dez Bryant vs NYG - $5900
Low:
Josh Gordon vs GB - $5500

TE:
High: Travis Kelce vs. OAK – $7400
Mid: Evan Engram vs DAL - $6000
Low: Julius Thomas vs NE - $3500

FLEX:
High: LeSean McCoy vs IND - $7200
Mid: Marvin Jones Jr. vs TB - $6800
Low: Sterling Shepard vs DAL - $5300

D/ST:
High: Green Bay vs. CLE - $3700
Mid: Cincinnati vs CHI - $3300
Low: New England vs MIA - $3300

Cheap Potential:
Cameron Brate, MIA TE vs. DET – $4100
Kenny Golladay, DET WR vs. TB - $3900
Mike Davis, SEA RB vs. JAX - $3700
Andre Ellington, HOU RB vs SF- $3600
Trent Taylor, SF WR vs HOU - $3300


Comments, Questions, Concerns and Feedback!
Our hopes with this shorter post than usual, is to get some feedback about what you all want to hear about. Also, to give you a chance to ask any questions you want and we will answer them as openly as possible. We love the comments and feedback given lately and always will welcome more. With the end of the season getting closer and closer there is less to write about. We kept this post rather short and just wanted to touch base on some key points and things that may cause some change moving forward in leagues. Hopefully the advice given only helps you further your goal of a fantasy championship. Good luck this week to you all. We hope you make just the right roster moves and set the perfect line-up. Thanks for checking out the post this week and hopefully you visit us again soon. Dilly Dilly!

-Mike & Devin


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NFL Week 13 -The Return of the Jedi-Jones

28/11/2017

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Julio Skywalker Jones

Simply
because I am a huge nerd and because this is just all too fitting. There have been whispers and ancient text regarding the long foreseen “ Chosen One”, but the proof has not been there. Some hold true and know that he will show himself one day bringing balance to the force of your team and moving you one step closer to playoff berth or pushing you another round in championship contention bringing peace to the galaxy. Others doubting the existence of this false magic and lost faith; trading him off or disregarding him. Well, in week 12 Julio Skywalker Jones decided he would arise. Defenders trembled where they stood when they lined up across from him Sunday as he continue his on slaughter of catches and moving the marker. 268 yards, 2 touchdowns and 11 depleted souls later the Falcons claimed victory. We hope you are the faithful and prospered off of this rather than suffer.

​While Julio brought balance to force for the time being, remember an awakening is always around the corner. A special talent has arisen from the swamplands. He had the potential inside him all season long, and suddenly he seems to have more power than any could have ever dreamed. The young Alvin Kamara has burst onto the scene and the force is definitely strong with this one. The one time free agent padawan has surpassed those that once stood ahead of him and controls the fate of many fantasy universes.



To those entering the postseason, whether you squeaked in with a .500 record or if you’re the #1 seed, anything can happen here on out. Fantasy football is a long and rigorous quest, and the game is played all season long. Good Luck Gents!



Post Breakdown:
  • Waiver wire adds
  • Tiered Rankings
  • Round Table Team Discussions
  • Bold Predictions



Put Me In Coach: Waiver Wire
Ricky Seals-Jones, ARI TE - Still characterized as a boom or bust player RSJ is a risky but sexy pickup. Although the high snap count that is hoped for, he has seen a great usage rate. Plus, near the end zone he seems to have a great connection with Blaine Gabbert. If you are desperate at the TE position you could find worse options for sure. Owned in 1%.

Corey Coleman, CLE WR - Coleman has seen 18 targets in his two games back with the team and looks to be a main point of the offense moving forward. The return of Josh Gordon could actually make life a little easier on Corey giving him more red zone opportunities to get open, although his targets will take a small hit. Still a great add right now going into playoffs. Owned in 33%.

Austin Ekeler, LAC RB - For three straight weeks regardless of Melvin Gordon’s health Austin Ekeler has been involved in both the run and pass game. He is for sure worth rostering in most leagues for a handcuff to Melvin in case something were to happen and even if not still has a chance to produce weekly for you in PPR leagues. Owned in 25%.

Rod Smith, DAL RB - Darren McFadden was officially cut and then retired from the NFL leaving only two backs that matter for the next few weeks in Dallas. Right now Smith and Morris are sharing touches, but he continues to look like the more explosive of the two and may see more looks going forward if Dallas hopes to win some games with creativity. Owned in 21%.

Marquise Goodwin, SF WR - Although Goodwin only has 5 receptions in his last two games his stats still read well; 5 receptions, 160 yards, 1 TD and 8 Targets. Most of the time that would be a player worth rostering in all leagues strictly because of the potential and his lock at the WR1 for the team. With Jimmy G starting for the rest of the season (hopefully) Goodwin should see an increase in targets and his speed should pay off after the catch. Owned in 11%.

Zay Jones, BUF WR - Jones looks like he will be taking over as the WR1 with Kelvin out for the season despite the lack of time he actually spent with the team. Zay has seen 17 targets in the last two games and although the yards don’t show it, he has been a bright spot on the team. Luckily the team has a pretty good schedule moving forward and Jones should be worthy of a flex spots in most leagues with a decent floor for volume. Owned in 10%.

Dede Westbrook, JAX WR - In his first two weeks of playing with the team Dede quickly took over the target share for WRs. His speed, athleticism and pure talent should prove useful on a Jags team looking for any help outside of the injured Fournette. Despite the lack of skill from QB Blake Bortles, Westbrook should continue to see fantasy relevance with the targets in PPR leagues. Owned in 8%.




Tiered Rankings:
100% Start:
QB: Brady, Cousins, Newton, Wilson, Wentz, Rivers
RB: Bell, Gurley, McCoy, Ingram, Kamara, Howard, Gordon, McCaffrey, Hyde
WR: Brown, Jones, Green, Baldwin, Thielen, Thomas, Hopkins, Evans, Allen, Cooks
TE: Gronkowski, Kelce, Ertz, Engram, Graham, Walker, Rudolph

Confident Production:
QB: Taylor, Roethlisberger, Goff, Keenum, Brees
RB: Lewis, Perine, Burkhead, L. Murray, Miller, Johnson Jr., Fournette, Lynch
WR: Landry, D.Thomas, Hill, Crowder, Funchess, Shepard*, Diggs, Adams, Anderson, Bryant
TE: Olsen*, Cook, Davis, Doyle, Witten, ASJ, Henry, Hooper, Clay

Worthy starter:
QB: Smith, Carr, McCown, Ryan, Bortles, Mariota*, Stafford, Dalton
RB: Darkwa, D. Murray, Hunt, Mckinnon, Crowell, Forte, Collins, Peterson, Drake, Williams, Woodhead
WR: Fitzgerald, Sanders, Tate, Hogan, Jeffery, Kupp, Lee, Sanu, Smith-Schuster*, Jones Jr., Matthews,. Davis, Doctson, Ginn Jr., Goodwin, Inman, Richardson, Jones
TE: Kroft, Watson, Fiedorowicz, Thomas, Seals-Jones, Gresham, James

Roll the dice:
QB: Winston*, Prescott, Gabbert, Hundley, Siemian, Garoppolo, Savage, Gabbert
RB: Freeman, Coleman, Henry, Mixon, Smith, Morris, Gore, Abdullah, Powell, Booker, Martin*, Ajayi, White, Mack, Ekeler, Mckissic, Blount, Yeldon
WR: Nelson, Agholor, Hilton, Maclin, Roberts, Parker, Kearse, Jackson, Locket, Stills, Patterson, Watkins, Coleman, Gordon, Wallace, Richardson, Hurns*, Golladay, Cobb
TE: Howard, Lewis, Kittle, Sims, Njoku, Ebron, Higbee, Brate




Round Table: Weekly discussion
The Chargers looking Electric
-The Chargers have a great schedule moving forward and with their current momentum should carry some strong performances on both sides of the ball for the next few weeks: CLE, WAS, KC, NYJ and OAK to finish the year.
-With the recent surge from the team a few players have stepped up into bigger roles. Keenan Allen has seen his workload increase, especially near the end zone. Additionally, Austin Ekeler has proven to be a great asset to the team receiving passes out of the backfield.
-If Rivers can continue to chunk the ball with efficiency the defense should be able to hold out and carry this team to some more wins and fantasy production for its players.



Falcons Fly High
-Finally Julio owners got what they drafted for and have been waiting on. This year has been rough for fantasy owners with him only breaking the 20 point barrier one time before this monster 50 point game.
-The Falcons all together are starting to look better and fantasy is showing it. Coleman has produced when needed, Sanu continues to be consistent and reliable, Julio is demanding the ball and Matt Ryan looked a little better as of late.
-Atlanta’s schedule coming up favors its Wide receivers and will hopefully show us more of Julio’s magic and Sanu with more solid production. You should have confidence moving forward with Jones, Coleman, Freeman and Sanu...hopefully Ryan will step up a little more in this last push towards the playoffs.



Tomahawk the Chiefs
-The Chief’s entire offense caused many unexpected teams to jump out to early leads in their league standings. However, the spark has lost some sizzle. Kelce is the only remaining player that is an absolute 100% start.
-We have to start wondering whether Smith , Hill and Hunt will truly get rolling again. Since week 8: HIll hasn’t gone for over 70 yards as well as only having 1 td during the 4 game spread. Smith has only only 1 game with more than 250 yards and more touchdowns than turnovers (4 tds 4 turnovers). Hunt has 60 car for 173 yds (2.8 ypc 43.25 ypg) 11 rec 59 yds (14.75 ypg)
-Critically analyze whether these players are worth the starting spot. Don’t let your nostalgic bias persuade yourself they are must starts. Go with your gut, and understand other are in the same boat. This team showed how talented they are and could bounce back into form, but caution is advised.


The Dallas Duds
-It starts with the coaching staff and trickles down to Dak and the rest of the team. The lack of imagination is just dumbfounding since losing Zeke to suspension. Each drive looks the exact same and when the announcers are calling plays before they happen you know that opposing coaches and defenses are doing the same.
- With that comes Dak looking awful the last few weeks and shaking the faith of those that weren’t completely sold after last years efforts. He now has three straight games with under 200 passing yards. With that of course comes a lack of production across the board for fantasy players.

- Dallas has a schedule that is winnable moving forward if they can start to make some drastic changes. Force Dez the ball more, use more creative middle of the field plays for Beasley and make sure Witten (the one true reliable cowboy left) is involved!


Rumbling Raiders
- The Raiders just don’t look right lately. Derek Carr is having a down year in comparison to rankings for the season and both receivers are under producing for different reasons.
- WR trouble: Crabtree can’t stay on the field because of health issues and has seen his production drop lately, add the suspension and it only gets worse. Then they also have the whole Amari Cooper dropping balls disaster, add a concussion and ankle injury to that as well. Now you are left with three wide receivers that never had much spotlight on them.
- Moving forward the schedule is actually favorable to opposing wide receivers and it would be very beneficial for the team to get both of their stud WRs back and healthy by week 14. If not, the team could fall out playoff contention and in reality most other fantasy players would take a hit for the team. There would be a strong focus for Defenses to stop the run-game leaving Carr to throw to his unprepared receivers.


Pack is Back?
-Hundley looked great this last week and despite a poor outing against a good Baltimore defense, he has looked half decent for the past few weeks. With this the run-game should open up a bit more for Williams/Montgomery and also it seems he is getting a pretty good connection going with one of his WRs.
- Davante Adams looks like he is confident start weekly again moving forward after being targeted 19 times in the last two weeks and over 200+ total yards. Also, Cobb has slowly got back in the mix and has been relevant in deeper PPR leagues. Sadly Jordy Nelson has fallen of the young QBs radar. He seems that amazing QB/WR was strictly between Rodgers and Nelson.
- The team is slowly looking more and more like a team that can win games and is only 1 game behind Detroit right now in the division. The Packers are looking to keep any hope alive and will continue to push this young QB to be more explosive with the ball in his hands and better with his decision making. Be ready for more weeks of relevance from the Packers team we all thought might be lost without their fearless leader.





Lottery Tickets: Week 13 Bold predictions
Devin:
+Kirk Cousins throws for 300 yards 3 TDs against the Cowboys,
+Josh Mccown Throws for 250 and 2 TDs vs the Chiefs
+Marshawn Lynch goes for 100 totals yards and 1 TD
+Jordan Howard goes for 120+ yards and 2TDs
+Cooper Kupp goes for 100+ yards and a TD
-Nelson Agholor Back on a slow week with less than 50 total yards
-Alvin Kamara held to under 100 total yards and 0 TDs

-Jimmy Garoppolo throws 3 interceptions and 0 TDs in his first start with SF

Mike:
+Cam Newton throws for 300+ yards and 2 TDs against the Saints
+Jimmy Garoppolo throws for 250 yards and 2 TDs in his first start with SF
+Le’Veon Bell has 150+ total yards with 2 TDs

+Matt Forte has 100+ total yards and a TD
+Michael Thomas gets 120 yards and TD against the Panthers
-Leonard Fournette is not the highest scoring fantasy running back for JAX
-Sammy Watkins falls back to earth with less than 50 yards and no TDs
-Josh McCown throws for under 200 yards and only 1 TD



Thanks for reading and hope you enjoyed it. Next week we will be touching on Dynasty leagues and would love some feedback about what you guys want to hear or players you are concerned with. Make sure to check back next week for another post and hopefully some more helpful hints from the two of us. Good luck this week!

- Mike and Devin





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NFL Week 12: Yippee-ki-yay Mother******

21/11/2017

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It's that time of the year! We all have mixed feelings about it. The end of the fantasy regular season only weeks away. Resultantly, that always means the sweet taste of playoffs or the morbid toxicity of defeat.  It's the end of the quest and riches/glory are on the line. Will you be boasting to your friends for the next 9 months or be mocked and ridiculed. The playoffs are beginning, or are extremely close, and the time of reinforcing your team has pretty much gone bye. However, there are still a few players out there worth a waiver wire who could boost your roster in the playoffs.  The pattern of injury has yet to cease, and we can all only assume it will continue, make the safe play and grab some padding for the fall. This is the last push people; the rebels against the empire, the fellowship against Sauron, John McClane against Hans Gruber...you get the picture. It is you against the rest of your league and everything is on the line. Glory is on the horizon....


We will skip the lengthy intro this week and jump into a little bit more of the meat. Good luck to you all and may the odds be ever in your favor!
​


Round Table: Topics of interest
⦁ In need of a Stampede: The Bills have slowed down..or stopped.
⦁ QB - Let’s just be straight up here and admit that the front office is not the biggest fan of Tyrod Taylor and would prefer him riding the pine or wearing a different jersey. Sadly, for them the first chance they got to make a change was a huge dumpster fire that left them plugging Tyrod back in to actually put some numbers on the scoreboard. Tyrod has an amazing schedule going forward
⦁ WR Targets - Kelvin has ACL damage and will miss time. Moving forward that leaves some targets ( not many with Tyrod ) to go around. Zay Jones has seen a lot of targets the last few games despite Thompson producing a little more. Going forward Zay Jones and Charles Clay should be the main focus of their offense.

⦁ Houston Health: Practice Squad
⦁ Savag-Ington - It is clear. Tom Savage and Bruce Ellington have a connection after all that work in practice together and if Will Fuller’s injury lingers Bruce could start to look like Batman ( like the 3rd best super-hero on the justice league ). Last week he played 97% of snaps. He has racked up a nice 15 targets in two games and only 1 catch less than Hopkins.
⦁ The Curse - Well just as it looked like Foreman was finally getting a chance to rack up some points and show off….the Houston curse took its toll. With Foreman out for the season Lamar Miller will be an independent work horse again with Alfred Blue mixed in from time to time. Hopefully Tom Savage can keep the passing game up to some tempo to take pressure off Miller.

⦁ BUC-les-S: We need some angry pirates in Tampa
⦁ QB - Jameis is clearly having a down year and the injury played a big part, thus the benching/rest. Now we get to watch Ryan Fitz”magic” dazzle us all with slippery pocket presence, risky passes and either 3 TDs a game or 3 INTs. Hopefully the entire team picks up the energy and makes life for both QBs a little easier.
⦁ Hotseat - recent news is that Coach K. is possibly on the outs if he doesn’t get things turned around. Honestly, in today’s NFL while I think it is premature, it may be needed with such a talented roster with such a depressing year. If we don’t see some extra pep in the teams step the next two weeks I would be extremely surprised and I expect Coach Koetter is back next season.
⦁ Run-Game or Lack there of - Doug Martin is getting the chances and touches to try and pull some numbers together, but lately with the QB troubles and horrid offensive line play it has been impossible. I think I have finally given up on Doug Martin despite the fact that I know he has athletic ability. He has fallen into my category of “Yee of little faith”.

⦁ Mile-High Pity: Just have to feel bad
⦁ RB Sticky-Icky - Well the run game is not there in Denver and it doesn’t help that the team keeps changing QBs and seem to have little faith in any. Despite the targets still getting thrown around and WRs staying relevant, the RBs have fallen off. We now see a combo off Anderson/Booker with Jamaal Charles just thrown in for fan nostigle at this point. Truly it is up in the air now with the change in Coaching this week. They could go straight back to CJ getting 15 carries and hope to get back to some glory or they could completely flip it giving the reigns to Booker who has looked pretty reliable lately.
⦁ Dude, Where’s my Defense? - For years fantasy players have relied on one thing weekly when it comes to defenses, Denver. They were great stopping the run, the dump-offs and the long balls. Allowing 20+ points since week 7. Don’t count on Denver D anymore.

⦁ Mythology Monster: Patriot’s confusing but lasting way to win
⦁ Three-Headed Dragon; Dion, Burk, JWhite - We can be honest and say that Gillislee is an afterthought at this point and just an injury pre-caution guy. Dion Lewis has started to get most of the important rushing work and the “THD” seem to split the passing receptions from the backfield. Right now it is truly a weekly dice roll and that is exactly what Billy B wants. Expect it to continue but Dion to be the most consistent.
⦁ Billy B baby - The Patriots defense is back to at least performing at an acceptable level and even a weekly play in larger leagues. Just like most year it takes the Patriots some time to get every part of their team into sync with the scheme Bill wants to run on both sides of the ball. With a few moves and tweaks the defense has begun to shut down opposing offenses striking their strengths. Weekly streamer for sure.




Put Me In Coach: Waiver wire adds
Samaje Perine, WAS RB - Kirk Cousins led offenses move the ball and Samaje is the only guy left in the backfield with any significant work this year. He certainly performed well this weekend and should become more involved in the passing game going forward. All this being said, let's keep expectations within reason as prior to last game the guy had 66 carries for 210 yards (3.18 y/c), 6 rec for 64 yards and 2 total TDS. Perine should rank as a low end RB2 with high end RB2 upside.
Ricky seals-jones , ARI TE - A character who you should certainly start paying attention to. This converted WR and TAMU product has all the physical tools to be successful in the NFL. He’s a 6’5” ex basketball player, runs a sub 4.7 40 yd-dash, with great leaping ability and showed flashes in the SEC. Were not hitching up the RSJ hype trailer just yet, but in a season that is pretty much lost for the Cards we could see more of this young talent.

Corey Coleman , CLE WR - Against an incredible Jacksonville Def Coleman was targeted 11 times and hauled in 6 rec for 80 yards. Some are skeptical of his qb play, as well as Josh Gordon’s return. Bottom line, when Coleman has been healthy this year he has produced and is the Browns #1 WR option (at least for now). He has 24 targets in his 3 games played and has ~20% target share. Should be an WR3/ flex going forward

Austin Ekeler, LAC RB - During the first 6 weeks Ekeler averaged 5.3 % snap count. Over his last 4 games his usage has been 18,17, 23, and then a season high 32%. These are the trends you want to see when looking for a potential breakout waiver wire pickup. He has 3 touchdowns the last 2 weeks on 23 touches and 177 yards (7.7 Y/T). That type of production is nearly impossible to sustain, nevertheless Ekeler is continuing to prove himself and should be on your bench at the least.

Devonte Booker, DEN RB - 19 touches in Week 11 compared to 9,8,9 touches the previous 3. His useage also jumped to 48% this week after 3 weeks of 25,22, and 23%. If you watched the game it is certainly arguable he is the best rb for their backfield. He was also much more involved in the passing game. Keep in mind he’s still a flex play, but he seems to be the RB to start in the Denver backfield. His outlook is also heavily dependent on the new coaching regime.

Zay Jones, BUF WR - Jones is the product of circumstance. During his last two games he’s seen 7 targets in each and had his most productive performances to date. He has a favorable matchup this week and could have some success with his high usage and volume. He is still (for now) a risky flex play that provides about a 3 catch 40 yard floor with limited upside.

Dede Westbrook, JAX WR - There are some things to like about this rookie. To start Lee and Hurns should draw most of the coverage away. In addition Fournette has been struggling with injury which could lead to the jags looking for new playmakers. He received a surprising 6 targets this past weekend, while he only converted with 3 catches were interested to see what could pan out. If you have room for a flier he could be worth a stash.

B. Ellington, HOU WR - In the last 3 games Bruce has gotten 23 targets, and finally started converting on his opportunities the last couple weeks. He and Savage were 6/7 on their attempts this past game. We’re not fans of his upcoming schedule, but he could be worth a reach for flex play, and should warrant very strong consideration for a bench spot.




Week 12 Tiered Rankings
100% START:
QB: Brady, Wilson, Cousins, brees, Wentz, Rivers, Smith, Roethlisberger

RB: Bell, McCoy, Gurley, Ingram, Hunt, Karama, Gordon, McCaffrey, Miller, Howard

WR: Brown, Jones, thomas, Baldwin, Green, Theilen, Landry, Allen, Evans, Cooks, Hill

TE: Kelce, Gronk, Ertz, Graham, Engram, Walker, Davis, Cook, Clay


Confident:
QB: Mariota , Newton, Ryan, Manning, Stafford, Prescott,Dalton

RB: Hyde, Mckinnon, Darkwa*, Freeman*, Murray, Lynch, Murray, L.Fournette*, Perine, Lewis, Coleman, Ajayi, J. Williams, Duke Johnson *

WR: Hopkins, Tate, Shepard*, D.Thomas, E. Sanders, Bryant, Crabtree, Cooper, Jeffery, Diggs, Matthews , Crowder, Stills, Funchess, Anderson, Smith-Schuster

TE: Kroft, Doyle, Olsen*, Hooper, Rudolph, Witten, Thomas, Henry, ASJ, Watson, Reed*


Gambles:
QB: Carr, Bortles, Goff, Moore, Fitzpatrick , Brissett, Keenum McCown, Trubisky

RB: Morris, Smith, Mixon, Gore, Woodhead, Collins, Crowell, Burkhead, White, Riddick, Williams, Martin, Peterson , Forte*, Gore

WR: Hogan*, Davis, Sanu, Doctson, Jones Jr., Adams, Fitzgerald, Maclin, Jackson, Watkins, Lee , Parker , Kupp, Coleman, Ginn Jr., LaFell, Goodwin, Richardson , Westbrook

TE: Brate, Ebron, Njoku, Fiedorowicz, Gates, Lewis, Howard, Bennett, Allen, Fleener





Good Vibes: Like what we see
DaVante Adams, GB WR -
Week 10 - 5 rec, 90 yards, 8 targets
Week 11 - 8 rec, 126 yards, 10 targets

Corey Coleman, CLE WR -
Week 10 - IR
Week 11 - 6 rec, 80 yards, 11 targets

Delanie Walker, TEN TE -
Week 10 - 6 rec, 63 yards, 9 targets
Week 11 -6 rec, 92 yards, 9 targets

Demaryius Thomas, DEN WR -
Week 10 - 5 rec, 44 yards, 1 TD, 8 targets
Week 11 - 5 rec, 64 yards, 1 TD, 9 targets

Kenny Stills, MIA WR - (with Matt Moore, QB )
Week 7 - 6 rec, 85 yards, 2 TD, 9 targets
Week 11 - 7 rec, 180 yards, 1 TD, 8 targets

Jamison Crowder, WAS WR -
Week 10 - 4 rec, 76 yards, 11 targets
Week 11 - 7 rec, 72 yards, 8 targets

Orleans Darkwa, NYG RB -
Week 9 - 16 rush, 71 yards, 2 rec. 8 yards
Week 10 - 14 rush, 70 yards, 2 rec, 18 yards
Week 11 - 20 rush, 74 yards, 1 TD, 2 rec, 16 yards, 4 targets

Latavius Murray, MIN RB -
Week 10 - 17 rush, 68 yards, 1 TD
Week 11 - 15 rush, 95 yards, 2 TD

Dion Lewis, NE RB -
Week 10 - 14 rush, 55 yards, 1 TD
Week 11 - 10 rush, 60 yards, 4 rec, 28 yards, 1 TD, 4 targets



Making Me Nervous: Patterns that scare me
Derek Carr, OAK WR -
Week 9 - 21/30, 300 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Week 11 - 28/49, 237 yards, 1 TD 1 INT

James White, NE RB -
Week 10 - 2 rush, 7 yards, 3 rec, 11 yards , 1 TD
Week 11 - 5 rush, 13 yards, 0 rec, 1 target

CJ Anderson, DEN RB -
Week 9 - 9 rush, 13 yards
Week 10 - 10 rush, 54 yards,
Week 11 -13 rush, 37 yards, 1 TD, 2 rec 19 yards, 1 Fumble

Kenyan Drake, MIA RB -
Week 10 - 7 rush, 82 yards,1 TD, 2 rec, 10 yards
Week 11 - 7 rush, 4 yards, 1 rec, 10 yards

Doug Martin, TB RB -
Week 10 - 20 rush, 51 yards
Week 11 - 19 rush, 38 yards, 2 rec, 6 yards

Adrian Peterson, ARI RB -
Week 10 - 21 rush, 29 yards, 1 rec, 13 yards
Week 11 - 14 rush, 26 yards, 1 rec, 13 yards

Cameron Brate, TB TE -
Week 10 - 1 rec, 10 yards, 3 targets
Week 11 - 1 rec, 12 yards, 3 targets

Sammy Watkins, LAR WR -
Week 10 - 2 rec, 41 yards, 1 TD, 3 targets
Week 11 - 3 rec, 36 yards, 4 targets

Michael Crabtree, OAK WR -
Week 8 - 5 rec, 83 yards, 10 targets
Week 9 - 3 rec, 40 yards, 4 targets
Week 11 - 6 rec, 51 yards, 11 targets




Streaming D-emon: Weeks 12-16
JAX - Ari, Ind, Sea, Hou, SF
BAL - Hou, Det, Pit, Cle,Ind
CHI - Phi, SF, Cin, Det, Cle
WAS - NyG, Dal, Lac, Ari, Den
LAR - No, Ario, Phi, Sea, Ten
DET - Min, Bal, TB, Chi, Cin
LAC - Dal, Cle, Was, KC, NyJ
PIT -GB, Cin, Bal, NE, Hou
NE - Mia, Buf, Mia, Pit, Buf


Hopefully you enjoyed this weeks article and you check out next weeks! Make sure to comment, message and get at us with any questions or feedback. We appreciate it all and love chatting football with any and everyone. Good luck this week!

-Mike & Devin
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NFL Week 11: Winter is Coming

14/11/2017

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The trade deadline has either passed or is fast approaching in all leagues.
The time to secure your stronghold and obtain the best warrior's possible is coming to an end. It is the last hour to draw alliances with other teams in the league. Teams with too many RBs and need WR depth or the team carrying two TEs and lacking depth elsewhere. Send out ALL the ravens and see what answers and counters  return your way. The schedule is tough for many, but also fairly easy for a few. Go grab those few warriors the will thrive in the coming weeks of winter ( the playoffs).

If you go back a few posts we discussed the sometimes unpopular tactics of salesmanship and manipulation. While sometimes seen as crude in the game of Fantasy football it is all about winning. Now is the time to act. Blow up your roster if you are on the brink of making the playoffs, trade a stud on your team for two potential starters or trade two starters for the stud that will make your team championship worthy. If you are a Zeke owner on the brink of the playoffs...trade him to a top seed team and sell them on that playoff comeback. If you are the team with so much WR depth that 1-2 good players watch from your bench every week...go get yourself a stud RB or TE.

Hopefully this article helps a little bit as we discuss end of the season schedules, potential studs to have going into the final weeks and players that could bust your line-ups over the next few weeks. As always, “ Winter is coming “ and it is time to get ready for it in these last moments. Prepare!




Week 10 Stud Recap:
Jared Goff, LAR QB - 25/37, 355 yards, 3 TD
Kirk Cousins, WAS QB - 26/45, 327 yards, 1 TD, 4 rush, 5 yards, 2 TD
CJ Beathard, SF QB - 19/25, 288 yards, 2 TD, 5 rush, 15 yards, 1 TD


Mark Ingram, NO RB - 21 rush, 131 yards, 3 TD
DeMarco Murray, TEN RB - 14 Rush, 42 yards, 2 TD, 4 rec, 30 yards, 1 TD
Austin Ekeler, LAC RB - 10 rush, 42 yards, 5 rec, 77 yards, 2 TD

Robert Woods, LAR WR - 8 rec, 171 yards, 2 TD, 10 targets

Adam Thielen, MIN WR - 8 rec, 166 yards, 1 TD, 12 targets
Sterling Shepard,  NYG WR - 11 rec, 142 yards, 13 targets


Jimmy Graham, SEA TE - 6 rec, 27 yards, 2 TD, 9 targets
Jermaine Gresham, ARI TE - 5 rec, 64 yards, 1 TD, 7 targets
Garrett Celek, SF TE - 4 rec, 67 yards, 1 TD, 6 targets




Put Me in Coach: Waiver Wire Adds
Dion Lewis, NE RB - Lewis has slowly taken over the lead back role for rushing attempts in the Patriots offense with Mike Gillislee getting a healthy scratch and looking more like a safety option for the other 3 more versatile backs. With the ability to get constant rush and reception attempts Lewis should be rostered in most formats. 37% owned.

Mike Wallace, BAL WR -  Although Wallace has struggled with injury lately and Joe Flacco doesn’t look anything like his old self, the Ravens have one of the easiest schedules moving forward for WR and QBs making Wallace a pretty nice piece to add to your roster for the playoffs. 35% owned

Josh Doctson, WAS WR - Doctson may not be getting as many targets as owners hope for, but he is getting looks in the red zone EVERY week and that counts for something. Coach Gruden keeps saying that he will get Josh more involved and it is only a matter of time before he does. 26% owned.

Kenny Stills, MIA WR - With Cutler coming back as QB for the fins Stills value dropped a bit, but he still as managed stay relevant enough to merit a roster spots in most 10-12 team leagues. His big play potential gives him a high enough ceiling despite his low floor. 26% owned

Rod Smith, DAL RB - The committee in Dallas is still in there despite what coaches are saying. None of the backs looked overly qualified in week 10 and they should share touches again moving forward until one stands out. Still Rod should be owned for his potential to lead the backfield situation in the coming weeks.14% owned.

Corey Coleman, CLE WR - Cleveland needs a go to receiver. Last week the offense actually showed signs of life and hopefully Kizer and Coleman can get the connection going again. When healthy Coleman instantly becomes fantasy relevant in PPR leagues despite his team as he will be the clear WR1. 11% owned.


Rex Burkhead, NE RB - Burkhead is like a multi-tool pocket knife, he can do so much. Everyone knows the Billy B loves to have gadget players that can trick defenses and line up in multiple spots….enter Rex Burkhead. Burkhead will get rush attempts each game and should play a part in the sneaky schemes of the NE offense. Look forward to more 10+ point games. 11% owned.

Kenny Golladay, DET WR - Matthew Stafford looks pretty damn good recently and his long ball is there. Marvin Jones Jr. took that role over the past few weeks, but now that Kenny is healthy again he will eat into those deep targets and should see his fair share. Being a deep threat and talented young prospect should give Golladay a nice floor and possible TD potential each week. 10% owned.

Marquise Goodwin, SF WR -  Despite the tragic news that came out the day of the game about unborn child, Goodwin still managed to play and pull in a touchdown. Just a further sign that he is a deep threat and going to be a big part of this offensive system moving forward. Look for him to see more targets after the bye week. 10% owned.

Jamal Williams, GB RB - William’s has been a coach favorite since he was drafted and looked great during the pre-season and the sample we got in week 10. With injuries plagueing the GB backfield it looks like Jamal will finally get his chance. The versatile back will look to see a high snap count and should receive a good amount of carries this week. 3% owned.

Dontrelle Inman, CHI WR -  Inman was picked up to boost this offense and saw 8 targets. He looks to continue moving forward as an essential part of the CHI offense and his atheltic ability should allow him to be fantasy relevant weekly in most leagues. Worth an add. 1% owned.







Roster Booster:  Pieces to help boost your playoff run

Jeremy Maclin, BAL WR -  14 targets 150 yards 1 td last 2 weeks. Maclin also has one of the easiest schedules coming up and through the playoffs. If you can grab him up for a decent value make your move now!

Sterling Shepard, NYG WR -  22 targets 210 yards last 2 weeks. Sterling Shepard is now the go-to receiver in New York and should continue to see an extremely high target share. NYG schedule is pretty forgiving moving forward and should place Shepard on everyone’s radar.

Stefon Diggs, MIN WR - averages just under 7 targets per game.  Only 5 per game last 3 games.. Had one monster game vs tampa “diggs is happening” other than that hasnt been great all year.. But will be betternow hes healthy

Demaryius Thomas, DEN WR - 29 targets last 3 games with 2 TDs. Despite the QB change it seems like D.thomas is remaining relevant both in fantasy and the Broncos offense. He has become a good safety net for Brock and is always a redzone target with his athletic ability. Denver has a great schedule coming up and if you can grab D.Thom, do it.

Keenan Allen, LAC WR - Allen has 25% of the Chargers target share and only has 1 TD on the year with his value trending down lately. However, the team wants to make sure stays involved meaning the targets will continue and with the schedule easing up over the next few weeks the TDs should come in.

Kareem Hunt, KC RB - plays the giants this week …. All you need to know… still getting targets 16 over last 4 games…. Last time he only had 9 carries they next week they gave him 18 had one of best games of year.

Corey Davis, TEN WR -   10 targets, 4 catches for 48 yards last week. Davis should’ve had a touchdown that didn’t end up counting that could have instantly made him more relevant. However, this means he is still flying under the radar for some leagues. Get him while you can. He is the best WR on TEN and Marcus Mariota wants him involved. The Targets should be a promising sign.

Orleans Darkwa, NYG RB - Darkwa has 60 carries in 4 games and looks to be the Giants lead back. Although the TDs have not come yet, the usage and potential are a great sign. If you can scoop him up for an RB3 for the playoffs you could be in a good spot. The running schedule moving forward is one of the easier in the league.





Tiered Rankings: Week 11

100% Start
QB - Tom Brady, Carson Wentz, Russell Wilson, Drew Brees, Alex Smith, Dak Prescott

RB - Le’Veon Bell, Kareem Hunt, LeSean McCoy, Mark Ingram, Melvin Gordon, Leonard Fournette, Alvin Kamara, Todd Gurley, Jordan Howard

WR - Antonio Brown, Michael Thomas, Julio Jones, Dez bryant, AJ Green, Keenan Allen, Doug Baldwin, Adam Thielen, DeAndre Hopkins, Jarvis Landry, Mike Evans, Alshon Jeffery, Brandin Cooks

TE - Zach Ertz, Rob Gronk, Travis Kelce, Evan Engram, Jimmy Graham


Confident:
QB - Kirk Cousins, Ben Roethlisberger, Derek Carr, Philip Rivers*, Case Keenum, Eli Manning, Derek Carr

RB - Tevin Coleman, Lamar Miller, Jerick McKinnon Adrian Peterson, Chris Thompson, Jay Ajayi, Rex Burkhead, Duke Johnson Jr., Doug Martin

WR - Tyreek Hill, Amari Cooper, Devante Parker, Stefon Diggs, Michael Crabtree, Demaryius Thomas, Larry Fitzgerald, Sterling Shepard, Marqise Lee, Emmanuel Sanders, Golden Tate

TE - Jason Witten, Jared Cook, Delanie Walker, Kyle Rudolph, Charles Clay, Hunter Henry, Austin Hooper, Cameron Brate


Gamble:
QB - Matthew Stafford, Tyrod Taylor, Matt Ryan, Jared Goff, Marcus Mariota, Jay Cutler, Ryan Fitzpatrick


RB -Joe Mixon, Kenyan Drake, Javorius Allen, James White, Dion Lewis, Marshawn Lynch, Alex Collins, Ameer Abdullah, Isaiah Crowell, Demarco Murray, Orleans Darkwa

WR - Marvin Jones Jr., Robert Woods, Mohamed Sane, Desean JAckson, Davante Adams, Danny Amendola, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Corey Davis, Jeremy Maclin, Kelvin Benjamin, Cooper Kupp, Jordy Nelson, Jamison Crowder

TE - Vernon Davis, Julius Thomas, Tyler Kroft, CJ Fiedorowicz, Benjamin Watson, Eric Ebron, Martellus Bennett, Jermaine Gresham




WEEK 11 Over/Under: Projection Prediction
QB -
Over : Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger
Under : Andy Dalton, Ryan Fitzpatrick

RB -
Over : Jordan Howard, Duke Johnson Jr
Under:  Lamar Miller, Adrian Peterson 


WR -
Over: Alshon Jeffery, Sterling Shepard
Under: AJ Green, Tyreek Hill 


TE -
Over: Jared Cook, Cameron Brate
Under: Jordan Reed, Delanie Walker





Favorable Playoff Schedules:
QB -
1.)Tyrod Taylor
2.) Cam Newton
3.) Philip Rivers

4.) Ben Roethlisberger


RB -
1.) DeMarco Murray
2.) Kareem Hunt
3.) Jordan Howard
4.) Melvin Gordon


WR-
1.)Mike Evans
2.)Sterling Shepard
3.)Antonio Brown
4.)Devin Funchess


TE -
1.) Hunter Henry
2.) Cameron Brate
3.) Travis Kelce
4.) Kyle Rudolph


D/ST -
1.)JAX
2.)BAL
3.)DEN

4.)DET


Thanks for checking out this weeks blog post. Hopefully all the information was helpful and you enjoyed the read. Please send us comments and messages with any questions or concerns you may have. We are always looking for ways to improve. 
Thanks! 
​-M&D 


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Week 10: "The Upside Down"

7/11/2017

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Imagine you are in another dimension. Very much like the world you know, but also very different. It’s darker and gloomy with names heading the leaderboards like Jay Cutler, Matt Forte, Robert Woods, Terrance Williams, Marqise Lee, Deonte Thompson, Jared Cook, Julius Thomas, Javorius Allen and Cole Beasley filling out a big part of the weekly top 25. Role Players, Bye Week fill-ins and waiver wire floaters in the world you are used to.  Most weeks, hell even most years, all of those categorical names would be 100% correct, BUT in 2017 week 9 of this absurd NFL season those are names at the top.
 
As the year goes on we continue to see craziness in our fantasy lineups and it should come as no surprise considering the pattern we are in. Right now in fantasy the “Go to Guys” list has been severely depleted and each week we see new players emerge. Outside of maybe 4-5 guys the RB position gets very complicated. The NFL coaches and staff are making a clear move in the backfield. The days of lone backs dominating carries is all but over besides a few cases. You still have Gurley, Elliot, Bell, McCoy and Fournette but outside of those names it’s a fool’s hope for a consistent 15 carries a game.  Many teams are taking the 2-3 running back technique and as it grows the opportunities get fewer and fewer to be a sure thing RB1.
 
The most recent move into this 2-3 RB backfield is of course the new Philadelphia squad. You see similar fantasy problems in Baltimore, New England, New Orleans, Atlanta, Washington, Minnesota, Denver, Tennessee and Detroit…..to name a few. Does this cause a shift in future fantasy league draft and soon to be trades? The answer should be an obvious, yes.  Key running backs are clearly the most coveted spot on rosters and in most fantasy leagues the person with the 2-3 best running backs is most likely winning. When it comes to that position having an elite guy can win your league,  BUT there is once again light in the darkness that is the new NFL backfield problem. There is a mass of middle tier running backs out on the waiver wire and at the bottom of rosters being looked over. While this “middle tier mass” may cause an immediate problem for your weekly RB1/2 spots, it also provides the opportunity you will need in the coming weeks filled with more injuries.




Week 9 Leaders Recap: 
Tyrod Taylor, BUF QB – 29/40 attempts, 285 passing yards, 2 TD, 6 rush, 35 yards and 1 TD
Jay Cutler, MIA QB – 34/42 attempts, 311 passing yards and 3 TD
Jared Goff, LAR QB – 14/22 attempts, 311 passing yards and 4 TD
Alvin Kamara, NO RB – 10 rush, 68 yards, 1 TD, 6 rec, 84 yards, 1 TD and 7 targets
Corey Clement, PHI RB – 12 rush, 51 yards, 2 TD, 1 rec, 15 yards and 1 TD
Matt Forte, NYJ RB – 14 rush, 77 yards 2 TD, 4 rec, 19 yards and 4 targets
TY Hilton, IND WR – 5 rec, 175 yards, 2 TD and 9 targets
Marvin Jones Jr., DET WR – 7 rec, 107 yards, 2 TD and 11 targets
Robert Woods, LAR WR - 4 rec, 70 yards, 2 TD and 5 targets
Julius Thomas, MIA TE – 6 rec, 84 yards, 1 TD and 8 targets
Travis Kelce, KC TE – 7 rec, 73 yards, 1 TD and 9 targets
Jared Cook, OAK TE – 8 rec, 126 yards and 9 targets
 




Put Me in Coach: Waiver Wire
Marquise Goodwin, SF WR - Goodwin is the guy now in San Francisco with Garcon going down for the season with a neck injury. Goodwin is FAST and although the 49ers don’t have a gunslinger at QB, he will get his chance to produce. He should see 5 targets a game and be a major part of the offense moving forward. 9% owned.
 
Robert Woods, LAR WR - Woods continues to thrive in his role with the Rams this year and honestly it pains me that I keep having him on this list. Add him! Sammy Watkins continues to demand coverage for his speed and big play ability leaving Woods open to snag 4-5 catches a game and finally see the end zone last week. In PPR leagues Woods should be rostered and even started most weeks after leading the team in receptions for 4 straight weeks.  26% Owned.
 
Terrance Williams, DAL WR - As soon as Dez Bryant went down it was clear that the cowboys needed another tall receiver to go to. Dak found Williams multiple times (9) and helped him to produce over 140 yards in the victory. If Dez is hurt for any period of time then Williams becomes a must own for next week against the Falcons. 7% owned.
 
Thomas Rawls, SEA RB - Oh what a year it has been, Rawls is now a reasonable back to own after the injury to Lacy.  He had a decent last game and held a majority/lead of the possible snaps.  Throughout his career Rawls has been able to have success, and depending on your situation he is worth a roster spot.  15% owned.
 
Deonte Thompson, BUF WR -  It is hard for me to include Thompson on this list but the fact that he has produced over a 175 yards in 3 weeks is impressive. The emergence of Kelvin Benjamin in the offense should sway this a good amount, but it will be interesting to watch moving forward. Only worth a spot in deeper leagues. 1% owned.
 
Charles Clay, BUF TE - Clay is still the bills leading receiver on the year despite injury.  Although the addition of Kelvin Benjamin could mean lower targets he still should be a key part of the red zone plays and a safety net for Tyrod to toss it to. Clay is worth a stash on any team and possibly a start this week if healthy. 20% owned.
 
Zay Jones, BUF WR  - Zay is having a rough go of it in his rookie campaign.  Only 16 rec for 168 yards and 1 td on 44 targets!!!  But, let’s take lemons and make lemonade. The last 2 weeks Zay has 12 targets and 9 rec for 85 yards and his only td on the season.  Jones is finally trending up and forming some flashes many hoped when they drafted as a late flyer. Hopefully he forms into the #2 WR behind Kelvin in the future. 10% owned.
 
Danny Woodhead, BAL RB -  Over the last 2 seasons Woodhead hasn’t been able to play through 2 entire games.  However, his one full games last year he went for over 20 pts in PPR, and in a portion of one drive this year had 4 points.  IF HEALTHY Woodhead is absolute fantasy GOLD in PPR formats.  It’s just a big question of keeping him on the field. 24% owned

Damien Williams, MIA RB - Williams produced a good game last week and looked great in the open filled avoiding tackles. His quick feet could prove useful with short dump off passes from whatever QB is running the Dolphins offense. The coaching staff says they will continue to split touches between Williams and Drake giving both fantasy relevance for the time. 23% owned.
 
Benjamin Watson, BAL TE - This week against Tennessee Watson had a monstrous 10 targets but just 7 rec for 41 yards.  His season totals are 38 rec 261 yards and 2 TDs.  His average yards per reception is very low, but he is serviceable in PPR with such a limited selection at TE.  We are interested to see what Woodhead’s return will mean for Watson’s production going forward.  17% owned
 
Malcom Brown, LAR RB - Brown clearly isn't a fantasy player that you will deploy with much confidence if you ever decide to roster him, but his production when he plays is definitely worth merit and if Gurley ever goes down with injury it is clear who the Rams would fall on. With the run game being crucial to their scheme Brown would immediately be fantasy relevant and certain weeks may even produce flex numbers if they have a high enough lead. 1% owned.


 
 
Week 10 Tiered Rankings
100% Starters
QB: Tom Brady, Russell Wilson, Tyrod Taylor, Drew Brees, Matthew Stafford, Dak Prescott, Ben Roethlisberger

RB: LeSean McCoy, Jordan Howard, Alvin Kamara, Le’veon Bell, Melvin Gordon, Leonard Fournette, Todd Gurley, Mark Ingram, Christian McCaffrey, Ezekiel Elliot*

WR: Antonio Brown, AJ Green, Michael Thomas, Julio Jones, Doug Baldwin, DeAndre Hopkins, Sterling Shepard, Golden Tate, Dez Bryant*

TE: Rob Gronkowski, Evan Engram, Jimmy Graham, Jack Doyle, Delanie Walker, Jason Witten, Cameron Brate
 

Confident starts
QB: Josh McCown, Jared Goff, Kirk Cousins, Matt Ryan, Cam Newton, Drew Brees

RB: Aaron Jones, Duke Johnson Jr., Adrian Peterson, Doug Martin, Jerick McKinnon, Chris Thompson, Lamar Miller, Devonta Freeman*, Tevin Coleman, Carlos Hyde,

WR: Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen, Demaryius Thomas, Keenan Allen, Brandin Cooks, Desean Jackson, Jarvis Landry, Marvin Jones Jr., Robby Anderson, Devin Funchess

TE: Hunter Henry, Charles Clay*, Kyle Rudolph, ASJ, Tyler Kroft, AJ Derby, Vernon Davis, Jordan Reed*, Austin Hooper
 

Gambles
QB: Marcus Mariota, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Eli Manning, Andy Dalton, Blake Bortles, Jacoby Brissett, Tom Savage, Case Keenum

RB: Matt Forte, Bilal Powell, Demarco Murray, Derrick Henry, Ameer Abdullah, Theo Riddick, Isaiah Crowell, Joe Mixon, Thomas Rawls, Frank Gore, Orleans Darkwa, James White, Kenyan Drake

WR: Larry Fitzgerald, TY Hilton, Kelvin Benjamin,  Emmanuel Sanders, Cooper Kupp, Devante Parker, Mohamed Sanu, Robert Woods, Jordy Nelson, Danny Amendola, Sammy Watkins, Marqise Lee, Davante Adams, Tyler Lockett, JuJu Smith-Schuster,

TE: David Njoku, Ed Dickson, Julius Thomas, Eric Ebron, Martellus Bennett, OJ howard, Coby Fleener, Jesse James





 
Roster Booster:  Players worth trading for with feasible value
LeSean McCoy, BUF RB - Sure he had a rough outing this past weekend, but Shady is one of the few true workhorse backs left in the league.  You know he will get his 15+ touches a game. He is a huge part of the offense and is one of the few cases it’s worth selling the farm for the cow when resources at the RB1  position are depleted.
 
Kareem Hunt, KC RB -  Worth jumping on right now while some are down on him.  Worse case scenario he’s the best RB2 in the league ROS.  We know he’s
“struggled” but he’s about to come off the bye week against the Giants who have been gashed by RB’s all season and then KC has a very forgiving schedule against running backs to end the season. Make an attempt at him while moral is low.
 
Christian McCaffrey, CAR RB - While the passing attack in Carolina isn’t pretty after the Benjamin exit, there is some promise for McCaffery. Newton will continue to look his way as a second option even when Olsen returns. It may be tough to get McCaffery with his current value, but with the schedule and potential each game to produce on the ground and in the air leave him as a bright spot on this team.

Jeremy Maclin, BAL WR - Baltimore is slowly figuring out an offense that has struggled this season and Maclin looks to be in a prime spot to start producing weekly with an easy schedule moving forward. The Ravens will continue to pass the ball a lot in order to keep up with others team and the heavy targets should make Maclin a clear WR2/3 moving forward.
 
Sterling Shepard, NYG WR - Once again the schedule should strongly favor good showings from Shepard moving forward and with the loss of Odel and Brandon Marshall he is clearly the #1 option downfield. Even if the touchdowns aren’t there every week Shepard should have WR2 appeal moving forward in PPR leagues.

Cooper Kupp, LAR WR -  Kupp is the clear red zone target for the Rams and number two in the league in the category. Every week we see Jared Goff try to connect with him for a touchdown. The past few weeks we have seen good coverage, dropped balls and ugly pass attempts hinder the touchdown, but the fact that it is there every week is extremely promising. Mix that in with an offense that scores a lot and often to make him very appealing weekly.
 
Doug Baldwin, SEA WR - Baldwin leads the team in targets by 20 attempts to Graham and is 30 ahead of the next WR ( Tyler Lockett ). The offense is clicking more every week and Baldwin’s increased involvement that last few weeks has surely played a part. He will keep getting this high target share and should see constant looks in the red zone. With one of the few elite QBs left in the league throwing to him and a fairly easy schedule Baldwin should be a target on everyone’s trade radar.





Hasta La Vista: Time to trade these guys
TY Hilton, IND WR - Hilton had another one of his “boom” weeks and it may be the best time to sell him for value. There is no way to sustain this production moving forward with the lack of weapons on offense.

AJ Green, CIN WR - Green doesn’t have a kind schedule moving forward and Andy Dalton has proven to be below par for even his standards behind the terrible offensive line in Cincinnati. He still brings stats and name value to the trade table and should get you enough in return from someone that is running low on elite WR.
 
Marshawn Lynch, OAK RB - Lynch put together a relevant fantasy game thanks to two TDs and even looked like his old self on one of them. However, we know this to be an illusion and a repetition this season probably won’t happen. Bet your cards against Marshawn finishing this season as a lead back and trade him away after a good game that will surely be followed by a few duds.
 
Adrian Peterson, ARI RB - Arizona has arguably the hardest run schedule moving forward considering the offense line. Adrian has shown flashes of the glory days and inspired most of his owners. The schedule doesn’t look pretty moving forward and this many carries can’t turn out well for an aging body. It’s time to cash in further on AP with a trade.

Joe Mixon, CIN RB - It is ugly in Cincinnati folks and you have surely seen it. The offensive line is terrible, the team is trying to play catch up weekly. On top of that, the coaching staff won’t let Mixon get into a rhythm. Mix that with a season that will continue to be tough and you are faced with an RB3/flex play ROS. Package him up with something pretty let him go.
 
Jordan Reed, WAS TE - Health. That is the number one thing that frustrates every Jordan Reed owner for the last few seasons. The talent is there and when healthy the usage is too, but it is just so rare to see 100% from Reed anymore. Almost every time he touches the field something else acts up. Injury frustration and lack of weekly start confidence can ruin your season. Trade the virus now even if the reward can be sweet.
 
 



Keep an eye on me: padding or potential
Rex Burkhead, NE RB - The potential is obvious with the head coach and QB that are leading this offense. Burkhead has shown that when he plays he is used and if anything were to happy to any player on the roster his usage goes up by a larger margin than the other Patriots.  
 
Dontrelle Inman, CHI WR - If Mitchell Trubisky can ever figure out his passing offensive game then Inman becomes fantasy relevant quick. He should be the most productive receiver on the team now and is for sure the most athletic. They hope is that he works into the offense in the next few weeks.  
 
Marquise Goodwin, SF WR - Goodwin could instantly start filling in on your roster with Pierre Garcon going down for the season. The 49ers need someone to be the focus of the passing offense and Goodwin should step in nicely in PPR leagues.
 
Charcandrick West, KC RB - We have seen small sparks off potential plays out of West with the passing game and if Hunt were to go down for any reason he instantly becomes a weekly flex play.
 
Mike Williams, LAC WR - Although the passes for the Chargers go to many mouths they are desperately looking for that go to number #2 receiver behind Keenan Allen and hope they found it in the rookie. He will see more targets as the year goes on and could move into a decent role in the next few weeks.
 
Dede Westbrook*, JAX WR - Just like with Williams, the Jags are looking for another go to receiver with Allen Robinson down for the season. Lee and Hurns have filled in for now but there rumblings about Dede can’t be ignored.
 
Mike Tolbert, BUF RB - An easy fill in if LeSean were to go down in Buffalo (happens often). Tolbert has proven to be a capable back that can work with Tyrod if McCoy were to be lost for any period of time and could be deployed in all formats.
 
Devontae Booker, DEN RB - In week 9 CJ Anderson only out touched Booker by 1 and it looks like the Broncos could be trying to see what they have in Booker as a change of pace back. He continues to look good catching passes out of the backfield and could move into a more significant role with or without an Anderson injury.





Weekly Take-Two:  1 Stud & 1 Sleeper to beat the over/under

Quarterback -

Mike: Ben Roethlisberger / Case Keenum
Devin: Jared Goff / Jacoby Brissett

Running Back -

Mike: Carlos Hyde / Orleans Darkwa
Devin: Jordan Howard / Tevin Coleman

Wide Receiver-

Mike: Antonio Brown / DeSean Jackson
Devin: Golden Tate / JuJu Smith-Schuster


Tight End-

Mike: Evan Engram / Kyle Rudolph

Devin: Cameron Brate / Charles clay





Hopefully this weeks post helps with your fantasy questions, concerns and problems. If you would like to know any other information regarding players just message or comment! Also, keep in mind that every week we are looking for new categories and different angles to tackle in our posts. Please make sure to keep sending us what you want to read.

Good luck this week!
-M&D


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NFL Week 9: The bye weeks are dark and full of terrors.

31/10/2017

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The final stretch is upon us. For many of you, the next week or two will either make or break your team. Bye weeks are the crucial part of the season and if you don’t have your regiments set up correctly you are almost guaranteed a big 'L'. If you are the one in your league sitting under .500 then this is your chance to go on the attack.


Usually around weeks 8 and 9 in the fantasy season is when we see the truly strong and talented teams doing well and getting wins. Just like most years, the teams with 3 solid RBs seem to be prevailing BUT don’t give up hope just yet. There is light from the darkness that is a losing record….. You can get better. Blow that roster up! Shake things up a bit and change the faces on your team. If it’s not working so far and the rest of the season looks tough match-up wise, then why stay in the position you are in?


Now is the time for change, to roll the dice and take chances.  Let’s get you that 'W' this week....




BUY or SELL: Rest of season
LeGarrette Blount, PHI RB -

Mike: Sell - Before the Jay Ajayi trade I probably would’ve swung the other way just because if the Eagles are within the 10 yard line you know Blount is going to get a chance to pound it in the end zone. However, that entire situation gets extremely foggy with Jay in the mix now. I am not sure what you can get for him, but I don’t have much weekly confidence in him moving forward.


Devin: Buy: I think he could go back to his old TD hawking, playoff/late season/bad weather battering ram role. In a season where RBs are scarce who else (in deeper leagues) are you going to pick up that's better? Obviously his role could diminish, but it's possible Smallwood is banged up a little more than has been revealed. All this said, I'm not saying you should trade for Blount; just don't drop him.



Carlos Hyde, SF RB -

Mike: Sell - I think right now you can still cash in on Hyde because of the RB situation around the NFL. If you have a good batch of RBs and get something nice in return, do it. Matt Brieda fits the offense perfectly and he should continue to see a good majority of work. It may be a timeshare moving forward from game-to-game.


Devin: Buy- I'll consider this a long term investment and keep him around despite some current downturn. I want to see what Jimmy G brings to the table before I let this potential RB2 go.



Joe Mixon, CIN RB -

Mike: Sell - I hate the Bengals. There is talent spotted all over this roster and yet they can’t manage to handle it efficiently. Mixon is a stud, Ross has potential and Tyler Kroft is emerging as a pretty good TE. However, the coaching staff seem to be stuck in the same rut as the last few seasons. Unless some drastic news comes out, it looks like Mixon won’t produce like we all had hoped.


Devin: Sell- While I still think he deserves a roster spot, the upward trend we were seeing around week 3 has definitely plateaued. He’s one of those low floor/low ceiling guys as the coaching staff has seemingly decided to limit his touches to <15 side. I think Mixon is a freak athlete and I would love to own him in dynasty, I just don’t see him “breaking out” this season like we were hoping for a few weeks ago.



Doug Martin, TB RB -

Mike: Buy - The Tampa Bay schedule gets a lot easier moving forward and Doug Martin should only get better. He hasn’t been crazy good yet and still could be a pretty cheap buy considering what he could produce. At worst you are still getting a solid RB2 with RB1 potential for the ROS.


Devin: Buy- The Bucs couldn’t get anything going on offense and just looked plain horrible.  But, Martin still secured 19 touches and proved 75 yards from scrimmage.  I really think the touchdowns will start to come as he and the coaches get more comfortable with his role.  I’d like to get a little more film on him before I go all in on him, but I really like what I’ve been able to see so far.



Doug Baldwin, SEA WR -

Mike: Sell - This decision is tough for me and it could honestly go either way. STATS: Doug hasn’t looked spectacular this year and Richardson is hawking TDs (2:5)  left and right. The targets have been there which is really promising, but they aren’t producing big plays. Currently Doug only has two games with over 65 yards and 2 TDs on the season. The scariest fact is that against poor defenses ( 49ers, Packers and the Colts) Baldwin didn’t produce.  If you can get a WR1 price, I would make the trade;  if no,t then obviously hold him because the potential is there with the target share.

Devin: Buy - Let’s face it, Seattle can’t run the ball. Baldwin had 10 targets, and converted on 6 of those opportunities.  While this didn’t translate into a ton of fantasy points for week 7 owners, he still has the blueprint for success each week.  Unfortunately,  we just saw his floor this past outing.  He has two tough match-ups the next few weekends, but he always has the potential for great performances from sheer volume.



Demaryius Thomas, DEN WR -

Mike: Buy - Read!  Despite the awful QB problem in Denver, D.Thomas continues to produce in PPR at least to the standard of a WR2/3 in 10-12 team leagues. I know he has yet to score a TD, but truthfully, it is only a matter of time and when he does he instantly becomes a top fantasy WR for the week. Don’t pay a big price for him, but if you can get him for a decent price, he is worth the spot. Denver has a pretty good end of season schedule too.


Devin: Sell- Coming off the bye week things were, on paper, looking up for the Denver offense. Siemian threw for 376 yards, and DT had  a whopping 14 targets for 133 yards.  The problem was TS threw it 50 times to achieve said yardage and has since started turning the ball over at an alarming rate.  Unless the coaches and Siemian can pull something together to get this young QB more comfortable and in a flow, there will be more frustration and terrible performances for DT owners.  I’m not saying he can’t bounce back, but I don’t like depending on unproven QB’s during the playoff push.  



Alshon Jeffery, PHI WR -

Mike: Sell - He just isn’t living up to his draft position. Agholor is only 1 catch and 24 yards behind him for the season and with Jay Ajayi coming in there will be more mouths to feed as well as more running plays. Alshon will have his games, but if you looked at just his stats you could easily label him “boom or bust”. 3 of the next 5 defenses he will face have been pretty good against the pass and he could continue on the same path.

Devin: Sell- If I just listed 224 yards, 3 tds and 15 receptions over the last four games, you may think,”Hmm... not bad for my Wr3/flex."  Well, too bad, those are Nelson Agholor stats.  Admittedly, Jeffery is just a few (TD) receptions and yards behind.  The problem is most people picked up NA off waivers a few weeks ago, where Jeffery was drafted as a confident start.  I want to emphasize I’m selling on Jeffery as a WR2.  I think he would be a great flex/match-up fill in but will not rise to the level many hoped for.  Wentz is just too good at spreading it around and there are a lot of weapons on that team.   



Jordan Reed, WAS TE -

Mike: Sell - I avoid Reed at all costs and the reason is pretty damn clear - injuries! He just can NOT stay on the field for a full game. When/if he does, he looks great BUT in fantasy, it is too hard to start a guy weekly that only plays a portion of the game. Vernon Davis is a weapon in that offense and can take Reed’s spot pretty easily when he is hurt. Try to sell Reed for his ceiling and grab Davis off the Waiver wire.  Even when Reed has played, Davis has been relevant.


Devin: Sell-  He was reached for and drafted early because of his huge upside and a perceived lack of depth at TE at the beginning of the season.  However, this year it just hasn’t panned out as Reed can’t stay healthy.  It has gotten to the point where the only Skins I’d feel comfortable starting are Cousins and Thompson.



Stefon Diggs, MIN WR -

Mike: Buy - I like the gamble! I am a fan of Diggs and believe when he is healthy he instantly becomes a WR1/2. Again, GAMBLE but I like to take a few chances with talent like this. He makes big plays when he is healthy and if the reports ring true and Teddy Bridgewater returns soon, then all the Minnesota players should see a bump.


Devin: Buy-  This makes me nervous as hell, but I’m willing to throw a few chips in the Diggs basket.. He is incredibly talented and can really take a game over when healthy.  He should have Bradford, or Bridgewater back in the next few weeks and it all seems like it's coming together at just the right time for a huge fantasy playoff surge.  



Will Fuller V, HOU WR -

Mike: Buy - As I write this, it’s hard for me not to say 'sell'  because I know people would pay for him on the current Watson/Houston hype train. However, the TD potential is undeniable now. Every week, the best defense player will line up on Hopkins and Fuller will have the opportunity for big plays and red zone targets. Obviously he can’t maintain this TD production, but it is impossible not to buy into the potential. 13 receptions and 7 touchdowns... Dilly Dilly!


Devin: Buy- This dude gets open deep and scores touchdowns. Watson is not afraid to air it out to him.  He looks healthy and ready to score points for lucky owners.  D-Hop helps draw the coverage away from him.  He may not get a ton of volume, but he capitalizes on his opportunities.



Julio Jones, ATL WR -

Mike: Buy - Obviously Julio is not living up to his draft position, but unless you are stacked at WR, it is going to be hard to dish one of the top big play makers in the NFL. Plus, he only has 1 game this year with under 65 yards which is pretty ridiculous. If people in your leagues are shopping Jones you should put in an offer or two.


Devin: Buy- While he hasn’t been exemplary, he hasn't been a total team killer.  In non-PPR formats it may be rough, but it could be worse.  Julio can be streaky, but his talent and ability to score 40 any given weekend should give you hope. Matt Ryan's drop off in production combined with some nagging injuries have really held him back, but  I really don't see him ending the season with just 1 touchdown.



Jarvis Landry, MIA WR -

Mike: Buy: Does the QB matter?  NO. Does the defense matter?  NO. Jarvis Landry is going to get HIS and by that I mean he is going to see the ball come his way a lot. Currently in 2nd in total receptions only behind Antonio Brown.  In PPR formats, this is a no brainer. On his worst week he still had 5 receptions... high floor.


Devin: Buy (for now): This guy has 80 targets in 7 games and no more bye weeks. Some weeks will be cringey, but overall he will be a successful start. The next couple weeks should be profitable as he faces Oakland and the Bucs, but it'll be tough sledding later in the season. The Patriots have greatly improved this quarter of the season on D.  He's also got 2 match-ups with the Bills and another with the Broncos. Hold now, sell later.





Put Me In Coach: Waiver wire adds

JuJu Smith-Schuster,  PIT WR - It is possible for receivers not named Brown to have had success in this offense.  After a 10 target, 7 reception and 193 yard performance, we believe Juju being on the waivers any longer is a crime.  We would feel pretty comfortable spending a portion of remaining FAAB on him.  29% owned.


Robby Anderson,  NYJ WR - McCown is having a career resurrecting season and Anderson is becoming a beloved target.  He is emerging as the NYJ WR to own.  His great speed, big play potential and target share increase make him potentially a great waiver add. 27% owned.


Paul Richardson, SEA WR -   Richardson has proven to be worthy of rostering in most 10-12 team leagues. He has 4 touchdowns in 8 weeks and should be a good bye week fill in at WR/Flex. 10% owned.


Alex Collins, BAL RB - Collins is THE guy right now in Baltimore even with some split carries the last few weeks. However, in week 8 we finally saw him get a full load of rush attempts and he produced. His future looks a little more foggy with Woodhead returning soon, but he has clearly carved out a role with the team. Roster him. 32% owned.


Marlon Mack, IND RB -  Although Mack didn’t look especially powerful in the run attack this past week vs. CIN, the fact that he got double digit rush attempts and was involved in the passing game is a great sign that he should be a weapon in the offense moving forward. In a year with RBs going down left and right, Mack is surely worth a bench spot. 29% owned.


Matt Breida, SF RB - He is becoming the change-of-pace running back and looks comfortable in the SF offense. They look for him in the passing attack and he is still managing a few carries a game. Again, RBs with any value need to be added this year. 14 % owned.


Benjamin Watson, BAL TE -  If you take out his week 5 performance against the Raiders you find yourself looking at one of the more consistent TEs in the league right now when it comes to fantasy. If the receptions aren’t there, he seems to make it up with bigger yard production or TDs. Watson is a great bye week fill in and even weekly start in 12 team leagues.  7% owned.


Vernon Davis, WAS TE - With Reed out week 9, Davis is poised for a great game. Cousins likes to feed him the ball and Davis is a respected veteran who knows how to capitalize on his touches. Even when Reed has been healthy, Vernon Davis has proven that he can still produce both on the field and in your fantasy lineups. 13% owned.





Strength of Schedule: Rest of Season/ Schedule Matchups

QB: 1.) Tyrod Taylor  2.)Jameis Winston  3.)Cam Newton  4.)Joe Flacco   5.)Ben Roethlisberger  6.) Philip Rivers  7.) Alex Smith  8.) Drew Brees 9.) Matt Ryan  10.) Marcus Mariota


RB: 1.) New Orleans  2.)Jacksonville  3.)Houston  4.)Tennessee 5.)Buffalo  6.)LA Chargers  7.)Chicago  8.)Tampa Bay  9.)Denver  10.) Patriots

WR: 1.) Pittsburgh  2.)Carolina  3.)Tampa Bay  4.)Denver  5.)Houston  6.)Seattle 7.)LA Rams  8.)Baltimore  9.)NY Giants  10.)Jacksonville


D/ST:  1.)Jacksonville  2.)Baltimore 3.) Detroit  4.)Pittsburgh  5.) New England  6.)Houston  7.) Denver  8.)Philadelphia  9.) Kansas City  10.) LA Rams





Unowned Young Guns:  Potential and Predictions

Josh Doctson, WAS WR-  Docston has found a place in the offense as a red zone target and potential WR2 on the team. Currently the Redskins offensive plan looks like a mess and I am not sure if even Coach Gruden knows what to do weekly. The offensive line is pretty poor and doesn’t give Cousins much time. Doctson is definitely worth a roster spot, but starting him at this point is still a gamble.


Mike Williams, LAC WR -  With his size, it is hard not to see him used more over the last two weeks. However, there are 3-4 capable WRs on the Chargers team and Rivers rarely plays favorites. Williams got a season high 22 snaps and that should increase going forward. Worth a spot in deeper leagues, but right now he has little upside and a very low floor.


Corey Davis, TEN WR - The most talented WR in the class and also has a chance to immediately step into the WR1 role with the Titans. Clearly Matthews and Decker are not the answers they have been trying to be as of late and are more complementary pieces behind Davis. He had 6 receptions in his first pro game and honestly should produce like some of the better rookies we have seen in the last few years. Should be owned in all formats in our opinion and has the chance to be a weekly starter on your roster moving forward.


John Ross, CIN WR -  Right now Ross strictly looks like a back-up to AJ Green if anything were to happen.  We should see a better example of how the team plans to use him in the next few weeks, but right now he is the riskier option of these young guys.


Kenny Golladay, DET WR - Golladay is finally looking like he will return to action this week and should immediately be a part of the offense. The Lions have zero running game and rely heavily on Stafford throwing the ball a lot. Golladay is athletic and showed his potential in his rookie debut. He is worth rostering in most leagues with the bye weeks upon us.





Love Triangle: Complicated backfields to avoid

Philadelphia: Well, this whole situation just got completely messy. Before the trade deadline, Blount was a safe RB2/3 with the current state of NFL running backs. Now, who knows what will happen? Ajayi, Blount and Smallwood are all capable of handling touches.


New England: Rex is back in the mix, Dion Lewis is getting carries, James White lines up as a receiver and Mike Gillislee looks awful. Honestly, I am just steering clear of this trainwreck of a fantasy backfield. In PPR leagues most of the guys are worth rostering, but it is scary to start any of them outside of maybe J.White in a flex spot.


New York Giants: Each week seems to bring out a new Giants running back that could start. The carries are clearly going to be split moving forward and game flow should play a big part. With Perkins about to be back, the problem could get more chaotic. We wouldn’t feel safe starting any just yet.


Denver: There are a few factors at play here. The Denver o-line is terrible and every week it is evident. The runners have a hard time getting over the line of scrimmage and Siemian is constantly under pressure. Mix that in with the fact that each of the last three weeks Jamaal Charles and Devontae Booker have seen increased rush attempts. Messy Messy.


Baltimore: Alex Collins looks good, maybe even great at times BUT everyone knows that the Ravens plan to use Woodhead as soon as he returns in week 11. Add that with Joe Flacco’s terrible season and you get 10 dump offs a game…. to Danny Woodhead. Javorius Allen will likely still see the ball a few times each game and the time share will truly begin.





Week 9 Rankings: Tiered Rankings

100% Start:

QB: Deshaun Watson, Drew Brees, Dak Prescott, Russell Wilson, Alex Smith, Tyrod Taylor, Carson Wentz, Matthew Stafford,

WR: DeAndre Hopkins, Michael Thomas, AJ Green, Mike Evans, Julio Jones, Dez Bryant, Doug Baldwin, Jarvis Landry, Tyreek Hill,  Michael Crabtree
RB: LeSean McCoy, Mark Ingram, Todd Gurley, Kareem Hunt, Leonard Fournette*, Lamar Miller, Alvin Kamara, Christian McCaffrey

TE: Zach Ertz, Travis Kelce, Evan Engram, Jack Doyle, Cameron Brate, Jimmy Graham, Jason Witten



Confident Starts:

QB: Cam Newton, Jameis Winston, Derek Carr, Marcus Mariota, Matt Ryan, Kirk Cousins

WR: Demaryius Thomas, Kelvin Benjamin, Golden Tate, Alshon Jeffery, Pierre Garcon, Amari Cooper, Will Fuller V, Sterling Shepard*

RB: Devonta Freeman*, Carlos Hyde, Doug Martin, Adrian Peterson, Aaron Jones, Chris Thompson, DeMarco Murray*, Alex Collins, Tevin Coleman

TE: Vernon Davis, Austin Seferian-jenkins, Delanie Walker*, Jared Cook, Ryan Griffin, Tyler Kroft, Benjamin Watson



Gambles:

QB: Eli Manning, Josh McCown, Jared Goff, Joe Flacco*, Andy Dalton, Blake Bortles, Jacoby Brissett, Jay Cutler

WR: DeSean Jackson, DeVante Parker, Jeremy Maclin, Mohamed Sanu, Nelson Agholor, Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, Robby Anderson, Larry Fitzgerald, Marvin Jones Jr, TY Hilton, Ted Ginn Jr, Corey Davis* , Kenny Stills

RB:Jay Ajayi, Joe Mixon, CJ Anderson, Frank Gore, Matt Forte, Marshawn Lynch, Ameer Abdullah, LeGarrette Blount, Orleans Darkwa, Frank Gore, Bilal Powell

TE: Austin Hooper, Coby Fleener, Tyler Higbee, AJ Derby, Martellus Bennett, Ed Dickson





Injury Report:

  1. Teddy Bridgewater - Dislocated knee and torn anterior cruciate
  2. Spencer Ware – Torn posterior cruciate
  3. Ryan Tannehill – torn acl
  4. Julian Edelman – torn acl
  5. Cameron Meredith – torn acl and mcl
  6. David Johnson – Broken Wrist
  7. Danny Woodhead – hamstring
  8. Kevin White – Fractured scapula
  9. Allen Robinson – torn acl
  10. Corey Coleman – broken hand
  11. Greg Olsen- Broken foot
  12. Darren Sproles – torn acl
  13. Jordan Matthews – Broken thumb
  14. Chris Carson – ankle surgery
  15. Dalvin Cook – torn acl
  16. Odell Beckham Jr. - Broken Ankle
  17. Brandon Marshall - Ankle
  18. Chris Conley -Achilles
  19. Charles Clay - knee (weeks)
  20. Aaron Rodgers - Broken collar Bone
  21. Emmanuel Sanders - High ankle sprain (weeks)
  22. Carson Palmer - Broken Arm
  23. Jay Cutler - Broken Ribs (weeks)
  24. Delanie Walker - Ankle (weeks)
  25. Zach Miller - Knee (entire fucking leg)



Hopefully you enjoyed the read! Check back in every Tuesday to see the weekly post. Make sure to comment, like, share and give lots of feedback as well. We love answering questions and trying out new sections for the upcoming week.

- M&D



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NFL Week 8: " A New Hope "

24/10/2017

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 The fantasy season has been covered in darkness, thanks to injuries each week that have cost teams key draft picks and role players on their squads, BUT out of the darkness always comes light!  The first part of the season has been like the prequel movies with a large amount of politics, dialog and unexpected action sequences; by the end you’re left wondering, “What the hell were we thinking?"  It was exciting and meaningful at the time, but now we’re moving into the meat of the story where we either learn to “use the force” or “give into our anger” and kill off Harrison Ford (a.k.a trade away your star).  Every story needs heroes and this season has presented some “New Hope” in a year of chaos. The force is strong in these young Jedi, but will darkness prevail and plague your roster for good or will they bring balance to the force and the rest of your fantasy season?
 
Injuries continue to be the main factor in fantasy football this year and the total amount of relevant players going down for significant time is at an all time high. With that, some studs have burst through the seams and continue to carry fantasy lineups to wins. If you are one of the lucky owners of players like: Todd Gurley, DeAndre Hopkins, Carson Wentz, Ezekiel Elliott and Zach Ertz, then you have been riding the good wave. Very few players have proven to be as consistent in recent weeks and all year. With these core blocks, it is far past time to be considering “padding” options and end of the year potential on your bench.
 
The end of the season push is real and even teams that are below .500 have a chance to come back and make the playoffs with the right moves. Bye week fill-ins and bench spots are crucial at this point in the season and can make or break your team in the coming weeks. Do you keep Eric Decker on your roster or pick up Josh Doctson? Drop Mike Gillislee and claim Dion Lewis? It is time to sink or swim... treading the gloomy water is no longer an option if you are looking to be deciding the punishment for your league loser, rather than performing it.
 


 
BUY or SELL: Rest of season

Amari Cooper, OAK WR
Mike: BUY - I was confident Amari would have a good game sooner rather than later and thankfully it paid off. Most owners were lucky enough to start him this week because of bye weeks or match ups. Cooper looked great on Thursday and the amount of targets was a good sign that the team and D.Carr want to keep him involved. The only way to build a young star’s confidence is to feed him the ball a good amount every game. The Raiders like the potential in Cooper and will keep trying to have him as a key part of the offense.

Devin: Sell - One great game doesn’t mean anything to me, and the previous 6 games should mean a great deal more to anyone who has him on their team.  They force fed him the ball to try and get him involved in the offense.  He was targeted a whopping 19 times on 52 attempts from Carr, and the Chiefs also schemed much harder on Crabtree.  This pick is kinda like my AD pick from last week -  both certainly made me eat my words about them on said weekend, but owners should certainly taper down expectations moving forward. I think, at best, Cooper stays in the WR2/flex play for now;  however, owners should continue to start him because of his high potential.  I must concede the fact (on Monday morning)  Matthew Berry had a similar take and makes me question this opinion a lot more. Also keep in mind in his 2 best games this season the Raiders won the game (maybe a smart idea to force it to him more).

 
 
Doug Baldwin, SEA WR  
Mike: Buy - Baldwin owners were waiting for a game like this and the stat line should’ve been even better if Wilson wouldn’t have missed him on a wide open long ball. Doug finally looked healthy after a shaky couple weeks and the schedule should favor him more towards the end of the season.  Hopefully this play continues and Baldwin moves back into the solid WR1 category.

Devin: Buy- Baldwin had some things to say on the sideline during the 2nd quarter, but it seemed to work and they connected with him on a touchdown shortly after the altercation.  He’s the clear #1 WR on the team and he’s had multiple games with 10+ targets.  Fantasy is about talent + opportunity and Baldwin has both on his side. Look forward to his numbers going forward.  It definitely seems like a switch gets flipped in Seattle around halfway through the season the last few years.
 
 
Aaron Jones, GB RB
Mike: Buy -I had my doubts going into the week about how the Packers RB situation would pan out and I think at least for the near future it is clear that Jones is the guy. He has topped 100 yards in back-to-back games and with Brett Hundley looking terrible they will continue to feed him the ball. There is no reason not to believe that the Pack will ride the hot hand. RB2/3 value.

Devin: Buy- This guy is absolutely crushing it right now, and was the lone bright spot for the Packers offense this weekend.  He turns several plays that should be 2-3 yard losses into 3-5 yard gains.  He was ripping off huge chunks of yardage, and showed great vision on his 46 yard TD run.  He doesn’t look as fast, nor is he on a potent offense, but (I think) he  is comparable to Kareem Hunt’s running style.  A majority of his O-line is healthy now as well, and (the blocking looked great for the most part) hopefully this could help open up holes for him in the future.  
 
 
Mark Ingram, NO RB
Mike: Buy - Ingram has looked great in both games since AP left the team for Arizona. He is getting the amount of carries every owner hoped for and is producing with them. He should continue to see a good share of the offensive work.

Devin:  Buy- Sometimes the internet/experts will try to convince you of a certain narrative. I’m talking to you “Sean Payton hates Ingram” people. While I'm sure Sean tearfully jerks it to his Hightower shrine hidden in his closet, the fact is Ingram is producing and doing everything the former Heisman winner was drafted to do 7 years ago.  Kamara continues to impress, but I feel the veteran is performing well enough to keep his workload going forward.  
 
 
Latavius Murray, MIN RB
Mike: Sell -  If you own Murray and played him this week, then congratulations. He played well and took advantage of the carries. However, this was one of the best running games Murray has produced in two years. The likelihood that he can repeat that this year while sharing touches with Jerick McKinnon is slim. Use the game as trade leverage. Don’t trust the co-piloted backfield.

Devin: Buy (tentatively)- I watched all of Murray’s film this week, and I have to admit he looked much better than he has all season.  The blocking looked great, but Murray was making people miss in the holes and open field, as well as his cuts looking sharp and precise.  Not to mention he looked a step faster and had more acceleration than I’ve seen from him so far this year.  Was this game merely an outlier? Or is there some juice left in this box?  I wouldn’t try give up anything, nor would I say to FAAB-spload in any way, but I see some upside in a league that has little-to-no RB depth at this point in the season.
 
 
Jared Cook, OAK TE  
Mike: Buy - Jared Cook has been a gamble throughout the season so far, but this week was a good sign. He made the most out of his catches and got a good number of targets. Tight End is always tough for points and Cook is no exception, but he should be above average for the rest of the season.

Devin: Sell- Cook is a very solid player, who in a real game I would certainly want on my team. However, in fantasy (even for a TE) he’s a little to streaky for me. I would want someone else, but would be content if he was my only option. Just don’t think you can expect double digits from him regularly.
 
 
 
Kenny Stills, MIA WR  
Mike: Buy - Matt Moore likes to throw to Kenny Stills. Last time they played multiple games together Stills became fantasy relevant and it’s natural to assume with Moore taking over that Kenny will become a fringe WR3/Flex option. Add the factor of DeVante Parker’s injury and it is only realistic to think the young playmaker will continue to be involved. Should be an easy grab in most leagues.

Devin: Buy- Parker’s injury outlook is bleak.  Cutler went down early in the 3rd and Moore came in to move the ball adequately.  A majority of Stills targets came with Moore in the game. Both of his touchdowns were thrown by Moore.  Stills had multiple red zone targets, with one going for a touchdown, before being negated by OPI.  Moore went to him again three plays later to finish the drive with a touchdown.  Both of these TD targets were on 1st down and on the 2-3 yard line. That’s the targets you dream of for a WR3/ flex option.  
 
 
Matt Forte, NYJ RB
Mike: Sell - I don’t want any part of the NYJ backfield. The Jets offense is hard for me to trust any position player besides Austin Seferian-Jenkins. The backfield changes weekly and the injuries will always be lurking for Forte. Get what you can for him.

Devin: Sell- In a complete timeshare and doesn’t look like explosive self. He was an incredible player for Chicago all those years but he’s just a shell of his former self at this point.



DeSean Jackson, TB WR
Mike: Buy - The targets are there. DeSean Jackson has been “boom or bust” for years, but this year he looks more promising than the last few. Jameis Winston clearly likes to throw the deep balls down the sideline to him and when they connect it always pays off for fantasy.  23 targets in the last three weeks is not something to look away from with a player labeled as a boom or bust. The schedule for DJ isn’t too bad moving forward either considering Mike Evans will get the tough match-ups each week.

Devin: Buy- Been saying all year that DJax is a golden ticket for offensive production.  He frees up coverage for other players, provides a downfield threat, and increases his QB’s average per attempt by at least 2 yards. He and Winston are starting to connect more and I'm bullish on that leading to more touchdowns.  
 
 
JuJu Smith Schuster, PIT WR  
Mike: Buy - It is hard for a lot of people to get on the JuJu train, but if Martavis Bryant keeps having problems or gets traded (unlikely, but still ) like he wants, then Smith-Schuster could slide into a nice role in the offense as the 3rd weapon. Worth a bottom roster spot for potential. If you can get him for nothing in 12 team leagues, do it. Plus, I love a good touchdown celebration.

Devin: Sell- He’ll have 2-3 more fantasy relevant games, but I think (at least at this point) he’s a reach and just on a hype train because of his cool name. His most heavily targeted game was a meager 6 vs Jacksonville and has only had 3/game the last 2 weeks.  
 
 
Robert Woods, LAR WR
Mike: Buy - I have talked about Woods in the past and will continue to do so. He is the most consistent WR on the team by far. He leads the team in targets, receptions and yards. It is extremely difficult to find receivers that don’t fall off on certain weeks, but Woods has been one of the few that continues to stay steady. He is a solid week-to-week start as a WR3/ flex option.
 
Devin: Buy – He is cheap in most leagues and right now is a poor man’s Adam Thielen. He doesn’t see quite the volume, but he is dependable for around 5 catches a game and hopefully a touchdown soon. Comfortable WR3/flex value in PPR.
 
 
Marlon Mack, IND RB
Mike: Buy - Again, I  will harp on the talent of the young IND RB. Frank Gore is slowly being put to rest by the Colts staff and with just cause. Marlon Mack looks better than Gore and continues to shine when Gore fails. It should only be a matter of time until Mack gets the full reign of this horrible offense. Stash him until he is safer to play weekly, but know that he will be fantasy relevant before long.

Devin: Buy-  I said it once, and I just have to reinforce it again:   He’s “The only explosive player in the Colts backfield."  Great pickup for Dynasty and keeper leagues next year.  I think you’ll get decent flex production out of him going forward.  Keep expectations realistic though.
 
 
Joe Mixon, CIN RB
Mike: Buy - Until this week Mixon had been getting a good amount of touches and it was only a matter of time until the rookie figured out the offense and produced. Unfortunately, the Steelers started to work the Bengals over and they were forced to pass a little more. Mixon spoke up after the game and his rush attempts should jump back to the teens next week against a poor Colts team. His schedule varies week to week on difficulty but the amount of touches should merit RB2/3 value.

Devin: Buy- Mixon is out-touching and producing his competition in the backfield. It still looks like a committee effort for now, but I’m holding onto this potential (high risk) stock for at least one more week.  He’s got a juicy matchup vs the Colts, who have a hard time against versatile backs like Mixon.
 
 
Tarik Cohen, CHI RB
Mike: Sell - Touched a little on this last week, but Cohen is losing his role in the offense more and more each week. Argue with this if you want to because he caught 1 pass for a big gain, but that doesn’t change the fact that it was his only look at the ball the entire game. Cohen is no longer a weekly flex plug in until he proves to be a part of the offense again.

Devin: Buy- I want to see what happens next week in NO before I sell on his ability.   He and Chris Thompson shocked the fantasy world the first few weeks, and I think he could bounce back this upcoming weekend.  The “experts” loved Theo Riddick vs the Saints a few weeks ago (that didn’t pan out at all) but Cohen is much more explosive.  If he will just stop trying to score a touchdown on every play I think he would still be more involved in the offense.  However, (sigh) it’s his ability to potentially score anytime he gets the ball that makes me wanna keep him in at the flex.
 
 
 
Sammy Watkins, LAR WR
Mike: Sell - Watkins has been a big letdown this season for anyone that thought he could resurrect his career a bit in LA. The offense has been great for the Rams so far this season with Watkins playing a small role. His main purpose seems to be as a distraction for the best defensive back to cover strictly because his speed. Meanwhile, Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp continue to be more reliant. Don’t feel safe with Watkins in your starting lineup, especially with the next 5 weeks opponents.

Devin: Sell- The Rams just actually have a lot more weapons/talent than most expected them too. I can’t justify selling on Cooper if I'm not also selling on Watkins.  However, Watkins seems to be a lack of opportunity vs a lack of capitalization.  He’ll have 1 or 2 more boom games, could be a good bye week fill-in, but I wouldn’t ask much more.
 
 
CJ Anderson, DEN RB
Mike: Sell - The Denver offense looks flat lately and that makes CJ Anderson suffer. This season, Anderson has only been RB1 worthy 3 times and those were in games that he received 20+ rush attempts, something that hasn’t happened since week 4. If the carries are there then he is worth a RB2 spot, but they just haven’t been there lately so my confidence is lacking with him.

Devin: Sell- CJA always trails off as the season goes on.   I haven’t been able to watch all of their games, but the reports I’ve read all say Charles is actually looking better; with some asserting Jamal is a 2nd half sleeper.  I wouldn’t put so much faith in Charles just yet, but he’s trending up as CJA is going down.
 
 
Larry Fitzgerald, ARI WR
Mike: Sell - Fitzgerald is amazing - there is no denying that - but Stanton is not. Although we have only seen ¾ of a game with Stanton at QB, it is clear that the WR core is going to suffer greatly. The passes will be more spread out and sporadic with the team probably falling back onto the run game and cheap dump off passes. Fitzgerald just doesn’t hold anywhere near the value he did on draft day or even last week.

Devin: Sell- I’m saying this in a “don’t expect him to put up clear cut WR1 numbers” kinda way.  I still think he will be targeted some;  Fitz runs great routes, has strong hands, and will be involved in the offense. However, I'd have to call him a WR2 or flex option going forward.  To be clear, I would still start him every week if I had him, but it’s foolish to think he’ll remain a top 5 WR in PPR.  


 
Jordy Nelson, GB WR  
Mike: Buy? - This is tough for me because honestly I would considering selling every GB receiver for the right price at this point. However, Jordy Nelson is the best receiver and route runner on the team. He gets open weekly and most often times it is in the red zone. He may not be a weekly start, but he is worth stashing on your bench to see how the next game or two plays out.  Don’t just trade him for a player like Javorius Allen or Rishard Matthews.

Devin: Sell- This is a sinking ship without Rodgers. He was only targeted 4 times on 25 attempts, and only connected on 1 of them.  Expect numbers like T.Y./ Fitz going forward.  They could boom, they could bust;  it’s too much up and down for a guy you probably drafted in the first round.  Not exactly apples to apples, but welcome to the David Johnson owner's party.  
 
 
 
Frank Gore, IND RB  
Mike: Sell - I have been aboard the Marlon “Big” Mack  train since the pre-season and my thoughts have not changed. We all knew that eventually the time and wear of a long NFL RB career would show itself. The time is now. Gore still has the talent and knowledge to sustain low fantasy value, but the younger and more physically able Mack should start to take over more and more. The Colts really don’t have much of choice but to test the talent of their new RB considering they don’t have much to lose from the season.

Devin: Sell- I feel like I’m gonna burst into flames writing this, as Gore was fantasy royalty during his time with the 49ers and won me a league in my early fantasy days.  However, we must all face the facts that this decades Curtis-Martin-replica is on its final stretch. He’ll have a low floor, and I truly hope he gets his 1000 yards from scrimmage record, but it’s just not enough to buy in on his value going forward :(.  
 
 
Mike Gillislee, NE RB
Mike: Sell - Gillislee fully lived up to the LeGarrette Blount fill in for the first two weeks of the season, but since then he has looked terrible. He hasn’t been able to create for himself and is struggling to break tackles. On top of it all, red zone carries have gone down as well with Dion Lewis and James White both playing well.

Devin: Sell- I’m not a fan of Billy B’s RBs in Fantasy.  Even when Blount was crushing it last year he was super TD dependent. There hasn’t been a 100% clear cut RB1 in that stable since “Clock Killin” Dillon.  We were pitched Gillislee as Blount 2.0, but that just has not panned out at all.  It even seems like White is getting at least a good portion of goal line carries at this point.  
 
 
TY Hilton, IND WR
Mike: Sell - Hilton still has some name value and two games worth some value. His schedule doesn’t look any easier than the first part of the season and Jacoby Brissett just isn’t that talented as a QB. Hilton isn’t targeting the way he should be weekly without Andrew Luck and it doesn’t look like Luck will be returning anytime soon.

Devin: Sell- I don’t think Luck is coming back at all this season.  I was only buying on him the first few weeks under the assumption Luck would be back by week 9 or 10. I’m jumping ship completely.  Like I said with Jordy and Fitz, his talent will cause a few big games; but he’s not the consistent threat he should be.
 
 
 
 
Put Me In Coach: Waiver wire

Kenny Stills, MIA WR - Stills has been more involved in the offense the last few weeks with Parker’s injury and should see even more attention now with Matt Moore taking over the team’s offense. 5 out the next 7 match-ups are favorable for WR2s on teams. 15% owned.
 
Marlon Mack , IND RB - Mack is taking over the RB situation for the Colts and should see more rush attempts each week. The Colts know what they have in the youngster and should lean on him more in the weeks to come. The team has only a few bright spots on offense and Mack is one of them. 26.5% owned
 
Dion Lewis, NE RB - Lewis has been relevant enough the past few weeks to at least be owned in most 10-12 team leagues. Despite the messy backfield situation, Lewis is the most likely to maintain rush and reception attempts every game consistently. 20% owned
 
Robby Anderson, NYJ WR - Robby Anderson is the deep threat on the Jets and each week Josh McCown looks more and more comfortable in this offense and honestly has become a pretty dependable fantasy QB. With that comes potential in the WR charts and Anderson should be near the top of the list on fantasy relevance. 13.5% Owned.
 
Robert Woods, LAR WR -  I am not sure how he still isn’t owned in 75% of  leagues when he is playing way better than a handful of receivers owned in 85%+. Woods is the most consistent WR on the team and each week puts up numbers worthy of WR3/Flex play in 10-12 team leagues. Grab him ,stash him, play him - it doesn’t matter but he should be owned. 19% owned.
 
Tyler Kroft, CIN TE - Just like we said a few weeks ago, Kroft is filling in the void of Tyler Eiffert which is only fitting considering the first name. The Tight end is an important part of the CIN offense and Andy Dalton will always look to the position for a safety net. Kroft is a fringe TE1/2 player moving forward. 11% owned.
 
Allen Hurns, JAX WR -  The QB/WR situation is messy to say the least. Week to week there is no telling what could happen, but Hurns should be owned in most 10-12 team leagues. He maintains a steady 4+ targets a game and has the potential to put up 12+ fantasy points any given week. That alone makes him worth a roster spot this season. 29% owned.
 
Danny Woodhead, BAL RB - The time is finally almost here. The running back situation in Baltimore is about to get messier, but at the same time may be clearer for some owners. Set to return week 11, Woodhead could be the guy that boosts your roster in PPR leagues towards the end of the season. Joe Flacco clearly can’t throw the ball as far as he used to and will love the new dump off help to replace J.Allen and A. Collins.   23% owned
 
D’onte Foreman, HOU RB - Foreman keeps getting some nice carries and with that the team is giving him a few more looks. Lamar Miller doesn’t look like a clear cut RB1 option anymore with the younger Foreman itching to get a bigger role. Right now he is averaging around half a yard more per carry with 3-5 less attempts per game. 15% owned.
 
Josh Doctson, WAS WR - Gruden said he was going to get Doctson more involved and he followed through. It wasn’t the best night for WAS receivers, but Doctson still looked good when he was involved. He made a few good catches and led the WRs in the category even though it was only 3. He is worthy of a roster spot to see what he can do. 13% owned.
 
Kenny Golladay, DET WR - He showed off his talent in the first game of the season, but was injured in week 3 and hasn’t played since. The Lions offense has looked flat lately and with Golden Tate injured Golladay could step into a nice role in the offense. Plus, if he forms a good connection with Stafford he automatically enters fantasy relevance. 14.5% owned.

Josh McCown, NYJ QB - It is a little hard to even put this here, but McCown has played pretty damn good this year and with multiple QBs injured or out for the year he is most definitely fantasy relevant with 4 multi touchdown games out of his last 6. He has been a consistent QB2 this year and has a good matchup vs Atlanta this week.  12% owned.

Demarcus Robinson, KC WR – With Chris Conley out for the season the Chiefs are looking for a replacement WR2 and Robinson could fill in nicely as another deep threat. Keep an eye on him or if you are in deeper leagues and can stash him, do it. 1% owned.




You’re Killing Me Smalls: Bench, Trade or Drop

Rishard Matthews, TEN WR - Matthews has only topped 50 yards three times this season and only has two games with 5 or more catches. Many people drafted Rishard has a fringe WR2/3 player...so far he has almost lived up to the value thanks to one game boosting his averages. However, Corey Davis returns soon and the talented youngster will eat up targets.
 
TY Hilton, IND WR - In the last 4 weeks Hilton has 13 catches...not a very high number for a receiver drafted to be WR2 on most fantasy teams. He has had his boom games that looked like the old TY fantasy days, but with Jacoby Brissett he is too unpredictable and has had 40 yards or less in 3 of the last 4 games.
 
Sammy Watkins, BUF WR - Another receiver that is just lacking the right looks in the offense. Watkins seemed like he might be a good fantasy WR3/Flex the first few weeks of the season, but in the last 3 weeks of play has only seen 5 receptions and has a total of 70 yards in those games. It is hard to see him carving out a significant role in an offense that is already clicking with him as a decoy.
 
Frank Gore, IND RB - Frank Gore is trending downward and it is clear to anyone that takes the time to look at his stats. His touches have for the most part gone down game by game since week week 3 and it should continue to do so with Marlon Mack looking better and more efficient.
 
Mike Gillislee, NE RB - So much disappointment here. Gillislee looked pretty damn good last year filling in for LeSean McCoy and looked to be a good fill in for Blount after his exit and the first two weeks of 4 TDs. Since week 2 Gillislee has only rushed for over 50 yards one time and his touches have starting going down since Dion Lewis returned and some fumble issues. Patriots running backs are hard to trust and Gillislee leads the pack of shaky weekly starts.
 
Marshawn Lynch, OAK RB - This is NOT the Beastmode we all fell in love with years ago. He started to lose his step the last year he played and the season off didn’t help in that regard. He doesn’t look that good running the ball and has got lucky with some goal line carries/ TDs to boost his fantasy stats. Run from this mess that is about to get worse with the emergence of Washington and Richard.
 
Martellus Bennett, GB TE - There was so much hope for Bennett to come to Rodgers system and immediately become fantasy relevant as a TE1. That never reached its potential this year and with Hundley at QB it probably never will. Bennett has yet to reach the end zone and even with a few receptions a game he has only topped 50 yards one time.
 
 
 
 
Week 8 Rankings:

100% Start
QB: Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Carson Wentz, Dak Prescott, Russell Wilson, Alex Smith, Phillip Rivers, Kirk Cousins,

WR: Antonio Brown, AJ Green, Julio Jones, Mike Evans, Keenan Allen, Dez Bryant, DeAndre Hopkins, Michael Thomas, Doug Baldwin, Alshon Jeffery, Demaryius Thomas

RB: Le’Veon Bell, LeSean McCoy, Ezekiel Elliot, Mark Ingram, Kareem hunt, Devonte Freeman, Melvin Gordon, Jordan Howard, Alvin Kamara

TE: Rob Gronkowski, Zach Ertz, Travis Kelce, Jordan Reed, Jimmy Graham, Austin Seferian Jenkins, Hunter Henry, Jason Witten
 
 
Confident Starts:
QB: Cam Newton, Matthew Stafford, Jameis Winston, Matt Ryan, Tyrod Taylor, Ben Roethlisberger, Andy Dalton

WR:  Chris Hogan, Kelvin Benjamin, Pierre Garcon, Stefon Diggs*, Adam Thielen, Brandin Cooks, Tyreek hill, Devin Funchess, Michael Crabtree, DeSean Jackson

RB:Jay Ajayi, Christian McCaffery, Lamar Miller, Doug Martin, Carlos Hyde, Chris Thompson, Javorius Allen,  Joe Mixon

TE: Cameron Brate, Tyler Kroft, Zach Miller, Kyle Rudolph, Jared Cook, Ed Dickson, George Kittle, Austin hooper, Jack Doyle
 
 
Gambles:
QB: Deshaun Watson, Josh McCown, Derek Carr, Trevor Seimian, Joe Flacco, CJ Beathard, Matt Moore, Case Keenum,

WR: Jarvis Landry, Amari Cooper, TY Hilton, Marvin Jones Jr, DeVante Parker*, Mohamad Sanu, Robby Anderson, Martavis Bryant, Tyrell Williams, Jermaine Kearse, Danny Amendola, Nelson Agholor, Ted Ginn Jr., Kenny Stills

RB: CJ Anderson, Jerick McKinnon, Tevin Coleman, Latavius Murray, Ameer Abdullah, Rob Kelley, LeGarrette Blount, Duke Johnson Jr., Marlon Mack, Frank Gore, DeAndre Washington, Bilal Powell, Dion Lewis, James White

TE: Coby Fleener, Jesse James, Vernon Davis, Nick O’Leary, AJ Derby, OJ Howard, Ryan Griffin
 
 
 
 
Don’t drink the punch: Don’t trust the good week... yet

O.J Howard, TB TE - While we think O.J. has all of the physical tools to be one of the next elite tight ends (for the next several seasons), we’re not sure putting eggs in the basket for next week is a great idea.


TJ Yeldon, JAX RB - With Jacksonville entering the bye week most are projecting Fournette to be back in action and rolling in week 9. It was fun while it lasted TJ.


Mack Hollins, PHI WR - That one catch almost doubled his season’s total yardage and increased his touchdowns by over 1000%. Proof a blind squirrel finds a nut from time to time. Don’t think he is fighting for a WR1/2 spot.  Jeffery and Agholor have that locked down.


Travis Benjamin, LAC WR - While he truly “put da team on his back doe”, it will be hard to replicate this kind of success given his lack of opportunities. He was truly impressive this week.  They may try to get him more involved, but he’s been on this team for 2 years and is in his 6th season in the league.  What we’re trying to say is that the team that knows what they got, and how they wanna use him... sporadically.
 
 

 

Injury Report:

Teddy Bridgewater - Dislocated knee and torn anterior cruciate
Spencer Ware – Torn posterior cruciate (knee)

Ryan Tannehill – torn acl
Julian Edelman – torn acl
Cameron Meredith – torn acl and mcl
David Johnson – Broken Wrist
Danny Woodhead – hamstring
Kevin White – Fractured scapula
Allen Robinson – torn acl
Corey Coleman – broken hand
Greg Olsen- Broken foot
Darren Sproles – torn acl
Jordan Matthews – Broken thumb
Chris Carson – ankle surgery
Dalvin Cook – torn acl
Odell Beckham Jr. - Broken Ankle
Brandon Marshall - Ankle
Chris Conley -Achilles
Charles Clay - knee (weeks)
Aaron Rodgers - Broken collar Bone
Emmanuel Sanders - High ankle sprain (weeks)
Golden Tate - AC Joint (weeks)

Carson Palmer - Broken Arm
Jay Cutler - Broken Ribs (weeks)
Delanie Walker - Ankle  

1 Comment

Out with the old & in with the new

18/10/2017

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What if I told you, just a season (or two) ago, both Le’Veon and Antonio leading the league in rushing and receiving in a weekend wasn’t a rare occurrence; or there was once a time when Adrian Peterson would rushing for over 100 yards and 2 touchdowns wouldn’t cause a second look. If you became an NFL or fantasy fan this season, I don’t think you would believe me. However, this week has brought about a reclamation for some, and an introduction for others. This week seemed to cooperate the most with the predictions and hopes of fantasy owners. With many guys taken in early rounds finally paying off. However, this week also helped reveal, in a season decimated by injuries, who should be pumped and who should be dumped.

The changing of faces at the different positions is becoming a weekly thing, both on the field and in our fantasy rosters. The waiver wire is topped with guys many well read fantasy players haven’t ever heard of, or with guys that we never thought would be on our rosters. Most are due to injury, but still some are getting the chance to show their talents with new opportunities. We have to stress though, barring injury, quality wire pickups are becoming fewer and fewer; and you should really have the mold of your playoff starting roster forming/ formed by this point. Fear not though young padawans, were hoping with this week’s entry to provide you with the top remaining dark horses, as well as give you some quality advice on what to do with your current assets.

The fantasy season is flying by and before we know it the playoffs will be upon us. Each week that passes presents new opportunities that have come and gone, chances you won’t get back. SO, the only option is to look forward. It’s time to start preparing for your playoff push , by that we mean padding your roster with hand-cuffs and potential stars. It is far past the time of using your bench spots for players that will never start on your team or you only kept there so another team couldn’t grab them. It’s time to pick up potential end of the year studs and to grab the hand-cuff of your best RB. Injuries have been tough this year to all owners’ and it (likely) won’t change. Don’t be the guy that misses their hand-cuff player on the waiver wire to some chump, but also don’t miss the sleeper that is sitting on there for weeks 7-10. Get the QUALITY bench warmers on your roster before it is too late!




Tiered Week 7 Projections: QB, WR, RB, TE 1, 2 & 3s

Tier 1: 100% Starters
QB: Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Carson Wentz, Alex Smith, Dak Prescott, Kirk Cousins

RB: Kareem Hunt, Todd Gurley, Leonard Fournette*, Le’Veon Bell, Melvin Gordon, Ezekiel Elliott, DeVonte Freeman, LeSean McCoy, Jordan Howard, Doug Martin, Mark Ingram

WR: Antonio Brown, Julio Jones, Aj Green, Brandin Cooks, Keenan Allen, Michael Crabtree, Larry Fitzgerald, Adam Thielen, Jarvis Landry, Jordy Nelson, Michael Thomas, Tyreek Hill, Dez Bryant, Mike Evans

TE: Rob Gronkowski , Zach Ertz, Travis Kelce, Jason Witten, Cameron Brate, Delanie Walker, Jimmy Graham, Evan Engram, Austin Seferian-Jenkins

Tier 2: Confident Starts
QB: Philip Rivers, Blake Bortles, Matt Ryan, Cam Newton, Marcus Mariota, Russell Wilson, Josh McCown

RB: Adrian Peterson, Jerick Mckinnon, Carlos Hyde, Christian McCaffrey, Chris Thompson, Jay Ajayi, Alvin Kamara, Tevin Coleman

WR: Demaryius Thomas, Kelvin Benjamin, Pierre Garcon, DaVante Adams, Alshon Jeffery, Doug Baldwin, Devante Parker, Chris Hogan,

TE: Kyle Rudolph, George Kittle, Hunter Henry, Zach Miller,

Tier 3: Gambles
QB: Ben Roethlisberger, Trevor Siemian, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Derek Carr, Jay Cutler, Case Keenum, CJ Beathard, Tyrod Taylor

RB: CJ Anderson,  DeMarco Murray, Mike Gillislee, Dion Lewis, James White, Theo Riddick, LeGarrette Blount, Marshawn Lynch, Duke Johnson Jr., Matt Forte, Alex Collins, Tarik Cohen, Latavius Murray, TY Montgomery,

WR: TY Hilton, Sammy Watkins, Marqise Lee, Ted Ginn Jr., Nelson Agholor, Danny Amendola, DeSean Jackson, Randall Cobb, John Brown, Terrelle Pryor Sr., Devin Funchess, Mike Wallace, Marvin Jones Jr., Amari Cooper, Robert Woods, Jermaine Kearse , Martavis Bryant, Cooper Kupp

TE: Vernon Davis, Jordan Reed, Jared Cook, Martellus Bennett, Benjamin Watson, David Njoku, Ed Dickson, Austin Hooper





Buy/Sell : Players we are going for or getting rid of

Adrian Peterson
Mike: Buy. Peterson looked great in his debut with Arizona and each week will help him to understand the scheme/ offense better. He should see a heavy workload till December when DJ comes back. Solid RB2 with RB1 potential.



Devin: Buy. While I 100% believe he will lose the job completely once DJ is back, Peterson made me eat my words this week when he erupted for 130 and 2 scores. Gameflow really helped this week, but he showed he is clearly the workhorse for them going forward. Taper down your expectations to a more realistic level, but I’d wager he has at least 1 or 2 of these games left till he’s benched. Could certainly help you make the playoffs, and from there, it’s anyone’s game.

Andre Ellington
Mike: Sell. The addition of Adrian Peterson changes the dynamic of this offense. There will be less safety dump off passes which means Ellington’s value takes a big dip.

Devin: Sell. I heartbreakingly dropped him last night, he performed valiantly while it lasted, but we had a good run. While i don’t think he’ll goose egg again for the rest of the year, it’s to unknown what his part in the offense will be.

Alshon Jeffery WR PHI
Mike: Buy. The Eagles really like to throw the ball and Wentz has proven to be a top QB in the league. Alshon will still have games that he only get 3-4 catches for 45 yards, but there should be more “boom” games to come with his schedule easing up in the second half of the season.

Devin: Buy. Wentz is growing to love the big bodied pass catching machine that is Alshon Jeffery. I really think the touchdowns will start to come as the season progresses. He’s only at 2 on the season, and I’m willing to bet he’s got at least 6 more coming. He’s just too talented, and on a quality offense, with a very above average QB. I see a spike in Jeffery’s stock going forward, try to get him now while he’s still outside the top 20 receivers.

Amari Cooper WR OAK
Mike: Buy. As you will read below...I am a Amari Cooper owner myself ( in a few leagues). Owners around fantasy are desperate for WR help if they bought into Cooper and will most likely dish him. Argue the stats and not his name until they break if possible, then hope that he fixes the problem between his ears and becomes a top 20 WR again. I am NOT saying break the bank to get him...but he is a player that is worth a stash until he produces 2-3 more duds.

Devin: Sell. I’ve heard year 3 is when teams can tell if a wide out has the juice or not. I didn’t see it last year and luckily dumped this poor sap on Mike, but that’s a story for a different day. Crabtree has been the one to own the last 2 years and that didn’t change this season. Cooper runs great routes and is very physically talented, i’m not saying sell him off for nothing, but no one is drinking the Amari Kool-aid any more. He was an upside investment that didn’t pay off (at least yet). You can hold and see if it bounces back, or try and sell of the assets for above current value. If you’re winning or deep at WR then hold, if you’re desperate consider giving away at a loss. Someone wants to own him, don’t just drop him.

Jerick McKinnon
Mike: Buy. It’s clear now why the Vikings held onto Mckinnon and why the spoke so highly of him. He fits into their system and looks good running & catching ball. He should continue to be a strong RB2/3 player in PPR leagues.

Devin: Buy. He’s not Dalvin, but McKinnon is certainly getting the job done and has been more than serviceable. You were lucky if you got him off the waivers, hold on and ride the wave of house money till it dries up.

Theo Riddick
Mike: Sell. As always I am totally against any Detroit RB. The Lions don’t care too much about a strong running game and even the safety dump offs have been getting fewer and far between. Theo is merely a RB3/Flex option at BEST.

Devin: Sell. Throw him as a package deal in a trade and hope his reputation carries some weight. He’s not producing fantasy relevance in any way, but provides a consistent low floor in PPR. I did keep him over Ellington in my league if that means anything, as at least his role is defined in the offense.

Ameer Abdullah
Mike: Sell. Again, I am not fond of the Lions backfield...Ameer especially. He has had three good games in his last 10. If that doesn’t speak to you then you just don’t want to hear it. Either their line doesn’t want to block for him or the talent just isn’t there. I don’t see him getting past RB3 value this year with a maybe a few ‘boom” games.

Devin: Sell. I can barely accept description of him as an startable option, let alone the RB2 many are propping him up as. Seriously, who is still buying this narrative??

Jay Ajayi
Mike: Sell. Ajayi had a good game and it would be a good time to sell. The Miami offense still doesn’t look great and Ajayi’s knees still are banged up. He hasn’t managed to get in the end zone this year and even though the 25 carries a game are nice to see, it is terrible for his knees.


Devin: Buy. I took him early, and i’m just along for the ride at this point. Obviously Jay Cutler is gonna hurt anyone unfortunate enough to be on his team’s fantasy value, But Ajayi’s sheer volume and talent should overpower the patheticness of this offense as a whole.

Nelson Agholor
Mike: Buy. I think Agholor is clearly the ⅔ option on the team. Alshon Jeffery has been covered by the best defenders every game and that leaves Agholor to reap the benefits of weak coverage. You can’t ignore the TD potential especially against defenses worried about Alshon. Decent WR 3 / flex option.

Devin: Buy. After another week of consistent touches and another touchdown, I think it’s hard to deny his connection with Wentz. I wouldn’t depend on him for much more than a flex option, but his high ceiling ability his impossible to let sit on the waiver wire.

Deshaun Watson
Mike: Buy. Deshaun looks like the real deal. He can throw the ball ( and does often ) and he can run the ball. He gets you around 3-5 points on the ground a game which is very promising in today’s NFL. Plus, I like his remaining schedule for the most part.

Devin: Buy. Dude has so many weapons to choose from. Also, he’s a freak athlete, and terrific football player. The sky is seriously his ceiling. He does make at least 1 terrible throw a game, but that is to be expected. This once streaming option may be the waiver wire pickup of the year.

Cameron Brate
Mike: Buy. With or without Jameis Winston the Bucs are looking to check down to the TE for caution...and they do it often. Brate continues to impress with TDs and has clear chemistry with Winston and Fitzpatrick. Brate is a solid TE1 for the season.

Devin: Buy. Clearly and integral part of their offense, multiple redzone looks. I don’t see this guy slowing down at all. He’s Healthy this year, and looking good.

Evan Engram
Mike: Buy. The options at TE are very limited and Engram is one of the few if not the only #1 option for his team. With the WR core going down Engram will step up and be the favorite target of Eli Manning.

Devin :Buy. I mean who the hell else is Eli gonna throw it to. In a position very limited by legitimate starts Engram has been this past week’s waiver wire wet dream. Anyone who grabbed him was very happy after this week. I think it’s a trend that will continue.

Jordy Nelson / DaVante Adams / Randall Cobb
Mike: Sell. I love the Packers, love Aaron Rodgers and love watching these receivers go to work...Unfortunately, without Rodgers the wide receivers on this team take a huge dip. Each game will be a toss up of who will get the most targets with QB Brett Hundley. If you can get rid of these guys on name value then I would do it. This season is completely up in the air now for all three.

Devin: Sell. Like Mike I saw try and trade them if you can, but i’m not totally terrified by their outlooks the R.O.S. Jordy was still heavily targeted and is to talented not to be an high end WR 2. I think a touchdown fall off for Adams has to happen, and his and Cobbs targets will suffer some.

Ty Montgomery / Aaron Jones
Mike: Sell. I think these backs are still worth owning and if I had them ( I do ) I would be trying to package them in a trade ( I am). Get back what you can and work forward from there. Brett Hundley will like dump the ball off often to his RBs and the offense will look to the backfield now with the unsure QB. They still have value, but who and what value is up in the air.

Devin: Buy. I think his opportunity in PPR may be better, as his slot/backfield receiving could bump up after Rodgers injury. Trade for him and get more for less quality offer.

Doug Martin
Mike: Buy. Martin has received limited touches in both his games back, but still managed to produce in each game. The Bucs should give Martin a full workload now with a few weeks under his belt. Martin should be a solid RB1/2 moving forward.

Devin: Buy. He’s capitalized on his touches and proved his the best back in Tampa. I see them feeding him the rock a little more going forward, and to respect play action then to go deep to Evans and Brate.





Put me in coach: Waiver wire adds

Orleans Darkwa, NYG RB- Darkwa proved this last week that he wasn’t going to let Gallaman take his role easily and produced one hell of a game when the Giants needed him most. After this performance it is safe to say that the team will give Darkwa the lead role back until something changes.

George Kittle SF TE- Kittle has cemented himself as a key role in this offense. In the last two weeks he has been targeted 17 times! That is ridiculous and you don’t see that often minus WRs and Gronk. Kittle is worth and add/start on almost all rosters. He should continue to produce against a poor defensive Dallas team.

Dion Lewis, NE RB - As soon as Gillisllee fumbled most Patriots fans knew what would happen. The rest of the carries would be shared amongst the other backs. With that happening Dion Lewis emerged with a role we haven’t seen from him in recent years...He ran the ball and ran it effectively. Although the backfield is crowded in NE there is a good chance that Dion could see 10+ carries a game with some passing involvement as well.

Robert Woods, LAR WR - The writing was on the wall by Week 3 and it is still there. Robert Woods is the most consistent wide receiver for the LA Rams. Each game he has seen a healthy amount of targets and each week he produces numbers worthy of a roster spot on most fantasy teams. Woods should continue to be a safety net for Jared Goff.

Benjamin Watson, BAL TE - Watson has been what most players call boom-or-bust , but in reality he has produced better than half of the TE field. You could find worse options moving forward at the position.

Austin Hooper, ATL TE - Although Hooper started off the season slow he has had 5 or more receptions in his last two games. With the Atlanta offense not looking nearly as good as last year we could see the workload stay close to similar moving forward for Hooper. Keep an eye on his targets this week to see where his situation is now with Julio and Sanu healthy.

Alex Collins, BAL RB - The RB situation in Baltimore is just like many backfields in the NFL..messy. Buck Allen will continue to see work on run and pass plays and Terrence West will come back sometime in the next few weeks, BUT Collins is the best runner out of the 3 and if he fixes the fumble problem should gain the lead back role.

Zach Miller, CHI TE - As seen in the last two weeks with Mitchell Trubisky behind center, Zach Miller is the safety net of this team. He gets looks going down the field and gets looks in the end zone. He only has 5 catches in the last two games but two of them were for TDs. He will be a boom-or-bust play considering the TD aspect, but is worth a look if you are short on TE.

Jordan Matthews, BUF WR - The Bills WRs are not very talented and now that Charles Clay is out they will need another primary weapon. I am not saying it will be Matthew’s but his role should increase from the beginning of the year and could merit WR3/flex value.

Josh Doctson, WAS WR - Doctson has proven to be a threat near the end zone despite his lack of targets and Coach Gruden has already said twice the plan on getting him more involved since Crowder and Pryor have proved to be uneffective. Doctson has the talent and if given the chance would be a good add to your team. He is worth a stash if you have an open spot for a few weeks.





Look out for me: Keep an eye on

Kenny Stills, MIA WR - Stills seems to be on Cutler’s radar and has got some decent looks at the end zone. Although he is fighting for targets with Landry and Parker the potential is still there for 4-5 receptions a game and possibly a TD.

Mike Williams, LAC WR - The talent and potential are there. Now Williams just needs an opportunity to show what he can do. The team is pretty crowded for receptions, but if they can create him 5-6 targets a game he instantly becomes fantasy relevant. Worth a stash.

Chris Ivory, JAX RB - The Fournette scare on Sunday has every owner anxious. His knee did not look ok and the fact that he came back was a big surprise. Ivory could continue to be worked into the offense after his big pass catching day.

Brice Butler, DAL WR - Let’s all be real here for a second. Terrence Williams is not good at what he is supposed to do and it is only a matter of time before Butler carves out a larger role in the offense.

Ricardo Lewis, CLE WR - Lewis has seen a fair number of targets over the last 3 weeks and could come out as the number 1 WR option on the Browns. Now that isn’t saying a lot but he could be worth a roster spot in certain leagues moving forward.





Hand-Cuffs: Worth your last roster spot if…

Alfred Morris / Darren McFadden, DAL RB - Right now it looks like Morris could get the larger role in the backfield, but it is truly unknown. Plus, Zeke could get the suspension pushed back or lessened.

D’Onte Foreman, HOU RB - Foreman is clearly talented and the Houston coaching staff likes what he can do when he touches the ball. Lamar Miller isn’t super productive as it is and all it would take is a small injury to change Foreman’s role.

Mike Tolbert, BUF RB - McCoy is constantly banged up and we are never quite sure of his health leading up to games. Often times he is questionable until kick-off. Tolbert is a safe add in all leagues for LeSean owners.

Marlon Mack, IND RB - Marlon Mack has already proven to be more effective running the ball than Frank Gore. It is only a matter of time before he takes over the majority snap counts.

Jamaal Charles, DEN RB - Cj Anderson is another RB that is hurt often and the talented Jamaal Charles could walk into the RB1 role in Denver very easily if anything were to happen.

Zach Zenner, DET RB - I have already talked about the lack of production from the two RBs in Detroit...with that being said, Zenner is first in line to take snaps if one goes down.

Charcandrick West, KC RB - West already has a role in the offensive and if anything were to happen to rookie stud Kareem Hunt then West would surely take on a much bigger role.

Matt Brieda, SF RB - Brieda has already stolen a significant amount of carries from Carlos Hyde and forced the coaching staff to announce they would play the “hot hand”. If Hyde struggles or gets injured Brieda would take over and be quite productive with the touchers.

Derrick Henry, TEN RB - Henry may already be the most talented back in Tennessee, but DeMarco Murray still keeps getting in his way. The weekly on-off with the two backs has fantasy owners going crazy. Henry has the potential to be a top back in the NFL with the right amount of carries.




You’re killing me smalls: Bench, trade or drop

Jamison Crowder, WAS WR - Trade/Drop: Crowder has fallen off so drastically from last year he could be the biggest bust of the season. His workload hasn’t changed weekly and it looks like Josh Doctson will steal more targets moving forward.

Tyrell Williams, LAC WR - Trade/Drop: Similar to Crowder it looks like a younger player may steal some receptions. Mike Williams is back and the Chargers will want to see what they have in him.

Martavis Bryant, PIT WR - Bench/Trade: Bryant has been hard to watch and we were pretty high on him this year. There is still a chance he will have 2-3 good games this year, but it is looking like he was overvalued.

Marshawn Lynch, OAK RB - Bench/Trade: Lynch played decently without Carr behind center, but it still looks like the old Marshawn of beastmode days is past. Lynch is most likely a fringe RB2 and maybe RB3 option.

Mike Gillislee, NE RB - Bench/Trade: Do NOT fumble in Billy B’s offense. Well Gillislee did and it will cost him. He was already having poor production since week 3 and it doesn’t look to get better with Dion Lewis back.

Jonathan Stewart, CAR RB - Bench/Drop: Stewart has looked pretty bad this year in all formats. The running game in Carolina is split between Cam, McCaffery and Stewart with the two first looking the best. Stewart is an RB3/flex.

Tarik Cohen, CHI RB - Bench/Trade: The emergence of Mitchell Trubisky seemed to put a little hump in Cohen’s production and has only been targeted 5 times in the passing game in two weeks.

Jordan Reed, WAS TE - Bench: Hopefully this changes now that he is fully healthy, but right now it doesn’t look like Reed is his usual self. You can’t drop him and trading a good TE is always hard. Store him for now.





Injuries: Going into week 7
  1. Teddy Bridgewater - Dislocated knee and torn anterior cruciate
  2. Spencer Ware – Torn posterior cruciate (knee)
  3. Ryan Tannehill – torn acl
  4. Julian Edelman – torn acl
  5. Cameron Meredith – torn acl and mcl
  6. David Johnson – Broken Wrist
  7. Danny Woodhead – hamstring
  8. Kevin White – Fractured scapula
  9. Allen Robinson – torn acl
  10. Corey Coleman – broken hand
  11. Greg Olsen- Broken foot
  12. Darren Sproles – torn acl
  13. Jordan Matthews – Broken thumb
  14. Chris Carson – ankle surgery
  15. Dalvin Cook – torn acl
  16. Derek Carr - Broken back - (weeks)
  17. Odell Beckham Jr. - Broken Ankle
  18. Brandon Marshall - Ankle
  19. Chris Conley -Achilles
  20. Charles Clay - knee (weeks)
  21. Aaron Rodgers - Broken collar Bone
  22. Emmanuel Sanders - High ankle sprain (weeks)
  23. Golden Tate - AC Joint (weeks)


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Is this the Hunger Games or Fantasy Football?

10/10/2017

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10-12 people are dropped into an experiment. Each one of them starts a different distance from the treasures and supplies lying just out of reach of home base.  These treasures will help you survive and battle your way to victory among your friends, enemies and peers. The supplies keep running out and the pickings are getting fewer and less valuable. Whose resources will run out, who will fall first? We, of course, are talking about the horrid Waiver Wire process each week this year in the NFL. Productive fantasy players are dropping faster than the kids in “the game begins” scene. The NFL is bigger, faster and stronger than it has ever been and with that comes an equal amount of reactive pain and injury. The body was not meant to move that fast and get hit that hard each week.

With another week passing we unfortunately have a handful of significant injuries: Odell Beckham Jr., Brandon Marshall, Chris Conley & JJ Watt are all done for the season. This year is quickly turning into one of the ugliest fantasy years for injuries in the last decade. Each of the first 5 weeks have seen at least 2 fantasy relevant players go down for the season, and the waiver wire replacements are at a slim pickings because of it. We are to the point that on almost every team’s  2nd/ 3rd running back at the beginning of the season is now fantasy relevant, and in many cases a fantasy 'must own'.

This year has proven to be challenging for even the foremost fantasy minds and will likely continue to be a headache. Take away the injury aspect and you are still faced with the difficult decision of trying to predict the future. The game of fantasy football relies completely on the decisions of people we have no control over. You may feel like a puppet-master while setting your line-ups, but in reality, the people that make or break your team are standing on the field and you are just watching from behind a TV screen.

With all that being said there are only a few ways to create a playoff team headed toward a championship...GET LUCKY,  PREDICT, TRADE & CLAIM. Obviously luck plays a big part. We have all been the team with the 2nd most points scored and lost before. You will also almost certainly need to make a trade at some point in the year to balance out your team and probably most importantly you will need to make the RIGHT waiver wire claims. Hopefully we can help in one of those ways. Even if it is just sending you a four leaf clover.




PUT ME IN COACH: Waiver Wire Adds
Elijah McGuire, NYJ RB - Bilal Powell went down with a calf injury and it is very rare for those to just go away after a week. Powell should see limited snaps and maybe even sit out for parts of the game if the calf acts up. So far, McGuire has shown he can be fantasy relevant if given the opportunity. He will be worth a look this week. Currently owned in 22% of leagues.

Matt Breida, SF RB - It looks like the 49ers will be playing “the hot-hand” moving forward and that could mean more carries for Brieda in the weeks to follow. If Hyde continues to be banged up, there could be an even split in touches (or more) coming Breida’s way.  His touch count is trending up and Hyde is clearly playing with “discomfort” at the least. He will continue to eat up more carries this season. Currently owned in 16% of leagues. ‘

Kendall Wright, CHI WR - With Mitch Trubisky taking the reigns, somebody will emerge and develop as the leading pass catcher.  We’re not suggesting to blow your FAAB (FAAB Spload) load on Wright in any kind of way, but he should be on your radar and should definitely be a prospect in PPR leagues.

JuJu Smith-Schuster, PIT WR - While his YPC is nothing to brag about, this guy is a starting slot receiver on a potent offense and will occasionally hawk a touchdown as there are an incredible amount of weapons around him to worry about.  Not sure he’s starting material just yet as his targets and route count is still lower than we’d like, but if you’re decimated by the time bye weeks come around there are a few options left. Currently owned in less than 5% of leagues.

Tavarres King, NYG WR - The Giants lost 3 of their receivers this week to most likely season-ending injury. With that being said, King stands to be the WR1/2 in this system now. He has been with the Giants for multiple seasons and knows the playbook and scheme. He may not be amazing but he is worth a look. Currently owned in less than 1% of leagues.

Ed Dickson, CAR TE - Dickson’s week 5 showing against Detroit was clearly inflated a bit and we shouldn’t bank on any more performances like that this season from any Carolina Panther who is catching the ball. However, he does look to manage at least fantasy worthy numbers at a position that is sometimes hard to find in week to week value. Currently owned in less than 10% of leagues.

Austin Seferian-Jenkins, NYJ TE - ASJ is averaging 5 catches over his last 3 games and should continue to be one of the most trustworthy options on this Jets squad. There probably won’t be a ton of TD catches with the Jets team, but Seferian-Jenkins has as good of a chance as any to be the one bringing them down. Currently owned in 36% of leagues.

Zach Miller, CHI TE - Just like with Kendall Wright, the QB change in Chicago should give Miller more production. He remains 2nd on the team in targets/receptions and will look to keep that role moving forward. Trubisky looks like he will be a good upgrade from Glennon and should look to his safe tight-end often enough. Currently owned in less than 20% of leagues.  




LOOK OUT FOR ME: Keep an eye on these players
Marlon Mack, IND RB - Frank Gore just doesn’t look the same this year and Mack has made the most out of each chance he has gotten. Most of us have that one Colt’s fan friend who hasn’t shut up about this dude all year (Mike). Hopefully, you can get a real assessment and potentially snag him while he’s available.  He is the only explosive player in the Colts backfield. If you have a free roster spot for potential talent, fill it with Mack.

Wayne Gallman, NYG RB - Gallman is taking over as the lead back for the Giants. As of now, there is still a split backfield with carries, but Wayne has seen 11 in two games straight and produced good enough numbers that he deserves to be the #1 back on the team.

Alfred Morris, DAL RB - This is strictly because of the uncertainty of Zeke’s situation. If Zeke is suspended for any amount of games this year, Morris will take over as the lead back. If you are a E.Elliott owner than Morris is a must own handcuff right now.

Taylor Gabriel, ATL WR - If Julio or Sanu miss more games, Gabriel will be the second option on the team. The sneaky, pat-yourself-on-the-back-too-hard-if-it-pans-out, add of the week is seeing his snap count trending up.  He failed to pull in any of his targets last week, but is going up against a MIA team whose offense cannot stay on the field.  Unless you’re a OBJ, Chris Connelly and Brandon Marshall owner, there is no real reason to add him just yet; but he’s worth putting under surveillance.

Roger Lewis, NYG WR - In New York there are some very slim pickings at WR ( that includes the Jets…). Roger Lewis will look to fill into the WR1 or WR2 with the hole at the position currently.  There is certainly potential as the Giants are about as pass dependent as they come, and Lewis could see a heavy workload with around 7-12 targets. He’s playing the Broncos this week, so don’t expect much of anything.  However, he could have great upside going forward. Could be just as good of an option as King.

Mike Williams, LAC WR - The young rookie looks like he will make his debut this week. The Chargers are in desperate need of any help they can get, but they also have a crowded WR core. If William’s plays a role in this week’s offense it will be a good sign moving forward.

Tyler Kroft, CIN TE - Tyler Kroft has seen enough targets the past few weeks to already put him into fantasy relevance. In all honesty, he could be up in our waiver wire pickups. He is averaging almost 5 catches a game since week 3 and if he manages to start getting a little more yards he could be a weekly play on a pass first offense.




YOU’RE KILLING ME, SMALLS: Time to bench, trade or drop
Jay Ajayi, MIA RB- What's saddest is knowing Jay Cutler doesn't give a rat's ass that the team is struggling. He's there to get his check and bounce out back to his hot wife and potential announcing career. The Miami offense looks terrible behind Jay Cutler making Ajayi’s life difficult.  It doesn’t help his knees continue to be a problem. Find other options as your RB1/2.

Isaiah Crowell, CLE RB - Crowell has been getting consistent double digit carries and has done nothing with them. Crowell was set up to have a good year on an offense without much else for options. However, he has turned 62 carries into just 194 yards with a high of 60 yards in week 5. He is nothing more than a RB3 or bye week fill in at best.

Theo Riddick, DE RB-  Becoming, at best, a bye week fill in, this one time PPR stud has seen his role diminish this year.  He’s getting little-to-no red zone work, and his targets seem down from the past, or maybe he’s just not taking advantage like he used to. Maybe against the Saints he will have a little more success, but you’re definitely starting to kick yourself for not dropping him for a guy like Kamara when you had the chance.

Ameer Abdullah, DET RB - Devin constantly says to me, ”Man, you really don’t like Abdullah” and he isn’t wrong. Let me be clear:  I have no problem with Ameer as a person/human being. However, as a fantasy player I would feel anxious every single week starting him ( so I don’t own him). Ameer has lived up to his hype 2 times in his last 8 games! Just look at the stats people. If he isn’t getting 20 carries a game he just isn’t worth starting unless in really deep leagues. Trade him for his value for week 4 and potential against the Saints.

Jeremy Maclin, BAL WR - Never a huge fantasy star, Maclin was still a legitimate starter in Philly, and provided nice support while on the Chiefs. Unfortunately the Ravens offense is completely decimated. In standard scoring we understand the frustration, but he's worth keeping in PPR, at least for now, as a flex option.

Martavis Bryant, PIt WR - Originally, I felt pretty good drafting Bryant as my WR3 in leagues, but lately he has looked nothing like the player I drafted.  Bryant is known to be a boom-or-bust player, but usually the boom was good for 75+ yards and 3-4 catches. That has only happened once this year and Big Ben isn’t exactly looking good. Bryant is a risky start the next three weeks against talented defenses.

Amari Cooper, OAK WR - Well this one hurts the worst. I went after Amari in almost every one of my leagues  (both keeper and yearly). Obviously he hasn’t panned out. The talented route runner and exceptional athletic WR has started to be one of the least productive receivers in the league. Whatever is going on in between his ears needs to end NOW; in the meantime, stick him on your bench or try to find some value in a trade.

Jamison Crowder, WAS WR - Another depressing drop off from last season. Crowder has quickly become the number 3/4 option for Kirk Cousin behind Pryor, Thompson and even Ryan Grant lately. Honestly, if he didn’t have the year he did last season he would barely be owned at this point. At this time,  players like Kendall Wright have more fantasy upside.

Jordan Reed, WAS TE - Obviously we don’t want to trade Reed right now because you know what he can do when healthy, BUT he is hardly ever healthy. If you are a Reed owner, you should have a backup TE on your bench at all times. He hasn’t been productive at all this year and isn’t even close to his top 3 TE draft price.

Martellus Bennett, GB TE - While he would be considered a good streaming option from week to week, his red zone targets are not what owners who took a chance and drafted him were hoping for.  If you’re lucky, you grabbed Cameron Brate a few weeks ago.  He is still heavily targeted in between the 20’s and in all honesty has a decent floor for PPR, but he’s not producing at his optimal level just yet.





Injuries: Going into week 6
  1. Teddy Bridgewater - Dislocated knee and torn anterior cruciate
  2. Spencer Ware – Torn posterior cruciate (knee)
  3. Ryan Tannehill – torn acl
  4. Julian Edelman – torn acl
  5. Cameron Meredith – torn acl and mcl
  6. David Johnson – Broken Wrist
  7. Danny Woodhead – hamstring
  8. Kevin White – Fractured scapula
  9. Allen Robinson – torn acl
  10. Corey Coleman – broken hand
  11. Greg Olsen- Broken foot
  12. Darren Sproles – torn acl
  13. Jordan Matthews – Broken thumb
  14. Chris Carson – ankle surgery
  15. Dalvin Cook – torn acl
  16. Derek Carr - Broken back - DTD
  17. Odell Beckham Jr. - Broken Ankle
  18. Brandon Marshall - Ankle
  19. Chris Conley -Achilles
  20. Charles Clay - knee






Ranking Tiers: We aren’t fans of straight rankings

Every Week Starts:
QB: Alex Smith, Deshaun Watson, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, CArson Wentz, Dak Prescott, Drew Brees, Cam Newton, Russell Wilson, Phillip Rivers

RB: Kareem Hunt, Todd Gurley, Leonard Fournette, Le’Veon Bell, Melvin Gordon, Ezekiel Elliott, Devonte Freeman, LeSean McCoy, Jordan Howard, Lamar Miller, CJ Anderson, Doug Martin

WR: Antonio Brown, DeAndre Hopkins, AJ Green, Chris Hogan, Jordy Nelson, Keenan Allen, Mike Evans, Dez Bryant, Doug Baldwin, Michael Thomas, Michael Crabtree, Larry Fitzgerald, Tyreek Hill, Devante Adams, TY Hilton , Julio Jones, Kelvin Benjamin

TE: Rob Gronkowski, Zach Ertz, Travis Kelce, Jason Witten, Cameron Brate, Delanie Walker, Jimmy Graham, Evan Engram, Jesse James, Martellus Bennett


Confident Starts:
QB: Carson Palmer, Jameis Winston, Matthew Stafford, Kirk Cousins, Marcus Mariota, Derek Carr, Trevor Siemian, Andy Dalton, Matt Ryan, Jared Goff

RB: Carlos Hyde, TY Montgomery, Tevin Coleman, DeMarco Murray, Marshawn Lynch, LaGarrette Blount, Mark Ingram, Alvin Kamara, Joe Mixon, Duke Johnson jr., Chris Thompson, Javorius Allen, Christian McCaffery, Tarik Cohen, Mike Gillislee, Jerick Mckinnon, Adrian Peterson

WR: Stefon Diggs, Brandin Cooks, Devin Funchess, Pierre Garcon, Adam Thielen, Golden Tate, Alshon Jeffery, Jarvis Landry, James Kearse, Danny Amendola, Randall Cobb, Emmanuel Sanders, Demaryius Thomas, Rishard Matthews, DeVante Parker, DeSean Jackson

TE: Jordan Reed, Kyle Rudolph, Jared Cook, David Njoku, Hunter Henry, Zach Miller, Tyler Kroft, Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Ed Dickson


Gambles:
QB: Tyrod Taylor, Jacoby Brissett, Ben Roethlisberger, Blake Bortles, Brian hoyer, Case Keenum, Sam Bradford, Joe Flacco, Jay Cutler, Josh McCown, Mitchell Trubisky

RB: James White, Frank Gore, ameer Abdullah, Giovani Bernard, Andre Ellington, BIlal Powell, Jonathan Stewart, Shane Vereen, Isaiah Crowell, Jay Ajayi, Elijah Mcguire, Wendell Smallwood, Wayne Gallman, Alex Collins, Theo Riddick

WR: Cooper Kupp, Allen Hurns, JJ Nelson, Tyrell Williams, Sammy Watkins, Jaron Brown, Jeremy Maclin, MArtavis Bryant, Kendall Wright, Marvin Jones jr., Robert Woods, Will Fuller V, Mike Wallace, Nelson Agholor, DOnte Moncrief, Tyler Lockett, Amari Cooper, Taylor Gabriel, Eric Decker, Terrelle Pryor Sr., JuJu smith-Schuster, Torrey Smith, Brice Butler, Paul Richardson, Mohamed Sanu

TE: George Kittle, Coby Fleener, Austin Hooper, Marcedes Lewis, Jack Doyle, Vernon Davis, Antonio Gates, Robert Griffin, Tyler Higbee, Eric Ebron,





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- M & D

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Are you saying Bye or Buy?

4/10/2017

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After weeks 4-5 in the NFL most fantasy leagues start to come to form and things make a little more sense. Injuries happen throughout the season and it seems like even more so this year, but this season there have been quite a few players that have owners scratching their heads and thinking through trade options. These players aren’t necessarily injured, but all had draft potential and made owners reach for them in rounds that they can’t seem to produce quality for lately. Enter owners of: Demarco Murray, Amari Cooper, Jay Ajayi, Marshawn Lynch, Terrelle Pryor Sr., Adrian Peterson, Dez Bryant, etc.. …..the list could go on for a bit.

The fantasy landscape can change week to week, especially early on in the season. Players can go from the dog house one week, to steak dinner the next, and back to the couch the week after. After a roller coaster year of crazy injuries, under/over performers and dark horse/rookie breakouts we owners are left in a league of turmoil. Who will use this “chaos as a ladder” to scheme, manipulate, and mold their team together and to become King of the fantasy ashes?

It’s week 5 people and the time of “seeing your roster play out” is nearly over and we must not only be looking at matchups, but truly investigating the players stockpiled on our teams. Judging not simply on how each can be used to win on a given week, but instead how they can be used as ingredients to make the perfect stew. There are better ways to build up your team than simply vulturing the waiver wire, especially if you aren’t first or second in waiver order. Stop taking the scraps left over in the league and instead outmaneuver and manipulate your way to the Ship! Find the weaknesses in your league and take advantage for your own benefit. Teams all over leagues are hurting at every position. In the words of Sun Tzu, “ Build your opponent a golden bridge to retreat across.”

This week we will skip out on the weekly stats that you can read on any fantasy page and dive a little deeper into injuries, trade value and potential talent. We are almost to the midway point of the season and it is time to start putting some finishing touches on your team before the playoff push.



Just to make everyone a little more aware of the terrible injury season that we are currently in, check out these stats: These offensive players were considered fantasy relevant.
2016 Notable injuries: Entire Year
  1. Derek Carr – broken fibula
  2. Marcus Mariota – broken fibula
  3. Tyler Lockett – broken leg
  4. Rob Gronkowski – Back surgery
  5. Jamaal Charles – knee
  6. CJ Anderson – Meniscus
  7. Eddie Lacy – Ankle Surgery
  8. Eric Decker – Shoulder Surgery
  9. Kevin White – Fractured Fibula/ High Ankle sprain
  10. Adrian Peterson – Meniscus
  11. Ameer Abdullah – Foot injury
  12. Danny Woodhead – Torn acl
  13. Keenan Allen – Torn acl
  14. Tony Romo – Broken bone in back
  15. Teddy Bridgewater – torn acl


2017 Notable injuries: First 5 weeks
  1. Teddy Bridgewater - Dislocated knee and torn anterior cruciate
  2. Spencer Ware – Torn posterior cruciate (knee)
  3. Ryan Tannehill – torn acl
  4. Julian Edelman – torn acl
  5. Cameron Meredith – torn acl and mcl
  6. David Johnson – Broken Wrist
  7. Danny Woodhead – hamstring
  8. Kevin White – Fractured scapula
  9. Allen Robinson – torn acl
  10. Corey Coleman – broken hand
  11. Greg Olsen- Broken foot
  12. Darren Sproles – torn acl
  13. Jordan Matthews – Broken thumb
  14. Chris Carson – ankle surgery
  15. Dalvin Cook – torn acl





Buy / Sell: Players worth trading away or trading for at the current price.

Marshawn Lynch, OAK RB -
Mike: Sell. I didn’t like Lynch coming into the season (see my first post) and I don’t like him now. His last season in Seattle showed everyone that he wasn’t the Lynch of Beastmode days. You can randomly see a spark of that Lynch in games, but mostly he just looks out of place. I love his dancing, but It is time to say bye to Lynch as anything more than an low end RB2 He will have a decent week without Derek Carr for the first time, but I say sell high after week 5.

Devin: Sell, try to pitch the angle of Carr being down so he'll see more carries. He had a decent game against the Jets, but I don't see thing picking up. He has faced two tough defense the last few weeks and should be worthy of flex consideration going forward if you decide to keep him.


David Johnson, ARI RB (IR) -
Mike: Buy. If you have an IR spot then of course he is worth a roster spot. How much you want to give or get for him is entirely dependent on your situation. If the Cardinals can remain relevant for a few more weeks then he will certainly be used once he is back and that should at least call for RB,WR2/3 in most leagues.

Devin: Unless your league has no IR spot this shouldn't even be considered. In the event of no IR he's still worth a bench spot unless you're just really hurting. He's going to come back on fresh legs and be hungry for touches. Unless you're getting low end starter in return then hold onto DJ.


Terrelle Pryor Sr, WAS WR
Mike: Sell. Right now is the best time to get value for Pryor in your league. He caught a touchdown on Monday night football and should have some value now. Worth trading if you have a strong WR unit and want to improve elsewhere. I just don’t trust their offense to consistently have him involved. If he is your WR1/2 it is time to look elsewhere.

Devin: I’m going to have to go with sell as well. He finally had a game with the appearance of fantasy value. Get on the hype train and reach for a 20-30 lesser known RB or package his name with performer to try pull a legitimate starter.


Lamar Miller, HOU RB
Mike: Sell High. I haven’t liked Miller in the past two seasons as an RB1 which a lot of people have him as right now. Miller’s strong point was he would get 18-20 rush attempts every game, but I truly think Foreman will continue to cut into those attempts. Plus, his TD numbers are so insignificant. I can see QB D. Watson rushing for more TDs than Miller this year. Another low end RB2.

Devin: Buy. I may be biased as a Texans fan, and the Texans will play chiefs next week so this next game may not be as pretty. However, he has good selling points right now, as he has consistently pulled 15-20 touches per game and his schedule looks soft as baby shit the rest of the season. I see him as a solid RB2 in a season where they are in short supply. Unlike Mike I think more carries for Foreman actually helps Lamar. If you do sell, sell high make a strong pitch and you could land a Chris Hogan or a top tier TE or QB.

Christian McCaffrey, CAR RB
Mike: Sell. Although in PPR formats McCaffery has been somewhat of a decent flex play, in standard formats he is struggling. It doesn’t look like Christian is in the red zone plan and until we see some touchdowns I think it is best to part ways and get value for his name and potential. Always a risk of him turning it on...never know with rookies, but I am taking the bet of “overhyped” pass catching back and not an RB2 unless you are in deeper leagues.

Devin: Buy. I see McCaff as a merely average flex play until we find more touchdown potential. He’s just not getting the looks close to the end zone at this point in the season those who drafted him were hoping. That said I still wouldn’t mind him on my team as he at least gets touches and could bust a big play. I still think the Panthers are figuring out how to utilize his skill set but he could have a stronger finish to the season. If I had him I’d hold onto him, or take advantage of the owner who is suffering injuries or has a losing record.


Ameer Abdullah, DET RB -
Mike: Sell. Detroit’s running game hasn’t been good in years and there shouldn’t be much change anytime soon. Abdullah is coming off one of his best games in the last two years and you should be able to convince people he is turning it around….he is not. He is a mediocre to low end RB2/flex that has a below average line blocking for him. Bye bye.

Devin: Sell. His value is the highest I’ve seen in my entire fantasy experience, and he’s still not even a top 20 RB in PPR. After this last game against a great Viking defense I would be trying to move this guy for something of value. We keep hearing the Lions are committed to the run, well he and Riddick only have 1 TD each on the year. He’s on a great offense and will have decent games from time to time, but he’s still just a flex play/ possible bench player at best on your team, try to move him for something worth starting consistently.


Dez Bryant, DAL WR -
Mike: Buy. Bryant has looked great from a fantasy standpoint but everyone needs to remember Dez started the year with the hardest schedule for a WR. Despite the tough defenses he is still averaging over 11 points in most PPR formats. Even though his schedule is still tough it looks to lessen up a bit in the next few weeks. (GB, SF, ATL, PHI and LAC) If you can get Dez at a WR2 price he is worth it.

Devin: Buy. This is a tough call, but Dez has 40 targets on the year. It’s been rough for owners though as he’s only caught 16 of them. The Cowboys have played tough teams, but clearly the wide outs talent/ salary demands him the ball. His schedule the rest of the year will ease up, and I think Dak will start to connect with him on more passes.



DeMarco Murray, TEN RB -
Mike: Sell. Murray’s place as lead back still exists in Tennessee, but it is hanging on by a thread and each time D.Henry breaks out a big run that thread gets a little thinner...I think Murray still merits some respect as a RB2 with good potential, but if he is the running back you are leaning on it might be time to change. Try and cut bait before he is injured or Henry starts splitting carries completely.

Devin: Buy. If you own him not much to say other than “that sucks”, but don't just give him away. Wait for another week, he could bounce back (but it's not looking great). I don't see his value really getting worse. Without MM they're going to run it. Let's see if there's any gas left in the tank. Buy super low, sell if you think it's a good offer.


Adam Thielen, MIN WR -
Mike: Buy. It doesn’t matter who the QB is in Minnesota because Thielen gets look from them all. Currently he is tied for 9th in the league in Targets and 5th in Receptions. Those are solid WR2 numbers and you should feel confident knowing that the Vikings want him involved. If you can manage to steal him away from another owner then this week would be a good time.

Devin: Buy. He’s the closest thing to Jamison Crowder last season. He’s the #13 WR in PPR and hasn’t even got in the end zone. With his kind of targets a couple scores are bound to happen. His name isn’t as well-known but anyone would be lucky to have this guy. I would try to package a sell high guy with another flex play to bring this guy in.


TY Hilton, IND WR -
Mike: Buy. I am a TY Hilton fan and could be a little one sided on this, but the fact that Andrew Luck has returned to practice is a good sign. Hilton has managed stay relevant in the current system, but we all know that with Andrew Luck playing that Hilton quickly jumps into the top 10 WR conversation. If you can manage to get Hilton for a reasonable price right now then do it. His value will only rise in the coming weeks.

Devin: Buy. If you’re thinking about trying to get him on your team, I believe this is the week to do it. He’s had some rough games with the exception of week 3, but (speculation) Luck should be back within a month and at that point no one is giving him up. I would definitely test the waters to see what would need to be given up for him, but I wouldn’t go much above an RB2 for him at this point. Buy low, see what counter offers are made. Don’t sell the farm, but this cow has a lot of milk to pump out once his QB is back.



Jay Ajayi, MIA RB -
Mike: Sell. The talent is without question there, but the opportunity seems to be fading away. The Miami team is terrible and the offense is the worst part. Jay Cutler can’t captain a team anymore and defenses know that. I think for the rest of the year you can expect around 12-15 carries and 70 yards a game. You can be hopefully he will get a touchdown, but it seems like a wish at this point. PLUS, you can’t overlook his knees. He has had knee trouble in college and the NFL. Those troubles rarely just go away….Sell while that 122 yard game is still in view.

Devin: Buy. Jay Cutler is about as useful as a poopy flavored lolly pop. Monitor his health, use things like his health as red flags and steal him away from a scared owner. You don’t win fantasy leagues by being safe, you win by taking chances. This is a high risk high reward kinda guy. If he’s healthy he’ll be a top 10-15 back the rest of the way.


Amari Cooper, OAK WR-
Mike: Buy. I have been on the Cooper hype train since he was in college, but he does look awful this year. Clearly something is going on between his ears, but I see him getting over this and coming around. Sit him on your bench if you have him or go try and snag him for a low cost because of recent stats. Cooper could be an advantageous play in later weeks when Carr returns. Sit for now or buy low.

Devin: Sell. Derek Carr is hurt. When this happened last year his and Crabtree’s production became a wasteland… try to get something of value, but jump off this sinking ship while you can. I don’t see him turning this around anytime soon and everyone needs to be in playoff push mode.


Brandin Cooks, NE WR -
Mike: Buy. Although Chris Hogan looks like the number 1 WR in New England right now, Cooks is more talented. That is nothing against Hogan. The number of targets should increase throughout the year and we will see some big games in the near future. The Pats need to turn things around and will start looking for the big play making of Brandin Cooks.

Devin: Buy. He's still the most talented and athletic wide out in Tom Brady’s stable. He has all the boxes checked to contribute as a solid WR2 or a coveted flex option. I believe him to be the most gifted (non-slot) receiver to play with Brady since Randy Moss in 2009. If they get clicking on downfield throws it could really be something special.





Make the Team: Waiver Wire Claims

Quarterback:

Eli Manning NYG - Eli has been playing at a much high level with Odell back in the picture and the running game actually came to life last week vs Tampa Bay. With a little help in the backfield and all his weapons healthy Eli looks to have a good match up vs a chargers defense that has allowed even a poor Miami team to score 19 points. If you are in need of a Quarterback Eli should be a good start.


Alex Smith KC - Alex Smith still isn’t getting the credit he deserves. He is playing at a top notch this year and is converting on over 75% of his passes. Although he is going to face a decent Texans defense Smith should look to continue his steady fantasy relevance despite being owned in less than 50% of leagues. There are worse options on the board for sure.


Running Back:

Alvin Kamara NO - Kamara is quickly becoming a duel threat with his gadget abilities and his ability to catch the ball. Brees looked his way 10 times vs Miami and connected every time leading to 71 yards and a touchdown through the air. Owned in less than 21% of leagues currently. Worth a grab and stash for sure until his bye week is over.

Latavius Murray MIN - After posting about Murray earlier in the year I was scared that we might not see him much with Dalvin emerging. Sadly, Cook went down for the year and Minnesota will need someone to carry the load. Even if there is a dual back situation Murray should get the majority of carries over McKinnon who has already proved he can’t handle lead back responsibilities. Murray needs to be owned in almost all formats. Owned in less than 20% of leagues.

Wendell Smallwood PHI - The system in Philadelphia has resolved around two backs for a few years now and will continue that way despite Sproles being injured. Smallwood has filled in very nicely the last two weeks and caught 4 passes for 45 yards. Smallwood is worth a roster spot in most 10+ team leagues. Owned in less than 16% of leagues.

Andre Ellington ARI - With David Johnson going down in game 1 the Cardinals have been looking for someone to fill his role. While that may be impossible to do Ellington his sure giving it a good try the past two weeks. Palmer is looking comfortable dumping it off to him which happens often considering the terrible offensive line in Arizona. Andre is worth owning and even a flex spot this week vs a bad pass defending team in Philadelphia. Owned in less than 5% of leagues.

Elijah McGuire NYJ - It is hard to like anything about the Jets offense besides the backfield right now. McGuire managed 93 yards on 10 rush attempts and 38 yards of 2 catches. Although Bilal Powell looks like the lead back it is clear that the Jets like what they have in Elijah and will continue to put him in spots to produce after this weeks’ win. Owned in less than 1 % of leagues.



Wide Receivers:

Will Fuller HOU - In his first game back from an extended absence it looked like Fuller fit into the offense fairly easy. Although he wasn’t getting the long balls that mainly people were hoping for it is was nice to see him get in the end zone twice. Obviously he won’t be getting you two touchdowns a week, but 5-6 targets a game are enough to grab attention. Owned in less than 19% of leagues.

Jaron Brown WR ,ARI - Brown is currently taking the role that John Brown usually plays and is producing well. He continues to produce with whatever he is given. If the cardinals keep having to throw the ball 35+ times a game then Jaron makes for a good grab. Especially if John Brown or any other WR on the team misses any more time. Owned in 10% of leagues.

Devin Funchess CAR - Funchess is looking like he will have a bigger role now that Greg Olsen is down for a while with an injury. Funchess has a similar build to Tight Ends and will fill those holes often. Finishing this week with 7 reception son 9 targets for 70 yards. Newton doesn’t have many other options and Funchess should be a good WR3/Flex in the next 3 weeks ( DET, PHI, CHI ) . Currently he is only owned in 13% of leagues.

Kendall Wright CHI - Wright could be a risky play depending on how Mitchell Trubisky decides he wants to run the offense. However, Wright is probably the most talented and dependable receiver that is healthy for the Bears right now… Kendall has played decently this year and is worthy of a roster spot in a lot of formats strictly because he is the WR1 in Chicago and should continue to see around 6-7 targets a game. Owned in less than 7% of leagues.


Tight End:

Evan Engram NYG - With Odell healthy the Giants have looked half way decent on offense and Engram has carved out a nice role in it. The last 3 games he has 15 receptions for over 160 yards. Not half bad considering what most Tight ends have been doing. Currently owned in 24% of leagues.

Cameron Brate TB - Just like last year it seems that often times when Winston is looking for a safety net he looks to Brate. Although he is often looked over Brate has looked good over the last two games with looks in the red zone and converted on 2 of them. If you’re tight end isn’t getting it done or has a buy week then Brate is worth a grab this week vs. New England...currently the worst defense in the league.


Defense:
Oakland (vs. BAL) - The Baltimore offense has not been anything special this year and the Oakland pass rush is halfway decent. Joe Flacco should see a good amount of pressure making him uncomfortable in the pocket. You probably won’t see a huge game from the Oakland Defense, but getting out of the week with 7-10 fantasy points is realistic. Owned in 21% of leagues.

​Titans (vs. MIA) - See who they are playing? Unless something crazy happens and "Cool" Jay Cutler throws for 300 yards and 3 TDs then you should be ok for at least an above average defense week. Owned in 21% of leagues. 





Look out: keep an eye on me

Wayne Gallman NYG, RB - Well it looks like there may be a new RB in New York to keep an eye on. Gillman rushed for 11 times on Sunday and managed 42 yards along with 2 receptions for 8 yards. Watch him in the next week or two, but if you have a spot for fliers and potential he could fill it for now.

Alex Collins BAL, RB - Collins looks great when he can hold onto the ball. The Ravens will keep giving him touches and once he proves worthy they may even give him lead back rush attempts with Buck Allen looking like he can’t handle it. Collins is definitely out there, but worth keeping an eye on in your watch list.

J.D McKissic SEA, RB - Everyone watching the Seattle game surely noticed the young McKissic making two difficult touchdowns look easy. He looks great catching the ball out of the backfield and is a great talent. Only problem is that the Seahawks RB situation is just as messy if not messier than the Saints and Baltimore with 3+ backs being used. Play this one slow and see what the next two weeks show. Cj Prosise, Thomas Rawls and Eddie Lacey are sure to take big chunks of the snaps.

Juju Smith-Schuster PIT, WR - With Eli Rodgers inactive lately the young Juju has filled into the offense nicely. Whether it is due to double coverage on Antonio Brown or the rift between QB/WR last week, there was a void to fill and Smith stepped up. He has two touchdowns on the more and with the high powered offense he should see a couple more on the year. If you are in deeper leagues or are really strapped for WRs then Juju is worth a look.

Tyler Kroft CIN, TE - Kroft filled in exactly like he should’ve in week 4 vs Cleveland. Losing Tyler Eifert is a huge blow to this team and the need someone to fill that spot. Andy Dalton loves to through to this tight end and that alone should make Kroft pop up on almost every fantasy owner's radar. He may not be consistent, but he will have weeks that he has performances close to the one this last week.




Recap: Week 4 Leaders

Quarterback:
Deshaun Watson HOU, 25/34 283 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT, 4 Rush 24 yards
Cam Newton CAR, 22/29 316 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT, 8 Rsh 44 yards
Andy Dalton CIN, 25/30 286 yards, 4 TD, 4 Rush 29 yards
Jameis Winston TB, 22/38 332 yards, 3 TD, 4 Rush 12 yards


Wide Receiver:
DeAndre Hopkins HOU, 10 Rec 107 yards, 1 TD, 12 Targets
Devin Funchess CAR, 7 Rec, 70 yards, 2 TD, 9 Targets
Jordy Nelson GB, 4 Rec 75 yards, 2 TD, 7 Targets
Tyrell Williams LAC, 5 Rec 115 yards, 1 TD, 6 Targets
Michael Thomas NO, 8 Rec 89 Yards, 1 TD, 6 Targets


Running Back:
Le’Veon Bell PIT, 35 Rush, 144 yards, 2 TD, 4 Rec 42 yards, 6 Targets
Todd Gurley LAR, 23 Rush 121 yards, 7 Rec 94 Yards, 1 TD, 8 Targets
Bilal Powell NYJ, 21 Rush 163 yards, 1 TD, 4 Rec, 27 yards, 5 Targets
Ezekiel Elliott DAL, 21 Rush 163 yards, 1 TD, 4 rec 27 yards, 5 Targets
Lamar Miller HOU, 19 Rush 75 yards, 1 TD, 4 Rec, 56 yards, 5 Targets


Tight End:
Tyler Kroft CIN, 6 Rec 68 yards, 2 TD, 7 Targets
Travis Kelce KC, 6 Rec 101 yards, 1 TD, 7 Targets
Cameron Brate TB, 4 Rec 80 yards, 1 TD, 6 Targets
Charles Clay BUF, 5 Rec 112 yards, 7 Targets
A.J Derby DEN, 4 Rec 75 yards, 1 TD, 6 Targets


Defense:
Seahawks, 2 TD, 1 INT, 1 FR, 3 Sack, 16 PA
Texans, 1 TD, 4 INT, 1 FR, 2 Sack, 14 PA
Steelers, 2 INT, 2 FR, 4 Sack, 9 PA
Saints, 1 INT, 4 Sacks, 0 PA



Thanks for reading everyone! Make sure to check back in tomorrow morning as we post our position ranks for Week 5. Please share with your friends and comment with any questions you might have. Be on the lookout for our Podcast starting next week.
( Just so we are clear.....we are big Jay Cutler fans. It has just been hard to have faith lately, but we wish him the best this season. ) 
​

- M &D






3 Comments

Ballin' out on the bench

26/9/2017

4 Comments

 
We did it, he did it, she did it and you probably did it too. Every Sunday, Fantasy Football team owners around the world are anxious and undecided about the same thing… Do I start him this week or sit him? It’s a question we ask ourselves daily as the week progresses. We all have players we have faith in and drafted. Unfortunately, some of the time, having faith and starting that player doesn’t always work out. .

If you’re one of those owners with a starting line-up that scored 100+ points and your bench crew barely cleared 30 this week, I want you to know one thing - you are outnumbered. To the owners who were tentative on an injured Howard, I was there with you. To the guys nervous on Stefon Diggs or Chris Thompson, we were there together. To the brothers with Cooks and Demarco on the bench, we were there also.

We’ve all pulled out hair, sworn off fantasy for good and woken up from rage-fueled benders wishing it was all just a dream. We felt those burns, the salt on the wounds afterwards as your friends mock your decisions. Fear not! Their time will come. How are we going to do that you might ask? With research, some light reading and lots of LUCK… and maybe some more research. The good news for all of us is the light at the end of the shit show tunnel (the first few weeks of fantasy) is in sight, and we certainly have much more information/sample size to work with on predictions going forward. We would love to send you all some four-leaf clovers to try and help in that regard, but instead we will just attempt to lay some helpful advice down for you entering into week 4.


Match-Ups

If there is one thing that is important in Fantasy Football, it is match-up. It may be hard to call the exact outcome for your player, but if you do enough research about the opposing team for your players, you could actually figure out more about weekly scoring than that repetitive “projection." All teams have a stereotype for their defense or special role players that could cause chaos or dominance for your starters. This week I will touch base on a couple of these players and then we will dive in deeper to our weekly categories.

Sometimes the guys you drafted in the first 5 rounds need to sit your bench. It’s a decision that haunts you as soon as you make the change, sending a player like Dez Bryant to the bench is never an easy thing to do because you know he can randomly decide to dominate a game. However, sometimes the match-ups are just too much to overcome. Let’s check into some of the star players at each position and some match-ups we love this week.



Running Back:

Christian McCaffrey RB, CAR vs PATS) Arguably one of our bolder picks of the week as it never seems a good idea to bet on a rookie against a Billy B defense. Luckily for McCaffrey owners, this year’s Patriots D has been absolutely torched by RBs. Hunt in week 1 and the 3 back system of theSaints combined for 80+ on the ground with another 50+ through the air in week 2. With Olsen and possibly Benjamin out in week 4, all the conditions are there for an eruption of targets & fantasy points. Feel comfortable starting him as RB2 with confidence.

Jacquizz Rodgers RB, TB (vs NYG) If past performance is at all indicative of future results, then owners are about to cash in on the flier they took this weekend. To kick off the season, the Giants were dominated by division rival Dallas, surrendering 130 total yards to Zeke. The next week, Abdulla and Riddick combined for over 100 just on the ground (when does that ever happen?). We’re looking for the Bucs to take a lead and lean on the run game vs a tough Giants secondary. Rodgers is a solid RB2 player this week in most formats.

Dalvin Cook (vs Lions) We realize this isn’t a hot take as the guy has been a monster, but the train is going to keep picking up steam this week. The Lions gave up 6 receptions to DJ before his injury in game 1, then went on to surrender 5 yards per carry vs the Giants. We might as well mention another 150 rushing and 70+ receiving to the ATL tandem this past Sunday. Obviously the Falcon backs are extremely talented, but we feel Cook is almost, if not equally, important to his offense. Look for The Chef to to slice and dice DET this weekend. Cook is a solid RB1 start this week.

Joe Mixon (vs CLE) The Bengals offense showed they clearly want to get their recently drafted and extremely talented running back into the system. It is clear that Mixon will be the #1 option in the backfield going forward. He should see 12-15 carries a game moving forward with a couple receptions as well. Mixon, while a slow starter this year, could start as a RB2/Flex player this week if you need him and produce decent numbers. Don’t expect an explosive number but feel safe with the play.



Wide Receiver:

Aj Green WR (vs CLE) Its Cleveland. Do we need to say more? Last week TY Hilton went for 150+ yards and a TD. Expect the same next weekend if the Bengals want to keep AJ happy. It’s nice when a soft spoken guy demands the ball. After how much of an effort they made to get him the ball last week, (and you know it actually working should go a long way) we see big things this week for AJ. Expect a high floor/high ceiling week for AJ. Solid WR1/2 this week as always.

DeAndre Hopkins WR (VS Ten) Quietly having a nice season, Hopkins has accumulated 37 targets through the first 3 weeks. Look for him to keep things rolling with his high floor/low ceiling of 6-10 catches, 70-100 yards. Along with (this week) a high probability of getting in the end zone against a lower tiered secondary. Expect solid WR2 numbers from Hopkins this week.

BOTH Miami WR (vs NO) Parker and Landry are poised to put up huge numbers this week. It doesn’t matter what continent the Saints defense is on cause they can’t cover anybody. Don’t trust their week 3 performance against the Panthers. If you have either of the players this week, feel confident inserting them into you WR2 spot.

Brandin Cooks (vs CAR) His QB is Terrific Tom Brady & he’s coming off his best game. The Patriots gave away a lot to get Cooks in the off-season, a very uncharacteristic move hinting at high future usage. He is clearly the deep ball threat and each game, Brady looks more comfortable with him. Expect New England to air it out long against a CAR defense that struggled vs the Saints last week. (He’s Tom Brady’s #1 WR-enough said) Cooks is a great player this week at your WR1/2 or spots.

Doug Baldwin (vs IND) This completely depends on his health going into the weekend. Right now he is listed as day-to-day, but with a terrible Colts defense there is always a ton of upside. Baldwin looked great again last week and should build on that performance if he can play near 100%. Baldwin is a WR1/2 option this week.



Quarterback: Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady are too obvious for this list

Russell Wilson QB (vs IND) Russ is going up against a Colts defense that just gave up nearly 300 total yards and 3 total touchdowns to a rookie (whom is essentially a poor man's Wilson). The Indiana run defense is also seemingly their strong point, holding even the great Todd Gurley to 40 yards on the ground in week one. Furthermore, they haven't even allowed a RB committee to combine for more than 80 yards all year. We're expecting Seattle to throw early and often.

Drew Brees QB (vs MIA) McCown just torched this defense. I wouldn’t be surprised if Brees throws for 500. I’m joking, but in all seriousness, the potential is there for a monster game. Brees is always capable of pulling out monster games and coming off a big win with momentum. We are fully bought in on Drew.

Carson Palmer QB (vs SF) The 49ers defense just let the LA Rams and Jared Goff look like the Greatest Show on Turf was back. That being said, it’s easy to imagine Palmer performing even better. He has a brothel of receivers and the passing game has become a larger portion of their offence with DJ out.




Week 3 Recap:

Studs
Russell Wilson - 373 yards, 4 TD, 26 rush yards
Case Keenum - 369 yards 3 TD
Jacoby Brissett - 259 yards 1 TD, 14 rush 2 TD

Todd Gurley - 28 rush, 113 yards, 2 TD, 5 Rec 36 yards 1TD
Jordan Howard -23 rush, 138 yards 2 TD
Christian McCaffrey - 4 rush 16 yards, 9 rec 101yrds
Dalvin Cook - 27 rush 97 yards 1 TD 5 rec 72 yards
Carlos Hyde - 25 rush 84 yards 2 TD 3 rec 32 yards

Stefon Diggs - 8 rec 173 yards 2 TD 11 targets
Brandin Cooks - 5 rec 131 yards 2 TD 7 targets
Sammy Watkins - 6 rec 106 yards 2 TD 7 targets
Odell Beckham Jr - 9 rec 79 yards 2 TD 13 targets
Doug Baldwin - 10 rec 105 yards 1 TD 15 targets
Pierre Garcon - 7 rec 142 yards 10 targets

Mercedes Lewis - 4 rec 62 yards 3 TD 5 targets
Charles Clay - 6 rec 39 yards 1 TD 6 targets
Rob Gronkowski - 8 rec 89 yards 1 TD 10 targets
Zach Ertz - 8 rec 55 yards 1 TD 10 targets
Jimmy Graham - 7 rec 72 yards 11 targets

Duds
Matt Ryan - 294 2 TD 3 INT vs DET
Cam Newton - 167 0 TD 3 INT vs NO
Phillip Rivers - 237 0 TD 3 INT vs KC
Ben Roethlisberger - 235 1 Td vs CHI

CJ Anderson - 8 rush 36 yards 2 rec 7 yards vs. BUF
Jay Ajaiyi - 11 rush 16 yards 2 rec 9 yards vs. NYJ
LeSean McCoy - 14 rush 21 yards 7 rec 48 yards - DEN
Mike Gillslee - 12 rush 31 yards vs HOU

Martivs Bryant - 2 rec 30 yards 8 targets vs CHI
Terrelle Pryor Sr - 2 rec 19 yards 4 targets vs OAK
Jeremy Maclin - 1 rec 8 yards 5 targets vs JAX
Davante Adams - 3 rec 60 yards 6 targets vs CIN
Amari Cooper - 1 rec 6 yards 5 targets vs. WAS

Travis Kelce - 1 rec 1 yard 1 target vs. LAC
Martellus Bennett - 3 rec 12 yards 4 targets vs. CIN
Kyle Rudolph - 1 rec 4 yards 2 targets vs. TB
Coby Fleener - 1 rec 21 yards 1 target vs. CAR






Make the Team: Waiver Wire Adds

D'onta Foreman RB, HOU
The 6’1” 236 pound rookie is showing he has all the tools to be worthy of more touches. The Texans are easing him into his future role, but his snap count and touches are rising. Owned in only 5.5% on ESPN, he has the potential to be a nice complementary back and worth a flex spot in DEEP leagues.

Evan Engram TE , NYG -
Engram is quickly showing that he could live up to the hype around him before the season. He is averaging around 5 receptions per game and is only owned in 18% of leagues. If you can trust Eli, he is worth a look. Owned in 18.5 % of leagues.

Alvin Kamara RB , NO -
Kamara has big play potential. We have seen it twice already this year and each week the Saints are trying to put him in position to make big plays. I don’t like any of the backs for the Saints, but I think Kamara has the best upside in a shallow RB waiver wire pool. Owned in 11% of leagues.

Sterling Shepard WR, NYG
If your buy week is coming up, then Sterling could be a good gamble. Although it is tough to pick a receiver other than Odell on the Giants, Shepard could prove to be valuable with his chance to produce in PPR. 34% owned in leagues.

Wendall Smallwood RB, PHI
As much as every fantasy player hates to see the news of Darren Sproles being ruled out for the season, it means Smallwood should move directly into his role and get rush and reception attempts. If you had Sproles or are desperate for a RB3/Flex, then Smallwood is a safe bet. 2.9% owned in leagues.

Devin Funchess WR, CAR
Greg Olsen out for six weeks, Kelvin Benjamin is injured with an undetermined time table and a Panthers offense that desperately needs to get something going through the air. Expect Newton to look Funchess’s way a decent amount this week and moving forward until injuries are under control. Owned in 11% of leagues.

Jamal Williams RB, GB
I said this in my very first post and after week one I was a little disappointed, BUT my faith is back and I will say it again; Ty Montgomery is NOT a RB built for this kind of workload. The past two games he has had to call himself out of the game multiple times for small hurts here and there and getting too winded. He will get hurt this year-either for a few games or for a lot and Williams is the only back to take the role. STASH ME. Only owned in 1.5 % of leagues.




LeapFrog: Worth a starting spot

Joe Mixon RB, CIN - Mixon finally got the amount of touches that every owner out there was hoping to see sooner rather than later. While his stat line may not have been tremendous this week, it was very promising. With a new Offensive Coordinator taking over, it looks like Mixon may be the feature 1-2 down back. He finished with 18 rush attempts, 62 yards and 3 receptions for 39 yards.

Mohamed Sanu WR, ATL - Right now, Sanu is the clear number 2 receiver for Matt Ryan with Taylor Gabriel being more of a deep threat option for his speed. Mohamed is averaging 5 receptions a game and in PPR leagues that is all that is needed to make an impact on a team. He is currently owned in only 39% of leagues. If you need a WR3/Flex or bye week fill-in, Sanu could be a good option.




You’re killing me smalls: May be time to take away starting role

Lamar Miller RB, HOU - 14 Rush 56 yards 1 rec 7 yards
It seems like the troubles with the Houston run-game have carried from last year to this year. Lamar Miller still remains without a touchdown or a game with more than 65 yards. Miller was drafted as a RB1/2 for most teams and is extremely frustrating to keep faith in. It is looking more and more like Houston will try to use D'Onta Foreman in a semi-dual back system. Plus, rookie QB Watson has a pretty good run game of his own.

Jamison Crowder WR , WAS 6 rec 52 yards
After having a breakout season last year with the Redskins, it looked like Crowder would be another PPR machine. Sadly, the Washington offense just hasn't looked the same and the most used receiver on the team is RB Chris Thompson. Currently, Crowder is averaging just around 4 receptions and under 50 yards per game. He faces a tough defense next week in Kansas City. Crowder is merely a WR3/Flex player this week.

Jonathan Stewart RB , CAR 12 rush 57 yards 1 rec 4 yards
The Panthers look TERRIBLE and so do all of their fantasy players stats. Although J. Stew continues to get a good amount of carries, it is hard for him to make anything happen with the touches. The Carolina offense has lost a few weapons and Cam Newton looks nothing like the QB of the last two years. Opposing defenses simply need to focus on filling the box and stopping the run. After that it appears to beat the Panthers pretty easy through the air.

Ameer Abdullah RB , DET 14 rush 47 yards 3 rec 39 yards
Ameer has been on my "do not like" list for a while. The last two seasons, he has been projected as a boom-or-bust player with potential. Well, two years later and he still is averaging less than 55 yards a game and can't score a touchdown. In case you haven't been watching the NFL, the Lions are a passing team! Abdullah is, at best, a flex spot or bye week fill-in for the remainder of the year until we are proven otherwise in 10-12 team leagues.

Isaiah Crowell RB, CLE
Despite pretty good reports going into the season about Crowell handling a good majority of the carries and possibly being the best fantasy option on the team, it doesn't look anything like that to me. Crowell is averaging around 13 rushes and under 40 yards per game. Something you usually see in a two-back system, which it may turn into with Duke Johnson playing so well as of late.



Hasta La Vista: Bench Me, Trade Me or Drop Me

Cooper Kupp WR, LAR
After the pre-season reports and his first NFL game it looked like Kupp was going to be a valuable PPR option. However, in his last two games combined he has only 5 receptions for 50 yards. Something that is hard to believe considering they faced a poor 49ers defense that allowed 292 yards through the air to Jared Goff. Kupp is worth a roster spot in most leagues to be a handcuff to Sammy Watkins, but don't be too confident starting him anymore.

Jordan Matthews WR, BUF
I had more invested in Matthews than I should have going into this year. I figured if he could stay healthy that he would be the number 1 option on this team for receptions. Unfortunately, that role has fallen to TE Charles Clay and it doesn't look to change. With Tyrod Taylor leading this offense and mainly working with his feet or handing the ball to LeSean McCoy, it doesn't look too good for Matthews in anything but deep PPR leagues.

Paul Perkins RB, NYG
Although Perkins is the most talented back for the Giants, the new offensive scheme doesn't really include him. Currently, he is averaging less than 8 rush attempts a game. A lot of this could have to do with the Giants always playing from behind and needing to throw the ball, but unless something drastically changes I wouldn't have faith starting Perkins at any spot unless in very deep leagues.

Adrian Peterson RB, NO 9 rush 33 yards 2 rec 4 yards
It's tough seeing one of the greatest running backs in the last decade go to waste on a pass first team. Sean Payton has never been favorable to fantasy RBs making it almost impossible to predict which he will use more. Remember Hightower/Ingram? Well now it is Ingram/Kamara and Peterson falling in last. Clearly the coaches favor Kamara and Ingram. Unless there is a drastic change in scenery for Peterson or a possible injury, it is unlikely that he ever gets to the level he was drafted at in most leagues.




Look out : keep an eye on me..

Josh Doctson WR, WAS
Doctson was drafted for a reason….BIG PLAY ability. Although it is hard to find a receiver in Washington worth starting, if one them goes down then Doctson will be the first to fill the role. He has a decent ceiling if given the opportunity, but right now it isn’t there.


Jaron Brown WR ,ARI
Jaron Brown is currently taking the role that John Brown usually plays and is during pretty well. He has seen a fair amount of targets the last two weeks and produced in both for a fantasy flyer. If John Brown continues to stay out for health reasons then Jaron is worth an add.

Donte Moncrief WR, IND
The word is that Andrew Luck should be back and playing by week 6. If that is true, it might be time to grab the player Luck has looked to second most of the last two years just outside of TY Hilton. Could be a nice stash and play during bye weeks later in the season.

Robert Woods WR , LAR
I think, despite the rumors going around at the beginning of the year about Kupp being Jared Goff’s, that in reality it has been Robert Woods. He is averaging around 7 targets a game.

Orleans Darkwa RB ,NYG
Darkwa, from an eye test, is the strongest runner on the Giants team. It looks like the Giants might start to fade Perkins out and let more talented Orleans take the lead snaps. It hasn’t happened yet, but keep a look out.

Alex Collins RB, BAL
In case West isn’t running at full health and the Ravens have to turn to Collins he could prove worthy of a spot after producing 124 yards on 16 carries. 7.75 yards per carry average. Very dependent on how injuries play out.




We know this was a little bit longer of a read than previous posts, but we felt there was a lot to cover this week and some great talking points. Hopefully you find success in Week 4.

Please comment with any questions or advice you might have for future weeks. Thanks!

4 Comments

Breathe, just breathe...10 more weeks.

14/9/2017

1 Comment

 
No, I am not referencing the popular Pearl Jam song, but I am promoting the same meaning. Weeks 1 & 2 have come and gone. With that comes lots of news, articles, rumors and, well, blogs.
This post will be slightly different than the last two as I try to figure out which format everyone prefers. We will start off with talking about early season trades and strategies, then move into some player/position talk from the first two weeks as well as the weeks in the near future.

As always, please comment with your thoughts about the blog and topics you would like to see more or less of.





Weasel, Charm and Barter your way to victory
Yes, this isn't exactly the classiest way to get your team to the championship, but in a game of gambling are we really that worried about morals? When it comes to fantasy football, I will charm and sneak my way into trades by any means necessary if I think it will make my team better. Hopefully you don't believe too much in Karma....

In every single league there are three common factors:
1. There is a team with an unbalanced RB/WR ratio. 50% of owners rarely draft an even team and favor one position over another. Find the team with a weakness and start to convince them of this. Even if they don't believe it, you can plant that seed. Start with a trade offer and casual conversation about how to improve "both" your teams.

2. There is an owner that cares too much about the team they root for in real life. Take advantage of this. If you know that you have a die-hard Cowboys fan in your league and you have Dez Bryant, send the owner an offer. It will at least be tempting for them and start a conversation. Once the conversation is started you know the interest is there.

3. The nonchalant owner is always out there. One of the people in your league was convinced into playing or just really doesn't care as much as the rest. JUMP ON THAT! Take advantage of the lack of caring and knowledge. Send offers over that may look appealing to the eye or name test.

Sometimes the best way to trade is by making 1,2 or even 3 trades quickly. A good way to think of it is like the show "Barter Kings". Keep trading your way up to get the player or team you eventually want. Even if it takes a few weeks of sending offers and negotiating / annoying someone. If you are unhappy with your team now and it is hard for you to make up line choices then you will have the same problem all year. TRADE and FIND the team that makes you happy and content; then ride it and the waiver wire to victory!




Quarterbacks and Defenses Optional
Every year we all see the same two things happen in our drafts. The first QB & Defense that goes off the board causes a full on fire sale with everyone trying to grab one. Sadly, after the top 3-4 are selected at each position then the player pool is pretty level for the next 10-12 that are selected. QB and defensive play is strongly based off match-up. Most people draft a QB or Defense and stick with them the entire year regardless of who they play. I would advise steering away from that method unless you have those 2-3 players/DEF.

This week some of the highest rated QBs in the league finished 19th and 20th in ranking. Each player faced top 10 defenses. Meanwhile QBs like Trevor Siemian and Carson Palmer, played low-ranked defenses and finished 4th and 12th at their position rank. The same thing could be said for defense. EVERY week it is worth checking the waiver wire to see which QBs & Defenses are out there to pick up. If they have a better match-up then it is worth dropping one of your bench guys that most likely will never play a single week for your team.

We all have the 1-2 guys that never get played simply because we don't want to drop them and have someone else potentially grab them. WHO CARES?!? Let them grab a player you will most likely never play and pick up a guy that could produce 5-10 points more on a good week than your starting QB/Defense or fill in on Bye weeks. Usually I wouldn’t say to hold onto two QBs all year, but it is worth noting when those hard match up weeks are getting close.




Put me in Coach: Time to have faith in starting these guys as your RB/WR 3 or flex option

Chris Thompson RB, WAS - Chris makes this list because he is only owned in 66% of ESPN leagues right now. If he is on your waiver wire then he needs to be grabbed. Right now he is putting up solid RB2/3 numbers and with the RB situation up in the air in Washington we could see a lot more solid play from him.

Tevin Coleman RB, ATL - Coleman may have been sitting on your bench lately, but he is still managing to put up fantasy worthy numbers and hasn't got his first TD yet. You should see that first TD and multiple receptions against the poor Detroit defense.

Matt Forte RB, NYJ - The only reason Forte is here stems from the fact that the entire Jets offense is up in the air. The line is bad, the QB is bad and weapons are bad. With all being said it makes it easy for teams to box up the RB play. Hopefully this week match up vs. the Dolphins rush defense helps him be relevant.

Sammy Watkins WR, LAR- Despite the first two showings for Watkins in Buffalo being subpar, expect a bounce back game against the 49ers next week. You can look forward to a couple deep balls thrown his way. Watkins has a high ceiling next week with the potential for 75+ yards and multiple receptions. The touchdown possibility will surely be there this game as well.

Kenny Britt WR, CLE - Britt has killed me this year in two of my leagues, so believe me that I understand the pain in seeing his name here: BUT, Corey Coleman broke his hand this week. Britt should surely see more targets this week and hopefully get a touchdown against a terrible Colts Defense. However, If he busts again this week I think it’s time to dump him to the waiver wire.




The Substitute Squad: Players worth a spot on your bench

J.J Nelson WR, ARI - Nelson is the WR2/3 in Arizona with John Brown out for now and his first two performances have proven just that. 5 receptions and a touchdown in each of the last two games and over 160 yards combined. Look for a decent week against the Cowboys poor defense who gave up 35 points to the Broncos. Only owned in 15% of ESPN leagues.

Jermaine Kearse WR, NYJ - Kearse looks like he might hold the top WR spot over the favorite coming out of pre-season, Robbie Anderson. He has 11 receptions in his first two games and over 120 yards combined. Kearse looks like he will be solid WR3/Flex play most weeks in deeper PPR leagues. Currently owned in just 5.5% of ESPN Leagues.

Kendall Wright WR, CHI - The Bears don't have many options anymore and Wright has flashed high level talent in the past. With Wright being one of the lead options in Chicago you can expect WR3/Flex numbers for the most part. He won't ever score you a ton, but he should get you a steady 8-12 points a game. Owned currently in 7% of ESPN leagues.

Zach Miller TE, CHI - Again, there aren't a lot of options in Chicago, but if you are low on players either because of bye weeks or injury then Miller is worth a grab. He is good for a solid 6-8 points a game with the potential for a little more. Currently owned in 1.4% of ESPN leagues.

Alvin Kamara RB, NO - While I don't like the 3-headed RB system in New Orleans, I think that Kamara provides one of the only upsides because his ability to make big pass plays and still be able to run hard. He may not be consistent weekly, but he is worth a stash in case Peterson gets traded or you are in a deeper league. Only 13.3% owned in ESPN Leagues.

Javorius Allen RB, BAL - "Buck" Allen played great this first week with a larger role. Danny Woodhead will be out for a long time and in the meantime Allen will be filling in the role. He ran the ball 14 times this week and caught 5 passes. Look for Allen to be a steady RB2/Flex player moving forward. He will have his good games and bad, but it is definitely worth a look. Owned in 7.8% of ESPN leagues.

Chris Carson RB, SEA - Although we may not know exactly what is happening in Seattle with the backfield, it is clear that Eddie Lacy will no longer be in it and Chris Carson will be a big part of it. Carson had a great week 2 and touched the ball over 20 times. Keep an eye on him and if you have a bench spot then grab him now. He should see another good work load next week against the Titans. Owned in 7.9% of ESPN Leagues.

Samaje Perine RB, WAS - Rob Kelly went down with a rib injury and if it proves to be anything serious than Perine should see a huge leap in playing time. After Kelly left the game Perine got over 20 carries. Although the stingy Rams defense held him to just 67 yards we got to see that the Redskins will turn to him. Right now he is owned in 1.8% of ESPN Leagues.




Hasta La Vista: Time to trade, bench or maybe drop these guys in certain leagues.

Brandon Marshall WR, NYG - I am not sure where to start here. At one point, Marshall was a top 5 touchdown machine in the NFL. It might be that he has finally passed his prime. Although Eli looked awful through two games, Marshall looked equally as bad. Hope for a bounce back or you should bounce him. 2 rec, 27 yards in two games combined.

Terrelle Pryor Sr. WR, WAS - Pryor does NOT look terrible and I don't want to surprise you by having him on here, but current signs aren't that good for what most people paid for him. It looks like he will share a lot of receptions with Crowder, Reed and Thompson. He looks more like a WR2 at best probably WR3 most weeks. It is worth noting that Crowder could just as easily make this list.

Mike Walllace WR, BAL - Wallace was pretty damn good last year and went into this year with some good talk around him, but currently he has 2 catches for 15 yards combined in two games. He clearly isn't a main option in this offense anymore and it doesn't look like Flacco has the long ball that makes Wallace great.

Eric Decker WR, TEN - Another Tennessee WR on the list. Decker just doesn't look like his old self and is still not 100%. Also, like above, there are just too many targets to choose from for QB Marcus Mariota. Decker is near the bottom of the pecking order so it may be time to step away.

Ameer Abdullah RB, DET – I will repeat myself here. Ameer Abdullah has been a boom or bust player since entering the league and 60% of the time, it’s BUST. Obviously it is tough to drop a player like this, but he deserves to ride the bench most times or be put on the trade block. Find that team that needs a RB and then try to convince them that they need Abdullah. Luckily, he has a favorable Falcons match-up this week.

Mark Ingram/ Adrian Peterson RB, NO - Just like it has been for the past few seasons, the Saints backfield is questionable. Sean Payton loves to make fantasy owners mad. He did with his players last year and he will do it this year. Ingram, Kamara and Peterson are all touching the ball about 8-10 games. Making it almost impossible to start one with confidence as your RB2.

LaGarrette Blount RB, PHI - Blount was lucky and caught a 1 yard TD pass during week 1 to salvage his poor play. In week 2 Blount didn't see a single ball come his way by run or pass. The Eagles stuck with Sproles and Smallwood most of the game because of game speed, but it looks like the stud RB from last year won't get close to the same TD numbers. Trade block time.

Paul Perkins RB, NYG - Paul Perkins may be 'the only" 1st and 2nd down back on the NYG team, but that doesn't take away from the fact that their offense line is horrid. Also, they prefer pass catching backs like Vereen. Perkins may be losing his roster spot regardless so now may be a good time to get rid of him while he still holds value.

Cam Newton QB, CAR - Just a few years out of being regarded as a top 5 QB and now he falls all the way down to 19th tied with Mike Glennon. The Panthers offense look completely off and a big part may be due to the fact that Head Coach and the team are fully committed to Cam running less. Also, Newton lost his favorite target in Greg Olsen for a minimum of 6 weeks. The only upside in the near future is the Saints defense this week. High floor.



Significant Injuries:
Greg Olsen TE, CAR - This is a huge blow to the team and anyone that has him on their roster. Minimum of 6 weeks absence. Expect all other players to see an increase in role.

Jordy Nelson, WR GB - Jordy hurt the same leg and area that he had ACL surgery on. Keep an eye out for him day-to-day.

Corey Coleman, WR CLE- This is a sad day because Coleman shows so much potential on a team that needs talent. However, Coleman can't stay healthy and this most recent injury ( Broken Hand ) will keep him sidelined around 6 weeks.

Rob Kelley RB, WAS - Rob looks to have suffered a rib fracture and is considered day-to-day for now. His time table is yet to be determined so keep an eye on him.

Marshal Yanda OG, BAL - Broken Ankle and out for the season. This hurts an already suffering offensive line. Hopefully it doesn't make Flacco's situation too much worse.

Garett Bolles OT, DEN - This is a HUGE blow to the Denver line. Although CJ Anderson still had a big rushing game the loss of the stud rookie will certainly damper CJ and Siemian's success a tad.


1 Comment

Week 1 Studs, Duds and Waiver Wire..... Buds?

11/9/2017

0 Comments

 
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Just like every NFL Week 1 there were a ton of crazy stories, wins/losses, injuries, updates, break-outs and breakdowns. While some of the fantasy "sure-things" didn't pan out as planned, there were quite a few players that played much better than expected and are drawing more looks. As always, a new year in the NFL brings out twists, turns and talent that we weren't expecting. 

I was hoping to get some feedback from my first post about what would interest people reading this blog more and provide content that people would enjoy sharing with their friends while reading weekly, but I didn't get lucky with that one. So, we will try again. I really don't want to post the same type of things that you can see on ESPN player news reports because there is no fun in that.

Tell me what YOU want/like to read about weekly. I can give you facts and variables about match-ups and players each week or I could go off the rails rambling my thoughts, random news and player development opportunities.
It's up to you.


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Week 1 Standouts:
Players that outperformed their projections or showed good signs

Kareem Hunt, KC RB - 17 rush 148 yrds 1 TD, 5 rec 98 yrds 2 TD
We all noticed the potential talent, the opportunity for production and the open offense, but I don't know if anyone saw a 140+yrd game with multiple touchdowns against the NE Patriots week 1...Evidently that fumble on the first carry had an impact on his game....a VERY good impact. This is a great sign for the young prospect.  Not only can this rookie run like a bull and lower his head below defenders, but he is strong mentally. That is rare in rookies and a lot NFL backfields. RB 1/2 play worthy for the year.

Leonard Fournette, JAX RB - 26 rush 100 yrds 1 TD, 3 rec 24 yrds
Even if Allen Robinson hadn't been hurt early it was clear that Fournette is the #1 offensive talent on this roster. Fournette should see an even a larger work load now that A.ROB is hurt for the entire season. Blake Bortles isn't reliable enough to run a pass first offense which means Leonard will continue to see at least 20-25 rush/rec attempts a game. If he can stay healthy for the season then the Jaguars won't have a choice but to continue feeding the young back. RB2 play worthy for the year.

Carlos Hyde, SF RB - 9 rush 45 yrds, 6 rec 32 yrds
Hyde may not have notched a touchdown in this game and he might not get many this season, but the amount of targets in the passing game is a plus in PPR leagues. The 49ers didn't run the ball very much at all so the 9 attempts shouldn't alarm you just yet and he still turned out 45 yards on those nine. The opportunity for a better game is no doubt there and we will see a good amount of Hyde in weeks to come because he is just about the only decent offensive player on the roster. He plays the Seahawks in Seattle this week so maybe bench him unless you don't have a choice, but after Week 2 expect RB2/Flex play from Hyde.

Golden Tate, DET WR - 2 rush 7 yrds, 10 rec 107 yrds 1 TD, 12 targets
It was nice to see Tate get one of Stafford's touchdowns considering two went to the rookie Golladay, but the best part was that he got 12 targets. The Lions will be throwing the ball a lot this year with their poor RB situation so expect 8+ targets a game for most of the season. Plus, Stafford likes to throw the deep ball and Golden Tate is the speedy wide-out on the team capable of burning defensive backs. ( was spotted with splint on finger after game )

DeAndre Hopkins, HOU WR - 7 rec 55 yrds 1 TD, 16 targets
Despite the low yardage it was great to see 16 balls thrown Hopkins way, meaning the Texans are really trying to get him more involved after last years troubles. They looked for him moving down the field and found him in the end zone for 1 touchdown on the day. Even though he only hauled in 7 of the targets be on the look out for more solid WR2/Flex play from Hopkins.

Stefon Diggs, MIN WR - 7 rec 93 yrds, 8 targets
The Saints defense is awful and we all know this, but "STEFORD" was on point Monday night. That is probably the best thing that came out of the night. It's clear that Adam Thielen and Diggs will split the WR1/2 spots at times because both have become Sam Bradford's top targets on the team. Overall the Vikings looked better as a whole with a complete running gamethat should lead to more opportunities for him to get open. Expect Diggs to be a good start at your WR2 most weeks.

Alex Smith, KC QB -  28/35 attempts 368  yrds 4 TD
Smith lit the Patriots defense up and Belichick & Co. had no answer to the KC offense. All of his passes were on target and his held his own in the pocket all game. It helped that he had two 50+ yard TD throws, but non the less it was impressive for a QB that went undrafted in almost every 10-12 team league. Although he isn't a for sure QB1 it might be worth keeping an eye on Smith if you need a QB during bye weeks now that Hill, Kelce and Hunt are his prime targets.

Carson Wentz, PHI QB - 26/39 attempts 307 yrds 2 TD 1 INT
 Even with the interception in the game this week 1 win was  a good look for Carson Wentz. He threw for over 300 yards and looked great scrambling around the pocket against a decent Redskins defense.  The pieces are their for Wentz to continue with similar stats throughout the season. If he is your QB1 you should feel a little safer after this showing.

LA Rams D/ST - 9 PA, 2 Int, 1 FR, 2 TD
The Rams will most certainly not hold most teams below 15 points for the rest of the season, but they are only owned in about 39% percent of ESPN leagues and are getting better by the week. There is definite potential for this defense to finish as a top 15 in the league. Keep an eye out for them depending on match up. Could be a great week-to-week play.

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Mentionable:

Dalvin Cook, MIN RB - 22 rush 127 yrds, 3 rec 10 yrds
Again, they went up against a bad defense (Saints) but he still managed to beat Adrian Peterson's rookie record for his first game with the Hall of Famers former team.....As Peterson watched from the sideline. Damn.

Larry Fitzgerald, ARI WR - 6 rec 74 yrds, 13 targets
The production may not have been there for fantasy points if you started him as your WR1/2 this week, but he did show a lot of promise with 13 targets his way.  Also, he was on the field for over 90% of the snaps. There were some critics going into the season about him losing that role, as of now it looks like he is still Palmer's #1 target. Look for better weeks to come.  


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Week 1 Duds:
Players that fell short of projection or may see decreased role

Lamar Miller HOU RB – 17 rush 76 yrds, 2 rec 31 yrds
Miller worried me coming into the year and this week 1 performance didn't help to settle my nerves on him with his ADP. The Houston offense in general looked rough until the rookie Watson took over at QB and even then it didn't look too good. My worries have nothing to do with Miller's talent, but with his chances. Unless the Texans offense takes a huge leap you can expect similar fantasy games with the team airing the ball out in order to try and play catch up in games.

LeGarrette Blount PHI RB – 14 rush 46 yrds, 1 rec 1 yrds 1 td
Blount excelled last year in Bill Belichick's offensive system and owners were hoping it would carry over the season, but the numbers for Blount in week 1 were not impressive. The lone bright spot was a 1 yard TD catch, something that you won't see much of from LeGarrette. The Eagles will have an obvious split RB system this year with Sproles and look to be a pass first team. I expect most fantasy weeks to look similar for Blount in the future with your random 15-20 point fantasy games thrown in. Although he is the clear #1 RB option in PHI, I can't imagine Blount being more than a RB2/flex next week against the Chiefs.

Ameer Abdullah DET RB – 15 rush 30 yrds, 3 rec 11 yrds
Just like every year since he has been in the league Abdullah started the season with a boom or bust report. If this week 1 showing is any indication then be ready for yet another bust season for Ameer. Hopefully the additional weapons on offense this year will create more space to run for the lead back, but it is a gamble. Next week the Lions face a tough defense against the Giants and it could be another low scoring week for Abdullah. He could be a decent play at flex, but if possible start a different RB1/2.   

Brandon Marshall NYG WR - 1 rec 10 yrds, 4 targets
He was a player I put in my first post about players I didn't like going into the season at their ADP and this first week leaned in that favor. Odell Beckham sat out the game and expectations were for Marshall to fill that void...wrong. He ended up finishing 6th in targets on the team. Yes, that is a correct stat. Clearly Marshall will improve on this week going forward but it is clear Manning/Marshall are not synched up yet and when Odell returns he will eat up a lot of targets. I wouldn't be comfortable with Marshall as my WR2 for the season and suggest making changes if he is for your team.

Dez Bryant DAL WR- 2 rec 43 yrds, 9 targets
I was concerned coming into this season about Dez, but I still  drafted him on one of my teams thinking that there is no way he doesn't improve off last year. Well, hopefully in the future we see big improvements. The Cowboys spread the ball out the entire game and while Dez did see 9 targets it wasn't exactly promising. Beasley, Witten, Elliot and now it looks like even Terrence Williams will be big parts of the offense. Hopefully Dez improves in week 2, but it will be tough against a Denver defense. I expect Dez to get back to WR1/2 numbers in the near future, but he may not finish in the top 25 players like he was drafted to be.

Kelvin Benjamin CAR WR - 1 rec 25 yrds, 5 targets
The real problem with this stat line is the 5 targets. Kelvin Benjamin is the #1 WR on this team and maybe now even the best receiving option over Greg Olsen on the roster. However, for some  reason the Panthers decided there wasn't a good reason to throw the ball on a poor 49ers defense. Benjamin flashes the talent of a WR1, but every year it seems the Panthers won't let him reach his potential. Let's hope that his production keeps moving forward and that he starts seeing closer to 10 targets a game. Right now no matter what the defensive match up is keep Benjamin as a WR2/ Flex option at best.


Tom Brady, NE QB - 16/36 267 yrds
Terrific Tom looked far from terrific. Blame it on the post-Super Bowl Slump or the Madden 18 cover, but no matter the reason...he looked bad. He was clearly not in synch with Brandin Cooks yet and over threw a good amount of decent looks. It is clear that without Edelman and some new pieces that Brady has some more work to do. Don't expect it to take too long though and be looking for top 10 QB week against the Saints bad Defense in week 2.

Russell Wilson, SEA QB - 14/27 158 yrds, 2 rush 40 yrds
Wilson and the entire Seahawks offense looked flat. A sub-par Green Bay defense held them to below 10 points and kept Wilson from converting in the end zone. Wilson struggled most of last season, but he also was plagued by injury. The Seahawks offense still has some problems to work out and players need to find their roles, but Wilson will without a doubt have better weeks to come especially with the 49ers next week...we hope.



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Waiver Wire Targets: 
Worth a look if you have a roster spot to give up

Tarik Cohen Chi RB – 5 rush 66 yrds, 8 Rec 47 yrds 1 TD
Sadly it looks like the Bears backfield could quickly become a split back offense. The young prospect showed he had plenty of talent and the fact that J. Howard didn't look great helped Cohen's potential for snaps.

Marlon Mack IND RB – 10 rush 25 yrds, 1 rec 21 yrds 1 TD
Just like above, it looks like the Colts offense could be split back system now that Frank Gore is looking more his age and Mack has the talent needed to fill Gore's shoes. Expect more of Mack in weeks to come. 

Chris Carson SEA, RB - 6 rush 39 yrds, 1 rec 10 yrds
Although I don't see Carson taking over the majority of snaps weekly, I think moving forward he is worth a roster spot on your bench. Clearly the RB situation in Seattle is a mess and Eddie Lacey looked awful. With Thomas Rawls hurt and Cj Prosise mainly being used for passing downs Carson could see an uptake in volume...if he performs well he could secure a handle in that system.


Kenny Golladay DET WR – 4 rec 69 yrds 2 TD
The young Lions WR looked great in his NFL debut just like he did during the pre-season. He out hustled defensive coverage and made very athletic plays. Expect Golladay to start seeing WR2 numbers on a regular basis and take over Marvin Jones role in the near future.

Cooper Kupp LAR WR – 4 rec 76 yrds 1 TD
Kupp looked great for an LAR offense that seemed to be quite improved from last year. It looks like Kupp could slip into the WR2 spot in the Rams receiving core and see around 6 targets a game. If you are looking for a bench filler with possible Flex upside then Kupp is a definite possibility.

Charles Clay BUF TE – 4 rec 53 yrds 1 TD
The Buffalo offense looked a step ahead of what most people thought in this first week. Tyrod Taylor was throwing the ball decently and Clay showed that he could be a constant help near the end zone. Tyrod likes to look for the small 10 yard dump offs to the TE and could prove to be a good option this season for 8-10 pts a week.


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Injury Report:

David Johnson, RB ARI - Johnson looks to have hurt the same wrist that was bugging him during the pre-season and immediately left the game after a hit/fumble. The x-ray came back negative, so it looks like DJ will make it back this season. Expect 3-4 weeks of sitting out and Andre Ellington / Kerwynn Williams to split carries in the meantime.

Allen Robinson, WR JAX - One catch into the first game of the season and Allen Robinson is out for the season with a torn ACL. Allen Hurns and Marqise Lee will see a slight bump just because Bortles will need somewhere to throw it in Garbage time. Also, look for Leonard Fournette to carry a heavy load for the rest of the season with 20+ touches a game.

Danny Woodhead, RB BAL - Woodhead suffered a hamstring injury and will most likely miss a few weeks. After the game he commented on the injury and didn't seem very optimistic. That could have something to do with the fact that he missed a large part of last year with an ACL injury. Terrence West and J. Allen will take over the majority of snaps.

Kevin White, WR CHI- After leaving the game early it was released that White suffered a season ending collar bone injury. A disappointing two seasons for this young prospect. Watch for Kendall Wright and Victor Cruz to take over majority of targets.

Danny Amendola, WR NE- Danny suffered a concussion on Thursday and looks to be out for at least 1-2 weeks. This is just another blow to the Patriots receiving core. Gronk, Cooks, Hogan and White will see a spread of the targets.

Also, there was quite a few injuries on defenses throughout the league. Make sure to check into those to see if your defense suffered: Eagles, Steelers, Cowboys and Patriots.


Check out all the league injuries - CLICK HERE

I look forward to some feedback on this post and maybe even some ideas for next weeks post!
Hopefully you enjoyed the read and come back next week.


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Pre-Season Player Theories: Risk & Reward

30/8/2017

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The Pre-season has yet to end and the Patriots are already being regarded as a possible "perfect team", Super Bowl 51 losers Atlanta Falcons are only favored 12/1 to start the season and Roger Goodell has suspended another elite level star playing for a top tier team. Got to love the NFL!
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I will be touching base on some players that are being overlooked in most drafts and then a few players I would most likely avoid. All of this is based on reports and average draft position in ESPN and YAHOO leagues. Again, these are players that I think have good upside for a low end starter or player stashed on your bench for bye weeks. The players I don't like all have to do with concern for health reasons and offensive systems.


Also, I go way back with Adam Schefter, and he likes to send me updates....shhhhh.
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​Hopefully these tips and opinions end up helping your team on its way to the championship and steer you away from league embarrassment. These are not the elite players or #1 options on their respective teams, but they all have the potential to out-produce what was projected for them. Sometimes in fantasy football the gambles are the picks that pay off and help win you the league....who likes to always play it safe anyway? Not I.

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- PLAYERS I LIKE -​

Running Back:
  • James White, New England - With Julian Edelman now out for the year and LaGarrette Blount leaving the team, there will be a huge void in the NE offense. 30% of Tom Brady's completions in the 2016 season were to Edelman and many of those were in the red zone . While many believe that Cooks will take a big leap in the absence of Julian, I believe James White's red zone role will increase the most. Last year alone White finished third among backs in targets, receptions and receiving yards during the regular season. Be ready for White to improve further on his production from last year. This isn't much of a reach, but the opportunity for him to get at least 2-3 more touchdowns this year is there. If your draft pick comes up and he is a few players back on the board, he is definitely a guy worth a look. He will be a weekly flex play with possible RB2 potential during the right weeks.

  • Latavius Murray, Minnesota - This is strictly ADP based, but be ready.....don't sleep too long on Murray. As of now in 10-team leagues he is being selected around the 11th round. A little too late for a RB that notched 12 touchdowns and caught 33 passes last season if you ask me. Although he will have some tough competition from rookie running back Dalvin Cook, expect Murray to see at least 12-15 carries a game with red zone touches. If Latavius is still sitting on your draft board in the 10th - 11th round....grab him. Strong candidate for a RB3 with a decent floor. The only downside is if this turns into a three back system including McKinnon.

  • Jamaal Williams, Green Bay - Williams has already taken significant snaps with the 1st team offense both during camp and pre-season games. He looked rather comfortable and damn strong at the spot too. He has the power to be the 1-2 down RB and the strength to block when needed. Ty Montgomery was not meant to be a RB in the NFL, he was forced to be one. Montgomery did well last year in his new role, but it took its toll on his WR frame (I will come back to this below/later). Williams has a firm spot on the RB2 in the Packers offense and if anything happens to Montgomery, he will be the one to start taking the most snaps. Even if Montgomery stays healthy, he will be giving up 10-12 significant carries a game to Williams as Green Bay tries to figure out their RB situation. Williams will be more than just a hand-cuff this year in all 10-12 team leagues.



Wide Receiver:
  • DeVante Parker, Miami - Parker is young, athletic as hell and wants to be the main focus of this offense. His first few years in the NFL were a disappointment, but that can be said about the entire Miami roster of late with the exception Jay Ajiayi. Coming into the pre-season without Ryan Tannehill due to Injury, the Miami team will be run by Jay "Cool" Cutler who has already said that he has formed a connection with Parker and thinks he is a top tier wide out. Jay may not be throwing many completions, but you can bet a good amount will be going DeVante's way. If you already have two good WRs, maybe take him as a WR2/flex with a high ceiling. I expect Parker to make big leaps in production for PPR leagues this year.

  • Martavis Bryant, Pittsburgh - It seems we will finally get to see Bryant take the field with the Steelers and it couldn't come at a better time. The Pittsburgh offense as been impressive in the last few years, but if Big Ben can stay healthy and Bryant stays away from the reefer, than it can take a big step forward this year. Roethlisberger likes to throw the long ball and has no fear when it comes to launching one downfield in hopes of a highlight touchdown play. Last year most of these balls were thrown to 5'10 Antonio Brown and variety of other WRs. Bryant enters this year with speed and a 6'5 frame making for an excellent #2 WR option. Opposing defenses will have to stick their best defender on Brown the majority of the time leaving Bryant free to run all OVER cornerbacks. Don't be scared to draft Bryant as your WR2 or your flex option.



Tight End:
  • Zach Ertz, Philadelphia - Ertz may very well be the best option for Carson Wentz on the Eagles roster, despite the new addition of talented wide out Alshon Jeffery. While Jeffrey will help the Eagles offense, he is one of the most injury-plagued players game to game in the last two seasons. Jeffery brings lots of talent, but his constant injury problems and lack of playing time with QB Carson Wentz leave Ertz wide open for a great year. If you miss out on those top 3-4 guys at the TE position, take a chance with Ertz having a bigger role this year. Watch out for a top 5 TE finish for him in PPR leagues.

  • Tyler Eifert, Cincinnati - injuries on injuries on injuries. Sometimes despite his tremendous play, it is hard to draft Eifert because it seems he can never finish out a season healthy. HOWEVER, right now he is being drafted around TE10 which is ridiculous. When healthy he is easily top 3 in the league at his position. If you miss out on those top TE guys early,, wait a bit and take a stab at Eifert in the later rounds. Due to injury right now, Eifert is going near the 10th rounds in most leagues. Even if he is only healthy 10-11 weeks, he will be great for those games. Despite missing 11 games in the past two seasons, he still ranks first amongst Tight Ends with 18 touchdowns.

Quarterback:
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The QB position is very deep this year and I don't really think it's something that you need to worry too much about, but I will give some opinions regardless.
  • ​Andrew Luck, Indianapolis - This shouldn't really be a question but you can find a critic in every other report. Yes, Luck may miss 2-3 weeks and will most likely play at less than 100% for a game or so when he is back to shake off some rust. However, let us remember Luck has played hurt for two seasons and still out-performed almost every QB in the league. His ADP is near the 11th round right now.....jump on that. If he is still there in the 9th-10th rounds and the top 4-5 quarterbacks are off the board, you can't get a better deal. Draft another QB in one of your last rounds or play the waiver wire till he is healthy. It doesn't hurt that the Colts have one of the worst defenses in the league, so Luck will be trying to play catch up every 4th quarter. Luck will continue to be a beast this year. The risk is there, but the reward is far greater. ​ ​
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  • Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay - Despite the constant comments and remarks about his gunslinger/over-doing it attitude, he finished the 2016 NFL season with a Position Rank of 16. The Buccaneers QB clearly needed some help. Enter speedster wide-out Desean Jackson and rookie tight end O.J Howard. The Tampa bay offense is set to explode this year and with Winston having a few years under his belt, you can expect a lot of touchdowns with all those weapons. If he is still there after 6 or 7 QBs are off the board he may be worth the pick. This may be the year he separates himself from that pack. ...of course, we will see our fair share of risky interceptions along the way.
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  • Carson Wentz, Philadelphia - Wentz had a pretty good rookie season and in the off- season Philadelphia added a few more weapons to the offense. He also finished the second half of the season with the most throw attempts in the NFL meaning that the team and coaches have faith in him. Add this up with a few months in the summer to sync up with new teammates and just like that Carson Wentz slides into an easy QB sleeper. Now, I am not saying he is going to be Aaron Rodgers or even Russell Wilson for that matter, but he will take a tremendous leap his sophomore year. Alshon Jeffery, Torrey Smith and LaGarrette Blount will only help spread the defense and provide weapons for an already talented young quarterback. If you are smart and don't get suckered into drafting a QB before round 10, then Wentz could easily fill in the spot on your roster.



Honorable Mentions:
All of these I believe are worth the risk to take at least 1-2 rounds before their current ADP. High Risk. High Reward.
-Kenny Britt, Cleveland
- Tevin Coleman, Atlanta
-Kenny Golladay, Detroit
-Cooper Kupp, LA Rams
-​Tyler Lockett, Seattle
-Taylor Gabriel, Atlanta
​-Hunter Henry, LA Chargers






​- PLAYERS I DON'T LIKE -
Based on their current ADPs and Health
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  • Marshawn Lynch, Oakland Raiders - I LOVE the Oakland Raiders offensive almost all the way through, except for Lynch. Although the Raiders have a pretty good offensive line for him to run behind, Lynch has been out of NFL action for over a year and the wear and tear on his hard hitting style will take its toll. I could be wrong and BEASTMODE could come back like MJ, but I see injury in his near future. Maybe not till week 7 or 8, but if he ends up missing 6+ games, is he really worth a top 4 round pick? I can see Lynch averaging around 15 carries a game and being very touchdown dependent....If you can sneak him in mid-rounds I wouldn't hold it against you, but I wouldn't trust him as my RB1 or RB2 unless I had a very strong WR core or plan to draft deep at the RB position.

  • Ty Montgomery, Green Bay - Montgomery was given a roster spot with Packers as a WR, but after their many RB problems they were forced to switch his position. Montgomery did well and looked great catching balls out of the backfield last season. However, all the hard hits that the new position comes with took a toll on his body. In the off season Montgomery had to bulk up 20lbs, something that his body is not used to. I don't think he will last the season and even if he does, the Packers have already made it clear they like their rookie RB. I see split touches for this backfield and by mid-season Montgomery giving up majority red zone snaps to Williams.

  • Keenan Allen, San Diego - I truly think Allen is young and talented, but plagued with problems. He has seen the field less than 10 times in two seasons. I only bring up Allen because the next Chargers WR is 67 spots back in ADP. Keenan Allen is a good talent, but he hasn't played in a live game in over a year. Plus, last season a few other players on the team made names for themselves and connections with Phillip Rivers. Hunter Henry, Tyrell Williams and Melvin Gordon are all going to be significant parts of this offense and I'm afraid it will eat away at Allen's production. Players like Jamison Crowder, Michael Crabtree and DeAndre Hopkins are all going around the same ADP and I believe have as much potential to produce.

Players that worry me:
Mostly due to younger players taking production or health concerns, but never the less I am avoiding them at their current ADP.
- Ameer Abdullah, Detroit
-Jay Ajayi, Miami
- Delanie Walker, Tennessee
- Giovanni Bernard, Cinncinnati
- Brandon Marshall, New York Giants




Leave some comments about what you think or maybe even some player news you might have.
Make sure to check out the latest headlines on your fantasy prospects at Rotoworld.




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