The most brilliant idea that the NFL and the television networks came up with was the ability for teams to withhold injury news until almost gametime. The reports that come out on Friday only lists the most obvious injuries and everyone else is Questionable until Sunday. If you are not paying attention, you took some big-time zeroes in Week 11. It was assumed that the Bears would not be playing Matt Forte though he practiced a bit. Alshon Jeffery was almost viewed the same and it wasn’t a big shock when he was Inactive. However, on the other side of the field, the Broncos only cited a finger injury for Emmanuel Sanders and made it sound like he would play so it hurt owners when he ended up Inactive. The biggest news was held until almost kickoff in Seattle where Marshawn Lynch was deactivated. He had the same reported injury the week prior and still played (and scored) so many Lynch owners were scrambling if they received the news before the game. HOPEFULLY, those owners have picked on my pleas to ALWAYS back up your studs. Thomas Rawls replaced Lynch and had the best fantasy day of the week. If you got the news during the game, I can only hope your league has our In-game Player Change feature turned on.
Speaking of changing players during the game, a few big RBs went down during their game; Devonta Freeman, Justin Forsett and Charcandrick West all left their games with injuries and did not return. Being able to swap in a different RB would have helped fantasy teams that started any of these players. This is a very under-utilized feature. Y’all know that you are paying attention to the games and wish you could make a player change when one of yours goes down.
Speaking of replacements such as Thomas Rawls and Spencer Ware, there were a number of scoring surprises on Sunday as Jameis lit up the Eagles and unowned players such as Brook Osweiler, J.J. Nelson, Ahmad Bradshaw, Kyle Rudolph, Tyler Lockett, James White, Patrick Dimarco and Vance McDonald put many points on the board. Players such as Doug Martin, DeSean Jackson, LeSean McCoy and Alfred Blue showed that you can’t believe always believe the projections as they had very nice days against stiff competition. All the hype about Darrelle Revis shutting down the T.J. Yates-to-DeAndre Hopkins connection was a mismatch in Hopkins’ favor. DeAndre consistently ran past Revis and would have had a monster day with a more accurate QB under center. Revis pulled the old trick used by uninterested housewives (“I have a headache”) and left the field with his head hanging low. It looks like global warming has caused water levels to rise and submerge Revis Island.
The NFL should investigate an unreported trade involving 2 sports since it is the only explanation I have for the Detroit Lions’ defensive resurgence. Before their Bye, they gave up 45 points to the low-flying Kansas City Chiefs. After their Bye, they have shut down the Green Bay Packers in Lambeau and the Oakland Raiders indoors in Detroit. They seriously had to have swapped players with one of the London Rugby Clubs cuz this makes no sense to me. Stacking Derek Carr, Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree in one of my leagues tanked me right to the lowest team total of the week.
Reminder: we have a slew of Daily and Weekly Fantasy Football Leagues open at various prices at http://www.maximumfantasysports.com/OpenLeagues.aspx.
I hope you have a good waiver priority or plenty of budget left in Bid leagues as this will be a very active week on the Waiver Wire. Thomas Rawls is excluded as he should have been handcuffed to Marshawn Lynch long ago. It sounds like Devonta Freeman is ok but grab RB Tevin Coleman if a Freeman owner foolishly didn’t add him.
QB: Brian Hoyer (HOU) – Hoyer returns from his concussion and gets to face the porous New Orleans’ defense at home. I like his matchup better than many other starters, such as, Philip Rivers and Matt Ryan.
QB Brock Osweiler (DEN) – that gust of wind from the West was the collective exhaling by Broncos fans as Osweiler showed that the team is in good shape under his direction. With Peyton in a walking boot, Osweiler will definitely be under center for at least a few more games.
RB: Javorius Allen (BAL) – Allen was more of a should-handcuff to Justin Forsett than a must so he is available in a majority of MFS leagues. Forsett is gone for the season, as is QB Joe Flacco, so Allen steps into a sure RB1 position with a lot of opportunity. He popped for 67 yards on Sunday after Forsett left and has the Browns on the slate this weekend and tallied another 48 on 5 catches, showing that he is ready to assume the same plays that Forsett has excelled in.
RB: Ahmad Bradshaw (IND) – Bradshaw has been putting points on the board by catches passes and scoring TDs, but he may be adding to his rushing tally with RB Frank Gore dinged up with a bad quad.
RB: Spencer Ware (KC) – Ware was in the right place at the right time when RB Charcandrick West was injured and left the game. With RB Knile Davis injured, Ware was next man up and delivered with 96 yards and two scores. It is unknown if West will be back this week or not but any West owner should roster Ware.
WR: Terrance Williams (DAL) – Dez is happy that Tony Romo is back under center, but Williams is downright giddy. He has been worthless since Romo was injured and had been tossed aside in almost every MFS league. He resurfaced for a 4/79/1 line and is definitely a matchup starter as Dez draws consistent defensive double-teams.
WR: Devin Funchess (CAR) – Funchess was expected to be a big part of Carolina’s offense this season after WR Kelvin Benjamin went down for the season. Unfortunately, the QB-turned-WR wasn’t ready for prime time and spent the first half of the season learning how to play NFL-caliber football. It appears that the Panthers think that he is ready as he was Targeted 8 times on Sunday and delivered a 4/64/1 line.
TE: Vance McDonald (SF) – it is difficult to count on anyone in San Fran but McDonald did post a 4/65/1 line last week and gets to further bond with QB Gabbert as Kaepernick is done for the year
TE: Vernon Davis (SF) – well, well, well, look who has popped his head out of the sand. After complaining about not being used since his trade, Vern got plenty of action thanks to a young QB and the fact that WR Emmanuel Sanders was Inactive. It is hard to guess if this will continue but a 6/68/0 line shows promise for a talented tight end.
TE: Crockett Gilmore (BAL) – Gilmore has quietly had back-to-back good games and will now have QB Matt Schaub throwing to him. While that is a big step down in talent, it should be a big step up in Targets as Schaub has routinely used his tight ends frequently over his career.
No comments:
Post a Comment