It’s the last week of the fantasy regular season for most. Let’s take a moment to remember the season. Austin Ekeler’s dominance to start the year was certainly a captivating storyline. Mark Andrews and Darren Waller looking like bonafide tight end superstars ready to make the ascension to the top tier. Most importantly, the amount of overreactions that came from Sammy Watkins’ massive Week 1 performance. How quickly things can change in fantasy football. That’s part of the puzzle that makes this game so infuriating and addicting. To keep track of the changes that are happening this week, or to just reflect upon the insane season that is approaching it’s end, check out our stock watch page.
Start ‘Em
Quarterback
Sam Darnold vs Bengals
The Bengals basically came into the season waving the white flag on this season. Andy Dalton is nothing more than a lame duck quarterback getting the Bengals through the season and helping them earn that coveted number one pick in the draft. As bad as this offense has been, the defense has been that much worse.
While not the absolute worst team in the league against the quarterback, the Bengals’ defense ranks 27th against fantasy quarterbacks. Darnold has been on a tear lately. In fact, he’s averaged over 20 fantasy points per game each of the last three weeks. Perhaps Adam Gase has decided to stop being incompetent and has allowed Darnold to have complete control of the offense. Regardless, Darnold is taking that coveted second year leap right before our eyes and should be a very valuable quarterback going forward.
Honorable Mention: Ryan Tannehill, Andy Dalton
Running Back
Derrius Guice vs Panthers
If you can name someone who has had a more rough start to their NFL careers than Guice, I’d certainly love to hear that story. Guice has not produced much as he has struggled to stay on the field. As the twilight of his sophomore season looms, Guice is in danger of earning the dreaded title of being an early round bust.
Guice is in a great position to really showcase the ferocious running style and explosive runs that made him such a coveted pro prospect coming out of LSU. The Panthers defense has been awful against the run. Ranking 28th against the run, Guice should be able to carve up this Panthers defense…even if he is still sharing carries with Adrian Peterson.
Honorable Mention: Benny Snell, Miles Sanders
Wide Receiver
John Brown vs Cowboys
What exactly is wrong with me? Why would I recommend playing someone against the fourth ranked defense against fantasy wide receivers? Simple. Speed. The only Cowboy that can consistently keep up with Brown on defense is Chidobe Awuzie. Awuzie doesn’t exactly play shadow coverage.
The Cowboys will have their hands full trying to contain Josh Allen and Devin Singletary and will likely have to stack boxes to close running lanes. This means Brown will spend a lot of time in either single coverage or in zone coverage where his speed can easily exploit weak spots in the coverage. If Allen can consistently deliver accurate balls to Brown and stay upright against the Cowboys dangerous pass rush, Brown should be in line for a strong fantasy showing.
Honorable Mention: DeVante Parker, Dede Westbrook
Streamable Tight Ends
Jack Doyle vs Titans
The tight end landscape is still puke worthy overall. While the position is deeper than it has been in a while, the same could be said about pouring a cup of water into a bathtub. With Eric Ebron out for the season with ankle issues, Doyle should be the alpha dog tight end in this offense. Ebron averaged nearly five targets per game and Doyle should, hopefully, be in line to inherit at least some of those targets. The Titans also rank just 25th against the tight end position, so there is plenty of opportunity to put up a respectable statline. Doyle is a fine streaming option this week.
Honorable Mention: Dallas Goedert, Kyle Rudolph
Sit ‘Em
Quarterback
Tom Brady vs Texans
It’s hard to recommend sitting Brady, based purely on sentiment. However, his fantasy production has been too low to be able to recommend with confidence most weeks. Brady has gone three straight games below 16 fantasy points. That’s not getting it done. The previous matchup against the Cowboys last week was his first game at home in a while that he didn’t score over 20 fantasy points.
Most of his struggles have come on the road and he finds himself on the road against the Texans this week. If there was ever a matchup for Brady to buck the trend it would be Houston, which ranks 25th against fantasy QB’s this season. Personally, with no bye weeks, there are so many streaming options that you can likely find someone with a higher ceiling this week.
Honorable Mention: Deshaun Watson, Jacoby Brissett
Running Back
Rashaad Penny vs Vikings
But, but, Penny is the new horse in the Seahawks backfield! Chris Carson can’t stop fumbling the ball! I’ve heard it all. As someone that liked Penny coming out of college I’ve hoped he would take over this backfield. He has squandered every opportunity as much as Carson has the football to opposing defenses.
Penny may have moves like Jagger in the backfield and can run like a gazelle, but he also has the Saquon Barkely and David Montgomery running style. Instead of being decisive and taking what is given to him, he dances around in the backfield too much and tries to make a home run play. Much like Barkley, when Penny runs decisively and with conviction, it’s often for good chunks of yards. The explosive plays Penny loves are likely not going to be there against a Minnesota Vikings defense that is fourth against fantasy backs. Factor in the, at best, 50/50 time share with Carson and I don’t think there’s enough volume where I can recommend Penny as a flex play this week.
Honorable Mention: Bo Scarbrough, Tevin Coleman
Wide Receiver
Emmanuel Sanders vs Ravens
Sanders is still nursing bad ribs. From personal experience, rib injuries make running and extending the upper body extremely painful and difficult. Factoring in that the Ravens are a completely rejuvenated secondary with Marcus Peters and Jimmy Smith and I want to avoid Sanders at all costs this week.
In fact, while nursing this injury, Sanders has combined for around 12 PPR points the previous three weeks. As George Kittle continues to get better from his ankle injury and Deebo Samuel continues to breakout, Sanders’ role in this offense could progressively fizzle out.
Honorable Mention: Odell Beckham Jr., Kenny Golladay
