Three big storylines out of Monday Night Football. First, Colt McCoy's broken leg means we're going to see way too much of Mark Sanchez the rest of the way. The only semi-reliable receiver, Jordan Reed, will take the biggest hit, while Jamison Crowder's injury-plagued season will end with a whimper. Three weeks ago this team had a two-game lead in the NFC East. If they lose to the Giants next week, Washington realistically could finish the year in the basement. Which actually would be a good thing for a franchise desperate for a young QB to eventually replace the vastly overrated Alex Smith. They'll be competing against the QB-hungry Jaguars, Raiders, and Giants. A win against the Giants next week will almost guarantee another middling season, which is the last thing they need.
Second, Adrian Peterson got it done with a 90-yard TD run. The rest of the night he had eight yards on eight carries. It's baffling that he earned only nine touches, but not surprising that he was stymied most of the game. AP averaged 4.6 YPC thru Week 8. In his next four games he averaged 3.1. We cannot possibly begrudge him for his fantastic 90-yard score. But it was an outlier -- the product of a gaping hole against a defense yielding a monstrous 5.0 yards per carry. Particularly with Sanchez at the helm, it will be tough to trust AP as more than a TD-dependent RB3.
Finally, Alshon Jeffery's decline has been precipitous and painful for fantasy managers. After missing the first three games, his first four games included three WR1 performances, he's been unstartable these past five games. The Eagles are actually averaging more passing yards per game (258) than last year (234) and are averaging two more pass attempts per game. But their aerial scoring is down (1.6 TDs per game vs. 2.4 last year). And as reported last week, Carson Wentz doesn't seem to be 100% back from his offseason surgery.
Golden Tate's arrival is one big reason, as Jeffery hasn't scored in five games, four of which have overlapped with Tate's presence. But more than that, Jeffery averaged 3.6 receptions and 49 yards per contest in 2017. That's it. That's all the low-end WR2 earned. The key difference was that he scored nine times. This year he's actually improved: 4.8 receptions and 55 yards. But with the addition of Tate as a scoring threat, and with an out-of-this-world Zach Ertz stepping up, Jeffery is the same TD-dependent receiver he was last year, but with fewer TD opportunities. We saw Wentz try to force it to him in the end zone yesterday. Jeffery's not a forgotten man out there. But he'll remain a shaky option the rest of the way.
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Now some guys I'm targeting on waivers. At QB, Dak Prescott (available in 47% of ESPN leagues) has been a middling QB2 most of the season. Yet his remaining matchups are against the Eagles, Colts, and Bucs (and Giants for those competing Week 17). He'll exceed his 17.1 fantasy-point average these next three weeks. And Josh Allen (96%) clearly should be more heavily rostered; he's fourth among all QBs in rushing yards despite missing four games, and he's got the Jets and Lions at home these next two weeks.
At RB, Justin Jackson (88%) is obviously worth a pick-up in case Melvin Gordon remains sidelined. Another former third-stringer, John Kelly (100%), could ascend to the #2 spot if Malcolm Brown's shoulder injury keeps him out Week 14, which would make Kelly a must-add in very deep leagues -- as well as in shallower leagues if Brown's ailment is of the multiple-week variety. As mentioned yesterday and many times since the summer, Chase Edmonds (99%) is a top-10 handcuff worth stashing in most leagues. And Rashaad Penny (79%) has breakout appeal against the Niners (Week 15) or Chiefs (Week 16) if Chris Carson gets hurt (Carson's dislocated finger from Sunday doesn't sound serious).
At WR, Courtland Sutton (47%) faces the Niners and Raiders during the fantasy playoffs, putting on the streaming map. John Ross (84%) is a proven viable boom-bust option. Meanwhile, with Christian Kirk out for the year, Chad Williams (100%) or Trent Sherfield (100%) will start opposite Larry Fitzgerald. While I'm not inclined to recommend any Cardinals beyond David Johnson (occasionally) and Fitz (barely occasionally), Arizona will play the Lions, Falcons, and Rams the next three games. I'm sure I'll discuss one of those virtually unrostered guys later this week. Oh, and Bruce Ellington (91%) remains a nice get at a cheap price, while Curtis Samuel (87%) looks like a solid waiver add. And how is Dante Pettis available in 98% of leagues? Talk about a legit rising star . . .
At TE, Ian Thomas (98%) is a decent bet for top 14-18 production. And C.J. Uzomah (69%) gets a bump with A.J. Green out for the year.
Second, Adrian Peterson got it done with a 90-yard TD run. The rest of the night he had eight yards on eight carries. It's baffling that he earned only nine touches, but not surprising that he was stymied most of the game. AP averaged 4.6 YPC thru Week 8. In his next four games he averaged 3.1. We cannot possibly begrudge him for his fantastic 90-yard score. But it was an outlier -- the product of a gaping hole against a defense yielding a monstrous 5.0 yards per carry. Particularly with Sanchez at the helm, it will be tough to trust AP as more than a TD-dependent RB3.
Finally, Alshon Jeffery's decline has been precipitous and painful for fantasy managers. After missing the first three games, his first four games included three WR1 performances, he's been unstartable these past five games. The Eagles are actually averaging more passing yards per game (258) than last year (234) and are averaging two more pass attempts per game. But their aerial scoring is down (1.6 TDs per game vs. 2.4 last year). And as reported last week, Carson Wentz doesn't seem to be 100% back from his offseason surgery.
Golden Tate's arrival is one big reason, as Jeffery hasn't scored in five games, four of which have overlapped with Tate's presence. But more than that, Jeffery averaged 3.6 receptions and 49 yards per contest in 2017. That's it. That's all the low-end WR2 earned. The key difference was that he scored nine times. This year he's actually improved: 4.8 receptions and 55 yards. But with the addition of Tate as a scoring threat, and with an out-of-this-world Zach Ertz stepping up, Jeffery is the same TD-dependent receiver he was last year, but with fewer TD opportunities. We saw Wentz try to force it to him in the end zone yesterday. Jeffery's not a forgotten man out there. But he'll remain a shaky option the rest of the way.
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Now some guys I'm targeting on waivers. At QB, Dak Prescott (available in 47% of ESPN leagues) has been a middling QB2 most of the season. Yet his remaining matchups are against the Eagles, Colts, and Bucs (and Giants for those competing Week 17). He'll exceed his 17.1 fantasy-point average these next three weeks. And Josh Allen (96%) clearly should be more heavily rostered; he's fourth among all QBs in rushing yards despite missing four games, and he's got the Jets and Lions at home these next two weeks.
At RB, Justin Jackson (88%) is obviously worth a pick-up in case Melvin Gordon remains sidelined. Another former third-stringer, John Kelly (100%), could ascend to the #2 spot if Malcolm Brown's shoulder injury keeps him out Week 14, which would make Kelly a must-add in very deep leagues -- as well as in shallower leagues if Brown's ailment is of the multiple-week variety. As mentioned yesterday and many times since the summer, Chase Edmonds (99%) is a top-10 handcuff worth stashing in most leagues. And Rashaad Penny (79%) has breakout appeal against the Niners (Week 15) or Chiefs (Week 16) if Chris Carson gets hurt (Carson's dislocated finger from Sunday doesn't sound serious).
At WR, Courtland Sutton (47%) faces the Niners and Raiders during the fantasy playoffs, putting on the streaming map. John Ross (84%) is a proven viable boom-bust option. Meanwhile, with Christian Kirk out for the year, Chad Williams (100%) or Trent Sherfield (100%) will start opposite Larry Fitzgerald. While I'm not inclined to recommend any Cardinals beyond David Johnson (occasionally) and Fitz (barely occasionally), Arizona will play the Lions, Falcons, and Rams the next three games. I'm sure I'll discuss one of those virtually unrostered guys later this week. Oh, and Bruce Ellington (91%) remains a nice get at a cheap price, while Curtis Samuel (87%) looks like a solid waiver add. And how is Dante Pettis available in 98% of leagues? Talk about a legit rising star . . .
At TE, Ian Thomas (98%) is a decent bet for top 14-18 production. And C.J. Uzomah (69%) gets a bump with A.J. Green out for the year.