Yesterday I described packaging the Patriots DST a few weeks ago for Christian Kirk, and then flipping Kirk for Michael Carter. "I have to say," I wrote magnanimously, still confident about my decision making, "all three of us involved in those trades filled a pressing need."
It's now safe to argue that my opponent who landed the Patriots DST has inched ahead. Or maybe leaped ahead. In standard DST scoring, the unit scored 28 points last night--nearly double the next best performer (kicker Nick Folk). It's easily the most DST points scored in a game this season, and pushes New England into the #2 spot among all fantasy DSTs in points per game. The undermanned Titans are up next, with the Jaguars and Dolphins (revenge game) looming.
By the way, yesterday we tried something different at PFN. I wrote a column about the questionable Folk (basically, should fantasy managers trust him last night): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nick-folk-injury-update-2021-nflwk-11/. Some of you have stopped using kickers in your leagues. For the rest of you, we share kicker rankings each week. If individual stories about high-performing or streaming kickers would interest you, please give a shout. Folk was a test run.
Elsewhere, I thought the Patriots' backfield would put up more points. But the big takeaway is my continued push of the underappreciated Rhamondre Stevenson. This week a lot of smart people have claimed Damien Harris is still the starter, the Jonas Gray benching seven years ago this month never happened. Bill Belichick has had 10 different leading single-season rushers in the last 16 seasons. It's never been about "What have you done." It's about "What will you do for this team going forward." Stevenson out-touched a healthy Harris 13-11. This is now a split backfield until/unless something changes.
New England's passing attack remains frustrating from a fantasy standpoint. Last night was Nelson Agholor's turn--his third double-digit performance of the year. The team's engine runs through its RBs and defense. Rookie Mac Jones has been quite impressive the past 5-6 weeks. But the pass-happiness displayed earlier this season is a distant memory. He's averaged only 22 throws in each of his last three games while averaging about 8.1 yards per throw. That's a recipe for success when the backfield and defense are thriving.
On the other side of the ball, the Falcons are one of the worst 4-6 teams in recent memory. I remain shocked that they were once 4-4. In fairness, they were without Cordarrelle Patterson (as well as Calvin Ridley, of course). Also in fairness, this team is a wreck. Admittedly, I was high on Matt Ryan this summer at his QB-17 ADP. He performed well in five of his first eight games while giving managers two elite outings (28+ fantasy points) and four streamable efforts. But he's been abysmal four times, including three times in his last four games. He gets the Jaguars next week on the road and Detroit at home in Week 16. Besides that, it's trouble.
Elsewhere, the backfield will remain a mess as long as Patterson is sidelined (probably not much longer). Qadree Ollison is worth mentioning, only because Mike Davis and Wayne Gallman are not. And Kyle Pitts hasn't exceeded 10 fantasy points in four straight contests. Apologies to those I encouraged to start him. I anticipated game script favoring a heavy dose of throws from Ryan. Pitts earned only five targets--his lowest total since Week 3--and his second-lowest yardage total of the season (29). He's surely a buy-low TE; the Falcons have no choice but to figure out how to feature their best player more prominently.
Finally, the winner of the closest-score contest is . . . well, there are two winners. Nick Kishbaugh, who predicted a 27-3, and Lazy Daze, who picked 24-6. Honorable mention to the next closest, Gary Beardmore and Mike Vanacore, who each predicted 28-3. Mike actually drove across two state lines to watch the game. I talk myself out of driving six minutes to the grocery store; Mike hops in his car and just goes.
But congrats to Nick and Daze for taking home the grand prize. And congrats to those who wisely didn't trade away the Patriots DST.
---
- PFN fantasy site -- www.profootballnetwork.com/fantasy-football/
- PFN fantasy podcast -- podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-the-mood-for-fantasy-football/id1580114372
- Free fantasy advice newsletter -- www.getrevue.co/profile/pfnfantasy
It's now safe to argue that my opponent who landed the Patriots DST has inched ahead. Or maybe leaped ahead. In standard DST scoring, the unit scored 28 points last night--nearly double the next best performer (kicker Nick Folk). It's easily the most DST points scored in a game this season, and pushes New England into the #2 spot among all fantasy DSTs in points per game. The undermanned Titans are up next, with the Jaguars and Dolphins (revenge game) looming.
By the way, yesterday we tried something different at PFN. I wrote a column about the questionable Folk (basically, should fantasy managers trust him last night): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nick-folk-injury-update-2021-nflwk-11/. Some of you have stopped using kickers in your leagues. For the rest of you, we share kicker rankings each week. If individual stories about high-performing or streaming kickers would interest you, please give a shout. Folk was a test run.
Elsewhere, I thought the Patriots' backfield would put up more points. But the big takeaway is my continued push of the underappreciated Rhamondre Stevenson. This week a lot of smart people have claimed Damien Harris is still the starter, the Jonas Gray benching seven years ago this month never happened. Bill Belichick has had 10 different leading single-season rushers in the last 16 seasons. It's never been about "What have you done." It's about "What will you do for this team going forward." Stevenson out-touched a healthy Harris 13-11. This is now a split backfield until/unless something changes.
New England's passing attack remains frustrating from a fantasy standpoint. Last night was Nelson Agholor's turn--his third double-digit performance of the year. The team's engine runs through its RBs and defense. Rookie Mac Jones has been quite impressive the past 5-6 weeks. But the pass-happiness displayed earlier this season is a distant memory. He's averaged only 22 throws in each of his last three games while averaging about 8.1 yards per throw. That's a recipe for success when the backfield and defense are thriving.
On the other side of the ball, the Falcons are one of the worst 4-6 teams in recent memory. I remain shocked that they were once 4-4. In fairness, they were without Cordarrelle Patterson (as well as Calvin Ridley, of course). Also in fairness, this team is a wreck. Admittedly, I was high on Matt Ryan this summer at his QB-17 ADP. He performed well in five of his first eight games while giving managers two elite outings (28+ fantasy points) and four streamable efforts. But he's been abysmal four times, including three times in his last four games. He gets the Jaguars next week on the road and Detroit at home in Week 16. Besides that, it's trouble.
Elsewhere, the backfield will remain a mess as long as Patterson is sidelined (probably not much longer). Qadree Ollison is worth mentioning, only because Mike Davis and Wayne Gallman are not. And Kyle Pitts hasn't exceeded 10 fantasy points in four straight contests. Apologies to those I encouraged to start him. I anticipated game script favoring a heavy dose of throws from Ryan. Pitts earned only five targets--his lowest total since Week 3--and his second-lowest yardage total of the season (29). He's surely a buy-low TE; the Falcons have no choice but to figure out how to feature their best player more prominently.
Finally, the winner of the closest-score contest is . . . well, there are two winners. Nick Kishbaugh, who predicted a 27-3, and Lazy Daze, who picked 24-6. Honorable mention to the next closest, Gary Beardmore and Mike Vanacore, who each predicted 28-3. Mike actually drove across two state lines to watch the game. I talk myself out of driving six minutes to the grocery store; Mike hops in his car and just goes.
But congrats to Nick and Daze for taking home the grand prize. And congrats to those who wisely didn't trade away the Patriots DST.
---
- PFN fantasy site -- www.profootballnetwork.com/fantasy-football/
- PFN fantasy podcast -- podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-the-mood-for-fantasy-football/id1580114372
- Free fantasy advice newsletter -- www.getrevue.co/profile/pfnfantasy