Some of you are deservedly disappointed with how things worked out yesterday. Some of you are thrilled. And some of you have a lot riding on tonight's game. So here's a preview of what I expect fantasy-wise between the Saints and Dolphins, followed by a quick recap of major fantasy implications of Sunday's games.
For New Orleans, all eyes are on Ian Book. He was a capable rusher at Notre Dame, collecting more than 1,500 yards on the ground while throwing for nearly 9,000. Experts are pointing to a bad preseason debut he had against the Ravens. Who cares? Taysom Hill played just as poorly that game. Book could dump it off 10 times to Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram, and he'll probably end up a QB2 for the week. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think they'll have a conservative, run-heavy game plan to minimize turnovers and maximize their strengths.
For Miami, the running game could be stymied by the Saints' stout run defense. So I'm not betting on Myles Gaskin or Duke Johnson to exceed nine fantasy points. Instead, Jaylen Waddle should get his points, and I like DeVante Parker and Mike Gesicki as deeper streamers. Gesicki hasn't scored since Week 7, and that's been the difference between him being a consistent TE1 and a "TE2 with some upside."
While writing this, I realized I already shared a brief summary of what might happen in yesterday's post. And funny enough, my opinions haven't changed. We'll see if they're accurate.
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Now for a quick rundown of the biggest fantasy implications of yesterday's games:
Falcons vs. Lions -- I predicted a bounce-back game for Cordarrelle Patterson, and Kyle Pitts re-emerging as a TE1. 1-for-2. Patterson's lack of usage in the passing game remains shocking. But it was clear Atlanta wanted to get Pitts the ball, as it should be. For Detroit, Tim Boyle was surprisingly acceptable, in that he was able to keep Amon-Ra St. Brown fed. I urged some of you to fade St. Brown, so that did not work out. I also cautioned against trusting anyone in the Lions' backfield, and that worked out. Jamaal Williams claimed the lead role, and if D'Andre Swift misses Week 17, Williams should once again be the 1A.
Bengals vs. Ravens -- One of my two recommended Sunday DFS lineups (which post on PFN) featured Joe Burrow and Tee Higgins. What might have been if I hadn't locked onto James Robinson. The point is, this was an easy call. Cincy was facing one of the worst pass defenses (largely due to injuries) in the league. I actually thought Joe Mixon would be held in check, so missed that in a big way. But betting against the Ravens' pass D is a good bet. As for Baltimore, Mark Andrews now has four games with 10+ receptions, 100+ yards, and 1+ TDs. Amazingly, he's done it with three different quarterbacks. He is almost singlehandedly responsible for my fantasy success this season, and he might dethrone Travis Kelce as the #1 TE taken in drafts next summer.
Vikings vs. Rams -- Adam Thielen re-aggravated his high ankle sprain, left, and then returned to the game. But managers should pay close attention to his Week 17 status, especially if K.J. Osborn is somehow available on waivers. And Darrell Henderson suffered what might or might not be a minor knee injury. Sony Michel earned 27 carries. It's been an incredible backfield shift based on where things stood between these two only a few weeks ago.
Patriots vs. Bills -- I never gave Buffalo a chance. Wow. This was a statement win for a team desperate for a win. Damien Harris also proved me wrong with a dominating performance against a tough Bills' D. Meanwhile, Devin Singletary continues to earn the fantasy love that he deserves as the Bills' most talented RB. It took them only about 15 weeks to figure it out. And Isaiah McKenzie will be a big waiver name this week. The former fifth-rounder is a longshot to be productive next week, but then again, who knows with this team. Aside from Singletary and occasionally Cole Beasley, I've misjudged every Bill this season.
Jets vs. Jaguars -- Was I the only one yelling at my screen for the Jets to go for it on 4th-and-goal from the 1-yard-line with two minutes left, instead of kicking that field goal? I mean, c'mon. But it was nice to see Michael Carter getting back on track as (clearly) the team's best RB. And James Robinson's Achilles' tear is simply brutal. No words. He's a gifted back on a team that desperately needs him healthy in 2022. Elsewhere, Trevor Lawrence has only one TD in his last eight games. Truly insane.
Eagles vs. Giants -- Miles Sanders reportedly fractured his hand. He was finally coming into his own as a conceivably consistent top-20 RB. Interestingly, Boston Scott is the next man up alongside Jordan Howard. Both will be in the streaming conversation in Week 17. Oh, and I've kept saying, "DeVonta Smith will rebound" pretty much every Sunday morning. So yeah, finally got that right. But more seriously, we can't underestimate what he can do. Next year he could be a WR2, if Philly simply figures out how to get him the ball. And yesterday morning I shared that "I'd be shocked if any Giants receiver exceeded 11 points." Evan Engram had 11.7. No one else had more than 6.8. This team will remain a wreck until they get a quarterback.
Panthers vs. Buccaneers -- Speaking of wrecks, Carolina needs a quarterback, a healthy starting running back, and at least one more reliable receiver. Shi Smith was the most interesting story for them Sunday. Most of his 86 yards came on a wide-open catch, when literally no one was anywhere close to him. So don't overreact to his production. And I was shocked that Gronk didn't do much, as I thought he and Antonio Brown would dominate targets. I also warned about the overrated Ronald Jones, whose third-quarter TD certainly shut me up. But my point was that Ke'Shawn Vaughn easily could cut into his ceiling, or even take over. Vaughn is arguably better. We'll see how things play out next week.
Texans vs. Chargers -- An incredible upset. Kudos to those who invested in Justin Jackson. Joshua Palmer is a legitimate fantasy asset for 2022. For Houston, it's time to take Davis Mills seriously. He's been solid in four of his last five games, and yesterday he did it throwing to Nico Collins and a bunch of former #3 and #4 receivers from other teams. Truly remarkable.
Seahawks vs. Bears -- Another surprising upset. I thought Seattle's passing game would click better, and I also didn't believe in Rashaad Penny. Boo on me. For Chicago, David Montgomery got it done. When he's used in the passing game, there are few higher-upside RBs out there.
Chiefs vs. Steelers -- This one played out largely a expected, though CEH suffered a collarbone injury, meaning Darrel Williams and Derrick Gore will be must-roster RBs heading into next weeknd. And while Najee Harris's productive evening surprised me, the rest of the Steelers played as anticipated, headlined by a completely overmatched Ben Roethlisberger.
Broncos vs. Raiders -- I thought the key to a Denver victory would be Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon running the ball consistently. Instead, they were completely bottled up on only 14 carries. This team isn't built to win if their running game isn't clicking. A fantasy disaster for many of you, I imagine. And Zay Jones now has two good games in a row. Maybe it's time to view him as a top-2 wideout for the Raiders.
Cowboys vs. Washington -- Finally, yesterday morning I pushed Amari Cooper on this page, because I pay more attention to what players say publicly than what coaches say publicly. Coaches keep things close to the vest. Players make their feelings known. Amari was publicly pissed about not getting more looks. I preducted a minimum 10-140-1 receiving line. Instead he got 7-85-1 in two-and-a-half quarters before sitting for the rest of the game. Not much more needs to be said. And Washington remains a minor disaster. Antonio Gibson is the only player we can sort of trust. Terry McLaurin is still unstartable. They also need a quarterback.
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- 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
For New Orleans, all eyes are on Ian Book. He was a capable rusher at Notre Dame, collecting more than 1,500 yards on the ground while throwing for nearly 9,000. Experts are pointing to a bad preseason debut he had against the Ravens. Who cares? Taysom Hill played just as poorly that game. Book could dump it off 10 times to Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram, and he'll probably end up a QB2 for the week. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think they'll have a conservative, run-heavy game plan to minimize turnovers and maximize their strengths.
For Miami, the running game could be stymied by the Saints' stout run defense. So I'm not betting on Myles Gaskin or Duke Johnson to exceed nine fantasy points. Instead, Jaylen Waddle should get his points, and I like DeVante Parker and Mike Gesicki as deeper streamers. Gesicki hasn't scored since Week 7, and that's been the difference between him being a consistent TE1 and a "TE2 with some upside."
While writing this, I realized I already shared a brief summary of what might happen in yesterday's post. And funny enough, my opinions haven't changed. We'll see if they're accurate.
---
Now for a quick rundown of the biggest fantasy implications of yesterday's games:
Falcons vs. Lions -- I predicted a bounce-back game for Cordarrelle Patterson, and Kyle Pitts re-emerging as a TE1. 1-for-2. Patterson's lack of usage in the passing game remains shocking. But it was clear Atlanta wanted to get Pitts the ball, as it should be. For Detroit, Tim Boyle was surprisingly acceptable, in that he was able to keep Amon-Ra St. Brown fed. I urged some of you to fade St. Brown, so that did not work out. I also cautioned against trusting anyone in the Lions' backfield, and that worked out. Jamaal Williams claimed the lead role, and if D'Andre Swift misses Week 17, Williams should once again be the 1A.
Bengals vs. Ravens -- One of my two recommended Sunday DFS lineups (which post on PFN) featured Joe Burrow and Tee Higgins. What might have been if I hadn't locked onto James Robinson. The point is, this was an easy call. Cincy was facing one of the worst pass defenses (largely due to injuries) in the league. I actually thought Joe Mixon would be held in check, so missed that in a big way. But betting against the Ravens' pass D is a good bet. As for Baltimore, Mark Andrews now has four games with 10+ receptions, 100+ yards, and 1+ TDs. Amazingly, he's done it with three different quarterbacks. He is almost singlehandedly responsible for my fantasy success this season, and he might dethrone Travis Kelce as the #1 TE taken in drafts next summer.
Vikings vs. Rams -- Adam Thielen re-aggravated his high ankle sprain, left, and then returned to the game. But managers should pay close attention to his Week 17 status, especially if K.J. Osborn is somehow available on waivers. And Darrell Henderson suffered what might or might not be a minor knee injury. Sony Michel earned 27 carries. It's been an incredible backfield shift based on where things stood between these two only a few weeks ago.
Patriots vs. Bills -- I never gave Buffalo a chance. Wow. This was a statement win for a team desperate for a win. Damien Harris also proved me wrong with a dominating performance against a tough Bills' D. Meanwhile, Devin Singletary continues to earn the fantasy love that he deserves as the Bills' most talented RB. It took them only about 15 weeks to figure it out. And Isaiah McKenzie will be a big waiver name this week. The former fifth-rounder is a longshot to be productive next week, but then again, who knows with this team. Aside from Singletary and occasionally Cole Beasley, I've misjudged every Bill this season.
Jets vs. Jaguars -- Was I the only one yelling at my screen for the Jets to go for it on 4th-and-goal from the 1-yard-line with two minutes left, instead of kicking that field goal? I mean, c'mon. But it was nice to see Michael Carter getting back on track as (clearly) the team's best RB. And James Robinson's Achilles' tear is simply brutal. No words. He's a gifted back on a team that desperately needs him healthy in 2022. Elsewhere, Trevor Lawrence has only one TD in his last eight games. Truly insane.
Eagles vs. Giants -- Miles Sanders reportedly fractured his hand. He was finally coming into his own as a conceivably consistent top-20 RB. Interestingly, Boston Scott is the next man up alongside Jordan Howard. Both will be in the streaming conversation in Week 17. Oh, and I've kept saying, "DeVonta Smith will rebound" pretty much every Sunday morning. So yeah, finally got that right. But more seriously, we can't underestimate what he can do. Next year he could be a WR2, if Philly simply figures out how to get him the ball. And yesterday morning I shared that "I'd be shocked if any Giants receiver exceeded 11 points." Evan Engram had 11.7. No one else had more than 6.8. This team will remain a wreck until they get a quarterback.
Panthers vs. Buccaneers -- Speaking of wrecks, Carolina needs a quarterback, a healthy starting running back, and at least one more reliable receiver. Shi Smith was the most interesting story for them Sunday. Most of his 86 yards came on a wide-open catch, when literally no one was anywhere close to him. So don't overreact to his production. And I was shocked that Gronk didn't do much, as I thought he and Antonio Brown would dominate targets. I also warned about the overrated Ronald Jones, whose third-quarter TD certainly shut me up. But my point was that Ke'Shawn Vaughn easily could cut into his ceiling, or even take over. Vaughn is arguably better. We'll see how things play out next week.
Texans vs. Chargers -- An incredible upset. Kudos to those who invested in Justin Jackson. Joshua Palmer is a legitimate fantasy asset for 2022. For Houston, it's time to take Davis Mills seriously. He's been solid in four of his last five games, and yesterday he did it throwing to Nico Collins and a bunch of former #3 and #4 receivers from other teams. Truly remarkable.
Seahawks vs. Bears -- Another surprising upset. I thought Seattle's passing game would click better, and I also didn't believe in Rashaad Penny. Boo on me. For Chicago, David Montgomery got it done. When he's used in the passing game, there are few higher-upside RBs out there.
Chiefs vs. Steelers -- This one played out largely a expected, though CEH suffered a collarbone injury, meaning Darrel Williams and Derrick Gore will be must-roster RBs heading into next weeknd. And while Najee Harris's productive evening surprised me, the rest of the Steelers played as anticipated, headlined by a completely overmatched Ben Roethlisberger.
Broncos vs. Raiders -- I thought the key to a Denver victory would be Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon running the ball consistently. Instead, they were completely bottled up on only 14 carries. This team isn't built to win if their running game isn't clicking. A fantasy disaster for many of you, I imagine. And Zay Jones now has two good games in a row. Maybe it's time to view him as a top-2 wideout for the Raiders.
Cowboys vs. Washington -- Finally, yesterday morning I pushed Amari Cooper on this page, because I pay more attention to what players say publicly than what coaches say publicly. Coaches keep things close to the vest. Players make their feelings known. Amari was publicly pissed about not getting more looks. I preducted a minimum 10-140-1 receiving line. Instead he got 7-85-1 in two-and-a-half quarters before sitting for the rest of the game. Not much more needs to be said. And Washington remains a minor disaster. Antonio Gibson is the only player we can sort of trust. Terry McLaurin is still unstartable. They also need a quarterback.
---
- 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