Saturday, December 9, 2023

FSH NOTEBOOK: THE SATURDAY WATERCOOLER

December 9th, 2023
David’s Daily Digest
Saturday Evening Edition




The Wednesday  Saturday Watercooler


Week 14 Free Agency

With less than 15 hours until NFL Sunday week 14 kickoff, there’s still plenty of time to make some moves to improve your lineup and secure that playoff spot. These are some of my Week 14 favorites widely available in many leagues.

RB, Keaton Mitchell (Ravens) The rookie runner emerged in weeks 9 and 10 as a flex play with consecutive weeks scoring a touchdown. He’s been quiet since, but following a Week 12  performance where he out-snapped starter Gus Edwards 33 to 19 and out gained him 89 yards to 37, he is trending in the right direction. For those desperate for help in the backfield Mitchell is only owned in 34.3% of ESPN fantasy leagues and 26.1% in NFL.

WR, Romeo Doubs (Packers) The Packers wideout is only owned in 39.2% of NFL fantasy leagues and 41.0% of ESPN leagues. Over his past four games played Doubs has been scoring in the mid WR-3 range, with 15 receptions on 20 targets for 193 yards receiving and two scores. With Christian Watson ruled out and a great Monday night matchup against the Giants (5th worst against WR), he should be added.

WR, Noah Brown (Texans) Before his return to action last week, in his last two games Brown had collected 13 catches for 325 yards receiving and a score. He returned last week, but was very quiet. With the loss of rookie receiver Tank Dell, Brown will have an opportunity to make an impact. Brown is only owned in 26.4% of NFL fantasy leagues and 42.7 of ESPN, and although it will be a tough matchup in Week 14 against the Jets, he’ll still offer flex appeal.

WR, Zay Jones (Jaguars) If he’s healthy, with the absence of wide receiver Christian Kirk, the stage is set for a big opportunity for Zay Jones to fill in and play big. Jones is only owned in 9.3% of NFL fantasy leagues and 25.8 of ESPN, without an injury designation this Sunday, he’s a low end flex with a tough matchup against the Browns.

TE, Isaiah Likely (Ravens) The Ravens young tight end has yet to turn any heads, but at the one position that is very shallow in fantasy, Likely has value. Only owned in 39.8% of ESPN fantasy leagues and 15.3 in NFL, Likely is coming off  a 4-catch, 40 yards receiving (on 6 targets) performance in Week 12 (fantasy TE18) and facing the 8th worst defense versus fantasy tight ends. A part of a heavy run offense may limit opportunities, but he still has a chance to be a fringe TE1 for Week 14.

That's my take!
~David G. Ortega


Saturday, December 2, 2023

FSH NOTEBOOK: DFS SATURDAY NIGHT

December 2nd, 2023
David’s Daily Digest
Saturday Late-Evening Edition



DFS Saturday night


These are the names I like on Sunday, NFL Week 13. I’ll have each of these players sprinkled in and throughout my fantasy lineups, as well as stacked in several.



RB, Zack Moss (Colts) We’ve seen Moss do it before as the lead back and with Jonathan Taylor already ruled out, he’ll serve in that role once again. The Titan’s run defense has been a bit leaky as of late and with Moss handling the lion share of the duties on Sunday (averaged over 23 touches per game pre-Taylor), he’ll provide a safe floor.

RB, Najee Harris (Steelers) This week at home against the Cardinals 30the ranked run defense, this feels like a Najee Harris game. He’s coming off his best rushing game of the season with 99 yards on the ground and a score and he led the team with 15 carries. 

WR, Tyreek Hill (Dolphins) Through 11 games Hill has been unstoppable. In his last 7 games he’s had no fewer than 9 targets, caught fewer than 8 balls once, topped 100-yards receiving in five of the seven, and has scored in six of the seven. The Commanders have been amongst the worst pass defenses the past four weeks, and with a matchup against Hill it won’t get any better.

WR, Michael Pittman Jr (Colts) The Colts wide receiver has seen 8 or more targets in each of his last four games, including 12 or more in three of those. He has only eclipsed 100 yards in one of those contests, but with his high volume he has a safe floor with upside.

TE, Sam LaPorta (Lions) The Lions rookie tight end has a nice matchup on Sunday and he’s coming off a nice showing of 5 catches, 47 yards receiving and a score last week. LaPorta has seen at least 5 targets in his last six straight games and has posted double-digit fantast points (ppr) in 3 of his last 5.

That's my take!
~David G. Ortega


Wednesday, November 29, 2023

FSH NOTEBOOK: THE WEDNESDAY WATERCOOLER

November 29th, 2023
David’s Daily Digest
Wednesday Evening Edition




The Wednesday Watercooler

Fantasy Football Free Agency

Looking for Week 13 help while chasing a playoff spot, with just a few weeks left to make your move, free agency still has some gems with fantasy appeal.



WR, Jayden Reed (Packers) Only rostered in 49.4% of NFL fantasy leagues and 39.5% of ESPN fantasy leagues, Reed has produced as a solid fantasy WR2 over the last three weeks. During this stretch he has totaled 13 receptions (on 19 targets) for 164 yards receiving, and two touchdown receptions, adding another 62 yards rushing and another score. With a Week 13 matchup against the Chiefs, Reed has flex appeal.

RB, Samaje Perine (Broncos) Only rostered in 31.5% of NFL fantasy leagues and 31.2 of ESPN fantasy leagues, has recently seen enough run to bring him into the flex conversation. Over his last two games Perine has averaged 66.5 yards of offense with 8 receptions and a rushing score. With a Week 13 matchup against the Texans, in what could be a high scoring affair, Perine could once again be a flex option.

WR, Noah Brown (Texans) Perhaps the forgotten man since being sidelined with injury after week 10, Brown still remains available in many leagues, rostered in 35.1% of ESPN fantasy leagues and 15.5% of NFL fantasy leagues. In his last two games Brown totaled 13 receptions for 325 yards receiving with a touchdown. If he plays he’ll have a tough matchup in Week 13 versus a surging Broncos defense, but with receivers Tank Dell and Nico Collins also available, he could see favorable matchups and figure in as a flex play.

That's my take!
~David G. Ortega

Friday, November 24, 2023

FSH NOTEBOOK: FRIDAY'S FANTASY FIX

November 24th, 2023
David’s Daily Digest
Friday Evening Edition




Friday’s Fantasy Fixx


Over his last three games the Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen (fantasy WR2) is averaging 13 targets per game. During this span Allen has recorded 29 receptions for 368 yards receiving and three touchdowns. He’s pretty much matchup proof and a must-start WR-1.

During Weeks 9 thru 11, the Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (fantasy WR14) has registered 20 receptions (on 35 targets) for 319 yards receiving and 4 touchdowns. Dell has been special the past three weeks and should be locked in as a safe WR2.

The Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton (fantasy WR23) has scored a touchdown reception in five straight games. During this stretch he’s collected 24 receptions (on 31 targets) for 270 yards receiving and five of his season total 8 touchdowns. Sutton has been producing on the level of a fantasy WR-2 and should be considered such going forward.

Over his last three games, the Bills rookie tight end Dalton Kincaid (fantasy TE8) has caught 16 passes for 233 yards receiving and a score. The Bills rookie has been solid this season and become a reliable TE-1 going forward.

 The Vikings tight end TJ Hockenson (fantasy TE2) has caught 22 passes (on 34 targets) for 258 yards receiving and a touchdown over his last three games. The Vikings tight end is locked in as a TE-1.

With his touchdown grab on Thanksgiving Day, the Lions rookie tight end Sam LaPorta (fantasy TE4) raised his season total to 5. LaPorta has blossomed into a solid TE-1 and a must-start every week.

That's my take!
~David G. Ortega


Wednesday, November 22, 2023

FSH NOTEBOOK: THE WEDNESDAY WATERCOOLER

November 22nd, 2023
David’s Daily Digest
Wednesday Evening Edition




The Wednesday Watercooler

Fantasy notes for Week 12.

Over his last three games, the Texans rookie quarterback CJ Stroud is completing 69.2% of his passes, while averaging 387.3 yards passing per game this season. Stroud is a low-end QB-1 against the Jaguars in Week 12.

Over his last three starts the 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is completing 77.8% of his passes, while averaging 331.3 yards passing per game this season. On the road this Thursday, Purdy is a QB-1 in Week 12 versus the Seahawks.

In his last four starts the Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has been on a tear tossing 13 touchdowns and adding one rushing score, while averaging 317.8 yards passing per game. With a Week 12 Thanksgiving day matchup against the Commanders, Prescott will be a top-end QB-1.

The Texans running back Devin Singletary has averaged 26 carries over his last two games, while averaging 131 yards rushing and 5.0 yards per carry. With the potential return of running back Dameon Pierce, Singletary should be considered a back-end RB2/flex option this week.

The Bills running back James Cook ranks 5th among running backs with 269 yards rushing over the last 4 weeks and he's averaging 5.5 yards per carry during this stretch. With a Week 12 showdown matchup on Sunday against the Eagles, Cook figures in as a low RB2. 

Since week 8, the Ravens running Gus Edwards leads the NFL with 8 rushing touchdowns while rushing for 218 yards. Edwards will slot in this week as a strong RB2 play against the Chargers on Sunday night.

Since Week 8, the Buccaneers running back Rachaad White (fantasy RB11) has been targeted 21 times and leads all running backs with 19 receptions. Effective in the pass game, White should be considered a strong RB2 this week against the Colts.

Since Week 7, the Lions rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs (fantasy RB6) has been targeted 26 times, registering 23 receptions and 189 yards receiving (ranks 4th among RBs during this stretch). Gibbs is locked in as a borderline RB1/RB2.

In Week 11, the Giants running back Saquon Barkley (fantasy RB9) turned 5 targets into 4 receptions, 57 yards receiving, with two touchdown catches. Barkley has 27 receptions for 162 yards receiving and 4 touchdowns this season. With a Week 12 tilt on Sunday against the Patriots, Barkley is locked in as an RB1.

That's my take!
~David G. Ortega