FSH NOTEBOOK: WEEK 6 FF LINEUP CHANGES

David's Daily Digest

October 12th 2024

Saturday Night Edition

Week 6 FF Lineup Moves

With less than 12 hours until NFL Sunday Week 6 kickoff (from London) it’s time to make some needed lineup changes and moves. I am playing in my normal (5) home leagues this season and like many owners in other leagues, I am dealing with injuries. 

Thanks to the great Adam Schefter, we already know that running back Rhamondre Stevenson will be sidelined this week. In one league I am moving Stevenson (currently in my flex spot) to my bench and inserting Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby or Colts wide receiver Josh Downs. 

Although starting running back Travis Etienne Jr. will be available against the Bears, Bigsby has been by far the better runner of the two the past couple of weeks. The expectation would be that Bigsby will see plenty of work tomorrow and should produce against a Bears defense that has been less than stellar against the run (ranked 22nd fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs) allowing nearly 5 yards per carry this season.

My other option Josh Downs has been a top 20 fantasy receiver the past two weeks with 17 receptions for 151 yards receiving and a score on 21 targets. Whether it’s Flacco or Richardson under center, Downs figures to see plenty of opportunity to continue his solid play, especially with Michael Pittman expected to see the brunt of attention from the Titans secondary.

That’s my take.

FSH NOTEBOOK: WEDNESDAY WATERCOOLER

David's Daily Digest

October 9th, 2024

Wednesday Evening Edition

Wednesday Watercooler

Looking ahead to Sunday Week 6 and beyond, the waiver wire still has plenty of options available for fantasy owners to make needed moves.

Jax-RB, Tank Bigsby (34.8% owned ESPN / 31.3% owned NFL) is going to be a huge add to rosters this week in many fantasy leagues. Add him now. Over the past two weeks he’s seen his workload increase and he’s delivering; 20 carries, 191 yards rushing, and two touchdowns. He was the fantasy RB1 last week, with a nice Week 6 matchup with the Bears 23rd run defense.

NYJ-TE, Tyler Conklin (39.7% owned ESPN / 15.9% owned NFL) has been consistent the past three weeks seeing no fewer than 6 targets per game (23 total), finishing with 15 catches for 165 yards receiving. At a position that in general has been a disappointment to start this season, he’s quietly been the fantasy TE10 over this stretch. He’s a high floor, low ceiling, safe play for those who need help at the position.

That's My Take

~David G. Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: SUNDAY MORNING GAMETIME

September 29th, 2024

David’s Daily Digest

Sunday Morning Edition

Sunday Morning Gametime

This is Sunday week 4 of the 2024 Fantasy Football season and we are passing the quarter mark of the regular fantasy season. With three weeks in the books, it is still tough to get a good read on what to expect and as per usual, injuries are playing havoc with the early part of this season.

Sunday thoughts:

• Even with Deebo Samuel returning today, it’s still safe to start (WR) Jauan Jennings today.
• With a trip to Sauce (Gardner) Island on the slate, avoid starting (WR) Courtland Sutton, if possible.
• Facing the 31st ranked fantasy defense against quarterbacks, today (QB) CJ Stroud gets right with a big game.
• Despite missing his top two targets, (QB) Jalen Hurts will thrive against the Bucs 27th ranked fantasy defense against quarterbacks.
• The Rams 30th ranked defense against opposing receivers has struggled to cover opposing receivers allowing the 6th most receiving yards, sounds like a big day for (WR) DJ Moore.

Sunday Fliers

If you are having any stretch of luck this season similar to mine, you too are swimming in the week 4 free agent pool looking for some help. For the deeper leagues looking for a dart throw this Sunday to fill a much needed void you might find some help with the following players.

WR-Parris Campbell & Jahan Dotson

The Eagles will be without both starters AJ Brown (hamstring) and DeVonta Smith (Concussion) Campbell and Dotson will be elevated into more prominent roles in the passing. The expectation is tight end Dallas Goedert and running back Saquon Barkley will be heavily involved in the passing game, but one of these dudes could step up today. If you are desperate, Dotson was on the field for 88% of snaps in week 3, while Campbell saw half. Dotson was traded to the team earlier this season, so he is still getting acclimated with the offense. I would lean on Dotson here and expect a decent showing against a decent Buccaneers defense.

That’s my take.
~David G Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: SUNDAY MORNING GAMETIME

September 22nd, 2024

David’s Daily Digest

Sunday Morning Edition

Sunday Morning Gametime

The 2024 Fantasy Football season is well underway with Week 3 having already started with the Thursday Night Matchup between the Patriots and the Jets. If you were anything like me the likes of running back Rhamondre Stevenson and tight end Hunter Henry might have you in a little hole.

Trailing in a few of my redraft leagues as a result of the Thursday night dud from the Patriots offense, I am looking for rebound action from the following players this week.

Running Back
I have Zach Charbonnet slotted in a couple of lineups, as he will be the de facto starter today with running back Kenneth Walker still sidelined. The Seahawks ball carrier has a tasty matchup today against a Dolphins defense that is allowing nearly 5 yards per tote. The Dolphins defense has also surrendered three rushing touchdowns in this short season, tied for second most. I am looking for a solid outing from Charbonnet.

Wide Receiver
A bit of a flier play this week, especially those of us needing help in the flex spot, with the Niners down not only wide receiver Deebo Samuel (ruled out earlier this week), they will also be without tight end George Kittle, potentially opening the door for wide receiver Jauan Jennings. Even with wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk lining up opposite, Jennings should see plenty of opportunities against a middling Rams secondary (allowing 11th most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers). Along with three touchdowns allowed to opposing wideouts (tied for 3rd most) the Rams are also allowing a league high 13.8 yards per reception. I like Jennings to post solid flex numbers today.

Players to watch:

WR - Rashid Shaheed (currently WR-10, fantasy pts) the kid has been explosive this season with touchdowns in each of his first two games this season. Not a big volume receiver, he has been highly efficient and locked in with his quarterback Derek Carr.

QB - Kyler Murray (QB4, fantasy points), Murray has been electric this season, throwing 4 touchdowns with zero picks and completing more than 70 passes per game. He’s also added 116 yards rushing, averaging more than 10 yards per run. It looks like Murray has found his mojo and is displaying MVP-style play in this early campaign.

That’s my take.
~David G Ortega

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