FSH NOTEBOOK: DAIVD'S DAILY DIGEST

Friday Edition

November 15th, 2013

David's Daily Digest

WEEK 11: Fantasy Favorites

This fantasy season has been a little topsy-turvy at times, but for the most part through 10 weeks it’s been pretty smooth sailing. My fantasy teams have been fortunate enough to avoid any major injuries and bad luck that can sometimes come along with playing fantasy football.

There is no real science to good fortune and luck in fantasy football other than paying attention, playing the odds, and catching a few breaks here, there, and in between. With that said, as I look at my matchups for week 11, I have a couple of favorites that I will be riding on Sunday (Week 11).

I play in seven head-to-head leagues this season and at the tight end position, I have both Jordan Reed and Antonio Gates in more than one. Reed has been a man that has been heating up of late scoring at least 9 fantasy points in three of his last four starts. Reed is the clear number one TE in Washington and has been targeted 37 times in his last four games; volume and production seem to be his trend and with a healthy matchup against the Eagles (49 receptions allowed are tied for the 7^th most) this week.

Like Reed, Gates has been seeing plenty of chances (52 targets in last six games), just hasn’t been seeing the numbers of late, but Sunday could be different. Gates, who has 52 receptions and 612 yards receiving this season, matches up with the Dolphins defense that allows the 8^th most fantasy points to opposing tight ends, including six touchdowns. Gates has been dry without a score his past five games, but that could all change on Sunday.

On the outside a pair of wideouts that I am liking very much this week are Redskins wide receiver Pierre Garcon and the Broncos Demaryius Thomas. For Garcon owners, week 11 is a sweet matchup against the Eagles defense that allows the most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers. Garcon has been on fire in recent weeks with 21 receptions for 337 yards in his past three games while averaging more than 10 targets per; the Eagles have allowed the most receptions (173) to wide receivers and the second most touchdowns (14). Garcon is set to have a big game this Sunday.

Thomas has emerged as the Broncos go-to and most consistent receiver. Thomas is averaging 10 targets per game in his last three games and over that span has collected 18 balls for 265 yards with 5 touchdowns. The Chiefs do a nice job of slowing down opposing wide receivers (13^th fewest fantasy points allowed), but the Broncos have so many weapons and quarterback Peyton Manning is very good at spreading the ball around. You can count on Thomas seeing his share of chances on Sunday and odds are he will produce.

This is my take for Week 11.

~David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

Sunday Edition

November 10th, 2013

 

David's Daily Digest

WEEK 10: My Sunday Line-up

We are 10 weeks in, the fantasy teams as a whole are doing well, but this is no time to slack or slip. I have survived the onslaught of the bye weeks and for the most part I have dodged too many serious injuries (knocking on wood now), so with that said I am looking at picking up the pace and nailing down a few wins on Sunday.

Leading my fantasy team charge in a couple of leagues (and lineups) is Eagles quarterback Nick Foles. Unlike some that may be jumping on the bandwagon (and I can hardly blame them to be honest), I am turning to Foles not just because of his 7 touchdown performance last week, but many of us thought he could play well in the Chip Kelly system; 400 plus yards passing, seven scores, if that’s his ceiling I’ll take it. Remember too, back in weeks 5 & 6 Foles passed for 493 yards and tossed 5 touchdowns without a pick. That’s enough for me to roll with him.

In the backfield the Saints running game has been less than spectacular of late, but that will hardly deter me from rolling with running back Darren Sproles today (in one of my PPR leagues). The shifty ball carrier returned to practice this week after suffering a concussion a week ago. He should be good to roll and you have to love his matchup against the Cowboys defense that allows the 9^th most fantasy points to opposing running backs. What I love about this matchup, Sproles is a PPR gem and the Cowboys have allowed the most receptions to opposing running backs, including three receiving scores (tied for second most).

Lining up in the slot I will be riding with my tight end Antonio Gates. The Chargers tight end is slotted into several of my lineups today and for good reason. Gates will face the Broncos defense that allows the 9^th most fantasy points to opposing tight ends, including the third most receptions. Gates is having a strong 2013 campaign with 48 receptions and 550 yards receiving. This is a great matchup for Gates coming off a sub-par performance a week ago. Despite the shortage of production last week, Gates was still targeted 10 times; a great sign he should see plenty of action today and yield plenty of points.

This is my take for Week 10.

~David Ortega