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 WEEKLY WAIVER WIRE

October 31ST, 2023

David’s Daily Digest

Tuesday Late-Evening Edition

The Weekly Waiver Wire

This week’s Waiver wire is filled with lots of considerations depending on your need and current circumstance. Some of these player solutions for Week 9 will vary depending on your league availability, but with the return of the byes the answer is on the Wire.

Week 9 Plug n Plays

The Cardinals tight end Trey McBride is only rostered in 7.9% of ESPN leagues. McBride is coming off a huge game in Week 8, seeing 14 targets (albeit much of his damage was done late in the 2nd half) resulting in 10 receptions for 95 yards with a score. With the veteran Zach Ertz on IR, the path to an expanded role for McBride has been paved. His large workload on Sunday was his third straight game with 5 or more targets. With a quarterback change in tow, proceed with caution.

Another Cardinal deserving of a roster spot is running back Emari Demercado, only rostered in 39.2% of ESPN leagues. It’s too early to consider him a long term solution, but he could be a quick bye week fix with flex value. Over his last two games he’s only averaging just over 10 fantasy points per game (ppr), but he has 17 and 21 touches respectively.

Week 9 Streamers

Quarterback Gardner Minshew (Colts) is only owned in 7.5% of ESPN leagues, but he’s been one of the better scoring fantasy QBs the past two weeks. Against the Browns and Saints, two of the tougher passing matchups in the NFL, Minshew has passed for 518 yards, tossed 4 touchdowns, and rushed for two more. Minshew is not going to set the fantasy world on fire, but he’s a decent fix if you’re in a bind.

Rostered in less than half of all ESPN leagues, tight end Jake Ferguson (Cowboys) is coming off a Week 8 performance where he finished as the fantasy TE10. Ferguson grabbed 4 passes for 47 yards and a score. It was a bounce back performance from a disastrous Week 6 performance with one catch and one target. Despite the lackluster games in week 5 & 6, Ferguson is still the fantasy TE14 this season. For lack of better options available, he should fit the bill.

Week 9 Stashes

The Saints rookie wide receiver Rashid Hasheed is still well behind in the receiving pecking order, but his propensity for the big play make him a viable stash candidate. Hasheed has scored 18 or more fantasy points in three games this season, including in Week 8. While he is seemingly a boom or bust play at the moment, he’s only rostered in 18.4% of ESPN Leagues and could pay huge dividends down the stretch.

Wide receiver Donovan People-Jones only owned in 1.9% of ESPN Leagues, was just traded to the Lions, a team in desperate need of a second receiver behind Amon-Ra St. Brown. DPJ should be stashed and a wait and see approach followed. 

The Seahawks rookie running back Zach Charbonnet is rostered in only 30.1% of ESPN Leagues. While Charbonnet is the primary backup to Kenneth Walker, he should be rostered at this time. Charbonnet has shown some flash and his time may be coming sooner rather than later. In Week 8 for the first time this season he out-snapped Walker, 34-24.

Week 9 Watchlist

Quarterback Will Levis (Titans) Barely owned in any leagues, he definitely worth keeping an eye on, but unless you have the available bench slot, too soon to add.

Just traded to the Bills running back Leonard Fournette, only rostered in 3.2% of ESPN Leagues should be on your watchlist, but too soon to add.

Wide receiver Quentin Johnson (Chargers) owned in only 31.3% of ESPN Leagues, turned in his best game of the season. He definitely should be on your radar and could even be a candidate worth stashing if you have available real estate on your bench.

The Rest of the Wire.

Only rostered in 16.8% of ESPN Leagues, quarterback Joshua Dobbs should be on fantasy radars, but not much more than that at this time.

Running back Justice Hill (Ravens) is rostered in 28.1% of ESPN Leagues, and offers flex value during the Byes.

Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir owned in .2%, coming off a big week, could be considered a potential streamer in larger leagues.

Wide receiver Jonathan Mingo (Panthers) is only owned in 7.9% of ESPN Leagues. Mingo should continue to see his target share grow going forward with the Panthers often playing from behind. He should be on fantasy radars.

Wide receiver Jayden Reed (Packers) is rostered in 17.1% of ESPN Leagues. He should be on your fantasy radar.

Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs is still owned in less than half of all ESPN Leagues. He should be rostered and considered a volatile streaming option through the remaining Byes.

Commanders wide receiver Jamison Crowder, owned in .7% of ESPN Leagues should be on fantasy radars for now.

Cardinals rookie wide receiver Michael Wilson (8.9% owned in ESPN Leagues) remains on fantasy radars for now.

Tight end Taysom Hill (Saints) owned in just 14.8% of ESPN Leagues, is doing more than enough over the past several weeks as the team’s utility option. He’s a risky streaming option with plenty of reward.

Commanders tight end Logan Thomas is rostered in just 38.7% of ESPN Leagues, and has been trending upward. He should be considered a viable streaming option through the Byes.

Chargers tight end Donald Parham Jr (owned in 1.7% of ESPN Leagues) should be considered a viable streaming option as long as Gerald Everett is OUT.

That's my take!

~David G. Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: THURSDAY NIGHT MATCHUP

October 19th, 2023

David’s Daily Digest

Thursday Afternoon Edition

Thursday Night Matchup

Tonight’s matchup between the Saints and Jaguars may lack the same fireworks appeal as the Sunday Night showdown between the Dolphins and Eagles, but it will have plenty of fantasy relevance. With stars like Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave, and Calvin Ridley headlining tonight’s showcase, there should be enough action to keep fantasy managers interested. 

Ones to Watch

The Jaguars starting running rack Travis Etienne Jr (fantasy RB3 the past three weeks) has been rolling of late, averaging 113 yards of offense and better than a touchdown over his last three games. The Saints rookie receiver Rashid Shaheed scored his second touchdown of the season this past Sunday and has been targeted 15 times in his last three games.

For the DFS play tonight, I have some favorites.

Alvin Kamara (Saint-RB) Kamara has been heavily targeted (25 targets) since week 4, when he returned from his three-game suspension. The Saints ball-carrier has yet to break out, but the heavy volume (25 touches per game this season) and fantasy production is there. It’s just a matter of time before Kamara has a blow up game. He’s my favorite in this one tonight.

Derek Carr (Saints-QB) The Jaguars have a pretty good defense, so it could be tough sledding for Carr and company tonight. The Saints signal caller is now a few weeks removed from his shoulder injury and each week he’s seeming to play a little better. Last week Carr passed for 353 yards passing 50 times. He may not quite get to 50 in this one, but he could have some great success with Kamara out of the backfield and his favorite target in the mid-range, Chris Olave.

Chris Olave (Saints-WR) The Saints top receiving option is coming off a 10-target, 7 reception showing in Week 6. After a fast start this season (32 targets in three games), Olave seemed to have cooled down when his quarterback went down. With Carr now appearing healthy again, fantasy managers can expect to see more of the early season Olave going forward. He’s in for a busy night.

Christian Kirk (Jaguars-WR) After a quiet opening Sunday recording just one catch for 9 yards receiving, Kirk has been the model of consistency for the Jaguars. In his last 5 games he’s had at least 6 targets and recorded at least 6 receptions or scored a touchdown. He’s averaging over 16 fantasy points per game during this stretch and is the fantasy WR15. He’s a safe play in this matchup tonight.

Evan Engram (Jaguars-TE) Just like Kirk, the Jaguars tight end Evan Engram has been Mr. Consistent. This season he’s scored in double digit fantasy points in 4 of 6 games, only once has he scored less than 9.9 fantasy points, and he’s been targeted at least 7 times in 5 of his 6 games. Engram is the fantasy TE6 this season and while on paper the matchup against the Saints defense (ranked 7th vs tight ends) looks tough, in week 6 the Texans were able to enjoy success going to the tight end position. I’d expect the usual numbers from Engram in this one.

That's my take!

~David G. Ortega