FSH NOTEBOOK: FANTASY FOOTBALL WINS

September 26th, 2023

David’s Daily Digest

Tuesday Afternoon Edition

Fantasy Football Wins!

(NFL Week 3)

This is always one of the fun parts following the weekend, when I can look back at my successes. There will always be those players locked-in your lineups, but I consider some of these players as those that may or may not be in lineups; and they should be and shouldn’t be.

Cousins is fantasy gold.

QB-Kirk Cousins (QB4) - Despite the team’s lack of success in the win column, as long as Cousins is the starter and he has Justin Jefferson available, he’s a must-start in fantasy. The guy has been pure fantasy gold, finishing in the top each of the first three weeks.

The Cowboys running back continues to play like a star.

RB-Tony Pollard (RB13) - The Cowboys running back has been a star thus far this season. On Sunday he turned in another solid performance rushing for 122 yards. For the season Pollard is the fantasy RB9.

As expected, another quiet day.

RB-AJ Dillon (RB52) - The Packers desperately need Aaron Jones back. In the two games without Jones, Dillon has been a dud. In the two games without Jones available, Dillon has finished outside the Top-50 fantasy running backs. He belongs on your bench for the time being.

The Jets passing game is non-existent.

WR-Allen Lazard (WR59) - The Jets wide receiver caught three balls for 39 yards on Sunday. As long as the offense struggles, Lazard is going to remain fantasy irrelevant. For the season he’s fantasy receiver No.73. He can be dropped.

The Chiefs receiver room is a mess.

WR-Kadarius Toney (WR100) - The Chiefs wideout has clearly been a disappointment thus far this season. It’s still early in the season and his quarterback is Patrick Mahomes, but sitting at fantasy WR102 with just 7 catches for 35 yards to this point, he can’t be trusted. It’s safe to drop him.

The Texans rookie continues to play well.

WR-Tank Dell (WR6) - The Texans rookie wide receiver was big on Sunday, recording 5 receptions for 145 yards, including a 68-yard touchdown reception. This was the second straight week Dell has finished as a Top-20 fantasy receiver. He's a must-start at this point.

Another quiet day for Titans tight end

TE-Chigozeim Okonkwo (TE25) - The Titans 2nd year tight end is off to a slow start this season. On Sunday was more of the same, catching three passes for 7 yards. For the season, with just 10 targets in three games Okonkwo sits at fantasy TE44. He shouldn’t be owned and not worth streaming.

That's my take!

~David G. Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: (DFS) THE FAVORITE FIVE

September 23rd, 2023

David’s Daily Digest

Saturday Late-Evening Edition

(DFS) The Favorite Five

(Draft Kings)

My week two was a rough week for DFS picks. The Lions connection (Goff-to-St.Brown) fared well, but Travis Etienne Jr, Darnell Mooney (injured), and Adam Trautman all fell flat in week 2. The Chiefs decided to play good defense on the road and shut down Etienne, Mooney ended up pulling a now show, and Trautman became the forgotten man in Denver. 

Even when you’re down, you gotta look up and move on.

Now looking forward to NFL Sunday, Week 3 I am planning my redemption and huge bounce back with some strong plays. These are players that deserve Week 3 consideration.

QB-Trevor Lawrence ($6800) - I love this game as a great bounce back opportunity for Lawrence and company. Lawrence, currently the fantasy QB22, is home again this week and faces a Texans defense that is allowing a high 76.3 completion rate through the first two weeks. Lawrence and the offense were off last week against the Chiefs defense, but will look to get right in this one by taking advantage of the Texans deficiency in the Red Zone, 7 touchdowns allowed in 9 trips.

RB-Tony Pollard ($8000) - The Cowboys running back is currently the fantasy RB4 with 191 scrimmage yards and two rushing touchdowns. Through the team’s first two games Pollard has been heavily involved with 50 touches (25 avg/game), so I expect to see this continue on Sunday. The Cardinals defense has been stingy thus far in two games this season, but they have also allowed three total touchdowns (1 rush, 2 rec) to opposing running backs. I am betting on Pollard’s volume.

WR-Calvin Ridley ($7200) - I like this stack, Ridley paired with Lawrence on Sunday. Last week the two weren’t in sync, only connected twice for 32 yards on 8 targets. I am betting these two will get this corrected on Sunday and capitalize against the Texans secondary that allows the third highest rate of completion to wide receivers.

WR-Nico Collins ($5300) - Clearly Collins is greatly underpriced, which is our win. Through two weeks of action he ranks as fantasy WR7. Averaging 10 targets per game thus far this season, the volume is there for Collins to produce. I love the matchup in a contest where the Texans could be playing from behind and have to air it out more.

TE-Hayden Hurst ($3800) - The return of the “Red Rifle” (Andy Dalton) this week has me thinking check down and safely value. Enter Hayden Hurst, currently fantasy TE7. He’s more than a capable receiver, as evidenced in his week one outing where he was targeted 7 times, caught five balls for 41 yards and one touchdown. With Dalton under center, I see the tight end getting more usage on Sunday.

These are my favorite plays for Week 3.

That's my take!

~David G. Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: THE WEDNESDAY WATERCOOLER

September 20th, 2023

David’s Daily Digest

Wednesday Evening Edition

The Wednesday Watercooler

Targets Equal Opportunities

Nothing has changed here. In fantasy football luck will always play its part, but success is all about chances and opportunities. You can’t win if you don’t have the ball and your dudes can’t score fantasy points if they don’t have a chance.

Here are the weekly leaders for Receiving Targets;

Week 2

Top 5 WR

1. Puka Nacua (20)

2. Christian Kirk (14)

3. CeeDee Lamb (13)

4. Justin Jefferson (13)

5. Mike Williams (13)

With his 13 targets, Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb was highly efficient hauling 11 passes for 143 yards receiving, finishing as the fantasy WR7 for the week. His week 2 performance elevated Lamb to the fantasy WR12 for the season.

Top 5 TE

1. Travis Kelce (9)

2. TJ Hockenson (8)

3. Mark Andrews (8)

4. Darren Waller (8)

5. Evan Engram (8)

6. Zach Ertz (8)

Once again, the Vikings tight end TJ Hockenson was among the target leaders at the position. With an ample volume of chances over the first two weeks, Hockenson has cashed-in for fantasy owners and sits atop the fantasy tight end perch in the number one slot. 

Top 5 RB

1. Kyren Williams (10)

2. Jahmyr Gibbs (9)

3. Tony Pollard (8)

4. Saquon Barkley (7)

5. Three tied at (6)

The Rams running back Kyren Williams for the moment appears to be the featured three-down back contributing both in the run and the pass. In the first two weeks of the season, Williams is tied for the most targets for the running back spot. His 29 carries also rank tied for 13th among all running backs this season.

Touches Are Fantasy Gold

Just like a receiver needs to be targeted, a running back’s success leans heavily on how many times they touch (carries + catches) the rock.

Here are the weekly Touch Leaders;

Week 2

Top 5 RB

1. Tony Pollard (32)

2. D’Andre Swift (31)

3. Derrick Henry (28)

4. Four at tied at (23)

The Cowboys running back Tony Pollard led the way in week two with 32 touches and through the first weeks of the 2023 season his total of 48 touches has him sitting at fantasy RB4, total fantasy points (ppr).

That's my take!

~David G. Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

September 2nd, 2023

Saturday Late-Evening Edition

2023 Fantasy Draft Day: On the Clock

(12-Team, PPR format, Fantasy Calculator ADP)

RB-Tony Pollard, Current ADP 2.03 - the Cowboys running back enjoyed his best season as a professional in 2022 totaling 1,378 yards of offense (1,007 yards, 371 yards receiving), adding 9 rushing touchdowns and 3 receiving. Pollard finished the 2022 season as the No.9 fantasy running back. Right now he’s going as an early 2nd round pick in fantasy drafts.

WR-Garrett Wilson, Current ADP 2.04 - the Jets receiver finished his 2022 campaign earning the AP Rookie of the Year award. In his first season Wilson grabbed 83 balls for 1,103 yards receiving with 4 touchdowns. He finished 2022 as the No.28 fantasy receiver, but with a Hall of Fame quarterback under center in New York, Wilson appears to be on a trajectory to make a huge jump. He’s also an early 2nd round pick in fantasy drafts right now.

That's my take!

~David G. Ortega