November 22nd, 2015
Sunday, Week 11
Sunday Picks: Who to watch, play, and avoid
If you play season long fantasy, it's time for the stretch run and time for your fantasy team to start hitting it's stride.
It has been a tumultuous season at best with so many significant injuries to many of the leagues best players. And like NFL football, fantasy football is a season-long battle of attrition and it's not how you start, but how you finish.
As we enter week 11, it's time to gear up for the post season and no time to be giving away any weeks; wins are now at a premium.
As always, looking up and down the slate, there are players to watch, plays to avoid, and must-starts.
Who-to-watch
RBs-Ronnie Hillman & CJ Anderson-DEN
With the Broncos going with quarterback Brock Osweiler today versus the Bears, it will be interesting to see how the running game gets going. Osweiler enables Kubiak to employ the type of offense he prefers to run which relies on the running game. Both Hillman and Anderson have shown they can have success carrying the ball . With the full compliment of the playbook, keep an eye on one of these two backs to finally get the Broncos running attack rolling.
Must-Start
TE-Eric Ebron, DET
The Raiders defense has been awful versus tightends this season, with only the Saints defense being worse. This season the Raiders have allowed a league leading 10 touchdowns to the tight end. Since week 7 Ebron is a top 15-tight end in receptions and yards; today versus the Raiders he's primed to move up the ladder. Start him.
WR-Michael Crabtree, OAK
With rookie wide receiver Amari Cooper drawing much praise and attention, quietly Crabtree has become a fantasy stud over the past several weeks. Last week was one of his more quiet Sundays, but since week 7 Crabtree has 24 receptions, 328 yards receiving, and 4 touchdowns, ranking in the top 10 among wide receivers. Start him.
Who-to-Avoid
QB-Jameis Winston, TB
The rookie quarterback has been pretty consistent this season for fantasy owners, but with a tough road matchup in week 11 versus the Eagles defense, this is no time to take any unnecessary risks. Winston is coming off a rough outing versus the Cowboys in week 10 and today he faces an Eagles defense that ranks 5th in the league with 12 picks and ranks 12th best (allowing points) versus quarterbacks. Winston is going to have great Sundays ahead of him, but today may not be one of them. Sit him.
That's my take.
~David G Ortega
November 8th, 2015
Sunday, Week 9
Sunday: Two-Minute Warning
I rarely get into the defensive side of fantasy, especially team defenses, but after last week's impressive display against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers I have to mention the Broncos defense.
Dominant last week, their play alone helped secure a needed win in one of my season long leagues. And the most impressive part was not the three sacks, 10 points allowed, and the safety, but rather the opponent they shut down. They have to be looked at as one of the top three and must plays in every format, every week.
This week should be no different facing a similar style quarterback that has athleticism and mobility and strong arm, but the Colts quarterback Andrew Luck has not been playing well. And while he has the ability to evade pressure in the pocket, he makes a lot of his plays from the pocket (which could play right into the Broncos wheelhouse).
Another defense worth riding today; facing a depleted and struggling Niners offense the Falcons defense is primed to put up solid numbers. The Niners offense is near the bottom and have allowed the 4th most sacks this season (28 sacks allowed); and at a great value in DFS, the Falcons defense should be in many of your lineups today.
Some other quick nuggets for Sunday;
I like Ben Roethlisberger to have a big passing day against the Raiders today; look for Martavis Bryant to see some downfield looks.
I like what we are seeing from Drew Brees and today could be another solid Sunday for wide receiver Brandin Cooks (12 receptions in his last two games).
A Sunday sleeper could be the Broncos running back CJ Anderson. Last week he ran very well and looked real comfortable in the backfield. He should also see some week in the pass game.
That's my take.
~David G
November 1st, 2015
Sunday, Week 8
Sunday Morning Love
[early morning edition]
With the kickoff for the early morning London contest between the Chiefs and Lions only 20 minutes away, a couple of quick shouts;
I am loving me some Calvin Johnson this morning against a very weak and susceptible Chiefs secondary. Megatron has yet to fulfill his early draft expectations, but today owners may just reap some of those rewards. Facing a secondary that allows the most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers and the most touchdowns (12 in 8 games), Johnson is in line for a big day.
On the other side, the Lions secondary also struggle having allowed the second most pass plays of 20 or more yards this seasons with 32. Expect quarterback Alex Smith to look for his go-to weapon in wide receiver Jeremy Maclin. Maclin is a solid start today in season long leagues and DFS. With 39 receptions for 561 yards this season, the Chiefs wideout is a reliable week 8 start. Get him in if you can.
That's my take for the early game.
~David G
October 24th, 2015
Sunday (Week 7)
Week 7: Sunday Favorites
I've been playing a lot of DFS lately and not because my season long teams are in the tank, to the contrary I play in four season long and like the looks of three (my fourth is a work in progress due to injuries).
I am following my standard plays in the season long leagues; play your studs and start your starters, but in DFS I am trying to swing for the fences.
Going through the schedule, here are a few of the picks I am liking this Sunday;
Over in London in the Bills-Jaguars matchup, I am on board with Julius Thomas coming off a strong week six performance. The Bills have allowed the 9th most fantasy points to opposing tight ends and are tied with allowing the 7th most receptions. Thomas was targeted 13 times last week, so he should see his fair-share of work this Sunday.
In the Vikings-Lions matchup, rookie wide receiver Stefon Diggs has been a reliable pass-catcher in the Vikings passing game in the teams last three games. Over that span Diggs has hauled in 13 passes on 19 targets for 216 yards. He's yet to have a big fantasy day, but facing the Lions secondary that has been riddled for the 4th most receiving yards and ranks 9th in fantasy points allowed to opposing wideouts, this week it could happen.
Lastly, in the Browns-Rams game on Sunday, you have to love this matchup for rookie running Todd Gurley. He's had back-to-back solid games toting the rock 49 times for 305 yards. Tomorrow he faces the Browns run defense that has allowed a league leading 887 yards rushing this season and surrenders over 5.1 yards per carry. Gurley has looked solid the last two weeks and has to be licking his chops for Sunday's home matchup. I will have him in my lineups up and down the boards.
These are just a few of my favorites for Sunday.
That's my take.
~David G
October 18th, 2015
Sunday (Week 6)
Week 6: My Sunday Picks
I had a good week last week in my season long PPR leagues, Texans running backs Arian Foster and Steelers Le'Veon Bell carried several of my teams with solid performances. My hat also goes off to Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford (starting to right the ship in Philly) and my waiver wire pick up last week, Browns tight end Gary Barnidge. Both played very well and assisted my teams with a couple of wins in week 5.
Now my DFS lineups were a different story last week. As I do every week, digging for gold and looking for those diamonds in the rough, several players in a quite a few of my lineups just didn't pan out. Such is the weekly conundrum.
This Fantasy week looks to be no easier than any other which is often the case, but just like last week (and any other for that matter) it has its' attractive offers for Sunday. So who am I looking at, who do I like today? Well I'll tell you.
My Sunday Picks:
For my season long lineups, I suffered the loss of Jamaal Charles last week (like many other owners), and with no luck this week on the waiver wire I am shooting for the fence with my back up Broncos running back Ronnie Hillman. It's a risk, yes, but if he can get double digit touches in this favorable matchup agains the Browns 32nd ranked run defense (allowing 147 yards rushing per game) and the most fantasy points to opposing running backs.
And while I am reading that Niners tight end Vernon Davis is ready for a big game today against the Ravens, I am going to roll with a more consistent play; Barnidge versus the Broncos today. It's not the best matchup for the Browns tight end, but he's quickly become a favorite target in the passing game with 20 receptions on 26 targets the last three weeks.
For the DFS plays, I have two picks I am coddling in several lineups; Vikings rookie wide receiver Stefon Diggs and Giants wideout Dwayne Harris.
I had a chance to watch the majority the Vikings week 4 game (on bye in week 5) versus the Broncos. Diggs was quite impressive matched up against one of the leagues very best secondary; he caught 6 of 10 passes for 87 yards. He looked very sharp, a smooth runner with soft hands. He's no Jerry Rice, but he did look like he has already developed a nice rapport with quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. What I liked most was his 10 targets; 4 or 5 passes and he's risky, but 10 targets and he is someone the quarterback trusts. His low value could make him an excellent play today.
Now Dwayne Harris is a bit more risky with a Monday night game. The reports indicate that wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr, even if he plays could be limited (possibly more of a decoy in the pass game). If thats the case, Harris' stock has to be on the rise. In his last two games he's been very involed in the pass game with 11 receptions, including a touchdown on 14 targets. No ODJ or a limited ODJ means more looks for Harris and possibly a very nice Monday night stat line; at his value on DFS he's another week 6 diamond in the rough. Just for note, no ODJ could also mean more involvement for running back Shane Vereen, who I also like as a flex in DFS.
These are some of my picks for Sunday.
Just my take.
~David G
