A Giants defense minus Janoris Jenkins
makes Dez Bryant and intriguing option in Week 14.
Grab a Helmet
Dez
Bryant vs NYG: Bryant has been a low end WR2 at best
this year, whose ceiling has been tremendously touchdown dependent.
He’s yet to have a 100-yard game this season, and the big plays
seem to have dried up. In his last three games against the Giants,
Bryant has 4 scoreless receptions for 61 yards. But those last few
games against their division rivals came with Janoris Jenkins in
the line-up, a guy who has owned Bryant. With Jenkins done for the
year with an ankle injury, and a defense falling apart at the seams,
Bryant can and should have one of his best days of the season on
Sunday.
Delanie
Walker @ ARI: With the Titans unwilling or unable to
test defenses deep, Delanie Walker continues to be the one and only
consistent pass catching option in Nashville. Despite a nagging
ankle injury, Walker has scored in two straight games, and has at
least 60 yards in 9 of 12 games. If Rishard Matthews returns this
week it’s a good bet he’ll draw the coverage of Patrick Peterson.
Corey Davis is still learning, and Eric Decker is a shell of his
former self, so look for Walker to be targeted a ton.
Brandin
Cooks @ MIA: Once or twice a year the Patriots passing
game goes out of whack and looks like they can’t get out of their
own way. One of those games came last week in a weird one against
the Bills. Another division rival is on tap this week, but I don’t
expect Brady and the passing game to have a problem in this one.
Miami has been one of the worst teams in the league against No.1
receivers, and with Gronk suspended, Cooks can dominate the short
and midrange parts of the field. He should gobble up targets and
hit a few big ones. Stacking Cooks and Brady could score enough
by themselves this week to advance your team into the next round
of the playoffs.
Grab Some Pine
Ted
Ginn Jr. @ ATL (THU): Ginn has had a surprisingly good
fantasy season as the Saints No.2 receiver. He’s been more than
just a boom/bust big play threat, as his 6 and 7 reception games
this season are some of the most looks he’s gotten in years. But
as we enter the fantasy playoffs I like to look for high floor
options at receiver, and I don’t get a good feeling this week.
He’s hauled in 15 passes in the last three weeks, but this offense
is clearly being funneled through the running backs, and when
New Orleans stays in positive and neutral game scripts, Ginn’s
best asset, his big play ability, doesn’t get utilized often.
Atlanta had his number last year, holding him to 5 receptions
for 43 yards. If you are an underdog you can roll with Ginn as
your WR3 and hope he hits on a long one, but I’d shy away in most
situations. Paul
Richardson @ JAX: Outside of Doug Baldwin the Seattle
receivers have been a shot in the dark all year. Even in positive
match-ups I’m loathe to trust anyone other than Dougie Fresh.
Jacksonville’s defense is no joke, and they sport one of the best
corner duos in the league. Richardson is more big play, than chain
mover, and for Seattle to win this game, it’s going to come from
methodical, precision drives. The matchup and perceived gameplay
just doesn’t favor Richardson getting a start in fantasy’s second
season.
Martavis
Bryant vs. BAL: After seeing what Josh Gordon did in
his first game back from his historic banishment makes Bryant’s
season all the more disappointing. He was jumped in the starting
line-up by a 3rd round rookie, got suspended for a game by his
own team, and despite being single covered all the time, and even
downright ignored by defenses, he’s caught only 2 touchdowns
and surpassed 50 yards only once, back in Week 2. He was nearly
invisible two weeks ago when Smith-Schuster missed a game with
a bad hammy, scoring a short yardage touchdown, but only totaling
40 yards. The Ravens will have their hands full trying to cover
Antonio Brown without their top corner, and I REALLY want to gamble
on Bryant this week, but I'm incredibly risk averse in the playoffs
as risky lineup decisions lose more times than they win. There
is eleven weeks of tape on Bryant and nothing indicates an imminent
breakout.
