Perhaps a change at quarterback will do
Larry Fitz (only 10 catches in last two games) some good.
Grab a Helmet
Larry
Fitzgerald vs NYG: Despite age and a carousel of nightmares
at quarterback this season, Fitzgerald has continued to produce.
I remember passing on Fitzgerald twice in my draft this year for
younger, higher upside options. With the volatility at the receiver
position, Fitz has been decent WR2 most of the year, and currently
sits as the No.15 scoring receiver in standard leagues. While his
production dipped a bit with Blaine Gabbert at the helm, Drew Stanton
returns this week. Stanton is more willing to fit the ball into
tight windows, and has shown good chemistry with Larry in the past.
The Cardinals also host a Giants defense that is as ripe for picking
as any in the league. Fire the immortal one up as an upside WR2.
Marvin
Jones @ CIN: #Revengegame? Jones, fantasy’s No.7 receiver
thus far faces off against his old team for the first time since
leaving two years ago. I don’t know that enough can be said about
the value Jones has been this season. He makes weekly highlight
reel catches, has career highs in yardage and average yards per
catch (a whopping 18.0!), and is tied for 4th in the NFL with 8
touchdown receptions. Injuries and a conservative offense held him
back last year, but this season looks the part. I don’t want to
go too ga-ga, as he’s not the target monster of this offense, and
is big play dependent, but Cincinnati's secondary is a disaster,
and the Lions REALLY need this game to stay alive. It’s likely you
drafted Jones as WR3. He’ll be that and more this Sunday.
Mike
Wallace vs IND: Fantasy receivers like Mike Wallace are
maddening. They don’t get enough short and midrange targets to have
weekly consistency, but the second you sit them, they go off for
100+ yards and a touchdown. But I also think it’s important to have
a guy like this on your team to use off the bench in situations
where you are a heavy underdog. The matchup against the Colts is
as good as it gets, and he’s actually been pretty hot over his last
three games. If I’m a heavy favorite in the fantasy finals, I think
I shy away for more “safe” options. But if I’m an underdog, I’ll
fire Wallace up as a FLEX or WR3 and hope he pops for a few big
plays to save the day.
Grab Some Pine
Jamison
Crowder vs DEN: If you feel lucky (or desperate) you
can chase 60 yards and a possible score, but that’s honestly a
best case scenario this week as Washington takes on Denver. Sure
the Bronco defense has lost some of its shine, but they’ve been
a force the last several weeks, and still are one of the best
in the league against the pass. Crowder has only found the endzone
twice all year, and has done virtually nothing the last three
weeks. Injuries have finally caught up with this offense, and
against an aggressive attacking defense like Denver, I just have
a hard time finding a reason to start Crowder.
Robby
Anderson vs LAC: Anderson’s magical season went up
in a puff of smoke the day Josh McCown was lost for the season
with a broken hand. Since Petty has taken over, Anderson has totaled
8 receptions for a mere 67 scoreless yards. This is a far cry
from the guy who had a five-game touchdown streak and who surpassed
80 yards five times this season. Petty simply doesn’t have the
pocket presence, or arm strength to get the ball to Anderson on
a consistent basis, and if the recent past is any indication,
the Jets are going to go run heavy in these final two games. Throw
in the fact that the matchup with the Charger secondary is horrendous,
and you have a recipe for fantasy disaster. He’s been a Cinderella
story the whole year, but unfortunately the clock has struck midnight.
A.J.
Green vs DET: Clearly I’m not advocating you sit Green
in the championship game, but let’s face facts, Green has
been more of middling WR3 for more of the year than he’s
been an elite WR1 like we’ve come to expect. His talent
level always gives him breakout potential, but this Cincinnati
team has all but quit, getting hammered in their last two games
by mediocre opponents. This week the Bengals take on Detroit where
Darius Slay awaits. The Lions secondary has been a bend-but-don’t-break
unit all year, and I just don’t like the direction this
Bengal offense is headed. Green hasn’t hit 80+ yards since
Week 10, and has only one truly elite game, way back in Week 5.
You can’t risk sitting him, but you also can’t rely
on his production to win you the title.
