Player History: Randall Cobb has averaged
double-digit fantasy points (10.5) against the Bears.
Grab a Helmet
Randall
Cobb v. CHI (Thu): The preseason injury to Jordy Nelson
looked like really good news for Cobb’s owners and things started
well enough in Weeks 1 through 3 when he averaged 16.6 points/game.
Then Weeks 4 through 8 happened and…where’d Randy go? Constant double
coverage was one issue, yes, but there were a myriad of other Packer
problems that seemed to contribute to his underwhelming performances:
poor line play, dubious scheme, etc. What can’t be denied is that
the once uber-efficient slot guy (career catch rate of almost 74%)
was now barely catching half the passes thrown his way (just 54%
in 2015). Aaron Rodgers hasn’t stopped throwing them and won’t,
so Cobb’s probably due for a gigantic rebound soon. Why not against
a team he’s historically devoured on Thanksgiving night? You just
can’t sit Mr. Rodgers’ best receiver no matter how spotty his play
has been. Trust Randy.
Brandin
Cooks @ HOU: I’ve been banging the Brandin Cooks drum
for the better part of two seasons now and that faith is really
starting to pay off of late. In his first four games, Cooks averaged
a meager 5.4 points/game, not exactly the digits we were looking
for from the No.1 option in the New Orleans passing attack. His
next four produced a much better 12.4 points/game mark. Getting
warmer. Two games into his third four-game split, Cooks has leapt
all the way up to 18.1 points/game. NOW we’re cooking with fire!
The 18.1 FPts/G clip may be difficult to maintain – DeAndre Hopkins
is averaging fewer than 16 per and he’s tops overall – but you gotta
like the trend line. If you managed to survive a week without the
dynamic Saints wideout (I did not), get him back in your lineup
for what could be a shootout come Sunday.
Cecil
Shorts v. NO: Did I mention Sunday’s game at NRG Stadium
could be a shootout? I probably deserved what I got last weekend
since I recommended sitting down Shorts’ teammate, something multiple
readers took me to task for. All the aforementioned Hopkins did
in Week 11 was score the most points at the position and, as mentioned,
secure his spot as the No.1 WR. Whoops. Shorts isn’t a bad second
fiddle when the matchup’s good, even if he doesn’t always make like
Antwaan Randle El and throw TD passes to his buddies. He was heavily
targeted in Weeks 1 through 4, pre-injury, and seems to be steadily
reintegrating into the Houston offense since his return from a several-game
absence. New Orleans v. Houston means very little in terms of the
NFL playoff picture, but it could absolutely clarify fantasy playoff
matchups. Don’t sleep on Shorts.
Grab Some Wood
Jeremy
Maclin v. BUF: Wide receivers have once again gone
the way of the dinosaurs in Andy Reid’s offense, though that probably
isn’t cause for concern in Kansas City. The Chiefs are riding
a winning streak and their recent recipe for success has been
straight out of the back-to-basics cookbook:
1C great defense
½C plus turnover differential
3T ground-pounding backs
2t dink & dunk passing attack
Yields: Four straight Ws.
It’s hard to believe you can consistently succeed in this most
pass-happy of NFL eras without actually, you know, passing it
to the guys paid to catch footballs. Nevertheless, Reid and Co.
are proving it can be done. They haven’t lost in a month and their
best WR has only snared three balls in each of his last four games.
Moreover, had he not scored in Week 8, he’d be averaging 3.2 points/game
during that stretch. Steer clear of Maclin.
Emmanuel
Sanders v. NE: If Brock Osweiler is able to keep the
Broncos’ train on the tracks and headed for a deep playoff run,
Gary Kubiak’s going to legitimately deserve some post-season accolades.
We’ll know a lot more about their chances of doing that come Sunday
night when they tangle with the best the AFC (the league?) has
to offer. We already know how essential Sanders could end up being
to that effort: not very. In the Week 10 loss to KC Sanders was
targeted a whopping four times between Manning and Osweiler. Ouch.
Last week he was inactive due to an ankle originally suffered
in Week 9. Even if he gives it a go this week, I have a rule about
WRs that’s served me pretty well: If they stand a chance of scoring
zero points, I probably need to look somewhere else. Be very wary
of Emmanuel Sanders.
Kamar
Aiken, Chris
Givens, or Jeremy
Butler @ CLE (Mon): It’s always problematic when the
guy taking snaps changes as you’re never quite sure how
he’ll jell with his new battery mates, especially in that
first bit of live action. The Osweiler-Sanders case is probably
an extreme one and there have obviously been some success stories
over the years. Recycled Matt Schaub paired with this cast of
Baltimore receivers, however, probably won’t be one of them.
Aiken is likely to garner the same number of targets he’s
grown accustomed to of late, but there’s no telling what
catch rate we can expect with Schaub lobbing the leather. It seems
just as likely, based on recent experience, the former Texan will
target the guys in brown and orange as frequently as he does the
guys in purple and black. Only if you’re truly desperate,
folks, or like to gamble (or both).
