Bye Weeks: Atlanta, Dallas, LA Chargers, Tennessee
Packer Wideouts: Can we squeeze another
solid fantasy game out of Marquez Valdez-Scantling?
Grab a Helmet
Jarvis
Landry @ PIT: Cleveland’s still finding ways to lose
games it has a good chance to win, meaning nothing much has changed
since a Week 1 giveaway against the Steelers at FirstEnergy Stadium.
On the bright side, they’ve been in every game but one (a Week 6
drubbing administered by the Chargers) and seem to have solved the
quarterback riddle that’s perplexed them for decades. This is good
news for Landry, who’s been a heavily targeted option through seven
weeks (tied for second overall with 81). He’s coming off a 15-target,
10-reception, 97-yard performance against the Bucs and now faces
the Steelers in one of the first 2018 rematches. The former Dolphin
notched a season-high 106 yards in that first contest and should
be busy again as Cleveland attempts to keep pace with a well-rested
and surging Pittsburgh outfit. Don’t sleep on the Brownies the rest
of the way.
Marquez
Valdes-Scantling @ LAR: The Packers were probably hoping
the bye week would give their decimated wide receiver corps some
much needed recuperation time, but we’re getting closer to that
Sunday showdown with Los Angeles and both Randall Cobb and Geronimo
Allison are still currently listed as “limited participants” in
practice. It sounds like they both have a decent shot to play, but
that doesn’t mean Valdes-Scantling, the unsung fifth-rounder from
South Florida, will completely disappear from the Pack’s offense.
He’s got legit top-end speed and has tallied double-digit fantasy
points in both spot starts since Cobb and Allison went down. Unless
Green Bay’s regulars become full practice participants by this weekend,
I’d consider giving him one more run as a WR3 or flex option. The
Pack is more than a TD underdog for the first time in ages and that
could mean plenty of garbage time production for MVS.
Stefon
Diggs v. NO: I’ve told you the Saints field the league’s
stingiest run defense, meaning the Vikes may be forced to the airwaves
early and often come Monday night. That’s a good thing for the Minny
receivers, though, because New Orleans also happens to be surrendering
the most points to opposing wideouts (34.9 fantasy points/game).
Adam Thielen owners may be smiling ear-to-ear, but there’s even
better news for Stefon Diggs owners: The Saints are particularly
atrocious against WR2s. DeSean Jackson went for 146 yards and two
scores in Week 1. Calvin Ridley went for 146 more and THREE scores
in Week 3. Finally, Sterling Shepard notched 77 yards and a score
on 10 targets (all receptions) in Week 4. Oh, and if you consider
John Brown Baltimore’s second banana, he torched the Saints for
134 yards and a score just last week. Diggs must be started.
Grab Some Wood
Marvin
Jones v. SEA: It was always unrealistic to expect a
repeat of 2017 out of Jones this season. The Lions turned over
a coaching staff, welcomed back a star-in-the-making at his position
(Kenny Golladay), and drafted a kid they hoped would finally end
years of running back futility in Kerryon Johnson. Johnson’s doing
that right before our eyes, meaning Detroit’s ostensible WR1 is
back to being who he’s been every other year of his career, a
7-8 fantasy points/game pass-grabber who’s gonna give you some
solid weeks but occasionally disappear entirely. The days of Matthew
Stafford chucking 650-700+ passes per season are long gone and
with other options available (Golladay and Golden Tate), it’s
time to be realistic about Jones’ present and future: It’s neither
bleak nor exciting, but wholly matchup-dependent. You’ll want
to avoid him v. a Seahawks squad yielding 18.9 pts/game the past
five weeks (third best).
Paul
Richardson @ NYG: Washington is 4-2 and atop the NFC
East despite starting a journeyman at quarterback, a 33-year old
at running back, and what would easily pass for the most uninspiring
wide receiver group in the league if the Bills weren’t in it.
Is it time to start considering Jay Gruden a legitimate Coach
of the Year candidate? Richardson leads this ragtag WR outfit
in receptions, yards, and touchdowns, but that doesn’t make him
an appealing fantasy option by a longshot. He’s currently WR64
in standard leagues and a few spots lower in PPR leagues due to
low catch volume. That makes him barely roster-able in all but
the largest/deepest of leagues. I keep thinking Gruden’s gang
will fall on hard times without viable perimeter threats, but
it hasn’t happened yet. A similar strategy won’t likely work in
fantasy football, so steer clear of Washington wideouts for now.
Nelson
Agholor @ JAX (London): Agholor started the season
off strong as Carson Wentz and Alshon Jeffery convalesced from
last season’s injuries (22 targets and 19.9 points in his
first two games). However, the former returned in Week 3 and the
latter in Week 4 and the speedy fourth-year receiver has been
mostly quiet ever since (just 33 targets and 20.2 points in his
next five). With the Eagles hitting the skids, Coach Pederson
will have to make some major course corrections and that could—maybe
should—include finding ways to get Agholor more involved.
Until that happens, though, it’s tough to rely on a guy
putting up only a handful of points per week who’s turned
his six red zone targets into four receptions, two yards (!),
and a single score. Avoid Philly’s third wheel against a
Jaguars squad holding opposing WRs to 17.6 points/game (best in
the league).
