Cousins ranks 19th in fantasy production among quarterbacks at
just 19.7 FPts/G, but faces a Lions’ pass defense which
allows the most fantasy points in the league (27 FPts/G). He’s
got an elite receiver among a solid wideout group and a very good
tight end who will have the added incentive of playing against
his old team. He was OK in their Week 3 matchup (20.9 points),
but in his last two trips to Ford Field he’s combined for
720 passing yards, five touchdown passes and zero interceptions
worth an average 33.5 FPts/G.
Assuming his foot doesn’t blow up on him (hurt on the last play
of the first half in Week 13, but continued to play), Trevor Lawrence
has a very good matchup against the 31st-ranked QB defense. Of
course, he played the 32nd-ranked team in Week 13 and was disappointing,
but all will be forgiven if he’s great this weekend. The Titans
allowed Jalen Hurts 380 passing yards and two receivers cracked
the 100-yard mark and most teams can’t run on Tennessee so they
pass all day (a league-high 480 passing attempts).
In what bookmakers expect to be the highest-scoring game of the
weekend (O/U 53.5), it makes sense that both Cousins and Jared
Goff should be started. The last time Goff facing the Vikings
at home he produced 26.9 fantasy points in a 29-27 victory. The
additional receiving help of the explosive rookie Jameson Williams
(12th overall pick out of Alabama) is an added bonus.
It’s not that Dak Prescott will have a bad day, it’s
just that Houston is the worst in the league against the run and
both Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard should run wild. Also, the
game situation figures to be a Cowboys blowout (-17), meaning
40 passing attempts won’t be necessary.
Jones has done much of his damage with his legs this season (91-522-4).
Most of that has been by necessity because the Giants’ receiving
corps has been decimated by injuries and poor play. Unfortunately,
the Eagles have yet to allow a QB rushing touchdown. If it comes
to throwing, Jones will be facing the league leaders in interceptions
(15).
Watson’s second game of the season against a very tough
Cincinnati defense will be as difficult as his first. The Bengals
rank No. 4 in QB fantasy points allowed (17.3) which includes
just 11 passing touchdowns in 12 games. They are slightly better
at home, allowing just 16.2 FPts/G in the “Jungle,”
with only Patrick Mahomes cracking the 20-point mark. The long
wait for Watson will likely not pay off for fantasy owners this
weekend.
