Blog

Words by Rob Willette, Scott Fish, and Paul Charchian. Spending recommendations by Paul Charchian.

QUARTERBACKS

Daniel Jones  – Giants – 39% rostered
Daniel Jones heads into his bye week having thrown touchdowns in every game, and with  two four-touchdown games in the last three weeks. He’s proven he’s got explosive upside for fantasy owners and big games are possible in the fantasy playoffs. His Week 14-16 schedule is probably the league’s easiest with games against Philadelphia, Miami and Washington.
Charch Blind Bidding Recommendation: 15%

Nick Foles – Jaguars – 16% rostered
Nick Foles returns to the starters job in Jacksonville in time to face a surging Indianapolis secondary that has allowed just three passing touchdowns in the past five games.  But the Jaguars’ schedule softens significantly for Foles later in the year. He’ll be very startable against Tampa in Week 13, and he’s a possible league winner with playoff games against Oakland and Atlanta in Weeks 15 and 16.
Charch Blind Bidding Recommendation: 5%

Jeff Driskel – Lions – 1% rostered
Jeff Driskel is not particularly good, but he is anything but boring.  Driskel sent the football into the air 46 times, averaging an anemic 5.8 yards per attempt yet showing a willingness to push the football down the field and give his receivers a chance to make plays.  Most important for fantasy owners: Driskel is mobile, and he compiled 37 yards on 5 carries. Adding points with his legs gives him a much higher floor and makes him far more viable as a desperation streamer.  Matthew Stafford may be back this week which would make this all moot, but if Driskel gets another start he’s on the streaming map in 2QB leagues, even in a tough matchup with Dallas.
Charch Blind Bidding Recommendation: 1%

Drew Lock – Broncos – 1% rostered
There’s a solid chance that Drew Lock takes over for the Broncos in time to face a slumping Vikings secondary this week. He’s a first round rookie with a strong, raw arm and a quick release.  He’s a project who’ll likely experience a lot of bumps in the road. But for dynasty and empire league players, Lock is a stash for 2020.
Charch Blind Bidding Recommendation: 1%

RUNNING BACKS

Brian Hill  – Falcons – 5% rostered
It is the time of year when running back attrition can vault previously unknown backs into the spotlight.  Those who streamed Justin Jackson, Damien Williams, or Jeffrey Wilson down the stretch last year can attest.  After Devonta Freeman got knocked out of last week’s game, Hill fought for 71 yards on his 21 touches and found the end zone on a redzone target.  He’s not a special runner. But, he passed the eye test as somebody who can succeed with opportunity and finding a back with a 15-20 touch ceiling at this point of the season is no small feat.  If Freeman misses extended time, Hill can be a serviceable difference maker.
Charch Blind Bidding Recommendation: 15%

Peyton Barber  – Bucs – 27% rostered
Even though Bruce Arians named Ronald Jones the starter, Peyton Barber still had 11 carries on his 22 snaps and had two red zone touches as opposed to Ronald Jones, who only had one. While RoJo got a lot of work in the passing game, Barber matched him in carries and was more effective running the ball.  The demise of the baffling Buccaneer timeshare appears to be continuing. With matchups against teams like the Falcons and Lions and a bunch of middle-of-the-pack run defenses, maybe the fat lady hasn’t sung her song for Barber just yet.
Charch Blind Bidding Recommendation: 5%

J.D. McKissic  – Lions – 21% rostered
Perhaps the league’s messiest backfield got some clarity on Sunday after Ty Johnson was knocked out with a concussion.  While McKissic ran about as well as the first Kia model, his 16 touches are a notable development, and he’s now received at least three targets in five consecutive games.  Normally he’s just a passing game option, but he’s slated to be the Lions’ lead back until Johnson is out of the protocol. McKissic does not profile as a difference-maker, but owners at this point of the season are often more desperate than a frat boy at closing time.  At the very least, McKissic should keep you afloat at a flex spot given his involvement as a receiver.
Charch Blind Bidding Recommendation: 3%

WIDE RECEIVERS

Darius Slayton – Giants- 10% rostered
Losing to the Washington Generals/New York Jets is an embarrassment, but the loss offered another positive step for Darius Slayton.  Slayton eviscerated the Jets’ secondary and earned a whopping 14 targets, turning them into 10 grabs for 121 yards and a pair of scores.  Slayton has utilized his 4.39 wheels to secure a role as Sterling Shepard remains sidelined. The Giants’ figure to remain pass-heavy given their running woes and defense that tilts every second half to the pass.  It is always going to be a boom or bust proposition for Slayton given his role and the mercurial play of Daniel Jones, but he’s a must-add with an expanding role.
Charch Blind Bidding Recommendation: 10%

Will Fuller – Texans –  54% rostered
In many leagues Will Fuller was kicked to the curb as owners struggled to manage the bye week grind.  Now’s the time to reinvest. Fuller is practicing and looks likely to return to the field this Sunday in what a track meet with the Ravens.  Baltimore’s pass defense has stiffened considerably since acquiring Marcus Peters and getting Jimmy Smith back to full health, but we know Fuller’s weekly ceiling is enormous.  He is, of course, as volatile as Antonio Brown on Twitter, but he is far too valuable to let sit on the wire
Charch Blind Bidding Recommendation: 10%

Diontae Johnson/James Washington  – Steelers – 18%/6% rostered
With Juju Smith-Schuster’s toe injury, both Diontae Johnson and James Washington have had to step up. Johnson has increased his role in three straight games and has played an average 70% of snaps over the last two weeks. Washington is playing 3rd fiddle, but has topped 50 yards in three of the last four culminating in a 90-yard, one-score day in Week 9. Johnson has topped 50 yards in four of Mason Rudolph’s six starts and scored in three of them. Both receivers are averaging over 16 yards per catch with Rudolph in. Should Juju’s toe get to the point he misses time, both might be fantasy viable, especially with matchups against the Bengals, Cardinals, and Jets looming – the latter two in your fantasy playoffs.
Charch Blind Bidding Recommendation for Johnson: 10%
Charch Blind Bidding Recommendation for Washington: 1%

Deebo Samuel – Niners – 12% rostered
With Emmanuel Sanders knocked out of Monday night’s game, Deebo Samuel stepped up and assumed the role of San Francisco’s go-to receiver. He was targeted 11 times and turned those opportunities into 112 yards. Samuel runs from all over the field: left, right and slot. And that gives him opportunities against whoever is the weakest link in the opposing secondary.  He’s a powerful, strong runner after the catch, and has the opportunity to splash in the second half of his rookie year, particularly if Sanders misses much time.
Charch Blind Bidding Recommendation: 5%

Demaryius Thomas  – Jets – 8% rostered
Demaryius Thomas’ playing time has remained stable at around 75% of the Jets snaps for the last month, and his uptick in activity last week could mark a bigger role in the offense. But the best reason to try Thomas is his upcoming schedule: Oakland, Cincinnati and Miami. He doesn’t have much left in the tank, but if you’re in a deeper league and looking for angles, Thomas is a viable dart-throw for the immediate future.
Charch Blind Bidding Recommendation: 1%

Josh Gordon – Seahawks – 55% rostered
When Josh Gordon hit the waiver wire two weeks ago, we advocated for not rostering Gordon. And the only reason we’re listing him this week is because of the injury to Tyler Lockett.  As I’m typing this, it’s unclear how significant the injury is. The Seahawks are on bye and we may not get a meaningful update until next week.  If Lockett is going to miss time, it presses Gordon into a possible starter’s role in a high scoring offense led by the leading MVP candidate.
Charch Blind Bidding Recommendation: 1%

TIGHT ENDS

Jacob Hollister – Seahawks – 5% rostered
It probably doesn’t matter who the Seahawks line up at tight end. That guy is going to produce solid fantasy numbers. Jacob Hollister has posted back-to-back very solid games, featuring three touchdowns. He was targeted 10 times on Monday night and looks like an integral part of the Seahawks offense–even more so if Tyler Lockett misses some games.  Seattle is on bye this week, which will help suppress his value this week. He’ll return to play Philadelphia in Week 12.
Charch Blind Bidding Recommendation: 15%