Joshua Abbe, Mason Thompson, Givanni Damico | November 16th, 2019
To help fantasy football players with their roster construction, three of our writers have provided some insight on which players they would start, would sit, and consider a sleeper for this week. Be sure to follow all of them on twitter and ask any of The Scorecrow’s fantasy writers for fantasy advice.
Quarterbacks
Starts
Josh – Josh Allen at Miami Dolphins
Allen has been very good as of late. He has put up 17-plus points in seven of his last eight games and had a great showing facing the Browns last week. Now he gets the Dolphins for week 11. They continue to give fantasy points to the opposing quarterback position and most notably for Allen owners, they surrendered 21 fantasy points to him in their week seven matchup.
Mason – Derek Carr vs Cincinnati Bengals
Carr and the red-hot Raiders go against the lowly Bengals this week. With both teams featuring below-average defenses, this should be a high-scoring game, well, if the Bengals were competent. The Bengals defense is also allowing over 23 points per game to the quarterback position. If Carr is still on your waiver wire, scoop him up.
Gio – Kyle Allen vs Atlanta Falcons
Despite their dominating win over the Saints last weekend, the Falcons aren’t any better of a team than they were before that game. Their secondary is still awful which should give Allen an opportunity to have a career game and shut the critics up. The weapons that he has around him are faster than the Falcons’ defense, so if he relies on guys like Christian McCaffrey and Curtis Samuel, he should be in line for a great day.
Sits
Josh – Mitchell Trubisky at Los Angeles Rams
The Rams are only allowing 15 fantasy points a game to opposing quarterbacks for the season. Even though he had a good performance at home and against the Lions defense last week. Trubisky is still a risk this week. Rams rank 13th in allowed touchdowns for the season and getting a ninth most sacks per game at 2.9. Trubisky is a sit for me.
Mason – Carson Wentz vs New England Patriots
Wentz gets one more brutal matchup before he gets back on track to an easier schedule. Unfortunately, this week could be the worst we’ve ever seen him. With the Eagles offense struggling and the Patriots defense being seemingly unstoppable, Wentz is in for a treat.
Gio – Kyler Murray at San Franciso 49ers
Murray has had rough outings against good pass defenses such as the Saints, Seahawks, and Panthers. Even Russell Wilson didn’t have a fantastic game. If the best of the best couldn’t do it with arguably better weapons around him (including the offensive line), I don’t like this matchup for Murray, at least fantasy-wise.
Sleepers
Josh – Jameis Winston vs New Orleans Saints
Saints are going into Sunday without their stud cornerback Marshon Lattimore with an injury. With how bad the Tampa Bay defense is, I look to Winston to put up points in either a shoot out or garbage time at the end of the game. He doesn’t have a problem chunking it up and with wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, who are both in the top five for fantasy receiver rankings. He should turn out to be a nice play.
Mason – Nick Foles at Indianapolis Colts
Foles is finally returning off of injured reserve this week and gets a reliable matchup to start. The Colts defense hasn’t been bad but also hasn’t been great. He will also have former number one receiver, Dede Westbrook back this week from injury. During the preseason, Foles and Westbrook hooked up several times. Foles could be a streamer this week if you have a starter on bye or Matthew Stafford injured.
Gio – Dwayne Haskins vs New York Jets
Haskins was announced as the full-time starter by Bill Callahan and his second career start comes up against the Jets, who are one of the worst teams against the pass. His first start came against the stout Buffalo Bills’ passing defense in which he struggled to make big plays happen but he also avoided turning the ball over. He should be willing to take more risks in this game against the Jets, allowing for a very contrarian pick to go off on Sunday.
Running Backs
Starts
Josh – Damien Williams at Los Angeles Chargers
With the shockingly healthy scratch for LeSean McCoy last week, it seems Williams has reclaimed the top spot on the running back depth chart for the Chiefs. Going into his matchup with the Chargers this weekend, their defense has given up 27 fantasy points a game to running backs in 2019. Play him with confidence this weekend as it seems with quarterback Patrick Mahomes back, it gives him the boost to produce fantasy points.
Mason – Joe Mixon at Oakland Raiders
Mixon has returned to finally being a startable asset for fantasy owners after a dreadful start to the year. He is receiving tons of touches the past two weeks and gets another solid chance to do so against Oakland this week. He could return the RB2 value for the third-straight week.
Gio – Melvin Gordon vs Kansas City Chiefs
With Ken Whisenhunt no longer around in Los Angeles, Gordon has been getting the ball more often. He faces a Chiefs’ running defense who struggled mightily against Derrick Henry last week. If Gordon can be consistent and efficient while Philip Rivers doesn’t throw four picks, the Chargers could actually win this game.
Sits
Josh – David Johnson at San Francisco 49ers
The problem for Johnson owners is now we are at a point that you can’t trust him nor his coaching staff to know what is going on. He has had horrific showings his last two weeks and now with Kenyan Drake outplaying him in snaps percentage and saw 10 more touches last Sunday. Who knows if this an injury he is trying to play through, or he has lost a step? This week he gets the tough matchup against the stingy run defense of the 49ers, he’s sitting until you see the arrow point the other direction.
Mason – Kalen Ballage vs Buffalo Bills
Ballage had 24 carries last week with Mark Walton being suspended. Yes, fantasy owners should chase any running back who is receiving valuable touches and targets but Ballage also plays for the Dolphins, who happen to play the Bills this week. The Bills have been gashed in the rushing game lately but Ballage doesn’t seem to have the burst as the past few running backs the Bills have played.
Gio – David Montgomery at Los Angeles Rams
After two solid weeks, Montgomery was back to his normal role last week, hardly getting the ball and doing nothing with it when he did get it. His injury status makes me even more worried because even if he plays, his snaps will more than likely be limited. Not only that, but he also faces a Los Angeles Rams’ defense who has done a solid job containing the run so far this season. Montgomery is a game-time call so keep your eye on the injury report for Sunday night.
Sleepers
Josh – Brian Hill at Carolina Panthers
Well if you blew the FAAB budget, unlike Ty Johnson, Hill could be worth it this week. He gets the starting role and the bulk of the carries for Atlanta with Devonta Freeman out and Ito Smith on the injured reserve. Facing a Panthers defense that was exposed week eight by San Francisco and since then have allowed the most total touchdowns and most fantasy points to the running back position, Hill has a chance to finish as a top 20 running back this week.
Mason – J.D. McKissic vs Dallas Cowboys
With Johnson still in the concussion protocol, McKissic could be in line for a bigger role than he has already had. He has had the passing-down work lately, but with Johnson likely out, he could potentially have 15-20 touches, which is very valuable this deep into the season at the running back position.
Gio – Derrius Guice vs New York Jets & Tarik Cohen at Los Angeles Rams
I couldn’t pick between the two, so I decided to go with both. Haskins relied on Adrian Peterson heavily in his first start, so with the return of the young buck, I expect Haskins to get him the ball often. When it comes to Cohen, if Montgomery sits, his snaps will obviously increase. If Montgomery plays, Cohen will still get plenty of snaps and hopefully some passes in the backfield when Trubisky is being pressured by the Bears.
Wide Receivers
Starts
Josh – Courtland Sutton at Minnesota Vikings
Going into Sunday, the Vikings have allowed 12 touchdowns and the second-most fantasy points to wide receivers that line up on the outside. Sutton has moved into the WR1 spot for Denver and with that, he’s lined up for a total of 83 percent of the time for the season. Vikings are giving up 241 yards passing a game and a league-worst in touchdown thrown percentage against them at a whopping 90 percent!
Mason – Marquise Brown vs Houston Texans
Brown came up big last week again, albeit against the Bengals. This week, he gets another chance for a big game against a Texans defense that is giving up the fourth-most points given up to receivers who line up out wide. I expect a big game for Brown in a shootout this week.
Gio – Tyrell Williams vs Cincinnati Bengals
The Gazelle will face a weak secondary in the Cincinnati Bengals this week. Carr should be in for a big game through the air which will hopefully allow for plenty of production from Williams. He’s due for a breakout week and when better than against the only remaining team that still doesn’t have anything in the win column?
Sits
Josh – Christian Kirk at San Francisco 49ers
Yes, Kirk had a monster game last week but he wasn’t playing his current matchup for this week which is the 49ers. They allow the fewest points to receivers lined up in the slot and last matchup the 49ers limited him to a measly 16 yards and 3.6 fantasy points in week nine. He’s a fade for this week.
Mason – Marvin Jones vs Dallas Cowboys
The Lions offense is going to take a big hit with Stafford out, mostly the receivers. Jones had a solid stat-line last week but the Cowboys secondary has been solid outside of the first half of last week’s game against Minnesota. With Stafford out and replaced by Jeff Driskel, I’d try finding a better option than Jones.
Gio – DeVante Parkers vs Buffalo Bills
Parker will draw Tre’Davious White who has locked down opposing number one wide receivers all year long. The Bills defense is too good to take a chance with someone like Parker whose production is inconsistent at best.
Sleepers
Josh – John Brown at Miami Dolphins
Brown gets a matchup against the Dolphins that last time they met he scored 19 fantasy points against them. Miami’s secondary is giving up a nice 15 yards a catch to receivers. With a strong outing insight, he’s a nice sleeper to plug into your lineup.
Mason – Deebo Samuel vs Arizona Cardinals
Samuel broke out last week on Monday night against the Seahawks. Although he did have a few drops, he took over once Emmanuel Sanders got hurt. With Sanders possibly back this week, his role won’t be as big but George Kittle is likely out this week. The last time the 49ers and Cardinals played, Jimmy Garoppolo would lay a licking against the Cardinals defense. If that happens again, I guarantee Samuel scores at least one touchdown.
Gio – Curtis Samuel vs Atlanta Falcons
Samuel is faster than this entire Falcons’ defense combined… just kidding. But his production has been sporadic this year, although a matchup against Atlanta provides a fantastic opportunity for him to possibly have a career day, as I said for Allen.
Tight Ends
Starts
Josh – Jared Cook at Tampa Bay Buccaneer
It’s no coincidence that Drew Brees returning has been good for Cook. He returned last week and had a nice 74 yards receiving, on 10 targets and six receptions. He played over 70 percent of the snaps and looked great. Now gets a tasty matchup against the Buccaneers who have given up six touchdowns and 77 yards per game to opposing tight ends. Fire him up as a stream if need be.
Mason – Greg Olsen vs Atlanta Falcons
After a solid stat-line for the first time in a few weeks against Green Bay last week, Olsen gets another opportunity again this week against Atlanta. The Falcons just allowed Cook to go off against them. Olsen is a top 12 tight end this week.
Gio – Dawson Knox at Miami Dolphins
The Bills should be coming out with a vengeance after losing a close game to the Cleveland Browns. I expect Allen to have a career day and get everybody in the offense involved. Knox has dropped some passes this year, but he has also made a ton of clutch plays. Sunday should be a big day for him where he can hopefully find the endzone.
Sits
Josh – Dallas Goedert vs New England Patriots
Goedert gets the New England Patriots at home though the home field advantage doesn’t look good in his favor. They are allowing only an average of three catches per target and the third-fewest fantasy points to tight ends. I’d look for another option.
Mason – T.J. Hockenson vs Dallas Cowboys
Hockenson has done little since his incredible week one performance against Arizona. After several great opportunities to score big in recent games haven’t gone well, it’s difficult to trust him, especially with Driskel under center. If Stafford was under center, then maybe he’d be startable but not with Driskel.
Gio – Eric Ebron vs Jacksonville Jaguars
Jack Doyle has seemed to take over as the main guy at tight end. Ebron isn’t the same player he was last year with Andrew Luck throwing to him. His production is too sporadic to rely on him unless you’re in serious bye-week trouble. There’s gotta be better options on the waiver wire.
Sleepers
Josh – Kyle Rudolph vs Denver Broncos
As of late, Kirk Cousins has been on fire. Rudolph has scored 11-plus fantasy points in three of his last four games and scored four touchdowns. The outlook doesn’t look good against Denver this week but he’s got Cousins’ attention and with Adam Thielen out with an injury. He is a favorable target Sunday.
Mason – Ross Dwelley vs Arizona Cardinals
With Kittle likely out again this week, Dwelley should get plenty of opportunities. He was a favorite of Garoppolo’s last week and has an incredible opportunity to score big against Arizona, who is horrendous against tight ends.
Gio – Nick Boyle vs Houston Texans
Boyle has been targeted more often in the last few weeks. This is a serious contrarian play, but Lamar Jackson likes to rely on all of his tight ends. Only make this move if you are in serious tight end trouble, but it could really pay off.
Questions and comments?
thescorecrowsports@gmail.com
Follow Us on Twitter @thescorecrow
Follow Us on Reddit at u/TheScorecrow
Follow Us on Facebook at The Scorecrow
Follow Us on Instagram at The Scorecrow
Facebook Group where you can read and post articles at The Scorecrow
Reddit Group where everyone can post without fear of being banned at The Scorecrow
Follow Joshua Abbe on Twitter @jabbe05
Follow Mason Thompson on Twitter @Thompson22Mason
Follow Givanni Damico on Twitter @giodamico15
Main Image Credit:
[getty src=”1168693500″ width=”594″ height=”396″ tld=”com”]
