By Lamar
A player on your radar had a big game. Do you pick him up? This is where we decide whether their forecast is Fantasy or Fools Gold.
Samaje Perine RB Cincinnati Bengals
11 carries, 30 rush yards, 4 targets, 4 rec, 52 rec yards, 3 rec TDs
If anyone saw this coming then please dm me your picks for this week. I clearly need to be following you. With that being said I hope there were some RB needy teams in deep leagues that had Perine in their lineup to enjoy his line. If you started him then he was probably a game winner for you. Perine’s week is really a result of what happens in an NFL season and why it pays to be informed as the season goes on. To win in fantasy you need a strong draft and you need to be diligent throughout the season on the waiver. When RB Joe Mixon was ruled out with a concussion, Perine was vaulted to RB1 for the Bengals in a solid matchup for RBs against the Steelers. Perine’s value is tied to the health of Mixon and would be fantasy gold when Mixon is out. Any team with Mixon on its roster needs Perine as well as he has proven to be a valuable fill in.
Cam Akers RB Los Angeles Rams
14 carries, 61 rush yards
Akers’ season has been nothing short of a daytime soap opera. Just a few weeks ago the Rams were sitting Akers while attempting to trade him only for him to emerge as RB1 in week 11. To eliminate any doubt, the Rams released RB Darrell Henderson Jr, the teams leading rusher this year. The backfield is again Akers and the Rams have some attractive RB matchups down the stretch against the Raiders, Packers and Chargers. Rookie RB Kyren Williams will continue to see touches as well, but I do not expect the Rams to turn the backfield over to him entirely. McVay and company are trying to not have the worst season of any team after winning the Super Bowl, so they will not be throwing in the towel this season. Akers should be fantasy gold the rest of the season, especially in the RB friendly matchups.
Darius Slayton WR New York Giants
10 targets, 5 receptions, 86 rec yards
Slayton is on here again because he had a good week and the offense of the Giants has had a significant loss. He had been operating as WR2 on a Giants team that preferred to run the ball. With the season ending injury to Wan’Dale Robinson, Slayton is the teams new WR1. The Giants will continue to be a run first team, but Slayton should see the bulk of targets for the rest of the season as the new de facto WR1. The Giants fell behind early last week and were forced to throw more than they would like. If that trend continues then Slayton should have some great games ahead. Grab Slayton while you can because with that Robinson injury, he is now fantasy gold!
Demarcus Robinson WR Baltimore Ravens
9 targets, 9 receptions, 128 rec yards
Robinson’s fantasy appeal is tied to injuries as well. When QB Lamar Jackson’s favorite WR Rashod Bateman went down to a season ending foot injury, everyone assumed Devin Duvernay would become the new WR1. Duvernay however only saw one target last week while Robinson had 8 targets two weeks ago to go with 9 this week. Robinson was a highly touted wide out coming out of high school and bounced around some quality college programs before entering the NFL. He has the skill set to be really successful in this league and if he has become Jackson’s new favorite WR? Well, you know what to do. Go get him as he should be fantasy gold from here on out.
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