By Winsto (11/19/2022)
- In the Atlanta-Chicago match-up, I wonder which defense will give up less, as Chicago has allowed a league leading 17 rushing TDs while Atlanta has give up a league leading 2801 passing yards. The bottom line is that there should be some fantasy points stemming from this game. You are obviously playing Justin Fields (QB-Chicago) and David Montgomery (RB-Chicago). Cordarrelle Patterson (RB-Atlanta) and Kyle Pitts (TE-Atlanta) may not be an obvious play at this point, but the match-up is solid. (Yes, Chicago has done well against opposing tight ends, but part of that is the caliber of tight ends they have faced. Dalton Schultz went 6-74 on 7 targets against them.) In addition, Cole Kmet (TE-Chicago), Darnell Moony (WR-Chicago, and even Tyler Allgeier (RB-Atlanta) should have some success. I think Chase Claypool (WR-Chicago) is probably still too risky of a play unless you are in the deepest of leagues. A. J. Terrell (DB-Atlanta), if he returns, may complicate things for Chicago’s wide receivers, however.
- I wonder if Philadelphia may have some trouble with Indianapolis and its rushing attack. The return of Matt Ryan (QB-Indianapolis) actually makes the offense somewhat functional. His return has also impacted the play of Parris Campbell (WR-Indianapolis) for the better.
- Just like my concern with Philadelphia, I wonder if Cleveland is going to give Buffalo some trouble. As long as Cleveland can keep it close to be able to run the ball with Nick Chubb (RB-Cleveland), then Buffalo may have a problem. That said, I am quite curious to see how Stefon Diggs (WR-Buffalo) and Gabriel Davis (WR-Buffalo) do in Detroit’s Ford Field. The last time they played in a dome, they both went for over 80 yards receiving and a 1 TD apiece.
- I really wonder why Arizona waived Eno Benjamin (RB). I also found it particularly interesting that of the four teams that put a claim in on him (Houston, New Orleans, Seattle, and Kansas City), the Los Angeles Rams were not one of them. What does all of this mean for fantasy? Benjamin, who was awarded to Houston, is probably the hand-cuff to Damion Pierce, if you are curious. As for the teams who missed out, I think it was more about seeing Benjamin as a depth piece more so than anything else. As for Los Angeles, I think we have reached the point where it probably just does not matter what is happening in that backfield.
- Looking at the Carolina-Baltimore match-up, I wonder if John Harbaugh may play it conservatively with Gus Edwards (RB-Baltimore) returning from his hamstring injury, which he injured after returning from his ACL injury. This is a tough one to read. When Edwards returned to his first game back from his ACL injury in Week 7, the running back snap count was Edwards-36%, Kenyan Drake-27%, and Justice Hill–31%. Edwards also led the way statistically, with a 16-66-2 TDs while Drake and Hill combined for 16-31 and fumble lost. BUT, Drake has had a solid season so far and is coming off a nice game in Week 9 against New Orleans (109 total yards and 2 TDs and 68% snap count). If I have both Edwards and Drake (which I do in one league), I would almost prefer Harbaugh to rest Edwards another week to simplify everything. As for Carolina, Baker Mayfield (QB-Carolina) will be starting, so… you have been warned. I also have more thoughts on players in this game, like Isaiah Likely and Chuba Hubbard, that I shared in my previous column.
- I wonder if Dan Campbell can just go ahead and put all of us D’Andre Swift (RB-Detroit) fantasy owners out of our misery by shutting Swift down, if Detroit loses tomorrow. Wondering “what might have been” this fantasy season for Swift owners has been painful.
- I wonder if we will ever truly understand why the Russell Wilson (QB-Denver) and Nathaniel Hackett union has gone so absolutely horrid and has proven offensively offensive. Is Wilson showing decline? Is Hackett simply not an effective coach? Is the offensive line really that poor? Are the wide receivers not as good as we thought? The answer is probably, like most things, somewhere in between. The bottom line is Denver is playing a very beatable Las Vegas defense, and I still do not think I want any part of that offense. [I am pretty sure I am going to regret typing this in about 20 hours, as Greg Dulcich (TE-Denver and Courtland Sutton (WR-Denver) may both have solid games.]
- Looking at the Dallas-Minnesota game, I wonder how good both teams actually are. Look, teams cannot stop Justin Jefferson (WR-Minnesota). Teams cannot even contain him (unless that team is, ironically, Detroit–he only had 3 catches for 14 yards that game). I think both teams may find out a little bit more about themselves after this game’s conclusion.
- I have numerous “wonderings” regarding the Kansas City-Los Angeles Charger game. Vegas is predicting it as the highest scoring game of the week. Divisional games can be unpredictable. I wonder how effective Keenan Allen (WR-Los Angeles) and Mike Williams (WR-Los Angeles) will be, returning from injury. I wonder how effective Kadarius Toney (WR-Kansas City) will be in an expanded role, given the injuries to JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR-Kansas City) and Mecole Hardman (WR-Kansas City). (Incidentally, I do think Toney will be effective). I also wonder if Andy Reid will continue to give Isiah Pacheco (RB-Kansas City) touches at the expense of Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB-Kansas City). Considering how effective Pacheco was in Week 10 and that Reid stuck with him after his early game fumble, I “think” the answer is “yes,” he will continue with Pacheco.
- I really wonder what Kyle Shanahan is actually going to do with Christian McCaffrey (RB-San Francisco). Yes, he talked about splitting touches between McCaffrey and Elijah Mitchell (RB-San Francisco). BUT, that was a substantial amount of draft capital San Francisco sent to Carolina for a platoon player. As talented as Mitchell is, he is not McCaffrey. I have a hard time believing that McCaffrey will not out-touch Mitchell consistently from here on out.
- I wonder what players will come out of nowhere to provide solid fantasy statistics. I mentioned some “Hail Mary” players earlier in the week (see link in #5). Some others may be Darius Slayton (WR-NYG), Wan’Dale Robinson (WR-NYG), Laviska Shenault (WR-Carolina), or Tyquan Thornton (WR-New England).
- And finally… I wonder if the reason many people do not trust stairs is because it seems the stairs are always up to something.