Category: NFL

Stock Rising- Jason Avant

Jason Avant amassed 133 receiving yards on 7 receptions Sunday against Tampa Bay.

Analysis: This is Avant’s second big fantasy week in a row. He is obviously benefiting from the absence of DeSean Jackson and his impact has been significant. Avant has 17 targets, 11 receptions and 212 yards in his last two games. He is not much of a touchdown threat which does hinder his value but he may be of use in these final weeks. Nick Foles does spread the ball around on a pass heavy team so Avant should continue with a healthy amount of targets.

If Pierre Garcon does not have RG3 throwing him the ball next Sunday against Cleveland his fantasy value does take a hit. Is Avant a better fantasy option than Garcon if RG3 is out? Possibly, but he is not the red zone threat that Garcon is. Yes, there is an amount of risk in starting Avant next week but if LeSean McCoy remains out it will continue to boost his value. Avant is available in virtually every league but his stock is certainly rising.

Why Not Brandon Myers?

Oakland tight end Brandon Myers caught 14 balls for 130 yards and a score Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.

Analysis: Brandon Myers has caught at least five balls in seven of his last eight contests and he has four touchdowns in his last five games. He isn’t a sexy fantasy player but he is a Raider tight end and that is a great thing to be at the moment. Oakland does not even have a semblance of a running game. Carson Palmer has thrown at least 40 passing attempts in five of his last seven games and no one is benefiting more than one Brandon Myers. Myers was targeted 15 times Sunday and has 38 targets over his last four games. All this twenty-seven year old does is produce these days.

Keeping his huge game Sunday in mind it is a must to pick Brandon Myers up now if you even have a chance to. He is outperforming the majority of the tight ends in the NFL and only four weeks are left in the season to capitalize. He’s available in over seventy percent of leagues and he may reach 1,000 receiving yards this year… unbelievable!

Russell Wilson Is Streaking

Russell Wilson threw for 293 yards and 2 touchdowns in Chicago Sunday afternoon.

Analysis: Russell Wilson now has 9 touchdowns and 0 interceptions over his last four games. As much as everyone likes to rave about Andrew Luck he has thrown 8 interceptions over his last four games. Russell Wilson is simply playing smart, consistent football. Sunday’s game in Chicago is an impressive one and next up on the schedule is the lowly Arizona Cardinals. The following week is the Buffalo Bills which may be a good game to start the rookie over some big names like Flacco(vs. Den), Cutler(vs. GB), Luck(vs. Hou).

At the moment Wilson is available in eighty percent of fantasy leagues but how can you make a case against him at this point? His 9 touchdown/0 interception streak came against the Vikings, Jets, Dolphins and Bears… so there were not any defensive pushovers in that span. Seattle is one of the most run heavy teams in the NFL but Wilson has averaged 32 passing attempts over his last two games. The Seahawks are in the thick of the NFC playoff race and will certainly rely on his arm going forward and that is a good thing for his fantasy football value.

Buying Low- Rashad Jennings

Rashad Jennings was on the end of double digit carries for the fifth time in six weeks Sunday against the Titans.

Analysis: Just one week after a three carry game Rashad Jennings carried the rock 16 times for 43 rushing yards and 1 touchdown. With Maurice Jones-Drew still out for a few weeks it appears the Jags will give the majority of the touches to Jennings despite his 2.8 yards per carry average this year. Jennings is having an extremely underwhelming season as he receives yet another opportunity to prove to the NFL he can be a feature back.

Although Rashad Jennings has not played well this year he did carry the rock 16 times Sunday which merits a fantasy pick-up at least until MJD returns in a few weeks. The Jags have Buffalo and then the New York Jets in the next two weeks, so the Jacksonville running game should not disappear in second half blow outs. It really is hard to pass on a back who should receive 15 carries next week and potential goal line carries but nothing about his play has been impressive thus far. Pick Jennings up at your own risk or to prevent desperate owners starting him against you next week because he has “potential” for a big fantasy game.

Kyle Rudolph Is Surging

Kyle Rudolph caught 5 balls on 9 targets for 55 yards and 1 touchdown Sunday against the Chicago Bears.

Analysis: Kyle Rudolph has had at least 55 yards, 5 receptions, 9 targets and 1 touchdown in each of his last two games. It does help that Percy Harvin is out with an ankle injury but Rudolph has an impressive 7 touchdowns this year.

Even if Harvin plays next week the Vikings will have to rely heavily on their passing game. The Vikes have Green Bay twice, Chicago again and Houston on their upcoming schedule. These are not games they can simply get by letting Adrian Peterson pound the rock. Keep in mind that Rudolph does have more touchdown receptions this year than Heath Miller, Owen Daniels, Vernon Davis, Jason Witten and Antonio Gates. Rudolph may not be lighting it up in PPR leagues and is benefiting from Harvin’s absence but he does score touchdowns which cannot be ignored. He’s available in half of leagues and it makes more sense to start him over Antonio Gates and own him over Dennis Pitta(how is he still owned).