Category: NFL

Crabtree/Hunter Worth The Risk?

Michael Crabtree and Justin Hunter are in two different situations yet they are both intriguing fantasy options.

Analysis: Michael Crabtree now has 6 receptions on 12 targets through two games this year. He looks healthy but his fantasy numbers will come down to quarterback play. Colin Kaepernick only has 16 passing touchdowns in 13 games this year. Carson Palmer, Ryan Tannehill and Alex Smith have all thrown for more passing yards and touchdowns this season. Crabtree is a great addition for the Niners this late in the campaign but the receiving yards and touchdowns may not be there. Crabtree is available in 20-70% of fantasy leagues.

Justin Hunter now has 4 touchdowns on 18 receptions this year(Garcon 3TD/89Rec). He also has two 100-plus receiving yard games in his last three contests. Hunter does have 19 targets in that three game span but it is difficult to trust a wide out with only 18 receptions on the year. At 6’4″ with 4.4 speed Justin Hunter has WR1 potential but he needs time and more importantly another quarterback. Hunter is available in 90-99% of fantasy leagues.

Week 14 RB Recap

There are a few running backs available in leagues across the country that must be considered as we head into the last three weeks of the season.

Analysis: Bobby Rainey is available in 8-50% of fantasy leagues. Today against the Bills he carried the ball 22 times for 127 yards and a touchdown. He tacked on 3 receptions on 4 targets. Rainey is flying a bit under the radar but he is a must start. He has averaged 22 carries per game over the last four weeks and has 4 total touchdowns in that span. He isn’t a fringe or flex option at this point, 22 carries per game is legit. Up next for Rainey is the Niners in week fifteen.

Who knows how severe the Adrian Peterson injury is but Toby Gerhart is now a must own. The Vikings do not have a reason to put Peterson at risk the next few weeks in a lost season. Peterson could be traded during the offseason which is even more incentive to take extreme caution. Today, Gerhart rushed for 89 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown in Baltimore. Gerhart’s career yards per carry average is at nearly five per… he can play. He’s available in 80-99% of fantasy leagues.

Streaming Defenses- Week 14

Week thirteen is officially over and now it is time to take a look at the “team to stream” in week fourteen.

Analysis: For the third consecutive week we will stream against the New York Jets who will host the Oakland Raiders. Geno Smith is expected to start and he’s only managed to help the Jets score just 20 points in their last three games. Geno Smith’s passer rating is now down to 60.4 with 19 interceptions in twelve games. The Jets rank 30th in the NFL in yards, 31st in points per game and 32nd in turnover margin. There really isn’t much else to say about an offense void of weapons and led by a turnover machine named Geno.

The Raiders would have a good defense from a fantasy perspective if their offense could score a bit more and limit turnovers to make life easier. But as it stands now the Raiders rank 16th in sacks, 5th in fumble recoveries and 25th in interceptions. The Raiders D/ST is available in about 90% of fantasy leagues.

Another team of note is the New England defense at home against Cleveland. The Browns have 11 turnovers in their last three games and Brandon Weeden is sporting a 70.3 passer rating and completing just 52% of his passes. The New England D is available in 20% of fantasy leagues.

Week 13 WR Recap

Brian Hartline and Kendall Wright continue to put up solid fantasy numbers in week thirteen.

Analysis: Brian Hartline caught 9 balls on 15 targets for 127 yards and a score Sunday afternoon against the Jets. Hartline now has four consecutive 55-plus receiving yard games. He also has 24 receptions in that four game span. Hartline is available in 40-70% of fantasy leagues.

Kendall Wright had himself another fine ball game Sunday against the Colts. Wright put up 77 receiving yards on 6 receptions and 11 targets. Wright now has four consecutive 75-plus receiving yard games and has 28 receptions in that four game span. He’s on pace to put up more than 1,100 yards but he has only found the end zone twice this year. Wright has top 25 fantasy wide out numbers yet he still isn’t getting much love. He’s available in 10-60% of fantasy leagues.

Jacoby Jones is the long shot add this week. Jones has a touchdown, 8 receptions, 13 targets and 156 receiving yards in his last two games. He’s a high risk/high reward fantasy option but he may be of some use with just four weeks remaining in the season. Jones is available in 85-95% of fantasy leagues.

Streaming Defenses- Week 13

Week twelve is officially over and now it is time to take a look at our “team to stream” in week thirteen.

Analysis: This week we will take a solid Miami defense on the road against the Jets. We are going to ride our “Geno Smith is garbage” train another week here. Smith has 18 interceptions, 8 fumbles and 4 lost fumbles in eleven games this season. He’s been sacked 37 times and has a 62.1 passer rating. For those of you who need some perspective- JaMarcus Russell’s career passer rating was 65.2 and he “only” threw 23 interceptions in 31 games played. The Jets are 31st in points per game, 27th in yards per game and 32nd in turnover margin.

The Dolphins aren’t that bad of a team. In the last two weeks against Carolina and San Diego they have only allowed 36 total points. The Miami defense is 10th in points allowed, 11th in sacks and 6th in interceptions. The Dolphins D/ST is available in 70-90% of fantasy leagues.

Another team of note this week is the Cleveland defense against Jacksonville. The Jags may be coming off a win but they have only managed to put up 12.9 points per game this year and 27 points in their last two games which coincides with their yearly mark. Chad Henne has 1 touchdown pass and 4 picks in his last three games.