Going For 2 fanbase my name is @TheBLeagueSays and in this week’s ‘Gameplan for the Week’, I will give to you some plays to make for seasonal and daily roster construction, prop bets, and dynasty evaluations. Before you make any start and sit decisions this weekend make sure you check out our weekly rankings also.
Thank you, and enjoy!
Slant Route
Just when you thought you were out, he pulled you back in:
The Packers travel to face the Texans, and David Johnson at $5300 is what I’d consider a cheap enough floor play with high upside. Green Bay (OPRK 30th to running backs) has been somewhat ‘iffy’ against running backs this year. Only six teams have had to face fewer rush attempts, and they are in the middle of the pack for yards against for rushing and receiving yards to the position as well. However, the Packers get absolutely hammered by running backs in the touchdown column every week and although predicting touchdowns is not that great of a process to follow, they’ve currently given up nine (seven rushing, two receiving) scores to the position for the season which is T-1st overall for the year with Jacksonville and Carolina, including two touchdowns per game in three weeks straight to Ronald Jones, Todd Gurley, Alvin Kamara and Dalvin Cook in the season opener.
Over the past three games, David Johnson’s attempts have gone up each week, which in turn has seen his rushing yards per game go from 44.66 YPG to an average of 72 YPG. That solid enough floor knowing that the Packers really struggle against running backs getting over their line as well, which gives me enough belief that he is a good option while most will probably pivot to D’Andre Swift after last weeks big performance for a similar price, but also in a game that has incredibly high scoring potential with the O/U currently set at 57.
Flat Route
Some bad JuJu is going around:
This irritates me because I think he will be fine moving forward. But while I feel people wanting to jump ship, I see that there is one lost notion here, and that’s when the masses panic then you must buy-low – especially when a player like this is potentially up for grabs – and you gotta do it before the blow-up game comes which could well be Tennessee who has decided to let opposition wide receivers do what they want this year.
Looking into your dynasty squad, we are talking about a guy who is younger than teammate and second-year receiver Diontae Johnson and a year or so older than rookie Chase Claypool. When this season is over and JuJu Smith-Schuster turns 24 he will hit the free-agent market unless he and the Steelers can get a new deal sorted, which I can understand why people are starting to hop off the bandwagon because it doesn’t seem likely, and I think people start to get nervous when they start telling themselves that maybe there’s a trade where the Steelers cash in on him instead of renewing him. The salary cap issues the NFL Franchises face next year and beyond seem daunting, so I get why they might pass him on for some draft compensation that much makes sense. But aside from Allen Robinson and maybe – MAYBE – you could make a case for Will Fuller I don’t see another receiver that’s about to hit free agency that has not only produced as much he has in recent memory, with a similar talent profile but has youth working on their side, and not against him. So I’ll go contrarian here and say to buy low on JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Comeback Route
He’s worth his weight in sterling, erm, gold:
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The New York Giants have struggled – STRUGGLED – putting together something that resembles a passing offense with only the three passing touchdowns to show for their efforts through six weeks this season. Part of that has been due to the lack of weapons at Daniel Jones‘ disposal, which included the loss of Sterling Shepard to injury (toe) in their Week 2 loss on the road to Chicago and as a result, Shepard was subsequently added to the IR. They have used guys from the practice squad like C.J. Board and Austin Mack, and while Golden Tate hasn’t really done much at least Darius Slayton has been a bright spark of sorts.
Here’s what’s working against you right now: the Giants play at Philadelphia on the short week (yes, there’s is a chance this posts after their Thursday night matchup, and that’s fine) and can activate him on game day which leaves the Eagles (and you to an extent) somewhat in the dark on how to game plan for him so if he does play don’t be surprised if he does well. However, I’m betting that with most people not knowing that IR eligibility this year is for three weeks instead of six weeks, Shepard (who is available in 42% of Sleeper leagues), could be a waiver wire gem who beefs up your roster and has a decent run of matchups in his future including Cincinnatti, Seattle, Arizona, and Cleveland. That’s a nice schedule for a receiver who will likely see the bulk of the work when he returns.
***FWIW: Sterling Shepard played and did very well in his return. He chalked up an 8-6-59-1 TD evening, for a PPR score of 17.9. Again, a must-add for your rosters.
Screen Route
Derek is in the driver’s seat:
As the Las Vegas Raiders are currently in playoff contention. The Raiders did what no one thought was possible and that was knocking off the Kansas City Chiefs in their last outing at Arrowhead 40-32. Derek Carr was lights out awesome, as he made big plays that people have been waiting for him to do for years now, opposed to the ‘safe’ style of play we are used to seeing. We can look at this week as a tough matchup for the Raiders at home against the Buccaneers and are +3.5 underdogs with a high scoring over/under currently set at 52. The Buccaneers have only won once on the road and that was at Denver so you can make what you want of that. But a potentially high scoring game, home underdogs with a Quarterback who has performed well this year? I see this as a smart, frugal play this week that could pay dividends.
Carr has been the focal point of their success, and at $5400 this week he seems to be a guy that most are fading, despite putting up over 22 fantasy points in three of their five games this season and it’s with that in mind that I would rather pay down for Carr, instead of paying up for those who are most expensive like Nick Foles (no, really), Andy Dalton or Drew Brees.
Out Route
Every darn week it feels like:
The San Francisco 49ers running backs cannot stay healthy, and it’s as if it’s a different combination of Raheem Mostert, Tevin Coleman, Jerick McKinnon, Jeff Wilson, and now Jamycal Hasty. I am at that point where predicting the combination of who are the two guys that are healthy and what split they will each sustain is more of a headache and a hassle than an advantage. And just when you think you’ve got them figured out, it ends up being a Kyle Juszczyk week as well.
Yes, I am aware that ‘Kyle Shannahan running backs are fantasy-friendly’ but at this point, the collective group feels like a gun-metal grey 1991 Ford Futura instead of the new GMC Hummer EV. This week the ‘9ers’ are on the road to New England and I flat out don’t care.
The Go Route
He might well be just a one-year rental:
But Tim Patrick has been going berserk of late. Over the course of this season, Tim Patrick currently sits as the WR36, however since Week 3 (remember he’s also had the bye already), amongst receivers who have played at least three games, Patrick ranks as the current WR15 on a PPG basis (17.2 ppg). In back-to-back weeks he has over 100 yards receiving, and aside from the Pittsburgh game in Week two, he has had kept above an 85% snap rate all season. Patrick, with a trio of quarterbacks already this year, has exceeded his role and expectations already.
Here’s where this gets a little sticky: Courtland Sutton will be back in 2021, K.J. Hamler will improve and Jerry Jeudy already looks like he can be a top option for the Broncos for the next decade. Oh, by the way, Noah Fant is still about also. So the clock is ticking with this output one would assume. What I would suggest is that he is absolutely a buy-low AND a sell-high candidate as the Broncos have had their Bye, and COVID-19 can hit anyone at any time; if you need help at the wide receiver position he is absolutely a name that is attainable while getting WR2-3 production every week for the remainder of 2020. Tim Patrick is also available in over 55% of Sleeper leagues, so if he happens to be on your waivers, please go get him.
Hail Mary
When the price is right, it’s right:
Ok, so I’m not going to sit here and try to convince you that anything to do with the New York Jets is worth investing in – they are not. I’m also not going to sit here and tell you that the Jets receivers still carry the same upside with Joe Flacco as they would with Sam Darnold – because Joe Flacco is terrible. I’m also not going to sit here and pretend that the schedule isn’t horrible for the Jets and things will turn around – things won’t turn around. They’re trash, Adam Gase is trash, the play calling is trash, Joe Flacco is trash – they’re trash. A big steaming pile of trash.
But Breshad Perriman had 18% of their team’s targets in Week 6, and lead the team for yards in a game where Joe Flacco had 44 pass attempts in Perriman’s return from injury and I’m guessing that playing from behind won’t be uncommon as they chase most games most weeks. They play the Bills this week who have struggled against wide receivers of late and have the Browns, Seattle, and the Chargers in their future which is decent for the position. Oh, by the way, Perriman is $3700 on Draft Kings this week. I’ll see myself out thank you very much!
I want to thank you for checking this article out! As always you can follow me at @TheBLeagueSays and feel free to check out my @BackRowGiants podcast out (https://linktr.ee/TheBLeagueSays) – subscribe, rate, review, share, and listen.
Let’s all get better together!
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