As I mentioned last week, it won’t be until after week 4 that The Stats Machine (TSM) begins including opposing defenses into its algorithm. It needs about four weeks of defensive statistics before they are really useful. So in the meantime, just bare with us as we still believe our data science is attention worthy. However, as a commenter pointed out last week, without defensive adjustments the results kinda feel like something we could get from Captain Obvious. I see his point, at least to some extent, and have decided to add a section listing the top ten players, according to TSM, at each position.
Note. Scores cannot be compared across positions as each position has a different formula.
Quarterback
Tom Brady (Score: 80) – Another week, another spotlight for Tom Brady. You know who’s loving some Tom Brady? Me! Last week he threw for 288 yards. This week he crushed that number with 466 more and 3 touchdowns. He’s playing like a quarterback possessed. I’d love to tell you to sell high, but I think he’s going to have a great season. Deflate that haters!
Colin Kaepernick (Score: 70.9) – I probably should have selected Derek Carr for this spot, but I already talked about him on Wednesday. And at about 65% owned, that means Kaepernick is still available in just less than half of all leagues. I’m not saying you should run out a grab him, but I’d grab him before I’d grab Carr. His week 1 performance was nothing special, but he came back with 335 yards passing and 2 touchdowns this week. He also rushed for 51 yards. That’s as many as Joseph Randle and more than both Carlos Hyde (43) and Marshawn Lynch (41). Honorable Mention: Derek Carr (Score: 68.9)
Running Back (PPR)
DeAngelo Williams (Score: 32.23) – Le’Veon Bell who? Williams rushed for 77 yards, finding the end zone three times last week. In the first two weeks he has averaged 102 yards on the ground. Seriously, Le’Veon who? I realize it’s Bell’s job, but it will be interesting to see how big of a role De’Angelo has earned himself. If he is able to contribute again this week, I’d suggest selling high. Or just get Bell high so he get suspended again.
Matt Jones (Score: 27.7) – Jones was perhaps this week’s biggest waiver wire pickup. I’m sure it was a close battle between Jones, Dion Lewis and James Starks. Matt Jones is another guy I discussed on Wednesday. It went something like this. He should be owned in all leagues. And sadly, my $21 FAAB failed to win him. The winning bid was $27. I came in second. I guess I should just be happy that I got Lewis last week. Jones rushed for 123 yards on 19 carries. That’s almost 6.5 yards per carry! He also scored two touchdowns. Honorable Mention: Dion Lewis (Score: 25.91)
Running Back
Results are the same as PPR.
Wide Receiver (PPR)
Larry Fitzgerald (Score: 44.15) – Is Fitz back? He might be. After a 6 catch, 87 yard showing last week, Fitzgerald followed it up with an 8 catch, 112 yard, 3 touchdown performance in week two. I still like John Brown just a little more, but another week like this and I might be changing my tune. If the shoe Fitz! Honorable Mention: Antonio Brown (Score: 43.4)
Donte Moncrief (Score: 31.4) – This is two weeks in a row that The Stats Machine has chosen Moncrief as the top wide out in Indy. He caught 7 of 8 passes thrown to him for 122 yards and a touchdown. With a touchdown for the second straight week, he’s slowly forcing himself into lineups. Honorable Mention: Torrey Smith (Score: 31)
Wide Receiver
Larry Fitzgerald (Score: 30.61) – See above.
Travis Benjamin (Score: 22.86) – I’m still not sold on Benjamin. He doesn’t see a lot of targets, but is certainly making the most of the ones he does. Why does it feel like a lot of my wide receiver talk lately has been all about the Benjamin?
Tight End (PPR)
Rob Gronkowski (Score: 33.45) – Just like his New England teammate, another week, another top spot. Gronk has been Gronk, and that’s good. Seven catches for 113 yards and another touchdown give him 4 touchdowns in two games. I’m not sure he can be stopped. There’s a house around the corner from me with a big sign on their front lawn that reads “Honk for Gronk”. I don’t, but am starting to feel like I should.
Crockett Gillmore (Score: 30.75) – Here’s what I said the other day. Davy, Davy Crockett King of the Wild Tight Ends. Gillmore led all tight ends in points this week, but that’s only because Gronk scored just one touchdown. Crockett caught 5 passes for 88 yards and 2 touchdowns. He’s worth adding to your watch list, but unless he shows us more in the coming weeks, that’s as close as he’s going to get to my roster. And since I own Eifert and Rudolph, he’s not even going to get that far. And that’s me plagiarizing me. Honorable Mention: Anthony Fasano (Score: 24.5)
Tight End
Crockett Gillmore (Score: 27.75) – He barley edged out Gronk.
Here are the top tens based solely on the performances as analyzed by The Stats Machine…
Top 10 QBs
Tom Brady
Ben Roethlisberger
Carson Palmer
Aaron Rodgers
Russell Wilson
Colin Kaepernick
Matt Ryan
Ryan Tannehill
Cam Newton
Tyrod Taylor
Top 10 RBs
Matt Forte
DeAngelo Williams
Jamaal Charles
Carlos Hyde
Dion Lewis
Mark Ingram
Danny Woodhead
Latavius Murray
Giovani Bernard
Adrian Peterson
Top 10 WRs
Julio Jones
Antonio Brown
Julian Edelman
Larry Fitzgerald
Emmanuel Sanders
Brandon Marshall
DeAndre Hopkins
Donte Moncrief
Jordan Matthews
Travis Benjamin
Top 10 TEs
Rob Gronkowski
Tyler Eifert
Jason Witten
Travis Kelce
Jordan Reed
Austin Seferian-Jenkins
Ladarius Green
Crockett Gillmore
Eric Ebron
Martellus Bennett
Here is the full Excel spreadsheet.
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