Rest of Season 80: Is It Gold In Here, Or Is It Just Me?

This pun works because it is 20 degrees outside in Chicago and Golden Tate is the lede. I will be taking no further questions on the title.

Tate was a dead man walking in 2018. After multiple 1000+ receiving yard and 90 reception seasons he plummeted to a 74/795 line with a split season for the Lions and Eagles. He followed up that disastrous 30-year-old campaign with a 4-game suspension to start 2019 and was left for dead on draft day. Surprisingly, in 6 games this season he is averaging 8.3 targets and is on a 16-game pace of 88 receptions, 1112 yards, and 8 touchdowns. His numbers have spiked in the two games Evan Engram has missed. Reports state that Evan Engram will be out multiple weeks and the possibility of having his season shut down exists. Sterling Shepherd has a possibility of returning, but I’m unsure if that effects Daniel Jones obvious connection with Tate. The Giants aren’t going to stop losing games any time soon. Daniel Jones won’t stop pushing the ball into the seams any time soon. Jones is on an impressive 30 touchdown, 16 game pace himself. Tate is an outstanding WR3 moving forward with week to week upside based on touchdowns.

Nick Chubb (#8) – I’m quite late to the Nick Chubb party. He was one of my primary pre-season targets, but after watching the weekly incompetence of Freddie Kitchens I grew concerned that Kareem Hunt was going to be heavily incorporated into the offense upon return. In a shocking turn of events in week 10, Kitchens deployed Chubb (81% of snaps) and Hunt (54% of snaps) on the field simultaneously. This makes sense as an optimal look for the Browns without David Njoku. The Browns need a method of creating conflict within the defense, and multiple backs is an easy way to do that. The defense must recognize which is carrying the ball, which is running routes, and/or which is pass blocking on a snap-by-snap basis as examples. This is a sensible approach, and it helps maintain Chubb’s status as a week to week elite option as it seems we have avoided a pure snaps split.

Alvin Kamara (#12) – Kamara was the beneficiary of the perfect game script for his playing style in the Saints week 10 loss. However, he only played 78% of snaps. This is a solid indication that Kamara will be in some form of timeshare moving forward with Latavius Murray. Kamara has proven before that on a per touch basis he is the best in the game. However, he is hobbled and the Saints are showing a few cracks. He deserves a downgrade.

Aaron Jones (#20) – Jones went off for another 3 touchdowns in week 10 against a Panthers run funnel defense in a picturesque Lambeau Field snow game. This performance boosted him to the #3 half-PPR RB in fantasy points per week. This doesn’t change the fact that he continues to get 50%-60% of the snaps and 50%-60% of the touches since Jamaal Williams return. This split is on a team that is only 8^th in adjusted line yards in the NFL. He is surviving off an extremely skewed touchdown per touch rate. Some might compare this to Alvin Kamara’s situation above. However, the Saints are #1 team in the NFL in adjusted line yards, and Kamara is 1^st in the NFL in running back targets per game (Jones is currently 15^th).

Emmanuel Sanders (#57) – It is possible that Sanders could miss week 11 with the rib cartilage issue he sustained against the Seahawks. He looks to be worth the wait. Since Sanders was brought into the fold, he has been a presence in the red zone and a primary target within the offense. Sanders had 9 targets against the Cardinals and had 4 targets in 1.5 quarters against the Seahawks.  It was obvious that once left the game that the 49ers no longer had a wide receiver capable of getting off the line against the Seahawks aggressive press overage. The 49ers, and Jimmy G, fell apart. Sanders is in line for all the work his ribs allow him to handle upon his return.