The Shadow Coverage Report: 2020 Review
February 8, 2021 | 2021 Fantasy Football, Fantasy Football Strategy |by: Bobby LaMarco
Does Shadow Coverage matter…..I mean I hope so I just spent the whole year writing about it, but instead of just hoping it does let’s take a look at 2020. Just an FYI if we find out it doesn’t, I just want to say I can’t wait to try something new here at the great company of Razzball in 2021.
The first thing we should do is review the data of all the wide receivers we wrote about in are articles weeks 1- 17 weeks. Granted not all these players ended up seeing shadow coverage, but it is important to look at the players who we typically think will see shadow coverage week in and week out. Later on we will review PFF’s shadow coverage matchups to see the overall impact shadow coverage had in 2020, but for now let’s dive into the weekly finishes of the players we tracked this season.
| Shadow Coverage Tracker | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| WR Finish | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 23 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4+ | 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Grand Total | 81 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shadow Coverage Tracker | |
|---|---|
| WR Finish | Total |
| 1 | 23 |
| 2 | 13 |
| 3 | 13 |
| 4+ | 29 |
| Grand Total | 78 |
Team: Dallas Cowboys
Opponent: New York Giants
WR1: Amari Cooper
Shadow Coverage Matchup: James Bradberry
| Amari Cooper vs. Shadow Coverage | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opponent | Games | Rec | Yards | TDs | PPG |
| All Other Opponents | 31 | 5.6 | 77.6 | 0.5 | 13.3 |
| Vs. Shadow Coverage | 15 | 4.4 | 57.5 | 0.4 | 10.3 |
| vs. James Bradberry | 1 | 2 | 23 | 0 | 3.3 |
Historical Production vs. Shadow Coverage
Amari Cooper’s performance vs. shadow coverage has been ok vs. shadow coverage posting 10 PPG in .5 PPR since 2018. However, it is important to point out he has failed to hit double digits in 8 games while failing to hit 6 points in 7 of those contests. This low floor tends to make Cooper more of a boom or bust prospect when facing notable shadow corners.
Please, blog, may I have some more?| Shadow Coverage Tracker | |
|---|---|
| WR Finish | Total |
| 1 | 22 |
| 2 | 12 |
| 3 | 11 |
| 4+ | 29 |
| Grand Total | 74 |
Team: Baltimore Ravens
Opponent: New York Giants
WR1: Marquise Brown
Shadow Coverage Matchup: James Bradberry
| Marquise Brown vs. Shadow Coverage | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opponent | Games | Rec | Yards | TDs | PPG |
| All Other Opponents | 25 | 3.4 | 48 | 0.5 | 9.4 |
| Vs. Shadow Coverage | 3 | 4.3 | 3.7 | 0 | 4.8 |
Historical Production vs. Shadow Coverage
Marquise Brown hasn’t seen much shadow coverage in 2020 only getting the followed once back in week 2 by Bradley Roby. In that game Brown caught 5 receptions for 42 yards with no scores. In three career games in shadow coverage Brown has yet to top 50 yards in any game. This has led to his career PPG to be just under 5 in .5 PPR.
Week 16 Recommendation – Sit
This week Marquise Brown will square off vs. Giants top CB James Bradberry. Bradberry so far in 2020 has faced 8 WRs in shadow coverage holding them to a combined 8.4 PPG in .5 PPR. This includes holding D.K. Metcalf (5-80), Amari Cooper (2-23) and Allen Robinson (3-33) well below their season averages in 2020. Granted Brown is coming off four straight productive games but this matchup vs. James Bradberry makes him a fade in week 16.
DFS Recommendation – Price FD $6,200 / DK $5,700
Marquise Brown is listed as a top 24 WR on each site making him a DFS fade for week 16. Notable players in the same price range I would pivot to include Jarvis Landry vs. NYJ and Cole Beasley vs. NE.
Team: Dallas Cowboys
Opponent: Philadelphia Eagles
WR1: Amari Cooper
Shadow Coverage Matchup: Darius Slay
| Amari Cooper vs. Shadow Coverage | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opponent | Games | Rec | Yards | TDs | PPG |
| All Other Opponents | 30 | 5.7 | 76.1 | 0.5 | 13.2 |
| Vs. Shadow Coverage | 15 | 4.4 | 57.5 | 0.4 | 10.3 |
| vs. Darius Slay | 1 | 3 | 38 | 0 | 5.3 |
WAY too early Top 80 WR for 2021
December 18, 2020 | Fantasy Football Strategy | 2 Commentsby: al_FF_red
The fantasy regular season is in the books and I already laid out rankings for the playoffs. So what else is there to do but look ahead into the crystal ball and see what 2021 could have in store. As always, this is not format specific but a general ranking based simply on who I’d rather see on my roster in 2021. I am happy to talk specifics in the comments, as the note section is not meant to be a thesis explaining the position of each ranking.
I have included some choice rookies for 2021, although in all likelihood there will be more that make their way into the top 80 by season’s end. This year there are currently 5 rookies in the top 50 WR in fantasy points per game. With offenses using more 3 and 4 wide formations, rookies can get on the field early and often. Earning snaps is the biggest hurdle for most rookies but that is not as hard as it used to be when only 2 WRs were featured. Rookie receivers should continue to be assets even in redraft leagues, so I have been generous in my rankings with 2 rookies already in the top 36.
Read all of the QB, RB and TE Razzball Rest of Season Positional Rankings now!
And without further ado…
Please, blog, may I have some more? The Shadow Coverage Report – Week 14
December 12, 2020 | 2020 Fantasy Football, Fantasy Football Strategy | 1 Commentby: Bobby LaMarco
| Shadow Coverage Tracker | |
|---|---|
| WR Finish | Total |
| 1 | 18 |
| 2 | 9 |
| 3 | 11 |
| 4+ | 28 |
| Grand Total | 66 |
Team: Arizona Cardinals
Opponent: New York Giants
WR1: DeAndre Hopkins
Shadow Coverage Matchup: James Bradberry
| DeAndre Hopkins vs. Shadow Coverage | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opponent | Games | Rec | Yards | TDs | PPG |
| All Other Opponents | 27 | 7.4 | 96.3 | 0.4 | 16 |
| Vs. Shadow Coverage | 19 | 6.5 | 73.8 | 0.6 | 14.1 |
| vs. James Bradberry | 1 | 5 | 41 | 0 | 6.6 |
Your WR top 80 14.0 is here! This is a playoff specific edition of the WR ranks, with extra weight given to the next 3 matchups specifically. Nothing matters but the path ahead so a few players jumped up because of their schedule. Additionally guys who are currently injured might as well be off the list, although some are straggling around like Kenny Golladay, but there is no guarantee he’ll suit up for our fantasy teams.
This list is not league or format specific, but it is based on 2020 rest-of-season projection only. When thinking through tiers and rankings I asked myself simply – “all things considered who would I rather have on my roster?”
Read all of the QB, RB and TE Razzball Rest of Season Positional Rankings now!
Please, blog, may I have some more? Rest of Season Top 80 WRs Week 13
December 2, 2020 | 2020 Fantasy Football, Rest of Season Rankings, Top 80 WR Rankings | 8 Commentsby: al_FF_red
Your WR top 80 13.0 is here! Even though week 12 hasn’t ended yet, we’re on to the final countdown. If you’re 7-5 or better you can probably coast but a playoff seed may be on the line. If you’re rolling at 6-6 or in some leagues maybe even 5-7 this is do or die. Obviously “rest of season” doesn’t really mean much with one game left in the regular season but this is still a relative ranking of the best WRs in our game. As a rule, injuries will always bump guys down. I am generally pessimistic that players will return on time at full strength without a setback.
This list is not league or format specific, but it is based on 2020 rest-of-season projection only. When thinking through tiers and rankings I asked myself simply – “all things considered who would I rather have on my roster?”
Read all of the QB, RB and TE Razzball Rest of Season Positional Rankings now!
Please, blog, may I have some more?
As my Kerryon Johnson fathead and I prepared for our first Zoomsgiving on Thursday morning, I could feel the Excitement growing. Yes, I’ve named my dong “Excitement.” So I fired up AOL dialup connection to join the Razz-family Zoom call. Nothing could have prepared me for what I’d see on the other side of the screen once my 17 minute dial up was complete. The things Rudy Gamble, Pigskinonator and their Will Fuller fathead were doing would make Louis C.K. blush. A couple hours later ,Will Fuller came through again with a monstrous game against the Lions, catching 6 passes for 171 yards and his 7th and 8th touchdowns. The great Pigskinonator foreshadowed all of this, of course, projecting Fuller as its #3 fantasy wide receiver for week 12 and projecting Deshaun Watson (17/25 for 318 yards, 8 carries for 24 yards and 4 touchdowns–he now has 24 touchdowns) as its #2 QB for the week. If you haven’t tasted the deliciousness of the Pig-bot yet, we’re still offering a free 3-day trial and then it’s only $5.99 for the final month of the season. Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday for fantasy football:
Please, blog, may I have some more? Rest of Season Top 80 WR: Week 12
November 25, 2020 | 2020 Fantasy Football, Rest of Season Rankings, Top 80 WR Rankings | 8 Commentsby: al_FF_red
Your WR top 80 13.0 is here! As a rule, injuries will always bump guys down. I am generally pessimistic that players will return on time at full strength without a setback.
This list is not league or format specific, but it is based on 2020 rest-of-season projection only. When thinking through tiers and rankings I asked myself simply – “all things considered who would I rather have on my roster?”
Read all of the QB, RB and TE Razzball Rest of Season Positional Rankings now!
Please, blog, may I have some more?
Fantasy Football Podcast: Week 11 Review – Burrow My Heart At Wounded Knee
November 25, 2020 | Fantasy Football Podcast |by: B_Don
B_Don and Donkey Teeth join you right before turkey day! While you’re out doing the last minute shopping, grab your headphones and listen to the newest episode!
Best wishes for a speedy recovery for the talented, young QB, Joe Burrow. Can you trust the weapons around him moving forward?
Taysom Hill shows up many times throughout the show as we discuss the impact he will have for your team, and maybe more importantly, how it appears he may impact some of the other members of the Saints.
Speaking of finally getting their chance, J.K. Dobbins and Jonathan Taylor finally got their chance and looked impressive in week 11.
We include Damien Harris in our talks and then determine where we’d have each of them for rest of the season.
As we move on to WRs, it’s time to look at the Dallas WR situation and determine who we trust for the playoff run. Then, we discuss some dynasty WR rankings with some who have hit the ground running and some that have struggled in their first year.
Please, blog, may I have some more?