Keke Coutee, 14.3%, vs TEN: Missing the past two weeks has helped Coutee’s ownership tumble to an affordable level for you. However, expect it to go back up after his 5 catch, 77 yard game against the Redskins in week 11. The injury to Will Fuller and the ineptitude of Demaryius Thomas has lead Coutee to become Deshaun Watson’s WR2. His week 12 opponent the Titans have allowed the 5th most fantasy points to WRs. They also helped T.Y. Hilton have the best game of his season catching 9 passes for 155 yards and 2 TDs. Imagine how much damage the Texans could do since they have two great WR weapons in Coutee and DeAndre Hopkins. His playoff weeks are pretty nice too. Week 14 maybe not so much — the Colts have been pretty solid against defending the pass. But week 15 he’ll face the Jets who’ve allowed the 4th most receiving yards to WRs and week 16 he gets the Eagles who’ve allowed the 2nd most receiving yards to WRs. Only one word for that…
Quarterbacks
Lamar Jackson, 22.4%, vs OAK: He was one of my recommended adds last week and all he did was drop 15 fantasy points in his first career start. He only threw for 150 yards, but rushed 27 times for 117 yards! Let’s put that in perspective — only Leonard Fournette had more rushing attempts than Lamar Jackson in week 11 by 1! The Raiders have allowed the second fewest rushing yards to QBs, however they’ve only had 28 QB rushing attempts against them which — again — is only 1 more than Jackson had in week 11. The Raiders have however allowed the second most passing TDs in the league so maybe Jackson shows off the arm a bit more. Or maybe Joe Flacco starts and ruins everything we’ve worked so hard for.
Jameis Winston, 9.2%, vs SF: The back and forth and forth and back nature of the Bucs QB situation can be as nauseating as spending a 3-hour tour on the S.S. Minnow. But here’s where I’m going to give Winston a little boost for week 12: the 49ers have only grabbed 2 interceptions on the entire season. Can’t throw 4 interceptions in a game against a team that doesn’t have 4 interceptions on the season, right?!
Running Backs
Theo Riddick, 33.1%, vs CHI: You’re not adding Riddick for his Bears match-up. Avoid that Noid at all costs. Instead, you’re adding him for his playoff match-ups in weeks 14 through 16 (Cardinals, Bills, Vikings.) These teams have allowed running backs to catch 419, 471 and 521 receiving yards respectively on the season. Theo Riddick is one of the most prolific pass-catching RBs in the league and that’s where his value lies. He could be a solid “oops my flex RB crapped his pants” option during your playoff weeks. Plus, Kerryon Johnson is unlikely to play this week and who knows what that could mean for the future of the Lions backfield.
Josh Adams, 27.9%, vs NYG: Okay — I guess Adams is the guy to own in Philly now. For the third week in a row, Adams was the Eagles leading rusher and now he’ll face the Giants who have allowed the 9th most fantasy points to running backs. I will admit though — his playoff match-ups of Cowboys, Rams, Texans are less than admirable. All three teams are in the top-half of run stopping defenses, but a lead back is a lead back.
Gus Edwards, 0.0%, vs OAK: First Josh Adams now this? Edwards had a surprising phenomenal game alongside Lamar Jackson out-rushing Alex Collins by 10 rushes and 97 yards. This could all change in week 12 or 13 when Flacco returns, but for now he’s worth a speculative add especially against a Raiders defense that have allowed the most rushing yards this year.
Wide Receivers.
Tre’Quan Smith, 13.3%, vs ATL: Smith was someone who popped up huge on people’s radars when he popped off for 111 yards and 2 TDs in week 5. Unfortunately, he hadn’t grabbed more than 3 catches in a game until week 11 when he broke out again for 10 catches, 157 yards and 1 TD. Michael Thomas still got his in this game, but it was nice to see Smith get some attention from Drew Brees. Week 12 should be a passing clinic between Matt Ryan and Brees and hopefully Smith can continue to garner such a large target load.
Bruce Ellington, 0.1%, vs CHI: He has a name that sounds more like a 1930s jazz musician, but Ellington is instead finds himself making sweet, sweet music with Matthew Stafford. With Marvin Jones Jr. out in week 11 (and potentially out for week 12) Ellington saw a solid 9 targets in his debut game with the Lions. He grabbed 6 of those for 52 yards. The Bears are a tough defense, but wide receivers have still caught the 7th most receiving yards off of them this season. If it’s just Ellington and Kenny Golladay — expect both to have respectable days in week 12 — especially if Kerryon Johnson can’t get healthy.
Tight End
Jonnu Smith, 2.4%, @ HOU: Another week, another recommendation from me, another double-digit fantasy game from Smith. This time, he topped his catch total from the previous two weeks combined with 6 catches for 44 yards. If you’re without Travis Kelce for week 12 — take a look at Jonnu as he faces a Texans defense that allowed 24 fantasy points to Jeff Heuerman in week 9 and 20 fantasy points to Jordan Reed in week 11.
Defense/Special Teams
Buffalo Bills, 22.2%, vs JAX: Don’t let the crappy Bills offense scare you away from the Bills defense. They’re actually the 6th highest scoring fantasy defense in 2018. Their week 12 opponent, the Jaguars, are averaging the 4th fewest points on the season and have lost their last 6 games leading to questions regarding Blake Bortles’s future with the team. In those 6 games they’ve only averaged 13 points per game. Sounds like the Bills will feast in week 12.
Kicker
Mike Badgley, 11.5%, vs ARI: Badgley hasn’t missed a FG in the 4 games he played in this season and is averaging 9.5 fantasy points in those games. With his opponent the Cardinals averaging the fewest yards per game, Badgley and the Chargers offense should see a lot of time on the field which could lead to a lot of FG and PAT attempts for Badgley.
