For the last fourteen weeks or so I have proven that even a team that looks like absolute hot garbage on paper can prove the old adage true, never judge a book by its cover. That’s easy to say with the benefit of hindsight. It’s not like I’m predicting who these players will be a week in advance. I would, but I can’t seem to find my copy of Gray’s Sports Almanac. Each week I have tried to pick the players for the upcoming week, but if I said it was an easy task, I’d clearly be lying. Many weeks I have gotten a player or two correct, but my low batting average is nothing to write home about. George Brett? Tony Gwynn? Wade Boggs? More like the Mendoza Line for me!
If you are still reading this post that most likely means you have made the playoffs. Congratulations. But you are a long way from hoisting that championship trophy. And if you’ve made the playoffs, it is even more unlikely that you are going to be looking for under owned players that “might” have a good week. At this point you need high floor players.
If you have not made the playoffs and just enjoy reading my banter, rock on!
However, in the spirit of this post I’d still like to present to you last week’s crop of crapshoots…
QB: Joe Flacco (30.24, 23)
RB: Terrence West (20.3, 74)
RB: Mike Gillislsee (16.9, 23)
WR: Tyler Lockett (22.3, 37)
WR: Albert Wilson (18.3, 1)
WR: Brandon LaFell (18, 17)
TE: Ladarius Green (20, 22)
FL:Â Dwayne Allen (27.2, 28)
PK: Matt Prater (18, 50)
DST: Chicago Bears (15, 3)
Look at this squad. Can you imagine the look on your face if you signed up for a 50/50 on DraftKings and your opponent set this lineup. You’d be laughing all the way to the bank. And while you’re there, grab the money you’re gonna owe your opponent because these guys combined for 206.24 points in Yahoo’s half point PPR scoring. How many times this year, or ever, has your team scored more than two hundred points?
As I mentioned earlier, no predictions from me this week. I have no desire to lead any of you astray as your begin your playoff run. Instead I’d like to take this opportunity rant about the Nintendo Classic. Oh wait, I did that last week. Never mind. What I’d actually like to do is point out a few facts and let you make your own decisions. After all, you’ve gotten this far on your own.
The Atlanta Falcons have given up more than 3,500 passing yards this season. While at it, they have also given up 26 passing touchdowns. This is second only to the Cleveland Browns who have given up 28. The Carolina Panthers have also given up over 3,500 passing yards.
The San Francisco 49’ers have given up a whopping 1,775 yards rushing. That comes to an average of 147.91 yards per game. Throw in a league high 20 touchdowns and it seems foolish not to start any opposing running back. The Browns are not much further behind with 1,521 yards and 15 touchdowns against.
The Dallas Cowboys have given up the most receptions (193) to wide receivers. The 49’ers have given up the most receiving touchdowns (20) to wide receivers. And the Kansas City Chiefs have given up the most yards in the air (2,443) to wide receivers.
The Cowboys have also given up the most receptions (82) to tight ends. The Browns, Lions and Panthers have given up the most touchdowns (9) to opposing tight ends. And the Cincinnati Bengals have given up the most receiving yards (913) to tight ends.
Jordy Nelson leads all player in red zone targets (28). Next is Michael Crabtree and Odell Beckham Jr. with 20. Jason Witten and Allen Robinson have 19. Robinson has converted 6 of those targets while Witten has only turned one into a score.
Mike Evans leads all players with 140 overall targets. Larry Fitzgerald, who has 129 targets, leads the league with 92 receptions. Allen Robinson is 7th with 121 targets. Now if only the dude would start catching some of those passes!
Good luck this week.
