Grading My Last Minute Fantasy Football Pickups of Week 5

Playing catch up with this post and still need to get a few more grades in for past weeks.  Pretty good week with these considering half my picks beat their projections rather handily, highlighted by McCown.  If I haven’t mentioned enough that Williams isn’t a very good player, I just want to take this chance to say he’s not.  As Always, I’ll be using the standard projections and scoring found at espn.com for these ratings.  Let’s see how I did!

20-50% owned tier

Pickup of the Week – WR Willie Snead – New Orleans Saints – Projected 36th at WR – Finished 11th – Grade: A++

I said grab him then and he’s still worth owning despite the letdown in week 6 (that was clearly because of game plan if you haven’t seen that game).  He’s the #2 in New Orleans and that offense is getting things straight and looks pretty good now.  Definitely worth the start most weeks from here on out assuming nothing drastically changes.

Honorable Mentions

QB Blake Bortles – Jacksonville Jaguars -Projected 14th at QB – Finished 3rd – Grade: A+++

Was a great match up and he benefited.  I’m still not a big fan of Bortles and think his accuracy is below average most of the time.  But he does have those weapons at WR and now TE…

RB Andre Williams – New York Giants – Projected 36th at RB – Finished in oblivion – Grade: F—

The game ended up closer than I expected so Williams was put on the back burner.  He’ll only see a ton of time when the game is in hand.  Otherwise, he’s not good enough to play.  End of discussion.

TE Richard Rodgers – Green Bay Packers – Projected 14th at TE – Finished 15th – Grade: F

Finished a few spots better in PPR scoring but still a little disappointing he didn’t get in the end zone in this one.  Will continue to be a decent option if you don’t have a top tier TE.

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Owned 20% or Less

Pickup of the Week – QB Josh McCown – Cleveland Browns – Projected 28th at QB – Finished 1st!!! – Grade: A++++

A crazy stretch of games for him capped by this monster against the Ravens.  Came back down to earth this week but he’s really playing well and utilizing an underrated group of receivers to be sneaky good this season.  I’d roll with him when the match up is right any week at this point.

Honorable Mentions

WR Cole Beasley – Dallas Cowboys – Projected 59th at WR – Finished 51st – Grade: D

Really thought he’d be a PPR stud when Bryant got hurt but he just hasn’t been very good.  I’m off the Beasley train after this game.  Maybe he’ll be better when Romo returns but no reason to look his way until something changes.

WR Marquess Wilson – Chicago Bears – Projected 31st at WR – Finished 10th – Grade: A++

Like his talent the more I see it.  He doesn’t look like a superstar but could be a solid fantasy play if he develops a little more.  Think of him as a slightly more talented and bigger version of Harry Douglas for now.

Defense Tennessee Titans – Projected 11th at D – Finished 11th – Grade: C

Giving myself a decent grade on this pick since I think the projection was shockingly high.  This D is far from great but they aren’t the doormat they were last season.  Will have their moments and should be considered when the match up looks good.

Detroit Lions Fantasy Football Analysis – Week 6

Week 6 – vs Chicago – W 37-34

QB: Stafford a monster game and recovered well from the benching.  Receivers made some plays for him so it might be more of a fluke than anything.  Have to see him do it a few more times before I believe.

RB: Abdullah a decent game and got the most touches.  Probably too small to be a work horse-type but does flash a ton of quickness and speed when he gets room.  Riddick a decent game as well with most of his yards coming as a receiver.  Not a bad PPR option when match up is right.

WR: Johnson a huge game and looked vintage.  Hopefully, is back to normal.  Tate a good game and still a good PPR play.  Moore a big game but no reason to think it continues.  Erratic is his game.

TE: Wright a TD but little else.  Nothing to see here for now.

OL: Was decent in this one.  Help run game grind out a ton of yards.  Protected fairly well and looks to be improving.

Def: Held elite runner to average numbers.  Pass rush wasn’t great.  Still can’t cover.  Gave up good games to RB and #1 WR.  Would have given up good game to TE but his average numbers were his fault, not D’s doing.

Chicago Bears Fantasy Football Analysis – Week 6

Week 6 – @ Detroit – L 34-37

QB: Cutler a nice game and looked good with his receivers healthy again.  Missed some key throws but looks like the O is back on track.  Good option when match up is right, again.

RB: Forte another good game and continues to be an elite player regardless of match up.  The difference in talent between him and most of the rest of the league is so stark right now.

WR: Jeffery a huge game and looked fantastic.  Didn’t look slowed by the injury at all.  Fully healthy and back to being a borderline top 10 option.  Royal a nice PPR game and did what you can expect from him.  Wilson should continue chipping away targets from him, in my opinion.

TE: Bennett an okay game and could have been a ton better.  Failed to make any great plays and have to hope he turns it back on.  Crossing my fingers that this was a fluky game in that sense.

OL: Serviceable game here.  Certainly not dominating and didn’t do much for run game.  Protected decently but has some issues there.  QB doesn’t help a ton.

Def: Just wasn’t good anywhere.  Got run on for a lot by struggling run game.  Torched through the air.  Isn’t making plays.  Not much of a pass rush.  Gave up big games to WRs.  Decent games to TE and RB.

Cincinnati Bengals Fantasy Football Analysis – Week 6

Week 6 – @ Buffalo – W 34-21

QB: Dalton good again and continues to roll with his receivers healthy.  Continue starting as long as the big 3 are on the field.

RB: Bernard and Hill both good games with the unusual happening.  Bernard got the rushing TD, Hill a TD catch.  As with last season, they will continue to be the only must start RB committee in the league.

WR: Jones a big game in a great match up.  Will excel when there is good coverage on Green.  Green held in check in this game by great D.  Nothing to worry about.  Will happen when D is willing to take chances with others.

TE: Eifert a good game, nabbing a TD.  Also, probably a better option when Green is going to be covered well.

OL: Continues playing really well and starting to look like one of the best in the league without question.  Held great blitzing team in check and opened holes for run game.  Unit looks almost elite right now.

Def: Got run on more easily than expected.  Contained passing game for the most part.  Pass rush was solid at times.  Gave up good games to RB and #1 WR.  Good PPR game to TE.

Buffalo Bills Fantasy Football Analysis – Week 6

Week 6 – vs Cincy – L 21-34

QB: Taylor DNP.  Manuel looked fine and played pretty well considering opponent.  A decent option if match up is good while Taylor is out.  Still a run first O no matter what.

RB: McCoy a good game and looked great as the work horse.  Moving well again and could be a stud as long as they aren’t losing.  Great situation for him.

WR: Watkins a good game but isn’t completely healthy.  Only a good play when they are going to lose.  His talent just doesn’t matter as much as the O.  Woods an average game but just can’t seem to put it together consistently.

TE: Clay a nice PPR game and continues to look really good.  Catching everything thrown at him right now and should continue to be PPR play.

OL: Playing well in run game and will dominate some games.  Pass protection is shaky at times but not the worst.

Def: Played worse against the run but better against the pass in this one.  Pass rush was nullified.  Wasn’t dominating up front against the run.  Gave up good games to total RBs, #2 WR and TE.  Continuing to get killed by secondary options in passing game.

Minnesota Vikings Fantasy Football Analysis – Week 6

Week 6 – vs KC – W 16-10

QB: Bridgewater not great and continues to make a few too many bad decisions because O line can’t hold up.  Just isn’t making adjustments to pressure and doesn’t seem to see it coming.

RB: Peterson held in check by elite run D.  Average numbers and was lucky to get that.  Will be fine against weaker opponents but needs supporting cast to take some pressure off.

WR: Diggs looked like Johnson from last season and might be a good play.  Doesn’t look like a superstar but could probably be a nice PPR option.  Wallace held to little but Diggs might take some attention away.  Should be fine.

TE: Rudolph a TD but nearly nothing else.  Will probably get stuck blocking more if line doesn’t protect QB better.

OL: Bad game against tough defensive front.  Did zero for run game and still isn’t protecting QB well.  Is the Achilles heel of this team.

Def: Played pretty well.  Contained run game to little.  Hit with a few longish passes but still made plays.  Pass rush wasn’t great.  Gave up good games to TE and #2 WR.

Kansas City Chiefs Fantasy Football Analysis – Week 6

Week 6 – @ Minnesota – L 10-16

QB: Smith another so-so game.  Struggled a little with no running game behind him.  Going to need his receivers to step up if he’s going to matter at all in fantasy now.

RB: West got the most carries but didn’t do a ton.  Doesn’t look too bad but might not have the patience right now to be very good.  Need to see more of him but lowering expectations now.

WR: Maclin an average game and didn’t get many looks.  Wilson a good game with a TD catch and should be the #2 WR on this team.  Not good enough to beat good coverage.  Very match up dependent.

TE: Kelce a nice game and could benefit with Charles gone.  Might get a few more targets per game.  With his ability, that would mean good production virtually every week.

OL: Rough game run blocking as they couldn’t get RBs big enough holes to break much.  Pass protection was okay but opponent was far from elite.

Def: Run D strong again and came against elite RB.  Looked great, especially up front.  Pass rush was decent but coverage had its holes with secondary options.  Gave up good game to #2 WR.  Nothing else.