RADIO
The playoffs are getting closer and closer. Your team’s depth and talent is being tested week after week. Does your team have the talent and depth of the Arizona Cardinals, even though they are not showing it this season? In contrast, maybe your team is as injured as the Tampa Bay Bucs’ running backs. Doug Martin, Charles Sims and Jacquizz Rodgers. Do you have that many injuries at one position? If so, keep reading.
We are looking deep into the waiver wires and possible trade targets, especially as the trade deadline approaches in most leagues. See anyone that catches your eye?
*Remember: These columns do not include your every-week starters. For this week, players like Jay Ajayi, David Johnson and Jonathan Stewart. This article goes deeper than that.
Editor's Note: New users that sign up on FantasyAces, make a $20 deposit, and enter any game will receive our full season NFL (or NBA) Premium Pass for free, a $59.99 value. Just email info@rotoballer.com with your new FantasyAces username - and boom, that's it! We will email you with your Premium pass.
Best Start Possible – Darren Sproles @ NYG
Let's start off by saying - who would not want to start Sproles this week? There are several factors that point to a great fantasy day from the veteran this weekend. First off, he is the lead dog in Philadelphia now. Ryan Mathews played a total of eight snaps in Week 8 and Sproles led the way with 103 total yards on 20 touches. Secondly, when Sproles plays against the Giants, his team has a record of 7-1. This means that there will be plenty of opportunities in this game if the Eagles get ahead early (20-25 touches should be expected). Finally, in those eight games, while he has only ran the ball 28 times, he has a career average of 7.29 yards against the Giants. He also has three rushing TDs (one every 9.33 times he ran the ball).
Quality Start – Derrick Henry @ SD
This game is all about game flow and opportunity. Henry is coming off the best game of his young career in which he had 16 carries for 60 yards and a TD against the Jaguars. Now, while starter DeMarco Murray is expected to play, Murray is banged up. This means more carries for Henry against a suspect run defense. The Chargers allow their opponents to score 11 rushing TDs, the third-most in the NFL. This may be a completely wrong prediction, but if it is correct, it will be well worth the start.
Worst Start Possible – T.J. Yeldon @ KC
Can we stick with the theme of opportunity this week? Because Yeldon does not get any at all. While he is certainly the lead back over first-year Jaguar Chris Ivory, neither has been given the ball enough to make either of them a valuable start this week. In seven games, Yeldon has only seen ran the ball more than seven times twice and he has not scored a TD since Week 1 (his only TD on the season). Then, we can factor the Chiefs DEF. They have only allowed three rushing TDs all season. This hurts Yeldon’s value even more. Without the touches, he becomes extremely TD-dependent, and it is hard to say that he will even get any redzone carries this Sunday.
Not a Good Start – Rashad Jennings v. PHI
You may question this choice. Yes, Jennings did run for 170 yards and a TD against the Eagles in Week 16 last year. But, that game was close. This game could easily get out of hand, in which case, the ball will be taken out of Jennings’ hands. While the team lost both games to Philly last year, his opportunities differed greatly. In Week 6, he had 16 total touches in a 27-7 loss. Week 16 was a 35-30 loss but it included 29 touches. If this game gets put into Eli’s hands, it will certainly limit Jennings’ upside and snaps. It is hard to trust those odds with those possibilities.
Next week, we will revisit the ever-changing wide receivers. With more bye weeks on the schedule, it is starting to get tough to find some worthy starts in a position so deep.
*Have a player or position question you would like me to talk about? Follow me on Twitter @JSorensen119 and let me know.
