Coby Fleener Buoyed by Hasselbeck

BALLER MOVE:

OWNED IN: 52% Owned in Fleaflicker

ANALYSIS: It’s official! Matt Hasselbeck improves a tight end’s fantasy value more than Andrew Luck does.  You think I’m kidding?  Look no further than Fleener’s game-by-game log this season.  In the four games Hasselbeck started, Fleener has averaged 4.2 catches for 41 yards per contest.  In the games Luck started, Fleener has averaged 2.9 catches for 26.8 yards.

Fleener has been a fantasy flop this season, so it is mind-boggling that he is still owned in more than half of Fleaflicker leagues.  But with Hasselbeck at the helm he is a little more worthy of a fantasy flier than he would be if Luck was healthy.  The No. 1 thing that makes Fleener’s fantasy worth trend upward this week is the defense he will be facing, though.

Fleener is up against the Pittsburgh Steelers this Sunday night.  You know, the same Steelers defense that Russell Wilson picked apart for 345 yards and five touchdown tosses this past weekend.  The same Steelers defense that is ranked 30^th against the pass.  The same Steelers defense that probably makes Mel Blount and Donnie Shell want to bum rush the locker room and slap some sense into the subpar secondary.

Fleener is better off with Hasselbeck throwing to him than his former college teammate Luck.  Not sure why or how, and not sure how long this will continue, but if you are short a tight end due to the injuries to Gronkowski, Graham or Eifert, Fleener can work for a week.