Fighting Chance Roundtable: Week 14
This is it everybody! It is the last week of the fantasy regular season unless your league goes to Week 18. The decisions are tougher, the fingernails are bit down lower, the beers are extra empty. However, we at Fighting Chance are still with you to help with some tough decisions, and one fun question at the end because hell let’s remember this is just a game and you gotta have fun sometimes too!
Is Blake Corum sneaking into fantasy relevance?
Rick: As a Rams fan, no. He is an amazing talent. He will get 8-10 carries a game and that is not rosterable in most leagues. If you are in a tight spot during this tough week filled with BYE players, I would grab players that can have a greater impact by scoring through receptions like Antonio Gibson or even Corderelle Patterson.
Joe: Not yet but Kyren Williams’ offensive snaps played rate for Week 13 (68%) was his lowest of the season and Corum’s 32% was his highest of the season. Williams has had a good season, but Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay has been known to make sudden changes to his RB depth chart in the past. If the Rams fall out of the playoff picture we might see Corum eventually get enough reps to have some fantasy value before the season is over.
Ryan: I wouldn’t say yet, but if you have any sort of roster spot that is not productive I would probably put him on your bench, especially if you have Kyren Williams. Corum isn’t a big guy, but he has good speed and can make an impact if given the chance. He is also showing the ability to catch passes out of the backfield. I don’t think he is going to have much relevance in the last month, but I can’t confidently say he definitely won’t.
Can Isaac Guerendo have a major impact in the fantasy playoffs?
Joe: Yes and no. He’s put up good stats in the two games where he’s had at least 10 carries this season and overall has averaged 5.9 YPC on the season. Guerendo has got some pretty good matchups coming up against the Bears, Rams and Dolphins, but in Week 17 he faces the Lions who’ve given up the second fewest PPR fantasy points to RBs this season.
Rick: Yes. Bell cow running back on a run-first team? Give me as much of this as you can get. Isaac is explosive. He has almost 6 yards per carry this year. Of course that will go down with volume, but he could be 15+ pts each week during your playoffs. Yes please. Like on the Love Boat, Isaac is the MAN!
Ryan: He definitely can. Will he? That might be another story. Guerendo has shown the ability to take any carry a long way in his limited time, but he should be looking at 15 carries a game down the stretch with the injuries in San Francisco. Unfortunately, the injuries have also stretched to the offensive line, so just don’t expect him to be Jordan Mason or Christian McCaffrey. Will the 49ers be holding leads in the upcoming weeks is another concern. I don’t think they are going to just roll over and die so if you grabbed Guerendo I would be starting him this week. I would also consider Patrick Taylor if you didn’t get Guerendo as he was decent in limited action against the Seahawks the last time Jordan Mason was hurt and could be the pass catching back even if he doesn’t get a ton of carries.
You have to play someone from the Chargers backfield, who is it?
Joe: I’m not loving any of my options but I’ll still go with the Chargers RB who’ll get most of the early down work and that’s Gus Edwards.
Rick: Gus Edwards is the only guy. They are more likely to pass more with slants to McConkey. He is the one who gets the most extra attention.
Ryan: I guess it has to be Gus Edwards? He hasn’t had double digit carries in any of the last three weeks but he has been successful in the league before. I know everyone has a jones for Kimani Vidal, but if it hasn’t happened yet, I am skeptical. I thought Hassan Haskins was going to make a dent, but fumbling your only carry doesn’t get you more playing time.
In a total pinch trying to make the playoffs this week in a flex spot do you pick Sincere McCormick, Greg Dulcich, Juwan Johnson or Brandin Cooks?
Rick: Brandin Cooks is a good football player. Often hurt. Erratic team. Bad quarterback. Tough to get excited. Juwan Johnson playing with Taysom Hill around could make him get 3-4 more targets which is enough to make him worth a flyer. Not interested in McCormick yet. If Zamir White cannot come out of concussion protocol, I am more interested and in a tough BYE week, it will make sense.
Ryan: Most might say McCormick because of the carries. Some might say Brandin Cooks because of his talent. But I am going to say Juwan Johnson because of the opportunity. Before the team’s bye he scored a touchdown and after the bye he had five catches on seven targets. Now it wasn’t for big yards, but now the Saints lost Taysom Hill too. The only reliable players they have left on offense are Alvin Kamara, Marquez Valdes-Scantling (who has never been used in the same sentence as reliable before) and Johnson. I think he has a chance at a pretty solid game and can help you make the playoffs.
What is your favorite Denzel Washington movie?
Ryan: Remember the Titans. It is my all time favorite sports movie, and Denzel is a genius in it as he always is. Not only is it a very entertaining movie, it sends a great message that unfortunately is still needed today.
Rick: We cannot have just one for a movie buff like me. Top 5 for me.
Number 5: The Bone Collector - Anjolina Jolie, co-stars. Denzel plays an intense forensic detective that is crippled. He investigates crimes by seeing them through Jolie's eyes. The acting from one location, in a bed, is an impossible task for any actor. He is AMAZING! Wait for the gripping ending...no spoilers here. "There are five basic contaminants in a crime scene. I'll skip to the worse one. Other cops." - Lincoln
Number 4: Glory - True story - Robert Shaw (Matthew Broderick) leads the first all black infantry in the Civil War. There is a moment when Pvt Trip (Denzel) is being whipped for his insubordination. He is glaring with anger with each whip swing. A single tear drops down his face...that is the moment he wins the Oscar."I ain't never had no family, and... killed off my mama. Well, I just... Y'all's the onliest family I got. I love the 54th." - Pvt Trip
Number 3: American Gangster - True story of Frank Lucas and the pursuit of him by good cop Richie Roberts (Crowe) and bad cop played by Josh Brolin. Denzel plays the portrait of a criminal with a family and a decision for his life. Crowe is stellar in this one too. Ridley Scott (Blade Runner) directs! Classic. "The loudest one in the room is the weakest one in the room." - Frank Lucas
Number 2: Remember the Titans - Another true story from 1971, where an all black high school was forced to be integrated with an all white high school. The racial tension is palpable and amazingly portrayed. It is Washington's performance that makes this a Top 5 sports movie of all-time. The daughter of the assistant coach steals the show. Hilarious! Good music. Good message. "If we don't come together right now on this hallowed ground, we too will be destroyed, just like they were. I don't care if you like each other of not, but you will respect each other. " - Coach Boone
Number 1: Training Day - It is a masterpiece of a character (Detective Alonzo played by Denzel) who knows his true north even if it is due south for most. Denzel stars with Ethan Hawke who plays a rookie on his first day with 24 hours to learn from the best there is. The scene where the neighborhood is leaving Alonso for his corruption, Antoine Fuqua said that the scene was supposed to end when Denzel reached down for the cigarette pack instead of the gun, but Antoine saw something in Denzel's eyes. He let it roll. Denzel lit the cigarette and made the best speech of the movie - the one that ends with "I AM the Pooolice. King Kong has got nothing on me."