
Fighting Chance Fantasy Roundtable - Week 15
Welcome to the Week 12 Fighting Chance Fantasy Roundtable! Let's get to our panel and this week's burning questions. Follow Ryan (@fightingchance), Steve Rapin (@fantasygeek37), Brian Drake (@drakefantasy), Gary Haddow (@garyhaddow1), and Kevin Tompkins (@ktompkinsii)
Who do you prefer this week? Deshaun Watson or Ryan Tannehill?
Ryan says - Deshaun Watson. While Tannehill has been amazing this season, Watson is just a dynamic quarterback and the reason that I pick him is that he has the best receiver on the field in DeAndre Hopkins and Watson can run the ball. Both guys should have amazing games, but Watson should be a few points better.
Steve says - Ryan Tannehill. From Week 7 through 14, Ryan Tannehill has been the number three fantasy quarterback. He would be number two behind only Lamar Jackson if it weren't for Josh Allen playing an extra game with Tannehill's bye week tucked in there. I like what he's doing this season and he's making a hell of a case for a big payday next season.
Gary says - Deshaun Watson. Solely for fantasy purposes as I think the Titans win this game, but it is so hard to ever doubt Watson. He is a playmaker and you always choose the playmaker. What is so crazy is you could sub Tannehill (2019) into this and use the exact same sentences.
Kevin says - Ryan Tannehill. Tannethrill has played himself into some job security with the Titans and he’s clearly found something locked away from his years in purgatory with the Dolphins. I’m riding the hot hand here, and also with Derrick Henry not 100%, that’ll up the need for the Titans to throw to win.
Drake says - Ryan Tannehill. Imagine in the preseason thinking this would be a real question? That said, Tannehill is on a torrid pace. According to PFF his 0.64 points per drop back this year is top ten this decade! As amazing as Deshaun Watson has been, Tannehill since week 7 is equally as impressive. These two face each other in Tennessee this weekend and I'm taking the Miami castoff. He is efficient, at home, and playing a terrible secondary. I can't believe I'm taking Tannehill over Watson. I need a beer.
Does the Mike Evans injury help OJ Howard or Justin Watson more?
Gary says - OJ Howard. The injury helps Watson the most as he will see the highest increase in snap shares, but Howard should be the better play this week. Howard’s boom possibilities as a downfield threat makes his ceiling much higher, while Watson has the higher floor. I’m nervous that Cameron Brate becomes more involved and limits Howard’s ceiling, but Howard is still the primary beneficiary of Evan’s injury.
Kevin Says - O.J. Howard. Hopefully. It’s been 14 excruciating weeks and he’s been hot potatoed across owners in leagues waiting for consistent usage and results. I hope this is where he shines, in Week 15, when he’s started in a single digit percentage of leagues.
Drake says - OJ Howard. I'm not sure either guy really becomes a viable fantasy option you want to rely on. Over the last two weeks Howard has 9 receptions for 134 yards. That's not exactly setting the world on fire but have you seen the Tight End position lately? I get that Watson scored last week but with the depth at WR for Tampa I'm not sure he's going to be able to replicate last weeks 5 catch performance. Throw in the fact Jameis Winston is battling a hand injury and I don't really want to rely on a fluky WR 3 on his own team. OJ is my choice (unfortunately).
James Conner, Devonta Freeman, Alexander Mattison or Kenyan Drake?
Steve says - James Conner. This is a very tough call, but it looks like James Conner is going to return and of all four of these options, I would say he has the best chance at a score. I'm not in love with him this week, but I think he's the best of the bunch.
Gary says - Devonta Freeman. I don’t like any of these options much, but I trust Freeman’s touches over the possible zero you get from Conner. While the 49ers are no joke, I expect the Falcons will have more scoring opportunities than the Steelers.
Kevin says - James Conner. Hopefully the Steelers can use Conner to take some pressure off of Duck Hodges today if he plays. The Steelers’ run game has been stuck in the mud for the most part since his injury and he’ll be welcomed back with open arms against the struggling run defense of Buffalo.
Drake says - James Conner. This is easy for me. If James Conner plays, he's the choice. A clear lead back on a team starting a quarterback named "Duck". Ummm yea. This team doesn't want to throw the football. Conner would be in line for 20+ touches. Easy money.
Sleeper
Steve says - Sterling Shepard, WR, New York Giants. A lot of people will be high on Darius Slayton this week, and understandably so after last week, but don't give up on Sterling Shepard. He's had 22 targets in his last three games since returning from injury and in a cherry matchup against the Dolphins secondary, I can see Sterling Shepard having a great week.
Gary says - Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants. With his final game as a starter (or maybe his final home game) and going up against the Dolphins defense, he should put up a final epic performance. With Barkley, Slayton, Tate, and Shepard I expect them to be able to move ball pretty easily. And with FitzMagic leading the Dolphins offense against the Giants offense, I fully expect a shootout to ensue.
Kevin says - Ian Thomas, TE, Panthers. He should be started in over half of leagues as he’s done nothing but produce whenever he’s been in the lineup and no matter who the quarterback is. He had a quality game last week (5-57-1 on 10 targets) and now faces a bottom three defense against TE; the Seattle Seahawks. Fire Thomas up as a TE1 and enjoy!
Drake says - Tyler Higbee, TE, Los Angeles Rams. OK he's not much of a sleeper after catching 14 balls for 223 the past two weeks. If you are constructing a DFS lineup he's as lock button as it gets. Chalk, meet Mr. Higbee. He's $3900 on DK. Let's not overthink this. Plus the Cowboys cover 3 defense gives up the farm to tight ends and slot wide receivers.
Bust
Ryan says - John Brown, WR, Buffalo Bills. He has scored just once in the last three weeks, and also hasn't topped 40 receiving yards in that span after being the picture of consistency the first 10-12 weeks. Josh Allen has struggled some, but they also have been playing top flight defenses. The road doesn't get any easier for Brown as the Steelers only allow less than 210 yards per game through the air. The Bills should win, but it won't be a huge statistical game.
Steve says - Stefon Diggs, WR, Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings will be on the road as they travel all the way to the West Coast to take on the Chargers. When you factor that in to the fact that Diggs will see a lot of Casey Hayward and Adam Thielen is returning, which could limit his targets a bit, and I think it could be a tough week for Diggs.
Gary says - Courtland Sutton, WR, Denver Broncos. Too many factors are against Sutton this week, even though he is a fantastic talent. Drew Lock in his third start is going into Kansas City, in the winter, with 4-5 inches of snow predicted, and the Chiefs pass defense has been one of the best in the league so far this season. I’m not sure that Sutton will be able to succeed as I expect Lock to do terrible. Hopefully I’m wrong as many people will are relying on Sutton to take them to their championships.
Kevin says - Aaron Rodgers, QB, Rodgers. Rodgers is at home, against the Chicago Bears, the same division rival he opened the 100th season. The same division rival that hasn’t allowed a top 12 fantasy day out of a quarterback at all this season. With the state of the Packers’ pass game, if you have better options, play then instead of Rodgers. It feels weird to say, but that’s where we are in 2019.
Drake says - Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills. I just like riling up the Bills Mafia but I really do think Allen has a tough matchup versus the Steelers on the road. The Pittsburgh line backers will make it difficult for Allen to find running lanes, thus limiting his upside. The Steelers can get after the quarterback better than any team in the league and I don't think Allen will be able to sit in the pocket long enough to find one of his few weapons.