I'm a college and professional sports nut from the Chicago area. Follow me on Twitter @Shawn_Foss
Welcome back to the Rookie Report! More than likely, your fantasy season is over at this point, but there are still some leagues out there with playoffs that run through week 17, or have a 2-week championship matchup, and there are certainly still DFS games this week. Week 17 is always a tricky one because several teams have nothing to gain by playing their starters, and automatically playing your studs might not always make sense. With that in mind, this week's report will have a little bit of a different layout. I'll take a detailed look at what to do with the rookies who should have their normal role this week, I'll touch quickly on some rookies who should be avoided due to rest and some who should just be avoided in general, and then I'll look at a few less heralded rooks who could make good cheap DFS options this week. Let's take a look...
QB Carson Wentz, PHI (Wk. 17: vs. Dal.): Wentz has been a pretty poor fantasy option for much of the season, putting up a pretty weak 8-14 TD-INT ratio over the past 12 games. Still, he won't have much of a running game to work with since Ryan Mathews and Kenjon Barner were just added to IR this week, so he should be throwing plenty. The Cowboys rank just 19th in Football Outsiders' pass defense DVOA stat, which measures efficiency, and they are likely to be sitting many of their starters. Wentz has a chance at a nice day and could be a pretty good QB2 if you are desperate to replace Dak, Eli, or Big Ben.
RB Jordan Howard, CHI (Wk. 17: @Min.): Howard's put up 99 scrimmage yards or more in 8 straight contests, and he's run for a robust 6.15 yards per carry over the past 3 weeks. There is no reason the Bears won't lean on him again this week, and he should have success. The Vikings rank a middling 15th in run defense DVOA and let Howard go off for 202 scrimmage yards and a TD in the first meeting. Howard should be trusted once again.
RB Rob Kelley, WAS (Wk. 17: vs. NYG): This is a must-win game for Washington and the Giants will be sitting a lot of their starters. New York ranks a daunting 4th in run defense DVOA this year, but I would throw that out the window this week. Kelley will almost certainly see at least 15 carries and is a good bet for a TD. It also helps that he's been more involved in the passing game lately, with twice as many catches in the past 3 weeks (8) as he had in the rest of the season prior. With several stud backs resting, Kelley could be close to an RB1 this week.
RB Kenneth Dixon, BAL (Wk. 17: @Cin.): Dixon's outlook this week is about the same as it's been for much of the past month or 2. He's likely to end up in the 6-8 point range barring an unexpected touchdown (all point totals are in ESPN standard scoring) That range is usable, but probably not what you would hope for. He's been running pretty well lately, but he's still splitting work with Terrance West and the Bengals have allowed the 4th-fewest RB points per game over the past 5 weeks. He’s in play as a flex option, but not much more.
RB Devontae Booker, DEN (Wk. 17: vs. Oak.): Booker did finally get back to over 50% of the snaps played last week and saw 10 targets in the passing game, but he's totaled just 115 scrimmage yards in 3 games since the team signed Justin Forsett. The biggest reason Devontae received so many targets last week was because the team played from multiple scores down. I wouldn't expect that to happen against the Matt McGloin-led Raiders, and Oakland has allowed just 10 fantasy points per game to opposing RBs in the past 3 weeks. Booker is just too hard to trust in anything but really deep leagues while he’s splitting work with Forsett in one of the least effective rushing attacks in the league.
WR Michael Thomas, NO (Wk. 17: @Atl): There is no reason for the Saints to hold back this week. Thomas has seen at least 5 targets and at least 40 receiving yards in every game he’s played this year, and he gets a plus matchup with Atlanta. The Falcons rank 24th in pass defense DVOA and haven’t faced a competent passing attack in a month (Last 3 opponents: LA, SF, Carolina). Thomas should be a strong option this week and a high-floor WR2.
WR Tyreek Hill, KC (Wk. 17: @SD): Hill should be a boom-or-bust option again this week thanks to limited volume, but he’s boomed in 4 of his last 5 games, including the last two in which he didn’t catch a single pass. SD isn’t a great matchup for him…they allow the 8th-fewest WR fantasy points and have allowed just 7 pass plays of 40+ yards and just one run of 40+ on the year. Hill has thrived on long TDs. More than half of his rushing and receiving scores have gone for 34 yards or more, but he’s also had two strong performances against the Broncos, who are the #1 defense in the league vs. WRs. The Chiefs need to win and Hill is their best playmaker, so he could be worth a roll of the dice yet again. Just know there is some risk as always.
WR Sterling Shepard, NYG (Wk. 17: @Was.): Shepard could be a little dicey this week with the Giants locked into the 5-seed in the NFC, but they typically only dress 5 or 6 WRs, and they play more 3-WR sets than any team in the league. I think the Giants are more likely to rest OBJ and Victor Cruz than Shepard. I can’t imagine that the Giants would spend the majority of the game with Tavarres King, Dwayne Harris and Roger Lewis as their receivers in 3-wide sets. Sterling has found the end zone in 6 of the last 8 games and put up his highest yardage total since week 3 in his last one. He’s right on the WR3 borderline for me this week.
WR Corey Coleman, CLE (Wk. 17: @Pit.): I’d probably avoid Coleman this week, but I mention him here because he should still see some volume. His two biggest yardage totals of the season were in weeks 1 & 2, and he’s averaged just 28.6 yards per game since returning from a broken hand in week 9. Still, he’s seen at least 4 targets in each game since his return (with an average of 7.3 per game), so he remains in play as a blindfolded dart throw in DFS.
TE Hunter Henry, SD (Wk. 17: vs. KC): Henry’s dynasty outlook may have taken a hit this week when Antonio Gates hinted that he’s likely to return next season, but his outlook for week 17 might have gotten a little better. Gates needs just 2 TDs to set the NFL record for receiving touchdowns by a tight end, and the Chargers were likely to try to get him those scores if this was going to be his last game. Since it likely isn’t, there is a chance Henry gets some of the targets in the red zone. He’s still not much more than a TD dart throw against a defense that has allowed just 2 TE scores all year, but crazy things happen in week 17.
QB Dak Prescott, DAL (Wk. 17: @Phi.): The Cowboys have nothing to play for this week with the top seed in the NFC sewn up. Dak will likely play a few series to keep fresh, but with the news that Mark Sanchez will be active, I would expect the Sanchize to play more than half of the game.
RB Ezekiel Elliott, DAL (Wk. 17: @Phi.): Like Dak, Zeke should also have a short day. If you have Zeke, pick up Darren McFadden if he's available. He should play the majority of the snaps.
RB Paul Perkins, NYG (Wk. 17: @Was.): Perkins has become a pretty big part of the Giants' offense of late with 41 carries in the past 3 games. I'm not sure how the G-Men will divvy up the backfield touches this week, but my best guess is they will use a ton of Bobby Rainey to keep Perkins and Rashad Jennings healthy.
WR Will Fuller, HOU (Wk. 17: @Ten.): You could argue that the Texans will want their receivers to work on their rapport and timing with new starting QB Tom Savage, but I think they will want to make sure Fuller is healthy. Bill O'Brien on Thursday called Fuller one of the team's best route runners, and he mentioned that injuries are what sapped his productivity. With that in mind and nothing to gain with a win this week, I'd expect a limited amount of Fuller to ensure he's at full strength for the Wild Card weekend.
QB Jared Goff, LA (Wk. 17: vs. Ari.): You know better than to play Goff.
QB Cody Kessler, CLE (Wk. 17: @Pit.): It was looking as though Kessler would get the nod, but RG3 was cleared from the concussion he suffered last weekend and will get the start.
QB Paxton Lynch, DEN (Wk. 17: vs. Oak.): The Broncos announced that both Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch would see some action in week 17, which makes both useless in DFS or any other formats.
RB Dwayne Washington, DET (Wk. 17: vs. GB): It looks like Theo Riddick is likely to sit again this week, but Dwayne has had just one useful week since scoring a TD in week one. It's ugly out there at RB this week, but there are better risks to take than expecting Washington to put up his best game of the year.
RB Derrick Henry, TEN (Wk. 17: vs. Hou.): With Matt Cassel under center, the Texans should stack the box to stop the run, and there is no telling if Henry will see extra work now that the Titans are out of the playoff hunt. He played just 24% of the snaps last week and saw just 4 carries, and he also carries a price tag of $4,900 in DraftKings this week, which just isn't worth the risk.
RB Kenyan Drake, MIA (Wk. 17: vs. NE): Drake put up 56 yards and a TD last weekend, but he did so on just 4 touches, and the Dolphins still have the ability to move up to the 5-seed in the AFC. That would mean they’d draw the Texans rather than the Steelers, so they should be trying to win. That also means they’ll use a lot of Jay Ajayi. Don't chase last week's points, despite the OC’s comments that Drake “warrants more in the gameplan.”
WR Tyler Boyd, CIN (Wk. 17: vs. Bal.): Boyd’s production has dropped off precipitously after a quick spike when AJ Green got hurt. He averaged a line of 5-60.7-0.3 on 7.7 targets per game in the first 3 games that Green was out, but that has dropped to 3.3-29-0 on 4.3 targets in the 3 games since. There's been no sign that his target share will suddenly go back up this week.
WR Tajae Sharpe, TEN (Wk. 17: vs. Hou.): Matt Cassel should sap any upside that Sharpe has in week 17. He did see 8 targets last week and still posted just a 3-43 line. You should probably steer clear.
WR Malcolm Mitchell, NE (Wk. 17: @Mia.): Mitchell has yet to practice yet this week after banging up his knee against the Jets last weekend. Even if he is able to suit up I'd expect him to play limited snaps. Look for Michael Floyd to get his first extended look as a Patriot. As of Friday, Mitchell is listed as doubtful.
WR Robby Anderson, NYJ (Wk. 17: vs. Buf.): With Bryce Petty on IR, Anderson is pretty much unusable. A huge portion of his production came with Petty at the helm. Charone Peake may have some extra upside this week, but the Jets' passing attack is one to avoid in general in week 17.
TE Austin Hooper, ATL (Wk. 17: vs. NO): Hooper is banged up this week and not practicing as of Thursday. It's a plus matchup, but I'd be surprised if Hooper does much this week. The Falcons signed an extra tight end off their practice squad this week, which doesn't bode well for Hooper's status.
TE Tyler Higbee, LA (Wk. 17: vs. Ari.): Higbee scored a TD last week, but he's put up just 85 yards on 29 targets for the season. Over the past few weeks, his role has been increasing, but it's led to 6 catches for 44 yards and a TD on 11 targets in the past 4 games.
RBs DeAndre Washingon & Jalen Richard, OAK (Wk. 17: @Den.): The best way to attack the Broncos’ defense is with the rushing attack, and Latavius Murray has seen his workload shrink quickly in the past couple of weeks with Washington active again. Denver ranks first in pass defense DVOA, but 26th in run defense DVOA. In week 16, Murray played just 41% of the offensive snaps and handled 17 touches while Washington (33%, 13) and Richard (20%, 9) split the rest and both of them turned in a productive day. The pair of backups combined for 196 scrimmage yards and 3 touchdowns. Each will cost less than $4,000 in DraftKings while Murray will cost $5,200. I’d rather take my chances with one of the backups than try Latavius in DFS this week. I’d lean toward Washington with Richard limited at practice this week with a shoulder injury.
RB Alex Collins, SEA (Wk. 17: @SF): It looks like Thomas Rawls will play this week, but I’d be surprised if he gets more carries than Collins as he fights through a shoulder injury. The Seahawks will need a healthy Rawls if they want to win in the playoffs, and they should be able to beat the 49ers and still limit his workload. The 49ers rank a miserable 29th in run defense DVOA, and have allowed 4 more RB fantasy points per game than any other team this year. Collins should see a nice share of the workload, and costs a reasonable $4,600 on DraftKings. He should be a popular play in GPP tournaments, and for good reason.
WR Cody Core, CIN (Wk. 17: vs. Bal.): Core costs the minimum in DraftKings this week, and he was targeted a whopping 14 times last week with AJ Green and Tyler Eifert out. He’s also started in each of the past 3 games. The final stat line wasn’t great last week with 8-39-0 on those 14 targets, but the PPR scoring format of DraftKings makes all those targets valuable. He should be heavily targeted again this week, and the Ravens allow the 9th-most WR fantasy points per game. He’s an enticing punt option this week.
WR Roger Lewis, NYG (Wk. 17: @Was.): Like Core, Lewis costs the minimum in DraftKings, and as mentioned above, the Giants should be resting their starters quite a bit. Josh Johnson will likely play some at QB, and he and Lewis should show a 2nd team connection. Washington is a 7.5-point favorite, so the Giants should be throwing a lot. Washington also ranks just 25th in pass defense DVOA. The volume is less certain with Lewis than it is with Core, but his targets should be farther downfield as well. Both are interesting options in GPP contests.
WR Geronimo Allison, GB (Wk. 17: @Det.): This will undoubtedly feel like chasing last week’s production after Allison put up 4-66 on 7 targets, but Allison will have an opportunity again if Randall Cobb is out Sunday night. The Lions are best attacked through the air, and they rank dead last in pass defense DVOA on throws to WRs other than the number 1 & 2 on the opposing team. Darius Slay should return and would be matched up with Jordy Nelson, which could create additional looks for Davante Adams and Allison. Adams has been more productive this year, but he costs $5,700 in DraftKings while Allison costs just $3,000. You can avoid Geronimo if Randall Cobb plays, but he’ll have great upside for a minimum priced option if Cobb sits again.
That's all I've got for this season. Hopefully the breakdowns I've posted weekly have helped you get through some tough rookie decisions throughout the year and helped you to victory more often than not. Feel free to give me a hard time about anything written above via twitter (@Shawn_Foss). Week 17 is always wacky, so I expect to be wrong about more than I get right. Thanks for reading, and as always: Good luck, trust your gut, and have fun. It's just a game.
Welcome back to the Rookie Report! We're finally here: fantasy championship week (as long as your league isn't one of those weird ones that goes through week 17). Hopefully you've still got a championship to play for. If you played Sammy Watkins, Stefon Diggs, Adrian Peterson, Tom Brady, or Toddy Gurley last week, it's likely 'Better luck next year' (I had two of them in), but if you're still alive & kicking you've got some decisions to make this week. Let's jump right into what to expect from the rookies in week 16...
RB Jordan Howard, CHI (Wk. 16: vs. Was.): Howard's hot streak continued last week even as the Bears' comeback effort fell short. Sunday's game was Howard's 7th straight with at least 99 yards from scrimmage, and Washington has surrendered plenty of points to running backs all season, allowing the 4th-most fantasy points per game to the position. They've also allowed 24 or more fantasy points to opposing backs in 3 of their past 4 (all point totals are in ESPN standard scoring). Howard should be a solid RB1 this week.
RB Ezekiel Elliott, DAL (Wk. 16: vs. Det.): Let's be honest, you're not going to sit Zeke for your championship game if you've got him, but I would probably fade him in DFS if the Giants somehow lose to the Eagles on Thursday. That would clinch the top seed in the NFC playoffs for the Cowboys, and there is a chance that could mean less Zeke and more Darren McFadden. If the Giants win, as is expected, Elliott should be a fine play in any format. The Lions have been stingy in terms of fantasy points allowed to RBs, but they rank just 20th in Football Outsiders' run defense DVOA stat, which measures efficiency.
RB Rob Kelley, WAS (Wk. 16: @Chi.): Kelley is coming off possibly his worst rushing game of the year with 9 carries for just 8 yards on Monday. Luckily, he was able to salvage his fantasy day with a touchdown and some receiving yardage. The receiving work is rare for him, and isn't something I'd expect him to repeat, but I still think he'll have a bounce-back game this week. The Bears have been struggling against the run lately, allowing 100+ rushing yards to the opposing backs in 5 straight games, and they allowed Ty Montgomery and Christine Michael to run wild last Sunday with 3 scores and over 200 yards combined. Kelley should have some success running the ball, and should be a solid RB2 as a result.
WR Michael Thomas, NO (Wk. 16: vs. TB): Thomas returned from a surprising 1-week absence and dropped a 7-52-1 line on the Saints last weekend. He now has at least 40 receiving yards in all 13 games he's played in and is a top-10 WR in standard scoring for the season. He provides a relatively safe floor (especially playing indoors while other teams brave the December elements), and he provides WR1 upside this week against a beatable Tampa Bay secondary. There's no reason not to trust him as at least a WR3 this week.
WR Malcolm Mitchell, NE (Wk. 16: vs. NYJ): Mitchell should get back on track this week after a 1-target, 1-catch outing against the stifling Broncos' secondary last weekend. The Jets rank dead last in pass defense DVOA, and Mitchell put up 5-42-2 in the previous meeting with these Jets. He's only become a more established part of the offense since then. Look for him to easily return WR3 value this week.
QB Dak Prescott, DAL (Wk. 16: vs. Det.): The Lions have done a really nice job of limiting opposing QBs over the past 7 games, coughing up just under 11 QB fantasy points per game in that stretch, but there are some factors working against them this week. Darius Slay, the team's number one CB is likely to miss the game with a hamstring injury, and their recent hot streak has actually been aided a bit by the schedule. They were truly impressive in shutting down Drew Brees in New Orleans, but the QBs they faced in the other 6 games were Brock Osweiler, Matt Barkley, Sam Bradford (twice), Blake Bortles, and Eli Manning. The Lions still rank just 30th in pass defense DVOA and allow the 2nd-highest passer rating against, behind only the Browns. Dak is right on the QB1 borderline this week, and I'd lean towards starting him unless you have a surefire top-10 QB to play over him.
RB Kenneth Dixon, BAL (Wk. 16: @Pit.): The Ravens continue to keep fantasy players guessing as to how the backfield work will be split between Dixon and Terrance West. Dixon played a season-high 60% of the snaps in week 14, but that number plummeted to 29% in week 15 without a clear reason why. Dixon still has at least 7 points in 5 of the past 6 games and a touchdown in each of the past 2, and I still like the rookie's outlook this week. The Steelers have been playing improved defense against RBs lately...they allowed 33+ fantasy points to opposing RBs 4 times in the first 9 games, but have given up an average of just 12 points per game to them in the 5 games since. Despite the recent improvement, receiving backs like Dixon have given them some issues. They've allowed the 3rd-most running back receiving yards and and are tied for the most RB receiving touchdowns allowed. Dixon's got real upside again as a PPR flex play.
RB Derrick Henry, TEN (Wk. 16: @Jax.): Henry has clearly carved out a role as a change-of-pace back for DeMarco Murray, amassing 30 touches and 3 TDs in the past 3 games while averaging a robust 5.5 yards per carry. Murray is still the clear lead dog, but the Jaguars are just playing out the string at this point and the Titans backs combined for 33 fantasy points in the first go-round with Jacksonville, including 15 from Henry. He'll need a TD to be a big help, but Henry could be a nice flex option this week in leagues with 12 teams or more.
WR Robby Anderson, NYJ (Wk. 16: @NE): If Bryce Petty ends up missing this game with injury, Anderson will probably be best left on the bench. He doesn't see nearly the same volume from Fitzpatrick, and I don't know how much he would see from (gulp) Christian Hackenburg. It was a little concerning that Anderson was out-targeted by both Brandon Marshall and Quincy Enunwa while Petty was still in the game last week, but he's still scored in double-figures in 3 straight games with Petty and the Patriots rank just 25th in pass defense DVOA. Anderson should be a fine WR3 option if Petty gets the start.
WR Sterling Shepard, NYG (Wk. 16: @Phi.): As usual, Shepard will be a TD-dependent WR3 option this week. If he scores a TD you'll be happy he's in, and if not you probably won't. The 56 yards he put up last week is his high-water mark since week 3, but he's scored a touchdown in 5 of his last 7 games. The Eagles have allowed 7 TDs to opposing wide receivers in the past 4 games, so the upside is there, but you're probably not getting more than 5 points in standard leagues if he doesn't get in the end zone (8 or 9 in PPR).
WR Tyreek Hill, KC (Wk. 16: vs. Den.): Let me just start off by saying what Tyreek Hill did last week isn't sustainable on a weekly basis. He had one rushing attempt and ZERO catches and still managed to get to 12 fantasy points. Hill had his coming out party on Monday Night Football against these Broncos in week 12 with a 3-TD outburst, but this is still the best defense against WRs in the league. I can't imagine he's going to catch Denver off guard this week. I'd expect him to get a little more volume than last week, and he's explosive enough to score from anywhere on the field, but he'll be a true boom-or-bust option. It's up to you if you want to roll the dice.
TE Hunter Henry, SD (Wk. 16: @Cle.): Henry is in play as a streaming option if you don't like your tight end or he's out this week. Hunter has been no more than a TD dart throw each week, but he's found the end zone in 4 of the past 5 games, and the Browns allow the most points to opposing tight ends in the league. With the team out of the playoff hunt, they may start to slide more snaps away from Antonio Gates and over to Henry.
QB Carson Wentz, PHI (Wk. 16: vs. NYG): The Giants' defense has really been coming on strong of late. They're up to 3rd in pass defense DVOA for the season, and they've allowed 13 fantasy points total in back-to-back games against NFL MVP candidates (Dak & Stafford). Wentz has topped 12 fantasy points just twice in his past 11 games, and I really don't like his chances to make it 3-of-12. He's a bottom-of-the-barrel QB2 option this week.
QB Jared Goff, LA (Wk. 16: vs. SF): Goff suffered a concussion last Thursday on a vicious hit from Richard Sherman, but he's practicing in full Tuesday and seems likely to play. Even if he does, he hasn't shown enough to warrant consideration this week even in 2QB leagues despite the excellent matchup. In 5 starts, Goff has totaled 42 fantasy points, and 18 of them were scored in one half against the Saints. That's certainly not a track record you want to trust in the championship, and you should aim for more upside from a cheap DFS play.
RB Devontae Booker, DEN (Wk. 16: @KC): Kansas City has been gashed on the ground in their past 4 games, giving up 488 rushing yards and 5 TDs to opposing backs, but Booker's role has mostly evaporated since the team signed Justin Forsett due to Booker's inefficiency as the starter. He was out-snapped and out-touched by Forsett last week, and he's totaled just 83 scrimmage yards and 1 TD in the last 3 games combined. I wouldn't feel comfortable running him out there in a championship this week.
RB Dwayne Washington, DET (Wk. 16: @Dal.): This is a pretty easy call this week. Theo Riddick should be back, and Washington hasn't really produced the way you'd hope with an increased workload while Riddick was out (114 scrimmage yards and no TDs on 33 touches over the past 2 games). Also, the Cowboys allow the fewest rushing attempts in the league. No thanks on Washington this week.
RB Jalen Richard, OAK (Wk. 16: vs. Ind.): The Colts are actually a favorable matchup for Richard, and Latavius Murray did fumble twice last week, but Jalen's upside is suddenly capped again by the re-appearance of DeAndre Washington. Washington was a healthy scratch for the previous 3 games, but got back out there in week 15. Richard still tallied 10 touches to Washington's 6, but as we saw in the early part of the year the duo pretty much cancel each other out. You're pretty much hoping for a fluky touchdown to play either.
WR Corey Coleman, CLE (Wk. 16: vs. SD): I love Coleman's talent, and I keep waiting patiently for his breakout game, but the Browns' quarterback play has killed his upside. He's scored more than 4 fantasy points just once in 6 games since returning from his hand injury, and the Chargers allow the 10th-fewest points to opposing WRs. Hopefully the Browns are able to find someone this offseason that can get the ball in Coleman's hands more effectively.
WR Tajae Sharpe, TEN (Wk. 16: @Jax.): Tajae has just 4 catches for 21 yards total over his past 3 games, and the Jaguars allow the 6th-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing WRs. Look elsewhere this week.
WR Tyler Boyd, CIN (Wk. 16: @Hou.): It sounds like AJ Green will be back this week, and Boyd proved to be a low-ceiling option even while Green was out. The team went with a much more run-heavy attack, and the volume just wasn't there for him. I'd expect even less opportunity for him with AJ back out there. Anything over 40 yards against the stingy Texans' defense should be considered a win for Boyd.
TE Austin Hooper, ATL (Wk. 16: @Car.): Of course you probably weren't considering Hooper for your fantasy championship game this week, but I just wanted to point out that I don't like him as a DFS punt option either. I pushed him as a sleeper a week ago, and he did find the end zone, but left the game with a knee injury after that one 9-yard scoring catch. He may play this week, but expecting a TD 2 weeks in a row from Hooper is playing with fire, even though the Panthers allow the 2nd-most TE points in the league.
RB Kenneth Farrow, SD (Wk. 16: @Cle.): Farrow showed that he wasn't yet ready for prime time last week against the Raiders, but the Browns have just about packed it in for the season. Cleveland has allowed 140+ rushing yards to opposing backs in 6 of their past 8 games, and mulitple TDs in 4 of them. Melvin Gordon still isn't practicing as of Tuesday. If he sits, Farrow would be an intriguing flex option in deeper leagues and a decent DFS tournament play, even if he splits the work with Ronnie Hillman a little more evenly.
RB Paul Perkins, NYG (Wk. 16: @Phi.): Perkins has been running more effectively than Jennings lately, and he's starting to get more work as a result. Jennings hasn't really been losing carries, but Perkins has been gaining some. Here are the carry totals Jennings has seen in the past 4 weeks: 15, 6, 15, 18, and here are his yards per carry in those 4 games: 3.7, 3.1, 3.0, 2.1. Here are those same numbers for Perkins: 9, 7, 15, 11 and 3.2, 5.4, 3.0, 5.1. I'd expect the trend to continue, and there is an opportunity for some success against the Eagles. Philly ranks 15th in run defense DVOA and has allowed 6 rushing scores to opposing backs in the past 5 games. Perkins and Jennings are likely to have close to an even split of the work, and Perkins is running better than Jennings and costs $1,200 less than him in Draft Kings ($3,200 to $4,400). At that price, I really like him as a steal in GPP tournaments.
WR Will Fuller, HOU (Wk. 16: vs. Cin.): Fuller has probably killed you at some point this year if you owned him. His season fell apart quickly after a strong first 4 weeks. Since the end of week 4, he hasn't scored a single touchdown or topped 60 receiving yards. Tom Savage may be coming to the rescue. The Bengals allow the 4th-fewest WR points, but they rank just 23rd in pass defense DVOA on throws to number 2 wide receivers. If Savage is able to give Fuller new life and get the ball to him more effectively than the Brockweiler, he'll be a steal at his $3,900 Draft Kings price tag.
That's all I've got for this week. I'll be back with a quick rundown for week 17 for anyone who has games left next week. Week 17 is always a crapshoot as you try and figure out which players are going to be rested, but I'll do my best. Keep a close eye on the injury report to see what happens with guys like Melvin Gordon, AJ Green and Bryce Petty since it will make a difference on the outlooks of the guys above. Feel free to hit me up on twitter if you have any specific questions or you want to yell at me about anything written this week (@Shawn_Foss). As always: Good luck, trust your gut, and have fun. It's just a game.
Welcome back to the Rookie Report! Hopefully, your fantasy teams still have a pulse after the carnage that week 14 brought…Melvin Gordon, Donte Moncrief, Matt Forte and Jordan Reed were slowed by injuries and likely killed you if you played them. There was also a massive list of horrible fantasy performances from key players. QBs Dak Prescott, Drew Brees, Russell Wilson, Big Ben and Derek Carr all put up less than 5 fantasy points (all scores in ESPN standard scoring). RBs Spencer Ware, Thomas Rawls, Jay Ajayi, Mark Ingram, Devontae Booker and Devonta Freeman all scored 5 or less. At WR, the list under 5 points included Dez Bryant, Mike Evans, DeAndre Hopkins, Brandon Marshall, Amari Cooper and Larry Fitzgerald. Not even TEs were immune to the disappointment with Delanie Walker, Jimmy Graham and Ladarius Green all scoring 3 points or less. Sorry for the painful walk down memory lane if you had any of those players, but hopefully you were able to survive and advance. The decisions this week are just as important if you’re still kicking, so let’s take a look at which rookies are safe to trot out there in week 15….
Rookies to Start:
RB Ezekiel Elliott, DAL (Wk. 15: vs. TB): At this point, is there any defense that would scare you away from using Zeke? He’s still got 10+ fantasy points in all 13 games this year and at least 20 carries in 11 of them. The Bucs’ defense has been playing better over the past few weeks but still ranks just 21st in Football Outsiders’ run defense DVOA stat, which measures efficiency. Fire him up in season-long leagues, and there is no reason to be afraid to use him in DFS either.
RB Jordan Howard, CHI (Wk. 15: vs. GB): I’m a little bit nervous about Howard this week after how the first meeting with the Packers went. He had just 7 carries for 22 yards in that game and inexplicably ceded carries to Ka’Deem Carey. Since that game, Howard has put up at least 99 scrimmage yards in each of the 6 that have followed with a minimum of 15 touches in each. With that track record, it’s hard to argue that he isn’t at least an RB2 this week despite a tough matchup. The Packers have rebounded since an awful 4-week stretch (weeks 9-12), allowing just over 11 fantasy points per game to opposing RBs in the past 3. Howard’s high volume makes him a high-floor option, but I wouldn’t expect him to hit his ceiling if the Packers win this one big.
WR Tyreek Hill, KC (Wk. 15: vs. Ten.): The Titans have struggled vs. WRs for much of the year, allowing 29+ points to opposing WRs in 6 of their past 8 games and 13 WR touchdowns in those 8 contests. They’ve also allowed 22+ points in 10 of their 13 games on the year. Hill still received 6 targets last week with Jeremy Maclin back in a game where the Chiefs only threw it 26 times. He’s bound to have a down game at some point, but I don’t think this will be it.
Borderline Rookies:
QB Dak Prescott, DAL (Wk. 15: vs. TB): Tampa Bay has held 3 of the past 5 quarterbacks they’ve faced to 10 fantasy points or less and the team is on a 5-game winning streak. Luckily for Dak, all 3 of those games where they limited the QB were played in Tampa. This game will be in Dallas. Prescott is still a little riskier than he was a few weeks ago, but the upside is still there. I have a feeling that Dez Bryant will want to make a statement after embarrassing himself on national TV Sunday night. I like Dak’s chances as posting a bounce-back game and winding up a borderline QB1.
RB Kenneth Dixon, BAL (Wk. 15: vs. Phi.): The Marc Trestman influence is finally showing in the Ravens’ offense now that they actually have a receiving back playing lots of snaps. Running backs under Trestman have a history of getting a lot of passing targets, and over the past 6 weeks, only the Arizona Cardinals have targeted the RBs more than Baltimore. Almost all of those targets are going to Dixon. Terrance West isn’t going to completely go away, especially at the goal line, but Dixon should be a solid flex option this week in PPR leagues. Philly ranks 12th in run defense DVOA and 21st in pass defense DVOA on throws to running backs. 5+ catches are likely for Dixon this week.
RB Kenneth Farrow, SD (Wk. 15: vs. Oak.): Melvin Gordon appears to be out this week, and it was Farrow who stepped in after his injury last Sunday with 78 scrimmage yards on 22 touches. It looks like he’ll be used similarly to Gordon as long as Melvin is out. Ronnie Hillman is on the roster and should be active this week, but I wouldn’t expect him to take too big of a chunk from Farrow’s workload. The Raiders have allowed 14+ fantasy points to opposing RBs in 10 of their 13 games, and they have allowed the 3rd-most scrimmage yards to the position as well. Farrow should be flex-worthy in a plus matchup.
RB Rob Kelley, WAS (Wk. 15: vs. Car.): Kelley has proven that volume will keep him on the RB2 radar with at least 14 carries in every game since becoming the starter, but the TDs are where he’s finding his value. If he doesn’t score, you typically don’t end up with a great outing. Carolina is a tough matchup for Kelley. They’ve allowed just 7 running back scores on the year, and the 7th-fewest RB fantasy points per game, but that defense has shown cracks of late. 3 of their worst 4 games of the year against running backs were in the past 4 weeks. There is some hope for Kelley.
WR Robby Anderson, NYJ (Wk. 15: vs. Mia.): Anderson has been surprisingly consistent this year for a guy who came into the year fighting for the WR4 spot on his own team. He hasn’t put up a goose egg since week 2, and he’s shown to have an OK floor with over 30 receiving yards in 7 straight games. Now that Bryce Petty has become the starter, he’s taken a huge step forward into being a legitimate WR3 option. He’s seen 23 targets in the past 2 weeks and turned in double-digit points in each game. The volume should be solid again this week, and that puts Robby right on the WR3/WR4 borderline. The Dolphins do allow the 13th-most WR points per game.
WR Michael Thomas, NO (Wk. 15: @Ari.): Thomas isn’t an auto-start this week after being a surprise scratch last weekend. He’s been limited in practice but does look likely to play. The Cardinals have been vulnerable lately with 27 fantasy points per game allowed to WRs in their past 4, but there is a chance that Patrick Peterson follows Thomas around a bit. You may have to read the tea leaves a bit on this one, but if it looks like Thomas is a full go, he should be an upside WR3 option.
Rookies to Sit:
QB Carson Wentz, PHI (Wk. 15: @Bal.): Since their bye 6 weeks ago, the Ravens have only struggled with 2 QBs: Tom Brady and Dak Prescott. They allowed just 1 TD pass each to the other 4 signal callers they faced in that stretch. Wentz has topped 12 fantasy points just twice in the past 9 games since Lane Johnson was suspended. He’s thrown for over 300 yards in his past two games, but he also has multiple turnovers in 3 of the past 4. He should be able to reach double-digits again in this game, but I would be surprised if he gets beyond the 10-13-point range.
QB Jared Goff, LA (Wk. 15: @Sea.): The Seahawks pass defense has been vulnerable of late, with 8 TD passes allowed in their past 4 games, but nothing we’ve seen from Goff and the Rams gives me a reason to believe they’ll continue the Seahawks’ struggles. The Rams will have a short week with a new interim head coach. I’m not sure how much of the game plan he can really mix up in a 4-day week. Goff would be lucky to score 10+ points.
RB Paul Perkins, NYG (Wk. 15: vs. Det.): Perkins’s production has improved lately, mostly due to an increased workload, but he still averaged only 3 yards per carry last week and saw just one target in the passing game. The Lions have allowed just 68 RB rush yards per game over the past 5 games, and just 2 TDs in that stretch. Perkins has yet to rush for 50 yards in a game, and there just isn’t enough upside to run him out there this week.
RB Devontae Booker, DEN (Wk. 15: vs. NE): The Patriots have struggled at times vs. the pass, but have been strong against the run, and Booker lost significant snaps to a guy signed off the street last week. He’s been inefficient for weeks now and got just 5 touches against the Titans compared to 9 for Justin Forsett. That’s not a promising split. The Patriots do give up a ton of catches to RBs, but I would expect it to be Forsett taking advantage, not Booker. He’s too risky to roll with this week.
RB Jalen Richard, OAK (Wk. 15: @SD): There is some upside for Richard as there has been since he took number 2 duties from DeAndre Washington, and he does get a plus matchup. The Chargers have allowed the 9th-most fantasy points per game to RBs and are tied for 2nd in RB touchdowns allowed with 17, but Richard is just too much of a roll of the dice to try out in the playoffs.
WR Sterling Shepard, NYG (Wk. 15: vs. Det.): If you trot Shepard out there, he’s no more than a risky TD-dependent WR3 this week. He hasn’t cleared 50 receiving yards in a game since week 3, so it’ll take a touchdown for him to be worth your while, and the Lions have allowed just 3 WR scores in the past 7 games. I don’t like Shepard’s chances of finding paydirt this week.
WR Malcolm Mitchell, NE (Wk. 15: @Den.): You have to steer clear of any WRs facing the Broncos. Denver has allowed fewer than 10 WR receptions total in 8 of their 13 games, and fewer than 100 receiving yards to WRs in 7 of 13. Julian Edelman alone has at least 7 catches in 5 straight games. There just isn’t going to be enough volume to go around for Mitchell to be viable without a TD, and the Broncos have allowed just 3 scores to wide receivers aside from their game with the Saints. You can’t give Mitchell the benefit of the doubt in the toughest possible matchup.
WR Will Fuller, HOU (Wk. 15: vs. Jax.): The Jaguars have allowed 12 WR fantasy points per game in their past 6 games, and the Texans’ offense has been abysmal through the air. Fuller’s volatile production isn’t something I want to count on this week.
WR Tajae Sharpe, TEN (Wk. 15: @KC): I expected Sharpe to have a down game vs. the Broncos, but zero catches on one target?! He’s got just 3 games all year with over 60 receiving yards, and just 11 yards in his last 2 games combined. There’s no way you can trust Tajae this week.
TE Hunter Henry, SD (Wk. 15: vs. Oak.): The Chargers TE group had a strong showing against the Raiders the last time they faced them, combining for a 7-104-2 line, but the Raiders have been fantastic against the position since. They’ve given up just 4 TDs to tight ends all year, and zero in the past 5 games. As Antonio Gates has gotten healthy again, Henry has become a TD dart throw each week, and the odds of finding the end zone are not in his favor against Oakland.
Deep League Sleepers, Stashes, and Cheap DFS Options:
RB Dwayne Washington, DET (Wk. 15: @NYG): Most of this week’s sleepers are going to be DFS punt options for GPP tournaments. Most of these guys are just too risky to trust for season long leagues. Washington might be the exception to that on this list. He had his best outing of the year last week with 16 carries for 64 yards and 1 catch for 10. He did that with Theo Riddick sidelined. Riddick isn’t practicing yet as of Wednesday, so there is a chance he misses again. If he does, that pushes Washington up to ‘Borderline’ status since 3rd-stringer Zach Zenner is still in the concussion protocol. The matchup is a tough one with the G-Men ranking 5th in run-defense DVOA, but Washington could be in for a big workload. If Riddick is out, he’ll be a fantastic DFS play at his current $3,500 salary on Draft Kings.
RB Derrick Henry, TEN (Wk. 15: @KC): The Chiefs have faced the 6th-most rushing attempts in the league including 29 per game in the past 4 contests, and DeMarco Murray is averaging 18 carries per game in his past 5. Some quick math tells me that I like Derrick Henry’s chances at seeing 10+ carries, and the Chiefs rank 19th in run defense DVOA. Henry is priced a little higher than you’d like for a punt play at $5,100 in Draft Kings, but the upside is there for a nice day.
WR Corey Coleman, CLE (Wk. 15: @Buf.): Coleman has failed to gain more than 41 yards in any of the 5 games he’s played since returning from a broken hand, but he’s had 30 targets in the past 3. The lack of production makes him impossible to trust in the fantasy playoffs this week, but he could certainly prove to be worth his $4,100 price in Draft Kings with that kind of volume. Buffalo ranks 19th in pass defense DVOA, and RG3 is always looking for the deep ball.
WR Leonte Carroo, MIA (Wk. 15: @NYJ): Carroo had played just 24 offensive snaps in the past 4 weeks, so it is a bit of a stretch to consider him, but he should see some targets on the snaps he does play this week with Matt Moore at quarterback. The two have been practicing together on the 2nd team all season, and we’ve seen what that kind of connection has done for Robby Anderson with Bryce Petty at the helm. All Carroo needs is to get on the field and he should have one of his best days of the season. The Jets rank dead last in pass defense DVOA, and Carroo costs the minimum in Draft Kings.
TE Austin Hooper, ATL (Wk. 15: vs. SF): This is mostly a hunch. San Francisco has actually been surprisingly decent vs. tight ends, but I feel like Hooper is due in a game that Atlanta should dominate. He’s been a solid deep threat with 4 catches of 25 yards or more among his 18 grabs on the year, and he’s a decent TD dart throw this week that costs the minimum in Draft Kings.
That’s all I’ve got for this week. Hopefully, it helps you advance to your league title game (or semifinal if your title game is week 17). Watch the injury reports closely this week and make sure you don’t start an injury replacement if the starter is playing, or play the starter if he’s not. Feel free to hit me up on twitter with any specific questions or to yell at me about what’s written above (@Shawn_Foss). As always: Good luck, trust your gut, and have fun. It’s just a game.
Welcome back to the Rookie Report! We made it! Playoff season is finally here. Hopefully you've managed to secure a berth in the postseason and hopefully your team is headed in at full strength. If you are in, the rest of the weeks are do-or-die, so you want to make sure you play your best options. The rookie crop continued to make their presence felt last week, with a couple of new rookies coming up with their first fantasy points of the season. Cody Core caught a 50-yard pass against the Eagles, and Paul Turner filled in admirably for an injured Jordan Matthews on the other side of that game. Core's production likely won't be repeated in the next few weeks, but Turner may be able to make an impact if Matthews sits again. Let's talk about what to expect from Turner as well as the rest of the rookie crew in week 14...
RB Ezekiel Elliott, DAL (Wk. 14: @NYG): There aren't really any good numbers to back up the call to start Zeke, at least with regard to his opponent. The Giants have a pretty solid run defense that held Elliott to 51 yards on 20 carries in week one, and Zeke may soon be hitting the rookie wall. Still, he leads the league in rushing by over 200 yards and has scored more than 10 fantasy points in every single game this year (All point totals are in ESPN standard scoring). He's a must-start as always.
RB Jordan Howard, CHI (Wk. 14: @Det.): The Lions have been pretty good at slowing down opposing running backs, allowing the 7th-fewest points per game to the position, but some of that is due to teams throwing on them because of their porous secondary. The Lions still rank just 25th in Football Outsiders' run defense DVOA stat which measures defensive efficiency. Teams just haven't tried to run on them enough. That shouldn't be a problem for Howard, who has seen at least 15 carries in 8 of the past 9 games. That volume should make him an easy RB2 this week with some upside for more.
WR Malcolm Mitchell, NE (Wk. 14: vs. Bal.): With Gronk (and possibly Danny Amendola) done for the season, Mitchell's role is here to stay. The Ravens have allowed the 9th-most WR points per game thanks to allowing 18 TDs to them, and Mitchell has seen 18 targets in the two recent games the Pats played without Gronkowski. He's averaged nearly 10 yards per target in those games. Mitchell should have WR2 upside this week.
WR Michael Thomas, NO (Wk. 14: @TB): Last week was a disappointing one for Thomas, but he has still put up at least 4 catches and 40 yards in every game this season. The Bucs have been playing improved defense over the past month, but they're far from a matchup to be afraid of. I'd expect the Saints' pass offense to get a little back on track this week and Thomas should be a WR3 with a safe floor and plenty of upside.
QB Dak Prescott, DAL (Wk. 14: @NYG): Dak has scored fewer than 17 points just twice all season: Last Thursday against the Vikings (10 points) and in week one against the Giants (also 10 points). The Giants have remained stingy versus QBs since, allowing the 3rd-fewest QB points per game, but Dak has certainly improved since week one. It's a tough matchup to be sure, so 12-15 points is a reasonable expectation, and if he is able to score any more than 15 he'd likely be a low-end QB1. He's worth consideration as a floor play if you don't like your other options.
RB Rob Kelley, WAS (Wk. 14: @Phi.): Kelley is a touchdown-dependent flex option this week. He's scored in single-digits in 3 of his past 4 games (the 3 he didn't score a TD in), but head coach Jay Gruden did say he'd like to get Kelley more involved. Unless that involves more opportunities in the passing game or Washington playing from ahead instead of behind, I don't know how much more volume there is for him to gain. The Eagles rank 9th in run defense DVOA, but they have allowed a rushing score in 3 straight games. If Kelley manages to find paydirt, he'll return RB2 value. If he doesn't, he'll be closer to a low-end RB3.
RB Devontae Booker, DEN (Wk. 14: @Ten.): Booker has been a let down lately as a starter scoring in the single digits in 4 straight games. The Titans have been decent against the run, allowing under 65 RB rush yards in 6 of the past 8, and Booker hasn't really been supplementing his fantasy days with receiving production. He also may lose a little work to Justin Forsett, who was just signed this week. Forsett had the most success of his career with Gary Kubiak as his offensive coordinator, and he knows the offense. I think Booker has at least one more week of seeing the starter's workload, and that volume should keep him flex-worthy.
RB Kenneth Dixon, BAL (Wk. 14: @NE): Terrance West stepped back into the 1A role in this backfield in week 13, but Dixon still managed to put up 77 scrimmage yards. The Patriots have limited opposing RBs to the 6th-fewest fantasy points per game, but Dixon could have an opportunity to make an impact in the passing game. New England has allowed the 4th-most RB receptions and the 5th-most RB receiving yards. Dixon lacks TD upside, but he's a decent PPR flex option this week.
WR Tyler Boyd, CIN (Wk. 14: @Cle.): Boyd has averaged 5 catches for 60 yards and has scored one TD in 3 games without AJ Green, and this week he gets to face the hapless Browns. 60 yards is likely Boyd's floor in this one, and there is a decent amount of upside for a score. He's a WR3 option in PPR leagues, but a dicier play in standard leagues.
WR Sterling Shepard, NYG (Wk. 14: vs. Dal.): Shepard's low yardage totals have been concerning, but he's found the end zone in 4 of the past 5 games, and his quarterback publicly apologized to him for the lack of targets he got in the other game. The target floor should be safe again, and the Cowboys rank 27th in pass defense DVOA and have allowed over 190 receiving yards to the opposing receivers in 4 straight games. He still needs a TD to hit his ceiling, but won't kill you in PPR if he only hits his floor.
WR Will Fuller, HOU (Wk. 14: @Ind.): Fuller remains a boom-or-bust option as he squares off against the struggling Colts' secondary this weekend. He's shown life with 119 yards in the past 2 games, and the Colts have allowed 10 WR scores in the past 5. Brock Osweiler's poor play will always be a drag on Fuller's outlook, but he's worth considering if you're a big underdog this week. His wheels always make him a threat for a long TD.
TE Hunter Henry, SD (Wk. 14: @Car.): Henry is pretty much just a touchdown dart throw if you use him as a streamer at this point. Antonio Gates has seen the bulk of the targets to Chargers' TEs, and Henry saw just one last Sunday. There is some reason for optimism with Henry since the Panthers allow the most points to TEs in the league, but hopefully you have better options with your season at stake.
QB Carson Wentz, PHI (Wk. 14: vs. Was.): You can make a case to play Wentz in 2 quarterback leagues if you're desperate. Washington has allowed 18+ QB points in 5 straight games after only allowing that amount once in the first 7. Wentz went in the tank for a handful of weeks earlier this season, but he has started to rebound with an average of 14 points per game in his past 3. He's still hard to trust with your season on the line, but he has come back from the depths of the unusable.
QB Jared Goff, LA (Wk. 14: vs. Atl.): The Falcons allow the most QB points per game in the league, and just recently lost their top corner Desmond Trufant for the season, and I still can't recommend that you start Goff. The Rams' passing offense has been abysmal all year, and half of the touchdown passes that the Falcons have allowed were in the first 4 weeks of the season. Goff has played just one decent half and scored 28 fantasy points through 3 starts. If he is able to crack double-digits it will be a successful day.
QB Cody Kessler, CLE (Wk. 14: vs. Cin.): It looks like it will actually be Robert Griffin III under center this week, and it's probably the right call for the Brownies. Kessler just doesn't have the arm strength to be viewed as Cleveland's QB of the future, so they may as well use these final weeks to see what Griffin still has left.
RB Paul Perkins, NYG (Wk. 14: vs. Dal.): The Cowboys allow the fewest rushing attempts in the league, and the looming return of Shane Vereen would cut into his pass-catching chances. Even if Vereen isn't back yet, Perkins would still be a long shot for 10 touches.
RB Wendell Smallwood, PHI (Wk. 14: vs. Was.): There is some sleeper appeal for Smallwood. Washington allows the 4th-most RB points per game and ranks 30th in run defense DVOA, but Ryan Mathews is set to return to practice on Wednesday. Wendell put up just 56 yards on 17 carries in 2 games with Mathews out, so to expect much improvement with Mathews back would be a mistake.
WR Tyreek Hill, KC (Wk. 14: vs. Oak.): Jeremy Maclin is expected to practice in full this week, which means Hill won't be funneled targets the way he has been. He's averaging just 9.6 yards per catch on the season, so he needs either volume or a touchdown to be useful. The volume will certainly drop this week. He's a TD dart throw against the Raiders.
WR Tajae Sharpe, TEN (Wk. 14: vs. Den.): The Broncos allow the fewest points in the league to opposing WRs, and Sharpe's two double-digit fantasy outputs came against teams allowing the 4th-most (Green Bay) and 14th-most (Indy) points to the position. The increased volume Sharpe has seen lately has been promising, but he's a wide receiver to avoid this week.
QB Paxton Lynch, DEN (Wk. 14: @Ten.): Lynch has struggled in his opportunities to start, but he should actually be a decent QB2 streamer this week if Siemian remains sidelined. The Titans' defense has allowed 18+ fantasy points to QBs in 7 straight games and allowed multiple TD passes in each as well. Despite his struggles, I like Lynch's chances of taking advantage of a plus matchup if he gets the opportunity. The Titans did get shredded by Matt Barkley the week before their bye.
RB Derrick Henry, TEN (Wk. 14: vs. Den.): This is a great opportunity for the Titans to play some smashmouth football and run it a ton. The Broncos are the stingiest pass defense in the league in terms of yards, TDs, passer rating, and pass defense DVOA, but they rank just 26th in run defense DVOA. If the Titans are smart, they'll use a pretty healthy mix of both DeMarco Murray and Henry. The Heisman winner is mostly only in play for DFS tournaments as a punt play, but don't be surprised if he has a bigger day than expected, and you should absolutely own him if you own Murray.
RB Jalen Richard, OAK (Wk. 14: @KC): Richard remains a handcuff for Latavius Murray, and he has weekly touchdown upside with DeAndre Washington vanquished to the land of healthy scratch each gameday. The Chiefs are one of 5 teams that have allowed 4 or more receiving TDs to running backs, and Murray has zero TD catches on the year.
WR Corey Coleman, CLE (Wk. 14: vs. Cin.): Coleman will be a volatile option with RG3 under center this week. Griffin did show the ability to throw deep during the preseason, but didn't make it far enough into the regular season to be able to showcase that again. Coleman has averaged nearly 9 targets per game since returning from a broken hand, but who knows how many he'll see with RG3 inserted. Like Will Fuller, Coleman is an interesting option if you are a big underdog this week because his talent gives him really nice upside.
WR Robby Anderson, NYJ (Wk. 14: @SF): Robby has been the most targeted Jets' WR with Bryce Petty at quarterback, and Petty was just announced as the starter for the remainder of the season. Anderson faces off with the 49ers this week, and San Francisco is allowing the 2nd-most points per game to opposing WRs. Efficiency hasn't been a strong suit for Anderson, with just 4 catches on 12 targets last week, but he did score his first TD and should be a decent WR3 streamer in deep leagues.
WR Paul Turner, PHI (Wk. 14: vs. Was.): Turner is only in play if Jordan Matthews sits again. Washington ranks 20th in pass defense DVOA, and Turner hauled in 6 catches for 80 yards on 8 targets last week with Matthews out. He's only in play for really deep leagues even if J-Matt does sit.
That's all I've got for this week. Hopefully it helps you with your tougher lineup decisions and helps you advance to the next round. Be vigilant about checking the injury report througout the week to make sure your players are all going to suit up, and that the guys ahead of them on the depth chart don't suit up by surprise. Feel free to hit me up on twitter if you have any specific questions or just want to yell at me about anything written above. As always: Good luck, trust your gut, and have fun. It's just a game.