Fantasy Preperations Sit/Start Week 11: Under the Radar Jake Ballard posting solid numbers
By Editorial Staff
My Fantasy Preparations Record 8-2
Opponent
DetroitLions
Record 7-3
Transactions:
I am hoping you all listened to my Laurent Robinson pick up message from last week’s fantasy article. His massive blow up helped propel me and hopefully you to victory. This week I finally cut Reggie Wayne. He was wasting a spot on my bench while I made a classic fantasy mistake. Holding onto players based on what they had done and not what they are doing now. I picked up Jake Ballard who is the Giants TE. Jimmy Graham is on a bye week for me and I though Ballard is worth a one week rental. Ballard is on pace for just under 800 yards receiving and should get 5-6 touchdowns. That is solid TE production. I have also offered up my first trade of the year. I offered Matthew Stafford and Wes Welker for Aaron Rogers. I want more stability at QB and whileStaffordand Welker are hot I think it is time to trade them. Always offer up players who do not have a history of playing at a high level while they are hot. I know it is hard but more times than not it is worth it. Plus next year if I can keep Rice, McFadden, and Rogers that is a stacked team.
Starters
Stafford’s injury has put me in a bad place. He has a favorable matchup at home versus the Panthers. Panthers are giving up the 13th most points to opposing quarterbacks. My other option is Joe Flacco. Joe Flacco has been up and down all year and is hosting the Bengals. Bengals are giving up the 24th most points but are without their shut down CB Leon Hall. I do not like it but I will lean onStafford for one more game. I just cannot on good conscience start Flacco.
At RB I am starting Ray Rice versus the Bengals. Bengals are stout versus the run but as I stated last week Rice is always a must start. I still do not understand the reasoning Rice only received 5 carries in a close game….that being said I think the Ravens get him more involved.
Why is McFadden still hurt????? Why was I unable to get Michael Bush???? That being said I am glad I held onto mighty Marshawn Lynch who has a touchdown in 5 straight games and back to back 100 yard games against elite defenses. Lynch now goes to St. Louiswho is giving up the 6th most fantasy points. Lynch will post a huge day and allow me to get over McFadden’s decade long injury.
Wes Welker is playing at the Chiefs this week. Even though he will be covered by Brandon Flowers who is a near shut down CB…Welker is a must start in a PPR league every week. Expect a solid game from him.
Jordy Nelson is playing the Buccs this week. Only thing that will stop Nelson from posting huge numbers is the fact that Aaron Rogers makes all of his targets equally profitable. That being said Nelson has produced almost every week and is becoming a must start WR.
Recently acquired Laurent Robinson was huge last week and I think he will be again this week. I know the Redskins have not allowed many points to opposing WR’s but the Redskins are starting to self implode and the Cowboys are hitting their stride. Robinson is going to go off again.
TE Jimmy Graham is on a bye week….I am not happy about that but I was happy to pick up Jake Ballard. The Eagles have been stingy to opposing TE’s but I think Ballard will produce enough for a one week fill in.
Utility position was tough to fill this week. I had three options: Steve Johnson at the Dolphins. He started the year solid but has done nothing lately and would be lined up against Vontae Davis and on top of that is dinged up. I could play Roy Helu versus the Cowboys but I believe the game will be a blowout and will not get many touches. With that being said I went with Deion Branch versus the Chiefs. With Welker getting the attention I think Branch could post okay numbers and even if I do not like the matchup much I don’t have many options.
Dan Bailey has been a solid acquisition at kicker. It proves you should wait until the last round to select a kicker. Redskins have given up the 2nd most fantasy points to kickers so I should be set.
Cowboys’ defense plays atWashington. The Redskins offense is non-existent and with Rex Grossman tossing as many completions to the opposition as his own targets I believe the Cowboys defense will post elite numbers.
Foe:
Sun Tzu states, “Know thy enemy.” My enemy is my best friend’s brother in law. Now my best friend has not been married long so I shudder to think when I destroy his brother-in-law’s fantasy team…it will have repricutions…but that sounds like a problem for him.
At QB he has Tom Brady who is going to have a big game versus a floundering Chief team. At RB he is starting Benjamin Green Ellis and Michael Tolbert so nothing to worry about except vulturing touchdowns? Starting WR’s are Calvin Johnson, Erik Deckar, and Early Douchet. That is solid but certainly not frightening. He is starting Rob Gronkowski at TE who has been a monster. At utility he is starting Javon Ringer???? I do not know why? He has Jason Hanson and the Detroit Lions defense which are both solid plays.
Prediction:
Yahoo predicts an easy win for me. I agree….I am not quite sure how he is 7-3. I know Brady and Calvin post huge numbers but who else? With this win I will be set for 1st or second place and a 1st Round Bye in the playoffs that our league adheres to. As always tune in next week true believers as I will try to achieve what we all try and shoot for….Fantasy Glory.
Follow us on twitter @NFLmocks