Happy Thanksgiving
This week’s Wednesday post is going to look a little different. With now two games on Thanksgiving I wanted to provide a Loves & Hates list as most people will have some choices to make for Thursday. So I hope you all will appreciate this change in format and there will be another list on Friday for the weekend games. Next week I will get back to my normal format. Since I am not doing a waiver wire this week I will provide one strong choice and that is Nelson Agholor. As always if you enjoy the content please follow the blog by clicking the lines in the top right of the page. Enjoy your Thanksgiving.
Loves
QBs
Alex Smith (Washington Football Team)- Since assuming the role as starter, Smith has begun to settle in. Although this past Sunday was a down week compared to his performance against the Lions, I still believe this should be a good matchup for Smith. This season the Cowboys have been pretty soft against opposing QBs, and have allowed an average completion percentage of 71.4% while giving up 2387 yards and 23 TDs. The Cowboys have done little in deterring QBs from throwing on them and have only mustered 3 INTs. With Smith being an efficient QB that doesn’t try to force a pass, you have to be excited. Plus on top of that the Cowboys are the 31st ranked defense against WRs, as they have allowed a league high 19 TDs while also giving up 1794 yards. The likes of Terry McLaurin and company should be able to produce.
DeShaun Watson (Texans)- After a stellar game against the Patriots, Watson looks to take advantage of a Lions team that was torched by Alex Smith. Not to mention, last week back-up P.J. Walker was able to have success against this Lions team. Although he threw a pair of interceptions he also notches 258 yards and a TD. With how well Watson played against the Pats, registering 344 yards, 2 TDs, while also adding 36 rushing yards and another score, this defense should not provide too many issues. With Will Fuller V, Brandin Cooks, and Randall Cobb there are plenty of matchups that should provide opportunities for points.
RBs
Duke Johnson (Texans)- After a disappointing game against the Browns, Duke should be able to bounce back this week. He gets a team that ranks as the worst team over the past four games and on the season as a whole. Although the Lions may not have allowed the most rushing yards, they have allowed the most rushing TDs (14) and receiving TDs (5). Duke’s ability as a runner and receiver should be on full display, and with David Johnson on IR for at least one more week, a majority of the RB snaps should be his with maybe C.J. Prosise getting a few touches throughout the game.
Adrian Peterson/D’Andre Swift (Lions)- Similar to the write-up about Duke, the Texans have a pretty bad time against RBs. The Texans have allowed 1458 rushing yards, which is the most in the league, while also giving up 11 TDs. The receiving yards to RBs is right around the middle of the pack, but they rarely give up receiving TDs, as only 1 has been scored this season. Which ever RB for the Lions is active, they should be a factor in this game, not only because the matchup is so good, but also to take some pressure off of Matt Stafford who is still dealing with his right thumb injury.
WRs
Terry McLaurin (Washington Football Team)- When I wrote my Alex Smith love earlier I was speculating on his potential, but that speculation was based on how good McLaurin is and how great this matchup is for him. McLaurin has been one of the best WRs in the league and for fantasy this year and that should come as no surprise. With constant QB changes this season, either from a team hating the QB or injury, McLaurin has had only one down week. The game against the Bengals started out rocky, but once Smith was able to get comfortable he looked to McLaurin and that sparked the team. Once up the Washington Football Team didn’t need to throw, so they leaned on their RBs and closed the game out. Last week Adam Thielen was able to absolutely go off and I would expect McLaurin to do much of the same.
CeeDee Lamb (Cowboys)- With Andy Dalton under center again for this Cowboys team the offensive weapons, not named Ezekiel Elliot, all got a boost. Dalton showed a stronger command of the offense than what was on display in the previous weeks, and that was obvious when rookie WR Lamb was able to have an impact. Lamb was able to catch his 4th TD of the season against the Vikings, who are pretty bad against WRs, and even with this harder challenge against the Washington Football Team there has been a trend developing. So far this season the Washington Football Team ranks as the best team against opposing WRs, but if you sort the games to be the last four weeks there is a different story. Over the last four weeks the Washington Football Team has dropped to the 18th ranked team and has allowed on average 37.03 fantasy points to WRs. That is a result of 44 receptions for 469 yards and 3 TDs. Although at first glance it might seem like a horrible matchup, the recent weeks paint a different picture.
Will Fuller V (Texans)- I was torn between Fuller and Cooks for this spot, but as you can tell I opted for Fuller. Cooks’ role in this offense is the explosive player, and this is evident by his up and down fantasy lines. So I decided to go with the number one for the Texans, as Fuller has seen more targets consistently and he has been a very good contributor to the offense. Fuller last week against a good Patriots team caught 6 of his 8 targets for 80 yards, and this week he gets an easier matchup. These are the cornerbacks that could try and guard him, either Desmond Trufant, Amani Oruwariye, or the rookie Jeff Okudah. Okudah was beat for a long gain against the Panthers, and if Fuller is matched up on him this could be a repeat.
TEs
Eric Ebron (Steelers)
Removed due to game being rescheduled until Sunday.
D/ST
Steelers
Removed due to game being rescheduled until Sunday.
Hates
QB
Matt Stafford (Lions)- I still think that the right thumb injury Stafford is dealing with will continue to limit him. This past week he only completed 55% of his passes and threw for 178 yards. I don’t see this injury getting better, especially on such a short week. I know that this might be lacking the total deep dive that I normally do, but I just think it comes down to his injured right thumb and an inability to throw effectively as a result.
RB
J.D. McKissic (Washington Football Team)- Although it might seem like a good matchup, and for a typical RB it would be, but McKissic’s role isn’t that of a traditional RB. He is the teams dedicated pass catcher, and this skill is where the Cowboys are strong. The Cowboys have allowed 1260 rushing yards, but this fits more with what Antonio Gibson provides. As we look at the receiving yards allowed you see 33 receptions for 193 yards and 0 TDs. Yes, there could be a change in how the Cowboys play and it is hard to go against the sheer volume McKissic has been seeing, but it just doesn’t look like the best choice.
WR
JuJu Smith-Schuster (Steelers)
Removed due to game being rescheduled until Sunday.
TE
Mark Andrews (Ravens)
Removed due to game being rescheduled until Sunday.
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