Fantasy Football Edge: Dealing With Midseason Struggles
By Moe Koltun, Matt Cott, and Matthew Schwimmer of Roto Analysis
We're officially eight weeks in, and hopefully your fantasy team hasn't hit a midseason swoon like the Eagles. With six teams on bye, many fantasy rosters are bare of talent and it's hard to find the right guy to start. This week, we at RotoAnalysis are writing on a couple options to start and a few guys worth picking up to get your team out of a rut.
Ryan Mathews & Danny Woodhead, Chargers RBs
While these guys may not be available on the waiver wire, both are good options looking forward and may be underrated by most fantasy owners. After running for only eight yards three games ago, Ryan Mathews has rebounded with consecutive hundred yard performances. Those are likely to continue against a Redskins defense that has allowed the most fantasy points per game to opposing teams running backs. Those points per game suggest that Danny Woodhead should once again find himself as a viable fantasy option. While Woodhead has only gotten nine rushes per game over the past three games, he has been active enough in the passing game to provide consistent fantasy value. The past four games, Woodhead has provided a "startable" fantasy performance as he's averaged 11.25 ppg. Given the amount of byes this week, both are top 20 performers who should crack your lineup.
Kenny Stills, Saints WR
The hit or miss Saints rookie wideout has been significantly more hit than miss recently especially coming off of his 129 yard, two touchdown performance last week. Stills's deep threat ability has been an extremely beneficial weapon for the Saints especially given Marques Colston's struggles early this year. Still's has a great matchup this week against the Jets, a team that has continuously struggled to get successful defense back play from anyone outside of Antonio Cromartie. Just last week, Marvin Jones torched the Jets secondary for four touchdowns. Look for Stills to get enough looks next week to end up as a playable flex option.
Jordan Reed, Redskins TE
The fifth highest scoring tight end this season, Antonio Gates, is averaging a meek 8 fantasy points per game. That leaves the door wide open for any breakout tight end to certainly be considered among the top 10 at the position, and for the last two weeks, Jordan Reed has been breaking out. Yes he put up way fewer fantasy points in week 8 compared to week 7, but utilization-wise, he actually garnered 14 targets this week against Denver compared to nine in week 7 against Chicago. Reed has clearly emerged as a favorite target of RG3, and with an extremely broad 6'2" 243 pound frame, Jordan Reed should develop into a legitimate red zone threat. Look for the Skins rookie to be a top 10 tight end the rest of the way, and pick him up in any league where he is still available.
Mike Tolbert, Panthers RB
DeAngelo Williams has been getting less and less of the carries as the season has gone on in Carolina. With all of these teams on bye, Tolbert and his "fantasy vulture"-like tendencies are going to continue to produce fantasy points. He has actually been a top 30 back so far this year and has averaged 12 fantasy points per week over the last three games. The Falcons run D has been rather suspect this season and he's a guy worth picking up to fill in for guys like Knowshon Moreno, Frank Gore, and Reggie Bush who are on bye.
Agree? Disagree? Questions? Tweet @RotoAnalysis and be sure to follow Moe @MoeProblems, Matt @KidCotti21, and Matt@Schwimingly. Check out their work on RotoAnalysis.com, as well as The RotoAnalysis Fantasy Sports Podcast.
