Looking for a running back that may be on sale? How about a wide receiver that is being discounted due to bad reviews? Maybe a quarterback or tight end whose price is about to skyrocket? This is the right place. Welcome to the Fantasy Supermarket
The players that are in the Fantasy Supermarket have indicators suggesting that their current value may increase in short order. I’ll be using advanced analytics and metrics from PlayerProfiler.com’s Data Analysis tool to highlight which players are worth buying into. But you have to act now because these current prices will not last long.
Brandin Cooks
Fantasy managers had to use their fifth or sixth round pick to get Brandin Cooks in fantasy football. Those managers are not happy with his current production. Five weeks into the 2022 campaign, Cooks is outside the top 35 at wide receiver. He is currently WR 36 to be exact. This fact presents a chance to buy Cooks at a discounted price. This is a specialty here at the Fantasy Supermarket.
Brandin Cooks Advanced Stats & Metrics
The Houston pass catcher has the No. 9 highest Regression Rate (2.60) amongst wide receivers who have 10+ Expected Fantasy Points. This is a great indicator for a potential buy in the market. Cooks has a 25.9-percent Target Share (No. 20 among qualified WR). His 28.3-percent Air Yard Share and 197 Unrealized Air Yards suggest that better days are coming. Looking at Houston’s Weighted Strength of Schedule is also very encouraging because it is advantageous for wide receivers. It’s time to buy some Cooks while he is enjoying his bye week. His price tag will start to climb before we know it.
D.J. Moore
It would be fair to assume that I am blindly buying D.J. Moore regardless of his poor performance because I am a Moore super fan. That isn’t the case, there are signs in his performance profile that suggests he will turn it around. Moore won’t have to do it on his own either. Head coach Matt Rhule has been replaced and starting quarterback Baker Mayfield will be sidelined with an injury. New starter, P.J. Walker, will hopefully be the savior for the wideout’s season.
D.J. Moore Advanced Stats & Metrics
Moore’s usage is positive and suggests that the offense views him as the WR 1. Five weeks in he has a 96.8-percent Snap Share (No. 4), a 24.3-percent Target Share (No. 24), 35-percent Air Yard Share (No. 16), and a 100-percent Route Participation (No. 1). Moore also has 246 Unrealized Air Yards (No. 15) and a 3.30 Target Quality Rating (No. 94). These numbers strongly suggest that he isn’t the reason for the lack of production. On top of these metrics, Moore has been expected to score 3.43 more fantasy points per game. That mark is the No. 4 highest amongst wide receivers that have 10 or more Expected Fantasy Points per Game. Buy Moore now before he gets going with a new head coach and starting quarterback.
Buy of the Week: Joe Mixon
The Cincinnati Bengals offensive unit has underwhelmed so far in 2022. Joe Burrow has been solid but has posted some dud games, Ja’Marr Chase hasn’t lived up to his first round ADP, and Tee Higgins has been dealing with a couple of different injuries. Joe Mixon is no exception. The running back was selected with the hopes that he would perform at a top 10 clip but currently finds himself ranked as RB 15. Buying a top 15 running back isn’t going to be cheap, but Mixon has top five upside, and there are some underlying metrics that call for some big weeks. That is why he is the Fantasy Football Supermarket’s “buy of the week.”
Joe Mixon Advanced Stats & Metrics
Mixon’s usage is as good as it gets. He ranks in the top five amongst qualified running backs in Snap Share, Opportunity Share, Route Participation, Carries, Targets, and Receptions. Mixon is also No. 1 in Red Zone Touches with 19 and Expected Fantasy Points per Game. His difference between xFantasy Points per Game and actual Fantasy Points per Game is 7.21. That is the widest gap among running backs by more than three points a contest. Mixon’s True Yards per Carry and Yards Created by Touch leave something to be desired but betting on his talent is a bet that those metrics can improve. That is a bet I will make.
Wrap Up
Acquiring players at the right time is a major key to success in fantasy football. Early panic can lead to team builders getting players they never would have imagined just a couple weeks ago. Brandin Cooks, D.J. Moore, and Joe Mixon are three players that are worth targeting based on their underlying metrics versus current perception. Happy shopping and come on back to the Fantasy Supermarket.
For more football content, follow me on: TikTok: @mattykiwoom
Tune into The Game Plan live stream every Saturday at 12 EST
