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The Los Angeles Chargers and Cincinnati Bengals last played in the season opener of 2020. it was a lackluster 16-13 game. This was Joe Burrow’s debut. Meanwhile Justin Herbert hadn’t yet gotten the opportunity to lead the Chargers onto the field. Both teams have clearly improved since this game. We also get two of the top fantasy running backs in the league this year with Joe Mixon (No. 3) and Austin Ekeler (No. 2) in fantasy points.

I lean the Bengals here in what should be a closely contested game. In a close game, an advantage the Bengals have is special teams. The Chargers rank dead last in PFF Special Teams Grade, while the Bengals have a 91.2 (No. 2) Grade. I like Joe Mixon to get going early and often and continue his ascent into the elite tier of fantasy running backs. A strong running game can put a bit of a damper on a shootout, but I still think a decent amount of points are scored in this one.

Pick your poison. Chargers-Bengals is the highest scoring game on the slate with two defenses susceptible to the running back in different ways: one on the ground, one in the air. Both running backs have the opposite team’s kryptonite. Austin Ekeler has been on fire, accumulating 14.22 points in the air over the last five games and 17.9 over the previous three. As for Joe Mixon, he is the third-highest scoring running back on the slate, just two points less per game than Ekeler.

Jonathan Taylor should continue his rampage on the ground. Look for the Colts to get Michael Pittman more involved as we close in on the playoffs. With the Colts in comeback mode, Brevin Jordan against one of the worst secondaries facing tight ends in 2021 is an appetizing play as he forced Jordan Akins to the inactive list. Pharaoh Brown is still the lead tight end, but he’s obviously there to block. I’m predicting over 30 yards and a touchdown to the rookie. Nico Collins has a similar outlook. 

Hero RB drafters are sitting comfortably watching their stud running backs smash while also having enjoying league winning production from wide receivers drafted in the middle rounds of fantasy football drafts. The 2021 season shows once again why running backs are the backbone of championship fantasy teams.

Luckily for those who missed the boat on the early round studs such as Jonathan Taylor and Austin Ekeler, the fantasy football season isn’t won or lost at the draft. While Hero RB gives a slight advantage, what I have taken from this thought experiment is to not lock into a specific draft strategy. Take the draft room as it comes and capitalize on players that fall. Keep the good process of drafting good players and good things will happen.

Terry McLaurin makes his season debut on the Air Yards Value Index. He is coming off a game where he failed to crest double digit fantasy points against a exploitable Seattle secondary. While his matchup this week against the Raiders is less appealing, McLaurin should continue to see copious volume in Washington’s offense. He is averaging 111 Air Yards on the season and is tops in the league in Air Yards Share.

Marvin Jones hasn’t posted more than double digits fantasy points since Week 6 when he finished as the WR9 posting 23 fantasy points. However he has averaged over 6 targets per game and seen at least 50 Air Yards per game since this time. With the Jaguars likely playing catchup against a high powered Ram offense, Jones makes for a great run-back option in Week 13 if you are stacking Rams in your tournament lineup.

As heavy favorites at expensive salaries (over 16K for the stack), the Matthew Stafford-Cooer Kupp pair should go under-rostered relative to upside. The Rams are tied for the highest implied total on the slate at over 30 points. Working in our favor is the fact that this a team that doesn’t take their foot off the gas when winning.

Tua Tagovailoa isn’t throwing as deep as Matthew Stafford, only 6.6 (No. 34 among qualified quarterbacks) Air Yards per Attempt, but is completing passes at an elite level. His 75.3-percent True Completion Percentage ranks No. 2, while he’s also top five in completion percentage in the redzone, clean pockets, and off play action. With nearly a $1K price jump over the last two weeks, Jaylen Waddle looks like an excellent Buy High opportunity this week as other fantasy gamers balk at the increase.

Rashod Bateman is a dormant volcano ready to erupt all over NFL secondaries. Promise hangs in the air for this young stud who’s getting an increase in playing time, has made some minute contributions for the team so far, and has yet to eclipse 90 yards or even score his first touchdown. The time is now! Football fans can expect explosive plays and production coming soon from this talented rookie Raven.

The snaps played and routes run reflect that Rashod Bateman has elevated himself above all receivers not named Marquise Brown. However, I would like to point out that Brown isn’t a typical target hog, but a big play received, and Bateman actually out-targeted him in Week 6. He has cemented himself to be the key cog of this passing attack, and the touchdowns will come raining down soon. 

The High Value Touch DFS Index is here to help you find the best plays for the dollar in DFS. This is done by looking at leaders in Carries Inside The 10-Yard Line Per Game and Targets Inside The 10-Yard Line Per Game and comparing their prices on DraftKings and FanDuel to create a rating. We look at these touches close to the end zone because touchdowns lead to fantasy points, and fantasy points lead to cashing our lineups in DFS!

Not any cash plays in the index but a handful of tournament pivots off of popular cash game plays. Josh Jacobs for Elijah Mitchell or Myles Gaskin for Jamaal Williams could make sense in tournaments, especially large field ones where looking to be different.

I offer an attractive skill-set that combines speed and accuracy into an effective one-two punch. At age 29.6, I’m still in my writing prime and ready to break out. I may be a black box prospect, but I’m equipped with upper percentile agility and burst that lends to versatility and explosiveness. This is me asking for a J.K. Dobbins leap of faith. I know I can add value to your franchise. I’m a discounted version of the FFKing, Patrick Murphy.

This journey won’t come without bumps and bruises. Tagging players on Twitter, touting J.J. Arcega-Whiteside and Darwin Thompson — I’ve made mistakes, but I’m prepared to handle the smoke and move forward. Sadly, my Twitter microphone is comparable to yelling into an empty room. On the bright side, I certainly saved myself from a misguided, unapologetic defense of two prospects who have yet to fire.

Aaron Jones and D’Andre Swift are both efficient runners PPR monsters. They both currently sit in the top 10 in Target Share and Yards Created. Jones is the RB2 version of Swift, as Swift is seeing absurd touch totals. Both players, at their respective price, can turn your team from a dark horse to a championship favorite.

Jarvis Landry and Brandon Aiyuk are two receivers who are potential league winners. With the Browns now without Odell Beckham, Landry is seeing alpha-level Target Shares and will be the main focus of the passing game. Aiyuk has turned his slump around in a major way and now won’t have Deebo Samuel alongside him for the foreseeable future.

Hunter Renfrow has been a consistent slot target for the Raiders, with at least 5 receptions in all but two games this season. He has been a quiet producer, entering Week 12 with a 19.3-percent (No. 6 among qualifying WRs prior to week 12) Hog Rate and has finished as a top-24 fantasy WR in six games. With a high pass volume and the potential loss of Darren Waller, Renfrow has an opportunity for another big fantasy game this week against Washington’s middling secondary.

Josh Jacobs has averaged less than 4.0 yards per carry this season, entering Week 12 with 3.7 (No. 52 prior to Week 12) True Yards Per Carry. He has not hit 100 yards rushing in a game this season, exceeding 50 rush yards just three times. Washington has not allowed an individual runner to have 100 yards rushing in a game yet this season. The Raiders pass more than they run, and with Washington being a bit more bendy through the air, don’t expect Jacobs to have good fantasy opportunity this week.