Fantasy Football

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.

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.

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. 

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.

Jamaal Williams should be a strong start at RB this week with the potential for 20-plus touches. When D’Andre Swift went down, Williams handled 15 carries and caught all five of his targets this past week. While Williams is no Swift, he can handle a large workload. The Lions offense limits Williams, but he should be a low-end RB2 this week.

DeSean Jackson sent a reminder to all football fans that he can still get behind the defense for a long TD. He saw four targets and turned those into three catches for 102 yards and a TD. If you like revenge game narratives, Jackson faces his former team in Washington this week.

The Seattle Seahawks are desperate for a turn-around. Russell Wilson hasn’t been the same since his injury, but Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf have still churned out usable weeks. Against a poor Washington defense, this team is set up for the perfect rebound game.

The Washington Football Team are on a 2 game win streak. Taylor Heinicke looks to rely on Terry McLaurin and his now healthy receiving core to put up another solid fantasy performance. In the ground game, Antonio Gibson is finally healthy and once again dominating backfield touches.

Dynasty managers that had the privilege of starting Austin Ekeler versus the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 11 were rewarded with a career best 41.5 point fantasy day (RB2). Eleven weeks into the 2021 campaign, Ekeler is averaging 22.1 Fantasy Points Per Game (RB3) – his most productive fantasy season to date. The 26 year-old UDFA earns 15.59 Lifetime Value points to rise three spots to RB11 in dynasty.

Back from injury to face the Atlanta Falcon’s in Week 11, Damien Harris had company in the Patriots backfield. He will need to be productive in Week 12 to keep rookie Rhamondre Stevenson from earning an even greater share of the Pats backfield. On the season, he trails Stevenson in both Juke Rate and Yards Created Per Touch. Harris loses 22.96 Lifetime Value points to drop seven spots to RB31. Stevenson climbs up to RB34.

Week 12 showcases two games that feature two teams with seven or more wins. The Tennessee Titans facing the New England Patriots makes one of the said matchups. The other is this article’s featured showdown: the 7-3 Los Angeles Rams traveling north to take on the 8-3 Green Bay Packers. One point separates these two in the eyes of Vegas, who view the Rams as the favorite. This matchup intrigues from all angles, so analyzing it is a must.

The Packers are an hour away from punching the clock on their night shift, while the Rams woke up from a good night’s sleep. The states of these two teams are polar opposites after the Rams came off a bye last week, while the Packers are battered and bruised with their bye next week. Vegas likes the Rams as one-point favorites, and it’s hard to find fault in their process.