NFL

Welcome to Week 5, Mad Caps. In previous years, this was considered the unofficial “quarter mark” of the football season. It is at this point that the fantasy community realizes some things; no one knows as much as they thought they did, and football really hurts (hence, the piling up of bodies in The Infirmary). It’s not likely to get any prettier as the season goes along, but it’s OK! As Aaron Rodgers once said, R-E-L-A-X… The Infirmary has your back!

Dalvin Cook is iffy for the Vikings, but the smart choice is Alexander Mattison in this spot. Even if Cook plays, he’s not likely to get a full workload. Sure, The Infirmary has been low on Mattison, but in his relief appearance against Seattle, Mattison rolled for over 170 all-purpose yards. There’s no reason he can’t do the same against a porous Lions run defense.

This new season-long mini-series is brought to you by the RotoUnderworld Game Analyst Team. The Game Analyst Team consists of over 75 individuals that chart and re-watch every snap from every game in the NFL between game end, and Monday afternoon. The guys you have generally not heard from before stop in to drop some tidbits from their weekly game charting process in hopes to give us a sneak peek into the depth of the games each Sunday.

Buffalo is doing the small things to beat every team they should beat, what are we supposed to make of the Week 1 game against Pittsburgh, though? There is a recipe to beat Josh Allen, will Kansas City expose him in Week 5? Denver was finally brought down to earth after playing an AFC powerhouse in Baltimore. The Ravens looked strong despite barely cresting 100 rushing yards for the 43rd straight week, and will have a tough matchup in Week 5 against Indianapolis on Monday Night Football.

Kyler Murray took the Arizona Cardinals on the road and stomped Sean McVay’s previously-unbeaten Los Angeles Rams, leaving Arizona as the NFC’s only remaining undefeated team and +55 in Points Scored differential. Heading into Week 4, his 29.7 Fantasy Points per Game, 83.0-percent True Completion Percentage, 73.3-percent Deep Ball Completion Percentage and Rushing TDs were all ranked No. 1 at the quarterback position.

Starting 2020 with lackluster performances against two of the NFL’s top defenses, Clyde Edwards-Helaire had been all but written off at age 22. In 2021 Weeks 3 and 4 though, Edwards has now put up back-to-back 100-yard rushing games. Although KC’s goal line carries have been going to Darrel Williams, Edwards-Helaire has been efficient when given the opportunity, ranking top 12 in both Evaded Tackles and Juke Rate.

The Infirmary is loaded up heading into week 4 and there are some big time names currently tending to their individual ailments. Running backs are beat to hell everywhere, a QB visiting the “Big Apple” will have no one to throw to and the Gronk-a-Saurus will miss a return to his old stomping grounds. Football cares not for an individual’s star power or grand narratives made for television; no, football is cold and heartless. It’s not all bad, though. The Infirmary explains why.

With oft-relied on veteran James White out for the season, the opportunity here lies with J.J. Taylor. While his workout metrics won’t wow you, he did have an 11.15 (78th-percentile among qualified running backs) Agility Score. In addition, his Target Share in college was a stout 11.9-percent, which ranked in the 85th-percentile. The Patriots have been careful to hang on to Taylor; perhaps they’ve been prepared for just such a circumstance. 

As we close in on the first quarter of the NFL season, we’ll break down the high and low-efficiency outliers at wide receiver. Most of these receivers end up in starting lineups more often than not, while a couple may fit more in deeper leagues with multiple flex spots. It’s a fun and eye-opening exercise to use the Data Analysis Tool to sort through the efficiency outliers at different positions.

This new season-long mini-series is brought to you by the RotoUnderworld Game Analyst Team. The Game Analyst Team consists of over 75 individuals that chart and re-watch every snap from every game in the NFL between game end, and Monday afternoon. The guys you have generally not heard from before stop in to drop some tidbits from their weekly game charting process in hopes to give us a sneak peek into the depth of the games each Sunday.

This new season-long mini-series is brought to you by the RotoUnderworld Game Analyst Team. The Game Analyst Team consists of over 75 individuals that chart and re-watch every snap from every game in the NFL between game end, and Monday afternoon. The guys you have generally not heard from before stop in to drop some tidbits from their weekly game charting process in hopes to give us a sneak peek into the depth of the games each Sunday.

Look for any available passing targets on Los Angeles’ and Las Vegas’ rosters. There’s enough volume that even third targets on these squads are usable. In Denver, see if Melvin Gordon is available. While many have already written him off for Javonte Williams, Vic Fangio doesn’t seem to think so yet, giving Gordon 60-percent of the Week 3 carries. Having one of the fastest recorded plays to this point in the season, Gordon still has value in 2021. There will be enough for both he and Williams to contribute this year.

Get on the Bills Train any way you can. Five Bills already have double-digit targets, with (do you mind my extrapolating after three weeks?) Cole Beasley, Stefon Diggs, and Emmanuel Sanders all on pace for over 100 targets. At running back, Zack Moss, who may be on your waiver wires, had the most Week 3 running back touches with 16. Devin Singletary posted another 12. There are plenty of touches and fantasy points to go around in Buffalo.

Darius Slayton’s totaled 13 targets in his past two games, including six-plus in each. Now, Kenny Golladay is a game-time decision for the Giants-Falcons game. Either way, the Falcons defense allowed eight [!] passing touchdowns in its first two games to start the season. While the implied point total sits at a lowly 47.5 points, the Falcons defense rank fourth-worst in Pass DVOA.

Zach Pascal’s totaled 11 targets and three touchdowns in his past two games, including five-plus in each. Newly-acquired QB Carson Wentz is active as well. Pascal faces off against the Titans this week – a pass defense that’s allowed six touchdowns in its first two games. The damage includes 36 receptions and 572 yards. The Titans defense rank 10th-worst in pass DVOA as well, while the Colts defense rank ninth-worst.

There are some key injuries at the running back position. And it looks as though Darrell Henderson is going to miss the game against the Bucs. Unfortunately, the Tampa Bay defense is one of the top units in stopping the run. Michel is a solid DFS option, but in seasonal leagues it might be wise to play the “wait and see” game. In Minnesota, Dalvin Cook is not expected to play, increasing the likelihood of this game becoming an aerial assault for the ages. Just an aside, get K.J. Osborn in those lineups!

If by chance Kenny Golladay were to sit, Darius Slayton becomes very interesting for DFS. For the Cardinals, DeAndre Hopkins seems likely to start but should he not go, bump up the other playmakers in that offense. If both Darnell Mooney and Marquise Goodwin miss Sunday’s game against the Browns, Damiere Byrd is an interesting option, particularly for daily fantasy.