Sunday Morning Huddle: Week Twelve

Ken Kelly Posted On November 24, 2013

This column is usually reserved for us going game-by-game and quickly highlighting a player we think should be in the spotlight in terms of their dynasty value for each team on the schedule. These players have a lot riding on the games today and merit watching for sure.

Today, I’m taking a different approach with this column and focusing on three players more in-depth. As I scoured through the games this week, there were some usual suspects to key in on, but three really stood out to me, so I wanted to spend some more time on each of them because I felt that’s what this community would really value.

So, with that being said, the three players I think have the most riding on today’s performances in terms of their dynasty value (and the impact it would have on some others as well) are Matt McGloin, Bobby Rainey and Ray Rice.

Matt McGloin, QB OAK

McGloin was much better than advertised last week as he started for the injured Terrelle Pryor in a game at Houston. Now, the Texans aren’t the Texans from last year, but this was a road contest against the best pass defense in the league. Most expected McGloin to dink and dunk his way through the game and put up a John Skelton-esque performance.

They were wrong.

McGloin was poised, controlled and pretty accurate as he threw for 197 yards and three touchdowns on 18-of-27 passing. In doing so, he became the first Raiders rookie quarterback to throw for three touchdowns in his first start since Todd Marinovich in 1991 (editor’s note: If you’ve never watched “The Marinovich Project” you should as it’s excellent).

With his surprising success last week, McGloin gets the nod today over Pryor and has a chance to win the starting job for the rest of the season and quite possibly beyond. The Raiders confidence in making this change tell us they really are high on McGloin and think he may have a chance to be the quarterback of the future. It also tells us they have doubts on Pryor, who has been a fantasy darling with his rushing ability.

McGloin’s start agains the Titans (they have the seventh best pass defense) is going to be big for his future and also that of Pryor in dynasty leagues.

Bobby Rainey, RB TB

If you’re an avid reader of DLF, you knew we recommended picking up Rainey before last week’s explosion, not after. Rainey was phenomenal against Atlanta last week when he carried the ball thirty times for 163 yards and scored three total touchdowns. In short (no pun intended), Rainey took up where Mike James left off and looked like a fantasy difference maker.

Now, before you call me out because you’re playing in a dynasty league, let’s get one thing straight. Rainey is likely not a player to be coveted long-term as he’s no threat to Doug Martin or likely even to James. However, for those contending teams who picked him up, he could be the final piece of the puzzle and become this year’s Tyler Thigpen down the stretch (if you don’t get that reference, look up Thiggy’s game log from prior years and you’ll see an amazing late season stretch in 2008). Crazier things have happened and Rainey will get a chance today to show he’s no fluke against a Lions defense that knows how to shut down the run when they have to.

So, what do we really have with Rainey? Today will show us a lot.

Ray Rice, RB BAL

I was amazed this week when someone had written in asking if they should get Rice off waivers. Off waivers!?! The only way that would have been possible before this year would have been if you were in a ten-team dynasty league that plays one player each week and has a maximum roster size of one (that actually sounds kind of fun). It just illustrates how far Rice has fallen since being a staple in dynasty lineups for a long, long time.

Let’s face it. Rice has had a precipitous drop in production this year and hasn’t looked like the same player. Is it the injury? Is it offensive line? Is he just aging faster than expected? Nobody really knows for sure, but everyone can agree he’s been a disappointment.

As we look forward to this week, Rice comes off his best game of the season last week as he shredded the Bears for 131 rushing yards, 17 receiving yards and a touchdown. He’s at home against a stout Jets team known for stopping the run.

Owners of Rice are united and holding hands this week, hoping and praying Rice has turned the corner and last week’s performance wasn’t just a fluke. If Rice has any element of success today, it will undoubtedly give dynasty owners an element of confidence they haven’t had all season. If he doesn’t, they’ll be wondering if he’ll ever regain his form.

Today should be interesting. Enjoy the games everyone!

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Ken Kelly

Co-Founder at DynastyLeagueFootball

Ken is a corporate trainer by day an a tireless editor of dynasty content by night. His passion for the World Champion Seattle Seahawks is second only to his love of fantasy football and the dynasty format.

Ken is on Twitter at DLF_KenK