Mining for Paydirt: Week Fifteen
The players we focus on here are owned in less than 35% of myfantasyleague.com leagues – they are your blue collar workers. I’m not going to give you names like Roy Helu or Joique Bell – those aren’t the droids I’m looking for. I want the players who are on the radar of only the realest of degenerates. Players you wouldn’t think of owning in a million and one years. These will strictly be for injury and bye week fill-ins based on match-ups and situation. Some may stick, some won’t. It’s the nature of the beast and I’ll be thrilled to get one or two correct a week.
Congrats! If you’re reading this, hopefully that means you’ve advanced in your fantasy football playoffs. If you did not and are still reading this, congrats, you are a degenerate.
Last week we mentioned Da’Rick Rogers as a guy you could plug in if you were desperate. He rewarded your boldness with a stat line of six receptions (on nine targets) for 107 yards and TWO touchdowns. Even if you didn’t start him, hopefully you were able to swipe him up in your dynasty league given his availability. If you didn’t, good luck prying him from his new owner – it shant be easy.
Heading into Week 15, it’s most likely the beginning of your semi-finals matchup. If you’re in a league where the ‘ship is played on Week 17, God speed.
Marquise Goodwin, WR BUF @ JAC (20% owned)
When I wrote about Rogers last week, I mentioned how head coach, Chuck Pagano said he needed to shake things up a bit at the receiver position. Mission Accomplished, Chuck.
This week, Buffalo Bill’s head coach, Doug Marrone, told the media they needed to get Goodwin more involved and “more touches.”
Goodwin has been shut out his past two games and didn’t receive a single target last Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The buzz has subsided, but I still believe in Goodwin’s talent, especially the speed.
On the other side of the ball, the Jacksonville Jaguars have given up at least 350 yards and two touchdowns through the air in three of their past 4 games. Chad Henne and Jason Campbell were two of those quarterbacks, while the other was the tandem of Matt Schaub and Case Keenum. Against the run, the Jag’s D have given up just 354 yards on 121 attempts (2.9 YPC) in their past 5 games since the bye week. Sorry C.J. Spiller owners… maybe next week?
On the Bill’s side of the ball, E.J. Manuel has been pedestrian, almost Geno Smith-esqe, turning the ball over four times last week. He’s showing his true rookie colors, but…
Manuel will get back on track as heads back to the state where he played his college ball. I think Manuel and this wide receiving corps can find the end zone a few times and my money’s on Goodwin getting the goods.
Jacoby Jones, WR BAL @ DET (30% owned)
Blah, I know. Only the deepest of degenerates could even think about inserting Jones into their starting lineups in such an important week, but before you click the “back” button, take a shot and read on…
Jones has been targeted 20 times in the past three weeks and Dennis Pitta looks fully healed from his pre-season hip injury. Pitta’s presence should help this passing game for the rest of the season, freeing up both Jones and Torrey Smith on the outside.
The Detroit Lions are awful against the pass. They got a bit of a reprieve the past few weeks facing the Philadelphia Eagles on planet Hoth and the Green Bay Packer’s version of Uncle Rico, Matt Flynn. Prior to that, the Lions had given up 11 touchdowns through the air in just four games – and team’s WR2 feast on them.
The last time the Ravens played in an enclosed stadium, Jones caught a 56 yard touchdown pass and returned a kickoff for a 108-yard touchdown… just sayin’.
Both teams are in must-win mode and I expect both sides to play their best ball. Vegas lines have this game as one of the highest over/under’s this week and I want a piece of the action.
