Fantasy Stat Pack: Week Thirteen

Ryan McDowell Posted On November 29, 2018

If you follow me on Twitter, you’ve probably noticed a series of tweets I share on a weekly basis regarding player and team defensive performances, all from a fantasy lens. I’m going to be sharing some of that same information with you here.

I use this each week as I am making my own lineup and waiver wire decisions and thought you might find this valuable as well.

Note: The scoring system used for this data is always PPR with four points for passing touchdowns.

All year to date fantasy ranks are based on total points.

Quarterbacks

Week Twelve QB1s (top 12 scorers)

QB1    Deshaun Watson, HOU
QB2    Kirk Cousins, MIN
QB3    Dak Prescott, DAL
QB4    Josh Allen, BUF
QB5    Baker Mayfield, CLE
QB6    Andrew Luck, IND
QB7    Marcus Mariota, TEN
QB8    Philip Rivers, LAC
QB9    Jameis Winston, TB
QB10 Russell Wilson, SEA
QB11 Matt Ryan, ATL
QB12 Philip Rivers, LAC

Josh Allen made a successful return to the Bills with only his second game of the season inside the top 25 fantasy quarterbacks. Marcus Mariota bounced back from his injury and Jameis Winston took over the starting job for the Buccaneers, once again.

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Year to Date QB1s

QB1    Patrick Mahomes, KC
QB2    Drew Brees, NO
QB3    Matt Ryan, ATL
QB4    Cam Newton, CAR
QB5    Jared Goff, LAR
QB6    Ben Roethlisberger, PIT
QB7    Andrew Luck, IND
QB8    Aaron Rodgers, GB
QB9    Philip Rivers, LAC
QB10 Mitch Trubisky, CHI
QB11 Deshaun Watson, HOU
QB12 Kirk Cousins, MIN

The bye week caused Rams quarterback Jared Goff to fall from QB2 to QB5 this week, while a week off due to injury pushed Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky down the line. Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson fell off the list, replaced by last week’s top-scoring quarterback Deshaun Watson, entering the list at QB11.

QB1 Games this Season

9 Andrew Luck, Patrick Mahomes
8 Cam Newton, Matt Ryan
7 Ben Roethlisberger, Deshaun Watson, Jared Goff, Russell Wilson
6 Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Kirk Cousins, Philip Rivers

Most QB1 Games Allowed

8 TB
7 ATL, CIN
6 KC, NE, NO, PHI, WAS
5 DEN, JAX, LAR, PIT, SF
4 ARI, BAL, CAR, CHI, CLE, DET, GB, IND, NYJ, OAK, TEN
3 BUF, DAL, HOU, LAC, MIA, MIN, NYG, SEA

Cam Newton has been a QB1 in eight of ten games this season already and now faces the worst fantasy pass defense in the league, division-rival Tampa Bay. In Week Nine, Newton was the QB9 against this same Bucs defense. The Falcons and Bengals are the other teams to target based on this list. Cincinnati has given up on the season and will face Case Keenum and the Broncos, while the Falcons take on the Ravens and, presumably, rookie Lamar Jackson.

With eight teams all sporting a league-best three QB1 games allowed, it might be difficult to find matchups to avoid this week. Among the eight opponent quarterbacks are Ryan Tannehill, Josh Allen, Nick Mullens and a banged-up Mitch Trubisky, which are all fairly obvious players to avoid in the fantasy regular season’s final week. With that said, this matchup wouldn’t scare me away from Ben Roethlisberger (vs. LAC) Baker Mayfield (vs. HOU) or Drew Brees (vs. DAL).

Running Backs

Week Twelve RB1s (top 12 scorers)

RB1     Christian McCaffrey, CAR
RB2     Saquon Barkley, NYG
RB3     Nick Chubb, CLE
RB4     Kenyan Drake, MIA
RB5     Austin Ekeler, LAC
RB6     Leonard Fournette, JAX
RB7     Ezekiel Elliott, DAL
RB8     Lamar Miller, HOU
RB9     LeGarrette Blount, DET
RB10   Sony Michel, NE
RB10   Joe Mixon, CIN
RB12   Melvin Gordon, LAC

Injuries had a big impact on the running back position last week as a hit to the knee put Chargers Melvin Gordon out for the game, allowing Austin Ekeler to crack the top five backs for the week. Also, with rookie Kerryon Johnson out for the week, veteran goal line back LeGarrette Blount used his two rushing touchdowns to post his best fantasy game of the season.

Year to Date RB1s

RB1     Todd Gurley, LAR
RB2     Saquon Barkley, NYG
RB3     Alvin Kamara, NO
RB4     Christian McCaffrey, CAR
RB5     Melvin Gordon, LAC
RB6     James Conner, PIT
RB7     Ezekiel Elliott, DAL
RB8     Kareem Hunt, KC
RB9     James White, NE
RB10   David Johnson, ARI
RB11   Phillip Lindsay, DEN
RB12   Joe Mixon, CIN

The 100/100 game from Panthers all-purpose back Christian McCaffrey vaulted him from RB7 to RB4 for the year, at the expense of running backs Kareem Hunt and James Conner, who each dropped two spots. Joe Mixon cracked the top 12 while Jaguars TJ Yeldon finally fell out of the RB1 range.

RB1 Games this Season

10 Todd Gurley
9 Melvin Gordon
8 Saquon Barkley, Alvin Kamara
7 Christian McCaffrey
6 Ezekiel Elliott, James Conner
5 James White, Kareem Hunt, Joe Mixon, Kenyan Drake

Most RB1 Games Allowed

9 ATL
8 CIN, KC, MIA
7 ARI
6 CLE, IND, NYG
5 BUF, DEN, DET, PHI, SEA, TB
4 HOU, LAC, NYJ, OAK
3 CAR, CHI, DAL, JAX, PIT, SF, WAS
2 BAL, GB, LAR, MIN, NE, NO, TEN

The Falcons and their struggling run defense face the Ravens this week, though both Alex Collins and Gus Edward missed practice time. This is obviously a situation to monitor as either back would be worth a start if they have the backfield to themselves. The Bengals, Chiefs and Dolphins have also been repeat offenders in this category. That’s good news for Phillip Lindsay (vs. CIN) and LeSean McCoy (vs. MIA) though even a plum matchup against the Chiefs might not be intriguing enough to use the Raiders backs in this crucial must-win week.

Again, there are many teams tied at only two RB1 games allowed. Here are the key matchups:

BAL vs. Tevin Coleman
GB vs. David Johnson
LAR vs. Kerryon Johnson/LeGarrette Blount
MIN vs. Sony Michel/James White
NE vs. Dalvin Cook
NO vs. Ezekiel Elliott
TEN vs. Isahiah Crowell/Elijah McGuire

Wide Receivers

Week Twelve WR1s (top 12 scorers)

WR1    Amari Cooper, DAL
WR2    Juju Smith-Schuster, PIT
WR3    Adam Thielen, MIN
WR4    Julio Jones, ATL
WR5    Corey Davis, TEN
WR6    Stefon Diggs, MIN
WR7    Emmanuel Sanders, DEN
WR8    Tyler Lockett, SEA
WR8    Tyler Boyd, CIN
WR10 Calvin Ridley, ATL
WR11 David Moore, SEA
WR12 Keenan Allen, LAC

Thanksgiving Day hosted a huge performance for Cowboys top receiver Amari Cooper, who finished as the WR1 for the week. An offensive explosion from the Seahawks helped both Tyler Lockett and David Moore reach the top 12 for the first time this season.

Year to Date WR1s

WR1   Adam Thielen, MIN
WR2   Tyreek Hill, KC
WR3   Davante Adams, GB
WR4   Michael Thomas, NO
WR5   Julio Jones, ATL
WR6   Antonio Brown, PIT
WR7   DeAndre Hopkins, HOU
WR8   Odell Beckham, NYG
WR9   Juju Smith-Schuster, PIT
WR10 Mike Evans, TB
WR11 Stefon Diggs, MIN
WR12 Emmanuel Sanders, DEN

Veteran receiver Julio Jones moved up from WR7 to WR5 and Adam Thielen regained the overall WR1 spot. Juju Smith-Schuster and Emmanuel Sanders replaced Rams Brandin Cooks and Robert Woods, who fell off the total points list while on bye.

WR1 Games this Season

8 Adam Thielen
7 Julio Jones
6 Antonio Brown, Michael Thomas, Stefon Diggs
5 DeAndre Hopkins, Mike Evans, Odell Beckham, Tyreek Hill
4 Davante Adams, Brandin Cooks, Emmanuel Sanders, Keenan Allen, Tyler Boyd

Most WR1 Games Allowed

11 NO
10
9
8 CAR, GB, TB
7 CLE, LAR, PHI
6 DET, SEA, TEN
5 ARI, ATL, CIN, DEN, WAS
4 CHI, MIA, NYJ
3 DAL, JAX, KC, NE, NYG, PIT, SF
2 BAL, BUF, LAC, MIN, OAK
1 HOU, IND

The Saints stand out, and not in a good way. They’ve allowed 11 WR1 performances this season and face off against the Cowboys and receiver Amari Cooper on Thursday night football. This is an exciting spot for Cooper to continue to hot streak since joining Dallas.

The Texans and Colts have each given up just one WR1 game all season. This week, the Colts visit the Jaguars with little threat of ending their streak, while the Texans host the Browns. This is a rough matchup for receiver Jarvis Landry, who hasn’t posted a WR1 game since Week Seven, his only one of the season.

Tight Ends

Week Twelve TE1s (top 12 scorers)

TE1     Zach Ertz, PHI
TE2     Eric Ebron, IND
TE3     David Njoku, CLE
TE4     Vernon Davis, WAS
TE5     Rob Gronkowski, NE
TE6     Dan Arnold, NO
TE7     Jonnu Smith, TEN
TE8     Jordan Reed, WAS
TE9     Kyle Rudolph, MIN
TE10   Chris Herndon, NYJ
TE11   Matt LaCosse, DEN
TE12   George Kittle, SF

Quiet breakout tight ends Jonnu Smith and Chris Herndon each made another appearance in the top 12 weekly fantasy scorers. That gives Herndon three and Smith four straight TE1 games.

Year to Date TE1s

TE1     Zach Ertz, PHI
TE2     Travis Kelce, KC
TE3     Eric Ebron, IND
TE4     George Kittle, SF
TE5     Jared Cook, OAK
TE6     Austin Hooper, ATL
TE7     OJ Howard, TB
TE8     Jordan Reed, WAS
TE9     Trey Burton, CHI
TE10   David Njoku, CLE
TE11   Kyle Rudolph, MIN
TE12   Jimmy Graham, GB

Another big game keeps Colts tight end Eric Ebron locked into the TE3 spot and with Jock Doyle’s season over, the former Lion is likely to stay near the top of the list. Even with the season-ending injury, I expect OJ Howard to remain in the top 12 by the end of the season.

TE1 Games this Season

10 Zach Ertz
9 Travis Kelce
8 Eric Ebron, George Kittle
7 OJ Howard
6 Trey Burton
5 Jimmy Graham

Most TE1 Games Allowed

9 TB
8 CAR, KC
7 IND, NE
6 ATL, CIN, DAL, HOU, PIT
5 CHI, CLE, DET, JAX, MIA
4 ARI, DEN, LAC, LAR, MIN, NYG, OAK, SF
3 BAL, BUF, GB, WAS
2 NYJ, SEA
1 PHI, TEN
0 NO

The Buccaneers give it up to the tight end spot, just like they do to wide receivers. Although Greg Olsen has been enduring a cold streak in recent weeks, this could be a get right spot for him. Meanwhile, Olsen’s own Carolina team also struggles to defend tight ends, making Cameron Brate an intriguing fantasy option this week. The Chiefs have also allowed eight TE1 games and Jared Cook could turn that into nine very easily.

The Saints are the last team to have a spotless record against any position, holding strong against all opposing tight ends. While they’re gearing up to stop Ezekiel Elliott and Amari Cooper, New Orleans can feel safe that none of the Dallas tight ends are a real threat. The Eagles (vs. Jordan Reed) and Titans (vs. Chris Herndon) have also been very stingy against the tight end position.

Finally, here’s the full defensive chart you might’ve already seen on Twitter.

DChart

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Ryan McDowell

Contributor at Dynasty League Football

In addition to his senior leadership role here at DLF, Ryan is also a husband, father of three and PE teacher. Ryan is the commissioner of multiple dynasty leagues, most notably the Kitchen Sink Dynasty Leagues. Here at DLF, Ryan’s focus is on identifying, monitoring and analyzing player value.