By: David Gautieri, founder of Guru Fantasy World
Each week here at Fantasy in Frames, we’ll take a look at players who are owned in less than 50% of ESPN leagues. Each set of players is ranked according to how hard you’ll have to squint in order to see their potential value.
QUARTERBACK
Ryan Fitzpatrick (15.7%)
Fun fact: Since Week 7, Ryan Fitzpatrick has averaged more fantasy points per-game than Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson, Kyler Murray, Carson Wentz, Jimmy Garappolo, and Tom Brady. No joke. He has 9 straight games with at least 33 passing attempts, and he finishes the fantasy season at home, against Cincinnati. Long live Fitzmagic!
Gardner Minshew (16.4%)
Minshew has 3 touchdown passes and 0 interceptions in his last 2 games, has a high weekly rushing floor, and has perhaps his best matchup of the year this week against a Falcons defense that has allowed the 6th most fantasy points to QB’s this season.
Andy Dalton (4.6%)
Starting QB, facing Miami. You know the drill.
RUNNINGBACK
Mike Boone (0.2%)
The Vikings runningbacks just flat out get it done. If Dalvin Cook sits, Alexander Mattison will keep it rolling. If both of them sit, Boone will keep it rolling. And that could be the case this week. If Boone has the backfield to himself this week, he has the upside to be a league-winner against a Green Bay defense that has allowed the 7th most fantasy points to runningbacks.
Alexander Mattison (27.3%)
From a fantasy standpoint, we’d rather Mattison sit this week out. Mike Boone alone in the Vikings’ backfield would be a more enticing play than whatever split Mattison and Boone end would end up having if Mattison were to play. Even if Mattison were to play, the thing is – we just don’t know exactly how healthy he is, nor do we know how much work he would cede to Boone. He’s certainly worth consideration if he does play, but he does carry significant risk. Be sure to monitor his practice participation throughout the week.
Patrick Laird (38.6%)
Laird is the Dolphins workhorse with 10+ rushes and at least 5 targets in 3 straight games. He doesn’t do a lot with it, but volume is volume. He’s a solid bet for about 10 fantasy points – a number he’s hit twice in the past 3 games.
Darwin Thompson (10.0%)
Thompson led the Chiefs’ backfield in touches this past week against Denver. He only had 9 touches, but the Chiefs coaching staff appears to be getting more comfortable using the shifty rookie. LeSean McCoy and Spencer Ware have done absolutely nothing to deserve further consideration, and it seems like just a matter of time before Thompson fully takes over. The return of Damien Williams could complicate things, but if Williams misses another week, Thompson could be a sneaky play in deeper leagues this week against the Bears.
Bo Scarbrough (38.9%)
Bo carries flex value against the Broncos if he plays, just due to the simple fact that he has received no less than 14 carries in any of the games he’s played in. Be sure to monitor his practice participation throughout the week to make sure he’s going to play without any limitations.
Boston Scott (8.3%)
Scott has 23 and 12 fantasy points the past 2 weeks, with at least 6 catches in each game. As long as he continues to be involved as a receiver, he’ll continue to carry flex value in PPR leagues, as long as Jordan Howard is out.
WIDE RECEIVER
Breshad Perriman (9.1%)
We told you last week that Breshad Perriman could surprise people with his production down the stretch considering the Buccaneers average the 2nd most passing yards per-game, but even we weren’t expecting a 3-TD game, or even a 2-TD game. Now, with not only Mike Evans out, but also Chris Godwin, Perriman is top-dog in one of the leagues pass-heaviest offenses. He could be a legitimate top-10 option this week, and should be played ahead of struggling stars in tough matchups (looking at you OBJ owners).
Cole Beasley (33.8%)
Beasley is coming off his first dud of the season, but he has been rock-solid all season long, with double-digit fantasy points in 9 out of 14 games. With Stephon Gilmore likely to lock up John Brown this week, Josh Allen is going to have to throw to someone. That someone should be Beasley. He had 12 targets, 7 receptions, and 75 yards in their first matchup against New England this year.
Anthony Miller (24.9%)
6+ catches in 4 of the last 5 games (!), double-digit targets in 3 of the last 5 games (!!), including 15 (!!!) targets this past week against GB… Apologies for not including him in the column sooner. His performance has been totally under-the-radar after a non-existent start to the season. His matchup doesn’t look great on paper this week, with KC allowing the 4th fewest fantasy points to WR’s, but, Chicago is likely to be playing from behind again, and, as we’ve seen the past few weeks, that can equate to a significant amount of targets for Miller, particularly in the second half.
Danny Amendola (16.6%)
Amendola has quickly become a favorite target of third-string quarterback David Blough, with target totals of 8, 8, and 13 in Blough’s 3 starts. With Marvin Jones on injured reserve, Kenny Golladay is going to continue to receive double-coverage. That should continue to equate to more opportunities underneath for Amendola.
Greg Ward (3.0%)
Deep-leaguers who miss out on Breshad Perriman should give Ward a look. Injuries have forced him into a significant role, and he’s seen 9 targets in 2 straight games, finishing with stat lines of 4/34 & 7/61/1.
TIGHT END
Jacob Hollister (44.7%)
Hollister has continued to be involved on a weekly basis as Seattle’s top TE. And, if there’s one thing we’ve learned about Arizona – Hollister’s matchup this week – it’s to start your TE’s against them. They’ve allowed the most fantasy points to the position this year, by a long shot.
Tyler Higbee (39.0%)
Higbee has 3 straight 100-yard games. No other TE in the NFL has done that this season. Zach Ertz has a single 100-yard game all year. Travis Kelce has 2. George Kittle has 3. Higbee could cool off this week against the 49ers, but right now, he’s the league’s single-hottest TE.
Dallas Goedert (42.9%)
With Alshon Jeffery hurt again, Goedert goes back to being Carson Wentz’s No. 2 target. He has at least 5 catches in 3 of the last 4 games.