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 Tannehill (40.1%)
Project Tannehill’s fantasy points per-game in his 7 starts over the entire season, and he’s QB3 on the year, behind just Lamar Jackson and Deshaun Watson. Ya… He has multiple touchdowns in every single game since taking over as starter, which is now 7 straight games. I don’t know how he can be considered anything but must-start this week against a Houston defense that just got torched by rookie Drew Lock.
Gardner Minshew (12.8%)
We knew Minshew’s matchup against the Chargers was likely to be a bump in the road before his schedule lightened up. The Chargers have been tougher in allowing fantasy points to QB’s and, predictably, Minshew fell flat. But now he faces the Raiders and Falcons, and they have been bad. Very, very bad. They’ve allowed the 2nd most and 4th most fantasy points to QB’s this year.
Drew Lock (1.2%)
Lock played quite well in his first game as a pro, passing for 2 touchdowns and completing 18 of 28 passes. But he only threw for 134 yards, so it was tough to really get excited about his performance. Fast forward to this past week – Lock completed another 22 of 27 passes, this time for 309 yards, and another 3 touchdowns. That’s 5 touchdowns and a 72% completion percentage in his first two career starts. He deserves to be on rosters and potentially in lineups Week 16 versus Detroit, depending how he plays this week on the road against Kansas City.
RUNNINGBACK
Raheem Mostert (23.7%)
It’s pretty clear at this point that Mostert has leapfrogged Tevin Coleman, as he’s out-touched him 33-9 the past two weeks. Based on the split this past week against New Orleans, it appears that Mostert has also leapfrogged Matt Breida, as he out-touched him 12-7. He’s been absolutely explosive this season (averaging 6.0 yards per-carry) and the San Francisco offense is generating yardage and points like it’s nobody’s business. He’s a must-start this week against Atlanta.
Deandre Washington (9.5%)
Washington is clearly the guy when Josh Jacobs sits. He out-carried Jalen Richard 14-7, had 6 receptions compared to Richard’s 2, plus he got the redzone work, rushing for a 14-yard touchdown. His opponent this week – the Jacksonville Jaguars – have allowed 195+ rushing yards in 4 of their past 5 games, including 215+ in 3 of those games. That’s not a typo. If Jacobs sits, get this man into your lineups people.
Patrick Laird (10.8%)
11, 2, 16, 12. Those are Laird’s last 4 games in full PPR. That’s flex material in 12-team leagues. He seems to have soaked up all of Kalen Ballage’s early down work (15 carries to Myles Gaskin’s 5) and continues to be good for a few dump-off receptions from Ryan Fitzpatrick each week, with 4 receptions in each of the past 2 games. Plus, he plays the Giants and Bengals to close out the fantasy playoffs. He sure ain’t sexy, but points are points.
Darwin Thompson (10.0%)
This could be the week for Thompson. He’s trending up and at this point it doesn’t appear as if LeSean McCoy is going to do anything to keep Thompson off the field. If Damien Williams is forced to miss another week, there’s a strong possibility that the Chiefs could find themselves up big at home against the Broncos. What better time to break in an explosive rookie runningback?
Alexander Mattison (35.2%)
You can’t play him unless Dalvin Cook sits, but with Cook playing through a shoulder/chest injury, Mattison could be a league-winner if Cook were to reaggravate his injury and be forced to miss Week 16.
Bo Scarbrough (48.4%)
Bo isn’t likely to light the world on fire, but he has a shot at receiving 20 carries in every single game the rest of the year. He hasn’t had less than 14 in any of the 4 games since taking over as starter. Don’t touch him this week against Tampa’s tough run defense, but he has flex value in a Week 16 matchup with the Broncos.
WIDE RECEIVER
A.J. Brown (31.3%)
Another week of Brown being the only player to be his team’s No. 1 WR and be owned in less than 50% of ESPN leagues. That’s sure to change after he popped off this past week to the tune of 153 yards and 2 touchdowns. Go out and get this guy, people. With the way Ryan Tannehill is slinging it, there’s really no excuse to justify Brown’s lack of ownership. He’s approaching must-start status considering the way the Titans offense is rolling.
Deebo Samuel (47.4%)
5 consecutive games with double-digit fantasy points, and no less than 8 points in any of the last 7 games. Not only is he good for a few explosive plays in the receiving game, but Kyle Shanahan is also scheming the ball into his hands as a runner. He has 53 rushing yards the past two weeks. There’s no reason not to fire him up again this week against Atlanta.
Darius Slayton (32.6%)
Whether it’s Saquon Barkley, Sterling Shepard, Evan Engram, or Golden Tate, someone has always been hurt for the Giants this year. The only mainstay has been Slayton. He continues to show a chemistry with Daniel Jones and even Eli Manning, and he makes plays on a weekly basis. He’s shown a propensity for the occasional blow-up game, and he faces Miami and Washington to close out the fantasy season.
Cole Beasley (31.2%)
Beasley has double-digit fantasy points in 9 out of 13 games this year, and less than 7 only once. That kind of production has been vastly underrated. The only problem is that he faces Pittsburgh and New England the next two weeks. Still, with defenses scheming to take away John Brown more than anyone else, Beasley should have plenty of opportunities to eat.
Zach Pascal (21.0%)
Pascal is Jacoby Brissett’s top target as long as T.Y. Hilton is out, with 10 and 9 targets the past 2 games. He’s a bit boom-or-bust, with 4 games of 18+ points since Week 2, but also 5 games with 4 points or fewer. Still, he’s worth a shot hoping that he goes boom.
Breshad Perriman (0.2%)
Word on the block is that Mike Evans isn’t coming back this year. That means that Breshad Perriman steps up as the No. 2 receiver in an offense that is 2nd in the league in passing yards per-game. He already has double-digit fantasy points in each of the last two games, so it’s not even really speculation. Perriman is going to touch the ball. And let’s not forget that this man was a first-round pick. Despite his bust status, he’s always been a physically talented athlete. He could end surprising a lot of people with his production down the stretch.
TIGHT END
Tyler Higbee (11.4%)
As long as Gerald Everett remains out, Higbee is going to be a hot commodity. He’s borderline must-start at this point, with two straight 7-catch 100-yard games.
Jacob Hollister (44.3%)
Hollister only has one game in the past 5 weeks with less than 4 receptions. He’s got a definite role in the redzone and should continue to be plugged into lineups going forward.
Dallas Goedert (43.3%)
With Alshon Jeffery hurt again, Goedert goes back to being Carson Wentz’s No. 2 target. He’s a solid streamer with matchups against the Giants and Redskins next.