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
Drew Lock (7.2%)
It’s real slim pickings this week for QB streamers. Basically anyone owned in less than 50% of leagues is stuck in a poor matchup, with Lock being the lone exception. Coming off a game in which he completed 25/33 passes, and playing at home against an Oakland defense that has allowed the 4th most fantasy points to QB’s, Lock is a lock as this week’s top QB streamer. (He’s actually not a lock considering he’s a rookie QB making his 4th start, but I couldn’t help myself with the terrible pun).
Jared Goff & Baker Mayfield (56.1% & 53.3%)
Both of these guys are owned in more than 50% of leagues, but if they are out there in yours, they sure beat Drew Lock. Goff faces an Arizona defense that he shredded in Week 13 to the tune of 424 yards and 2 touchdowns, and Mayfield faces a Cincinnati defense that just got torched by Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Dolphins.
RUNNINGBACK
Deandre Washington (41.2%)
Deandre Washington sure looks like an elite handcuff. It’s a very small sample size, but Washington has touch totals of 20 & 25 in the 2 games in which Josh Jacobs has been inactive, including 8 total receptions. He’s scored a TD in each of those games and finished with fantasy scores of 21 and 18. That average of 19.5 fantasy points per-game falls behind only Christian McCaffery & Dalvin Cook this season.
Kerryon Johnson (38.9%)
You may not have noticed this, but lost in the shuffle of all the crazy Week 16 action was the return of Kerryon Johnson from the Injured Reserve. He’s obviously fairly healthy, because, not only did the team not shut him down for these last couple meaningless games, but they also gave him 10 of the team’s 21 carries in just his first game back. He finishes the season against a Green Bay defense that has allowed the 8th most fantasy points to runningbacks.
Dion Lewis (17.9%)
As long as Derrick Henry is out, Lewis carries flex-value. He has a role as a receiver, with a catch in all but 2 games this year, and he saw 15 carries this past week with Henry out. If Henry misses another week, Lewis faces a Texans defense that has allowed the 10th most fantasy points and 2nd most receptions to runningbacks.
Gus Edwards & Justice Hill (4.7% & 3.0%)
We’re not really sure which back is the better play with Mark Ingram out. Edwards is likely to see more carries and redzone work, but Hill is more explosive and is more likely to be used in the passing game. Even against a tough Pittsburgh defense, both should see enough touches to return flex value.
Travis Homer (0.1%)
Homer is the last man standing in Seattle’s backfield. The team lost both Chris Carson and CJ Prosise this past week, after already losing Rashaad Penny earlier. Rumor has it that the team is bringing back Marshawn Lynch, but even if they do, he likely needs at least a week to get into playing shape. Plus, Lynch was never a third down back, which means that Homer has a chance to see double-digit touches again this week, and he could duplicate his 6 receptions and 8 targets from this past week.
WIDE RECEIVER
Cole Beasley (31.9%)
Beasley has been rock-solid all season long, with double-digit fantasy points in 10 out of 15 games. He’s had less than 7 fantasy points just twice (!!) and faces a Jets defense that has allowed the 8th most fantasy points to WR’s.
Greg Ward (17.4%)
Last week, we told deep-leaguers who missed out on Breshad Perriman to give Ward a look after he had produced lines of 4/34 & 7/61/1. Well, Ward came through again with a line of 4/71 (in addition to 1 rush for 5 yards). He’s producing like the Eagle’s top receiver right now and finishes the regular season against a Giants defense that has allowed the 4th most fantasy points to WR’s. He could be due for even more volume if Zach Ertz is forced to miss the game.
Steven Sims Jr. (1.2%)
Sims has increased his reception total in 4 straight games, with totals of 3, 4, 5, & 6. He has 11 & 10 targets and 3 total touchdowns in the last 2 games, making him worthy of a look in the deepest of leagues.
TIGHT END
Tyler Higbee (39.0%)
How is Higbee not universally owned at this point? He has 4 straight 100-yard games. No other TE in the NFL has even had 3 in a row. Zach Ertz has a single 100-yard game all year. Travis Kelce has 2. George Kittle has 3. Right now, Higbee is undoubtedly the league’s single-hottest TE, and he finishes the year against an Arizona defense that has allowed the most fantasy points to the position by a long shot – one that he produced 7 receptions, 107 yards, and a touchdown against back in Week 13.
Dallas Goedert (42.9%)
With Alshon Jeffery out, Goedert has been Carson Wentz’s No. 2 target. He has at least 5 catches in 4 of the last 5 games, including a line of 9/91/1 this past week. Word on the block is that Ertz may have a fractured rib. If he misses Week 17, Goedert would be a top-5 play at the position.
Jacob Hollister (44.7%)
Like Higbee, I also don’t know how Hollister is still owned in less than 50% of leagues. He’s averaging 10.8 fantasy points in his last 7 games and finishes the season against a San Francisco defense that he caught 8 catches for 62 yards and a touchdown against back in Week 10.
Jonnu Smith (7.4%)
If you’re in a deeper league you probably don’t have a shot at any of the TE’s listed above. If that’s the case, you should give Smith a shot. He has double-digit fantasy points in 3 straight games and faces a Texans defense that he caught 5 passes for 60 yards (and 1 rush for 57 yards) against just two weeks ago.
