Just a heads up for everyone who is playing Saturday FanDuel fantasy football, I’ve looked at the scenarios and you are going to have a lot of money left over. My hint: don’t try to spend the most that you can. Pick your lineup that you like. You won’t spend 60k this week and enjoy your team. This team I selected for you is leaving $4,000 left on the table ,and I can promise that I won’t be the only one who will be leaving that kind of money around this week. On to my team this upcoming week:
Dec 14, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Mark Sanchez (3) drops back to pass against the Dallas Cowboys in the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Quarterback:
Mark Sanchez, at WAS ($7,500) – Sanchez has been bad over the last two weeks, but who cares? Those were the last two weeks, and now we are on to the next one. Washington has to this point allowed the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks, and they won’t magically fix their struggles this week. The Eagles passing offense has struggled the past two weeks, with Sanchez failing to crack double digit fantasy points in back-to-back weeks. Hopefully that stat can lead multiple owners away from Sanchez this week, as I think he will turn it around. If the Eagles want to win, they will have to do it through the air this week.
Nov 16, 2014; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins running back Alfred Morris (46) carries the ball against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Running Backs:
Alfred Morris v. PHI ($6,500) – There will be a few that run away from Alfred Morris this week and go fishing into the pond of other Washington running backs, but I can’t do it. If there is a back that I can trust in that backfield, it’s Alfred Morris. If Ryan Mathews is playing, I would feel more comfortable starting him because there isn’t going to be a potential opportunity for a blowout. However, there will be an opportunity of other running backs stealing his carries. Mathews can’t be trusted to play with zero practice so far this week. In Alfred’s favor, the Eagles run defense has allowed a touchdown to opposing running backs in five of their last six games. With Morris currently controlling 63.6% of the Redskins rushing touchdowns this season, I think Morris is a safe bet for a score this week.
Chris Polk, at WAS ($5,000) – With the way the money works this week, you can afford to get both Alfred Morris and LeSean McCoy. However, I wouldn’t advise that as an option. Listen, LeSean McCoy hasn’t scored a touchdown in the last two weeks, and he willingly admitted that Chris Polk is the goal line back. Yes, I understand that the two touchdowns Polk may get might just be his only two touches in the game. However, Polk saw first team reps with the team at practice this week, and with the Eagles trying to keep McCoy as fresh as possible for the playoffs this year, it could cost McCoy some carries down the stretch of the season. Expect them to spread the wealth at running back, especially when they are winning.
Nov 2, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin (18) scores a touchdown during the second half against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Wide Receiver:
Jeremy Maclin, at WAS ($8,000) – Although Maclin has been missing the big games since Sanchez has taken over, he’s still managed to find some chemistry with him over the last few weeks. Maclin has managed to score over 10 fantasy points in three of his last five games with Sanchez as the starting quarterback. Is that great? No. However, Maclin does posses a good opportunity as the Eagles must get back to winning football and they are going to need to establish that they can still throw the football if they want to make the playoffs. Plus, the Redskins defense has allowed the sixth most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers, and is currently tied for allowing the third most touchdowns to opposing receivers also.
Anquan Boldin, v. SD ($6,700) – I honestly don’t really find this game appealing at all, but I do have a gut call on Anquan Boldin this week. Boldin has gone three straight weeks without a touchdown and also three straight without double-digit fantasy points. It seems crazy, but considering two of them were against Seattle, I’m going to buy into him producing for the Niners this week.
Jordan Matthews, at WAS ($7,000) – If you can’t tell, I’m buying into the Eagles pass attack this week. Not only is Washington struggling to stop opposing wide receivers and opposing quarterbacks from scoring fantasy points, but they are also a mess. The quarterback doesn’t like the coach, and the players don’t like the quarterback. There are going to be a lot of opportunities for this Eagles offense to explode on Saturday. Even with Matthews not receiving one target last week, it doesn’t concern me one bit.
Dec 14, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates (85) scores on a 5-yard pass from quarterback Phillip Rivers during the fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos at Qualcomm Stadium. Making the tackle is Denver Broncos strong safety T.J. Ward (43). The Chargers lost 22-10. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
Tight End:
Antonio Gates, at SF ($6,000) – I have to go with Antonio Gates, despite it being what is a potentially bad matchup. Mike McCoy has already announced that Keenan Allen will not be playing on Saturday due to a broken collarbone, which leads a playoff hungry team to begin forcing the ball to their best weapon. Gates and Rivers have been working together for years, and if the Chargers want to win, then they must rely on that combination on Saturday. Also helps that Gates has double-digit fantasy points in two of his last three games, which most tight ends are currently failing to do.
Oct 19, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers kicker Nick Novak (9) follows through on a field goal as punter Mike Scifres (5) looks on during the first quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Kicker:
Nick Novak, at SF ($4,800) – I think the Chargers will miss Keenan Allen and be forced to settle for a lot of field goals against the San Francisco defense. Novak has gone two games without double-digit fantasy points and I think that changes this week.
Defense:
Chargers, at SF ($4,500) – Anyone see how poorly the San Francisco offense is playing? They may be without Frank Gore, Carlos Hyde, and potentially Michael Crabtee on Saturday as well, which could lead to a big game for San Diego on the road defensively.