Fantasy Football 2020: 5 bold predictions for Week 11
By Dustin Baker
2. Todd Gurley is not a big fantasy contributor at New Orleans
We touched on this matchup with the Michael Thomas prognostication, but this prediction has an impact on the other side of the field. The Falcons are a very strange team. They kicked off the 2020 season with an 0-5 record, fired head coach Dan Quinn, and then went on the road to shellac the Minnesota Vikings. They’re a squad that’s capable of beating almost any NFL team. They’re also a squad that’s capable of losing to almost any NFL team.
This weekend, they travel to the Big Easy for a date with their divisional foe, the New Orleans Saints. The teams do not like each other, and perhaps that will create an interesting game. One thing can be surmised, though, for this Saints-Falcons tryst: Todd Gurley will not have a monster day. Why? The Saints are spectacular at shutting down running backs. They allow just 11 points per game to running backs, which is the very best in the NFL. Gurley is a good running back, but he is not the type of player [anymore] that can shred a stout run defense. He’s the kind of running back that will beat up on average and poor rushing defenses.
Start Gurley if you must but do not expect a giant day. We have him pegged at south of 12 PPR points.