Welcome to Feast or Famine! A weekly breakdown of the most variable player rankings by standard deviation from FantasyPros Weekly ECR.
These players are ranked as either sensational hits or relative busts, and I’ll be giving my reasoning on why you should lean one side over the other. Having no clear group consensus means these are the decisions that could win or lose you your weekly matchup or DFS lineup. Knowledge is power in these situations, so let’s begin.
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Quarterbacks
Ryan Fitzpatrick (MIA)
Highest rank: QB9. Lowest Rank: QB26.
This prediction is being paired with DeVante Parker in the wide receiver section, but I’ll repeat it here. Seattle is a passing wonderland with 1,319 passing yards allowed (32nd) and only 126 rushing yards allowed (2nd). I’ll be setting QB-WR DFS stacks with whoever plays the Seahawks as I have every week this season. These particular lineups have paid out every time so far for what it’s worth.
Prediction: FEAST
Carson Wentz (PHI)
Highest rank: QB12. Lowest Rank: QB29.
Wentz has struggled lately, and while the 49ers are down some key defensive players, he still faces a tough matchup. While their numbers are slightly inflated after facing the Jets and Giants, they have historically game planned quarterbacks well back to last season. Wentz has been very turnover prone and is down multiple wideouts and star tight end Dallas Goedert. The Eagles have an implied Vegas team total of only 19, so you should look elsewhere at the position.
Prediction: FAMINE
Running Backs
Darrell Henderson (LAR)
Highest rank: RB7. Lowest Rank: RB59.
The Rams are absurd 12.5 point favorites for a heavy positive game script, Giants have given up the 10th most points to running backs, Akers is still out, and Henderson completely dominated the last two weeks. There may not be an easier decision for you this week than slotting Henderson into your lineup, but of course, anything can happen. I have Henderson firmly inside my top-15 for this week.
Darrell Henderson:
– 2 games as the lead back
– 2 games with 120 total yards https://t.co/H4VyWfxb5G— David Zach (@DavidZach16) September 28, 2020
Prediction: FEAST
Honorable Mention Feast: Mike Davis
Josh Kelley (LAC)
Highest rank: RB25. Lowest Rank: RB52.
In a negative game script, Austin Ekeler leads the backfield in snap share by a healthy margin, and we can expect more of the same as they come in as 7 point underdogs. The Bucs have allowed the third-fewest rushing yards but the fourth-most receiving yards to opposing running backs. This suggests an Ekeler game as opposed to Kelley, and a low scoring affair overall at a 43 point game total over/under.
Prediction: FAMINE
Honorable Mention Famine: D’Andre Swift, Carlos Hyde
Wide Receivers
DeVante Parker (MIA)
Highest rank: WR7. Lowest Rank: WR45.
Starting wide receivers against the Seahawks should be second-nature to you by now. I emphasized this last week in this column with Gallup, but they are the number one pass-funnel defense and have the most points to receivers by a landslide. I’m expecting Parker’s best game of this season.
Prediction: FEAST
Honorable Mention Feast: Will Fuller, Allen Lazard
Extra note on Will Fuller in a potential shootout:
The two WORST defenses in stopping scoring face each other on Sunday…
Texans vs Vikings 🚀🚀🚀
Most scoring allowed per drive:
1. Vikings – 64%(!!)
2. Texans – 58%
3. Giants – 54%Least:
32. Colts – 27%
31. Bucs – 28%
30. Steelers – 29%— David Zach (@DavidZach16) September 30, 2020
Terry McLaurin (WAS)
Highest rank: WR7. Lowest Rank: WR24.
Baltimore has two of the best corners in the game in Humphrey and Peters and McLaurin is Washington’s best player. I imagine the Ravens make it a game plan to shut him down as much as they can and force Washington to beat them elsewhere. Dwayne Haskins is one of the most turnover- and sack-friendly quarterbacks in the league right now and gets his toughest matchup yet. I’m starting McLaurin where I have to – and you likely are too – but I’m prepared to be disappointed.
Prediction: FAMINE
Honorable Mention Famine: T.Y. Hilton
Tight Ends
TJ Hockenson (DET)
Highest rank: TE4. Lowest Rank: TE14.
Darren Waller went bananas against the Saints defense in week 2. With Lattimore covering Golladay or Jones, and the Lions expected to be playing from behind, it might make perfect sense for them to continue to utilize Hockenson as one of the better tight ends in the league. I’d feel confident in playing him over Engram, Gesicki, and Smith.
Prediction: FEAST
Thanks for reading and stay golden! If you like what you learned, follow me @DavidZach16 for more interesting stats and tidbits throughout the year.
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David Zach is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from David, check out his archive and follow him @DavidZach16.
