Fantasy Football Player Notes

Aaron Jones is a solid RB2 this week. Since Week 14, he has averaged 14.5 touches and 70.5 total yards with a 51.3% snap rate and 45.5% route share. Jones has been the backfield leader, but he hasn't been the team's goal line back with only two red zone totes over the last two games (Mason, six). Jones could easily break a long run against the Giants and pay off, though. Since Week 11, the Giants have remained one of the worst run defenses in the NFL, giving up the most rushing yards per game, the second-highest explosive run rate, and the most yards after contact per attempt.

Last week, Justin Jefferson should have had two touchdowns, which would have quieted the narrative that he and JJ McCarthy's connection is worrisome at best. One score was called back by penalty, and the other sailed through Jefferson's hands. In the eight games Jefferson has played with McCarthy this season, he has two top 24 finishes in weekly scoring with a 29.1% target share, 43.9 receiving yards per game, 1.55 yards per route run, and a 34.7% first-read share. In those games, Jefferson has also had 11 red zone targets and ten deep targets. I'm still rolling out Jefferson there this week in a great spot. Since Week 10, New York has allowed the 13th-most receiving yards per game and the 12th-most PPR points per target to perimeter wide receivers.

Over the last two games, Jordan Mason has been the team's early down thumper and goal line back, averaging 10.5 carries and 40.5 rushing yards with a 31.9% snap rate. He has six red zone rushing attempts during those games versus Aaron Jones' two. Mason is a strong touchdown-dependent flex play this week. If Minnesota builds a strong lead, we could see him creep into the 13-15 carry range (or higher). Since Week 11, the Giants have remained one of the worst run defenses in the NFL, giving up the most rushing yards per game, the second-highest explosive run rate, and the most yards after contact per attempt.

In Jordan Addison's six games with JJ McCarthy under center, he has had two top 36 weekly finishes (WR31, WR29) with a 16.4% target share, 38.5 receiving yards per game, 1.43 yards per route run, and a 21.9% first-read share. In that sample, Addison has had two red zone targets and nine deep targets. He's a decent flex play again this week with a nice matchup. Since Week 10, New York has allowed the 13th-most receiving yards per game and the 12th-most PPR points per target to perimeter wide receivers.

Last week was T.J. Hockenson's first TE1 weekly finish of the season with JJ McCarthy under center (TE12). In those eight games, Hockenson has had a 14.6% target share with 22.8 receiving yards per game, 1.03 yards per route run, and a 13.6% first-read share. In those eight games, Hockenson has had only three red zone targets and one deep target. Hockenson is on the streaming radar again this week. Since Week 10, the Giants have faced the fewest tight end targets in the NFL, so it's not surprising that they have allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points per game to the position. The interesting fact is that, also during that span, they have allowed the second-most yards per target to tight ends. Hockenson could have a surprising game this week and log another low-end TE1 finish.