Week 11 of the 2022 fantasy soccer season featured three extra brief touchdowns by Detroit’s Jamaal Williams and one other huge sport by Inexperienced Bay rookie Christian Watson. Which different developments from the week are value studying into? Matt Bowen and Tristan H. Cockcroft supply their evaluation.
Lions lean on Williams — not Swift — close to finish zone
Attribute the Lions’ 31-18 win over the Giants Jamaal Williams nearly totally, as he set a private finest with three dashing touchdowns, taking up the league’s lead with 12, and exceeded 20 PPR fantasy factors for the fourth time in 2022. Williams is on observe to be some of the unlikely categorical leaders, and he has turn into a machine in goal-line conditions (see the hooked up chart). But it surely’s greater than merely stealing D’Andre Swift’s landing alternatives, as Williams has taken over the lion’s share of the work between the 20s, one other surprising improvement. Williams’ rise in work in addition to his short-yardage prowess have earned him a weekly place in any fantasy lineup as a borderline RB2 — one thing that may strengthen if these backs’ shares widen any additional. — Cockcroft
Tristan, Swift was about to get a unfavourable write-up on this spot till he scored on a late sport landing run, which pushed his PPR whole to 12.2 factors. However there nonetheless must be issues right here, proper? Swift logged eight touches at the moment. That is it. Final week? Seven. The week earlier than? Simply 5. The shortage of quantity right here, plus Williams’ position because the lead runner in Detroit, ought to have Swift managers scrambling a bit. And I am unsure he will be seen as greater than a Flex possibility proper now. — Bowen
Watson continues to open eyes
Flash again to Thursday night time, and it was Christian Watson delivering one of many week’s finest performances, a second straight by which he cleared the 20-point PPR fantasy plateau. This one locked in Watson’s breakout standing he carved out in Week 10. After a 32.7 pointer final week, he went for a 21.1 pointer in opposition to the Titans, highlighting the dimension he brings to the Packers’ vertical passing sport and giving Inexperienced Bay a official big-play receiver for the primary time in 2022. Watson can be challenged by the stingy Eagles protection in Week 12, and he has a bye forward (Week 14), however he was the previous week’s pickup you ought to be celebrating and rolling out as a weekly WR3 with a borderline-WR1’s upside. — Cockcroft
With Watson on the sphere, Rodgers has a real one-on-one matchup participant. We all know he can stretch defenses vertically, and he is additionally proven the flexibility to run away from protection on crossers. So, when Rodgers reads single-high protection, it opens the door for Watson to provide scoring performs. — Bowen
Barkley a non-factor vs. Lions
Amongst Week 11’s most disappointing crew performances got here from the hot-starting Giants, who dropped a 31-18 stinker loss to the Lions. Blame Daniel Jones for his two interceptions, if you want, however Barkley’s 5.5 PPR fantasy factors on 17 touches, and particularly his 22 yards on 15 dashing makes an attempt, had been unacceptable contemplating the matchup — the Lions entered the week the place’s ninth most-favorable schedule adjusted matchup with the league’s worst all-around protection. It was Barkley’s worst single-game rating in his profession in any sport which he performed 30 or extra offensive snaps. That is not what you wish to see when a crucial matchup in opposition to the Cowboys is upcoming, a highway sport on the brief week on Thanksgiving. — Cockcroft
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Tristan H. Cockcroft explains the extent of concern fantasy managers ought to have with Saquon Barkley.
Pollard stars in Cowboys win
Ezekiel Elliott returned from a knee damage Sunday, but Tony Pollard remained the Cowboys’ backfield star, with the 25-year-old again excelling within the receiving sport this time round. Elliott had 16 touches however did not reduce deeply into Pollard’s workload, because the latter performed 53% of the offensive snaps, had an equal variety of dashing makes an attempt (15 for every) and added a 6-109-2 receiving stat line for a career-best 36.9 PPR fantasy factors. Think about this extra Pollard capitalizing upon the weak a part of the Vikings’ protection — it is not particularly good on brief cross makes an attempt or these over the center — as his big-play skill was evident in that regard right here, as he scored on 30- and 68-yard receptions by which Subsequent Gen Stats clocked him at a max velocity larger than 20 mph. Pollard is now the Cowboys operating again you most need, a locked-in RB2 with top-10 positional upside. — Cockcroft
Tristan, I am with you on Pollard. And the cross sport actually jumps right here. If we proceed to see Pollard deployed as a receiver, with beneath throws and schemed matchups, then he can be within the RB1 combine. We noticed his open-field juice after the catch Sunday versus the Minnesota protection. He can shift gears with ease. Throw the swings right here. Or launch him — vertically — from backfield alignments. I feel we each agree that Pollard upgrades the Dallas run sport. Extra velocity, extra huge play skill. However let’s not overlook that Pollard has the dual-threat traits to spice up his fantasy profile. — Bowen
Pierce stays quiet in loss
Any of the barbs I’d sling about Dameon Pierce‘s 3.7 PPR fantasy factors would head within the course of his crew’s terrible offense, which carried out nearly as poorly as may very well be imagined through the portion of the sport the place the rookie operating again would possibly’ve made an affect. Davis Mills was picked early and sacked 5 instances, and the Texans amassed 148 yards as a crew, issues that threaten Pierce’s productiveness in coming weeks, particularly video games in opposition to the Dolphins (Week 12), Cowboys (Week 14) or Chiefs (Week 15), the place sport circulation would possibly show problematic. Pierce did exceed the 70% threshold of offensive snaps performed for the fifth time prior to now six weeks, and he had 12 touches, so it is clear he’ll be fed at any and all alternatives. That is loads to maintain him RB2-relevant, however hold your fingers crossed his Texans can play crisper soccer in opposition to higher, upcoming foes. — Cockcroft
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Tristan H. Cockcroft examines Dameon Pierce’s position for the Texans because the crew goes by way of some offensive woes.
Adams nonetheless a winner in Las Vegas
The commerce to Las Vegas hasn’t had any antagonistic affect upon Davante Adams, regardless of Derek Carr‘s struggles, because the vast receiver scored 30-plus PPR fantasy factors for the second time prior to now three weeks, ending Week 11 with 33.1. That gave him 97.3 PPR fantasy factors prior to now three weeks mixed, the second most in his profession over any three-game span behind solely the 108.2 he scored in Weeks 7-9 of 2020, underscoring Adams’ skill to dominate the sport no matter who’s throwing him the soccer. He has a fantasy-friendly remaining schedule and desires be locked in as a positional top-five play. — Cockcroft
How about that walk-off TD from Adams to win the sport, Tristan? Easy stuff there. He pressured Patrick Surtain II to overplay the break. Open grass to assault after that. Excessive-level route runner. — Bowen
What to make of Mariota
With 17.74 fantasy factors within the Week 11 win over Chicago, Marcus Mariota has now posted 17 or extra fantasy factors in 5 of his final seven video games. Is there a sample right here? Perhaps. Mariota has thrown not less than one landing cross in six of his final six begins. We all know he can be utilized as a runner on designed ideas in Arthur Smith’s offense. And we noticed that within the Week 11 sport with Mariota scoring on a zone-read idea. However once I introduced it up at the moment, through the early video games, Tristan was extraordinarily fast to drop Mariota’s upcoming schedule on me. Do I nonetheless like Mariota in deeper leagues? Yeah, I feel there’s some upside right here given his dashing skill for those who want a final minute pickup to play in to play within the lineup. — Bowen
Matt, my important gripe with Mariota — about whom I agree does have streaming/2QB/superflex enchantment — is that I have a look at his Week 14 bye, Week 15 in opposition to the Saints and Week 16 in opposition to the Ravens and may’t think about myself feeling comfy beginning him — plus I merely can’t stand late-season byes, due to how a lot it adversely impacts my roster flexibility. Mariota’s downside is that his sport log would not fall right into a pure sample of exploiting matchups, so a level of guesswork is concerned, as essentially the most crucial weeks method. — Cockcroft
Different observations:
Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Payments: He and the Payments offense could not appear to shut the deal in Week 11, and Allen’s 12.58 fantasy factors wound up his fewest since Week 13 of 2021 in opposition to the Patriots, disappointing contemplating the Browns’ protection is not wherever close to the robust matchup that the Patriots had been at the moment. Theorize that Allen’s elbow damage has had an affect if you want, however I am not shopping for it from what I’ve seen, and assume that the abrupt change in routine — bear in mind, this sport was moved to Detroit to keep away from the huge snowfall in Buffalo — is a extra rational rationalization, particularly since Allen appeared to warmth up as the sport progressed. Talking of Detroit, Allen now faces the Lions on Thanksgiving, the brief week a unfavourable however the matchup itself an awesome constructive. I’ve little doubt that Allen can be my QB1 for that one. — Cockcroft
Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints: For the primary time since Week 3, Olave topped the 20 level PPR mark, checking-in with 21.2 PPR factors within the Week 11 win over the Rams. The rookie vast receiver caught 5-of-6 targets on this one for 102 yards, plus a rating. And that landing seize — on a 53 yard throw from Andy Dalton — highlighted Olave’s deep ball skill. He floats down the sphere. Straightforward velocity. And no wasted motion. Now, I nonetheless assume Olvae has the next fantasy ceiling when paired with quarterback Jameis Winston. He is merely a way more aggressive thrower on vertical ideas. However with Dalton anticipated to stay because the No.1 for the Saints, Olave will stick as a WR2 for the Week 12 matchup versus the 49ers protection. — Bowen
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Eric Moody highlights Chris Olave’s Week 11 efficiency with 102 receiving yards and a landing.
David Montgomery, RB, Chicago Bears: Montgomery posted a season-high 21.1 PPR factors within the Week 11 loss to the Falcons. And the amount for Montgomery (20 touches) factors to a fairly outlined position because the lead again in Chicago transferring ahead. With Khalil Herbert on IR, and rookie Trestan Ebner solely logging six carries, Montgomery completed with 17 dashing makes an attempt and three receptions. The veteran again scored on a low pink zone carry, and in addition produced a 32 yard reception on schemed idea. Whereas I do not love the Week 12 matchup for Montgomery versus the Jets protection, he nonetheless has RB2 worth given the anticipated quantity within the Bears run-heavy method. — Bowen
Amari Cooper, WR, Cleveland Browns: Cooper’s 31.3 PPR factors led all gamers within the early slate of video games, because the vast receiver went to work on a Buffalo secondary that’s struggling in protection on the perimeter proper now. Cooper logged two landing right here, whereas catching 8-of-12 targets for 113 yards. With Deshaun Watson returning in Week 13, Cooper will get yet another sport with Jacoby Brissett at quarterback subsequent Sunday versus the Bucs. I like the graceful route runner right here as a high-end WR2 versus the Bucs single-high coverages. — Bowen
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Tristan H. Cockcroft discusses why Amari Cooper ought to proceed his fantasy manufacturing when the Browns swap over to Deshaun Watson.
Darius Slayton, WR, New York Giants: With 4 straight video games of double-digit PPR manufacturing, hold Slayton in your checklist of potential streaming choices relying on the weekly matchup. Certain, Slayton posted some late sport stats on Sunday within the loss to the Lions. However he is additionally logged 16 receptions – with two scores – throughout this 4 sport stretch. And we all know he can get free as a vertical goal for quarterback Daniel Jones. Slayton and the Giants get the Cowboys subsequent on Thanksgiving. You may play Slayton right here in 12-14 crew leagues in a sport the place the Giants may need to throw with extra quantity. — Bowen
Juwan Johnson, TE, New Orleans Saints: The Saints tight finish caught one other landing on Sunday within the win over the Rams, giving him 5 whole scores in his final 4 video games. Whereas there isn’t any query that Johnson will be seen as a landing dependent participant on the place, he is posted double-digit PPR manufacturing in 4 of the final 5 video games. At the moment out there in over 80% of ESPN leagues, Johnson will stay a high streaming possibility for me within the Week 12 matchup versus the 49ers. — Bowen
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Tristan H. Cockcroft discusses Juwan Johnson’s profitable Week 11 fantasy efficiency.
George Pickens, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers: The 18.3 fantasy factors within the Week 11 loss to the Bengals had been a season-high for Pickens. And the rookie has now caught a landing in two of his previous 4 video games. Whereas I’d like to see extra quantity right here for Pickens (simply 12 targets in his previous three video games), there isn’t any query he has the flexibility to shake protection and win in any respect three ranges of the route tree. With a harder Week 12 sport versus the Colts’ protection, Pickens will stay an upside WR3 in my rankings. — Bowen
Samaje Perine, RB, Cincinnati Bengals: The week’s greatest “The place did that come from?” Perine scored a career-best 30.2 PPR fantasy factors, fueled partly by Joe Mixon‘s early exit on account of concussion signs. As an apart, I had Perine for a lot of the season in a deep, 14-team league by which my operating backs had been decimated by accidents, needing to start out him a number of instances already … and of all weeks to lastly reduce him, this was the one. The sting is not fairly so painful for those who think about the Bengals’ backup is rostered in solely 3.6% of ESPN leagues and was began in 0.6%, so for those who’re one of many fortunate ones who had him lively, good for you! Perine most likely deserves a bigger position than he has, however this merely cements his worth as a Mixon insurance coverage coverage — and also you would possibly really want one if the concussion protocol would not proceed easily. — Cockcroft
