Week 13 of the 2022 fantasy soccer season featured enormous performances by Christian Watson, Amon-Ra St. Brown and the Eagles tandem of A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Which different developments from the week are price studying into? Matt Bowen and Tristan H. Cockcroft provide their evaluation.
Straight-line juice — and scoring upside. With two extra touchdowns within the Week 13 win over the Bears (one receiving, one dashing), Watson has now logged a ridiculous whole of eight touchdowns in his previous 4 video games — with at the least 20 PPR factors in every of these matchups. Even when the landing totals start to say no, Watson remains to be a constant menace to create explosive performs given his traits and deployment within the Packers’ offense. The rookie can get free on verticals, run away from protection within the purple space of the sector, and the fly sweeps (which we noticed on Sunday) can get Watson on the sting. The Packers head into the bye however return in Week 15 for a matchup with the Rams, the place Watson will stay a high-ceiling WR2. — Bowen
Say good day to your high scorer from the 1 p.m. ET video games, and after St. Brown scored 34.6 PPR fantasy factors, is it time to declare him “Mr. December”? You realize this story: St. Brown scored 24.8 PPR fantasy factors in what was his first profession double-digit-target sport on Dec. 5 of final 12 months (additionally Week 13), then went on an outrageous 89.6-point, 46-target run in his ultimate 5 video games of 2021 to virtually single-handedly resolve many a fantasy league title. And if not for the ankle harm that value him Week 4 and derailed his momentum on the time, St. Brown may’ve prolonged that scoring prowess by way of everything of 2022. In the course of the previous 4 weeks, nonetheless, he has once more seemed just like the clear No. 1 he appeared in September, scoring a mixed 99.6 factors on 41 targets. The commerce of T.J. Hockenson, coupled with accidents to among the workforce’s different receivers, has once more made him Jared Goff‘s clear go-to goal, and there is each motive to imagine St. Brown may resolve an excellent variety of fantasy league championships once more in 2022. — Cockcroft
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Eric Karabell breaks down Amon-Ra St. Brown’s fantasy inventory after an amazing efficiency vs. the Jaguars.
Eagles receivers placed on a present
Now that is what can occur when a pair of receivers with an MVP-caliber quarterback meets an amazing matchup! A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith each hauled in receiving touchdowns in Week 13, the third time this season that each did so in a sport, however that is the primary time that each exceeded 20 PPR fantasy factors, as Brown scored 31.9 and Smith delivered 21.2. Sadly for them and the Eagles, not one of the workforce’s remaining matchups is sort of as favorable as this was — the Bears in Week 15 symbolize the closest factor to it, with the Giants (Weeks 14 and 18) subsequent — however these are nonetheless fantasy-worthy receivers every week, Brown close to the WR1/2 borderline and Smith a high-end WR3. In spite of everything, every has had larger than a 20% goal share in the identical sport in 7 of 12 video games this season. It solely helps that Dallas Goedert‘s harm additional shifts Jalen Hurts’ focus to his wideouts. — Cockcroft
The week’s high scorer — he had 37.7 PPR fantasy factors, his most in 2022 and his fourth most in any of 83 profession NFL video games — Adams has been on an unreal scorching streak since scoring 1.2 factors in Week 8, which had been his fewest in any sport through which he ran at the least 25 routes. Adams has three video games of a number of receiving touchdowns and at the least 30 PPR fantasy factors in his previous 5 video games, and he has totaled 149.4 factors throughout that point span, most within the league and 34.36 greater than every other huge receiver has. He’ll face a few difficult matchups down the stretch — the Patriots in Week 15, the 49ers in Week 17 — however will stay one of many place’s best possible. — Cockcroft
Watson’s return to NFL motion was nothing however disappointing in fantasy phrases, as he scored 5.34 fantasy factors, his third fewest in any of his 54 profession NFL begins (and the one two worse got here in opposition to powerful defenses, the 2019 Ravens and 2018 Payments). This one was largely a matter of rust, unsurprising contemplating Watson hadn’t performed a aggressive soccer sport in practically two years, greatest evidenced by the ugly interception he coughed up. Anticipating him to want a few video games at the least to get again to full pace was rational, and there is motive to hesitate to make use of him as a QB1 in both of the subsequent two weeks in opposition to the Bengals and Ravens, particularly after he could not get a lot performed on the bottom in opposition to one of many league’s weakest defenses. I’d rank Watson inside my high 10, if solely as a result of he is bought that elite mobility, however I really feel a lot much less assured about it after this displaying. — Cockcroft
Ravens lose Lamar Jackson to knee harm
Maybe essentially the most troubling growth of Week 13 was Jackson’s early departure from Sunday’s sport, as he suffered a knee sprain on a tough hit through the workforce’s second offensive sequence, prematurely ending his day. Jackson had beforehand been coping with a quadriceps harm, so he’ll be one of many names most needing to be monitored through the follow week. Coach John Harbaugh indicated after the sport that Jackson’s harm will not finish his season, nevertheless it seems like one which’ll absolutely value him some follow time and may nicely shelve him for Week 14. Tyler Huntley, who had a 35.90 fantasy level fill-in begin however a mere 16.20 per-game common in his 4 begins in Jackson’s place in 2021, scored 15.58 factors in aid, once more doing most of his injury together with his legs. Ought to Huntley be wanted to fill in for future weeks, he’d be a mid-to-high-end QB2 primarily as a consequence of his mobility and his match within the Ravens’ offensive scheme. The Ravens do have a pair of extraordinarily favorable matchups in opposition to the Steelers, in Weeks 14 and 17, so Huntley may very well be a streaming decide if pressed into responsibility. This is hoping, although, that Jackson will heal shortly sufficient to have the ability to capitalize upon each of these matchups. — Cockcroft
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Eric Karabell breaks down Tyler Huntley’s fantasy worth as he replaces the injured Lamar Jackson.
Different observations:
Jalen Hurts, QB, Philadelphia Eagles: Hurts dropped a season-high 34.4 fantasy factors on the Titans’ protection within the Week 13 win. And it was the cross sport right here, because the Eagles’ teaching workers attacked the protection tendencies of Tennessee with vertical ideas. Hurts, who completed with 380 yards passing on this one, threw three touchdowns of 29 yards or extra. And he additionally added a landing rush within the low purple zone, too. With six straight begins of 20 or extra fantasy factors, and dual-threat upside, Hurts will stay a top-three play versus the Giants in Week 14. — Bowen
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Tristan H. Cockcroft lays out how Eagles QB Jalen Hurts has been traditionally profitable in fantasy this season.
Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals: I believed Burrow performed lights out within the Week 13 win over Kansas Metropolis. 30.04 fantasy factors. 25-of-31 passing. Three whole touchdowns (two dashing, one passing). He threw the ball with location and anticipation. The mobility confirmed up, too. And he was stone chilly in huge sport moments. With Ja’Marr Chase again within the combine for Cincy (seven receptions, 97 yards), Burrow managed the tempo of this sport. And now he will get the Browns’ protection in Week 14. He is a midtier QB1 in my ranks. — Bowen
Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals: In his first sport since Week 7, Chase checked in with 16.7 PPR factors, catching 7 of 8 targets for 97 yards. And I did not see any limitations for Chase right here after he missed the previous 4 video games with a hip harm. The huge receiver seemed explosive, and we noticed the aggressive traits after the catch, too. In brief, he performed like a No. 1 on a big-game stage. You’ll be able to lock in Chase as a top-five WR for the Week 14 sport versus the Browns. — Bowen
Justin Fields, QB, Chicago Bears: Two late-game interceptions dropped Fields’ fantasy whole to 19.26 factors, breaking a streak of 5 straight begins with at the least 20 or extra factors. Now, Fields did full 20 of 25 passes on this one, displaying his deep-ball arm expertise right here on two explosive play throws. And with 71 yards dashing, plus a landing on a 51-yard play that highlighted his capability to speed up/shift gears, the Bears quarterback has run for a landing in six straight video games. Fields and the Bears hit the bye subsequent week. And they’re again on the grass at Soldier Area in Week 15 versus the Eagles. — Bowen
AJ Dillon, RB, Inexperienced Bay Packers: A recurrence of Aaron Jones’ shin harm within the second quarter of Week 13 opened the door for Dillon to take over because the Packers’ main operating again, and whereas Jones did finally return, it was clear that the workforce shifted its focus to Dillon for the sport’s the rest. Dillon dashed for 20.9 PPR fantasy factors on 18 dashing makes an attempt and a 3-of-3 day catching his targets, reaching a pace of 18.0 mph, per Subsequent Gen Stats, on his 21-yard landing. The Packers now have their bye week, affording Jones the possibility to heal, however together with his accidents piling up, the playoffs nonetheless a protracted shot and the workforce having outs on his contract after each this and subsequent season, one can solely wonder if Dillon may see an expanded function within the coming weeks. He may nicely elevate his fantasy inventory to the low-end RB2 vary, whereas pulling Jones’ again to only some ranks greater — and maybe the shift may very well be extra dramatic than that if Jones’ accidents do not heal swiftly. — Cockcroft
Nick Chubb, RB, Cleveland Browns: I had Chubb ranked as my RB3 this week. I seemed on the matchup versus a subpar Houston protection. Take that for certain. And I anticipated a run-heavy script in Deshaun Watson’s first begin of the season, too. Yeah, I used to be on the lookout for top-five numbers from Chubb right here. The Cleveland operating again, nonetheless, didn’t put up double-digit PPR factors (8.0), ending with 80 yards dashing on 17 carries in a sport that lacked offensive construction and purple zone scoring alternatives for the Browns. Chubb will get the Bengals’ protection up subsequent in Week 14. — Bowen
Derrick Henry, RB, Tennessee Titans: The Eagles’ 35-10 drubbing of Henry’s Titans had lots to say in his 5.8 PPR fantasy level, 13-touch stinker, nevertheless it’s price mentioning that the star operating again has been held beneath a 3-yards-per-carry common in three of his previous 4 video games. Earlier than that stretch, he had been held to that poor a fee in solely 9 profession video games through which he had double-digit carries. Henry had been wonderful down the stretch in 2018, 2019 and 2020, a “momentum” sort of again who tends to save lots of his greatest for later within the 12 months, however the Titans’ offensive woes appear to be now hampering him. He ought to rebound with a greater matchup in Week 14 (@JAX), nonetheless. — Cockcroft
Garrett Wilson, WR, New York Jets: In his second sport with Mike White at quarterback for the Jets, the rookie huge receiver posted a season-high 162 yards receiving on eight catches (out of 15 targets). Wilson has now logged back-to-back video games of 24 or extra PPR factors with White throwing the ball, and we’re seeing the dynamic traits/playmaking capability he brings to the sector. Wilson can create after the catch. He has third-level capability. And the element in his route operating is progressing. With 23 targets over the previous two weeks, and massive play capability, Wilson will stay within the WR2 dialogue for the Week 14 sport versus the Payments. — Bowen
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Tristan H. Cockcroft breaks down how Garrett Wilson’s matchups might propel him to WR2 territory shifting ahead.
Cam Akers, RB, Los Angeles Rams: A lot for the Kyren Williams buzz, as Akers was the Rams’ Week 13 star, scoring 19.0 PPR fantasy factors, the second most he has had in a sport in his profession. Akers performed 73% of the offensive snaps and had 17 carries to Williams’ one, displaying good imaginative and prescient on this one, particularly on his 6-yard landing run within the fourth quarter that on the time gave the Rams the lead. If it is a signal that Akers’ inventory is again on the rise, and that he’ll get an prolonged search for the 2023 beginning function, this breakthrough efficiency comes at an excellent time, contemplating the Rams face nice matchups within the Raiders (Week 14), Packers (Week 15), Chargers (Week 17) and Seahawks (Week 18) in 4 of their ultimate 5 video games. — Cockcroft
Jared Goff, QB, Detroit Lions: Goff ought to stay on the high of your record for potential streaming choices on the quarterback place. With two landing throws within the Week 13 win over Jacksonville (his second straight sport with a number of touchdowns), plus 340 yards passing, the Lions quarterback completed with 21.6 fantasy factors. And this Detroit offense has playmakers on the perimeter, with a wholesome DJ Chark (5 receptions, 98 yards) again within the combine to enrich Amon-Ra St. Brown. In the event you can provide Goff clear platforms and schemed play-action throws, he’ll hit the home windows. Up subsequent is a Week 14 matchup versus Minnesota. And that is a sport I like for Goff in opposition to the Vikings’ split-safety zone coverages. — Bowen
Jeff Wilson Jr., RB, Miami Dolphins: Whereas it is powerful to be overly vital of his efficiency, contemplating the issue of his matchups in addition to the truth that his Dolphins trailed on the scoreboard for almost all of the day, Wilson’s restricted utilization even when the sport was aggressive is a priority. He performed solely 38% of the offensive snaps and had just one dashing try and two targets (neither caught), whereas Raheem Mostert, who returned from a knee harm, performed 60% of the snaps and had seven carries. Wilson’s 0.3 PPR fantasy factors had been his fewest all season, letting down managers who began him in 39.5% of ESPN leagues. He’ll be powerful to belief even with a dream matchup subsequent up in opposition to the Chargers. — Cockcroft
Cleveland Browns D/ST: Two defensive scores within the Week 13 win over Houston. One on particular groups too, with Donovan Peoples-Jones taking a punt again for 76 yards. And 4 pressured turnovers. That is 31 fantasy factors for the Browns D/ST, the best whole in a single sport this season. And it is essentially the most factors scored by a D/ST for the reason that Eagles posted 35 in Week 5 of 2019. This actually simply confirms that it’s best to completely stream defenses in opposition to the Texans. Wanting on the final 5 video games of the 12 months for Houston — at Dallas, vs. Kansas Metropolis, at Tennessee, vs. Jacksonville, at Indianapolis — solely the Cowboys D/ST are rostered in additional than 50% of ESPN leagues. Get in on this. — Bowen
