Every Tuesday, Sportsnet fantasy analyst Andy McNamara will highlight the best sleeper and waiver wire picks of the week. And if you’re looking for more fantasy football advice, message him on Twitter using #AskAndy.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays fantasy football owners! This is the final week of the NFL regular season, which for most people means celebrating a fantasy league championship or plotting revenge for next season. For those of you in non-traditional formats, looking to win money in DFS contests, or planning for 2020 here is some fantasy advice as you prepare for Week 17.
Below are a few early Christmas presents from me in the form of sleepers and value plays.
“Beast Mode” returning, and what to do about the Seahawks running backs?
Seattle’s backfield was decimated during Sunday’s loss to the Arizona Cardinals as both Chris Carson and third-string turned backup C.J. Prosise went down with season-ending injuries. Enter the last man standing, rookie Travis Homer as well as the possible return of a former teammate.
RB: Travis Homer, Seahawks
Owned in 0 per cent of Yahoo! Leagues
Homer will no doubt become the most added player off of waivers heading into Week 17 and slotted into many Draft Kings lineups. Little is known about the five-foot-10, 202-pound sixth-round pick except that he should be in for a substantial workload in an undesirable Sunday night battle against the 49ers.
Another interesting wrinkle to this situation is that Seattle is bringing back semi-retired former running back Marshawn Lynch on Monday. If “Beast Mode” makes a triumphant return, in what capacity will it be? And how would that affect Homer’s touches? The bowling ball C.J. Anderson has also been linked to the club, and we know how effective he was late last year with the Rams.
My advice would be to scoop up Homer and keep an eye on any Seattle signings.
Double Purple
RB: Gus Edwards, Ravens
Owned in 10 per cent of Yahoo! Leagues
Draft Kings salary of $4,800
RB: Justice Hill, Ravens
Owned in 4 per cent of Yahoo! Leagues
Draft Kings salary of $4,600
Baltimore’s Mark Ingram has officially been ruled out for Sunday’s finale against Pittsburgh. Lamar Jackson will also take a seat (don’t start Robert Griffin III).
It’s an intriguing situation as far as how the carries will be split between Edwards and Hill. “Gus the Bus” is a less dynamic version of Ingram, but a similar style, so I would lean towards starting him. The good news is that surely the Ravens won’t want backup RG3 throwing the ball that much, meaning there could be enough rock for both running backs.
Facing the Steelers’ fourth-best fantasy RB defence is not ideal under any circumstances, making this game one I would avoid if possible.
Other running back situations to avoid
Steelers: Another Sunday and another James Conner injury. The fragile rusher will likely miss the club’s 16th game and that unleashes an uninspiring Pittsburgh backfield by committee.
Benny Snell’s looked flat and is sharing opportunities with Kerrith Whyte and Jaylen Samuels. Stay clear of all three if you can. Need to roster one — fine. Samuels for PPR, Snell for any other format, and don’t get cute thinking about Whyte.
Dolphins: Woof. The Patrick Laird love fest is officially over. Bury it, release the man, not even worthy in PPR. The Miami Dolphins’ backfield claims another soul. Just 2.80-fantasy points versus the Bengals, and this off of a single-digit fantasy point effort the week prior. Now the nasty New England defense is up to polish off 2019.
Thinking of Myles Gaskin? Don’t. Head coach Brian Flores stated that Gaskin’s ankle injury will probably sideline him. Fade on all Dolphins.
WR: Greg Ward Jr., Eagles
Owned in 9 per cent of Yahoo! Leagues
Draft Kings salary of $4,700
Ward makes a second straight stop in “Under the Wire”. His ownership rose only seven per cent and his Draft Kings salary increased just $500 from a week ago.
The best ability is availability and Ward is the poster-boy for that statement. Zach Ertz, Dallas Goedert, and J.J. Arcegia-Whiteside are all banged up with Nelson Agholor questionable as well. The five-foot-11 Eagles receiver is pretty much Carson Wentz’s only viable non-running back offensive choice.
The rookie’s going into the weekend off back-to-back double-digit fantasy point outings and 23-combined targets over his last three games. Ward is a smart, available, and affordable WR 3 play for Week 17.
TE: Jonnu Smith, Titans
Owned in 15 per cent of Yahoo! Leagues
Draft Kings salary of $4,200
Just like Ward, I’m going back to the well on tight end Jonnu Smith. Since I advised readers to snatch him up in last Tuesday’s column and his ownership’s only increased by two per cent and by $400 in Draft Kings salary.
People… go… grab… Jonnu… Smith! Especially after a third consecutive week of 11 or more fantasy points, averaging 14.63 during that stretch with two touchdowns. The Ocala, Fla., native’s chemistry with quarterback Ryan Tannehill is the real deal and I’d argue there is no better safe high floor tight end floating around on your waiver wire.
The Titans face Houston for the second time in three weeks, and Smith punked them for five-catches and a sweet 16.70-FPTs in PPR the last time. He’s also a bargain in Draft Kings at a cheaper cost than Hunter Henry and O.J. Howard. The six-foot-three, third-year TE’s delivered better fantasy performances than both of them over the past month.
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