By The Hudsonian, Joshua Hudson
Six more weeks — well, for most — and your season is over. That is it. That is what is left in the 2016 fantasy football season. How are you feeling about your season? Need to make a trade or two to get into the playoff picture? Need to set up a tent at the top of your division? Or are you ready to break out the vodka and start pouring shots because you need a pick me up after another season goes down the drain?
That’s what I’m here for folks. I can deliver the vodka, help construct your trades or help you remain at the top of your division. Ask The Commish. I’m doing a great job of staying atop mine in the Skrip Club.
To refresh what this column is, these are my confidence plays in a Start/Play/Bench format. “Start” represents your studs and numbers twos that will overachieve. Get them in your lineup, stat! “Play” represents some bench or FLEX plays that should outperform their draft position based on matchup. “Bench” presents your studs that you should temper expectations for or FLEX plays you should swap out with a bench player. And really, it’s based off my rankings. Check them out and use them as a guide!
Start
The Seahawks offense (SEA) – Seriously, all of them. The Saints defense defense, not good. Russell Wilson will find Doug Baldwin and Jimmy Graham often (Graham will be extra motivated after the Saints traded him 2 years ago) and Christine Michael will run roughshod all over this defense. All four of these guys are top 10 at their respective positions for me.
QB Jameis Winston and WR Mike Evans (TB) – Oakland has won all their road games this year, but they’ve also won four of them by seven points or less. They score a lot and their defense is mediocre so I see a lot of Winston to Evans in this game. And it will be magical.
QB Derek Carr and WRs Amari Cooper & Michael Crabtree (OAK) – Carr has been awesome this year. Crabtree and Cooper have been good too, just never in the same game. The Bucs defense has not exactly been great. If you’re not catching on, the Raiders-Bucs game will be a shootout. It’s every fantasy players dream.
Play
The Jets offense (NYJ) – They bench Fitzpatrick, start Geno Smith. Smith gets hurt, bring back Fitzpatrick, who then proceeds to call out the team for having no faith in him. Not exactly a recipe for offensive success. You know what is though? Playing the Cleveland Browns. Big games ahead for Fitzpatrick, Matt Forte, Brandon Marshall and Quincy Enunwa. But keep in mind: if anyone will screw up and lose to the Browns in a poor offensive showing, it’s the Jets. Play with caution.
RB Devontae Booker (DEN) – C.J. Anderson is out indefinitely with a tear in his meniscus. Not pretty. But it gives Booker a chance to seize the job. He showed flashes last week against Houston and is primed for a big game vs. the Chargers suspect run defense.
RBs James White & LeGarrette Blount (NE) – Of course you’re starting Brady. But the Bills gave the Patriots their only loss this season. Without Brady at QB. The Bills just gave up 212 yards to Jay Ajayi, and while I’m certain Rex Ryan will have his team sell out to stop the run, I’m thinking Bill Bellichick will make it a point to run it down Ryan’s throat and remind him who runs the AFC East.
WR Terrelle Pryor (CLE) – I’m gambling a bit here. Cody Kessler may play, but most are expecting the other rookie, Kevin Hogan, to get his first start for the Browns when they host the Jets. You know the best way to beat the Jets defense? You throw the ball deep. Pryor is fast and can get behind defenses. He’ll catch his safety net passes, but I think he gets at least one deep touchdown. It’s the Jets people.
Bench
The Saints offense (NO) – They play Seattle’s defense. Run Forest, run!
QB Phillip Rivers and WRs Travis Benjamin & Tyrell Williams (SD) – They play the Broncos defense, fresh off shutting down Brock Osweiler and the Texans. Notice how I left off Melvin Gordon? Well, the Broncos can’t stop the run well but against the pass they do just fine.
QB Blake Bortles & WR Allen Robinson (JAX) – I’m off the bandwagon. Seriously, I’m done. No more praise for the up-and-comers. Nothing to see here, folks.
The Bears Offense (CHI) – Cutler comes back. And in come the Vikings defense. Pass.