Man, it feels good to be here for a second straight week bringing you the B-Team. Part of this is due to the fact that football is continuing after what was a dreadful spring/summer due to the lack of sports. This is a series where I construct a hypothetical fantasy football lineup using players that are owned in less than 40-percent of Yahoo and/or ESPN leagues. The goal of the series is to top 100 PPR fantasy points using the make-shift team. The premise is to show that there is readily available value at all times across most waiver wires.
We didn’t reach our 100 point goal last week due to a few very underperforming players, but it wasn’t a horrible start to the season. We hit on a few players and I’ve done way worse mid-way through the season a year ago than this 70 point performance. We were led by Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who was part of the offensive clinic the Packers put on against the Minnesota Vikings. Jerick McKinnon scored a touchdown in his first actual appearance for the 49ers. Let’s shoot for that 100 point goal this week!
Week 1 Results
Derek Carr (Oakland Raiders) - 13.56 points
Boston Scott (Philadelphia Eagles) - 7.4 points
Jerick McKinnon (San Francisco 49ers) - 13.4 points
Kendrick Bourne (San Francisco 49ers) - 5.4 points
Bryan Edwards (Oakland Raiders) - 1.9 points
Jack Doyle (Indianapolis Colts) - 7.9 points
Marquez Valdes-Scantling (Green Bay Packers) - 19.6 points
Detroit Lions - 1 point
Total: 70.16 points
Quarterback
Philip Rivers (Indianapolis Colts) - Owned in 27% of Yahoo and 17.1% of ESPN leagues
This may be a popular trend this year; playing any quarterback going against the Minnesota Vikings’ secondary. This same secondary allowed Aaron Rodgers to return to his prime last week as he lit them up for 364 yards and four touchdowns. Rivers can repeat the same type of numbers this week with this high powered Colts’ offense. TY Hilton is healthy, Parris Campbell seems to be a quality WR2 and the combination of Jonathan Taylor and Nyheim Nines catching the ball out of the backfield should help Rivers have a strong outing this week.
Runningbacks
Peyton Barber (Washington Football Team) - Owned in 30% of Yahoo and 24.4% of ESPN leagues
I hate doing this, but the goalline work Barber saw last week in a come-from-behind victory against the Philadelphia Eagles can’t be denied. I think this Washington vs. Arizona Cardinals game will be closer than people think. This would mean not-too-much throwing from behind for Dwayne Haskins and company. Washington should see some redzone chances, where Barber is obviously the go-to-guy for Washington. This same Cardinals team allowed 25.10 fantasy points to Raheem Mostert and 13.4 fantasy points to Jerick McKinnon last week.
Frank Gore (New York Jets) - Owned in 13% of Yahoo and 12.9% of ESPN leagues
Ol’ father time. Le’Veon Bell has landed himself on the IR after one week of the season. This leaves Frank Gore to lead the Jets’ backfield against his former long-time team. Gore may play with a chip on his shoulder against the team he played the bulk of his career with. This 49ers’ defense is not the same from a year ago. Drake carried the ball 16 times last week against the 49ers. Let’s see what Gore can do this week.
Wide Receivers
Corey Davis (Tennessee Titans) - Owned in 35% of Yahoo and 27.2% of ESPN leagues
A.J. Brown is out for this match-up with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars historically underperform against the Titans and I don’t expect anything else out of them for this week. Brown leaves eight targets from a week ago on the board. Davis actually had a great week on Monday Night Football, receiving eight targets, catching seven of them for 101 yards. Let’s expect something similar out of the former fifth overall pick this week.
Scotty Miller (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) - Owned in 36% of Yahoo and 20.2% ESPN leagues
Chris Godwin is out this week for Tom Brady and the Bucs. Mike Evans should make his season debut but I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s limited in any way. This could leave Scotty Miller being Brady’s top target for the week. Miller caught five of his six targets a week ago without Evans in the lineup for 73 yards. I think it’s more beneficial for him, at least fantasy wise, without Godwin in the lineup as Miller should see work in the slot. Look for Miller to have a second straight double-digit scoring week.
Tight End
Logan Thomas (Washington Football Team) - Owned in 29% of Yahoo and 9.5% of ESPN leagues
What impressed me last week about Thomas was that he led the Washington Football Team with eight targets. He saw several of these targets in big time situations, such as third and long. Like I said when I was talking about Peyton Barber, I think this game is close and the Washington offense will have to keep up with the Arizona offense. In doing so, Thomas will be a focal point of Dwayne Haskins
Flex
Tre’Quan Smith (New Orleans Saints) - Owned in 10% of Yahoo and 15.5% of ESPN leagues
This is a swing for the fences here. Michael Thomas will not play for the Saints on Monday Night Football. We can assume Emmanuel Sanders to be Drew Brees’ WR1, but Smith should serve as the WR2. Smith is also a big play waiting to happen. With Thomas missing time, this simply gives Smith more chances. With more chances, he has more chances to bust one open. Like I said last week in this series, to get to 100 points, sometimes we have to swing for the fences.
Defense
Seattle Seahawks - Owned in 35% of Yahoo and 29.9% of ESPN leagues
This Seahawks’ defense held the Atlanta Falcons’ offense to just 25 points with Matt Ryan throwing for 400+ yards. They also took the ball away from Atlanta twice. Now, turnovers are hard to come by in a Bill Belichick offense, but with as many young players the Patriots have at the skill positions, and Cam Newton who likes to test defenses deep, it could happen. I’m going with a safer route here this week than swinging for the fences on a defense.