Week 8 wasn’t the overall worst B-Team showing in series’ history, but it’s darn close. It is the worst of the 2020 season. This week has not been kind to me. Not only are my 49ers falling apart before my eyes, so is my B-Team. I need to get a “W” in my life, so let’s get that goal in Week 9!
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. You can find last week’s results below and the result of previous weeks at the bottom of this article.
There isn’t much to talk about in terms of our Week 8 lineup. Kendrick Bourne was our point leader with 16.1 points. He did this on the back of eight receptions and 81 yards. Jalen Reagor was our only other player to reach double digits. His week was saved by a touchdown and two-point-conversion as, besides that, he had three receptions for 16 yards. It’s tough to score a good number of points when your quarterback (Baker Mayfield) scores just 7.78 points and your runningbacks combine for 7.3 points.
Week 8 Results
Baker Mayfield (Cleveland Browns) - 7.78 points
La’Michal Perine (New York Jets) - 5.3 points
Tevin Coleman (San Francisco 49ers) - 2 points
Scotty Miller (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) - 7.2 points
Jalen Reagor (Philadelphia Eagles) - 13.2 points
Richard Rodgers (Philadelphia Eagles) - 0 points
Kendrick Bourne (San Francisco 49ers) - 16.1 points
Green Bay Packers - 0 points
Total: 51.58 points
Week 9 Lineup
Quarterback
Drew Lock (Denver Broncos) - Owned in 20% of Yahoo and 13.3% of ESPN leagues
I love this match-up. Drew Lock gets the Atlanta Falcons, who have allowed the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Lock has thrown 40-plus times over the past two days and as the Broncos’ runningbacks continues to struggle, I believe he’ll approach that mark for a third straight week. If he throws the ball 40-plus times against the Falcons, he’ll post a great statline. On top of throwing the ball 40-plus times, he tossed three touchdowns last week against the Chargers. Lock will be played in the majority of my redraft leagues this week.
Runningbacks
Gus Edwards (Baltimore Ravens) - Owned in 35% of Yahoo and 10% of ESPN leagues
Mark Ingram is doubtful for the Ravens’ game with the Colts. I know the matchup is not ideal as the Colts are quality against the run, but what Edwards has been doing in Ingram’s absence can’t be ignored. Edwards has at least 14 carries over the past two weeks and has scored in those two games as well. Rookie J.K. Dobbins has been out performing Edwards, but the Ravens continue to make him a big part of their offense. Edwards also gets the goalline work, as he has a high scoring chance each week.
J.D. McKissic (Washington Football Team) - Owned in 24% of Yahoo and 34.5% of ESPN leagues
I’m going back to the well. McKissic has been featured in this series all season long. Last week he was on a bye so he has fresh legs as the Washington Football Team squares off with the New York Football Giants. The last time these two teams squared off in Week 6, McKissic recorded 84 yards-from-scrimmage on 14 touches. Look for a repeat of that game earlier in this season as the two teams still have a chance to win the NFC East.
Wide Receivers
Darnell Mooney (Chicago Bears) - Owned in 13% of Yahoo and 13.7% of ESPN leagues
Mooney has seen at least five targets since Week 3. He’s seen at least six targets over the last two weeks. As he emerges as the WR2 in Chicago, he gets a great matchup this week against the Tennessee Titans, who have allowed the second most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers on the season. I know they added Desmond King at the deadline, but this secondary is beyond saving. Look for Mooney and company to have great weeks this week.
Randall Cobb (Houston Texans) - Owned in 20% of Yahoo and 19% of ESPN leagues
Randall Cobb has quietly been a decent fantasy asset, especially in PPR leagues. He’s scored at least 10.7 fantasy points over the last three weeks and has gone over 10.7 points in five-of-seven games thus far this season. The Texans square off with divisional rivals Jacksonville Jaguars, whom they have bested in six of their last eight meetings. I expect, as we all should, Deshaun Watson and company to pour it on the struggling Jaguars, especially as Jake Luton takes to the field.
Tight End
Tyler Eifert (Jacksonville Jaguars ) - Owned in 5% of Yahoo and 2.8% of ESPN leagues
I’m not sure why I’m playing any part of this Jaguars’ offense as Jake Luton is the starting quarterback. There’s something about young quarterbacks putting trust into their runningbacks and tight ends. I expect Luton to rely on the veteran tight end with a bunch of underneath passes to get him out of trouble and as he tries to find a pace in his first career start.
Flex
Jakobi Meyers (New England Patriots) - Owned in 8% of Yahoo and 3.3% of ESPN leagues
As both Julian Edelman and N’Keal Harry remain out for the New England Patriots, Meyers should continue to serve as the top option for Cam Newton. He’s led the Patriots in targets and receptions each of the last two games with Edelman and Harry out. He gets the Jets this week who have allowed the ninth most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers.
Defense
Houston Texans - Owned in 37% of Yahoo and 37.1% of ESPN leagues
This may be the first and only time I’ll suggest playing the Texans’ defense. This is due to them getting Jake Luton in his first career start with the Jacksonville Jaguars this week. An already struggling offense with now a sixth-round rookie starting for them, there isn’t much more to say about this one.
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
Week 2 Results
Philip Rivers (Indianapolis Colts) - 11.86 points
Peyton Barber (Washington Football Team) - 0.10 points
Frank Gore (New York Jets) - 6.3 points
Corey Davis (Carolina Panthers) - 12.6 points
Scotty Miller (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) - 3.2 points
Logan Thomas (Washington Football Team) - 6.6 points
Tre’Quan Smith (New Orleans Saints) - 13.6 points
Seattle Seahawks - 3 points
Total: 57.26 points
Week 3 Results
Mitchell Trubisky (Chicago Bears) - 12.62 points
Jeff Wilson Jr. (San Francisco 49ers) - 21.9 points
Frank Gore (New York Jets) - 7.2 points
K.J. Hamler (Denver Broncos) - 5.8 points
Cole Beasley (Buffalo Bills) - 16 points
Logan Thomas (Washington Football Team) - 7.1 points
Marquez Valdes-Scantling (Green Bay Packers) - 1.5 points
Cleveland Browns - 14 points
Total: 86.12
Week 4 Results
Ryan Fitzpatrick (Miami Dolphins) - 23.3 points
Jeff Wilson Jr. (San Francisco 49ers) - 2.9 points
Brian Hill (Atlanta Falcons) - 4.3 points
Cole Beasley (Buffalo Bills) - 12.2 points
Greg Ward Jr. (Philadelphia Eagles) - 7.8 points
Robert Tonyan (Green Bay Packers) - 33.8 points
Hunter Renfrow (Las Vegas Raiders) - 10.7 points
Cincinnati Bengals - 5 points
Total: 100 points
Week 5 Results
Jimmy Garopollo (San Francisco 49ers) - 1.08 points
Justin Jackson (Los Angeles Chargers) - 14.4 points
J.D. McKissic (Washington Football Team) - 10.9 points
Golden Tate (New York Giants) - 8.2 points
Keelan Cole (Jacksonville Jaguars) - 10.7 points
Ian Thomas (Carolina Panthers) - 0 points
Tre’Quan Smith (New Orleans Saints) - 2.8 points
Dallas Cowboys - 9 points
Total - 57.08
Week 6 Results
Andy Dalton (Dallas Cowboys) - 13.04
Frank Gore (New York Jets) - 11
J.D. McKissic (Washington Football Team) - 14.4
Travis Fulgham (Philadelphia Eagles) - 19.5
Cole Beasley (Buffalo Bills) - 14.5
Trey Burton (Indianapolis Colts) - 21.9
James Washington (Pittsburgh Steelers) - 16.8
Washington Football Team - 4
Total: 115.14
Week 7 Results
Kyle Allen (Washington Football Team) - 16.86 points
J.D. McKissic (Washington Football Team) - 7.1 point
JaMycal Hasty (San Francisco 49ers) - 8.3 points
Laviska Shenault (Jacksonville Jaguars) - 7.4 points
Cole Beasley (Buffalo Bills) - 22.2 points
Logan Thomas (Washington Football Team) - 16 points
Adam Humphries (Tennessee Titans) - 3.9 points
Cincinnati Bengals - -2 points
Total: 63.76 points