I’m so happy to be back. This is my favorite all time series I write for any fantasy sport. The B-Team is something I’m really passionate about because it really is fun for me to write. Each Saturday night, I look forward to kicking back in my recliner, slapping my laptop on my lap and picking my make-shift team for the respective week of the NFL season. Not only is this series fun, but it helps a ton in finding plug-and-play players for say a last minute injury or scratch to one of my, or your, players. I’m essentially building a team out of the waiver wire players no one wanted that week. Well that’s enough, let’s get into it!
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.
In future editions, you can find the most previous week’s results below and results from the entire season at the bottom of this article.
Week 1 Lineup
Quarterback
Sam Darnold (New York Jets) - Owned in 14% of Yahoo and 6.2% of ESPN leagues
Matchup: vs. NYJ
I’m a lowkey Sam Darnold guy. He had absolutely no chance to succeed with the New York Jets, especially with Adam Gase as his head coach. The team finally freed my man and he found a new home in Carolina. It’s fitting though, because the Panthers host the Jets in Week 1. After nearly ruining his career and then writing him off, Darnold gets the chance to show what he can actually do. He brings the likes of Christian McCaffrey, D.J. Moore, Robby Anderson and Terrance Marshall to put up big numbers against his former team and I think he does just that. Darnold will light up the Jets this week just to prove a point, and I’m here for it.
Runningbacks
Kenneth Gainwell (Philadelphia Eagles) - Owned in 8% of Yahoo and 3.5% of ESPN leagues
Matchup: @ATL
I’m not sure why I’m so adamant on Gainwell breaking onto the scene in Week 1 for the Eagles, but there’s just something in my gut that tells me he will. To be fair, I had the same feeling last year with Bryan Edwards in Week 1 and that didn’t pan out, but this is a new year! Gainwell (to me) is not that far off Antonio Gibson in talent. They did share the same backfield in college at Memphis and were quite the one-two punch. Let’s see if it takes some time for Gainwell to get going or, as I hope, he gets out of the gates running.
Ty Johnson (New York Jets) - Owned in 11% of Yahoo and 5.9% of ESPN leagues
Matchup: @CAR
It’s Week 1 and we’re already scarce for running backs. There are players like James White and J.D. McKissic that I almost went with, but they were owned closer to 50-percent on ESPN than 40, despite being under 40-percent on Yahoo. Anyhow, I’m hoping that the Jets’ backfield all get an opportunity in the game. Tevin Coleman is listed as the team’s starter but we know that Michael Carter is their future. Also, Johnson is a fantastic pass catching back and for a rookie quarterback on the road in his first NFL start, he could be checking down a lot. A big gamble here that I’m hoping pays off!
Wide Receivers
Terrace Marshall Jr. (Carolina Panthers) - Owned in 20% of Yahoo and 21% of ESPN leagues
Matchup: vs. NYJ
I guess I’m going to play a lot of players in this Jets-Panther game. I’m not sure how to feel about that. What I know about is that Marshall is someone I’m extremely high on. He definitely was slept on coming out of college due to playing with names such as Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase. Ever heard of them? I already have Darnold lined up in this game so this stack with Marshall is going to be fun! If you’re reading this and Marshall doesn’t score a touchdown in Week 1, DM me (@WeKnowFantasy) “TMJ” and one person will be CashApped (is that a verb?) some money! I’m confident in him this week!
Tyrell Williams (Detroit Lions) - Owned in 40% of Yahoo and 37% of ESPN leagues
Matchup: vs. SF
Someone has to catch the ball in Detroit, right? That’s at least what I’m telling myself as I line up Tyrell Williams this week. One can expect the Lions’ to be down in this game and without the likes of anyone else (outside of T.J. Hockenson) Williams may be the best receiver on this team. It’ll be a tough matchup for him against this stout Niners’ defense, but we’ve seen Jared Goff put up big numbers before (although with a MUCH better team) and playing from behind, Williams could be a sneaky play this week.
Tight End
Tyler Conklin (Minnesota Vikings) - Owned in 4% of Yahoo and 3.5% of ESPN leagues
Matchup: @CIN
With Irv Smith Jr. out and newly acquired Chris Herndon not likely all the way synced up with the team, Conklin could be a sneaky play this week. Last season, the Bengals allowed the seventh most fantasy points to opposing tight ends and I don’t think that statistic will improve much this season. Look for Kirk Cousins to find Conklin a few times this week as well as for a possible touchdown. There we go. Called it. Conklin will score this week.
Flex
Bryan Edwards (Las Vegas Raiders) - Owned 14% of Yahoo and 15.2% of ESPN leagues
Matchup: vs. BAL
Remember when I said earlier in this article that I played Edwards last year in Week 1 and that didn’t work out? Insert the Michael Scott “there's no doubt about it I'm ready to get hurt again” meme. All joking aside, Edwards is in an incredible situation this year as the team parted ways with Nelson Agholor in the off-season and then cut John Brown ultimately in favor of Edwards. In what could be a high scoring Monday Night game, look for Edwards to be involved early and often!
Defense
Jacksonville Jaguars - Owned in 11% of Yahoo and 2% of ESPN leagues
Matchup: @HOU
The much improved secondary of the Jaguars is what excites me this week. They used the first pick of the second round to pick Tyson Campbell out of Georgia and brought in Shaquill Griffin this past off-season. Let’s also not forget that C.J. Henderson is already one of the best man-to-man corners in the game. With Tyrod Taylor at the helm, a god awful offensive line and not much going for them, I think the Jaguars’ defense has a field day against the Texans.
Comentários