Welcome to the first ever edition of the B Team, a weekly article where I will be making a fantasy football lineup with players owned in less than 40% of leagues. The qualification for the squad will be to be owned in less than 40% of leagues on at least one of Yahoo and ESPN. The goal in this is to score 100 fantasy points with the made up team. The purpose of this is to show you that value can be found anywhere, as long as you do your research and have a basic understanding for both the NFL and fantasy football. You can find the previous week’s results at the bottom of future articles.
Quarterback
Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills) - Owned in 38% of Yahoo and 28% of ESPN leagues
The Buffalo Bills will be traveling into the Meadowlands to take on the New York Giants on Sunday. This Giants team is coming off a Week 1 performance where they allowed Dak Prescott to throw for 405 yards and four touchdowns. Allen too is coming off a strong Week 1 performance where he posted 17.96 fantasy points, going for 254 passing yards and a touchdown. Allen added a touchdown on the ground as well. The Giants too did not record a sack in week one, another promising sign for Allen.
In the running: Derek Carr (vs. KC) and Andy Dalton (vs. SF)
Running Backs
C.J. Anderson (Detroit Lions) - Owned in 11% of Yahoo and 13% of ESPN leagues
Anderson saw eleven carries last week in the Lions’ tie with the Cardinals. He played 26% of offensive snaps. He was out snapped and out carried by Kerryon Johnson, which is to be expected. Johnson had 16 carries and played 57% of offensive snaps. However, Johnson only averaged 3.1 yards-per-carry against a Cardinals’ defense that was god awful against the run a week ago. Anderson averaged just a bit more in 3.2 yards-per-carry. This pick is a littler touchdown dependent, but the Lions are playing the Chargers, the same team that Marlon Mack of the Indianapolis Colts ran 25 times for 174 yards and a touchdown against last week. Plenty of running chances to be shared between Anderson and Johnson.
Raheem Mostert (San Francisco 49ers) - Owned in 14% of Yahoo and 11% of ESPN leagues
Last week we saw Tevin Coleman leave the 49ers’ game with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a high ankle sprain. This leaves Matt Breida and Raheem Mostert to get the touches in the 49ers’ backfield. Breida saw 15 carries last week, but could only muster 2.5 yards-per-carry. Mostert was able to post a yard-per-carry figure of 4.4 on his nine carries last week. Mostert also saw a target last week as Breida was not targeted once. Now we are to assume that Breida is going to be the starter and may lead the 49ers’ backfield in touches, but Mostert is going to be heavily involved. Last week Chris Carson ran for 46 yards and a touchdown as well as hauling in six receptions for 35 yards and a touchdown against the Bengals. Kyle Shanahan has also stated that he is confident that Mostert will play a big role on Sunday.
In the running: Dion Lewis and Rex Burkhead
Wide Receivers
Mecole Hardman (Kansas City Chiefs) - Owned in 35% of Yahoo and 34% of ESPN leagues
I’m swinging for the fences here. I’m not going to score over 100 points with this team playing it safe. Tyreek Hill is out for four-to-six weeks. This opens a massive hole in the Chiefs’ offense. Although Hardman is listed behind Demarcus Robinson on the Chiefs’ depth chart, I believe he is the one to fill in for the absent Hill. Hardman is much like Tyreek Hill. A small, shifty, speedy type receiver who makes plays anyway the ball is placed in his hands. He only saw one target in week one, but with Tyreek Hill off the field, there will be plenty more chances going his way. This game with the Raiders could be one of the highest scoring of the week. Look for a lot of points scored on Sunday.
Danny Amendola (Detroit Lions) - Owned in 24% of Yahoo and 22% of ESPN leagues
After going for a homerun in Mecole Hardman with my first receiver, I need to go with a high volume type of guy. Amendola saw 13 targets, hauling in seven of them in Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals. He went on to post 104 yards and a touchdown. It seems that him in the slot and rookie tight-end T.J. Hockenson may be the two early favorites of veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford. Jacoby Brissett did not do much against the Chargers’ secondary last week, but that was due in part to Marlon Mack posting 25 carries and gashing the defense. Brisset however was efficient. Stafford and crew have the ability to do the same in their Week 2 match-up.
In the running: Mohamed Sanu, Cole Beasley and A.J. Brown
Tight end
Vernon Davis (Washington) - Owned in 25% of Yahoo and 5.9% of ESPN leagues
Vernon Davis always seems to be the guy I gravitate too when Jordan Reed is out. Last week against the Philadelphia Eagles, Davis showed why when he posted a line of 4 receptions, 59 yards and a touchdown on seven targets. Reed will miss his second straight game to start the season as Washington takes on the Dallas Cowboys this weekend. Davis is very touchdown dependent, but the Washington offense looked competent in it’s Week one game. Case Keenum and this odd-ball offense actually works. Look for Davis to be a threat again on Sunday.
In the running: Jack Doyle
Defense
Indianapolis Colts - Owned in 14% of Yahoo and 24% of ESPN leagues
Now I know at the beginning of the week I had the week I had the Tennessee Titans as one of my streamable defenses on the week and they would be eligible for this article being owned in less than 40% of Yahoo leagues. However, as the week has progressed, I have leaned towards the Indianapolis' defense. I think Week 1 was a big fluke for the Titans as the Browns were very underwhelming. Now the Titans defense could be the real deal, they still are lead by Marcus Mariota on offense. He’s a guy who’s destined to make mistakes, especially against a defense as sound and disciples as the Colts. Mariota did not throw an interception last week but was sacked four times. Expect the Colts to get to Mariota early and often, which will cause him to make mistakes.
In the running: Tennessee Titans
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