It took us four weeks but we finally got our first official “W” of the season. After flirting with our 100-point goal in Week 3, we finally went past it in Week 4. There are some names we continually hung our hats on through the first month of the season that will no longer be eligible for the series. Let’s see what we can’t do as we start the second month of the season.
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.
We live by the quarterback, we die by the quarterback. Luckily our Week 4 quarterback just so happens to be the league leader in rushing touchdowns, among all positions. Sam Darnold’s 33.54 fantasy points really propelled us. Royce Freeman wasn’t involved in Christian McCaffrey’s absence but Kenneth Gainwell continues to produce. Gainwell caught six-of-his-eight targets and scored a rushing touchdown. Sammy Watkins caught four balls for 49 yards and Hunter Renfrow scored his second touchdown of the season. Tyler Conklin caught four-of-six targets but only managed 18 yards. Chester Rogers made the most of Julio Jones and A.J. Brown’s absence catching five-of-six targets for 63 yards. The Cowboys’ secondary continued their two-interceptions-per-game trend by intercepting Sam Darnold twice.
Week 4 Results
Sam Darnold (Carolina Panthers) - 33.54 points
Royce Freeman (Carolina Panthers) - 1.2 points
Kenneth Gainwell (Philadelphia Eagles) - 20.9 points
Sammy Watkins (Baltimore Ravens) - 8.9 points
Hunter Renfrow (Las Vegas Raiders) - 16.5 points
Tyler Conklin (Minnesota Vikings) - 5.8 points
Chester Rogers (Tennessee Titans) - 11.3 points
Dallas Cowboys - 8 points
Total: 106.14 points
Week 5 Lineup
Quarterback
Trey Lance (San Francisco 49ers) - Owned in 45% of Yahoo and 33.6% of ESPN leagues
Week 5 Matchup: @ARI
It’s finally time. Although due to injury of Jimmy Garappolo, the future of the San Francisco 49ers’ is getting his first NFL start. After filling in for Garappolo in a loss to the Seahawks a week ago, Lance threw for two touchdowns. He gets a tough go of things in his first NFL start as the Cardinals have allowed the ninth fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. I’m excited to see what the third overall pick can do in Kyle Shannahan’s system. The Cardinals can put up a lot of points so we’ll see Lance get plenty of chances.
Runningbacks
Samaje Perine (Cincinnati Bengals) - Owned in 31% of Yahoo and 34.2% of ESPN leagues
Week 5 Matchup: vs. GB
With Joe Misxon set to miss some time, Samaje Perine will be the lead back for this Bengals’ offense. He only has nine touches on the season as Mixon is one of the few “workhorse” runningbacks left in the league, but those opportunities have to go to someone. That’s what we love when it comes to runningbacks here on the B-Team, opportunities!
Khalil Herbert (Chicago Bears) - Owned in 17% of Yahoo and 4.5% of ESPN leagues
Week 5 Matchup: @LV
After losing David Montgomery for some time, it’s assumed that Damien Williams will be the Bears’ lead back. That’s a safe assumption, but it also feels safe that Khalil Herbert will get his chances as well. He only saw three touches a week ago in the game that saw Montgomery leave, but Williams only saw eight. We’re hoping for double-digit touches out of Herbert this week.
Wide Receivers
Kadarius Toney (New York Giants) - Owned in 13% of Yahoo and 8.8% of ESPN leagues
Week 5 Matchup: @DAL
As Sterling Shepard and Darrius Slayton are both slated to miss their second straight games with hamstring injuries, the Giants’ rookie is set to have another big game. As both Shepard and Slayton missed last week’s contest with the New Orleans Saints, Toney went for 78 yards on six receptions. The Giants get the Cowboys this week, who have allowed the fourth most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers. Although his ownership may be high, Toney will be a great DFS play this week as well.
Olamide Zaccheaus (Atlanta Falcons) - Owned in 5% of Yahoo and 1.7% of ESPN leagues
Week 5 Matchup: vs. NYJ
Calvin Ridley didn’t travel with the team to London and Russell Gage remains out. This leaves Olamide Zaccheaus as Matt Ryan’s top receiving target (excluding Kyle Pitts) for the international game. There isn’t anything supper exciting about Zaccheaus, it’s just that he may be, by default, the Falcons’ top receiver this week.
Tight End
Cameron Brate (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) - Owned in 29% of Yahoo and 5.5% of ESPN leagues
Week 5 Matchup: vs. Mia
Rob Gronkowski won’t play in his second straight game. This leaves Cameron Brate as the team’s receiving tight end. Although Brate was targeted twice in the endzone a week ago, he had an underwhelming performance without Gronk. Playing as the team’s receiving tight end again in Week 5, I would have to be silly to not slot Brate in here. He could easily go for two touchdowns from Tom Brady this week.
Flex
Jamison Crowder (New York Jets) - Owned in 39% of Yahoo and 31.3% of ESPN leagues
Week 5 Matchup: @ATL
Let’s get another play in this international contest between the Falcons and the Jets. I love playing Crowder in the flex for the B-Team because of his ability of catching a lot of passes to drive up his production in PPR scoring. He caught seven of his nine targets in his season debut a week ago and also scored a touchdown. The Falcons have also allowed the ninth most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers.
Defense
Atlanta Falcons - Owned in 9% of Yahoo and 14.6% of ESPN leagues
Week 5 Matchup: vs. NYJ
I don’t like the Atlanta Falcons defense at all, but they get the New York Jets this week. Not only do they get the Jets, who have allowed the most fantasy points to opposing defenses to start the season, they get them in London. As Zach Wilson has already struggled to start his career, now he has to do it four hours before his normal kickoff time in a different country. I smell disaster for the Jets.
Week 1 Results
Sam Darnold (Carolina Panthers) - 19.06 points
Kenneth Gainwell (Philadelphia Eagles) - 12.3 points
Ty Johnson (New York Jets) - 3.6 points
Terrace Marshall Jr. (Carolina Panthers) - 5.6 points
Tyrell Williams (Detroit Lions) - 3.4 points
Tyler Conklin (Minnesota Vikings) - 8.1 points
Bryan Edwards (Las Vegas Raiders) - 12.1 points
Jacksonville Jaguars - -3 points
Total: 61.16 points
Week 2 Results
Teddy Bridgewater (Denver Broncos) - 21.22 points
Tony Jones Jr. (New Orleans Saints) - 0.7 points
Kenneth Gainwell (Philadelphia Eagles) - 7.2 points
Tim Patrick (Denver Broncos) - 12.7 points
Bryan Edwards (Las Vegas Raiders) - 7 points
Cole Kmet (Chicago Bears) - 1 points
Jameison Crowder (New York Jets) - 0 points
Chicago Bears - 20 points
Total: 69.82 points
Week 3 Results
Teddy Bridgewater (Denver Broncos) - 11.8 points
Trenton Cannon (San Francisco 49ers) - 0 points
Peyton Barber (Las Vegas Raiders) - 23.2 points
Sammy Watkins (Baltimore Ravens) - 10.8 points
Emmanuel Sanders (Buffalo Bills) - 26.4 points
Evan Engram (New York Giants) - 2.1 points
Hunter Renfrow (Las Vegas Raiders) - 18.7 points
Las Vegas Raiders - 4 points
Total: 97 points
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