2013 Fantasy FootballFantasy Football

2013 Fantasy Football: Gold Mine, Week 4

Last week I told you if you were 0 – 2 not to panic, today, if you are 0 – 3 you should start panicking. But don’t go too far onto the ledge as while you may be in a big bind the season is certainly not over and no matter how bad it is, it can’t be any worse than the New York Giants!

Were you on the fence with Cam Newton prior to week 3? Did you trade him because of it? If so, face palm! The season is so young you should never be using your heart to play fantasy football and doing so will only bring you ogeda.

Kansas City Chiefs v Philadelphia EaglesThe same goes for guys like Darren McFadden, he had a measly 9 rushing yards this week against a really good defense but still found ways to score. Keep that in mind before you rush to click the accept button on a terrible trade.

Instead of ruining your chances by moving too quickly on a deal that will only end in disaster, take a look at these under 25% or less owned players and claim your season back.

Quarterbacks:

Terrelle Pryor (OAK): Of course this contradicts the under 25% owned, but Pryor (25.3%) is heavily undervalued in most fantasy leagues. Terrelle is a three year vet who came into the NFL under a bit of scrutiny, but he patiently waited his turn and with every passing week shows us why he should be a starting QB for your fantasy teams. Pryor is averaging 17 points per game in 6 point per TD leagues and is moving the ball not only in the air but also on the ground. In a very tough week 3 match up vs. Broncos, Pryor scored 20 fantasy points topping 280 yards in the air and another 34 on the ground. Pryor hasn’t turned the ball over since week 1 and is gradually becoming more and more confident in the Oakland offense. Although Pryor went down late on Monday with a concussion he is expected to pass the Concussion Protocol tests and play on Sunday, and for that reason he should be owned in many more than just 25.3% of leagues. Pryor goes up against the 32nd fantasy defense against opposing QBs and as long as he is healthy should rack up points early and often on Sunday.

[am4show have=’p9;p4;p7;p3;’ guest_error=’Front Office’ user_error=’Front Office’ ]

Mike Glennon (TB): It would be easy to speak about Christian Ponder (MIN, 2%) or Brian Hoyer (CLE, 1%) but the difference they have is we’ve already seen them play at the NFL level. Glennon (0.4%) is a rookie with absolutely no real game experience in the NFL.  Glennon is a two-year starter for the North Carolina St Wolfpack where he amassed 3,054 and 4,031 yards in each of his last two seasons under center at the college level. While his Yards increased over the years it was his very consistent completion percentage that offered many scouts a glimmer of hope that he could be a solid NFL QB. Glennon finished his college career with a 62.95% completion percentage with 63 touchdowns. Glennon was officially named starter on Wednesday shortly after the waiver claims were actually made and has a very favorable matchup vs. Arizona who has given up multiple passing TDs in each game this year with 3 to Drew Brees (NO) in week 3. While Glennon is certainly not Brees, he has several offensive weapons around him and as long as he can manage the game better than Josh Freeman (TB) was able to Glennon should put up a decent amount of points in his rookie debut.

Running Backs:

Brandon Bolden (NE): The fact that Bolden (4.9%) still to this day is sitting on waiver wires with how inept the rest of the Patriots running game has been boggles my mind. Bolden who was questionable right up until game time in week three suited up and was the most productive HB for the Patriots scoring 14 fantasy points collecting 100 total yards and 5 receptions. In 2012 Bolden saw himself looking from the outside of a very crowded running back committee with Stevan Ridley (NE) and Shane Vareen (NE) taking the majority of the snaps, but when given the opportunity he made big strides including a 137 yard performance and a score exactly 1 year ago. With Ridleys struggles and LaGarette Blount (NE) being the only other viable option as long as Bolden is healthy he will be in the offense frequently racking up points. He isn’t a RB 2 until he gets a more consistent workload but he will for sure be a great flex option in PPR leagues. Bolden faces the 16th ranked defenses vs. opposing HB in Atlanta who has given up at least 15 fantasy points to running backs in each of their three games so far this year.

Jonathan Dwyer (PIT): This one is a long shot, and really only for very deep leagues specially with the reported return of Le’Veon Bell (PIT) but Dwyer (0.6%) showed explosiveness against the Bears who forced the Steelers to throw the ball more often than they would’ve liked to. Dwyer only gained 39 yards on the ground but received 12 carries and was much better looking than week 3 Gold Miner Felix Jones (PIT) who coughed the ball up which just can’t happen when trying to win a starting gig. Dwyer, isn’t going to light up the stat sheet but if Bell’s injury is worse than the Steelers brass is letting on Dwyer will certainly get the looks in the running game. As mentioned he is definitely a piece to have in very deep leagues but don’t sleep on him in case Bell is worse than we think.

Honorable Mention: Jonathan Franklin (GB): For the week 4 Gold Mine you really can’t take the flyer on Franklin as Green Bay is on a bye, but you can certainly grab and stash him if you can afford to. Franklin is obviously behind Lacy on the depth chart but there is a reason he was drafted in the same year Eddie Lacy (GB) was. Starks is injured, and when they return from the bye, Franklin will be in a back up role but he has shown the best work out of each of the backs on the field and should definitely be added in deep leagues in case Lacy goes down again.

Wide Receivers:

Donnie Avery (KC): Obviously Dwayne Bowe (KC) is the go to guy in the Chiefs passing game. But Bowe is their down field threat. Avery (9.7%) is their get to the marker type of receiver and is someone that Alex Smith (KC) trusts to get there. Teams will be double teaming Bowe and that’s a given but Avery who is much like a Wes Welker (DEN) type of guy will be facing more Linebackers and Safeties from opposing defenses who will either not be able to cover him or keep up with him. This past Thursday, Avery caught 7 catches for 141 yards and while he didn’t score he was tearing up the Eagles porous secondary. In week 4 the Chiefs are taking on the defensive inept New York Giants who have given up a total of 125 fantasy points to opposing wide outs, the 9th most of any defense. The Giants will come out firing as their backs are against the wall but if the Chiefs can move Avery around like they did vs. the Eagles they won’t have any problem getting him the ball.

Jason Avant (PHI): Someone needs to step up as the #2 WR for the Eagles to give DeSean Jackson (PHI) and in week 3 it was Avant (3.5%) who secured 5 receptions, 87 yards and a score vs. the Chiefs on Thursday Night Football. In three straight weeks Avant has increased his reception total and his yards and now that he scored its feasible to believe that his targets will continue to increase giving him great value moving forward. Avant has never been known as the go to go specifically with Jackson and Jeremy Maclin (PHI) running around but with Maclin out for the year and Riley Cooper (PHI) under performing it is Avant who is attempting to shine through the clouds. The Eagles have a great match up in week 4 against Denver who has given up 117 fantasy points to opposing wide outs so far this year. With teams forcing the Eagles to spread the ball around Avant is a good choice moving forward.

Tight Ends:

Scott Chandler (BUF): Chandler (8.1%) was used a lot in the Bills offense in 2012 and was targeted 73 times. Chandler scored 6 times in each of the last two seasons and although he started 2013 a little disappointing with only 11 fantasy points combined in weeks 1 and 2, week 3 was a different story bringing in 5 catches for 79 yards and a touchdown. With CJ Spiller (BUF) struggling and partially injured, Stevie Johnson (BUF) as their only legitimate passing threat look for Chandler to have more weeks like week 3 than the others. The Bills go on to face the Ravens this week who have given up 8th most points to opposing TEs so far with 49 fantasy points.

Jordan Reed (WSH): Reed (0.8%) is the fourth string TE on the Redskins depth chart but with Fred Davis (WSH) hurt and Logan Paulsen (WSH) under performing its been Reed who has seen quite a bit of action in the early part of 2013. Reed has picked up at least 8 fantasy points in each of the first three weeks including 10 in back to back games. He has at least 5 receptions and 38 yards in two of the three weeks and one score. Reed is getting plenty of looks and for leagues that reward receivers for receptions he is a viable back up option as we begin to move into Bye Week territory. Reed is currently out performing Tony Gonzalez (ATL), Kyle Rudolph (MIN) and Jermaine Gresham (CIN) among others and that should say something alone. Reed faces the 17th ranked team vs. opposing TEs who have given up at least 5 receptions to tight ends in each of the last two weeks and a score in each.

The Fantasy Football season is much shorter than the regular NFL, but the parity level from ours to theirs is a big step. Just because you are in the cellar now doesn’t mean you can’t turn it around. For most leagues there are still another 10 weeks left and making the right roster moves now can get your season turned around in a snap.

Be patient, be smart, win!

You can follow me on twitter @JustinMandaro where we will twitter chat right up until game time with your start / sit questions.

All percentages are pulled from ESPN leagues, stats include 6 points per Passing TD and PPR.

[/am4show]

Previous post

2013 Fantasy Football Daily Fix: September 27

Next post

2013 Fantasy Hockey: The Sophomore Slump