2012 Fantasy Football, Week 15 Free Agent Fix: Can Joique Bell Pay Playoff Dividends?
Joique Bell
Maybe your starter is banged up. Maybe they have a bad matchup. Whatever the case, you’re looking for a quick Fix, and we’ve got you covered. Every week, we’ll scan the matchups and provide you with two or three favorable options that are available in the majority of Fantasy Leagues. This week, the Free Agent Fix looks to the Motor City for two big-time plays as your postseason gets underway:
Joique Bell, RB, Detroit Lions
This time of year, there are always plenty of fantasy owners tearing their hair out because injuries (we’re talking to you, Maurice Jones-Drew owners) or bad matchups at RB are threatening to derail their championship hopes. With that said, astute owners will use free agency down the stretch to add depth for the big games ahead.
With that in mind, we think Joique Bell (37% owned in Yahoo leagues) may be primed for a breakout, and is definitely worth a spot on any roster that isn’t loaded with quality options at RB. Bell had a solid performance on Sunday, logging 49 yards on 12 carries and picking up an additional 47 yards through the air. Mikel LeShoure has had myriad chances to show the Lions he deserves to be the featured back, and has been unimpressive to say the least.
With the playoffs out of reach for the Lions, you have to figure they’ve shifted their mindset towards evaluating talent for 2013. The organization owes it to themselves and their fans to see if Bell’s gaudy 5.4 YPC average is the product of a small sample size, or a sign of big things to come.
The next two weeks will be a great opportunity for Bell to open eyes in Detroit. This week, he faces a hapless Arizona team that yielded 284 rushing yards to Seattle on Sunday. Then, in Week 16, Bell will see an Atlanta defense that allows a whopping 4.9 yards per carry (31st in the NFL). We think the stars are aligned for Bell to finish his 2012 campaign with authority.
Detroit Lions Defense
This is nothing but a matchup play (at Arizona), but that shouldn’t make it any less appealing to fantasy owners who need of a defensive unit this weekend. The Cardinals have been utterly disastrous on offense. Arizona has scored six measly points in their last two games, while turning the ball over nine times and gaining a grand total 291 yards from scrimmage. Frankly, it’s been some of the worst offensive football we’ve ever seen.
Meanwhile, Detroit has lost five straight by an average of 5.2 points per game, but clearly Arizona is just what the doctor ordered for struggling defenses. We see the Lions taking a big lead early, then really unleashing the pass rush – and their frustrations – against the poor Cardinals and whichever quarterback(s) Ken Whisenhunt decides to run out this week. Count on sacks, turnovers, and a huge fantasy output from Detroit in Week 15.
Joique Bell, RB, Detroit Lions
This time of year, there are always plenty of fantasy owners tearing their hair out because injuries (we’re talking to you, Maurice Jones-Drew owners) or bad matchups at RB are threatening to derail their championship hopes. With that said, astute owners will use free agency down the stretch to add depth for the big games ahead.
With that in mind, we think Joique Bell (37% owned in Yahoo leagues) may be primed for a breakout, and is definitely worth a spot on any roster that isn’t loaded with quality options at RB. Bell had a solid performance on Sunday, logging 49 yards on 12 carries and picking up an additional 47 yards through the air. Mikel LeShoure has had myriad chances to show the Lions he deserves to be the featured back, and has been unimpressive to say the least.
With the playoffs out of reach for the Lions, you have to figure they’ve shifted their mindset towards evaluating talent for 2013. The organization owes it to themselves and their fans to see if Bell’s gaudy 5.4 YPC average is the product of a small sample size, or a sign of big things to come.
The next two weeks will be a great opportunity for Bell to open eyes in Detroit. This week, he faces a hapless Arizona team that yielded 284 rushing yards to Seattle on Sunday. Then, in Week 16, Bell will see an Atlanta defense that allows a whopping 4.9 yards per carry (31st in the NFL). We think the stars are aligned for Bell to finish his 2012 campaign with authority.
Detroit Lions Defense
This is nothing but a matchup play (at Arizona), but that shouldn’t make it any less appealing to fantasy owners who need of a defensive unit this weekend. The Cardinals have been utterly disastrous on offense. Arizona has scored six measly points in their last two games, while turning the ball over nine times and gaining a grand total 291 yards from scrimmage. Frankly, it’s been some of the worst offensive football we’ve ever seen.
Meanwhile, Detroit has lost five straight by an average of 5.2 points per game, but clearly Arizona is just what the doctor ordered for struggling defenses. We see the Lions taking a big lead early, then really unleashing the pass rush – and their frustrations – against the poor Cardinals and whichever quarterback(s) Ken Whisenhunt decides to run out this week. Count on sacks, turnovers, and a huge fantasy output from Detroit in Week 15.
Written by Aaron Schuldiner exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com. For more great fantasy analysis, follow Aaron on Twitter @SheaLivesOn.
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