OK, over the past years there have been questions regarding the appropriateness of having a kicker on a fantasy football team, as well as having a defense.
I have actually discussed this with Joe Gallina and Cam Stewart on our Sunday, NFL live show on FNTSY (1-5, PT!) where it simply seems that since the X-tra point rule changed a couple of years back, all bets are off.
I am not sure why, and this would obviously take some more empirical number-crunching than my show mates and I wondering “why can’t anyone nail a field goal let alone X-tra point any longer?
If you have an answer, you can tell ex-Brown Zane Gonzalez. Or, perhaps the previously infallible Mason Crosby can explain five (yes, five!) missed kicks Sunday during the span of just one game?
How does this happen? More to the point, Crosby’s lack of efficiency cost both his Packers mates as well as at least one of my teams from cashing into the victory column.
But, I must ask in the face of this kicking disaster: How is it possible for Graham Gano to bag a 63-yarder on the final snap to win when his previous long was 55 yards? Who would even think it was worth the crap shoot?
How about defense, where the NFL seems so wide-open that the No. 1 defense gets shredded by they Chiefs. Well, I will tell you I am streaming, looking for the best defensive match-up against the worst offensive team. Which, for example, made Arizona a solid play at home against the broken Niners who have their backup QB inserted into the lineup.
But, if you hit the bye week of your defensive squad, don’t worry so much about hiding the team you drafted and think that you can indeed get by streaming defenses from week-to-week as the season advances. And, as the good teams coalesce and the pretenders fall away as the season progresses, there will indeed be a team or two to emerge from the waiver pool worthy of a grab.
Oh, yeah. Consider shifting to IDP or Individual Defensive Play. It adds an angle and potential point repository when picks and tackles and forced fumbles become generators.
Keke Coutee (WR, Houston): What a year it is for rookie wideouts, who are indeed getting opportunities simply based upon the relative injury depth of his team. So, let’s look at a few of the guys who emerged this time, starting with Coutee, who actually made his initial mark last week with 15 targets, 11 catches, 109 yards followed by six catches out of seven targets and 51 yards and a score.
Christian Kirk (WR, ARI): A second-rounder out of Texas A&M, Kirk, much like QB Josh Rosen, sat on the sidelines while last year’s business plan sputtered and failed. Slowly, augmented by David Johnson, the Cardinals are rebuilding at the core and Kirk is a pretty good moving part. Starting Week 2, Kirk’s participation has increased to the tune of an 85-yard game Sunday with a score. Another good place to look for resources.
Marquez Valdez-Scanting (WR, GB)/Equanimeous St. Brown (WR, GB): St. Brown is an interesting character with a more interesting name, bu Valdez-Scanting, a fifth-rounder last year, is fast and physical and was pressed into service Sunday with 14 targets, nine catches, 109 yards and a score. With the Pack’s receiving crew officially a M*A*S*H unit, this kid will be fun to watch.
Martavis Bryant (WR, Oak): Headcase, troublemaker, and uber talented, the Raiders already let go of Bryant once this year, but the team is going nowhere, and the way it looks a lot of nowhere yards could find themselves falling Bryant’s way.
Mike Davis (RB, SEA): Davis joined the lineup late — three weeks ago — but has been driving the running game since with three scores and 172 yards coupled with eight receptions and 36 more yards. He is a fine waiver flex pick at this point, on his way to a personal best season.
Need to stay on top of your #FantasyFootball team and direction? Check out Lawr every Sunday with co-hosts Cam Stewart and Joe Gallina, along with Sean Engel, Chris Bivona, and updates by George Kurtz. That is the NFL Live Show from 12:30-5 p.m., Pacific, every Sunday on the FNTSY Sports Network.
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