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Colby Cavaliere | Archive | Email |
Staff Writer


The Shot Caller's Report - Wide Receivers
Your Guide To Fantasy Lineups: Week 16
12/21/17
QBs | RBs | WRs


Bye Weeks: N/A

Larry Fitzgerald

Perhaps a change at quarterback will do Larry Fitz (only 10 catches in last two games) some good.


Grab a Helmet

Larry Fitzgerald vs NYG: Despite age and a carousel of nightmares at quarterback this season, Fitzgerald has continued to produce. I remember passing on Fitzgerald twice in my draft this year for younger, higher upside options. With the volatility at the receiver position, Fitz has been decent WR2 most of the year, and currently sits as the No.15 scoring receiver in standard leagues. While his production dipped a bit with Blaine Gabbert at the helm, Drew Stanton returns this week. Stanton is more willing to fit the ball into tight windows, and has shown good chemistry with Larry in the past. The Cardinals also host a Giants defense that is as ripe for picking as any in the league. Fire the immortal one up as an upside WR2.

Marvin Jones @ CIN: #Revengegame? Jones, fantasy’s No.7 receiver thus far faces off against his old team for the first time since leaving two years ago. I don’t know that enough can be said about the value Jones has been this season. He makes weekly highlight reel catches, has career highs in yardage and average yards per catch (a whopping 18.0!), and is tied for 4th in the NFL with 8 touchdown receptions. Injuries and a conservative offense held him back last year, but this season looks the part. I don’t want to go too ga-ga, as he’s not the target monster of this offense, and is big play dependent, but Cincinnati's secondary is a disaster, and the Lions REALLY need this game to stay alive. It’s likely you drafted Jones as WR3. He’ll be that and more this Sunday.

Mike Wallace vs IND: Fantasy receivers like Mike Wallace are maddening. They don’t get enough short and midrange targets to have weekly consistency, but the second you sit them, they go off for 100+ yards and a touchdown. But I also think it’s important to have a guy like this on your team to use off the bench in situations where you are a heavy underdog. The matchup against the Colts is as good as it gets, and he’s actually been pretty hot over his last three games. If I’m a heavy favorite in the fantasy finals, I think I shy away for more “safe” options. But if I’m an underdog, I’ll fire Wallace up as a FLEX or WR3 and hope he pops for a few big plays to save the day.

Grab Some Pine

Jamison Crowder vs DEN: If you feel lucky (or desperate) you can chase 60 yards and a possible score, but that’s honestly a best case scenario this week as Washington takes on Denver. Sure the Bronco defense has lost some of its shine, but they’ve been a force the last several weeks, and still are one of the best in the league against the pass. Crowder has only found the endzone twice all year, and has done virtually nothing the last three weeks. Injuries have finally caught up with this offense, and against an aggressive attacking defense like Denver, I just have a hard time finding a reason to start Crowder.

Robby Anderson vs LAC: Anderson’s magical season went up in a puff of smoke the day Josh McCown was lost for the season with a broken hand. Since Petty has taken over, Anderson has totaled 8 receptions for a mere 67 scoreless yards. This is a far cry from the guy who had a five-game touchdown streak and who surpassed 80 yards five times this season. Petty simply doesn’t have the pocket presence, or arm strength to get the ball to Anderson on a consistent basis, and if the recent past is any indication, the Jets are going to go run heavy in these final two games. Throw in the fact that the matchup with the Charger secondary is horrendous, and you have a recipe for fantasy disaster. He’s been a Cinderella story the whole year, but unfortunately the clock has struck midnight.

A.J. Green vs DET: Clearly I’m not advocating you sit Green in the championship game, but let’s face facts, Green has been more of middling WR3 for more of the year than he’s been an elite WR1 like we’ve come to expect. His talent level always gives him breakout potential, but this Cincinnati team has all but quit, getting hammered in their last two games by mediocre opponents. This week the Bengals take on Detroit where Darius Slay awaits. The Lions secondary has been a bend-but-don’t-break unit all year, and I just don’t like the direction this Bengal offense is headed. Green hasn’t hit 80+ yards since Week 10, and has only one truly elite game, way back in Week 5. You can’t risk sitting him, but you also can’t rely on his production to win you the title.

Good luck this week!

Quarterbacks | Running Backs | Wide Receivers