With Odell Beckham Jr. on the shelf Evan
Engram has seen 18 targets over the last two weeks.
Grab a Helmet
TE Evan
Engram vs DAL: With OBJ out with a quad injury the last
several games, Engram has established himself as the most potent
threat in the Giants passing game. In his last three games Engram
has averaged about 5 receptions for 80 yards per contest, and while
he hasn’t found the end zone since Week 8, he’s a solid start at
a dreadful fantasy position. It’s unlikely that the Giants push
Beckham to start this week, and Engram had one of his best games
of the season against Dallas in Week 2 with a 7-67-1 line. The Cowboys
have been mediocre against tight ends all year, so fire up Engram
as top tier option.
Brandin
Cooks/Robert
Woods vs SF: Despite the big win last week against the
Cardinals this Rams passing game still isn’t clicking. While Woods
has remained a solid play, Cooks’s fantasy numbers have suffered
since coming out of the Week 12 bye. This is a big game for the
Rams, not only in the grand scheme of playoff seeding, but it might
be the last chance they have to figure things out before the playoffs
begin. The Niners, while playing decent defense, have given up the
most receiving touchdowns to receivers in the NFL, and are banged
up in the secondary. Cooks helps stretch the field, and I think
he hits a few big plays in this one, while Woods stays the reliable
possession receiver. Both guys are strong Week 17 plays.
Kendrick
Bourne @ LAR: When your league plays in Week 17, sometimes
drastic measures are necessary! With a bevy of receivers either
hurt or resting, look for players that are guaranteed big target
shares. Bourne fits the bill, as he’ll be thrust into the WR1 role
for a Niners team that will likely be without their top options.
Bourne the second year player, had 4 catches for 73 years last week
after Dante
Pettis left with an injury. Playing in an offense that’s going
to have to throw to keep pace, look for Bourne to be peppered with
targets. We’ll look like geniuses if he goes off!
Grab Some Pine
D.J.
Moore / Curtis
Samuel @ NO: Both teams simply want this game to be
over. The Saints are locked into the No.1 seed and will likely
be treating this like a preseason game, while the Panthers are
down to their 4th string quarterback, as street free agent Kyle
Allen (who?) takes the reins. Christian McCaffrey has been a one-man
offensive show for weeks now and there isn’t another skill position
player on this team I’d considering starting this week.
Trey
Burton @ MIN: Even with the tight end position in shambles
through most of the season, Burton has been a gigantic disappointment.
Signed in the offseason to be Chicago’s version of Travis Kelce,
Burton has failed to make much of an impact. While he does have
17 targets over the past three weeks, he’s only been able to turn
them into 88 yards and a score. With the spectre of the Vikings
defense, and a possible 2nd half resting, even at a fantasy position
that has been an absolute crap shoot I can’t find a reason to
start Burton this week.
Texans Receivers vs JAX: Yes,
I’ve grouped DeAndre
Hopkins in with whomever the Texans trot out opposite him
this week. You won’t be sitting Hopkins under any circumstance,
but this whole passing game is going to find tough sledding in
an important Week 17 game. Jacksonville is playing for pride,
but they have feasted on mediocre passing games the last quarter
of the season. With Demaryius Thomas and Keke Coutee injured the
Jaguar defense can focus their attention on Hopkins and hurry
Watson into bad throws. Without a threatening running game I worry
the Texans can generate enough offense to bring fantasy value
in the final week of the season.
