Week 11 saw some star players struggle, with Golden Tate 3/32/0, Stefon Diggs 4/32/0, Evan Engram 1/9/0, and Dak Prescott 145 passing yards/4 turnovers. All of these players will be on the 3-game Thanksgiving Slate. Pick one of these players and explain why you think they can rebound this week? Pick another and explain why they could struggle once again this week?
Phil Alexander: The rebound player is clearly Engram. He won't have to deal with a quarterback throwing through 30+ mile per hour wind gusts this week and the matchup is pristine. Washington ranks dead last in pass success rate, yards per pass attempt, and receiving yards allowed to opposing tight ends. Last week, they even managed to remind us Coby Fleener (5-91-0) is still in the NFL. Prior to his Week 11 dud, Engram had scored between 15 and 19 fantasy points in every game since Week 6, defying the variance typically associated with tight end scoring in fantasy football. He'll be a popular option but may not get piled on as much as you'd think. Entrants will chase the tight end vs. Giants narrative (Vernon Davis) and Engram's 1.9-point stinker is still fresh in everyone's heads.
The only one of the group I'd be leery of using is Prescott, but only if Pro Bowl offensive tackle Tyron Smith -- who is expected to return -- can't suit up again. Without Smith the last two weeks, Prescott has been sacked 12 times. The Cowboys will need all hands on deck to protect Prescott against a fierce Chargers pass rush led by Melvin Ingram III and Joey Bosa.
John Mamula: I have to agree that Engram is the clear choice from that list as the most likely player to rebound. Prior to last week, Engram had averaged 9.5 targets and scored in each of his past four games. As 7.5 point underdogs, the Giants should be playing from behind throughout the game which will lock in a solid amount of targets for Engram. The only negative is that Engram will most likely be the most popular TE on the three-game slate.
Expect Stefon Diggs to struggle again this week as he will find himself matched up in tough coverage with Darius Slay. The Lions cornerback has quietly excelled against some of the best wide receivers this season. In Week 8 versus Pittsburgh, Antonio Brown had 5 receptions for 70 yards, less than most weeks for the superstar wide receiver. In Week 6 versus New Orleans, Michael Thomas had 3 receptions for 11 yards.
Stefon Diggs has never been a personal favorite. I was one of the few staffers who expected Adam Thielen to be the more valuable receiver, and that has proven accurate. Thielen is a better player in virtually all respects. To my mind, Diggs is best suited as the team's third (behind Thielen and Rudolph) or fourth option.