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You guys have a ton of articles.
This statement about Footballguys is a blessing but it can feel like a curse. Our staff delivers insights that change seasons for the better yet realistically, no fantasy owner has the time to read everything we publish in a week.
If this describes you, let me be your scout. Here are five insights from Footballguys articles that I find compelling for the weekend ahead. I'll share what should help you this week, touch on the long-term outlook, and sometimes offer a counterargument.
Cardinals' Offense: Dr. Bloominstein's fantasy Brain emporium
Welcome to Sigmund Bloom's Fantasy Brain Emporium, otherwise known as Buy Low, Sell High. It's a fabulous place if you're looking for a preeminent fantasy writer-analyst to share his thinking on what's about to unfold in the hobby.
As I browsed the aisles looking for parts to turn my teams into monsters, I saw this encased fantasy zombie called the Cardinals offense. With David Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald powering the legs, it moves well and can be dangerous if you get too close, but still reasonably harmless from a distance. The sticker proclaims that if one adds the right schedule as an electroshock, this zombie could transform back to a fully functioning creature with rational thought.
Carson Palmer, QB, Larry Fitzgerald, John Brown, Michael Floyd, J.J. Nelson, WR, ARI - I’ve documented this once already in buy low, sell high just two weeks ago, but the Cardinals have a nice run of pass defenses between Weeks 12-15 - Atlanta, Washington, Miami, New Orleans. Palmer is an afterthought in some leagues after his slow start, Fitzgerald is probably available for WR2 prices, Brown and Floyd are mere toss-ins in trades, and Nelson is on the waiver wire. This passing game should come alive this weekend against a Panthers pass defense that has already given up two games over 450 yards passing this year. It could be your last chance to get pieces of this sleeping giant cheap.
Chad Parsons' New Reality loves Floyd as a potential fantasy monster long-term:
MICHAEL FLOYD
Floyd was a cheaper acquisition a couple weeks ago but still has upside beyond his market value. Floyd is one of the cheapest former first round receivers out there who has a track record of production. Floyd is an uncertain start the rest of this season, but is one of the more attractive 2017 free agents at any position. Spotrac.com projects a monster deal for Floyd and I doubt a team brings in Floyd to be anything less than a strong WR2 or their top receiver. Floyd's Adjusted Draft Tier (ADT), which projects their fantasy starter odds, of 91% is higher than all but Amari Cooper and Sammy Watkins over the last two draft classes.
Offering current producers (like Enunwa, Cameron Meredith types) with a future 2nd may be enough to acquire Floyd. The best tactic is added Floyd to a larger deal - like selling Jordan Howard for example - on the backend. Floyd will be a rising name in the dynasty marketplace come January and February.
David Dodds projects Palmer as the No.10 QB this week, but Maurile Tremblay isn't as bullish with his No.14 ranking, although he has quarterback's yardage as the highest projected total of the week (318) after Drew Brees' (323). What's holding Palmer back is the touchdown and interception totals baked into Tremblay's outlook.
My Advice: Although the Cardinals first-half schedule wasn't a house of horrors, the Patriots, Bills, Rams, and Jets can pose real match-up difficulties for a team struggling to get aggressive, vertical philosophy off the ground. Sunday night's contest with Seattle was likely the low point.
I agree with Bloom about Palmer, Fitzgerald, and John Brown. When Palmer and Brown have been healthy and clear-headed on the field during brief stretches of the season, they have looked great together. There was a two-week period where Brown led Cardinals receivers with 27 targets and he earned 7 targets in Week 6 before missing Week 7.
As for Nelson and Floyd? I'm not buying it this year. Floyd is one of the biggest fantasy disappointments I've seen over the past three years. I loved his potential as a rookie prospect. I thought he was capable of taking over games with his play and I watched him do it while playing hurt.
I haven't seen that player since and in his place has been a mistake-laden receiver who can't stay healthy. Even when he's rolling, it never seems that he and Palmer are on the same page. Even caught passes or wide-open targets require an otherworldly effort for Floyd to haul in.
I like what I see from Nelson, but I think the Nelson-Floyd choice for the Cardinals' third option with big-play potential will remain a frustrating proposition. Ari Ingel's Docket agrees:
Positive
- David Johnson – Even the Seahawks couldn’t slow him down. He’s on pace for 334/1557/18 on the ground and 64/738 through the air. He’s literally carrying a few of my fantasy teams this year and is never a bad play in DFS despite his high cost. He also leads the league with 11 carries inside the 10-yard line.
- Larry Fitzgerald – Hasn’t had fewer than five catches in any game this season and put up another 9/70 last week against a great Seattle defense. Fitzgerald should be a zone killer in this one and a solid PPR WR1 going up against weak slot CB Robert McClain.
- John Brown – Should be very low owned coming off a missed game due to sickle cell, which while is horrible news for him personally, for fantasy purposes, it is actually very good news, since he is not injured and the sickle cell can be controlled through diet and other methods. He led the team in targets the two most recent games he played fully with Palmer and should see double-digit targets this week.
Neutral
- Carson Palmer – The Panthers are far easier to throw on than run on, especially playing in Carolina. That said, the Cards disappointed big time the last time they played an early game on the East Coast against the Bills in Week 3, and something in the back of my head says that might be the case again this week. I like him in season long, but I would stay away on the road playing at 10am in DFS.
Negative
- J.J. Nelson and Michael Floyd – If Michael Floyd plays, then it is tough to expect much from either of these guys, but if Floyd sits with injury, move Nelson up to a neutral start and has the speed to put up some points on this Carolina secondary.
Don't buy one to rely on or you may feel like one of these guys when you try to add them to your fantasy corpse.
Frau Blucher!!!!
DAVANTE ADAMS: Sunday vampire or Monthly Werewolf?
Some content is more evergreen than others. In this sense, Matt Harmon's Reception Perception is more spruce than maple. Neither Harmon nor I loved the idea of Adams as a primary wide receiver when several draft analysts were fawning over his prospects as a Fresno State star. We saw a receiver who did a lot of damage on slants and fades but had real consistency issues as a route runner and pass catcher.
Like Harmon, I've been quietly monitoring Adams' performance this year leading to his outburst against the Bears on Thursday Night Football and he's appeared far more consistent. Harmon has seen the same:
Going into the 2015 season, nothing preached that Davante Adamswould not meet the ever growing optimistic expectations than Reception Perception. Despite two strong games in prime time against the Cowboys in the playoffs and against the Patriots mid-season in the 4:25 pm EST slot, Adams’ route-to-route consistency was uninspiring. His Reception Perception scores across the board were not only some of the worst among the 2014 rookie class, but also throughout the entire sample of NFL receivers.
The caution Reception Perception preached turned out to be needed and correct. By any measure, Adams was one of the worst receivers in the NFL during the 2015 season. He dropped passes, he couldn’t get open and was just flat out unproductive. Reception Perception was right; he wasn’t ready for what he would be asked to do that season.
However, this year, and rather quietly among groans from countless fantasy owners that he burned in the year prior, Adams is establishing himself as a fine contributor. Obviously his Thursday night performance against the Bears is a high-water mark on the year, but he’s been productive all season. Right now, Adams is one pace for 933 yards and already have five touchdowns to his name. As long as he stays healthy, he’ll shatter his two-year career best numbers from 2014 and 2015.
Davante Adams flopped as the Packers top outside receiver in 2015. Yet, this year, while being asked to bear less of a burden he’s showing he’s a capable No. 3 target in a passing game. Even with Jordy Nelson playing at well under 100 percent of what we’re used to, he’ll draw the opponent’s top coverage. Randall Cobb is picking up the pace in the slot once again. With the current structure in place, Adams is free to work against the oppositions weaker corners. It’s a role that clear suits him much better than having to tackle top competition like he did last season.
If Harmon and I were simpatico on this idea, I thought I'd put it up for discussion in this week's Footballguys Roundtable. It decidedly earned a mixed reaction:
For the rest of the season, which of these teammates do you prefer in PPR leagues?
Matt Waldman: Cobb or Adams?
Jason Wood: Are we really asking this question?
Matt Waldman: Yes we are. Adams has been within +/- 3 targets of Cobb in 5 of the 6 weeks Green Bay has played and he's scored touchdowns in 4 of those contests while Cobb has only scored in 2 of them.
Jason Wood: Then it's Cobb and it's not close. Adams had a GREAT game, but Cobb has the defined role, the better pedigree, and is more talented.
Andy Hicks: Cobb for exactly the reason Jason said.
Dave Larkin: If I needed to pick a piece of the Packers offense, it would be Davante Adams. There is still a bit of trepidation in my waters when it comes to Aaron Rodgers' level of play, but Adams is consistently going to be matched up against lower level cornerbacks, so opportunity knocks for high-leverage touchdown opportunities.
Matt Waldman: Me, too Dave. Cobb's reputation precedes him and adds weight to those not willing to weigh how close it really has been this season. Another thing about Cobb is that he's really been a slot receiver in his role with the Packers for the most productive parts of his career. He's been at his best when there are two strong outside options to take the heat off him as purely a perimeter guy. Adams is earning Rodgers' trust in contested situations and he's becoming more reliable on timing routes, too. It's closer than our friends think and I'm actually leaning towards Adams.
Mark Wimer: Cobb is likely to be more consistent going forwards. He's the clear-cut starter alongside Jordy Nelson, while Adams' chances will come sporadically as he enjoys a good matchup against the opposing defensive backs. Now, in a dynasty league, I might lean to Adams as he has less wear-and-tear on his tires. But in a standard redraft, Cobb is the guy to own.
If you ask some of the staff, they think Adams is a potential monster that can do good for your lineups on a routine basis. Others, see him as purely a match-up play. My buddy Ari Ingel still hasn't fully decided, but you can see the factors listed in this segment are the source of his angst:
Packers
Positive
- Aaron Rodgers – They needed that victory last Thursday night and it gave them ten days to fully right the ship. With a huge over/under this game is going to be a shoot out and without a proper running back, look for Rodgers to throw the ball 50 times against a Falcons team giving up 23.5 FPG.
- Randall Cobb – He’s had at least 11 targets in three straight games and is looking like the teams go to receiver with Nelson struggling to round into form. However, he’s banged up and while top CB Trufant will be doing battle with Nelson on the outside, the Falcons slot CB, Brian Poole, is actually having a decent season this year, currently ranked #15 by PFF.
- Davante Adams – I’m hesitant to put Adams as a positive since he hasn’t been able to string together a bunch of solid games in a row for three years now. That said, the reigning narrative a few years back was that it took most wide receivers at least three years to truly break out, and maybe that is the case with Adams who the team certainly loves. Last week he caught 13 of 16 targets to go along with 2 TDs. He’s a solid WR3 in this weeks shoot out.
- Ty Montgomery – A wide receiver used as the teams lead running back, he’s now seen 25 targets since Lacy went down, catching 10 passes last week and has 32 touches and 230 yards during this time frame. It is questionable whether or not Knile Davis will take over lead running back duties this week, but until we actually see that happen, I would continue to role on Montgomery in all formats with confidence.
Dr. Bloominstein, like Harmon and I, has Adams as a "buy high".
Aaron Rodgers, QB, Davante Adams, WR, Ty Montgomery, WR/RB, GB - This one hinges on assumption of rational coaching as the Packers offense looked as good as it has since 2014 with Aaron Rodgers in the spread getting the ball out quickly to Adams and Montgomery, who are consistently getting good separation early in their routes. Randall Cobb would be on this list if it wasn’t for his hamstring issue. The hamstring problem limiting him in practice this week could actually make him a buy low. His fit and ability to add value with running back snaps makes him a WR1 when healthy. The only potential pitfall here is Mike McCarthy going back to the boring balanced offense.
As you can see, Cobb still earns consideration from Bloom as a bargain. Jeff Tefertiller's Value Plays is on the Wood-Hicks-Wimer side of the pro-Cobb debate.
- Top 200 ranking: 19
- Weekly ranking: 7
- Difference: +12
Cobb has been the Packers top receiver the past few weeks. He has been a league target leader during this time. In a game that looks to be very high scoring, we love to recommend the Green Bay pass catcher most likely to have a monster outing. With the Packers struggling to find a running game, Aaron Rodgers could throw the ball 50 times in the contest. It is not far-fetched to imagine the slot receiver collecting 15 pass targets in the contest.
My Advice: Cobb is, by all means, the safest play with strong upside. Be happy if you have him. The Monday Upgrade/Downgrade Report sums up Cobb's Thursday Night performance well:
From the upgrade/downgrade report (Mon Oct 24): Cobb's talents were much better utilized in the Packers new quick-strike offense. He was getting open quickly and turning his targets into run after catch opportunities. With better execution in the red zone, Cobb would have had one of the biggest wide receiver weeks of 2016. He's a perfect fit.
Based on what I watched, Adams wouldn't have lost a lot of points if Cobb had more red zone success but it's fair to say that the Packers' adjustments to cope with the loss of Eddie Lacy could make Cobb a big-time option. Or, it could simply be a temporary game plan that worked against the Bears rather than bogging down the unit by trying to run the ball with players unfamiliar with the scheme (Knile Davis) or the NFL game (Don Jackson).
Now that Davis and Jackson have two weeks of acclimation time, will the Packers lean more on them and a traditional run game? My gut feeling says "no."
It means Cobb should continue earning a lot of targets. But it also means that Adams will continue earning those easier draws against lesser cornerbacks than he did in years past. Combine these matchups with his improving consistency and he should be worth a strong look as a stretch-run starter for your fantasy leagues.
There's also concern about Cobb not playing this week and it has David Dodds nervous in his FanDuel Blog:
It's just too early to tell what WRs will cash in.
- The Packers are expected to score 24.75 making good values CRITERIA players.
- WR Randall Cobb's price is criminally low, but he might scratch this week. He has yet to practice. If Cobb scratches, Davante Adams ($6,600) and Jordy Nelson ($7,500) will both end up being value plays.
I need to back off my take that Adams will be better than Cobb, but I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't have more 13-132-2 efforts down the stretch with a schedule that includes Indianapolis, Tennessee, Washington, Philadelphia, and another crack at the Bears. He may not be Count Dracula, but he looks more like a vampire than a werewolf.
Seahawks offense: Don't be afraid to get back in the water...
As much as I thought the Seattle-Arizona game was an unusual gem from purely a football perspective, the Seahawks offense has turned into a disastrous fantasy fishing expedition...(my wife Alicia imagines this scene with Jene Bramel as Chief Brody, Bloom as Hooper, and Bob Harris of Football Diehards as Quint.)
But as I've been urging (from the safe confines of shore), don't be afraid to get back in the water with the Seahawks—especially with the Saints this weekend. Alex Miglio shares this sentiment in the DFS Roundtable.
Miglio: We are up to seven games above 47 points with the lines moving. Everyone seems to be on Oakland and Tampa Bay or Green Bay and Atlanta, which suggests a lot of chalk in those games. So how about something a little different: Seattle at New Orleans.
It seems odd the over-under in that game would sit at 48 considering the Seahawks defense is involved, but that unit has been far better at home than on the road in recent years. Also, Drew Brees is on fire, and he is particularly good at home.
Meanwhile, DFS contestants might be off Russell Wilson and Co. after the stink bomb that offense produced last week. The Saints defense is awful; Seahawks players could provide a huge GPP opportunity.
Justin Howe explains how Seattle's running game could set the table in his weekly exploration of the dark zone:
The New Orleans defense is being predictably gashed by opposing running games, so they’re always a defense to target in fantasy. In fact, from a touchdown standpoint, there’s no one more target-able. They’ve already given up a league-high 10 short scoring runs, including 8 over the last 4 weeks. Michael is a Week 8 no-brainer as he simply is the Seattle backfield, at least as far as the run game goes. As a result, he’s the team’s default engine near the goal line. Over the last three weeks, he’s gotten the call on 6 of the Seahawks’ 11 snaps from inside the 10. You can’t talk me out of him finding the end zone this week, so don’t try.
The projection firm of Tremblay, Bloom, and Dodds feels good about it. Tremblay has Wilson as his QB10, Bloom his QB6, and Dodds also his QB6. They each see Doug Baldwin as WR 13, WR7, and WR11 and Jimmy Graham as TE3, TE2, and TE3, respectively.
Dodds' Game Predictor forecasts this as a happy pot of fantasy gumbo...
Teams | Pass Comp | Pass Att | Pass Yds | Pass TDs | Pass Int | Rush Att | Rush Yds | Rush TDs | Score |
---|
Seattle Seahawks | 24 | 36 | 282 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 25 | 100 | 0.8 | 25.6 |
at New Orleans Saints | 29 | 43 | 314 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 23 | 83 | 0.5 | 22.6 |
So does the Docket...
- Russell Wilson – He is clearly not healthy, preventing him from picking up major yards on the ground, which is hurting both his ceiling and his floor. Fortunately, for any team playing the Saints, it is always get-well time, as they are giving up 24 FPG to opposing QBs. This is a Saints team that ranks near the bottom in passing defense, so even if he can’t run, he should be able to throw for at least three or four TDs in what looks to be a shoot out. Don’t over think this one.
- Christine Michael – After a slew of tough matchups, CMike should eat in this game playing against a Saints team giving up the most points to opposing running backs this season, with 4.5 YPC and a monster 34 FPG.
- Doug Baldwin and Jimmy Graham – Both of these guys are must-starts in all formats against a Saints defense that really isn’t one. The Graham revenge game narrative may be a joke to some, but it will be real come Sunday. He is averaging 9 targets a game the past four weeks and is a focal point of this passing attack. Baldwin on the other hand, will be dismantling undrafted Saints slot CB De’Vante Harris, who was already benched once this season.
My Advice: I often find that there's a strong relationship between many ground games and the tight end in the passing game. This has been true of the Seahawks in the past. Even before Jimmy Graham's acquisition, Russell Wilson routinely found a variety of tight ends for big plays up the seam on play-action passes when the ground game was clicking.
That production has become consolidated to Graham as that singular entity at the position and the the formational variety with him expands on it, too. When Michael earns at least 60 yards rushing and scores either by land or air, Jimmy Graham has been an especially good play, averaging 6 catches for 100 yards. Considering that the Saints defense is a decimated unit and its linebackers are mostly subs, look for Graham to play the role of Bruce the Great White Shark and feast on this unit with Michael as a school of suckerfish feasting on the scraps.
The real wildcard for me is Mike Thomas of the Saints. My preseason pick as the top rookie receiver, the data guys have finally caught up and pronounced him a budding monster down the stretch.
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: One game, two sides
Jekyll...
Scott Bischoff's Starting Stacks column likes this Raiders matchup for Jameis Winston and Mike Evans.
Jameis Winston ($7,400) + Mike Evans ($7,900) = $15,300
The Buccaneers take on the Oakland Raiders at home in a Week 8 contest featuring a pair of potent offenses in what Vegas is calling a high scoring, very close game. Vegas has the total at 49.5 points and the Buccaneers are favored by 1.5 points on Sunday.
The Raiders are the league’s worst passing defense. They have surrendered the third-worst yards per attempt in the league and only six defenses have given up more passing touchdowns than the Raiders. Also, the Raiders are worst in the NFL in allowing passing plays over 20 yards as they’ve given up 32 to date.
The Buccaneers have an implied total of 24.5 points and the Raiders’ number is 24, so multiple scores are projected. This is going to be a close game that should feature some big plays and from a game script perspective, the Buccaneers offense should be able to hit the Raiders for a few of these big plays down the field, and that’s where Evans comes into the equation.
Another factor is that the Raiders can’t pressure the passer as they’ve only garnered nine sacks on the season. Only Kansas City and Pittsburgh have generated fewer sacks than the Raiders. The Raiders aren’t going to pressure and make Winston uncomfortable, and that will allow him to stand in the pocket and drive the ball down the field to Evans.
Evans is a target hog in the Buccaneers offense as he’s been targeted 68 times and scored five touchdowns over the past five games. Because of his volume and the Raiders propensity to give up big plays down the field, he should be able to make some big plays on Sunday.
As Miglio's commentary in the DFS Roundtable alluded to, the two names that came up the most in the DFS Roundtable were Jameis Winston and Mike Evans and for seemingly good reason this weekend:
Jeff Pasquino:I also like the looks of a Russell Wilson-Jimmy Graham stack with Graham returning to New Orleans, but the cheapest stack I will likely target is Jameis Winston-Mike Evans against Oakland. Winston-Evans was a great duo against San Francisco last week, and Oakland continues to give up a ton of production to top-end receivers. One thing to keep in mind for this one, though, is that the Raiders are not flying back to California after their win against Jacksonville last week since the schedule makers put them in Florida for consecutive contests. Oakland requested this once they saw two road trips to the Sunshine state, and they are treating this week as another training camp opportunity. So if you were targeting this one as another “West Coast team headed to the East Coast” opportunity, that one is off the table this week.
Chad Parsons: When stacking, I target a highly-predictable volume floor for the wide receiver or tight end selected. One combination which qualifies for the rest of the season when matchups dictate is the aforementioned Winston-Evans duo. This is a repeat of 2015 where the Tampa Bay passing game is running on fumes behind Evans. Yes, Cameron Brate will have a few decent games, but Evans will be absolutely peppered with targets – optimal or not. I project Evans to approach 200 targets on the season in terms of per-game pace. The Raiders are a defense to target as they travel to Tampa Bay this week. While Evans carries one of the top salaries of the week, Winston is moderately-priced. They are my preferred stack this week.
Mark Wimer also makes a great point here that the Winston-Evans stack is likely to have a high ownership percentage this weekend but if you're a season-long player, the info is still helpful. The Dockett concurs...
Positive
- Jameis Winston – He’s a great streaming option and DFS play this week against a Raiders defense ranked 29thin QB hits, 30th in sacks and who has given up 32 completions over 20 yards. With the Raiders Defense playing in Tampa in muggy weather at 10am, look for Winston to start fast with the defense on their heals.
- Jacquizz Rodgers – Once again … the Raiders Defense will be playing in hot muggy weather at 10am and are giving up 5.3 YPC and over 26 FPG to running backs their past few games. The matchup and volume is a perfect storm for Quizz to keep his RB1 mojo going.
- Mike Evans – He is seeing over 30% of the teams’ targets and will get force fed the ball all day long despite playing against corners that actually match up decently well against him, unlike TY Hilton and Brandin Cook who smashed them. Nonetheless, he is a WR1 against a Raider’s teams that has already given up 100+ yards to 7 receivers this season.
My Advice: The takeaway worth noting in the Evans section above is "despite playing against corners that actually match up well against him." David Amerson is a tall, lanky corner who plays the ball very well in the air. He struggles against the short, quick guys like T.Y. Hilton, who Patrick Peterson—another big, physical catch-point guy—described as a guy who makes you account for every possible route.
Evans isn't a player that runs the full route tree. While I'd start him in season-long contests, if you're seeking bang-for-your-buck in DFS I have doubts that he's worth the price when the Buccaneers have morphed into a run-heavy unit. The only "big" receiver that has performed well against the Raiders is Julio Jones and it's because he drew Sean Smith as much as Amerson. I suspect Evans won't have one option shadowing him so I like his prospects overall, but again, not for DFS dollar value.
I'm also lukewarm on Winston. Consider the Tampa Bay side of the equation the tame, Dr. Jekyll.
Mr. Hyde...
The although not as much commentary was devoted to them, I sensed the DFS Roundtable participants loved the Derek Carr-Michael Crabtree combo the most.
Jeff Pasquino: The first game I would consider for game stacking is not the game with the highest projected total (Atlanta-Green Bay) but, instead, Tampa Bay-Oakland. The Buccaneers got their offense rolling last week against San Francisco, and now they head home to face another weak passing defense in the Raiders. Jameis Winston and Mike Evans were a big duo last week along with Jacquizz Rodgers, and I would not be afraid to game stack all three of those against either Michael Crabtreeor Amari Cooper in this one.
Andrew Garda: I like the Oakland pairing of Derek Carr and Michael Crabtree. Crabtree has been consistent against shaky defenses, which Tampa Bay features. Add in the fact that teams want to focus on Amari Cooper and I think Carr-Crabtree (CarrTree?) is a nice stack that won't be overpriced.
Wimer: I like the Oakland-Tampa Bay game as well, but Winston to Evans is likely to be very highly owned, in my opinion. Carr-Crabtree could be very fruitful.
The Buccaneers Defensive Game Logs tell a great story with the raw data:
2016
Quarterbacks vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
NAME | WK | CMP | ATT | PYD | PTD | INT | RSH | YD | TD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Matt Ryan | 1 | 27 | 39 | 334 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 0 |
Carson Palmer | 2 | 17 | 30 | 304 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Drew Stanton | 2 | 1 | 4 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Case Keenum | 3 | 14 | 26 | 190 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Paxton Lynch | 4 | 14 | 24 | 170 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -4 | 0 |
Trevor Siemian | 4 | 5 | 7 | 68 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Derek Anderson | 5 | 18 | 28 | 278 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
Colin Kaepernick | 7 | 16 | 34 | 143 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 84 | 0 |
In case you didn't see it jump off the page, the Buccaneers have only faced two good, veteran quarterbacks. When they have, they've given up an average of 314 yards and 2.5 touchdowns. Derek Carr isn't yet a veteran on the level of Ryan and Palmer, but he meets my criteria as a good, veteran quarterback for this defense.
My Advice: I agree with Tremblay, who has Crabtree has his No.7 receiver this weekend—a notch above Amari Cooper—despite the fact that Bloom and Dodds like Cooper even more (5 and 7, respectively for Cooper). Dodds and Bloom see Carr as a low-end QB1, at best.
I think the Buccaneers defense will keep the Raiders' ground game under control and the Tampa offense will build an early lead with its own ground game and Winston-Evans version of Dr. Jekyll.
It's at this point that I believe Mr. Hyde will come alive.
Happy Early Halloween. May your Sunday and Monday Night box scores be filled with more treats than tricks.