By: Kyle Morgan
Here we are: The end of most fantasy football regular seasons are upon us this week, and I’m sure many of you have either safely secured a spot in the playoffs or are near the bottom of the league and thus out of the race (I’m going to assume many you are in the latter). For those of you still jockeying for a seat in the postseason, buckle up your seat belts, because here you will find a breakdown of who to target at each position, thus propelling your team into the playoffs (hopefully). Get your pen and paper ready.
Quarterback:
Colin Kaepernick (SF): Kaepernick has burst onto the scene in his sixth start of the season, showing off both his running and throwing abilities in a narrow loss to Miami last week. Kaepernick tossed for 296 yards and 3 TDs, while also reaching 100 yards rushing for the first time this season. Owned in just 22.8% of ESPN leagues, Kaepernick should be ripe for the picking this weekend, as he faces a Bears defense that should prove susceptible to the big play, making Kaepernick a viable fantasy option.
Trevor Siemian (DEN): Owned in just 11.1% of ESPN leagues, Siemian will be looking to build off perhaps his most impressive performance last week against a solid Chiefs defense. Siemian lit the air for a career-high 368 yards, 3 TDs and 0 INTs in a 30-27 OT loss. Denver will be a hungry team heading into next week’s matchup at Jacksonville, and while I don’t expect Siemian to put up a repeat performance, owners shouldn’t be too upset if we see ⅔ of the Siemian we saw last week.
Running Back:
Kenneth Dixon (BAL): Coming off his largest workload of the season last week, Dixon carried the ball 13 times for 49 yards and caught 4 passes for 31 yards in a win over Cincinnati. Dixon has shown glimpses where he is capable of putting up respectable numbers in both rushing and receiving categories. The rookie out of Pittsburgh also surpassed Terrance West in touches and total yards last week and is slowly transitioning to a lead back role. Baltimore plays host to Miami this weekend, a team that has allowed the 7th-most rushing yards to running backs this season.
Tim Hightower (NO): Hightower produced 51 yards on 15 carries and caught his first touchdown pass of the season last week against the Rams in New Orleans. Coach Sean Payton has been dividing the touches between Hightower and Mark Ingram, although Hightower seems to be making more of an impact in the passing game, which helps his fantasy value. The Saints will be at home once again this week, as they play host to a Lions team that has been inconsistent defensively.
Wide Receiver:
Mohamed Sanu (ATL): Sanu will not give you much in terms of yardage, but he is a handy option for PPR leagues. Owned in 47.2% of ESPN leagues, Sanu has snagged 5 or more passes in three of his team’s last four games, including catching all 8 of his targets last week for 65 yards against Arizona. He has just three touchdowns receptions all season, but he is a reliable 2nd option to superstar Julio Jones. Atlanta hosts the Kansas City this week, and it wouldn’t surprise me if the Chiefs’ primary focus would be to lock down Jones, so expect Sanu to receive plenty of targets.
Kenny Britt (LA): The number one target all year long for the Rams, Kenny Britt has constructed a productive season. Whether it’s been Case Keenum or Jared Goff at quarterback hasn’t hurt Britt’s numbers, as he his receptions and receiving yards have been consistent throughout the season. The Rams take a trip to New England this week, so it will be interesting to see if Los Angeles can hang around enough for Britt to make an impact.
Tight End:
Cameron Brate (TB): Brate has not found the end zone the past two weeks after catching one in each of the three games prior. He caught 4 balls for 49 yards against a tenacious Seattle D, and will have a chance to build off that against a San Diego that has been a favorable matchup for opposing tight ends.
Jermaine Gresham (AZ): Owned in just 0.3% of ESPN leagues, Gresham has shown signs of becoming a reliable TE option, hauling in a touchdown pass in each of his last two games. Gresham is also coming off his best outing of the season; a 5 catch, 35 yard performance at Atlanta. He has now eclipsed the 30-yard mark in four straight games, and will have a chance to build off that next week at Washington. He is certainly worth a look if your team is in need of a tight end.
Quarterback:
Colin Kaepernick (SF): Kaepernick has burst onto the scene in his sixth start of the season, showing off both his running and throwing abilities in a narrow loss to Miami last week. Kaepernick tossed for 296 yards and 3 TDs, while also reaching 100 yards rushing for the first time this season. Owned in just 22.8% of ESPN leagues, Kaepernick should be ripe for the picking this weekend, as he faces a Bears defense that should prove susceptible to the big play, making Kaepernick a viable fantasy option.
Trevor Siemian (DEN): Owned in just 11.1% of ESPN leagues, Siemian will be looking to build off perhaps his most impressive performance last week against a solid Chiefs defense. Siemian lit the air for a career-high 368 yards, 3 TDs and 0 INTs in a 30-27 OT loss. Denver will be a hungry team heading into next week’s matchup at Jacksonville, and while I don’t expect Siemian to put up a repeat performance, owners shouldn’t be too upset if we see ⅔ of the Siemian we saw last week.
Running Back:
Kenneth Dixon (BAL): Coming off his largest workload of the season last week, Dixon carried the ball 13 times for 49 yards and caught 4 passes for 31 yards in a win over Cincinnati. Dixon has shown glimpses where he is capable of putting up respectable numbers in both rushing and receiving categories. The rookie out of Pittsburgh also surpassed Terrance West in touches and total yards last week and is slowly transitioning to a lead back role. Baltimore plays host to Miami this weekend, a team that has allowed the 7th-most rushing yards to running backs this season.
Tim Hightower (NO): Hightower produced 51 yards on 15 carries and caught his first touchdown pass of the season last week against the Rams in New Orleans. Coach Sean Payton has been dividing the touches between Hightower and Mark Ingram, although Hightower seems to be making more of an impact in the passing game, which helps his fantasy value. The Saints will be at home once again this week, as they play host to a Lions team that has been inconsistent defensively.
Wide Receiver:
Mohamed Sanu (ATL): Sanu will not give you much in terms of yardage, but he is a handy option for PPR leagues. Owned in 47.2% of ESPN leagues, Sanu has snagged 5 or more passes in three of his team’s last four games, including catching all 8 of his targets last week for 65 yards against Arizona. He has just three touchdowns receptions all season, but he is a reliable 2nd option to superstar Julio Jones. Atlanta hosts the Kansas City this week, and it wouldn’t surprise me if the Chiefs’ primary focus would be to lock down Jones, so expect Sanu to receive plenty of targets.
Kenny Britt (LA): The number one target all year long for the Rams, Kenny Britt has constructed a productive season. Whether it’s been Case Keenum or Jared Goff at quarterback hasn’t hurt Britt’s numbers, as he his receptions and receiving yards have been consistent throughout the season. The Rams take a trip to New England this week, so it will be interesting to see if Los Angeles can hang around enough for Britt to make an impact.
Tight End:
Cameron Brate (TB): Brate has not found the end zone the past two weeks after catching one in each of the three games prior. He caught 4 balls for 49 yards against a tenacious Seattle D, and will have a chance to build off that against a San Diego that has been a favorable matchup for opposing tight ends.
Jermaine Gresham (AZ): Owned in just 0.3% of ESPN leagues, Gresham has shown signs of becoming a reliable TE option, hauling in a touchdown pass in each of his last two games. Gresham is also coming off his best outing of the season; a 5 catch, 35 yard performance at Atlanta. He has now eclipsed the 30-yard mark in four straight games, and will have a chance to build off that next week at Washington. He is certainly worth a look if your team is in need of a tight end.
(Featured Image: Lucina M, Flickr)
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