By Marc Hardin
NKyTribune contributor
This week, we’re going diving. But a snorkel won’t be enough. That’s because dreaded Week 11 of the NFL season is finally upon us. For some fantasy team owners who don’t have the luxury of an airtight roster, that’s going to require some deep diving in search of helpful players.
For the second time in three weeks, six teams are on a bye. That rules out for some fantasy team owners nearly 20 percent of all relevant talent. Players, defenses and special teams from Buffalo, Cleveland, Miami, New England, San Francisco and the New York Jets are of no use this week. Some of the best players available won’t play until Monday night when the high-scoring Rams take on the equally high-scoring Chiefs.
That means owners have just 12 Thursday and Sunday games to accrue points before the Rams-Chiefs game levels the playing field like a wrecking ball. Such a scenario dampens some fantasy team outlooks at a critical time of the schedule, especially those in larger leagues where talent has been spread wafer thin by attrition.
So get your wetsuit on, grab the pressure gauge, brush up on your back roll and dive in as we search the depths for some players.
DIVING FOR PEARLS
Everybody can’t have Rams and Chiefs on their fantasy team so if there’s a hole or two on your squad this week, you’re not alone. And, you’re pretty lucky. Some fantasy teams have enough holes to sink a ship. In one of my leagues, I have a plucky, injury-depleted squad with a 6-4 record in a tight four-team division race missing James White, Sony Michel, Frank Gore and George Kittle because of the bye. Those guys have been carrying me lately because quarterback is a mess with Jimmy Garoppolo gone and Derek Carr vanishing, and tight end has been a revolving door after losing Delanie Walker, Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Charles Clay.
There are now just three weeks left in the regular season for most of us. With Week 14 playoff spots on the line, it’s an urgent time of the year not to mention a bad time to once again be short on players. For those who may have severely attenuated rosters and need to seek outside help, even the waiver wire might seem depleted with its injured stars, banged up backups, role-reduced part-timers, decent fliers going up against tough defenses and the usual list of ne’er-do-wells. As a shallow free-agent pool, it’s not exactly a sea of love.
Take a dive . . .
With the tide turning in your league, you need to seek deeper meaning in the numbers as you dive for pearls. It doesn’t have to be a dumpster dive if you know where to look for help. You might be able to blow your opponent out of the water this week with one deft move that will make the difference.
When starting roster decisions are tough and free-agent choices are few, I’m looking for some defenses to exploit so I can have a fighting chance to intersect talent with opportunity. That’s where you can find some unexpected help, by going back to the tried-and-true points-against index. So let’s take a deep dive into the listings and look for sleepers and some super sleepers.
WEAK DEFENSES VS. QUARTERBACKS
If you need a quarterback or if you’re unsure which one of yours to play, just know that the six worst defenses against fantasy quarterbacks are in action this week, providing solid opportunity even for the most pedestrian of passers. The worst, New Orleans, hosts Philadelphia. Carson Wentz, the 20th-ranked QB, is a great option, if you’re lucky enough to have him. If not, the following terrible defenses against fantasy quarterbacks could make some ordinary signal callers a bold play this week:
Bengals (31st against QBs) at Ravens: That means Joe Flacco, but watch the hip injury.
Bucs (30th) at Giants: Meaning Eli Manning, who just threw 3 TDs Monday night.
Falcons (29th) vs. Cowboys: Dak Prescott, who has at least 20 points in 3 of last 4 games.
Panthers (28th) at Lions: Matthew Stafford, who’s thrown at least 2 TDs in 7 games.
Steelers (27th) at Jaguars: Blake Bortles, who’s averaging 20 points the last 2 games.
WEAK DEFENSES VS. RUNNING BACKS
The four worst defenses against fantasy running backs are here to help this week. Once again, you might want to stock up against the beleaguered Bengals while they are in transition on defense. Baltimore’s Alex Collins may not be available in your league but teammate Javorius Allen (owned in just 36 percent of leagues) might be. A deep dive for a squad in a 20-team league could hook a potentially nice catch like Rams backup back Malcolm Brown or the Panthers’ new No. 2 Alex Armah.
Chiefs (32nd against RBs) at Rams: Brown, 8 PPR points in 2 of last 4 games.
Falcons (31st) vs. Cowboys: Rod Smith, who could vulture a score from Zeke.
Bengals (30th) at Ravens: Allen, who’s getting targets and is due for a TD.
Cardinals (29th) vs. Raiders: Doug Martin, who had a season-high 15 carries Sunday.
Lions (24th) vs. Panthers: Armah, now the backup back with CJ Anderson waived.
WEAK DEFENSES VS. WIDE RECEIVERS
Some legitimate help for strapped teams could be available at wide receiver this week because the bottom five defenses against fantasy receivers are in action to potentially boost results. Deep dives could net some guys with upside. Don’t be surprised if lightly owned players like Baltimore’s Willie Snead (owned in just 20 percent of leagues) and the Saints’ Tre’Quan Smith (19 percent) have some success this week. Owners playing in 20-team leagues need to be aware of changes in Oakland, and you might want to get the Colts’ Dontrelle Inman on your radar.
Saints (32nd against WRs) vs. Eagles: Meaning Nelson Agholor in PPR leagues.
Bucs (31st) at Giants: Sterling Shepard, who caught a touchdown Monday.
Bengals (30th) at Ravens: Snead, at least 10 PPR points in 5 of last 6 games.
Falcons (29th) vs. Cowboys: Target Cole Beasley or maybe Michael Gallup.
Eagles (28th) at Saints: Smith, who is due for a bounce-back this week.
Redskins vs. Texans: Keke Coutee, but watch the hamstring.
Titans (24th) at Colts: Inman, who tied for 2nd on the team in targets Sunday.
Packers (23rd) at Seahawks: Target David Moore then Jaron Brown.
Steelers (22nd) at Jaguars: Dede Westbrook? Keelan Cole? Donte Moncrief?
Bears (21st) vs. Vikings: Target Laquon Treadwell then Aldrick Robinson.
Cardinals (13th) vs. Raiders: Injuries elevate Brandon LaFell and Seth Roberts.
WEAK DEFENSES VS. TIGHT ENDS
Ahmed Gabr, a 41-year-old Egyptian, broke the world record for the deepest SCUBA dive, plunging 1,090 feet and 4.5 inches on September 23, 2014, in the Red Sea off the coast of Dahab, Egypt. That depth — about as deep as New York City’s Chrysler Building is tall — broke the previous mark of 1,044 feet by South African Nuno Gomes in 2005, also off the coast of Dahab. A deep dive at tight end could net any one of several at the position who have recently scored.
Panthers (32nd against TEs) at Lions: Michael Roberts (shoulder) has 3 touchdowns.
Bucs (31st) at Giants: Evan Engram, check to see if he got dumped in your league.
Bengals (30th) at Ravens: Mark Andrews and Hayden Hurst both scored in last 3 weeks.
Steelers (29th) at Jaguars: James O’Shaughnessy, caught 5 of 6 targets for 46 yards Sunday.
Raiders (26th) at Cardinals: Ricky Seals-Jones, caught 5 of 9 targets for 51 yards Sunday.
Chiefs (25th) vs. Rams: Gerald Everett or Tyler Higbee, both caught TD passes Sunday
Colts (24th) vs. Titans: Jonnu Smith, who has a TD catch in 2 straight games.
WEAK DEFENSES VS. KICKERS
Notable album covers featuring a person underwater include Argent’s In Deep, Joe Walsh’s Life’s Been Good and Nirvana’s Never Mind. How deep is your love for kickers? If you’re in deep water this week, consider these scenarios:
Giants (32nd against Ks) vs. Bucs: Tampa Bay will have a new kicker after cutting Catanzaro.
Colts (31st) vs. Titans: Meaning Ryan Succop, who had 10 points Sunday vs. Pats.
Vikings (30th) at Bears: Cody Parkey, who had 12 points 2 weeks ago.
Bengals (29th) at Ravens: Meaning Justin Tucker, who by fluke could be available.
Jaguars (28th) vs. Steelers: Rallying Chris Boswell, who had 12 points Sunday.
WEAK DEFENSES AGAINST DEF/ST
Four of the five worst defenses against defense/special teams are off this week. Only No. 31 Arizona among the bottom five is in action, against Oakland, which ranks dead last in defense/special teams points with zero. No need for a deep dive here. Instead, how about a list of cool songs with underwater imagery!
Echoes: Third-longest track in Pink Floyd’s catalogue at over 23 minutes.
Yellow Submarine and Octopus’s Garden: Beatles novelties sung by Ringo Starr.
Nightswimming, R.E.M.: With string arrangement by Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones.
One Of Our Submarines, Thomas Dolby: Who originally wrote it for the Thompson Twins.
The Whale, ELO: In which Jeff Lynne inadvertently invents the French band Air.
Holy Diver: Title track on debut album by heavy metal stalwart Dio.
Arc Of A Diver: Gorgeous title track of Steve Winwood’s third solo album.
Aqualung: Jethro Tull’s homeless man with unhealthy breathing or “deep sea diver sounds.”
