ESPN Playoff Match Ups and Sleepers Week 13-15

In most standard fantasy leagues the playoffs start within the next 2 weeks, and when you're facing the best teams in your league every point counts. To help you out I have selected a few sleepers that I think could play out well late in the season, and in the coming weeks there are match ups that can be taken advantage of, as well as some that could hurt some key players.

Week 13

The Buccaneers are facing the Falcons at home and with the way Jamies Winston has been playing, I like this matchup for him. Winston, also one of my sleepers, is only owned in 36% of leagues. The Falcons have the best rushing defense in the NFL, which leads me to think Doug Martin is not going to be your man. Coleman, the Falcons backup running back, is a good start as long as Freeman remains out, and he is owned in 64% of leagues.

The Cardinals have the 6th ranked rushing defense in the NFL, setting up an unfavorable matchup for Todd Gurley. I am not telling you to sit Gurley, however if you have Thomas Rawls or Shady McCoy you might consider a more favorable matchup. Speaking of, McCoy seems to finally be healthy and since week 8’s bye he has scored 19, 20, and 24 points.

Week 14

Week 15 brings the worries of players sitting out to rest for the playoffs, so this is a good week to pick up a few extra players, mainly if you have players on teams that are going to clench a playoff spot, i.e. the Patriots and the Panthers. If someone in your playoff picture has Tom Brady or Cam Newton, than it may be a good idea to pick up a QB like Winston, or similar, to block them.

For the second week in a row Tampa Bay has been my favorite match up, so much so that as of now I plan on starting Winston this week over Rodgers. Winston is facing the Saints who just recently fired their defensive coordinator, as they are currently the 31st ranked passing defense in the NFL. The Saints defense allowed 6 TD's in week 8 to Eli Manning, 4 TD's in week 9 to Marcus Mariota, and 4 TD's to Kirk Cousins in week 10, leading me to believe that Jamies Winston is going to have much success exploiting this vulnerable Saints secondary. I would also expect Doug Martin to establish the run game early, and share in the spoils of this lopsided matchup.

Looking at the Patriots I know I have to choose them for a win over the Texans, however expect them to have some success in slowing down the Pats offense. The Patriots are running out of offensive weapons as Edelman is still out, Deon Lewis is out, and Amendola is now injured. I would look for options outside the Patriots offense, and again I really like Winston and he remains a good option for people who own Brady or Newton.

Week 15

For week 15 I have 2 favorable match ups

If Carson Palmer is playing in this game, I like him and Larry Fitzgerald to put up some serious points. It’s a road game for the Cardinal but against an Eagles defense that gave up 45 points to the Buccaneers and Lions. Weeks 11 and 12 brought back to back games where Jamies Winston and Matthew Stafford both passed for 5 TD's respectively. If the Cardinals still haven't clinched a playoff spot, Palmer and Fitzgerald could have big games against a struggling Eagles defense.

The Packers play in Oakland and I like both QB's in a very college-esque matchup between two passing offenses and two terrible passing defenses, 25^th and 30^th respectively, and both teams possibly fighting for a playoff spot making either quarterback a solid choice. Though the matchups aren’t bad, I would avoid receivers from this game as the Packers wide outs are too inconsistent and it is impossible to predict whether Crabtree or Cooper will get the work load, considering injuries. 

Sleepers

1. Jamies Winston, 37% owned. Winston has good match ups in the last half of the season.

2. Colby Fleener, 32.8% owned. I will like Fleener more when Luck returns from injury because he is a good red zone threat.

3. Reuben Randle, 39.6% owned. Randal is more of a risky pick up, but with how much the Giants pass Randle is poised to have a big game at any time.

4. Doug Baldwin, 33.8% owned. Since Seattle has been passing a lot more lately, I like Baldwin as a good sleeper flex play.

5. Kamar Aiken, 52.7% owned. The Ravens, having been cursed with offensive injuries this season, are without Steve Smith, Joe Flacco and two running backs. With newly signed QB Matt Schaub, Aiken should see a lot more passes thrown his way as the ground game for Baltimore struggles.

By: JB La Cross

*Some stats supplied by ESPN

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Week 11 BUY and SELL

Quarter Backs

BUY Tom Brady- In week 2 Tom Brady put up over 400 yards passing and 3 TDs against the Bills in Buffalo. At home facing a Bills Defense that ranks 18^th against the pass I expect another good game from Tom Brady. Losing Julian Edelman shouldn’t hurt Brady’s fantasy numbers due to his ability to spread the wealth and get everyone involved in the passing game. Expect Amendola, Gronk, and maybe LaFell to have a good game with Edelman not in the line-up. Brady has 24 passing TDs, 2 rushing TDs, and only 3 ints so far this season. Monday Night at home I am starting him in DFS and season long leagues.

SELL Aaron Rodgers- While Rodgers put up over 20 points in week 10 it was a game that raises concern for not just Rodgers but the entire Packers offense. The Packers inability to run the ball hurt Rodgers as he had to throw 61 times. Greenbay’s O-Line also played poor allowing their QB to be sacked three times. Rodgers had a very bad first 3 quarters only putting up 148 yards and 0 TDs for 5.92pt. Somehow he turned it around and had an amazing 4^th quarter with 185 yards and 2TDs for 18.4pt saving anyone who started him. The Packers play on Sunday should have fantasy owners nervous about all Packers players going forward.  In DFS stay away from Rodgers, there are much cheaper and more reliable options. In season leagues he isn’t someone you can afford to sit unless you are deep at QB.

Running Backs

     BUY Lamar Miller- Lamar Miller is averaging 22.93pt/g over the last 3 games, as well as 6rec/g over the last 3. Playing a mediocre Cowboys defense expect Miller to have similar numbers to his week 10 game against the Eagles. The only downside to Miller is he doesn’t normally get majority of his points from running. In week 10 he had 16 carries for 43yds and 6rec for 50yds and a TD for 21pt. In the last 5 games Lamar Miller has 5rush TDs and 2rec TDs. In PPR leagues he’s very appealing. He’s a good cheap RB in DFS, and in season long if he is on your team he should be in your lineup. .       

SELL Marshawn Lynch- When Marshawn Lynch hasn’t been hurt, he has been underperforming. He is only averaging 1 reception a game and has only rushed for over 100yds once. Lynch hasn’t looked like beast mode all year and don’t expect that to change now.  If you’re playing in a PPR league like Draft Kings he should not be in your lineup. In season leagues he’s a flex play at best, unless your other RBs are on byes.

Wide Receivers

      BUY Danny Amendola- With the loss of Edelman, Amendola is the Pats number 1 WR and someone who is worth picking up in season leagues. Brady’s #1 WR is only owned in 22.2% of leagues and in week 10, the first game without Edelman, he had 10rec 79 yds for 17pt. Pick up Amendola while you still can, after this week he may be gone. Having any player in your lineup that catches 10 passes in a game from Tom Brady is an advantage. In DFS I would start him in the flex or as a budget WR. He’s also a good flex play this week in season leagues.

      SELL DeAndre Hopkins- Hopkins could still put up decent numbers but with how little the Texans score and not knowing who the QB will be he’s just too risky of a play. To make things even worse they are playing the Jets who have the 9^th pass defense in the NFL. In DFS Hopkins cost too much, $8800 on Draft Kings, and I don’t see his upside this week against a good Jets pass defense. And even in season leagues I’m looking to my bench for someone with more upside.

Tight Ends

 BUY Delanie Walker- Walker has been great lately he is averaging 15.8pt/g over last 5. Walker is the Titans team leader in receiving yards, targets, and catch rate. He has great upside playing Jacksonville who is 21^st against the TE, Walker could be in for yet another big game. He’s a good TE for DFS, and if he’s on you season league team start him unless you own Gronkowski or Olsen. 

      SELL Tyler Eifert- Eifert is playing a good Cardinals defense this week on the road, and after a rough loss to the Texans I don’t see Eifert having a very productive game. Eifert had 3 drops against the Texans and ended with 26yds for 5pt, which is very poor coming off a 3 TD for 28pt game. In DFS would start either Walker, Olsen, or Gronk. In season long only start Eifert if you don’t own any of the 3 previously listed TEs.

By: JB La Cross

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Top 50+ Fantasy Football Team Names

Nobody wants to be the guy with the team name "Team lastname". You'll be known as uncreative. That will make it look like you don't care about your league! So change your name from the default for the sake of us all.

If you can't think of your own fantasy football name then take a look at the list below, you could find the name you've been searching for. Or spark an idea of your own. Some are funny, some are serious, its just a mix of solid team names (there used to be 50 but I expanded the list most recently prior to the 2015-2016 season). Got your own ideas? Leave them in a comment.

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More 2015 Fantasy Football Sleepers

I am using the ADP and draft rankings from NFL.Com to compile this list of players that I believe are absolute steals at their positions. These are players that I think will outperform their respective rankings and ADP from NFL.Com.

Ryan Tannehill, QB, Miami

Tannehill has an ADP of 63 and is ranked as the #8 quarterback in fantasy this year. I really think he will be a top five QB this year. He has a lot of weapons to get the ball to, the offensive line is improved from last year, and the running game may be even better than last year. He is also more of a runner than people realize. Tannehill was very quietly the ninth highest scoring quarterback last year. He has no excuses to not perform at a top five level this year. I will jump all over him in the sixth round of a ten team league’s draft.

Allen Robinson, WR, Jacksonville

Last year, Allen Robinson was a second round pick by the Jaguars to help Blake Bortles with his transition into the league. Robinson has an ADP of 138 in the NFL.Com leagues and ranked as the #48 wide receiver. Robinson should be going way before the thirteenth round in a standard ten team. He is better in a PPR because of the limited scoring opportunities he’ll have in that Jaguars offense, but he should still be going much earlier. He was peppered with targets from a young Bortles and he should be healthy this year after missing some time last year. In 10 games last year he was targeted 81 times and hauled in 48 for 548 yards and only two touchdowns. I expect him to be a top 20 receiver in PPR formats this year.

Jordan Matthews, WR, Philadelphia

Matthews has been promoted to the top target in a high powered offense that has produced a top WR in the last few years with Kelly as head coach. The offense makes anyone starting, an automatic lock to produce fantasy points. Matthews is a very talented receiver. Last year he was the second option in the passing game and still had 105 targets that turned into 67 catches, 872 yards, and 8 touchdowns. This year, he should be in the top 10 at WR in all formats. There is no reason he won’t produce at least at the level of Jeremy Maclin last year. With an ADP of 43 and a position rank of 16, he may be the biggest steal of the year.

Chris Ivory, RB, New York Jets

Chris Ivory is the top runningback on a team that will have to run the ball to stay in games. It’s very hard to find runningbacks after round three, so it doesn’t make any sense that Ivory has an ADP of 94. It will be very easy for Ivory to outperform the 22 runningbacks ranked ahead of him. He finished as the 19^th highest scoring RB last year in standard, but the passing game should be slightly improved this year and Chan Gailey should make the offense more potent as a whole. Ivory is a very consistent player that probably won’t get many 20 point games, but also won’t have many two pint games either. I expect Ivory to be in the top 15 at least.

Shane Vereen, RB, New York Giants

Vereen is more of a PPR sleeper than a standard sleeper, but he could produce well in both. Vereen is coming into a quick passing offense to be the passing downs back. He should get plenty of carries as well with Rashad Jennings’ injury history. There is talk of Vereen impressing in New York and possibly getting more touches than expected. Vereen has an ADP of 142 and is the 48^th ranked RB. I would be shocked if Vereen isn’t in the top 25 in PPR leagues. He should be on everyone’s flier list in the later rounds.

All of these players should be targeted in drafts because they have potential to outperform ADP and expectations. Next week I will have a top bust list out that will predict which players will underperform their ADPs.

By: Matthew Acord

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2015 Fantasy Football Sleepers

As the 2015 NFL season approaches and more importantly the fantasy seasons of over 33 million people, many are looking for that diamond in the rough. Who will be that late round draft pick that will yield first round production and lead your roster to victory and ultimately glory? Well look no further gentlemen, the following will give you confidence going into your drafts and gain you respect amongst friends and enemies alike.

The first key to picking a sleeper is confidence. Without it you’ll end up like Jeff who has been suckling the teet of Matthew Berry’s top 300 since your league's inception. All rankings should be a guideline and something to fall back on should your draft take a turn for the worse, or should you consume one to many shots of 1800 tequila. To find top tier talent during the draft you must zig when others zag. Were the first 6 picks of the first round all running backs? Then take a top tier wideout and target some tier two backs with your second pick. Finding sleepers is an easy process when you have the equation, which is as follows. You're looking for players with great offensive lines and quarterbacks. Every year some no name wideout will start catching balls from Peyton Manning and end up becoming a weekly stud. According to last year the top three offensive lines were Dallas, Seattle and New England, all which had some additions and losses this offseason which may make for potential sleepers.

1. Joseph Randle, RB, Dallas Cowboys

Randle is a back with two years of experience with the Cowboys who has been working hard to earn their trust. He was slated to be the number two behind Darren McFadden until McFadden took his favorite position on the IR. Randle has chemistry with the Dallas offensive line already and looked good taking over for Demarco Murray last season when he needed a break. As of this writing Randle has a strained oblique and that may drop him a couple spots from his projected 4th round draft stock, but picking up a guy like this in the 4th is a steal and a pick with high upside, just ask Murray owners last year after he had 392 rushes. McFadden isn’t becoming a threat anytime soon and with Tony Romo and Dez Bryant commanding the respect of the defense Randle will have opportunities to flourish.

2. Tyler Lockett, WR, Seattle Seahawks

           

No, not that Lockette. This one can actually catch a 5 yard slant route without looking weaker than a mixed drink after midnight. Lockett was a stud the last two seasons for Kansas State in both the receiving and return game before being drafted with the 5^th pick in the 3^rd round by the Seahawks. While he may not have prototypical size, he is the most polished route runner in this year’s draft. Watch his highlights if you don't believe me, this kid has a knack for finding open space and with 4.4 40 speed he can turn open space into the end zone. Don't let his lack of size scare you, he is on a team whose top two receivers last year were Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse both hovering around six foot. Lockett isn’t even projected to be drafted in most fantasy leagues making him an excellent 15th or 16th round pick and someone with huge upside.

3. Duke Johnson, RB, Cleveland Browns

           

When thinking of the Browns you rarely think of fantasy studs. More than likely you think of the unimpressive careers of Jordan Cameron and the infuriating Josh Gordon. That is all about to change my friends. The Browns have one of the best O-lines in the league and number one in the AFC. Last season we saw impressive performances by Isaiah Crowell and Terrence West, which unfortunately came crashing down after Alex Mack was injured. Duke Johnson has a chance to get the majority of the Browns touches on a team who wants to take as much pressure off the Quarterback as possible. Johnson set all types of records at Miami and that university boasts an impressive group of stud running backs such as Frank Gore, Willis Mcgahee, Lamar MIller and Edgerrin James. Duke Johnson holds the all-time rushing record over all of them. Currently he is projected to be drafted somewhere around 7th or 8th round. I wouldn't be scared at all to take him at the top of the 7th.

4. Amari Cooper, WR, Oakland Raiders

            Can a 4th overall pick in the NFL draft ever be considered sleeper material? Why yes they can. Coopers collegiate career speaks for itself, what I’m more interested in is Derek Carr and the Raiders offensive line. Last year the Raiders had the 2nd best offensive line based on sack percentage, with 4.4%, tied with the New England Patriots. With the lack of competition at the wideout position in Oakland, Cooper is far and away the number one with huge upside. The Raiders pass the ball a lot, they were number one in the league last year passing on 66% of all plays. Remember that's to guys like James Jones, Rod Streater and Kenbrell Thompkins. Imagine what a supreme talent like Cooper could do with balls coming his way that frequently. Cooper is currently projected to go around round 9 or 10 in most leagues and that is a travesty. Take this guy round 8 or 9 with confidence and watch as he tears a hole in your flex position.

           

            Well that about wraps things up. Things to remember, don't trust anyone but yourself. You have to make your own picks based on your own research. Every year Matthew Berry predicts some sleeper that ends up being a bust, Toby Gerhart and Cordarrelle Patterson for example. If you’re going to make a ballsy pick do it with your own balls not someone else's. The above picks are just a starting point and you should continue to look for players who can thrive on a roster already surrounded with talent. With that in mind go boldly into your drafts in the upcoming weeks, and try to stay sober until the 12th round at least. Nobody wants to wake up the next morning and see they drafted Blair Walsh in the 9th.

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2015 NFL Free Agency and Trade Tracker

The biggest thing to keep track of during the 2015 NFL and Fantasy Football off-season is the roster swaps that happen via free agency and trades. In the past I have tried to keep a blog post updated that kept track of all free agency swaps but this year I thought I would source the job out to the internet community. View the full post for all 2015 NFL free agency, retirement, and trade information.

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