Hogs Haven
Welcome back for another round of fantasy football ramblings. Hopefully, if you’re still following along, it’s because you are anticipating a playoff run and trying to find the right keys to unlock a championship. (I can certainly vouch for having teams in different positions down the stretch, from a Friends & Family League team that has already clinched a first-round playoff bye at 10-1, leaving a month of results that only matter for bragging rights before a Week 16 that actually matters, to a superflex league team that is desperately scrounging the likes of Tyler Shough for a second QB after Jayden’s injury and Justin Fields’ benching.)
A lot of the work to get across the finish line to the elimination weeks should be done already at this point, with only few remaining bye weeks to navigate and injuries now the primary obstacle to consider. Even so, we’ll take one last shot at identifying some names to keep an eye on for stretch run additions before planning to close this year’s fantasy ramblings with a Playoff Start/Sit primer in Week 15. Don’t know if there’s any interest, but I’ll also open it up to mailbag questions to be answered the Tuesday before Week 15 as well, should that prove helpful. (And I’ll again offer my thanks to those who’ve read through my maiden voyage into providing fantasy advice as well as to Hogs Haven for hosting – hope it has been at least a little bit helpful/entertaining!)
Sam Darnold – 5/10 It’s been a pair of bad outings since this column recommended Darnold, but he’s still top half of the league at QB for the season and criminally under-rostered across ESPN leagues. He’ll have some usable moments yet.
Joe Flacco – 5/10 The Ja’Marr Chase suspension won’t help in Week 12, and you’re not starting him over less old-in-the-tooth options, but the volume remains there.
Bhayshul Tuten – incomplete Seemed to be starting to emerge, but picked up an injury in Week 11.
Emari Demercado – 3/10 Bam Knight jumped back in front in usage, but the real problem is that the Cardinals as a whole do not inspire confidence at this point.
Christian Watson – 8/10 Two touchdowns in a breakout Week 11. Still not enough targets for full confidence, but the trend is in the right direction.
Demario Douglas – 1/10 Turned out not to be the beneficiary of Boutte’s absence in spite of production the week of the injury. Instead, Mack Hollins returns from the dead.
Theo Johnson – 6/10 Concerned about the downtick in production with Jameis Winston at quarterback, but a season-high in yards the week before.
Colston Loveland – 5/10 Modest production the last two weeks after his breakout, but enough to not cost you from that lineup spot.
Davis Mills – You probably have better options if you’re in playoff contention, but especially in superflex formats, he hasn’t looked bad in relief of C.J. Stroud...
