The Stream Option (Fantasy Football 2020 – Week 13)

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December 2, 2020

The Stream Option (Fantasy Football 2020 – Week 13)

The Stream Option is a weekly article where The Undroppables explore the best options at Quarterback, Defense, and Tight End that should be available in most leagues.
*Note: ESPN rostership rates were gathered on 12/1/2020 and are subject to change.

Welcome to the final game of the regular season for most folks. Hopefully, you’re already locked into the playoffs, but if not, hopefully, we can get you a W this week.

Quarterbacks

Ryan Tannehill – TEN vs CLE

Ryan Tannehill is the QB9 on the season, and only rostered in 56.6% of ESPN leagues. He has been a very solid play all season, and gets a solid matchup in Week 13 against a Browns defense which just surrendered 18 fantasy points to Jag’s backup QB, Mike Glennon. Tannehill has yet to score under 10 fantasy points in a single contest this season and could be a strong option for the fantasy playoffs as well, with matchups against the Jaguars and Lions in Weeks 14 and 15, respectively.

Ryan Fitzpatrick/Tua Tagovailoa – MIA vs CIN

With Tagovailoa’s status heading into next week questionable, this situation will be one to watch for streaming teams. Either Quarterback should be a solid play in fantasy against the poor Bengals defense. However, I would prefer if Fitzpatrick got the start over Tagovailoa for fantasy purposes as Fitzpatrick tends to score more fantasy points than the rookie QB. Fitz has averaged 19.88 fantasy points per game over seven starts, while Tua has only averaged 12.28 ppg in his four starts. Fitzpatrick is currently rostered in 21.5% of ESPN leagues while Tagovailoa is rostered in 29% of ESPN leagues.

EXTRA QB: Gardner Minshew – JAX @ MIN

Minshew has missed the past five weeks with a thumb injury, but if he is healthy enough to start next week he should be a solid fantasy option. Prior to his injury, Minshew was the QB12 and averaged 18.8 fantasy points per contest. He is a very good fantasy option at the quarterback position, but has seen his rostership plummet while out with injury. Minshew is currently rostered in just 10.3% of ESPN leagues.

Tight Ends

Robert Tonyan – GB vs PHI

Tonyan is the TE4 on the season despite a very inconsistent season. He seems to either score in the double digits or less than five points every week. While Tonyan is a risky play, the Philadelphia defense, which he is playing against in Week 13, is currently allowing the 6th most fantasy points to the tight end position. Meanwhile, Tonyan has been more involved as of late, seeing 5 targets in each of the past two games. Even better, he also caught all 5 targets in each of the past two games. Tonyan is only rostered in 46.1% of ESPN leagues and is a great option, especially if you are swinging for the fences in Week 13.

Dalton Schultz – DAL @ BAL

The TE landscape is, once again, incredibly infuriating if you don’t have a locked-in starter at the position. However, Schultz is another guy who has been able to put up some points, albeit not very consistently. Schultz has surpassed 4 receptions and 7 fantasy points in each of his last four games, and should have around a 7 point floor. I don’t think Schultz will burn you against Baltimore, but I also don’t think he’s going to explode. Schultz offers a safe play while only being rostered in 30.3% of ESPN leagues.

Defenses

Kansas City Chiefs D/ST – KC vs DEN

Yes, the Denver Broncos will have a real quarterback under center next week. However, the Chiefs defense can still handle Drew Lock. The Chiefs showed this in week 7, when their defense scored 21 fantasy points in Denver against Lock and the Broncos. Overall, the Chiefs have been a solid defense this season, even with a few ups and downs, as they currently rank as the 13th best defense for fantasy. The KC Defense is only rostered in 42.6% of ESPN leagues.

Green Bay Packers D/ST – GB vs PHI

The Packers haven’t been near the top of fantasy defenses this season. However, their Week 13 opponent, the Eagles, have been near the top of best defensive matchups this season. The Eagles are coming off a MNF game in which they allowed the Seattle defense to score 11 fantasy points despite being one of the worst fantasy defenses this season. If the Packers can capitalize similarly to how the Seahawks did, they should be able to finish with a good number of points. The Pack are only rostered in 46.6% of ESPN leagues.

For more options for additions to your lineup, check out Mike Reedy’s Waiver Wire article for Week 13, and feel free to reach out to me with questions on Twitter, @KL_Fantasy.

A Thin Goal Line Between Love & Hate | Week 12

Randal Kennedy

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November 26, 2020

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A Thin Goal Line Between Love & Hate | Week 12

Football is almost as synonymous with Thanksgiving as turkey. The first Thanksgiving Day football game was played in Philadelphia in 1869, just six years after Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a fixed national holiday.

When most of us think of football, though, we think of the NFL. The NFL tradition started when the then Detroit Spartans Scheduled a game with the defending champion Chicago Bears. The game was organized to build excitement for the newly founded franchise by then-owner GA Richards. Richards, who also founded broadcast conglomerate Goodwill Stations Inc. partnered with NBC radio to broadcast the game nationwide. It was a rousing success and football on Thanksgiving was born.

Thirty years later the Cowboys hopped on the bandwagon for many of the same reasons. Then General Manager Tex Schramm scheduled the game to boost interest in a Dallas franchise that had struggled under coach Tom Landry. It worked! The Cowboys set an attendance record as 80 thousand fans watched them defeat the Browns at the Cotton Bowl. The ‘boys have played on almost every Thanksgiving day since.

Of course the most famous, or infamous depending on your fan affiliation, Thanksgiving Day play was Leon Lett’s slide into history. After blocking the game-winning field goal every Cowboy defender except Lett ran away from the spinning football. Lett, inexplicably, ran towards it, kicking it forward in the process. The Dolphins recovered on the one-yard line and Pete Stpyonavich made a 19 yard FG to win the game. Sadly, this would not be the last time Leon Lett and the goal line would collide. Right, Don Bebe? Hopefully we here at The Undroppables don’t come up as short as Lett in our attempt to cross the goal line this week.

Running Backs

To say that Duke Johnson has been underwhelming with his lead role would be an understatement. Despite receiving 93% of the Texans RB carries the last two weeks he’s come up smaller than this writer’s portion of Green Bean Casserole. Yuck. But this week he gets the Lions. The last three weeks the Lions have given up 475 yards and 6 touchdowns on the ground. His chances to score are pretty good.

Keeping with the Thanksgiving tradition, the Cowboys rank in the bottom third in adjusted fantasy points to the position. Antonio Gibson is 7 for 9 in goal to go situations. In a game with sneaky shootout potential, I like the rookie’s chances to cross the goal line for the fourth time in the last five games.

Figuring out the Tampa Bay backfield has become an exercise in futility. The metrics say that third-year tailback Ronald Jones has been the better player but Leonard Fournatte is clearly the apple of Tom Brady’s eye. The Chiefs can be had on the ground and in a game that will almost assuredly score points, I’d bet on one of these guys crossing the goal line.

Others I like:
Ezekiel Elliott
Nick Chubb
Josh Jacobs

Wide Receivers

Nelson Agholor has scored at least 14 PPR points in 5 of his last 7 games. He’s also logged more snaps than any other Las Vegas WR through ten games despite not starting until week three. This week he gets the Falcons 31st ranked pass defense. I like his chances to light up the dirty birds.

Brandin Cooks has exceeded 60 yards in five of six games and scored three touchdowns. The only thing holding him down lately has been the weather in Cleveland. This week he gets the Lions who just allowed Curtis Samuel and DJ Moore to carven them up like a … a Thanksgiving turkey. 🙂

DJ Moore is coming off his best outing of the season last week. In five of the past seven games he’s tallied at least 93 yards and his role in the offense is seemingly growing as Joe Brady figures out ways to get his superstar more involved.

Others I like:
Darnell Mooney
Terry McLaurin
Darius Slayton

Tight Ends

Travis Kelce has been on an absolute tear of late. Averaging 9 receptions 140 yards and scoring two touchdowns the last three weeks. He doesn’t have a great matchup this Sunday. Tampa Bay boasts a trio of athletic linebackers who are plus matchups in coverage. It doesn’t matter. Kelce will find a way to get open when it matters and Mahomes will find him.

Jordan Akins has seemingly separated himself from Darren fells. Akins logged his best game of the season last week against the Patriots, hauling in five receptions for 83 yards. The only thing missing was a trip across the goal line. He’ll rectify that this week against a Lions defense who rank 27th in adjusted fantasy points to the position.

Evan Engram has been on a mini hot streak. He’s nabbed at least five receptions in three of his last four games. Fresh off his bye he faces a Bengals defense that has surrendered the third-most receiving yards to opposing tight ends.

Others I like:
Tyler Kroft
Trey Burton
Irv Smith

The Undrafted | Thanksgiving Pod Surprises

Jax Falcone

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November 26, 2020

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The Undrafted | Thanksgiving Pod Surprises

Scott brings on Jake Trowbridge (@JakeTrowbridge) for a feast for Episode 14. The guys talk Joe Burrow, James Robinson, and Cam Akers dynasty outlooks. Other topics of discussion include Tom Brady, Antonio Gibson, deep dynasty TE sleepers, and much more. Learn more about their drinks of choice and their true thoughts on turkey “the dirtiest bird”. Tune in or be tuned out.

UNreel Movies | November 2020

Lifestyle

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November 26, 2020

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Yeah, yeah, I know November is already almost over, but if you ever needed movie recommendations for the month, RIGHT NOW is the time.

The one positive to extended families not getting together as much this Thanksgiving is that you get to avoid the dreaded “Taysom Hill positional eligibility” conversation with your in-laws.
— JJ Zachariason (@LateRoundQB) November 25, 2020

While JJ’s joke is hilarious, it’s exactly why movies are a necessity on Thanksgiving weekend. We lost a football game on Thursday night to COVID, (Ravens @ Steelers) so for all you hardcore fantasy football players out there, what else IS there to do?

If everyone hates their in-laws as much as they love to tweet about, a movie is the perfect solution. Not only do you get to watch a work of art that a group of people poured their heart and soul into, but it might just get your relatives to shut up for the next two hours.

Whether you’re back home with family or socially distanced and alone for the holiday, here are some Undroppables-certified movie recommendations for your weekend.

The Social Network

it’s wild to me that we have a movie that came out a decade ago documenting the rise of Facebook, but maybe I’m just old now. Named the best movie of the past decade by Quentin Tarantino, The Social Network has everything a good movie needs: unique storytelling, a solid script, a killer soundtrack, (composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross) and powerful; performances. Jesse Eisenberg’s cutting, calculated demeanor as Mark Zuckerberg illustrates the exact type of person you needed to be to create a tech giant. The Social Network is available for streaming on Netflix.

A River Runs Through It

This recommendation comes from Tommy Mo, and has been recommended to me by my parents for the past 15 years. Maybe I’m not so old 😉 Directed by Robert Redford and starring Brad Pitt, this reflective portrait of life follows two brothers before and after one of them leaves their Montana hometown for a college education.

Uncut Gems

If you’re into sports, gambling, or sports gambling, I’ll be surprised if you haven’t seen this movie already. It’s been almost year since it released, and I’m ready for a re-watch of this anxiety-filled thrill ride. Uncut Gems follows Howard Ratner, a degenerate gambler who’s chasing his losses with one big bet. He knows something everyone around him doesn’t, but will he win in the end? This movie contains constant tension, so if you’re looking for something more relaxing after turkey, look elsewhere. Maybe wait ’til Friday or Saturday night for this one. Uncut Gems is available for streaming on Netflix.

Jojo Rabbit

Jojo plays a 10-year old boy in the Hitler Youth who has to come to grips with his fanaticism when he discovers a Jewish girl hiding in his own house. Directed by Taika Waititi, (Thor: Ragnarok, The Mandalorian) who has been killing it regularly, mind you, this film may actually be my top recommendation based on how it made me feel. I laughed, I cried… you get it. Jojo Rabbit is available for streaming on HBO Max.

If you need more recommendations or want to talk movies with me, feel free to hit me up on Twitter, @AndrewMackens. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend everyone!

Respect the Flex (Fantasy Football 2020 – Week 12)

Redraft

Kayne Rob

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November 26, 2020

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Respect the Flex (Fantasy Football 2020 – Week 12)

Another week, another chance to help others with our Undroppables weekly “Flex” play article, bringing you THE flex suggestions for your league. As always, this article is written to help with difficult start options. If you boast a strong team full of star-caliber players, don’t overthink it and switch out your guys. Lock in your studs and go with the safe points. For those not as lucky, we got you covered.

Our consensus panel now boasts a record of 23-8-2 (2 coming from postponed games) on the 2020 season. We’re ready to keep the wins coming in Week 12. To send your questions for future weeks, you can tag me @KayneRob on Twitter.

Let’s get it started!

Flex Plays of the Week

Shallow League Flex Plays (10 or fewer teams)

Mike Williams @ Buffalo Bills

Justin Herbert is giving so much life to the Chargers offense that he is making both Williams & Keenan Allen weekly playable options. In 4 of his last 6 games Williams has been a top a top 24 option, top 15 in three of them. The Bills have been giving up quite a few passing yards, and Bills stud CB Tre’Davious White will likely shadow Keenan Allen for this game. I would play Williams in full confidence. His growing connection with Herbert only helps his cause at being a solid option.

D’Andre Swift vs Houston Texans

It looks as though Swift is on the mend. He missed Week 11 due to a concussion. The Lions are on a short week, playing on Thanksgiving day as always, but I do believe Swift will be a full go. That means he needs to be in your lineup taking on the terrible Texans run defense. Swift is getting more and more time and respect. His placement in this article is to ensure that those who are hesitant on including him in their lineups make sure to do so.

Backup option in case of Swift injury designation is Damien Harris vs AZ Cardinals

Standard League Flex Plays (12 teams)

Wayne Gallman @ Cincinnati Bengals

This may look like a surprising choice at first glance. That being said, since Gallman was handed the majority of snaps in Weeks 7-11 (so including his bye week) Gallman is the RB7 in that timeframe. Now he gets a Cincinnati team that is down on it’s luck and has been susceptible to the ground game. The Giants look his way in the red zone, and I think he is a solid play this week.

Michael Pittman vs Tennessee Titans

Over the last two weeks, Michael Pittman has been the WR10 in half PPR formats. Even though targets were down in Week 11, the connection with Philip Rivers is still very present. Tennessee is a fairly good defense when it comes to the actual NFL football, but in fantasy they give up a fair share of points. I like for the Pittman connection to continue building. He is a rock solid flex play in 12-person and possibly even 10-person leagues. Must play in 14+ typically.

Deeper League Flex Plays (14 or more teams)

Cam Akers vs San Francisco 49ers

It looks as though Akers usage is increasing, even if ever so slightly. Yet the times he is seeing these opportunities is promising. In Week 11 it lead to a TD. I believe this week’s matchup could be one where we see the Rams run a lot more, as we saw early in the year. That will give Akers a shot to capitalize, and in really deep leagues that opportunity alone holds upside. Upside is what you look for in flex plays within deep leagues. This option is likely the most risky, but pending on your roster it could be worth the try.

Mecole Hardman @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Mecole Hardman is probably being sat this week even in deeper leagues due to the matchup and a dud Week 10. That being said in super deep leagues I believe this could be a solid option. Mecole was still on the mend in Week 11 after just returning from his stint on the COVID reserve list. This was present in his snap %. Yet after the display the Rams gave on how to beat the Bucs through the air, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Chiefs take notice. That should leave a window for Hardman to have one of his boom games. His snaps should likely recover back up to the 60% range.

Boom or Bust Flex Plays

Nelson Agholor @ Atlanta Falcons

Agholor has continued to show as the second best pass catching option in the offense to this point. Carr trusts him and he has been finding the end zone on a frequent basis this season. Those two elements, in combination with a secondary often exposed to the pass game, lead to a potentially great boom flex option. The Raiders have put up a number of points on the year, so that plays in Agholor’s favor.

Tim Patrick vs New Orleans Saints

Patrick continues to produce an impressive fantasy effort serving as the Broncos’ number one pass catching option week in and week out. He takes on a Saints defense that is staunch against the run, but can be beaten through the air. Lock is likely to see a heavy amount of pass rush in this game. That pressure will likely amount to Patrick seeing a lot of looks, since Drew will have to get rid of the ball quickly, being Lock’s favorite target.

Gus Edwards @ Pittsburgh Steelers

With both Mark Ingram and J.K. Dobbins out this week due to COVID-19, Edwards would seemingly look like a smash play, but there is risk involved. The first risk is that they play the Steelers defense, which is #1 in the NFL. The second is that the game could be postponed if Baltimore’s Corona exposure continues to grow. If the game happens, I do like the play, but you will likely need a TD to be happy with the results.

The Undroppables Survey Says…

As always, we save the best for last, asking Twitter for your toughest flex questions. Below are some of those questions we received with a panel of 5 members of The Undroppables bringing you our consensus votes for Week 12:

In the flex range but a rb2.
Fournette, AP, hines or pay up for Gus.
— Daniel (@djwl1980) November 25, 2020

The Undroppables Consensus: Gus Edwards (4 Votes) (Nyheim Hines 1 vote)

Reason: Gus. He should easily have a large role in the Ravens offense with positive tests from Dobbins & Ingram. –@BpoFSU

The Undroppables Consensus: Curtis Samuel (3 votes) (Sterling Shepard 2 votes)

Reason: Samuel due to his target share with P.J. at QB last week. Even if Bridgewater plays, Samuel has shown a connection there too. Plus he gets an easy matchup with the Vikings. –@FantasyandSport

He is also WR5 over the past 5 weeks. –@PauliesSleepers

The Undroppables Consensus: Diontae Johnson (3 votes)

Reason: With an elite level of targets and continued praise from his QB, this one is an easy choice for me. The upside is greater for Diontae in my opinion. Although the matchup may be more difficult, the secondary can’t really afford to double on Johnson, since Juju & Claypool are also lethal. –@KayneRob

The Undroppables Consensus: If he plays, D’Andre Swift (4 votes)

Reason: I think Swift will play. He practiced which means he has cleared the protocol. Keep an eye on it though. –@PauliesSleepers

The Undroppables Consensus: Diontae Johnson (3 votes) (D.J. Moore 2 votes)

Reason: Diontae since he’s received a ton of targets and has consistently produced when not injured. He is the #1 WR there for fantasy purposes, but defenses can’t afford to double him with Juju and Claypool also in town. –@FantasyandSport

The Undroppables Consensus: For this week, Tee “Sweet Tee” Higgins (3 votes)

(All agree Mims is on the rise, preference comes down to how Finley incorporates “Sweet Tee”)

Reason: I’m not giving up on Higgins just yet. He had 10 targets last week and has become a focal point in the offense. Mims is trending up over the last two weeks, but once Darnold returns it is up in the air again. He could return to his love for Crowder. –@BradWireFF

In Summary

To be featured and get your flex questions answered each week, feel free to tag or DM @KayneRob throughout the week. For last-minute game day decisions, check out “Under the Wire” Sunday mornings leading up to kickoff on the Fantasy Football Chat Discord.