There is a variety of great starts in fantasy football this week. Rookie wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Corey Davis are primed for great games, while Devontae Booker is ready to breakout this season against a reeling Oakland defense based on advanced stats, metrics, and analytics player profiles.
Jamaal Williams vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
While the Steelers’ run defense has improved significantly in recent weeks, Jamaal Williams still has a great chance to turn in a big game against them. Williams has done a great job since taking over in Green Bay’s backfield in the second half of week 10. In his first career start against Baltimore, Williams was able to produce 95 total yards on only 22 touches, showing all of the qualities of a workhorse back.
Earlier in the season, Pittsburgh found themselves consistently getting gashed by the run, with Jordan Howard and Leonard Fournette both turning in monster games against them. While Williams isn’t as good as either of those players, he will receive a big workload against a suspect run defense. Williams has already managed a 25.9-percent (No. 64) Opportunity Share despite just recently earning the starting job. With Brett Hundley still struggling behind center, expect the Packers to move forward with a run-heavy approach.
Devontae Booker vs. Oakland Raiders
The Devontae Booker breakout game is finally upon us this week against Oakland. Booker is fresh off his best game of the season against Cincinnati. He set a season high with 98 total yards, and finished as the No. 15 fantasy runner on the week, his highest finish of the season. Booker also flashed good receiving skills in that contest, finishing with 5 receptions from 6 targets.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nz_-4I3Wb0c
Oakland has proven to be extremely vulnerable against running backs this season. They are currently allowing +3.06 (No. 6) Fantasy Points above the Mean to opposing backs. They have shown a particular vulnerability against receiving backs. Last week against New England, Dion Lewis and Rex Burkhead combined for 8 receptions for 49 yards and a score against them. Booker could easily finish as a top 10 back this week.
Duke Johnson vs Cincinnati Bengals
Duke Johnson is a player with absolutely staggering potential that simply doesn’t see the ball enough. This season, Johnson has seen double digit touches just once, in his 16 touch outing against Detroit in week 10. Despite his limited workload, Johnson is still extremely efficient, as highlighted by his phenomenal +56.0 (No. 4) Production Premium. Just last week against the Jaguars, he finished with an exceptional 11.0 yards per touch. A recent comment by Browns’ running game guru Kirby Wilson suggests Johnson’s usage should increase significantly.
#Browns run game coordinator Kirby Wilson said we would like Duke Johnson on the field as much as possible because we believe so strongly in him as a playmaker
— Nate Ulrich (@NateUlrichABJ) November 24, 2017
This week, Johnson will get another crack at the Bengals, against whom he turned in one of his best games of the season back in week 4. In that outing, Johnson finished with 21.0 points and the No. 4 running back on the week. Cincinnati has gotten gashed by running backs in recent weeks, with Demarco Murray and the aforementioned Booker turning in big games against them. Johnson has been the one player who has consistently produced for Cleveland this season, and against the Bengals that will not change.
Devin Funchess vs. New York Jets
The Devin Funchess breakout season has only gone up since Kelvin Benjamin left via trade a few weeks ago. Against the Dolphins in week 10, Funchess turned in his best game of the season, finishing with 5 receptions for 92 yards and a pair of scores, helping him finish as the No. 3 receiver on the week.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-f4Y92qxl8
This week, Funchess is blessed with a match up against another weak secondary in the New York Jets. Funchess will be matched up against Morris Claiborne of the Jets, who has been average at best this season. Claiborne currently ranks as Player Profiler’s No. 49 cornerback, currently posting a +0.03 (No. 38) Coverage Rating. The area where Funchess is set to dominate is size. Claiborne is a smaller guy at 5-11 188 lbs. The gigantic Funchess (6-4 232 lbs) is in position to bully Claiborne all afternoon long.
Cooper Kupp vs. New Orleans Saints
Cooper Kupp will find himself the beneficiary of an increased workload this week. The Rams were dealt a bit of bad luck when the red hot Robert Woods went down with a shoulder injury. This leaves Cooper Kupp as the Rams best option at wide receiver after Sammy Watkins. Jared Goff will have to look Kupp’s way.
Cooper Kupp Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
New Orleans has shown vulnerability to slot receivers. Last week the Saints allowed Washington receiver Jamison Crowder to turn in 7 receptions for 72 yards. With Kupp playing a 62.6-percent slot snap share, the rookie is set up for a good day against the Saints.
Corey Davis vs. Indianapolis Colts
The No. 5 overall pick from the 2017 draft may finally be ready to breakout. Corey Davis has begun to take on an increased role for the Titans, playing over 90-percent of the snaps in back to back weeks. This week, Davis will face a weak Colts secondary, the worst he has faced since his matchup against the Raiders in week one where he logged 6 receptions for 69 yards.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nz-rPDC6azU
Davis will be covered by Pierre Desir, who was recently promoted to the starting role in Indianapolis following the release of Vontae Davis. With Rishard Matthews facing coverage from the break out Rashaan Melvin, Davis is left with the most favorable matchup in the Titans receiving corp. Expect Davis to finally start proving he was worth the high draft pick this week.
