We’re officially halfway through the fantasy football season. With an eight-game sample size, it’s time to determine which players to fade (see Zach Ertz) and which to acquire (see Russell Wilson). Utilize the advanced stats and metrics available on PlayerProfiler to optimize a championship season.
Quarterbacks
Russell Wilson (15.7 points, QB17)
Two weeks in a row, Russell Wilson let us down with finishes of QB18 and QB17. Worst of all, it was against the Baltimore Ravens and Atlanta Falcons.
https://youtu.be/Z0dYXFkVfSs
However, there is still good news because Wilson is top-five in:
- Red Zone Attempts (46) (No. 3)
- Deep Ball Attempts (44) (No. 3)
- Supporting Cast Efficiency (+15.02) (No. 3)
- Air Yards (1,351) (No. 4)
- Money Throws (20) (No. 1)
- Passing Touchdowns (17) (No. 1)
- Carries (43) (No. 5)
- Red Zone Carries (10) (No. 3)
- Rushing Touchdowns (3) (No. 2)
- True Passer Rating (122) (No. 2)
- Clean Pocket Completion Percentage (80.6-percent) (No. 3)
- Fantasy Points Per Game (23.2) (No. 3)
- Fantasy Points Per Dropback (0.59) (No. 1)
Now is not the time to panic with Wilson. He faces Tampa Bay next week and San Francisco in Week 10 before a Week 11 bye.
Granted, his rest-of-season schedule isn’t the prettiest. Because other fantasy owners are aware of that as well, use his schedule and leverage recent bust performances to acquire him.
Kirk Cousins (11.2 points, QB22)
Well, Kirk Cousins couldn’t stay hot forever. After passing for 10 touchdowns in three weeks, he threw for 285 scoreless yards against Washington.
Not all hope is lost for Cousins though, because the Vikings play the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 9. This season, Cousins ranks first in Supporting Cast Efficiency (+30.39), True Passer Rating (123.3) and Accuracy Rating (8.1). Look for him to torch Kansas City.
Wide Receiver
Chris Godwin (8.3 points, WR52)
Curse Mike Evans!
While Evans went for 42.8 fantasy points, Chris Godwin scored a measly 8.3 points. Nonetheless, in Godwin we trust.
https://youtu.be/bICwLcG2o24
In his breakout elite season, Godwin has drawn 62 (No. 10 among qualified wide receivers) targets, while generating 465 (No. 9) Completed Air Yards, a +44.9 (No. 4) Production Premium, a +47.8-percent (No. 7) Target Premium and 21.9 (No. 2) Fantasy Points Per Game. Continue to have faith.
John Brown (10.4 points, WR39)
Against the Philadelphia Eagles, John Brown was supposed to go off. Yet, against friendly pass defense, he only caught five passes for 54 yards.
Check out John Brown on PlayerProfiler’s Updated Weekly Rankings and Projections:
It’s important to remember that there were 40 mile-per-hour wind gusts during the game. Brown is still top-12 in Deep Targets, Target Distance, Catchable Target Rate and Target Quality Rating.
Keep Brown in your lineups, especially because he faces Washington, Cleveland and Miami in the next three weeks.
Running Back
Ty Johnson (4.8 points, RB46)
After most people spent half to all of their remaining FAAB on Ty Johnson, he disappointed. For goodness sake, Tra Carson out-carried Johnson 12 to 7.
https://youtu.be/TtT6yp289A4
Fortunately, Johnson received four targets and Carson gained only a single target. Additionally, Johnson’s 40.4-percent Snap Share was the highest of all Lions backs.
Ultimately, we’re hoping that Johnson is used like the explosive satellite-back he is. If he is able to maintain a seven carry, four target floor, he’ll produce FLEX numbers.
Austin Ekeler (10.2 points, RB27)
Did the Los Angeles Chargers forget they have Austin Ekeler on their team? Because they only gave him three carries and three targets in Week 8. Ekeler somehow salvaged the day for both the Chargers and fantasy owners with a late touchdown, but it’s clear that the Chargers want Melvin Gordon to be their lead back.
In Weeks 5-8, Ekeler totaled 16 carries (three red zone) and 31 targets. Gordon, on the other hand, received 44 carries (eight red zone) and 16 targets in Weeks 5-8. Ekeler is now a high-upside, satellite back with stand-alone FLEX/RB2 value.
Tight End
Zach Ertz (4.0 points, TE26)
Against all predictions, Dallas Goedert has outscored Zach Ertz in three straight weeks. From Weeks 6-8, Ertz caught eight of 18 targets for 112 yards with zero touchdowns, equating to 17.2 fantasy points. Goedert, in that span, has caught 12 of 17 targets for 139 yards and two scores, equating to 35.9 fantasy points.
https://youtu.be/1S12nySGcoQ
Goedert is better than Ertz in Production Premium, Target Premium, Dominator Rating, Quarterback Rating when Targeted, Target Accuracy, Fantasy Points Per Route Run and Fantasy Points Per Target.
Uh oh. It looks like Goedert is stealing Ertz’ lunchbox.
