The Fantasy Grout, Week 16 - Crowdsourcing
“Crowdsourcing” is a relatively new term. The Oxford English Dictionary added it in June of 2013, defining it:
crowdsourcing, n. – The practice of obtaining information or services by soliciting input from a large number of people, typically via the Internet and often without offering compensation.
The typical OED rule is that a term must be current for ten years before being added. I don’t know how long the term has been used, but the practice definitely meets the ten-year rule. That is, I think the Pharaohs got a little help with the pyramids, back in 2600 B.C. Same with Ming dynasty, with the Great Wall in the 14th through 17th centuries. Let’s not forget the late 1700s, when a plucky group of colonists decided “Your monarchy is a cool political system and all, but we’ll just be over here crowdsourcing this b*tch. Deuce.”
While the origins of crowdsourcing go way back, the effectiveness can be spotty, and the failure can come at all levels. With rioting and mob mentality, leadership is typically crowdsourced, and results can be horrible. Crowds sometimes shouldn’t be sourced. Also, Sanjaya.
Sometimes the problem isn’t the crowd, but rather the sourcing. For voting purposes, the USA didn’t want to source the crowd of blacks as recently as 1864 or the crowd of women as recently as 1919. Sometimes when opinions have been crowdsourced, as Florida in 2000 proves, the problem is simply one of math.
Despite all the shortfalls, we here at Fantasy Grout headquarters are going to give crowdsourcing a shot next week, Week 17. We will be soliciting your opinions on which Grout-level players to recommend. We’ll ask that you phrase those opinions in typical Grout form, in a short blurb combining information, humor and/or wordplay. You know the drill by now.
Don’t confuse this with an attempt to be lazy. I’m guessing this is going to create more work, candidly. Still, for all of you who take the time to read, I want to give you your moment in the limelight. (What a sad, sad hue of lime it is, the light produced by obscure daily fantasy football notoriety. “Pale-Sewage-Green-Light” might be more apropos.)
Also, I’ll still be offering up my opinions, both first-hand and second-hand through the curating/editing of crowdsourced opinions. Think of it as the DFS equivalent of opening up the phone lines. A “Flurry of Calls”, as my spirit animal Stugotz might call it.
Here’s the logistics. Early next week, I’ll need you to email me your Grout-picks for Week 17 to the following email address. FANTASYGROUT@GMAIL.COM. Yep, they put me in control of my own email address!
Here’s the problem. You are going to forget, and I’m going to be left to make up a bunch of fake suggestions. With it being the week between Christmas and New Years, you’ll probably be out of your normal routine. You also might not deal with fantasy until later in the week. Season-long will be over. Here’s what I’m asking you to do, right now. Put a reminder in your phone for Monday, December 28th and/or Tuesday, December 29th. Better go “and” there. Have it say “Send Week 17 Grout recommendations to fantasygrout@gmail.com.”
I mean it, right now. You’re either reading this on your phone or it’s in your pocket. Set the reminder. I’ll wait.
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You didn’t set the reminder did you? No, you won’t remember by the time you get to the end of the article. Now.
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Listen, if you don’t set the reminder now, I will spend the next 2,500 words on how Bathroom Technologists have failed America. Don’t test me. I’ll do it!
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There, was that so hard? Just as a reminder, FANTASYGROUT@GMAIL.COM.
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You didn’t think I’d notice you, the one guy who didn’t do it. We’re waiting.
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Now, on with the Grout!
RUNNING BACK
FIRST THING’S FIRST
JERICK MCKINNON, $3,500 VS NYG – If Adrian Peterson doesn’t play Sunday night versus the Giants, McKinnon becomes the chalkiest of the chalk. I’m not talking blackboard chalk. I’m not even talking about the big barreled, multi-colored, sidewalk chalk. I’m talking this.
When Peterson missed time last week, at the end of first half and into the second half, McKinnon was the guy, totaling four totes and two receptions on a drive-and-a-half. (All of Asiata’s work came icing the game away, after a failed Bears onside kick.) All total, McKinnon caught four balls on four targets and turned them into 76 yards and a score. He’s the guy, if AP sits.
(Also, I don’t want to hear “AD”. Nope. His initials are literally “A” and “P,” and I can use them if I want. Also, unless you are a professional wrestler, you don’t get to have a nickname, “AD,” derived from another nickname, “All Day.” Plus, he got hurt last week. “All Day?” I think not.)
Here’s the problem. While Peterson didn’t practice Wednesday, it looks like he will be able to play Sunday. Now, if either of the two hottest quarterbacks in football, Russell Wilson or Cam Newton, win earlier in the day, the Vikings playoff ticket will be punched. Also, if the Packers lose to the Cardinals earlier on Sunday, it will render the Vikes’ Sunday night tilt meaningless. They will then have showdown for the NFC North at Lambeau, Week 17.
All of this is to say, have a Late Swap on your cash game tool belt this week.
SECOND THING’S … YOU GET IT
KARLOS WILLIAMS, $4,500 VS DAL – This recommendation is pending, like a financial transaction with outstanding requirements. (“without standing requirements” is the exact same letters, in the exact same order, and it means the exact opposite. FYI.) Unless we get word that Williams is going to carry the mail this week, it’s too murky a situation to trust. If we get Schefty’s word on the matter, saying Williams will lead the way, it’s all systems go.
Williams has seven scores on the year and sports a 6.0 yards-per-carry average on 70 attempts. Meanwhile, the Cowboys have offered their version of “Southern Hospitality” of late, allowing three backs to total 20 DK-points in the last two weeks. Basically, the only thing that stands between Williams and a stand-out day is Mike Gillislee.
DENARD ROBINSON, $5,400 at NO – “Damned if you do and damned if you don’t.” Only the exact opposite.
If the Jags get out in front of the Saints, they’ll lean on the run. Robinson got 100% of the running back carries last week, which is a nice against New Orleans’ league-worst 5.23 YPC allowed to running backs. If Jacksonville falls behind, Robinson led the team in targets last week, going 8-for-46 on 10 balls. The Saints have ceded the most receiving yards to backs this year and the second-highest touchdown total.
QUARTERBACK
THURSDAY SPECIAL
PHILIP RIVERS, $5,700 AT OAK – The Chargers can’t run at all. Like, at all, at all. From Tristan H. Cockcroft, Melvin Gordon had 217 touches without a score. The next closest without a score had 74 touches. Meanwhile, Danny Woodhead’s rush TD in week 16 ended a 14-game rushing score drought for him. At. All.
Rivers has 35+ attempts in 12 of 14 games this year, and 300 yards in eight of those 12. No one is going to confuse his weapons with the Houston Oilers’ weapons of Super Tecmo Bowl fame, but he could get Stevie Johnson back this week, to go with a couple no-name wide-outs, Woodhead and Gates. In his first matchup against the Raiders, he had 336-and-3, and as a six-point underdog, throwing will likely be on the menu again.
We know running won’t be. At all.
WIDE RECEIVER
Like a smug parent, here comes the “I told you so.” The Grout recommended three wide receivers last week, John Brown, Kamar Aiken and DeSean Jackson. Brown was fine, going for 12.8 points on a $4,900 salary, good for 2.612 PT/$. Aiken and Jackson were … better than fine. Their 29.8 and 30.3, respectively, were good for seventh and ninth among all wide receivers in raw score. Additionally, Aiken’s 6.478 PT/$K and Jackson’s 6.733 PT/$K were the third and fourth best values at the wide receiver position for the week. I don’t mean to brag, but BRAG, BRAG, BRAG, BRAG.
Limp Bizkit, do you have any advice on what to do from here? Good Advice.
DESEAN JACKSON, $5,000 AT PHI – So, do we think Dan Snyder pulled off the inception last week? If so, let’s hope it takes against this week.
I think it’s known, at this point, that the Eagles starting defensive backfield has been atrocious against the pass. The third most receptions to wide receivers, fourth most WR receiving yards, and third most WR receiving touchdowns, to be specific. With both starting CBs, Maxwell and Rowe, nursing injuries, how bad do you think are the guys that can’t beat the starters out for the starting jobs? We shall see Sunday. My prediction? Bravo. Alfa. Delta.
MARKUS WHEATON, $4,100 AT BAL – I often describe passing games in terms of size of the pie/size of the slice. The Steelers offense is basically this, which we all know.
The part people don’t understand is the size of Wheaton’s slices. The last four weeks, starting with Seattle, Wheaton has had target totals of 13 (24%), 6 (15%), 7 (18%), and 11 (20%). Over that time, he’s averaging 5.5 receptions for 94.5 yards and 0.75 scores weekly. This week, his matchup with Baltimore is a piece of cake. He’ll take one slice, for sure, and likely go back for seconds!
RISHARD MATTHEWS, $3,700 VS IND – There’s a safe part and a shaky part to this play. The safe part is “Indy versus WR2s.” Washington+Strong – 5-for-41-TD // Hurns – 3-for-105-TD // Bryant – 4-for-114-TD // V. Jackson – 4-for-76 // etc. Safe is the corner opposite Vontae Davis.
The shaky part is whether WR2 is Matthews’ job. It was his job, when he got injured, but whether he’s been “Wally Pipped” by DaVante Parker remains to be seen. I’m betting it doesn’t get seen this week, anyway.
DIGRESSION OF THE WEEK
I simply can’t contain myself with these Bathroom Technologists.
You know they really have failed us. It’s fine that every flush is on a motion sensor. It wasn’t killing me to push the soap lever or to twist the faucet handle, but I guess it’s nice that they’re on a motion sensor as well. Motion sensors just turn the towel dispenser into Paper Fort Knox when they stop sensing. No one was having trouble making suds, so the soap dispensing in a foamy state is worthless.
All of this really just serves as a distraction from the key issue. These scientists are spending countless hours trying to fix our bathroom experience, yet I still have no other option than to put my own hand between my butt cheeks every time I enter a stall. Fix that, or you haven’t fixed anything!
TIGHT END
WILL TYE, $3,500 AT MIN – Yes, that’s a sucking sound. Is it the target vacuum left by Odell Beckham’s suspension or just the quality of this recommendation? We shall see Sunday.
By the way, Tye and Rueben Randle make great late swap options. #FlexJerick
TOURNAMENT DARTS
KIRK COUSINS, $5,500 AT PHI – He probably has done enough to be a discount cash option, but I just can’t bring myself to that point. It might be just trying to trust a QB named “Kirk”. Are there any more disparate names for a couple of distant “Cousins” than DeMarcus and Kirk?
Still, if you’re playing D-Jax in a tourney, pairing him with Cousins is probably right.
CHRISTINE MICHAEL, $4,400 VS STL & CAMERON ARTIS-PAYNE, $4,300 AT ATL – For both guys, if you trust the workload from last week (2/3s in both cases), you should trust them this week. Good to great matchups. High power offenses, clicking. Running QBs. Big Favorites.
TEDDY BRIDGEWATER, $5,200 to STEFON DIGGS, $4,400 VS NYG – If Washington can knock off Philadelphia Saturday night, it would eliminate the Giants from playoff contention. You thought the Giants secondary was bad normally? You should see them going through the motions with nothing on the line!
ELI MANNING, $5,600 to RUEBEN RANDLE, $3,500 AT MIN – Then again, what if Philadelphia wins Saturday! The Giants would control their own playoff fate. Randle has a score in three of four.
MAXX WILLIAMS, $3,000 VS PIT – Now that every option in front of him has been suspended or hit the IR, we see if he gets that third “X” or if he can finally live up to the draft hype.