DFS Alerts
Ben Watson inactive today
As expected Ben Watson is out today while recovering from having his appendix removed. On what is a very ugly slate for TE’s this is a big loss if you were looking to pivot off Travis Kelcie or Rob Gronkowski. Dan Arnold is active today and will start in place of Watson. We can expect the targets to continue to funnel through key offensive pieces Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara.
As reported by: Ian Rapoport Twitter Other tagged players: Dan Arnold, Michael Thomas, Alvin Kamara
Keith Kirkwood listed as out for Sunday; Ben Watson questionable despite being listed as out earlier in the day, still expected to sit
Keith Kirkwood listed as out for Sunday. Michael Thomas will do most of the heavy lifting among the WRs, with Ted Ginn operating as a deep threat and Tre’Quan Smith/Austin Carr providing some depth. It’s possible we see some extra slot snaps out of Carr, but the Saints can move Michael Thomas around in formations so we’ll very likely see some sort of committee behind the top two WRs. As for Ben Watson, he’s listed as questionable but wasn’t able to practice this week and was reported as out earlier in the day, so it still seems likely he sits. Josh Hill has seen more playing time this year, but Dan Arnold has been utilized more as a pass-catcher when he’s been on the field. Both TEs have GPP appeal on a two-game slate, but I’d give Arnold the slight nod.
As reported by: Nick Underhill Other tagged players: Benjamin Watson, Josh Hill, Dan Arnold
Benjamin Watson (appendicitis) will be inactive Sunday
Watson was unable to participate in practice this week and has officially been ruled out of Sunday’s NFC Championship matchup against the Los Angeles Rams due to appendicitis. Watson was apart of a full-blown timeshare with Josh Hill at the tight end position in last week’s win, running 16 routes compared to the 20 routes that were assigned to Hill on passing plays. However, Dan Arnold was a healthy inactive for the Divisional round, but he’ll likely be active on Sunday and will have a legitimate shot to take over the role vacated by Watson in the offense. Given Arnold’s athletic measurables, he may be the preferred option over Hill in tournament formats on this weekend’s slates, and he’s already flashed upside once this season, posting a 4-45-1 line versus the Atlanta Falcons earlier in the year.
As reported by: Katherine Terrell via Twitter
Spencer Ware Logging a Full Practice
Ware upgraded to a full practice on Thursday after being limited the day prior. His game-day status could have a small affect on Damien Williams, although it appears as the latter is fully in charge of this backfield now.
As reported by: Kansas City Chiefs
Broncos Hire Rich Scangarello as Offensive Coordinator
This is a very interesting hire for fantasy purposes next season. Scangarello is from the Kyle Shanahan coaching tree. He was a QB Coach for a 49ers team that just kept chugging along at the position despite the injury to Jimmy Garoppolo. CJ Beathard had some nice moments and then Nick Mullens actually looked more than adequate. The Shanahan system has always found a way to feature versatile RB’s so Phillip Lindsay could be in the mix for breakout candidates next season.
As reported by: Denver Post Broncos Twitter Overlooked WR Looking to Hit Paydirt Two Games in a Row
The Rams passing defense ranked 19th in the league in receiving yards allowed and 25th in both yards-per-reception (11.8) and passing touchdowns allowed (31), so there could be receiving yards to go around when the Rams take on the Saints in New Orleans this Sunday. Wide receiver Keith Kirkwood could benefit as an overlooked option despite scoring a touchdown in the team’s divisional round game. Kirkwood put up 13 receptions for 209 yards and 2 touchdowns during the regular season, and Drew Brees can spread the ball around if he needs to, making Kirkwood a contrarian value play this weekend.
Value Receiver Looking to Find the End Zone Again This Week
Kansas City ranked last in the league in receiving yards allowed this season, and the blame doesn’t rest entirely on teams passing the ball more when facing the Chiefs potent offense. The team also ranked 21st in yards-per-reception (11.6) and 22nd in passing touchdowns allowed (30). One beneficiary this weekend could be Patriots wide receiver Phillip Dorsett, who has helped the team recover from losing Josh Gordon. Dorsett saw five targets in the team’s divisional round playoff game, which he turned into 4 catches for 41 yards and a touchdown. Dorsett is value-priced as the fourth/fifth option on offense for the team, but if he finds the end zone again against the Chiefs this weekend, he could be a point-per-dollar bargain.
Boom Or Bust
Ted Ginn was a relative disappointment as a chalky value last week, but he could have had a much bigger game than he ended up with. He saw a reasonable seven targets and could have had a long touchdown grab, but Brees underthrew the ball. This game should feature plenty of offense, and I like Ginn’s odds better of breaking a big one in what should be a thrilling NFC Championship contest. Give him a long look as a risk/reward value play in GPP formats.
Easily The Highest Upside At RB
We have workload questions with the New England and Los Angeles running backs, and it’s weird to say that there really isn’t a 100% workhorse on the entire slate outside of maybe Damien Williams. However, it’s impossible to ignore the upside of Alvin Kamara. He scored three times in the first meeting between these two teams, and you can bet that he will be heavily involved again with a trip to the big game on the line. If he goes somewhat over-looked (relatively speaking for a two game slate), you can bet that I will be significantly overweight on Kamara compared to the field, as I will look to find value at wide receiver.
Lapping The Field At The Position
Travis Kelce has 110 receptions on the year. The starting tight ends for the other three teams that are playing this week (Gronkowski, Everett, and Watson) havef combined for 117 receptions on the year. This is all about positional scarcity. With the Rams and Saints rarely utilizing the tight end spot and Rob Gronkowski seemingly on the tail end of his career, Kelce simply dwarfs everyone by a wide margin at the tight end position. This is a top ten overall receiver in the NFL that comes at a premium position. Don’t overthink it. Play him this week.
GPP Upside Potential
The Rams have gone with a ground heavy approach of late thanks to the spectacular play of C.J. Anderson as a complement to Todd Gurley. I expect that they will need to open things up a little more this week in a rematch of a regular season shootout. Even though it was Cooks that had the biggest numbers in the first meeting between these teams, it was Woods who led the team with nine targets. He has become the most reliable option for Jared Goff throughout the second half of the year, and he’s my favorite pairing here.
Other tagged players: Robert Woods CJ Anderson Sticks Around for the Post Season
Although Todd Gurley had multiple weeks of rest and looked healthy in Saturday nights win against the Cowboys, it was CJ Anderson that put up a slate-breaking performance. Of 77 offensive snaps for the Rams, Gurley was in on 43 of them while Anderson took 34. 23 of Anderson’s 34 snaps were running plays (only 16 for Gurley). This could have been game plan specific for the Rams but it is something to keep an eye on in the next round against the Saints. It is also a mental note to store away if the Rams make the Super Bowl against an inferior run defense, like the Chiefs.
Sammy Watkins has Successful Return
Sammy Watkins returned from a 6 week absence to play 76 snaps in Saturdays win for Kansas City. He grabbed 6 receptions on his 8 targets. He was fully involved in the game plan for this game and seems to have come out of the game free from setbacks with the injury. With New England notorious for taking away opponents best weapons, Watkins could be in for a solid game versus the Patriots on Sunday.
Hunter Henry is officially active
Updating news from earlier this morning Hunter Henry is officially active today and will make his season debut. Henry has missed every game this season with knee injury. The team has not released any information about expected snap counts for Henry, but you would have to figure that Henry would not play more than 20 snaps today but could be featured in the red zone.
As reported by: Ian Rapoport Twitter Chargers expect Hunter Henry to make season debut today
The Chargers were close to getting Hunter Henry back for last week’s game and it appears that this very talented tight end will make his season debut today. Henry has missed every game this season with knee injury. The team has not released any information about expected snap counts for Henry, but you would have to figure that Henry would not play more than 20 snaps today but could be featured in the red zone.
As reported by: Ian Rapoport Twitter