Breakdowns
12/15/21
5 min read
Buy Into the Rashaad Penny Hype
After 14 weeks of one of the craziest NFL seasons we have ever seen, we have finally made it to the fantasy football playoffs. Congratulations to those of you who made it! However, you still have a long way to go. The decisions you make for your team over the next 3-4 weeks will determine whether or not you are able to win your league. This season continues to be riddled with injuries, so staying active on waivers will give your team a huge advantage, as it has all season.
Regular Season Recap
Since we have made it to the end of the fantasy football regular season, I think it would be a good idea to look back at some of the takes I had earlier in the season that aged very well. Here are the top 3 players who I hyped up this season:
1. Leonard Fournette
After Week 7, I wrote that Leonard Fournette was the undisputed RB1 behind the best offensive line in the NFL. Going into the season, many people expected Fournette to split carries with Ronald Jones. However, as the season progressed, it became clear that Fournette was their go-to back. In my article, I wrote “Fournette is already a Top 10 running back in the league, but with the pace he is on I can see him finishing in the top 5. The Fournette hype is real, he can win you your fantasy league.” Since Week 8, Fournette is averaging 5.83 receptions, 94 scrimmage yards, and 1 touchdown per game. He is currently the 3rd best running back in fantasy football. Like I said earlier, Fournette is a league winner.
2. Marquise Brown
In Week 3, Marquise (Hollywood) Brown had a few very bad drops in the game against Detroit. This caused a very negative public perception of Brown, with many people claiming that he was not even the best receiver on the Ravens. Most people thought Brown would never be a reliable fantasy option because of his inconsistencies, but not me. After Week 4, I addressed all of the Hollywood Brown hate, and completely opposed it. I said that if Brown continued to see the volume he was getting at the time, he would be able to put up Tyreek Hill-esque numbers. The very next week, Brown had 9 receptions for 125 yards and 2 touchdowns. Ever since then, Hollywood has been a very reliable high-end WR2 who has been able to put up multiple fantasy game-winning performances. If you stuck with Brown through all the negative noise, you deserve all the production you got from him.
3. Michael Pittman
After Week 5, I wrote that Michael Pittman Jr. had flown under the radar as a WR1 on an offense that is capable of putting up big numbers. Ever since I wrote about Pittman, he is averaging 4.75 receptions for 64.25 yards per game and has scored 4 touchdowns as a reliable WR2 over the past 8 weeks. Pittman is currently the 20th best receiver in fantasy and is definitely worth starting in the fantasy playoffs.
Buy Into The Hype
Rashaad Penny
Throughout the season, the Seahawks have struggled to establish a consistent running game. Chris Carson started the season off hot, but then quickly landed on IR. The Seahawks tried desperately to replace him, even going as far as signing Adrian Peterson. However, it looks like they finally found someone who is ready to take the lead spot in Seattle’s backfield in Rashaad Penny.
Last week Penny got the starting nod for the Seahawks in their game against the Texans. He rushed 16 times for 137 yards and 2 touchdowns. This performance really came out of nowhere, but it was enough to earn Penny a starting spot next week against the Rams. Even though Los Angeles has a much better defense than Houston, Penny is definitely worth picking up off waivers. Running backs are extremely thin right now, and anybody who is capable of having the performance that Penny had last week needs to be on your fantasy roster.
Amon-Ra St. Brown
Amon-Ra St. Brown has had a pretty great past 2 weeks. Two weeks ago he was able to get 10 receptions for 86 yards and a game-winning touchdown for the Lions. He followed that performance up with another good game, 8 receptions for 73 yards. Even though the Lions are far from a reliable offense, it’s clear that St. Brown is Jared Goff’s favorite option.
Anyone who has 24 targets in their past two games is absolutely worth picking up off waivers. I know it’s hard to trust a Lions player to produce fantasy points, especially in important games. However, with the amount of volume St. Brown has seen he is actually a very safe player to start, especially in PPR leagues. Even if you don’t want to start him just yet, St. Brown must be picked up off waivers to at least have as an option.
As we enter the fantasy playoffs, owners must change their strategy on how they manage their team. You can no longer think about long-term situations. You must instead take everything week to week. Make sure you pay attention to matchups and read the injury reports. Doing the little things may make the difference and give you the edge you need to win your fantasy league. Good luck!