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Each week of the NFL campaign we are exploring options for each other with an eye on identifying the world of fantasy options with favorable matchups for you to pick up and plug into your lineup.
As bye weeks roll on and insertions mount, the need for replacement options grows. Here are some of the most popular ESPN leagues in the world.
quarterback
Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
You are all about Jackson's amazing collegiate production. The Heisman winner ran for 3,172 yards and 39 touchdowns to go with 7,203 passing yards and 57 passing touchdowns in his final two seasons at Louisville. Joe Flacco, Jackson is an exciting fantasy prospect in a match with a reeling Cincinnati defense that has the most points to drive to opponents – even more than the Raiders.
Marcus Mariota, Tennessee Titans
Mariota is in a nice spot to return value as a streaming option has a busy bye week, as he's 12th in fantasy points per game among signal-callers since Week 7 and yet available in more than 80 percent of ESPN leagues. The Colts have been respectable on defense, but still have 12th-most points per drive. Mariota will need to navigate to a ball-hawking defense, but it's worth checking out this week's drubbing of the Patriots is indeed a trend.
Running Back
Theo Riddick, Detroit Lions
Lost in the well-deserved hype for Kerryon Johnson's breakout as Detroit's Riddick has been targeted six times per game in his past four outings and 7.5 times per game in his past two, resulting in a reception on a quarter of his routes since Week 4. Riddick earns a streaming endorsement for the second straight week, as well as a high-scoring matchup with the Panthers.
Josh Adams, Philadelphia Eagles
Forcing missed tackles at the highest rate of the Eagles' patchwork depth chart at tailback, Adams is steadily earning a greater market share of rushing duties each successive week for the Birds. The team is unlikely to be fully committed to Adams as a workhorse, but at this level of availability (rostered in 5.9 percent of ESPN leagues), his potential to claim a 50 percent share of early-down duties with any potential goal-to-go upside is enough to inspire interest in deeper fantasy formats.
Wide Receiver
Josh Reynolds, Los Angeles Rams
With Reynolds' average rate of target is the third longest among regular receiving targets for the Rams (at least five routes per game). Cooper Kupp has averaged 29.6 routes per game to Reynolds' 9.5, but now the receiver is expected to assume this valuable and is a fun and affordable way to get a share of this amazing 63.5-point total on Monday night, the highest for the NFL game since 1986. The Chiefs, for their part, have allowed the 13th-most yards per game to receive this season.
Anthony Miller, Chicago Bears
Miller averaged 2.2 catches and 24.8 yards thanks to a blend of low catch rate (just 50 percent) and a lack of targets (4.4 per game). In his past three games, Miller has averaged 69.3 yards and 6.3 targets with a clean 68.4 percent catch rate, while handling 11.0 air yards per target. The Vikings have been solid against receivers for much of the season, but Miller's mix of use and availability of media streaming value for Week 11.
Tight End
Jeff Heuerman, Denver Broncos
The market is not chasing Heuerman's huge week 9 against Houston. Maybe it was so long ago given the team 's recent bye, that it' s been a free – agent atypically shallow and fickle fantasy position. Even if Week 9's 10-catch opus is an outlier, there is an increased target bandwidth to claim Demaryius Thomas' market share opened up. The Chargers have the 11th-fewest yards per game to tight ends, so the matchup is not ideal, but the potential for 20 percent of Denver's passing market sustains.
Jonnu Smith, Tennessee Titans
Stacking Mariota with Smith certainly paid off in the past and last fantasy competition last week. With Mariota, Smith (available in 99 percent of ESPN leagues) is a worthy streaming candidate against the Colts' young back seven.
Defense / Special Teams
Arizona Cardinals
In the vast majority of ESPN leagues, this aggressive defense has been pressed against 34 percent of dropbacks, third only to the Rams (37.2) and Jaguars (35.4). No team blitzes more frequently than Arizona's 38.3 percent clip, while Derek Carr is 24th in the NFL in passing rating facing the blitz and 26th in passing rating when pressured this season.
Individual Defensive Players
Defensive Line
Jabaal Sheard, Indianapolis Colts
Enjoying a rickle-free edge for an edge rusher, Sheard grades out of the more effective 4-3 ends for Pro Football Focus. With Tennessee Offense, Sheard is a strong streamer.
linebacker
Jordan Evans, Cincinnati Bengals
Even if Vontaze Burfits is back this week, Evans remains a worthy defensive streamer given his recent output and expectations for a steady snap rate in the weeks ahead.
Defensive Back
Eric Reid, Carolina Panthers
On the field for almost every defensive sneak in the face of this latest drubbing at the hands of the Steelers, Reid is a punishing safety in his support, aiding a stable tackle rate while he also possesses upside for big plays.
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